Current Affairs Current Affairs - 2 September 2015 - Vikalp Education

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Current Affairs - 2 September 2015

General Affairs

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar Addresses Press Conference in Patna: Highlights
  • Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar Addresses Press Conference in Patna: HighlightsPATNA:  Hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed a huge rally in Bihar's Bhagalpur, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is addressing a press conference in Patna.

    Here are the highlights:
    • Prime Minster Narendra Modi looked a little rattled today, said Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.
    • Prime Minister had no convincing justification about his package. We have already given a detailed description of how most of his schemes are repackaged.
    • We have given a 7 Point programme for Bihar's Development.
    • State is contributing 40 per cent in Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana mentioned by Prime Minister today.
    • It is the duty of the central government to give us money under the federal structure.
    • The prime minister made many contradictory statements in his speech. Most of his claims about Bihar package were hollow.

    In War Over Bihar Package, PM Narendra Modi Does The Math
    • In War Over Bihar Package, PM Narendra Modi Does The MathBHAGALPUR, BIHAR:  Prime Minister Narendra Modi has issued his latest challenge to Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in their war of crores for Bihar. At a 'Parivartan rally' in Bhagalpur today, the biggest yet he asserted, PM Modi rubbished Nitish Kumar's announcement last week of development schemes worth Rs. 2.7 lakh crore.

      "There is a finance commission that decides how much money the Centre will give to the states...it has said that in the next five years, Bihar will get Rs. 3.76 lakh crore. This means you are getting only Rs. 2.7 lakh crore out of the Delhi money," PM Modi alleged, adding, "We should ask where will 1.6 lakh crore go...has it gone into fodder?"

      The comment was a dig not only at Nitish Kumar but also his ally Lalu Yadav, who was convicted last year in the state's infamous fodder scam.

      The PM's attempt to deny Mr Kumar the credit he had sought is only the latest set of big numbers being thrown at the voters in Bihar, where elections are due by November. PM Modi emphasized that while Mr Kumar's "package" would come out of monies set aside for the state by the finance commission, the Rs. 1.25 lakh crore in central aid that he had announced at his last rally, is separate.

      Nitish Kumar has in turn dismissed PM Modi's package as nothing more than an election promise. "Modiji, stop the rhetorics, chest thumping & everyday new promises. Show moral courage...Respect the sentiments of people of Bihar who have been troubled by your unkept promises & unsavoury comments," Mr Kumar said today in tweets strategically timed to coincide with the PM's arrival in Bihar.

      "This is not like the package the prime minister announced. We will get funds for these projects and implement them as soon as possible," Mr Kumar had said while announcing the schemes worth Rs. 2.7 lakh crores.

      The BJP in Bihar is confident that the PM's announcement of the central bonanza for Bihar last month is a game changer and will give it a huge advantage in the assembly elections.

      The party takes on an alliance led by Nitish Kumar and which includes Lalu Yadav's RJD and the Congress, in the Bihar elections.

    4,000 kg Onions Stolen in Rajasthan, 2 Held
    • 4,000 kg Onions Stolen in Rajasthan, 2 HeldJAIPUR:  Thieves have again decamped with onions, this time in the Pink City, where 4,000 kg of the pricey bulb was stolen from a wholesale market.

      Two persons have been arrested for the theft from Muhana Mandi in Jaipur.

      The accused include a watchman of the mandi and a woman who provided place for the stock, police said today. Watchman Kajor was arrested last night and the woman was caught today, Investigating officer Ashutosh Kumar said.

      "The shop owner Kishan Agrawal found the stock missing and lodged an FIR. Kajor transported the onions to the woman's place in a pick up van. Involvement of other persons is also suspected and the matter is being investigated," he added.

      Seventy sacks, of 60 kg each, were stolen from a shop in the Mandi on the intervening night of August 28-29 and the FIR was registered on August 30.

      Rising onion prices have adversely hit household budgets with wholesale prices hovering around Rs. 50/kg.

    3 Dead, Over 7 Lakh People Affected as Flood Situation Worsens in Assam
    • 3 Dead, Over 7 Lakh People Affected as Flood Situation Worsens in Assam
      DHEMAJI:  After about a week of respite, the flood situation in Assam has worsened again with three more persons losing their lives, taking the toll to 18.

      Over 7.3 lakh people have been affected in nearly 1,600 villages due to incessant rains across the state.

      Just when it seemed the worst flooding was over for Assam this season, the rains have struck back again. As on Monday, about 8 lakh people were affected in the floods

      Upper Assam's Dhemaji is the worst affected, and so are adjoining areas like Dibrugarh, where a mother and her minor son were washed away by a river in spate as they were trying to get to a relief camp in the area.

      In many places, rail communication has been hit since bridges have either been washed away or have been damaged. The Assam government says it has opened up 168 relief camps in the worst affected districts, and over 50,000 people have taken shelter in them.

      Many prominent rivers in the state are flowing above the danger mark, including the Brahmaputra. For now, many across the state have to bear the fury of these floods, something that disrupts life here every year.

    Hardik vs Statistics on Admissions in Gujarat Medical Colleges
    • Hardik vs Statistics on Admissions in Gujarat Medical CollegesAHMEDABAD:  Hardik Patel's allegation that caste reservation in admissions to medical colleges in Gujarat deals a grave blow to the prospects of aspiring doctors from his Patel community, does not seem to hold up to a scrutiny of data.

      The 22-year-old has alleged in hard-hitting speeches that those on quota lists with even 45 per cent marks in entrance tests have made it to medical colleges, depriving many Patel candidates with much higher marks of a place.

      But statistics suggest that the Patels have done well. Out of the 4,200 seats in medicine, dental surgery and nursing courses this year, over a 1000 went to Patel candidates, shows data from Gujarat's Admission Committee for Professional Medical Educational Courses (ACPMEC).

      Also, the difference between the cut-off marks for students in reserved categories and those from the general category, which includes the Patels, has been no more than about 6% in the last three years.

      So this year, while aspirants from the general category had to score 95 per cent to get admission to a medical college, those from Other Backward Castes (OBC), who get the benefit of reservation, had to score 91 per cent and those from the Scheduled Castes and Tribes, 89 per cent. The pattern was much the same in the last two years, with the cut-offs never going below the 84 per cent for any student.

      Hardik Patel, the face of a massive agitation, wants the wealthy and influential Patels to be included in the list of socially and economically weaker sections in Gujarat so that they can get the benefit of reservation too in government jobs and colleges.

      Other groups already included in the quota lists strongly oppose this and accuse Hardik Patel of running a misleading campaign. "There is a mere 3 to 4 per cent different between cut-offs for general and OBC categories in medical colleges...this is misleading propaganda," said a Dalit activist, Jignesh Mewani.

      Hardik Patel shrugged off the statistics, seeking to have the last word. "You are talking about 2015... I will get you data from 2011 - 12 - 13 - 14...I will get you the reports later...any more questions?" he said.

    Business Affairs 

    Four reasons why markets fell over 2 per cent today
    • The benchmark Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) Sensex and National Stock Exchange (NSE) Nifty fell over 2 per cent on Tuesday. 
      Among the 30 scrips on Sensex, 29 ended in negative terrain. Sun Pharma was the only stock that ended 0.34 per cent higher. Axis Bank emerged as the top loser as the stocks fell 5.24 per cent to close at Rs 480.15 apiece. Other major losers were Hindalco (5.18 per cent), Tata Steel (3.93 per cent) and BHEL (3.91 per cent).Here are the top factors that led to the fall today:

      • Weak GDP data than expected:  Mirroring a subdued economic performance, GDP growth rate declined to 7 per cent in the first quarter (April-June period) and infrastructure output slowed to three-month low of 1.1 per cent in July. The decline in the economic growth in the first quarter was on account of subdued output of farm, manufacturing and utilities like power, gas and water supply.
      • Fears of rate hike by Federal Reserve: Fears among the investors that the Federal Reserve may hike rates in September aws another major reason to dampen the spirits of investors. "Fed Vice Chairman Stanley Fischer on Saturday said US inflation would likely rebound as pressure from the dollar fades, allowing the Fed to raise interest rates gradually," said a Reuters report.
      • China's manufacturing growth: Activity in China's factory sector shrank at its fastest rate in at least three years in August as domestic and export orders tumbled, increasing investors' fears that the world's second-largest economy may be lurching toward a hard landing.
      • Selling by FIIs:Foreign institutional investors sold a net Rs 16,877 crore ($2.55 billion) in shares in August. Analysts said the sales were largely a result of the overweight positions in India by foreign investors , who have been heavy buyers since 2012.

    NSE VIX rises over 16 per cent, markets likely to remain volatile
    • The NSE VIX index rose 16 per cent on Tuesday amid market falling on weak August GDP data and global falls in markets after China's manufacturing sector contracted at its fastest pace in August. 
      The index which opened at 24.5950 hit a high of 30.4375 and low of 24.4425.  It was trading at 28.7175 at 1538 hours. 
      India VIX is a volatility index based on the index option prices of NSE's benchmark index Nifty.
      The index signals market expectation of 30-day volatility. The index is constructed using the implied volatilities of a wide range of S&P 500 index options. 

      L&T bags Rs 1,070 crore contract in Saudi Arabia
      • L&T bags Rs 1,070 crore contract in Saudi ArabiaEngineering major Larsen & Toubro on Tuesday said it has bagged a contract worth Rs 1,070 crore in Saudi Arabia for constructing ballastless tracks for Riyadh metro lines.
        "The contract has been bagged by L&T Construction's transportation infrastructure business from a consortium of Bechtel, Almabani, CCC and Siemens, to construct ballastless tracks for Riyadh metro 1 and 2 on design and build basis", a statement issued in Mumbai stated.
        "The project involves the construction of 62.86 kms of double ballastless tracks in tunnels, viaducts, at-grade sections and three depots. The project is scheduled to be completed in 40 months. This order has been won against stiff international competition and is in sync with L&T's strategy to expand their railway business into the Middle-East", the company said. 

      Oil companies slash jet fuel price by 11.7 per cent
      • Oil companies slash jet fuel price by 11.7 per centATF or jet fuel price was on Tuesday slashed by a steep 11.7 per cent while rates of non-subsidised cooking gas LPG were reduced by Rs 25.5 per cylinder in line with dip in international prices.
        Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) price in Delhi was cut by Rs 5,469.12 per kilolitre (kl), or 11.7 per cent, to Rs 40,938.24 per kl, oil companies announced on Tuesday.This is one of the steepest reductions, the biggest being a cut of Rs 7,520 per kl, or 12.5 per cent, on January 1. Prior to this reduction, jet fuel rate was cut by 9.4 per cent to Rs 46,407.36 on August 1 and by Rs 2,086.56 per kl to Rs 51,267.36 on July 1.
        ATF, just as fuel in aeroplanes, today costs 33 per cent less than petrol that drives two-wheelers and cars. After a Rs 2 per litre cut effected from today, petrol in Delhi costs Rs 61.20 per litre as compared to jet fuel rate of Rs 40.93 a litre.
        Higher rates of petrol is primarily due to central and local sales taxes - Rs 17.46 - on account of excise duty and Rs 12.25 because of sales tax or VAT. Rates vary at different airports because of differential in local sales tax or value-added tax (VAT).
        Jet fuel constitutes over 40 per cent of an airline's operating costs and the price cut will reduce the financial burden on cash-strapped carriers. No immediate comment was available from airlines on the impact of price reduction on passenger fares.
        Simultaneously, the oil firms have also cut prices of non- subsidised LPG, which consumers buy after exhausting their quota of subsidised cooking fuel, by Rs 25.50 per 14.2-kg bottle.
        Non-subsidised cooking gas (LPG) price in Delhi has been cut to Rs 559.50 per cylinder as compared to Rs 585 previously. This is the third reduction in rates in as many months. Non-subsidised LPG rates were last cut by Rs 23.50 on August 1. Prior to that, rates were cut by Rs 18 per cylinder to Rs 608.50 on July 1.
        Non-subsidised or market-priced LPG is one that consumers buy after exhausting their quota of 12 bottles of 14.2-kg each at subsidised rates in a year. Subsidised LPG costs Rs 417.82 per 14.2-kg cylinder in Delhi. The three fuel retailers - IOC, Hindustan Petroleum (HPCL) and Bharat Petroleum (BPCL) - revise jet fuel prices and non-subsidised LPG rates on the first day of every month, based on the average international price in the preceding month.

        Banks, insurance unions to go on strike tomorrow
        • Banks, insurance unions to go on strike tomorrowEmployees of public sector banks and government-owned non-life insurance companies would go on strike on Wednesday to protest against the anti-trade union and worker policies of the central government, union leaders said on Tuesday.
          "The strike is against the anti-labour and anti-trade union policies of the central government," K Govindan, joint secretary, General Insurance Employees' All India Association (GIEAIA), told IANS.According to him, the unions in the non-life insurance sector are demanding early conclusion of wage negotiations, finalisation of the promotion policy and scrapping of outsourcing etc.
          "There are increasing attacks on the rights and privileges of workers and concessions are being extended to the employers in our country," CH Venkatachalam, general secretary, All India Bank Employees' Association (AIEBA), said.
          "There are open attempts to amend labour laws in favour of the employers and to the detriment of the workers. The neo-liberal economic policies are only aggravating the problems of the workers and common masses," he added.
          He said 14 unions in the banking sector have given a call for the September 2 strike.
          Venkatachalam said in the banking sector, there are continuous attempts to push through the reforms agenda aimed at privatisation of banks, consolidation and merger of banks and others.
          "More and more private capital and foreign direct investments are being encouraged. Private sector companies are being given licences to begin banking business," he said.
          According to him, Regional Rural Banks are sought to be privatised and a bill has been passed in parliament despite protests from employee unions.

          General Awareness

          Government orders inclusion of 13 central laws within purview of Land Acquisition Act 2013

            • Under the removal of difficulties clause (Section 113) in the Land Act, the government has issued an ‘order’ to include 13 central Acts which extends the provisions relating to the determination of compensation, rehabilitation and resettlement to all cases of land acquisition under 13 central acts which were left out in the 2013 law.
              • The 13 Central Acts were included under the purview of Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (RFCTLARR) Act, 2013.
              13 LAWS
              • UPA government extends the compensation and resettlement benefits under the law to land acquired under 13 different laws so far not covered including highways and railways laws.
              This will mean land acquired for any purpose will now be eligible for the high compensation and resettlement under the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 (RFCTLARR Act).
              The 13 central laws includes-
              1. Railways Act, 1989.
              2. Electricity Act, 2003.
              3. Atomic Energy Act 1962.
              4. Indian Tramways Act 1886.
              5. Land Acquisition (Mines) Act 1885.
              6. National Highways Act 1956.
              7. Damodar Valley Corporation Act 1948.
              8. Petroleum and Minerals Pipelines Act 1962.
              9. Metro Railways (Construction of Works) Act 1978.
              10. Coal Bearing Areas Acquisition and Development Act 1957.
              11. Requisitioning and Acquisition of Immovable Property Act, 1948.
              12. Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act 1958.
              13. Resettlement of Displaced persons(Land Acquisition) Act, 1948.
              • Under Section 113(1) of the RFCTLARR Act to extend the provisions relating to the determination of compensation in accordance with the First Schedule, rehabilitation and resettlement in accordance with the Second Schedule and infrastructure amenities in accordance with the Third Schedule shall apply to all cases of land acquisition under the enactments specified in the Fourth Schedule to the said Act


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