CHROME IAS ACADEMY
DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS
11 – 12th Apr’18
NEWS
ALL EYES ON IRNSS-1I
The space port of Sriharikota is set to launch navigation satellite IRNSS-1I, its second mission in a fortnight.
The 1,425-kg replacement spacecraft will join and support the older seven Indian navigation satellites, 1A to 1G, that were put in orbit between July 2013 and April 2016.
ISRO has built its own regional navigation satellite fleet — akin to the US GPS — to get the best locational details for its mobility activities, civil as well as military.
The launch of IRNSS-1I is important for ISRO and users. The satellites were built to last for 10 years each; but all three rubidium atomic clocks on the first satellite IRNSS-1A reportedly failed almost two years back; and the first spare or back-up, IRNSS-1H, flopped at launch on August 31, 2017.
All seven navigation satellites must work to give the planned 24-hour, precise information of location and time of persons or objects.
Relevance : Prelims
IT IS CJI’S RIGHT TO ALLOT CASES: SC
A Supreme Court Bench declared the Chief Justice of India as an “institution in himself” with “exclusive prerogative” to constitute Benches and allocate cases.
The three-judge Bench held there is no room for any “presumption of mistrust” against the high constitutional functionary, who helms the country’s most powerful court.
This is the second time that the Supreme Court has, within six months, reiterated the Chief Justice of India’s “exclusive duty and authority” as ‘master of roster’ to constitute Benches and allocate cases.
The judgment dismissed a petition claiming that some cases should be heard by senior most judges.
All judges are equal in duty and power. To suggest that one judge is more capable of deciding particular cases or that certain categories of cases should be assigned only to the senior-most among the judges of the Supreme Court has no foundation in principle or precedent.
To hold otherwise would be to cast a reflection on the competence and ability of other judges to deal with cases assigned to them by the Chief Justice.
It said the Chief Justice of India is only “the first among equals” as a judge, but is sui generis (one of his kind) in other capacities.
Entrustment of such authority in the Chief Justice is necessary for safeguarding the Supreme Court as an “independent safeguard for the preservation of personal liberty”.
Relevance : Prelims, GS 2
CENTRE FOR RELOOK AT HAJ BAR ON DISABLED
The Centre has advised the Haj Committee of India to examine the “sensitive” provision that bars differently-abled persons from applying for the Haj pilgrimage.
The Ministry of Minority Affairs’ submission before the High Court came in response to a petition filed in public interest challenging a provision in the new Haj policy, which debars persons with disabilities from applying for the pilgrimage to Mecca.
The new Haj policy, issued in November last year, debars “persons suffering from polio, tuberculosis, congestive and respiratory ailment, acute coronary insufficiency, coronary thrombosis, mental disorder, infectious leprosy, AIDS or any other communicable disability or handicap” from applying for the pilgrimage.
The petition said the new policy is against the various provisions of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, the Mental Health Act, and the National Mental Health Policy, which has equality and non-discrimination as its guiding principles.
The Ministry said that there is fear of stampede or mishaps. And in such gruelling situation, it is only the pilgrims with physical disabilities who are likely to suffer the most.
Relevance : GS 2
PETROLEUM, FINANCE MINISTERS CAN AWARD HYDROCARBON BLOCKS
- The Union Cabinet approved a proposal to delegate the power to award hydrocarbon blocks to successful bidders under the Hydrocarbon Exploration and Licensing Policy (HELP) to Petroleum and Finance Ministers.
- Under HELP, blocks are to be awarded twice in a year. Delegating powers would expedite the decision-making process in awarding the blocks.
Relevance : Prelims, GS 3
INDORE 3R DECLARATION ADOPTED
The historic INDORE 3R DECLARATION was adopted by the mayors and city authorities of India and countries of Asia Pacific region and signed.
Indore is hosting the Eighth Regional 3R Forum in Asia and the Pacific region from 9-12 April 2018.
The adoption and signing of the Indore 3R declaration is relevant to vision of sustainable development and achieveing SDG goals.
The commitments expressed in the declaration are crucial to promote the principles of 3R . i.e Reduce , Reuse, Recycle and achieveing resource efficiency.
The Indore 3R declaration will help in realising the goal of Mission Zero Waste.
The Indore 3R declaration is an important outcome of the ongoing Eighth Regional 3R Forum in Asia and the Pacific region which aims to address how 3R and resource efficiency measures can provide complementary benefits in making cities and countries clean, smart, liveable and
The Forum also aims to generate policy-level, institutional level and technological insights towards effective implementation of 3R and resource efficiency to foster circular economic development, sustainable change in current use of natural resources and ultimately achieve a zero waste
Relevance : Prelims, GS 3
IMPORTANT TERMS IN NEWS EXPLAINED
Boao Forum for Asia
The Boao Forum for Asia is a non-profit organisation that hosts high-level forums for leaders from government, business and academia in Asia and other continents to share their vision on the most pressing issues in this dynamic region and the world at large.
BFA is modelled on the World Economic Forum.
Its fixed address is in Bo’ao, Hainan province, China, although the Secretariat is based in Beijing.
The forum, sometimes known as the “Asian Davos”, takes its name from the town of Boao, located in China’s southern Hainan province, which has been the permanent venue for its annual conference since 2002.
National Nutrition Mission
The key objectives of these programmes are as under:
- To create awareness relating to malnutrition amongst pregnant women, lactating mothers, promote healthy lactating practices and importance of balanced nutrition;
- To improve maternal and child under-nutrition in 200 high burdened districts and to prevent and reduce the under-nutrition prevalent among children below 3 years;
- To reduce incidence of anaemia among young children, adolescent girls and women.
- The programme envisages coordinated action at the Central and State levels for affirmative multi-sectoral action in fulfilling the objectives. An Inter-Ministerial Coordination Committee (IMCC) headed by Cabinet Secretary at National level has been created for coordination at National level.
- At the State level, the State Nutrition Council headed by the Chief Minister would be the highest body for providing policy direction and oversight to the Multi-sectoral Nutrition Programme. .
- Similar coordinating bodies would be set up at the District and village levels to provide all support in effective implementation, monitoring and supervision of the programme.
Relevance : Prelims
