Current Affairs 30th October 2017

Current Affairs 30th October 2017 - Important Points

• Article 35A of Indian Constitution: Understanding the Debate
• Kidambi Srikanth won Men's Singles Title in French Open on - 29th October 2017
• India, Japan begin anti-submarine warfare exercise started on - 29th October 2017
• YC Modi took charge as Director General of National Investigation Agency  on - 30th October 2017
•  Partnership Summit 2017 between India and  - UAE
• Saudi Arabia to allow women into sports stadiums from 2018 as declared on - 29th October 2017
•  Virat Kohli becomes fastest batsman to break 9000-run mark on - 29th October 2017
• Action against thermal plants with no emission monitoring system to be taken by - CPCB

Current Affairs 30th October 2017 - Details

Article 35A of Indian Constitution: Understanding the Debate

Ever since a two-Judge Bench of the Supreme Court on 17th July 2017 issued a Public Interest Litigation to decide upon the existence of the Article 35A of the Indian Constitution to a greater Bench and set a final date of 6 weeks for it, there has been a cross talk across the country, especially in J&K, over the findings of the Article 35A and the Article 370 of the Indian Constitution that offers special status to J&K.
Provision of Art 35A of the Indian Constitution-
The Article 35A of the Indian Constitution states as follows -
“ Saving of laws with respect to permanent inhabitants and their rights — despite of anything contained in this Constitution, no present law in force in the J&K, and no law hence enforced by the Legislature of the State: (a) eplaining the classes of persons who are, or can be, permanent residents of the State of J&K; or (b) conferring on such permanent residents any special rights and imposing upon other persons any limitations as respects—
(i) jobs under the State Government;
(ii) purchase of immovable property in the State;
(iii) accommodation in the State; or
(iv) right to scholarships and such other forms of benefits as the State Government may provide or void on the ground that it is unstable with or abridges any rights withhold on the other citizens of India by any provision of this Portion. “
The Article was ammended into the Indian Constitution in Appendix II through a Presidential ststement -The Constitution order, 1954. The order was issued by the President Rajendra Prasad on 14th May 1954 in exercise of the powers removed by clause (1) of Article 370.
In a conclusion, the Article empowers the J&K state's legislature to define “permanent residents” of the state and issue special rights and facilities to these permanent residents in terms of jobs, purchase of property, scholarships and many more.
Important Highlights

• Origin of the presentations of the Article 35A relates back to 1927 when the Dogras from Jammu contacted Maharaja Hari Singh with a fear of arrival of people from Punjab that will lead to their control in government facilities. These fears led to the assurance of orders by Hari Singh in 1927 and 1932 which defined the State matters and their duties.
• The President of 1954 provided a structure, which involves the addition of Art 35A to the Indian Constitution, for the distribution of powers between J&K and the Union Government against the Article 370. The Constitution of J&K, which was designed in 1956 retained the specifications of Permanent Residents in the 1927 and 1932 tellings. A permanent resident was known as - A person who was born or residing in J&K earlier to 1911 or has been living in the state for last 10 years after lawfully obtaining property in State.
• In year 2014, an NGO ‘We the Citizens’ filed a writ application in the Supreme Court against the Article 35A as it was not added to the Constitution through following the process explained in the Article 368 of the Indian Constitution.
• In reply, while the J&K Government filed a counter-affidavit and looked for the refusal of the petition, the Union Government did not. On the same time, 2 Kashmiri women filed anotherapplication in the Supreme Court in year 2017 against the Article 35A for its prejudice against J&K females.
• As a response to this, in a recent legal hearing in July 2017, Attorney General K K Venugopal explained SC that Union Government was not interested on filing an affidavit in the complaint, instead, the government was looking for a 'big debate' on the issue.
• Following this, the apex court sent the matter to a 3-judge bench and appointed a six weeks time for final hearing of the case, leading to a confusion in J&K.
  Conclusion
• J&K is an integral part of India. The State has a special status in the political monarchy of the country due to former and geographical reasons. The Article 370 of the Indian Constitution withholds legal backing to this understanding and acts like a link between the Indian Constitution and the Constitution of J&K. As the present dispute over the Article 35A, though indirectly, is touching upon some of the fundamental occupants deciding the Centre-State relationship vis-a-vis J&K, the judiciary, as the custodian of the Constitution, is the right place to think upon the matter.

Kidambi Srikanth won Men's Singles Title in French Open on - 29th October 2017

Indian shuttler Kidambi Srikanth on 29th October 2017 won men's singles entitle of the French Open Superseries badminton held at Paris. Srikanth beat Japan's Kenta Nishimoto by 21-14, 21-13 in the final to won the title. This is his 4th title in the 5th super series final after winning the Denmark Open, Indonesia Open followed by Australia Open.
The Women's doubles subtitle was won by Greysia POLL and Apriyani Rahayu by defeating Lee Sottee and SHIN Seung Chen by 21-17, 21-15.  Tontowi Ahmad and Liliyana NATSIR secured the Mixed Doubles title defeating Zheng Siwei and Chen Qingchen 22-20, 21-15.
The French Open Badminton tournament held in France is an annual event.
More about Kidambi Srikanth

• In year 2017 Kidambi Srikanth became the first Indian to secured four Super Series.
• He already won Denmark Open, Indonesia Open and Australia Open events in 2017.
• Srikanth surpassed Saina Nehwal as the only Indian to won four Super Series titles in a year. Saina secured three in 2010.
• In 2017, he entered the Indian legends league including Prakash Padukone and Pullela Gopichand. Pullela Gopichand is the Coach of Srikanth.
• Srikanth is the only Indian to win titles in a continuation that is two titles in two successive weeks in a season.
• He is the 4th in the world behind icons like Lin Dan, Lee Chong Wei and Chen Long to win 4 men's singles titles.

India, Japan begin anti-submarine warfare exercise started on - 29th October 2017

The India and Japan naval forces commenced a rigorous anti-submarine warfare exercise in the Indian Ocean on 29th October 2017. The exertion will finish on 31st October 2017.
The exertion would include participation from a P-8 I Long Range Maritime Reconnaissance Anti Submarine Warfare airplane of Indian Navy and 2 P-3 Orion Anti Submarine Warfare airplane of Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force. The P-3 Orion airplane reached the Naval Air Station INS Hansa in Goa on 29th October for the movement.
Key Highlights

• The exercise is going at a time when the presence of Chinese ships and submarines in the Indian Ocean has increased.
• Marine security and freedom of navigation has also figured important in India's recent bilateral and multi-lateral defense conversations.
• India and Japan, along with United States had also emphasized on anti-submarine warfare in the trilateral exertion Malabar, which took place in July 2017.
• Marine security was also an important subject during interactions between Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and French Defense Minister Florence Parly, as well as with US Defense Secretary James Mattis during their past visits.
• It was also in focus when then Defense Minister Arun Jaitley visited Japan for a bilateral defense talk in September.

YC Modi took charge as Director General of National Investigation Agency  on - 30th October 2017

Senior IPS official Yogesh Chander (YC) Modi on 30th October 2017 took charge as the Director General of the NIA. Modi succeeds Sharad Kumar, who completed tenure on 30th October 2017.
Modi is an IPS officer of the 1979 batch of the Haryanastste cadre.
More about YC Modi

• In his career over 33 years, Modi procured a rich experience of investigation, intelligence and operations.
• Before joining the NIA, he worked with the CBI for 10 years while serving two terms where he handled Special Crime and Economic Offences apart from Anti-Corruption cases.
• He was a part of a Supreme Court-appointed Special Investigation Team that examined 2002 Gujarat riots case.
• He was appointed as Additional DGP (Law & Order) in Assam and Meghalaya.
• He was granted with the Police Medal for Meritorious Service in year 2001 and the President's Police Medal for various Service in 2008.
  More about National Investigation Agency
• The NIA is a central agency formed by the Indian Government to fight terror in India. It acts as the Central Counter Terrorism Law Enforcement Agency.
• The NIA was formed with the enactment of the National Investigation Agency Act 2008 by the Indian Parliament on 31st December 2008.
• The agency was formed after the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks to fight against terrorism.

 Partnership Summit 2017 between India and  - UAE

The 2-day India-UAE Partnership Summit is planned from 30-31st October 2017 in Dubai to increase bilateral trade and speculation between the two countries.
In March 2017, The Business Leaders Forum which is a new parasol organization of business leaders in the UAE was set up under the supervision of the UAE Ministry of Economy, Embassy of India and Consulate General of India. India-UAE Partnership Summit 2017 is being planned under BLF.
Union Minister for Road Transport, Highways and Shipping, Nitin Gadkari; Navdeep Singh Suri, diplomat of India to UAE, Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, Chairman and MD of Biocon Limited, Sultan bin Saeed-al-Mansouri, UAE Minister of Economy, Dr Ahmed-Al-Banna, UAE Diplomat to India are few of the notable speakers at the summit.
After India-UAE strategic partnership, India will also be the Guest of Honor at the World Government Summit to be planned in February, 2018 in Dubai.
Highlights of India-UAE Partnership Summit

• The topic of the summit was - Investment execution.
• The Moto of India-UAE Partnership Summit is to gear-up bilateral trade and venture between the two nations.
• Implementation of important projects in India with the help of UAE based businesses and investors.
• Key areas focused during the summit were Healthcare, tourism, infrastructure and education.
• UAE business entity is fabricated to support the planned government-to-government partnership.
• The private sector of India and the UAE, especially the NRI business community has come forward to support the business organizations.

The Business Leaders Forum (BLF) in brief -

• It was Established in March 2017 where BLF is a platform for interactive exchange of plans and ease trade and venture between India and UAE.
• BLF Board is lead by Dr. Azad Moopen, founder Chairman & MD, Aster DM Healthcare.
• It is focused at highlighting issues faced by Investors in both countries.
• Facilitate Embassy services, Consulate General of India and Ministry of Economy to Business Leaders, conducting entire meetings with visiting high level Business Leaders, VIPs, Ministers and others.

Saudi Arabia to allow women into sports stadiums from 2018 as declared on - 29th October 2017

Turki Al-Asheikh, Chairman of the General Sports Authority of Saudi Arabia, declared  on 29th October 2017 that Saudi women will now can attend sports events in stadiums starting from 2018.
Thus, the authority will start the repairs at three main stadiums in Riyadh, Dammam and Jeddah to assist families starting in 2018. Restaurants, cafes and monitor screens will be planned inside the stadiums.
Though the country has various stadiums, but the government chose only the most important only. The stadiums are home to six teams in the Saudi Professional League while 2 of the included stadiums have the highest seating capacity in the kingdom.
The move is focused at empowering and engaging women in the society as an essential part of the development process.

Key Highlights

• Till date, Saudi Arabia banned women entry to sports stadium due to strict rules on separating males and females in public. In September 2017, the General Sports Authority permitted women in King Fahd Stadium in Riyadh for the 1st time to celebrate Saudi Arabia's National Day.
• The declaration to allow women into sports stadiums came just one month after Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman released a decree permitting women to drive, ending a longstanding restriction on female motorists in the orthodox country.
• All these altrations support Saudi Arabia's “Vision 2030” for economic and social reforms.

 Virat Kohli becomes fastest batsman to break 9000-run mark on - 29th October 2017

Indian cricket team captain Virat Kohli on 29th October 2017 became the 6th Indian to complete fastest 9000 ODI runs during India’s 3rd and final one-day international against New Zealand in Kanpur.
India beat New Zealand by 6 runs to lead the series 2-1. While Rohit Sharma was named Man of the Match for his outstanding 147 runs, winning Captain Virat Kohli was named Man of the Series.
Kohli and Sharma together added 230 runs for the 2nd wicket thus, becoming the first pair to achieve double hundred partnerships on 4 occasions.
Key Highlights

• Virat Kohli with his individual score of 113 runs became the 6th Indian to score 9000 ODI runs. He got to the milestone in the 37th over.
• M S Dhoni had reached the landmark in 2016. Other Indians who achieved the feat previously are Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Mohammad Azharuddin and Sourav Ganguly.
• Overall, Kohli, played his 202nd innings, has become the 19th batsman and fastest to achieve and cross the 9000-run mark.
• Kohli with his knock also passed Rahul Dravid to become the 2nd Indian batsman with most international hundreds 49 only after legend Sachin Tendulkar 100 tons.
• Prior in the series, Kohli had crossed former Australian captain Ricky Ponting in the list of most ODI hundreds with his 31st ton.
• However, Sachin Tendulkar tops the list of most international centuries as well as most ODI centuries with a total of 49. Tendulkar also carries the record of being the leading run scorer in both test and ODI matches.

Action against thermal plants with no emission monitoring system to be taken by - CPCB

The National Green Tribunal has directed the CPCB and state pollution control boards to take action against 35 thermal power stations across the country that have failed to install online effluent and release monitoring system, in despite of its earlier instructions.
The resolution was taken by a bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar. The bench noticed that the CPCB and its state counterparts had enough powers to shut down non-complying plants.
"Law provides enough powers including power to direct shut down and ensure shut down of the defaulting industries. Let CPCB and all the state pollution control officials to take suitable action as per the law," the bench explained. The tribunal further instructed the state authorities to provide needed help required to the state pollution control boards for make sure for the implementation of their orders.
The thermal power plants that have been ordered to respond include those located in Hasdeo, Korad, Raichur, Satpura, Paras, Khaparkheda and Parli besides Kamal Sponge Steel And Power Ltd, Indo Rama Synthetics, Uttam Galva Steels, Kaveri Gas Power Limited, Aurobindo Agro Energy, NLC Ltd, Saheli Exports Pvt Ltd and a 16 MW gas-based thermal plant project in Tripura.
Important Information

• The NGT bench was hearing a plea that needed directions to these stations to comply with its order for installation of online effluent and release monitoring systems.
• The plea declared that directions were released under Section 5 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 by the CPCB Chairman on 21st July 2015 to 318 thermal power plants situated in various states and union territories for establishment of these systems.
• However, no adequate reply was received from 35 thermal power plants that as per the plea have intentionally failed to respond the guidelines issued by the CPCB.
• The plea formally asked the tribunal to instruct the thermal power plants to prepare an in- time action plan for establishment of Online Continuous Emission/Effluent Monitoring Systems and accomplishment of such time bound plan of action.
• It also formally asked the tribunal to impose accurate fines on them on the grounds of Polluter Pay Principal due to their non cooperation and non-action which resulted into a huge soil, health, crops, animals and ground water loss.