current affairs 30 november

8/8/2019 Current Affairs 30 November

1/13

DAILY DOSE OF CURRENT AFFAIRS

FromFromFromFrom

www.tippani.inwww.tippani.inwww.tippani.inwww.tippani.in

Important: To continue receiving this material, we request you to please sign-up

at the above portal and gain unrestricted access to valuable study material to aid

your preparation

TippaniTippaniTippaniTippani

Its FREE, FRIENDLY AND FUNIts FREE, FRIENDLY AND FUNIts FREE, FRIENDLY AND FUNIts FREE, FRIENDLY AND FUN

P.S.: On a lighter note, we have to say that we are serious about what we undertake.
http://www.tippani.in/http://www.tippani.in/http://www.tippani.in/http://www.tippani.in/http://www.tippani.in/


2/13

Sedition case registered against Arundhati, Geelani

Controversial Writer Arundhati Roy, Hurriyat hawk Syed Ali Shah Geelani and revolutionary

poet Varavara Rao along wither others were booked on charges of sedition by Delhi Police

for their "anti-India" speech at a seminar last month.

The filing of the FIR came following a directive from a local court on Saturday on a petitionfiled by Sushil Pandit who alleged that Geelani and Roy made anti-India speeches at a

conference on "Azadi-the Only Way" on October 21.

Roy and others were charged under sections 124 A (sedition), 153 A (promoting enmity

between different groups and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony), 153 B

(imputations, assertions, prejudicial to national integration), 504 (insult intended to provoke

breach of peace) and 505 (statements conducing to public mischief) of the IPC and Section

13 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

Inquiry ordered into leakage of Radia tapes'

The Centre on Monday ordered an inquiry into how the recorded tapes of conversations

between corporate lobbyist Niira Radia and various businessmen, politicians and journalists

were leaked.

While the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), which had tapped the conversations, will

conduct the inquiry, the Intelligence Bureau (IB) has been asked to submit a report to the

government after finding out who leaked the conversations, how and to whom.

Niira Radia is a corporate lobbyist and owner of a firm that handles the public relations work

of all Tata companies.

In yet another instance, Ratan Tata has approached the Supreme Court to direct the Union

government to stop further leaks of tapes containing his conversations with Niira Radia.

No Question Hour for 12th day

For the 12th straight working day, Parliament was adjourned yesterday till noon as

members persisted with their demand for a Joint Parliamentary probe into the 2G spectrum

allocation.

A thinly-attended Lok Sabha saw members thumping their desks after Speaker Meira Kumar

lauded the performance of Indian sportspersons in the recently concluded Asian Games.

But as soon as the Speaker took up the Question Hour, member were in the well demanding

a JPC probe into the allocation of 2G spectrum. They waved newspaper reports on variousalleged scams.

CBI submits status report on 2G Spectrum scam probe

The CBI yesterday submitted to the Supreme Court the status report on its ongoing

investigations into the 2G spectrum allocation scam allegedly involving former Telecom

Minister A Raja.


3/13

The apex court, earlier on November 25, had castigated the CBI on why it had not

questioned Raja and the Telecom Secretary in the case, saying the agency was "beating

around the bush" when "illegality is prima facie evident.

Kasab claims he wasn't part of 26/11 core conspiracy

Pakistani gunman Ajmal Kasab yesterday claimed he was not part of the 26/11 attacksconspiracy hatched in Pakistan by LeT and argued his confession recorded by a magistrate

and plea of guilt made before the trial court should be discarded as they were contrary to

each other.

The arguments were made by Kasab's lawyer Amin Solkar before the Bombay High Court

which is hearing confirmation of death sentence awarded to him by the trial court for his

role in the 26/11 terror attacks.

The defence lawyer argued that there was no material to suggest that Kasab was part of the

conspiracy relating to attacks on Hotel Taj Mahal, Hotel Oberoi-Trident and Nariman House.

His role was confined only to attacks at Chhatrapati Shivaji Railway Terminus and in andaround Cama Hospital.

Red Ribbon Exp back in capital for World AIDS Day

Travelling more than 150 railway stations across the country, the Red Ribbon Express

yesterday returned to the capital for the commemoration of the World AIDS day on

December 1.

Equipped with doctors and volunteers on board, the eight- coach train was flagged off on

December 1, 2009 with the motto of"Embarking on journey of life".

After one year of its sojourn across India traversing about 25,000 kms, covering 152

stations in 22 states and reaching to about 80 lakhs people across the nation, it has

disseminated information about HIV and AIDS and tried to unite people by dispelling

existing misconception during its year long journey.

IIM-A students to start helpline on corruption

At a time when the country is being rocked by a number of scams, some students of Indian

Institute of Management-Ahmedabad have decided to launch a helpline on corruption to

curb the menace.

A group of six IIM-A students proposed the idea of starting the helpline to former President

A P J Abdul Kalam and IIM-A professor Anil Gupta, which was appreciated by them.

The country was recently rocked by 2G spectrum scam, Commonwealth Games scam and

Adarsh society scam which have brought the issue of corruption in focus.


4/13

Another attack onIndian student

In yet another attack on an Indian in Australia, a 31-year-old cookery student was viciously

stabbed in the stomach by two men after he finished work in a South Yarra bar early this

month.

The student underwent an emergency surgery and had 26 stitches on his punctured bowel

after the attack.

Coal Resources in the Country

Here is a quick look at the current status of Coal resources

As per the latest National Inventory on Indian Coal Resources by GSI, as on 1.4.2010,the total coal resources assessed are about 276.81 billion tones of which about 110

billion tones or 40% are proved reserves.

The extractable reserves are estimated to be around 55 billion tones. At the currentlevel of production of about 550 million tones per annum, the extractable reserves of

coal in the country would last for about 100 years. However, the extractable reserves

will increase as more coal reserves come into proved category.

To encourage production of coal, captive mining is now permissible by private companiesengaged in the generation of power, production of iron and steel, production of cement,

coal gasification and coal liquefaction and other end uses.

In this regard 208 coal blocks with 48.82 billion tones reserves have been allocated sofar to the government companies and approved captive end users for captive mining.

As far as foreign direct investment (FDI) in coal sector is concerned, 100% FDI underthe automatic route is allowed by the Government.

Saakshar Bharat Programme

Few snippets

The Saakshar Bharat, the flagship programme of government of India is to providean opportunity for literacy and further learning to the people deprived of school

education.

The goal of Saakshar Bharat Programme is to impart functional literacy andnumeracy to non-literate and non-numerate adults in 15 + age group and enable,

them to continue their learning beyond basic literacy and acquire equivalency to

formal education system.

The programme is an opportunity for formal education for excluded population,deprived sections of society and minorities, especially women.

The Saakshar Bharat programme is rolled out in 167 districts covering 19 states andadditional 118 districts have been sanctioned this year

Criteria followed for inclusion of any caste in SC/OBC category

Scheduled Caste: Extreme social, educational and economic backwardness arising out of

traditional practise of untouchability.


5/13

Other Backward Class(Central List): Social, Educational, economic backwardness and

inadequate representation in the Central Government post and services.

At present there are 1206 castes detailed in six Presidential Orders as Scheduled Castes

(SCs), in relation to a State/Union Territory and 2173 castes as detailed in 28 Resolutions

as Other Backward Classes (OBCs), in the Central List of Other Backward Classes


6/13

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Damaging Disclosures

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton described India as a "self-appointed front-runner" for a

permanent UNSC seat and directed US envoys to seek minute details about Indiandiplomats stationed at the United Nations headquarters, according to classified documents

released by WikiLeaks. A disclosure that threatens to affect Indo-US ties

Foreign policy establishment documents of US, which cover the period of 2006-2010, may

have damaging information on the Indo-US nuclear deal too. Wikileaks has in its possession

more than 3,000 cables coming out of the US Embassy in New Delhi. The government is

now bracing for more devastating revelations

Iran-Pak gas pipeline unlikely to take off -Despite Iran and Pakistan signing on an

ambitious gas pipeline deal with its possible extension to India, the multi-billion project is

unlikely to take off, according to the text of an American diplomatic cable released by

WikiLeaks.

However, Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has accused the U.S. of masterminding

the release of thousands of cables by the WikiLeaks website as part of its psychological

warfare campaign.

Global vaccine campaign plans to raise $3.7 billion for immunisation

The Global Alliance for Vaccine Immunization (GAVI), cofounded by the Bill & MelindaGates Foundation, plans to raise $3.7 billion amid reduced donor contributions following

the global financial crisis.

GAVI says it needs $7 billion over the next five years to fund an immunisation campaignaimed at reducing child mortality by 40%, preventing 3.9 million deaths by 2015. Thatwould help developing countries achieve Millennium Development Goals on child deaths

and maternal health.

So far, it has raised $2.7 b selling bonds, the same amount as has been mobilised fromvarious governments and the Bell & Melinda Gates Foundation,since it was founded in

2002.


7/13

FINANCE/BUSINESS/ECONOMY

Plan panel to set up a body for uniform gas price

In an effort to make prices uniform for consumers, the Oil Ministry has asked Plan panel to

set up a committee to suggest a mechanism for averaging out price of costlier importedLNG with cheaper domestic gas.

A pooled price or averaging out of difference rates, for natural gas may be necessary in

view of the limited domestic gas availability and increasing reliance on imported liquefied

natural gas (LNG) to feed the demand.

CCI starts investigating complaints against real estate cos

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has disclosed that it has begun examination of

11 complaints of anti-competitive practices received against real estate companies, some of

which were being probed by the CBI in connection with the housing finance scam.

The CCI, which examines violation of anti-competitive practices and abuse of dominance by

companies including cases from MRTP (Monopoly and Restrictive Trade Practices), is looking

into complaints pertaining to sectors such as real estate, the financial sector, stock

exchanges, pharmacy, airlines, electricity and the entertainment industry.

CCI Chairman - Dhanendra Kumar

Sharma takes charge as CEO of LIC Housing

V. K. Sharma on Monday took charge as the Chief Executive of the scandal-hit LIC Housing

Finance and said his first objective would be to put the company back on the growth path.

Vishal Bali appointed CEO of Fortis Healthcare

Fortis Global Healthcare Holdings Pvt Ltd, promoted by Malvinder Mohan Singh and

Shivinder Mohan Singh, has appointed Vishal Bali as its Chief Executive Officer. Fortis

Hospitals is part of the 50-hospital chain owned by the Fortis Healthcare Ltd.

India to ratify UN corruption treaty

Remember UNCAC, which we spoke few days earlier?

India is all set to ratify the global convention against corruption seven years after the treaty

came into being, taking on an obligation to check corruption in the private sector amid theunravelling of multiple scams in the country.

The government is readying a law to meet the conditions of the United Nations Convention

Against Corruption (UNCAC). The proposed law will deal with corruption and bribery in the

private sector, and bill concerning this bill is likely to be moved in the budget session of

Parliament.


8/13

At the G-20 summit in Seoul early this month, India signed the groups anti-corruption

action plan, which requires it to ratify and fully implement the anti-corruption convention.

Currently, India does not have a specific law to deal with corruption in private sector,

although there are elaborate safeguards against the menace in the government sector.

On ratification India will be able to seek full cooperation of the signatory countries ininvestigation of cases, especially with respect to off-shore bank accounts held by Indians.

India has slipped to the 87th spot in Transparency International's latest ranking of nations

based on the level of corruption from the 84th position.

COST OF CORRUPTION

India loses about $16 billion or.72,496 crore every year to outflows related to taxavoidance by wealthy individuals and companies,corruption and bribery,according to

Global Financial Integrity,a Washington-based research group.

Over 2004-2008, India lost assets at a rate of $19 billion per year Total capital flight out of India represents about 16.6% of Indias GDP as of year-end2008 In present value terms, India lost an equivalent of 36% of its 2008 GDP Some 68% of Indias aggregate illicit capital loss occurred after Indias economic

reforms in 1991.

Deregulation and trade liberalisation actually contributed to & accelerated transfer ofillicit money abroad.

Ireland gets 85-billion euro financial bailout package

The European Union and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Sunday night unveiled a

85 billion euro (USD 113 billion) bailout package for heavily indebted Ireland, six months

after Greece was rescued from bankruptcy.

The three-year package, designed to prop up the countrys battered banking sector and to

help service its sovereign debts, was sealed by the finance ministers of the 27-EU nations at

an emergency meeting in Brussels.

Irelands Prime Minister Brian Cowen, who until a week ago opposed an EU bailout,

welcomed Sundays deal with the EU and the IMF and said the loans were necessary to fund

the governments budget in the coming years

Decontrolling Urea, decision before this fiscal

The decision on decontrolling the urea sector would be taken within the fiscal after the

Group of Ministers and the Cabinet sits to deliberate, the Union Fertiliser Ministry said

The fertilizer industry has been pressing the government to decontrol the urea sector in line

with the potassic and phosphetic fertilizers.

With the introduction of the nutrient based subsidy scheme, with effect from April this year,

the government has already freed potassic and phosphetic fertilizers. However, in relation


9/13

to urea, including its price and movement, it is still controlled by the government. Urea

constitutes almost 50 per cent of India's fertilizer consumption.

Current Statistics:

Fertilizer subsidy for the current fiscal would be around Rs.67,000 crore, up byRs.15,000 crore from the budget estimates of Rs.52,000 crore.

This fiscal India has contracted to import six million tonnes of urea and eight milliontonnes of DAP.

Urbanization

Few facts:

About 17% of the world population lives in urban India. The present number of our 35million-plus population cities will go up to 68, 13 of these will have population more than

four million each and six will be mega cities with population crossing 10 million.

Mumbai and Delhi from this category will be among the five largest cities of the world bythe year 2030.

The states of Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Punjab will have morethan 50% of their population living in cities with Tamil Nadu topping urbanisation rate at

67%.

PIGS is now PIIGS

Todays ET Classroom explains:

Which are the PIGS countries?

After BRIC Brazil, Russia, India and China, financial market analysts have now clubbed

troubled European economies Portugal, Italy, Greece and Spain together as PIGS. Each of

these economies has been going through sovereign debt crises and the European Union has

had to bail them out. However, unlike the BRIC nations, which have a positive connotation,

this has a negative feel, and hence, many European investment banks do not prefer using

this acronym, though it is popularly used in the media.

What were their individual problems?

Italy tried to pay high wages and had an under-competitive economy, hence, a budget

deficit crisis followed. Corruption in the state-run businesses sector and the near-corporate

failure of Alitalia also played a part in the balance of payments crisis and the economy

consequently crashed. Spains wage bill and economy went the Italy way. It had its bit of a

housing bubble and bust. Portugal was hit by the desire to have high wages and the inability

to manipulate national fiscal/currency policy to restart a failing economy. It soon lost its

favoured status among investors to Slovenia. Greece, on the other hand, had most of the

above-mentioned crisis since the Millennium and took out excessive overseas loans in the

hope of restarting its national economy, especially after the slump in tourism.


10/13

How has a variation emerged?

With woes of Ireland, which could be similar in nature to that of the PIGS economies, the

acronym is now extended to PIIGs to include Ireland as well. Besides the EU, even

multilateral agencies like IMF have announced bailout for them.


11/13

REGIONAL NEWS

Jagan resigns from Congress, quits as MP from LS

After months of defiance, rebel Congress MP Y S Jaganmohan Reddy today resigned from

the party and quit his Lok Sabha seat from Andhra Pradesh, alleging that the party

leadership had "insulted and humiliated" his family.

The 37-year-old MP from Kadapa, who always nursed hopes of succeeding his father Y S

Rajasekara Reddy as AP Chief Minister after he died in an helicopter crash 14 months back,

is likely to float a new party.

Jagan while announcing his decision to quit Congress in a five-page 'open letter' to partyPresident Sonia Gandhi also said his mother Vijayamma, who is an MLA from Pulivendula in

Kadapa, would also quit her post and the party. She is likely to formally submit herresignation to the Assembly Speaker today.


12/13

VOCAB BUILDER

Castigate - pronounced [kas-ti-geyt]

1. to criticize or reprimand severely.

2. to punish in order to correct.

Synonyms - 1. scold, reprove. 2. discipline, chastise, chasten.

Vicious - pronounced [vish-uhs]

1. addicted to or characterized by vice; grossly immoral;depraved; profligate: a vicious life.

2. given or readily disposed to evil: a vicious criminal.

3. reprehensible; blameworthy; wrong: a vicious deception.

4. spiteful; malicious: vicious gossip; a vicious attack.

5. unpleasantly severe: a vicious headache.

6. characterized or marred by faults or defects; faulty;unsound: vicious reasoning.

7. savage; ferocious: They all feared his vicious temper.

Can be confused with: viscose, viscous.

Synonyms - 1. abandoned, corrupt, iniquitous, sinful. 4. malevolent.

Antonyms 1. moral.

Anachronism pronounced [uh-nak-ruh-niz-uhm]

something or someone that is not in its correct historical or chronological time, esp. a thingor person that belongs to an earlier time

Aver pronounced [uh-vur]

1. to assert or affirm with confidence; declare in a positive or peremptory manner.aversion - pronounced [uh-vur-zhuhn, -shuhn]

1. a strong feeling of dislike, opposition, repugnance, or antipathy2. a cause or object of dislike; person or thing that causes antipathySynonyms - distaste, abhorrence, disgust. AVERSION, ANTIPATHY, LOATHING connote

strong dislike or detestation.

AVERSION is an unreasoning desire to avoid that which displeases, annoys, or offends: anaversion to (or toward) cats.


13/13

ANTIPATHY is a distaste, dislike, ordisgust toward something: an antipathy towardbraggarts.

LOATHING connotes a combination of hatred anddisgust, or detestation: a loathing for (ortoward ) hypocrisy, a criminal.

current affairs 30 november

Documents