Current Affairs-2013

Rahul Khullar (New TRAI Chief)
• Entry of Pvt. Player – so independent regulator is needed.
• Est. in 1997 under TRAI Act, 1997 by an act of Parliament.
• Obj: fain and transparent policy environment.
So TRAI is statutory body.
Various Committees
• Railway: Anil Kakodakar (Railway Safety) and Sam Pitroda (Railway Modernization)
• Khandewal Committee: On HR issues in PSBs.
• Shome Panel : On GAAR
• Gas pricing: C. Rangaranjan
• JS Verma Panel : On Delhi Gange Rape also on physical challenged women
(Members: JSV (CJI), Mrs. Liels Seth (CJ of HP) and Gopal Sub (SGI).
• Panel of interlocutoes (J and K): MoHA constituted in October 2010 (Dilip Padgaonkar (Tol), Report submitted in October 2011 (Radha Kuma, Prof.), report made public in May 2012 (M.M. Ansari, former cic).
• Naresh Chandra Task force: On National Security
• B.K. Chaturvedi: On Antrix Dewas Deal, other committee on Antrix Dewas deal “Pratush Singh” (Ex. CVC), measure to reduce power losses (ppp model), other V.K. Shunglu (Franchise Model).
• Mugdal Panel: On doping issues, 8 athletes being tested, substance used – Ginseng\
• As Aanand Committee: Mullapeilar Dam
• Shymala Gopinath: On National Saving Scheme.
• Black Money: M.C. Joshi
• M. Dharnadhikari: Airlines and Air India Merg
• Adir Godrej: Corporate Governance
• Shivraj Patil: Agricultural Productivity

Jarawa Tribes
• About 250 – 400 individuals, primitive stage in south and middle Andaman/.
• Cab. Approved Jarwa region as “Buffer zone”.
• Andaman Trunk Road (300 km) passes through this region.
• It is also known as “NH – 223” connects G.N to PB.
• If violate – 3-7 years imprisonment.
• No commercial activities (> 1 a) in B.2.
• No photograph, video, hunting use of alcohol.
Govt. ties up with Pearson in school education
• i.e., CBSE and Pearson – first PPP project in education.
Constitutional Amendment Bill
• 114 : Retirement of HC Judges (62 – 65) “Amendment In Art 217 & 224”
• 115 : GST
• 116 : Lokpal and Lokayukta
• 117 : For reservation in promotion for SC/ST.
• 118 : Special provision for KA – Hyderabad region.
Constitutional Amendment Acts
• 93 : OBC reservation in Public and Private educational institution.
• 94 : To provide for a Minister of Tribal Welfare in newly created Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh States.
• 95 : SC and ST from sixty to seventy years.
• 96 : Substituted "Odia" for "Oriya"
• 97 : Co-operative Societies
Scheme of IPC remained in News
• 124 – A – Sedition, Aseem Trivedi (cartoonist) published anticorruption on website.
• 66 A it Act, 2008 : for sending false and offensive message to verify someone.
• Palghat issues of facebook women – (i) Saheen Dhada (ii) Rini Sri Niwasan.
Mendha – Lekha Model (village in Maharshtra earned 1 crore in last year)
• Refers to implementation of “FRA 2006” which recognized “Bamboo on MFP” & allow Tribals to Harvest & sell Bamboo. (earlier according to Forest Right Act 1927, Bamboo was a tree, so not allowed to cut.
• Benefit to Govt.: Tribal’s economic empowerment.
• An effective strategy to combat Left Wing Extremist.
20th Law Commission Constituted : (Term 2012 – 15); Chairman : D.K. Jain (3 years)
• Est. in 1955
• Non-statue body
City Prosperity Index
• Work of UN Habitat to gauge cities.
• Meant to measure present and future progress of cities towards, prosperity path.
• It enables makers.
The CITY PROSPERITY INDEX (CPI):
• - Includes 5 dimensions of prosperity: productivity, infrastructure, quality of life, equity and environmental sustainability.
• Ranking: Viena topped list followed by London, Dublin, Oslo, Helnski.
• In list of 95, Mumbai – 52nd, Delhi – 58th < Shanghai, Bangkok, manila is only cities in CPI.
Saral Money debit Card
• launched by Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, Delhi want to use it in “Delhi Annashri Yojna”.
• The beneficiary would then be able to withdraw the money from any ATM or any Micro ATM using biometric authentication provided by Aadhar.
• People would be able to purchase the Saral Money debit card across the counter from grocery shops and bank branches.
• The project has been launched in a collaboration by the UIDAI and five banks -- Axis Bank, HDFC Bank, ICICI, Indian Overseas Bank and the State Bank of India and Visa Card
President Rule : Jharkhand (Under Article 350 & 365)
• When Chief Minister Arjun Munda resigned.
100th Science Congress
• Held in Kolkata, organized by ISC Association, Inaugurated by President.
ASI completed 150 years
• (ASI) under the Ministry of Culture
• Founded in 1861, by Sir Alexander Cunningham
MSP for wheat:
• 1350 quintel – 65 rupees
DCT (Direct cash transfer)
• Launched on 01/01/13, in 20 district of 6 states and 3 UTs, 51 districts “4 each in Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat due to election (originally planned in 43 districts).
• Also LPG also keep out of ambit, food, fertilizers, diseals and Kerosene already been kept out.
• Will cover 26 scheme.
14th FC (Art 280)
• Y.V. Reddy for 2015 – 20.