IASTODAY DAILY CAPSULES -General Studies-01

IASTODAY CAPSULES are available free -date wise => CLICK HERE

Uttar Pradesh tops in crimes against women, says NCRB report

News

• After a delay of two years the annual Crime in India Report 2017 was published by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB).
• As per the report, 3,59,849 cases of crime against women were reported in the country.

Annual Crime in India Report-Findings

• Uttar Pradesh topped the list with 56,011 cases followed by Maharashtra with 31,979 cases and West Bengal 30,002.
• Majority of cases under crimes against women were registered under ‘Cruelty by Husband or his Relatives’ (27.9%) followed by ‘Assault on Women with Intent to Outrage her Modesty’ (21.7%), ‘Kidnapping & Abduction of Women’ (20.5%) and ‘Rape’ (7.0%).
• As per the report, 58,880 incidents of rioting were reported, of which the maximum incidents were reported from Bihar – 11,698, followed by Uttar Pradesh – 8,990 and Maharashtra – 7,743.
• Of the total riots reported, communal and sectarian riots accounted for 723 and 183 incidents respectively. There were 805 riots due to caste conflict and 1909 riots occurred due to political reasons.
• The incidents registered under the Scheduled Caste Prevention of Atrocities Act saw an increase from 5,082 incidents reported in 2016 to 5,775 in 2017. Incidents of crime related to Scheduled Tribes dipped from 844 in 2016 to 720 in 2017.
• A total of 95,893 cases of kidnapping and abduction were registered during 2017, showing an increase of 9.0% over 2016 (88,008 cases).
• A total of 63,349 children (20,555 male, 42,691 female and 103 transgender) were reported missing in 2017. During the year 2017, a total of 70,440 children (23,564 males, 46,798 females and 78 transgender) were recovered/traced.
• The NCRB for the first time collected data on circulation of “false/fake news and rumours.”
• Under the category, maximum incidents were reported from Madhya Pradesh (138), Uttar Pradesh (32) and Kerala (18).

IASTODAY DAILY CAPSULES -General Studies-02

U.S. says it supports India’s objectives on repealing Article 370, but concerned over restrictions

News

• The Trump administration said while it supports India’s development agenda behind the abrogation of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status under Article 370, it was concerned over the current situation in the Valley.

Concerned over the current situation

• It said it was closely monitoring the situation in the state following India’s August 5 decision.
• The Indian government’s decision on Article 370 was driven by a desire to increase economic development, reduce corruption and uniformly apply all national laws in Jammu and Kashmir, particularly in regard to women and minorities.
• The U.S, also encourages the Indian government to follow through on its commitment to hold assembly elections in the state at the earliest opportunity.

Deeply concerned over reports of human rights abuses, religious discrimination in Pakistan: U.S.

News

• Describing shrinking space for civil society and media freedom in Pakistan as “troubling”, the United States said it remains “deeply concerned” over reports of human rights abuses and discrimination faced by people in the country because of their faith.
• It urged the Pakistani government to uphold the rule of law and the freedoms enshrined in the country’s Constitution.

‘Green’ crackers

News

• In October 2018, the Supreme Court allowed bursting of low-emission crackers relaxing the ‘complete ban’ issued in 2017.
• Such ‘green’ crackers were researched and developed by scientists at CSIR-NEERI as per the court’s directions.

‘Green’ crackers

• ‘Green’ crackers have a small shell size compared to traditional crackers. They are produced using less harmful raw materials and have additives which reduce emissions by suppressing dust.
• Currently, the fireworks industry in India is pegged at ₹1,800 crore per annum. CSIR has signed agreements with 230 companies to manufacture the crackers and make them available for sale.
• Green crackers don’t contain banned chemicals such as lithium, arsenic, barium and lead. They are called Safe Water Releaser (SWAS), Safe Thermite Cracker (STAR) and Safe Minimal Aluminium (SAFAL) crackers.
• Green crackers release water vapour and don’t allow the dust particles to rise. They are designed to have 30% less particulate matter pollution.

QR codes on green cracker packages will help consumers scan and identify counterfeits.

IASTODAY DAILY CAPSULES -General Studies-03

Terror funding: bid seen to reactivate banned outfits in India

News

• Investigating agencies pursuing terror-funding cases have gathered inputs indicating that, given the stringent conditions set by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) for Pakistan to escape blacklisting, attempts are now being made to reactivate some banned outfits in India.

Banned outfits in India

• The details, which soon be shared with key FATF member-nations, state that outfits like Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind that came up in 2017 as a so-called affiliate of Al-Qaeda and whose alleged chief Zakir Musa was killed by the security forces in Kashmir, are being encouraged to intensify their activities.
• In Jammu and Kashmir, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) are already probing multiple terror-funding cases involving the Jaish-e-Mohammed and the Lashkar-e-Taiba.
• Such Pakistan-based outfits have been directed by their handlers not to publicise their fund-raising activities, particularly on social media platforms, to avoid attracting the attention of the international media/organisations, in the context of FATF proceedings against Pakistan.
• Funds were being provided to generate and circulate audio, video and text messages for instigating and recruiting locals.
• The agencies are also investigating the funding angle to the arrest of some alleged Khalistan Zindabad Force conduits in Punjab last month, following the seizure of two drones used for dropping weapons from across the border last month.

Stubble burning cases on the rise in Punjab

News

• As paddy (rice) harvesting has gathered momentum in Punjab, the key grain producing State, as many as 3,307 cases of stubble fire incidents have been reported, as against 2,564 incidents in the corresponding period last year.

Stubble burning cases

• The government data is based on the satellite aggregation during the ongoing kharif season, between October 1 till October 21.
• District Tarn Taran has seen the highest number of farm fire cases at 705, while Amritsar with 500 such cases is in the second spot. Patiala district recorded as many as 431 cases to be at third place on the list, according to the Punjab Pollution Control Board.
• Stubble burning, close to the autumn season every year has been a key contributing factor of pollution in the air and breathing problems among people across the northern region including New Delhi.
• For management of paddy straw without burning, the Centre and the State government are providing subsidised agro-machines and equipment to farmers and co-operative societies. Yet farmers continue to burn crop residue claiming lack of alternatives.
• Meanwhile, the State government has so far not issued any ‘challan’ to farmers, who have been defying the ban on stubble burning in the State. The ban and action against people burning the crop residue is regulated under the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.
• In 2016, Punjab witnessed 84,000 incidents of stubble fire while in 2017, a dip was seen with cases at 46,000. In 2018, the fire incidents were close to 50000, according to government data.
• As paddy harvesting has gathered momentum, farmers of Punjab are facing the challenge of managing nearly 20 million tonnes of paddy straw. Paddy has been sown in nearly 29.20 lakh hectares this season. It is estimated that over 15 million tonnes of paddy straw is burnt in the open fields to clear the land for sowing wheat or other crops.

Durga Puja organisers in Assam rewarded for preventing 5 tonnes of inorganic waste from entering river

News

• Southern Assam’s Cachar district has rewarded Durga Puja organisers for solid waste management that prevented 5 tonnes of inorganic waste from entering the Barak, the State’s most important river after the Brahmaputra.

Waste management

• The best solid waste management performers were acknowledged, ironically the third dirtiest among 425 cities and towns in India rated under Swachh Survekshan 2019.
• Experts in solid liquid resources management said 5,511 kg of inorganic material was collected during the festive days from different Puja pandals, with 840 kg of vegetable wastes having been fed to the cattle in a bovine shelter.
• The decision of the Puja committees not to use plastic and other non-biodegradable materials also helped in preventing 5 tonnes of inorganic waste from entering the rivers and streams that flow into the Barak.

‘Total wealth in India touches $12.6 trillion’

News

• Total wealth in India increased fourfold between 2000 and 2019, reaching $12.6 trillion in 2019, making India the fifth globally in terms of the number of ultra-high net-worth individuals, as per a Credit Suisse study.

Wealth in India

• According to the study, the wealth per adult in India grew by an average of 11% annually over the period 2000–2019 and the wealth per adult is estimated at $14,569 in mid-2019 after a year of moderate growth.
• Prior to 2008, wealth rose strongly, from $2,127 in 2000 to $6,378 in 2007. After falling 29% in 2008, it rebounded and grew at an average rate of 12% up to 2019,personal wealth in India is dominated by property and other real assets, which make up the bulk of household assets.
• India has 8.27 lakh adults in the top 1% of global wealth holders 1.6% share of the global pool it is estimated that India has 4,460 adults with wealth of over $50 million and 1,790 that have more than $100 million.
• The study also found that while the number of wealthy people in India has been on the rise, a larger section of the population has still not been part of the growth in overall wealth.
• While wealth has been rising in India, not everyone has shared in this growth. There is still considerable wealth poverty, reflected in the fact that 78% of the adult population has wealth below $10,000, stated the report, while highlighting the fact that a small fraction of the population 1.8% of adults has a net worth of more than $100,000.
• Meanwhile, as per the financial major, India is expected to grow its wealth very rapidly and add $4.4 trillion in just five years, reflecting an increase of 43%.

DAC clears indigenous projects worth ₹3,300 crore

News

• The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) chaired by Defence Minister, approved three projects worth ₹3,300 crore of “indigenously designed and developed equipment.”

Indigenous projects

• These include third generation Anti-Tank Guided Missiles (ATGM) and Auxiliary Power Units (APUs) for the T-72 and T-90 Tanks to be executed by the Indian industry.
• The third indigenous project pertains to discrete electronic warfare systems for the mountain and high altitude terrain, which would be designed and developed by the DRDO and manufactured by design cum production partner from the Indian industry.
• Both these projects will be progressed under the ‘Make-II’ Category.

Hydropower projects violating norms may be shut

News

• Come December, hydropower projects that do not comply with the Centre’s ecological flow notification, which mandates that project developers ensure a minimum supply of water all through the year, could face closure.

Centre’s ecological flow notification

• The Centre’s ecological flow notification, came into effect last October and gave companies three years to modify their design plans, if required, to ensure that a minimum amount of water flowed during all seasons. Power producers generally hoard water to create reserves to increase power production.
• In September, the government advanced this deadline, from October 2021 to December 2019. This was after it tasked the Central Water Commission (CWC) to ascertain actual flows and the amount of water present in the river through 2019.
• There are 19 power projects along the river and of the 11 sites studied, eight were fully compliant.
• Power project proponents will be assessed by the CWC quarterly for compliance after December 2019.
• The e-flow notification specifies that the upper stretches of the Ganga from its origins in the glaciers and until Haridwar would have to maintain: 20% of the monthly average flow of the preceding 10-days between November and March, which is the dry season; 25% of the average during the ‘lean season’ of October, April and May; and 30% of monthly average during the monsoon months of June-September.

CLICK HERE TO SEE DATE WISE CURRENT AFFAIRS