Daily Current Affairs 16th March 2020

Daily Current Affairs 16th March 2020 Today’s Important Topic’s For UPSC Preparation 1. PM CALLS FOR SAARC FUND. 2. NOTIFIED DISASTER.

3. NEW LAW IN U.P. TO RECOVER COSTS FOR DAMAGING PROPERTY.

4. LOKPAL EXPENSE PLAN OVERSHOT DoPT FIGURE.

5. LABOUR MINISTRY YET TO SPEND RS. 2053.59CR. OF 2019-20 BUDGET.

PM CALLS FOR SAARC FUND SAARC: The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation(SAARC) is the regional intergovernmental organization and geopolitical union of states in South Asia.

SAARC member states are: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, The Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan Sri Lanka.

SAARC comprises 3% of the world’s area, 21% of the world’s population and 3.8% (US$2.9 trillion) of the global economy, as of 2015.

SAARC was founded in Dhaka on 8 December 1985.Its secretariat is based in Kathmandu, Nepal.

The organization promotes development of economic and regional integration. It launched the South Asian Free Trade Area in 2006.

SAARC maintains permanent diplomatic relations at the United Nations as an observer and has developed links with multilateral entities, including the European Union.

SAARC

SAARC Observer States: Australia China European union Iran Japan Mauritius United States Korea SAARC Potential Future Members: Myanmar has requested its status up-gradation from Observer to a unified member state.

Similarly, Turkey and Russia have also applied for membership.

Principles of SAARC: Cooperation within the framework of the SAARC shall be based on: Respect for the principles of sovereign equality, territorial integrity, political independence, noninterference in the internal affairs of other States and mutual benefit.

Such cooperation shall not be a substitute for bilateral and multilateral cooperation but shall complement them.

Such cooperation shall not be inconsistent with bilateral and multilateral obligations.

Objectives of the SAARC:

To promote the welfare of the people of South Asia and to improve their quality of life.

To accelerate economic growth, social progress and cultural development in the region and to provide all individuals the opportunity to live in dignity and to realize their full potentials.

To promote and strengthen collective self-reliance among the countries of South Asia.

To contribute to mutual trust, understanding and appreciation of one another’s problems..

To promote active collaboration and mutual assistance in the economic, social, cultural, technical and scientific fields.

To strengthen cooperation with other developing countries.

To strengthen cooperation among themselves in international forums on matters of common interests; and To cooperate with international and regional organizations with similar aims and purposes.

SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme: SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme was launched in 1992 to allow certain categories of dignitaries to a Special Travel document, which would exempt them from visas within the region.

Currently the list included 24 categories of entitled persons, which include Dignitaries, Judges of higher courts, Parliamentarians, Senior Officials, Businessmen, Journalists, Sportsmen etc.

The Visa Stickers are issued by the respective Member States to the entitled categories of that particular country.

The validity of the Visa Sticker is generally for one year.

The implementation is reviewed regularly by the Immigration Authorities of SAARC Member States.

What are the challenges for India?

Overcoming weaknesses like project implementation in other countries as compared to China.

Good relations between India & Pakistan will benefit both the countries. This would also mean Pakistan military losing its relevance.

Preventing bureaucratization of the relations with neighbours.

Improving inter-ministerial coordination.

Where is the way ahead for India?

Ministry of External Affairs is engaging with PRAGATI model for timely implementation and

delivery of its projects.

Countries are wary of China as it is big but not benign. It looks for its own interests in other countries.

Development of Hambantota Port in Sri Lanka by China has led to indebtedness of the former.

Therefore, smaller countries are looking for India’s engagement.

UK model may be used for implementing what Prime Minister has said by forming a body and giving them administrative and financial independence when he/she is not in office.

India needs to accept the reality that it has a troubled relation with Pakistan but it has to be open to them once they are willing to cooperate because India has investments in Afghanistan & Pakistan is a key player there.

SAARC

Why in news?

The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) should create a fund to fight the threat of COVID-19.

The first-ever videoconference of the heads of member countries, he extended $10 million as India’s contribution to the fund.

We all agree that we are facing a serious challenge. We do not as yet know what shape the pandemic will take in the coming days. It is clear that we have to work together.

PM Modi propose we create a COVID19 Emergency Fund which could be based on voluntary contribution from all of us. India can start with an initial offer of 10 million U.S. dollars for this fund.

SAARC

NOTIFIED DISASTER The Ministry of Home Affairs has decided to treat COVID-19 as a notified disaster for the purpose of providing assistance under the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF).

What is a Disaster?

According to the Disaster Management Act, 2005 a disaster is defined asA catastrophe, mishap, calamity or grave occurrence in any area, arising from natural or

manmade causes, or by accident or negligence which results in substantial loss of life or human suffering or damage to, and destruction of, property, or damage to, or degradation of, environment, and is of such a nature or magnitude as to be beyond the coping capacity of the community of the affected area.

The MHA has defined a disaster as an “extreme disruption of the functioning of a society that causes widespread human, material, or environmental losses that exceed the ability of the affected society to cope with its own resources.

What is the State Disaster Response Fund?

The SDRF is constituted under the Disaster Management Act, 2005 and is the primary fund available with state governments for responses to notified disasters.

The Central government contributes 75 per cent towards the SDRF allocation for general category states and UTs, and over 90 per cent for special category states/UTs (which includes northeastern states, Sikkim, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand).

For SDRF, the Centre releases funds in two equal instalments as per the recommendation of the Finance Commission.

The disasters covered under the SDRF include cyclones, droughts, tsunamis, hailstorms, landslides, avalanches and pest attacks among others.

NDRF: The National Disaster Response Fund, which is also constituted under the Disaster Management Act, 2005 supplements the SDRF of a state, in case of a disaster of severe nature, provided adequate funds are not available in the SDRF. Categories of disaster: A High Power Committee on Disaster Management was constituted in 1999 to identify disaster categories.

It identified 31 disaster categories organised into five major subgroups, which are: water and climate-related disasters, geological related disasters, chemical, industrial and nuclear-related disasters and biological related disasters, which includes biological disasters and epidemics.

Have there been such instances in the past?

In 2018, in view of the devastation caused by the Kerala floods, political leaders in Kerala demanded that the floods be declared a “national calamity�.

As of now, there is no executive or legal provision to declare a national calamity.

In 2001, the National Committee on Disaster Management under then PM was mandated to look

into the parameters that should define a national calamity.

However, the committee did not suggest any fixed criterion.

In the past, there have been demands from states to declare certain events as natural disasters, such as the Uttarakhand flood in 2013, Cyclone Hudhud in Andhra Pradesh in 2014, and the Assam floods of 2015.

NEW LAW IN U.P. TO RECOVER COSTS FOR DAMAGING POLICY The Uttar Pradesh government has now armed itself with a stringent new law to recover compensation from those who damage public and private property during protests and riots.

Claims for compensation will be decided by designated Claims Tribunals that will be authorised to investigate complaints and assess the damage.

Ordinance notified: The State government notified the Uttar Pradesh Recovery of Damage to Public and Private Property Ordinance, 2020, promulgated by Governor Anandiben Patil.

The Cabinet had met under Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and approved the ordinance.

The owner of any private property or the head of the office concerned in respect of public property may file claims for compensation within three months of any incident that causes any damage during public protests, bandhs or riots.

The claim can cite as respondents those who “exhorted” or “instigated” or “committed” acts that caused the damage, as well as those named by the police.

Every order or award passed by the Claims Tribunal would be “final” and no appeal would be “maintainable” before any court.

No civil court will have the jurisdiction to entertain any question regarding the claims.

Chair Person: The chairperson of the Claims Tribunal would be a retired district judge.

Its members would be of the rank of additional commissioner.

The Claims Tribunal would have the power to attach the property of the respondents and publicise their names, addresses and photographs to warn the public against purchasing the property.

Powers: The Claims Tribunal shall have all the powers of a civil court for the purpose of taking evidence

on oath and enforcing the attendance of witnesses and compelling the discovery and production of documents and material objects.

The claims would cover not only damage to public and private property but also the costs borne by the police and the administration in taking preventive measures.

The liability would be fixed on the alleged perpetrators as well as those accused of instigating or exhorting them.

The tribunal will have to adhere to the principles of natural justice, issue notices and receive replies from the respondents, but it also has the power to decide a matter ex parte, if those given notices do not respond.

The pendency of any criminal proceedings relating to the incidents would not be a bar on the tribunals proceeding with their work.

The tribunal also has the power to appoint a claims commissioner to estimate the damage caused and investigate liability to assist it in holding the inquiry.

Yogi Adityanadh

LOKPAL EXPENSE PLA OVERSHOT DoPT FIGURE A Lokpal(“caretaker of people”or “People’s Friend”) is an anti-corruption authority or body of ombudsman who represents the public interest in the Republic of India.

The Lokpal has jurisdiction over central government to inquire into allegations of corruption against its public functionaries and for matters connected to corruption.

The Lokpal and Lokayuktas Actwas passed in 2013 with amendments in parliament, following the Jan Lokpal movement led by Anna Hazare in 2011.

The Lokpal is responsible for enquiring into corruption charges at the national level.

Lokayukta performs the same function at the state level.

Lokpal logo

These institutions are statutory bodieswithout any constitutional status.

Background: In 1809, the institution of ombudsman was inaugurated officially in Sweden.

In the 20th century, Ombudsman as an institution developed and grew most significantly after the Second World War. New Zealand and Norway adopted this system in the year 1962 and it proved to be of great significance in spreading the concept of the ombudsman.

In 1967, on the recommendations of the Whyatt Report of 1961, Great Britain adopted the institution of the ombudsman and became the first large nation in the democratic world to have such a system.

In 1966, Guyana became the first developing nation to adopt the concept of the ombudsman.

Subsequently, it was further adopted by Mauritius, Singapore, Malaysia, and India as well.

In India, the concept of constitutional ombudsman was first proposed by the then law minister Ashok Kumar Sen in parliament in the early 1960s.

The term Lokpal and Lokayukta were coined by Dr. L. M. Singhvi.

In 1966, the First Administrative Reforms Commission recommended the setting up of two independent authorities- at the central and state level, to look into complaints against public functionaries, including MPs. In 1968, Lokpal bill was passed in Lok Sabha but lapsed with the dissolution of Lok Sabha and since then it has lapsed in the Lok Sabha many times.

Till 2011 eight attempts were made to pass the Bill, but all met with failure.

In 2002, the Commission to Review the Working of the Constitution headed by M.N. Venkatachaliah recommended the appointment of the Lokpal and Lokayuktas; also recommended that the PM be kept out of the ambit of the authority.

In 2005, the Second Administrative Reforms Commission chaired by Veerappa Moily recommended that the office of Lokpal should be established without delay.

In 2011, the government formed a Group of Ministers, chaired by Pranab Mukherjee to suggest measures to tackle corruption and examine the proposal of a Lokpal Bill. “India Against Corruption movement� led by Anna Hazare put pressure on the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government at the Centre and resulted in the passing of the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Bill, 2013, in both the Houses of Parliament.

It received assent from President on 1 January 2014 and came into force on 16 January 2014.

Composition: Lokpal will consist of a chairperson and a maximum of eight members.

Term is 5 years or till age of 70.

After ceasing to hold office member and chairperson shall not be eligible to hold any post under any government in India.

Selection of chairperson and members of Lokpal through a selection committee consisting of Prime Minister Speaker of Lok Sabha Leader of opposition in Lok Sabha Chief Justice of India Sitting Supreme Court judge nominated by CJI. Eminent jurist to be nominated by President of India on basis of recommendations of the first four members of the selection committee “through consensus�.

Qualifications: Chairperson shall be either a sitting or retired Chief justice of India or sitting or retired SC Judge or person of eminence in public affairs.

Members: 50% will be judicial members i.e. sitting or retired judge of SC / sitting or retired chief justice of HC and 50% members of Lokpal shall be from SC/ST/OBCs, minorities and women.

Non judicial members should have knowledge and experience of 25 years in field of vigilance, finance, anti-corruption policy and public administration.

Powers: If the Lokpal receives a complaint under the prevention of corruption act 1988, then it can initiate the investigation. If the complaint found true in the investigation, then the Lokpal can ask the government to take disciplinary action against the accused public servants or can file a corruption case in a special court.

The Lokpal will have the power of superintendence and direction over any investigation agency including CBI for cases referred to them by the ombudsman.

Salary and allowances: The Chairman of the Lokpal shall enjoy the same salary and allowance as of Chief Justice of India.

Members shall receive the same salary and allowance as those enjoyed by the justices of Supreme Court.

Removal: To remove the Lokpal 100 members of the Parliament need to sign the petition seeking the removal of the chairman of the Lokpal or any other members.

This matter will be investigated by the Supreme Court and if SC finds the charges to be true then SC suggests the president to remove the Lokpal from the post.

Another way to remove the Lokpal is self-reference of the President (on the advice of the cabinet) to the Supreme Court, which can investigate the charges.

Lokpal

Why in News?

The overall proposed revised estimate of expenditure under various heads for the Lokpal office this financial year, as on January 15, had exceeded the figure recommended by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT).

The total expenditure for the Lokpal office stood at ₹11.61 crore as on January 15, when there was an additional committed liability of about ₹6.09 crore.

Lokpal Bill

LABOUR MINISTRY YET TO SPEND ₹2,053.59 cr. of 2019-20 BUDGET Pradhan Mantri Rojgar Protsahan Yojana: Ministry: Ministry of Labour and Employment.

The scheme “Pradhan Mantri Rojgar Protsahan Yojana”(PMRPY) was announced in the Budget for 2016-17.

The objective of the scheme is to promote employment generation.

The PMRPY scheme is targeted for workers earning wages upto Rs. 15,000/- per month.

The PMRPY Scheme aims to incentivise employers for employment generation by the Government paying the full employers’ EPS contribution of 12% , for the new employees, for the first three years of their employment and is proposed to be made applicable for unemployed persons that are semi-skilled and unskilled.

Objectives:

The Pradhan Mantri Rojgar Protsahan Yojana (PMRPY) is a scheme to incentivise employers registered with the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) for job creation by the Government paying the full contribution of employers to the Employee Pension Scheme (EPS) and Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) in respect of new employees having a new Universal Account Number (UAN).

Duration of the scheme: The Scheme will be in operation for a period of 3 years and the Government of India will continue to pay the full contribution to be made by the employer for the next 3 years.

All new eligible employees will be covered under the PMRPY Scheme till 2019-20.

Pradhan Mantri Rojgar Protsahan Yojana

Pradhan Mantri Rojgar Protsahan Yojana

Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan-Dhan Yojana: Ministry:Ministry of Labour and Employment.

PM-SYM is a Central Sector Scheme administered by the Ministry of Labour and Employment and implemented through Life Insurance Corporation of India and Community Service Centers (CSCs).

LIC will be the Pension Fund Manager and responsible for Pension pay out.

It is meant for old age protection and social security of unorganized workers.

This scheme seeks to benefit around 42 crore workers from the unorganized sectorof the country.

The unorganised workers (home based workers, street vendors, mid-day meal workers, head loaders, landless labourers and similar other occupations) whose monthly income is Rs 15,000/ per month or less.

The Subscriber should belong to the entry age group of 18-40 years.

They should not be covered under New Pension Scheme (NPS), Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) scheme or Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO).

He/She should not be an income tax payer.

Minimum Assured Pension: Each subscriber shall receive minimum assured pension of Rs 3000/-

per month after attaining the age of 60 years.

Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan-Dhan Yojana

WORD OF THE DAY Sepsis: Sepsis is caused by your body’s defense system (immune system) working overtime to fight infection. It’s sometimes called septicemia.

Anyone can get an infection and almost any infection can lead to sepsis. Certain people are at higher risk: