Tiger Conservation

Tiger Census in January 2015 : 2226 tigers in 2014
NTCA has approved creation of 3 new tiger reserves in

1. Ratapani in MP
2. Sunabeda in Odisha
3. Guru Ghasidas in Chhattishgarh

also conversion of following NPs into Tiger Reserves

1. Kudremukh NP, Karnataka
2. Rajaji NP, Uttarakhand

Proposals have been invited for

1. Mhadei in Goa
2. Suhelwa in UP
3. Dibang in Arunachal
4. MM hills in Karnataka
5. Srivilliputtur Grizzled Squirrel Wildlife Sanctuary/ Meghamalai Wildlife Sanctuary/ Varushanadu Valley in Tamil Nadu

Punishments for violation of tiger reserve rules and hunting or altering the boundaries of tiger reserves have been enhanced.

Montreal Protocol

A protocol on substances that deplete the Ozone layer
by phasing out the following substances

• CFCs
• HCFCs
• HFCs 
• do not pose threat to Ozone layer, as these do not contain Chlorine
• but are GHGs, with a high global arming potential (GWP)
• Montreal protocol does not address, but these figure as one of the 6 GHGs under Kyoto Protocol (rest are 

Assessment

• It is one of the most successful case of international cooperation -> has led to recovery of Ozone layer over Antarctica

http://www.business-standard.com/article/opinion/india-commits-to-phasing-out-hfcs-115042700975_1.html

India's External Sector in FY2014-15

Export Target : $340 bn
Actual Export : $ 310.5 bn

Actual Import : $447.5 bn

Trade Deficit : $ 137 bn

Reforms undertaken

1. Simplification of labor laws
2. land acquisition

still, exports are not encouraging as

1. global demands are muted
2. volatility in the currency market (value of euro has fallen hurting the exporters)

Share of Europe's in India's export : 18%

IT Act - section 66A

It act was enacted in 2000 to

• provide legal basis to e-commerce transactions
• penalize cyber crimes

amended in 2009 to insert sec 66A which criminalizes the sending of offensive messages through a computer or other communication devices. specific provisions are - 

• messages that are grossly offensive
• false and meant for the purpose of causing annoyance, inconvenience, danger, obstruction, insult, injury, criminal intimidation, enmity, hatred or ill will
• meant to deceive or mislead the recipient about the origin of such messages, etc

Penalty provisions include imprisonment up to three years with fine.

It has been grossly misused in case of comments, sharing info or thought over the internet.

1. Case in Mumbai
2. Case in UP

So, a PIL was filed in SC challenging the constitutionality of this provision against the Freedom of Speech and Expression (Art 19(1))

Apr 2015 : SC struck down the provision

References

1. http://www.prsindia.org/theprsblog/?p=3523

Evacuation of Indian Nationals from Conflict-ridden Countries

Operation Rahat

• currently underway jointly by Army, Navy and Air Force to evacuate Indians from Yemen.
• also nationals from other countries including Pakistan have been evacuated
• Pakistan has also evacuated 12 Indians from Mukalla
• thousands in a matter of days.
• Gen. V.K. Singh (Retd.) is stationed in Djibouti  
• 5 ships and 4 planes to evacuate 4000 Indians

What should be the future strategy?

• despite advisories issued in Jan 2015, Indians chose to stay mainly because of
• economic reasons
• passports and wages held by the employer
• So, India must negotiate better working conditions for expatriates (nearly 6 million Indians in west asia).
• Together with SAARC countries, India can also negotiate
• need for an early warning system
• India need to maintain its neutrality in the region unless there is a UN-led intervention

Reference

1. http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/yemen-crisis-operation-rahat-rescues-indians/article7074434.ece

Law Commission Recommendations on Electoral Reforms

Law Commission


Recommendations on Electoral Reforms

on Financing Elections

on Anti-defection Law

1. Commission recommends that power to disqualify a member under this law should rest with President (or Governor) instead of speaker/chairman. President (or Governor) should act on the advice of ECI.

on Election Commission

1. The removal procedure of the two ECs should be same as that of CEC (Art 324)
2. the appointment of ECs+CEC should be by a collegium or selection committee consisting of PM,LoP(or leader of largest opposition party) and CJI. Elevation of an EC to CEC on basis of seniority, unless there are compelling reasons, which needed to recorded in writing. 
3. ECI should be provided with a permanent and independent secretariat as in the case of LS and RS to improve the independence of ECI (Art 324)

on Paid News, Political Advertisements etc.

RPA needs to amended

1. should be defined in RPA
2. punishments (as electoral offence) should be prescribed so as to lead to disqualification of offender as candidates
3. disclosure of political advertisement should be mandatory

on Compulsory Voting

Commission does not recommend this because of following reasons

1. being undemocratic
2. illegitimate
3. expensive
4. difficult to implement
5. unable to improve quality political participation and awareness

Financial Inclusion

It is the inclusion of people in the formal (institutional) financial system, so that everyone (especially weaker and marginal sections) to get access to basic financial services (money deposit, credit, insurance, pension, remittance facility etc.)

Different entities are engaged -
Financial intermediaries (act as a bridge between people needing financial services)

1. Banks
2. NBFCs

Schemes/ Programs for Financial Inclusion

PM Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY)

Objective : To achieve financial inclusion

Launched on : 28th Aug, 2014

Salient Features

• at least one one basic banking account for every household
• Financial Literacy
• access to credit and insurance
• account holder will get
• a RuPay debit card having in-built accident cover of 1 lakh.
• life insurance cover of 30000 to those opening account before Jan 26, 2015

Issues/ Observations

• As on 28th jan, 67.5% accounts were with zero balance
• As on 28th jan, 12.31 cr bank accounts had been opened
• Guinness world record for opening most bank accounts in the week starting 23rd aug.
• Jaitley in March : next phase of JDY will focus on mobilizing savings in order to check the declining savings rate. This will be done by progressive use of Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), increasing financial literacy and creating universal social security cover for all citizens, especially the poor, under-privileged and workers in unorganized sector

ATMs

• Help in Financial inclusion 
• Bank ATMs
• Brown Label ATMs
• White Label ATMs

Banking Correspondence Agents/ Bank Saathi

Nachiket Mor Committee

This committee was set up by RBI in Sep, 2014 and one of the major agenda for it was Financial Inclusion. It made following recommendations in this regard