CURRENT AFFAIRS 3 OCTOBER 2019

CURRENT AFFAIRS 

3 OCTOBER 2019

BY SUMIT 

1.Prime Minister Modi declares country open defecation free(gs-2,3)

Context: On the occasion of the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared the country open defecation free, claiming success for the government’s initiative under which every household now apparently has access to a toilet

“I am satisfied that on the occasion of Gandhi at 150, we are witnessing the fulfillment of his dream of Swachh Bharat. I feel lucky that on this occasion, when India has successfully stopped open defecation, I’m here at the ashram,” he wrote in the visitor’s book at Mahatma Gandhi’s Sabarmati Ashram on Wednesday.

The Prime Minister pressed a remote, unveiling the map of India as open defecation free at the Sabarmati riverfront ground in the presence of more than 20,000 village heads from across the country and also representatives from several countries.

SWACHH BHARAT GRAMEEN:

• TO accelerate the efforts to achieve universal sanitation coverage and to put focus on sanitation, the Prime Minister of India launched the Swachh Bharat Mission on 2nd October, 2014.
• The Mission Coordinator for SBM is Secretary, Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation (MDWS) with two Sub-Missions, the Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin) and the Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban). Together, they aim to achieve Swachh Bharat by 2019, as a fitting tribute to Mahatma Gandhi on his 150th Birth Anniversary.
• The aim of Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin) was to achieve a clean and Open Defecation Free (ODF) India by 2nd October, 2019.

Objectives:

To bring about an improvement in the general quality of life in the rural areas, by promoting cleanliness, hygiene and eliminating open defecation.

To motivate communities to adopt sustainable sanitation practices and facilities through awareness creation and health education.

To encourage cost effective and appropriate technologies for ecologically safe and sustainable sanitation.

To develop community managed sanitation systems focusing on scientific Solid & Liquid Waste Management systems for overall cleanliness in the rural areas.

To create significant positive impact on gender and promote social inclusion by improving sanitation especially in marginalized communities.

2.Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA)(gs-2,3)

Context: U.S. warns partners of sanctions risk

On a day when External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said he was “reasonably convinced” of persuading the U.S. to accept India’s decision on the purchase of the Russian S­400 missile defence system, U.S. officials warned that any such purchase might risk sanctions.

What is the issue?

The controversial “CAATSA Act” of the U.S. is proving to be a stress point in Indo-U.S. bilateral ties. 

While there is hope that India will get certain exemptions, the larger picture remains dull.  

What is CAATSA Act and how does it affect India?

Why in news? India is buying S-400 system from Russia that might invite sanctions under CAATSA

• “Countering America’s Adversaries through Sanctions Act (CAATSA)”, is a U.S. law that seeks to constrain its enemy powers economically.
•  Through this law, U.S. imposes economic sanctions on its adversaries and all countries and firms dealing with its adversaries.
• Considering the economic might of the U.S., it would be a big challenge for any nation to overlook U.S. and continue its trade with other partners.
• U.S. has classified Iran and Russia (and North Korea) as adversary countries, but India has strong and critical trade ties with both these countries.
• Notably, Russia is India’s major defence supplier for over 6 decades now, and Iran is India’s second largest oil supplier.
• Hence, if India doesn’t cut trade ties with Iran and Russia, CAATSA Act would’ve kicked in U.S. sanctions against India.   
• This has put India in a tight spot as it can neither dare U.S. sanctions nor antagonize Iran and Russia (or forego supplies from them).

How does the future look?

• CAATSA was a major irritant in the bilateral relationship, and the current waivers are likely to ease the situation considerably.
• Nonetheless, the risk of sanctions against energy trade with Iran still looms large, which could revive tensions.
• The standoff at “World Trade Organisation” (WTO) over tariffs and counter-tariffs the two countries have imposed on each other is another stress point.
• Given the capricious and unpredictable policy swings Mr. Trump has shown, it will be prudent for India to not presume that CAATSA waiver solves all issues.(source:th)

3.System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research(SAFAR)(gs-2,3)

Context: Air quality likely to dip to ‘moderate’ by Oct. 5 

SAFARSAFAR stands for System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research

• It is a research program to build Air-Pollution mitigation strategies in consonance with nation’s economic development
• It is launched in greater metropolitan cities of India to provide location specific information on air quality in near real time
• It has been combined with the early warning system on weather parameters
• The ultimate objective of the project is to increase awareness among general public regarding the air quality in their city well in advance so that appropriate mitigation measures and systematic action can be taken up for betterment of air quality and related health issues.
• SAFAR was developed indigenously by Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune and operationalized by India Meteorological Department (IMD).
• Pollutants monitored: PM1, PM2.5, PM10, Ozone, CO, NOx (NO, NO2), SO2, BC, Methane (CH4), Non-methane hydrocarbons (NMHC), VOC’s, Benzene, Mercury.
• Monitored Meteorological Parameters: UV Radiation, Rainfall, Temperature, Humidity, Wind speed, Wind direction

4. C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group(gs-2,3)

Context: Delhi CM to endorse clean air

declaration at C40 summit.

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will be among 20 leaders from megacities around the world to launch the ‘Clean Air Cities Declaration’, a set of short and long­term commitments towards cleaning the air, during the C40 Summit in Copenhagen. The Delhi government will endorse the declaration and pledge to reduce emissions and air pollution in a set time frame on October 11 at the Tivoli Conference Centre in Copenhagen. The summit will be held from October 9­-12

C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group

• The C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group (C40) is a group of 94 cities around the world that represents one twelfth of the world's population and one quarter of the global economy. Created and led by cities, C40 is focused on tackling climate change and driving urban action that reduces greenhouse gas emissions and climate risks, while increasing the health, wellbeing and economic opportunities of urban citizens.
• As of 2018, Mayor of Paris Anne Hidalgo serves as the C40's Chairwoman, former Mayor of New York City Michael R. Bloomberg as President of the Board, and Mark Watts as Executive Director. All three work closely with the 13-member Steering Committee, the Board of Directors and professional staff. The rotating Steering Committee of C40 mayors provides strategic direction and governance. Steering Committee members include: Amman, Boston, Copenhagen, Durban, Hong Kong, Jakarta, London, Los Angeles, Mexico City, Milan, Paris, Seoul, and Tokyo.
• Working across multiple sectors and initiative areas, C40 convenes networks of cities providing a suite of services in support of their efforts, including: direct technical assistance; facilitation of peer-to-peer exchange; and research, knowledge management & communications. C40 is also positioning cities as a leading force for climate action around the world, defining and amplifying their call to national governments for greater support and autonomy in creating a sustainable future.
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• C40's work is made possible by three strategic funders: Bloomberg Philanthropies, Children's Investment Fund Foundation and Realdania.

5.‘Mo Sarkar’ initiative launched(gs-2)

Context: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to Wednesday launched his government’s new governance initiative ‘Mo Sarkar’ on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti when different parties organised padayatras and other events to derive political mileage on the occasion.

‘Mo Sarkar’ :objectives:

• The objective of the ‘Mo Sarkar’ programme is to provide service with dignity to people who are coming to government offi??ces for diff??erent purposes. The phone numbers of people who are coming to government offi??ces will be collected randomly with the purpose to improve the governance system by collecting feedback on behaviour and professionalism of government officers. 
• Feedback collection :
• The Chief Minister, Departmental Minister, Director General of Police (in case of police stations) and Departmental Minister, Secretary and Director (in case of hospitals) will call on random numbers to collect feedback. The employees will be ranked as good or bad on the basis of the feedback and those with good rank will get out­of­turn promotion and action will be taken against employees with bad rank.

6.Osman Ali Khan, the seventh Nizam of Hyderabad.(gs-1,2)

Context:India hails U.K. verdict on former Nizam Court rejects Pakistan claim, says descendants of Osman Ali Khan are entitled to £35 million fund

The government claimed victory on Wednesday after a U.K. High Court ruled in favour of India and the descendants of the seventh Nizam of Hyderabad, Osman Ali Khan. Rejecting Pakistan’s claim in the case that dates back to 1948, the High Court of England and Wales ruled in favour of India and the Nizam’s descendants — now mostly based in Turkey and the U.K. — granting them access to a £35 million fund (worth approximately rupees 306 crore).

Osman Ali Khan, the seventh Nizam of Hyderabad:

• His Exalted Highness Nawab Sir Mir Osman Ali Khan Siddiqi, Asaf Jah VII GCSI GBE (6 April 1886 – 24 February 1967), was the last Nizam (ruler) of the princely state of Hyderabad, the largest princely state in British India. He ruled Hyderabad State between 1911 and 1948, until it was annexed by India. He was styled as His Exalted Highness the Nizam of Hyderabad. He was one of the wealthiest people of all time. In 1937, he was featured on the cover of Time magazine, labelled as the 5th richest man in history and the richest Indian ever.
• In many accounts, he is held to have been a benevolent ruler who patronized education, science and development. During his 37-year rule, electricity was introduced, railways, roads and airways were developed. He is credited with the establishment numerous public institutions in the city of Hyderabad, including the Osmania University, Osmania General Hospital, State Bank of Hyderabad, Begumpet Airport, and Hyderabad High Court. Two reservoirs, namely Osman Sagar and Himayat Sagar were built during his reign, to prevent another great flood in the city.
• He was also a philanthropist, donating millions of rupees to various educational and religious institutions all over India. Apart from his wealth, he was known for his eccentricities, as he used to knit his own socks, and borrow cigarettes from guests.
• After India's independence in 1947, the Nizam did not wish to accede his state to the newly formed nation. By then, his power had weakened due to the Telangana movement and rise of a radical militia known as the Razakars. In 1948, the Indian Army invaded and annexed Hyderabad State, and the Nizam was forced to surrender. Later he was made the Rajpramukh of Hyderabad State between 1950 and 1956, after which the state was partitioned and became part of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Maharashtra. The Nizam died in 1967.

7.Andhra Pradesh CM launches Village Secretariat system(gs-2)

• Context: Opening a new chapter in public administration by inaugurating the Village Secretariat system at Karapa village near Kakinada on Wednesday, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy said it was a happy coincidence that the launch coincided with the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, who firmly believed that the country would perish if development eluded villages. 
• Andhra Pradesh became a role model for other States by setting up village and ward secretariats. These institutions would act as a bridge between the government and the people by rendering over 500 types of services at their doorstep, Mr. Reddy said, pointing out that they were a major step towards his poll promise of decentralisation of administration.

Main objective:

• The Village Secretariats would showcase government programmes and make pictorial representations of government schools and hospitals under the caption ‘then and now’ to show how reforms had changed their functioning.

8.HYDERI MANZIL(gs-1)

Context:The Mahatma’s home in Kolkata opened to public State govt. converts house into Gandhi Bhawan Museum

HYDERI MANZIL

• The building was originally the property of Dawoodi Bohra Community, a branch of Shia Islam, centered in western India. Some members of the community had migrated from Surat to Bengal in as early as 1843 and later became known as Bengaliwalla. They settled in 19th century Bengal with the objective of business and bought extensive properties in Calcutta including a large one in Beliaghata. Hyderi Manzil was a part of this property. In 1923, Sheikh Adam, a Dawoodi Bohra inherited this single-storey building with a pond behind it. 
• Sheikh Adam later bequeathed the property to his daughter Hoosainabai Bengali. By the time Mahatma Gandhi came to live here in August, 1947 the property was transferred to H S Suhrawardy, a prominent Muslim League leader and the last Prime Minister of Bengal during the British Raj.

MAHATMA GANDHI'S VISIT AND FAST, 1947 -

The seed of Communal Violence in different parts of India during 1946-47, was probably implanted in 1942 when Gandhiji launched QUIT INDIA, a civil disobedience movement demanding British Withdrawal from the Country. Though the movement was supported by Indian National Congress but parties like Muslim League, Hindu Mahasava, Rastriya Swayamsevak Sangha (RSS) opposed to it. The movement had created a national consciousness along with the sense of power and its distribution. This has resulted in a sense of insecurity, contradictions and an environment of uncertainty. Due to the fundamentalism of Muslim League and aggressiveness of Hindu Mahasava, the social climate was extremely tense and sensitive. The common mass were worried about the partition. It was awaiting a spark !!

9.‘Einstein Challenge’(gs-2,3)

Context: PM moots ‘Einstein Challenge’ in tribute to the Mahatma 

Observing that Mahatma Gandhi envisioned Indian nationalism as one that was never narrow or exclusive, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday proposed what he called the ‘Einstein Challenge’ to ensure that Gandhiji’s ideals are remembered by future generations

Writing an opinion column in The New York Times, the Prime Minister recalled Albert Einstein’s famous words on Gandhi, “Generations to come will scarce believe that such a one as this ever in flesh and blood walked upon this earth.”

Due to this, as a tribute to the Father of the Nation, he invited thinkers, entrepreneurs and tech leaders to spread Gandhi’s ideas “through innovation”.

“Let us work shoulder to shoulder to make our world prosperous and free from hate, violence and suffering. That is when we will fulfill Mahatma Gandhi’s dream, summed up in his favorite hymn, “Vaishnava Jana To,” which says that a true human is one who feels the pain of others, removes misery and is never arrogant,” Modi wrote in the piece title ‘Why India and the World Need Gandhi’

10.Amit Shah to flag off new Delhi-Katra Train 18; big gift for Vaishno Devi pilgrims(gs-2,3)

Context:

Home Minister Amit Shah will flag off the new Vande Bharat Express train between Delhi and Katra at around 9:30 AM today. The new Train 18 will reduce the travel time between Delhi and Mata Vaishno Devi Katra stations to just 8 hours. Piyush Goyal-led Indian Railways is launching the new Vande Bharat train during Navratras. Vande Bharat Express train tickets are available for booking at railway stations and on IRCTC website and Rail Connect App. Train number 22439/22440 will begin commercial services from October 5. The New Delhi-Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra-New Delhi Vande Bharat Express train will run all days of the week, except for Tuesday.

Vande Bharat Express:

• It is India’s first indigenously built engineless semi-high speed train. Earlier, it was known by the name Train 18.
• It runs between Delhi and Varanasi at a maximum speed of 160 kmph.
• It has been built by the Integral Coach Factory, Chennai, in a record time of 20 months.
• The train is a 100% ‘Make in India’ project and is claimed to be built at half the cost of a similar train set that is imported.
• It is energy-efficient as its coaches will be fitted with LED lights. Coaches will have automatic doors and retractable footsteps.
• It will be inter-connected with fully sealed gangways along with a GPS-based Passenger Information System. It is provided with Bio toilets.