Daily Current Affairs including Static Notes - 2 MAY

The Hindu -

💥CORE SECTOR GROWTH SLOWS TO 4.1% IN MARCH ( ECONOMY)

Official data released by commerce and industry show that the growth of India’s eight core industries slowed to 4.1 per cent in March as output of refinery products, fertilisers, steel and cement moderated.
Only the fertilizer and cement sectors reported healthy numbers, with other sectors slowing down.
The previous low was in the core sectors was 3.8 per cent in December 2017. And the index for the full year (2017-18) also recorded a fall, core sector growth was 4.2 per cent compared with 4.8 per cent in 2016-17.
The core sector growth would have large impact on the Index of Industrial Production (IIP) data as these eight segments account for about 41% of the total factory output.
👉Core industries
Core industries can be defined as main industry of the economy. In most countries, there is particular industry that seems to be backbone of all other industries and it qualifies to be the core industry.
In India, there are eight core sectors comprising of coal, crude oil, natural gas, petroleum refinery products, fertilisers, steel, cement and electricity. The eight infrastructure sectors, constitute 40.27% of the total index of industrial production (IIP).
Individual weightages of industries in core sectors:-
Petroleum Refinery production (weight: 28.04%), Electricity generation (19.85%), Steel production (17.92%), Coal production (10.33%), Crude Oil production (8.98%), Natural Gas production (6.88%), Cement production (5.37%), Fertilizers production (2.63%).

💥NHRC NOTICES OVER CASTE ‘STAMPS’ ( POLITY)

👉Why in news
A controversy had erupted last week after photographs of newly-recruited constables sporting markings of ‘SC’, ‘ST’, ‘OBC’ on their chests went viral
Following the incident The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) took suo motu cognisance of media reports and issued a notice to the Madhya Pradesh government.
👉What is NHRC?
National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) is the apex statutory watchdog of human rights in the country under the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993.
NHRC was established on October 12, 1993, in conformity with the Paris Principles, adopted at the first international workshop on national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights held in Paris in October, 1991, and endorsed by the General Assembly of the United Nations in Resolution 48/134 of December 20, 1993.
NHRC and the SHRCs are autonomous bodies envisaged to complement the judiciary in the delivery of justice and has a wide mandate including civil and political rights, economic, social and cultural rights, and group rights. While inquiring into complaints under the Act, the Commission shall have all the powers of a civil court trying a suit under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908.
The National Human Rights Commission is constituted by the central government and comprises of:
  • A Chairperson who is a retired Chief Justice of India
  • One Member who is or has been a Judge of the Supreme Court
  • One Member who is or has been the Chief Justice of a High Court
  • Two Members to be appointed from amongst persons having knowledge of or practical experience in matters relating to human rights
In addition, the Chairpersons of the National Commission for Minorities, the National Commission for the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and the National Commission for Women are deemed to be Members of the Commission for the discharge of specific functions.

💥SC TELLS HCS TO SET UP PANELS TO MONITOR POCSO ACT TRIALS (GOVERNANCE)

The Supreme Court has issued a slew of directions to ensure faster time-bound justice in all cases involving sexual offences against children under the POCSO Act, 2012
A three-judge bench led by chief justice of India Dipak Misra asked high court chief justices to set up a panels of its judges to regulate and monitor trials to ensure that they stay on fast-track.
The decision was pronounced after the court was informed that a massive 1,12,628 cases under POCSO Act were pending before trial courts across the country, with Uttar Pradesh topping the list at 30,883.
👉The POSCO ACT
With the intent to effectively address the evil of sexual exploitation and sexual abuse of children, Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) was passed by the parliament in the year 2012.
Important features of the act are:-
  • It has raised the age of consensual sex from 16 years as per Indian Penal Code, 1860 to 18 years.
  • Different forms of sexual abuse including but not limited to sexual harassment, pornography, penetrative & non-penetrative assault are defined in the Act.
  • Sexual assault is deemed to be “aggravated” under certain circumstances such as, when the child is mentally ill. Also when the abuse is committed by the person in a position of trust such as doctor, teacher, policeman, family member.
  • The burden of proof lies on the accussed – punishment has been provided for false complaints or false information with malicious intent.
  • The Act provides for establishment of Special Courts for trial of such offences and matters related to it.
  • To monitor the implementation of the Act, National Commission for the Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) and State Commissions for the Protection of Child Rights (SCPCRs) have been made the designated authority. Both being statutory bodies.

💥SOON, YOU CAN MAKE CALLS, BROWSE WHILE FLYING IN INDIA ( TRANSPORT AND CONNECTIVITY)

Telecom Commission today approved a proposal for allowing mobile phone calls and internet services in domestic and international flights in India, few months from now.
Once implemented domestic and international airlines will be able to offer both services once an aircraft reaches an altitude of 3,000 metres, but not during takeoff and landing.
Globally, some 30 airlines offer on-board calling and data services but not while in Indian airspace. But it is expected that the new services will come at a far higher cost than on-ground rates.
The decision to this regard was taken by Telecom Commission, the highest decision-making body in the Department of Telecom, in line with the recommendation of TRAI

💥END OF CELEBRATIONS WITH PARTY POPPERS (ENVIRONMENT)

The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has banned party poppers, a popular decorative used at parties and celebrations, including at IPL matches — on the grounds of associated health risks.
Such poppers are a sealed cardboard case stuffed with shredded paper and glitter. Pulling an attached string sets off a mild, chemical explosive, which ‘pops’ open the case and releases a confetti of coloured paper and glitter.
However according to CPCB these plastic bits and the associated chemicals are harmful to health. The plastic glittering material and the other charge chemicals, which are generally low-intensity explosive, often composed of red-phosphorous, potassium chlorate and potassium perchlorate, are harmful to human health and environment. They get could even get mixed with food items and may cause severe eye trauma or facial injuries.
👉Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)
The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) of India is a statutory organisation under the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF). It was established in 1974 under the Water (Prevention and Control of pollution) Act, 1974. CPCB is also entrusted with the powers and functions under the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.
It serves as a field formation and also provides technical services to the Ministry of Environment and Forests under the provisions of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. It Co-ordinates the activities of the State Pollution Control Boards by providing technical assistance and guidance and also resolves disputes among them. It is the apex organisation in country in the field of pollution control, as a technical wing of MoEF.

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