Daily PIB Analysis For UPSC/IAS | 3rd April 19 | Download PDF

MCQ 1.

1. The government has proposed setting up bureaucrat-led committees that would sit and decide on complaints against the Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) and Information Commissioners (ICs).
2. Right now there is no ground given for removal of CIC in RTI Act Choose correct

(A) Only 1
(B) Only 2
(C) Both
(D) None

• In what is being seen by the Central Information Commission as an attempt to erode its independence and undermine its role as per the Right To Information (RTI) law, the government has proposed setting up bureaucrat-led committees that would sit and decide on complaints against the Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) and Information Commissioners (ICs).
• Sec 14 (1) insulates, why panel sees red
• A committee with majority bureaucrats scrutinising complaints against Information Commissioners will skew checks and balances in favour of the political executive. Section 14(1) of RTI Act insulates them, saying they can be removed only by the President after the Supreme Court, on a Presidential reference, has, on inquiry, called for the removal. That’s why the proposal is being opposed by the full Commission.
• The Information Commissioners, including the CIC, carry the same status as judges of the Supreme Court and are appointed by the President of India based on recommendations of a committee chaired by the Prime Minister and including the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha and a Union Cabinet Minister nominated by the PM.
• Section 14 (1) of the RTI Act states that Commissioners can be removed only by the President on the ground of proved misbehaviour or incapacity after the Supreme Court, on a reference made to it by the President, has, on inquiry, reported that the CIC or any IC ought on such ground be removed.
• Section 14 (3) states the President may remove a Commissioner if he/she is adjudged an insolvent, has been convicted of an offence which involves moral turpitude, engages during his/her term of office in any paid employment outside, is unfit to continue in office by reason of infirmity of mind or body; or has acquired such financial or other interest as is likely to affect prejudicially his functions as the CIC or an IC.

MCQ 2

• Which among are counted as core industries ?

1. Electricity
2. Fertilizer
3. Textile
4. Steel

(A) 1,2,3
(B) 2,3,4
(C) 1,2,4
(D) All

• All The Eight Core Industries comprise 40.27 per cent of the weight of items included in the Index of Industrial Production (IIP).
• The combined Index of Eight Core Industries stood at 134.8 in January, 2019, which was 1.8per cent higher as compared to the index of January, 2018. Its cumulative growth during April to January, 2018-19was 4.5per cent.

1. Coal
2. Crude Oil
3. Natural Gas
4. Refinery Products
5. Fertilizers
6. Steel
7. Cement
8. Electricity

MCQ 3

• International solar alliance has launched which of these major programmes

1. Scaling Solar Applications for Agriculture Use.
2. Affordable Finance at Scale.
3. Scaling Solar Mini-grids to help in achieving the overall goal of increasing solar energy deployment in the ISA member countries.

(A) 1 & 2
(B) 2 & 3
(C) All
(D) None
MCQ 4

1. The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) is an intergovernmental organization to promote adoption and sustainable use of renewable energy
2. The agency is headquartered in Egypt 3. Its an official UN Observer Choose correct

(A) 1 & 2
(B) 1 & 3
(C) 2 & 3
(D) All

• It was founded in 2009 and its statute entered into force on 8 July 2010. The agency is headquartered in Abu Dhabi
• About IRENA
• The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) is an intergovernmental organisation that supports countries in their transition to a sustainable energy future, and serves as the principal platform for international cooperation, a centre of excellence, and a repository of policy, technology, resource and financial knowledge on renewable energy.
• IRENA promotes the widespread adoption and sustainable use of all forms of renewable energy, including bioenergy, geothermal, hydropower, ocean, solar and wind energy in the pursuit of sustainable development, energy access, energy security and low-carbon economic growth and prosperity.
• With a mandate from countries around the world, IRENA encourages governments to adopt enabling policies for renewable energy investments, provides practical tools and policy advice to accelerate renewable energy deployment, and facilitates knowledge sharing and technology transfer to provide clean, sustainable energy for the world’s growing population.

MCQ 5

• The country which has recently joined International solar alliance

1. Argentina
2. Paraguay
3. Chile
4. D.Bolivia

• India seeks Lithium from South American nations to meet Solar Energy and Electric Vehicles Target
• As India moves closer to implementing policies for achieving its massive targets for electric vehicles and solar energy having a sustainable supply of Lithium-ion is more important than ever. In this report we explain the steps being taken by India to localise Lithium-ion cell/ battery production in order to support future growth.
• With big plans to converting all its vehicles to an electric platform by 2030, India is reaching out to the `Lithium Triangle’ in South America- Argentina, Bolivia and Chile seeking the rare metal Lithium to realise its goal.
• Lithium is needed making batteries not only for the vehicles but is also required for laptops, and mobile phones. There have been hectic diplomatic engagements with inward and outgoing visits to these countries. The common thread has been India seeking to either have joint ventures, acquisition and exploration of Lithium mines in these countries. Last week, in the first-ever high-level visit by any Indian leader to Bolivia, President Ram Nath Kovind and his Bolivian counterpart Evo Morales had wide-ranging talks on strengthening relations in various sectors including space exploration, mining, mining, information technology, pharmaceutical and traditional medicines.
• This was also the first time ever that President Evo Morales personally signed the Framework agreement establishing the commitment of Bolivia joining the International Solar Alliance (ISA).

MCQ 6

1. Nuclear command authority is headed by President of India
2. There is a political council that advises to the executive council.

Choose correct
(A) Only 1
(B) Only 2
(C) Both
(D)None

UPSC

• Public Disclosure of Scores and Other Details of The Willing Non-Recommended Candidates of The Commission’s Examinations
• The Union Public Service Commission has issued a Disclosure Scheme for disclosing the scores and other details of the non-recommended candidates. This Scheme covers only willing candidates who appeared at the Interview Stage of a Commission’s Examination. Such details include Name of the candidate, Father’s/ Husband’s name, Date of Birth, Category, Gender, Educational Qualifications, Total marks etc. These details are arranged in Roll Number order. The objective of the Scheme is to provide a useful database to other employers to enable them to identify good employable candidates.
• These details are uploaded on the Website of the Commission, which is linked to the National Career Service (NCS) Portal of the Ministry of Labour and Employment. This information of an Examination remains available for one year from the date of disclosure.
• The Scheme has come into force with the Combined Medical Services Examination, 2017. Other Examinations so far covered are Combined Defence Services Examination (Il), 2017; Indian Economic Service Examination, 2018; Indian Statistical ServiceExamination, 2018; Indian Forest Service Examination, 2018 and Combined Geo-Scientist & Geologist Examination, 2018 and Combined Defence Services Examination (I), 2018.
• Details of 4,338 candidates including professionals in the field of medicine, economics, statistics, geophysics, hydrogeology etc. are available for employment to different employers. These details may be seen at https://upsc.gov.in/examination/public-disclosure-of-scores-through-portal.
• Appearing in the Interview (the final stage of the Commission’s Examinations) indicates itself about the skill level and capabilities of such candidates.

Ministry of Labour & Employment

• The Government is implementing the National Career Service (NCS) Project for transformation of the National Employment Service to provide a variety of employment related services like job matching, career counseling, vocational guidance, information on skill development courses, etc. which are offered through the Employment Exchanges.
• These services are available online on the National Career Service Portal (www.ncs.gov.in) and supported by Call Centre/Helpdesk.
• The NCS services are accessible from multiple delivery channels like NCS Portal, Employment Exchanges including Model Career Centres, Common Service Centre etc.
• The NCS portal provides for registration of employers, job seekers, placement organisations and training providers to offer employment related services online.
• Under the NCS Project 100 Model Career Centres (MCCs) are being established in collaboration with States and other institutions to deliver employment services.
• The Model Career Centres have been provided funds upto Rs. 50 Lakhs per centre based on the guidelines of the Scheme for IT infrastructure and upgradation.

Ministry of Defence

• Third Edition of Bilateral Maritime Exercise between Royal Australian and Indian Navies – AUSINDEX-19 set to begin
• The third edition of AUSINDEX, an acronym for Australia India Exercise is scheduled to commence with the arrival of HMAS Canberra (L02), a Landing Helicopter Dock, HMAS New Castle(06) and HMAS Paramatta(154), both frigates; HMAS Collins, a conventional submarine and HMAS Success(OR 304), a Durance-class multi-product replenishment oiler at Visakhapatnam on 02 April 19. The aim of the exercise is, “To strengthen and enhance mutual cooperation and interoperability between the IN and RAN, providing opportunities for interaction and exchange of professional views between the personnel of the two navies”.
• A sign of strengthening of bilateral and defence cooperation between the two countries as envisaged in the Framework for Security Cooperation (FSC) announced by the Australian and Indian Prime Ministers in 2014.
• The maiden edition of the exercise was held in September 2015 at Visakhapatnam. Australia hosted the second edition of the exercise off Freemantle in June 2017, wherein ships of the Eastern Fleet of the Indian Navy (IN) exercised with Royal Australian Navy (RAN) ships and submarines.
• Building on a long history of cooperation – including the shared experiences in the trenches of World War I in Gallipoli and along the Western Front – Australia and India have a positive defence relationship, underpinned by the 2006 Memorandum of Defence Cooperation and 2009 Joint Declaration on Security Cooperation. However, post the 2014 bilateral FSC the cooperation on defence and security matters between the two countries has gained significant momentum thus, witnessing conscious and focused enhancements.

Ministry of Commerce & Industry

• 4th Session of India-Ukraine working group on Trade and Economic Cooperation held in New Delhi
• The 4th Meeting of India-Ukraine Working Group on Trade and Economic Cooperation (IU-WGTEC), under the India-Ukraine Inter Governmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technical, Industrial and Cultural Cooperation was held today in New Delhi.
• Indian delegation was led by Bidyut Behari Swain, Additional Secretary, Foreign Trade (CIS), Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India. Ukrainian Side was led by Mr. Oleksiy Rozhkov, Director of Directorate for International Trade and Economic Cooperation and European Integration of the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of Ukraine.
• A protocol was signed at the end of the meeting.
• The protocol deals with review of trade, cooperation in the field of small and medium entrepreneurship, cooperation in the field of technical regulation (standardization, metrology, certification, conformity assessment), public-private partnership (PPP) and investment, agriculture, facilitating the access of Ukrainian food products to the market of India, energy sector, finance, granting Ukraine market economy status within the framework of anti-dumping investigations, and banking and cooperation in tourism.

US approves sale of 24 MH 60 Romeo Seahawk helicopters to India

• The Trump administration has approved the sale of 24 multirole MH-60 Romeo Seahawk helicopters to India at an estimated cost of 2.4 billion US dollars, the State Department has said.
• It is considered the world’s most advanced maritime helicopter.
• The choppers will provide the Indian defence forces with the capability to perform anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare missions.
• The US government yesterday notified the Congress that it has approved the sale of the helicopters.
• In its notification, the State Department told the Congress that this proposed sale will support the foreign policy of the US by helping to strengthen the US-Indian strategic relationship.
• The proposed sale of the helicopters will not alter the basic military balance in the region, the statement added.

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