Current Affairs 10th April 2019
Current Affairs from PIB, The Hindu and Indian Express
Current Affairs 10th April 2019
ECI invokes powers under Article 324 to prohibit display/exhibit any biopic/publicity material during MCC period
The Election Commission of India today issued an order prohibiting display in electronic media including cinematograph of any biopic or publicity material in the nature of biography/hagiography sub-serving the purposes of any political entity or any individual entity connected to it.
Article 324:
Article 324 of Constitution of India deals with Superintendence, direction and control of elections to be vested in an Election Commission.
About Model Code of Conduct:
- Model Code of Conduct (MCC) for political parties and candidates is a set of norms evolved with the consensus of political parties and enforced by the Election Commission of India.
Objectives:
- To help the Election commission of India to conduct free and fair elections and maintain high standards of public morality.
- To provide a level playing field between contestants so that the ruling party doesn’t misuse its position to gain an unfair advantage by taking decisions that can help them in the elections.
- To ensure that parties and candidates show respect for their opponents, criticize their policies and programmes constructively, and not resort to mudslinging and personal attacks.
Governments Covered:
- At the time of the Lok Sabha elections, both the Union and state governments are covered under the MCC.
Duration of enforcement:
- The code is enforced from the date of announcement of election schedule till the announcement of the election result.
- However, the Commission can’t make its announcement more than three weeks ahead of issuing the formal notification of elections.
Restrictions for the party in power:
- The MCC forbids ministers (of state and central governments) from using official machinery for election work and from combining official visits with electioneering.
- Advertisements praising the work of the incumbent government using public money are to be avoided.
- The government cannot announce any financial grants, promising construction of roads or other facilities, and make any ad hoc appointments in government or public undertaking during the time the Code is in force.
- Ministers cannot enter any polling station or counting center except in their capacity as a voter or a candidate.
- However, the Code does not halt the ongoing schemes of development work or welfare, relief and rehabilitation measures meant for people suffering from natural calamities. However, the EC forbids the use of these works for election propaganda.
Legal status:
- It is not under the law, it is not even under conduct rules, in short, it has no statutory backing.
- Governments have in the past attempted to amend The Representation of the People Act, 1951, to make some violations of the MCC illegal and punishable.
- However, the commission is of the opinion that making the Code legally enforceable would be self-defeating because any violation must be responded to quickly — and this will not be possible if the matter goes to court.
Enforcing the MCC:
- It is not a legally enforceable document, and the Commission usually uses moral sanction to get political parties and candidates to fall in line.
- There are examples of the EC taking punitive action against violators.
Scientific Convention on World Homoeopathy Day Inaugurated
The two-day Convention on World Homeopathy Day was inaugurated by Secretary, Ministry of AYUSH Dr. Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha.
The World Homeopathy Day is seen to recognize the birth commemoration of the organizer of Homeopathy, Dr. Christian Fredrich Samuel Hahnemann. Sh. Nilanjal Sanyal, Chairman, Board of Governors, Central Council of Homeopathy and Sh. Tridandi Chinna Ramanuja Jeeyar Swamiji additionally graced the debut function.
Dr. Kotecha conferred awards bestowed by CCRH to incentivize the contributors in the field of Homoeopathy research. ‘Lifetime achievement award for best practitioner’ is conferred to Dr. Ramanlal P. Patel, an active participant of Quit India Movement and is one of the few living legends of homeopathy having experience of more than 50 years, in treating cancer cases.
Data Users’ Conference Deliberates on strategy and questionnaire for Census 2021
For the first time in the 140 years long Census exercise in India, data is proposed to be collected through a mobile app, officials of Registrar General of India said at the conference of data users here today to finalize the strategy and questionnaire for the Census 2021.
Describing the Census 2021 as the world’s largest such exercise, Union Home Secretary Shri Rajiv Gauba informed the conference that 33 lakh enumerators would be mobilized for data collection for which notification has already been issued.
He urged caution while using technology for data collection in Census 2021 and stressed that data confidentiality should be maintained. He asked the members – delegates from Ministries of Central and State governments, scholarly foundations and global associations – to consider the technique and survey for the enumeration to expand the advantages from this activity.
India becomes YouTube largest and fastest growing market
10 April 2019 Current Affairs: India has become YouTube’s largest and fastest growing market with 265 million Indians watching the video-sharing website every month.
In the last year, YouTube’s consumption on mobile has increased to 85%, with 60% of the watch time coming from outside the six largest metros in India. Today, YouTube creators have become effective storytellers, with more than 1,200 Indian creators crossing the million subscriber-milestone, compared to five years ago, when there were only two creators.
Youtube:
- Founded on: February 14, 2005
- Headquarters: California, United States
- CEO: Susan Wojcicki
- Parent: Google (2006–present)
YouTube today has become the first stop for users to consume content, whether they are looking for entertainment or information. It is this incredible variety of content combined with the growing reach that makes YouTube a perfect platform for brands to drive personalized engagement.
User behaviour has shifted massively to mobile video and therein lies the opportunity for marketers today.
YouTube allows users to upload, view, rate, share, add to playlists, report, comment on videos, and subscribe to other users. It offers a wide variety of user-generated and corporate media videos.
River Periyar in Kerala witnesses decolourisation
The River Periyar in Kerala is again witnessing the decolourisation. The pollution control Board (PCB) has attributed the change in colour to the poor quality of water as a result of eutrophication. PCB has stated that huge quantities of organic load in the form of sewage from nearby townships are regularly reaching the river system. The decolorization of River Periyar which provides drinking water to Kochi city and adjoining areas. The water turned pitch black in one stream, it was milky near the Pathalam regulator-cum-bridge.
River Periyar:
River Periyar is an artificial reservoir created by Mullaperiyar Dam across the river
Periyar is the longest river and the river with the largest discharge potential in the Indian state of Kerala. The Periyar is of utmost significance to the economy of Kerala
It generates a significant proportion of Kerala's electrical power via the Idukki Dam and flows along a region of industrial and commercial activity. The river also provides water for irrigation and domestic use throughout its course besides supporting a rich fishery. The river has been named as the "Lifeline of Kerala". 25% of Kerala's industries are along the banks of river Periyar
Eutrophication:
Eutrophication is when a body of water becomes overly enriched with minerals and nutrients which induce excessive growth of plants and algae
This process may result in oxygen depletion of the water body. One example is an "algal bloom" or a great increase of phytoplankton in a water body as a response to increased levels of nutrients
Eutrophication is often induced by the discharge of nitrate or phosphate-containing detergents, fertilizers, or sewage into an aquatic system
India retained top spot as the worlds largest recipient of remittances in 2018
According to the latest edition of World Bank’s Migration and Development Brief, India’s remittance in 2018 stood at USD 79 billion.
India was followed by:
2. China: 67$ billion
3. Mexico: 36$ billion
4. Philippines: 34$ billion
5. Egypt: 29$ billion
In 2016, India received $62.7 billion in remittances and in 2017 it was $65.3 billion.
Remittances grew by more than 14 percent in India, where a flooding disaster in Kerala likely boosted the financial help that migrants sent to families.
Global remittances:
Global remittances, which include flows to high-income countries, reached USD 689 billion in 2018, up from USD 633 billion in 2017.
Remittances to low-and-middle-income countries reached a record high of USD 529 billion in 2018, an increase of 9.6 percent over the previous record high of USD 483 billion in 2017.
Reducing remittance costs to three percent by 2030 is a global target under Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 10.7.
India-Singapore Joint Military Exercise Bold Kurukshetra 2019
Military forces of India and Singapore to participate in a joint exercise in Babina Cantonment in Jhansi.
The three-day exercise, ‘Bold Kurukshetra–2019’, conducted to develop military technology, boost maritime security and bolster the nations’ fight against terrorism.
The two countries signed a cooperation agreement to strengthen the defense ties between the Indian Military and Singapore Armed Forces in November.
President Launches ‘CRPF Veer Parivar’ App For Families of Martyred CRPF Troops
President Ram Nath Kovind launched ‘CRPF Veer Parivar’ app, a mobile application for families of CRPF personnel killed in the line of duty.
The app was launched after the President paid his tributes to the fallen troops at the National Police Memorial in Delhi on the occasion of the CRPF's 'Valour Day'.
London Becomes 1st City To Use Pollution Charge Zone
London (capital city of the UK) is the first city in the world to implement a 24-hour, seven day a week Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ), inside which vehicles will have to meet tough emissions standards or face a charge.
Introduction of the ULEZ aims to reduce toxic air pollution and protect public health, according to a press release from the office of Sadiq Khan, mayor of London.