Current Affairs July 13, 2011

Target of generating 1 Lakh MW Electricity in 12th year plan

• The Power Ministry set a target of generating 1 Lakh MW (Mega Watt) electricity in the 12th year plan
  
• As per The Union Minister of Power Sushil Kumar Shinde:
  

1. The total installed capacity in the country is about 1,78,000 MW, out of which 38,000 mega watt is the capacity addition in the current Plan
   
2. 12,000 mega watt capacity addition work was carried out in the year 2010-11 which is ever the highest addition in any previous plan
   
3. The average energy shortage in the peak hour has reduced to 8% from the earlier shortage of 24%
   

Empowered Group of Ministers (EGoM) approves draft of Food Security Bill

• Empowered Group of Ministers, EGoM approved the draft Food Security Bill
  
• The Bill provides highly subsidized wheat and rice to the poor as a matter of legal right
  
• The Ministers’ panel headed by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee cleared the flagship proposal of the UPA government which will provide food grains at a cheap rate to 75% of the rural population and 50%
  
• Thus 68% of the country’s total population will have the food security
  
• A quantity of 7 kg per month per person will be given to the BPL (Below Poverty Line) people @3 Rupees per kg for rice and @2 Rupees per kg for wheat
  

Anti-Dumping Duty on import of Chemicals

Anti-Dumping Duty on import of a chemicals used in industrial cleaning processes and ceramics manufacture has been imposed by the Government

Reason:
– To protect domestic players from cheap Chinese shipments

• Restrictive duty of up to $ 0.556 per Kg on the import of ‘Sodium Tripoly Phosphate’ for a period of 5 years
  
• Directorate General of Anti-Dumping and Allied Duties (DGAD): A nodal agency under the Commerce Ministry
  
• DGAD after an investigation concluded in its probe that the domestic industry had suffered a material injury on account of dumping of the product by China
  
• Anti-dumping duty has already been imposed on imports of fabric, yarn, nylon tyre cord and several other chemicals
  

Government to invest $1 billion on internal security

• Government will be investing around $1 billon on the internal security modernizing programmes
  
• Security forces account for around 60-70% of the overall procurements of equipment and solutions for security
  

Devotees celeberates ‘Suna Besha’ of Lord Jagnnath at Puri

• In Odisha, more than 10 lakh devotees gathered at the holy city of Puri to see the ‘Suna Besha’ or the ‘Golden Attire’ of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra
  
• The 3 deities are decorated with golden ornaments
  
• Belief: It is believed by the devotees that there will be no rebirth if one sees the deities in ‘Suna Besha’
  

UPSC allows candidates to appear in interview in Languages opted for written exams

• The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) decides that candidates who opt for an Indian language medium other than Hindi for the written Civil Services exam can now give the interview in the same Indian language, English or Hindi
  
• The UPSC said in an affidavit submitted in the Bombay High Court that as per the recommendations of an expert committee, even those candidates who give the main exam in English can now choose for the interview English, Hindi or any other Indian language, opted by them for the compulsory Indian language paper in the written part of the test
  
• The affidavit was submitted by UPSC in response to a PIL filed by a IAS aspirant
  

India asks China to accelerate clearance of Pharmaceutical companies to gain access in market

• India asked China to accelerate clearance for its pharmaceutical companies to gain access to China’s market
  
• Entry of Indian pharmaceuticals to this country’s market would also greatly benefit Chinese people as India produces comparatively affordable drugs
  
• India has recognized Pharmaceuticals along with IT as a major area of opportunity to push its exports to China to reduce the growing trade imbalance between the two countries
  

NADA cautions sports persons about banned drugs

• The National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) warned athletes and sports persons to be wary of banned drugs
  
• As per NADA athletes and sports persons would ultimately be held responsible and not their coaches or others who encourage them to take steroids to boost their performance
  
• There is a need to increase awareness among athletes and sports persons about banned substances both by NADA and the World Anti-Doping Agency
  

Committee for reform in power sector set up by the Planning Commission

• A Committee setup by the Planning Commission to suggest ways and means for Reforms in the Power Sector
  
• Committee to be headed by former CAG, V.K. Shunglu
  
• Committee to submit its report by the end of the September 2011
  
• Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission: Montek Singh Ahluwalia
  
• Recommendations of the Shunglu Committee to be implemented after consultations with State Chief Ministers
  

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Month: Current Affairs - July, 2011