Current Affairs : June 20, 2011

World Refugee Day

• 20^th June is observed as World Refugee Day by the United Nations
  
• To recognize the brave spirit and resilience of refugees around the world
  
• The Theme this Year: “One refugee without hope is too many”
  
• Theme intended to persuade the people to “Do One Thing” to show their unity for refugees around the world
  
• This year scripts the 60^th anniversary of the Refugee Convention of the United Nations
  
• As per UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) more than 10 million refugees around the world
  
• Refugee: Someone who has been put on to run away from his/her country due to harassment, war, or hostility
  
• As per UNHCR In the beginning of this year over 1,98,000 refugees in India
  
• The figure likely to go up to 2,04,000 by the end of December this year
  
• India is NOT party to the 1951 Refugee Convention or its 1967 Protocol
  
• India does NOT have a national refugee protection framework
  
• However, India keeps to allowing asylum to a large number of refugees from neighboring countries and respects UNHCR’s mandate for other nationals, mainly from Afghanistan and Myanmar
  
• Government of India deals in a different manner with different refugee groups but in general it respects the principle of the UNHCR documentation
  
• 1951 Refugee Convention is the key legal document in defining who is a refugee, their rights and the legal obligations of nations
  

   

Wimbledon begins in London

• The biggest Tennis tournament Wimbledon Championship begins in London
  
• 125^th
  time the All England Lawn Tennis Club will host the Wimbledon Championship
  
• The first tournament in 1877
  

Haryana lifts National Hockey Title after beating Karnataka

• Haryana lifts Hockey India ‘s first Senior National Hockey Championship (Men) title by defeating its rival Karnataka 2-1
  
• The final played at the floodlit Aishbagh Hockey Stadium in Bhopal
  
• S K Uthappa of Karnataka announced player of the tournament
  
  

Ambubashi mela begins from June 22, 2011

• Thousands of Sadhus and Sanyasins from home and abroad have assembled at the famous Shaktipeeth- Kamakhya Dham in Guwahati, Assam for the yearly Ambubashi mela beginning on Wednesday June 22, 2011
  
• The door of the temple to remain close for the visitors for 3 days from 23rd to 25th June 2011 due to the Mela
  
• Security arrangements tightened in and around the temple complex at Neelachal Hills
  

In the Monsoon Session Land Acquisition amendment bill to be introduced

• As per Mr. Jairam Ramesh (The Union Environment and Forests Minister) an amendment bill to the Land Acquisition Act would be tabled in the coming Monsoon session of Parliament
  

   

Report: India’s 32% land area affected by degradation

• 22 major programmes are being enforced in India, counting the Mission for Green India, in order to deal with the issues of desertification, land degradation and droughts
  
• Poverty and environmental degradation are major problems in dry lands, where forests and trees add appreciably to rural livelihoods
  
• An estimated 32% of India’s total land area affected by land degradation, majority of which is undergoing desertification
  
• Degradation will have harsh implications for livelihood and food security
  
• The key anthropogenic factors resulting in degradation:
  
  • Unsustainable agricultural practices
    
  • Diversion of land to development programmes
    
  • Industrial effluents
    
  • Mining
    
  • Deforestation
    

The State Human Rights Commission looks for a reply from Uttar Pradesh Govt. on Rape cases

• The State Human Rights Commission released notices to the Uttar Pradesh Government and different district officials seeking a reply by 28^th June 2011 on recent Rape cases in different districts
  
• June 30 fixed as the next date of hearing by the Commission
  
• Taking suo moto cognizance of Rape cases in different districts in recent past, the State Human Rights Commission hunted for an Answer from the State Senior Officials demanding them to put forward a comprehensive account regarding the incidents of rape and action taken in each case
  
• About 4 atrocious Rape cases have been reported in the State during the last 24 hours in which police initially did not take appropriate action
  
• The Officiating Chairman of the State Human Rights Commission Justice Vishnu Sahai, while referring incident of Kannauj in which accused has blinded a girl in their attempt to rape her remarked that the the horrible manner in which rape was committed, the culprits of such crimes need to be strictly dealt with
  

From August 1, 2011 Monsoon Session of Parliament begins

• The Monsoon Session of Parliament will be held from the 1st of August to 8th September
  
• Decision to this effect taken at a meeting of the CCPA (Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs) headed by the Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee
  
• The Committee decided to suggest to the President to summon the session from 1st of August 2011
  

17 new Clusters for Small, Medium industries to be set up by West Bengal Government

• 17 new Clusters to be set up by the WB Govt for Small and Medium industries in the state
  
• A Report to be prepared on land available in the closed factories in the state and the quantity of idle land taken by a variety of industrial groups for setting up industries
  

Field trial of VVPAT in 5 states to be conducted by the Election Commission

• VVPAT: Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail
  
• The EC to conduct field trial of VVPAT in 5 states on the 24th July 2011
  
• A few Political Parties recommended in October last year that the Commission should consider introducing VVPAT system
  
• This is to ensure a further verifiability and transparency in the electoral system
  
• VVPAT system: In this system when the voter presses the button for the candidate of his choice, a paper ballot containing the serial number, name of candidates and symbol of candidate will be printed
  
• All National and State Political Parties requested to appoint their representatives for the virtual elections so that they can give their views and opinion on the proposed system
  
• VVPAT system already used in Venezuela and in some states of the US
  
• The 5 districts where the trials will be held are-
  
• Leh
  
• Thiruvananthapuram
  
• East Khasi Hills in Cherrapunjee
  
• East Delhi
  
• Jaisalmer

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Month: Current Affairs - June, 2011