IAS Current Affairs

Why Criminalisation of politics is a danger? Law makers become the law breakers. The ethical dilemma of law making by the representatives without integrity and any political values. The issue of the quality of candidates contesting elections becomes important because it is at the root of our governance challenges. Dr Rajendra Prasad, president of the constituent assembly, reflected on this issue “If the people who are elected are capable and men of character and integrity, then they would be able to make the best of even of a defective constitution. If they are lacking in these, the constitution cannot help the country”. Supreme Court on Criminalization in politics The court observed that it cannot enter the legislative arena to provide disqualification of candidates, who are facing serious criminal cases against them. However, it asked the candidates to put in bold letter her/his criminal antecedents in the required affidavit. The SC said each political party will put o

World Happiness Report (WHR) 2018 Prepared by UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network: The World Happiness Report (WHR) 2018, which ranked 156 countries, placed India at the 133rd place on the index of global happiness. The top three countries are Finland, Norway and Denmark. It is released by the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network. It is based on income, healthy life expectancy, social support, freedom, trust and generosity. While India’s performance on this can be attributed to several factors, there is an fact that there is an intrinsic relationship between law and people’s happiness. The WHRs, over the years, confirmed that people tend to have: Poor mental health, A low score of subjective well-being and Poor perception about the governance and law and order, despite high income levels. Indian States and Efforts to Happiness The Madhya Pradesh government had earlier popularised the concept of Happiness index department in the country by setting u

India – Maldives Historical relations India and Maldives share ethnic, linguistic, cultural, religious and commercial links steeped in antiquity and enjoy close, cordial and multi-dimensional relations. India was among the first to recognise Maldives after its independence in 1965 and to establish diplomatic relations with the country. India and Maldives signed a trade agreement in 1981, which provides for export of essential commodities. Operation Cactus 1988, India sent 1600 soldiers to protect Male from the imminent invasion by LTTE guerrillas. After the tsunami that struck Maldives on the morning of 26 December 2004, India was the first country to rush relief and aid to Maldives. The India Cultural Centre (ICC) in Male was inaugurated in July 2011, which conducts courses in yoga, classical music and dance. India has earlier extended financial assistance for development projects in Maldives. Importance of Maldives: The strategic location of Maldives in South Indian

Need for the policy The contribution of digital communication sector stands as 8% to the GDP. This sector is also envisioned as a sunrise industry to cater the job demands of young engineers and other networking technicians. New digital communication policy to draw $100Billion investment and 4million jobs. Emerging technologies such as 5G and internet of things (IoT) requires a new consumer centric and application centric policy. The new policy aims at proliferation of telecom services and also facilitates low-cost financing to this sector. Highlights of the policy The NDCP-2018 envisions supporting India’s transition to a digitally empowered economy and society by fulfilling the information and communications needs of citizens and enterprises by establishment of a ubiquitous, resilient and affordable digital communications infrastructure and services. The ‘Customer focused’ and ‘application driven’ NDCP-2018 shall lead to new ideas and innovations, after the launch of

Evolution of Chemical Weapons Convention The Chemical Weapons Convention Act was enacted in 2000 to give effect to the  Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and use of Chemical Weapons  and on their Destruction signed by the government on January 14, 1993. It was enacted against the use of chemicals such as Sulphur Mustard Agent, Nitrogen Mustard, Phosgene oxide etc. as a potent weapon to incriminate destruction on the human beings. The success of the Chemical Weapon Convention is the result of  collaborative efforts  of the States Parties, the chemical industry, the community of scientists and civil society, working in  tandem with the OPCW. The world faced  daunting challenges  with  discovery of new toxic molecules , advancements in deployment and dissemination techniques and  “emergence of non-state actors  are among the important developments that call for greater vigilance and for renewing our efforts”. Chemical Weapons Convention

Highlights of the report Real average daily wages in India almost doubled in the first two decades  after economic reforms, but low pay and wage inequality remains a serious challenge to inclusive growth. Overall, in 2009-10,  a third of all of wage workers were paid less than the national minimum wage,  which is merely indicative and not legally binding. That includes 41% of all casual workers and 15% of salaried workers. 84.7% of jobs in Indian economy is in informal economy and more than 90% of women workforce is in informal sector. In 2011-12, the average wage in India was about 247 rupees a day,  almost double the 1993-94 figure of  128 . However, average labour productivity (as measured by GDP per worker) increased more rapidly than real average wages. Thus, India’s labour share — or the proportion of national income which goes into labour compensation, as opposed to capital or landowners — has declined. The rise in average wages was more rapid in rural areas, and for c