Daily Current Affairs 19 January 2020

Current Affairs Of Today Are

1) Citizens can skip a question on a place of birth of parents in NPR form

• The Registrar General of India (RGI) and other Home Ministry officials told the State representatives that respondents could skip the questions in the NPR form if they wanted and answering them was not mandatory but ‘voluntary
• Officials of non-­BJP­-ruled States  asked the Registrar General of India to remove the column on “place of birth of mother and father” in the proposed National Population Register (NPR) to be updated simultaneously with the Census exercise in April­-September
• West Bengal and Kerala, citing maintenance of ‘public order’ had earlier told the RGI that the NPR exercise should be halted.
• Minister of State for Home G. Kishan Reddy said no one would be pressured to collect details for the NPR.

About Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India

• Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India, founded in 1961 by Government of India Ministry of Home Affairs, for arranging, conducting and analyzing the results of the demographic surveys of India including the Census of India and Linguistic Survey of India. The position of Registrar is usually held by a civil servant holding the rank of Joint Secretary.
• RGCCI (population survey and language survey) as well as ASI (archaeology), AnSI (Anthropological Survey of India), BSI (botany), FSI (forests), FiSI (fisheries), GSI (geology), IIEE (ecology), NIO (oceanography), SI (cartography) and ZSI (zoology) are key national survey organizations of India.
• The first census of India was conducted in the 1870s and attempted to collect data across as much of the country as was feasible. The first of the decennial censuses took place in 1881. Until 1961, responsibility for arranging, conducting and analyzing the results of the census was exercised by a temporary administrative structure that was put in place for each census and then dismantled. From that time on, the office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India has existed as a permanent department of the central government; each state and union territory has a supervisory Directorate of Census Operations.

No documents are required

No documents are required to be shown by people during the NPR and Census exercise. People can give the details they want to. NPR should not be linked to the National Register of Citizens (NRC), Mr. Reddy said

Why It's being removed

Many State governments objected to the new fields (in NPR) particularly the place of birth of parents. This is impractical. Sometimes in villages and even in cities, people are not aware of their own place of birth. What is the purpose and objective of adding such a column

2) National Cyber Forensic Lab (NCFL)

In a fortnight, about 30 people will join the National Cyber Forensic Lab (NCFL) to assist security agencies in preventing, containing and investigating complex cybercrimes across the country

The idea was conceived a few months ago to strengthen the NCFL and upgrade the existing cyber forensic facilities to help the investigating officers across the country to “prevent, contain, mitigate, investigate and prosecute latest and complex cybercrimes

Delhi Police Cyber Prevention, Awareness & Detection Centre (CyPAD)

Delhi Police Cyber Prevention, Awareness & Detection Centre (CyPAD) which hosts NCFL was tasked by the Ministry of Home Affairs with the hiring of personnel and a Public Sector Undertaking was engaged as manpower consultant.

Selection process

• A committee comprising experts from the Capital’s noted technical institutions conducted the selection process, about 30 have finally been selected for the role. The approved number is 50 and the remaining will be hired depending on the requirement.
• Hired personnel have varied backgrounds and experiences in forensic science. “They will be manning different labs like Cryptocurrency Lab, Cloud Forensic Lab, and Network Forensic Lab among others
• The team will be working under the supervision of senior officers at CyPAD

About CyPAD

The MHA is executing a scheme called I­C4 (Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre) through its Cyber and Information Security division of which NCFL is one vertical. The CyPAD was inaugurated by former Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh in 2019 with an aim to

provide cyber investigation, cyber forensics, cyber safety, and security­related services to the citizens as well as to police units and agencies of Delhi.

3) China’s birth rate hits the lowest level since 1949 

• China’s birth rate dropped last year to its lowest level since the Communist country was founded in 1949, adding to concerns that an aging society and shrinking workforce will pile pressure on a slowing economy.
• To avoid a demographic crisis, the government relaxed its one­child policy in 2016 to allow people to have two children, but the change has not resulted in an increase in pregnancies. In 2019, the birth rate stood at 10.48 per 1,000 people, down slightly from the year before, according to data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) released. The number of births has now fallen for three consecutive years, still, there were 14.65 million babies born in 2019.
• He Yafu, an independent demographer based in southern Guangdong province, said the number of births was the lowest since 1961, the last year of a famine that left tens of millions dead.
• U.S.­based academic Yi Fuxian, senior scientist at the University of Wisconsin­Madison said that even though China has abolished its one­child policy, there has been a shift in the mindset of the population. He believes that China’s population is over­estimated, and according to his work, the real population “began to decline in 2018”

4) Blue Dot Network (BDN) rating mechanism

• During the talks in Washington, both countries had agreed to “promote practical cooperation in infrastructure development, counter­terrorism, cybersecurity, and regional connectivity.” To that end, the U.S. has launched a “Blue Dot Network” (BDN), which has already taken Japan and Australia on board to encourage private investment in infrastructure projects. The network is a “rating mechanism” that would grade infrastructure projects in the Indo­-Pacific region on different parameters to ensure transparency and is planned as a direct counter to China’s Belt and Road Initiative. However, unlike the BRI, the BDN would not offer public funds or loans for the project
• The official said he hoped India, which has refused to join China’s BRI, would join the U.S.­led BDN. “India has as much a role as it wants on the Blue Dot Network (BDN). It is as open as a Michelin standard for restaurants. We are hoping to build support for this initiative to grade infrastructure projects on debt, environmental standards, labor standards, etc. These would apply to projects in any citizen­centric country, where citizens would like to evaluate these project
• Blue Dot Network has been jointly launched by the US Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), and Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC). The aim of this initiative is to bring governments, the private sectors, and civil societies for promoting high-quality global infrastructure development in an open and inclusive framework.
• The Network will classify the market-driven nominated infrastructure projects which will be based on the transparency and financial sustainability in the Indo-Pacific region and around the world.
• The Blue Dot Network initiative was announced by OPIC’s David Bohigian at the Indo-Pacific Business Forum in Bangkok, Thailand which was held on 4 Nov 2019. The roadmap of this Network was discussed and unveiled during a panel discussion that included Bohigian, U.S. Department of State Under Secretary for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment Keith Krach, DFAT Deputy Secretary Richard Maude, and JBIC Governor Tadashi Maeda.
• Through Blue Dot Network, transparent, sustainable, and socially and environmentally responsible critical infrastructure has been envisaged for widespread economic empowerment. The US is quite happy being a partner of this network to fully unlock the power of quality infrastructure to foster unprecedented opportunity, progress, and stability.
• The private sector companies and civil society and the governments around the world are responsible for respect for transparency and accountability, the sovereignty of property and resources, local labor and human rights, rule of law, the environment, and sound governance practices in procurement and financing. This endorsement of Blue Dot Network not only creates a solid foundation for infrastructure global trust standards but reinforces the need for the establishment of umbrella global trust standards in other sectors, including digital, mining, financial services, and research.
• Australia’s commitment to this Network is to promote high-quality infrastructure, inclusive approaches, and facilitating private sector investment in the Indo-Pacific region, and this commitment is shared by East Asia Summit leaders.
• Blue Dot Network is an initiative that leads to the promotion of quality infrastructure investment committed by G20 countries. JBIC has a long history of infrastructure finance all over the world.
• The official release refers that Blue Dot Network will support the goals of East Asia Summit Leaders and build upon common principles of project excellence agreed to as part of the G20 Buenos Aires Call to Action, G20 Osaka Summit Principles for Promoting Quality Infrastructure Investment.
• The Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), established in 1971, is a self-sustaining U.S. Government agency that helps American businesses invest in emerging markets. It also provides businesses with the tools to manage the risks associated with foreign direct investment, fosters economic development in emerging market countries., OPIC helps American businesses gain footholds in new markets, catalyzes new revenues and contributes to jobs and growth opportunities both at home and abroad. OPIC services are available to new and expanding businesses planning to invest in more than 160 countries worldwide.
• For Australia, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) is an agency charged with providing the government with foreign, trade, and development policy advice. It manages an A$4 billion aid program as well as the new Australian Infrastructure Financing Facility for the Pacific (AIFFP), which provides lending and grants. DFAT works to make Australia stronger, safer, and more prosperous by promoting its interests internationally and contributing to regional and global stability and economic growth.
• The Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) is a policy-based financial institution that aims for contributing to the sound development of the Japanese and international economy.
• This institution is responsible for financial functions to promote overseas investment and secure natural resources with strategic importance to Japan. JBIC also maintains and improvize the international competitiveness of Japanese industries, promoting overseas business having the purpose of preserving the global environment.
• The initiative complements efforts by OPIC, DFAT, and JBIC to strengthen development finance cooperation in support of principles-based infrastructure and sustainable economic growth.
• In the end, Blue Dot Network participants will form a steering committee to invite partners representing sovereign governments, economies, the private sector, and civil society to join the effort and support the Network.

5) Government.-to-Government framework For Defence Sales

• The U.K. government is working on a government-­to-­government framework for defense deals in the future given India’s preference for such an arrangement, Brig. Gavin Thompson, U.K. Defence Adviser in India, said 
• However, unlike the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) route of the U.S. government, where the government levies a small service charge there are no overheads built into the contract. “It is a lighter mode
• In the last few years, India had concluded multi­billion dollar deals through the Inter­Governmental route for Rafale jets, S­400 air defense systems and stealth frigates among others
• During Aero India at Bengaluru last year, U.K. made a pitch to India for collaboration in the areas of aircraft carriers and the development of 6th generation fighter aircraft technologies. In this regard, he said the Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carriers are 30% of the cost of the U.S. carriers, provide 60% of the sortie rate, and require only 25% of the manning compared to U.S. aircraft carriers.
• There is also interest in the Indian Navy on the U.K.’s progress in integrated electric­propulsion and have exchanged subject matter experts. 

6) KVIC approves Khadi Rumal Stitching charges for Women working at KVIC center Nagrota (J&K)

• In line with the suggestions of Union Minister for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Shri Nitin Gadkari on December 17, 2019, while launching sale of ‘Khadi Rumal’ being stitched by militancy affected women of Jammu and Kashmir (at Nagrota near Jammu), Chairman KVIC, Shri VK Saxena has approved the enhancement of wages from Rs. 2 to Rs. 3 per piece w.e.f. 1st Jan 2020.
• Quite noticeably, each woman artisan at Nagrota used to earn around Rs. 170 - Rs. 200 stitching 85-90 Khadi Rumals on an average working 4 hours per day. Now with revised wages, each woman will earn around Rs. 250 – Rs. 300 per day, thus increasing their income by around 50%. Since the launch on 17th December 2019, approximately 30,000 Khadi Rumals have been sold by Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC). Nagrota a center has been established by KVIC to provide employment to local women.
• The intention of KVIC has been to promote ‘Khadi Rumal’ and contribute meaningfully to the families of militancy affected areas of J&K. Currently, the stitching center has a production capacity of 10,000 ‘Khadi Rumals’ per day stitched by 130 women artisans.”
• KAVIC has targeted to sell 5 Crore pieces of Khadi Rumal by 2020. To create 5 Crore pieces of Khadi Rumal, around 15 Lakh Kg’s of cotton will be consumed and it will require 25 lakh man-days of spinning, 12.5 lakh man-days of weaving and around 7.5 lakh man-days for cutting, stitching and packaging of Rumals. Thus creating 44 lakh man-days of livelihood, yielding wages amounting to Rs. 88 Crores for various artisans

7) MoU between NITI Aayog and Union Territory of Ladakh for Development of Infrastructure Projects

• In an important initiative to promote the development of key infrastructure sectors in the newly constituted Union Territory of Ladakh, NITI Aayog entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the UT’s administration on 17 January 2020. Under this MoU, NITI Aayog will be supporting the UT’s administration through its key initiative ‘Development Support Services to States for Infrastructure Projects (D3S-i)’.
• The MoU was executed in the presence of NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant and Joint Secretary MC Jauhari. It was signed by NITI Aayog Senior Adviser Dr. Yogesh Suri and Adviser to the Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh Umang Narula.
• The partnership lays thrust on the identification of high-impact priority projects, expedited project implementation, addressing structural-level issues and creating unique models of development for the Union Territory of Ladakh. NITI Aayog has committed to assist the UT’s administration in creating a strategic plan for identifying prioritized infrastructure projects and by providing end-to-end transaction-management support for the identified projects. A dedicated team of professionals is expected to be stationed at Ladakh for identification and development of projects in the UT, especially in tourism, solar energy, and basic infrastructure

8) Z-Morh tunnel in J&K

• A Concession Agreement was signed today for completing the 6.5 km long Z-Morh tunnel in J&K in the presence of Union Minister for Road Transport & Highways and MSMEs Shri Nitin Gadkari. MoS Road Transport & Highways Gen (Retd) Dr. V K Singh, Secretary Road Transport & Highways Shri Sanjiv Ranjan, and other senior officers from the Ministry and NHIDCL were present on the occasion.
• The project includes construction, operation and maintenance of the tunnel with approaches on NH-1 at Srinagar-Sonmarg-Gumri Road from 61 km to 89.30 km on Design, Build, Finance, Operate and Transfer (DBFOT) Annuity basis.
• The 2-lane bi-directional tunnel with a parallel escape tunnel will be completed in 3.5 years for Rs 2378.76 Crore. The concessionaire has been awarded the DLP Period /Operation & Maintenance Period of 15 years from the Completion Date. The earlier contract is being foreclosed in terms of Ministry ‘Guidelines Principles for Resolution of Stuck National Highway Projects’ dated 09.03.2019.
• Bids for the project were re-invited on 24.06.2019 with a TPC of Rs. 2378.76 Cr on BOT (Annuity) basis. Four bids were received and were opened on 29.08.2019. After receiving necessary administrative approval and financial sanction, the project award was sanctioned by the Ministry on 17.12.2019. The LoA for the project was subsequently issued on 19.12.2019 to the M/s APCO Infrastructure Pvt. Ltd.

9) "APNA UREA - SonaUgle" brand of HURL

• The Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilizers, Shri D.V. Sadananda Gowda launched the "APNA UREA - SonaUgle" brand of Hindustan Urvarak&Rasayan Limited (HURL)
• HURL is a Joint Venture Company promoted by the three Maharatna Companies i.e. Coal India Limited (CIL), NTPC Limited (NTPC) and Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) as the lead promoters with FCIL and HFCL as other two partners.
• With the objective of making the country self-reliant in Urea, the Governmentapproved in 2016 the revival of three sick Urea plants located at Gorakhpur, Sindri, and Barauni. The task of the revival of these three Units has been undertaken by HURL. The other two plants at Ramagundam and Talcherwill also commence production soon. We are importing 70-80 LMT fertilizer every year. After the commissioning of these five units, the total production of Urea will increase by 63.5 Lakh Metric Tonne Per Annum (LMTPA)
• The HURL is being looked like a major emerging player in the Urea market due to the revival of the three closed units in 2021 having a total installed production capacity of 38.1 LMT of Neem Coated Urea per annum. The Company will establish and operate state-of-the-art environment-friendly and energy-efficient Natural Gas based new Fertilizer Complexes with the annual installed capacity of 1.27 MMTPA neem coated Urea at each of the three locations which are expected to be commissioned in February 2021 (Gorakhpur, UP) and May 2021 (Barauni and Sindri). The feedstock to the plants i.e. Natural Gas will be supplied by GAIL under the Pooled Price Mechanism.