Current Affairs for UPSC IAS Exam – 8 January 2020

Contents:

1. 4 Nirbhaya case convicts to be hanged
2. Genome sequencing of Indian cobra
3. HighRadius: A business Unicorn of 2020
4. Cutting Expenditure to curb deficit
5. Nation pension scheme
6. GOCO MODEL to identify industry partners
7. NETSCOFAN

4 NIRBHAYA CASE CONVICTS TO BE HANGED

Why in news?

All four convicts in the December 16, 2012, Nirbhaya gang­rape and murder case

will be hanged on January 22,2020 at 7 a.m. inside Tihar jail

Justice Verma Committee

• Justice Verma Committee was constituted to recommend amendments to the Criminal Law so as to provide for quicker trial and enhanced punishment for criminals accused of committing sexual assault against women.  The Committee submitted its report on January 23, 2013.

• Punishment for crimes against women: The Committee rejected the proposal for chemical castration as it fails to treat the social foundations of rape.  It opined that death penalty should not be awarded for the offence of rape as there was considerable evidence that death penalty was not a deterrence to serious crimes.  It recommended life imprisonment for rape.

Reforms in management of cases related to crime against women: 

• A Rape Crisis Cell should be set up.  The Cell should be immediately notified when an FIR in relation to sexual assault is made.  The Cell must provide legal assistance to the victim.
• All police stations should have CCTVs at the entrance and in the questioning room.
• A complainant should be able to file FIRs online.
• Police officers should be duty bound to assist victims of sexual offences irrespective of the crime’s jurisdiction.
• Members of the public who help the victims should not be treated as wrong doers.
• The police should be trained to deal with sexual offences appropriately.
• Number of police personnel should be increased.  Community policing should be developed by providing training to volunteers.

GENOME OF INDIAN COBRA SEQUENCED

Why in news?

A consortium of scientists, including some from India, have mapped the genome of

the Indian Cobra, among the most poisonous snakes in the country

Use of genome sequencing

Knowing the sequence of genes could aid in understanding the chemical constituents of the venom and contribute to development of new antivenom therapies, which have

remained practically unchanged for over a century

HIGHRADIUS

Why in news?

Indian origin person has innovated the product and it has been selected as unicorn business for 2020

Details

It is an Artificial Intelligence based platform facilitating back office functions such as trade receivables and treasury management.

CUTTING EXPENDITURE TO CURB DEFICIT

Why in news?

Government is planning to cut its expenditure

Details

• Government may look to cut expenditure as it is eying one of the highest tax shortfall
• As the economy is growing at its lowest in the last 6 years, this move might create further problems
• Private investment is at an all-time low
• Lack of demand and weak corporate earnings have led to this revenue shortfall
• The centre is likely to keep its fiscal deficit within 3.8 percent

What is fiscal deficit?

• The difference between total revenue and total expenditure of the government is termed as fiscal deficit.
• It is an indication of the total borrowings needed by the government.
• While calculating the total revenue, borrowings are not included.

NATIONAL PENSION SCHEME

Why in news?

Only 10 lakhs employees are covered under the NPS as per assessment by (PFRDA)  Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority

Details about NPS

• National Pension Scheme (NPS) is a government-sponsored pension scheme.
• It was launched in January 2004 for government employees.
• In 2009, it was opened to all sections.
• The scheme allows subscribers to contribute regularly in a pension account during their working life.
• On retirement, subscribers can withdraw a part of the corpus in a lumpsum and use the remaining corpus to buy an annuity to secure a regular income after retirement.
• PFRDA mentioned that it is the mindset of the people that makes NPS less attractive

GOCO MODELTO IDENTIFY INDUSTRY PARTNERS

Why in news?

Army gets working on GOCO model to improve efficiency

Details

• Government owned Contractor operated model for army workshop and ordnance depots
• Agenda is to understand the industry perspective on opportunities envisaged and issues
• GOCO model was one of the recommendations of the Lt. Gen. DB Shekatkar (Retd.) committee to ” enhance the combat capability and rebalancing defence expenditure”

NETSCOFAN

Why in news?

 NETSCOFAN has been launched by Union Health Minister

Details

• NetSCoFAN (Network for Scientific Co-operation for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition) is a  network of research & academic institutions which will work in the area of food & nutrition.

• Comprising of eight groups of institutions working in different areas like food of animal origin, food of plant origin, biological, chemical, nutrition & labelling, food testing, water & beverages and safer & sustainable packaging.

• FSSAI has identified eight Nodal Institutions to develop inventory of all research work, experts and institutions and would carry out and facilitate research, survey and related activities.

• Research gaps in respective areas and collect, collate and develop database on food safety issues for risk assessment activities will be identified.