This page contains "3rd July 2018" current affairs analysis from different newspapers and magazines like The Hindu, Indian express, PIB and Yojna.
Quality and relevance are two key features considered while writing the content, all the topics are based on the pattern of previously asked questions in exams like UPSC CSE, IAS, State PCS, SSC, Banks PO and likewise competitive exams.
Why in news ?
The supreme court has asked the centre to file an affidavit in next 10 days, detailing the steps taken by government to appoint a Lokpal.
Development so far In Lokpal appointment
Lokpal and Lokayukta Act, 2013 was passed in 2014, but is not implemented yet because the act has a provision of having the leader of opposition in the Lokpal selection committee.
There was no Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the 16th Lok Sabha and hence centre kept on saying that in absence of LoP 'lokpal selection committee' is incomplete and that is delaying the Lokpal appointment.
Centre also suggested that in order to go ahead with the act, the act has to be amended to replace "Leader of opposition" in selection committee with leader of "single largest Opposition party". However in April 2017, SC clarifies that the ACT can be implemented in its present form without any amendment, and appointment process need not be stalled just because of the absence of the LoP.
Lokpal and Lokayukta Act, 2013
Lokpal and Lokayukta Act was introduced in parliament in 2013, and was passed in 2014 after a long detailed discussion, the act is one of the most discussed act of Indian Parliament.
The ACT is an anti corruption act for the establishment of an institution of Lokpal to inquire into allegations of corruption against certain public functionaries and for matters connecting them.
The act extends to whole of India, including Jammu & Kashmir and is applicable to "public servants" within and outside India. The act mandates for creation of Lokpal for Union and Lokayukta for states.
Lokpal is a multi member body consisting of a Chairman and a maximum of 8 other members. Out of the maximum eight members, half should be judicial members and there must be at least 50% members from SC/ST/OBC and Women. The chairman and other members has to be appointed by President on the recommendation of a selection committee, the selection committee consists of following members:
1) Prime Minister (Chairperson)
2) Speaker of Lok Sabha
3) Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha
4) Chief Justice of India or a Judge nominated by him / her
5) One eminent jurist
The term of office for Lokpal Chairman and Members is 5 years or till attaining age of 70 years. The source of salary for Lokpal and Members is Consolidated Fund of India.
Why in news ?
Asian Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (AMCDRR 2018) to be held in Mongolia this year. Indian delegation will be headed by Union minister Kiren Rijiju.
What is AMCDRR ?
AMCDRR (Asian Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction) is a biennial conference established in 2005. The conference is managed by various Asian countries and UN office for disaster risk reduction (UNISDR).
World Tsunami Day, celebrated on 5 November of every year was also started by AMCDRR to spread awareness on tsunami. In 2016, AMCDRR adopted "Delhi Declaration" and "Asian Regional Plan for Implementation of the Sendai Framework?"
What is Delhi Declaration
Delhi Declaration is a commitment from participating countries to prevent and reduce disaster risk in Asian countries. It also emphasises on people-eccentric approach and commitment of whole society all stakeholder groups towards achieving resilience.
What is Sendai Framework for DRR?
Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (2015-2030) is an international document adopted by United Nations member states at World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction in Sendai, Japan on March 2015.
It is the successor agreement to the Hyogo Framework for Action (2005?2015), which had been the most encompassing international accord to date on disaster risk reduction.
Why in news ?
Election commission has recently launched an Android based, mobile app named "cVigil" along with a voter education and electoral participation portal.
cVigil App
A a bid to curb malpractices by political parties, their candidates and activists when the Model Code of Conduct is in place, The election commission of India has launched an Android-based mobile app "cVigil" for citizens to share proof of malpractices.
The app is equipped with GPS and is able to send geo-tagged images and videos without disclosing the sender?s identity. The data will be screened at the control centre, from there the local team based on geo targeting will be immediately alerted for further action.
In case a user does not opt for anonymity an action taken report will be send back to him in 100 minutes. A voter education and electoral participation portal was also launched for PwDs.
Why in news ?
As an opposite move than Trump's heavy tariffs policies on import, member states of "Asia Pacific Trade Agreement(APTA)" got tariff concessions on 3,142 items from India.
More on news
India recently announced slashing of Import duties on 3142 items from Asia Pacific nations including China. A similar gesture was also shown by China few days back by slashing import tariffs on 8500 items.
Asia Pacific Trade Agreemment (APTA)
APTA formerly known as Bangkok agreement is a preferential trade agreement (PTA), between six member countries named Bangladesh, China, India, Laos, Korea and Sri Lanka.
APTA is the oldest preferential trade agreement between countries in the Asia-Pacific region. APTA is open to all members of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific.
Why in news ?
In a bid to conduct free, fair and impartial election in Karnataka bypoll for Jayanagar Assembly Constituency, EC has completed its preparation and EVM with VVPAT is kept in Systematic Voters Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP) vehicles.
What is Voter-verified paper audit trail (VVPAT) ?
Voter-verified paper audit trail (VVPAT) also known as Verifiable Paper Record (VPR) is a system that is used to make electronic polls free from fraud or malfunction.
In VVPAT system, a voter is given a paper trail containing name of the candidate (for whom vote has been caste) and symbol of the party/individual candidate. This paper slip allow voters to verify that their vote was cast correctly and can be used as a means to audit for the stored electronic results.
Depending on election laws the paper audit trail may constitute a legal ballot and therefore provide a means by which a manual vote count can be conducted if a recount is necessary.
Systematic Voter's Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP)
Systematic Voter?s Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP) is a program of Election Commission to ensure participative role of a voter in Indian Democracy by making the voter Informed, Educated and Motivated to cast his/her vote in meaningful manner.
The program was started from Bihar, and simply targets to remove gaps in information, motivation and facilitation of the voters in order to increase turnout in elections.
Under the program various survays are conducted to understand voter's behaviour, these findings are than used to target under-performing areas where special initiatives are needed, such as making the enrolment process easier and convenient and people friendly.
Existing infrastructure and manpower of state and central government is also leveraged by ECI for electoral education and outreach.