Daily Current Affairs – 17th April 2021
Topics/Highlights
- Plenary jurisdiction of the Supreme Court.
- India on the currency watch list of the US Treasury
- Iran is enriching its uranium to 60%.
- United Kingdom nod for the extradition of Nirav Modi.
- EatSmart Cities Challenge.
- Transport 4 All (T4All) Challenge.
- Gender Samvaad
Focus
- Plenary jurisdiction of the Supreme Court.
Topic – GS II (Indian Constitution- historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure)
In News
Former Law Minister asked the Supreme Court to issue “suitable directions” to both Centre and State amidst worsening COVID-19 situation under Article 142 (plenary jurisdiction).
Article 142
Under this, the Supreme Court gets the power to perform “complete justice” where law and statute may not necessarily suffice.
Prelims Perspective – Read more about Article 142.
Mains Perspective – Judgements in the past under Article 142 and recent developments in the same.
Source – thehindu
- India on the currency watch list of the US Treasury
Topic – GS II (Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests, Indian diaspora)
In News
The US Treasury’s recently released report on Macroeconomic and Foreign Exchange Policies of Major Trading Partners with the US put India under the ‘Monitoring List’, among 11 other countries with regard to their currency practices.
Prelims Perspective: What is currency manipulation?
- Currency manipulation is when countries focus on influencing the exchange rates deliberately, with the US dollar. This is done to gain “unfair advantage in international trade”.
- Iran has started enriching uranium to 60%
Source – thehindu
Topic : GS III (Developments in science and technology)
In News –
Iran has started focusing on enriching uranium supply to 60 percent purity. This is the closest Iran has reached to develop a level which is needed to build a weapon.
Prelims Perspective: What is Uranium Enrichment?
The radioactive isotope of Uranium (U-235) can be used in power nuclear reactors. At lower levels, it can be used to power nuclear reactors, while at a higher level, it can be used to fuel nuclear weapons/bombs.
Uranium enrichment focuses on raising the percentage of U-235 to the level of producing nuclear weapons.
Source – thehindu
- United Kingdom nod for extradition of Nirav Modi.
In News
UK Home Department has given its nod for the extradition of Nirav Modi in the PNB fraud case.
Prelims Perspective – Who is a Fugitive Economic Offender?
Such an offender can be arrested if there is an arrest warrant against him for an economic fraud offense of Rs. 100 crore or more, and who has then fled from India to dodge legal action.
Source – thehindu
- EatSmart Cities Challenge:
- Launched by the Housing & Urban Affairs Ministry.
- A competition among cities to recognize efforts being put to adopt and scale Eat Right India Movement
- Open to all Smart Cities, capital cities, and cities with a population >5 lakh.
- Transport 4 All (T4All) Challenge:
- Launched by the Housing & Urban Affairs Ministry in collaboration with Institute for Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP).
- Aims to bring cities, startups, and civil society to develop solutions for improving public transport.
- Open to all Smart Cities, capital cities, and cities with a population >5 lakh.
- Gender Samvaad:
- A joint initiative of DAY-NRLM and Initiative for What Works to Advance Women and Girls in the Economy (IWWAGE)
- Idea – to generate awareness on gender-related interventions under DAY-NRLM.
