JAITAPUR NUCLEAR POWER REACTORS

JAITAPUR NUCLEAR POWER REACTORS

           

Intro.             

1.         Constr of two French N-power reactors in Maharashtra [Jaitapur] was agreed upon during the French President vis to India. Salient aspects of the reactor is given below:-

(a)       Size of the deal is $ 9.3 billion.

(b)       Proj will be constr by French nuclear giant Areva.

(c)        Areva would provide NPCIL of India with water pressuried EPR (European Pressurized) reactors and fuel for 25 yrs.

(d)       Phs of Implementation.

(i)         Ph 1.   Two of six proposed EPRs, each of 1650 MW will be installed at Madban vill, catering for energy reqmts of the State for next 25 yrs [PDC 2016].

(ii)        Ph II.   Ph II would have 4 EPRs [PDC 2018].

(iii)       Importance.  The plant will provide 10,000 MW of non-polluting power to India [India’s current capacity is 4,000 MW].

            (e)       Prog.

                        (i)         Environmental clearance accorded by MoEF on 28 Nov 2010.

                        (ii)        Proj slated to come up in Ratnagiri distt of Maharashtra.

                        (iii)       Approval gtd subject to 35 conditions and safeguards incl 23

specific to the proj and other gen conditions.

                       

(iv)       Condition incl prep of a comprehensive biodiversity conservation plan to maint the hlth of 150 hect of mangroves in the area.

(f)        Land Reqmt.            Land Reqmt for the proj is 938 Hect in 5 Vill displacing 2335 families.

2G SPECTRUM SCAM

2G SPECTRUM SCAM

1.         2G Scam.

(a)       2G licenses issued to private telecom players at throwaway prices in 2008.

(b)       CAG: Spectrum scam has cost the government Rs. 1.76 lakh crore.

(c)        CAG: Rules and procedures flouted while issuing licenses.

2.         Charges on Former Telecom Minister, A Raja.

           (a)        Cheap Telecom Licenses.

(i)         Entry fee for spectrum licenses in 2008 pegged at 2001 prices.

(ii)        Mobile subscriber base had shot up to 350 million in 2008 from 4 million in 2001.

            (b)       No Procedures Followed.

(i)         Rules changed after the game had begun.

(ii)        Cut-off date for applications advanced by a week.

(iii)       Licenses issued on a first-come-first-served basis.

(iv)       No proper auction process followed, no bids invited.

(v)        Raja ignored advice of TRAI, Law Ministry, Finance Ministry.

(vi)       TRAI had recommended auctioning of spectrum at market rates.

HRD Ministry announced Grievance Redressal Mechanism in Higher Educational Institutions - CURRENT AFFAIRS 4

Union Ministry for Human Resource Development on 18 January 2012 announced that there would be a Grievance Redressal mechanisms in higher educational institutions. UGC, AICTE and NCTE would be requiring all Central Educational Institutions, institutions deemed to be universities, technical and management institutions under AICTE and teacher education institutions under NCTE to establish a Grievance Redressal Mechanism for Students and applicants for admission before the commencement of the admission this academic year. Every institution would be required to constitute an Ombudsman; person with judicial or legal experience to be appointed from a panel suggested by the affiliating university for technical and management institutions, by the Central Government for deemed universities and by the regulator for non-degree granting institutions. The concerned regulators would issue the detailed instructions to the educational institutions shortly. 

The Law Commission: Anti-Dowry Law should be less Stringent - CURRENT AFFAIRS 3

The Law Commission of India on 18 January 2012 recommended the dilution of Anti-Dowry law to make it less stringent. The Commission, headed by Justice P V Reddi, recommended the Government to make Section 498-A of the Indian Penal Code, which deals with harassment for dowry and cruelty to a woman in her matrimonial home, a compoundable offence. Compoundable offences are those which can be compromised by the parties to the dispute. The permission of the court is not necessary. This means that those who would be booked in cases under this section would find it easier to get bail. 

  

Union Government set up a National Council for Senior Citizens - CURRENT AFFAIRS III

The Union Government of India on 1 February 2012 gave the approval for setting up a National Council for Senior Citizens. It will be headed by the Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment. It will advice the Central and State Governments on issues related to welfare of senior citizens. The Council will suggest special policies and programmes for the physical and financial security of the senior citizens in the country.

 The Council will comprise of 20 members including the Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment along with the oldest members from both the Houses of Parliament and distinguished personalities from different fields.

National Infant Mortality Rate Reduced Further to Forty-Seven Infant Deaths per 1000 Live Births - CURRENT AFFAIRS II

As per the latest Sample Registration System (SRS) bulletin, December 2011 released by the Registrar General of India (RGI), it is noted that  Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) has dropped further by  3 points from 50 to 47 infants deaths per 1000 live births during 2010.  The IMR for rural areas has dropped by 4 points from 55 to 51 infant deaths per 1000 live births while the Urban rate now stands at 31 from the previous 34/1000.   

 
 State of Goa still has the lowest IMR of 10 infant deaths followed by Kerala with 13 infant deaths per 1000 live births (as against 12/1000 in January 2011 figures) – the Urban IMR in Kerala has however reduced to 10 against 11 of previous figures.  Madhya Pradesh has the highest IMR of 62/1000 followed by UP and Odisha with 61/1000 IMR. States/UTs of Assam, Bihar, Chandigarh, Haryana, Rajasthan, Meghalaya still have IMRs more than the national average of 47. Copy of December 2011 SRS bulletin is attached.