Current Affairs for IAS Exams – 27 May 2016
:: National ::
Kerala exchequer to loose significant amount due to NGT orders
The State exchequer is to loose more than Rs.135 crore annually owing to curbs imposed by the National Green Tribunal’s Kochi Circuit bench on registration of diesel vehicles above 2000-cc in six cities in the State.
Besides, the State will have to mobilise over Rs.270 crore for part repayment of motor vehicle tax to owners of 94,000 non-transport vehicles and 91,000 transport vehicles.
More than 1.85 lakh motor vehicles powered by HSD and older than 10 years are to be phased out in the next five years, according to the NGT order.
Rs.270 crore, the amount to be repaid, was worked out on the basis of 40 per cent depreciation to vehicles.
The State collects one-time motor vehicle tax for a 15-year period. As diesel vehicles have to be phased out, the report said, the tax collected for the remaining five years would have to be repaid.
Apex court allowed salvagers Girone to go to Italy
With the Centre endorsing his plea to return to Italy on ‘humanitarian grounds’, the Supreme Court allowed Italian marine Salvatore Girone to go home.
He will have to return if an international tribunal decides that India has jurisdiction to try the marines for the deaths of two Kerala fishermen in 2012.
In September 2014, the court had allowed Mr. Girone’s compatriot and co-accused in the case, MassimilianoLatorre, to leave for Italy after he suffered a stroke.
The decision to let Mr. Girone go was taken after the Supreme Court was informed that the tribunal may give its verdict only by December 2018.
A Vacation Bench laid down conditions for releasing Mr. Girone, including that he continue to remain under the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court and report to the local police station in Italy once every month.
Also, the Italian authorities will keep the Indian embassy informed.
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:: International ::
Clear discussions on boundary negotiations between India and China
Cordial and clear discussions on sensitive issues marked India-China talks during President Pranab Mukherjee’s visit to Beijing but no significant change in divergent positions was realised.
Meetings with President Xi Jinping, Prime Minister Li Keqiang and National Peoples’ Congress chairman Zhang Dejiang marked a busy third day of a four-day visit by Mr. Mukherjee to China.
Mr. Mukherjee’s delegation apprised its Chinese counterparts about India’s aims to rapidly expand its civilian nuclear programme in line with the country’s energy needs. He also asked Mr. Xi to give this matter “personal attention”.
Director-General of Asian region in China’s ministry of foreign affairs, briefing the press following the meeting also said that the two leaders “agreed to strengthen cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy”.
Mr. Mukherjee led a delegation to meet Mr. Xi after receiving a grand welcome in a ceremony held at the Great Hall of Peace in Beijing.
The two leaders discussed ways to strengthen cooperation in “investment, trade and tourism”.
Specifically, China has also agreed to accommodate more Indian tourists (seven batches or around 400 people this year) to visit Kailash Mansarovar via the Nathu La pass into Tibet.
The two leaders also agreed to advance the ongoing boundary negotiations under the ‘Special Representatives’ mechanism, and at the same time resolved to take actions to maintain peace and tranquillity in the boundary regions.
Mr. Jaishankar said that the Indian delegation had conveyed to the Chinese the need to eliminate cross-border terrorism.