Current Affairs for IAS Exams

Current Affairs for IAS Exams - 26 January 2017

The Padma series of awards are conferred in three categories — Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri. Padma Vibhushan is awarded for exceptional and distinguished service; Padma Bhushan for distinguished service of high order; and Padma Shri for distinguished service in any field.
The awards are announced on the occasion of Republic Day every year. They are presented by the President of India at ceremonial functions which are held at Rashtrapati Bhavan around March or April.
This year the President of India has approved conferment of Padma Awards on 89 persons comprising seven Padma Vibhushans, seven Padma Bhushans and 75 Padma Shri awards; 19 awardees are women.

Padma Vibhushan:

Padma Bhusan:

A major international index of corruption and transparency has placed India on the watch list for its inability to curb mega corruption scandals and petty bribery.
The annual index of Transparency International issued for 2016 placed India with Brazil and China in the 40th position. India’s condition showed growth with inequality.
India’s ongoing poor performance with a score of 40 reiterates the state’s inability to effectively deal with petty corruption and large-scale corruption scandals.
The impact of corruption on poverty, illiteracy and policy brutality showed that not only was the economy growing but so was inequality.
India’s current ranking, putting it in the high corruption zone, has drawn critical observations from transparency campaigners.
South Asia had performed poorly. Bangladesh at 27th and Nepal at 29th positions were slotted in the highly corrupt section.
Pakistan, at 32, also came in the red zone. Afghanistan ranked 15th was in the “highly corrupt” list with South Sudan, North Korea and Libya.

China is hoping to galvanise two regional trade proposals — the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and the Free-Trade Agreement of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP) — following the formal exit of the U.S. from the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP).
President Donald Trump signed an executive order, withdrawing the U.S. from the 12-nation trade deal, widely seen in China as a Washington-led attempt to contain its rise.
Instead of the TPP, Prof. Wang backed the RCEP, which has the 10 countries of the Association of South East Asian Nations as the core of the proposed free trade agreement. Besides, six other nations India, China, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand are part of the arrangement.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying pointed out that Beijing will back further negotiations on RCEP, which have already made substantial progress and should be completed at an early date.
In the Asia-Pacific, the U.S.’s exit has triggered different responses — from calls to re-focus on the RCEP to revive the TPP with China as its new member.