UPSC Current Affairs November 25 2016 | Comprehensive News Analysis

Useful News Articles

A. GS1 Related

Nothing here today folks!

B. GS2 Related

A change called NeHA

Category: Social sector

Topic: Health

The proposed National Health Authority (NeHA) will be the nodal authority that will be responsible for development of an Integrated Health Information System (including Telemedicine and mHealth) in India.
It will also be responsible for enforcing the laws & regulations relating to the privacy and security of the patients health information & records.
NeHA will guide the adoption of e-Health solutions at various levels and areas in the country, facilitate integration of multiple health IT systems through health information exchanges and oversee orderly evolution of state-wide and nationwide Electronic Health Record Store/Exchange System that ensures that security, confidentiality and privacy of patient data is maintained and continuity of care is ensured.
Privacy of personal information of the patients is what specialists are concerned about. But if this issue is taken care of, NeHA would go a long way in ensuring easy dispensation of healthcare facilities to the citizens.

C. GS3 Related

E-wallet firms’ customer base surges

Category: Economy

Topic: Market/ Business

The move of the Government to demonetize old high-value currency notes has further pushed a positive trend in local markets i.e.., cashless transactions.
Most of the E-wallet firms are noticing a drastic growth in business after demonetization. An increase in number of customers up to 150% has been noticed in some cases, out of approximately 30 firms.
Because of convenience associated with its use, Paytm has seen a 300% increase in daily transactions.
About 100 million people, mostly from urban areas, use E-wallets in India. It happens to be a potential market growing at a fast pace, which is encouraging these firms to take to diverse forms of marketing.

It is a matter of debate whether this tilt towards the use of E-wallets would be a long-lived one, but it certainly is a step directed towards cashless economy.

2. Government ends exchange of old notes

Category: Economy

Topic: Demonetization

Even though the All India Grameen bank workers’ organization and All India Grameen bank officers’ organization had requested the government to extend the deadlines so as to benefit the rural population, the Finance Ministry issued a notification ending the exchange of 1000 Rupee notes with new ones.
Now people can effectively exchange Rs.1000 notes through their bank accounts only; which the government said would encourage still unbanked people to open new bank accounts. The Ministry cited declining trends in over-the-counter exchange as the reason for this step.
Last date for exemptions to pay fees at government schools and colleges and prepaid mobile top-ups, in old currency notes, has been fixed as 15^th of December.
RBI, by issuing an advisory, has asked the banks to ensure adequate currency supply to government officials, pensioners as well as armed forces personnel demands and to encourage unbanked people to open new bank accounts.
Foreigners can exchange foreign currency up to Rs.5000 a week and transactions, in old currency bills, in consumer co-operative stores have been capped to Rs.5000 at a time.

As Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has claimed, this notification has been issued taking in account every aspect related to it and suggestions from various sections of the civil society.

3. The Marrakech mandate

Category: Economy

Topic: International agreements

COP22 was held in Marrakech, Morocco from 7^th to 18^th of November where implementation of Paris agreement was discussed along with various other subjects like oceans, transport, business etc and a global action agenda has been initiated on them. Green Climate Fund that has remained a major bone of contention between OECDs and developing countries was also discussed.
The unfinished business of accounting of the NDCs, adaptation communication, building a transparency framework etc. would be completed by 2018.
Climate Vulnerable Forum comprising of 48 least developed countries pledged to do away with energy generation from non-renewable energy by 2050 fully.
A group of 165 Sub-national jurisdictions called Under2s, including California, Telangana etc, announced that they would reduce their emissions by 80-95 per cent below 1990 levels and limit their per capita emissions to 2 tons of carbon dioxide by 2050. Remarkably, around 200 companies also committed to reduce emissions.
A five year plan for Warsaw International Mechanism for Loss and Damage, concerned with issues such as extreme events, non-economic losses, displacement, migration, slow-moving climatic changes and risk management in climate vulnerable countries, was also approved.
USA, as it appears because of Donald Trump’s commitments, would pull-out of the Paris agreement.

The only matter of interest here is that how far the member countries would push themselves to stick to their commitments to climate change mitigation commitments. Everyone is hoping to see new regulations and policies coming up all around the globe to this effect.

D. GS4 Related

Nothing here today folks!

E. Important Editorials: A Quick Glance

Nothing here today folks!

F. Concepts-in-News: Related Concepts to Revise/Learn:

Nothing here today folks!

H. Fun with Practice Questions 🙂

Question 1: E-wallets firms in India are regulated by

a) RBI

b) Finance Ministry

c) TRAI

d) Ministry of Communications

Question 2: Consider the following statements,

Which of the following statements are incorrect?

a) i) and ii) only
b) ii) only
c) iii) only
d) i) and iii) only

Question 3: Consider the following statements,

Which of the following statement/s is/are correct?

a) i) only

b) ii) only

c) Both i) and ii)

d) None

Check Your Answers

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