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Current Affairs : June 24, 2011
2011-06-25 18:06:41 GKToday

Export of 5 Lakh Tonnes of additional sugar under OPG (Open General

License) allowed by the Centre
Central Government allowed export of 5 Lakh Tonnes of additional sugar under
the Open General Licence
EGoM, headed by Pranab Mukherjee (Finance Minister) also decided to release 50
lakh tonnes of foodgrains for sale to above poverty line families
Sugar production in India which is the world's 2nd largest producer is estimated to
be 24.2 million tonnes in this season whereas the annual domestic demand for
sugar is only 22.5 million tones
UK declares to construct 8 new Nuclear Power Plants
UK to build 8 eight new Nuclear Power Plants to avoid energy crisis
Secretary of State for Energy Chris Huhne announced the construction of the
plants
New Home Secretary: Raj Kumar Singh
Raj Kumar Singh appointed new Home Secretary
1975-batch Bihar Cadre IAS officer
To take charge after the current officeholder, Mr. G K Pillai who retires on
June 30, 2011
Mr. Raj Kumar Singh is currently Secretary Defence Production in the Ministry of
Defence
Also served as Joint Secretary in MoHA (Ministry of Home Affairs) earlier
Mr. Raj Kumar Singh to serve a fixed tenure of 2 years from the day he assumes
charge
Centre stretches ceasefire with NDFB(P), DHD(N)
Centre stretched ceasefire with illegitimate NDFB(P)-[National Democratic
Front of Bodoland (Progressive)] and DHD(N) [Dima Halam Daogah
(Nunicha)] factions of Assam by another 6 months
Previously Suspension of Operations agreements b/w the Centre and the two
outfits expires on June 30, 2011
Judgment to this effect taken after dialogue with leaders of the two outfits and the
Union Home Ministry representatives
The two militant groups are at present engaged in political dialogue with the
Centre to settle their issues harmoniously
Last round of talk was held in Guwahati last week with the Centre's interlocutor, P
C Haldar
Norms cleared by Government for setting up of IDF (Infrastructure Debt
Fund)
Government cleared norms for setting up of Infrastructure Debt Fund (IDF)

Objective: It is aimed at enhancing flow of long term debt to fund infrastructure

development
IDF may be set up either as a trust or company
A Trust based IDF will be regulated by the SEBI, while an Company based IDF
will be regulated by the RBI
The IDF would attempt to attain resources from domestic and off-shore
institutional investors, especially insurance and pension funds
IDF was proposed by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee in this year's
Budget
The requirement of infrastructure in the 12th Plan has been pegged at $ 1
Trillion
Proposals exchanged b/w India and Pakistan on conventional, nuclear
confidence-building measures
India and Pakistan exchanged numerous proposals on conventional and nuclear
confidence-building measures
Proposal for admitting cruise missile tests in the existent bilateral agreement on
Pre-Notification Of Flight Testing Of Ballistic Missiles, signed in October
2005, was considered by the Indian side during talks b/w the Foreign Secretaries
on peace and security
Making a reference to the recent nuclear accident at the Fukushima atomic plant
in Japan after a disturbing Earthquake and Tsunami, Pakistani side proposed that
the two sides could work together to address similar safety concerns
The existing agreement between India and Pakistan on pre-notification of missile
tests covers surface-to-surface ballistic missiles
In the nuclear field, a leading Confidence Building Measure is the annual exchange
of lists of nuclear installations of the two countries
Training Programme for young lawyers launched by Government
Government launched an aspirational Training Programme - Rajiv Gandhi
Adhivakta Prashikshan Yojana
for young lawyers practicing in Magistrate and Munsif courts
Objective: To give inspiration and support to young lawyers
Under the scheme 2 Months Professional Training will be given to the
advocates so that they may serve the need of law professionals at the grass root
level
Initially each year, 10 practicing young advocates from every state will be
selected for imparting the training and subsequently their numbers will be
increased in the coming years
Mr. Veerapa Moily: Union Law Minister
Congress Working Committee endorses Government's approach on Lokpal
Bill
CWC (Congress Working Committee) endorsed the Government's approach to the
Lokpal Bill
Working Committee held the undisputed view that the Government should not
submit to the any other external pressure
The highest policy making body of the party met under the chairmanship of its
President Mrs. Sonia Gandhi
DTAA amended by India and Singapore

India and Singapore amended their DTAA (Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement)
for effective exchange of information in banking and taxation matters
The protocol amending DTAA was signed in New Delhi
India negotiated DTAAs and signed tax information swaping agreements with 44
countries to reinforce exchange of information concerning tax evasion, money
laundering and other criminal activities