GK and Current Affairs Updates

The Agreement is scheduled to go into effect in 2020.The goal of the 2015 Paris Climate Conference, COP21, is to achieve a legally binding, 
The following agreement was adopted during the Paris climate pact:
1. To curb the incessant rise in global temperature level.
2. Financing developing economies to help them reach the goal, so decided.international agreement to keep average global temperatures no more than 2°C above pre-industrial temperatures.
-Major features outlined by the CoP21 proposal:
1. It takes into account the differentiation and responsibility of developing countries, and their respective capacities in light of national circumstances.
2. Confirms the key objective of containing mean global temperature rise well below 2 degrees Celsius and to endeavour to limit it to 1.5 degrees.
3. There will be five-yearly national contributions on actions taken to address climate change.
4. There is provision for adaptation to climate change and cooperation on loss and damage suffered by countries on a long term basis to provide necessary means to all countries for durable development.
5.  Provision of 100 billion per year as a floor by 2020 to help developing nations.
6.  A new figure to be defined for the period between now and 2020.
7. Collective stocktaking every five years of national actions and consideration of steps if efforts are insufficient for the objective set.

For the first time women were allowed to vote and stand as candidates in the polls for municipal councils in Saudi Arabia. Saudi is one of the country with the world's toughest restrictions on women. It is has absolute monarchy. 
It is the only country where women can be arrested for driving.
Other restrictions on women in Saudi Arabia:
1. Do not compete in sports
2. Are not allowed to swim
3. Forbidden from using make up.
4. Forbidden from talking to men in public.
5. Are not supposed to go out without a male guardian. 

Japan will ease requirements for issuing multiple entry visas to short term Indian travellers from January 11. This gesture is in response to Narendra Modi’s 'Visa on Arrival' policy for Japnese travellers.
Provisions that will be eased:
1. The maximum period of stay will be extended to 30 days from the current 15 days.
2. The visas will be valid for five years now instead of the current three years.

The United Nations University has sanctioned a Regional Centre of Expertise (RCE) to Tirupati. Aim: to have special focus on the fragile environment of the Eastern Ghats and promote sustainable development in that area.
- 5 RCE in India:
1. The RCE-Srinagar, working on western Himalayas, 
2. The RCE-Guwahati on Eastern Himalayas, 
3. The RCE-Chandigarh on wetland ecosystems, 
4. The RCE-TERI (Goa) on Youth empowerment and energy and 
5. The RCE-Kodagu on traditional knowledge and tribal communities of Western Ghats.

About RCE(Reginal Centre of Expertise)
- RCEs are acknowledged by the United Nations University (UNU).
- RCEs help prepare local leaders of tomorrow with the tools and information they need to make smart and sustainable choices for the future. RCE efforts encourage innovation and new approaches to sustainable development. 

Leaders-Afganistan, Pakistan, Turkmenistan and India inaugurated the project TAPI. 
- Expected year of its completion is 2019.
TAPI Project
- Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India Natural Gas Pipeline Project.
- It aims to export up to 33 billion cubic meters (bcm) of natural gas per year through a proposed approximately 1,800-kilometer (km) pipeline from Turkmenistan to Afghanistan, Pakistan and India.
- Project Rationale and Linkage to Country
1. TAPI presents an opportunity for regional cooperation at an unprecedented scale linking the economies of the 4 countries together.
2. The Central Asia Regional Cooperation's (CAREC) Strategy for Regional Cooperation in the Energy Sector identifies TAPI as one of the links in the inter-energy relationship among CAREC countries. 
- Aim:
1. Energy security through balanced development of regional infrastructure and institutions, 
2. Stronger integration of markets, and 
3. Economic growth through enhanced energy trading.
- Impact
Enhanced energy trading between Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India.
- Executing Body: Asian Development Bank(ADB).

Other Important Indian projects approved by ADB.
1. Green Energy Corridor and Grid Strengthening Project
The project will fund electric transmission system investments in India, including, a portion of the Government of India's "Green Energy Corridor" initiative to facilitate the transfer of power from the renewable energy (RE) rich areas to other parts of the country, consisting of 765 kilovolt.
2. Supporting Rajasthan's Productive Clusters in Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor
3. North Eastern Region Capital Cities Development Investment Program.

MoU between India and Japan on cooperation and assistance in the Mumbai – Ahmedabad HSR Project.Japan has offered an assistance of over Rs.79,000 crore for the project.The cooperation of Japan will be fixed on transfer of technology and “Make in India”.Japan will assist India in training of personnel for HSR.
2. Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) between Ministry of Railways and MLIT, Japan on technological cooperation
Areas of cooperation:

(a) Railway Safety;

(b) Rolling stock including train sets/EMUs;

(c) Information sharing for station development and land value capture;

(d) Information sharing for environment friendly sanitation technology in trains

(e) Signalling and telecommunication;

(f) Railway Electrification;

(g) Civil structure and railway track system;

(h) Train control system;

(i) Mitigation of natural disasters; and

(j) Any other areas jointly determined by both Sides within the scope of this MoC. 

3.  MoU on technological cooperation between RDSO and Railway Technical Research Institute Japan

Haryana Panchayati Raj (Amendment) Act, 2015 has been upheld by the Supreme Court of India.This act is with regard to the educational qualification required to contest panchayat election.

Supreme court verdict:
- Basic education would enable the candidates to effectively discharge duties of the panchayat.
- Education will empower the candidates to be able to handle urgent situations.
- This is relevant with regard to better administration.

Education Requirement
General category (male): Matriculate 
General Category woman: Class 8th pass
Scheduled caste (male): class 8th pass
Scheduled caste C(woman): 5th pass

Opposing statements
A petiton was filed in Supreme court against this act. Petitioner said that 84% of Dalit women while 71% women of rural women and 56% of males would be excluded from contesting the panchayat polls by this law, affecting fundamental rights of the candidates.

Opening a new chapter in its commitment to bio-diversity and eco-system conservation, Myanmar launched its first UNESCO Biosphere Reserve Inle Lake.

What is Biosphere Reserve?
Biosphere Reserves (BRs) are representative parts of natural and cultural landscapes extending over large area of terrestrial or coastal/marine ecosystems or a combination thereof and representative examples of bio-geographic zones/provinces.

About International Status of Biosphere Reserves (BR)
The UNESCO has introduced the designation ‘Biosphere Reserve’ for natural areas to minimize conflict between development and conservation. BRs are nominated by national government which meet a minimal set of criteria and adhere to minimal set of conditions for inclusion in the world network of Biosphere reserves under the Man and Biosphere Reserve Programme of UNESCO.

Structure and functions
Biosphere reserves are demarcated into following 3 inter-related zones:
1. Core Zone: 
- This area often conserve the wild relatives of economic species and also represent important genetic reservoirs having exceptional scientific interest.
- A core zone being the National Park or Sanctuary/protected/regulated mostly under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
2. Buffer Zone:
- It surrounds the core zone.
- In this area human activities are allowed in the ways that help in protection of core zone in its natural condition.
- Research and educational activities are to be encouraged.
3. Transition Zone
- It is the outermost part of a biosphere reserve. 
-  This includes settlements, crop lands, managed forests and area for intensive recreation and other economic uses characteristics of the region.

List of Biosphere Reserves in India
1. Nilgiri 
2. Nanda Devi: Part of Chamoli, Pithoragarh and Almora districts in Uttarakhand.
3. Nokrek: Part of East, West and South Garo Hill districts in Meghalaya.  
4. Manas: Part of Kokrajhar, Bongaigaon, Barpeta,Nalbari, Kamprup and Darang districts in Assam.
5. Sunderban: Part of delta of Ganges & Brahamaputra river system in West Bengal.
6. Gulf of Mannar: India part of Gulf of Mannar extending from Rameswaram island in the North to Kanyakumari in the South of Tamil Nadu.  
7. Great Nicobar: Southern most island of Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
8. Simlipal: Part of Mayurbhanj district in Orissa. 
9. Dibru-Saikhova: Assam
10. Dehang-Dibang: Arunachal Pradesh
11. Pachmarhi: Madhya Pradesh
12. Khangchendzonga: Part of North and West districts in Sikkim.
13. Agasthyamalai: Part of Thirunelveli and Kanyakumari districts in Tamil Nadu and Thiruvanthapuram, Kollam and Pathanmthitta districts in Kerala.
14. Achanakmar- Amarkantak:Part of Anuppur and Dindori districts of Madhya Pradesh and Bilaspur district of Chattisgarh.
15. Kachchh: Part of Kachchh, Rajkot, Surendranagar and Patan districts in Gujarat.
16. Cold Desert: Pin Valley National Park and surroundings; Chandratal & Sarchu; and Kibber Wildlife sanctuary in Himachal Pradesh.
17. Seshachalam: Seshachalam hill ranges in Eastern Ghats encompassing part of Chittoor and Kadapa districts in Andhra Pradesh.
18. Panna: Part of Panna and Chhattarpur districts in Madhya Pradesh. 

The logo has eight petals representing the countries participating in the 12th South Asian Games. The petals are seen to be moving in a clockwise direction showing the positive spirit of the games. The logo has been designed to capture the essence of games which is "Peace, Prosperity and Progress".  
Peace: symbolized with the similarity given to all petals in terms of shape and size.
Prosperity: continuation among petals representing the various countries and the unity within.
Progress: The Orchid symbolizes the blooming of the synergy between these eight great nations. Progress is the clockwise movement of the petals. 

About The Mascot 
- The name of the Mascot for the Games is TIKHOR, who is the Brand Ambassador of the 12^th South Asian Games, 2016.TIKHOR means someone who is sharp, naughty, sporty and modern.

About South Asian Games
- It is a biennial multinational multi-sport event held amongst the athletes from South Asia. 
- The governing body of these games is South Asia Olympic Council (SAOC), formed in 1983. 
- Members: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan & Sri Lanka.
- It is held every alternate year.The first South Asian Games was hosted by Kathmandu, Nepal in 1984.

Duty is imposed from 5 to 57% on import of cold-rolled flat products of stainless steel for five years.Countries on which duty is imposed: China, South Korea, the US, South Africa, Thailand and Taiwan, European Union.Imposition is highest on China and least on Thailand.

what is Dumping?
Dumping is said to occur when the goods are exported by a country to another country at a price lower than its normal value. This is an unfair trade practice which can have a distortive effect on international trade. 

What is Anti-Dumping
Anti dumping is a measure to rectify the situation arising out of the dumping of goods and its trade distortive effect. Thus, the purpose of anti dumping duty is to rectify the trade distortive effect of dumping and re-establish fair trade. The use of anti dumping measure as an instrument of fair competition is permitted by the WTO.

Legal definition of dumping
It means export of goods by a country to another country at a price lower than its normal value. Thus, dumping implies low priced imports only in the relative sense (relative to the normal value), and not in absolute sense.Import of cheap products through illegal trade channels like smuggling; do not fall within the purview of anti-dumping measures.

Difference between Anti-Dumping and Normal Custom Duty Charge
Although anti dumping duty is levied and collected by the Customs Authorities, it is entirely different from the Customs duties not only in concept and substance, but also in purpose and operation. The following are the main differences between the two: - 
a. Conceptually, anti dumping and the like measures in their essence are linked to the notion of fair trade. The object of these duties is to guard against the situation arising out of unfair trade practices while customs duties are there as a means of raising revenue, and for overall development of the economy.
b. Customs duties fall in the realm of trade and fiscal policies of the Government while anti dumping and anti subsidy measures are there as trade remedial measures.
c. The object of anti dumping and allied duties is to offset the injurious effect of international price discrimination while customs duties have implications for the government revenue and for overall development of the economy.
d. Anti dumping duties are not necessarily in the nature of a tax measure in as much as the Authority is empowered to suspend these duties in case of an exporter offering a price undertaking. Thus, such measures are not always in the form of duties/tax.
e. Anti dumping and anti subsidy duties are levied against exporter / country in as much as they are country specific and exporter specific as against the customs duties which are general and universally applicable to all imports irrespective of the country of origin and the exporter.

Thus, there are basic conceptual and operational differences between the customs duty and the anti dumping duty. The anti dumping duty is levied over and above the normal customs duty chargeable on the import of goods in question.