4th July- Current Affairs
MSP of Kharif Crops :
Ø
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved the
increase in the Minimum Support Prices (MSP) for all kharif crops for 2019-20
Season.
Ø
The MSP of paddy has been
increased by 65 rupees per quintal, Jowar
by 120 rupees, Ragi by 253 rupees,
Tur by 125 rupees, Moong by 75 rupees, Urad
pulses by 100 rupees, Soyabean by
311 rupees, sunflower by 262 rupees and sesamum
by 236 rupees.
Ø
The highest percentage
return to farmers over their cost of production is for Bajra (85%) followed by urad
(64%) and tur (60%).
Ø
The increase in MSP for
Kharif Crops for 2019-20 season is in line with the principle of fixing the
MSPs at a level of atleast 1.5 times of the all India weighted average Cost of
production, which was announced in the last budget 2018-19.
Kulhudhuffushi :
Ø The
MoU will pave way for ferry services between Maldives and Kerala by
Connecting Kochi with Male & Kulhudhuffushi in
Maldives by Sea route.
Ø
While Male – the capital and most populous
city – is situated at a distance of 708 Kms from Kochi, Kulhudhuffushi – the
third most populous city of Maldives – is 509 Kms away.
Significance:
Ø Present
connectivity involves flights to Male and sea planes to the resorts, which is
an expensive option.
Ø On
the other hand, connectivity with Kochi through sea could promote inbound
tourism, particularly health and wellness tourism for India. A large number of
Maldivians also travel to Kerala and other South Indian cities for educational
purposes.
Male Rape :
Ø Section 375 of the IPC: Under
it, the perpetrator of the offence of rape can only be a ‘man.’
Ø Arguments for status quo:
o These
sections have been enacted to protect and keep a check on the rising level of
sexual offences against women in the country.
o The
ambit of the Protection of Children from
Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, which covers all forms of sexual offences
against minors, and Section 377 of the IPC were adequate to cover all sexual
offences.
Ø Arguments for making it gender-neutral:
o According
to a petition filed by a social activist, Sections
375 and 376 of the IPC are not
“gender neutral” because it protects only females.
o Men
sometimes fall victim to the same, or at least very similar, acts to those
suffered by women. Male rape is far too prevalent to be termed an anomaly or
freak incident.
o In
India, sexual crimes against boys under 18 years are covered under the POCSO
Act, but once they become adults, they do not have any legal recourse.
o Even
Law Commission of India, in its 172th report, had recommended changes for
widening the scope of rape law to make it gender neutral, by substituting the
definition of ‘rape’ with that of ‘sexual assault’.
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