CURRENT AFFAIRS Newspaper Analysis and Summary– 18th March 2014 SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY Echoes of Big Bang detected – The Hindu In a major discovery for understanding the origins of the universe, U.S. scientists said on Monday that they have detected echoes of the Big Bang 14 billion years ago. The “first direct evidence of cosmic inflation” was found with the help of a telescope at the South Pole, and was announced by experts at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics. The detection of these gravitational waves represents the last untested element of Albert Einstein’s general theory of relativity, filling in a major gap in our understanding of how the universe was born. The gravitational waves are ripples that move through space and time, and have been described as the “first tremors of the Big Bang.” Their detection confirms an integral connection between quantum mechanics and general relativity. “Detecting this signal is one of the most important goals in cosmology today. A lot of work by a lot of people has led up to this point,” said John Kovac leader of the BICEP2 collaboration at the Harvard- Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics). The telescope targeted a specific area of sky known as the “Southern Hole” outside the galaxy where there is little dust and extra galactic material to interfere with what humans can see with the potent sky-peering tool. By observing the cosmic microwave background, or a faint glow left over from the Big Bang, small fluctuations gave scientists new clues about the conditions in the early universe. ENVIRONMENT Forum to create awareness on Gadgil panel report – The Hindu A series of programmes to create awareness and gather support for the implementation of the Madhav Gadgil-led Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel (WGEEP) report will begin in the district with a public discussion at Kudremukh National Park near Aladangady in Belthangady taluk on April 1. Suma Nagesh from Chikmagalur-based Save Democracy Forum told presspersons here on Monday that the programme would dispel myths about the report among forest-dwellers, while highlighting the “negative” aspects of the K. Kasturirangan Commission report that was commissioned to replace the Gadgil panel report. “The Gadgil panel report sought to comprehensively conserve the Western Ghats, which is a bio-diversity hotspot. The government conveniently used the Kasturirangan report to reject the Gadgil report. We have petitioned the President to reconsider the Gadgil committee report, while also creating awareness among the tribal people and forest-dwellers about the report,” said Mr. Nagesh, referring to a letter written to Pranab Mukherjee on March 15. He blamed vested interests, industrial lobbies, and political representatives for creating fear among farmers about displacement if the reports were implemented. “The only fear is that mining and industries will shut down. The Gadgil panel report clearly states that forest- dwellers were needed in conservation projects and it does not advocate for their displacement,” he said. The meet will also discuss the government’s “surreptitious attempts” www.indiancivils.com An Online IAS Academy Page 1 CURRENT AFFAIRS at displacing tribal people from KNP, said Harish Malekudiya, a resident of Aladangady. “The government refuses to give us basic amenities, while attempting to lure us with money to leave our homes. We don’t want to shift elsewhere, but the government is making it difficult to stay on,” he said. Mr. Gadgil himself will address the Kudremukh forest-dwellers — some of whom are fighting against displacement — on April 1. Apart from him, activist S.R. Hiremath and writer Na. D’Souza, who had criticised the government on their “inactivity” over conserving the ghats, are expected to participate. The group will travel around the six States through which the Western Ghats traverses, and distribute materials and books in local languages elaborating on the need to implement the WGEEP report. An integral part of the organisation’s demand is the scrapping of the Yettinahole project, which they called a hasty decision that endangers the ghats. POLITY AND GOVERNANCE Delhi’s working women ready to relocate for safety: study – The Hindu Due to lack of safety, around 43 per cent of working in Delhi are willing to relocate outside the city even at the cost of a pay cut, according to a recent study. The survey conducted by the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry included working women, students and job aspirants. The survey “Women Safety in Delhi: Issues and Challenges to Employment” is based on the feedback of 3,400 women in Delhi. It found that working women were inclined to work in day shifts with nearly 80 per cent of the respondents opting for day shifts. About 9 per cent said they worked in flexible shift timings and nearly seven per cent opted for rotational shifts. A very small proportion of women respondents (4 per cent) worked in night shifts. Around 64 per cent of working women said crimes against women had impacted their productivity as they now hesitated to stay in their workplace during late hours. A majority of women respondents said they depended on public transport to commute to their destinations. Many respondents felt fast track courts to deal with crimes against women and safer public transport were important for women’s safety in the national capital. For Tibetan refugees, it is so near and yet so far – The Hindu A section of Tibetan refugees in Karnataka can exercise their franchise in the Lok Sabha elections scheduled for April 17. The Election Commission on February 7 directed the electoral officers in States to include children of Tibetan refugees aged above 18 in the electoral list “because they are citizens of the country.” However, because of a technical glitch, not all of them will get the right to vote though there are about 25,000 eligible voters in Karnataka of Tibetan origin. While those settled in Bangalore and Mysore and already registered in the rolls will vote, many eligible voters in the five settlements elsewhere in the State will have to wait till the next election. Gelek J., coordinator for the Tibetan Settlement Office, Bylakuppe, said though a few refugees in Bangalore could get the voter cards following the EC’s direction, those settled in Bylakuppe could not. For, C. Shikha, Deputy Commissioner, Mysore, did not receive any clarification on the citizenship criteria till Sunday, last date for inclusion of names in the voter list. www.indiancivils.com An Online IAS Academy Page 2 CURRENT AFFAIRS However, Ms. Gelek pointed out that the EC had directed that the voting right be not denied to Tibetan applicants. “We are yet to get details of those who applied for voting rights during the special drive,” she said. Children of Tibetan refugees born in India between 1950 and 1987 as mentioned in the Citizenship Act 1955 can no longer be denied enrolment in the voter list. The EC’s move came in the wake of an August 2013 Karnataka High Court order, which paved the way for granting Indian citizenship to Tibetan refugees, the EC order said. According to Chief Electoral Officer Anil Kumar Jha, the EC has directed the Deputy Commissioners to enrol the names of those refugees who have complied with the stipulated conditions. “The Election Commission’s move is a great relief to Tibetan refugees who are currently deemed ‘stateless’,” said Mr. Sonam, a teacher in the Namdroling Monastery of Bylakuppe. Tibetan Youth Congress ( Karnataka) president Lhekyeb said that he was happy with the move of the Election Commission. Process of compiling folk encyclopaedia begins – The Hindu The process of compiling the Kannada Folk Encyclopaedia, which is being taken up by the Karnataka Folklore University at Gotagodi here, was formally launched on Monday. Folk expert and honorary editor of the encyclopaedia Hi.Shi. Ramachandregowda, who launched the work, stressed the need to make the project a model one by compiling an encyclopaedia that not only provided comprehensive knowledge about folklore of Karnataka, but also introduce indigenous knowledge. Prof. Ramachandregowda said there was a need to make the encyclopaedia completely different from the Kannada Vishwakoshas that were available. The encyclopaedia should do more than just give information on subjects and articles, he said. He stressed the need to involve experts from other fields also if the encyclopaedia was to emerge as a comprehensive work. Chief editor of the encyclopaedia Ha.Ti. Krishnegowda said the compilation of an encyclopaedia was a tedious and challenging job that required patience and perseverance. He said the encyclopaedia would be published in 10 volumes, and that united and concerted efforts were required for the success of the project. INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS Indian students in Crimea facing dilemma – The Hindu The uncertainty may have ended – Crimea has voted overwhelmingly to break away from Ukraine and join Russia, but Indian students there are in a dilemma. While worried parents are on Skype with their children at the Crimea State Medical University and co-ordinating with education consultants, speculation is rife over the possible fallout for them. There are over 600 Indian students at the university, an estimated 80 from Tamil Nadu. Speaking to The Hindu from Crimea, B. Peer Fathima, a second-year student said: “There are so many rumours circulating here. While university and Indian Embassy officials have assured us of our safety and our continued education, many students are definitely worried.” One rumour, Fathima said, is that after the first three years, the medium of instruction at the university will be Russian only. Also, students are wondering if the academic structure will change to those of Russian universities. Another concern is visas; they may have to get a Russian visa in six months.