RAJASTHAN

What is the Rajasthan ordinance about, what’s its context?

The Rajasthan government passed an executive order that it now wants to enact into law. This amends Sections 156 and Section 190 of the CrPC, to require prior sanction from the state or Centre, for probing corrupt activities of serving or retired public servants, magistrates and judges. This has been widely criticised by opposition parties, legal experts and the media for aiming to protect officials at the cost of accountability and free speech.

What is all about?

Starting the prosecution of senior officials has always required prior sanction from the government. Earlier, a ‘single directive’ protected officials of the rank of joint secretary or above from being prosecuted without government approval, the logic being that these decision-making jobs needed some protection to be able to work freely.

However, now the question is whether even a preliminary investigation of such corruption requires sanction, and whether the police or courts can even initiate such a probe when they have clinching reason to do so. Section 156 and 190 deal with the power of the police to investigate offences, and the power of magistrates to take cognisance and order inquiries. If the Rajasthan government has its way, all public servants, which also includes the CM and cabinet, can be insulated from investigation for 180 days (after which sanction is assumed to be given).

INTERNATIONAL

· Bangladesh Signs Gas Oil Deal with India

Bangladesh signed long-term sales and purchase agreement with an Indian refinerto import gas oil to meet the country’s energy demand.
The deal between Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) and Numaligarh Refinery Limited (NRL) was signed in presence of India’s external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj, who arrived in Dhaka recently on a two-day visit to discuss bilateral issues.

· United Nations Day is observed on 24th October

United Nations Dayis observed globally on 24 October.
It marks the 72nd anniversary of the UN Charter’s entry into force and celebrates everything that the UN represents and has achieved since its establishment in 1945.
All the member states of the United Nations contribute finances to its operation to help further its goals.

· Cristiano Ronaldo Named Best FIFA Men’s Player

Ronaldo presented the award at The Best FIFA Football Awards ceremony in London, UK.
The award, which covers the period of November 2016 to July 2017, is voted by national team coaches, captains, selected media and fans.

Other awards are

Netherlands’ Lieke Martens won The Best FIFA Women’s Player award.
Arsenal forward Olivier Giroud won the Puskas Award for the year’s best goal after his acrobatic scorpion kick.
The Fair Play Award went to Slovakia’s Francis Kone, who saved the life of Martin Berkovec during a Czech First League game.
Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane was named the Best FIFA Men’s Coach.
Juventus’ Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon was named the best goalkeeper of the year.

NATIONAL

· Afghan President Ashraf Ghani arrives in India

Afghanistan President Mohammad Ashraf Ghaniarrived in New Delhi this morning on one day visit to India.
He will meet with President Ram Nath Kovind and have delegation-level talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Both sides will review the entire gamut of multifaceted bilateral strategic partnership. The two countries will discuss the efforts to combat the menace of terrorism. They will also hold consultations and coordinate on furthering the shared objective of promoting peace, security, stability, and prosperity in Afghanistan.

· SBI launches ‘2nd SBI Digital Hackathon’ Digitize For Bank

State Bank of India (SBI) launched the second edition of its Hackathon. This hackathon has been named ‘Digitize For Bank’.
The main focus is on four ‘Cognitive’ themes namely Facial Recognition, Signature Recognition, Voice based Authentication and Cheque Truncation Value Enhancers.
The winners will get an opportunity for incubation and acceleration with SBI.

· Rakesh Asthana appointed CBI special director

Gujarat-cadre IPS officer Rakesh Asthana has been appointed the special director of the CBI.
Asthana, a 1984-batch IPS officer, had been serving in the Central Bureau of Investigation as additional director.
Gurbachan Singh has been appointed as Special Director of Intelligence Bureau (IB).
Deepak Kumar Mishra and Sudeep Lakhtakia have been promoted as Special DG in the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).
Rajesh Ranjan and AP Maheshwari have been promoted to the ranks of Special DG in the Border Security Force (BSF)

· BHEL starts execution of 4,000 megawatt Yadadri plant in Telangana

Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) announced that it has commenced execution of Yadadri supercritical thermal power project ordered by the Telangana State Power Generation Corporation Limited (TSGENCO).
The project is located at Damaracherla in Nalgonda district of Telangana and is valued at approximately Rs 20,400 crore.
It is the single largest order for BHELso far and is also the highest value order ever placed in the power sector in India.

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