Daily GK Update: 6th March, 2016 For LIC AAO & Other Exams

Raisina Dialogue 2016 kicks off at New Delhi 

i. The first Raisina-Dialogue 2016, a flagship conference on Geopolitics and Geo-economics began in New Delhi. 

ii. The three day conference is joint initiative of Union Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and Observer Research Foundation (ORF), an independent think tank based in India. 

Key facts 

• The theme of Raisina-Dialogue 2016 is “Asia: Regional and Global Connectivity”. 
• It will enable the MEA to reach out to a wider international multi-disciplinary audience. 
• It will focus on Asia’s economic, physical, human and digital connectivity and shall attempt to discover challenges and opportunities for the region to manage its common spaces. 
• It will be attended by speakers from 40 countries including Former Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga, former Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai and Bangladeshi foreign Minister Mahmood Ali. 
• It will provide platform to explore prospects and opportunities for Asian integration as well as Asia’s Integration with the whole world. 

Note: The name of conference comes from Raisina Hill which is the elevation in New Delhi where presidential palace of India, Rashtrapati Bhavan is located. The conference has been organized on the lines of the Shangri-La Dialogue held in Singapore.

India moves to WTO against US on temporary working visa issue 

i. India has filed a complaint against the United States decision to impose high fees L-1 and H-1B categories of temporary working visas in the World Trade Organisation (WTO). 

ii. US had imposed fees on certain applicants for L-1 and H-1B categories of non-immigrant temporary working visas into the country. 

iii. According to India, US measure is inconsistent with the global norms and it would impact Indian IT professionals as it makes Indian IT companies less competitive in that market. These measures appear to be “inconsistent” with the terms, limitations and conditions agreed under the GATS (General Agreement on Trade in Services). 

Background 

• Earlier in 2015, US President Barack Obama had signed into law of spending package which had introduced a hefty $4,000 fee for certain categories of H-1B visa and $4,500 for L1 visa.
• Under this law, companies having more than 50 employees and having more than 50 per cent of their US employees on H-1B and L1 visas were forced pay the new fee from April 1, 2016. 
• H-1B and L1 visas are temporary work visas for skilled IT professionals to work in US and India is the largest user of both H1B and L1 visas.  

President Pranab Mukherjee inaugurates National Conference on Women Legislation 

i. President Pranab Mukherjee inaugurated a National conference on ‘Women Legislators: Building Resurgent India’ in New Delhi.

ii. The conference intends to hone the skills of legislators to perform their legislative and non-legislative roles with greater effectiveness. 

Key facts 

• The two-day conference will provide women legislators a platform to interact with their counterparts from across the country. 
• It will also bring together women union ministers, chief ministers, MPs and eminent women from the judiciary and the bureaucracy. 
• It will equip women legislators with latest knowledge in relevant areas and motivate, guide them in their twin roles as agents of socio-economic progress and as legislators. 
• It will be attended by more than 300 women MPs and state legislatures and legislative council members, Union Ministers and Chief Ministers.  

Uttar Pradesh Assembly passes UP Revenue Code (Amendment) Bill, 2016 

i. Uttar Pradesh Assembly passed the UP Revenue Code (Amendment) Bill 2016 replacing an ordinance issued by the Governor Ram Naik.

ii. The Bill allows Dalits of the state to sell their land to non-Dalits in the state without approval of the administration even if their remaining holding is less than 3.5 acres. 

Key facts 

• The bill seeks to bring changes existing revenue laws dating to the British era by further speeding up disposal of litigations over land ownership in rural areas. 
• It also provision that allows land owners lease out their land for share-cropping purpose without the fear of losing it after 12 years. 
• Ensures that wife gets equal rights on the gram samaj land given out on a lease signifying step towards empowerment of rural women. 
• The bill has provisions for setting up of a new judicial cadre that will look after land revenue disputes in order to end disputes especially in cases of partnership.  

Manoj Kumar to be conferred Dadasaheb Phalke Award 

i. Veteran Film Actor and Director Manoj Kumar has been selected for the prestigious 47th Dadasaheb Phalke Award for the year 2015. 

ii. He was unanimously selected by a five member jury consisted of Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhosle, Salim Khan, Nitin Mukesh and Anup Jalota. 

About Manoj Kumar 

• Manoj Kumar was born as Harikishan Giri Goswami on 24 July 1937 in Abbottabad (now in Pakistan), then part of British India. 
• He had shifted to Delhi at the age of 10 due to India-Pakistan partition after independence. He entered in the film industry after graduating from Hindu College, University of Delhi.
• His debut role as an actor was in the film Fashion (1957) and as a leading role was in film Kaanch Ki Gudia (1960). 
• He is remembered for his films Hariyali Aur Raasta, Himalaya Ki God Mein, Woh Kaun Thi, Do Badan, Patthar Ke Sanam, Upkaar, Neel Kamal, Purab Aur Paschim, Roti Kapda Aur Makaan, and Kranti. 
• He is best known for acting in and directing films with patriotic themes. His first patriotic film was Shaheed (1965) based on the life of Bhagat Singh. 
• Awards and Honours: He is a recipient of National Film Award (1968) for the film Upkaar. He also was honoured with the Padma Shri in 1992 and Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award in 1999. 

About Dadasaheb Phalke Award 

The award is conferred by the Union Government on person for outstanding contribution to the growth and development of Indian Cinema. 

Established in 1969 to commemorate the birth centenary year of father of Indian cinema Dadasaheb Phalke. It is the highest official recognition (award) in Indian cinema. 

The Award consists of a Swarn Kamal, a cash prize of 10 lakhs rupees and a shawl. It is given on the basis of recommendations of a committee of eminent personalities set up by the Centre.  

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