Current Affairs: January 19, 2012

Suresh Kalmadi granted Bail

• Delhi High Court grants bail to former Commonwealth Games Organizing Committee chairman, Suresh Kalmadi in a 2010 Commonwealth Games-related graft case.
• Kalmadi was given bail after remaining behind bars for nearly nine months.
• On April 25, 2011 Kalmadi was arrested by CBI for awarding illegal contracts to a Swiss firm for Timing-Scoring-Result (TSR) system for the 2010 Commonwealth Games causing a loss of Rs 95 crore to the exchequer.
• Kalmadi's membership of the Indian National Congress Party was suspended after being arrested and charged with corruption.
• On April 26, 2011 he was also sacked from the post of president of the Indian Olympic Association.
• In the recent verdict, Delhi High Court has also granted bail to Former Director General of CWG Organising Committee V K Verma co-accused in the case.
• The bail has been granted to them after furnishing a bail bond of 5 lakh rupees each and two sureties of the same amount.
• The court has also directed them not to leave the country without prior permission of the trial court.

Gujarat Government moved to SC

• The Gujarat Government moves to the Supreme Court challenging the High Court verdict upholding the appointment of Justice (retd) R A Mehta as the Lokayukta by the Governor on the ground that it was unconstitutional as it was done without the consent of the state government.
• The state Government contends that appointment order was passed without following due procedure in a wholly unconstitutional manner which was illegal.

Economic Growth slated to be 7.2%: FM

• The Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee says that the Indian Economy growth rate will be around 7.2 percent during the current year.
• The Finance Minister also says that it is difficult to contain the Fiscal deficit at 4.6% as targeted during the last budget.
• The reasons cited by the finance minister include current uncertainty in global economy, as the problems in euro -zone is still unresolved and volatility in international commodity prices especially fuel.

Bangladesh Army foils coup attempt

• The Bangladesh foils a planned coup attempt to topple the government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
• It has been announced by the Brigadier General Muhammad Masud Razzaq.
• General Razzaq said that specific information has been unearthed that some officers in military service have been involved in the conspiracy to topple the system of democratic governance and some unruly and derailed military officers have been actively engaged in the execution of the heinous conspiracy through maintaining contacts with a fugitive officer who is a Major.
• Two former army officers have been arrested so far, a manhunt has been launched for the fugitive officer while some 16 others were kept under strict military vigil.

India International Coffee Festival organized at New Delhi

• India International Coffee Festival organized at New Delhi.
• At the occasion, the Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia stated that there is opportunity for the coffee industry to increase footprints in the domestic market.
• He also said that rising income level of the Indian people will ensure 500 million citizens in 20 years having enough disposable income to spend on products like coffee.

Indians rescued from Costa Concordia return home

• MS Costa Concordia is a cruise ship owned and operated by Costa Cruises.
• On 13 January 2012, the Costa Concordia ran aground and partially sank on the western coast of Italy just off the shore of Isola del Giglio.
• Out of the total 4,200 passengers and crew, at least eleven people were killed, including ten passengers and one crew member, and 23 are still missing.
• At present, the ship is capsized off the coast and at high risk of falling into deeper waters and sinking. It is unclear whether the ship will sail again.
• Indian nationals rescued from the Costa Concordia cruise ship have returned home.

Law commission recommends to make Anti-Dowry law less stringent

• The Law Commission recommends the dilution of Anti-Dowry law to make it less stringent.
• The recommendation would allow the woman, involved in the case, to withdraw it with the permission of the court, provided she is not under any pressure.
• The Law commission headed by Justice P V Reddi, has recommended the Government to make Section 498-A of the Indian Penal Code, which deals with harassment for dowry and cruelty to a woman in her matrimonial home, a compoundable offence.
• Compoundable offences are those which can be compromised by the parties to the dispute. The permission of the court is not necessary. This means that those who would be booked in cases under this section would find it easier to get bail.

R.V. Kanoria is new FICCI president

• R.V. Kanoria, chairman and managing director of Kanoria Chemicals and Industries, has taken over as president of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI).

Bihar to go for First Industrial Survey of the State

• In March 2012, first survey of industrial units of Bihar to assess the industrial scenario in the state and to frame measures to attract investments will be carried out. The survey will collect information about industrial units including micro, small, medium and large enterprises.
• The state government would appoint retired officials of National Sample Survey Organisation for the work.