Daily Current Capsules - 24^th JULY 2019

Bilateral Relations
Shimla Agreement
Know! about Simla Agreement and How it is Relevant Amid Trump's Kashmir Mediation Gaffe
Relevance in - Prelims ( about Shimla agreement) + Mains ( GS II bilateral relations)
The Simla Agreement was signed by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and Pakistani President Zulfikar Ali Bhutto on 2 July 1972, following a full-blown war between India and Pakistan in 1971

What's the NEWS

• Donald Trump in a recent statement claimed that PM Modi had asked him to be the mediator in the Kashmir dispute between India and Pakistan.
• India outrightly rejected Trump's claims saying that no such request was made by the Prime Minister.
• Trump's Kashmir claim has, however, turned into a huge controversy, as it violates the 1972 Shimla Agreement.

Know! all about the Shimla Agreement of July 2, 1972

• The Shimla agreement was signed by the then Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and Pakistan President Zulfikar Ali Bhutto on July 2, 1972, after the 1971 India-Pakistan war, which liberated East Pakistan and led to the creation of Bangladesh.
• The Shimla agreement was a comprehensive blueprint that aimed to enable good neighbourly relations between India and Pakistan.
• Under it, both India and Pakistan decided to give up past conflict and focus on establishing a durable friendship, peace and cooperation between them.
• The Shimla Agreement comprises a set of principles, agreed to by both India and Pakistan, which emphasize upon respect for each other's sovereignty, territorial integrity, sovereign equality, non-interference in each other's internal affairs, respect for each other's political independence and unity and discarding of hostile propaganda.

• Mutual commitment to the peaceful resolution of all issues through direct bilateral approaches.
• Build the foundation of a cooperative relationship with a focus on people-to-people contacts.
• Uphold the inviolability of Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir.
• To govern the relations by the principles of the United Nations charter.

Miscellaneous Factoids
National Broadcasting Day
Relevance IN - Prelims ( about national broadcasting day)
What's the NEWS

• Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar has wished the people on National broadcasting Day.

Know! more about the day

• On this day in 1927, the first ever radio broadcast in the country went on the air from the Bombay Station under a private company, the Indian Broadcasting Company.
• The Indian State Broadcasting Service became All India Radio on 8^th of June, 1936,
• All India Radio has been serving to inform, educate and entertain the masses since it's inception, truly living up to its motto - Bahujan Hitaya Bahujan Sukhaya.

Economic Developments
Inter-ministerial committee recommends ban on private cryptocurrencies in India
Relevance IN - Prelims ( about cryptocurrencies and its status in India) + Mains ( GS III economic developments + cyber security and law)
What's the NEWS

• An Inter-ministerial panel, which was set up by government on issues related to the cryptocurrencies in India, has given its recommendations. This high level panel has suggested banning all private crypto-currencies in India.
• This inter-ministerial also recommends a fine of up to Rs. 25 crore and imprisonment of 10 years for anyone dealing in them. Also, this panel has recommends to ban the blockchain system in selected areas of the country.

Know! the recommendations made by the committee

• The committee recommends that all private cryptocurrencies, except any cryptocurrency which may be issued by the government, be banned in India.
• Cryptocurrencies issued by foreign private enterprises should be completely banned in India.
• Committee also proposed that exchanges, investors, traders and other financial intermediaries should be covered under this.
• It also proposed that dealing in them (cryptocurrency) should be made a criminal offence.

Punishment for using Cyrpto currency in India

• A draft law presented by the committee says that any direct or indirect use of cryptocurrency will be punishable offence in India.
• Committee proposed a fine or imprisonment which shall not be less than one year but which may extend up to 10 years.
• In case of repeated offence, it shall be punishable with imprisonment of up to five years that could extend to 10 years with a fine.
• The fine could be three times the loss or harm caused by the person or three times the gain made by a person or up to Rs 25 crore.

Indian National Movement
Chandra Shekhar Azad 113^th Birth Anniversary

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about Chandra Shekhar azad) + Mains ( GS I Indian national movement - personalities)
What's the NEWS

• India observes 113^th birth anniversary of Chandra Shekhar Azad on July 23, 2019. His life is a source of inspiration in country as he got involved in freedom struggle at a very young age. Chandra Shekhar Azad is popularly known as ‘Azad'.
• Popularly known as Azad, Chandra Shekhar Azad was an Indian revolutionary who reorganised the Hindustan Republican Association under its new name of Hindustan Socialist Republican Army (HSRA) after the death of its founder, Ram Prasad Bismil, and three other prominent party leaders, Roshan Singh, Rajendra Nath Lahiri and Ashfaqulla Khan.

Know! more about the legend

• One of the most well-known freedom fighters in India, he was born as Chandrashekhar Tiwari on 23 July 1906 in Bhabhra village (town)
• In 1921, when Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi launched the Non-Cooperation Movement, Chandra Shekhar, then a 15-year-old student, joined
• Believed that on being presented before a magistrate, he gave his name as "Azad" (The Free), his father's name as "Swatantrata" (Independence) and his residence as "Jail". From that day he came to be known as Chandra Shekhar Azad among the people.
• He became extremely popular after Kakori Rail Dacoity in 1925 and assassination of policeman John Saunders in year 1928.
• Bhagat Singh and Azad came together after the death of Lala Lajpat Rai. Azad trained Bhagat Singh and other young revolutionaries in underground activities.
• Azad died at Alfred Park in Allahabad, now Prayagraj, on 27 February 1931. The park has been renamed to Chandrashekhar Azad Park to honour the incredible sacrifice of this legend.
• Azad was wounded in the process of defending himself and Sukhdev Raj and killed three policemen and wounded others.

Know! about Kakori Dacoit

• On August 9, 1925, Hindustan Socialist Republican Army (HSRA) attacked a train carrying a collection of government funds in Kakori, in which Rs 4,500 was looted by Indian freedom fighters.
• Members of HSRA were Ramprasad Bismil, Ashfaqallah Khan, Rajendra Lahiri and Roshan Singh were arrested and sentenced to death. Azad managed to dodge the police.
  
  

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