Current Affairs 10th December

India and Pakistan announces 10-point 

Comprehensive Bilateral Dialogue

India and Pakistan have agreed to resume structured dialogue between them through new 10-point Comprehensive Bilateral Dialogue (CBD). The 10-point CBD replaces earlier 8-point Composite Dialogue Process (CDP) structured dialogue which was also known as Resumed Dialogue. In this regard, both countries have issued a joint statement after a meeting between External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Pakistan Prime Minister’s Advisor on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz in Islamabad on the side-lines of Hearth of Asia Conference. 10-point Comprehensive Bilateral Dialogue (CBD) includes

• Peace and security, 
• confidence building measures (CBMs) Jammu and Kashmir
• Siachen. Sir Creek Boundary Dispute.
• Wullar Barrage/Tulbul Navigation Project.
• Economic and Commercial cooperation. 
• Counter-terrorism, Narcotics control. People-to-people exchanges. Humanitarian issues. 
• Religious tourism.

            CBD includes all the eight elements of CDP and adds new two elements viz. Humanitarian issues and Religious Tourism in the agenda to make the peace process between both countries long lasting. Joint statement issued also includes National Security Advisors (NSAs) of both countries to take forward talks on terrorism. Pakistan committed to expedite 26/11 Mumbai attacks trial. Secretary-level talks within stipulated time table. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit Pakistan in 2016 to participate in the 19th South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) summit to be held in Islamabad.

Cabinet approves amendments to The National 

Waterways Bill, 2015

The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given its approval to carry out official amendments in The National Waterways Bill, 2015. 
The amendments seek to add 106 additional inland waterways as the national waterways based on the recommendations Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture and comments of State Governments
 Key facts

•  The National Waterways Bill, 2015 repeals the five Acts that declare the existing national waterways. These existing five national waterways are now covered under the Bill.
• The enactment of this Act (Central legislation) will pave way for the inclusion of 106 additional inlands waterways. 
• Thus the total number of national waterways (NW) numbers will go up to 111 from existing five national waterways
•  The changes made in former bill include omission of 10 waterways from Kerala. While 17 waterways have been merged with the existing waterways. 
• 18 new waterways have been added. 5 each from Karnataka and Meghalaya, 3 each from Maharashtra and Kerala, 1 each from Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan). 
• The declaration of these National Waterways would enable Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) to develop the feasible stretches for Shipping and Navigation.

 Note: Union Government is empowered to make laws on shipping and navigation on inland waterways which are classified as national waterways by Parliament by law as per Entry 24 of the Union List of the 7th Schedule of the Constitution.
 Inland Waterways
Waterways are the cheapest and environment friendly modes of Transportation. They are most suitable for carrying heavy and bulky goods. Existing five national waterways are

1.  (i) NW 1: between Allahabad and Haldia (1620 km) on Ganga River 
2. (ii) NW 2: between Sadiya and Dubri (891 km)
3. (iii) NW 3: West Coast Canal (205 km) in Kerala
4. (iv) NW 4: Kakinada–Pondicherry stretch River Godavari and Wazirabad–Vijayawada stretch of River  Krishna in Andhra Prades (v) NW 5: Talcher–Dhamra (620 km) stretch on Mahanadi River.

10 December: Human Rights Day 

Read more at: http://currentaffairs.gktoday.in/month/current-affairs-december-2015/page/8
Human Rights Day (HRD) is marked annually on 10th December to commemorate the day in 1948 when the United Nations (UN) adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). 

The theme chosen for the year 2015 HRD is ‘Our Rights. Our Freedoms. Always’. It marks the launch of a 1 year campaign commemorating two international human rights treaties International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) and International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). Both of the treaties were adopted in 1966.

 Background 

Human Rights Day was formally established at the 317th Plenary Meeting of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on 4 December 1950.

 It was established after UNGA declared Resolution 423(V) by inviting all member states and any other interested organizations to celebrate the day to the mark the first global enunciation of human rights and one of the first major achievements of the UN.