2016

UPSC Civil Services Exam

[SCIENCE & TECH + INTERNAL

SECURITY]
A Brief Overview and Conceptual Guide

 Nitin Sangwan
Beginners Note:
On Science and Technology:
1. It is advisable that you read some NCERTs if you are not comfortable in science and technology
section. But let me assure you, science and technology questions that are asked in UPSC are not
questions of science and technology per se, but are more of current events. So, those from arts
background need not panic about this portion of syllabus. UPSC now a days asks only some
conceptual contemporary questions which are not at all difficult to understand.
2. When you come across any news item regarding some significant scientific development, just
google it to have a better understanding. Since this portion is a dynamic one, read newspaper
continuously to be fully aware. So far in past couple of years the questions which have been
asked relate to very prominent scientific developments or some basic contemporary scientific
concepts.
On Internal Security
1. India is a god source of having a good overview of our defence and security forces. Read its
relevant chapters.
2. However, the questions which are likely to be asked in this section, will be more or less from
current events or our historical policy related to some countries like Pakistan, China, USSR, USA
etc. So, it is advisable that newspaper is read thoroughly.
3. Relevant summaries of 2nd ARC can also be read (if you have time, just glance through the
relevant sections of the full report) Capacity Building for Conflict Resolution' (7th Report)
Combating Terrorism-Protecting By Righteousness (8th Report)
Always keep things manageable. It is not so important that how much you read, but how well you read.
Keep in mind that whatever you read, you have to revise that also at times of mains exam. So, limit your
study material.

Best of luck!
Nitin Sangwan
AIR 28 (2016), AIR359 (2015), AIR 320 (2014)
Drop me a comment at: www.meandupsc.blogspot.in if you need some further help in the exam,
suggestions or any major discrepancies in these notes for benefit of others.

 Nitin Sangwan
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
*Glossary
ACID RAIN Oxides of sulphur and nitrogen dissolve in rain water and form acids. Such rain is called acid
rain. The use of diesel and petrol as fuels in automobiles is being replaced by CNG (Compressed Natural
Gas), because CNG produces the harmful products in very small amounts. When pH of rain water is less
than 5.6, it is called acid rain. When acid rain flows into the rivers, it lowers the pH of the river water.
The survival of aquatic life in such rivers becomes difficult.
AEROSOL Aerosol is a suspension of fine solid particles or liquid droplets in a gas. Examples are clouds,
and air pollution such as smog and smoke.
ALMA It is the worlds largest ground based telescope that has come up in Chile.
ANABOLIC STEROIDS These are drugs that mimic the effects of testosterone in the body. They increase
protein synthesis within cells, which results in the buildup of cellular tissue (anabolism), especially in
muscles. They are mostly banned or discouraged for usage.
ANTIOXIDANTS These are basically the reducing agents and are the substances that protect the cells
from damage caused by free radicals (free radicals are oxidizing i.e. electron deficient agents).
Antioxidants are reducing agents, and limit oxidative damage to biological structures by passivating free
radicals. Phenomenon of ageing is often related to the accumulation of damage caused by free radical.
Free radicals may also cause cancer. Some anti-oxidants are Beta-Carotene, lycopene, Vitamin C, A and
E.
ARTIFICIAL BLOOD is the type of blood produced in lab from stem cells. First breakthrough has come in
the form of production of red blood cells (RBC). These RBCs carry oxygen & rightly considered as main
constituent of blood.
ATHERO-SCLEROSIS Hardening and narrowing of arteries that leads to strokes and is often linked to
lifestyle causes.
AUTO-IMMUNE DISEASES Autoimmune diseases arise
from an abnormal immune response of the body against
substances and tissues normally present in the body
(autoimmunity). A substantial minority of the population
suffers from these diseases, which are often chronic,
debilitating, and life-threatening. There are more than 80
illnesses caused by autoimmunity. The treatment of
autoimmune
diseases
is
typically
with immunosuppressionmedication that decreases the
immune response.
BALLISTIC MISSILE A ballistic missile is a missile that
follows a sub-orbital ballistic flight path with the objective

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of delivering one or more warheads to a predetermined target. The missile is only guided during the
relatively brief initial powered phase of flight and its course is subsequently governed by the laws of
orbital mechanics and ballistics.
BEAM The Bigelow Expandable Activity Module, nicknamed Beam is a low-cost space dwelling that
inflates like a balloon in orbit. It is to be tested aboard the International Space Station (ISS). It is
scheduled for launch in mid-2015 aboard a Dragon cargo ship of Space Exploration Technologies.
BIG DATA is the term for a collection of data sets so large and complex that it becomes difficult to
process using on-hand database management tools or traditional data processing applications. The
challenges include capture, curation, storage, search, sharing, transfer, analysis and visualization. But big
data has many uses like

The computing power of big data analytics enables us to decode entire DNA strings in minutes

Most elite sports have now embraced big data analytics.

Science and research is currently being transformed by the new possibilities big data brings.
Take, for example, CERN, the Swiss nuclear physics lab with its Large Hadron Collider, the
worlds largest and most powerful particle accelerator.

Big data is applied heavily in improving security and enabling law enforcement.

Big data is used to improve many aspects of our cities and countries. For example, it allows cities
to optimize traffic flows based on real time traffic information as well as social media and
weather data.

Understanding and Targeting Customers

Understanding and Optimizing Business Processes

BIOACCUMULATION or BIOCONCENTRATION It refers to the accumulation of substances, such as
pesticides, or other organic chemicals in an organism. Bioaccumulation occurs when an organism
absorbs a toxic substance at a rate greater than that at which the substance is lost. Thus, the longer the
biological half-life of the substance the greater the risk of chronic poisoning, even if environmental
levels of the toxin are not very high.
BIOMAGNIFICATION or BIOAMPLIFICATION Biomagnification, also known as bioamplification or
biological magnification, is the increase in concentration of a substance that occurs in a food chain.
Biological magnification often refers to the process whereby certain substances such as pesticides or
heavy metals move up the food chain, work their way into rivers or lakes, and are eaten by aquatic
organisms such as fish, which in turn are eaten by large birds, animals or humans.
BIO-ENGINEERING It is the application of concepts and methods of biology and secondarily of physics,
chemistry etc to solve problems in life sciences.
BIOFORTIFICATION is the idea of breeding crops to increase their nutritional value. This can be done
either through conventional selective breeding, or through genetic engineering. Once in place, the
biofortified crop system is highly sustainable. Nutritionally improved varieties will continue to be grown

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and consumed year after year, even if government attention and international funding for micronutrient
issues fades. It involves one-time investment to develop seeds that fortify themselves. The recurrent
costs are low, and germplasm can be shared internationally.
BIOINFORMATICS Bioinformatics is the application of computer science and information technology to
the field of biology and medicine. Bioinformatics deals with algorithms, databases and information
systems, web technologies, artificial intelligence and soft computing
BIOMATERIAL is identified as materials which can be , natural or synthetic and nonviable material used
in a medical device, intended to interact with biological systems.
BIOMINERALISATION Biomineralization is the process by which living organisms produce minerals,
often to harden or stiffen existing tissues. Such tissues are called mineralized tissues. These minerals
often form structural features such as sea shells and the bone in mammals and birds. The potential
application of this phenomenon is using it to produce nano materials which at present are difficult to
fabricate.
BIONICS Bionics (also known as BIOMIMICRY) is the application of biological methods and systems
found in nature to the study and design of engineering systems and modern technology. For example
Bionic Architecture is one such stream which aims at designing buildings copying the naturally occurring
biological structures.
BIO-PIRACY Biopiracy is a situation where indigenous knowledge of nature, originating with indigenous
people, is exploited for commercial gain (by MNCs, corporate etc) without permission from and with no
compensation to the indigenous people themselves. Biopiracy commonly operates through the
application of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) (primarily patents) to genetic/indigenous resources and
traditional knowledge. Bio-prospecting and bio piracy Bio-prospecting is the scientific research that
looks for useful products in the nature to create pharmaceuticals or other products. Compensation has
to be given to the community or the country from where the natural resource has been obtained. On the
other hand, Bio-piracy is the development of these pharmaceutical (or other) products without giving
compensation to the community that nurtured and protected the organisms on which these products
are based. In India, TKDL is one initiative which will help in curbing the bio piracy. Nagoya Protocol on
Access and Benefit Sharing, 2010 also has provisions to stop biopiracy. Setting of NBA is another step in
this direction.
BIOREMEDIATIONBioremediation is the use of micro-organism metabolism to remove pollutants.
Some examples of bioremediation technologies are phytoremediation, bioventing, bioleaching,
landfarming,
bioreactor,
composting,
bioaugmentation,
rhizofiltration,
and
biostimulation.Bioremediation can occur on its own (natural attenuation or intrinsic bioremediation) or
can be spurred on via the addition of fertilizers to increase the bioavailability within the medium
(biostimulation).
BIOSIGNATURE A biosignature is any substance - such as an element, isotope, or molecule, or
phenomenon - that provides scientific evidence of past or present life. Possible biosignatures include
microfossils, isotopic compositions of carbon, nitrogen and hydrogen in organic matter etc. Life

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processes may produce a range of biosignatures such as nucleic acids, lipids, proteins, amino acids.
BLUE BRAIN PROJECT The Blue Brain Project is an attempt to create a synthetic brain by reverseengineering the mammalian brain down to the molecular level. The aim of the project, founded in May
2005, is to study the brain's architectural and functional principles.
BODY MASS INDEX It is the ratio of the Weight and Square Height. It should be between 18.525. It
is not applicable for young growing children.
THE BRAIN INITIATIVE (Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies) is an
ambitious plan to map the human brain for the first time, in an attempt to seek vital clues for treating
diseases such as Parkinsons and Alzheimers. It is launched in USA at cost of $100 million.
BREAKTHROUGH PRIZE a new prize in Life Sciences announced by tycoons like Yuri Milner, Sergy Brin,
Mark Zuckerberg with prize money of $3 million each for 11 scientists and it will awarded to young
scientists. Its selection process will be transparent and anyone will be able to nominate. Each years
winners will join selection panel of next year. There will be no prize giving ceremony as well instead,
winners will be required to share their work via lectures, talks etc far and wide.
CARBON SEQUESTERING Carbon sequestration describes long-term storage of carbon dioxide or other
forms of carbon to either mitigate or defer global warming. It has been proposed as a way to slow the
atmospheric and marine accumulation of greenhouse gases, which are released by burning fossil fuels.
The main debate in the context of carbon capture and sequestering is about the feasibility of the
technologies. Right now storing the carbon in hermetically sealed containers at high pressure is costly
affair and it may negate the benefits. There is also a debate whether Carbon Sequestering be allowed
for Carbon Credits Mechanism.
CARBON SINKS A carbon sink is a natural or artificial reservoir that accumulates and stores some
carbon-containing chemical compound for an indefinite period. The process by which carbon sinks
remove carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere is known as carbon sequestration.The main natural
sinks are: oceans via physicochemical and biological processes, Photosynthesis by terrestrial plants. The
main artificial sinks are: Landfills, Carbon capture and storage proposals.
CCD or Charged Couple Device It is like an electronic eye which facilitate capturing of light for modern
digital camera and it has facilitated that images can now be captured on a screen instead of a film. It
makes use of photo-electrical effect as given by Einstein in which light is converted into electrical signals.
COAL GASis obtained during the processing of coal to get coke. It is used as a fuel in many industries
situated near the coal processing plants.
COLLOIDAL QUANTUM DOTS These are the materials that convert solar energy from entire spectrum
unlike the earlier semi-conductor materials which convert solar energy into electrical from only a
particular spectrum.
CONCENTRATED PHOTOVOLTAIC TECHNOLOGY It is a technology of harnessing solar energy which
uses mirrors and lenses to concentrate sun light and improve efficiency (40%). But challenges are they

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don't work in diffused light and need direct sunlight.
CRYONICS is the low-temperature preservation of animals (including humans) who cannot be sustained
by contemporary medicine, with the hope that healing and resuscitation may be possible in the future.
DARK MATTER In astronomy and cosmology, dark matter is matter that neither emits nor scatters
light or other electromagnetic radiation, and so cannot be directly detected via optical or radio
astronomy. Its existence is inferred from gravitational effects on visible matter and gravitational lensing
of background radiation, and was originally hypothesized to account for discrepancies between
calculations of the mass of galaxies, clusters of galaxies and the entire universe.
DATA BROKERS are companies which buy personal consumer data, create profiles and resell it to other
organizations. Data brokers can collect information about consumers from a variety of public and nonpublic sources including courthouse records, website cookies and loyalty card programs. Typically,
brokers create profiles of individuals for marketing purposes and sell them to businesses who want to
target their advertisements and special offers.
DIABETES In common parlance it is called sugar disease. It is of two types Type 1 Diabetes and Type
2 diabetes.
Type 1 Diabetes
Type 2 Diabetes
Type 1 afflicts children/teens and hence also Type 2 is for Adults reason for other name Adult
called Juvenile Onset before the age of 30.
Onset. Type 2 diabetes is also termed as one of
the lifestyle diseases.
Type 1 has insulin dependency
Type 2 doesnt have insulin dependency
Type 1 has its onset rapid in weeks
Type 2 has onset Slow, in years
Type 1 is cured through medications
Type 2 is mostly treated with healthy regime,
weight loss and exercise.
Both are genetic.
DIGITAL SIGNATURE A digital signature or digital signature scheme is a mathematical scheme for
demonstrating the authenticity of a digital message or document. A valid digital signature gives a
recipient reason to believe that the message was created by a known sender, and that it was not altered
in transit. Digital signatures are commonly used for software distribution, financial transactions, and in
other cases where it is important to detect forgery or tampering.
DNA FINGER PRINTING or DNA PROFILING or DNA TESTINGIt is a method of isolating and making
images of sequences of DNA often used by forensic scientists to ascertain the identity of a human being
or another living organism. Useful information like lineage, paternity can be determined using this. It is
also widely used in forensic investigation in establishing the identity of culprits especially in cases of
rape, murder etc. It is based on the fact that though DNA of all human beings looks same, but the
sequencing of its elements is different for every human beings and hence every human being can be
uniquely identified by using this technique. Center for Molecular Biology in Hyderabad is a premier
institute of India which undertake such investigation and research.
DNA SEQUENCING is the process of determining the precise order of nucleotides within a DNA

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molecule. Knowledge of DNA sequences has become indispensable for basic biological research, and in
numerous applied fields such as diagnostic, biotechnology, forensic biology. The wealth of the genomics
information now available will greatly assist the doctors in early diagnosis of hereditary diseases like
Parkinson disease, Huntington etc. Genome sequencing allows us to identify the specific causes of the
disorder.
FAST BREEDER REACTOR The term fast breeder refers to the types of configurations which produce
more fissionable fuel than they use i.e. more fuel is produced than is spent. In these types of reactors
instead of Water, Liquid Sodium is used as moderator.
FORTIFIED FOODIt came into news after various state government announced to supply it under mid
day meal scheme in schools. Keeping in view of the undernourishment of the children and lack of proper
nutrients in the food, it is planned that micronutrients will be artificially added to the normal food like
poha, idli given to students. One important challenge is that there are certain fat soluble vitamins like
Vitamin A, D and E which if given in excess, body has no mechanism to drain them.
GENE A gene is a molecular unit of heredity of a living organism. It is a name given to some stretches of
DNA and RNA that carry information about certain functions. Genes hold the information to build and
maintain an organism's cells and pass genetic traits to offspring.
GENE PATENTING It involves discovery and then patenting of the discovered genes. In Myriad Genetics
case, US Federal court held that since genes exist naturally, they or their findings cannot be patented.
GENETIC TESTING It involves the direct examination of the DNA molecule itself It is used or carrier
screening (disease carrying genes), forensic testing to confirm identities, pre-natal diagnostic and so on.
GENE THERAPY It involves altering DNA by encoding it and then planting it back. If it is planted in
somatic cells, it is called somatic gene therapy and the alterations are not inherited. If it is planted in
germ cells, it is called germ gene therapy and traits are inherited. Preventive gene therapy means
altering the DNA before a disease manifests itself.
GIS Geographic Information System In the simplest terms, GIS is the merging of cartography,
statistical analysis, and database technology. A geographic information system, geographical
information science, or geospatial information studies is a system designed to capture, store,
manipulate, analyze, manage, and present all types of geographically referenced data. GIS technology
can be used for earth surface-based scientific investigations; resource management; reference and
projections of a geospatial nature, both artificial and natural; archaeology; environmental impactassessment; infrastructure assessment and development; urban planning and regional planning;
cartography, for a thematic and/or time-based purpose; criminology; geospatial intelligence In India the
technology has been successfully used in improving the bus service efficiency in Ahmadabad, Bhopal,
Indore. NDPL has used in addressing the power distribution challenges in Delhi.
GOLDILOCKS ZONE it is the zone/orbit around a star which has habitable conditions with temperature
neither too high nor too low, so that liquid water may be present at surface.

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GRAVITATIONAL LENSING works in an analogous way and is an effect of Einstein's theory of general
relativity simply put, mass bends light. The gravitational field of a massive object will extend far into
space, and cause light rays passing close to that object (and thus through its gravitational field) to be
bent and refocused somewhere else. The more massive the object, the stronger its gravitational field
and hence the greater the bending of light rays - just like using denser materials to make optical lenses
results in a greater amount of refraction.
GRID COMPUTING Grid computing utilize the power of many computers connected in a grid to solve
complex problems by acting like a big virtual computer. It can be an organizational grid or a global grid.
HEMATOPOIETIC STEM CELL Red Blood Cells, White Blood Cells and Platelets are the three types of
cells found in blood. All of them ultimately trace their lineage to one common predecessor: the
Hematopoietic Stem Cell (HSC). HSC Transplantation (HSCT) is the only therapeutically available Stem
Cell Therapy (SCT).
HEPATITIS A and HEPATITIS B Hepatitis is the medical term for inflammation of the liver. There are five
hepatitis viruses: A, B, C, D, and E. There are many causes of hepatitis, including viruses, alcoholism, and
medications. Hepatitis may occur with limited or no symptoms, but often leads to jaundice, anorexia
(poor appetite) and malaise.
I.

Hepatitis A can be found in the feces of a contaminated person. Hepatitis A is mainly

transmitted through the fecal-oral route. That means infected people shed viruses in their feces.
If they don't observe proper hygiene, the virus can end up on their hands.

II.

Hepatitis B virus is present within the bloodstream, semen, and vaginal secretions of infected

individuals.
HORMONES are chemical substances. These are secretions from endocrine glands, or endocrine system.
Endocrine glands release hormones into the bloodstream to reach a particular body part called target
site. The production of hormones is under the control of another hormone secreted from an endocrine
gland called pituitary gland or also called Master Gland (It is situated near head). Pituitary also secretes
growth hormone which is necessary for the normal growth of a person. Pancreas (secretes insulin) and
Adernal (secretes aderniline) are situated near the stomach.
HUMAN GENOME PROJECT It was a US led international effort to sequence entire human genetic
code or genome starting in 1990 which complete in 2003. A genome is all the DNA that is contained in
an organism. The projects significance lies in the fact that it will make the human beings like an open
book and will explain their various traits by reading out ones genome. It will help in identifying specific
genes which cause certain diseases, dysfunctions and abnormalities.
HYDROGENATION Hydrogenation means to reduce a compound by treating it with hydrogen
molecules. It is often in news in relation to the food industry. Hydrogenation is widely applied to the
processing of vegetable oils fats. Complete hydrogenation converts unsaturated fatty acids to saturated
ones. In practice the process is not usually carried to completion. Hydrogenation results in the
conversion of liquid vegetable oils to solid or semi-solid fats, such as those present in margarine.

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KEPLER MISSION It aims at discovering hundred of earth like planets in the Milkyway.
LIGHT WATER REACTOR The light water reactor (LWR) is a type of thermal reactor that uses normal
water as its coolant and neutron moderator. Thermal reactors are the most common type of nuclear
reactor, and light water reactors are the most common type of thermal reactor.
MARS ONEA one way first human mission to Mars in 2023. Mars One is a non-profit organization that
plans to establish a permanent human colony on Mars by 2023. The private spaceflight project is led by
Dutch entrepreneur. A global reality-TV media event is intended to provide most of the funds to finance
the expedition. It should begin with the astronaut selection process (with some public participation)
NEAR EARTH ORBIT It is at a height of about 400 km from earth surface. In this orbit, satellites with
shorter life-span of 2-3 years are put and they have to overcome high gravitational forces. Usually
experimental satellites are launched in it.
LOW EARTH ORBIT It is at a height of 900 km and Remote Sensing satellites are put in like IRS
series satellites.
GEOSTATIONRY ORBIT or GEOSYNCHRONOUS ORBIT It is at a height of 36,000 km above the
equator of the earth. It is almost circular. Satellites in this orbit take 23 hours and 56 minutes
and 4 seconds to complete one revolution around the earth and this time is same as the time
taken by earth to rotate around its own axis. This is the reason that Geostationary satellite
always remain fixed from the perspective of earth. Most communication satellites like INSAT are
put in this orbit.
NEGLECTED (TROPICAL) DISEASES The neglected diseases are a group of tropical infections which are
especially endemic in low-income populations in developing regions of Africa, Asia, and the Americas.
Some of these diseases have known preventive measures or acute medical treatments which are
available in the developed world but which are not universally available in poorer areas. In some cases,
the treatments are relatively inexpensive. Few of the most prevalent such diseases are - Leprosy, Kala
Azar, Elephantiasis and various diseases caused by worms. Since India is a developing country and still
people are not getting enough preventive medical aid to fight these diseases effectively, this is a matter
of huge concern. These diseases are contrasted with the big three diseases (HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and
malaria), which generally receive greater treatment and research funding. The neglected diseases can
also make HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis more deadly. Leprosy was in news in 2014 as SC made an
observation on failure of the government in eradicating it despite treatment being developed for so
many years. Kala Azar was also in news in 2014 as some states like Bihar, Jharkhand still have the
prevalence of this disease despite the fact that in most parts of the countries it was eradicated a few
decades back.
NEMATODES These are the one of the most difficult garden pests to control. These are round warms
that feed on the roots of the plants and restrict the plants ability to absorb and retain water. They also
cause various diseases in humans and animals. Elephantiasis or Lymphatic Filiarasis is one of them which
is cause by Mosquito.

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NEUTRINO OBSERVATORY PROJECT Neutrinos are element particles which were till recently were
considered massless. They are abundantly present in universe, but are still elusive. They pass our body
daily in figures of billions, but still there is no considerable knowledge about them. India is a pioneer in
neutrino physics with very first cosmic rays produced neutrinos was made in the Kolar Gold Fields
experiment in 1965. New proposed project will be a huge underground facility with a huge detector.
NON COMMUNICABLE DISEASES or LIFESTYLE DISEASES They include diseases like Hypertension,
Diabetes India has highest number of diabetes patients in the world, Heart Attack, Obesity and
Cholesterol. Burden of these diseases is increasing globally due to sedentary lifestyle, rising stress in life
etc.
NON-IONISING RADIATIONSNon-ionizing (or non-ionising) radiation refers to any type of
electromagnetic radiation that does not carry enough energy per quantum to ionize atoms or
moleculesthat is, to completely remove an electron from an atom or molecule. Instead of producing
charged ions when passing through matter, the electromagnetic radiation has sufficient energy only for
excitation, the movement of an electron to a higher energy state. Nevertheless, different biological
effects are observed for different types of non-ionizing radiation. Near ultraviolet, visible light, infrared,
microwave, radio waves, and low-frequency RF (longwave) are all examples of non-ionizing radiation.
Recently they have been in news due to their harmful effects discovered in mobile phone towers which
also emit non-ionising radiations. Unlike ionizing radiations like - X-Rays and Gamma Rays, these dont
strip the Electrons away from molecules in cell tissues and hence cannot damage DNA and other
biomolecules. Further SAR Specific Absorption Rate, defined as the rate of energy deposited in the
biological systems it has been fixed at 2w/kg for mobile phone radiations.
OCEAN ACIDIFICATION Ocean acidification is the name given to the ongoing decrease in the pH of the
Earth's oceans, caused by the uptake of anthropogenic carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere.
About a quarter of the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere goes into the oceans, where it forms carbonic
acid. It has adverse effect on oceanic organisms and other things like Coral reefs in which coral bleaching
happens.
OMEGA 3 FATTY ACIDS Omega-3 fatty acids are considered essential fatty acids i.e. they are necessary
for human health but the body can't make them, but are absorbed through certain foods. Omega-3 fatty
acids play a crucial role in brain function, as well as normal growth and development. They have also
become popular because they may reduce the risk of heart disease. Some fishes, nuts etc are good
sources of these fatty acids.
PHYTOREMEDIATION Phytoremediation describes the treatment of environmental problems
(bioremediation) through the use of plants that mitigate the environmental problem without the need
to excavate the contaminant material and dispose of it elsewhere. Phytoremediation may be applied
wherever the soil or static water environment has become polluted or is suffering ongoing chronic
pollution. Examples where phytoremediation has been used successfully include the restoration of
abandoned metal-mine workings.
PROBIOTIC FOOD Probiotic organisms are live microorganisms thought to be beneficial to the host

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organism. Probiotic food is food that contains beneficial live bacteria. Probiotic food is beneficial for
health and capable of boosting immunity. The first example of probiotic food was the introduction of
acidophilus to milk, which in some cases helped people who had difficulty digesting milk to be able to
tolerate milk better. Most probiotic food is fermented at least partially.
PROTON THERAPY It is latest in Cancer care and unlike the traditional radiation therapy which affects
healthy tissues as well, it affects only malignant tissues.
QUANTUM COMPUTER They are based on Quantum mechanical phenomenon. While ordinary
computers use binary numbers, they use principles of quantum physics. Like bit of digital computers,
they use Qubits or quantum bits which instead of being 1 or 0 at one time can also have both the values
at the same time as well and all values between 0 and 1.
REGENERATIVE PLASTIC, as the name suggests, have the capability to heal and regenerate itself in the
event of any damage or cracks or breakage. Until now only tiny microscopic cracks could be healed, but
now larger cracks and cleavages have been taken care of by this technique. It uses multiple fluid streams
reaching the target. A restorative material is supplied to the damaged area. It gels and tightens, thus
filling the gap and repairing the damage. The capability is a boon for various commercial products, which
need repairs or are prone to damage. Examples like toys, car bumpers, utensils, home appliances etc.
Also this discovery would significantly help those parts and products that are difficult to replace or
repair like those in aerospace applications or underwater devices.
SATURATED vs UNSATURATED FATS
SATURATED FATS
Excessive consumption of saturated fats is not
good because of their association with
atherosclerosis and heart diseases.
Saturated fats are solid at room temperature
Saturated fats increase LDL (bad cholesterol) and
decrease the HDL while

UNSATURATED FATS
Unsaturated fats are considered good to eat if you are
watching your cholesterol. However, the presence of trans
fat especially in margarine makes it dangerous as trans fat
can block arteries easily.
Unsaturated fats are liquid at room temperature
Unsaturated fats (except trans fats) increase HDL (good
cholesterol) and decrease LDL.

SILICENE It is a sheet of honeycombed silicon with layers just one atom thick. Silicene is similar to
Graphene which also has a honeycombed structure.
SQUARE KILOMETER ARRAY This is a new radio telescope that is jointly coming up in Australlia and
South Africa. It will be established in southern hemisphere in Sub-Saharan states where view of Milky
Way is best and is least interfered with radio signals. It has 10 member countries.
STEALTH TECHNOLOGY Stealth technology also termed LO technology (low observable technology)
cover a range of techniques used with personnel, aircraft, ships,
submarines, and missiles, to make them less visible (ideally
invisible) to radar, infrared, sonar and other detection methods.
SUB ORBITAL PATH A sub-orbital space flight is a spaceflight in
which the spacecraft reaches space, but its trajectory intersects

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the atmosphere or surface of the gravitating body from which it was launched, so that it does not
complete one orbital revolution. For example, the path of an object launched from Earth that reaches
100 km (62 mi) above sea level, and then falls back to Earth, is considered a sub-orbital spaceflight.
Other vehicles are specifically designed only for sub-orbital flight; examples include manned vehicles
such as the X-15 and SpaceShip One, and unmanned ones such as ICBMs and sounding rockets.
SUPERBUG A bacteria may develop resistance to an antibiotic by developing a gene that offers
resistance to the antibiotic. If a bacterium carries several resistance genes, it is called multi-resistant or,
informally, a superbug or super bacterium. Widespread and indiscriminant use of anti-biotic is leading to
such bacteria. NDM1 was such a bacteria that was discovered by Lancet magazine.
SUPER ABSORBANT POLYMERS Superabsorbent polymers (SAP) (also called slush powder) are
polymers that can absorb and retain extremely large amounts of a liquid relative to their own volume.
Super Absorbent Polymers are the quickest, most cost-effective means of disposing of industrial sludge
and liquid medical waste. They have wide applications and are also used in baby diapers.
THIRTY MILES TELESCOPE (TMT) It is a new ground based telescope that will start its construction in
Hawai from next year and will be completed by 2022. India and 5 other countries are partners and India
has 10% stake. India will get time proportion to funding that it is contributing. It will have one of the
largest aperture that any ground based telescope has ever had.
TRANS FAT It is the common name for unsaturated fat with trans-isomer. Trans fats are rarely found in
naturally growing food other than small amounts in cattle and sheep. So in the past, animal-based fats
were the only trans fats consumed. But today the largest amount of trans fat consumed is created by
the processed food industry as a side effect of partially hydrogenating unsaturated plant fats (generally
vegetable oils). Trans fats are not essential fatty acids; indeed, the consumption of trans fats increases
the risk of coronary heart disease by raising levels of bad LDL cholesterol and lowering levels of good
HDL cholesterol.
TURING TEST The Turing test is a test of a machine's ability to exhibit intelligent behavior equivalent
to, or indistinguishable from, that of a human. The Turing Test, defined by Alan Turing in 1950 as the
foundation of the philosophy of artificial intelligence.
ZOONATIC DISEASES are diseases or infections naturally transmitted between animals and humans.
Anthrax, plague, rabies, cholera, bovine tuberculosis, malaria etc are well known examples. These are
carried by agents such as virus, bacteria, parasite, fungi etc. Ebola is such a zoonatic disease.
Scientific developments and their applications and effects in everyday life

Achievements of Indians in science & technology

INDIAN SCIENTISTS

 Nitin Sangwan
BIRBAL SAHINI Birbal Sahni was a renowned paleobotanist of India, who studied the fossils of
the Indian subcontinent. Also a great geologist, Sahni is credited for establishing the Birbal Sahni
Institute of Palaeobotany at Lucknow in the state of Uttar Pradesh.
C N R RAO He is an Indian chemist who has worked mainly in solid-state and structural
chemistry.Currently Prof CNR Rao is working on the advanced materials and nanomaterials
including fullerenes, carbon nanotubes, metaloxide tubes and wires
C R RAO Calyampudi Radhakrishna Rao was an Indian mathematician and statistician and
made significant contribution to the Indian Statistical Institute. He is known for Cramer-Rao
inequality, Rao-Blackwell theorem, Raos score test and Raos orthogonal arrays. The C.R. Rao
Award for Statistics was instituted in his honor, to be given once in two years.
C V RAMANChandrasekhara V. Raman, popularly known as C.V. Raman was an Indian physicist,
who won Physics Nobel Prize in 1930 for Raman Effect related to scattering of light and thus
becoming the first Asian to win Nobel in Physics. He found that there were two spectral lines of
very low intensity (strength) parallel to the incident monochromatic light. This showed that
broken light was not monochromatic, though the incident light was monochromatic. While
scientists had been debating over the question whether light was like waves or like particles, the
Raman Effect proved that light is made up of particles known as photons. Dr. Ramans life is a
great example for us to follow. Even when India was under British rule and there was hardly any
basic infrastructure for experimentation, he used his great mind as his laboratory.
G N RAMCHANDRAN - Gopalasamudram Narayana Iyer Ramachandran is best known work of G.
N. Ramachandran till date is the Ramachandran plot/map, which the scientist had conceived
along with Viswanathan Sasisekharan, to understand the molecular structures. Ramachandran
set up the Molecular Biophysics Unit at the IISc which is today a major research centre.
GANAPATHI THANIKAIMONI He was a successful botanist of his days, is remembered till date
for his widespread contribution in the field of palynology. His researches and projects not only
helped India to make its presence felt on the world stage of botany, it also furthered public
relations between two countries.
HAKIM SYED ZILLUR RAHMANHe is well known for his contribution to Unani medicine. He
founded Ibn Sina Academy of Medieval Medicine and Sciences in 2000.
HARGOBIND KHORANA Dr. Har Gobind Khorana shared the Nobel Prize for Medicine and
Physiology in 1968 with Marshall Nirenberg and Robert Holley for cracking the genetic code.
HARISH CHANDRA Indian physicist and mathematician. His profound contributions to the
representation theory of Lie groups, harmonic analysis, and related areas left researchers a rich
legacy that continues today.
HOMI JEHANGIR BHABHA Dr. Homi Jehangir Bhabha was a great scientist. He led India into
atomic age. He is called the father of Indian Nuclear Science. He took a degree in Mechanical

 Nitin Sangwan
Engineering in First Class from Cambridge, completed research work there and received his
doctorate in 1935. Till 1939, he carried outstanding original research relating to cosmic
radiation. He returned to India when the Second World War started. Dr. Bhabha joined the
Indian Institute of Sciences at Bangalore as a Reader at the request of Dr. C.V. Raman. With his
and J R D Tatas efforts, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) was started in 1945, at Dr.
Bhabhas ancestral home. Bhabha became the first chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission
set up in 1948. He was the one who laid the foundation
JAGDISH CHANDRA BOSE Dr. Bose is famous all over the world as the inventor of Crescograph
that can record even the millionth part of a millimeter of plant growth and movement. Dr. Bose
proved through graphs taken by the Crescograph that plants have a circulatory system too.
Crescograph has also shown that the upward movement of sap in plants is the activity of living
cells. He developed the use of galena crystals for making receivers, both for short wavelength
radio waves and for white and ultraviolet light. In 1895, two years before Marconis
demonstration, Bose demonstrated wireless communication using radio waves, using them to
ring a bell remotely and to explode some gunpowder. Many of the microwave components
familiar today - waveguides, horn antennas, polarizers, dielectric lenses and prisms, and even
semiconductor detectors of electromagnetic radiation - were invented and used by Bose in the
last decade of the nineteenth century. He also suggested the existence of electromagnetic
radiation from the Sun, which was confirmed in 1944. Bose then turned his attention to
response phenomena in plants. He showed that not only animal but vegetable tissues, produce
similar electric response under different kinds of stimuli mechanical, thermal, electrical and
chemical.
K CHANDRASEKHARAN Komaravolu Chandrasekharan was the force behind the mathematics
school at TIFR.
M K VAINU BAPPU Indian astronomer, widely known for his discovery of a comet known as
Bappu-Bok-Newkirk, after Bappu and his colleagues Bart Bok and Gordon Newkirk. He and Colin
Wilson discovered a relationship between the luminosity of particular kinds of stars and some of
their spectral characteristics. This important observation came to be known as the BappuWilson effect and is used to determine the luminosity and distance of these kind of stars.
M VISWESARIAH The modern India's foremost engineering genius. He had designed the
wonderful water canal system for Deccan region. He had designed automatic water gates for
regulating water in dams and reservoirs. In the year 1903, the water gates were first erected at
Khadakvasla near Pune.
MEGHNAD SAHA He was one of the leading physicists of 20th century. His theory of hightemperature ionization of elements and its application to stellar atmospheres, as expressed by
the Saha equation, is fundamental to modern astrophysics; subsequent development of his
ideas has led to increased knowledge of the pressure and temperature distributions of stellar
atmospheres. He returned to the University of Calcutta in 1938 where he introduced nuclear
physics into the post-graduate physics curriculum. In 1947 he established the Indian Institute of

 Nitin Sangwan
Nuclear Physics (now known as the Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics). Later in his life, Saha
played an active role in the development of scientific institutions throughout India as well as in
national economic planning involving technology.
P C MAHALANOBIS He was a mathematician and statistician. He headed Indian Institute of
Statistics, Calcutta. He led the institute to become one of the worlds top institutes. He was also
the man behind the Second Plan which laid the foundation of heavy industry in India.
Acharya RAFULLA CHANDRA RAY - Prafulla Chandra believed that the progress of India could be
achieved only by industrialization. He set up the first chemical factory in India, with very minimal
resources, working from his home. In Prafulla Chandra Ray, the qualities of both a scientist and
an industrial entrepreneur were combined and he can be thought of as the father of the Indian
Pharmaceutical industry.
RAJ RAMANNA Handpicked by the founder of India's nuclear program, Dr. Homi Bhabha, Dr.
Raja Ramanna was a celebrated physicist and nuclear scientist that India had ever produced. A
multifaceted personality, Dr. Raja Ramanna played the roles of a technologist, nuclear physicist,
administrator, leader, musician, Sanskrit literature scholar, and philosophy researcher.
RAJ REDDY Raj Reddy known for the work on large scale artificial intelligence systems.
S S ABHYANKAR A great Mathematician and known for contribution to Algebraic Geometry
SALIM ALI Bird watcher and biologist. He is called as Birdman of India and helped
development of ornithology as a discipline in India.
SATYENDERNATH BOSESatyendra Nath Bose was an outstanding Indian physicist. He is known
for his work in Quantum Physics. He is famous for "Bose-Einstein Theory" and a kind of particle
in atom has been named after his name as Boson. In 1921, Bose left Kolkata to become a Reader
at the Dakha University. It was during this period that he wrote the famous paper on the
statistics of photons. It was named Bose statistics after him and is now an integral part of
physics. Paul Dirac, the legendary physicist, coined the term boson for particles obeying these
statistics.
SHANTI SWAROOP BHATNAGAR He is noted for his pioneering contribution in setting up of
CSIR (Council of Scientific and Industrial Research) which has now spawned in form of 39
laboratories. The Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar (SSB) Prizes are awarded annually by the Council of
Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) after him for notable and outstanding research, applied
or fundamental, in Biological, Chemical, Earth, Atmosphere, Ocean and Planetary, Engineering,
Mathematical, Medical and Physical Sciences. The purpose of the prize is to recognize
outstanding Indian work in science and technology.
SRINIVAS RAMANUJAM He was born in a poor Brahmin family. He was a born mathematician
prodigy. Lack of formal education made it very difficult for him to make both ends meet and he
could not even graduate. With great difficulty he could get the job of a clerk at Madras Port

 Nitin Sangwan
Trust which proved fortunate for him. Here he came in contact with many people who had
training in mathematics. He found a book Orders of Infinity written by G. H. Hardy. He wrote a
letter to him in which he mentioned 120 theorems and formulae. Hardy was quick to recognize
his genius and he responded by arranging for him a passage to London. Despite his lack of
required qualification he was allowed to enroll at Trinity College from where he got his Bachelor
of Science degree in less than two years. He formed a wonderful team with Hardy and J.E.
Littlewood and made amazing contributions to the field of mathematics. He published many
papers in London. He was the second Indian to be elected Fellow of the Royal Society of London
and the first Indian to be elected Fellow of Trinity College. Some of his conclusions are still
researched over and are found correct.
SUBRAMANIAM CHANDRASHEKHAR He did commendable work in astrophysics, physics and
applied mathematics. On the voyage to England, he developed the theory of white dwarf stars,
showing that a star of mass greater than 1.45 times the mass of the sun could not become a
white dwarf. This limit is now known as the Chandrasekhar limit. He was awarded the Nobel
prize for Physics in 1983 for his theoretical work on the physical processes of importance to the
structure of stars and their evolution. He was also nephew of C V Raman.
VENKATRAMAN RAMAKRISHNAN Chemical scientist, he got Nobel Prize in 2009 for studies of
the structure and function of the ribosome.
VIKAM SARABHAI Dr Vikram Ambalal Sarabhai is another great genius of modem India. He
was the main personality behind the launching of Indias first satellite Aryabhatta. He studied
cosmic rays under the guidance of Dr. C.V. Raman and received his Ph.D. degree from
Cambridge University. Dr. Sarabhai had a multifaceted personality. He was a great Industrializt.
Today, there are many industries founded by him such as Sarabhai Chemicals, Sarabhai Glass,
Sarabhai Geigy Ltd., Sara Bhai Merck Ltd. and many others. He also helped in saving crores of
rupees for India by starting the mission of manufacturing military hardware and producing
antibiotics and penicillin in India which were being imported from abroad. Dr. Vikram Ambalal
Sarabhai established many institutes which are of international repute. Most notable among
them are Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) which are considered world class for their
management studies. He was the Chairman of the Indian National Commission for Space
Research (INCOSPAR) and of the Atomic Energy Commission. He directed the setting up of
Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station (TERLS) and is termed as father of Indian space
program.
Indigenization of technology and developing new technology
Recent call of Indian PM Sell anywhere, but make in India.
HEALTH
Serum Institute of India, Rotavac first vaccine in PPP,
COMPUTERS

 Nitin Sangwan
C-Dac plays leading role
Finnacle of Infosys for banking solutions
ENERGY
JNNSM aims at developing domestic solar industry
DEFENSE
Establishment of DRDO Insas Rifle, Arjun Tank
Defense Research and Development Laboratory looks after the missile development program
HAL Tejas aircraft
Offset clauses reinvestment of around 25-55% of the total amount contracted.
Awareness in IT, Computers fields
NEAR FIELD COMMUNICATION
It is a set of standards for smartphone and similar devices to establish radio communication with
each other by touching them together or bringing them in close proximity say a few
centimeters.
They are much simpler than Wi-Fi and are based on Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)
systems by allowing a two way communication unlike smart cards which are one way. So, NFC
enabled smartphones have potential of replacing credit cards or other type of smart cards. It
can also be deployed in ticketing systems, rural banking, interactive and targeted advertisement,
healthcare and in all such situations where sharing of photo, video, documents etc is required.
An NFC enabled phone can become single point access to vehicles, home, office, ATM, shops
and so on.
CLOUD COMPUTING
It is a new computing platform in which service delivery and storage is not done on the local
machine/computer, but is done in an online manner. It is delivery of computing as a service
rather than as a product. Cloud computing eliminates need for large local storage devices,
complex programs, softwares and so on. This technology allows far much efficient computing
through a centralized virtual storage, memory, processing and bandwidth. Services of cloud are
accessed through internet and hence internet connection is necessary. It I said to have higher
reliability, on demand access and hence reduced costs. In the era of hacking and espionage,
security of data is one of the biggest issues related to cloud computing as the data users dont
have any physical control over the data.
COPMUTER MALWARES

 Nitin Sangwan
Theyinclude computer viruses, computer worms, Trojan horses, most rootkits, spyware,
dishonest adware and other malicious or unwanted software. Major of them are
I.

VIRUS A computer virus is a computer program that can replicate itself and spread
from one computer to another. Viruses are sometimes confused with worms and Trojan
horses, which are technically different. A worm can exploit security vulnerabilities to
spread itself automatically to other computers through networks, while a Trojan horse is
a program that appears harmless but hides malicious functions.

II.

WORM A computer worm is a standalone malware computer program that replicates

itself in order to spread to other computers. Often, it uses a computer network to
spread itself. Unlike a computer virus, it does not need to attach itself to an existing
program. Worms almost always cause at least some harm to the network, even if only
by consuming bandwidth, whereas viruses almost always corrupt or modify files on a
targeted computer.

III.

TROJAN HORSE A Trojan horse, or Trojan, is a standalone malicious file or program

that does not attempt to inject itself into other files unlike a computer virus and often
masquerades as a legitimate file or program. Trojan horses can make copies of
themselves, steal information, or harm their host computer systems. A Trojan may give
a hacker remote access to a targeted computer system. Once a Trojan has been installed
on a targeted computer system, hackers may be given remote access to the computer

allowing them to perform all kinds of operations.

COMMUNICATION
Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and WiMax
Bluetooth

Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi)

Worldwide Interoperability
for Microwave Access
Its range is least
Its range is around 20 meters
It is long range with range up
to a few kms
It was mainly devised for It is basically a LAN with no It is a part of 4G wireless
personal usage and uses cables to create a local technology.
same radio technology as Wi- network of communicating
Fi, but of lower power
devices
Awareness in Spacefield (and Missile Development)
EVOLUTION of INDIAN SPACE PROGRAM
Dr. Vikram Sarabhai is called the father of India's Space Program. Indias first satellite,
Aryabhata, was built by ISRO and launched by the Soviet Union in 1975. Rohini, the first satellite
to be placed in orbit by an Indian-made launch vehicle, SLV-3, was launched in 1980. Later it also
used ASLV (augmented Satellite launch vehicle).

 Nitin Sangwan
Success of Indian space program has been remarkable given the fact that it has worked in a
highly restrictive technology sharing regime as space technology is dual use technology and it
can also be used for defense purposes like missile development. Indian satellite system is one of
the most cost-effective and reliable in the world.
Major agencies under Indian space program are
I.

ISRO, established in 1969 and located in Bangalore and its prime objective is to develop
space technology

II.

Satish Dhawan Space Center, Sriharikota Island, Andhra Pradesh acts as the launching
site for Indian rockets

III.

Vikram Sarabhai Center (earlier called as TERLS), Thumba, Tiruvanathpuram, Kerala and
is the venue of development of satellite launch vehicles like PSLV, GSLV

IV.

Indian Remote Sensing Center, Hyderabad is an autonomous center in Hyderabad for

monitoring of all remote sensing activity.

V.
Antrix is the commercial arm of ISRO which was established in 1992.
Indian space program has two main components INSAT and IRS and it deploys two main
launching vehicles, PSLV for IRS series polar satellites and GSLV (and foreign satellite launch
vehicles) for Geostationary Satellites like INSAT series.
After, success of Mangalyan and launch of Mars Mission, introduction of cryogenic engine as an
indigenously developed engine is the latest feather in the cap of ISRO. Earlier, ISRO tried to
purchase cryogenic technology from USSR, but after its disintegration, the plan ran into rough
waters, but Russia agreed to supply a fix number of engines for Indian missions. Major
advantages associated with a cryogenic engine capability are
I.

Cryogenic fuel has higher efficiency, thus, upper stages have lesser weight of fuel and
hence payload can be increased significantly.

II.

This will help India put heavy satellites into geosynchronous orbit, thus improving
communications capability, scientific capability etc.

III.

It will enhance capability of Indian launch vehicles both in terms of tonnage of payload
and height of orbit. It will thus also open new avenues for journeys to other planets and
asteroids.

IV.

It will cut dependency from foreign space launch vehicles for heavy payload. Currently

India use service of Ariane and other launch vehicles.

SATELLITE SYSTEMS INSAT and IRS
INSAT
IRS
INSAT stands for the Indian National Satellite IRS stands for Indian Remote-sensing
System
Satellites
INSAT is a series of multipurpose Geo- IRS are Polar orbital Sun-synchronous

 Nitin Sangwan
stationary satellites at a height of 36,000 km satellites at a height o 900 km. They have a
as higher altitude gives such satellites larger fixed angle with respect to sun so, that
coverage area.
images of earth can be taken in similar
brightness conditions.
INSAT series is used in telecommunications, IRS is mainly used in resource monitoring like
broadcasting, meteorology, radio and search mapping, monitoring and reconnaissance
and rescue operations. Doordarshan, IMD, All operations. India now has 9 remote sensing
India Radio are also stakeholders in it apart satellites in service. Examples are - the
from department of communication. These Resourcesat-2, the Cartosat-1, 2 the RISAT-2
satellites use various transponders (C, S and (Radar Imaging Satellite-2) and the OceansatKu series) for communication. It has 10 2. They make the IRS system the largest
satellites in its network and this is largest in civilian remote-sensing satellite constellation
the
Asia
Pacific
region.
Kalpana in the world.
(meteorological), Edusat and INSAT series are
some satellites.
Applications of Remote Sensing Satellites Pre-harvest crop area and production estimation of
major crops, Drought monitoring and assessment based on vegetation condition, flood risk zone
mapping and flood damage assessment, mineral prospecting, forest resources surveys,
wasteland identification, hydro-geomorphological maps for locating underground water
resources for drilling well. They are also used for defense and strategic applications an can take
images of defense installments and troops movement. Googlemaps is a creation of similar
remote sensing satellites.
LAUNCH VEHICLES SYSTEMS PSLV and GSLV
Indian satellite launch vehicles started their journey from Satellite Launch Vehicle (SLV) series in
1979 which was replaced by Augmented Satellite Launch Vehicle (ASLV) series in late 1980s.
First PSLV was launched in 1993 and it later replaced ASLV.
PSLV development was significant for India from both space and defense perspective as it also
paved way for ICBM capabilities for India. It also made India a competitor in global commercial
launch vehicle market as well. It made India also capable of launching spy satellites as well. First
launch of GSLV was made in 2001 and it is now planned to be used along with PSLV.
GSLV has also given ICBM status to India. It has put India into elite club of countries which have
capability of putting satellites into geostationary orbit. India can now dispatch bigger, and more
advanced spacecraft in the years to come.
PSLV
PSLV can only lift slightly over a ton of
payload to GTO (Geostationary Transfer
Orbit).
It doesnt use cryogenic engine.

GSLV
GSLV has the capability to lift greater loads into
space. GSLV is capable of lifting more than double
that with a rated capacity of 2 to 2.5 tons.
One of the main reasons why the GSLV has such
an increased load is its utilization of a cryogenic
rocket engine (uses fuel and oxidizer in super
cooled state) for its last stage which provides

 Nitin Sangwan

The PSLV has 4 stages that alternate

between solid and liquid fuels.
It has a major record of success and it is
the main launcher for Indian missions till
date,
including
Chnadrayan
and
Mangalyan. Till now, out of 7 flights of
GSLV only 2 had been total successes. This
is abysmal when compared to 23
consecutive successful flights of PSLV.

additional thrust.
GSLV has 3 stages with the only the first stage
having solid fuel.
It is recently developed as India had not
developed cryogenic capabilities. Its success rate
in past was not very encouraging as compared to
PSLV. GSLV Mark 3 is the latest indigenously
developed cryogenic engine powered lunching
vehicle with capacity of upto 4 tonnes.

RECENT NEWS and LATEST DEVELOPMENTS in INDIAN SATELLITE PROGRAM

I.

Astrosat It is the first dedicated astronomy satellite launched in 2012.

II.

Gagan It is an advanced navigation satellite for the navigation of airplanes. India

became the fourth country in the world after U.S., Europe and Japan to launch an
advanced navigation system.

III.

India has also successfully conducted Space Recovery Experiment

IV.

Megha Tropiques was a satellite launched with French support. France has emerged a
big partner of India in space.

V.

Mars Orbiter Mission

VI.

IRNSS or Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System is a cluster of satellites which will
work as a localized GPS system and will greatly reduce Indian dependency on foreign
GPS systems. USA, European Union (Galelio) and Russia (GLONASS) have their own GPS
systems, China is also developing its own named Beidou/Compass. Such a system is
important for having a secured navigation especially in case of security and strategic
issues. It will provide information even upto 1000 km beyond India borders. It will
currently have 7 satellites which can be expanded if India wants to expand the range of
the system. Till now, November 2014, 3 satellites have been launched.

VII.

GSAT 7 or INSAT 4F it is thefirst exclusive military satellite launched by India in

August 2014. It will be exclusively used bynavy for communication, intelligence
gathering and maritime security.

VIII.

PSLV C22 It launched for the first time an Indian satellite at night. Further, it was also
special because, for the first time put a satellite in Sub Geosynchronous transfer orbit
carrying Indias first navigational satellite IRNSS-1A.

IX.

Human Spaceflight India is likely to send first human in space in 2015. Before that
India has successfully conducted Space Capsule Recovery Experiment in 2007. A
simulation center has been setup in Bangalore for the same.

X.

Chandrayan 2 is another ambitious project in line which was earlier planned with

 Nitin Sangwan

Russian support, but now India is likely to alone and expected to launch it in 2017. It will
also include a lunar rover this time apart from a lunar orbiter.
XI.

India is also developing a reusable multiple entry vehicle which will help in reducing the

costs of space flights considerably.

MISSILE PROGRAM
The Integrated Guided Missile Development Program (IGMDP) was an Indian Ministry of
Defense program between the early 1980s and 2007 for the development of a comprehensive
range of missiles from short range to long range. It included the development of multiple range
and multiple capability missiles. Missiles developed by it are Aakash, Nag, Agni, Prithvi etc. Agni
3 was the last missile built under this program. Agni series missiles were devolped by DRDO, but
are produced by Bharat Dynamics Ltd.
RECENT NEWS and LATEST DEVELOPMENTS regarding MISSILE DEVELOPMENT and DEFENSE
I.

Agni V It is the latest missile that was added by India. It is an Inter Continental Ballistic
Missile (ICBM) which has range of around 5,000 km. It is Indias first ICBM and it now
covers whole of China in Indias reach. It is a 3 stage solid propellant Ballistic Missile. It is
a MIRV multiple independently targetable reentry vehicle, allowing a single missile.

II.

Pradyuman Missile Interceptor Prithvi Air Defense Missile System has been name as
Pradyuman Ballistic missile interceptor.

III.

Brahmos It is a supersonic cruise missile (cruise missiles are guided missiles powered
by jet engines and flying on a very low altitude) jointly developed by India and Russia. It
is the only supersonic cruise missile in the world and can be fired from air, land or sea
with 300 kg payload and a distance of 299 km.

IV.

Nirbhya This is a sub-sonic missile first tested in 2013 with a range of 1000 km,
however first successful test was done only in 2014. It is different from other missiles in
sense that it is a stealth missile and it flies at low altitude of just a few meters at tree top
level. Nirbhay can also carry nuclear warhead along it. It can also hover over a target for
a few minutes and is not detectable by radar for its low altitude flying capability. It
complete a crucial missing space in the missile capabilities of India as Brahmos is only
short rrange.

V.

Sudarshan It is Indias first Laser guided bomb.

VI.

ASTRA Astra is a Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile having high Single Shot Kill
Probability (SSKP), and is very reliable. It is an all aspect, all weather missile with active
Radar terminal guidance. It has a target range of 60 Kilometers. This can also have midcourse guidance for mid-course correction in case of an electronic target. After
completion of all development trials, Astra will be eventually integrated with combat

 Nitin Sangwan

fighter aircraft Sukhoi-30, MIG-29 and the light combat aircraft- Tejas.
VII.

K-15 or Sagarika It is new underwater missile that India test fired successfully recently
in February 2013. It is an underwater, submarine launched version of Shaurya Missile
and will have range of 700 km and is capable of carrying nuclear warhead. It has also

paved way for K-4 new missile of India with range 3,000 km.
Awareness in Nanotechnology field
Nanotechnology is the study of manipulating matter on an atomic and molecular scale (10 9 meter on
scale). Nanotechnology is very diverse, ranging from extensions of conventional device physics to
completely new approaches based upon molecular self-assembly, from developing new materials with
dimensions on the nanoscale to direct control of matter on the atomic scale. Trousers and socks have
been infused with nanotechnology so that they will last longer and keep people cool in the summer.
Cars are being manufactured with nano materials so they may need fewer metals and less fuel to
operate in the future. Video game consoles and personal computers may become cheaper, faster, and
contain more memory thanks to nanotechnology.Some of the common nano-technologies are
I.

Computing It will enable creation of new generation of computers which will have huge
storage capacity and unmatched speed that too in a very small space.

II.

Clothing Self cleaning clothes have been made which are coated with titanium oxide nanocrystals which break down food and dirt in sunlight.

III.

MedicalMany nano-materials are seen as potential alternative to chemotherapy for cancer

treatment. Nano-robots can be employed for the targeted attack on cancerous cells.
Nanotechnology-on-a-chip is one more dimension of lab-on-a-chip technology. Gold
nanoparticles tagged with short segments of DNA can be used for detection of genetic sequence
in a sample.

IV.

Environment Microscopic nano-robots can be used to sweep oceans, disassembling pollutants

to protect and preserve marine environment.

V.

Automobile nano-materials are used to built stronger and lighter automotive parts.

VI.

Carbon Nano Tubes Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are allotropes of carbon with a cylindrical
nanostructure with unusually high length to diameter ratios. Nanotubes are members of the
fullerene structural family. Carbon nanotubes are the strongest and stiffest materials yet
discovered in terms of tensile strength and elastic modulus respectively. All nanotubes are
expected to be very good thermal and electric conductors along the tube, but good insulators
laterally to the tube axis. Their applications include in automobile, material science, carbon
fibers etc.

VII.

Graphene It is a carbon allotrope, known to be one of strongest structures ever produced. It is

used in electronics industry for its superconductor like and stronger than steel like property. IIT
M also developed its application in water filtering.

 Nitin Sangwan
There are also some concerns over the use of nanotechnology, like
I.

Environmental hazards nano materials are also toxic in nature as smaller particles are difficult
to control in their usage and they can pollute ground water etc.

II.

Health hazards nano particles can penetrate biological cells and can have unforeseen health
hazaers for both animals and human beings. For example, Titanium Oxide can get into human
food chain and cause quicker ageing of cells.

III.

Social hazards untraceable weapons of mass destruction can be made from using nanotechnology

IV.

Nano-waste most of the nano-particles are not found in nature and are human made, their

size makes them difficult to control.

INDIA and NANO TECHNOLOGY
National Nanotechnology Policy was formulated by a group headed by Prof C N R Rao and $250
million was allocated for the research on nanotechnology.
Nano Mission is a Gov. of India initiative under the Department of Science and Technology It is
guided by the Nano Mission Council which is headed by prof CNR Rao
Two center of excellence have been setup in Mumbai and Bangalore.
A national level program Nano-science and Technology Initative has also been launched
focused at overall research and development and in nano-science with vigour so that India can
become a significant player in the area. 100 projects in various fields ranging from nanoceramics, nano-particles, nano-tudes etc have been launched under this.
Awareness in Bio-Technologyfield
Biotechnology refers to any technological application that uses biological systems, living organisms, or
derivatives thereof, to make or modify products or processes for specific use. Discovery of DNA in 1950s
and discovery of recombinant DNA technique (in which sections of one DNA are transplanted into
another) in 1970s, which became the basis of genetic engineering, became the bedrock of the genetic
engineering. Modern use of similar terms includes genetic engineering as well as cell and tissue culture
technologies. Various uses of biotechnology are
I.

Healthcare Earliest example would be like discovery of Penicillin. Tissue culture, cloning,
customized drugs to suit genetic makeup of an individual, stem cell application, molecular
diagnosis devices, make drugs cheaper, gene therapy (in which defective genes are replaced by
healthy genes which is especially useful for future curing of diseases like AIDS and Cancer) and
so on.

II.

Agriculture to increase crop yield, reduce vulnerability of crops from salinity, pests, draught
etc, to increase nutritious value, as in case of golden rice (fortified with vitamin A and are also

 Nitin Sangwan

planning to fortify it with iron as well to combat anemia), reduce dependence on pesticides,
III.

Animal Biotechnologyused in breeding programs, artificial insemination, hybrids, animal

cloning etc.

IV.

Industrial uses bioplastics, biodiesel, biocatalysts, enzymes

V.

Environmental uses bioremediation for cleaning of polluted water. Bioremediation uses

technologies
Concerns and challenges over use of biotechnology
I.

Use of biotechnology is also rife with ethical issues and hazards as well. Cloning, stem cells
research, genetic modification are mired with ethical issues like intervention into natural
scheme of things, man playing god etc.

II.

Introduction of LMOs into open may also disturb ecological balance in unforeseen manner as
commutative impact of such LMOs is not fully studied yet.

III.

Genetic engineering may also lead to undesired mutations. There are other issues like that of
designer babies and eugenics which might be misused by the elite strata of society to develop

superior offspring.
Recent steps taken by India in the field of biotechnology
I.

Development of Biotech clusters in Faridabad and Bengaluru.

II.

Nascent agri-biotech cluster in Mohali to be scaled up. In addition, two new clusters, in Pune

and Kolkata to be established.

RECOMBINANT DNA
Recombinant DNA (rDNA) molecules are DNA sequences that result from the use of laboratory
methods (molecular cloning) to bring together genetic material from multiple sources, creating
sequences that would not otherwise be found in biological organisms. Recombinant DNA is
possible because DNA molecules from all organisms share the same chemical structure; they
differ only in the sequence of DNA material within that identical overall structure. Recombinant
DNA is widely used in biotechnology, medicine and research. Recombinant DNA is used to
identify, map and sequence genes, and to determine their function. In its medical applications it
can be used to invent new drugs and change the hormonal, genetic functions in humans. For
example Recombinant insulin has almost completely replaced insulin obtained from animal
sources.
GENTIC ENGINEERING
It is the direct human manipulation of an organisms genome using modern DNA technology i.e.
recombinant DNA technology. Such organisms which are produced using this technology are
called transgenic or genetically modified organisms. GM foods, GM crops etc fall under his
category. If genetic material from other species is added to the host, it is called transgenic and if
material of the same species is added to the host, then it is called cisgenic. Example of

 Nitin Sangwan
transgenic organism is Bt Cotton in which a bacillus is used on a host plant species.
GENE PATENTING and MYRIAD GENETICS CASE, USA
Myriad genetics has discovered that two genes BRCA1 and BRCA2 which are behind breast
cancer in women to a large extent. It patented the manner in which genes could be detected.
The U.S. Supreme Court had revoked the patent awarded to the company on the grounds that
isolation of the DNA from human body alone does not amount to innovation and hence was not
patentable. The isolated genes are in no way different from what are produced in nature. SC of
USA held that patent of genes will amount to patenting of everything that occurs naturally.
Since genes were already there, patent claim is spurious. A year after the US Supreme Courts
landmark decision on breast cancer BRCA1 and BRCA2 human DNA patent case that went
against the interests of Myriad Genetics, the Australian Federal Court, on September 5 2014,
upheld the patents for the mutant BRCA1 human DNA.
TRANSGENETIC ORGANISMS or GENETICALLY MODIFIED ORGANISMS
Transgenesis is a process in which foreign genes are inserted into an animal's or plants DNA to
alter its certain characteristics. For example color, traits, resistant against certain diseases or
climatic conditions etc. Genetically modified crops are such an example. These techniques,
generally known as recombinant DNA technology, use DNA molecules from different sources,
which are combined into one molecule to create a new set of genes. Transgenetic vs hybrid
Hybrids are produced through sexual reproduction between sexually compatible parents
whereas transgenic plants are created by transferring the specific genetic material governing a
particular trait from non-compatible organism for example in Bt cotton the resistance for fruit
borer insect has been transferred from a bacteria.
GENETICALLY MODIFIED CROPS GM CROPS
Genetically modified crops are claimed to have the following advantages like Draught
resistant, better resistance against pests, less need for chemical insecticides, higher yields and
so on. With these advantages they were pegged as a solution of the food shortage problem of
the world.
Benefits of GM crops
I.

Reduce pesticides consumption

II.

GM crops are also developed for draught and cold resistance also

III.

Food security for the nation

IV.

Increased farmers income

V.

India has become cotton exporting country thanks to Bt Cotton per hectare yield has

increased from 191 kg to 490 kg. Now 93% farmers grow Bt Cotton
Criticism and apprehensions over use of GM Crops

 Nitin Sangwan

I.

Critics are saying they are not yielding the desired results and are in fact resulting in
more or less higher use of pesticides and increase in incidents of pests.

II.

Further they are claimed to have given birth to so called Super Weeds.

III.

It is also a moot point that the GM crops seed are provided by a few big corporations
only and it has lead to monopoly of these firms. Monsanto, Dupont and Syngenta, the
world's three largest GM companies, now control nearly 70 per cent of global seed
sales. Monopoly of multinationals in field of agriculture is seen as heralding an era of
bioslavery.

IV.

One big risk is that traditional crops also stand risk of being affected by GM crops by
process of pollination which cannot be controlled in open fields. It will affect
biodiversity greatly and is hazardous from sustainability point of view.

V.

There is still lack of regulatory mechanism in India and BRAI Bill is also pending and

which is also controversial

India has the worlds fourth largest area under GM crops Indias entire area under GM crops
comprises only one crop Bt Cotton, trials for others is on hold, Bt Brinjal was widely expected
to go on trials, but did not.
Center has recently made labeling of GM foods mandatory from January 2013. Recently Ministry
of Food made it mandatory for every GM product to highlight GM mark to distinguish it from
Non-GM food. (India doesnt produce any GM food, but there are some imports).
Earlier environmental minster had put a moratorium on field trials till an adequate regulatory
mechanism is in place. SC appointed Technical Expert Committee also made similar
observations. TEC final report calls for a moratorium until a regulatory framework is not in place.
TEC final report has also called GM crops should not be tested in open fields.
A recent Standing Committee report on genetically modified (GM) crops found shortcomings in
the regulatory framework for such crops. Given the inadequacy of the regulatory framework,
the Standing Committee recommended that all research and development activities on
transgenic crops be carried out only in containment (in laboratories) and that ongoing field trials
in all states be discontinued.
Recently, GEAC or Genetic Engineering Approval Committee the primary body to approve GM
trials approved field trials of 21 new crops in a controlled environment of even staple crops
like Wheat, Rice etc. But the field trials were soon halted again after protests from various
quarters.
In wake of the current inadequacies and uncertainities about regulated use of GM crops, a new
BRAI Bill (Bio Regulatory Authority of India) is in offing which will be a single window clearance
for all single window clearance for the genetically modified crops in the country. Its aim is to
promote the safe use of modern biotechnology by enhancing the effectiveness and efficiency of
regulatory procedures. India has signed UN Convention on Biodiversity and Cartagena Protocol

 Nitin Sangwan
on biosafety which calls for a regulatory authority which will replace the existing mechanism i.e
GEAC. Field trials for certain organisms or products cannot be conducted unless the Authority
permits them as aiding the development of modern biotechnology such as genetically
engineered plants, animals used in food or any animal clones that can be applied in agriculture,
fisheries or food products. The Bill will not apply to the clinical trials of drugs, under the Drugs
and Cosmetics Act, 1940, and food or food additives or any material under the Food Safety and
Standards Act, 2006.
BIOSENSORS
They are small devices which utilize biological reactions for detecting a stimulus. For example,
an enzyme may be integrated into an electrode. Such sensors have advantage over traditional
sensors that they can be used for much more applications that traditional sensors, with higher
accuracy and speed. They are also likely to be cheaper as expensive materials will not be used in
them. They can be used in variety of applications like monitoring of glucose level in patients,
determining level of bleeding and loss of vital fluids during an accident etc, environmental
monitoring, drug discovery, pathogen and contamination detection in food etc.
BIO-PLASTICS
They are plastic like substances that are made from natural materials like Starch, gelatin, keratin
etc and are easily biodegradable, but have similar strength and durability as plastics.
STEM CELL
Stem cells are biological cells found in all multi-cellular organisms that can divide (through
mitosis) and differentiate into diverse specialized cell types and can self-renew to produce more
stem cells. In mammals, there are two broad types of stem cells
I.

Adult stem cells, which are found in various tissues. In adult organisms, stem cells and
progenitor cells act as a repair system for the body, replenishing adult tissues. Unlike
embryonic cells which can take shape of all other types of cell, adult stem cells have
limited differentiating capabilities. Embryonic stem cells can also be grown easily using
tissue culture, but adult stem cells are rare in mature tissues, so isolating them from an
adult tissue is challenging and methods to expand their numbers using tissue culture
methods have still not been worked out to satisfaction. One advantage of adult stem
cells, if developed, is that they have less susceptibility to rejection by the body of patient
as they are taken from that body itself. Further, there are also no ethical issues in using
these adult somatic cells as they are taken from body of patient himself with consent
and doesnt lead to ethical issues like embryo destruction.

II.

Embryonic stem cells, which are isolated from the inner cell mass of blastocysts.
However, from point of view of curing diseases, embryonic stem cells are more

 Nitin Sangwan

important. In a developing embryo, stem cells can differentiate into all the specialized
cells (these are called pluripotent cells), but also maintain the normal turnover of
regenerative organs, such as blood, skin, or intestinal tissues. The unique ability of
embryonic stem cells to grow into almost any tissue in the body has led scientists to
investigate whether they can regenerate damaged and diseased organs. It is
controversial because embryos are destroyed after the stem cell is used. More recently
umbilical cord and blood has been seen as an alternative to embryo.
Stem cells are distinguished from other cell types by two important characteristics.
I.

First, they are unspecialized cells capable of renewing themselves through cell division,
sometimes after long periods of inactivity.

II.

Second, under certain physiologic or experimental conditions, they can be induced to

become tissue- or organ-specific cells with special functions. In some organs, such as the
gut and bone marrow, stem cells regularly divide to repair and replace worn out or

damaged tissues.
Difficulties and Challenges in use of stem cells
I.

Stem Cells may also mutate into tumors

II.
They also suffer from similar compatibility issues as of the donor transplant
Stem cell and umbilical cord blood preservation Indian government does not approve any of
the therapies which employ human embryonic cells. Indian Council of Medical Research has not
recognized any stem cell application except for Bone Marrow Transplantation.
In India, AIIMS had successfully used this technology to cure cardiac patients. National Center
for Biological Sciences Bangalore, Reliance Life Group are some other agencies involved in such
research.
IPS CELLS or INDUCED PLURIPOTENT STEM CELLS
Stem cells are basically of two types
I.

Embryonic Stem Cells These are also called pluripotent stem cells because they can
differentiate themselves and may evolve into any part of the body. However, most of
the countries discourage their use due to ethical issues involved.

II.

Adult Somatic Stem Cells They are taken from adult human beings from certain
specific parts like bone marrow etc. However unlike Embryonic cells, they are not

pluripotent. They evolve into only that part of body from where they are taken from.
IP Cells or Induced Pluripotent Cells are a new breakthrough in this field and were first reported
in 2007. IPS Cells are a type of pluripotent stem cell artificially derived from a non-pluripotent
cell typically an adult somatic cell by inducing a "forced" expression of specific genes.
Induced pluripotent stem cells are similar to natural pluripotent stem cells, such as embryonic

 Nitin Sangwan
stem (ES) cells. Thus they will do away with the controversial embryonic stem cell methods to
regenerate new body parts.
THERAPEUTIC CLONING
It is a specific type of cloning in which stem cells from the cloned human embryo to produce
human organs, tissues etc for curative purposes. It is allowed in UK and a few other countries.
Intellectual Property Rights and Related Issues
Intellectual property covers a range of things related to human creativity. It primarily includes
inventions, innovations, creative art works, literature, software, movies, songs etc. There are some
formal ways of registering them through patents, trademarks and copyrights. While patents are
registered for scientific inventions which have practical utility, Copyright are for creative works which
dont have any practical application like art, cinema, songs, book etc.
India is also a member of WIPO World Intellectual Property Organization a specialized body of UN
dealing with IPR issues. WIPO also acts as an arbitration body as well if the affected parties request it. It
administers following international treaties on copyright and related rights
I.

Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works

II.

Geneva Convention for the Protection o Producers of Phonograms

III.

Rome Convention for the Protection of Performers, Producers of Phonograms and Broadcasting
Organization

IV.
WIPO Copyright Treaty
COPYRIGHTS
The Indian Copyright Act, 1957 is the key legislation that protects copyrights. India is a signatory
to Berne Convention and in all countries where the Berne Convention standards apply,
copyright is automatic, and need not be obtained through official registration with any
government office.
PATENTS
Patents in India are guided by the Indian Patent Act, 1970. The Act underwent several
amendment post India joined WTO in 1995 and the resultant Trade Related Intellectual Property
Rights (TRIPS). TRIPS also stipulate that patents should be available in WTO member states for
any invention, in all fields of technology with minimum protection of 20 years. Last and most
significant amendment was made in 2005 which guides current patent regime in India. Major
features of 2005 amendment were
I.

Before 2005 amendments, two areas Drugs and Food were excluded from product
patent category in India and were subjected to only process patents to safeguard public
interest. Thus, the amendment made way for product patent.

 Nitin Sangwan

II.

Secondly, it significantly altered the definition of what constitutes a patent. TRIPS has
certain flexibilities under their rules. One of them is it is left over individual governments
to decide what constitutes novel, Inventive step and industrial application (these are 3
main pre-requisites that decide the patentability of a new invention, drug, item etc).
Section 3 of the Act deals with this. It has ensured that there are no frivolous
applications as it has put stringent criteria for granting a patent which aim at avoiding

Evergreening
India has changed its patent law to allow for product patents in case of chemicals and
medicines to confirm the law with TRIPS.
ISSUES RELATED to IPR
I.

Since patents restrict the usage of a product which generally gives a monopoly to the patent
holder for certain period, which is 20 years in most cases it creates issues like monopolistic
pricing which are usually exorbitant as was highlighted in Compulsory Licensing Case of Nexavar
drug of Bayer Ltd.

II.

Another issue is apparent patent violation when similar formulation (in case of drugs) or similar
technologies (in scientific applications like electronics) are used. Due to incremental innovation,
making a distinction is sometimes difficult.

III.

Global nature of applications and separate registration in every country also pose a challenge.
Some Indian agro-products like Basmati Rice, Turmeric etc were purportedly attempted for a
patent in US Patent office. Government of India has recently launched Traditional Knowledge
Digital Library (TKDL) to prevent patent of traditional knowledge in other parts of world. Nagoya
Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing also provides for sharing of benefits with local
population from where local plants etc are taken.

IV.

Large commercial implications of innovations make patent lawsuits a big business. Recent tussle
between Samsung and Apple over various patents related to mobile technology is a case in
point.

V.

Lack of specialized knowledge with judges also makes decision making a difficult task for
adjudicating authorities. SC of India has expressed this view that it cannot possess all technical
and specialized knowledge in such cases.

VI.

Copyright issues of books have similar complications as profitability issues arise there also.

VII.

Similarly, software piracy, which is also a copyright issue, is another challenge especially in
developing countries. In India, as per an estimate by Microsoft, more than 85% softwares are
pirated. It creates security hazards for the users and revenue losses to the companies. Similar is
the issue of piracy of movies and songs. Deep internet penetration and low awareness among
users is leading to such copyright violations at mass scale.

 Nitin Sangwan
TRIPS and INDIAN PHARMA
Ten years ago in 2001, in Doha Declaration of WTO talks it was agreed that TRIPS will have
flexibilities in case of public health. This was the first and till date the only amendment to WTO
rules.
India is pioneer around the world in production of low cost life saving drugs. It today produces
more than 1/3rd of drugs in the world. Generic drugs for AIDS produced in India costs as much
as 99% cheaper at $100 for a years supply.
There are 2 recent events that has put India at the center stage of the drug patenting
I.

Novertis Case Novertis (global drug giant) in 2006 appealed in Indian patent office for
patent of one of its drugs Glivec (generic name Imatinib) for Leukemia. However it
was rejected for it was not considered a novel drug per se. Intellectual Property
Appellate Board has already rejected its claim after Indian Patent granting authorities
refused to grant it patent. Natco a generic manufacturer and Cancer Patient Aid
Association had opposed Novartis. Supreme Court also turned down the petition of
Novartis in 2013. It is seen in light of preventing the evergreening of the drugs and
patents.

II.

Compulsory Licencing (2012) The CL, though, is a legitimate patent-override option that
is permitted under the World Trade Organizations TRIPs (trade related intellectual
property rights) regime, provided certain conditions are met. In a landmark decision, the
Controller General of Patents allowed an Indian firm Natco - to manufacture an anti
cancer drug which was patented by Bayer (Nexavar drug) of generic name Sorafenib
Tosaylate. The reason why Natco (it applied for CL) was granted CL was the failure of
Bayer to comply with the guidelines under Section 84 viz Bayer has been accused of
highly overpricing the drug (around Rs3 Lakh for a months supply); Not making it
available in enough quantities (making it available to only 2% of the affected patients
only).

TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE DIGITAL LIBRARY

In the field of traditional medicine, India was losing to foreign patents every year and thousands
of traditional methods and recopies were patented every year by foreign companies. This was
largely due to the fact that Indian languages in which traditional knowledge was enshrined
was incomprehensible to the foreign nationals while filing patents to check for existing bodies of
knowledge.
TKDL is a response to avoid wrongful patenting of the traditional Indian medicines and
traditional knowledge. It aims at preventing bio-piracy and unethical patenting.

 Nitin Sangwan
Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (TKDL) is a collaborative project among

Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)

Ministry of Science and Technology

Department of AYUSH (Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy)

Ministry of Health and Family Welfare

TKDL has scientifically converted and structured the Indias traditional knowledge available in
148 ancient books on Indian Systems of Medicine, into five international languages, namely,
English, Japanese, French, German and Spanish. Patent Offices in these and other countries are
contacted from time to time and patent lists are evaluated to prevent wrongful registration of
patents.
RECENT NEWS
I.

Section 3(d) of Indian Patent Act is an important provision in which aims at preventing
evergreening of patents and to ensure availability of essential medicines to patients by
balancing interests of companies and patients. It lays down that for granting of a new patent,
criteria like novelty and efficacy are to be considered. In Novartis case, SC upheld the
judgement of Patent Office that Gilvec should not be given patent as it was just a tinkering over

existing salts.
*Recent News
Major Atmospheric Cherenkov Experiment Gamma Ray Telescope, Hanle, Laddakh It is the highest
Gamma ray telescope in the world which is under construction and it will become operational in 2016
and it is also the biggest in northern hemisphere and second biggest in the world.
Dendroid It is a malicious virus which mainly affects Android based systems.

 Nitin Sangwan
INTERNAL SECURITY and EXTREMISM

Linkages between development and spread of extremism.

CHALLENGES in NORTH EAST and SEPERATISM
TERRORISM in KASHMIR and DISSATISFACTION AMONG THE PEOPLE
NAXALISM
While violence seems to be the biggest challenge in the Naxal areas. Land related factors,
displacement and forced evictions, livelihood related causes, illegal mining, deprivation of forest
rights, corruption and poor provision/non-provision of essential public services are the core
issues which aggravated the problem.
Causes

Land alienation

Exploitation of tribals

Forest rights

Ideological impact disillusioned youth being attracted to left wing extremism, charm of
gun and forest life and

Failure of political system to inspire any confidence among the down-trodden.

Steps to address developmental issues in Naxal areas
I.

14 Point Formula In 2006, government launched a 14 Point Formula to tackle Naxal

Menace. Its major highlights were

Land reforms on a priority basis

Political parties asked to strengthen base in Naxal-affected areas So that local

youth can be weaned away from extremist activities

II.

No peace talks with Naxal groups unless they agree to give up violence

ARC2 in its report Capacity building through Conflict resolution emphasized that

Formation of trained special task forces on the pattern of the Greyhounds in

Andhra Pradesh should be an important element of the strategy to build capacity
in the police machinery for tackling left extremism.

Curb illegal mining in these areas.

Effective implementation of the Scheduled Tribes and other Traditional Forest

Dwellers (Recognition of Rights) Act, 2006

Performance of the States in amending their Panchayati Raj Acts and other
regulations to bring them in line with the provisions of the Panchayats (Extension

 Nitin Sangwan

to the Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 (PESA) and in implementing these provisions
may be monitored and incentivised by the Union Ministry of Panchayati Raj.

Introduce measures to encourage formation of Self Help Groups (SHGs) to

improve access to credit and marketing and empower the disadvantaged.

Awareness campaigns should be organised in order to make the tribal population

aware of the provisions of PESA and the 73rd amendment

III.

Rail connectivity should be improved in the region on a priority basis.

9-point action plan to develop Naxal-affected areas, 2013

The government had decided to expedite the recognition of forest rights, as well
as review the definition of backward districts under the Integrated Action
Plan/Backward Region Grant Fund (BRGF) as part of the action plan.

To improve the communication infrastructure Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited

(BSNL) will install 2199 low cost mobile towers in those areas.

Large residential schools with capacity of 1000-2000 students will be opened.

Environmental Laws will be relaxed or some time to implement Rajiv Gandhi

Gramin Vidyutikaran Yojna.

The Mobile Health Units will address the LWE (Left Wing Extremism) districts
endemically affected by malaria.

To address the absence of post offices and banks in the LWE affected areas, there
has been a proposal to open post offices in 12,898 gram panchayats in 82
identified LWE affected districts.

IV.

Integrated Action Plan The plan is for 60 selected Naxal affected districts in Indias
backward and tribal regions Orissa will have maximum number of district under this
plan. The IAP would be an additional Central assistance scheme on a 100 percent grant
basis. It is aimed at quick resolution of problems concerning health care, drinking water,
education and roads. Each of the 60 districts will be given a block grant of Rs 30 Crores
in 2011-12. Schemes will be decided by a committee, headed by the District Collector,
The Superintendent of Police and the District Forest Officer will be its members.
(However, its working has been resented by many who want funds to be at disposal of
the local bodies).

V.

Roshini A new skill development initiative launched in 24 of the most critically

affected districts under Naxalism. Training will be provided in a public-private
partnership mode and at least half of the trained will be women. Trainees will be in the

age group of 30-35.

The only way forward is to build infrastructure and add to the manpower. Teachers, nurses,
doctors should want to go there.

 Nitin Sangwan
The Andhra Model It used a multi-pronged strategy and effectively pushed Naxals on the
brink. It involved security response in form of specialized and dedicated police force called the
Greyhounds. They are an elite commando force in Andhra Pradesh created to combat left wing
extremists. Only the best policemen make it to the Greyhound squad, which is one of the
highest paid in the country. Strengthening the intelligence gathering and intelligence based
operations. Efforts were made to infiltrate the Maoist hierarchy. There was also a political
response as well. The political leadership was initially not sensitive enough to the impending
Naxalite challenge. This changed and a consensus had emerged among the political formations
by about 1996-97 that the rebels had to be taken headlong, in all possible ways. Apart from
these counter-measures, developmental activities were also vigorously pursued. Programs like
Remote Areas Development Program and Remote and Interior Areas Development Program
were launched. It was also clubbed with an effective surrender and rehabilitation policy.
The Saranda Model The model was used by Jharkhand government in forests of Saranda in
Jharkhand. It uses flushing out rebels holed up in dense forests. It is the first systematic
experiment in combining a security-oriented and development-focussed approach in Maoistaffected areas on a large-scale. In July-August 2011, the CRPF and the state police jointly
liberated this area of West Singbhum district of Jharkhand from 11 years of Maoist control
and domination. Joint operations by the neighboring Orissa police were also used to check the
escape of Maoist in other areas as well. Once, Maoists were flushed out, the area was put high
on developmental priority and extensive developmental activities were carried out to sustain
the gains made by the CRPF. The approach of Ssaranda Model is four-pronged development,
security, political activity and also some sense of justice and dignity, because there is an
accumulated sense of injustice. Under the Saranda Action Plan. All the 7,000 families will be
given cycles, solar lantern and radios apart from homes under the Indira Aawas Yojana (apart
from laying 140 km of roads). 56 villages in the Saranda forest are developed as model villages.
Implementation of the Forest Rights Act, 2006, effective implementation of MNREGS, launch of
five mobile health units as a part of corporate social responsibility by SAIL, are other elements of
Saranda plan. Apart from this, women self help groups were also used.
Role of external state and non-state actors in creating challenges to internal security
External state actors are like ISI, Army, Governments
Non State Actors are like International NGOs, Terrorist groups, Pressure groups, Media, Social Media,
Criminals like drug traffickers
Emerging Threats

Global cooperation amongst terrorist networks Terrorist networks have taken advantage of
the communications revolution to develop transnational links, making terrorism a global threat.

The existence of a large migrant population and porous borders in an increasingly multi-cultural
world has increased sleeper cells. Terrorists are using money laundering and banking

 Nitin Sangwan

networks for movement of money across borders fund their activities easily.

Crime syndicates like Dawood also pose a threat as they are joining hands with terrorist outfits.

Al-Queda has recently announced that it will spread its wings in South Asia as well and India is
also on its map.

Strategy to Counter Terrorism

Socio-economic development Much of the discourse has been based on the premise that
security can be achieved by ensuring protection of life and property for all. However, it needs to
be understood that socio-economic development has to go hand-in hand. So eradication of
poverty is essential for tackling terrorism. Vulnerable sections should not fall prey to the
propaganda of terrorists.

Political consensus Political parties must arrive at a national consensus on the need for the
broad contours of the anti-terror strategy. Parties should rise above their sectarian and petty
electoral compulsions.

Respect for rule of law Governmental agencies must not be allowed to transgress law even
in dealing with critical situations since it only creates more ill will.

Effective legislations and interstate coordination

Building capacity The capacity building exercise should extend to the intelligence gathering
machinery, security agencies, civil administration and the society at large.

Proactive approach Any form of extremism with faith in a dogma ending in violence has the
potential

of

escalating from

hate

campaign,

violent hooliganism

and

murders

of

perceived enemies to terrorist activities.

Involving Civil Society and Media in Combating Terrorism

Challenges to internal security through communication networks, role of media and social
networking sites in internal security challenges, basics of cyber security
Cyber-terrorism is the use of Internet based attacks in terrorist activities, including acts of deliberate,
large-scale disruption of computer networks, especially of personal computers attached to the Internet,
by the means of tools such as computer viruses, worms and other malware including phising, hacking
etc.
Cyber security is the new dimension to security apart from land, water and air security. It has both
internal as well as external dimensions. Externally, it involves compromising of communication
networks, websites and financial system of one country by external elements. It can also be used to

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spread mis-information, rouse communal sentiments and disturb the social harmony as it happened in
the case of recent Assam violence.
India already has 800 million active mobile subscribers and 160 million other Internet users of which
nearly half are on social media. India targets 600 million broadband connections and 100% teledensity
by 2020.
The ICT sector has grown at an annual compounded rate of 33% over the last decade and the
contribution of IT and ITES industry to GDP increased from 5.2% in 2006-7 to 6.4% in 2010-11.
Mechanisms that are in place are to combat issues of cyber security and cyber-crimes are
I.

On its part, the Government has put in place a National Crisis Management Plan' to protect IT
infrastructure in critical sectors such as petroleum, aviation, banking, power and telecom.

II.

IT Act 2000 (Amended in 2009) It is the key legislation that cover cyber-crimes as well.

III.

CERT-In CERT-In is a nodal agency for responding to computer security incidents

IV.

A new umbrella body National Cyber Security and Coordination Centre (NCSC) is also in the
offing and it will analyze Internet traffic data scanned and integrated from various gateway
routers at a centralized location. It will facilitate real-time assessment of cyber-security threats
and generate actionable reports for various agencies.

V.

Government is also coming up with Communications Convergence Bill that will facilitate a
single regulator for all communication media in form of a Communication Commission. The
Communications Bill seeks to replace all old and redundant legislations which include the
Telegraph Act of 1885, as well as Indian Wireless Telegraphy Act 1933, Cable TV Network

(Regulation) Act 1995, IT Act 2000 and so on.

The National Cyber Security Policy (NCSP), 2013 is a much awaited policy announcement, especially in
the wake of increasing challenges to the national security on the cyber-front. The NCSP offers a starting
point as it conceives of securing cyberspace as a more broad-based task than the specific jobs such as
protecting crucial servers or critical infrastructure, like power grids and nuclear plants.
I.

It sets out 14 objectives

II.

The policy plans to create national and sectoral level 247 mechanisms for obtaining strategic
information regarding threats to ICT infrastructure, creating scenarios for response, resolution
and crisis management through effective, predictive, preventive, proactive response and
recovery actions.

III.

The policy calls for the creation of several agencies, including a 247 National Critical
Information Infrastructure Protection Centre (NCIIPC). The NCIIPC is to be the nodal agency to
protect critical infrastructure, while another 247 agency, CERT-In, is to coordinate all
emergency response and crisis management.

IV.

The NCSP also says that it will create a workforce of 5 lakh cyber security professionals in five

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years.
V.

The National Cyber Security Policy, in order to create a secure cyber ecosystem, has planned to
set-up a National Nodal Agency. The nodal agency will be coordinating all matters related to
cyber security in the country.

VI.

The policy identifies 8 different strategies for creating a secure cyber eco-system including the
need for creating an assurance framework apart from encouraging open standards to facilitate
inter-operability and data exchange amongst different products or services.

VII.

Another defining aspect of the policy is the level at which it envisages public-private partnership

to protect national assets.

Despite such ambitious pronouncements by the NCSP, it must be realized that creating a national cyber
security policy is no easy task. It involves reconciling contradictory goals, such as data privacy and
collection of threat information. The NCSP does not offer a discussion on these important questions but
it is hoped that a balance would be attempted at between the rather tricky conflict between intelligence
gathering for national security and privacy of individuals.
Weaknesses of the IT Act 2000 and other mechanisms
I.

Most of the cyber crimes have been made bailable offences which make the law weak.

II.

The implementation of the Act is feeble in tier-two cities as awareness of the law by
enforcement agencies remains a big challenge

III.

Controversies surrounding Section 66A. Section 66A of the Information Technology Act deals
with punishment for sending offensive messages through communication service, which cause
annoyance, inconvenience, danger, obstruction, insult, injury, criminal intimidation, enmity,
hatred, or ill will. It is argued that Section 66A curbs freedom of speech and expression and
violates Articles 14, 19 and 21 of the Constitution. The petition further contends that the
expressions used in the Section are vague and ambiguous and that 66A is subject to wanton
abuse in view of the subjective powers conferred on the police to interpret the law. Section 66A
should be amended to bring it in consonance with the reasonable restrictions mentioned in the
Constitution.

IV.

Cyber war needs to be made an offence under the Act as in case of USA which has declared
cyber war equal to a real war in its new defense policy.

V.

The Act does not cover a majority of crimes committed through mobiles. This needs to be
rectified.

VI.

The Act should have a comprehensive data protection regime defined in it.

VII.
The Act should have a comprehensive privacy regime defined in it.
Money-laundering and its prevention
Money laundering involves disguising financial assets so that they can be used without detection of

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the illegal activity that produced them. Through money laundering, the launderer transforms the
monetary proceeds derived from criminal activity into funds with an apparently legal source.
It, in general, involves three steps Placement of funds into system through formal institutions though
process of smurfing i.e. breaking down the large amount into smaller ones so that their source cannot
be traced, gold, valuable goods, antiques etc; Layering involves taking the source away from its source of
generation to places like Swiss Banks; Integration involves re-integrating the money back into economy
by making it look like legal one.
Sources of money laundering or black money

Corruption

Crime derived money

Ill gotten money of corporate

Tax evasions
Porous borders, airlines, Hawala, sea routes, smuggling, drug trafficking etc act as conduit of placing
such money.
Narco terrorism has emerged as one of the biggest threat and a source of black money as well as a
security threat.
Money laundering, black money and corruption are closely linked. Ill gotten money from corrupt
activities is the one which is fed into the system.
Recently emergence of Offshore Financial Trading Centers have also raised concerns. OFTC are the
financial centers in certain countries like Mauritius, Seychelles, Liechtenstein etc which provide domicile
for international firms in form of holding companies and subsidiaries in an advantageous fiscal climate
(no tax, secrecy etc). Such havens often facilitate tax evasion especially when they have flawed Double
Taxation Avoidance agreements with other countries. They have emerged as a biggest source of the
routing back of the laundered money.
Advent of technology has also made tracing of money more challenging and it is called Cyber
Laundering. Funds can now be transferred online without actually crossing border. HSBC Bank of
Hongkong was recently found guilty by US and Indian governments of indulging in such practices and
USA even fined it heavily.
Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 is the legislation in India that has been enacted to prevent
it. It is modeled after the model draft circulated by FATF. It has severe punitive measures which include
3 to 7 years of imprisonment, non bailable offence and appeal only in HC after appellate tribunal
gives a go ahead. It also has provisions of attachment of property of persons found guilty. It also
provides for special courts and tribunals. The burden of proof lies on the accused against whom prima
facie evidences have been found. This law was further strengthened through an Amendment in 2012
which did away with the minimum amount limit clause of the original Act and now the law can be
invoked for any amount. It also provides confiscation of assets even before punishment is announced.

 Nitin Sangwan
Cap on minimum fines has also been lifted. Definition of money laundering has also been widened.
Internationally, Financial Action Task Force (FATF) is inter-governmental body led by OECD that strives
for preventing money laundering and terrorist financing and was conceptualized in wake of 9/11 attack.
India joins FATF in 2010.
In wake of rising terrorism and increasing financing of terror activities by money laundering, a global
consensus is slowly emerging which is now forcing safe havens like Swiss Banks work in a more
transparent manner. There are some signs of its happening as Swiss Banks have recently shared some
information regarding the money parked by Indians there. But more has to be done.
Some Methods and sources

Structuring: Often known as "smurfing", is a method of placement by which cash is

broken into smaller deposits of money, used to defeat suspicion of money laundering
and to avoid anti-money laundering reporting requirements.

Bulk cash smuggling: Physically smuggling cash to another jurisdiction, where it will be
deposited in a financial institution, such as an offshore bank, with greater bank secrecy
or less rigorous money laundering enforcement.

Real estate: Real estate may be purchased with illegal proceeds, then sold. The
proceeds from the sale appear to outsiders to be legitimate income. Alternatively, the
price of the property is manipulated;

Black salaries: Companies might have unregistered employees without a written

contract who are given cash salaries. Black cash might be used to pay them.

Security challenges and their management in border areas

Challenges in border areas

Poor demarcation For example in case of China, we don't have an international border but a
LAC.

Porous border Along Bangladesh, Myanmar, Bhutan and Nepal we have porous borders which
lead to inflow of arms, counterfeit currency, drugs and so on.

Infiltration and terrorism across LoC and organization of terror camps in vicinity of border areas

Nepal became a hub of anti-Indian activities by proxy mainly encouraged by ISI. It also serves as
a transit point for such people. Recent arrest of Abdul Karim Tunda and Yasin Bhatkal shows this
trend.

We also have unresolved maritime borders with our neighbors. This leads to issues like

 Nitin Sangwan

fishermen getting imprisoned and clash over fishing rights.

Extra-regional powers like US, Russia, China, France have their naval presence in high seas which
is also a concern of maritime security.

Piracy, terrorism, smuggling, narcotics, human trafficking, unregulated sea traffic are other
issues in international waters.

There is also an issue of separatist elements supporting external forces in North East.

Illegal immigration in North East and resulting change in demographic composition and resulting

violent reactions are also big challenges in North East border areas.
Recent steps in curbing challenges around border areas

2003 ceasefire agreement has led to considerable decline in cross-border firings and an
agreement has been reached.

Similarly, with China also an agreement has been reached to acknowledge LAC and refrain from
escalation of border issues.

With Bangladesh, both countries have come up with a Border Management Plan. As per this
plan, the BSF and the Border Guards of Bangladesh agreed to reduce the killing of people
crossing the border. They have agreed to refrain from firing at civilians. Troops will not fire at
each other.

India and Myanmar have a border trade agreement. There are border haats at 2 points Moreh
in Manipur and Zawkhatar in Mizoram. There is also a border trade committee to facilitate the
trade. Because the same tribes stay on both sides, there is an understanding between the two
governments to facilitate the movement of such tribes.

Government has also come up with idea of Integrated Check Posts on its borders to facilitate
better security, faster clearances and more facilities for trade.

Government has also launched Border Area Development Programs. It was launched in 1988

initially for the Pakistan border areas. Its aim is integrated development of the border areas.
Linkages of organized crime with terrorism
Organized crime activities include underworld, drug traffickers, mafias, dacoits, cyber hackers, moneylaunderers, hawala activists, currency traffickers etc.
Organized criminals generally have motto of financial gains while terrorists have political motives like
destabilizing of governments etc.
Recently, as terrorist activities spread across the globe, their funds requirements have increased and in
such situations, they cannot pursue their ideological goals simply with the help of their own funds.
Similarly, organized criminals are also expanding their presence and need a cover for their activities
through means such as terrorizing their targets. In such a situation, the two are increasingly having a
symbiotic relations. There are ample evidences to suggest that terrorist groups like Al-Queda and

 Nitin Sangwan
Taliban are financed through proceeds of drug trafficking and fake currency trafficking. 2003 Madrid
train bomb blast exposed such nexus. Back at home, Mumbai attack investigation has shown similar
links and Mumbai bomb blasts also showed links of Dawood with terrorists. Similarly, organized hacking
is also emerging as a favorite activity among the terrorists as an easy source of financing.
STEPS TAKEN TO TACKLE TERRORISM
I.

ATS Anti Terror Squad was formed in 2004 to specially deal with terrorism.

II.

NSG strengthened in wake of terrorism

III.

NIA A pan India investigating agency, especially for terrorist activities was formed after the
2008 attacks.

IV.

NATGRID It has been mooted after the 2008 attack on Mumbai. Based on the US model of a
centralized database. It integrates 21 important data sources like -banks, insurance companies,
stock exchanges, airlines, railways.

V.

India joins FATF

VI.

There is a proposal of setting an umbrella organization for counter terrorism tactics. National

Counter Terrorism Centre is the proposed body on the line of US NCTC.

Some of the suggestions to deal with the internal security problem

Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF), established by USA in the aftermath of 9/11 is an example of a
an anti-terrorist mechanism in a federal set up. The Joint Terrorism Task Forces located in
various cities across the USA include representatives from the Federal, State and Municipal
enforcement agencies and perform several important roles, including the clearing of all
terrorism-related information. Instead of the proposed NCTC, such a mechanism can address
the apprehensions of state more effectively.

Reforming criminal justice system is also imperative. It is also necessary to recognise that
national security cannot be safeguarded unless the entire apparatus of the criminal justice
system discharges its duties with competence, speed, fairness and complete honesty. Last year,
nearly two crore criminal cases under the Indian Penal Code and Special Laws were awaiting
trial. This sad state of neglect, accompanied by progressively declining conviction rates, has
rightly generated the perception that crime is a low-risk and high-profit business in India.

Reform the judiciary to hasten up the cases.

Laws should also be updated Indian Evidence Act, IPC, CrPC, Police Act etc all are 19th century

laws.
Various Security forces and agencies and their mandate
India Year Book +
CIVIL DEFENSE and HOME GUARDS

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Civil Defense consists of any measure not amounting to actual combat, for affording protection
to any person, property, place or thing in India or any part of the territory. It aims at minimizing
damage, saving lives etc. Their training takes place at local levels and people are recruited via
schools, colleges or communities. A centrally sponsored scheme was launched in 11th plan to
revamp civil defense.
Home Guard is also a voluntary force, but unlike Civil Defense they assist Police in controlling
civil disturbances and riots. A home guard whenever called for his services is paid unlike the
voluntary services of Civil Defense. Their importance was highlighted during the Chinese
aggression. Before that there were several patterns of home guards, however, after that they
were uniformed by an Act of parliament.
NCC
It was established in 1948 to imbibe spirit of discipline and dedication in youth. It has its motto
Unity and discipline. The origin of NCC can be traced back to the University Corps, which was
created under the Indian Defense Act 1917, with the object to make up the shortage of the
Army. The organization is directly headed by army personnel. At the Headquarters level, this
organization is headed by an officer of the rank of Lieutenant General.
Following the Chinese Aggression, to meet the requirement of the Nation, the NCC training was
made compulsory in 1963. In 1968, the Corps was again made voluntary.
TERRITORIAL ARMY
The Territorial Army in India is an organization of volunteers who receive military training for a
few days in a year so that in case of an emergency they can be mobilized for the defense of the
country. It is a second line of defense after the Regular Indian Army; the Indian Territorial Army
is not a profession, occupation or a source of employment. It is only meant for those people who
are already in mainstay civilian professions, in fact, gainful employment or self-employment in a
civil profession is a pre-requisite for joining the Territorial Army.
SPG
After Indira Gandhis assassination, a Special Protection Unit (SPU) was formed to provide
proximate security for Prime Minister & his family members. On recommendations of Birbal
Nath Committee, SPU was replaced by Special Protection Group (SPG) under executive order. It
became statutory body under SPG act 1988. Under SPG, officers are drawn from various central
& state armed forces. They are headed by a director of IGP rank, who works under Cabinet
Secretariat.

 Nitin Sangwan
*Other Defense Related Issues and News
Budget remains less than 2% of GDP. In 2013, the budget stood at around 2 lakh crore and Air Force gets
the biggest share of the pie.
ARIHANT Indias first nuclear powered submarine and only with nuclear strike capability
FDI in DEFENSE Recently government announced that FDI will be increased in Defense from 26% to
49%.Ministry of Commerce has earlier recommended to increase it up to 74 per cent.It seems that the
MoD is of the view that allowing foreign companies to set up manufacturing and assembling facilities in
India will stymie the growth of indigenous design and development activities and perpetuate our
dependence on the foreign original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) for modern weapons. This
argument presupposes that indigenous design and development activities have been flourishing, or have
started looking up, even under the existing restrictive FDI regime and that any relaxation in the FDI cap
will adversely affect these activities.
DEFENSE TECHNOLOGY INDIGENISATION The import content of defense acquisitions will continue to
remain over 70-80 per cent. Indigenization should also be true to its meaning. For example Tejas has
its engine and radar being imported from US and Israel respectively. DRDO with its 50 odd labs has not
proved up to the mark. DRDO and HAL also claim that armed forces set unrealistic targets and shift them
quite often. Armed forces on the other hand blame inordinate delays in delivery. Tejas and Arjun main
battle tank are the most often cited examples. Tejas has been under development since 1980s. As an
alternative to laggard PSU sector performance, Defense Ministry has now started to open up defense
sector for private players as well. Although the country has now diversified its acquisition sources
beyond Russia to the West and Israel, recent deals have failed to include transfer-of-technology (ToT)
clauses. The much delayed MMRCA deal with Rafale also appears to have run into rough weather on this
account. Since its inception in 1958, the DRDO has achieved some spectacular successes like the missile
development program, but also has many failures to its name. Programs like the Light Combat Aircraft
(LCA) and the Main Battle Tank (MBT) Arjun have suffered inordinate delays and time and cost overruns.
However, to its credit, the DRDO worked under extremely restrictive technology denial regimes and with
a rather low indigenous technology base. The Defense Procurement Procedure (DPP) was amended
once again in April 2013 to reflect the current thinking on buying Indian. However, in effect it still
favors the defense PSUs over the private sector. Offset clauses in defense agreements are further a step
in direction of indigenization of foreign equipments and technologies.

*J&K
After invasion by Pakistan, many agreements have been reached, but they filed to solve the boundary
issue. Karachi Agreement (1949) as well as Shimla agreement (1972) delineate LAC/Cease Fire Line till a
point called NJ9842 and beyond which towards Laddakh there is no clear definition and as a result there
are always conflicting claims.
UN also passed a resolution in 1948 after hearing arguments of both the countries known as UN

 Nitin Sangwan
Security Council Resolution 47. It called for a plebiscite, which however could not take place as none of
the countries withdrew their forces. Further, the resolution was not binding. Later, 4 more resolutions
were passed calling for synchronous withdrawal of forces, but that didnt happen till date.
Special programs launched by the government in Kashmir

Operation Sadbhavana A program of Indian Army to connect with public of Jammu and
Kashmir. Under this students are taken on sponsored visits to other parts of country.

Udaan It is a central scheme for the skill development and job for Kashmiri youth. National
Skill Development Corporation in collaboration with various agencies and companies undertake
skill development and placement under this.

Himayat Himayat is a skill development scheme introduced in J&K to provide skill training to 1

lakh youth in next 5 years. Entire cost to be borne by Centre.

*Police Reforms
Recommendations of The Padmanabhaiah Committee on Police Reforms, 2000 and National
Police Commission under Dharamvira, 1979 (gave a model police Act) should be implemented
to make the working of police without political interference and the archaic Police Act should
be amended. SC also appointed Jules Robero Committee to look at the issue of police reforms.
SC also in Prakash Singh Case in landmark 2006 decision laid out model 7 model guidelines for
states to re-model their Police Acts. Most of the states have still to make changes in their
respective police acts.

PRAKASH SINGH CASE & 7 POINT DIRECTIVES of SC, 2006

I.

Directive One: Constitute a State Security Commission (SSC) to

i) Ensure that the state government doesnt exercise unwarranted influence on the police
ii) Lay down broad policy guideline
iii) Evaluate the performance of the state police

II.
III.
IV.
V.

VI.

VII.

Directive two: Ensure that the DGP is appointed through merit based transparent process and secure a minimum
tenure of two years
Directive Three: Ensure that other police officers on operational duties (including Superintendents of Police in-charge
of a district and Station House Officers in-charge of a police station) are also provided a minimum tenure of two years
Directive Four: Separate the investigation and law and order functions of the police
Directive Five: Set up a Police Establishment Board (PEB) to decide transfers, postings, promotions and other service
matters of police officers of and below the rank of DSP and make recommendations on postings and transfers above
the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police.
Directive Six : Set up a Police Complaints Authority (PCA) at state level to inquire into public complaints against police
officers of and above the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police in cases of serious misconduct, including custodial
death, grievous hurt, or rape in police custody and at district levels to inquire into public complaints against the police
personnel below the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police in cases of serious misconduct
Directive Seven: Set up a National Security Commission (NSC) at the union level to prepare a panel for selection and
placement of Chiefs of the Central Police Organizations (CPO) with a minimum tenure of two years.

 Nitin Sangwan
2nd ARC has also made certain recommendations vis--vis police reforms apart from above

Too many functions assigned One of the major problems is clubbing a variety of disparate
functions in a single police force and concentrating all authority at one level. A single, monolithic
force now discharges several functions. As a result, the core functions are often neglected.
Second, accountability is greatly diluted. Third, the skills and resources required for each
function are unique and a combination of often unrelated functions undermines both morale
and professional competence.

Self-esteem of Policemen A constable can generally expect only one promotion in a life time
and normally retires as a head constable. Constables have become machines carrying out the
directions of their superiors