5 548931811527363630

UPSC MIRROR
Table of Contents
RBI PANEL MOOTS EASING BANK BRANCH NORMS ______ 23

OVLS PROPOSAL TO BUY 11% STAKE IN JSC VANKORNEFT 23
INDIA RANKS 130TH IN 2017 EASE OF DOING BUSINESS
INDEX
INDIAN ECONOMY __________________________ 5
____________________________________ 24
PANEL TO RESOLVE TELECOM PENALTY ROW __________ 25

NABARD SANCTIONS LOAN TO NWDA_____________ 26
UNION GOVERNMENT PROPOSES 4 GST SLABS _________ 5

GST WILL BOOST INDIAS MEDIUM-TERM GROWTH: IMF __ 6
INDIA & WORLD ___________________________ 28
PAYMENT BANKS REQUIRE RBIS PRIOR PRODUCT APPROVAL7

CENTRE FUNDS RO-PAX FERRY SERVICE IN GULF OF CAMBAY 8
GLOBAL CONFERENCE TO STRENGTHEN ARBITRATION &
ENFORCEMENT _______________________________ 9
ROSNEFT-LED CONSORTIUM BUYS INDIAS ESSAR OIL FOR $13
BILLION
___________________________________ 10
11
CABINET APPROVES MOU BETWEEN EXIM BANK AND NDB

_________________________________________ 12
CCEA NODS REVISION OF ETHANOL PRICE FOR SUPPLY TO
OMCS ____________________________________ 13
COMMITTEE TO CONSOLIDATE REGULATION OF PENSION
PRODUCTS
_________________________________ 14
CENTRE SIGNS LOAN PACT WITH WORLD BANK FOR EDFC 15

CERC CONSTITUTED COMMITTEE- SUBMITTED ITS REPORT 16
UG TO INVITE BIDS SOON FOR 36 INLAND WATERWAYS
DEVELOPMENT
______________________________ 17
ANTI-DUMPING DUTY ON CERTAIN CHINESE PRODUCTS

EXTENDED
_________________________________ 18
INDIAS 1ST INTERNATIONAL ARBITRATION CENTRE

INAUGURATED
TREATY ___________________________________ 28
INDIA SIGNS PACT WITH RUSSIA TO LEASE SECOND NUCLEAR
SUBMARINE
________________________________ 29
INDIA-PAKISTAN BORDER TO BE SEALED COMPLETELY BY 2018

________________________________________ 29
INDIA RECEIVES FIRST IRANIAN OIL PARCEL FOR EMERGENCY

RESERVES __________________________________
PAKISTAN WARNS INDIA AGAINST BREACHING INDUS WATER
______________________________ 19
BIOPHARMACEUTICAL COMPETITIVENESS & INVESTMENT

(BCI) SURVEY _______________________________ 19
CENTRE SET UP PUBLIC DEBT MANAGEMENT CELL ______ 21
INDIAS 1ST MEDIPARK TO BE SET UP IN TN ___________ 22
RUSSIA AND INDIA SIGN DEFENCE DEAL ON AIR DEFENCE

SYSTEMS __________________________________ 30
INDIA, MYANMAR SIGNED 3 MOUS INCLUDING
COOPERATION IN FIELD OF POWER SECTOR___________ 31
2ND SINO-INDIA COOPERATION 2016_______________ 32
FIRST EVER INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON VOTER
EDUCATION ________________________________ 33
INDIA, ALGERIA MULL FERTILIZER JOINT VENTURE ______ 34
BRICS TO SET UP CREDIT RATING AGENCY____________ 35
WORLD BANK PLEDGES $2 BILLION AID TO BANGLADESH _ 35
MOU BETWEEN INDIA AND HUNGARY ON WATER
MANAGEMENT
______________________________ 36
BIMSTEC COUNTRIES EXPRESS COMMITMENT TO COMBAT

TERRORISM
________________________________ 37
8TH BRICS SUMMIT CONCLUDES IN GOA ____________ 38

BANGLADESH AND CHINA AGREED TO STRATEGIC
PARTNERSHIP _______________________________
39
INDIA, RUSSIA SIGN PACT TO SET UP 25 AGRO IRRADIATION

CENTRES __________________________________ 41
INDIA-INDONESIA BILATERAL MARITIME EXERCISE ______ 42
Copyright 2015 UPSC Mirror
UPSC MIRROR
CHINA WRAPS US OVER ASIA INTERVENTIONS_________ 43
BIOTECH-KISAN AND CATTLE GENOMICS LAUNCHED TO
RUSSIA & TURKEY CONSENT TO INTENSIFY MILITARY,
EMPOWER FARMERS
INTELLIGENCE CONTACTS
_______________________ 44
__________________________ 64
LIFE EXPECTANCY HIGHEST IN JAMMU AND KASHMIR: RGI 65
ABU DHABI CROWN PRINCE TO BE CHIEF GUEST ON 2017
INTERNATIONAL HOUSEHOLD SURVEY NETWORK TOOLKIT
REPUBLIC DAY ______________________________ 44
LAUNCHED _________________________________
BRICS ADOPTS NEW DELHI DECLARATION ON EDUCATION 46
UTTARAKHAND HIGH COURT BANS SALE OF WHITENER ___ 66
CONTINGENT RESERVE ARRANGEMENT OF BRICS BECOMES
PM INAUGURATES 1ST NATIONAL TRIBAL CARNIVAL ____ 67
OPERATIONAL _______________________________
ELECTION RULES AMENDED TO ALLOW E-TRANSFER OF POSTAL
48
66
WORLD SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT SUMMIT ________ 49
BALLOT
INDIA SEEKS GREATER PHARMA MARKET ACCESS IN JAPAN 50
CENTRE PLANS TO SPEED UP IRRIGATION PROJECTS IN INDUS
MOU BETWEEN INDIA AND EUROPEAN UNION ON WATER
BASIN
COOPERATION
___________________________________ 68
____________________________________ 68
______________________________ 51
CABINET APPROVES MOU BETWEEN INDIA AND AARDO _ 51
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY ____________________ 70
INDIA, SINGAPORE SIGN THREE AGREEMENTS _________ 52

INDIA & NEW ZEALAND SIGNED THREE AGREEMENTS ____ 53
INDIAS COMMUNICATION SATELLITE GSAT-18 SUCCESSFULLY
MITRA SHAKTI 2016- INDIA-SRI LANKA JOINT MILITARY
LAUNCHED _________________________________
EXERCISE BEGINS _____________________________
54
ISRO LAUNCHED LANDING TESTS FOR CHANDRAYAAN-2

MISSION
NATIONAL ________________________________ 56
70
__________________________________ 71
PROTEIN-ENRICHED RICE VARIETY DEVELOPED BY IGKV

CHATTISGARH_______________________________ 72
NO RELOOK INTO ALLOCATION OF KRISHNA WATER: TRIBUNAL

_________________________________________ 56
RAILWAY MINISTRY TIED UP FOR SMART RAILWAY STATIONS

________________________________________ 73
KAUSHALYA SETU SKILL-DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME ___ 57
MILK OF TASMANIAN DEVILS COULD FIGHT SUPERBUGS:
JAPANESE ENCEPHALITIS CLAIMS 54 LIVES IN ODISHAS
STUDY ____________________________________ 74
MALKANGIRI DISTRICT _________________________ 58
INDIAN NAVY COMMISSIONS INS TIHAYU ___________ 75
CENTRE APPROVES ESTABLISHMENT OF IIM IN JAMMU___ 58
NPL SCIENTISTS PRODUCE ELECTRICITY FROM WATER
IAE TO PARTNER WITH INDIA FOR ITS GLOBAL LED
WITHOUT USING ENERGY
PROGRAMME
_______________________________ 59
_______________________ 76
THREE MEGA HEPS INAUGURATED IN HP ____________ 77
EC BANS USING PUBLIC SPACE FOR PROPAGATING SYMBOL 60
INDIA COMPLETED NUCLEAR TRIAD BY COMMISSIONING INS
URBAN AREAS OF GUJARAT, ANDHRA PRADESH DECLARED
ARIHANT __________________________________ 78
ODF _____________________________________ 61
ASHOK LEYLAND UNVEILED FIRST INDIA-MADE ELECTRIC BUS
JHARKHAND BECOMES 1ST STATE TO IMPLEMENT DBT IN
________________________________________ 79
KEROSENE _________________________________ 62
SATELLITE-BASED ILLEGAL MINING DETECTION SYSTEM-MSS
UDAN SCHEME FOR REGIONAL AIR CONNECTIVITY _____ 62
LAUNCHED _________________________________
80
UPSC MIRROR
IISC RESEARCHERS DEVELOP SELF-POWERED UV

PHOTODETECTOR
DELHIS AIR QUALITY VERY POOR: SAFAR ___________ 99
____________________________ 81
IISER RESEARCHERS USE HUMAN HAIR TO PRODUCE CHEAPER

CATHODES
_________________________________ 82
HISTORIC GLOBAL GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSION AGREEMENT

SIGNED
___________________________________ 99
SARASWATI RIVER EXISTED: KS VALDIYA COMMITTEE __ 101
CHINA SUCCESSFULLY LAUNCHES MANNED MISSION TO SPACE
NATIONAL MISSION ON BIO-ECONOMY LAUNCHED IN
_________________________________________ 82
MEGHALAYA ______________________________ 102
NASA DEVELOPS ELECTROACTIVE BANDAGE TO SPEED UP
NATIONAL SEISMIC PROGRAMME LAUNCHED ________ 102
WOUND HEALING
____________________________ 83
DRAFT NATIONAL WATER FRAMEWORK BILL, 2016 ___ 103
CENTRE TO INVEST IN PANIPAT OIL REFINERY __________ 84
1ST WORLD TSUNAMI AWARENESS DAY OBSERVED AT
HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE IDENTIFIED GREAT BALLS OF FIRE
AMCDRR 2016____________________________ 104
_________________________________________ 85
NEW TERMITE SPECIES NAMED CHIRAHARITAE DISCOVERED
MAHARASHTRA ALLOCATES LAND TO LIGO-INDIA PROJECT 86
_______________________________________ 105
CENTRE LAUNCHES INDIAN BRIDGE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM 87
SC STAYS COMMERCIAL RELEASE OF GM MUSTARD ____ 106
RELIANCE, DASSAULT AVIATION SIGN TO SET UP JOINT
INDIA TO HOST 2016 AMCDRR _________________ 107
VENTURE
__________________________________ 88
INDIA RATIFIES PARIS CLIMATE AGREEMENT _________ 108
ICGS ARYAMAN AND ATULYA COMMISSIONED ________ 89
NEW SPECIES OF PIKA NAMED OCHOTONA SIKIMARIA
CYSVAX, WORLDS 1ST VACCINE TO FIGHT AGAINST
DISCOVERED _______________________________
TAPEWORMS IN PIG ___________________________
89
109
SMOOTH-COATED OTTER SIGHTED FOR THE FIRST TIME IN
URANUS MAY HAVE TWO MORE MOONS: STUDY _______ 90
KRISHNA SANCTUARY ________________________ 110
CHINAS SPACE LAB TIANGONG-2 LAUNCHES MICRO-
URJA GANGA PROJECT LAUNCHED IN VARANASI ______ 110
SATELLITE BANXING-2 _________________________ 91

HIGHER SUBSIDY FOR AIRLINES CONNECTING TWO REGIONAL
AIRPORTS __________________________________
SOCIAL ISSUES ___________________________ 112
92
TRIPLE TALAQ A HIGHLY MISUSED CUSTOM: NCW _____ 112
ENVIRONMENT ____________________________ 94
SC WIDENS SCOPE OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ACT, 2005 _ 113

JANANI SURAKSHA YOJANA STARTED PAYING DIVIDENDS:
HIMANSH- INDIAS REMOTE, HIGH-ALTITUDE STATION SET UP
NCAER __________________________________ 114
IN HIMALAYAS
HIV AND AIDS (PREVENTION AND CONTROL) BILL, 2014 117
______________________________ 94
OKHA-KANALUS, PORBANDAR-WANSJALIYA - GREEN TRAIN
NATIONAL SC/ST HUB AND ZERO DEFECT ZERO EFFECT
CORRIDORS ________________________________ 95
SCHEME __________________________________
CO2 LEVEL REACHES RECORD HIGH IN 2016: WMO ____ 96
NATIONAL SUMMIT ON FORTIFICATION OF FOOD
IUNC TO DECLARE KASHMIRS RED STAG AS CRITICALLY
INAUGURATED
ENDANGERED _______________________________ 97
INDIA RANKED 97TH IN 2016 GLOBAL HUNGER INDEX__ 121
EMISSION AND NOISE POLLUTION DETAILS FOR EVERY VEHICLE
OCTOBER 11: INTERNATIONAL DAY OF THE GIRL CHILD _ 122
_________________________________________ 98
OCTOBER 10: WORLD MENTAL HEALTH DAY ________ 122
119
_____________________________ 120
UPSC MIRROR
WEFS GLOBAL GENDER GAP REPORT 2016 ________ 123

MISCELLANEOUS__________________________ 125
17 OCTOBER: INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR THE ERADICATION OF
POVERTY _________________________________ 125
16 OCTOBER: WORLD FOOD DAY ________________ 125
HARIKATHA: TRADITIONAL ART OF STORY-TELLING IN SOUTH
INDIA ___________________________________ 126
OCTOBER 9: WORLD POST DAY _________________ 127
EC PARTNERS WITH FACEBOOK TO ENCOURAGE VOTER
REGISTRATION
_____________________________ 127
3 OCTOBER: WORLD HABITAT DAY _______________ 128

2 OCTOBER: INTERNATIONAL DAY OF NON-VIOLENCE __ 128
SMALL NEWS ____________________________ 129
APPOINTMENT _____________________________ 129
AWARDS _________________________________ 130
DAY ____________________________________ 133
SPORTS __________________________________ 135
ECONOMY ________________________________ 137
SCIENCE AND TECH __________________________ 139
DEATH ___________________________________ 140
DEFENCE _________________________________ 141
MISC ____________________________________ 141
UPSC MIRROR
The base year for calculating the
INDIAN
ECONOMY
revenue of states will be 2015-16.

States getting lower revenue will be
compensated by the Centre. These
states will be compensated fund to be
created from the Cess on top of the
GST on ultra-luxury items and demerit
goods.
Union Government proposes 4

GST slabs
The rate structure will be revenue-
The Union Government

has proposed a fourslab rate structure for
the new indirect tax regime i.e. Goods &
Services Tax (GST) ranging from 0 to 26 per
cent. It was proposed at the meeting of the
GST Council headed by Union Finance
Minister
Arun
Jaitley
and
included
representatives from all states in New Delhi.
revenue after implementation of GST

from 1 April 2017.
consideration
for
calculating the revenue of each state

the
first
Good items along with other 50%

items
of
common
usage
to
be
exempted from the tax to keep the

inflation under check.
Proposed Four GST slabs The GST is
proposed to be levied at 6% (lower
rates) on the goods and services.

It will be 0% on a host of goods and
services, including food, health and
The secular growth rate of 14% will be
in
tax. It will not lead to further inflation.
(Standard 2 rate) and 26% (Higher
Compensation of states due to loss of
into
burden consumers with an additional
rate), 12% (Standard 1 rate), 18%
Outcomes of Meeting
taken
neutral so that there is no need to
five
implementation of the GST.
years
of
education services, and 26% on luxury

items, such as fast-moving consumer
goods and consumer durables.
On consumption of ultra-luxury items
and demerit goods, such as big cars
and tobacco products, cess must be
UPSC MIRROR
imposed over and above a 26% GST
Services) tax will boost Indias medium-term
rate.
growth. It was mentioned IMFs latest Asia
About GST Council: As per Article 279A of the
Pacific
Constitution, GST Council will be a joint
mentioned that India has shown progress on
forum of the Centre and the States. It shall
reforms
consist
investment and growth.
(i)
Union
(Chairperson).
Finance
Minister
(ii) The Union Minister of
State (MoS) in-charge of Revenue of finance

(Member) and (ii) The Minister In-charge of
taxation or finance or any other Minister
nominated
by
each
State
Government
(Members).
regional
that
economic
could
update.
boost
It
business
Key Findings
Greater labour market flexibility and
product market competition in India
remain essential to create jobs and
raise growth.
Priorities
also
include
effective
The functions of GST Council are mention in
implementation of the new corporate
Article 279A (4) of the Constitution. The
debt restructuring mechanisms.
Council will make recommendations to Union
India has shown progress on reforms
and States on important issues related to
that
GST, like (i) Goods and services that may be
investment, including already strong
subjected or exempted from GST. (ii) Model
FDI inflows, which will further increase
GST Laws. (iii) Principles that govern Place of
domestic demand.
could
initiate
business
Supply, threshold limits, GST rates. (iv) GST
Over the medium term, a number of
rates will including the floor rates with bands
Asian economies stand to benefit
and (v) Special rates for raising additional
from a demographic dividend.
resources during natural disasters/ calamities,
In some Asian economies like India
special provisions for certain States, etc.
and
GST will boost Indias mediumterm growth: IMF
population
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has
Indonesia,
potentially
the
continues
helping
potential growth.
asserted that adoption of GST (Goods and
working-age
to
grow,
sustain
strong
UPSC MIRROR
Indias growth continues to benefit

from large improvement in terms of
trade, positive policy actions, including
implementation
of
key
structural
reforms, enhancement in confidence

and gradual reduction of supply-side
constraints.
In its report, the IMF said Indias GDP
growth is projected at 7.6 percent in
both 2016/17 fiscal year (ending in
March 2017) and 2017/18 fiscal year,
up 0.1 percentage point relative to the
April 2016 World Economic Outlook, a
survey conducted and published by
About GST
GST is uniform single indirect tax regime
throughout the country that has subsumed
central and state indirect taxes into the single
indirect tax. It aims to remove indirect tax
barriers across states and integrate the
country into a single common market,
boosting government revenue and reducing
business
costs.
The
Constitution
(One
Hundred and First Amendment) Act, 2016

gives the constitutional status to GST.
Payment Banks require RBIs

Prior product approval
The Reserve Bank of India
the IMF.
(RBI) has notified entities that
Monsoon rainfall coming in at normal
have
levels bodes well for agriculture and,
been
granted
in
payments bank (PB) license will require to
government employee salaries, will
take specific approval for products they
underpin the ongoing recovery in
would be offering to customers. In this
domestic demand.
regard, RBI has issued separate operating
along
with
decennial
rise
Consumption growth has remained
guidelines for payments banks in view to
strong and activity in core industrial
focus on financial inclusion.
sectors has picked up. Government
Key Points
consumption is set to continue to

support growth in 2016.
At the time of submitting application

for license, the PBs should submit to
RBI a list of financial products they
intend to offer a clear description
UPSC MIRROR
An employee of the PB should be
In the operational guidelines on small
available for sufficient duration, at a
finance banks, the RBI clarified such
fixed location known to the customers
entities are required to have 25
at the district level, to attend to
percent of their branches in unbanked
customer
support
rural centres within one year from the
agent supervision. This fixed location
date of commencement of operations.
grievances
and
will be considered while assessing the
Both
payments
banks
and
small
requirement of opening at least 25
finance banks have been allowed
percent physical access points in rural
electronic
centres.
confirmation for opening accounts
The main mandate of Payment Banks
Payment Banks can also offer simple

financial products like insurance and
The RBI may place suitable restrictions

on the design, functioning, or other
features of the product of Payment
Background
RBI had granted in-principle licenses to 11
last year. While three out of 11 PBs have

dropped out, others will have to start
operations within 18 months of receiving inprinciple approval. One small finance bank
Banks.
RBI may even discontinue the product
launched by Payment banks if it feels
that the product is not suitable for
customers.
will
made mandatory.
payments banks and 10 small finance banks
mutual funds.
RBI
and
and wet signatures have not been
is to offer remittance services. They

will be not allowed to lend.
authentication
have
no
objection
has already started operation, while two

others have received the final license.
Centre funds Ro-Pax Ferry

Service in Gulf of Cambay
to
The Capital Dredging Project
payments banks making arrangements
of
with other scheduled commercial bank
between Gogha & Dahej, in
or small finance bank.
Gulf
of
Cambay
Ro-Pax
in
Ferry
Gujarat
Services
has
been
sanctioned by the Union Ministry of Shipping
UPSC MIRROR
under Sagarmala programme. The total
oriented initiative to achieve the broad
project cost is estimated to be Rs 234 Crore
objective of promoting port-led economic
of which 50% will be funded by the Union
development
Government
programme
under
the
Sagarmala
in
India.
The
ambitious
seeks to harness the
vast
programme. The significance of Project This
potential of Indias 7,500 km long coastline,
is first of its kind project in India as it will be
14,500 km of potentially navigable waterways
executed in the area of worlds 2nd highest
and strategic location on key international
tidal range.
maritime trade routes. It envisages the
This project on completion will result in a
growth of coastal and inland shipping as a
reduction in motorable distance of 231 km
major mode of transport for carriage of
between Gogha and Dahej in Gujarat to mere
goods and people along the coastal and
31 km. It will pave way for launching Indias
riverine economic centres. Sagarmala, when
first roll on-roll off (Ro-Ro) vessel passenger
integrated with the development of inland
ferry services on this route by April 2017.
waterways, will help to reduce cost and time
Besides, it will reduce the travel time to 1
for transporting goods, benefiting industries
hour from 7 hours. It will also result in

savings in fuel, reduction in CO2 emission
and reduction in road congestion. The
project will open up new avenues in coastal
and export/import trade.
Global Conference to
strengthen Arbitration &
Enforcement
shipping & tourism and help in the socio-
The first ever global
economic development of proximate areas. It
conference
to
will also help in the utilisation of inland
strengthen
Arbitration
waterways
for
and Enforcement in India was held in New
shipping goods from industries located
Delhi on 21 October 2016. The conference
upstream.
aims to provide impetus to commercial
About Sagarmala Programme
arbitration in the country or faster and
The
through
Sagarmala
River
Narmada
Programme
is
Union
Governments flagship strategic, customer-
efficient
dispute
resolution
courtroom.
outside
the
UPSC MIRROR
It was started with title National Initiative On
has agreed to acquire Indias second biggest
Strengthening Arbitration and Enforcement.
private oil firm Essar Oil in an all-cash deal
It was held to change the face of dispute
valued
resolution in India. For the first time, six
consortium includes Rosneft Oil Company,
leading international arbitral institutions and
the Netherlands-based commodities trader
all
Trafigura and private investment group
major
industry
associations
had
at
about
$13
Arbitration
transaction was announced in the presence
Arbitration,
setting
Management
up
of
world-class
of
The
The
United
Case
Partners.
billion.
participated in it. Discussions on Indian

Act,
Capital
US
business
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and
autonomous arbitration institution and court
Russian President Vladimir Putin at the 8th
support for arbitration were held.
BRICS Summit in Goa.
Background
Under this deal, Rosneft bought a 49% stake
The conference comes to the backdrop of

the immense losses suffered by the business
enterprises and the economy at large, due to
backlogs involved in dispute resolution in
Indian courts. This has kept money and
resources of the businesses trapped till the
final resolution of the dispute is resolved. It is
considered as a major disincentive for
foreign companies coming to invest in India
and also affected ease of doing business
Rosneft-led consortium buys

Indias Essar Oil for $13 billion
Russian
consortium
energy
giant
Rosneft Oil Company
while Trafigura Group Pte and United Capital

Partners split 49% equity equally. It includes
$10.9 billion for Essar Oils Vadinar refinery
(Indias
second-largest
refinery
with
capacity of 20 million tonnes) and $2 billion

for a port terminal that helps feed refinery. It
also includes Essar Oils debt of $4.5 billion
and about $2 billion debt with the Port
Company and power plant.
This acquisition is the largest ever foreign
environment of the country.
led
in Essar Oils refinery, port, and petrol pumps,
acquisition in India and also is the single

largest foreign investment in the Indian
refining sector. It is Russias largest outbound
or foreign acquisition deal. It is a significant
milestone for Rosneft as it is entering India,
10
UPSC MIRROR
one of the most promising and fast-growing
(MRPL) with the help of very large crude
world markets. With this, Rosneft becomes
carrier (VLCC) Dino. India is planning to fill
third international player after Royal Dutch
half of the storage with 6 million barrels of
and Shell and British Petroleum to enter
Iranian oil while continuing talks with the
Indian fuel retailing market. It also proves the
United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia for
attractiveness of the Indian energy market to
the remainder. The second parcel of such
foreign investors as India is one of the fastest
reserve will be procured by Bharat Petroleum
growing fuel consuming economies in the
Corp.
world.
It is very important for India to have strategic
It will also help to strengthen the existing ties
storage. As India imports around 80% of its
between Russia, one of worlds largest oil
crude oil requirement from the international
producer and India, one of the worlds fastest
market. Most of these imports come from
growing fuel consumer. Russia is keen to
the Middle East which is unstable region. Any
deepen its Soviet-era economic ties with
price aberrations in crude oil prices have a
India at a time when its own economy is
direct
stagnant and is hit by Western sanctions over
especially upon the current account and
the Crimean crisis.
inflation amounting to strategic risks. Thus, it
India receives first Iranian oil

parcel for emergency reserves
is necessary for India to have SPRs which will
impact
on
the
Indian
economy
act as a valuable buffer against short-term oil
India has received the
supply disruptions and global price shocks.
first parcel of 2 million
Since 2003, the Central Government has
barrels crude oil from
commissioned the strategic oil reserves to
Iran to partly fill the
maintain nations energy as well as economic
strategic
in
security. The erstwhile Planning Commission
southern India as part of the Strategic
in its Integrated Energy Policy, 2006 also had
Petroleum Reserves (SPRs) storage. The first
recommended
parcel of Iranian oil was imported by
equivalent to 90 days of oil imports for
Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd
strategic-cum-buffer stock purposes. The
storage
maintaining
11
reserve
UPSC MIRROR
recommendation
the
cooperation framework in accordance with
identification that any supply, market and
the national laws and regulations. Besides it
technical risks in the global supply chain of
also seeks for skills transfer and knowledge
oil may become a major threat to Indias
sharing
energy security. India is building emergency
establishment of the NDB reflects the close
SPR storages in vast underground caverns at
relations between the BRICS countries and
three
provides a powerful instrument for increasing
locations
was
in
based
southern
on
India
in
amongst
the
signatories.
The
Visakhapatnam, Mangalore and Padur to
their economic cooperation among them.
store about 5.33 million tonnes of crude oil
The signing of MoU is necessary keeping in
enough crude to cover almost two weeks of
view the strategic relevance of cooperation
demand.
for sustainable development and inclusive
Cabinet approves MoU

between EXIM bank and NDB
economic growth among BRICS countries. It

also reflects cooperation extended by the
The Union Cabinet has
BRICS
given its approval for
promoting and facilitating the trade of goods
signing of a MoU on
and services as well as investments in mutual
General
projects.
Cooperation
with New Development

Bank (NDB) or BRICS Bank and Export-Import
Bank of India (EXIM Bank). The MoU will be
through the BRICS Interbank Cooperation
Mechanism.
members
in
various
forms
for
Background
The BRICS Interbank Cooperation Mechanism
was established by the five banks from the
BRIC nations to enhance trade and economic
relations amongst the BRIC countries, and
The MoU will help enhance trade and
enterprises. It proposes to sign an MOU on
economic
relations
BRICS
General Cooperation with the NDB. BRICS
countries.
However, there is no financial
countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China and
between
the
implication involved with the signing of the
South
MoU. This MoU is a non-binding umbrella
collectively accounting for 43% of the worlds
agreement.
It
aims
at
establishing
Africa)
are
developing
12
countries,
UPSC MIRROR
population, 15% of global trade and 20% of
during ethanol supply period (from 1
the worlds investment flows.
December 2016 to 30 November
CCEA nods revision of ethanol

price for supply to OMCs
2017)
has
Affairs
noded
(CCEA)
for
upon
prevailing
economic situation and other relevant
The Cabinet Committee on

Economic
depending
the
mechanism for revision of

ethanol price for supply to Public Sector Oil
Marketing Companies (OMCs). The revised
administered price will facilitate OMCs to
carry out the Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP)
Programme for the next sugar season 201617.
factors.
The Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP)
Programme was launched by the
Central
Government
in
2003
to
promote the use of alternative and

environment-friendly fuels.
It was intervention sought to reduce
import
dependency
requirements
and
for
energy
environment-
friendly measure to reduce vehicular

pollution.
Key Points
Since 2006, OMCs were not able to
The revision of ethanol prices will

facilitate
the
continuation
of
Government policy in providing price

stability and remunerative prices for
meet required quantity of ethanol

demand against the tenders floated
by them.
The various constraints for it were like
State Specific issues, Supplier related
ethanol suppliers.
Charges will be paid to the ethanol
suppliers as per actuals in the case of
issues including Pricing issues of

ethanol.
and
In order to augment the supply of
transportation charges as decided by
ethanol, a new mechanism for pricing
the OMCs.
of ethanol was placed in where
Excise
These
Duty
prices
and
of
GST/
ethanol
VAT
can
be
reviewed and suitably revised by

Central
Government
at
any
Government decided delivered price

of ethanol at OMC depots.
time
13
UPSC MIRROR
The
decision
has
helped
in
significantly improving the supply of
Committee to consolidate
regulation of pension products
ethanol.
The Union Finance Ministry

has constituted a high-
About Ethanol Blending
level
The ethanol blending is a process of mixing

petrol with ethanol. The mixture is called as
Ethanol Fuel / Gasohol which is considered as
a quasi-renewable energy. Ethanol is biofuel
derived from Sugarcane molasses ( a byproduct in the conversion of sugarcane to
sugar), corn, sorghum etc. In India, the
practice of blending ethanol was started in
2001.
mention in the Auto fuel policy of 2003.

Later, the National Policy on Biofuels, 2009
made mandatory for oil companies to sell
petrol blended with at least 5% of ethanol.
blending
emissions,
reduces
especially
the
carbon
vehicular
monoxide
emissions. It is cheaper than petrol as it is

cheaper to manufacture. It decreases a
nation dependence on foreign oil. Ethanol
has a higher octane rating than ethanol-free
petrol.
to
consolidate the regulation

of pension products that is currently being
done by three different watchdogs including
insurance and stock market regulators. The
committee would have representatives from
all financial sector regulators Securities and
Exchange Board of India (SEBI), Insurance
Regulatory and Development Authority of
India (IRDA), Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and
Ethanol blending for the first time was
Ethanol
committee
In
the
case
of
India,
ethanol
production can give higher sugarcane price

for farmers which can help in rural prosperity.
Pension Fund Regulatory and Development

Authority (PFRDA). Its mandate will be to
look into the issue of bringing these
companies which are offering pension plans
under different regulators under the purview
of PFRDA.
Currently,
pension
products
floated
by
insurance companies and those sold by

mutual funds are under the purview of IRDA
and SEBI respectively. Thus, there are cases of
overlapping functions performed by financial
sector regulators SEBI, IRDA, RBI and PFRDA
in the case of floating different pension
products. For instance, PFRDA is regulating
all pension products in the country. However,
14
UPSC MIRROR
insurers and mutual funds continue to sell
Reconstruction and Development (IRBD), part
pension products outside PFRDAs watch.
of World Bank Group to lend $650 million,
The PFRDA Act says that PFRDA will be the
third tranche for construction EDFC to
pension regulator in the country.
Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of
About
Pension
Fund
Regulatory
and
India (DFCCIL).
Development Authority (PFRDA):
EDFC-III
PFRDA is a statuary pension regulatory
transport capacity, improve service quality
authority established in 2003 under the
and boost freight carriage on the 401-km-
PFRDA Act. It functions under the aegis of
project
aims
to
enhance
rail
long Ludhiana-Khurja section of the EDFC.
Union Ministry of Finance, Department of
On completion, it will directly benefit the
Financial Services. PFRDA promotes old age
power and heavy manufacturing industries
income security by establishing, developing
located in the Northern and Eastern parts of
and regulating pension funds. It also protects
India.
interests of subscribers to schemes of
industries
pension funds and related matters. It is
efficient transportation of their raw materials
responsible for the appointment of various
along
intermediate agencies such as Central Record
consumer
Keeping Agency (CRA), Custodian, Pension
passengers will also be benefitted as the
Fund Managers, NPS Trustee Bank, etc.
existing
Union
Government
loan agreement with the

Bank
for
the
construction of the Eastern Dedicated Freight

Corridor (EDFC)-III project. The agreement
was signed between International Bank for
will
smooth
with
railway
distribution
goods.
provide
In
passenger's
these
network
processed
addition,
lines
for
and
railway
would
get
The first two phases of the EDFC are already
has signed $650 million
World
project
decongested.
Centre signs loan pact with

World Bank for EDFC
The
This
being implemented by the DFCCIL with the

help of financial assistance provided by the
World Bank. The IRDB had provided loans
worth $975 million and $1,100 million for the
Dadri-Khurja-Kanpur
and
Kanpur-Mughal
Sarai stretches respectively of the Eastern Rail

Corridor.
15
UPSC MIRROR
About Eastern Dedicated Freight

Corridor (EDFC):
Key Recommendations
It must be aligned to meet customer
EDFC is 1,840 km long freight corridor of
aspirations as opposed to an existing
Indian Railways extending from Ludhiana in
system
Punjab to Kolkata in West Bengal. The
associated
objective of the EDFC is to augment railway
purchase agreements (PPAs).
freight carrying capacity along the railway
where
with
transmission
long-term
is
power
It should be done on the basis of
corridor between Ludhiana and Kolkata. The
projected
project will benefit industries of northern and
anticipated generation scenario based
eastern India, which rely on railway network
on economic principles of merit order
for transportation of material inputs and
operation.
processed goods. It is also going to help to
load
of
states
and
To be planned by central transmission
reduce greenhouse gasses (GHGs) emissions,
utility
as trains complying on this dedicated freight
capacity additions in perspective plan
corridor will operate entirely on electricity.
and renewable purchase obligations
Central
Regulatory
(CERC)
committee
Commission
headed
a
by
power system expert Mata Prasad which has

submitted
its
recommendations.
The
committee has suggested an overhaul in

transmission planning facilitate the transfer
of power on economic principles.
on
estimated
Transmission corridor allocation must
Electricity
constituted
based
of each state.
CERC constituted committeesubmitted its report

The
(CTU)
be done suitably made. 5% of each

flow gate may be reserved for dayahead collective transactions.
This flow gate may be released for
contingency market in case of nonutilisation of the corridor by power
exchanges.
The
percentage
of
reservation may be reviewed after 1

year of operation.
They must be carried out for various
generation and load scenarios during
peak and off-peak hours. It should
16
UPSC MIRROR
also
consider
renewable
capacity
Earlier, Parliament had enacted a legislation
addition and scheduling of various
allowing 106 rivers across the country to be
generating stations that dont have
converted into National Waterways (NWs) in
any PPAs.
addition to the existing 5 such NWs. The
It should be created by the Central
legislation provides conversion of 15 rivers in
Electricity Authority of India (CEA). In
West
this case,
any generation project
Maharashtra, 11 in Karnataka, 12 in Uttar
developer proposing to set up a new
Pradesh, 9 in Tamil Nadu and 6 each in Bihar
generation plant must register itself.
and Goa and 5 each in Gujarat, Meghalaya,
Hand-holding of states by CEA and
Odisha, and Telangana, among others, into
CTU for accurate demand forecasting.
waterways. The funding will be done through
States must procure software for
extra-budgetary
short-term, medium-term and long-
resources,
term demand forecasting.
central road fund cess, among other means.
UG to invite bids soon for 36

inland waterways development
The Union Government is
about to float tenders to
Bengal,
14
each
support,
in
Assam
and
extra-budgetary
public-private-partnerships
and
The law was enacted in a bid to boost

movement of goods and passengers via
rivers
and
reduce
transportation
costs
substantially.
bids
for
the
The inland waterways comprise rivers, lakes,
inland
waterways
canals, creeks and backwaters covering about
projects in the first phase. This move will help
14,500 km across the country. Inland water
to tap the huge potential in the so-far-
transport is the environment-friendly and
untapped
transport
cost-effective mode of transportation. It will
segment despite India being endowed with
reduce the logistics costs significantly which
natural rivers suitable for it and that could
are currently as high as 18% in India. India
change the economy. The proposal also
has the huge natural geographical potential
includes a plan to convert the Yamuna in
for inland waterways as 14,500 km of river
Delhi and Haryana into a waterway.
channels are navigable. Development inland
invite
development
for
inland
36
waterways
waterways can spur industrial growth and
17
UPSC MIRROR
tourism
potential
along
the
waterway
especially in plain areas of North India.
Anti-dumping duty on certain

Chinese products extended
The statutory status to the inland waterways
The Union Government has
would
extended
pave
for
investments
in
inland
anti-dumping
waterways transportation sector which have
duty on import of certain
been neglected in the past. It would provide
Chinese products, used in
a cheaper mode of transport and reducing
garment, toys and footwear manufacturing,
traffic burden and congestion on roads and
for another five years i.e. till 2021. The
railways.
decision in this regard was taken by Central
Seasonal variations in water level especially

in the rain-fed rivers of the peninsula may
cause hindrance to inland waterway projects.
Diversion
of
river
water
for
irrigation,
industrial and domestic purpose may affect

the
viability
waterways
environmental
of
these
may
threat
projects.
Inland
cause
serious
to
Gangetic
river
dolphins, a national Aquatic animal of India.

Five of the river stretches, which have been
declared as National Waterways, include
Allahabad-Haldia on Ganga (1,620 km),
Brahmaputras Dhubri-Sadiya (891 km), West
Coast Canal Kottapuram-Kollam (205 km),
Kakinada-Puducherry canals (1,078 km) and
East Coast Canal integrated with Brahmani
river and Mahanadi delta rivers (588 km).
Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) based

on recommendations of the Directorate
General of Anti-Dumping and Allied Duties
(DGAD). This extension will protect domestic
industry from the harm caused by dumping
(import) of the cheap Chinese products.
The DGAD made the case for continuation of
the anti-dumping duty on Chinese products
after its second sunset review of the antidumping duty in force on the imports. Earlier
in October 2010, the Revenue Department of
the Union Finance Ministry had extended the
levy (anti-dumping duty) till October 2015.
About Anti-Dumping Duty

Anti-Dumping Duty is a trade levy imposed
by any government on imported products
which have prices less than their fair normal
values in their domestic market. Thus, it is a
protectionist
tariff
that
18
seeks
to
stop
UPSC MIRROR
dumping
process
where
the
company
international legal luminaries. It will provide
exports a product at a price lower than the
world-class
price it normally charged in the domestic
247 functionality and live transcription
market
services
of
Dumping
importing
Duty
is
countries.
imposed
Anti-
under
infrastructure
recording
for
during
arbitration,
arbitration
the
proceedings for transparency. It will be in
multilateral World Trade Organisation (WTO)
sync with the Make in India campaign and
regime and varies from product to product
will provide a time-bound and cost-effective
and from country to country. In India, anti-
facility to reinforce investor confidence.
dumping duty is recommended by the Union

Ministry of Commerce (i.e. by DGAD), while
At present, in absence of an international
the Union Finance Ministry imposes it.
arbitration centre in the country most of the
st
Indias 1 international
arbitration centre inaugurated
The
first
business disputes involving Indian parties

land in Singapore or London International
International
Arbitration
Arbitration Centres. Indian parties make up
of
an estimated 30% of the arbitration cases
India was inaugurated in
handled by the Singapore and London
Mumbai,
Maharashtra
Arbitration Centres. The total outflow of
(MCIA) to provide an arbitration platform for
funds to resolve such cases along with
Indian
negotiate
logistics and other related expenditure is
commercial disputes. With this Maharashtra
around $5 billion. MCIA will significantly
becomes the first state in the country to clear
bring down this cost.
business
houses
to
Centre
Background
policy for institutional arbitration. It is also

considered as a major step towards making
Mumbai an International Financial Services
Centre (IFSC).
The MCIA will be an independent, not-forprofit organization (NGO) governed by a
council comprising eminent national and
Biopharmaceutical
Competitiveness & Investment
(BCI) Survey
Indian
pharmaceutical
companies have ranked

at 19th position with an
overall score of 59 out of 100 in the
19
UPSC MIRROR
Biopharmaceutical
Competitiveness
&
overall score were labeled as trailing markets.
Investment (BCI) Survey. Indias score slipped
Singapore
a point from a year ago. The survey of 28
newcomers category with a score of 85 is
countries
the
only a point behind the US, which is a mature
Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers
market. India scores low on almost all metrics
of America and executed by the Pugatch
except for partial step-ups on two counts:
Consilium.
scientific capabilities and infrastructure, and
It was the third edition of the survey. Five
clinical research conditions and framework.
metrics were used to determine rankings of
Indias IP regime, including Section 3(d)
countries. They are (i) scientific capabilities
requiring biopharmaceutical inventions to
and
research
show enhanced efficacy, continues to affect
conditions and framework; (iii) regulatory
its investment environment and has inspired
system; (iv) market access and financing; and
look-alike bills in Brazil, Indonesia and South
(v) effective intellectual property protections.
Africa, where executives also noted barriers
It had looked at biomedical innovation and
to investment as a result of gaps in IP
its influencers,
protection, the report states.
was
commissioned
infrastructure;
protection
(ii)
by
clinical
like intellectual property
for
investments
in
the
which
has
placed
in
the
The BCI report says policies aimed at
pharmaceutical sector.
incentivizing research and development in
It had categorized countries into two groups
novel areas and targeting particular areas of
viz. mature markets like UK US, and Germany,
unmet need, such as rare diseases or
and newcomers like China, India, and Brazil.
personalized medicine, tend to be more
Mature
consistently present across mature markets.
markets
intellectual
streamlined
favourable
provide
property
protection,
regulatory
tax
advanced
framework
conditions
with
highly
Mature markets also seek to provide a highly
and
streamlined regulatory framework, advanced
some
intellectual
property
protection,
exceptions.
favourable
India, along with China, Argentina, Colombia,
exceptions), the report advances.
tax
conditions
Russia, Turkey and Brazil based on their
20
(with
and
some
UPSC MIRROR
Centre set up Public Debt

Management Cell
Functions of PDMC
Plan
government
borrowings,
The Union Finance Ministry has
including
set
other borrowings, like Sovereign Gold
up
Public
Debt
Management Cell (PDMC) with

the objective of deepening
market
borrowings
and
Bond (SGB) issuance.

Manage
governments
liabilities,
bond markets in the country. PDMC will
improve cash forecasting, monitor
streamline
cash balances, foster a liquid and
government
borrowings
and
better cash management for deepening
efficient
bond markets.
securities.
PDMC is an interim arrangement and will be

upgraded
to
statutory
Public
Debt
market
for
government
Advise government on matters related

to
capital
market
operations,
Management Agency (PDMA). Thus, it will
investment, administration of interest
require preparatory work for PDMA. It will
rates on small savings etc.
allow
separation
of
debt
management
Develop an Integrated Debt Database
functions from RBI to PDMA in a gradual and
System
seamless manner, without causing market
database
disruption. The Middle Office of the Budget
government, on a near real-time basis.
Division in the Union Finance Ministry will be
IDMC will be an integral part of PDMC.
subsumed into PDMC with immediate effect.
The setting up of the PDMA is a top priority
The Joint Secretary (Budget), Department of
of government for bringing financial sector
Economic Affairs of the Finance Ministry will
reform.
be the overall in-charge of the PDMC. PDMC
Government seeks to divest the RBI of its
will have only advisory functions in order to
dual and often conflicting roles as the banker
avoid
and manager of the Central Governments
any
conflict
with
functions of RBI.
the
statutory
(IDMS)
as
for
all
liabilities
With
borrowing.
It
centralised
establishing
will
also
facilitate
of
PDMA,
better
planning and management of domestic and

foreign
market
borrowings
21
of
Central
UPSC MIRROR
Government. It will help in strengthen bond
developed. Knowledge management center
market and help to promote investment. It
will be developed in the second phase.
will be in pursuance global practice of

shifting
public
debt
management
from
central bank to a debt management office.

st
Indias 1 Medipark to be set

up in TN
Giving a push to
local production of
hi-end
medical
equipment, Indias
Importance
First manufacturing cluster in the
medical technology sector in the
country envisaged to boost local
manufacturing of hi-end products at a
significantly lower cost.
Play
significant
role
in
the
development of medical devices and

technology
industry
and
allied
first Medipark (Medical Park) will be set up in
disciplines under the Make in India
Tamil Nadu at Chengalpattu near Chennai,
initiative
Tamil Nadu. It will boast of the first medical
employment.
devices manufacturing park in the country. In
Help
besides
in
providing
generating
in
affordable
this regard, the Union Cabinet has allowed
healthcare
HLL Lifecare, a mini Ratna public sector
diagnostic services to a large section
company to sub-lease over 300 acres of land
of people.
for the purpose. The Medipark will be funded

through a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) with
HLL being a 50% shareholder.
HLL will sublease 330.10 acres of land to
investors, through a transparent bidding
process to investors desirous to set up
manufacturing units for medical equipment
and devices. It will be developed in phases
with a completion period of seven years. In
the first phase, physical infrastructure will be
delivery,
particularly
in
Significance
The first of its kind Medipark project will lay a
roadmap to reduce the dependence on
imports of medical equipment and devices. It
will create a strong base for the growth of
the indigenous and domestic industry by
providing
access
to
state-of-the-art
infrastructure and technology. The domestic

manufacturing
of
medical
devices
and
equipment will not only usher in a regime of
22
UPSC MIRROR
assured and affordable health care delivery

but
also
deepen
and
strengthen
the
Redefined the un-banked rural centre

(URC) as a rural (tier V and VI) centre
penetration of quality health care services.
that does not have a core banking
RBI Panel moots easing bank

branch norms
solution-enabled banking outlet.

The acceptance of recommendations
The Reserve Bank of India

(RBI)
Internal
Group
(IWG)
Working
on
Rationalisation of Branch Authorisation Policy

has proposed easing bank branch norms. It
has proposed to relax norms that a bank
branch has to follow, like a building, a
number of
employees etc to facilitate
financial inclusion.
branches
for a bank while for opening branches

in unbanked rural centres.
It will further help to enhance financial
inclusion by taking the idea of the
bank as an outlet that delivers basic
banking services.
Banks,
even
without
traditional
branches, can use technology to offer

services in areas that so far had no
Key Recommendations
Bank
will significantly help to reduce costs
including
those
access.
providing minimum 4 hours of service
OVLs proposal to buy 11%

stake in JSC Vankorneft
for 5 days a week, should be allowed
The Cabinet Committee
to be treated as a full-service branch.
on
manned by business correspondents
Any other fixed point unit of the bank
Economic
(CCEA)
has
Affairs
given
not complying with minimum working
approval ONGC Videsh
period should be considered a part-
Limited (OVL) proposal to buy 11% stake in
time banking outlet.
JSC Vankorneft. OVL will buy this stake in JSC
A part-time
banking outlet can be opened in any
Vankorneft
from
Rosneft
Oil
Company
centre.
(Rosneft), National Oil Company of Russia
It will be counted in for computing
which operates Vankor oil fields. OVL will pay
requirement of having 25% branches
US 930 million dollars for acquiring 11%
in rural areas.
stake in Vankorneft.
23
UPSC MIRROR
This acquisition is also in line with ONGCs
Banks ease of doing business index for the
stated
high-quality
year 2017. The index was released as part of
international assets to Indias Exploration and
the World Banks annual report Doing
Production (E&P) portfolio for augmenting
Business 2017: Equal Opportunity for All. This
Indias energy security. It will provide OVL 3.2
report had revised Indias rank to 131 from
Million Metric Ton of Oil Equivalent (MMTOE)
earlier 130th for the year 2016. Thus, India
by 2017. It will also provide an opportunity to
has improved its place by one spot in the
Indian Oil and Gas companies especially
2017
PSUs to acquire new technologies from
unchanged
Rosneft.
ranking of 130 in the year 2016.
Background
About ease of doing business index
Earlier in May 2016, OVL had completed the
The ease of doing business index is annually
formalities on the acquisition of 15% stake in
released by World Bank in its Ease of Doing
Vankorneft at a cost of US 1.284 billion
Business Report. It was introduced in 2004. In
dollars which gave OVL
this index, a ranking of the country is based
objective
Besides,
of
adding
from
its
place
the
remained
previous
original
oil
on index averages the countrys percentile
Indian
Oil
rankings on 10 indicators each having equal
Corporation Limited (IOCL), Oil India Limited
weightage. A higher ranking of the country in
(OIL) and Bharat PetroResources Limited
this
(BPRL)
environment
had
of
MMTOE.
and
Indian
companies
consortium
4.11
index
comprising
acquired
of
23.9%
stake
in
list
means
is
that
more
its
regulatory
conducive
and
Vankorneft at a cost of US 2020.35 million
favourable for the starting and operation of
dollars which gave them 6.56 MMTOE.
firms. 10 indicators are starting a business,
India ranks 130th in 2017 Ease

of Doing Business index
getting electricity, dealing with construction
India has been ranked at

130th position among the
190
countries
in
the
permits,
registering
property,
investors, getting credit, employing workers,

trading
across
borders,
paying
taxes,
enforcing contracts and resolving insolvency.
recently released World
protecting
24
UPSC MIRROR
business. However, Europe and Central Asia
Key Highlights of 2017 Report

Top
10
Countries:
New
Zealand
(1st),
Singapore (2nd), Denmark (3rd), Hong Kong

(4th), South Korea (5th), Norway (6th), UK
(7th), US (8th), Sweden (9th) and Macedonia
(10th). BRICS Nations: India ranks lowest in
Doing Business among the BRICS nations.
Russia (40), South Africa (74), China (78),
Brazil
(123)
and
India
(130).
Indias
Neighbours: Bhutan (73), China (78), Nepal

(107), Sri Lanka (110), Pakistan (144) and
Bangladesh (176).
path and has acknowledged a number of

improvements.
mentioned
Some
are
the
electricity
connections to businesses, paying taxes,

electronic system for paying employee state
insurance
contributions,
(Amendment)
Act,
the
electronic
Companies
filing
of
integrated customs declarations, the passage

of the commercial courts and the Insolvency
and Bankruptcy Code.
least one business regulatory reform. A

record 137 economies around the world have
adopted key reforms that make it easier to
start and operate small and medium-sized
businesses. Developing countries carried out
more than 75% of the 283 reforms in the
past
year,
with
Sub-Saharan
Africa
the
Panel to resolve telecom

penalty row
The Union Telecom Ministry has constituted
a committee to look into the regulator TRAIs
recommendation of Rs. 3,050 crore penalty
on top three telcos Airtel, Vodafone, and
Idea. The committee has been asked to give
a report on the recommendations soon likely
to be before 15 November 2016. Earlier TRAI
had recommended Department of Telecom
impose
penalty
on
these
three
incumbents telecom companies for denying
Economies in all regions are implementing

easing
and Central region have implemented at
to
International Facts
reforms
one reform. 96% of economies in the Europe
reforms.
India has embarked on a fast-paced reform
improvement
share of economies implementing at least
accounting for over one-quarter of all
India Related Facts
substantial
continues to be the region with the highest
process
of
interconnection points to Reliance Jio.
doing
25
UPSC MIRROR
According to TRAI, these three companies
under Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana
have violated license norms by denying
(PMKSY) are executed in time.
adequate interconnection points to Reliance
Loan released by NABARD to NWDA would
Jio Infocomm. Their actions also have stifled
be
the competition and are seen as anti-
Governments as Central Share in the projects
consumer and against the public interest. The
sanctioned. The LTIF was set up by NABARD
Reliance Jio
as a sequel to the initiatives announced by
inadequate
had alleged that

interconnection
due to
points
disbursed
to
the
respective
State
its
the Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley for
subscribers were unable to make calls to
irrigation purpose in his Budget Speech
other networks. TRAI had recommended fine
2016-17. The loan funds for these irrigation
for Airtel and Vodafone to Rs.1,050 crore for
projects will help to create an additional
21 service areas (all, except Jammu and
irrigation potential of 39.14 lakh hectares in
Kashmir) and for Idea the penalty was
11 States. Thus, it will support governments
pegged at Rs 950 crore for 19 service areas
vision to double the farmers income by 2022
(all, except for Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and
as providing assured irrigation to farmers is
Kashmir and the Northeastern States).
one of the important prerequisites to achieve
NABARD sanctions loan to

NWDA
The
National
Agriculture
Development
Bank
and
that target.
About National Water Development

for
Rural
(NABARD)
has sanctioned loan worth Rs. 19,702 crores

to National Water Development Agency
(NWDA). The loan will be provided through
NABARDs Long Term Irrigation Fund (LTIF)
for 50 irrigation projects from 11 States. It
will ensure front loading of resources so that
the identified incomplete irrigation projects
Agency (NWDA)
NWDA is the agency of the Union Ministry of
Water Resources. It was set up in July 1982 as
an autonomous society under the Societies
Registration Act, 1860. It was established to
carry out the water balance and other studies
on a scientific and realistic basis for optimum
utilisation
of
Water
Resources
of
the
Peninsular rivers system. Besides it was

tasked to prepare feasibility reports and give
26
UPSC MIRROR
concrete
shape
Development
to
Peninsular
Component
of
Rivers
National
Perspective.
In 1990, it was also entrusted with the task of
Himalayan Rivers Development Component
of
National
Perspectives.
Recently,
the
functions of NWDA have been further

modified and the work of preparation of
detailed Project Reports (DPR) of various link
proposals and Pre-feasibility Reports. It has
been also entrusted to prepare feasibility
reports of intra-State links as proposed by
the States.
27
UPSC MIRROR
water system having six rivers Beas, Ravi,
India & World
Sutlej, Indus, Chenab and Jhelum between

the two countries. It was signed by then
Pakistan warns India against

breaching Indus Water Treaty
Pakistan
has
Prime
warned
India that it will take

appropriate
action
if
India violates the Indus Water Treaty (IWT)

unilaterally. It also mentioned that it was
closely monitoring the situation after India
decided to suspend all talks with Pakistan on
IWT in the wake of the Uri attack.
The importance of Indus River for Pakistan:
Around 65% of the Pakistans geographical
area
including
entire
Pakistans
Punjab
province is part of Indus basin. The water of

Indus River is the lifeline of Pakistan and is a
source of irrigation, hydropower and drinking
water for millions of Pakistanis. If the water
from rivers is stopped by India it can surely
cut the lifeline of Pakistan.
About Indus Waters Treaty (IWT)

IWT is a water-distribution treaty between
India and Pakistan which was brokered by
the World Bank (then the International Bank
for Reconstruction and Development). The
Minister
Jawaharlal
and
President of Pakistan Ayub Khan in Karachi

on September 19, 1960.
As per treaty, control over three eastern
rivers Ravi, Beas and Sutlej was given to
India. While control over three western rivers
Indus, Jhelum and Chenab was given to
Pakistan. It allows India to use only 20% of
the water of Indus river, which flows through
it first, for irrigation, power generation, and
transport. Most disagreements and disputes
have been settled via legal procedures,
provided for within the framework of the
treaty.
Under
it,
Permanent
Indus
Commission (PIC) was set up as a bilateral

commission to implement and manage the
Treaty. The Commission solves disputes
arising over water sharing. Besides, the treaty
also provides arbitration mechanism to solve
disputes amicably. It is the most successful
water treaty in the world. Even, it has
survived India-Pakistan wars of 1965, 1971
and the 1999 Kargil standoff besides Kashmir
insurgency since 1990.
treaty deals with sharing of water of Indus
Nehru
28
UPSC MIRROR
India signs pact with Russia to

lease second nuclear submarine
speeds up to 35 knots. They are nuclear

powered but are armed with conventional
an
land attack missiles. INS Arihant Earlier in
agreement with Russia to
August 2016, India had quietly inducted its
lease second Akula-II class
first
India
has
signed
indigenously
built
nuclear
ballistic
nuclear attack submarine (SSN). The deal is
missile submarine (SSBN) Arihant into service
believed to be worth about $2 billion. The
completing its nuclear triad. Besides, follow-
lease to transfer a multipurpose Project 971
on submarines are also planned and at least
nuclear submarine to India from the Russian
two are in various stages of construction
Navy was signed in Goa on the side lines of
which will give India strategic foothold in the
8th BRICS Summit. The second nuclear
Indian Ocean Region (IOR). The second
submarine is expected to arrive in Indian
indigenous nuclear submarine of the same
waters in 2020-21.
class, INS Aridhaman, will be commissioned
India had earlier leased first Akula-II class

nuclear attack submarine (SSN) for a period
of 10 years from Russia. It was inducted into
service as INS Chakra (formerly known as K152 Nerpa) in April 2012. Its lease expires in
2021.
interest
Since then,
in leasing
India had expressed

at
least
one more
submarine to train Navy crew in complex

submarine operations to have a large fleet of
nuclear submarines.
Akula-Class Submarines
Akula-class submarines of Project 97 (NATO
name Akula-II) weigh around 8,140 tonnes.
They are considered one of the most silent
SSNs in service and are capable of sailing at
in 2018. Pakistan does not have a nuclear

submarine and lacks a nuclear triad. China
has four nuclear-powered submarines in
operation and in a couple of years this
number that will go up to six. Chinas
Nuclear-submarines carry a version of the
Dong Feng nuclear missile that has a range
of up to 7,000 km.
India-Pakistan border to be
sealed completely by 2018
Union
government
announced
Pakistan
that
border
completely
has
India-
will
sealed
be
by
December 2018. The announcement in this

regard was made after Union Home Minister
29
UPSC MIRROR
held
security
of
and Kashmir (including Line of Control),
representatives of 4 states sharing a border
1,037 km in Rajasthan, 553 km in Punjab and
with Pakistan in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan. the
508 km in Gujarat. The Border Security Force
procedure
international
(BSF) controls the security of the 2,308 km-
border would be developed in a planned
long border with Pakistan from Gujarat to
manner, with a mechanism in place for its
Jammu and Kashmir. In Jammu, 192 km of
periodic monitoring at multiple levels in the
International Border, referred to as a working
defence
boundary by Pakistan, is manned by the BSF,
for
review
sealing
establishment
the
as
meeting
well
as
the
governments of the four border States.
while the remaining 8 km is secured by the
The Central government has formulated a
Indian Army. The 740 km Line of Control
time-bound action plan to completely seal
(LoC), running along Kashmir and separating
the entire stretch of 3,323-km-long border
Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) is entirely
between the two countries. The process of
secured by the Army.
sealing border will be monitored by Ministry
Russia and India sign defence

deal on Air Defence Systems
of Home Affairs (MHA) level, Border Security

Force (BSF) level and chief secretary of states
India and Russia have
level. Besides, a new concept of Border
signed a defence deal
Security Grid (BSG) has been envisaged, in
worth nearly Rs 39,000
which all the stakeholders related to border

security
are
involved.
Based
on
their
suggestions, a final shape to BSG will be

given.
Background
India-Pakistan shares 3,323-km-long border
which are termed as International Border.
The border between both countries was
created based upon the Radcliffe line in
1947. 4 states share this international border
crore to purchase five

states of art S-400 Triumf air defence
systems. Besides, India also announced to
collaborate in making four stealth frigates
and setting up a joint production facility for
making Kamov helicopters under Make in
India. In this regard, inter-governmental
agreements (IGAs) were signed between
both countries following talks between Prime
Minister
Narendra
Modi
with Pakistan. Of this 1,225 km falls in Jammu
30
and
Russian
UPSC MIRROR
President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of
reconnaissance, monitoring, targeting, and
the 8th BRICS Summit in Goa.
transportation. It also boasts of incredibly
About S-400 Triumf Air Defence

System
precise
hovering
ability,
excellent
maneuverability, and high safety standards.

The helicopters will be made by Hindustan
The S-400 Triumf long-range air defence
Aeronautics Limited (HAL) with Russian
missile system is one of the most advanced
cooperation under Make In India. It will
long-range defence systems in the world. It is
replace the aging Cheetah and Chetak
referred to as SA-21 Growler by NATO. It is
choppers.
an upgraded version of the S-300 defence

system and is manufactured by Almaz-Antey.
It has been in service in Russia since 2007. It
is capable of firing three types of missiles.
Thus, it creates a layered defence, and
simultaneously engaging 36 targets. It has
the
capability
to
destroy
incoming
all
airborne targets at ranges of up to 400 km.

With it, India can destroy Pakistani aircraft
even when they are in their airspace. The five
S-400 systems will be operated by the Indian
Air Force (IAF). India is the second export
customer, after China to purchase this most
advanced defence system.
After
induction,
Kamov
helicopters
will
operate at 20,000 feet and also help to

maintain the forward posts on the Siachen
glacier. India and Russia will build four stealth
frigates which will be improved versions of
Krivak or Talwar class stealth frigates. Two
frigates will be built in Russia and other two
will
be
manufactured
with
Russian
cooperation at an Indian shipyard.
India, Myanmar signed 3 MoUs

including Cooperation in field
of Power Sector
India and Myanmar have signed three
Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) to
Ka-226T Helicopters
boost
bilateral
relations
between
two
multipurpose
neighbouring nations. These MoUs were
helicopter designed for work in difficult
signed in New Delhi after delegation-level
conditions like high mountains, hot climate,
talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi
and
with
Kamov
226T
marine
is
light
areas.
It
allows
for
the
visiting
State
31
Counsellor
of
UPSC MIRROR
Myanmar Aung San Suu Kyi. Signed MoUs
and tranquility along border areas of both
are MoU for designing an academic and
countries. The theme of the day-long joint
professional
exercise was based on Humanitarian Aid and
building
programme
for
insurance industry of Myanmar. MoU on
Disaster Relief (HADR).
Cooperation in the field of Power Sector.
Under HADR, a fictitious situation of an
Under it, India has offered to enhance power
earthquake striking an Indian Border village
supply from Moreh in Manipur to Tamu in
was painted. Thereafter joint teams of both
Myanmar. MoU on Banking Supervision. It
countries carried out rescue operations,
was signed between Reserve Bank of India
evacuation
(RBI) and Central Bank of Myanmar. Besides,
assistance. The exercise not only refined the
India extended support to Myanmar for a

better-connected
agreed
to
cooperate
strategic issues.
enhance
future.
Both
on
countries
security
and
They also agreed to
engagement
in
several
areas
including to develop a mutually beneficial

arrangement for trade in pulses.
and
rendering
of
medical
drills to provide succor to the border

population in case of natural calamity but has
also
increased
the
level
of
trust
and
cooperation between the border guarding

forces of both countries along the LAC in
Eastern Ladakh.
The second edition of the exercise was
2nd Sino-India Cooperation

2016
conducted as part of an ongoing initiative

between
both
countries
to
enhance
China
have
interaction and cooperation under provisions
second
joint
of Border Defence Cooperation Agreement
Sino-
(BDCA), 2013. The first Joint Exercise under
India Cooperation 2016 in Ladakh region
BDCA, 2013 was held in February 2016 in the
along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in
area of Border Personnel Meeting Hut at
Jammu
Chushul Garrison of Eastern Ladakh, along
India
and
conducted
military
and
Kashmir.
exercise
The
exercise
compliments Hand in Hand series of India-
with Chinese troops of Moldo Garrison.
China joint military exercises that aims to
This is for the first time both countries have
enhance cooperation and maintain peace
conducted military exercises in the state of
32
UPSC MIRROR
Jammu and Kashmir in Eastern Ladakh
electoral
amidst growing uneasiness in the bilateral
countries with the help of voter education
relationship. The exercise also comes in the
and outreach. It deliberated upon five topics
backdrop
ranging
of
stalemate
over
Indias
participation
from
among
Role
of
member
Information
multilateral disagreements with China over
Communication
blacklisting of Pakistan-based terrorist group
Education, Electoral Literacy to Enhanced
Jaish-e-Mohammed
Masood
participation by special categories of voters
Azhar at the United Nations and membership
and Strategies for Informed and Ethical
of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG).
Voting. The Conference saw the launch of the
First ever International

Conference on Voter Education
ambitious
The
(JeM)
first
chief
ever
International
Conference on Voter Education

was hosted by the Election
Technology
VoICE.NET
in
project,
Voter
Global
Knowledge Network on voter education.

Besides, an exhibition showcasing Voter
Education tools and materials was also
organized on the occasion.
Commission of India in association with
About Voice.NET Project
UNDP at New Delhi. The three day (from 19
VoICE.NET is a Global Knowledge Network
to
was
on voter education with membership from
Election
participating EMBs and Organisation working
Commissioner (CEC) Dr. Nasim Zaidi. The
in the field of elections and democracy -
topic of the first of its kind conference is
VoICE.NET. This network will provide an
Voter Education for Inclusive, Informed, and
innovative wide platform to share knowledge
Ethical Participation. 27 countries and 5
resources, interact on the discussion board,
international organizations participated in it.
sharing platform for events and practices in
It has been organized with an aim to share
member countries and also extend its
best practices, initiatives and policies of voter
knowledge
education by-election management bodies
stakeholders e.g. CSOs, Departments and
(EMBs). It aims at achieving a resolution to
other organisations associated with elections
strengthen inclusive, ethical and informed
besides Academic Institutions.
21
October
inaugurated
by
2016)
the
conference
Chief
and
resource
33
support
to
UPSC MIRROR
India, Algeria mull fertilizer

Joint Venture
number
of
African
countries
including
Tunisia, Egypt, Jordan and Syria and also

keen
from Russia, Canada, and Israel among
desire to initiate a joint
others. For India, forming JV with Algeria will
venture (JV) arrangement
have
India
has
shown
major
favourable
food
security
with Algeria for a multi-billion dollar fertilizer
implications and also could ease the fertilizer
plant located in the North African country.
subsidy burden.
The proposal in this regard has moved to
Indias bilateral trade with Algeria currently
front burner following a meeting between
stands at 1.5 billion dollars a year with the
Algerian Minister for Industry and Mining
trade balance in Algerias favour given Indias
and Indian Minister of State for Chemicals in
import of oil and gas. The major item of
Algiers. However, no specific agreements
exports from India to Algeria has been
were signed between both courtiers at the
automobiles.
end of Vice-President Hamid Ansaris three-
interesting item of Indian export to Algeria.
day visit to Algeria.
They are today an essential part of the
Why
is
India
forming JV
with
India, which has up to 96 percent phosphate

dependency, with the volumes running to
some six million tonnes a year, is seeking a
49 percent share in an Algerian block that
has a capacity of six billion tonnes with 26
percent to 50 percent phosphate content.
Phosphorus is one of
three important
elements in the chemical fertilizers that are
constitute
has
ongoing
arrangements
and
cooperative ventures in this field with

neighbouring Morocco but on a much
smaller scale than what is in prospect in
Algeria. Indias aspirations in Algeria also
span the information technology, pharma
and space sectors. India believes there are
good prospects for diversified expansion
across sectors.
most important in plant nutrition along with

nitrogen and potassium. Currently, India
imports raw phosphate resources from a
another
trousseau for a typical Algerian bride.

India
Algeria?
Saris
34
UPSC MIRROR
BRICS to set up credit rating

agency
Need to establish BRICS Rating

Agency
The five-nation group

of
emerging
economies BRICS has

agreed to set up an independent BRICS
Rating Agency in its efforts to challenge
western hegemony in the world of finance. It
was announced during the 8th BRICS summit
held in Goa, India.
BRICS comprises five
emerging economies Brazil, Russia, India,

China and South Africa.
have hegemony in the world of finance.

Three global agencies (S&P, Fitch, Moodys)
based in western countries account for 90%
of the rating market. Emerging economies
claim that western ratings firms are biased,
pessimistic on the developing countries and
optimistic on developed nations. They also
have concerns over methodologies of the
three global agencies. BRICS members Russia
Key Points
in particular and China have been perturbed
The BRICS Rating Agency will be

based on market-oriented principles
to strengthen the global governance
It will be launched as per the shared

of
by these western rating firms. Russia alleges

that the western firms had deliberately
lowered its rating after the Ukraine (Crimean)
crisis.
architecture.
vision
At present, western developed countries
the
BRICS
institution-building
nations
to
for
transform
World Bank pledges $2 billion

aid to Bangladesh
The
World
Bank
has
global financial architecture based on
pledged 2 billion US dollars
the principles of fairness and equity.
aid package to Bangladesh
It will assist BRICS and other countries
to tackle climate change
to rate infrastructure and sustainable
over the next three years. The aid package is
projects in the emerging economies.
part of the World Banks fund for the poorest
Thus, it will further bridge the gap in
countries which is extremely vulnerable to
global financial architecture.
climate change and accounts for almost 70%

of all storm surges in the world. The aid
35
UPSC MIRROR
package
aims
to
further
develop
the
countries (IDA) The World Bank is one of the
resilience of the people at a time when
five components of the World Bank Group,
climate change is putting their lives and
which is part of the United Nations system.
livelihoods at greater risk.

This
is
the
second
large
investment
announcement made by the World Bank

President Jim Yong Kim during his 2-day visit
MoU between India and

Hungary on water management
The Cabinet has given
to Bangladesh. Earlier he had announced to
its approval for signing
provide US $1 billion aid to Bangladesh over

the
next
three
years
to
fight
of a Memorandum of
child
malnutrition.
Understanding
(MoU)
between India and Hungary on cooperation
The World Bank has provided Bangladesh
in the field of water management. The MoU
more than $24 billion in financing in the last
will be signed between Union Ministry of
45 years. Bangladesh is the largest recipient
Water Resources, River Development and
of International Development Association
Ganga Rejuvenation and the Ministry of
(IDA) assistance, having received over 24
Interior, Government of Hungary. This is for
billion US dollars since Independence.
the first time India is entering into a MoU
About World Bank
with Hungary with wide-ranging areas of the
The World Bank is an international financial
water sector.
institution that provides loans to developing
Both the countries will cooperate in the field
countries for capital programs. It comprises
of river basin management, integrated water
two institutions: the International Bank for
resources management, irrigation technology
Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), and
innovation, efficiency in water supply and
the International Development Association
flood & drought management to improve
(IDA). Formation: July 1944. Headquarters:
the socio-economic conditions of the people.
Washington
They
DC,
United
States.
Motto:
will
also
exchange
of
scientific
Working for a World Free of Poverty.
delegations and experts in the field of water
Membership:
resources development and management for
189
countries
(IBRD),
173
36
UPSC MIRROR
joint
activities.
The
MoU
will
enhance
bilateral cooperation in the field of water

management, on the basis of equality and
mutual
benefits
and
encourage
Strong measures against such states

must be taken.
They recognised the need for urgent
the
measures to counter and prevent the
development of bilateral relations between
spread of terrorism, violent extremism
private and public organizations concerning
and radicalization.
water resources of both the countries.
They renewed their commitment to
BIMSTEC countries express

commitment to combat
terrorism
the early conclusion of BIMSTEC Free

Trade Area negotiations, and direct
the Trade Negotiating Committee and
The BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal

Initiative for Multi-Sectoral
Technical
and
Economic
Cooperation) countries have

expressed commitment to combat terrorism
in all its forms and manifestations. In this
regard, seven nations of BIMSTEC countries
have
issues
Leaders
Retreat
Outcome
Document (LROD) emphasising that there
finalization
of
its
constituent
Agreements.
They agreed to expedite the signing of
the BIMSTEC Convention on Mutual
Assistance in Criminal Matters.
They also called for early ratification of
the
BIMSTEC
Cooperation
Convention
on
on
Combating
International Terrorism, Transnational
can be no justification for acts of terror.
Organized Crime, and Illicit Drug
Key Highlights of LROD

BIMSTEC
Working Groups to expedite the
Trafficking.
countries
strongly
They also stressed the necessity of
condemned the recent terror attacks
pursuing
in
and of the implementation of the Paris
the
region.
encourage
and
The
states
support
who
provide
sanctuary to terrorists should be

identified
and
held
accountable.
sustainable
development
Agreement on Climate Change.

They also recognized that cooperation
in the sustainable development of
fisheries in Bay of Bengal region for
37
UPSC MIRROR
ensuring food security and improving
summit concluded with an adaptation of Goa
livelihoods of people.
Declaration.
Technical
and
Economic
Cooperation) is the sub-regional group of

seven countries in South Asia and South East
Asia lying in the littoral and adjacent areas of
the Bay of Bengal constituting a contiguous
unity.
summit
was
Modi, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian
BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-
regional
two-day
attended by the Prime Minister Narendra
About BIMSTEC
Sectoral
The
They
are
India,
Nepal,
President Vladimir Putin, Brazilian President

Michel Temer and South African President
Jacob Zuma. The theme for the summit was
Building Responsive, Inclusive and Collective
Solutions.
Key Highlights of Goa Declaration
Bangladesh, Bhutan, Sri Lanka (from South
BRICS nations condemn terrorism in
Asia) and Myanmar, Thailand (from South
all its forms and stressed that there
East Asia). Established: 6 June 1997 through
can be no justification for such acts.
the
Headquarters:
International terrorism, especially the
Dhaka, Bangladesh. Objectives: Technological
Islamic State (IS) is an unprecedented
and economic cooperation among south
threat to international peace and
Asian and south East Asian countries along
security. BRICS nations reaffirmed the
the coast of the Bay of Bengal. It also covers
commitment
cooperation
effectiveness of the UN counter-
Bangkok
investment,
Declaration.
in
commerce,
agriculture,
technology,
tourism,
human
terrorism
to
increase
framework.
for
resource development, fisheries, transport
adaptation
and communication, textiles, leather etc.
Convention on International Terrorism
8th BRICS Summit concludes in

Goa
(CCIT) in the UN General Assembly.
Goa
hosted
the
eighth BRICS summit

from
October
15
to
16
2016.
The
of
Need
the
Comprehensive
Urgent need for reforms of the United

Nations,
including
UN
Security
Council, to increase representation of

developing countries.
38
UPSC MIRROR
Resolution of civil war in Syria, in

accordance
with
the
legitimate
expanding ties between them on issues such

as
terrorism,
economy,
trade,
and
aspirations of the people of Syria and
connectivity. BIMSTEC stands for Bay of
action
Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical
against
U.N.-designated
terrorist groups like IS and Jabhat al-
and
Nusra.
member countries are Bangladesh, India,
All nations must counter radicalism

and
block
international
sources
of
terrorism,
financing
dismantling
terrorist bases and countering misuse

of the Internet including social media.
Appreciated
progress
in
the
implementation of Strategy for BRICS

Economic Partnership and emphasise
the importance of BRICS Roadmap for
Trade,
Economic
and
Investment
Cooperation until 2020.

Welcomed adoption of 2030 Agenda
for Sustainable Development and its
Sustainable Development Goals.
The reiterated determination to use all
policy tools to achieve the goal of
sustainable and inclusive growth.
The ninth BRICS Summit will be
hosted by China in 2017.
Economic
Cooperation.
BIMSTEC
Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Bhutan, and

Nepal.
About BRICS
BRICS is the acronym for an association of
five major emerging national economies:
Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. It
was established in2009. Originally it was
known as BRIC before the inclusion of South
Africa in 2011. The first formal summit was
held in Yekaterinburg, Russia. The BRICS
members
are
all
developing
or
newly
industrialised countries and all five are G-20

members. They are distinguished by their
large,
fast-growing
economies
and
significant influence on regional and global

affairs.
Bangladesh and China agreed

to strategic partnership
Besides, first-ever BRICS-BIMSTEC Outreach
Bangladesh
Summit was also held on sidelines of 2016
China have agreed to
BRICS Summit. Leaders from both forums
elevate their bilateral
planned to jointly explore possibilities of
relations to strategic partnership. It was
39
and
UPSC MIRROR
announced during Chinese President Xi
relations with China have traditionally been
Jinpings visit to Bangladesh. This is the first
dominated by trade. The bilateral trade
official state visit by a Chinese head of state
between China and Bangladesh was about
to
$12.5 billion in 2014 and Bangladeshs export
Bangladesh
in
three
decades
since
President Li Xiannians visit in March 1986.
to China has not exceeded even $1 billion.
The two countries also have agreed to jointly
However, in this new type of emerging big
advance Chinas One belt and one road
power relationship in the South Asia region
(OBOR) initiative. With this, Bangladesh
relatively smaller countries like Bangladesh
formally joined Chinas OBOR initiative. They
are adjusting and maintaining balanced
also
economic
agreed
to
establish
institutional
cooperation in areas of maritime issues and

counter-terrorism.
They
also
agreed
to
increase high-level exchanges and strategic

communication
between
them.
Both
countries signed 26 agreements on different

sectors. Through these agreements, the
consensus was reached to work together in
trade and investment and other key areas
such as infrastructure, energy, and power,
agriculture, ICT, and transportation.
Geo-politically,
Bangladesh
is
witnessing
growing rivalry between China and India,

particularly in the era of weakening US role in
the region. In this scenario, it signifies
growing importance of the Bangladesh in
and
geopolitical
particularly with China and India.
About One Belt, One Road (OBOR)

Initiative:
OBOR
initiative
development
is
strategy
Chinas
and
ambitious
framework
focuses on connectivity and cooperation

among countries primarily between China
and rest of Eurasia. It consists of two main
components, the land-based Silk Road
Economic Belt (SREB) and oceangoing 21st
Century Maritime Silk Road (MSR). OBOR
initiative part of Chinas revived 21st century
Silk Road diplomacy that seeks to push it to
take a bigger role in global affairs as a major
global power.
South Asias economics and geopolitics.

Bangladesh maintains very strong military
ties with China. Even Bangladeshs economic
relations,
40
UPSC MIRROR
India, Russia sign pact to set up

25 Agro Irradiation Centres
centres in India to reduce agricultural
India and Russia have
These irradiation centres will help in
signed
cooperation
development
losses.
pact
for
the treatment of perishable food items
in
the
to improve shelf life and cut post-
of
harvest losses.
It
network of 25 integrated infrastructure Agro
will
further
increase
irradiation centres. The pact was signed
perishable
between
process on a commercial scale ranging
Indian
Agricultural
Association,
Innovation
Corporation
(UIC),
for
irradiation
from flowers to fish.
Hindustan Agro Co-Op Ltd (HACL) and

United
items
basket
Expand India-Russia cooperation in
civil nuclear energy.
subsidiary of ROSATOM State Atomic Energy

Corporation of Russia.
In India, post-harvest losses in food and food
Key Points:
grains are around 40-50%. It is primarily due
As part of the pact, India-Russia joint

venture (JV) will be formed in which
HACL will have the majority 51%
stakeholding.
UIC will be a technology partner and
will help set up the irradiation centres.
In first phase 7 centers will be set up
in Maharashtra in Sindhurg, Satara,
Solapur, JNPT, Jalana, Napur and
Pune.
For the first time, it paves the way for
the establishment of a network of
integrated
infrastructure
to
microbiological
contamination,
insect
infestation, physiological changes due to

sprouting and ripening, and poor shelf life.
The
wastage
of
fruits
and
vegetables
including cereals, meat, pulses and flowers

results in the annual loss estimated to be Rs.
2,50,000 crores. There is the presence of few
low-level irradiation plants in the country
which are not adequate. So to reduce the
losses in food and food grains and meet the
demand it is necessary to increase the strong
network of agro irradiation centres.
irradiation
41
UPSC MIRROR
About Food Irradiation

Food irradiation is a technology in which
India-Indonesia bilateral
maritime exercise
food products are subjected to a low dosage
In a demonstration of
of radiation to treat them from germs and
India's commitment to
insects, increasing their longevity and shelf
its ties with Indonesia
life. It is the application of ionizing radiation
and to the maritime
to food in which energy is transmitted
security in the Indian
without direct contact in the targeted food.

The radiation can be emitted by a radioactive
substance or generated electrically. The
irradiated food does not become radioactive.
Radioisotopes are used as the source for the
gamma
rays.
Generally,
the
cobalt-60
radioisotope is used as a radioactive source

for gamma irradiation. The International
Ocean Region, Indian Naval Ship Karmuk, an

indigenously built missile corvette, based
under the Andaman and Nicobar Command,
along with a Dornier Maritime Patrol Aircraft,
has participated in the 28th India-Indonesia
Coordinated Patrol and Second Bilateral
Maritime Exercise, scheduled from 10-27 Oct
16 in the Andaman Sea.
Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) recommends
Defence
the irradiation doses for Food irradiation.
Indonesia have been growing steadily with
Irradiation is equivalent to pasteurization for

solid foods, but it is not the same as
sterilization.
It
does
not
reduce
the
nutritional value of food products and does

not change their organoleptic properties and
appearance. The irradiation treatment of
food and foodgrains preserves them for a
longer time, prevent the spread of invasive
pests, delay/eliminate ripening or sprouting
and reduce the risk of foodborne illness.
regular
relations
joint
activities
and
India
and
interactions
between the Armed Forces of the two

countries. The two navies have been carrying
out
Coordinated
Patrols
(CORPAT)
on
respective sides of the International Maritime

Boundary Line (IMBL) twice a year since 2002,
with the aim of keeping this vital part of the
Indian Ocean Region safe and secure for
commercial shipping, International trade, and
legitimate marine activities. The CORPAT has
strengthened
between
understanding
42
and
UPSC MIRROR
interoperability between the two navies and

promoted net maritime security in the
China wraps US over Asia

interventions
region.
China has wrapped the
The bilateral cooperation has increased
United
significantly with the scheduling of the
interventions in Asia as
Second Bilateral Maritime Exercise along with
tensions
the 28th edition of the CORPAT. The
between the two powers
Opening Ceremony at Belawan, Indonesia
over territorial disputes in the South China
from 10-13 Oct 16 is being attended by
Sea (SCS). In this regard, Chinas Defence
Commodore Girish Kumar Garg, the Naval
Minister has levied thinly veiled criticism at
Component Commander of the Tri-Service
recent US involvement in Asias trouble
Andaman and Nicobar Command (ANC)
spots. China has claimed its territorial rights
based at Port Blair. The Bilateral Maritime
over almost the entire South China Sea
Exercise
and
participation
the
by
CORPAT
one
interactions
engagements,
and
one
Philippines, Vietnam and Taiwan also have
also
and
provide
contribute
substantively to the maintenance of good

order at sea. The Exercise seeks to strengthen
the existing bonds of friendship between
India and Indonesia and underscore India's
partnership
and
solidarity
countries of the region.
growing
region while other countries Malaysia, Brunei,
opportunities for extensive operational and

training
its
see
warship
would
are
for
would
Maritime Patrol Aircraft from each Navy.

These
States
with
friendly
rival claims. To support its rights, China also

has
built
artificial
islands
capable
of
supporting military facilities the strategically

the vital South China Sea.
Earlier to oppose Chinas moves, US had
conducted freedom of navigation operations
close to artificial islands built by China in the
SCS as it poses a challenge to freedom of
navigation. Besides, it also had agreed to
deploy a missile defence system in South
Korea following repeated nuclear and missile
tests by Chinas ally North Korea. The US also
has sought to pivot to Asia by increasing its
military and economic engagement with
43
UPSC MIRROR
countries in the region which is seen as its
relations were strained after Turkey, a NATO
move to contain Chinas growing power. In
member had downed a Russian war plane in
July 2016, an international Permanent Court
November 2015 alongside the Syrian border.
of Arbitration (PCA) in its pronouncement
Since then relations between both countries
had ruled that China has no legal basis over
had
the entire SCS. However, China has rejected
economic sanctions against Turkey.
PCA verdict.
Turkey is massively dependent on energy
Russia & Turkey consent to

intensify military, intelligence
contacts
imports from Russia for its energy security.
ebbed
after
Russia
had
imposed
Besides, first nuclear power station of Turkey

is also being built with Russian help.
Turkey
However, both nations still differ over Syrian
have given their consent to
strategy and plan. Russia has always stood by
intensify
and
Assad regime in Syria throughout the years
intelligence contacts. They also have agreed
of unrest. Russia had further intensified its
on the need for aid to get to the northern
support to the regime by launching an air
Syrian city of Aleppo. The decision in this
campaign
regard was taken after meeting between
Turkey always stood against Assad and
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan,
helped the rebel factions. Turkeys decision
Russian President Vladimir Putin on side-lines
was seen counterproductive as it had further
of World Energy Congress in Istanbul.
strengthened the stronghold of ISIS in Syria
The
Russia
and
military
The two countries also have signed a deal to

construct two TurkStream gas pipelines to
send Russian gas under the Black Sea to
against
rebels.
Contrastingly,
and surrounding region and also intensified

the Syrian civil war and leading to the spread
of terrorism and refugee crisis.
bypassing
Abu Dhabi Crown Prince to be

Chief Guest on 2017 Republic
Day
Ukraine. This was the first time Russian
The crown prince of Abu Dhabi,
President Putin visited Turkey after their
Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al
Turkey. Turkey will use one pipeline for its

domestic consumption and the other will
supply
southeastern
Europe,
44
UPSC MIRROR
Nahyan will be the chief guest for the 68th
from the Gulf at the parade since 2006 when
Republic Day celebrations on 26 January
Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz al-Saud
2017. In this regard, the announcement was
was the chief guest.
made by Union Ministry of External Affairs
An invitation to be the Republic Day chief
(MEA) Spokesman Vikas Swarup in New Delhi
guest is highly symbolic from the Indian
after
the
governments perspective. New Delhi has
invitation. The United Arab Emirates is
been weaving strategy with hospitality to
considered one of Pakistans close allies but
decide its chief guest for the Republic Day.
has been supportive of Indias position on
The choice of chief guest every year is
terrorism in the last couple of years.
dictated by a number of reasons strategic
the
India-UAE
crown
prince
Relations
accepted
India-UAE
Relations
and
diplomatic,
business
interest
and
deeply rooted in history and strategic
international geopolitics.
cooperation which is driven by mutual
Earlier Chief guests of Republic Day parades:
aspirations of both countries. UAE is lynch-
2016- Francois Hollande (French President),
pin of the economic, defence and strategic
2015- Barack Obama (US President), 2014-
strands of the Indias coordinated strategy to
Shinzo Abe (Japanese Prime Minister), 2013-
outreach west Asia. UAE is Indias third
Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck (King of
largest trading partner after China and the
Bhutan), 2012- Yingluck Shinawatra (Then
United States. Bilateral trade between UAE
Prime Minister of Thailand), 2011- Susilo
and India is around 60 billion dollars. Besides,
Bambang Yudhoyono (Then President of
there are also more than 2.6 million Indians
Indonesia). The France holds the distinction
living in the UAE and their annual remittance
of being the guest of honour for the
is estimated to be around 14 billion dollars.
maximum five times of Indian Republic Day
This will be the second visit by the Crown
parade followed by Bhutan (four times);
Prince within a year he came to India on a
Mauritius and Russia (three times each).
three-day
state
visit,
along
with
three
brothers and top Cabinet ministers, in

February this year. He will be the first leader
45
UPSC MIRROR
BRICS adopts New Delhi

Declaration on Education
targets, taking into account the past
The BRICS nations have
education sector, emerging national
adopted the New Delhi
development priorities, availability of
Declaration on Education
resources, and institutional capacities;
to ensure inclusive and
integrate the SDG4-related targets
equitable quality education and promote life-
with the national and subnational level
long learning opportunities for all. The
education
declaration was adopted at fourth Meeting of
plans/programmes; and build capacity
BRICS Education Ministers Conference held
at the national and subnational levels
in New Delhi. It was attended by Ministers of
for
Education and assigned representatives of
progress
BRICS nations viz. Brazil, China, India, Russia
corresponding
and South Africa.
indicators adopted by the UN General
equitable
achievements
sector
measuring
the
development
and
towards
in
monitoring
SDG4
targets
and
using
the
Reaffirm the need for universal equal
Reiterate commitment to SDG4 which

to
and
Assembly in September 2016;
Key Features
aims
gains
Ensure
quality
promote
inclusive
and
secondary
education
and
technical and vocational education
learning
and training, and lifelong learning
life-long
opportunities
higher
education,
the
Framework
for
Share the best practices available in
Action, which serve as the overall
BRICS countries on collaboration in
guiding
the
education, research, and innovation
implementation of the Education 2030
through the BRICS Network University.
2030
all
and
and
Education
for
access to quality education, including
framework
for
agenda;
Initiate actions to formulate countryspecific targets within the broader
opportunities for all;
Organize an annual conference of the

BRICS
Network
University
country of the current BRICS Chair;
scope of the SDG4 and corresponding
in
46
the
UPSC MIRROR
Encourage
more
universities
to
Use information and communication
participate in the BRICS University
technologies
League to facilitate student mobility
access to education, enhancing the
and collaborative research;
quality of teaching-learning process,
Expand
technical
education
and
and
skills
programmes,
vocational
development
for
facilitating
teacher
(ICTs)
for
improving
development,
and
strengthening educational planning

and management;
acquisition of skills and competencies
Identify a nodal institution within each
by young people and adults for
country and create an institutional
enhancing their employability and
network to share ICT policies, Open
encourage
Educational Resources and other e-
innovation
and
entrepreneurship;
resources,
Strengthen coordination within the

BRICS TVET Working Group to: (a)
including
among BRICS member countries;

Share
information
develop national reports, (b) share
education
experiences
recognition
demands
relating
and
to
supply
workforce
of
skilled
e-Libraries,
on
systems,
assurance
higher
approval
processes,
and
and
quality
accreditation,
and
personnel in BRICS member countries,
prevalent procedures and practices for
(c) undertake skill gap analysis in
evaluation
consultation with industry/employers
qualifications to facilitate academic
for designing TVET programmes, (d)
mobility;
study skill qualification framework in
subsequently to constitute an expert
different countries and draft a BRICS
group
TVET qualification framework, and (e)
development of
undertake
mutual recognition of qualifications
studies
to
evaluate
outcomes of TVET interventions and

suggest
policy
recognition
may
to
also
work
of
consider
towards
the
a framework for
across BRICS countries;
The
Facilitate mobility of students and
Working Group will meet at least once
scholars, and encourage exchange of
a year.
teaching
responses.
and
faculty,
especially
47
those
UPSC MIRROR
working in the areas relating to the six
other means to BRICS countries at a time of
domains identified for cooperation
economic crisis like the balance of payments
within the BRICS Network University;
pressures. It will be providing support to
Develop an enabling framework to
BRICS
countries
through
liquidity
and
promote research cooperation and
precautionary instruments in response to
knowledge
actual or potential short-term balance of
transfer
among
BRICS
countries in collaboration with other
payments
pressures.
The
initial
total
BRICS initiatives;
committed resources of the CRA will be 100
Encourage active involvement of the
billion dollars with individual commitments
participating universities in the BRICS-
as follows: China ($41 billion), India ($18
NU;
billion), Brazil ($18 billion), Russia ($18 billion)
Contingent Reserve
Arrangement of BRICS becomes
operational
and South Africa ($5 billion).

The CRA is generally seen as a competitor to
the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and
Reserve
along with BRICS New Development Bank
Arrangement (CRA) of BRICS
(NDB) is viewed as an example of increasing
nations viz. Brazil, Russia, India,
South-South cooperation. Both CRA and
South
declared
NDB have announced as part of BRICS
operational. CRA was established in 2015
Fortaleza Declaration announced during 6th
during 7th BRICS summit in July 2015. The
BRICS summit held in Fortaleza, Brazil in July
Treaty for the establishment of BRICS CRA
2014.
was signed at Fortaleza, Brazil in July 2014. It
Commonwealth Finance Ministers Meeting
marks
Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley also had
The
China
and
Contingent
Africa
an important
was
step in
economic
cooperation between member countries and
chaired
implies a commitment from each member
Ministers
Meeting
that it will support the other during a crisis.
Monetary
Fund
It is a framework that aims at providing
Washington DC, US. During the meeting, two
support through additional liquidity and
important
the
Commonwealth
issues
at
the
(IMF)
Finance
International
headquarters
were
48
discussed
in
and
UPSC MIRROR
deliberated.
Taxation-a
They
are
(i)
International
Commonwealth
Conversation
World Sustainable
Development Summit
around the Panama Paper (ii) Economics of
President
Climate
Mukherjee
Change
and
Financing
Climate
Adaptation and Mitigation.
Pranab
inaugurated
the first edition of World
BRICS finance ministers also welcomed a
Sustainable Development Summit (WSDS) at
decision to set up a network of central bank
Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi. The summit
research units to implement the CRA. They
was organised by The Energy and Resources
also agreed to discuss the modalities of such
Institute (TERI) with emphasis on the need to
a network during the BRICS summit to be
limit the rise of climate change. The theme
held in Goa.
for the summit was Beyond 2015: People,
Mr. Jaitley also chaired two sessions of the
Planet and Progress.
Commonwealth Finance Ministers' meeting -
WSDS has replaced TERIs what was earlier
first on the 'Economics of Climate Change
called
and
Summit
Financing
Climate
Adaptation
and
Delhi
Sustainable
(DSDS).
The
first
Development
DSDS
was
Mitigation' and the second on 'International
organised in 2005. It underscored the need
Taxation - a Commonwealth Conversation
for businesses and private sector to take lead
Around the Panama Papers'.
in poverty reduction and to ensure rapid and
During the meeting, India's Bank of Baroda

signed a memorandum with the Standard
Chartered Bank for opening a trade finance
facility. This is expected to make available up
to 100 million dollars of finance over a period
of three years. As part of the voluntary
sustained
adoption
of
Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs). It had brought

together Nobel laureates, decision-makers
political leaders from around the world to
deliberate on issues related to sustainable
development.
contributions, India has promised more than
The aim of the summit is to provide various
a million pounds to the Commonwealth Fund
stakeholders a single platform in order to
for Technical Cooperation.
provide long-term solutions for the benefit

of the global community. 2016 WSDS also
49
UPSC MIRROR
hosted events like World CEO Sustainability
will provide an opportunity for the generic
Summit, Thematic Tracks, Media Colloquium,
drug industry of India. Thus, it will be a win-
Youth Leaders and Greenovation Exhibition.
win situation for both countries as there is
India seeks greater Pharma

market access in Japan
demand for generic medicines in Japan and
India
is
seeking
market
access
India has the capability to meet this demand.
greater
the
Japan is one of the closest and most reliable
pharmaceuticals
trading partners of India. Both countries
sector in the Japanese market
bilateral ties were elevated to the status of
as Indias share in the Japanese drug market
special strategic and global partnership
continued to be below par. It was announced
during Prime Minister Narendra Modi visit to
by
Nirmala
Japan in 2014. The CEPA between both
Sitharaman in a seminar on promoting
countries is one of the most comprehensive
Indias exports to Japan under India-Japan
agreements concluded by India and it had
CEPA (Comprehensive Economic Partnership
come into force in August 2011. The bilateral
Agreement) in New Delhi.
trade between India and Japan pre-CEPA in
Why India seeks greater Pharma market
2010 was $10.4 billion and currently in 2016
access in Japan? Indias strength in pharma
stands at $14.5 billion. However, Indias trade
sector is well established. The share of India
deficit with Japan increasing from $3.1 billion
in the Japanese drug market continued to be
before the CEPA was inked in 2011 to $5.2
low.
billion thereafter.
domestic
Union
It
Commerce
is
limited
pharmaceutical
for
Background
Minister
mostly
active
raw
Japan had accorded preferential tariff to fish
Japanese
surimi from India. A negligible amount of an
huge
imported cryo-protectant, TSPP, is applied
pharma
for preservation. Though the value of the
industry. This is coupled with the decision of
TSPP is less than 0.5 percent of the overall
Japanese Government towards attaining an
product cost, it is precluded from CEPA
materials
for
pharmaceutical
untapped
ingredients
to
(API-
drugs).
market
potential
for
offers
Indian
80% share of generic medicines by 2018. This
50
UPSC MIRROR
benefits as the product is not of Indian
management in the context of a changing
origin.
climate, growing population, and competing
MoU
between
India
and
European Union on water
cooperation
water demands.
The Union Cabinet has

given its approval for the
signing Memorandum of
Understanding
(MoU)
between India and European Union in the

field of water resources. The MoU envisages
strengthening technological, scientific and
management capabilities of India and EU in
the field of water management on basis of
reciprocity, equality, and mutual benefit.
The MoU aims to identify key environmental
issues
and
development
approaches
in
the
to
sustainable
field
of
water
management between EU and India. Under it,

exchange of experiences and cooperation
Under the MoU, a Joint Working Group will

be formed to monitor the activities to be
carried out for its fulfillment. The Union
Ministry
of
Water
Resources,
River
Development, and Ganga Rejuvenation has

been envisaging bilateral cooperation with
other
countries
in
the
field
of
water
management and resources development.

India has decided to benefit from experience
and expertise from EU keeping in view of
their success in the distribution of water
resources, water pricing, and water use
efficiency. The EU member states have
adopted water pricing policies to provide
adequate incentives for users to use water
resources efficiently thereby contributing to
environmental objectives.
strengthen and further develop cooperation
Cabinet
approves
MoU
between India and AARDO
in the field of water management. It provides
The Union Cabinet gave its
approval to sign Memorandum
will take place between India and EU to
technical
including
on
exchange
on
integrated
water
water
issues
resource
of
Understanding
(MoU)
management plans within river basins and
between India and African Asian Rural
through study visits. It envisions sustainable
Development
management of water resources in India for
capacity building programmes in the field of
tackling
rural development. The MoU is being signed
challenges
posed
by
water
Organization
51
(AARDO)
for
UPSC MIRROR
under which capacity building programmes
largest contributor in terms of membership
for
contribution. India also has provided funds
AARDO
member
countries
for
the
triennium 2015 2017.
for building for AARDO Secretariat in Delhi
The capacity building programmes will be
and also considerable financial assistance for
organized every year during the triennium at
maintenance of the building. India also has
various Institutions of Excellence in India.
provided 70 fully paid training scholarships
These Indian institutions will include National
for
Institute of Rural Development & Panchayati
Programme for AARDO under the Indian
Raj
Technical
(NIRD
&
PR),
Indian
Institute
of
Human
Resource
&
Development
Economic
Cooperation
Management (IIM), institutions governed by
Programme (ITEC) to the Organization.
the Indian Council of Agricultural Research
India, Singapore
agreements
(ICAR) and others. The duration of each
sign
three
training programme shall be of two to three
India and Singapore have
weeks. The Post Graduate Diploma in Rural
signed three agreement in
Development Management Course at NIRD
the
fields
of
skill
& PR under this scheme is for one year.
development and IPR to boost bilateral
About African Asian Rural Development
relations between the two. These agreements
Organization (AARDO): The AARDO is an
were signed in New Delhi during Singapore
autonomous
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loongs official
inter-Governmental
organization with its headquarters in New
state visit to India. The two MoUs are:
Delhi. It was established in 1962. Its main
(i)
objective is to promote cooperation among
Cooperation:
countries of African-Asian Region in direction
Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion
of
(DIPP) and Intellectual Property Office (IPO),
eradicating
hunger,
thirst,
poverty,
MoU in the field of Industrial Property

It
was
signed
between
illiteracy and disease in the region. AARDO
Singapore.
currently has 31 countries under its fold from
(ii)
the African-Asian Region. India is one of the
Technical and Vocational Education and
founder Members of AARDO and is the
Training: It was signed between National Skill
MoU on collaboration in the field of
52
UPSC MIRROR
Development Corporation (NSDC) and ITEES

Singapore.
(iii)
India & New Zealand signed

three agreements
One more MoU on collaboration in
the
field
of
Education
Technical
and
and
Training:
Vocational
of double taxation avoidance
between Government of Assam and ITEES
(DTA), sports and food security to carry
Singapore.
forward the ties between both sides. Both
Besides, delegation-level talks headed by
countries have reached an understanding on
Prime
further
Narendra
was
three agreements in the areas
signed
Minister
It
India and New Zealand signed
Modi
and
cooperation
on
cyber
security,
Singapore Premier Lee Hsien Loong were
counter-terrorism, customs, education and
also held in New Delhi. India and Singapore
food safety.
decided
to
strengthen
cooperation
in
countering threats of rising terrorism. India

seeks
to
enhance
cooperation
with
Singapore in key sectors including trade and

investment.
Highlighted
importance
of
Defence and security cooperation as the key

pillar of a strategic partnership between India
and Singapore. Raised concern over rising
tide of terrorism, especially cross-border
terrorism and the rise of radicalisation as
grave challenges to our security. India agreed
to
expedite
the
Comprehensive
second
Economic
Agreement (CECA).
review
of
Cooperation
Signed agreements are (i) Arrangement

between the Ministry for Primary Industries
of New Zealand regarding Food Safety
Cooperation and Food Safety and Standards
Authority of India (FSSAI); (ii) MoU on
cooperation in the field of youth affairs and
sports was signed between the Ministry of
Youth Affairs and Sports of India and Sport
New Zealand; (iii) Protocol to the convention
for the avoidance of double taxation and the
prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to
taxes on income.
Besides, both countries also agreed to
Establish Bilateral Ministerial Dialogue
between two Foreign Ministries.
Establish
Annual
Foreign
Ministry
Consultations at Senior Officials Level.
53
UPSC MIRROR
Cooperation and Dialogue on Cyber

Issues.
failed to make headway in Seoul (South

Korea) after it was opposed by China and
Support for NSG.
other countries. New Zealand was also
During this visit of New Zealand PM, India
among the countries led by China that have
failed to get the outright support of New
demanded to set criteria for non-signatories
Zealand for its
of the NPT for joining NSG.
bid for Nuclear Supplier
Group (NSG) membership. India had clearly
About New Agenda for Coalition
notified New Zealand that its entry to the
(NAC):
NSG was tied to its need for clean energy

and climate change commitments. Thus, it
indicates that New Zealand is yet to change
its position of admitting only signatories of
Nuclear
Non-Proliferation
Treaty
(NPT)
countries in NSG, a group of 48 countries

which works by consensus.
Why does New Zealand not support
Indias bid to NSG? New Zealand is part of a
group called the New Agenda for Coalition
which promotes the NPT and pushes for
nuclear disarmament worldwide.
The official state visit New Zealand PM John
Key comes in the run-up to a crucial NSG
Consultative Group (CG) meeting to be held
in Vienna in November 2016. This meeting
will specifically to consider whether countries
that havent signed on to the NPT can be
considered for membership. Earlier in June
2016, Indias membership bid to NSG had
NAC is a geographically dispersed group of

middle power countries that promotes the
NPT and pushes for nuclear disarmament
worldwide. It consists of Brazil, Egypt, Ireland,
Mexico, New Zealand and South Africa. The
group was officially launched in Dublin
(Ireland) in June 1998 in response to the
North-South divide that stymied talks on
nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation
within the framework of the NPT.
Mitra Shakti 2016- India-Sri

Lanka joint military exercise
begins
The fourth edition of the
India-Sri
Lanka
Joint
Military Exercise MITRA

SHAKTI 2016 began at Sinha Regimental
Centre in Ambepussa, Sri Lanka. The main
focus of this edition of joint exercise is to
enhance interoperability while carrying out
54
UPSC MIRROR
Counter
Terrorism
(CT)
and
Counter
Insurgency (CI) operations under the UN

Mandate. In this edition of exercise, India is
being represented by a platoon from the
RAJPUTANA RIFLES Regiment and Sri Lankan
Army is represented by a platoon from the
Sinha Regiment.
Key
Facts
Under
comprehensive
this
training
mandate
the
programme
spanning fourteen days (24 October to 06

November 2016) has been drawn up. The
bilateral military exercise will be conducted in
two stages in which both armies will get
familiar each others respective methodology
of such operations, arms and equipment and
the command and control systems. It will
also graduate towards tactical understanding
to enhance interoperability while carrying out
Counter Terrorism (CT)/ Counter Insurgency
(CI) operations.
Background
Mitra Shakti series of bilateral exercises is
one
of
the
major
bilateral
defence
cooperation initiatives between India and Sri

Lanka since 2013. The previous edition of the
exercise
between
both
nations
was
successfully conducted in September 2015 at

Pune, Maharashtra.
55
UPSC MIRROR
NATIONAL
Krishna
Disputes
Water
Tribunal-II
Justice Brijesh Kumar,

has decided to maintain status quo on the
allocation of Krishna River water among all
riparian
states
viz.
the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014
but is meant only for Telangana and Andhra
(KWDT-II) headed by
four
In its verdict, the tribunal said that Section 89
was not applicable to all four riparian states
No relook into allocation of

Krishna water: Tribunal
The
KWDT-II Verdict
Maharashtra,
Karnataka, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.

However, the tribunal decided to confine the
reallocation of Krishna water to Andhra
Pradesh and Telangana.
Pradesh. Thus, there was no need to reallocate of Krishna River water among all four
riparian states. The river water should be reallocated between Telangana and Andhra
Pradesh, from the share of undivided Andhra
Pradesh.
About
Krishna
Water
Disputes
Tribunal (KWDT)
Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal (KWDT) is a
tribunal set up by the Central Government in
1969 under the Interstate River Water
The KWDT-II pronounced its judgment on
Disputes Act, 1956 to resolve the disputes
the litigation prompted by Andhra Pradesh
between
and Telangana. Both states in their petition
Maharashtra and then undivided Andhra
had sought fresh allocation of Krishna River
Pradesh over sharing of Krishna river water.
water among all four riparian states. They
About Krishna River, The Krishna River is the
had urged that Section 89 of the Andhra
second biggest river in peninsular India after
Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014 meant
Godavari
redistribution of Krishna water among all the
Mahabaleshwar (Satara) in Maharashtra.
four riparian States not just between both of
then runs from four states Maharashtra (303
them.
km), North Karnataka (480 km) and the rest
the
River.
states
It
of
Karnataka,
originates
near
It
of its 1300 km journey in Telangana and
56
UPSC MIRROR
Andhra Pradesh before it empties into the
appointed under a law to resolve inter-State
Bay of Bengal.
water dispute would be final and deemed to
Water Disputes Tribunals

As per the Article 262 of the Constitution,
Parliament may by law provide for the
adjudication of any dispute or complaint with
respect to the use, distribution or control of
the waters of, any interstate rivers or river
valley. In pursuance of this article, the
have the force of a Supreme Court order or

decree. Thus, it can be said that the award of
the tribunal formed under the Inter-State
Water Disputes Act,
1956
eclipses the
Supreme Courts jurisdiction.
Kaushalya Setu skilldevelopment programme
parliament had enacted Inter-State Water
Maharashtra
Disputes Act, 1956 to govern the inter-State
has launched Kaushalya
river water disputes. Under this law, water
Setu, a skill development
disputes tribunals are constituted for the
programme
adjudication of the interstate water dispute.
Kaushalya
Article 262 vs Article 131 of the

Constitution
for
Setu
students.
initiative
government
Under
the
Students
of
Maharashtra State Board of Secondary &

Higher Secondary Education who failed to
clear
Class
or
SSC
exam,
will
be
The Article 131 of the Constitution which
accommodated in skill development courses.
deals with the Supreme Courts exclusive
The main aim of the initiative to compensate
jurisdiction to adjudicate disputes between
the loss of one year of students who have
States is not an unrestricted one. The apex
failed matriculation examination by providing
court can exercise its jurisdiction under
skill-oriented training. It will give a big boost
Article 131 in an inter-State dispute, provided
to Central Governments Skill India Mission-
other Articles in the Constitution allowed it to
2020 by providing skill development courses
do so. Article 262 (2) of the Constitution
to students.
allows Parliament, by law, to bar the Supreme

Court from interfering in an inter-State water
dispute. It means that award of water tribunal
57
UPSC MIRROR
Japanese Encephalitis claims 54

lives in Odishas Malkangiri
district
The
Japanese
Encephalitis
has
Disease Major JE outbreaks occur every 2-15

years. JE transmission mainly intensifies
during the rainy season, during which vector
populations increase. Most JE infections are
mild
(fever
and
headache)
or
without
claimed 54 lives in
apparent symptoms, but it may result in
Odishas backward
severe clinical illness. Severe infection is
Malkangiri
marked by quick onset, headache, high fever,
district
in just a more than a month. The State
neck
Government is monitoring and overseeing
occasional convulsions (especially in infants)
the measures to check the spread of
etc. There is no specific therapy. Intensive
Japanese Encephalitis.
supportive therapy is indicated.
Japanese encephalitis (JE) is a mosquito-
Centre approves establishment

of IIM in Jammu
borne flavivirus. It belongs to the same genus
stiffness,
disorientation,
stupor,
as dengue, yellow fever, and West Nile
The Centre has approved
viruses. The first case of JE was documented
the
in 1871 in Japan. JE primarily affects children.
operationalisation
of
Most adults in endemic countries have
Indian
of
establishment
Institute
and
natural immunity after childhood infection,
Management (IIM) at Jammu. It will become
but individuals of any age may be affected. It
operational from the Academic Year 2016-17
is
at the transit or temporary campus at Old
transmitted
mosquitoes
by
rice
field
(primarily
breeding
Culex
Government
tritaeniorhynchus group). The mosquitoes
Technology.
transmit JE by feeding on domestic pigs and

wild
birds
infected
with
the
Japanese
encephalitis virus (JEV). It is not transmitted

from person-to-person.
College
of
&
Key Points
For the initial four years from 2016 to
2020, the IIM will function in the
temporary campus.
Engineering
58
UPSC MIRROR
The student strength intake in Post
Jammu, NIT Srinagar and two new AIIMS
Graduate Diploma Programme (PGDP)
institutions, one each in Jammu region and
in Management for the year 2016-17
Kashmir region will help in meeting the
will be 54.
requirement
It will be progressively increased to

120 in 4th year.
Meanwhile, steps will also be taken up
for setting up a campus at Jammu and
of
high-quality
IAE to partner with India for its

global LED programme
The
the
permanent
campuses and the process for setting

up of the campuses would start after
it.
The Union Cabinet also approved the
formation of an IIM Jammu Society
under the Societies Registration Act,
1860.
IIM Jammu will be run and managed
by the Society with a Board of
Governors (BOGs) to be constituted by
BOGs will administer the Institute and

be
responsible
for
establishment and operationalisation

of the Institute.
It was announced as part of Prime Ministers
development package for Jammu & Kashmir.
The IIM coupled with the opening of IIT at
going to tie up with

India to implement its Unnat Jyoti by
Affordable LEDs for All (UJALA) initiative
globally for energy savings. IAE has been
impressed with the performance of Indias
UJALA
programme
in
terms
of
vastly
improving access to LED lighting while

reducing their cost drastically.
The UJALA scheme is implemented by the
Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL), a
joint venture of PSUs under the Union
Ministry of Power. The price at which EESL
the Central Government.
would
International
Energy Agency (IAE) is
The Detailed Project Report is under

for
and
education in Jammu & Kashmir.
an out-campus in Kashmir region.
preparation
living
has been purchasing LED lights to distribute

under UJALA scheme has been consistently
falling over the last couple of years. The
company purchased LEDs at Rs.310 per piece
in 2014, and the price fell to Rs.55 as of
March 2016. Along with this, production has
also been ramped up to about 4 crores per
59
UPSC MIRROR
month from the 10 lakh a month in 2014 to
ordinary bulbs. They are 8-10 times
support the implementation of the scheme.
that of CFLs, therefore provide

both energy and cost savings in
Unnat Jyoti by Affordable Leds For
the medium term.
All (UJALA) Scheme

UJALA scheme is LED-based
Domestic Efficient Lighting
Programme (DELP) that aims
to
promote
efficient
lighting, reducing energy consumption and

energy savings. It was launched as National
LED programme by Prime Minister Narendra
Modi in January 2015. It was renamed UJALA
in
March
2016.
Under
it,
every
grid-
connected consumer having a metered
EC bans using public space for

propagating symbol
The Election Commission of India (ECI) has
issued directions barred political parties from
using public resources that amount to an
advertisement for parties or propagating
their election symbols. The ECI has issued
these directions in the wake of the High
Court July 2016 order and considering the
views of political parties.
connection from their respective Electricity
ECI order bars political parties from using
Distribution Company will get the LED bulbs
public space, public funds or government
at subsidized rates.
machinery
for
Benefits:
propagate
party
(i)
Electricity savings as LED lights

consumes
80
percent
less
electricity than incandescent bulbs.

(ii)
(ii) Reduction of load
(iii)
(iii) Reduction of consumer bills
(iv)
(iv)
Greenhouse
gas
emission
reductions.
(v)
LED bulbs have a very long life,

almost
50
times
more
than
carrying
election
out
activities
symbols
or
advertise them. It has clarified that above

directions violate the lawful direction of it
within the meaning of paragraph 16A of the
Election Symbols (Reservation & Allotment)
Order. The clause 16A of the Order confers
power on ECI to suspend or withdraw
recognition of a recognised political party
fails to follow its lawful directions and
instructions or to observe Model Code of
Conduct.
60
UPSC MIRROR
Henceforth, no registered political party in
Pradesh open defecation free (ODF). These
the country shall either use or allow the use
are
of any public place or public funds or
defecation free in urban areas. It was
government machinery for carrying out any
announced on the occasion of the second
activity
an
anniversary of the Swachh Bharat Mission
advertisement for the party or propagating
and 147th birth anniversary of Mahatma
partys allotted election symbol. It will further
Gandhi observed on October 2, 2016. In all,
augment ECIs goal of conducting the free
180 and 110 cities and towns in Gujarat and
and fair election and level playing field for all
Andhra Pradesh respectively were declared
stakeholders.
ODF by their chief ministers. So far, a total of
Background
405 out of the 4,041 cities and towns across
The Delhi High Court in July 2016 had issued
India have claimed to have become open
an order in Common Cause vs Bahujan Samaj
defecation free.
Party
issue
The Union Government has set an ambitious
appropriate directions or guidelines for
target of making 334 more cities open
preventing the recognised political party in
defecation free by March 2017. In rural India,
power from using public resources for
Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim and Kerala have
propagating the partys election symbol.
achieved
Delhi HC had mentioned that utilizing public
construction in households. But Bihar, Odisha
resources for promoting any political party or
and Jammu and Kashmir are still trailing with
its election symbol are antithetical to the
fewer than 30% of households with toilets in
concept of free and fair election and the
rural areas.
that
case
principle of
would
amount
requesting
level
ECI
to
to
playing field for
all
stakeholders.
Urban areas of Gujarat, Andhra

Pradesh declared ODF
The Union Urban Development Ministry has
declared urban areas of Gujarat, Andhra
the
first
states
more
than
to
become
90%
of
open
toilet
About Open Defecation

Open defecation means people defecate in
open spaces such as fields, bushes, forests,
open bodies of water rather than using the
toilet. It is an important factor in causing
various
diseases
like
intestinal
61
worm
UPSC MIRROR
infections,
diarrhea,
polio,
hepatitis etc.
consumers directly into their bank accounts.
Creating awareness about the adverse impact
This
of open defecation on health, changing the
Petroleum and Natural Gas Ministry on the
behavioural habit of people, the building of
lines of a similar DBT programme for LPG
community toilets etc.
subsidy. It aims at rationalising subsidy based
of NDA Government led by Prime Minister

Narendra Modi. It was launched on 2
October 2014 to make India clean and open
defecation free by 2019 to mark Mahatma
Gandhis 150th birth anniversary. The current
cleanliness drive aims to end the widespread
practice of open defecation, build more
toilets and improve waste management.
st
Jharkhand becomes 1 state to

implement DBT in Kerosene
Jharkhand has become the
first state in the country to
implement Direct Benefit
Transfer (DBT) in Kerosene Scheme. The
being
implemented
launched
in
four
identified districts of the state from 1st of

October 2017. These districts are Chatra,
Hazaribagh, Khunti, and Jamtara.
chain for better targeting of beneficiaries. It

also seeks to eliminate pilferage and blackmarketing and cut down adulteration of the
Kerosene, a cheap cooking and lighting fuel
with a diesel.
UDAN Scheme for Regional Air

Connectivity
launched
the
be
directly
transferred
regional
air
connectivity scheme UDAN

(Ude Desh ka Aam naagrik) which seeks to
get more people to fly in the smaller towns.
It will be rolled out by January 2017 and will
be in operation for a period of 10 years. The
UDAN scheme seeks to provide connectivity
to un-served and under-served airports of
the country through the revival of existing
airstrips and airports.
be sold at a non-subsidised price and the

will
Union
eliminate subsidized Kerosene from supply
Under the DBTK scheme, PDS kerosene will
subsidy
by
not the subsidy. It will give priority to
The Swachh Bharat Mission is the pet project
is
was
on the approach to cut subsidy leakages but
About Swachh Bharat Mission
scheme
initiative
to
62
UPSC MIRROR
Central and State governments and
Key Points:
This
first-of-its-kind
ensure
affordability,
scheme
will
connectivity,
growth, and development.

It aims to increase ticketing volume
from 80 million to 300 million by 2022.
Under it, regional connectivity will be
developed
on
market-based
mechanism under which Airlines will

bid for seat subsidies.
Airline operators will bid for up to 40
subsidised seats and minimum seats
will be 9. There will be 50% seats on
market-based pricing.
It
will
create
affordable
yet
economically viable and profitable

flights on regional routes so that
flying becomes affordable to the
common man even in small towns.
Under it, airlines will have complete
freedom to enter into code-sharing
with larger airlines for connectivity
and they will be exempted from
various airport charges.
Airlines will have exclusive rights for
three years to fly on a particular
regional route. On these routes for
regional flights, Airfares will be capped
at 2500 rupees for an hours flight.
airport
operators
will
provide
financial stimulus in the form of

concessions to airlines.
The
mechanism
of
Viability
Gap
Funding (VGF) will be provided to

interested
airlines
to
kick-off
operations from such airports so that

the
passenger
fares
are
kept
affordable.
Regional Connectivity Fund (RCF) will
be
created
to
meet
the
VGF
requirements under the scheme. The

RCF levy per departure will be applied
to certain domestic flights.
Airline
and
helicopter
operators
interested in the scheme can start

operations on unconnected routes by
submitting
proposals
to
the
Implementing Agency. They can seek

various concessions apart from the
Viability Gap Funding (VGF).
The unconnected routes proposed
under the scheme will be offered
through competitive bidding and will
be awarded to participant quoting the
lowest VGF per Seat.
The
successful
bidder
will
have
exclusive rights to operate the route
63
UPSC MIRROR
for a period of three years. After a

three-year grace period, such support
will be withdrawn as the route is
Biotech-KISAN and Cattle

Genomics launched to
empower farmers
expected to become self-sustainable.
The Union Ministry of
Selected airline operator will have to
Science and Technology
provide a minimum of 9 and a
has launched two new
maximum
of
40
UDAN
Seats
schemes Biotech-KISAN and Cattle Genomics
(subsidized rates) on the UDAN Flights
in order to apply science to boost the rural
for operations.
economy. The intent of these programmes is
Airport operators will not impose any
to form a network to farmers directly with
Landing and Parking charge and
the scientists and experts. Thus they seek to
Terminal Navigation Landing Charges.
empower farmers, especially women farmers.
The selection of airports where UDAN

operations begin will be done in
consultation with State Government
and
after
confirmation
of
their
concessions.
Biotech-KISAN
Science
(Krishi
Innovation
Application
Network)
Scheme:
Its purpose is to connect farmers, scientist
The scheme will also help in starting
and science institution across the country.
operations on un-served airports and
Under it, the fellowship will be given to
revival of the dysfunctional airports. The
women farmers for training and education in
UDAN Scheme is likely to a give a major
farm practice. Under it, scientists will spend
fillip
time on farms and link communication tools
helicopters
and
small
aircraft
and
to soil, water seed and market. The main aim
employment generation in the hinterland.
of the scheme is to understand individual
It will also help to significantly reduce
problems of the small holding farmers and
travel timings in remote and hilly regions,
provide
as well as islands and other areas of the
implemented in 15 agro-climatic zones of
country.
India in a phased manner with the objective
operations
along
with
tourism
ready
solutions.
64
It
will
be
UPSC MIRROR
of linking new technology to farm by the
in life expectancy in almost all categories of
understanding problem of a local farmer.
age till 2010.
Cattle Genomics Scheme
RGIs Sample Registration System (SRS) had
The scheme aims at boosting selective

breeding
of
the native livestock
more
accurately to ensure high-yielding, disease

resistant, resilient livestock. Under it, the
government will undertake an ambitious
project
of
genome
sequencing
of
40
registered indigenous cattle breeds of India.

Besides, high-density DNA chips will be
developed under this scheme to reduce the
cost and time interval of breeding of the
native livestock. Genome selection will use
information on variations in DNA sequences
between animals to predict the breeding
value
more
accurately.
Thus,
help
to
the Registrar-General of India

(RGI), Jammu and Kashmir have
the highest life expectancy (i.e. post-60 life
expectancy), except life expectancy at birth.
and
surveys
done
released for different ages: 0 (at birth), 1, 5,

10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60 and 70. It had defined
life expectancy as an estimate of an average
number of additional years that a person of a
given age can expect to live. However, this
statistical system was confined only to 21
bigger states and UTs and it did not produce
life expectancy numbers in 15 small states
and
UTs
such
as
Arunachal
Pradesh,
Lakshadweep.
The data shows that Kerala still has the
Kashmir
is
second,
with
an
overall
life
expectancy at birth at 73.2 years. It is 72 for

men and 74.7 for women. Jammu and
Kashmir stand at third and it had the secondhighest life expectancy at birth. It is behind
only Kerala even during 2006-10.
have
surpassed Kerala which used to be the leader
were
between 2010 and 2014. The data was
Delhi
According to the data given by
Jammu
following
years. It is 72 for men and 77.8 for women.
Life expectancy highest in

Jammu and Kashmir: RGI
this,
prepared
highest overall life expectancy at birth at 74.9
transform livestock breeding.
With
published state level life expectancy data
65
UPSC MIRROR
International Household Survey

Network Toolkit launched
developments of data archives, storage and

dissemination technology tools available to
for
the user. It is designed to address technical
Statistics and Programme
issues facing data producers. Components of
Implementation,
D.V.
Toolkit are (i) Metadata Editor: It allows the
the
user to add survey metadata and create the
International Household Survey Network
ddi.xml and as Nesstar study document. (ii)
(IHSN) Toolkit along with the new Website of
CD-ROM Builder: It allows the user to
the Ministry of Statistics and Programme
generate HTML output from the study that
Implementation in New Delhi. The Microdata
can be published on the Internet or a CD for
Management
the
dissemination. (iii) NADA: It is a search
World Bank Data, Asian Development Bank,
engine that allows the user to import the
ADP (Accelerated Data Program), OECD
ddi.xml and search for variables and view
(Organisation for Economic Corporation and
metadata.
Development & PARIS21 for the International

Household Survey Network (IHSN) is open
Uttarakhand High court bans

sale of whitener
source
The Uttarakhand High Court ordered state
The
Sadananda
Gowda
has
Toolkit
data,
Initiative)
Union
DDI
Minister
launched
developed
(Data
compliant
by
Documentation
for
government to completely ban the sale of
cataloguing and dissemination of Metadata
whitener in the state following the death of a
& Microdata. The International Household
teenager from sniffing an excess of it. The
Survey Network (IHSN) is designed to
High Court issued the order by taking suo
address the technical issues facing data
moto cognisance of the death of the 14-
producers.
year-old boy due to sniffing excess whitener
The International Household Survey Network
for a kick. Besides, the high court also
(IHSN) Toolkit is a standard benchmark which
ordered that items such as Feviquick, Index
can be used as an active management tool
should not be sold to children below 18
for
years of age in view of prevalent abuse of
better
integration
application
of
administrative
structures and statistical access for policy

making.
It
is
about
latest
trends
these among teenagers.
&
66
UPSC MIRROR
About Whiteners
Whiteners are mainly used for erasing ink on
PM inaugurates 1st National

Tribal Carnival
paper and as shoe whitener. It contains
PM
volatile aliphatic petroleum hydrocarbons
inaugurated
such toluene and trichloroethane which are
National Tribal Carnival in
inclusiveness among the tribal. The main
intoxicating chemicals present in it. By doing
purpose of this four-day carnival is to
this for some time, it makes the sniffer dizzy,
promote a sense of inclusiveness among the
high and disconnected. It has a hallucinatory
tribal. It will also showcase and promote
effect on the sniffer. Thus, it is the first step
various facets of tribal culture on a large
to
scale.
alcoholism.
The
sense
first
addiction, people inhale the whitener i.e.
or
promote
the
New
addiction
to
Modi
intoxicating chemicals. In whitener-inhalation
drug
Delhi
Narendra
of
whitener abuse is generally seen among the
In this carnival around 1,600 tribal artists and
youths. The problem has been compounded
around 8,000 tribal delegates from across the
by its easy procurement, negligible cost and
country took part. Besides, eminent tribal
its lack of odour.
personalities who have excelled in various
Side-effects of whitener-inhalation addiction
fields like arts and culture, literature, sports,
on health: Whiteners contain hydrocarbons
academics and medicine also participated.
which are deadly solvents that can infuse
The idea behind the carnival is to preserve
easily with the blood and can affect the
and promote various facets of the tribal life
central nervous system of a person. Some of
relating to culture, tradition, customs and
the reported symptoms of solvent addiction
their skills. Besides it also seeks to expose it
are uncharacteristic behaviours such as mood
to the general public with a view to utilising
swings and insomnia and it may result in
the potential for overall holistic development
kidney, liver and lung damage.
of the Scheduled Tribes.

The carnival hosted activities like displaying
documents
on
traditional
socio-culture
aspects, exhibition of art/artifacts, cultural
67
UPSC MIRROR
performances. It also had a demonstration of
physically return the ballot through the post.
skills
healing
It should be noted that two-way e-voting has
hosted
not been recommended by the Election
workshops on issues like implementation of
Commission, citing security and secrecy
Panchayats (Extension to the Scheduled
concerns.
Areas) Act, 1996 (PESA), Forest Rights Act
The e-transfer of postal ballot will replace the
(FRA), 2006.
existing system in which postal ballots were
Election rules amended to allow

E-transfer of postal ballot
sent through the Department of Posts. It will
The Conduct of Election
that the ballot paper of the constituency,
Rules, 1961 has been
where a voter is eligible to vote, is sent in
amended by the Election
time. Thus, it will cut time in transmission of
Commission of India (ECI) to facilitate the e-
the ballot paper and help the EC overcome
transfer of postal ballot. The new rules
logistical problems.
empower
Centre plans to speed up

irrigation projects in Indus
basin
like
practices,
paintings,
sports,
traditional
etc.
It
returning
also
officer
in
any
constituency to send postal ballots to an

eligible
voter
by
electronic
means
as
ease the logistical issues involved in ensuring
specified by the ECI. In India, postal ballots
The Centre Government
have played a critical role in extending the
is planning to speed up
electoral process to voters who are unable to
four projects in Indus
exercise their franchise due to either the
river basin to increase
nature of their job or geographical location
irrigation area in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K)
of their posting.
by nearly 2.05 lakh acres. This decision was

the
taken in the backdrop of Indias decision to
returning officer can send ballot through a
exploit the maximum water of Pakistan-
web portal with a One Time Password (OTP)
controlled rivers Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab
to voters. The voter needs to download the
as per Indus Water Treaty (IWT).
Under
e-transfer
of
postal
ballot,
ballot for voting. The voter after voting will
68
UPSC MIRROR
Three projects Prakachik Khows Canal in
About
Kargil, Tral Irrigation Project in Pulwama and
Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY)
restoration and modernisation of main Ravi

Canal in Jammus Sambha and Kathua are
expected to be completed by this fiscal. The
fourth project of Rajpora Lift Irrigation is
planned and will be completed by December
2019. While the first three projects will help
irrigate around 1.45 lakh acres of land, the
Rajpora Lift Irrigation is expected to help
irrigate around 59,305 acres of land. The
Pradhan
Mantri
It was launched by the Union Government

with an aim to enhance physical access to
water on the farm. It also seeks to expand the
cultivable area under assured irrigation,
improve
on-farm
water
use
efficiency,
introduce sustainable water conservation

practices, etc through major and minor
irrigation projects.
funds for these projects will be raised by
About
National Bank for Agriculture and Rural
Benefits Programme (AIBP):
Development (NABARD).
Krishi
Accelerated
Irrigation
It was launched in 1996-97 to provide central
These projects are part
of the Union
assistance to major and minor irrigation
Governments efforts to irrigate larger swaths
projects in the country. Its main objective is
across the country by completing small and
to accelerate implementation of such major
medium
under
and minor irrigation projects. Since its
Benefits
inception, 143 projects have been completed
ambitious
99
irrigation
Accelerated
projects
Irrigation
Programme (AIBP) and Pradhan Mantri Krishi
under it.
Sinchayee Yojana (PMKYS). Besides, earlier in

September 2016, Union Government had
decided to review the 56-year-old Indus
Water Treaty in the aftermath of the Uri
attack, asserting that blood and water
cannot flow together.
69
UPSC MIRROR
SCIENCE &
TECHNOLOGY
Extended C-band, Normal C-band and Ku-
Indias communication satellite

GSAT-18 successfully launched
important
role
current
fleet
bands of the frequency spectrum. GSAT-18

will
provide
services
like
television,
telecommunication, VSAT and digital satellite

news
gathering.
The
in
satellite
will
strengthening
of
14
play
ISROs
operational
Indias latest communication
telecommunication satellites. It will also
satellite
was
enable continuity of vital communication
successfully launched from
services by replacing ageing satellites of
the spaceport of Kourou in French Guiana.
ISRO. Master Control Facility (MCF) of ISRO
The satellite was launched on board of heavy
at Hassan, Karnataka will control the satellite.
duty Ariane-5 VA-231 rocket of Arianespace.
In the coming days, orbit raising maneuvers
It
will be performed to place a GSAT-18
Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO). GSAT-
satellite in the Geostationary Orbit (36,000
18 was the 20th satellite from ISRO to be
km above the equator) by using the satellites
launched by the European space agency and
propulsion
overall 280th mission of the Arianespace
completion of orbit raising operations, the
rocket launcher family.
two solar arrays and both the antenna
Key Features of GSAT-18:
reflectors of GSAT-18 will be deployed.
was
successfully
GSAT-18
injected
into
GSAT-18 is indigenously built by the Indian

Space
Research
Organisation
(ISRO).
It
weighs around 3,404 kgs at lift-off. It has a

mission life of about 15 years. It carries 48
communication transponders including Kuband beacon for accurately pointing ground
antennas
towards
the
satellite.
These
transponders will provide services in Upper
system
in
steps.
After
the
Following this, the satellite will be put in its

final orbital configuration. GSAT-18 will be
positioned at 74 deg East longitude in the
geostationary orbit and will be co-located
with the Indian operational geostationary
satellites.
Later,
it
is
planned
to
experimentally turn on the communication

payloads of GSAT-18. After the successful
70
UPSC MIRROR
completion of all the in-orbit tests, GSAT-18
an Orbiter, a Lander and a Rover. The Orbiter
will be ready for operational use.
spacecraft will be launched from Sriharikota
ISRO launched landing tests for

Chandrayaan-2 mission
will travel to the Moon and release the

Lander, which will, in turn, deploy a tiny
Rover to roam the lunar surface. The mission
includes soft-landing on Moon and moving a
rover on its surface. All three project
components will be sending data and
pictures to Earth.
About
Chandrayaan-1
mission:
Chandrayaan-1 was Indias first lunar probe.

It was launched by the ISRO in October 2008
The Indian Space Research Organsiation
(ISRO) has launched a series of ground and
aerial tests linked to the critical Moon
landing of Chandrayaan-2. These tests were
started at ISROs new site at Challakere in
Chitradurga district, 400 km from Bengaluru.
This site has simulated craters. ISRO Satellite
Centre (ISAC) is the lead centre for the
second Moon mission. It has artificially
created close to ten craters to simulate the
lunar terrain and test the Landers sensors.
ISAC will conduct many tests including on
avionics and electronics, testing the Landers
legs, followed by a combined full test.
Chandrayaan-2 mission is tentatively set for
and
operated
until
August
The
spacecraft was launched by PSLV-C11 from

Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota,
Andhra Pradesh. It had completed 312 days
in orbit. It made more than 3,400 orbits
around
the
moon.
The
vehicle
was
successfully inserted into lunar orbit on 8

November 2008. The probe had impacted
near Shackleton Crater ejecting underground
soil that could be analysed for the presence
of water or ice. It had sent more than 70,000
images of the lunar surface which provided
breathtaking views of lunar mountains and
craters, especially craters in the permanently
shadowed areas of the Moons polar region.
late 2017 or early 2018. The mission includes
2009.
71
UPSC MIRROR
Protein-enriched rice variety

developed by IGKV Chattisgarh
Chattisgarh
content are not lost upon polishing. The rice
Indira
has long shelf-life and used after keeping it
Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya
for a long time. Even it tastes just as good as
(IGKV), Department of Plant
the conventional variety.
Researchers
Molecular
developed in India. Zinc and other mineral
from
Biology
and
Biotechnology,
have
developed
Zinc is important to the body because over
protein-
300 enzymes in our body use it as an
enriched rice variety. The newly developed
essential component in their action. Zinc is
rice variety has over 10% protein content,
essential in supporting our immune system,
which is 3% more than what is found in any
in synthesising and degrading DNA, in
popular variety and has 30 PPM (parts per
wound healing and several other activities.
million) zinc content.
Our body requires very small amount of Zinc,
Key Facts
but if the level falls down to below normal it

may result in growth retardation, diarrhea,
Researchers from IGKVs had worked for

seven years to develop the variety of rice that
is rich in protein along with high zinc
eye and skin lesions and loss of appetite.
Background
content. This protein rice variety will play a
As per a survey conducted in 2015 very high
crucial role in addressing issues of protein
rate of malnutrition was found among pre-
deficiencies and it will serve as a boon for
school
malnourished population, especially children,
Chhattisgarh which is considered rice bowl of
in tribal-dominated Chhattisgarh.
the country. The survey had shown that over
A zinc-enriched variety of rice Earlier in May
five
2015,
children
lakh
in
children
tribal
in
areas
the
across
state
are
Indira
Gandhi
underweight and stunted growth with tribal
(IGAU),
Raipur
districts like Bastar, Dantewada, Kondagaon
(Chhattisgarh) had developed a high zinc-
and Narayanpur having a comparatively
enriched called Chhattisgarh Zinc Rice-1. It
higher rate of malnourishment than other
was the first zinc-biofortified rice variety
districts. However, the government has been
scientists
Agriculture
from
University
making several efforts with schemes like
72
UPSC MIRROR
'Vazan Tyohar' (weight festival) and nutritious

meal week to overcome the malnutrition
menace.
Key Points
The railway station and an adjoining
area
Railway ministry tied up for

Smart Railway Stations
in
smart
cities
will
be
redeveloped on the lines of Area

Based Development that has been
provided in the Smart City Mission
Railways
and
Guidelines.
According
Urban
Development
ministries,
the
redevelopment
will
Union
Ministry have tied up for
the
proposed
involve
access
MoU is for the five years and can be
passenger amenities, integrated public
extended with the consent of both the
transport hub, waiting for halls and
ministries.
other
this
initiative,
Railway
stations,
easy
smart railway stations. The validity of the
Under
to
to
amenities
passengers,
stations, and surrounding areas will be
development
redeveloped under the Smart City plan. 500
commercial spaces, landscaping etc.
railway stations in the country will be
To begin with, Railway stations in 10

be
residential
taken
cities
integrated public transport hubs, and easy
redevelopment with the involvement
access. Initially, 100 railway stations and an
of the National Buildings Construction
adjoining area of 300-800 acres will be
Corporation
redeveloped in Smart Cities and Atal Mission
Varanasi, Bhubaneswar, Sarai Rohilla
for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation
(Delhi),
(AMRUT) Schemes. Later the scope of the
Kota, Thane, Margao (Goa), Tirupati
MoU will be extended to over 500 cities in
and Puducherry.
(NBCC).
Varanasi,
up
and
smarten up with better passenger amenities,
time.
will
of
for
improved
for the
They
Lucknow,
are
Jaipur,
The joint initiative of the Ministries of

Urban Development and Railways has
now
widened
the
smart
city
development to one more area in
73
UPSC MIRROR
each of the mission cities. Now, each
Corporation (NBCC) can be roped in
city is required to select one area
with equal share among the three.
under their respective plans in the first
NBCC
phase.
execute the redevelopment plans on
According to Railway Minister Suresh

Prabhu,
many
countries
such
can
design,
develop
and
self-financing basis, the MoU says.
as
The Ministry of Railways will be
France, Japan, Germany, UK, South
responsible for forming the Joint
Korea and Belgium have expressed
Ventures and the Ministry of Urban
interest in redevelopment projects. A
Development will work with the states
roundtable of domestic and overseas
and urban local bodies to integrate
bankers will be organized to discuss
railway station redevelopment as part
financing
of
of smart city development plans.
projects.
Also,
these
redevelopment
the
redevelopment
work at Habibganj railway station has

already
been
Gandhinagar,
awarded.
Surat,
Plans
Anand
for
Vihar
(Delhi) and Bijwasan are in advanced

stages.
The MoU that has been signed
proposes
two
options
for
joint
ventures that will help ensure the

speedy
redevelopment
of
railway
station centered areas. The first option

suggests
an
MoU
between
the
Railways and the Special Purpose

Vehicle (SPV) formed for execution of
Smart City Plans, with an equal share
in equity. In the second model,
National
Buildings
Construction
Milk of Tasmanian devils could

fight superbugs: Study
Scientists from University
of
Sydney
(Australia)
have found that mothers

milk
from
marsupials
(also known as Tasmanian devils) could help

to deadly superbugs which resist antibiotics.
They have found that peptides in the
marsupials milk killed resistant bacteria,
including methicillin-resistant golden staph
bacteria and enterococcus that is resistant to
powerful antibiotic vancomycin.
The scientist is hopeful marsupial peptides
could eventually be used to develop new
antibiotics for humans to aid the battle
74
UPSC MIRROR
against superbugs. Superbugs are deadly
in the world. It has stocky and muscular
bacteria which cannot be treated by current
build, black fur, pungent odour, a keen sense
antibiotics and other drugs. According to a
of smell and extremely loud and disturbing
recent British study, Superbugs could kill up
screech. Its large head and neck allow it to
to 10 million people globally by 2050.
generate strongest bites per unit body mass
Marsupials have more peptides than other
among any extant mammal land predator.
mammals.
Indian Navy commissions INS

Tihayu
It has six peptides whereas
humans have only one of this type of

peptide.
These
underdeveloped
peptides
young
marsupials
give
an
immature immune system when they are

born. This natural immune system helps
young marsupials to survive growth in their
mothers bacteria-filled pouch.
Indian
Navy
has
commissioned INS Tihayu,

a Car Nicobar Class water
jet fast attack craft (WJFAC)
in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. INS
Tihayu is the sixth WJFAC Car Nicobar Class
It should be noted that because of their
vessel to be commissioned and allotted to
biology, marsupials carry their young in a
the Eastern Fleet of the Indian Navy. It has
pouch
their
been built by Kolkata-based shipyard Garden
development. Using marsupials peptides,
Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE).
scientists
the
Tihayu was based on the name of Tihayu
antimicrobial peptides called cathelicidins
island of Nicobar Island archipelago, which in
after extracting the sequence from the devils
local language means sunrise and the motto
genome. It was found that these artificially
of the ship is swift and sure.
after
had
birth
to
artificially
complete
created
created the antimicrobial peptides killed the

resistant bacteria and other bacteria. About
Tasmanian devil, The Tasmanian devil is a
carnivorous marsupial belonging to the
family Dasyuridae. They are endemic in the
wild only in Tasmania, island state of
Australia. It is largest carnivorous marsupial
Overall, INS Tihayu is the 20th vessel in this

class to be built by the shipyard. INS Tihayu
weighs 315-tonne and can achieve a top
operating speed of 35 knots per hour. It is an
improved version of the earlier vessels. It has
been fitted with three water jet propulsion
75
UPSC MIRROR
systems, powered by marine diesel engines

generating 2720 KW of power. It also has
been loaded with an indigenously-built 30
NPL Scientists produce

electricity from water without
using energy
mm CRN gun, an assorted variant of machine
Scientists
guns and shoulder-launched IGLA surface to
developed a novel way
air
of producing electricity
missile.
About
Car
Nicobar
Class
have
WJFACs: The Car Nicobar class water jet fast
from
attack crafts are high-speed offshore patrol
temperature without using any power or
vessels built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders
chemicals. The major breakthrough was
and Engineers (GRSE) for the Indian Navy.
developed by a team of scientists led by Dr.
They are the first water jet-propelled vessels
RK Kotnala from Delhis National Physical
of the Indian Navy. The vessels are designed
Laboratory (NPL).
by GRSE as a cost-effective platform for

patrol, anti-piracy and rescue operations in
Indias Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
The
water
hydroelectric
cell
at
room
In this new method, the scientist had used

zinc and silver as electrodes to make a cell
that produces electricity. They had used
ship will meet the requirement of
nanoporous magnesium ferrite to split water
extended coastal and offshore patrol and can
into hydroxide (OH) and hydronium (H3O)
be extensively used for anti-poaching and
ions. As magnesium has a high affinity for
anti-piracy operations. It's speed, stealth
hydroxide, it spontaneously splits water into
features and armament gives a decisive edge,
hydroxide and hydronium ions. The H3O ions
and will serve as a deterrent for pirates and
get
in safeguarding our EEZ and the blue
magnesium ferrite and generate an electric
economy. The Eastern Naval Command will
field. The electric field helps in further
add
anti-
dissociation of water. To further enhance the
submarine warfare corvettes by 2018, to its
activity of magnesium ferrite, about 20% of
fleet of two. ENC will add up two more
magnesium is replaced with lithium. The
Kamorta-class
substitution of lithium at magnesium site
up
two
more
Kamorta-class
anti-submarine
corvettes by 2018.
warfare
trapped
inside
the
nanopores
of
increases the sensitivity of magnesium ferrite.

This is helpful in dissociating water at room
76
UPSC MIRROR
temperature as the electrons get trapped in
Rampur HEP: It is 412 MW capacity project
the oxygen-deficient sites.
of Sutlej Jal Vidyut Nigam (SJVN).
Significance
These three projects will collectively play an
The hydroelectric cell using magnesium

ferrite of 1 sq. inch size can produce 8 mA
current and 0.98 volts. Further, if these four
cells [of 2-inch diameter] are connected in
series the voltage increases to 3.70 volts and
can operate a small plastic fan or a LED light
of 1 watt.
important role in boosting the Hydropower

sector of Himachal Pradesh. BHEL has a vast
experience in hydro-electric projects (HEPs).
It has contracted more than 500 hydrogenerating sets with a cumulative capacity of
more than 29,000 MW of various ratings in
India and abroad. BHELs hydro installations
are in operation in India and also across the
Three mega HEPs inaugurated

in HP
Prime
world in Bhutan, Malaysia, Azerbaijan, Nepal,

Tajikistan, Taiwan, Rwanda, and Vietnam.
Minister
Presently, BHEL is executing HEPs of around
Narendra
Modi
3,300 MW in the country in addition to major
inaugurated
three
hydropower projects in Democratic Republic
hydro-electric
projects (HEPs) with a generating capacity of
1,732 MW in Himachal Pradesh. All the three
power projects are equipped with generating
equipment supplied and commissioned by
state-owned Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited
(BHEL). These three hydro-electric projects
are Koldam HEP: It is 4200 MW capacity
project executed by National Thermal Power
Corporation (NTPC). Parbati HEP: It is StageIII project with a capacity of 530 MW of
National Hydropower Corporation (NHPC).
of Congo and Bhutan.

The
significance
of
hydro-projects:
Hydropower generated by hydro-projects is

a renewable source of energy as it uses and
not consumes the water for generation of
electricity. It does not emit greenhouse gas
and helps in achieving a low carbon path.
India has hydropower potential of around
1,45,000 MW and at 60% load factor, it can
meet the demand of around 85, 000 MW. So
far, around 26% of Hydropower potential has
been exploited in India.
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UPSC MIRROR
India completed nuclear triad

by commissioning INS Arihant
India
has
completed
undergone extensive sea trials and reactor on

board went critical in 2013.
its
nuclear triad by inducting

the first indigenously built
strategic nuclear submarine
INS Arihant into service. INS Arihant was
formally
commissioned
Admiral
Sunil
Lanba
by
in
Navy
Chief
August
2016.
However, it was kept secret owing to

strategic significance. INS Arihant is nuclear
submarine capable of carrying nuclear-tipped
ballistic missiles.
Thus it belongs to class referred to as Ship
Submersible Ballistic Nuclear (SSBN). Its
design is based on the Russian Akula-1 class
submarine. It was built with Russias help
under Advanced Technology Vessel (ATV)
project started in the 1980s. It weighs 6000
tonnes and is 112 metre long. It is powered
by 83 MW pressurised light water nuclear
reactor with enriched uranium fuel. It will be
armed with the K-15 Sagarika missiles with a
range of 750 km. Later it will be armed with
much longer range K-4 missiles (3,500 km
About Ship Submersible Ballistic

Nuclear (SSBN)
SSBNs are designed to prowl the deep ocean
waters and carry nuclear weapons. They
provide a nation with an assured second
strike capability i.e. capability to strike back
after being hit by nuclear weapons first. In
the case of India, second strike capability is
particularly important as it had committed to
a No-First-Use policy as part of its nuclear
doctrine.
With this, India becomes sixth country to
have a nuclear triad i.e. capable of delivering
nuclear weapons by aircraft, ballistic missiles,
and
submarine-launched
missiles.
Other
countries having nuclear triad are Russia,

United States, United Kingdom, France and
China.
India Army has a strong arsenal of
land-based ICBM (intercontinental ballistic

missile). It includes Agni series, Prithvi series,
Prahar Missile, Shaurya Missile, supersonic
Brahmos and subsonic Nirbhay missiles.
range) being developed by DRDO. The vessel
Indian Airforce (IAF) operates Jaguars aircraft
was launched in 2009 by then Prime Minister
which are designed for deep penetration
Manmohan
strike and can carry a nuclear bomb. Besides,
Singh.
Since
then,
it
had
IAF also has SU 30 MKI and Rafale aircraft
78
UPSC MIRROR
which can also be used to deliver nuclear
costs. These buses can be used in heritage
weapons. Indian Navy now has its own
sites, metro stations, tarmacs, rural areas, hill
nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine
stations and by IT firms and educational
INS Arihant capable of delivering nuclear
institutions.
Besides,
weapons.
Undertakings
can
Ashok Leyland unveiled first

India-made electric bus
environment-friendly
state
also
use
Transport
them
mass
for
public
transportation.
Hinduja Groups flagship
Electric buses in future will have a big leap in
company
Leyland
mass public transport. It would support the
has unveiled countrys first
government initiative of reducing fuel import
100 ]percent indigenously made electric bus
bill. Besides, it will help to curb air pollution
which
as these buses have zero tailpipe emissions
is
non-polluting
Ashok
and
has
zero-
emissions. These buses were unveiled in lines
and lower noise pollution.
with National Electric Mobility Plan which
About National Electric Mobility
aims at a 20% penetration of electric/hybrid
Mission Plan (NEMMP) 2020
(eco-friendly) vehicles by 2020. They enjoy a

subsidy under the Central governments
Faster
Adoption
and
Manufacturing
of
(Hybrid) and Electric Vehicles (FAME) scheme.

These electric buses will be offered on
multiple platforms and have a seating
capacity ranging from 35 to 65. They can
travel 150 km on a single charge. They have
been integrated with a fire detection and
suppression system. They are built on a
mass-market platform that will enable the
operator to cater to customers in city centres
The NEMMP 2020 is one of most ambitious

initiatives undertaken by Central Government
to promote hybrid and electric vehicles in the
country to achieve national fuel security. It
has set an ambitious target to achieve 6-7
million sales of hybrid and electric vehicles
year on year from 2020 onwards. The FAME
India Scheme was launched under this
mission to provide fiscal and monetary
incentives to electric and hybrid vehicles
ranging from two wheelers to buses.
with minimal operational and maintenance
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UPSC MIRROR
Satellite-based illegal Mining

Detection System-MSS
launched
are superimposed on latest satellite

remote sensing scenes obtained from
CARTOSAT & USGS.
Centre has launched
It has the capacity to check any
Surveillance
unusual activity such illegal mining at
System (MSS), a Pan-
a region of 500 meters around the
India
existing mining lease boundary.
Mining
surveillance
network to check illegal mining using latest
It
has
been
incorporated
with
satellite technology. MSS is a satellite-based
automatic software which leverages
monitoring system which aims to check
image
illegal mining activity through automatic
generate
remote-sensing
unauthorized activities.
detection
technology
in
order to establish a regime of responsive
processing
These
technology
to
triggers
of
automatic
automatic
triggers
will
be
studied at a Remote Sensing Control
mineral administration.
Centre of IBM and then transmitted to
Key Points
the district level mining officials for
Mining Surveillance System (MSS) is

developed by Indian Bureau of Mines
(IBM)
in
coordination
field verification.
A user-friendly mobile app also has
with
been created for these officials to
Bhaskaracharya Institute for Space
submit compliance reports of their
Applications
inspections.
and
Geo-informatics
(BISAG), Gandhinagar.
This
is
one
of
the
The mobile app aims to establish a

first
such
participative monitoring system in
surveillance systems developed in the
which the citizens also can use this
world using space technology. It has
app
been developed under the Digital
activity.
India Programme.
and
report
unusual
mining
MSS also has an executive dashboard
In the MSS, Khasra maps of mining
to work as a decision support system.
leases have been geo-referenced and
Using it officials at all levels can track
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UPSC MIRROR
the current status of mapping of the
devices in the absence of external power
mining
source.
leases,
the
status
of
inspections and penalty levied etc. for
The photodetector is a device capable of
all major mineral mining leases across
sensing
the country.
electromagnetic energy, typically light by
Need To Such System
using the electrical effect of individual
There are in total 3843 mining leases of

major minerals across India, out of which
1710 are working mines and 2133 are nonworking
absence
mines.
of
Presently,
robust
there
is
the
mechanism
of
monitoring of illegal mining activity. The

current system of monitoring is completely
based on local complaints and unconfirmed
information which is not transparent and
quicker response and action.
Indian Institute of Science

have
developed a cost-effective,
high-performance,
photodetector.
self-powered
The
self-powered
UV
UV
photodetector can use the harvested optical

energy for direct self-charging of energy
storage devices such as a supercapacitor. It
can also be used for operating electronic
responding
to
photons. The researchers have developed the

photodetector
by
integrating
semiconducting vanadium doped zinc oxide

(VZnO)
nanoflakes
with
conducting
polymer. The zinc oxide (ZnO) is the base

material for UV detection which can be
doped
with
vanadium
to
produce
photodetectors that are self-powered. The

photodetector has superior performance in
terms of faster detection of photo signals in
intensity is low
The researchers from the
Bengaluru
or
the order of milliseconds even when UV light
IISc researchers develop selfpowered UV photodetector
(IISc),
(detecting)
When
doped
microstructure
with
of
vanadium,
the
changes
from
ZnO
nanorods to closely-packed nanoflakes. It

causes an increase in the surface area to the
volume of the material. It also creates surface
defects within the band gap of ZnO, which
helps in trapping the UV radiation that falls
on the nanoflakes. These nanorods are onedimensional and cause more light reflection
from the top surface. When UV light enters
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UPSC MIRROR
into pores it undergoes multiple reflections
IISER researchers have developed graphitic
and finally gets absorbed.
porous carbon cathode by cleaning and
The nanoflake (VZnO) produces five times
drying
more photocurrent, compared with ZnO,
sulphuric acid to achieve pre carbonisation. It
which generates only 40 nA photocurrent.
was then heated at different temperatures in
Once these nanoflakes are hydrogenated, the
the presence of inert gas for six hours to
current generation capacity further increased
carbonise
to 1,000 nA. When these hydrogenated
conductivity for efficient charge transfer. This
nanoflakes exposed to UV light, they detect
efficient
photo signal within milliseconds, which is
catalytic graphitic porous carbon stage at an
nearly 100 times faster than conventional UV
human
and
green
hair
and
bring
treating
better
cathode
with
electrical
achieves
highly
optimum temperature of 850 degrees C.
photodetectors. VZnO nanoflakes structure
Producing graphitic porous carbon cathode
has 98% light harvesting efficiency which is
using human hair is simple, quick and
much higher than 84% seen in ZnO.
inexpensive. It has the potential to bring
IISER researchers use human

hair to produce cheaper
down the cost of solar cells. The bio-wastederived cathode has the higher efficiency to
convert visible sunlight to electricity. It also
cathodes
enhances the power conversion efficiencies.

It
Researchers
from
Indian
Institute of Science Education

and Research (IISER), Kolkata
have produced cost-effective,
metal-free cathodes using human hair for
use in solar cells. Significance: This is the first
instance where a bio-waste-derived electrode
generates
high
open-circuit
compared to conventional platinum and

activated carbon cathodes. It is a metal-free
cathode, while commonly used cathode is
made of platinum metal and metal sulfides.
China successfully launches

manned mission to space
(in this case human hair) has been used as a
China
cathode in a quantum dot sensitised solar
launched
cell device.
voltage
has
successfully
longest-ever
manned mission by taking two astronauts
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UPSC MIRROR
Jing Haipeng (50) and Chen Dong (37) into
communications and research equipment. By
the orbit. They were launched on board of
launching a longest-ever manned space
Shenzhou-11 (heavenly vessel) spacecraft
mission, China has moved a step closer to
from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre near
establish its permanent space station. After
the Gobi Desert in northwest China. The
completion, it will make China the only
spacecraft was put into orbit by a Long
country to have space station facility in space
March-2F carrier rocket.
as the current in-service International Space
Both astronauts will spend a month aboard
Station (ISS) retires by 2024.
an experimental space laboratory Tiangong-2
NASA develops electroactive

bandage to speed up wound
healing
(Heavenly Palace 2). During the mission, they

will conduct aerospace medical experiments,
space science
experiments
and in-orbit
The National Aeronautics
maintenance with human participation. They
and Space Administration
will also undertake ultrasound tests during
(NASA) has developed a
space travel for the first time, cultivate plants
new high-tech electroactive
in space etc. The Shenzhou-11 mission is
bandage that uses electricity to significantly
Chinas sixth manned spacecraft. It will be the
promote healing of injured wounds. The
first time that Chinese astronauts will stay in
high-tech bandage creates an electric charge
orbit for the medium term. Earlier in 2013,
to promote the healing process of wounds in
three Chinese astronauts in a manned space
space especially in conditions of non-Earth
mission had spent 15 days in orbit and were
gravity.
docked with a space laboratory Tiangong 1.
In conditions of non-Earth gravity, human
Tiangong-2 was launched in September 2016
blood displays quite different behaviour from
as part of Chinas efforts to set up its own
that on Earth. In the case of injury in space,
permanent manned space station by 2022. It
wounds heal more slowly considering the
is Chinas second experimental space station
survival risks due to injury and the cost of
module and had upgraded habitat with
space missions, healing wounds as fast as
improved
possible is crucial. This bandage could be
life
support
systems,
power,
83
UPSC MIRROR
used
by
astronauts
in
space,
military
demand. It will also create employment
personnel wounded in the field, patients who
opportunities for the people and also help in
have undergone surgery or who have
raising the quality of fuel in the country by
suffered a serious wound.
the
The electroactive bandage uses a new
Corporation (IOC) will also set up a bio-
material called polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF)
ethanol
which can be stimulated by the pressure of
alternative fuel from agricultural residue
cell growth and body heat. The new material
which would boost agriculture sector.
generates a small amount of electricity when
About Bioethanol
interacts with another surface, including

human skin. When this electroactive bandage
is applied to an external wound site, it utilises
low-level electrical stimulation to promote
wound healing. The bandage speeds the
wounds healing process and minimises
infection and related complications such as
amputation or illness.
year
2020.
plant
Besides,
in
Panipat
Indian
to
Oil
generate
It is an alcohol derived by a process of

fermentation mostly from carbohydrates of
agricultural residue and feedstocks. As a
quasi-renewable energy, ethanol can be
blended with petrol or diesel making it a
sustainable transport fuel. It will help to
reduce
emissions
and
dependency
on
imported fuel. Benefits of bio-ethanol plant
Centre to invest in Panipat oil
Help in solving the chronic problem of the
refinery
straw
burning
of
leftover
agro-based
produce especially from wheat and rice

feedstocks. Benefit farmers economically, as
decided
15,000
they would be paid for their agro-based
crore rupees to increase the
produce to extract bio-ethanol. It would also
capacity of Panipat refinery in
help in preventing the loss of fertility of soil
Haryana to 25 Million Tonnes from existing
and damage to the environment by reducing
15 Million Tonnes. The expansion of Panipat
air pollution.
to
invest
refinery will help to raise specifications of fuel

quality from BS-IV to BS-VI to meet future
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UPSC MIRROR
Hubble Space Telescope

identified Great Balls of Fire
About Hubble Space Telescope

The Hubble Space Telescope is a
NASAs Hubble Space
space telescope that was launched
Telescope
has
into low Earth orbit in 1990. It remains
identified Great Balls of
in operation. It could last until 2030
Fire (GBF), mysterious
2040.
(HST)
super-hot blobs of gas seen near a dying
It is one of the largest and most
star. The plasma gas balls were observed
versatile vital research tool and a
near a red giant called V Hydrae, about 1,200
public relations boon for astronomy.
light years away from Earth. Red giants are
It is named after the astronomer
dying stars that are nearing the end of their
Edwin Hubble, and is one of NASA's
fuel supplies and have begun to expand and
Great Observatories, along with the
puff up.
Compton Gamma Ray Observatory,
HST had found that these GBFs from V
the Chandra X-ray Observatory, and
Hydrae are double the mass of Mars and
the Spitzer Space Telescope.
twice as hot as the surface of the sun. The
With a 2.4-meter mirror, its four main
observations suggest that these balls of fire
instruments
observe
in
the
near
have been appearing every 8.5 years for at
ultraviolet, visible and near-infrared
least the last four centuries. They are moving
spectra.
so fast in space that they would take only
It was built by the United States space
half an hour cover distance between moon
agency NASA, with contributions from
and Earth. If scientists are able to discover
the European Space Agency.
the origin of these balls, it could explain
The Space Telescope Science Institute
other weird shapes seen in the cloud of gas
(STScI) selects Hubble's targets and
around dying stars, which is difficult for
processes the resulting data, while the
scientists to explain at present.
Goddard Space Flight Center controls

the spacecraft.
It is the only telescope designed to be
serviced in space by astronauts.
85
UPSC MIRROR
Its scientific successor, the James
Ramanna Centre for Advanced Technology
Webb Space Telescope (JWST), is
(RRCAT): It will provide its expertise in lasers
scheduled for launch in 2018.
and laser technology; (ii) Punes InterUniversity
Maharashtra allocates land to

LIGO-India Project
allocated
hectare
land
for
Astronomy
and
Astrophysics (IUCAA): It will provide the
Maharashtra Government
has
Centre
40.68to
Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) to build

LIGO (Laser Interferometer Gravitational-
scientific teams, scientific data computation,

and data acquisition; (iii) Gandhinagars
Institute for Plasma Research (IPR): It will
contribute in cryogenic and high vacuum
systems for the prestigious project.
Wave Observatory) India Project at Dudhala
Background
village in Hingoli district. With this, India will
In April 2016, India and US had signed a MoU
join the elite league of countries consisting
to set up the LIGO Observatory. It was signed
of US, UK, Italy, Germany, and Japan that
by the scientists from the US National
support on-going research on gravitational
Science
waves.
such
Department of Atomic Energy (DAE). The
laboratory in the world and first outside US.
LIGO project is run with the collaboration of
The existing two LIGO laboratories in the US
90 universities and research institutions.
are located in Livingston, Louisiana, and
Thirty people of Indian origin are part of the
Hanford, Washington and are operated by
LIGO project.
Besides,
it
will
be
third
Caltech and MIT.
overseen by Department of Atomic Energy

(DAE) and Department of Science and
Technology (DST). It will be an international
collaboration between the LIGO Laboratory
of US and consortium of three leading Indian
They
(NSF)
and
Indias
About Gravitational Waves
The LIGO-India Project will be piloted and
institutions.
Foundation
are
(i)
Indores
Raja
Gravitational
waves
are
ripples
in
the
curvature of spacetime which propagate as

waves, traveling outward from the source at
the speed of light. They transport energy as
gravitational radiation and pass through
matter
without
interacting
with
it.
Gravitational waves were first predicted in
86
UPSC MIRROR
1916 by Albert Einstein on the basis of his
or located on National Highway, State
Theory of General Relativity. They are among
Highway. Bridge Location Number (BLN) will
enigmatic objects in our universe like black
be also assigned to each bridge based on the
holes, supernova, neutron stars and Big Bang.
precise location of the bridge in terms of
Information extracted by these transmitted
latitude-longitude is collected through GPS.
waves
Thereafter,
will
help
to
address
unsolved
Bridge
Classification
Number
questions and mysteries of physics and
(BCN) will be assigned to the bridge structure
astronomy.
based
Centre launches Indian Bridge

Management System
characteristics. Each bridge will be assigned a
The
Union
Road
Ministry
Transport
Highways
has
of
and
launched
on
the
different
engineering
Structural Rating Number (SRN) based on

allocated numbers which will be used for
structural rating of bridge structures on a
scale of 0 to 9.
System
The rating will take in consideration of each
(IBMS) as a major step towards ensuring the
component of the bridge structure like an
safety of bridges in the country. IBMS is
integral and non-integral deck, substructure,
being developed to create an inventory of all
superstructure, structural evaluation, bank
bridges
and
the Indian Bridge Management
in
country
and
rate
structural
channel,
deck
geometry,
waterway
condition of the bridges. The rating will help
efficiency, vertical clearance, etc. In addition
for their timely repair and carry rehabilitation
Socio-Economic Bridge Rating Number will
work based on the criticality of the structure.
be also assigned to the bridges. It will decide
IBMS is the largest platform in the world
the importance of bridge in relation to its
owned by a single owner, with a database
contribution to the daily socio-economic
that could exceed one lakh fifty thousand
activity of the area in its vicinity. Based on
bridge structures.
this inventory of various numbers, IBMS will
Each bridge will be assigned a unique

identification number or National Identity
Number (NIN) based on the state, RTO zone
analyse data and identify bridges that need

attention. The further physical inspection will
be carried out to improve the operational
availability of the structure, enhance its life
87
UPSC MIRROR
and prioritize repair and rehabilitation work.
program. It is a programme on the lines with
The data will help to decide which bridge
the new provision introduced in Defence
needs critical attention, or which needs to be
Procurement Procedure (DPP) 2016. The JV
rebuilt.
will focus on aerostructures, engines, and
Reliance, Dassault Aviation sign

to set up joint venture
electronics and intends to infrastructure and
Reliance Group and French

aerospace giant Dassault
Aviation have signed a deal
to set up a joint venture
called
Dassault
Reliance
Aerospace
to
execute offsets for the recently concluded
supply chain in India for the aerospace

sector. A huge integrated facility is proposed
to be set up at Reliance Special Economic
Zone (SEZ) in Nagpur. Work is expected to
begin in the next couple of months and
production intended to begin within 12
months.
India-France deal for 36 Rafale fighter jets. It
Background
will be the largest offset contract to be
In September 2016, India and France had
executed by any defence company in India.
signed an Inter-Governmental Agreement
The contract value is estimated up to Rs.
(IGA) for 36 Rafale multi-role jets in a fly-
30,000 crores. Given the scale of the contract,
away condition worth 7.87 billion (about Rs.
the JV will partner with 100 odd Micro, Small
59,000 crores). The deal has a 50% offset
and
for
clause to be executed by Dassault Aviation
sourcing and contracting. The government
and its partners in India. Through the offsets,
expects the offsets to bring in much-needed
the government seeks to bring in much-
expertise to build the domestic defence and
needed expertise to build the domestic
aerospace industry.
defence and aerospace industry. The offsets
The proposed strategic partnership between
are only for seven years but the JV will be
Dassault and Reliance will also focus on
part of the global supply chain of Rafale jets
promoting research and development (R&D)
to support the larger program.
Medium
Enterprises
(MSMEs)
projects under the Indigenously Designed,

Developed,
and
Manufactured
(IDDM)
88
UPSC MIRROR
ICGS Aryaman and Atulya

Commissioned
Visakhapatnam
under
the
administrative
control of the Commander, Coast Guard
The Indian Coast Guard
Region (East).
Ships (ICGSs) Aryaman
Indian Coast Guard (ICG) ICG is Indias
and
statutory
Atulya
were
commissioned
multi-mission
paramilitary
into
organization that protects countrys maritime
Indian Coast Guard in Kochi, Kerala. These
interests and enforces maritime law. It was
ships are the eighteenth and nineteenth in
established on 18 August 1978 by the Coast
the series of twenty Fast Patrol Vessels (FPVs)
Guard Act, 1978 and operates under the
designed and built by Cochin Shipyard
aegis of Union Ministry of Defence. Its
Limited.
is
headquarters are in New Delhi. ICG has
Possessor of Greatness and Atulya meaning
jurisdiction over the territorial waters of India
is Unrivaled.
including its contiguous zone and exclusive
Both FPVs are 50m long and have displaced
economic zone (EEZ).
of 317 tonnes of water. They can achieve a
CYSVAX, worlds 1st vaccine to

fight against tapeworms in pig
Aryaman
literally
meaning
maximum speed of 33 knots with a range of

1500 nautical miles. They are equipped with
The Indian Immunologicals
state-of-the-art
Limited (IIL) has launched
weaponry,
advanced
communication, and navigational equipment.
CYSVAX, worlds first vaccine
These FPVs are an ideal platform for
to fight against Taenia solium Tapeworms in
undertaking
close-coast
pigs. The vaccine has significant potential
missions such as surveillance, interdiction
benefit to reducing the incidence of epilepsy
and search, and rescue. These ships have
in humans. The CYSVAX is a recombinant
onboard Integrated Bridge Management
porcine (Pigs) Cysticercosis Vaccine. The
System (IBMS) and Integrated Machinery
vaccine
Control System (IMCS). Aryaman will be
Cysticercosis disease parasites life-cycle in
based at Kochi under the administrative
pigs which is considered to be one of the
control of the Commander, Coast Guard
important reasons for epilepsy in humans.
multifarious
has
potential
to
Region (West). Atulya will be based at
89
break
the
UPSC MIRROR
and is also a big player in animal and human
About Cysticercosis
Cysticercosis is a parasitic disease caused by
pork tapeworm named Taenia solium. WHO
has designated it as one of 17 Neglected
healthcare sector in the country.
Uranus may have two more

moons: Study
tropical diseases worldwide. It is a zoonotic
As
parasite
conducted
disease
involving
pigs
as
intermediate hosts because it is caused by
per
researchers
the
study
by
from
the
ingesting the eggs of the tapeworm Taenia
University of Idaho, US Uranus may have two
solium.
tiny, previously undiscovered moons orbiting

the
near two of the planets rings. These two
accidental consumption of eggs present in
moons were detected by researchers after
the under-cooked pork, vegetables, and
analysing decades-old images of Uranus icy
greens that have been improperly washed. In
rings taken by NASAs Voyager 2 spacecraft
humans, it develops into cysts in central
which had flown by the planet 30 years ago.
nervous
Neuro-
Scientists have found that the pattern in
cysticercosis, considered as one of the
Uranus rings was similar to moon-related
important reasons for epilepsy in humans.
structures in Saturns rings called moonlet
The
for
wakes. They have estimated the hypothesised
open
moonlets in Uranus rings may be four to 14
defecation and unhygienic pig rearing. Cases
kilometers in diameter. It means they are as
of Cysticercosis in India have been reported
small as some identified moons of Saturn.
in North Uttar Pradesh and North-Eastern
The researchers had analysed decades-old
states.
images of Uranus icy rings taken by NASAs
About Indian Immunologicals Limited (IIL)
Voyager 2 spacecraft which had flown by the
Humans
are
usually
system
primary
tapeworms
infected
and
causes
breeding
Taenia
solium
by
grounds
are
IIL is a Hyderabad-based subsidiary of

National Dairy Development Board (NDDB). It
is a market leader in veterinary biologicals
planet 30 years ago. During their analysis

they had noticed the amount of ring material
on the edge of the alpha ring one of the
90
UPSC MIRROR
brightest of Uranus multiple rings varied
fourth-largest planetary mass in the Solar
periodically.
System. Uranus is similar in composition to
They also had found similar, even more,
Neptune and is classified as ice giants to
promising pattern occurred in the same part
distinguish them from the gas giants. Its
of the neighbouring beta ring. They also had
primary
analysed radio occultations made when
helium, but it also contains more ices such as
Voyager 2 sent radio waves through the rings
water, ammonia, and methane, along with
to be detected back on Earth. They also had
traces of other hydrocarbons Every planet in
analysed stellar occultations made when
our solar system except for Venus and
spacecraft measured light of background
Uranus rotates counter-clockwise as seen
stars shining through the rings, which helped

to show how much material they contain.
The significance of the research

Uranian moons are especially hard to spot
composition
Chinas Space Lab Tiangong-2

launches Micro-Satellite
Banxing-2
Chinas experimental space
lab Tiangong-2 orbiting the
some characteristics of Uranus rings, which
Earth with two astronauts on
are strangely narrow compared to Saturns
shepherd moons, helping to keep the rings

from spreading out. Two of Uranus 27
known moons, Cordelia and Ophelia act as
shepherds to Uranus epsilon ring.
About Uranus
and
to east.
material. These findings could help explain
moonlets exist, they may be acting as
hydrogen
from above the North Pole; that is from west
because their surfaces are covered in dark
moons. It will also help to explain that if
of
board
has
successfully
launched a micro-satellite Banxing-2. The

two astronauts were launched into space
onboard of the Shenzhou-11 spacecraft on
11 October 2016. It docked with Tiangong-2
on 13 October 2016.
The micro-satellite Banxing-2 is roughly the
size of a desktop printer and the media has
Uranus is the seventh planet from the Sun. It
nicknamed
has the third-largest planetary radius and
kilograms. It has series of visible light
Selfie
Stick.
91
It
weighs
47
UPSC MIRROR
cameras, including a 25-megapixel camera
Regional Connectivity Scheme. The subsidy
and wide-angle imagers. It also has an
amount
given
infrared camera that is temperature-sensitive.
between
two
Its mission is to take photographs of
airports will be 10% higher than sum offered
Tiangong II and the Shenzhou 11 spacecraft,
to airlines that connect only one regional
which has been docked with the lab.
airport.
The micro-satellite has three solar panels
Key Points
which generate enough power to adjust its

orbit to shoot pictures of the lab and
spacecraft.
accomplished
its
predecessor,
the
same
Banxing-1,
mission
for
Shenzhou VII in 2008. Banxing-2 is a new

model of its predecessor Banxing-1 which
had accomplished the same mission for
Shenzhou VII in 2008. However, Banxing-1 is
smaller and has a higher capacity.
About Micro-Satellites
They weigh around 500 to 100 kilograms.
to
airlines
unserved
or
that
operate
underserved
The subsidy will be provided under

the UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam naagrik)
scheme for three years so that the
route would become viable.
It will be provided to airlines to fund
their losses to enable them to offer
airfares at Rs. 2,500 for an hours flight
on half the seats under the Regional
Connectivity Scheme.
The
subsidy
amount
for
airlines
connecting to one regional airport will
They are usually cheaper, faster and more
vary between Rs. 2,350 and Rs. 5,100
advanced than traditional satellites. The
per seat depending upon distance
commercial potential has attracted much
covered between two destinations.
attention from businesses.
Higher subsidy for airlines

connecting two regional
airports
The Union Government will provide a higher
subsidy to airlines that operate flights
between two regional airports under the
Airlines can also transfer their rights or

contract to get a subsidy from the
government and fly on regional routes
to another airline operating a similar
type of aircraft.
The Union Civil Aviation Ministry has
scrapped its earlier proposal to reduce
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UPSC MIRROR
the
subsidy
amount
based
on
improved passenger load factor.

Earlier,
the
draft
scheme
had
proposed that if an airline manages to

fill 90% of its seats by operating
regional flights during its first year of
operations, the subsidy amount in a
subsequent year would be reduced by
half as the route would become viable.
Union Government has also reduced
the bank guarantee to be provided by
airlines to fly on each regional route.
Now, Airlines will be required to
submit a bank guarantee equivalent to
5% of the total subsidy amount.
93
UPSC MIRROR
Environment
basin)
As part of the Indian

governments initiatives
better
study
Himachal
Pradesh
and
quantify the Himalayan glacier responses

towards the climate change, National Centre
for Antarctic and Ocean Research (NCAOR),
Goa, under the Ministry of Earth Sciences has
established a high altitude research station in
Himalaya called HIMANSH (literally meaning,
a slice of ice), situated above 13,500 ft (>
4000 m) at a remote region in Spiti, Himachal
Pradesh.
The station houses many instruments to
quantify the glacier melting and its relation
to changing climate. Further, the researchers
would be using this as a base for undertaking
surveys using Terrestrial Laser Scanners (TLS)
and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) that
would digitize the glacier motion and snow
cover variations with exceptional precision.
their
UN data, the contribution of snow/glacier

melt in annual stream runoff is substantially
higher (>40%) in Indus basin as compared to
Ganga and Brahmaputra basins (<10%).
Therefore, understanding the glacier mass
balance and their contribution to the Indus
River is more critical than other basins
towards the understanding of the impact of
glacier retreat on the water cycle in the
northern India and Pakistan.
Some of the benchmark glaciers that are
already being studied under this project
include Bada Shigri, Samudra Tapu, Sutri
Dhaka, Batal, Gepang Gath and Kunzam. An
integrated
study
using
glaciological,
geodetic, glacio-hydrological methods will

shed light on the glacier response to the
changing climate in this region and will also
quantify
the
contribution
from
glacial
meltwater to the river discharge in Indus

basin. Himansh will provide the muchneeded fillip to the scientific research on
Himalayan glaciers
and its hydrological
contribution.
The ongoing initiatives by NCAOR would

contribute to the integrated study the
glaciers in the upper Indus basin (Chandra
and
contribution to discharge. According to the
Himansh- Indias remote, highaltitude station set up in

Himalayas
to
in
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UPSC MIRROR
nearly 700 coaches have been equipped with
Background
The
Himalayan
region
has
the
largest
concentration of glaciers outside the polar

caps. It is called the Water Tower of Asia. It
bio-toilets to prevent open discharge free

zone on tracks as part of the Swachh Bharat
Mission.
is a source of 10 major river systems that
So far during the current financial year,
provide irrigation, drinking water, and power
14,000 bio-toilets have already been fitted in
for over 700 million people (10% of worlds
coaches and it is planned to fit an additional
population) living in India, Pakistan, and
of 16,000 bio-toilets in coaches in the
Bangladesh.
the
remaining part of the current financial year.
behaviour of these Himalayan glaciers and
Subsequently, Jammu-Katra (78 Kms) section
their contribution to the sustainable supply
of Northern Railway would also be taken up
of water for mankind and agriculture is one
for making it free from human waste
of the grand challenges of Indian scientific
discharge from trains and the target for
community.
completion is by March 2017.
Okha-Kanalus, PorbandarWansjaliya - Green Train

Corridors
About Green Train Corridors
Thus,
The
understanding
Union
Railways has
Okha-Kanalus
Ministry
Green Train Corridors are sections of the

railways which will be free of human waste
of
discharge on the tracks. Trains running on
declared the
these corridors will be equipped with bio-
and
the
toilets. Thus, it will completely stop the
Porbandar-Wansjaliya railway
discharge of human waste from trains onto
sections of Gujarat as Green Train Corridors
the ground which in turn would help in
(Free from human waste discharge from
improving cleanliness and hygiene. The 114-
trains). All trains passing on these 175-km
km long Rameswaram-Manamadurai section
long lines (141-km-long Okha-Kanalus route
of Tamil Nadu was made the Indias first
and the 34-km-long Porbandar-Wansjaliya
Green Rail Corridor in July 2016.
route) are now equipped with bio-toilets. On

these routes, about 29 trains consisting of
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UPSC MIRROR
Greenhouse Gas Bulletin, the level of carbon
About Bio-toilets
The
environment-friendly
bio-toilets
for
passenger coaches were developed jointly by

Indian Railways and Defence Research and
Development Organisation (DRDO). In the
bio-toilet fitted coaches, human waste is
collected in biodigester tanks below the
toilets and is decomposed by a consortium
of anaerobic bacteria. By the process of
hydrolysis, acetogenesis, acidogenesis and
methanogenesis,
the
anaerobic
bacteria
dioxide (CO2) emission in the atmosphere

has reached a record high. The globally
averaged concentration of CO2 in the
atmosphere reached to 400 parts per million
(ppm) for the first time in 2015. It is expected
to surge again to new records in 2016 on the
back of the very powerful El Nio event. This
is for the first time CO2 levels have reached
the 400 ppm barrier on a global average
basis for the entire year.
converts human fecal matter into the water
Besides,
longest-established
GHGs
and a small amount of gasses (including
monitoring station at Mauna Loa, Hawaii
methane).
predicts that CO2 concentrations will stay

above 400 ppm for the whole of 2016 and
Background
not
dip
below
that
level
for
many
The Union Ministry of Railways has taken up
generations. There was a 37% increase in
a mammoth task of equipping human
radiative forcing (the warming effect on our
discharge free bio-toilets in all its coaches by
climate) because of long-lived GHGs such as
2021-22 in order to contribute to mission
CO2, methane and nitrous oxide (N2O)
Swachh
released from industrial, agricultural and
Bharat
Abhiyan.
It
aims
at
completely stopping the discharge of human

waste from trains onto the ground in order
improving cleanliness and hygiene.
domestic activities between 1990 and 2015.

The relation between CO2 emissions and
El Nio effect: According to WMO, the
CO2 level reaches record high

in 2016: WMO
growth spurt in CO2 was fuelled by the El

Nio event, which started in 2015 and had a
As per the World Meteorological
strong impact well into 2016. The El Nio
Organizations
event had triggered droughts in tropical
(WMO)
annual
96
UPSC MIRROR
regions and reduced the capacity of sinks
a Critically Endangered species. The critically
like forests, vegetation, and the oceans to
endangered status to the Kashmiri Red Stag
absorb CO2. These sinks currently absorb
will help it to get more protection and
about half of CO2 emissions but now there is
enhance the conservation efforts to increase
a risk that they may become saturated. Once
its rapidly declining population.
these sinks become saturated it will increase

the fraction of emitted CO2 which stays in
The Kashmir Stag or Hangul is a subspecies
the atmosphere.
About World Meteorological Organization
(WMO): WMO is an intergovernmental
organization and specialised agency of the
UN for meteorology (weather and climate),
operational
hydrology
and
related
geophysical sciences. It is a member of the

United
Nations
Development
Group.
Established: It had originated from the

International
(IMO),
which
Membership:
Territories.
About Kashmiri Red Stag
Meteorological
was
191
Organization
founded
Member
Headquarters:
in
1873.
States
and
Geneva,
Switzerland.
of elk native to India. Earlier it was believed

that it is a subspecies of red deer. But
mitochondrial DNA genetic studies have
revealed that it is part of the Asian clade of
elk. It is found in dense riverine forests in the
high valleys and mountains of Kashmir Valley
and northern Chamba district of Himachal
Pradesh. As per Bombay Natural History
Society (BNHS), nearly 3000 to 5000 Hangul
existed around the 1940s. But at present,
only about 150 of them survive within its last
bastion in Dachigam National Park located
on foothills of Zabarwan range on the
outskirts of Srinagar, J&K. It has been listed
IUNC to declare Kashmirs Red

Stag as Critically Endangered
under Schedule-I of the Wildlife (Protection)

Act, 1972 and J&K Wildlife (Protection) Act,
The International Union
1978. It also has been listed among the top
for
15 species of high conservation priority by
Conservation
of
Nature (IUCN) is going to
the Central Government.
declare the magnificent

Kashmiri Red Stag (also known as Hangul) as
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UPSC MIRROR
emission and noise pollution details for every
Reasons For Decline In Population

(i)
habitat destruction, (ii) over-grazing

by
domestic
livestock,
and
(iii)
regard, the ministry has amended Form 22

under the Central Motor Vehicles Act, 1989
poaching.
About
vehicle they produce by April 2017. In this
International
Union
for
Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
through which manufactures provide the

initial certification of compliance of vehicles.
Basically, it will include pollution standards,
The IUCN is the worlds oldest and largest
safety standards of component quality and
global environmental organisation working in
roadworthiness certificate for all vehicles.
the
With this mandatory measure, the Union
field
of
nature
conservation
and
sustainable use of natural resources. It was
Ministry of Road Transport & Highways in
founded in 1948. It is headquartered in
future intends to award five-star ratings to
Geneva, Switzerland. It is a leading non-
vehicles based on their emission and noise
governmental authority on the environment
pollution
and sustainable development. It is also
automobile
involved in data gathering and analysis,
emission and noise pollution details for every
research, field projects, advocacy, lobbying,
vehicle including makers of electric rickshaws
and education. IUCN is best known to the
and electric carts. The Form will include the
wider public for compiling and publishing
brand, engine number, chassis number and
the IUCN Red List, which assesses the
emission norm of the vehicle. It will apply to
conservation status of species worldwide.
all vehicles including petrol, CNG, LPG,
Emission and noise pollution
electric, diesel and hybrid.
details for every vehicle
Automobile manufacturers must specify the

levels
automobile
of
standards.
Mandatory
manufacturers
each
pollutant
to
like
for
all
provide
carbon
monoxide, hydrocarbon, nonmethane HC,
Road
&
NOx, HC+NOx, PM etc. for petrol and diesel
Highways has made it
vehicles. They should also specify the sound
mandatory
level for horn and pass-by noise values of all
manufacturers
Transport
for
to
all
provide
98
UPSC MIRROR
vehicles. Earlier, Form 22 only certified that
Sciences (MoES) for greater metropolitan
the vehicle in question complied with the
cities of India to provide location specific
provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1989
information on air quality in near real time. It
and rules thereunder, including the relevant
was developed by Indian Institute of Tropical
emission norms- Bharat Stage I/II/III etc..
Meteorology (IITM), Pune along with India
Delhis air quality very poor:

SAFAR
Meteorological
Air Quality and Weather
Research
national
and
(SAFAR)
capital
(IMD)
and
National Centre for Medium Range Weather
According to System of
Forecasting
Department
New
Delhis air quality was recorded in the very

poor category. The average (24-hour rolling)
of PM 2.5 and PM10, suspended respirable
pollutants, were recorded as 120.8 and 248
micrograms per cubic metre as against safe
Forecasting (NCMRWF). The main objective

of SAFAR project is to increase awareness
among the general public regarding the air
quality. The purpose awareness for the
general
public
is
to
take
appropriate
mitigation measures and systematic action

for the betterment of air quality and related
health issues.
Historic Global Greenhouse gas

emission Agreement signed
limits of 60 and 100. The poor air quality may
A historic global climate
lead to respiratory problems, irritation to
deal was reached in
eyes and skin,
vision and
Kigali, Rwanda at the
headache. The major reasons for the poor air
Twenty-Eighth Meeting
quality may due to the favourable cold
of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol on
weather conditions coupled with very light
Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer
wind, vehicular pollution and farm fires in
(MOP28). The so-called Kigali Amendment
neighbouring states of Punjab, Haryana.
which amends the 1987 Montreal Protocol
About System of Air Quality and Weather
aims
Forecasting and Research (SAFAR): SAFAR
(HFCs), a family of potent greenhouse gasses
was introduced by Union Ministry of Earth
by the late 2040s. Under Kigali Amendment,
blurring of
to
phase
out
Hydrofluorocarbons
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UPSC MIRROR
in all 197 countries, including India have
now includes HFCs responsible for global
agreed to a timeline to reduce the use of
warming. This move will help to prevent a
HFCs by roughly 85% of their baselines by
potential 0.5 degree Celsius rise in global
2045.
temperature by the end of the century.
About Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs): HFCs
The Kigali Agreement or amended Montreal
are a family of greenhouse gasses (GHGs)
Protocol for HFCs reduction will be binding
that are largely used in refrigerants in the
on countries from 2019. It also has provisions
home, car air-conditioners, and air sprays etc.
for penalties for non-compliance. Under it,
These factory-made gasses had replaced
developed
CFCs under the 1987 Montreal Protocol to
enhanced funding support estimated at
protect Earths fragile protective Ozone layer
billions of dollars globally. The exact amount
and heal the ozone hole over the Antartica.
of
In recent times, it was found that HFCs have
countries will be agreed at the next Meeting
several thousand times capacity in retaining
of the Parties in Montreal in 2017. All
heat in the atmosphere compared to carbon
signatory countries have been divided into
dioxide (CO2), a potent GHG. Thus, it can be
three groups with different timelines to go
said that HFCs have helped ozone layer but
about reductions of HFCs.
exacerbated global warming. Currently, HFCs
countries
additional
First
will
funding
group:
It
also
from
provide
developed
includes
richest
are the worlds fastest GHGs, with emissions
countries like the US and those in the
increasing by up to 10% each year.
European Union (EU). They will freeze
The significance of the Kigali Amendment:
production and consumption of HFCs
The Kigali Amendment amends the 1987
by 2018. They will reduce them to
Montreal Protocol that was designed to close
about 15% of 2012 levels by 2036.
growing ozone hole by banning ozone-
The
second
group:
It
includes
depleting coolants like chlorofluorocarbons
countries like China, Brazil and all of
(CFCs). Thus, amended Montreal Protocol
Africa etc. They will freeze HFC use by
which was initially conceived only to plug
2024 and cut it to 20% of 2021 levels
gasses that were destroying the ozone layer
by 2045.
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UPSC MIRROR
The third group: It includes countries
Ramayana, Mahabharata and others giving
India, Pakistan, Pakistan, Iran, Saudi
credence that it existed during those times.
Arabia etc. They will be freezing HFC
The Committee found that Saraswati River
use by 2028 and reducing it to about
originated
15% of 2025 levels by 2047.
approximately 4,000 km in length and flowed
in
the
Himalayas.
It
was
The Paris agreement which will come into
through India and Pakistan before meeting
force by 2020 is not legally binding on
the Arabian Sea through Rann of Kutch. The
countries to cut their emissions. The Kigali
two-third stretch of river measuring nearly
Amendment is considered absolutely vital for
3000 km in length fell in India and remaining
reaching the Paris Agreement target of
one-third of the river stretch fell in present-
keeping global temperature rise to below 2-
day Pakistan. The river had two branches viz.
degree Celsius compared to pre-industrial
(i) Western Branch: It represented by the
times.
Himalayan-born Satluj River of the past
Saraswati River existed: KS

Valdiya committee
which flowed through the channels of

present-day Ghaggar-Patialiwali rivulets. (ii)
The K.S. Valdiya committee

in its report submitted to
the Union Water Resources
Ministry has concluded that
Saraswati River so far considered mythical
did exist. The committee comprising of
geologists, archaeologists and hydrologists
say that they have found evidence of the
course of the river Saraswati. Earlier, River
Eastern Branch: Palaeochannels (remnants of

defunct rivers) Sarsuti-Markanda rivulets in
Haryana were courses of the eastern branch
of the river, known as Tons-Yamuna. The
confluence
of
the
branches
was
near
Shatrana, 25 km south of Patiala. From this

confluence point, river flow crossed dessert
(Rann of Kutch) and meet gulf of the western
sea.
Saraswati was considered as a mythological
The conclusion of the expert committee was
river and has been mentioned in the ancient
based on the six-month research wherein it
Hindu
had come across a unique paleochannel
scriptures
like
the
Rig
Veda,
(path abandoned by the river when it
101
UPSC MIRROR
changes course) relating to present Sarsuti,
bioenergy and bio-based products through
Ghaggar, Nara and Hakra rivers. They also
knowledge-based
had studied piles of sediments, their features,
potential to generate new solutions for the
and shapes which appeared to have been
planets major challenges in the field of
brought by the big river and were considered
energy, food, health, water, climate change
reminiscent to ones found in present-day
and
Ganga, Ghaggar, and the Yamuna.
environmental benefits. Bio-economy is a
National Mission on
economy
launched
Meghalaya
Bioin
deliver
approaches.
social,
It
has
economic
and
new concept and few countries like US,

Canada, European Union (EU) and Australia
have started initiatives in this field. India is
The National Mission

on Bio-economy has
launched in Shillong,
the fast-growing bio-economy at US 35

billion dollars in 2015, which can even rise to
USD 100 billion in future.
Meghalaya by the Institute of Bioresources
The
and Sustainable Development (IBSD). The
Sustainable
mission is unique to southeast Asia and India
functions
has become one of the few countries to tap
Biotechnology, Union Ministry of Science and
bio-resources. The purpose of the mission is
Technology.
to boost rural economy by utilizing bio-
National Seismic Programme

launched
resources. NE region is among the world's
Institute
of
Bioresources
Development
under
the
top 10 biodiversity hotspots and people
(IBSD):
It
Department
of
The
should take advantage of these resources to
Union
Government
improve their economy.
and
launched
has
National
The National Mission on Bio-economy can be
Seismic
optimally utilized and can create a large
hydrocarbon resources like oil and natural
number of jobs at the village level. It also
gas in Mahanadi basin at Taranga village
focuses
of
under Soro block in Balasore district of
renewable biological resources for food,
Odisha. Mahanadi basin has been chosen as
on
sustainable
utilization
Programme
(NSP)
102
to
trace
UPSC MIRROR
the first location to roll out of this national-
national legal framework to manage water in
level programme. The outcome from the NSP
helps in better understanding of the sub-
comprehensive draft Bill proposes a model
surface with petroleum systems across wider
law for all states. However, water being a
geological ages especially in sedimentary
State subject under VII Schedule of the
basins to explore hydrocarbon reserves in
constitution, the law will be not binding on
Odisha.
States for adoption.
About National Seismic Programme (NSP):
Key Features of Bill
NSP aims to undertake a fresh appraisal in all
better
and
efficient
way.
The
The draft Bill pitches for establishing
sedimentary basins across India in order to
River Basin Authority for each inter-
have
the
State basin to ensure optimum and
hydrocarbon potential of the country. Under
sustainable development of rivers
this programme, high-resolution 2D seismic
and valleys.
better
understanding
of
Acquisition, Processing and Interpretation
The Bill is expected to be placed
(API) survey will be conducted across India
before the Union Cabinet for its
especially in the sedimentary basins. The
approval in a month before it is tabled
survey will be conducted by state-owned Oil
in Parliament.
and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) and Oil
It
suggests
States
recognise
the
India Limited (OIL). The survey project will be
principle that the rivers are not owned
completed by March 2019.
by the basin-States but are public
Draft National Water

Framework Bill, 2016
trustees.
It says all basin States have equitable
Amid several inter-State
rights over a river water provided
disputes
river
such use does not violate the right to
the
water for life of any person in the
water
over
sharing,
Central Government has
river basin.
brought a final draft of the National Water
The draft Bill says every person has a
Framework Bill, 2016 to provide a uniform
right to sufficient quantity of safe
103
UPSC MIRROR
water for life within easy reach of the
All the basin States are equal in rights
household regardless of caste, creed,
and status, and there is no hierarchy
religion,
class,
of rights among them, and further, in
gender, disability, economic status,
this context, equality of rights means
land
not equal but equitable shares in the
age,
community,
ownership
and
place
of
residence.
river waters.
It also suggests that States ensure

water is conserved.
Presently, there are disputes because
nobody
[States]
knows
1st World Tsunami Awareness

Day observed at AMCDRR 2016
The
his/her
Tsunami
contribution to a rivers catchment
will know the quantum of its rightful

share.
The Bill focuses on right measurement
of the water at basin-level, Water
Resources Ministry.
The draft Bill as comprehensive one,
is the model law also stresses on
Centre
and
States
working
in
partnership for managing water.

It proposes establishing institutional
World
Awareness
Day was celebrated
area. When a State will know its exact

contribution to the catchment area, it
first
on November 5, 2016,
at the Asian Ministerial Conference on
Disaster Risk Reduction (AMCDRR) 2016. The
conference was organised from November 3
to 5, 2016 in New Delhi by the Union
Government in collaboration with United
Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction
(UNISDR). To commemorate the occasion, an
event was organised with Disaster Risk
Reduction (DRR) Champions at the AMCDRR
2016.
arrangements at all levels within a
About World Tsunami Awareness
State and beyond up to an inter-State
Day
river basin level to obviate disputes

through negotiations, conciliation or
mediation before they become acute.
The World Tsunami Awareness Day was

instituted by the United Nations General
Assembly (UNGA) by adopting a resolution
104
UPSC MIRROR
proposed by Japan. The objective of the day
disseminating tsunami bulletins for the entire
is to spread awareness among people across
Indian Ocean region. Besides, India along
the world in matters related to the dangers
with 23 other Indian Ocean countries had
of tsunami and stress on the importance of
participated in a tsunami mock drill in
early warning systems in order to mitigate
September 2016.
damage
from
the
devastating
natural
calamity. It also seeks to revive traditional

knowledge about tsunamis.
New termite species named

Chiraharitae discovered
A
Background
new
termite
species
Glyptotermes Chiraharitae
was
November 5 was selected by UNGA to

coincide with the annual anniversary of the
1854 Inamura-no-hi (Fire of Inamura) event.
On this day in 1854, a villager in Wakayama
Prefecture, Japan through his quick action
had saved countless lives when he set fire to
sheaves of rice on the top of a hill, thus
warning people of the imminent danger of a
tsunami. This was the first documented
instance of a tsunami early warning.
discovered
at
Kakkayam in the Malabar

Wildlife Sanctuary, Kerala. It has been named
Chiraharitae after the tropical evergreen
forests of the Western Ghats, where it was
spotted. Termites are of three types damp
wood,
dry
wood
and
subterranean.
Glyptotermes Chiraharitae species are of the

damp wood category. They infest parts of
woods with high moisture content, the
decaying or rotting areas in particular. They
Following the devastating Indian Ocean
are exclusively wood dwelling and do not
Tsunami
Government
require any contact with soil. The flying
established an Indian Tsunami Early Warning
adults of this species are approximately 10
Centre (ITEWC).
is operational since
mm long, while the soldiers are around 9.5
October 2007. ITEWC was established under
mm long. Its relatives are known to attack
the
Ocean
mango, sal, Rhododendron, banyan trees,
Information Services (INCOIS) at Hyderabad.
Artocarpus, silver oak, and Jamun trees.
The
Compared with other insect groups, termites
of
Indian
Centre
infrastructure
2004,
It
National
has
for
Central
Centre
the
for
state-of-the-art
generating
and
105
UPSC MIRROR
are not a multifarious speciose. In India there
a self-pollinating crop difficult to hybridise
285 species of termites and among them 61
naturally as it cross-pollinates. It is largest
are documented from Kerala.
edible oil yielding crop of India. DMH (Dhara
SC stays commercial release of

GM mustard
The Supreme Court has
stayed
the
commercial
release
of
Genetically
Modified
(GM)
mustard
crop till October 17, 2016. It has asked the

Central Government to seek public opinion
before releasing the variety for cultivation
purpose. Order in this regard was issued by
SC Bench of Chief Justice T.S. Thakur and
Justice A.M. Khanwilkar on a petition filed by
Aruna Rodrigues.
The petition had alleged that sowing of the
Mustard Hybrid)-11 is a genetically modified

variety of mustard developed by Centre for
Genetic Manipulation of Crop Plants at Delhi
University.
It was Government sponsored project. But
researchers at Delhi University have created
hybridised mustard DMH-11 using barnase /
barstar technology for genetic modification.
It is Herbicide Tolerant (HT) crop. In February
2016, the Genetic Engineering Appraisal
Committee
(GMEC)
had
allowed
the
commercial production of another GM crop

viz. Mustard DMH-11.
Arguments in Favour GM Mustard
GM Mustard seeds will be undertaken
DMH-11 yields about 30% more than
without relevant tests and without entire
a traditional reference mustard variety.
biosafety dossier for commercial launch GM
Help in boosting edible mustard oil
mustard. It also had urged the SC to prohibit
production thus, reduce huge import
open field trials and the commercial release
bill for edible oil.
of Herbicide Tolerant (HT) crops, including

HT
Mustard
DMH
11
and
its
parent
Help
to
boost
government-led
scientific researches in Agriculture.
lines/variants.
GM Mustard DMH-11 Mustard is one of
Indias most important winter crops sown
between mid-October and late November. It
106
UPSC MIRROR
hosting AMCDRR. The conference will be
Arguments against GM Mustard

Approval to GM mustard would open
a gate to several genetically modified
food crops.
hosted
by
Union
Government
in
collaboration with the United Nations Office

for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR).
Environmentalists are raising biosafety
It will be the first AMCDRR after the advent
concern with GM crops as their
of Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk
introduction may adversely affect the
Reduction (SFDRRR) which was adopted at
environment,
3rd UN World Conference in Sendai, Japan in
human
and
animal
March 2015. India by hosting AMCDRR re-
health.
As DMH-11 has an external gene that
affirms its commitment to the cause of
makes the plant resistant to the
Disaster Risk Reduction. It will also set the
herbicide. Thus it will force farmers to
direction
use
implementation in the region. The aim of the
only
select
brands
of
of
Sendai
Framework
conference is to transform the commitments
agrochemicals.
Technical expert committee appointed
of governments and stakeholders during the
by the Supreme Court in this regard
Sendai Conference into national and local
earlier had found that HT crops
action.
completely unsuitable in the Indian
AMCDRR 2016 will focus on consultation,
context.
collaboration
and
partnership
governments
and
stakeholders
The herbicide-resistant
adversely
impact
crops may
the
with
to
manual
mainstream Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) in
labourers, for whom weeding provides
the region. It will adopt the Asian Regional
a livelihood.
Plan for Implementation of the Sendai
India to host 2016 AMCDRR

India is hosting the 2016 Asian Ministerial
Conference
for
Disaster
Risk
Reduction
(AMCDRR) from November 3 to 5, 2016 in

New Delhi. This will be the second time India
Framework endorsed by the Asian countries.

In this conference, senior-level delegations
from Asian countries, representatives of UN
bodies and Disaster Management experts will
participate.
107
UPSC MIRROR
preparedness for effective response and
Background
AMCDRR is a biennial conference jointly
recovery, reconstruction and rehabilitation.
organized by different Asian countries and
It is the successor of the Hyogo Framework
the UNISDR. It was established in 2005. So
for Action (20052015), which had been the
far, 6 AMCDRR conferences have been
most encompassing international accord on
organised. For the first time, India had also
disaster risk reduction. It sets of common
hosted the second AMCDRR in 2007 in New
standards, a comprehensive framework with
Delhi.
achievable
About
Sendai
Framework
for
Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-30:

It
was
and
legally-based
instrument for disaster risk reduction. It calls

for
adopting
institutional
is an international Treaty that
targets,
vulnerability
integrated
measures
to
and
for
inclusive
preventing
disaster,
increase
approved by UN member states in March
preparedness for response and recovery and
2015 at the Third World Conference on
strengthen resilience.
Disaster Risk Reduction held in Sendai, Japan.
India ratifies
Agreement
It is a voluntary and non-binding treaty which

recognizes that the UN member State has
India
the primary role to reduce disaster risk. It has
Paris
ratified
Agreement
a framework for 15-year i.e. 2015 to 2020.
Climate
the
on
Paris
climate
change on the 147th birth
It also calls for sharing the responsibility with
anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. Indias
other
Permanent
stakeholders
including
local
Representative
to
UN,
Syed
government, the private sector, and other
Akbaruddin handed over the Instrument of
stakeholders.
of
Ratification signed by President Pranab
Sendai Framework: (i) Understanding disaster
Mukherjee to the United Nations in New
risk
risk
York. With this, India became 62nd country
governance to manage disaster risk (iii)
to ratify the agreement. These 62 countries
Investing in disaster risk reduction for
including India are responsible for almost
resilience
52% of Green House Gases (GHG) emissions.
(ii)
Four
specific
Strengthening
(iv)
priorities
disaster
Enhancing
disaster
108
UPSC MIRROR
The Paris Agreement on climate change will

enter into force one month after 55 countries
that
account for 55%
of
New species of pika named

Ochotona sikimaria discovered
global GHG
Scientists have discovered a
emissions ratify the agreement. The Paris
new
Agreement was adopted by more than 190
mammal in the rabbit family in
species
of
small
nations at the 21st Conference of Parties to
the Himalayas in Sikkim.
UNFCCC (UN Framework Convention on
identified as Ochotona sikimaria. It is quite
Climate Change) held in Paris in December
distinctive from all other pika species based
2015. It seeks to accelerate and intensify the
on the fecal pellets and tissue samples.
actions
Ochotona sikimaria Pika species looks similar
and
sustainable
investment
low
needed
carbon
for
future.
The
to
the
Moupin
Pika,
It
has been
genetically
it
is
agreement caps limit global temperature rise
completely
(global warming) to well below 2 degrees
differences
Celsius. It also seeks to funnel trillions of
observation. But they are genetically very
dollars to poor countries facing climate
different.
catastrophe.
different.
are
not
Their
visible
in
specific
physical
Pikas are members of the rabbit family and
India being worlds third largest emitter of
look like tailless rats. They live in the
GHGs, accounting for 4.1% of the total global
mountains or in temperate regions. They are
emission was seeking more time earlier to
a keystone species and ecosystem engineers.
complete its national processes as it feared
They
that any hasty decision may impact its
mammalian species inhabiting such cold
developmental
Indias Intended
climates. The common name pika is basically
Nationally Determined Contributions (INDC)
used for any member of the Ochotonidae
pledge estimated a cost 2.5 trillion dollars for
family. What are keystone species? Keystone
its
ask
species determine the ability of a large
developed nations to provide 100 billion
number of other species to survive in the
dollars per year in climate finance for
ecosystem. When they become extinct, it has
developing nations.
a cascading effect on extinction of other
projects.
climate-action
plan.
India
will
do
not
hibernate
unlike
other
species. An example of keystone species is
109
UPSC MIRROR
bees as pollination of fruits and flowers is
the breeding season in early winter. Otters
dependent on them.
are social and hunt in groups. The male otter
Smooth-coated otter sighted

for the first time in Krishna
sanctuary
is polygamous and mates with up to the four
Smooth-coated
otter
females. It has been categorised vulnerable

in the red data book of International Union
was
sighted for the first time in

the mangrove forest near
the
Krishna
for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Urja Ganga Project launched in

Varanasi
wildlife
PM Narendra Modi has
sanctuary (KWS) in Krishna district, Andhra
laid
Pradesh. In all, seven otters were sighted in

the mangrove forests and brackish water
channels
of
Eelachetladibba
and
Lankevennedibba and other areas outside

the KWS. The presence of the otter is a key
indicator for the rise of the mangrove cover
in the KWS.
stone of Urja Ganga

Project, the highly ambitious gas pipeline
project in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. The gas
pipeline project aims to provide piped
cooking (PNG) gas to residents of the eastern
region of the country and CNG gas for the
by state-run gas utility GAIL. It envisages

laying
smooth-coated
Otter
(Lutrogale
perspicillata) is a species of otter, the only

extant representative of the genus Lutrogale.
Otter is a carnivorous mammal. The fur of
this species is smoother and shorter than
that
of
other
foundation
vehicles. The project is being implemented
About Smooth-Coated Otter:

The
the
otters.
It
is
distributed
throughout South Asia and South East Asia.

The otter lives in rivers, lakes, peat swamp
forests, mangroves, and estuaries. It uses
swamps as natal den sites and nursery during
2,050-km
pipeline
connecting
Jagdishpur (UP) to Haldia (West Bengal) by

2018.
From
Varanasis
perspective,
50,000
households and 20,000 vehicles will get

cleaner and cheaper fuel PNG and CNG gas
respectively. The project is considered as a
major step towards collective growth and
development of the Eastern region of India.
Under it, overall 20 lakh households will get
110
UPSC MIRROR
PNG connections. The Urja Ganga project

also augments existing GAILs network of
trunk pipelines covering the length of around
11,000 km by 2540 km. Besides, under this
project work on 2540-km long JagdishpurHaldia and Bokaro-Dhamra Natural Gas
pipeline project will begin and will be
completed between 2018 and 2020.
Seven East India cities Varanasi, Jamshedpur,
Patna, Ranchi, Kolkata, Bhubaneswar, Cuttack
will be the major beneficiary of this network
development.
Besides,
LNG
terminal
at
Dhamra will provide clean fuel to the

Industrial Development of the Eastern states
of Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Bihar, West
Bengal and Odisha. 25 industrial clusters in
these 5 states will be developed using gas
from this pipeline. Besides, 40 districts and
2600 villages will benefit from this project. It
will also help in revival of defunct fertilizer
plants in Barauni in Bihar, Gorakhpur in UP,
Sindri in Jharkhand and Durgapur in West
Bengal by supplying gas.
111
UPSC MIRROR
Social Issues
Triple talaq a highly misused
custom: NCW
dignity. The triple talaq has been abolished

in 21 Islamic theocratic countries including
Pakistan. It is also against constitutional
principles
such
as
gender
equality,
secularism, international laws etc.
The National Commission for Women (NCW)

has held that triple talaq was a highly
What Is Governments Position?
misused custom and Government should
Recently Central Government in an affidavit
scrap it to protect the rights of Muslim
submitted to Supreme Court held that the
women. NCW clearly mentioned that the
practice of Triple talaq is against the
traditional custom of triple talaq should be
principles of gender justice, gender equality
banned in an effort to protect the rights of
and dignity enshrined in the Constitution.
Muslim women and it cannot be linked to the
This pernicious practice is not integral to the
Uniform
the
right to freedom of religion. Triple talaq is
feels
not an essential religious practice in Islam
disempowered because of the practice of
and violates the right to equality, non-
triple talaq.
discrimination on the grounds of sex and the
Civil
commission,
Code.
According
Muslim
to
women
right to live with dignity to women in par
What Is Triple Talaq?
with men guaranteed in the Constitution.
Triple Talaq or Oral talaq is a procedure of

divorce mentioned under the Sharia Law
which is a body of the Islamic law. Under this,
a
husband
can
divorce
his
wife
by
About
National
Commission
for
Women (NCW)
The NCW is a statutory body generally
pronouncing Talaq thrice.
concerned with advising the government on
Why should triple talaq be abolished? The
all policy matters affecting women. It was
practice
enabled
established in January 1992 under the
husbands to divorce their wives arbitrarily,
National Commission for Women Act, 1990
devoid of any substantiation. It impacts
as
adversely on the right of women to a life of
Constitution. The objective of the NCW is to
of
triple
talaq
has
per
the
provisions
of
112
the
Indian
UPSC MIRROR
represent the rights of women in the country
It also allows a woman to seek legal
and to provide a voice for their issues and
action against her daughter-in-law
concerns.
and even her minor grandchildren for

domestic violence.
According to SC, the microscopic
SC widens scope of Domestic

Violence Act, 2005
difference between male and female,

adult and non-adult are neither real
The Supreme Court in

its landmark judgment
has widened the scope
of the Protection of
Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 by
making it gender-neutral. The SC ordered the
deletion of the words adult male before the
word person in Section 2(q) of the Act
making it gender-neutral. The remaining part
of the legislation would remain operative and
was kept untouched. The Protection of
Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005
protects women from physical, sexual, verbal,
emotional and economic abuse at home.
nor substantial. It also does not have

any rational relation to the object of
the legislation.
The words adult male also violated
the
right
to
equality
under
Constitution. It is contrary to the

object of affording protection to
women who have suffered from the
domestic violence of any kind.
Background
The landmark verdict of Supreme Court came
on an appeal against the Bombay High Court
judgment, which had resorted to the literal
construction of the term adult male. Based
on the literal construction of these words,
Bombay High Court had discharged four
Key Facts
persons, including a woman, two girls and a

for
minor boy of a family from a domestic
prosecution of women and even non-
violence case on the ground that they were
The
SC
order
paves
way
adults for subjecting a woman relative

to violence and harassment.
It strikes down two words from
not adult male and hence cannot be

prosecuted under the Act.
Section 2(q) of Act which deals with

respondents who can be sued and
prosecuted under it for harassing a
married woman in her matrimonial
home.
113
UPSC MIRROR
Janani Suraksha Yojana started

paying dividends: NCAER
Utilisation
of
all
three
maternal
healthcare services was remarkably

higher
among
illiterate
or
less
educated and poor women.

Usage of all three maternal healthcare
services by the Dalit, Adivasis, OBC
and
As per the new study Janani Suraksha Yojana
(JSY) has played important role in reducing
socio-economic
disparities
existing
in
maternal care. The study was conducted by

researchers
from
Delhi-based
National
Council of Applied Economic Research. This

is for the first-time study has shown JSY has
reduced
socio-economic
inequalities
in
maternal care compared to earlier studies

which showed the impact of JSY in reducing
maternal mortality.
Key Points
JSY has led to a reduction of prevalent
differences in access to maternal care
between individual people of higher
or lower socio-economic status.
It has led to enhancement in the
utilisation of health services among all
groups especially among the poorer
Muslim
women
between the surveys.

The inequalities still exist in access to
maternal care but JSY has narrowed
the gap in access to healthcare
between the marginalised group of
women and financially better-off.
Women in their early 20s more likely
avail maternal health care services as
compared to their older women.
The incidence of women availing
maternal healthcare decreases with
the increase in the number of children.
Background
In India, high incidence of maternal mortality
continues to plague. As per the latest report
on maternal health, India accounted for 15%
the total maternal deaths in the world in
2015 second only to Nigeria with 45,000
women dying during pregnancy or childbirth.
and underserved sections in the rural

areas.
increased
114
UPSC MIRROR
About Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY)

The JSY was launched as part of the National
Rural Health Mission (NRHM) in 2005 to
improve maternal and neonatal health by
promotion
of
institutional
deliveries
(childbirth in hospitals). It is a 100% centrally

sponsored scheme (CSS). It integrates cash
assistance with delivery and post-delivery
care. Under it, ASHA (Accredited social health
activist) is considered as a link between
Government and poor pregnant women for
encouraging institutional deliveries among
poor women.
evidence of the role played by Janani

Yojana
socioeconomic
(JSY)
in
disparities
reducing
existing
in
maternal care.
The JSY was launched in 2005 as part of the
National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) to
improve maternal and neonatal health by
promotion
the poorer and underserved sections in the

rural areas, thereby reducing the prevalent
disparities in maternal care.
While previous studies had shown the impact
of JSY in reducing maternal mortality, it was
not known if it had reduced socioeconomic
inequalities differences in access to
maternal care between individual people of
higher or lower socioeconomic status.
The study was conducted using data from
two rounds of the India Human Development
Survey (IHDS) conducted in 2004-05 and
2011-12.
A new study brings in first conclusive
Suraksha
services among all groups especially among
of
institutional
deliveries
(childbirth in hospitals).
The
IHDS
data
IHDS was conducted in 2004-05 when the

JSY was not in place and round two was
conducted
six
providing
comparison.
years
after
before-after
Secondly,
the
and
scenario
IHDS
for
is
allows to examine changes in maternal care
Vanneman
(University of Maryland), JSY has led to an

enhancement in the utilisation of health
launch,
were interviewed in both rounds, which
patterns.
Reeve
the
longitudinal data set same households
(NCAER), Sonalde Desai (NCAER, University

Maryland)
two
advantages in this case. First, round 1 of
According to a working paper by Ruchi Jain
of
serves
115
UPSC MIRROR
generally a narrowing of the gap between

the less educated and more educated
women and between the poorer and richer
women.
It was found in the survey that women in
their early twenties were more likely to avail
of each of the three maternal health care
services as compared to their older women.
Also, the incidence of women availing
maternal healthcare services decreases with
Three key services of maternal care were
the increase in the number of children they
used for the analysis: full antenatal care (full
have delivered.
ANC), safe delivery, and postnatal care.
Note that inequality in access to maternal
There were three major findings. First, the
care persists. The study, however, notes that
increase in utilisation of all three maternal
the gap in access to healthcare between the
healthcare services between the two rounds
marginalised group of women and those
was remarkably higher among illiterate or
who are financially better-off has declined
less educated and poor women.
since the advent of the JSY program.
This documents the effect of the JSY
High
scheme, where women with little or no
continues to plague India. As per the latest
education were motivated to utilise maternal
Lancet series on maternal health, India
health care services, the study says.
accounted for 15 per cent of the total
Reducing Disparities
maternal deaths in the world in 2015
Secondly, the usage of all three maternal

healthcare
Adivasis
services
and
by
Muslim
the
OBC,
women
Dalit,
incidence
of
maternal
second only to Nigeria with 45,000

women dying during pregnancy or childbirth.
increased
between the surveys.

The
study
found
that
after
the
implementation of the JSY, there was
mortality
116
UPSC MIRROR
HIV and AIDS (Prevention and

Control) Bill, 2014
age appropriate, gender-sensitive, and

non-stigmatizing,
and
(v)
lay
The Union Cabinet under
guidelines for the care and treatment
the chairmanship of PM has
of children with HIV or AIDS.
to
Every person in the care and custody
introduce amendments to
of the state shall have the right to HIV
the HIV and AIDS (Prevention and Control)
prevention, testing, treatment and
Bill, 2014. The Bill seeks to safeguard the
counseling services. The Bill suggest
rights of people living with HIV and affected
that cases relating to HIV-positive
by HIV. It seeks to prevent social stigma and
persons shall be disposed' off by the
discrimination against people living with HIV
court on a priority basis and duly
(PLHIV). It also seeks to strengthen legal
ensure the confidentiality.
given
its
approval
formal
There are no financial implications of
mechanisms for inquiring into complaints
the Bill. Most of the activities are
and
probe
being already undertaken or can be
discrimination complaints against those who
integrated with the existing systems of
discriminate against PLHIV.
various
accountability
and
redressing
establish
grievances
to
training,
and
data
management, etc.
According to the Bill, the Central and

governments
under
communication,
Key Features of the Bill
State
Ministries
Bill
makes
provision
for
take
appointment of an ombudsman by
measures to (i) prevent the spread of
State Governments to inquire into
HIV or AIDS, (ii) provide anti-retroviral
complaints related to the violation of
therapy and infection management for
the Act and penal actions in case of
persons with HIV or AIDS, (iii) facilitate
non-compliance.
their
schemes
need not be a separate entity, but any
especially for women and children, (iv)
existing State Government functionary
formulate HIV or AIDS education
can
communication programmes that are
additional charge.
access
to
shall
The
welfare
be
The
deputed
or
117
Ombudsman
given
the
UPSC MIRROR
It prohibits discrimination against

persons with HIV and AIDS.
Prohibits
any
individual
from
publishing information or advocating
No person will be compelled to

disclose his HIV status except with his
informed consent, and if required by a
court order
feelings of hatred against HIV positive

persons and PLHIV.
Every HIV-infected or affected person
below the age of 18 years has the
Establishments keeping records of
right to reside in a shared household
information of PLHIV must adopt data
and
protection measures.
household.
Obligations
establishments
the
facilities
of
the
to
The Bill also provides for Guardianship
safeguard rights of persons living with
for minors. A person between the age
HIV
of 12 to 18 years who has sufficient
arid
on
enjoy
create
mechanisms
for
redressing complaints.
Lists
various
discrimination
maturity
grounds
against
on
which
HIV-positive
in
understanding
and
managing the affairs of his HIV or

AIDS-affected
family
shall
be
persons and those living with them is
competent to act as a guardian of
prohibited.
another sibling below 18 years of age
These
include
the
denial,
to be applicable in the matters
discontinuation, termination or unfair
relating to admission to educational
treatment with regard to employment,
establishments,
educational establishments, healthcare
accounts, managing property, care
services, residing or renting property,
and treatment, amongst others.
standing for public or private office,

and provision of insurance (unless
based on actuarial studies).
Prohibits, the requirement for HIV
testing as a pre-requisite for obtaining
employment or accessing health care
or education.
operating
bank
Background
There are approximately 21 lakh persons
estimated to be living with HIV in India. The
prevalence of HIV is decreasing over the last
decade
receiving
but
the
percentage
Anti-Retroviral
of
PLHIV
therapy
(ART)
118
UPSC MIRROR
treatment are merely 28.82% against the
enterprise
global percentage of 41%.
among the SC/ST population and to enable
The Bill would provide essential support to
them to participate more effectively in public
National
in
procurement.
arresting the new spread of HIV infections
strengthening
and thereby achieving the target of Ending
capacity
the epidemic by 2030
goal
industry
Sustainable Development Goals. The Bill also
financial
aims to enhance access to health care
Procurement Policy, 2012 specifies that 4% of
services by ensuring informed consent and
procurement
AIDS
confidentiality
Control
for
Programme
to meet
HIV-related
testing,
culture
It
and
will
work
market
building,
best
entrepreneurship
access/linkage,
monitoring,
practices
support
done
towards
and
leveraging
schemes.
by
sharing
Public
ministries,
departments and CPSEs should be done from
treatment, and clinical research.
enterprises owned by SC/ST entrepreneurs.
National SC/ST hub and Zero

Defect Zero Effect scheme
About Zero Defect, Zero Effect (Zed)

Scheme
Prime Minister Narendra
The slogan of Zero Defect, Zero Effect (ZED)
Modi
the
was first mentioned by PM Narendra Modi in
National SC/ST hub and
his Independence Day speech in 2014. It was
launched
the Zero Defect, Zero Effect (ZED) scheme for
given
Micro,
Enterprises
manufacturing products with a minimal
(MSMEs) at Ludhiana in Punjab. Besides, he
negative impact on the environment. ZED
also presented National Awards to MSMEs.
Scheme aims to rate and handhold all
He also distributed 500 traditional wooden
MSMEs to deliver top quality products using
charkhas (spinning wheels) among women.
clean technology. It will have sector-specific
About National SC/ST Hub
parameters for each industry. MSME sector is
The
Small,
objective
and
of
Medium
the
SC/ST
(Schedule
Castes/Schedule Tribes) Hub is to provide

professional support to entrepreneurs from
the
SC/ST.
It
also
seeks
to
for
producing
high-quality
crucial for the economic progress of India

and this scheme will help to match global
quality control standards.
promote
119
UPSC MIRROR
ZED Scheme is meant to raise quality levels

in unregulated MSME sector which is the
engine of growth for the Indian economy.
MSME sector drives almost 38% of nations
GDP and
employees.
around employs 110

The
scheme
will
million
be
the
cornerstone of the Central Governments

flagship Make in India programme, which is
aimed
at
turning
manufacturing
India
hub,
into
global
generating
jobs,
boosting growth and increase incomes.
New Delhi to address

interventions in combating micronutrient
malnutrition in the country. The two-day
summit was co-hosted by the Food Safety
and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) in
related
central
development
partners. The Summit had brought together

experts from nutrition and development
communities as well as representatives from
state
governments,
technical
supporters,
academics and donors to beneficiaries.
adding
micronutrients
i.e.
essential trace elements and vitamins into

the food. It is an integrated approach to
prevent
micronutrient
deficiencies
and
complements other approaches to improve

health and nutrition. Food fortification does
not require changes in existing food habits
and patterns nor individual compliance.
quickly
and
can
produce
nutritional benefits and improve the health of
recently inaugurated in
and
of
introduced
Fortification of Food was
ministries/departments
process
is socio-culturally acceptable. It can be
The National Summit on
with
Food fortification or enrichment is the
It does not alter characteristics of food and
National Summit on
Fortification of Food
inaugurated
partnership
About Food Fortification
people in a short period of time. It also safe

and cost effective. This enrichment process
has proven as an effective strategy to meet
the nutritional needs of a large number of
people across various sections of the society,
including the poor and underprivileged,
pregnant women and young children.
The FSSAI has formulated a Food Safety and
Standards
Regulations,
(Fortification
2016,
of
Foods)
comprehensive
regulation on fortification of foods in the

country. These regulations set standard
guidelines
for
encourage
the
food
fortification
production,
120
and
manufacture,
UPSC MIRROR
distribution,
sale
and
consumption
of
calculated by taking into account four
fortified foods. They also assign the specific
indicator
role
food
Undernourished population (1/3rd weight),
fortification
(ii) Child wasting (1/6th weight), (iii) Child
of
FSSAI
fortification
and
in
promotion
to
make
for
parameters.
They
are
(i)
mandatory.
stunting (1/6th weight) and (iii) Infant
India ranked 97th in 2016

Global Hunger Index
mortality rate (1/3rd weight).

As per the 2016 GHI, there is a widespread
has
been
and chronic lack of balanced food in India.
ranked
at
97th
About 15% of under-5 children are `wasted
among
the
118
and 39% of under-5 children are stunted.
in
2016
The under-5 mortality rate is 4.8% in India,
Global Hunger Index
partially reflecting the fatal synergy of
(GHI). In 2016 GHI,
inadequate
India has scored low
environments. Estimated 15% population is
28.5
undernourished and lacks inadequate food
India
countries
on
0-100-
nutrition
and
unhealthy
point scale of the index describing Indias
intake, both in quantity and quality.
hunger situation as serious. The index was
Though India runs two of the worlds biggest
released annually by the International Food
childrens nutrition programmes, malnutrition
Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) since 2006.
continues
The GHI is a multidimensional statistical tool
programmes are ICDS (Integrated Child
used to describe the state of countries
Development Services) for children under 6
hunger situation. It ranks countries on a 100-
years and the mid-day meal programme for
point scale. Zero on the scale is the best
school going kids up to the age of 14. The
score (no hunger), and 100 is the worst. It
main reasons for the sorry state in India are
highlights successes and failures in hunger
endemic poverty, unemployment, lack of
reduction and provides insights into the
sanitation and safe drinking water, and lack
drivers of hunger. Thus, GHI aims to trigger
of effective health care.
to
haunt
India.
actions to reduce hunger. The GHI is
121
These
two
UPSC MIRROR
instituted by the United Nations General
Stunted
Deficiency in height in relation to age reflects
chronic undernutrition.
Assembly
(UNGA)
by
adopting
Canada
backed Resolution in December 2011. The

observation of the day supports more
Wasted
opportunity
Low weight in relation to a childs height
awareness of gender inequality faced by girls
reflects acute undernutrition.
worldwide based on their gender. This
October 11: International Day

of the Girl Child
The International Day of
the Girl Child (IDGC) is
observed
every
year
throughout the world on
for
girls.
It
also
increases
inequality includes areas such as the right to

education, nutrition, medical care, legal rights
and protection from discrimination, violence,
and unfree child marriage.
October 10: World Mental

Health Day
11 October to recognize girls rights and the
The World Mental Health
unique challenges girls face around the
Day (WMHD) is observed
world. The observance of the day seeks to
every year on 10 October
increase awareness of gender inequality
to raise awareness about mental health
faced by girls worldwide based on their
issues around the world and mobilizing
gender and supports more opportunity for
efforts
girls. This year it was the fifth edition of this
Observance of the day seeks to provide an
day after it was observed for the first time in
opportunity for all stakeholders working on
2012.
mental health issues to talk about their work
The theme for 2016 day of the girl child is

Girls Progress = Goals Progress. It calls for
action for increased investment in collecting
and analyzing girl-relevant, girl-focused and
sex-disaggregated data. Background The
International Day of the Girl Child (IDGC) was
in
support
of
mental
health.
and measures to be taken to make mental

health care a reality for the people. The
theme for 2016 is Psychological First Aid. It
highlights
the
importance
of
both
psychological and social support to persons

suffering from mental health issues. The 2016
WMHD campaign aims to encourage people
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UPSC MIRROR
to take personal ownership of their own
Top 5 Countries in 2016 Report:
mental health and wellbeing. It focuses on a
Iceland (1st), Finland (2nd), Norway
simple, personal mental health promise that
(3rd), Sweden (4th) and Rwanda (5th).
can be made by anyone, regardless of their

own mental health.
In this edition, India has overtaken

China which is ranked 99th.
The improvement in Indias ranking is
Background
driven largely by major improvements
The World Mental Health Day is an initiative

of the World Federation for Mental Health
(WFMH) and is recognised by World Health
Organisation (WHO). It was first celebrated in
1992.
in education, where it has managed to

close its gap entirely in primary and
secondary education.
In the case of education attainment,
India has made considerable strides
WEFs Global Gender Gap

Report 2016
moving up from the 125th rank in

2015 to 113th in 2016.
India has been ranked
On
economic
participation
and
144
opportunity too, India has moved up
countries on the World
to 136th rank in 2016, from 139th in
87th
out
of
Economic Forums (WEF) Global Gender Gap
the year 2015.
Report 2016. India has climbed 21 spots from
On health and survival, India has made
108th position in 2015. The report measures
little progress moving up from one
gender gap as progress towards parity
place to 142nd rank compared to
between men and women in four areas (i)
141st in 2015.
Educational
attainment,
(ii)
Health
and
On
political
empowerment,
India
survival, (iii) Economic opportunity and (iv)
continues to be ranked 9th in the
Political empowerment.
world.
Key Points
The global march towards parity in key

economic
pillar
has
slowed
down
dramatically. This gap stands at 59% which is

now larger than at any point since 2008. As a
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UPSC MIRROR
consequence, global economic gender gap

will now not close until the year 2186. The
gender gap in India has narrowed down. But
India still remains one of the worst countries
in the world for women in terms of labour
force participation, income levels as well as
health and survival. India has closed its
gender gap by 2% in a year (2016), but much
work remains to be done to empower
women in the economic sphere.
India
continues to rank third-lowest in the world

on Health and Survival, remaining the worlds
least-improved country over the past decade.
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UPSC MIRROR
Miscellaneous
16 October: World Food Day

The
World
Food
Day is celebrated
17 October: International Day

for the Eradication of Poverty
globally
on
16
October to mark the foundation of Food and

Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United
Nations in 1945. The observation of the day
aims to raise public awareness about hunger
challenges and encourage people around the
world to take action in the fight against
hunger. 2016 Theme: Climate is changing.
The International Day for the Eradication of
Food and agriculture must too. It highlights
Poverty is celebrated internationally on 17
the issue of food security related to climate
October for the eradication of poverty
change.
throughout the world. The day seeks to
practices for growing more food with less
promote
area of land and use natural resources wisely.
awareness
among
people
to
eradicate poverty and destitution around the

world, particularly in developing countries.
The theme for the year 2016 is Moving from
humiliation and exclusion to participation:
Ending poverty in all its forms. It highlights
the importance to recognize and address the
humiliation and exclusion suffered by many
people living in poverty. The United Nations
had declared 17 October as the International
It
calls
adopting
Background: The World Food Day was

declared
in
November
1979
by
FAOs
Member Countries at the 20th General

Conference of FAO to raise awareness of the
issues behind poverty and hunger. For the
first time, it was celebrated on 16 October
1981 and the idea of celebrating the WFD
worldwide
was
mooted
Delegation to FAO.
Day for the Eradication of Poverty by

adopting a resolution on 22 December 1992.
For the first time, it was observed in 1993.
sustainable
125
by
Hungarian
UPSC MIRROR
About
Food
and
Agriculture
epic.
Organisation (FAO)
FAO is an agency of the United Nations
established on 16 October 1945 with its
Headquarters:
Rome,
Italy.
It
leads
international efforts to defeat hunger. Its

parent organization is UN Economic and
Social Council (UNESCO). It is a neutral forum
serving both developed and developing
countries where all nations meet as equals to
negotiate agreements and debate policy. Its
Motto is Let there be bread. FAO meet the
demands posed by major global trends in
agricultural development
and challenges
faced by member nations. It helps countries

in
transition
the life of a saint or a story from an Indian
modernize
and
improve
agriculture, forestry, and fisheries practices,
It is an art form composed of storytelling,

music, drama, dance, poetry, and philosophy
in South India especially in villages of Andhra
Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. It had
originated from Ajjada village of Srikakulam
in Coastal Andhra. Its aim is to imbue truth
and righteousness in the minds of people
and sow the seeds of devotion in them. It
also
aims
to
educate
people
about
knowledge of atman (self) through stories

and show them the path of liberation.
Harikatha at its peak was a popular medium
of entertainment, which had helped to
transmit cultural, educational and religious
values to the masses.
ensuring good nutrition and food security for
Harikatha involves the narration of a story,
all.
intermingled with various songs relating to
Harikatha: traditional art of

story-telling in South India
Harikatha, a traditional
art of story-telling was
in news for its revival
due to patronage from the various cultural
organisation. Harikatha is a form of Hindu
religious discourse in which the storyteller
explores a religious theme, usually based on
the story. The subject for the Harikatha story

may be any Hindu religious theme. Usually,
the narration of story involves numerous
sub-plots and anecdotes, which are used to
emphasise various aspects of the main story.
The main storyteller is usually assisted by one
or more co-singers, who elaborate the songs
and Mridangam accompanist. The storyteller
uses a pair of cymbals to keep the beat.
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UPSC MIRROR
October 9: World Post Day
which
The World Post Day is

observed each year on
October
awareness
to
spread
about
the
was
established
in
1865.
Its
headquarters are located in the Swiss capital

Berne. It has 192 member countries.
UPU is the primary forum for cooperation
between
postal
sector
players
among
postal services and their role in the everyday
member countries. It helps to ensure a truly
lives of people and businesses. The theme for
universal network of up-to-date products
2016
and
and services. It sets rules for international
Inclusion. For more than 150 years, India
mail exchanges and makes recommendations
Post has been the backbone of the countrys
for growth in mail, financial and parcel
communication network. It is the largest
services volumes and also to improve the
postal network in the world providing mail
quality of service for customers.
parcel, banking, money transfer, insurance
EC partners with Facebook to

encourage voter registration
is
Innovation,
Integration,
and retail services.
The Election Commission of
Background
India (ECI) has collaborated
The World Post Day was instituted at the
with social networking giant
Universal Postal Union (UPU) Congress held

in Tokyo, Japan in 1969. The day is
celebrated to mark the anniversary of the
establishment of the Universal Postal Union
(UPU) in 1874 in the Swiss Capital, Bern.
Universal Postal Union (UPU) is a specialized
agency of the UN that coordinates postal
policies among member nations, in addition
to the worldwide postal system. It was
established in 1874 and is the second oldest
international organization worldwide after
Facebook to register young

voters in 5 states, which are going to polls in
2017
aimed
at
encouraging
to
participate in the democratic exercise. These

five states are Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Goa,
Manipur, and Uttarakh. This is the first-of-itskind voter registration drive is to encourage
youth to participate in the democratic
exercise. The services of Facebook will be
used to link all the eligible voters who are 18
years and above to the National Voters
International Telecommunication Union (ITU)
youth
127
UPSC MIRROR
Services Portal (NVSP). Facebook users from
resolution 40/202 in 1986. The observance of
these five states will receive a reminder in
the day seeks to remind the world of its
their Facebook accounts News Feed sector
collective responsibility for the habitat of
to register to vote. By clicking on the
future generations.
Register
2 October: International Day of

Non-Violence
Now
button,
people
will
be
directed to the NVSP which will guide them

through the registration process. Facebook
The International Day of
has 148 million monthly active users in India.
Non-violence
3 October: World Habitat Day

The
World
Habitat
Day
is
being
celebrated on 2 October
throughout
the
world
on
the
birth
(WHD) is observed every
anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. Observance
year on the first Monday of
of this day seeks to promote the principles of
October throughout the world. This year it
non-violence through education and public
was observed on 3 October 2016. The theme
awareness and is observed by all member
for 2016 WHD is Housing at the Centre. It
countries of the UN. In India, this day is
aims to raise awareness about the need for
celebrated as Gandhi Jayanti to mark the
affordable housing for all in urban areas,
birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi who
cities, and towns. Focus of the theme Access
was the leader of Indian independence
to adequate housing is a global challenge
movement and also a pioneer of the
due growing fast with urbanization.
philosophy of non-violence. The International
Around one-quarter of the worlds urban

population continues to live in informal
settlements and slums. An increasing number
of urban dwellers, especially the poor and
vulnerable groups are living in precarious
conditions. The United Nations General
Assembly had every year on the first Monday
of October as World Habitat Day by passing
Day of Non-violence was established by the

UN General Assembly (UNGA) by passing the
resolution in 2007 in an effort to spread the
message of non-violence. The resolution
reaffirms the universal relevance of Mahatma
Gandhis principle of non-violence and desire
to secure a culture of peace, tolerance,
understanding and non-violence.
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UPSC MIRROR
Small News
chairman of Mitsubishi Motors Corp
Appointment
the
as Japan's second-biggest automaker.

Since 1999, Nissan has been part of
Arundhati Bhattacharya will remain

the chairperson of the State Bank of
India (SBI) for another year. She will
oversee the merger of 6 smaller
commercial banks into the country's
largest lender.
Somesh
Sharma
of
Rashtradoot
Saptahik has been elected President of

The Indian Newspaper Society for the
year
2016-17.
Chandran
He
succeeds
of
PV
Grihalakshmi
(Mathrubhumi Group).
Senior IAS officer Ajay Kumar Bhalla
was on 14 October 2016 appointed as
the Director General of Foreign Trade
(DGFT).
Indian foreign service, 1992 batch
officer, Shri Amandeep Singh Gill has
been
appointed
as
the
next
Ambassador of India to the UN

Conference on Disarmament, Geneva,
announced by the Ministry of external
affairs on 16 October 2016.
Nissan Motor Co Ltd will appoint its
chief executive, Carlos Ghosn,
RenaultNissan
partnership
Alliance,
between
Nissan
a
and
French automaker Renault.

The
Centre
Subramania
has
appointed
Kumar
as
Executive
Director (ED) of Indian Overseas Bank

(IOB).
Prior
Kumar was
to
this
appointment,
Executive Director of
Indian Bank.
Rajeev Sharma has taken over as the
Chairman and Managing Director of
state-run Power Finance Corporation
(PFC) with effect from October 1st,
2016.
The Government has appointed Indian
Revenue Service officer Sushil Chandra
as the next chairman of the Central
Board of Direct Taxes. ii.
Former Prime Minister of Portugal,
Antonio Guterres is poised to become
the next Secretary-General of the
United Nations after the Security
Council declared him to be the
unanimous choice in the sixth straw
poll.
as
129
UPSC MIRROR
Jammu and Kashmir Bank appointed

Parvez Ahmed as Chairman and CEO
of the bank. He has been appointed
Chairman for a period of three years,
Senior IPS officer Karnal Singh on 2510-2016 was appointed the chief of
Directorate(ED),
the
agency entrusted with probing money

laundering cases. The appointments
committee
of
the
cabinet
has
approved the appointment of Singh as

director, Enforcement Directorate (ED)
till August 31, 2017, ie the date of his
Kristalina Georgieva, a former head of

EU humanitarian affairs and viceof
the
European
commission, has been appointed the

chief executive of the World Bank. The
Bulgarian, who recently lost out in the
race to become UN secretary general,
will report to the banks president, Jim
Yong Kim. Although the title of CEO is
newly
created,
Awards
Airport has been awarded as "Best
Tourist Friendly Airport" under the
category for "State Annual Excellence
Awards (2015-16)" by Andhra Pradesh
Tourism.
Gujarats 900-year-old World Heritage
Site Rani ki Vav beat 10 other iconic
heritage structures across the country
to bag an award for the Cleanest
Iconic Place at the Indian Sanitation
superannuation.
president
finance minister in July.
Airport Authority of India's Tirupati
Jammu and Kashmir Bank
Enforcement
officer, who was appointed Indonesian
Georgieva
effectively
replace
Indrawati,
formerly
Sri
the
will
Mulyani
banks
managing director and chief operating
Conference
(INDOSAN)
2016
at
Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi.

A 16-year-old Indian-origin South
African teen has won a $50,000
scholarship, the grand prize at the
annual Google Science Fair for her
work using orange peel to develop a
cheaper super-absorbent material
that helps the soil retain water.
Young filmmaker Katyayan Shivpuri,
from Maharashtra, has won the first
prize at the Swachh Bharat Short Film
Festival (SBSFF) for his work "Murga".
The short film was directed by young
130
UPSC MIRROR
filmmaker
Katyayan
Shivpuri
from
Maharashtra.
The
excellence by the Hyderabad-based

Centre for Organisation Development.
International
Astronautical
Kirtiraj Kundlik Gaikwad, an Indian
Federation's renowned space scientist
scientist
U.R. Rao has been inducted into its
Packaging, has been awarded the
Hall of Fame for his contribution to
prestigious
the development of India's space
scholarship award for his research
technology. Rao, 84, is the Chairman
work
of
oxygen absorbing package in the field
the
space
agency's
Physical
with
on
active
the
IAFP
Department
Young
"development
Research Laboratory at Ahmedabad in
of
packaging
Gujarat.
sensitive food products".
of
scientist
of
for
novel
oxygen
Indian shooter Jitu Rai on 6 October
Eminent writer C Radhakrishnan has
2016 clinched a silver medal in the 50-
been selected for the Mathrubhumi
meter pistol event of the ISSF World
Literary Award in recognition of his
Cup Final at Bologna, Italy.
contribution to the field of literature.
Sprinter Srabani Nanda has bagged

the 24th Ekalabya Award for the year
The award carries a cash prize of Rs. 2

lakh, a citation and a statuette.
2016 in recognition of her sporting
The Film Society of Lincoln Center has
excellence. Srabani won gold in 200m,
announced Robert De Niro as the
silver in 100m and 4x100m relay in
recipient of the 44th Chaplin Award.
12th South Asian Games held in
De Niro will be presented with the
Guwahati in February. She had also
award at an award gala on 8 May
won bronze in 100m and 4x100m
2017.
relay in Asian Grand Prix Athletics in

Thailand in June 2015.
Paul Beatty became the first author

from the United States (US) to be
R. A. Mashelkar, former Director-
awarded the Man Booker prize, for his
General of CSIR, has been conferred
book, 'The Sellout'. Beatty's book was
the
awarded the 2016 prize of 50,000, in
Krishnamurthy
Award
for
the third year since the award was
131
UPSC MIRROR
opened to American writers. The Man

Booker
International
was
Railway Shooting Championship Cup
biennially
held at Saint Mandrier,France. Indian
rewarding an author for a body of
Railways team won a total 10 medals
work
any
5 Gold, 3 Silver and 2 Bronze to bag
language as long as it was widely
the Overall Championship at the 15th
available in English.
USIC- International Shooting World
established
in
2005,
originally
Randeep
Prize
Indian Railways have won the World
written
Guleria,
in
Head
of
Championship. The Western Railways
Pulmonology from the AIIMS and C S
members along with Coach Anuja Tere
Yadav, department of orthopedics at
Jung represented Team India. The
the Sir Ganga Ram Hospital have been
team won Gold in 50 Meter Rifle
selected for the prestigious Dr Bidhan
Event, defeating Germany and France.
Chandra Roy Award for excellence in

the field of medicine.
Portugals Renato Sanches on 24

October 2016 was awarded the 2016
Noted British statistician Sir David Cox
European Golden Boy award. Sanches
was named the inaugural recipient of
will be handed a trophy at a Monte
the International Prize in Statistics. He
Carlo
is honored for Survival Analysis Model
Manchester Uniteds Marcus Rashford,
Applied in Medicine, Science, and
Bayern's Kingsley Coman, and AC
Engineering. Like the acclaimed Fields
Milan
Medal, Abel Prize, Turing Award and
Donnarumma to bag the prize.
ceremony.
He
goalkeeper
defeated
Gianluigi
Nobel Prize, the International Prize in
A team from the Indian Army's Gorkha
Statistics is considered the highest
Rifles has won a gold medal at one of
honor in its field. It will be bestowed
the most grueling exercises in the
every other year to an individual or
world. Team 2/8 Gorkha was awarded
team for major achievements using
a gold medal in Exercise Cambrian
statistics
Patrol organized by the British Army.
to
advance
science,
technology, and human welfare.
The medal went to the 8 men of the

2nd Battalion of 8 Gorkha Rifles.
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UPSC MIRROR
Two Yazidi women, Nadia Murad
and Airlift will be screened at the
Basee and Lamiya Aji Bashar, who
upcoming
escaped sexual enslavement by Islamic
Festival of India.
State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) in Iraq,

have won Europe's top human rights
award,
the
Sakharov
prize.
The
announcement of the year's joint

laureates
was
made
following
decision by European Parliament on

27 October 2016. The Sakharov award
ceremony will be held in Strasbourg
International
Film
Day
The International Day of Non-Violence
is marked on 2 October, the birthday
of Mahatma Gandhi, leader of the
Indian independence movement and
pioneer
of
the
philosophy
and
strategy of non-violence.
Every year 1st October is observed as
on 14 December.
The team of Indian Roller Skaters
claimed their first ever International
medal in the sport. Vikram Ingale,
Nikhilesh Tabhane and Dhanush Babu
have won Indias first ever senior
international rollerskating medal, by
securing the bronze medal in the
3000m team relay event in Lishui,
SEVEN MARATHI films including

four feature and three non-feature
films have made the cut to be
screened at the Indian Panorama of
the 47th International Film Festival of
India (IFFI) in Goa from November 20
to 29. The blockbusters like Sultan,
winning
an International day of Older Persons.

The significance of Day is to raise
awareness about issues affecting the
elderly
and
to
appreciate
the
contributions that older people make

to society. This year, the theme is "Take
a Stand Against Ageism.".
The World Teachers Day (WTD) 2016
is being observed across the world on
People's Republic of China.
National-award
47th
Baahubali
5th October. The theme for the World

Teachers
Day
2016
is
Valuing
Teachers, Improving their Status.

World Mental Health Day is observed
annually on 10 October. This year
theme is Psychological First Aid. The
day is annually observed with an aim
to raise awareness about mental
133
UPSC MIRROR
health issues around the world and
recognize girls rights and the unique
mobilizing efforts in support of mental
challenges girls face around the world.
health.
The government of India will be
The Air Force Day 2016 is observed
observing the First World Tsunami
annually on 8 October across India.
Awareness Day on November 5. It will
This year is the 84th celebration of the
be observed during the upcoming
Day which began in 1932. On this day,
Asian
the most renowned aerobatics display
Disaster Risk Reduction (AMCDRR)
teams, Red Arrows of the Royal Air
2016. The conference is slated to take
Force, enthrall audience at Indian Air
place in Delhi between November 2-5.
Force Day celebrations in New Delhi.
Ministerial
Conference
for
The United Nations' International Day
World Post Day is celebrated each
for the Eradication of Poverty is
year on 9 October, the anniversary of
observed on October 17 each year
the establishment of the Universal
since 1993.
Postal Union in 1874 in the Swiss
moving
from
Capital, Bern. The theme for this year
exclusion
to
2016 is Innovation, Integration, and
poverty in all its forms.
Inclusion.
International
October
Day
of
the
Girl
15th,
This year's theme is

humiliation
participation:
Dr.
Abdul
and
Ending
Kalam's
is
birthday is observed as World Student
observed annually on 11 October; it is
Day by United Nations Organization
also called the Day of the Girl. The
annually.
theme for this year's International Day
respected as a scientist and as a great
of the Girl (11 October) is "Girls'
personality.
In
India,
he
is
highly
Progress = Goals' Progress: What
World Standards Day is observed
Counts for Girls". On December 19,
annually on 14 October. The theme for
2011,
World
United
Nations
General
Assembly adopted Resolution 66/170

to
declare
October
11
as
the
International Day of the Girl Child, to
Standards
Day
2016
is
Standards Build Trust".

International
Day
for
Disaster
Reduction is observed annually on 13
134
UPSC MIRROR
October. This year theme is Live to
Asian title came in 2013, was awarded
Tell:
a cash prize of $196,000 for the win.
Raising
Awareness,
Reducing
Mortality
Australian
The International Day of Rural Women
racing
driver,
Daniel
Ricciardo has won the 2016 Malaysian
is observed across the world on 15
Grand
October. The theme for the day for
International
the year 2016 is Climate is changing.
Malaysia. Max Verstappen finished
Food and agriculture must too.
second while Nico Rosberg ended at
24 October is celebrated as United

Nations Day since 1948. This year's UN
Prix
held
at
Circuit
the
in
Sepang
Selangor,
the third position.

India's
Harika
Dronavalli
defeated
Day will be used to highlight concrete
World No. 1 Hou Yifan of China to be
actions people can take to help
at a joint fourth position in the Isle of
achieve the Sustainable Development
Man international Chess tournament.
Goals.
This tournament took place from
The National Ayurveda Day is being
October 1st to 9th, 2016. Harika is
observed on 28-10-2016. The Ministry
now with five points after seven
of AYUSH is organizing a day-long
rounds, just one and a half points
national seminar on Prevention and
behind
Control of Diabetes through Ayurveda
Eljanov Pavel of Ukraine.
in New Delhi. The Ministry will launch

Mission
Madhumeha
through
Ayurveda on this occasion.
Sports
Indian golfer Gaganjeet Bhullar won
his 6th Asian Tour title, winning the
Korea Open 2016 in Incheon, South
Korea. The 28-year-old, whose last
Indian
the
championship
off-spinner
leader
Ravichandran
Ashwin today reclaimed the number

one spot in Test rankings for bowlers
following a career-best match haul of
13 for 140 in the third Test against
New Zealand in Indore.
Indian
boxer
Neeraj
Goyat
outpunched Australias Ben Kite to

retain the WBC welterweight Asia title.
The 24-year-old prevailed 120-110,
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UPSC MIRROR
119-109, 115-113 in a unanimous
WTA titles, a Grand Slam and a semi-
decision for the grueling 12-round
final finish in the year-ending WTA
contest against his 26-year-old rival.
Finals in Singapore.
The International Cricket Council has
India celebrated Diwali by winning a
decided to organize the first ever ICC
gold
medal
in
the
Mens
Asian
Women's World T20 event in 2020. A
Champions Trophy by beating arch-
decision to this effect was taken at the
rivals Pakistan 3-2 in the final in
ICC Board meetings which concluded
Malaysia. This is the second time India
in Cape Town. Cricket Australia, hosts
have won the title of this tournament.
for the men's and women's ICC World
India won the inaugural tournament in
Twenty20 in 2020.
2011.
India's 19-year-old shuttler Ruthvika
Zabivaka the wolf followed in the
Shivani Gadde won the women's
footsteps of Naranjito the orange,
singles title at the Russian Open in
Footix the football-playing rooster and
Vladivostok. Pranaav Jerry Chopra and
Fuleco the armadillo by being named
N Sikki Reddy added to India's tally by
as the official mascot of the 2018
winning the mixed doubles title at the
World Cup. The wolf, whose name
event.
according to FIFA means the one who
International
Federation
scores, received 53 per cent of the
appoints Jason McCracken as new
more than one million votes cast in a
CEO
poll, beating a tiger (27 percent) and a
The
Federation
Hockey
International
has
appointed
Hockey
New
Zealand's Jason McCracken as its Chief

Executive Officer.
Ace Indian tennis star Sania Mirza will
cat (20 percent).

The Indian Boxing Council, a licensing
body for the countrys professional
boxers, has been inducted into the
end the season as world's top doubles
World
Tennis player for the second straight
voting rights in the WBOs annual
year. Sania finished this season with
convention
seven Women's Tennis Association,
President Brig. PKM Raja attended the
Boxing
at
Organisation
Puerto
136
Rico.
with
IBC
UPSC MIRROR
meet in which the Indian body was
airports. Under the scheme, airlines
welcomed into the fold by WBO
will be offered a slew of sops at
founder Chairman Luis Batista Salas.
smaller airports such as waiver of
football's world governing body FIFA
landing and parking charges.
has ratified Navi Mumbai as a venue
North Korea won the 2016 FIFA U-17
for the Under-17 World Cup to be
Women's World Cup after defeating
held in India next year. Kochi became
Japan on penalties in the final of the
the first Indian city to be officially
tournament. North Korea, who were
declared as one of the venues for
the champions of the tournament's
hosting the U-17 World Cup after it
maiden edition in 2008, became the
received a green signal from a high-
first team to win the tournament
level delegation of football's world
twice. Spain's Lorena Navarro was
body.
awarded the Golden Shoe for scoring
India beat Iran 38-29 to win 2016
eight goals in the tournament.
Kabaddi World Cup India beat Iran 38-
The U-17 FIFA World Cup will be held
29 to win their third successive
in India from October 6 to 28 next
Kabaddi World Cup. A brilliant second
year, with the draw scheduled for July
half performance saw India stage a
7. The tournament will be held in six
memorable comeback as they beat
cities across the country, namely
Iran 38-29 in the title clash to lift the
Kochi, Mumbai, Guwahati, Delhi, Goa,
2016
and Kolkata. This will be the first time
Kabaddi
World
Cup
in
Ahmedabad on Saturday. Ajay Thakur
India
was the star performer claiming 12
football tournament.
points in the final.

The
Centre
unveiled
regional
connectivity scheme, known as UDAN

(Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik), with flights
priced at Rs. 2,500 for one hour of
flying time to and from regional
will
host
FIFA-accredited
Economy
Union
Finance
constituted
Ministry
Public
has
Debt
Management Cell (PDMC). The cell

was created to streamline government
137
UPSC MIRROR
borrowings
and
cash
manufacturing facility to be set up at a
overall
cost of nearly USD 91 million. The
objective of deepening bond markets.
agreement with KwaZulu-Natal Dube
The
Trade Port Special Economic Zone for
management
better
with
Joint
the
Secretary
Department
of
(Budget),
Economic
Affairs,
Cipla
BIOTECs
new
facility
was
Ministry of Finance would be the
concluded on the margins of BRICS
overall in-charge of the ODMC.
Summit in Goa.
The government has integrated 250
The five-nation group of emerging
and is in 10 states with the electronic
economies BRICS has agreed to set up
national agriculture market (e-NAM)
an independent BRICS Rating Agency
in the first phase. In April, Prime
in its efforts to challenge the western
Minister Narendra Modi launched the
hegemony in the world of finance.
e-NAM on a pilot basis with 22 and is
BRICS
in eight states.
association of five major emerging
Union
Cabinet
approved
pact
between Export-Import Bank of India

and
BRICS-promoted
New
is
the
acronym
for
an
national economies.
The Government has formally granted
a
license
to
British
Development Bank, along with other
Petroleum
development financial institutions of
Europe's third-biggest oil company, to
member nations, with an aim to
set up 3,500 petrol pumps in India.
strengthen trade and economic ties.
India currently has about 56,190 petrol
The New Development Bank (NDB)
pumps,
aims
operating a majority of them.
to
mobilize
development
resources
projects
in
for
BRICS,
industry
Petroleum
with
public
company,
sector
firms
Bank of America has unveiled a virtual
emerging economies, and developing
assistant
called
Erica,
that
uses
countries.
artificial intelligence and predictive
Indian pharmaceutical major Cipla has
analytics to learn consumers' personal
signed a memorandum of agreement
spending habits and offer financial
for
advice. It will help users understand
South
Africas
first
biosimilar
138
UPSC MIRROR
financial concepts and warn them of
Federal Bank and YES Bank to sell gold
imminent risks, among other things.
coins in denominations of 5 gm and
According to the World Banks Ease of
10 gm coin and 20 gm bar.
doing Business Report 2017, India
India has ranked very poorly at 133 in
now ranks 130 out of 190 countries.
a new Global Youth Development
New Zealand has surpassed Singapore
Index compiled by the Commonwealth
to become the easiest country in the
Secretariat on the countries' prospects
world to do business. The World Bank
for young people in employment,
is an international financial institution
education, health, civic and political
that provides loans to developing
spheres. India ranked 133rd in the
countries for capital programs.
index covering 183 nations, below
India and South Korea on 26 October
neighboring countries like Nepal (77),
2016 signed a revised Double Taxation
Bhutan (69) and Sri Lanka (31) and
Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) for the
trailing
avoidance of double taxation and the
average.
prevention
of
fiscal
evasion
behind
the
South
Asian
with
The new law to prohibit benami
respect to taxes on income. The
transactions will come into effect from
Provisions of the new DTAA will have
1st of next month (01st November
effect in India in respect of income
2016). Parliament had passed the
derived in fiscal years beginning on or
Benami
after 1 April 2017.
Amendment Act, 2016 to curb black
Public sector major MMTC (Metals

and Minerals Trading Corporation of
India) has joined hands with HDFC
Bank, ICICI Bank and Andhra Bank to
retail gold coins with a new buyback
option. Besides its own outlets across
the country, MMTC has tied up with
Indian Overseas Bank, Vijaya Bank,
Transactions
(Prohibition)
money.
Science and Tech

A new frog species, which closely
resembles the Graceful tree frog
(Litoria Gracilenta), was discovered in
Australias largest virgin forest in
Queensland. The newly discovered
139
UPSC MIRROR
species closely resembles the Graceful
line of succession to the Japanese
tree frog (Litoria Gracilenta).
throne
ICICI Bank has become the first Indian

lender
to
complete
banking
Chrysanthemum,
metaphorical name for the monarchy.

South
African
struggle
icon
and
transaction
using
Blockchain
Gandhian activist Mewa Ramgobin has
technology.
This
remittance
died at the age of 83 after a
transaction has been completed in
prolonged
partnership with Emirates NBD, a
former president of the Natal Indian
lender from the West Asia
Congress which fought discrimination
Ramgobin,
the
against Indians in South Africa
Death
Jessica Ennis-Hill has announced her
Parmeshwar
Godrej,
philanthropist,
and wife of Godrej group chairman

Adi Godrej passed away in Mumbai on
October 11, 2016.
Wajda, best known for chronicling

struggle
retirement from athletics. Ennis-Hill,

30, who won a gold medal for
heptathlon at London 2012, hinted
after winning silver at Rio 2016 that
Oscar-winning Film director Andrzej
Poland's
illness.
for
democracy
during half a century of communist

rule, has died at the age of 90.
Renowned writer and litterateur from
Uttarakhand, Dayanand Anant, passed
away at his residence in Bhowali near
Nainital.
Japanese Prince Mikasa, uncle of
Emperor Akihito, died at the age of
100 on Thursday, 27 October. He was
the oldest imperial family member in
she could leave the sport.

The Nobel prizewinning playwright
and actor Dario Fo, famous for his
cutting political satire in plays such as
The Accidental Death of an Anarchist,
has died aged 90.
Celebrated Kashmiri singer Raj Begum
passed away on 26 October 2016 in
Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir. Begum
was one of the most recognized
female singers in the Kashmir Valley.
She was 89. She was awarded Padma
Shri in 2002
the world. Mikasa was the fifth in the
140
UPSC MIRROR
Defence
Vladimir
formally inked the agreement for five

S-400 Triumf air defense systems and
becomes fourth country to have a
four stealth frigates and a joint
nuclear triad i.e. capable of delivering
venture to manufacture Kamov-226T
nuclear weapons by aircraft, ballistic
missiles.
Other
helicopters in India. The S-400 is
submarine-launched
countries
considered one of the most advanced
having
long-range missile systems in the
nuclear triad are Russia, United States,
world and can tackle all incoming
and China.
airborne targets at ranges of up to
Water Jet Fast Attack Craft (WJFAC)
400 km.
INS Tihayu was commissioned into the

Indian
Navy
by
the
Flag-Officer-
The
have
Bisht. The 315-tonne INS Tahiyu is the
has
quietly
signed
an
agreement with India to lease out a

second Russian Akula-2 class nuclearpowered submarine to the Indian
Navy. The attack submarine will arrive
in Indian waters in 2020-21. The lease
agreement was signed between PM
and
Patrol
(CORPAT)
commenced
and
at
Belawan,
Misc
Pakistan has officially postponed the
8-nation SAARC summit 2016, after 5
countries
India,
Afghanistan,
Bangladesh, Bhutan and Sri Lanka

dropped out of it. The SAARC Summit
was scheduled on November 9 and 10
in Islamabad, Pakistan.
Narendra Modi and Russian President
Indonesia
Indonesia in the Andaman Sea.
sixth WJFAC Car Nicobar Class vessel
the Eastern Fleet of the Navy.
India
Second Bilateral Maritime Exercise
Naval Command Vice-Admiral H.C.S.
to be commissioned and allotted to
28th
Coordinated
Commanding-in-Chief of the Eastern
Russia
BRICS
A. P. J. Abdul Kalam , India and Russia
Arihant into service. With this, India
and
the
On the birthday of India's Missile men
built strategic nuclear submarine INS
missiles
during
Summit in Goa.
India has completed its nuclear triad

by inducting the first endogenously
Putin
141
UPSC MIRROR
The European Union (EU) ministers

have approved the ratification of Paris
solutions, as well as industry-specific

opportunities.
Agreement (on Climate Change). This
Not only men but women can also be
decision brings the Paris Agreement
prosecuted under the Protection of
closer to entering into force.
Women against Domestic Violence
The Government has decided to raise
(DV) Act. The Supreme Court has
the Employees Provident Fund (EPF)
struck down the words adult male
investment in Exchange Traded Funds
from the pertinent provision in the DV
(ETF) from present 5% to 10%.
Act to lay down that a woman can also
India ranked 97th out of 118 countries

on
the
Research
International
Institutes
Food
(IFPRI)
file
complaint
against
another
Policy
woman, accusing her of domestic
Global
violence.
Hunger Index (GHI) in 2016, behind
India will host the Asian Ministerial
Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, among
Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction
others, but ahead of Pakistan and
(AMCDRR) next month. The three-day
three other Asian countries. It was
conference,
positioned at 80 out of 104 countries
November 3, is being organized in
the previous year.
collaboration with the UN Office for
Indias holdings of the US government

bonds touched a high of $123.7 billion
to
be
held
from
Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR

Doordarshan
and
Indira
Gandhi
in July, making it the 12th largest
National Open University (IGNOU)
holder,
have entered into an agreement for
US
Treasury
Department's
transmission of four Gyan Darshan
latest data showed.

HCL and IBM have entered into a 15-
educational channels. Gyan Darshan
automation,
ran successfully until June 2, 2014, but
development, and operations. This
was shut down by ISRO to facilitate its
partnership
migration from INSAT 3C to GSAT-10.
year
partnership
will
for
enable
the
both
companies to focus their technical

teams on native cloud and cognitive
Maharashtra
government
launched
'Kaushalya Setu', its skill development
142
UPSC MIRROR
program for students on 19th October
Cooperation 2016". This was a sequel
2016 in Mumbai. Under the Kaushalya
to the first exercise held on February
Setu
of
6, 2016. Soldiers of Chushul Garrison
Maharashtra State Board of Secondary
from India and of Moldo Garrision
& Higher Secondary Education, who
from
fail to clear Class X or SSC exam,
exercise.
initiative,
students
would be accommodated in the skill
China
Prime
participated
Minister
in
Narendra
the
Modi
development courses, so that they do
inaugurated the integrated terminal
not lose a year.
building of Vadodara's Harni
With the idea that there cant be a
The
Centre
unveiled
regional
smart city without a smart railway
connectivity scheme, known as UDAN
station,
Urban
(Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik),with flights
Development and the Ministry of
priced at Rs.2,500 for one hour of
Railways on signed an MoU under
flying time to and from regional
which railway stations and adjoining
airports. Under the scheme, airlines
areas will be redeveloped on smart
will be offered a slew of sops at
city lines for enhancing passenger
smaller airports such as waiver of
amenities, easy access to stations,
landing and parking charges.
the
Ministry
of
enabling optimal utilisation of land at
President
Pranav
Mukherjee
has
railway stations. convergence based
inaugurated the Sardar Patel Heart
city
Institute at Ankleshwar in Gujarat. He
development
will
result
in
qualitative improvement in city life.
also unveiled the statue of Sardar
As part of the ongoing initiative to
Patel situated in the institute premises
enhance interaction and cooperation
and is scheduled to deliver an address
between India and China, under the
at the institute in a short while.
provisions
of
Defense
The Cabinet approved the setting up
Cooperation Agreement, 2013, the
of an Indian Institute of Management
Indian and Chinese armies held the
in Jammu as part of PM Narendra
second
Modi's
joint
Border
exercise
"Sino-India
development
143
package
for
UPSC MIRROR
Jammu and Kashmir. The government
mining activity through automatic
recently set up an Indian Institute of
remote-sensing detection technology
Technology in Jammu
China
The Cofounder launches itself as
launched
the
two-man
Shenzhou 11 space mission, which is
India's first startup magazine that will
its
help
entrepreneurial
mission. The two astronauts will spend
ecosystem in the country through its
about a month in China's recently-
stories.The Cofounder, founded by
launched
Adhish Verma and Arunraj Rajendran,
Tiangong 2. While China claims its
is the first startup magazine that will
space
talk about real stories behind the early
purposes.
boost
the
stage startups and entrepreneurs.
longest-ever
manned
experimental
program
is
space
space
for
lab,
peaceful
In one of the biggest upheaval in the
India on 14 October 2016 announced
corporate sector, the Tata Sons Board
its decision to eliminate the HCF-23
has appointed Ratan Tata as the
gas. The announcement was made by
interim
Minister of State Environment, Forest
replacing Cyrus Mistry.
chairman
of
the
group,
and Climate Change (MoEFCC), Anil
PM launches 7 schemes worth Rs 5000
Dave at Kigali, Rwanda, at a meeting
cr in Varanasi. The schemes launched
of parties to the Montreal Protocol,
includes "Urja Ganga". Expansion of
where final negotiations are taking
Diesel
place to substantially reduce the use
dedication of 765/400 KV GIS Varanasi
of HFCs (hydrofluorocarbons) by 2030.
Power Sub-station and inauguration
The mines ministry on 15th October
of Varanasi Postal Region. Inaugurated
2016 came out with mining surveillance
second line and electrification of
system (MSS), a Pan-India surveillance
Allahabad-Varanasi
network
setting up of perishable cargo center
using
latest
satellite
technology, to check illegal mining.
Locomotive
Works,
rail
line
the
and
at Rajatalab Railway Station.
MSS is a satellite-based monitoring
Tiangong-2, the experimental space
system, which aims to check illegal
lab of China has successfully launched
144
UPSC MIRROR
a micro-satellite, Banxing-2 (the word

means
Companion
Satellite).
The
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has

launched
national
Schedule
micro-satellite is roughly the size of a
Castes/Schedule
desktop printer. At present, Tiangong-
Ludhiana. The SC/ST hub aims to
2 is orbiting the Earth with two
facilitate
astronauts on board.
reserved categories and increasing
India has climbed 21 spots to rank
Tribes
technology
hub
knowhow
in
to
procurement
by
public
and
87th on the World Economic Forum's
government
units
from
Global Gender Gap Report 2016. With
industrial units from existing 0.4% to
this jump in ranking, India has now
4%.
SC/ST
overtaken China which is ranked 99th
US Navy has commissioned its largest,
out of 144 countries. Iceland tops the
most expensive and technologically
latest rankings followed by Finland,
advanced destroyer, Zumwalt. The
Norway, and Sweden.
610-foot-long ship, commissioned in
The one-man judicial committee on
Baltimore also has an advanced power
One Rank One Pension submitted its
plant
report to the Defence Minister Shri
Zumwalt,
Manohar
billion.
Government
Parrikar.
had
The
Central
appointed
and
weapon
systems.
The
costing nearly USD 4.4
the
At a time when the Swachh Bharat
committee under the Chairmanship of
Mission is in full swing, the Union
Justice L Narasimha Reddy retired
Ministry of Tourism has conferred the
Chief Justice of Patna High Court.
Cleanest Tourist Destination on the
Hinduja Group flagship Ashok Leyland
Sikkim capital (Gangtok).Chandigarh
today launched - Circuit - the first
and Mysore were felicitated for 'Clean
Made in India electric bus. The bus
Cities
with a minimum seating capacity of 35
category' and Gangtok for 'Cleanest
to a maximum of 65 can run up to 120
Tourism Destination'.
kilometers on a single recharge under

standard test conditions.
in
million
plus
population
The Centre has constituted a fourmember Insolvency and Bankruptcy
145
UPSC MIRROR
Board
of
India
(IBBI)
under
the
(UN Headquarter). ii.
Chairmanship of M.S. Sahoo. The oath
the
of office was administered by Finance
agreement. COP22 will take place at
and Corporate Affairs Minister Arun
Marrakech in Morocco, 2016.
Jaitley in New Delhi.

Bengaluru's
Kieren
62nd
country
India became
to
ratify
the
World Space Week is an annual event

Dsouza
has
that is observed from 4-10 October
become the first Indian to complete
every year in various parts of the
the Spartathlon, widely described as
world including Europe and Asia.
the "world's toughest race". The 23-
World Space Week, 2016 is being
year old completed the 246.6 km
observed with the theme, Remote
distance in the 2016 edition, in 33
Sensing: Enabling our Future.
hours, one minute and 38 seconds.
The State Bank of India announced its
The Spartathlon is an annual run
entry into Myanmar by opening a
between Athens and Sparta in Greece,
branch in the capital city of Yangon,
with a reported success rate of 50%.
becoming the first domestic lender to
The Indian government has invited the
do so. The Yangon branch is the 54th
Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh
foreign branch of the nation's largest
Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to be
lender.
the
Indias
Film-maker and elephant researcher
Republic Day parade of 2017.This is
Prajna Chowta has been appointed
the first time that a leader of the
Chevalier de l'Ordre
United Arab Emirates will be honored
Mrite (Knight of the National Order
with the invitation of being the Chief
of Merit), one of the highest civilian
Guest at Indias Republic Day parade.
recognitions
of
government.
The
On
next
Chief
October
Guest
2016
at
(The
birth
National
the
du
French
appointment
of
anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi), India
Chowta by the President of the French
formally joined the Paris Climate
Republic comes in recognition of a life
Change Agreement by submitting its
devoted to caring for wild Asian
instrument of ratification in New York
elephants.
146
UPSC MIRROR
Delegates from 24 countries and the
Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid
European Union have agreed that the
rich tribute to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
Ross Sea in Antarctica will become the
on his 141st birth anniversary. The day
world's largest marine protected area
is being celebrated as Rashtriya Ekta
(MPA). Some 1.57 million sq km of the
Diwas
Southern Ocean will gain protection
Vallabhbhai Patel, one of the founding
from fishing for 35 years.
fathers of the Indian Republic, played
The Union Cabinet on 27 October

2016
gave
its
green
signal
for
establishment and operationalisation
(National
Unity
Day).
a key role in the countrys struggle for

independence.
The Telangana government organized
of a National Academic Depository
the
(NAD).
Academic
'Bathukamma' on at the Lal Bahadur
Depository aims at bringing another
stadium in Hyderabad. The event,
dimension and enhancement of the
attended by about ten thousand
vision of Digital India.
women, found a place in the Guinness
After
The
National
Sikkim,
becomes
defecation
Pradesh
Himachal
Indias
second
free
was
Pradesh
state
open
Himachal
declared
'Open
traditional
Book
of
state
World
festival
Records.
of
The
Telangana government has declared

'Bathukamma' as a state festival.
Dassault
Aviation
into
of
France
partnership
has
Defecation Free', becoming India's
entered
with
second state to get this status after
Reliance group to execute offsets for
Sikkim.
the recently concluded deal for 36
Bangladesh has arrested more than
Rafale fighter jets. This is the largest
900 fishermen and deployed the army
offset contract to be executed by any
to
defense company in India till date.
patrol
introducing
its
a
waterways
temporary
ban
after
on
Jharkhand has become the first state
catching hilsa in an effort to save the
in the country to implement Direct
hugely popular fish.
Benefit Transfer in Kerosene. The

scheme is being implemented in four
147
UPSC MIRROR
identified districts of the State from

October 1.
Powerful typhoon Chaba barrelled
toward Japan after it hit a South
Korean resort island causing flight
cancellations and flooding streets.
The first BRICS Under-17 football
tournament in Goa. The initiative of
the Government of India aims at
taking the ongoing interaction and
cohesion amongst the BRICS nations.
Social networking site Facebook is
collaborating
with
the
Election
Commission of India in five states,

which are going to polls next year, to
run a voter registration drive aimed at
encouraging youth to participate in
the democratic exercise.
148

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RBI PANEL MOOTS EASING BANK BRANCH NORMS ______ 23

INDIAN ECONOMY __________________________ 5

PANEL TO RESOLVE TELECOM PENALTY ROW __________ 25

UNION GOVERNMENT PROPOSES 4 GST SLABS _________ 5

INDIA & WORLD ___________________________ 28

PAYMENT BANKS REQUIRE RBIS PRIOR PRODUCT APPROVAL7

CABINET APPROVES MOU BETWEEN EXIM BANK AND NDB

CENTRE SIGNS LOAN PACT WITH WORLD BANK FOR EDFC 15

ANTI-DUMPING DUTY ON CERTAIN CHINESE PRODUCTS

INDIAS 1ST INTERNATIONAL ARBITRATION CENTRE

INDIA-PAKISTAN BORDER TO BE SEALED COMPLETELY BY 2018

INDIA RECEIVES FIRST IRANIAN OIL PARCEL FOR EMERGENCY

PAKISTAN WARNS INDIA AGAINST BREACHING INDUS WATER

BIOPHARMACEUTICAL COMPETITIVENESS & INVESTMENT

RUSSIA AND INDIA SIGN DEFENCE DEAL ON AIR DEFENCE

BIMSTEC COUNTRIES EXPRESS COMMITMENT TO COMBAT

8TH BRICS SUMMIT CONCLUDES IN GOA ____________ 38

INDIA, RUSSIA SIGN PACT TO SET UP 25 AGRO IRRADIATION

Copyright 2015 UPSC Mirror

CHINA WRAPS US OVER ASIA INTERVENTIONS_________ 43

BIOTECH-KISAN AND CATTLE GENOMICS LAUNCHED TO

RUSSIA & TURKEY CONSENT TO INTENSIFY MILITARY,

LIFE EXPECTANCY HIGHEST IN JAMMU AND KASHMIR: RGI 65

ABU DHABI CROWN PRINCE TO BE CHIEF GUEST ON 2017

INTERNATIONAL HOUSEHOLD SURVEY NETWORK TOOLKIT

REPUBLIC DAY ______________________________ 44

BRICS ADOPTS NEW DELHI DECLARATION ON EDUCATION 46

UTTARAKHAND HIGH COURT BANS SALE OF WHITENER ___ 66

CONTINGENT RESERVE ARRANGEMENT OF BRICS BECOMES

PM INAUGURATES 1ST NATIONAL TRIBAL CARNIVAL ____ 67

ELECTION RULES AMENDED TO ALLOW E-TRANSFER OF POSTAL

WORLD SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT SUMMIT ________ 49

INDIA SEEKS GREATER PHARMA MARKET ACCESS IN JAPAN 50

CENTRE PLANS TO SPEED UP IRRIGATION PROJECTS IN INDUS

MOU BETWEEN INDIA AND EUROPEAN UNION ON WATER

CABINET APPROVES MOU BETWEEN INDIA AND AARDO _ 51

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY ____________________ 70

INDIA, SINGAPORE SIGN THREE AGREEMENTS _________ 52

INDIAS COMMUNICATION SATELLITE GSAT-18 SUCCESSFULLY

MITRA SHAKTI 2016- INDIA-SRI LANKA JOINT MILITARY

EXERCISE BEGINS _____________________________

ISRO LAUNCHED LANDING TESTS FOR CHANDRAYAAN-2

PROTEIN-ENRICHED RICE VARIETY DEVELOPED BY IGKV

NO RELOOK INTO ALLOCATION OF KRISHNA WATER: TRIBUNAL

RAILWAY MINISTRY TIED UP FOR SMART RAILWAY STATIONS

KAUSHALYA SETU SKILL-DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME ___ 57

MILK OF TASMANIAN DEVILS COULD FIGHT SUPERBUGS:

JAPANESE ENCEPHALITIS CLAIMS 54 LIVES IN ODISHAS

MALKANGIRI DISTRICT _________________________ 58

INDIAN NAVY COMMISSIONS INS TIHAYU ___________ 75

CENTRE APPROVES ESTABLISHMENT OF IIM IN JAMMU___ 58

NPL SCIENTISTS PRODUCE ELECTRICITY FROM WATER

IAE TO PARTNER WITH INDIA FOR ITS GLOBAL LED

WITHOUT USING ENERGY

THREE MEGA HEPS INAUGURATED IN HP ____________ 77

EC BANS USING PUBLIC SPACE FOR PROPAGATING SYMBOL 60

INDIA COMPLETED NUCLEAR TRIAD BY COMMISSIONING INS

URBAN AREAS OF GUJARAT, ANDHRA PRADESH DECLARED

ASHOK LEYLAND UNVEILED FIRST INDIA-MADE ELECTRIC BUS

JHARKHAND BECOMES 1ST STATE TO IMPLEMENT DBT IN

SATELLITE-BASED ILLEGAL MINING DETECTION SYSTEM-MSS

UDAN SCHEME FOR REGIONAL AIR CONNECTIVITY _____ 62