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4. Rosewood ......................................................................................................................................... 27
5. Vulture and Raptor survey ............................................................................................................... 28
6. Asian Waterbird Census (AWC)...................................................................................................... 29
7. Crocodile Census ............................................................................................................................. 29
8. Cyclone Pabuk ................................................................................................................................. 30
9. Deteriorating Shola Grasslands ........................................................................................................ 30
10. Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI), 2019 ........................................................................ 31
11. National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) ....................................................................................... 32
12. Airpocalypse III Report ................................................................................................................. 34
13. South Asian Nitrogen Hub ............................................................................................................. 34
14. Alliance to End Plastic Waste (AEPW) ......................................................................................... 35
15. Methanol Blending......................................................................................................................... 35
16. Renuka Dam ................................................................................................................................... 36
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY .......................................................................................................... 38
1. Digital Detox app ............................................................................................................................. 38
2. Ultima Thule .................................................................................................................................... 38
3. Chang’e-4 lunar probe/Yutu 2 ......................................................................................................... 39
4. Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS)................................................................................. 39
5. Subglacial Antarctic Lakes Scientific Access (SALSA) ................................................................. 40
6. X-Calibur telescope.......................................................................................................................... 40
7. MICROSAT-R and KALAMSAT ................................................................................................... 41
8. Formalin in Fish ............................................................................................................................... 42
9. Zearalenone ...................................................................................................................................... 42
10. CMB-Bharat ................................................................................................................................... 42
11. Superbug blaNDM-1 ...................................................................................................................... 43
SOCIAL ISSUES .................................................................................................................................... 44
1. 70 point Performance Index ............................................................................................................. 44
2. Rare diseases .................................................................................................................................... 44
3. Devadasi system ............................................................................................................................... 45
4. National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction (2018-2023) .................................................... 46
5. ASER Report.................................................................................................................................... 47
6. First Human Rights Channel ............................................................................................................ 49
DEFENCE AND SECURITY ................................................................................................................. 50
1. Defence manufacturing rules eased ................................................................................................. 50
2. Global Risks Report 2019 ................................................................................................................ 51
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3. Medium-Range Surface-to-Air Missile (MRSAM) ......................................................................... 52
ART AND CULTURE ............................................................................................................................ 53
1. ‘Makaravilakku’ festival .................................................................................................................. 53
2. Monuments of national importance, 2018 ....................................................................................... 53
3. Panj Tirath – National Heritage site ................................................................................................. 53
4. Andhra’s petroglyph site .................................................................................................................. 54
5. Agasthyarkoodam ............................................................................................................................ 54
6. Harappan couple grave..................................................................................................................... 55
7. Mudiyettu ......................................................................................................................................... 55
8. Andhra Art and Craft ....................................................................................................................... 56
9. World Capital of Architecture.......................................................................................................... 57
10. Guru Gobind Singh ........................................................................................................................ 57
11. Pakke Hornbill Fest ........................................................................................................................ 58
MISCELLANEOUS ................................................................................................................................ 59
1. Mandal Dam project......................................................................................................................... 59
2. Asia Competitiveness Institute’s (ACI) EDB index ........................................................................ 59
3. Africa Centre for Climate and Sustainable Development ................................................................ 59
4. Global Talent Competitive Index 2019 ............................................................................................ 60
5. Project ReWeave .............................................................................................................................. 60
PIB CORNER.......................................................................................................................................... 62
1. Samwad with Students ..................................................................................................................... 62
2. National Health Authority................................................................................................................ 62
3. Yarn Bank scheme ........................................................................................................................... 62
4. Green – Ag Project ........................................................................................................................... 62
5. Implementation of Clause 6 of Assam Accord ................................................................................ 63
6. Reducing Carbon Emissions ............................................................................................................ 64
7. Manufacturing of Medical Devices.................................................................................................. 65
8. India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway ................................................................................. 65
9. Mission Indradhanush ...................................................................................................................... 65
10. Issues at WTO ................................................................................................................................ 66
11. India- Brazil ................................................................................................................................... 66
12. Labour Code on Industrial Relations ............................................................................................. 66
13. Gangajal project ............................................................................................................................. 67
14. NCDC’s model for cooperatives .................................................................................................... 67
15. Recombinant ELISA kits ............................................................................................................... 68
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16. #www : Web- WonderWomen ..................................................................................................... 68
17. India-Denmark ............................................................................................................................... 68
18. Sino-Indian Digital Collaboration Plaza (SIDCOP) ...................................................................... 69
19. Indus Food 2019............................................................................................................................. 69
20. Bilateral Swap Arrangement (BSA) .............................................................................................. 69
21. Womaniya on GeM ........................................................................................................................ 70
22. Global Housing Technology Challenge-India ............................................................................... 70
23. DD Science and India Science ....................................................................................................... 71
24. India-Australia ............................................................................................................................... 72
26. Saksham 2019 ................................................................................................................................ 72
27. UNNATI ........................................................................................................................................ 72
28. Lithium Ion Giga Factory .............................................................................................................. 73
29. ‘Shehri Samridhi Utsav’................................................................................................................. 73
30. National Museum of Indian Cinema .............................................................................................. 74
31. Exercise SEA VIGIL ..................................................................................................................... 74
32. Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT).............................................................................................. 75
33. India Africa Field Training Exercise (IAFTX) - 2019 ................................................................... 75
34. Philip Kotler Award ....................................................................................................................... 75
35. Bio-Jet Fuel .................................................................................................................................... 76
36. Vande Bharat Express .................................................................................................................... 76
37. Republic Day folk dances .............................................................................................................. 77
38. National Agricultural Higher Education Project (NAHEP) ........................................................... 77
39. International Stock Taking Conference on Tiger Conservation .................................................... 77
40. Programme for International Students Assessment (PISA) ........................................................... 78
41. Domestic Council for Gems & Jewellery ...................................................................................... 78
42. GST Appellate Tribunal ................................................................................................................. 79
ACTS/BILLS CORNER ......................................................................................................................... 80
1. 103rd Constitutional Amendment Act .............................................................................................. 80
2. The Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Act, 2018
.............................................................................................................................................................. 81
3. Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, 2018 ......................................................................................... 83
4. The Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2018 .................................................................................... 84
5. Armed forces (Special Powers) Act - AFSPA ................................................................................. 85
6. The Aadhaar and Other Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2018 .................................................................. 87
7. The Dam Safety Bill, 2018 .............................................................................................................. 89
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8. The Arbitration and Conciliation (Amendment) Bill, 2018 ............................................................. 91
9. The New Delhi International Arbitration Centre Bill, 2018 ............................................................ 92
10. The DNA Technology (Use and Application) Regulation Bill - 2019 .......................................... 94
RSTV CORNER...................................................................................................................................... 97
1. Universal Basic Income ................................................................................................................... 97
2. Eradicating Poverty .......................................................................................................................... 98
3. Draft Emigration Bill ..................................................................................................................... 100
4. India’s China-Pak Policy ............................................................................................................... 101
5. Rising Trust in Governments ......................................................................................................... 103
LSTV CORNER .................................................................................................................................... 105
1. Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 2019 ........................................................................................................ 105
2. US Shutdown & Defiant Trump .................................................................................................... 106
YOJANA CORNER .............................................................................................................................. 108
1. Scientific Innovations in the service of the society........................................................................ 108
2. Capitalizing on Technology for Farmer’s welfare ......................................................................... 108
3. Atal Innovation Mission- Contributing to a Knowledge Based Revolution .................................. 110
KURUKSHETRA CORNER ................................................................................................................ 112
1. Empowerment of Youth through Skilling ...................................................................................... 112
2. Education Initiatives for Rural Youth ............................................................................................ 113
3. ICTs for Empowering Rural Youth ............................................................................................... 115
FRONTLINE/EPW CORNER .............................................................................................................. 117
1. The roles of top-10 central Intelligence and Investigation Agencies in India ............................... 117
2. Hollowing out of Judiciary ............................................................................................................ 119
MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS .................................................................................................... 121
ANSWERS ............................................................................................................................................ 124
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POLITY AND GOVERNANCE
1. Renaming Allahabad
News: The Union Home Ministry has approved an Uttar Pradesh government proposal to rename
Allahabad as Prayagraj.
Pending proposals
The plan to rename Faizabad district in Uttar Pradesh as Ayodhya is yet to come in from the State
government.
A proposal to rename West Bengal as Bangla is pending as the Ministry of External Affairs is
understood to have expressed its reservation over the new name, as it sounds similar to Bangladesh.
2. Lokpal
News: The Supreme Court fixed a February-end deadline for the search committee on Lokpal to
recommend a panel of names for appointment of the country's first anti-graft ombudsman.
Details
A bench headed by Chief Justice directed the Centre to provide the search committee requisite
infrastructure and manpower to enable it to complete its work.
The bench said it would hear the matter again in March.
Attorney General, appearing for the Centre, told the bench there were certain problems like lack of
infrastructure and manpower due to which the search committee was not able to hold deliberations
on the issue.
Background
The concept of Lokpal was taken from Sweden during the time of Nehru government and the terms
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‘Lokpal’ and ‘Lokayukta’ was coined by L.M.Singhvi.
Thereafter, the 1966 Administrative Reforms Commission headed by Morarji Desai had also
suggested various measures to check corruption in political circles and the formation of Lokpal and
Lokayukta.
The idea could not fructify as there was a debate on whether Lokpal’s jurisdiction should include
the Prime Minister.
Then there was another debate whether Lokpal should be a single member or multi-member forum.
The debate came to an end with Anna Hazare’s fast unto death when UPA government passed the
Lokpal and Lokayukta bill in 2013 which became into effect from 2014.
The Centre in September, 2018 had constituted an eight-member search committee headed by
former apex court judge Justice Desai to recommend names to the selection panel for appointment
of a Lokpal.
Though the committee had met several times, it had failed to select a Lokpal.
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Challenges
A Lokpal was not constituted for five years though the act was enacted in 2013.
The constitution of the Lokpal requires a Leader of the Opposition which is not there in the present
Parliament as the party in opposition could not garner 1/10 th of the seats in the Lok Sabha as per the
Constitutional requirements.
There are apprehensions on the dimensions the Lokpal institution could take and its likely clash
with other corruption investigating agencies.
Many states have appointed Lokayukta but does not have good experiences with the institution as
most of the cases carried forward are cases of misgovernance or non-governance rather than
corruption charges.
The institution also raises doubts given the present case going on in the highest investigation
agency, Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and how effective it would be in a democracy like
India.
There are apprehensions among the political class whether this institution would be used by
successive governments to raise cases against the previous governments.
Lokpal is dependent on CBI for enquiry of cases as it does not have a separate investigation wing.
States can refuse enquiry by the CBI in their states.
The reservation of posts in the institution is flawed as it is an ombudsman where expertise should
be given more priority.
Way forward
Lokpal should be instituted as per the Act.
The Lokpal should be strengthened to function in a hassle free environment.
The existing flaws in the institution should be plugged.
Any flaws that may be found after its formation should be dealt with in due course of procedure.
Details
It is one of the largest recruitment agencies in the country.
Unlike Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) and all State Public Service Commissions which
either have constitutional or legal status, SSC does not have a legal status though it performs similar
functions.
It is an “attached body” under the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT).
The SSC was created to ease the burden of the UPSC by taking over the recruitment for posts below
the Group ‘A’ level.
At present, the SSC has a sanctioned staff strength of 481 officers but is functioning with 75% of its
sanctioned strength.
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levels — Matriculation, Higher Secondary and Graduation — and would attract around 5 crore
candidates, making it the largest examination in the world.
Section126 of RP Act
Section 126 of the Representation of the People, 1951, prohibits displaying any election matter by
means, inter alia, of television or similar apparatus, during the period of 48 hours before the hour
fixed for conclusion of poll in a constituency.
It does not mention social media.
Also, there is no stipulation on the timing of manifesto launch for political parties.
Committee’s Agenda
Study and examine the present provisions of the Section 126 and other related Sections and identify
difficulties/critical gaps to regulate the violation of the said provisions of the act
Examine the difficulties faced in regulating media platforms during the prohibitory 48 hours in a
multi-phase election
Study the impact of new media and social media during the prohibitory 48 hours and its implication
in view of Section 126
Suggest changes to the model code of conduct (MCC)
Suggestions
It recommended that a 'Code of Ethics for Media during Elections for poll coverage by print,
electronic and internet-based/social media.
The code may be enforced by a committee led by senior Election Commission officer and
comprising representatives from various social media organisations, media regulatory bodies and
Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
The Model Code of Conduct (MCC) should be amended to ensure that political parties release their
manifesto at least 72 hours before voting ends in the first phase of polls.
The provision of “election silence” be extended to cover print and social media, internet, cable
channels and online version of print media.
Social media agencies be asked to label political advertisements to separate them from other
content, and maintain an account of expenditure incurred by political parties and candidates for
advertising on their platforms.
During multi-phase elections, when poll campaign is on in some seats while silence period in
others, political parties and candidates should not make any reference, direct or indirect, seeking
support for seats covered under the silence period.
Also, during such time, political party leaders should refrain from addressing media through press
conferences or give interviews on election-related issues.
Social media platforms should work with the EC to evolve a mechanism by which the latter can
flag content violating electoral law and social media sites can take it down as soon as possible.
EC should issue directions to private cable TV channels to follow NBSA guidelines for election
broadcasts during the poll period.
The recommendation was made after consultation with major stakeholders including political
parties, News Broadcasters Association, the Internet and Mobile Association of India and
representatives of Facebook, WhatsApp, YouTube, Twitter, and Google
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report objectively
not pursue unhealthy or communal/casteist poll campaigns
refrain from personal attacks on candidates
shun financial inducements for favouring a particular party or candidate
not publish ads showcasing achievements of party in power
Benefits
The recommendations made by the Committee, when implemented (after adoption by the ECI with
necessary modification or additions), will help in minimizing the possible interference of activities
which aim at indirectly influencing voters during the valuable silence period of 48 hours provided to
them.
Global Rules
Presently, France in the only country in the world to have a legal provision allowing employees to
refuse or not take calls and reply to emails after working hours. The law, which introduced the
"right to disconnect", was passed in the year 2017.
In Spain, regardless of the number of employees, all companies must create right to disconnect
policies. New York is also mulling over such a bill.
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German car and truck maker Daimler made the bold step of introducing software that automatically
deletes any emails you get while on vacation, back in 2014.
It was reported in 2012 that Volkswagen had reached an agreement with the company’s work
council that its Blackberry servers would stop routing emails to workers half an hour after the end
of their shifts, and only start again half an hour before their next shift.
There have been attempts to bring about such laws in other countries as well, including in Italy and
the Philippines.
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The State Election Commissions would hold elections to the autonomous councils, village and
municipal councils in the areas of Assam, Mizoram and Tripura. There would be a provision for
anti-defection too.
Renaming the existing autonomous councils as the present jurisdiction of these councils extend
to more than one district.
Karbi Anglong Autonomous Territorial Council (KAATC)
Dima Hasao Autonomous Territorial Council (DHATC)
Garo Hills Autonomous Territorial Council (GHATC)
Khasi Hills Autonomous Territorial Council (KHATC)
Jaintia Hills Autonomous Territorial Council (JHATC)
Tripura Tribal Area Autonomous Territorial Council (TTAATC)
Significance
The amendment would impact a population of about 1 crore tribals living in Assam, Meghalaya,
Tripura and Mizoram, according to the Centre.
The most important part of these amendments is that these will significantly improve the financial
resources and powers of the autonomous districts councils in Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram and
Tripura, fulfilling long-standing aspirations of the tribal population in these Northeastern States.
Sixth Schedule of the Constitution: Provisions relating to the administration of tribal areas in the
states of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram
The tribal areas in Assam, Tripura, Mizoram and Meghalaya have been constituted as
autonomous districts and fall within the executive authority of the state concerned.
The governor can divide the autonomous district into autonomous regions if there are several
tribes in an autonomous region.
The governor can increase, decrease, and alter the boundaries or names of autonomous
districts.
Each autonomous district has a District Council.
The schedule also specifies the legislative, executive, judicial and financial functions of the
Autonomous District Councils.
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INDIAN ECONOMY
1. RBI reserves ratio
News: A report by consultancy firm Quantum Advisors found that RBI's reserves as a percentage of its
balance sheet is among the highest in comparison to that of the central banks of 10 comparable
economies.
Details
The analysis compared the balance sheets of the
central banks of BRICS countries, Fragile Five
nations and three developed economies.
It found that the RBI’s reserves form 26.2% its
balance sheet. Only two central banks — those of
South Africa and Russia — have a reserve ratio
higher than this.
However, the bulk of these reserves are arising out of
the revaluation of its assets.
For example, 100 billion invested in 2010 at
USD/INR of 45, valued today at USD/INR of 70, will
show a valuation gain when reported in INR terms.
All such gains are non-cash, notional and are shown Image Credit: The Hindu
as higher asset values and as revaluation reserves on the liabilities side.
These gains from the currency exchange movement will be booked and the cash realised only when
the assets are sold.
Thus the RBI does not have very high free cash reserves that it can give back to the government.
RBI’s reserves
RBI maintains two major types of reserves.
1. A revaluation fund
It has to be adjusted depending on the changes in the value of the dollar and gold portfolios.
This is a standard accounting requirement.
A sharp depreciation of the rupee or a fall in international gold prices will eat into these
reserves.
Most of the reserves that RBI holds are in the form of revaluation reserves.
They have moved in tandem with the increase in foreign exchange plus gold holdings.
As a share of the RBI’s forex and gold reserves, revaluation reserves have declined slightly in
recent years.
2. Contingency reserves
It is needed for the Indian central bank to conduct its usual functions.
RBI's contingency funds have barely grown over the past years.
Almost all the increase in RBI’s capital base in the post-crisis era is because of revaluation fund
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rather than contingency reserves.
2. U K Sinha Committee
News: The RBI has appointed an eight-member expert committee headed by former SEBI chairman
U.K. Sinha to suggest long-term solutions for the economic and financial sustainability of the MSME
sector.
MSME sector
They are called the “engines of growth” in India.
Such enterprises contribute about 40% to India’s export and 45% in the manufacturing sector.
It also contributes around 8% to the GDP of India.
It provides employment to a large number of people in India.
Support and Outreach initiative was one of the recent initiatives launched for the MSME sector.
Details
The committee will review the existing status of digitisation of payments in the country, identify the
current gaps in the ecosystem and suggest ways to bridge them.
It will also assess the current levels of digital payments in financial inclusion.
The five-member panel will also undertake cross-country analyses to identify the best practices that
can be adopted in our country to accelerate digitisation of the economy and financial inclusion
through greater use of digital payments.
It will also suggest measures to strengthen the safety and security of digital payments as well as a
medium term strategy for deepening of digital payments.
The committee will submit its report within 90 days from the date of its first meeting.
Growth of digitalisation
India’s card payments increased 43% to 10.61 trillion rupees from the preceding year.
According to RBI data, (Unified Payments Interface) UPI-based payments increased 16 times year-
on-year to 1.01 trillion rupees.
Digital payments in India are expected to rise by five times to$1 trillion by 2023, according to
Credit Suisse.
Earlier committees
In 2016, a committee formed by the finance ministry under the chairmanship of former finance
secretary Ratan Watal submitted its report on the status of digital payments and the way forward.
After demonetisation in November 2016, the government set up a panel to promote digital
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payments under the leadership of Andhra CM Chandrababu Naidu.
An inter-ministerial committee for finalising amendments to the Payments and Settlement Systems
Act submitted its report to the finance ministry in 2018.
4. Tokenisation
News: Reserve Bank of India released guidelines on tokenisation for various card transactions,
including from debit and credit cards.
What is tokenisation?
It refers to replacement of actual card details with a unique alternate code called the ‘token’, which
shall be unique for a combination of card, token requestor and identified device.
Instead of using actual card details, this token is used to perform card transactions in contactless
mode at point of sale (POS) terminals, quick response (QR) code payments.
Guidelines
Permission has been granted to offer tokenised card transactions services to all channels such as
near field communication (NFC), magnetic secure transmission (MST) based contactless
transactions, in-app payments, QR code-based payments.
At present, tokenised card transaction facility would be offered through mobile phones or tablets
only and will be extended to other devices later based on experience.
Tokenisation and de-tokenisation shall be performed only by the authorised card network and
recovery of original Primary Account Number (PAN) should be feasible for the authorised card
network only.
The request for tokenisation and de-tokenisation should be logged by the card network and
available for retrieval.
A customer would not have to pay any charges for availing this service.
Benefits
It increases safety and security of the payment system as the card information is not disclosed to the
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website or merchant being transacted with.
Tokens are specific to a card, transaction and device. So, the token cannot be used by the merchant
or anyone else for any other purpose than it was actually intended for.
Also more secure features can be incorporated in a token to include other variables like value and
time of transactions to make it unusable for any purpose other than it is actually intended for.
Rankings
India is ranked at 41.
It has been classified as a ‘flawed democracy’ for four years.
India achieved a score of 7.23 on the index to maintain its position – the same it did last year.
This is the lowest ever score attributed to India in the index ever since its publication.
India ranks below the US (ranked 25th in the index) and other so called ‘flawed democracies’ like
Italy, France, Botswana and South Africa.
The countries at the top of the Democracy Index are Norway, Iceland, Sweden, New Zealand, and
Denmark.
They are each declared as “full democracies.”
Rankings
India jumped two positions from 81st in 2018 to 79th in 2019.
The country with the world's most powerful passport in 2019 is Japan.
Japan retained its top spot as the world's most travel-friendly passport owing to the document's
access to 190 countries.
China jumped almost 20 places in just two years, from 85th in 2017 to 69th this year.
Afghanistan, Pakistan and Nepal ranked further low at 104, 102 and 94 respectively.
Pakistani passport is better than only four other countries including Somalia, Syria, Afghanistan and
Iraq.
Details
WGC said increased market uncertainty and the expansion of protectionist economic policies will
make gold increasingly attractive as a hedge in 2019.
While gold may face headwinds from higher interest rates and US dollar strength, these effects are
expected to be limited.
Emerging markets like India and China, making up 70 per cent of global gold consumer demand,
are very relevant to the long-term performance of gold.
Structural economic reforms in these markets will continue to support demand for gold in jewellery,
technology and as means of savings.
Details
Vision 2040 highlights the growth potential in different sub-sectors of Indian aviation and the key
action steps are required to be taken to achieve the desired objective.
Vision 2040
Visions
The overall compound annual growth rate (CAGR) works out to around 9% in domestic and 7%
in international traffic during FY 2018-2040.
The CAGR has been calculated keeping in mind aviation is a long term plan where aircraft
procurement, airport development, air navigation system changes and skill development should
be done in a cohesive manner.
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The document talks about India having a robust 20-year plan that lays out the targets and the
path to get there along with time lines and clear accountability.
With the right policies and a relentless focus on execution, India can surprise the world by not
just meeting but exceeding the Vision 2040 targets
India’s aviation market
The Indian aviation market is on a high growth path.
Total passenger traffic to, from and within India, during Apr-Nov 2018 grew by around 15%
year on year as compared to around 6% globally.
India is now the seventh largest aviation market with 187 million passengers (to, from and
within India) in FY2017-18.
It is expected to be third largest by 2022.
Government initiatives that are bringing change
Nabh Nirman - for airport capacity augmentation
Digi Yatra - for paperless travel
AirSewa - for online passenger grievance redressal
Way forward
The tax structure for Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF), Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO)
and aircraft leasing may be gradually aligned with leading global jurisdictions.
The government may consider establishing a Nabh Nirman Fund (NNF) with a starting corpus
of around $2 billion to support low traffic airports in their initial phases.
Details
Status Paper on Government Debt for 2017-18 was released recently.
The report says Centre is moving in the right direction in terms of meeting the N.K. Singh Committee
recommendations on public debt while the states are not.
Debt
The Centre’s total debt as a percentage of GDP N.K. Singh Committee
reduced to 46.5% in 2017-18 from 47.5% as of March The N.K. Singh-headed FRBM
31, 2014. (Fiscal Responsibility and
The total debt of the States, however, has been rising Budget Management) Review
over this period, to 24% in 2017-18, and is estimated Committee report had
to be 24.3% in 2018-19. recommended the ratio to be
Concern 40% for the Centre and 20% for
The increase in the debt stock at the State level is the States, respectively, by 2023.
worrying because they don’t have the wherewithal It said that the 60%
to service the debt if it goes beyond a certain point. consolidated Central and State
They could then start getting into a debt trap debt limit was consistent with
situation. international best practices, and
was an essential parameter to
State’s outstanding liability attract a better rating from the
Outstanding liabilities of States have increased sharply credit ratings agencies.
during 2015-16 and 2016-17, following the issuance of
UDAY bonds in these two years
It was reflected in an increase in liability-GDP ratio from 21.7% at end-March 2015 to 23.4% at
end-March 2016 and further to 23.8% at end-March 2017.
The total outstanding liabilities, as a percentage of GDP, stood at 24% at the end of March 2018
and are expected to move upward to 24.3% at end-March 2019.
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It begins to look increasingly unlikely that the States will meet their 20% debt-GDP ratio target by
2023.
Way forward
The report says that the States do have some fiscal space to reduce their borrowing in the coming
years due to the large cash surpluses they hold.
State governments as a group have exhibited a tendency to hold large cash surpluses/investments in
Cash Balance Investment Account on a consistent basis while at the same time resorting to market
borrowings to finance their GFD (Gross Fiscal Deficit).
This indicates scope for reducing the quantum of market borrowings by State governments in case
they bring down their cash surpluses (parked as investment in treasury bills of the Central
government).
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POLICIES AND SCHEMES
1. Draft National Policy on Domestic Workers
News: The Union Ministry of Labour and Employment has notified the draft National Policy on
Domestic Workers.
Aim
It is aimed at providing recognition to domestic workers besides making them eligible for minimum
wages, social security and safe working conditions
Salient features
Inclusion of Domestic Workers in the existing legislations
Domestic workers will have the right to register as unorganized workers. Such registration will
facilitate their access to rights & benefits.
Right to form their own associations/unions
Right to minimum wages, access to social security
Right to enhance their skills
Protection of Domestic Workers from abuse and exploitation
Domestic Workers to have access to courts, tribunals for grievance redressal
Establishment of a mechanism for regulation of private placement agencies
Establishment of a grievance redressal system for domestic workers
Facts
As per the National Sample Survey, there are an estimated 39 lakhs people employed as domestic
workers by private households, of which 26 lakhs are female domestic workers.
The Central Government is already implementing Unorganised Workers’ Social Security Act, 2008,
to provide social security relating to life and disability cover, health and maternity benefits, old age
protection to the unorganised workers including domestic workers.
Details
Each beneficiary family will get four LED bulbs free of cost under the scheme.
The LED bulbs (9-watt each) will be distributed to the beneficiaries registered under the National
Food Security Act (NFSA) and the State Food Security Scheme (SFSS).
Benefits
It will benefit about 95 lakh families in the State.
Electricity bills of people will be reduced as they use incandescent or CFL bulbs available at a
lesser price but consume more electricity.
Details
Under the scheme, a group of Indian diaspora would be taken on a government sponsored tour of
religious places in India twice a year.
They will be taken to religious places of all major religions in India and the government will bear
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all the expenses including the airfare from the country of residence.
All people of Indian-origin aged 45 to 65 can apply and a group will be selected out of them with
first preference given to people from 'Girmitiya countries' such as Mauritius, Fiji, Suriname,
Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica.
Girimitya countries
Girmityas or Jahajis are descendants of indentured Indian labourers brought to Fiji, Mauritius,
South Africa, East Africa, the Malay Peninsula, Caribbean and South America (Trinidad and
Tobago, Guyana and Suriname) to work on sugarcane plantations for the prosperity of the European
settlers
"Girmit", refers to the "Agreement" of the British Government with the Indian labourers as to the
length of stay in Fiji and the Caribbean, and when they would be allowed to go back to India.
Details
Under this scheme, 100 days of employment will be provided to youths from economically weaker
sections in urban areas.
They will also be provided skill training.
The benefit of the scheme can be taken by such urban youth in 21-30 age group whose income is
maximum Rs 2 lakh annually. Rs 4 thousand per month stipend will be provided to the youth.
Six lakh 50 thousand youth of the state will be trained under the scheme.
It is aimed at providing employment to those people who have been left out of Mahatma Gandhi
National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme.
6. KALIA scheme
News: Krushak Assistance for Livelihood and Income Augmentation (KALIA) scheme has been
launched by Odisha to accelerate Agricultural Prosperity and reduce poverty in the State..
Details
Under the scheme, financial assistance will be provided to all farmers.
It is targeted at small farmers, cultivators and landless agricultural labourers.
All farmers will be provided Rs 10,000 per family as assistance for cultivation.
Each family will get Rs 5,000 separately in the kharif and rabi seasons, for five cropping seasons
between 2018-19 and 2021-22.
The scheme targets 10 lakh landless households, and specifically SC and ST families.
The KALIA scheme includes a life insurance cover of Rs 2 lakh and additional personal accident
coverage of the same amount for 57 lakh households.
Crop loans up to Rs. 50,000 are interest-free.
Employee of the Government/PSU and income tax payee/farmers are excluded from the scheme.
Benefits
The scheme will benefit 92% of the cultivators in the state.
It will include every category from big farmers to landless cultivators.
It is not linked to the amount of land held by the farmer.
The scheme has been made equitable, looking at the best-case/worst-case scenario problems of a
small farmer.
It will assist the elderly, sick and differently-abled population who are unable to take up cultivation,
by providing Rs 10,000 per household per year.
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INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
1. U.S. & Israel withdraws from UNESO
News: The United States and Israel have formally quit the United Nations Educational, Scientific and
Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).
Details
The withdrawal was announced more than a year ago amid concerns that the organization fosters
anti-Israel bias: blasted for criticizing Israel's occupation of East Jerusalem, naming ancient Jewish
sites as Palestinian heritage sites and granting full membership to Palestine in 2011.
The United States has pulled out of UNESCO before. The Reagan administration did so in 1984
because it viewed the agency as mismanaged, corrupt and used to advance Soviet interests. The
U.S. rejoined in 2003.
Impact
It serves a new blow to UNESCO, co-founded by the U.S. after World War II to foster peace.
The withdrawals will not greatly impact UNESCO financially, since it has been dealing with a
funding slash ever since 2011 when both Israel and the U.S. stopped paying dues after Palestine
was voted in as a member state.
Since then officials estimate that the U.S., which accounted for around 22 percent of the total
budget, has accrued $600 million in unpaid dues, which was one of the reasons for President
Donald Trump's decision to withdraw. Israel owes an estimated $10 million.
UNESCO
It is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) based in Paris.
Its declared purpose is to contribute to peace and security by promoting international collaboration
through educational, scientific, and cultural reforms in order to increase universal respect for
justice, the rule of law, and human rights along with fundamental freedom proclaimed in the United
Nations Charter.
It is the successor of the League of Nations' International Committee on Intellectual Cooperation.
UNESCO is best known for its work to preserve heritage, including maintaining a list of World
Heritage sites, and programmes to promote education in developing countries.
UNESCO has acted as a catalyst for the establishment of scientific unions and bodies such as
CERN and initiatives with far-reaching implications for sustainable human security and well-being,
such as the Man and the Biosphere Programme.
Gender Parity Index is released by UNESCO.
2. India-South Africa
News: India and South Africa sealed a three year strategic programme to further boost cooperation in a
number of key areas after talks between Prime Minister and South African (SA) President.
Details
SA President said his country was looking at a "result oriented" partnership with India through
implementation of the three-year strategic exchange programme.
The strategic programme will cover cooperation in a range of areas including defence and security,
trade and investment, the blue economy, tourism, IT and agriculture.
South African President was the chief guest at the Republic Day Parade. It was the fourth meeting
between PM and SA President within a year.
He will be the second dignitary from South Africa to be invited as chief guest to the military
parade, which is the highlight of the Republic Day celebrations. Prior to this, India had invited
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former president Nelson Mandela as the guest of honor at the celebrations in 1995.
Background of SA President
SA President is heading for elections at the same time of Indian elections in May, 2019.
The SA President, Cyril Ramaphosa was the trade union leader of South Africa which was the
crucial form of struggle against aparthied
He was the chief negotiator under Nelson Mandela with the white apartheid regime which led to
independence and the Constitution of Africa.
Defence cooperation
South African armaments firm Denel was blacklisted in 2005 by the then UPA government for
allegedly paying kickbacks to secure contracts from the Indian army in 2005.
Under that deal, the Indian army was to procure 700 anti-material rifles (AMRs). But the
procurement was put on hold because of the ban.
The ban was lifted following a May 2018 judgement of the Supreme Court, which dropped all
corruption charges against the defence company.
It came after a personal request from Ramaphosa to Modi during a July meeting in Johannesburg on
the sidelines of 2018 BRICS Summit.
India is presently manufacturing AMRs in one of the ordinance factories to be supplied to the
Border Security Force.
standards. South Africa’s Denel could sign an agreement with India to partner in defense
manufacturing under Make in India initiative.
Both South Africa and India have been cofounders in Indian Ocean Naval Symposium and Indian
Ocean Rim Association.
India and South Africa hold various naval exercises like IBSAMAR (India, Brazil and South Africa
Maritime exercise)
Significance
South Africa is a major producer of defence equipment, some of the technologies even the West has
borrowed when they were under sanctions.
The relations between both the countries have been strengthened with the visit.
The cooperation of both countries in multilateral for like Indian Ocean Rim, BRICS etc is also very
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active
It is also to be noted that 2019 is the 150th anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi and the 100th
anniversary of Nelson Mandela.
South Africa is situated at a strategic point in Indian Ocean. So, India’s concerns in the Indian
Ocean can be allayed by cooperation with SA to guard the Western part and Quad grouping for the
Eastern and Central part.
Way forward
The agreements signed will become effective only if they are sustainably implemented.
Africa has 54 sovereign territories and needs of the each of the states are different pertaining to their
history and development. So India needs to have a region specific approach while engaging with
Africa.
India’s engagement with Africa should not be seen as competing with China.
India has potential to provide services in Africa in a cost effective and better manner than China
which can face issues due to its language. India should therefore make use of this potential to
engage with Africa in education and other services.
Details
External Affairs Minister co-chaired the Dialogue that was also attended by the Foreign Ministers
of Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan and the First Deputy Foreign
Minister of Kazakhstan.
Though New Delhi as a policy does not hold talks with the Taliban, it has indicated that it supports
an inclusive peace process in Afghanistan.
India also proposed a dialogue on air corridors with the five countries of landlocked Central Asia in
an attempt to boost trade languishing below $2 billion for years.
The five Central Asia nations also backed an inclusive peace process in Afghanistan that is Afghan-
owned and Afghan-led.
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India has started negotiating a free trade agreement with
Eurasian Union. If it is implemented, India would be able
to hold free trade with Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and
Russia who are partners in the union.
A contingent of the Kazak army is serving as a peace
keeping force under the Indian command in Lebanon
India has solar energy relations with Tajikistan where
India has trained ladies in the country to become solar
technicians and has committed to develop energy in
several villages.
India has signed a large number of defence agreements
with the Central Asian nations.
The nations along with India are also part of common
forums like Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.
Significance
As Pakistan does not allow its territory to be used for
transit for India, India’s trade relations are sub-optimal.
So, this initiative is a significant one to connect the
Central Asian countries.
Though Japan does not have land or maritime borders
with the five Central Asian countries, Japan has been
holding talks with the since 2004. The present dialogue Image Credit: The Hindu Businessline
seems to be in a similar direction.
The participation of Afghanistan in the dialogue apart from the 5 countries is also significant as the
region is dependent on the peace, stability and prosperity in Afghanistan.
Any event in Central Asia also has an impact on India.
Iran is also significant to India due to the supply of oil.
Challenges
India’s trade ambitions with Central Asian countries may not be fulfilled soon as land trade passes
through Afghanistan which is not stable.
Air corridors can be used for transiting only expensive items like mobile phones, expensive
pharmaceuticals etc.
Any development in Afghanistan and Central Asia has the chance of being disrupted by Taliban
and other terrorist forces.
A large number of young women and men from these countries are part of the ISIS which can cause
further disruptions.
Details
Indian travellers are not required to have a visa if they have a valid passport, a photo identity card
issued by the government of India or an election ID card issued by the Election Commission.
A certificate of registration issued by the Embassy of India, Kathmandu, to Indian nationals is not
an acceptable travel document for travelling between India and Nepal.
However, the emergency certificate and identity certificate issued by the Indian Embassy in Nepal
will be valid for single journey for travelling back to India.
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Indians in Bhutan
The states of Assam (267 km), Arunachal Pradesh (217 km), West Bengal (183 km), and Sikkim
(32 km) share borders with Bhutan.
About 60,000 Indian nationals are employed mostly in the hydroelectric power or construction
industry.
Also, around 8,000 and 10,000 daily workers enter and exit Bhutan every day in border towns.
Indians in Nepal
The states of Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal and Sikkim share borders with Nepal.
About six lakh Indians live in Nepal.
It includes businesspersons and traders who have been living in Nepal since long, other
professionals like doctors, engineers, IT personnel and labourers etc.
These Indian nationals travelling to Bhutan need to carry their Indian passport with validity of six
months or voter ID.
Significance GCC
The announcement of Persian Gulf Regional The Cooperation Council for the Arab
Dialogue Forum is significant as it comes in the States of the Gulf originally known as the
wake of continued erosion of the Gulf Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), is a
Cooperation Council, which in the recent years regional intergovernmental political and
has been divided between the Iranian and the economic union consisting of all Arab
Saudi spheres. states of the Persian Gulf except Iraq.
The proposal is among the set of fresh initiatives Its member states are Bahrain, Kuwait,
that Iran has taken in recent months that also Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the
included Tehran connecting with the Taliban for United Arab Emirates.
peace talks.
All current member states are
It also comes in the wake of sanctions imposed
monarchies
on Iran by the US and the US asking all
countries to stop all transactions with Iran.
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ENVIRONMENT
1. Cinereous vulture
News: The Cinereous vulture was spotted for the first time in Jharkhand.
Details
It is usually during the winter that the Cinereous vulture migrates to warmer
places in India from the mountainous regions of Europe and Asia.
Earlier records of this migratory bird have revealed that it comes to northern
parts of India up to Rajasthan.
The Cinereous vulture was seen along with four other rare vultures, namely,
Himalyan Griffon, White-rumped vulture and the Long-billed vulture
Features
It is a distinctly dark large bird with a blacked-tipped pink beak.
It is also known as the black vulture, monk vulture, or Eurasian black vulture.
IUCN status - Near Threatened
Details
It was the last known species of Achatinella apexfulva.
It is a kind of species found in Hawaii.
The snail was a hermaphrodite, having both male and female parts. But, it
requires a partner to reproduce.
Most of tree and land snails of Hawaii are facing imminent extinction due to
invasive species and climate change.
Malacology is the study of mollusks.
Hawaiian Snails feed on the algae and the fungi that grow on leaves.
4. Rosewood
News: India has proposed to remove rosewood (Dalbergia sissoo) from Appendix II of Convention on
International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
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Details
The species is currently part of Appendix II of CITES.
India proposes that rosewood grows at a very fast rate and has the capacity to become naturalised
outside its native range, even it is invasive in some parts of the world.
CITES
All import, export, re-exports and introduction from the sea of species covered by the convention
has to be authorized through a licensing system.
It has three appendices.
Appendix I has species threatened with extinction. Trade in specimens of these species is
permitted only in exceptional circumstances.
Appendix II of CITES has species not necessarily threatened with extinction, but in which
trade must be controlled to avoid utilisation incompatible with their survival.
Appendix III contains species that are protected in at least one country, which has asked other
CITES parties for assistance in controlling trade.
Background
Dalbergia was put in Appendix II of CITES due to illegal trade in the wood of Dalbergia in
international markets, primarily in China.
The entire genus of Dalbergia was put in the appendix based on the “lookalike” criterion.
This criterion is not based on the level of threat the species face, but the difficulty of distinguishing
the species from other threatened species of the genus.
Other proposals
Apart from the proposal to remove rosewood, India has proposed to move the following from
Appendix II to Appendix I for more protection.
Small clawed otters – IUCN status: Vulnerable
Smooth coated otters - IUCN status: Vulnerable
Indian Star Tortoise - IUCN status: Vulnerable
The otter species, according to the proposal, is threatened by international trade and habitat loss.
The proposal also includes inclusion of the following in Appendix II of CITES.
Gekko gecko - traded highly for Chinese traditional medicine
Wedgefish
Details
It recorded 24 species of raptors and four species of vultures.
It was held in the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary (WWS) and two territorial forest divisions,
including the South and North Wayanad Forest Divisions.
Findings
The Indian vulture (Gyps indicus) was spotted under the Muthanga forest range of the sanctuary
after five years.
Nearly 100 white-rumped vultures were spotted during the survey in the Tholpetty forest range.
The sightings also included 15 red-headed vultures, an Indian vulture and a Himalayan griffon.
The major species of raptors recorded during the survey included Legge’s hawk eagle, Oriental
honey buzzard, etc.
Five species of owls, including jungle owlet, brown fish owl, oriental scops owl, and barn owl,
were also recorded during the survey.
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Raptors and vultures
A raptor is a generally medium-sized or large bird that
hunts and kills other animals for food, including small The veterinary use of diclofenac
birds, fish, mammals, lizards, and insects. drug has been linked to the decline
Vulture, eagles, owls, falcons, hawks, kites etc. are types in vulture population in the
of raptors. country since 1990s after the birds
Raptors come under Schedule I of the Wildlife perished eating cattle carcasses
(Protection) Act, 1972 and have apex predator status in containing the drug.
an ecosystem.
Indian vulture is listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List since 2002, as the population
severely declined.
Significance
The stable vulture population shows the existence of a healthy habitat for the species within the
sanctuary, which is also due to the abundant carcass availability owing to a healthy population of
both herbivores and predators.
Also, the activities undertaken as part of the central government project like nest monitoring and
fire protection efforts have contributed to the healthy trend.
About AWC
The AWC is an annual event and takes place once a year.
It is the largest water bird census in Asia which records the status of important wetland habitats and
water bird diversity.
The census was initiated in 1987 in the Indian subcontinent.
Sites covered during the census include all types of natural and man-made wetlands.
Wetlands International co-ordinates the Asian Waterbird Census (AWC).
It identifies and monitors sites that qualify as Wetlands of International Importance under the
Ramsar Convention on Wetlands.
The AWC in India is jointly coordinated nationally by the Bombay Natural History Society and
Wetlands International.
7. Crocodile Census
News: A crocodile census was carried out in Odisha.
Finding
The population of the saltwater or estuarine crocodile (Crocodylus porosus) has increased in the
water bodies of Odisha’s Bhitarkanika National Park and its nearby areas in Kendrapara district,
with forest officials counting 1,742 individuals in this year’s annual reptile census.
The increase in population was primarily due to the far-sighted measures of the government.
There is a crocodile breeding and rearing project in Dangamala within the Bhitarkanika Park.
Crocodilians
There are three primary species of crocodiles in India:
The mugger (or marsh) crocodile/Fresh water crocodile is found in lakes and rivers throughout
the country, IUCN status- Vulnerable.
The saltwater crocodile found along the eastern coast of the country and the Andaman and
Nicobar Islands, IUCN status – Least Concern.
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The gharial found in river areas. Gharial is listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red
List.
Odisha is having distinction for existence of all the three species of Indian crocodilians.
The three species of crocodilians—saltwater, Mugger and Gharial— breeding programmes had
been started in 1975 in 34 places in West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and other
states in India and Nepal.
8. Cyclone Pabuk
News: A 'yellow' alert was sounded for the Andaman and Nicobar Islands as the cyclonic storm,
Cyclone Pabuk, moved towards the archipelago.
Details
'Pabuk' originated over the Gulf of Thailand and neighbourhood.
The alert was issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
Cyclone warnings
The cyclone warnings are issued to state government officials in four stages.
The First Stage - "PRE CYCLONE WATCH"
It is issued 72 hours in advance.
It contains early warning about the development of a cyclonic disturbance in the north Indian
Ocean, its likely intensification into a tropical cyclone and the coastal belt likely to experience
adverse weather.
The Second Stage - "CYCLONE ALERT"
It is issued at least 48 hrs in advance of the expected commencement of adverse weather over
the coastal areas.
It contains information on the location and intensity of the storm likely direction of its
movement, intensification, coastal districts likely to experience adverse weather and advice to
fishermen, general public, media and disaster managers.
The Third Stage - "CYCLONE WARNING"
It is issued at least 24 hours in advance of the expected commencement of adverse weather over
the coastal areas.
Landfall point is forecast at this stage.
The Fourth Stage - "POST LANDFALL OUTLOOK"
It is issued at least 12 hours in advance of
Stage of warning Colour code
expected time of landfall.
Cyclone Alert Yellow
It gives likely direction of movement of the
Cyclone Warning Orange
cyclone after its landfall and adverse weather
Post landfall out look Red
likely to be experienced in the interior areas.
Negative Findings
1. Almost one-fourth of these grasslands have been invaded by exotic species.
2. The exotic species invading the shola grasslands are pine, acacia and eucalyptus which was used
for afforestation till 1996.
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3. Most of this loss occurred on the mountain tops of the
Nilgiri, Palani and Anamalai hill ranges. Shola forests/grasslands
4. Even though no plantations were established between Shola forests are tropical
2003 and 2017, invasion by existing trees increased Montane forests found only in the
areas under exotic plantations by 27% in the Palanis valleys and shola grasslands are
and 17% in the Nilgiris. rolling grasslands found only in the
5. Broadly, shola-grassland ecosystems in Tamil Nadu higher elevations or mountain tops.
showed the highest rates of invasion. The Shola forests are generally
said to be found in altitudes above
Positive findings 2000 metres of sea-level.
Loss of biodiversity, with an adverse impact on the Shola forests are a native only
ecology and economy to the Southern Western Ghats.
Shola forests have remained “relatively unchanged” They are found only in the high
over these years. altitude mountains of the states
The Anamalai-Munnar areas have also remained stable Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil
during this time. Nadu.
The endangered Nilgiri tahr is
Impact of exotic species on Western Ghats endemic to the shola-grassland.
a. Invasive species do not allow any shrub or local
species of grass to grow around them.
b. They grow in dense fashion, leaving little space for wildlife to pass through.
c. A resin oozes from some species during the monsoon, which turns the soil acidic.
d. They lead to retrogression and a change in the original vegetation in the longer run, degrading and
destroying biodiversity.
e. The original habitat of the Nilgiri Tahr has been devastated
f. Non-availability of food plants due to extensive plantations of alien species has caused the Indian
gaur population to migrate to Kodaikanal town in search of fodder.
Way forward
Intensive planting of the indigenous floral species should also be conducted after removing the alien
species.
What is CCPI?
The CCPI is an instrument designed to enhance transparency in international climate politics.
The index is published by Germanwatch, the NewClimate Institute and the Climate Action
Network.
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Its aim is to put political and social pressure on those countries, which have, up until now, failed to
take ambitious action on climate protection.
Based on standardised criteria, the index evaluates and compares the climate protection
performance of 56 countries and the EU.
The countries are together responsible for more than 90 percent of global greenhouse gas (GHG)
emissions.
Highlights
India ranks 11th in CCPI, 2019 improving its standing by three places compared to the previous
edition.
Most notably India improved its performance in the renewable energy category, joining the group
of medium performers.
Comparatively low levels of per capita GHG emissions and a relatively ambitious mitigation target
for 2030 give India an overall high rating in the emissions category.
Sweden and Morocco were the leading countries, with the latter making significant expansion of
renewable energy.
U.S.A. and Saudi Arabia were at the bottom of the Climate Change Performance Index 2019.
What is NACP?
The National Clean Air Programme is a pollution control initiative that was launched with the intention
to cut the concentration of coarse (particulate matter of diameter 10 micrometer or less, or PM10) and
fine particles (particulate matter of diameter 2.5 micrometer or less, or PM2.5) by at least 20% in the
next five years, with 2017 as the base year for comparison.
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Which cities will fall under this?
Following reports by WHO and the air quality data obtained, 102 cities from 23 States and UTs
have been chosen as non-attainment cities.
With the exception of Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Bengaluru, most of those chosen are tier two
cities.
Maharashtra tops the list with 17 cities in the list, including Pune and Nagpur, while Uttar Pradesh
is second with 15 cities chosen, including Lucknow and Varanasi.
A city from Jharkhand, Meghalaya, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal too are in the list.
Meanwhile, no cities from Manipur, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Tripura, Kerala, Goa
and Haryana figure in the list.
Benefits
It is a “cooperative and participatory initiative”.
It has helped kick start the much-awaited good practice of setting air pollution reduction targets.
It helps decide the level of stringency of local and regional action needed for the plans to be
effective enough to meet the reduction targets.
It has listed comparatively more comprehensive action points than earlier put out by the CPCB.
It has proposed support for health impact studies.
Challenges
There is no robust fiscal and funding strategy for the
programme. Only Rs 300 crore is being earmarked for Beijing’s example
NCAP. NCAP has cited how Beijing has
NCAP has not provided for innovative financing succeeded in reducing PM2.5 by
mechanism at central and state/city level. 33.3 per cent in five years.
A lack of legal framework may dilute the effectiveness It was done by sensitising cities
of the program about the scale, depth and
The plan does not mention sector wise targets or specific strictness of action with detailed
targets for cities. pathways for clean energy and
Similarly, the lack of strong legal backing to take action mobility transition, waste and
against non-implementation is also absent. dust management and control of
A large number of highly polluted cities have been kept combustion sources.
out of its purview according to the Greenpeace India This was also done with strong
Report. multi-tiered accountability
NCAP will also have to be more nuanced and adopt system, under which various
appropriate approaches for small and big cities according levels of government were held
to their dominant pollution profile while several legally accountable for shirking
strategies may remain uniform. responsibilities.
NCAP should have taken precedence from emerging
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practices in the country—pollution cess in Delhi on truck entry, big diesel cars, and diesel fuel sales
and the coal cess—to generate dedicated funds to finance clean air action plan.
Findings
Air pollution is not restricted to India’s metros.
Air pollution is a national problem that is killing 1.2 million Indians every year and costing the
economy an estimated 3% of GDP.
According to the data obtained from State Pollution Control Boards (SPCB), there are virtually no
places in India complying with WHO and National Ambient Air Quality (NAAQ) standards, and
most cities are critically polluted.
Way forward
Due to the range of different sectors responsible for pollutant emissions, urgent action is required
by the Central and the state governments.
It urged the governments to
1. Institute robust monitoring of air quality across the country and make the data publicly
available in real time with adequate alerts so that the public can take measures to protect health.
2. Use the data as a basis to fine tune pollution reduction strategies such as moving towards
renewable sources of energy, implementing Bharat VI norms, reducing petrol/diesel vehicles,
regulating construction activities and stop burning of biomass and waste.
Details
The new partnership programme, South Asian Nitrogen Hub, will be led by the UK’s Centre for
Ecology and Hydrology and will include 50 organisations from UK and South Asia. Indian
institutions to be involved include
National Institute of Oceanography
Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University
Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology
Jawaharlal Nehru University India is the only country in South
Aligarh Muslim University Asia that has completed its nitrogen
National Physical Laboratory assessment over a year ago and is
TERI University already co-leading the South Asian
It will focus on impacts of different forms of nitrogen nitrogen assessment for the UN
pollution, particularly looking at nitrogen in agriculture in Environment
eight countries in South Asia.
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Nitrogen pollution
Nitrogen pollution is linked with air pollution, biodiversity loss, pollution of rivers and seas and
ozone depletion.
Nitrogen pollution is caused, among other things, by emissions from chemical fertilisers, livestock
manure, and burning of fossil fuels.
Gases such as ammonia and nitrogen dioxide contribute to poor air quality and can aggravate
respiratory and heart conditions, while nitrous oxide is a greenhouse gas that depletes the ozone
layer.
Nitrate from chemical fertilisers, manure and industry pollutes rivers and seas, posing a health risk
for humans, fish, coral and plant life.
Details
The alliance comprises of 30 member
companies. World Business Council for
The alliance is a not-for-profit organisation that Sustainable Development
includes companies that make, use, sell, process, It is a CEO-led organization of over
collect and recycle plastics. 200 international companies which
The alliance has been working with the World works on issues related to
Business Council for Sustainable Development sustainable development.
as a founding strategic partner. The WBCSD was created in 1995
The global company’s alliance will develop and and is based in Geneva, Switzerland.
bring to scale solutions that will minimise and It has offices in New York and Delhi.
manage plastic waste and promote solutions for
used plastics by helping to enable a circular
economy.
Significance
India imports ₹7 lakh crore worth of crude oil every year. Using alternative fuels can divert ₹2 lakh
crore for farmers to boost agriculture.
Methanol blending with petrol will further reduce the fuel bill by at least ₹5,000 crore annually in
the next three years.
Benefits
It can be used in the existing BS-IV standard to reduce emissions given the phasing out of the BS-
IV vehicles.
Adopting methanol in this scale would bring down pollution in the country by more than 40 per
cent.
By adopting methanol, India can have its own indigenous fuel at least 30 per cent cheaper than any
available fuel.
To adopt Methanol as a transport fuel, it requires minimal infrastructure modifications and capital
both in vehicles and in terminal and distribution infrastructure.
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Methanol Economy
NITI Aayog has drawn out a comprehensive plan to replace 20% of crude imports from Methanol
alone. Over a period of time of time diesel can completely be done away with.
NITI Aayog foresees an annual reduction of $100 billion in crude imports bill by 2030 if the
country moves to 15% blended fuel, both for transportation and cooking.
Roadmap
Indian Railways alone burns three billion litres of diesel every year. Plans are in place to
convert 6000 diesel railway engines to work on 100% Methanol and make railways a carbon
neutral organisation.
Methanol will become beneficial in marine sector. International Maritime Organisation
Regulations on sulphur particulates and NOX (0.50% m/m on and after 1 January 2020) will
make it compulsive to switch to a clean fuel.
India has an installed capacity of 22000 MW on HFO (Heavy fuel oil) alone. HFO has been
abandoned by most countries of the world. The entire HFO usage can be replaced by Methanol.
Power Modules of Mobile Towers (about 750000) in India can fully be replaced by Methanol
Reformer / Fuel Cell based platforms in the next two years.
The Concept of “Methanol Economy” is being actively pursued by China, Italy, Sweden, Israel,
US, Australia, Japan and many other European countries. 10% of fuel in China in transport Sector
is Methanol.
Methanol
Methanol is a clear and colourless liquid.
Also known as wood alcohol, methanol is naturally occurring and biodegradable.
Methanol is a scalable and sustainable fuel, that can be produced from a variety of feedstocks
like Natural Gas, Coal (Indian High Ash Coal), Bio-mass, Municipal Solid waste and most
importantly from CO2.
Methanol burns efficiently in all internal combustion engines, produces no particulate matter,
no soot, almost nil SOX and NOX emissions.
Details
The agreement was signed with the five states of Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Delhi,
Himachal Pradesh.
The Renuka dam project has been conceived as a storage project on the Giri river (a tributary of
the Yamuna) in Sirmaur district of Himachal Pradesh.
The project envisages making a 148-metre-high dam.
Water from the Renuka dam will be used by U.P., Haryana and National Capital Territory of Delhi
from Hathnikund barrage, by the NCT of Delhi from Wazirabad barrage and by U.P., Haryana and
Rajasthan from the Okhla barrage.
It will also generate 40 MW of power.
Around 90% of the cost of irrigation/drinking water component of the project will be provided by
the Central government and the remaining by the rest of the basin States.
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The agreement was signed between HP,
Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan
in 1994. But, due to the objections raised, it
was stalled for many years.
Estimated number of project affected people:
700 families in 37 villages
Total agricultural land to be diverted: 1,231
hectares
Forestland to be diverted: 939 hectares
reserved forestland, including 49 hectares
from Renuka Wildlife Sanctuary, will be
submerged
37
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
1. Digital Detox app
News: Doctors at the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS) have
come up with a mobile app that helps people reduce mobile usage.
Details
The Service for Healthy Use of Technology
(SHUT) clinic has developed a Digital Detox
app that has been found to be effective in
bringing about behavioural changes.
The App tracks the pattern of mobile usage
every week and offers self-help strategies once
the person signs up.
Users are classified into three categories based
on their technology usage: mild, moderate and
severe.
2. Ultima Thule
News: NASA’s New Horizon spacecraft flew by the Ultima Thule and beamed back images of the
same.
Details
Ultima Thule is a space rock in the Kuiper belt officially called 2014 MU69.
It was discovered in 2014 with the help of the Hubble Space Telescope, and is believed to be 20-30
km in size.
It is located 4 billion miles from Earth.
New Horizons flew within 2,200 miles of MU69, travelling at a speed of 32,200 mph.
The flyby gave scientists the opportunity to collect photos
and information about the rock.
The first image the probe beamed back showed two reddish-
coloured spherical segments on top of each other, like a
snowman. Subsequent data revealed that the object flips like
a giant hourglass.
But it will take about 20 months for New Horizons to send
all of the images it captured back to Earth.
Significance
Kuiper Belt objects are leftover remnants from when the
solar system first formed. The study of such objects would
provide an insight into the history and formation of the solar
system.
This region has experienced very little change in its temperature and chemical conditions over the
past 4 billion years, making it completely different from the environment and processes found on
Earth. A study of the extremes of planetary processes across our solar system would provide a
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better understanding of Earth.
The shape of Ultima Thule shows the earliest steps of planet formation when many small clumps
called planetesimals come together, eventually forming into a large planet like the Earth.
Details
The probe, which has a lander and a rover, touched down at a targeted area near the moon’s south
pole in the Von Karman Crater in the South Pole-Aitken basin, after entering its orbit.
The rover has been named Yutu 2.
Signals to and from the rover are being relayed through a satellite called Queqiao (Magpie Bridge).
Queqiao is in a “halo orbit” on the other side of the moon, from where it can communicate with
both Chang’e and the Earth.
Significance
The moon is tidally locked to Earth, rotating at the same rate as it orbits our planet, so most of the
far side — or “dark side” — is never visible to us.
Previous spacecraft have seen the far side, but none has landed on it.
Chang’e-4 lunar probe is the first probe to land on the far side of the moon.
The Aitken basin, where Chang’e-4 has landed, is the Moon’s largest and oldest impact crater.
Dating when the basin was created could help narrow down the window for a period of heavy
bombardment of the moon and inner planets by asteroids left over from the formation of the solar
system. Also, the timing of the heavy bombardment closely coincides with when life appeared on
Earth.
Tasks
Astronomical observation
Surveying the moon’s terrain, land form and mineral make-up
Measuring the neutron radiation and neutral atoms to study the environment of its far side.
Apprehensions
Analysts say that China’s lunar probe is part of its ‘Made in China-2025’ project, which focuses on
advanced technology, including space applications.
According to the Nikkei Asian Review, after the latest launch, Beijing is moving forward with
plans to build a research base on the moon.
It is also said to be considering mining there for helium-3, a rare substance on earth that can be
used as a fuel in nuclear fusion power generation.
China is also set to launch its Mars explorer mission and complete its own earth-orbiting space
station in 2022.
About TESS
TESS was launched by NASA in 2018 for searching exoplanets.
It is two year mission.
It will survey nearly the entire sky by monitoring and piecing together overlapping slices of the
night sky.
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It searches for using the transit method in an area 400
times larger than that covered by the Kepler mission. Exoplanets
Transit method: If a planet crosses (transits) in front of Planets that orbit around other
its parent star's disk, then the observed visual brightness of stars are called exoplanets.
the star drops by a small amount, depending on the Hence, they are beyond our Solar
relative sizes of the star and the planet. system.
They are hidden by the bright
About the new planet glare of the stars they orbit.
The new planet is named HD 21749b.
The newly discovered planet orbits a bright and nearby star
which is about 53 light years away in the constellation Reticulum.
Scientists assume that planet wouldn't be as gaseous as Neptune or Uranus, which are mostly
hydrogen and really puffy. The planet likely has a density of water, or a thick atmosphere.
Details
US researchers on a rare mission called Subglacial
Antarctic Lakes Scientific Access (SALSA) drilled into
the Mercer subglacial lake which lies nearly 400 miles
from the south pole.
They found dead crustaceans and tardigrades, also
known as “water bears” or “moss piglets” from the lake.
Researchers found eight-legged tardigrades, the
speckled shell of a shrimp-like crustacean with legs
dangling from it, and a second shell still bristling with
delicate hairs.
It is not yet clear how the organisms came to be in the
ice-covered lake.
6. X-Calibur telescope
News: US scientists have claimed that they have successfully launched a X-Calibur telescope from
Antarctica that analyses X-rays arriving from distant neutron stars, black holes and other exotic
celestial bodies.
Polarisation
X-Calibur is designed to measure the polarisation — or, roughly, the orientation of the electric field
— of incoming X-rays from binary systems.
A black hole's gravity is so powerful that even light can't escape its pull. That's why black holes
appear invisible. X-Calibur will spot the black holes by looking for X-rays emitted by matter just
before it disappears inside the black hole.
Polarization can happen when light is reflected or scattered.
How it works
The X-Calibur instrument, launched by Washington University in the US from the McMurdo
Station in Antarctica, is carried aloft on a helium balloon intended to reach an altitude of 130,000
feet.
At this height, X-Calibur will travel at nearly four times the cruising altitude of commercial
airliners, and above 99 per cent of the Earth’s atmosphere.
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It will need at least eight days to gather enough data for scientists to consider it a success. During
this time, the balloon is expected to make a single revolution around the Antarctic continent.
Significance
The team hopes to gain new insights into how neutron
stars and black holes in a binary orbit with stars grow by Neutron stars are objects of very
gobbling up stellar matter. small radius (typically 30 km)
Polarized X-rays could help scientists determine the size and very high density, composed
of black holes and how fast they are spinning. predominantly of closely packed
Einstein's theory of general relativity established a neutrons.
maximum rotation rate for black holes, and astronomers
hope X-Calibur will reveal more about their spin.
Microsat-R
Microsat-R is an imaging satellite meant for military purposes.
It was placed in a 274-km polar sun synchronous orbit.
For the first time, the ISRO placed a satellite -- Microsat-R -- in a lower orbit, at around 274 kms
from earth.
Kalamsat
Kalamsat is named after former President Abdul Kalam.
The nanosatellite is a 10cm cube weighing 1.2 kg
It is said to be the lightest satellite of India.
It is also the first ever 3D printed satellite.
Kalamsat is an experimental miniaturized satellite for studying the communication system of nano
satellites, which can be useful in many fields, predominantly disaster management.
Contributed by college students and the members of a Chennai-based organisation -- Space Kidz
India -- Kalamsat is the first to use PS4 (the fourth stage of the vehicle) as a platform to orbit
around the earth.
PSLV-C44
The PSLV-C44, assembled in 30 days, was the first mission of a new variant of the PSLV, called
the PSLV-DL, as it was equipped with two strap-on configurations.
The PSLV is a four-stage engine expendable rocket with alternating solid and liquid fuel.
In its normal configuration, the rocket would have six strap-on motors hugging its first stage.
But PSLV-C44 had only two strap-on motors which is called the DL mode.
It used an aluminum tank in the fourth stage which was used as an orbital platform to launch
Kalamsat.
How it worked
The rocket's fourth-stage/ engine was cut/switched off in just over 13 minutes after the lift-off.
A minute later the DRDO's imaging satellite Microsat R was ejected at an altitude of about 277 km.
At about 100 minutes after the lift-off, the rocket's fourth stage was switched on again for few
seconds before it was again cut off.
Finally, at about 103 minutes after the rocket left the earth, the fourth stage began its role as an
orbital platform carrying Kalamsat at an altitude of 450 km.
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8. Formalin in Fish
News: Fish samples from Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal and Bihar had tested positive for formalin. It
also showed high content of heavy metals like lead, cadmium and mercury.
Formalin
It is a carcinogenic chemical.
It is a cancer-causing agent.
Formalin is actually used for the preservation of bodies in mortuaries.
It can cause a number of health problems like allergic reactions, Kidney and liver problems, nausea,
irritation and a burning sensation in the eyes, watery eyes and nose.
9. Zearalenone
News: A study by researchers Lucknow’s Indian Institute of Toxicology Research (IITR) detected
zearalenone in wheat, rice, corn and oats from markets in Uttar Pradesh.
What is Zearalenone?
Zearalenone is a fungal toxin infesting cereals such as wheat, maize and barley.
It attacks crops while they are growing, but can also develop when cereals are stored without being
dried fully.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India does not impose maximum limits for
zearalenone, though the European Union (EU) does.
Fungal toxins
Fungal toxins are commonly found in food, and can be a public health concern.
India regulates the levels of some of these, including aflatoxin, deoxynivalenol, ergot and patulin.
The first three infest cereals, while patulin is found in apples.
Each of these toxins has been associated with disease outbreaks.
For example, aflatoxin in maize caused a hepatitis outbreak in Rajasthan and Gujarat in 1974.
Meanwhile, chronic aflatoxin consumption has been shown to cause liver cancer.
The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classifies aflatoxin as a Group 1
carcinogen, meaning there is enough evidence for its carcinogenicity.
However, IARC classifies zearalenone as Group 3 carcinogen as there is no strong evidence of
toxicity in humans so far.
Effect of zearalenone
Zearalenone behaves like oestrogen, the female sex hormone, and could cause endocrine
disturbances in humans.
Animals develop inflamed vaginas, infertility and other symptoms.
However, its effect in humans is yet to be documented.
Way forward
Zearalenone prefers cool climate. So contamination could be limited to a few states.
However, more needs to be built on the study so that India can also set limits on it like EU.
10. CMB-Bharat
News: Cosmic Microwave Background-Bharat has been presented as a proposal to ISRO.
42
What is CMB-Bharat?
It is a proposal for a comprehensive next generation cosmic microwave background mission in
international collaboration, with a major Indian contribution.
The CMB-Bharat instrument is an imager with 6,000 to 14,000 power detectors in the focal plane.
The focal plane is the plane along which the detectors will make their observations.
They will be maintained at a very low temperature, at much less than 1 K to minimize the heat
produced during its operation.
Expected outcomes
It intends to use gravitational waves to study ‘quantum gravity’ which is an ultra-high energy
regime thought to have existed when universe was very young and its energy was so tightly packed
that gravitational and quantum mechanical effects were not separate.
NDM-1 drug
NDM-1 was first identified in New Delhi.
It contains resistant gene blaNDM-1.
This gene makes bacteria resistant to a class of antibiotics known as Carbapenems, which doctors
generally use as a last resort to treat bacterial infections.
43
SOCIAL ISSUES
1. 70 point Performance Index
News: The Ministry of Human Resource Development (HRD) has introduced a 70-point grading index
to assess the quality of school education offered by states.
Details
The government will use a 70 point Performance Grading Index (PGI) to assess areas of deficiency
in each state’s school education system so that targeted interventions can be made at every level
from pedagogy to teacher training.
35 states and Union Territories have already confirmed their participation to the union Human
Resource Development (HRD) ministry which is compiling this schooling index.
A state performance grading will be done wherein the states will be marked out of 1,000 scores on
70 parameters.
Benefits
It will give the correct picture of where every state stands.
There will be a fair competition to improve each other’s performances.
The move is in keeping with the government’s overall thrust on quality improvement, teacher
training and learning outputs.
2. Rare diseases
News: After the withdrawal of National policy for treatment of rare diseases, government has
announced a ‘one-time financial assistance’ in Parliament.
Background
The Centre had announced Rs 100 crore special fund for the children suffering from rare disease
under National Policy on Treatment of Rare Diseases (NPTRD) in 2017.
The policy which envisages setting up of a technical cum administrative committee within the
ministry of health and family welfare, both at the Central and the State levels, for handling of the
corpus fund created for treatment of rare diseases.
Six states, including Delhi, incidentally had formulated the necessary policy on the basis of
Centre’s policy.
It was revoked in December, 2018 “in light of new information and updates available and for
further improvement and effective implementation”.
A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was moved by the NGO 'Organization for Rare Diseases India
(ORDI) seeking implementation of the policy.
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare told the Supreme Court that the policy that was formed
a year ago was formed without proper consultation.
Adding to it, Centre said that health is a state subject and the center did not take any agreement
from most of the states before framing their policy, which is why they would like to re-think about
the policy.
The government had told the court that it would take some interim measures till the time policy is
being framed.
Present status
The government announced that the standing finance committee had approved a proposal for adding a
sub-component under the umbrella scheme of Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi (RAN) for provision of one-time
financial assistance to those below threshold poverty line for specified rare diseases which require one-
time treatment.
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National Policy on Treatment of Rare Diseases
The National Policy defines Rare Disease as a health Rare diseases
condition of a particularly low relevance that affects a So far, about 450 rare diseases
small number of people compared with other prevalent have been recorded in India.
diseases in the general population. Globally around 6,000 to 8,000
Rare diseases include genetic diseases, rare cancers, rare diseases exist.
infectious tropic diseases and degenerative diseases. 80 The cost of treatment of rare
per cent of rare diseases are genetic in origin. diseases is prohibitively high
The policy goes beyond treatment funding and takes a requiring periodic therapies.
more holistic approach towards rare diseases The most common rare diseases
encompassing suggestions towards prevention, recorded in India are
awareness, training, research, and development in Haemophilia, Thalassemia,
diagnosis, development and manufacturing of drugs at sickle-cell anaemia and primary
affordable prices, provision of insurance coverage etc. immuno deficiency in children,
It also recommends creating provision for online auto-immune diseases, certain
applications for funding from the corpus fund and forms of muscular dystrophies etc.
creating a patient registry for rare diseases housed in
Indian Council of Medical Research.
As part of long term measures, the policy envisages taking legal and other measures to control the
prices of drugs for rare diseases to ensure its affordability and for health system sustainability,
ensuring insurance coverage for rare genetic disorders.
3. Devadasi system
News: Karnataka Government has not yet issued rules under Karnataka Devadasis (Prohibition of
Dedication) Act of 1982 and the practice has been found to have spread to Goa.
Details
Two new studies were conducted on the devadasi practice by the National Law School of India
University (NLSIU), Bengaluru, and the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) in Mumbai.
It shows a grim picture of the apathetic approach of the legislature and enforcement agencies to
crack down on the practice.
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Mostly women from the dalit and the oppressed community become the victims of this exploitative
practice.
The Devadasis of modern India are largely concentrated in parts of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and
Maharashtra.
They are called Mathangi in Maharashtra, Jogini or Mathamma in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana,
and Devadasi in Karnataka.
Other problems
The Devadasis are prone to AIDS and other health issues at a young age.
Eventually, they also give birth to children making it impossible for them to get out of the system.
Objective: To create awareness and educate people about the ill-effects of drugs abuse on the
individual, family, workplace and the society at large in order to integrate them back into the society.
Aim: The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment said the National Action Plan for Drug
Demand Reduction, 2018 to 2023, aims to employ a multi-pronged strategy to address the issue.
Focus areas
The plan focuses on preventive education, awareness generation, counselling, treatment and
rehabilitation of drug-dependent people, besides training and capacity-building of service providers
through collaborative efforts of the Centre, state and NGOs
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sale of drugs.
It includes holding awareness generation programmes at schools, colleges, universities, workplaces
and for police functionaries, paramilitary forces, law enforcement agencies, judicial officers and
Bar council, among others.
Plans are also afoot for awareness generation through social, print, digital and online media, and
engagement of celebrities, besides strengthening the national tollfree helpline for drug prevention.
It also calls for persuading principals, directors, vice chancellors of educational institutions to
ensure that no drugs are sold within/nearby the campus.
Increasing community participation and public cooperation in the reduction of demand by involving
Panchayati Raj institutions, Urban Local Bodies, Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan and other local
groups like Mahila Mandals, self help groups etc is also planned.
Survey
The ministry, in collaboration with the National Drug Dependence Treatment Centre (NDDTC) under
the AIIMS, is also conducting a national survey on the extent and pattern of substance abuse.
Monitoring
A steering committee would be constituted under the chairmanship of the secretary, Social Justice
Ministry, and with representatives from the Ministries of Health, Human Resource Development,
Women and Child Development, Home Affairs, Skill development and Entrepreneurship, among
others.
The committee will hold quarterly meetings to monitor effective implementation of the NAPDDR.
Database
As a part of the plan, module for re-treatment, ongoing treatment and post-treatment of addicts of
different categories and age groups will be developed and database on substance use will be
maintained.
5. ASER Report
News: Annual Status of Education Report (ASER), 2018 report was released recently.
About ASER
It is a biennial nationwide survey of children’s ability to read simple text and do basic arithmetic.
The survey has been carried out by NGO Pratham since 2006.
The ASER survey covered almost 5.5 lakh children between the ages of 3 and 16 in 596 rural
districts across the country.
Findings
Class III
Reading: The percentage of all children who can read at standard 2 level increased from 21.6% in
2013 to 27.2% in 2018.
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Arithmetic: All India figure for children in class 3 who are able to do at least subtraction has not
changed much, from 27.6% in 2016 to
28.1% in 2018. For government school
children, this figure was 20.3% in 2016
and 20.9% in 2018.
Among children enrolled in standard 3
in government schools, six states
(Punjab, Haryana, Mizoram, Uttar
Pradesh, Gujarat, and Kerala) have
shown an improvement of more than 5
percentage points over 2016 levels.
Class V
Reading: The percentage of all children
who can read a Class 2 text has inched
up from 47.9% in 2016 to 50.3% in
2018.
Arithmetic: The proportion of children
in standard 5 across India who are able
to do division has inched up slightly,
from 26% in 2016 to 27.8% in 2018.
For government school children
enrolled in standard 5, states showing an
increase of 5 percentage points or more
from 2016 to 2018 are Himachal
Pradesh, UP, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Image courtesy: The Hindu
Karnataka, Kerala, Arunachal Pradesh, and Mizoram; with Punjab and Andhra Pradesh close
behind.
Class VIII
Reading: The percentage of all children who can read a Class 2 text has decreased from 84.8% in
2008 to 72.8% in 2016 and remain unchanged in 2018 as well
Arithmetic: Four years ago, 44.1% of students in Class VIII could correctly divide a three digit
number by a single digit number; in 2018, that figure had fallen slightly to 43.9%.
While this figure has gone down from 2016 to 2018 in many states, government school children in
some states show substantial improvements in the last two years: for example, Punjab, Uttar
Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu.
Gender Differences (14-16 age)
Reading and arithmetic: Both girls and boys who can read at least a Std II level are around 77%
though girls outperform boys in many states.
Basic arithmetic: Nationally, 50% of all boys can correctly solve a division problem as compared
to 44% of all girls though there are some states where girls outperform boys.
Girls out of school
11-14 age group: The overall proportion of girls in the 11 to 14 age group out of school fell from
10.3% in 2006 to 4.1% in 2018.
15-16 age group: The enrollment of girls not enrolled in schools decreased from >20% in 2008 to
>13.5% in 2018.
Conclusion
Without strong foundational skills, it is difficult for children to cope with what is expected of them
in the upper primary grades.
A majority of children in class III need immediate help in acquiring foundational skills in literacy
and numeracy,
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These overall percentages also camouflage wide differences in skill level between States, or even
between students in a single classroom.
Details
It was launched by the International Observatory of Human Rights (IOHR).
It promised to deliver hidden stories ignored by mainstream media into people’s living rooms.
It web-based channel would bring human rights issues to audiences in over 20 countries across
Europe, Latin America and the Middle East.
Topics will include refugees, press freedom and the incarceration of journalists, extremism,
women’s rights, LGBT+ issues and the plight of the world’s stateless people.
Programmes in the pipeline will look at
China 30 years after the crackdown on the Tiananmen Square pro-democracy protests
The positive and negative impacts of technology on women
The human rights implications of Brexit, Britain’s departure from the European Union in March
Broadcasts can be viewed via the netgem.tv interactive platform and will shortly be available via a
mobile app.
Programming is in English, but IOHR eventually hopes to broadcast in other languages including
Farsi, Turkish, Arabic and Russian.
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DEFENCE AND SECURITY
1. Defence manufacturing rules eased
News: The government issued a notification simplifying the manufacturing of a range of defence and
aerospace equipment and components by private industry, by bringing them under the licensing
authority of the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP).
Details
Items are listed in three categories — defence aircraft, warships of all kinds, and allied items of
defence equipment.
The most significant aspect is that warships of all kinds, surface and sub-surface, have been
included in the listing.
The notification segregates defence items in two categories covered by two different Acts — the
Industries (Development and Regulation) Act, 1951, and the Arms Act, 1959.
The manufacturing of these items will be covered under Industries (Development and Regulation)
Act, 1951 and it will not require any license under the Arms Act, 1959.
Background
Industries (Development and Regulation) Act, 1951, (IDRA) puts defence industries, arms and
ammunitions and explosives under the schedule of industries which are required to be regulated by
the Central government.
Arms Act, 1959 concerns controls on all aspects of arms and ammunitions.
Both the Acts have provisions for licensing of arms and ammunitions but the objectives and
applications of the legislation are different.
Since 2001, defence manufacturing sector has been opened for private manufacturing and many
items are being taken out of the list of compulsory licensing in a process of attrition.
In 2014, the list was again rationalized in consultation with the defense ministry which clearly
delineated the defence items which would require license under Industries Act and Arms Act
respectively from the Central government or any agency of the government.
Thus in 2017, the Secretary of DIPP was authorized under the Arms act to issue licensing for items
like tanks, arms and ammunition.
Licenses for core defence items like aircrafts, warships and those for exclusive defense use are
issued under IDRA
The license for various small arms used as individual weapons are issued by Ministry of Home
Affairs.
The present norms are a continuation of the exercise where more items have been taken out of
compulsory licensing.
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Government initiatives to increase FDI in defence sector
Government has allowed 49% FDI in defence through the automatic route.
Government has eased the norms for starting a business in India because of which India jumped to
77th position in Ease of Doing Business Ranking of the World Bank.
A draft defence policy, 2018 has been framed which aims at catapulting India into top five defence
producers in the world.
The government is aiming at a turnover of Rs. 1.7 crores in defence sector in the next couple of
years.
Challenges
Though many policy changes have been suggested and many adopted, there is lack of
implementation of the said policies.
Other challenges include post policy formulation measures like
access to technology
access to raw materials
High degrees of quality and performance standards are required for reassuring the defence forces.
Therefore trials are rigorous so as to make the materials heavily recognised.
Benefits
It will boost the Make in India programme which will help cutting down defence imports.
It would bring the defence manufacturing industries to be at par with world standards.
This move is also expected to help foreign Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) looking for
partnerships with the private sector.
The presence of the private sector will bring in more efficiency and speed in manufacturing as
government procedures are known for delays.
Findings on India
In India, the government ID database Aadhaar reportedly suffered multiple breaches that potentially
compromised the records of all 1.1 billion registered citizens.
In January that criminals were selling access to the database at a rate of Rs 500 rupees for 10
minutes, while in March a leak at a state-owned utility company allowed anyone to download
names and ID numbers.
Elsewhere, personal data breaches affected around 150 million users of the MyFitnessPal
application and around 50 million Facebook users.
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Geopolitical and Geo-economic tensions
The world's ability to foster collective action in the face of urgent major crises has reached crisis
levels, with worsening international relations hindering action across a growing array of serious
challenges.
A darkening economic outlook, in part caused by geopolitical tensions, looks set to further
reduce the potential for international cooperation in 2019.
Trade disputes worsened rapidly in 2018. Growth in 2019 will be held back by continuing geo-
economic tensions, with 88 per cent of respondents expecting further erosion of multilateral
trading rules and agreements.
If economic headwinds pose a threat to international cooperation, efforts will be further
disrupted in 2019 by rising geopolitical tensions among the major powers.
Environmental risks
All five of the environmental risks the report tracks are again in the high-impact, high-
likelihood category: biodiversity loss; extreme weather events; failure of climate-change
mitigation and adaptation; man-made disasters; and natural disasters.
Environmental risks also pose problems for urban infrastructure and its development.
With sea levels rising, many cities face hugely expensive solutions to problems that range from
clean groundwater extraction to superstorm barriers.
Relative sea-level rise poses the highest risks for the Krishna (India), Ganges-Brahmaputra
(Bangladesh) and Brahmani (India) deltas.
In Bangladesh, a rise of 0.5 metres would result in a loss of about 11 per cent of the country's
land, displacing approximately 15 million people.
Women often do not have the same freedom or resources as men to reach safety after natural
disasters. In parts of Sri Lanka, Indonesia and India, men who survived the 2004 tsunami
outnumbered women by almost three to one.
About MRSAM
The new missile system is developed by India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation
(DRDO) in partnership with Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI).
The missile launcher and the command post would be made in India, with the rest of the complex
system – including the missile itself – to be made in Israel.
The proposed MRSAM, is to replace the old Pechora missiles which currently in service of Indian
Defense Forces.
Technology
The MRSAM provides the armed forces with air defense capability against a variety of aerial
threats at medium ranges.
The weapon has the ability to engage multiple targets simultaneously at ranges of 70km.
MRSAM missile is equipped with an advanced active radar radio frequency (RF) seeker,
advanced rotating phased array radar and a bidirectional data link.
The RF seeker, located in the front section of the missile, is used to detect moving targets in all
weather conditions.
The MRSAM surface-to-air missile is powered by a dual-pulse solid propulsion system developed
by DRDO.
The propulsion system, coupled with a thrust vector control system, allows the missile to move at a
maximum speed of Mach 2.
The MRSAM is a land-based configuration of the long-range surface-to-air missile (LRSAM) or
Barak-8 naval air defence system, which is designed to operate from naval vessels.
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ART AND CULTURE
1. ‘Makaravilakku’ festival
News: The festival began at the Sabarimala Ayyappa temple in Kerala.
According to the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958, an
“Ancient Monument means any structure, erection or monument, or any tumulus or place of
interment, or any cave, rock-sculpture, inscription or monolith which is of historical,
archaeological or artistic interest and which has been in existence for not less than 100 years."
Uttar Pradesh (745 monuments/sites), Karnataka (506) and Tamil Nadu (413) have the highest
number of ASI-maintained sites.
In 2016 and 2017, no new monument was included in the list of sites of national
importance. The last monument to be included in the list, in 2015, was the Vishnu Temple in
Nadavayal in Kerala's Wayanad district.
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History
Panj Tirath, which got its name from the five pools of water present there, also contains a temple
and a lawn with date palm trees.
It is believed that Pandu, a mythical king in the Mahabharata, belonged to this area and Hindus used
to come to these pools for bathing during the month of Karteek and worship for two days under the
trees.
The site was damaged during the reign of the Afghan Durrani dynasty in 1747, however, it was
restored by local Hindus during the period of Sikh rule in 1834 and worship started again.
Details
The site contains about 80 petroglyhs.
Mekala Benchi has rock carvings dating back from the Petroglyphs
Neolithic to the Megalithic period. They are images created by
Another site, Kandanathi, with 200 petroglyphs, is also removing part of a rock surface
in Kurnool district. Its carvings range from the by incising, picking, carving, or
prehistoric to the historic period. abrading, as a form of rock art.
Two boulders, one known as ‘Boodida Konda’ (ash-
coloured hill) and the other an unnamed granite hillock, mostly have images of bulls or bull-riding,
and human figures, an elephant, tiger-like animals and cupules.
Native bulls of western Kurnool are known for their ‘long horns’, as depicted in the petroglyphs
A polished and finished triangular axe, two other axes, a broken axe, rubbing stone, and potsherds
were found. Present-day Golla members use well-finished iron axes, akin to polished Neolithic
stone axes.
Significance
These petroglyphs, or rock carvings, underscore Kurnool’s importance as a major site of Neolithic
settlements in south India.
Settled village life and the finished stone axe are salient Neolithic features of communities settled
on granitoid hills or levelled terraces on hillsides or on valley floors. The site, at the granite
foothills of Boodida Konda, fits the description of a Neolithic settlement.
5. Agasthyarkoodam
News: For the first time, women trekkers were permitted entry to Agasthyarkoodam on the basis of a
Kerala High Court order following the Sabarimala judgement.
Geography
Agasthyarkoodam hill is situated in the Neyyar wildlife sanctuary in the Western Ghats in
Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.
However, the peak lies in the border of Kerala and Tamil Nadu which is a part of the Agasthyamala
Biosphere Reserve.
It is the second highest peak in Kerala.
Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve is among UNESCO’s World Network of Biosphere Reserves.
Kalakkad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve is part of the Agasthyarkoodam range.
The perennial Thamirabarani River originates from the eastern side of the range and flows into
Tamil Nadu.
Other major rivers which originate from the mountain are the Karamana River and the Neyyar
River.
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The Agasthya hill and the forests surrounding it are mainly populated by members of the Kani tribe.
The hill is also home to several, rare and unknown medicinal herbs, which are highly protected and
sacred to the Kani tribal community
History
It is believed to be the resting abode of the mythical sage Agasthya.
Agastya is considered to be one of the seven rishis (Saptarishi) of Hindu Puranas and is the father
of the Tamil language and the compiler of the first Tamil grammar called Agattiyam or
Akattiyam.
The legend goes that Agasthya Muni, who is a Brahmachari or a celibate, chose this hill from the
whole of Kandahar (in present-day Afghanistan) to Kanyakumari, to perform his penance.
The deity on top of the Agasthya hill is a ‘celibate’, much like the deity of Lord Ayyappa in
Sabarimala is believed to be.
As per the customs of the Kani tribal community, women are not allowed on top of the hill and can
only view it from Athirumala, located at the base of the Agasthyarkoodam or Agasthyamala.
The men who climb up the hill, to pick up rare herbs or for pilgrimage, undertake a penance before
they climb up the hill, much like the Sabarimala pilgrimage.
Those who visit the shrine to worship take a 21-day penance, wear a rudraksha mala or a garland
made of Tulasi seeds and climb up to the hill.
Details
According to the paper published, their finding is “the first
anthropologically confirmed case of coupled burial from a
Harappan cemetery.”
The cemetery is located in modern-day Rakhigarhi, Haryana.
This was the largest settlement in the Harappan civilization,
larger than Mohenjodaro in Pakistan.
The man and the woman were facing each other in an “intimate
way” and that they “seemed to have died at the same time”.
Harappans believed in life after death which explains the
pottery and bowls found in the graves.
A Harappan joint burial was discovered at Lothal in Gujarat but it was regarded as probable
instance of a widow’s self-sacrifice demonstrative of grief over her husband’s death.
7. Mudiyettu
News: A Panchayat in Kottayam district in Kerala is organising free training courses in Mudiyettu to
keep the tradition alive.
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About Mudiyettu
It is a ritualistic dance drama of Kerala that is gradually losing its grip among the younger
generations.
It is performed only in the Bhadrakali temples, the temples of the Mother Goddess, of Central
Kerala.
It shows the triumph of Goddess Kaali over the demon Darikan.
It is performed exclusively by the Kuruppu or Marar communities of the State.
Before the performance begins, the Kalamezhuthu, a ritual drawing of the Goddess Kaali is made
on the floor with dyed powders.
Right before the performance begins, the dancer erases the Kalam with tender palm fronds.
Mudiyettu found a place in the UNESCO’s intangible heritage list in 2010 becoming the second art
form from Kerala after Koodiyattam.
Details
The property is divided into four wings.
Each wing is dedicated to one traditional art form from the State, namely Etikoppaka, Budithi
brassware, tholu bommalata (leather puppetry) and kalamkari.
Etikoppaka
Etikoppaka comes from a village of the same name situated in
Visakhapatnam district.
The village is renowned for its craftsmanship in making wooden
toys from a locally-grown tree, Ankudu.
Traditionally, the artisans use natural dyes made with seeds, bark,
lacquer, leaves and roots.
The toys are also called as lacquer toys because of application of
lacquer coating.
Budithi brassware
Budithi Brass Craft are the products made out of alloy like brass at
Budithi, a village in Srikakulam district of Andhra Pradesh.
The artisans mainly work on creating brassware objects such as,
bells for temples, cooking utensils, flower pots, lamps etc., which
have different geometric patterns as well.
It was registered as one of the geographical indication handicraft
from Andhra Pradesh by Geographical Indications of Goods
(Registration and Protection) Act, 1999.
Tholu bommalata
It is the shadow puppet theatre tradition of the state of Andhra
Pradesh.
Its performers the part of a group of wandering entertainers and
peddlers who pass through villages during the course of a year
and offer to sing ballads, tell fortunes, sell amulets, perform
acrobatics, charm snakes, weave fishnets, tattoo local people and
mend pots.
Tholu Bommalata literally means "the dance of leather puppets"
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(tholu – leather and bommalata – puppet dance).
Kalamkari
Kalamkari is a type of hand-painted or block-printed cotton textile.
Only natural dyes are used in Kalamkari and it involves twenty
three steps.
The major forms are Srikalahasthi from Chittoor district, and
Machilipatnam Kalamkari of Krishna district.
The Srikalahasthi style of Kalamkari is used mostly for narrating
the religious myths and also epics on fabric while the saris of this
particular style are renowned for its classy and artistic borders and
pallu.
It was registered for geographical indication from the state, under handicraft goods.
Rio de Janeiro
Through the range and quality of its activities, the World Capital of Architecture in Rio de Janeiro
will demonstrate the crucial role of architecture and culture in sustainable urban development.
As one of the oldest cities in Brazil, Rio has a mix of modern and colonial architecture, with world-
renowned sites like the statue of Christ the Redeemer and contemporary constructions like the
Museum of Tomorrow.
Details
It is the state’s only conservation festival.
It is related to the preservation of Hornbill birds.
The first-ever PPHF was held in 2015.
It was started with the objective of
recognising the role played by the resident Nyishi tribe in conserving hornbills in the Pakke
Tiger Reserve (PTR)
devising alternative sources of income for a region that relies on hunting and logging
telling the rest of the country about the wonders of the PTR and its surrounding areas.
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MISCELLANEOUS
1. Mandal Dam project
News: Prime Minister laid the foundation for Mandal Dam project.
Geography
The dam is being built on North Koel River in Palamu in Jharkhand.
North Koel river rises in the Ranchi plateau in Jharkhand
It is a tributary of Sone river finally joining the river Ganga.
The North Koel Reservoir is located in the most backward tribal areas in Palamau and Garhwa
districts of Jharkhand State.
Background
It was started in 1972. The project, however, was stopped by the forest department, Bihar, in 1993.
It was approved by the Union Cabinet in 2017.
The project aims to provide irrigation to 111,521 hectares of land annually in the most backward
and drought prone areas of Palamu & Garhwa districts in Jharkhand and Aurangabad & Gaya
districts in Bihar.
There are oppositions to the project as it is said to submerge parts of Palamu Tiger reserve.
Rankings
Andhra Pradesh topped the index while Maharashtra and Delhi came in second and third place,
respectively.
Details
Centre will provide a fast-track, demand-driven mechanism for African countries to access grant
resources that support policies, initiatives, and best practices on climate change, food security,
access to water, clean energy, and accelerating progress on the Sustainable Development Goals
(SDGs) in Africa.
The Centre would be hosted by United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Food
and Agricultural Organisation (FAO).
Background
The Centre has its roots in a declaration endorsed by the G7 meeting of the Environment Ministers
in 2017.
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It was established to facilitate coordination among the G7 and African countries on common
initiatives in Africa to achieve the goals set by the Paris Agreement and the 2030 Agenda.
Ranking
India moved up one position on the Global Talent Competitive Index (GTCI) 2019 to be at the 80 th
position.
China emerged as the best performer among the BRICS countries, with an overall position of 45th.
India performed better than its lower-income peers when it comes to growing talent and access to
growth opportunities.
Only two non-European countries, Singapore and the USA, can be seen in the top ten.
Switzerland followed by Singapore, the US, Norway and Denmark were in the top five on the list.
5. Project ReWeave
News: Project ReWeave was launched by Microsoft India.
Details
It is an e-commerce platform for handloom weavers.
It hosts signature collections created by weaver communities and showcases traditional designs and
products created from natural dyes.
Project ReWeave also aims to help weavers with working capital support through non-profit
organisations.
Microsoft in association with the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) has also curated
a special curriculum in ‘CAD and Color for Handloom Weaving’ to provide digital training in
handloom design.
Since its inception, special emphasis has been given to skill development, using ICT and digital
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tools in critical aspects such as design, marketing and entrepreneurship, besides creating sustainable
livelihood options through Project Sangam, a Microsoft Azure-based Community Training
Platform.
Benefits
It will help connect artisans to buyers directly, enabling The Indian handloom industry is the
them to expand to newer customers and markets. second-largest employment provider
It will help sell to a broad set of customers, helping for the rural population in India,
weavers to increase their income and earn a sustainable with almost 43 lakh weavers.
livelihood, while also reviving forgotten Indian art.
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PIB CORNER
1. Samwad with Students
News: Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) launched the platform “Samwad with Students”
(SwS) in Bengaluru.
Aim: Through the SwS initiative, ISRO aims to constantly engage youngsters across India to capture
their scientific temperament. The new conversation mission will inspire students cutting across schools
and colleges.
Details
With this approval, the existing society "National Health Agency" has been dissolved and will be
replaced by National Health Authority as an attached office to Ministry of Health & Family
Welfare.
The existing multi-tier decision making structure has been replaced with the Governing Board
chaired by the Minister of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India which will enable the
decision making at a faster pace, required for smooth implementation of the scheme.
The composition of the Governing Board is broad based with due representations from the
Government, domain experts, etc.
Besides, the States shall also be represented in the Governing Board on rotational basis.
It is envisaged that the National Health Authority shall have full accountability, authority and
mandate to implement PM-JAY through an efficient, effective and transparent decision-making
process.
Details
The Scheme provides interest free corpus fund up to Rs.2.00 crore to the Special Purpose Vehicle
(SPV)/Consortium formed by powerloom weavers.
This will enable them to purchase yarn at wholesale rate and give the yarn at reasonable price to the
small weavers to avoid middleman and local supplier's brokerage charge on sales of yarn.
4. Green – Ag Project
News: The government has launched a Global Environment Facility (GEF) assisted project namely,
“Green – Ag: Transforming Indian Agriculture for global environment benefits and the conservation of
critical biodiversity and forest landscapes” in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organisation
(FAO) during September, 2018.
Details
It has been launched in high-conservation-value landscapes of five States namely
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1) Madhya Pradesh : Chambal Landscape
2) Mizoram: Dampa Landscape
3) Odisha: Similipal Landscape
4) Rajasthan: Desert National Park Landscape
5) Uttarakhand: Corbett-Rajaji Landscape
Objectives
The project seeks to mainstream biodiversity, climate change and sustainable land management
objectives and practices into Indian agriculture.
The overall objective of the project is to catalyze transformative change of India’s agricultural
sector to support achievement of national and global environmental benefits and conservation of
critical biodiversity and forest landscapes.
Bodo Accord
The Bodo Accord was signed in 2003 which resulted in the establishment of a Bodoland Territorial
Council (BTC) under Sixth Schedule of the Constitution of India.
However, there have been representations from different organizations of Bodos to fulfil various
outstanding demands.
Bodoland
Bodos are the single largest tribal community in Assam and constitute over 5-6 per cent of the total
state population.
The demand for a separate state of Bodoland started in 1967.
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The Bodo Accord was signed to appease the
Bodos
The area under the BTC jurisdiction is officially
called the Bodoland Territorial Area Districts
(BTAD) and comprises four regions
Kokrajhar
Baksa
Udalguri
Chirang
The four districts under the BTC made minimal Image Credit: Hans India
progress for the first decade after its formation.
BTAD areas are comprised of Bodos and non-Bodo people, some of the areas having a non-Bodo
majority.
Ethnic riots involving Bengali-speaking Muslims and Bodos in Bodoland Territorial Area District
have routinely occurred in the region.
The inequity in distribution of resources and under representation in the BTC has left non-Bodos
dissatisfied.
On the other hand, BTC could not fulfil the aspirations of the Bodos as issues like illegal
immigrants, protection of tribal belts and blocks remained unresolved.
Hence, the demand for Bodoland surfaced again.
Important initiatives
Crop diversification programme under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY)
National Food Security Mission (NFSM)
Bringing Green Revolution to Eastern India (BGREI)
Soil, water and crop management practices that reduce carbon emissions
1. Increasing the area under System of Rice Intensification (SRI) as an alternative to transplanted
paddy.
2. Deployment of zero tillage drill machines and other residue management equipment which enable
planting of rabi crop in the standing residue of rice crop to avoid its burning.
3. Alternate wetting and drying, direct seeded rice system of rice cultivation, use of slow release
nitrogen fertilizers, integrated nutrient management practices, leaf colour chart-based nitrogen
application, use of urea super granules etc.
4. Mandatory Neem coating of urea.
5. Promotion of micro irrigation under Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY)-Per Drop
More Crop.
6. Planting of trees under National Food Security Mission (NFSM), Bringing Green Revolution to
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Eastern India (BGREI), Sub-Mission on Agro Forestry (SMAF) and National Bamboo Mission
(NBM).
7. 45 models of Integrated Farming System (IFS) have been developed for replication in Krishi
Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) and in the States for enabling climate resilient agriculture.
8. Climate resilient villages have been developed by Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR),
one in each of 151 districts.
9. Climate Vulnerability Atlas has been prepared under National Innovations in Climate Resilient
Agriculture (NICRA).
10. District Agriculture Contingency Plans have been developed for 633 districts in order to give real
time agro advisories for overcoming climate risks.
Details
Medical devices come under the pharma sector in which 100 per cent FDI through automatic route
is permitted only in case of new ventures.
Approval of Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) is needed in the case of brownfield
investment—acquisition of existing companies.
At present, the medical devices sector is subjected to FDI limits and other conditions such as
mandatory government nods as in the case of brownfield investments in the pharma sector. But the
new policy does away with this distinction in the medical devices sector.
The move is expected to help attract more investments and boost the domestic manufacturing.
9. Mission Indradhanush
News: ‘Mission Indradhanush’ has been selected as one of the 12 best practices globally and has been
featured in a special issue of the British Medical Journal titled ‘Improving vaccination coverage in
India: lessons from Intensified Mission Indradhanush, a cross-sectoral systems strengthening strategy’.
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About the Scheme
Mission Indradhanush was launched by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in 2014
It aims to immunize all children under the age of 2 years, as well as all pregnant women, against
seven vaccine preventable diseases.
The diseases being targeted are diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus, poliomyelitis,
tuberculosis, measles and Hepatitis B.
In addition to these, vaccines for Japanese encephalitis and Haemophilus influenzae type B are
also being provided in selected states.
In 2016, four new additions have been made namely Rubella, Japanese Encephalitis, Injectable
Polio Vaccine Bivalent and Rotavirus.
In 2017, Pneumonia was added to the Mission by incorporating Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine
under Universal Immunization Programme.
India-U.S. disputes
India has complained against
Import of poultry and poultry products from United States
Countervailing duty by United States on Indian steel products
United States’ Sub-Federal Renewable energy programme
Certain measures of Unites States on steel and aluminium products
U.S has complained against
National Solar Mission of India
Export Subsidies measures of India
India-Japan disputes
Japan has complained against certain measures by India on imports of iron and steel products from
Japan
Objective: The main objective of this meeting was to promote technical cooperation between India and
Brazil for the rapid growth of the production and productivity of indigenous breeds.
Brazil’s expertise
By adopting modern breeding technologies and implementing scientific breeding programs, Brazil
has achieved an increase in the productivity of indigenous breeds of India.
In this way, genomic chips developed by Brazil can be very useful for implementing genomic
selection for our indigenous breeds.
India will seek Brazil’s help in Embryo transfer technology (ETT), promotion of In Vitro
Fertilization (IVF) and sex-sorted semen production.
Two Excellence Centers in Kalsi Uttarakhand and Central Agricultural University, Krishi Vigyan
Kendra (KVK) Motihari are being established with the help of Brazil.
Details
The project will provide Agra with better and more assured water supply, at an estimated cost of
Rs.2880 crores.
Gangajal project aims to bring 140 cusecs of Ganga water to Agra.
This will help meet the drinking water demands in the city.
Aim: It was launched with an aim to strengthen cooperative banks at various levels and bring about
financial inclusion of farmers in the remote villages of the country.
Details
The government’s objective behind the Primary Agricultural Credit Co-operative Societies (PACS)
computerization project is to provide a robust IT platform leading to automation of all activities of
the PACS.
For this, NCDC has taken a comprehensive step for strengthening of cooperative as Modern
Banking Units.
The model includes upgradation and new setup of IT and related infrastructure such as Data Centre,
Enterprise Network and Security, Core Banking Solutions (CBS), ATMs, POS, e-Lobby, etc.
It also includes assistance to cooperatives in capacity development through its dedicated Laxmanrao
Inamdar National Academy for Co-operative Research & Development.
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15. Recombinant ELISA kits
News: Union Minister of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare released recombinant Enzyme-linked immune
sorbent assay (ELISA) kits.
Details
Two recombinant ELISA kits were launched for
1. Glanders
2. Equine Infectious Anaemia
Both these diseases are notifiable diseases in India and require special diagnosis for control and
eradication in the country.
Glanders
Glanders is a fatal infectious and notifiable disease of equines including horses, donkeys and
mules.
The disease is caused by a bacterium known as Burkholderia mallei and has zoonotic potential.
The organism is also considered as potential bio-weapon and categorized under ‘Tier 1 Select
Agent’.
This technology will prove to be a milestone in the control and eradication of glanders from India.
Details
Through the campaign, the Ministry and the Campaign’s Partners aim to recognize the fortitude of
Indian women stalwarts from across the globe who have used the power of social media to run
positive & niche campaigns to steer a change in society.
This Campaign will recognize and acknowledge the efforts of these meritorious Women.
17. India-Denmark
News: The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister approved the Memorandum of Understanding
(MoU) on Maritime issues between India and Denmark.
Benefits
It will facilitate cross-border cooperation and investments between the maritime sectors of India and
Denmark
It will enable both the countries to exchange expertise, publications, information, data and statistics
to improve mutual capabilities for ensuring quality shipping; cooperation in the field of green
maritime technology and shipbuilding, granting the Indian Register of Shipping (IRS) the status of
Recognized Organization (RO), cooperation in the fields of maritime training and education
It will enable research and development for sustained cooperation in the field of merchant shipping
and maritime transport related matters
It will also further extend and deepen the cooperation on the opportunities of mutual benefits to
both the countries, at both bilateral and international level
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Bilateral trade
Denmark is one of the important trading partners with India.
Major Danish exports to India include medicinal/ pharmaceutical goods, power generation
machinery; industrial machinery, metal ores, organic chemicals, etc.
Major Indian exports to Denmark include apparels, textiles/ fabrics/ yarns, road vehicles and
components, metal goods, iron and steel, footwear and travel goods.
Details
It aims to bring Indian IT companies and Chinese enterprises closer to each other on a single AI
enabled platform.
This is a partnership by National Association of Software and Services Companies (NASSCOM)
with Municipal Governments of Guiyang and Dalian.
A Joint Venture comprising of one Indian and Chinese company has been tasked with the running
of the platform.
Significance
Indian IT enterprises are world renowned for their expertise in business transformation and
operational optimization by using IT tools in complex business environments.
SIDCOP, which is a boundary-less marketplace offers this opportunity for Chinese enterprises in
order to assist them in operational optimization and adopting industry best practices in business
solutions.
This platform could be useful to connect with top providers from India and help Chinese enterprises
source the right solution providers for their projects.
What is it?
INDUS FOOD is a global platform where top exporters from Food and Beverage Industry of India
will be participating and buyers from across the world have been invited.
The event is aimed at promoting India as a strong and reliable exporter of food and beverage
products to the world.
Salient Features
It will enable India and Japan to essentially exchange and re-exchange a maximum amount of USD 75
Billion for domestic currency, for the purpose of maintaining an appropriate level of balance of
payments for meeting short-term deficiency in foreign exchange.
Benefits
The BSA is a very good example of mutual cooperation between India and Japan for strategic
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objective of assisting each other in times of difficulty and for restoring international confidence.
This facility will enable the agreed amount of Capital being available to India on tap for use.
Also, with this arrangement in place, prospects of Indian companies would improve in tapping
foreign capital as there would be greater confidence in stability of country’s exchange rate.
Availability of such swap line to tide over difficulties arising out of Balance of Payment (BOP)
would deter speculative attacks on the domestic currency and greatly enhance the RBI’s ability to
manage exchange rate volatility.
The arrangement is another milestone in mutual economic cooperation and special strategic and
global partnership between India and Japan.
What is it?
It is an initiative to enable women entrepreneurs and Government e Marketplace is a 100
women self-help groups [WSHGs] to sell handicrafts percent government owned
and handloom, accessories, jute and coir products, company setup under the aegis of
home décor and office furnishings, directly to various Ministry of Commerce and Industry
Government ministries, departments and institutions. for procurement of common use
The initiative seeks to develop women goods and services by Government
entrepreneurship on the margins of society to achieve ministries, departments and CPSEs.
gender-inclusive economic growth. GeM was setup in 2016.
Significance
Nearly 80 percent women-owned establishments are self-financed and more than 60 percent of 8
million units are owned and or led by women entrepreneurs from socially-challenged sections of the
society.
Since women tend to invest up to 90 percent of their earnings back in their families to provide
better nutrition, health care and education to their children, economic empowerment of women is a
step in the direction of poverty alleviation.
The initiative aligns with Government’s initiatives for MSMEs, especially to reserve 3 percent in
government procurement from women entrepreneurs.
Benefits
Womaniya on GeM will spur hyper-local economic opportunities for women entrepreneurs and address
goals and objectives under United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 5: Achieve gender equality
and empower all women and girls.
What is it?
GHTC- India intends to get best globally available innovative construction technologies through a
challenge process.
It seeks to demonstrate and deliver ready to live-in houses in a shorter time, with lower cost and
quality construction in a sustainable manner.
It also seeks to promote future technologies, to foster an environment of research and development
in the country.
The challenge has three components viz.
i) Conduct of Grand Expo-cum-Conference
ii) Identifying Proven Demonstrable Technologies from across the world and
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iii) Promoting Potential Technologies through setting up incubation centers at selected IITs and
organizing accelerator workshops under the Affordable Sustainable Housing Accelerators- India
(ASHA-India) Program.
Why is it required?
The use of alternative, innovative and fast-track technologies aims at:-
a) conservation of natural resources
b) bringing speed in construction
c) utilization of industrial and construction demolition waste
d) reduction in air and noise pollution
e) optimum use of water
f) increased labour productivity
g) cost reduction
h) safe and disaster resilient houses
i) all weather site execution etc
Benefits
GHTC-India has been conceptualized to enable the paradigm shift required in the construction
sector in the country.
GHTC-India will bring change, both in the perception as well as the manner in which construction
of houses is done.
This transition will contribute towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as
laid out by the United Nations (UN), the New Urban Agenda and the Paris Climate Accord to
which India is a signatory and other such international commitments
Such a technology transition aligns well with the vision of New India 2022.
This will bring the country at par with the advanced economies of the world and their rigorous
standards in the construction sector.
Details
While DD Science is a one-hour slot on Doordarshan National channel, which will be telecast
Monday to Saturday from 5 pm to 6pm, India Science is an internet-based channel, which is
available on any internet-enabled device, and will offer live, scheduled play and video-on-demand
services.
Doordarshan,which reaches out to more than 92 per cent of India’s population would be a very
impactful medium for popularization of science.
The two science communication platforms are National level initiatives to elevate science into a
celebration and bring it close to everyday life.
The two science channels which are milestones in the history of science communication in India,
are the first step in creating a national science channel for the country.
While India Science (www.indiascience.in) is already a 24x7 presence, DD Science may also be
scaled up to a full-fledged channel in the future.
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24. India-Australia
News: The Union Cabinet approved Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Directorate
General of Mines Safety (DGMS), Ministry of Labour and Employment and Department of Natural
Resource Mines and Energy, Queensland Government, Australia through the Safety in Mines, Testing
and Research Station (SIMTARS).
Benefit
The MoU will help in establishing a partnership between DGMS and SIMTARS for:
1. implementation of risk based safety management system, providing training,
2. organising, conference, seminar and other technical meetings, setting up occupations safety and
health academy and national mine disaster centre, and
3. modernising R&D laboratory of DGMS.
Background
Mining accident rates in Australia is the lowest in the world.
Australia has pioneered in conceptualising and implementing risk based Safety Management Plans
for the mining sector using the technique of hazard identification and risk assessment.
SIMTARS is known to have exclusive expertise in Mines Safety Management Systems.
Details
It is an annual high intensity one-month long people-centric mega campaign of Petroleum
Conservation Research Association (PCRA) under the aegis of Ministry of Petroleum and Natural
Gas.
It is a month long mass awareness drive seeking citizens to participate in fuel conservation for
health & environment protection and simultaneously help in reducing India’s dependency on import
of crude oil.
PCRA
It is a registered society set up under the aegis of Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas.
It is engaged in promoting energy efficiency in various sectors of economy.
It helps the government in proposing policies and strategies for petroleum conservation, aimed at
reducing excessive dependence of the country on oil requirement.
27. UNNATI
News: UNNATI- (Unispace Nanosatellite Assembly & Training) programme was organized by ISRO
in Bengaluru.
What is UNNATI?
It is a capacity building programme on Nanosatellite development.
It is an initiative by ISRO to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the first United Nations
conference on the exploration and peaceful uses of outer space (UNISPACE-50).
The programme provides opportunities to the participating developing countries to strengthen in
assembling, integrating and testing of Nanosatellite.
UNNATI programme is planned to be conducted for 3 years by U.R. Rao Satellite Centre of ISRO
in 3 batches and will target to benefit officials of 45 countries.
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28. Lithium Ion Giga Factory
News: Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) and LIBCOIN are in dialogue to Build India’s First
Lithium Ion Giga Factory.
Details
BHEL and LIBCOIN will initially build 1GWh lithium ion battery plant in India.
Its capacity will be scaled up to 30GWh in due course.
With this, India has finally taken steps into its energy security and clean energy commitment to the
world.
Benefits
This project will bring energy independence by replacing oil imports with abundant renewable.
This project also includes “Made by India, for India”, with focus on core-cost components
manufactured domestically.
It will also create integrated manufacturing ecosystem resulting in self-reliance and lower cost.
Aim: The event aims at extending the outreach of National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM)
to the poorest of the poor and the most vulnerable, showcase its initiatives and facilitate access of SHG
members to the other government schemes.
Details
The museum showcases the entire history of Indian cinema in one place.
The Museum is housed in two buildings – the New Museum Building and the 19th century historic
palace Gulshan Mahal – in the Films Division campus in Mumbai.
A. The New Museum Building has four Exhibition Halls which encapsulate:
1. Gandhi & Cinema: it not only depicts the movies made on the life Mahatma Gandhi but also
showcases the deep impact his life had on cinema.
2. Children’s Film Studio: it gives visitors, particularly children, an opportunity to explore the
science, technology and art behind filmmaking.
3. Technology, creativity & Indian cinema: it showcases the creative use of technology by Indian
film makers over the years to produce cinematographic impact on the silver screen.
4. Cinema across India: it showcases the charismatic kaleidoscopic presence of the vibrant
cinematographic culture across India.
B. Gulshan Mahal is an ASI Grade-II Heritage Structure which has been restored as part of the NMIC
project. The displays present here showcase the journey of over a hundred years of Indian cinema.
Aim
It aims to comprehensively and holistically validate the efficacy of the measures taken since '26/11'.
It also aims to simultaneously activate the coastal security mechanism across all States and Union
Territories.
Background
Post '26/11', the Indian Navy was designated as the agency responsible for overall maritime
security, including offshore and coastal security.
The Indian Coast Guard was designated as the agency responsible for coastal security in territorial
waters, including waters to be patrolled by the State Marine Police.
In the discharge of these very responsibilities that Exercise 'SEA VIGIL' has been planned by the
Indian Navy.
Details
It is the largest coastal defence exercise off the Indian coast.
It is a first of its kind exercise that is being undertaken along the entire 7516.6 km coastline and
Exclusive Economic Zone of India and is involving all the 13 coastal States and Union Territories
along with all maritime stakeholders, including the fishing and coastal communities.
The exercise will entail both seaward and shore-based monitoring.
The exercise will in addition to covering the entire coastline, will also go deeper into the hinterland.
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The exercise is a build up towards the major theatre level tri-service exercise TROPEX [Theatre-
level Readiness Operational Exercise] which Indian Navy conducts every two years.
Significance
It is a validation of all the efforts and strategic initiatives being implemented at JNPT in order to
enhance overall port efficiency.
Various new processes activated under the ‘ease of doing business’ initiative have not only helped
in overall growth of the port business, but also allowed the EXIM trade to save time and cost which
in turn have accentuated the growth story.
India is gaining precedence as a favourable trade destination and initiatives at JNPT has been
credited for helping India leverage its position in the World Bank Ranking in trading across the
borders, from 146 to 80, a jump of 66 points.
Details
The joint training exercise is being conducted with more than a dozen African countries & India.
It aims at synergizing humanitarian mine action and joint peace operations.
The IAFTX-2019 is a positive step towards growing political and military ties with the member
nations of African continent and will boost the already strong strategic cooperation between the
countries.
Details
PM was awarded for his outstanding leadership and selfless service combined with his tireless
energy which has resulted in extraordinary economic, social and technological advances in the
country.
It said that India is identified as the Centre for Innovation and Value Added Manufacturing (Make
in India), as well as a global hub for professional services such as Information Technology,
Accounting and Finance under the PM’s leadership.
It also mentioned Digital Revolution (Digital India), including the Unique Identification Number,
Aadhaar, for social benefits and financial inclusion.
The Citation also mentions initiatives such as Startup India and Swachh Bharat.
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35. Bio-Jet Fuel
News: Bureau of Indian Standards in Collaboration with Indian Air Force released new standards for
bio-jet fuel.
Benefits
These specifications will align Indian standards with current international standards.
This standard would enable the oil companies to manufacture bio-jet fuel for the Indian aviation
industry.
Given the advent of Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA)
by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) by 2027, this is a significant development
which could reduce the carbon emissions and help India become a green fuel production hub.
Details
The train set has been manufactured by Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in the period of 18 months
under 'Make in India' program.
It is India's first semi-high speed train equipped with world class passenger amenities.
It can achieve high speeds (max speed of 160 kmph) due to faster acceleration & deceleration and
will reduced journey time by 25% to 45%.
Scheduled commute between New Delhi & Varanasi will take approximately 8 hours making it 40-
50% faster than the fastest train currently connecting these two cities.
Features
Vande Bharat Express incorporates many modern features which debut for the very first time on
Indian Railways.
It has been provided with ‘State of the Art’ passenger amenities like On-board wifi entertainment,
GPS based passenger information system, CCTVs, bio-vacuum toilets, rotating chairs in executive
class, etc. at par with global standards.
It also has provision of Divyang-friendly facilities.
Further, it has intelligent braking system with power regeneration for better energy efficiency
thereby making it cost, energy and environment efficient.
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37. Republic Day folk dances
The following folk dances were performed on the Republic Day
Karakkatam folk dance - Tamil Nadu
Taakala Folk Dance – Maharashtra
Monpa - Arunachal Pradesh
Satoiya Nitya – Assam
Tamang Seto - Sikkim
Mamita folk dance - Tripura
Fusim Dance - Jammu Kashmir
Misra Raas - Gujarat
Hudka Chhudka - Uttarakhand
Bhangra - Punjab
Details
It is Rs 1100 crore project.
This project will be funded by the World Bank and the Indian Government on a 50:50 basis.
NAHEP has been conceived to enable the agricultural education system catch up nationally and
internationally with the peers, investing on infrastructure, competency and commitment of faculty,
and attracting talented students to agriculture.
It has been formulated with a focus to improve and sustain quality of higher agricultural education.
The project aims to support infrastructure, faculty and student advancement, and providing means
for better governance and management of agricultural universities, to raise the standard of current
agricultural education system and provide a more jobs and entrepreneurship orientation to
agricultural education.
Project Objectives
Accentuate the relevance and quality of higher agricultural education in selected Agricultural
Universities
Student and faculty development
Improve learning outcomes, employability and entrepreneurship; and
Enhancing institutional and system management effectiveness
Background
It was the second to be held in India after 2012.
During the St. Petersburg declaration in 2010, tiger range countries had resolved to double tiger
numbers across their range by 2022.
At the time of deliberations at St. Petersburg, India’s tiger estimate stood at 1411, which after the
third cycle of the All India Tiger Estimation, 2014 has nearly been doubled to 2226.
This has largely been possible because of strides made against Key Performance Indicators (KPIs),
predominant among them being legislation to ensure protection of tiger habitat and enhancement of
penalties, besides providing a statutory basis for inviolate space.
Global and National Tiger Recovery Programs (GTRP/NTRP) were formulated by respective tiger
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range countries as a consequence of this historic decision.
The fourth cycle of the All India Tiger Estimation, 2018 is currently under way.
Benefits
Participation in PISA 2021 would indicate the health of the education system and would motivate
other schools /states in the subsequent cycles.
Learnings from participation in PISA will help to introduce competency based examination reforms
in the school system and help move away from rote learning.
This will lead to improvement in the learning levels of the children and enhance the quality of
education in the country.
PISA 2021
The list of registered countries for PISA 2021 includes Brazil, China (certain areas like Shanghai and
Beijing) and countries from South-East Asia like Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia and Vietnam.
Details
It will bring the industry’s domestic business stakeholders under one umbrella so that they could
evolve a unified approach to promote growth in the sector.
The Council will help in tapping new opportunities in the already existing large domestic market
Apart from skill building the council will also ensure that quality jewellery is manufactured to gain
the trust of customer
It will have associations, not individuals, as its members.
The DC will consist of a national committee (NC) and four regional committees (RCs).
The NC will comprise 20 elected members from various industry segments (bullion, jewellery,
refineries, imitation jewellery, etc), three co-opted members, and three government nominees.
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42. GST Appellate Tribunal
News: The Union Cabinet approved the creation of National Bench of the Goods and Services Tax
Appellate Tribunal (GSTAT).
Details
The National Bench of the Appellate Tribunal shall be situated at New Delhi.
GSTAT shall be presided over by its President and shall consist of one Technical Member (Centre)
and one Technical Member (State).
About GSTAT
Goods and Services Tax Appellate Tribunal is the forum of second appeal in GST laws and the first
common forum of dispute resolution between Centre and States.
The appeals against the orders in first appeals issued by the Appellate Authorities under the Central
and State GST Acts lie before the GST Appellate Tribunal, which is common under the Central as
well as State GST Acts.
Being a common forum, GST Appellate Tribunal will ensure that there is uniformity in redressal of
disputes arising under GST, and therefore, in implementation of GST across the country.
The CGST Act provides for the Appeal and Review Mechanism for dispute resolution under the
GST Regime.
CGST Act empowers the Central Government to constitute an Appellate Tribunal known as the
Goods and Services Tax Appellate Tribunal for hearing appeals against the orders passed by the
Appellate Authority or the Revisional Authority.
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ACTS/BILLS CORNER
1. 103rd Constitutional Amendment Act
News: The 124th Constitutional Amendment Bill received the President’s assent in January making it
the 103rd Constitution Amendment Act.
What is it?
It provides 10 per cent reservation in jobs and educational institutions to economically backward
section in the general category.
Supporting arguments
Poor citizens outside the SC, ST and OBC categories are unable to compete with those who are
better off.
Reservation benefits are in line with the directive principles of state policy which call for extending
help to the weaker sections.
Reservation already exists for private educational institutions. The Act talks about reservation in
public employment and private and public educational institutions.
The Act does not disturb the reservation specified by Mandal Commission which is 50% for castes.
It is line with the principles of the Preamble which talk social, economic and political justice and
equality of opportunity from which stems the economic criteria for reservation.
The reservation based on caste is very divisive. The quota reservation provided is a kind of secular
reservation.
The Constitution intends to provide reservation for socially and educationally backward classes
which is interpreted to rely only on castes.
The Constitution does not mention the word ‘caste’ when it provides for reservation.
Non-supporting arguments
It is against the concept of reservation. The fundamental idea behind reservation was to diversify
and represent the vast sections of India’s marginalised classes, regardless of their wealth.
In Indra Sawhney Vs Union of India case, 1992, popularly known as the Mandal Commission
case, a Constitution Bench of the court had “specifically stated that the economic criteria cannot be
the sole basis for reservation under the Constitution.”
It is violative of the equality principle enshrined in Article 14 and Article 16 of the Constitution as
1. it essentially implies that only those who are poor from the general categories would avail the
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benefits of the quotas
2. the high creamy layer limit of Rs 8 lakh per annum ensures that the elite in the OBCs and
SCs/STs capture the reservation benefits repeatedly excluding the poor people in the same
categories
In M Nagaraj Vs Union of India & Others case, 2006, Supreme Court had said that reservation
should not breach the 50 per cent ceiling.
The Nagaraj judgment also required that in order to impose reservation, there must be some sort of
quantitative exercise undertaken in advance. Such an exercise was not undertaken to determine the
10% quota.
The Nagaraj judgement also specifies inadequacy of representation and overall efficiency of
administration before making a provision for reservation.
The ceiling specified in terms of land and income covers more than 70% of the population and
reservation provided for the same is 10% which cannot be justified.
In a nation where unemployment is a major problem, reservation for jobs will create a problem.
Also, each state has a different situation. The central government cannot fix the criteria for all
states.
Background
The Act amended the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act,
1989.
The SC/ST Act, 1989 was enacted to prevent atrocities against scheduled castes and scheduled
tribes.
But even after the enactment of the Act, there were many cases of atrocities reported against SC/ST,
misuse of the Act and some of the crimes not covered in the Act.
Hence the Parliament brought out SC and ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Act, 2015
seeking to ensure more stringent provisions for prevention of Atrocities against Scheduled Castes
and the Scheduled Tribes.
The 2015 amendment Act added 25 more offenses to the original Act which mentioned only 22
offenses hence taking the total number of offenses to 47.
But, on March 20, 2018, in Dr Subhash Kashinath Mahajan vs The State of Maharashtra case, a
two-judge bench of the Supreme Court ruled that there were “instances of abuse” of the Act by
“vested interests” for political or personal reasons. It, thereafter, laid down guidelines for arrests
under the Act “to avoid false implications”.
The guidelines laid down by the SC were
A preliminary enquiry may be conducted by a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) to ensure
allegations are not “frivolous or motivated” before a case is registered.
A public servant, if accused, can only be arrested with the permission of the appointing
authority.
Others can be arrested only after permission is granted from the Senior Superintendent of Police
of the district.
The SSP will have to record in writing the reason for granting permission and hand it to the
accused and the concerned court.
Minority groups and the Opposition criticised the judgment and demanded immediate action by the
Centre. A mass movement was started by the SC/ST community throughout the nation.
The arguments against the guidelines were
An investigation by an officer of DSP rank would delay the filing of a First Information Report
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(FIR) on the case.
It may also be difficult to get the preliminary inquiry conducted within seven days as sufficient
number of DSP level officers are usually not in place.
Delay in registration of FIR would result in delay in payment of admissible relief amount to the
victims of atrocities admissible only on registration of FIR.
Even if an FIR is filed, arrest requires permission by SSP which all districts in the country do
not have.
The permission from the appointing authority in case of public servants would further delay the
process after filing an FIR.
The Centre then filed a review petition in the Supreme Court which, instead of being heard in
chambers, was heard in the open court which delayed the hearing of review petition further.
Therefore the Centre brought the amendment in the SC/ST Act in 2018 and consequently Section
18A was incorporated which in effect circumvented the law laid down by the Supreme Court in its
aforesaid judgment.
Way forward
The amendment act was unanimously passed by the ruling party and the opposition party in
Parliament which shows the convergence of opinions of both parties on the issue.
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The Supreme Court has also refused to stay the amendments made to the Act which necessitates the
implementation of the law of the land until otherwise ruled by the judiciary.
The effectiveness of the Act will depend on the implementation of the Act.
The administrative set up, which includes police machinery, investigating agencies and judiciary,
has to work together to effectively implement such a law.
Benefits
The confiscation of properties on merely being declared an FEO will help in forcing the individual
to appear before the Special Court unlike Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) where
confiscation is done only after the conclusion of the proceedings.
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The pre-confiscation concept is in line with United Nations Convention against Corruption
("UNCC") which India ratified in 2011.
Challenges
Compared to Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), FEO Act covers lesser offenses hence
reducing its credibility.
The law is not in consistence with the principle of “innocent until proven guilty”.
The disallowance of civil proceedings does not actually adjudicate upon the innocence or guilt of a
person but merely declares the person to be a FEO.
Though the Act provides for a period of 90 days from the date of order of declaration before
disposing off confiscated properties, it is silent on any timeline within which the Special Court
should decide on an application under the said Act.
The Act only considers the monetary value of the offense.
The Act covers foreign properties and provides for a letter of request to be made to foreign states
but the reality remains that India has a poor track record when it comes to extradition.
Way forward
The loopholes in the Act should be plugged to make it an effective Act.
Apart from the monetary value, the court should also consider the nature of offence.
Due importance needs to be given to strengthening of international relations, simplifying of
extradition procedures and culmination of more robust extradition arrangements/treaties.
The Act may incorporate punishment of officers in case of vexatious searches as given under
PMLA.
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FIR.
An appeal in a High Court after conviction in a lower court should be disposed off within six
months.
There is no provision for anticipatory bail in the case of rape of a girl below 16 years.
The government would set up fast track, special courts for rape cases.
The “character” of the victim would not be relevant to the question of consent.
Benefits
The death penalty for rape under 12 years of age would deter individuals from committing such
heinous crimes.
Fast track courts would ensure speedy justice for the victim.
Such stringent punishments would encourage the victim to report the crime.
The provision of not providing anticipatory bail would prevent offenders from escaping.
Challenges
The argument that the death penalty will act as a deterrent is dismissed as a futile exercise as
stringent punishments in a very few cases have led to a decrease in the rate of commission of
crimes.
Justice Verma Committee had strongly rejected death penalty stating that “there is a strong
submission that the seeking of the death penalty would be a regressive step in the field of
sentencing and reformation”.
Death penalty is also a punishment in case of an offence of murder. However, this has not stopped
the crime and in fact, the crime rate is on increase.
National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data shows that rapes in India are mostly committed by a
person known to the victims or relatives of the victims. Thus death penalty will lead to under
reporting of cases.
The punishment for murder under Section 302, IPC is death penalty or imprisonment for life. Thus,
rape and murder attract the same punishment which might lead to chances of murder of the victim.
The Act does not mention rape of minor boys.
Way forward
The focus should be on taking steps to increase the conviction rate.
There is a need to create a conducive environment for the victim to report the crime and provide
protection to the victim as well as the witness.
Reason: Home Ministry said the decision has been taken as killings, loot and extortion have been
going on in various parts of the State which necessitated the action.
Background
The AFSPA has been in force in Nagaland for several decades.
It has not been withdrawn even after a framework agreement was signed in 2015, by the Naga
insurgent group NSCN-IM and government interlocutor in the presence of Prime Minister.
The framework agreement came after over 80 rounds of negotiations spanning 18 years with the
first breakthrough in 1997 when the ceasefire agreement was sealed after decades of insurgency in
Nagaland.
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The NSCN-IM has been fighting for ‘Greater
Nagaland’ or Nagalim — it wants to extend
Nagaland's borders by including Naga-dominated
areas in neighboring Assam, Manipur and Arunachal
Pradesh, to unite 1.2 million Nagas.
Provisions of AFSPA
It was enacted in 1958 to bring under control what
the government of India considered ‘disturbed’ areas.
The government (either the state or centre) considers
those areas to be ‘disturbed’ “by reason of
differences or disputes between members of different
religious, racial, language or regional groups or Image credit: The Indian Express
castes or communities."
The centre or the governor has overruling powers over the state government for declaration of
AFSPA.
AFSPA gives armed forces the power to maintain public order in “disturbed areas”.
Section 4 of the Act empowers officers (both commissioned and non-commissioned) to “fire upon
or otherwise use force, even to the causing of death” not only in cases of self-defence but against
any person contravening laws or orders "prohibiting the assembly of five or more persons."
If reasonable suspicion exists, the army can also arrest a person without a warrant; enter or search
premises without a warrant; and ban the possession of firearms.
Any person arrested or taken into custody may be handed over to the officer in charge of the nearest
police station along with a report detailing the circumstances that led to the arrest.
Section 6 of the Act prohibits prosecution or other legal proceedings without the sanction of the
central government.
Once declared ‘disturbed’, the region has to maintain status quo for a minimum of three months,
according to The Disturbed Areas (Special Courts) Act, 1976.
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Arguments against AFSPA
It is a draconian law that encourages the Army to carry out human rights violations with impunity.
AFSPA shows the failure of the system to govern people in a democratic way.
Such a law is severe and inhuman given the fact that India won its independence against a similar
authority.
Section 4 gives sanction to soldiers for excessive use of force that is in contravention to
international norms.
Section 4 is in violation of Article 21 of the Indian Constitution that states that “no person shall be
deprived of his life or personal liberty except according to procedure established by law”.
Section 6 gives immunity to soldiers allegedly indulging in human rights violations.
Till date, no soldier has ever been prosecuted for any alleged offence committed under the AFSPA
in a criminal court as the government never gives permission for such investigation as required
under the law.
Way forward
The government should bring in a legislation that strengthens both respect for human rights, as well
as protection to our soldiers who put their lives on the line in defence of the country.
The investigation into the misuse of AFSPA by armed forces should be carried out expeditiously.
Armed forces should self-regulate themselves to fire upon people sparingly and in the most
inevitable circumstances.
The Army must put in public domain details of all court-martials held with respect to human rights
violations.
It must sincerely carry out fresh investigations into all alleged cases of human rights violations in
areas where it has been imposed.
Last but not the least, helmet cameras must be made mandatory for all operations in counter
insurgency areas.
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Users: The State or a body corporate can use Aadhaar as an identification proof if UIDAI is
satisfied that
1. privacy and security standards have been ensured
2. it is legal
3. such authentication is sought for a purpose specified by the central government in the interest of
the State.
Children’s Aadhaar: Aadhaar number of children can be sought only with the consent of parents
who should be informed of
1. the manner in which it will be used
2. with whom the data would be shared
3. their right to access the information
The child upon reaching 18 years of age can seek the cancellation of such data.
Disclosure of information: Aadhaar information can be disclosed only if it is sought by a High
court or a higher court.
Also officers below the Rank of secretary can disclose information in the interest of national
security.
UIDAI Fund: all fees and revenue collected by the UIDAI shall be credited to the Unique
Identification Authority of India Fund which shall be used for expenses of the UIDAI, including
salaries and allowances of its employees.
Complaints: Not only the UIDAI but also the individual can complaint in certain cases, including
impersonation or disclosure of their identity.
Penalties: Penalties can be imposed on an entity which is not compliant with the Act or the
UIDAI’s directions or fails to furnish information required by it.
A fine of up to one crore rupees can be imposed by the adjudicating officer, the appeal of which
will lie to the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal.
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Parallel authentication is being introduced to safeguard the privacy of individuals. In the alternative
method, an individual need not disclose his Aadhaar number.
Under the amendments, an Aadhaar holder can opt for offline verification through a QR code and
will not be required to share his or her actual Aadhaar number.
It has taken proper consideration of observations of the Court relevant to the Stricter Punishments,
UIDAI authority, Aadhaar Eco-System and Offline modes of Verification.
Challenges
According to the Bill, Parliament can pass a law to make Aadhaar mandatory.
It has violated the Supreme Court ruling of 2018 not making Aadhaar compulsory for certain
provisions.
Disregarding the SC’s order, the bill states that information can be disclosed in the interest of
national security.
Privacy and security concerns have not been addressed adequately in the bill.
A child on reaching 18 years becomes an adult and hence all laws of Aadhaar are applicable to him
wherein cancellation may not be allowed.
If the government fails to notify any new form of identification, a person’s identity will necessarily
have to be authenticated through Aadhaar or through her passport.
Way forward
Aadhaar should be an empowerment for individuals which can be used as an identity on a voluntary
basis.
Proper security and confidentiality of data should be ensured.
The bill should include the data protection law based on the recommendations of B N Srikrishna
committee.
Aim: The Bill provides for “surveillance, inspection, operation and maintenance of specified dams for
prevention of dam failure related disasters and to provide for institutional mechanism to ensure their
safe functioning”.
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Provisions of the Bill
National Committee on Dam Safety (NCDS)
It will be headed by the CWC chairperson and comprise members nominated by the Centre.
There will be representatives of the Centre and states (through rotation) as well as dam safety
experts.
It will formulate policies and regulations.
National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA)
It will be headed by an officer of at least Additional Secretary rank
It will implement the policies framed by National Committee on Dam Safety.
The authority will also resolve issues between State Dam Safety Organisations (SDSOs) or
between a SDSO and any individual dam owner, lay down regulations for dam inspection and
for accreditation to construction and designing agencies.
State Dam Safety Organisations: All dams in a state will belong to the SDSO. In case of dams
falling in multiple states or dam owned by one state but located in another state or owned by central
public sector undertaking, the NDSA will act as the SDSO.
State Committee on Dam Safety (SCDS): It has the following functions
review the work of SDSO
order dam safety investigations
recommend dam safety measures and review its progress
assess impact on upstream and downstream states
Change in functions: The central government can amend the functions of NCDS, NDSA and
SCDS.
Obligations of dam owners: Dam owners should provide a dam safety unit in each dam which will
inspect the dam periodically and prepare emergency plans.
Offenses and penalties: Obstructing a person in the discharge of his duties or violations of the
provisions of the bill are two offenses which will be punishable with imprisonment of up to one
year or a fine, or both. Loss of lives will extend the punishment up to 2 years.
Benefits
It will help all states and Union Territories adopt uniform dam safety procedures.
It will ensure safety of dams and help in safeguarding human life, livestock and property.
Challenges
States have challenged the bill as it contains provisions wherein the control of the dam would be
with NDSA in case of dams situated in other states.
For instance, Tamil Nadu fears about the access Kerala could get to Mullaperiyar dam if it comes
under NDSA.
Some states fear the central control in case of dams situated in two states.
There is no inclusion of compensation to the victims of dam failures or dam incidents.
The whole dam safety mechanism is dominated by CWC. It is also involved in policy making
resulting in a conflict of interest between the functions.
The CWC is also said to have a poor record in dam safety.
Though people at risk are the biggest stakeholders in dam safety, they have not been mentioned in
the bill.
Neither does the bill mention any experience that the experts should have in dam safety nor does it
mention any mechanism as to how they will be selected.
It appears that the SDSOs are subservient to NDSA which has also become the reason for states to
oppose the bill.
Way forward
The bill should mandate in each State and national dam safety committee, organisation and
authority, presence of persons having track record of taking independent positions.
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The bill should clearly define the experience that the experts should have in dam safety and how
they would be selected.
People at risk should be given adequate consideration in the bill.
The Central and the state governments should work together to resolve differences so that state can
put more trust on the central government.
Aim: The bill seeks to amend certain provisions of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996.
Benefits
It will improve India's rank on the index of ease of doing business.
It will provide ease of dispute resolution.
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It will boost the confidence of domestic and foreign businesses in India.
It will make India a preferred seat of arbitration.
It will make the arbitration process in India more user friendly, cost effective and ensuring speedy
disposal.
It is in consonance with international arbitration proceedings.
It will boost institutional arbitration vis-a-vis ad hoc arbitration.
Challenges
The scope of the ACI's powers are not defined under the Bill.
Further, there could be a possibility of delays in completing the arbitration, since the Bill proposes
that a twelve months period would begin from completion of the pleadings and not from date of
reference of the arbitration.
The bill does not provide for specialist arbitration benches before various courts as recommended
by Sri Krishna committee on arbitration.
The report had also had suggested that time limits to challenge an award under the Amendment Act
be reduced with a mandatory deposit of seventy five percent of the sum awarded in court. This
provision has also not been included in the act.
Way forward
The inclusion of recommendations given by the Sri Krishna committee would have strengthened
the act further.
The scope and powers of the ACI should be clearly defined.
The Bill should have defined provisions relating to emergency arbitration under the definition of
arbitral tribunal in the Principal Act.
Foreign qualified arbitrators should be included within the ambit of the act.
The government should plug in the loopholes and seek to strengthen the act.
Aim
It proposes to establish an international arbitration centre at New Delhi, replacing the International
Centre for Alternative Dispute Resolution (ICADR) set-up in the year 1995, which is a society
registered under the Societies Registration Act.
Background
India has historically suffered from a lack of credible arbitral institutions, and arbitration in India
has always been skewed towards ad-hoc arbitration.
In January 2017, the Ministry of Law and Justice had constituted a ten-member committee under
the chairmanship of Justice B.N. Srikrishna (retd.) (Justice Srikrishna Committee) to review the
functioning of ICADR.
A major drawback of ICADR, as identified by the Justice Srikrishna Committee, was its failure in
keeping pace with new developments in the arbitration scenario to match up with the dynamic
developments in the field of arbitration globally.
In fact, the ICADR Rules, which were revised recently in 2016, failed to account for the latest
developments in the field of arbitration such as provisions for joinder of parties, consolidation of
arbitral proceedings, emergency arbitration, etc.
Another drawback of the ICADR was a large governing council which made it difficult for the
institution to coordinate its governance.
The NDIAC is aimed at countering the problems ICADR faced in serving as an arbitral institution
of repute, and providing quick and efficient dispute resolution.
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Provisions of the Bill
New Delhi International Arbitration Centre: A New Delhi International Arbitration Centre
(NDIAC) would be established to carry out the functions mentioned under the Bill. It would be an
institute of national importance.
Composition: NDIAC would include 7 persons, namely,
Chairperson – To be a judge of Supreme Court or High court or an eminent person having
special knowledge and experience in the conduct or administration of arbitration, appointed by
the Central Government in consultation with the Chief Justice of India.
Two eminent persons- having substantial knowledge in international and domestic arbitration,
appointed by the Central government.
one representative of a recognized body of commerce
Secretary to the Ministry of Law & Justice
Finance Advisor
Chief Executive Officer
International Centre for Alternative Dispute Resolution (ICADR): The ICADR will be
transferred to the Central government who shall notify the transfer of rights, title and interest to the
NDIAC.
Term and superannuation: The members of NDIAC shall hold office for 3 years and be eligible
for reappointment. Chairperson shall retire at 70 years while other members at 67 years.
Objectives:
to provide facilities and administrative assistance for conciliation, mediation and arbitral
proceedings
to maintain panels of accredited arbitrators, conciliators and mediators both at national and
international level or specialists such as surveyors and investigators
to promote research and study, providing teaching and training, and organising conferences and
seminars in arbitration, conciliation, mediation and other alternative dispute resolution matters
to collaborate with other national and international institutions and organisations for ensuring
credibility of the Centre as a specialised institution in arbitration and conciliation
to set-up facilities in India and abroad to promote the activities of the Centre; to lay down
parameters for different modes of alternative dispute resolution mechanisms being adopted by
the Centre
Functions:
to facilitate for conducting international and domestic arbitration and conciliation in the most
professional manner and provide timely and cost-effective services of the same
to promote studies, undertake teaching and impart training in the field of alternate dispute
resolution and promote reforms in the settlement of disputes
Benefits
It will provide an institutional framework for arbitration given the rising cases from foreign
investors in India on issues of taxation.
It will make India an international hub for arbitration at par with international standards, one that
would give comfort to investors and businesses.
NDIAC will change the perception of doing business in India and will expedite the dispute
settlement mechanism.
The Arbitration and Conciliation (Amendment) Bill, 2018 proposes to establish the Arbitration
Council of India (the “ACI”) which will periodically review and grade the arbitral institutions in
India. The periodic review and grading will certainly help in promoting the credibility of NDIAC
among the foreign investors.
Challenges
The Central government is empowered to appoint and remove members from NDIAC. Investors
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would hesitate to refer cases to such a body specially in cases where the government is involved.
The Bill only addresses the administrative issues in relation to NDIAC. The procedural framework
concerning the settlement of disputes is not mentioned.
Way forward
In order to present NDIAC as a preferred arbitration institute, it
must be competitively priced
have state of the art facilities
must have precise timelines for the completion of arbitration proceedings
Separately, provisions that were not envisaged under the ICADR Rules must be incorporated in the
NDIAC procedural framework such as
consolidation of arbitrations
emergency arbitrators
immunity to arbitrators
confidentiality of information
An investor friendly procedural framework must be adopted.
A transparent process for appointment and removal of the members must be incorporated.
Separately, the Central Government involvement/ interference in the functioning and funding of
NDIAC must be phased out to gain investors’ confidence.
10. The DNA Technology (Use and Application) Regulation Bill - 2019
News: Lok Sabha passed the “DNA Technology (Use and Application) Regulation Bill – 2019”.
Details
The DNA Technology (Use and Application) Regulation Bill, 2018 Bill was framed by Department
of Biotechnology in 2015.
The Bill has been formulated recognizing the need for regulation of the use and application of
Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) technology, for establishing identity of missing persons, victims,
offenders, under trials and unknown deceased persons.
The primary intended purpose for enactment of Bill is for expanding the application of DNA-based
forensic technologies to support and strengthen the justice delivery system of the country.
Background
The draft Bill was first named DNA Profiling Bill in 2007 and then Human DNA Profiling Bill in
2015.
In July 2017, the Law Commission’s report proposed a new amended draft called ‘DNA based
Technology (Use and Regulation) Bill’, 2017, addressing some concerns on privacy and possible
misuse.
This current Bill is modelled largely on the Law Commission proposal, except for some nominal
changes.
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processed and included in the database except from those who have committed crimes with
punishment of more than 7 years or death.
Approval of magistrate: In case a suspect or criminal refuses to give consent for DNA collection,
and his/her DNA information is considered vital for investigation of a crime, the DNA information
can be collected from him/her only with the approval of a magistrate.
Usage: The DNA data, including DNA profiles, samples and records, contained in any DNA labs
and Databank shall be used only for the purpose of facilitating identification of the person and not
for any other purpose. It will be done in accordance with the rules of admissibility of evidence, to
facilitate prosecution or defence, and in investigations relating to civil matters.
DNA of suspects/undertrials: If a person is not an offender, suspect or undertrial, his/her DNA
information cannot be matched with the offenders’ or suspect index. DNA profiles of suspects or
undertrials can be removed from the index as per court orders.
DNA of arrested persons: DNA information cannot be taken from an arrested person without
consent. The exception is only for specified offences.
Disclosure and penalties: Disclosure of DNA information to unauthorised persons, or for
unauthorised purposes, shall lead to penalties: up to three years in jail and up to Rs 1 lakh as fine.
Benefits
Forensic DNA profiling is of proven value in solving cases
involving offences that are categorized as affecting the As per the statistics of the
human body (such as murder, rape, human trafficking, or National Crime Records
grievous hurt), and those against property (including theft, Bureau (NCRB) for 2016, the
burglary, and dacoity). aggregate incidence of crimes
It is expected that the expanded use of this technology in related to DNA profiling is in
these categories of cases would result not only in speedier excess of 3 lakhs per year.
justice delivery but also in increased conviction rates, Of these, only a very small
which at present is only around 30% (NCRB Statistics for proportion is being subjected
2016). to DNA testing at present.
The bill will assure the reliability of DNA test results.
The bill will also ensure that the data remain protected from
misuse or abuse in terms of the privacy rights of our citizens.
The Bill will add value in empowering the criminal justice delivery system by enabling the
application of DNA evidence, which is considered the gold standard in crime investigations.
Challenges
India does not have a data protection law
Information like ancestry or susceptibility to a disease, or other genetic traits, is liable to be
misused.
DNA tests have not led to an improvement in conviction rates in countries where legislation is
already being followed.
The bill does not mention the consent procedure for collecting DNA samples of persons involved in
civil cases like parentage disputes, emigration or immigration and transplantation of human organs.
The Bill also doesn’t state that the consent has to be voluntary.
It is not clear if DNA samples collected to resolve civil disputes will also be stored in the databank
(regional or national), although there is no index specific for the same.
Even if such samples are stored, the Bill also does not provide for the process of removal of such
data.
The bill does not mention whether the labs accredited by the Regulatory Board can store copies of
the samples they analyse. If stored, the safety of such data is not mentioned.
The bill does not specify which parts of an individual’s DNA can be analysed to ascertain their
identity. The more parts are subjected to analysis, the more conclusively a person’s identity can be
established.
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International experience
In France the profiles of convicted persons are kept for 40 years after conviction.
Upon their 80th birthday, suspects’ profiles are removed by a motion of the prosecutor or the
individual on the grounds that their storage no longer serves its original purpose.
Way forward
Efforts should be made by the government in finalising and passing the data protection law.
Just as Aadhaar contains biometric provisions of the individual, the bill has provisions relating to
DNA that make up an individual. Both involve the issue of privacy of the individual which should
not be compromised.
It should lay clear provisions regarding DNA in laboratories, their storage and disposal of data.
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RSTV CORNER
1. Universal Basic Income
News: Sikkim’s ruling Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) has decided to include Universal Basic Income
(UBI) in its manifesto for the upcoming assembly and Lok Sabha elections.
Details
The state has already begun the process of introducing the unconditional direct cash transfer scheme
and is planning to implement the same by 2022.
It could become the first state in India to implement UBI.
What is UBI?
A basic income is a regular, periodic cash payment delivered unconditionally to all citizens on an
individual basis, without requirement of work or willingness to work.
The five broad features of such schemes are:
payments at periodic regular intervals (not one-off grants)
payments in cash (not food vouchers or service coupons)
payments to individuals
universality
unconditionality
Is it necessary?
UBI envisages an uncompromised social safety net that seeks to assure a dignified life for everyone,
a concept that is expected to gain traction in a global economy buffeted by uncertainties on account
of globalisation, technological change, and automation.
India has a per capita income of $2000 while the world average is $10000. China also has a per
capita income of $8000.
There are a lot of people below the poverty line. Even people just above the poverty line are also
struggling.
But for a country like India which is struggling to intervene in many problems like malnutrition,
unemployment, educational facilities etc, cash transfer may not seem a necessary concept.
Typically, UBI would require subsumption of other subsidies and allowances in order to free up
resources so that a particular amount can be directed to people on a periodic basis.
Is UBI feasible?
Initially states had the responsibility of development as it knew best what was required for the
people.
But, a lot of programmes devised to target poverty was beset with inefficiencies, leakage and
corruption.
Then a concept called “Trickle down theory” emerged where it was thought that the development of
Indian economy would automatically lead to the development of poor people.
But it did not turn out successful as the market for poor people also did not turn out to be fair.
If people feel that they are capable of looking after themselves better than the state, then UBI can be
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provided the state has adequate resources.
So UBI may be tried out in a limited way like in rural areas where people have land less than 1
hectare or are landless labourers.
Implementing the scheme in urban areas might prove to be disastrous due to the huge migration it
would invite to the already populated areas.
Funding
The Economic Survey talked of scrapping as many as 240 schemes to make money available for
UBI.
It mentioned 4.9% of the GDP which meant Rs 675 given to an individual in a month.
But, it turns out to be a negligible amount compared to the expenditure on schemes which would
entail higher benefits for the people.
Sikkim’s status
It is a surplus power generating state, which exports nearly 90% of the 2,200 MW that its hydel
projects produce — ensuring a steady revenue stream that other states typically lack.
It has a literacy rate of 98% and a BPL population way below the national average.
Challenges
India’s resources should be analysed before the scheme is incorporated.
It needs to be examined whether UBI would increase the productivity of people or incentivise
people to take up employment in the economy.
None of the places where UBI has been tried have levels of income disparity that exist in India.
The reason for maintaining conditional social assistance is to “prioritize those at the bottom of the
income distribution”. While this is contrary to the UBI principle, it is important to pinpoint those
“who are the most vulnerable, where they live, and how vulnerable they are”.
Also, dismantling any scheme would prove to be counter productive.
Way forward
India may consider having an unemployment allowance for able bodied persons.
This may be done by making the employment guarantee scheme mandatory. It is being done on a
pilot basis in Maharashtra and may later on be made universal.
For other persons who are not able bodied like the old and the differently abled, UBI may be
implemented.
The scheme has to be innovative with respect to the needs of the people in each state. The scheme
should be taken up in states showing a positive performance related to productivity or employment.
It may be adopted after properly implementing many schemes which would serve as a background
preparation of the scheme.
2. Eradicating Poverty
Context
India may have reduced extreme poverty far more effectively than most of us are aware of. The last
official data is eight years old.
In 2011, 268 million people were surviving on less than $1.90 a day, the World Bank measure for
extreme poverty.
The next round of data on household consumption is likely to come out in June, and it may well
show a drastic drop in the number of poor.
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According to the World Data Lab — which monitors global poverty using advanced statistical
models — less than 50 million Indians may be living on less than $1.90 a day now.
Economists said rapid economic growth and the use of technology for social sector programs have
helped make a significant dent in extreme poverty in the country.
The BJP cited global think tank reports to say that India is moving fast towards a poverty-free
situation and gave credit to policies of the Narendra Modi-led government for it.
Challenges
The definition of a poverty line is still vague.
A recent report suggests that the rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer and that 1%
of the individuals hold most of the wealth in the economy.
Subsidies given by the government are 5 times more than the investment made in agriculture which
is only a temporary relief.
There is neither enough productivity from land in rural areas nor income from other allied activities.
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Two thirds of agriculture in the country is still dependent on rains.
Urban poverty is also another challenge which needs to be addressed.
Even the loan waiver schemes implemented by the Central and state governments have not helped
to reduce poverty.
Way forward
The focus should not be on average per capita income as it varies widely across states.
The rich should be taxed more only on income but also on wealth
The Central and the state governments should focus investments in rural areas and agriculture not
by way of subsidies but by other investments like electricity, water etc.
The focus on rural areas in terms of education and employment generation will also reduce the
burden of migration to urban areas in search of livelihood.
The people in urban areas may be given a kind of income support not by way of unconditional cash
support but by way of employment, skill development etc.
Government should invest in infrastructure and development to help individual find a sustainable
way of living.
Steps should be taken to increase economic growth which can trickle down to the poor people.
People should be empowered through education, training and skill development to enable
themselves to participate in the economic growth.
Adequate means to link people to the markets is also necessary to tap the seeds of economic
growth.
Aim
It will replace the Emigration Act of 1983 which was enacted in a specific context of large scale
emigration of Indian workers to the Gulf region.
It intends to provide a regulatory mechanism to govern overseas employment of Indian nationals,
and protect and promote the welfare of Indian emigrants.
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penalty according to the gravity of the crime committed.
The Bill has comprehensive provisions, including insurance, pre-departure orientation, skill
upgradation, legal assistance, migrant resource centres, help desks, migration and mobility
partnerships, labour and manpower cooperation agreements, MoUs aimed at strengthening welfare
and protection of Indian workforce abroad.
Benefits
A digital platform for registration would keep emigration a swift, efficient and hassle-fee
process which would be beneficial to the workforce and students pursuing higher studies
abroad.
Registration also becomes useful as the government would have a list of migrants in one
particular country which will help in evacuation and management in times of distress.
It will help in providing welfare measures and openly and directly interacting with the migrants
abroad.
It will also help in tapping the potential of migrants abroad.
The rating of recruitment agencies will help students and nationals migrating abroad to choose
the most efficient service.
Rating will help in avoiding fraudulent agencies to an extent.
The offences and penalties mentioned would smoothen the process of emigration.
Challenges
Checking illegal human trafficking is a challenge.
Illegal migration is a grave challenge.
Also it is difficult to identify the recruitment agencies which undertake illegal migration.
The regulation of such illegal recruiting agencies and their penalization has not been given adequate
focus.
Minimum standards for a recruitment agency have not been mentioned.
It does not mention the steps to be adopted by low rated agencies.
Way forward
The Central and state governments should work together in implementing the Bill under the
principle of cooperative federalism.
The recruitment agencies should be trained to achieve minimum standards.
Low rated agencies should be given a timeframe within which they should attain minimum
standards.
Orderly managed migration is important for India to achieve a higher rate of growth, to utilize the
friendly relations overseas, to expand the role that Indian nationals can play and give them more
opportunities and in turn look after them.
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However he emphasized that dialogue can never be heard in the midst of bombs and guns.
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China and Pakistan
Both have referred to each other as all-weather friends.
China is Pakistan’s biggest arms supplier which Pakistan uses against India.
China and Pakistan has also partnered in China-Pakistan Economic Corridor which passes through
the part of Kashmir illegally occupied by Pakistan.
Way forward
Pakistan should realise that by waging wars against India, it is impoverishing itself.
At the BRIC summit in September 2018, 8 out of 10 terrorist groups identified in the BRICS
declaration were based in Pakistan. The Financial Action Task Force also had identified Pakistan as
being supportive of money laundering and terrorism.
Also, Pakistan should accept the fact that the prosperity of Pakistan depends on the prosperity of
South Asia which in turn depends on the extent of good relations between India and Pakistan.
Rankings
China topped the Trust Index among both the informed public and the general population segments,
with scores of 79 and 88 respectively.
India was at the second place in the informed public category and third place in the general
population category.
India is among the most trusted nations globally when it comes to government, business, NGOs and
media but the country’s brands are among the least-trusted, according to a report.
In terms of trust in companies, those headquartered in India, Mexico and Brazil are the least trusted.
Benefits
The report shows people to be trusting media more in spite of many false news and exaggeration of
events by media.
There is only 16 point gap between the trust of informed public and mass population which shows
the role of media in keeping the mass population informed to an extent.
This survey has for the first time captured ‘My employer equation’ which is 84% for India which is
higher than the average ranking.
It shows NGOs have done well in gaining the trust of the people.
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Challenges
The report shows very less people are happy with the government.
It shows India in a bad light for companies. Indian companies have to do more to gain the trust of
the people.
The sample size of informed public and mass public is not known. So the report cannot be trusted
beyond an extent.
Fake news remains a challenge all over the world for media.
Way forward
Government can act as an enabler in issues of safety, quality and efficiency.
It should provide protection to the people as it did in Real Estate under RERA Act which helped the
real estate to revive.
Besides gaining the confidence of people in a brand, industries must also stand with the people in
sorting out issues in the domestic market. The survey shows such companies to have performed
better in gaining trust.
Government should step itself out of running business and allow businesses to function on its own
with the government providing a regulatory structure so that businesses do not cross the red lines of
lack of quality or a consumer being cheated.
The survey should go beyond merely trust to note whether people really have trust in the welfare
schemes of the government.
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LSTV CORNER
1. Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 2019
News: The Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 2019 was organized in Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh.
Details
India has the largest diaspora in the world, almost 3.1 crore people.
About 7.5 lakh Indian students are pursuing higher education, research and innovation abroad.
This diaspora has dramatically changed the world’s perception of Indians.
Migration of educated and highly skilled Indians has brought laurels to India.
To mark the contribution of the overseas Indian community towards the development of India,
Pravasi Bharatiya Divas is celebrated every year in India.
The day also commemorates the return of the father of the nation, Mahatma Gandhi from South
Africa to India in 1915.
The celebration of the Pravasi Bharati Divas started in 2003.
The theme of 2019 is “Role of Indian diaspora in building new India.”
Mauritius Prime Minister is a guest at the 2019 celebrations.
Conclusion
The Indian diaspora holds huge potential in shaping the Indian economy.
Besides foreign remittances, the knowledge and the expertise acquired by Indians abroad can be
harnessed to enhance the potential of domestic people.
They also prove to be an asset during the India’s hard times like slow growth, disasters etc.
Indian government has launched many new initiatives to attract the Indian diaspora.
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2. US Shutdown & Defiant Trump
News: Biggest US shutdown came to an end, after 35 days impasse over the border wall, US president
Donald Trump finally backed down and agreed to put a temporary end to the shutdown.
Background
The US government saw partial shutdown for 35 days in December and January because
Democrats, who control the House, refused to approve the $5.7-billion budget for Trump’s border
wall plan.
The building of the Mexico border is a key piece of Trump’s immigration policy. He believes it's
the only solution to the growing number of migrants who have applied for asylum at the border
since November 2018.
On January 25, 2019, President Donald Trump and Congressional leaders agreed to end the most
recent shutdown. Trump signed a bill that funds the government at current levels for three weeks
while a bipartisan committee negotiates plans for increased border security.
On February 12, 2019, the committee approved a budget package that includes $1.375 billion for 55
miles of new border fences. It adds $1.7 billion to Homeland Security's budget for additional border
security.
On February 14, 2019, the Senate and House passed the measure, avoiding another government
shutdown.
But on February 15, 2019, President Trump declared an emergency at the border transforming a
highly charged policy dispute into a fundamental confrontation over separation of powers
He said he was signing the declaration to protect the country from the flow of drugs, criminals and
illegal immigrants coming across the southwestern border from Mexico, which he characterised as a
profound threat to national security.
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existing barriers along the border this year, significantly more than the $5.7 billion that Congress
refused to give him.
Impact on India
The government shutdown has adversely impacted businesses of Indian immigrants and visa
programmes that benefit them.
US Citizenship and Immigration Services said a popular investor-visa programme, EB-5 Immigrant
Investor Regional Center Program, expired in December and is yet to be renewed.
Beyond this, Indian immigration to the US has received a considerable amount of pushback.
What next?
House Democrats plan to introduce legislation to block the president’s move, which could pass both
houses if it wins the votes of the half-dozen Republican senators who have criticised the
declaration. That would put the President in the position of issuing the first veto of his presidency.
If such a legislative strategy fails to stop Mr. Trump, the issue would likely be taken to court, either
by congressional Democrats, liberal advocacy groups or both.
White House officials rejected critics who said Mr. Trump was creating a precedent that future
Presidents could use to ignore the will of Congress.
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YOJANA CORNER
1. Scientific Innovations in the service of the society
Introduction
Innovations and discoveries that occurred during the human
era has transformed as well as influenced the human lives in “Innovations and discoveries
numerous ways. which happened from time to
The discoveries especially in the field of Medicine, time influenced as well as
Engineering and Technology has altered the human society transformed the way of life of
and shaped into the way we see it today. the society”
The industrial revolutions that occurred from time to time
gave direct impact to innovations and discoveries.
In other words, it is certain that the industrial revolution is the back bone of all the changes that we
see around.
Industrial Revolutions
The First Industrial Revolution (1760 to 1840): Mechanical Engineering flourished through the
inventions of steam engine and textile industries
The second Industrial Revolution (1870-1914): Railways and steel industries succeeded
The Third Industrial Revolution (1969-2000): Emergence of Automobile and Electric engine
industry, Heavy chemicals and consumer goods industry.
The Fourth Industrial Revolution (2000- the current period): also known as the digital
revolution as IT industry along with the Oil industry accelerated the growth in this period
Major innovations
Medical Sciences and Biotechnology
Discovery of Penicillin by Alexander Fleming cured infectious bacterial diseases.
DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid) profiling helps in parenthood testing and solving crimes.
Stem cells help in replacing damaged cells and tissues
Power Sector
Clean energy options- nuclear power, solar power, biofuels etc.
Nuclear fusion reaction – Development of Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER),
France to replace the hydrogen isotopes.
Modern technology
3D printing is direct digital manufacturing of products
Internet of Things (IoT) where different technological devices are connected to each other over
a network
Artificial Intelligence (AI) – which has a major application in robotics
Transformation of mobile phones
Outer space
Voice and data communication in real time
Communication, navigation, remote sensing, weather and scientific satellites
Conclusion
Technology has evolved according to the requirements of the society.
Advanced science and technology innovations would enable humans to live happily and peacefully.
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youth.
The basic difficulties of the farmers include pricing, procurement and public distribution.
Farmers also face problems due to climate change, mainly due to high temperature, wide variation
in precipitation and rise in sea level.
Equal attention should be given while extending support to farmers in the following ecosystems
Arid zone
Semi-arid dry farming areas
Irrigated areas
Groundwater farming
Plantation crops in hilly areas
Technology in farming
The interaction between technology and public policy has enabled farmers to increase wheat
production from 7 million tonnes in 1947 to 100 million tonnes in 2018.
Application of new knowledge in molecular biology has enabled induced mutation, chromosome
doubling through colchicine and genetic medication.
Genetic modification has made it possible to transfer genes across sexual barriers.
More recently, gene editing technologies have become available which can help to achieve directed
mutagenesis.
Breeding helps to develop strains with a higher yield potential.
However, before adopting new technology, they should be assessed for their positive and
potentially negative effects.
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As people were unaware about the utility of mangroves, many such forests were converted into
aquaculture farms and tourist centres.
Some efforts to conserve mangroves
The famous temple at Chidamabaram chose a mangrove plant (Excoecaria ogallocha) as a
Temple Tree
Establishment of a genetic garden of mangroves at Pichavaram near Chidambaram with support
from Department of Biotechnology
A Charter for Mangroves was prepared and with the help of the Government of Japan and IITO,
an International Society for Mangrove Ecosystems (ISME) was formed in 1990.
Conclusion
New technologies are the basic raw material for productivity improvement.
There are adequate opportunities for anticipatory research involving new technologies which should
be capitalized to ensure the well-being of farmers and farming.
A Holistic Framework
At the school level - for creation of an innovative, problem solving mindset in the students of the
high schools
At the university and industry levels - for establishment of world class Incubators to foster and
nurture start-ups enabling their success.
A cultural shift in attitudes towards entrepreneurship to incentivize entrepreneurial thinking and
minimize the fear of risk taking
Atal Incubators
The Atal Incubators initiative is to create world class incubators to support the burgeoning number
of startups in the country.
All established AIMs would be operational by 2019.
These incubators will provide the necessary ecosystem of access to technology labs, hiring,
training, mentoring, finance, venture capital networks and corporate networks.
Long term vision: To have world class incubators in the Top 10 academic and engineering
institutions of every state and in every city identified as a smart city for development.
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Atal Challenges
The following have set up to solve the challenges arising out of India’s economic growth and
societal needs,
Atal Tinkering Challenges at a school level,
Atal New India Challenges at Industry levels,
Atal Small Business Innovation
Research challenges at a national level
24 Atal New India Challenges stimulating product innovations in five sectors have been launched in
areas such as drinking water and sanitation, urban housing and development, climate smart
agriculture, rail safety and transportation
Atal Tinkering Marathon was held recently in which 35000+ students created 6000+ innovations in
five challenges. The top 100 innovations will be considered for conversion into market products.
Collaboration
Collaboration with corporates, specialists, professionals and individuals will ensure the success of
these initiatives.
AIM has, therefore, launched a Mentors of Change - Mentor India Network across the country and
plans to extend it worldwide.
Over 10000 mentors have already registered as mentors of change, and many corporates have
adopted Atal Tinkering Labs.
Conclusion
India should make use of the knowledge revolution in the present world.
Embracing Atal Innovation Mission initiatives will help children and youth of our country in
harnessing it.
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KURUKSHETRA CORNER
1. Empowerment of Youth through Skilling
Introduction
India has the largest youth population in the world where 27 percent of the population falls between
the ages of 15-29.
Apprenticeships and skills training especially in ICT is a requirement in the current jobs sector.
Government initiatives
Scheme Details
National Apprenticeship Launched in 2016
Promotion Scheme Aim: To provide Apprenriceship training to 50 lakh youth by 2020.
(NAPS) Government will share 25% of stipend or Rs. 1500 whichever is
minimum per month per apprentice
Government also takes up to Rs 7500/- for fresh apprentices
(candidates who do not get any formal training before)
An online portal www.apprenticeship.gov.in for easy processing
Implementing agencies - State Apprenticeship Advisers (SAA) and
Regional Directorates of Apprenticeships (RDATs) in respective
states/regions
Mandatory for establishments having >40 apprentices to engage
apprentices through apprenticeship portal
Apprenticeship training provided by National Skills Development
Corporation (NSDC)
Dual system of Training which combines practical training in
industries and theoretical training along with foundational practical in
ITIs
Start-up Village To encourage poor artisans and weavers to establish enterprises at
Entrepreneurship Program village levels in the non-agricultural sectors to have a sustainable
(SVEP) livelihood
It is a sub scheme of National Rural Livelihood Mission
Rural Self Employment Joint initiative of the Ministry of Rural Development, State
Training Institutes Governments and Banks
(RSETIs) To diversify household income of rural poor and enable them to have
self-employment
National Employability To offer on the job practical training for technical or non-technical
Enhancement Mission students and those who have discontinued studies with a view to
(NEEM) increasing their employability.
National Skills Partnered with Facebook to promote digital education for youth and
Development Corporation entrepreneurs.
(NSDC) Offers courses in digital marketing, online security and financial
literacy.
Pravasi Kaushal Vikas Implemented through MoU between Ministry of External Affairs and
Yojana (PKVY) Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship.
Aims at enhancing the skill sets of potential emigrant workers in select
sectors and job roles in line with international standards to facilitate
overseas employment.
India International Skills Centers (IISCs) established in various parts
of the country offers pre-departure orientation training (PDOT) in
terms of culture, language, traditions and local rules and regulations of
the destination countries.
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Jan Shikshan Sansthan or To concentrate on the empowerment of unskilled persons, women,
'Shramik Vidyapeeth' persons belonging to SC/ ST/OBC communities and Minorities.
Organises two types of activities
1. Vocational Courses: Training programmes involving skills/practical
application leading to market demand and income generation
2. Conduct suggestive activities other than Life Enrichment Education
components.
Delivers skill training; vocational training at door steps of the
beneficiaries
National Council for Merger of National Council for Vocational Training (NCVT) and
Vocational Education and National Skill Development Agency (NSDA)
Training (NCVET) Regulates the functioning of entities engaged in vocational education
and training, both long-term and short-term and establish minimum
standards’ the functioning of such entities.
Activities include
1. recognition and regulation of organizational bodies for skills
development
2. approval of qualifications developed by awarding bodies and Sector
Skill Councils (SSCs)
3. indirect regulation of vocational training institutes through awarding
bodies and assessment agencies; etc.
Benefits
It will lead to improvement in quality and market relevance of skill development programmes
It will lend credibility to vocational education and training
It will encourage private investment and employer participation in skills space
It will enhance aspirational value of vocational education
It will increase availability of skilled manpower
Conclusion
Youth should complete the minimum secondary level schooling to pursue skill development
courses.
Skill development will increase their employability in the present world
To sustain in the rapidly evolving market, long term courses should be preferred than short term
courses
Government initiatives
Initiative Detail
Samagra Shiksha: School education is treated holistically from pre-nursery to Class 12, with
the goal of improving school effectiveness measured in terms of equal
opportunities for schooling and equitable learning outcomes
It incorporates the three Schemes of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA),
Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) and Teacher Education
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(TE).
Digital Education and SMI Development are two key areas of concentration
under the scheme
Saakshar Bharat It revolves on ‘3' R’s (Reading. Writing & Arithmetic). It aims to create a
Programme: literate society through a variety of teaching learning programmes for non-
literate and neo-literate of 15 years and above.
The objective of the Scheme is achieving 80% literacy level at national
level, by focusing on adult women literacy to reduce the gap between male
and female literacy.
The four key elements of the programme are imparting functional literacy
and numeracy to non-literates, acquiring equivalency to formal educational
system; imparting relevant skill development programme and promote a
learning society by providing opportunities for continuing education.
Jan Shikshan JSS link literacy with vocations skills to provide life Enrichment Education
Sansthan (JSS): (LEE) to the people
Digital India: It aims to ensure that the Government's services are made available to
citizens electronically by improved online infrastructure and by increasing
Internet connectivity or by making the country digitally empowered in the
field of technology.
National The National Scholarship Portal is the Government of India's initiative to
scholarship provide financial assistance to deserving students by awarding them
scholarships to pursue higher education.
The initiative aims at providing a Simplified, Mission-oriented,
Accountable, Responsive, and Transparent (SMART) System for faster and
effective disbursal of scholarships applications and the delivery of funds
directly into the beneficiaries' account without any leakage
National The National Apprenticeship Training Scheme in India is a one-year
Apprenticeship programme equipping technically qualified youth with practical knowledge
Training Scheme: and skills required in their held of work
Schemes under All Prime Minister's Special Scholarship Scheme (PMSSS) which aims to
India Council for build up capacities in youth of J&K;
Technical Pragati Scholarship for girls pursuing Diploma and Undergraduate Degree
Education level AICTE approved Institutions programmes / courses
(AICTE): Saksham Scholarship for differently abled students.
AICTE-Inae Travel Grant Scheme tor engineering students who want to
present papers abroad;
Prerana Scheme for preparing SC/ST students for higher education
Samriddhi Scheme for SC/ST student’s tor setting start-ups.
National Doctoral Fellowship (NDF) for scholars who seek admission to
Ph.D. in AICTE approved Technical Institutes/University Departments for
carrying out research.
Support to Students for Participating in
Competition Abroad (SSPCA) aims to provide travel assistance registration
fees to a team of students for attending competition at international level;
Smart India Hackathon and M.Tech projects as internship with Small and
Medium Enterprises (MSMES) scheme to nurture an innovation ecosystem
National Post- to identify motivated young researchers and provide them support for doing
Doctoral Fellowship research in science and engineering
(N-PDF)
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3. ICTs for Empowering Rural Youth
Introduction
ICT can address the issues of the growing need of right educational infrastructure to develop skills
and adequate opportunities to get employed or become entrepreneurs for the young population of
India
ICT in Agriculture- Information can be provided for better input use, cropping decisions,
management of pests and diseases, animal husbandry, and marketing ICT Is a big boon to access
credit and insurance products of various companies.
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NADAMS (National Agricultural Drought Assessment and
Monitoring System)
Android Apps CCE Agri Revenue officials now use this android app to estimate
crop damage and yield loss at 1100 locations in12 states.
Ground Truth- To monitor crop health being used by 18 state
governments
Bhuvan Hailstorm App- Being used to capture hailstorm losses in
states such as Madhya Pradesh
mKisan- Provides farm advisories, such weather and pest updates on
phones to farmers.
ICT improving Market Efficiency- Intermediaries exert considerable market power over Indian
farmers for physical goods and services, including farm Inputs and outputs. ICTs have the potential
to reduce search costs and improve price discovery.
National Agriculture Market or eNAM is an online trading platform for agricultural commodities in
India. The market is helping in better price discover and provides facilities for smooth marketing of
their produce
ICT in Education- ICT-kiosk based rural education have a significant role to play in adult
education, ranging from basic literacy to very specific skills for those who have received
conventional school education.
ICT in Health Services: Online list of information about availability of health care facilities and
fixing appointments, providing health histories. Video conferencing software can allow for basic
health consultations, where bringing doctors and rural patients physically together are costly
enough.
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FRONTLINE/EPW CORNER
1. The roles of top-10 central Intelligence and Investigation Agencies in India
Introduction
In December 20, 2018 the Union Government empowered 10 central intelligence and investigating
agencies to intercept, monitor and decrypt the information generated, transmitted, received or stored
in “any computer”.
The 10 agencies are Intelligence Bureau, Narcotics Control Bureau, Enforcement Directorate,
Central Board of Direct Taxes, Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, Central Board of Investigation
(CBI), The National Investigation Agency (NIA), The Research and Analysis Wing, Directorate of
Signal Intelligence, Delhi Police Commissioner
Intelligence Bureau
Intelligence Bureau is India’s Internal Security Agency and it works with other intelligence and law
enforcement agencies and is responsible for mitigating threats from terrorism. It is also tasked with
the collection and dissemination of intelligence
I.B ensures protection of the organizations, especially aviation, and guards against secessionist
activities. All background checks for security clearances for diplomats, judges and other important
persons are done by I.B.
I.B. is an agency under the Ministry of Home Affairs and the I.B. Director is part of the Strategic
Policy Group and the Joint Intelligence Committee (JIC) of the National Security Council and
enjoys the privilege of reporting directly to the Prime Minister
I.B. has strategic relationships with the Intelligence Agencies of the United States of America, the
United Kingdom and Israel.
The I.B. enjoys sweeping powers under the Indian Telegraph Act and the Indian Post Office Act to
monitor all forms of communications.
I.B. is believed to be formed before Independence of India and is considered as formed after the
sepoy mutiny of 1857. Another belief is that it was formed by Major General Sir Charles Metcalfe
MacGregor in 1885
Enforcement Directorate
Enforcement Directorate is a financial investigation agency under the jurisdiction of the Department
of Revenue, Ministry of Finance.
It enforces the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999, a civil law empowering officers to
conduct investigations into suspected contraventions of the Foreign Exchange Laws and
Regulations and impose penalties on those who are found to have violated these laws.
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The E.D. also enforces the Prevention of Money-laundering Act, 2002, a criminal law by virtue of
which officers may conduct investigations to trace assets acquired as the proceeds of crime.
The E.D. can provisionally confiscate such assets and arrest and prosecute people involved in
money laundering.
An enforcement unit was established in 1956 to deal with violations under the Foreign Exchange
Regulation Act, 1947. The unit was renamed the Enforcement Directorate in 1957.
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It is established as a wing and is not bound by the Right to Information Act
RAW is responsible for collecting military, economic, scientific and political intelligence through
covert and overt operations, although its exact constitution, way of functioning, budgetary
allocation and expenditure are not revealed.
The Indian Judiciary gave the impression of struggling to overcome the issues of arbitrariness and
unaccountability
The controversies against Justice Ranjan Gogoi have not only damaged the credibility and
reputation of him but also threw negative marks on the institution of the judiciary.
The controversy over the involvement of Justice A K Sikri in the high-powered committee (HSC)
which suspended Central Bureau of Investigation Director Alok Verma by a majority of 2–1 was
the first one
Even though the decision of Sikri was in favor of government and assumed to be uninfluenced by
the government’s proposal to nominate him to the Commonwealth Secretariat Arbitral Tribunal, it
still goes against the principle
The purpose of involving the CJI (or his nominee) in the HPC was to inject a level of neutrality and
impartiality in the process but leaving open even a small window for questioning the neutrality and
impartiality of the judge in question, Gogoi’s decision has seriously damaged the credibility of the
judiciary.
Second was the controversial decision to “reconsider” the nominations of Justices Rajendra Menon
and Pradeep Nandrajog.
The resolution nominating Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dinesh Maheshwari is thin on the details as
to the reasons for the reconsideration. Change of mind of collegium opened the speculations
No reasons are given for rejecting Menon and Nandrajog and no formal explanations were given by
the Chief Justice of India
A rush of decisions concerning the elevation of judges to various high courts raised more questions
about the independence of the collegium as a bulk of these were decisions that the Ministry of Law
and Justice asked the collegium to reconsider, sometimes on more than one occasion
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International organisations Headquarters
United Nations Organisation New York
United Nations Childrens’ Fund (UNICEF) New York
United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) New York
UN Women New York
International Monetary Fund (IMF) Washington DC
World Bank Washington DC
World Health Organisation Geneva
International Labour Organisation Geneva
International Committee of the Red Cross Geneva
World Trade Organisation Geneva
World Meteorological Organisation Geneva
World Intellectual Property Organization Geneva
International Organization for Standardization Geneva
United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) Paris
Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Paris
United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) Vienna
International Atomic Energy Agency Vienna
Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) Vienna
International Maritime Organisation London
Commonwealth of Nations London
Amnesty International London
Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) Rome
North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) Brussels
Universal Postal Union Berne
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Jakarta
Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Singapore
Transparency International Berlin
International Renewable Energy Agency Abu Dhabi (UAE)
South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation Kathmandu
Organization of Islamic Cooperation Jeddah
Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation Ebene, Mauritius
Worldwide Fund for Nature Gland, Switzerland
International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry Zurich, Switzerland
Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons The Hague, The
Netherlands
International Olympic Committee Lausanne,
Switzerland
World Economic Forum Geneva,
Switzerland
International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Gland, Switzerland
International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) Paris, France
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MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS
1) Consider the following statements regarding Saubhagya scheme.
1. Under the scheme, electricity is provided to all households in rural areas.
2. The nodal agency for the scheme is Solar Energy Corporation of India.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
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7) Which of the following are harvest festivals?
1. Pongal
2. Makar Sankranti
3. Magha Bihu
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
9) For which of the following diseases has Centre set a timeline for elimination
1. Malaria
2. Tuberculosis
3. Kala Azar
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
11) Which of the statements is/are true regarding National Ganga Council
1. It is chaired by the Prime Minister.
2. It was formed to prevent, protect and control pollution in River Ganga.
Select the correct answer using the code given below
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
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13) Consider the following statements regarding Institutes of Eminence (IoE) scheme
1. It is under the Ministry of Human Resources and Development.
2. These institutes enjoy complete administrative autonomy.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
14) Consider the following statements regarding National Social Assistance Programme
1. It is under the Ministry of Rural Development.
2. It provides financial assistance to the elderly, widows and persons with disabilities in the form of
social pensions.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
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ANSWERS
1) Answer (a)
2) Answer (d)
3) Answer (b)
4) Answer (b)
5) Answer (d)
6) Answer (b)
7) Answer (d)
8) Answer (a)
9) Answer (d)
10) Answer (c)
11) Answer (c)
12) Answer (b)
13) Answer (c)
14) Answer (c)
15) Answer (b)
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