November- 2018 Contents Issue-1

Seven Important Issues 1-22

Feasibility of Two Time Zones in India Internal Migration is Continued in India India-Afghanistan Relationship: Getting Stronger Railway Line through Aspirational Districts Artificial Moon: Could Light up the Night Sky Uterus Transplant: A Womb to Mother The Horror of Ghost Gear: Getting Bigger

Seven Subjective Questions with Model Answers 23-27

Seven Important National & International News 28-34

Seven Brain Boosters & Seven MCQ's Based on Them 35-43

Seven Important Facts For Prelims 44

Seven Important Military Exercises 45-46

Seven Practice Questions for Main Exam 47 Current Affairs : Perfect 7

SEVEN IMPORTANT ISSUES

1. FEASIBILITY OF TWO TIME ZONES IN INDIA

Why in News? a single time zone in eastern India but Introduction concluded that Indian Standard Time India’s official timekeeper, the National India extends from 68°7’E to 97°25’E, (IST) should nonetheless be retained. Physical Laboratory, says it is feasible with the spread of 29° representing to implement two time zones, and will Prior to the establishment of the IST, almost two hours from the geographic increase productivity in Northeastern there were two time zones established perspective. This has led to the states. This has been a long-running in 1884, namely, the Bombay time argument that early sunrise in the demand in the region, where sunset and Calcutta time. However, in 1906, easternmost parts — the Northeast — the British in India adopted the IST in and sunrise are well ahead of 'office causes the loss of many daylight hours 1906—defined as being five and a half timings', which are according to India by the time offices or educational hours ahead of the (Greenwich Mean Standard Time (IST).Scientists at institutions open, and that early Time) GMT. Since then, there were few the Council of Scientific & Industrial sunset, for its part, leads to higher instances where the IST was changed, Research’s National Physical Laboratory consumption of electricity. most notably between 1942 and 1945 (CSIR-NPL), which maintains Indian when India had in place a “war time” In the Northeast, the sun rises as Standard Time, have published a (one hour ahead of IST). early as four in the morning and in research article describing the necessity of two time zones, with the new one an hour ahead of the existing time zone. Published in Current Science, the article adds new arguments to the debate. It identifies where the two time zones be demarcated from each other — at the “chicken neck” that connects the Northeast to the rest of India, an area that is spatially narrow and reduces the possibility of railway accidents, it says. The article also puts a figure to the country’s potential savings in energy consumption — 20 million kWh a year — if it does follow two time zones. Background The Gauhati High Court had dismissed a public interest litigation in 2017, filed by Rita Mozumder seeking a direction from the Central government to notify a separate time zone for the Northeast. The court cites a high-level committee study, constituted by the Ministry of Science and Technology that recognised the difficulties faced by

1 November 2018 A Issue-1 Current Affairs : Perfect 7 winter it sets by four in the evening. The geographic “zero line” runs The researchers estimated energy By the time government offices or through Greenwich, London. It savings at 20 million kWh a year based educational institutions open, many identifies GMT, now known as Universal on a formula explained in the article. daylight hours are already lost. In Coordinated Time (UTC), which is They also analysed the importance of winter this problem gets even more maintained by the Bureau of Weights synchronising office hours — as well as accentuated and the ecological and Measures (BIPM) in France. Indian biological activities — to sunrise and costs are a disaster with much more Standard Time, maintained by CSIR- sunset timings. electricity having to be consumed. NPL, is based on a line of longitude that runs through Mirzapur in UP. At 82°33’E, Why it’s Important to have What is a Time Zone? the line is 82.5° east of Greenwich, or Two Time Zones? In a world of global travel, it is not 5.5 hours (5 hours 30 minutes) ahead According to supporters of this convenient for every single place on of UCT. While India follows one IST, proposal, the difference in sunrise/ Earth to keep its own unique time. the United States follows several time sunset time between the eastern and Thus, to make keeping track of time zones across its breadth. western parts in India is about two easier, Standard Time Zones were hours. Countries with different time zones established: the time is always the Since day breaks earlier in the east same throughout each time zone. The world is divided into 24 time zones. The course of one day is broken down to than the rest of the country, a different Earth is divided into twenty-four time the seconds and calculated to define the time zone could allow people there to zones of approximately equal width. correct time of a particular place. start working sooner. This could lead to The time in each successive time zone ¾¾ France - 12 energy saving and productivity gains, is one hour different from the times in ¾¾ USA - 11 they add. neighboring time zones. ¾¾ Russia - 11 Daylight Saving Time (DST) To establish time zones, Earth's ¾¾ UK - 9 As the earth rotates 360 degrees every 24 rotation rate of 360 degrees of ¾¾ Australia - 9 hours, a longitudinal span of 15 degrees longitude per day was divided by 24 corresponds to a shift by an hour. India hours. The result shows that Earth The New Findings spans a longitudinal difference of 30 turns 15 degrees of longitude per hour. The research paper by Council of degrees from the western state of Gujarat Adopting time zones that are exactly to Arunachal Pradesh in the East. However, Scientific & Industrial Research’s India has a single time zone, defined by 15 degrees wide would result in 24 National Physical Laboratory (CSIR- mean longitude at 82.5 degrees east of equally spaced time zones around the NPL), proposes to call the two time the Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), passing world. For convenience, however, time zones IST-I (UTC + 5.30 h) and IST-II through Mirzapur in Uttar Pradesh. This results in almost a two-hour difference in zone boundaries often follow political (UTC + 6.30 h). The proposed line of boundaries instead of longitude lines, sunrise from east to west. Usually, for the demarcation is at 89°52’E, the narrow “surplus” in daylight in the morning hours, resulting in the irregularly shaped time border between Assam and West countries often implement measures such zones. Bengal. States west of the line would as daylight saving time (DST) and multiple time zones. continue to follow IST (to be called How Time is Maintained? The basic objective of introducing DST is to If lines of longitude are drawn exactly a IST-I). States east of the line — Assam, adjust the hours of human activity to make degree apart, they will divide the Earth Meghalaya, Nagaland, Arunanchal the best use of daylight. It follows from the assumption that human activity is driven into 360 zones. Because the Earth Pradesh, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, Andaman & Nicobar Islands —would by a standardised notion of time. If it were spins 360° in 24 hours, a longitudinal the case that individuals were following distance of 15° represents a time follow IST-II. The paper explains the local time in a town or village, the need separation of 1 hour, and 1° represents choice of the line: “As the railway signals for introducing daylight savings would be 4 minutes. Theoretically, the time zone have not yet been fully automated in futile. Since its conception, more than 70 countries have since used some form of the country, the border between the followed by any place should relate to DST, including the United States, Russia, its longitudinal distance from any other two time zones should have a very and most of Europe. place. Political boundaries, however, narrow spatial-width with minimum mean that time zones are often number of train stations so that the Available Options demarcated by bent lines rather than train timings while crossing the border 1. Three options have been examined straight lines of longitude. This is “legal can be managed manually without any by scientists over different time time”, as defined by a country’s law. untoward incidents.” zones over the years creating two

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times zones in lndia, introducing Promoting Physical Activity Challenges DayIight Saving Time (DST) from Another rationale for advancing IST There are several options that are April to September, and advancing is that it may encourage greater sports available to policymakers to make the Indian Standard Time (IST) for and recreation participation. Experts adjustments to the current time the entire country by half an hour. suggest that the early onset of dusk system in place. The options have 2. The underlying objective in all three during non-DST limits accessibility to trade-offs depending upon (i) whether cases was energy saving. After sports and recreation opportunities. the new system will be applicable pan- considering all the options, a 2002 Such a policy intervention may be used India or only regionally; (ii) will it be a expert panel constituted by the as a “broad-based mechanism” for permanent shift or daylight saving time; ministry of Science& Technology promoting physical activity. However, (iii) and what should the magnitude of rejected the idea of DST as well as there has been little empirical testing the shift be. a different time zone. of this hypothesis. It is likely that the Ensuring Schools and Offices do 3. It felt that the seasonal difference benefits of having an extra hour of not Extend Working Hours in daylight hours is marginal in sunlight in the evening are greater than countries closer to the equator the benefits of having the same hour If the state has been following its than those near the poles. of sunlight in the morning. There may own de facto time, sun time, or local not be a strong correlation to identify time, then the policy will not yield Benefits in Store any effect of DST on promoting greater the desired outcomes. Similarly, if In India, the rationale for considering moderate to vigorous physical activity businesses and schools decide to alter a change in the time is largely driven (MVPA), experts acknowledge that their operating hours, it may erode by (i) potential energy savings; (ii) its DST may play a role in shifting MVPA the intended benefits of additional hypothesised effects on promoting time from indoors to outdoors, or from leisure time in the daylight during physical activity; (iii) mainstreaming morning to afternoon/evening. The evenings. For example, business hours the Northeast region; and (iv) and effects of DST may vary across climates, in India usually start at 10 am, unlike most places where operating hours meeting other social policy objectives latitudes, and seasonal months. are from 8 am onwards. A relatively such as reducing road accidents and late start gives credence for advancing improving women's safety. Mainstreaming the North-east IST due to significant number of hours In the north-east state of Arunachal wasted. However, as time serves as a Potential Energy Savings Pradesh, the sunrise during the summer coordination mechanism, if businesses As a result of an increase in solstice is almost an hour before that adjust to the change by shifting hours of daylight in the evenings, households in the northern-most state of Jammu operation, then the intended benefits are less likely to use artificial lighting and Kashmir. Similarly, sunset during will diminish. during evenings. Arguments in favour the winter month of December occurs show how an advancement of IST is at 16.26 during the winter solstice. At Lack of Survey Data to Monitor likely to lead to energy savings of 2.7 the same time, working hours in India Impact billion units (0.3 per cent of the yearly are generally from 9 am till 5.30 pm Implementation of creating two electricity consumption totalling 700 throughout the year. Creating two time time zones must be supported by the billion units). Although the savings zones in India should help the north- ability of the government to gather data form a small proportion, substantial eastern states to better align economic and track changes in activity patterns in savings during peak hours are possible activities with the rest of the country. order to undertake rigorous evaluation given the shift in the load curves. The Other Social Policy Objectives of the impact of such measures. Such savings resulting from such a shift can evaluations may include understanding constitute up to 15% of the energy It is suggested that longer the healthcare costs of the transition by demand during evening peak hours. daylight during evenings is likely to using administrative data on hospital Also, the peak energy demands might contribute towards women's safety admissions, and estimating the be currently being met through costly, and security, the reduction in stoppage impact on workplace productivity by and sometimes polluting, methods of for sporting events owing to better collaborating with private companies. energy production. A reduction in this lighting conditions, and an increase In addition, the policy intervention is likely to have several positive effects. in professional productivity. However, also presents an opportunity to assess Experts claim that the savings are likely the armchair reasoning behind the the impact on subjective well-being, to rise, given the increase in domestic hypothesised effects needs empirical through novel techniques such as the consumption year-on-year. confirmation. day reconstruction method.

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Lack of Peer-reviewed Journals and Concerns over Two Time Way Forward Potential Publication Selection Bias Zones To implement and generate IST-II, NPL A meta-analysis of the effects of If there weren't concerns over the will have to establish a Primary Time DST on electricity consumption reveals existence of two time zones, the issue Scale (PTS), which is an ensemble of that the current literature is largely would not have been unsolved even five caesium clocks and one hydrogen restricted to reports from government after so many years. maser, in one of the north-eastern agencies or electricity companies. As a One reason is the possibility of states, similar to the PTS for IST-I, result, the incentive structure in such human error in changing time when which is located in Delhi. A caesium institutions might lead to bias in results. crossing the time zone, which may end In the case of India, there have been in train accidents if railway employees clock measures time on the basis of only two studies (by the same author) make it. the resonance (or change of energy that have investigated the estimates of state of an isotope of caesium) and a savings. Having two time zones may dispel some of the problems but may end hydrogen maser measures time on the Centre-state Cooperation up creating more, not to mention the basis of the resonance of hydrogen sense of alienation of northeast region. The Constitution grants the across energy states. autonomy to states to define and Offices, banks and other things as such that need to be constantly set local times for their respective General Studies Paper- I industrial areas under the provisions interconnected, would find it difficult Topic: Salient features of world's in labour laws, such as the Plantations to operate in the same sphere. physical geography. Labour Act, 1951. If requests by the Having more than one time zone in states to consider DST or changes in a country is not a new or unheard of. the IST are repeatedly refused, it may Russia alone is divided into nine time lead to ad hoc measures by states. zones. mmm

2. INTERNAL MIGRATION IS CONTINUED IN INDIA

Why in News? Migrants overwhelmingly settle Migration in India in cities once they arrive in their The recent attacks on migrant labour Development and economic growth destination. Yet the statistics on the after an incident in Gujarat late last take place through the more number of migrants in cities are month, involving the sexual assault efficient allocation of inputs into limited, particularly those pertaining of a 14-month-old girl, allegedly by a more productive uses. Labor is a key to developing economies where such migrant labourer from Bihar, appears input since it is the main asset of the information could feed into urban to be have been a consequence of this majority of the population, especially planning to better prepare cities to resentment. Many migrant workers of the poor, in developing countries. manage migration. Cities address the have now rushed out to their home The reallocation of labor can take place immediate needs of migrants and States out of fear despite several local across sectors, occupations and, most respond to some of the challenges importantly, geographic regions. Thus, people having been taken into custody of integration. With a high volume it is no surprise that every successful on the charge of inciting violence of migrants arriving in cities, city development experience and growth against migrant workers. There have leaders are faced with the challenge episode is accompanied by large labor been reports of an estimated 60,000 of providing vital urban infrastructure movements, especially from rural to to more than a lakh workers leaving and services to meet the needs of urban areas, and from low to higher the State. the migrant population. This includes productivity employment. In this regard, India presents a paradox and Introduction affordable and social housing, quality education and health services, simple daunting challenge. "Migration is an expression of the access to basic utilities (water, power, human aspiration for dignity, safety Migration: Recent Data and Trend etc.), robust and congestion-free roads and a better future. It is part of the and transportation infrastructure as According to the State of World social fabric, part of our very make-up well as, finally, ensuring integration Population report, more than half of the as a human family." and social cohesion for the increased world’s population lives in urban areas, Ban Ki-moon diversity. and the number is steadily growing

November 2018 A Issue-1 4 Current Affairs : Perfect 7 every year. India, where the majority migrant workers coming to Gujarat. have long characterized this migration of the population is still dependent Informally, the figures are estimated to as a type in which the permanent on agriculture, is no exception to this be between 40 lakh to one crore. residence of a person remains the trend. As per the census, the level of same, but the location of his or her Types of Internal Migration urbanization in India has increased economic activity changes. in India from 27.81% in 2001 to 31.16% in 2011. Many of the women who migrate Urbanization in India is a consequence Labor migration flows include for marriage are also participants in of demographic explosion and poverty- permanent, semi-permanent, and the labor market, even if their primary seasonal or circular migrants. Much induced rural-urban migration. reason for migration is marriage. The of the available data polls migrants in The Economic Survey of India 2017 domestic maid industry in urban areas, the permanent and semi-permanent estimates that the magnitude of inter- for example, is a rapidly growing sector categories, and considerably less large- that employs women, most of whom state migration in India was close to scale statistical data are available on 9 million annually between 2011 and the numbers and characteristics of are rural-to-urban migrants. 2016, while Census 2011 pegs the total circular migrants. number of internal migrants in the Causes of Migration Semi-permanent migrants are country (accounting for inter- and intra- A myriad of favourable, unfavourable those who are likely to have precarious state movement) at a staggering 139 or neutral factors cause migration. jobs in their destination areas, or lack million. Gujarat is one of the top States the resources to make a permanent Factors that determine why a person in India that receive migrant workers, move. While they may reside in their migrates are related to the place of largely temporary and seasonal, on destination cities for years or decades, residence from where migration starts, a large scale. In Gujarat, they work in they likely have homes and families in also known as the origin, and the place unskilled or semi-skilled jobs in a wide their sending district. of new settlement, or where migration range of activities such as in agriculture, ends either completely or temporarily, brick kilns and construction work, salt Seasonal or circular migrants, by contrast, are likely to move from place also known as the destination. Both the pans and domestic work, petty services origin and destination are characterized and trades (food and street vending) to place in search of employment, or to continue returning to the same place by factors that support (enable), as well as in textiles and garments, reject (deter) or are neutral (neither embroidery and diamond cutting year after year. Such circular flows support nor oppose migration). The and polishing, small engineering and encompass migrants who may stay at their destination for six months or favourable attributes of a location are electronics and also small and big more at a time and hence need social pull factors, which attract a person. The factories. services at their destination. Scholars unfavourable attributes operating at a These workers are from Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and even from as far as Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Assam and Karnataka. Employers send contractors to distant unexplored places to gather labour at the lowest possible wage rate. For example, a new township in Gujarat being promoted by a large industrialist is to be built with workers from Assam. Surprisingly, the Gujarat government has no data on/estimates of

5 November 2018 A Issue-1 Current Affairs : Perfect 7 location are the push factors, which ¡¡ Ecological factors: These include ¡¡ Semi-skilled workers with some force or compel a person to move away. environmental factors, such as education and skills (such as Both pull and push factors can climate change and the availability those in diamond cutting and apply simultaneously at the place of of natural resources, that cause polishing units, power looms and origin as well as at the destination. individuals to migrate in search factories) get slightly higher wages Typically, the causes are economic, of more favourable ecological and earn some leave. However, sociopolitical and ecological: conditions. these workers are also exploited in multiple ways and are mostly ¡¡ Economic factors: These relate Challenges of Migrant unprotected. to the labour market of a place, Worker the employment situation and ¡¡ Despite increasing research along the overall state of the economy. ¡¡ Segmenting the labour market and these lines, urban development Favourable economic conditions at creating a separate labour market projects often seek to keep migrants the destination – the prospect of for migrant workers who are easy out, local authorities continue to higher wages, better employment to exploit has been a common treat migration as a problem, and opportunities and prospects for strategy of employers across India. migrants are often harassed by the wealth creation – and the desire The pathetic conditions migrant police because they are considered to escape the domestic social and workers face have been widely to be closer to illegal residents political situation of their home documented. rather than legal migrants. region can draw migrants to their ¡¡ They earn low wages, work very ¡¡ Migrants are particularly destination. Likewise, if economic long hours without any overtime susceptible to police harassment— conditions are unfavourable at benefits, and are almost without including violence and exhortation the place of origin, poor and any leave or social protection. for bribes—because of their unemployed individuals would be precarious position in the receiving ¡¡ Lakhs of unskilled and migrant compelled to migrate to sustain society. Their basic needs, such as workers live on worksites in their livelihood. their access to housing, can depend makeshift huts (usually made of tin ¡¡ Socio-political factors: These on the cooperation of local police. include family conflicts and sheets) or on roads, slums and in unification; the quest for illegal settlements not served by Responses to Migration municipalities. independence; ethnic, religious, The inflows of migrants from rural racial and cultural parameters; ¡¡ They are neither able to save much areas and small towns into big cities warfare, or the threat of conflict, to improve their conditions back in has contributed to urban congestion among other factors that contribute their home States nor save enough and housing shortages in cities across to migration. to live comfortably in Gujarat. India. Mumbai, Delhi, and Kolkata

November 2018 A Issue-1 6 Current Affairs : Perfect 7 in particular are all known for the who take workers away, register such ¡¡ Institutional Linkages with the proliferation of slums and pavement workers and also monitor their working Urban Labor Market. dwellings, and generally intense and living conditions in other States. ¡¡ Access to Food Entitlements at housing pressures. In addition, city But most State governments remain Destination. residents often perceive that migrants indifferent to these laws. Gujarat has increase the competition for jobs and taken a few steps but these are far from Conclusion compete for basic amenities and city adequate. In the political sphere, there The Constitution of India (Article 19) services such as water and sanitation. has been hardly any mention about gives the right to all citizens to “to The Government of India’s Inter- protecting the legal rights of migrant move freely throughout the territory of State Migrant Workmen (Regulation workers in India. The political impulse India; to reside and settle in any part of of Employment and Conditions of has been to maintain status quo — the the territory of India”. The magnitude Service) Act of 1979 was passed in continuation of the situation where and variety of internal migration flows order to address the unjust working migrant workers are exploited. in India, as well as the distresses conditions of migrant workers, The Gujarat government passed a associated with them, are enormous. including the necessity of gaining rule in the 1990s making it mandatory A basic overview of this complex employment through middlemen for industries and employers in Gujarat phenomenon makes clear that in spite contractors or agents who promise a to give 85% of jobs to local people. This of the vast contributions of migrants to monthly settlement of wages but do rule was never really implemented in India’s economy, the social protections not pay when the times comes. The act reality, but watered down by the available to them still remain sparse. lists the responsibilities of employers State government in its subsequent While the state and market have and contractors and the rights of industrial policies, as new and large failed in providing protections to these workers to wages that are equal to investors coming to the State did not millions of internal migrants, civil- those of the local employees, the right like any such restrictions. Now there is society interventions across various to return home periodically without a move in the State to introduce a law high migration pockets in India offer losing wages, and the right to medical for industries and investors in Gujarat a number of successful, context- care and housing at the employment which reserves 80% of labour jobs for specific solutions that the government site. In practice, however, this act State domiciles and at least 25% for can adapt and build upon in order to is overwhelmingly ignored by state local workers. But those behind the protect this marginalized segment of governments. As such, it articulates idea are perhaps fully aware of the workers. A concerted national strategy ideal working conditions for interstate futility of such a move. As long as there that ensures access to entitlements and migrants, but lacking provisions for are huge surpluses from the labour of basic work conditions will be essential enforcement, it has not been used to migrant workers, employers will have in building a sustainable and equitable create a better policy environment in no incentive in hiring local workers. pathway to progress. practice. Civil-Society Interventions In the end, the real solution to this issue would be to enforce all relevant Labour Laws Only on Paper In a scenario where the responses labour laws for migrant workers so that from the state and market have not Under the Inter-State Migrant segmentation of the labour market contributed much to the welfare Workmen Act and other labour laws becomes weak, and workers (local and of migrant workers, civil-society (for unorganised workers), migrant migrant) get a fair and equal deal in organizations have been able to come workers in Gujarat are legally entitled the labour market. State and Central up with solutions that have helped to all their basic labour rights. These governments should genuinely take enhance returns from migration. Recent include minimum wages, regular interest in improving the conditions of thinking and innovations in migration wage payment, regular working hours workers in the economy. and overtime payment, and decent practice have helped transform work working and living conditions which opportunities for migrants into more include taking care of the health and stable livelihood options. General Studies Paper- II education of their children. ¡¡ Welfare Services and Social Topic: Issues relating to development protection for Migrants. and management of Social Sector/ Under the same Act, the Services relating to Health, governments of the States from ¡¡ Education for Children of Migrants. Education, Human Resources. where migrant workforce originate are ¡¡ Organizing Workers for Demanding expected to issue licences to contractors Entitlements. mmm

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3. INDIA-AFGHANISTAN RELATIONSHIP: GETTING STRONGER

Why in News? vote. This year, in order to get a valid security dimension of India-Afghanistan card, Afghans registered themselves ties is extremely important for India Afghanistan has voted in long-delayed on a new biometric system that was as it is in New Delhi’s interest to help parliamentary elections for the third put in place to prevent voter fraud. Kabul preserve its strategic autonomy time since the fall of the Taliban in All previously issued registration cards at a time when Pakistan has made it 2001. The polls, which were originally have been cancelled. The Independent clear that it would like the Haqqani scheduled for early 2015, were last Election Commission (IEC) announced network and the Taliban to be at the pushed to October 2018. More than that 8,918,107 people have registered centre of the post-American political 4 million people cast their ballots in to vote in the elections, of which dispensation in Kabul. India is keenly Afghanistan's parliamentary election 3,067,918 are women and 5,681,592 interested in cultivating a significant amid spates of violence and logistical are men. The IEC said that more partnership with Afghanistan. Due to issues. At least 27 civilians and 10 600,000 registrations were cancelled as strategic and security concerns the members of the security forces were they were invalid for various reasons. Indo-Afghanistan cordial relations are killed and over 100 were injured during in favour of both the nations. the two-day voting period as the Taliban Why Afghanistan is important for India? launched over 250 separate attacks in ¾¾ Strategic location of Afghanistan is India has given economic and very important. Afghanistan is situated a bid to stop people from voting. This material help for the well-being of at crossroads between South Asia and Afghanistan. India has made huge election, the first parliamentary polls Central Asia and South Asia and the in eight years, came after three years Middle East. investments in Afghanistan ranging of delays due to security issues and ¾¾ Stable government in Kabul will not from infrastructure to human resource political infighting over electoral reform give safe heaven for terrorist activity development. Strategically Afghanistan measures. The polls, which marked the that might reduce insurgency in is important for India’s dream of Kashmir. introduction of biometric devices at accessing the Central Asian market, for ¾¾ Afghanistan is a major partner in the which it is developing the Chabahar voting centers, is also the first election TAPI (Turkmenistan-Afghanistan- since the 2014 presidential election, Pakistan-India) pipeline project which port in Iran. It is a gateway to the which was plagued by accusations of will fulfill India's energy need. energy-rich Central Asian states such as widespread fraud and dragged on for ¾¾ Afghanistan is a gateway to the oil and Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan. India, a several months. mineral rich Central Asian republics. member in the Shanghai Cooperation ¾¾ The massive reconstruction plans for Organisation (SCO), has been pursuing Background the country offer a lot of opportunities better relations with the Central Asian for Indian companies. The Afghan parliament comprises the states for energy cooperation. ¾¾ Afghanistan also has significant oil and Mesherano Jirga (upper house) and gas reserves. India has enormous security stakes the Wolesi Jirga (lower house). Recent in the stability of Afghanistan. As an ¾¾ Afghanistan has rich source of rare election was for the Wolesi Jirga, earth materials. emerging power it cannot remain whose elected parliamentarians serve confined to South Asia. Afghanistan’s five-year terms. There are 250 seats Importance of India – internal conditions affect the stability in the Wolesi Jirga, including 10 seats Afghanistan Relation of the region. India’s presence in that are reserved for Kuchis (nomads) India and Afghanistan have close Afghanistan is to address its security and one jointly for the Sikh and Hindu technical, economic, cultural and concerns and help construct the communities. There must be 68 female political relations. In the recent past, regional security architecture. The rise representatives, with each province Indo-Afghan relations have been of the IS in the Middle East and its close having at least one. The Meshrano further strengthened by the Strategic contacts with the Taliban raise issues Jirga consists of parliamentarians Partnership Agreement signed of internal security for India. Since the chosen from local councils and those between the two countries in 2011. American invasion, the Taliban and its appointed by the President, as well as For India, Afghanistan has immense affiliates have shifted their base towards members elected in district elections. strategic potential. Geo-strategically the Southern regions and Pakistan. All Afghan citizens who are 18 India-Afghanistan partnership has This has increased implications for the years of age or older with a valid voter considerable value as a counter to security and safety for both Pakistan identification card have the right to the Pakistan threat. Strengthening the and the Indian territory.

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A peaceful Afghanistan is good for its regional role as a benign power As an important member of SAARC, Indian trade and energy security. India investing in social and economic India’s active involvement in the region has a fundamental interest in ensuring development of its immediate is valuable to counter the growing clout that Afghanistan emerges as a stable neighbourhood, reminiscent of the of China. Both India and Afghanistan and economically integrated state ‘Gujral Doctrine’ of the mid-1990s. being SAARC members committed in the region. Though Afghanistan’s India always wants a peaceful to regional cooperation, the talks economy has recovered significantly Afghanistan. India has considerable could impact future strategies of the since the fall of the Taliban, it remains stakes in a peaceful and developing member- nations towards promoting highly dependent on foreign aid and Afghanistan and must have a say regional cooperation. It wants to retain trade with neighbouring countries. in charting a path for resolution of Afghanistan as a friendly state from The only way in which the Afghanistan issues, the outcome of which will which it has the capacity to monitor government can retain and enhance have considerable regional impact. Pakistan and even, wherever possible, its legitimacy is by bringing the Afghan India has over the last two decades cultivate assets to influence activities economy back on track. To do so largely spent considerable diplomatic energy in Pakistan. India is keenly interested depends on other states and India is and made investments in developing in developing a significant partnership playing an important role in this regard. a healthy relationship while helping with Afghanistan. So due to strategic The preferential trade agreement in Afghanistan’s reconstruction. and security concerns the India- signed by India and Afghanistan Increasing economic growth, providing Afghanistan cordial relations promote gives substantial duty concessions to humanitarian assistance, improving the interests of both the nations. certain categories of Afghan dry fruits capacity-building measures are all part when entering India, with Afghanistan Afghanistan: A failed of India’s soft power strategy of “reviving allowing reciprocal concessions to Democracy? the traditional role of Afghanistan as Indian products such as sugar, tea, a land bridge, connecting South Asia Every time elections are held in and pharmaceuticals. A consortium with Central Asia and West Asia”. India Afghanistan, whether parliamentary or of Indian steel companies, led by presidential, there follows a moment has lot to offer for the betterment of the National Mineral Development of cheer for upholding democracy. The the region considering the TAPI project, Corporation (NMDC), India’s SAIL led ballot box is regarded as equivalent to the MVA (motor vehicle agreement), consortium has acquired some parts of democracy, as if by default. Yet, this if extended, NSTC (North- South Afghanistan’s 1.8 billion-tonne Hajigak election, like all previous parliamentary transport corridor), SAARC satellite and iron ore mines. But, at the same time, or presidential polls since 2001, were many more—all of which are beneficial Indian companies are worried about marred by allegations of corruption, for the participating countries but the safety of their investment because vote rigging, multiple voting, ballot box these benefits have to be foreseen by of the Taliban threat and so are afraid stuffing and the intimidation of voters. to venture solo. the respective leaders of states; else Dysfunctional political processes Bilateral trade between India and the region will not get rid of poverty, and systems have often rendered Afghanistan has been on the rise. India malnutrition, economic disparity, the elections near-meaningless and hopes its investment in the Iranian port gender imbalance etc. disregarded people’s votes. Daily at Chabahar will allow it to gain trading From the strategic and security terrorist attacks, high levels of poverty access to Afghanistan, bypassing perspectives, India’s Afghanistan and unemployment and rampant Pakistan. Pakistan currently allows focus is aimed at curbing terrorism, corruption across the country have Afghanistan transit rights for its exports containing and decreasing Pakistan’s made it hard for democracy to take to India, but does not allow goods to influence, pursuing a policy of root in Afghanistan. move from India to Afghanistan. With aid, development and economic It is true that the main requirements the opening of the Chabahar port after integration with the goal of being of democracy are defined as the Iran nuclear deal, the trade with recognised as a major power globally, participation and opposition. In other Central Asia through Afghanistan seems one that will generate general goodwill words freedom of expression, the right more probable, given the maintenance locally, within the Afghan population. to vote, the right of the political leaders of peace in Afghanistan. In addition, it is also keen on exploiting to compete and the freedom to form As a responsible and democratic the energy sources in Afghanistan and and join political organisations. It is also regional entity, India has also developing it into a hub for accessing true that most of these elements exist reanimated the commitment towards Central Asian resources. in some form in Afghanistan today. But

9 November 2018 A Issue-1 Current Affairs : Perfect 7 it can be said that democracy has not box. A key characteristic deepened in Afghanistan. Thus it was of democracy is the pertinent to ask what is causing such a continuing responsiveness failure of democracy? of the government to First of all, drastic inequality can the preferences and seriously affect both participation demands of all its citizens; and opposition. Extreme inequality in an element that is sadly the distribution of key elements such missing in Afghanistan. as income, wealth, status, knowledge Afghan politicians and the and military power are equivalent international community to extreme inequalities in political are equally responsible resources. Poverty in Afghanistan has for failing the people of significantly increased over the past Afghanistan. to monopolise Afghan power at the decade according to the World Bank Importance of this Election and a staggering 55 percent of the behest of Pakistan, to revive the population are now living below the The Afghan government aims to send Islamic Emirate that they established national poverty line. Just over 54 a message to the Taliban with this in Afghanistan in the 1990s and to percent of young Afghans (in the 15-24 election: that despite the ongoing allow safe havens for radical Islamist age group) are literate while 42 percent violent campaigns by the armed group, groups such as al-Qaeda and Lashkar- are neither in employment, education, the government is functioning and that e-Taiba. Thus, from strategic angle, any or training. the Taliban will have to come to the government that emerges from the Secondly, continuing conflict and negotiating table through a political Afghan election cannot be allowed to lack of good governance is making process acceptable to all Afghans. replicate the Islamic Emirate. the situation in Afghanistan worse. In addition, most Afghans are Further, private sector The continued conflict has an internal desperate for a better life, jobs, development is critical for the and an external angle. Externally, education and an end to the war development of Afghanistan. This with the Taliban. For the country's Pakistan’s Inter Services Intelligence would help generate revenues for the foreign partners, seeing a flourishing (ISI) is accused of providing direct government which would in the long military and intelligence aid to both democracy would be the return they're run; help Afghanistan to reduce its the Taliban and the vicious Haqqani seeking after many years of investment, dependence on international aid and network, giving its leaders a safe billions of dollars spent and thousands this would give much needed thrust haven. Internally, the security and of lives lost in more than a decade of intelligence apparatus in Afghanistan fighting. Further, many candidates are to job creation and income growth. has been dysfunctional, unable to deal young and well-educated. They are Regional cooperation and regional effectively with the ensuing conflict. It promising to help deliver change in the integration are the important elements is riddled with corruption and division. conflict-torn country. to the economic and social future It lacks a comprehensive strategy and The polls should have been held of Afghanistan and its neighbours. capable leadership. when the current assembly's five-year Strategic implementation of the Further lack of good governance term ended in 2015. But the standoff trade, commerce and investment and ensuing corruption are blocking after the disputed 2014 presidential opportunities would act as a catalyst development and political progress. election changed all that, bringing the in this transformation process and Transparency International ranks country to the brink of civil war. has the potential to serve as a “game Afghanistan near-bottom of its However, although parliament changers” and to create a new dynamic Corruption Perceptions Index for 2017. reviews and ratifies laws, real power for peace and socio economic progress The third reason for the failure of lies with the presidency and this across the region. democracy in Afghanistan is that the election will be seen as a key test process of political transformation ahead of the all-important presidential has been part of a US plan. It has not elections due in April 2019. General Studies Paper- II developed from within Afghan society. Topic: India and its neighborhood- Democracy, a highly contested Way Forward relations. term and a very complex political From India point of view, New structure, does not end at the ballot Delhi would not want the Taliban mmm

November 2018 A Issue-1 10 Current Affairs : Perfect 7

4. RAILWAY LINE THROUGH ASPIRATIONAL DISTRICTS

Why in News? passenger business grew at a CAGR The new Indian Railways line of 9.90 per cent during FY07-FY18 to will boost the pilgrimage-related The CCEA (Cabinet Committee on reach US$ 7.55 billion in 2017-18P. tourism in the region as it will provide Economic Affairs) approved a new Freight revenue rose at a CAGR of 9.83 connectivity to three crucial temples railway line between Bahraich and per cent during FY07-FY18 to reach including a Jain and a Buddhist place Khalilabad in Uttar Pradesh. The new US$ 18.16 billion in 2017-18. of worship in this eastern part of line will serve five districts of Uttar Uttar Pradesh. The railway line project Pradesh including four aspirational The Indian Railways, as one of would be fast tracked and it would be districts i.e. Bahraich, Balrampur, the pillars of India's infrastructure, constructed within the time line. The Shravasti and Siddharth Nagar and Sant has a symbiotic relationship with big infrastructure project would also Kabirnagar. the country's industry and economy. The Railways play a crucial role in push employment opportunities when Introduction the transport of coal, iron ore and the long railway line will be built. The Indian Railways is among the raw materials for the manufacturing Highlight of Bahraich and world’s largest rail networks. The industry, fertilizers, cement and steel Khalilabad Project Indian Railways route length network products and food-grain, and in the movement to and from the major The line will promote tourism in is spread over 115,000 km, with the region. 12,617 passenger trains and 7,421 ports, as well as the transportation ¡¡ The new rail line will pass through freight trains each day from 7,349 of people. Transport being a derived demand, any growth in the economy Bhinga, Shravasti, Balrampur, stations plying 23 million travellers and fuels the demand for transport. Utraula, Domariyaganj, Mehdawal, 3 million tonnes (MT) of freight daily. and Bansi. India's railway network is recognised Bahraich to Khalilabad ¡¡ This line is significant for tourism as as one of the largest railway systems in Project it passes through Shravasti district the world under single management. The demand for this railway line, which is an important tourist place The railway network is also ideal for connecting Bahraich to Khalilabad had and is closely associated with the long-distance travel and movement of been pending for decades. The railway life of Gautam Buddha. bulk commodities, apart from being line from Bahraich to Khalilabad, which ¡¡ Shravasti is also an important an energy efficient and economic will be fully electrified will pass through tourist centre for Jains as the mode of conveyance and transport. Balrampur and Sarawasti. The new Sobhanath temple is believed to be Indian Railways was the preferred line serves 5 districts of Uttar Pradesh the birthplace of the Tirthankara carrier of automobiles in the country including 4 aspirational districts Sambhavanath. with loading from automobiles traffic (Bahraich, Balrampur, Shravasti and ¡¡ The Devi Patan temple in Tulsipur, growing 16 per cent in 2017-18. Siddharth Nagar) and Sant Kabirnagar. which is close to Balrampur town, The Government of India has The aspirational districts have been is one of the famous 51 Shakti focused on investing on railway identified by NITI Aayog to grow small- Peethas of Maa Durga. infrastructure by making investor- scale industries. Hence, this project ¡¡ Forming part of India’s North friendly policies. It has moved quickly to is needed for better socio-economic Eastern Railway, the Bahraich- enable Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) development of the hinterland of this Khalilabad line is expected to in railways to improve infrastructure area with the help of rail network. generate employment during for freight and high-speed trains. At This project will generate direct construction. present, several domestic and foreign employment during construction for ¡¡ The line will provide basic companies are also looking to invest about 57.67 lakh man-days The total infrastructure support for industrial in Indian rail projects. Indian Railways’ estimated cost of this project is Rs. development with socio-economic revenues increased at a CAGR of 9.66 4939.78 crore and It is likely to be outputs, offer an alternative route per cent during FY07-FY18 to US$ completed by 2024-25 and will lie in to Bahraich-Khalilabad and connect 27.71 billion in FY18. Earnings from the the North Eastern Zonal Railway. border districts.

11 November 2018 A Issue-1 Current Affairs : Perfect 7

Buddhist Circuit in India Broad Gauge Meter Gauge Narrow Gauge Total The holy places of Buddhism, where Lord Track Kilometers (1676 mm) (1000 mm) (762/610 mm) Buddha was born and taught, preached, 86,526 18,529 3,651 108,706 and attained ‘Enlightenment’ and ‘Nirvana’, Electrified Total are termed as Buddhist Circuit. These are Route Kilometers the spiritual homes of Buddhism, housing 16,001 63,028 temples and monasteries of high religious These were the small beginnings Railways And Tourism significances, where followers of Buddhism which is due course developed into a associate themselves with the teachings of India, the seventh largest country of Lord Buddha. Buddhist Circuit has evolved network of railway lines all over the the world is known for its varied and as tourist centres for not only the followers country. By 1880 the Indian Railway rich cultural and historical heritage of Buddhism but also others. In India, system had a route mileage of about Buddhist Circuit is in Bodhgaya, Vaishali around the globe. The huge and varied and Rajgir in Bihar, Sarnath in Varanasi, 9000 miles. Indian Railways, the geography of the country is unique in Shravasti and Kushinagar in Uttar Pradesh. premier transport organization of the itself and gives a chance not only to All these are the main pilgrimage centres country is the largest rail network in for Buddhism in India. the international tourists but also to Asia and the world's second largest the domestic tourists to explore the Evolution Indian Railways under one management. true beauty of the country. It is rightly said that if one wants to see the real The first railway on Indian sub- Aspirational Districts Programme India, one must explore the country continent ran over a stretch of 21 miles The ‘Transformation of Aspirational by rail. The Indian Railways serves as from Bombay to Thane. The idea of a Districts’ Programme aims to expeditiously the true kaleidoscope to witness the railway to connect Bombay with Thane, improve the socio-economic status of 115 districts from across 28 states. The lives, culture, philosophy, religion and Kalyan and with the Thal and Bhore three core principles of the programme lifestyle of Indian people. The Indian Ghats inclines first occurred to Mr. are - Convergence (of Central & State Railways with a network of 66,687 George Clark, the Chief Engineer of the Schemes), Collaboration (among citizens kilometres, 7,349 stations and running Bombay Government, during a visit to and functionaries of Central & State around 22,525 trains offers tourists one Bhandup in 1843. Governments including district teams), and Competition among districts. Driven of the most convenient and popular The formal inauguration ceremony primarily by the States, this initiative modes of transport for travelling in was performed on 16th April 1853, focuses on the strengths of each district, India. The Indian Railways helps one to when 14 railway carriages carrying and prioritizes the attainable outcomes for explore the length and breadth of India about 400 guests left Bori Bunder at immediate improvement. with its lively markets, crowded places, 3.30 pm "amidst the loud applause The 117 districts were identified from 28 geographical variations, cuisines, dress of a vast multitude and to the salute states, at least one from each state, in a styles, languages and so many other of 21 guns." The first passenger transparent manner by a committee of facets of India. From the Great Indian train steamed out of Howrah station Senior Officers to the Government of India, in consultation with State Officials using Plains, the Thar Desert, the Deccan destined for Hooghly, a distance of a composite index of key data sets that 24 miles, on 15th August, 1854. Thus included deprivation enumerated under UNESCO World Heritage Sites of the first section of the East Indian the Socio-Economic Caste Census, key Indian Railways Railway was opened to public traffic, health and education sector performance Indian Railways is the proud owner of inaugurating the beginning of railway and state of basic infrastructure. four UNESCO accorded World Heritage Sites namely Darjeeling Himalayan transport on the Eastern side of the To enable optimum utilization of their Railway (1999), Nilgiri Mountain Railway potential, this program focusses closely on sub-continent. (2005), Kalka Shimla Railway (2008) and improving people’s ability to participate Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, Mumbai In south the first line was opened fully in the burgeoning economy. Health & on Ist July, 1856 by the Madras Railway (2004). There are two more in waiting or Nutrition, Education, Agriculture & Water in the tentative list namely Matheran Light Company. It ran between Vyasarpadi Resources, Financial Inclusion & Skill Railway and Kangra Valley Railway. Development, and Basic Infrastructure Jeeva Nilayam (Veyasarpandy) and Today, Indian Railways maintain 34 are this programme’s core areas of focus. Walajah Road (Arcot), a distance of Museums, Heritage Parks and Heritage Districts are prodded and encouraged to 63 miles. In the North a length of 119 galleries, spread all over India, for creating first catch-up with the best district within unique and rich experience to visitors about miles of line was laid from Allahabad their state, and subsequently aspire to to Kanpur on 3rd March 1859. The first Railway heritage in India. The National Rail become one of the best in the country, by Museum in New Delhi and Regional Rail section from Hathras Road to Mathura competing with, and learning from others Museums at Chennai, Mysore, Howrah Cantonment was opened to traffic on in the spirit of competitive & cooperative and Nagpur, are iconic tourist destinations 19th October, 1875. federalism. in their region.

November 2018 A Issue-1 12 Current Affairs : Perfect 7

Plateau, the coastal plains to the North This initiative has been given the iv. Howrah-Haldia; Eastern states, a train tour of India name of National Rail Vikas Yojana. v. Chennai-Bangalore-Coimbatore- provides the real glimpse of the Indian Hon'ble Prime Minister announced the Ernakulam; Yojana in his speech delivered on the culture and lifestyle. vi. Delhi-Agra-Lucknow-Varanasi- Independence Day in 2002 and formally Patna Problems faced by Indian launched it on 26th December, 2002. Railways National Rail Vikas Yojana comprises These could be built as elevated corridors in keeping with the pattern ¡¡ Old technology: The existing the following investment planning of habitation and the constraint of technology of both, electric and components: land in our country. The Railways will diesel locomotive is old. ¡¡ Strengthening of Golden use the PPP mode for investment Quadrilateral and Diagonals ¡¡ Small network: The railway and execution, and draw on frontier connecting the 4 metro cities network is inadequate when technologies incorporating the compared to the requirements of i.e. Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata. highest standards of safety and the economy. service quality. ¡¡ Providing Rail based port- ¡¡ Financial crunch: The conventional connectivity and development of methods of increasing net revenue, Way Ahead corridors to hinterland including like raising of tariffs and expenditure Indian Railways play a pivotal role for multi-modal corridors for control, are inadequate. the entire lower and upper middle class movement of containers. ¡¡ Losses: Due to operation of a sectoral travel segment. It serves as the ¡¡ Construction of 4 mega bridges at number of non- remunerative most economical mode of transport Patna and Munger on river Ganga, lines, it suffers heavy losses. among the prevailing travel modes in at Bogibeel on river Brahmputra India. The Indian Railway network is ¡¡ Poor passenger service: It also and at Nirmali on river Kosi. growing at a healthy rate. In the next suffers from poor passenger service five years, the Indian railway market and overcrowding. SRESTHA will be the third largest, accounting for New R&D organisation to be Rational price policy, increased 10 per cent of the global market. Indian headed by a Scientist to serve the wagon load, faster turnaround time, Railways, which is one of the country's future technology needs of Railways public-private partnerships (PPPs) are biggest employers, can generate one some of the steps taken to improve the SUTRA million jobs. performance of the railways. During But there remains the problem of 12th FYP, the railways focus would be World class data analytics, the quality of India’s network. It is beset on construction of six dedicated freight simulation softwares, network by the problems of under-investment: corridors, segregation of freight and optimisation and decision support systems India’s trains are unsafe, poorly passengers lines, providing improved maintained and under-developed. connectivity to industry cluster and Indian Railways Vision 2020 Thousands die on rail crossings, in ports, etc. The Vision 2020 also envisages the train crashes and in rail accidents every Government Initiatives implementation of , one in each of the year. Privatizing parts of the network regions of the nation and planning for and inviting foreign investment are National Rail Vikas Yojna at least 8 more corridors connecting now being suggested to address these Government of India has conceived commercial, tourist and pilgrimage pressing infrastructural needs. Until a massive investment plan for rail sector hubs. Six corridors have already been then these fare hikes represent a necessary, but short-term, palliative. to eliminate capacity bottlenecks on identified for technical studies on Golden Quadrilateral and Diagonals to setting up of High Speed Rail Corridors. These are: provide strategic rail communication General Studies Paper- III i. Delhi-Chandigarh-Amritsar; links to ports, construction of mega- Topic: Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, bridges for improving communication ii. Pune-Mumbai-Ahmedabad; Roads, Airports, Railways etc. to the hinterland and development iii. Hyderabad-Dornakal-Vijayawada- of multi-modal transport corridors. Chennai; mmm

13 November 2018 A Issue-1 Current Affairs : Perfect 7

5. ARTIFICIAL MOON: COULD LIGHT UP THE NIGHT SKY

Why in News? ¡¡ In 1993, Russia sent up Znamya 2, a and that it can be completely shut off Chengdu, a city in Southwestern plastic mirror with a diameter of 65 if necessary. And since the satellite is Sichuan province, is developing ft. It managed to reflect a narrow mobile, it can assist in disaster relief "illumination satellites" which will beam of light. The two-and-and- by beaming light on areas that lost shine in tandem with the real moon, half-mile-wide beam traveled for power. The extraterrestrial source of but are eight times brighter and bathe about eight minutes across part of light could also help rescue efforts in the city of Chengdu in a “dusk-like the Atlantic Ocean and then across disaster zones during blackouts. glow.” The imitation celestial body — Europe, including Russia. Six years essentially an illuminated satellite — later, Russia launched Znamya Fake Moon and Light will bear a reflective coating to cast 2.5, which was meant to be a Pollution sunlight back to Earth, where it will larger mirror, but it did not deploy Stargazers already avoid a Full Moon supplement streetlights at night.The properly. The idea of sending up a because its light pollution makes stars objective of the mission is to provide giant mirror in the sky died with it. much harder to see, but fake moons an alternative means of street lighting will cause much more light pollution. and save on electricity. The idea has not The Project For purposes of comparison, the sky only received wide coverage but also The project was introduced by Wu brightness over central Chengdu due to been viewed with some skepticism. Chunfeng, chairman of Chengdu skyglow in is predicted to be 5.43 mcd/ m2, or about 18.25 magnitudes per Background Aerospace Science and Technology Microelectronics System Research square arcsecond, using satellite data The idea of the "artificial moon" came Institute Co., Ltd. The venture was obtained in 2015. Assuming that light from a French artist, who imagined on 10th October at a national mass is radiated uniformly across the night hanging a necklace made of mirrors innovation and entrepreneurship sky, that represents an illuminance of above the earth, which could reflect about 0.00543 cd/m2 * 2π steradians sunshine through the streets of Paris activity held in Chengdu. = 0.034 lux. Therefore, the ‘artificial all year round. Previous attempts to The first man-made moon will moon’ would increase the illumination harness the Sun's rays from space to launch from Xichang Satellite Launch level at the ground by a factor of about reflect sunlight back to Earth have Center in Sichuan, with three more to 47. been hampered by mechanical and follow in 2022 if the first test goes well. The artificial moon will be up to manufacturing difficulties. The artificial moon would eight times as luminous as its natural, ¡¡ In the Norwegian town of Rjukan, illuminate an area of diameter between which is so deep in a valley it gets rock-laden counterpart. Critics worry 10-80 km. If the illuminated area is about the extra light pollution this may no sunlight in the winter months, 50 sq km, it would save an estimated three computer-controlled mirrors cause. The manmade moons frustrate 1.2 billion yuan ($170 million) a year astronomers by blocking out the view sit on top of a nearby mountain in electricity costs for Chengdu. The to reflect the Sun's rays on to the of the stars in certain areas and they satellite will orbit about 300 miles (500 town. Of course pulling off the will affect animals like birds and sea kilometers) above the city and use its same trick in space requires a lot turtles whose movements are guided mirror-like coating to reflect sunlight more technical expertise and a by natural moonlight. lot more money – unless the plan down to Earth. Rather than using up proves to be suitably cost-effective, energy here on Earth, the satellite The Challenges it's unlikely to ever get off the would reflect the Sun's rays from the At an altitude as low as 500 km, and ground (quite literally). other side of the planet back on to considering a diameter small enough Chengdu. Its expected brightness, in ¡¡ In January, American firm Rocket to be economically viable, accuracy Lab launched an artificial star into the eyes of humans, is around one-fifth is key. Missing the angle of reflection space. But scientists criticized the of normal streetlights. by even a few degrees would miss “Humanity Star,” as the reflective Despite shining light in a similar way, Chengdu by miles. If you want to light mini-satellite was dubbed, for the satellite boasts one advantage that up an area with an error of say 10 km, contributing to artificial light the moon doesn’t — human control. even if you miss by one 100th of a pollution and cluttering in Earth’s Both the location and brightness of the degree you’ll have the light pointing at orbit. human-made moon can be changed, another place.

November 2018 A Issue-1 14 Current Affairs : Perfect 7

Again, there must be sufficient winning a larger share of the more than system, has been skeptical about OBOR glow, but if this glow covers a large $300 billion global space industry. and does not want China to take the area, it could potentially affect the daily India and China are challenging US lead in controlling communications cycle of animals and plants, and even and Russian dominance in exploration, infrastructure throughout Asia. affect the human circadian system — the commercial space sector and Traditional Space the body clock. Many people are in a in the use of space for military circadian fog where our physiology is purposes. While ISRO is powering on Advancement vs New confused. However scientists assured with its upcoming launches, Beijing is Horizons that the light of the Satellite will have continuing with ambitious plans for As far as launching of “Artificial Moons” a dusk-like glow which is not any likely its space programme. The country has is concerned, the idea may not be the to affect the daily routines of the stray come a long way in its race to catch first initiative but is surely different animals. up with the United States and Russia, from traditional space advancement. which have lost spacecraft, astronauts India and China into Space Reaching the moon, space shuttles, and cosmonauts over the decades. manned mission and missions on The Indian Space Research Organisation China's “taikonauts” have fared heavenly bodies seems a written script (ISRO) may officially maintain that it better and Beijing sees its military- to space superiority. But recently JAXA is not in race with China so far as its run space programme as a marker of betrayed the traditional script and space endeavours go, but the space its rising global stature and growing landed two rovers from Hayabusa2 technological might. programmes of the two leading on an asteroid called Ryugu. China economies cannot be viewed in China, for its part, is surely not is attempting to launch an artificial isolation given that both are trying to thrilled to see another Asian power moon. The significance of artificial make their mark. emerge as a serious competitor in moon project lies in the fact that as space. Although Chinese capabilities As India prepares to land on the communication satellites relay TV soap Moon in the first three months of 2019 remain superior, the competing operas into our house, the artificial — preparations for Chandrayaan-2 technologies derived from the Indian moons will light up our streets. Its not have gathered steam in the past few and Chinese space programs are the first time that the sophisticated weeks. China is also planning to put already factoring into their geopolitical space technology is used by the masses. man-made moons in space by 2022. rivalry. China, for example, is hoping Beijing has already conceived a man- to kick start its ambitious “One Belt, The cellular networks, TV, GPRS etc. are made moon, which is expected to be One Road” (OBOR) infrastructure now used by common man on daily realised in 2022. plan by offering its global satellite- basis. The direct involvement of people navigation services to the countries at large and lighting up of streets is The present government has in that framework. India, which is been promoting the domestic space surely a new way of firing an imaginative developing its own such satellite programme as a demonstration of and ambitious public sentiment. India India's low-cost technology and reliable launches. Last February, ISRO launched 104 satellites in a single mission, most of them for foreign customers - setting a record when it launched these satellites on a single rocket. With lower costs for launches, India can thus get ahead of competition from the US and China. And it's not just the lower costs; India is preferred for another reason as well. Owing to security concerns, China is often a less attractive option for private companies than India. In this backdrop, the government is ramping up the country's space programme, which has a budget of around $4 billion, hoping it will improve the country's prospects of

15 November 2018 A Issue-1 Current Affairs : Perfect 7 on the other hand though follows the comes to space technology, but both front and has been already working traditional approach, but is the only nations are driven by their own agenda on the complex subjects of Artificial Asian nation to stand up and challenge and interests. The Asian Space Race is Intelligence, Reverse Engineering, Chip the Chinese space progress. The frugal more about who advance to the next Designing and Manufacturing and economics of space launch and the level first while keeping the benefits sharp and effective assembly lines. giant in commercial launches has of masses as top priority rather than This new project of “Artificial Moon” placed India on a far greater pedestal making superfluous display of needless is surely an experiment which is a when it comes to collaboration with technologies. new step towards renewable energy. Though many potential benefits are the world. Conclusion seen with the project like the use Although India has made great in disaster management, catering strides in the field of space technology, This new attempt by and large is one of the welcome steps in the field of larger geographical area, reducing but is limited by its budget and other technology. Though, its merits and environmental emissions, minimizing economic constraints. The need for demerits are still being the subject of electricity budgets etc. But challenges space technology in India is driven the debate. But reflection the light of are also glaring like the mastering of by independence of communications the celestial body to lighten up a dark technology, pricing of the satellite, and self-reliance. India focuses on the part of the planet is surely a novel its expert handling, light pollution, utility for its masses and even for the idea. It is for the humanity to use this circadian rhythms etc. While China neighbours (case in point is the SAARC as a boon or to conver it as a bane. leads to the experiment, it’s the wait Satellite). Though “Artificial Moon” But as far as technological capability is and watch for the whole world. could be a good project but India’s concerned, it is surely a step towards General Studies Paper- III wisdom refrains from a cosmetic and harnessing the natural resources for Topic: Science and Technology- ornamental space projects and is not meeting our daily needs. Upon its developments and their applications blindly wasting money for space driven implementation, the good and bad and effects in everyday life. ego. Though China has advanced more effects could be known. China has on the technological front when it been ambitious on the technological mmm

6. UTERUS TRANSPLANT: A WOMB TO MOTHER

Why in News? the womb or uterus donations and medical technology allowing for people transplants were done laparoscopically. who experience infertility to become A woman, named Meenakshi Valand (27), who had undergone a uterine In the earliest cases, doctors took pregnant. transplant delivered a child in Pune, almost 13 hours to retrieve the uterus, One of the most recent and highly the first such birth in India and the because they performed open surgery. technical medical procedures infertility 12th in the world, all since 2014. The With laparoscopic intervention, the experts have attempted is the uterus womb was donated by the recipient’s time has now come down to about six transplant. 45-year-old mother. India’s first uterine hours. transplant baby, weighing 1.45 kg, was Evolution of Uterus delivered through a Caesarean section. Introduction Transplant Technique The baby girl was born 17 months While having children is not a goal for Up to 15% of the reproductive after Ms.Valand underwent an uterine every single woman, there are many population is infertile and 3 to 5% of all transplant. women who would like to conceive and cases of infertility are caused by uterine Previously, Ms.Valand, who was give birth to a child at some point in their dysfunction. This abnormality generally suffering from Asherman’s Syndrome lifetime. Unfortunately, sometimes leads women to consider surrogacy or (scar tissue in the uterus), there was there are challenges experienced adoption. However, in many countries, no option, other than surrogacy or when trying to conceive a child. such as Japan and Sweden, surrogacy adoption, for her to have a child. Making it difficult and in some cases is heavily restricted or even prohibited. While Sweden and the US had not possible, for a woman to give birth Uterine transplantation, although still already performed womb transplants, to children naturally. Thankfully, there experimental, may be an option in India’s uniqueness was that both has been vast amount of advances in these cases.

November 2018 A Issue-1 16 Current Affairs : Perfect 7

The first pelvic organ one kidney and vaginal aplasia (a type in their womb. The new technique transplantation, which was performed of Rokitansky syndrome) and had has potential in paving the way for in the 1960s, involved fallopian tube received a uterus from a 61-year-old embracing motherhood amongst transplantation for the treatment of living donor 7 years past menopause. female with Uterine Factor Infertility tube-peritoneal infertility, although (UFI). this technique was only successful in Uterus Transplant an animal model. The first experiments Uterine transplantation is defined as Challenges in uterine transplantation were based a surgical procedure where a healthy Pregnancies among womb transplant on the premise that vascularization is uterus is transplanted into an organism patients can be a tricky affair as the improved if the uterus is transplanted in which the uterus is absent or women are on immunosuppressant in combination with the fallopian tubes. diseased. medications that could interfere with The first experimental model of uterine During an uterine transplant, blood sugar levels. This happened in transplantation, published in 1973, nerves are not transplanted and women case of Ms.Valand also. In Valand’s was established in dogs, although the do not experience labour pain. The case, her blood pressure began to rise immune suppressive drugs available at procedure is a temporary solid organ suddenly. As the baby’s growth was the time (cortisone and azathioprine) transfer. After pregnancy, the uterus constantly monitored, it was found were inadequate to prevent rejection. is removed so that the women do not that the fluid around the baby had The development of in vitro fertilization have to be on immunosuppressant started reducing. This meant that the then diminished interest in fallopian drugs. baby’s further growth would not take place in the womb. Thus the decision tube transplantation, although Uterine transplantation may was taken to perform a C-section. The infertility caused by uterine factors be recommended for women who baby was delivered prematurely, but remained an issue. In this context, wish to conceive who have uterine she is doing fine. several animal models were studied, malformation or who have undergone such as mice, rats, rabbits, sheep and previous hysterectomy due to Some other risks involved are: primates, predominantly in the early neoplasm, post-partum haemorrhage, ¡¡ The process is complicated and 1970s. increased uterine bleeding or has considerable risks for both The first human uterine intrauterine adherences (Asherman recipients and donors. transplantation was performed in syndrome). Uterine malformation 2002 in Saudi Arabia but resulted in affects up to 5% of the infertile ¡¡ Some dangerous factors include graft loss and hysterectomy 3 months population, with uterine agenesis and potential organ rejection and after transplantation. The second uterine hypoplasia being the most surgery risks. attempt at uterine transplantation frequent causes. In particular, uterine ¡¡ The pregnancies that have been occurred in Turkey in 2011 and resulted agenesis affects 1 in every 4,500 successful were high risk. in two pregnancies, both ending in women. ¡¡ The transplants are still in the miscarriage. Both were cadaveric experimental stage. Current transplants as the uterus was taken from The procedure is still very new, however and there have been a total transplants have been covered by a brain dead patient. Both transplants research funding. failed due to rejection of the organ by of only around 30 women globally, ¡¡ If the surgery becomes part of the recipient’s immune system. If the including in Brazil, China, the Czech medical practice, it will probably uterus is taken from a dead woman, Republic, Germany, Sweden, India, cost several lakhs of rupee. the risk of organ rejection increases. Saudi Arabia, Turkey and at two This is because often, it would be the clinics in the United States, who have These risks pose a question that last organ harvested — life-supporting undergone the surgery. The first Indian does the experience of gestating organs like heart and liver are retrieved women successfully gave birth with a a foetus offer a significant enough first — and a decreased blood supply uterus transplant in October 2018. therapeutic benefit over surrogacy to increases the chances of rejection of The birth has offered hope to many allow for the risks? the uterus. women born either without a uterus Uterine transplants are The first case with successful or a dysfunctional one. In past, such still extremely rare procedures, childbirth was reported in September women were told they would never be complicated and expensive. The cost 2014 among nine transplant patients able to have their own biological child. of Uterus transplant approximately in Gothenburg, Sweden. The 35-year- Uterine transplant is the answer for ranges between USD 18000-20,000 old patient had uterine agenesis, only women who are keen to have babies in India whereas the cost in the U.S.

17 November 2018 A Issue-1 Current Affairs : Perfect 7 is close to USD 70,000. The duration Research itself has no clear guidelines Ethical Concern of the entire procedure is close to 12 for the procedure of uterine transplant. Bioethicists remain split on the ethics hours. The cost of surrogacy in India At present, doctors all over the of uterus transplants: those who favour is USD 5000 to 6000 and the cost of globe classify uterine transplant consensual surrogacy are often against undergoing in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) in as an experimental procedure. transplants on the grounds of cost and India is USD 4000 to 5000 whereas in Many developed countries where safety to the donor, the recipient and, the U.S. is USD 15000. transplantation is much more advanced possibly, the foetus. Those opposed to In the case of Valand, the entire have actually done a few & stopped. surrogacy as fundamentally exploitative process (up to the birth of Valand’s It would be educative to analyse why insist that uterus transplants are the child) was made free because this was they did so. only possible ethical choice between among the first such case in India. the two. One reason was that of the ethics Further, a uterus transplant, like that Uterus transplantation with living for other organs, requires clearances of such of procedure, which was cloudy. In the Indian scenario where donors is ethically just as problematic at several levels. as altruistic surrogacy. Being able to regulation and the ethics discourse as The prospect of uterus transfer a uterus from one woman to in any case weak and a woman’s free transplantation sounds more exciting another, so that an infant is born, can choice is a mirage, this procedure is a than promising against the backdrop be seen as a success in a medical sense. huge slippery slope. of options like adoption and surrogacy, Many of the arguments against the practicality and cost-effectiveness Comparison of Surrogacy altruistic surrogacy can be applied to of such procedures needs to be studied. and Uterus Transplantation uterus transplantation as a treatment Further, it has been argued that for involuntary childlessness. Some of Surrogacy is the practice by which a the uterus transplant allows women these include: to be included in an experience that woman (called a surrogate mother) becomes pregnant and gives birth to 1. That the intervention can threaten is, for some, central to and defining the autonomy of the donor and a baby in order to give it to someone of femaleness. That’s part of the subject her to pressure. problem: the uterus transplant who cannot have children. The question here is whether supports the social norm of pregnancy Surrogacy is a far more established the surrogate mother is actually as fundamental to being a woman and and less risky procedure compared participating of her own free will offers tremendous financial resources to uterus transplants, which involves and not as a result of pressure. The to that end. three major surgeries – harvesting the donated uteruses come from a uterus from the donor, transplantation Legal Perspective relative, in most cases the mother into the recipient followed by childbirth of the woman who is involuntarily Under the Transplantation of Human and a hysterectomy to remove the childless. Consequently, some Organs Act, 1994, a state government transplanted uterus so that the patient close relatives of involuntarily committee evaluates and grants can be brought off immunosuppressant childless people can feel forced to permission for kidney, liver and heart drugs that might be harmful in the long donate, or be actively subject to transplants from donors not related to term. external pressure. the recipient. If the donor and recipient are related, a committee at the hospital Both surrogacy and uterus 2. That the intervention can lead to where the transplant is supposed to transplants privilege biological and exploitation of women's bodies. take place evaluates the case to ensure genetic motherhood through the use The surrogacy has identified that the organ donation is taking place of other women’s bodies; surrogacy risks such as the exploitation of free of pressure or coercion. in particular often uses poorer women women's bodies and that there The Directorate of Medical to satisfy the needs of wealthier ones. may be secret compensation Education has compiled a list of organs In the same way, uterus transplants agreements. Similarly, there is a and tissues that can be transplanted do not protect vulnerable women risk that with time, uteruses can that does not mention the uterus. It is from using their bodies as a financial become yet another organ, such as unclear if the Medical Council of India resource. Instead, like surrogacy, the kidneys, on the black market. does have any guidelines on new and procedure involves commodification 3. That the research on the physical experimental procedures. In addition – of experience and of reproductive and psychological risks facing the to it, the Indian Council of Medical organs. child is inadequate.

November 2018 A Issue-1 18 Current Affairs : Perfect 7

As in surrogacy contexts, little is treatment to overcome male fertility lakh women with congenital absence known of the consequences of problems or to help the fertilization of the uterus. The uterus transplant uterus transplantation for the process along when it might be a offers hope to women born without a child, because so few children challenge. During ICSI, a single sperm uterus and those with a non-functional have been born as a result of such is injected into a single egg and the uterus. transplantation. resulting embryo is transferred to But, guidelines need to be framed Thus, uterus transplantation is not uterus. for regulating uterine transplants to necessarily less ethically complicated Gamete Intrafallopian Transfer avoid potential exploitation of donors, than altruistic surrogacy. (GIFT): During gamete intrafallopian as has been documented in cases of There are other ways to become transfer (GIFT), eggs are mixed with in vitro fertilisation and surrogacy. a mother. By prioritising this one, the sperm in a lab. Laparoscopic surgery is Doctors should be cautious while uterus transplant potentially devalues then used to inject the mixture into the undertaking the surgery for which the lives of women with uterine factor fallopian tubes so fertilization can occur protocols are still being established. infertility. It also potentially devalues naturally inside body. GIFT is rarely It’s for the doctors to underline the the lives of women who cannot carry used now, since the development of many potential complications of this children, tempting them to undergo IVF with ICSI. experimental surgery for both the considerable risks for the sake of Zygote Intrafallopian Transfer donor and recipient and determine a supposedly fundamental female (ZIFT): Like GIFT, zygote intrafallopian the pressures that are driving women experience. In so doing, it prioritises transfer (ZIFT) involves eggs and sperm to take such risks. There is need for pregnancy over life itself. being mixed together in a lab. But informed consent from patients who Other Fertility Options during ZIFT, the eggs are fertilized and are opting to try the procedure. become one-celled embryos called Fertility Drugs: Clomiphene and Further, proper informed consent zygotes before using laparoscopic gonadotropins, the most commonly for a uterus transplant might involve surgery to place them in your fallopian used fertility drugs, regulate informing the patient that there is a tubes. reproductive hormones and trigger small but definite risk of dying and the release of one or more eggs in Donor Eggs and Embryos: Using IVF also mentioning other options to have each ovulation cycle. Most women use techniques, an egg donated by another children like surrogacy and adoption. them for three to six months before woman is mixed with partner's sperm However, even if women consent, conceiving or trying a different kind of and transferred to uterus. If a donor women are often doing this out of treatment. embryo has been used, medications societal and family pressures and not can be taken to prepare your uterine Surgery: Surgery can help fix necessarily out of her own volition. And lining for pregnancy before the embryo genetic defects, open blocked fallopian therefore the informed consent may or embryos are transferred to uterus. tubes, remove fibroids, remove the also actually not be an independent tissue of endometriosis and treat PCOS Gestational Surrogacy: A decision. gestational carrier carries embryo, or a (polycystic ovarian syndrome). At last, since womb transplantation donor's embryo, to term and then signs Intrauterine Insemination (IUI): is not lifesaving, the onus is on the away all her parental rights. IUI involves depositing a concentrated surgeons to ensure the benefits to the amount of sperm directly into the Here, it should be noted that the women’s mental health outweigh the uterus, using a catheter that passes end goal of these technologies is a physical risks. If they don’t, they will through the cervix. baby; whereas the end goal of the have to bear the albatross of surgical uterus transplant is a pregnancy. In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF): For complications and failure for life. in vitro fertilization (IVF), eggs are Way Forward removed from ovaries and then Uterus transplant was unheard of in General Studies Paper- III combined in a laboratory with sperm. If India until a few years ago. The first fertilization is successful, the resulting Topic: Achievements of Indians in uterus transplant in the world was done Science & Technology; indigenization embryo or embryos are transferred to in 2002. Since then, there have been of technology and developing new uterus. around 30 such transplants, with only technology. Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection 12 women going on to have successful (ICSI): ICSI is often added to an IVF deliveries. In India, there are about 4 mmm

19 November 2018 A Issue-1 Current Affairs : Perfect 7

7. THE HORROR OF GHOST GEAR: GETTING BIGGER

Why in News? and Agriculture Organization. This is Further research estimates that equivalent to 640,000 metric tonnes one garbage truck full of rubbish enters According to 2018 report by London- per year; and is expected to reach our oceans every single minute. This based World Animal Protection proves disastrous for aquatic species highlights how the accumulation of 800,000 metric tonnes in 2018. such as sea turtles, sharks and sea ghost gear in global waters is having a In March 2018, fishermen hauled birds, which often confuse floating catastrophic impact. Each year, more 400 kg of fishing nets out of the sea in plastic bags for fish and commonly feed than 705,000 tons of it builds up in a few locations off Kerala’s south coast. the "treat” to their young, unknowingly the oceans. The problem of ghost There are many such reports of divers killing off their own offspring. gear (any fishing equipment that has regularly making underwater trips just been lost, discarded or abandoned in to extract nets that have sunk to the Fishing gear, balloons and plastic water bodies) has grown from a fishing ocean floor off India’s coasts, ranging bags were considered the biggest fallout that people had not heard of to from Tamil Nadu to Maharashtra. entanglement threat to marine fauna. one that is now difficult to ignore. Referred to as ghost nets (ghost gear), What is Marine Debris ? 6.4 million tonnes of fishing gear are Introduction Marine debris/ Marine Litter is defined lost in oceans each year. This gear is The saying that "there are plenty more as any persistent solid material that predominantly comprised of plastic fish in the sea” is no longer ringing true. is manufactured or processed and material and, whether accidentally Unsustainable fishing, climate change directly or indirectly, intentionally or deliberately discarded, threatens and most concerningly, marine debris, or unintentionally, disposed of marine wildlife through indiscriminate is contributing to the disappearance of or abandoned into the marine entanglement. Seals, turtles, whales, aquatic life at an alarming rate. Within environment. Marine debris is any dolphins and dugongs are just some of the last 40 years, half of the world's man-made, solid material that enters the many animals harmed due to this marine life has disappeared. waterways directly through littering or practice. As the quantity of debris increases indirectly via rivers, streams and storm Between 2011 and 2018 alone, the in the marine environment, so does drains. Marine debris can be simple Olive Ridley Project, a U.K. registered the likelihood of impacts to marine items such as a discarded soda can, charity that removes ghost nets and animals. Plastic production rates are cigarette butt, plastic bag and derelict protects sea turtles, recorded 601 sea intensifying and the volume of rubbish fishing gear that ends up in the ocean turtles being entangled in ghost gear humans release into marine systems potentially harming marine life. Nearly near the Maldives, of which 528 were is growing at an exponential rate. 80 percent of marine debris originates Olive Ridleys — the same species that Since the world has begun to prioritise from land-based sources. come in thousands to Odisha’s coasts to nest. Other casualties worldwide cleaning up ocean plastic, many Marine debris injures and kills include whales, dolphins, sharks and alternatives to single-use consumer marine life, interferes with navigation even pelagic birds. products have emerged: reusable safety and poses a threat to human shopping bags, metal coffee mugs health. Ghost gear isn’t just a problem for and bottles, and biodegradable forms animal lovers, it’s a problem for the of packaging. While these options are Gravity of the Situation fishing industry too as it kills marketable welcome, a major component of the Plastic pollution has already affected produce, poses a threat to fishermen problem of ocean plastic has proved at least 267 species worldwide, with and divers and clogs up harbours. Entire more challenging to address—that of some estimates suggesting that at least fishing communities are affected by lost and abandoned fishing gear. one million marine animals are killed these actions, especially in developing Lost fishing nets, known as “ghost each year from plastic pollution. These countries like India where the demand gear”, have received less attention fatalities are a result of ingestion, for fish keeps rising. than other forms of plastic pollution, starvation, suffocation, infection, The impact of ghost gear on fish despite accounting for an estimated 10 drowning and entanglement. By 2050 stocks bears a tremendous impact per cent of plastic entering the ocean there will be more plastic in the ocean on food security, particularly for each year, according to the UN Food than fish. populations that live close to the sea

November 2018 A Issue-1 20 Current Affairs : Perfect 7 and rely on it for their income. Forty fish sold globally now contain plastic of its kind working across the three per cent of the world’s population lives from different sources - including ghost Rs - Reduce, Remove, Recycle - to within 100 kilometres of the coast, gear - and this plastic is consumed by tackle the problem of lost and and 10 per cent depend on fisheries people who eat the fish for dinner. abandoned fishing gear. for their livelihoods. Poor populations The GGGI has three key aims: are hit the hardest, as smaller harvests The Widening Gyre ˆˆ To improve the health of marine mean increased prices that they cannot Marine debris tends to collect in areas ecosystems. called ocean gyres. A gyre is a circular afford. ˆˆ To safeguard human health and ocean current formed by the Earth’s wind livelihoods. In addition to the economic losses patterns and the forces created by the to fishermen and destabilised food rotation of the planet. The area in the ˆˆ To protect marine animals from harm. supplies, ghost gear poses a significant center of a gyre tends to be very calm and threat to wider ocean wildlife. An stable. The circular motion of the gyre ¡¡ The National Oceanic and draws in debris. The garbage makes its estimated 136,000 whales, dolphins, Atmospheric Administration way into the center of the gyre, where it (NOAA) Marine Debris Program is seals and sea lions die from ghost gear becomes trapped and builds up. every year; many enduring prolonged the U.S. Federal government's lead Trash build-ups in the middle of gyres are for addressing marine debris. Also, suffering before death. known as garbage patches. For example, the Great Pacific Garbage Patch exists in EPA works with several different Ghost Gear: Other Killer the North Pacific Ocean between the U.S. international forums on marine Plastic states of California and Hawaii. There is a litter prevention. similar patch in the North Atlantic Ocean. Colossal numbers of plastic bottles and ¡¡ The North American Marine bags float around the earth but there Ghost nets are often ‘ghost fishers’. Ocean Environment Protection currents carry them for thousands of km Association (NAMEPA) has is another, less well-known, man-made across the ocean floor, ensnaring, injuring killer plastic lurking in our oceans. Every and drowning marine life and damaging developed educational programs year more than one hundred thousand live corals along the way. and materials to help seafarers and whales, dolphins, seals and turtles are port communicates to cultivate a caught in ‘ghost gear’ - abandoned, Global Initiatives more responsible culture for the lost and discarded fishing nets, lines marine environment. ¡¡ To tackle the ghost gear issue, and traps which can take up to 600 World Animal Protection Founded ¡¡ International Maritime Organi- years to decompose. Plastics do not sation (IMO) in consultation with the Global Ghost Initiative (GGGI) biodegrade quickly. Ironically, some relevant organizations and bodies, in 2015. It is a cross-sectoral new biodegradable plastics might not has reviewed MARPOL Annex V in alliance committed to driving break down in oceans at all. addressing sea-based sources of solutions to the problem of lost and As plastics get smaller and smaller, marine debris, providing a ban on abandoned fishing gear worldwide. they release chemicals. One of discharging or dumping plastics It is an established platform under those chemicals can be Bisphenol A from ships. The organization which the global community can (BPA). Bisphenol A can interfere with has noted that in addition to animals’ reproductive systems. Fish unite to improve the health and the environmental and health are especially at risk when exposed productivity of marine ecosystems, problem posed by marine litter, to Bisphenol A. Exposed fish produce protect marine animals from harm garbage and plastics is a costly and fewer healthy offspring. Bisphenol A and safeguard human health and dangerous problem for shipping, and other chemicals build up in the livelihoods. The work of the GGGI as a navigational hazard and fish’s body through a process called is focused on ghost gear, but also from entanglement in propellers, bioaccumulation. Plants or algae may directly impacts on the issue of rudders etc. So far, IMO has done absorb Bisphenol A through the water. marine plastics and micro plastics considerable wok on marine A fish, already exposed to the chemical, and provides tools for effective debris, plastics and microplastics ingests more Bisphenol A when it eats action against illegal, unreported and continues to address the issue. the algae. Thus, the ghost gear can and unregulated fishing. ¡¡ The Global Partnership on Marine have a lasting effect on marine life for ¡¡ The Global Ghost Gear Initiative Litter, a UN initiative, brings many years. has grown into a robust and well- together governments, NGOs, Human being is not immune to this established multi-stakeholder academia and the private sector to new hazard - more than a quarter of partner- ship. It is the only alliance find solutions for marine debris.

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¡¡ The Clean Seas campaign launched by UN Environment at the World Ocean Summit in Bali, Indonesia. It aims to eliminate major sources of marine litter by 2022 focusing on single-use plastic and micro- plastics in cosmetics.

¡¡ The Ocean Cleanup, a Dutch foundation by Boyan Slat, announced in 2017 a design breakthrough allowing for the cleanup of half the Great Pacific Garbage Patch in just 5 years. Also, the Seabin Project aims to fight against marine pollution. The Seabin is a floating rubbish bin that moves up and down with the range of tide collecting all floating rubbish, located in the water at Kerala’s Kollam have been used and costing governments millions of marinas, docks, yacht clubs and to pave roads. This shows that dollars in clean-up expenses. Effective commercial ports. transformation is possible, though solutions are being found locally and more efforts to make the process nationally, yet a global approach is Using the Ghost more organised across the over needed for the problem of ghost gear Some companies are using ghost gears 7,500 km of India’s coasts, as well as to be monitored and solved at scale. as a raw material for something else. inland water bodies, are the need Perhaps the most accessible of the hour. Scientists at Kochi’s ¡¡ Net-Works, a collaboration means of preventing ghost gear is between Interface, the Zoological Indian Council of Agricultural by supporting the recycling industry. Society of London and Aquafil, Research-Central Institute of Hundreds of products featuring turns discarded fishing nets into Fisheries Technology studied ghost recycled ocean plastic are already carpet tiles and has long been nets in Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, commercially available and have found cited as an example of the circular Kerala and Tamil Nadu. However, an eager consumer base. Developing economy in action. But new the results of the report, which the logistics required to boost this examples are emerging. were submitted to the Food and sector will turn ghost gear from debris Agricultural Organisation of the UN into a valuable commodity, inspiring ¡¡ The US Fishing for Energy in April, have not been released partnership has collected 2.8m recovering efforts. Once it becomes a yet. According to the scientists, pounds of fishing gear from bins commodity worth having it becomes a the government is also currently placed in 42 communities across business opportunity, and that changes preparing a national ghost net the US since 2008 and turned this the whole agenda. management policy. into enough electricity to power 182 homes for one year. Way Forward General Studies Paper- III ¡¡ Sustainable skateboard retailer The amount of ghost gear entering the Topic: Conservation, environmental Bureo has set up a net collection ocean has increased in recent years pollution and degradation, programme with support from the and is likely to grow further as fishing environmental impact assessment. Chilean government. efforts intensify, creating wide-ranging ¡¡ In India, ghost nets hauled from problems for the marine environment mmm

November 2018 A Issue-1 22 Current Affairs : Perfect 7 SEVEN SUBJECTIVE QUESTIONS WITH MODEL ANSWERS

synchronising office hours — as well as biological Feasibility of Two Time Zones in India activities — to sunrise and sunset timings.

‹‹ If we were to introduce DST in India, the inconvenience Q1. National Physical laboratory in its report has of time adjustment during summer and winter months supported the need and feasibility of two time would involve the whole country, happening twice a zones. In the light of this report discuss the need and year, with marginal benefits. The possibilities of rail challenges of having two time zones if implemented accidents would still be high. Even in the U.S. and in India. Canada, road accidents increase discernibly in the days Hints: immediately following the change.

‹‹ Scientists at the Council of Scientific & Industrial ‹‹ To make the idea possible, CSIR-NPL would need a Research’s National Physical Laboratory (CSIR-NPL), second laboratory in the new time zone. This would which maintains Indian Standard Time, have published consist of ‘Primary Time Ensemble-II’, traceable to a research article describing the necessity of two time the UTC at BIPM in France. While the article asserts zones, with the new one an hour ahead of the existing that CSIR-NPL already has the technical expertise to time zone. duplicate its existing facility, it also acknowledges that

‹‹ India extends from 68°7’E to 97°25’E, with the spread the move would require legislative sanction. of 29° representing almost two hours from the geographic perspective. This has led to the argument Internal Migration is that early sunrise in the easternmost parts — the Northeast — causes the loss of many daylight hours Continued in India by the time offices or educational institutions open Q2. Recent event in Gujarat, shows that the utter and that early sunset, for its part, leads to higher indifference of states to the well-being of migrant consumption of electricity. workers and their rights. Critically examine the central ‹‹ In the Northeast, the sun rises as early as four in the and state governments interested in improving the morning and in winter it sets by four in the evening. conditions of workers in the economy? By the time government offices or educational Hints: institutions open, many daylight hours are already lost. ‹‹ Seasonal migration for work is a pervasive reality in In winter this problem gets even more accentuated rural India. An overwhelming 120 million people or and the ecological costs are a disaster with much more more are estimated to migrate from rural areas to electricity having to be consumed. urban labour markets, industries and farms. Migration ‹‹ The research paper by Council of Scientific & Industrial has become essential for people from regions that Research’s National Physical Laboratory (CSIR-NPL), face frequent shortages of rainfall or suffer floods, or proposes to call the two time zones IST-I (UTC + 5.30 where population densities are high in relation to land. h) and IST-II (UTC + 6.30 h). The proposed line of Areas facing unresolved social or political conflicts also demarcation is at 89°52’E, the narrow border between become prone to high out migration. Poverty, lack of Assam and West Bengal. States west of the line would local options and the availability of work elsewhere continue to follow IST (to be called IST-I). States east of become the trigger and the pull for rural migration the line — Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Arunanchal respectively. Pradesh, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, Andaman & ‹‹ Migrants form the largest part of India's vast unorganized Nicobar Islands —would follow IST-II. work sector. Their entry into the labour markets is ‹‹ The researchers estimated energy savings at 20 million marked with several endemic disadvantages. Devoid kWh a year. They also analysed the importance of of critical skills, information and bargaining power,

23 November 2018 A Issue-1 Current Affairs : Perfect 7

migrant workers often get caught in exploitative labour ‹‹ India and Afghanistan have close technical, economic, arrangements that forces them to work in low-end, cultural and political relations. India is keenly low-value, hazardous work. Lack of identity and legal interested in cultivating a significant partnership with protection accentuates this problem. The hardships of Afghanistan. Due to strategic and security concerns the migrant workers are especially magnified when state Indo-Afghanistan cordial relations are in favour of both boundaries are crossed and the distance between the nations. the "source" and "destination" increases. Migrants ‹‹ Geo-strategically India-Afghanistan partnership can also become easy victims of identity politics and has considerable value as a counter to the Pakistan parochialism. threat. Strengthening the security dimension of India- ‹‹ Despite the vast numbers of migrant workers, the Afghanistan ties is extremely important for India as policies of the Indian state have largely failed in it is in New Delhi’s interest to help Kabul preserve its providing any form of legal or social protection to strategic autonomy at a time when Pakistan has made this vulnerable group. In a continuous state of drift, it clear that it would like the Haqqani network and migrants are left out of the scope of state provisions the Taliban to be at the centre of the post-American at both ends - the "source" and the "destination". The political dispensation in Kabul. urban labour markets treat them with opportunistic ‹‹ Afghanistan’s internal conditions affect the stability indifference extracting hard labour but denying of the region. The rise of the IS in the Middle East basic entitlements such as decent shelter, fair priced and its close contacts with the Taliban raise issues of food, subsidized healthcare facilities or training and internal security for India. Since the American invasion, education. They are also usually out of bounds of government and civil society initiatives, both because the Taliban and its affiliates have shifted their base of being "invisible" and for their inability to carry towards the southern regions and Pakistan. This has entitlements along as they move. increased implications for the security and safety for both Pakistan and the Indian territory. ‹‹ There is legislation known as Inter-State Migrant Workers Act, 1979 which aims to safeguard migrants. ‹‹ Afghanistan is not only relevant from the security However, it is obsolete and is hardly enforced perspective, but also as an essential gateway to the anywhere. A serious constraint in framing an effective hydrocarbon-rich Central Asia. This region, if made policy is the lack of credible data on incidence of accessible, could improve the resource portfolio seasonal migration. Census as a significant impact of an energy-thirsty economy, while reducing the on policy making are unable to capture seasonal and dependency on supplies from the Middle East. Further, circular migration. Migrants may also be missed out in India is keen on exploiting the energy sources in below poverty line (BPL) Surveys. Above all, they are Afghanistan and developing it into a hub for accessing unable to participate in the formal electoral system Central Asian resources.

and are denied a fundamental citizenship right - their ‹‹ Increasing economic growth, providing humanitarian right to vote. assistance, improving capacity-building measures ‹‹ Economic growth in India today hinges on mobility of are all part of India’s soft power strategy of “reviving labour. The contribution of migrant workers to national the traditional role of Afghanistan as a land bridge, income is enormous but there is little done in return connecting South Asia with Central Asia and West for their security and well-being. There is an imminent Asia”. need for solutions to transform migration into a more ‹‹ India has lot to offer for the betterment of the region dignified and rewarding opportunity. Without this, considering the TAPI project, the MVA (motor vehicle making growth inclusive or the very least, sustainable, agreement), if extended, NSTC (North- South transport will remain a very distant dream. corridor), SAARC satellite and many more—all of which are beneficial for the participating countries but these India-Afghanistan Relationship: benefits have to be foreseen by the respective leaders Getting Stronger of states; else the region will not get rid of poverty, malnutrition, economic disparity, gender imbalance Q3. Apart from effective regional security architecture, etc.

a peaceful and stable Afghanistan is key to India’s ‹‹ Both India and Afghanistan being SAARC members outreach to Central Asian countries. Analyse. committed to regional cooperation, the talks could Hints: impact future strategies of the member- nations

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towards promoting regional cooperation. It wants to there remains the problem of the quality of India’s retain Afghanistan as a friendly state from which it has network. It is beset by the problems of under- the capacity to monitor Pakistan and even, wherever investment: India’s trains are unsafe, poorly maintained possible, cultivate assets to influence activities in and under-developed. Thousands die on rail crossings, Pakistan. in train crashes and in rail accidents every year. Privatizing parts of the network and inviting foreign Railway Line through investment are now being suggested to address these pressing infrastructural needs. Until then these fare Aspirational Districts hikes represent a necessary, but short-term, palliative.

Q4. The Indian railway’s expansion plan giving a huge boost to customer experience, promoting tourism, Artificial Moon: Could Light making Indian Railways financially self-sustainable up the Night Sky and also have a strategic dimension, particularly in India’s bordering state. Discuss. Q5. 'Artificial Moon Project' of China is an ambitious Hints: project which can enhance urban infrastructure

‹‹ India boasts the world’s largest rail network, with over efficiently and a new step towards harnessing the 25 million people traveling on some 11,000 trains every renewable energy but also comes with its own merits day. The railways that snake across India, a colonial and demerits. Comment. inheritance first built to transport troops across the Hints: country, are the crucial economic lifeblood of the ‹‹ Chengdu, a city in southwestern Sichuan province, is country, enabling the movement of goods and people. developing "illumination satellites" which will shine ‹‹ The Indian Railways, as one of the pillars of India's in tandem with the real moon, but are eight times infrastructure, has a symbiotic relationship with the brighter and bathe the city of Chengdu in a “dusk-like country's industry and economy. The Railways play a glow.” The imitation celestial body — essentially an crucial role in the transport of coal, iron ore and raw illuminated satellite — will bear a reflective coating to materials for the manufacturing industry, fertilizers, cast sunlight back to Earth, where it will supplement cement and steel products and food-grain and in the streetlights at night. The objective of the mission is movement to and from the major ports, as well as the to provide an alternative means of street lighting and transportation of people. Transport being a derived save on electricity. The idea has not only received wide demand, any growth in the economy fuels the demand coverage but also been viewed with some skepticism. for transport. ‹‹ The artificial moon would illuminate an area of ‹‹ The railway line from Bahraich to Khalilabad, which diameter between 10-80 km. If the illuminated area is will be fully electrified, will pass through Balrampur 50 sq km, it would save an estimated 1.2 billion yuan and Sarawasti. The new line serves 5 districts of Uttar ($170 million) a year in electricity costs for Chengdu. Pradesh including 4 aspirational districts (Bahraich, The satellite will orbit about 300 miles (500 kilometers) Balrampur, Shravasti and Siddharth Nagar) and Sant above the city and use its mirror-like coating to reflect Kabirnagar. The aspirational districts have been sunlight down to Earth. Rather than using up energy identified by NITI Aayog to grow small-scale industries. Hence, this project is needed for better socio-economic here on Earth, the satellite would reflect the Sun's rays development of the hinterland of this area with the from the other side of the planet back on to Chengdu. help of rail network. This project will generate direct Its expected brightness, in the eyes of humans, is employment during construction for about 57.67 lakh around one-fifth of normal streetlights. man-days The total estimated cost of this project is Rs. ‹‹ Despite shining light in a similar way, the satellite 4939.78 crore and It is likely to be completed by 2024-25 boasts one advantage that the moon doesn’t — and will lie in the North Eastern Zonal Railway. The new human control. Both the location and brightness of the Indian Railways line will boost the pilgrimage-related human-made moon can be changed and that it can be tourism in the region as it will provide connectivity to completely shut off if necessary. And since the satellite three crucial temples including a Jain and a Buddhist is mobile, it can assist in disaster relief by beaming light place of worship in this eastern part of Uttar Pradesh. on areas that lost power. The extraterrestrial source of

‹‹ Indian Railways play a pivotal role for the entire lower light could also help rescue efforts in disaster zones and upper middle class sectoral travel segment. But during blackouts.

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‹‹ The artificial moon will be up to eight times as luminous ‹‹ The pregnancies that have been successful were as its natural, rock-laden counterpart. Critics worry high risk.

about the extra light pollution this may cause. The ‹‹ The transplants are still in the experimental stage. manmade moons frustrate astronomers by blocking Current transplants have been covered by research out the view of the stars in certain areas and they funding. will affect animals like birds and sea turtles whose ‹‹ If the surgery becomes part of medical practice, it movements are guided by natural moonlight. will probably cost several lakhs of rupee. ‹‹ At an altitude as low as 500 km and considering a ‹‹ Under the Transplantation of Human Organs Act, 1994, diameter small enough to be economically viable, a state government committee evaluates and grants accuracy is key. Missing the angle of reflection by even permission for kidney, liver and heart transplants from a few degrees would miss Chengdu by miles. If you donors not related to the recipient. want to light up an area with an error of say 10 km, even if you miss by one 100th of a degree you’ll have ‹‹ The Directorate of Medical Education has compiled the light pointing at another place. a list of organs and tissues that can be transplanted that does not mention the uterus. It is unclear if the ‹‹ This new project of “Artificial Moon” is surely an Medical Council of India does have any guidelines on experiment which is a new step towards harnessing new and experimental procedures. In addition to it, the the renewable energy. Though many potential Indian Council of Medical Research itself has no clear benefits are seen with the project like the use in guidelines for the procedure of uterine transplant. disaster management, catering larger geographical area, reducing environmental emissions, minimizing ‹‹ Many of the arguments against altruistic surrogacy can electricity budgets etc. But challenges are also glaring be applied to uterus transplantation as a treatment for like the mastering of technology, pricing of the satellite, involuntary childlessness. Some of these include: its expert handling, light pollution, circadian rhythms ‹‹ That the intervention can threaten the autonomy etc. While China leads to the experiment, it’s the wait of the donor and subject her to pressure.

and watch for the whole world. ‹‹ That the intervention can lead to exploitation of women's bodies.

Uterus Transplant: ‹‹ That the research on the physical and psychological A Womb to Mother risks facing the child is inadequate. ‹‹ There are other ways to become a mother. Q6. Though uterus transplantation has been successfully By prioritising this one, the uterus transplant introduced as a treatment option for women with potentially devalues the lives of women with absolute uterine factor infertility, but it raises several uterine factor infertility. legal and ethical concerns apart from risk involved in ‹‹ Since womb transplantation is not lifesaving, the the process. Comment. onus is on the surgeons to ensure the benefits to the Hints: women’s mental health outweigh the physical risks. If they don’t, they will have to bear the albatross of ‹‹ Uterine transplantation is defined as a surgical procedure where a healthy uterus is transplanted into surgical complications and failure for life. an organism in which the uterus is absent or diseased.

‹‹ Uterine transplantation may be recommended for The Horror of Ghost Gear: women who wish to conceive who have uterine Getting Bigger malformation or who have undergone previous hysterectomy due to neoplasm, post-partum Q7. What do you understand by ‘ghost gear’? The haemorrhage, increased uterine bleeding or problem of ghost gear in Indian oceans is getting to be intrauterine adherences (Asherman syndrome). a serious concern. Discuss why India should emulate

‹‹ Some other risks involved are: innovative solutions from across the world to tackle the problem of ghost gear. ‹‹ The process is complicated and has considerable risks for both recipients and donors. Hints: ‹‹ ‹‹ Some dangerous factors include potential organ According to 2018 report by London-based World rejection and surgery risks. Animal Protection highlights how the accumulation

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of ghost gear in global waters is having a catastrophic their income. Forty per cent of the world’s population impact. Each year, more than 705,000 tons of it builds lives within 100 kilometres of the coast and 10 per up in the oceans. The problem of ghost gear (any cent depend on fisheries for their livelihoods. Poor fishing equipment that has been lost, discarded or populations are hit the hardest, as smaller harvests abandoned in water bodies) has grown from fishing mean increased prices that they cannot afford. fallout that people had not heard of to one that is now ‹‹ The amount of ghost gear entering the ocean has difficult to ignore. increased in recent years and is likely to grow further as ‹‹ Lost fishing nets, known as “ghost gear”, have received fishing efforts intensify, creating wide-ranging problems less attention than other forms of plastic pollution, for the marine environment and costing governments despite accounting for an estimated 10 per cent of millions of dollars in clean-up expenses. Effective plastic entering the ocean each year, according to solutions are being found locally and nationally, yet the UN Food and Agriculture Organization. This is a global approach is needed for the problem of ghost equivalent to 640,000 metric tonnes per year; and is gear to be monitored and solved at scale. expected to reach 800,000 metric tonnes in 2018. ‹‹ Perhaps the most accessible means of preventing ‹‹ In March 2018, fishermen hauled 400 kg of fishing ghost gear is by supporting the recycling industry. nets out of the sea in a few locations off Kerala’s south Hundreds of products featuring recycled ocean plastic coast. There are many such reports of divers regularly are already commercially available and have found making underwater trips just to extract nets that have an eager consumer base. Developing the logistics sunk to the ocean floor off India’s coasts, ranging from required to boost this sector will turn ghost gear from Tamil Nadu to Maharashtra. debris into a valuable commodity, inspiring recovering ‹‹ The impact of ghost gear on fish stocks bears a efforts. Once it becomes a commodity worth having it tremendous impact on food security, particularly for becomes a business opportunity, and that changes the populations that live close to the sea and rely on it for whole agenda.

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SEVEN IMPORTANT NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL NEWS

1. Sixth Tranche of Electoral Bonds

The sixth tranche of electoral bonds the 'Electoral Bond Scheme' in January the Legislative Assembly of the state, sale has started from November 1-10. this year. shall be eligible to receive the electoral Electoral bonds are being pitched as bonds. The electoral bonds shall be About Electoral Bonds an alternative to cash donations made encashed by an eligible political party to political parties as part of efforts to As per provisions of the scheme, only through a bank account with the bring transparency in political funding. electoral bonds may be purchased authorized bank. by a person, who is a citizen of India State Bank of India (SBI), in the sixth An electoral bond will be valid for phase of sale, has been authorised or incorporated or established in India. A person being an individual 15 days from the date of issue. No to issue and encash electoral bonds can buy electoral bonds, either singly payment would be made to any payee through its 29 authorised branches. or jointly with other individuals. Only political party if the bond is deposited The electoral bond sale comes at a the political parties registered under after expiry of the validity period. time when assembly election process Section 29A of the Representation The bond deposited by any eligible in five states including Rajathan and of the People Act, 1951 and which political party into its account would Madhya Pradesh has started. The secured not less than one per cent be credited on the same day. Model Code of Conduct is in force in of the votes polled in the last general these states. The government notified election to the House of the People or ¢

2. India will become Third Largest Aviation Market by 2024

According to the International Air number of new passengers over the fourth largest by 2030 from Transport Association (IATA), India will the next 20 years. its current ranking of 10th largest be the third largest aviation market ‹‹ By 2037, India is expected to aviation market. Thailand, too, globally a year sooner than was earlier add 414 million passengers to its is expected to enter the top 10 predicted. It is now expected to be existing 572 million passengers. markets in 2030. among the top three countries by 2024 ‹‹ China will climb up one spot to About IATA from its current seventh position. displace US as the world’s largest aviation market in the mid-2020s, It is the trade association for the Key Points India will take the third place by world's airlines, representing some ‹‹ In its latest 20-year forecast for surpassing the U.K. around 2024. 290 airlines or 82% of total air traffic. It

the aviation industry, IATA has ‹‹ The Asia-Pacific region is expected support many areas of aviation activity predicted that air passenger to see the fastest growth at the and help formulate industry policy on numbers worldwide could double rate of 4.8%, followed by Africa critical aviation issues. IATA is led by to 8.2 billion in 2037. The biggest (4.6%) and West Asia (4.4%). Alexandre de Juniac, Director General contribution in this growth will ‹‹ The other South-east Asian & CEO since September 2016. IATA's come from the Asia-Pacific region, countries predicted to grow rapidly mission is to represent, lead and serve which will account for half the total include Indonesia, likely to be the airline industry. ¢

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3. Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Benefits ‹‹ To attract private investment in Affairs has approved Rs. 7,522-crore creation and management of ‹‹ Creation of fisheries infrastructure Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure facilities both in marine and inland fisheries infrastructure facilities. Development Fund (FIDF) from which fisheries sectors. ‹‹ Adoption of new technologies. enterpreneurs, fishermen and ‹‹ To augment fish production to FIDF would provide concessional cooperatives will get loans at achieve its target of 15 million finance to state governments/UTs and subsidised interest rate and two tonne by 2020 set under the state entities, cooperatives, individuals years moratorium on repayment of 'Blue Revolution'; and to achieve and entrepreneurs etc, for taking up a sustainable growth of 8%- principal amount. National Bank for of the identified investment activities 9% thereafter to reach the fish of fisheries development. Under FIDF, Agriculture and Rural Development production to the level of about 20 loan lending will be over a period (NABARD), National Cooperatives MMT by 2022-23. of five years from 2018-19 to 2022- Development Corporation (NCDC) ‹‹ Employment opportunities to 23 and maximum repayment will be and all scheduled Banks (herein over 9.40 lakh fishers/fishermen/ over a period of 12 years inclusive of after referred as banks) shall be the fisherfolk and other entrepreneurs moratorium of two years on repayment nodal loaning entities. in fishing and allied activities. of principal. ¢

4. Train 18

India's first engine-less semi-high more units of the train would be enabling passengers to alight speed train—'Train 18'—was rolled produced by the ICF by the end of safely with comfort in view of the out on October 29 by the Integral 2019-20 production year. variation in height between a trains Coach Factory (ICF) and will eventually floor and the platform. ‹‹ Train-18 has two driving trailer replace the Shatabdi Express for inter- coaches with aerodynamic driver's ‹‹ All the equipment are below the city travel. The 16-coach semi-high cab (nose cone) on both the ends chassis of the coaches leaving speed trainset built at a cost of Rs. 100 which will enable quicker turn- the complete onboard space for crore per rake with 80 percent Indian around time at destinations. Every passenger movement. All the component has been designed for a alternative coach is motorized, coaches are connected by fully maximum operating speed of 160 kmph. to ensure even distribution of sealed gangways with integrated bridge plates, where a passenger Key Features power and faster acceleration/ deceleration. can walk across freely. ‹‹ The fully air-conditioned train, ‹‹ Fitted with CCTV cameras, ‹‹ The footsteps in the coaches of driven by a self-propulsion module, Train-18 would have two executive the doorways are designed in such has the potential to become the compartments in the middle with 52 a way that it would slide outward country's fastest train provided the seats each, whereas trailer coaches infrastructure was improved. Five when the train stopped at a station would have 78 seats each. It has diffused lighting, automatic doors and footsteps beside GPS-based passenger information system.

‹‹ Indian railways will now turn its focus on another project— Train 20—the next generation aluminium-bodied sleeper class trains that will replace the Rajdhani Express trains on the network and is expected to be rolled out by 2020. ¢

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5. Global Agriculture Leadership Summit and Leadership Awards-2018

The National Awards Committee of Special Envoy — Food Security, on irrigation, investment, global Agriculture Leadership Awards has government of Netherlands for partnerships, marketing initiatives announced the Global Agriculture his immeasurable contributions in and zero budget natural farming. Leadership Awards for 2018, under the field of foodsecurity and rural ‹‹ The best 'Fisheries State Award' various categories. The Awards development. was presented to Jharkhand Committee is chaired by Prof S ‹‹ National Research Development Chief Minister Raghubar Das in Swaminathan, the architect of green Corporation has bagged the recognition of the state’s efforts revolutionand has 24 members of Research Leadership Award in augmenting the production global eminence as its members. for their commitment towards potential of the state in fisheries Global Leadership Summit and promoting, developing, nurturing segment and realising record Awards are being organised by Indian and commercialising innovative, production in the process. Council of Food and Agriculture with reliable and competitive tech- ‹‹ For its innovation and technological support of Ministry of Agriculture and nologies from R&D institutes advancement in farming, the Farmers’ Welfare; Ministry of Food through value addition and Gujarat state received 'Best Processing Industries and Ministry of partnership. Agriculture Award'. Gujarat has Commerce. ‹‹ Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N adopted several initiatives towards Chandrababu Naidu was awarded better farming practices and Key Points the 'Policy Leadership Award' for spreading awareness for the same. ‹‹ The International Leadership Award his proactive policies for uplifting was given to Prof Rudy Rabbinge, the farming community by focusing ¢

6. Joint Working Group on FinTech between India and Singapore

The Union Cabinet has approved a visit to Singapore in June this year. This Regulatory Sandbox, Security in memorandum of understanding (MoU) partnership is aimed at boosting trade, payment and digital cash flow, signed between India and Singapore tourism and remittances through real- integration of RuPay - Network to establish a joint working group time fund transfers between bank for Electronic Trans-fers (NETS), to strengthen bilateral cooperation accounts in the respective countries. UPI-FAST payment link, AADHAR in financial technologies (FinTech). ‹‹ Collaboration of India with Stack and e-KYC in ASEAN region The MoU was signed between India's Singapore will benefit both India and cooperation on regulations, Department of Economic Affairs and and Singapore to excel in the fields solutions for financial markets and the Monetary Authority of Singapore of Development of Application insurance sector and sand box during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Pro-gramming Interfaces (APls), models. ‹‹ Standards will be created for use of data in non-discriminatory manner by fintech and related entities and capacity building of relevant officials in regulatory institutions in the wake of new threats around cyber security and financial frauds.

‹‹ It will also encourage cooperation between India and Singapore on digital governance, financial inclusion and partnership in the ASEAN Financial Innovation Network (AFIN) agenda. ¢

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7. TECH- 2018

UNESCO for Mahatma Gandhi Institute pedagogical possibilities opened education for peace, sustainable of Education for Peace and Sustainable up by digital technologies, in development and global Development (MGIEP) in association order to contribute to enabling a citizenship. It aims to create a with government of Andhra Pradesh revolutionary shift in education holistic platform for the ministers has announced 'TECH-2018', an from individual content acquisition of education, senior policy makers, international conference which aims to collaborative intelligence. education technology specialists, to showcase the role of games and ‹‹ 'TECH-2018' will be a global educators and teachers, curriculum digital learning in enabling a shift platform amalgamating experts designers, researchers, learners, from "transmissive pedagogies" to and practitioners from the field students, game designers and ed- "transformative pedagogies" to create of education technology and tech exhibitors. peaceful and sustainable societies. education for peace, sustainable About UNESCO MGIEP It will be held from 15-17 November, development and global 2018 at Vizag City, Andhra Pradesh, citizenship. The Mahatma Gandhi Institute of India. Education for Peace and Sustainable ‹‹ The event will be open for experts Development (MGIEP), in New Delhi, ‹‹ 'TECH-2018' aims at drawing and practitioners in the field India was established with the support a blueprint for harnessing of education technology and of the government of India and is an integral part of UNESCO. It is the first and only category 1 Research institute in Asia Pacific and focuses on achieving the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4.7 towards education to foster peaceful and sustainable societies. In this, the Institute is guided by its vision of ‘transforming education for humanity’. Building on the success of 'TECH- 2017', the UNESCO MGIEP will organize TECH annually for the next four years. ¢

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1. Commonwealth Association for Public Administration and Management Award-2018

India has won Commonwealth 'Quality education for all’ especially Management’. This initiative has Association for Public Administration for those at the bottom of the also been awarded the overall Gold and Management (CAPAM) Award- pyramid, using latest technologies. Award for CAPAM Awards, 2018. 2018. The CAPAM Awards celebrate the It’s a holistic model of overall spirit of innovation in the public service development of youths from About CAPAM by recognizing organizations that have education to employability. One CAPAM provides a forum for the active made significant contributions to of the most important Sustainable exchange of innovations, knowledge improve governance and services in Development Goals, “Education” is and practice in citizen-centred service the public sector. the great social mobiliser & must delivery, leadership development and be everyone’s birthright and it is growth and public service management Winners government of India’s endeavour and renewal. The mission of CAPAM ‹‹ The initiative entitled “Unnayan to provide this to all its children. enables public service professionals to Banka- Reinventing Education ‹‹ Another initiative entitled effectively solve challenges and pursue Using Technology of Banka District, “Unified Agriculture Markets” interests by exchanging knowledge, state of Bihar has been awarded of Co-operation Department of networking and engaging in shared under the Category “Innovation government of Karnataka has also learning about leading practices. Incubation”. “Unnayan Banka” been selected under the Category is an initiative which envisages ‘Innovation in Public Service ¢

2. India and Bangladesh: Enhancing Inland and Coastal Waterways Connectivity

India and Bangladesh has signed of passenger and cruise services. In transported on protocol routes several milestone agreements addition to this, an addendum to through inland waterways which is for enhancing inland and coastal ‘Protocol on Inland Water Transit expected to increase substantially after waterways connectivity between the and Trade’ (PIWTT) between India the declaration of additional Ports of two countries for trade and cruise and Bangladesh has been signed for Call and extension of protocol routes. movements. Both countries have inclusion of Dhubri in India and Pangaon The North Eastern states would get signed an agreement to use chittagong in Bangladesh as new Ports of Call. connected to directly to the ports of and Mongla ports in Bangladesh for The two sides agreed to consider Kolkata and Haldia in India and Mongla movement of goods to and from India. inclusion of Rupnarayan river (National in Bangladesh through waterways which would facilitate movement A Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) Waterway-86) from Geonkhali to EXIM cargo and would also reduce the has also been signed for movement Kolaghat in the protocol route and to logistic costs. declare Kolaghatin West Bengal as new Port of Call. Further, both The reconstruction and opening sides agreed to declare Badarpur up of Jangipur navigational lock on river Barak (NW 16) as an on river Bhagirathi subject to the Extended Port of Call of Karimganj provisions of the Treaty between India in Assam and Ghorasal of Ashuganj and Bangladesh on Sharing of Ganga in Bangladesh on reciprocal basis. Waters at Farakka, 1996. This move has the potential to reduce the distance to Significance Assam by more than 450 kms on the protocol routes. Currently 3.5 MMT cargos are ¢

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3. India - Israel Aerospace Deal

Israel has signed a USD 777 million and point defence against a wide enabling users to simultaneously contract with India for the supply range of threats to the marine engage multiple targets day and of Barak 8 long-range surface-to-air arena from the air, sea or land. night and in all weather conditions. defence missiles and missile defence ‹‹ The system integrates several ‹‹ The missile system has been jointly systems for the Indian Navy. The advanced systems as digital radar, developed by IAI, India's DRDO, new contract announced by Israel command and control, launchers, Israel's Administration for the Aerospace Industries (IAI) was entered interceptors with modern radio Development of Weapons and with Indian state-owned company frequency seekers, data link and Technological Infrastructure, Elta Bharat Electronics Limited which system-wide connectivity. Systems, Rafael and some other serves as the main contractor in the ‹‹ It is designed to defend against Indian defence companies. project. a variety of short-to-long-range About Barak 8 ‹‹ The Long-Range Surface-to-Air airborne threats including Missile (LR-SAM) system is an fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, Barak 8 is an operational system that operational Air and Missile Defence drones and projectiles, Barak-8 provides a full response to a range of (AMD) system used by Israel's navy incorporates a state-of-the-art threats, built to cooperate with other as well as by India's navy, air and phased array multi-mission radar, systems; it provides customers with land forces. two-way data link and a flexible operational flexibility for maximum ‹‹ The system provides broad aerial command and control system, effectiveness on the battlefield. ¢

4. Trident Juncture-2018

NATO’s biggest military manoeuvre ensure NATO forces are trained, able to western border. Russia last month since the Cold War has been kicked operate together and ready to respond held its biggest manoeuvre since 1981, off on October 25th in Norway, with a to any threat from any direction. called Vostok 2018 (translated to East hypothetical scenario that involved Russia, which shares a border 2018), moving 300,000 troops in a restoring the Scandinavian country’s with Norway, was briefed by the show of force close to China’s border. sovereignty after an attack by a North Atlantic Treaty Organization on It involved 50,000 military and “fictitious aggressor.” The drill, named the Trident Juncture drill. They were support personnel from 31 NATO and Trident Juncture-2018, includes invited to monitor, but Moscow is partner countries, 250 aircraft, 65 military forces from 31 countries upset with the exercise, warning that naval vessels and up to 10,000 military and stretches from the Baltic Sea to Russia could be forced to respond to vehicles. Iceland. The exercise is to mean to increased NATO activity close to its Background After Russia annexed Crimea, NATO held a summit in Wales where it decided to enhance its military readiness and capabilities and as the alliance said in its rationale for Trident Juncture-18, “to operate together to defend our populations and territories and deter potential adversaries.” The first version of Trident Juncture, NATO’s capstone exercise, took place in Spain and Portugal in 2015, but this year’s iteration dramatically shifts the geographical focus.

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5. Mahinda Rajapaksa: New Prime Minister of Sri Lanka

Former Sri Lanka President Mahinda suspended parliament till November enter a period of policy paralysis. Rajapaksa has assumed charge as Sri 16 after Wickremesinghe sought There are now “two competing Lanka's new Prime Minister after the an emergency session to prove his power centers” that could see Sri surprise sacking of his predecessor majority. Lanka enter a constitutional crisis. Ranil Wickremesinghe by President ‹‹ Sri Lanka’s economy is already ‹‹ The sudden change of guard could Maithripala Sirisena, which took Sri impact policy-making and business under duress — foreign exchange Lanka into an unprecedented political reserves have been sliding, confidence at a time of economic crisis. pressuring the local currency — trouble, pushing the cash-strapped amid broader problems in global President Sirisena sacked South Asian country even closer to emerging markets. The latest Wickremesinghe and appointed Beijing. political turmoil could further Rajapaksa as the new prime minister in ‹‹ With Wickremesinghe refusing to weaken international investor a surprise move that is being debated leave office and Rajapaksa officially confidence. as a constitutional coup. He also in power, the country is poised to ¢ 6. WETEX-2018

The 20th Water, Energy, Technology and scientific creativity in energy. WETEX Green Week Promotes Environment Exhibition (WETEX-2018) also provides a unique opportunity for Sustainability in Society and the 3rd Dubai Solar Show was investors to build business relationships Green Week was based on a clear vision held on 23-25 October at the Dubai and enhance business opportunities of spreading a culture of sustainability International Convention and by networking with representatives among all groups and communities, Exhibition Centre (DICEC). of major companies and decision- especially school and university WETEX focused on a variety of makers from around the world under students. The focus of Green Week was events related to energy and water one roof. Meanwhile, the Dubai Solar on educating students as the mainstay conservation, environment protection, Show spurs international efforts to of development and as future builders, waste management, green building, develop the solar power sector, which through a series of workshops and carbon reduction, highlighting the latest is a cornerstone of sustainability. The educational events, to instill a culture technology and the most successful event highlighted the most important of creativity and innovation in the next innovations in conserving natural energy initiatives in Dubai that are main generation. resources, enhancing environmental pillars in implementing the Dubai Clean security and stimulating innovation and Energy Strategy 2050. ¢

7. Facebook has been fined for Failing to Protect User Data

Facebook has been fined £500,000 by users unfairly by allowing application testing application that fed back the the UK in the wake of the Cambridge developers access to their information Facebook data of both users and their Analytica scandal, after allowing without sufficiently clear and informed friends, enabling him to harvest the third party developers to access user consent and allowing access even if profiles of up to 87 million people information without sufficient consent. users had not downloaded the app, but worldwide without their knowledge. The fine, which represents a drop in were simply ‘friends’ with people who A subset of the data was later shared the ocean for a company that brought had. Facebook also failed to keep the with other organisations, including in $40.7bn (£31.5bn) in global revenue personal information secure because it SCL Group, the parent company of in 2017, was the maximum available to failed to make suitable checks on apps Cambridge Analytica, which was the regulator under old data protection and developers using its platform. involved in running targeted Facebook legislation. adverts in US political contests, only to The investigation found that Background collapse earlier this year following a between 2007 and 2014, Facebook Aleksandr Kogan was able to convince series of reports by the Observer. processed the personal information of 300,000 people to install a personality ¢

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SEVEN BRAIN BOOSTERS

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41 November 2018 A Issue-1 Current Affairs : Perfect 7

SEVEN MCQ's WITH EXPLANATORY ANSWERS (Based on Brain Boosters)

Answer: (a) NRC in Tripura Explanation: Statement 1 is correct. The World Health Q1. Consider the following statements in respect of Organisation (WHO) has made important changes in National Register of Citizens exercise in Tripura: the regimens to treat patients with multidrug-resistant TB (resistant to isoniazid and rifampicin). Two of the 1. Tribal groups in Tripura want July 19, 1948 as the injectables (kanamycin and capreomycin) previously date of determining migrants in accordance with used for treating MDR-TB patients are to be replaced Article 5 of the Constitution. with a fully oral drug regimen- bedaquiline drug. 2. Kokborok is a language of the Tibeto-Burman family and the mother tongue of the largest tribal Statement 2 is not correct. A patient who is resistant to groups in Tripura. isoniazid and rifampicin as well as to fluoroquinolones and to at least one of the three injectable second-line Which of the statements given above is/are correct? drugs is said to be suffering from extensively drug a) 1 only b) 2 only resistant (XDR) TB. c) Both 1 and 2 d) Neither 1 nor 2 Answer: (b) C-section Explanation: Statement 1 is not correct. Tribal groups in Tripura want July 19, 1948 as the date of Q3. Consider the following statements in respect of determining migrants in accordance with Article 6 of caesarean section (C-section): the Constitution. Unlike the NRC of Assam, where the 1. The government of India has prescribed 15%- a cut-off date for excluding the putative foreigners is standard caesarean section rate in the country. March 24, 1971, tribal groups in Tripura want July 19, 1948 as the date of determining migrants. 2. Caesarean rate is low in certain sections of the upper-middle and high-income group. Statement 2 is correct. There are 19 notified Scheduled Tribes in Tripura, among whom the Tripuris Which of the statements given above is/are correct? are the largest group. According to Language Census a) 1 only b) 2 only 2011, Bengali was the mother tongue of 24.14 lakh c) Both 1 and 2 d) Neither 1 nor 2 people in Tripura. This represents 2/3rds of the 36.74 Answer: (d) lakh population and almost three times the 8.87 lakh who speak Kokborok — a language of the Tibeto- Explanation: Both statements are incorrect. In India Burman family and the mother tongue of the largest there is no prescribed standard caesarean section tribal groups. rate. Until recently, the World Health Organisation (WHO) suggested that Caesarean section - (C-section) - rates of more than 15 per cent were excessive. Bedaquiline Drug There is generally a fear of pain and a lack of motivation to deliver normally in certain sections of Q2. With reference to the 'Bedaquiline Drug' for the the upper-middle and high-income group. However, multidrug-resistant (MDR-TB), consider the following in rural or semi-urban areas, there is a non-availability statements: of doctors, anaesthetists and paediatricians and 1. It will replace two of the injectables (kanamycin infrastructure is also lacking. and capreomycin) previously used for treating MDR-TB patients. 2. Multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) is TB that does Currency Manipulator Tag not respond to two strongest first-line anti-TB Q4. Consider the following statements in respect of drugs isoniazid and rifampicin only. currency manipulator tag: Which of the statements given above is/are correct? 1. The US has kept India on the monitoring list a) 1 only b) 2 only along with China, Japan, South Korea, Germany, c) Both 1 and 2 d) Neither 1 nor 2 Switzerland and Australia.

November 2018 A Issue-1 42 Current Affairs : Perfect 7

2. Currency manipulation refers to actions taken 2. It will also allow mobile wallet users to transfer by governments to change the value of their funds from one wallet to another and from their currencies relative to other currencies. wallets to bank accounts through the unified Which of the statements given above is/are correct? payments interface (UPI) platform. a) 1 only b) 2 only Which of the statements given above is/are correct? c) Both 1 and 2 d) Neither 1 nor 2 a) 1 only b) 2 only Answer: (b) c) Both 1 and 2 d) Neither 1 nor 2 Explanation: Statement 1 is not correct. India was Answer: (c) for the first time, in April, placed by the US inits Explanation: Both statements are correct. The currency monitoring list of countries with potentially Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has released operational questionable foreign exchange policies along with guidelines on interoperability of prepaid payment five other countries — China, Germany, Japan, South instruments (PPIs). It will allow mobile wallet users to Korea and Switzerland. transfer funds from one wallet to another and from their wallets to bank accounts through the unified Statement 2 is correct. Currency manipulations refer payments interface (UPI) platform. to actions taken by governments to change the value of their currencies relative to other currencies in order It will also allow mobile wallets to issue UPI handles to bring about some desirable objectives. and cards, using authorised card networks such as Mastercard, Visa or Rupay. By allowing PPIs to issue cards for withdrawals, mobile wallets will be almost BepiColombo on par with payments banks.

Q5. With reference to the 'BepiColombo', consider the following statements: CBI Issue 1. It is a joint mission of the European Space Agency Q7. Consider the following statements: (ESA) and the National Aeronautics and Space 1. The CBI derives its legal powers from 'The Delhi Administration to Mercury. Special Police Establishment (DSPE) Act, 1946'. 2. The craft will follow a low earth orbit path to study 2. The CBI director shall have a minimum tenure Mercury’s inner core. of two years and that a premature transfer in an Which of the statements given above is/are correct? extraordinary situation should have the approval b) 1 only c) 2 only of the Selection Committee. d) Both 1 and 2 e) Neither 1 nor 2 Which of the statements given above is/are correct? Answer: (d) a) 1 only b) 2 only Explanation: Both statements are incorrect. The c) Both 1 and 2 d) Neither 1 nor 2 European Space Agency (ESA) and the Japan Aerospace Answer: (c) Exploration Agency (JAXA) have successfully lauched Explanation: Both statements are correct. The CBI first joint mission- BepiColumbo to Mercury. derives its legal powers from 'The Delhi Special Police Both spacecrafts will be in a polar orbit, which among Establishment (DSPE) Act, 1946'. Section 4B of the other things will allow detailed examination of DSPE Act lays down the “terms and conditions of Mercury’s southern hemisphere, which was largely service of (the CBI) Director”. The Director “shall, missed by MErcury Surface, Space ENvironment, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in GEochemistry, and Ranging (MESSENGER). the rules relating to his conditions of service, continue to hold office for a period of not less than two years Interoperability between PPIs from the date on which he assumes office” and “shall not be transferred except with the previous consent Q6. Recently, RBI has issued guidelines to allow payments of the Committee referred to in sub-section (1) of among mobile wallets, consider the following Section 4A”. This Committee consists of the Prime statements in this regard: Minister, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha and the 1. It will also allow mobile wallets to issue UPI Chief Justice of India or a judge of the Supreme Court handles and cards. appointed by him.

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43 November 2018 A Issue-1 Current Affairs : Perfect 7 SEVEN IMPORTANT FACTS FOR PRELIMS

1. Who won the 2018 Presidential elections held in Brazil? –Jair Bolsonaro

2. Which Indian personality was chosen for the '2018 Seoul Peace Prize'? –Narendra Modi

3. Sahle-Work Zewde has been appointed as the first female President of which nation? –Ethiopia

4. Which Union Minister was honoured with the 2018 Carnot Prize of Kleinman Center for Energy Policy? –Piyush Goyal

5. India’s first cruise service was launched for which route? –Mumbai to Goa

6. Recently inaugurated National Police Memorial (NPM) is located in which city? –New Delhi

7. The first National Sports Stadium for differently-abled is set to come up in which state? –Meghalaya

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November 2018 A Issue-1 44 Current Affairs : Perfect 7

SEVEN IMPORTANT MILITARY EXERCISES

1. RIMPAC Exercise-2018 ‹‹ The aim of the exercise was real time coordination, deployment and employment ‹‹ The world’s largest international maritime of air power in a short and intense battle warfare exercise Rim of the Pacific scenario. (RIMPAC-2018) was held from June 27 to August 2, 2018 in and around Hawaiian Islands ‹‹ The capabilities of upgraded Mirage-2000 and and Southern California. MiG-29 aircraft were tested for the first time in an operational environment. ‹‹ The theme of RIMPAC 2018 was “Capable, Adaptive, Partners.” ‹‹ The IAF conducted all terrain operations - desert, high altitude, maritime scenarios and ‹‹ Four countries Brazil, Israel, Sri Lanka and special operations- in real time with specific Vietnam had participated for first time. focus on key areas like aerial combat, air to ‹‹ US had withdrawn invitation of Chinese surface combat, paratrooper assault and navy in response to China’s continued illegal medical evacuation. militarisation of islands in disputed South ‹‹ A major highlight of the exercise was a very China Sea. high availability and reliability of all combat ‹‹ Twenty-five nations, 46 surface ships, five assets including aircraft, missile systems and submarines, 17 land forces and more than 200 radars. aircraft and 25,000 personnel participated in ‹‹ High tempo operations also enabled the IAF to Rim of the Pacific exercise-2018. ascertain sustainability of the logistics chain. ‹‹ This year's exercise included forces from Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Colombia, 3. Exercise Khanjar-V France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Israel, ‹‹ The fifth Indo-Kyrgyzstan joint training exercise Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, New Khanjar-V culminated after a Joint Tactical Zealand, Peru, Republic of Korea, Republic of Validation Exercise and a closing ceremony the Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, held at Counter Insurgency Jungle Warfare Tonga, United Kingdom, United States and School, Vairengte (Meghalaya). Vietnam. ‹‹ The exercise involved insertion of troops by ‹‹ RIMPAC sustains the cooperative relationships slithering from helicopters and destroying a that are critical to maintaining international terrorist hide out. maritime security. th ‹‹ The purpose of this exercise was to provide ‹‹ This year's RIMPAC iteration marked the 26 in training to join forces of both countries to join the series that began in 1971 and is now held the counter-terrorism campaign. every two years. ‹‹ It demonstrated the commitment of both ‹‹ The next RIMPAC is planned for the Hawaiian Islands in 2020. armies in working closely with each other to address the growing issue of global terrorism 2. Exercise Gagan-Shakti-2018 in all its forms.

‹‹ The Indian Air Force (IAF) conducted pan India ‹‹ The exercise was a success and has taught exercise Gagan Shakti-2018 from 08-22 April valuable lessons to the troops of both the 2018. countries.

45 November 2018 A Issue-1 Current Affairs : Perfect 7

‹‹ Last year this exercise was held in Kyrgyzstan ‹‹ The aim of the exercise was to promote during February 20th – 5th March 2017. military relations between the two countries by enhancing interoperability and mutual 4. Multilateral Exercise Milan- 2018 exchange of tactics between Special Forces. ‹‹ Multilateral exercise Milan- 2018 was held at Andaman Sea between 6-13 March, 2018. ‹‹ It is an Indo-US Special Forces joint training exercise conducted alternately in India and the ‹‹ The theme of 'Milan-2018' was 'Friendship Across the Seas'. US. th ‹‹ The aim of the 10 edition of the exercise was ‹‹ A 45-member Special Forces team from Indian to expand regional cooperation and combat Army’s Southern Command participated in this unlawful activities in critical sea lanes. exercise alongside US soldiers.

‹‹ 11 naval ships of 8 countries (Australia, ‹‹ Though the exercise began in 2010, there was Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, a gap of three years between 2012 and 2015. Singapore, Sri Lanka and Thailand) and nine Indian ships had participated in this exercise. ‹‹ The last edition was held in Jodhpur in March 2017. ‹‹ Milan exercise was first held in 1995 with participation of just five navies (India, ‹‹ The objectives of the joint training is to share Indonesia, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Thailand). the best practices between the two armies ‹‹ The exercise is being hosted biennially by and to develop joint strategies by sharing Indian Navy under the aegis of Andaman and expertise of conducting operations ina Nicobar Command. counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism ‹‹ It is aimed to enhance inter-operability environment, while capitalising on the rich between participating countries. repository of experiences of each other armies. 5. Naval Exercise Varuna- 2018 7. Exercise Kakadu-2018 ‹‹ The Indo-French joint naval exercise Varuna-18 ‹‹ Kakadu-2018 was a biannual joint exercise was held in Arabian Sea off Goa coast. took place both ashore and at sea off the coast ‹‹ It was aimed to explore measures to facilitate of Darwin, Australia. operational-level interactions between their armed forces and increase mutual cooperation, ‹‹ This year’s exercise involved 27 nations, 23 considering the common global threats. ships and submarines, 21 aircraft and more than 3000 personnel. ‹‹ It was conducted in three segments – Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal and South-Western Indian ‹‹ Indian Naval Ship Sahyadri took part in this Ocean. exercise.

‹‹ It included anti-submarine, air defence and ‹‹ The Indian Navy has won the coveted Kakadu asymmetric engagement exercises. Cup-2018 in Australia beating 22 other teams.

‹‹ The first phase of the exercise was held in ‹‹ Kakadu exercise is a multilateral maritime Arabian Sea. engagement hosted by the Royal Australian ‹‹ The second phase was held off the Chennai Navy with support from the Royal Australian coast in Bay of Bengal in April 2017. Air Force. ‹‹ The third phase was held near France’s La ‹‹ This biannual joint exercise which started in Reunion Island in South Western Indian Ocean 1993, took place both ashore and at sea off the in May 2018. coast of Darwin in Australia’s north.

6. Exercise Vajra Prahar 2018 ‹‹ The name Kakadu is derived from Kakadu

‹‹ The joint military exercise between India and National Park, a protected area in the northern the United States was held at Joint Base Lewis- territory of Australia, 171 km south-east of McChord (JBLM) in Seattle, USA. Darwin.

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November 2018 A Issue-1 46 Current Affairs : Perfect 7

SEVEN PRACTICE QUESTIONS FOR MAIN EXAM

Answer each of the following questions in 200 words:

Q1. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has from time to time courted controversies and criticism for its handling of politically sensitive cases. Discuss why the CBI needs to undergo structural reforms to do its job well.

Q2. At a time when Donald Trump’s America is proving to be a disruptive actor, cooperation such as Asia-Europe cooperation could be a stabilizing force. Comment.

Q3. What do you understand by 'gig economy'? One of the big trends we have seen over the last decade is the rise of the 'gig economy'—where, instead of full-time employment, organisations contract with independent workers for short-term engagements. As the gig economy keeps expanding, discuss how gig economy will mismatch the demand-supply of labour force.

Q4. Indian non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) are particularly vulnerable to wholesale funding constraints in the form of high and volatile borrowing costs. Is it time to introduce wholesale banks in India? Critically evaluate.

Q5. Globalization itself is evolving, with changes in global trade flows, capital flows and the Fourth Industrial Revolution. This has huge implications for India’s future. How well placed is India to benefit from the new face of globalization? Discuss.

Q6. How would the recent phenomena of protectionism and currency manipulations in world trade affect macroeconomic stability of India?

Q7. What is Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty? Proposed US withdrawal from the three-decade-old disarmament pact with Russia presents both a challenge and opportunity for India. Discuss.

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47 November 2018 A Issue-1

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