PRELIMS Academy for Civil Services PRESS
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TABLE OF CONTENTS- SOCIAL ISSUES 1. WOMEN 2.11. Colostrum 1.1. Sabarimala Temple Issue 3. ELDERLY 1.2. #MeToo 3.1. RashtriyaVayoshri Yojana 1.3. NCW launched a dedicated e- 3.2. National Social Assistance mail ID to report Sexual Program Harassment at Workplace 3.3. Integrated Program for Older 1.4. National Commission for Persons (IPOP) Women 3.4. VayoshreshthaSammans 1.5. The Sexual Harassment of 3.5. NPS Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and 4. DISABLED PERSONS Redressal) Act, 2013 4.1. Rights of Persons with 1.6. Maternity Benefit Disabilities Act 2016 (Amendment) Act, 2017 4.2. Deendayal Disabled 1.7. Instant Triple Talaq Rehabilitation Scheme (DDRS) 1.8. Muslim Women (Protection of 4.3. Accessible India Campaign Rights on Marriage) Ordinance 5. TRANSGENDERS of 2018 5.1. Transgender Persons 1.9. StreeSwabhiman Initiative (Protection of Rights) Bill, 2018 1.10. Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana 5.2. Section 377 of IPC 1.11. Digital Gender Atlas for 6. WEAKER SECTION OF THE Advancing Girl‘s Education in SOCIETY/FARMERS/ YOUTH India AND OTHERS 1.12. Vigyan Jyoti Scheme 6.1. AntyodayaAnnna Yojana 1.13. Savita Law 6.2. KALIA Scheme 1.14. ‗#www: Web-Wonder Women‘ 6.3. PMFBY 1.15. ―Womaniya on GeM‖ initiative 6.4. Pradhan Mantri 1.16. Pradhan Mantri Ujjawala AnnadataAaySanrakshan Yojana (PMUY) Abhiyan 1.17. Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill 6.5. Pradhan Mantri 2016 RozgarProtsahan Yojana 1.18. Section 497 of IPC 6.6. Global Wage Report 1.19. Global Gender Gap Report 7. SCHEDULED TRIBES 2018 7.1. Nomadic and Denotified Tribes 2. CHILDREN of India 2.1. CHILDLINE India Foundation 7.2. Commission for NCNDT (CIF) 7.3. Criminal Tribes Act 1871 2.2. Juvenile Justice (Care and 7.4. Habitual Offenders Act 1952 Protection of Children) Act, 7.5. Eklavya Model Residential 2015 Scheme 2.3. CARA 7.6. TRIFED 2.4. Juvenile Justice Amendment 7.7. Tribes of Andaman and Bill 2018 Nicobar 2.5. Draft National Child Protection 7.8. Tribes of Other Regions of Policy India 2.6. Protection of Children from 8. EDUCATION/SKILL/INNOVATIO Sexual Offences Act 2012 N (POSCO) 8.1. PISA 2.7. POSCO e-BOX 8.2. ASER 2018 2.8. HAUSLA-2018 8.3. New regulations by Human 2.9. Capture the Moment Report Resource Development 2.10. World Breastfeeding Week Ministry on plagiarism
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8.4. SamagraSiksha Abhiyan 9.12. Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) 8.5. Higher Education Financing 9.13. SBM ODF ++ Agency 9.14. Various Diseases/Virus which 8.6. Revitalising Infrastructure and were in News Systems In Education (RISE) 9.15. Mission Indradhanush Scheme 9.16. Intensified Mission 8.7. National Testing Agency Indradhanush (IMI) 8.8. Science Funding in India 9.17. Food Safety and Standards 8.9. LEAP (Leadership for Authority of India (FSSAI) Academicians Programme) 9.18. Eat Right Movement 8.10. ARPIT (Annual Refresher 9.19. International Health Programme In Teaching) Regulations (IHR) Procedures 8.11. SPARC (Scheme for Promotion concerning public health of Academic and Research emergencies of international Collaboration) concern (PHEIC) 8.12. SWAYAM (Study Webs of 9.20. NikshayPoshan Yojana Active–Learning for Young 9.21. National Cancer Grid Aspiring Minds) 9.22. Global Hunger Index (GHI) 8.13. IndiaSkills 2018 2018 8.14. Global Talent Index (GTI) 9.23. POSHAN Abhiyaan 8.15. Bhasha Sangam portal 9.24. Global Nutrition Report (GNR) 9. HEALTH, NUTRITION AND 2018 SANITATION 9.25. DAMaN initiative 9.1. Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya 9.26. World Malaria Report (WMR) of Abhiyan (PMJAY) 2018 9.2. National Health Policy (NHP), 9.27. Clinical trials in India 2017 10. MISCELLANEOUS/ Events/ 9.3. Mental Health Terms in News 9.4. Astana Declaration on 10.1. Uniform Civil Code healthcare 10.2. Corruption Perception Index 9.5. Cholesterol 10.3. Rational choice theory 9.6. Tobacco 10.4. Diffusion of Responsibility 9.7. ENDS 10.5. Cultural Determinism 9.8. Warning on tobacco products 10.6. Returning Soldier Effect 9.9. HIV-AIDS 10.7. Age-Crime Curve 9.10. 90-90-90 11. MCQs FROM CURRENT 9.11. HIV and AIDS (Prevention and AFFAIRS Control) Act, 2017
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1. WOMEN
1.1 Supreme Court Verdict on Sabarimala Temple Case ● A five Judge Supreme Court Constitutional Bench, (in Indian Young Article 25: It protects an Lawyers Association v. State of Kerala) has struck down a rule that disallowed individual‘s right to profess, girls and women in the 10-50 age practise and propagate a religion. group from entering the Sabarimala Article 26: It assures similar temple in Kerala on ground that temple protection to every religious rule violated their right to equality denomination to manage its own and right to worship. affairs. ● Supreme Court observed that ―The right to pray being a woman, is equal to that of a man and it About Sabarimala Temple is not dependent on a law to Sabarimala is a Hindu pilgrimage centre enable you to do that.” located in the Western Ghats mountain ● Even if it is assumed that ranges in Pathanamthitta District of entry of women in Sabarimala Kerala. temple is barred by an The Periyar Tiger Reserve is situated „essential religious practice‟, around the temple. it does not mean that the The shrine at Sabarimala is an ancient rights guaranteed to women temple of Ayyappan. under Articles 14 and 15 The presiding deity Lord Ayyapa is being have to yield to the right of worshipped as a NaishtikaBrahmachari, denominations under Article that forms the celibate nature of the 26. deity.
Additional GYAN- ● In April 2016, the Shani Shingnapur temple, which had barred women from entering its core area for over 400 years, allowed women to pray inside the temple following the judicial order.
1.2 #MeToo ● The MeToo movement is a movement against sexual harassment and sexual assault of women especially in their workplace. ● It started from America with allegations of sexual misconduct against a former film producer Harvey Weinstein and soon spread to other parts of the world through campaigns such as #MeToo, #TimesUp, #Niunamenos, #NotOneMore and #BalanceTonPorc. ● Article 16(2): No citizen shall be discriminated against or be ineligible for any employment or office under the state on the ground of sex (#MeToo movement shows that this provision is getting directly violated).
1.3 NCW launched a dedicated e-mail ID to report Sexual Harassment at Workplace ● The National Commission for Women (NCW) has come out with a dedicated e-mail address to report instances of sexual harassment at workplace after several such complaints were made to the body by women, under the #MeToo movement, on social media.
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● The Commission urges women who have come forward on social media and other platforms about their alleged harassers to send their formal written complaints to [email protected].
About National Commission for Women (NCW) It is a statutory body established in January 1992, under the National Commission for Women Act, 1990. It was established to review the constitutional and legal safeguards for women. It recommends remedial legislative measures, advises Government on all policy matters affecting women and facilitates redressal of grievances related to women.
1.4 The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 ● The Act evolved from the Vishakha guidelines introduced by the Supreme Court in 1997. ● The Act defines sexual harassment at the workplace. ● The Act ensures that women are protected against sexual harassment at all the work places, be it in public or private. ● Every employer with more than 10 employees, is required to constitute an Internal Complaints Committee at each office or branch.
Vishakha guidelines Guidelines put the onus of a safe working environment on the employer. The Vishakha guidelines define sexual harassment including unwelcome sexually determined behaviour (whether directly or by implication) as: Physical contact and advances; A demand or requestfor sexual favours; Sexually colouredremarks; Showing pornography; Any other unwelcome physical, verbal or non-verbal conduct of sexual nature.
1.5 Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act, 2017 • It provides for full paid absence from work for a period of 26 weeks (earlier 12 weeks) to take care of the child by amending the Maternity Benefit Act, 1961. • The Act is applicable to all establishments employing 10 or more women in Factories, Mines, Plantation, Shops & Establishments and other entities. • For women who are expecting after having 2 children, the duration of paid maternity leave shall be 12 weeks. • Maternity leave of 12 weeks to be available to mothers adopting a child below the age of three months from the date of adoption as well as to the “commissioning mothers”. • Employer may permit a woman to work from home, if the nature of work assigned to the woman allows for it, but this option can be availed of after the period of maternity leave.
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• Every establishment with 50 or more employees to provide crèche facilities within a prescribed distance. o The woman will be allowed four visits to the crèche in a day. • Women employees must be informed of their right to maternity leave in writing and electronically. • The Act remains gender biased as it completely negates the role of father.
1.6 Instant Triple Talaq SC has declared practice of Triple Talaq as unconstitutional, illegal and void and not protected by Article 25 (Freedom of Religion). Background of Triple Talaq Judgement ● In the very famous case of ShayaraBano v. Union of India which has popularly come to be known as the ―triple talaq case‖, the constitutional validity of certain practices of Muslim personal law such as triple talaq, polygamy, and nikah-halala has been challenged. ● The SC verdict in this case, on the question of the amount of maintenance to be provided to a divorced Muslim woman, was overturned by parliament through enactment of the Muslim women (Protection of Rights on Divorce) Act 1986. ● In Shamim Ara vs State of UP judgment of 2002 and subsequent orders from various High Courts. Triple Talaq was rendered legally invalid but this has not stopped the practice; many Muslim women were unaware of the judgments.
Three forms of Talaq Ahsan, Hasan and Talaq-e-Biddat (triple or instant talaq). Ahsan and Hasan are revocable. Biddat— pronouncing divorces in one go by the husband is irrevocable. Biddat is considered ‗sinful‘ but permissible in Islamic law.
1.7 Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Ordinance of 2018 ● The ordinance makes the pronouncement of triple talaqcognisable. ● It says criminal action will be taken against the offending husband as soon as his wife or her relative by blood or marriage informs the police. ● It allows a married Muslim woman to retain the custody of her minor children in the event of pronouncement of instant triple talaq. ● According to the Ordinance, the accused husband can be released on bail only after the wife is given an opportunity to be heard by the Magistrate. The court should be satisfied that there are reasonable grounds for granting bail to him.
Government Initiatives 1.8 StreeSwabhiman Initiative ● It is initiative of Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) for enabling access to sanitary products in rural areas by leveraging Common Service Centres (CSCs). ● It has following objectives: o Improving awareness on menstrual health and hygiene. o Set up and maintain semi-automatic and manual process production units. o Generate employment for 8-10 women per unit. o Create awareness, access and affordability.
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1.9 Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana It is a small savings scheme launched under the BetiPadhaoBetiBachao initiative. More than one crore accounts have been opened under it. Additional GYAN Female Labour force participation rates (LFPR) in India is around 27%. Of the 543 MPs elected in Lok Sabha elections, 2014, only 62 (11%) are women.
1.10 Digital Gender Atlas for Advancing Girl‟s Education in India ● Developed with the support of UNICEF, it identifies low performing geographic pockets for girls.
1.11 Vigyan Jyoti Scheme ● It is advanced by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), with a 2,000 crore-rupee purse. ● It aims to help teenage girl students choose a career in science by conducting interaction between women scientists and girl students of classes IX to XI.
1.12 Savita Law ● Ireland passed a Bill to legalise abortion following a referendum in the country in May 2018. ● The controversial issue sparked by the death of Savita Halappanavar, who died in 2012 when she was refused abortion due to prevailing laws. ● The ensuing law was widely called „Savita law‟ after her. ● The bill allows for abortion services to be provided ―on demand‖ up to the 12th week of a pregnancy, in the case of a fatal fetal abnormality or where the physical or mental health of the mother is in danger.
1.13 „#www: Web-Wonder Women‟ ● It is an online initiative by Ministry of Women and Child Developmentin collaboration with Breakthrough and Twitter India. ● The Campaign aims to discover and celebrate the exceptional achievements of women, who have been driving positive agenda of social change via social media. ● This Campaign will also recognize and acknowledge the efforts of meritorious Women. ● Indian-origin women, working or settled anywhere in the world, are eligible for nomination. ● The shortlisted entries will be open for public voting on Twitter and the finalists will be selected by a specialized panel of judges.
1.14 “Womaniya on GeM” initiative ● It is an initiative by Government e Marketplace [GeM] to enable women entrepreneurs and women self-help groups [WSHGs] to sell handicrafts and handloom, accessories, jute and coir products, home décor and office furnishings, directly to various Government ministries, departments and institutions. ● The initiative seeks to develop women entrepreneurship on the margins of society to achieve gender-inclusive economic growth.
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● This initiative is in consonance with United Nations SDG Goal 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.
Government e Marketplace It is a 100 percent government owned company setup under the aegis of Ministry of Commerce and Industry for procurement of common use goods and services by Government ministries, departments and CPSEs.
1.15 Pradhan Mantri Ujjawala Yojana (PMUY) ● PMUY was launched on 1st May 2016. ● It is implemented by Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas through its Oil Marketing Companies i.e., IOC, BPCL and HPCL through their network of distributors across the country. ● It provides LPG connections to women from Below Poverty Line (BPL) households. ● PMUY achieved the initial target of providing 5 crores LPG connection to BPL households. Considering the huge success of the Scheme, target was revised to 8 crores with budgetary allocation of Rs 12,800 crore in 2018. ● Beneficiaries are identified through Socio-Economic Caste Census List-2011 and in such cases where names are not covered under SECC list, beneficiaries are identified from seven categories which includes SC/ST households, beneficiaries of PMAY(Gramin), Antyodaya Anna Yojana, Most Backward Classes, Forest Dwellers, Resident of Islands/River Islands and Tea Garden & Ex-tea Garden Tribes. ● States of Uttar Pradesh (87 lakh), West Bengal (67 lakh), Bihar (61 lakh), Madhya Pradesh (45 lakh), Rajasthan (37 lakh) and Odisha (30 lakh) have accounted for nearly 65% of the connections provided. 47% of the beneficiaries are from the weaker sections of the society i.e., SC/STs. ● PMUY has been recognised by World Health Organisation as one of the decisive intervention by the Government to address the Indoor Air Pollution which accounts for nearly 10 lakh deaths in a year in the country.
1.16 Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill 2016 ● The Bill bans “commercial surrogacy”, which means that women can no longer be paid for undertaking the work of surrogacy. ● The Bill allows only altruistic surrogacy by infertile Indian couples, legally married for at least five years. Surrogacy is an arrangement where a couple ● The surrogate mother will commissions a woman (called a surrogate) to not be paid any carry their child. compensation except medical expenses and insurance. ● Bill only allows a “close relative” of the married couple to undertake ―altruistic surrogacy‖, but it does not define who all your “close relatives” are. ● The married close blood relative must have herself borne a child, and is not an NRI or a foreigner, can be a surrogate mother, that too once in a lifetime. ● Singles or those in a homosexual relationship cannot apply for surrogacy. ● Foreign nationals will not be allowed to apply for surrogacy in India, making it exclusively for Indian citizens.
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● Undertaking surrogacy for a fee, advertising it or exploiting the surrogate mother will be punishable with imprisonment for 10 years and a fine of up to Rs 10 lakh.
1.17 Section 497 of IPC ● A five-judge Constitution bench of the Supreme Court has ruled to scrap Section 497 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), which deals with adultery. ● According to Supreme Court's verdict, adultery law violates Articles 14 and 21 of the Indian Constitution and ―Adultery can be ground for civil issues including dissolution of marriage but it cannot be a criminal offence.” ● Section 497 did not confer any right on women to prosecute adulterous husband or woman with whom husband has indulged in sexual intercourse with. The husband solely had been permitted to prosecute adulterer. Section 497 of IPC- "Whoever has sexual intercourse with person who is and whom he knows or has reason to believe to be wife of another man, without consent or connivance of that man, such sexual intercourse not amounting to offence of rape, is guilty of offence of adultery. Such person shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for term which may extend to five years or with fine, or with both."
1.18 Global Gender Gap Report 2018 ● It is a report released by World Economic Forum (WEF). ● India is ranked 108th. ● Improvements- o The Index records improvements in wage equality for similar work, o India fully closed its tertiary education gap for the first time. ● Lag- o Progress lags on health and survival. India is the world‘s least improved country on this sub-index over the past decade.
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2. CHILDREN
2.1 CHILDLINE India Foundation (CIF) ● It is the nodal agency of the Union Ministry of Women and Child Development. ● It acts as the parent CHILDLINE 1098 service is a 24-hour free emergency phone organization for setting up, outreach service for children in need of care and protection. managing and monitoring the CHILDLINE 1098 service all over the country.
2.2 Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 ● The JJ Act, 2015 provides for strengthened provisions for both children in need of care and protection and children in conflict with law. ● Some of the key provisions include: o Change in nomenclature from ‗juvenile‘ to ‗child‘ or ‗child in conflict with law‘, across the Act to remove the negative connotation associated with the word ―juvenile‖; o Inclusion of several new definitions such as orphaned, abandoned and surrendered children; and petty, serious and heinous offences committed by children; o Clarity in powers, function and responsibilities of Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) and Child Welfare Committee (CWC); o Clear timelines for inquiry by Juvenile Justice Board (JJB); o Special provisions for heinous offences committed by children above the age of sixteen year; o Separate new chapter on Adoption to streamline adoption of orphan, abandoned and surrendered children; o Inclusion of new offences committed against children; and o Mandatory registration of Child Care Institutions.
Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA) It is statutory body of Ministry of Women & Child Development established under Juvenile Justice Act, 2015. It is a nodal body for adoption of Indian children and also mandated to monitor and regulate in-country and inter-country adoptions. CARA has barred partners in live-in relationships to adopt a child on the ground that cohabitation without marriage is not considered a stable family in India. CARA permits a single woman to adopt a child of any gender, while single men can adopt only boys. In case an applicant is married, both spouses must give their consent for adoption and should be in a stable marriage for at least two years. Candidates must be physically fit, financially sound, mentally alert and highly motivated to adopt a child, as per the Adoption Regulations 2017.
2.3 Juvenile Justice Amendment Bill 2018 ● Bill proposes to amend the Juvenile Justice Act to empower the District Magistrate, instead of the court, to issue adoption orders. ● This would ensure timely processing of adoption cases and provide orphaned, abandoned and surrendered children with familial care and protection.
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2.4 Draft National Child Protection Policy ● This will be the first policy dedicated to the protection of children. ● Until now Child Protection was only a part of the broader National Child Policy, 2013. ● The draft policy recommends that all organisations must have a code of conduct based on ―zero tolerance of child abuse and exploitation‖. ● Any individual who suspects physical, sexual or emotional abuse must report it to the helpline number 1098, police or a child welfare committee.
2.5 Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act 2012 (POCSO) ● It aims to protect the children against offences like sexual abuse, pornography etc. ● It provides a child-friendly system for trial against the perpetrators.
2.6 POCSO e-Box ● It is a complaint management system that operates completely online for reporting sexual offences against children. ● The e-Box can be accessed through the official website of National Commission for Protection of Child Rights.
2.7 HAUSLA-2018 ● The event is organised by Ministry of Women and Child Development. ● The idea behind the entire event is to provide a national platform for the children from CCIs (Child Care Institutions) across India to showcase their talent, to make them realise the hidden talent they possess and to help take it forward in their life. ● The event aimed to showcase the talent of the children from the CCIs. ● The theme for the event is “Child Safety”
Additional GYAN Capture the Moment report It is a joint report on breastfeeding, prepared by UNICEF and WHO. It analyses early initiation of breastfeeding and describes trends over the past 10 years for more than 70 low and middle-income countries, as well as several high-income countries. India was ranked 56 in the report. World Breastfeeding Week-It is an annual celebration which is held every year from 1 to 7 August. Colostrum-The first feed, or colostrum, is termed as the baby‟s first vaccine and is extremely rich in nutrients and antibodies.
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3. ELDERLY In 1950, children (aged 0-14 years) were 37.5% of India‘s population and the elderly (over 60 years) were 8.9%. The proportions now are 9.4% elders over 60 and 27.8% children below 14.By 2050, elders (360 million persons, 19.1% of the population) will exceed children (18.9%). The elderly must not be set aside after they have fulfilled their economic purpose. The generations must be reintegrated within their communities. There is wisdom and value in many forms that the elderly can provide to society.
3.1 RashtriyaVayoshri Yojana (RVY) • It is run by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. • It is a central sector scheme funded from the Senior Citizens‟ Welfare Fund. o The fund was notified in the year 2016. o All unclaimed amounts from small savings accounts, PPF and EPF are to be transferred to this fund. • Under the RVY scheme,aids and assistive living devices are provided to senior citizens belonging to BPL category who suffer from age-related disabilities such as low vision, hearing impairment, loss of teeth and locomotor disabilities.
3.2 National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) ● The Ministry of Rural Development runs the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) that extends social assistance for poor households- for the aged, widows, disabled, and in cases of death where the breadwinner has passed away. ● This is in addition to the benefits that the state governments extend to these people. ● Under this scheme, financial assistance is provided to person of 60 years and above and belonging to family living below poverty line as per the criteria prescribed by Government of India. ● Central assistance of Rs 200 per month is provided to person in the age group of 60-79 years and Rs 500 per month to persons of 80 years and above.
3.3 Integrated Programme for Older Persons (IPOP) programme ● It is run by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. ● Under this programme, grants are given for running and maintenance old age homes, day care centres, mobile medicare units, multi-facility care centre for older widows etc. ● The main objective of the scheme is to improve the quality of life of older persons by providing basic amenities like shelter, food, medical care and entertainment opportunities etc.
3.4 VayoshreshthaSamman ● This National Award for Senior Citizens is provided for rendering distinguished services for the cause of elderly persons.
3.5 National Pension System (NPS) ● PFRDA has now increased the maximum age of joining under NPS-Private Sector (i.e. All Citizen and Corporate Model) from the existing 60 years to 65 years of age. Now, any Indian Citizen, resident or non-resident, between
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the age of 60- 65 years, can also join NPS and continue up to the age of 70 years in NPS. ● An NRI can open an NPS account. ● Contributions made by NRI are subject to regulatory requirements as prescribed by RBI and FEMA from time to time. ● If the subscriber's NPS citizenship status NPS is an easily accessible, low cost, tax-efficient, changes, his/ her NPS flexible and portable retirement savings account. account would be closed. Under the NPS, the individual contributes to ● For central government his retirement account and also his employer employees covered under can also co-contribute for the NPS, the government‘s socialsecurity/welfare of the individual. contribution towards the pension scheme has been increased from the existing 10% to 14%. The employee‟s contribution remains unchanged at 10%.
4. DISABLED 4.1 Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016 ● Disability has been defined based on an evolving and dynamic concept. ● The types of disabilities increased from existing 7 to 21. ● Speech and Language Disability and Specific Learning Disability have been added for the first time. ● Acid Attack Victims have been included. ● Dwarfism, muscular dystrophy has been indicated as separate class of specified disability. ● The New categories of disabilities also included three blood disorders- Thalassemia, Hemophilia and Sickle Cell disease. ● Every child with benchmark disability between the age group of 6 and 18 years shall have the right to free education. ● The Act is in line with the United National Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), to which India is a signatory.
Accessible India Campaign (Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan) It is a nation-wide Campaign for achieving universal accessibility for Divyangjans. It targets at increasing the proportion of accessible government buildings. Ensuring transportation System Accessibility. Ensuring Information and Communication Eco-System Accessibility
4.2 Deendayal Disabled Rehabilitation Scheme (DDRS) • DDRS is a Central Sector Scheme of Government of India which is being implemented since 1999 for providing financial assistance to NGOs working for education and rehabilitation of persons with disabilities. • This scheme was revised in 2018 and the revised scheme is being implemented since 1st April 2018. • It is being implemented by Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities.
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5. TRANSGENDER 5.1 Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill, 2018 • According to the new definition, under the bill, a transgender person is somebody ―whose gender does not match the gender assigned to that person at birth and includes trans-men or trans-women, persons with intersex variations, gender-queers, and persons having socio-cultural identities such as kinnar, hijras, aravani, and jogta‖. • National Council for Transgender (NCT) Persons will be set up to advice the central government on policies, and legislation related to transgender persons. It will also monitor and evaluate such policies. • The Bill does not recognise the right of transgender persons to self- identification. • The Bill states that a person will be recognised as transgender on the basis of a certificate of identity issued through the district screening committee. • Bill is silent on granting reservations to transgender persons. • The Bill does not mention any punishments for rape or sexual assault of transgender persons as according to Sections 375 and 376 of the Indian Penal Code rape is only when a man forcefully enters a woman. • The Bill does not refer to important civil rights like Right to marriage, divorce and adoption, Right to inherit property etc.
5.2 Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) ● Five-judge Constitution Bench led by former Chief Justice of India (CJI) Dipak Misra unanimously held that criminalisation of private consensual Section 377 of IPC criminalises private sexual conduct between adults of the consensual sexual conduct between adults of the same sex under Section 377 of the same sex. Indian Penal Code is unconstitutional. ● Section 377 will apply to “unnatural” sexual acts like bestiality. Sexual acts without consent continue to be a crime under the Section.
WEAKER SECTION OF THE SOCIETY/FARMERS/ OTHERS 6.1 Antyodaya Anna Yojana ● Under this scheme only the poorest among the BPL families are covered under the targeted public distribution system. ● 35 Kg of food grains are given to each eligible family at a highly subsidised rate of Rs 2 per kg for wheat and Rs 3 per kg for rice. ● This quantity is irrespective of the size of the household. ● The color of the AAY ration card is green.
6.2 KALIA scheme ● Krushak Assistance for Livelihood and Income Augmentation (KALIA) scheme amounting to ₹10,000 crore aims to accelerate agricultural prosperity in the State and to reduce poverty. ● Under the scheme, every farming household will get an annual financial assistance of Rs 10,000 (distributed in two installments for rabi and kharif seasons), life insurance cover of Rs 2 lakh and an additional accident cover of Rs 2 lakh.
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● Apart from small and medium farmers, the benefits will also be extended to sharecroppers, who are the actual cultivators and landless agricultural labourers– an aspect unique to the scheme.
6.3 Pradhan Mantri FasalBima Yojana (PMFBY) ● PMFBY aims to promote the use of technology for better implementation of the crop insurance. The technologies, promoted by PMFBY, are mostly in 3 domains: o Information Technology (e.g. development of web-based insurance portal for better management of the crop insurance), o Smartphone Applications (Mobile Apps for information about crop insurance and for crop cutting experiment data collection), and o Satellite and UAV/drone based Remote Sensing. ● The use of technology is encouraged to a great extent under the PMFBY. Scheme mandates for the use of Smart phones to capture and upload data of crop cutting to reduce the delays in claim payment to farmers. Also, Remote sensing to be used to reduce the number of crop cutting experiments. ● PMFBY excludes perils such as war & kindred perils, nuclear risks, riots, malicious damage, theft, act of enmity, grazed and/or destroyed by domestic and/or wild animals. ● ACIL was responsible to look after the National Premium Rates for Farmers under PMFBY Agriculture Insurance There will be a uniform premium of only 2% Scheme (NAIS) which was to be paid by farmers for all Kharif crops and launched in 1999. Since 1.5% for all Rabi crops. January 2016, the company In case of annual commercial and horticultural is looking after the newly crops, the premium to be paid by farmers will launched PMFBY. be only 5%. New Guidelines ● The farmers will be paid 12
per cent interest by insurance companies for the delay in settlement claims beyond two months of prescribed cut-off date. ● The government has also decided to include perennial horticultural crops under the ambit of PMFBY on a pilot basis.
6.4 Pradhan Mantri AnnadataAaySanrakshan Abhiyan (PM-AASHA) ● It is aimed at ensuring remunerative prices to the farmers for their produce as announced in the Union Budget for 2018. ● The new Umbrella Scheme includes the mechanism of ensuring remunerative prices to the farmers and is comprised of o Price Support Scheme (PSS) o Price Deficiency Payment Scheme (PDPS) o Pilot of Private Procurement &Stockist Scheme (PPPS). ● The other existing schemes of Department of Food and Public Distribution (DFPD) for procurement of paddy, wheat and nutri-cereals/coarse grains and of Ministry of Textile for cotton and jute will be continued for providing MSP to farmers for these crops. ● For oilseeds, states have the option to roll out Private Procurement Stockist Scheme (PPSS) on pilot basis in selected district/APMC(s) of district involving the participation of private stockists. The pilot district/selected APMC(s) of district will cover one or more crop of oilseeds for which MSP is notified. Since
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this is akin to PSS, in that it involves physical procurement of the notified commodity, it shall substitute PSS/PDPS in the pilot districts.
6.5 Pradhan Mantri RozgarProtsahan Yojana (PMRPY) ● PMRPY was announced on August 07, 2016. ● It is being implemented by Ministry of Labour and Employment through the Employees‟ Provident Fund Organization (EPFO). ● Under the scheme, Government is paying full employers‘ contribution of 12% (towards Employees‘ Provident Fund and Employees‘ Pension Scheme both), for a period of 3 years in respect of new employees who have been registered with the EPFO on or after 1st April 2016, with salary up to Rs. 15,000 per month. ● PMRPY has a dual benefit-on the one hand the employer is incentivised for increasing the employee base in the establishment through payment of EPF contribution of 12 percent of wage, which otherwise would have been borne by the employer and on the other hand, a large number of workers find jobs in such establishments.
6.6 Global Wage Report ● It is released by ILO (International Labour Organization) ● It is an annual publication which focuses on different aspects of labour wages and its impact on equitable growth and social justice. ● The Report assists member countries in drafting wage policies and assessing the impact of those policies.
7. SCHEDULED TRIBES
7.1 Nomadic & De-notified Tribes in India ● Nomadic and De-notified Tribes (NT-DNTs) are social groups that have been subjected to historical injustices both in the colonial and free India. Commission for NCDNT ● A number of communities in In 2005, the Government of India established the north of India were the National Commission for De- involved in the rebellion notified, Nomadic and Semi Nomadic against the British in 1857. Tribes (NCDNT) to study various ● These communities were developmental aspects of these Tribes. used by the rebel princes NCDNT is functioning, under the ministry and rajahs either directly to of social justice and empowerment. fight against the British or The Commission recommended that the were indirectly involved in a reservations as available to Scheduled variety of ways in assisting Castes and Scheduled Tribes should be their armies. extended to denotified, nomadic or semi- ● As a result, these nomadic tribe categories and extension of communities were brutally Prevention of (SC&ST) Atrocities Act to suppressed during 1857, them. The Act currently applies to only SCs and STs. and later declared Criminal Tribes under the Criminal Tribes Act, 1871.
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7.2 Criminal Tribes Act, 1871 ● A number of communities that had sided with the rebels and mutineers in 1857 were declared Criminal Tribes in 1871. ● It notified most nomadic communities as criminals. The Act implied that these communities were criminal by birth and practiced crime as a profession. ● The Act gave the colonial administration the power to brand, penalize, segregate and forcibly torture nomadic communities. ● Once a tribe became notified as criminal, all its members were required to register with the local magistrate, failing which they would be charged with a ―crime‖ under the Indian Penal Code.
7.3 Habitual Offenders Act, 1952 ● Post-independence, the Indian government replaced Criminal Tribes Act 1871, with the Habitual Offenders Act, 1952. ● As of now, there are several variants of ―criminal tribes‖ such as the Pardhis, Kanjars, Ramoshis, and Vanjaris continue to remain aloof from the reach of affirmative State action. ● The UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) had asked India to repeal the Habitual Offenders Act (1952) and effectively rehabilitate the denotified and nomadic tribes proven guilty.
7.4 Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRSs) ● It is a scheme for model residential schools for Indian Tribal across India. ● It was established by the Tribal Ministry, Government of India. ● Budget 2018 provides for establishment of EMRS in every block with more than 50% ST population and at least 20,000 tribal persons by 2022. ● The objective of these interventions is to provide quality middle and high-level education to Scheduled Tribe (ST) students in remote areas, not only to enable them to avail of reservation in high and professional educational courses and get jobs in government and public and private sectors, but also to have access to the best opportunities in education at par with the non-ST population. ● EMRS is an excellent approach for imparting quality education to ST children. Apart from school building including hostels and staff quarters, provision for a playground, students computer lab, teacher resource room etc. are also included in the EMRSs. This initiative will benefit ST students immensely. ● By focusing on specific intervention to cater to the educational needs of STs, the quality of the life of STs is expected to improve to the level of rest of the social groups and a visible impact by 2021 Census. ● The 104.2 million Indians notified as STs, constitute 8.6% of the country‘s total population and 11.3% of the total rural population. The literacy rate of STs has increased from 8.53% in 1961 to 58.96% in 2011.
Additional GYAN According to India Human Development Survey the incidence of poverty is highest among the STs (49.6%), followed by the SCs (32.3 per cent), and then the Muslims (30.6%).
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7.5 Tribes of Andaman and Nicobar Islands Sentinelese Jarwa Nicobarese ● They belong to ● They live in parts of ● Population Negrito Race. South Andaman 30,000. ● Reside in North and Middle ● Unlike the other Sentinelese island. Andaman Islands. tribes, the ● They are hunter- ● Their present Nicobarese are gatherers. numbers are largely ● The contact with the estimated at horticulturalists outside world is between 250–400 . supposed to put individuals. Most have them at risk of ● They have largely converted to contracting disease. shunned Christianity ● The 2011 Census interaction with and are much records 15 outsiders, and more Sentinelese on the many particulars of assimilated island, including 12 their society, than the other males and three culture and Andaman and females. traditions are poorly Nicobar tribes, ● In 2014, the A&N understood. but still administration maintain their announced a change own distinct of policy from culture. "hands off" to ● The Nicobarese "hands off but eyes have also on" to protect the suffered much Sentinelese. more from the tsunami. Bo Shompen Onge ● They are thought to ● The Shompens are ● These are the have lived in the primarily hunter- indigenous Andaman Islands gatherers. people of the for as much as ● They also practise a Andaman 65,000 years. little bit of Islands. ● They are supposed horticulture and pig ● Traditionally to be the rearing. hunter- descendants of one ● Shompens are distinct gatherers. of the oldest human from the four other ● Their numbers cultures on Earth. PVTGs of Andaman are fewer than ● Boa Sr, died in 2010 and Nicobar Islands— 100 and have aged around 85, was Jarawas, Great abandoned the last speaker of Andamanese, Onges hunting- ‗Bo‘, one of the ten and Sentinelese, as gathering. Great Andamanese they are the only languages. tribe in the region with Mongoloid features. The other PVTGs have Negroid
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features. Other Tribes Toda Tribe DongriaKondh Reang Tribes ● It is the most ● These are the ● They are the ancient and unusual members of the tribe of tribe of Nilgiri Hills Kondhs, of the Tripura. of Tamil Nadu. Munda ethnic ● The central ● They have their own group. govt. decided to language and own ● They are located stop relief to secretive customs in the Niyamgiri over 32,000 and regulations. hills, in the state Reang tribal of Odisha. refugees living in North Tripura for over two decades.
Koya tribe Mankidia tribe HakkiPikki Tribe ● It is a native tribe of ● The tribe belong to ● It is a native Telangana. Odisha. tribe of ● The Koya tribes ● Mankidia is a Karnataka. celebrate marginalised group ● Tribal Medaram‘sJatara that critically community festival. depends on making launched rope with sialifibre protest against ● A biennial event is that is richly the state officially conducted available in government in by the State Similipal Tiger demand for the government on a Reserve. land for massive scale with were rehabilitation of lakhs of devotees ● Recently, they denied habitat the tribes. making a beeline to rights inside the Medaram village to ● The tribe was in Similipal Tiger pay homage to tribal news due to Reserve (STR) clashes which mother-daughter in broke out warrior duo Odisha under the Sammakka and Forest Rights Act, between Hakki- Sarakka who went 2006. Pikki tribal down fighting the community and imperial Kakatiya Ediga people in kings 800 years ago. Angadihalli over land issues.
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8. EDUCATION
Why in News? The Union Government has officially decided to participate in India and PISA Test the PISA test, which will be In 2009, India had participated in PISA for the conducted in 2021. first time. About PISA India was represented by Himanchal ● It is a worldwide study by Pradesh and Tamil Naduin 2009. the Organisation for India ranked 72 out of 74in 2009 edition of the Economic Co-operation and survey. Development (OECD)in India withdrew from the PISA Test, blaming member and non-member “out of context” questions for India’s dismal nations initiated in 2000. performance. ● It is a triennial international In 2021, government-run KendriyaVidyalayas, survey. NavodayaVidyalayas and schools in ● It intends to evaluate Chandigarh will participate in the test. educational systems by measuring 15-year-old school student‟s scholastic performance on science, mathematics, reading, collaborative problem solving and financial literacy. ● It is two-hour test conducted via computers. ● In 2015 over half a million students, representing 28 million 15-year-olds in 72 countries and economies.
8.2 Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) 2018
● The Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) 2018 shows that while there are small improvements, the crisis in Indian education, in terms of outcomes, continues. ● The survey covered around 3.5 lakh Annual Survey of Education is households and 546,527 children between conducted by an autonomous the ages of three and 16 across 596 rural
districts. unit of education-NGO Pratham. ● Overall enrollment in 6-14 age group is
above 96%. ● Pan-India, only 31% students go to private institutions, according to 13th Annual Status of Education Report (Rural)-2018. ● Report highlights the stagnation in the number of students seeking admission in private schools in rural India. Given this, and in the context of higher overall enrolment, government schools would appear to be making a comeback. ● By Class 8, the last year of compulsory schooling in India, all children are expected to have mastered foundational skills. The ASER data indicates that only 73% of Class 8 students in rural districts can read a Class 2 level text. And 56% can‟t solve a basic division problem. ● Nearly 50% children (aged 6-14 years) in Uttar Pradesh are enrolled in private schools.
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8.3 New regulations by Human Resource Development Ministry on Plagiarism ● Upon receipt of a complaint or allegation the Departmental Academic Integrity Panel (DAIP) shall investigate the matter and submit its recommendations to the Institutional Academic Integrity Panel (IAIP) of the Higher Education Institutions (HEI). Plagiarism means to use ● According to a gazette notification, for students, another person's ideas or plagiarism of up to 10 per cent would not invite work and pretend that it is any penalty while that of between 10 percent and your own. 40 per cent would mean the students will have to submit a revised research paper within six months. ● In case the similarities are between 40 percent and 60 percent, students will be debarred from submitting a revised paper for one year. ● A student's registration for a programme will be cancelled if the similarities are above 60 per cent.
8.4 Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan ● It is an overarching programme for the school education sector extending from pre-school to class XII and aims to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education at all levels of school education. ● It subsumes 3 erstwhile centrally Sponsored Schemes- Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) and Teacher Education (TE) within it. ● The scheme is in consonance with Sustainable Development Goal 4.1 & SDG 4.5.
Additional GYAN- Goal SDG 4.1 states that ―By 2030, ensure that all boys and girls complete free, equitable and quality primary and secondary education leading to relevant and effective learning outcomes. SDG 4.5 states that ―By 2030, eliminate gender disparities in education and ensure equal access to all levels of Education and vocational training for the vulnerable, including persons with disabilities, indigenous peoples and children in vulnerable situations‖
8.5 Higher Education Financing Agency ● HEFA has been set up by the Central Government as a Non Profit, Non- Banking Financing Company (NBFC). ● Its task is to mobilise extra-budgetary resources for building crucial infrastructure in the higher educational institutions under Central Govt. Thus, will push the institutions to become financially independent.
8.6 Revitalising Infrastructure and Systems in Education (RISE) Scheme ● It is a scheme for increasing the investments in general and research infrastructure in premier educational institutions, including health institutions. ● Under it, all centrally-funded institutes (CFIs), including central universities, IITs, IIMs, NITs and IISERs can borrow from a Rs. 1,00,000 crore corpus over next 4 years to expand and build new infrastructure.
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● It will be financed through Higher Education Financing Agency (HEFA). 8.7 National Testing Agency ● It has been established in November 2017 as a premier, specialist, autonomous and self-sustained testing organization to conduct entrance examinations for admission/fellowship in higher educational institutions. ● The NTA will be chaired by an eminent educationist who will be appointed by the Ministry of Human Resource Development. ● There will be a Board of Governors comprising members from user institutions.
8.8 Science Funding in India ● According to data from UNESCO Institute of Statistics, there are only 156 researchers per million inhabitants in India. ● Despite having high number of college students in countries like India, China and the USA, the students are not actively engaged in science research. ● Currently, India country spends 0.8 % of its GDP on R&D compared to countries such as Israel and Korea who spend 4.2% and 4.3%, respectively. ● According to Economic Survey 2017-18, India's investment in science, which is measured in terms of Gross Expenditure on R&D (GERD), has tripled in the last decade.
8.9 LEAP (Leadership for Academicians Programme) ● It is a three-week flagship leadership development training programme (two- week domestic and one-week foreign training for second level academic functionaries in public funded higher education institutions. ● The objective is to prepare second tier academic heads who are potentially likely to assume leadership roles in the future. ● The programme would provide senior faculty, with high academic credentials, the required leadership and managerial skills including skills of problem- solving, handling stress, team building work, conflict management, developing communication skills, understanding and coping with the complexity and challenges of governance in higher education institutions, financial and general administration.
8.10 ARPIT (Annual Refresher Programme In Teaching) ● It is a 40-hour module with 20 hours of video content offered in a highly flexible format and can be done at one‘s own pace and time. ● There are built-in assessment exercises and activities as part of the academic progression in the course. ● At the end of the course, they will be a terminal assessment which can be either online or a written examination. ● All faculties who have successfully completed the online refresher course will be certified.
8.11 SPARC (Scheme for Promotion of Academic and Research Collaboration) ● It involves foreign collaboration mainly in science research. This scheme is coordinated by IIT Kharagpur. ● The research areas include advanced electronics, communication, structural genomics and affordable healthcare etc. ● The selected team of eight with a mix of top Indian and foreign institutions would undertake these researches.
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● Under SPARC scheme, India will collaborate with 28 countries.
8.12 SWAYAM (Study Webs of Active–Learning for Young Aspiring Minds) ● SWAYAM seeks to bridge the digital divide for students who have hitherto remained untouched by the digital revolution and have not been able to join the mainstream of the knowledge economy. ● This is done through an indigenous developed IT platform that facilitates hosting of all the courses taught in classrooms to be accessed by anyone, anywhere at any time. ● SWAYAM platform is indigenously developed by Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) and All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) with the help of Microsoft and would be ultimately capable of hosting 2000 courses and 80000 hours of learning: covering school, under-graduate, post-graduate, engineering, law and other professional courses. ● It offers courses that are taught in classrooms from 9th class till post- graduation. ● All the courses are interactive, prepared by the best teachers in the country and are available, free of cost to the residents in India.
8.13 IndiaSkills 2018 ● It is India's biggest skill competition. ● It was organized by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Government of India to identify, recognize, promote and reward the best talents in various skills. ● IndiaSkills 2018 was the second edition of the nationwide competition.
8.14 Global Talent Index (GTI) ● It is a global survey conducted by IMD Business School, Switzerland. ● In the latest Index (2018) India is ranked 53. ● Switzerland is ranked first while US in not even among top 10. ● In 2017, India was ranked at 51st position. ● The rankings are based on three key factors— investment, appeal and readiness.
8.15 Bhasha Sangam portal ● Bhasha Sangam initiative under the Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat ushers in a programme for schools and educational institutions to provide multilingual exposure to students in Indian languages listed in Schedule VIII of the Constitution of India. ● It is an initiative by Ministry of Human Resource and Development. ● Objectives of Bhasha Sangam- a. To introduce school students to all the 22 Indian Languages of Schedule VIII of the Constitution of India. b. To enhance linguistic tolerance and respect, and promote national integration.
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9. HEALTH/NUTRITION
Health Care System in India India‘s public spending on health continues to hover around 1% of GDP for many decades, accounting for less than 30% of total health expenditure. General government expenditure on health for Bhutan in 2015, accounted for 72%, which is about 2.6% of its GDP. National Health Policy 2017 envisaged raising public spending on health to 2.5% of GDP by 2025. The decision to launch PM- JAY under Ayushman Bharat is a path breaking step towards Health Indicators Universal Health Coverage. Life Expectancy: Average lifespan went up from 48 in 1980 to 67.9 in 2014. 9.1 Pradhan Mantri Jan MMR: From a MMR of 556 in 1990, the nation Aarogya Abhiyan (PMJAY) has achieved a MMR of 130 by 2014-16. ● It became operational on IMR: The infant mortality rate at the national 25th September, the birth level stands at its lowest i.e. 34 per 1,000 live anniversary of Pandit births in 2018. Deendayal Upadhyay. India’s public spending on health continues to ● It is considered as the hover around 1% of GDP for many decades. biggest government- sponsored healthcare scheme in the world. ● Ayushman Bharat comprises of two schemes: National Health Protection Scheme & Health and Wellness Centre. ● National Health Protection Scheme: This aims to provide assurance cover to 10 crore families up to Rs 5 Lakh crore cover per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization. ● Health and Wellness Centre: It aims to overhaul 1.5 lakh primary health centres in India. ● It will cover beneficiary‘s families identified on the basis of Socio-Economic Caste Survey (SECC) 2011 ● The PM-JAY will be implemented in alliance with state government schemes.
9.2 National Health Policy (NHP), 2017 ● It aims at providing healthcare in an ―assured manner” to all. ● Its proper implementation in consonance with Ayushman Bharat - National Health Protection Scheme, and National Nutrition Mission in letter and spirit will completely overhaul the Indian Healthcare scenario.
9.3 Mental Health ● World Mental Health Day (10 October) is a day for global mental health education, awareness and advocacy against social stigma. ● Mental Healthcare Act 2017 decriminalises suicide. ● The Mental Healthcare Act 2017, bans treating mentally ill children with electric shock therapy and says that even in the case of adults, such treatment must be given under anesthesia and along with muscle relaxants.
The Mental Healthcare Act 2017 It defines ―mental illness‖ as a substantial disorder of thinking, mood, perception, orientation or memory that grossly impairs judgment, behaviour,
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capacity to recognise reality or ability to meet the ordinary demands of life, mental conditions associated with the abuse of alcohol and drugs, but does not include mental retardation which is a condition of arrested or incomplete development of mind of a person, specially characterised by subnormality of intelligence.
9.4 Astana Declaration on healthcare Why in News? At the Global Conference on Primary Health Care (October 25-26, 2018) co-hosted by the Government of Kazakhstan, WHO, and UNICEF, 120 UN member countries signed the Astana Declaration. About the Astana Declaration ● It vows to strengthen primary healthcare and achieve universal health coverage by 2030. ● It is a successor to Alma-Ata Declaration. ● In 1978, 134 nations signed the Alma-Ata Declaration to ensure health for all, its progress was uneven, with several countries missing out on several indicators set under the declaration. While the Americas, Europe and Western Pacific countries performed well, according to papers presented at the Astana conference, South Asia and Africa lagged.
9.5 Cholesterol ● Eliminating trans-fats is key to protecting health and saving lives: WHO estimates that every year, trans-fat intake leads to more than 500,000 deaths Trans-Fat of people from They help to increase the shelf life of oils and cardiovascular disease. foods and stabilise their flavours. ● About 80% of the cholesterol Natural Trans-Fats occur naturally in the dairy needed by our bodies is and some meat products. produced by the liver and Trans-fat consumption increases the risk of only about 20% comes from heart disease. food. ● The good cholesterol and bad cholesterol are known as high-density lipoproteins and low-density lipoproteins respectively. ● Consumption of Trans-Fat increases the risk of heart REPLACE disease by raising the level of It is a step-by-step guide for the elimination of low-density lipoprotein (LDL), industrially-produced trans-fatty acids by WHO. also known as the ―bad‖ cholesterol and at the same time it reduces the level of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) which is the ―good‖ cholesterol.
9.6 Tobacco National Tobacco Control Programme ● It is launched to create awareness about the dangerous effects of tobacco consumption, reduce the demand and supply of tobacco products. ● It also ensures effective implementation of the provisions under ‗The Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of
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Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act, 2003‘ (COTPA) to help people quit tobacco through tobacco cessation centres.
9.7 ENDS ● In a directive issued on August 28 2018, to all States and Union Territories, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) has stopped the manufacture, sale, distribution, import, trade and advertisement of Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) such as e-cigarettes, vaping devices, e-sheesha, e-nicotine-flavored hookah and heat-not-burn devices, citing the risk posed to children, adolescents and women in the reproductive age. ● Such devices are often misunderstood as Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) for those who aspire to quit tobacco use. ● In most ENDS, instead of tobacco, nicotine is used in a chemical form. ● Thus, users of these devices believe that they are not smoking tobacco, but in reality, they continue to have the addictive chemical.
9.8 Warning on tobacco products ● The current pictorial warnings on both sides of all packets of cigarettes, bidis and all forms of chewing tobacco products in India came into effect in April 2016 on the direction of the Rajasthan High Court and, The Cigarette Package Health Warnings subsequently, the Supreme International Status Report’ was released recently by the Court of India. Canadian Cancer Society which documents global ● Indian packaging has the progress on plain packaging. warning on 85% of both It has ranked 206 countries and territories on the size sides. of their health warnings on cigarette packages, and lists ● India is the only SAARC countries and territories that require graphic picture country to have a quit-line warnings.
number for tobacco users. Indian packaging has the warning on 85% of both sides. India has been ranked fifth in the listing of countries that The National Tobacco have pictorial health warning on tobacco products Cessation QuitLine-1800 227787 is a dedicated toll- free number that helps the 90–90–90 Tobacco users to receive free It is an ambitious treatment target to help end the AIDS epidemic by UNAIDS. support and guidance to According to 90-90-90 target – subdue their addiction. By 2020, 90% of all people living with HIV will know their HIV status. 9.9 HIV-AIDS By 2020, 90% of all people with diagnosed HIV ● AIDS (acquired infection will receive sustained antiretroviral therapy. immunodeficiency By 2020, 90% of all people receiving antiretroviral syndrome) is a syndrome therapy will have viral suppression. caused by a virus called HIV (human immunodeficiency virus). ● The disease alters the immune system, making people much more vulnerable to infections and diseases. This susceptibility worsens if the syndrome progresses. ● HIV is found throughout all the tissues of the body but is transmitted through the body fluids of an infected person (semen, vaginal fluids, blood, and breast milk). ● Tuberculosis is the biggest killer of HIV patients across the world.
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9.10 HIV and AIDS (Prevention and Control) Act, 2017 • It seeks to prevent and control the spread of HIV and AIDS. • It makes Anti-Retroviral Treatment (ART) a legal right for all HIV/AIDS patients. • It provides for informed HIV Estimations 2017 consent and confidentiality The HIV Estimations 2017 is the 14th round in the with regard to their series of HIV-estimations under the National AIDS treatment. Control Programme (NACP). NACO undertakes HIV estimations biennially in • The Act collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical penalises“propagation of Research (ICMR)- National Institute of Medical hatred” against the Statistics (NIMS). patientsand provides jail The first round of HIV estimation in India was done term from three months to in 1998. two years with fine and
Prohibits discrimination against persons with HIV and AIDS.
Additional GYAN o Ministry of AYUSH- It was formed on 9th November 2014 to ensure the optimal development and propagation of AYUSH systems of health care. o Ministry of AYUSH launched Mission 'Madhumeha through Ayurveda' to holistically tackle lifestyle diseases like diabetes is moving on the right track, on the occasion of first National Ayurveda Day. o National Ayurveda Day- Ministry of AYUSH observes Ayurveda Day every year on Dhanawantari Jayanti. Last year Ayurveda Day was observed on 5th November 2018.
9.11 Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) ● The mission aims to make India an open defecation free country in Five Years i.e. till 2019. ● Under the Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen), sanitation coverage has increased to more than double the coverage at the time of the launch of the Mission. ● The urban component of the mission is being implemented by the Ministry of Urban Development, and the rural component by the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation.
9.12 SBM ODF ++ ● It focuses on achieving sanitation sustainability by addressing complete sanitation value chain, including safe containment, The GOBAR-DHAN scheme, with its focus on processing and disposal of keeping villages clean, increasing the income of rural faecal sludge and septage. households, and generation of energy from cattle waste, ● Preventing public urination was is an important element of ODF-plus strategy. The not on the agenda of the rural scheme envisages the implementation of 700 bio-gas division of SBM. units in different states of the country in 2018-19.
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● The new ODF+ protocol, mentions that a city, ward or work circle could be declared ODF+ if, ―at any point of the day, not a single person is found defecating and/or urinating in the open, and all community and public toilets are functional and well-maintained.” ● The ODF++ protocol adds the condition that ―faecal sludge/septage and sewage is safely managed and treated, with no discharging and/or dumping of untreated faecal sludge/septage and sewage in drains, water bodies or open areas.‖
Additional GYAN Swachh SwasthSarvatra is an inter-ministerial joint initiative between the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas was awarded, Swachh Bharat inter-ministerial award 2017, for activities undertaken in past 3 years. The Swachh Iconic Places is an initiative under the Swachh Bharat Mission. It is a special clean-up initiative focused on select iconic heritage, spiritual and cultural places in the country. The initiative is being coordinated by the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation in association with the Ministry of Urban Development, Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Tourism and the concerned State governments.
9.13 Various Diseases/Virus which were in News Eradication is complete and permanent worldwide reduction to zero new cases of an infectious disease through deliberate efforts. If a disease has been eradicated, no further control measures are required.
Elimination means reduction to near zero (or a very low defined target rate) of new cases of an infectious disease in a defined geographical area because of deliberate efforts. Elimination requires continued measures to prevent re-establishment of disease transmission.
Ebola Disease Canine Distemper Virus (CDV) ● It is a viral hemorrhagic fever of ● Canine Distemper is a viral humans and other primates caused disease that is frequent in dogs, by ebolaviruses. foxes, wolves, big cats and even ● It is thought that fruit bats of the primates. Pteropodidae family are natural Ebola ● It is caused by a single-stranded virus hosts. RNA virus of the ● Ebola is introduced into the human family Paramyxoviridae (the family population through close contact with of viruses causing measles, the blood, secretions, organs or other mumps and bronchiolitis in bodily fluids of infected animals such humans). as chimpanzees, gorillas, fruit bats, ● It infects the spinal cord and brain monkeys, forest antelope and and also the respiratory and porcupines found ill or dead or in the gastrointestinal tracts. The virus rainforest. is believed to have a 50% fatality ● There is as yet no proven treatment rate in dogs. available for EVD. However, a range ● In 1994, the CDV was responsible of potential treatments including for an epidemic in the Serengeti blood products, immune therapies region of Africa, where 1,000 lions and drug therapies are currently died in three weeks.
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being evaluated. ● Its prevalence in India has not ● Ebola virus disease (EVD) first been studied and only a few appeared in 1976 in 2 simultaneous reports are available regarding its outbreaks, one in what is now, Nzara, detection in wild carnivores. South Sudan, and the other in ● CDV is transmitted by airborne Yambuku, Democratic Republic of route as well as infected body Congo. secretions. ● The latter occurred in a village near ● CDV is supposed to have caused the Ebola River, from which the the death of Lions in Gir disease takes its name. Sanctuary. ● The 2014–2016 outbreak in West Africa was the largest and most complex Ebola outbreak since the virus was first discovered in 1976. ● Burial ceremonies that involve direct contact with the body of the deceased can also contribute in the transmission of Ebola. Tuberculosis (TB) Leprosy ● It is caused by bacteria ● It is also known as Hansen‘s (Mycobacterium tuberculosis) that disease. most often affect the lungs. ● It is a chronic infectious disease ● It is curable and preventable. caused by Mycobacterium leprae. ● India has the largest number of ● It spreads through constant people living with multidrug-resistant exposure to droplets of saliva or TB. mucus from an infected person. ● India has set a target of eliminating ● The initial stages of infection are tuberculosis (TB) by 2025, five years mild and can be fought by a ahead of the global target. healthy immune system. ● According to World Health ● Leprosy is curable and early Organisation elimination of TB mean treatment averts most there should be less than 1 case of TB disabilities. for a population of 10 lakh. ● The drugs used in WHO-MDT are ● RNTCP was launched as a national a combination of rifampicin, program in 1997. It is based on DOTS clofazimine and dapsone for MB (Directly Observed Treatment, Short leprosy patients and rifampicin Course) strategy recommended by and dapsone for PB leprosy WHO. patients. ● Among these rifampicin is the most important antileprosy drug and therefore is included in the treatment of both types of leprosy. ● Hindus and Muslims allow a divorce if one of the spouses has leprosy. ● Leprosy is recognised as a disability under the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act of 1995. ● The disease mainly affects the
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skin, the peripheral nerves, mucosal surfaces of the upper respiratory tract and the eyes. Leprosy is known to occur at all ages ranging from early infancy to very old age. Downs Syndrome Kyasanur Forest disease (KFD) ● It is also known as trisomy 21. ● It is also known as Monkey ● It is a genetic disorder and the fever. most common autosomal ● It is a viral fever, belonging to chromosome abnormality in the family Flaviviridae, which also humans, where extra genetic includes yellow fever and dengue material from chromosome 21 is fever. transferred to a newly formed ● The disease is carried by ticks, embryo. rodents, birds etc and it affects ● These extra genes and DNA cause monkeys and human beings. changes in development of the ● It is a vector-borne disease. embryo and fetus resulting in ● The disease was first reported physical and mental abnormalities. from Kyasanur Forest of ● It is typically associated Karnataka in India in March with physical growth delays, 1957. The disease first characteristic facial features, and manifested as an epizootic mild to moderate intellectual outbreak among monkeys killing disability. several of them in the year 1957. Hence the disease is also locally known as monkey disease or monkey fever. Why in News? ● Recently the outbreak of Monkey Fever has occurred in the Shimoga district of Karnataka. (Image attached shows the region impacted by disease in Karnataka). ● The virus has been detected in monkeys in parts of Bandipur National Park (Chamarajnagar) and parts of the Nilgiris. Human infection occurred in Bandipur through handling of dead monkeys that were infected. Filariasis Nipah Virus ● It is a parasitic diseasecaused by an ● Nipah virus (NiV) infection infection with roundworms of the made its first documented Filarioidea type. appearance in Malaysia in ● It spreads by blood-feeding black flies 1998. and mosquitoes. ● NiV infection is a zoonosis (a Lymphatic filariasis (LF) disease that can be
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● It is commonly known as transmitted to humans from elephantiasis. animals. ● It is a neglected tropical disease. ● The natural host of the virus is ● Infection occurs when filarial fruit bats of the Pteropodidae parasites are transmitted to humans Family, Pteropus genus (fruit- through mosquitoes. eating species), according to ● It is caused by the worms WHO. Wuchereriabancrofti, Brugiamalayi, ● Transmission of Nipah virus and Brugiatimori. takes place mainly through ● These worms occupy the lymphatic respiratory droplets and NiV- system, including the lymph nodes; infected people secret more in chronic cases, these worms lead to virus. the syndrome of elephantiasis. ● During the first recognized outbreak of Nipah Virus in Malaysia, which also affected Singapore, most human infections resulted from direct contact with sick pigs or their contaminated tissues. Transmission is thought to have occurred via unprotected exposure to secretions from the pigs, or unprotected contact with the tissue of a sick animal. ● In subsequent outbreaks in Bangladesh and India, consumption of fruits or fruit products (such as raw date palm juice) contaminated with
urine or saliva from infected fruit bats was the most likely source of infection. ● Human-to-human transmission of Nipah virus has also been reported among family and caregivers of infected patients. Polio Zika Virus Why in News? ● Zika virus is transmitted through ● Traces of polio type-2 virus, a strain the bite of an infected female that was known to have been mosquito, primarily the Aedes eradicated from India, were found in aegypti. some batches of oral polio vaccine ● This mosquito also spreads yellow (OPV) manufactured by Ghaziabad- fever, dengue and chikungunya. based Bio-Med Pvt. Ltd, posing a Aedes mosquitoes usually bite serious threat of polio resurfacing in during the day, peaking during India. early morning and late About the disease afternoon/evening. ● Polio is transmitted through ● Although Zika virus is primarily contaminated water or food or transmitted through mosquitoes, contact with an infected person. it can also be sexually ● Many people who are infected with transmitted. Zika virus can be
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the poliovirus don't become sick and transmitted by vaginal and anal have no symptoms. However, those sex, and possibly by oral sex. who do become ill develop paralysis, ● The symptoms of Zika are similar which can sometimes be fatal. to dengue and include fever, rarely ● There are 3 types of Polio Virus higher than 102 degrees, skin Strains e.g. P1, P2 and P3. rashes, bloodshot eyes, muscle ● Polio type 2 virus strain has been and joint pain, malaise, and eradicated worldwide, including in headache. These symptoms India. normally last for 2-7 days. ● India was declared polio free in ● During pregnancy, the virus can 2014. cause birth defects in newborn ● The last polio case in India was called microcephaly – a condition recorded in West Bengal in 2011. In defined by small heads and brain Delhi, the last case was reported in damage, along with other defects 2009. like blindness, deafness, seizures ● Currently, only Pakistan, Afghanistan and other congenital defects. and Nigeria (in the entire world) have ● There is neither any treatment nor wild polio virus in active circulation. any vaccine for Zika. The ● Oral polio vaccine (OPV) consists of a symptoms of Zika virus are mild – mixture of live attenuated poliovirus usually require common treatment strains of each of the three serotypes, like rest, drinking enough fluids, selected by their ability to mimic the and treat pain and fever with immune response following infection common medicines. If symptoms with wild polioviruses, but with a worsen, the patient should seek significantly reduced incidence of medical care and advice. spreading to the central nervous system. ● OPV produces antibodies in the blood ('humoral' or serum immunity) to all three types of poliovirus, and in the event of infection, this protects the individual against polio paralysis by preventing the spread of poliovirus to the nervous system.
Yaws Smallpox ● It is a kind of chronic bacterial ● Smallpox was the first disease to infection which mostly affects tribal be eradicated in 1980. population that inhabits remote, hilly ● The last natural case of smallpox, and forest areas. according to WHO, was in 1977 in ● It targets skin, bones and joints and Somalia. was eliminated from India in ● The only known case since then September 2006. was a year later in England‘s ● In July 2016, India received official Birmingham, after a laboratory citation from WHO and UNICEF for accident. One person was killed in being free of the disease. the incident and the virus was ● This milestone was reached before contained. the WHO global target of eradicating ● It took decades of effort before the the disease by 2020. World Health Assembly declared smallpox eradicated. ● The disease killed 35 percent of its victims, while leaving others blind or scarred.
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Rinderpest Maternal and Neonatal Tetanus ● It was the second disease to be ● Along with official citation for eradicated. Yaws, India was felicitated by the ● It did not affect humans, but cattle global health organisations for and other members of the ruminant being free from Maternal and family. Neonatal Tetanus (MNT) in July ● It was in October 2010 that the UN‘s 2016. Food and Agriculture Organisation ● In case of deliveries in unhygienic announced rinderpest‘s eradication circumstances, mothers and after nine years of no diagnoses. babies are often left vulnerable to ● It‘s the only disease of livestock that MNT which severely affects has been eradicated by human effort. mortality rates. ● Tetanus killed as many as 160,000 young children in India in 1988, according to UNICEF. ● However, the disease, which can be prevented by hygienic practices, has been eliminated in India. ● Its elimination was officially announced in August 2015.
9.14 Mission Indradhanush • It was launched in 2014 to scale up the immunization programme and achieve full immunization coverage for all children and pregnant women. • The four phases of Mission Indradhanush aim at a target of 90% full immunization coverage by 2020. • As of 2017 it has achieved increase in full immunization coverage up to 6.7% from earlier 1% increase every year.
9.15 Intensified Mission Indradhanush (IMI) ● IMI aims to reach each and every child up to two years of age and all those pregnant women who have been left uncovered under the routine immunization programme (Universal Immunization programme). ● It targets to immunize all children against seven vaccine preventable diseases namely 1. Diphtheria, 2. Pertussis, 3. Tetanus, 4. Childhood Tuberculosis, 5. Polio, 6. Hepatitis B and 7. Measles. ● In addition to this, following vaccines are also being provided in selected states- 1. Japanese Encephalitis, 2. Haemophilus influenza type B, 3. Inactivated polio vaccine, 4. Rotavirus vaccine and 5. Measles Rubella vaccine 9.16 Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)
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● FSSAI has been established under Food Safety and Standards, 2006 which FSSAI’s National Milk Quality Survey, 2018 consolidates various acts & The survey says milk in India is largely safe. orders that have hitherto Only 10 per cent of the milk sold in Indian handled food related issues markets is contaminated. in various Ministries and The major reason behind contamination of milk Departments. in India is poor farm practices. ● FSSAI has been created for
laying down science-based Eat Right Movement standards for articles of food It is an initiative led by FSSAI. and to regulate their It aims to engage and enable citizens to improve their health manufacture, storage, and well-being by making the right food choices. distribution, sale and import to ensure availability of safe
and wholesome food for human consumption.
9.17 International Health Regulations (IHR) Procedures concerning public health emergencies of international concern (PHEIC) ● PHEIC is a formal declaration by WHO. ● PHEIC implies a situation that is serious and carries implications for public health beyond the affected State‟s national border. ● WHO declared a public health emergency of international concern for an Ebola in August 2014 for the outbreak in West Africa that claimed 11,000 lives and was later determined to be the deadliest such outbreak. ● WHO also declared a public health emergency of international concern in February 2016 over Zika.
9.18 NikshayPoshan Yojana ● It is the direct benefit transfer scheme for TB patients. ● It was rolled out in April 2018. ● It marks a slow progress in its implementation.
9.19 National Cancer Grid ● The National Cancer Grid was formed in August 2012. ● It aims to link cancer centres across India. ● It is funded by the Union government through the Department of Atomic Energy.
9.20 Global Hunger Index (GHI) 2018 ● The 2018 Global Hunger Index-published jointly by Concern Worldwide and Welthungerhilfe - tracks the state of hunger worldwide and spotlights those places where action to address hunger is most urgently needed. ● The 2018 edition of the Index also has a special focus on the theme of forced migration and hunger. ● India has been ranked at 103 out of 119 countries in the Index, with hunger levels in the country categorised as “serious”. ● India‟s ranking has dropped three places from last year, although the Index says its results are not accurately comparable from year to year and instead provides a few reference years for comparable data.
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● Global Hunger statistics show that we are not in track to meet the goal to achieve Zero Hunger by 2030, as a part of SDG.
9.21 POSHAN Abhiyan ● It was launched on 8th March 2018 by the Prime Minister in Jhunjhunu (Rajasthan). ● POSHAN Abhiyan (National Nutrition Mission) is a flagship programme of the Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD). ● The Abhiyan targets to reduce stunting, undernutrition, anaemia(among young children, women and adolescent girls) and reduce low birth weight by 2%, 2%, 3% and 2% per annum respectively. ● The target of the mission is to bring down stunting among children in the age group 0-6 years from 38.4% to 25% by 2022.
9.22 Global Nutrition Report (GNR) 2018 • It is released by International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI). • It is an annual publication and the first series was published in 2014. Findings of the GNR • India has one-third of world's stunted children. With 46.6 million children who are stunted, India tops the list of countries followed by Nigeria (13.9 million) and Pakistan (10.7 million). • India has highest number of wasted children in the world. India also accounted for 25.5 million children who are wasted, followed by Nigeria (3.4 million) and Indonesia (3.3 million). Additional GYAN- Stunting, or low height for age, is caused by long-term insufficient nutrient-intake and frequent infections. Wasting, or low weight for height, is a strong predictor of mortality among children under five. It is usually the result of acute significant food shortage and/or disease.
9.23 DAMaN initiative ● Odisha has emerged as an inspiration in the fight against malaria. ● In recent years it has dramatically scaled-up efforts to prevent, diagnose and treat malaria through its DurgamaAnchalare Malaria Nirakaran (DAMaN) initiative, which has produced impressive results in a short span of time. ● As a result of its sustained efforts, Odisha recorded 80% decline in malaria cases and deaths in 2017.
9.24 World Malaria Report (WMR) of 2018 ● WMR is released by WHO. ● World Malaria Report of 2018 turned the spotlight on India‘s recent strides against malaria. ● India is the only country among the 11 highest-burden countries that saw substantial progress in reducing disease burden: it saw a 24% decrease in 2017 compared to 2016. ● This shows that India has assumed a leadership role in advancing global efforts to end malaria. ● The country‘s success provides hope to the other highest-burden countries to tackle malaria head-on.
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Additional GYAN The turning point in India‘s fight against malaria came at the East Asia Summit in 2015, when it pledged to eliminate the disease by 2030. Following this public declaration, India launched the five-year National Strategic Plan for Malaria Elimination. This marked a shift in focus from malaria ―control‖ to ―elimination‖. The plan provides a roadmap to achieve the target of ending malaria in 571 districts out of India‘s 678 districts by 2022.
9.25 Clinical trials in India ● No new drugs can be launched in India without it undergoing clinical trial in the country. Before a medicine is marketed, it must undergo extensive testing. ● The Clinical Trial Stage is reached only after several years of Lab and Animal Testing and only if the results indicate that it is safe for human, the product undergoes clinical tests in humans. ● The Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) is responsible for giving regulatory permissions for the conduct of clinical trials and is responsible for approval of marketing licenses for drugs in India.
10. MISCELLANEOUS
10.1 Uniform Civil Code (UCC) ● The constitution has a provision for Uniform Civil Code in Article 44 as a Directive Principle of State Policy which states that ―The State shall endeavor to secure for the citizens a uniform civil code throughout the territory of India.‖. ● Law Commission has recently suggested codification of certain aspects of personal laws so as to limit the ambiguity in interpretation and application of these personal laws. 10.2 Corruption Perception Index 2018 ● India rose by three points to 78 in the list of 180 countries in the world, while China ranked 87 and Pakistan 117 in 2018. ● With a score of 71, the US has dropped four points since last year. This marks the first Highlights of CPI 2018 Denmark and New Zealand top the Index with 88 time since 2011 that the US and 87 points, respectively. falls outside of the top 20 Somalia, South Sudan, and Syria are at the countries on the CPI. bottom of the index, with 10, 13 and 13 points, respectively. About the CPI Index More than two-thirds of countries score below ● It is released by the 50 on this year‘s CPI, with an average score of just Transparency International. 43. The index, ranks 180 countries The highest scoring region is Western Europe ● and the European Union, with an average score of 66, and territories by their while the lowest scoring regions are Sub- perceived levels of public Saharan Africa (average score 32) and Eastern sector corruption according Europe and Central Asia (average score 35). to experts and businesspeople ● It uses a scale of 0 to 100, where 0 is highly corrupt and 100 is very clean.
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10.3 TERMS WHICH ARE MORE OFTEN IN NEWS
Rational choice theory • Rational Choice Theory refers to a model of human in sociology behaviour which states that people act the way they do because they believe that the benefits of their actions will be higher than the associated costs. • Proponents of the theory believe that people act in such a way that they are able to maximise their benefits while minimising their costs. • A person committing a crime, for instance, will likely weigh the benefits and costs of such action. Diffusion of • This refers to a social phenomenon wherein Responsibility individuals who are members of a group refuse to take personal responsibility for their actions. Instead, each individual assumes that other members of the group are responsible for group outcomes. • The more people involved, the more likely it is that each person will do nothing, believing someone else from the group will probably respond. • The concept has been used to explain the behaviour of mobs, crowds, and groups of people in general. Cultural Determinism • Cultural Determinism refers to the belief that the in Sociology cultural environment is the primary determinant of the behaviour of individuals in any society. Returning Soldier • Returning soldier effect refers to the social Effect in Sociology phenomenon wherein soldiers who return from wars are more likely to father sons rather than daughters when compared to other men.
Age-Crime Curve in • Age-crime Curve in Sociology refers to the Sociology observation that the tendency to commit violent crime increases during early adolescence and peaks at late adolescence before it drops and flattens in the 20s and 30s. • It is claimed that the age-crime curve applies to people across various cultures and can be explained by various evolutionary factors.
11. MCQs based on Current Affairs
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Q1. Consider the following statements (c) 2 and 3 only with reference to ―Womaniya on GeM‖ (d) All of the Above initiative. 1. It will enable women entrepreneurs Q4. Consider the following statements to sell their handicraft products about ―Deendayal Disabled directly to government departments. Rehabilitation Scheme (DDRS)‖. 2. This initiative is in consonance with 1. DDRS provides direct cash- United Nations SDG Goal 5. assistance to the disabled individuals 3. Government e Marketplace (GeM) is for education. under the aegis of Ministry of Women 2. Ministry Human Resource and Child Development (MoWCD). Development is responsible for the Which of the statement(s) given above implementation of the scheme. is/are correct? Which of the statements given above (a) 1 only is/ are correct? (b) 1 and 2 only (a) 1 only (c) 2 and 3 only (b) 2 only (d) All of the Above (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 Q2. Consider the following statements about Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill Q5. With reference to the Annual 2016. Status of Education Report (ASER) 1. It allows both altruistic and 2018, consider the following commercial surrogacy in regulated statements. manner in India. 1. Overall enrollment in 6-14 age 2. The bill allows surrogacy by group is more than 90%. infertile Indian couples, legally 2. More than 50% students are married for at least ten years via close enrolled in Private Schools in India. relatives. 3. The number of students seeking 3. The bill doesn‘t define who close admission in private schools in rural relatives are. India has increased drastically. Which of the statement(s) given above Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct? is/are correct? (a) 3 only (a) 1 only (b) 1 and 2 only (b) 1 and 2 only (c) 1 and 3 only (c) 1 and 3 only (d) All of the Above (d) 2 only
Q3. Consider the following statements Q6. Consider the following statements about Transgender Persons about Habitual Offenders Act. (Protection of Rights) Bill, 2018. 1. After Independence the Criminal 1. It recognises the right of Tribes Act, 1871 was replaced by transgender persons to self- Habitual Offenders Act. identification. 2. National Commission for De- 2. It is silent on granting reservations notified, Nomadic and Semi-nomadic to transgender persons. Tribes (NCDNT) works under Ministry 3. Bill does not mention any of Tribal Affairs. punishments for rape or sexual 3. Government had appointed Renke assault of transgender persons Commission, to study developmental explicitly. aspects of Habitual Offenders. Which of the statement(s) given above Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct? is/are correct? (a) 1 only (a) 1 only (b) 1 and 3 only (b) 1 and 3 only
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(c) 2 and 3 only (d) All of the Above (d) All of the Above Q10. Consider the following Q7. With reference to Eklavya Model statements about Leptospirosis. Residential Schools (EMRSs), consider 1. It is a zoonotic disease. the following statements. 2. It is commonly known as Rat Fever. 1. It is a scheme for model residential 3. It is a viral infection. schools for Indian Tribal across India. 4. It infected many in Kerala, during 2. Budget 2018 provides for post-floods. establishment of EMRS in every block Which of the statement(s) given above with more than 50% ST population is/are correct? and at least 20,000 tribal persons by (a) 3 and 4 only 2022. (b) 1, 2 and 3 3. The incidence of poverty is highest (c) 1, 2 and 4 in Scheduled Castes compared to (d) All of the Above Scheduled Tribes. Which of the statement(s) given above Q11. The ―HIV Estimations 2017‖ is a is/are correct? report released by which of the (a) 1 only following organisation? (b) 2 and 3 only (a) World Health Organization (c) 1 and 2 only (b) National AIDS Control (d) All of the Above Organization (NACO) (c) UNAIDS Q8. Which of the following tribes (d) None of the Above belong to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands? Q12. Consider the following 1. Sentinelese. statements about Cholesterol. 2. Toda 1. Most of the cholesterol needed by 3. DongriaKondh our bodies comes from the food. 4. Jarawas 2. The good cholesterol and bad 5. Onge cholesterol is known as high-density 6. Bo lipoproteins and low-density Select the correct answer with the lipoproteins respectively. help of codes given below. 3. REPLACE, is a step-by-step guide (a) 1, 4 and 5 for the elimination of industrially- (b) 2, 3 and 4 produced trans-fatty acids by WHO. (c) 1, 4, 5 and 6 Which of the above statement(s) (d) All of the Above is/are correct? (a) 1 only Q9. Consider the following statements (b) 1 and 2 only about Programme for International (c) 1 and 3 only Student Assessment (PISA). (d) 2 and 3 only 1. PISA is an initiative of UNESCO. 2. It is a triennial international survey Q13. In the wake of recent gradual which aims to evaluate education revival in no. of clinical trials in India, systems worldwide. consider the following statements- 3. India did not participate in last 1. No new drugs can be launched in edition of PISA. India without it undergoing clinical Which of the statement(s) given above trial. is/are correct? 2. The clinical trial stage in testing of (a) 1 only medicine is reached just before lab (b) 2 and 3 only and animal testing. (c) 1 and 2 only
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3. FSSAI is responsible for giving 3. CDV is supposed to have caused regulatory permissions for the the death of Lions in Gir Sanctuary. conduct of clinical trials Which of the above statement(s) Which of the statements given above is/are correct? is/are correct? (a) 3 only (a) 1 only (b) 2 and 3 only (b) 1 and 2 only (c) 1 and 3 only (c) 1 and 3 only (d) All of the Above (d) 2 and 3 only Q17. Which of the following Q14. With reference to Swachh organisation releases the Global Bharat Mission (SBM) consider the Hunger Index? following statements. (a) World Food Organisation 1. SBM ODF ++ focuses on achieving (b) Welthungerhilfe sanitation sustainability by (c) UNICEF addressing complete sanitation value (d) None of the Above chain. 2. Preventing public urination is a Q18. With reference to the major agenda of the rural division of International Health Regulations (IHR) SBM. Procedures concerning public health 3. The GOBAR-DHAN scheme, is an emergencies of international concern important element of ODF-plus (PHEIC), consider the following strategy. statements. Which of the above statement(s) 1. PHEIC is a formal declaration by is/are correct? United Nations General Assembly. A. 1 Only 2. PHEIC implies a situation that is B. 2 Only serious and carries implications for C. 1 and 3 Only public health beyond the affected D. All of the above State‘s national border. 3. Ebola outbreak in West Africa, in Q15. Consider the following August 2014 was declared a public statements with reference to the health emergency of international warning written on tobacco products. concern. 1. Indian packaging has the 85% Which of the statement(s) given above pictorial health warning on front and is/ are correct? 50% on back side. (a) 1 only 2. India is the only SAARC country to (b) 1 and 2 only have a quit-line number for tobacco (c) 2 and 3 only users. (d) All of the Above Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct? Q19. LEAP and ARPIT were recently in (a) 1 only news, they are associated with? (b) 2 only (a) Defense Procurement (c) Both 1 and 2 (b) Enhancing Quality of Higher (d) Neither 1 nor 2 Education
(c) ISRO‘s upcoming missions to Q16. Consider the following statements about Canine Distemper explore extra-terrestrial objects Virus (CDV). (d) Navigation and Weather 1. CDV can be transmitted by infected Forecasting. body secretions only. 2. CDV infects spinal cord and brain.
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Q20. With reference to Bhasha Which of the statement(s) given above is/ Sangam portal, consider the following are correct? statements. (a) 1 only 1. It is an initiative under Ek Bharat (b) 2 only Shreshtaha Bharat. (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 2. It is an initiative by Ministry of Culture.
ANSWERS 1. b 2. a 3. c 4. d 5. a 6. b 7. c 8. c 9. b 10. c
11. b 12. d 13. a 14. c 15. b 16. b 17. b 18. c 19. b 20. a
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