1. ECONOMY 1. CPI-IW Base Year Revised to 2016 04 2. Interest-on-interest waiver to cost Exchequer ` 7,500 Crore 06 1.1. ECONOMY SNIPPETS

1. MACS 6478 08 2. Comparison of India and Bangladesh’s GDP 09 3. Heeng Cultivation Project 11

2. ENVIRONMENT 1. Microbes to Fight Oil Spillage in Oceans 13 2. Emission of N2O 14 3. Seagrass in Gulf of Mannar 16

2.1. ENVIRONMENT SNIPPETS

1. Madhuca Diplostemon Tree 18 2. Bioremediation Mechanism 18 3. Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphin 19 4. Skinks 20 5. National Authority for Recycling of Ships 21 6. Flash Flood Warning System for South Asian Countries 22 7. Habitat decline for Himalayan brown bear by 2050 23 8. Active Zone of Himalayas 25 9. Typhoon Molave 26

3. POLITY & GOVERNANCE 1. Gujarat Disturbed Areas Act 27 2. Thalassemia Bal Sewa Yojna 28 3. MSP, Government procurement key to India’s food security, says PM 31 4. EC to Kaleshwaram Given in Violation of law, Says NGT 32 5. Government increases Poll Spend Ceiling by 10% 34 6. Demand for Repeal of UAPA 36 7. Parliament Panel Mulls action against Amazon 37 8. Outsiders can buy Land in Jammu and Kashmir 39 9. CPCB flags Pollution Control at Railway Stations 40

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10. NAFED to Import Onions 41

3.1. POLITY & GOVERNANCE SNIPPETS 1. Survey of Villages Abadi and Mapping with Improvised Technology in Village Areas (SVAMITVA) 43 2. Digital Media Regulation 44 3. Assam-Mizoram 45 4. Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act 2005 46 5. Ayushman Sahakar Scheme 48 6. Adopt an Animal Scheme 49 7. DRDO Procurement Manual 2020 50 8. Affordability of Nutritious Diets in Rural India 51 9. Productive-Linked Incentive Scheme 52 10. Assam-Mizoram, and the other boundary issues in the Northeast 53 11. Integrated Theatre Commands 56 12. Indira Rasoi Yojana 57 13. Kisan Suryodaya Yojana 57 14. Seaplane service in Gujarat 59 15. Child Care Leave 60 16. Model Code of Conduct in Elections 60 17. Kumhar Sahatikaran Yojana 62 18. Annual State of Education Report (ASER) Survey 63

4. SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 1. Road to Zero Hunger 65 2. PLACID Trials 67

4.1. SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY SNIPPETS 1. Holographic Imaging Method 68 2. Anti-ulcer drug shows promise in suppressing coronavirus 69 3. Anti-Tank Guided Missiles 70 4. SLINEX-20 71 5. OSIRIS-REx Mission 72 6. INS Kavaratti 73

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7. Monoclonal Antibodies 73 8. World Polio Day 2020 74 9. Earth Observation Satellite EOS-01 76

5. ART AND CULTURE & MISCELLANEOUS 1. Non-Aligned Movement 78

5.1. ART AND CULTURE & MISCELLANEOUS

1. Nazca Line 79 2. Kochi-Muziris Biennale 80

6. INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

1. International Solar Alliance 82 2. India fares poorly in Global Hunger Index 84 3. China passes new law Restricting Sensitive Exports 86 4. New START Treaty 87 5. Pakistan to Remain on ‘FATF Greylist’ till 2021 88

6.1. INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS SNIPPETS

1. Geneva Convention 90 2. Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) 91 3. Yellow dust from China could spread COVID: North Korea 92 4. Global Centre for Nuclear Energy Partnership (GCNEP) 93

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1. ECONOMY 1. CPI-IW Base Year Revised to 2016 Why in News? • Recently, the Ministry of Labour and Employment released the new series of Consumer Price Index for Industrial Worker (CPI-IW) with base year 2016. About CPI-IW: • The CPI-IW is mainly used for determining dearness allowance (DA) paid to central/state government employees and workers in the industrial sectors besides measuring inflation in retail prices, fixation and revision of minimum wages in scheduled employments. • CPI-IW is compiled and maintained by the Labour Bureau, an attached office of the Ministry of Labour & Employment. • The new series of CPI-IW with base 2016 has replaced the existing series with base 2001. • Earlier, the series were also revised from 1944 to 1949; 1949 to 1960; 1960 to 1982 and 1982 to 2001. Key Facts Regarding the New Series: • The new series with base year 2016 covers the latest consumption pattern of the target population. • It gives more weightage to spending on health, education, recreation and other miscellaneous expenses, while reducing the weight of food and beverages. • The weight of spending on housing and clothing increased from 15.2% to 17%. • The weight of miscellaneous items, like education and health rose to 30.31% from 23.26%. • The weight of food and beverage was reduced from 46.2% to 39% and indicates an increase in Disposable Income. • The number of markets and the sample size for working class family income and Expenditure surveys were Increased. • The sample size was increased from 41,040 families to 48,384; also the number of selected markets for collecting retail price data was increased from 289 to 317. • The number of items in the index basket has increased to 463 items as against 392 items in the 2001 series. • The Labour Bureau is also working towards revising the index Every Five Years.

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What are its Effects? • The new series would not have an immediate impact on the dearness allowance (DA) as the government has freezed biannual hike in dearness allowances since January 2020 to offset the financial implications on the exchequer during the coronavirus pandemic. • The DA, a component of salary, is revised every six months to keep pace with the inflation rate. • For private sector workers, the central government and most states increase the variable DA component of minimum wages twice a year based on the CPI-IW inflation numbers. • However, the change in base year will certainly have an effect on DA calculation by June 2021, when the freezing on DA will come to end. About Consumer Price Index (CPI): • It measures price changes from the perspective of a retail buyer. It is released by the National Statistical Office (NSO). • The CPI calculates the difference in the price of commodities and services such as food, medical care, education, electronics etc, which Indian consumers buy for use. • The CPI has several sub-groups including food and beverages, fuel and light, housing and clothing, bedding and footwear. • At present, India has five consumer price indexes (CPIs), three of which are working-class specific. These are: ✓ CPI for Industrial Workers (IW). ✓ CPI for Agricultural Labourer (AL).

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✓ CPI for Rural Labourer (RL). • These three indexes are compiled by the Labour Bureau in the Ministry of Labour and Employment. • CPIs AL and RL are used to fix minimum wages of agricultural labourers and rural unskilled employees. • The Labour Bureau is also expected to bring out the new series of the CPI- AL/RL, which currently has the base year of 1986-87 by August 2021. • The other two are CPI-Urban and CPI Rural. These two indexes are compiled by the National Statistical Office (NSO) in the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation. • The combined rise in retail prices is captured by CPI Combined. • A committee set up by the National Statistical Commission (NSC) in 2005 under the recommendation of Dr C Rangarajan Commission, has suggested that CPI-Rural and CPI- Urban could be a substitute for CPI-AL/RL and CPI-IW, respectively. Way Forward: • The new series will serve as a useful reference book for researchers, academicians, scholars and all other stakeholders of CPI-IW. • The improvements made in the new series will make it more comparable at international level. It will help in measurements of macroeconomic indicators of the Indian economy. • As per the recommendations of International Labour Organisation (ILO), Index Review Committee (IRC) and National Statistical Commission (NSC); the base year of price index numbers should be revised at frequent intervals generally not exceeding 10 years to reflect the changes that take place in the Consumption Pattern of Consumers.

2. Interest-on-interest waiver to cost Exchequer ` 7,500 Crore Why in News? • An analysis by CRISIL Ratings showed that more than 40% of system credit and 75% of borrowers stand to benefit from interest-on-interest Concession Announced by the Government. About the News: • Recently, the Government of India has announced the scheme for the waiver of compound interest that was payable by the borrower who had opted for loan moratorium between 1st March 2020, and 31st August 2020.

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• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) had in March 2020 offered a three-month moratorium on loans, enabling borrowers to defer repayments on EMIs and other loans. This was later extended by another three months, till 31st August 2020. • The loan moratorium, and waiver of compound interest, was aimed at providing borrowers relief amid the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. • It indicated that the ex-gratia payment of interest-on-interest by banks and non-banking financial companies for the moratorium period (between March 1 and August 31) would amount to ` 7,500 crore of benefit for eligible borrowers. Lenders will not be impacted as the Centre had agreed to pick up the tab. • The benefit will be extended to borrowers with outstanding loans (standard as on February 29, 2020) of less than ` 2 crore under select categories, irrespective of whether the moratorium was availed of or not. About Compound Interest Waiver Scheme: • Under this, the government will grant eligible borrowers ex-gratia payment of the difference between the compound interest and simple Interest for the six-month Moratorium Period. • Ex-gratia payment is the money which is paid due to moral Obligation and not due to legal obligation. • Simple interest is levied only on the principal amount of a loan or deposit. In contrast, compound interest is levied on the principal amount and the interest that accumulates on it in every period. Eligibility: • The scheme shall be applicable for loans availed by Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) as well as loans to retail customers for education, housing, consumer durables, automobiles, provided a borrower has an aggregate outstanding loan of `2 crore or less, from all such loans. • Credit card dues have also been included in the scheme’s ambit. • The loan interest waiver payment shall be admissible, irrespective of whether the borrower had availed the moratorium partly, fully, or not at all. • However, this would only be permitted for loan accounts that had not been reported as Non-Performing Assets (NPAs) as on 29th February 2020. A loan is recorded as a non- performing asset or NPA, 90 days after repayments become overdue.

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Effect: • The amount saved through loan interest waiver will be very small. This is because only the interest that would have been charged on the interest of the original loan during the six months moratorium period is waived off. • In other words, the loan repayment will continue and one will still need to pay the simple interest that would have paid if not opted for the loan moratorium. It is only the compounding interest that goes off. Implementation: • Lenders have been asked to set up a grievance redressal mechanism for eligible borrowers under the scheme by 30th October 2020. • A mechanism has also been put in place for lenders to claim the amount back from the government. Lenders have to submit claims for reimbursement by 15th December 2020 through a special cell set up in the State Bank of India (SBI).

1.1. ECONOMY SNIPPETS

1. MACS 6478 Why in News? • Recently, the wheat variety called MACS 6478 has doubled the crop yield for farmers in Karanjkhop, a village in Maharashtra. Highlights: • It is developed by Scientists from Agharkar Research Institute (ARI), Pune- an autonomous institute of the Department of Science and Technology (DST). • A common wheat or bread wheat (Triticum aestivum). Other popular wheat varieties are durum wheat (T. durum) and club wheat (T. compactum). • Hybrid Crop is produced by the cross-breeding of two genetically different varieties or species. Hybrids are often spontaneously and randomly created in nature when open- pollinated plants naturally cross-pollinate with other related varieties (not genetically modified). • Matures in 110 days and is resistant to most races of leaf and stem rust. This is against the normal maturing attained after 140 to 150 days, required for wheat varieties cultivated commonly in northern India. • This amber colored medium sized grain contains 14% protein, 44.1 ppm (parts per million) zinc and 42.8 ppm iron which is higher than other cultivated varieties.

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• Farmers get a yield of 45-60 quintal per hectare with the new variety as against earlier average yield ranging 25-30 quintal per hectare when they cultivated Lok 1, HD 2189 and other Old Varieties.

2. Comparison of India and Bangladesh’s GDP Why in News? • According to the The International Monetary Fund’s World Economic Outlook estimation, in 2020, growth of India’s gross domestic product (GDP) will witness a contraction of over 10%. • This more than doubles the level of contraction — from 4.5% — that the IMF had projected for India just a few months ago. But more than the sharp contraction, what has caught everyone’s attention is that in 2020, the per capita income of an average Bangladeshi citizen would be more than the per capita income of an average Indian citizen. How did this Happen? Isn’t India one of the world’s Biggest Economies? • Typically, countries are compared on the basis of GDP growth rate, or on absolute GDP. For the most part since Independence, on both these counts, India’s economy has been better than Bangladesh’s. • GDP growth rates and absolute GDP — India’s economy has mostly been over 10 times the size of Bangladesh, and grown faster every year. • However, per capita income also involves another variable — the overall population — and is arrived at by dividing the total GDP by the total population. As a result, there are three reasons why India’s per capita income has fallen below Bangladesh this year. • Bangladesh’s economy has been clocking rapid GDP growth rates since 2004. However, this pace did not alter the relative positions of the two economies between 2004 and 2016 because India grew even faster than Bangladesh. But since 2017 onwards, India’s growth rate has decelerated sharply while Bangladesh’s has become even faster. • Secondly, over the same 15-year period, India’s population grew faster (around 21%) than Bangladesh’s population (just under 18%). • The combined effect of these two factors have closed the per capita GDP gap considerably even before Covid-19 hit. Bangladesh’s per capita GDP was merely half of India’s in 2007 — but this was just before the global financial crisis. • It was roughly 70% of India’s in 2014 and this gap closed rapidly in the last few years.

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• Lastly, the most immediate factor was the relative impact of Covid-19 on the two economies in 2020. While India’s GDP is set to reduce by 10%, Bangladesh’s is expected to grow by almost 4%. • In other words, while India is one of the worst affected economies, Bangladesh is one of the bright spots. Has this Ever Happened Earlier? • In 1991, when India was undergoing a severe crisis and grew by just above 1%, Bangladesh’s per capita GDP surged ahead of India’s. Since then, India again took the lead. Is India Expected to regain the Lead Again? • The IMF’s projections show that India is likely to grow faster next year and in all likelihood again surge ahead. But, given Bangladesh’s lower population growth and faster economic growth, India and Bangladesh are likely to be neck and neck for the foreseeable future in terms of per Capita Income. How has Bangladesh Managed to grow so fast and so Robustly? • In the initial years of its independence with Pakistan, Bangladesh struggled to grow fast. However, moving away from Pakistan also gave the country a chance to start afresh on its economic and political identity. • As such, its labour laws were not as stringent and its economy increasingly involved women in its labour force. This can be seen in higher female participation in the labour force. A key driver of growth was the garment industry where women workers gave Bangladesh the edge to corner the global export markets from which China retreated. • It also helps that the structure of Bangladesh’s economy is such that its GDP is led by the industrial sector, followed by the services sector. Both these sectors create a lot of jobs and are more remunerative than agriculture. India, on the other hand, has struggled to boost its industrial sector and has far too many people still dependent on agriculture. • Beyond the economics, a big reason for Bangladesh’s progressively faster growth rate is that, especially over the past two decades, it improved on several social and political metrics such as health, sanitation, financial inclusion, and women’s political representation. • For instance, despite a lower proportion of its population having access to basic sanitation, the mortality rate attributed to unsafe water and sanitation in Bangladesh is much lower than in India.

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• On financial inclusion, according to the World Bank’s Global Findex database, while a smaller proportion of its population has bank accounts, the proportion of dormant bank accounts is quite small when compared to India. • Bangladesh is also far ahead of India in the latest gender parity rankings. This measures differences in the political and economic opportunities as well as the educational attainment and health of men and women. Out of 154 countries mapped for it, Bangladesh is in the top 50 while India languishes at 112. • The same trend holds for the Global Hunger Index. The GHI goes beyond treating hunger in terms of calorie intake. It looks at four factors: Undernourishment (which reflects inadequate food availability), Child Wasting (which reflects acute undernutrition), Child Stunting (which reflects chronic undernutrition) and Child Mortality (which reflects both inadequate nutrition and unhealthy environment).

3. Heeng Cultivation Project Why in News? • Recently, the Scientists at CSIR-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology (IHBT), Palampur are on a mission to grow heeng (asafoetida) in the Indian Himalayas. IHBT is the only Laboratory of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) in Himachal Pradesh. Highlights: • It is an herbaceous plant of the umbelliferae family. It is a perennial plant whose oleo gum resin is extracted from its thick roots and rhizome. The plant stores most of its nutrients inside its deep fleshy roots. • It is endemic to Iran and Afghanistan, which are also the main global suppliers of it. It is very popular in India and is used in cooking. • Climatic Condition thrives in dry and cold desert conditions. The plant can withstand a maximum temperature between 35 and 40 degree, whereas during winters, it can survive in temperatures up to minus 4 degree. • Regions with sandy soil, very little moisture and annual rainfall of not more than 200mm are considered conducive for heeng cultivation. • It has medicinal properties, including relief for digestive, spasmodic and stomach disorders, asthma and bronchitis. • The herb is used to help with painful or excessive bleeding during menstruation and premature labour.

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About India’s Heeng Cultivation Project: • It is not cultivated in India. India imports about 1,200 tonnes of raw heeng worth Rs. 600 crore from Iran, Afghanistan and Uzbekistan. • In 2017, IHBT approached the National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (NBPGR) with an experimental project idea to cultivate heeng in the Indian Himalayas. • In June 2020, the IHBT inked a Memorandum of Understanding with the agriculture ministry of Himachal Pradesh to jointly cultivate the heeng. • The Agriculture ministry has identified four locations in the Lahul-Spiti valley and has distributed heeng seeds to seven farmers in the region. • The challenge for the scientists is that heeng seeds remain under a prolonged dormant phase and the rate of seed germination is just 1%.

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2. ENVIRONMENT 1. Microbes to Fight Oil Spillage in Oceans Why in News? • The scientists of National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) have developed an eco- friendly crude oil bioremediation mechanism technology. • The technology uses a consortium of marine microbes wheat bran (WB) immobilized on agro-residue bacterial cells. Bioremediation: • Bioremediation can be defined as any process that uses microorganisms or their enzymes to remove and or neutralize contaminants within the environment (i.e., within soil and water) to their Original Condition. Oil Spills: • An oil spill is the release of a liquid petroleum hydrocarbon into the environment, especially the marine ecosystem, due to human activity. • It is a form of Pollution. • Oil Spills can occur on land also. Recent Oil Spill Events: • Deepwater Horizon drilling accident was the largest accidental oil spill disaster in history that took place on April 20, 2010, releasing 779 million litres of crude oil into the Gulf of Mexico. • The Ennore oil spill occurred outside the Kamarajar Port in Ennore near Chennai in Tamil Nadu on 28 January 2017, when an outbound empty tanker BW Maple collided with an inbound loaded oil tanker Dawn Kanchipuram releasing at 9.9 million gallons (37,000 m3) of oils into the Bay of Bengal. • The recent MV Wakashio spill off Mauritius — about 1,000 tonnes of oil spilled into a sanctuary for rare wildlife after the Japanese ship struck a coral reef on 25 July 2020. Consequences: • The costs of oil spills are considerable in both economic and ecological terms • Affect commercial and Subsistence Fishing.

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• Oil on ocean surfaces is harmful to many forms of aquatic life because it prevents sufficient amounts of sunlight from penetrating the surface, and it also reduces the level of dissolved oxygen. Crude oil ruins the insulating and waterproofing properties of feathers and fur, and thus oil-coated birds and marine mammals may die from hypothermia. • Ingested oil can be toxic to affected animals and there is a high risk of biomagnification. • Damage to shore-based coastal ecosystems such as saltwater marshes and mangroves. • Affect tourism and commerce associated with beaches. Remedial Suggestions: • Floating booms can be placed around the source of the spill or at entrances to channels and harbours. • Use various sorbents (e.g., straw, volcanic ash, and shavings of polyester-derived plastic) that absorb the oil from the water. • The floating oil is set to fire by igniting it safely. It is the most proficient method of oil clean-up, as it can efficiently remove 98% of the total spilt oil. • Using dispersal chemicals which are spread over the spilt oil to initiate the disintegration of oil. Other methods employed are hot water washing or washing with high-pressure water; manual labour; and Bioremediation and Natural Recovery.

2. Emission of N2O Why in News? • Recently, human emissions of nitrous oxide (N2O) have increased by 30% between 1980 and 2016. The research was conducted through an international collaboration between the International Nitrogen Initiative (INI) and the Global Carbon Project of Future Earth, a partner of the World Climate Research Programme. About Nitrous Oxide (N2O): • It is a greenhouse gas (GHG) 300 times more potent than carbon dioxide (CO2). • It is the third-highest concentration, after CO2 and methane (CH4), in Earth’s atmosphere among GHGs responsible for global warming. • It is also the only remaining threat to the ozone (O3) layer, for it accumulates in the atmosphere over a long period of time, just like CO2. • It can live in the atmosphere for up to 125 years. Its global concentration levels have increased from 270 parts per billion (ppb) in 1750 to 331 ppb in 2018, a jump of 20%. • The Growth has been the quickest in the past five decades because of Human Emissions.

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Highlights: • This is the most comprehensive study of global N2O emissions ever published, as it combines both natural and anthropogenic (man-made) sources. • The study found that 43% of the total emissions came from human sources and most N2O emissions came from emerging countries like India, China and Brazil. • Increase in its emissions means that the climatic burden on the atmosphere is increasing from non-carbon sources as well, while the major focus of global climate change negotiations is currently centred on carbon, its emissions and mitigation. • It also highlighted the dichotomy of the climate crisis and global food security. • A major proportion of the N2O emissions in the last four decades came from the agricultural sector, mainly because of the use of nitrogen-based fertilisers. • The growing demand for food and feed for animals will further increase its global emissions, leading to a direct conflict between the way countries are feeding people and Stabilising the climate. Way Ahead: • There are well-established practices and technologies like crop and manure management, the use of bio-fertilisers, to mitigate N2O emissions which need to be utilised to their full extent. The revised industrial and agricultural policies at the global level will reduce such Emissions Considerably. By reducing GHGs emissions will also have the co-benefits of reduced air and water pollution. There is a need to bring the non-carbon sources under the major global climate Change Negotiations. • It is possible to slow down N2O emissions if countries implement the United Nations Global Campaign on Sustainable Nitrogen Management, 2019 held in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

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3. Seagrass in Gulf of Mannar Why in News? • The Restoration process of Seagrasses has been recently taken up by Tamil Nadu in the Gulf of Mannar. About Seagrasses: • They are flowering plants that grow submerged in shallow marine waters like bays and lagoons. They have tiny flowers and strap-like or oval leaves. • The terrestrial plants evolved about 850 million years ago from a group of green algae and seagrasses evolved from terrestrial plants that recolonised the ocean 70-100 million years ago. They also Require sunlight for photosynthesis from which these manufacture their own food and release oxygen. • The pollen from the flower of the male plant is transferred to the ovary of the female flower through this method. This is known as submarine pollination. Most species undergo this process and complete their life cycle underwater. • They can also Reproduce asexually by branching off at their rhizomes (modified subterranean plant stem that sends out roots and shoots from its nodes). • They can recover after being cut by Grazers or disturbed by storms. The Order and Species: • There are 60 species belonging to four families in the order Alismatales. • Some of the important seagrasses are Sea Cow Grass (Cymodocea serrulata), Thready Seagrass (Cymodocea rotundata), Needle Seagrass (Syringodium isoetifolium), Flat-tipped Seagrass (Halodule uninervis), etc. They inhabit all types of substratas (layers) from mud to rock, the lush green seagrass beds are found extensively in muddy and sandy substratas. • These occur all along the Coastal Areas of India and are abundant in the Palk Strait and Gulf of Mannar in Tamil Nadu. Advantages: • They are considered ‘Ecosystem Engineers’ as they are known for providing many ecosystem services and are also called ‘the lungs of the sea’ as they release oxygen into the water through photosynthesis. • Sequesters up to 11% of the organic carbon buried in the ocean even though they occupy only 0.1% of the ocean floor and absorb 83 million tonnes of carbon from the atmosphere annually.

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• They can capture carbon from the atmosphere up to 35 times faster than tropical rainforests. • Help maintain water quality by trapping fine sediments and suspended particles in the water column and increase water clarity. • Filter nutrients released from land-based industries before they reach sensitive habitats like coral reefs. Prevent soil erosion as the extensive vertical and horizontal root systems of seagrasses stabilise the sea bottom. • Provide food as well as habitat for fishes, octopuses, shrimp, blue crabs, oysters, etc. • Endangered marine organisms like dugong (Sea Cow), green turtle, etc, graze directly on seagrass leaves. Bottle-nosed dolphins feed on the organisms that live in seagrass areas. • Detritus (natural waste) of decomposed dead seagrass supplies food for worms, sea cucumbers, crabs, etc. • After decomposition, it releases nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus which are absorbed by seagrasses and phytoplankton. • Protect juvenile and small adult fish from large predators and also protect worms, crabs, starfishes, sea cucumbers, sea urchins, etc, from strong currents. • Provide ideal nursery sites for important commercial marine life like squids and cuttlefish. Threats faced by Seagrass: • The Seagrass beds are facing decline all over the world at the rate of 2-5% annually. • Around 30,000 square kilometres of seagrass has been lost during recent decades at a Global Level. These face natural disturbances like grazing, storms, ice-scouring (abrasion and erosion of seabeds by glaciers.) and desiccation (extreme dryness). • Human disturbances like eutrophication, mechanical destruction of habitat, overfishing, release of Nutrients, Coastal Engineering Construction, Pollution, etc are destructive for them. Way Ahead: • Protection and restoration should be attempted at a global level as it can play a significant role in Mitigating Climate Change. • There is an urgent need to take earnest measures to conserve seagrasses and their habitats. For that, the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) should intervene immediately and study the status of the different seagrass species before they become extinct. If Seagrass Habitats are lost, the marine organisms that depend on them for their survival may also face extinction, Resulting in the loss of Marine Ecosystem Productivity.

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2.1. ENVIRONMENT SNIPPETS 1. Madhuca Diplostemon Tree Why in News? • The Madhuca diplostemon tree has recently been rediscovered after a gap of more than 180 years from a sacred grove in Kollam district, Kerala. Highlights: • It is locally known as Kavilippa in Malayalam. • It has been identified by the scientists at the Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute (JNTBGRI) at Palode, Kerala. • The Threatened species of the Western Ghats was believed to be extinct. • It is the second time a tree of this species has ever been located and only one mature tree has been found so far, which makes this remarkable rediscovery extremely valuable from a Scientific, Environmental and conservation point of view. • In 1835, Robert Wight, a surgeon-botanist with the East India Company, found the first specimen. Its original collection, specimens of the tree were never collected again, neither from its locality nor elsewhere, and botanical explorations in Eastern and Western Ghats failed to locate the species. • The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has included it in the endangered species list. • There is only one specimen left in a single locality, it is eligible to be categorised as 'Critically Endangered'. The JNTBGRI is planning to undertake the ex-situ conservation of this species through the institute’s species recovery programme.

2. Bioremediation Mechanism Why in News? • Recently, the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) in Chennai has developed an eco-friendly crude oil bioremediation mechanism technology using consortia (group of two or more species) of marine microbes wheat bran (WB) immobilized on agro-residue Bacterial Cells. About Eco-friendly Crude Oil Bioremediation Mechanism Technology: • Bioremediation can be defined as any process that uses microorganisms or their enzymes to remove and or neutralize contaminants within the environment to their original condition.

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• In the marine ecosystem, deep sea hydrocarbon clastic (ability to degrade hydrocarbon) microbial consortium plays an important role in breaking down oil in the event of a spill. • This microbial community serves as energetic primary degraders of a complex mixture of petroleum hydrocarbons into various aldehydes, ketones and acidic metabolites. • These hydrocarbon degrading bacteria don’t depend on hydrocarbons for survival, but have a metabolic mechanism where they use petroleum products as carbon and energy source and thus, help cleaning up oil spills. • The complete breakdown and degradation of crude oil is achievable using wheat bran marine bacterial consortia (which are low-cost non-toxic agro-residues) in an environmentally sustainable manner. Advantages: • They are more effective in their immobilised state than the free bacteria cells in degrading the oil spills. • They could remove 84% of the oils within 10 days. The free bacterial cells degraded a maximum of 60% of the crude oil at optimised conditions. • They are more versatile and resistant to adverse conditions. They have efficacy in treating accidental bulk discharge of oil in marine environments through non-toxic clean-up Technology.

3. Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphin Why in News? • Recently, Chinese pink dolphins are making a comeback in the Pearl River Estuary (PRE). Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins are also known as Chinese white dolphins or pink dolphins, reflecting the colour of their skin. About Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphin: • Its scientific Name is Sousa Chinensis. Its total range is in coastal waters from central China southward throughout Southeast Asia and westward to the Bay of Bengal, with highest densities in and around estuaries. • These dolphins are apparently absent from fairly long stretches of coastline. It is not always clear whether the fragmentation is ‘natural’ or caused by human activities.

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• The World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF) says the population in the PRE is believed to be around 2,500, but falling numbers of young could reduce numbers in future. They have seen a decline in their numbers in the past 15 years by 70-80%. • Their threats are agricultural, industrial, and urban pollution, Overfishing, Marine construction including bridge-building and land creation for airport expansion and residential/office development, Transport including fast ferries and Selling into captivity at marine “entertainment” parks and Aquariums Worldwide. • Loss of suitable habitat, the mortality of dolphins from entanglements and vessel strikes, and the possible effects of chemical, sewage and noise pollution on their health. • It is listed as vulnerable in IUCN About Pearl River Estuary: • It includes Hong Kong, Macau as well as the mainland Chinese cities of Shenzhen, Guangzhou and Dongguan. Around 22 million people live in the area. • The Pearl River Delta, the low-lying area surrounding the PRE where the Pearl River flows into the South China Sea, is one of the world’s most densely urbanised, heavily industrialised and busiest shipping lanes on Earth. • Dolphins use echolocation to find their way in the water and the ships often disturb them in finding their way and even kill them. • This allows the animals to move around in pitch darkness, so they can navigate, hunt, identify friends and enemies, and avoid obstacles. • Their numbers in the waters between Hong Kong and Macau have seen a rebound in 2020 because Covid-19 pandemic has stopped ferries and hence reduced their traffic. • The number of pink dolphins in the waters has roughly increased by a third according to Scientists.

4. Skinks Why in News? • The Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) has recently brought a study on skinks (a kind of lizard), titled Skinks of India. Highlights: • With 1,602 species of skinks across the world, • It is the largest family of lizards, having long bodies, relatively small or no legs, no pronounced neck and glossy scales.

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• It is found around homes, garages, and open spaces such as sparks and school playgrounds, and around lakes. • They are non-venomous, highly alert, agile and fast moving and actively forage for a variety of insects and small invertebrates. • They have a prominent role in maintaining ecosystems, however, not much is known about their breeding habits, and ecology because identification of the species can be confusing. • In India skinks are found in all kinds of habitats in the country, from the Himalayas to the coasts and from dense forests to the deserts. • The Study gives a phylogenetic (evolutionary development) and bio-geographical analysis of distribution of these species in all the 11 bio-geographic zones of India. • India is home to less than 4% of the skinks across the globe. 62 species of skinks are found in India and about 57% of them (33 species) are endemic. • India is home to 16 genera of skinks, four of which are endemic. The four genera of skinks are: • Sepsophis punctatus is endemic to the northern part of Eastern Ghats • Barkudia are limbless skinks found in the hills and coastal plains of the eastern coast. • Barkudia insularis is believed to be found only in the Barkud Island in Chilka lake in Odisha. • Barkudia melanosticta is endemic to Visakhapatnam. • Kaestlea are also known as blue-tailed ground skinks and are endemic to the Western Ghats. Ristella are also known as Cat skinks and endemic to the southern part of Western Ghats.

5. National Authority for Recycling of Ships Why in News? • Central Government has notified the Directorate General of Shipping as National Authority for Recycling of Ships under the section 3 of the Recycling of Ships Act, 2019. National Authority for Recycling of Ships: • As an apex body, DG Shipping is authorized to administer, supervise and monitor all activities relating to Ship Recycling. • DG Shipping will look after the sustainable development of the Ship Recycling industry, monitoring the compliance to environment-friendly norms and safety and health measures for the stakeholders working in the ship recycling industry.

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• DG Shipping will be the final authority for the various approvals required by the Ship- Recycling yard owners and State Governments. • Under Ship Recycling Act, 2019, India has acceded to Hong Kong Convention for Ship Recycling under International Maritime Organization (IMO). • DG Shipping is a representative of India in IMO and all the conventions of IMO are being enforced by DG Shipping. • National Authority of Ship Recycling will be set up in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. The location of the office will benefit the Ship Recycling yard owners situated in Alang, Gujarat which is home of Asia’s largest ship breaking and ship recycling industry in the world.

6. Flash Flood Warning System for South Asian Countries Why in News? • India has launched first of its kind Flash Flood Guidance services for India and other South Asian countries- Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. Aim: • To Issue impact-based forecasting at the watershed and city level of floods which are very sudden. Needs: • There is a general lack of flash flood warning capabilities and capacities of the nations across the world. • For taking necessary mitigation measures to reduce the loss of life and property in the South Asian Region countries. Flash Flood Guidance System (FFGS): • It is a robust system designed by the India Meteorological Department (IMD). • It has been developed by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Commission for Hydrology in collaboration with: ✓ US National Weather Service, ✓ US Hydrologic Research Centre (HRC). ✓ Member nations will be provided guidance for flash floods in the form of Threats (6 hours in advance) and Risks (24 hours in advance) by: ✓ Regional Centre to National Meteorological & Hydrological Services, ✓ National and State Disaster Management Authorities.

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Features: • It will provide alerts for flash floods at the watershed level with a resolution of 4kmx4km. • The system has in-depth science, dynamics, and diagnostics to provide guidance for the possible occurrences of flash floods at the local level. • Why WMO has entrusted India? • WMO had approved the implementation of FFGS project because IMD has highly advanced capabilities with respect to: ✓ Computing power, ✓ Numerical weather prediction, ✓ Vast observational network (ground, air, and space-based) and ✓ Internationally acclaimed Weather Forecasting System. • What are Flash Floods? ✓ Flash Floods are highly localized events of short duration with a very high peak and usually have less than six hours between the occurrence of the rainfall and peak flood.

7. Habitat decline for Himalayan brown bear by 2050 Why in News? • A recent study on the Himalayan brown bear has predicted a massive decline of 73% of the bear’s habitat by 2050 due to Climate Change.

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Outcome of the Study: • These losses in habitat will result in loss of habitat from 13 protected areas (PAs). 8 of 13 will become completely uninhabitable by the year 2050. • What should be done? There is a need to adopt spatial planning of PAs in the western Himalayan region for the long-term viability of the species. • Adaptive spatial planning refers to conserving the existing landscape and augmenting the fragmented areas of the habitat of the species. Himalayan Brown Bear: • India has four species of bears: Asiatic Black, Sloth, Sun and Himalayan Brown Bear. • All Indian Bear species are listed under Appendix I in CITES and Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. • The Himalayan brown bear, also known as the Himalayan red bear, isabelline bear or Dzu- Teh, is a subspecies of the brown bear. • It is world’s largest terrestrial carnivore. • It is a top carnivore of the high-altitude Himalayan region as well India’s largest land carnivore. • Appearance: It is smaller than Grizzly bears and the Kodiak bears. It has thick reddish brown coat with no clear chest markings. • Behavior: It is the least arboreal bear and is largely terrestrial. It hibernates in winter. They are diurnal and are generally solitary.

• Habitat: North-western and central Himalaya (higher reaches, of Himalaya) including Pakistan, India, Nepal, Tibetan Autonomous Region of China and Bhutan. • It is found in small and isolated populations and sometimes extremely rare in many of its ranges. Populations are present in the Great Himalayan National Park (Himachal Pradesh) and the Deosai National Park, Pakistan. • May also be present in south and western Ladakh, in the upper Suru and Zanskar valleys. Conservation Status: • IUCN: ✓ Endangered in Himalaya Mountains (in Nepal, India and Pakistan) ✓ Critically Endangered in Hindu Kush Mountain range (Pakistan) ✓ Note: IUCN status of Brown bear (not Himalayan brown bear), found across Eurasia and North America, is Least concerned.

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✓ Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972: Schedule 1 ✓ CITES: Appendix I • Threats: ✓ Global warming: The elevation gradient in which the brown bear is distributed in Himalayas is most vulnerable to global warming as this elevation belt is getting warmer faster than other elevation zones of Himalayas. ✓ Habitat loss, killing by livestock herders, and poaching for fur and for the illegal body parts trade. In Pakistan there are the additional threat of habitat insularisation (creation of islands of habitats/ fragmented habitats).

8. Active Zone of Himalayas Why in News? • Recently, a group of scientists from the Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology (WIHG), Dehradun have found that the Indus-Tsangpo Suture Zone (ITSZ) of Himalaya is tectonically active. Highlights: • The suture zone of Himalaya was conventionally thought to be locked. WIHG is an autonomous institute under the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India. • Tectonics is the scientific study of the deformation of the rocks that make up the Earth’s crust and the forces that produce such deformation. • It deals with the folding and faulting associated with mountain building, the large-scale, gradual upward and downward movements of the crust and sudden horizontal displacements along faults. • Geological Features that Support the Finding are Sedimentary beds are tilted and thrust broken, Rivers are associated with uplifted terraces and Bedrock shows brittle deformation at much shallower depths. • These deformed geological features were dated using the technique of Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) and data of seismicity and denudation rate was also reviewed. • Optically-Stimulated Luminescence: It is a late quaternary (geological time period that encompasses the most recent 2.6 million years) dating technique used to date the last time quartz sediment was exposed to light. As sediment is transported by wind, water or ice, it is exposed to sunlight and zeroed of any previous luminescence signal.

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• Seismicity: It is the worldwide or local distribution of earthquakes in space, time, and magnitude. More specifically, it refers to the measure of the frequency of earthquakes in a region. It is a long term process in which the wearing and tearing of the surface of the Earth take place. It includes all those processes that lower relief and acts both chemically (chemical weathering) and physically (mechanical weathering). • The region of the ITSZ has been neo-tectonically active since the last 78000-58000 years. It is a suture zone in the Ladakh region and marks the limit of the Indian plate where it collides with the Eurasian plate and is subducted below the latter. • The ITSZ can be traced for more than 200 km and a wide variety of rock association along the ITSZ indicates that the collision at the plate boundary was of very complex nature. • The ITSZ was conventionally believed to be a locked zone till now. • This will have major implications in terms of earthquake study, prediction, understanding the seismic structure of the mountain chains well as its evolution. About Suture Zones: • It is a linear belt of intense deformation, where distinct terranes, or tectonic units with different plate tectonic, metamorphic, and paleogeographic histories join together. • These zones also provide the only record of deep oceanic crust and of ancient seafloor processes for roughly the first 90% of Earth’s history. Their study provides a means to understand the end-product of plate tectonic processes in time and space. In plate tectonics, sutures are seen as the remains of subduction zones together with the terranes possibly representing fragments of different tectonic plates. It is often represented on the surface by a mountain range comprising intensely deformed rocks. The Iapetus Suture from Great Britain, which is now concealed beneath younger rocks, and Indo-Tsangpo Suture well exposed in the Himalayas are some of the best examples of suture zones.

9. Typhoon Molave Why in News? • Vietnam has recently been hit by one of its biggest storms in two decades - Typhoon Molave. Highlights: • It is a regionally specific name for a strong "tropical cyclone". It is known as ‘typhoons’ in the northwest pacific ocean, hurricanes in the North Atlantic Ocean, Willy-willies in north- western Australia and Tropical Cyclones in the Indian Ocean Region.

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• It is a generic term used by meteorologists to describe a rotating, organized system of clouds and thunderstorms that originates over tropical or subtropical waters and has closed, low-level circulation. • It rotate counter clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere. These are measured by the Saffir- Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. • The Regional Specialized Meteorological Centre (RSMC) Tokyo - Typhoon Centre assigns a tropical cyclone a name from the five lists. The name ‘Molave’ is contributed by the Philippines. • Vietnam is prone to natural disasters in the rainy season between June and November, with central coastal provinces commonly impacted, but the storms have notably worsened in Recent Years. 1. POLITY & GOVERNANCE 1. Gujarat Disturbed Areas Act Why in News? • President Ram Nath Kovind has given his assent to the amended Disturbed Areas Act passed by the Gujarat Legislative Assembly last year. Background: • The bill was brought last year to amend the ”The Gujarat Prohibition of Transfer of Immovable Property and Provision for Protection of Tenants from Eviction from Premises in Disturbed Areas Act”, 1991, commonly referred to as the Disturbed Areas Act. • The government had added some stringent provisions amid complaints from people that the current act was unable to curb the illegal sale or transfer of their properties in such notified disturbed areas. What is the Disturbed Areas Act? • Under the Disturbed Areas Act, a district Collector can notify a particular area of a city or town as a “disturbed area”. • This notification is generally done based on the history of communal riots in the area. Following this notification, the transfer of immovable property in the disturbed area can take place only after the Collector expressly signs off on an application made by the buyer and the seller of the property. • In the application, the seller has to attach an affidavit stating that she/he has sold the property of her/his free volition, and that she/he has got a fair Market Price.

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Latest Amendments: • The amended law would stop polarisation and keep a check on attempts to cause any “demographic imbalance”. • The Act bans sale of property by members of one religious community to those from another community without the prior approval of the district collector in areas declared as “disturbed areas”. To stop people from acquiring properties in disturbed areas through illegal means, the act proposes imprisonment between three to five years along with a fine of Rs 1 lakh or 10 per cent of value of property, whichever is higher. • The word “transfer” now includes sale, gift, exchange, lease or taking possession of the property by way of power of attorney. The act also empowers the state government to form a “monitoring and advisory committee” to keep a check on the demographic structure in the disturbed areas. The government can form a special investigation team (SIT) to assist the state government in forming opinion before Declaring any area to be a Disturbed one. Role of Collector: • The collector can now check if there is any “likelihood of polarisation”, “disturbance in demographic equilibrium” or any “likelihood of improper clustering of persons of a community” if the transfer takes place. The collector can reject the application of transfer after making assessment on these grounds. The aggrieved person can now file an appeal with the state government against the Collector’s Order.

2. Thalassemia Bal Sewa Yojna Why in News? • The Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare launched the second phase of Thalassemia Bal Sewa Yojna for the underprivileged Thalassemic patients. Thalassemia Bal Sewa Yojna: • The scheme is a Coal India CSR funded Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT) program launched in 2017. • To provide a one-time cure Opportunity for Haemoglobinopathies like Thalassaemia and Sickle Cell Disease for patients who have a matched Family Donor. Highlights: • The Corporate Social Responsibility initiative was targeted to provide financial assistance to a Total of 200 Patients by providing a package cost not exceeding Rs. 10 lakhs per HSCT.

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Thalassemia Disease: • Thalassemia is a chronic blood disorder due to which a patient cannot make enough hemoglobin found in Red Blood Cells (RBC’s). • This leads to Anaemia and patients also require blood transfusions every two to three weeks to survive. These Thalassemia syndromes are caused by inheritance of abnormal (beta) Thalassemia genes from both parents or abnormal beta-Thalassemia gene from one parent and abnormal variant haemoglobin gene from the Other Parent. Types of Thalassemia: 1. Thalassemia Minor: ✓ The Hemoglobin Genes are inherited during conception, one from the mother and one from the Father. ✓ People with a Thalassemia trait in one gene are known as carriers or are said to have Thalassemia Minor. ✓ Thalassemia Minor is not a disease and they have only mild anaemia. 2. Thalassemia Major: ✓ This is the most severe form of Thalassemia. ✓ This occurs when a child inherits two mutated genes, one from each parent. ✓ Patients Children with thalassemia major develop the symptoms of severe Anaemia within the first year of life. Prevalence: • There are around 270 million Thalassemia patients in the world. • India has the largest number of children with Thalassemia major in the world (about 1 to 1.5 lakhs). • The only cure available for such children is bone marrow transplantation (BMT). • BMT is difficult and not affordable by the parents of all these children. • Hence, the mainstay of treatment is repeated blood transfusions, followed by regular iron chelation therapy to remove the excessive iron overload, consequent to the multiple blood Transfusions. Thalassemia Screening and Counselling Centre: • A Thalassemia Screening and Counselling Centre inaugurated at Indian Red Cross Society’s National Headquarters (IRCS NHQ) Blood Bank on August 2020. • The new initiative of IRCS will provide adequate therapy and prevent the birth of children affected with hemoglobinopathies.

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• It will be done through carrier screening, genetic counselling and prenatal diagnosis. Haemoglobinopathies: • Haemoglobinopathies are inherited disorders of globin, the protein component of haemoglobin (Hb). • It is a genetic defect that results in abnormal structure of one of the globin chains of the haemoglobin molecule. Defects in these genes can produce Abnormal Haemoglobin, Anaemia and thalassemia Syndromes. Sickle Cell Disease: • Sickle cell disease (SCD) is an inherited blood disorder that affect red blood cells. • SCD cause a person’s normally round and flexible blood cells to become stiff and sickle shaped, stopping them and the oxygen they carry from moving freely around the body. • This can cause episodes of severe pain, referred to as sickle cell crises. • The cells die early, leaving a shortage of healthy RBC and can block blood flow causing pain, severe bacterial infections, and necrosis (tissue death). • People with SCD are at a risk of complications: Stroke, acute chest syndrome, blindness, bone Damage and Priapism. Prevalence: • The disease in India occurs predominantly in eastern Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, western Odisha and in pockets of the Nilgiri Hills in north Tamil Nadu and Kerala. • In Odisha, the disease is prevalent among tribal communities. • The disease is widespread amongst many tribals in India, posing a considerable health burden in several states. India’s first-ever Saviour-Sibling through ART: • India has experimented to bring in life the first saviour sibling to save her sibling from Thalassemia. The baby girl was conceived by her parents through invitro fertilisation to save her brother by donating her bone marrow. • The patient wanted a bone marrow which could match his human leukocyte antigen (HLA). The experiment was started using the assisted reproductive therapy, called pre- implantation genetic testing, for monogenic disorder with HLA matching. • The couple underwent cycles of IVF and an embryo was created that perfectly matched the elder sibling’s HLA and later the bone marrow was drawn and transplanted in the patient.

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3. MSP, Government procurement key to India’s food security, says PM Why in News? • Prime Minister Narendra Modi reiterated his support for minimum support prices and government procurement of crops, at a time when farmers are protesting against Agricultural Reforms that they say endangers this Existing System. About MSP: • In theory, an MSP is the minimum price set by the Government at which farmers can expect to sell their produce for the season. When market prices fall below the announced MSPs, procurement agencies step in to procure the crop and ‘support’ the Prices. Who Announces MSP? • The Cabinet Committee of Economic Affairs announces MSP for various crops at the beginning of each sowing season based on the recommendations of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP). • The CACP takes into account demand and supply, the cost of production and price trends in the market among other things when Fixing MSPs. Why is it Important? • Price volatility makes life difficult for farmers. Though prices of agri commodities may soar while in short supply, during years of bumper production, prices of the very same commodities plummet. • MSPs ensure that farmers get a minimum price for their produce in adverse markets. MSPs have also been used as a tool by the Government to incentivise farmers to grow crops that are in short supply. Factors taken into Consideration for fixing MSP include: • Demand and supply; • Cost of production; • Price trends in the market, both domestic and international; • Inter-crop price parity; • Terms of trade between agriculture and non-agriculture; • A minimum of 50% as the margin over cost of production; and • Likely implications of MSP on consumers of that product.

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4. EC to Kaleshwaram Given in Violation of law, Says NGT Why in News? • The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has held that environmental clearance (EC) to Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project (KLIP) was granted ex post facto, after completion of substantial work, by the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC) “in violation of law”. About the News: • It has observed that accountability needs to be fixed and remedial measures be taken. For that purpose, it has directed the MoEFCC to constitute a seven-member expert committee preferably out of expert appraisal committee (EAC) members with relevant sectorial expertise to go into the matter in light of the observations in the present case. • In the judgment, the Principal Bench of NGT asked the Ministry to constitute the expert committee within a month and it may complete its exercise within six months thereafter shouldering the responsibility of monitoring the panel work to the Secretary of MOEFCC. • The petitioner moved the NGT with a contention declare the EC granted to KLIP as invalid since substantial work was done by the State Government, project proponent, prior to filing application with the Ministry for clearance. About the Project: • The Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme of Telangana is a multi-purpose irrigation project on the Godavari River in Kaleshwaram, Bhupalpally, Telangana. • The project starts at the confluence point of Pranahita River and Godavari River. • Originally called Pranahita-Chevella project in erstwhile Andhra Pradesh, it was redesigned, extended and renamed as Kaleshwaram project in Telangana in 2014. • It would bring drinking water and irrigation to the backward areas of Telangana. • It will also help to restore the ground water level to its original state by the way of shifting from usage of groundwater for irrigation to usage of surface water. • The project will also support Mission Kakatiya and Mission Bhagiratha schemes designed to provide drinking water to many villages and improve the capacities of tanks. • Mission Kakatiya: It is a flagship programme launched by the Government of Telangana which aims at rejuvenation of water tanks and other water storage structures to provide assistance and help to the small and marginal farmers of the state.

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• Mission Bhagiratha: It is a project for safe drinking water for every village and city household in Telangana State. It aims to provide piped water to 2.32 crore people in 20 lakh households in urban and 60 lakhs in rural areas of Telangana. The project will supply clean drinking water to all households in the state through water sourced from River Godavari and River Krishna.

Observations by NGT: • Inspite of finding illegality in granting EC, it is neither possible nor desirable to undo what has happened, but accountability needs to be fixed and Remedial Measures Taken. • The NGT Principal Bench suggested that the expert committee could assess the extent of damage caused in going ahead with the project without EC – the period from 2008 to 2017 — and identify the necessary Restoration Measures. • Further, it could look into relief and rehabilitation measures adopted and required to be further adopted, examine effective implementation of environmental management plan (EMP) submitted by the project proponent as also compliance of EC conditions. • Any affected party will be at liberty to make representation to the MoEFCC within three weeks along with suggestions and grievances, which may be taken into the account by the expert committee. • It has further asked MoEFCC to consider measures to prevent recurrence of such violations where EC is sought ex post facto.

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Way Forward: • It is particularly required when the projects are multi-purpose and part of it requires EC, so that such requirement is not defeated on specious plea that the project was partly not covered by the schedule Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification as has happened in the present case. Instead of confining consideration merely to documentary support, a mechanism is required to be evolved and followed whereby physical verification of material particulars can be undertaken, wherever necessary. • In the matter of expansion of the project scope to draw 3 tmcft of water a day from the present 2 tmcft, the NGT observed that directions of the Centre are binding on the State unless challenged and set aside.

5. Government increases Poll Spend Ceiling by 10% Why in News? • The Law Ministry has increased the ceiling on poll expenditure for Assembly and Lok Sabha elections by 10%. About the News: • An amendment to the Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961 in this regard has also been notified. • The last time the expenditure ceiling was enhanced was in 2014 just ahead of the Lok Sabha polls. Significance of the Move: • The move follows a recommendation by the Election Commission in view of curbs imposed during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. • This also comes as a relief for political parties and candidates as they deal with additional expenditure on public rallies and meetings in view of precautions that need to be taken in line with COVID-19 health protocols. • This included additional expenditure on sanitisers, masks and regulation of crowds so as to adhere to social distancing norms. • As per the changes: ✓ The limit for all states/UTs where the cap for Lok Sabha poll was Rs 70 lakh, has been raised to Rs 77 lakh; and for states/UTs with Rs 54 lakh as existing limit, to Rs 59.4 Lakh.

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✓ For assembly polls, candidates in states/UTs with Rs 28 lakh as the expenditure limit can now spend up to Rs 30.8 lakh and those with Rs 20 lakh as existing limit, up to Rs 22 Lakh. Measures in Place to Ensure Transparency: • Candidates must mandatorily file a true account of election expenses with the EC. • An incorrect account or expenditure beyond the ceiling can attract disqualification for up to three years under Section 10A of The Representation of the People Act, 1951. Why there is a need for Ceiling on Expenditures? • Limits on campaign expenditure are meant to provide a level-playing field for everyone contesting elections. It ensures that a candidate can’t win only because he/she is rich. • The 255th Report of the Law Commission on electoral reforms argued that unregulated or under-regulated election financing could lead to “lobbying and capture, where a sort of quid pro quo transpires between big donors and political parties/candidates”. Other reforms - Cap on Party Spends: • The EC has asked the government to amend the RP Act and Rule 90 of The Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961, to introduce a ceiling on campaign expenditure by political parties in the Lok Sabha and Assembly polls. • It should be either 50% of or not more than the expenditure ceiling limit provided for the candidate multiplied by the number of candidates of the party contesting the election. • The limit will ensure level playing field for all political parties and curb the menace of unaccounted money in elections. • It will also control the money power used by political parties and their allies. Supreme Court Observations: • Supreme Court of India has said that money is bound to play an important part in the successful pursuit of an election campaign in Kanwar Lal Gupta Vs Amarnath Chawla case. • Voters get influenced by the visibility of a candidate and party and huge election spending thus impacts voter’s choice. Various Committees and Commissions in this Regard: • Law Commission of India- 170th Report on “Reform of the Electoral Laws” in 1999. • Election Commission of India- Report in 2004 on “Proposed Electoral Reforms”. • Goswami Committee on Electoral Reforms in 1990. • Vohra Committee Report in 1993.

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• Indrajeet Gupta Committee on State Funding of Elections in 1998. • National Commission to Review the Working of the Constitution in 2001. • Second Administrative Reforms Commission in 2008. • Recently, the Law Commission in its 255th Report has also made several recommendations on electoral reforms under 3 categories namely viz: ✓ Limits on political contribution and party candidate expenditure. ✓ Disclosure norms and requirements. ✓ State funding of elections. • These recommendations of the Law Commission are under Consideration of the Government.

6. Demand for Repeal of UAPA Why in News? • Recently, major Opposition parties have demanded the repeal of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), 1967 after the arrest of Stan Swamy, an 83-year-old tribal rights activist, under the UAPA in the Bhima Koregaon case. About the News: • According to the Ministry of Home Affairs data, placed before the Parliament, there has been a steady increase in the number of those arrested under the UAPA. • In 2016, 999 people were arrested, in 2017, 1,054 were arrested, while in 2018 1,031 were arrested. However, the conviction rate in UAPA cases was found to be less than 25%. • Also, in almost 43% of cases, the charge sheet has taken more than a year or two to be filed. About UAPA: • UAPA passed in 1967 aims at effective prevention of unlawful activities associations in India. Unlawful activity refers to any action taken by an individual or association intended to disrupt the territorial integrity and sovereignty of India. • The Act assigns absolute power to the central government, by way of which if the Centre deems an activity as unlawful then it may, by way of an Official Gazette, declare it so. • It has death penalty and life imprisonment as highest punishments. • Under UAPA, both Indian and foreign nationals can be charged. It will be applicable to the offenders in the same manner, even if crime is committed on a foreign land, outside India.

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• Under the UAPA, the investigating agency can file a charge sheet in maximum 180 days after the arrests and the duration can be extended further after intimating the court. • The 2004 amendment, added “terrorist act" to the list of offences to ban organisations for terrorist activities, under which 34 outfits were banned. • Till 2004, “unlawful" activities referred to actions related to secession and cession of territory. In August 2019, Parliament cleared the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Amendment Bill, 2019 to designate individuals as terrorists if the individual commits or participates in acts of terrorism, prepares for terrorism, promotes terrorism or is otherwise involved in terrorism. • The Act empowers the Director General of National Investigation Agency (NIA) to grant approval of seizure or attachment of property when the case is investigated by the said agency. The Act also empowers the officers of the NIA, of the rank of Inspector or above, to investigate cases of terrorism in addition to those conducted by the DSP or ACP or above rank officer in the state. Criticisms of UAPA: • The law is often misused and abused. It could be used against political opponents and civil society activists who speak against the government and brand them as “terrorists.” • The 2019 amendment gives unfettered powers to investigating agencies. • The law is against the federal structure; given that ‘Police’ is a state subject under 7th schedule of Indian Constitution. What needs to be Done? • Anti-terror laws should not be used as tool to silence the Critics of Government. • A committee may be set up to examine and supervise the process of designating individuals as terrorists and investigation of cases with objectivity and fairness. • Arbitrariness under the law should be checked through Judicial Review.

7. Parliament Panel Mulls action against Amazon Context: • Joint Committee of Parliament is examining the draft Data Protection Bill. About the News: • Amazon, Twitter, Facebook, Google and Paytm are among the companies from whom the committee has sought views on data security and protection amid concerns that the privacy of users is being “compromised” for commercial interest.

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• However, Amazon has declined to depose before the panel, stating that its “subject experts” cannot take the risk of travelling from the U.S. during the coronavirus pandemic. • The Parliamentary Panel has said that Amazon’s “refusal” amounts to a breach of Parliamentary Privilege. Questions asked by the House Panel: • Do social media giants obtain the consent of their users before their data is shared with third parties. • What is their revenue model, method of paying taxes, advertisers and the process of choosing target audience for these advertisers, background verification of its users including the process to find out the age of a new user. Overview of the Personal Data Protection Bill, 2019: • Personal data pertains to characteristics, traits or attributes of identity, which can be used to identify an individual. Such characteristics or traits will also include any inference drawn from such data for the purpose of profiling. • Sensitive personal data includes personal data related to health, sex life, sexual orientation, and financial data, among others. • The power to further categorise personal data as sensitive personal data will lie with the central government (in consultation with Data Protection Authority and the sector regulator concerned). • Personal data may be processed without obtaining the consent of the individual on certain grounds. These include: 1. if required by the State for providing benefits to the individual, and 2. for reasonable purposes specified by the Authority, such as fraud detection, debt recovery, and whistle blowing. • The Bill defines a social media intermediary as an intermediary which enables online interaction between users and allows for sharing of information. • All social media intermediaries which are classified as significant data fiduciaries must provide a voluntary user verification mechanism for all users in India. • The government can exempt any of its agencies from any or all provisions of the Act, for processing of personal data in certain cases. These include: 1. in interest of security of state, public order, sovereignty and integrity of India and friendly relations with foreign states, and

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2. for preventing incitement to commission of any cognisable offence relating to the above matters. • The Bill Removes the provision for Mandatory Storage of all personal data in the country.

8. Outsiders can buy Land in Jammu and Kashmir Why in News? • People as well as investors outside Jammu and Kashmir can now purchase land in the Union Territory (UT) as the Centre has notified new land laws for the region, ending the Exclusive rights of locals over the land granted under now abrogated Article 370. About the News: • Under the newly introduced J&K Development Act, the term “being permanent resident of the State” as a criteria has been “omitted”, paving the way for investors outside J&K to invest in the UT. • The Centre has been arguing that Article 370 hampered development in the U.T. as investors were unable to purchase land prior to August 5, 2019. Does the Laws are Applicable for Ladakh too? • The Centre is likely to notify separate land laws for the UT of Ladakh soon. What does the new law says? • Under the ‘transfer of land for the purpose of promotion of healthcare or education’, the government may now allow transfer of land “in favour of a person or an institution for the purpose of promotion of healthcare or senior secondary or higher or specialized education in J&K”. • According to amendments made to “The Jammu & Kashmir Land Revenue Act, Samvat, 1996”, only agriculturists of J&K can purchase agricultural land. “No sale, gift, exchange, or mortgage of the land shall be valid in favour of a person who is not an agriculturist”. • The Restriction on Conversion of Agricultural Land and Process for Permission of Non- Agriculture clause, however, puts conditions on the use of agricultural land. “No land used for agriculture purposes shall be used for any non-agricultural purposes except with the permission of the district collector”. • Under a new provision, an Army officer not below the rank of Corps Commander can declare an area as “Strategic Area” within a local area, only for direct operational and training requirements of the armed forces.

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• The introduction of the UT of J&K Reorganisation (Adaptation of Central Laws) Third Order, 2020 by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has resulted in the repeal of at least 11 land laws in vogue in J&K earlier, including the J&K Big Landed Estates Abolition Act that had resulted in famous ‘Land to tiller’ rights.

9. CPCB flags Pollution Control at Railway Stations Why in News? • The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has “insisted” the Ministry of Railways to devise a modern environmental management plan to control air, water and noise pollution at major Railway Stations. About the News: • The CPCB had called for the formation of a joint committee comprising Railway and State government/local body officials to ensure basic civic amenities and improve environment conditions at Class-I stations. • The move follows a recent high-level meeting convened by the CPCB involving top officials of the Ministry of Railways and the Ministry of Housing & Urban Development. • The Railways in turn requested the CPCB to assign due weightage to different components/parameters in the template for environment performance based on rating of railway stations that are currently under review by the CPCB. • However, the central agency insisted on developing a modern environmental plan to address issues relating to air, water and noise pollution in each of the 720 stations taken up for Assessment across the Country. Pollution Concerns: • Poor quality of environment parameters, particularly noise levels, has been an issue of concern at major railway stations. • Joint inspections conducted by the Central and State pollution control authorities at select stations in the last two years revealed that a majority of them, including the Puratchi Thalaivar Dr MGR Chennai Central railway station and Tiruchi junction in Southern Railway, had not complied with the green norms under various statutory rules of the CPCB.These stations had not obtained necessary approvals under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, the Air (Prevention and Control of Air Pollution) Act, 1981, and the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 which was also insisted upon by the National Green Tribunal.

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About the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB): • CPCB is a statutory organisation which was constituted in September, 1974 under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974. • It was entrusted with the powers and functions under the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981. • It serves as a field formation and also provides technical services to the Ministry of Environment and Forests of the provisions of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. • Principal Functions of the CPCB, as spelt out in the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, and the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 ✓ to promote cleanliness of streams and wells in different areas of the States by prevention, control and abatement of water pollution. ✓ to improve the quality of air and to prevent, control or abate Air Pollution in the Country.

10. NAFED to Import Onions Why in News? • The Food and Consumer Affairs Minister Piyush Goyal has recently said that the central cooperative NAFED will soon begin importing onions in a bid to Tame Soaring Prices. About the News: • In the week since the Centre imposed stock limits, invoking the provisions of the newly amended Essential Commodities Act, the all-India average retail price of onions has continued to rise, increasing by `10 to almost `66 per kg. • Although NAFED had created a buffer stock of one lakh tonnes from the rabi crop, from which it has been releasing stock into retail markets directly and through State governments, it has already disposed of 40%, and another 25% is expected to be lost to damp and rot. So, the Central cooperative agency will soon commence import of onions as well. • Onions are already being bought from Egypt, Afghanistan and Turkey by private traders at market rates, with the Directorate General of Foreign Trade facilitating import by waiving quarantine and fumigation requirements. Onion exports were banned last month, and exports of onion seeds were also prohibited recently.

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• With regard to the other staple, potatoes, where all-India retail average prices are hovering around the `42 per kg mark, 30,000 tonnes have been imported from Bhutan. Import duties have been cut from 30% to 10% until the end of January. About NAFED: • National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd. (NAFED), established in 1958, is registered under the Multi State Co-operative Societies Act. • NAFED was setup with the object to promote Co-operative marketing of Agricultural Produce to benefit the Farmers. • Composition: Agricultural farmers are the main members of NAFED, who have the authority to say in the form of members of the General Body in the working of NAFED. • The objectives of the NAFED shall be to organize, promote and develop marketing, processing and storage of agricultural, horticultural and forest produce, distribution of agricultural machinery, implements and other inputs, undertake inter-state, import and export trade etc. What Measures are Needed? • Price Stabilization: National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED), which is entrusted with price stabilization, should procure at least 2-3 lakh tons at the Rabi harvest time (April-May), ensuring that farmers get at least Rs 12-15/kg, when they were getting Rs 4-8/kg. This will save onion farmers from a price-crash and give them reasonable profits, incentivizing production and exports, but these stored onions will incur storage costs. • Providing better Storage: Storages at farm level suffer losses of about 20-25 per cent, which can be brought down to 5-10 per cent with modern cold storages. But cold stores will cost about Rs 1.5/kg/month. • Promotion of Dehydrated Onions: Currently, India exports 85 per cent of its dehydrated onions, and is the largest exporter of dehydrated onions in the world. • Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) should be at the forefront to extensively promote the use of dehydrated onions (flakes, powder, granules) among domestic households and institutions like the armed forces, hospitals, restaurants and schools (mid- day meals). This will take the pressure off fresh onions during the lean season. Dehydrated products are much cheaper to store and are more durable, they can help check the spikes in onion prices. This will reduce wastage and help farmers get a fair price and consumers can switch to these dehydrated onions in the lean season at Affordable Prices.

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3.1. POLITY & GOVERNANCE SNIPPETS 1. Survey of Villages Abadi and Mapping with Improvised Technology In Village Areas (SVAMITVA) Why in News? • PM launched the distribution of property cards under the ‘SVAMITVA’ (ownership) scheme via videoconference. • The scheme uses drone and satellite technology to map physical assets in rural areas and aims at digitisation of property records, easing the way for village dwellers to access Institutionalised Credit against Property. SVAMITVA: • SVAMITVA Scheme is a Central Sector scheme launched by Hon’ble Prime Minister of India on National Panchayat Day i.e 24th April 2020. • The Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR) is the Nodal Ministry for implementation of the scheme. In the States, the Revenue Department / Land Records Department will be the Nodal Department and shall carry out the scheme with support of State Panchayati Raj Department. Survey of India shall work as the technology partner for implementation. • The scheme aims to provide an integrated property validation solution for rural India. • The demarcation of rural abadi areas would be done using Drone Surveying technology. This would provide the ‘record of rights’ to village household owners possessing houses in inhabited rural areas in villages which, in turn, would enable them to use their property as a financial asset for taking Loans and other Financial Benefits from Bank Objectives of the Scheme: • To bring financial stability to the citizens in rural India by enabling them to use their property as a financial asset for taking loans and other financial benefits. • Creation of accurate land records for rural planning. • Determination of property tax, which would accrue to the GPs directly in States where it is devolved or else, add to the State exchequer. • Creation of survey infrastructure and GIS maps that can be leveraged by any department for their use. To support in preparation of better-quality Gram Panchayat Development Plan (GPDP) by making use of GIS Maps. • To Reduce property related disputes and legal cases.

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2. Digital Media Regulation Why in News? • The Centre has recently announced new guidelines for digital news platforms. Highlights: • The government has put emphasis on compliance to the 26% Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) cap under the government approval route in digital media. • The 26% FDI through the government approval route in the digital media sector was brought in 2019. FDI in print media is capped at 26%, and that in TV news is 49%. • The majority of the directors on the company’s board, and the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the company would have to be an Indian citizen. • All foreign employees working for more than 60 days would need security clearance. If the government denies or withdraw security clearance, the digital media company will ensure that the concerned person resigns or his/her services are terminated. • The government has given a year to digital media news entities to align their shareholding with these requirements. The guidelines will be applicable to the following categories of entities registered or located in India: • Digital media entities which streams/uploads news and current affairs on websites, apps or other platforms. • The News agency which gathers, writes and distributes/transmits news, directly or indirectly, to digital media entities and/or news aggregators. • The News aggregator, an entity which uses software of web applications to aggregate news content from various sources, such as news websites, blogs, podcasts, video blogs, user submitted links, etc in One Location. Advantages: • The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting will be considering in the near future to extend the following benefits, presently available to traditional media (print and TV), to digital media entities also: • Press Information Bureau (PIB) accreditation for its reporters, cameramen, videographers enabling them with better first-hand information and access including participation in official press conferences and such other Interactions. • Persons with PIB accreditation can also avail Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) benefits and Concessional rail fare.

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• Eligibility for digital advertisements through the Bureau of Outreach and Communication. • Similar to self-regulating bodies in print and electronic media, entities in digital media can form self-regulating bodies for furthering their interests and interaction with the Government.

3. Assam-Mizoram Why in News? • Assam-Mizoram border has recently witnessed firing over a territory dispute, which spotlights the long-standing inter-state boundary issues in the Northeast, particularly between Assam and the states which were carved out of it. Highlights: • Mizoram borders Assam’s Barak Valley and the boundary between present-day Assam and Mizoram is 165 km long. Both states border Bangladesh. • Residents of Lailapur village in Assam’s Cachar district clashed with residents of localities near Vairengte in Mizoram’s Kolasib district. • Earlier in October 2020, a similar clash took place on the border of Karimganj (Assam) and Mamit (Mizoram) districts. Mizoram civil society groups blame “illegal Bangladeshis” (alleged migrants from Bangladesh) on the Assam side. • The boundary issue between present-day Assam and Mizoram dates back to the colonial era when inner lines were demarcated according to the administrative needs of British Raj. • The issue could not be settled once and for all when the state was created in independent India. The result is both states continue to have a differing perception of the border. • Mizoram was granted statehood in 1987 by the State of Mizoram Act, 1986. • Assam became a constituent state of India in 1950 and lost much of its territory to new states that emerged from within its borders between the early 1960s and the early 1970s. • The Assam-Mizoram dispute stems from a notification of 1875 that differentiated Lushai Hills from the plains of Cachar, and another of 1933 that demarcates a boundary between Lushai Hills and Manipur. During colonial times, Mizoram was known as Lushai Hills, a district of Assam. Mizoram believes the boundary should be demarcated on the basis of the 1875 notification, which is derived from the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation (BEFR) Act, 1873.

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• Mizoram leaders have argued in the past against the demarcation notified in 1933 because Mizo society was not consulted. The Assam government follows the 1933 demarcation, and that is the point of conflict. According to an agreement between the governments of Assam and Mizoram, the status quo should be maintained in no man’s land in the border area. • In the Northeast’s complex boundary equations, clashes between Assam and Mizoram residents are less frequent than they are between other neighbouring states of Assam, like with Nagaland.

4. Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act 2005 Why in News? • Though the judgment called a 2005 law against domestic harassment as a “milestone”, the Bench said domestic violence continued to be the least reported form of violence towards Women. Background: • The observations came in a judgment that held that the relief granting right to residence to a married woman under the domestic violence law by a criminal court was relevant and could be considered even in civil proceedings seeking her eviction from the matrimonial home Key Observations made by the Court: • According to the Supreme Court crimes against women continued in a “never-ending cycle” in India. • Women in India faced violence and discrimination in one form or the other in their various roles as daughter, sister, wife, mother, partner or single woman. Though the judgment called a 2005 law against domestic harassment as a “milestone”, the Bench said domestic violence continued to be the least reported form of violence towards women. • Women continue to be vulnerable to these crimes because of non-retaliation, coupled with absence of laws addressing their rights and ignorance of the existing statutes. Societal attitude, stigma and conditioning also made women vulnerable to domestic violence • Also, relationships outside marriage were not recognised. This set of circumstances ensured that a majority of women preferred to suffer in silence, not out of choice but of compulsion • According to Judgement the progress of any society depended on its ability to protect and promote the rights of women.

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Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act 2005: • The Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act 2005 is an Act of the Parliament of India enacted to protect women from domestic violence. It was brought into force by the Indian government from 26 October 2006 • The Act provides for the first time in Indian law a definition of “domestic violence”, with this definition being broad and including not only physical violence, but also other forms of violence such as emotional/verbal, sexual, and economic abuse. • It is a civil law meant primarily for protection orders and not for meant to be enforced criminally. • The definition of “aggrieved person” includes any woman who is or has been in a domestic relationship with the respondent and who alleges to have been subjected to domestic violence by them. (See Section 2(a) of the PWDVA) • The definition of “respondent” includes any adult male who has been or is in a domestic relationship with the aggrieved woman, and against whom the woman has sought a relief or any male or female relative of the husband or male partner of a married woman or a woman in a relationship in the nature of marriage. • The definition of “domestic relationship” is any relationship 2 persons have lived together in a shared household and these people are: ✓ Related by consanguinity (blood relations) ✓ Related by marriage. ✓ Though a relationship in the nature of marriage (which would include live-in relationships) ✓ Through adoption ✓ Are Family Members living in a Joint Family • Who can file a complaint: Any woman who alleges to have been subjected to any act of domestic violence by the offender or any person may file a complaint on her behalf. A child is also entitled to relief under the Domestic Violence Act. The mother of such a child can make an application on behalf of her minor child (whether male or female). In cases where the mother makes an application to the court for herself, the children can also be added as co-applicants. Against whom can a complaint be filed: • Any adult male member who has been in a domestic relationship with the Woman. • Relatives of the husband or the male partner

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• Includes both male and female relatives of the male partner • Orders which a Magistrate may pass under the Act • Direct the respondent or the aggrieved person, either singly or jointly, to undergo counseling. • Direct that the woman shall not be evicted or excluded from the household or any part of it. If considered necessary, the proceedings may be directed to be conducted in camera. • Issue Protection order, providing protection to the woman. • Grant monetary relief to meet the expenses incurred and losses suffered by the aggrieved person and any child of the aggrieved person as a result of the domestic violence. • Grant custody orders, i.e., temporary custody of any child or children to the aggrieved person. Grant compensation/damages for the injuries. Including mental torture and emotional distress caused by the acts of domestic violence committed by that respondent. • Breach of any order of the Magistrate is an offence which is punishable under the law. • The Act is in addition to existing laws : Aggrieved person has the right to file a complaint simultaneously under Section 498A JPC. Reliefs under the Domestic Violence Act can also be asked for in other legal proceedings e.g. petition for divorce, maintenance, Section 498A IPC, etc.

5. Ayushman Sahakar Scheme Why in News? • Recently, the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare has launched Ayushman Sahakar, a scheme to assist cooperatives in Creation of Healthcare Infrastructure in the country. Highlights: • It is formulated by National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC). NCDC was set up under an Act of Parliament in 1963 for promotion and development of cooperatives. • It functions under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. • The recent initiatives include Sahakar Cooptube NCDC Channel (Youth-focussed), Sahakar Mitra (Internship Programme), etc. • NCDC would extend term loans to prospective cooperatives to the tune of Rs.10,000 crore in the coming years. Any Cooperative Society with suitable provision in its byelaws to undertake healthcare related activities would be able to access the NCDC fund.

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• The scheme covers establishment, modernization, expansion, repairs, renovation of hospital and healthcare and education infrastructure. NCDC assistance will flow either through the State Governments/ UT Administrations or directly to the eligible cooperatives. It also provides working capital and margin money to meet operational requirement and interest subvention of 1% to women majority cooperatives. Advantages: • It has a comprehensive approach-hospitals, healthcare, medical education, nursing education, paramedical education, health insurance and holistic health systems such as AYUSH. The Covid-19 pandemic has brought into focus the requirement of creation of more facilities. There are about 52 hospitals across the country run by cooperatives. They have cumulative bed strength of more than 5,000. The scheme would give a boost to provision of healthcare services by cooperatives. • It aligns itself with the focus of the National Health Policy, 2017, covering the health systems in all their dimensions- investments in health, organization of healthcare services, access to technologies, development of human resources, encouragement of medical pluralism, affordable health care to farmers etc. • It is in line with the National Digital Health Mission and would bring transformation in rural areas. • Cooperatives have a strong presence in rural areas, thus, cooperatives utilizing the scheme would revolutionize the way healthcare delivery takes place in rural areas.

6. Adopt an Animal Scheme Why in News? • The Nandankanan Zoological Park (NZP) in Bhubaneswar, which suffered a huge loss following its closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic, has revived its innovative ‘Adopt-An- Animal’ programme to mobilise Resources for Animals. Highlights: • The zoo authorities came up with the scheme urging animal lovers to provide funds from ₹500 to ₹2.5 lakh. In lieu, a ‘Thank You’ in the form of an adoption certificate, a plaque in the zoo and income tax rebates are available to individuals and organisations. • The highest of ₹2.5 lakh per annum has been fixed to adopt an elephant, while ₹1.5 lakh is required for a melanistic tiger.

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• Similarly, people can adopt the Asiatic lion and the Royal Bengal Tiger for ₹1 lakh per annum. When one adopts an animal or a bird, the contribution goes to its care, feeding, enclosure enrichment and renovation. Benefits: • The adoption scheme would bring public, corporate bodies and institutions closer to the zoo and heighten their love and passion for captive Animals and Birds Nandankanan Zoological Park (NZP): • The NZP is one of the leading zoos in the country in terms of its fauna population and species diversity. It had received a record 32 lakh footfall three years ago. • It is situated in Bhubaneswar With resources drying up due to the closure for more than six months, the NZP authorities revived the ‘Adopt-An-Animal’ programme.

7. DRDO Procurement Manual 2020 Why in News? • Defence Minister releases DRDO Procurement Manual 2020 (PM-2020). Highlights: • The new DRDO Procurement Manual is expected to facilitate the indigenous defence industry by simplifying the processes and ensuring their participation in design and development activities. • The PM-2020 will facilitate faster execution of R&D projects/programmes. • Some salient features of PM-2020: ✓ Bid security declaration option for earnest money deposit ✓ Increase of threshold limit for Advance Payment ✓ Placement of order on lowest bidder 2 (L2) in case L1 backs out ✓ Exemption of bid security and performance security up to Rs 10 lakh ✓ No negotiations for commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) items/services wherever price discovery is happening through market forces ✓ Liquidated damage (LD) rate for development contracts has been reduced ✓ The delivery period (DP) extension process has been simplified ✓ The above features should assist the industry for the speedy execution of projects. • Additionally, performance security for service contracts is linked to the payment cycle instead of the total contract value.

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• Procurement of stores from Development Partners, Safeguarding of free issue material through insurance cover instead of bank guarantee (BG) are other facilitating measures adopted to help the Industry. • Many of the internal procedures have been further simplified for faster engagement with Industry. • The last time the procurement manual for DRDO was modified was in 2016.

8. Affordability of Nutritious Diets in Rural India Why in News? • According to a recently published paper, titled “Affordability of nutritious diets in rural India”, by an economist of the International Food Policy Research Institute, three out of four rural Indians cannot afford a Nutritious Diet, Background: • Economic Survey’s Thalinomics provided a rosier picture of meal costs. • According to Thalinomics average worker in India’s organised manufacturing sector, the affordability of a plate of vegetarian food — comprising rice or roti, dal and sabzi — has improved 29% since 2006-07. • For non-vegetarians, affordability has risen 18%. • The Survey found that a worker who would have spent 70% of their daily wage on two vegetarian thalis a day for a household of five in 2006-07 would only have to spend 50% of their income for the meals in 2019-20. • This year, the most affordable meal was in Jharkhand, where two vegetarian thalis for a household of five required about 25% of a worker’s daily wage. Current Study: • Current study uses the wages of unskilled workers who make up a larger proportion of the population than industrial workers, and includes items such as dairy, fruit and dark green leafy vegetables that are essential as per India’s official dietary guidelines. • The study used the latest available food price and wage information from the National Sample Survey’s 2011 Dataset. Key Findings: • The National Institute for Nutrition’s guidelines for a nutritionally adequate diet call for adult women to eat 330 gm of cereals and 75 gm of pulses a day, along with 300 gm of dairy, 100 gm of fruit, and 300 gm of vegetables, which should include at least 100 gm of

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dark green leafy vegetables. Selecting the cheapest options from actual Indian diets — wheat, rice, bajra, milk, curd, onions, radish, spinach, bananas — the study calculated that a day’s meals would cost ₹45 (or ₹51 for an adult man). • Three out of four rural Indians cannot afford a nutritious diet. Even if they spent their entire income on food, almost two out of three of them would not have the money to pay for the cheapest possible diet that meets the requirements set by the government’s premier nutrition body. • Even if they spent all their income on food, 63.3% of the rural population or more than 52 crore Indians would not be able to afford that nutritious meal. • If they set aside just a third of their income for non-food expenses, 76% of rural Indians would not be able to afford the recommended diet. This does not even account for the meals of non-earning members of a household, such as children or older adults. Importance of the Findings: • The findings are significant in the light of the fact that India performs abysmally on many nutrition indicators even while the country claims to have achieved food security. Global Hunger Index showed that India has the world’s highest prevalence of child wasting, reflecting acute undernutrition. On indicators that simply measure calorie intake, India performs relatively better, but they do not account for the nutrition value of those calories. • The observations made in the study go against the observations made in the recent Economic Survey. This year’s Economic Survey’s ‘Thalinomics’, had noted that the affordability of meals had increased in India.

9. Productive-Linked Incentive Scheme Why in News? • The Government is planned to extend the production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme to eight more sectors to boost Domestic Manufacturing. Highlights: • It is an outcome- and output-oriented scheme where incentives will be paid only if the manufacturers make the goods. • It will give cash incentives for five to seven years and all the sunrise and important sectors are proposed to be covered in this. The sectors may be automobile, networking products, food processing, advanced chemistry and solar PV manufacturing. • The Need for the scheme are

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✓ Sunrise sectors are promising sectors but they may need support in the initial stage. ✓ Export base can be developed in sectors under PLI scheme. ✓ There is a growing demand in the world for diversification in supply chains and India can become a major player. • With the view to make India a manufacturing hub, the government launched the PLI scheme for mobile phones (electronic manufacturing) and it was extended to pharma products and medical equipment sectors. • It is for Large Scale Electronics Manufacturing. It proposes a financial incentive to boost domestic manufacturing and attract large investments in the electronics value chain including electronic components and semiconductor packaging. • The electronics manufacturing companies will get an incentive of 4 to 6% on incremental sales (over base year) of goods manufactured in India for a period of next 5 years. • It shall only be applicable for target segments namely mobile phones and specified Electronic Components. • The government estimates that with the PLI scheme, domestic value addition for mobile phones is expected to rise to 35-40% by 2025 from the current level of 20-25% and generate additional 8 lakh jobs, both direct and indirect.

10. Assam-Mizoram, and the other boundary issues in the Northeast Why in News? • Over the last one week, residents of Assam and Mizoram have clashed twice over territory, injuring at least eight people and torching a few huts and small shops. It spotlights the long-standing inter-state boundary issues in the Northeast, particularly between Assam and the states that were carved out of it.

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Background: • The boundary dispute between the two states has been simmering since the formation of Mizoram as a separate state in the 1980s. • According to an agreement between governments of Assam and Mizoram some years ago, status quo should be maintained in no-man’s land in the border area. However, clashes have erupted from time to time over the issue. What were the Recent Clashes about? • On Saturday, residents of Lailapur village in Assam’s Cachar district clashed with residents of localities near Vairengte in Mizoram’s Kolasib district. On October 9, a similar clash took place on the border of Karimganj (Assam) and Mamit (Mizoram) districts. • On October 9, a farm hut and a betel nut plantation belonging to two Mizoram residents were set on fire. On Saturday, some people from Lailapur started pelting stones at Mizoram police personnel and Mizoram residents. “In turn, Mizoram residents mobilised and went after them,” Kolasib Deputy Commissioner H Lalthangliana said. What led to this? • According to an agreement between governments of Assam and Mizoram some years ago, status quo should be maintained in no man’s land in the border area. However, people from Lailapur broke the status quo and allegedly constructed some temporary huts. People from Mizoram side went and set fire on them,” Lalthangliana said. On the other hand, Keerthi Jalli, the DC of Cachar, told that the contested land belongs to Assam as per state’s records. • According to Mizoram officials, the land claimed by Assam is being cultivated for a long time by residents of Mizoram. The DC of Mamit, Lalrozama, has urged that status quo be maintained. The Karimganj DC, Anbamuthan MP, said that although the contested land was historically cultivated by Mizoram residents, on paper it fell within the Singla Forest Reserve that is under Karimganj’s jurisdiction. Anbamuthan told The Indian Express that the issue was being resolved. • assam mizoram, assam mizoram border, assam mizoram border dispute, assam mizoram border clash, assam mizoram news, assam mizoram border news, assam mizoram border issue, assam mizoram border clash, assam mizoram border issue news, assam mizoram Border Tension

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How Complex is the Boundary Dispute? • In the Northeast’s complex boundary equations, showdowns between Assam and Mizoram residents are less frequent than they are between, say, Assam and Nagaland residents. Nevertheless, the boundary between present-day Assam and Mizoram, 165 km long today, dates back to the colonial era, when Mizoram was known as Lushai Hills, a district of Assam. • The dispute stems from a notification of 1875 that differentiated Lushai Hills from the plains of Cachar, and another of 1933 that demarcates a boundary between Lushai Hills and Manipur. • Mizoram believes the boundary should be demarcated on the basis of the 1875 notification, which is derived from the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation (BEFR) Act, 1873. Mizo leaders have argued in the past argued against the demarcation notified in 1933 because Mizo society was not consulted. Assam government follows the 1933 demarcation, and that seems to be the point of conflict. • The last time the boundary saw violence was in February 2018. The MZP had built a built a wooden rest house in a forest, its stated purpose being to serve as a resting for farmers. Assam police and forest department officials demolished it saying this was in Assam territory. MZP members clashed with Assam personnel, who also thrashed a group of Mizoram journalists who had gone to cover the incident. What are the other boundary issues in the Northeast? • During British rule, Assam included present-day Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya besides Mizoram, which became separate state one by one. Today, Assam has boundary problems with each of them. • Nagaland shares a 500-km boundary with Assam. According to a 2008 research paper from the Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses, violent clashes and armed conflicts, marked by killings, have occurred on the Assam-Nagaland border since 1965. In two major incidents of violence in 1979 and 1985, at least 100 persons were killed, The Indian Express has reported earlier. The boundary dispute is now in the Supreme Court • On the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh boundary (over 800 km), clashes were first reported in 1992, according to the same research paper. Since then, there have been several accusations of illegal encroachment from both sides, and intermittent clashes. This boundary issue too is being heard by the Supreme Court.

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• The 884-km Assam-Meghalaya boundary, too, witnesses flare-ups frequently. As per Meghalaya government statements, today there are 12 areas of dispute between the two states. In February this year, the Chief Ministers of the two states spoke to each other about the need to maintain status quo and peace.

11. Integrated Theatre Commands Why in News? • The next step in defence reforms after the appointment of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) would be the formation of integrated theatre commands, Army Chief Gen. Manoj Naravane said on Wednesday. This process would be “deliberate, thoughtful and well considered.” Integrated Theatre Command: • An integrated theatre command is one that enables the pooling of resources of all three services under a single commander, towards securing a particular geographical area. • A military commander in charge of a joint command will have the resources of the Army, the Navy and the Air Force at his/her disposal in the face of a national security threat. The commander can also carry out joint training while benefitting from the logistics of all three services. India’s Service Commands: • Currently, India only has two tri-service commands. • The first of these, known as the Andaman and Nicobar Command (ANC), was created in 2001 and is led by service chiefs on a rotational basis. • The second is a functional command (not overseeing a particular geographical location) called the Strategic Forces Command established in 2006. • The current structure of the armed forces includes 17 different commands, seven each belonging to the Army and the Air Force, and three headed by the Navy. Under the Army, the commands are the Northern, Southern, Eastern, Western, Central, Southwestern, Central and Maintenance and Training. The Navy is divided into Western, Eastern and Southern commands. • However, defence analysts have called for the elimination of this separation through the establishment of integrated theatre commands that enable all three services to prosecute operations collectively.

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12. Indira Rasoi Yojana Why in News? • Over 50 lakh people have recently benefited from Indira Rasoi Yojana (a kitchen scheme), in Rajasthan. The scheme was launched in August 2020. Highlights: • It aims to provide nutritious food to the poor and needy twice a day at concessional rates. • Each plate serves 100 grams of pulses and vegetables each, 250 grams of chapati and pickles. • It aligns with the World Food Day’s 2020 theme to grow, nourish and sustain together. • The local voluntary organisations have been roped in for establishing the centres near the places such as bus stands, railway stations and hospitals and for successful implementation of the scheme. • The current Rajasthan government scrapped the previous Annapurna Rasoi Yojana which was offering breakfast and lunch on the lines of Tamil Nadu’s Amma Unavagam (mother’s canteen). • A committee headed by the District Collector will be monitoring the implementation of the scheme. A special app has also been created for monitoring the food quality. • It targets to serve 1.34 lakh people per day in the state. Till now the scheme has benefitted 50.30 lakh persons across the State.

13. Kisan Suryodaya Yojana Why in News? • The Prime Minister has recently launched the ‘Kisan Suryodaya Yojana’ aimed at providing day-time Electricity to farmers in Gujarat for Irrigation and farming purposes. He also launched a 2.3 km-long ropeway project on Mount Girnar in Junagadh city, a major pilgrimage site. About Kisan Suryodaya Yojana: • The Rs. 3,500 crore will be spent over the next three years for providing solar power to farmers for irrigation during daytime (5 AM to 9 PM). About 3,500 circuit kilometers (CKM) of new transmission lines will be laid. • The 10 districts including Dahod, Gir-Somnath and Tapi have been selected under the Scheme for 2020-21. The remaining districts will be covered in a phase-wise manner by 2022-23.

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• It would help in the expansion of micro irrigation in the state. Micro irrigation is defined as the frequent application of small quantities of water directly above and below the soil surface; usually as discrete drops, continuous drops or tiny streams through emitters placed along a water delivery line. • It would complement irrigation projects of the State- Sujalam Sufalam and SAUNI (Saurashtra-Narmada Avtaran Irrigation) yojana. • It would complement central government initiatives like neem coating urea, Soil Health Cards, KUSUM Yojana, etc. • India has now reached 5th position in the world in the last few years in solar power and is advancing fast. Further, it has given the world the plan of ‘One Sun, One World, One Grid’. • The PM emphasised that farmers should save water and adopt the mantra ‘per drop, more crop’. • The objective of "per drop, more crop", Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) was also launched in 2015. • It is a centrally sponsored scheme being implemented to expand cultivated areas with assured irrigation, reduce wastage of water and improve water use efficiency and ensure "Har Khet Ko Paani". • It was conceived by amalgamating ongoing schemes viz. • Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP) of the Ministry of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation (now Ministry of Jal Shakti), • Integrated Watershed Management Programme (IWMP) of Ministry of Rural Development and • On Farm Water Management (OFWM) of Department of Agriculture and Cooperation (DAC). • The scheme is implemented by the Ministries of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Jal Shakti and Rural Development. About Ropeway Project: • The 2.3 km- long ropeway project is being touted as the longest temple ropeway in Asia. • Mount Girnar has Gorakhnath peak, Guru Dattatreya peak and a Jain Temple. • It is the fourth ropeway in Gujarat along with Banaskantha, Pavagadh and Satpura. • It will give a boost to adventure activities as well as tourism in the state. • Sites like Shivarajpur beach which has got blue flag certification and Statue of Unity, provides a lot of employment opportunities to the locals.

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14. Seaplane service in Gujarat Why in News? • India's first seaplane service in Gujarat is set to start from 31st October 2020, the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Highlights: • It aim of providing air connectivity between the Sabarmati Riverfront in Ahmedabad and the Statue of Unity in Kevadia. • It will be operated by SpiceJet. It is a 19-seater seaplane, which will be able to accommodate 14 passengers. • Dharoi dam (Mehsana district) will connect Ambaji and Shatrunjay dam (Bhavnagar district) and Tapi District. About Seaplane: • It is a fixed-wing aeroplane designed for taking off and landing on water. • There are two main types of seaplanes: flying boats (often called hull seaplanes) and floatplanes. A flying boat is a fixed-winged seaplane with a hull, allowing it to land on water, that usually has no type of landing gear to allow operation on land. It differs from a floatplane as it uses a purpose-designed fuselage which can float, granting the aircraft buoyancy. The bottom of a flying boat’s fuselage is its main landing gear. This is usually supplemented with smaller floats near the wingtips, called wing or tip floats. • The hull of a flying boat holds the crew, passengers, and cargo; it has many features in common with the hull of a ship or a boat. • A floatplane is supported on the water by pontoons, called floats. UDAN Scheme • Ude Desh Ka Aam Naagrik (UDAN) was launched as a regional connectivity scheme under the Ministry of Civil Aviation in 2016. • Its objective is to create affordable yet economically viable and profitable flights on regional routes so that flying becomes affordable to the common man even in small towns. • It envisages providing connectivity to un-served and underserved airports of the country through the revival of existing air-strips and airports. The scheme is operational for a period of 10 years. Under-served airports are those which do not have more than one flight a day, while un-served airports are those where there are no operations. • UDAN 3.0 and UDAN 4.0 aim to include Seaplanes for Connecting Water Airports.

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15. Child Care Leave Why in News? • Recently, the Male Government employees who are single parents will now be eligible for child care leave. Highlight: • It aims to Ease-of-living for Government Servants. • The Single male parents includes unmarried employees, widowers and divorcees, who may be expected to take up the responsibility of caring for a child single-handedly. • Child care leave can be granted at 100% of leave salary for the first 365 days and 80% of leave salary for the next 365 days. • In case of a disabled child, the condition of availing child care leave up to the age of 22 years of the child has been removed and now child care leave can be availed by a government servant for a disabled child of any age. • It is treated as earned leave and is generally granted to women employees. • Women employees having minor children (children upto 18 years of age) may be granted child care leave for a maximum period of two years (i.e. 730 days) during their entire service for taking care of upto two minor children • The child care leave is granted either for rearing children or to look after any of the needs of children like examination, sickness etc.

16. Model Code of Conduct in Elections Why in News? • The Election Commission found the former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister’s remark on Women Politician Violative of the Model Code of Conduct. Model Code of Conduct: • The Model Code of Conduct (MCC) is a document from the Election Commission of India that lays down the minimum standards of behaviour for political parties and their Candidates Contesting Elections. The guidelines are issued mainly with respect to speeches, polling day, polling booths, election Manifestos, Processions and General Conduct. • The Model Code of Conduct comes into force immediately on announcement of the Election Schedule by the Commission. The Code remains in force till the end of the Electoral Process.

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Background: • The MCC was first mooted by Kerala in its 1960 assembly elections. • It was later adopted by the Election Commission (EC) during mid-term elections in 1968 and 1969. EC issued MCC for the first time in 1971 (5th general elections) and revised it from time to time. General Conduct for all Political Parties and Candidates: • No political party or candidate can secure votes on the basis of caste and religion. Temples, mosques, churches and other religious places shall not be used for election propaganda/campaigning. • No political party or candidate shall be involved in any such activity spreading atmosphere of hatred and tension among the people of different castes and religions. • Political Parties and candidates have the right to criticize the policies and programs, past records and work of their opposition parties but refrain from commenting on the personal life or family of any candidate. • Threatening voters, giving bribe, campaigning in the periphery of 100 meters from polling booths, organizing a public meeting within 48 hours of polling, and arranging transport to and from the polling booths is also prohibited. • Political parties or candidates shall ensure that their supporters neither obstruct the meeting and rally of the opposition parties or candidates nor distribute pamphlets in the meeting organised by the opposition parties. • They have to seek prior permission from the police or concerned authorities of the area before organizing the meeting at any place so that traffic and other necessary arrangements can be made. The party or candidate has to inform about details of the procession, before organizing, to the concerned authorities. • The identity slip given to the voters on the day of polling shall be printed on the plain (white) paper and shall not have a name/symbol of any political party or the candidate. • The Voters should not be served alcohol, etc. on the day of polling and 24 hours prior polling. • The ruling party's ministers shall not use government machinery like government employees, vehicles, government buildings during elections campaigning. • No advertisement will be published or displayed at the cost of public exchequer through newspapers & other media during the election.

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• The ministers and other authorities shall not sanction grants/payments out of discretionary funds from the date elections are announced by the commission. • Since the elections dates are announced by the Election Commission, the ministers and other officials shall not do the following tasks • Announce any financial grant or any new scheme or promise thereof. • Make any promise of construction of roads, provision of drinking water facilities etc. • Lay foundation stones etc. of project or scheme of any kind (except civil servants). • Make any ad-hoc appointments in government, public undertakings etc. • Is MCC legally binding? • MCC does not have any statutory backing but it gained strength in the past decade because of its strict enforcement by the EC. • The provisions of the MCC may be enforced through invoking statutes such as the Indian Penal Code 1860, Code of Criminal Procedure 1973, and Representation of the People Act 1951. It was recommended in 2013 by the Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice to make MCC legally binding and a part of the RPA 1951. • The EC is against making it legally binding as per it the elections must be completed within a relatively short time or close to 45 days and judicial proceedings take longer time making the Enforcement Unfeasible.

17. Kumhar Sahatikaran Yojana Why in News? • The electric pottery wheels to 100 potter families in Maharashtra were recently distributed under the Kumhar Sashaktikaran Yojana (KSY) of Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC). Highlights: • Kumhar Sashaktikaran Yojana (KSY) was launched in 2018. It aims to strengthen and improve the living of potters in the country by making them self reliant (Atma Nirbhar). • It provids potters with modern equipment and training to reconnect them with the society and revive their art. KVIC has created proper marketing channels including tie-up with the Indian Railway for selling the products of potters. • Proper training and distribution of advanced equipment under the scheme has eliminated drudgery from the process of pottery making and also resulted in increasing the production by 3-4 times.

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• This has led to an increase in income of potters manifolds. The Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) has announced expansion of and doubling of support to potters. This include: • Encouraging successful traditional potters to set up units under the Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP) scheme. PMEGP is a credit-linked subsidy scheme which promotes self-employment through setting up of micro-enterprises. • Setting up of clusters in Terracotta, Red clay pottery, with new innovative value added products to build pottery to crockery/tile making capabilities under the SFURTI scheme. • The Scheme of Fund for Regeneration of Traditional Industries (SFURTI) aims to make traditional industries more productive and competitive by organizing the traditional industries and artisans into clusters. About Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC): • It is a Statutory body established under the Khadi and Village Industries Commission Act, 1956. It is charged with the planning, promotion, organisation and implementation of Programmes for the Development of Khadi and other village industries in the rural areas in coordination with other agencies engaged in rural development wherever necessary. • It Functions under the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises.

18. Annual State of Education Report (ASER) Survey Why in News? • About 20% of rural children have no textbooks at home, according to the Annual State of Education Report (ASER) survey conducted in September, the sixth month of school closures due to COVID-19 across the country. • In Andhra Pradesh, less than 35% of children had textbooks, and only 60% had textbooks in Rajasthan. • More than 98% had textbooks in West Bengal, Nagaland and Assam. ASER Survey: • ASER is a nationwide survey of rural education and learning outcomes in terms of reading and arithmetic skills that has been conducted by the NGO Pratham for the last 15 years. • This year, the survey was conducted via phone calls, reaching 52,227 rural households with school age children in 30 States and Union Territories.

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Key Findings of the Survey: • About 20% of rural children have no textbooks at home. In Andhra Pradesh, less than 35% of children had textbooks, and only 60% had textbooks in Rajasthan. More than 98% had textbooks in West Bengal, Nagaland and Assam. • In the week of the survey, about one in three rural children had done no learning activity at all. About two in three had no learning materials or activity given by their school that week • Only one in ten had access to live online classes. It’s not always about technology; in fact, levels of smartphone ownership have almost doubled from 2018, but a third of children with smartphone access still did not receive any learning materials. • It found that 5.3% of rural children aged 6-10 years had not yet enrolled in school this year, in comparison to just 1.8% in 2018. • This seems to indicate that due to the disruptions caused by the pandemic, families are waiting for the physical opening of schools to enrol their youngest children, with about 10% of six-year-olds not in school. • Among 15-16-year-olds, however, enrolment levels are actually slightly higher than in 2018. Enrolment patterns also show a slight shift toward government schools, with private schools seeing a drop in enrolment in all age groups. • In 2018, ASER surveyors found that about 36% of rural households with school-going children had smartphones. By 2020, that figure had spiked to 62%. About 11% of families bought a new phone after the lockdown, of which 80% were smartphones. • WhatsApp was by far the most popular mode of transmitting learning materials to students, with 75% of students who got some input receiving it via the messaging app. About a quarter of those who got input had personal contact with a teacher. However, two thirds of rural children nationwide reported that they had not received any learning materials or activities at all. In Bihar, less than 8% got such materials from their schools, along with 20% in West Bengal, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. On the other hand, more than 80% of rural children in Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Kerala and Gujarat received such input. Many children did learning activities on their own, with or without regular input. Of the 70% who did some activities, 11% had access to live online classes, and 21% had videos or recorded classes, with much higher levels in private schools. About 60% studied from their textbooks, and 20% watched classes broadcast on TV. In Andhra Pradesh, half of all children did no learning activity at all, while in Kerala, only 5% of children were left out.

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4. SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 1. Road to Zero Hunger Context: • Several poor countries have suffered a severe setback to their developmental aspirations due to the COVID-19 pandemic which compounds the threats already faced by 690 million People around the World. Pandemic – A Threat to Zero Hunger: • In India, the COVID-19 containment measures have brought out the multi-dimensionality of India’s food challenges. • Therefore, as countries begin to develop and implement COVID-19 recovery plans, it is also an opportunity to adopt innovative solutions based on scientific evidence so they can build back better and make food systems more resilient and sustainable. • In this context, countries can draw inspiration from the World Food Programme (WFP) which has been awarded with Nobel Peace Prize, 2020. Significance of Nobel Peace Prize to WFP: • This year’s Nobel Peace Prize to the World Food Programme (WFP) is recognition of its role in combating hunger and malnutrition across the developing world. • According to the WFP, 132 million more people could become malnourished as a consequence of the pandemic. • This counts for a major world-wide catastrophe and unless the conscience of the world is aroused, we will be condemning vast pools of humanity to living in wretchedness and deprivation. It is also a warning that the novel corona virus pandemic is reversing the substantial gains made in the fight against poverty. • Thus, the Nobel Prize to the WFP will hopefully nudge collective conscience across the globe to come together and relieve this Looming Humanitarian Crisis. Associated Challenges in Combating Global Hunger: • Retreat of Multiculturalism: Challenges like Global Hunger are cross-domain but also cross-national in character, and hence demand greater multilateral cooperation in order to succeed. However, paradoxically as the salience of cross-national and global challenges has significantly increased, nation states are less willing to cooperate and collaborate in tackling them.

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• Threat of Climate Change: Climate change continues to be a real and potent threat to agro-biodiversity, which may impact everything from productivity to livelihoods across food and farm systems. Intensified food production systems with excessive use of chemicals and unsustainable farming practices cause soil degradation, fast depletion of groundwater table and rapid loss of agro-biodiversity. • Inter-Linked Challenges: Food, energy and water security are inter-linked with strong feedback loops. Enhancing food security may lead to diminished water and energy security. It will also have collateral impact on Health Security. Case of India: • Positive Side —Tackling of Food Crisis During Pandemic ✓ India has gone from being a net importer to a net exporter of food grains. This strength has been evident through the pandemic. ✓ Central and State governments were able to distribute around 23 million tonnes from India’s large domestic food grain reserves, during lockdown, through the Public Distribution System (PDS). ✓ Thereby, providing much-needed emergency assistance to families around the country. • Flip Side — Prevalence of Malnutrition & Threat to Food Security ✓ Prevalent Malnutrition: Even as malnutrition in India has notably declined over the past decade, the Comprehensive National Nutrition Survey 2016-18 revealed that over 40 million children are chronically malnourished, and more than half of Indian women aged 15-49 years are anaemic. ✓ Threat to Food Security: India is dealing innovatively with climate change through programs like the development of drought and flood tolerant seed varieties, weather-

based agricultural advisories, promotion of millets, and small-scale irrigation etc. However, this year, India witnessed how climate-related shocks made it difficult for farmers to deal with pest and locust attacks, as well as Floods and Cyclones. ✓ Further, these challenges multiply with an increase in fragmentation of landholdings. In India, more than 86% farmers have less than two hectares of land contributing around 60% of the total food grain production and over half the country’s fruits and vegetables. Way Forward: • Improving Agricultural Productivity: Agricultural productivity has improved significantly in recent decades, yet more than two billion people globally still lack access to

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sufficient, nutritious and safe food. Therefore, to achieve zero hunger by 2030 (SDG 2), there is a need for Collaboration among Global Players. • Need for Global Cooperation: Global solidarity is needed to help all populations and especially the most vulnerable, to recover from the crisis, and to make food systems more resilient and robust. Thus, there is a need to mobilise a global fund on the lines of the Green Climate Fund of UNFCCC. • Adoption of Food System Approach: Food System Approach is a framework that includes every aspect of feeding and nourishing people from growing, harvesting and processing to packaging, transporting, marketing and consuming food. To be sustainable, a food system must provide enough nutritious food for all without compromising feeding Future Generations.

2. PLACID Trials Why in News? • Recently, the PLACID Trial is a multicentre randomized controlled trial, has shown that the use of convalescent plasma (CP) as a therapeutic for Covid-19 patients showed no positive effects and did not improve the outcome of the patients. About Convalescent Plasma Therapy: • It is extracted from the blood of patients recovering from an infection, is a source of antibodies against the infection. • It uses blood from people who have recovered from an illness to help others recover. • Blood donated by people who have recovered from Covid-19 has antibodies to the virus that causes it. The donated blood is processed to remove blood cells, leaving behind liquid (plasma) and antibodies. These can be given to people with Covid-19 to boost their ability to fight the virus. • The plasma donor would have to be a documented case of Covid-19 and healthy for 28 days since the last symptoms. About PLACID Trial: • It was conducted by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and its aim was to investigate CPT’s effectiveness for the treatment of Covid-19. • It is the first and largest randomised control trial to be completed in the world. • The trial results indicate that there was no difference in the 28-day mortality (estimates of deaths in the 28 days after entering the hospital for a specific condition) or progression of

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Covid-19 from moderate to severe in patients treated with CP along with basic standard care compared to basic standard care alone. While the use of CP seemed to improve the resolution of shortness of breath and fatigue in patients with moderate Covid-19, this did not translate into a reduction in 28-day mortality or progression to severe disease. Impact of the Findings: • The ICMR is now considering removing the option of CPT from the National Guidelines. • CPT as a treatment for Covid-19 in India has led to questionable practices such as calls for donors on social media, and the sale of convalescent plasma on the black market. • Although CP is a safe form of treatment when transfused in accordance with the regulations, it involves resource-intensive processes such as plasmapheresis (separating plasma from the blood cells), plasma storage, and measurement of Neutralising Antibodies and a limited number of institutes have the capacity to undertake these procedures in a quality-assured manner. The experts have held that guidelines are not necessarily binding and it is too early to dismiss Convalescent Plasma Therapy. Way Ahead: • Care for Covid-19 is individualised care and the use of the right drugs in the right patient does work. Some of the therapies can be continued on compassionate grounds and the results of one or two trials should not lead to the elimination of an entire treatment or therapy. Covid-19 is a new virus and global evidence is still emerging on the best therapeutic options so it is too early to take a firm step. • For example, remdesivir has been sanctioned as a drug of choice by the USA drug regulator, while the World Health Organization’s Solidarity Trial has found it had little or no effect on 28-day Covid Mortality.

4. SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY SNIPPETS 1. Holographic Imaging Method Why in News? • Recently, Scientists from New York University have developed a method using holographic Imaging to detect both Viruses and Antibodies. Highlights: • Holography is a process that creates three-dimensional images called holograms using laser beams, the properties of interference and diffraction, light intensity recording, and illumination of the recording.

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• It uses laser beams to record holograms of the Specially prepared test beads. • The surfaces of the beads are activated with biochemical binding sites that attract either antibodies or Virus Particles, Depending on the intended test. • Binding Antibodies or viruses causes the beads to grow by a few billionth parts of a metre. • The Researchers detect this growth through changes in the beads’ holograms. The test can analyse a dozen beads per second. • The method can test either for the virus (current infection) or antibodies (immunity). • The breakthrough has the potential to aid in medical diagnoses, and specifically, those related to the Covid-19 pandemic. • If fully realised, this proposed test could be done in under 30 minutes, is highly accurate, and can be performed by minimally trained personnel.

2. Anti-ulcer drug shows promise in suppressing coronavirus Why in News? • Researchers from Hong Kong have reported a novel antiviral strategy for treatment of Covid-19. The Novel Antiviral Strategy: • Researchers have found that a class of existing drugs, which are currently used in the treatment of other infectious diseases, can suppress replication of SARS-CoV-2 and relieve Covid-19 symptoms in an animal model. • Their findings are published in Nature Microbiology. • These are metallodrugs, which consist of metal compounds. • Generally, metal compounds are used as anti-microbial agents, but their antiviral activities have rarely been explored, the researchers said. • Their findings now provide a new therapeutic option for treatment of Covid-19. • The researchers screened metallodrugs and related compounds including ranitidine bismuth citrate (RBC), a commonly used anti-ulcer drug which contains the metal bismuth. They identified RBC as a potent anti-SARS-CoV-2 agent. • RBC targets a protein called Nsp13, which is essential for SARS-CoV-2 to replicate. • The experiments showed that RBC reduces viral loads by over 1,000-fold in SARS-CoV-2- infected cells. In a golden Syrian hamster, RBC was found to suppress SARS-CoV-2 replication and reduce viral loads by 100-fold in both the upper and lower respiratory tracts, and to mitigate virus-associated Pneumonia.

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3. Anti-Tank Guided Missiles Why in News? • Recently, a laser guided Anti-Tank Guided Missile (ATGM) was successfully launched which will undergo more validation tests. ATGM: • ATGM has been indigenously developed. • It is laser-guided version of Anti-Tank Guided Missile. • It locks and tracks the targets with the help of laser designation to ensure precision in striking the target. • It is test fired by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). • It mainly differs in one aspect from other ATGMS developed i.e. it is designed to be fired from tanks. • Range limited to 1.5 to 5 kilometers. • The missile uses a ‘tandem’ High Explosive Anti-Tank (HEAT) warhead. The term tandem refers to the missiles using more than one detonation in order to effectively penetrate the protective armours. • This missile has the capacity of piercing armoured vehicles which use specially designed armour plates to counter the impact of such projectiles. • Currently Undergoing tests to be integrated with India’s Main Battle Tank (MBT), Arjun. First use of ATGMs: • The DRDO has been working on ATGMs that can be launched from different platforms as part of the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme. • The indigenously developed low weight, fire and forget Man Portable Anti-Tank Guided Missile (MPATGM) was successfully launched 2019. • ATGM Nag was successfully tested in 2018. • All these systems, which are mainly used by infantry units of the Army, are in their various stages of development. • In the meantime, the Government said that it has procured (in 2019) Anti-Tank Spike Missiles from Israel along with the allied systems to meet operational requirements of the Indian Army. Importance of ATGM: • The armoured and mechanised vehicles have the ability to go past conventional defenses.

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• Tank battles are generally fought in a close range of under five kilometers to hit the enemy tank before they can take a clear shot. • Therefore, ATGM and other armoured warfare act as a deterrent against enemy tanks from advancing. • The missile has the capability of engaging with the target even if it is not in the line of sight Enhancing its Capability. Indigenous ATGM in India: • Dhruvastra: Made in India’ anti-tank guided Nag missile. Its earlier name was HELINA. • The Man Portable Anti-Tank Guided Missile (MPATGM) is a 3rd Gen ATGM.

4. SLINEX-20 Why in News? • Recently, the 8th edition of annual India – Sri Lanka bilateral naval maritime exercise, SLINEX-20 will be held at Trincomalee, Sri Lanka from 19 to 21 October 2020. Highlights: • It aims to enhance interoperability, improve mutual understanding and exchange best practices and procedures for multi-faceted maritime operations between both navies. • It exemplifies the deep engagement between India and Sri Lanka which has strengthened mutual cooperation in the maritime domain. • The Indian Navy will be represented by Indigenously built ASW corvette Kamorta and Kiltanunder. Indian Navy Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) and Chetak helicopters and Dornier Maritime Patrol Aircraft will also be participating. • The Sri Lanka Navy will be represented by SLN Ships Sayura (Offshore Patrol Vessel) and Gajabahu (Training Ship). • The maritime exercise will also showcase capabilities of India’s indigenously constructed naval ships and aircraft. Surface and anti-air exercises including weapon firing, seamanship evolutions, manoeuvres and cross deck flying operations are planned during the exercise, which will further enhance the high degree of interoperability already established between the two friendly navies. • The exercise is being conducted in a non-contact ‘at-sea-only’ format in the backdrop of Covid-19 pandemic. • The 7th edition of SLINEX was conducted off Visakhapatnam in September 2019. SLINEX series of bilateral maritime exercises were initiated in 2005.

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5. OSIRIS-REx Mission Why in News? • NASA’s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft has recently touched down on the surface of asteroid Bennu to collect rock and dust samples. About OSIRIS-REx Mission: • The OSIRIS-REx (Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, Security, Regolith Explorer) spacecraft was launched in 2016 for the journey to Bennu. • It is the United States’ first asteroid sample return mission, aiming to collect and carry a pristine, unaltered sample from an asteroid back to earth for scientific study. • It is essentially a seven-year-long voyage and will conclude when at least 60 grams of samples are delivered back to the Earth (in 2023). • The mission promises to bring the largest amount of extraterrestrial material back to the Earth since the Apollo era. The spacecraft contains five instruments meant to explore Bennu including cameras, a spectrometer and a laser altimeter. • The spacecraft’s robotic arm called the Touch-And-Go Sample Acquisition Mechanism (TAGSAM), made an attempt to “TAG” the asteroid at a sample site and collected a sample. • The departure window for the mission will open up in 2021, after which it will take over two years to reach back to Earth. About Asteroid Bennu: • It is an ancient asteroid, currently more than 200 million miles from Earth. • It offers scientists a window into the early solar system as it was first taking shape billions of years ago and tossing ingredients that could have helped seed life on Earth. • It hasn’t undergone drastic changes since its formation over billions of years ago and therefore it contains chemicals and rocks dating back to the birth of the solar system. It is also relatively close to the Earth. • It is known that this asteroid is a B-type asteroid, implying that it contains significant amounts of carbon and various other minerals. • Because of its high carbon content, it reflects about 4% of the light that hits it, which is very low when compared with a planet like Venus, which reflects about 65% of the light that hits it. Earth reflects about 30%. • Around 20-40% of Bennu’s interior is empty space and scientists believe that it was formed in the first 10 million years of the solar system’s formation, implying that it is roughly 4.5 billion years old.

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6. INS Kavaratti Why in News? • INS Kavaratti has recently been formally inducted into the Indian Navy at the Naval Dockyard in Eastern Naval Command (ENC), Visakhapatnam. Highlights: • It is named after the capital of the Lakshadweep group of islands. • It is the last of the four indigenously built Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) stealth corvettes built under Project 28 (Kamorta class), by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata. • It is regarded as one of the most potent ASW stealth corvettes to have been constructed in India as it joins three other ships of the same class INS Kamorta, INS Kadmatt and INS Kiltan, at the ENC. Its induction is a game-changer in the eastern seaboard, especially with the Chinese submarines trying to increase their presence in the Indian Ocean. It is enhanced stealth features resulting in reduced Radar Cross Section (RCS) achieved by the superstructure along with optimally sloped surfaces. • INS Kavaratti and INS Kiltan are the first two major warships in the country to have the unique feature of the superstructure made of carbon fibre composite material. • It has high indigenous content with the state-of-the-art equipment and systems to fight in Nuclear, Biological and Chemical (NBC) warfare conditions. • Some of the major equipment/ systems developed indigenously include Combat Management System, Torpedo Tube Launchers and Infra-Red Signature Suppression System, etc. The high level of indigenisation incorporated in the production accentuates the objectives of Atmanirbhar Bharat Initiative. • It is the reincarnation of the erstwhile Arnala Class missile corvette of the same name, INS Kavaratti-P 80, a ship that played an important role in the liberation of Bangladesh in 1971.

7. Monoclonal Antibodies Why in News? • The International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI) and Serum Institute of India (SII), Pune has recently announced an agreement with Merck, a science and technology company, to develop SARS-CoV-2 neutralising monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), which will be used to address the Covid-19 pandemic.

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About Monoclonal Antibodies: • The Antibodies are proteins produced naturally by the immune system that target a specific foreign object (antigen). They are called monoclonal Antibodies (mAbs) when they are produced by clones derived from a single parent cell. • They are man-made proteins that act like a human antibody in the immune system. They are made by cloning a unique white blood cell. • mAbs have monovalent affinity, it binds only to the same epitope i.e. the part of an antigen that is recognized by the antibody. • They are designed to perform many roles, like they can be used to carry drugs, toxins, or radioactive substances directly to affected cells. • mAbs are used to treat many diseases, including some types of Cancer. • Neutralising monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against SARS-CoV-2 were co-invented by IAVI and Scripps Research. • They are widely considered to be promising candidates for Covid-19 treatment and prevention. Encouraging results for Covid-19 antibody treatment have emerged from preclinical research and from initial clinical trials. • mAbs also have the potential to play an important complementary role to Covid-19 vaccines. It can be used both for treatment and potentially for prevention, especially for those individuals who, due to age or medical conditions, may not benefit from vaccination. • Antibody, also called immunoglobulin is a protective protein produced by the immune system in response to the presence of a foreign substance, called an antigen. • A wide range of substances are regarded by the body as antigens, including disease-causing Organisms and Toxic Materials. • Antibodies recognize and attack onto antigens in order to remove them from the body.

8. World Polio Day 2020 Why in News? • Recently, World Polio Day is celebrated every year on 24th October, in order to call on countries to stay vigilant in their fight against the disease. It was established to commemorate the birth of Jonas Salk, who developed an inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV). Highlights: • The Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), led by national governments and the World Health Organisation (WHO), has been monitoring the disease situation globally.

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• The cases of wild poliovirus have decreased by over 99.9% as a result of vaccination efforts made around the world. • Polio is a crippling and potentially deadly viral infectious disease that affects the nervous system. There are three individual and immunologically distinct wild poliovirus strains Wild Poliovirus type 1 (WPV1), Wild Poliovirus type 2 (WPV2) and Wild Poliovirus type 3 (WPV3). All three strains are identical, in that they cause irreversible paralysis or even death. There are genetic and virological differences, which make these three strains separate viruses which must each be eradicated individually. • The WPV2 and WPV3 have been eradicated globally but WPV1 remains in circulation in Afghanistan and Pakistan. • WPV2 was eradicated in 1999. World Polio Day 2019 marked a milestone in polio eradication as the independent Global Commission for the Certification of Poliomyelitis Eradication (GCC) declared WPV3 to be globally eradicated. • The virus is transmitted by person-to-person mainly through the faecal-oral route or, less frequently, by a common vehicle (for example, through contaminated water or food). • It largely affects children under 5 years of age. The virus multiplies in the intestine, from where it can invade the nervous system and can cause paralysis. • Most people with polio do not feel sick. Some people have only minor symptoms, such as fever, tiredness, nausea, headache, nasal congestion, sore throat, cough, stiffness in the neck and back, and pain in the arms and legs. • In rare cases, polio infection causes permanent loss of muscle function (paralysis). • Polio can be fatal if the muscles used for breathing are paralysed or if there is an infection of the brain. • There is no cure, but it can be prevented through immunisation. • Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV) is given orally as a birth dose for institutional deliveries, then primary three doses at 6, 10 and 14 weeks and one booster dose at 16-24 months of age. • Injectable Polio Vaccine (IPV) is introduced as an additional dose along with the 3rd dose of DPT (Diphtheria, Pertussis and Tetanus) under the Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP).

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9. Earth Observation Satellite EOS-01 Why in News? • Recently, India would launch its latest earth observation satellite EOS-01 and nine international customer satellites from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Andhra Pradesh’s Sriharikota. Highlights: • The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C49) of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will launch these ten satellites on 7th November 2020. It will be PSLV's 51st Mission. • It is an earth observation satellite and is intended for applications in agriculture, forestry and disaster management support. • Earth observation satellites are the satellites equipped with remote sensing technology. Earth observation is the gathering of information about Earth's physical, chemical and biological systems. Many earth observation satellites have been employed on sun- synchronous orbit. Other earth observation satellites launched by ISRO include RESOURCESAT- 2, 2A, CARTOSAT-1, 2, 2A, 2B, RISAT-1 and 2, OCEANSAT-2, Megha- Tropiques, SARAL and SCATSAT-1, INSAT-3DR, 3D, etc.

• These are being launched as part of a commercial agreement with NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), Department of Space. • NSIL is incorporated in 2019 (under the Companies Act, 2013), is a wholly owned Government of India company, under the administrative control of Department of Space (DOS). NSIL is the commercial arm of ISRO with the primary responsibility of enabling Indian industries to take up high technology space related activities and is also responsible for promotion and commercial exploitation of the products and services emanating from the Indian space programme. The Major Business Areas of the NSIL Include: ✓ Production of Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) and Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) through industry. ✓ Production and marketing of space-based services, including launch services and space-based applications like transponder leasing, remote sensing and mission support services. ✓ Building of Satellites (both Communication and Earth Observation) as per user requirements.

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✓ Transfer of technology developed by ISRO centres/ units and constituent institutions of Dept. of Space. ✓ Marketing spin off technologies and products/ services emanating out of ISRO activities. ✓ Consultancy services. • The Government of India has created the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Center (IN-SPACe), an independent nodal agency under the Department of Space, to provide a boost to the private sector participating in space-related activities or using India’s space resources. Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle: • India’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) is the third generation launch vehicle. • It is the first launch vehicle which is equipped with Liquid Stages. • Its first Successful Launch was in October 1994. PSLV was used for two of the most important missions. These are Chandrayaan-1 in 2008 and Mars Orbiter Spacecraft in 2013. • Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) Mark II and GSLV MkIII are other two launch vehicles. • GSLV Mk II is the largest launch vehicle developed by India, which is currently in operation. This fourth generation launch vehicle is a three stage vehicle with four liquid strap-ons. The indigenously developed cryogenic Upper Stage (CUS), which is flight proven, forms the third stage of GSLV Mk II. • GSLV MkIII, chosen to launch Chandrayaan-2 spacecraft, is a three-stage heavy lift launch vehicle developed by ISRO. The vehicle has two solid strap-ons, a core liquid booster and a cryogenic upper stage. • GSLV Mk III is designed to carry a 4 ton class of satellites into Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO) or about 10 tons to Low Earth Orbit (LEO), which is about twice the capability of the GSLV Mk II.

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5. ART AND CULTURE & MISCELLANEOUS 1. Non-Aligned Movement Why in News? • Recently, the 65th anniversary of the landmark Bandung Conference that resulted in the adoption of the founding principles of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM). The basic concept for NAM originated in 1955 during discussions that took place at the Asia-Africa Bandung Conference held in Indonesia. Highlights: • The milestone of the 65th anniversary is a good time to reflect upon the philosophy behind the movement. • India reiterated that NAM never was and can never be a platform for pursuits that undermine the territorial integrity of a State by another State. • India will deploy her rich developmental experience for the peace and welfare of humanity, treating the world as one family. • India also emphasized that in order to make NAM a relevant entity in the global decision making process, its members must avoid raising issues that divide the forum. • Covid-19 is a reminder of the interconnectedness and dependence of NAM members on each other. • Members must work to reduce the socio-economic impact of the pandemic on the most vulnerable sections of society. NAM's unique tradition of promoting South-South cooperation can provide a way out as societies look to rebuild and regenerate in the wake of this crisis. • Apart from the global pandemic, terrorism, climate change, cybersecurity threats and the uneven impact of frontier technologies (Artificial Intelligence, robotics, Internet of Things, etc.) and development concerns are few other challenges which can only be tackled if all the members work together. • The strength of the NAM lies in its diversity, its shared developmental experience, and its Youthful Populations. About Non-Aligned Movement: • It was formed during the Cold War as an organisation of States that did not seek to formally align themselves with either the USA (Capitalism) or the Soviet Union (Socialism) but sought to remain independent or neutral.

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• Six years after the Bandung Conference, the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries was founded on a wider geographical basis at the First Summit Conference of Belgrade, which was held in September 1961. • It was held under the leadership of Josip Broz Tito of Yugoslavia, Gamal Abdel Nasser of Egypt, Jawaharlal Nehru of India, Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana, and Sukarno of Indonesia. • The purpose of the organisation was enumerated in the Havana Declaration of 1979 to ensure "the national independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and security of non- aligned countries" in their struggle against imperialism, colonialism, neo-colonialism, racism, and all forms of foreign subjugation. • It has 120 members as of April 2018 comprising 53 countries from Africa, 39 from Asia, 26 from Latin America and the Caribbean and 2 from Europe. • There are 17 countries and 10 international organisations that are Observers at NAM. • It does not have a formal constitution or permanent secretariat, and its administration is non-hierarchical and rotational. • Decisions are made by consensus, which requires substantial agreement, but not unanimity. Way Ahead: • The NAM has a glorious past but the future will depend on how the member nations perform in addressing the defining challenges of the current era, which could be solved easily with the help of the principles of solidarity and Cooperation. • Even if members call for effective and reformed multilateralism, they need to introspect, reform and revitalise the current arrangements of their own movement, which will enable them to pursue a focused, positive and transformative agenda Going Forward.

5.1. ART AND CULTURE & MISCELLANEOUS SNIPPETS 1. Nazca Line Why in News? • A Giant cat Geoglyph was recently discovered on a hill at the famous Nazca Lines site in Peru. Highlights: • These are a group of geoglyphs known for the depictions of larger-than-life animals, plants and imaginary beings.

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• Geoglyphs are the large designs made on the ground by creators using elements of the landscape such as stones, gravel, dirt or lumber. • These are believed to be the greatest known archaeological enigma, owing to their size, continuity, nature and quality. • The site is around 450 km away from capital Lima. • Drawn more than 2 millennia ago on the surface of southern Peru’s arid Pampa Colorada, the geoglyphs feature different subjects, but mainly plants and animals. • The figures include pelicans (the largest ones sized around 935 feet long), Andean Condors (443 feet), monkeys (360 feet), etc. • The Variety of geometric shapes such as triangles, trapezoids and spirals, and some have been associated with Astronomical Functions. • Discovery and Heritage Site: The Lines were first discovered in 1927, and were declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1994. • Cultural Linkage dates from 500 BC – 200 AD (Paracas age). The cat geoglyph is believed to be older than the ones previously found at Nazca. • The Paracas culture was an Andean society existing between approximately 800 BCE and 100 BCE, with an extensive knowledge of irrigation and water management. It was in present day Peru in the Paracas Desert region. • The representations of felines of this type are frequent in the iconography of ceramics and textiles of the Paracas society.

2. Kochi-Muziris Biennale Why in News? • Recently, the 5th edition of the Kochi-Muziris Biennale has been postponed to 1st November 2021, which was earlier set to be inaugurated on 12th December 2020. Highlights: • The Kochi-Muziris Biennale is an art exhibition and festival that is the largest of its kind in South Asia and is organised by the Kochi Biennale Foundation at Kochi, Kerala. • The Foundation is a non-profit charitable trust engaged in promoting art and culture and educational activities in India. • It works throughout the year to strengthen contemporary art infrastructure and to broaden public access to art across India through a diverse range of programmes.

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• The Muziris was a port city, among the earliest of its kind in the world and when Kerala established itself as a major center for spice, the ancient port of Muziris emerged as its hub. • The Muziris Heritage Project is one of the biggest conservation projects in India, where the state and the central governments have come together to conserve a rich culture that is as old as 3000 years or more. • The biennale exhibits artworks across a variety of mediums including film, installation, painting, sculpture, new media and performance art and also offers seminars, screenings, music, workshops and educational activities for school children and students.

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6. INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS 1. International Solar Alliance Why in News? • Recently, India and France have been re-elected as the President and Co-President of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) for a term of two years at the virtual third Assembly of ISA. The first two assemblies were held in India in 2018 and 2019. About International Solar Alliance: • It is an Indian initiative that was launched by the Prime Minister of India and the President of France on 30th November 2015 in Paris, France on the side-lines of the Conference of the Parties (COP-21), with 121 solar resource-rich countries lying fully or partially between the tropic of Cancer and tropic of Capricorn as prospective members. • Its objective is to collectively address key common challenges to the scaling up of solar energy in ISA member countries. • Till now, 87 countries have signed the Framework Agreement of the ISA and of these 67 have deposited their instruments of ratification. Nicaragua, a Central American country is the 87th and the latest country to sign the agreement. • The Government of India has allotted 5 acres of land to the ISA in National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE) campus, Gurugram and has released a sum of Rs. 160 crore for creating a corpus fund, building infrastructure and meeting day to day recurring expenditure of the ISA up to the year 2021-22. Key Points of the Assembly: • The Assembly approved institutionalising ISA’s engagement with the private and public corporate sector through the Coalition for Sustainable Climate Action (CSCA). • Various solar awards were conferred on countries as well as institutions. • The Visvesvaraya award recognises the countries with a maximum floating solar capacity in each of the four regions of ISA, which are: 1. Asia Pacific Region. 2. Africa Region. 3. Europe and others Region. 4. Latin America and Caribbean Region. • The Kalpana Chawla award for outstanding contribution of scientists and engineers working in the field of solar energy.

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• The Diwakar award recognises organisations and institutions that have been working for the benefit of differently-abled people and have maximised the use of solar energy in the host country. • The Assembly presented the report prepared by the World Resources Institute (WRI) which identifies the sources of funds, opportunities and constraints, in scaling up solar investments and the contribution of ISA in assisting Member countries. • The ISA will work with WRI to develop a roadmap for mobilisation of USD 1 trillion by 2030. In the wake of the global pandemic, ISA responded by setting up ISA CARES (like PM-CARES in India), an initiative dedicated to the deployment of solar energy in the healthcare sector. ✓ The initiative aims to solarise one primary health sector in each district of the target member countries. • The ISA Secretariat has launched a Seventh Programme on Solarising Heating and Cooling systems. ✓ Demand for cooling alone outpaced solar deployment in 2017. ✓ Heating and cooling systems have scope to directly convert solar radiation and at Higher Efficiency Levels. • SAARC Development Fund’s technical assistance along with the ISA Technical Assistance is proposed to be implemented jointly with the Asian Development Bank. • The ISA has recently signed a tripartite agreement with the World Bank and the Government of India and is now actively involved in preparing a vision and implementation plan for “One Sun, One World, One Grid” Initiative to harness the power of interconnected grids for enabling Energy Transition to a low-carbon world. India’s Perspective and Highlights: • The President of the ISA Assembly, India’s Power and New and Renewable Energy Minister appreciated the Alliance Members coming together to work for combating climate change. He also highlighted various activities and programmes initiated by ISA since the 2nd Assembly like the development of a pipeline of more than USD 5 billion, aggregated demand for more than 270,000 solar pumps across 22 countries, etc. France’s Role: • France has committed 1.5 billion Euros for financing solar projects in ISA member states up until 2022. The first project under the Solar Risk Mitigation Initiative (SRMI) is being launched in Mozambique with the support of France and the European Union (EU).

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• SRMI will help mobilise billions in private investment to finance more than 10 GWs of solar projects. In the frame of the ISA’s Solar Technology Application Resource Centre (Star-C) programme, the French National Institute for Solar Energy (INES) will launch a specific program for the small island states of the Pacific.

2. India fares poorly in Global Hunger Index Why in News? • According to the Global Hunger Index 2020, India has the highest prevalence of wasted Children under Five Years in the world, which reflects acute under nutrition. What is Global Hunger Index? • The report is a peer-reviewed publication released annually by Welthungerhilfe and Concern Worldwide. • The GHI scores are based on a formula that captures three dimensions of hunger— insufficient caloric intake, child under nutrition, and child mortality—using four Component Indicators: 1. UNDERNOURISHMENT: the share of the population that is under-nourished, reflecting insufficient caloric intake. 2. CHILD WASTING: the share of children under the age of five who are wasted (low weight-for-height), reflecting acute under nutrition. 3. CHILD STUNTING: the share of children under the age of five who are stunted (low height-for-age), reflecting chronic under nutrition. 4. CHILD MORTALITY: the mortality rate of children under the age of five. Key Findings of the Report: • Overall, India ranks 94 out of 107 countries in the Index, lower than neighbours such as Bangladesh (75) and Pakistan (88). 2020 scores reflect data from 2015-19. • The situation has worsened in the 2015-19 period, when the prevalence of child wasting was 17.3%, in comparison to 2010-14, when it was 15.1%. • Although it is still in the poorest category, child stunting has actually improved significantly, from 54% in 2000 to less than 35% now. Child wasting, on the other hand, has not improved in the last two decades, and is rather worse than it was decade ago. • India has improved in both child mortality rates, which are now at 3.7%, and in terms of undernourishment, with about 14% of the total population which gets an insufficient caloric intake.

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• In the region of south, east and south-eastern Asia, the only countries which fare worse than India are Timor-Leste, Afghanistan and North Korea.

Pandemic Effect: • Globally, nearly 690 million people are undernourished, according to the report, which warns that the COVID-19 pandemic could have affected the progress made on reducing hunger and poverty. The world is not on track to achieve the second Sustainable Development Goal — known as Zero Hunger for short — by 2030. At the current pace, approximately 37 countries will fail even to reach low hunger, as defined by the Global Hunger Index Severity Scale, by 2030. These projections do not account for the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, which may worsen hunger and under nutrition in the near term and affect countries’ trajectories into the future. • COVID-19 has made it clearer than ever that our food systems, as they stand, are inadequate to the task of achieving Zero Hunger. Need of an Hour: • In India, to combat the malnutrition levels both immediate and long term interventions are needed. Around 85 to 90% of wasting can be managed at the community level. • Now, the nutritional rehabilitation centres are coming up across the country. It can help in taking care of the institutional needs of the Children who are Already Malnourished. • But to prevent it from happening, mothers need to be educated about nutrition at anganwadis, access to clean drinking water and sanitation has to be ensured, and livelihood security is needed. • However, for immediate intervention, nutritional formulation needs to be made available at community level. The government can utilise the existing network of public distribution system, have the self-help groups prepare packaged, portioned nutritional formulations to help the moderately malnourished before wasting happens.

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3. China passes new law Restricting Sensitive Exports Why in News? • China has passed a new law restricting sensitive exports to protect national security, allowing Beijing to reciprocate against the U.S. as tensions mount between the sides over Trade and Technology. About the News: • The law, which will apply to all companies in China, was passed by the National People’s Congress Standing Committee and will take effect on December 1. • Under the law, China can take reciprocal measures toward countries or regions that abuse export controls and threaten its national security and interests. • Export controls under the law will apply to civilian, military and nuclear products, as well as goods, technologies and services related to national security. A list of controlled items will be published in a timely manner in conjunction with relevant departments, according to the law. • The new law allows Beijing to retaliate against the U.S., which in recent months has attempted to block Chinese technology firms such as telecommunications gear supplier Huawei, Bytedance’s TikTok app and Tencent’s messaging app WeChat on grounds of posing a national security threat, including the data they may possess from operating in the country. • Companies and individuals who endanger national security by breaching the new export control law, including those outside of China, could face criminal charges. • Violations of the law, such as exporting items without a permit, could result in fines of 5 million Yuan ($746,500), or up to 20 times the business value of the illegal transaction. • The new law adds to the growing uncertainty of Bytedance’s deal to sell its video app TikTok to U.S. firm Oracle Corp. • President Donald Trump had earlier ordered Bytedance to sell its U.S. operations of TikTok to an American firm or face a block in the country. • The new export control laws add to China’s growing regulatory toolkit that allows it to take action against countries such as the U.S. Why this Move? • The economic relationship between Beijing and Washington has been roiled by Trump's unprecedented campaign of tariffs, threats of bans and sanctions on Chinese tech firms.

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• With Trump facing a tough re-election campaign ahead of polls next month, US officials have described measures against China as national security safeguards -- prompting a backlash from Beijing.

4. New START Treaty Why in News? • Recently, the Russian President has proposed extending by one year the New START (Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty) between the USA and Russia expiring in February 2021. Highlights: • The New START Treaty is a treaty between the United States of America and the Russian Federation on measures for the further reduction and limitation of strategic offensive arms. It entered into force on 5th February, 2011. • It has replaced the 1991 START I treaty, which expired December 2009, and superseded the 2002 Strategic Offensive Reductions Treaty (SORT), which terminated when New START entered into force. • It is a successor to the START framework of 1991 (at the end of the Cold War) that limited both sides to 1,600 strategic delivery vehicles and 6,000 warheads. • It continues the bipartisan process of verifiably reducing the USA and Russian strategic nuclear arsenals by limiting both sides to 700 strategic launchers and 1,550 operational warheads. • It will lapse in February 2021 unless extended for a five-year period. • Russia has extended the proposal along with concerns of lack of interest from the United States. The United States has also suspended the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Force Treaty (INF Treaty) with Russia, in 2019. • It was a nuclear arms-control accord reached by the United States and the Soviet Union in 1987 in which the two nations agreed to eliminate their stocks of intermediate-range and shorter-range (or “medium-range”) land-based missiles (which could carry nuclear warheads). The United States withdrew from the Treaty on 2nd August 2019. USA’s Stand in the Treaty: • The USA wanted any replacement treaty should include China and to encompass all of Russia’s nuclear weapons — not just the “strategic” weapons covered under New START but also Russia’s sizable stockpile of smaller, “tactical” nuclear weapons that fall outside the treaty.

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• The Russia rejected the demands, and China has refused to take part in negotiations. • The USA has agreed to Negotiate the Extension. Way Ahead: • An extension would mark a rare bright spot in the fraught US-Russian relationship. The time bought by extending New START can be used for conducting comprehensive bilateral negotiations on future control over nuclear missile weapons. • Negotiators would still need to work out a verification system and agree on the detailed definition of a warhead. Failure to do so would remove the main pillar maintaining the nuclear balance between them. • If the treaty is not extended or replaced, the world’s two biggest nuclear powers will return to an era without substantive restraints on their arsenals for the first time in decades.

5. Pakistan to Remain on ‘FATF Greylist’ till 2021 Why in News? • The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) recently decided to keep Pakistan on the “greylist” till the next review of its compliance to the recommendations in February next year. About the News: • Pakistan was found non-compliant in cracking down on terror financing through narcotics and smuggling of mining products including precious stones. • Pakistan has made progress across all action plan items and has now largely addressed 21 of 27 action items. As all action plan deadlines have expired, the FATF strongly urges Pakistan to swiftly complete its full action plan by February 2021. • The points on which Pakistan failed to deliver included its lack of action against the charitable organisations or non-profit organisations linked to the terror groups banned by the UN Security Council; and delays in the prosecution of banned individuals and entities like Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) chief Hafiz Saeed and LeT operations chief, Zaki Ur Rahman Lakhvi, as well as Jaish-e- Mohammad chief Masood Azhar. About FATF: • The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) is an inter-governmental body established in 1989 during the G7 Summit in Paris. • The objectives of the FATF are to set standards and promote effective implementation of legal, regulatory and operational measures for combating

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money laundering, terrorist financing and other related threats to the integrity of the international financial system. • Its Secretariat is located at the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) headquarters in Paris. • Member Countries: As of 2019, it consists of thirty-seven member jurisdictions. India is one of the members. • FATF has Two Lists:

1. Grey List: Countries that are considered safe haven for supporting terror funding and money laundering are put in the FATF grey list. This inclusion serves as a warning to the country that it may enter the blacklist. 2. Black List: Countries known as Non-Cooperative Countries or Territories (NCCTs) are put in the blacklist. These countries support terror funding and money laundering activities. The FATF revises the blacklist regularly, adding or deleting entries. • The FATF Plenary is the decision making body of the FATF. It meets three times per year. FATF and Pakistan: • Pakistan was placed on the grey list by the FATF in June 2018 and was given a 27 point plan of action to complete by October 2019, or face the risk of being placed on the black list with Iran and North Korea. Pakistan was previously placed on the FATF's grey list in February 2012, and had been removed from the grey list in February 2015 after it passed a National Action Plan (NAP) to deal with terrorism after the Peshawar School massacre in December 2014. It was placed under severe restrictions in the years 2008-2012. • Now due to its failure to completely implement the 27-point action plan to check terror financing Pakistan is retained in the FATF’s Grey list. • The FATF noted the insufficiency of Pakistan’s implementation as “serious concerns”. • The main purpose behind the decision is to not punish rather than incentivise, to make the required changes and make them Faster. What are the impacts on Pakistan? • By remaining on the “Grey List”, it would be difficult for Pakistan to get financial aid from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Bank and European Union, making its financial condition more precarious. • However, there are no immediate implications for the recent $6 billion loan negotiated with the IMF that is to be disbursed over the next three years.

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• The country is facing a number of economic challenges with its economy expected to grow at 3.3 % in 2019 and 2.6% in 2020, according to IMF. • Inflation is set to touch 7.3% in 2019, up from 3.9% in 2018, and rise to 13% in 2020. • Fiscal deficit is projected at 7.1% of GDP in 2020, the highest in the Last Seven Years.

6.1. INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS SNIPPETS 1. Geneva Convention Why in News? • Recently, the International Committee for the Red Cross (ICRC) urged both the Indian and Chinese governments that they observe the Geneva Conventions to which both countries are signatories. Highlights: • The Geneva Conventions (1949) and their Additional Protocols are international treaties that contain the most important rules limiting the barbarity of war. • They protect people who do not take part in the fighting (civilians, medics, aid workers) and those who can no longer fight (wounded, sick and shipwrecked troops, prisoners of war). ✓ The first Geneva Convention protects wounded and sick soldiers on land during war. ✓ The second Geneva Convention protects wounded, sick and shipwrecked military personnel at sea during war. ✓ The third Geneva Convention applies to prisoners of war. ✓ The fourth Geneva Convention affords protection to civilians, including in occupied territory. • Article 3, common to the four Geneva Conventions, covers situations of non-international armed conflicts. They include traditional civil wars, internal armed conflicts that spill over into other States or internal conflicts in which a third State or a multinational force intervenes alongside the government. • Additional to the four 1949 Geneva Conventions were adopted in 1977. They strengthen the protection of victims of international (Protocol I) and non-international (Protocol II) armed conflicts and place limits on the way wars are fought. • In 2005, a third Additional Protocol was adopted creating an additional emblem, the Red Crystal, which has the same international status as the Red Cross and Red Crescent Emblems.

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• The International Committee for the Red Cross (ICRC), an international humanitarian organisation, has the mandate to monitor that signatories follow the rules in situations of conflict. Established in 1863, the ICRC operates worldwide, helping people affected by conflict and armed violence and promoting the laws that protect victims of war. • An independent and neutral organization, based in Geneva, Switzerland. • The ICRC is funded mainly by voluntary donations from governments and from National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.

2. Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Why in News? • India designated Vice-Chair of OECD Working Group on GLP. India and Good Laboratory Practice (GLP): • India has been designated the ‘Vice-Chair’ of Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) Working Group of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), recognising the contribution of the Indian GLP programme. • Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) is a quality system, which has been evolved by OECD to ensure that safety data generated on various chemicals like industrial chemicals, pharmaceuticals (human and veterinary), agrochemicals, cosmetic products, food/feed additives, and medical devices, etc., can be relied upon by regulatory authorities. • The Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India, established the National GLP Compliance Monitoring Authority (NGCMA) in 2002. • The non-hazardous nature of chemicals needs to be established through studies and data, which is examined by the regulators of the concerned countries to certify that the use of these chemicals does not pose any hazards to human health and the environment. • In 2011, India became fully adherent to the Mutual Acceptance of Data (MAD) in the OECD. • The MAD status has given global recognition to India’s non-clinical safety data by tremendously augmenting its credibility and acceptability across the globe. • This has not only boosted the confidence of Indian GLP TFs but also led to the removal of technical barriers to trade. • The dedicated training of the inspectors and continued capacity building of Indian TFs (test facilities) in emerging areas by the ground team of NGCMA has resulted in upgrading Indian TFs to meet International Standards.

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• The spectrum of activities of Indian GLP TFs is wide, involving eight types of chemicals/test items and nine areas of expertise. • The National GLP program has not only helped to build a network of GLP TFs in the country but also created a huge quantum of highly competent Human Resources. NGCMA: • The National GLP Compliance Monitoring Authority (NGCMA) is the national body that Grants GLP certification to TFs conducting safety studies on new chemicals of the above- Mentioned Categories in accordance with OECD Principles of GLP and OECD Council norms.

3. Yellow dust from China could spread COVID: North Korea Why in News? • North Korean authorities have urged its citizens to remain indoors to avoid contact with a mysterious cloud of yellow dust blowing in from China. Highlights: • They fear that a new type of coronavirus can be introduced into the Korean territory together with the particles of yellow dust. What is Yellow Dust? • Yellow dust is sand from deserts in China and Mongolia carried by high speed surface winds into both North and South Korea during specific Periods Every Year. • The Sand Particles tend to mix with other toxic substances such as industrial pollutants, as a result of which the yellow dust is known to cause a number of respiratory ailments. • Usually when the dust reaches unhealthy levels (crosses around 800 micrograms/cubic meter) in the atmosphere schools are shut and outdoor events cancelled in the affected areas. Can Covid-19 be transmitted through dust clouds? • As per the US Centres for Disease Control the virus can remain airborne for hours, but it is highly unlikely for the COVID-19 infection to spread through the Dust Clouds.

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4. Global Centre for Nuclear Energy Partnership (GCNEP) Why in News? • India and US signed an agreement to extend duration of the MoU regarding the Global Center for Nuclear Energy Partnership. GCNEP: • Government of India has approved the establishment of Global Centre for Nuclear Energy Partnership (GCNEP) at village Jasaur Kheri & Kheri Jasaur, near Bahadurgarh, District Jhajjar, Haryana, in September 2010. GCNEP is the sixth R&D unit under the aegis of Department of Atomic Energy (DAE). Mission: • To conduct research, design and development of nuclear systems that are intrinsically safe, secure, proliferation resistant and sustainable. • To organize training, seminars, lectures and workshops on topical issues by Indian and International experts, in order to develop a pool of trained human resource. • To promote global nuclear energy partnership through collaborative research and training programs. • To establish five schools specializing in the areas of : ✓ Advanced Nuclear Energy System Studies ✓ Nuclear Security Studies ✓ Radiation Safety Studies ✓ Nuclear Material Characterization Studies ✓ Application of Radioisotopes and Radiation Technology in healthcare, agriculture and food Objectives: • GCNEP will help in capacity building, in association with the interested countries and the IAEA, involving technology, human resource development, education & training and giving a momentum to R&D in enlisted areas. • The main objectives of the centre include • Development of enhanced nuclear safeguards to effectively and efficiently monitor nuclear materials and facilities. • Promoting the development of advanced, more proliferation resistant nuclear power reactors. • Training manpower in the field of Nuclear Security and Radiological Safety.

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• Educating in the field of Advanced Nuclear Energy Systems, Isotopes and Radiation Technologies, nuclear forensic. • Establishing accreditation facilities for radiation monitoring. • The centre will house following 5 schools to carry out its objectives: ✓ School of Advanced Nuclear Energy System Studies (SANESS) ✓ School of Nuclear Security Studies (SNSS) ✓ School on Radiological Safety Studies (SRSS) ✓ School of Nuclear Material Characterization Studies (SNMCS) ✓ School for Studies on Applications of Radioisotopes and Radiation Technologies (SARRT)

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