CIVIL SERVICES MONTHLY

JANUARY 2020

BODO ACCORD SIGNED

BLUE CORNER NOTICE

WEB PORTAL ‘GATI

WESO REPORT 2020

Z MORH TUNNEL

ECOLOGICAL FLOW (E-FLOW) NORMS

YELLOW WEATHER WARNING

MESOTHELIOMA ONE STOP SOLUTION FOR CIVIL SERVICES CIVIL FOR SOLUTION STOP ONE VANGA NARI

INDIAN SYSTEM OF MEDICINE BILL, 2019

SEXUAL HARASSMENT AT WORK

'PURVODAYA'

WORLD ECONOMIC SITUATION AND PROSPECTS (WESP) 2020 INDEX

PRELIMS

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE CORRUPTION PERCEPTIONS INDEX 2019 1 BODO ACCORD SIGNED 2 ANDHRA PRADESH CABINET NODS TO ABOLISH LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL 3 BLUE CORNER NOTICE 4 KARNATAKA ANTI-SUPERSTITION LAW 6 SOCIAL MEDIA POSTING IS A FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT 8 RE-GRASSING AFTER MINING 9 DEMOCRACY INDEX 11 TEACHERS IN MINORITY INSTITUTES 13 TULU LANGUAGE 13

ECONOMY

WEB PORTAL ‘GATI 15 SDGs 16 STATE ENERGY EFFICIENCY INDEX 2019 17 NORTHEAST GAS GRID 18 WESO REPORT 2020 20 WEF RESKILLING INITIATIVE 21 Z MORH TUNNEL 22 WORLD FUTURE ENERGY SUMMIT 23 SHIVALIK MERCANTILE 25 APNA UREA 27 LADAKH: DEVELOPMENT OF INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS 27

ENVIRONMENT

VIOLATION OF CRZ NORMS 28 ECOLOGICAL FLOW (E-FLOW) NORMS 29 RAMSAR SITES 30 KARWAR PORT 31 GLOBAL RISKS REPORT 2020 31 INDIA ACHIEVES COMPLETE PHASE OUT OF ONE THE MOST POTENT OZONE 34 DEPLETING CHEMICAL MEGA CAMPAIGN ON FUEL CONSERVATION 'SAKSHAM' INAUGURATED 36 MADHYA PRADESH GETS ITS FIRST ELEPHANT COLONY 37 YELLOW WEATHER WARNING 38

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

ISRO'S GSAT-30 SATELLITE 39 NEW ARCHAEON 40 BHUVAN PANCHAYAT V 3.0 WEB PORTAL 41 MESOTHELIOMA 42 VYOM MITRA 43 “XENOBOTS” 44 RED BRITTLE STAR CAN SEE WITHOUT EYES 45 A (H9N2) VIRUS CAUSES AVIAN INFLUENZA 47 LITHIUM-SULFUR BATTERY DEVELOPED BY AUSTRALIA 48

INTERNAL SECURITY

NATIONAL DATA AND ANALYTICS PLATFORM (NDAP) 48 A-SAT and ADTCR 49 K-4 SUBMARINE LAUNCHED BALLISTIC MISSILE 49 CYBER CRIME PREVENTION UNIT AASHVAST 50 ISRAELI SPYWARE SNOOPS INDIAN JOURNALISTS AND ACTIVISTS 52 2020 OBSERVED AS YEAR OF MOBILITY BY CISF 54 ‘WINGED RAIDER’ 54

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

UN’S NEW RULES FOR SHIPS IN THE ARCTIC REGION 55 INDIA-TOGO RELATIONS 56 ROHINGYA CRISIS 57 5TH RAISINA DIALOGUE 59 ZERO BUDGET NATURAL FARMING 60 INTEGRATED CHECK POST BIRATNAGAR 61 INDIA AND FRANCE 62

ART AND CULTURE

MARATHI AS A ‘CLASSICAL’ LANGUAGE 63 EPIPHANY FESTIVAL 65 NAGOBA JATARA 67 MANDU FESTIVAL 68 VANGA NARI 70 EXHIBITION ON ‘INDIAN HERITAGE IN DIGITAL SPACE’ LAUNCHED 71

SOCIETY AND HEALTH

WOMEN, BUSINESS AND THE LAW 2020 71 MGNREGA RUNNING OUT OF FUNDS 73 RASHTRIYA UCHCHATAR SHIKSHA ABHIYAN (RUSA) 74 3 YEARS ON, A MERE 30% OF POSHAN ABHIYAAN FUNDS USED 74 WHO RELEASES GLOBAL HEALTH CHALLENGES FOR 2020 76 DRAFT NATIONAL POLICY FOR RARE DISEASES RELEASED 78 “YEAR OF NURSE AND MIDWIFE” 82 INDIAN SYSTEM OF MEDICINE BILL, 2019 85 WORLD NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES DAY (WORLD NTD DAY) 85

MAINS

GENERAL STUDIES – I NAGARDHAN EXCAVATIONS 86 JALLIKATTU 87

GENERAL STUDIES – II

SOCIAL MOBILITY INDEX RELEASED BY WEF 88 CRIME IN INDIA INCREASED BY 1.3% IN 2018: NCRB 89 WHY IS IT TAKING SO LONG TO LABEL FAST FOOD? 90 CHINA, MYANMAR 91 DISQUALIFICATION POWERS OF SPEAKERS AND SETUP AN INDEPENDENT 94 TRIBUNAL: SC ARTICLE 19 95 DISSENT AS A 'SYMBOL OF A DEMOCRACY’ 96 SEXUAL HARASSMENT AT WORK 102

GENERAL STUDIES – III

‘RECIPROCATING TERRITORY’ 102 US, CHINA SIGNED 'PHASE 1' OF TRADE DEAL 103 REVISED NORMS FOR DATA REQUESTS IN CRIMINAL MATTERS 105 BUSHFIRES AND HEAVY FLOODS 107 'PURVODAYA' 109 FDI IN COAL MINING 110 WORLD ECONOMIC SITUATION AND PROSPECTS (WESP) 2020 115

POLITY  In the remaining 137 countries, the levels of corruption show little to no change. CORRUPTION PERCEPTIONS INDEX  The vibrant economic powers like China 2019 (41), Indonesia (40), Vietnam (37), the Philippines (34) and others continue to Why in news? struggle to tackle corruption. The reasons include keeping decision-making  India’s ranking in the Corruption out of public scrutiny and silencing Perceptions Index (CPI-2019) has dissenting voices. slipped from 78 in 2018 to 80 in 2019.  In 2019 Index, the average score is 45 (marginally better than the global About average of 43), after many consecutive  Corruption is more pervasive in countries years of an average score of 44, which where money can flow freely into “illustrates general stagnation” across the electoral campaigns and where region. governments only listen to the voices of  Despite the presence of high performers wealthy or well-connected individuals. like New Zealand (87), Singapore (85),  This index is prepared annually by the Australia (77), Hong Kong (76) and Transparency International. It is a non- Japan (73), the Asia Pacific region hasn’t profit, non-governmental organisation witnessed substantial progress in anti- dedicated to fight corruption. It was corruption efforts or results. founded in 1993 and is based in Berlin,  Low performers like Afghanistan (16), Germany. North Korea (17) and Cambodia (20)  First launched in 1995, the Index has continue to highlight serious challenges been widely credited with putting the in the region. issue of corruption on the international  China has improved its position from 87 policy agenda. to 80 with a score of 41 out of 100 (same  Index offers a snapshot of the relative as that of India). degrees of public sector corruption by ranking countries and territories from around the world.  It gives each country a score from zero (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean).  The CPI-2019 draws on 13 surveys and expert assessments in 180 countries and territories.

Global results

 A majority of countries are showing little to no improvement in tackling corruption. In the last eight years, only 22 countries  significantly improved their CPI scores, including Greece, Guyana and Estonia.  In the same period, among the 21

countries that saw a significant fall in their scores are Canada, Australia and Nicaragua.

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India’s Performance BODO ACCORD SIGNED

 India’s score of 41 out of 100 remains Why in news? the same as that in 2018. It has been ranked at number 80.  The central government, the Assam  In democracies like India, unfair and government and the Bodo groups, opaque political financing, undue including all factions of the militant influence in decision-making and National Democratic Front of Bodoland lobbying by powerful corporate interest (NDFB), signed an agreement to redraw groups, has resulted in stagnation or and rename the Bodoland Territorial decline in the control of corruption. Area District (BTAD) as the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR), in Assam.  Bodoland Territorial Region would include the villages which are dominated by Bodos but are outside BTAD presently. Villages with non-Bodo population would be excluded from it.  The BTAD and other areas mentioned under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution have been exempted from the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), 2019.

BODOS

 Bodos are the single largest community among the notified Scheduled Tribes in Assam.  Part of the larger umbrella of Bodo- Kachari, the Bodos constitute about 5- 6% of Assam’s population.

Bodo issue

 The first organised demand for a Bodo state came in 1967-68. Way Forward  In 1985, when the Assam Movement Following are the recommendations by the culminated in the Assam Accord, many Transparency International to combat rising Bodos saw it as essentially focusing on corruption across the world: the interests of the Assamese-speaking community. 1. Manage conflicts of interest.  In 1987, the All Bodo Students Union 2. Control political financing. (ABSU) revived the Bodo statehood 3. Strengthen electoral integrity. demand. 4. Regulate lobbying activities.  It subsequently renamed itself NDFB, 5. Empower citizens. and later split into factions. 6. Tackle preferential treatment. 7. Reinforce checks and balances.

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 Bodo language with Devanagari script would be the associate official language for the entire Assam.  However, the agreement has not addressed the issue of “citizenship or work permit” for non-domiciles in the BTAD yet.

ANDHRA PRADESH CABINET NODS TO ABOLISH LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

Why in news?

 Recently, Andhra Pradesh cabinet approved the decision to abolish the Key highlights of Accord legislative council.

 A committee will be formed to decide the About exclusion and inclusion of new areas. Subsequently, the total number of  Andhra Pradesh is one of the few states Assembly seats will go up to 60, from the to have bicameral legislature. The states existing 40. with legislative council include Bihar,  Both the representatives of the All Bodo Maharashtra, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Students Union (ABSU) and of Bodoland and Telangana. Territorial Council (BTC) will be present in the committee. Legislative Councils  Bodo-Kachari Welfare Council will be set  India has a bicameral system, two up for focused development of Bodo Houses of Parliament. villages outside BTAD.  At the state level, the equivalent of the Around 1500 cadres of NDFB will be  Lok Sabha is the Vidhan Sabha or rehabilitated and assimilated by the Legislative Assembly; that of the Rajya Central and the state governments. Sabha is the Vidhan Parishad or  The criminal cases registered against Legislative Council. factions of NDFB members for non-  Our constitution does not force a heinous crimes shall be withdrawn and bicameral legislature on states. It gives the cases of heinous crimes will be states the option of having a second reviewed. House.  Comprehensive solutions have been  The process of creating an Upper House made to redress the grievances of the is lengthy. Under Article 169 of the people. Families of the people killed constitution, Parliament may by law during the Bodo movement would get ₹5 create or abolish the second chamber in lakh each. A Special Development a state if the Legislative Assembly of that Package of ₹1500 crore would be given state passes a resolution to that effect by by the Centre to undertake specific a special majority. projects for the development of Bodo  As per Article 171 (1), the total number of areas. members in the legislative council of a Bodos living in the hills would be  state shall not exceed one third of the conferred a Scheduled Hill Tribe status. total number of the members in the legislative Assembly of that state. 3 CHAHAL ACADEMY

 Also, the total number of members in the legislative council of a state shall in no case be less than 40.  As of November 2019, there are 6 states Interpol notice with State Legislative Council.  These are notices that are international The members of the State Legislative requests for cooperation or alerts Council are selected in the following way allowing police in member countries to share critical crime-related information.  One-third is elected from the local bodies such as Gram Panchayat, municipalities  There are seven types of notices — Red and district councils. Notice, Yellow Notice, Blue Notice, Black Notice, Green Notice, Orange Notice,  One-third is elected by members of State and Purple Notice. Legislative Assembly.  One-Sixth of the members are About Blue notice nominated by the governor  One-twelfth are graduates who have  Issued to “collect additional information resided for three years in the state about a person’s identity, location or  One-twelfth is teaching professions. activities in relation to a crime.”

Opposition to the idea of Legislative Councils RESERVATION FOR PERSONS WITH  Used to park leaders who have not been DISABILITIES able to win an election Why in news?  Used to delay progressive legislation  Strains state finances  Supreme Court (SC) has affirmed 3%  But having a second chamber would quota for disabled persons both in direct allow for more debate and sharing of recruitment and in promotions in PSUs. work between the Houses. This move has granted relief to persons  2nd ARC recommended that role of with disabilities by allowing reservation in teachers and graduates should be promotion in all groups for those decreased or done away with and more employed in public sector jobs. say should be given to local bodies in  It confirmed that 3% reservation should order to strengthen the voice of local be given to disabled persons both in bodies. direct recruitment and in promotions. o Reservation for disabled is

granted under Article 16(1) of the BLUE CORNER NOTICE Constitution. o The Persons with Disabilities Why in news? (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation)  Interpol has issued a Blue Corner notice Act, 1995 emphasises that to help locate fugitive self-styled godman “employment is a key factor in Nithyananda, weeks after the Gujarat the empowerment and inclusion Police sought the agency’s intervention of people with disabilities”. for this. Nithyananda fled India last year amid allegations of rape and sexual abuse.

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IRRETRIEVABLE BREAKDOWN OF new ground for granting divorce to MARRIAGE Hindus under the provisions of the Hindu Marriage Act and the Special Marriage Why in news? Act.  The Commission first suggested an  Supreme Court used extraordinary amendment in 1978 in its 71st report, powers under Article 142 of the and in 2009 in the 217th report. Constitution to grant divorce in a case of “irretrievable breakdown of marriage”. Article 142

Grounds for divorce under Hindu law  Article 142 provide(s) a unique power to the Supreme Court, to do “complete Following two Acts does not provide for justice” between the parties, i.e., where “irretrievable breakdown of marriage” as a at times law or statute may not provide a ground for divorce. remedy, the Court can extend itself to put  The Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, lays a quietus to a dispute in a manner which down the law for divorce, which applies would befit the facts of the case. to Hindus, Buddhists, Jains, and Sikhs.  In numerous cases, where a marriage is  Under Section 13 of the Act, the grounds found to be dead, the Court has for divorce include: “voluntary sexual exercised its extraordinary power under intercourse with any person other than Article 142 of the Constitution of India to his or her spouse”; “cruelty”; desertion bring an end to it. “for a continuous period of not less than ANTICIPATORY BAIL two years immediately preceding the presentation of the petition”; “ceas(ing) to Why in news? be a Hindu by conversion to another religion”; and being “incurably of  The Supreme Court has recently held unsound mind”. that the protection of anticipatory or pre-  In addition, Section 13B provides for arrest bail cannot be limited to any time “divorce by mutual consent”. frame or “fixed period”.  Section 27 of The Special Marriage Act, The questions referred to the Constitution Bench 1954 provides the grounds for grant of were twofold: divorce in the case of marriages solemnised under that Act.  Whether the protection granted to a person under Section 438 of the Code of Irretrievable breakdown of marriage Criminal Procedure should be limited to a  When a marriage is totally unworkable, fixed period until the accused surrenders emotionally dead, beyond salvage and in court, and has broken down irretrievably. Then, not  Whether the life of anticipatory bail only is the continuity of this marriage should end when the accused is fruitless, but it also causes further summoned by the court. emotional trauma and disturbance to Anticipatory Bail both the parties”, and “the sooner this comes to an end, the better it would be,  Section 438 (anticipatory bail) of the for both the parties”. Code of Criminal Procedure deals with  The Law Commission of India has twice direction for grant of bail to a person recommended that “irretrievable apprehending arrest. breakdown” of marriage be included as a

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 It states that when any person has Collectors), and Competition among reason to believe that he may be districts driven by a Mass Movement or a arrested on an accusation of having Jan Andolan. committed a non- bailable offense, he  With States as the main drivers, this may apply to the High Court or the Court program will focus on the strength of of Session for a direction under this each district, identify low-hanging fruits section; and that Court may if it thinks fit, for immediate improvement, measure direct that in the event of such arrest, he progress, and rank districts. shall be released on bail.  The high frequency of arbitrary and KARNATAKA ANTI-SUPERSTITION LAW heavy-handed arrests to harass and Why in news? humiliate citizens, and often at the interest of powerful individuals led to the  A controversial anti-superstition law in enactment of Section 438. Karnataka has formally been notified by the current government. RANKING OF ASPIRATIONAL DISTRICTS  It is called the Karnataka Prevention and Why in news? Eradication of Inhuman Evil Practices and Black Magic Act, 2017.  NITI Aayog recently released the ranking of Aspirational Districts of the country for The bill bans the following: the month of December 2019.  Performing any inhumane act, evil Performance of various states practices and black magic in search of treasure, bounty.  The Chandauli district of UP topped the  Tantric acts including physical and list followed by Bolangir of Odisha, YSR sexual assault. (AP) in second and third positions  Parading anyone naked. respectively.  Ostracising anyone in the name of ritual  The districts have been ranked on a and encouraging inhumane acts. transparent basis on parameters across  Creating impression of ‘possession’ and various performance indicators like exorcism. Health and Nutrition, Education, Skill  Assaulting people under the garb of Development and Basic Infrastructure exorcism. among others.  Spreading misinformation and creating  The rankings are based on the data that panic in the garb of ghosts, black magic. is publicly available through the  Making claims of healing power. Champions of Change Dashboard, which  Propagating practices that involve self- includes data entered on a real-time mutilation. basis at the district level.  Coercing people to perform fire-walking.

About Aspirational Districts Programme What is not banned?

 The program aims to quickly and  The form of worship such as effectively transform some of the most Pradakshina, Yatra, Parikrama underdeveloped districts of the country. performed at religious places.  The broad contours of the program are  Harikatha, Keerthana, Pravachana, Convergence (of Central & State Bhajana, the teaching of ancient and Schemes), Collaboration (of Central, traditional learning and arts, practice, State level ‘Prabhari’ Officers & District propagation, and circulation. 6 CHAHAL ACADEMY

 Miracles of the deceased saints’ About propagation, publicity, and circulation of  The latest move comes after the Andhra the same and the propagation, publicity, Pradesh Cabinet deferred a decision to and distribution of literature about relocate the capital and abandon the miracles of the religious preachers which development of Amravati on the lines of the do not cause physical injury. suggestions by the GN Rao committee, formed by the State to look into AP’s  Performance of prayers, Upasana and development. religious rituals at home, temple,  The committee recommended dargahs, gurdwara, pagoda, church, and Visakhapatnam as the executive capital and other religious places that do not cause Kurnool (in Rayalaseema region) as the legal capital, where the High Court would be, and physical injury. Amaravati as the legislative capital (where  All religious celebrations, festivals, the state assembly and governor’s office will prayers, procession and other acts be located), which would allow for “a decentralised development of the State” and relating to other rituals. this 3-capital model is based on the South  Piercing of ears and nose of children in African model. Republic of South Africa has accordance with rituals and performance three capitals:1. Pretoria, the administrative of religious rituals such as Kesh Lochan capital 2. Cape Town, the legislative capital 3. Bloemfontein, the judicial capital by the Jains.  After that a new High Power committee was  The advice in regard to Vaastu Shastra, formed, which examined the G.N. Rao and advice by jyothishya and other committee report and chalk out a strategy on the way forward. The committee was set up astrologers. in the backdrop of farmers in Amaravati region, who gave up their fertile lands for the Need for a law capital, being on an agitation path for the past several days.  Inhuman practices in the name of religion  The committee “took into account the in the country are a cause of worry. In recommendations of Boston Consultancy Maharashtra, there were several cases Group while finalizing the strategy and way forward". The Boston Consultancy Group has where people murdered or brutally been hired by the AP government to look into injured others and held them responsible the state’s all round development. for some deaths in their families, merely  Now, the state cabinet also decided to on suspicion. increase the ex-gratia being paid to the farmers of the (Amravati) capital region from  So, a law to prevent exploitation in the Rs.2500 per month to Rs.5000 per month. name of religion is necessary.  It had approved the proposal to establishment the Amravati Metropolitan Development Authority in the place of AP Capital Regional Development Authority (APCRDA), which was established during the previous government, to develop only Amravati as a global capital. BILLS PASSED BY AP ASSEMBLY

Why in news? Shifting of Capital

 The Andhra Pradesh assembly passed the  When the Telugu-speaking Andhra State was Capital Region Development Authority carved out of the composite Madras State in Repeal Bill 2020 and the AP Decentralisation 1953, Kurnool was made the capital. and Inclusive Development of all Regions Bill  Three years later, in 1956, the erstwhile 2020, the first steps by the current state Hyderabad State was merged with the government took in decentralizing the state’s Andhra State to form Andhra Pradesh with Hyderabad as the capital. capital between Amravati, Visakhapatnam  Once the state was bifurcated in 2014, and Kurnool. Amravati was announced as the new capital city of Andhra Pradesh. 7 CHAHAL ACADEMY

 Now, the recent proposal to shift capital from Preamble and asked schools to hold quizzes, Amravati triggered clamour in almost all the essay, drawing, slogan, poster competitions regions as more than 30,000 acres of land based on the Constitution. was pooled from the farmers, which is situated on the banks of river Krishna, and caused loss of agricultural income. Though, ruling state government has promised SOCIAL MEDIA POSTING IS A compensation. Suggestions by different committees FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT

 Sivaramakrishnan Committee, constituted by Why in news? the Central government to suggest choices for the capital, did not favour one ‘super-  In a landmark judgment, the Tripura High capital’ and pitched for decentralised Court ordered the police to refrain from development. But the panel also never said that there should be a string of capitals prosecuting a man who was arrested across the State as is being interpreted now. over a social media post.  Another committee headed by former IAS  Posting on social media tantamounts to officer GN Rao suggested that Andhra “fundamental right” applicable to all Pradesh should have a High Court in Kurnool, with a bench each in individuals as well as government Visakhapatnam and Amaravati; and an employees. Assembly in Amaravati, which also conducts  Government employees can attend a few sessions in Visakhapatnam. political programmes including meetings, Conclusion rallies, and post their views on social  This step will undo everything that former media platforms without incurring any state government had planned for Amravati. punitive measure under Rule 5 of the  Already, a lot of investment has been made Tripura Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, for the development of Amravati and now making decisions on its half-way will affect 1988. the investment climate. In fact, land has been pooled by the government, in return of the compensation, ignited a spark among farmers due to heavy agricultural loss ABETMENT OF SUICIDE incurred by them.  Normally people expect upward mobility; in Why in news? this case after ascending towards upward mobility, farmers have to face the problems  The Supreme Court recently held in a of downward mobility, which may create undue strain. judgment that a person accused of dowry  Government should be sensitive to harassment cannot be automatically extravagant public expenditure, which should convicted for abetment of suicide. be used to capitalise on infrastructure,  Under Section 498A of the IPC, an instead of creating something new in various cities at an enormous cost. accused (Husband or relative of husband of a woman subjecting her to cruelty)is found guilty and punishable of an offence, but cannot be automatically held PREAMBLE guilty for the offence punishable under

Why in news? Section 306 (abetment of suicide) of the  Maharashtra government has made it IPC by employing the presumption under compulsory to recite the Preamble to the Section 113A of the Evidence Act. Constitution in all schools starting January 26, 2020.  Unless the prosecution establishes that  The objective is to instil values such as some act or illegal omission by the justice, freedom, and equality enshrined in accused has driven the woman to the Constitution. commit the suicide, the conviction under  The government has also asked the schools Section 306 would not be tenable. to put up a plaque or board with the 8 CHAHAL ACADEMY

RE-GRASSING AFTER MINING taken by the Himachal Pradesh Government in 1967, for constructing a Why in news? road. Even 52 years later, the state has failed to pay the compensation.  The Supreme Court (SC) asked the  The appellant was wholly unaware of her central government to impose a condition rights and entitlement in law, and did not in the mining leases and environmental file any proceedings for compensation of clearance for mines which shall ensure the land compulsorily taken over by the that once the mining operations cease, state. When her petition was turned the mine owners must ensure re- down by the High Court, the appellant grassing in the mining and any other moved the Supreme Court. area that has been disturbed due to the  SC used its extraordinary jurisdiction mining. under Article 136 and Article 142 of the  SC also held that mining leaseholders Constitution to direct the government to should take responsibility for re-grassing pay the woman compensation of 1 crore mined areas so that biodiversity can rupees. flourish in such areas.  SC held that the State cannot deprive SC order citizens of their property without the sanction of law in a democratic polity  The apex court held that mined areas governed by the rule of law. result in the complete elimination of  The Bench referred to an earlier verdict grass and denies fodder to herbivores. in State of Haryana v. Mukesh Kumar  Mine closure plan imposes conditions on case (2011) wherein it was held that the the licence holder to restore biodiversity. right to property is not only a The mandatory re-grassing would be in constitutional or statutory right, but also a addition to these conditions. human right.  Re-grassing of such mined areas is the  Forcibly dispossessing citizens of their only solution so that grass and other private property, without following the vegetation, including trees, can grow in due process of law, would be to violate a the mining area for the benefits of human right, as Right to Property is also animals and the land is restored to a the constitutional right under Article 300 condition which is fit for the growth of A of the Constitution. fodder, flora, fauna, etc.  The State cannot be permitted to perfect  The SC ordered the government to file a its title over the land by invoking the report in three weeks after taking doctrine of adverse possession to grab appropriate actions and directed it to the property of its own citizens. devise methods to ensure compliance by mining leaseholders. Doctrine of Adverse Possession  The cost of re-grassing the mined area  It is a legal doctrine that allows a person who possesses or resides on someone and wherever damage was caused, else's land for an extended period of time would be entirely borne by the licence to claim legal title to that land. holder.  In India, a person who is not the original owner of a property becomes the owner RIGHT TO PROPERTY: A HUMAN RIGHT because of the fact that he has been in possession of the property for a Why in news? minimum of 12-years, within which the real owner did not seek legal recourse to  The case was of an 80-year-old woman oust him. whose 3.34 hectare land was forcibly 9 CHAHAL ACADEMY

MALE CHILD NOT PUNISHABLE FOR & Mizoram to safeguard the rights of MARRYING ADULT FEMALE tribal population.  Tribal Affairs Minister also assured that Why in news? his ministry will take all necessary measures to preserve and enrich the rich  A male who has not reached the age of legacy of Ladakh. 21 is a “child” as per the Prohibition of  Environmentalist Sonam Wangchuk had Child Marriage Act, 2006. However, a last month appealed Prime Minister male aged between 18 and 21 marrying Narendra Modi to preserve the culture a female above 18 years will not be and identity of Ladakh punishable under the Act for contracting a child marriage, the Supreme Court has COMMISSIONERATE SYSTEM OF ruled. POLICING  The Punjab and Haryana High Court had set aside its own order providing Why in news? protection to the couple, and initiated prosecution against the boy for  The Uttar Pradesh government approved contracting a child marriage, in which he the commissionerate system of policing himself was the child. in Lucknow and Noida, which aims at  The Supreme Court set aside the HC giving more powers to the police. The order, saying the intent behind Section 9 decision was taken at a cabinet meeting was not to punish a child for contracting chaired by the chief minister. a child marriage.  State capital Lucknow and economic  If a male aged between the years of capital of the state Noida will have an eighteen and twenty-•one contracts ADG-level officer as police marriage with a female above eighteen commissioner. Both police years of age, the female adult would not commissioners will have magisterial be punished, but it is the male who would powers. be punished for contracting a child  The system gives more powers, marriage, though he himself is a child. including magisterial powers, to police officers and is aimed at better and effective policing.  Under the new system 40 police stations TH 6 SCHEDULE AREA STATUS TO in Lucknow will be brought under the LADAKH police commissioner who will have a team of two IGs as joint commissioners, Why in news? nine SP-rank officials and a lady officer  Union Tribal Affairs Ministry has of SP rank along with a lady officer of proposed 6th Schedule Area status to ASP rank. Union Territory of Ladakh.  The lady officers will work exclusively for  Tribal Affairs Minister also assured that cases relating to crime against women his ministry will take all necessary and its control. measures to preserve and enrich the rich

legacy of Ladakh.  Sixth Schedule (in Article 244 of the Indian Constitution) allows the constitution of Autonomous District Councils in Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura

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DEMOCRACY INDEX 6.86, Russia stood at 134th with a score of 3.11. Why in news?  Meanwhile, Pakistan was ranked 108th on the overall list with a score of 4.25,  The Democracy Index, prepared by while Sri Lanka was at 69th place with a Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), the score of 6.27, Bangladesh (at 80th with research and analysis division of The 5.88 score). Economist Group, has been released  Other countries in the top 10 include  It shows the state of democracy Iceland, Sweden, New Zealand at the worldwide in 165 independent states and 2nd, 3rd, 4thplace respectively, Finland two territories. (5th), Ireland (6th), Denmark (7th), About Canada (8th), Australia (9th) and Switzerland (10th).  The ranking began in 2006 and it is  Three countries - Chile, France and based on electoral process and Portugal - moved from the “flawed pluralism, functioning of government, democracy” category to the “full political participation, political culture and democracy” category, while Malta moved civil liberties. in the opposite direction, falling out of  Based on their total score between 0-10, “full democracy” to become a “flawed the countries are classified as one of four democracy”. types of regime: "full democracy" (scores greater than 8); flawed democracy — Rank of India scores greater than 6 and less than or  India’s overall score, on a scale of 0-10, equal to 8; hybrid regime — scores fell from 7.23 in 2018 to 6.90 in 2019. greater than 4 and less than or equal to  India dropped 10 places in the 6; authoritarian regime — scores less Democracy Index’s global ranking to 51st than or equal to 4". place, with the survey describing the Global Scenario erosion of civil liberties in the country as the primary cause of the democratic  This Index described 2019 as a regression. “tumultuous year” for Asian democracies.  The Democracy Index referred to the The biggest change occurred in changes in Jammu and Kashmir and the Thailand, whose score improved by 1.69 controversial implementation of the points compared with 2018, to 6.32, National Register of Citizens (NRC) in resulting in a rise of 38 places, while Assam while describing what it said was introduction of a “fake news” law in the “democratic regression” in India, the Singapore led to deterioration in the world’s largest democracy. Thus, India score for civil liberties. has been included in the "flawed  Norway topped the index, with a score of democracy" category. 9.87, while North Korea was at the  In the Asia and Australia region, India th bottom (167 ) of the global rankings, ranked eighth, behind countries such as with a score of 1.08. Timor-Leste, Malaysia and Taiwan.  China’s score fell to 2.26, and it is now ranked 153rd, close to the bottom of the rankings.  Among other emerging economies, Brazil was ranked 52nd with a score of

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DAMAN AS CAPITAL OF DADRA & of OBCs, chaired by retired Justice G. NAGAR HAVELI, DAMAN & DIU Rohini, to ensure social justice in an efficient manner by prioritizing the Why in news? Extremely Backward Classes (EBCs).

 The Union Cabinet recently gave its Need for subcategorization approval for designation of Daman as headquarters of Union Territory of Dadra  Sub categorization of the OBCs will & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu, ensure that the more backward among making it the capital of the two merged the OBC communities can also access UTs. the benefits of reservation for  The government also amended various educational institutions and government tax acts covering the three tax systems, jobs. which will lead to saving for the  At present, there is no sub-categorization exchequer and ensuring uniformity, and 27% reservation is a monolithic stability and consistency in day to day entity. functioning of taxation authorities.

 Moreover, it will not only bring uniformity in taxation laws but also strengthen the 32ND PRAGATI INTERACTION system of laws. Why in news?

 Prime Minister chaired the 32nd BACKWARD CLASSES IN THE CENTRAL PRAGATI interaction and discussed LIST progress of several projects.  Out of these, nine were delayed projects Why in news? worth over Rs.24000 crore spread over  Cabinet approves Extension of term of nine states including Odisha, Telangana, the commission constituted under Article Maharashtra, Bihar, Karnataka Kerala 340 of the constitution to examine the and Uttar Pradesh. issue of Sub-categorization within other  The delayed projects are related to Backward Classes in the Central List. Railways, Road Transport and Highways  Article 14 of the Constitution guarantees and Petroleum and Natural Gas. equality before the law.  PM also reviewed the progress under  That means un-equals cannot be treated insurance schemes of Pradhan Mantri equally. Measures are required to be Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana and Pradhan taken for the upliftment of un-equals to Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana; progress bring them on par with the advanced under Crime and Criminal Tracking classes. Network and Systems project- a  Sub- categorization: In view of this, the comprehensive and integrated system National Commission for Backward for effective policing through e- Classes (NCBC) proposed the sub- Governance and the resolution of categorization of Other Backward grievance redressal related to 47 Classes (OBCs) back in 2015. government programmes and schemes  In October 2017, President Ram Nath across 17 diverse sectors. Kovind, in the exercise of the powers  PRAGATI is the ICT based multi-modal conferred by Article 340 of the platform for Pro-Active Governance and Constitution, appointed a commission to Timely Implementation, involving Central examine the issue of sub-categorization and State governments. 12 CHAHAL ACADEMY

 At present, the total strength of both Houses is about 790, which include TEACHERS IN MINORITY INSTITUTES elected as well as nominated members.  Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana was Why in news? launched by the Prime Minister of India  The Supreme Court in an important on 11 October, 2014 on the birth judgement, which could have bearing on anniversary of Jai Prakash Narayan. running of all government-aided minority  Since the launch of the scheme, only educational institutions across the 1,753 gram panchayats have been country, held that such institutions selected across four phases, way below cannot claim to have absolute right in the expected figure. deciding appointment of teachers and it  In Phase-1 of SAGY, 703 MPs adopted can be regulated by a government to gram panchayats but that number went ensure excellence in imparting down to 497 in Phase-2 and 301 in education. Phase-3, showing a gradual decline in  The SC upheld the constitutional validity subsequent phases. of the West Bengal Madrassas Service  About two-thirds of Lok Sabha MPs are Commission Act, 2008, under which the yet to select gram panchayats under selection and appointment of teachers in Phase-4 of the scheme. madrassas are to be decided by a commission.  It set aside Calcutta high court verdict TULU LANGUAGE declaring various provision of the law unconstitutional for being violative of Why in news? Article 30 which says all minorities, whether based on religion or language,  Recently, activists have demanded to shall have the right to establish and include Tulu in the Eighth Schedule of administer educational institutions of the Constitution. The present-day Tulu their choice. linguistic majority area is confined to the  Court ruled that the government decision region of Tulu Nadu, which comprises to put a regulatory mechanism for the districts of Dakshina Kannada and appointment of teachers did not amount Udupi in Karnataka and the northern part to interfering with the administration of of Kasaragod district of Kerala up to the minority institutions as held by the HC. river Payaswani, or Chandragiri. The cities of Mangaluru, Udupi and Kasaragod are the epicentres of Tulu culture. SAANSAD ADARSH GRAM YOJANA (SAGY) Language spoken in

Why in news?  Kasaragod district is called ‘Sapta bhasha Samgama Bhumi (the  According to the Ministry of Rural confluence of seven languages)’, and Development, only 252 Members of Tulu (Dravidian language) is among the Parliament (MPs) have adopted gram seven. The Census reports 18,46,427 panchayats under phase-4 of Saansad native speakers of Tulu in India. The Adarsh Gram Yojana (SAGY). Tulu-speaking people are larger in number than speakers of Manipuri and

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Sanskrit, which have the Eighth  As per the agreement, the refugees will Schedule status. settle in Tripura and will be given aid for their rehabilitation. Status of Tulu language  The Bru tribals would now be included in  At present, Tulu is not an official Tripura's voter list as per the agreement. language in India. If included in the The Centre has announced a package of Eighth Schedule, Tulu would get Rs 600 crore for the settlement of the recognition from the Sahitya Akademi. tribes in Tripura. Tulu books would be translated into other  Being an ethnic and religious minority, recognised Indian languages. Members the Brus have been looked on as of Parliament and MLAs could speak in ‘outsiders’ in Mizoram, where the largely Tulu in Parliament and State Assemblies, Christian Mizos dominate. In the 1997 respectively. Candidates could write all- flare-up of large-scale violence against India competitive examinations like the them. The horrific episode of violence Civil Services exam in Tulu. forced tens of thousands of them to flee  The protection and promotion of linguistic to safety in neighbouring Tripura, where diversity helps to improve social inclusion many still reside in refugee camps. and partnerships, helps to reduce the FOURTH EDITION OF THE DEATH gender and social inequality between PENALTY IN INDIA different native speakers, guarantee the rights for native speakers of endangered, Why in news? minority, indigenous languages, as well as non-official languages and dialects to  Fourth edition of the Death Penalty in receive education, enhance the social India: Annual Statistics, published by inclusion level and social decision- Project 39A at the National Law making ability by encouraging them to University (NLU), Delhi, shows that trial participate in a series of actions to courts in India imposed 102 death promote cultural diversity, endangered sentences in 2019 and that was a language protection, and the protection significant drop from 162 death of intangible cultural heritage. sentences in 2018.  Sexual offences played a significant role PACT TO END BRU REFUGEE CRISIS in determining outcomes in these cases, SIGNED as the proportion of death sentences imposed for murders involving sexual Why in news? offences was at the highest in four years  An agreement to end the 22-year-old Bru at 52.94% (54 out of 102 sentences). refugee crisis was signed to settle over Key Findings 30,000 people belonging to 5,300 families of the community in Tripura  In 2019, fewer death sentences overall; 1 where they migrated in 1997 from out of 2 sentences for sexual violence- Mizoram following a tribal unrest. murder; in 3 out of 4 sexual violence-  The agreement to settle the Bru tribals, murder death sentences, children were called Reangs in Tripura, in Tripura was the killer’s victims. signed among chief secretaries of  2019 was also the year of highest Mizoram, Tripura and representatives of number of confirmations by the High Bru tribes in the presence of Home Courts in 4 years, with a majority in Minister. offences of murder involving sexual offences at 65.38% (17 out of 26). 14 CHAHAL ACADEMY

 The Supreme Court in 2019 pronounced for the new voters; To spread awareness the highest number of decisions (27) in among voters for promoting informed capital cases since 2001, primarily under participation in the elections. Former Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi’s tenure. This can be linked to the priority in listings given to capital cases by Gogoi CJ, which is further evidenced by the fact that this is not only the highest number in a calendar year but also for any Chief Justice in since 2001.  The POCSO Act was amended to ECONOMY introduce the death penalty for non- homicidal rape of children.

 The state legislature of Andhra Pradesh amended the Indian Penal Code to WEB PORTAL ‘GATI introduce the death penalty for non- homicidal rape of adult women. Why in news?  The NLU’s Death Penalty Research Project, which in 2016 produced a  Union Minister for Road Transport & comprehensive, first-of-its-kind report on Highways launched online Web Portal the administration of capital punishment ‘GATI’. in the country, had noted that there are About no reliable numbers of the total number of death row prisoners in India; there is  The portal has been created by National also no official record of the total number Highways Authority of India (NHAI) of prisoners executed since taking inspiration from the PRAGATI Independence. Portal used by PMO.  Project 39A is a research and litigation  It can be accessed from NHAI Website initiative focussed on the criminal justice and contractors/concessionaires can system, and especially issues of legal raise any project related issues on the aid, torture, death penalty, and mental Portal. health in prisons.  The issue will immediately come to the notice of every official of NHAI including

top management, and immediate action will be taken by the concerned officer, duly updating on the Portal. NATIONAL VOTERS’ DAY (NVD)  This will bring transparency and speed up the decision making giving real GATI Why in news? to highway construction.

 The 10th National Voters’ Day (NVD) is being celebrated on January 25, 2020.  The theme for NVD-2020 is ‘Electoral KHADI Literacy for Stronger Democracy.  January 25 (to mark the Foundation day Why in news? of Election Commission of India, which  Khadi Village Industries Corporation is was established on 25th January 1950). eyeing international trademark for ‘khadi’  It is celebrated every year since 2011. under the Paris Convention for protection  The objective is to encourage, facilitate of industrial property. To prevent any and maximize the enrolment, especially 15 CHAHAL ACADEMY

product from masquerading as ‘khadi’ corruption. It releases the Global nationally or globally. Corruption Index annually.  The Regulations issued in 2013 by the  The organization is also a member of ministry of micro, small and medium UNESCO, United National Global enterprises, empower KVIC to grant Compact, UNESCO Consultative Status, ‘Khadi Mark’ registration and take United Nations Sustainable Development royalties from any producer using the Group. Khadi mark.  The Headquarters of Transparency International is located in Germany. Paris Convention for the Protection of  The organization also provides a Global Industrial Property Corruption Barometer that asks citizens  It is a multilateral treaty dealing with the about their personal experiences of protection of industrial property in the corruption in their daily lives. widest sense.  Apart from this the organization also  Administered by the World Intellectual publishes Government Anti-Corruption Property Organization (WIPO).Article 6 Index. of the Paris Convention of 1883 protects armorial bearings, flags and other State SDGs symbols of the States part to the convention, including official signs, and Why in news? hallmarks indicating control and warranty adopted by them.  According to the United National  As of January 2019, the Convention has Development Programme (UNDP), 177 contracting member countries. Telangana has emerged the best performing states in terms of achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).

TRANSPARENCY INTERNATIONAL About

Why in news?  It is to be noted that in December 2019, India released the SDG India Index. India  According to the survey conducted by was the first country to release the SDG Transparency International, Assam tops index. The index was launched by NITI in terms of budget formulation followed Aayog. by Odisha and Andhra Pradesh. The  Telangana topped the UNDP ranking of states that were ranked lower in terms of Indian states based on their progress in budget formulation are Goa, achieving SDGs. The state of Telangana Maharashtra, and Punjab. scored 82. It was followed by states of  The survey was conducted by the Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka together organization based on four parameters with a score of 72. However, Kerala such as budgetary process, public followed by Himachal Pradesh lead the list. disclosure, post-budget fiscal  Telangana: The state has improved in 8 management and efforts to make budget out of 17 SDGs. It has moved from a score citizen-friendly. of 75 to 82. It outperformed in clean water, energy, sanitation. The state was also About ranked number one in terms of Reduced Inequality. It was ranked third in Affordable  The international Non-Governmental and Clean Energy and fourth in climate Organization measures and prevents action. criminal activities arising due to 16 CHAHAL ACADEMY

STATE ENERGY EFFICIENCY INDEX  Since there isn’t state in the ‘Front 2019 runner’ category, it can be inferred that a lot more can be done at the state level to Why in news? realise energy savings from energy efficiency.  The government has released the ‘State  TPES grouping helps states compare Energy Efficiency Index 2019’, their performance and share best developed by the Bureau of Energy practices within their peer group. Efficiency (BEE) in association with the  The index will help states contribute Alliance for an Energy Efficient Economy towards national goals on energy (AEEE). security and climate action by helping  This index tracks the progress of Energy drive EE policies and program Efficiency (EE) initiatives in 36 states and implementation at the state and local union territories based on 97 significant level. indicators.  It will track progress in managing the  The first such Index, the “State Energy states’ and India’s energy footprint and Efficiency Preparedness Index 2018”, institutionalising the data capture and was launched on August 1, 2018. monitoring of EE activities by states.  The State Energy Efficiency Index 2019 incorporates qualitative, quantitative and outcome-based indicators to assess energy efficiency initiatives, programs and outcomes in 5 distinct sectors i.e. buildings, industry, municipalities, REVIEW OF INDIA’S ENERGY POLICIES transport, agriculture, and Discoms.  Also, new indicators for this year include Why in news? adoption of Energy Conservation Building Code (ECBC) 2017, energy  In partnership with NITI Aayog, efficiency in MSME clusters, etc. International Energy Agency (IEA) released the first in-depth review of Highlights of the Index India’s energy policies.  It highlights the achievements of India’s  For rational comparison, States/UTs are energy policies and provides grouped into four groups based on recommendations to support the aggregated Total Primary Energy Supply government’s goals of promoting well- (TPES) required to meet the state’s functioning energy markets and boosting actual energy demand (electricity, coal, deployment of renewables. oil, gas, etc.) across sectors.  The index categorises states as ‘Front Highlights of the report Runner’, ‘Achiever’, ‘Contender’ and ‘Aspirant’ based on their efforts and  It congratulates the Indian government achievements towards energy efficiency on its outstanding achievements in implementation. extending citizens’ access to electricity,  The top-performing states for 2019 are affordable efficient lighting and clean Haryana, Kerala and Karnataka, are in cooking in record time through schemes the ‘Achiever’ category. like SAUBHAGYA, UJALA and  Manipur, Jammu & Kashmir, Jharkhand UJJWALA,while pursuing energy market and Rajasthan performed the worst in reforms and the swift deployment of the Aspirant groups. renewable technologies.

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 The report highlights the strong growth of flexibility and coordinate energy policy renewables in India, which now accounts decisions. for almost 23% of the country’s total  The review also strongly encourages installed capacity. India to institutionalise energy policy  The review also found that energy coordination across government with a efficiency improvements in India avoided national energy policy framework. 15% of additional energy demand, oil  India recently launched commercial and gas imports, and air pollution as well mining operations. IEA’s report will be

as 300 million tonnes of CO2 emissions very helpful for designing our future between 2000 and 2018. course of action in the energy sector.  India is becoming increasingly influential  India’s energy goals cannot be achieved in global energy trends. The country’s without a strong coordination of policies demand for energy is set to double by and targets between Central and state 2040, and its electricity demand may governments, notably on electricity triple. market design and renewable targets,  Indian oil consumption is expected to and that a stronger cooperation is grow faster than that of any other major therefore needed on these fronts. economy. This makes further improving  The report will help India to design energy security a key priority for India’s implementation strategies to achieve economy. secure and sustainable energy access  IEA welcomes Indian government for its citizens. policies designed to conduct large-scale renewable energy auctions, open up coal mining to private companies, and NORTHEAST GAS GRID promote access to oil and gas markets for foreign investors. Why in news?

Suggestions  The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved a Rs. 5,559  The report offers a wide range of crore viability gap funding to recommendations for reforms in support Indradhanush Gas Grid for the proposed of India’s goal of promoting open and northeast gas grid. well-functioning energy markets in  A viability gap funding (VGF) of 60% of sectors such as coal, gas and electricity. the project cost has been approved and These include building strong regulators would not be linked with upward capital to ensure non-discriminatory access, cost variation. This is only the second moving from state allocation to market instance of the government directly pricing, and further rationalizing energy funding a gas pipeline. subsidies.  The funding support to the gas grid is a  In India’s renewables-rich states, the part of a broader goal of the government share of variable renewables in electricity to raise the share of natural gas in the generation is already above 15%, a level country’s energy mix to 15% by 2030 that calls for dedicated policies to ensure from the current 6.2%. they integrate smoothly into the power system. NITI Aayog can play a strong Projects role in working with the states to implement power sector reforms,  In 2016, the government provided a advance grid integration, improve capital grant of 40% of the project cost of the 2,655-km Jagdishpur-Haldia and 18 CHAHAL ACADEMY

Bokaro-Dhamra (JHBDPL) gas pipeline focusing on the global economic project, which GAIL is currently slowdown, multilateralism, sustainable executing. goals for 2030, and the Paris agreement.  GAIL is also laying a 750-km line from  This annual meeting is the foremost Barauni to Guwahati as part of JHBDPL creative force for engaging the world's project, which is also known as the top leaders in collaborative activities to Pradhan Mantri Urja Ganga project. This shape global, regional and industry is proposed to be connected to the agendas at the beginning of each year. North-East via the Indradhanush grid.  Leaders from across the world made a  All other pipelines in the country have call for stakeholder responsibility to make been funded by public or private sector 2020 as a ''decade of delivery'' and companies. emphasised on public-private collaboration. North-East Natural Gas Pipeline Grid  They also opined that transformative  It is to be implemented by Indradhanush investments in sustainable solutions and the green economy will help underwrite Gas Grid, a joint venture of state-owned GAIL India, Indian Oil Corp (IOC), Oil the next phase of global growth and and Natural Gas Corp (ONGC), Oil India prosperity. Ltd (OIL) and Numaligarh Refinery Ltd  It was also felt there is also a multi- (NRL). trillion-dollar opportunity to help mobilise  The vision envisages the development of investment towards the UN Sustainable the region by leveraging its hydrocarbon Development Goals (SDGs), particularly potential, enhancing access to clean fuel in emerging economies. and accelerating the growth.  WEF hosted new initiatives to boost  It is 1,656-km, which will connect resource efficiency and further reduce Guwahati in Assam to major cities in the emissions and was climate-neutral for the fourth consecutive year. region such as Itanagar, Dimapur, Kohima, Imphal, Aizwal, Agartala,  1t.org, a new multi-stake holder initiative Shillong, Silchar, Gangtok, and aimed at supporting efforts to grow, Numaligarh. conserve and restore 1 trillion trees by  The gas pipeline grid will be developed in the end of the decade was announced. the eight states of the North-Eastern  The Forum partnered with a community region — Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, of 40 central banks, international Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, organizations and researchers to create Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura. a framework to help central banks evaluate, design and potentially deploy Central Bank Digital Currency.  The WEF, in collaboration with 100 TH 50 WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM stakeholders, produced the Empowering AI Toolkit to help board members better Why in news? understand the implications of deploying  The 50th World Economic Forum (WEF) artificial intelligence. gathering held at Davos, Switzerland  A group of private-sector leaders from between 21-24 January 2020. cybersecurity companies and services providers along with law enforcement Highlights of the meeting agencies, Interpol and Europol, agreed to work with the WEF to foster a global  This year's theme was ''Stakeholders for alliance against cybercrime. a cohesive and sustainable world'', 19 CHAHAL ACADEMY

 A group of telecommunications  The report analyses key labour market stakeholders, including BT and Singtel, issues, including unemployment, labour endorsed new principles combating high- underutilisation, working poverty, income volume cyberattacks that could protect inequality, labour income share and up to 1 billion consumers in 180 factors that exclude people from decent countries. work.  A strategic partnership was signed  The number of people unemployed between the WEF and the OECD to around the world stands at some 188 accelerate progress towards inclusive million in 2019.This is projected to and sustainable growth. increase further by around 2.5 million in  Various negotiations were announced 2020. between 99 economies on a new  Around 267 million young people aged international agreement on investment 15-24 are not in employment, education facilitation at the WTO. or training and many more endure  Some 42 organisations, including substandard working conditions. businesses from mining and automotive  Working poverty is defined as earning segments, with a combined revenue of less than USD 3.20 per day in USD 1 trillion agreed on 10 guiding purchasing power parity terms. It affects principles for a sustainable battery value more than 630 million workers or one in chain, enabled by a traceability platform five of the global working population. called Battery Passport.  Around 285 million are considered  The Reskilling Revolution was launched underemployed meaning they either to provide better education, skills and work less than they want to or have jobs to 1 billion people by 2030, with the given up searching for work or otherwise initial backing of the governments of lack access to the labour market. Bahrain, Brazil, Denmark, France, India,  The percentage of the global workforce Oman, Pakistan, Singapore, United Arab who works in the informal economy is Emirates and the US as well as business around 60%. partners, including PwC, Salesforce, Infosys and LinkedIn. Recommendations for reducing  The International Business Council, unemployment incorporating 140 of the world's largest  Countries should ensure that economic companies, agreed to support efforts to growth and development occurs in a way develop a core set of common metrics that leads to the reduction of poverty and and disclosures that could be used to better working conditions. measure private sector progress against  It has also recommended for structural key environmental, social and transformation, technological upgrading governance (ESG) goals. and diversification in global as well as national economies.

WESO REPORT 2020

Why in news? NATIONAL STARTUP ADVISORY COUNCIL  The United Nations International Labour Organization (ILO) has released the Why in news? World Employment and Social Outlook  The Commerce and Industry Ministry has Trends 2020 (WESO) report. set up a National Startup Advisory 20 CHAHAL ACADEMY

Council to advise the Centre on growth was driven by India. The majority measures needed to build a strong went into services industries, including ecosystem for nurturing innovation and information technology.” start-ups in the country.  United States remained the largest  The Council will suggest measures to recipient of FDI, followed by China with foster a culture of innovation among flows of $140 billion and Singapore with students and others. $110 billion.  It will also suggest measures to facilitate  The FDI to the European Union (EU) fell public organisations to assimilate by 15 per cent to $305 billion, while there innovation promote creation, protection was zero-growth of flows to United and commercialisation of intellectual States, which received $251 billion FDI in property rights, make it easier to start, 2019, as compared to $254 billion in operate, grow and exit businesses by 2018. reducing regulatory compliances and costs.  The Council, which will be chaired by the WEF RESKILLING INITIATIVE commerce minister, will consist of non- official members to be nominated by the Why in news? Centre, founders of successful start-ups, veterans who have grown and scaled  India joined as a founding government companies in India, persons capable to member of the World Economic Forum's represent interests of investors into start- (WEF) Reskilling Revolution, an initiative ups. to provide one billion people with better  The term of the non-official members will education, skills and jobs by 2030. be for a period of two years.  The scheme aims to future-proof workers from technological change and help economies by providing new skills for the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

 Founding governments include Brazil, GLOBAL INVESTMENT TREND MONITOR France, India, Pakistan, the Russian REPORT Federation, UAE and the US. Business partners include PwC, Salesforce, Why in news? ManpowerGroup, Infosys, LinkedIn, Coursera Inc. and The Adecco Group.  The Global Investment Trend Monitor  The WEF also released a report titled report, compiled by United Nations 'Jobs of Tomorrow: Mapping Opportunity Conference on Trade and Development in the New Economy'. It worked with (UNCTAD), has been released states LinkedIn, Coursera Inc and Burning that India was among the top 10 Glass Technologies to map seven recipients of Foreign Direct Investment in emerging professional clusters and 96 2019, attracting $49 billion in inflows, a fastest-growing jobs within them. 16 per cent increase from the previous year.  On the other hand, the global foreign direct investment remained flat in 2019 at $1.39 trillion, a one per cent decline from

a revised $1.41 trillion in 2018.  South Asia recorded a 10 per cent increase in FDI to $60 billion and “this 21 CHAHAL ACADEMY

ECONOMIC INEQUALITY IS OUT OF tunnel will be completed in 3.5 years at a CONTROL: OXFAM cost of 2379 Crore rupees.  The project includes construction, Why in news? operation and maintenance of the tunnel with approaches on NH-1 at Srinagar-  Oxfam, the international non-profit Sonmarg-Gumri Road from 61 kilometres focussed on the alleviation of global to 89.30 kilometres on Design, Build, poverty, published a report titled Time to Finance, Operate and Transfer Annuity Care: Unpaid and Underpaid Care Work basis. and the Global Inequality Crisis in which it underlined that economic inequality is out of control, with extremes of wealth existing alongside great poverty.  “This great divide is based on a flawed MANDATORY GOLD HALLMARKING and sexist economic system” which has “accumulated vast wealth and power into NORMS the hands of a rich few, in part by Why in news? exploiting the labour of women and girls, and systematically violating their rights”.  The government will make the process of  India’s richest 1% hold more than four hallmarking of gold jewellery mandatory times the wealth held by the 953 million from 15 January 2021. It gives one year's who make up for the bottom 70% of the time to jewellers to register themselves country’s population. with the Bureau of Standards (BIS) and  Globally, extreme poverty rates are 4% clear their old stock. higher for women than men; this gap  This will ensure that consumers are not rises to 22% during women’s peak cheated while buying gold ornaments productive and reproductive ages; that is, and get the purity as marked on the 122 women aged 25-34 for every 100 ornaments. men of the same age group live in  Gold hallmarking is a purity certification extremely poor households, largely due of the precious metal and is voluntary in to childcare responsibilities. nature at present. The BIS is already running a hallmarking scheme for gold jewellery since April 2000 and around 40 per cent of gold jewellery is being Z MORH TUNNEL hallmarked currently. Why in news?  The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has formulated standards for hallmarking  A Concession Agreement for completing gold jewellery in three grades -- 14 carat, the 6.5-kilometre long Z-Morh tunnel in 18 carat and 22 carat. Jammu and Kashmir was signed  In fact, government may make it between NHIDCL and APCO Amarnathji mandatory for retailers to display prices Tunnelway. of these three quality grades at their  Z-Morh Tunnel will provide all-weather shops. road connectivity to Sonmarg tourist spot  There is a provision for a fine of a in Jammu and Kashmir. It mostly minimum Rs. 1 lakh and up to five times remains closed during the winters due to of the value of article as well as one year heavy snowfall in Gagenger area. jail under the BIS act passed last year.  Under the agreement, the two-lane bi- directional tunnel with parallel escape 22 CHAHAL ACADEMY

IMPORT DUTY ON CRUDE PALM OIL  The refining industry has been (CPO) demanding that the import duty on refined oil be increased, which would Why in news? make importing crude oil cheaper than importing refined oil. This will mainly  India has cut import duty on crude palm benefit domestic refiners, which include oil (CPO) and refined, bleached and big-ticket names like the Adani Wilmar deodorized (RBD) palm oil, and also group. moved RBD oil from the “free” to the “restricted” list of imports.  The move has been construed as retaliation against Malaysia’s Prime 5-YEAR NATIONAL STRATEGY FOR Minister Mahathir bin Mohamad, who has FINANCIAL INCLUSION criticized India’s internal policy decisions such as the revocation of the special Why in news? status for Jammu and Kashmir and the  The Reserve Bank of India unveiled the new citizenship Act. five year (2019-24) National Strategy for  Malaysia has also been sheltering since Financial Inclusion under the aegis of 2017 the Islamic preacher Zakir Naik, Financial Inclusion Advisory Committee who is wanted by India on charges of (FIAC). money laundering, hate speech, and  The NSFI sets forth the vision and key links to terror. objectives of the financial inclusion About policies in India to expand the reach and sustain the efforts through a broad  Indonesia and Malaysia together convergence of action involving all the produce 85% of the world’s palm oil, and stakeholders in the financial sector. India is among the biggest buyers.  Currently, the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan  Both Indonesia and Malaysia produce Yojana (PMJDY) is the government's refined palm oil; however, Malaysia’s financial inclusion programme, applicable refining capacity equals its production to the 10 to 65 years age group, and capacity this is why Malaysia is keen on aiming to expand and make affordable exporting refined oil access to financial services such as bank  Crude oil contains fatty acids, gums, and accounts, remittances, credit, insurance wax-like substances. Refining neutralizes and pensions. Even, SDG 7 of 2030 the acids and filters out the other views financial inclusion as a key enabler substances. for achieving sustainable development  The filtrate is bleached so that the oil worldwide. does not change color after repeated

use.  Substances that may cause the oil to WORLD FUTURE ENERGY SUMMIT smell are removed physically or chemically. Why in news?  This entire process increases the value of a barrel of crude oil by about 4%.  The World Future Energy Summit held at  Additionally, there are costs of the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre transporting crude, which makes it more between 13-16 January 2020. cost-effective to import refined oil.  It focussed on clean energy generation, water sustainability and how digital

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innovation can help to improve the Reserve, have used similar measures. quality of life in an urban environment. This is the first time RBI has undertaken  It was held alongside the energy summit such an unconventional policy measure are the Climate Innovations Exchange with the aim of flattening the yield curve (CLIX) and the Future Sustainability by lowering longer rates to boost lending Summit. and growth.  It saw participation from 170 countries.

The theme for this year's summit was "Rethinking Global Consumption, Production, and Investment." World Future Energy Summit is the Middle INDUSTRIAL OUTPUT TURNS POSITIVE East’s largest future energy and sustainability event. Why in news?  The event set an example for best  The industrial output grew 1.8 per cent in practice, supporting the circular economy November 2019, turning positive after through recycling, and to remove single- three months of contraction, on account use plastics. of growth in the manufacturing sector.  The event showcased 42 of the world’s According to National Statistical Office most disruptive innovations, selected data, the growth in the manufacturing from 1,402 global submissions from 128 sector was 2.7 per cent as against a countries, related to the future of energy, contraction of 0.7 per cent in November food, agriculture and sustainability in 2018. The Index of Industrial Production space. (IIP) had grown by 0.2 per cent in November 2018.  In November 2019, Electricity generation 'OPERATION TWIST' turned negative (-) 5 per cent as against a growth of 5.1 per cent in November Why in news? 2018. Mining sector output decelerated to 1.7 per cent from 2.7 per cent in the  The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) year ago month. announced its third round of  The IIP growth during April-November simultaneous purchase and sale of period of the current fiscal came in at 0.6 government securities under the special per cent, down from 5 per cent in the open market operation (OMO) to bring same period of 2018-19. down 10-year yields of government securities (G-Secs) and drive monetary transmission.  The purchase of securities pushes down GOVERNMENT OWNED CONTRACTOR the yields of long-dated securities, while the sale of short-term bonds drives up Why in news? their yield.  Indian Army has initiated the process of Operation Twist is a move in which a  identifying potential industry partners to central bank decides to simultaneously implement the Government Owned buy long-dated securities while selling Contractor Operated (GOCO) model for short-term securities. The objective its base workshops and ordnance depots behind such an operation is intended to improve operational management of the yield curve. Other efficiency. central banks, including the US Federal

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 The GOCO model was one of the BILLS REFERRED TO STANDING recommendations of the Lt. Gen. DB COMMITTEES DURING THE WINTER Shekatkar (Retd.) committee to enhance SESSION IN DECEMBER 2019 combat capability and re-balancing defence expenditure. Why in news?  In GOCO model, the assets owned by  Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has government will be operated by the referred the Insolvency and Bankruptcy private industries. Code (Second Amendment) Bill to the  Under the GOCO model, the private standing committee (headed by Jayant companies need not make investments Sinha) on Finance of which former prime on land, machinery and other support minister Manmohan Singh is a member. systems.  It was passed by the Cabinet and  The missions are set by government and subsequently introduced in the Lok the private sectors are given full Sabha. independence in implementing the  The bill seeks to amend the Insolvency missions using their best practices. and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) so  The service provider should be an Indian successful bidders of insolvent registered company with at least 10 companies will be ring-fenced from any years of working experience in related risk of criminal proceedings for offences domains and have an average annual committed by previous promoters of turnover of ₹50 crore for each of the last companies concerned. three financial years.  The Speaker has also referred the anti- maritime piracy bill, which proposes stringent punishment, including death SHIVALIK MERCANTILE penalty or life imprisonment, to those involved in piracy at sea, to the Why in news? parliamentary standing committee on  The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) granted external affairs chaired by former Union in-principle approval to Uttar Pradesh- minister P P Choudhary. It was based Shivalik Mercantile Co-operative introduced on December 9 in the Lok Bank Ltd to convert to a small finance Sabha. bank (SFB), becoming the first urban  The Industrial Relations Code, 2019 bill cooperative bank (UCB) to make the and the Code on Social Security, 2019 transition since the guidelines came out were also referred to the standing nearly two years ago. committee on labour for examination.  In September 2018, RBI had come out  The Maintenance and Welfare of Parents with the scheme for voluntary transition and Senior Citizens (Amendment) Bill, of primary UCBs into small finance 2019 was referred to the standing banks. Under the scheme, the promoters committee on social justice and are required to be Indian residents, with empowerment for examination. 10 years of experience in banking and

finance. Promoter or promoter groups should conform to the definition of the SEBI (Issue of Capital & Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2009 and RBI guidelines on fit and proper.

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INDIA LIKELY TO SURPASS GERMANY two major farming techniques namely TO BECOME THE FOURTH-LARGEST hydroponics and aeroponics. ECONOMY IN 2026: REPORT  Some common choices of structures to house vertical farming systems include Why in news? buildings, shipping containers, underground tunnels and abandoned  India will overtake Germany to become mine shafts. fourth-largest economy in the world by the year 2026. According to a report by the UK-based Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR), India is all FIRST SOLAR POWER AND PLANS TO set to overtake Japan to become the LINK J&K third-largest economy by 2034. Why in news?  The report titled 'World Economic League Table 2020' said that India is  Indian Railways announced that it will also set to become a 5 trillion dollar source 1000 MW of solar power and 200 economy by 2026, 2 years later than the MW of wind power to zonal railways by government's target of 2024. 2021-22. Also, Kashmir is to be linked  India has decisively overtaken both with the rest of India through railway France and the UK to become the network by December 2021. world's fifth-largest economy in 2019.  In order to implement the solar and wind The report said that Japan, Germany and power in Indian Railways, Indian India will battle for third position over the Government has planned to install 500 next 15 years. MW of solar plants on roof top of Railway  The World Economic League Table is an buildings to meet non-traction loads. annual calculation by CEBR jointly published by CEBR and Global Construction Perspectives. The base data for 2019 is taken from the IMF ASSAM INLAND WATER TRANSPORT World Economic Outlook. PROJECT

Why in news?

VERTICAL FARMING: A SILENT  The Government of India, the REVOLUTION IN AGRICULTURE Government of Assam and the World Bank signed a loan agreement of $88 Why in news? million to help modernize Assam’s passenger ferry sector that runs on its  Vertical Farming is emerging as a silent rivers including the mighty Brahmaputra. revolution in agricultural production  The Assam Inland Water Transport sector. Project (AIWTP) will help Assam improve  It is the process of growing agricultural the passenger ferry infrastructure and its crops in vertical stacks, mostly in a services and strengthen the capacity of controlled environment. the institutions running the inland water  Under Vertical Farming, the plants are transport. Technically better designed grown indoors with or without soil. This terminals and energy-efficient vessels protects the crops from incessant rains, (both new and retrofitted) will make the unruly winds and dry climate. ferry services more sustainable with least  The crop yield in vertical farming is also disruption to nature. more than traditional farming as it adopts 26 CHAHAL ACADEMY

 The Assam Inland Water Transport  NITI Aayog will be supporting the UT's Project will help develop a modern, administration through its key initiative efficient and safe river transport system 'Development Support Services to States for the large volume of passengers and for Infrastructure Projects'. cargo carried by the vessels.  The partnership lays thrust on the identification of high-impact priority projects, expedited project implementation, addressing structural- level issues and creating unique models APNA UREA of development for the Union Territory of Ladakh. Why in news?

 Chemicals and Fertilizers Ministry launched the APNA UREA - Sona Ugle RBI RANKED SIXTH AMONG CENTRAL brand of Hindustan Urvarak and BANKS IN BUYING GOLD ABROAD Rasayan Limited (HURL) with the objective of making the country self- Why in news? reliant in Urea.  According to World Gold Council (WGC)  HURL is Joint Venture Company report, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) promoted by the three Maha Ratna bought 7.5 tonnes of gold in October Companies - Coal India Limited, NTPC 2019, buttressing its foreign exchange Limited and Indian Oil Corporation reserves to $450 billion. Limited.  The RBI holds 625.2 tonnes of gold,  In 2016, Government had approved the forming 6.6 per cent of its forex reserves. revival of three sick Urea plants located  RBI was a modest player in buying gold at Gorakhpur, Sindri and Barauni, which abroad compared to other major central have been undertaken by HURL. The banks, adding to its reserve in October other two plants at Ramagundam and after a gap of five months. However, it Talcher will also commence production became the sixth largest buyer when it soon. Country is importing 70 to 80 Lakh purchased 25.2 tonnes in first 10 months metric tonne of fertilizer every year. of 2019 to hedge government’s  After the commissioning of these five sovereign gold bond issue. units, the total production of Urea will  The central banks of China, Russia, increase by over 63 Lakh Metric Tonne Kazakhstan, Turkey, Poland bought per annum and the revival of five Urea more than India in 2019. plants will reduce dependence on  This report is based on data shared by imports. central banks with the International Monetary Fund about their holdings.

LADAKH: DEVELOPMENT OF INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS

Why in news?

 UT Ladakh and NITI Aayog entered into a MoU to promote the development of key infrastructure sectors.

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testimonies of witnesses on grounds of delay of FIRs. ENVIRONMENT  In some riot-cum-murder cases, police clubbed hundreds of murders that took VIOLATION OF CRZ NORMS place at different locations and sent all accused together for trial. The report said Why in news? this led to trials lingering for years as the accused would be absent on several  The Supreme Court upheld the Kerala dates. High Court order to demolish 59 villas  Solicitor General Tushar Mehta informed and other constructions in Supreme Court that the Centre will take Nediyanthuruthu, a small island in the appropriate steps on the SIT backwaters of Alappuzha in Kerala. recommendations.  The villas were constructed violating the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) rules, EIA Notification-2006, Kerala Conservation of Paddy Land and CRZ NORMS RELAXED Wetland Act-2008 and Wetland Conservation and Management Rules- Why in news? 2010.  The villas are constructed in the  The Environment Ministry has relaxed Vembanad backwaters -- a Ramsar site. Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) rules The wetland is of international that restrict construction near beaches to importance and protected by the Ramsar help States construct infrastructure and Convention. enable them to receive ‘Blue Flag’  Nediyathuruthu is among the seven tiny certification. islets in the Vembanad backwaters in  The Centre declared a list of activities Panavally grama panchayat in and facilities that would be permissible in Alappuzha district. the CRZ areas of certain beaches, which have been identified for obtaining the Centre accepts recommendations of the SIT ‘Blue Flag’ certification.  These activities and facilities would be  Centre has accepted the exempt from prior clearance under the recommendations of the Supreme Court- provisions of CRZ Notification, Island appointed Special Investigation Team Protection Zone Notification and Island (SIT), headed by retired Delhi High Court Coastal Regulation Zone Notifications judge SN Dhingra which probed 186 respectively. cases of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.  Large-scale riots targeting members of What is ‘Blue Flag’ certification? the Sikh community had broken out in the national capital in the aftermath of  The ‘Blue Flag’ is a certification that can the assassination of the then Prime be obtained by a beach, marina, or Minister Indira Gandhi in 1984. The sustainable boating tourism operator, violence had claimed 2,733 lives in Delhi and serves as an eco-label. alone.  The certification is awarded by the  Trial judges handed out acquittals in a Denmark-based non-profit Foundation routine manner, failed to separate cases for Environmental Education (FEE), based on incidents and rejected which sets stringent environmental, educational, safety-related and access- related criteria that applicants must meet 28 CHAHAL ACADEMY

and maintain. It is awarded annually to  This is to ensure that the river has at beaches and marinas in FEE member least the minimum required countries. environmental flow of water even after  It is the world-renowned certification, the river flow gets diverted by projects which is an indication of high and structures for purposes like environmental and quality standards. irrigation, hydropower, domestic and Forty-seven countries currently industrial use, etc. participate in the program, and 4,573  This is an important step taken towards beaches, marinas, and boats have this maintaining the uninterrupted or Aviral certification. flow of the river.  In July 2019, the Ministry of  Environmental flows are the acceptable Environment, Forest and Climate flow regimes that are required to Change (MoEFCC) had identified 13 maintain a river in the desired beaches across the country for the Blue environmental state or predetermined Flag certification, and announced a list of state. activities that would be permissible in  The Central Water Commission is the their respective CRZ zones for that designated authority and will be purpose. responsible for the supervision, monitoring, regulation of flows and reporting of the necessary information to ECOLOGICAL FLOW (E-FLOW) NORMS the appropriate authority as and when required and also take emergent Why in news? decisions about the water storage norms in case of any emergency.  According to the Central Water Commission (CWC), 4 of the 11 Power Companies and E-flow Norms hydropower projects on the upper  The Centre’s e-flow notification came reaches of the river Ganga’s tributaries into effect in October 2018 and gave are violating Ganga ecological flow (e- companies three years to modify their flow) norms. design plans, if required, to ensure that a  The non-compliant ones are: minimum amount of water flowed during 1. Vishnuprayag Hydroelectric project – all seasons. Power producers generally Alaknanda hoard water to create reserves to 2. Srinagar Hydroelectric project – increase power production. Alaknanda  In September 2019, the government 3. Maneri Bhali Phase 2 – Bhagirathi advanced this deadline, from October 4. Pashulok – Ganga Mainstream 2021 to December 2019.  Violating e-flow norms can mean the  This was after the CWC undertook field closure of the project or a hefty fine. visits to hydropower sites and reported Ecological- Flow Norms that most of the power projects could begin implementing the norms right away  The Central Government under the and didn’t need three years. Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 has notified the minimum environmental flows for the River Ganga that has to be maintained at various locations on the river.

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RAMSAR SITES strategy to conserve threatened species and restore ecosystem functions. Why in news?  The cheetah is the only large carnivore that has been extirpated, mainly by over-  Ramsar has declared 10 more wetland hunting in India in historical times. sites from India as sites of international  India now has the economic ability to importance for the conservation of global consider restoring its lost natural heritage biological diversity. for ethical as well as ecological reasons. o Maharashtra gets its first Ramsar site (Nandur Madhameshwar),  The country’s last spotted feline died in o Punjab added 3 more (Keshopur-Miani, Chhattisgarh in 1947. Later, the cheetah Beas Conservation Reserve, Nangal), which is the fastest land animal was o UP has added 6 more (Nawabganj, declared extinct in India in 1952. Parvati Agra, Saman, Samaspur, Sandi  The Wildlife Institute of India at and SarsaiNawar). Dehradun had prepared a ₹260-crore  With this, the numbers of Ramsar sites in cheetah re-introduction project seven India are now 37 and the surface area years ago. covered by these sites is now 1,067,939  Nauradehi in Madhya Pradesh was hectares. found to be the most suitable area for the  The Ramsar Convention was signed in cheetahs as its forests are not very 1971 to maintain an international network dense to restrict the fast movement of of wetlands which are important for the the spotted cat. Besides, the prey base conservation of global biological for cheetahs is also in abundance at the diversity. sanctuary.  Wetlands declared as Ramsar sites are Cheetah protected under strict guidelines of the convention.  The cheetah, Acinonyx jubatus, is one of the oldest of the big cat species, with ancestors that can be traced back more than five million years to the Miocene INTRODUCTION OF AFRICAN CHEETAH era. IN INDIA  The cheetah is also the world’s fastest Why in news? land mammal.  It is listed as vulnerable in IUCN red-  The National Tiger Conservation listed species. Authority (NTCA) had previously told the  The Asiatic cheetah is classified as a Supreme Court that African cheetahs “critically endangered” species by the would be translocated in India from IUCN Red List and is believed to survive Namibia and would be kept at Nauradehi only in Iran. wildlife sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh.  International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has given a ‘no objection’

for the translocation.  ‘Reintroduction’ of a species means releasing it in an area where it is capable of surviving.  Reintroductions of large carnivores have increasingly been recognized as a

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NO ENVIRONMENTAL CLEARANCE (EBRC) of the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) at Gopalpur-on-sea in Odisha. Why in news?  This new marine species has been named Ophichthus Kailashchandrai to  Environment Ministry has issued a honour the vast contributions of Dr notification to exempt oil and gas firms Kailash Chandra, Director of Zoological from seeking environmental clearance Survey of India (ZSI), to Indian animal for on-shore and offshore drilling taxonomy. explorations.  Ophichthus kailashchandrai is the eighth  Onshore drilling refers to drilling deep species of the Ophichthus genus found holes under the earth’s surface whereas on the Indian coast. offshore drilling relates to drilling  It is the fifth new species discovered by underneath the seabed. the Gopalpur ZSI in the last two years.  These drilling methods are used in order  In 2019, two new species of marine eel, to extract natural resources – usually oil Gymnothorax andamanensesis and and gas – from the earth. Gymnothorax smithi were been discovered by this ZSI centre.

KARWAR PORT GREENPEACE REPORT

Why in news? Why in news?

 Recently, the High Court of Karnataka  As per the Greenpeace India Report, has directed the State government to Coal-belching Jharia (Jharkhand) stop all the developmental activities continues to be the most polluted city in being undertaken at Karwar port under India. the Sagarmala project.  Delhi has made marginal improvements  Karwar is located in Uttar Kannada in reducing air pollution and Delhi is the district at the Southern side of the Kali 10th-most polluted city in India. River.  Lunglei in Mizoram is the least polluted  It is the only all-weather natural port out followed by Meghalaya’s Doki, according of 10 minor ports of Karnataka. to the report.  It is sandwiched between the Arabian  The report is based on the analysis of sea on one side and the Western Ghats PM10 data from 287 cities across the on the other. country.  It is known as Kashmir of Karnataka as it

is blessed with a wide variety of flora and fauna GLOBAL RISKS REPORT 2020

Why in news?

OPHICHTHUS KAILASHCHANDRAI  The 15th edition of the Global Risks Why in news? Report was released at World Economic Forum’s (WEF) 50th  A new snake eel species residing in the Annual Meeting in Davos-Klosters. Bay of Bengal has been discovered by  It notes that for the first time in the the Estuarine Biology Regional Centre report’s 10-year-history all of the top 31 CHAHAL ACADEMY

five issues that are likely to impact to repair and reinvigorate our systems the world in 2020 are environmental of cooperation, not just for short-term in nature. benefits but for tackling our deep- rooted risks. Major Highlights of the Report

 According to the report, the global economy is facing an increased risk 2019 IS 7TH WARMEST YEAR of stagnation, climate change is more RECORDED SINCE 1901: IMD rapidly than expected and Why In News? fragmented cyberspace threatens the full potential of next-generation  According to the India Meteorological technologies. Department (IMD) weather summary  The “top five global risks in terms of titled “Statement on Climate of India likelihood” are — extreme weather during 2019” released on 6 January conditions, climate action failure, 2020, 2019 was recorded as the seventh natural disasters, biodiversity loss warmest year since 1901, but the heating was substantially lower than the highest and human-made natural disasters. warming observed in 2016. In the previous decade, economic  The report also stated that 2010-2019 and financial crises were some of the was the warmest recorded decade. most dangerous.  The report states that global Key Findings temperatures are set to rise by 3°C  In its report of IMD for 2019, 1,562 toward the end of this century. This is people died due to extreme weather “twice what climate experts have events -- avalanches floods, heat wave warned is the limit to avoid the most and thunderstorms. severe economic, social and  Bihar was the most adversely affected environmental consequences”. state during the year, which reported  The political landscape is polarised, about 650 lives due to heavy rain and sea levels are rising and climate fires floods, heat wave, lightning, are burning. thunderstorm and hailstorm.  According to the report, “economic  2019 saw eight cyclonic storms formed confrontations” and “domestic political over the Indian seas. Arabian Sea contributed five out of these eight polarisation” would rise in 2020. cyclones against the normal of one per Way Ahead year, which equals the previous record of 1902 for the highest frequency of  The challenges before us demand cyclones over the Arabian Sea. immediate collective action, but  The country also experienced other high fractures within the global community impact weather events like extremely appear to only be widening. heavy rainfall, heat and cold waves, snowfall, thunderstorm, dust storm, Stakeholders need to act quickly and lightning and floods. with purpose within an unsettled  Heavy rain and flood related incidents global landscape. reportedly claimed over 850 lives from  This is the year when world leaders different parts of the country during the must work with all sectors of society 32 CHAHAL ACADEMY

pre-monsoon, monsoon and post-  The Authority will prepare a list of all monsoon seasons. wetlands of the State or UT within three  El Nino, which is a global meteorological months from the date of publication of phenomenon, contributed to above these rules. normal temperatures in the first half of  It will develop a comprehensive list of the year globally. But in India we also activities to be regulated and permitted saw a delayed monsoon, which also led within the notified wetlands and their zone to warmer than usual monsoon months. of influence.  Heat-wave conditions prevailed over the  It will also recommend mechanisms for maintenance of ecological character north-eastern and central parts the through promotional activities for land country during the period March-June. within the boundary of notified wetlands.  December was bitterly cold with the  The Ministry has also created a web portal mean maximum temperature for the for sharing information regarding the month being only 18.76 degree C, which implementation of Wetlands Rules where made it the second coldest since 1901. the central government, state governments are required to upload all relevant information and documents pertaining to wetlands in their jurisdiction.

CLIMATE AND BUSINESS PARTNERSHIP OF THE FUTURE: CDP INDIA ANNUAL REPORT 2019

Why in news?

 “Climate and business partnership of the future: CDP India Annual Report 2019” has been released by CDP (Carbon Disclosure Project), a not-for-profit charity running the

global disclosure system for investors, NEW WETLAND CONSERVATION RULES companies to manage their environmental impacts. Why In News  The report surveyed a total of 6900 companies across the globe to compile  The Ministry of Environment has notified their annual report for 2019. These firms the new Wetland Conservation Rules contribute to 55% of world capitalization. that prohibit setting up or expansion of  As per the report, India has ranked 5th industries, and disposal of construction among the countries surveyed for and demolition waste within the corporate commitments to science-based wetlands. targets (SBT).It becomes the first  The rules prohibit setting up or developing nation with maximum number expansion of industries and disposal of of companies. construction and demolition waste within  In this report, USA topped (135 the wetlands. companies), followed by Japan (83 companies), UK (78 companies) and  Each state and Union Territory will have France (51 companies). to set up an authority that will define strategies for conservation and wise use of wetlands within their jurisdiction. 33 CHAHAL ACADEMY

INDIA ACHIEVES COMPLETE PHASE While Russia and Ukraine are among the OUT OF ONE THE MOST POTENT laggards. OZONE DEPLETING CHEMICAL  Toward a More Cohesive World found that outside of the Americas and South Why in news? Asia, majorities believed a "good education" is the privilege of half of the  India has successfully achieved the population or less. In other words, the complete phase out of survey also found that majority of people Hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC)-141 b, in the world believes schools are under- which is a chemical used by foam preparing students for jobs. Outside of manufacturing enterprises and one of the the Americas and South Asia, education most potent ozone depleting chemical is still viewed as a privilege for half of the after Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) population or less. .(HCFC)-141 b is used mainly as a blowing agent in the production of rigid polyurethane (PU) foams.  The phase out of HCFC-141b from the 146 DOLPHINS SIGHTED IN CHILIKA country has twin environmental benefits LAKE’S ANNUAL CENSUS viz. (i) assisting the healing of the stratospheric ozone layer, and (ii) Why in news? towards the climate change mitigation  In the annual dolphin census conducted due to transitioning of foam by state wildlife official and wildlife manufacturing enterprises at this scale researchers, at least 146 Irrawaddy under HPMP to low global warming Dolphins were sighted at Odisha’s potential alternative technologies. Chilika lake, India’s largest brackish water lagoon (1165 sq km water body).  Chilika is the single largest habitat of the WORLD LOSING TRUST IN CLIMATE slow-swimming dolphins in the world that SCIENCE, INDIANS MOST-TRUSTING: got their names from Irrawaddy river in WEF SURVEY Myanmar where they were first sighted. These dolphins, measuring anywhere Why in news? between 6 and 9 feet, have a bulging forehead, short beak, and 12-19 teeth on  World Economic Forum (WEF) in its 50th each side of both jaws. They are meeting for better climate education and categorised as Schedule-I animal under urgent upskilling at Davos showed that the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. the global public overwhelmingly blames global warming on human activities with trust level declining in climate science.  The findings were presented in two parts: CROCODILE POPULATION ON THE RISE Toward a More Sustainable World and IN ODISHA’S GHODAHADA RESERVOIR Toward a More Cohesive World, which Why in news? formed the theme of 2020 annual meeting.  Twenty-one mugger crocodiles live in ten  Toward a More Sustainable World village ponds adjoining Ghodahada survey found that Indians are the most reservoir of Odisha’s Ganjam district that trusting people in climate science houses 44 of these reptiles. followed by Bangladeshis, and Pakistan.  This example of peaceful coexistence of China and Turkey complete the top five. humans and crocodiles in the 34 CHAHAL ACADEMY

Digapahandi forest range under RARE STEPPE EAGLE SPOTTED IN Berhampur forest division was revealed ANDHRA PRADESH during annual crocodile census conducted in the region. Why in news?

 During Asian Bird Census, a Steppe Eagle (Aquila nipalensis) has been REPORT ON CENTRAL AND STATE sighted in Andhra Pradesh. WATER DEPARTMENTS BASED ON  This is the second time a Steppe Eagle EFFICIENCY TARGETS has been sighted in the state in the past two decades. Why in news?  It is a migratory raptor which has undergone extremely rapid population  According to the rankings of ‘Central and declines within all its range. state governmental water departments  The bird has moved from ‘Least based on their efficiency targets for 2019’ Concern’ to ‘Endangered’ under IUCN released by Ministry of Jal Shakti, Red List. Gujarat ranked the best for parameters on efficiency targets , while Delhi  It breeds in Russia, Kazakhstan, and remains in the worst-performing state Mongolia during the winter season. category.  It is the second-largest migratory eagle  The Survey of India (SoI) received top species to India. spot among the 7 central government departments reviewed on parameters for procurement, finance, real-time data NATIONAL MISSION FOR CLEAN GANGA acquisition system, data digitization, CONSERVES WETLANDS IN GANGA analytical work, pieces of training. SoI BASIN was followed by National Institute of Hydrology (NIH) and the Central Water Why in news? Commission. Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) pushed to the last.  The National Mission for Clean Ganga  Delhi improved its position by 6 places to (NMCG) under its Namami Gange get 35th rank in 2019 as against bottom program has taken up an initiative to 41 in 2018. Tamil Nadu ranked best conserve the wetlands in Ganga River among the states that significantly Basin in states like Uttarakhand, Uttar improved its ranking. Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, and West  Rajasthan has been ranked 3rd.The Bengal. states which have done satisfactory work  Ecosystem-based and community-led under the project are Andhra Pradesh, models of rejuvenation of wetlands for Gujarat SW(Surface Water Department), enhancing `Aviralta' and `Nirmalta' of the Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, Maharashtra river and water conservation in the Rajasthan, Telangana and West Bengal Ganga basin are being integrated into SW. the Namami Gange Programme.  The difference in the Namami Gange Project is primarily to rejuvenate the river through increasing the base flow and aquifers recharge and conservation of wetlands aims to maintain the

environmental flow in the river.

35 CHAHAL ACADEMY

 Some of these wetlands are threatened  Taal is classified as a “complex” volcano by reclamation and degradation through by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology drainage, landfill, and over-exploitation of and Seismology (PHIVOLCS). their natural resources.  The Taal volcano does not rise from the ground as a distinct, singular dome but  It results in loss of biodiversity and consists of multiple strato-volcanoes, disruption in ecosystem services conical hills and craters of all shapes and provided by the wetlands. sizes, as per NASA’s Earth Observatory.  The National Mission for Clean Ganga in collaboration with the State Wetland MEGA CAMPAIGN ON FUEL Authorities will help identify and prepare CONSERVATION 'SAKSHAM' Integrated Management Plans for INAUGURATED management and conservation in the Ganga basin. Why in news?

 Saksham, fuel conservation mega EARTH'S INNER CORE CAPPED BY campaign, of Petroleum Conservation SNOW MADE OF IRON PARTICLES, Research Association, PCRA was FINDS NEW STUDY inaugurated. It is a major effort for Why in news? petroleum conservation to bring down  The Earth's deepest layer, the inner core, the huge import burden for energy is capped by snow made of tiny particles requirements. of iron, which are much heavier than the  It will help in progressively reduction of snowflakes seen in the atmosphere, carbon footprint and lead to fulfilling government's commitment for greener according to a new study published in environment. Foreign exchange can also the journal JGR Solid Earth. be saved with this move. The one-month  The iron-snow falls from the molten outer long annual event Saksham aims at core, and piles up on top of the inner creating mass awareness among public core, creating stacks up to 200 miles about conventional fuel conservation. thick which cover the innermost layer of  India's share of primary energy demand the planet. is set to double to 11 per cent by 2040  According to the researchers, and to address this huge demand; not accumulated snow pack may be the only petroleum conservation but creation cause of the seismic aberrations. of sustainable development model will be a pivotal step.

TAAL VOLCANO ERUPTED IN THE NORTHERN PHILLIPINES CHINESE PADDLEFISH, ONE OF Why in news? WORLD'S LARGEST FISH, HAS GONE EXTINCT  Recently In the Philippines, a volcano called Taal on the island of Luzon, 50 km Why in news? from Manila, erupted, spewing lava on the ground, and ash and smoke into the  A new paper published in the Science of sky. the Total Environment concludes that the  Although Taal is a tiny volcano, the species has gone extinct, mainly due to eruption has caused concerns in the overfishing and dam construction. Philippines.  Chinese paddlefish (Psephurus gladius) had a long sword-like rostrum, a snout-

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like structure packed with cells to detect his brother Lakshmana to keep a watch electrical activity in prey animals such as on Lanka. crustaceans.  The park is also mentioned in the ancient  They ranged over long distances books of the ‘Narad Pancharatra’ and the throughout the expansive reaches of the ‘Shiv Purana’ that this place is being Yangtze River basin, and even making associated with Ramayana. their way into the East China Sea.  There are a large number of tigers in the core zone of the Park. There are more than 22 species of mammals and 250 KERALA TO TURN TO MIYAWAKI METHOD species of birds.

Why in news?

 The Miyawaki method of afforestation is FIRST-OF-ITS KIND TURTLE REHAB to come up on the government office CENTRE COMES UP IN BIHAR premises, residential complexes, school Why in news? premises, and puramboke land in Kerala.  The Miyawaki method, developed by a  A first-of-its-kind rehabilitation centre for Japanese botanist after whom it is freshwater turtles will be inaugurated in named, involves planting saplings in Bihar’s Bhagalpur forest division in small areas, causing them to “fight” for January 2020. The rehab centre, spread resources and grow nearly 10 times over half a hectare, will be able to shelter quicker. 500 turtles at a time.  It is now increasingly adopted in other  The need to build such a centre was felt parts of the world, including our Chennai. after several turtles were found severely It has revolutionised the concept of urban wounded and sick. afforestation by turning backyards into  Eastern Bihar has been an ideal mini-forests. breeding ground for turtles. As, in Bhagalpur, the flow of water in the Ganga is ample. Also, there are many MADHYA PRADESH GETS ITS FIRST sandbanks in the middle of the river, ELEPHANT COLONY which are ideal breeding ground for turtles Why in news?  The turtles play a significant role in the river by scavenging dead organic  Madhya Pradesh has got its first materials and diseased fish, controlling elephant colony in the Bandhavgarh fish population as predators and Tiger Reserve. controlling aquatic plants and weeds.  Bandhavgarh National Park is located in They are also described as indicators of the Umaria district. It was declared a healthy aquatic ecosystems. national park in 1968 and then became  However, these species are now under Tiger Reserve in 1993. severe threats due to habitat  The park resides on the extreme north fragmentation and loss through dams eastern border of MP and the northern and barrages, pollution, illegal poaching, edges of the Satpura mountain ranges. accidental drowning through fishing nets  The park derives its name from the most and threats to their nesting habitats, a prominent hillock of the area, which was report jointly prepared by the National said to be given by Hindu Lord Rama to

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Mission for Clean Ganga and Wildlife on the amount of water rising above Institute of India has said. land/in a river as a result of torrential  The turtles have come under serious rainfall. threat primarily for two reasons — food  For instance, when the water in a river is and the flourishing pet trade. ‘above normal’ level, or between the ‘warning’ and ‘danger’ levels, a yellow alert is issued.

YELLOW WEATHER WARNING OPERATION VANILLA

Why in news? Why in news?

 Recently, the Indian Meteorological  Indian navy will perform HADR Department (IMD) has issued a yellow operations in Madagascar under weather warning for heavy rain and ‘Operation Vanilla’. snowfall in Himachal Pradesh.  It has been launched to provide  Yellow weather warning indicates assistance to the affected population of severely bad weather spanning across Madagascar post devastation caused by several days. Cyclone Diane.  The Indian Navy ship Airavat has been Colour- Coded Weather Warning deployed in the relief mission.  It is issued by the IMD whose objective is  The operation will provide succor to the to alert people ahead of severe or flood-affected population. The ship will hazardous weather which has the also set up a medical camp and offer potential to cause damage, widespread water, food and other essential relief disruption or danger to life. materials.  The IMD uses 4 color codes are:  Madagascar is an island country in the 1. Green (All is well): No advisory is issued. Indian Ocean. It is the fourth largest 2. Yellow (Be Aware): Yellow indicates island in the world. severely bad weather spanning across  India has been trying to include several days. It also suggests that the Madagascar and Comoros in its Indian weather could change for the worse, Ocean Vision for its strategic location. causing disruption in day-to-day On the other hand, Seychelles and activities. Mauritius are part of Indian Ocean 3. Orange/Amber (Be prepared): The Region division orange alert is issued as a warning of extremely bad weather with the potential ASSAM STATE ZOO FIRST TO BREED of disruption in commute with road and ENDANGERED HARGILA rail closures, and interruption of power Why in news? supply. 4. Red (Take Action): When the extremely  The Assam State Zoo cum Botanical bad weather conditions are certainly Garden and Aaranyak has jointly going to disrupt travel and power and attained a landmark achievement by have significant risk to life, the red alert is successfully hatching a pair of Greater issued. Adjutant chicks in an artificial platform  These alerts are universal in nature and within the zoo enclosure, in the first ever are also issued during floods, depending experiment of its kind. 38 CHAHAL ACADEMY

 This rarest of storks, the Hargila is Research Organization (ISRO) in currently on the brink of extinction due to Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit. habitat loss stemming from  A European communication satellite indiscriminate felling of big trees and named EUTELSAT KONNECT was also dwindling wetlands. launched with GSAT-30.  The Endangered Greater Adjutant stork  GSAT-30 aimed at providing high-quality (Leptoptilosdubius) is one of the rarest television, telecommunications and species of Storks out of twenty species broadcasting services. of Storks in the world.  With a mission life of over 15 years, it will  In India, eight species of residential provide DTH [direct-to-home] television storks are found, out of which Greater Services, connectivity to VSATs [Very Adjutant is one of them. Once Small Aperture Terminals] for ATM, stock abundantly distributed in Southeast Asia, exchange, television up linking and this stork is now restricted to a few teleport services, Digital Satellite News isolated pockets in Assam and Bihar in Gathering (DSNG) and e-governance India and PrekToal in Cambodia. applications.  This colonial birds breeds in traditional  The satellite will also be used for bulk nesting colonies within thickly populated data transfer for a host of an villages in Assam and breeds in tall trees emerging telecommunication. species including  GSAT-30 derives its heritage from Anthocephaluscadamba(Kadam), ISRO’s earlier INSAT/GSAT satellite Artocarpusleukochuwa (Dewa), series. It will replace INSAT-4A which Pithecellobiummonadephum, was launched in 2005. BombaxCeiba (Simul), Tamarindusindica  It weighs 3,357-kg and will be gradually (Teteli), Trewianudifera (Bhelkol), adjusted into a orbit 36,000 km from the Gmelinaarborea (Gomari). earth.  Habitat loss, poaching and poisoning are  It was launched from the foreign the major threats to the species. Cutting launcher because it is much heavier than down of nesting trees by the tree owners the lifting capacity of its geostationary and infrastructural construction has launch vehicle GSLV-MkII (It has the resulted into a breeding failure of the capacity to lift 2000kg). species and many historical breeding  The GSLV-MkIII can lift up to 4,000 kg, colonies have gone missing in its but ISRO plans to use the upcoming historical distribution range. MkIIIs mainly for its first human space flight Gaganyaan of 2022.

 The satellite provides Indian mainland and islands coverage in Ku-band and extended coverage in C-band covering SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY Gulf countries, a large number of Asian countries and Australia. ISRO'S GSAT-30 SATELLITE  The Ku and C bands are part of a spectrum of frequencies, ranging from 1 Why In News? to 40 gigahertz, that are used in satellite communications.  India's "high power" communication satellite GSAT-30 was successfully Indian Data Relay Satellite System (IDRSS) launched onboard Ariane 5 rocket from French Guiana by Indian Space  ISRO has announced that it aims to launch its own satellite pair for space 39 CHAHAL ACADEMY

communication purposes, called Indian originated at a time before the Sun was Data Relay Satellite System (IDRSS), formed. Presolar stardust grains formed which will be imperative to the Gaganyan within outflowing and cooling gases from mission. earlier presolar stars.  It consists of two satellites, which will be  These bits of stardust became trapped in deployed in phases.The first satellite will meteorites where they remained be launched into low-Earth orbit by the unchanged for billions of years, making end of 2020, ahead of the unmanned them capsules of the cosmic time before Gaganyaan test flight that will also carry the solar system. a humanoid dummy onboard, laden with  However, presolar grains are very tiny sensors. and rare, found only in about five percent  The second satellite will be launched in of meteorites that have fallen to the 2021, before the manned mission is Earth. Since presolar grains are formed embarked upon in 2022. when a star dies, they can tell us about  IDRSS will be crucial in constant the history of stars. monitoring of India's spaceflights, which will be particularly important to do with Gaganyaan, since it will involve human NEW ARCHAEON life onboard.  The satellite communications setup, Why in news? meanwhile, will help ISRO's ground control room to uniformly monitor the  Recently, scientists at the National space crew and communicate with them Centre for Microbial Resource under at any given point of time, and can be National Centre for Cell Science (NCMR- used in both low orbit missions and NCCS) in Pune have reported a new farther missions such as those to the archaeon, which they discovered in moon, Mars and beyond. Sambhar Salt Lake in Rajasthan.  Archaea (singular archaeon) are a primitive group of microorganisms that thrive in extreme habitats such as hot OLDEST SOLID MATERIAL springs, cold deserts, and hypersaline Why in news? lakes.  These slow-growing organisms are also  Scientists have discovered the oldest present in the human gut and have a solid material ever found on the Earth, in potential relationship with human health. the form of stardust trapped inside a  They are known for producing meteorite that crashed into Australia 50 antimicrobial molecules, and for anti- years ago and predates the formation of oxidant activity with applications in eco- our solar system. friendly waste-water treatment.  This stardust provides evidence for a  Archaea are extremely difficult to culture ‘baby boom’ of new stars that formed 7 due to challenges in providing natural billion years ago, contrary to the theory conditions in a laboratory setting. that star formation happens at a steady, constant rate. The materials the Natrialba swarupiae researchers examined are called  The new archaeon discovered in presolar grains. Sambhar Lake has been named  Presolar grains are interstellar solid Natrialba swarupiae, after Dr. Renu matter in the form of tiny solid grains that Swarup, secretary, Department of 40 CHAHAL ACADEMY

Biotechnology, for her initiative in reports, model-based products and supporting microbial diversity studies in services for Gram Panchayat members the country. and other stakeholders.  In the project that will last for at least two years, ISRO will collaborate with the gram panchayat members and BHUVAN PANCHAYAT V 3.0 WEB stakeholders to understand their data PORTAL requirements. Why in news?  The project is meant to provide geospatial services to aid the gram  Union Minister of State for Department of panchayat development planning Space inaugurated the ‘National process of the Ministry of Panchayati Workshop on Space-based Information Raj. Support for Decentralised Planning (SISDP)-update.’ He also launched the Bhuvan Panchayat V 3.0 web portal in NASA’s SPITZER MISSION Bengaluru.  ISRO had launched the ‘SISDP’ project Why in news? to assist gram panchayats at a grassroots level with basic planning  On January 30, 2020, NASA’s Spitzer inputs derived from satellite data for Mission, which studied the universe in preparing developmental plans, its infrared light for more than 16 years, will implementation and monitoring of come to an end since it is low on fuel and activities. has been drifting away from Earth for a  National Remote Sensing Centre few years now. (NRSC), located in Hyderabad, is the  The Spitzer Space Telescope (SST) is lead center to execute the project. NSRC an infrared space telescope. It was is one of the centers of ISRO. launched in 2003 and is planned to be retired on 30 January 2020. About  This telescope by NASA is named in honor of astronomer Lyman Spitzer, who  Bhuvan Panchayat is part of ISRO’s had promoted the concept of space Space-based Information Support for telescopes in the 1940s. Decentralised Planning Update project.  It is one of the elements of NASA’s Great  Aim: For better planning and monitoring Observatories that include the Hubble of government projects. Space Telescope and the Chandra X-  Services: This version of the portal will Ray. provide database visualization and  Using different infrared wavelengths, services for the benefit of panchayat Spitzer was able to see and reveal members, among others. features of the universe including objects  The targeted audiences for this portal are that were too cold to emit visible light. Public, PRIs and different stakeholders  Spitzer could also see through large belonging to the gram panchayats. amounts of gas using infrared  Using Bhuvan satellite imagery, the hi- wavelengths to find objects that may resolution database at 1:10,000 scale is otherwise have been invisible to human applied to identify land use land cover, beings. These included exoplanets, settlements, road and rail network, etc. brown dwarfs and cold matter found in The portal offers database visualization, the space between stars. data analytics, generation of automatic 41 CHAHAL ACADEMY

region and 1500 km around the Indian mainland. MESOTHELIOMA  IRNSS would provide two types of services, namely Standard Positioning Why in news? Services available to all users and  There have been allegations against Restricted Services provided to Johnson & Johnson that its Baby Powder authorised users. (talcum powder) contains asbestos which

can cause Mesothelioma, a type of rare cancer. POLYCRACK TECHNOLOGY  Talc or talcum is a naturally occurring clay mineral mined from the earth which Why in news? is used in baby powder because of its ability to absorb moisture.  The East Coast Railways commissioned  Mines that collect talc also contain the first waste-to-energy plant of asbestos that has been linked to health Railways sector of India. It is the fourth risks like mesothelioma and asbestosis. such plant in the country. The plant has been set up at a cost of Rs 1.79 crores  Malignant mesothelioma is an with Polycrack technology. aggressive and deadly form of cancer that occurs in the thin layer of tissue that  The plant installed converts waste covers the majority of internal organs collected from the garbage disposal units (mesothelium). into carbon powder, diesel and gas using Polycrack Technology.  The diesel oil is to be sold by the Railways to other stakeholders for NAVIC (NAVIGATION IN INDIAN commercial purposes. The gas and CONSTELLATION) carbon powder is to be used in brick manufacturing. The best thing about the Why in news? plant is that it does not leave any waste at the end.  Qualcomm Technologies has unveiled mobile chipsets supporting the Indian  In Polycrack Technology, waste is regional satellite navigation system – processed and reformed in 24 hours. NavIC (Navigation in Indian The only drawback is that it requires a Constellation). larger area. The technology involves depolymerization, cracking, reforming,  The release of chipsets will help scrubbing, particle filtration and rapid accelerate the adoption of NavIC by quenching. smartphone Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs).  The OEMs can now release any new EARTH-SIZED PLANET models for the Indian market which are NavIC enabled, thus eventually making Why in news? NavIC as a standard feature in the  NASA's planet hunter satellite Transiting upcoming handsets, applications, Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) has processors, etc. discovered an Earth-sized world within  Navigation with Indian Constellation the habitable range of its star, which (NavIC) is an independent regional could allow the presence of liquid water, navigation satellite system designed to announced by NASA's Jet Propulsion provide position information in the Indian Laboratory during the winter American 42 CHAHAL ACADEMY

Astronomical Society meeting in Virgo’s third observing run (O3), but no Honolulu, Hawaii on 6 January 2020. electromagnetic signals were seen at all.  Another discovery announced at the  The first gravitational-wave detection of meeting was TESS's first finding of an merging neutron stars, called GW170817, exoplanet orbiting two stars instead of made history back in 2017. It was first time one, also known as a circumbinary astronomers spotted both gravitational planet. waves and light from the same cosmic event — the dawn of an era of so-called  The potentially habitable planet, named “multi-messenger astronomy.” "TOI 700 d," is relatively close to Earth -  However, because only one of three LIGO- only 100 light years away. Proxima Virgo detectors picked up this most recent Centauri, the closest star to Earth, is just merger and is dubbed GW190425 but over four light years away. researchers were unable to pinpoint its  TESS was designed and launched precise location. This prevented them from specifically to find Earth-sized planets spotting any light that it may have orbiting nearby stars. released.  The discovery was later confirmed by the  The individual masses are consistent with Spitzer Space Telescope. neutron stars, but the pair of them is more  A few other similar planets have been massive than all known neutron star discovered before, notably by the Kepler binaries. Space Telescope, but this is the first  Because of the unexpectedly large size of discovered by TESS, which was the neutron star merger’s final product, it launched in 2018. instead could be an example of two small,  TESS stabilizes on one area of the sky to stellar-mass black holes merging together detect whether objects - planets - pass in to form a slightly bigger black hole. front of stars, which causes a temporary

drop in the stars' luminosity. This allows TESS to infer the presence of a planet, VYOM MITRA its size and orbit.  Star TOI 700 is small, about 40 percent Why in news? of our Sun's size and only about half as hot.  Space agency ISRO has unveiled a robot which will travel to space as part of its unmanned space mission to be launched in 2020 as a prelude to the NEUTRON STAR MERGER CAUGHT BY manned Gaganyaan mission. The half- LIGO humanoid robot, named 'Vyom Mitra' or a friend in the sky, is capable of conversing Why in news? with astronauts, recognising them, and responding to their queries.  On 6 January 2020, at the 235th Meeting of the American Astronomical Society,  Vyommitra is a combination of two Scientists showed that they have used Sanskrit words Vyoma (Space) and Mitra gravitational waves (ripples in space- (Friend). It is the prototype of the half- time) for the second time to detect the humanoid, which will simulate human merger of two colliding fundamentally functions in space and also interact with different classes of binary neutron star, the environment control life support occurred on 25 April 2019. system.  The new find is the first official gravitational-wave detection from LIGO- 43 CHAHAL ACADEMY

THIRTY-METRE TELESCOPE Government officers keep abreast of technological advancements and Why in news? emerging technologies in view of the rapid advancements in ICT.  India, a partner in the construction of  The TAG has been constituted by NIC to Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT), has help Project teams in the development of requested that the project be moved out Enterprise solutions and standardization of the proposed site at Mauna Kea, a of solutions. This group has been helping dormant volcano in Hawaii, USA. This the teams across the country to develop site is considered sacred to indigenous quality applications which are scalable & Hawaiians, and already has too many secure. observatories in the region. Though, it offers best imaging possibilities, stable weather. Additionally, it also has the necessary infrastructure to manage “XENOBOTS” telescopes as it already hosts several telescopes. Why in news?  The proposed alternate site to locate the  Scientists in the United States have telescope is the Observatorio del Roque created the world’s first “living machines” de los Muchachos (ORM) on La Palma in — tiny robots built from the cells of the the Canary Islands, Spain. African clawed frog, that can move  Once it is built, the TMT will become one around on their own. of the world’s largest general-purpose  They have named the millimetre-wide observatories, allowing astronomers to robots “xenobots” — after the species of study the outer reaches of the universe aquatic frog found across sub-Saharan and study distant stars and exoplanets Africa from Nigeria and Sudan to South than much greater detail than is currently Africa, Xenopus laevis. possible.  The “novel living machines” were “neither  India has committed 10% of the project’s a traditional robot nor a known species of resources – a sum of about $200 million animal”, but “a new class of artifact: a (Rs 1,423.46 crore) – and Indian living, programmable organism”. scientists are in turn guaranteed 10% of  The xenobots can move toward a target, observation time on the TMT once it is perhaps pick up a payload (like a ready. medicine that needs to be carried to a specific place inside a patient) — and heal themselves after being cut. NIC HOSTS CONCLAVE ON NEW TECHNOLOGIES

Why in news? ISRO'S HUMAN SPACE FLIGHT CENTRE TO COME UP AT CHALLAKERE  National Informatics Centre (NIC) hosted a two-day Technology Conclave on 22nd Why in news? and 23rd January 2019.  The Indian Space Research  The conclave was inaugurated by Organisation (ISRO) has finalised the Ministry of Electronics and Information location where its human spaceflight Technology. This Conclave was centre (HSFC) will come up. organized by a Technical Advisory Group (TAG) of NIC, to help the senior 44 CHAHAL ACADEMY

 The expensive facility for training ASTRONAUT CHRISTINA KOCH BREAKS astronauts will be established on 400 RECORD FOR LONGEST SPACE acres of land earmarked at Karnataka’s MISSION BY A WOMAN Challakere, miles away from any urban settlement. Why in news?  The site, in Chitradurga district, is more  US astronaut Christina Koch set the than 200 km from ISRO’s headquarters record for the longest single spaceflight at Bengaluru. by a woman when she reached, and crossed, 289 days in her current mission at the International Space Station (ISS). INDIAN DROSOPHILA RESEARCH  Having reached the ISS in March 2019, CONFERENCE HELD IN PUNE she is expected to spend a total of 328 days on board before returning to Earth Why in news? in February 2020.  In October 2019, she was part of the first  Pune hosted the fifth edition of the Asia Pacific Drosophila Research Conference all-female spacewalk, together with (APDRC5) or Indian Drosophila Jessica Meir. Research Conference between 6-10  ISS is a space station (habitable artificial January 2020, which was organised in satellite) in low Earth orbit. the country for the first time by the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER). RED BRITTLE STAR CAN SEE WITHOUT  This biennial conference aimed to EYES promote the interaction of Drosophila researchers in the Asia-Pacific region Why in news? with their peers in the rest of the world. It brought together scientists from all over  Researchers have shown for the first the world who use the fruit fly, time that a species of brittle stars, which Drosophila, as a model organism to are relatives of starfish, can see even address basic and applied questions. though it does not have eyes. The red  Drosophila is one of the most widely- brittle star (Ophiocoma wendtii), which used and preferred model organisms in lives in the coral reefs of the Caribbean biological research across the world for Sea, becomes only the second creature, the last 100 years. after a sea urchin species, known to have this ability (barring freak cases in  Several discoveries in biology have been other species). made using this. Its genome is entirely sequenced and there is enormous  The ability to see without eyes is known information available about its as extraocular vision. In sea urchins and biochemistry, physiology and behaviour. brittle stars, researchers suspect that extraocular vision is facilitated by the photoreceptor cells found on their bodies.  The researchers suggest that a brittle star sees with the help of light-sensing cells that cover its entire body. These light-sensing cells give the brittle star visual stimuli, allowing it to recognise coarse structures such as rocks. 45 CHAHAL ACADEMY

 Another peculiar feature of the red brittle ISRO SIGNS PACT WITH star is its signature colour change. While ASTROPHYSICS INSTITUTE TO SET UP the creature is deep red during the day, it OPTICAL TELESCOPES changes its colour to beige at night. There may be a link between their Why in news? extraocular vision and colour changing abilities.  Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has inked a pact with Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) to pave the way for collaboration in establishing NASA LAUNCHED SNOWEX optical telescope facilities under Project NETRA for tracking space objects. Why in news?  The agency has also tied up a regional  NASA has launched a seasonal academic centre for space to promote campaign — part of a five-year research in space technology. programme called SnowEx, initiated in  Project NETRA is an early warning 2016-17. system in space to detect debris and  While the geographical focus of SnowEx other hazards to Indian satellites. is North America, NASA’s overall target  Under the project,the ISRO plans to put is optimal strategies for mapping global up many observational facilities: snow water equivalent (SWE) with connected radars, telescopes; data remote sensing and models leading to a processing units and a control centre. Decadal Survey “Earth System Explorer”  They can spot, track and catalogue mission. objects as small as 10 cm up to a range  Within its geographic range, SnowEx of 3,400 km and equal to a space orbit of assesses where snow has fallen, how around 2,000 km. much there is and how its characteristics  In another development, ISRO has set change as it melts. It uses airborne up a regional academic centre for space measurements, ground measurements at the National Institute of Technology and computer modelling. (NIT-K) at Surathkal in Karnataka's  The airborne campaign will fly radar and southwest Dakshina Kannada district. lidar (light detection and ranging) to  The centre will conduct joint research measure snow depth, microwave radar and development in space technology and radiometers to measure SWE, applications to meet the needs of space optical cameras to photograph the programmes. surface, infrared radiometers to measure

surface temperature, and hyperspectral imagers for snow cover and composition. 107TH INDIAN SCIENCE CONGRESS  Ground teams will measure snow depth, HELD IN BENGALURU density, accumulation layers, temperature, wetness and snow grain Why in news? size — the size of a typical particle.  107th Indian Science Congress (ISC) took place between 3-7 January 2020, at the University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS) in Bengaluru, Karnataka. It was inaugurated by Prime Minister of India.  ISC is a major focal point for scientists, researchers and academicians interested 46 CHAHAL ACADEMY

in various aspects of scientific found 4.6 to 7-billion-year-old presolar discoveries and technologies. grains of silicon carbide (SiC) in the  The theme of the congress for 2020 is Murchison meteorite, a large C2 “Science & Technology: Rural chondrite that fell in Australia in 1969. Development”.  It’s the oldest solid material ever found  The previous (2019) session 106th on Earth—and it has a pungent smell. edition was held at Lovely Professional  These so-called “presolar grains” come University (LPU) in Jalandhar, Punjab. from a time before the Sun—and therefore our solar system—existed.  At around seven billion years old, these grains are around 2.5 billion years older GOVT SETS UP DIVISION ON NEW AND than the solar system. EMERGING STRATEGIC TECHNOLOGIES  It’s a major discovery since presolar Why in news? grains are found only in about five percent of meteorites that fall to Earth.  With India grappling with issues like the The research was partly funded by security implications of the introduction of NASA. 5G and artificial intelligence, the Indian foreign ministry has announced the setting up of a new division on New and A (H9N2) VIRUS CAUSES AVIAN Emerging Strategic Technologies (NEST) on 3 January 2020. INFLUENZA  The NEST division will act as the nodal Why in news? point in India’s foreign ministry for all matters connected to new and emerging  Recently, Indian scientists have detected technologies including exchange of the India’s first case of infection with a rare views with foreign governments and variant of the virus that causes avian coordination with domestic ministries and influenza or bird flu namely A (H9N2) virus. departments.  H9N2 is a subtype of the influenza A virus,  It will also help assess foreign policy and which causes human influenza as well as international legal implications of bird flu. emerging technology and technology-  H9N2 viruses are found worldwide in wild based resources. birds and are endemic in poultry in many areas.  The desk will also be involved in  H9N2 virus infections in humans are rare, negotiations to safeguard Indian interests but likely under-reported due to typically at multilateral forum like the United mild symptoms of the infections. Cases of Nations or the G20 where rules human infection have been observed in governing the use and access to such Hong Kong, China, Bangladesh, Pakistan, technologies could be decided. and Egypt. One case was detected in Oman recently. The first case globally was reported from Hong Kong in 1998. SCIENTISTS FIND 7-BILLION-YEAR-OLD  In India, the virus was picked up in STARDUST IN MURCHISON METEORITE February 2019 during a community-based surveillance study in 93 villages of Korku Why in news? tribes in Melghat district of Maharashtra.

 A team of researchers from the United States, Switzerland and Australia has 47 CHAHAL ACADEMY

LITHIUM-SULFUR BATTERY SAMSUNG’S STAR LABS UNVEILED DEVELOPED BY AUSTRALIA NEON AS ITS LATEST AI PROJECT

Why in news? Why in news?

 A team of researchers at Monash  Samsung’s Star Labs has officially University in Melbourne, Australia, has unveiled Neon as its latest artificial developed the ultra-high capacity Li–S intelligence (AI) powered project. battery with better performance and  Neons are Artificial Intelligence virtual lower environmental impact than current beings capable of showing human-like lithium-ion products. emotions and intelligence.  The novel battery has the potential to  They look and behave like a real human, power mobile phones for five continuous with the ability to show emotions and days or enable an electric vehicle to intelligence. Neons can learn new skills drive more than 1000 km without and form memories from experiences. needing to recharge.  They are capable of human-like interactions and have the ability to communicate with human affect, learn from experiences and even form new SEISMIC HAZARD MICROZONATION memories. They can serve as an Why in news? individualised teacher, a personal financial advisor, a healthcare provider,  The Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) or a concierge. has launched Phased seismic hazard microzonation of important cities with a population of at least half a million. They wiill include some state capitals and some other cities in vulnerable areas. This is expected to help authorioties INTERNAL SECURITY understand which areas within a city are more prone to seismic hazards and NATIONAL DATA AND ANALYTICS adopt mitigation measures accordingly. PLATFORM (NDAP)  So far, micro-seismic mapping of Sikkim and eight cities — Bengaluru, Delhi, Why in news? Kolkata, Guwahati, Jabalpur, Ahmedabad, Dehra Dun and  NITI Aayog released its vision for the Gandhidham — has been completed. National Data and Analytics Platform  Work is in progress in Coimbatore, (NDAP). Chennai, Bhubaneswar and Mangaluru.  The platform aims to democratize access  Micro-seismic mapping of Agra, Amritsar, to publicly available government data. Lucknow, Kanpur, Varanasi, Patna,  It will host the latest datasets from Dhanbad and Meerut will be taken up various government websites, present soon after. them coherently, and provide tools for analytics and visualization.  NDAP will follow a user-centric approach and will enable data access in a simple

and intuitive portal tailored to the needs of a variety of stakeholders.

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 The development of NDAP will take India’s Test of A-SAT Missile place over a period of one year.  The first version of the platform is  On 27th March 2019, India successfully expected to be launched in 2021. conducted a Kinetic Anti-Satellite (A- SAT) missile test from Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Island launch complex (Odisha).  The A-SAT missile was developed by the A-SAT and ADTCR DRDO under Mission Shakti.  Mission Shakti seeks to defend India’s Why in news? space assets and thus aims at  The Defence Research and strengthening India’s overall security. Development Organisation (DRDO)  India became the fourth country to displayed its Anti-Satellite (A-SAT) acquire such technology after the USA, missile and the Air Defence Tactical Russia, and China. Control Radar (ADTCR) during the 71st Air Defence Tactical Control Radar Republic Day parade.  Additionally, the Indian Air Force ’s (IAF)  Air Defence Tactical Control Radar latest inductions, Chinook heavy-lift (ADTCR) is used for volumetric helicopters, and Apache attack surveillance, detection, tracking and helicopters, took part in the Republic Day friend/foe identification of aerial targets of flypast. different types and transmission of  Moreover, the Army showcased its prioritized target data to multiple recent induction, the 155-mm Dhanush command posts and weapon systems. towed howitzer and K9-Vajra self-  It is also capable of detecting very small propelled artillery gun. targets and low flying targets

A-SAT Missile

 It is an interceptor missile that destroys K-4 SUBMARINE LAUNCHED BALLISTIC or jams satellites in space. MISSILE Two types of A-SATs Why in news?  Kinetic A-SATs, like ballistic missiles,  India has successfully test fired the 3,500 physically strike an object in order to km range K-4 nuclear-capable missile off destroy it. coast in Andhra Pradesh.  Non-Kinetic A-SATs are the ones that  The missile under development by use non-physical means to disable or DRDO will be equipped on indigenous destroy space objects, which include INS Arihant class nuclear powered frequency jamming, blinding lasers or submarines of Navy. cyber-attacks.  The missile test-firing to a range of  The theoretical maximum range of A- around 1,500 km was carried out from a SATs is limited which means satellites submerged pontoon and has met the above 20,000 km are out of range. desired parameters. A pontoon simulates the situation of a launch from a submarine.

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 Earlier, the missile has been tested  K-4 is the most potent missile, giving the several times as part of developmental country unprecedented second-strike trials to validate different parameters. capability and huge deterrence power.  This is the fourth time the Defence  Earlier, the submarine has to venture far Research and Development away from the Indian waters and move Organisation (DRDO) has attempted to closer to the adversary’s coast to launch test fire the missile since October 2019, the missile. The K-4 will do away with but various climatic conditions prevented that need. it.  With the 3,500-km range K-4, India will  K-4 is one of the two underwater be able to target parts of China, including missiles. The other one is the over 700 Beijing, and all of Pakistan, from the kilometre strike range BO-5 missile. northern parts of the Bay of Bengal.  The nuclear triad includes capability to  There are very few countries which have launch nuclear weapons from air, surface managed to achieve this technological and underwater platforms and the breakthrough. K-4’s circular error of submarine launched capability is probability (CEP, the radius of the missile’s considered to be the strongest and best point of impact which is also a measure of for the task. the efficacy of its guidance systems) was 40  India is expected to carry out more tests meters or less. This makes it ideal to strike targets from stand-off ranges. Hence, its of the missile before it is ready for being CEP is more sophisticated than Chinese equipped on the nuclear submarines. At missiles. the moment, only the first nuclear boat INS Arihant is operational for the Navy.

Nuclear Triad CYBER CRIME PREVENTION UNIT  India is among the six nations in the AASHVAST world to have the capability to fire a nuclear missile from land, air and Why in news? undersea. The others are US, Russia, China, France and UK.  Home Minister has launched Cyber  The induction of INS Arihant into the initiative project namely Cyber Navy in 2016 has been one of the AASHVAST of the Gujarat police along biggest developments for the armed forces in the last decade. With this with VISWAS project to strengthen law induction, India completed the nuclear and order through a centralised system triad. of CCTV monitoring.  This puts India among a handful of countries having the capability to design, What is Cyber AASHVAST? construct and operate ballistic missile submarines, known as SSBNs.  It is an initiative started by the Cyber  The second submarine of the Arihant Crime Cell of the Gujarat Police where class, known as Arighat, was launched in multiple units will be made to 2017, and is said to be near induction. categorically deal with different kinds of online crimes such as financial crimes, Significance of this missile identity theft and even online bullying and harassment.  It will give India the stand off capability to What are the units in Cyber AASHVAST? launch nuclear weapons submerged in Indian waters.  There are four units which include ‘Incident Response Unit’, ‘Cyber 50 CHAHAL ACADEMY

Suraksha Lab, Cyber Crime Prevention What is VISWAS? Unit and ‘Anti Cyber Bullying Unit’.  As part of VISWAS – Video Integration  In cases of financial crimes, time is an and State Wide Advanced Security – essential factor and in that regard, the over 7,000 CCTV cameras are being installed at traffic junctions, entry and exit Incident Response Unit has been made points and other strategic locations in 41 which is a 24×7 basis available team, cities of Gujarat. ready to deal with online financial crimes  The camera footage will be manned in a such as money deducted through OTP pyramid style structure starting from a sharing, fraud through UPI link, fraud state command and control centre at the without OTP, card cloning and phishing. top, which will control 34 District For now, the helpline number is 100, Command and Control Centres, which in turn have the responsibility of manning which redirects to this team and for the the CCTV cameras in their respective seven newly made districts of Gujarat, it districts. is 112.  Similarly, the Cyber Suraksha Lab will be a dedicated space for the citizens where they can take help of kiosks to find out if their phone has been hacked or is a TWO COAST GUARD SHIPS victim of malware. COMMISSIONED  The Cyber Crime Prevention Unit is an Why in news? online portal which will contain database of thousands of phone numbers and  Two Indian Coast Guard Ships (ICGS) website links that have been suspected namely Annie Besant and Amrit Kaur of being involved in financial crimes so were commissioned by Defence that the citizens can aware themselves Secretary at Kolkata. and stay alert.  The Cyber Anti-bullying Unit deals with ICGS Annie Besant cases of online stalking, harassment,  ICGS Annie Besant was named in bullying, using morphed pictures, sexual honour of Annie Besant, philanthropist, harassment and has a dedicated team of theosophist, prolific author and supporter police personnel and counsellors to help of the Indian freedom struggle. the victims, while retaining their confidentiality. The helpline number is  The ship will be based at Chennai under 100. the operational and administrative control of the Commander, Coast Guard Region What other initiatives is part of Cyber (East). AASHVAST? ICGS Amrit Kaur  The Gujarat Police through Cyber AASHVAST has started a portal called  ICGS Amrit Kaur derives the name from Cyber Crime Co-operation Investigation Rajkumari Amrit Kaur, who belonged to Request Portal where any state police or the ruling family of Kapurthala, Punjab. law enforcement agency can access and  She took an active part in the ‘Salt submit details about any offender staying Satyagraha’ and ‘Quit India Movement’ in Gujarat. and served Independent India as its first  The case will be immediately transferred Health Minister. to Cyber Crime Cell of Gujarat which will  The ship will be based at Haldia under then deal with the case. the operational and administrative control

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of the Commander, Coast Guard Region targeted for surveillance in India. (North East). WhatsApp was aware of those targeted and had contacted each one of them. Features of the ships  Messages going to and fro on WhatsApp  Both ships are 48.9 metres long and 7.5 are encrypted and secure, the problem metres wide, with a displacement of 308 starts when a malware compromises the tonnes. device itself, making it very vulnerable to breach of privacy, often endangering  The ships are capable of achieving a freedoms and sometimes lives. maximum speed of 34 knots, powered with MTU 4000 series engines and  Pegasus is a spyware that can infect propelled by three 71S type III Kamewa both Android and iOS phones. It is usually deployed by sending a specially water jets by Rolls Royce. created link to the target device. Once  The ships are also capable of deployed, the hacker has complete undertaking multi-faceted tasks such as access to the data on the victim’s phone. surveillance, interdiction, search and The spyware can be used to monitor the rescue, and medical evacuation. device, and even turn on the camera and  ICGS Annie Besant and ICGS Amrit microphone to eavesdrop on targets. Kaur are fitted with state-of-the-art technology, navigation and communication equipment, sensors and machinery. INDIAN NAVY SIGNS MOU WITH GSI FOR  The ships are also equipped with Bofors SHARING OFFSHORE DATA, PRODUCTS 40/60 guns and 12.7 mm SRCGs (Stabilised Remote Controlled Gun) for Why in news? enhancing the fighting efficiency of the  The Indian Navy has signed a ship. Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)  The ships carry one RIB (Rigid Inflatable with the Geological Survey of India (GSI) Boat) and a Gemini boat each for swift for sharing seabed sediments data, boarding and search and rescue products and expertise regarding naval operations. application in meteorology and ISRAELI SPYWARE SNOOPS INDIAN oceanography on 21 January 2020. JOURNALISTS AND ACTIVISTS  GSI’s Marine and Coastal survey Division based at Mangaluru has Why in news? mapped most of India’s 2.1 Million km2 Exclusive Economic Zone and has a vast  In a startling revelation WhatsApp has repository of offshore data. This data confirmed snooping of Indian journalists, collected using GSI’s state-of-the-art human rights activists, Dalit activists oceanic research vessels Samudra using Israeli spyware 'Pegasus'. Manthan, Samudra Kaustubh, Samudra  Facebook owned WhatsApp claimed it Shaudhikama and Samudra Ratnakar, had alerted the users. The statement will now be used by Indian Navy’s rapidly came a few days after WhatsApp filed growing blue water fleet for reliable and lawsuit against the Israeli company. accurate oceanographic modeling to According to the lawsuit, Pegasus was support their expansive maritime used to hijack smartphones during the operations in the Indian Ocean region. run-up to the 2019 General Elections. While WhatsApp declined to reveal the identities and exact number of those 52 CHAHAL ACADEMY

SUKHOI-30 MKI AIRCRAFT EQUIPPED Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd, among other WITH BRAHMOS MISSILES bodies.  While the Indian Air Force has already Why in news? inducted a batch of the Tejas fighter jet, a naval variant of the Light Combat  The Indian Air Force has inducted its first Aircraft is still in the prototype phase. squadron of Sukhoi-30 MKI aircraft  INS Vikramaditya is the country’s most carrying the BrahMos missiles in the powerful aircraft carrier. It was built in South at its Thanjavur base in Tamil 1987 and had served the Soviet navy. It Nadu on 20 January 2020. The newly can carry over 30 aircraft comprising reinstated 222-squadron, also known as MiG-29Ks, Kamov-28s, Kamov-31s, the Tigersharks, would serve as a lethal ALH-Dhruv and Chetak helicopters. It weapons platform capable of carrying was retrofitted with a Barak missile both aerial and maritime roles in the system under joint development with Indian Ocean Region. Thanjavur is Israel. It is based at its home port at strategically located in the southern Karwar in Karnataka. peninsula. Tigersharks can dominate the seas and provide very close and integrated support to the Indian Navy. It can also provide support to the land DRDO's NAVAL VARIANT OF LIGHT forces. COMBAT AIRCRAFT  The Sukhoi-30 MKI aircraft integrated with the supersonic cruise missiles Why in news? BrahMos is the strongest maritime  The naval version of indigenous Light combination that we have, in terms of Combat Aircraft, LCA, made its first weapon capability. He said, Thanjavur is successful landing on the aircraft carrier the ideal location because of the easy INS Vikramaditya. This aircraft is access from there to the east and the developed by the Defence Research and west sides and also to the Indian Ocean Development Organization, DRDO. Region.  Congratulating the DRDO and Navy for this achievement, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said that he is extremely NAVAL VERSION OF LCA TEJAS TAKES happy to learn about the maiden landing OFF FROM INS VIKRAMADITYA of naval variant of LCA on INS Vikramaditya. He said, this successful Why in news? landing is a great event in the history of Indian fighter aircraft development  A Naval prototype of the homegrown programme. Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas  DRDO in a tweet said, after completing successfully took off from the deck of extensive trials on the Shore Based Test Indian Navy's sole aircraft carrier INS Facility, LCA Navy did an arrested Vikramaditya. landing on INS Vikramaditya. DRDO  Tejas is a Light Combat Aircraft Chairman, Dr. G. Satheesh Reddy has developed by the Defence Research and congratulated the DRDO and other Development Organisation's agencies' team members who were Aeronautical Development Agency involved in the development of this (ADA) in coordination with the Aircraft aircraft. Research and Design Centre of

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 With the successful landing of Light  India has signed Mutual Legal Assistance Combat Aircraft, LCA on aircraft carrier Treaties (MLAT) with 42 countries for INS Vikramaditya, India has entered into cooperation in criminal matters and the the club of selected nations having the home ministry is the designated 'central capability to design a fighter jet which authority' for the country for it. can land on an aircraft carrier.  The home ministry has also taken steps to  Commodore Jaideep Maolankar enhance and streamline the process of conducted the maiden landing. LCA is international mutual legal assistance in the smallest and lightest Multi-Role criminal matters. Supersonic Fighter Aircraft of its class.  Under the MLAT, a country can request for The LCA programme intends to further obtaining evidence for criminal investigations expand and advance India's indigenous and prosecutions. The evidence includes aerospace capabilities. witness statements or the service of documents among others. The revised guidelines provide step-by-step guidance to the investigation agencies for drafting and 2020 OBSERVED AS YEAR OF MOBILITY processing letters rogatory or mutual legal BY CISF assistance requests and service of Why in news? summons, notices and other judicial documents.  The CISF has decided to observe 2020 as the “Year of Mobility” for the welfare of INS VIKRAMADITYA IN ARABIAN SEA AMID the troops. CHINA-PAK NAVAL DRILL  It will focus on the construction of Why in news? residential units and the implementation of welfare measures for the troops.  India deployed its aircraft carrier INS  In the year 2020, the Central Industrial Vikramaditya in the Arabian Sea at a time Security Force (CISF) will aim at creating China and Pakistan holded a nine-day mega the infrastructure for their families. naval exercise in the region.  It will also aim at focusing on sports and  Pakistan and China launched a major drill in physical fitness leveraging modern the North Arabian Sea with an aim to gadgetry. increase inter-operability and strategic  The CISF guard civil airports, nuclear cooperation between their two navies. power stations, mines, thermal power  The exercise 'Sea Guardians' took place in stations in the private domain as well. the midst of heightened tension between India and Pakistan over the Kashmir issue. Key platforms of both China and Pakistan, including submarines, destroyers and REVISED NORMS FOR MUTUAL LEGAL frigates were part of the exercise. ASSISTANCE TREATIES

Why in news? ‘WINGED RAIDER’  The Union Home Ministry has issued revised guidelines for mutual legal assistance in Why in news? criminal matters with other nations as part of the government's policy of zero tolerance for  The Indian Army conducted its biggest crime and in an endeavour to fast- track the airborne exercise called the ‘Winged dispensation of justice. Raider’ comprising of more than 500 54 CHAHAL ACADEMY

special forces troops in the North- which ships are opting for newer blends Eastern theatre. of fuels.  The exercises indicate the shift in the  But, recently environmental activists army’s focus towards the frontier with called for a ban on the use of new low China. sulfur marine fuel in the Arctic region,  Army is going for capacity building, which citing research that shows that blends of includes building roads to forward areas, very low-sulfur fuel oil (VLSFO) habitats, storage for ammunition and contribute to highly polluting black moving some of our advanced weapons carbon emissions in the environment. system to eastern side. It “rebalancing” its deployments and resources on the New IMO rules western and northern fronts.  The IMO has banned ships from using fuels with a sulfur content above 0.5 percent, compared with 3.5 percent ‘SAHYOG-KAIJIN’ previously.  The new limits are monitored and Why in news? enforced by national authorities of countries that are members of the  Indian and Japanese coast guards International Convention for the participated in a joint exercise ‘Sahyog- Prevention of Pollution from Ships Kaijin’ between 16-20 January 2020. The (MARPOL) Annex VI. aim behind ‘Sahyog-Kaijin’ was to  Under the new policy, only ships fitted strengthen the bond between the two with sulfur-cleaning devices, known as countries. One ship of the Japanese scrubbers, are allowed to continue Coast Guard and four ships and an burning high-sulfur fuel. aircraft of the Indian Coast Guard  Alternatively, they can opt for cleaner participated in the joint exercise. fuels, such as marine gas oil (MGO) and  The exercises focussed towards very low-sulfur fuel oil (VLSFO). acquainting the Coast Guards with each  There are complaints against VLSFO as other's capabilities and strengthening well, as testing companies have claimed their working level relationship, besides that high sediment formation due to the consolidating joint operating procedures. fuel’s use could damage vessel engines.  The new regulations, called IMO 2020, have been regarded as the biggest shake-up for the oil and shipping industries in decades. It affects more than 50,000 merchant ships worldwide.

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS Concerns

UN’S NEW RULES FOR SHIPS IN THE  Sulphur oxides (SOx), which are formed ARCTIC REGION after combustion in engines, are known to cause respiratory symptoms and lung Why in news? disease, while also leading to acid rain.  About International Convention for the  On January 1, the International Maritime Prevention of Pollution from Ships Organization (IMO) has issued new rules (MARPOL): aiming to reduce sulfur emissions, due to

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 The Convention was adopted on 2 300 MW Solar Power Projects in November 1973 at IMO. Dapaong (Dalwak region) and Mango  It includes regulations aimed at (Savanes region). preventing and minimizing pollution from  National Thermal Power Corporation ships – both accidental pollution and that (NTPC) Limited will be the Project from routine operations. Management Consultant (PMC) for the  All ships flagged under countries that are projects. signatories to MARPOL are subject to its  Togo is the first International Solar requirements, regardless of where they Alliance (ISA) country to avail of the sail and member nations are responsible services of NTPC. for vessels registered on their national ship registry.

MIDDLE EAST PLAN

WORLD SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT Why in news? SUMMIT  President Donald Trump’s Middle East Why in news? plan, Peace to Prosperity: A Vision to Improve the Lives of the Palestinian and  The theme of the 2020 edition of the Israeli People, was recently released. Summit is ‘Towards 2030 Goals: Making About the Decade Count’.  It is the annual flagship event of The  Both Israel and the Palestinians make Energy and Resources Institute (TERI). non-negotiable claims over Jerusalem.  It is the sole Summit on global issues The plan says Jerusalem will not be taking place in the developing world. divided, and it will remain “the sovereign  It provides a platform for global leaders capital of the State of Israel”. and practitioners to discuss and  The capital of Palestine can occupy far- deliberate over climatic issues of flung eastern neighborhoods lying universal importance. beyond “the existing security barrier”,  It strives to provide long-term solutions which can be renamed Al Quds, the for the benefit of the global community by Arabic name for Jerusalem. assembling the world’s most enlightened  Israel does not have to dismantle any of leaders and thinkers on a single platform. its illegal settlements in the West Bank.  It is continuing the legacy of Delhi  To the Palestinians, the deal offers the Sustainable Development Summit possibility of a US-recognised quasi- (DSDS) which was initiated in 2001 with sovereign state that will not, however, the aim of making ‘sustainable have a standing army; they will also have development’ a globally shared goal. to give up violent resistance to Israel and ensure the disbandment of Hamas,

which governs Gaza. INDIA-TOGO RELATIONS  Observers have said that the deal, which was drawn up without any meaningful Why in news? Palestinian participation, is loaded in Israel’s favor.  Recently, the Togolese Republic (also known as Togo) and India have come together for the development of about

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INDIA-MALDIVES  Myanmar shall ensure that its military or any irregular armed units within its Why in news? control, do not commit any of the acts described above, or conspire to commit,  India has stepped in to help the Maldives direct, attempt to commit, or be complicit tackle a recent outbreak of measles. in genocide.  The Indian Embassy in Male recently  Myanmar shall take “effective measures handed over 30,000 doses of measles to prevent the destruction and ensure the and rubella (MR) vaccine to the preservation of evidence related to Maldivian Health Ministry. allegations of acts” of genocide.  The outbreak comes less than three years after the World Health Organisation declared the Maldives measles-free. INDIA – BRAZIL RELATIONS  The Indian government’s initiative comes even as the two countries implement the Why in news? Memorandum of Understanding on  Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro was Health cooperation — signed during the chief guest at India’s Republic Day Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to celebrations. Male in June 2019.  Secretary-level delegations met in Male About early January to draw a roadmap for cooperation, in capacity building and  The Chief Guest at the Republic Day training of doctors and medical parade is accorded India’s highest honor professionals, disease surveillance, in protocol terms. training of mental health professionals,  The two sides also concluded 15 setting up of digital health capacities in agreements/MoU on a variety of issues the Maldives. including an action plan to deepen their strategic partnership.  Under the action plan, existing mechanisms, as well as goals, have ROHINGYA CRISIS been grouped into six major thematic Why in news? areas.  The India-Brazil Joint Commission for  The International Court of Justice (ICJ) political, economic, scientific, has given its verdict on the Rohingya technological and cultural cooperation crisis. will be the main forum for monitoring the  The ruling of the court is binding on implementation of the Action Plan and Myanmar, and cannot be appealed. will convene every two years, the action  The government of Myanmar should plan states. immediately take “all measures within its MoUs/Agreements exchanged during the power” to prevent atrocities against Visit members of the minority Rohingya Muslim community.  MoU for establishing a nodal institution in  This is to be done in accordance with its India to carry out research on Bioenergy. obligations under the Convention on the  Investment Cooperation and Facilitation Prevention and Punishment of the Crime Treaty. of Genocide.

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 Agreement on Mutual Legal Assistance  Among the BRICS nations, Brazil ranks in Criminal Matters. 19th, Russia 51st, South Africa 56th and  MoU on cooperation in the field of China 71st. Traditional Systems of Medicine and Homeopathy. India Passport  Cultural Exchange Programme for the  The Indian passport has slipped to 84th, period 2020-2024. whereas it had been ranked at 71 ways  MoU between Invest India and the back in 2006. Data shows that Serbia is Brazilian Trade and Investment the only European country to which Promotion Agency. Indians can travel without a visa.  Each rank held by multiple countries, and

147 nations actually fare better than 15TH HENLEY PASSPORT INDEX 2020 India, which shares the 84th rank with Mauritania and Tajikistan. Why in news?  Since 2006, the Indian passport had been ranked between 71 and 88. In  Henley Passport Index 2020 is the 2020, the Indian passport ranking is prestigious world passport rankings based on its visa-free access to 58 released on 7 January by Henley & destinations, which includes 33 that give Partners, global citizenship and Indian passport holders visa on arrival. residence advisory firm.  Asian country namely Japan has been About Index successively ranked at No. 1 in this index followed by Singapore, Germany and  Henley passport index began in 2006, South Korea. The 2020 index cites that which brings out their listings that are Japanese citizens can access up to 191 based on the number of destinations that destinations without requiring a visa in passport holders of a country can access advance. This marks the highest score without the requirement of a prior visa. difference in the Henley passport index’s  This ranking is further based on data that fifteen year history. is culled out from the International Air  Over successive years, data shows that Transport Association (IATA), which is the UK and the US have been continuing essentially a trade association that their downward trajectory. In 2020, the comprises of around 290 airlines. two countries are ranked at 8th position, World's top 10 most powerful passports marking a significant decline from the 1. Japan: Visa-free entry to 191 countries No. 1 rank they jointly held way back in 2. Singapore: 190 countries 2015. 3. Germany, South Korea: 189  Middle Eastern countries marked strong 4. Finland, Italy: 188 ascent in the Henley Passport Index 5. Denmark, Luxembourg, Spain: 187 2020 as compared to the previous year. 6. France, Sweden: 186 7. Austria, Ireland, Netherlands, Portugal, A notable climber is the UAE, which has Switzerland: 185 climbed from 65th rank in 2010 to 18th 8. Belgium, Greece, Norway, UK, USA: place in 2020, while Saudia Arabia is 184 ranked 66th. 9. Australia, Canada, Czech Republic,  While Afghanistan ranks 107th and is Malta, New Zealand: 183 pegged as the weakest passport on the 10. Hungary, Lithuania, Slovakia: 181

list in 2020.

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5TH RAISINA DIALOGUE  This year’s Dialogue saw the participation of a large number of Why in news? ministers from Europe, an area that has long been neglected in Indian diplomacy.  The 5th Raisina Dialogue, a geo-political  Beyond political leaders and government event, took place between 14-16 January officials, it also drew technology leaders, 2020 in New Delhi. The conference was media personalities and policy wonks hosted by the Observer Research from around the world, providing Delhi an Foundation in collaboration with the opportunity to lay out its position on Government of India, Ministry of External controversial moves in Kashmir and on Affairs. citizenship.  The Raisina Dialogue is a multilateral  More broadly, Raisina is facilitating the conference committed to addressing the development of sustainable intellectual most challenging issues facing the global networks between the Indian strategic community. community and its counterparts in the  It was born in 2016 to engage of global world. actors with Asia and of Asia with the world. Why it was successful?  Every year, global leaders in policy, business, media and civil society attends  Part of the reason for Raisina’s success this dialogue to discuss cooperation on a is the growing international interest in wide range of pertinent international India amidst its rapid economic growth in policy matters. the new millennium and the recognition  The Dialogue is structured as a multi- of its salience in shaping the future of stakeholder, cross-sectoral discussion, international order. involving heads of state, cabinet  It is also due to the fact that it is based ministers and local government officials, on collaboration between the as well as major private sector government and a private think tank. executives, members of the media and This collaboration has helped shed the academics. dull rigidity that has marked the  So this dialogue took birth as a platform, government’s past engagement with the where the old and the new could work global strategic community. together, to discover their connections,  Raisina emerged out of a recognition five their inter-dependence. years ago that Delhi did not have effective international platforms of its 2020 conference own despite the globalisation of India’s economy. India is at once more  More than 700 international participants, influential in world affairs as well as more including 80 from African countries, susceptible to external developments. attended the meet. But its policy discourse appeared stuck  This year`s Dialogue was titled in the past. Raisina was part of the `Navigating the Alpha Century`. strategy to recalibrate that discourse and It has emerged as an important global  discard the traditional bureaucratic forum on geopolitics. pretence that the government knows  Raisina has been successful in drawing best. participants from countries that are at odds with each other — US, China, Russia, Iran and the Gulf Arabs.

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PACT BETWEEN INDIA, BRAZIL FOR the United Nations Commission on COOPERATION IN GEOLOGY, MINERAL International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) RESOURCES Arbitration Rules, 1976.  The arbitration arose out of the Why in news? cancellation of Letters of Intent for the issuance of telecommunications licenses  The Cabinet has given its approval for to provide 2G services in five the Memorandum of Understanding to be telecommunications circles in India, inter signed between Geological Survey of alia, for India’s essential security India, Ministry of Mines of the Republic of interests. India and Geological Survey of Brazil - CPRM, Ministry of Mines and Energy of the Federative Republic of Brazil on 'cooperation in field of geology and ZERO BUDGET NATURAL FARMING mineral resources. Why in news?  The pact will provide an institutional mechanism between both the nations for  The Andhra Pradesh Government has cooperation in field of geology and signed a Memorandum of Understanding mineral resources. with the representatives of a German firm, KFW, in Amaravati over `Zero

Budget Natural Farming’ (ZBNF). 2G LICENCE CASE  As part of the agreement that intends to scale up the ongoing project with the Why in news? German firm, the government has taken a loan of Rs 711 crore out of the  The government has announced that the estimated amount of Rs 1015 crore International Arbitration Tribunal has earmarked to be spent towards the dismissed all claims against India in climate-resilient, ZBNF. entirety in relation to the cancellation of  State government will spend Rs 304 Letters of Intent for providing 2G crore on the project, which is aimed to services. cover 2.39 lakh farmers in around 600  The proceedings were administered by village panchayats and promote natural the Permanent Court of Arbitration farming. (PCA).  The claims were filed by Tenoch Holdings Limited (Cyprus), Mr. Maxim Naumchenko (Russian Federation) and EURASIA GROUP'S TOP RISKS FOR Mr. Andrey Poluektov (Russian 2020 RELEASED Federation) against India under the Bilateral Investment Treaties with Cyprus Why in news? and Russian Federation.  This is Eurasia Group's annual forecast  Bilateral Investment Treaties between of the top 10 global political risks that are the two countries allow a private investor most likely to play out over the course of to initiate dispute arbitration proceedings the year. This year's report was against the government to protect its published on 6 January 2020. investments.  Top 10 global risks of 2020 are:  The verdict was pronounced last year in July 2019 by the International Arbitration 1. U.S. politics Tribunal constituted in accordance with 60 CHAHAL ACADEMY

2. The tech “decoupling” of the U.S. and China.  Both sides noted that the dynamic nature of commercial exchange between the 3. General U.S./China tensions. two countries will result in increasing 4. Multinational corporations face backlash number of companies interested in establishing and gaining access to the 5. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s markets in India and Norway. controversial agenda.

6. A more aggressive, independent Europe. INTEGRATED CHECK POST 7. The politics vs. economics of climate change BIRATNAGAR

8. Failed U.S. policy in Shia-led nations in the Why in news? Middle East.  India and Nepal inaugurated the 9. Discontent in Latin America. Integrated Check Post (ICP) Biratnagar. 10. Turkey’s flailing economy and government.  Both countries share over 1,850 kilometre- long border which is characterized by a unique and long tradition of free movement of people. FIRST SESSION OF INDIA-NORWAY Jogbani-Biratnagar international trade DIALOGUE ON TRADE & INVESTMENT point is one of the important trade points (DTI) CONVENED between the two countries.  ICP Biratnagar has been built on 260 Why in news? acres of land at a cost of around 140 crore rupees. It has the facilities for  The first Session of India-Norway immigration clearance of foreign Dialogue on Trade & Investment (DTI) passengers, export and import cargo was convened in New Delhi on 15-16 handling. It is equipped with all modern January 2020. facilities and is designed to handle  The session was based on the Terms of around 500 trucks per day. Adequate Reference (ToR) signed between India facilities for quarantine, amenities for and Norway on 8 January 2019 in New drivers, passengers and security Delhi, during the visit of Prime Minister of personnel have also been created, along Norway. with a waste water treatment plant.  This was the first meeting after the  Moreover, India is providing financial signing of DTI. The first Session was assistance for reconstruction of 50,000 preceded by an industry interaction on houses in Gorkha and Nuwakot districts 15 January 2020 with the representatives of Nepal. Around 91 per cent houses from Indian industry, where discussions have been reconstructed so far. India were held on various areas of mutual has committed one billion US dollars for interest likeblue economy, shipping & post-earthquake reconstruction of Nepal. maritime, ICT, renewable energy, fisheries and MSME.  Both sides exchanged views on investment opportunities available in the respective countries as also the facilitations being extended by respective Governments for creating attractive investment environments. 61 CHAHAL ACADEMY

VANDALISM AT NANKANA SAHIB  The Agreement is initially valid for a GURUDWARA IN PAKISTAN period of seven years, incorporates provision for automatic renewal and a Why in news? monitoring mechanism through a Joint Working Group.  India has strongly condemned vandalism at Nankana Sahib Gurudwara in Pakistan. It has called upon the Pakistan Government to take immediate steps to ensure the safety, security and welfare of the members of the Sikh community.  External Affairs Ministry said that New ART & CULTURE Delhi is concerned at the vandalism carried out at the Nankana Sahib INDIAN HISTORY CONGRESS Gurdwara on 3 January 2020.  Members of the minority Sikh community Why in news? have been subjected to acts of violence in the holy city of Nankana Sahib, the  Recently, the 80th session of the Indian birthplace of Shri Guru Nanak Dev ji. History Congress (IHC) was held at  India has also asked Pakistan to take all Kannur, Kerala. measures to protect and preserve the  It called upon political and administrative sanctity of the holy Nankana Sahib authorities to pursue the constitutional Gurudwara and its surroundings. duty of promoting composite culture, which is vital to promoting the territorial unity of India.  Indian History Congress was founded in INDIA AND FRANCE 1935, the Indian History Congress (IHC) Why in news? is the largest association of professional historians in South Asia.  The Union Cabinet has given its approval • It has about 35000 members of for the ratification of Migration and which over 2000 delegates Mobility Partnership Agreement between participate in its session every India and France. year.  The Agreement was signed in March, • It has been holding its sessions 2018 during the State Visit of the French very regularly from its inception President to India. and publishing its proceedings  The Agreement represents a major every year since 1935. milestone in enhancing people-to-people • Its main objective is to promote contacts, fostering mobility of students, secular and scientific writing of academics, researchers and skilled history. professionals and strengthening

cooperation on issues related to irregular migration and human trafficking between the two sides. The Agreement shows rapidly expanding multi-faceted relationship between India and France and symbolizes the increasing trust and confidence between the two sides.

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MARATHI AS A ‘CLASSICAL’ order like removing bricks and throwing LANGUAGE stones at the heritage site, is highly condemnable. Why in news?  Bojjannakonda and Lingalametta are the twin Buddhist monasteries dating back to  At the recently concluded 93rd edition of the 3rd century BC. the Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya  These sites have seen three forms of Sammelan, a resolution was passed Buddhism – the Theravada period when demanding the declaration of Marathi as Lord Buddha was considered a teacher, a ‘Classical’ language. the Mahayana, where Buddhism was  Currently, six languages enjoy the more devotional, and Vajrayana, where ‘Classical’ status: Tamil (declared in Buddhist tradition was more practised as 2004), Sanskrit (2005), Kannada (2008), Tantra and esoteric form. Telugu (2008), Malayalam (2013), and Odia (2014). Stupas in Monasteries

Guidelines for declaring a language as  Buddhist sites in large numbers features ‘Classical’ are: the relic casket, the three Chaitya Halls, the votive platforms, the stupas and the 1. High antiquity of its early texts/recorded Vajrayana sculpture. history over a period of 1500-2000 years.  The name Sankaram is derived from the 2. A body of ancient literature/texts, which term, ‘Sangharama’. It is famous for the is considered a valuable heritage by whole lot of votive stupas, rock-cut generations of speakers. caves, brick-built structural edifices, early 3. The literary tradition be original and not historic pottery and Satavahana coins borrowed from another speech that date back to the 1st century AD. community.  The main stupa was carved out of rock 4. The classical language and literature and then covered with bricks, where one being distinct from modern, there may can see a number of images of the also be a discontinuity between the Buddha sculpted on the rock face all classical language and its later forms or over the hill. its offshoots.  At the nearby Lingalametta, one can see hundreds of rock-cut monolithic stupas in rows. INTACH EFFORTS TO PROTECT BUDDHIST SITE

In News OCR SYSTEM FOR NINE INDIAN LANGUAGES  After a sustained campaign, Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Why in news? Heritage (INTACH) has been successful in almost stopping the stone-pelting ritual  Team at IIT Madrashas, over the last at Bojjannakonda, a famous Buddhist decade, developed a unified script for site at Sankaram, Andhra Pradesh on 16 nine Indian languages, named the January 2020. Bharati script by taking a cue from European languages, several of which  The villagers, as a part of the ancient have the same (Roman letter–based) ritual, used to pelt stones at a belly- script. shaped object, believing it to be a part of a demon. Vandalism, or defacing of any 63 CHAHAL ACADEMY

 The team has developed a method for TWO MEDIEVAL MONASTERIES AT reading documents in Bharati script MOGHALMARI using a multi-lingual optical character recognition (OCR) scheme. Why in news?  The scripts that have been integrated  A study of inscriptions on clay tablets include Devnagari, Bengali, Gurmukhi, recovered from recent excavations at Gujarati, Oriya, Telugu, Kannada, Moghalmari, a Buddhist monastic site of Malayalam and Tamil. English and Urdu the early medieval period in West have not been integrated so far as their Bengal’s Paschim Medinipur district, alphabet systems have a very different have confirmed the presence of two phonetic organisation. But that does not monasteries — Mugalayikaviharika and mean a mapping is not possible. Yajñapindikamahavihara.  In general, OCR schemes involve first separating (or segmenting) the document About the Inscriptions into text and non-text. The text is then segmented into paragraphs, sentences  Details of the study of these inscriptions words and letters. Each letter has to be were published earlier in January 2020 in recognised as a character in some Pratna Samiskha, a leading peer- recognisable format such as ASCII or reviewed journal from Bengal on Indian Unicode. The letter has various Archaeology. components such as the basic  Six tiny fragments of inscribed seals consonant, consonant modifiers, vowels were found. Each of them contained a etc. set of letters accompanied by the deer-  In collaboration with TCS Mumbai, the dharmachakra symbols. The inscriptions researchers have found a way for are in Sanskrit and the script is a persons with hearing disability to transitional phase between later north generate signatures using this finger- Indian Brahmi and early Siddhamatrika. spelling technique. Monasteries Bharati Script: Easy to Read  With the discovery of the site and the  The scripts of Indian languages pose a deciphering of the inscriptions, at least problem for such a character recognition two of these monasteries are now because the vowel and consonant- identified, it was known from Buddhist modifier components are attached to the texts that Buddhist monasteries have a main consonant part. This difficulty is definite hierarchy — Mahavihara, Vihara removed in the Bharati script which can and Viharika — which is reflected in the be easily read. inscriptions found.  In Bharati characters, these different  The study provides the only contextual components are segmentable by design. epigraphical proof for the existence of a So, OCR works quite accurately. viharika (Mugalayikaviharika in this case)  Bharati characters are made up of three as early as the 6th century in this part of tiers stacked vertically. The consonant at the subcontinent. the root of the letter is placed in the  Apparently, the name Mugalayika centre and the modifiers are in the top suggests a fair connection to the modern and bottom tiers. place-name Moghalmari.  The presence of two monasteries dating to the same period within a single compound is unique in eastern India. 64 CHAHAL ACADEMY

Earlier excavations had indicated the  In the West, the duration between presence of two monasteries on the December 25 and January 6 is known as basis of the structural plan. the Twelve Days of Christmas.  The monasteries at Moghalmari date  Epiphany is a feast day, or a day of from 6th century CE and were functional commemoration, which in Christianity till the 12th century CE. marks the visit of the Magi (meaning the  The first name Yajñapindikamahavihara, Three Wise Men or Three Kings) to the implying etymologically ‘a place of Infant Jesus (Christ from his nativity until sacrificial offering’ is of special age 12). significance. The second name on the  According to Christian belief, the Magi — seals, Mugalayikaviharika, bears a Balthasar, Melchior, and Gaspar (or phonetic resemblance to the modern Casper), the kings of Arabia, Persia, and name of the site, Moghalmari. India, respectively — followed a  Archaeologists and historians point out miraculous guiding star to Bethlehem, that famous Chinese traveller Xuanzang where they paid homage to the Infant (more widely identified as Huen Tsang), Jesus. who visited India in the 7th century CE,  The three are said to have brought gifts referred to the existence of ‘ten for Jesus: gold by Melchior, myrrh by monasteries’ within the limits of Balthasar, and incense by Gaspar. The Tamralipta (modern day Tamluk in visit is believed to signify Jesus’ physical adjoining Purba Medinipur district). manifestation to the Gentiles (non- However, he did not refer to any specific Jewish people). name or location.  The day also commemorates the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River.

Celebrations in India EPIPHANY FESTIVAL  In Goa, the Magi is called ‘Reis Magos’ Why in news? in Portuguese. The Reis Magos fort, and church, in Bardez, and the Three Kings  On 6 January 2020, the Epiphany festival Chapel in Cansaulim, get their name was celebrated in parts of India, such as from the belief. Communities in Bardez, Goa and Kerala. In Goa, the celebration Chandor, Cansaulim, Arossim, and is known by its Portuguese name ‘Festa Cuelim are known to celebrate Epiphany. dos Reis’, and in parts of Kerala by its  Cansaulim, Arossim, and Cuelim Syriac name ‘Denha’. together celebrate ‘Festa dos Reis’ at the About Our Lady of Remedios chapel in an elaborate ceremony, in which three Why is Epiphany or Three Kings’ Day youths selected from local communities celebrated? travel on horseback dressed in religious wear to the chapel, stopping at many  Epiphany is among the three oldest and points on the way to bless devotees. major festival days in Christianity, the  In Kerala, ‘Denha’ is an important annual two others being Christmas and Easter. celebration, in which a big congregation It is celebrated on January 6 by a takes part. Three priests wearing number of Christian sects, including ecclesiastical robes and holding golden Roman Catholics, and on January 19 by crosses move with a procession for 5 km some Eastern Orthodox churches. from the Peppathi Chapel to the Piravom church. 65 CHAHAL ACADEMY

STATUE OF UNITY AMONG '8 WONDERS 'BHARAT PARV 2020' OF SCO' Why in news? Why in news?  Bharat Parv 2020, a festival to celebrate  The 182-metre Statue of Unity in Gujarat the spirit of India took place at Red Fort has been listed in the eight wonders of ground in New Delhi. The objective of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Bharat Parv was to encourage people to (SCO) to promote tourism among visit different tourism places of the member states, the Ministry of External country and to inculcate the spirit of Affairs announced on 13 January 2020. ‘Dekho Apna Desh’.  Bharat Parv had many attractions for About public including display of Tableaux of the Republic Day parade, performance  The tallest statue in the world, the Statue by armed forces bands and cultural of Unity was made in tribute to India's Performances from different regions of first home minister and deputy prime the country. minister, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.  More than 50 food stalls, 79 handicrafts  It was inaugurated in October 2018 on stalls and 27 theme pavilions were setup. Patel's 143rd birth anniversary by Prime The theme of this year’s Bharat Parv was Minister. 'Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat' and  The statue is located near the Sardar 'Celebrating 150 Years of Mahatma Sarovar Dam on the river Narmada in Gandhi. Kevadiya colony in Gujarat.  Designed by Indian sculptor Ram V Sutar, the project was first announced in 2010 and was finally unveiled on 31 WAR MEMORIAL IN NAGALAND October 2018. Why in news?  In November 2019, the world's tallest statue surpassed the footfall at the 133-  The Assam Rifles has constructed a year-old Statue of Liberty in the US. combined war memorial in Nagaland for the 357 Army and Assam Rifles The Eight Wonders of the SCO (MIND MAP) 1. India — the Statue of Unity. personnel killed while fighting insurgency 2. Kazakhstan — the Archaeological in the northeastern state. Landscape of Tamgaly.  The memorial has been built at 3. China — The Daming imperial palace Mokokchung, which is also the cultural complex. and intellectual centre of Nagaland. 4. Kyrgyzstan — Lake Issyk-Kul.  The War Memorial has three converging 5. Pakistan — The Great Mughals’ heritage at Lahore. posts signifying all the three forces Army, 6. Russia — The Golden Ring cities. Assam Rifles and Air Force. 7. Tajikistan — The Palace of Nowruz.  Assam Rifles It is the oldest paramilitary 8. Uzbekistan — the Poi Kalon complex. force in india. It was called the “Cachar 66 CHAHAL ACADEMY

Levy”. The four forces namely Assam  In Northeast India, they are present in all Frontier Police, Eastern Bengal Military states except Arunachal Pradesh. Force, Assam Military Police and the Assam Military Force were joined to form the Assam Rifles in 1917.

 Assam Rifles operate under Home Ministry. Since 2000, they are guarding NAGOBA JATARA the Indo-Myanmar Barrier under “one border one force” policy of Government Why in News of India.  A month-long Nagoba Jatra festival has come to an end in Telangana.  Nagoba Jatara is a tribal festival held in MANIPUR TRIBES CALL TRUCE AFTER Keslapur village, Indervelli Mandal DECADES OF CONFLICT Adilabad district, Telangana, thus the festival also known as Keslapur jatara. Why in news?  It is a huge religious and cultural event of the Boigutta branch of Mesram clan of  The organisations of Naga and Kuki the aboriginal Raj Gond and Pardhan tribes namely Naga National Political tribes. Groups(NNPGs) and the Kuki National Organisation (KNO) have signed a  Gonds are one of the largest tribal declaration on 10 January 2020 to settle groups in the world. contentious issues and inter-community  They mostly live in Madhya Pradesh, differences peacefully. Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Andhra  The Kuki–Naga conflict which was Pradesh, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Karnataka, mainly fought on land and identity issues Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal has resulted in the uprooting of hundreds and Odisha. of villages with the loss of more than  Pardhans are considered to be the junior 1,000 lives and enormous internal branch of Gond tribe and are traditional displacement. bards to Gonds and recite mythologies,  The British colonial policy of governance folk tales and songs of their gods and in the north-east frontier of India and the goddesses at various festivals, rise of ethnic nationalism among both the ceremonies and fairs for which service Kukis and Nagas in the post- they are paid in cash or kind. independence period were the roots of  During the festival, the maha puja of the conflict. serpent god Nagoba is held.  Naga is an umbrella term for several indigenous communities in North-East India and Upper Burma. They belong to DEVELOPMENT OF PATHRI Indo-Mongoloid Family.  It covers a number of tribes that reside in Why in news? Nagaland, Manipur, Assam and  Maharashtra government announced on Arunachal Pradesh states of India and 9 January 2020 that it would grant Rs also in Myanmar. 100 crore for the development of Pathri  The Kukis constitute one of several hill as a centre of religious tourism and “the tribes within India, Bangladesh, and birthplace of Sai Baba”. This has Burma. triggered anger in Shirdi, the town synonymous with the saint. 67 CHAHAL ACADEMY

 Sai Baba of Shirdi was an Indian spiritual Tourist Arrivals also registered a growth of master who is regarded by his devotees 3.2 percent last year. as a saint and a fakir. He is revered by  The government is working to develop both his Hindu and Muslim devotees thematic circuits under the Swadesh during, as well as after his lifetime. Darshan Scheme and 77 projects  Pathri is a town and a municipal council amounting over Rs 6035 crore have been in Parbhani district, Maharashtra. sanctioned till date under this scheme. Several authoritative, popular works on  An initiative called - 'Adopt a Heritage: Apni Dharohar, Apni Pehchaan' has been Baba either directly mention Pathri as his launched for developing tourist amenities possible birthplace, or speculate that he at heritage and tourist sites and making may have been from that area. them tourist-friendly. E-visa has been  Shirdi is a city located in the Rahata further liberalized and visa fee on e - visa taluka of Ahmednagar District, has been substantially reduced to increase Maharashtra. Sai Baba is said to have tourism competitiveness of the country. come to Shirdi in 1872, where he lived  The Government has also opened more until he passed away on 15 October than 120 mountain peaks for 1918. mountaineering and trekking for promoting adventure tourism in the country.

12TH NATIONAL TRIBAL YOUTH EXCHANGE PROGRAMME MANDU FESTIVAL

Why in news? Why in news?

 A week-long National Tribal Youth  In Madhya Pradesh, the 5-day Mandu Exchange Programme began in festival was celebrated between 28 Puducherry from 19 January 2020. The December 2019 - 1 January 2020 in programme was being jointly organized Mandu, a world-famous picturesque by the Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan tourist destination located in Dhar district (NYKS) and Puducherry Government. of the state.  It was arranged with a view to ensure  The Mandu festival saw the development and empowerment of the amalgamation of cultural activities as tribal youths well as adventure sports. The rich  During the programme, the participants classical and traditional folk arts of visited many places to know about the dance, singing and playing once again language, customs, culture, arts, came alive through the Mandu festival. dressing patterns, food pattern and other  Based on the idea of Khojne Me Kho aspects of Puducherry. Jao, the Mandu festival offered an eclectic mix of performing arts,

workshops, nature trails, food, TRAVEL &TOURISM COMPETITIVENESS architecture and music to the visitors. INDEX Visitors also explored the trail on cycling tours, walking tours or jump onto the Why in news? Hop-In-Hop-Out buses to dive deep into the rich history of the city.  In 2019, India’s rank in Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Index of World Economic Forum has moved to 34th position from 65th rank in 2013. Foreign 68 CHAHAL ACADEMY

ZO KUTPUI positive enhancement of overall experience to the tourist resulting into Why in news? increased footfalls in the areas, growth of revenue and employment.  The Mizoram government organised Zo  Ministry of Tourism launched the Kutpui (festival) in at least 10 states Swadesh Darshan Scheme (Central across India and countries such as US, Sector Scheme) in January, 2015. Myanmar and Bangladesh. Under the Scheme 15 circuits have been  The Zo Kutpui festival aims to unify and identified for development namely strengthen the brotherhood among Himalayan Circuit, North East Circuit, various Mizo tribes living in different Krishna Circuit, Buddhist Circuit and parts of the world. Coastal Circuit, Desert Circuit, Tribal  The first edition of the festival started in Circuit, Eco Circuit, Wildlife Circuit, Rural Tripura and then moved to other states Circuit, Spiritual Circuit, Ramayana which have significant Mizo population. Circuit, Heritage Circuit, Tirthankar The festival witnessed various cultural  Circuit and Sufi Circuit. programmes by different Mizo tribes.  The Mizos are tribal people that are spread between Myanmar in the east to Bangladesh in the west. In India,the Mizo SIGN BOARDS IN CHINESE LANGUAGE population is mainly found in PUT UP AT 5 ASI PROTECTED Manipur,Tripura and Mizoram. ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES  There are 12 major Mizo clans identified.  It includes Lusei people, Lushai hills Why in news? people, Chin people, Pawi-Lusei, Tlau,  Sign boards in Chinese language have Khiangte, Hualngo among others. been put up at five ASI protected archaeological sites located in Uttar Pradesh. SWADESH DARSHAN SCHEME  They include Sarnath, the Buddhist relics at Chaukhandi Stupa, Kushinagar and Why in news? the Mahaparinirvana Temple, Piparahwa and Sravasti.  The Union Cabinet has given its approval  The sign boards of 5 foreign languages to release funds to the tune of Rs. will be installed where more than one 627.40 crore for the 10 projects lakh tourists from a particular country sanctioned during 2018-19 and visit those places every year. The work additional Rs. 1854.67 crore for of installing sign boards in Sinhali sanctioning of new projects during 2019- language has been completed in 20 in Swadesh Darshan Scheme. November 2019 in view of the large  Under Swadesh Darshan Scheme, number of Sri Lankan tourists visiting Ministry of Tourism is developing critical Sanchi. tourism infrastructure in the country in a  The objective of this initiative is to sustainable and inclusive manner to increase the number of tourists both make India, a world class tourist foreign and domestic. destination.  In order to increase the number of  The provision of this critical infrastructure domestic tourists, the Ministry of Tourism will catalyse the private sector is considering various cultural fairs and investment in revenue generating other events through which the people of projects which in turn would lead to 69 CHAHAL ACADEMY

India will get to know the country in a VANGA NARI better way. Why in news? ‘Lai Haraoba’  The jallikattu-like event using foxes, or  In Tripura, Lai Haraoba, a ritualistic vanga nari in Tamil, is organised on festival observed by Manipuri meitei Kaanum Pongal in Tamil Nadu villages communities since ancient times, began as people believe it will bring bountiful in Agartala on 2 January 2020. rain and good fortune.  The five day long festival was jointly  The animals are muzzled and their hind organised by the Department of legs tied with rope. After special rituals Information and Cultural Affairs, are conducted, the hapless animals are Government of Tripura, Puthiba Lai chased through the streets, much like Haraoba Committee and Puthiba Welfare bulls in the more conventional jallikattu. & Cultural Society, Agartala. After the event, the animals are released  The festival aimed to uphold tradition and into the forest cultural values of Meitei community.  Foxes are a protected species under the  Lai Haraoba is celebrated through oral Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, and hunting literature, music, dance and rituals. A or capturing them is prohibited. cultural troupe from Manipur also came to take part in festival. They performed various cultural and traditional musical BHAKTA RAMADASU skits including Manipuri martial arts, folk music and folk dances during the festival. Why in news?

 A 11-foot imposing bronze statue of Bhakta Ramadasu, the renowned saint PATOLA SAREE composer of the 17th century, was Why in news? unveiled at his birthplace, Nelakondapalli in Telangana’s Khammam district, on the  In a historic initiative taken by Khadi and occasion of his 387th birth anniversary. Village Industries Commission (KVIC), a  Kancharla Gopanna (1620 – 1680), first Silk Processing Plant was popularly known as Bhakta Ramadasu or inaugurated on 3 January 2020 at Bhadrachala Ramadasu was a 17th- Surendranagar in Gujarat which would century Indian devotee of Lord Rama help cut down the cost of production of and a composer of Carnatic music. silk yarn drastically and increase the sale  He is a famous Vaggeyakara (classical and availability of raw material for composer) from the Telugu classical era. Gujarati Patola Sarees locally.  His devotional lyrics to Rama are famous  Patola, the trademark Saree of Gujarat, in South Indian classical music as is considered to be very costly and worn Ramadaasu Keertanalu. only by the Royals or the Aristocrat.  He also wrote Dasarathi Shatakamu, a Reason being the raw material silk yarn collection of nearly 108 poems dedicated is purchased from Karnataka or West to the son of Dasaratha (Lord Rama). Bengal, where silk processing units are situated, thus increasing the cost of the fabric manifolds.

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75TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE LIBERATION OF structures and experience AUSCHWITZ demystification of many murals.  This is a good initiative, use of Why in news? technology in heritage is very important  On January 27, 2020, survivors of the but it should not be limited to research Holocaust and international heads of only, it should reach to people in such a state marked the 75th anniversary of the way that they get a chance to know and understand the unseen aspects of liberation of Auschwitz. heritage sites easily.  During the Second World War, the government of Nazi Germany killed  This special exhibition showcased approximately 17 million people across adaptation and infusion of technologies being developed under the Indian Digital Europe in half a dozen camps Heritage (IDH) initiative of the specifically designated for killings. Department of Science and Technology  Of these seven killing centers, the camp (DST), Government of India in the at Auschwitz (in German-occupied cultural heritage domain of the country. Poland), perhaps the most well known, The exhibition demonstrate the outcome was the largest in size. In many ways,  Auschwitz has become the center of of two flagship projects viz., A digital Holocaust history and research and mini-spectacle to showcase the glory of Hampi and Augmented reality based serves as a reminder of the horrors of interactions with physical models of the Holocaust. monuments; that are completed under  Allied forces entered Auschwitz on the DST mentored initiative Indian January 27, 1945, finding hundreds of Heritage in Digital Space (IHDS). sick, starving and exhausted prisoners, who had somehow survived. In 2005, the UN-designated January 27 as the International Holocaust Remembrance Day. SOCIETY AND HEALTH

WOMEN, BUSINESS AND THE LAW 2020

EXHIBITION ON ‘INDIAN HERITAGE IN Why in news? DIGITAL SPACE’ LAUNCHED  A woman, Business and the Law 2020, Why in news? the sixth edition in a series, has been released.  The Union Ministry of State for Culture and Tourism (IC) launched a month long About special exhibition titled Indian Heritage in Digital Space and a two day long first  A woman, Business and the Law (WBL) international heritage symposium on 16 is a World Bank Group project collecting January 2020. unique data on the laws and regulations  The exhibition was organized in that restrict women's economic collaboration with Indian Institute of opportunities. Technology, Delhi. This exhibition The index analyses laws and regulations showed the recreations of the socio- affecting women’s economic inclusion in cultural life and traditions of Hampi, 190 economies. architectural and conjectural  It is composed by eight indicators reconstructions of several important structured around women’s interactions 71 CHAHAL ACADEMY

with the law as they begin progress WOMEN POLITICIANS IN INDIA FACES through and end their careers, aligns ONLINE ABUSE different areas of the law with the economic decisions women make at Why in news? various stages of their lives.  Amnesty International India released a  The indicators are Mobility, Workplace, report titled “Troll Patrol India: Exposing Pay, Marriage, Parenthood, Online Abuse Faced by Women Politicians Entrepreneurship, Assets, and Pension. in India”. How are countries ranked?  The report analysed more than 114,000 tweets sent to 95 women politicians in the  The study tracked “how laws affect three months during and after last year’s women at different stages in their general elections in India. working lives and focusing on those laws  The research found that women are applicable in the main business city”. targeted with abuse online not just for their  The Index is based on the countries’ opinions – but also for various identities, formal laws and regulations that have a such as gender, religion, caste, and marital status. bearing on women’s economic  Indian women politicians face substantially participation. higher abuse on Twitter than their Performance of various countries counterparts in the U.S. and the U.K.  Around 13.8% of the tweets in the study  No economy in ‘East Asia and the were either “problematic” or “abusive”. Pacific’, ‘Europe and Central Asia’, or  Problematic content was defined as tweets ‘Latin America and the Caribbean’ were that contain hurtful or hostile content, among top reformers, the report claimed. especially if repeated to an individual on  Only eight economies scored a perfect multiple occasions but do not necessarily 100 — Belgium, Canada, Denmark, meet the threshold of abuse. France, Iceland, Latvia, Luxembourg,  While all women are targeted, Muslim and Sweden. Those countries have women politicians faced 55% more abuse ensured equal legal standing to men and than others. women on all the eight indicators of the  Women from marginalised castes, index. unmarried women, and those from non- BJP parties faced a disproportionate share  The global average was 75.2 — a slight of abuse. increase from 73.9 in the previous index released in 2017.

Performance of India NATIONAL GIRL CHILD DAY

 India is placed 117th among 190 Why in news? countries.  It scored 74.4 on a par with Benin and  India celebrates National Girl Child Day Gambia and way below least developed on January 24 annually. countries like Rwanda and Lesotho.  Ministry of Women and Child Development announced to set up ten Chairs in different fields with an aim to carry out research activities to encourage women.

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About ten Chairs will be approximately five crore rupees per annum.  It was initiated by the Ministry of Women  The Chairs are to be established for a and Child Development in 2008. period of five years initially as per the  The aim of the day is to spread guidelines. awareness about inequalities faced by girls in the country. The chairs proposed by UGC and approved  It also promotes awareness about the by the Ministry are as under rights of the girl child. (Subject/Proposed name of chair): 1. Administration: Devi Ahilyabai Holkar  Also, it increases the importance of 2. Literature: Mahadevi Varma health, education and nutrition of girl 3. Freedom Fighter (North East): Rani child. Gaidinliu  The National Girl Child Day also spreads 4. Medicine & Health: Anandibai Gopalrao various atrocities faced by girls in their Joshi lives. 5. Performing Art: Madurai Shanmukhavadivu Subbulakshmi  The international day of girl child is 6. Forest/Wildlife Conservation: Amrita Devi celebrated on October 11 every year. (Beniwal)  Sex Ratio is the ratio of male to the 7. Mathematics: Lilavati female population. 8. Science: Kamala Sohonie  The sex ratio of the entire world is 101 9. Poetry & Mysticism: Lal Ded 10. Educational Reforms: Hansa Mehta males to 100 females (2018 estimate).

 In India according to the Census 2011, the sex ratio was 108.9.  It has been increasing since 1961.  It was 102.4 in 1961, 104.2 in 1980 and MGNREGA RUNNING OUT OF FUNDS 107.5 in 2001. Why in news? Initiative by Ministry  According to the Mahatma Gandhi  The initiative is called the Establishment National Rural Employment Guarantee of Chairs in the Universities in the name Act (MGNREGA) scheme’s financial of eminent women. statement as on 26th January 2020, the  It is being launched by the Ministry of center is on the verge of running out of Women and Child Development with the funds for the scheme. assistance of the University Grants  More than 96% of the allocated money Commission (UGC). has already been spent or is needed to  The objective is to highlight and pay pending dues, with less than ₹2,500 celebrate women achievers of the crores left to sustain the scheme for the country to motivate young girls and next two months. women towards higher studies.  Budget Allocation: The budget allocation  Academic functions of the Chairs will be for 2019 for the MGNREGA scheme was to engage in research and contribute to ₹60,000 crores which is lower than the the advancement of knowledge in the amount spent in 2018. area of the study, strengthen the role of  Many state governments have not paid university and academics in public the wages to workers as the Centre has policymaking. not released funds. It is contrary to the  The financial implications of the proposal spirit of the Act and violates the principle are 50 lakh rupees per Chair per year of rights-based implementation of the and the total expenditure for establishing MGNREGA scheme. 73 CHAHAL ACADEMY

 The Central Employment Guarantee CENTRAL ADOPTION RESOURCE Council has not met in two years despite AUTHORITY (CARA) it being mandatory to hold a meeting every six months. Why in news?

 The Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA) has begun a nationwide capacity RASHTRIYA UCHCHATAR SHIKSHA building program for social workers who ABHIYAN (RUSA) help assess the suitability of the adoptive family and prepare a child for a new Why in news? home.  Central Adoption Resource Authority  The Ministry of Human Resource (CARA) is the nodal body for the Development has approached the Prime adoption of Indian children. Minister’s Office (PMO) to take notice of  It regulates in-country and inter-country the alleged corruption in the adoptions (in accordance with the implementation of the Rashtriya provisions of The Hague Convention on Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA). Inter-Country Adoption, 1993, ratified by  The alleged acts of corruption in the Government of India in 2003). implementation of RUSA were  It is an autonomous body of the Union discovered in July 2019 after the Tata Ministry of Women and Child Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) Development. director pointed out serious irregularities in the utilization of funds.  The mandatory registration of Child Care Institutions (CCIs) and linking to CARA Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan has been provided in Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act,  RUSA is the centrally sponsored scheme 2015 launched in October 2013 that aims at providing strategic funding to higher education institutions throughout the country. 3 YEARS ON, A MERE 30% OF POSHAN  The scheme is being operated in mission ABHIYAAN FUNDS USED mode for funding state universities and In News colleges to achieve the aims of equity, access, and excellence.  According to the data shared in  Funding is provided by the central Parliament, State governments/UTs have ministry through the State governments utilised only 30% of the funds released and Union Territories (UTs), which in under the Poshan Abhiyaan or the coordination with the Central Project National Nutrition Mission since it was Appraisal Board monitors the academic, launched in 2017. administrative and financial advancements taken under the scheme. News & Views  Since 2016-17, the government has  The five best performers in terms of fund spent an average of Rs 1,500 crore utilisation were Mizoram, Lakshadweep, every year on RUSA. Bihar, Himachal Pradesh and Meghalaya. The worst five performers were Punjab, Karnataka, Kerala, Jharkhand and Assam.

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 The programme was conceptualised to be implemented in phases so the utilisation will increase over the years.  However, few services have showed a slow start and are now pickling up like the Integrated Child Development Services-Common Application Software(ICDS-CAS).

Poshan Abhiyaan or National Nutrition Mission

 It is India's flagship programme and Prime Minister’s Overarching Scheme for Holistic Nutrition to improve nutritional outcomes for children, adolescents, pregnant women and lactating mothers by leveraging technology, a targeted approach and convergence by 2022.  The mission is implemented by the Ministry of Women and Child

Development.  The mission targets to reduce stunting, under-nutrition, anaemia (among young children, women and adolescent girls) INDIA’S UNDER-5 MORTALITY OF GIRLS and reduce low birth weight by 2%, 2%, EXCEEDS THAT OF BOYS 3% and 2% per annum respectively.  Although the target to reduce Stunting is In News at least 2% p.a., it strives to achieve a  United Nations (UN) inter-agency group reduction in Stunting from 38.4% (NFHS- for child mortality released a report titled 4) to 25% by 2022. ‘Levels and Trends in Child Mortality’  The 50% of the funding is through budgetary support. It is further divided News & Views into 60:40 between the Centre and the States, 90:10 for north-eastern region Global and the Himalayan States and 100% for  Globally, 85% of deaths among children the Union Territories without legislature. and young adolescents in 2018 occurred  The remaining 50% is from the World in the first five years of life. Bank or other multilateral development  Half of all under-5 deaths in 2018 banks. occurred in five countries: India, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Ethiopia.

India

 India is among the few coun•tries in the world, in 2018, the mortality for girls under-5 years of age exceed•ed that of boys, according to the ‘Levels and Trends in Child Mortality’ report by the 75 CHAHAL ACADEMY

United Nations (UN) in•ter•agency group and fuelling the spread of infectious for child mortality. diseases such as malaria.  The States with the highest burden of  A new entrant to the list of 13 potential neonatal mortality are Madhya Pradesh, threats is the lack of access. About a Odisha and Uttar Pradesh, with 32, 33 third of the world’s people lack access to and 30 neonatal deaths per 1,000 live medicines, vaccines, diagnostic tools births, respec•tively. and other essential health products.  India’s neonatal mor­tality rate is 23 per  People in rich countries live, on average, 1,000 live births. some 18 years longer than those in  Further, Jharkhand, Bihar and poorer countries. And, within countries, Uttarakhand showed the largest gender there is a big health discrepancy gaps in under 5 mortality. between the haves and have-nots.  The major causes of neo•natal mortality  Medicines and other health products are are pre-term birth, intrapartum related the second-largest expenditure for most events, and neo natal infection. health systems (after health workers) and the largest component of private health expenditure in low- and middle- income countries.

 Delivering healthcare in conflict-ridden areas has remained one of the biggest challenges just not for the WHO but the WHO RELEASES GLOBAL HEALTH global health fraternity. The WHO CHALLENGES FOR 2020 recorded 978 attacks on healthcare personnel in 11 countries last year, with In News 193 deaths of health workers.  This has been more pronounced in the  World Health Organization (WHO) on ongoing outbreak of Ebola in the January 13, 2020 released the list of top Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as global health challenges for 2020 in well as the measles outbreak since which Antimicrobial resistance (AMR), January 2019. climate crisis, eventuality of an influenza  The shortage of healthcare workers has epidemic and spread of infectious been flagged as a major concern. diseases such as malaria, HIV and Chronic under-investment in the tuberculosis have topped again in the education and employment of health second year. workers, coupled with a failure to ensure News & Views decent pay, has led to health worker shortages all over the world.  The list not only focuses on diseases as  Protecting people from unhealthy food “threats” but also takes into account of diets also finds a mention as threat for infrastructure, social media, new 2020. technology and human resources in  More than a million adolescents aged 10- health. 19 years die every year due to road  The WHO identified 13 priorities for the injury, HIV, suicide, lower respiratory decade, covering a wide range of issues infections, and interpersonal violence. affecting people across the planet. The  It also talks about healthcare associated climate crisis, for example, is also a infections (HAIs), without referring to the health crisis, exacerbating malnutrition term. One in four health facilities globally lack basic water services. The lack of 76 CHAHAL ACADEMY

these basics — water, sanitation and  Other WHO priorities include expanding hygiene — in health facilities leads to access to medicines, stopping infectious poor quality care and an increased diseases, and protecting people from chance of infection for patients and dangerous products. health workers.  Emerging technologies such as genome  An interesting trend the report sees editing, synthetic biology and artificial emerging is the rise in misinformation intelligence for preventing, diagnosing related to health in social media, which and treating diseases might be a has directly or indirectly decreased the ‘tightrope walk’. But without a deeper trust of people in health institutions, and understanding of their ethical and social their messages, for e.g., ‘anti-vaccination implications, these new technologies, movement’, which became largely which include the capacity to create new popular due to social media. However, organisms, could harm the people they the WHO admits the blame is not entirely are intended to help. social media’s.  Significantly, non-communicable diseases are not mentioned as a top threat individually

Way Ahead ASER REPORT 2019 RELEASED

 The agency is developing policy options In News to enable governments to prevent or reduce the health risks of air pollution.  At least 25% of school children in the  WHO will work to address inequality, four-eight age groups do not have age- providing guidance to countries on ways appropriate cognitive and numeracy to make health care fairer. skills, making for a massive learning  It notes that the world will need 18 million deficit at a very early stage, according to additional health workers by 2030, the Annual Status of Education Report primarily in low- and middle-income (ASER) 2019 released on 14 January countries, including nine million nurses 2020 by education non-profit and midwives. organisation Pratham Education  There’s a need, too, for self-reflection: Foundation. scientists and the public health News & Views community need to do a better job of listening to the communities they serve.  In this report, focus was on the early Finally, we must invest in better public years, reporting on the schooling status health data information systems. as well as on a range of important  Health security should not be a matter for developmental indicators for young ministries of health alone, and called for children in 4-8 age group. more funding to address gaps in health  The nationwide report was prepared on systems, and support for the most the basis of survey conducted in 26 vulnerable countries. districts across 24 states including  The agency recommends that countries Lucknow and Varanasi of Uttar Pradesh. spend one per cent of their gross  It observed that class 3 kids --46.2% in domestic product on primary health care, Lucknow and 45.9% in Varanasi—could to give more people access to the quality not read or recognise 1-100 numbers, essential services they need, close to which can impact the entire education where they live. supply chain in India. 77 CHAHAL ACADEMY

 The report also highlights a gender gap  Coherence between central ministries is in schooling. essential for improving early childhood  Numeracy skills among Class III children education policymaking, but it is better to of illiterate mothers are much lower than encourage state and district those whose mothers had studied till administrations to have a greater say to Class XI or above. Though, there is also make early education effective. the improvement of education among women. Such changes in the profile of young Indian mothers need to be taken

into account when thinking of the education inputs to be designed for the DRAFT NATIONAL POLICY FOR RARE young children. DISEASES RELEASED  The findings also showed that more girls are enrolled in government institutions In News and more boys in private institutions.  The gap in enrolment between boys and  The Ministry of Health and Family girls is larger among 6-8 year olds, with Welfare on 13 January 2020 released a 61.1% of all girls versus 52.1% of all draft policy for rare diseases to provide boys in this age group going to a financial support under its umbrella government institution. scheme Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi.

Way Ahead News & Views

 India’s demographic dividend depends  The financial capacity to support on the learning level of students. The exorbitant cost of treatment is an quality of the learning level bears directly important consideration in public health on India’s future workforce, its policy development with reference to competitiveness and the economy. treatment for rare diseases. Since children at the higher primary level  In resource-constrained settings, it is is closest to joining the labour market or pertinent to balance competing interests the next level of education, they need of public health for achieving optimal adequate foundational skills such as outcome for the resources allocated. literacy and numeracy.  Under this policy, it has been proposed  Thus, it can be revealed from the latest to fund one-time treatment cost to the report that India continues to stare at a tune of ₹15 lakh for certain treatable rare crisis and hence need concerted efforts diseases, provided the patient was to be taken at the earliest. eligible under its flagship health  Government policy and practice has not insurance scheme, Ayushman Bharat’s kept pace with people’s aspirations as Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana. the Indian economy liberalized.  While Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi is aimed at  A focus on the “breadth of skills" and providing financial assistance to patients activities that strengthen cognitive skills living below the poverty line, under the rather than formal subject-learning in the rare disease policy, the financial benefits early years may generate substantial will also be extended to the broader benefits for later academic performance class of Ayushman Bharat.  The study also showed how a better  It makes about 40% of the country’s education level among mothers can lead population eligible for getting money to better outcomes among children in under the special fund. preschools and early schools. 78 CHAHAL ACADEMY

 It also suggests voluntary crowd-funding ought to have addressed the need for as an alternate means of financial R&D for these diseases. support by creating a dedicated digital platform. It will also notify select India participates in the Round-table of UNAIDS government hospitals that provide treatment for rare diseases.  Union Ministry of State for Shipping (I/C)  The draft policy cited lack of adequate and Chemical & Fertilizers participated in resources not provides financial the High-level roundtable of UNAIDS assistance to rare diseases that require (The Joint United Nations Programme on lifelong treatment. HIV/AIDS) on the theme Access for all:  These diseases include Gaucher’s Leveraging Innovations, Investments and Disease, Hurler Syndrome, Wolman Partnerships for Health at World Disease, among others. Treatment for Economic Forum at Davos, Switzerland some of these diseases may vary from on 21 January 2020. ₹10 Lakhs to more than ₹1 crore per  UNAIDS provides the strategic direction, year, with drug dose and cost increasing advocacy, coordination and technical with age. support needed to catalyse and connect  For these diseases, the government has leadership from governments, the private sought alternate funding mechanism like sector and communities to deliver life- setting up a digital platform for voluntary saving HIV services. and corporate donations.  UNAIDS is leading the global effort to Shortcomings of the policy end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030 as part of the Sustainable  It appears that entire policy is drafted to Development Goals. justify that government cannot provide Nationwide programme to administer polio treatment due to high cost as it is drops to children organized on NID resource constraint country. Some government hospitals are listed to be  National immunization day (NID) was notified centre of excellence, but majority observed on 19 January 2020. With an of severely compromised immunity aim to maintain the 'NO POLIO' status, a patients cannot be taken to government nationwide programme to administer hospitals as they may acquire hospital polio drops to children below 5 years was contracted infections due to organized throughout the country. overcrowding and lack of hygiene and  President launched the Pulse Polio sanitation. Programme for 2020 by administering  Policy says that the government “shall Polio drops to children below the age of promote R&D (research and five on 18 January 2020. development) for improving the  Puducherry government launched the availability of affordable therapies for Intensified Pulse Polio Immunization rare diseases with adequate safeguards (IPPI) programme in the union territory in place", it has also been criticised for on 19 January 2020. Around 82,000 not coming up with measures for it. children were administered polio drops  The policy has adopted a very narrow through 452 centres throughout the scope limited to diseases listed in 3 union territory. categories, essentially purging diseases  This immunization programme was held not listed such as for which no for two days to cover all the left out treatments currently exist. The policy children by door to door visit.

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A health emergency: On risk of international cities of India, measured in grams per spread of poliovirus day, is highest in Mumbai and least in Hyderabad.  The World Health Organization (WHO)  Adults and elderly people were announced on 7 January 2020 that polio consuming slightly higher sugar than the will continue to remain a Public Health younger ones. The highest intake of Emergency of International Concern sugar was observed among older adults, (PHIEC) for three months based on the 36-59 years age group. risk of international spread of poliovirus.  The other significant finding of the study  The decision was taken based on the is that in general the average intake of recommendation of the emergency sugar was more among women than that committee under the international health in men. regulations that assessed the situation of December 2019. NITI Aayog readying Make In India fillip for  Polio was declared as PHEIC in 2014 domestic medical devices and has continued to remain one since then.  Government think-tank NITI Aayog is  With 128 cases, Pakistan accounted for drawing up a list of devices which have the most number of cases, while most potential for export to eliminate Afghanistan reported 28 cases. bottlenecks in domestic medical devices businesses. A tentative list of 10 such  In addition to the virus causing polio in device-categories has been drawn up. children, it was found in the environment in Pakistan and, to a lesser extent, in  Devices under the NITI Aayog scanner Afghanistan. This is particularly a for providing priority subsidy or funding concern as the number of children not are cardiac stents, orthopaedic implants, vaccinated in Afghanistan has been surgical blades, catheters, X-Ray increasing. Therefore, even other parts machines, syringes and needles, blood of the country that have been free of the bags, CT Scan and MRI Machines as virus in the past are at risk of outbreaks. well as sutures.  Currently there are too many ICMR releases report on Sugar Intake of departments involved in giving India approvals, and thus they get delayed.  Now this step will boost exports and  The joint study of Indian Council of fasten the certification process. Medical Research(ICMR)- National Institute of Nutrition (INN) and sponsored Study warns of growing cancer burden by International Life Sciences Institute - across India India (ILSI-India), released on 6 January 2020, is the first of its kind that provides  According to a study named "History of information on added sugar consumption Growing burden of Cancer in India: From of the city dwellers in seven major metro Antiquity to 21st century" most of the cities of India. increase in cancer incidences are  The findings reveals that the average attributable to its epidemiological daily intake of added sugar in all metro transition and improvement in the use of cities was 19.5 grams/ day, lower than cancer diagnostics. the ICMR recommended level of 30  The country's cancer burden will grams/ day. continue to increase as a result of the  The study has revealed that the mean on-going ageing of India and improving intake of added sugar among metro access to cancer diagnostics in rural India. 80 CHAHAL ACADEMY

 Maximum increases can likely to be been pre-qualified by the World Health occurred in the most populous and least Organisation (WHO). developed States, where the facilities for  Pneumococcal vaccination is a method cancer diagnostics and treatment are of preventing a specific type of lung grossly inadequate. infection (pneumonia) that is caused by  In India the fastest epidemiological the pneumococcus (Streptococcus transition happened in Kerala, whereas pneumonia) bacterium. Uttar Pradesh remained in the slowest  The vaccine is injected into the body to group. The low incidence of infectious stimulate the normal immune system to diseases in Kerala has given rise to more produce antibodies that are directed cancer compared to U.P., which is still against pneumococcus bacteria. battling high mortality from  It was used for manufacturing the communicable diseases. pneumococcal vaccine. This helped the company reduce the manufacturing cost Andhra Pradesh CM launches 'Amma Vodi' of pneumococcal vaccine. Scheme

 The Andhra Pradesh government on 9 January 2020 launched the ‘Amma Vodi’ DBT & NII study finds mechanism for scheme. Mothers and guardians of mother-child transmission of chickenpox school-going children from lower income immunity groups will get financial assistance of Rs 15,000 annually under the scheme.  A new study has found that women who  The scheme will be implemented from have had the chickenpox infection may January 26, 2020 (Republic Day). transmit the DNA of the disease-causing  Amma Vodi is available to ration card virus to their babies during pregnancy, holders, who fall under the Below thus stimulating their immunity against Poverty Line and clear a few more the infection and protecting them. criteria related to their economic status.  This mother-to-child transfer of viral DNA  The scheme was allocated a budget of may be responsible for the long-lasting around Rs 6,455 crore for 2019-20, protection against chickenpox infection which is nearly 20 percent of the total seen during childhood. education budget of Rs 32,618 crore of  The study was supported by a core grant Andhra Pradesh. from the Department of Biotechnology  The Jagan Reddy government has also (DBT) to National Institute of taken funds from other departments. The Immunology, New Delhi. AP government has released the final list of all the beneficiaries.  All the applicants who have registered for Telangana Industrial Health Clinic to spread this scheme can check the Jaganna wings Amma Vodi eligibility list now on the official website of AP government.  The Telangana Industrial Health Clinic Ltd, an initiative of the Telangana State New pneumococcal vaccine from Serum government, has decided to extend its Institute of India achieves WHO services at pan India level. prequalification  It was established in 2018 as a fintech Non-Banking Finance Company (NBFC).  Pneumococcal vaccine developed by the  It is a diagnostic and curative initiative for Pune-based Serum Institute of India has Micro and Small Manufacturing 81 CHAHAL ACADEMY

Enterprises (MSMEs) from slipping into providing an assessment of ‘fitness for sickness. purpose.’  It is promoted by State Government of  Nurses and midwives play a vital role in Telangana and anchored by Telangana providing health services and are key Industrial Development Corporation contributors to the achievement of (TSIDC). Universal Health Coverage.  It is very essential to acknowledge, Objectives appreciate and address their contribution 1. Prevent the incipient sickness in micro in challenging global health and nursing and small manufacturing enterprises care. WHO have designated 43 (MSEs) academic centres as Collaborating 2. Perform service offerings for Revival, Centres for Nursing and Midwifery. Restructuring and Rehabilitation of MSEs 3. Promote investments in manufacturing MSEs in clusters across the State Mission Shat Pratishat launched by Punjab 4. Prepare the MSEs to participate in the government Equity markets to achieve next growth levels.  The Mission Shat Pratishat was launched by the Punjab education department with an objective to further improve the results of government “Year of Nurse and Midwife” schools in comparison to the past years.  World Health Organization (WHO)  The Mission is launched to achieve 100 designated the year 2020 as the ‘Year of per cent result in classes 5, 8, 10, and 12 the Nurse and the Midwife’ in honour of of government schools. the 200th birth anniversary of Florence  The examination will be conducted by Nightingale. the Punjab School Education Board in  WHO is the collaborating partner in the another three months. three-year ’Nursing Now!’ Campaign

(2018–2020).  This campaign aims to improve health Kolkata Police to start third edition of globally by raising the status and profile 'Sukanya' project of nursing, demonstrating what more can be achieved by a strengthened nursing  Kolkata Police started the third edition of profession, and enabling nurses to its 'Sukanya' project on 6 January 2020 maximise their contribution to achieving to provide girls studying in schools and Universal Health Coverage. colleges in the city with self-defence  The first ever international year of the training. nurse and midwife will be held in 2020, it  Girl students of VIII, IX, XI and girls has been confirmed, providing a “once in studying in the first year at educational a generation opportunity” to showcase institutions in this area will be part of it. the professions.  Sukanya is an initiative of the Kolkata  WHO is leading the development of the Police's Community Policing Wing to first-ever State of the World’s Nursing provide self-defence training to girl Report, which will be launched in 2020. students of city-based schools, colleges This report will describe the nursing and universities. workforce in WHO Member States

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 The initiative is funded by Women and  The app will serve as a bridge between Child Development and Social Welfare employment provider and the trained Department of the state government. youth and the former could contact them as per their requirements. This will also provide options of job to the trained India's first university for transgender youth and they could also be able to community to come up in UP's Kushinagar choose their employer as per their skill and choice.  India’s first university for transgender  Information of trained youths from more community will be opened in Uttar than 400 courses has been incorporated Pradesh's Kushinagar district to facilitate in the app and any of the employment its members to study right from class one company or any individual could post his to PG and even do research and get vacancy in the app. PhD degree.  The university, which will come up in Fazilnagar block of Kushinagar district, is MEDICAL TERMINATION OF being built by the Akhil Bhartiya Kinnar PREGNANCY (MTP) ACT, 1971 Siksha Seva Trust (All-India transgender education service trust). Why in news?

 The Union Cabinet has approved changes to the Medical Termination of MHA issues revised norms for mutual legal Pregnancy (MTP) Act, 1971 in order to assistance treaties increase the upper limit for termination of  The Union home ministry has issued a pregnancy from 20 weeks to 24 weeks. revised guidelines for mutual legal  The Medical Termination of Pregnancy assistance in criminal matters with other (MTP) Act, 1971 provides for termination nations as part of the government's of pregnancy only up to 20 weeks. policy of zero tolerance for crime and in  If an unwanted pregnancy has an endeavour to fast- track the proceeded beyond 20 weeks, women dispensation of justice. have to approach a medical board and  India has signed Mutual Legal Courts to seek permission for Assistance Treaties (MLAT) with 42 termination, which is an extremely countries for cooperation in criminal difficult and cumbersome process. matters and the home ministry is the  According to Section 3 (2) of the MTP designated 'central authority' for the Act, 1971 a pregnancy may be country for it. terminated by a registered medical practitioner where the length of the Chhattisgrah launches mobile app of CSSDA pregnancy does not exceed twelve weeks or where the length of the  Chhattisgrah government on 14 January pregnancy exceeds twelve weeks but 2020 launched ‘Rojgar Sangi’, a mobile does not exceed twenty weeks app of Chhattisgarh State Skill Development Authority (CSSDA).  CSSDA has prepared the app in a bid to provide employment to the trained youths under their skill development

programme.

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Where the length of the pregnancy exceeds twelve weeks but does not exceed twenty weeks, in this case, the abortion will take place, TUBERCULOSIS CONTROL if not less than two registered medical PROGRAMME RENAMED, TO FOCUS ON practitioners are of opinion, that the continuance of the pregnancy would involve a risk to the life ELIMINATION of the pregnant woman (her physical or mental Why in news? health); or there is a substantial risk that if the child were born, it would suffer from some On 1 January 2020, India’s TB control physical or mental abnormalities to be seriously  handicapped. programme is no longer known as the Revised National TB Control Programme (RNTCP), and has been rechristened as  The law does not accommodate non- the National Tuberculosis Elimination medical concerns over the economic Programme (NTEP). costs of raising a child, effects on career  The change in name is in line with the decisions, or any other personal larger goal of eliminating the disease by considerations. 2025, five years ahead of the o The law says, for minors- written consent Sustainable Development Goals target. from the guardian is required, and  The change in name is expected to give o Unmarried women cannot cite “huge thrust to the people working for contraceptive failure as a reason for elimination of tuberculosis from the top to abortion. bottom and the general population”.  It might be recalled that both in the case Provisions of Proposed Bill of leprosy and polio, the national  The requirement of the opinion of one programme underwent a name change registered medical practitioner (instead to align with the larger goal. In the case of two or more) for termination of of leprosy, the name was changed from pregnancy up to 20 weeks of gestation National Leprosy Control Program to (time between conception and birth). National Leprosy Eradication Program in  The requirement of the opinion of two 1983. Similarly, for polio, the name of the registered medical practitioners for programme was changed from National termination of pregnancy of 20 to 24 Program for Control of Poliomyelitis to weeks. Polio Eradication Program in India.  Increase the upper gestation limit (for  The goal to end TB by 2025 got a much abortion) from 20 to 24 weeks for needed boost with the World Health survivors of rape, victims of incest Organization stating that the (human sexual activity between family indigenously developed molecular test members or close relatives) and other (TrueNat MTB) for diagnosing pulmonary vulnerable women, including minor girls. and extrapulmonary TB and rifampicin-  For unmarried women, the Bill seeks to resistant TB has high diagnostic relax the contraceptive-failure condition. accuracy. Being battery-operated, the  Earlier “only married woman or her diagnostic tool will be used in peripheral husband” were allowed to medically TB centres in India. This will help reduce terminate the pregnancy, but the Bill the delay in diagnosis and enable early proposes the same for “any woman or initiation of treatment to break the her partner”. transmission cycle and achieve better cure rates.

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INDIAN SYSTEM OF MEDICINE BILL, COMPOSITE REGIONAL CENTRE (CRC) 2019 Why in news? Why in news?  The Ministry of Social Justice and  The Union Cabinet on January 29, 2020, Empowerment launched the Composite approved the official amendments to Regional Centre (CRC) for skill National Commission for Indian System development, empowerment of persons of Medicine bill, 2019. The bill is currently and rehabilitation in Port Blair. pending in Rajya Sabha.  The Composite Regional Centres in India  The amendments will introduce are located in Kozhikode, Bhopal, necessary regulatory reforms in the Lucknow, Patna, Guwahati, Srinagar, Indian System of Medicine Education. Ahmedabad, Mandi and Suraghi  It will also enhance transparency and (Chhattisgarh). accountability towards the public. It will  The CRCs are centers set under the promote affordable health care services Ministry of Social Justice and in all parts of the country. Empowerment in order to create  National Commission for Indian system infrastructure and resources for persons of Medicine (NCIM): The main objective with disabilities. of establishing NCIM is to ensure an  These centers focus on locals rather adequate supply of skilled medical than urban areas. professionals and also increase ethical standards of medical standards of the Indian System of Medicine. WORLD NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES DAY (WORLD NTD DAY)

NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR Why in news? HOMEOPATHY BILL, 2019  January 30, 2020, is the first-ever World Why in news? Neglected Tropical Diseases Day(World NTD Day), a day when we celebrate the  On January 29, 2020, the Union Cabinet achievements made towards control of approved National Commission for the world’s NTDs, yet recognize the homeopathy bill, 2019. daunting challenges we face in the  The bill is being introduced for the control and elimination of these following amendments conditions. o To introduce reforms in the field of Policies on neglected diseases research in Homeopathy education India o To enable accountability and transparency in protecting the interests  The National Health Policy (2017)sets an of the general public. ambition to stimulate innovation to meet  The Homeopathy Central Council act, health needs and ensure that new drugs 1973 is currently governing the are affordable for those who need them Homeopathy education and practices in most, but it does not specifically tackle the country. The act has been extracted neglected diseases. based on the Indian Medical Council Act,  The National Policy on Treatment of 1956. Rare Diseases (2018)includes infectious tropical diseases and identifies a need to

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support research on treatments for rare ruled parts of Central and South India diseases. It has not yet prioritized centuries ago. diseases and areas for research funding or how innovation would be supported. Findings of Excavation  A comprehensive policy to foster  Excavations provided concrete evidence research and innovation in drug on the life, religious affiliations and trade discovery, diagnostics, and vaccine practices of the Vakataka dynasty that development in neglected tropical ruled parts of Central and South India diseases is lacking. between the third and fifth centuries.  While political intent and will are After a 1,500 year-old sealing was expressed in a few, clear operational excavated for the first time, a new study plans and funding mechanisms are not in Numismatic Digest has tried to specified. Consequently, follow-up action understand the Vakataka rule under is patchy or absent. Queen Prabhavatigupta.  No institutional mechanism exists at a  Earlier results from the excavations here national level to identify gaps in had traced evidence in the form of neglected diseases research, set ceramics, ear studs of glass, antiquities, priorities, liaise with research institutions, bowls and pots, a votive shrine and tank, or monitor research output. an iron chisel, a stone depicting a deer,  There is often no coordination between and terracotta bangles. Some terracotta the various funding and research bodies objects even depicted images of gods, to prioritize the research agenda and animals and humans, along with minimize duplication. amulets, scotches, wheels, skin rubbers and spindle whorls.

 An intact idol of Lord Ganesha, which had no ornaments adorned, too was found from the site.

MAINS Why are the findings on Queen Prabhavatigupta significant?

GENERAL STUDIES I  The Vakataka rulers were known to have (INDIAN HERITAGE AND forged several matrimonial alliances with CULTURE, HISTORY AND other dynasties of their times. One of the key alliances was with Prabhavatigupta GEOGRAPHY OF THE WORLD AND of the mighty Gupta dynasty, which was SOCIETY) then ruling north India. The Guptas, NAGARDHAN EXCAVATIONS researchers say, were way more powerful than the Vakatakas. Why in news?  After marrying Vakataka king Rudrasena II, Prabhavatigupta enjoyed the position  Recent archaeological excavations at of Chief Queen. When she took over the Nagardhan in Ramtek taluka, near Vakataka kingdom, after the sudden Nagpur, have provided range of demise of Rudrasena II, her stature as a information about 3rd to 5th centuries AD woman Vakataka ruler rose significantly.  At Nagardhan near Nagpur, recent  Scholars say Queen Prabhavatigupta excavations have brought new clarity on was among a handful of women rulers in the life, religious affiliations and trade India to have reigned over any kingdom practices of the Vakataka dynasty, which during ancient times. Also, there had 86 CHAHAL ACADEMY

been no evidence so far of any  But jallikattu is considered as a barbaric successor female ruler within the sport that often results in the death of its Vakataka dynasty, the researchers animal and human participants. suggest. Jallikattu: A bloody Spot Why is the sign of Vaishnava affiliation important?  Jallikattu traces its genesis to the Tamil classical period (400-100 BC). The term  The Vakataka rulers followed the Shaiva jallikattu comes from the Tamil words sect of Hinduism while the Guptas were “salli kaasu” — while “salli” means coins, staunch Vaishnavites. Excavators say “kattu” is the package tied to a bull’s that many religious structures indicating horns as prize money. affinity to the Vaishnava sect, and found  Typically, bulls of specific varieties are let in Ramtek, were built during the reign of out into a crowd of human participants, Queen Prabhavatigupta. While she was who attempt to grab the animal by its married into a family that belonged to the hump and stop it from escaping. Shaiva sect, the queen’s powers allowed  For farmers, jallikattu holds enormous her to choose a deity of worship, that is, cultural significance. It is a moment to Lord Vishnu. exhibit their own strength and those of  Some of the temples identified as Keval their bulls, whom they claim to love. Narasihma, Rudra Narasimha and the  The sport celebrates the spirit of the one dedicated to Varaha could be traced hard-working Tamil farmer, who toils day to Ramtek, and showcase strong affinity and night on the farm with the help of his to the incarnations of Lord Vishnu. None bulls. of these religious structures was, however, present here until the Queen Opposition View took the throne.  Bulls are almost invariably assaulted during the sport and often intoxicated.  It has been alleged that bull owners often JALLIKATTU rub lime juice and chilli powder into the animal’s eyes and genitals to make them Why in news? ferocious.  The four-day harvest festival of Pongal  Bulls are often stabbed with knives or began, also marking the start of jallikattu, sticks, punched, jumped on and swept a controversial bull-taming “sport” that across the floor as the human involves aggressive confrontation participants try to tame them. between cattle and humans and is  Also, the article 51A of the constitution popular in Tamil Nadu. which includes our fundamental duties  Jallikattu was banned by the Supreme and states that citizens should safeguard Court in 2014, but the Tamil Nadu and the wildlife and forests and have central government reversed the bar compassion for living creatures. because of the widespread protests in the state.  According to supporters, the ban was an assault on Tamil pride and jallikattu helps them identify strong bulls for breeding.

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GENERAL STUDIES II by Brazil (60th), India (76th) and South (GOVERNANCE, CONSTITUTION, Africa (77th). POLITY, SOCIAL JUSTICE AND Performance of India INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS)  India has been ranked very low at 76th SOCIAL MOBILITY INDEX RELEASED BY place out of 82 countries. WEF  The areas of improvement for India include social protection (76th) and fair Why in news? wage distribution (79th).  World Economic Forum (WEF) has  It lists India among the five countries that releaseda new Social Mobility Index. stand to gain the most from a better  Report measured countries across five social mobility score. key dimensions distributed over 10 pillars  It ranks 41st in lifelong learning and 53rd health; education (access, quality and in working conditions. equity); technology; work (opportunities,  In terms of prevalence of wages, conditions); and protections and malnourishment, India was the worst institutions (social protection and performer; Ghana, whose overall rank is inclusive institutions) shows that fair 70, topped the category. wages, social protection and lifelong  India ranked 76th on the health access learning are the biggest drags on social and quality index, harmonised learning mobility globally. outcomes index, and the fixed-  The Global Social Mobility Index reveals broadband Internet subscriptions index. that there are only a handful of nations  In terms of work opportunities, India has with the right conditions to foster social the second-highest level of workers in mobility. vulnerable employment in the ranking (76.2%), behind Saudi Arabia and a low Global Performance female labour participation rate (29.8% of the male labour participation)  The top five are all Scandinavian, topped  India also needs structural reforms to be by Denmark, while the five economies able to provide fair wages, and its social with the most to gain from boosting protection net is very low as compared to social mobility are China, the United its regional peers. India’s overall social States, India, Japan and Germany. expenditure is very low at 2.68% of GDP.  The most socially mobile societies in the world are all European. Analysis  Among the G7 economies, Germany is the most socially mobile, ranking 11th  According to the report, if all the with 78 points, followed by France in economies on the index are able to 12th position. improve their social mobility score by 10  Canada comes next (14th), followed by points, the GDP would increase by 4.4% Japan (15th), the United Kingdom (21st), by 2030 on top of the societal benefits the United States (27th) and Italy (34th). such investments would bring.  Among the world's large emerging  Low social mobility is also both the cause economies, the Russian Federation is and consequence of rising inequalities the most socially mobile of the BRICS and has adverse consequences for grouping, ranking 39th, with a score of social cohesion and inclusive growth. 64 points. Next is China (45th), followed  It will also have a profound effect on future generations as large gaps

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between parents will result in bigger registered in 2018, showing an increase gaps in access to education and of 10.3% over 95,893 such cases in opportunities for children. 2017  The social and economic consequences  The incidents registered under the of inequality are profound and far- Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes reaching: a growing sense of unfairness, related Acts saw a decline from 6729 precarity, perceived loss of identity and incidents reported in 2017 to 4816 in dignity, weakening social fabric, eroding 2018. trust in institutions, disenchantment with  A total of 29,017 cases of murder were political processes, and an erosion of the registered in 2018, showing an increase social contract. of 1.3% over 2017 (28,653 cases).  Technology has had a big impact on  A total of 76,851 cases of offences inequality as it reduces demand for low- against public tranquillity were registered skilled jobs and rewards high-skilled jobs in 2018, out of which rioting, 57,828 disproportionately. cases, accounted for 75.2% of total such  The response by business and cases. government must include a concerted  As many as 27,248 cases of cyber- effort to create new pathways to crimes were registered in 2018, up from socioeconomic mobility, ensuring 21796 cases in 2017. everyone has fair opportunities for  In 2018, 76,851 cases were registered success. under the category “Offences against Public Tranquillity”.

 This was a decline from 2017 which saw CRIME IN INDIA INCREASED BY 1.3% IN 78,051 such cases. 2018: NCRB  Almost 90% of all such offences were associated with rioting while the rest Why in news? were under “Unlawful Assembly” (popularly known as Section 144 of  National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), CrPC). works under the Ministry of Home Affairs,  Compare this with riots for other reasons has released 2018 edition of 'Crime in such as communal, student’s agitation, India' statistics. political and agrarian. According to the NCRB, political riots fell by almost 25% Highlights of the Report in 2018 over 2017.  Crime in India has increased by 1.3% in  Communal riots fell by almost 30% in the 2018 compared to 2017 with the same period. registration of over 50 lakh cognisable  Caste conflicts too declined by almost crimes. 20%. Student conflicts marginally fell by  A total of 50.74 lakh crimes, including about 10%, while agrarian riots recorded 31.32 lakh under the Indian Penal Code a decline of over 35%. (IPC) and 19.41 under the Special Local  Accidental deaths have also seen a rise Laws (SLL) were registered in 2018. to 4,11,824 in 2018 from 3,96,584 in  There was an overall rise of 1.3% in the 2017 -- a rise to 31.1% from 30.3% in registration of cases in 2017, but crime 2017. rate per lakh population was down to  The majority of the suicides were 383.5 in 2018 from 388.6 in 2017. reported in Maharashtra (17,972)  A total of 1.05 lakh cases of kidnapping followed by Tamil Nadu (13,896), West and abduction across the country were 89 CHAHAL ACADEMY

Bengal (13,255), Madhya Pradesh grocery stores and fast food outlets in (11,775) and Karnataka (11,561). New Delhi.  According to the report, 3,78,277 cases  To calculate this, the organisation relied of crime against women were reported in on the concept of the recommended the country, up from 3,59,849 in 2017. dietary allowance (RDA).  Uttar Pradesh topped the list with 59,445  Ideally, an adult should consume no cases, followed by Maharashtra (35,497) more than 5g of salt, 60g of fat, 300g and West Bengal (30,394). carbohydrate and 2.2 g of transfat every  Clarifications on data were pending from day. West Bengal, Arunachal, Meghalaya,  Further, the RDA from breakfast, lunch Sikkim and Kolkata. Hence, the data and dinner should not be more than 25% from these states and city may be and that from snacks (assumed to be treated as provisional. those munched between meals), must be  The number of suicides in farming sector no more than 10%. Thus, a snack should in 2018 accounts for 7.7 per cent of the ideally have no more than 0.5g of salt total suicide victims (1,34,516) in the and 6g of fat. country. What is the law on disclosing nutritional  West Bengal, Bihar, Odisha, components? Uttarakhand, Meghalaya, Goa, Chandigarh, Daman and Diu, Delhi,  Though regulations are under Lakshadweep and Puducherry reported discussions since 2015 and several zero suicides of farmers or cultivators drafts have come out on them, they have and agricultural labourers during 2018. yet to become law, and to be operationalised.  In 2018, the FSSAI came up with a draft law, the Food Safety and Standards WHY IS IT TAKING SO LONG TO LABEL (Labelling and Display) Regulations, FAST FOOD? 2018, which recommended that a packet Why in news? should have clear information on how much each nutrient, such as salt, sugar,  The Centre for Science and Environment contributed to the RDA. The draft said (CSE) unveiled a new study which salt must be declared as sodium chloride showed that salt and fat in an array of for instance, and that those ingredients “junk food” was well above proposed which breached the RDA should be regulatory thresholds. However, the marked in ‘red’. findings are significant as the Food  Instead, a third committee was formed, Safety and Standards Authority of India headed by B. Sesikeran. Based on this (FSSAI) is yet to make into law draft committee’s recommendations, a new regulations on setting limits, and draft (Draft Food Safety and Standards publicising information, about nutrients in (Labelling and Display) Regulations, fast and packaged foods. 2019) was prepared.  It requires packaged food companies to How did the Centre for Science and declare nutritional information such as Environment (CSE) conduct the study? calories (energy), saturated fat, trans-fat, added sugar and sodium per serve on  Its Environment Monitoring Laboratory the front of the pack. tested salts, fat, trans-fat and carbohydrates in 33 foods samples from

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 The food labels also need to declare, per Recommended Dietary Allowance serve percentage contribution to RDA on  Estimated amount of a nutrient (or the front of the pack. calories) per day for the maintenance of good health Why is industry opposed to the proposed  Based on scientific consensus and has laws? been agreed upon by World Health Organisation, and the National Institute  Other than the red labels, the norms are of Nutrition in India. unscientific and that packaged food is  No more than 5 gm of salt, 60 gm of fat, 300 gm carbohydrate and 2.2 gm of made to cater to the “taste” of people. transfat should be consumed by an adult  Immense quantities of junk food — think every day. samosas or fried food sold on  RDA from each breakfast, lunch and unregulated pushcarts — are consumed dinner should be no more than 25%, and in the country with no check on their that from snacks no more than 10%. nutritional status and there is an inherent unfairness in regulating one section alone.  Because nutritional information only guides consumers on how to regulate CHINA, MYANMAR their intake, the industry feels people Why in news? should be advised on what makes a healthy diet, the role of exercise and  China and Myanmar inked 33 deals consuming appropriate amounts of food. aimed at speeding up key infrastructure They claim the current regulations only projects to provide Beijing a stepping contribute to fear-mongering. stone to the Indian Ocean.  33 agreements covers areas such as Why have not the FSSAI moved on the draft? politics, trade, investment and people-to-  To brand packaged food in different people communications, shoring up colours sends out the message that they mammoth projects that are part of the are unsafe or “toxic”; this would be flagship Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), counterproductive to the larger aim of China's vision of new trade routes having a regulated but viable packaged described as a “21st century Silk road”. food industry and people being educated  The main focus of the agreement signed about their food choices. between the two nations appeared to be on the implementation of the China What is the practice internationally? Myanmar Economic Corridor (CMEC), which is akin to the 60 USD billion dollar  Chile has a system where a black China-Pakistan Economic Corridor hexagon in a white border appears on (CPEC). the front of a package. In the hexagon is  CMEC is also a giant connectivity project a phrase that says a product is “high in linking the landlocked south-western salt” or “high in trans-fat.” China to the Indian Ocean.  Surveys undertaken by the WHO show  The two countries signed a concession that a vast majority of European agreement and shareholders’ agreement countries have some form of front-of- for the Kyaukphyu Special Economic pack labelling, but fewer countries have Zone (SEZ) deep seaport project. interpretive systems which explain the  The port will link the land locked Yunnan health factor of foods. province of China directly to the Indian Ocean allowing China to bypass the 91 CHAHAL ACADEMY

Strait of Malacca through which it imports other incentives, there could be a sizeable amount of oil and gas. pressures on the India-Myanmar  Myanmar and China also signed 13 more relationship. agreements to strengthen collaboration  With Myanmar seemingly drawing closer in the infrastructure sector including to China under pressure from the West, roads, rail connectivity and power Beijing could attempt to keep the country interconnection projects. under its influence like it does in the case  The two sides did not address a of Cambodia and Laos. The latter two controversial $3.6 billion Beijing-backed have been chief supporters of Beijing Myitsone dam, where work has been within the Association of Southeast Asian stalled since 2011 due to local protests Nations, making sure the grouping does and cost considerations. not take any tough anti-China postures on issues like the South China Sea Impact on India dispute. The addition of Myanmar to Laos and Cambodia could also weaken For India, China making inroads along its ASEAN from within. periphery in South Asia has been a major source of concern.

 Through the construction of the US-IRAN STANDOFF AND IMPACTS Kyaukpyu port, China will be making its INDIA presence felt on India’s eastern flank. It is a matter of major concern given that Why in news? India is already wary of China’s presence at Gwadar in Pakistan (in the west) and  United States assassinated high-ranking Hambantota in Sri Lanka (in the south). Iranian military and intelligence official Kyaukpyu could end up being a “dual Qasem Soleimani in a drone strike at use" facility – ie for military as well as Baghdad International Airport on 3 commercial uses. January 2020 along with several other  For China a port in Kyaukpyu will make it Iran-backed officials operating in Iraq. easier to export goods made in its Yunan This has potentially pushed the countries province rather than through Shanghai or to the brink of war and has been caught Guangzhou. India will have to stretch its in a cycle of tit-for-tat actions after US security capabilities to monitor Chinese pulled itself out of a nuclear accord with activities in the Bay of Bengal. Tehran aimed at ending decades of  China’s increased presence in Myanmar tension. could mean constraints on India that  In response to it, the Indian Navy also wishes to deepen cooperation with deployed warships in the Gulf region on Myanmar. One of the reasons for this 8 January 2020 to protect the country’s has been that India’s northeast is riven trade routes, and to deal with any with insurgencies. Though New Delhi emergent situation. has taken steps in recent years to sign Issue peace agreements with several groups in the region, the situation still needs  The roots of the latest Iran-US crisis go careful attention. India and Myanmar back to 2018, when US President Donald have conducted several military Trump walked away from the Iranian operations along their borders in close nuclear deal. cooperation with each other. With China  Then, it further got escalated when moving in with armed with economic and American officials blamed Iran for 92 CHAHAL ACADEMY

attacking two oil tankers on 13 June having said this, it is highly unlikely that 2019 in or near the Strait of Hormuz. the U.S. would undertake the  On 30 December 2019, the Trump misadventure of attacking Iran. administration announced the Implications on India deployment of 1,000 additional troops and extra military resources to the Middle  With the economy languishing at a sub- East and assassinated the commander five per cent GDP growth for the past two of Iran’s elite Quds Force, Qasem quarters, and retail inflation overshooting Soleimani. the five per cent mark, the last thing that  Hewas considered as the architect of the the country needed was an exterior nation’s military, intelligence operations, shock that made situation worse and a close confidant of Supreme Leader especially economically. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.  India and Iran share deep economic,  On other side, the US used to tag him as political, strategic ties going back a terrorist and one of the world’s most centuries- they also shared a 959 km dangerous men, aiding Syrian President border till 1947, before it became Bashar Al-Asad in the Syrian Civil war Pakistan’s border with Iran. Persia used and causing the deaths of hundreds of to be the language of Delhi’s courts till Americans during the Iraq war. Urdu edged it out.  Now, Iran has announced that it will fully  India's exports to the Persian Gulf withdraw from the Joint Comprehensive nations: Iran is a key trading partner of Plan of Action (JCPOA), commonly India. Its major exports to India are oil, known as the Iran nuclear deal. fertilisers and chemicals, while it imports  It is being anticipated as the most cereals, tea, coffee, basmati rice, spices aggressive action, which triggered the and organic chemicals, among others. US and Iran towards a possible state of  Endanger jobs of Indians in Arabian Gulf: war by exposing the region to an Considered India’s most important alarming tragedy. neighbourhood, primary concern is Global Scenario safety of the 10 million strong Indian diaspora in West Asia. Heightened  The economies of the Gulf countries, tensions can trigger their exodus to India. who are the main suppliers of oil, and the  Endanger 40 dollar billion remittances economies in the East, which are rapidly Indians receive from West Asia growing economies, would be the ones  Impact India's oil supplies: At the macro who would suffer. This would cause not level, every dollar increase in prices on a just a regional chaos but a much larger, permanent basis would increase the global chaos. country's import bill by roughly $1.6  As a consequence, one can witness billion (around Rs 11, 482 crore) per downtrends in global growth rates; annum. Next, the increase in the price of downtrends in the global economy, etc. crude oil has a significant impact on The IMF has already pointed out that the inflation as it drives monetary policy U.S.- China trade war has already decisions. Therefore, any increase in the shrunk the global economy this year by price of crude oil would tend to impact 0.5%. the WPI inflation number  The tensions in West Asia would add on commensurately. to this percentage of slowdown. Thus,  Inflation could rise if Strait of Hormuz is the economic impacts of the tensions in affected: Iran may block Strait of Hormuz West Asia are very high. However, 93 CHAHAL ACADEMY

which is a strategic choke point which in turn would affect global trade.  Development of the Chabahar port: It DISQUALIFICATION POWERS OF may impact on Chabahar port project if SPEAKERS AND SETUP AN US impose more sanctions on INDEPENDENT TRIBUNAL: SC Iran.However, India would need to weigh against this the strategic relationship it Why in news? has with the US. India would need to  Supreme Court (SC) asked Parliament to balance here interests very carefully, i.e. ponder over the power of the Speaker in with Iran and with the US. deciding petitions seeking disqualification Given the trend in oil prices, it is likely  of lawmakers, as the Speaker also that fuel prices will increase. Domestic belong to a political party. It also fuel prices are already at a 13-month suggested that an independent high in India, so in the event of a further mechanism should be set up to deal with hike, the government will need to disqualification pleas against lawmakers. consider slashing taxes on fuel (excise duty by the Centre and value added Two important declarations made by SC taxes by the states), which, in turn, can make a dent on its revenues and widen  First, the three-judge bench said that the the fiscal deficit. Speakers of both the state assemblies  Impact on aircraft industry: US have and the Parliament have to decide on cancelled airlines from US to India disqualification petitions for members because they pass over Iran which would within three months except for the affect airspace industry. existence of an extraordinary  India needs to be prepared for the worst circumstance. It also held that courts possible scenario. India should definitely have the powers to intervene if the keep an independent policy and ensure proceedings are delayed. that its interests are kept as paramount  Second, the court recommended to such as that of energy security, the Parliament that it strongly considers security situation in the region, and how removing the Speakers’ disqualification the relationship between the western powers and forming an independent powers and Iran develops, are important tribunal to take up these petitions. The for India. rationale for this suggestion is that Speakers invariably come from the ruling Way forward parties and act in a partisan manner.  SC held that disqualification petitions Mr. Trump did well to step back and not  under the tenth schedule should be push the Gulf region into a disastrous adjudicated by a new mechanism cycle of violence and destruction. (independent tribunal), outside  The international community should now Parliament or Legislative Assemblies, push for a diplomatic settlement of the headed by a retired Supreme Court crisis and find ways to revive the nuclear judge or a former High Court Chief deal which could bring long-term peace Justice. This would require an to the Gulf. amendment to the Constitution.  Iran should seize this opportunity for de- escalation.  India has also sought to prioritise its ties

with Israel over Palestine.

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Consequences of this judgement fullest. Though the proposed independent tribunal would have former  The judgement is a significant judges as their head, it allows for the intervention in light of repeated Centre to have a say in an area where it controversies over the implementation of had absolutely no say till now. This is the anti-defection laws aimed at halting because the Centre will be involved in the movement of house members from one way or the other in the appointment one party to another, often after an of those in charge of the tribunal. On the inducement. It could have far-reaching other hand, the Speaker is elected by a consequences for legislative assemblies. majority of members in the House, who  The crucial aspect of this judgement is its in turn are elected by the people. explanation for when a court could intervene in the disqualification process. The bench held that the Constitution prohibits judicial intervention to protect ARTICLE 19 the legislator from the Speaker’s action Why in news? before the petition is decided. This means that the court cannot issue an  The Supreme Court said the complete interim order protecting the MLA or the suspension of telecom and internet MP from disqualification proceedings. services indefinitely is impermissible and What the law does not prohibit is the directed the Jammu and Kashmir administration to review “forthwith” all the court enforcing disqualification orders suspending them. proceedings, which are quasi-judicial in  The court directed the government to character, when they are unnecessarily “forthwith” review its orders suspending delayed. Internet services in Jammu and Kashmir,  The problem faced by assemblies is that the court merely confined itself to the Speaker, being a member of the declaring that the freedoms of speech, ruling party, often delays disqualification expression and conducting business on the Internet are fundamental rights proceedings that could hurt his party’s integral to Article 19 of the Constitution prospects. This problem was done away and subject to reasonable restrictions. with by imposing a time restriction of Internet shutdowns cannot be arbitrary three months for the Speaker to make a and can be challenged in courts. decision.  The Supreme Court declined to express  Whenever a Speaker delays his any views on whether “access to Internet” is a fundamental right. decision, the opposing parties will have  However, for Kashmir, the court did not the right to approach the court, where the test the legality of the shutdown and has Speaker may have to explain what the instead directed the government to extraordinary circumstance that led to review the orders. the delay was. If there was none, the  Any order suspending internet must court could order the process to be adhere to the principle of proportionality undertaken swiftly. and must not extend beyond necessary  Thus, having brought the process under duration.

the scope of judicial review, the recommendation to Parliament to strip What are the legal provisions? Speakers of disqualification powers looks excessive.  Until 2 years ago, shutdowns were  The position of the Speaker inside the imposed largely under Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC). This House is one of the few areas where gave the police and district magistrate federal sovereignty is enjoyed in its 95 CHAHAL ACADEMY

powers to prevent unlawful gatherings of What can an individual affected by an people and “direct any person to abstain Internet shutdown do? from a certain act".  In August 2017, the Centre promulgated  An individual can challenge the orders the Temporary Suspension of Telecom particularly one that affects lives, liberty Services (Public Emergency or Public and property of people in court on Safety) Rules, 2017. It did this under the grounds of proportionality. authority granted to it by the Indian  While suspension orders were always Telegraph Act, 1885. subject to judicial review, lack of  These rules trace the legal source of the availability of such orders in public power to issue shutdown orders to the domain prevented such challenges Union home secretary or the secretary in before courts. The court also ruled that charge of the home department in a the government cannot refuse to publish state. such orders citing logistical  This order must then be forwarded to a inconvenience. review committee, which is required to decide on its reasonability within 5 working days. DISSENT AS A 'SYMBOL OF A DEMOCRACY’

What are the concerns with 2017 rules? Why in news?

 The 2017 Shutdown Rules result in  In the past few days, the nation saw arbitrary shutdown orders due to widespread protests against the inadequate oversight and safeguards.  In effect, a specific legal basis for Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) and internet shutdowns has enhanced the National Register of Citizens (NRC). general power under Section 144 of the Thus, the Supreme Court (SC) had CrPC, rather than displacing it. recognized dissent as a “symbol of a  The 2017 rules also list the vibrant democracy”. circumstances under which the government may order shutdowns. Understanding Dissent and its significance These include situations of public emergency, or to ensure public safety.  Dissent is a sentiment or philosophy of non-agreement or opposition to a prevailing idea or an entity. A citizen has What does the judgment say on the rules to a right to dissent without fear of be followed? victimisation — as long as such dissent  2017 Rules are the only procedure to be does not lead to inhuman or followed to suspend Internet services in unconstitutional action. Right to dissent the occurrence of a “public emergency” comes within the ambit of Right to or for it to be “in the interest of public freedom of speech and expression safety”. enshrined in the constitution.  The competent authority to issue an  Protests play a crucial role in the civil, order under the Suspension Rules, in ordinary circumstances, would be the political, economic, social and cultural Secretary to the Ministry of Home Affairs. landscape of any progressive The Rules also say that in case the democracy. confirmation does not come from a competent authority, the orders shall cease to exist within a period of 24 hours.

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Observations of SC in dissent cases “The strength of a nation is not gauged by the uniformity of opinion of its citizens or a public Highlighting the importance of dissent in profession of patriotism. The true strength of a democracies, the SC said that “Dissent is the nation is revealed when it does not feel safety valve of democracy”. threatened by its citizens expressing revolutionary views; when there is a free and  In Bhima-Koregaon violence, Individuals open press that can criticise the government; who assert causes that may be and when citizens do not resort to violence against their fellow citizens, merely for unpopular to the echelons of power are expressing a contrary view. That is when we will yet entitled to the freedoms which are have achieved liberty of speech. And that is guaranteed by the Constitution. Dissent when we will be truly free.” -Justice A.P Shah is a symbol of a vibrant democracy. Voices in opposition cannot be muzzled “Blind belief in authority is the greatest enemy of by persecuting those who take up truth.” ― Albert Einstein unpopular causes “One has a moral responsibility to disobey unjust  In Kharak Singh case, Movement under laws.” ― Martin Luther King Jr. the scrutinizing gaze of a policeman is not free movement. The whole country is “It is the first responsibility of every citizen to his jail. Restrictions cannot be imposed question authority.” ― Benjamin Franklin on free speech and dissent on the basis of the “personal sensitiveness”. Neither “In questions of science, the authority of a thousand is not worth the humble reasoning of a life nor liberty is bounties conferred by single individual.” ― Galileo Galilei the State.  In the Shreya Singhal judgment, “Give me the liberty to know, to utter, and to Protected and innocent speech” cannot argue freely according to conscience, above all be curtailed on vague grounds that it was liberties”. – John Milton. “grossly offensive” or “causes annoyance “If there is anything that links the human to the or inconvenience”. What offends, annoys divine, it is the courage to stand by a principle or inconveniences one may not have the when everybody else rejects it.” ― Abraham same effect on another. Lincoln  Pre-marital sex case: The free flow of opinions and ideas is essential to sustain the collective life of the citizenry. An informed citizenry is a pre-condition for

meaningful governance.

Famous quotes on dissent CRIMINALISATION OF POLITICS “Never be afraid to raise your voice for honesty Why in news? and truth and compassion against injustice and lying and greed. If people all over the  The Supreme Court agreed to examine a world...would do this, it would change the earth.” ― William Faulkner proposition made by the Election Commission (EC) to ask political parties “Silence becomes cowardice when occasion to not give ticket to those with criminal demands speaking out the whole truth and antecedents. acting accordingly.” ― Mahatma Gandhi  The Bench also agreed to come up with

a joint proposal detailing how it can be “Without debate, without criticism no administration and no country can succeed and ensured that parties did not fall in with no republic can survive.” ― John F. Kennedy criminal politicians. Senior advocate

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Vikas Singh said 46% of Members of considerations are more likely to Parliament have criminal records. influence the decision of a voter than a  A September 2018 judgment of a candidate’s or the party’s criminal record. Constitution Bench led by the then Chief  Nexus between crime and money Justice of India Dipak Misra had directed power: The most critical drivers are the political parties to publish online the collapse of election finance regime and pending criminal cases against their the weak enforcement of the rule of law candidates. The judgment had also in the country that have created the urged Parliament to bring a “strong law” “marketplace for criminal politicians”. to cleanse political parties of leaders facing trial for serious crimes. Reasons

Other directions by the Court  In every election all parties without 1. Candidates must fill up forms containing exception put up candidates with a all particulars. criminal background. Even though some 2. In said forms, criminal antecedents to be of us whine about the decision taken by stated in bold. the parties, the general trend is that 3. Candidates must inform the concerned these candidates are elected to office. political party of pending criminal cases against them  By acting in such a manner, we fail to 4. Concerned political party to put up such realize that the greatest power that criminal antecedents of candidates on democracy arms the people is to vote party website. incompetent people out of power. 5. Wide publicity by both candidates and  The evident link between criminality and parties in press and media of the criminal the probability of winning is further antecedents. Wide publication meaning at least thrice after filing of nominations reinforced when we look at the win ability of a candidate.  While any random candidate has one in eight chances of winning a Lok Sabha seat, a candidate facing criminal charges What is Criminalization? is twice as likely to win as a clean  Criminalization refers to the use of candidate. criminal activities by politicians; either by  The political parties and independent direct malfeasance or by indirectly candidates have astronomical recruiting someone. expenditure for vote buying and other  Nearly half of the newly-elected Lok illegitimate purposes through these Sabha members have criminal records, a criminals or so called goondas. A 26 per cent increase as compared to politician’s link with them constituency 2014, according to the Association of provides a congenial climate to political Democratic Reforms. crime.  Of the 539 winning candidates analysed  Majority of the voters are manoeuvrable, by the ADR, as many as 233 MPs — or purchasable. Most of them are 43 per cent — face criminal charges. individually timid and collectively coward. To gain their support is easier for the  In the new Lok Sabha, nearly 29 per cent corrupt. of the cases are related to rape, murder, and attempt to murder or crime against  The voters, political parties and the law women. and order machinery of the state are all equally responsible for this. There is very  A probable explanation for this trend is little faith in India in the efficacy of the that caste, ethnic and religious democratic process in actually delivering 98 CHAHAL ACADEMY

good governance. This extends to accepting criminalization of politics as a fact of life.  Toothless laws against convicted criminals standing for elections further encourage this process. Under current law, only people who have been convicted at least on two counts be debarred from becoming candidates. This leaves the field open for charge sheeted criminals, many of whom are habitual offenders or history-sheeters.

 The root of the problem lies in the country’s poor governance capacity. On Consequences of criminalisation of politics the one hand, India has excessive procedures that allow the bureaucracy to  The primary sacrifice is that of insert itself in the ordinary life of people; governance, along with transparency and on the other hand, it appears woefully accountability. understaffed to perform its most crucial  Corruption: Expensive election functions. campaigning favours candidates with  The scarcity of state capacity is the strong financial background. Such reason for the public preferring candidates, when elected, seek to ‘strongmen’ who can employ the required recover their expenses besides securing pulls and triggers to get things done— a corpus for the future elections as someone who can enforce contracts, quickly as possible, especially in the era deal with the police when they get into of coalition governments with tenuous trouble, handle the government babus stability. while procuring a licence or help get Way forward admission to a government hospital for treatment.  Election Commission of India (ECI)  Sometimes these politicians align on should have the power to audit the communal lines as well, promising to financial accounts of political parties, or serve the interests of a caste or religious political parties’ finances should be community. brought under the right to information  Criminality, far from deterring voters, (RTI) law. encourages them because it signals that  Broader governance reforms for voters to the candidate is capable of fulfilling his reduce the reliance on criminal promises and securing the interests of politicians. the constituency.  There should be a ceiling on election expenditure by political parties also and appointment of election commissioners should be through a collegium.  Setting up of national electoral fund or state funding of elections where anybody could donate and from there political parties should be funded based on their performance.

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 Electoral bonds can stay only when the and the NIA should have no power over who-donated-what-to-whom should be state policing matters. disclosed. Issue Conclusion  The West Bengal and Kerala  The need for cleansing politics of governments have stayed all activities criminal influence has been flagged once related to the NPR because of the again. apprehensions among the general public  The primary sacrifice at the altar of about the conduct of NPR related criminalisation is that of governance, activities, which would eventually lead to along with transparency and NRC in the wake of CAA, 2019. accountability.  The CAA, which was notified on 10  Expensive election campaigning favours January 2020, grants Indian citizenship candidates with strong financial to non-Muslim minorities who migrated to background. Such candidates, when India from Afghanistan, Pakistan and elected, seek to recover their expenses Bangladesh till December 31, 2014, besides securing a corpus for the future following persecution over their faith. election as quickly as possible,  Against this Act, Kerala has become the especially in the era of coalition first state to pass a resolution in governments with tenuous stability. Legislative Assembly against it.  It has also filed a petition under Article 131 in the Supreme Court (SC) demanding the repeal of the Act, as the STATES FILING PETITION UNDER Act violates the right to equality under ARTICLE 131 IN SC Article 14, right to life under Article 21, Why in news? and freedom to practise religion under Article 25 of the Constitution of India and  Keralaand West Bengal have taken bold the basic structure of secularism in India. steps in view of concerns of the people,  Though, Kerala, as a state, is and has stopped NPR campaign. Now, constitutionally bound, under Article 256, the Kerala government filed a petition to implement any law passed by under Article 131 in the Supreme Court Parliament. against the Citizenship Amendment Act  It has also sought directions to declare (CAA) 2019, making it a Centre-State the Passport (Entry to India) Amendment dispute. Rules, 2015, and Foreigners  Moreover, Kerala, Punjab, Rajasthan, (Amendment) Order, 2015, to be “ultra Puducherry and West Bengal passed a vires the Constitution of India and to be resolution against the Act in their void". respective state assemblies.  The amendments to the passport rules  Moreover, At least 60 petitions have and the foreign order results in been filed by individuals and political classifications based on religion and that parties challenging the validity of CAA the classification is “apparently and under Article 32. manifestly discriminatory, arbitrary,  On the other hand, Chhattisgarh unreasonable and having no rational government moved the Supreme Court nexus with the object sought to be under the same article against the achieved". National Investigation Act (NIA), 2008

stating it is violative of the Constitution 100 CHAHAL ACADEMY

Not a first petition ongoing protests against its amendments, of which the Kerala  This is the second time in 60 years that a resolution is surely a part. state has moved the SC resisting the implementation of a Parliament-enacted Issue of Chhattisgrah government law.  The Act was introduced in the wake of  In 1961, the West Bengal government the 26/11 Mumbai terrorist attacks. The Act makes the National Investigation had moved a suit in the court under Agency the only truly federal agency in Article 131 against Parliament passing the country, more powerful than the CBI. the Coal Bearing Areas (Acquisition and It gives the NIA powers to take suo motu Development) Act, 1957, which has cognisance of terror activities in any part empowered the Centre to acquire land of India and register a case, to enter any vested or owned by the State state without permission from the state government. government, and to investigate and arrest people. What is Article 131 of the Constitution?  In its petition, the Chhattisgarh  The Article vests the SC with original government said the Act is “ultra vires jurisdiction over disputes occurring the Constitution” and “beyond the between states or between states and legislative competence of the the Centre. The original jurisdiction of a Parliament”. According to the state, the court means the power to hear a case for 2008 Act allows the Centre to create an the first time, as opposed to appellate agency for investigation, which is a jurisdiction, in which the court reviews function of the state police. ‘Police’ is an the decision of a lower court. entry in the State List of the  Unlike the original jurisdiction under Constitution’s 7th Schedule. Article 32 (which gives the top court the  2008 Act takes away the state’s power of power to issue writs, etc.), the jurisdiction conducting an investigation through the in Article 131 is exclusive, meaning it is police, while conferring “unfettered, only the Supreme Court which has this discretionary and arbitrary powers” on authority. the Centre. The provisions of the Act leave no room of coordination and pre- condition of consent, in any form Conclusion whatsoever, by the Central government from the State government which clearly  Rather than treat it as a controversy over repudiates the idea of state sovereignty as envisaged under the Constitution of the question whether a State Assembly India. is competent to question the law on a matter under the Union government’s domain, the Centre should reflect on the core issue: that the CAA may be in violation of the equality norm and secular principles enshrined in the Constitution.  Given how deeply the country is divided

on the changes in the law, Kerala’s example may set the stage for a wider confrontation between the Centre and States that have expressed their disinclination to give effect to the Centre’s policy in this regard.  The Centre must make an effort to understand the underpinnings of the

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SEXUAL HARASSMENT AT WORK

Why in news? Sexual Harassment at Workplace  The Sexual Harassment of Women at  The Group of Ministers (GoM) headed by Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition And Home Minister, which was constituted to Redressal) Act, 2013 provides protection strengthen the legal framework to prevent against sexual harassment of women at sexual harassment at the workplace, has workplace and for the prevention and finalised its recommendations. redressal of complaints of sexual harassment and for matters connected  The recommendations, which include therewith or incidental thereto. addition of new provisions to the Indian  The 2013 Act had shortcomings like giving Penal Code, will be put up for public the powers of a civil court to the internal comments. complaints committee (ICC) without  The GoM was first constituted in October specifying if the members need to have a 2018 in the aftermath of the #MeToo legal background. movement after which many women  It only imposed a fine of ₹50,000 on shared their painful experience on social employers for non-compliance. The Act said media. It was reconstituted in July 2019 the employer shall provide assistance to the under Home Minister. woman if she chooses to file a complaint under the IPC “against the perpetrator after  The other members of the GoM are the conclusion of the enquiry”. Finance Minister, Human Resource and  Sexual harassment results in violation of the Development Minister and Women and fundamental rights of a woman to equality Child Development Minister. under articles 14 and 15 of the Constitution  In the suggested changes by GoM to the of India and her right to life and to live with existing laws on sexual harassment at the dignity under article 21 of the Constitution workplace would be incorporated when the and right to practice any profession or to overhaul of the IPC was complete. carry on any occupation, trade or business  The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) is also with includes a right to a safe environment free from sexual harassment. working on another project to reboot the  In fact, the protection against sexual IPC, introduced by the British in 1860. harassment and the right to work with  Several retired judges, legal luminaries and dignity are universally recognised human State governments are being consulted by rights by international conventions and the Bureau of Police Research and instruments such as Convention on the Development (BPR&D) to amend various Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination sections of the IPC and the Code of against Women, which has been ratified on Criminal Procedure (Cr. PC). the 25th June, 1993 by the Government of  When changes are made to the IPC, the India. sections on crime against women will be  As per National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), the number of sexual harassment amended. The laws need to change with incidents at “work or office premises” time, and sexual harassment of women at registered under Section 509 IPC (words, the workplace will be addressed through gesture or act to insult the modesty of a the IPC amendments also. woman) was 479 and 401 in the years 2017  The Women and Child Development and 2018 respectively. Ministry had directed the Sexual  Among the cities, the highest number of Harassment of Women and Workplace such cases was registered in Delhi (28), (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act Bengaluru (20), Pune (12) and Mumbai (12) in 2013, which was applicable to in 2018. The total number of sexual government offices, the private sector, harassment incidents in 2018 including that NGOs and the unorganised sector. in public places, shelter homes and others was 20,962.

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 The proposed amendments would be largely based on the Vishaka Guidelines laid down by the Supreme Court in 1997, on which the 2013 Act was based. It made the employer responsible to prevent or deter acts of sexual harassment at the workplace. GENERAL STUDIES III  The GoM also examined the report of the (TECHNOLOGY, ECONOMIC Justice J.S. Verma Committee that was DEVELOPMENT, BIO-DIVERSITY, constituted in the wake of the Nirbhaya gang-rape and murder in 2012. The ENVIRONMENT, SECURITY AND Verma committee had recommended an DISASTER MANAGEMENT) employment tribunal, instead of an ICC, ‘RECIPROCATING TERRITORY’ as dealing with such complaints in-house could discourage women from coming Why in news? out.  The Ministry of Law and Justice declared Justice Verma Committee the United Arab Emirates to be a  It comprises of J.S. Verma and other “reciprocating territory” under Section jurists, which was constituted on 23 44A of the Civil Procedure Code, 1908. It December 2012, to look into the possible also declared a list of courts in the UAE amendments in the criminal laws related to be “superior Courts” under the same to sexual violence against women. section, thereby facilitating the execution  However, as early as 2013, the Committee, in its landmark report on of UAE civil court orders through Indian gender laws, had recommended setting courts. up of an employment tribunal instead of  Apart from Dubai, the other countries an internal complaints committee (ICC) declared to be “reciprocating territories” in sweeping changes to the Sexual are: United Kingdom, Singapore, Harassment at the Workplace Bill as Bangladesh, Malaysia, Trinidad & internal proceedings could discourage women from filing complaints. Tobago, New Zealand, the Cook Islands  The Committee termed the Sexual (including Niue) and the Trust Territories Harassment Bill “unsatisfactory” and it of Western Samoa, Hong Kong, Papua did not reflect the spirit of the Vishakha New Guinea, Fiji, Aden. guidelines.

What is a ‘reciprocating territory’ and what are superior courts?

 Essentially, orders passed by certain designated courts from a ‘reciprocating territory’ can be implemented in India, by filing a copy of the decree concerned in a District Court here.  The courts so designated are called ‘Superior Courts’.

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What does Section 44 of the CPC say? of the UAE court orders after due process of attestation of documents.  Section 44A, titled “Execution of decrees passed by Courts in reciprocating territory”, provides the law on the subject of execution of decrees of Courts in India US, CHINA SIGNED 'PHASE 1' OF TRADE by foreign Courts and vice versa. DEAL  In other words, now, the civil and Why in news? commercial court orders from the UAE courts identified as "superior" can now  The United States and China signed the be executed through the district courts in first phase of a trade deal that will roll India. back some tariffs and boost Chinese purchases of US products, defusing an Which UAE courts are now “superior Courts”? (BOX) 18 month long trade war between the 1. Federal Court - Federal Supreme Court; world's two largest economies. Federal, First Instance and Appeals  This recently signed trade deal between Courts in the Emirates of Abu Dhabi, US and China has been termed as Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain and historic, concluding more than a year of Fujairah tough negotiations including several 2. Local Courts - Abu Dhabi Judicial Department; Dubai Courts; Ras Al months of suspension of talks between Khaimah Judicial Department; Courts of the two largest economies of the world. Abu Dhabi Global Markets and Courts of This is a transformative deal that will Dubai International Financial Center bring great benefits for the two countries.  The first phase of the trade deal includes Intellection Property (IP) Protection and Why is the move significant? Enforcement, ending forced technology  The decision is believed to help bring transfer, dramatic expansion of American down the time required for executing agriculture, removing barriers to decrees between the two countries. American financial services, ending  This move was the only remaining part of currency manipulation, rebalancing the a 1999 agreement between the UAE and US-China trade relationship and effective India related to cooperation in civil and dispute resolution. commercial matters.  The US has dropped plans to impose  Indian expatriates in the UAE would no tariffs on an additional 160 USD billion in longer be able to seek safe haven in their Chinese imports, and it cut in half, to home country if they are convicted in a 7.5%, existing tariffs on 110 USD billion civil case in the UAE. In other words, it of good from China. can be said that the move will be a game  But punitive tariffs on China would changer in the execution of civil verdicts remain in place till the time the second in financial and divorce cases. phase of the trade deal is agreed.  This will be a big warning to those who  China will purchase at least an additional flee to India after taking huge loans from 200 USD billion worth of US farm banks. Earlier, most of the banks and products and other goods and services individuals found it difficult to recover over two years, above a baseline of 186 their money if the accused had fled to USD billion in purchases in 2017. India.  This also includes 54 USD billion in  Now, they can approach the district additional energy purchases, 78 USD courts in India directly seeking execution billion in additional manufacturing 104 CHAHAL ACADEMY

purchases, 32 USD billion more in farm tariff may take away their products and 38 USD billion in services. competitiveness.  But this deal failed to address structural  They are looking to invest into the Indian economic issues that led to the trade MSMEs (small and medium scale conflict, does not fully eliminate the tariffs enterprises) as they (Chinese) feel Indian and have slowed the global economy. MSMEs have the flexibility to execute  The deal also failed to resolve the real such orders if some capital or technology issues at the heart of the dispute, is infused into them. including industrial subsidies, support for  It seems small industrial towns like state-owned enterprises, cyber theft, and Ludhiana and Coimbatore, particularly other predatory practices in trade and with their prowess in engineering, are the technology. focal points of such investments.  But, if the hard-negotiated pact goes Will it impact India's plans to deepen its beyond the first phase and is engagements with both the US and China? implemented in spirit by both nations, India could benefit from an overall  Firstly, this is just the beginning to end a long trade war between US and China. improvement in sentiments and The US decision is partially to put on performance of world trade. hold or cancel its planned decision to slap additional tariffs on products like toys or cell-phones. Wherever existing REVISED NORMS FOR DATA REQUESTS tariffs have seen a reduction because of IN CRIMINAL MATTERS the agreement, the 7.5 per cent tariff rate still remains. Why in news?  Further, a huge set of products are still carrying the high tariffs that were  The Ministry of Home Affairs issued imposed by both countries as part of the revised guidelines, which will direct how trade war. A 25 per cent tariff on $250 data requests are processed in any billion worth of Chinese goods imported criminal investigations, to streamline the to the US remains and China's retaliatory process of seeking legal assistance from tariffs on goods worth over $100 billion foreign countries in criminal matters. also remain. Until further negotiations  Earlier, the Centre had introduced the between the two countries lead to a Personal Data Protection Bill, 2019 in the substantial reduction in tariffs across the Lok Sabha that sought to provide for the board, the opportunities for India remain protection of personal data of individuals intact. and established a Data Protection  Secondly, despite this partial rollback, it Authority for it. is likely to be from 25 per cent to say, 10  Now, the Ministry issued revised per cent and not a complete rollback, guidelines to streamline the process of which leaves some opportunities for seeking legal assistance from foreign India. As, India was not looking at the countries in criminal matters, issuing US-China tussle as just another trade directives on drafting and processing opportunity but to attract investments. letters rogatory, mutual legal assistance  Investment part is already beginning to requests and service of summons, happen in our country. Chinese notices and other judicial documents. companies, whose main market is the  According to the Ministry, before seeking US, are now coming to India for information about a person’s e-mail investment as they feel even 10 per cent account, hosted on servers in foreign 105 CHAHAL ACADEMY

countries, investigating agencies will I4C AND NATIONAL CYBER CRIME have to establish that it is linked to a REPORTING PORTAL crime. Most intermediaries and social media platforms such as Facebook, Why in news? WhatsApp, Google, Yahoo!, Twitter and  Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) YouTube have their servers outside inaugurated the Indian Cyber Crime India. Coordination Centre (I4C) and also the  The Ministry said it was not enough to dedicated National Cyber Crime show that the accused had an e-mail Reporting Portal. This state-of-the-art account as “the account must have Centre is located in New Delhi. something to do with the crime being investigated” and it was “the lowest legal Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre standard required of all investigative (I4C) processes”.  The scheme to set up I4C was approved Data Preservation in October 2018 at an estimated cost of Rs 415.86 crore to act as a nodal point in  In the guidelines issued to the States and the fight against all types of cybercrimes other agencies, the Ministry stressed on in a comprehensive and coordinated “data preservation” as it was the key to manner. the investigation of cyber-offences and  It has seven components viz., those involving digital evidence. 1. National Cyber Crime Threat Analytics  G-8 countries’ 24/7 Network was one such channel that could be used to place Unit(TAU) request for preserving data in real time. It 2. National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal allows law enforcement agencies to 3. National Cyber Crime Training make urgent preservation requests of the Centre(NCTC) digital data before it perishes. Therefore, 4. Cyber Crime Ecosystem Management to enhance and supplement (but not Unit replace) traditional methods of obtaining 5. National Cyber Crime Research and assistance, the G8 has created the network. Innovation Centre  The request for data may be sent to the 6. National Cyber Crime Forensic service provider or to the Central Bureau Laboratory(NCFL) Ecosystem of Investigation (CBI) — the contact point 7. Platform for Joint Cyber Crime for India with respect to G-8 24/7 Investigation Team Network.  15 states and Union Territories (UTs)  The requested country has to be have given their consent to set up informed about the time period for which regional Cyber Crime Coordination the data is required. Such period shall be Centres in their respective regions. consented by the requested country. The National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal transferred data shall be kept for no longer than the period required for the  It is a citizen-centric initiative that will purpose for which it has been received enable citizens to report cyber-crimes and shall be returned to the requested online through the portal. All the cyber- country or deleted at the end of the crime related complaints will be period specified. accessed by the concerned law enforcement agencies in the states and

UTs for taking action as per law.

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 This portal was launched on pilot basis News & Views on 30 August 2019 and it enables filing of all cybercrimes with specific focus on  At least 24 people have died nationwide crimes against women, children, during this fire season. While the fires particularly child pornography, child sex have touched every state in Australia, abuse material, online content pertaining New South Wales (NSW) has been the to rapes and gang rapes. hardest hit.  The blazes have been scorching homes Way Ahead and destroying entire towns. Nearly 18 million acres of land have been burned --  MHA is committed to provide and create most of it bushland, forests and national an ecosystem for dealing with the cyber- parks, which are home to the country's crimes in a comprehensive and native wildlife. coordinated manner.  Nearly half a billion animals have been  After its successful completion, this affected by the fires in NSW (covers an newly launched portal can improve the area larger than the Netherlands) alone capacity of the law enforcement and millions of them are potentially dead. agencies to investigate the cases and Birds, reptiles and mammals, except will improve success in prosecution and bats, are among those affected. Insects also focuses on specific crimes like and frogs aren't included in that number. financial crime and social media related  Although, heavy rain has soaked coastal crimes like stalking and cyber bullying. areas of Queensland and NSW.  This portal will also improve coordination amongst the law enforcement agencies What is a bushfire? of different states, districts and police stations for dealing with cybercrimes in a  Bushfires are an intrinsic part of coordinated and effective manner. Australia's environment. Bushfires are  "In future, this portal will provide for generally slower moving, but have a chatbot for automated interactive higher heat output. Fire in the crown of assistance system to the public for the tree canopy can move rapidly. guidance on cybercrime prevention and  Many of Australia's native plants are fire how to report incidents on the portal." prone and very combustible, while numerous species depend on fire to regenerate. Indigenous Australians have long used fire as a land management BUSHFIRES AND HEAVY FLOODS tool and it continues to be used to clear land for agricultural purposes and to Why in news? protect properties from intense,  Wildfires have ravaged across Australia, uncontrolled fires. burning more than 12 million hectares of  It causes loss of life and damage to land, destroying native flora, killing property. thousands of wild animals, including Causes of Bushfire endangered species, and displacing residents and tourists. Although, heavy  Fuel load describes the amount of fallen floods and rainfall have caused some bark, leaf litter and small branches relief. But this will make situation more accumulating in the landscape. Generally worsen and now this climatic emergency speaking, the greater the fuel load, the is attracting global interest. hotter and more intense the fire. Fuel which is concentrated but loosely 107 CHAHAL ACADEMY

compacted will burn faster than heavily  Bushfires tend to occur when light and compacted or scattered fuel sources. heavy fuel loads in Eucalypt forests have Smaller pieces of fuel such as twigs, leaf dried out, usually following periods of low litter and branches burn quickly, rainfall. particularly when they are dry and  The potential for extreme fire weather loosely arranged and will burn quickly in varies greatly throughout Australia, both the fire front. in frequency and severity. When  The time since rainfall and the amount of potential extreme fire weather is rain received is an important experienced close to populated areas, consideration in assessing bushfire significant loss is possible. danger. Often a measure of the drought factor, or moisture deficit, will be used as an indicator of extreme bushfire weather GOVERNMENT HAS NO RIGHT TO conditions.  Wind acts to drive a fire by blowing the TRANSFER “INVALUABLE” COMMUNITY flames into fresh fuel, bringing it to RESOURCES, SAYS SC ignition point and providing a continuous Why in news? supply of oxygen. Wind also promotes the rapid spread of fire by spotting, which  Recently, village ponds’ sites of Saini is the ignition of new fires by burning Village in the National Capital Region embers lofted into the air by wind. were transferred to some private  The higher the temperature the more industrialists by the Greater Noida likely it is that a fire will start or continue Industrial Development Authority. to burn.  Then, the Supreme Court gave its  Dry air promotes a greater intensity fire judgment on a plea that the Government than moist air. Plants become more has no right to transfer “invaluable” flammable at a low humidity because community resources like village water they release their moisture more easily. ponds to a few powerful people and  Fires pre-heat their fuel source through industrialists for commercialisation of the radiation and convection. As a result, property, when many areas of the fires accelerate when travelling uphill and country perennially face water crisis and decelerate travelling downhill. The access to drinking water is woefully steepness of the slope plays an inadequate. important role in the rate of fire spread.  Resources which are available for  Bushfires can originate from both human everyone’s use in a community, village or activity and natural causes with lightning town are called community resources. the predominant natural source, For example- ponds, playgrounds, public accounting for about half of all ignitions parks etc. in Australia.  The State cannot divest villagers of their existing source of water even if it Where do bushfires occur? promises to provide them an alternative  The Australian climate is generally hot, site where the water body can be dry and prone to drought. At any time of replicated. Such an attitude would the year, some parts of Australia are display “a mechanical application of prone to bushfires. For most of southern environmental protection”. Australia, the danger period is summer  There is no guarantee that the adverse and autumn. effect of destroying the existing water body would be off set and people would 108 CHAHAL ACADEMY

be compelled to travel miles to access capabilities and socio-economic the alternative site. progress.  Protection of such village commons is essential to safeguard the fundamental Eastern region of India right guaranteed by Article 21 of our  Eastern states of India (Odisha, Constitution. These common areas are Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal the lifeline of village communities, and and Northern Andhra Pradesh) often sustain various chores and provide collectively hold ~80% of the country’s resources necessary for life. iron ore, ~100% of coking coal and  The National Green Tribunal (NGT) significant portion of chromite, bauxite refused to intervene on the plea but the and dolomite reserves. apex court ordered the authorities and  There is a presence of major ports such the industrialists to remove all as Paradip, Haldia, Vizag, Kolkata etc. obstructions and restore the water with >30% of India’s major port capacity, bodies within three months. 3 major National Waterways as well as Article 21: Protection of life and personal strong road, rail connectivity to most liberty parts of the country.  Despite these advantages, these states  No person shall be deprived of his life or are currently behind many other Indian personal liberty except according to the states in terms of economic and procedure established by law. development indicators such as GSDP  It is fundamental, non-derogable and is per capita and Human Development available to every person. Even the State Index (HDI). cannot violate that right.

How eastern states could help India to 'PURVODAYA' achieve 5 USD trillion economy?

Why in news?  5 Eastern states can play a major role where steel sector can become the  Minster for Petroleum & Natural Gas and catalyst. The presence of natural Steel launched 'Purvodaya'-Accelerated resources, coupled with an already Development of Eastern Region through established steel industry, presents an an Integrated Steel hub, in line with excellent opportunity for Eastern India to Prime Minister's Vision for focused spearhead the expected growth in the development of the Eastern Statesin domestic steel industry, the region at order to unleash their untapped potential large and the country as a whole. thereby ensuring the growth of the region  This Eastern belt has the potential to add as a whole and the country at large, on more than 75% of the country’s 11 January 2020 in Kolkata. incremental steel capacity envisioned by  The objective of this hub would be to the National Steel Policy. It is expected enable swift capacity addition and that out of the 300 MT capacity by 2030- improve overall competitiveness of steel 31, over 200 MT can come from this producers both in terms of cost and region alone, driven by Industry 4.0. quality. In addition to increased steel  Rs.100 lakh crore infrastructure capacity, this hub would also help investment announced by the enhance best-in- class value addition Government in the next 5 years will result in additional boost to construction 109 CHAHAL ACADEMY

and infrastructure through various foreign direct investment (FDI) in coal initiatives such as Pradhan Mantri Awas mining. Yojana, Jal Jeevan Mission, Sagarmala,  India’s coal sector was nationalised in Bharatmala, etc. 1973.  Steel industry has a multiplier effect in  In 2018, the government had allowed the GDP as well as in employment. commercial mining by private entities but These States would march ahead on the non-coal companies couldn’t participate development index because of which the in the auction. Ministry of Steel has envisioned an  In August 2019, the government Integrated Steel Hub in this region, which announced 100 per cent FDI under the will serve as a catalyst in the automatic route in coal mining for open transformation of Eastern India by sale, besides creating associated developing a vibrant steel industry. infrastructure, such as washeries.  The ordinance to amend the Mines and Advantages Minerals (Development and Regulation)  Creation of such a world-class steel hub Act, 1957 and the Coal Mines (Special would significantly contribute to Provisions) Act, 2015 has been Purvodaya by propelling socio-economic approved. development in the Eastern region.  In a bid to attract investments and boost  Growth of steel industry through such a domestic coal production, the ordinance hub would lead to significant employment would open up coal mining in the country opportunities across the entire value to non-coal companies while removing chain, creating over 2.5 Million jobs in restrictions on end-use of the fuel. the region.  Under the ordinance, allocation of  Creation of world-class logistics and coal/lignite blocks for composite utilities infrastructure would also spur prospecting license cum mining lease development of other manufacturing has been provided; requirement of industries across sectors. previous approval in cases where the allocation of blocks was made by the This would also be accompanied by social central government has been dispensed infrastructure in the form of cities, schools, with. hospitals, skilling centres etc. Such  The government is aiming at achieving development, especially in the most under- production of one billion tonnes by 2023- developed regions in these states, will play a 2024. significant role in overall socio-economic growth of Eastern India, thus reducing the disparity Ordinance for amendment in laws to ease between the East and other regions of the auction of coal mines (MIND MAP) 1. Intend to open up new areas of growth in country. the coal and mining sector. 2. It would offer unexplored and partially

explored coal blocks for mining. 3. It will also lead to democratisation of coal FDI IN COAL MINING mining sector by opening it up to anyone willing to invest. Why in news? 4. It will allow FDI in the coal mining sector by removing the restriction and eligibility  The Union Cabinet chaired by the PM criteria for participation. has approved an ordinance to amend two laws to ease mining rules, enabling

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Advantages electricity distribution companies, or DISCOMS.  It would offer unexplored and partially  The presence of different regulators for explored coal blocks for mining. each type of fuel and energy source  It will help create an efficient energy makes it cumbersome for businesses market, usher in competition and reduce operating in this sector. coal imports, while also ending the  Further, the petroleum and natural gas monopoly of state-owned Coal India Ltd. sector has two regulators – Directorate  It is opined that the decision would boost General of Hydrocarbons for upstream the ease of doing business and increase activities and the Petroleum and Natural the growth avenues in the sector. Gas Regulatory Board for downstream  “End-use restrictions” had been done activities. away with allowing “anyone to participate  The proposed ministry would have six in the auction of coal blocks”. agencies under it to handle various  The ordinance would strengthen the aspects of the energy sector — Energy auction process of those mines whose Regulatory Agency, Energy Data leases were expiring on March 31, 2020. Agency, Energy Efficiency Agency, Seamless transfer of clearances would Energy Planning and Technical Agency, also be facilitated. Energy Schemes Implementation  The move to amend the law will help Agency and Energy R&D Agency. India gain access to high-end technology for underground mining used by global Challenges miners.  Formulating an integrated and  The steel industry would get cheaper wholesome energy policy in the current inputs, leading to an increase in governance structure is a complex and ‘competitiveness’. challenging task not only due to lack of coordination among ministries but also due to the absence of good quality THE NEED FOR A SINGLE ENERGY consumption data and an inadvertent MINISTRY promotion of their own fuels over other choices, which may not always be the Why in news? best option.  No single agency collects energy data in  India’s on-going energy sector aims "to a wholesome and integrated manner. provide access to affordable, reliable, Data pertaining to consumption are sustainable and modern energy”. In barely available while supply side data pursuit of this, five different ministries collected by agencies of respective along with a multitude of regulators ministries are riddled with gaps. The govern India’s energy sector, which itself Ministry of Statistics and Programme creates complex problems in this sector. Implementation collates data available About from various ministries and conducts surveys at sporadic intervals.  Petroleum and natural gas, coal,  On the energy efficiency front, the renewable energy and nuclear energy Bureau of Energy Efficiency is the sole have separate ministries or departments. statutory authority with the mandate to There is also a Ministry of Power, along regulate energy efficiency on the with State-level bodies that regulate consumption side. There is no agency or

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body for the same purpose on the supply management functions, treat the issues side. of water management holistically and  The Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) ensure better coordination of efforts. has been left out since it has implications  This was a crucial decision at a time beyond the scope of energy and involves when nearly 600 million Indians faced national security issues. “high to extreme water stress”, while 75% households did not have drinking Key suggestions water on their premises.

 The Kelkar Committee in its report Way Ahead “Roadmap for Reduction in Import Dependency in the Hydrocarbon Sector  The actions by this government are a by 2030” (2013) stated that “Multiple step in the right direction, there is a long ministries and agencies are currently road ahead. involved in managing energy-related  Accepting and implementing the issues, presenting challenges of recommendations of the NEP on coordination and optimal resource reforming energy governance would utilization, hence undermining efforts to need to be carefully traversed given their increase energy security”. hard-hitting implications on the existing  In the Draft National Energy Policy bureaucratic structure. But nothing is (NEP), the NITI Aayog has advocated more important than ensuring energy that a Unified Ministry of Energy be security, sustainability and accessibility. created by merging the Ministries of  In this age of energy transition, this can Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG), only happen with quick and holistic Coal (MoC), New and Renewable decision-making as well as providing a Energy (MNRE) and Power (MoP). level playing field for various fuels, all of which can happen if a single ministry Steps taken handles the entire sector.  In the past, this government has had the  Such a Unified Ministry of Energy will not same minister for MNRE, MoP and MoC only enable India to keep up with the with great results in village electrification, global energy transition but also to LED bulb distribution (Unnat Jyoti by continue to be a leader in adopting Affordable LEDs for All, or UJALA), cleaner energy sources. power sector reforms (Ujwal DISCOM  A single unified ministry of energy would Assurance Yojana, or UDAY), coal block help India to have an integrated outlook e-auctions and alleviation of coal on energy that would enable to optimise shortages. limited resources to meet the goals of  This demonstrates the intention of the energy security, sustainability and political leadership to reform the energy accessibility. governance structure.  Having the same person heading both of these ministries will help resolve long- Case Study: The ‘Jal Shakti’ example standing issues faced by both conventional and renewable power  Ministry of Jal Shakti was formed by generators such as power balancing and merging the Ministry of Water transmission infrastructure planning. Resources, River Development and  The hotly debated issue of non-payment Ganga Rejuvenation and the Ministry of of dues by DISCOMS to the generators Drinking Water and Sanitation. The might also be resolved with such synergy objective of this action is to unify water in administration. 112 CHAHAL ACADEMY

 The government of India has already set  India’s economic growth slumped to a an ambitious target of developing 5 GW six-year low of 4.5% in July-September of offshore capacity by 2022, and a quarter in 2019 and it is expected that further 30 GW by 2030. growth will be below 5% in FY20.  To achieve the above targets, a single unified ministry of energy should come Global Forecasts by WB into picture to play an active role in  The world economy is likely to expand by India’s developmental goals. 2.5% in 2020, up from 2.4% in 2019, as trade and investment gradually recover. Advanced economies are expected to slow as a group to 1.4% from 1.6%, mainly reflecting lingering weakness in manufacturing.  This rebound is not broad-based; instead, it assumes improved performance of a small group of large economies, some of which are emerging from a period of substantial weakness. About a third of emerging market and developing economies are projected to decelerate this year due to weaker-than- expected exports and investment.  That reflects an expected recovery in

some emerging and developing countries WORLD BANK WARNS ON GLOBAL that had a difficult 2019.But it will be GROWTH offset by slower growth in the United States and some other developing Why in news? nations.  Economic growth in both China and the  In the World Bank’s semi-annual Global United States has been impacted by the Economic Prospects forecasts released, uncertainty generated by the punitive the global economy should see a modest tariffs both countries have imposed on rebound in growth in 2020. each other’s goods.  Emerging, developing economy growth  Two factors that could help moderate to accelerate in 2020 as some emerging how oil prices respond: the fact that the economies recover from periods of oil producers' group OPEC has been stress. restricting production and could reverse  Rise in debt, slowdown in productivity that action. In addition, the US shale oil pose challenges for policymakers. industry, which is a relatively new factor  India is in the midst of a significant in the global market, can increase economic slowdown, according to the production much more rapidly than International Monetary Fund (IMF) also traditional ways of getting oil. in its report released. It asked for urgent  A worrying aspect of the sluggish growth steps to reverse slowdown while trend is that even if the recovery in continuing with credible fiscal emerging and developing economy consolidation and cautioning against growth takes place as expected, per fiscal measures to support growth. capita growth will remain below long- term averages and will advance at a 113 CHAHAL ACADEMY

pace too slow to meet poverty and moderating efficiency gains as well eradication goals. Income growth would as dwindling resource reallocation in fact be slowest in Sub-Saharan Africa between sectors. The pace of – the region where 56 percent of the improvements in many key drivers of world’s poor live. labor productivity—including education  There is also a concern about a rapid and institutions—has slowed or build-up of debt in emerging economies stagnated since the global financial that has been accompanied by repeated crisis. disappointments over economic growth,  While sometimes used as a tool for which could make it harder to generate social policy, price controls can dampen the resources to pay the debts. investment and growth, worsen poverty  The overall picture is one of a global outcomes, cause countries to incur outlook that is overcast and highly heavy fiscal burdens, and complicate the uncertain.\ effective conduct of monetary policy.  In India, where weakness in credit from Replacing price controls with expanded non-bank financial companies is and better-targeted social safety nets, expected to linger, growth is projected to reforms to encourage competition and a slow to 5% in FY 2019/20, which ends sound regulatory environment can be March 31 and recover to 5.8% the pro-poor and pro-growth. following fiscal year.  Inflation in low-income countries has tumbled to a median of 3% in mid-2019 from 25% in 1994. The decline has been supported by more flexible exchange

rate regimes, greater central bank Analysis and key suggestions independence, lower government debt, and a more benign external environment.  There have been four waves of debt  However, to maintain low and stable accumulation in the last 50 years. The inflation amid mounting fiscal pressures latest wave, which started in 2010, has and the risk of exchange rate shocks, seen the largest, fastest, and most policymakers need to strengthen broad-based increase in debt among the monetary policy frameworks and central four. While current low levels of interest bank capacity and replace price controls rates mitigate some of the risks with more efficient policies. associated with high debt, previous  Steps to improve the business climate, waves of broad-based debt accumulation the rule of law, debt management, and ended with widespread financial crises. productivity can help achieve sustained  Policy options to reduce the likelihood of growth. crises and lessen their impact should they materialize include building resilient monetary and fiscal frameworks, instituting robust supervisory and regulatory regimes, and following

transparent debt management practices.  Productivity growth has slowed more broadly and steeply since the global financial crisis than at any time in four decades. In emerging market and developing economies, the slowdown has reflected weakness in investment 114 CHAHAL ACADEMY

WORLD ECONOMIC SITUATION AND  The report lowered its GDP growth PROSPECTS (WESP) 2020 estimate for India to 5.7 per cent in the current fiscal (from 7.6 per cent forecast Why in news? in WESP 2019) and lowered its forecast for the next fiscal to 6.6 per cent (from  World Economic Situation and Prospects 7.4 per cent earlier). It has also forecast (WESP) 2020 was released by United a growth rate of 6.3 per cent for the fiscal Nations. beginning in 2021. Highlights of the Report Impact  According to the report, a growth rate of  These risks could inflict severe and long- 2.5 per cent is possible in 2020, but a lasting damage on development flare up of trade tensions, financial prospects. turmoil, or an escalation of geopolitical  They also threaten to encourage a tensions could derail a recovery. In a further rise in inward-looking policies, at downside scenario, global growth would a point when global cooperation is slow to just 1.8 per cent in 2020. paramount.  The GDP growth in the United States is  A prolonged weakness in global forecast to slow from 2.2 per cent in economic activity may cause significant 2019 to 1.7 per cent in 2020. setbacks for sustainable development,  In the European Union, manufacturing including the goals to eradicate poverty will continue to be held back by global and create decent jobs for all. uncertainty, but this will be partially offset  The climate crisis, persistently high by steady growth in private consumption, inequalities, and rising levels of food allowing a modest rise in GDP growth insecurity and undernourishment will from 1.4 per cent in 2019 to 1.6 per cent continue to affect the quality of life in in 2020. many societies.  Growth in other large emerging  The urgency of energy transition countries, including Brazil, India, Mexico, continues to be underestimated, resulting the Russian Federation and Turkey, is in short-sighted decisions such as expected to gain some momentum in expanding investment in oil and gas 2020. exploration and coal-fired power  In China, GDP growth is projected to generation. This not only leaves many moderate gradually from 6.1 per cent in investors and Governments exposed to 2019 to 6.0 per cent in 2020 and 5.9 per sudden losses, but also poses cent in 2021, supported by more substantial setbacks to environmental accommodative monetary and fiscal targets. policies.  The number of people living in extreme  Despite significant headwinds, East Asia poverty has risen in several sub-Saharan remains the world's fastest growing African countries and in parts of Latin region and the largest contributor to America and the Caribbean and Western global growth. Asia.  One in five countries will see per capita  The share of the population living in income stagnate in 2020, but listed India extreme poverty has declined steadily among few countries where the per and significantly over the past few capita GDP growth rate could exceed 4 decades, largely owing to successful per cent level in 2020. experiences in China and India.

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Way Ahead

 As the global economic balance is shifting from the EU, the US and other developed countries towards China, India and other developing countries, global economic decision-making power is shifting as well.  Global cooperation mechanisms will need to recognize this shifting balance while continuing to allow the under- represented to be heard.  Sustained progress towards poverty reduction will require both a significant boost to productivity growth and firm commitments to tackle high levels of inequality.  Policymakers should move beyond a narrow focus on merely promoting GDP growth, and instead aim to enhance well- being in all parts of society. This requires prioritising investment in sustainable development projects to promote education, renewable energy, and resilient infrastructure.  The report said that over-reliance on monetary policy is not just insufficient to revive growth, it also entails significant costs, including the exacerbation of financial stability risks.  A more balanced policy mix is needed, one that stimulates economic growth while moving towards greater social inclusion, gender equality and environmentally sustainable production.  Amid growing discontent over a lack of inclusive growth, calls for change are widespread across the globe. Much greater attention needs to be paid to the distributional and environmental implications of policy measures.  The transition to a cleaner energy mix should be promoted, which will bring not only environmental and health benefits, but economic opportunities for many countries.

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Published on JAN / 2020