Index

1. ECONOMY 1. Insurance Cover on Bank’s Deposit 6 2. Telecos asked to pay AGR dues Immediately 7 3. Direct Tax Vivad Se Vishwas Bill, 2020 9 4. Madhya Pradesh Grapples with Spiralling Neonatal Deaths 10 5. Consumer Confidence Survey (CCS) 12 6. Imported Food Inflation 13 1.1 ECONOMY SNIPPETS 1. Misery Index 14 2. Ujh Multipurpose Project 14 3. Agartala - Akhaura Railway Link 15 4. Nagpur Orange 15 5. Simplified Proforma for Incorporating Company Electronically () 16 6. North East Sustainable Development Goals Conclave 2020 16 7. Vettila 17 8. In-flight Wi-Fi 17 9. ASKDISHA Chatbot 18 10. Kalasa-Banduri Nala Project 19 2. ENVIRONMENT 1. Black Carbon in Glacier 20 2. Paraquat Poisoning 21 3. Locust Attack 22 4. Green Mission 25 5. Manipur’s Loktak Lake chokes from a Catastrophic Project Flagged off 26 6. 13th Conference of Parties (COP) of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) 28 7. Urban Heat Islands in India 29 8. Toxic Air: The Price of Fossil Fuels 30 9. Melting Antarctica 32

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10. Decline in India’s Bird Population 33 11. Future of Earth 2020 34 12. Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) 35 13. Opposes Alternate Route bypassing Bandipur 37 14. International protection for Great Indian Bustard, Bengal Florican and 38 15. Declaring as UNESCO World Heritage Sites 40 16. Reserve Tag unlikely for Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary 41 17. National Groundwater Management Improvement Programme 43

2.1 ENVIRONMENT SNIPPETS 1. Flame-Throated Bulbul 44 2. Burhi Dihing River 44 3. Amrabad Tiger Reserve 45 4. Mudumalai Tiger Reserve 46 5. Melting of Thwaites Glacier 47 6. Eco-Sensitive Zone 47 7. Radio Tagging Indian pangolins 48 8. Madhav National Park 48 9. Seemai Karuvelam (Prosopis Juliflora) 49 10. World’s largest’ Subterranean Fish 49 11. Pesticide Free Kinnow Crop 50 12. Pakke Tiger Reserve 50 13. Kawal Tiger Reserve 51 14. Monsoon in Sunderbans to get longer 51 15. Malai Mahadeshwara Wildlife Sanctuary 53 16. Yongle Blue Hole (YBH) 53

3. POLITY & GOVERNANCE 1. Not a Drop to Waste 55 2. Essential Commodities Act is Outdated, Must Go, says Economic Survey 57 3. Gram Nyayalayas Act, 2008 59 4. Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, 2019 60 www.iasww w. Vetriiias.comgate /w wwayy.w.iasgacomteway y.com  Daily0 C44urre-26265326nt Affa irs/98 | M 844onthl21y666 Magaz/988ines447263 | On6line Tests 2 | P a g e

5. National Judicial Pay Commission 63 6. Reservations in Promotion is Not a Fundamental Right, says SC 64 7. Manual Scavenging Death Toll increased 66 8. Debate around Uniform Civil Code (UCC) 68 9. Private Member’s Bill 69 10. Jal Jeevan Mission 70 11. Poll Panel Working on Remote Voting System 72 12. Treating a Child Witness 73 13. Women to get Permanent Commission in Indian Armed Forces 74 14. Delimitation of Assembly constituencies in J&K 75 15. Deportation Laws in India 77 16. It’s Time to Empower Mayors 79 17. Private Member Bill Proposing Two-Child Norm 81

3.1 POLITY & GOVERNANCE SNIPPETS 1. Jiyo Parsi Scheme 83 2. Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan-dhan Yojana 83 3. National Commission for The Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) 84 4. Exercise AJEYA WARRIOR – 2020 85 5. Public Safety Act (PSA), 1978 85 6. Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) 86 7. SUTRA PIC 87 8. 'Station Programme'- Google 87 9. Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses 88 10. Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) 88 11. E-MASIHA 89 12. Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen) 89 13. National Cyber Security strategy (NCSS) 2020 90 14. Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) 90 15. National Statistical Commission 91 16. Changes in Crop Insurance Schemes 92 17. CHILDLINE India Foundation 92

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18. Empowered ‘Technology Group’ 93 19. Khelo India University Games 2020 93 20. Disha Police Station 94 21. Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PMKSN) 95 22. International Judicial Conference 95 23. Bay of Bengal Offshore Sailing Expedition 96 24. Consultative Committee 96 25. SPICe+ Web Form 97

4.SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 1. National Mission on Quantum Technologies & Applications 98 2. Genome India Project 99 3. Space and Women in Space 100 4. Protected Special Agriculture Zone 102 5. U.S. nod for air Defence System Sale to India 103 6. Indian Scientific Expedition to the Southern Ocean 2020 105 7. Adithya L-1 Mission 107 8. EU’s Data Strategy 108 9. H1N1 infection of Supreme Court Judges 109 10. NASA’s Artemis Program 110

4.1 SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY SNIPPETS 1. Most Detailed Image of Sun’s surface 111 2. Fruit Train 112 3. Solar Orbiter to map Sun’s Poles 112 4. The SuperCam on Mars 2020 Rover 114 5. Yaravirus 114 6. Space Snowman 115 7. Saliva of Patients Contain COVID-19 Virus 115 8. Hope Spacecraft 116 9. ISRO 2020-21 117 10. Convalescent Plasma Therapy 117

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11. Habitable-zone Planet Finder (HPF) 118 12. Jupiter’s atmosphere has more water than Previous Estimates 119 13. Structure of SARS-CoV-19 Key Protein Mapped 120

5.SOCIAL ISSUES 1. Female Foeticide 121 2. Supreme Court Panel Recommends Several Prison Reforms 122

6.INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS 1. World Wetlands Day 126 2. BREXIT and its Impact 128 3. Bhutan Ends Free Entry for Indian Tourists 129 4. India, African Countries Resolve to Fight Terror 130 5. Ease of Living Index and Municipal Performance Index 2019 131 6. USTR takes India off Developing Country List 132 7. Towards New World Order 134 8. Naming a Disease by WHO 136 9. India – Norway Joint Statement 138 10. FATF Grey List 139 11. 3rd Global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety 140 12. India - US Trade Relations 142 13. Global Health Security (GHS) Index 145 14. G20 Meeting in Saudi Arabia 148 15. A Future for the World's Children Report 149 16. USA’s Blue Dot Network 150

6.1 INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS SNIPPETS 1. Blue Dot Network (BDN) 152 2. Ashgabat Agreement 153 3. International Intellectual Property Index 153 4. 2 Billion Kilometres 154 5. The Future of Earth Report – 2020 154 6. United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) 155

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1.ECONOMY 1. Insurance Cover on Bank’s Deposit Why in News? • Finance Minister has recently proposed to increase the limit of insurance cover in case of Bank Failure on deposits to ₹5 lakh from ₹1 lakh. What is Deposit Insurance? • Deposit insurance is Providing Insurance Protection to the Depositor’s Money by receiving a premium. • The government has set up Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation (DICGC) under RBI to protect depositors if a bank fails. • Every insured bank pays premium amounting to 0.001% of its deposits to DICGC every year. This scheme insures all types of bank deposits including savings, fixed and recurring with an insured bank. What happens to Depositors’ Money when a Bank Fails? • When a bank is liquidated, depositors are entitled to receive an insurance amount of ₹1 lakh per individual from the Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation of India (DICGC). • The ₹1 lakh insurance limit includes both principal and interest dues across your savings bank accounts, current accounts, fixed deposits and recurring deposits held with the bank. • Now this 1 lakh amount has been proposed to 5 lakhs recently. How the Depositors claim the Money from a Failed Bank? • The DICGC does not deal directly with depositors. • The RBI (or the Registrar), on directing that a bank be liquidated, appoints an official liquidator to oversee the winding up process. • Under the DICGC Act, the liquidator is supposed to hand over a list of all the insured depositors (with their dues) to the DICGC within three months of Taking Charge. • The DICGC is supposed to pay these dues within two months of receiving this list. • In FY19, it took an average 1,425 days for the DICGC to receive and settle the first claims on a De-Registered Bank. Who are insured by the DICGC? • The corporation covers all commercial and co-operative banks, except in Meghalaya, Chandigarh, and Dadra and Nagar Haveli.

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• Besides, only primary cooperative societies are not insured by the DICGC. • Primary Cooperative Credit Societies are formed at village or town level. • A primary credit society refers to any cooperative society other than a primary agricultural credit society. It is basically an association of members residing in a particular locality. The members can be borrowers or Non-Borrowers. What Kind of Depositors is not included in DICGC? • Deposits of foreign governments. However, foreign banks in India are excluded. • Deposits of central/State Governments. • Inter-bank Deposits. • Deposits of the state land development banks with the state co-operative bank. • Any amount due on account of any deposit received outside India. • Any amount specifically exempted by the DICGC with previous approval of RBI. What are the Benefits of this Move? • Guaranteed Returns: Investors can rest assured that his investments are safe and he will be getting back a guaranteed amount at the end of the tenure. • Encourages Saving Habit: This encourages the saving habit of an individual. He will not be tempted to spend the money and find a way to manage his finances more efficiently. • Increases Bank Accounts: It also increases the banking habits of the people.

2. Telecos asked to pay AGR dues Immediately Why in News? • The Supreme Court has recently ordered the MDs and directors of few major telecoms to pay their AGR dues immediately. What is AGR? • Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR) is the usage and licensing fee that telecom operators are charged by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT). • It is divided into spectrum usage charges and licensing fees, pegged between 3-5 percent and 8 percent respectively. • Spectrum usage charges is the charge that is required to be paid by the licensees providing mobile access services, as a percentage of their Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR). • The spectrum slabs/rates for the same are notified by the Government from time to time.

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How AGR is Calculated? • The definition of AGR has been under litigation for 14 years. • While telecom companies argued that it should comprise revenue from telecom services, the DoT’s stand was that the AGR should include all revenue earned by an operator, including that from non-core telecom operations. • The AGR directly impacts the outgo from the pockets of telcos to the DoT as it is used to calculate the levies payable by operators. • Currently, telecom operators pay 8% of the AGR as licence fee, while spectrum usage charges (SUC) vary between 3-5% of AGR. Why are Issues with Telecoms on Paying Huge Amount? • Telecom companies now owe the government not just the shortfall in AGR for the past 14 years but also an interest on that amount along with penalty and interest on the penalty. • While the exact amount telcos will need to shell out is not clear, as in a government affidavit filed in the top court, the DoT had calculated the outstanding licence fee to be over ₹92,000 crore. • However, the actual pay-out can go up to ₹1.4 lakh crore as the government is likely to also raise a demand for shortfall in SUC along with interest and penalty. • Of the total amount, it is estimated that the actual dues is about 25%, while the remaining amount is interest and penalties. What are the Concerns? • The telecom industry is reeling under a debt of over ₹4 lakh crore and has been seeking a relief package from the government. • Even the government has on various occasions admitted that the sector is indeed undergoing stress and needs support. • Giving a ray of hope to the telecom companies, the government recently announced setting up of a Committee of Secretaries to examine the financial stress in the sector, and recommend measures to mitigate it. Way Forward: • To enhance the growth of the telecom sector, improve the quality of service, and generate resources for the Telecom Service Providers (TSPs), a new infrastructural policy is the need of the hour. • The government needs to provide an enabling environment for telecom operators. In order to achieve that, a long-term vision plan must be made accordingly.

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• Enhanced accessibility of the broadband services will enable the digital empowerment of India; hence adequate steps must be taken by the government to strengthen the overall telecom sector.

3. Direct Tax Vivad Se Vishwas Bill, 2020 Why in News? • The Union Cabinet has recently approved an amendment to the ‘Direct Tax Vivad se Vishwas Bill, 2020’ in order to widen its scope to cover litigation pending in various Debt Recovery Tribunals (DRTs). Key Provisions of the Bill: Mechanism: • The Bill provides a mechanism for resolution of pending tax disputes related to direct taxes (Income Tax and Corporate Tax) in simple and speedy manner. • The Bill in current form allows taxpayers to settle cases pending before the Commissioner (Appeals), Income Tax Appellate Tribunals (ITATs), Debt Recovery Tribunals (DRTs), High Courts and the Supreme Court. • Under the proposed Vivad Se Vishwas scheme, a taxpayer would be required to pay only the amount of the disputed taxes and will get complete waiver of interest and penalty provided he pays by March 31, 2020. • But, if the tax arrears relate to disputed interest or penalty only, then 25% of disputed penalty or interest will have to be paid. Those who avail this scheme after March 31, 2020 will have to pay some additional amount. However, the scheme will remain open only till June 30, 2020. Those who avail this scheme after March 31, 2020 will have to pay some additional amount. The scheme also applies to all case appeals that are pending at any level. The recent amendment also includes certain search and seizure cases where the recovery is up to ₹5 crore. Immunity to Appellant: • Once a dispute is resolved, the designated authority cannot levy interest or penalty in relation to that dispute. Further, no appellate forum can make a decision in relation to the matter of dispute once it is resolved. Revival of Disputes: • However, if an appellant provides false information or violates the Income Tax Act, 1961, then case of dispute can be revived.

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Significance of the Bill: 1. Reduce Litigation: ✓ According to the Finance Ministry, at present there are 4.83 lakh pending direct tax cases worth Rs.9 lakh crore in the courts. ✓ Through this scheme, the government wants to recover this money in a swift and simple way. 2. Addressing Revenue Shortfall: ✓ The government is witnessing a big shortfall in revenues, especially tax revenues, hence, increasing revenues in one of the priorities of the government ✓ Direct Tax collections have been lower than their budget targets due to the overall economic slowdown and a recent cut in the corporate tax rate. Similar Schemes: • The Direct Tax Vivad se Vishwas Bill, 2020 is similar to the ‘Sabka Vishwas Scheme’, which was brought in to reduce litigation in indirect taxes in the year 2019. It resulted in settling over 1,89,000 cases. • {“Vivad se Vishwas Scheme” will be for the direct tax related disputes whereas “Sabka Vishwas” is for Indirect Tax Related Disputes.}

4. Madhya Pradesh Grapples with Spiralling Neonatal Deaths Why in News? • According to the National Health Mission (NHM), Madhya Pradesh has recorded the highest percentage of newborn deaths of 11.5% against the total admissions to government-run sick newborn care units (SNCUs). What is Neonatal Mortality Rate (NMR)? • NMR is the probability of dying during the first 28 days of life, expressed per 1,000 live births. • According to the Sample Registration System, neonatal deaths in India mainly occur owing to premature births and low birth weight (35.9%), pneumonia (16.9%), birth asphyxia and birth trauma (9.9%), other non-communicable diseases (7.9%), diarrhoea (6.7%), congenital anomalies (4.6%) and infections (4.2%).Under the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, each country, including India, has aimed to bring down neonatal mortality to at least 12 per 1,000 live births. In 2018, it stood at 23 for India.

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What does the Report Says? • Although admissions of neonates in the Madhya Pradesh have dropped from April 2017 to December 2019 — remaining lower than West Bengal, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh — the percentage of deaths at 12.2% surpassed Bihar’s last year. • In Bhopal, the capital city of Madhya Pradesh, one in every five children admitted to a unit died in the three years — the highest death percentage of 19.9% in the State, ten times above the NHM’s mandated key performance indicator of below 2%. Why the Surge Happened? • Staff crunch, low community referrals, absence of a special neonatal transport service to health centres, and the non-availability of enough units to cater to increasing institutional deliveries had contributed to the spike in the percentage of deaths. • Meanwhile, West Bengal, where 34,344 neonatal deaths occurred in the period, the most in the country, the declining percentage of deaths from 9.2% in 2017 to 8.9% in 2019 coincided with a slump in admissions. The health of children and mothers is not tracked in a systematic way by one platform, and services are often given randomly. What are the Challenges Faced? • As the units are located at hospitals with the delivery load of more than 3,000 infants per year, mostly in District Headquarters, transporting neonates on time is crucial as they may succumb to fatal diseases within hours. • Although there is a dedicated service to transport pregnant women to hospitals from remote areas, there is none for neonates, who are mostly dependent on the 108-ambulance service. The major challenge, however, remained community referrals, significantly aided by ASHA workers — only one in ten sick neonates born outside a hospital is taken to an SNCU. This is due to the absence of transport, inability to identify a disease by parents, and lack of awareness. Way Forward: • Measures should be taken to ensure early registration of pregnancies, and for early detection of high-risk cases, improving institutional deliveries, providing skill development training to health staff. • Education campaign should be taken up to aware the mother of the merits of antenatal care, institutional delivery, importance of exclusive breast feeding, immunization, home care for diarrhoea; all these are meant to create awareness among family members to provide support to women during pregnancies and deliveries.

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5. Consumer Confidence Survey (CCS) Why in News? • Recently, the Reserve Bank has released the results of the January 2020 round of its Consumer Confidence Survey (CCS). About Consumer Confidence Survey (CCS): • The Consumer Confidence survey is conducted by the RBI in 13 major cities of India and covers almost over 5,000 respondents. • The survey measures consumer perception (current and future) on five Economic Variables – 1. Economic situation 2. Employment 3. The Price Level 4. Income 5. Spending • The Consumer Confidence survey has two main indices - current situation index and future expectations index. • The current situation index measures the change in consumer perception over an economic issue in the last one year while the future expectations index measures what consumer thinks about the same variables, one year ahead. • A consumer confidence Index above 100 gives optimistic perception of the consumers while reading below 100 denotes pessimistic perception. Importance of Consumer Confidence: • In case of India, the consumption expenditure accounts for almost 60% of India's GDP and hence it is considered to be the major driver of economic growth and development. • The main driver of the consumption expenditure is the Consumer Confidence. If the consumers are optimistic about the current and future economic state of country, then they would spend more money leading to increase in the GDP. On the other hand, if the Consumer confidence is low, this can lead to decrease in the consumption expenditure and hence impacts the GDP Growth rate. • Hence, there is a need to measure the consumer confidence in a country to understand the prospects of economic growth.

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6. Imported Food Inflation Why in News? • Is food inflation in India influenced by global price movements? On account of certain evidences it appears that international inflation influences domestic prices too. Highlights: • Retail and wholesale food inflation rates for December 2019 were the highest since November 2013 and December 2013 respectively. Simply put, since October or so, food inflation has made a comeback, both in India and globally. • The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation’s (FAO’s) food price index, which is a measure of the change in international prices of a basket of major food commodities with reference to a base period (2002-04), touched 182.5 points in January 2020, the highest since the 185.8 level of December 2014. • Also, the year-on-year inflation rate based on this index has risen steadily from 1.13% in August 2019 to 2.86% in September, 5.58% in October, 9.33% in November, 12.22% in December, and now, 11.33% for January 2020. • This sharp surge in global food prices is reflected in trends in India as well. Annual consumer food price index (CFPI) inflation stood at just 2.99% in August 2019, before climbing to 5.11%, 7.89%, 10.01%, 14.19% and 13.63% in the succeeding five months. • While the recent rise in domestic food prices has been blamed largely on “local” factors like poor rainfall during the first half (June-July) of the monsoon season and too much of it thereafter till about mid-November, some of it is also “imported”. • While global prices can be transmitted to the domestic market too through exports, traders would sell abroad if realisations are better relative to the local market. Way Forward: • The first is the novel coronavirus epidemic that has reduced Chinese buying of everything from palm oil and soyabean to milk powder and meat. Palm oil prices in Malaysia have plunged from 2,922 ringgit ($719) to 2,725 ringgits ($658) over the last one month. • The second is crude oil. Brent crude prices had touched $70 per barrel after the January 3 United States airstrike that killed Iran’s top military commander, but have dropped since, closing at $57.67/barrel. • The third is the prospect of a bumper rabi (winter-spring) crop in India. The kharif harvest turned out to be not so good because of excess and unseasonal rain. That same rain, though, has helped boost rabi acreage by 9.5% compared to last year.

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• The arrival of this crop in the mandis from March should cool down prices, especially of vegetables and pulses, which showed the highest year-on-year retail inflation of 50.19% and 16.71% in January.

1.1 ECONOMY SNIPPETS 1. Misery Index Why in News? • Recently, the Opposition party has demand on ‘Misery Index’ to measure Indian Economy. About Misery Index: • The sum of inflation rate and unemployment rate is equal to ‘Misery Index’. • It is created by Arthur Okun in 1960’s to provide a snapshot of the US economy. • The higher the index, the more is the misery felt by Average Citizens. • A variation of the original misery index is the Bloomberg misery index, developed by the online publication.

• It has become popular in recent times as a means to gauge the overall health of the Global Economy. It has broadened in Recent Times to include other economic indicators; such as Bank Lending Rates.

2. Ujh Multipurpose Project Why in News? • Recently, Ujh Multipurpose Project has planned to fast track utilization of India's rights under Indus Waters Treaty. About Ujh Multipurpose Project: • The project will utilize the waters of Eastern Rivers allotted to India as per the Indus Water Treaty. It is planned to be constructed in Kathua District of Jammu & Kashmir on the River Ujh. Ujh is a tributary of the Ravi river.

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Indus Waters Treaty: • The Treaty signed between India and Pakistan in 1960. The River basin is shared by India and Pakistan. The waters of rivers, Ravi, Sutlej and Beas (Eastern Rivers) shall be available for the unrestricted use of India. Whereas the water of Indus, Jhelum and Chenab (Western rivers) were allocated to Pakistan. • It gives India, the right to generate hydroelectricity through run of the river (RoR) projects on the Western Rivers which, subject to specific criteria for design and operation is Unrestricted. India is also allowed to use 20% of water from western rivers for irrigation, power Generation and Transport Purposes. The uniqueness of the treaty is involving a third party since it was brokered by the World Bank. • Permanent Indus Commission: It was set up as a bilateral commission to implement and manage the Treaty. It solves disputes arising over water sharing.

3. Agartala - Akhaura Railway Link Why in News? • The central government has recently announced a rail line to connect the north-eastern region with Bangladesh will be ready by the end of 2021. Highlights: • It links between Agartala in Tripura and Akhaura in Bangladesh, which pave the way for the first train to run from the north-eastern region to Bangladesh. • It will connect Gangasagar in Bangladesh to Nischintapur in India and from Nischintapur to Agartala railway station. • The cost of laying 5.46 km track will bear by the Ministry for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) in Indian side while the cost of laying 10.6 km track will bear by Bangladesh side is being borne by the Ministry of External Affairs.

4. Nagpur Orange Why in News? • The First Consignment of Nagpur oranges was flagged off to Dubai from Vashi, Navi Mumbai. Nagpur Orange: • Nagpur orange is rustic and pockmarked exterior which is sweet and has juicy pulp.

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• It gives the city of Nagpur its pseudonym Orange City. • It oranges blossom during the Monsoon season and are ready to be harvested from the month of December. The Geographical Indication was accorded to the Nagpur Orange by the registrar of GIs in India and is effective as of April 2014. • Nagpur mandarin in one of the best mandarins in the world. Production of this fruit crop in the central and western part of India is increasing every year. • Mrig crop (monsoon blossom), which matures in February – March, has great potential for export since arrivals of mandarin fruit in international market are less during this period. • In the whole region only one variety of Nagpur Mandarin is Grown.

5. Simplified Proforma for Incorporating Company Electronically (SPICe) Why in News? • The Corporate Affairs Ministry (MCA) has come out with the format of the new web form — SPICe+ — for the incorporation of companies. SPICe: • The webform — issued as part of the Centre’s Ease of Doing Business initiative — has replaced the existing SPICe form. The web form will help save many procedures, time and cost for starting a business in India. The MCA has also come up with an AGILE PRO form, part of SPICe+, for GSTIN/ EPFO/ ESIC/ Profession Tax/ Bank Account. • The MCA also said the RUN service will be applicable only for a change of name of an existing company with effect. Components: • SPICe+ has two parts — Part A for name reservation for new companies and Part B offering a bouquet of services including incorporation, DIN allotment, mandatory issue of PAN, mandatory issue of TAN, mandatory issue of EPFO and ESIC registration and mandatory opening of bank account for the company(through the AGILE PRO linked web

form) besides allotment of GSTIN (if applied for).

6. North East Sustainable Development Goals Conclave 2020 Why in News? • NITI Aayog is organising “Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Conclave 2020: Partnerships, Cooperation and Development of North Eastern States” in Guwahati.

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Highlights: • The Conclave is being organised in association with the North Eastern Council, Government of Assam, Tata Trusts, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS). • The 3-day event will see representations from the highest offices of all the State Governments of the North East, Central Ministries, academia, civil society and international development organizations. • The technical sessions would include sessions pertaining to SDG localisation in the northeast, economic prosperity and sustainable livelihoods, climate adaptive agriculture, health and nutrition, education, skill development and entrepreneurship, connectivity and infrastructure development & inequality and exclusion. • NITI Aayog has the mandate of overseeing the adoption and monitoring of SDGs at the national and sub-national level. • Progress in the northeast region is crucial in this decade of action for the country to achieve the SDGs by 2030.

7. Tirur Vettila Context: • Tirur Vettila has recently obtained a Geographical Indication (GI) tag. About Tirur Vettila

• It is a type of betel leaf which is grown in Tirur and nearby areas of district of Kerala. It is unique for its significantly high content of total chlorophyll and protein in fresh leaves. It possesses some special biochemical characters like unique flavour and aroma. Its leaves are nutritive and contain anticarcinogens, showing future opportunities in Anticancer Drugs. It is reported to have immunosuppressive activity and Antimicrobial Property.

8. In-flight Wi-Fi Why in News? • In-flight connectivity on Indian airlines could soon be a reality as domestic carrier Vistara gears up to launch its broadband service by March-end after approval by Department of Telecommunications (DoT).

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Highlights: • In-flight connectivity essentially allows those onboard aircraft to access voice, video and data services after the aircraft has attained an altitude of 3,000 meters. • In-flight connectivity for aircraft flying over Indian airspace was approved by the DoT in May 2018. Passengers onboard some Vistara flights will be able to use data to make WhatsApp calls, send messages on Facebook, and read email. • The in-flight connectivity service by Vistara, launched in partnership with Tata group firm Nelco, will be offered on its Dreamliners and Airbus 321 planes. In-flight connectivity relies on onboard antenna as well as satellites for Internet and mobile communications. In the case of the former, the signals are picked up by the onboard antenna from the nearest tower on the ground, though the connection does become an issue after a certain altitude if the aircraft is passing over an area with no towers. It works in a manner similar to how satellite TV signals are transmitted. So, an onboard router, which connects to the plane’s antenna transmits data to a personal electronic device. • The signals are then transmitted to ground station via satellites and is redirected to a billing server for calculation of the data consumption. Finally, the signal is relayed to the World Wide Web. While the telecom commission has allowed Internet onboard Internet services onboard, the telecom operator has said it will be made available when devices are used only on flight mode. • As of now, in-flight connectivity is yet to launch on Indian airlines, though the service is offered by a host of Airlines Worldwide. • While the provision of onboard WiFi is also available, not many airlines allow mobile communication. Over 30 airlines allow the use of mobile phone on aircraft.

9. ASKDISHA Chatbot Why in News? • In order to resolve queries of railway passengers over the internet pertaining to various services offered, Indian Railways had introduced the services of Artificial Intelligence- based ASKDISHA chatbot in October 2018 for the benefit of the users. ASKDISHA Chatbot: • IRCTC had launched this chat bot to answer various queries about ticket booking, cancellation and various value-added services.

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• The chatbot is a special computer programme designed to simulate conversation with users, especially over the internet. • It was jointly developed by IRCTC and CoRover Private Limited, a Bangalore-based startup. The first-of-its-kind initiative by IRCTC is aimed at facilitating accessibility by answering users’ queries pertaining to various services offered to railway passengers.

10. Kalasa-Banduri Nala Project Why in News? • Recently, the cost of the Kalasa-Banduri Nala project on the Mahadayi basin has risen due to the ongoing inter-State river water dispute. About Kalasa-Banduri Nala Project: • It is undertaken by the Government of , which was planned in 1989. raised an objection to it. • It is to improve drinking water supply to the three districts of Belagavi, Dharwad, and Gadag. It involves building across Kalasa and Banduri (the two tributaries of the Mahadayi river) to divert water to the (a tributary of ). About Mahadayi River (Mhadei): • It is a west-flowing river, originates in Bhimgad Wildlife Sanctuary () of Karnataka. • It is essentially a rain-fed river also called Mandovi in Goa. • It travels 35 km in Karnataka; 82 km in Goa before joining the Arabian Sea. • The Mahadayi Water Disputes Tribunal was set up in 2010. Goa, Karnataka and are parties to the tribunal.

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2.ENVIRONMENT

1. Black Carbon in Glacier Why in News? • Recently, scientists from the Wadia Institute of Himalayan geology have found high level of Black Carbon in glacial area of Uttarakhand. What is Black Carbon? • Black carbon is a potent climate-warming component of particulate matter formed by the Incomplete Combustion of fossil fuels, wood and other fuels. • Complete combustion would turn all carbon in the fuel into carbon dioxide (CO2), but combustion is never complete and CO2, carbon monoxide, volatile organic compounds, and organic carbon and black carbon particles are all formed in the process. • It is a complex mixture of particulate matter resulting from incomplete combustion is often referred to as soot. • It is a short-Lived Climate Pollutant with a lifetime of only days to weeks after release in the Atmosphere. Impacts of Black Carbon: • It is an important contributor to warming because it is very effective at absorbing light and heating its surroundings. Per unit of mass, black carbon has a warming impact on climate that is 460-1,500 times stronger than CO2. It influences cloud formation and impacts regional circulation and rainfall patterns. When deposited on ice and snow, black carbon and co-emitted particles reduce surface albedo (the ability to reflect sunlight) and heat the surface. The Arctic and glaciated regions such as the are particularly vulnerable to melting as a result. It has a number of health impacts including premature death in adults with heart and lung disease, strokes, heart attacks, chronic respiratory disease such as bronchitis, aggravated asthma and other Cardio-Respiratory Symptoms. It is also responsible for premature deaths of children from acute lower respiratory infections such as Pneumonia. Control Measures for Black Carbon: • Replace traditional cooking and heating with clean-burning biomass stoves • Replace Wood Stove and Burners with Pellet Stoves and Boilers • Modernize Traditional Brick kilns to Vertical Shaft Brick Kilns • Use Diesel Particular Filters for road and Off-Road Vehicles

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• Fast transition to Euro BS VI vehicles and soot-free buses and Trucks • Ban open-field burning of Agricultural Waste • Capture and Improve Oil Flaring and Gas Production

2. Paraquat Poisoning Why in News? • The use of herbicide Paraquat has killed more than hundreds of people in the last two years in Odisha’s Burla district leading to demands for its Ban. About Paraquat: • Paraquat is a toxic chemical that is widely used as an Herbicide (Plant Killer), primarily for weed and Grass Control. It has been banned in 32 countries including Switzerland, where herbicide producing company Sygenta is based. • Paraquat also figures on the list of 99 pesticides and herbicides the Supreme Court to ban in an ongoing case. • Paraquat dichloride is being used for 25 crops in India, whereas it is approved to be used on only nine crops by the Central Insecticide Board and Registration Committee. This is a violation of the Indian Insecticides Act. • So far in India, only Kerala has banned the herbicide. • Since farmers can’t and don’t read the label on paraquat containers, retailers sell paraquat in plastic carry bags and refill bottles. Why Paraquat is lethal? • There is no antidote to this herbicide, the consumers of which complain of kidney, liver and lung problems. They may recover from kidney problems, but die of lung- and liver- related ailments. Some also witness kidney failure. It is also toxic to human beings and animals due to its redox activity, which produces Superoxide Anions. • It has been linked to the development of Parkinson’s Disease and is banned in several countries. What is the Issue? • The vast majority of the population in western Odisha and its bordering districts in Chhattisgarh are dependent on agriculture. • Crop failures and family disturbances often drive people to look for poison to commit suicide and Paraquat, which is easily available at homes as well as in neighbourhood shops, becomes an “obvious” choice.

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• There have also been cases of people becoming accidental victims when they absorb Paraquat while sprinkling it in Agricultural Fields. Can worldwide ban be Imposed? • Paraquat is yet to be listed in the Prior Informed consent (PIC) of Rotterdam Convention. It is an international treaty on Import/Export of Hazardous Chemicals signed in 1998. If it is in the chemical figures of the PIC, the exporting country has to take the importing nation’s prior consent before exporting it. About Rotterdam Convention: • The Rotterdam Convention is formally known as the Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade. • It is a multilateral treaty to promote shared responsibilities in relation to importation of hazardous chemicals. The convention promotes Open Exchange of Information and calls on exporters of hazardous chemicals to use proper labeling, include directions on safe handling, and inform purchasers of any known restrictions or bans. • Signatory nations can decide whether to allow or ban the importation of chemicals listed in the Treaty and exporting countries are obliged to make sure that producers within their jurisdiction comply. • India is a party to the convention, with 161 other parties.

3. Locust Attack Context: • In recent weeks, locust swarms have attacked crops in more than a dozen countries in Asia and Africa. • The United Nations have announced that the situation is extremely alarming in three regions - the Horn of Africa, the Red Sea area, and southwest Asia. The Horn of Africa being the worst-affected area. The Locust Emergency: • Locust swarms from Ethiopia and Somalia have reached south to Kenya and 14 other countries in the continent. • In the Red Sea area, locusts have struck Saudi Arabia, Oman and Yemen. • In Asia, locust swarms have savaged Iran, Pakistan and India.

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• Huge swarms of locusts have struck border villages in Rajasthan, and Punjab - causing heavy damage to standing crops prompting the state governments to sound high alert against locust attacks. • Pakistan and Somalia have declared national emergency to battle locusts The Locusts Attack: • Locusts are the oldest migratory pest in the world. They differ from ordinary grasshoppers in their ability to change behaviour (gregarize) and form swarms that can migrate over large distances. • The most devastating of all locust species is the Desert Locust (Schistocerca gregaria). • During plagues, it can easily affect 20 percent of the Earth's land, more than 65 of the world's poorest countries, and potentially damage the livelihood of one tenth of the world's population. During quiet periods, Desert Locusts live in the desert areas between West Africa and India – an area of about 16 million square km where they normally survive in about 30 countries. • Locusts have a high capacity to multiply, form groups, migrate over relatively large distances (they can fly up to 150 km per day) and, if good rains fall and ecological conditions become favourable, rapidly reproduce and increase some 20-fold in three months. Locust adults can eat their own weight every day, i.e. about two grams of fresh vegetation per day. What is the Relationship between locusts and climate change? • During quiet periods—known as recessions—desert locusts are usually restricted to the semi-arid and arid deserts of Africa, the Near East and South-West Asia that receive less than 200 mm of rain annually. • In normal conditions, locust numbers decrease either by natural mortality or through migration. However, the last five years have been hotter than any other since the industrial revolution and since 2009. • Studies have linked a hotter climate to more damaging locust swarms, leaving Africa disproportionately affected—20 of the fastest warming countries globally are in Africa. • Wet weather also favours multiplication of locusts. Widespread, above average rain that pounded the Horn of Africa from October to December 2019 were up to 400 per cent above normal rainfall amount. • These abnormal rains were caused by the Indian Ocean dipole, a phenomenon accentuated by climate change.

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How can Locusts be Controlled? • Controlling desert locust swarms primarily uses organophosphate chemicals by vehicle- mounted and aerial sprayers, and to a lesser extent by knapsack and hand-held sprayers. • Extensive research is ongoing regarding biological control and other means of non- chemical control with the current focus on pathogens and insect growth regulators. • Control by natural predators and parasites so far is limited since locusts can quickly move away from most natural enemies. While people and birds often eat locusts, this is not enough to significantly reduce population levels over large areas. While the traditional form of control considered is use of pesticides, the impact of these chemicals on the environment and other critical ecosystems key to food security—such as bees and other insects, which not only pollinate up to 70 percent of our food but also may have an impact on human health—cannot be overlooked. What is the role of the United Nations in Locust Control? • The United Nations’ response to locust attack control is multi-agency in nature. While the immediate sector at risk is food security, climate change plays an exacerbating role. • One of UNEP’s roles is to disseminate the latest science on emerging climate trends to inform cross-sectorial policies and ensure resilience is built in the relevant sectors. • The role of the World Meteorological Organization is to forecast the more immediate weather changes that may exacerbate the locusts’ attacks. • The World Health Organization's role is to classify potential risks of different chemical agents to enable governments to invest in the safest one. • One of the mandates of the Food and Agricultural Organizations is to provide information on the general locust situation and to give timely warnings and forecasts to those countries in danger of invasion. The organization operates a centralized desert locust information service. The Case of India: • In June 2019, the Indian side of the received unexpected rainfall, which again made conditions conducive for locusts to lay their eggs. • Usually, the southwest monsoon hits western Rajasthan on July 1. • Barmer district in Rajasthan, part of the Thar, broke all records in June. It received a 14- day spell of rainfall. This led to a lot of locust breeding in the Thar region • Locusts need moisture in sand to breed. They do breed in dry deserts too but the nymph (immature insect) fails to come out of the egg because of the heat.

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• The rain also led to the sprouting of desert vegetation like grasses. This led to more breeding of locusts, that got a ready food supply. • Locusts usually leave India by November. In 2019, however, this did not happen as there were nine days of rainfall in November 2019. • Pests are changing their behavior and adapting to changing climate. Locusts that leave India at the onset of winter, are now spending winters.

4. Green India Mission Why in News? • According to the Economic Survey 2019-20 released on January 2020, a sum of Rs 343.08 crore has been released under the Green India Mission (GIM) for undertaking afforestation activities over an area of 126,916.32 hectare (ha) in 13 states. • Between 2015-16 and 2018-19, the area brought under afforestation by GIM plantation activities stood at 87,113.86 ha, according to the data presented by Union Minister of State, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. • For afforestation to be achieved over an area of 126,916.32 ha in 2019-20, as the Economic Survey states, plantation activity under GIM would have to increase by around 45 per cent of where it stood in July 2019. Green India Mission (GIM): • National Mission for a Green India or GIM is one of the eight Missions outlined under India’s action plan for addressing the challenge of climate change -the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC). GIM was launched in February 2014, is aimed at protecting, restoring and enhancing India’s diminishing forest cover and responding to climate change by a combination of adaptation and Mitigation Measures. Objectives: • To increase green cover in India to the extent of five million hectares (mha) and improve the quality of existing green cover on another 5 mha. • To improve eco-system services like carbon sequestration, hydrological services and biodiversity and provisioning services like fuel, fodder, and timber and non-timber forest produces. To increase forest-based livelihood income for about three million households. • Eco-restoration of degraded open forests, Restoration of Grasslands, Restoration of Wetlands, Eco-restoration/afforestation of scrub, shifting cultivation areas, cold deserts, mangroves, ravines and abandoned mining areas etc.

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Concerns and Challenges: • The Lok Sabha Committee on Estimates’ 30th report, ‘Performance of the National Action Plan on Climate Change’ pertaining to Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, released in December 2018 found fund shortage, leading to GIM missing its targets. • The scheme is proposed for 10 years with an outlay of Rs 60,000 crore. During 2017-18, Rs 47.8 crore has been allocated for the scheme which is grossly insufficient as the committed liability for 2015-16 and 2016-17 is Rs 89.53 crore which is much more than the budget allocated. • The afforestation done under the mission was only aimed at increasing tree count without considering the soil and weather conditions. • Trees like eucalyptus were planted which make environmental problems worse rather than solving them. • Planting of unsuitable trees may cause drought, and prevent biodiversity in the regions. • Plantations only have value in terms of timber. The other ecological services provided by a forest like prevention of soil erosion, promoting biodiversity, providing livelihood etc. are not there at all. • In most of the plantations, there is no resident wildlife.

5. Manipur’s Loktak Lake chokes from a Catastrophic Project Flagged off 50 Years Ago Why in News? • “Ithai barrage” of the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation Limited (NHPC) is slowly causing the death of Loktak Lake by choking its lifeline. About Loktak Lake: • Largest freshwater lake in North -East India. • It is one of the Ramsar sites in India. • Phumdi - an organic mass floating in the lake – is an exclusive feature of Loktak Lake.

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• Keibul Lamjao, the only floating national park in the world, floats over it. • Brow-antlered deer (Endangered) are found only on Loktak’s phumdi, in the Keibul Lamjao National Park. • Edible plants, roots and fruits growing on the phumdi are a major part of the diet in Manipur. Loktak - A living Lake: • The phumdi’s life cycle is regulated by the seasonal fluctuation in water level. • In the dry season, they sink to the lake bed where their roots absorb nutrients from the soil. During monsoons they float back to the surface. • Phumdi is a floating assortment of soil, vegetation and organic matter in various stages of decay. • It sustains fish culture ponds. The Beginning of Death of the Lake: • In 1983, National Hydroelectric Power Corporation Limited (NHPC) constructed Ithai barrage which maintained water level in Loktak Lake, much higher than usual. • The purpose was to provide cheap electricity and lift irrigation in the region. However no study was done on the impact on lake’s ecosystem. How the Lake is undergoing a Slower Death: • With the water level now permanently high, phumdi can no longer reach the lake bed in the dry season. Unable to feed on nutrients, Loktak’s islets of vegetation are thinning out. • Ithai Barrage blocked the outlet of the lake to the sea. Fishermen cannot dispose of the dying biomass. • For decades now, rotting vegetation has been piling up on the lake bed. • Huge shoals of fish coming in from the Chindwin-Irrawaddy river system in Myanmar through the Manipur River previously, has stopped due to barrage construction. • Run-off from surrounding agricultural fields and untreated sewage of the city are being added to the lake. • This has resulted in growth of semi-aquatic weeds that deplete oxygen in the water, choking Loktak. • Adding to the Suffering, Fingerlings brought in from Andhra Pradesh and Odisha by fisheries department has gradually wiped out several species of native fish found in the lake.

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6. 13th Conference of Parties (COP) of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) Why in News? • India will host the 13th Conference of Parties (COP) of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) at Gandhinagar, Gujarat in February 2020. Highlights: • As the host, India shall be designated the President for the next three years. • The Government of India is a signatory to the Convention on Conservation of Migratory wild Animals (CMS) since 1983. • The theme of CMS COP 13 in India is, “Migratory species connect the planet and we welcome them home”. The CMS COP 13 logo is inspired by ‘Kolam’, a traditional art form from southern India. In the logo, Kolam art form is used to depict key migratory species in India like Amur falcon, humpback whale and marine turtles. • The mascot for CMS COP13, “Gibi – The Great Indian Bustard” is a critically endangered species which has been accorded the highest protection status under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. Great Indian Bustard: • The great Indian bustard (Ardeotis nigriceps) or Indian bustard is a bustard found on the Indian subcontinent. • It is a large bird with a horizontal body and long bare legs, giving it an ostrich like appearance. It is among the heaviest of the flying birds. • These birds are often found associated in the same habitat as the blackbuck. • The Indian subcontinent is also part of the major bird flyway network, i.e, the Central Asian Flyway (CAF) that covers areas between the Arctic and Indian Oceans, and covers at least 279 populations of 182 migratory water bird species, including 29 globally threatened species. Convention on Conservation of Migratory wild Animals (CMS): • As an environmental treaty of the United Nations, CMS provides a global platform for the conservation and sustainable use of migratory animals and their habitats. • CMS brings together the States through which migratory animals pass, the Range States, and lays the legal foundation for internationally coordinated conservation measures throughout a migratory range.

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• It is the only global convention specializing in the conservation of migratory species, their habitats and migration routes. • Migratory species threatened with extinction are listed on Appendix I of the Convention. • CMS Parties strive towards strictly protecting these animals, conserving or restoring the places where they live, mitigating obstacles to migration and controlling other factors that might endanger them. • The Convention entered into force on 1 November 1983. • Its Secretariat is in Bonn, Germany.

7. Urban Heat Islands in India Why in News? • A recent study from IIT Kharagpur named “Anthropogenic forcing exacerbating the urban heat islands in India” noted that mean daytime temperature of surface urban areas going up by around 2 degrees Celsius in average, when compared to neighboring areas. • The same study also said that the relatively warmer temperature in urban areas, compared to suburbs, may contain potential health hazards due to heat waves apart from pollution. What is Urban Heat Island? • Urban Heat Island effect is defined as the presence of significantly higher temperatures in urban areas compared to the temperatures in surrounding rural zones mainly due to human factors Usually urban heat islands have a mean temperature 8 to 10 degrees more than the surrounding rural areas. These can affect communities by increasing summertime peak energy demand, air conditioning costs, air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, heat-related illness and mortality.

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So why are these urban areas Hotter than Surrounding Suburbs? • This happens because of the materials used for pavements, roads and roofs, such as concrete, asphalt (tar) and bricks, have higher heat capacity and thermal conductivity than rural areas, which have more open space, trees and grass. • Trees and plants are characterized by their ‘evapotranspiration’— a combination of words wherein evaporation involves the movement of water to the surrounding air, and transpiration refers to the movement of water within a plant and the subsequent lot of water through the stomata (pores found on the leaf surface) in its leaves. ✓ Grass, plants and trees in the suburbs and rural areas do this. The lack of such evapo- transpiration in the city leads to the city experiencing higher temperature than its surroundings. • The higher temperatures of urban heat islands can be attributed to human activity, particularly to changes in land surfaces. Urban development requires the use of significant amounts of cement and asphalt for roofing purposes and to pave sidewalks and roads. • These materials have thermal bulk properties that absorb more solar radiation than the surfaces found in rural areas. Additionally, these materials have different surface radiative properties, which means they emit energy as thermal radiation or heat.

8. Toxic Air: The Price of Fossil Fuels Why in News? • Recently, the Greenpeace Southeast Asia has released a report titled ‘Toxic Air: The Price of Fossil Fuels’. Key Findings: • It provides a global assessment of the health impact of air pollution from fossil fuels in 2018 and a first-of-its-kind estimate of the associated economic cost. • It is limited to the following pollutants, fine particulate matter (PM 2.5), ozone (O3) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and only that pollution which is emitted by fossil fuel combustion (coal, oil and gas). • Health Impacts of Air Pollution: The exposure to an air pollutant or combination of air pollutants, increased incidence of diseases including Ischaemic Heart Disease (IHD), Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), lung cancer, lower respiratory infections, type II diabetes, etc.

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• Economic Cost of Air Pollution: The burning of fossil fuels costs an estimated 3.3% of global Gross Domestic Product (GDP), equivalent to US $8 billion per day and 12,000 premature deaths every day. China, the US and India bear the highest economic cost of soaring pollution, at an estimated $900 billion, $600 billion and $150 billion (5.4% of the India’s GDP) a year, respectively. • Impacts of Particulate Matter (PM2.5): It leads to the greatest health impact and the greatest financial cost of the three pollutants (PM2.5, O3, NO2). Globally, air pollution is estimated to cause 4.5 million premature deaths each year, which includes 3 million deaths attributable globally to PM2.5. Pollution from PM2.5 costs 2.5% of the global GDP whereas pollution from O3 and NO, each costs equivalent to 0.4% of global GDP. • Ozone (O3) formed at near-ground level is an air pollutant that causes smog. Ozone pollution causes acute human health problems, including chest pain, throat irritation and inflammation of the airways. It also adversely affects vegetation and crops. • Nitrogen oxides: When fossil fuels are burned in air, nitrogen oxides (NO and NO2, collectively referred to as NOx) are created from molecular nitrogen in the air and in the fuel that is being burned. NOx pollution, along with sulphur dioxide, which is also produced when fossil fuels are burned, reacts with water to form acid rain, snow and fog, and with other substances to form particulate matter. India’s Findings: • One of the principal pollutants in northern Indian cities including DelhiisPM2.5. • In India there are 9,81,000 preterm births and 2 million preterm births globally due to PM2.5. Approximately 3,50,000 new cases of child asthma in India to nitrogen dioxide. As a result of this, over 1.28 million more children in India live with asthma, which is linked to fossil fuel pollution. • The exposure to fossil fuels also leads to a loss of around 490 million workdays. Way Forward: • Creating a sustainable transport system by setting a phase-out date for diesel and petrol cars, while implementing various urban transport measures, such as restricting cars’ access into certain neighbourhoods or districts, promoting car-free days, etc. • The phase-out of fossil fuels and switch to renewable forms of energy is beneficial both for reducing air pollution and mitigating anthropogenic (man-made) climate change. • India needs to increase its spending on the health sector. It is to be noted that India spends around 1.28% of the GDP on health while air pollution from burning fossil fuels costs an

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estimated 5.4% of India's GDP. The central government has allocated only Rs 69,000 crore for the health sector in the Union Budget 2020-21. • The coal fired power plants in India have repeatedly missed the emission deadline set by the Union Environment Ministry. Strict action should be taken against non-compliance of thermal power plants.

9. Melting Antarctica Context: • The Antarctic region has registered its highest-ever temperature on record as mercury soared over 20 degrees Celsius earlier in the first week of February, 2020. • Researchers logged 20.75 degrees Celsius on an island off the coast of the continent in February - a record high temperature never seen before in the region. Key Facts: • The Antarctic has registered a temperature of more than 20oC (68F) for the first time on record, prompting fears of climate instability in the world’s greatest repository of ice. • The 20.75 degree Celcius logged by Brazilian scientists at Seymour Island in February,2020 was almost a full degree higher than the previous record of 19.8C, taken on Signy Island in January 1982. • Also,this February an Argentinian research station at Esperanza measured 18.3C, which was the highest reading on the continental Antarctic peninsula. • These records will need to be confirmed by the World Meteorological Organization, but they are consistent with a broader trend on the peninsula and nearby islands, which have warmed by almost 3C since the pre-industrial era – one of the fastest rates on the planet. • Scientists, who collect the data from remote monitoring stations every three days, described the new record as “incredible and abnormal”. • Although the new temperature reading was not part of a wider study, scientists warn it is enough to indicate how fast Antarctica is warming. • The temperature of the peninsula, the South Shetland Islands and the James Ross archipelago, which Seymour is part of, has been erratic over the past 20 years. Why are Ice Sheets Important? • Ice sheets contain enormous quantities of frozen water. If the Greenland Ice Sheet melted, scientists estimate that sea level would rise about 6 meters (20 feet). If the Antarctic Ice Sheet melted, sea level would rise by about 60 meters (200 feet).

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• The Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets also influence weather and climate. Large high- altitude plateaus on the ice caps alter storm tracks and create cold downslope winds close to the ice surface. • In addition, the layers of ice blanketing Greenland and Antarctica contain a unique record of Earth's climate history.

10. Decline in India’s Bird Population Why in News? • The State of India’s Birds 2020 (SoIB), a new scientific report was jointly released by 10 organisations Recently. Stats of the Report: • It was produced using a base of 867 species, and analysed with the help of data uploaded by birdwatchers to the online platform, eBird. • The SoIB was produced in a partnership that included ATREE, BNHS, Foundation for Ecological Security, NCF, National Biodiversity Authority of India, National Centre for Biological Sciences, SACON (Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History), Wetlands International, WII and WWF. • Over a fifth of India’s bird diversity, ranging from the Short-toed Snake Eagle to the Sirkeer Malkoha, has suffered strong long-term declines over a 25-year period. • More recent annual trends point to a drastic 80% loss among several common birds. • For every bird species that was found to be increasing in numbers over the long term, 11 have suffered losses, some catastrophically. • Of 101 species categorised as being of High Conservation Concern endemics such as the Rufous-fronted Prinia, Nilgiri Thrush, Nilgiri Pipit and Indian vulture were confirmed as suffering current decline. • Among widely known species, the common sparrow, long seen as declining in urban spaces, has a stable population overall, although they have become rare in cities and urban areas. Raptors overall are in decline, with ‘open country’ species such as the Pallid and Montagu Harriers, White-bellied Sea Eagle and Red-necked Falcon suffering the most. Migratory shorebirds, along with gulls and terns, seem to have declined the most among Water Birds.

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Reasons for Decline: • The possible reasons for this is a decrease in insect populations as well as nesting places, but there is no conclusive evidence in the scientific literature on radiation from mobile phone towers playing a part.Habitat loss and fragmentation are known causes of species declines in general, but targeted research is needed to pinpoint causes of decline. • Climate Change could be one of the reasons for the decline in bird species as they are so sensitive to climate change. Way Forward: • Addressing the key reasons for the decline is very essential as birds are also a part of our ecosystem. Failure in addressing their decline may disrupt the balance of the ecosystem. • Regular survey of various bird species and finding out their reasons for decline for particular interval of time could create a Positive Impact.

11. Future of Earth 2020 Why in News? • Five Global Risks that have the potential to impact and amplify one another in ways that may cascade to create a global systemic crisis have been listed by “The Future of Earth, 2020”, which was released by the Future Earth Regional Office, Divecha Centre for Climate Change, Indian Institute of Science. Highlights: • The report was prepared with the aim of reducing carbon footprint and halting global warming below 2 degree Celsius by 2050. • The report, released by K. Kasturirangan, former Chairman, ISRO, lists five global risks: ✓ Failure of climate change mitigation and adaptation ✓ Extreme weather events ✓ Major biodiversity loss and ecosystem collapse ✓ Food crises ✓ Water crises • Offering examples of how the interrelation of risk factors play a role, scientists say extreme heat waves can accelerate global warming by releasing large amounts of stored carbon from affected ecosystems, and at the same time intensify water crises and/or food scarcity. • The loss of biodiversity also weakens the capacity of natural and agricultural systems to cope with climate extremes, increasing our vulnerability to food crises, they point out.

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Politics, Biodiversity and Climate Change: • It is pointed out that over the last 18 months, major assessments by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the US National Climate Assessment, and the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, have all argued that time is running out to reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions. ✓ This has inspired declarations of a climate crisis or climate emergency by the leaders of more than 700 cities, States and governments. ✓ Yet, during 2019, the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere reached more than 415 ppm. Five years from 2014 to 2018 were the warmest recorded over land and ocean since 1880. • Right-wing populism, a breed of politics that exploits people’s fears during times of economic decline and growing inequality, and that which focuses on nationalist tendencies to clamp down on borders and reject immigrants is on the rise around the world. ✓ It is argued that this often leads to a denial of climate change facts or impacts. • The report highlights that humans have now “significantly altered” 75% of our planet’s land area; about a quarter of species in assessed plant and animal groups are threatened. • Strains on food production are expected to increase, as a result of various forces including climate change, biodiversity loss, and a global population on the rise.

12. Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) Context: • Three endangered species from India – the Great Indian Bustard, the Asiatic elephant and the Bengal Florican – are to be included in a special global list for protection under the Convention on Conservation of Migratory Species. Convention on Conservation of Migratory Species. • CMS is an international treaty concluded under aegis of UN Environment Programme (UNEP), concerned with conservation of wildlife and habitats on a global scale. • It is commonly abbreviated as Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) or the Bonn Convention. It aims to conserve terrestrial, marine and avian migratory species throughout their range. It was signed in 1979 in Bonn (hence the name), Germany and entered into force in 1983. Its headquarters are in Bonn, Germany. CMS is the only global and UN- based intergovernmental organization established exclusively for conservation and management of terrestrial, aquatic and avian migratory species throughout their range.

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• CMS brings together the States through which migratory animals pass, the Range States, and lays the legal foundation for internationally coordinated conservation measures throughout a migratory range. • It is the only global convention specializing in the conservation of migratory species, their habitats and migration routes. CMS and its Implementation: • CMS complements and co-operates with a number of other international organizations, NGOs and partners in the media as well as in the corporate sector. • Appendix I of the Convention: ✓ Migratory species threatened with extinction are listed on Appendix I of the Convention. ✓ CMS Parties strive towards strictly protecting these animals, conserving or restoring the places where they live, mitigating obstacles to migration and controlling other factors that might endanger them. ✓ Besides establishing obligations for each State joining the Convention, CMS promotes concerted action among the Range States of many of these species. • Appendix II of the Convention ✓ Migratory species that need or would significantly benefit from international co- operation are listed in Appendix II of the Convention. ✓ For this reason, the Convention encourages the Range States to conclude global or Regional Agreements. • In this respect, CMS acts as a framework Convention. The agreements may range from legally binding treaties (called Agreements) to less formal instruments, such as Memoranda of Understanding, and can be adapted to the requirements of particular regions. CMS- Conference of Parties 13: • The Conference of the Parties (COP) is the principal decision-making body of the Convention. It meets once every three years and sets the budget and priorities of the following three years (the triennium). • The 13th Conference of Parties (COP) of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species (CMS) of Wild Animals will be hosted by India. The conference will be organized by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change in Gandhinagar, from 17th – 22nd February 2020.

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• The theme for 2020 is “Migratory species connect the planet and together we welcome them home”. • The 2020 mascot is Gigi - the Great Indian Bustard. ✓ These birds are dying at the rate of 15 per cent annually due to collision with high- voltage power lines. ✓ In the last 30 years, their population has reduced drastically by nearly 75 percent. Their inclusion in the list of species for protection under the CMS will enable range countries to protect and conserve these migratory birds. ✓ It is a critically endangered species which has been accorded the highest protection status under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. • India is Signatory to the CMS since 1983. • India has been taking necessary actions to protect and conserve migratory marine species. • Seven species that include Dugong, Whale Shark, Marine Turtle (two species), have been identified for preparation of Conservation and Recovery Action Plan. What are Migratory Species? Why Protect Them? • Migratory species are those animals that move from one habitat to another during different times of the year, due to various factors such as food, sunlight, temperature, climate, etc. The movement between habitats, can sometimes exceed thousands of miles/kilometres for some migratory birds and mammals. A migratory route can involve nesting and also requires the availability of habitats before and after each migration.

13. Kerala Opposes Alternate Route bypassing Bandipur Why in News? • The Kerala government has opposed in the Supreme Court an alternative route proposed by Karnataka to bypass the night-time traffic ban on the National Highway 212 through the . Highlights: • The Karnataka government had banned night time traffic through Bandipur National Park that connects Kerala with the cites of Mysore and Bangalore. • Kerala submitted that the alternative route goes through the Nagarhole Tiger Reserve in Karnataka and Tholpetty wildlife sanctuary in Kerala. • It said that the the ban on night traffic through NH 212 issued by the District Magistrate was without any study or preparation.

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• Mudumalai, Bandipur Tiger Reserves and Wayanad Wildlife sanctuary make one contiguous tiger territory and move freely within this area. It is illogical and inappropriate to impose enhanced level of restriction only in one part of this tiger territory to protect tigers. Kerala argued that, if at all any restrictions of vehicular movement is to be done in wildlife areas, it should be done uniformly across the country under the relevant laws such as the Wildlife Protection Act and not under the Motor Vehicles Act. Bandipur National Park: • Bandipur National Park established in 1974 as a tiger reserve under Project Tiger, is a national park located in Karnataka, which is the state with the second highest tiger population in India. Along with adjacent it is one of the premier Tiger Reserves in the country. It was once a private hunting reserve for the Maharaja of the Kingdom of Mysore but has now been upgraded to Bandipur Tiger Reserve. • Bandipur is known for its wildlife and has many types of biomes, but dry deciduous forest is dominant. It is a part of Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. • The park has a variety of biomes including dry deciduous forests, moist deciduous forests and shrublands. The wide range of habitats help support a diverse range of organisms. The park is flanked by the in the north and the in the south. • The Nugu river runs through the park. The highest point in the park is on a hill called Himavad Gopalaswamy Betta.

14. International protection for Great Indian Bustard, Bengal Florican and Asian Elephant Why in News? • India’s proposal to include the Great Indian Bustard, the Asian Elephant and the Bengal Florican in Appendix I of UN Convention on Migratory Species was unanimously accepted at the on-going thirteenth Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) in Gandhinagar. UN Convention on Migratory Species: • Adopted in 1979 and entered in to force in 1983, the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) aims to build and strengthen global conservation efforts for migratory species in the air, on land, and in the seas. CMS, also known as the Bonn Convention, is an international and intergovernmental treaty backed by the United Nations Environmental Programme.

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Asian Elephant: • The Government of India has declared Indian elephant as a National Heritage Animal. • The Indian elephant is also provided the highest degree of legal protection by listing it in Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. • Placing the Indian elephant in Schedule I of the CMS Convention will fulfil the natural urge of migration of the Indian elephant across India’s borders and back safely and thereby promote conservation of this endangered species for the future generations. Great Indian Bustard: • The Great Indian Bustard, an iconic, critically endangered and conservation dependent species, exhibits transboundary movements, and its migration exposes it to threats such as hunting in boundary area of Pakistan-India and power-line collisions in India. • Inclusion of the species in Appendix I of CMS will aide in transboundary conservation efforts facilitated by International conservation bodies and existing international laws and Agreement. • The species has a small population of about 100–150 individuals that is largely restricted to the Thar Desert in Rajasthan, India. Bengal Florican: • The Bengal Florican, an iconic, critically endangered species of topmost conservation priority, exhibits transboundary movements, and its migration exposes it to threats such as land use changes, collision with power transmission line at boundary area of India-Nepal and probable power-line collisions. • Inclusion of the species in Appendix I of CMS will aid in transboundary conservation efforts facilitated by International conservation bodies and existing international laws and agreement. • Populations have declined as a result of habitat loss, hunting and the species no longer breeds outside Protected Areas in the Indian subcontinent, except in a few areas of Assam.

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15. Declaring Eastern Ghats as UNESCO World Heritage Sites Why in News? • Recently some Environmental groups have demanded to declare the Eastern Ghats as the UNESCO Cultural Heritage Site. About the Eastern Ghats: • The Eastern Ghats run parallel to the eastern coastal plains of India. The five States that the Ghats encompass are the , Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka and Odisha. • Unlike the Western Ghats, they are discontinuous in nature and are dissected by the rivers that drain into the Bay of Bengal. Most of these rivers have their origin in the Western Ghats. • It must be noted that the Eastern Ghats are lower in elevation than the Western Ghats. The highest peak of Western Ghats is the Mahendragiri. • Anaimudi which is the highest peak of the Western Ghats has a height of 2695 mts whereas Mahendragiri of Eastern Ghats is of 150 mts. • The main crop produced in the Eastern Ghats is the , which is also the staple food of the people living in the region. About UNESCO World Heritage Sites: • A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as of special cultural or physical significance. • The list is maintained by the international World Heritage Programme administered by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, composed of 21 UNESCO member states which are elected by the General Assembly. • Each World Heritage Site remains part of the legal territory of the state wherein the site is located and UNESCO considers it in the interest of the international community to preserve each site. • With Successful inscription of Jaipur City in 2019, India has 38 world heritage sites that include 30 Cultural properties, 7 Natural properties and 1 mixed site.

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How a site is being selected? • To be selected, a World Heritage Site must be an already classified landmark, unique in some respect as a geographically and historically identifiable place having special cultural or physical significance (such as an ancient ruin or historical structure, building, city, complex, desert, forest, island, lake, monument, mountain, or wilderness area). It may signify a remarkable accomplishment of humanity, and serve as evidence of our intellectual history on the planet. What is the legal status of the Designated Sites? • UNESCO designation as a World Heritage Site provides prima facie evidence that such culturally sensitive sites are legally protected pursuant to the Law of War, under the Geneva Convention, its articles, protocols and customs, together with other treaties including the Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict and international law. What are the Endangered Sites? • A site may be added to the List of World Heritage in Danger if there are conditions that threaten the characteristics for which the landmark or area was inscribed on the World Heritage List. Such problems may involve armed conflict and war, natural disasters, pollution, poaching, or uncontrolled urbanization or human development. • This danger list is intended to increase international awareness of the threats and to encourage counteractive measures. • The state of conservation for each site on the danger list is reviewed on a yearly basis, after which the committee may request additional measures, delete the property from the list if the threats have ceased or consider deletion from both the List of World Heritage in Danger and the World Heritage List.

16. Tiger Reserve Tag unlikely for Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary Why in News? • The Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary (WWS), home to the largest number of tigers in the State, is losing out on tiger reserve status due to lack of support by the local people. About Wayanad Sanctuary: • The sanctuary, spread over 344.44 sq km, is an integral part of the Nilgiri Biosphere in the Western Ghats and contiguous to the tiger reserves of Nagerhole and Bandipur of Karnataka and Mudumalai of Tamil Nadu.

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• It holds more number of tigers of the state compared to other two tiger reserves of the state (Periyar Tiger Reserve and Parambikulam Tiger Reserve).

About the News: • A recent tiger monitoring programme of the Forest Department found that 75 of the 176 tigers in the State are in the WWS, which is part of a large forest complex holding the single largest population of tigers in India. • But, it receives minimum support from central agencies owing to the dearth of tiger reserve tag. Who declares an area as Tiger Reserve? • Tiger Reserves are declared by National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) via Wild Life (Protection) Amendment Act, 2006 under centrally sponsored scheme called Project Tiger. • To declare an area as Tiger Reserve, the state governments can forward their proposals in this regard to NTCA. • Central Government via NTCA may also advise the state governments to forward a proposal for creation of Tiger Reserves. • Tiger Reserves are managed by National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA). • No alternation of boundary can be done without the recommendation of National Board for Wild Life and without the advice of the Tiger Conservation Authority. What are the Challenges in declaring an area as Tiger Reserve? • With the declaration of an area as tiger reserve, there will be effective monitoring for long term conservation of tigers and its prey species. The notification would bring in stringent restrictions on development activities. • Thousands of poor villagers inside India’s tiger reserves would have to be relocated to protect the endangered animals from poachers and smugglers. • Poachers and smugglers exploit the grinding poverty of forest villagers to keep them on their side.

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Way Forward: • The public protests that were staged in Wayanad earlier against the proposal ex•pressed concerns over the possible impacts of the proposal. • Any such proposal shall be implemented only after holding wide public consultations. • However, the conservation of the flagship species is also important for the stability of the ecosystem. So people should be created awareness about its conservation.

17. National Groundwater Management Improvement Programme Why in News? • The Government of India and the World Bank have signed a $450 million loan agreement to support the national programme to arrest the country’s depleting groundwater levels and Strengthen Groundwater Institutions. Highlights: • The World Bank-supported programme will be implemented in the states of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Haryana, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh and cover 78 districts. • These states span both the hard rock aquifers of peninsular India and the alluvial aquifers of the Indo-Gangetic plains. • They were selected based on several criteria, including degree of groundwater exploitation and degradation, established legal and regulatory instruments, institutional readiness, and experience in implementing initiatives related to groundwater management. • This programme will contribute to rural livelihoods and in the context of climatic shifts, build resilience of the rural economy. Objectives: • The programme will, among others, enhance the recharge of aquifers and introduce water conservation practices; promote activities related to water harvesting, water management, and crop alignment; create an institutional structure for sustainable groundwater management; and equip communities and stakeholders to sustainably Manage Groundwater. Particulars: • The programme will introduce a bottom-up planning process for community-driven development of water budgets and Water Security Plans (WSPs).

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• Water budgets will assess surface and groundwater conditions (both quantity and quality) and identify current and future needs. • The WSP, on the other hand, will focus on improving Groundwater Quantity and incentivize selected states to implement the actions proposed. • Such community-led management measures will make users aware of consumption patterns and pave the way for economic measures that reduce groundwater consumption. • Crop management and diversification will be the other Focus Areas.

2.1 ENVIRONMENT SNIPPETS 1. Flame-Throated Bulbul Why in News? • Recently, the flame-throated bulbul has been chosen as the mascot of the 36th National Games. About Flame-Throated Bulbul: • It also called the Rubigula, which is the state bird of Goa. • It is endemic to southern peninsular India where it is locally distributed in southern Andhra Pradesh, eastern Karnataka, Goa, Orissa, eastern Kerala and northern Tamil Nadu. • It prefers habitats like rocky, scrub-covered hills mostly in the Eastern Ghats and central peninsular India but also in some places in the Western Ghats. • Its IUCN status is Least Concern. • It is under the Schedule – IV bird in India’s Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

2. Burhi Dihing River Context: • Recently, the Burhi Dihing River in eastern Assam was on fire due to a leakage in the underwater oil pipeline. About Burhi Dihing River: • It is a large tributary of the Brahmaputra River in Upper Assam. • It originates in the Eastern Himalayas of the Patkai Hills in Arunachal Pradesh and flows through Assam to its confluence with the Brahmaputra at Dihingmukh. • It creates of oxbow lakes in these areas.

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• Other Tributaries of the Brahmaputra River are Dibang River, Lohit River, Dhansiri River, Kolong River, Kameng River, Manas River, Beki River, Raidak River, Jaldhaka River, Teesta River, Subansiri River. • An Oxbow lake is a U-shaped lake that forms when a wide meander of a river is cut off, creating a free-standing body of water. • A Meander form a snake-like pattern as the river flows across a fairly flat valley floor. It is formed in the middle and lower course of a river. This is because vertical erosion is replaced by a sideways form of erosion called lateral erosion, plus deposition within the Floodplain.

3. Amrabad Tiger Reserve Why in News? • There was a forest fire at Amrabad Tiger Reserve, recently. Amrabad Tiger Reserve: • It lies in Nallamala hills of Telangana. • It is India’s second-largest tiger reserve, next only to Nagarjunasagar Srisailam Tiger Reserve which is present in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana). • Chenchu tribes are present here.

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About Chenchu Tribe: • They are Scheduled Tribe in the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka and Odisha. • They live in the dense Nallamala forest of Andhra Pradesh. • They have traditional way of life based on Hunting and Gathering. • They speak the Chenchu language, a member of the Dravidian language family. • Their relationship with non-tribal people has been Largely Symbiotic.

4. Mudumalai Tiger Reserve Why in News? • Recently, rejuvenation camp for captive elephants was inaugurated inside the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve (MTR). About: • Mudumalai Tiger Reserve is located in the Nilgiris District of Tamil Nadu state at the tri-junction of three states, viz, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. • It is a part of Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve (1st Biosphere Reserve in India) along with Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary (Kerala) in the West, Bandipur National Park (Karnataka) in the North, National Park and Silent Valley in the South. • The name Mudumalai means “the ancient hill range”. Indeed, it is as old as 65 million years when Western Ghats were formed. • Flora of the Reserve includes tall grasses, commonly referred to as ‘Elephant Grass', Bamboo of the giant variety, valuable timber species like Teak, Rosewood, etc. • Fauna includes flagship Species such as the Tiger and Asian Elephant. Other species includes the Indian Gaur, Spotted Deer, Common Langur, Malabar Giant Squirrel, Wild Dog, and Jungle Cat among others. • Reserve has got a wide variety of more than 260 species of birds. 8% of bird species found in India are recorded in Mudumalai. This includes rare birds like Malabar grey hornbill, Malabar pied hornbill, Malabar laughing thrush among others.

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5. Melting of Thwaites Glacier Context: • A new study has recently detected the presence of warm water at a vital point beneath the Thwaites glacier as the cause of its melting. Thwaites Glacier: • It is often called the Doomsday Glacier. • It is 120 km wide, fast-moving glacier located in west Antarctica. Because of its size it contains enough water to raise the world sea level by more than half a metre. • Its melting already contributes 4% to global sea-level rise each year. It is estimated that it would collapse into the sea in 200-900 years. It is important for Antarctica as it slows the ice behind it from freely flowing into the ocean. It has found the amount of ice flowing out of it has nearly doubled over the past 30 years.

6. Eco-Sensitive Zone Why in News? • The Dal Lake and its surrounding areas in Srinagar will soon be declared an eco-sensitive zone. Eco-Sensitive Zones (Ecologically Fragile Areas): • It is an area within 10 kms around Protected Areas, National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries. It is notified by MoEFCC, Government of India under Environment Protection Act 1986. • It aims to regulate certain activities around National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries so as to minimise the negative impacts of such activities on the fragile ecosystem encompassing the protected areas.The places with sensitive corridors, connectivity and ecologically important patches, crucial for landscape linkage, even area beyond 10 km width can also be included in the eco-sensitive zone. Dal Lake: • It is a lake in Srinagar. • It is a misnomer as Dal in Kashmiri means lake. • It is named as “Jewel in the crown of Kashmir” or “Srinagar’s Jewel”. • It covers an area of 18 square kilometres and is part of a natural wetland including its floating gardens. The floating gardens, known as “Rad” in Kashmiri, blossom with lotus flowers during July and August.

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7. Radio Tagging Indian pangolins Why in News? • Scientists have, for the first time, radio-tagged the Indian pangolin, an endangered animal, that is rarely sighted in forests. • Researchers say tagging the animal will help understand the habits of the reclusive, Nocturnal Animal. Pangolins: • IUCN Status: Endangered • India is home to two species of pangolin. • While the Chinese Pangolin (Manis pentadactyla) is found in northeastern India, the Indian Pangolin is distributed in other parts of the country as well as Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Pakistan. Both these species are protected and are listed under the Schedule I Part I of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 and under Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). • The projected population declines range from 50% to 80 % across the genus. Out of the eight species of pangolin, the Indian Pangolin and the Chinese Pangolin are found in India. • Both these species are listed under Schedule I Part I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

8. Madhav National Park Why in News? • Madhav National Park is recently seen in news. About Madhav National Park: • It is situated in Shivpuri District, Madhya Pradesh. It is a part of the upper Vindhyan hills. • It got the status of a National Park in 1959. It has a diverse ecosystem consisting of lakes, dry deciduous & dry thorn forests. • It falls within one of the 32 major Tiger Corridors of the country, which are operationalised through the Tiger Conservation Plan. Tiger Conservation Plan is implemented under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. • It is a part of the Ranthambhore-Kuno-Madhav (Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan) Tiger Corridor of Central India & Eastern Ghats landscape. • It is home to tigers, leopards, Nilgai, and Chinkara (Gazella bennettii) and Chousingha (Tetracerus quadricornis) and Deers (Chital, Sambar and Barking Deer) among others.

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• The tiger landscapes of India are Shivalik Hills and Gangetic Plains, Central Indian Landscape and Eastern Ghats, Western Ghats, and North-East. • It is currently facing displacement and rehabilitation issues as it is home to Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTG)s like Saharia.

9. Seemai Karuvelam (Prosopis Juliflora) Why in News: • The has recently called for a report from National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), on the Seemai Karuvelam (Prosopis Juliflora) trees. About Seemai Karuvelam: • It is native to West Africa. • It was brought to Tamil Nadu in 1960s as fuelwood. • It disrupts the local ecosystem of its habitation by soaking in all the ground water near it. • It is an invasive species that has infiltrated the water bodies and dry lands of Tamil Nadu. About CSIR-NEERI: • CSIR-NEERI - Council of Scientific & Industrial Research- National Environmental and Engineering Research Institute • It is a research institute created and funded by the Government of India. It functions under the Ministry of Science & Technology. It is established in Nagpur in 1958 with focus on water supply, sewage disposal, communicable diseases and to some extent on industrial pollution and occupational diseases found common in post-independent India.

10. World’s largest’ Subterranean Fish Why in News? • Systematic exploration of the Meghalayan caves has been underway for almost 30 years and hundreds of kilometres of cave passages have been explored and mapped. • In a cave in a remote forested area of Meghalaya’s Jaintia Hills a research expedition found large specie of a subterranean fish (occurring under the earth’s surface). Blind fish: • The blind fish was over 40 cm. It has not been named so far.

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• It is nearly five times the mean length (85mm/8.5 cm) for all known subterranean fish to date. The only other species exceeding 300mm (30 cm) in length are eel-like Synbranchidae with nothing like the bulk of the new fish. • The 250-known subterranean (occurring under the earth’s surface) fish species around the world measure only around 8.5 cm on average. • The specialists say that possibly one (or more) populations of these fish became isolated deeper in the caves and over generations became adapted to the dark, losing their eyes in the process. The experts feel that the fish species is very similar to the Golden Mahseer or the Tor Putitora, one of the most famous game fish of the Himalayan rivers.

11. Pesticide Free Kinnow Crop Why in News? • The Punjab Agri Export Corporation recently launched the ‘Punjab Kinnow’ brand at the kinnow festival in Abohar. This brand of kinnow, which is considered the ‘king fruit’ of Punjab, is also said to be “pesticide-free”. Highlights: • However, the kinnow is a year-long crop, often attacked by pests including mites at various stages, requiring several sprays of insecticide. • Branding the crop has been done along the lines of the region-specific branding of several other fruits like the ‘Nagpur orange’ (which even has a GI tag) and ‘Australian kiwi’. Punjab being the largest producer of kinnow in the country, such branding will attract more consumers. • Punjab’s kinnow has several nutritive values including limonin, which helps control cholesterol level and has anti-cancer properties, which the consumer should be informed.

12. Pakke Tiger Reserve Why in News? • A new highway project has been cleared through in Pakke Tiger Reserve, which is the India’s eastern most Tiger Reserve situated in Arunachal Pradesh. About Pakke Tiger Reserve: • Pakke Tiger Reserve, also known as Pakhui Tiger Reserve, is a Project Tiger reserve in the East Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh in northeastern India.

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• This Tiger Reserve has won India Biodiversity Award 2016 in the category of ‘Conservation of threatened species’ for its Hornbill Nest Adoption Programme. • The sanctuary is delineated by rivers in the east, west and north. In addition, the area is drained by a number of small rivers and, perennial streams of the Bhareli and Pakke Rivers, both of which are tributaries of the Brahmaputra. • The main perennial streams in the area are the Nameri, Khari and Upper Dikorai. The terrain of Pakhui WLS and adjoining areas is undulating and hilly. • Sessa Orchid Sanctuary and Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary are adjacent to Pakke Tiger Reserve on the opposite side of the Kameng River. Pakke Tiger Reserve has a subtropical climate with cold weather from November to March. • It includes semi-evergreen, evergreen forest and Eastern Himalayan broad leaf forests.

13. Kawal Tiger Reserve Why in News? • Kawal Tiger Reserve is recently seen in news: About Kawal Tiger Reserve: • It is situated in Northern part of the Telangana state. • The Kawal wildlife sanctuary is the catchment area of river Godavari and Kadam. • The indicator species of the sanctuary are Tiger and Nilgai. • It is linked to the Tadoba Andheri Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra to it north and Indravati Tiger reserve to its east • It has tropical mixed dry deciduous forest and dry teak forest.

14. Monsoon in Sunderbans to get longer Why in News? • The monsoon in Sunderbans is likely to last longer and get more intense, according to a fact sheet titled The Sunderbans and Climate Change, which was made public during the ongoing Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals. Highlights: • While the fact sheet puts the rise in the sea level at 3.2 mm per year currently, it states that an estimated rise of 28 cm above the sea levels registered in the year 2000 would result in a 96 % decline of the habitat of the Bengal tiger in Bangladesh.

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• Climate specialists have predicted that as climate change progresses, monsoon seasons in the will become longer and more intense. • Conversely, drought conditions will also become more pronounced, presenting further challenges for agricultural producers in particular and ecosystems in general. • The document highlights the need for "long term coastal planning to ensure that these critically important intertidal habitats with their unique flora and fauna and local inhabitants have a space to retreat inland. • The paper also points out that the habitat of the Bengal tiger (Panthera tigris tigris) in the Sunderbans is also affected by the storm due to a decline in the availability of prey. The fact sheet points out that the Sunderbans is also highly susceptible to flooding.Due to this, any swelling of ocean water is going to dramatically affect the area. • Apart from the frequent storms and the rise of sea level, another concern is the rise of salinity both in water and soil. • Excess levels of soil salinity can be incredibly damaging to ecosystems as salts can accumulate in the soil and hinder plant growth. It also threatens the health of freshwater aquatic life such as fish and giant prawns. Sundarbans: • The Sundarbans is a mangrove area in the delta formed by the confluence of Ganges, Brahmaputra and Meghna Rivers in the Bay of Bengal. • It spans from the Hooghly River in India's state of West Bengal to the Baleswar River in Bangladesh. Four protected areas in the Sundarbans are enlisted as UNESCO World Heritage Sites, viz Sundarbans National Park, Sundarbans West, Sundarbans South and Sundarbans East Wildlife Sanctuaries. • The forests, together with the Sundarbans mangroves, are important habitats for the Bengal tiger (Panthera tigris tigris). The forest also provides habitat for small wild cats such as the jungle cat (Felis chaus), fishing cat (Prionailurus viverrinus), and leopard cat (P. bengalensis). • The Bangladeshi portion of Sundarbans was designated a Ramsar site on 21 May 1992, and the Indian portion on 30 January 2019.

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15. Malai Mahadeshwara Wildlife Sanctuary Why in News? • The Malai Mahadeshwara Wildlife Sanctuary will be declared as a tiger reserve. About Malai Mahadeshwara Wildlife Sanctuary: • It is located in the of Karnataka. It was declared as Wildlife Sanctuary in 2013. • It will have three tiger reserves. It already has Bandipur and BRT Tiger Reserve within its territorial limits. It is contiguous to BRT Tiger Reserve, Sathya Mangalam Tiger Reserve and the Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary. • It consists mainly of dry deciduous type degrading to scrub forest in the fringe areas, and are interspersed with moist deciduous, semi-evergreen, evergreen and forests occurring at varying altitudes. • It includes animals like tiger, elephant, leopard, wild dog, bison, sambar, spotted deer, barking deer, etc.

16. Yongle Blue Hole (YBH) Why in News? • Carbon more than 8,000 years old has been found inside the world’s deepest blue hole — the Yongle Blue Hole (YBH). Yongle Blue Hole (YBH): • The deepest known marine cavern is the Yongle blue hole, which measures roughly 300 metres from top to bottom. Blue holes are marine caverns filled with water and are formed following dissolution of carbonate rocks, usually under the influence of global sea level rise or fall. • Its waters are mostly isolated from the surrounding ocean and receive little fresh water from rainfall, making it a rare spot to study the chemistry of oxygen-deprived marine ecosystems. • What distinguishes them from other aquatic caverns is that they are isolated from the ocean and don’t receive fresh rainwater. • They are generally circular, steep-walled and open to surface. Significance: • YBH has a depth of 300 metres, far deeper than the previously recorded deepest blue hole, Dean’s Blue Hole in Bahamas, which had a depth of 202 metres.

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• However, like most blue holes, it is anoxic i.e. depleted of dissolved oxygen below a certain depth. This anaerobic environment is unfavourable for most sea life. • Such anoxic ecosystems are considered a critical environmental and ecological issue as they have led to several mass extinctions. • Concentrations of carbon, usually found in deep marine holes like YBH, provide a natural laboratory to study carbon cycling and potential mechanisms controlling it in the marine ecosystem. The transition from aerobic to anaerobic environment adversely affects the biogeo-chemistry of the ocean.

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3.POLITY & GOVERNANCE 1. Not a Drop to Waste Context: • India has become a food surplus country from a food deficient country, but led to the increased pressure on Groundwater Reserves. What does the Report Says? • The green revolution has made India a food surplus country from a food deficient country. However, these benefits have come at the cost of increased pressure on groundwater reserves.This crisis is also reflected in NITI Aayog’s “Composite Water Management Index” (CWMI), which held that 21 Indian cities, including Delhi, and Bengaluru, will run out of groundwater. • It also noted that not only there is a quantitative crunch but 70% of India's water resources are contaminated. What is Government’s Response? • In this context, the government constituted an integrated ministry called Jal Shakti Ministry. The Jal Shakti Ministry has recently launched Atal Bhujal Yojana which aims at improving groundwater management. About Atal Bhujal Yojana: • It is a World Bank-funded, Central Sector Scheme aimed at improving groundwater management and restoring the health of the country’s aquifers. • It seeks to strengthen the “institutional framework of administering groundwater resources and aims to bring about behavioural changes at the community level for sustainable groundwater resource management”. • The scheme will be implemented in seven states — Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh which are over- exploited and water-stressed areas of the country. • The Atal Bhujal Yojana seeks to revive village-level Water User Associations (WUAs). The scheme will strengthen the financial state of the WUAs, including allowing these bodies to retain a significant portion of irrigation fees. • WUAs are created by Groundwater Management and Regulation Scheme 2013. • According to the CWMI, less than 50% of states involve the WUAs in critical groundwater management decisions like those pertaining to irrigation resources.

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Why Ground water is Depleted? • India is the world’s largest user of groundwater, where groundwater contributes to more than 60% of the Country’s Irrigation Resources. • In India nearly 2/3rd net sown area is rain-fed. Therefore, in order to provide farmers with adequate irrigation facilities, the government provides power to the agriculture sector at highly subsidised rates. This accounts for the over-extraction of groundwater. Also, investment in canal networks has been long-neglected. It has led to over-Exploitation and fast-depleting water tables. • This over-extraction of groundwater is non-renewable since recharge rates are less than extraction rates and replenishing this resource can take thousands of years. • Moreover, as climate change alters the monsoon, the large stresses on India’s groundwater resources may increase. The decision to focus on the groundwater crisis is significant because its over-exploitation is contributing to “the worst water crisis” in India’s history. Way Forward: • By emphasising on local-level institutions like the WUAs, the Atal Bhujal Yojana has signalled the inclination towards persuasive solutions. However, a lot more than, mere persuasion is required. For example: • Ways must be found to balance the demands of farmers with the imperatives of reviving the country’s aquifers. • One solution tried out in parts of Punjab, to gradually reduce subsidies and offer cash compensation to farmers for every unit of electricity they save. This can be emulated in other states as well. The CWMI report talks of other solutions like persuading farmers to adopt more Efficient Technologies such as Drip Irrigation. • The government should promote alternatives to Water-Intensive Crops. For example, Maize requires only one-third of water than paddy. • States can draw inspiration from community water management which is followed in Andhra Pradesh which has already shown how aquifer management and sharing of bore wells can ensure equitable distribution of water. • Finally, there is a need to set up National Water Commission, with multidisciplinary expertise including in hydrology (surface water), hydrogeology (groundwater), meteorology (atmosphere), river ecology, agronomy, environmental economics and participatory resource management.

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2. Essential Commodities Act is Outdated, Must Go, says Economic Survey Why in News? • The recent Economic Survey 2019-20 has found that the Centre’s imposition of stock limits in a bid to control the soaring prices of onions over the last few months has actually resulted in increased price volatility. About Essential Commodities Act, 1955: ✓ India is a market economy where prices are ostensibly decided by demand and supply, certain laws empower the Centre to intervene in the market to protect consumer interests. The Essential Commodities Act (ECA) is one such key law. ✓ The Essential Commodities Act, 1955 is used by the Government to regulate the production, supply and distribution of a whole host of commodities, which it declares as ‘essential’ in order to make them available to consumers at fair prices. ✓ The list of items under the Act includes drugs, fertilisers, pulses and edible oils, and petroleum and petroleum products. ✓ The Centre can include new commodities as and when the need arises, and takes them off the list once the situation improves. How does the law works? • If the Centre finds that a certain commodity is in short supply and its price is spiking, it can notify stock-holding limits on it for a specified period. • The States act on this notification to specify limits and take steps to ensure that these are adhered to. • Anybody trading or dealing in a commodity, be it wholesalers, retailers or even importers are prevented from stockpiling it beyond a certain quantity. • A State can, however, choose not to impose any restrictions. But once it does, traders have to immediately sell into the market any stocks held beyond the mandated quantity. This improves supplies and Brings Down Prices. • State agencies can conduct raids to get everyone to toe the line and the errant are punished. The excess stocks are auctioned or sold through fair price shops. The Recent Findings: • The recent findings of the Economic Survey 2019-2020 is a part of report against anachronistic legislations and interventionist government policies such as Essential Commodities Act (ECA) and others including drug price control, grain procurement and farm loan waivers.

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• In September 2019, the Centre invoked the ECA Act’s provisions to impose stock limits on onions after heavy rains wiped out a quarter of the kharif crop and led to a sustained spike in prices. • Although the restrictions on both retail and wholesale traders were meant to prevent hoarding and enhance supply in the market, the Survey showed that there was actually an increase in price volatility and a widening wedge between wholesale and retail prices. • This is due to the fact that ECA act fails to differentiate between hoarding and Storage. The report found that lower stock limits must have led the traders and wholesalers to offload most of the kharif crop in October itself which led to a sharp increase in the volatility from November, 2019, onwards. • The Survey argued that if the government had not intervened, traders would have stored part of their produce to ensure smooth availability of the commodity at stable prices throughout the year. • Thus in the long term, the Act disincentivises development of storage infrastructure, thereby leading to increased volatility in prices following production/ consumption shocks — the opposite of what it is intended for. • The report finds that the ECA has been enacted in the year 1955, when the economy was ravaged by famine and food shortages. The government should note that today’s scenario is much more different. Similar Examples: ✓ The Survey argued that the Drug Price Control Order issued under the ECA also distorted the market and actually made medicines less affordable. ✓ Estimates showed that the prices of drugs that came under DPCO, 2013, increased ₹71 per mg of the active ingredient, in comparison to just ₹13 per mg for drugs unaffected by the order. Way Forward: • Farmers should be given ample rights to sell any quantity of their produce to anybody, both domestic and international and at any time. • The Essential Commodities Act, which has proven a disincentive to large investment in agricultural technology and infrastructure, should be replaced with a modern statute that balances the interests of farmers and consumers. • A law should be formulated that restricts the powers of the Department of Consumer Affairs or Director-General of Foreign Trade to impose curbs on any agricultural

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commodity at the slightest instance of price rise. Only the Parliament should have the right to impose curbs on agricultural commodities that too under exceptional circumstances of war or nationwide calamity as opposed to executive orders issued in "Public Interest".

3. Gram Nyayalayas Act, 2008 Why in News? • The Supreme Court has directed the states, which are yet to come out with notifications for establishing ‘Gram Nyayalayas’ with a specific time period. About Gram Nyayalayas: • Gram Nyayalayas or village courts are established under the Gram Nyayalayas Act, 2008 for speedy and easy access to justice system in the rural areas of India. • The Act came into force from 2 October 2009. The Gram Nyayalayas are presided over by a Nyayadhikari, who will have the same power, enjoy same salary and benefits of a Judicial Magistrate of First Class. Such Nyayadhikari are to be appointed by the State Government in consultation with the respective High Court. What are its Jurisdictions? • A Gram Nyayalaya have jurisdiction over an area specified by a notification by the State Government in consultation with the respective High Court. • The Court can function as a mobile court at any place within the jurisdiction of such Gram Nyayalaya, after giving wide publicity to that regards. They have both civil and criminal jurisdiction over the offences. The pecuniary jurisdiction of the Nyayalayas is fixed by the respective High Courts. Gram Nyayalayas has been given power to accept certain evidences which would otherwise not be acceptable under Indian Evidence Act. What is the Procedure followed by Gram Nyayalayas? • Gram Nyayalayas can follow special procedures in civil matters, in a manner it deem just and reasonable in the interest of Justice. Gram Nyayalayas allow for conciliation of the dispute and settlement of the same in the First Instance. Can the decision of Nyayalayas be appealed in Other Courts? • Appeal in criminal cases shall lie to the Court of Session, which shall be heard and disposed of within a period of six months from the date of filing of such appeal. • Appeal in civil cases shall lie to the District Court, which shall be heard and disposed of within a period of six months from the date of filing of the appeal.

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What is the Issue? • So far only 11 states have taken steps to notify Gram Nyayalayas. Several states have issued notifications for establishing ‘Gram Nyayalayas’ but all of them were not functioning except in Kerala, Maharashtra and Rajasthan. • Only 208 ‘Gram Nyayalayas’ are functioning in the country as against 2,500 estimated to be required by the 12th five-year plan. Why Gram Nyayalayas are Essential? • The setting up of Gram Nyayalayas is considered as an important measure to reduce arrears and is a part of the judicial reforms. • It is estimated that Gram Nyayalayas can reduce around 50% of the pendency of cases in subordinate courts and can take care of the new litigations which will be disposed within six months. 4. Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, 2019 Why in News? • The Rajya Sabha Select Committee on Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, 2019 recently recommended that a surrogate mother need not be a “close relative”. • It also advocated omission of the five-year time limit before seeking surrogacy. Provisions of the Bill: What is Prohibited? • The Bill prohibits commercial surrogacy, but allows Altruistic Surrogacy. ✓ Altruistic surrogacy involves no monetary compensation to the surrogate mother other than the medical expenses and insurance coverage during the pregnancy. ✓ Commercial surrogacy includes surrogacy or its related procedures undertaken for a monetary benefit or reward (in cash or kind) exceeding the basic medical expenses and insurance coverage. When Surrogacy is Permitted? • Surrogacy is permitted when it is: ✓ for intending couples who suffer from Proven Infertility; ✓ altruistic; ✓ not for commercial purposes; ✓ not for producing children for sale, prostitution or other forms of exploitation; and ✓ for any condition or disease specified through regulations.

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• The intending couple should have a ‘certificate of essentiality’ and a ‘certificate of eligibility’ issued by the appropriate authority. When the Certificate is Issued? • A certificate of essentiality will be issued upon fulfilment of the following conditions: ✓ a certificate of proven infertility of one or both members of the intending couple from a District Medical Board; ✓ an order of parentage and custody of the surrogate child passed by a Magistrate’s court; and Insurance coverage for a period of 16 months covering postpartum delivery complications for the surrogate. • The certificate of eligibility to the intending couple is issued upon fulfillment of the following conditions: ✓ the couple being Indian citizens and married for at least five years; ✓ between 23 to 50 years old (wife) and 26 to 55 years old (husband); ✓ they do not have any surviving child (biological, adopted or surrogate); this would not include a child who is mentally or physically challenged or suffers from life threatening disorder or fatal illness; and ✓ Other conditions that may be specified by regulations. What are the Eligibility Criteria for Surrogate Mother? • To obtain a certificate of eligibility from the appropriate authority, the surrogate mother has to be: ✓ a close relative of the intending couple; ✓ a married woman having a child of her own; ✓ 25 to 35 years old; ✓ a surrogate only once in her lifetime; and ✓ Possess a certificate of medical and psychological fitness for surrogacy. Further, the surrogate mother cannot provide her own gametes for surrogacy. What is the function of Appropriate Authority? • The central and state governments shall appoint one or more appropriate authorities within 90 days of the Bill becoming an Act. • The functions of the appropriate authority include; ✓ granting, suspending or cancelling registration of surrogacy clinics; ✓ enforcing standards for surrogacy clinics; ✓ investigating and taking action against breach of the provisions of the Bill;

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✓ Recommending modifications to the rules and regulations. • Surrogacy clinics cannot undertake surrogacy related procedures unless they are registered by the appropriate authority. • Clinics must apply for registration within a period of 60 days from the date of appointment of the appropriate authority. What is the function of the Surrogacy Boards? • The central and the state governments shall constitute the National Surrogacy Board (NSB) and the State Surrogacy Boards (SSB), respectively. • Functions of the NSB include, (i) advising the central government on policy matters relating to surrogacy; (ii) laying down the code of conduct of surrogacy clinics; and (iii) supervising the functioning of SSBs. What is the procedure for the Parentage and abortion of surrogate child? • A child born out of a surrogacy procedure will be deemed to be the biological child of the intending couple. • An abortion of the surrogate child requires the written consent of the surrogate mother and the authorisation of the appropriate authority. • This authorisation must be compliant with the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1971. • Further, the surrogate mother will have an option to withdraw from surrogacy before the embryo is implanted in her womb. What are the Offences and penalties? • The offences under the Bill include: ✓ undertaking or advertising commercial surrogacy; ✓ exploiting the surrogate mother; ✓ abandoning, exploiting or disowning a surrogate child; and ✓ Selling or importing human embryo or gametes for surrogacy. • The penalty for such offences is imprisonment up to 10 years and a fine up to 10 lakh rupees. • The Bill specifies a range of offences and penalties for other contraventions of the provisions of the Bill. What are the recommendations of the committee? • The major changes recommended by the Committee include • It recommended that a surrogate mother need not be a “close relative”.

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• It also advocated omission of the five-year time limit before seeking surrogacy. • allowing single women (widow or a divorcee and Persons of Indian Origin) to avail of surrogacy, Increasing insurance cover for the surrogate mother from the 16 months proposed in the Bill to 36 months. Why such Recommendations Needed? • Requiring the surrogate mother to be a “close relative” potentially restricts the availability of surrogate mothers, affecting genuinely needy persons. • Deleting the definition of “infertility” as “the inability to conceive after five years of unprotected intercourse” is because it is too long a period for a couple to wait for a child. • However the Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, 2019 is yet to be passed by the Rajya Sabha.

5. National Judicial Pay Commission Why in News? • The Second National Judicial Pay Commission has filed its report covering the subject of Pay, Pension and Allowances in the Supreme Court. Second National Judicial Pay Commission: • The Commission is headed by former Supreme Court judge P V Reddy. • It was set up on the directions of the apex court in May 2017 during the hearing of the All India Judges Association case. Key Recommendations: • Pay: ✓ It has recommended the adoption of Pay Matrix which has been drawn up by applying the multiplier of 2.81 to the existing pay, commensurate with the percentage of increase of pay of High Court Judges. ✓ The highest pay which a District Judge (STS) will get, is Rs.2,24,100/-. • Pension: ✓ Pension at 50% of last drawn pay worked out on the basis of proposed revised pay scales is recommended w. e. f. 1-1-2016. The family pension will be 30% of the last drawn pay. ✓ Recommendation has been made to discontinue the New Pension Scheme (NPS) which is being applied to those entering service during or after 2004. The old pension system, which is more beneficial to be revived.

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• Allowances: ✓ The existing allowances have been suitably increased and certain new features have been added. However, the CCA is proposed to be discontinued. ✓ Certain new allowances viz. children education allowance, home orderly allowance, transport allowance in lieu of pool car facility, has been proposed. 6. Reservations in Promotion is Not a Fundamental Right, says SC Why in News? • The Supreme Court has recently ruled that the states are not bound to provide reservation in appointments and promotions and that there is no Fundamental Right to Reservation in Promotions. What are the Constitutional Provisions Related to Reservations? • Article 16(4) empowers the state to make any provision for the reservation of appointments or posts in favour of any backward class of citizens which, in the opinion of the state, is not adequately represented in the services under the state. • By way of the 77th Amendment Act, a new clause (4A) was added to Article 16, empowering the state to make provisions for reservation in matters of promotion to Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe Employees if the state feels they are not adequately represented in services. • Article 335 recognises that special measures need to be adopted for considering the claims of SCs and STs in order to bring them to a level-playing field. What are the Court’s Earlier Rulings? • In its landmark 1992 decision in Indra Sawhney vs Union of India, the Supreme Court had held that reservations under Article 16(4) could only be provided at the time of entry into Government Service but not in matters of Promotion. • It added that the principle would operate only prospectively and not affect promotions already made and that reservation already provided in promotions shall continue in operation for a period of five years from the date of the Judgment. It also ruled that the creamy layer can be and must be excluded. • On June 1995, Parliament adopted the seventy-seventh amendment by which clause (4A) was inserted into Article 16 to enable reservation to be made in promotion for SCs and STs. The validity of the seventy-seventh and eighty-fifth amendments to the Constitution and of the legislation enacted in pursuance of those amendments was challenged before the Supreme Court in the Nagaraj case.

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• Upholding the validity of Article 16 (4A), the court then said that it is an enabling provision. “The State is not bound to make reservation for the SCs and STs in promotions. But, if it seeks to do so, it must collect quantifiable data on three facets — the backwardness of the class; the inadequacy of the representation of that class in public employment; and the general efficiency of service as mandated by Article 335 would not be affected”. • The court ruled that the constitutional amendments do not abrogate the Fundamentals of Equality. What is the Supreme Court’s Recent Ruling? • Reservation in promotion in public posts cannot be claimed as a Fundamental Right. • Articles 16 (4) and 16 (4-A) of the Constitution does not confer individuals with a fundamental right to claim reservation in promotion. • It only empowers the State to make a reservation in matters of appointment and promotion in favour of the backward class and SC’s/ST’s respectively, only if in the opinion of the State they are not adequately represented in the services of the State. State Governments are not bound to make a reservation and have discretion in providing reservations. The judgment also noted that even the courts could not issue a Mandamus directing the States to provide reservation. What is its Significance? • The provision is an aid of fostering the real and substantive right to equality to the SCs and STs. • It protects the authority of the Union and the States to adopt any of these special measures, to effectuate a realistic (as opposed to a formal) consideration of their claims to appointment in services and posts under the Union and the states. • It also emphasizes that the need to maintain the efficiency of administration cannot be construed as a fetter on adopting these special measures designed to uplift and protect the welfare of the SCs and STs. Need of an Hour: • Centuries of discrimination and prejudice suffered by the SCs and STs in a feudal, caste- oriented societal structure poses real barriers of access to opportunity. • The provision contains a realistic recognition that unless special measures are adopted for the SCs and STs, the mandate of the Constitution for the consideration of their claim to appointment will remain illusory.

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7. Manual Scavenging Death Toll increased Why in News? • According to the Social Justice and Empowerment Ministry, the death toll of Manual Scavengers has been increased by 62% from 68 in 2018 to 110 in 2019 (while cleaning septic tanks and sewers). What is Manual Scavenging? • Manual scavenging refers to the practice of manually cleaning, carrying, disposing or handling in any manner, human excreta from dry latrines and sewers. • The practice of manual scavenging is linked to India’s caste system where so- called lower castes were expected to perform this job. • Manual scavengers are amongst the poorest and most disadvantaged communities in India. • Frequent deaths occur as manual scavengers don't even have adequate tools and protective gear to clean the manhole. It often involves using the most basic of tools such as buckets, brooms and baskets. What are the issues in Manual Scavenging? • However, while manual scavenging for many may have ended as a form of employment, the stigma and discrimination associated with it lingers on. • This makes it difficult for liberated manual scavengers to secure alternative livelihoods. • People could once again return to manual scavenging in the absence of other opportunities to support their families. • Correctly identifying manual scavengers remains a key challenge. What are the Government Interventions? • In 1993, the Government of India enacted the Employment of Manual Scavengers and Construction of Dry Latrines (Prohibition) Act. • The act prohibited the employment of manual scavengers for manually cleaning dry latrines and also the construction of dry toilets (that do not operate with a flush). • It provided for imprisonment of up to a year and a fine. • In 2013, this was followed by the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013, which is wider in scope and importance, acknowledging the urgency of rehabilitating manual scavengers.

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• The act seeks to reinforce this ban by prohibiting manual scavenging in all forms and ensures the rehabilitation of Manual Scavengers to be identified through a mandatory survey. What does the new act says? • Prohibits the construction or maintenance of insanitary toilets. • Prohibits the engagement or employment of anyone as a manual scavenger violations could result in a years’ imprisonment or a fine of INR 50,000 or both. • Prohibits a person from being engaged or employed for hazardous cleaning of a sewer or a septic tank. • Offences under the Act are cognizable and non-bailable. • Calls for a survey of manual scavengers in urban and rural areas within a time-bound framework. • A Supreme Court order in March, 2014, makes it mandatory for the government to identify all those who died in sewerage work since 1993 and provide Rs.10 lakh each as compensation to their families. • The Government of India has adopted a two-pronged strategy of eliminating insanitary latrines through demolition and conversion into sanitary latrines and developing a comprehensive rehabilitation package for manual scavengers through a survey. A comprehensive Rehabilitation Package has recently been put together that includes livelihoods and skill development, access to education for children of former manual scavengers and alternate livelihoods. What are the Other Initiatives? • The establishment of National Safai Karamcharis Commission (NFKC) to work for the welfare and upliftment of the Safai Karamcharis. • Delhi Government has launched the Mukhya Mantri Septic Tank Safai Yojana recently - a scheme aimed at helping people in waste management and ensuring the safety of sanitation workers. • According to the government, the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) will deploy 80 trucks along with trained staff to ensure free cleaning and maintenance of septic tanks across Delhi. Way Forward: • The Swachh Bharat Abhiyan should make expansion of the sewer network a top priority and come up with a scheme for scientific maintenance that will end manual cleaning of septic tanks.

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• Schemes like Mukhya Mantri Septic Tank Safai Yojana should be implemented properly throughout the nation. • The Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation in its manual of 2016 on toilet design has noted that in rural areas, mechanical pumps to clear septic tanks are not available. It should be met before more lives are lost. 8. Debate around Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Why in News? • Recently the Supreme Court described Goa as a “shining example” with a Uniform Civil Code and observed that the founders of the Constitution had hoped and expected a Uniform Civil Code for India but there has been no attempt at framing one. Highlights: • Article 44 of the Constitution lays down that the state shall endeavour to secure a Uniform Civil Code for the citizens throughout the territory of India. • A Uniform Civil Code is one that would provide for one law for the entire country, applicable to all religious communities in their personal matters such as marriage, divorce, inheritance, adoption etc. • Article 44 is one of the directive principles. These are not justiciable (not enforceable by any court) but the principles laid down therein are fundamental in governance. • Article 43 mentions “state shall endeavour by suitable legislation” while the phrase “by suitable legislation” is absent in Article 44. All this implies that the duty of the state is greater in other directive principles than in Article 44. Fundamental Rights or DPSP? • The Supreme Court held in Minerva Mills (1980): “Indian Constitution is founded on the bed-rock of the balance between Parts III (Fundamental Rights) and IV (Directive Principles). To give absolute primacy to one over the other is to disturb the harmony of the Constitution”. • Article 31C inserted by the 42nd Amendment in 1976, however, lays down that if a law is made to implement any directive principle, it cannot be challenged on the ground of being violative of the fundamental rights under Articles 14 and 19. Current Civil Code: • Indian laws do follow a uniform code in most civil matters, Indian Contract Act, Civil Procedure Code, Sale of Goods Act, Transfer of Property Act, Partnership Act, Evidence Act etc.

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• States, however, have made hundreds of amendments and therefore in certain matters, there is diversity even under these secular civil laws. • All of the country are not governed by one law, nor are all or all Christians. Not only British legal traditions, even those of the Portuguese and the French remain operative in some parts. In the Northeast, there are more than 200 tribes with their own varied customary laws. • The Constitution itself protects local customs in Nagaland. Similar protections are enjoyed by Meghalaya and Mizoram. Even reformed Hindu law, in spite of codification, protects customary practices.

9. Private Member’s Bill Why in News? • Four Members of Parliament are ready with Private Member’s Bill in the Lok Sabha to deal with the surging Unemployment Crisis. What is a Private Member’s Bill? • Any MP who is not a Minister is referred to as a private member. The bill introduced by such an MP is designated as the Private Member’s Bill. • While government Bills can be introduced and discussed on any day, private member’s Bills can be introduced and discussed only on Fridays. What are the Bills to be Placed? • Unemployment Allowance Bill 2019 proposes doling out some form of unemployment allowance to jobless citizens. • Financial Assistance to Unemployed Post-Graduates Bill 2019 restricts the unemployment allowances to unemployed postgraduates only. • Unemployed Youth (Allowance and Employment Opportunities) Bill 2019 eyes the twin-purpose of generating gainful employment opportunities and payment of unemployment allowance. Another Unemployment Allowance Bill proposes unemployment allowances for jobless youth until they get gainful employment. How such bills are admitted in Parliament? • The admissibility is decided by the Chairman for Rajya Sabha and Speaker in the case of Lok Sabha. The procedure is roughly the same for both Houses: • The Member must give at least a month’s notice before the Bill can be listed for Introduction.

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• The House secretariat examines it for compliance with constitutional provisions and rules on legislation before listing. Has a private member’s bill ever become a law? • As per PRS Legislative, no private member’s Bill has been passed by Parliament since 1970. • The last time a private member’s bill was passed by both Houses was in 1970. It was the Supreme Court (Enlargement of Criminal Appellate Jurisdiction) Bill, 1968. • To date, Parliament has passed 14 such Bills, six of them in 1956. • In the 14th Lok Sabha, of the over 300 private member’s Bills introduced, roughly four per cent were discussed; the remaining 96 per cent lapsed without a single dialogue. Why such Provisions are Needed? • Any Government’s bill introduced is mostly done by the Ministers from the ruling parties. Sometimes the public importance in few cases may be ignored by them. • Such importance can be brought to the Parliament by the Private Members.

10. Jal Jeevan Mission Why in News? • Rajasthan has recently demanded higher central assistance for Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) from the Union Government to achieve the targets of the Mission. About Jal Jeevan Mission: • The chief objective of the Mission is to provide piped water supply (Har Ghar Jal) to all rural and urban households by 2024. It envisages supply of 55 litres of water per person per day to every rural household through Functional Household Tap Connections (FHTC) by 2024. • JJM focuses on integrated demand and supply-side management of water at the local level. • Creation of local infrastructure for source sustainability measures as mandatory elements, like rainwater harvesting, groundwater recharge and management of household wastewater for reuse, would be undertaken in convergence with other government programmes/schemes. • The Jal-Jeevan Mission is set to be based on various water conservation efforts like point recharge, desilting of minor irrigation tanks, use of grey-water for agriculture and source sustainability.

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• The Mission is based on a community approach to water and includes extensive Information, Education and Communication as a key component of the mission. Thus JJM looks to create a jan andolan for water, thereby making it everyone’s priority. Funding Pattern: • The fund sharing pattern between the Centre and states is 90:10 for Himalayan and North-Eastern States, 50:50 for other states, and 100% for Union Territories. • The Jal Jeevan Mission will converge with other Central and State Government Schemes to achieve its objectives of sustainable water supply management across the country. Institutional Arrangement: 1. National Jal Jeevan Mission (NJJM) at the Central level 2. State Water and Sanitation Mission (SWSM) at the State level

3. District Water and Sanitation Mission (DWSM) at the District level 4. Village Water Sanitation Committee (VWSC) at Village level Village Action Plan (VAP): • Every village will prepare a Village Action Plan (VAP) which will have three components: ✓ Water source & its maintenance ✓ Water supply ✓ Grey-water (domestic wastewater) Management. Need for and significance of the Mission: • India has 16% of the world population, but only 4% of freshwater resources. Depleting groundwater level, overexploitation and deteriorating water quality, climate change, etc. are major challenges to provide potable drinking water. • It is an urgent requirement of water conservation in the country because of the decreasing amount of groundwater level. • Therefore, the Jal Jeevan Mission will focus on integrated demand and supply management of water at the local level.

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11. Poll Panel Working on Remote Voting System Why in News? • The Election Commission of India has joined hands with Indian Institute of Technology- Madras (IIT-M) to prepare an model of Aadhaar-linked electronic voting system. • This new system will enable electors to cast their votes from any part of the country or even from abroad — irrespective of where they are registered to vote in the country. About the New electronic voting system: • Characteristics of the new technology ✓ A system for two-way remote voting in controlled environment using blockchain technology. • If the technology is approved, will it be implemented automatically? ✓ If the project is given the go-ahead by the EC, election laws will have to be changed. • Has EC used this kind of voting before? ✓ The ECI had used a one-way electronic system for service electors for the first time in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. What is One Way and Two Way Polling? • One Way Polling: One-way transmission for service voters involves sending a blank postal ballot electronically to the voter. The ballot paper is downloaded, ballot cast and then sent via normal postal service to the returning officer for counting. • Two Way Polling: Two-way electronic transmission of vote envisages that a registered voter from any location in India, once his identity is well authenticated will be able to cast his vote electronically through a secure encrypted system and the same will reach the designated returning officer for counting. Significance of the New System: • The new system enables migrants to vote from their place of residency, which saves them the time of travelling to their registered constituency and financial costs encountered. • This model will help in increased turnout for voting, which reflects true representation of the Elected Candidate.

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12. Treating a Child Witness Why in News? • A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been filed in the Karnataka High Court, asking for guidelines to be issued to police regarding interrogation of minors in criminal proceedings. • The PIL has asked the court to issue guidelines in accordance with the Juvenile Justice Act and United Nations (UN) resolutions. Definition of the term “Witness”: • Any person who appears before a court or tribunal so as to give evidence or testimony, for or against any person involved is called as a witness. • Any person may be a witness who can understand the questions put to him and rationally answer them. • Usually during a trial, the court, before recording the testimony of a child witness, determines his or her competency on the basis of their ability to give rational answers. • Age Limit to be a Witness: Under Section 118 of the Indian Evidence Act, 1872, there is no minimum age for a witness. • Children as young as three years old have been witnesses before trial courts in cases of sexual abuse. Existing Guidelines with respect to Child Witnesses: • Authorities should treat children in a caring and sensitive manner, with interview techniques that “minimise distress or trauma to children”. • An investigator specially trained in dealing with children be appointed to guide the interview of the child, using a child-sensitive approach. • The investigator shall, to the extent possible, avoid repetition of the interview during the justice process in order to prevent secondary victimisation of the child. • Secondary victimisation is defined as victimisation that occurs not as a direct result of a criminal act, but through the response of institutions and individuals to the victim. Legislative Framework in existence regarding Protection of Child Witnesses: 1. Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015: ✓ The Act does not provide guidelines specifically relating to questioning or interviewing children as witnesses. ✓ However, it advocates for the following: 1. Child-friendly approach in the adjudication and disposal of matters. This implies, for the police to not be in their uniform while dealing with children.

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2. Special Juvenile Police Unit: Interviews of children are done by specialised units of police who are trained to sensitively deal with them. 3. Provides for a Child Welfare Committee in every district to take cognisance of any violations by the authorities in their handling of children. 2. POCSO Act: ✓ The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012 has specific guidelines regarding interviewing children as witnesses, though the guidelines pertain to child sexual abuse victims. Interviews should be conducted in a safe, neutral, child- friendly environment, including allowing for them to be done at homes. ✓ It says a child should not be made to recount the incident in question multiple times. ✓ The Act also allows for a support person, who could be trained in counselling, to be present with the child to reduce stress and trauma. 3. Article 39 (f) of the Constitution (DPSP): ✓ The State shall, in particular, direct its policy towards securing that children are given opportunities and facilities to develop in a healthy manner and in conditions of freedom and dignity and that childhood and youth are protected against exploitation and against moral and material abandonment. 4. UN Resolution: ✓ Convention on the Rights of the Child, 1989: It states that ‘in all actions concerning children, whether undertaken by public or private social welfare institutions, courts of law, administrative authorities or legislative bodies, the best interests of the child shall be a primary consideration’. ✓ India has been a signatory to this Convention since 1992.

13. Women to get Permanent Commission in Indian Armed Forces Why in News? • The Supreme Court recently declared that Short Service Commission (SSC) women officers are eligible for permanent commission and command posts in the Army irrespective of their years of service. What is the Issue? • The verdict came on a nearly 10-year-old appeal filed by the government against a 2010 decision of the Delhi High Court to grant SSC women officers permanent commission. • The induction of women officers in the Army started in 1992. Recruits under the Women Special Entry Scheme (WSES) had a shorter pre-commission training period than their

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male counterparts who were commissioned under the Short Service Commission (SSC) scheme. • In 2006, the WSES scheme was replaced with the SSC scheme, which was extended to women officers. They were commissioned for a period of 10 years, extendable up to 14 years. According to government, isolation and hardships would eat into their resolve and they would have to heed to the call of pregnancy, childbirth and family. Women ran the risk of capture by enemy and being taken prisoner of war. What is the SCs Verdict? • The Supreme Court dismissed the Union government’s submissions that women are physiologically weaker than men as a “sex stereotype”. • It also declared that Short Service Commission (SSC) women officers are eligible for permanent commission and command posts in the Army irrespective of their years of service. Why this Verdict? • The court found the remarks in the note not only constitutionally invalid but discriminatory, affecting the dignity of women officers. • Article 15 states that the State shall not discriminate against any citizen on grounds only of religion, race, caste, sex, place of birth or any of them. • So, the SC ordered not to discriminate women on the basis of gender and ordered to appoint them in command posts in the Army. Way Forward: • Moreover, to cast aspersion on women’s abilities on the ground of gender is an affront not only to their dignity as women but to the dignity of the members of the Indian Army – men and women – who serve as equal citizens in a common mission.

14. Delimitation of Assembly constituencies in J&K Why in News? • About six months after the State of Jammu and Kashmir was split into the Union Territories of J&K and , the government has moved to start the delimitation of Assembly constituencies in J&K. What is Delimitation? • Delimitation literally means the process of fixing limits or boundaries of territorial constituencies in a state that has a legislative body.

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• Bifurcation of J&K into two UTs has led to redrawing of Assembly constituency boundaries. While, the UT of Ladakh will not have its own legislature, J&K will. This would be similar to Puducherry or Delhi. • Such delimitation was also necessitated in 2014 when Andhra Pradesh and Telangana were bifurcated. According to the Delimitation Commission Act, 2002, the Delimitation Commission appointed by the Centre has to have three members: a serving or retired judge of the Supreme Court as the chairperson, and the Chief Election Commissioner or Election Commissioner nominated by the CEC and the State Election Commissioner as ex-officio members. How Delimitation process is done? • Under Article 82, the Parliament enacts a Delimitation Act after every Census. • Under Article 170, States also get divided into territorial constituencies as per Delimitation Act after every Census. Once the Act is in force, the Union government sets up a Delimitation Commission. • The new state assembly shall have 114 seats (currently 107), out of which only 90 will be open for elections, and the remaining 24 will be shadow seats reserved for the areas of the erstwhile state that have been occupied by Pakistan (PoJK). • For the delimitation exercise, the population figures of 2011 census shall be taken as the basis. The J&K Representation of the People Act 1957 has now been invalidated and, instead, delimitation will be done as per the Representation of the People Act, 1950 (as amended from time to time) and provisions of Sections 59, 60 of Act 34 of 2019. Who carry out the Exercise? • Delimitation is undertaken by a highly powerful commission. They are formally known as Delimitation Commission or Boundary Commission. • These bodies are so powerful that its orders have the force of law and they cannot be challenged before any court. • Such commissions have been constituted at least four times in India — in 1952 under the Delimitation Commission Act, 1952; in 1963 under Delimitation Commission Act, 1962; in 1973 under Delimitation Act, 1972 and last in 2002 under Delimitation Act, 2002. • The commissions’ orders are enforced as per the date specified by the President of India. Copies of these orders are laid before the Lok Sabha or the concerned Legislative Assembly. No modifications are permitted.

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Why Delimitation is Needed? • To provide equal representation to equal segments of a population. • Fair division of geographical areas so that one political party doesn’t have an advantage over others in an election. To follow the principle of “One Vote One Value”. What are the problems with Delimitation? • States that take little interest in population control could end up with a greater number of seats in Parliament. The southern states that promoted family planning faced the possibility of having their seats reduced. In 2008, Delimitation was done based on the 2001 census, but the total number of seats in the Assemblies and Parliament decided as per the 1971 Census that was not changed. The constitution has also capped the number of Lok Shaba & Rajya Sabha seats to a maximum of 550 & 250 respectively and increasing populations are being represented by a single representative. Way Forward: • Although the freeze on the number of seats in Lok Sabha and Assemblies should have been lifted after the 2001 Census, another amendment has postponed this until 2026. • This was justified on the ground that a uniform population growth rate would be achieved throughout the country by 2026.

15. Deportation Laws in India Context: • British MP, Debbie Abrahams, who is also the Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Kashmir, was denied entry into India as her e-visa had been "rejected" by India. The Issue: • India has denied entry to a UK Labour MP who was critical of the government's controversial decision to revoke Kashmir's special status last year. • Indian officials have clarified that the British lawmaker Debbie Abrahams, who was denied entry into the country on Monday, did not hold a valid visa. • This was done after various media organisations claimed that Abrahams was deported. • The Ministry of External Affairs also responded that, on account of her involvement in activities against India's national interest, her visa had been revoked. • In this case, the government had claimed that this instance of denial of entry is not same as deportation as the British MP has claimed.

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What does Rejection of Visa Mean? • Grant, revocation, or rejection of a visa is sovereign right of a country. • Any foreign national who remains in any area in India for a period exceeding the period for which the visa was issued to him can be proceeded against under Section 14 of the Foreigners Act, 1946. A foreigner who enters into or stays in any area in India without the valid documents required for such entry or for such stay, as the case may be, can also be proceeded against under Section 14A (b) of the Foreigners Act, 1946. What is deportation? And what are its types? • Deportation is the expulsion of a person or group of people from a place or country. It can be done by a country, when a foreigner violates the immigration laws of the country. • It applies equally to nationals and Foreigners. • External Deportation: ✓ All countries reserve the right to deport persons without right of abode even those who are long-time residents or possess permanent residency. ✓ In general, foreigners who have committed serious crimes, entered the country illegally, overstayed or broken the conditions of their visa, or otherwise lost their legal status to remain in the country may be administratively removed or deported. ✓ In some cases, even citizens can be deported; some of the countries in the Persian Gulf have deported their own citizens. They have paid the Comoros Islands to give them passports and accept them. • Internal Deportation: ✓ Deportation can also happen within a state, when (for example) an individual or a group of people is forcibly resettled to a different part of the country. ✓ If ethnic groups are affected by this, it may also be referred to as population transfer. ✓ The rationale is often that these groups might assist the enemy in war or insurrection. ✓ For example, the American state of Georgia deported 400 female mill workers during the Civil War on the suspicion they were Northern sympathizers.

• Colonial Deportations: ✓ Deporting individuals to an overseas colony is a special case that is neither completely internal or external. ✓ For example, from 1717, Britain deported around 40,000 religious objectors and criminals to America before the practice ceased in 1776.

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✓ Jailers sold the criminals to shipping contractors, who then sold them to plantation owners. The criminal was forced to work for the plantation owner for the duration of their sentence. ✓ After Britain lost control of America, Australia became the destination for criminals deported to British colonies. • Criminal Deportation: ✓ criminal deportation is where a foreigner is ordered to be deported or physically removed from a country by reason of such person’s criminal conduct or activity. What are the regulations applicable to foreigners in India? • The extent Acts dealing with entry, stay and exit of foreign nationals in the country are: ✓ Passport (Entry into India) Act, 1920 ✓ Foreigners Act, 1946 ✓ Registration of Foreigners Act, 1939 • The Passport (Entry in India) Act, 1920 ✓ It prescribes specific authorization of foreign nationals on their valid travel documents/passports for allowing entry into the country. ✓ Under this Act, foreigners coming to India are required to get a visa from Indian Missions/Posts. • The Foreigners Act, 1946 ✓ It regulates the entry of foreigners into India, their presence and their departure. • The Registration of Foreigners Act, 1939 and the Registration of Foreigners Rules, 1992 ✓ It mandates that certain categories of foreigners whose intended stay in India for more than the specified period, or as provided in their visa authorization, are required to get themselves registered with the Registration officer.

16. It’s Time to Empower Mayors • This article highlights that why the election for the post of Mayor in Urban Local Bodies must be held directly and should not involve the role of political parties in the Election process. Present Problems in Urban Local Bodies: • As Indian cities grow in number and size, the pressure for better urban governance has increased and urban governance in its current form is fraught with inefficiency, mismanagement and overlapping jurisdiction of executive and political authorities.

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• Recent research on urban governance highlights that powers of Mayors in Municipal Corporation is somewhat restricted and is shared with Municipal Commissioner who is an executive authority. At present, mayors are elected by city councillors who themselves are directly elected by urban voters. • Despite being considered the political and executive head of the municipal body, mayors assume largely titular position, while the government-appointed municipal commissioner holding executive power. This leaves the mayor with little authority to influence urban development, planning and operation. • Metros have been deprived of empowered Mayors who can raise efficiency, productivity and liveability conditions of city. Intra- State Variations: • States of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu decided to have indirect elections for Mayor and have used the excuse of poor performance of urban local bodies as a justification to replace direct election of Mayors with an indirect system. • There are some states like Uttrakhand and Jharkhand where Mayors are elected by direct elections but in none of the mega cities of India, mayors are directly elected. Key Flaws Highlighted by Economic Survey: • The Economic Survey of 2017-18 notes that a third of the population now lives in urban areas which produce three-fifths of the GDP. • India’s overflowing cities lack capacity, infrastructure and leadership for urban governance. • The Survey attributes it to the absence of a single city government in charge, and low spending on infrastructure. State governments receive huge revenue from urban cities but do not support the idea of strong Mayors. Chief Ministers see a potential threat from a charismatic and empowered Mayor with progressive policies. Need for a directly elected Mayors for Urban Local Bodies (ULBs): 1. Introducing direct election for mayors could improve political accountability which will help in increasing efficiency in urban governance. 2. A direct mandate from urban residents adds to the legitimacy and accountability of the mayor’s office. It would also resolve the power tussles between mayors and Municipal Commissioners. 3. Fixed tenures for mayors offer greater continuity as opposed to state-appointed bureaucrats who can be abruptly transferred.

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4. In the current model, councillor elections are held at the ward level and are based on hyper-local issues, which may not resonate with the whole city. A directly elected mayor would ensure a focus on the problems of the entire city instead of certain specific wards. 5. Directly elected Mayors with adequate power and authority can help solving problems faced by large cities including problems associated with achieving goals of Sustainable Development Goals, the Paris Agreement on Climate Change and the UN Habitat New Urban Agenda. Need for Election for Mayors to be conducted on Non-Party Lines: • The main task of the bodies is to handle problems concerning sanitation, water supply and solid waste management and in such places political ideologies hardly matter. • Even in the area of water supply and sewerage, the role of the municipal corporations of Chennai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad has got reduced as there are entities exclusively for this purpose. Delhi too has a Jal Board, headed by the Chief Minister. • Under the present scheme, Chief Ministers do not want strong ULB chiefs to emerge, especially if the person happens to be from his or her party. This explains why parties prefer indirect elections. • So, if the polls are held on non-party lines with direct elections for chiefs of ULBs, a new crop of leaders will emerge outside the political class. Well-educated and well-qualified youngsters will be encouraged to take part in the election process. • More importantly, municipal elections will become cheaper as there will be no need for competitive spending by nominees of rival parties. • Further, if Mayors do not perform, then political representative of the area including MLA and MP will not be held responsible for their wrong doings. • Thus, ULBs can have meaningful empowerment only if the concept of non-party elections is adopted. This is a prerequisite for the implementation of the ‘strong mayor’ model.

17. Private Member Bill Proposing Two-Child Norm Why in News? • A Private Member of our parliament has recently introduced a Constitution Amendment Bill in the Rajya Sabha which proposes incentives in taxation, education and employment for people who limit their family size to two children. • Thus, the bill introduces disincentives to the families with children more than two in the above factors.

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Key Features of the Bill: • The Bill proposes for the incorporation of a new provision — Article 47A (Duty of the State to promote small family norm) — in Part IV (Directive Principles of the State Policy) of the Constitution. • The Bill also intends to offer incentives in taxes, employment, education and priority in social benefit schemes and school admissions to people who keep their family limited to two children. • The proposed insertion of Article 47A intends to withdraw all concessions from people who fail to adhere to the ‘small-family-norm’. India’s Present Scenario: • Presently, six states including Haryana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh have made the two-child norm mandatory for all panchayat members. • The Supreme Court has also upheld the provision in several states that debars members with more than two children from contesting and holding panchayat posts. Why such a norm has been Proposed? • India’s population has already crossed 125 crores and is expected to surpass the world’s most populous nation-China in the next couple of decades. • The growing population is also expected to cause burden on the already over-exploited natural resources of India. • National Population Control Policy (2000) has been introduced, but its success has not been seen on ground. • The National Commission to Review the Working of the Constitution, headed by M.N. Venkatachaliah had also recommended for Article 47A to be inserted into the Constitution to control population explosion Shortcomings of the Two-Child Norm: • The problems like gender imbalance, undocumented children, etc. faced by China (as a result of the one-child policy) might be experienced by India. • India's birth-rate is slowing down to sustainable levels. In 2000, the fertility rate was still relatively high at 3.2 children per woman. By 2016, that number had already fallen to 2.3 children. • The restricted child policy will create a shortage of educated young people needed to carry on India’s technological revolution. India might also lose its advantage of Demographic Dividend.

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NOTE: • Entry 20-A in List III (Concurrent List) of the 7th Schedule deals with population control and family planning. This provision was added through the 42nd Constitutional Amendment 1976. Thus it empowers both Centre and state to frame policies in such matters. • Any Member of Parliament (MP) who is not a minister is referred to as a private member. A bill introduced by such a member is known as private Member Bill.14 private member’s bills have become law so far in India.

3.1 POLITY & GOVERNANCE SNIPPETS 1. Jiyo Parsi Scheme Why in News? • Parsi population has been increased under 'Jiyo Parsi' scheme of Union Government.

About Jiyo Parsi Scheme: • It is initiated by Ministry of Minority Affairs. • Objectives: To arrest the declining trend of the Parsi population by adopting a scientific protocol and structured interventions, in order to stabilize their population and thereby increasing the population of Parsis in India. • The population of Parsi Zoroastrians fell as per the 2011 Census. • It includes counselling for couples on the topics of fertility, marriage and family. • It also provides creche and child care support, senior citizen honorarium for child care and assistance to elderly. It provides financial aid to Parsi couples for Assisted Reproductive Technology such as In-vitro Fertilization and Intra Cytoplasmic Injection, including surrogate pregnancies. It is a completely Central Sector Scheme. • They are mostly found in Gujarat, Mumbai, Kolkata and Hyderabad.

2. Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan-dhan Yojana Why in News? • New pension schemes for Unorganised Sector. Highlights: • The Government has introduced two voluntary and contributory Pension Schemes:

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✓ Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan-dhan Yojna (PM-SYM): A pension scheme for the Unorganised Workers ✓ National Pension Scheme for the Traders and Self Employed Persons (NPS-Traders) under Section 3(1) of the Unorganised Workers Social Security Act, 2008 to provide old age protection to them • The schemes envisage for providing a minimum assured monthly pension of Rs. 3000/- after attaining the age of 60 years. ✓ If the subscriber dies, the spouse of the beneficiary shall be entitled to 50% of the pension as a family pension. Family pension is applicable only to the spouse. ✓ The monthly contribution ranges from Rs.55 to Rs.200/- depending upon the entry age of the beneficiary. NPS-Traders Scheme: • This scheme is meant for old age protection and social security of Vyapaaris (retail traders/shopkeepers and self-employed persons) whose annual turnover is not exceeding Rs.1.5 crores. These retail traders/petty shopkeepers and self-employed persons are mostly working as shop owners, retail traders, rice mill owners, oil mill owners, workshop owners, commission agents, brokers of real estate, owners of small hotels, restaurants and other Vyapaaris. • The entry age for the scheme is 18-40 years and the Vyapaari should not be a member of ESIC/EPFO/PM-SYM or an income taxpayer. The schemes are being implemented through Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) of India and Common Service Centres. LIC is the Fund Manager and responsible for pension pay-out.

3. National Commission for The Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) Context: • NCPCR has recently issued a directive to provide counselling for children involved in protests against NRC and CAA. This directive has come under wide criticism from civil societies and Rights Groups. About NCPCR: • Under Commissions for Protection of Child Rights Act, 2005 (CPCR), National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) and State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (SCPCRs) have been created as Statutory bodies for protection of child rights.

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• The Commission’s Mandate is to ensure that all Laws, Policies, Programmes, and Administrative Mechanisms are in consonance with the Child Rights perspective as enshrined in the Constitution of India and also the UN. The Child is defined as a person in the 0 to 18 year’s Age Group. The Commission may inquire into complaints and take Suo motu notice of matters relating to: ✓ Deprivation and violation of child rights ✓ Non-implementation of laws providing for protection and development of children ✓ Non-compliance of policy decisions, guidelines or instructions aimed at mitigating hardships to and ensuring welfare of the children and to provide relief to such children ✓ take up the issues arising out of such matters with Appropriate Authorities.

4. Exercise AJEYA WARRIOR – 2020 Why in News? • The Fifth Edition of the Joint Military Exercise AJEYA WARRIOR – 2020 between India and the United Kingdom will be conducted at Salisbury Plains, United Kingdom in February 2020. Exercise Ajeya Warrior: • The joint military exercise will comprise of 120 soldiers each from the Indian and United Kingdom Army who would be sharing their experiences gained during conduct of various counter insurgency and counter terrorist operations in the past. • The aim of this exercise is to conduct company level joint training with emphasis on counter terrorists operation in urban and semi-urban areas. Training on modern weapon systems, equipment and simulator training have also been planned. • The Exercise is conducted alternatively in the United Kingdom and India. • The First Edition of the exercise was conducted in 2013 at Belgaum, Karnataka.

5. Public Safety Act (PSA), 1978 Why in News? • Public Safety Act (PSA), 1978 has been recently in news, since it has been invoked in the state of J&K in order to detain various political leaders. About the Public Safety Act (PSA), 1978: • It is a defensive detention law that allows taking a person into custody to prevent him or her from acting in any matter that is prejudicial to “the security of the state or the maintenance of the public order”.

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• Under the PSA, a person can be held for 2 years without trial and they need not be produced before a court. A similar act called the National Security Act (NSA) is used by the other state governments for preventive detention. • According to the definition, preventive detention is meant to be protective, not punitive. When government authorities slap the PSA on an individual they give this broad definition as the most common ground for detention. Any detention under this act can’t be made under the order by police based on specific allegations or for a specific violation of laws. • Any person can be booked under PSA when an administrative order passed either by Divisional Commissioner (DC) or the District Magistrate (DM). ✓ DM communicates to the person within five days and informs him about the reason for the detention in writing. ✓ DM has a right to communicate within 10 days in exceptional cases. It is important because on the basis on that communication a detained person can make a representation against the order. ✓ DM has powers to not to disclose all the facts on the basis of the detention is ordered.

6. Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) Why in News? • All India Conference of Central Administrative Tribunal 2020 held in New Delhi. Central Administrative Tribunal: • The Central Administrative Tribunal had been established under Article 323 A of the Constitution for the adjudication of disputes and complaints with respect to recruitment and conditions of service of persons appointed to public services and posts in connection with the affairs of the Union or other authorities under the control of the Government • The CAT has been established as a specialist body comprising of Administrative Members and Judicial Members who by virtue of their specialized knowledge are better equipped to dispense speedy and effective justice. • CAT is distinguishable from the ordinary courts with regard to its jurisdiction and procedure. It exercises jurisdiction only in relation to the service matters of the parties covered by the Act. • It is also free from the shackles of many of the technicalities of the ordinary Courts. The procedural simplicity of the Act can be appreciated from the fact that an aggrieved government employee can also appear personally before the Tribunal.

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• The Tribunal is guided by the principles of natural justice in deciding cases and is not bound by the procedure, prescribed by the Civil Procedure Code. It is empowered to frame its own rules of procedure and practice. The Tribunal has been conferred with the power to exercise the same jurisdiction and authority in respect of contempt of itself as a High Court. The Tribunal also has 17 Benches.

7. SUTRA PIC Why in News? • The government has unveiled a 'SUTRA PIC or Scientific Utilisation Through Research Augmentation-Prime Products from Indigenous Cows' programme to research on ‘indigenous’ cows. About SUTRA PIC: • It is to be funded by multiple scientific ministries, the initiative, SUTRA PIC, is led by the Department of Science and Technology (DST). It has the Department of Biotechnology, the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, the Ministry for AYUSH (Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha, Homoeopathy) among others and the Indian Council of Medical Research as partners. • It has Five Themes ✓ Uniqueness of Indigenous Cows, ✓ Prime-products from Indigenous Cows for Medicine & Health, ✓ Prime-products from Indigenous Cows for Agricultural Applications, ✓ Prime-products from Indigenous Cows for Food & Nutrition and ✓ Prime-products from indigenous cows-based utility items.

8. 'Station Programme'- Google Why in News? • Google has recently decided to wind down its 'Station Programme' services globally. About: • It is a free public WIFI program to 400 busiest railway stations in India. • In India, it was kick started in 2015 as a partnership between Google, Indian Railways and RailTel to bring fast and free public WI-FI. • Google has decided so because getting online has become much simpler and cheaper as mobile data plans have become more affordable and mobile connectivity is improving globally.

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• But users in India will be able to continue using the existing facilities at the railway stations via RailTel, Google’s partner in India for the programme.

4. Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses Why in News? • Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses has been renamed as Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses. • Manohar Parikkar was India’s Defence Minister from November 2014 to March 2017. Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA): • An autonomous body under the Ministry of Defence, IDSA was established as a registered society in New Delhi in 1965, dedicated to objective research and policy-relevant studies on all aspects of defence and security. • Its aim is to promote national and international security through the generation and dissemination of knowledge on defence and security-related issues. • To achieve its goals, the institute undertakes scholarly research, policy-oriented research, dissemination of research findings, training and capacity building and public education.

5. Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) Why in News? • The Selection Committee has recently finalised the CVC chief. About Central Vigilance Commission (CVC): • It is an apex Indian governmental body created in 1964 to address governmental corruption. In 2003, the Parliament enacted a law conferring statutory status on the CVC. • It has the status of an autonomous body, free of control from any executive authority, charged with monitoring all vigilance activity under the Central Government of India. • It advises various authorities in central Government organizations in planning, executing, reviewing and reforming their vigilance work. • The Prime Minister heads the Selection Committee for choosing the CVC chief. • The Home Minister and the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha or the leader of the largest Opposition party.

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6. E-MASIHA Why in News? • The Ministry of Minority Affairs has recently informed that India has made the Haj 2020 process completely digital. About E-MASIHA (E-Medical Assistance System for Indian Pilgrims Abroad) • It is an online system to create and maintain the complete health database of Indian pilgrims. • It also provides doctors’ prescriptions, medical treatment as well as medicine disbursals, and has been developed to deal with any emergency in Makkah-Madinah. • The online facilities include application procedure, E-Visa, Haj mobile app, “E-MASIHA” health facility and “E-luggage pre-tagging” providing all information in India itself regarding accommodation/transportation in Makkah-Madinah, Saudi Arabia.

7. Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen) Why in News? • The Cabinet has approved the launch of the Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen) Phase – II. Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen): • The Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen) or SBM – G is a sub-mission of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan for the rural areas. • The SBM – G seeks to eliminate open defecation from the country. • It also aims at improving access to sanitation. • In addition, it seeks to generate awareness to motivate communities to adopt sustainable sanitation practices, and encourage the use of appropriate technologies for sanitation. Objectives of the Mission: ✓ Improving the quality of life in rural areas by promoting cleanliness and eliminating open defecation. ✓ Motivating communities and panchayati raj institutions to adopt sustainable sanitation practices. ✓ Encouraging appropriate technologies for Sustainable Sanitation. ✓ Developing community-managed solid and liquid Waste Management Systems. • The mission is under the Ministry of Jal Shakti.

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8. National Cyber Security strategy (NCSS) 2020 Why in News? • The draft of National Cyber Security Strategy 2020, that envisages creating a secure cyberspace in India, is ready and will soon be sent to key ministries for comments before seeking the Cabinet Approval. Highlights: • The vision of the strategy is to ensure a safe, secure, resilient, trusted and vibrant cyberspace for India’s prosperity. The National Cyber Security Strategy 2020 is being prepared to fill the gaps and meet the target envisaged in National Cyber Security Policy 2020. India is actively walking towards a National Cyber Security Policy which is imperative for the goal of a USD 5 trillion economy. Pillars of Strategy: • Secure (The National Cyberspace) • Strengthen (Structures, People, Processes, Capabilities) • Synergise (Resources including Cooperation and Collaboration) Need for NCSS 2020: India was one of the first few countries to propound a futuristic National Cyber Security Policy 2013(NCSP 2013). Since the adoption of NCSP 2013, the technologies, platforms,

threats, services and aspirations have changed tremendously. • However, Cyber intrusions and attacks have increased in scope and sophistication targeting sensitive personal and business data, and critical information infrastructure, with impact on national economy and security. Threats from organised cybercriminal groups, technological cold wars, and increasing state sponsored cyber-attacks have also emerged. Further, existing structures may need to be revamped or revitalised. • Thus, a need exists for the formulation of a National Cyber Security Strategy 2020.

9. Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) Context: • Kangaroo mother care (KMC) is recently seen in news. About Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC): • It is the intervention where babies are placed in skin-to-skin contact with their mothers and exclusively breast fed. WHO recommends that it be continued till baby attains a weight of 2.5 kg or till babies wriggle out.

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• Skin-to-skin contact: It should ideally start at birth, but is helpful at any time. It should ideally be continuous day and night, but even shorter periods are still helpful. • Exclusive breastfeeding: Direct suckling by the baby from the breasts is all that is needed for most mothers and babies. For very premature babies, expressing milk and addition of some essential nutrients may be needed. • Support to the dyad: Whatever is needed for the medical, emotional, psychological and physical well-being of mother and baby is provided to them, without separating them. • This might mean adding ultramodern equipment if available, or purely intense psychological support in contexts with no resources. It can even mean going home very early. Significance of Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC): • KMC benefits are much beyond preventing hypothermia. It also promotes growth and development of the child and increases mother child bonding, and also reduces stress in both mother and baby. • The results recently published in the Lancet show that kangaroo mother care improved survival by 30% and 25%, in babies till 28 days and six months of age, respectively. • Such care for all infants with low birthweight could substantially reduce neonatal and infant mortality.

10. National Statistical Commission Why in News? • The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation has recently released the draft National Statistical Commission (NSC) Bill in public domain for feedback. About NSC Bill: • It seeks to establish NSC as the nodal, autonomous and statutory body for all core statistical activities. It also proposes the NSC to be a body corporate. The current body lacks statutory backing. • The Government of India set up the National Statistical Commission (NSC), on the recommendations of the Rangarajan Commission, which reviewed the Indian Statistical System in 2001. • It is a recommending body that helps the national statistical system in evolving better • Composition: It has a part-time Chairperson, 4 part-time Members and an ex-officio Member, each having specialization and experience in specified statistical fields.

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• The Chief Statistician of India is the Secretary of the Commission. He is also the Secretary to the Government of India in the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation.

11. Changes in Crop Insurance Schemes Why in News? • Centre has recently cuts its share in crop insurance schemes. Recent changes in PMFBY and RWBCIS: • Centre has slashed its share of the premium subsidy to just 25% in irrigated areas and 30% for unirrigated areas from the Kharif season of 2020. • Previously the subside share was 50% in irrigated areas and unirrigated areas. • The Cabinet approved the revamp of the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) and the Restructured Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme (RWBCIS). • In both the schemes the enrolment has been made voluntary for all farmers. • RWBCIS aims to mitigate the hardship of the insured farmers against the likelihood of financial loss on account of anticipated crop loss resulting from adverse weather conditions relating to rainfall, temperature, wind, humidity etc. • PMFBY aims to provide insurance coverage and financial support to the farmers in the event of failure of any of the notified crop as a result of natural calamities pests & diseases.

12. CHILDLINE India Foundation Why in News? • According to the data of CHILDLINE India Foundation (CIF), 35% of the total cases of sexual abuse were committed by neighbours. About CHILDLINE India Foundation (CIF) • It is the largest network of agencies involved in protection of children. • It is the nodal agency appointed by the Ministry of Women and Child Development. • It is to manage CHILDLINE helpline 1098 - a free, emergency phone service for children in need aid and assistance. • It is also the sole body responsible for establishing the CHILDLINE service across the country, monitoring (service delivery and finance), training, research and documentation, creating awareness, advocacy as well as resource generation for the service.

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Highlights: • The largest number of phone calls were made to seek intervention for abuse cases (17%), followed by those pertaining to child labour (13%), education (12%), runaways (11%) and missing children (11%). • The nature of abuse children suffered shows that 37% of the complaints were about child marriage, 27% about physical abuse and 13% regarding sexual abuse. The remaining 23% constituted emotional, corporal, domestic and cyber abuse. • The analyses show that 35% of the total 8,000 cases of sexual abuse were committed by neighbours, 25% by strangers and 11% by family members. The remaining 29% of perpetrators were friends, relatives, teachers, institutional staff, hospital staff, police and step parents.

13. Empowered ‘Technology Group’ Why in News? • The Union Cabinet has recently approved the constitution of an empowered “Technology Group” to advise the Government on priorities and strategies for research on emerging technologies across sectors. About Empowered ‘Technology Group’ • It will be a 12-member group with the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India as its Chair. The three pillars of the Technology Group include Policy Support, Procurement Support and Support on Research and Development proposals. • The mandate for the empowered ‘Technology Group’ ✓ To render timely policy advice on latest technologies; ✓ Mapping of technology and technology products; ✓ Commercialisation of dual use technologies developed in national laboratories and government Research and Development (R&D) organisations; ✓ Developing an indigenisation road map for selected key technologies; and ✓ Selection of appropriate R&D programs leading to technology development.

14. Khelo India University Games 2020 Why in News? • The Prime Minister has recently launched the first-ever Khelo India University Games in Cuttack (Odisha).

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About Khelo India University Games: • It is being launched by the Government of India in association with the Government of Odisha. It has been introduced to revive the sports culture in India at the grass-root level by building a strong framework for all sports played in our country. • It aims to establish India as a great sporting nation. It is implemented by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. It helps to identify talented players in priority sports disciplines at various levels by the High-Powered Committee will be provided annual financial assistance of INR 5 lakh per annum for 8 years. It will have a total of 17 sports namely archery, athletics, boxing, fencing, judo, swimming, weightlifting, wrestling, badminton, basketball, football, hockey, table tennis, tennis, volleyball, rugby and kabaddi.

15. Disha Police Station Context: • The Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh has recently launched Disha Police Station. Key Points: • It is first of its kind in the state, which is established under Disha act, 2019. • Each police station will be headed by a DSP rank officer. • It will deal with crimes covered under the Disha bill, including IPC section 376- rape and gang rape, section 354- assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty, 509 word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman and the POCSO Act. A woman police officer is appointed as nodal officer to create awareness among the public about About Disha Act, 2019: • It prescribes death penalty under Section 376 of IPC (Indian Penal Code). • It punishes crimes against children with 10 to 14 years of imprisonment. • It mandates completion of the investigation into cases of sexual offences within 7 working days from the time of record, and the trial must be concluded within 14 working days from the date of filing the charge sheet. • The appeal against the sentence passed under the new law has to be disposed of within six months. • 30 per cent special allowance has been announced for the staff of Disha police stations, apart from an investigation expenditure of Rs 1 lakh per month.

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16. Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PMKSN) Why in News? • Recently, the Centre has revised the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PMKSN) scheme's beneficiary target down to 12 crores from 14 crores. About Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi: • Under this programme, the vulnerable landholding farmer families, having cultivable land up to 2 hectares, will be provided direct income support at the rate of Rs. 6,000 per year. • It will be transferred directly into the bank accounts of beneficiary farmers, in three equal instalments of Rs. 2,000 each. • The complete expenditure of Rs 75000 crore for the scheme will borne by the Union Government in 2019-20.

17. International Judicial Conference Why in News? • The President of India delivered the valedictory address at the International Judicial Conference being organised by the Supreme Court of India, in New Delhi. International Judicial Conference: • The Conference was organized by the Supreme Court of India. • The theme of the Conference was ‘Judiciary and the Changing World’. • Important Topics of discussion at the Conference included: ✓ Gender Justice, ✓ Contemporary Perspectives on Protection of Constitutional Values, ✓ Dynamic Interpretations of the Constitution in a Changing World, ✓ Harmonization of Environment Protection vis-à-vis Sustainable Development and ✓ Protection of Right to Privacy in the Internet Age “Just-World” Hypothesis: • The “Just World” fallacy is associated with the actions of bringing fair actions towards education, health, gender equality and other social issues. • The Conference introduced the “Just World” concept in the Judicial System of India. • By this it aims to take the judicial system of the country to every citizen irrespective of their gender. • Also, it aimed to bring upon gender equality in other crucial areas where women have still not earned their recognition, especially the areas of mining and military.

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18. Bay of Bengal Offshore Sailing Expedition Why in News? • Indian Naval Sailing Vessels Mhadei and Tarini set sail for the Bay of Bengal Offshore Sailing Expedition from the Indian Naval Ocean Sailing Node at Goa. BBSE: • This would be the maiden major mixed crew sailing expedition of the Indian Navy with crew composition of five naval officers including two women officers in each boat. • It would be covering a total distance of 6,100 Nautical miles each and will be at sea for 55 days. The prolonged voyage of nearly three months during this expedition would showcase harnessing of renewal energy namely wind energy to propel the boats. • The expedition is also in pursuance of the GOI mission of ‘Nari Shakti’ providing opportunity to women officers at par with men. • The sailing vessels as part of the expedition would make replenishment halts at ports of Phuket, Yangon, Chittagong and Colombo.

19. Consultative Committee Why in News? • Recently, the meeting of the Consultative Committee of the Members of Parliament for the Ministry of Steel was held. About Consultative Committee: • It is constituted by the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs. • It is normally constituted after the new Lok Sabha is constituted, which implies that the committees stand dissolved upon dissolution of every Lok Sabha and thus, are reconstituted upon the constitution of each Lok Sabha. • The guidelines regarding the composition, functions and procedures of these committees are formulated by the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs. • It consists of members of both the Houses of Parliament. The maximum membership of a committee is 30 and the minimum is 10. • The membership of these committees is voluntary and is left to the choice of the members and the leaders of their parties. Functions of Consultative Committee: • The Minister/Minister of State in charge of the Ministry concerned acts as the chairman of the consultative committee of that ministry.

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• It provides a forum for informal discussions between the ministers and the members of Parliament on policies and programmes of the government and the manner of their implementation. It is not Parliamentary Committees.

20. SPICe+ Web Form Why in News? • The Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) has recently launched the Simplified Proforma for Incorporating Company Electronically Plus (SPICe+) web form. • About Simplified Proforma for Incorporating Company Electronically Plus (SPICe+) form • It replaces the existing SPICe form. It was launched in 2016 and is a single form for multiple services for incorporation of a company. • It will facilitate onscreen filing and real-time data validation for the seamless incorporation of companies. • It offers 10 services by 3 central government ministries & departments (Ministry of Corporate Affairs, Ministry of Labour & Ministry of Finance) and one State Government (Maharashtra). It has Two Parts: ✓ Part A for name reservation for new companies and; ✓ Part B offering services including incorporation, Director Identification Number (DIN) allotment, mandatory issue of Permanent Account Number (PAN), besides allotment of Goods and Service Tax Identification Number - GSTIN (if applied for).

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4.SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 1. National Mission on Quantum Technologies & Applications Why in News? • The Finance Minister in budget 2020 has announced a National Mission on Quantum Technologies & Applications (NM-QTA). Quantum Technology: • Quantum Technology is based on the principles of quantum theory, which explains the nature of energy and matter on the atomic and subatomic level. It concerns the control and manipulation of quantum systems, with the goal of achieving information processing beyond the limits of the classical world. Its principles will be used for engineering solutions to extremely complex problems in computing, communications, sensing, chemistry, cryptography, imaging and mechanics. This key ability makes quantum computers extremely powerful compared to conventional computers when solving certain kinds of problems like finding prime factors of large numbers and searching large databases. Quantum Mechanics: • It is a fundamental theory in physics which describes nature at the smallest – including atomic and subatomic – scales. At the scale of atoms and electrons, many of the equations of classical mechanics, which describe how things move at everyday sizes and speeds, cease to be useful. In classical mechanics, objects exist in a specific place at a specific time. • However, in quantum mechanics, objects instead exist in a haze of probability; they have a certain chance of being at point A, another chance of being at point B and so on. NM-QTA: • The mission will function under the Department of Science & Technology (DST). • It will be able address the ever increasing technological requirements of the society, and take into account the International Technology Trends. • The mission will help prepare next generation skilled manpower, boost translational research and also encourage entrepreneurship and start-up ecosystem development. Significance: • Quantum technologies are rapidly developing globally with a huge disruptive potential. • The range of quantum technologies is expected to be one of the major technology disruptions that will change entire paradigm of computation, communication and encryption.

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• It is perceived that the countries who achieve an edge in this emerging field will have a greater advantage in Garnering Multifold Economic Growth and Dominant Leadership Role. It has become imperative both for government and industries to be prepared to develop these emerging and disruptive changes. • It will establish standards to be applied to all research and help stimulate a pipeline to support research and applications well into the future.

2. Genome India Project Why in News? • Recently, the Ministry of Science and Technology has cleared the Genome India Project. About Genome India project: • It is funded by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) to sequence at least 10,000 Indian genomes. It has 22 partner organisations including public health institutions will be roped in that have obtained regulatory ethical clearances. • The Centre for Brain Research, which is an Autonomous institute in the IISc, Bengaluru, will serve as the nodal point of the project. • It is a gene-mapping project involving leading institutions including the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) in Bengaluru and a few Indian Institute of Technology (IITs). • The first stage of the project will look at samples of 10,000 persons from all over the country to form a grid that will enable the development of a reference genome. • Investigators in hospitals will lead the data collection through a simple blood test from participants and the information will be added to bio banks. • The Government of India got its inspiration from the Human Genome Project. Human Genome Project: • It was an international research effort to determine the sequence of the human genome and identify the genes that it contains. It was a publicly funded project that ended in 2003. • It has revealed that there are probably about 20,500 human genes. This information can be thought of as the basic set of inheritable "instructions" for the development and function of a human being. Significance of the Project: • The diverse genetic pool of India will be mapped and it will help in making Personalised Medicine.

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• Its goal to utilize information about a person's genes, including his or her nucleotide sequence, to make drugs better and safer. • It is helps to enable cost effective genetic tests, carrier screening applications for expectant couples, efficient diagnosis for heritable cancers, pharmacogenetic tests to prevent adverse drug reactions. It will be a hard task considering the population diversity and the disease burden of complex disorders but once the genetic basis is ready it will be possible and easy to take action before the onset of a Disease.

3. Space and Women in Space Context: • NASA astronaut Christina Koch has left her footprint in history after breaking an iconic space record for womankind. Her 328-day stay surpassed the record set by Peggy Whitson on a single space-flight at 288 days. History of Women in Space: • In 1963, aboard Vostok 6, Soviet Cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova became the first woman to travel into space. • The first woman to complete a spacewalk, or extravehicular activity (EVA), was Soviet cosmonaut Svetlana Savitskaya. • In June 1983, NASA astronaut Sally Ride became the first U.S. woman in space when she launched on the STS-7 mission of the space shuttle Challenger. • NASA’s Peggy Whitson, became the first woman to command the ISS in April 2008, she was also the first woman to command the ISS twice. Does space affect men and women differently? • Overall adaptation to the space environment is roughly the same for men and women but there are some differences. Women are more likely to feel sick when they go into space, men are more likely to get re-entry sickness when they come back to Earth. • Men have more problems with their vision and hearing when they get back from space which women don't get. When women return they do have problems managing their blood pressure so they feel quite faint. • There are some subtle differences - physiologically and psychologically and there is a little study to do with hormonal differences or more physiological changes that are occurring. • And long-term, understanding of those differences will help us understand more about human health on Earth.

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What does ‘Spacewalk’ mean? • Anytime an astronaut gets out of a space vehicle, it is called an extravehicular activity, or EVA. This is also called a spacewalk. • Russian astronaut Alexei Leonov performed the first spacewalk on March 18, 1965. The first spacewalk was 10 minutes long. • Spacewalks allow astronauts to work outside their spacecraft while still in space. 1. To carry out scientific experiments in space 2. To test new equipment’s or make repairs to satellites/spacecraft • Spacesuits protect the astronauts from extreme hot and cold temperatures, harmful space dust and radiation. • Spacesuits are pressurized to keep the fluids in the body in a liquid state. • Once in their suits, astronauts breathe 100 percent oxygen for several hours until all the nitrogen is out of their bodies. Nitrogen and ‘the bends’: • Nitrogen in the body during a spacewalk can cause gas bubbles to form in the body. These gas bubbles can cause astronauts to feel pain in their joints, such as their shoulders, elbows, wrists and knees. • This condition is called "the bends" because it affects the places where the body bends. The same condition can affect divers who use oxygen tanks to breathe underwater.

India and Women in Space: • Kalpana Chawla was the first woman of Indian descent to go into space. • She was also one of the 7-member crew of the ill-fated NASA’s Columbia, that disintegrated upon atmospheric entry killing the crew in 2003. • Sunita Williams, was born to an Indian American Father in the United States of America. • She formerly held the records for total spacewalks by a woman (seven) and most spacewalk time for a woman (50 hours, 40 minutes). • In August 2007, she became the first person to run a marathon in space. • Anuradha TK, a Geosat Programme Director at Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Satellite Centre is an eminent scientist in this field. • Ritu Karidhal, a scientist at ISRO has worked on multiple ISRO projects as an operations director, is famous for her contribution to Mangalyaan, India’s Mars orbiter mission as the Deputy Operations Director.

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• India has come to a point where contributions of women across all fields are being celebrated and applauded. India still has a long way to go to make the historically male- dominated domains like space, as a level playing field for women. By then Indian women would be, quite literally, reaching for the stars.

4. Protected Special Agriculture Zone Why in News? • Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu recently announced that the Cauvery delta region would be declared as Protected Special Agriculture Zone. What is a Protected Agriculture Zone? • Declaring as the Protected Special Agriculture Zone ensures that particular region will not be granted permission for any new projects like those related to hydrocarbons. • Only Agro based Industries would be given permission to be built. What are the regions declared as Protected Zones? • To guard the delta areas and end farmers’ ordeals, the special protection will be bestowed on Cauvery Delta districts such as Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagappattinam, Pudukottai, Cuddalore, Ariyalur, Karur and districts.

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Why such Protection is Essential? • The Cauvery Delta Region is an important agricultural region in Tamil Nadu and farmers continue to do agriculture, despite climate changes. • It is just and reasonable that projects like hydrocarbon exploration have raised concerns among farmers and other agriculture-based labourers. • Since the delta region is close to the sea, there is a need to safeguard the region. What would be the Benefits of this Declaration? • The benefits that have accrued for farmers are manifold. • Drilling for extraction of oil and gas in these regions that hampers agriculture and posing much environmental impact or health hazards will be stopped immediately. • Whatever the project introduced by the centre, it cannot be implemented without the NOC from that state.

5. U.S. nod for air Defence System Sale to India Why in News? • The US has approved the sale of an Integrated Air Defence Weapon System (IADWS) to India at an estimated cost of $1.9 billion. • The objective of the deal is to modernise India’s armed forces and to expand its existing air defence architecture to counter threats posed by Air Attacks. About Integrated Air Defence Weapon System: • Objective: ✓ IADWS will be used along with indigenous, Russian and Israeli systems to erect an ambitious Multi-layered missile shield (Consisting of 5 layers) over the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi against aerial threats. • The Integrated Air Defence Weapon System (IADWS) is also called as the National Advanced Surface to Air Missile System (NASAMS-II). • It is an upgraded version of the NASAMS developed by the US firm in partnership with Norway. It includes launchers, targeting and guidance systems, advanced medium- range air-to-air missile (AMRAAM) and Stinger missiles, 3D Sentinel radars, fire- distribution centres and command-and-control units. • It comes amidst the massive military modernisation by China which is also flexing its military muscles in the strategic Indo-Pacific region.

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About Multi-layered Air Defence System: • India is developing a multi-layered air defence system for its cities besides air defence system for tactical battle areas. • The layered approach focuses on developing protection depending on ✓ Origin of the threat (range of missiles) ✓ Capabilities for Interception (altitude). 5th Layer: NASAMS (National Advanced Surface to Air Missile System): • This constitutes the inner-most layer of air defence plan for Delhi. • It will be deployed to protect vital assets and people in the National Capital region of Delhi including President’s house, Parliament etc. • It renders quick-reaction 3-dimensional protection at low altitudes of 5 km to various types of aerial threats ranging from drones to ballistic missiles. • Components: 12 multi-missile launchers to launch both advanced medium-range air-to- air missiles AMRAAMs and Stinger surface-air-missiles 4th Layer: Akash medium-range Surface to Air Missile System: • India has 2 regiments of the indigenous Akash systems which are capable of multi-target engagement. It can strike targets up to a range of 25km and altitude of 18,000m. 3rd Layer: Barak-8 long and Medium Range SAM: • Barak-8 is a medium-range surface-to-air missile system being developed jointly by India and Israel. It will have an interception range of 70-100 km. 2nd Layer: S-400 layered Defence System: • In October 2018, India signed a deal with Russia to acquire S-400 Triumf multi-layered air Defence System. • This is despite US opposition to the deal through CAATSA, a law that requires sanctioning those countries that have significant defence cooperation with Russia. • On the other hand, USA is offering THAAD and Patriot as alternative to S-400 to India. • S-400 layered defence system can intercept all types of aerial targets including aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), and ballistic and cruise missiles up to the range of 400km, at an altitude of up to 30km. 1st layer: 2-tier Ballistic Missile Defence System: • The 1st layer comprises of outermost layer of protection aimed at intercepting aerial threat from ballistic missiles that have ranges upto 5000km. (ICBMs)

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• DRDO is developing a 2-tier ballistic missile defence system that can intercept ballistic missiles at altitudes both outside (exo) and inside (endo) the atmosphere. 1st layer: Endo: • The single stage solid rocket-propelled Advanced Air Defence (AAD) low-altitude interceptor missile. (Ashwin) • The AAD interceptor missile is primarily designed to intercept enemy missiles in the endo- atmosphere at altitudes of 20-40 kilometers. 2nd layer: Exo: • Prithvi Air Defense Vehicle known as Pradyumna Ballistic Missile Interceptor is designed to destroy missiles with ranges 300-2000 km at exo-atmosphere (about 80km altitude). • For higher altitudes upto 150 km, Agni-V-based ballistic interceptors would be used. (because of 5000km range) Other Relevant Facts: 1. Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile: ✓ Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM) is an American beyond- visual-range air-to-air missile capable of all-weather day-and-night operations. ✓ Manufactured by Raytheon, more than 30 countries are using the AMRAAM. 2. Stinger Missiles: ✓ Stinger is a shoulder-fired Man-Portable Air Defense System (MANPADS) developed by the United States. ✓ It is a fire-and-forget, lightweight (15kg) weapon with the reusable launcher. ✓ Stinger missile is an extremely effective weapon for shooting down aircraft.

6. Indian Scientific Expedition to the Southern Ocean 2020 Why in News? • On January, the South African oceanographic research vessel SA Agulhas set off from Port Louise in Mauritius, on a two-month Indian Scientific Expedition to the Southern Ocean 2020. • On 14th Feb the vessel was at Prydz Bay, in the coastal waters of “Bharati”, India’s third station in Antarctica.

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Highlights: • On board the vessel are 34 scientific staff from India, apart from technical hands, seamen and a chef who are all from South Africa. This is the 11th expedition of an Indian mission to the Southern Ocean, or Antarctic Ocean. The first mission took place between January and March 2004. Objectives: • The 18-institution team, led by Dr. Anoop Mahajan from the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Pune, are collecting air and water samples from around 60 stations along the cruise track. These will give valuable information on the state of the ocean and atmosphere in this remote environment and will help to understand its impacts on the climate. A key objective of the mission is to quantify changes that are occurring and the impact of these changes on large-scale weather phenomenon, like the Indian monsoon, through tele-connection, Study mainly aims to understand the influence of the Southern Ocean across eco-system and atmospheric changes and how it affects the tropical climate and weather conditions. Main Objectives: Carbon dioxide is getting emitted into the atmosphere, and through atmospheric circulation goes to the Antarctic and Polar Regions. Since the temperature is very low there, these gases are getting absorbed and converted into dissolved inorganic carbon or organic carbon, and through water masses and circulation it is coming back to tropical regions. Since it is warmer in these areas, it re-enters the atmosphere. It is this cycle that the mission will help understand better. “How much carbon dioxide is going to those regions, and how much is coming back. That is the main objective.” Six Core Projects: • Study hydrodynamics and biogeochemistry of the Indian Ocean sector of the Southern Ocean; involves sampling sea water at different depths. This will help understand the formation of Antarctic bottom water. Observations of trace gases in the atmosphere, such as halogens and dimethyl sulphur from the ocean to the atmosphere. Will help improve parameterisations that are used in global models. Study of organisms called coccolithophores that have existed in the oceans for several million years; their concentrations in sediments will create a picture of past climate. Investigate atmospheric aerosols and their optical and radiative properties. Continuous measurements will quantify impact on Earth’s climate.

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• Study the Southern Ocean’s impact on Indian monsoons. Look for signs in sediment core taken from the bottom of the ocean. Dynamics of the food web in the Southern Ocean; important for safeguarding catch and planning sustainable fishing.

7. Adithya L-1 Mission Why in News? • The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is also preparing to send its first scientific expedition to study the Sun. Named Aditya-L1, the mission, expected to be launched early next year, will observe the Sun from a close distance, and try to obtain information about its atmosphere and Magnetic Field. Highlights: • Earlier this month, 47 new papers were published in a special supplement of The Astrophysical Journal, analysing data from the first three flybys of the Parker Solar Probe, NASA’s historic mission to the Sun. • ISRO categorises Aditya L1 as a 400 kg-class satellite, that will be launched using the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) in XL configuration. The space-based observatory will have seven payloads (instruments) on board to study the Sun’s corona, solar emissions, solar winds and flares, and Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs), and will carry out round-the- clock imaging of the Sun. The mission will be undertaken in collaboration between various labs of ISRO, along with institutions like the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), Bengaluru, Inter University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA), Pune, and Indian Institute of Science, Education and Research (IISER), Kolkata. • Aditya L1 will be ISRO’s second space-based astronomy mission after AstroSat, which was launched in September 2015. • What makes a solar mission challenging is the distance of the Sun from Earth (about 149 million km on average, compared to the only 3.84 lakh km to the Moon) and, more importantly, the super hot temperatures and radiations in the solar atmosphere. Importance of Solar Mission: • The solar weather and environment, which is determined by the processes taking place inside and around the sun, affects the weather of the entire system. • Variations in this weather can change the orbits of satellites or shorten their lives, interfere with or damage onboard electronics, and cause power blackouts and other disturbances on Earth.

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• Knowledge of solar events is key to understanding space weather. To learn about and track Earth-directed storms, and to predict their impact, continuous solar observations are needed. Every storm that emerges from the Sun and heads towards Earth passes through L1, and a satellite placed in the halo orbit around L1 of the Sun-Earth system has the major advantage of continuously viewing the Sun without any occultation/eclipses. • Aditya L1 will perform continuous observations looking directly at the Sun. NASA’s Parker Solar Probe has already gone far closer, but it will be looking away from the Sun. • The earlier Helios 2 solar probe, a joint venture between NASA and space agency of erstwhile West Germany, went within 43 million km of the Sun’s surface in 1976. Lagrange Point: • L1 refers to Lagrangian/Lagrange Point 1, one of five points in the orbital plane of the Earth-Sun system. Lagrange Points are positions in space where the gravitational forces of a two-body system (like the Sun and the Earth) produce enhanced regions of attraction and repulsion. • These can be used by spacecraft to reduce fuel consumption needed to remain in position. The L1 point is home to the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory Satellite (SOHO), an international collaboration project of NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA).

8. EU’s Data Strategy Why in News? • The European Commission has released a ‘European strategy for data to ensure the human-centric development of Artificial Intelligence’ and a white paper on Artificial Intelligence. Highlights: • The new documents present a timeline for various projects, legislative frameworks, and initiatives by the European Union, and represent its recognition that it is slipping behind American and Chinese innovation. The strategy lays out “why the EU should act now”. The blueprint hopes to strengthen Europe’s local technology market by creating a “data single market” by 2030 to allow the free flow of data within the EU. • To aid a “data-agile economy”, the Commission hopes to implement an enabling legislative framework for the governance of common European data spaces by the latter half of the year. Between 2021 and 2027, the Commission will invest in a High Impact Project to

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jump-start data infrastructure. Several other initiatives are laid out, including a cloud services marketplace. Reason for the Policy: • The EU has the potential to be successful in the data-agile economy. It has the technology, the know-how and a highly skilled workforce. However, competitors such as China and the US are already innovating quickly and projecting their concepts of data access and use across the globe. • With American and Chinese companies taking the lead on technological innovation, Europe is keen to up its own competitiveness. Indian Context: • The Economic Survey of 2018 envisioned a similar use of non-personal data. Just as the EU’s strategy discusses “data for public good”, the chapter titled “Data ‘Of the People, By the People, For the People’” advocated that the government step in to sectors that private players ignore, marking the first time India’s Economic Survey has isolated “data” as a strategic focus. • Other data integration efforts have been announced or implemented by NITI Aayog (the National Data & Analytics Platform), the Smart Cities Mission (India Urban Data Exchange), and the Ministry of Rural Development (DISHA dashboard). • In 2018, the National Informatics Centre worked with PwC and other vendors to create a Centre of Excellence for Data Analytics aimed at providing data analysis help to Government Departments.

4. H1N1 infection of Supreme Court Judges Why in News? • Five judges of the Supreme Court of India have been affected by Swine Flu which is caused by the H1N1 virus.

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Swine Flu (H1N1): • Swine influenza, also called pig influenza, swine flu, hog flu and pig flu, is an infection caused by any one of several types of swine influenza viruses. Swine influenza virus is any strain of the influenza family of viruses that is endemic in pigs. • Influenza A (H1N1) virus is the subtype of influenza A virus that is the most common cause of human influenza.It is an orthomyxovirus that contains the glycoproteins haemagglutinin and neuraminidase. For this reason, they are described as H1N1, H1N2 • etc. depending on the type of H or N antigens they express with metabolic synergy. Haemagglutinin causes red blood cells to clump together and binds the virus to the infected cell. Neuraminidase is a type of glycoside hydrolase enzyme which helps to move the virus particles through the infected cell and assist in budding from the host cells. • Some strains of H1N1 are endemic in humans and cause a small fraction of all influenza- like illness and a small fraction of all seasonal influenza. Other strains of H1N1 are endemic in pigs (swine influenza) and in birds (avian influenza). • H1N1 influenza (or swine flu) is a highly contagious acute respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza virus that regularly causes outbreaks of influenza in pigs. Swine flu viruses do not normally infect humans. However, sporadic human infections with swine flu have occurred. • Most commonly, these cases occur in people with direct exposure to pigs (e.g., children near pigs at a fair or workers in the swine industry). However, there have been cases of human-to-human spread of swine flu.

5. NASA’s Artemis Program Why in News? • United States space agency National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has recently announced that it will begin to accept applications for astronauts under its Artemis programme. About Artemis Programme: • Artemis– Acceleration, Reconnection, Turbulence and Electrodynamics of Moon’s Interaction with the Sun. It is NASA’s next mission to the Moon. • Its objective is to measure what happens when the Sun’s radiation hits our rocky moon, where there is no magnetic field to protect it. • Artemis was the twin sister of Apollo and goddess of the Moon in Greek mythology.

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• With the Artemis program, NASA will land the first woman and next man on the Moon by 2024. What are its Significances? • NASA’s powerful new rocket, the Space Launch System (SLS), will send astronauts aboard the Orion spacecraft nearly a quarter million miles from Earth to lunar orbit. • Astronauts will dock Orion at the Gateway and transfer to a human landing system for expeditions to the surface of the Moon. • They will return to the orbital outpost to board Orion again before returning safely to Earth. The agency will fly two missions around the Moon to test its deep space exploration systems. NASA is working toward launching Artemis I, a non-crewed flight to test the SLS and Orion spacecraft together, followed by the Artemis II mission, the first SLS and Orion test flight with crew. NASA will land astronauts on the Moon by 2024 on the Artemis III mission and about once a year thereafter. What are its scientific objectives? • Find and use water and other critical resources needed for long-term exploration. • Investigate the Moon’s mysteries and learn more about our home planet and the universe. • Learn how to live and operate on the surface of another celestial body where astronauts are just three days from home. • Prove the technologies we need before sending astronauts on missions to Mars, which can take up to three years roundtrip.

4.1 SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY SNIPPETS 1. Most Detailed Image of Sun’s surface Why in News? • A discovery by researchers using photos of Sun’s surface from Daniel K. Inouye Solar (DKIS) Telescope in Maui, Hawaii has shown that the surface is made up of boiling plasma, entirely different from previous imagination. Highlights: • The set of images show a close-up view of the Sun’s surface, revealing a gold-coloured cell- like pattern. • The cell-like structures that appear to be ‘boiling’ indicate motions that transport heat from the Sun’s interior to its surface via convection.

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• Scientists believe that the photographs can help measure and understand the Sun’s magnetic field. This can help predict disruptive space weather events. • A better understanding of the solar magnetic field can help increase the current warning time by over 70 times, and help secure power grids and Critical Infrastructure. • To unravel the Sun’s Biggest Mysteries, scientists have to not only be able to clearly see these tiny structures from 93 million miles away but very precisely measure their magnetic field strength and direction near the surface and trace the field as it extends out into the million-degree corona, the outer atmosphere of the Sun. • The Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope boasts a 4-metre mirror, the world’s largest for a solar telescope, providing the sharpest High-Resolution Images of the Sun.

2. Fruit Train Why in News? • Recently the ‘fruit train’, was flagged off from Tadipatri Railway Station in Andhra Pradesh. About Fruit Train: • It is carrying a load of 980 metric tonnes of locally grown bananas to the Jawaharlal Nehru Port in Mumbai, from where the consignment will be exported to Iran. • It is the first time in India that an entire train is being sent to the gateway port (JNPT) for Export. • It helps to save both time and fuel as 150 trucks would have been required to send a consignment of this size by road to JNPT, which is over 900 km away, before the temperature-controlled containers are loaded on Ships.

3. Solar Orbiter to map Sun’s Poles Why in News? • NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA) are gearing up to send a new probe toward the Sun to take a unique look at its blazing poles. Highlights: • The Solar Orbiter is due launch to space atop an Atlas 5 rocket from Cape Canaveral, deploying an array of solar panels and antennas before setting off on its 10-year voyage to the Sun.

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• It will use the gravitational influence from Earth and Venus to whip itself as close as 26 million miles from the Sun or 95% of the distance between the star and Earth the probe will map the star's poles, which could allow scientists for the first time to observe the concentrated source of solar wind that permeates our solar system. • Solar wind is soup of charged particles that are highly concentrated at the poles and beam through our solar system, affecting satellites and electronic devices on Earth. • Solar Orbiter carries ten instruments packed behind a massive 324-pound (147 kg) heat shield, three of which will peer through tiny windows and face the Sun to survey how its surface changes over time. Layers of Sun: • Photosphere: This is the Sun’s deepest layer, and the layer visible to human eyes directly from the Earth. It is also called the solar surface. Much of this layer is covered by granulation caused by the bubbling gas within the convection layer and sunspots caused by strong magnetic fields. • Chromosphere: This layer of the Sun is located between 250 miles and 1300 miles above the photosphere. The chromosphere has temperatures around 4000 degrees Kelvin at the base, and 8000 degrees Kelvin at the top. • Corona: This layer is the Sun’s outermost layer. It starts at roughly 1300 miles over the photosphere and it has no upper limit. Its temperature is between 500,000 degrees Kelvin to 1 million degrees Kelvin. The corona cannot be seen with bare eyes. • Core: The core is the Sun’s middle region where energy is generated through thermonuclear reactions which creates extreme temperatures of about 15 million degrees Celsius. These nuclear reactions use hydrogen to produce helium. • Radiative Zone: This zone is amidst the core and the convective zones, and it is roughly 70 percent of the Sun’s radius. Energy produced through nuclear fusion in the core moves steadily outwards as electromagnetic radiation, taking over 170,000 years to radiate through the radiative zone. • Convection Zone: This layer of the sun is above the radiative zone and it is the outer most layer of the Sun’s interior. It stretches from depths of roughly 200,000 kilometres right up to the visible surface.

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4. The SuperCam on Mars 2020 Rover Why in News? • NASA is planning to send a robot named SuperCam aboard the Mars 2020 rover to study rocks and look for signs of past life on Mars. Key Points: • The robot uses a camera, laser and spectrometers for studying mineralogy and chemistry from up to about 7 metres away. • SuperCam's laser is uniquely capable of remotely clearing away surface dust, giving all of its instruments a clear view of the targets. It can also 4fire a laser to study rock targets smaller than a pencil point. • It will look at rock textures and chemicals to find those that formed or changed in the water on Mars' long ago. It will measure the air so that the scientists can learn about how atmospheric molecules, water ice, and dust absorb or reflect solar radiation. This data improves our ability to predict Martian weather. Mars 2020 Rover: • NASA is planning to launch Mars 2020 rover by this year (2020). • It has been designed to better understand the geology of Mars and seek signs of ancient life. The mission will collect and store a set of rock and soil samples that could be returned to Earth in the future. • It will also test new technology to benefit future robotic and human exploration of Mars.

7. Yaravirus Why in News? • Researchers have recently discovered an unusually small virus in a lake in Brazil. About Yaravirus: • It has been named Yaravirus after ‘Yara’, a water-queen figure in Brazilian mythology. • It infects amoeba and has genes that have not been described before, something that could challenge how Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) viruses are classified. It does not infect human cells. • The DNA viruses are classified based on the protein that makes up their shell, or capsid. • The capsid of Yaravirus doesn't resemble any previously known protein.

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8. Space Snowman Why in News? • Recently, NASA's space snowman is revealing fresh secrets from far behind Pluto. About Space Snowman: • It is entirely ultrared or highly reflective, which is common place in the faraway Twilight Zone of our solar system known as the Kuiper Belt. • To the human eye, Arrokoth would look less red and more dark brown, sort of like molasses. The reddish colour is indicative of organic molecules. • There is a presence of frozen methane in it, but no water has yet been found. • The light cratering suggests Arrokoth dates back to the formation of solar system 4.5 billion years ago. What does Arrokoth Mean? • Originally nicknamed as Ultima Thule, the space object received its official name.

• It means sky in the language of Native American Powhatan people.

5. Saliva of Patients Contain COVID-19 Virus Why in News? • The Novel Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 can also be found in saliva, according to a study carried out on 12 patients admitted in hospitals with laboratory-confirmed Infection. Highlights: • The study carried out by researchers in Hong Kong and published in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases has demonstrated the potential of using saliva as a non-invasive specimen for confirming infection and for viral load monitoring during the period of hospitalisation. • The use of saliva is preferred over nasopharyngeal or oropharyngeal specimens because this would reduce the discomfort to the patient and reduce the health hazards to healthcare workers during repeated sampling. • The virus taken from the patients was also cultured in the lab. Three viral cultures tested positive for the virus, while two tested negative. This confirms that saliva contain live novel virus SARS-CoV-2. • The presence of live virus in saliva, as confirmed by positive culture, indicates that this body fluid may allow the spread of the virus. Besides direct or indirect contact, the SARS- CoV-2 virus can be transmitted through droplets.

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• Not only saliva secreted by salivary glands, the saliva specimens can also contain secretions coming down from the nasopharynx, or coming up from the lung via the action of cilia lining the airway. • Viral load often peaked at day 10 after symptom onset. Thus, early detection and isolation of cases was strategic for Infection Control.

6. Hope Spacecraft Why in News? • The UAE is on the verge of making history after turning its dream of becoming the first Arabic and Islamic country to send a spacecraft to Mars into a reality through a spacecraft named Hope. Highlights: • Although this spacecraft was assembled on U.S. soil, it will not be exploring the red planet for NASA. • Hope is instead an effort by the United Arab Emirates. • As a newcomer, the UAE has taken a novel approach. It could have tried to do everything itself, developing homegrown technology similar to what India has done. • That would have taken years longer. It could have bought someone else’s spacecraft design, which would have been the quickest path. • The country has sought partners with long experience in sending machines into space. This, its space team believed, would help avoid many of the pitfalls of trying to pull off such missions for the first time while training future engineers who will be expected to step up to bigger roles in the next mission. • In the process, the country’s leaders hope to sow seeds for future companies. Hope will be just one of a four robotic spacecraft scheduled to launch this summer during a once-in-26- months alignment of Earth and Mars that enables a relatively short trip to the red planet. India celebrated putting a spacecraft in orbit around Mars and boasted how its price tag was a fraction of that for MAVEN, a NASA probe that arrived two days earlier. But it did not perform any significant discoveries. • MAVEN has determined how quickly the Martian atmosphere is being stripped away by the solar wind: about 4 pounds a second. This information is an important clue in the puzzle of understanding why early Mars, which was warmer and wetter, turned into the cold, barren, almost airless place it is today.

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• Hope’s aim is to fill in a gap in MAVEN’s findings by looking at the dynamics closer to the ground that influence the rate of leaking. Hope will give scientists a global view of Martian weather, noting changes in temperature and other conditions during the course of a day.

7. ISRO 2020-21 Why in News? • The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has recently released its annual report for 2019-20 recently. Highlights: • India, currently has 19 national Earth Observation (EO) satellites, 18 communication satellites and 8 navigation satellites in service. • Among them, three of the communication satellites are dedicated to military communication and networking. The report states an annual plan of 36 missions (including both satellites and their launchers) including the launch of 10 Earth Observation (EO) satellites. The EO satellites include radar imaging satellites RISAT- 2BR2, RISAT- 1A and 2A; Oceansat-3, GISAT-1 and Resourcesat-3/3S. • ISRO plans to launch a new series of high-resolution HRSATs through Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) launcher. It is expected to develop its own space station within a decade. • RISAT-2BR2 will form a triad with RISAT-2B and RISAT-2B1 covering around 120 degrees apart. It carries a synthetic aperture radar on them, providing all-weather, 24- hour information to security agencies. • GISAT-1 will be placed in a geostationary orbit of around 36,000 km. It has been placed so far in a 600-odd-km orbits and circle the earth pole to pole.

8. Convalescent Plasma Therapy Why in News? • In the absence of any preventive vaccine or specific antivirals for treating COVID-19 patients infected with the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, a pharmaceutical company in China has turned to plasma taken from people who have recovered from the infection to treat critically ill patients. Convalescent Plasma Therapy: • The therapy aims to use the antibodies in the convalescent plasma to minimise the presence of the virus in patients

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• Donors must be recovered patients who are up to the standard for being discharged from hospital. Only plasma will be collected while red blood cells, white blood cells and blood platelets will be transfused back into the donor’s body • Donating plasma causes little harm to the donor, and there is no need to worry How it Works: • People who have recently recovered still have antibodies to the coronavirus circulating in their blood. • Antibodies are proteins produced and secreted by B cells. They bind to foreign substances that invade the body, such as pathogens. • The term “antibody” refers to its function, which is to bind to an antigen. Another name for this protein molecule is immunoglobulin • Injecting those antibodies into sick patients could help patients’ better fight the infection. • This treatment will transfer the immunity of a recovered patient to a sick patient, an approach that has been used previously in flu pandemics

9. Habitable-zone Planet Finder (HPF) Why in News? • At 100 light-years from Earth, a low-mass star was sending signals in a pattern that suggested that an exoplanet was orbiting the star confirmed the Habitable-zone Planet Finder (HPF). Habitable-zone Planet Finder: • NASA’s Kepler mission observed a dip in the host star’s light, suggesting that the planet was crossing in front of the star during its orbit. To confirm, researchers turned to an instrument called Habitable-zone Planet Finder (HPF). It has confirmed that there is indeed an exoplanet. • HPF is an astronomical spectrograph, built by Penn State University scientists, and recently installed on the 10m Hobby-Eberly Telescope at McDonald Observatory in Texas. • The instrument is designed to detect and characterize planets in the habitable zone — the region around the star where a planet could sustain liquid water on its surface — around nearby low-mass stars. • The newly confirmed planet, called G 9-40b, is the first one validated by HPF. It is about twice the size of Earth and orbits its star once every six Earth-days.

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How it works: • A spectrograph is an instrument that splits light into its component wavelengths. • Scientists then measure the properties of light over a specific portion of the spectrum and draw conclusions on what is responsible for the trends they observe. Significance: • Kepler’s observations alone were not enough to confirm a planet. It was possible that a close stellar companion was responsible for the dip in the star’s light. • Precision spectroscopic observations from HPF ruled out this possibility. • Shooting a high-power laser into the air, researchers generated a “laser guide star”, and subsequent observations found no evidence of blending of light or other stellar companions. Finally, using HPF, an analysis of a set of radial velocities helped provide estimates for the planet’s Mass.

[ 9. Jupiter’s atmosphere has more water than Previous Estimates Why in News? • A study based on data from NASA’s Juno mission showed that water makes up about 0.25% of the molecules in Jupiter’s atmosphere along its equator, almost three times that of the Sun. Highlights: • The study provided the first findings on the gas giant’s abundance of water since the space agency’s 1995 Galileo mission. According to the researchers, Jupiter may be extremely dry compared to the Sun, a comparison based not on liquid water, but on the presence of its components, oxygen and hydrogen. They said Jupiter was likely the first planet to form, and it contains most of the gas and dust that wasn’t incorporated into the Sun. Water abundance also has important implications for the gas giant’s meteorology and internal structure. Juno’s surprise discovery that the atmosphere was not well mixed even well below the cloud tops is a puzzle that researchers are still trying to figure out. Juno’s Microwave Radiometer (MWR) observes Jupiter from above using six antennas that measure atmospheric temperature at multiple depths simultaneously. • The MWR takes advantage of the fact that water absorbs certain wavelengths of microwave radiation, the same trick used by microwave ovens to quickly heat food. • The measured temperatures are used to constrain the amount of water and ammonia in the deep atmosphere, as both molecules absorb microwave radiation.

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• From its orbital perch, the radiometer was able to collect data from a far greater depth into Jupiter’s atmosphere than the Galileo probe, where the pressure reaches about 480 psi.

10. Structure of SARS-CoV-19 Key Protein Mapped Why in News? • Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin and the National Institutes of Health, U.S., have produced a 3D atomic scale map of the protein of the novel coronavirus (SARS- CoV-2) that binds to and infects human cells. Highlights: • Mapping the 3D structure of the protein, spike (S) glycoprotein, will allow better understanding of how the virus binds to the human cells. Knowing the structure of the spike protein will, in turn, allow scientists to develop vaccines and antivirals against the virus and even better diagnostics. • Like other coronaviruses, SARS-CoV-2 virus particles are spherical and have mushroom- shaped proteins called spikes protruding from their surface, giving the particles a crown- like appearance. • The spike binds and fuses to human cells, allowing the virus to gain entry. The spike protein of the novel coronovirus shares 98% sequence identity with the spike protein of the bat coronavirus. • The researchers also found that like in the case of the SARS coronavirus, the spike protein of the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) that causes COVID-19 disease binds to the cellular receptor called angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), which serves as the entry point into human cells. But unlike in the case of SARS, the spike protein of the novel coronavirus binds to the cell receptor with much higher affinity, 10- to 20-fold higher. • The much greater binding affinity to the cell receptor explains the apparent high human- to-human transmissibility of the virus compared with the SARS coronavirus. • The researchers tested three monoclonal antibodies specific to SARS virus for their ability to bind to the novel coronavirus. • But none of the three antibodies tested were found to be effective in inhibiting the novel coronavirus from binding to the human receptor. • Knowing the atomic-level structure of the 2019-nCoV spike will allow for additional protein engineering efforts that could improve antigenicity and protein expression for vaccine development.

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5.SOCIAL ISSUES 1. Female Foeticide Context: • Recently, Punjab's Department of Health and Family Welfare became the first state to hire a detective agency to Check Female Foeticide. What is Female Foeticide? • Female foeticide refers to 'aborting the female in the mother's womb'. • The active methods of killing girls through selective sex abortion and passive methods like discrimination in care and nutrition are used to eliminate the girl child. • Sex ratio in India stand at 940 in 2011 and child sex ratio has shown more continuous decline since 1961 but more alarming after 1991. Reasons Behind Prevalence of Female Foeticide: • The Indian society generally shows cultural bias against women. • Any kind of investment in girl’s education and empowerment is considered as investment in failed enterprise. Their physical security is added responsibility on the family. • Practice of dowry puts extra burden on the parents and all these results into general preference for son and girl foeticide and Infanticide. Impact of Female Foeticide: • The low sex ratio resulting from female foeticide which are manifesting themselves in various ways like • Trafficking of women for sexual work and marriage. Such marriages are not sustainable because of cultural differences and results into instances of physical, mental and sexual abuse of the bride. • Increased crimes against women like sexual harassment, lewd remarks against women, and instances of eve teasing. Steps taken to stop it: • PCPNDT Act (Pre- Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Technique Act-1994) was enacted to ban the use of sex selection techniques before and after conception and prevent the use of prenatal diagnostic techniques for Selective Abortion. • Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP): This programme have been launched to ensure survival, protection and empowerment of girls by eliminating the differential in the sex ratio, infant mortality rate and improving their nutritional and education status.

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• Sukanya Samridhi Yojana: It is a component of BBBP programme aims to ensure equitable share of the girl child in family savings. The savings can be used for the education of girl child and her marriage, thus helping in the empowerment of girl and reducing the economic burden that families face at the time of marriage. • Balika Samriddhi Yojana: It is a scholarship scheme designed to provide financial support to young girls and their mothers who are below the poverty line. The key objective of the scheme is to improve their status in society, increase the marriageable age of girls and improve the enrolment as well as retention of girls in schools. Way Ahead: • Implementation of laws has been the big issue in India and many violators have been left scot-free. So, PCPNDT Act should be stringently implemented. • The attitudes of the people towards girl child should be changed by creating awareness for bringing socio-cultural changes. Ensure participation of various religious groups, social organizations and education system to not only teach but practise the value of Gender Equality.

2. Supreme Court Panel Recommends Several Prison Reforms Why in News? • The Supreme Court appointed committee headed by Justice Amitava Roy to examine the problems that plague prisons, has submitted its report recently. Key Recommendations of the Committee: 1. De-crowding the prisons: The court said overcrowding is a common bane in the under-staffed prisons. Both the prisoner and his guard equally suffer human rights violation. The under-trial prisoner, who is yet to get his day in court, suffers the most, languishing behind bars for years without a hearing. 2. Phone call Facility: Every new prisoner should be allowed a free phone call a day to his family members to see him through his first week in jail. 3. Proper Legal Aid: There should be at least one lawyer for every 30 prisoners. Speedy trial remains one of the best ways to remedy the unwarranted phenomenon of over- crowding. 4. Decrease Vacancies in the department: The Prison Department has a perennial average of 30%-40% vacancies. The government should look into the issue without delay.

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5. Use of video-conferencing for trial: Physical production of under-trials in courts continues, but it however remains far below the aspired 100% in several States, mainly because of unavailability of sufficient police guards for escort and transportation. So, the committee has recommended for the use of video-conferencing for trial to overcome this backlog. 6. Modern cooking facilities: The report described the preparation of food in kitchens as “primitive and arduous”. The kitchens are congested and unhygienic and the diet has remained unchanged for years now. So the committee has recommended for modern cooking facilities, canteens for prisoners to buy essential items etc. Major Issues associated with Indian Prisons: 1. Overcrowding: The country’s jails are crowded to 114% of their capacity. 2. Under-trials: As discussed above, more than 67% of the prisoners in India are under trials. The share of the prison population awaiting trial or sentencing in India is extremely high by international standards. For example, it is 11% in the UK, 20% in the US and 29% in France. 3. Corruption and Extortion: Extortion by prison staff is common in prisons around the world. Given the substantial power that guards exercised over inmates, these problems are predictable, but the low salaries that guards are generally paid severely aggravate them. 4. Lack of legal aid: Lawyers in India are poorly paid and are often over-burdened with cases. Further, there is no monitoring mechanism to evaluate the quality of legal aid representation in most states. 5. Unsatisfactory living conditions: Overcrowding itself leads to unsatisfactory living conditions. Moreover, prison structures in India are in dilapidated condition. Lack of space, poor ventilation, poor sanitation and hygiene make living conditions deplorable in Indian prisons. 6. Mental health care has negligible focus in Indian prisons. 7. Shortage of staff: The ratio between the prison staff and the prison population is approximately 1:7. It means only one prison officer is available for 7 prisoners, while in the UK, 2 prison officers are available for every 3 prisoners. In the absence of adequate prison staff, overcrowding of prisons leads to rampant violence and other criminal activities inside the jails. 8. Torture and Sexual abuse: Prisoners are subjected to inhuman psychological and physical torture. Sexual abuse of persons in custody is also part of the broader pattern of

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torture in custody. The National Human Rights Commission observes custodial violence as “worst form of excesses by public servants entrusted with the duty of law enforcement. 9. Custodial deaths: A large proportion of the deaths in custody were from natural and easily curable causes aggravated by poor prison conditions. There also have been allegations of custodial deaths due to torture. 10. Inadequate security measures and management: Poor security measures and prison management often leads to violence among inmates and resultant injury and in some cases death. 11. Condition of Women Prisoners: Women prisoners face number of challenges including poor nutritional intake, poor health and lack of basic sanitation and hygiene. There are also alleged instances of custodial rapes which generally go unreported due to the victims’ shame and fear of retribution. 12. Discrimination: According to Humans Rights Watch, a “rigid” class system exists in the Indian prisons. There is rampant corruption in the prison system and those who can afford to bribe, often enjoy luxuries in prison. On the other hand, socio-economically disadvantaged prisoners are deprived of basic human dignity. 13. Lack of reformative approach: Absence of reformative approach in Indian prison system has not only resulted in ineffective integration with society but also has failed to provide productive engagement opportunities for prisoners after their release. Major Committees and their Recommendations: 1. All India Prison Reforms Committee, 1980 (Mulla Committee): • The major recommendations of the committee included: ✓ The setting up of a National Prison Commission to oversee the modernization of the prisons in India ✓ Putting a ban on clubbing together juvenile offenders with the hardened criminals in prison and enacting a comprehensive and protective legislation for the security and protective care of delinquent juveniles ✓ Segregation of mentally ill prisoners to a mental asylum. ✓ The conditions of prison should be improved by making adequate arrangements for food, clothing, sanitation and ventilation etc. ✓ Lodging of under trial in jails should be reduced to bare minimum and they should be kept separate from the convicted prisoners

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2. Krishna Iyer Committee, 1987: • The Government of India set-up this Committee to undertake a study on the situation of women prisoners in India. It has recommended induction of more women in the police force in view of their special role in tackling women and child offenders. 3. Justice Amitava Roy panel, 2018. Way Forward: 1. Pre-trial detention has become the particular source of injustice in the Indian justice system, this is majorly because of lack of legal services to the under-trials. It is high time that the access to legal aid (which is a directive principle to state policy under Article 39A) should be made a fundamental right. 2. Under-trials should be released on Bail: In 2017, the Law Commission of India had recommended that under-trials who have completed a third of their maximum sentence for offences attracting up to seven years of imprisonment be released on bail. 3. Unified prison management system: There should be a unified prison management system that has records of all inmates so they don’t have to run from pillar to post for copies of documents like court orders. The project has been recommended by NALSA as well. Also, this project has worked well in Delhi’s Tihar jail. 4. Capacity building of prison staff: It is of paramount importance that the prison staff is trained in how to treat and deal with inmates. The Supreme Court, in September 2017, has directed that there should be proper training manuals for senior staff. 5. Post-release financial security for prisoners: Wages that are paid to prisoners who are serving sentences should be increased and should be on par with global benchmarks. So that when they come out, they have some better finances. 6. Skill development of the prisoners: The major role prisons should play is of reformation and making sure that, once out, inmates are properly integrated into society. That is possible when more skill development programs are introduced in the jails to enhance their chances of earning. 7. Open prisons should be encouraged. 8. Implementations of recommendations of All India Jail Reforms Committee (Mulla committee), Krishna Iyer Committee, Justice Amitava Roy panel.

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6.INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

1. World Wetlands Day Why in News? • World Wetlands Day was recently celebrated worldwide with the theme of ‘Wetlands and Biodiversity’. About World Wetlands Day: • World Wetlands Day is celebrated every year on the 2nd of February. • This day marks the date of the adoption of the Convention on Wetlands on 2 February 1971 in the Iranian city of Ramsar. • The theme for 2020 is ‘Wetlands and Biodiversity’. • It was first celebrated in 1997. What is a Wetland? • Wetlands are Ecosystems Saturated With Water, either seasonally or permanently. • They include mangroves, marshes, rivers, lakes, deltas, floodplains and flooded forests, rice-fields, coral reefs, marine areas no deeper than 6 metres at low tide, as well as human- made wetlands such as waste-water treatment ponds and reservoirs. • Though they cover only around 6% of the Earth’s land surface, 40% of all plant and animal species live or breed in wetlands. Why Wetlands are Important? • Wetlands are a critical part of our natural environment. They mitigate floods, protect coastlines and build community resilience to disasters, reduce the impacts of floods, absorb pollutants and improve water quality. • Wetlands are critical to human and planet life. More than 1 billion people depend on them for a living and 40% of the world’s species live and breed in wetlands. • They are a vital source for food, raw materials, genetic resources for medicines, and Hydropower. • 30% of land-based carbon is stored in Peat land. Peat also known as turf is an accumulation of partially decayed vegetation or organic matter. • They play an important role in Transport, Tourism and the Cultural and Spiritual well-being of people. • Many wetlands are areas of natural beauty and many are important to Aboriginal people.

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What are the Threats Faced? • As per the IPBES (Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services)’s Global Assessment wetlands are the most threatened ecosystem. Wetlands are disappearing 3 times faster than forests due to Human Activities and global warming. • According to UNESCO, the threat to wetlands will have an adverse impact on world’s flora and fauna that live or breed in wetlands. • Major threats are Agriculture activities, development, pollution and climate change. About IPBES: • IPBES is an independent intergover • nmental body established to strengthen the science-policy interface for biodiversity and ecosystem services for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity, long-term human well-being and sustainable development. • It was established in Panama City (US), in April 2012. • It is not a United Nations body. What is the status of Wetlands in India? • Recently, the Ramsar Convention declared 10 wetlands from India as Ramsar sites taking the total number of Ramsar Sites in the country to 37. • Wetlands declared as Ramsar sites are protected under strict guidelines of the convention. There are currently over 2,300 Ramsar Sites around the world. • India has over 7 lakh wetlands, covering 4.5% of the country’s area, yet none of the wetlands has been notified under domestic laws. • Wetlands are regulated under the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017. The 2010 version of the Rules provided for a Central Wetland Regulatory Authority, but new Rules of 2017 replaced it with state-level bodies and created a National Wetland Committee, which functions in an Advisory Role. • The newer regulations removed some items from the definition of “wetlands” including backwaters, lagoons, creeks, and estuaries. • Under the 2017 regulations process to identify the wetlands has been delegated to the States.

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2. BREXIT and its Impact Why in News? • The United Kingdom (U.K.) has finally left the European Union (EU) recently after it took the historical decision to leave EU in June 2016. About Withdrawal Agreement: • Under this agreement, a transition period of 11 months has finalised until December 2020. However, it might get delayed until 2022 or 2023. • During this period, the U.K. will continue to participate in the EU’s Customs Union and in the Single Market. • The U.K. will apply EU law even if it is no longer a Member State and will also continue to abide by the international agreements of the EU. • The transition period makes sure that there is not a sudden shock but a degree of continuity and allows both parties to secure an orderly Brexit, minimising disruption for the citizens, businesses, public administrations, as well as for the International Partners. What are its impacts with EU? • By leaving the EU, the U.K. automatically, mechanically, legally, leaves hundreds of international agreements concluded by or on behalf of the EU, to the benefit of its Member States, on topics as different as trade, aviation, fisheries or civil nuclear cooperation. • However, with just 11 months to negotiate, there are only chances of very basic and minimal deals covering trade, fisheries and security. • In that case, at the end of 2020, differing aspirations for the trade talks might raise the prospect of a new no-deal scenario. • In the absence of a deal, the earlier accord on citizens’ rights, money and the Irish border will remain intact. • Both of them will have to be ready for the economic shift in trading on World Trade Organization (WTO) terms. The first priority is the trade deal to ensure the tariff and quota-free flow of goods between the EU and U.K. However, the EU will only agree to zero tariffs and zero quotas if the U.K. pledges zero dumping – that is, not lowering social and environmental standards to outcompete the EU. • Negotiations will clash over the EU’s refusal to bring services into the trade deal. The EU seeks to link goods trade to maintaining the status quo on access to British waters which is considered to be a matter of concern for the U.K., so it might give rise to clashes.

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• Even the non-trade subjects will be full of political troubles because the EU Member States will have to change their policies according to the new deals and the regulations. What are the Impacts on India? • India has had strong historical ties with the U.K. and currently, it is one of India’s most important trading partners. In the last four years alone, the number of Indian companies investing in the U.K. has quadrupled. • It is important to see how India and the U.K. can manoeuvre through Brexit and enter into new trade agreements that are mutually beneficial to both economies. • Brexit will directly impact not only the Indian stock market but the global market in totality, including the emerging markets in the world. This is because of the high volatility in the pound. Both the U.K. and EU account for 23.7% of Rupee’s effective exchange rate. With Brexit, foreign portfolio investments will outflow and will lead to the weakening of the rupee. India’s businesses based in the U.K. will be hampered as till now they had border-free access to the rest of Europe. • The investors are concerned as India invests more in the United Kingdom than the rest of Europe combined. What are the Impacts on the other World countries? • Brexit will weaken the EU economically and politically. The U.K. was the EU’s second- biggest economy (after Germany) a major net budget contributor, key military force and one of the bloc’s two nuclear powers (another one is France) and permanent UN security council members. The U.K.’s departure has distracted attention from a number of other big and urgent problems, including the Climate Crisis. • In the longer term of balancing of global powers, a smaller Europe can be a weaker Europe in the face of an ambitious China and an increasingly protectionist US.

3. Bhutan Ends Free Entry for Indian Tourists Why in News? • The Government of Bhutan has decided to levy a daily RS.1,200 ($17) fee for regional tourists from India, the Maldives and Bangladesh, beginning July 2020. Highlights: • The fee, called a Sustainable Development Fee (SDF), is meant to help the government deal with burgeoning numbers in tourist traffic, which it is seeking to regulate through a new tourism policy.

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• The decision was passed by the National Assembly as a ‘Tourism Levy and Exemption Bill of Bhutan’, 2020. • The SDF is considerably lower than the $65 charged to other foreign tourists, who are also charged a compulsory flat “cover charge” of $250 per day. • Indians mainly travel to the more developed western region of Bhutan. In a move to promote tourism in Bhutan’s eastern region as well, the government has decided to drop SDF charges for tourists visiting 11 of 20 total districts that fall in the east from Trongsa to Trashigang. • Regional tour operators, especially from West Bengal have expressed concerns that the SDF will have dampening effect on numbers, and impact the heavy rush during the October. • India’s hesitation also comes as the new SDF, while a seemingly small amount compared to the fees charged to other nationalities, could be seen as a way of making Indian tourists feel unwelcome. • In the past year, Bhutanese newspapers have often complained about Indian tourists who don’t pay heed to local customs and picnickers who litter the country’s pristine Environment. • In 2018, of the 2,74,000 tourists visiting Bhutan, the council estimated that about 2,00,000 were from the region, of which about 1,80,000 were from India.

4. India, African Countries Resolve to Fight Terror Why in News? • The first India-Africa Defence Ministers’ Conclave which was recently held in Lucknow has adopted the ‘Lucknow Declaration’. About Lucknow Declaration: • Acknowledges contribution of Indian defence forces in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations in Africa. • It appreciates initiation of Africa India Field Training Exercises with the first ever AFINDEX in March 2019 and agree that it will further strengthen cooperation in defence preparedness and security. • The vision is to achieve ‘a conflict-free Africa, prevent genocide, make peace a reality for all and rid the continent of wars, violent conflicts, human rights violations, and humanitarian disasters.

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• It calls for deeper cooperation in the domain of defence industry including through investment, joint ventures in defence equipment software, digital defence, research & development etc. • It recognizes the common security challenges such as terrorism and extremism, piracy, organised crime including human trafficking, drug trafficking, weapon smuggling and others. The members endorsed initiatives such as African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA), Silence the Guns in Africa and Agenda 2063. • It calls for strengthening the UN Counter-Terrorism mechanisms and to ensure strict compliance with the UN Security Council sanctions regime on terrorism. • It urged the international community to envisage the adoption of Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism in the UNGA. • The members recognized the importance of the oceans and seas to the livelihoods of our peoples and that Maritime security is a pre-requisite for the development of Blue or Ocean economy. It sought to increase cooperation in securing sea lines of communication, preventing maritime crimes, disaster, piracy, illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing through sharing of information and surveillance.

5. Ease of Living Index and Municipal Performance Index 2019 Why in News? • To help assess the progress made in cities through various initiatives and empower them to use evidence to plan, implement & monitor their performance, two Assessment Frameworks, viz. Ease of Living Index (EoLI) and Municipal Performance Index (MPI) 2019 have been launched by the Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs. Ease of Living Index and Municipal Performance Index: • Both these indices are designed to assess quality of life of citizens in 100 Smart Cities and 14 other Million Plus Cities. Municipal Performance Index: • With the Municipal Performance Index 2019, the Ministry has sought to assess the performance of municipalities based on five enablers namely Service, Finance, Planning, Technology and Governance which have been further divided into 20 sectors which will be evaluated across 100 indicators. • This will help Municipalities in better planning and management, filling the gaps in city administration, and improving the liveability of cities for its citizens.

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Ease of Living Index: • Ease of Living Index is aimed at providing a holistic view of Indian cities – beginning from the services provided by local bodies, the effectiveness of the administration, the outcomes generated through these services in terms of the liveability within cities and, finally, the citizen perception of these outcomes. • The key objectives of the Ease of Living Index are four-folds, viz. ✓ Generate information to guide evidence-based policy making ✓ Catalyse action to achieve broader developmental outcomes including the SDG’ ✓ Assess and compare the outcomes achieved from various urban policies and schemes. ✓ Obtain the perception of citizens about their view of the services provided by the city Administration. ✓ EoLI 2019 will facilitate the assessment of ease of living of citizens across three pillars: Quality of Life, Economic Ability and Sustainability which are further divided into 14 categories across 50 indicators. Citizen Perception Survey: • For the first time, as part of the Ease of Living Index Assessment, a Citizen Perception Survey is being conducted on behalf of the Ministry (which carries 30% of the marks of the Ease of Living Index). This is a very important component of the assessment exercise as it will help in directly capturing perception of citizens with respect to quality of life in their cities. This survey, which is being administered both online and offline, has commenced from 1st February 2020 and will continue till 29th February 2020. • The offline version involving face-to-face interviews will commence on the 1st of February and will run parallel to the on-line versions. The same is being promoted through bulk SMS push as well as extensive coverage in social media.

6. USTR takes India off Developing Country List Why in News? • India has been recently removed from the Developing country list by the United States Trade Representative. About USTR: • To harmonise U.S. law with the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) Subsidies and Countervailing Measures (SCM) Agreement, the USTR had, in 1998, come up with lists of countries classified as per their level of development.

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• These lists were used to determine whether they were potentially subject to U.S. countervailing duties. • As per the USTR notice, the 1998 rule is now “obsolete”. What is the Issue? • The U.S. government has changed an administrative rule making it easier for it to impose countervailing duties (CVDs) on goods from India and certain other countries. • The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) has published a notice, amending lists of developing and least-developed countries that are eligible for preferential treatment with respect to CVD investigations. What are its Impacts? • Countries not given special consideration have lower levels of protection against a CVD investigation. A CVD investigation must be terminated if the offending subsidy is de minimis (too small to warrant concern) or if import volumes are negligible. • The de minimis thresholds and import volume allowance are more relaxed for developing and least-developed countries. The de minimis standard is usually a subsidy of 1% or less ad valorem and 2 percent for special cases. What is the Eligibility for de Minimis? • The USTR used the following criteria to determine whether a country was eligible for the 2% de minimis standard: ✓ Per capita Gross National Income or GNI ✓ share of world trade ✓ Other factors such as Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) membership or application for membership, EU membership, and Group of Twenty (G20) membership.

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Is there any other trade related agreements by US? • India has been already removed from the Generalised system of preferences (GSP) by USTR. • It is a preferential arrangement in the sense that it allows concessional low/zero tariff imports from developing countries to developed countries (also known as preference receiving countries or beneficiary countries). • It involves reduced/zero tariffs of eligible products exported by beneficiary countries to the markets of GSP providing countries. • The US has a strong GSP regime for developing countries since its launch in 1976, by the Trade Act of 1974. • The GSP program has effective dates which are specified in relevant legislation, thereby requiring periodical reauthorization in order to remain in effect. Why India has been removed from the list of Developing Country? • India was taken off the list because — like Argentina, Brazil, Indonesia and South Africa — it is part of the G20. “Given the global economic significance of the G20, and the collective economic weight of its membership (which accounts for large shares of global economic output and trade), G20 membership indicates that a country is developed”.

7. Towards New World Order Why in News? • The World Economic Forum (WEF), a platform for world leader, professionals, senior government ministerial delegations, was held at Davos recently. This Forum has majorly discussed about a “New World Order”. Why there is discussion on new world order? 1. Social inequalities and stark and Continuing Poverty: ✓ The latest Oxfam Report presented at Davos points out that 2,153 billionaires have more wealth than 4.6 billion people. ✓ [The 2019 report titled "Public good or Private Wealth?" showed that India’s top 1% holds 51.53% of the wealth]. 2. Un-tenability of Capitalism as a Concept: ✓ The ugliest face of the capitalism was visible during the 2007-2008 economic crisis, first in the U.S. and thereafter across the European Union. At that time, it appeared as if the global economy was on the verge of collapse.

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3. ‘Energy Imperialism’ ✓ The developed countries are of the strategy of imperialism across continents, in order to capture energy - generating resources to push their GDP. 4. Toxic colonialism ✓ Egregious consumption of energy by the developed world has resulted in disposal of ‘e- waste’ in many African and Asian countries. 5. Unsustainable energy consumption ✓ Developed world, and China, are ferociously using up finite raw materials without care or concern for the welfare of present and future generations. 6. Unequal distribution of the ‘fruits of globalisation’ ✓ Intellectual Property Rights are highly favouring the Rich Nations. ✓ Most transactions are based on the arbitrage between price and value difference, from which only the ‘middleman’ gains, not the primary producer. ✓ Carbon credit system – mechanism is also in favour of the wealthy countries. Under this, countries with high energy consumption trends can simply offset their consumption patterns by purchasing carbon credits, the un-utilized carbon footprint, from poor developing countries. Nordic Economic Model – a model to Emulate: • There have been remarkable achievements of the Scandinavian countries comprising - Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Sweden, Norway, and allied territories. These nations are among the richest in the world when measured in terms of GDP per capita. Nordic countries also tops in the Global Happiness Index. Important feature of their Development Model: ✓ Large public sector enterprises ✓ Universal welfare systems ✓ Excellence in public service ✓ High levels of taxation ✓ High rates of Personal and corporate income tax rates. Ingredients of the New ‘Enlightened Global Order’ • Taking the Nordic model as a template, there are some ingredients that could be part of a new ‘enlightened global order’. These should include — ✓ Effective welfare safety nets for all ✓ Corruption-free governance ✓ A fundamental right to tuition-free education, including higher education

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✓ A fundamental right to good medical care ✓ Higher taxes on rich and shutting of tax havens ✓ Corporates must work not only for Profit – but must be guided by 4P’s – Profit, People, Planet and Process.

8. Naming a Disease by WHO Why in News? • The World Health Organization officially announced COVID-19 as the name for the disease caused by the novel coronavirus. • This comes more than 40 days after WHO was alerted by China about a cluster of pneumonia-like cases seen in the city of Wuhan in Hubei province. • The "co" stands for "corona", "vi" for "virus" and "d" for "disease", while "19" was for the year, as the outbreak was first identified on December 31. Highlights: • The WHO had to come up the name in line with the 2015 guidelines between the global agency, the World Organisation for Animal Health and the Food and Agriculture Organization. • The Coronavirus Study Group of the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses, which had assessed the novelty of the human pathogen, has named the virus as “Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2”, or “SARS-CoV-2”. • The Coronavirus Study Group is responsible for developing the official classification of viruses and taxa naming of the Coronaviridae family. Reason for Naming: • The name has been chosen to avoid references to a specific geographical location, animal species or group of people in line with international recommendations for naming aimed at preventing stigmatisation. • WHO had earlier given the virus the temporary name of "2019-nCoV acute respiratory disease" and China's National Health Commission was temporarily calling it "novel coronavirus pneumonia" or NCP. • Under a set of guidelines issued in 2015, WHO advises against using place names such as Ebola and Zika, where those diseases were first identified and which are now inevitably linked to them in the public mind.

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• More general names such as "Middle East Respiratory Syndrome" or "Spanish flu" are also now avoided as they can stigmatise entire regions or ethnic groups. • WHO also notes that using animal species in the name can create confusion, such as in 2009 when H1N1 was popularly referred to as "swine flu". This had a major impact on the pork industry even though the disease was being spread by people rather than pigs. Significance of Naming: • The urgency to assign a name to the disease is to prevent the use of other names that can be “inaccurate or stigmatising”. People outside the scientific community tend to call a new disease by common names. • But once the name gets “established in common usage through the Internet and social media, they are difficult to change, even if an inappropriate name is being used. • Therefore, it is important that whoever first reports on a newly identified human disease uses an appropriate name that is scientifically sound and socially acceptable. Method of Naming: • The WHO identified the best practices to name new human diseases in consultation and collaboration with the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). • The main aim behind this exercise was to “minimise unnecessary negative impact of disease names on trade, travel, tourism or animal welfare, and avoid causing offence to any cultural, social, national, regional, professional or ethnic groups”. • The name of a new disease should consist of a combination of terms. These terms consist of a generic descriptive term based on clinical symptoms (respiratory), physiological processes (diarrhoea), and anatomical or pathological references (cardic). • It can refer to specific descriptive terms such as those who are afflicted (infant, juvenile, and maternal), seasonality (summer, winter) and severity (mild, severe). • The name can also include other factual elements such as the environment (ocean, river), causal pathogen (coronavirus) and the year the new disease is first detected with or without mentioning the month. • The WHO has also listed out the terms that should be avoided while naming a new disease. This includes, geographic locations, people’s names, species of animal or food, references to culture, population, industry or occupation, and terms that incite undue fear. • A couple of diseases carry the name of the person who first identified the disease. Chagas disease is named after the Brazilian physician Carlos Chagas, who discovered the disease

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in 1909. Some diseases carry the name of animals, bird flu (H5N1) and swine flu (H1N1). The 2009 H1N1 pandemic was commonly referred to as swine flu. It is important to note that the 2009 pandemic virus was not completely derived from swine.

9. India – Norway Joint Statement Why in News? • India and Norway issued a joint statement on climate and environment during the 13th Conference of Parties (COP) of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS). Highlights: • India and Norway agreed to jointly tackle concerns related to oceans, environment and climate matters. • Ministers of both countries expressed interest to continue and strengthen the mutually beneficial cooperation on environment and climate between the two countries, including on ocean affairs. • Both sides agreed to take up actions that target climate change and air pollution. • The ministers recognized that the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol for phasing down the use of Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) could prevent up to 0.4 degree C of warming by end of the century. • The Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer (a protocol to the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer) is an international treaty designed to protect the ozone layer by phasing out the production of numerous substances that are responsible for ozone depletion. • The Kigali Agreement is an amendment to the Montreal Protocol. As per this arrangement, countries that have signed it are supposed to decrease the manufacture and use of Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) by approximately 80-85% from their respective standards, till 2045. • This phase down is supposed to capture the global average temperature rise up to 0.5 degree C by 2100.

• The ministers reiterated the importance of oceans in meeting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). They were particularly satisfied that Norway and India will sign a Letter of Intent on integrated ocean management including sustainable Blue Economy initiatives. Know more about the Blue Revolution.

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• They welcomed the cooperation between India and Norway on the implementation of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants and on the minimisation of discharge of marine litter. • The Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants is a global treaty to protect human health and the environment from chemicals that remain intact in the environment for long periods, become widely distributed geographically, accumulate in the fatty tissue of humans and wildlife, and have harmful impacts on human health or on the environment. It was adopted by the Conference of Plenipotentiaries in May 2001 in Stockholm, Sweden. The Convention entered into force in May 2004. • India ratified this Convention in 2006 and it entered into force for India in 2006. • They are committed to supporting global action to address plastic pollution and exploring the feasibility of establishing a new global agreement on plastic pollution. They also discussed the conservation of migratory species of wild animals.

10. FATF Grey List Why in News? • The International Co-operation Review Group (ICRG) of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) recently recommended that Pakistan should be retained on the “Grey List”. About FATF: • The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) is an Inter-Governmental Body established in 1989 during the G7 Summit in Paris. • The objectives of the FATF are to set standards and promote effective implementation of legal, regulatory and operational measures for combating money laundering, terrorist financing and other related threats to the integrity of the international financial system. • Its Secretariat is located at the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) headquarters in Paris. Member Countries: As of 2019, it consists of thirty-seven member jurisdictions. India is one of the members. • FATF has Two Lists: ✓ Grey List: Countries that are considered safe haven for supporting terror funding and money laundering are put in the FATF grey list. This inclusion serves as a warning to the country that it may enter the blacklist.

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✓ Black List: Countries known as Non-Cooperative Countries or Territories (NCCTs) are put in the blacklist. These countries support terror funding and money laundering activities. The FATF revises the blacklist regularly, adding or deleting entries. • The FATF Plenary is the decision-making body of the FATF. It meets three times per year. FATF and Pakistan: • Pakistan was placed on the grey list by the FATF in June 2018 and was given a 27 point plan of action to complete by October 2019, or face the risk of being placed on the black list with Iran and North Korea. • Pakistan was previously placed on the FATF's grey list in February 2012, and had been removed from the grey list in February 2015 after it passed a National Action Plan (NAP) to deal with terrorism after the Peshawar School massacre in December 2014. • It was placed under severe restrictions in the years 2008-2012. • Now due to its failure to completely implement the 27-point action plan to check terror financing Pakistan has been retained in the FATF’s Grey list. • The FATF noted the insufficiency of Pakistan’s implementation as “serious concerns”. • The main purpose behind the decision is to not punish rather than incentivise, to make the required changes and make them faster. What are the impacts on Pakistan? • By remaining on the “Grey List”, it would be difficult for Pakistan to get financial aid from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Bank and European Union, making its financial condition more precarious. • However, there are no immediate implications for the recent $6 billion loan negotiated with the IMF that is to be disbursed over the next three years. • The country is facing a number of economic challenges with its economy expected to grow at 3.3 % in 2019 and 2.6% in 2020, according to IMF. • Inflation is set to touch 7.3% in 2019, up from 3.9% in 2018, and rise to 13% in 2020. • Fiscal deficit is projected at 7.1% of GDP in 2020, the highest in the last seven years.

11. 3rd Global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety Why in News? • 3rd Global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety took place recently in Stockholm (Sweden). The Minister of Road Transport & Highways has represented India at the Conference.

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• It is organised by the World Health Organization (WHO) in association with the World Bank and minister-led delegations from more than 80 countries. Highlights of the Conference: 1. Objectives of the Conference: ✓ It intends to bring road safety on the global agenda and renew the world community's commitment to safer roads. It also aims to define ways to accelerate action on proven strategies to save lives. 2. Theme of the Conference: ‘Achieving Global Goals 2030’. 3. Stockholm Declaration ✓ The conference adopted the “Stockholm Declaration” which calls for a new global target for road safety for 2030 and a set of innovative solutions to save lives on the world’s roads. It also aims to share successes and lessons from the implementation of the Global Plan for the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011–2020. India has reaffirmed its commitment to the United Nations goal set under the UN Decade of Action of drastically reducing road accidents by the year 2030 during the event. Road Accidents – The National Scenario: • Number of Deaths: It kills almost 1.5 lakh people annually in India. • Severity: The road accident severity (the number of persons killed per 100 accidents) has increased by 0.6% in 2018 compared to 2017. • Drastic Drop: The accidents, as well as accident-related deaths in the period 2010-2018, dropped drastically compared with the previous decades, despite the very high rate of growth of automobiles. National Level Initiatives for Road Safety: 1. 4 E’s for Road Safety: • Ministry of Road Transport & Highways had formulated a multi-pronged strategy based on 4 `E’s – Education, Engineering, Enforcement, Emergency Care. 1. Education: Awareness is generated through various Road Safety Campaigns utilizing audio-visual and other print media and through NGOs. 2. Engineering: The engineering measures are considered essential for adoption to help in improving road safety leading to reduction of accidents. 3. Enforcement: The enforcement of road transport-related rules and regulations (like The Motor Vehicles Act 1988 and Central Motor Vehicles Rules 1989) is an important aspect to ensure road safety.

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4. Emergency Care: The scheme like National Highway Accident Relief Service Scheme (NHARSS) has been implemented to provide cranes and ambulances to States/UTs/NGOs for relief and rescue measures in the aftermath of Accidents. 2. Justice K.S. Radhakrishnan Committee • Supreme Court had set up the three-member KS Radhakrishnan panel on road safety in 2014. 3. Motor Vehicles Amendment Act, 2019 • It hikes the penalties for traffic violations, defective vehicles, juvenile driving, etc. • It provides for a Motor Vehicle Accident Fund, which would provide compulsory insurance cover to all road users in India for certain types of accidents. • It also provides for a National Road Safety Board, to be created by the Central Government through a notification. The act also provides for the protection of Good Samaritans.

12. India - US Trade Relations Context: • In the recent happenings, India sought to play down American President Donald Trump's remarks that New Delhi is not treating the US "very well" on the trade front, insisting that it was important to understand the context in which he made the comments. India’s Response: • The US President has remarked that India has been hitting the US "very hard" on trade for many years with high tariffs. • Also, President Donald Trump who pursues an “America First" approach has been personally very vocal about the perceived high tariff walls that India has put and has often called out India terming it “tariff king". • On Trump's remarks that the US was not treated very well by India, the external affairs ministry has said that the context for the comments was the balance of trade and that New Delhi was trying to address Washington's concerns. As hopes for sealing the much- anticipated trade deal during Trump's visit to India faded away, India said it does not want to create "artificial deadlines" US - India Trade: • The US has surpassed China to become India's top trading partner, in terms of trade in goods and services, followed by China.

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• According to the data of the commerce ministry, in 2018-19, the bilateral trade between the US and India stood at USD 87.95 billion. • While the bilateral trade between US and India is approximately 62 per cent in goods and 38 per cent in services, the bilateral trade between India and China is dominated by goods. Issues in India - US Trade Relations: Tariffs: • India is one of the countries that was hit by Trump’s steel and aluminum tariffs in March 2018. India followed suit with retaliatory tariffs in June 2019 which targeted iconic American products such as apples from Washington state. • Recently the United States Trade Representative removed India from the list of developing countries who are entitled to benefit from US tariff preferences when it comes to countervailing duties. The determination was based on the fact that India is a G-20 member and accounts for at least 0.5 per cent of global trade. • According to US, market barriers in Indian market include both tariff and non-tariff barriers, as well as multiple practices and regulations that disadvantage foreign companies. Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) Programme: • From March 2019, the US has decided to revoke India’s preferential access to the US market under the World Trade Organization’s Generalized System of Preferences (GSP). • That decision in turn was the result of an ill-advised Indian policy of capping the prices of medical devices, including stents, which adversely affected the US industry. • To make matters worse, Indian authorities did not allow US medical equipment manufacturers to exit the Indian market following the price caps, leading to large losses for these firms. As a consequence, AdvaMed, the medical device manufacturers’ trade association, then lobbied the US administration aggressively to revoke India’s GSP status. • India has been the GSP’s top beneficiary. In 2018, GSP represented 11% ($6.3 billion) of US merchandise imports from India, such as chemicals, auto parts, and tableware. GSP removal would reinstate US tariffs. Data Localization: • The United States continues to resist India on its “forced” localization practices. • Initiatives to grow India’s manufacturing base and support jobs include requirements for in-country data storage, domestic content (such as laws protecting India’s solar sector), and domestic testing in some sectors.

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• India’s new data localization requirements for electronic payment service suppliers such as MasterCard, Visa, etc. The Davidson Issue: • Trump has time and again complained about high import tariffs levied by India on American motorcycles. • India in response has slashed the customs duty on imported motorcycles from high-end brands such as Harley Davidson to 50 per cent from 100 percent earlier. • High duties on large engine motorcycles raised their prices and made it too expensive for consumers in India. To make the bikes more affordable, an assembly plant was built in India by the brand. However, the brand has not yet been able to capture a majority portion of the Indian market. Farm and Dairy Market: • India imposed higher import duties on 29 US products, including almonds, walnuts and pulses in retaliation to US significantly hiking duties on certain steel and aluminium products. • This included walnut, chickpeas, Bengal gram (chana) and masoor dal. • Traditionally, India has always been protective of its dairy imports and imposed restrictions to protect the livelihoods of 80 million rural households involved in the industry. • However, it has offered to allow imports of US chicken legs, turkey and produce such as blueberries and cherries. It has also offered to cut tariffs on chicken legs from 100 per cent to 25 percent. But, US negotiators want that tariff to be reduced to 10 per cent. • According to sources, the government has also offered to allow some access to its dairy market, but with 5 percent tariff and quotas. • However, a certificate would be needed stating that products have not been derived from animals that have consumed feeds that include internal organs, blood meal or tissues of ruminants. The US also wants India to buy at least another $5-6 billion worth of American goods. Budget 2020-21: • In Union Budget 2020-21, the finance minister has announced higher tariffs on medical devices, toys, furniture and footwear and said the government will strengthen rules to allow for additional levies to be imposed when there is a significant surge in imports.

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• This further angered the US side as it faces tough competition with China in the Indian market in areas such as electronics, machinery, organic chemicals and medical devices. The China Factor: • In 2018, the US was India’s largest export destination at 16 per cent of total exports, and second-largest source of imports after China at 6.3% of total imports. • By contrast, in 2019, India accounted for a measly 2.09% of US exports and 2.30% of total US imports. • The recently agreed Phase 1 US-China trade agreement reflects the reality that China has far greater clout negotiating with the US than most other countries. • This stems from the huge imbalance in the two countries’ trade and the dependence of the US market on cheap imports from China, as well as US reliance on China as a source of cheap capital to finance the huge US current account deficit. • India simply has no comparable levers with which to negotiate with the US, and therefore there is no reason for the US to make any but token concessions in negotiations with India. ✓ In his keynote speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos in January 2018, Modi called on fellow leaders to embrace more open trade. ✓ However, with economic growth falling to over six-year low and pressure on domestic industries, the government is strengthening its barriers again, which is a case for concern as far as rollercoaster ride of India - US trade relations are concerned.

13. Global Health Security (GHS) Index Why in News? • Global Health Security (GHS) Index, 2019, which was recently released states that national health security is “fundamentally weak” around the world. • The report gains significance in the context of the recent Coronavirus (COVID19) outbreak in China. About Global Health Security (GHS) Index: • The Global Health Security (GHS) Index, a report from the Nuclear Threat Initiative, the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security and the Economist Intelligence Unit. • The GHS Index is the first comprehensive assessment and benchmarking of health security and related capabilities across the 195 countries that make up the States Parties to the International Health Regulations (IHR, 2005).

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• The IHR, 2005 represents an agreement between 196 countries including all the World Health Organization (WHO) Member States to work together for global health security. Six categories covered by the Index: • The GHS Index assesses countries’ health security and capabilities across six categories, 34 indicators, and 85 sub-indicators. The six categories are as follow: 1. Prevention: Prevention of the emergence or release of pathogens. 2. Detection and Reporting: Early detection and reporting for epidemics of potential international concern. 3. Rapid Response: Rapid response to and mitigation of the spread of an epidemic. 4. Health System: Sufficient and robust health system to treat the sick and protect health workers. 5. Compliance with International Norms: Commitments to improving national capacity, financing plans to address gaps, and adhering to global norms. 6. Risk Environment: Overall risk environment and country vulnerability to biological threats. Scoring System under the Index: • The index measures countries’ capabilities from 0-100, with 100 representing the highest level of preparedness. • The GHS Index scoring system includes three tiers. 1. Low Scores: Countries that score between 0 and 33.3 are in the bottom tier. 2. Moderate Scores: Countries that score between 33.4 and 66.6 are in the middle tier and 3. High Scores: Countries that score between 66.7 and 100 are in the upper or “top” tier. Ranking of Different Countries: • The US is the “most prepared” nation (scoring 83.5), with the UK (77.9), the Netherlands (75.6), Australia (75.5) and Canada (75.3) behind it. • Thailand is ranked sixth in the Index — the highest ranking for an Asian country. • Much of Europe, Russia, the Middle East, Asia and Central and South America are described as “more prepared,” with scores between 66 and 34.3, while the majority of countries ranked “least prepared” are in Africa. India is ranked 57th with a score of 46.5, falling in the middle tier. • China – which is at the centre of the recent coronavirus outbreak – is at the 51st place, scoring 48.2.

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International Preparedness: • The GHS Index analysis finds that no country is fully prepared for epidemics or pandemics. Collectively, international preparedness is weak. The average overall GHS Index score among all 195 countries assessed is 40.2 of a possible score of 100. • Overall, the GHS Index finds severe weaknesses in country’s abilities to prevent, detect, and respond to health emergencies; severe gaps in health systems; vulnerabilities to political, socioeconomic, and environmental risks that can hamper outbreak preparedness and response; and a lack of adherence to international norms. India’s Current scenario to respond for an Outbreak: 1. Low Expenditure: Health expenditure by the government in India is less than 1.5% of Gross Domestic Product, which is low for a middle-income country. 2. Low availability of Health Professionals: India has a low availability of health professionals. According to the WHO, India has only 80 doctors per 1,00,000 people 3. Underprepared: The influenza A (H1N1) outbreaks since 2009 in Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and other States have acutely underscored the need for better detection, awareness of symptoms and quarantining. Way Forward: • Protecting Biodiversity: Nearly two-thirds of known pathogens and three-quarters of newly emerging pathogens are spread from animals to humans (recent example - SARS- CoV-2). • Reasons for the same can be traced to increased human encroachment on wildlife territory; land-use changes that increase the rate of human-wildlife and wildlife-livestock interactions; and climate change. • Exposing crucial gaps in Each State in India needs to expose crucial gaps in areas such as adequacy and supply of diagnostic equipment, health facilities, hygienic practices, and prevention and treatment protocols. • Separate funding for dealing with a health catastrophe. • Investing in health and education: Kerala’s experience in 2018 with the deadly Nipah virus shows the value of investing in education and health over the long term. Kerala’s government efforts kept the mortality rate from the Nipah virus relatively low.

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14. G20 Meeting in Saudi Arabia Why in News? • The G20 meeting presided by Saudi Arabia was held recently in Riyadh (Saudi Arabia) in which the ministers and central bankers from the world’s largest economies has participated. Saudi Arabia is the first Arab nation to hold the G20 presidency. • Theme: “Realizing Opportunities of the 21st Century for All”. Highlights of the Meet: Global Economic Slowdown: • The global economic growth remains slow and faces downside risks due to the geopolitical trade tensions and policy uncertainty. But economic growth is expected to increase in 2020 and 2021 due to loose monetary policy and an easing of trade tensions. Demand for Global Taxation System: • It discussed ways to achieve consensus on a global taxation system for the digital era by the end of 2020. • It aims to allow governments to tax digital companies where they do business, rather than where they are registered for tax purposes. • India has also demanded closer collaboration between international revenue agencies to investigate tax affairs of offenders who cross borders for escaping tax investigation. Views of IMF: • It projected a “V-shaped, rapid recovery” for the global economy, but it warned about the uncertainty around the spread of the Corona-virus (COVID 19). • The IMF has also warned about other risks such as rising debt levels in some countries and climate change. About G20 Grouping: • The G20 is an informal group of 19 countries and the European Union, with representatives of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. • The G20 membership comprises a mix of the world’s largest advanced and emerging economies, representing about two-thirds of the world’s population, 85% of global gross domestic product, 80% of global investment and over 75% of global trade. • The G20 operates as a forum and not as an organisation. • Therefore, it does not have any permanent secretariat or management and administrative structure.

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• The members of the G20 are Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the European Union. What is meant by V-Shaped Recovery? • A V-shaped recovery is characterized by a sharp economic decline followed by a quick and sustained recovery. The recession of 1953 is an example of a V-shaped recovery.

15. A Future for the World's Children Report Why in News? • Recently, ‘A Future for the World's Children’ report was released jointly by the World Health Organization (WHO), UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and The Lancet medical journal. About the Report: • The report calculates the Flourishing Index and Sustainability Index of 180 countries. India secures 131st rank on a flourishing index that measures the best chance at survival and well-being for children. • Further, India ranked 77th on a sustainability index that takes into account per capita carbon emissions and the ability of children in a nation to live healthy lives. What is Flourishing Index? • Flourishing is the geometric mean of Surviving and Thriving. • The parameter of Surviving considers maternal survival, survival in children younger than 5 years old, suicide, access to maternal and child health services, basic hygiene, sanitation, and lack of extreme poverty. The parameter of Thriving considers educational achievement, growth and nutrition, reproductive freedom, and protection from violence.

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• Norway leads the table for survival, health, education and nutrition rates - followed by the Republic of Korea and the Netherlands. The Central African Republic, Chad and Somalia rank at the bottom. It also mentioned that the world’s survival depended on children being able to flourish, but no country is doing enough to give them a sustainable future. • The Index has linked an aspect of harmful marketing of junk food and sugary beverages with the alarming rise in childhood obesity. Thus to protect children, it has called for a new global movement driven by and for children. What is Sustainability Index? • The Sustainability Index ranks countries on the basis of excess carbon emissions compared with the 2030 target. • It also states that today’s national conditions for children to survive and thrive must not come at the cost of eroding future global conditions for children’s ability to flourish. • The leading countries in the Flourishing Index trail behind in the case of the Sustainability Index, with Norway (156th), the Republic of Korea (166th) and the Netherlands (160th). • Each of the three emits 210 per cent more CO2 per capita than their 2030 target. • The only countries on track in Flourishing as well as in Sustainability Index are Albania, Armenia, Grenada, Jordan, Moldova, Sri Lanka, Tunisia, Uruguay and Vietnam. • The lowest emitters are Burundi, Chad and Somalia whereas the U.S, Australia, and Saudi Arabia are among the 10 Worst Emitters. What are its Recommendations? • It suggests the elimination of CO2 emissions with the utmost urgency and requests to place children and adolescents at the centre of global efforts to achieve sustainable development. • New policies and investment in all sectors to work towards child health and rights with the incorporation of children’s voices into policy decisions.

16. USA’s Blue Dot Network Why in News? • During Trump’s visit, India and the US will discuss the Blue Dot network, a new proposal to cover infrastructure and development projects across the region and other countries. Highlights: • The BDN was formally announced on 4th November, 2019 at the Indo-Pacific Business Forum in Bangkok, Thailand. It will be led by the US along with Japan and Australia.

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BDN: • The Blue Dot network is a multi-stakeholder initiative to bring together governments, the private sector and civil society to promote high-quality, trusted standards for global infrastructure development. The proposal, which is part of the US’s Indo-Pacific strategy, is aimed at countering Chinese President Xi Jinping’s ambitious One Belt One Road initiative. • The initiative will evaluate projects on various parameters, including level of public consultation, transparency in funding, debt traps and basic environment norms. • Projects that meet the norms will get a “blue dot”, which will enable them to attract private funding and not have to depend on state-funding alone. Blue Dot will be about supporting alternatives to predatory lending by facilitating foreign investment in projects that come under this network. • Under BRI, China’s government and state-owned enterprises finance international projects by providing logistical support, from concrete and steel to workers and cash. This approach, however, has been labelled by some experts as “debt-trap diplomacy”. • The new Blue Dot Network is seen as part of the USA's strategy of trying to persuade developing countries in Asia-Pacific not rely on Chinese funds for infrastructure. Belt and Road Initiative (BRI): • BRI is an ambitious project that focuses on connectivity and cooperation among multiple countries spread across the continents of Asia, Africa, and Europe. • The stated objectives are to construct a unified large market and make full use of both international and domestic markets, through cultural exchange and integration, to enhance mutual understanding and trust of member nations, ending up in an innovative pattern with capital inflows, talent pool, and technology database. • The initial focus has been infrastructure investment, education, construction materials, railway and highway, automobile, real estate, power grid, and iron and steel.

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6.1 INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS SNIPPETS

1. Blue Dot Network (BDN) Context: • Recently, there are rising apprehensions worldwide that India might join the US-led Blue Dot Network (BDN). About BDN (2019): • It is a Indo-Pacific Business Forum in Bangkok, Thailand. It will be led by the US along with Japan and Australia. • It is a Multi-Stakeholder Initiative to bring together governments, the private sector and civil society to promote High-Quality, trusted standards for Global Infrastructure Development. • It is will serve as a globally recognised evaluation and certification system for roads, ports and bridges with a focus on the Indo-Pacific region. • The projects would be graded on debt, environmental standards, labour standards etc. • It applies to projects in any citizen-centric country where citizens would like to evaluate such projects. • It seems to be planned as a direct counter to China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). • It would not offer public funds or loans for projects, unlike BRI. India has not joined China’s BRI. About BRI (2013): • It is an ambitious project that focuses on connectivity and cooperation among multiple countries spread across the continents of Asia, Africa, and Europe. • It involves building networks of Roadways, Railways, Maritime Ports, Power Grids, Oil and gas pipelines, and associated infrastructure projects. • The Silk Road Economic Belt is land-based and is expected to connect China with Central Asia, Eastern Europe, and Western Europe. • The 21st Century Maritime Silk Road is sea-based and is expected to connect China’s southern coast to the Mediterranean, Africa, South-East Asia, and Central Asia.

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2. Ashgabat Agreement Why in News? • Indian External Affairs Minister has recently mentioned about Ashgabat Agreement in his speech at Central Asia Business Forum. About Ashgabat Agreement: • It aims at establishment of International Transport and Transit Corridor between the Iran, Oman, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. • It was initially signed among Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Iran, Oman and Qatar back in 2011 and is named after capital of Turkmenistan-Ashgabat. • It establishes international transport and transit corridor between Central Asia and the Persian Gulf countries. Pakistan is also its member. Significance to India: • It will enable India to utilise this existing transport and transit corridor to facilitate trade and commercial interaction and ties with Central Asia and Eurasian region. • It will synchronise India’s efforts to implement the International North South Transport Corridor (INSTC) for enhanced connectivity. • It will provide India an opportunity for reorientation of the freight traffic from the traditional sea route to Land Transcontinental Routes.

3. International Intellectual Property Index Why in News? • Recently, India has slipped to 40th position on the International Intellectual Property (IP) Index, 2020 from the 36th position in 2019. About International Intellectual Property Index: • It is released by the US Chamber of Commerce’s Global Innovation Policy Center. • The top five economies on International Intellectual Property Index are US, the UK, France, Germany and Sweden. • It aims to create and exploit synergies between all forms of intellectual property (IP), concerned statutes and agencies. • The indicators are nine categories of protection: patents, copyrights, trademarks, design rights, trade secrets, commercialization of IP assets, enforcement, systemic efficiency, and membership and ratification of International Treaties.

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About US Chamber of Commerce: • It is the world’s largest business of all sizes, sectors, and regions, as well as state and local chambers and Industry Associations.

4. 2 Billion Kilometres Why in News? • Recently, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has launched a global campaign calling on people all over the world to cover the distance travelled by refugees each year. About: • UNHCR has traced the refugees around the world and calculated, that people forced to travel approximately Two Billion Kilometres every year to reach the first point of safety. In 2016, Syrian refugees travelled more than 240 kilometres to reach Turkey. South Sudanese refugees travelled more than 640 kilometres to reach Kenya and Rohingya refugees in Myanmar travelled approximately 80 kilometres to reach Bangladesh. • It is a safety campaign, which invites people to act in solidarity and run, walk or cycle to achieve a cumulative total of two billion kilometres. About UNHCR: • It is a UN Refugee Agency and a global organization dedicated to saving lives, protecting the rights and building a better future for refugees, forcibly displaced communities and stateless people. It is headquartered at Geneva, Switzerland.

5. The Future of Earth Report - 2020 Why in News? • Recently, the South Asia Future Earth Regional Office, the Divecha Centre for Climate Change and the Indian Institute of Science have released “The Future of Earth, 2020” report. Key Points: • It has been prepared with the aim of reducing carbon footprint and halting global warming below 2 degrees Celsius by 2050. • The five global risks are, failure of climate change mitigation and adaptation, extreme weather events, major biodiversity loss and ecosystem collapse, food crises, and water crises.

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• The South Asia Future Earth Regional Office is hosted by the Divecha Centre for Climate Change, Bengaluru, India. • The office plays a key role in promoting solution-oriented research on environmental sustainability in the south Asian region. • The Divecha Centre for Climate Change was established at Indian Institute of Science in 2009. The primary goal of this centre is to understand climate variability and climate change and its impact on the environment.

6. United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) UNPFII: • The United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) is a high- level advisory body to the Economic and Social Council. • The Forum was established on 28 July 2000 with the mandate to deal with indigenous issues related to economic and social development, culture, the environment, education, health and Human Rights. • The first meeting of the Permanent Forum was held in May 2002, with yearly sessions thereafter. • The Forum usually meets for 10 days each year, at the UN Headquarters in New York. In addition to the six mandated areas (economic and social development, culture, the environment, education, health and human rights), each session is thematically focused on a specific issue. • The Permanent Forum is one of three UN bodies that is mandated to deal specifically with indigenous peoples’ issues. • The others are the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples. The Permanent Forum: • provides expert advice and recommendations on indigenous issues to the Council, as well as to programmes, funds and agencies of the United Nations, through ECOSOC; • raises awareness and promotes the integration and coordination of activities related to indigenous issues within the UN system; prepares and disseminates information on indigenous issues; promotes respect for and full application of the provisions of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and follow up the effectiveness of this Declaration (Art. 42 UNDRIP).

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Functioning: • The Permanent Forum’s engagement and role in promoting indigenous peoples’ rights are made possible through the Trust Fund on Indigenous Issues, which overall facilitates follow-up to the Forum’s recommendations, awareness raising and outreach on indigenous issues as well as representation and participation of Permanent Forum members at international meetings of significance for its mandate. • In addition, the trust fund provides support for the implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. DESA is charged with the overall management of the Trust Fund, which is placed under the Indigenous Peoples and Development Branch-Secretariat of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues.

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1. Consider the following statements 2. It presently functions as an attached regarding the Atal Bhujal Yojana: office of the Ministry of Jal Shakti. 1. It is a central sector scheme aimed at 3. The Commission is entrusted for the improving groundwater management purpose of flood control, irrigation, and restoring the health of the country’s navigation, and drinking water supply aquifers. and water power development. 2. It is funded by the World Bank. Which of the statements given above are 3. The scheme will be implemented in all Correct? states and Union Territories. (a) 1 and 2 only Which of the statements given above is/are (b) 2 and 3 only Correct? (c) 1 and 3 only (a) 1 only (d) 1, 2 and 3 (b) 2 only (c) 1 and 2 only 4. Togo, recently in the news, is located near (d) 1 and 3 only to the: (a) Gulf of Guinea 2. Arrange the tributaries of Ganga River (b) Gulf of Thailand system from west to east: (c) Gulf of Aden 1. Damodar (d) Persian Gulf 2. Bhagirathi 5. SAAP (State Annual Action Plan) and SLIPs 3. Son (Service Level Improvement Plan)are part 4. Chambal of which of the following scheme: Select the correct answer using the codes (a) Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana given below: (b) Atal Mission for rejuvenation and (a) 1-2-3-4 Urban Transformation (b) 1-3-4-2 (c) Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (c) 2-4-3-1 (d) Swachh Bharat Mission (d) 2-1-4-3 6. Which of the following states have more 3. With respect to the Central Water than 50% of forest cover in its total Commission, consider the following geographical area, according to recently statements: released “State of forest cover” Report? 1. It was constituted as a statutory body (a) Chattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh under the Water Act, 1974.

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(b) Kerala, Goa Which of the above statements is/are (c) Kerala, Madhya pradesh correct? (d) Goa, Maharastra (a) 1 only (b) 2 only 7. Ulysses spacecraft was jointly launched by (c) Both 1 and 2 NASA and European space agency to study (d) Neither 1 or 2 which of the following?

(a) Mercury 10. In context to Misery Index, consider the (b) Venus following? (c) Sun 1. The sum of inflation rate and (d) Saturn unemployment rate is equal to ‘Misery Index’. 8. With respect to fiscal deficit which of the 2. The higher the index, the more is the following statements are correct? misery felt by average citizens. 1. It indicates the total borrowings needed 3. It also Includes Bank Lending Rates. by the government in a particular year. Which of the statements given above are 2. It leads to crowding out of private Correct? investment. (a) 1 and 2 only 3. High fiscal deficit in an economy causes (b) 1 and 3 only a fall in the inflation levels. (c) 2 and 3 only Choose the Correct answer code given (d) All the above below: (a) 1 and 2 only 11. Consider the following statements: (b) 2 and 3 only 1. Tamil Nadu is the largest producer of (c) 2 only turmeric in India. (d) 1, 2 and 3 2. Erode turmeric which recently got GI

tag belongs to the state of Tamil Nadu. 9. Consider the following statements with Choose the correct statement using the code respect to World Sustainable Development Summit given below: 1. It is the annual flagship event of The (a) 1 only Energy and Resources Institute (TERI). (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 2. The summit is said to be in the line of (d) Neither 1 nor 2 India’s Track 1 diplomacy.

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12. Global Food policy report was released by: Which of the statement(s) given above (a) Food and Agricultural Organisation is/are correct? (b) International Food Policy Research (a) 1 only Institute (b) 1 and 2 only (c) World Food Programme (c) 2 only (d) None of the Above (d) 1 and 3 only

13. Consider the following statements 15. With reference to ‘Deposit Insurance on regarding Pneumonia: Bank’s Deposit’, consider the following 1. Pneumonia is a viral infection of the statements: liver. 1. Deposit insurance is providing insurance 2. Pneumonia is the leading cause of death protection to the depositor’s money by of children at global level. receiving a premium. 3. World’s first conference on Childhood 2. Insurance Regulator Development Pneumonia was held at Barcelona, Authority (IRDA) is responsible to issue Spain. the depositor’s money in case of bank’s Choose the correct statement using the code failure. given below: 3. Under the scheme it insures all types of (a) 1 only bank deposits including savings, fixed (b) 1and 2 only and recurring with an insured bank. (c) 2 and 3 only Which of the statement(s) given above (d) 1 and 3 only is/are Correct? (a) 1 only 14. Consider the following statements (b) 1 and 2 only regarding the ‘Paraquat’: (c) 3 only 1. Paraquat is a toxic chemical that is (d) 1 and 3 only widely used as an insecticide primarily

used against Bollworms and beetle 16. In context to Central Insecticides Board, control. consider the following: 2. There is no antidote to paraquat and is 1. It is established under Section 4 of the lethal to the consumers. Insecticides Act, 1968. 3. Paraquat is listed in the prior informed 2. It works under the Ministry of consent (PIC) of Rotterdam Convention. Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare.

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3. The aerial application of pesticides 2. Safeguard duties are prohibited by WTO needs approval or permission from the agreements. Central Insecticides Board (CIB). 3. A safeguard measure should not last Which of the statements given above are more than 3 years Correct? Which of the statement(s) given above (a) 1 and 2 only is/are Correct? (b) 1 and 3 only (a) 1 only (c) 2 and 3 only (b) 1 and 2 only (d) All the above (c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3 17. With reference to Black Carbon, consider

the following: 19. Recently seen in news, the term ‘Technical 1. It influences cloud formation and textiles’ refers to impacts regional circulation and rainfall (a) Synthetic textiles produced by patterns. advanced automation and designing 2. It is a short-lived climate pollutant with (b) Textiles used for Non-Aesthetic a lifetime of only for one or two year Purposes. after release in the atmosphere. (c) Textile fibres made from e-wastes and 3. It is responsible for premature deaths of industrial wastes. children from acute lower respiratory (d) None of the above. infections such as pneumonia. 20. Consider the following statements with Which of the statements given above are respect to Technical Textiles Correct? 1. Technical textiles are functional fabrics (a) 1 and 2 only that are used for Non-Aesthetic (b) 1 and 3 only Purposes (c) 2 and 3 only 2. Polypropylene rolls and SAP sheets (d) All the above SAP sheets are agro technical textiles.

18. With respect to ‘Safeguard Duty’ which of 3. Gujarat is the leading manufacturer of the following statements is/ are correct? technical textiles in India 1. Safeguard duty is imposed on import of Which of the above statements is/are specified goods with a view to Incorrect? protecting domestic industry from unfair (a) 1 and 3 only injury. (b) 2 only

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(c) 1, 2 and 3 (a) 1 and 2 only (d) None of the above (b) 2 and 3 only (c) 1 and 3 only 21. Consider the following statements (d) 1, 2, and 3 regarding Bandipur Tiger Reserve:

1. It is a not a part of Nilgiri Biosphere 24. Consider the following statements reserve. regarding the ‘Wetlands’: 2. It is situated on the banks of River 1. Though they cover only around 6% of Netravathi. the Earth’s land surface, 40% of all plant Choose the correct statement using the code and animal species live or breed in given below: wetlands. (a) 1 only 2. The National Wetland Committee (b) 2 only functions only as an advisory body. (c) Both 1 and 2 3. In India the process to identify the (d) Neither 1 nor 2 wetlands has been delegated to the

States. 22. If you want to see Strobilanthes kunthiana which blooms once in twelve years, along Which of the statement(s) given above with Endangered , which is the is/are correct? state animal of Tamil Nadu, you have to (a) 1 only visit which of the following national park: (b) 1 and 2 only (a) Sanjay Gandhi National Park (c) 2 and 3 only (b) (d) 1, 2 and 3 (c) Bandipur National Park 25. With respect to Poompuhar, the ancient (d) Nameri National park city in Tamil Nadu, consider the following

23. Consider the following statements: statements: 1. Cabinet Secretary is the ex-officio 1. The Poompuhar is mentioned in works chairman of the Civil Services Board. of Sangam which refers 2. Cabinet Secretariat settles inter- to the city located in southern Tamil ministerial disputes. Nadu. 3. Cabinet Secretary is appointed by the 2. This city was also designated as the Prime Minister. capital city of the Cholas. Choose the correct statement using the code 3. The Archeological Survey of India given below: (ASI) has launched ‘Project Digital

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Poompuhar’ to recreate the port city (a) 1 only Poompuhar. (b) 2 only Which of the statement(s) given above (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 is/are Incorrect?

(a) 1 only 28. ‘Santusht’ portal, was seen in the news (b) 1 and 2 only recently. It is related to (c) 3 only (a) Providing free online education to (d) 2 and 3 only primary school children (b) Providing online platform for 26. In context to Flame-throated bulbul, entrepreneurs to sell their products consider the following: (c) Monitoring the implementation of 1. IUCN has classified it as Least Concern labour laws at grass root level. in its Red List. (d) Training of police personnels in cyber 2. It is also called the Rubigula, which is security. the state bird of Goa. 3. It is under the Schedule – III bird in 29. Consider the following statements with respect to Beijing Platform for Action: India’s Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. 1. The declaration is the outcome of the Which of statements given above are Fourth World Conference on Women, correct? held in Beijing, China (a) 1 and 2 only 2. It covers 12 key critical matters of (b) 1 and 3 only concern and areas for action considered (c) 2 and 3 only (d) All the above to represent the main obstacles in women empowerment 27. With reference to National Crime Records Which of the following below given codes Bureau (NCRB), consider the following: are correct? 1. It releases ‘Crime in India’ report for (a) 1 only every six months. (b) 2 only 2. It was set up based on the (c) Both 1 and 2 recommendations of the National Police (d) Neither 1 or 2 Commission. Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?

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30. Consider the following statements with (a) 1 only respect to proposed Health Score Index of (b) 2 only non-banking finance company (NBFCs) by (c) Both 1 and 2 Economic Survey 2019-20: (d) Neither 1 nor 2 1. Index will aim to provide an early 32. Consider the following statements warning signs for liquidity crisis in a regarding Oil and Gas sector in India: non-banking finance company (NBFC). 1. 100% FDI under automatic route is 2. Index can also be used by policy makers permitted for exploration, production to allocate scarce capital to stressed and refining by the private companies. NBFCs in an optimal way to alleviate a 2. The Digboi Refinery has been termed as liquidity crisis. the "Gangotri of the Indian Hydrocarbon Which of the following below given codes sector”. are correct? Choose the correct statement using the code (a) 1 only given below: (b) 2 only (a) 1 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (b) 2 only (d) Neither 1 or 2 (c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2 31. Consider the following statements

regarding Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) Workers: 33. Which of the following is/are correctly 1. ASHA work with the village health and matched? Disease Country of Origin sanitation committee of the gram 1. Ebola - Uganda panchayat to develop a comprehensive 2. MERS - Saudi Arabia village health plan. 3. nCov - China 2. ASHA will provide primary medical 4. Nipah - Malaysia care for minor ailments such as (a) 1, 2, 3only diarrhoea, fevers, and first-aid for minor (b) 2, 3, 4 only injuries. (c) 1,3,4 only Choose the correct statement using the code (d) All the above given below:

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34. The Earth's gravity is stronger at the poles 2. During this period, the U.K. will than the equator. This is due to which of the continue to participate in the EU’s following reasons? Customs Union and in the Single 1. The centrifugal force cancels out the Market. gravitational force minimally, more so at 3. The U.K. will apply EU law even if it is the equator than at the poles. no longer a Member State and will also 2. The poles are closer to the center due to continue to abide by the international the equatorial bulge, and thus have a agreements of the EU. Stronger Gravitational Field. Which of the statement(s) given above Select the correct answer using the codes is/are correct? given below: (a) 1 only (a) 1 only (b) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 only (c) 2 and 3 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) 1, 2 and 3

(d) Neither 1 nor 2 37. Consider the following pairs:

35. The United Kingdom comprises of which of Iconic Site State the following places? 1. Rakhigarhi - Madhya Pradesh 1. England 2. Sivsagar - Assam 2. Wales 3. Dholavira - Punjab 3. Ireland 4. Adichanallur - Tamil Nadu 4. Scotland Which of the pairs given above are correct? Select the correct answer using the codes (a) 1 and 2 only given below: (b) 2 and 4 only (a) 1 and 2 only (c) 2 and 3 only (b) 1, 2 and 3 only (d) 1 and 4 only

(c) 1, 2 and 4 only (d) All the above 38. In context to Ujh Multipurpose Project,

36. Consider the following statements consider the following: regarding the ‘Brexit Withdrawal 1. It utilizes the water of Western river as agreement’: per the Indus water treaty. 1. Under this agreement, a transition period 2. It is planned to be constructed on River of 11 months has finalised until Ujh, tributary of River Ravi. December 2020.

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Which of the statement(s) given above Green India (GIM) funding toward is/are correct? forest fire work. (a) 1 only Which of the statement(s) given above (b) 2 only is/are correct? (c) Both 1 and 2 (a) 1 only (d) Neither 1 nor 2

(b) 2 only 39. With reference to Blue Dot Network (BDN), (c) Both 1 and 2 consider the following: (d) Neither 1 nor 2 1. It is led by the US, Japan, Australia and India. 41. Consider the following statements 2. It offers public funds and loans for regarding “Integrated Child Development projects. Services (ICDS)” scheme: 1. It is a centrally sponsored scheme to 3. It serves as a certification system for reduce infant mortality and child infrastructure projects in the Indo- malnutrition. Pacific region. 2. It is being implemented by the Ministry Which of the statements given above are of Health and Family Welfare. Incorrect? Choose the correct statement using the code (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 1 and 3 only given below: (c) 2 and 3 only (a) 1 only (d) All the above (b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

40. With reference to Forest Fire Prevention (d) Neither 1 nor 2 and Management (FFPM) Scheme, consider the following: 42. Project Replan – an initiative to reduce the 1. It allocates funds in 90:10 ratios to the plastic waste has been launched by: Northeast and Western Himalayan (a) Ministry of Environment regions and a 60:40 ratios for all other (b) NITI Aayog states. (c) Khadi and Village Industries 2. It provides the states to direct a portion Commission of the National Afforestation (d) The Energy Resource Institute Programme (NAP) and Mission for

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45. ‘Mukti Caravan’, recently seen in news is 43. Consider the following statements referred to regarding ‘Ujh River’ which is recently in (a) A portal that talks about various news: religions 1. It is a tributary of the Satluj River. (b) mobilising people against child 2. It originates in the Pira Panjal Ranges. trafficking Choose the correct statement using the code (c) a vehicle that spreads awareness on given below: climate change (a) 1 only (d) royal march in Indian Coasts to (b) 2 only protect Olive Ridleys

(c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 46. In context to Directorate General of Trade Remedies, consider the following: 44. With reference to the ‘Gram Nyayalayas’, 1. It is the apex national authority under consider the following statements: the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. 1. As per the ‘Gram Nyayalaya Act’, Gram 2. It administers all trade remedial Nyayalayas can hear both civil and measures except countervailing duties. criminal cases. 3. It provides trade defence support to the 2. The Court can function as a mobile domestic industry and exporters. court at any place within the jurisdiction Which of the statements given above are of such Gram Nyayalaya. correct? 3. The Gram Nyayalayas are presided over (a) 1 and 2 only by a Nyayadhikari, who will have the (b) 1 and 3 only same power, enjoy same salary and (c) 2 and 3 only benefits of a Judge of the Sessions (d) All the above

Court. 47. Anguilla, sometimes seen in news is related Which of the statements given above are to correct? (a) Critically Endangered Bird (a) 1 and 2 only (b) Island in Caribbean Sea (b) 2 and 3 only (c) Super Computer (c) 1 and 3 only (d) Newly found Asteroid (d) 1, 2 and 3

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48. Consider the following, with reference to 50. Consider the following statements with Anti-dumping Duty: respect to exercise “Matla Abhiyaan”: 1. It is applicable on goods that have 1. It is a five-day coastal exercise received government subsidies in the conducted by Coast guard exporting country. 2. The exercise, named after Matla River, 2. It is used as an instrument of fair aimed to interact with coastal competition which is permitted by the communities to spread awareness on World Trade Organisation (WTO). coastal security Which of the statement(s) given above Which of the following codes given below is/are correct? is/are correct? (a) 1 only (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 (d) Neither 1 or 2

51. ‘Nambiyar River’ recently seen in news, 49. Consider the following statements with originates from the state of respect to Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs): (a) Karnataka 1. India is experiencing a rising burden of (a) Andhra Pradesh Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) (b) Kerala surpassing the burden of Communicable (c) Tamil Nadu

diseases 52. ‘Shanidar Cave’ recently seen in the news, 2. According to the World Cancer Report, is related to which of the following? 2020, one in 10 Indians will develop (a) Neanderthals cancer during their lifetime (b) Denisovans Which of the following codes given below (c) Homo Habilis is/are correct? (d) None of the above

(a) 1 only 53. ‘Koonthankulam Bird Sanctuary’ recently (b) 2 only seen in news, is located in the state of (c) Both 1 and 2 (a) Karnataka (d) Neither 1 or 2 (b) Andhra Pradesh

(c) Kerala

(d) Tamil Nadu

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Choose the correct statement using the code 54. With respect to ‘Thai magur’ consider the following statements given below: 1. Thai Magur is a cannibal species that (a) 1 only impacts the indigenous biodiversity and (b) 2 only in-turn reduces the food base for water (c) Both 1 and 2 birds. (d) Neither 1 nor 2

2. Thai Magur is also believed to be 57. Consider the following statements carcinogenic regarding Immediate mobile Payment 3. National Green Tribunal (NGT) banned System (IMPS) and Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS): it in 2000 1. (IMPS) is available round the clock in Which of the above statements is /are India, but RTGS is available only for a correct? certain time limit. (a) 1 and 2 only 2. IMPS is managed by National Payment (b) 2 and 3 only Corporation of India (NPCI) while (c) 1 and 3 only RTGS is managed by RBI. (d) 1, 2 and 3

Choose the correct statement using the code 55. Global Health Security (GHS) Index is given below: released by: (a) 1 only (a) World Health Organisation (b) 2 only (b) Lancet (c) Both 1 and 2 (c) Nuclear Threat Initiative and (d) Neither 1 nor 2 Economist Intelligence Unit.

(d) None of the Above 58. With reference to Kawal Tiger Reserve, consider the following

56. Consider the following statements 1. It has tropical mixed dry deciduous regarding “Worldwide Educating for the forest and dry teak forest. Future Index 2019”: 2. It is the catchment area of River 1. It is published by the Economist Godavari and Kadam Intelligence Unit 3. It is linked to the Tadoba Andheri Tiger 2. The report assesses the effectiveness of Reserve in Maharashtra to it north and education systems in preparing students Indravati Tiger reserve to its east. for the demands of work and life in a Which of the statements given above are rapidly changing landscape. correct?

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The above sentences derive which of the (a) 1 and 2 only following Tiger Reserves? (b) 1 and 3 only (a) Namdapha Tiger Reserve (c) 2 and 3 only (b) Pakke Tiger Reserve (d) All the above (c) Kamlang Tiger Reserve 59. In context to Habitable-Zone Planet Finder, (d) Kaziranga Tiger Reserve consider the following: 1. It is installed on the 10m Hobby-Eberly 61. Consider the following statements, ‘The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Telescope at McDonald Observatory. Children) Act, 2015’: 2. It searches for exoplanets by using the 1. It included special provisions to tackle Doppler effect. child offenders committing heinous 3. It is designed to detect and characterise offences in the age group of 16-18 years. planets in ‘Goldilocks zone’. 2. It mandates setting up Juvenile Justice Which of the statements given above are Boards and Child Welfare Committees correct? in every District. (a) 1 and 2 only Which of the statement(s) given above (b) 1 and 3 only is/are correct? (c) 2 and 3 only (a) 1 only (d) All the above

(b) 2 only 60. Consider the following statements: (c) Both 1 and 2 1. It is the India’s eastern most Tiger (d) Neither 1 nor 2 Reserve situated in one of the North eastern state. 62. Consider the following statements 2. This Tiger Reserve has won India regarding “G20 Forum”: Biodiversity Award 2016 in the category 1. G20 is headquartered at Geneva, of ‘Conservation of threatened species Switzerland. for its Hornbill Nest Adoption 2. G20 does not represent World Bank and Programme. IMF. 3. It includes semi-evergreen, evergreen 3. U.A.E was the only Arab nation to hold forest and Eastern Himalayan broad leaf the G20 presidency ever. forests. Choose the Incorrect Statement using the code given below:

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(a) 1 and 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (b) 2 and 3 only (d) Neither 1 nor 2 (c) 3 only 65. ‘A Future for the World's Children’ report (d) 1, 2 and 3 was jointly released by which of the

63. Consider the following statements following organisations? regarding “Board for Financial Supervision” 1. WHO (BFS): 2. UNICEF 1. RBI performs the supervisory function 3. Lancet Medical Journal under the guidance of the BFS. 4. UNDP 2. It is chaired by RBI Governor. Select the correct answer using the code 3. The board is required to meet 4 times a given below: year atleast. (a) 1 and 2 only 4. “Prompt Corrective Action Framework” (b) 1, 2, and 3 only is an initiative of BFS. (c) 1, 3 and 4 only Choose the correct statement using the code (d) 1, 2 and 4 only

given below: 66. Which of the following ensures Judicial (a) 1, 2, 3 only Independence from executive? (b) 2, 3, 4 only 1. Security of Tenure (c) 1, 2, 4 only 2. Salaries and Allowance (d) 1, 3, 4 only 3. Devoid of discussions on judicial

proceedings 64. Consider the following statements: 4. Appointment of Judges 1. An NGO’s registration under FCRA Act Select the correct answer using the code (Foreign Contributions Regulatory Act) given below: in order to receive foreign funds is (a) 1, 2 and 3 only voluntary in nature. (b) 1, 3 and 4 only 2. FCRA monitoring falls under the aegis (c) 1, 2 and 4 only of External affairs ministry. (d) All the above Choose the Incorrect Statement using the

code given below:

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

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67. Recently US President Donald Trump made 69. Consider the following, with reference to his maiden visit to India and signed some Disha Act, 2019: important agreements with India in 1. It prescribes death penalty under Section Ahmedabad. With reference to Ahmedabad, 376 of IPC (Indian Penal Code). consider the following statements: 2. It punishes crimes against children with 1. The Nation’s first bullet train was 10 to 14 years of imprisonment. started from Ahmedabad to Mumbai. 3. The appeal against the sentence passed 2. The World’s biggest Cricket stadium is under the new law has to be disposed of situated in Ahmedabad. within six months. 3. This is also the place where Gandhi Which of the statements given above are started Dandi march on 12 March 1930. correct? Which of the statement(s) given above (a) 1 and 2 only is/are correct? (b) 1 and 3 only (a) 2 only (c) 2 and 3 only (b) 1 and 2 only (d) All the above (c) 3 only 70. In context to Craspedotropis (d) 1, 2 and 3

Gretathunbergae a land snail species,

consider the following: 68. Which of the following countries are bordered by the South China Sea? 1. It is named after Swedish Climate 1. Singapore Change activist Greta Thunberg as an 2. Japan honour. 3. China 2. It resides in tropical rainforests and is 4. Philippines sensitive to drought and extreme 5. Brunei temperatures. Select the correct answer using the code Which of the statements given above is/are given below: correct? (a) 1, 2, 3, and 4 only (a) 1 only (b) 1, 3, 4 and 5 only (b) 2 only (c) 2, 3, 4 and 5 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) All the above (d) Neither 1 nor 2

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71. Which of the following pairs are correctly 3. Removes the provision that allows matched? retired Supreme Court judges to become Tiger Reserve State Chairperson of NHRC. 1. Pakhui - Arunachal Pradesh Choose the correct statement using the code 2. Nameri - Karnataka given below: 3. Anshi-Dandeli - West Bengal (a) 1 only 4. Kawal - Telangana (b) 2 and 3 only Select the correct answer using the codes (c) 1 and 2 only given below: (d) None of the Above

(a) 1 and 2 only 74. Ensemble Prediction Systems (EPS) was (b) 1 and 4 only seen in news recently. It is related to: (c) 2 and 4 only (a) Supercomputers development (d) 3 and 4 only infrastructures (b) Early warning systems in flights to 72. Consider the following statements regarding Kabini river, a tributary of save from any accident Cauvery: (c) Improving weather forecast 1. Kerala (d) To identify countries at early stage 2. Tamil Nadu facing Balance of Payment Crisis.

3. Karnataka 75. Consider the following statements Choose the correct statement using the code regarding Olive Ridley Turtles: given below: 1. Olive Ridleys are best known for their (a) 1 and 2 only unique mass nesting called Arribada. (b) 2 and 3 only 2. IUCN has categorised them as Critically (c) 1 and 3 only Endangered Species. (d) 1, 2, 3 only Choose the correct statement using the code

given below: 73. The Protection of Human Rights (a) 1 only (Amendment) Bill, 2019 provides for which (b) 2 only of the following: 1. Increase the members of National (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 Human Rights Commission (NHRC)

from current two to three.

2. Constitutional Status to NHRC.

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76. Researchers have found that carbon more dissected by the rivers that drain into the than 8,000 years old lies deep inside a Bay of Bengal. yawning sinkhole known as ‘Yongle Blue 3. The Highest peak of the Eastern Ghats is Hole’. With reference to this context the Mahendragiri Hills. consider the following statements: Select the correct answer using the code 1. Blue Holes are generally circular, steep- given below: walled and open to surface. (a) 1 and 2 only 2. The waters of the blue holes are mostly (b) 2 and 3 only isolated from the surrounding ocean and (c) 1 and 3 only receive more fresh water from rainfall. (d) 1, 2 and 3 3. Yongle Blue Hole is the deepest known marine cavern situated in the Arctic 79. Recently in news, Unnat Bharat Scheme Ocean. refers to a scheme: Which of the statement(s) given above (a) To converge academia with the is/are not correct? industrial units to provide proper skill (a) 1 only training and (b) 1 and 2 only help students to get employed (c) 3 only (b) To provide infrastructure and credit facilities to higher educational (d) 2 and 3 only

institutions to improve their rank in 77. Malai Mahadeshwara Wildlife Sanctuary is world class institutions in: (c) To involve the higher educational (a) Tamil Nadu institutions of the country in the (b) Karnataka process of (c) Andhra Pradesh indigenous development of self- (d) Kerala sufficient and sustainable village clusters 78. With reference to the Eastern Ghats, which (d) To develop rich heritage culture of of the statements given below are correct? India to boost employment 1. The Eastern Ghats run parallel to the opportunities and eastern coastal plains of India and passes tourism sector only through five states.

2. Unlike the Western Ghats, they are discontinuous in nature and are

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80. In context to Consultative committee, 2. Commercial surrogacy includes consider the following: surrogacy or its related procedures 1. It is chaired by the Prime Minister. undertaken for a monetary benefit or 2. It is not a Parliamentary Committees. reward exceeding the basic medical 3. Its guideline is formulated by Ministry expenses and insurance coverage. of Parliamentary Affairs. Select the correct answer using the code Which of the statements given above are given below: correct? (a) 1 only (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 only (b) 1 and 3 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (c) 2 and 3 only (d) Neither 1 nor 2 (d) All the above

81. With reference to Kalasa-Banduri Nala 83. Which of the following statement is not Project, consider the following: correct regarding the Duties? 1. It is undertaken by the Government of (a) Real rights are a result of the Karnataka. performance of duty. 2. It is to improve drinking water supply in (b) One man’s right is also his duty. three districts. (c) Breach of these legal duties triggers 3. It involves building across the two financial consequences. tributaries of the Mahadayi river. (d) Duty imposed upon the citizens must Which of the statements given above are comply with the procedure established correct? by law.

(a) 1 and 2 only 84. ‘Artemis Mission to Moon’, was sometimes (b) 1 and 3 only mentioned in news. It is the mission of (c) 2 and 3 only which of the following agencies? (d) All the above (a) NASA

82. With respect to surrogacy, which of the (b) JAXA statement(s) given below is/are correct? (c) SpaceX 1. Altruistic surrogacy involves no (d) Roscosmos monetary compensation to the surrogate mother other than the medical expenses excluding insurance coverage during the pregnancy.

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85. Consider the following statements with (d) Neither 1 nor 2 respect to the election of Rajya Sabha: 87. In context to Mukundara Hills Tiger 1. The announcement to the Rajya Sabha Reserve, consider the following Elections is made by Chairman of the 1. It is situated in a valley formed by two Rajya Sabha when the term of the parallel mountains viz. Mukundra and member expires. Gargola. 2. A member chosen to fill a casual 2. It is the third tiger reserve in Rajasthan, vacancy will serve for the remainder of after Ranthambore and Sariska. his predecessor’s term of office. Which of the statements given above is/are 3. Members representing States are elected correct? by elected members of legislative (a) 1 only assemblies of the States while Members (b) 2 only representing Union Territories are (c) Both 1 and 2 chosen in such manner as Parliament (d) Neither 1 nor 2 may by law prescribe. Which of the statements given above are 88. Consider the following statements correct? 1. The Financial Action Task Force (a) 1 and 2 only (FATF) is an inter-governmental body (b) 2 and 3 only established in 1989 (c) 1 and 3 only 2. The Non-Cooperative Countries or (d) 1, 2 and 3 Territories (NCCTs) are kept under Black list of FATF. 86. With reference to National Technical textile mission, consider the following: 3. The FATF's decision making body, the 1. It will be implemented for four years FATF Plenary, meets two times per from 2020-2021 year. 2. It aims to increase the use of technical Which of the above statements is/ are textiles in the domestic market. correct? Which of the statements given above is/are (a) 1 and 2 only correct? (b) 2 and 3 only (a) 1 only (c) 1 only (b) 2 only (d) 1, 2 and 3 (c) Both 1 and 2

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89. Consider the following statements 91. Consider the following, with reference to regarding Manjeera River: 1. Exercise Indra Dhanush is a joint 1. It is a tributary of . military exercise between the Indian Air 2. It flows through Karnataka and Force and the Royal Air Force of the Telangana. United Kingdom. 3. The Singur dam is built over it for 2. The 5th edition of the Indra Dhanush hydroelectric purpose. Exercise 2020 was held in Hindon Air Which of the statements given above are Force Station, Uttar Pradesh correct? Which of the above statements is/are (a) 1 and 2 only correct? (b) 1 and 3 only (c) 2 and 3 only (a) 1 only (d) All the above (b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2 92. Consider the following statements (d) Neither 1 or 2 1. Dadabhai Naoroji through his book,

“Poverty and Unbritish Rule in India” 90. Recently, the term ‘Counter Cyclical Fiscal made the earliest estimation of poverty Policy’ was seen in the news. Which of the following statements best describes it? line in India. (a) It is the strategy to decrease the fiscal 2. The Tendulkar Committee (2009) deficit through manipulating its recommended incorporation of private periodicity. expenditure on health and education (b) It is a fiscal policy of the government while estimating poverty. to counter the prevailing monetary 3. The Lakdawala Committee (1993) policy. recommended discontinuation of scaling (c) It is a change brought by the of poverty estimates based on National government through increasing its Accounts Statistics. forex reserves. Which of the above statements is/ are (d) It is the strategy adopted to counter correct? recession or boom through fiscal (a) 1 and 2 only measures. (b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3.

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93. Consider the following statements 96. ‘EASE 3.0’, sometimes mentioned in news regarding ‘ICoSDiTAUS-2020’ is referred to 1. ICoSDiTAUS-2020 is an international (a) New version of BS VI engine model conference on bovine productivity, (b) providing smart, tech-enabled public aimed at increasing the productivity of sector banking indigenous breeds. (c) easy access for physically challenged 2. The Conference was organized by the people in public places Ministry of AYUSH. (d) None of the above

Which of the above statements is/are 97. Consider the following statements: correct? 1. Law and Order and Police are placed in (a) 1 only the state list in the eighth schedule of the (b) 2 only Indian Constitution. (c) Both 1 and 2 2. The NCT Delhi Police, Law and Order (d) Neither 1 or 2 are controlled by the Union

94. Recently, the term “Pauk-phaw” was seen Government. in the news. It denotes relationship Which of the statement(s) given above between is/are correct? (a) China and South Korea (a) 1 only (b) India and China (b) 2 only (c) North Korea and South Korea (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) China and Myanmar (d) Neither 1 nor 2

95. Which of the following states are bordered 98. ‘National Health Index’ is released by which by the state of Assam? of the following? 1. Manipur (a) NITI Aayog 2. Mizoram (b) Ministry of Health and Family Welfare 3. Nagaland (c) President of India 4. Meghalaya (d) The Parliament Select the correct answer using the code

given below: 99. Consider the following pairs: (a) 1, 2 and 3 only Space Mission Related Planet (b) 2, 3 and 4 only 1. Osiris-REx - Asteroid Ryugu (c) 1, 3 and 4 only 2. Juno - Jupiter (d) All the above 3. Hayabusa 2 - Asteroid Bennu

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4. InSight - Earth

Which of the pair(s) given above are Incorrect? (a) 1 and 4 only (b) 1 and 2 only (c) 2 and 3 only (d) 1, 3 and 4 only

100. Consider the following, with regard to Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD): 1. It is the amount of dissolved oxygen used by microorganisms in the biological process of metabolizing organic matter in water 2. More the organic matter in water, lesser is the amount of dissolved oxygen available for fishes Which of the statements given above are correct? a) 1 only b) 2 only c) Both 1 and 2 d) Neither 1 nor 2

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ANSWER KEY

1 C 21 D 41 A 61 C 81 D 2 C 22 B 42 C 62 D 82 B 3 B 23 B 43 B 63 C 83 D 4 A 24 D 44 A 64 C 84 A

5 B 25 D 45 B 65 B 85 B

6 B 26 A 46 B 66 D 86 C 7 C 27 B 47 B 67 D 87 C 8 A 28 C 48 B 68 B 88 A 9 A 29 C 49 C 69 D 89 B 10 D 30 C 50 B 70 C 90 D 11 B 31 C 51 D 71 B 91 D 12 B 32 C 52 A 72 C 92 D 13 C 33 B 53 D 73 A 93 B 14 C 34 C 54 D 74 C 94 D 15 D 35 C 55 C 75 A 95 D 16 D 36 D 56 C 76 D 96 B 17 B 37 B 57 C 77 B 97 B 18 A 38 B 58 D 78 D 98 A 19 B 39 A 59 D 79 C 99 D 20 D 40 C 60 B 80 C 100 C

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