UPSC Contemporary Issues & Current Affairs March 2019 (Study Material)
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UPSC Contemporary Issues & Current Affairs March 2019 By Jawwad Kazi Published by 'Unique Academy Publications Pvt. Ltd.' 1202/39, Vastu Chambers, Opp. Fergusson College Main Gate Shirole Rasta, Pune 4. Ph. 020-25530950 Email. : [email protected] Website : www.theuniqueacademy.com UPSC Contemporary Issues & Current Affairs March 2019 (Study Material) By Jawwad Kazi https://t.me/jawwadkazicurrentaffairs © Unique Aademy Publications Pvt. Ltd. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without permission. Any person who does any unauthorised act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages. Year 2019 Cover Design : Unique Academy Publications Team Typesetter :Unique Academy Publications Team Printed By : M. S. Process, Sadashiv Peth, Pune. The Unique Academy Contemporary Issues Sr. No INDEX 1. Lokpal and Lokayukta 2. Official Secrets Act (OSA) and RTI 3. Contempt of Court 4. Model Code of Conduct 5. RBI Forex Swap agreement 6. India and GSP 7. 15th Finance Commission and Fiscal Federalism 8. Electoral bond and Lack of transparency 9. Academic reservation system 10. Aviation Crisis 11. Drug affordability 12. OIC and India 13. UN Reform 14. Denuclearisation of Korean peninsula 15. India and Latin America relations 16. Naga peace accord 17. Unorganized Sector workers in India 18. Article 370 & 35A 19. E Mobility in India. 20. One nation one driving license 21. Immunization in India 22 National mineral policy 2019 23 Forest fires 24 Rising Man-Animal conflicts Contemporary Issues & Current Affairs March - 2019 (Study Material) 3 The Unique Academy Current Affairs INDEX Sr. Page No No I POLILTY 69 1 YuvaSahakar Scheme 2 Rule on reuse of cooking oil 3 Change in law has made election candidates more accountable 4 Ordinance on university faculty reservations gets nod 5 Model Code of Conduct: 6 J&K draft of return policy for militants: Rs 6,000 stipend, jobs 7 EC: no names removed based on draft NRC 8 Registration of political parties under Section 29A of the RP Act, 1951 9 How Lokpal will form, function 10 Time to have institutional mechanism like Fiscal Council to enforce rules: NK Singh JUDGMENTS 1 Justice and the manifesto 2 Greens in the red: Why Aravallis matter to National Capital Region 3 Teachers entitled to gratuity, rules SC 4 Mediation in Ayodhya dispute 5 Officers with 6 months’ tenure can be named DGP, says SC 6 RTI trumps Official Secrets Act, says SC 7 SC issues notice to EC on plea to verify at least 50% VVPATs 8 Life imprisonment is the rule, death penalty the exception: SC 9 Govt.’s prerogative to frame schemes: SC II ENVIRONMENT 78 1 Rhinos without borders is conservation credo 4 Contemporary Issues & Current Affairs March - 2019 (Study Material) The Unique Academy 2 Tree cover, forest cover – How are the two different? 3 Cabinet approves Petroleum Ministry joining of IEA Bioenergy TCP 4 India to tie up with 4 nations to save rhinos 5 Fifteen of the 20 most polluted cities in the world are in India 6 Nitrogen Pollution 7 India Cooling Action Plan (ICAP) 8 Sundarbans Wetlands 9 India’s newest frog evolved 60 million years ago 10 Much to gain if Paris climate goals are met 11 Environment damage behind a quarter of premature deaths, diseases: UN report 12 India’s biodiversity-rich zones also ‘hotspots’ of human impacts 13 A climate vulnerability index for India on the anvil 14 Parrotfish in Andaman 15 Rising sea levels to affect water table along Chennai’s shoreline 16 Galapagos Islands 17 Minimum area, maximum plants: Manmade forest in Kottayam 18 India’s carbon dioxide emissions up 5% 19 Five varieties of Indian coffee awarded GI certification 20 Island Protection Zone (IPZ), 2019 III INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS 88 1 Third IT corridor in China 2 The country Human Rights reports-2018 3 Kazakhstan renames capital 4 Italy set to become first G7 country to join ‘Belt and Road’ 5 U.S. circulates draft resolution on Azhar in Security Council 6 Second summit between US-N.Korea leaders remained inconclusive 7 Push at UNSC to ban Azhar 8 S. Korea to help U.S., N. Korea reach a deal Contemporary Issues & Current Affairs March - 2019 (Study Material) 5 The Unique Academy 9 Pakistan over Terrorist Organisations 10 China, U.S. close to trade deal 11 China offered mediation between India and Pakistan 12 India-UK cooperation on Defence 13 India-Saudi Arabia relations 14 India-Maldives relations 15 India-UK relations 16 India-US relations 17 India gets first TIR shipment via Chabahar Port from Afghanistan 18 World Water Day-22 March IV SOCIAL 95 1 Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) 2 Pension scheme for workers 3 Female labour force participation 4 Twin-leach pits use 5 Casual farm labour shrinks: NSSO's Report 6 World TB Day V ECONOMICS 99 Banking Sector & Monetary Policy 1 SWIFT 2 Forex swaps Government Policies and Taxation 1 GST collection 2 Scheme for Textile Sector 3 Renewable status for large hydro power projects 4 Banning of Unregulated Deposit Schemes Ordinance 2019 5 Blockchain-enabled marketplace app for coffee Infrastructure 1 Wind energy 2 Solar capacity addition 6 Contemporary Issues & Current Affairs March - 2019 (Study Material) The Unique Academy MISCELLANEOUS 1 Audit of IL&FS Loans 2 CII Survey on MSMEs Jobs 3 Exports on Rise 4 Anti-profiteering 5 FPI inflows VI SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 1 CCR5-delta 32: The rare mutation to stop HIV Toyota and Japan space agency plan joint mission to the 2 107 moon 3 Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD) virus 4 Supersonic Shockwaves 5 Early detection of heart attack 6 Combat causality drugs 7 West Nile fever 8 WHO strategy to fight flu pandemics 9 Mosquito-killing drug offers new tool for fighting malaria 10 Dry eye disease epidemic 11 Japan to make crater on asteroid 12 Lancet on TB 13 Evidence of water on asteroid Bennu 14 Sharp rise in H1N1 cases 15 PSLV C-45 16 Mission Shakti- Anti-satellite missile test VII INTERNAL SECURITY 113 1 Smart fence along border 2 ISRO-CNES Maritime surveillance system 3 Army to undergo major reforms 4 India, Russia sign deal on nuclear submarine 5 India is world’s 2nd largest arms importer Contemporary Issues & Current Affairs March - 2019 (Study Material) 7 The Unique Academy 6 TROPEX 19 7 Pulwama attack 8 Jamaat-e-Islami 9 Army’s carbine procurement held up 8 Contemporary Issues & Current Affairs March - 2019 (Study Material) The Unique Academy 1 Lokpal & Lokayukta Syllabus z GS2: Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies. Question z Recently the first head of Lokpal has been appointed, explain the importance of Lokpal in the present time and also discuss its new provisions in detail. Why in news? z A selection panel finalized the name of former SC judge Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghose as the first head of the Lokpal, a national anti-corruption ombudsman. Introduction z Background: (1) Lokpal is an Indian version of ombudsman which is originated in Sweden in 1809. (2) In 1966 ARC report recommended the creation of two special authorities designated as 'Lokpal' and 'Lokayukta' for redress of citizens' grievances. (3) In 2011 government formed a Group of Ministers suggest measures to tackle corruption and examine the proposal of a Lokpal Bill. (4) In 2013 Lokpal and Lokayuktas Bill, 2013, was passed in both Houses of Parliament. (5) 2016: Lok Sabha agreed to amend the Lokpal Act and Bill was sent to Standing Committee for review. z Important features in the 2013 Bill: (1) Lokpal at the Centre and Lokayukta at the level of the States. (2) The Lokpal will consist of a Chairperson and a maximum of eight Members, of which fifty percent shall be judicial members. (3) Fifty percent of members of Lokpal shall be from amongst SC/ST/OBCs, Minorities and Women. (4) Lokpal's various wings: ¾ Inquiry Wing: Headed by the Director of Inquiry, for the purpose of conducting preliminary inquiry into any offence alleged to have been committed by a public servant. ¾ Prosecution Wing: Headed by the Director of Prosecution, for the purpose of prosecution of public servants in relation to any complaint. z Jurisdiction of Lokpal: (1) Prime Minister has been brought under the purview of the Lokpal. Except allegations relating to IR, external & internal security, public order, atomic energy, space. (2) Lokpal’s jurisdiction will cover all categories of public servants. (3) All entities receiving donations from foreign source in the context of FCRA in excess of Rs. 10 lakhs per year are brought under the jurisdiction of Lokpal. z Powers: (1) Lokpal will have power of superintendence and direction over any investigation agency including CBI for cases referred to them by Lokpal. (2) Protection for honest and upright Public Servants. (3) The Lokpal can summon or question any public servant if there exists a prima facie case against the person. Contemporary Issues & Current Affairs March - 2019 (Study Material) 9 The Unique Academy (4) An investigation must be completed within six months. However, the Lokpal or Lokayukta may allow extensions of six months at a time provided the reasons for the need of such extensions are given in writing. (5) Special courts will be instituted to conduct trials on cases referred by Lokpal (6) The Lokpal can award fine up to Rs. 2 lakh for “false, frivolous or vexatious” complaints. z Who appoints Lokpal: (1) The selection of Chairperson and Members of Lokpal shall be through a Selection Committee consisting of:- ¾ Prime Minister. ¾ Speaker of Lok Sabha. ¾ Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha. ¾ CJI or a sitting SC judge nominated by CJI.