Current Affairs | May 2021

MAY 2021

CURRENT AFFAiR Art & Culture Economy Internaonal Relaons Polity & Governance Science & Technology Government Schemes Environment & Ecologuy Social Issues Miscellaneous

84, First Floor, Bada Bazar,Near Kotak Mahindra Bank, Old Ranjinder Nagar, New Delhi – 110060 Current Affairs May 2021

Contents

Topics Page No.

1. Art and Culture 2-8

2. Polity and Governance 9-17

3. Environment & Ecology 18-22

4. Economy 23-29

5. Science and Technology 30-39

6. Social Issues 40-46

7. International Relations 47-55

8. Government Schemes 56-60

9. Miscellaneous 61-70 2 | Current Affairs – May, 2021 1 Art and Culture

International Day for Monuments and Sites ●● India is home to 38 UNESCO World Heritage Why in News Sites, out of the 1121 such spots identified around the world. April 18th is celebrated as International Day for Monuments and Sites ●● Out of these, 30 are ‘cultural’, such as the Ajanta Caves, Fatehpur Sikri, Hampi monu- Important Points ments and the Mountain Railways of India, and ●● Annually the United Nation marks April 18 as 7 are ‘Natural’, including Kaziranga, Manas the International Day for Monuments and Sites. and Nanda Devi National Parks. ●● Many countries also celebrated this day as ●● One is classified as ‘Mixed’, the Khang- World Heritage Day. The theme for this year chendzonga National Park. is “Complex Pasts: Diverse Futures”. ●● In 2019, ‘Jaipur City’ became the 38th addition ●● Globally, the day is promoted by the Inter- to the India list under Culture. national Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS). ●● So far, only China, Italy, Spain, Germany, and France have more locations on the list than ●● ICOMOS in 1982 had decided to celebrate April India. 18 as the International Day for Monuments and Sites or World Heritage Day, approved Lokame Tharavadu by UNESCO in 1983 during its 22nd General Why in News Conference. Contemporary art Lokame Tharavadu launched in ● The day is dedicated to recognising sites of ● Alappuza for artistic community in Kerala historical importance, raising awareness regarding them, and stressing the need to restore and Important Points preserve them. GAURAV●● Titled ‘LokameIAS Tharavadu’ (The World is One Family), the art show is being organised by the Kochi Biennale Foundation with support from the state departments of tourism and culture and the Alappuzha Heritage Project. ●● The art show is implemented under the guidance of the Muziris Heritage Project Ltd. ●● The show, curated by artist and Kochi Biennale Foundation president Bose Krishnamachari, features the works of 267 artists, who trace their roots to Kerala and by scale is considered the

biggest art event to be held in India. coming together to showcase a selection of ●● The exhibition invokes the power of art to works. revive and resurrect the dejected human spirit. ●● At a time when the art industry is adapting to ●● The Lokame Tharavadu show features works the rules of the Covid protocols and making of 56 women artists, some of them virtually an effort to bring the audience back, attempts unknown. are also being made through DAW to encourage engagement from the art aficionados. ●● Alappuzha was chosen as the site because this The line-up includes solos as well as curated is a planned city with a lot of potential to be a projects. world-class destination just like Kochi. It was the original port centre whose importance got ●● Most of the gallerists exhibiting happen to be diminished after Cochin Port was developed. powerful female figures in the Indian art world. ●● The core idea of this exhibition, the world Armenian genocide is one family, is drawn from the verses of a Why in News Malayalam poem written by Vallathol Narayana ●● US President finally called out to recognise Menon, which appeals to the universal spirit Armenian genocide. of humanity, especially in these times of the Important Points Covid pandemic. ●● US President Joe Biden marked the Armenian Delhi contemporary art week Genocide Remembrance Day of April 24 by Why in News calling out the historical event and promised Delhi Art Week, organised to encourage engagement American commitment “to preventing such an from the art aficionados atrocity from ever again occurring”. Important Points Armenian Genocide ●● Delhi has been divided into four art zones — ●● During the Armenian Genocide, between 1915 with Dhoomimal Gallery in Connaught Place at to 1922 in the First World War, thousands of the north end and Art Incept by Art Pilgrim in Armenians perished due to killings, starvation Chhatarpur in the south. and disease, when they were deported by Otto- man Turks from eastern Anatolia. ●● Delhi Contemporary Art Week is a collaborative exhibition with sevenGAURAV Delhi-based galleries, ●● It is difficult IAS to estimate the total number of most of them helmed by women, have come Armenians who died during the genocide, but together to bring Delhiites a holistic art expe- the Armenian diaspora says that approximately rience at the Bikaner House for the first time. 1.5 million died. ●● This year DCAW is taking place at a new venue, ●● Countries including India, have not formally Bikaner House which will bring in new energy recognised the Armenian Genocide where as and vigour to the event with its grand colonial 30 countries officially recognise the Armenian era architecture and spacious exhibition spaces. Genocide. ●● It basically focused on the Indian and South ●● The expressions ‘genocide’ and ‘ethnic cleans- Asian contemporary art, all the galleries are ing’ were not in vogue when the Armenians

were systematically eliminated and their culture About Khajuraho Temples annihilated in Ottoman Turkey. ●● The temples at Khajuraho were built during the Sri Ramanujacharya Jayanthi Chandella dynasty, which reached its apogee Why in News between 950 and 1050.

1004th birth anniversary of Sri Ramanujacharya was obsereved on 18th April. Important Points ●● Sri Ramanuja Acharya was born in 1017 CE at Shriperumbudur village in Tamil Nadu. He was a great theologian philosopher and thinker of devotional Hinduism. ●● Ramanuja is also known as Ramanujacharya is the most respected Acharya in the philosophy of Sri Vaishnavism.

●● Sri Ramanuja was named Lakshmana at the ●● Only about 20 temples remain; they fall into time of his birth but he was also referred to three distinct groups and belong to two different as Ilaya Perumal which means the radiant one. religions – Hinduism and Jainism. ●● The date of Sri Ramanuja Jayanthi is decided ●● The Khajuraho Group of Monuments are rare on the basis of the Tamil Solar Calendar. surviving examples that display the originality Ramanuja Jayanthi is observed during Chithirai and high quality of Nagara-style temple archi- month on Thiruvathirai Nakshatra day. tecture. Khajuraho Temple ●● The Temple of Kandariya is decorated with Why in News a profusion of sculptures that are among the Tourism Ministry Showcases Exquisite Khajuraho greatest masterpieces of Indian art. Temple Architecture ●● Khajuraho Group of Monuments is owned by Important Points the Government of India and managed by the Archaeological Survey of India through the ●● Khajuraho temple GAURAVarchitecture was showcased IAS Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites in a webinar, titled ‘Khajuraho-Temples of Architectural Splendour’, organised by the and Remains (AMASR) Act (1958) and its Tourism Ministry. Rules (1959), amendment (1992), and Amend- ment and Validation Act (2010). ●● The Dekho Apna Desh webinar was presented by Anurag Shukla, a regional level guide with Jallianwala Bagh expertise in Khajuraho temple art, architecture, Why in News and iconography. Shukla is the only guide in Films Division streamed three films on Jallianwala Khajuraho who reads the inscriptions of Kha- Bagh 102nd Anniversary. juraho.

Important Points ●● The total estimated figure of the dead as given

●● On the 102nd Anniversary of the Jallianwala by General Dyer and Mr Irving was 291. How- Bagh massacre on 13th April, 2021, Films ever, other reports including that of a committee Division screened three documentary films as headed by Madan Mohan Malviya put the figure a tribute to the martyrs of the tragedy. of dead at over 500. The films were: Jyotiba Phule Why in News 1. Jallianwala Bagh (18 Mins/Prem Prakash/ English/1970) which tells how the massa- PM Modi Paid Tribute to Jyotirao Phule on his 194th Birth Anniversary. cre became a turning point in the history of India’s freedom struggle. Important Points

2. Hero of Jallianwala Bagh – Dr. Saifuddin Kitchlew (27 Mins/S.Azaad/Hindi/2011), a biographical film on the hero of Jallianwala Bagh.

3. Dr. S Kitchlew and 13 04 1919 (12 Mins / Amrit Pal Singh/Hindi/ 2019), a short film on the horrific carnage of innocent people by British army at Jallianwala Bagh and on the Memorial built to commemorate the tragic event. ●● 11th April 2021 marks the 194th birth anniver- APRIL 13, 1919 - JALLIANWALA BAGH sary of noted social reformer Jyotirao Phule. MASSACRE ●● Born in 1827 to a family of florists in Pune, ●● On April 13, 1919, the public had gathered to Jyotirao Phule experienced discrimination early celebrate Baisakhi. GAURAVon in his IASlife. ●● Brigadier-General Dyer, headed to the Bagh ●● Jyotirao Phule had to drop out of school and with his troops and entered the Bagh, deployed help out his father at his farm, but he did complete his education later. Phule was married to his troops and ordered them to open fire without Savitribai when he was only 13. giving any warning. ●● Jyotirao Phule propagated his reforms and his ●● People rushed to the exits but Dyer directed his idea of the caste system in the books that he soldiers to fire at the exit. wrote – Gulamgiri and Shetkarayacha Aasud. ●● The firing continued for 10-15 minutes. 1650 Another propagator of Dalit emancipation movement, BR Ambedkar considered Phule to rounds were fired. The firing ceased only after be his guru. the ammunition had ran out.

Little Guru Joshi fellowship for music and Ustad Ghulam Why in News Mustafa Khan Fellowship for Music to encourage research in the field of Indian music. ICCR Foundation Day celebrated at Indian Embassy in Beijing, “Little Guru” app launched. Two-child norm Important Points Why in News ●● The Indian Council for Cultural Relations Maharashtra’s two-child norm for government (ICCR) celebrated its 71st Foundation Day. employees ●● India is celebrating Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav Important Points to celebrate 75 years of independence which ●● A woman officer from the Maharashtra Prison was the prevailing theme of the entire event. Department was dismissed from service after an ●● Swami Vivekanand Cultural Centre at Indian inquiry revealed that she violated the Maharash- Embassy in Beijing celebrated ICCR Founda- tra Civil Services (Declaration of Small Family) tion Day in the presence of a huge gathering rules because she suppressed the information of ICCR scholars in China and their disciples from the authorities that she has three children. who learnt Indian dance and music. ●● The Maharashtra Civil Services (Declaration of ●● On the occasion, the ICCR has unveiled ‘Lit- Small Family) Rule of 2005 defines a small tle Guru’ app, world’s first Gamified Sanskrit family as wife, husband and two children and learning App which was jointly launched in stipulates that a person is not eligible for a job Beijing. with Maharashtra Government if he or she has more than two children after 2005. ●● In keeping pace with changing technology in both access as well as teaching methods, ICCR ●● What is the ‘children norm’ or Maharashtra has tied up with Gamapp Sportswizz Tech. Pvt. Civil Services (Declaration of Small Family) Ltd. to launch 'LITTLE GURU', a specialized Rules, 2005? app for learning Sanskrit. ●● Maharashtra is one of the few states in the ●● Little Guru will be a gamified app based on an country that have a ‘two children’ policy for interactive platform which will make Sanskrit appointment in government jobs or even for the learning easy, entertaining, and fun. elections of some local government bodies. ●● This app will help people who are already ●● Other states such as Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, learning Sanskrit or those who are desirous to Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, Gujarat, Odi- learn Sanskrit to do so in an easy manner based sha, Uttarakhand and Assam being the latest on games, competition, rewards, peer to peer addition to the list in 2019. interactions, etc. ●● The set of norms came into force in Maharash- ●● Indian diaspora’s desireGAURAV to stay connected with tra as MaharashtraIAS Civil Services (Declaration their roots as well as foreigners’ wish to access of Small Family) Rules on March 28, 2005. The the rich literary epics and texts of India has rules mandate filing a small family declaration attracted a huge demand for Sanskrit. at the time of applying for a government job. ●● The number of Sanskrit universities across the ●● The set of norms came into force in Maharash- world have also been keen on an App which tra as Maharashtra Civil Services (Declaration would help not only the students who are cur- of Small Family) Rules on March 28, 2005. The rently studying in these universities but also rules mandate filing a small family declaration to act as a feeder for young scholars to learn at the time of applying for a government job. Sanskrit before joining universities. ●● The definition of child under these rules does ●● This year, ICCR has also announced two new not include adopted children. The rules make fellowships dedicated to music – Bhimsen the Small Family norm an additional essential

requirement for Groups A, B, C, D of Mahar- 2. Consider the following statements regarding ashtra government employees. Lokame Tharavadu ●● A person having more than two children more 1. It exhibits the power of art to revive and than two children on the date commencement of the rule (March 28, 2005), shall not be disqual- resurrect the dejected human spirit. ified for appointment under these provisions so 2. The core idea of the exhibition, the world long as the number of children on the date of is one family, is drawn from the verses of such commencement does not increase. a Malayalam poem written by Vallathol ●● Also, provided that one or more than one children are born in a single delivery within an year Narayana Menon, which appeals to the of the commencement, shall not be considered universal spirit of humanity. for the disqualification of the rules. Select the correct answer using the code given Online exhibition on Ramayana below Why in News (a) 1 only (b) 2 only Tourism and Culture Minister inaugurates first-ever (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 online exhibition on Ramayana 3. Which of the following countries are bordered Important Points with Armenia? ●● Tourism and Culture Minister Prahlad Singh Patel has inaugurated the first-ever online 1. Georgia exhibition on Ramayana. 2. Azerbaijan ●● The web link for the online exhibition is: ●● www.nmvirtual.in/Virtual_Tour/Ramayan. 3. Russia ●● Mr Patel addressed a webinar 'India's Heritage: Select the correct answer using the code given Powering Tourism' on the occasion of World below Heritage Day 2021. (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 and 3 only ●● The online exhibition showcases forty nine miniature paintings collections of National (c) 1 and 3 only (d) All of the above Museum, New Delhi from different art schools 4. Consider the following statements regarding of India. Sri Ramanujacharya MCQs Based on Art and Culture 1. Lord Venkateshwara of Tirumala accepted GAURAVRamanuja IAS as guru and accepted sankha and 1. Which among the following is/are the Cultural chakra from him. UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India? 2. He expounded Visishtadwaitha school of 1. Buddhist Monuments at Sanchi thought and made the temples as centers 2. Khangchendzonga National Park of Dharma. 3. Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram 4. Sundarbans National Park 3. He pioneered the Bhakthi Movement. Select the correct answer using the code given Select the correct answer using the code given below below (a) 1 and 3 only (b) 1,2 and 3 only (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 and 3 only (c) 1,3 and 4 only (d) All of the above (c) 1 and 3 only (d) All of the above

5. Which of the following dynasties built the 3. (a) Khajuraho temples? 1 and 2 only (a) Rashtrakuta dynasty To the north and east Armenia is bounded by (b) Chandella dynasty Georgia and Azerbaijan, while its neighbours (c) Chalukya dynasty to the southeast and west are, respectively, Iran and Turkey. Naxçıvan, an exclave of Azerbaijan, (d) Pandya dynasty borders Armenia to the southwest. 6. Who was the Viceroy of India during Jallian- 4. (d) wala Bagh massacre? All of the above (a) Lord Hardings (b) Lord Minto Lord Venkateshwara of Tirumala accepted (c) Lord Reading (d) Lord Chelmsford Ramanuja as guru and accepted sankha and 7. Who was the political guru of (b) R. Ambed- chakra from him. He pioneered the Bhakthi kar? Movement and advocated philosophy which (a) Mahadev Govind Ranade formed the basis for several Bhakthi Move- (b) Jyotibha Phule ments.He expounded Visishtadwaitha school of thought and made the temples as centers of (c) Dayananda Saraswati Dharma. (d) Bal Gangadhar Tilak 5. (b) Chandella dynasty

Explantion The temples at Khajuraho were built during the Chandella dynasty, which reached its apogee between 950 and 1050. 1. (a) 1 and 3 only 6. (d) Lord Chelmsford Mixed NESCO World Heritage Sites in India: Lord Chelmsford was the Viceroy of India Khangchendzonga National Park (2016) during Jallianwala Bagh massacre Natural UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India: 7. (b) Jyotirao Phule Sundarbans National Park (1987) B.R.Ambedkar hails Jyotibha Phule as his Buddhist Monuments at Sanchi (1989) and political guru. Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram (1984) are the Cultural UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India. 2. (c) Both 1 and 2 GAURAV IAS Lokame Tharavadu exhibits the power of art to revive and resurrect the dejected human spirit. The core idea of the exhibition, the world is one family, is drawn from the verses of a Malayalam poem written by Vallathol Narayana Menon, which appeals to the universal spirit of humanity.

Petition in Supreme Court of India solved through Darul Kaza (Shariat Court); Why in News ●● Talak-e-Mubarrah — divorce by mutual consent; Petition filed in Supreme Court against uniform civil law on divorce and alimony ●● Fask — the wife can get an annulment of marriage through Darul Kaza;and Important Points ●● Finally, via the Dissolution of Muslim Mar- ●● A petition has been filed in the Supreme Court riages Act of 1939. against a “blatant attempt” being made to take ●● Muslim marriage is contractual in nature and away the fundamental right of Muslim women as such the parties to it are allowed to impose to practice their religion, all in the guise of conditions for regulating their matrimonial rela- providing a “uniform law” across all faiths. tions. Such conditions can be imposed before ●● Amina Sherwani requested the Supreme Court the marriage or at the time of the marriage or to hear her plea before deciding whether a even after the marriage. uniform civil law for divorce, maintenance ●● Mehr for the bride and alimony will leave Muslim women like her better-off. ●● ‘Mehr’, which is considered to be a symbol of respect to the wife and as such it is meant to ●● In December last year, the Supreme Court had be substantial. agreed to examine advocate A.K. Upadhyay’s plea for a single law covering divorce, mainte- ●● A meagre amount is wrong under Islamic prin- nance and alimony for all religions. ciples. Further, if Mehr dues are not paid at the time of divorce, the wife is entitled to retain ●● Amina Sherwani has represented all women possession of her husband’s property. who follow the Islamic faith, and married according to the Muslim rites and traditions, ●● In case of refusal by the husband to pay the and is a recipient of the rights and entitlements Mehr, the wife is entitled to live separately provided to her. TheGAURAV Muslim personal law and during IAS this period she is entitled to claim allows Muslim women few rights, such rights maintenance from her husband. that may not be available under other marital Tribunals Reforms laws. Why in News ●● The Muslim personal law provides a Muslim The Tribunals Reforms Ordinance, 2021, was noti- woman various options to divorce her husband. fied by the Ministry of Law and Justice ●● They include Talak-e-Tafweez (the wife’s right Important Points to divorce her husband is like that of the husband if the same has been incorporated in the ●● The government has issued an ordinance which nikahnama or where such a delegation has been does away with certain appellate tribunals, made by the husband on a subsequent date); including the Film Certification Appellate Tribunal (FCAT) set up to hear appeals of ●● Khula — the wife can get her marriage dis-

filmmakers, and transfers their functions to units at same place. other existing judicial bodies. ●● The Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) has ●● The Ministry of Law and Justice has made already identified posting in vigilance units/ amendments to the following matters departments as "sensitive posting". ●● Cinematograph Act ●● Undue long stay of an official in such a sen- ●● Copyright Act sitive post at one place has the potential of developing vested interests, apart from giving ●● Customs Act rise to unnecessary complaints/ allegations etc. ●● Patents Act ●● In order to emphasise the importance of the ●● Airports Authority of India Act issue and to ensure transparency, objectivity, ●● Trade Marks Act and uniformity in approach, the Commission ●● Geographical Indications of Goods (registration has decided to modify its guidelines. and protection) Act Protection of Plant Varieties ●● The tenure of personnel in vigilance unit at one and Farmers Rights Act place including PS/PA and lower level func- ●● Control of National Highways (land and traffic) tionaries should be limited to three years only. Act, and Finance Act ●● The personnel can have two continuous post- ●● In the Cinematograph Act, the appellate body ings in vigilance units, at two different places will now be the high court. The FCAT was a of posting, each running into a maximum of statutory body constituted to hear appeals of three years. filmmakers aggrieved by Central Board of Film ●● The personnel, who have completed more than Certification (CBFC). five years in vigilance units at same place, ●● The Tribunals Reforms (Rationalisation and should be shifted on top priority basis. Conditions of Service) Bill, 2021 is proposed ●● In the first phase, at least 10% of the persons to be enacted to abolish certain tribunals and (minimum of one person), who have worked authorities and to provide a mechanism for beyond three years, should be shifted in sequen- filing appeal directly to the commercial court tial order, without exception, i.e., on the basis or the High Court. of first come first go principle. ●● Since the bill could not get parliamentary nod, Durbar Move an ordinance was issued. The Government of Why in News India began the process of rationalisation of tribunals in 2015. GAURAVBy the Finance Act, 2017, A tradition ofIAS a century and a half is set to be broken seven tribunals were abolished or merged based in Jammu and Kashmir on functional similarity and their total number Important Points was reduced to 19 from 26. ●● Durbar Move is a bi-annual shifting of the Civil Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) Secretariat and other offices of the state govern- Why in News ment from Jammu to Srinagar in summer, and vice versa in winter. CVC asked central govt depts. to transfer staff ●● This is done as Jammu & Kashmir has two Important points capitals: Kashmir during summer and Jammu ●● The CVC has asked all central government during winter departments to transfer the staff who have ●● Durbar Move is a tradition started 149 years completed more than five years in vigilance

ago started by the erstwhile Dogra rulers who ●● The SC give emphasis and uphold the meaning hailed from Jammu, but had expanded their of the word “propagate” figured in Article 25 boundaries to Kashmir including what is now of the Constitution, which guaranteed right to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, and Ladakh. religion. ●● PIL was filled to seek the directions to the Centre and states to ban black magic, superstition and fraudulent and forcible religious conversions. ●● PIL states that the forceful violation of right to equality, right to life and liberty and right to religion guaranteed under Articles 14, 21 and 25 of the Constitution are against the principles of secularism – an integral part of basic structure of Constitution. ●● Centre is empowered to make special provisions for the benefit of women and children under Article 15(3) and freedom of conscience, free ●● Last year, the Jammu & Kashmir High Court profession, practice and propagation of religion observed that there was no legal justification under Article 25 is subject to public order, or constitutional basis for the Darbar Move morality, health and other provisions of Part-III. tradition. 24th Chief Election Commissioner ●● Pointing out that the practice has resulted in Why in News wastage of tremendous amount of time, efforts and energy on inefficient and unnecessary Sushil Chandra takes over as the 24th Chief Election activity. Commissioner of India ●● The UT government has decided to switch to Important Points e-governance, will all office records converted ●● Sushil Chandra assumed charge as the 24th into digital format. chief election commissioner of India. ●● As a result, while the Secretariat employees and ●● In his tenure as Chairman of CBDT, he has some offices will move from Jammu to Srinagar played an active role in unearthing illegal as usual this year, only sensitive records will be money often used during Assembly Elections. shifted from one placeGAURAV to another. IAS ●● He was instrumental in evolving a uniform Freedom of Religion format of sharing details of all assets and lia- Why in News bilities not mentioned in the affidavits of the candidates. Persons above 18 years free to choose their religion About the Election Commission Important Points ●● The Election Commission of India is a perma- ●● While maintaining that an adult is free to choose nent and an independent body established by a religion of his or her choice, the Supreme the Constitution of India directly to ensure free Court refused to entertain a PIL seeking and fair elections in the country. directions to ban black magic, superstition and fraudulent religious conversions. ●● Article 324 of Indian constitution deals with the superintendence, direction and control of the

preparation of the electoral rolls for, and the stay in India and gives the cardholders a host conduct of, all elections to Parliament and to of privileges normally not given to a foreign the Legislature of every State and of elections national. to the offices of President and Vice President ●● If a person has obtained registration as OCI held under this Constitution shall be vested in cardholder after attaining the age of 20 years, a Commission. there will be no requirement of re-issue of OCI ●● The Election Commission shall consist of the card. Chief Election Commissioner and such number Eligibility criteria: of other Election Commissioners, if any, as the Following categories of foreign nationals are President may from time to time fix. eligible for registration as Overseas Citizen of ●● The appointment of the Chief Election Com- India (OCI) Cardholder:- missioner and other Election Commissioners shall, subject to the provisions of any law 1. Who was a citizen of India at the time of, or made in that behalf by Parliament made by the at any time after the commencement of the President. Constitution i.e. 26.01.1950; or ●● Subject to the provisions of any law made by 2. who was eligible to become a citizen of India Parliament, the conditions of service and tenure on 26.01.1950; or of office of the Election Commissioners and the 3. who belonged to a territory that became part Regional Commissioners shall be such as the of India after 15.08.1947; or President may by rule determine. 4. who is a child or a grandchild or a great Overseas Citizen of India grandchild of such a citizen; or Why in News 5. who is a minor child of such persons mentioned above; or Government Simplifies process for re-issue of OCI Cards 6. who is a minor child and whose both parents are citizens of India or one of the parents is Important Points a citizen of India; or ●● According to the Union Home Ministry, the 7. spouse of foreign origin of a citizen of India (OCI) cardholders will be required to get their or spouse of foreign origin of an Overseas document re-issued only once at the age of 20 Citizen of India Cardholder registered under instead of multiple times needed currently. section 7A of the Citizenship Act, 1955 and ●● The previous provisionGAURAV of OCI card holders whose IAS marriage has been registered and below 20 years of age and above 50 years of subsisted for a continuous period of not less age requiring to re-apply for a fresh OCI card than two years immediately preceding the every time their passport was renewed was presentation of the application. causing a lot of anxiety and travel turbulence Removal of Offensive Content to people of Indian origin. Why in News ●● Currently 37.72 lakh OCI Cards have been issued by the Government of India. Delhi High Court emphasis for the Removal of Offensive Content from Internet What are OCI cards? Important Points ●● The Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) cards, which is highly popular among overseas Indi- ●● The Delhi High Court laid down the guide- ans, provides long term visa free travel and lines to be followed by courts while dealing

with cases related to removal of objectionable ●● The order has been passed under provisions content from the internet. of Article 311(2) (C) of the Constitution that ●● It will help to restrict offensive material at the give the administration power to terminate earliest and ensure that it will not be re-posted an employee without constituting an inquiry anywhere else by others. against him or her on grounds of security of the State. ●● The guidelines or template of directions were laid down while dealing with a matter in which ●● The order issued by the General Administration a woman's photographs were uploaded on a Department for identifying and scrutinizing cases pornographic website by some miscreants. of government employees, to initiate the process under Government Order No. 738-JK(GAD) of ●● But despite court orders the content could not 2020 for action in terms of provisions of Article be removed in entirety from the world-wide- 311(2) (C) of the Constitution of India. web and "errant parties merrily continued" to re-post and redirect the same to other sites. ●● The STF would be headed by the J&K Addi- tional Director General of Police, CID, and ●● The court directed the police to ensure the include Inspectors General of Police, Kashmir offending content was removed and directions and Jammu, a representative of Law, Justice were also issued to search engines, like Google, and Parliamentary Affairs, and a representative Yahoo and Bing, "to globally de-index and of the department the employee belongs to. de-reference" the offending content from their search results. Article 311(2) in the Constitution of India 1949 According to the template of directions: ●● No such person as aforesaid shall be dismissed or removed or reduced in rank except after an ●● When such a matter comes before a court and inquiry in which he has been informed of the it is satisfied that an immediate redressal was charges against him and given a reasonable required at the interim stage, it may issue a opportunity of being heard in respect of those direction to the website where the offending charges. content is hosted to remove the same forthwith and maximum within 24 hours of receiving the Provided that the above clause shall not apply judicial order. a. where a person is dismissed or removed or ●● The guidelines said directions should be issued reduced in rank on the ground of conduct to the law enforcement agencies to obtain, which has led to his conviction on a criminal within 72 hours, from the concerned website charge; or all information and associatedGAURAV records, relating b. where theIAS authority empowered to dismiss to the offending content. or remove a person or to reduce him in Article 311(2) of the Constitution rank ins satisfied that for some reason, to be recorded by that authority in writing, it Why in News is not reasonably practicable to hold such The Jammu and Kashmir government has set up a inquiry; or force to act against staff without probe c. where the President or the Governor, as the Important Points case may be, is satisfied that in the interest ●● The Jammu and Kashmir administration has of the security of the State, it is not expe- set up a Special Task Force (STF) to initiate dient to hold such inquiry action against government employees suspected Appointment of ad-hoc judges of activities against “security of the State”.

Why in News exceeding two years as he may specific SC paves the way for appointment of ad-hoc judges 2. When any Judge of a High Court other than in HCs the Chief Justice is by reason of absence or Important Points for any other reason unable to perform the duties of his office or is appointed to act The Supreme Court cleared the way for appointment temporarily as Chief Justice, the President of retired judges as ad-hoc judges in High Courts may appoint a duly qualified person to act under Article 224A of the Constitution to deal with as a Judge of that Court until the permanent mounting backlog of cases. Judge has resumed his duties The court ruled that 3. No person appointed as an additional or act- ●● The Chief Justice of a High Court may initiate ing Judge of a High Court shall hold office the process of recommending a name after attaining the age of sixty two years ●● 1.if the number of judges’ vacancies is more Rohingyas than 20 per cent of the sanctioned strength, Why in News cases in a particular category are pending for SC rejects plea to stall deportation of Rohingyas over five years, more than 10 per cent of pend- from Jammu. ing cases are over five years old, or ●● 2. percentage of the rate of disposal is lower than the institution of the cases either in a particular subject matter or generally in the court. ●● The appointments can follow the procedure laid down in the Memorandum of Procedure for appointment of judges. Since the nominees have been judges before, the need to refer the matter to the IB or other agencies would not arise, shortening the time period. ●● Depending on the strength of the High Court and the problem faced by it, the number of ad-hoc judges in the court should be in the Important Points range of two to five for the time being. ●● The Supreme Court rejected a plea that had ●● The goal was to clear the backlog, the ad-hoc GAURAVsought IASthe release of at least 150 Rohingya judges can be assigned more than five-year-old refugees detained in a Jammu sub-jail and the cases. stalling of deportation. ●● Article 224 in the Constitution of India 1949: ●● A bench, headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Appointment of additional and acting Judges SA Bobde, added the caveat that the deportation ●● (1) If by reason of any temporary increase in the of Rohingya refugees from Jammu must follow business of High Court or by reason of arrears due procedure, which involved their proper of work therein, it appears to the President that identification and acknowledgment of their citizenship by the Myanmar government. the number of the Judges of that Court should be for the time being increased, the President ●● The Centre on March 26 opposed the plea by may appoint duly qualified persons to be addi- Mohammad Salimullah while emphasising that India cannot become “the international capital tional Judges of the Court for such period not of illegal immigrants”.

●● The government called the Rohingya “abso- Union Territories to bring in police reforms. lutely illegal immigrants” who posed “serious ●● The ruling issued a series of measures that were threats to national security” and also contended to be undertaken by the governments to ensure that the right to settle in India could not be the police could do their work without worrying asserted by illegal immigrants under the garb of about any political interference. the Constitution’s Article 21, which guarantees ●● The seven main directives from the Supreme the right to life and liberty. Court in the verdict were fixing the tenure and ●● On March 6, on the instructions of the Union selection of the DGP to avoid situations where ministry of home affairs, the Jammu & Kashmir officers about to retire in a few months are administration started a verification drive of the given the post. Rohingya, and moved some of them to a hold- ●● In order to ensure no political interference, a ing centre, pending their potential deportation. minimum tenure was sought for the Inspector ●● There are close to 7,000 Rohingya refugees in General of Police so that they are not transferred Jammu & Kashmir, numbers that have increased mid-term by politicians. since the late 2000s when they first arrived in ●● The SC further directed postings of officers the region after escaping from Myanmar, where being done by Police Establishment Boards they were facing religious persecution. India (PEB) comprising police officers and senior has previously deported Rohingya refugees. bureaucrats to insulate powers of postings and ●● The Centre’s affidavit maintained that it has transfers from political leaders. to first secure the interests of its own citizens ●● Further, there was a recommendation of setting before those of illegal immigrants who, it said, up State Police Complaints Authority (SPCA) were casting a burden on the already depleting to give a platform where common people natural resources of the country in addition to aggrieved by police action could approach. posing a security threat. ●● Apart from this, the SC directed separation ●● The Constitution makes it abundantly clear of investigation and law and order functions that India as a sovereign nation, has the first to better improve policing, setting up of State and foremost Constitutional obligation and Security Commissions (SSC) that would have duty towards its citizens and to ensure that the members from civil society and forming a demographic and social structure of the country National Security Commission. is not changed to its detriment, the resulting socio-economic problems do not occur to the How did states respond to these directives? prejudice of the citizens and the resources of ●● Following the 2006 judgment, not even one the nation are utilised to fulfil the fundamental state was fully compliant with the apex court rights of its own citizens and are not diverted directives. 18 states passed or amended their to the detriment of theGAURAV citizens, due to influx Police ActsIAS in this time, but not one fully of illegal migrants into the territory of India. matches legislative models. Supreme Court ruling on police reforms MCQs based on Polity and Governance Why in News

The ruling issued a series of measures that were 1. Which article of Indian constitution deals with to be undertaken by the governments to ensure the the uniform civil code in India? police could do their work without worrying about any political interference. (a) Article 45 (b) Article 44 Important Points (c) Article 50 (d) Article 43 ●● In a landmark judgment, the Supreme Court 2. Which of the following statements is/are cor- in September 2006 had directed all states and rect?

1. Article 323A deals with the state legisla- below tures to set up tribunals for various mat- (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 1 and 3 only ters like levy, assessment, collection and enforcement of any tax, the Land reforms, (c) 2 and 3 only (d) 1,2 and 3 only Food, Ceiling on urban property, Rent and 5. Which of the following article deals with the tenancy rights etc guarantees the freedom of conscience, the freedom to profess, practice and propagate reli- 2. Article 323B deals with adjudication or trial gion to all citizens? by administrative tribunals of disputes and complaints with respect to recruitment and (a) Article 29 (b) Article 30 conditions of service of persons appointed (c) Article 28 (d) Article 25 to public services 6. Consider the following statements Select the correct answer using the code given below 1. The chief and the other election commissioners have the same powers (a) 1 only (b) 2 only 2. The President appoints the Chief Election (c) 1 and 2 both (d) Neither 1 nor 2 Commissioner and other election commis- 3. Which of the following statements is/are cor- sioners rect regarding function of CVC? 3. The tenure and the conditions of service of 1. To identify the sensitive/corruption prone all the commissioners shall be determined spots in the Organisation and keep an eye by the parliament of India on personnel posted in such areas Select the correct answer using the code given 2. Shall have all the powers of a civil court below while conducting any inquiry (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 1 and 3 only 3. To inquire or cause an inquiry or investi- (c) 2 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3 gation to be made on a reference by the 7. Which article of Indian constitution deal with Central Government the appointment of additional and acting 4. Tender advice to the Central Government Judges? and its organizations on such matters as (a) Article 223 (b) Article 224 may be referred to it by them Select the correct answer using the code given (c) Article 200 (d) Article 250 below Explanation (a) 1,2 and 3 only (b) 2,3 and 4 only (c) 1,3 and 4 onlyGAURAV (d) 1,2,3 and 4 IAS 1. (b) Article 44 4. According to new rule who can be domiciled or employed in J&K? A Uniform Civil Code is one that would provide for one law for the entire country, applicable 1. One who should have resided in J&K for to all religious communities in their personal 15 years, or studied in the state for six matters such as marriage, divorce, inheritance, years adoption etc. Article 44 of the Constitution lays 2. One who has appeared in either the Class down that the state shall endeavour to secure a 10 or the Class 12 examination in J&K Uniform Civil Code for the citizens throughout 3. Migrants registered by the Relief and Reha- the territory of India. bilitation Commissioner will automatically Article 44 is one of the Directive Principles of be eligible for a domicile certificate. State Policy. Goa is the only state in India which Select the correct answer using the code given has a uniform civil code. Subjects like inher-

itance, divorce, marriage come under Concurrent conducting any inquiry list. 3. To inquire or cause an inquiry or investigation 2. (d) Neither 1 nor 2 to be made on a reference by the Central Article 323A deals with adjudication or trial Government by administrative tribunals of disputes and 4. Tender advice to the Central Government and complaints with respect to recruitment and con- its organizations on such matters as may be ditions of service of persons appointed to public referred to it by them. services 4. (c) 2 and 3 only Article 323B deals with the state legislatures to Conditions one should fulfil to qualify as a set up tribunals for various matters like levy, domicile applicant — assessment, collection and enforcement of any tax, the Land reforms, Food, Ceiling on urban 1. Applicants should have resided in J&K for property, Rent and tenancy rights etc 15 years, or studied in the state for seven years; 3. (d) 1,2,3 and 4 2. One who has appeared in either the Class Composition of CVC 10 or the Class 12 examination in J& K; It consists of following members: 3. Children of central government officers 1. One Chairperson who is also known as Cen- (Army, paramilitary forces, IAS, IPS), and tral Vigilance Commissioner. employees of public sector undertakings 2. Not more than two Vigilance Commissioner and banks, central universities etc who have served in Jammu & Kashmir for 10 years Tenure: Central vigilance commissioner can will also be eligible to apply for gazetted hold the office for a term of four years and in and non-gazetted government jobs. These terms of age they can hold the office maximum included those who work outside the state. till the age of 65 years. 4. Migrants registered by the Relief and Reha- Central Vigilance Commissioner and the bilitation Commissioner will automatically Vigilance Commissioner can be removed be eligible for a domicile certificate. through: 5. (d) Article 25 1. If they are adjudged as insolvent; Article 25 deals with the freedom of conscience, 2. Convicted for an offence which involves a free profession, practice and propagation of moral turpitude; or religion. 3. If they are paid employed outside their duties 6. (a) 1 and 2 only of his office; or GAURAV IAS 1. The chief and the other election commission- 4. Unfit to continue because of the infirmity of ers have the same powers mind or body; or 2. The President appoints the Chief Election 5. If they have acquired such financial or other Commissioner and other election commis- interest which can affect their official func- sioners tions 3. The tenure and the conditions of service of Some of the functions of CVC are all the commissioners shall be determined 1. To identify the sensitive/corruption prone by the President of India. spots in the Organisation and keep an eye 7. (b) Article 224 on personnel posted in such areas Article 224 of Indian Constitution deals with the 2. Shall have all the powers of a civil court while appointment of additional and acting Judges.

Biosphere reserve at Mahendragiri ●● The proposal also aims to empower state Why in News governments to lease forest land to private individuals and corporations. Odisha government proposes state’s second biosphere reserve at Mahendragiri ●● If the proposed amendments come into force, they would dilute the provisions of the land- Important Points mark 1996 decision of the Supreme Court in ●● The Odisha government has proposed a second Godavarman case (TN Godavarman Thirumulk- biosphere reserve in the southern part of the pad vs Union Of India & Ors). state at Mahendragiri, a hill ecosystem having ●● The amendments, however, proposed two major rich biodiversity. changes to strengthen the applicability of the ●● The area of the proposed Mahendragiri Bio- FCA: sphere Reserve is around 470,955 hectares and ●● To complete the process of forest identification is spread over Gajapati and Ganjam districts in in a time-bound manner the Eastern Ghats. ●● To enable the creation of ‘no-go’ areas, where ●● The hill ecosystem acts as a transitional zone specific projects would not be allowed between the flora and fauna of southern India ●● The Forest Conservation Act, 1980 (FCA) and the Himalayas, making the region an eco- logical estuary of genetic diversities. ●● The FCA is the principal legislation that reg- ulates deforestation in the country. It prohibits ●● The 5,569-square kilometre Similipal Biosphere the felling of forests for any “non-forestry” use Reserve is Odisha’s first such reserve and was without prior clearance by the central govern- notified May 20, 1996. ment. ●● Archeological remains of Mahendragiri were ●● The clearance process includes seeking con- listed in the tentative list of Unesco World sent from local forest rights-holders and from Heritage Sites.Mahendragiri is inhabited by the wildlife authorities. The Centre is empowered Soura people, a particularly vulnerable tribal to reject such requests or allow it with legally group as well as the Kandha tribe. GAURAVbinding IAS conditions. Forest Conservation Act ●● The Supreme Court in T.N. Godavarman Thiru- Why in News mulkpad v. Union of India & Ors. (Godavar- The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and man) on December 12, 1996 had held that Climate Change has proposed several amendments the meaning of “forest” under the FCA would to the Forest Conservation Act, 1980. include not only statutorily recognised forests; it would include any area recorded as forest in Important Points government records, regardless of ownership. ●● The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change proposed to grant exemptions Dolphin boom in Odisha to railways, roads, tree plantations, oil explo- Why in News ration, wildlife tourism and ‘strategic’ projects Number of endangered Irrawaddy dolphins has in forests. doubled this year compared with last year

Important Points Important Points ●● The population of dolphins in Chilika, India’s ●● The Meghalaya government has defended its largest brackish water lake, and along the Odi- plan to dam Umngot, arguably India’s clearest sha coast has doubled this year compared with river, despite protests from more than a dozen last year. villages downstream. ●● The dolphin census conducted in January and ●● People of at least a dozen villages fear the February this year by the wildlife wing of death of Umngot River and their tourism-based the State Forest and Environment Department livelihood if the 210 MW hydroelectric project released the final data indicating a spectacular comes up. growth in numbers. ●● The villages are near the border with Bangla- ●● The population estimation exercise for dolphins desh in East Khasi Hills district but the dam is and other cetacean species covered almost the proposed upstream in the adjoining West Jaintia entire coast of Odisha. Hills district. ●● The locals fear that the project, if executed, would cause irreparable losses by wiping out their areas from the tourism map, besides affecting many villages in the downstream areas dependent on the Umngot.

●● Three species were recorded during the census; 544 Irrawaddy, bottle-nose and humpback dolphins sighted this year. ●● Apart from Chilika, 39 Irrawaddy dolphins were sighted in the Rajnagar mangrove division. ●● The highest growth has been noticed in the case ●● The project documents say people of 13 vil- of humpback dolphins. Only two humpbacks lages along the Umngot are likely to lose 296 were sighted in theGAURAV Rajnagar mangrove in hectares ofIAS land due to submergence if the dam 2020. In 2021, however, this population grew comes up. astronomically to 281. ●● The Umngot river attracts many tourists to ●● The number of bottle-nose dolphins grew from Dawki bordering Bangladesh. The water of the 23 in 2020 to 54 this year. river is so clear that boats seem to rest on a ●● The humpback dolphins were not part of any crystal glass surface besides casting their shad- riverine systems, so they cannot be identified ows on the river bed. as residential mammals. Weather forecasts Dam on Umngot River Why in News Why in News Skymet forecasts normal monsoon for India in 2021 12 village people opposed to the Meghalayan gov- Important Points ernment project

●● Skymet in its weather forecasts expected that exercise could have slightly missed its target to the upcoming monsoon in India to be 'healthy increase rhino population to 3,000 in the state's normal' to the tune of 103% (with an error seven protected. margin of +/- 5%) of the long period average ●● Orang National Park, another habitat of the (LPA) of 880.6 mm for the 4-month period rhinos in Assam was found to have 101 rhinos from June to September. in 2018. ●● Skymet assessed the monsoon 2021 to be 'nor- India and Germany mal' with seasonal rainfall ending in the upper half of the normal range, the spread of normal Why in News rainfall being 96-104% of LPA. India and Germany signed an agreement on ‘Cities ●● It expects that plains of North India along with combating plastic entering the marine environment’. few parts of the Northeast region are likely to Important Points be at risk of being rain deficient through the ●● India and Germany entered an agreement to season. prevent plastic waste entering marine environ- ●● The onset month of June and the withdrawal ment. phase of September is assuring good country- ●● It is estimated that 15 to 20% of all plastics are wide rainfall distribution. entering oceans via riverine ecosystems.In view Indian Rhino Vision 2020 (IRV 2020) of this the Government of India and German Why in News Federal Ministry of Environment, Nature Con- Indian Rhino Vision 2020 ends with translocation servation and Nuclear Safety signed an agree- of 22 rhinos in Assam ment on ‘Cities Combating Plastic Entering the Marine Environment’ at a virtual ceremony in Important Points New Delhi. ●● IRV 2020 was designed by Rhino Task Force ●● The year 2021 marks 63 years of fruitful devel- 2005 with a target to achieve rhino population opment cooperation between our two countries. to 3,000 in seven protected areas in Assam ●● The project’s outcomes are completely in line ●● Other important goal of IRV 2020 was to with the objectives of Swachh Bharat Mis- reduce the risk to the rhino population, mainly sion-Urban focusing on sustainable solid waste from poachers by spreading the population in management and Prime Minister’s vision to multiple parks with enough habitats to encour- phase out single use plastic by 2022. age population growth. ●● The project, aimed at enhancing practices to prevent plastic entering the marine environment, will be undertaken at the national level GAURAV(at MoHUA) IAS and selected States (Uttar Pradesh, Kerala and Andaman & Nicobar Islands) and in the cities of Kanpur, Kochi and Port Blair for a period of three and a half years. ●● This project will support the Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban’s implementation with special focus on preventing plastic litter entering the rivers and water bodies at source. ●● Cities will be enabled to improve collection, ●● Somewhat 22 one-horned rhinos were trans-lo- segregation and marketing of plastic waste, to cated within Assam since 2008 under the Indian prevent plastic disposal to water bodies, and to Rhino Vision (IRV) 2020 program but the improve handling of port and marine waste.

●● districts. National climate vulnerability ●● Vulnerability scores in all districts in India lies in a very small range. It shows that all districts Why in News & states are somewhat vulnerable with respect National climate vulnerability report identifies eight to current climate risk in India. eastern states as highly vulnerable ●● The assessment will help Policymakers in ini- Important Points tiating appropriate climate actions. It will also ●● The National climate vulnerability assessment benefit climate-vulnerable communities across report released by Department of Science and India through development of better-designed Technology has identified Jharkhand, Mizoram, climate change adaptation projects. Orissa, Chhattisgarh, Assam, Bihar, Arunachal Pradesh, and West Bengal as states highly MCQs based on Ecology and Environment vulnerable to climate change. ●● According to report these states, mostly in the 1. Which among the following is the smallest bio- eastern part of the country, require prioritization sphere reserve in India? of adaptation interventions. (a) The Panna Biosphere Reserve (b) Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve (c) Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve (d) Sundarbans Biosphere Reserve 2. Which constitutional amendment act transferred Forest subject into concurrent list? (a) 44th Constitutional Amendment Act (b) 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act (c) 61st Constitutional Amendment Act (d) 69th Constitutional Amendment Act

3. Which of the following statements regarding ●● The report titled ‘Climate Vulnerability Assess- Ganges river dolphin is/are correct? ment for Adaptation Planning in India Using a Common Framework’, which identifies the 1. They can live in freshwater and saltwater most vulnerable states and districts in India with both respect to current climate risk and key drivers 2. They hunt by emitting Infrasound sounds, of vulnerability. GAURAVwhich IAS bounces off of fish and other prey, ●● A total of 94 representatives from 24 states enabling them to “see” an image in their and 2 Union Territories participated in the mind. nation-wide exercise jointly supported by the 3. Generally Males are larger than females and DST and the Swiss Agency for Development females give birth once every two to three & Cooperation (SDC). years to only one calf. ●● The assessments undertaken with the active Select the incorrect answer using the code giv- involvement and participation of States and en below Union Territory governments and hands-on training and capacity-building exercises have (a) 1 and 3 only identified vulnerable districts. Among all states, (b) 2 and 3 only Assam, Bihar, and Jharkhand have over 60% (c) 1, 2 and 3 districts in the category of highly vulnerable

(d) All are correct 3. (c) 1, 2 and 3 4. Consider the following pairs The Ganges river dolphin can only live in Dam River freshwater and is essentially blind. 1. Nongkhyllem Dam Umiam They hunt by emitting ultrasonic sounds, which bounces off of fish and other prey, 2. Khandong Dam Kopili enabling them to “see” an image in their 3. Kyrdemkulai Dam Umtru mind. Select the correct answer using the code given Females are larger than males and give birth below once every two to three years to only one (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 and 3 only calf. (c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3 4. (b) 2 and 3 only 5. Which among the following has released its Dam River monsoon forecast for India in 2021? (a) Ministry of Earth Sciences (b) World Meteorological Organization 1. Nongkhyllem Dam Umtru (c) Skymet (d) PRIMET 2. Khandong Dam Kopili 6. Which of the following is the easternmost national park in India? (a) Mehao Wildlife Sanctuary 3. Kyrdemkulai Dam Umtru (b) Itanagar Wildlife Sanctuary (c) Namdapha National Park 5. (c) Skymet (d) Mouling National Park Skymet has released its monsoon forecast for 7. Along with which country India has signed an India in 2021. Skymet expects the upcoming agreement to prevent plastic waste entering monsoon to be 'healthy normal' to the tune marine environment? of 103% (with an error margin of +/- 5%) of the long period average (LPA) of 880.6 (a) Russia (b) USA mm for the 4-month period from June to (c) France (d) Germany September. 6. (c) Namdapha National Park ExplanationGAURAV IAS Namdapha National Park, Arunachal Pradesh is the third largest national park in the coun- 1. (a) The Panna Biosphere Reserve try and also the easternmost national park in The Panna Biosphere Reserve covering a India. total area of about 542 square km only is 7. (d) the smallest biosphere reserve in India. Germany 2. (b) India and Germany entered an agreement 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act to prevent plastic waste entering marine The Forty-second Amendment to the Con- environment. stitution (1976) transferred the subject from the State List to the Concurrent List.

4 Economy

Inflation Targeting What is inflation targeting? Why in news ●● Inflation targeting is a policy followed by the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI's) retail inflation target central regulator in the monetary policy and is band of 2-6 percent adjusted to achieve a specified annual rate of inflation. The strategy is based on the belief that Important Points long-term economic growth is best achieved by ●● The RBI has supported maintaining the exist- maintaining price stability that can be achieved ing inflation target of 4% within a band of 2 by controlling inflation. percentage points ●● Inflation targeting works as it prompts consum- ●● The central bank (RBI) has supported maintain- ers to expect a rise in prices in the future ing the existing inflation target of 4% within a ●● The policy allows the central bank to respond band of 2 percentage points for the next five against changes in the domestic economy years. ●● The strategy is based on the belief that long- term economic growth is best achieved by maintaining price stability G-SAP Why in News G-SAP aims to provide more comfort to the bond market, market participants Important Points ●● RBI enthused the markets with a new programme — Government Securities Acquisition Programme (G-SAP) — through which it will purchase government securities worth Rs 1 lakh GAURAV crore in theIAS first quarter of FY22. ●● The current numerical framework for defining ●● With Government Securities Acquisition Pro- price stability, i.e., an inflation target of 4% gramme, the RBI has announced an advance with a +/-2 per cent tolerance band, is appro- calendar for purchasing G-secs. It hopes that priate for the next five years. with this purchase, yields on long term G-secs will cool down ●● The six-member MPC, headed by the RBI governor, decides on the monetary policy based on ●● The RBI also announced that it will continue the inflation target. with a variable rate reverse repo to suck excess liquidity. ●● For sixth month in a row, the government col- lected over Rs 1 lakh crore as GST. Further, ●● According to RBI, G-SAP aims to provide more data also showed that in March, India’s exports comfort to the bond market, market participants. grew by almost 60%. ●● The G-SAP will almost serve the purpose of

an OMO calendar, which had been on the bond as per the Repo Rate of 4.4% which enables market’s wish list for a long time. them to provide refinance at a reasonable SIDBI, NHB & NABARD rate to different lending institutions. Why in News India’s public debt level RBI has announced the capital support to NHB, Why in News NABARD & SIDBI India’s public debt highest in emerging economies Important Points Important Points ●● The Reserve Bank of India has announced ●● According to Moody’s Investors Service India’s the capital support to National Housing Bank public debt level is among the highest in (NHB), National Bank for Agriculture and Rural emerging economies with a quantitative easing Development (NABARD) & Small Industries programme underway and its debt affordability Development Bank of India (SIDBI). is weakest among the world ●● RBI will be pumping in Rs 50,000 crore to ●● Except Chile, most of the 11 emerging markets these All India Financial Institutions (NHB, have weak government effectiveness, suggest- SIDBI & NABARD). ing potential risks executing fiscal reforms or consolidation plans ●● Among the 11 emerging markets, India, South Africa and Ghana have the highest public debt and weakest debt affordability ●● The Reserve Bank of India’s programme aims to stabilise the domestic bond market with titled report, ‘Quantitative easing programs are largely positive, but risks vary across economies' According to report ●● As the bank does not operate in the primary market, dividend payments and transfers of excess reserves to the government fund part of the budget deficit ●● The bank targets buying more than Rs 3 trillion [$41.3 billion] of government bonds this fiscal ●● RBI has decided to provide special refinance year, having purchased Rs 3.1 trillion bonds in facility of Rs. 50,000 crore to enable them to the previous fiscal year meet sectoral creditGAURAV needs. IAS ●● Depending on recovery prospects and future 1. Of which Rs 25, 000 crore will be given to debt servicing costs, high debt levels may NABARD to further support RRBs, Co-op- become unsustainable for the more vulnerable erative banks & MFIs economies, the report warned. 2. A sum of Rs 15,000 crore to SIDBI for ●● While central banks’ QE operations had largely on-lending and refinancing SCBs & finan- achieved the aims of stabilising bond markets cial entities who sanction loans to MSME and providing market liquidity, the rating firm 3. NHB will be allotted Rs. 10,000 crore to said that smoothly exiting the monetary stim- support Housing Finance Companies ulus provided during the pandemic would be difficult for all emerging market central banks. Advancement under this liquidity support will be charged at RBI’s policy repo rate at the Boao Forum time of availment so these institutions get it Why in News

China’s High-Profile Boao Forum Returns with four applicants have applied for on-tap licences Investment in Focus to start Universal Banks and Small Finance Important Points Banks in the private sector so far. ●● China is signaling it’s open for business with ●● The applicants under the guidelines for ‘on-tap’ the resumption of its high-profile Boao Forum licensing of Universal Banks are UAE Exchange for Asia, an opportunity for the government to and Financial Services Ltd, The Repatriates make a renewed effort to lure foreign investors Cooperative Finance and Development Bank in a post-pandemic world. Limited (REPCO Bank), Chaitanya India Fin Credit Private Ltd and Pankaj Vaish. ●● China’s version of the World Economic Forum in Davos, the Boao event is an annual confer- ●● The applicants under guidelines for ‘on-tap’ ence bringing together government leaders, licensing of Small Finance Banks (SFBs) are senior officials and business executives in the VSoft Technologies Private Ltd, Calicut City tropical island of Hainan. Service Co-operative Bank Ltd, Akhil Kumar Gupta, and Dvara Kshetriya Gramin Financial Services Private Ltd. ●● For a Universal Bank, the initial minimum paid-up voting equity capital/ net worth has been set at Rs500 crore. Thereafter, the banks have to maintain a minimum net worth of Rs500 crore at all times. ●● For a SFB, the minimum paid-up voting equity capital/ net worth is Rs 200 crore. Committee was set up to review ARC rules Why in News The committee was setup to review the existing legal and regulatory framework and recommend measures ●● A slew of U.S. business leaders will be partici- to improve the efficacy of ARCs. pating in the conference, including Apple Inc.’s Tim Cook, Tesla Inc.’s Elon Musk, Blackstone Important Points Group Inc’s Stephen Schwarzman and Bridge- ●● The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) constituted a water Associates’ Ray Dalio. committee to evaluate the role of asset recon- ●● The event is another opportunity for the Chinese struction companies (ARCs) in stressed debt government to help mend ties with American resolution and review their business model. investors amid heightenedGAURAV economic tensions ●● The commmitte IAS is headed by former RBI exec- between the two countries. utive director Sudarshan Sen, the six-member ●● The Boao forum has “played a special role” panel comprises Vishakha Mulye, executive in pushing for dialog and cooperation among director, ICICI Bank, P N Prasad, former Asian countries deputy managing director of State Bank of India, Rohit Prasad, professor of economics, On-tap licences Management Development Institute, Gurugram, Why in News Abizer Diwanji, partner, Ernst and Young, and RBI gets four applicants each to start universal chartered accountant R Anand. banks, SFBs. ●● The committee will review the existing legal Important Points and regulatory framework and recommend measures to improve the efficacy of ARCs. ●● The Reserve Bank of India (RBI), informed that ●● It will also review their role in stressed asset

resolution under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy the 2019-20 financial year, RBI set Rs 35,000 Code (IBC), and suggest means to improve crore as limit for Ways and Means Advances. liquidity and trading of security receipts. ●● There are two types of Ways and Means ●● Lenders sell stressed loans to ARCs at a dis- Advances — normal and special. count, either in exchange of cash or a mix of ●● Special WMA or Special Drawing Facility is cash and security receipts. These receipts are provided against the collateral of the govern- redeemable as and when the ARC recovers the ment securities held by the state. After the specific loan. state has exhausted the limit of SDF, it gets What are ARCs? normal WMA. The interest rate for SDF is one percentage point less than the repo rate. ●● An Asset Reconstruction Company is a specialized financial institution that buys the NPAs or ●● The number of loans under normal WMA is bad assets from banks and financial institutions based on a three-year average of actual revenue so that the latter can clean up their balance and capital expenditure of the state. sheets. Or in other words, ARCs are in the Pay by Bank App business of buying bad loans from banks. Why in News ●● ARCs clean up the balance sheets of banks Mastercard Partners With RBL Bank To Offer First- when the latter sells these to the ARCs. This Of-Its-Kind Payment Solution In India helps banks to concentrate in normal banking activities. Important Points Ways and Means Advances ●● Mastercard and Mumbai-headquartered private sector RBL bank announced a partnership to Why in News launch a mobile-based customer-friendly pay- The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) gives temporary ment solution - the Pay by Bank App. loan under Ways and Means Advances (WMA) facility Important Points ●● The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) decided to give temporary loan facilities to the central and state governments and this loan facility is called Ways and Means Advances (WMA). ●● ●● The Ways and Means Advances scheme was ●● This will be a first-of-its-kind payment func- introduced in 1997. tionality in the country and suits the growing ●● The Ways and MeansGAURAV Advances scheme was demand IAS for digital, contactless payments to introduced to meet mismatches in the receipts ensure social distancing norms amid the ongo- and payments of the government. ing COVID-19 pandemic. ●● The government can avail of immediate cash ●● This is a one-of-its-kind payment system as it from the RBI, if required. But it has to return ensures that the customer's credentials are never the amount within 90 days. Interest is charged revealed to the merchant. at the existing repo rate. ●● The account holders of RBL Bank will be ●● If the WMA exceeds 90 days, it would be treated able to avail of contactless transactions across as an overdraft (interest rate on overdrafts is 2 the globe with the help of the mobile banking percentage points more than the repo rate). application - both online and in-store. ●● The limits for Ways and Means Advances are ●● The new payment solution will also allow decided by the government and RBI mutually customers to make bill payments and personal and revised periodically. For the second half of payments through the mobile banking applica-

tion. the immediate challenge, particularly for devel- ●● The new payment solutions - ‘Pay by Bank oping and Low-Income Countries, is to restore App' will increase the security and privacy of growth. customers. MCQs based on Economy ●● Customers will be able to avail personalised transaction controls that allow them to dictate, where, when, and how the payment credentials 1. Which of the following organisation publishes are used. World Economic Outlook Report? G20 Virtual Meeting (a) World Bank Why in News (b) World Trade Organization Finance Minister Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman attends (c) International Monetary Fund Second Virtual G20 Finance Ministers and Central (d) World Economic Forum Bank Governors Meeting 2. Which of the following is/are the Qualitative Important Points instruments of the RBI's monetary policy? ●● Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman participated virtually 1. Rationing of Credit in the Second G20 Finance Ministers and Cen- tral Bank Governors (FMCBG) meeting under 2. Change in Marginal Requirement the Italian Presidency. 3. Moral Suasion ●● It focussed to discuss policy responses to 4. Open Market Operations global challenges to restore strong, sustainable, Select the correct answer using the code given balanced and inclusive growth. below ●● The G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank (a) 1 and 3 only Governors discussed Updates of the G20 Action Plan in response to COVID-19. (b) 3 and 4 only ●● Ministers also discussed supporting the financ- (c) 1, 2 and 3 only ing needs of the most vulnerable economies, the (d) All of the above progress on the international taxation agenda, promoting greener transitions and the pandemic 3. Consider the following statements related financial regulation issues. 1. The SIDBI was established as a wholly ●● Smt. Sitharaman urged all G20 members to owned subsidiary of IDB on April 02, 1990 ensure equitable access and widespread distri- by Government of India bution of vaccines. GAURAV2. The NationalIAS Housing Bank (NHB), once a ●● The Finance Minister shared that India is run- wholly-owned subsidiary of Reserve Bank ning an ambitious programme of rapid domestic of India (RBI), has now been taken over vaccination and has emerged as a key global by the government. producer of vaccines and medical products, 3. NABARD, as a Development Bank, is especially during the pandemic mandated for providing and regulating ●● Smt. Sitharaman emphasised on the need for credit and other facilities for the promotion progress on commitments made under the Paris and development of agriculture, small scale Agreement on climate finance and technology industries, cottage other allied economic transfer. activities in rural areas ●● She also suggested for channeling flows of Select the correct answer using the code given international financial institutions into green below transitions. She also emphasised to recognise (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1,2 and 3 payment solution - the Pay by Bank App. 4. Which of the following committee suggested Select the correct answer using the code given for the introduction of Payment Bank in In- below dia? (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (a) UK Sinha Committee (c) 1 and 2 both (d) Neither 1 nor 2 (b) Tapan Ray Committee 8. Which of the following is/are the member of (c) Dr Nachiket Mor Committee G20? (d) Nandan Nilekani Committee 1. India 5. Consider the following statements regarding 2. Russia about Monetary Policy Committee 3. Sri Lanka 1. The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) 4. Malaysia was constituted by the Central Government under Section 35ZB 5. Turkey Select the correct answer using the code given 2. It helps to determine the policy interest rate below required to achieve the inflation target. (a) 1,2,3 and 4 only (b) 2,3,4 and 5 only 3. The Monetary Policy Framework aims at setting the policy (repo) rate based on an (c) 1,2 and 5 only (d) 1,4 and 5 only assessment of the current and evolving macroeconomic situation; and modulation Explanation of liquidity conditions to anchor money market rates at or around the repo rate. 1. (c) Select the correct answer using the code given below International Monetary Fund (a) 1 and 3 only (b) 1 and 2 only World Economic Outlook Report published by the International Monetary Fund twice a (c) 2 and 3 only (d) All of the above year. 6. Consider the following statements International Monetary Fund (IMF) raised 1. The limits for Ways and Means Advances its growth forecast for Indian economy by are decided by the government only 100 basis points to 12.5 per cent for fiscal 2. Special WMA or Special Drawing Facility year 2021-22. is provided against the collateral of the IMF expects that the India's GDP will grow government securitiesGAURAV held by the state IAS 12.5 per cent in FY22, the highest among Select the correct answer using the code given emerging and advanced economies. GDP below growth for FY23 is pegged at 6.9 per cent. (a) 1 only (b) 2 only 2. (c) (c) 1 and 2 both (d) Neither 1 nor 2 1,2 and 3 only 7. Consider the following statements regarding Pay by Bank App Qualitative instruments of the RBI's monetary policy are: 1. This is a one-of-its-kind payment system as it ensures that the customer's credentials are 1. Rationing of Credit never revealed to the merchant. 2. Change in Marginal Requirement 2. Mastercard partnered with SBI to launch a 3. Moral Suasion

4. Regulation of Consumer Credit The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) Quantitative instruments of the RBI's constituted by the Central Government monetary policy are: under Section 45ZB determines the policy interest rate required to achieve the inflation 1. Bank Rate Policy target. 2. SLR (Statutory Liquidity Ratio) It helps to determine the policy interest rate 3. CRR (Cash Reserve Ratio) required to achieve the inflation target. 4. Open Market Operations (OMO) The Monetary Policy Framework aims at setting the policy (repo) rate based on an 3. (d) assessment of the current and evolving 1,2 and 3 macroeconomic situation; and modulation of The SIDBI was established as a wholly liquidity conditions to anchor money market owned subsidiary of IDB on April 02, 1990 rates at or around the repo rate. by Government of India. SIDBI is the 6. (b) Primary Financial Institution for promoting, 2 only developing and financing MSME (Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise) sector. The limits for Ways and Means Advances are decided by the government and RBI NABARD, as a Development Bank, is man- mutually and revised periodically. dated for providing and regulating credit and other facilities for the promotion and devel- Special WMA or Special Drawing Facility opment of agriculture, small scale industries, is provided against the collateral of the cottage other allied economic activities in government securities held by the state. rural areas 7. (a) The National Housing Bank (NHB), once a 1 only wholly-owned subsidiary of Reserve Bank of India (RBI), has now been taken over Mastercard partnered with RBL Bank to by the government. The aim behind the launch a payment solution - the Pay by formation of NHB was to promote housing Bank App.This is a one-of-its-kind payment finance institutions both at local and regional system as it ensures that the customer's cre- levels. dentials are never revealed to the merchant. 4. (c) 8. (c) Dr Nachiket Mor Committee 1,2 and 5 only GAURAV The G20IAS comprises 19 countries and the In September 2013, the Reserve Bank of India constituted a committee headed by European Union. The 19 countries are Dr Nachiket Mor to study 'Comprehensive Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, financial services for small businesses and Germany, France, India, Indonesia, Italy, low income households'. Japan, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Turkey, the United One of the key suggestions of the committee Kingdom and the United States. was to introduce specialised banks or ‘payments bank’ to cater to the lower income groups and small businesses. 5. (c) 2 and 3 only

Baikal-GVD ( Gigaton Volume Detector) a line of bubbles when they interact. To cap- Why in news ture these signs, scientists have to build large detectors. Russian scientists launched underwater neutrino telescopes ●● An underwater telescope such as the GVD is designed to detect high-energy neutrinos that Important Points may have come from the Earth’s core, or could ●● Russian scientists launched one of the world’s have been produced during nuclear reactions in biggest underwater neutrino telescopes called the Sun. the Baikal-GVD (Gigaton Volume Detector) in National Policy for Rare Diseases 2021 the waters of Lake Baikail, the world’s deepest lake situated in Siberia. Why in News ●● The construction of this telescope was started Dr. Harsh Vardhan, Union Health & Family Wel- in 2016, is motivated by the mission to study fare Minister approved the National Policy for Rare in detail the elusive fundamental particles Diseases 2021 called neutrinos and to possibly determine their Important points sources. ●● The field of rare diseases is very complex and ●● Studying this will aid scientists in understanding heterogeneous and prevention, treatment and of the origins of the universe since some neu- management of rare diseases have multiple trinos were formed during the Big Bang, others challenges. continue to be formed as a result of supernova ●● Early diagnosis of rare diseases is a major explosions or because of nuclear reactions in challenge owing to a variety of factors that the Sun. include lack of awareness among primary care ●● The Baikal-GVD is one of the three largest physicians, lack of adequate screening and neutrino detectors in the world along with the diagnostic facilities etc. IceCube at the South Pole and ANTARES in ●● There are also fundamental challenges in the the Mediterranean Sea. research and development for the majority of What makes neutrinosGAURAV so especial? IAS rare diseases as relatively little are known about ●● Neutrinos are abundant in nature, with about the pathophysiology or the natural history of a thousand trillion of them passing through a these diseases particularly in the Indian context. human body every second. In fact, they are the ●● Rare diseases are also difficult to research upon second most abundant particles, after photons, as the patient’s pool is very small and it often which are particles of light. results in inadequate clinical experience. ●● But while neutrinos are abundant, they are not ●● Availability and accessibility to medicines are easy to catch, this is because they do not carry a also important to reduce morbidity and mor- charge, as a result of which they do not interact tality associated with rare disease. The cost with matter. of treatment of rare diseases is prohibitively ●● One way of detecting neutrinos is in water or expensive. ice, where neutrinos leave a flash of light or

●● Aim of National Policy for Rare Diseases 2021 ●● The Rare Diseases Policy aims to lower the Important points high cost of treatment for rare diseases with ●● NASA's InSight Mars lander will hibernate to increased focus on indigenous research with the save power, since its solar panels are covered help of a National Consortium to be set up with in dust. Department of Health Research. ●● InSight will shut down science instruments to ●● Increased focus of research and development keep its electronics warm through the Martian and local production of medicines will lower winter. the cost of treatment for rare diseases. ●● InSight, which landed in a Martian plain called ●● The policy also envisage creation of a national Elysium Planitia in 2018, has detected more hospital based registry of rare diseases so that than 500 Mars quakes, felt more than 10,000 adequate data is available for definition of rare dust devils pass by, and started to measure the diseases and for research and development planet's core. related to rare diseases within the country. ●● But over the past few months, InSight has ●● The Policy also focuses on early screening been fighting to save power as the red planet's and prevention through primary and secondary unpredictable weather threatens to snuff out the health care infrastructure robot. ●● Policy also aims to strengthen tertiary health ●● The winds, called "cleaning events," are needed care facilities for prevention and treatment to blow the red Martian dust off the solar panels of rare diseases through designating 8 health of NASA's robots. facilities as Centre of Excellence ●● InSight's solar panels were producing just 27% ●● The Policy also envisages a crowd funding of their energy capacity, when winter was arriv- mechanism in which corporates and individuals ing in Elysium Planitia. So NASA decided to will be encouraged to extend financial support start incrementally turning off different instru- through a robust IT platform for treatment of ments on the lander. Soon the robot will go into rare diseases. "hibernation mode," shutting down all functions NASA's InSight Mars lander that aren't necessary for its survival. Why in News ●● If InSight's batteries die, It's would be a good zombie spacecraft meaning it's programmed to NASA's $800 million Mars lander is in an energy recharge and start up again once the sun comes crisis out. Ingenuity Helicopter GAURAVWhy in News IAS Recently NASA announced that Ingenuity had performed its first flight Important Points ●● The helicopter’s main task was to carry out a technology demonstration to test the first powered flight on Mars, which it seems to have accomplished successfully. ●● Since the first flight has succeeded, the Inge- nuity team will attempt up to four test flights within a 31-Earth-day window.

●● According to NASA, Ingenuity–which means blood plasma from patients who have had a the skill of thinking, performing, or using things disease to naïve patients. This can then grant the in new ways, esp. to solve problems (definition recipient immunity towards the disease because as per the Cambridge dictionary)– was a suitable of antibodies present in the blood plasma. name for the helicopter whose team had given ●● Convalescent plasma could theoretically pre- a lot of creative thinking to get the mission off vent progression to a more severe infection the ground. in patients with moderate COVID-19 com- What will it do on Mars? plications. In many places, people who have ●● The helicopter’s mission is experimental in contracted and recovered from COVID-19 are nature and completely independent of the rov- being encouraged to donate plasma for trials, er’s science mission – which is searching for treatment or stocks. signs of ancient life and collecting samples of Russia's orbital station rock and sediment in tubes for potential return Why in News to Earth by later mission Russia's space agency hoped to launch its own ●● Ingenuity is able to fly using counter-rotat- orbital station in 2025 ing blades that spin at about 2,400 rpm. It has a wireless communication system, and is Important Points equipped with computers, navigation sensors, ●● Russia's space agency hoped to launch its own and two cameras. It is solar-powered, able to orbital station in 2025 as Moscow considers charge on its own. withdrawing from the International Space Sta- ●● According to NASA, the helicopter was placed tion programme to go it alone. on the Martian surface to test — for the first ●● The first core module of the new Russian orbital time ever — powered flight in the planet’s thin station is in the progress and aiming to have the air. module "ready for launch" in 2025. Convalescent Plasma Donation ●● Launched in 1998, The ISS is one of the most Why in News ambitious international Collaborations involving Russia, the United States, Canada, Japan, Convalescent plasma therapy, one of the proposed and the European Space Agency treatments for COVID-19 ●● Russia lost its monopoly for manned flights Important Points to the ISS last year after the first successful ●● During the time of COID-19 pandemics, when mission of US Company Space X. there many falling ill and many who are at risk, ●● Russia marked the 60th anniversary of Yuri convalescent plasma therapy receives a lot of Gagarin becoming the first Person in orbit. attention. GAURAVNASA’s PerseveranceIAS Mars mission ●● Convalescent plasma is considered to have been effectively used in the treatment of SARS, Why in News MERS, and the 2009 H1N1 pandemic. ●● NASA’s Perseverance Mars Rover Extracts ●● Convalescent plasma was considered for the First Oxygen from Red Planet treatment of COVID-19. It was hoped that Important Points convalescent plasma could help patients with ●● NASA's Perseverance rover accomplished severe COVID-19 better fight the virus, and another big first on Mars, the vagabonding therefore reduce the mortality of the virus. science lab managed to pull oxygen out of ●● What is Convalescent Plasma Donation? the Martian atmosphere, which is about 96% ●● Convalescent plasma is a way of artificially carbon dioxide. inducing passive immunity by transferring ●● The rolling robot carries an experimental

instrument about the size of a toaster called ●● It is the third crewed flight launched into orbit the Mars Oxygen In-Situ Resource Utilization under NASA’s fledgling public-private partner- Experiment, known as Moxie. It succeeded ship with SpaceX. in peeling the oxygen atoms off molecules of ●● The Crew-2 members are expected to spend carbon dioxide to create oxygen. about six months aboard the orbiting space ●● In its first run, Moxie extracted about five laboratory conducting science experiments and grams of oxygen, or the equivalent of around maintenance before returning to Earth. 10 minutes worth of breathable oxygen for one Sputnik V vaccine person. Why in News ●● The plan is for Moxie to extract oxygen at least nine more times during the first two years of Sputnik V gets emergency use approval in India the rover's journey. Important Points Crew-2 mission ●● The Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) Why in News has approved the use of the Sputnik V vaccine for usage. India has now become the 60th NASA-SpaceX Crew-2 mission launched four astro- country to approve Sputnik V. nauts into Space ●● This paves the way for India to rollout its third Important Points vaccine against the coronavirus infections. The ●● Elon Musk-owned commercial rocket firm country has been administering Covishield -- SpaceX along with the National Aeronautics the Oxford-Astrazeneca vaccine manufactured and Space Administration (NASA) Friday by the Serum Institute of India -- and home- launched four astronauts into the International grown Covaxin. Space Station (ISS).

GAURAV IAS

●● According to the medical journal Lancet, Sput- ●● NASA’s SpaceX Crew-2 mission consists of the nik V is 91.6% effective in protecting against first-ever crew propelled into orbit by a rocket the coronavirus. booster recycled from a previous spaceflight. ●● The vaccine has been registered in India under ●● The mission consists of four astronauts namely, the emergency use authorization procedure NASA astronauts Shane Kimbrough and Megan based on results of clinical trials in Russia as McArthur, JAXA (Japan Aerospace Explora- well as positive data of additional Phase III local tion Agency) astronaut Akihiko Hoshide and clinical trials in India conducted in partnership ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut with Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories. Thomas Pesquet. ●● Russia registered Sputnik V for public use in

August, the first country to do so. interface. Microsoft acquisition ●● The service centre is called Aditya-L1 Support Cell. Why in News ●● It is a joint effort of Indian Space Research Microsoft makes its second biggest acquisition, buys Organisation and Aryabhatta Research Institute AI speech tech company Nuance. of Observational Sciences. Important Points ●● It will allow every interested individual to ●● Microsoft has made its second biggest acquisi- perform scientific analysis of the data. tion after LinkedIn. The tech giant has bought ●● It is slated to develop specific tools to assist AI speech tech firm Nuance for $19.7 billion. guest observers and researchers to prepare ●● The move will help Microsoft’s prowess in observing proposals for Aditya-L1 observations. voice recognition and will give it a boost in the ●● It will also assist ISRO with the design and health care market, where Nuance has strong development of analysis software for handling presence too. scientific data. ●● The centre will also provide co-aligned data from other observatories ●● around the world that can complement the data obtained from Aditya-L1. ●● This centre will expand reach of Aditya-L1 not only within India, but also increase the visibility of the mission at the international level. Project ‘Pyrasol’ Why in News The foundation stone of the integrated Solar Dryer and Pyrolysis pilot plant was recently laid at Chen- ●● Nuance is best known for its Dragon software, nai. which uses deep learning to transcribe speech Important Points and improves its accuracy over time by adapting ● A Solar Dryer and Pyrolysis pilot plant at Chen- to a user’s voice. ● nai will soon offer an innovative approach for ●● Nuance has licensed for many services and smart cities to transform urban organic waste applications, including, most famously, Apple’s into biochar and energy. digital assistant Siri. GAURAV●● The pilotIAS is part of the Indo-German project ●● Nuance provides the AI layer at the healthcare ‘Pyrasol’ launched to transform urban organic point of delivery and is a pioneer in the real- waste into biochar and energy in smart cities. world application of enterprise AI. It was awarded to CSIR-CLRI by the Indo-Ger- Aditya-L1 man Science & Technology Centre. Why in News ●● The project will ultimately lead to technology development for the joint processing of Fibrous Aditya-L1 Support Cell provides all data on board Organic Waste (FOW) and Sewage Sludge (SS) India’s first dedicated solar space mission of Indian smart cities into hygienic and highly Important Points valuable biochar associated with energy recov- ●● A community service centre has been set up to ery, carbon sequestration and environmental bring all data on board India’s first dedicated improvement. solar space mission to a single web-based ●●

●● IGSTC through its flagship program ‘2+2 with its panoramic and multispectral cameras. Projects’, catalyses innovation centric R&D ●● If successful, China would become the third projects by synergising the strength of research country after the former Soviet Union and the and academic institutions and public/private US to land a robot on Mars. industries from India and Germany. Whitest ever Paint ●● The project focuses on managing and organising collection, treatment, and disposal systems Why in News of urban wastes in Indian Smart Cities as well Engineers from Purdue University in the US have as in other urban centres with an integrated and created what they called as the whitest paint yet. interactive approach. Important Points ● Through this Pyrasol project, simple and robust ● ●● The team of researchers at the university cre- processing technologies for urban organic waste ated an ultra-white paint in October pushing the will be combined in a synergetic manner and limits of how white paint can be. further developed to improve sanitation and welfare, supply regenerative energy, convert ●● This older formulation was made of calcium waste into products and reduce the carbon foot- carbonate, while the new one is made up of print of smart cities by an innovative organic barium sulphate, which makes it more white. waste drying system using the solar natural ●● The newer paint is whiter and keeps the surface chimney effect followed by a high efficient areas it is painted on cooler than the formulation single-chamber pyrolysis. before this could. Zhurong ●● If this new paint was used to cover a roof area of 1,000 square feet, it may be able to get a Why in News cooling power of 10 kilowatts. China's First Mars Rover Named 'Zhurong' ●● The team has also claimed that this paint may Important Points be the closest equivalent to the blackest black ●● China has announced the name of its first Mars paint called “Vantablack” that is able to absorb rover as Zhurong, which in Chinese tradition up to 99.9 per cent of visible light. means the mythical god of fire and war. What makes the paint so white? ●● The solar-powered rover is aboard the Tian- ●● There are two features, one is the paint’s high wen-1 probe that was launched in July 2020 and concentration of a chemical compound called reached the red planet’s orbit on February 24. barium sulfate, which is also used to make It is likely to make a landing attempt in May. photo paper and cosmetics white. ●● Zhurong had the face of a man, the body of a ●● The second feature is that the team has used beast, and rode on twoGAURAV dragons. The rover’s different sizedIAS particles of this chemical com- name is in accordance with the Chinese name pound, which means different sizes scatter for Mars — “Huo Xing,” or fire star, which got different amounts of light. its name through an online survey. ●● In this way, a varying size of particles of the ●● Zhurong was chosen over Hongyi, the name compound make sure that the paint can scatter favoured by many space scientists in China and more of the light spectrum from the sun. which means “to have an open mind”. Device to diagnose dengue ●● The Tianwen-1 mission is part of China’s ambi- Why in News tious space plans that include landing a human on the moon. Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi have developed a handheld Surface Enhanced ●● After landing on the Martian surface, the probe Raman will be looking for evidence of life such as water, ice and studying the climate and surface Important Points

●● Spectroscopy (SERS)-based platform for early Associations diagnosis of dengue and also gives dengue test ●● World Young Women’s Christian Association results within one hour (rapid diagnosis). ●● World Organization of the Scout Movement ●● The research work was funded by IMPRINT ●● World Association of Girl Guides and Girl India programme of the Ministry of Education. Scouts ●● Early diagnosis of dengue is the key to prevent ●● The International Federation of Red Cross and deterioration of a patient’s health. However, Red Crescent Societies conventional diagnostic tools like nucleic acid detection using Reverse Transcriptase Polymer- ●● The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award ase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) is a time-taking ●● Impact of the global pandemic on young peo- process and it also requires expensive equip- ple to be addressed at Global Youth Summit. ment and reagents for the diagnosis of dengue. Young people will decide where the money What is SERS? goes and how it is spent Global Youth Mobi- lization backed by UNICEF, USAID, UNFPA, ●● It is a surface-sensitive technique that enhances European Commission, Salesforce, FIFA and Raman scattering by molecules adsorbed on Heads of State and Governments from around rough metal surfaces or by nanostructures such the world. as plasmonic-magnetic silica nanotubes. ●● An initial $2 million (nearly Rs 15 crore) be Global youth mobilization funds available in four tiers, from $500 through to Why in News $5,000 and an “accelerator” programme will WHO-backed global youth mobilization funds scale and replicate the most promising solutions, with further funding lined up over the young people's ideas to combat impact of COVID- coming months. 19 pandemic ●● The International Labour Organization (ILO) Important Points termed the current young population as the ●● United Nations agencies and youth organisa- ‘lockdown generation’ citing the massive tions have come together to launch a campaign impacts of the pandemic on them. unique campaign to involve the youth of the world in building their lives impacted by the Indian Strain novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pan- Why in News demic. ‘Indian Strain’ of COVID-19 Found In UK, US & ●● Led by the Big 6 Youth Organizations and 15 Other Countries backed by the WHO and United Nations Important Points Foundation, the Global Youth Mobilization is an initiative of youngGAURAV people and voluntary ●● The ‘IndianIAS strain’ of the coronavirus, which organizations taking action to improve their has triggered a second wave of COVID-19 lives now and in a post-COVID-19 world. cases in the country, has been detected in at least 17 countries, according to the World ●● Initiative led by the world’s six largest youth Health Organisation (WHO). organizations and supported by the World Health Organization and United Nations Foun- ●● The B.1.617 variant of SARS-CoV2 or the dation will fund the work of young people in ‘Indian strain’, feared to be contributing to a communities impacted by the global COVID-19 surge in coronavirus cases in India, has been pandemic. designated as the Variants of Interest (VOI) by the World Health Organisation (WHO). ●● It is being supported by six of the world’s largest youth organisations: ●● Over 1,200 sequences have been uploaded to GISAID and assigned to lineage B.1.617 (col- ●● World Alliance of Young Men’s Christian lectively) from at least 17 countries.

●● Global initiative on sharing all influenza data India Joins League of Nations (GISAID) is a global science initiative and Why in News primary source established in 2008 that provides open-access to genomic data of influenza India Joins League of Nations That Can Manufacture viruses and the coronavirus responsible for the Single Crystal Components for Helicopters Covid-19 pandemic. Important Points ●● GISAID suggest that B.1.617 has a higher ●● India on Monday joined the league of nations, growth rate than other circulating variants in including USA, UK, France and Russia, that India, suggesting potential increased transmis- have the capability to manufacture single crystal sibility, with other co-circulating variants also (SX) components which are used for helicopter demonstrating increased transmissibility. engines. Deep Time Project ●● The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has developed the sin- Why in News gle-crystal blades technology and supplied 60 Researchers emerge from cave after 40 days in of these blades to Hindustan Aeronautics Lim- isolation without any sense of time ited (HAL) as part of its indigenous helicopter Important Points development programme for helicopter engine ●● The Deep Time project in France’s Lombrives application. Cave came to an end. As part of the project, a ●● To achieve this, state-of-the-art single-crystal group of 15 people stayed in and explored the blades having complex shapes and geometry cave for 40 days and 40 nights. manufactured out of nickel-based superalloys ●● They slept in tents, made their own electricity, capable of withstanding high temperatures of and had no contact with the outside world. operation are used. ●● The Deep Time project looked at how a lack of ●● Very few countries in the world such as USA, external touch affects one’s perception of time. UK, France, and Russia have the capability to design and manufacture such single crystal ●● Its aim was to investigate how people adjust to (SX) components. dramatic changes in their living conditions and environments. MCQs based on Science and Tech. ●● For 40 days and 40 nights, the group lived in and explored the cave as part of the Deep 1. What are the three different types of neutrino Time project. There was no sunlight inside, the detectors are present? temperature was 10 degrees Celsius (50 F) and the relative humidity stood at 100%. 1. Water Čerenkov ●● The cave dwellers GAURAVhad no contact with the 2. Radiochemical IAS outside world, no updates on the pandemic nor 3. Liquid-scintillator any communications with friends or family. Select the correct answer using the code given ●● In partnership with labs in France and Swit- below zerland, scientists monitored the 15 member's sleep patterns, social interactions and behavioral (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 and 3 only reactions via sensors. (c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1,2 and 3 ●● One sensor was a tiny thermometer inside a 2. Which among the following is/are the chal- capsule that participants swallowed like a pill. lenges in the research and development of rare diseases? ●● It measured body temperatures and transmitted data to a computer until it was expelled natu- 1. Due to small patient’s pool rally. 2. The cost of treatment of rare diseases is

prohibitively expensive below Select the correct answer using the code given (a) 1,2 and 3 only (b) 2,3 and 4 only below (c) 1,3 and 4 only (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4 (a) 1 only (b) 2 only 6. Which among the following is/are member of (c) 1 and 2 both (d) Neither 1 nor 2 International Space Station? 3. Consider the following statements regarding 1. Russia Elysium Planitia 2. Canada 1. Elysium Planitia, a flat-smooth plain just north of the tropic makes for the perfect 3. United States location from which to study the deep 4. China Martian interior. Select the correct answer using the code given 2. Elysium Planitia has just the right surface below for the instruments to be able to probe (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 1, 2 and 3 only the deep interior, and its proximity to the (c) 1, 3 and 4 only (d) All of the above tropic ensures that the solar-powered lander is exposed to plenty of sunlight 7. Sputnik V, the Covid-19 vaccine approved by the Indian government panel, was launched by Select the correct answer using the code given which country? below (a) America (b) China (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) India (d) Russia (c) 1 and 2 both (d) Neither 1 nor 2 8. NASA along with which organization are pre- 4. Consider the following statements regarding paring to send the second operational com- Perseverance’s mission mercial crew mission to the International 1. The Perseverance rover will hunt for signs Space Station? of ancient life and cache samples for future (a) ISRO (b) SpaceX return to Earth. (c) ESA (d) JAXA 2. Perseverance's data is beamed back to Earth 9. Recently Microsoft has bought which AI via several spacecraft orbiting moon speech tech firm for $19.7 billion? 3. Perseverance will carry a unique instrument (a) Nuance (b) Descent AI called as MOXIE Select the correct answer using the code given (c) Brillante (d) Code in Flux below GAURAVExplanation IAS (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 and 3 only 1. (d) (c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1,2 and 3 1,2 and 3 5. Consider the following statements regarding virus In the context of solar neutrino spectroscopy, where the neutrino is used as a probe for 1. Viruses can be killed by antibiotics astrophysics, three different types of neutrino 2. Viruses use components of the host cell to detectors are presented – water Čerenkov, radi- make copies of it ochemical, and liquid-scintillator detectors. 3. Viruses are sub-microscopic 2. (c) 4. Viruses can only survive inside a living cell 1 and 2 both Select the correct answer using the code given Some of the challenges in the research and

development of rare diseases are: Viruses can only survive inside a living cell. So The patient’s pool is very small and it often they must have a living cell in order to survive results in inadequate clinical experience and replicate. Because viruses don’t have the same components as bacteria, they cannot be Availability and accessibility to medicines are killed by antibiotics; only antiviral medications also important to reduce morbidity and mortality or vaccines can eliminate or reduce the severity associated with rare disease of viral diseases, including AIDS, COVID-19, The cost of treatment of rare diseases is prohib- measles and smallpox. itively expensive. 6. (b) 3. (d) 1, 2 and 3 only Neither 1 nor 2 The ISS consists of Canada, Japan, the Russian Elysium Planitia, a flat-smooth plain just north Federation, the United States, and eleven Mem- of the equator makes for the perfect location ber States of the European Space Agency from which to study the deep Martian interior. 7. (d) Elysium Planitia has just the right surface for the Russia instruments to be able to probe the deep interior, and its proximity to the equator ensures that the Russia's Sputnik V, the Covid-19 vaccine solar-powered lander is exposed to plenty of approved by government panel for emer- sunlight. gency use in India. 4. (c) 8. (b) 1 and 3 only SpaceX The Perseverance rover will hunt for signs of NASA along with SpaceX are preparing ancient life and cache samples for future return to send the second operational commercial to Earth crew mission to the International Space Station.Crew-2 is scheduled to launch from Perseverance's data is beamed back to Earth via NASA's Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in several spacecraft orbiting Mars: NASA's Mars Floridaon World Earth Day (April 22). Odyssey, Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) and MAVEN (Mars Atmosphere and Volatile 9. (a) Evolution), and the European Space Agency's Nuance Trace Gas Orbiter. Microsoft has bought Nuance AI speech Perseverance will carry a unique instrument, tech firm for $19.7 billion. MOXIE or Mars OxygenGAURAV ISRU Experiment IAS and for the first time molecular oxygen on Mars using carbon dioxide from the carbon-dioxide-rich atmosphere (ISRU means In Situ Resource Utilization) will manufacture on mars 5. (b) 2, 3 and 4 only A virus is a small collection of genetic code, either DNA or RNA, surrounded by a protein coat. Viruses are sub-microscopic, which means that you cannot see them in the microscope.

6 Social Issues

WEF’s global gender gap report 65, Nepal 106, Pakistan 153, Afghanistan 156, Why in News Bhutan 130 and Sri Lanka 116. ● Among regions, South Asia is the second-low- India has slipped 28 places in the WEF’s global ● est performer on the index, with 62.3% of its gender gap report 2021 overall gender gap closed. Only the Middle East Important points and North Africa performed worse. ●● India has slipped 28 places to rank 140th among Iceland at the top, Afghanistan bottom 156 countries in the World Economic Forum’s ●● For the 12th time, Iceland is the most gen- Global Gender Gap Report 2021, becoming the der-equal country in the world according to third-worst performer in South Asia. the index. ●● According to the report, India had so far closed ●● The countries with the largest gender gaps 62.5% of its gender gap, but it has widened in economic participation include Iran, India, over the past year. In the 2020 index, India Pakistan, Syria, Yemen, Iraq, and Afghanistan had closed 66.8% of its gender gap. In 2020 index, the country had ranked 112th among 153 Over the Index, the highest possible score is countries. 1 (equality) and the lowest possible score is 0 (inequality). ●● In South Asia, only Pakistan and Afghanistan ranked below India. ●● Now in its 15th year, the report benchmarks the ●● Most of the decline in India has occurred on the evolution of gender-based gaps in four areas: political empowerment subindex, where India 1. Economic participation and opportunity has regressed 13.5% points to reach a level of 2. Educational attainment gap closed to date of just 27.6%. 3. Health and survival ●● Decrease in women’s labour force participation rate, which fell fromGAURAV 24.8% to 22.3%. The share 4. Political IAS empowerment. of women in professional and technical roles ●● It also examines the drivers of gender gaps and declined further to 29.2%. outlines the policies and practices needed for a ●● The share of women in senior and managerial gender-inclusive recovery. positions also remains low: only 14.6% of these National migrant policy positions are held by women and there are only Why in News 8.9% of firms with female top managers. NITI Aayog drafted national migrant policy ●● The Earned income of women in India is only one-fifth of that of men, which puts the country Important Points among the bottom 10 globally. ●● As a draft copy of the policy, prepared by NITI ●● Bangladesh is best performer in South Asia Aayog’s, acknowledges, circular migrants are ●● Among India’s neighbours, Bangladesh ranked the backbone of Indian economy and contribute

at least 10 per cent of India’s gross domestic tion. product (GDP). Decriminalise begging Why in News SC asks Centre, four states to respond on plea seeking repeal of provisions criminalising begging Important Points ●● In February the SC had sought a response from the Centre, and the states of Maharash- tra, Gujarat, Punjab, Haryana and Bihar on the plea which has claimed that the sections of the statute criminalising begging are violative of constitutional rights. ●● The plea was filed in the August 2018, which ●● The draft policy is clear in highlighting the referred to the Delhi High Court verdict in vulnerability of migrants to such crises and which HC had decriminalised begging in the describes the experience of migrants during national capital and said that the provisions of the lockdown as a “humanitarian and economic the Bombay Prevention of Begging Act, 1959, crisis”. treats begging as an offence and cannot sustain ●● The draft contains several radical recommenda- constitutional scrutiny. tions that build on those made in 2017 by the ●● The provisions of the statutes criminalising the working group on migration appointed by the act of begging put people in a situation to make then Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty an unreasonable choice between committing a Alleviation, as well as recent research and crime or not committing one and starving, which policy analyses by leading thinkers in the field. goes against the very spirit of the Constitution ●● The draft policy makes efforts to bring together and violates Article 21 i.e. Right to Life different sectoral concerns related to migration, ●● The government has the mandate to provide including social protection, housing, health and social security to everyone and ensure that education. all have basic facilities, as embedded in the ●● The draft mentions the need for convergence Directives Principles of State Policy in the across different line departments and proposes Constitution. the establishment of aGAURAV special unit at the Minis- IAS ●● The plea has claimed that ‘The Abolition of try of Labour and Employment which will work Begging and Rehabilitation of Beggars Bill closely with other ministries. 2018’ was introduced in Lok Sabha but “till ●● It proposes new management bodies for inter- date, this bill is not passed and is wedged state migration and stresses the need to improve in length parliamentary procedures, that has the data on migration, especially data on sea- resulted in thousands of poor facing more sonal and circular migration hardships because of present arbitrary statutes ●● The draft policy also conveys a willingness ●● The petition has sought directions to declare as within government to recognise that the numer- “illegal and void” all provisions, except some ous laws and legislation that are in existence sections, of the Bombay Prevention of Begging have not succeeded in protecting migrants as Act, 1959, Punjab Prevention of Beggary Act, intended and recommends better implementa-

1971, Haryana Prevention of Begging Act, 1971 ●● To be most useful, a digital record would have and Bihar Prevention of Begging Act 1951. to be widely adopted — by governments which Vaccine Passports in turn easy to be use, and relatively inexpen- sive. Why in News Poshan Gyan Recently Vaccine passports use as digital tools which took the concept to new levels of savoir faire. Why in News Poshan Gyan, a Digital Repository on Nutrition Information was launched by NITI Aayog

Important Points ●● Today portable vaccine records are an old idea, many people had to supply Vaccine Passports as proof that they have been vaccinated against diseases. Important Points ●● Vaccine passports use digital tools that take the concept to new levels of sophistication, and it ●● NITI Aayog, in partnership with Bill and has been predicted that the electronic verifica- Melinda Gates Foundation and Centre for Social tion soon become commonplace, particularly and Behaviour Change, Ashoka University, for crowded spaces. launched the Poshan Gyan, a national digital repository on health and nutrition. ●● What is a ‘vaccine passport’? ● The Poshan Gyan is an extremely important ●● Vaccine passport is a term used to mean an ● GAURAVinitiative, IAS and can help make nutrition a Jan electronic record of vaccination, possibly in the form of a QR code, which can be easily Andolan. accessible through a smartphone or possibly ●● The Poshan Gyan repository was conceptualized stored on the device, though it could also be as a resource, enabling search of communica- printed out. tion materials on 14 thematic areas of health and nutrition across diverse languages, media ●● Earlier documentation like the physical card created by the Centers for Disease Control and types, target audiences and sources. Prevention and usually given to people when ●● Poshan Gyan was a landmark moment in order they receive their first COVID-19 shot in the to address the High malnutrition condition United States, filled out by hand were fairly despite India being a food-surplus nation, which vulnerable to forgery. points towards a clear need for behavioural change.

UNFPA report 2021 ●● Only about 56% of countries have laws and Why in News policies supporting comprehensive sexuality education. UNFPA State of World Population Report - ‘My ● In India, according to NFHS-4 (2015-2016), Body is My Own’ ● only about 12% of currently married women Important Points (15-49 years of age) independently make deci- ●● For the first time, a United Nations report sions about their own healthcare, while 63% focuses on bodily autonomy - the power and decide in consultation with their spouse. agency to make choices about your body with- USCIRF Report out fear of violence or having someone else decide for you. Why in News ●● UN Population Fund (UNFPA)’s State of The USCIRF, in its report, has Designate India as World Population report revealed that the lack a 'country of particular concern'. of bodily autonomy may have worsened during Important Points the coronavirus pandemic, placing record num- ●● The International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), bers of women and girls at risk of gender-based in its report, has Designate India as a ‘country of violence and harmful practices such as early particular concern,’ or CPC, for engaging in and marriage. tolerating systematic, ongoing, and egregious ●● Nearly half the women from 57 developing religious freedom violations, as defined by the countries do not have the right to decide regard- International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA). ing their bodies including using contraception, ●● According to the report India in the past has seeking health care, or even on their sexuality. chosen to be guided only by its biases on a Key Findings matter on which it has no locus standi. ●● UNFPA measures women’s power to make their ●● The Federation of Indian-American Christian own decisions about their bodies and the extent Organizations applauded the designation of to which the laws of the countries support or India as a CPC by the USCIRF. interfere with a woman’s right to make these ●● India, which claims to be the world’s largest decisions. democracy with a tradition of secular pluralism, The report shows that in countries where is fast slipping into a majoritarian autocracy data is available: GAURAV IAS HAL bags top award ●● Only 55% of women are fully empowered to Why in News make choices over health care, contraception HAL bags top award for innovative training practices and the ability to say yes or no to sex. Important Points ●● Only 71% of countries guarantee access to overall maternity care. ●● Navratna Defence PSU Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has bagged first place for Inno- ●● Only 75% of countries legally ensure full, equal vative Training Practices 2019-20 at the 30th access to contraception. National Award ceremony held at New Delhi ●● Only about 80% of countries have laws sup- by Indian Society for Training & Development porting sexual health and well-being.

(ISTD). ______●● HAL Management Academy having a sprawl- (a) International Organisation for Migration's ing lush green campus of nearly 16 acres with (b) World Bank state of the art facilities in Bengaluru is a centre of excellence for Aerospace Technology and (c) World Economic Forum Management professionals. (d) IMF ●● It offers specific courses blending the rich 3. Consider the following statements regarding experience and domain expertise with industry Begging Act exposure to provide trained manpower in the 1. The Begging Act is also known as the aerospace sector. Bombay Prevention of Begging Act, 1959 ●● Indian Society for Training & Development that is extended to the whole of the Union (ISTD) Territory, Delhi ●● ISTD, established in April 1970, is a national 2. Under this act Begging means Soliciting or level professional & non-profit society regis- receiving alms, in a public place whether tered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860. or not under any pretence such as singing, ●● It has a large membership of individuals and dancing, and fortune telling, performing or institutions involved in the area of training and offering any article for sale development of Human Resource from Govern- Select the correct answer using the code given ment, Public and Private Sector Organizations below & Enterprises; Educational and Training Insti- (a) 1 only tutions and other Professional Bodies. (b) 2 only MCQs based Social Issues (c) 1 and 2 both (d) Neither 1 nor 2 1. Which among the following is/are the bench- 4. Consider the following statements marks for the evolution of gender-based gap report? 1. An Epidemic is a disease that’s spread over multiple countries or continents. 1. Social Security 2. A Pandemic is a disease that affects a large 2. Women empowermentGAURAV IAS number of people within a community, 3. Health and survival population, or region. 4. Educational attainment 3. An Endemic is something that belongs to Select the correct answer using the code given a particular people or country. below Select the correct answer using the code given (a) 1 and 3 only below (b) 3 and 4 only (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 1 and 3 only (c) 1,2 and 3 only (c) 3 only (d) 2 only (d) All of the above 5. Which organization has launched Poshan Gyan, a national digital repository on health 2. Global Migration Report is published by

and nutrition? Global Migration Report is published by International Organisation for Migration's. As (a) Council of Scientific and Industrial Research per the latest report of International Organisa- (b) NITI Aayog tion for Migration's (IOM), 'Global Migration (c) Ministry of Science and Technology Report 2020', India remains the largest country of origin of international migrants with a 17.5 (d) Ministry of Health and Family Welfare million-strong diaspora across the world. 6. Which constitutional amendment act added the feature of secularism in the Preamble of 3. (c) Indian constitution? 1 and 2 both (a) 44th Constitutional amendment act The Begging Act is also known as the Bombay (b) 42nd Constitutional amendment act Prevention of Begging Act, 1959 that is extended to the whole of the Union Territory, Delhi. (c) 9th Constitutional amendment act Under this act Begging means- (d) 10th Constitutional amendment act 7. Which PSU awarded the first place for Inno- Soliciting or receiving alms, in a public place vative Training Practices 2019-20 at the 30th whether or not under any pretence such as national award ceremony? singing, dancing, fortune telling, performing or offering any article for sale (a) Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) Entering on any private premises for the purpose (b) Bharat Electronics Limited of soliciting or receiving alms (c) Bharat Petroleum Exposing or exhibiting, with the object of obtain- (d) Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited ing or extorting alms, any sore, wound injury, deformity of diseases whether of a human being Explanation or animal Having no visible means of subsistence and 1. (b) wandering, about or remaining in any public 3 and 4 only place in such condition or manner, as makes it likely that the person doing so exist soliciting The benchmarks for the evolution of gen- or receiving alm der-based gaps in fourGAURAV areas are: IAS Allowing oneself to be used as an exhibit for 1. Economic participation and opportunity the purpose of soliciting or receiving alms 2. Educational attainment 4. (c) 3. Health and survival 3 only 4. Political empowerment 1. An Epidemic is a disease that affects a large 2. (a) number of people within a community, pop- International Organisation for Migration's ulation, or region.

2. A Pandemic is an epidemic that’s spread secular democratic republic", and also changed over multiple countries or continents. the words "unity of the nation" to "unity and 3. An Endemic is something that belongs to a integrity of the nation". particular people or country. 7. (a) 5. (b) Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) NITI Aayog Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has NITI Aayog, in partnership with Bill and Melinda bagged the first place for Innovative Train- Gates Foundation and Centre for Social and ing Practices 2019-20 at the 30th national Behaviour Change, Ashoka University, launched award ceremony at New Delhi by the Indian Poshan Gyan, a national digital repository on Society for Training & Development (ISTD). health and nutrition. 6. (b) 42nd Constitutional amendment act The 42nd constitutional amendment act has changed the status of India from a "sovereign democratic republic" to a "sovereign, socialist

GAURAV IAS

The net-zero ●● Over the next two to three decades, India’s Why in News emissions are likely to grow at the fastest pace in the world, as it presses for higher growth US want India to be on board for the discussion of to pull hundreds of millions of people out of the net-zero goals poverty. Important Points ●● No amount of afforestation or reforestation ●● In its bid to reclaim the global climate lead- would be able to compensate for the increased ership, the US is widely expected to commit emissions. Most of the carbon removal tech- itself to a net-zero emission targets for 2050 nologies right now are either unreliable or very at the summit. expensive. ●● Several other countries, including the UK and U.K. and Hong Kong France, have already enacted laws promising Why in News to achieve a net-zero emission scenarios by the middle of the century. . U.K. offers help to Hong Kong for settle down migrants ●● India, the world’s third biggest emitter of greenhouse gases, after the US and China, is the only Important Points major player holding out. ●● The British government has setting up a 43 mil- ●● US wanted India to be open up for the possi- lion pound ($59 million) fund to help migrants bility of pledging itself to a 2050 net-zero goal from Hong Kong settle in the country as they escape increasing political repression in the The net-zero goal former colony. ●● Net-zero, also referred to as carbon-neutrality, ●● The offer extends to holders of British National does not mean that a country would bring down (Overseas) passports who have been offered its emissions to zero. Rather, net-zero is a state special visas, opening a path to work, residency in which a country’s emissions are compensated GAURAVand eventual IAS citizenship to up to 5 million of by absorption and removal of greenhouse gases Hong Kong's 7.4 million people. from the atmosphere. ●● The integration program will provide funding ●● Absorption of the emissions can be increased to help arrivals access housing, education and by creating more carbon sinks such as forests, jobs. Around 10% of the funds will go toward while removal of gases from the atmosphere establishing 12 “virtual welcome hubs" across requires futuristic technologies such as carbon Great Britain and Northern Ireland to coordinate capture and storage. support and give practical advice and assistance. India’s objections ●● China imposed the sweeping legislation on Hong ●● India is the only one opposing this target Kong last year following massive anti-govern- because it is likely to be the most impacted by ment protests in 2019. And the authorities have it. India’s position is unique.

used it to virtually end political opposition and and the two countries have held 22 rounds of severely restrict free speech. Special Representatives-level talks so far to ●● Most opposition figures have been jailed, resolve the boundary dispute. intimidated into silence or fled abroad. Political ●● The 10th Expert Group Meeting (EGM) on gatherings have been broken up by police and Bhutan-China Boundary was held in the coun- even art exhibitions have been criticized for try’s southwest Kunming city from April 6-9. promoting opposition views. ●● The two sides agreed to continue to maintain Bhutan and China to hold bilateral talks peace and tranquillity in the border areas pending a final settlement of the boundary issue. Why in News ●● In order to settle the border disputes, Bhutan and China have held 24 rounds of talks between 1984 China and Pakistan strengthen cooperation and 2016 Why in News Important Points China and Pakistan agreed to strengthen their coop- ●● Bhutan and China will hold the 25th round of eration on the United Nations and other multilateral bilateral boundary talks. The bilateral boundary platforms talks will be held after five years. Important Points ●● China and Pakistan have pledged to back each other’s “core and major interests” in the United Nations after holding bilateral consultations on UN affairs. ●● Both countries, uphold their relationship as “all- weather partners” and “iron brothers”. ●● Both countries have provided crucial support to the each other on several issues they see as sensitive, with Beijing raising the Kashmir issue at the UN Security Council and Islamabad backing China on Hong Kong and Xinjiang. ●● Bhutan shares over 400-km-long border with China. China and Bhutan have discussed a ●● China has in the past stepped in on many roadmap to expedite their boundary talks and instances to block the listing of Pakistani ter- agreed to continueGAURAV to maintain peace and rorists atIAS the UNSC sanctions committee. tranquillity along their border pending final ●● The two sides held the third round of con- settlement of their dispute. sultations on UN affairs virtually with their ●● The two countries do not have diplomatic rela- permanent missions to the UN in New York tions but maintain contacts through periodic and Geneva also participated. visits. S-400 missile deal ●● China, which is yet to finalise border agree- Why in News ments with India and Bhutan, has resolved the Russia and India has committed to S-400 missile boundary line with 12 other neighbours. deal ●● The India-China border dispute covers the Important Points 3,488-km-long Line of Actual Control (LAC)

●● Russia and India are committed to adhering to breaks, Outliers and Out of Control” timelines and other obligations under the S-400 ●● Balakrishnan hoped that India would ‘reassess’ missile deal. its stand on regional trading agreements such ●● Russian envoy emphasis that both Russia and as the Regional Comprehensive Economic India do not recognise bilateral sanctions as Partnership (RCEP) pact that India withdrew from in 2019. they are "illegal tools" of "unlawful and unfair" competition and pressure ●● The RCEP came into force in November 2020 without India and is the world’s largest trading agreement, covering the 10 ASEAN nations, China, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand. The CPTPP, successor of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) which the US withdrew from, includes Singapore, Brunei, Malaysia and Vietnam from ASEAN, along with Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Canada, Mexico, Chile and Peru ●● India withdrew from the RCEP largely because of concerns it would open it up to Chinese goods amid an already wide trade imbalance with China, and the failure of the agreement to ●● In October 2018, India had signed a USD 5 adequately open up to services billion deal with Russia to buy five units of ●● India’s strong support to global vaccine cooper- the S-400 air defence missile systems, despite ation, at a time when the pandemic had “turbo- a warning from the Trump administration charged protectionism and nationalism all over ●● India made the first tranche of payment of the world, significantly disrupted trade flows around USD 800 million to Russia for the and supply chains, and sharpened the tendency missile systems in 2019.The supply of S-400 for policymakers to turn inwards” missiles to India by Russia is expected to begin Withdrawal of US troops later this year Why in News ●● The S-400 is known as Russia’s most advanced long-range surface-to-air missile defence sys- USA President Biden has announced withdrawal of tem. all US troops from Afghanistan by September 11 Raisina Dialogue Important Points Why in News GAURAV●● The US PresidentIAS Joe Biden announced that US will withdraw all its troops from Afghanistan Raisina Dialogue, held virtually and hosted by the by September 11, 2021, the 20th anniversary Observer Research Foundation in partnership with of the 9/11 attacks India’s Ministry of External Affairs ●● There are about 2,500-3,500 US troops in Important Points Afghanistan at present, plus a NATO force ●● Singapore’s Foreign Minister Vivian Balakr- of under 8,000. A co-ordinated withdrawal is ishnan has emphasised that India had “a crucial expected to begin soon. role” to play in helping the region to build an ●● Biden’s announcement has removed all incen- inclusive architecture at a time of increasing tives for the Taliban to agree for a dialogue global instability with the Afghan government ●● The Raisina Dialogue, held virtually and theme ●● Doha Agreement signed between the Trump for the 2021 Edition was "#ViralWorld: Out- Administration’s special envoy Zalmay Khal-

ilzad and the Taliban last March date of May 1. the international community which is concerned ●● The accord drew up plans for withdrawal of about its nuclear programme. US troops from Afghanistan in exchange for ●● The announcement cast a shadow over talks security guarantees from the insurgent group. in Vienna aimed at salvaging the 2015 nuclear ●● As part of the deal, the US committed to with- deal between Iran and world powers. draw its 12,000 troops within 14 months. There ●● The enrichment of uranium to 60 percent is are currently only 2,500 American troops left underway at the Martyr Ahmadi Roshan nuclear in the country. facility in Natanz. ●● According to the Long War Journal (a project ●● The move to enrich uranium to 60 percent of the US-based Foundation for the Defense of purity takes Iran closer to the 90 percent level Democracies), of Afghanistan’s 325 districts, required for use in a nuclear weapon. the Taliban are in control of 76 or 19%, and ●● The Islamic republic has gradually rolled back government forces 127 or 32%. its nuclear commitments since 2019, a year India's Position after the US withdrew from the accord and ●● India would be nervous about the US withdrawal. began imposing sanctions. India was on the outer edges of the Trump drive ●● The 2015 deal known formally as the Joint to exit Afghanistan that culminated in the Doha Comprehensive Plan of Action, or JCPOA, Accord, and was a reluctant supporter of the gave Iran relief from sanctions in return for “intra-Afghan talks” between the Taliban and curbs on its nuclear programme. Afghan government. ●● Under the accord, Iran had committed to keep ●● The biggest concern would be India-focused enrichment to 3.67 percent, though it had militants such as Laskhar- e-Toiba and Jaish- stepped this up to 20 percent. e-Mohamed, which the Indian security estab- Indo-Pacific lishment already believes to have relocated in large numbers to Afghanistan. Why in News Iran Uranium Enrichment Program European Union (EU) Council Adopts Conclusions on EU Strategy for Cooperation in Indo-Pacific Why in News region Iran has started enriching uranium to 60%, its high- Important Points est level. ●● The EU Council approved conclusions on an EU strategy for cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, setting out the EU’s intention to reinforce its strategic focus, presence and actions in this GAURAVregion. IAS ●● The aim is to contribute to regional stability, security, prosperity and sustainable development, with emphasis in maritime & cyber security, defence, and trade. ●● The renewed EU commitment to the Indo-Pa- cific, a region spanning from the east coast of Africa to the Pacific island states, will have a long-term focus and will be based on upholding Important Points democracy, human rights, the rule of law and ●● Iran has begun producing uranium at 60 percent respect for international law. purity, in another breach of its commitments to ●● The Council tasked the High Representative

and the Commission with putting forward a Why in News Joint Communication on co-operation in the Karen rebels seize army base near Thai border Indo-Pacific by September 2021. Important Points ●● The EU will look to work together with its partners in the Indo-Pacific on these issues of ●● Rebels belonging to the Karen minority group common interest. have attacked and seized a military post in Myanmar. The fighting has reportedly resulted South China Sea in several casualties. Why in News ●● Fighting occurred near the Salween river which Philippines, US launch military drills amid South separates Myanmar and Thailand. Thai villagers China Sea tensions said they could hear gunfire from the clashes. ●● Who are the Karen rebels? ●● The Karen National Liberation Army, the armed wing of the Karen National Union, has been battling Myanmar's government since 1949. Nationalists from Myanmar's Karen ethnic minority ultimately seek their own independent state, with rebels also calling for a federal system of government. ●● The military has been launching air strikes in Myanmar's southeastern Kayin state since March, with ethnic Karen people fleeing to Thailand in response to the aerial assault. Supply Chain Resilience Initiative (SCRI) Important Points Why in News Australia-India-Japan Trade Ministers’ Joint State- ●● Philippine and U.S. soldiers started two weeks ment on Launch of Supply Chain Resilience initiative of military exercises on against a backdrop of rising tensions in the South China Sea, though Important Points the drills were reduced in scale due to the ●● The Trade Ministers of India, Japan and coronavirus pandemic. Australia formally launched the Supply Chain Resilience initiative in a Trilateral Ministerial ●● The countries are proceeding with the exercises, Meeting held virtually on 27.04.2021 which were postponed last year due to the pandemic, after Manila GAURAVrecently accused China of ●● The SCRI IAS aims to create a virtuous cycle of enhancing supply chain resilience with a view territorial incursions by hundreds of its vessels to eventually attaining strong, sustainable, bal- manned by militias in the South China Sea. anced and inclusive growth in the region. ●● Social distancing protocols significantly cut ●● Initially, SCRI will focus on sharing best prac- the number of troops participating to nearly a tices on supply chain resilience and holding thousand from close to 8,000 in previous years investment promotion events and buyer-seller ●● The joint drill would strengthen the capabilities matching events to provide opportunities for in addressing traditional and non-traditional stakeholders to explore the possibility of diver- security challenges amidst the increasingly sification of their supply chains. complex situation in the region. ●● The SCRI aims to reduce dependence on China Karen rebels amid a likelihood of rechurning of supply chains in the Indo-Pacific region amid the Covid-19

pandemic. Treasury in its quarterly report to Congress, the ●● It seeks to build upon the existing bilateral first under the Biden administration, are Ireland, frameworks like the Asean-Japan Economic Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Mexico. Resilience Action Plan and India-Japan Indus- ●● All except Ireland and Mexico were covered in trial Competitiveness Partnership and attract the December 2020 report, which was under the foreign direct investment in the region. previous Trump administration. Uighur ●● As directed by Congress, Treasury has established a monitoring list of major trading part- Why in News ners that merit close attention to their currency Japan expresses concerns to China about territorial practices and macroeconomic policies. waters, Hong Kong, Uighur situation ●● According to the report, the Chinese economic Important Points growth in 2020 exceeded that of other large ●● Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi economies but has been driven by the early expressed strong concerns to his Chinese resumption of manufacturing and increased counterpart about Chinese incursions into ter- external demand, especially for medical supplies, ritorial waters, the situation in Hong Kong and personal protection equipment and electronics. the human rights situation of China's Uighur ●● US alleged that over the four quarters through minority. December 2020, five major US trading partners ●● China's extensive territorial claims in the East — Vietnam, Switzerland, Taiwan, India and and South China Seas have become a priority Singapore — intervened in the foreign exchange issue in an increasingly testy Sino-U.S relation- market in a sustained, asymmetric manner with ship and are a security concern for Japan. the effect of weakening their currencies. ●● Motegi expressed "strong concern" about Chi- Freedom of navigation na's incursions into territorial waters, as well Why in News as the Hong Kong situation and human rights issues concerning the Uighur minority. US conducted 'freedom of navigation' operation in Indian waters sans consent. ●● China claims a group of uninhabited Japan-controlled islets, called the Senakaku in Japan and Important Points Diaoyu in China. The issue has plagued bilateral ●● The US Navy carried out a freedom of nav- relations for years. igation operation in the Indian waters near ●● China and Japan has broad range of regional Lakshadweep Islands without New Delhi's issues and agreed on the importance of inter- prior consent to challenge India's "excessive" national cooperation to solve the situation in maritime claims. Myanmar, where aGAURAV coup has been followed by ●● On April IAS 7, 2021 (local time) USS John Paul a brutal military crackdown on street protests. Jones (DDG 53) asserted navigational rights India and USA and freedoms approximately 130 nautical miles Why in News west of the Lakshadweep Islands, inside India's US kept India, 10 others in the currency practices exclusive economic zone, without requesting monitoring list India's prior consent, consistent with international law. Important Points ●● The United States placed 11 countries, including ●● India requires prior consent for military exer- India, China, Japan, South Korea, Germany and cises or manoeuvres in its exclusive economic Italy in the currency practices monitoring list. zone or continental shelf. ●● Other countries named by the Department of ●● The freedom of navigation operation (FONOP)

84, First Floor, Bada Bazar, Near Kotak Mahindra Bank, Old Rajinder Nagar, New Delhi-110060 Mob.- (011) 46082452, +91-9958159667, +91-9818733402, +91-9667663402 E-mail: [email protected] | www.gauravias.com 53 | Current Affairs – May, 2021 upheld the rights, freedoms, and lawful uses MCQs based on International Relationship of the sea recognised in international law by challenging India's excessive maritime claims. 1. Consider the following statements regarding Human Rights Watch Paris Agreement 1. The Paris Agreement’s aim is to strengthen Why in News the global response to the threat of climate Human Rights Watch accuses Israel of 'apartheid' change by keeping a global temperature crimes against Palestinians rise below 2 degrees Celsius Important Points 2. The Paris Agreement establishes binding commitments by all Parties to prepare ●● Human Rights Watch said that Israel is com- communicate and maintain a nationally mitting the crime of "apartheid" by seeking to determined contribution (NDC) maintain Jewish "domination" over Palestinians and its own Arab population, an allegation 3. The Paris Agreement also encourages Parties to conserve and enhance, as appro- fiercely denounced by Israel. priate, sinks and reservoirs of GHGs ●● Israel, currently being investigated by the Inter- 4. The Paris Agreement reaffirms the obli- national Criminal Court for alleged war crimes, gations of developed countries to support blasted the accusations as "preposterous and the efforts of developing country Parties to false" and accused the New York-based group build clean, climate-resilient futures etc of having "a long-standing anti-Israeli agenda". Select the correct answer using the code given ●● HRW said its finding that Israel is "committing below the crimes against humanity of apartheid and (a) 1 and 3 only (b) 3 and 4 only persecution" against Palestinians was based on (c) 1, 2 and 3 only (d) All of the above robust sourcing including government planning 2. Which of the following countries is/are includ- materials and statements by public officials. ed in the UK? ●● The 213-page report finds that the Israeli gov- 1. England ernment is the "single authority" with primary 2. Scotland control "over the area between the Jordan River and Mediterranean Sea. 3. Wales ●● An apartheid system is defined by "an effort to 4. Ireland maintain domination by one racial group over Select the correct answer using the code given GAURAVbelow IAS another, a context of systematic oppression by the dominant group over the marginalised group (a) 1, 2 and 3 only (and) inhuman acts. (b) 2, 3 and 4 only ●● Israel has occupied the West Bank since the (c) 1, 3 and 4 only 1967, the same year it annexed east Jerusalem. (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4 ●● HRW called on nations to stop viewing the 3. Which of the following Indian States share occupation as an issue that can be resolved border with Bhutan? through a peace deal, and to foster accountabil- 1. Assam ity by reconsidering their Israel ties, including 2. Sikkim military cooperation. 3. Arunachal Pradesh

4. West Bengal 7. Which of the following country bordered with South China Sea? 5. Meghalaya Select the correct answer using the code given 1. Brunei below 2. Laos (a) 1, 2, 3 and 5 only 3. Indonesia (b) 1, 2, 3 and 4 only 4. Thailand (c) 2, 3, 4 and 5 only 5. Vietnam (d) All of the above Select the correct answer using the code given 4. Which among the following is/are the princi- below ples of Panchsheel Agreement? (a) 1, 3, 4 and 5 only 1. Mutual non-aggression (b) 1, 2, 3 and 4 only 2. Peaceful co-existing (c) 2, 3, 4 and 5 only 3. Equality and mutual benefit (d) All of the above Select the correct answer using the code given below Explanation (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 and 3 only (c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3 1. (d) 5. Consider the following statements regarding All of the above Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA)? 1. It is a nuclear agreement signed between Iran All the statements regarding Paris Climate are and several world powers in 2016. correct 2. Iran sought the JCPOA for relief from 2. (a) international sanctions, which starved its 1, 2 and 3 only economy. The United Kingdom (UK) is made up of Eng- Select the correct answer using the code given below land, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. (a) 1 only (b) 2 only Republic of Ireland (officially named Ireland) covers five-sixths of the island, whereas North- (c) 1 and 2 both (d) Neither 1 nor 2 ern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom. 6. Which among the following is/are the member GAURAV3. (b) IAS of Quadrilateral Security dialogue? 1. Canada 1, 2, 3 and 4 only 2. India Four states of India share its border with Bhutan 3. Australia 1. Assam 4. Japan 2. Sikkim Select the correct answer using the code given 3. Arunachal Pradesh below (a) 1, 2 and 3 only (b) 2, 3 and 4 only 4. West Bengal (c) 1, 3 and 4 only (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4 4. (d) 1, 2 and 3

Five principles of Panchsheel Agreement are ers, the JCPOA placed significant restrictions on 1. Mutual non-aggression Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief. 2. Peaceful co-existing 6. (b) 3. Equality and mutual benefit 2, 3 and 4 only 4. Mutual respect for each other's territorial integrity and sovereignty The grouping of four democracies –India, Aus- tralia, US and Japan– known as the quadrilateral 5. Mutual non-interference in each other's inter- security dialogue or quad, was first mooted by nal affairs Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in 2007. 5. (b) 7. (a) 2 only 1, 3, 4 and 5 only Iran sought the JCPOA for relief from interna- The South China Sea is bordered by Brunei, tional sanctions, which starved its economy of Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, the more than $100 billion in revenues in 2012–2014 Philippines Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and alone. Vietnam. Signed in 2015 by Iran and several world pow-

GAURAV IAS

8 Government Schemes

Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme will be of 6 years including moratorium period Why in News of 2 years. Govt has extended the Emergency Credit Line ●● The tenor of loans under the previous version, Guarantee Scheme ECLGS 2.0, was five years with a 12-month moratorium on repayment of principal. SARTHAQ Why in News Education Minister launched the implementation plan 'SARTHAQ' for school education Important Points ●● Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal chaired a high-level meeting on the implementation of the National Education Policy 2020 and released an implementation plan for school education called 'Students' and Teachers' Holis- tic Advancement through Quality Education (SARTHAQ)'. ●● SARTHAQ, developed by the Department of Important Points School Education and Literacy, is an indicative ●● The government has extended the Emergency and suggestive implementation plan for school Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS) by education. another three months, and widened its scope ●● (SARTHAQ), aimed to guide transformational to issue additional funding up to 40 per cent of reforms in the school education sector. outstanding loans as on Feb 29, 2020 as against ●● States and UTs are given the flexibility to adapt 20 per cent earlier.GAURAVNEP-2020 IAS plan with local contextualization and ●● According to Ministry of Finance, the scheme also modify as per their needs and requirements. is dubbed as ECLGS 3.0 and has been extended ●● SARTHAQ has been developed through a wide until June 30, or until Rs 3 trillion is disbursed, and intensive consultative process with states due to continuing adverse impact of Covid-19 and UTs, autonomous bodies. pandemic on certain services sector ●● The major focus of SARTHAQ is to define ●● The collateral free loan guarantee scheme, activities in such a manner that clearly delineate announced as a part of the Atmanirbhar Bharat goals, outcomes and timeframe. package, would now also cover borrowers with ●● SARTHAQ takes care of the spirit and intent total credit outstanding up to Rs 500 crore, with of the policy and is planned to be implemented over-dues for 60 days or less on February 29 as in a phased manner. compared to 30 days overdue earlier. ●● The tenor of loans granted under ECLGS 3.0 Incentives for solar energy sector

Why in News ●● An Experts Advisory Committee (EAC) has Government approved PLI schemes for solar mod- been constituted by Department for Promotion ules and white goods of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) , which will be responsible for the overall execution Important Points and monitoring of the Startup India Seed Fund ●● The Union Cabinet approved two produc- Scheme. tion-linked incentive schemes for white goods Eligibility Criteria (air-conditioners and LED lights) and high-ef- 1. A startup, recognized by DPIIT, incorporated ficiency solar photovoltaic modules. not more than 2 years ago at the time of ●● The prime objective of the PLI scheme is to application. make manufacturing in India globally compet- 2. The startup must have a business idea to itive by removing sectoral disabilities, creating develop a product or a service with a market economies of scale and ensuring efficiencies. fit, viable commercialization, and scope of ●● The scheme would extend an incentive of 4% scaling. to 6% on incremental sales of goods made in 3. The startup should be using technology in its India for five years. core product or service, or business model, ●● The scheme was estimated to lead to incremen- or distribution model, or methodology to tal investment of Rs7,920 crore over five years solve the problem being targeted. and lead to production worth Rs1.68 lakh crore, 4. Preference would be given to startups cre- as well as lead to 4 lakh jobs. ating innovative solutions in sectors such ●● The National Programme on High Efficiency as social impact, waste management, water Solar PV Modules will reduce import depend- management, financial inclusion, education, ence in a strategic sector like electricity. It will agriculture, food processing, biotechnology, also support the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative. healthcare, energy, mobility, defence, space, ●● The scheme was expected to lead to 10,000 railways, oil and gas, textiles, etc. MW of additional capacity of solar PV plants 5. Startup should not have received more than and investment of around Rs17,200 crore in Rs 10 lakh of monetary support under any solar PV manufacturing projects. other Central or State Government scheme. Startup India seed fund SWAMITVA Scheme Why in News Why in News Startup India seed fund scheme launched to support Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the distri- domestic entrepreneurs. bution of e-property cards under the 'SWAMITVA Important Points GAURAVscheme' IAS ●● Startup India Seed Fund Scheme (SISFS) has Important Points been approved for the period of next four years ●● As many as 4.09 lakh property owners would starting from 2021-22. It will be implemented be given their e-property cards on National with effect from 1st April 2021. Panchayati Raj Day (April 24), which also mark ●● DPIIT has created Startup India Seed Fund the rolling out of the SVAMITVA scheme for Scheme (SISFS) with an outlay of INR 945 implementation across the country. Crore to provide financial assistance to startups ●● The SVAMITVA (Survey of Villages and for Proof of Concept, prototype development, Mapping with Improvised Technology in product trials, market entry, and commercial- Village Areas) scheme was launched by the ization. prime minister on April 24, 2020 as a central ●● The Seed Fund will be disbursed to eligible sector scheme to promote a socio-economically startups through eligible incubators across India. empowered and self-reliant rural India.

●● The scheme has the potential to transform rural work in partnership by ensuring that planning India using modern technical tools of mapping and implementation of Jal Jeevan Mission is and surveying. done in a participatory manner. ●● The scheme will cover around 6.62 lakh villages ●● At State and district level, NGOs, voluntary of the entire country during 2021-2025. organizations, self-help groups, etc. are involved The scheme seeks to achieve the following in supporting the local village communities as objectives: - implementation support agencies. 1. To bring financial stability to the citizens ●● To bring in transparency and make informa- in rural India by enabling them to use their tion available to citizen, NJJM has developed property as a financial asset for taking loans JJM dashboard wherein the online progress of and other financial benefits. implementation and status of tap water supply in homes has been put in public domain. 2. Creation of accurate land records for rural planning. ●● he JJM dashboard not only provides detailed information of the country but one can see the 3. Determination of property tax, which would status of implementation and progress at State/ accrue to the GPs directly in States where it UT level, district level and village level. is devolved or else, add to the State excheq- uer. ●● The JJM dashboard also shows the ‘sensor-based IoT pilot project going on different villages 4. Creation of survey infrastructure and GIS which shows the status of daily water supply maps that can be leveraged by any depart- in terms of quantity, quality and regularity. In ment for their use. these pilots one can see the quality of water 5. To support in preparation of better-quality including chlorination, water pressure in pipes Gram Panchayat Development Plan (GPDP) at different places and per capita supply on by making use of GIS maps. daily basis. 6. To reduce property related disputes and Anamaya legal cases Why in News Jal Jeevan Mission ‘Anamaya’, a Multi Stakeholder Initiative to enhance Why in News Tribal Health and Nutrition launched In 2021-22, More Than Rs. 1 Lakh crore planned Important Points to be invested in the country for ensuring tap water supply to rural homes ●● Anamaya, the Tribal Health Collaborative was launched by Union Minister of Health and Important Points Family Welfare Dr Harsh Vardhan and Union ●● The Jal Jeevan GAURAVMission – Har Ghar Jal Minister IAS of Tribal Affairs Shri Arjun Munda at announced on 15th August, 2019, to provide a function in New Delhi. Functional Household Tap Connection (FHTC) ●● The Collaborative is a multi-stakeholder initi- to every rural home by 2024, enters its third ative of Tribal Affairs Ministry supported by year of implementation. Piramal Foundation and Bill and Melinda Gates ●● Jal Jeevan Mission has to be implemented in Foundation (BMGF). partnership with States and water has to be ●● It will converges the efforts of various Gov- made everyone’ business. ernment agencies and organisations to enhance ●● 2nd edition of Jal Shakti Abhiyan was launched the health and nutrition status of the tribal On 22nd March, 2021 by Prime Minister Shri communities of India. Narendra Modi. ●● It aims to build a sustainable, high-performing ●● The annual planning exercise is to translate the health eco-system to address the key health vision of Prime Minister to involve everyone, challenges faced by the tribal population of

India. 1. The Unnat Jyoti by Affordable LEDs for All schemes was launched in 2016 MCQs based on Government Scheme 2. The objective of the scheme was to promote efficient lighting, enhance awareness, 1. Consider the following statements regarding reduce electricity bills and preserve the Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme environment. 1. It was introduced to mitigate the economic 3. Every domestic household having a metered distress faced by MSMEs due to COVID- connection from their respective Electricity 19 pandemic Distribution Company is eligible to get the 2. NITI Aayog will issue the revised opera- LED bulbs under the UJALA Scheme. tional guidelines of ECLGS 3.0 Select the correct answer using the code given below 3. The tenor of loans granted under the scheme will be for 6 years, including a moratorium (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 1 and 3 only period of 2 years (c) 2 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3 only Select the correct answer using the code given 4. Which article of Indian Constitution deals below with organising village panchayats in states? (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 1 and 3 only (a) Article 45 (b) Article 50 (c) 2 and 3 only (d) 1,2 and 3 only (c) Article 44 (d) Article 40 2. Consider the following statements regarding 5. Consider the following statements NEP 2020 1. The Government of India has allocated Rs 1. The current 10+2 system to be replaced 50,000 crores to the Jal Jeevan Mission for by a new 5+3+3+4 curricular structure the financial year 2021-22. corresponding to ages 3-8, 8-11, 11-14, and 14-18 years respectively 2. The main objective of the mission is to provide functional household tap connection 2. New Policy aims for universalization of to every home in India by 2024. education from pre-school to secondary level with 100 % Gross Enrolment Ratio 3. The Jal Jeevan Mission was announced in (GER) in school education by 2035 2018. Select the correct answer using the code given 3. Teaching up to at least Grade 5 to be below in mother tongue/ regional language. No language will be imposed on any student (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 and 3 only GAURAV(c) 1 and IAS3 only (d) 1,2 and 3 4. Gross Enrolment Ratio in higher education to be raised to 50 % by 2035 ; 3.5 crore 6. Which of the following ministry of India seats to be added in higher education launched the SARTHAQ program? Select the correct answer using the code given (a) Ministry of Home Affairs below (b) Ministry of Defense (a) 1, 2 and 3 only (c) Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (b) 2, 3 and 4 only (d) Ministry of Education (c) 1, 3 and 4 only 7. Consider the following statements regarding (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4 launched ‘Anamaya’? 3. Consider the following statements regarding 1. It was launched through the collaboration UJALA Scheme of the Union Home Minister and Tribal

Affairs Minister 1, 2 and 3 2. It will converge the efforts of various Five principles of Panchsheel Agreement are Government agencies and organisations to 1. Mutual non-aggression enhance the health and nutrition status of the tribal communities. 2. Peaceful co-existing Select the correct answer using the code given 3. Equality and mutual benefit below 4. Mutual respect for each other's territorial (a) 1 only (b) 2 only integrity and sovereignty (c) 1 and 2 only (d) Neither 1 nor 2 5. Mutual non-interference in each other's inter- Explnation nal affairs 1. (d) 5. (b) All of the above 2 only All the statements regarding Paris Climate are Iran sought the JCPOA for relief from interna- correct tional sanctions, which starved its economy of more than $100 billion in revenues in 2012–2014 2. (a) alone. 1, 2 and 3 only Signed in 2015 by Iran and several world pow- The United Kingdom (UK) is made up of Eng- ers, the JCPOA placed significant restrictions on land, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief. Republic of Ireland (officially named Ireland) covers five-sixths of the island, whereas North- 6. (b) ern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom. 2, 3 and 4 only 3. (b) The grouping of four democracies –India, Aus- 1, 2, 3 and 4 only tralia, US and Japan– known as the quadrilateral security dialogue or quad, was first mooted by Four states of India share its border with Bhutan Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in 2007. 1. Assam 7. (a) 2. Sikkim 1, 3, 4 and 5 only 3. Arunachal Pradesh The South China Sea is bordered by Brunei, 4. West Bengal GAURAVCambodia, IAS China, Indonesia, Malaysia, the 4. (d) Philippines Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam.

Opium strategy Aquaculture. Why in News ●● e-SANTA is an electronic marketplace pro- Govt to assessed Opium strategy viding a platform to connect aqua farmers and buyers. Important Points ●● It will raise income, lifestyle, self-reliance, ●● The Central government has decided to rope in quality levels, traceability, and provide new the private sector to commence production of options for aqua farmers. concentrated poppy straw from India’s opium ●● The platform is available in many languages crop to boost their yield of alkaloids, used which will help the local population. for medical purposes and exported to several countries. ●● The platform will change the traditional way of carrying out business from a word of mouth ●● Among the few countries permitted to cultivate basis to become more formalised & legally the opium poppy crop for export and extraction binding. of alkaloids. ●● It will change the traditional way of carrying ●● India currently only extracts alkaloids from out business from a word of mouth basis to opium gum at facilities controlled by the Rev- become more formalised & legally binding. enue Department in the Finance Ministry. ●● The Ministry has decided to switch to new tech- Aahaar Kranti nologies, after trial cultivation reports submitted Why in News last year by two private firms showed higher Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan launched extraction of alkaloids using the concentrated “Aahaar Kranti", a mission aimed at spreading the poppy straw (CPS). message of the need for a nutritionally balanced diet. ●● India’s opium crop acreage has been steadily Important Points declining over the years and using the CPS extraction method is expected to help cut the ●● The Aahaar Kranti movement is designed to occasional dependence on imports of products address the peculiar problem being faced by like codeine (extractedGAURAV from opium) for medical India and IASthe world called “hunger and diseases uses. in abundance". ●● It focuses on a need for a nutritionally balanced e-SANTA diet in the context of the current COVID-19 Why in News pandemic. Piyush Goyal inaugurated e-SANTA, an electronic ●● A Balance diet will help to handle the infection marketplace for aqua farmers much better with greater immunity and higher Important Points resilience. ●● Minister for Commerce and Industry Piyush ●● It will help to address the current situation of Goyal inaugurated e-SANTA for aqua farmers. hunger in abundance by working to rouse the people to the values of India's traditional diet, to ●● The term e-SANTA stands for Electronic Solu- the healing powers of local fruits and vegetables tion for Augmenting NaCSA farmers' Trade in

, and to the miracles of a balanced diet. India Holds National Dialogue on UN Food Systems ●● It will renew the focus on nutritionally balanced Summit 2021 diets (Uttam Evam Santulit Aahaar) replete in Important Points locally sourced fruits and vegetables. The United Nations Secretary General has ●● The programme will focus on training teachers, called for the first ever UN Food Systems who, in turn, will pass on the message to the Summit to be held in September 2021. multitudes of students, and through them to their families and finally the society at large. Infant Toddler and Caregiver-friendly Neighbourhoods (ITCN) Training and Capacity Building Programme Why in News The ‘Infant Toddler and Caregiver-friendly Neigh- bourhoods (ITCN) Training and Capacity Building Programme’ was launched virtually today by National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA) in partnership with Bernard van Leer Foundation (BvLF). Important Points ●● Summit will help to strategize the actions for ●● The Programme is designed to help build capac- positive change in Agri-food systems in the ities of city officials and young professionals for World and to realize the vision of the 2030 developing young children and family-friendly Agenda for Sustainable Development. neighbourhoods within cities in India. ●● The Summit will focus on levers and pathways ●● The programme is a continuation of the long- to shape food systems nationally and globally term partnership between NIUA and BvLF to to accelerate progress in the SDGs. scale up the efforts and embed the lessons of ITC needs at neighbourhood level within the ●● The COVID-19 pandemic led vulnerability and city level programmes. challenges faced by the countries in food and related system has added to the need for reori- ●● Under the programme, city officials and young enting the actions and strategies beyond specific professionals are proposed to be skilled through cropping or farming systems to entire agri-food certified training and capacity building modules systems covering production, distribution and ●● The programme is envisioned with the twin consumption. objectives: GAURAV●● India withIAS close to 18% humanity on the Globe ●● first, embedding the learnings from the inven- owes paramount stake in this Food System tory of knowledge developed by NIUA and Summit. BvLF within the on-going and proposed urban ●● India has volunteered, but not limited to, to the development initiatives at neighbourhood and Action Track 4: Advance Equitable Livelihoods city level; and for the UN Food System Summit 2021. ● second, handholding participants to embed ● ●● The first National Level Dialogue on Agri-Food learnings into the various initiatives of the cities Systems-Advancing Equitable Livelihoods has which take into account the everyday needs of been conducted on 12 April, 2021. young children and caregivers ●● On the pattern of National Dialogues, the UN Food Systems Summit 2021 State Governments have also been requested to Why in News conduct the state-level dialogues with all the stakeholders involved directly or indirectly in

the agri-food systems in India. ●● NIXI will populate this portal with web adop- ●● The Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare tion in IPv6, IPv6 traffic etc. in coming days. has created a website for the purpose to seek the About NIXI inputs and ideas of all the stakeholders and the ●● National Internet Exchange of India (NIXI) is public on the Action Track 4, and other Action a not-for-profit organization (section 8 of the Tracks of the UN Food System Summit-2021. Companies Act 2013) working since 2003 for National Internet Exchange of India (NIXI) spreading the internet infrastructure to the cit- Why in News izens of India through the following activities: NIXI-IP-INDEX portal has been launched to show- ●● Internet Exchanges through which the internet case IPv6 adoption rate in India and across the world data is exchanged amongst ISP’s, Data Centers and CDNs. Important Points ●● .IN Registry, managing and operation of .IN ●● MeitY has inaugurated three new initiatives/ country code domain and .भारत IDN domain services of National Internet Exchange of India. for India. ● IP Guru has been launched to extend technical ● ●● IRINN, managing and operating Internet support to Indian Entities in adoption of IPv. protocol (IPv4/IPv6). ●● The details of the three new initiatives are: Travel bubble ●● IPv6 Expert Panel (IP Guru): Why in News ●● IP Guru is a group to extend support to all the Indian entities who are finding it technically Sri Lanka-India travel bubble delayed challenging to migrate and adopt IPv6. Important Points ●● IPv6 expert group will help in identifying & ●● Sri Lanka has decided to postpone launching hiring agency that will help end customer by the proposed “travel bubble” with India, in the providing necessary technical support to adopt wake of the recent surge in Covid-19 cases in IPv6. India. NIXI Academy: ●● The Civil Aviation Ministry in India announced setting up a “bilateral air bubble” arrangement ●● NIXI Academy is created to educate technical/ with Sri Lanka for operation of special inter- non-technical people in India to learn and relearn national passenger flights between the two technologies like IPv6 which are normally not countries. taught in Educational Institutes. ●● India had also conveyed to Sri Lanka its interest ●● The easy-to-use platform helps network opera- in welcoming an inaugural flight from Sri Lanka tors and educators understand networking best to the Kushinagar airport in Uttar Pradesh that practices, principles GAURAVand techniques; manage IAS was recognised as an international airport last Internet resources better; and use appropriate year. Internet technologies more effectively. ●● The two governments have discussed ways to ●● NIXI academy comprises an IPv6 training enhance connectivity with the airport to help portal which is developed with the help of Buddhist pilgrims in Sri Lanka visit important various technical experts in order to provide religious sites in India. mass training to the community. ●● India accounts for one of the highest sources of NIXI-IP-INDEX: tourists in Sri Lanka. ●● NIXI-IP-INDEX portal will showcase the IPv6 World Press Freedom index adoption rate in India and across the world. It can be used to compare IPv6 Indian adoption Why in News rate with other economies in the world. India retains 142 of 180 spot in the World Press

Freedom Index 2021 (CCSCH) finalizes quality standards for 4 more Important Points spices ●● India has not slipped further on the World Press Important Points Freedom Index 2021 published by the interna- ●● During the fifth session held virtually, the tional journalism not-for profit body, Reporters Codex Committee on Spices and Culinary Herbs Without Borders (RSF). (CCSCH) has finalised and recommended qual- ●● But India continues to be counted among the ity standards for four spices; cloves, oregano, countries classified “bad” for journalism and is basil, and ginger. termed as one of the most dangerous countries ●● In this session, CCSCH5 unanimously agreed for journalists trying to do their jobs properly. to forward the following four draft standards to Codex Alimentarius Commission for final adoption as Codex standards: dried / dehydrated forms of cloves, oregano, basil and ginger. ●● CCSCH is the youngest of the Codex Commod- ity Committees. The Committee is Chaired by India and Spices Board India is its Secretariat. ●● This committee is mandated to elaborate worldwide, science-based quality standards for spices and culinary herbs, in accordance with the Codex principles of consumer protection and fair trade practices. ●● Norway topped again followed by Finland and ●● The Last meeting of CCSCH was conducted Denmark, while Eritrea is at the bottom. China in 2019 at Trivandrum. In its past four ses- is ranked 177, and is only above North Korea sions, the committee developed and finalized at 179 and Turkmenistan at 178. Codex standards for four spices, viz. dried or dehydrated forms of black/white/green pepper, ●● India is ranked 142, same as last year, after it cumin, thyme, and garlic. had consistently slip down from 133 in 2016. Nepal is at 106, Sri Lanka at 127, Myanmar ●● Set up in 1963, the Codex Alimentarius Com- (before the coup) at 140, Pakistan at 145 and mission (CAC) is an intergovernmental body Bangladesh at 152. established jointly by the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the World ●● The latest report has blamed India for an Health Organisation (WHO), within the frame- environment of intimidation created by BJP work of the Joint Food Standards Programme supporters for any critical journalist. GAURAVto protect IAS the health of consumers and ensure ●● Report said that with four journalists killed in fair practices in the food trade. connection with their work in 2020, India is one of the world’s most dangerous countries Cleartrip and Ease My Trip for journalists trying to do their job properly. Why in News ●● The report noted that “only 12 of the Index’s Ministry of Tourism Signs MOUs with Online 180 countries (7%) can claim to offer a favour- Travel Companies to strengthen hospitality and able environment for journalism”. tourism industry Codex Committee on Spices and Culinary Important Points Herbs ●● The Ministry of Tourism signed a Memoran- Why in News dum of Understanding (MoU) with Cleartrip and Ease My Trip in order to strengthen the Codex Committee on Spices and Culinary Herbs Hospitality & Tourism Industry especially in

the times of the pandemic. ●● Initiated first in 2011, the two-week long exer- ●● The primary objective of this MoU is to pro- cise focuses on high-altitude, mountains and vide extensive visibility to accommodation counter-extremism. units which have self-certified themselves on ●● It envisaged conduct of joint military exercises, SAATHI (System for Assessment, Awareness exchange of experience and information, and & Training for the Hospitality Industry) on the exchange of military observers and instructors OTA platform. besides others. ●● The MoU also outlines both parties to encour- ●● In 2018, India and Kyrgyzstan signed four age Units to register on NIDHI and thereby on agreements, including one to boost defence SAATHI and encourage local tourism Industry cooperation and hold annual joint military with appropriate safeguards for curbing spread exercises. of COVID-19. Italy launches first ever mega park ●● The idea is also to gather more information on Why in News accommodation units in order to gain actionable insights & designing evidence based & targeted Italy launches first ever mega Food Park & food policy measures and to promote safe, honoura- processing unit in India ble and sustainable tourism. Important Points India and Kyrgyzstan ●● Italy launched its first ever mega food park pro- Why in News ject in India involving food processing facilities as the two sides plan to expand ties. India, Kyrgyzstan Special Forces start two-week counter-terror drills ●● This is the first Italian-Indian food park project, an initiative in the food-processing field, which Important Points is a pillar of the partnership between India and ●● The special forces of India and Kyrgyzstan have Italy started a two-week military exercise in Bishkek ●● The project aims to create synergy between with a focus on counter-terror drills. agriculture and industry of the two countries ●● The exercise named, `Khanjar`, was inaugu- and focuses on the research and development rated at the Special Forces Brigade of National of new and more efficient technologies in the Guards of Kyrgyz Republic in Bishkek. sector. ●● Along with that Italy also aims to explore the great opportunities offered by the Indian market. ●● The project, promoted by the Italian Embassy in New Delhi and the ICE Office in Mumbai, GAURAVinvolves theIAS Emilia Romagna Region, SACE, ANIMA (Italian Association representing companies operating in the metalworking sector) and Feder Unacoma (Italian Agricultural Machinery Federation of Manufacturers). Chandler Good Government Index (CGGI) Why in News India ranked 49th in CGGI

●● It is the eight edition of the India-Kyrgyz Joint Important Points Special Forces Exercise. ●● Finland has topped the list. India has been ranked 49th in the Chandler Good Government

Index (CGGI), which classifies 104 countries in ●● Certification is renewed on annual basis through terms of government capabilities and outcomes. annual verification by a process of peer apprais- ●● The Chandler Good Government Index shows als as per the process of PGS-India. the importance of measuring and investing in ●● LAC is a Quick certification process that is governance capabilities that matter. It highlights cost-effective and farmers do not have to wait a key need for ‘pracademics’ in government – for 2-3 years for marketing PGS organic certi- people who combine a rigorous understanding fied products. of research and data with a practical and e-visas grounded sense of what governments need to do to succeed. Why in News ●● Finland has topped the CGGI list, in which each India has restores e-visas for 156 nationalities country is measured across over 50 open data Important Points points. ●● India has restored e-visa for business, medical, ●● The index focuses on seven pillars: leadership medical attendant and conference categories for and foresight; robust laws and policies; strong 156 countries. institutions; financial stewardship; attractive ●● Since tourists visas are yet to be resumed, the marketplace; global influence and reputation; Union hae ministry resumed e-visas for catego- and helping people rise. ries other than tourist with effect from March ‘Large Area Certification’ scheme 30, 2021. Why in News ●● E-visa under tourist category remains sus- ‘Large Area Certification’ is a quick certification pended. India had suspended e-visas last March. process that is cost-effective and farmers do not ●● The list of 156 countries hose nationals are now have to wait for the transition period of 2-3 years eligible for e-visas under the allowed catego- to qualify as organic ries include many EU nations, Russia, UAE and USA. China is not in the list of these 156 Important Points countries. ●● Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare (DAC&FW) is working to DANTAK identify Traditional Organic Areas to transform Why in News them into certified organic production hubs. BRO's project DANTAK completes 60 years in ●● The Government of India has certified 14,491 Bhutan ha of such area under Car Nicobar and Nan- Important Points cowry group of islands in UT of A&N Islands. ●● Project DANTAK is commemorating its Dia- ●● This area becomesGAURAV the first large contiguous mond JubileeIAS in Bhutan. Indian Ambassador territory to be conferred with organic certifi- to Bhutan Smt Ruchira Kamboj laid a floral cation under the ‘Large Area Certification’ wreath at the DANTAK Memorial in Simtokha (LAC) scheme of the PGS-India (Participatory on April 24, 2021. Guarantee System) certification programme. ●● It was a fitting tribute to the sacrifices made ●● Under LAC, each village in the area is consid- by personnel of DANTAK in strengthening the ered as one cluster/group. Documentations are bonds of friendship between India and Bhutan. simple and maintained village-wise. It may be recalled that over 1,200 DANTAK ●● All farmers with their farmland and livestock personnel laid down their lives while construct- need to adhere to the standard requirements and ing important infrastructure in Bhutan. on being verified get certified en-mass without ●● Project DANTAK was established on April 24, the need to go under conversion period. 1961 as a result of the visionary leadership of

the Third King and then Prime Minister Jawa- ●● According to WHO Animals, particularly wild har Lal Nehru. animals, are the source of more than 70 percent ●● Identifying the utmost importance of connectiv- of all emerging infectious diseases in humans, ity in spurring the socio-economic development many of which are caused by novel viruses. and growth of Bhutan, DANTAK was tasked Wild mammals, in particular, pose a risk for to construct the pioneering motorable roads in the emergence of new diseases. the Kingdom. M Narasimham ●● DANTAK completed the road connecting Why in News Samdrup Jongkhar to Trashigang in 1968. In M Narasimham, the father of banking reforms the same year, Thimphu was connected to passed away. Phuentsholing by DANTAK. Many Bhutanese had also volunteered to work with DANTAK. Important Points ●● The medical and education facilities established ●● M Narasimham was the first and only governor by DANTAK in far flung areas were often the to be appointed from the Reserve Bank cadre. first in those locations. The food outlets along He served as the 13th RBI Governor for seven the road introduced the Bhutanese to Indian months between May and November 1977 prior delicacies and developed a sweet tooth in them. to the joining of IG Patel as the Governor. The famous Takthi Canteen midway between ●● Former Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Phuentsholing and Thimphu has been a com- M Narasimham passed away.Considered as the pulsory stop for travelers. father of banking reforms, Narasimham, who Halt to the sale of live wild mammals was battling a Covid-19 related illness, breathed his last in a Hyderabad hospital. He was 94 Why in News years old. WHO Urges Ban on Sale of Live Wild Mammals in ●● He headed two committees in 1991 and 1998 Food Markets, Cites Wuhan’s Covid-19 Link. that had critical influence on the country’s Important Points banking reforms and set the agenda for the ●● The World Health Organization called for a halt sector. to the sale of live wild mammals in food mar- ●● The expert committee headed by Narasimham kets to prevent the emergence of new diseases. gave a series of recommendations in November ●● The WHO said that while traditional markets 1991. During the next five years, 1992-97, there play a central role in providing food and live- was a paradigm shift in the financial sector with lihoods for large populations, banning the sale the opening up of the economy. of live wild mammals could protect the health ●● In 1998, the second Narasimham committee of market workers andGAURAV shoppers alike. made further IAS recommendations with a view to ●● Some of the earliest known cases of Covid- consolidating the gains already made during the 19 had a link to a wholesale traditional food early years of reforms. The financial sector had market in Wuhan in China, with many of the a clear road map for change. initial patients stall owners, market employees ●● The Narasimham Committee-II had suggested or regular visitors to the market. that financial institutions like IDBI and ICICI ●● The interim guidance was drawn up alongside should either convert themselves into banks or the World Organisation for Animal Health non-banking financial companies (NBFCs). (OIE) and the United Nations Environment ●● The committee was tasked with the progress Programme (UNEP). review of the implementation of the banking ●● The guidance calls on countries to suspend the reforms since 1992 with the aim of further sale of captured live wild mammals in food strengthening the financial institutions of India. markets as an emergency measure. It focused on issues like size of banks and cap-

ital adequacy ratios among other things. regarding the well-being of the planet and all ●● He proposed a three-tier banking structure in the life it supports. India through establishment of three large banks Oldest water on Earth with international presence, eight to ten national Why in News banks and a large number of regional and local banks. A team from the University of Toronto in Canada has discovered what could be the ‘oldest’ water on ●● Narasimham joined the RBI as a Research Earth. Officer in the Economic Department. He later joined the government and served as Additional Important Points Secretary in the Department of Economic ●● The researchers found the samples of water Affairs. He later became Secretary in the from a mine in Ontario in 2009. Finance Ministry. ●● Tests conducted by researchers at the Univer- Earth Day 2021 sity of Oxford found that the mean age of the Why in News samples was 1.6 billion years old, making it the oldest water sample ever found on Earth. April 22 is the Earth Day, an international event celebrated around the world to pledge support for ●● The team also found microbes in the water environmental protection. samples, which survived in trace amounts of hydrogen and sulfate. Important Points ●● While such life forms are known to exist on ●● The year 2021 marks the 51st anniversary of the ocean floor, this is the first time that such the annual celebrations. This year’s theme for microbial life has been found deep within Earth Day is ‘Restore Our Earth’. continents. ●● Earth Day was first observed in 1970, when ●● The findings may help scientists better under- 20 million took to the streets to protest against stand ancient Earth and how life evolved on environmental degradation. The event was trig- this planet. gered by the 1969 Santa Barbara oil spill, as well as other issues such as smog and polluted VARUNA 2021 rivers. Why in News ●● The landmark Paris Agreement, which brings French Indian Naval Exercise VARUNA 2021 almost 200 countries together in setting a Concludes common target to reduce global greenhouse emissions, was signed on Earth Day 2016. Important Points ●● According to earthday.org, Earth Day aims to ●● From April 25 to 27, the French Navy (Marine “build the world’s GAURAVlargest environmental move- Nationale) IAS and Indian Navy conducted “Varuna ment to drive transformative change for people 2021” joint naval exercise in the western Ara- and the planet.” bian Sea region of the Indian Ocean. ●● The movement’s mission is “to diversify, edu- ●● This 19th edition involved the participation cate and activate the environmental movement of the French Navy aircraft carrier Charles de worldwide.” Gaulle and its entire carrier strike group (CSG). ●● According to the United Nations, International ●● The French Navy participation included the Mother Earth Day is celebrated to remind each aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle and its car- of us that the Earth and its ecosystems provide rier air wing (Rafale Marine fighter jets, E-2C us with life and sustenance. Hawkeye AEW aircraft, NH90NFH Caïman and Dauphin naval helicopters), the Provence ●● This day provides an opportunity to raise public FREMM frigate, Chevalier Paul air defense awareness around the world to the challenges frigate, and Var command and supply ship.

●● From the Indian Navy’s side, INS Kolkata 5. Recently Ministry of Tourism has signed guided missile stealth destroyer, INS Tarkash MOUs with which online travel companies to and INS Talwar guided missile frigates, INS strengthen hospitality and tourism industry in Deepak Fleet Support Ship, with Seaking 42B India? and Chetak helicopters, a Kalvari-class sub- 1. Cleartrip marine and P8I Maritime Patrol Aircraft were participated. 2. Ease My Trip Select the correct answer using the code given below MCQs based on Miscellaneous (a) 1 only (b) 2 only 1. What is the scientific name of Opium poppy? (c) 1 and 2 both (a) Papaver somniferum (d) Neither 1 nor 2 (b) Azadirachta indica (c) Pisum sativum 6. What is the name of the exercise started be- (d) Lathyrus odoratus tween the special forces of India and Kyrgyz- 2. Who has inaugurated e-SANTA, an electronic stan at the National Guards of Kyrgyz Repub- marketplace providing a platform to connect lic in Bishkek? aqua farmers and buyers? (a) Brahmashira (a) Narendra Modi (b) Emerald Mercury (b) Amit Shah (c) Shoor Veer (c) Narendra Singh Tomar (d) Khanjar (d) Piyush Goyal 7. Which country has launches the first ever 3. Palk Strait, inlet of the Bay of Bengal is bound- mega food park & food processing unit in In- ed by dia? 1. Pamban Island (a) USA (b) France 2. Adam's Bridge (c) Germany (d) Italy 3. Mannar Island Explanation Select the correct answer using the code given below GAURAV1. (a) IAS (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 and 3 only Papaver somniferum (c) 1 and 3 only Papaver somniferum is the scientific name Opium poppy. (d) All of the above 2. (d) 4. Which of the following organisation publishes World Press Freedom index every year? Piyush Goyal (a) Reporters without Borders (RSF) Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush (b) Transparency International Goyal virtually inaugurated e-SANTA, an electronic marketplace providing a platform to (c) World Economic Forum connect aqua farmers and buyers. (d) International Media House

3. (d) & Tourism Industry especially in the times of All of the above the pandemic, the Ministry of Tourism signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Palk Strait, inlet of the Bay of Bengal between Cleartrip and Ease My Trip. south-eastern India and northern Sri Lanka. It is bounded on the south by Pamban Island (India), 6. (d) Adam's (Rama's) Bridge (a chain of shoals), the Khanjar Gulf of Mannar, and Mannar Island (Sri Lanka). Khanjar is the name of the exercise started 4. (a) between the special forces of India and Kyr- Reporters without Borders (RSF) gyzstan at the National Guards of Kyrgyz Republic in Bishkek. The special forces of India Since 2002 Reporters without Borders (RSF) and Kyrgyzstan, two-week military exercise in Published World Press Freedom index annually Bishkek focuses on counter-terror drills. 5. (c) 7. (d) 1 and 2 both Italy In its ongoing effort to strengthen the Hospitality Italy launches first ever mega Food Park & food processing unit in India involving food processing facilities.

GAURAV IAS

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