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1. Dindigul lock and Kandangi saree from Tamil Nadu have been given the Two new eel species discovered
Geographical Indication (GI) tag. 2. Dindigul locks are made in an area of 5 1. Two new species of marine eel have been km in and around Dindigul in Tamil Nadu. discovered and documented by Estuarine The lock is world famous for their superior Biology Regional Centre (EBRC) of the quality and durability, and the Dindigul Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) at city is often referred to as the ―Lock City‖. Gopalpur-on-sea in Odisha. 3. The Kandangi sarees are manufactured in 2. One of them is a short brown un-patterned the entire Karaikudi taluk in Sivaganga moray eel. It has been named district of Tamil Nadu. They are ‗Gymnothorax andamanensesis‘. characterised by large contrast borders. 3. Another species discovered was a white- spotted moray eel which has been named 4. GI is an Intellectual Property Right. It is a ‗Gymnothorax smithi‘ status accorded to a good which is unique to a particular region or area, and is 4. Marine eels are mostly found in shallow originated from there. waters but some of them live offshore in sandy or clayey bottoms ranging up to 5. The GI tag in India is governed by the 500 metres. Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection Act), 1999 5. The Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) is the and is administered by the Controller premier Indian organization, under General of Patents, Designs and Trade Environment Ministry for zoological Marks, under the Ministry of Commerce research and studies to promote the and Industry. survey, exploration and research of the fauna in India. It was established in 1960. 6. Good in the categories of a) Agricultural It is headquartered in Kolkata, West products (e.g. Nagpur Orange), b) Bengal. foodstuffs (e.g. Joynagar Moa), c) handicrafts (e.g. Agates of Cambay), d) T.N.‟s Dindigul lock and Kandangi textile (e.g. Kullu Shawl), e) natural saree get GI tag products (e.g. Makrana Marble) and f) manufactured products (e.g. Kannauj
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Perfume) come under the ambit of GI crore houses and ensure ―Housing for 3 Tags. All by 2022‖ by providing financial assistance to the beneficiaries. It has 7. Darjeeling Tea is the first good to receive four components: a) In-situ Slum a GI Tag in India. Redevelopment (ISSR), b) Affordable Campaign Angikaar Housing in Partnership (AHP), c) Beneficiary-led Individual house construction or Enhancement (BLC), and d) Credit-Linked Subsidy Scheme (CLSS) National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM), Conferred the Prestigious SKOCH Governance Gold Award 1. Ministry of Housing and urban Affairs has launched Angikaar Campaign. The campaign will officially be rolled out in all cities with PMAY (U) on October 2, 2019 2. It has been launched for social behaviour change, focusing on issues such as water & energy conservation, waste management, health, tree plantation, sanitation and hygiene 1. Deendayan Antyodaya Yojana-National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM) 3. The campaign will cover beneficiaries has been conferred the prestigious of completed houses under PMAY (U). SKOCH Governance Gold Award. DAY- It will be implemented through NULM has been awarded for its Portal for community mobilisation and Affordable Credit and Interest Information Education Communication Subvention Access (PAiSA) (IEC) activities. 2. PAiSA was launched in 2018. It is a 4. For this purpose, the campaign will centralized IT platform which simplifies converge with schemes and Missions and streamlines release of interest of other Ministries dealing with these subvention under the Mission. It offers subjects. The convergence would end to end online solution for processing, especially focus on Ujjwala for gas payment, monitoring and tracking of connection and Ayushman Bharat for interest subvention claims from banks on health insurance to the beneficiaries of a monthly basis. PMAY (U) 3. DAY-NULM is a mission under the 5. The Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. It Urban (PMAY-U) aims to construct 1.2 aims to reduce poverty and vulnerability
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of the urban poor households by 4. This is in accordance to the Forest 4 enabling them to access gainful self- (Conservation) Act 1980, which says that employment and skilled wage whenever a forest land is to be diverted employment opportunities. for non-forestry purposes, the equivalent non forest land has to be identified for 4. SKOCH Award, instituted in 2003, is the compensatory afforestation and funds for highest civilian honour in the country raising compensatory afforestation are to conferred by an independent be imposed. organisation. It recognises the best of efforts in the area of digital, financial and 5. The CAF Act 2016 established an social inclusion independent authority called the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Centre releases ₹47,436 crore to Management and Planning Authority to 27 States for afforestation execute the fund. Earlier, ad hoc National Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority was set up to manage the fund. 6. In 2018, Compensatory Afforestation Fund (CAF) Rules were put forward. The rule had been criticised on the grounds that it undermined several aspects of the Forest Rights Act (FRA) and the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act (PESA). 1. The Union Environment Ministry has UN warns of rising seas, storm transferred ₹47,436 crore to 27 States for afforestation. These funds are part of the surges Compensatory Afforestation Fund (CAF). 2. The CAF comprises of the money paid by developers who have cut down forest for construction and other activities. The fund is used for afforestation and regeneration activities as a way of compensating for forest land diverted to non-forest purposes. 3. The amount to be paid depends on the 1. A draft Intergovernmental Panel on economic value of the goods and Climate Change (IPCC) report has services that the razed forest would have warned that rising global ocean waterline provided. These include timber, could displace 250 million people by bamboo, firewood, carbon sequestration, 2100. soil conservation, water recharge, and seed dispersal.
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2. The report further noted that there could 4. Mumbai has been ranked as the 45th nd 5 be a hundred-fold or more increase in safest city. Delhi stood at 52 position. the damages caused by superstorms. 5. New Delhi and Mumbai have both ranked 3. It noted that cryosphere has been 47th in terms of Digital Security; Mumbai damaged by man-made warming, with ranked 50th, while New Delhi ranked ice sheets shedding more than 400 billion 51st in terms of Health Security; Mumbai tonnes in mass each year. The ranked 50th, while New Delhi ranked cryosphere is the frozen water part of the 57th in terms of Infrastructure Security; Earth system. and in Personal Security, Mumbai ranked 37th, while New Delhi ranked 41st 4. Also, at least 30% of the northern hemisphere‘s surface permafrost could Fit India Movement melt by end of 21stcentury if global emissions remain unchecked. 5. The IPCC is an intergovernmental body of the United Nations. It provides policymakers with regular scientific assessments on climate change, its implications and potential future risks. It also puts forward adaptation and mitigation options Safe Cities Index 2019
1. UK based, Economist Intelligence Unit, has released Safe Cities Index 2019. It ranks 60 countries worldwide across five continents.
2. It measures the multi-faceted nature of urban safety, with indicators categorised as digital, infrastructure, health and 1. Prime Minister (PM) has launched the Fit personal security. India Movement on the occasion of National Sports day. 3. Tokyo ranked overall the safest city 2. The movement aims to encourage Indians followed by Singapore and Osaka. to include fitness activities and sports in
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their daily lives to pave way for a healthy remaining markets where coal mining 6 and fit lifestyle. and demand for the resource is growing. 3. During the occasion,the PM said that In most other countries, demand has many lifestyle diseases such as diabetes peaked and hypertension are increasing in 10 years of H1N1 influenza: outbreaks in India.Hence,small lifestyle changes can India, infection trends in the states prevent these diseases. 4. He said that sports has a direct relation to fitness but fit India movement aims to go beyond fitness. It sees fitness as not just a word but an essential pillar to a healthy and prosperous life. 5. National Sports Day is celebrated on 29th August every year to mark the birth anniversary of legendary hockey player Major Dhyan Chand 100% FDI in coal will boost competitiveness‟. 1. Researchers from the National Centre for Disease Control data(NCDC) has published a study titled ‗Influenza A (H1N1) in India – changing epidemiology and its implications‘. 2. The study has said that the first case of influenza A H1N1 virus also known as Swine flu was reported in Mexico in April,2009. 1. This decision is likely to help the coal- 3. Later the infection spread and a total of bearing states to get more revenue and 214 countries were affected by the Swine bring in more players to create an flu worldwide.Ten years since,Swine flu efficient and competitive coal market. has become a seasonal virus. 2. However, experts have said that right 4. The study has shown that in India,the past kind of policies are needed to ensure that decade (2009-2019) saw as many as 1.58 global players come to India. lakh persons being infected by the virus 3. The policies would include a (a)single- and over 10,000 succumbing to it. window clearance to ensure approvals on 5. Maharashtra has reported the highest environment clearance (b)mining leases number of cases and deaths since and (c)land acquisition are processed in pandemic influenza struck in 2009. a time bound manner. 6. H1N1 influenza or swine flu is a highly 4. Further, the foreign investment will be contagious acute respiratory disease of beneficial for India as it is among the few pigs caused by type A influenza virus.It is Success Preamble | AUGUST 2019 | www.race2ias.com
called swine flu because it was known in and broadcasting, construction and 7 agriculture. the past to occur in people who had been in the vicinity of pigs. 5. Besides,the government had also came out with several measures to tackle the 7. The symptoms of Swine flu include fever, slowdown which includes (a)reduction body aches, loss of appetite, sore throat, of taxes (b) improvement of liquidity in vomiting among others.Most people with the banking sector (c)increased flu including swine flu require only government spending on auto and symptom relief.Medications do not cure infrastructure and (d)accelerated the illness but they may shorten the refunds of goods and services tax(GST) duration and make symptoms less severe Australia downgrades Great Barrier GDP growth down to 6-year low in Reef to very poor status Q1 of 2019-20 financial year
1. The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) has released Outlook Report 2019 that examine the 1. According to data released by the Great Barrier Reef‘s health, pressures, Central Statistics Office (CSO),India‘s and likely future. Gross Domestic Product(GDP) growth 2. The long-term outlook of the reef has for April-June 2019 has declined to a six been downgraded to ―very poor‖ for year low of 5%. the first time. 2. The slowdown in growth has been 3. According to the report, the greatest attributed to (a)sharp deceleration in threat to the Reef is climate change. The the manufacturing sector (b)low other main threats are associated with agriculture output (c)low consumption coastal development, land-based run- demand and (d)decreased private off, and direct human use (such as investment. illegal fishing). 3. Recently,the annual report of the RBI 4. The Great Barrier Reef is the world‘s has also said that the economic largest and longest coral reef system. slowdown could be cyclical in nature The reef is located in the Coral Sea, off rather than a deep structural one. the coast of Queensland, Australia. It 4. The report has also said that a broad- stretches for 2,300km from the tip of based cyclical downturn is underway in Cape York in the north to Bundaberg in several sectors such as manufacturing, the south in Australia. It is home to 400 trade, hotels, transport, communication types of coral, 1500 species of fish and 4000 types of molluscs. It also holds
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great scientific interest as the habitat of organised in all gram panchayats, 8 species such as the dugong and the urban local bodies, schools and
large green turtle, which are threatened highways. with extinction. 4. The Committee also decided that a 5. It is a World Heritage Area since 1981 ‗grand function‘ will be held at (the world‘s first reef ecosystem to be Sabarmati riverfront during which a recognised by UNESCO) commemorative coin and postage 6. The Australian government in 2018, stamps will be released. announced its largest-ever investment 5. The October 2 campaign will be in the coral reef: over half a billion followed by a larger campaign till Australian dollars ($378 million). The Diwali (October 27) on the segregation, money is to be used to counter water transportation and recycling/disposal of pollution, combat coral-eating starfish, waste increase public awareness, boost reef monitoring, and improve US launches command for space the environmental impact of warfare surrounding businesses
Govt. plans drive to restrict plastic use
1. USA has launched a new command called Spacecom. It has been established as the 11th Unified Combatant Command of the American armed forces. 2. It is a re-establishment of the US Space Command, which existed between 1985 1. A committee headed by Indian Prime and 2002. Minister has decided that a major 3. It is dedicated to warfare in space. The initiative on restricting the use of command will focus on defending plastic, eliminating single use plastic American interests in space. It comes in and handling of plastic waste will be the backdrop of increasing launched on October 2, 2019 militarization of space by China and 2. Between September 11 and October 2, Russia. the government has planned a plastic 4. The United States Space Force as the use and waste awareness campaign sixth branch of the United States Armed across 4,000 towns and 6 lakh villages. Forces will be established soon 3. On October 2, a nationwide ‗shramdaan‘ for plastic waste will be
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E-Course on „Vulnerability Atlas of 9 India‟
3. The imports have increased due to slowdown in the domestic steel industry and cheap price of imported scrap metals. 4. However, India‘s internal scrap market holds huge potential as India will have 22 million obsolete vehicles by 2025 1. The Ministry of Housing and Urban from 8.7 million at present. Affairs has launched an e-course on 5. Experts have said that incentivisation ‗Vulnerability Atlas of India‘. for scrapping old vehicles can be one of 2. The objective of the course is to create the solutions. They suggested that awareness and understanding about government could waive off registration natural hazards and help in charges of a new car provided the identification of regions with high buyer produces a certificate proving vulnerability such as earthquakes and scrapping of his old car. landslides. 6. Government has also recently 3. The course would be offered jointly by published its draft steel scrap policy the School of Planning and Architecture that aims to promote scrap processing and Building Materials and Technology to supply the scrap towards electric arc Promotion Council (BMTPC). furnace and induction furnace-based 4. The E-course would also be a tool for steelmaking. effective and efficient disaster 7. Union road ministry has also come out mitigation and management in the field with a vehicle scrapping policy, which of architecture, civil engineering, urban has proposed a mandatory cap of 20 and regional planning, housing and years on the life of all commercial infrastructure planning, construction vehicles starting in 2020.However, it engineering has been delayed as it is going through a consultative process with the state India emerges second largest scrap governments importer ISRO announces Vikram Sarabhai 1. India has emerged as the world‘s Journalism Award second largest scrap importer. Turkey is still the world‘s largest recycler and 1. ISRO has announced its Vikram scrap importer of the world. Sarabhai Journalism Awards in Space 2. According to the data, the scrap imports Science, Technology and Research. have increased by 35% in the first half of this year to 3.87 million tonnes. Success Preamble | AUGUST 2019 | www.race2ias.com
2. The award aims to recognize and 10 reward journalists who have actively
contributed towards the field of space science, applications and research. 3. The nominations are open to all Indians who have a good experience in journalism. The articles published from 2019 to 2020 will be considered. 4. Vikram Sarabhai was an Indian scientist and innovator widely regarded as the father of India‘s space programme. the various efforts made by 5. Indian government had set up the Government in the biofuel sector. Indian National Committee for Space 4. Biodiesel is a renewable, Research (INCOSPAR) in 1962 based on biodegradable fuel manufactured his recommendation. domestically from vegetable oils or 6. The INCOSPAR was restructured and animal fats. Biofuels have the benefits of renamed as Indian Space Research reduction of import dependence, Organisation (ISRO) in 1969. cleaner environment, additional income 7. Vikram Sarabhai has also played an to farmers and employment important role in the launch of the first generation. Indian satellite Aryabhata which was 5. A number of initiatives have been put in orbit in 1975 from a Russian undertaken to increase production and cosmodrome blending of biofuels since 2014. 6. Used Cooking Oil (UCO) is a potential feedstock for biodiesel. The consumption of Used Cooking Oil (UCO) poses adverse health effects. During frying, several properties of oil are altered and Total Polar Compounds (TPC) are formed on repeated frying. 7. The toxicity of these compounds is associated with several diseases such as (a) hypertension, (b) atherosclerosis World Biofuel Day to be observed on (c) Alzheimer‘s disease and (d) liver diseases. 10th August 2019 8. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) had launched 1. World Biofuel Day is observed every RUCO (Repurpose Used Cooking Oil).It year on the 10th of August. It is is an initiative that will enable collection observed by the Ministry of Petroleum and conversion of used cooking oil to & Natural Gas since 2015. biodiesel. 2. The theme for this year‘s Biofuel Day is 9. On this day, FSSAI will launch a sticker ―Production of Biodiesel from Used on Repurpose Used Cooking Oil(RUCO) Cooking Oil (UCO)‖. and a mobile app to facilitate the 3. The day is observed to create collection of UCO shall also be released awareness about the importance of non- fossil fuels as an alternative to conventional fossil fuels and highlight Success Preamble | AUGUST 2019 | www.race2ias.com
1. Former President of India, Pranab Maharashtra to set up task force on 11 Mukherjee has been conferred the climate change Bharat Ratna award. 2. The award has also been given posthumously to social activist Nanaji Deshmukh and noted Assamese singer Bhupen Hazarika. 3. Bharat Ratna is the highest civilian award of India. It is given for exceptional service towards advancement of Art, Literature and Science, and in recognition of Public Service of the highest order. 4. The provision of Bharat Ratna was 1. The Maharashtra government has introduced in 1954. The first recipients decided to constitute a task force to of the award were scientists study impact of climate change on Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman, Mumbai. The taskforce will comprise of Rajagopalachari and Sarvapalli local and global experts. Radhakrishnan. 2. The task force will be set up by the 5. The ward had had also been given to environment department of non-Indian – Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan Maharashtra in coordination with and Nelson Mandela Mumbai First, a non-profit think-thank 3. The taskforce will study urban flooding World‟s food supply at risk due to climate in cities like Venice, Geneva and change, window to act rapidly closing: UN London and measures taken against flooding and unplanned reclamation in these cities. 4. It also study patterns of climate change and flood management measures taken by leading countries such as the Netherlands. 5. The taskforce will collaborate with European Climate Change Programme of the European Union to prepare a blueprint 1. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Pranab Mukherjee awarded Bharat Change (IPCC) has recently released a Ratna report titled Climate Change and Land‘. 2. The report explains how land-based activities such as agriculture, forestry, cattle-rearing and urbanisation is causing global warming, and is affected by the climate change. 3. According to the report, the land sector had been contributing about 5.2 billion tonnes of Carbon dioxide every year between 2007 and 2016. Success Preamble | AUGUST 2019 | www.race2ias.com
4. It further notes that the global food 12 production system could account for 16
to 27% of GHG emissions — up to 37%, if factors such as transportation and food processing are included. 5. It points out that nearly 25% of all food produced is either lost or wasted. And even the decomposition of the waste releases emissions. 6. The report highlights that the global rise in temperature has been much faster over land than over the entire planet. This additional warming over land could have led to increased 2. Land acts as both the source as well as a frequency, intensity and duration of sink of carbon. Activities like heat-related events such as heat waves. agriculture and livestock rearing 7. The report suggests that measures such release greenhouse gases such as as a) reduction in food wastage, b) methane and nitrous oxide and sustainable agriculture practices and c) contribute to global warming. shifting of dietary preferences to 3. Further, soil, trees, plantations, and include more plant-based food, could forests absorb carbon dioxide for the reduce GHG emissions and strengthen natural process of photosynthesis, thus food security. reducing the overall carbon dioxide 8. The IPCC is an intergovernmental body content in the atmosphere. of the United Nations. It provides 4. Nearly, 50% of all carbon dioxide policymakers with regular scientific generated from the earth is trapped by assessments on climate change, its land and oceans and the rest is released implications and potential future risks. It into the atmosphere. Through the also puts forward adaptation and process of carbon cycle, CO2 is mitigation options. continuously exchanged between the 9. The land report is the second special land, ocean and atmosphere. report of IPCC. The IPCC also 5. Largescale land use changes, like published a special report on 1.5C of deforestation, urbanisation, or change warming in October 2018. The aim of in cropping pattern, have a direct these special reports is to provide an impact on the overall emissions of assessment on a specific issue. These greenhouse gases. special reports compliment the main 6. Climate change also impact land in Assessment Reports that the IPCC various ways. Climate change publishes every five or six years contributes to land degradation through gradual changes in temperature and How land relates to climate rainfall patterns. For example, in central India, there has been a threefold 1. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate increase in widespread extreme rain Change (IPCC) has recently released a events during 1950-2015, which has report titled Climate Change and Land‘ influenced several land degradation which shows how land based activities processes affect climate and in turn gets affected 7. Climate change also affects agriculture by climate change. through increased warming, changing Success Preamble | AUGUST 2019 | www.race2ias.com
rainfall patterns and increased Other factors are also considered for 13 frequency of extreme weather events. the first time including credit
8. Afforestation, halting deforestation are scores,debt and English proficiency important aspects for combating among other things. climate change. India as a part of its 6. The rules will be applied from Nationally Determined Contribution October,2019.They don‘t apply to U.S. under the Paris Agreement has pledged citizens even if the U.S. citizen is related to create an additional carbon sink of to an immigrant who is subject to them. about 2.5 billion to 3 billion tonnes by 7. These rules are part of US President the year 2032 by increasing its forest efforts to curb both legal and illegal cover, and planting more trees immigration and is derived from the Immigration Act of 1882 that allows the New rules can deny green cards for US government to deny a visa to anyone immigrants using public benefits likely to become a public charge. Mapping world‟s soil worms
1. United States President has announced new immigration rules.The rules will apply to immigrants who enter the country legally and then apply for Green Card. 2. Green Card is an identification card which gives one the status of a 1. According to the global analysis of permanent resident along with legal nematodes published in Nature,there rights to work in the USA. are about 57 billion nematodes for 3. The rules change a 1999 law which every human being on Earth. defines a criteria the U.S. Citizenship 2. The researchers have said that Sub- and Immigration Services officials have Arctic regions have the highest been using to decide which immigrants abundance of nematodes followed by qualify for green cards. temperate regions and tropical regions. 4. Currently,the rules require those 3. Nematodes prefers colder region as soil seeking green cards to prove they will organic matter content is the key driver not be a burden to the United States or for nematode abundance. what‘s called a public charge. 4. Further,the low temperature and high 5. The criteria will now be expanded to moisture in the sub-Arctic regions include restrictions on using public reduces the decomposition rate of assistance including food stamps, organic matter.This leads to Medicaid and subsidized housing.
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accumulation of organic matter and the 5. The solutions for the threats are (b) 14 nematodes happily thrive on them. work towards better protection for wild
5. Nematodes are worm shaped nearly animals (b)improve enforcement microscopic animals,many of which are policies to prevent illegal poaching virtually invisible to the unaided eye (c)Conserve the habitats of elephants when they are in the soil or within plant and (d)provide better treatment for material. captive elephants 6. These are roundworms and their size can vary from a tiny 0.2 millimetre to a Headgear made mandatory for few metres.They are responsible for children above four years around 2.2% of the total carbon emission from soils. 7. The nematodes play a crucial role in the environment as they are responsible for production of ammonia of the soil and also a bioindicator of soil ecosystem‘s health.
World Elephant Day
1. The government has made it mandatory for children above four years to wear protective headgear of prescribed standards while travelling on a motorcycle. 2. The safety measures for the children travelling on motorcycles have been included in the Motor Vehicles 1. World Elephant Day is observed every (Amendment) Act 2019. year on August 12.The goal of Elephant 3. The amendment Act has made Day is to create awareness of the urgent protective headgear compulsory for plight of African and Asian elephants. every persons above the age of four 2. This day also aims to share knowledge driving/ riding or being carried in a and positive solutions for the better motorbike. Only Sikhs wearing turban care and management of captive and have been exempted. wild elephants. 4. Motor Vehicle (Amendment) Act, 2019 3. The African elephants are listed as amends the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. Vulnerable and Asian elephants as 5. It seeks to improve road safety through Endangered on the IUCN Red List of multifold increase in penalties for traffic threatened species. violations. It also aims to streamline the 4. The various threats faced by elephants licensing and road permit process. are (a)Poaching (b) Human elephant conflict (c)Mistreatment in captivity and (d)Habitat loss Success Preamble | AUGUST 2019 | www.race2ias.com
National Youth Awards PM-JAY to include cancer treatment 15 soon, say health officials 1. The Union Minister for Youth Affairs & Sports(I/C) has conferred the National Youth Awards. 2. The awards were conferred on individuals(aged between 15-29 years) and organizations for excellent work and contribution in different fields of development and social services. 3. The objective of the awards is (a)to motivate young people to achieve excellence in the field of national development and social service (b)to develop a sense of responsibility to the 1. The National Health Authority is community and (c)to give recognition to planning to include all types of cancer the outstanding work done by voluntary and its treatments under Ayushman organizations working with the youth Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya for national development including Yojana (PM-JAY). social service. 2. According to the WHO, the rate of 4. The individual award comprises of a mortality due to cancer in India is high. medal, a certificate and a cash prize of It is the second-most common disease Rs.50,000/-.The award to a youth in India and is responsible for maximum organisation includes a medal, a mortality (0.3 million deaths per year). certificate and a cash prize of Rs.2 lakh 3. The estimated number of people living with cancer is around 2.25 million. Army launches „Mission Reach Out‟ Further, over 11 lakh new cancer in Jammu patients are registered each year 4. Lung cancer is the most common type of cancer in India, followed by breast cancer and oral cancers. 5. Ayushman Bharat Yojana- Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) is the Central Government‘s health insurance scheme. It aims to give medical cover to over 10 crore poor and vulnerable families of approximately 50 crore beneficiaries. The Indian Army has launched ―Mission 6. It provides a coverage of up to ₹5 lakh Reach Out‖ in Jammu. per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalisation. The benefit 1. The mission aims to ensure basic cover includes pre and post necessities and essential services are hospitalisation expenses. available in the region post the 7. National Health Authority is the abrogation of the provisions of Article implementing body of PM-JAY health 370 and reorganisation of Jammu and insurance scheme Kashmir.
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2. The numerous initiatives undertaken by said that in the Vineet Narain v. Union of 16 the Army under ‗Mission Reach Out‘ are India case,the Supreme Court had
(a)mobile medical care units with expressed concern over the state of essential medicines and lady medical affairs and laid down explicit guidelines officers (b)assistance in the for protecting the integrity of CBI. transportation of patients to hospitals 5. However,due to the superintendence (c)facilitating people to speak to their and control of the CBI continues to lie near ones through Army exchange and with the executive by virtue of Section 4 (d)creating a safe environment for of the Delhi Special Police ATMs, banks and hospitals to function Establishment(DSPE) Act,1946.Hence,the possibility of it CBI should have statutory status being used as a political instrument like CAG: Ranjan Gogoi remains. 6. He also pointed out that under the DSPE Act,the CBI requires consent of the State concerned for investigation.But due to vested interests or bureaucratic lethargy such consent is often either denied or delayed, severely compromising the investigation. 7. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is the premier investigating police agency in India.It comes under the Ministry of Personnel,Pension & Public Grievances,Government of India.The CBI is not a statutory body.The CBI investigative and jurisdiction powers are governed by the DSPE Act,1946 1. Chief Justice of India(CJI) has suggested a comprehensive legislation to give RBI takes over HFC regulation from Central Bureau of Investigation(CBI) a NHB statutory status equivalent to the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG). 2. He has listed various key concerns with the CBI such as (a)legal ambiguity (b)weak human resource (c)lack of adequate investment (d)accountability and (e)political and administrative interference. 3. He has also suggested that public order must be made part of the Concurrent List for investigation of interstate The Reserve Bank of India(RBI) has approved crimes.Currently,Public order is under a proposal to shift regulation of Housing the exclusive domain of state finance companies(HFCs) from the National governments. Housing Bank(NHB) to the RBI. 4. In the context of political and administrative interference in CBI,he Success Preamble | AUGUST 2019 | www.race2ias.com
1. Hence,HFCs will now be treated as one 17 of the categories of non-banking
financial companies(NBFCs) for regulatory purposes. 2. Further,any housing finance institution which is a company desirous of making an application for registration under the NHB Act,1987 must approach the department of Non-Banking Regulation at the RBI. 3. RBI will also review the current regulatory framework applicable to 2. Currently,lithium-ion batteries are housing finance companies(HFCs) widely in use.However,the lithium following which it will come out with reserves are limited when compared to revised regulations. iron reserves and hence the invention 4. Until the new guidelines,HFCs shall assume significance. continue to comply with the directions 3. Further,this invention comes at a time and instructions issued by the NHB when the world is moving towards which will continue to carry out adopting electric vehicles which need supervision of HFCs. cheaper batteries. 5. The National Housing Bank(NHB) was 4. The iron ion battery are also cost- set up in 1988 under the National effective and the amount of energy that Housing Bank Act,1987.NHB is an apex can be stored in the battery is also high. financial institution for housing. 5. Researchers have also demonstrated 6. Its objective is to operate as a principal the performance of iron ions battery for agency to promote housing finance 150 cycles of charging and institutions both at local and regional discharging.It has displayed good levels and to provide financial and stability with 54% capacity retention at other support incidental to such the end of 50 cycles. institutions and for matters connected 6. In Iron ion battery,vanadium pentoxide therewith. is used as the cathode.Vanadium 7. Recently,RBI had divested its stake in pentoxide was chosen as it has a National Housing Bank(NHB) and layered structure with very large National Bank for Agriculture & Rural spacing between the layers. Development (Nabard) by making them 7. There are various benefits of iron over fully government-owned Lithium such as (a)Iron has favourable physico-chemical properties like lithium (b)The redox potential of iron ion is higher than lithium ion and (c)Iron IIT Madras registers initial success is more stable during the charging with iron ion battery process and therefore prevents short- circuiting of the batteries 1. Researchers at Indian Institute of Technology(IIT) Madras have for the first time fabricated a rechargeable iron ion battery using mild steel as the anode.
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7. The administration of such reserves Gogabeel is Bihar‟s first community 18 would be through local people and reserve local agencies like the gram panchayat. 8. An oxbow lake is a crescent-shaped lake lying alongside a winding river. The oxbow lake is created over time as erosion and deposits of soil change the river‘s course
57.3% allopathic practitioners are not qualified: Health Ministry
1. Gogabeel is an ox-bow lake in Bihar‘s Katihar district.It has been declared as the state‘s first ‗Community Reserve‘. 2. The water body was also been notified as both Community Reserve and a conservation reserve. 3. Gogabeel is formed from the flow of the 1. According to Union Health Ministry‘s rivers Mahananda and Kankhar in the data, 57.3% of personnel currently north and the Ganga in the south and practising allopathic medicine do not east.It is the fifteenth Protected have a medical qualification. Area(PA) in Bihar. 2. Section 15 of the Indian Medical Council 4. Gogabeel is a permanent waterbody Act, 1956 prohibits a person other than although it shrinks to some extent in the a medical practitioner enrolled on a summer but never dries State Medical Register to practice completely.More than 90 bird species medicine in the State. have been recorded from this site of 3. India has a poor doctor to patient ratio. which about 30 are migratory. The ratio is 1:1456 as compared with the 5. Conservation reserves and community World Health Organisation standards of reserves in India are terms denoting 1:1000. protected areas of India which typically 4. Further, the distribution of health act as buffer zones between established workers is uneven between urban and national parks,wildlife sanctuaries and rural areas. According to a study based reserved and protected forests of India. on NSSO data, rural areas with nearly 6. Such areas are designated as 71% of India‘s population have only conservation areas if they are 36% of health workers. Delhi has the uninhabited and completely owned by highest concentration of health workers the Government of India but used for followed by Kerala, Punjab, and subsistence by communities and Haryana. community areas if part of the lands are 5. Recently, a WHO database has put India privately owned. into the ―critical shortage of healthcare providers‖ category. India has low Success Preamble | AUGUST 2019 | www.race2ias.com
density of health professionals with the 7. The report suggests measures such as 19 number being lower than those of Sri a) reduction in food wastage, b)
Lanka, China, Thailand, United sustainable agriculture practices and c) Kingdom and Brazil shifting of dietary preferences to include more plant-based food, could reduce GHG emissions and strengthen food security. High CO2 emissions reducing 8. The IPCC report has suggested that nutrients in rice, wheat insect-based diets could be a more sustainable and nutritious option. Edible insects are high in fat, protein and micronutrients. Further, their production result in lower levels of GHG emissions and water consumption. 9. The IPCC is an intergovernmental body of the United Nations. It provides policymakers with regular scientific assessments on climate change, its implications and potential future risks. It also puts forward adaptation and mitigation options.
1. According to the IPCC‘s special report India has fourth highest number of on Climate Change and Land, increased measles cases in the world: WHO atmospheric concentrations of CO2 can reduce the nutritional quality of staple foods like wheat and rice. 2. The IPCC report has noted that wheat grown at CO2 levels of 546-586 parts per million (ppm) has 5.9-12.7% less protein, 3.7-6.5% less zinc, and 5.2- 7.5% less iron. 3. Under similar levels of CO2, rice grains has lower protein (7.8%), iron (8%) and zinc (5%). 4. According to the report, the land sector had been contributing about 5.2 billion tonnes of Carbon dioxide every year 1. According to the latest measles between 2007 and 2016. surveillance data released by the WHO, 5. It further notes that the global food India stood fourth among 194 countries production system could account for 16 in the number of measles cases to 27% of GHG emissions — up to 37%, registered between July 2018 and June if factors such as transportation and 2019. food processing are included. 2. Madagascar had the highest number of 6. It points out that nearly 25% of all food measles cases registered, followed by produced is either lost or wasted. And Ukraine and Philippines. even the decomposition of the waste releases emissions Success Preamble | AUGUST 2019 | www.race2ias.com
3. According to WHO, children under the candies are added for flavour. It is 20 age of one gets infected the most in served in a semi-solid state.
India and have the highest incidence 3. Not even a single drop of water is rate of 76.4 per million population. The added during the preparation of the second highest rate of incidence occurs panchamirtham. No preservatives or in children in the age group of 1-4 artificial ingredients are used. years. 4. Geographical Indications (GI) is an 4. Measles is a highly contagious viral intellectual property right (IPR). GI is a disease that is spread by contact with status accorded to a good which is an infected person through coughing unique to a particular region or area, and sneezing. It can be entirely prevent and is originated from there. with a two-dose vaccine. 5. In India, the Geographical Indications of 5. Under the Global Vaccine Action Plan, Goods (Registration and Protection) WHO has targeted to eliminate measles Act, 1999, along with the Geographical by 2020. Indications of Goods (Registration and 6. Eleven member states of World Health Protection) Rules, 2002 govern GI Organization South-East Asia Region registrations and goods. These laws (WHO SEAR) have committed to were introduced after the ratification of eliminate measles by 2020 at the 66th the Agreement on Trade-Related session of the WHO regional committee. Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights India is a part of WHO SEAR. (TRIPS). 7. India has initiated the world‘s largest 6. Good in the categories of a) Measles-Rubella (MR) Campaign in Agricultural products (e.g. Nagpur 2017. It targets vaccination of 410 Orange), b) foodstuffs (e.g. Joynagar million children and adolescents aged Moa), c) handicrafts (e.g. Agates of between 9 months and 15 years Cambay), d) textile (e.g. Kullu Shawl), e) natural products (e.g. Makrana Panchamirtham of Palani temple Marble) and f) manufactured products gets GI tag (e.g. Kannauj Perfume) come under the ambit of GI Tags. Darjeeling Tea is the first good to receive a GI Tag in India. 7. The ‗Controller-General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks‘ appointed under the Trade Marks Act, 1999 is the Registrar of Geographical Indications. It directs and supervises the functioning of the Geographical Indications Registry (GIR). GIR facilitates the registration of GIs 1. Palani panchamirtham has been granted GI Tag. It is served as prasadam at the Murugan temple, Palani, Dindigul district, Tamil Nadu. 2. The panchamirtham is a combination of five natural substances — banana, jaggery, cow ghee, honey and cardamom. Dates and diamond sugar
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1. Scientists have detected microplastic July hottest month on record for the 21 particles in the Arctic and the Alps. The earth microplastics had been carried by the wind and later washed out in the snow. The study has been published in the journal Science Advances. 2. The high microplastic concentrations in snow has indicated significant contamination of the atmosphere. 3. This has raised concerns about potential health risk to people and animals from inhalation of microplastic contaminated air. A recent report titled ―New Plastics Economy Report‖, had noted that an individual consumes about 250 grams annually. 4. Microplastics are plastics which are less than five mm in diameter in size. 1. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Sources of micro plastic include Administration (NOAA) has announced clothing, cosmetics, industrial that July was the hottest month on processes etc. record (records date to 1880). 5. Scientists have discovered micro 2. The global average surface plastics in a remote area of the temperature in July 2019 was 0.95 Pyrenees Mountains, which runs degree Celsius warmer than the 20th between France and Spain. Other century average. The previous hottest recent studies have found micro plastics month on record was July 2016. in farmland soils near Shanghai, China, 3. The areas that had the most notable in the Galápagos Islands (a UNESCO departures from their normal July world heritage site), and in rivers in the temperatures were Alaska, central Czech Republic Europe, northern and south-western parts of Asia, and parts of Africa and Government to launch Jal Jeevan Australia. Mission to bring piped water to 4. The NOAA also noted that at the end of households: PM Modi July 2019 both Arctic sea ice and Antarctic sea ice were at their lowest levels on record for the month. The previous historic low was in July 2012. 5. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is an American scientific agency within the United States Department of Commerce. It studies the conditions of the oceans, major waterways, and the atmosphere
Microplastics in snow raise pollution worries 1. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his Independence Day speech, has said that Rs 3.5 lakh crore will be spent in Success Preamble | AUGUST 2019 | www.race2ias.com
the coming years under the Jal Jeevan 3. He offers seamless tri-service views and 22 Mission to bring piped water to single-point advice to the Prime
households. Minister on long-term defence planning 2. Jal Jeevan Mission seeks to provide safe and management including manpower, and adequate drinking water through equipment and strategy, and above all individual household tap connections jointmanship in operations. (HarGharJal) to all rural households by 4. Currently,India has had a feeble 2024. The mission will be implemented equivalent known as the Chairman, by the Jal Shakti Ministry. Chiefs of Staff Committee(CoSC) but 3. The Mission will focus on integrated this is a toothless office given the demand and supply-side management manner in which it is structured. of water at the local level. It will 5. The senior-most among the three implement source sustainability Service Chiefs is appointed to head the measures recharge and reuse through CoSC.But it is an additional role and the grey water management, water tenures have been very short. conservation, rain water harvesting. 6. The proposal for a CDS has been there 4. The Mission seeks to converge with for two decades.It was first made by K. other Central and State Government Subrahmanyam committee appointed Schemes to achieve its objectives of after the Kargil conflict of 1999 to sustainable water supply management recommend higher military across India. reforms.However,lack of consensus and 5. According to the Jal Shakti Ministry, apprehensions among services meant it only 18% of India‘s rural households never moved forward. have access to piped water 7. In 2012,the Naresh Chandra committee recommended the appointment of a All you need to know about Chief of Permanent Chairman of Chiefs of Staff Defence Staff Committee (COSC) as a midway to allay apprehensions over the CDS. 8. The CDS was also one of the 99 recommendations made by the Lt General D.B. Shekatkar (retd) Committee which submitted its report in December 2016 which had 34 recommendations pertaining to the tri- services
More than half of forest wildlife declined since 1970: WWF 1. Prime Minister has announced the creation of the post of the Chief of Defence Staff. 2. The Chief of Defence Staff(CDS) is a high military office that oversees and coordinates the working of the three Services.The role of the CDS becomes critical in times of conflict.
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1. The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) has Golden Butterfly Tea 23 released the ―Below the Canopy report‖.
It is the world‘s first-ever global assessment of forest-living species populations. 2. The report uses the methodology of WWF‘s Living Planet Report (Living Planet Index) and developed a Forest Specialist Index that tracks wildlife that lives only in forests. In total, the report took into account 268 species (455 populations) of birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians. 3. According to the report, there has been a 53% decline in the number of forest wildlife populations since 1970. Of the 1. The Guwahati Tea Auction 455 monitored populations, more than half declined at an annual rate of 1.7%, Centre(GTAC) has created international history by selling 1 kg of the Golden on average between 1970 and 2014. Butterfly tea at ₹75,000. 4. The report has noted that along with 2. Golden Butterfly is produced by Dikom deforestation there were other major threats that has led to decline in wildlife Tea Estate near eastern Assam‘s populations. These include: Habitat loss Dibrugarh town.The tea is made of tea and habitat degradation/change, buds and not tea leaves.
overexploitation and climate change. 3. The tea is named because only the soft golden tips go into making of this 5. Loss of habitat due to logging, agricultural expansion, mining, hunting, exceptionally rare and special tea. conflicts and spread of diseases 4. The tea is judged by its aroma,taste and accounted for almost 60% of threats. colour.The Golden Butterfly tea is Nearly 20% of threats were due to extremely mellow and has a sweet overexploitation. caramel flavor 6. Climate change threatened to 43% of amphibian populations, 37% of reptile Forex reserves at a new high of populations, 21% of bird populations $430.57 bn but only 3% of mammal populations. 7. In October 2018 WWF published the Living Planet Report. The report highlighted that global populations of fish, birds, mammals, amphibians and reptiles have decreased by an average of 60% between 1970 and 2014. 8. In an effort to conserve nature, world leaders have agreed to launch a New Deal for Nature and People at 15th Convention of Biological Diversity (CBD) COP in 2020 in China
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1. According to the latest RBI data,India‘s Explained: What fertility rate data 24 foreign exchange reserves has reached show a new high at USD 430 billion due to rise in foreign currency assets. 2. Foreign exchange reserves are assets held on reserve by a central bank in foreign currencies.These reserves are used to back liabilities and influence monetary policy. 3. These assets serve many purposes but are most significantly held to ensure that a central government agency has backup funds if their national currency rapidly devalues or becomes altogether insolvent. 4. The Foreign exchange reserves of India 1. During his Independence Day consists of four categories which are speech,Prime Minister has underlined (a)Foreign Currency Assets (b)Gold challenges posed by population growth (c)Special Drawing Rights(SDRs) and in the country. (d)Reserve Tranche Position. 2. According to the data,the Total fertility 5. A reserve tranche is a portion of the rate(TFR) has dropped to 2.2. This is required quota of currency each only marginally higher than the fertility member country must provide to the rate (2.1) required for replacement of International Monetary Fund(IMF) that the existing population. can be withdrawn at any time without 3. Total fertility rate(TFR) is defined as the any interest during critical situations of number of children born to a woman a country. until the end of her child-bearing age.It 6. The Special drawing rights(SDR) is an is a key indicator for population trends. international reserve asset created by 4. Even the states that have a higher TFR the IMF in 1969 to supplement its such as Uttar Pradesh(3.0), Bihar (3.2), member countries official reserves.The MP(2.7), Rajasthan(2.6), Assam(2.3), SDR is neither a currency nor a claim on Chhattisgarh(2.4) and Jharkhand(2.5) the IMF. have been witnessing a declining trend 7. The SDR basket Includes five currencies in fertility rates. These seven states namely the U.S. dollar, the euro, the account for about 45 % of the total Chinese renminbi, the Japanese yen population in the 2011 Census. and the British pound sterling 5. Further,two more states namely Gujarat and Haryana has recorded a TFR of 2.2 which is above the replacement rate but is equal to the national average.Taken together,these nine major states account for 52 % of the 2011 population. 6. This means that barring these nine states which accounts for almost half the population,the replacement level is either 2.1 or has gone below it. 7. The states with a lower TFR include states such as Kerala (1.7), Tamil Nadu Success Preamble | AUGUST 2019 | www.race2ias.com
(1.6), Karnataka (1.7), Maharashtra functioning under the administrative 25 (1.7), Andhra Pradesh (1.6), Telangana control of Ministry of Tribal Affairs
(1.7), West Bengal (1.6), Jammu and 8. The objective of TRIFED is socio- Kashmir (1.6) and Odisha (1.9) economic development of tribal people in the country by way of marketing Aadi Mahotsav to kick off in Ladakh development of the tribal products. It acts as a facilitator and service provider
Odisha to conserve two of its largest lakes
1. Aadi Mahotsav or National Tribal Festival will be organised in Ladakh. 2. The festival is a joint initiative of Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs and Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India(TRIFED). The Odisha Wetland Authority has approved 3. The theme of the festival is ―A the implementation of an integrated celebration of the spirit of Tribal Craft, management plan for two of its largest lakes Culture and Commerce‖. namely Chilika and Ansupa lake. 4. The objective of the festival is to celebrate, cherish and promote the 1. The plan is intended at strengthening spirit of tribal craft, culture, cuisine and livelihood of thousands of fishermen commerce. relying on the two water- 5. The Mahotsav will comprise display and bodies.Besides,tourism promotion and sale of items of tribal art and craft, tribal conservation of ecology will also be medicine & healers, tribal cuisine in taken up. which tribal artisans from different 2. Chilika Lake is India‘s largest brackish States of the country shall participate water lagoon.It lies on the east coast of and provide a glimpse of their rich India in the state of Odisha and is traditional culture. located at the mouth of the Daya River 6. The event will have two reputed local and flowing into the Bay of Bengal. cultural troupes presenting Ladakhi folk 3. The lake is also the second largest dances namely (a)Jabro Dance which is coastal lagoon in the world after the a nomadic dance and song of people New Caledonian barrier reef in New inhabiting eastern Ladakh and Caledonia. (b)Spawo dance which is a heroic song 4. Chilika lake was also designated as a and dance associated with a legendary wetland of international importance hero of Himalayan region called K‘sar. under the Ramsar Convention in 1981.It 7. The TRIFED was established in 1987.It is is also home to endangered Irrawaddy a national-level apex organization dolphins and migratory birds during winter. Success Preamble | AUGUST 2019 | www.race2ias.com
5. Ansupa lake is Odisha‘s largest animal conflict and (c)welfare of captive 26 freshwater lake.The lake is shaped like elephants
a horseshoe and is situated on the banks of River Mahanadi. India biggest emitter of sulphur 6. Ansupa is famous for its sweet water fish dioxide: report using NASA data especially labeo bata locally known as pohala.The lake also acts as a shelter for migratory birds in the winter season.
Lemru Elephant Reserve (LER)
1. According to a report by Greenpeace,India is the largest emitter of Sulphur Dioxide(SO2) in the world. 2. The report provides that India has emitted more than 15% of all the anthropogenic sulphur dioxide hotspots 1. Chhattisgarh government has as detected by NASA‘s satellite. announced the setting up of Lemru 3. The primary reason for India‘s high Elephant Reserve(LER). emission output is the expansion of 2. The reserve is aimed at minimizing coal-based electricity generation over human-elephant conflict and the past decade. destruction of property in addition to 4. According to the report,five of the top providing a permanent habitat for the ten SO2 emission hotspots from coal elephants. and power generation industry across 3. The reserve will be set-up as per the the world are in India. report and recommendations of Special 5. The report also says that emission has High-Power Technical increased as majority of coal-based Committee(SHPTC) which was power plants in India lack flue-gas constituted by the Government of India. desulphurisation(FGD) technology to 4. The report stated that LER would reduce air pollution. provide a huge protected area for the 6. Further, the report also says that the conservation of wild elephants where largest sulphur dioxide emission the elephants will get an abundant hotspots in the world have been found amount of water, food and other in Russia, South Africa, Iran, Saudi facilities. Arabia, India, Mexico, United Arab 5. The Government of India had launched Emirates, Turkey and Serbia. the project Elephant in the year 1992 as 7. Of the world‘s major emitters, China a Centrally Sponsored Scheme.The and the United States have been able to objectives of project include (a)to reduce emissions rapidly by switching protect elephants,their habitat & to clean energy sources and corridors (b)to address issues of man- enforcement for sulphur dioxide control. Success Preamble | AUGUST 2019 | www.race2ias.com
8. Sulfur dioxide is a chemical compound rehydration.They can expel water from 27 with the formula SO2.It is released their bodies and set off a mechanism to
naturally by volcanic activity and is protect their cells and can still be produced as a by-product of copper revived if placed in water. extraction and the burning of fossil fuels 7. However,there is no evidence of liquid contaminated with sulfur compounds water on the Moon,although there is ice.Hence,without liquid water,it is Explained: What is Tardigrade, the possible that the tardigrades will water bear? remain in their current state unless future astronauts find them and revive them in water
R K Singh approves proposal to declare ocean energy as Renewable Energy
1. Israeli spacecraft called Beresheet had crashed onto the Moon in April, 2019.The spacecraft was carrying a 1. Ministry of New and Renewable cargo of dehydrated microscopic Energy(MNRE) has approved a lifeforms known as tardigrades. proposal to declare ocean energy as 2. However, tardigrades may have renewable energy. survived a crash landing on the Moon 2. This means that energy produced using and they may still be alive. various forms of ocean energy such as 3. Tardigrade are also known as water tidal, wave and ocean thermal energy bear. They can only be seen under a conversion will now be considered as microscope. Renewable Energy. 4. They derives its name from the fact that 3. This decision will help the sector to they look like an eight-legged bear with grow as it will enable states to buy a mouth that can project out like a electricity generated from ocean tongue. energy route to meet their Renewable 5. Tardigrades are among the most Purchase Obligations(RPOs). resilient animals which can survive 4. RPO is a mechanism by which the State extreme conditions such as exposure to Electricity Regulatory Commissions are outer space.Tardigrade feed on plant obliged to purchase a certain cells,algae and small invertebrates. percentage of power from renewable 6. Although the tardigrades on the energy sources. spacecraft were dehydrated,they 5. The deployment of Ocean energy is are known to come back to life on currently limited but the sector has the Success Preamble | AUGUST 2019 | www.race2ias.com
potential to grow which may (a)fuel access points for delivery of various 28 economic growth (b)reduce carbon electronic services to villages in India.
footprint and (c)create jobs not only 5. CSC e-Governance Services India along the coasts but also inland along Limited is a Special Purpose Vehicle its supply chains. (CSC SPV) incorporated under the 6. According to MNRE,Gulf of Cambay Companies Act,1956 by the Ministry of and the Gulf of Kutch in Gujarat on the Electronics and Information Technology west coast show potential for tidal (MeitY) to monitor the implementation energy production.However,the capital of the Common Services Centres cost for tidal energy is very high due to Scheme high civil construction and high power purchase tariffs. Russia sends its first humanoid robot Fedor into space Centre signs pact to digitise all gram panchayats
1. Russia has sent its first life sized 1. The Common Service Centre Special Humanoid robot known as Fedor into Purpose Vehicle (CSC SPV) has signed the International Space Station(ISS). a pact with the Panchayati Raj Ministry 2. Fedor stands for Final Experimental to turn gram panchayats into ‗digital Demonstration Object Research (Skybot panchayats‘ F-850).It is the first humanoid robot to 2. This move is aimed at providing speedy be sent to space by Russia. delivery of government services to 3. Fedor is the size of an adult and can people in rural areas and promoting emulate movements of the human rural BPO across all 2.5 lakh panchayats body.The main purpose of robot is to be in the country. used in operations that are especially 3. According to the pact,Gram Panchayat dangerous for humans on board Bhawans will host common service spacecraft and in outer space. centres(CSCs) to provide easy access 4. However,it is not the first robot to visit to government services and social the ISS.The US had sent a robot into schemes in rural areas. space in 2011 with the aim of working in 4. Common Services Centre (CSC) high-risk environments.It was flown programme is an initiative of the back to Earth after suffering technical Ministry of Electronics & IT (MeitY).It problems.Further,Japan had also sent a was launched in 2006.CSCs act as robot to the ISS in 2013.
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5. The International Space Station (ISS) is a Training(SCERTs) and District Institutes 29 space station or a habitable artificial of Education and Training(DIETs) and
satellite in low Earth orbit.The ISS (c)Block Resource Coordinators and programme is a joint project among five Cluster Resource Coordinators in all participating space agencies namely States and UTs. NASA(USA), Roscosmos (Russia), 6. The training will be conducted by Key JAXA(Japan), ESA (European Union) and Resource Persons (KRPs) and State CSA(Canada) Resource Persons (SRP) identified by the State and UTs.KRPs will in turn be NISHTHA trained by 120 National Resource Persons identified from National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT).
SARAL – „State Rooftop Solar Attractiveness Index‟
1. The Union Human Resource Development Minister has launched ‗National Initiative for School Heads and Teachers Holistic Advancement (NISHTHA)‘. 2. NISHTHA is the world‘s largest teachers‘ training programme of its kind in the world. 1. Ministry of New and Renewable 3. The objective of the programme is to Energy(MNRE) has launched the State motivate and equip teachers to Rooftop Solar Attractiveness Index– encourage and foster critical thinking in SARAL. students. 2. It is the first of its kind index to provide 4. Under it,teachers will develop their a comprehensive overview of state- skills on various aspects related to level measures adopted to facilitate (a)Learning Outcomes (b)School Safety rooftop solar deployment. and Security (c)ICT in teaching and 3. The index has been designed by MNRE, learning including Artificial Intelligence Shakti Sustainable Energy Foundation, (d)Environmental Concerns and Associated Chambers of Commerce (e)School Based Assessment in a joyful and Industry of India and Ernst & learning manner. Young. 5. The programme will aim to build the 4. The index evaluates states based on capacities of around 42 lakh their attractiveness for rooftop participants covering (a)all teachers development. and heads of elementary Government 5. The index captures five key aspects schools (b)faculty members of State namely (a)Robustness of policy Councils of Educational Research and framework (b)Implementation Success Preamble | AUGUST 2019 | www.race2ias.com
environment (c)Investment climate island country‘s 400-plus glaciers will 30 (d)Consumer experience and be gone by 2200.
(e)Business ecosystem. 6. Since the early 1900s,many glaciers 6. The index has ranked Karnataka at first around the world have been rapidly followed by Telangana, Gujarat and melting.Human activities are at the root Andhra Pradesh. of this phenomenon. 7. The Ministry of New and Renewable 7. Further,since the industrial Energy (MNRE) has set a target of 175 revolution,carbon dioxide and GW of renewable energy capacity by greenhouse gas emissions have raised 2022, of which 100 GW solar power is to temperatures even higher in the be operational by March 2022.Under poles.This has led to glaciers rapidly which, 40 GW is expected to come from melting by calving off into the sea and grid connected solar rooftops retreating on land
Iceland bids farewell to „Ok Leprosy glacier‟, the first glacier lost to climate change
1. Union Minister for Health has asked the 1. Iceland has honoured the passing of Ok Ministers of Law, Minister of Social Jokull glacier.It is the first glacier lost to Justice and Chief Ministers for climate change in the world. amending 108 discriminatory laws 2. The glacier was officially declared dead against persons affected by Leprosy. by the Icelandic Meteorological Office 2. He stated that the National Leprosy when it was no longer thick enough to Eradication Programme(NLEP) has move.What once was glacier has been achieved enormous success in leprosy reduced to a small patch of ice atop a control particularly in the last four volcano. decades. 3. A bronze plaque was also unveiled in a 3. He also stated that India is committed ceremony to mark Okjokull which for justice and equality of all individuals translates to ―Ok glacier‖ in the western including persons with disabilities as Iceland. per the United Nations Convention on 4. The plaque was labelled with ―415 ppm the Rights of Persons with Disabilities CO2‖ referring to the record level of (UNCRPD). carbon dioxide measured in the 4. He has also mentioned about the WHO‘s atmosphere. Global Leprosy Strategy 2016 – 5. Iceland loses about 11 billion tonnes of 2020.The strategy aims at (a)zero ice per year.Scientists fear that all of the children with leprosy-affected Success Preamble | AUGUST 2019 | www.race2ias.com
disabilities by 2020 and (b)reduction of 5. A geographical indication(GI) is a sign 31 new patients diagnosed with leprosy- used on products that have a specific
related deformities to >1 per million geographical origin and possess population. qualities or a reputation that are due to 5. Leprosy also known as Hansen‘s that origin.GI tags are given on the disease is a chronic neuro-muscular basis of the Geographical Indications of disorder.It is caused by several strains Goods (Registration and Protection) of Mycobacterium leprae.It has a long Act,1999. incubation period which makes 6. GI tag secures the quality and detection difficult.Leprosy can be cured authenticity of a product to a particular with Multi-Drug Therapy(MDT). geographical origin.It provides legal 6. India had launched the National protection from duplication.The first Leprosy Eradication Programme in 1983 product to get GI tag was Darjeeling to eliminate leprosy through early Tea detection, effective treatment and increased awareness. Nepal bans single use plastics on 7. In 2005,India achieved the goal of Everest region elimination of leprosy as a public health problem defined as less than 1 case per 10,000 population.
Tirur Vettila obtains GI tag
1. Nepal authorities have announced a ban on single-use plastics in Mount Everest 1. Geographical Indication Registry of region.The new rule will come into India has accorded Geographical effect from January 1, 2020. Indication(GI) tag to Tirur Vettila. 2. This decision is aimed at reducing the 2. Tirur Vettila is a betel leaf.It is vast amounts of waste left by trekkers produced in Tirur and nearby areas of and mountaineers. Malappuram district,Kerala. 3. Single-use plastics,often referred to as 3. Tirur Vettila is unique for its disposable plastics are commonly used significantly high content of total for plastic packaging.It includes items chlorophyll and protein in fresh intended to be used only once before leaves.The leaf also has several they are thrown away or recycled. medicinal properties. 4. The ban covers plastic items fewer than 4. Eugenol is the major essential oil in 30 microns thickness.These include Tirur betel leaf contributing to its items such as plastic bags, straws, soda pungency.It‘s shelf period is also more and water bottles and most food compared to other betel leaves. packaging. Success Preamble | AUGUST 2019 | www.race2ias.com
5. Recently,Nepal government had also released large levels of radiation into 32 conducted a clean-up initiative of Mount the atmosphere forcing thousands to
Everest.It collected nearly 11 tons of flee their homes and sparked long-term trash that had piled up for decades. fears of health and environmental 6. Mount Everest known in Nepal as repercussions. Sagarmatha and in Tibetan as 6. Floating nuclear power plant is Chomolungma is Earth‘s highest basically a mobile,low-capacity reactor mountain above sea level.It is located in unit operable in remote areas isolated the Mahalangur Himal sub-range of the from the main power distribution Himalayas.The international border system or in places hard to access by between Nepal and China(Tibet land.They are designed to maintain Autonomous Region) runs across its both uninterruptible power and summit point plentiful desalinated water supply in remote areas Russia launches floating nuclear reactor in Arctic Explained: What is Adratiklit boulahfa?
1. Scientists from London Natural History Museum(NHM) have described a species named Adratiklit boulahfa as a stegosaurus, a type of dinosaur. 1. Russia has successfully launched the 2. They dated the species back to 168 world‘s first floating nuclear reactor million years ago which makes it the called Akademik Lomonosov in the oldest known member of that group of Arctic region. dinosaurs ever known. 2. Akademik Lomonosov is a non-self- 3. The species is also the first stegosaurus propelled powership.The reactor will to be found in North Africa.Its remains be the northernmost nuclear plant in the were discovered in the Middle Atlas world. mountains of Morocco. 3. The reactor is suited for powering 4. The Adratiklit was armoured and remote areas and island states that herbivorous species.It lived on the require stable, green sources of ancient supercontinent of energy. It will also power the extraction Gondwana,which later split into Africa, of natural resources in the Arctic South America, Australia and Antarctica region. 4. However,environmental groups have warned the dangers of the project, dubbing it a potential Chernobyl on ice. 5. Chernobyl incident refers to the 1986 nuclear power plant meltdown which Success Preamble | AUGUST 2019 | www.race2ias.com
Terror funding watchdog FATF Asia- PM Modi launches $4.2 mn 33 Pacific Group „blacklists‟ Pakistan redevelopment project of Hindu temple in Bahrain
1. Asia Pacific group(APG) has placed Pakistan on its Blacklist for its failure in 1. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on meeting the required global standards Sunday launched the $4.2 million and combating terrorism and money redevelopment project of the 200-year- laundering. old Sreenathji (Sri Krishna) temple in 2. Pakistan was non-compliant in 32 of the Manama, Bahrain‘s capital. PM 40 Compliance Parameters on Money Narendra Modi is the first Indian Prime Laundering & Terror Financing and was Minister to visit Bahrain. low in 10 of the 11 Effectiveness 2. The Sri Krishna temple is estimated to Parameters. have been established around 1817 and 3. In June 2018,Financial Action Task was built by Thathai Bhatia Hindu Force(FATF) had already greylisted community. It is considered to be one of Pakistan for failing to curb anti-terror the oldest temple in the Gulf countries. financing. 3. The redevelopment project will be on a 4. However,the two processes are piece of land measuring 16,500 square separate as APG blacklisting status feet. As part of the renovated structure, would impair Pakistan‘s chances at the temple will have a knowledge removing itself from the FATF greylist. centre and a museum. 5. The APG is the FATF-style regional 4. It will also have special facility to host body for the Asia-Pacific region.APG Hindu weddings. This comes to light was founded in Bangkok,Thailand in after the Bahrain Tourism and 1997 as an autonomous regional anti- Exhibition Authority initiated to make money laundering body by unanimous the Bahrain a hub for wedding agreement among 13 original founding destination and boost tourism members. 6. The Asia Pacific Group currently consists of 41 members including India.It is focused on ensuring that its members effectively implement the international standards against money laundering,terrorist financing and proliferation financing related to weapons of mass destruction
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conversion of unsanitary toilets to pour Launch revolution against plastic on 34 flush toilets, eradication of manual Gandhi Jayanti, says PM Modi scavenging, municipal solid waste management and bringing about a behavioural change in people regarding healthy sanitation practices
Young biologist from Andhra Pradesh recreates a blue whale from bones
1. In the monthly radio address, ―Man ki baat‖, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has urged people to start a new revolution against plastic from 2 October, 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. 2. He has also urged municipalities, NGOs and the corporate sector to take 1. Recently, a biologist has recreated a measures for safe disposal of blue whale from the skeletal remains of accumulated plastic waste before 2019 dead blue whales washed ashore on the Diwali. Andhra Pradesh coast. 3. The Prime Minister has further urged 2. The blue whale is the largest animal on people participate in the annual the planet weighing as much as 200 ―Swachhta Hi Seva‖ campaign, which tons.They are also the loudest animals will begin on September 11. on Earth and are even louder than a jet 4. ‗Swachhata Hi Sewa‘ (Cleanliness is engine. service) is a campaign launched in 2018 3. Blue whales are called baleen whales as a part of Swachh Bharat Mission. The which means they have fringed plates campaign aims at generating greater of fingernail-like material called baleen public participation towards Swachhta attached to their upper jaws. (cleanliness) 4. Blue whales live in all the world‘s 5. Swachh Bharat Mission is a cleanliness oceans occasionally swimming in small campaign initiated by Govt. of India in groups but usually alone or in 2014. It seeks to achieve a Clean India pairs.They often spend summers by 2019, as a fitting tribute to the 150th feeding in polar waters and undertake Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. lengthy migrations towards the Equator 6. Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin) aims to as winter arrives. improve the levels of cleanliness in 5. However, aggressive hunting in the rural areas through Solid and Liquid 1900s by whalers seeking whale oil Waste Management activities and drove them to the brink of making villages Open Defecation Free extinction.They finally came under (ODF) and clean. protection with the 1966 International 7. Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban) aims at Whaling Commission but they‘ve elimination of open defecation,
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managed only a minor recovery since IPTV, HD Video Streaming, Online 35 then. Gaming and other cloud based
6. Blue whales are listed as endangered in services. the IUCN Red List.In India,the blue 6. CiSTB is based on a portable smart whale comes under Schedule I of the card like a mobile SIM, this solution will Wildlife (Protection) Act,1972 revolutionize the experience of the Cable TV operators by offering them a All villages will be linked with Wi-Fi high degree of choice, ease and through GramNet soon convenience without having to replace the once installed set up box(STB). 7. C-DOT was established in 1984 as an autonomous Telecom R&D centre of DoT,Govt. of India.It is a registered society under the Societies Registration Act,1860. 8. It is also registered public funded research institution with the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research(DSIR),Ministry of Science &Technology,Government of India 1. During the 36th Foundation Day celebrations of Centre for Development Mobile application-“Janaushadhi of Telematics (C-DOT),the government Sugam” has said that it is committed to providing Wi-Fi in all the villages through GramNet. 2. GramNet is a part of National Broadband Mission to secure universal broadband access.It aims at connecting all key rural development institutions with speed of 10 Mbps upgradeable upto 100 Mbps. 3. C-DOT has also launched three innovations during Foundation Day Celebrations which are (1)C-Sat-Fi (C- 1. Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers DOT Satellite WiFi) (2)XGS PON (10 G has launched a mobile application Symmetrical Passive Optical Network) called ―Janaushadhi Sugam‖ and (3)C-DOT‘s Interoperable Set Top 2. The app would have user-friendly Box (CiSTB). 4. C-Sat-Fi is based on the optimal options like- to locate nearby Janaushadhi Kendra, direction utilization of wireless and satellite guidance for location of the Janaushadhi communication to extend connectivity Kendra through Google Map, search to the remote islands and difficult Janaushadhi generic medicines, analyse terrains. 5. XGSPON is an effective solution to fulfil product comparison of Generic vs. Branded medicine in form of MRP & the rapidly increasing demands of high overall Savings, etc. network speeds for applications like
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3. Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi deforested land by 2020, and additional 36 Pariyojana is a campaign launched by 8 million hectares by 2030.
the Department of Pharmaceuticals, 3. The Bonn Challenge is a global effort to Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, to bring 150 million hectares of the provide quality medicines at affordable world‘s deforested and degraded land prices to the masses. Bureau of Pharma into restoration by 2020, and 350 million PSUs of India (BPPI) is the hectares by 2030. It was launched in implementation agency for PMBJP. 2011 by the Government of Germany 4. Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers and IUCN, and later endorsed and has also announced that Jan Aushadhi extended by the New York Declaration Suvidha Oxo-Biodegradable Sanitary on Forests at the 2014 UN Climate Napkins will now be available at Re. 1. Summit. The GoI launched ―Jan Aushadhi 4. The Environment Minister further stated Suvidha Oxo-Biodegradable Sanitary that there would be a ‗New Delhi Napkin‖ at Rs 2.50 per pad in 2018 Declaration‘ at the end of CoP14. The declaration would be a common resolve India pledges to restore 50 lakh of 196 countries on how to stop land hectares of degraded land by 2030 from being degraded and how to quickly restore existing degraded land. 5. India will also set up a centre of excellence at the Forest Research Institute in Dehradun. It will act as a nodal centre for research on issues relating to solving problems of land degradation, drought and desertification. 6. UNCCD is the sole legally binding international agreement linking environment and development to sustainable land management. It was established in 1994. 1. India will be hosting the 14th 7. The Convention entered into force in Conference of Parties (COP14) to the December 1996. It is one of the three UN Convention to Combat Rio Conventions along with United Desertification (UNCCD) from 2-13 Nations Framework Convention on September 2019 at Greater Noida, NCR. Climate Change (UNFCCC) and India is the president of the CoP for next Convention on Biological Diversity two years under UNCCD (CBD). 2. At its Curtain Raiser Press Conference, 8. UNCCD seeks to work towards Union Environment Minister has combating desertification, maintaining announced that India pledges to restore and restoring land and soil productivity 5mn hectares of degraded land by and mitigating the effects of drought 2030. This target will be a part of India‘s voluntary commitment to the Bonn Challenge. Under the challenge, India has pledged to bring into restoration 13 million hectares of degraded and
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Russia to select, train 4 of 12 Indians Kerala, TN, Himachal top India‟s 37 for manned mission child well-being index, says report
1. Russia will select and train four Indian astronauts for the Gaganyaan Mission. In June, Roscosmos subsidiary Glavkosmos and ISRO had signed a contract for the selection and training of 1. World Vision India, a child-focused Indian astronauts for the Gaganyaan humanitarian organisations and IFMR Mission. LEAD, a research organisation based in 2. Gaganyaan is India‘s first Human Space India, have released India Child Well- Flight Programme to be launched by Being Report. It provides insights on Indian Space Research Organisation health, nutrition, education, sanitation (ISRO) by 2022. and child protection. 3. The programme will make India the 2. The report examines how India fairs on fourth nation in the world to launch a child well-being using a composite Human Spaceflight Mission. So far, only child well-being index. The index is the USA, Russia and China have based on three dimensions viz. a) launched human spaceflight missions. healthy individual development, b) 4. According to ISRO, most of the positive relationships and c) protective indigenously developed technologies contexts. 24 indicators under the 3 required for the mission has already dimensions were selected to develop been tested. These include crew the computation of the child well-being module re-entry, crew escape index. mechanism in case of a glitch during 3. Kerala (0.76), Tamil Nadu (0.67) and launch, a deep space network and the Himachal Pradesh (0.67) topped the astronaut‘s space suit. child-wellbeing index. Puducherry 5. Space launch vehicle, GSLV MK III will performed the best among union be used for the Gaganyaan mission. It territories. has been modified to fit a crew module 4. Meghalaya (0.53), Jharkhand (0.50) and and life support to carry astronauts to Madhya Pradesh (0.44) performed space worst in the overall index
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1. India‘s proposal to upgrade the Ind-Ra cuts GDP growth forecast in 38 protection of star tortoises, the smooth- FY20 to 6.7% coated otter and small-clawed otters in CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species on Wild Fauna and Flora) have been approved. These species have been listed under Appendix I of CITES. There will be a complete international ban enforced on their trade. 2. The decision was taken at the ongoing CoP 18 of CITES being held in Geneva, Switzerland. 3. CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild 1. India Ratings and Research has revised Fauna and Flora) is an international downwards its projection of the agreement between governments. It country‘s GDP growth in financial year aims to ensure that international trade 2019-20 to 6.7% from an earlier in specimens of wild animals and plants estimate of 7.3% does not threaten their survival. 2. The reasons cited for lowering the 4. CITES was drafted after a resolution was growth projection are a) a slowdown in adopted at a meeting of the members of consumption demand; b) delayed and the International Union for Conservation uneven progress of monsoon so far; c) of Nature (IUCN) in 1963. The text of the decline in manufacturing growth; d) Convention was agreed at a meeting in inability of Insolvency and Bankruptcy Washington, DC in 1973; the Code to resolve cases in a time-bound Convention. The Convention is manner, and e) rising global trade therefore sometimes referred to as the tension adversely impacting exports. Washington Convention. CITES entered 3. Recently, the Moody‘s Investors Service into force in 1975. At present it has 183 has also cut the GDP growth forecast for countries. the current financial year to 6.2% from 5. Appendix I includes species threatened the previous estimation of 6.8% with extinction. Trade in specimens of these species is permitted only in Star tortoise, otters get higher exceptional circumstances. protection at CITES 6. Appendix II includes species not necessarily threatened with extinction, but in which trade must be controlled in order to avoid utilization incompatible with their survival. 7. Appendix III contains species that are protected in at least one country, which has asked other CITES Parties for assistance in controlling the trade. 8. Indian Star Tortoise Smooth-coated Otter and small clawed otter are listed as Vulnerable in the IUCN Red list
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New Study on Jupiter 39
1. According to a new study based on informant sent by JUNO, Jupiter has a ―fuzzy core‖ that includes lighter elements like helium and hydrogen. According to scientists, this could be explained by a head-on collision with a still-forming planet about 10 times the size of Earth. 2. Further, scientists have attempted to explain why Jupiter‘s stripes are only skin deep. The blue strips captured in photographs are far zonal winds (alternating east-west jet streams) around Jupiter that descend to a depth about 4 percent of Jupiter‘s radius. 3. Juno is a NASA space mission orbiting the planet Jupiter. It was launched in 2011. The principal goal of Juno is to understand the origin and evolution of Jupiter. 4. The Juno mission is the second spacecraft designed under NASA‘s New Frontiers Program. The first is the Pluto New Horizons mission
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Indian Ordnance Factories Service (IOFS) 43
The Indian Ordnance Factories Service (IOFS) is one of the Group ‗A‘ services you can get into once you clear the UPSC civil services exam. It is a unique service in that it is the only cadre in which officers are recruited by all four methods – civil services exam, engineering services exam, interviews and promotions. Officers of this service engage in the management of the Indian Ordnance factories. These factories engage in the production of defence equipment and arms/ammunition. In this service, there are two types of posts – technical and non-technical. The technical (engineering) posts are filled by the ESE whereas the non-technical posts are filled by the CSE. Read on to know more about the IOFS functions, hierarchy and salaries.
A brief history of IOFS
The history of the Indian ordnance factories dates back to the British Raj. The British East India Company required military hardware for establishing and maintaining their economic supremacy in India and for this, in 1775, the British authorities established the Board of Ordnance at Fort William, Calcutta. The first factory came up at Ishapore in 1787 and it produced gunpowder. The Indian Ordnance Service was established in 1935 and it had only European officers then. This was reconstituted as the Indian Ordnance Factories Service (IOFS) in the year 1954 with the Defence Department as its cadre controlling authority.
Training for IOFS officers
After the initial Foundation Course at LBSNAA, the officer trainees are provided training in the areas of management, public administration and technology at the National Academy of Defence Production (NADP), Nagpur. This Induction Training Programme is for 64 weeks. After this, they are sent on a Bharat Darshan wherein they visit defence, space, nuclear, industrial and other technical installations. Then, the officers are imparted on-the-job training at the Ordnance Factories.
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Functions of IOFS 44 The chief functions of IOFS officers at the ordnance factories include product research and development, production planning and control, quality control, project management, supplies management, materials management, labour welfare, personnel management, industrial relations, management, industrial safety maintenance of residential estates, etc. These officers also serve in managerial positions in various PSUs and SEZs. They also serve as secretaries and advisors to Union Cabinet ministers, Prime Minister and the President of India. They can also become scientists for the DRDO. IOFS officers can also be asked to serve the armed forces as Commissioned Officers for a period of four years.
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