MONTHLY NEWS DIARY NOVEMBER -2020
MONTHLY NEWS DIARY (MnD)
(FOR UPSC – PRELIMS & MAINS)
APRIL -2021
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Dear Student, Warm Greetings. MnD aims to provide news analysis of monthly events in sync with the UPSC pattern.
It is targeted at UPSC – Prelims
The articles are provided in the form of Newspaper articles and additional information for comprehensive learning.
Enjoy reading.
THE HINDU- TH INDIAN EXPRESS - IE BUSINESS LINE- BL ECONOMIC TIMES - ET TIMES OF INDIA - TOI
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PRELIMS INDEX INTERNATIONAL EVENTS: 1. American jobs plan…………………………………………………………………………………………………...………..05 2. People and Crime bill………………………………………………………………………………………………………….06 3. Shantir Ogroshena…………………………………………………………………………………………………………...…06 4. Russian legislation……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….06 5. India – China talks……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….07 6. Longi green…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………08 7. Myanmar activists protests…………………………………………………………………………………………………08 8. Patrol vessel for Seychelles…………………………………………………………………………………………………09 9. Military gear to Pakistan…………………………………………………………………………………………………..…10 10. Aid to Palestinians……………………………………………………………………………………………………….………11 11. Trans border trade center……………………………………………………………………………………………………11 12. 60 percent enrichment in Iran…………………………………………………………………………………………….11 13. Astrazeneca vaccine……………………………………………………………………………………………………………13 14. Sub sahara………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...... …13 15. S-400 Triumf SA-21 Growler……………………………………………………………………………………………..…15 16. China bound vessel – nuclear material………………………………………………………………………………..16 17. Indonesian submarine…………………………………………………………………………………………………………16 18. National Security office in HongKong………………………………………………………………………………….17 19. FACT rebels in Chad…………………………………………………………………………………………………………….17 20. Global response to India’s call for help………………………………………………………………………………..18 21. Minimum wage order………………………………………………………………………………………………….………19
HISTORY, HERITAGE AND CULTURE: 1. 1994 Rwandan genocide……………………………………………………………………………………………..………20
POLITY & GOVERNANCE: 1. Small savings instruments……………………………………………………………………………………………………21 2. Small savings scheme rankings……………………………………………………………………………………………22 3. ULPIN……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…22 4. Freedom of religion…………………………………………………………………………………………………….………24 5. Mini NRC…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….………25
6. Extortion money…………………………………………………………………………………………………………….……25
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7. Tika Utsav……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………26 8. Draft electricity rules.. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………..27 9. Aahar kranti………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..………27 10. Indigenous inhabitants in Nagaland………………………………………………………………………………….…28 11. MANAS application…………………………………………………………………………………………………………..…29
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: 1. Umngot dam……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….30 2. eSanta………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...31 3. Currency chest…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….32 4. Public debt……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…33 5. Indian sugar trade………………………………………………………………………………………………………….……34 6. PLI scheme…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….……34 7. Crypto currency payments…………………………………………………………………………………….……………35 8. Defence against cyber crime…………………………………………………………………………………………….…35 9. Working of SRC……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………36 10. Free grain to poor……………………………………………………………………………………………………….………37 11. Ways and Means credit………………………………………………………………………………………………….……37 12. Food park in India……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….38 13. Supply Chain Resilience Initiative………………………………………………………………………………………..39
ENVIRONMENT & BIODIVERSITY: 1. KVIC’s Re-HAB project…………………………………………………………………………………………………………40 2. Dolphin boom……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..41 3. IRV 2020…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..…43 4. Sale of live wild animals………………………………………………………………………………………………………43 5. Bustard poaching………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..44 6. 220 million old rat like creatures…………………………………………………………………………………………45 7. Eudiscopus denticulus…………………………………………………………………………………………………………46 8. India and Germany MoU…………………………………………………………………………………………………..…46 9. Table Mountain National Park…………………………………………………………………………………………….47 10. Maui dolphins……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..48
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY: 1. Ingenuity helicopter…………………………………………………………………………………………………………….49 2. Quasars……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….50
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3. Remedisivir export ban……………………………………………………………………………………………………….50 4. efuel……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………51 5. Lyrid meteor shower…………………………………………………………………………………………………………..52 6. Russia’s own space station……………………………………………………………………………………………….…53 7. UK strain prevalence……………………………………………………………………………………………………………54 8. VIIRS alert……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………55 9. Zhurong………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………55
AWARDS & REPORTS: 1. Indian railway electrification award…………………………………………………………………………………….56 2. NSO report………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….56 3. Global food policy report…………………………………………………………………………………………………....57 4. Press Freedom Index…………………………………………………………………………………………………………..58 5. Chloe Zhao………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….59
MISCELLANEOUS: 1. Military farms……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..59 2. Plea against Uniform Civil Code…………………………………………………………………………………………..61 3. National register for driving licenses……………………………………………………………………………………61 4. National maritime day…………………………………………………………………………………………………………62 5. INS Viraat………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…63 6. Prince Philip………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..63 7. Odisha Itihaas……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..63 8. Racial discrimination during pandemic………………………………………………………………………………..64 9. Little guru…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...65 10. UAE’s first female astronaut……………………………………………………………………………………………....66 11. Bounty on Hidma……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..…66 12. Communist party of Cuba……………………………………………………………………………………………………67 13. Oxygen express train………………………………………………………………………………………………………..…67 14. Oxygen plants……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..68 15. Electoral bonds dono………………………………………………………………………………………………………..…68 16. Vande Bharat Mission…………………………………………………………………………………………………………69 17. Ambulance status to Oxygen carriers……………………………………………………………………….…………69 18. Chief Justice of India……………………………………………………………………………………………………………70 19. Nuapada district……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…70
20. IA 2030………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………71
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INTERNATIONAL EVENTS: 1. American Jobs Plan U.S. President Joe Biden is set to announce a massive $2 trillion infrastructure plan, which will, over eight years, rebuild much of America’s infrastructure — from roads and bridges to high-speed Internet infrastructure and water pipes. The legislation, called the American Jobs Plan, is being pitched by the White House as America’s response to the climate crisis and “the ambitions of an autocratic China”, and is expected to be financed by corporate taxes. The plan will include $621 billion for modernising roads and bridges, modernising public transit (buses, rapid bus transport, railway tracks and coaches), passenger and freight rail services and electric vehicles, according to the White House. It will call for a $111 billion investment in drinking water infrastructure, including replacing all lead pipes. An outlay of $100 billion for clean power and another $100 for broadband infrastructure are also part of the plan. Mr. Biden will ask Congress for $180 billion in research and development (R&D), and $300 billion in supply chain investment and pandemic preparedness. The plan also goes into areas that are not normally considered ‘infrastructure’, with Mr. Biden asking Congress to fund a $400 billion expansion to home or community-based care for ageing relatives and the differently abled. To fund this, Mr. Biden will reverse some of the tax cuts pushed through by the Trump administration in 2017. The plan proposes a hike in the corporate tax rate from 21% to 28% and seeks to set a global minimum tax of 21%. Mr. Biden will also encourage other countries to apply a “strong minimum tax” on corporations. Foreign tax preferences for fossil fuel companies will also be eliminated.
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2. Police and Crime Bill: UK In the United Kingdom, thousands are protesting against the new legislation introduced in the British Parliament. The new legislation is called the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill, 2021. The protests against the bill have been named as “Kill the Bill” protest. Currently, the British Police is using public order legislation called the Public Order Act passed in 1986 to manage the protests in the country. However, according to the British Government, this legislation is no longer fit to manage the types of protests that are faced in the country. The “April Uprising” is being cited as an example where the protests went out of control. The British Police spent 16 million USD to control the April Uprising. Police and Crime Bill features The bill widens the range of conditions that the police shall impose on protests. They can impose conditions such as start and finish times. Also, they can fix maximum permissible noise in static protests. The bill will introduce a statutory offence of public nuisance. This means that it will provide clarity on forbidden conducts such as producing smells or noise, dangerous behaviour in public (like hanging from bridges, etc). If the protestors fail to follow police directions in conducting the protests, they shall be fined up to 2,500 Euros. Maximum sentences for assaults against the emergency service workers. The bill provides powers to closely monitor offenders released from prison. According to the critics, the provisions of the bill will provide more rights to the police to control and monitor the protests. The Labour Party of UK opposes the following provisions of the bill: The bill criminalises protestors even for making noise. It also accuses persons for creating serious annoyance or serious inconvenience. Such persons can be imprisoned for a period for ten years.
3. Shantir Ogroshena, 2021 On April 4, 2021, the multinational military exercise “Shantir Ogroshena, 2021” was begun at Bangabandhu Senanibas, Bangladesh. The exercise is being held to commemorate the birth centenary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. He is the Father of Bangladesh. Indian Army contingent of thirty personnel are participating in the exercise. The other participants in the exercise are Sri Lankan Army, Royal Bhutan Army, Bangladesh Army. Also, military observers from UK, USA, Turkey, Kuwait, Singapore and Saudi Arabia are to participate in the exercise. The main objective of the exercise is to enhance interoperability among neighbourhood. This will help in peace keeping operations. The armies of the participating nations are to share their experiences in peace keeping during the exercise. The theme of the exercise is:“Robust Peace Keeping Operations” Other Military Exercises between India and Bangladesh: SAMPRITI is a joint military training exercise held between India and Bangladesh. India and Bangladesh Navies hold CORPAT exercises annually. In October 2020, the countries held BONGOSAGAR Naval exercise.
4. The new Russian Legislation The Russian President Vladimir Putin recently signed a legislation that will allow him to stay in power till 2036. The Russian leader had already been in power for more than two decades. And he is 68 years old.
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According to the previous constitution, Putin should have stepped down after his second consecutive term that is to end in 2024. Now, with the new constitutional amendment, he can stay in power till 2036. In 2020, the Russians voted for constitutional amendments that will allow Putin to recontest after 2024. Majority voted in favour of the amendment. According to Article 81 of Russian Constitution, the same person cannot hold the office of President more than two terms in a row. Vladimir Putin was elected as president in 2012 and again re-elected as president in 2018. He will now stay in power till 2024. The term of a president in Russia is six years. The new constitution has not changed the two-term limit. However, it has removed the words “in a row”. With this, Putin will be able to run for President elections for another two terms under the new constitution. A Constitutional referendum was held in Russia in 2020. In this, 79% of the voters supported the changes to the constitution. The amendments increased the powers of advisory bodies and State councils. Bottom line, the amendments tightened Putin’s grip over Russia.
5. Longi Green Enters Hydrogen Market The World largest solar company Longi Green is to enter the Hydrogen Market. Longi Green is a Chinese company that manufactures solar panels, wafers and solar cells. Today several such solar companies are entering the hydrogen market. This is mainly because hydrogen is a carbon-free fuel that can be produced by electrolysis of water and then stored and transported and used in every possible machinery such as cars to electrical generators to steel mills. Longi Green was founded in 2000. The headquarters of Longi Green is located in Xi’an, China. Longi Green has plants in India, Malaysia and China. In 2019, Longi Green brought 300 MW monocrystalline PV products to India. Hydrogen Market in India The Hydrogen market in India is valued at 50 million USD. It is projected to reach 81 million USD by 2025. In India, the major end use of hydrogen is in petroleum refining industry. Here, hydrogen is used to refine crude oil. Though India is moving towards clean fuel, the high transportation and high storage cost is hampering the growth of hydrogen market in the country. However, the emerging liquid organic hydrogen carrier technologies (LOHC) will make storage and transportation of hydrogen easier.
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Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carriers (LOHC) They are organic compounds that can absorb and release hydrogen through chemical reactions. Thus, LOHCs are ideal for hydrogen storage and transportation. In 2020, Japan built the first international hydrogen supply chain in the world using LOHC. It was built between Brunei and Kawasaki city using toluene based LOHC technology.
6. Myanmar activists splash red paint to protest junta bloodshed Myanmar activists daubed roadways with red paint to protest against the junta’s bloody crackdown on protests, as an online fundraising drive to support the movement neared the $10 million mark. The country has been in turmoil since the military ousted civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi on February 1, rocked by daily clashes between protesters and authorities that have left at least 570 people dead. Ten of Myanmar’s ethnic rebel armies voiced support for the protest movement at the weekend, stoking fears that the country could slide into broader civil conflict, while the UN has warned of a looming “bloodbath”. In the commercial capital Yangon, people smeared red paint and handprints on bus stops and pavements in protest at the military’s violence. The so-called “bleeding dye strike” is the latest creative method thought up by the protesters to voice opposition without risking being shot or arrested by demonstrating in person. One slogan painted on a bus stop said the military was being misused to protect junta chief Min Aung Hlaing, and urged soldiers not to shoot civilians.
In the city of Hpa-an in eastern Karen state, youths sprayed red paint on the road, giving the three-fingered salute borrowed from the Hunger Games books and films that has become symbolic of the movement.
7. Patrol vessel for the Seychelles Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hand over a fast patrol vessel to the Seychelles Coast Guard. The handing over will be part of a high-level virtual interaction between the Indian leader and the President of the Seychelles, Wavel Ramkalawan. This is the first interaction between the two leaders since Mr. Ramkalawan won the October 2020 election in the Seychelles.
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The African archipelago nation has been a steady part of India’s policy for the Indian Ocean region and Mr. Modi visited the country in 2015. India gifted similar vessels to the Seychelles in 2005, 2014 and 2016. During the event, the leaders will inaugurate a 1 MW solar power plant, and the Magistrates’ Court building project in Mahe, the largest island in the archipelago. The Magistrates’ Court will help the Seychelles in centralising the legal and administrative processes that are spread over different regions of the nation. The fast petrol vessel PS Zoroaster will help the Seychelles in carrying out anti-piracy operations. The vessel, built by the Kolkata-based Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineering Limited, was delivered to Seychelles on March 16 and will be dedicated to the Seychelles Coast Guard by Prime Minister Modi during the virtual interaction. The virtual interaction comes weeks after India gifted 50,000 doses of the Covishield vaccine to Seychelles.
8. Russia to supply military gear to Pakistan Russia’s Foreign Minister said Moscow and Islamabad would boost ties in the fight against terrorism, with Russia providing unspecified military equipment to Pakistan and the two holding joint exercises at sea and in the mountains. It comes as Moscow seeks to increase its stature in the region, particularly in Afghanistan. There, it has sought to inject itself as a key player in efforts to find a peaceful end to decades of war. Washington is reviewing an agreement it signed more than a year ago with the Taliban as it rethinks a May 1 withdrawal of its soldiers. Meanwhile, Moscow has stepped up its involvement in Afghanistan, emerging as a significant player. The apparent reset in Pakistani-Russian relations, however, is by contrast a recent phenomena. In the 1980s, Pakistan was a staging arena for anti-communist Afghan rebels
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who were aided by the U.S. to oust the former Soviet Union, which negotiated an end to a 10-year occupation in 1989. Russia is also building a gas pipeline between the southern port city of Karachi and eastern Lahore. Pakistan’s Foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said Islamabad will also buy 5 million doses of the Russian made COVID-19 Sputnik V vaccine, and expressed a desire to eventually manufacture it in Pakistan. He said Pakistan also wanted Russian expertise to modernise its antiquated railway system as well as its energy sector. This underlines the waning influence of the U.S. in the region, while Russian and Chinese clout grows.
9. Biden govt. restores aid to Palestinians In a significant reversal to the Trump administration’s policy towards the Palestine, the U.S. State Department announced the restoration of at least $235 million in financial assistance to the Palestinians. The administration had already announced $15 million in coronavirus relief to the Palestinians in March. This announcement includes $75 million in economic assistance to the West Bank and Gaza, $10 million towards ‘peacebuilding’ programmes of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and $150 million in humanitarian assistance to the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA). The UNRWA funds, the State Department said, would include educational assistance for at least 5,00,000 Palestinian children living in West Asia. The Trump administration had almost ended all funding to the organisation in 2018. Mr. Trump’s policies towards West Asia — which included the relocation of the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem — were criticised for being heavily tilted towards Israel. Israel, which has accused UNRWA of anti-Semitism, objected to the funding plans. “Israel’s position is that the organisation in its current form perpetuates the conflict and does not contribute to its resolution,” the Israeli Foreign Ministry said as per the Associated Press.
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10. India, China hold talks again The 11th round of the Corps Commander talks are under way between India and China to work out an agreement for the second phase of disengagement in Eastern Ladakh. The focus of the talks is disengagement from the patrolling points (PP) at Gogra and Hot Springs. In February, the two sides completed the first phase of disengagement on the north and the south banks of Pangong Tso based on a written agreement. The 10th round was held within 48 hours after the process was completed where both sides agreed to push for a mutually acceptable solution of the remaining issues in a “steady and orderly” manner to jointly maintain peace and tranquillity in the border areas. Pangong Tso has been the major issue since the standoff began last May after the Chinese troops made ingress into Indian territory at several locations in Eastern Ladakh. With Pangong Tso having been resolved, the focus now is to work out a phased disengagement plan for the other friction areas. They include Gogra, Hot Springs, Depsang and Demchok. After this, the de-escalation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) would be taken up to pull back the thousands of troops deployed by both sides.
11. Central Asia: trans-border trade center Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan have launched the construction of an international center for trade and economic cooperation called “Central Asia”. The Central Asia Trade center has been launched on the borders of the two countries. The Center is to be constructed in an area of 400 hectares of land. It will have a capacity to accommodate 35,000 people and five thousand trucks. After completion, the center will become a large trade and industrial platform to implement joint projects of Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. The center is located near the border check post of Gisht Kuprik. After China and Russia, Kazakhstan is the third largest trade partner of Uzbekistan. Uzbekistan holds one of the largest Uranium reserves in the world.
12. 60% enrichment in Iran
Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani said that the decision to boost uranium enrichment to 60% was a response to arch-foe Israel’s “nuclear terrorism” against its Natanz facility.
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Tehran’s announcement of stepped-up enrichment has cast a shadow over talks in Vienna aimed at salvaging the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers. The European parties to the accord — Britain, France and Germany —expressed “grave concern” over Iran’s enrichment move. Iran’s regional rival Saudi Arabia also expressed concern and called on Tehran to “avoid escalation”. He warned U.S. President Joe Biden that the situation can only be contained by lifting sanctions Trump imposed on Iran since 2018. Israel has neither confirmed nor denied involvement but public radio reports in the country said it was a sabotage operation by the Mossad spy agency, citing intelligence sources. The step will bring Iran closer to the 90% purity threshold for military use and shorten its potential “breakout time” to build an atomic bomb — a goal the Islamic republic denies it is seeking.
Background: Within hours of Iran proudly announcing the launch of its latest centrifuges, a power blackout damaged some of the precious machines at its site in Natanz.
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Iran has described this as an act of "terrorism" and pointed the finger at Israel. But there is still mystery over the cause. In Israel, some reports have suggested a cyber-attack might have been responsible but Iran has talked of "infiltrators" amid reports of an explosion linked to the power generator. One thing reports seem to agree on is that an "incident" affected the power distribution network at Natanz, leading to a blackout until emergency power systems kicked in. A blackout may not sound that serious, but it can be at an enrichment plant. Centrifuges are slender machines linked up in what are called cascades which enrich uranium gas by spinning it at incredibly high speeds using rotors. The stress on the advanced materials involved is intense and the process is technically immensely challenging. A small problem can send a centrifuge spinning out of control, with parts smashing into each other and damaging a whole cascade. Ensuring the power supply reaching a centrifuge is perfectly balanced is vital. Which means sabotage of that supply can be catastrophic.
13. Denmark drops AstraZeneca vaccine Denmark announced that it would stop using the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine altogether, becoming the first European country to do so over suspected rare but serious side-effects. Despite recommendations from the World Health Organization and European medicines watchdog to continue using the inoculation Denmark’s vaccination campaign decided to go ahead without the AstraZeneca vaccine. Denmark was the first country in Europe to suspend the use of the AstraZeneca jab in its vaccination rollout, after reports of rare but serious cases of blood clots among those that had received the vaccine. More than a dozen countries followed suit but all but a few have since resumed the use after the European Medicines Agency (EMA) emphasised the benefits of the vaccine and deemed it “safe and effective”. Denmark had, however, continued to hold off using the vaccine as it conducted investigations of its own. In Denmark, two cases of thrombosis, one of which was fatal, were linked to vaccinations after more than 1,40,000 people received the jab made by the Anglo-Swedish drugmaker. In the country of 5.8 million inhabitants, 8% have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, and 17% have received a first dose. In Germany, people aged under 60 who have been given a first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine, will receive a different jab for their second dose. Germany announced on March 30 that it would no longer offer the two-dose AstraZeneca vaccine to people aged under 60 due to concerns over a possible link to rare cases of blood clots. Meanwhile, Europe’s medicines regulator said that it will make a recommendation on the safety of Johnson & Johnson’s coronavirus jab next week after U.S. authorities recommended pausing vaccinations over blood clot fears.
14. Sub-Saharan Africa to see world’s slowest growth The International Monetary Fund recently released the Regional Economic Outlook for Sub Saharan Africa. According to the report the Sub Saharan region is to witness the world’s slowest growth in 2021. The sub-Saharan region is projected to grow by 3.4% in 2021. This is way below the global growth prediction of 5.5% in 2021.
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The region had faced 1.9% contraction in growth in 2020. This resulted in large increase in poverty. Around 32 million people fell into extreme poverty in 2020 in the region. In several Sub-Saharan countries, the per capita income will not return to pre-crisis levels even by 2025. The rebound of Africa is to be uneven. South Africa, the most developed economy in the region is to grow by 3.1%. It faced a contraction of 7% in its growth in 2020. The oil producers in the region such as Nigeria and Angola are to grow by 2.5% and 0.4% respectively. In East Africa, the GDP growth of Kenya is to be 7.6%. It faced a 0.1% of contraction in its growth in 2020. Seventeen countries in the Sub Saharan region are under debt stress. The employment in the region has fallen by 8.5%. For most of the countries in the Sub Saharan region, they will require to increase up to 50% of their spending in health care for vaccinating 60% of their population. The WHO backed COVAX facilities are ready to help the Sub Saharan countries in administering vaccines. However, the financing and investment are not matching to scale up the supply of vaccines as quickly as possible. On the basis of current trends, very few African countries will be able to make vaccines widely available before 2023. Way Forward A Debt Service Suspension Initiative launched in December 2020 should help these countries. COVID-19 has dealt a major blow to world’s poorest countries, causing a recession that could push more than 100 million people into extreme poverty. That is why the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund urged G20 countries to establish the Debt Service Suspension Initiative. The DSSI is helping countries concentrate their resources on fighting the pandemic and safeguarding the lives and livelihoods of
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millions of the most vulnerable people. Since it took effect on May 1, 2020, the initiative has delivered more than $5 billion in relief to more than 40 eligible countries. In all, 73 countries are eligible for a temporary suspension of debt-service payments owed to their official bilateral creditors. The G20 has also called on private creditors to participate in the initiative on comparable terms. The suspension period, originally set to end on December 31, 2020, has been extended through December 2021. Also, the new allocation of 650 million USD worth Special Drawing Rights by the IMF should provide 23 billion USD to some of the African governments.
15. S-400 Triumf SA-21 Growler The Russian Government has agreed to deliver the first regimental set of S-400 Triumf SA-21 Growler Air Defence System to India. India and Russia have signed a 5.43 billion USD contract on the defence system. The NATO reporting name of the defence system is SA-21 Growler. It is a long-range surface-to-air missile system. The system has the capability to form an impenetrable grid of missiles. It has four different types of missiles with ranges between 40 km, 100 km, 200 km and 400 km. It can be deployed in a very short time. It has been mainly designed to destroy UAVs, aerial threats, ballistic and cruise missiles. It is capable of providing Point Defence and Area Defence anti-air capabilities. China was the first country to buy the defence system. Following China, the other countries such as Saudi Arabia, India, Turkey and Belarus have now acquired the system. China had received the second batch of S-400 Triumph SA-21 Growler in 2020. Now both India and China are to possess same defence systems. India and China are currently negotiating disengagement process to pull back their men and weapons in the border. If the border dispute escalates, then the Indian Air Force will be playing a crucial role. In such cases both the countries might use S-400 SAMs considering the inhospitable Himalayan terrain. With creation of road infrastructure by Border Road Organisation, the S-400 SAM shall easily be traversed to borders using heavy trucks.
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16. Sri Lanka detects nuclear material on China-bound vessel Sri Lanka detected radioactive materialon a China-bound vessel berthed at the southern Hambantota Port. The vessel has been asked to leave the Port, according to officials, as the shipping company failed toobtain prior clearance for “dangerous cargo”, as per Sri Lankan law Officials said a local shipping company, handling the vessel sailing under the flag of Antigua and Barbuda, from Rotterdam in the Netherlands to China, cited a “mechanical emergency” and sought permission from the harbour manager at the China-run Hambantota Port. However, the company did not declare that the cargo was radioactive material, a requirement under Sri Lanka’s Atomic Energy Act. The vessel was found to be carrying uranium hexafluoride, which is classified under “dangerous cargo”, according to officials. Uranium hexachloride is nuclear material that is commonly transported from one country to another. Uranium hexachloride is a highly hygroscopic compound and decomposes readily when exposed to ordinary atmospheric conditions. Therefore it should be handled in either a vacuum apparatus or in a dry box.Uranium hexafluoride is used primarily in the gaseous diffusion and gas centrifuge processes that are used to enrich uranium.
17. India joins search for submarine The news: The Indian Navy dispatched its deep submergence rescue vessel (DSRV) from Visakhapatnam to support the Indonesian Navy in the search and rescue efforts for its submarine KRI Nanggala that went missing with 53 personnel aboard. Background: On April 21, an alert was received by the Navy through the International Submarine Escape and Rescue Liaison Office (ISMERLO), regarding the missing Indonesian submarine. The submarine was reportedly exercising in a location 25 miles north of Bali. The DSRV departed by sea and has to cover a distance of approximately 2,500 nautical miles. The Indonesian Navy launched a massive search and rescue effort for the missing submarine and requested assistance from countries in the region. The 53 personnel onboard are 49 crew members, three gunners and its commander.
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India is amongst the few countries in the world capable of undertaking search and rescue of a disabled submarine through a DSRV. Indian Navy’s DSRV system can locate a submarine up to 1,000-metre depth utilising its state-of-the-art side scan sonar and remotely operated vehicle. The SRV can also be used to provide emergency supplies to the submarine. The Singapore Navy has already pressed its rescue vessel while Australia too has offered assistance. Result: Indonesia’s Navy declared its missing submarine had sunk and cracked open after finding items from the vessel over the past two days, apparently ending hope of finding any of the 53 crew members alive. Military chief Hadi Tjahjanto said the presence of an oil slick as well as debris near the site where the submarine last dove off the island of Bali were clear proof the KRI Nanggala 402 had sunk. The cause of the disappearance was still uncertain. The German-built KRI Nanggala 402 has been in service in Indonesia since 1981 and was carrying 49 crew members, three gunners and its commander.
18. China’s national security office to open permanent base in HK Hong Kong is set to grant a site on the western Kowloon peninsula, close to the high-speed railway to the mainland, to Beijing’s national security office for its permanent base in the city, the government said. The office, which operates beyond the scrutiny of local courts or other institutions, will oversee the Hong Kong government’s enforcement of sweeping national security legislation that Beijing imposed on the city in June. The national security law has allowed officers from China’s security forces to take enforcement action in the city for the first time. The Hong Kong government said the site, measuring about 11,500 sq. m., is zoned for government use and the national security office would bear all construction costs. The former British colony of Hong Kong returned to Chinese rule in 1997 with the guarantee of continued freedoms. Pro-democracy activists say those freedoms are being whittled away, especially with the national security law cracking down on dissent. China denies the charge.
19. FACT rebels of Chad The Northern Chad offensive was initiated by the Chadian rebel group Front for Change and Concord in Chad (FACT) on 11 April 2021. It began in the Tibesti Region in the north of the country following the 2021 Chadian presidential election On April 20, 2021, the President of Chad Idriss Deby died of injuries after fighting against these rebels. A group of rebels split from the UFDD after a violent clash and formed FACT. UFDD is Union of Forces for Democracy and Development. UFDD is the largest group of Chadian rebel forces that operated against the former President Idriss Deby. The leader of UFDD is Mahamat Nouri. FACT is run by Mahdi Ali Mahamat. He spent some time in exile in France and returned to Libya in 2015. The founder of FACT is Jerome Tubiana. The group has been fighting to overthrow Deby from power. According to them, Deby’s victory in the elections held in 2016 and 2021 was fraudulent.
FACT has deployed more than 400-450 vehicles into Chad that carried thousands of fighters. Chad has been facing violent power struggle since its independence from France in 1960.
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20. Global response to India’s call for help Four cryogenic oxygen tanks were airlifted by the Indian Air Force from Singapore, in the first such import a day after External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar put out an appeal for international assistance for India’s ongoing coronavirus crisis. The tanks, used for the transportation of oxygen, were brought from Singapore’s Changi Airport on an Indian Air Force (IAF) C-17 which landed at Panagarh air base in West Bengal. About 80MT of liquid oxygen are also expected to be flown to India from a company in Saudi Arabia, the Indian Embassy in Riyadh announced. The effort comes more than two weeks after oxygen shortages were reported across the country, and led to criticism of the government’s handling of the crisis. The government is now coordinating a multi-pronged approach to ramp up oxygen availability from abroad, including tapping embassies in countries where they can be sourced, speaking to governments to waive regulatory delays, and ensuring no disruptions in supply chains, diplomats and officials said. However, the government is only seeking foreign government facilitation, not foreign aid for India’s needs. While shipping in liquid oxygen is not seen as feasible at present, embassy officials are coordinating with suppliers for oxygen generators, industrial and individual concentrators as well as cryogenic tankers. Apart from Singapore, the United Arab Emirates government is also coordinating with Indian Embassy officials for the transfer of oxygen tankers, and the European Union and Russia are expected to send both oxygen-related and pharmaceutical supplies. Among those offering support, Pakistan’s Abdul Sattar Edhi Foundation, a charity group, also
wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi offering 50 ambulances and emergency staff.
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21. Minimum wage order - US U.S. President Joe Biden will sign an executive order raising the hourly wages of federal government contract workers to $15, a step towards fulfilling his campaign pledge to raise the minimum wage to the same level for all employees. The new order will require federal contractors to pay a $15 minimum wage to hundreds of thousands of workers who are working on federal contracts. The current minimum wage is $10.95 an hour for these workers, who are not civil servants but work for the federal government through contracting firms. However, they will still have to wait a short while, since the measure will apply only from March 30, 2022 to all new contracts and then gradually to each contract renewal. Hourly wages will then be increased each year based on inflation. The executive order also harmonises the minimum wage for all federal contract workers, removing lower wages for workers who receive tips that bring their salaries up to the minimum wage level, currently at $7.65 per hour.
The White House insisted that the wage hike will not be accompanied by increased cost to the taxpayer, and even said the move will improve productivity and reduce turnover as well as related costs. And it said the move will ensure that “hundreds of thousands of workers no longer have to work full time and still live in poverty.” The measure is designed to encourage employers to follow suit. Raising the minimum wage for all workers in the country to $15 by 2025 from the current $7.25 an hour was one of Mr. Biden’s key campaign pledges.
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HISTORY, HERITAGE AND CULTURE: 1994 Rwanda genocide The French government bears “significant” responsibility for “enabling a foreseeable genocide,” a report commissioned by the Rwandan government concludes about France’s role before and during the horror in which an estimated 8,00,000 people were slaughtered in 1994. The report comes amid efforts by Rwanda to document the role of French authorities before, during, and after the genocide, part of the steps taken by France’s President Emmanuel Macron to improve relations with the central African country. The 600-page report says that France “did nothing to stop” the massacres, in April and May 1994, and in the years after the genocide tried to cover up its role and even offered protection to some perpetrators. It concludes that in years leading up to the genocide, former French President Francois Mitterrand and his administration had knowledge of preparations for the massacres — yet kept supporting the government of then-Rwandan President Juvénal Habyarimana despite the “warning signs.” The Rwandan genocide, also sometimes known as the genocide against the Tutsi, occurred between 7 April and 15 July 1994 during the Rwandan Civil War. During this period of around 100 days, members of the Tutsi minority ethnic group, as well as some moderate Hutu, were slaughtered by armed militias. Started by Hutu nationalists in the capital of Kigali, the genocide spread throughout the country with shocking speed and brutality, as ordinary citizens were incited by local officials and the Hutu Power government to take up arms against their neighbors. By the time the Tutsi-led Rwandese Patriotic Front gained control of the country through a military offensive in early July, hundreds of thousands of Rwandans were dead and 2 million refugees (mainly Hutus) fled Rwanda, exacerbating what had already become a full-blown humanitarian crisis. Opération Turquoise was a French-led military operation in Rwanda in 1994 under the mandate of the United Nations.The "multilateral" force consisted of 2,500 troops, 32 from Senegal and the rest French. Opération Turquoise is controversial for two reasons: accusations that it was an attempt to prop up the genocidal Hutu regime, and that its mandate undermined the UNAMIR. The charges raised against the French army during Operation Turquoise are of "complicity of genocide and/or complicity of crimes against humanity." The victims allege that French soldiers helped Interahamwe militias in finding their victims, and themselves carried out atrocitie
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POLITY & GOVERNANCE: 1. Govt. sharply cuts rates on small savings instruments and then took a U turn The government has sharply slashed the rates on all small savings instruments for the first quarter of 2021-22, bringing the rate of return on the Public Provident Fund down from 7.1% to 6.4% and effecting cuts ranging from 40 basis points (0.4%) to 110 basis points (1.1%) through a notification. The sharpest cut was seen in the quarterly interest rate paid on one-year term deposits, from 5.5% in the January to March quarter to 4.4% in this quarter. The rate of return on the Senior Citizen Savings’ Scheme was cut from 7.4% to 6.5%, while the Sukanya Samriddhi Account Scheme’s return was reduced from 7.6% to 6.9%. While the government resets the interest rate on small savings instruments every quarter, this round of rate cuts assumes significance as retail inflation has been breaching the 6% mark and the government is keen to lower interest rates to make it easier to execute its borrowing plans for the year and spur growth. The government plans to borrow Rs.12.05 lakh crore in 2021-22, on the back of a record gross borrowing of Rs.13.71 lakh crore in 2020-21. High small savings rates have been cited by the central bank as a major impediment in ensuring policy rate cuts get transmitted into the banking system. The interest rate paid on National Savings Certificate and Kisan Vikas Patra were also reduced significantly, from 6.8% to 5.9%, and from 6.9% to 6.2%, respectively. Consequently, the Kisan Vikas Patra, which used to mature in 124 months, will now mature in 138 months.
While savings deposits earned the lowest rate of 4% till now, that return has now been further slashed to 3.5%. Among time deposits, the return on five year deposits has been reduced from 6.7% to 5.8%. Five-year recurring deposits, whose interest is compounded quarterly, will get a return of 5.3% instead of 5.8% in the previous quarter.
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For savers, the option with the highest returns at this point is the Sukanya Samriddhi Account Scheme, followed by the Senior Citizens’ Savings Schemes and the Public Provident Fund. U - turn Hours after notifying significant cuts in small savings instruments’ returns for this quarter, the government backtracked and reversed the sharp rate cuts that sent the Public Provident Fund (PPF) return to a multi-decade low. While there was no further official clarification on the oversight that led to the pullback of the rate cuts, by evening, the Budget division in the Department of Economic Affairs issued a memo in “suppression” of previous order.
2. Small Savings Schemes: rankings The National Savings Institute operating under the Ministry of Finance recently announced that West Bengal is the top contributor to the Small Savings Scheme in the country. The state contributes 15% of the total corpus. It has so far collected Rs 90,000 crores under the Small Savings Scheme. West Bengal was followed by Uttar Pradesh with a contribution of 15.09%. The state of Uttar Pradesh has collected Rs 69,660 crores. Maharashtra was ranked third. The state of Maharashtra contributed 10.57%, which is Rs 63,026 crores. Gujarat was ranked fourth. Gujarat contributed 8.16%, that is Rs 48,645 crores. Tamil Nadu ranked fifth contributing 4.8%, which is Rs 28,598. The Small Savings Schemes attracted deposits of Rs 6 lakh crores in 2017-18. The Government of India recently announced that the interest rates of Small Savings Schemes are being lowered. The interest rates of Public Provident Funds are lowered from 7.1% to 6.4%. The interest rates of National Savings Certificate are lowered from 6.8% to 5.9%. The interest rates of Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana is to be lowered from 4% to 3.5%.
3. ULPIN: Unique Land Parcel Identification Number The Government of India recently launched the Unique Land Parcel Identification Number (ULPIN) scheme in ten states. The system is to be rolled out in the country by March 2022. Land parcel is nothing but a portion of large area of land.
The ULPIN is described as “Aadhaar for land”.
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The ULPIN is a fourteen-digit Alpha Numeric ID. The number will be used to identify every surveyed parcel of land. The identification number is to be launched based on latitude and longitude coordinates of the land parcel.
The pilot testing of ULPIN has been successfully carried out in the states of Haryana, Bihar, Odisha, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Sikkim, Goa, Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka. The ULPIN has been included in Digital India Land Records Modernisation Programme (DILRMP). The DILRMP was begun in 2008 and has been extended several times. The current launch of ULPIN is also under DILRMP. While the programme is to end soon, it has been extended till 2023-24. India is also implementing National Generic Document Registration System. Recently, the system was implemented in Jammu and Kashmir. Benefits of ULPIN The ULPIN will help to develop a land bank. The ULPIN system will lead India towards Integrated Land Information Management System. The system will always help to keep the land records up to date. All the property transactions shall be linked and will get established through the system. The number will help in preventing land fraud especially in rural areas. This is because, the land records are outdated in rural areas. Delivery of citizen services of land records through a single window shall be achieved through the system.
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The system will make sharing of land record data across the departments easier. This will standardize land data and will eventually bring in effective integration and interoperability across departments. The ULPIN system was recommended by Parliamentary Standing Committee that recently submitted its report to Lok Sabha. According to the Parliamentary Standing Committee Report, it would cost Rs 50 lakh per district to create a modern land record structure in each district. The report also said that it would cost Rs 270 crores to combine the land records with the Revenue Court Management System. After implementing ULPIN, the GoI is to link the land record databases with the banks. Digital India Land Records Modernization Programme The DILRMP has three main components as follows: 1. Computerisation of land record 2. Survey or Re-survey 3. Computerisation of registration The main aims of DILRMP are to usher in a system of updated land records , automated and automatic mutation , integration between textual and spatial records , inter-connectivity between revenue and registration, to replace the present deeds registration and presumptive title system with that of conclusive titling with title guarantee.
4. Supreme Court: Adults are free to choose their religion The Supreme Court recently refused to entertain a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) of a BJP leader that sought directions to ban superstition, black magic, and fraudulent religious conversions. The Apex court pronounced that the PIL violates Article 25 of the Constitution. According to the bench headed by Justice R F Nariman, that pronounced the judgement, the word “propagate” in Article 25 of the Constitution guarantees right to religion. The Right to Freedom is guaranteed to all religious followers under the following articles: Article 25 guarantees freedom to propagate, practice and profess religion to all citizens. The article allows the states to make laws: Regulating and restricting economic, financial, political, and secular activities associated with religious practices. To provide social welfare and reform or opening Hindu religious institutions to all classes of Hindus. Article 26 Article 26 speaks about Freedom to manage religious affairs. Every religion has the right to form and maintain institutions for charitable intents. Every religion has the right to acquire movable and immovable property. Every religion has the right to manage its own affairs in the matter of religion. Every religion has the right to administer properties according to law. Article 27 The Article 27 of the constitution prevents payment of taxes for promotion of a particular religion. According to the article, there shall be no taxes imposed by any institution or organisation or by the Governments (both state and centre) for the promotion or maintenance of a particular religion. Article 28 The Article 28 of the Constitution speaks about freedom to attend any religious instructions or religious worships in educational institutions. No religious instructions shall be issued in state run educational institutions.
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5. Mini NRC Assamese Muslims have decided to prepare their own “mini NRC” to distinguish the indigenous followers of Islam from Bengal-origin migrant Muslims residing in Assam. This, the Janagosthiya Samannay Parishad (JSP) said, was necessary to “overcome an identity crisis” indegenous Assamese Muslims have been facing after being bracketed with migrant Muslims. It has created a portal where Assamese Muslims must submit relevant documents for this purpose. The JSP represents three categories of indigenous Muslims — Goriya, Moriya and Deshi. The Goriya converted from various indigenous groups and tribes, the Moriya’s ancestors were brought by the Ahom kings to make weapons and utensils, and the Deshi converted specifically from the Koch-Rajbongshi community. This exercise will be undertaken from April 15 on the Assamese New Year day. Applicants will be required to apply online for the inclusion of their names in the list of indigenous Muslims. The draft will be published following verification of documents. The exercise would be similar to the National Register of Citizens (NRC) that left out 19.06 lakh of the 3.3 crore applicants, he said. In the name of Islam, the Goriya, Moriya and Deshi communities are being merged with the Miyas (Bengali-speaking migrant Muslims). This exercise is to keep their identity distinct. The JSP has created a portal with a three-month window (from April 15) for some 40 lakh Assamese Muslims to submit all relevant documents given by the organisation and competent government authority. The organisation will publish the draft following verification of documents. According to the 2011 census, Muslims account for 34.22% of Assam’s population. The JSP claims the present Muslim population in the State is 1.4 crore.
6. Paying extortion money is not terror funding Extortion money paid to a terrorist organisation to protect one’s business is not terror funding, the Supreme Court has said in a judgment. A Bench led by Justice L. Nageswara Rao released a Ranchi-based coal businessman, booked under the draconian Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, on bail. Sudesh Kedia was charged with funding of terror. But Mr. Kedia said he, in fact, was a victim of extortion. He had been paying money to a terror gang, Tritiya Prastuti Committee (TPC), to ensure that he would be able to carry on with his business. Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act is an Indian law aimed at prevention of unlawful activities associations in India. Its main objective was to make powers available for dealing with activities directed against the integrity and sovereignty of India.
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Under the Act, the central government may designate an organisation as a terrorist organisation if it: (i) commits or participates in acts of terrorism, (ii) prepares for terrorism, (iii) promotes terrorism, or (iv) is otherwise involved in terrorism. The Tritiya Prastuti Committee(TPC) was formed in 2002 when several cadres broke away from Maoist Communist Centre (MCC) due to its perceived domination of Yadav caste in decision making and discrimination of so-called Dalits led to the formation of the TPC by non-Yadavs chiefly the Mahtos, Ganjhus, Bhokta, Oraon and Kharwars among others.[3] TPC and CPI (Maoist) are rival and have hunted each other for years. The area of influence of TPC is spread over the districts of Latehar, Palamu and Chatra (Jharkhand).
7. Tika Utsav Calling the ‘Tika Utsav’ (vaccination festival) the beginning of the second big war against COVID-19, Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid stress on social and personal hygiene. The festival started on the birth anniversary of Mahatma Jyotiba Phule and will continue till the birth anniversary of Babasaheb Ambedkar on April 14. The PM noted that India should move towards zero vaccine wastage, and said optimum utilisation of vaccination capacity was a way to increase our capacity.
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Reiterating his advice Dawai bhi, kadai bhi (Take medicines, follow rules), he said awareness and responsible behaviour would succeed in containing the virus again. The Prime Minister stressed four points with regard to the drive. First, “Each one, vaccinate”, meaning those who can’t go themselves for vaccination, such as the unlettered and the aged, should be assisted. Second, “Each one, treat one”, which involves helping people in getting treatment, if they do not have resources or knowledge to get it. Third, “Each one, save one”, meaning one should wear a mask and save herself and others. This should be stressed, Mr. Modi said in his statement. Finally, society and people should lead in creating “micro containment zones”. Mr. Modi emphasised testing and awareness, and said every eligible person should get vaccinated. “This should be the primary effort of both society and the administration.” The Prime Minister said our success would be determined by awareness of “micro containment zones”, by not moving out of our homes unnecessarily, vaccination of all eligible persons and how we follow COVID-19-appropriate behaviour such as wearing masks and other protocols.
8. Draft Electricity (Rights of Consumers) (Amendment) Rules, 2021 The Ministry of Power recently issued a Draft Electricity (Rights of Consumers) Rules, 2021. These new rules allow net metering of roof top solar systems. About the new Rules The net metering of roof top has been allowed up to 500 KW in the new rules. Gross Metering means a mechanism where the total solar energy generated from a grid interactive rooftop solar system and the energy consumed are accounted separately. Net metering is defined as the mechanism where solar energy is exported to the grid from grid interactive rooftop solar PV (Photo Voltaic) system. The energy imported from the grid and the energy exported to the grid are valued at two different tariffs. These amendments have been made to the Electricity (Rights of Consumers) Rules, 2020. Electricity is a concurrent subject. Electricity (Right of Consumers) Rules, 2020 The rules mainly cover aspects of power supply to the consumers. It mainly includes metering arrangements, obligations of distribution licenses, release of new connections, grievance redressal, modifications of existing connections and compensation mechanisms. No connection shall be provided without meters. The meter used should be prepayment meter or smart prepayment meter. The meters should have provisions for testing. The consumer shall have the option to pay bills offline or online. Also, he shall be provided with advance payment of bills. A prosumer will enjoy the same rights as that of a consumer. A prosumer is a person who produces and consumes power. Consumer Grievance Redressal Forum should include prosumer and consumer representations
9. Aahaar Kranti The Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare Dr Harsh Vardhan recently launched “Mission Aahaar Kranti”. The mission aims to spread the message of the importance of nutritionally balanced diet. It will also promote the importance of accessibility to local fruits and vegetables.
The Mission is designed to address the major problem faced by India and the world, which is, “Hunger and Diseases in Abundance”.
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India produces two times the amount of calories it consumes. Still, several people are malnourished in the country. The mission is also co-launched by the Vijnana Bharti and Global Scientists and Technocrats Forum. The motto of the mission is “Good Diet-Good Cognition”. The mission will train the teachers. The teachers in turn will pass on the message to students. Through the students the mission aims to pass on the message to the families and societies at large.
According to UNICEF, India is at the tenth spot among countries with highest number of underweight children. Also, the organisation says that India is at the seventeenth spot among countries with highest number of stunted children. Both the problems of stunting and underweight are caused by malnutrition. Malnutrition is the major contributing factor to one-third child deaths in the country.
10. Indigenous inhabitants in Nagaland The Nagaland government has decided to form a joint consultative committee (JCC) involving all traditional tribal bodies and, civil society organisations for taking an exercise to register the State’s indigenous inhabitants. The decision was taken at a meeting with leaders of the community-based and social organisations as well as political parties in State capital Kohima on the issue of preparing the Register of Indigenous Inhabitants of Nagaland (RIIN).
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In July 2019, the Nagaland government launched the RIIN, seen as a variant of Assam’s National Register of Citizens that excluded 19.06 lakh people out of about 3.3 crore applicants. Functions of RIIN Committee was to determine: The eligibility criteria to be an indigenous inhabitant. Authority to authenticate claims of being indigenous. Place of registration as indigenous inhabitant. The basis of claims of being indigenous. The nature of documents that will be acceptable as proof of being indigenous. The exercise was put on hold after some civil society and extremist groups opposed its stated objective of preventing outsiders from obtaining fake indigenous certificates for seeking jobs and benefits of government schemes. December 1, 1963 — the day Nagaland attained Statehood — was the cut-off date for determining the “permanent residents” of the State. Apart from non-Nagas, the “outsiders” implied Nagas living in areas beyond the boundaries of Nagaland could be left out of the RIIN.
The Nagas are not a single tribe, but an ethnic community that comprises several tribes who live in the state of Nagaland and its neighbourhood. Nagas belong to the Indo-Mongoloid Family. There are nineteen major Naga tribes, namely, Aos, Angamis, Changs, Chakesang, Kabuis, Kacharis, Khain-Mangas, Konyaks, Kukis, Lothas (Lothas), Maos, Mikirs, Phoms, Rengmas, Sangtams, Semas, Tankhuls, Yamchumgar and Zeeliang.
11. MANAS Application The Principal Scientific Advisor to Government of India recently launched a mobile application to promote the mental wellbeing of the people of India. It is called the MANAS App. MANAS stands for Mental Health and Normalcy Augmentation System. It is a comprehensive and national digital wellbeing platform. The MANAS integrates indigenous tools developed and researched by various national bodies and research institutions. The MANAS app was jointly executed by NIMHANS Bengaluru, C-DAC, AFMC. However, it was mainly developed by C-DAC (Centre for Development of Advanced Computing).
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The app is supported with tele consultation especially for mental health related problems. The app was launched during the 34th Foundation celebrations of C-DAC. The pandemic is increasing mental health problems. According to Practo, an integrated health care company, there has been 665% jump in the number of mental health consultations. Most of them were in the age group of 21 to 40 years. In United States, 90% of the survey respondents of Harvard Medical School complained of frustration, worry and anxiety.
The Global economic cost of mental illness has been estimated as 16 trillion USD in the next twenty years. This is more than the cost estimated for any other non-communicable disease. The pandemic increased isolation and loss of income. These were the two main reasons for increased mental problems due to the pandemic. Also, COVID-19 has halted mental health care services in 93% of the world. According to WHO, the countries are spending less than 2% of health budget on mental health.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: 1. Meghalaya villagers oppose dam on Umngot Stiff resistance from at least 12 villages in Meghalaya has cast a cloud on a 210 MW hydroelectric project on Umngot, considered India’s clearest river. The villages are near the border with Bangladesh in East Khasi Hills district but the dam is proposed upstream in the adjoining West Jaintia Hills district. The Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board (MSPCB) had scheduled a public hearing for the project to be executed by the Meghalaya Energy Corporation Limited. Hundreds of people from more than a dozen villagers obstructed officers from conducting the public hearing at Moosakhia in West Jaintia Hills district. The MSPCB officials faced a similar situation at Siangkhnai in East Khasi Hills district. The locals fear that the project, if executed, would cause irreparable losses by wiping out their areas from the tourism map. The project documents say people of 13 villages along the Umngot are likely to lose 296 hectares of land due to submergence if the dam comes up.
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Umngot flows through Dawki, a small but busy town in the East Jaintia Hills district near the Indo-Bangladesh border. The town itself is a mere 95 km from Shillong. Dawki serves as a busy trade route between India and Bangladesh where hundreds of trucks pass every day. The Umngot itself is a prime fishing spot for fishermen from nearby areas. The river is the natural boundary between Ri Pnar (of Jaintia Hills) with Hima Khyrim (of Khasi Hills) over which hangs a single span suspension bridge. It is the gateway to Bangladesh.
2. eSanta The Union Minister Shri Piyush Goyal recently launched a platform called “eSanta” for marine products. The main aim of the platform is to empower aqua farmers. The farmers can sell their produce in eSanta portal. It is a bridge between the buyers and the farmers. The eSanta portal eliminates the necessity of middlemen completely. The portal is available in languages such as English, Tamil, Telugu, Hindi, Odiya and Bengali. The initiative to launch eSanta portal was taken by NaCSA.
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NaCSA National Centre for Sustainable Aquaculture is an arm of Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) that operates under Ministry of Commerce and Industry. The main objective of NaCSA is to encourage and uplift small and marginal farmers through organisation of clusters and also by adopting best practices in shrimp culture. Benefits of the portal The use of modern tools and techniques like that of eSanta will help to increase shrimp production from the current 40,000 tonnes to six to seven lakh tonnes. The portal will benefit 18,000 farmers who are currently contributing to marine exports of the country. The aqua products are exported to America, European Union, China, Japan and other Asian countries. In spite of ranking second in aquaculture in the world, aqua farmers in India are facing difficulties to get best price from the market. The portal will help to address this problem.
3. Currency Chest The news: A private security guard has looted Rs 4.04 crores from the currency chest of Axis Bank in Chandigarh. This has brought currency chests in spotlight. Currency Chests are places where RBI (Reserve Bank of India) stocks money meant for banks and ATMs. The Currency Chests are located in different banks and are administered by the Reserve Bank of India. The Currency chests are places where RBI stores money meant for ATMs and banks. The representatives from RBI inspect these currency chests from time to time. These currency chests are placed in banks spread all over the country. The money in the currency chest belongs to RBI and the WSTTAmoney placed outside currency chest in the strong room belongs to the bank. Whenever RBI prints new currency notes, it first delivers them to these currency chests. The banks holding the currency chests will then deliver them to the other banks. Now, RBI is prone to losses due to the theft. The entire money in the chest belongs to RBI. Now the question arises who will bear the losses? The bank that holds the currency chest should bear the losses. The bank should also submit a Fraud Monitoring Report to RBI. The RBI reimburses the security expenses to the bank. The reimbursement includes transportation of money from one bank to another as well. It is the sole responsibility of the banks to safeguard the cash. RBI has thirty-one offices in India. When new currencies are printed, RBI sends them to these offices. These offices then send the notes to the currency chests and small coin depots.
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There are 4,075 currency chests in the country. Around 3,746 banks act as small coin depots.
4. India’s public debt level among highest in emerging economies India’s public debt level is among the highest in emerging economies with a quantitative easing programme underway, while its debt affordability is among the weakest, Moody’s Investors Service said. With the exception of Chile, most of the 11 emerging markets have weak government effectiveness, suggesting potential risks executing fiscal reforms or consolidation plans. Debt affordability varies widely, with Ghana and India [rated Baa3 negative] weakest. Across 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, the report titled, ‘Quantitative easing programs are largely positive, but risks vary across economies’, noted. While 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 year, having purchased Rs.3.1 trillion bonds in the previous fiscal year. Most economies’ debt burdens will rise before they stabilise over the next few years. Depending on recovery prospects and future debt servicing costs, high debt levels may become unsustainable for the more vulnerable economies.
The public debt is how much a country owes to lenders outside of itself. These can include individuals, businesses, and even other governments. The term "public debt" is often used interchangeably with the term sovereign debt. Public debt usually only refers to national debt.
Currently, some notable emerging market economies include India, Mexico, Russia, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, China, and Brazil. Critically, an emerging market economy is transitioning from a low income, less developed, often pre-industrial economy towards a modern, industrial economy with a higher standard of living.
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5. Indonesia, Afghanistan buy more Indian sugar Major destinations for sugar exports from India this season (October 2020 to September 2021) are Indonesia and Afghanistan, according to the Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA). ISMA, quoting market reports and information from ports, said that 29.72 lakh tonnes of sugar have been exported so far this season compared with 30.64 lakh tonnes during the same period in the previous season. However, the current season’s exports include 4.48 lakh tonnes exported under the Maximum Admissible Export Quota of 2019-2020 season, which was extended till December 31, 2020. Industry sources said that during the last season, major sugar exports were to Iran and Afghanistan. This year, with currency restrictions, exports to Iran were affected, they added. Also, with lower output in Thailand, Indian exports to Indonesia have picked up.
6. PLI scheme for ACs, LED lights to exclude ‘mere assembly’ The department for promotion of industry and internal trade (DPIIT) has notified the PLI scheme for ACs and LED lights and said that selection of companies to avail the incentives would be done to support manufacturing of components which are not made in India presently. It said that mere assembly of finished goods would not be incentivised and companies investing in basic/core components would get a higher priority. Earlier this month, the government approved a production linked incentive (PLI) scheme for white goods — Air Conditioners (ACs) and LED lights — with an outlay of Rs.6,238 crore. It will be implemented over 2021-22 to 2028-29.
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According to the notification, the Empowered Group of Secretaries chaired by Cabinet Secretary will monitor the PLI scheme, undertake periodic review of the outgo under the scheme, ensure uniformity of all PLIs and take appropriate action to ensure that the expenditure is within the prescribed outlay. DPIIT said that the incentive per beneficiary will be applicable on incremental sales (net of taxes) of manufactured goods (as distinct from traded goods) over the base year (2019-20) subject to ceilings. “Mere assembly of finished goods shall not be incentivised. Selection of companies for the scheme shall be done so as to incentivise manufacturing of components or sub-assemblies which are not manufactured in India presently with sufficient capacity. Support under the scheme will be provided to companies/entities engaged in manufacturing of components of ACs (such as copper tubes, aluminium foil and compressors) and LED lights (like LED chip packaging, resistors, ICs, and fuses).
7. Turkey bans Crypto Currency payments The Bitcoin currency tumbled more than 4% after the Central Bank of Turkey banned the use of Crypto currencies and crypto assets for purchases. The bank cited possible irreparable damages and transaction risks as the reason for the ban. The ban followed actions of Morocco in banning the currency and is expected to be implemented in India as well. In March 2021, the Turkish President Erdogan fired the top central banker Naci Agbal. This forced several businessmen to turn towards crypto currency as an alternate method. This increased the growth of crypto currency market in Turkey. Bitcoin had surged by 111% and the second largest crypto currency Ethereum jumped by 225%. However, after the ban, the Bitcoin was down by 4.6%. The Bitcoin was at 60,333 USD after the ban. The other smaller coins such as XRP, Ethereum that tend to move in tandem with bitcoin fell between 6% and 12%. The recent Turkey regulations of Crypto currency mainly targets payments using crypto currencies for goods and services. It also prohibits companies from handling electronic fund transfers that involve crypto currency platforms. The consumer complaints against crypto currencies increased by 8,616% in February 2021 as compared to that of the previous year. According to Turkey, the Turkish Government was finding it difficult to monitor and control the market volatility and illegal activities in the crypto currency market. Also, the wallets were highly vulnerable to thefts. The Turkish Government predicts that the anonymity behind the digital tokens will bring risks of non-recoverable losses.
A cryptocurrency, crypto-currency, or crypto is a digital asset designed to work as a medium of exchange wherein individual coin ownership records are stored in a ledger existing in a form of a computerized database using strong cryptography to secure transaction records, to control the creation of additional coins, and to verify the transfer of coin ownership. It typically does not exist in physical form (like paper money) and is typically not issued by a central authority. Cryptocurrencies typically use decentralized control as opposed to centralized digital currency and central banking systems.
8. Defences against cybercrime About 52% of adults admitted that they do not know how to protect themselves from cybercrime, according to a survey conducted by online security solutions provider NortonLifeLock.
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The report also said 59% of the adults in India had become victims of cybercrime in the past 12 months. The ‘2021 Norton Cyber Safety Insights Report,’ based on the research conducted online by The Harris Poll among 10,030 adults in 10 countries, including 1,000 adults in India, also found that cybercrime victims collectively spent 1.3 billion hours trying to resolve these issues. While the report suggested that many Indian consumers (90%) were taking proactive steps to safeguard their data, 2 in 5 still felt it was impossible to protect their privacy (42%) in this age or say they don’t know how to do so (42%). As per the research 7 in 10 Indian adults (70%) believe that remote work has made it much easier for hackers and cybercriminals to take advantage of people. “Around half (52%) say they do not know how to protect themselves from cybercrime, and even more (68%) say it is difficult for them to determine if the information they see online is from a credible source,” NotronLifeLock mentioned in the report.
9. Working of ARCs The RBI set up a committee to undertake a comprehensive review of the working of asset reconstruction companies (ARCs) in the financial sector ecosystem and recommend suitable measures for enabling them to meet the growing requirements. The six-member committee will be headed by Sudarshan Sen, former executive director, Reserve Bank of India (RBI). As per the terms of reference of the committee, the panel will review the existing legal and regulatory framework applicable to ARCs and recommend measures to improve efficacy of ARCs.
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It will also review the role of ARCs in the resolution of stressed assets, including under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC), and give suggestions for improving liquidity in and trading of security receipts. Besides, it has also been asked to review the business models of ARCs. The committee will submit its report within three months from the date of its first meeting.
10. Centre allots 5 kg of grains free to poor The Union government announced that 5 kg of foodgrains would be provided to 80 crore beneficiaries under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) in May and June as many States were undergoing curfews and the high rates of COVID-19 infections had led to a slowdown in economic activity. The announcement came as Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a meeting with the Chief Ministers, especially of the States with a high case burden. The outlay for the free grain programme has been pegged at Rs.26,000 crore. Mr. Modi assured the States that all resources, including those of the Railways and the Indian Air Force, were being deployed to reach oxygen to different corners of the country. He asked the States to strictly crack down on hoarding and black marketing of essential drugs and injections. He added that the Centre would be providing COVID-19 vaccines acquired by it to the States free, as earlier. According to a statement released after the meeting with the Chief Ministers, Mr. Modi called for a unified approach in dealing with resource scarcities, which he said were being addressed. He stated that it was through such an approach that India could tackle the first wave of COVID-19.
11. RBI extends States’ Ways and Means credit to Sept. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) decided to continue with the existing interim Ways and
Means Advances (WMA) scheme limit of Rs.51,560 crore for all States/ UTs shall for six months i.e., up to September 30, given the prevalence of COVID-19.
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Based on the recommendations of the Advisory Committee on WMA to State Governments, 2021 (chaired by Sudhir Shrivastava) the RBI had revised the WMA Scheme of States and Union Territories (UTs), it said. The WMA limit arrived at by the Committee based on total expenditure of States/ UTs, works out to Rs.47,010 crore. The RBI said it would review the WMA limit thereafter, depending on the course of the pandemic and its impact on the economy. The Special Drawing Facility availed by State Governments/ UTs shall continue to be linked to the quantum of their investments in marketable securities issued by the Government of India, including the Auction Treasury Bills, it said.
12. Italy: First Food Park in India Italy recently launched the first “Mega Food Park” in India involving food processing facilities. It is the first Italian-Indian Food Park project launched in the country. The name of the project is “Mega Food Park”. The main aim of the project is to develop an interaction between agriculture and industry. Also, the project will focus on the research and development of efficient technologies in the sector. It is to be implemented by a Special Purpose Vehicle. The SPV is a registered corporate under the Companies Act. It will link agricultural production and markets. This is to be achieved by bringing together processors, farmers and retailers to ensure maximizing value addition, increasing farmers income, minimizing wastage and creating employment opportunities.
The Mega Food Park is a scheme implemented by the Ministry of Food Processing. The main aim of the scheme is to establish direct linkage from farms to processing and consumer markets. The main purpose of the scheme is to increase the perishables from 6% to 20%. Also, the scheme aims to increase India’s share in global food trade by at least 3%.
Under the scheme, the Government of India provides Rs 50 crores to each food park.
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The scheme aims to implement around 30 to 35 food processing units. It aimed to provide a turnover of Rs 400 to Rs 500 crore and employment generation of at least 30,000 from each food park. So far, forty-two Mega Food Parks have been sanctioned in six phases. Each Mega Food Park aims to connect at least 25,000 farmers.
13. Supply chain resilience Initiative The Supply Chain Resilience Initiative (SCRI) formally launched by the Trade Ministers of India, Japan and Australia brought a wary response from China, which has described the effort as ‘unrealistic’. Piyush Goyal, Minister for Commerce and Industry, launched the SCRI along with Dan Tehan, Australia’s Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment, and Hiroshi Kajiyama, Japan’s Minister for Economy, Trade and Industry. The three sides agreed the pandemic “revealed supply chain vulnerabilities globally and in the region” and “noted the importance of risk management and continuity plans in order to avoid supply chain disruptions”. Some of the joint measures they are considering include supporting the enhanced utilisation of digital technology and trade and investment diversification, which is seen as being aimed at reducing their reliance on China.
The SCRI aims to create a virtuous cycle of enhancing supply chain resilience with a view to eventually attaining strong, sustainable, balanced and inclusive growth in the region. China’s Foreign Ministry described the move as ‘unrealistic’. “The formation and development of global industrial and supply chains are determined by market forces and companies choices,” spokesperson Zhao Lijian said. “Artificial industrial ‘transfer’ is an unrealistic approach that goes against the economic laws and can neither solve domestic problems nor do anything good to the stability of the global industrial and supply chains, or to the stable recovery of the world economy.”
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Mr. Zhao said China hoped that amid the epidemic, “parties concerned will cherish the hard- won outcomes of international cooperation in the fight against the epidemic” and “act in ways conducive to enhancing mutual trust and cooperation, so as to jointly ensure the global industrial and supply chains stable and unimpeded”.
ENVIRONMENT & BIODIVERSITY: 1. KVIC’s RE-HAB Project The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways Shri Nitin Gadkari recently announced that the project of Khadi and Village Industries (KVIC) called RE-HAB has become a huge success. Thus, it is to be implemented in other states as well. This includes Odisha, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Assam, Chhattisgarh, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala. Project RE-HAB is Reducing Elephant Human Attacks using Bees. It was launched at four spots in the Nagarhole National Park of Karnataka. The project aims to prevent elephant human conflicts without creating harm to either of them. The project is highly cost effective. The project uses bee boxes as fence to prevent elephants from entering human habitation. The buzz of the bees irritates elephants. Also, elephants fear that the bees might sting them in the inner side of the trunk and in their eyes.
The bee boxes were provided as a part of Honey Mission. The Honey Mission was launched by KVIC in 2017. The main aim of the mission is to provide
awareness and training in bee keeping. Tiger. In 2021, the Srivilliputhur Meghamalai Tiger Reserve was added to the list.
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Nagarhole National Park is a part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. The Man-Animal Conflict has increased in the country lately. More than 2,400 people have been killed in conflicts with wild elephants all over India since 2015. On the other hand, more than 510 elephants were killed since 2015 in man-elephant conflicts. Nagarhole National Park The Nagarhole National Park is also called the Rajiv Gandhi National Park. It was established in 1955. In 1999, the GoI declared the park as a Tiger Reserve under Project
2. Dolphin boom The population of dolphins in Chilika, India’s largest brackish water lake, and along the Odisha coast has doubled this year compared with last year. The wildlife wing of the State Forest and Environment Department released the final data on the dolphin census conducted in January and February this year, indicating a spectacular growth in numbers. Divided into 41 units, wildlife activists, academicians, Forest Department officials, NGO members, boat operators and researchers from the Bombay Natural History Society, Mumbai, participated in the estimation exercise. The population estimation exercise for dolphins and other cetacean species covered almost the entire coast of Odisha.
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Three species were recorded during the census, with 544 Irrawaddy, bottle-nose and humpback dolphins sighted this year, compared with 233 last year. Wildlife activists are elated over the sizeable growth in the population of endangered Irrawaddy dolphins, which are mostly found in Chilika lake, jumping from 146 in 2020 to 162 this year. Apart from Chilika, 39 Irrawaddy dolphins were sighted in the Rajnagar mangrove division, though their number has come down from 60 in 2020. The highest growth has been noticed in the case of humpback dolphins. Only two humpbacks were sighted in the Rajnagar mangrove in 2020. In 2021, however, this population grew astronomically to 281. These humpback dolphins were not part of any riverine systems, so they cannot be identified as residential mammals. They were spotted travelling along the Odisha coast and the number is likely to fluctuate in the next census.
3. Last two rhinos translocated under IRV 2020 The ambitious Indian Rhino Vision 2020 (IRV 2020) came to a close with the release of two rhinos — an adult male and a female — in Assam’s Manas National Park transported from Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary about 185 km east. Designed in 2005, the IRV2020 is believed to have achieved its target of attaining a population of 3,000 rhinos in Assam. But the plan to spread the Rhinoceros unicornis across four protected areas beyond Kaziranga National Park, Orang National Park and Pobitora could not materialise. The eighth round of rhino translocation under IRV2020 ended with the release of the two rhinos in the central part of the Bansbari range of Manas, which has received a total of 22 rhinos from other protected areas under the translocation programme. The ears of the translocated rhinos have been notched according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Species Survival Commission and Asian Rhino Specialist Group’s guidelines for identification and monitoring. Assam had at least five rhino-bearing areas till the 1980s. Better conservation efforts helped maintain the population of the one-horned herbivore in Kaziranga, Orang and Pobitora, but encroachment and poaching wiped the animal out of Manas and Laokhowa Wildlife Sanctuary. The translocated rhinos helped Manas National Park get back its World Heritage Site status in 2011. It can be expected that the translocation programme will set up a healthy, breeding population for the future of the species.
Launched in 2005, Indian Rhino Vision 2020 was an ambitious effort to attain a wild population of at least 3,000 greater one-horned rhinos spread over seven protected areas in the Indian state of Assam by the year 2020. Seven protected areas are Kaziranga, Pobitora, Orang National Park, Manas National Park, Laokhowa wildlife sanctuary, Burachapori wildlife sanctuary and Dibru Saikhowa wildlife sanctuary. Wild-to-wild translocations were an essential part of IRV2020 – moving rhinos from densely populated parks like Kaziranga NP, to ones in need of more rhinos, like Manas National Park.
4. WHO urges halt on sale of live wild mammals in markets The World Health Organization called for a halt to the sale of live wild mammals in food markets to prevent the emergence of new diseases such as COVID-19. The WHO said because traditional markets play a central role in providing food and livelihoods for large populations, banning the sale of live wild mammals could protect the health of market workers and customers alike.
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The call came in fresh guidance drawn up by the WHO in conjunction with the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). “Animals, particularly wild animals, are the source of more than 70% of all emerging infectious diseases in humans, many of which are caused by novel viruses. Wild mammals, in particular, pose a risk for the emergence of new diseases,” the guidance said. The agencies recalled that some of the earliest known cases of COVID-19 had links to a wholesale food market in Wuhan, with many of the initial patients stall owners.
5. Bustard poaching in Pakistan shocks activists The recent shooting of two Great Indian Bustards (GIBs) in Pakistan’s Cholistan desert, with the poachers brazenly getting themselves photographed with the carcasses of birds in their hands and guns on their shoulders, has left wildlife activists in Rajasthan shocked and outraged. The GIB, which is the State bird of Rajasthan, is considered India’s most critically endangered bird. A group of hunters, allegedly led by a retired Major of the Pakistan Army, shot down two GIBs in a protected area of southern Punjab’s Cholistan game reserve in Pakistan earlier this month. Retired Major Tanveer Hussain Shah, a resident of Rahim Yar Khan district, and his accomplices, also attacked wildlife officials of that country when they tried to stop the group from hunting GIBs and chinkara deer. The grassland habitat with grass cover in the Cholistan desert, where the GIBs were foraging, is similar to the habitat in Rajasthan’s Desert National Park (DNP), where the GIB’s last remnant wild population is found. The DNP, situated near the towns of Jaisalmer and Barmer, forms a part of the mighty Thar desert. The GIB’s population of fewer than 100 in Rajasthan accounts for 95% of its total world population. The International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN), a global authority on species survival, which categorised the GIBs as “endangered” in 1994, was forced to upgrade the species to the status of “critically endangered” in 2011 because of continued threats faced in the survival of these large birds. The Tourism & Wildlife Society of India (TWSI) has condemned the poaching of GIBs, while expressing surprise that the people in the neighbouring country continued to kill this rare species of birds. As Rajasthan shares the international border with Pakistan’s Sindh and Punjab provinces, it is suspected that Indian-bred GIBs will fly across to Pakistan’s desert and will be easy prey for the gun-toting poachers there.
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6. 220-million-year-old rat-like creatures The Tiki Formation in Madhya Pradesh, a treasure trove of vertebrate fossils, has now yielded a new species and two genera of cynodonts, small rat-like animals that lived about 220 million years ago. The researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, used scanning electron microscopy to study about 10 teeth samples collected from the village of Tihki in Shahdol District, Madhya Pradesh. The teeth were studied for size, crown shape, structure of the cusps and compared with previously reported cynodonts. The results showed that they had found a new species, and they named it Rewaconodon indicus, indicating India, the country it was discovered from. The team also identified two new genera from the area. The first was named Inditherium floris, after India and the Latin word therium meaning beast. As the teeth had a flower- shaped crown, it earned the species name floris. The second was named Tikiodon cromptoni, after Tiki Formation and Greek word odon meaning tooth. The species name is after paleontologist A.W. Crompton. Cynodonts are important in evolutionary studies as this group ultimately gave rise to the present-day mammals. By studying their molar and premolar teeth, we see how they slowly evolved and modified. Their crown shape shows that these animals are actually intermediate forms that are very near to the mammalian line of evolution. Cynodonts and living mammals both belong to a group of egg-laying vertebrates (amniotes) called synapsids. The close relationship of cynodonts with living mammals is seen in their bones. They also have differentiated teeth ( for example, different teeth in the front of mouths compared with the back), a secondary palate in their mouths, which, like humans, allowed them to breathe and eat at the same time. Some cynodonts show evidence for the inferred presence of whiskers and fur.
About eighty cynodont genera have been reported from around the world. The ones similar to the newly discovered ones were previously found in Laurasia which includes North America, England, Germany, Switzerland, France, and Belgium.
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This possibly suggests abiotic interchange between India and Laurasian regions and/or similarity in paleoclimatic conditions.
7. Eudiscopus denticulus Meghalaya has yielded India’s first bamboo-dwelling bat with sticky discs, taking the species count of the flying mammal in the country to 130. The disc-footed bat (Eudiscopus denticulus) was recorded in the northeastern State’s Lailad area near the Nongkhyllem Wildlife Sanctuary, about 1,000 km west of its nearest known habitat in Myanmar. A team of scientists from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) and a few European natural history museums stumbled upon this “very specialised” small bat with “disc-like pads in the thumb and bright orange colouration” while sampling in a bamboo patch almost a year ago. There are a couple of other bamboo-dwelling bats in India. But the extent of adaptation for bamboo habitat in this species is not seen in the others.
The newly recorded bat was presumed to be a bamboo-dwelling species, but its flattened skull and adhesive pads helped in identifying it as the disc-footed known from specific localities in southern China, Vietnam, Thailand and Myanmar. The flattened skull and sticky pads enabled the bats to roost inside cramped spaces, clinging to smooth surfaces such as bamboo internodes. The disc-footed bat was also found to be genetically very different from all other known bats bearing disc-like pads. Scientists analysed the very high frequency echolocation calls of the disc-footed bat, which was suitable for orientation in a cluttered environment such as inside bamboo groves. The disc-footed bat has raised Meghalaya’s bat count to 66, the most for any State in India. It has also helped add a genus and species to the bat fauna of India.
8. India & Germany MoU India and Germany have recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding on “Cities Combating Plastic Entering the Marine Environment”. It is in line with the objective of Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban. According to the MoU, the project to be implemented mainly focuses on sustainable solid waste management. It will help India achieve the goal of phasing out single use plastics by 2022. The project is being launched under the Joint Declaration made by the countries regarding cooperation in the field of Prevention of Marine Litter. The declaration was signed by India and Germany in 2019. The project is to be implemented mainly in the states of Kerala, Uttar Pradesh and Andaman
and Nicobar Islands.
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The project is to be implemented for a period of three and a half years. It will mainly support cities such as Port Blair, Kochi and Kanpur. The project will help the cities in improving their system of garbage collection, segregation. It will also work towards enhancing marketing of plastic wastes. Around 15% to 20% of the plastics entering the oceans are through the riverine system. Of this, 90% are contributed by the ten most polluted rivers in the world. Two of these rivers are located in India. They are the Ganges and Brahmaputra.
9. Mountain National Park The Table Mountain National Park is located in Cape Town of South Africa. Recently, a fire caught in the park and is burning it rapidly. More than two hundred fire fighters have been deployed in the region to quench the fire. A vacated vagrant fire may have caused the fire. Vagrant is a person without home or who wanders from place-to-place begging. It is a flat-topped mountain. It is a significant tourist attraction. It is included in the UNESCO World Heritage site. UNESCO is United Nations Economic and Social Commission. The two most important landmarks in the National Park are the Table Mountains and the Cape of Good Hope. Cape Agulhas is the southern tip of Africa. The most popular feature of the Table Mountains is the level plateau that runs approximately three kilometres. The plateau is flanked by Devil’s Peak in the east and Lion’s head in the west. The mountains are also known for the orographic clouds. These mountains are very frequently covered by orographic clouds unlike any other mountains in the world. This is because of the south easterly winds. The Orographic clouds covering the mountains are generally referred to Table cloth of the mountains. These clouds are formed when the south easterly winds are directed up the slopes of the mountains into colder air. In due process, the moisture condenses to form clouds.
Orographic clouds are formed when air mass is forced from a low elevation to a higher elevation.
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10. Maui dolphins The Maui Dolphins are found only in the West Coast of New Zealand and no where else in the world. They are one of the smallest dolphin’s subspecies globally. There are only 63 Maui dolphins left in the world. The New Zealand Government along with World Wide Fund and some few fishing companies is to develop a drone that is capable of finding and tracking Maui dolphins using Artificial Intelligence. It will collect data on dolphins’ habitat, behaviour and population size. The data can then be used to inform the Government policy changes to stop the decline in the population. It was developed by a non-profit organisation MAUI63. The Artificial Intelligence based system will distinguish Maui dolphins with other species with more than 90% accuracy.
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Reasons for declining population The Maui Dolphins are threatened by commercial fisheries. This includes trawling and set- netting. They are affected by diseases such as Brucellosis and toxoplasmosis. Low food availability Climate Change In 2014, the Government of New Zealand opened 3,000 square kilometres of the West Coast for oil drilling. This is the main habitat of Maui dolphins.
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY: 1. Ingenuity Helicopter NASA recently announced that its Ingenuity Helicopter has been dropped on the surface of mars successfully and is in preparation for its first flight. Ingenuity is a technology demonstration of powered flight in another planet. NASA is to perform a series of test flights over thirty Martian days with the help of Ingenuity helicopter. The main challenge of Ingenuity Helicopter is that it would have to survive temperatures as low as -130 degrees Fahrenheit. Such low temperatures could freeze and crack the onboard batteries in the craft. The helicopter has successfully survived the temperature. The helicopter weighs 1.8 kilograms. It is a solar powered helicopter. The energy from the solar array in the helicopter will power the helicopter and also keep it warm during night. The full speed of the helicopter is 2,400 rpm. It is to reach a maximum height of 4.6 metres in Mars. The Ingenuity helicopter was dropped on the Martian surface by the Perseverance rover as a part of Mars 2020 mission.
Perseverance Rover The Perseverance rover is an astrobiology mission. The mission aims to search signs of ancient microbial life in mars.
The mission will characterize the geology and past climate of the planet.
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Perseverance is the first mission to collect Martian rock and regolith (broken rock and dust). Curiosity is the predecessor of Perseverance rover. The rover carries seven payload instruments, two micro phones and nineteen cameras. It will drill the Martian soil and collect core samples of martian rocks.
2. A dozen quasars discovered Astronomers have discovered a dozen quasars that have been warped by a naturally occurring cosmic “lens” and split into four similar images. Quasars are extremely luminous cores of distant galaxies that are powered by supermassive black holes. This rare discovery increases the number of known quasars or quads by about 25% and can help determine the expansion rate of the universe and address other mysteries. Over the past four decades, astronomers had found about fifty of these “quadruply imaged quasars” or quads for short.
A quasar is an extremely luminous active galactic nucleus, in which a supermassive black hole with mass ranging from millions to billions of times the mass of the Sun is surrounded by a gaseous accretion disk.As gas in the disk falls towards the black hole, energy is released in the form of electromagnetic radiation, which can be observed across the electromagnetic spectrum. The power radiated by quasars is enormous; the most powerful quasars have luminosities thousands of times greater than a galaxy such as the Milky Way.
3. Centre bans export of Remdesivir The Centre has prohibited the exports of Remdesivir injection and Remdesivir Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) in an order stating there was a sudden spike in the demand for the drug used in COVID-19 treatment. Seven Indian companies are producing injection Remdesivir under a voluntary licensing agreement with Gilead Sciences of the U.S. They have an installed capacity of 38.8 lakh units a month. The release issued by the Health Ministry noted that to ensure easy access to the injection, all domestic manufactures of Remdesivir have been advised to display on their website, details of their stockists and distributors. Drug inspectors and other officers have been directed to verify stocks and check malpractices and also take other effective action to curb hoarding and black marketing. The State Health Secretaries will review this with the drug inspectors of the respective States/Union Territories. As per the National Clinical Management Protocol for COVID-19 of the Central government, Remdesivir is listed as an Investigational Therapy (i.e. where informed and shared decision-
making is essential).
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Remdesivir, sold under the brand name Veklury, is a broad-spectrum antiviral medication developed by the biopharmaceutical company Gilead Sciences. It is administered via injection into a vein.Remdesivir is one of the drugs used for treating the SARS-CoV-2 virus in hospitalised adults.
4. eFuel The Porsche has joined with Siemens Energy to produce eFuel by 2022. The project of eFuel production is called Haru Oni project. It is based in Chile due to its windy climate. The joint project aims to produce 130,000 litres of eFuel by 2022. Later this is to be increased to 550 million by 2026. eFuel is a complex hydrocarbon. It is created based on the following process: Water is separated into hydrogen and oxygen using wind generated electricity. This hydrogen is then combined with the carbon dioxide filtered from the air to form methanol. The methanol is then converted into gasoline using ExxonMobil licensed technology. The eFuel shall be used in any cars. The cost of production of eFuel is 10 USD per litre. Over time, this is expected to come down to 2 USD per litre. The eFuel is a kind of Electro Fuel.
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The Electro Fuels are the emerging class of carbon neutral fuels. They are also called Synthetic fuels. They are seen as an alternative to biofuels. They are made by storing electrical energy from renewable sources in chemical bonds of liquid of gas fuels.
5. Lyrid Meteor Shower The April Lyrids are a meteor shower lasting from April 16 to April 26 each year. The radiant of the meteor shower is located in the constellation Lyra, near its brightest star, Vega. The peak of the shower is typically around April 22 each year. In 2021, they are expected to begin on April 19, 2021. The count of Lyrid Meteor Showers range between five to twenty per hour. It has been classified as the medium strength meteor shower. They are caused due to a cloud of dust or debris left behind by the Comet C/1861 G1 Thatcher. They are best viewed in northern hemisphere.
Meteor Showers A meteor shower occurs when the earth passes through the path of a comet. As the earth moves nearby, the bits of comet debris comes under the influence of the earth’s gravity. As they are pulled by the gravitational force of the earth, they begin to move towards the earth. When this happens, they burn up due to the friction created by the Earth’s atmosphere. The burning up of these debris is seen as streaks of light in the night sky and are called meteor showers.
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6. Russia’s own space station Russia’s space agency said it hoped to launch its own orbital station in 2025 as Moscow considers withdrawing from the International Space Station programme to go it alone. Roscosmos chief Dmitry Rogozin said work had begun on the first module of a new station, after officials warned that Russia was considering pulling out of the ISS, one of the few successful examples of cooperation with the West. The announcement came amid rising tensions with the West. Launched in 1998 and involving Russia, the United States, Canada, Japan, and the European Space Agency, the ISS is one of the most ambitious international collaborations in human history. Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister Yury Borisov said in recent days that Moscow was considering whether to leave the ISS programme from 2025 because of the station’s age. Russia lost its monopoly for manned flights to the ISS last year after the first successful mission of U.S. company Space X. Despite its much-lauded history — Russia this month marked the 60th anniversary of Yuri Gagarin becoming the first person in orbit — the country’s space programme has struggled in recent years. The International Space Station (ISS) is a modular space station (habitable artificial satellite) in low Earth orbit. It is a multinational collaborative project involving five participating space agencies: NASA (United States), Roscosmos (Russia), JAXA (Japan), ESA (Europe), and CSA (Canada). The ownership and use of the space station is established by intergovernmental treaties and agreements. The station serves as a microgravity and space environment research laboratory in which scientific research is conducted in astrobiology, astronomy, meteorology, physics, and other fields.
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7. Rising prevalence of U.K. strain The proportion of the U.K. variant (B.1.1.7) in genome samples sequenced from COVID-19 cases in Delhi has risen from 28% in the second week of March to 50% last week. The U.K. variant has a mutation N501Y that is reported to increase the transmission of the virus, leading to more numbers and a knock-on consequence of increasing disease severity and mortality. There was also a rise in the Indian variant (B.1.617), which has two mutations associated with increased efficacy and decreasing the potency of vaccines. However, while the relative proportion of known variants of concern, or VoC, (the U.K., South Africa, Brazil variants) is around 11%, investigations were still on to determine to what extent they were responsible for the severity of disease. Delhi was among the States, along with Punjab, Chhattisgarh and Gujarat, where instances of the U.K. strain in the wider community far outnumbered those detected among international travellers and their contacts. For instance, in Delhi, there were 324 instances of the UK strain in the “community” as opposed to 91 among travellers and their contacts (T&C). In Gujarat, it was 18 in T&C and 42 in the community and in Chhattisgarh there was only 1 case in the T&C as opposed to 14 in the community. Such numbers weren’t yet present for the Brazilian and South African strains. Several of these States are showing unprecedented spikes. The concern with the Indian variants was that they possessed two mutations — E484K and L245R — that together would increase the likelihood of a wider range of antibodies being unable to counter the virus.
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8. Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) alert VIIRS is a weather monitoring equipment placed in satellites orbiting the earth. It is basically a sensor, that was designed and manufactured by Raytheon company. It collects imagery and radiometric measurements of atmosphere, land, cryosphere and oceans. The data is collected in visible and infrared bands of electromagnetic spectrum. The Global Forest Watch recently reported that India recorded 82,170 forest fire alerts between April 1, 2021 and April 14, 2021. This is nearly double the number reported during the same period in 2020. The alert was based on the data from the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS). VIIRS is placed in Suomi National Polar orbiting Partnership (Suomi NPP) and NOAA-20 weather satellites. The VIIRS is mainly used to monitor and investigate changes and properties in surface vegetation. The combination of MODIS, VIIRS and AVHRR help in assessing impacts of climate change on the earth surface. MODIS is Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer. AVHRR is Advanced Very High- Resolution Radiometer.
9. Zhurong China has named its first Mars rover as Zhurong after a traditional fire god. The name signifies igniting the flame of Planetary Explorations of China. Zhurong is on board Tianwen-1 Space probe. It arrived at the Mars orbit in February 2021 and is due to land on the planet in May 2021. With Zhurong, China will become the third country after Soviet Union and USA to achieve soft landing on Mars. Also, it will become the second country put a rover on Mars after the US. Zhurong weighs 240 kilograms and is solar powered.
Zhurong carries multispectral cameras and instruments to analyse the composition of the rocks. It will investigate subsurface characteristics with ground penetrating radar. The main aim of Tianwen-1 is to analyse and map the Martian surface and look for water ice
and study the climate and surface environment. It was launched in July 2020.
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Tianwen-1 was launched with an orbiter, camera, lander and the Zhurong rover. It weighs five tonnes and is one of the heaviest probes launched to Mars. It was launched in Long March 5 heavy lift launch vehicle. It was the second of the three space missions sent to Mars in 2020. The other missions launched were as follows: The “Hope Orbiter” by United Ara Emirates Perseverance Rover and Ingenuity helicopter on Mars 2020 by US
AWARDS & REPORTS: 1. Indian Railway Electrification: New record The Indian Railways has achieved the highest ever electrification of sections during 2020-21. It has covered 6,015 kilo metres of electrification in a single year. This is 37% higher than that achieved in 2019-20. The Broad-Gauge network of Indian Railway currently stand at 63,949 kilo metres. Of this 71% has been electrified. In the last seven years, the electrification of Indian Railways has increased by seven times. Totally 45,881 kilometres has been electrified. Of this 34% were electrified in the last three years. The Indian Railways has also commissioned a record of 56 Traction Substations in 2020-21. In 2019-20, this was 42. Thus, the traction sub stations have increased by 33%. Some of the major routes electrified in 2020-21 are Delhi-Darbhanga-Jaynagar, Mumbai- Howrah, Gorakhpur-Varanasi, Chennai-Trichy and Jabalpur-Nainpur-Gondia-Ballarshah.
A Traction Substation is an electrical substation. It converts electric power provided by the electric power industry to a suitable power to be used in electric trains.
Electric Rail Transport in India India uses 25 KV 50 Hz AC traction on its electrified tracks. DC traction is used for metros. The first railway electrification in India began between Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus and Kurla in 1925. In 2017, Indian Railways announced that the entire rail network in the country is to be electrified by 2022. The deadline has been extended to 2024. Central Organisation for Railway Electrification The CORE is the centralised agency for railway electrification of Indian Railways. It was founded in 1961. The headquarters of CORE is located in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh.
2. NSO report: Women and Men in India, 2020 The National Statistical Office operating under Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) recently released the Women and Men in India report. The report consolidates the crucial socio-economic indicators that portray gender situation in the country. This is the twenty second issue in its series. The report is published annually by the MoSPI. Report: The projected population of India in 2021 is 136.13 crores. Sex ratio has increased from 933 in 2001 to 943 in 2011. Delhi recorded the highest increase in sex ratio followed by Chandigarh, Arunachal Pradesh. On the other hand, Daman and Diu had the highest decline in sex ratio. Health Statistics
The Age Specific Fertility Rate for the females belonging to the age group 25-29 years was the highest at 146.4.
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The Infant Mortality Rate decreased from 39 in 2014 to 32 in 2018. The Maternal Mortality Rate decreased from 212 in 2007-09 to 113 in 2016-18. The Total Fertility Rate of rural India was 2.3 in 2018. It was 1.7 in urban areas in 2018. The Adolescent Fertility Rate declined from 13 in 2017 to 12.2 in 2018. According to National Family Health Survey-5 (NFHS-5), almost 100% institutional delivery was observed in the states of Goa, Kerala, Lakshadweep. The HIV incidence per 1000 people decreased from 0.07 in 2017 to 0.05 in 2019. Education The literacy rate of India increased from 73 in 2011 to 77.7 in 2017. The Gender gap in literacy rates was the highest in Rajasthan, Bihar, UP. Only 8.3% of females of age 15 years had completed graduation. On the other hand, 12.8% of males of the same age had completed graduation. 8% of female students were pursuing education up to tenth standard.
Participation in Economy According to the Periodic Labour Force Survey, 2018-19, the worker population ratio in rural sector was 52.1 for males and 19 for females. In urban areas, it was 52.7 for males and 14.5 for females. The average wage per hour earned by female population in the age group of 15 years was highest in Andaman and Nicobar Islands (Rs 147 per hour). It was followed by Lakshadweep, Nagaland. The lowest was in the states/UTs of Daman and Diu, Odisha. The average wage per hour earned by male population in the age group of 15 years was the highest in Lakshadweep (Rs 121 per hour). Participation in Decision Making The representation of women in the Central Council of Ministers is 9.26% in 2020. In 2019 Lok Sabha election, there were 437.8 million women electors. This is higher as compared to that of the 2014 election (397 million). Highest women participation in the Panchayati Raj institutions was observed in the states of Rajasthan, Uttarakhand and Chhattisgarh.
3. Global food policy report The Global Food Policy Report is published by the International Food Policy Research Institute. This year the institute has released the report based on the theme “Transforming Food Systems After COVID-19”. The lockdown imposed due to the COVID-19 crisis closed schools and day care centres. This affected the availability of nutritious perishable food products. Several households shifted from expensive nutritious foods such as fruits and vegetables towards cheaper staple foods.
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The midday meal programme of India that covers 80% of primary school age children in the country was affected due to the COVID-19 lockdown. The school closures are likely to exacerbate nutrition and food insecurity in the country especially in girls and disadvantaged population. 50% of households in India reported that women spent more time in fetching firewood and water in comparison with the previous year. Efforts of India to incorporate migrant workers into social protection programmes was a huge success. Around 80 million hectares of land in India have been classified as commons. This included forest, water bodies, and pastures. The Commons provide source of livelihood for more than 350 million people in the country. They are dependent on these areas for their forest products and fodder.
Recommendations The governments should use global events such as COP26, UNFSS (United Nations Food Systems Summit) and Nutrition for Growth Summit to put food system transformation rightly on the development agenda. The resilience for all food systems should be increased. The flexibility of social protection policies to protect the vulnerable population during the time of health crisis should be expanded. Key Findings of the Report: World Around 95 million people, mostly in Africa are living in extreme poverty. Number of poor people living under poverty are to increase by 150 million as compared to the pre-pandemic levels. Women accounted to 39% of employment globally. However, they incurred 54% of job losses during pandemic.
4. Press freedom index The World Press Freedom Index, 2021, produced by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), a French non-governmental organisation, has again ranked India at 142nd out of 180 countries. This is despite the fact that for a year, on directions from Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba, an index monitoring cell worked to improve the rankings, even holding a meeting between the Indian Ambassador to France and the RSF officials to lobby for a change in the ranking. In 2016, India’s rank was 133, which has steadily climbed down to 142 in 2020 The RSF report says India is one of the world’s most dangerous countries for journalists trying to do their job properly. They are exposed to every kind of attack, even police violence against reporters, ambushes by political activists, and reprisals instigated by criminal groups or corrupt local officials In February last year, fearing such an adverse assessment, the cell was set up in 18 Ministries to find ways to improve the position on 32 international indices The Information and Broadcasting Ministry was delegated to look at the freedom of press index.
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5. Chloe Zhao The Chinese born film maker Chloe Zhao has become the first Asian woman to win the Best director at the Academy Awards. She won the award for her film Nomadland. Zhao was born in China and went to a boarding school in London. She then moved to Los Angeles where she completed her high school. Her debut film was Songs My Brothers Taught me. It was premiered at Sundance Film Festival. Her second film was The Rider. It received nominations at the Independent Spirit Award for the Best Film and Best Director. Nomadland won three major awards namely Best Director, Best Actress for Frances McDormand and Best Picture. The film is about a woman who leaves town after her husband dies. She also becomes houseless as sole industry closes down. She then lives in a van and travels around the US. Academy Awards The Academy Awards is also known as Oscars. They are awarded for artistic and technical merit in the film industry. They are considered as the most prestigious awards in the world. The winners are awarded with a copy of a Golden Statuette as trophy. The trophy is officially called “Academy Award of Merit”. The award was designed by Cedric Gibbons and sculpted by George Stanley. It was first presented in 1929. India at Oscars Bhanu Athaiya was the first Indian to win Oscar in 1982. She won the award for Best Costume Design for the movie Gandhi. As of 2021, thirteen Indians were nominated for Oscars and eight have won in scientific and technical category.
MISCELLANEOUS: 1. Military farms shut down after 132 years Military farms have been closed after 132 years of service, the Army said. The formal closing ceremony was held to mark the occasion. The farms were set up with the sole requirement of supplying hygienic cow milk to troops in garrisons across British India. The first military farm was raised on February 1, 1889, at Allahabad. Post-Independence, they flourished with 30,000 heads of cattle in 130 farms all over India. They were even established in Leh and Kargil in the late 1990s. For more than a century, the farms supplied 3.5 crore litres of milk and 25,000 tonnes of hay
yearly.
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It is credited with pioneering the technique of artificial insemination of cattle and introduction of organised dairying in India, providing yeoman service during the 1971 war,
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supplying milk at the Western and Eastern war fronts as well as during the Kargil operations to the Northern Command. Now, the military farms have been closed and all the officers and workers of the farms have been redeployed within the Ministry to continue providing service to the organization. Various recommendations were given in the past to shut down the farms. In the year 2012, the Quarter Master General branch had recommended their closure. After this again in December 2016 Lt. Gen. DB Shekatkar (retd) committee also suggested the shutdown of farms. The farms were required as cantonments were located at a distance from urban areas. Now with urban expansion, cantonments have also come within towns and cities and milk procurement is being increasingly done from the open market. Various allegations of corruption surrounding the farms were also noticed over the years. This was also one of the reasons contributing to the shut down of the farms. Project Freiswal They established “Project Freiswal” in association with the Ministry of Agriculture. Project Freiswal is credited to be the largest cattle cross-breeding programme in the world. These farms also teamed up with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) in the development of bio-fuel.
2. Plea in SC against uniform civil law on divorce and alimony A petition has been filed in the Supreme Court against the “blatant attempt” to take away the fundamental right of Muslim women to practise their religion, in the guise of providing a “uniform law” across all faiths. Amina Sherwani has asked the Supreme Court to hear her before deciding whether a uniform civil law for divorce, maintenance and alimony will leave Muslim women like her better-off. Last December, the Supreme Court agreed to examine advocate A.K. Upadhyay’s plea for a single law covering divorce, maintenance and alimony for all religions. Mr. Upadhyay had argued that laws governing them in certain religions discriminate and marginalise women. Ms. Sherwani says she represents women who follow the Islamic faith, who married according to the Muslim rites and traditions, and is a recipient of the rights and entitlements provided to her. She said Islamic law allows Muslim women like her “such rights that may not be available under other marital laws”. Ms. Sherwani said Mr. Upadhyay’s petition was a “deliberate attempt to interfere with the cultural and customary practices and usages that enjoy the protection of Articles 25 and 26 of the Constitution”. The application filed by Ms. Sherwani said, “Muslim marriage is contractual in nature and as such the parties to it are allowed to impose conditions for regulating their matrimonial relations. Such conditions can be imposed before the marriage or at the time of the marriage or even after the marriage.” She said an avenue for resolution of matrimonial disputes through mediation is also provided for under Islamic matrimonial jurisprudence.
3. National Register for Driving Licenses The Ministry of Road Transport recently announced that the National Register for Driving Licenses is to be created. This is being done to remove duplication of driving licenses in the country. Most of the states are already on the SARATHI portal of National Informatics Centre. These states have been instructed to migrate to the newly created national register. Around 1.5 lakh deaths occur in India annually due to road crashes. Most of these accidents are due to driver’s fault. The register will include separate section to show the names of the
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people whose driving licenses were revoked. Also, the register will red-flag them. This will help to minimise rash driving in the country. Indian driving license norms permit use of electronic document for a learner’s license, medical certificate and renewal of driving license. The complete process of obtaining the learner’s license has been made online. The driving licenses shall be renewed one year before the date of expiry. The need to furnish vehicles for inspection at the RTO (Regional Transport Office) for registration has been cancelled. In April 2018, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways fixed the maximum speed on expressways as 120 km/hr. The speed limit for national highways is 100 km/hr. The speed limit for urban roads is 70 km/hr for M1 category vehicles. The M1 category vehicles are those that have less than eight seats.
4. National Maritime Day Every year the National Maritime Day is celebrated on April 5 in India. The first National Maritime Day was celebrated in 1964. The day is dedicated to seafarers. The National Maritime Day is celebrated every year to support global economy through sea transport. It also supports safe and sound environmentally responsive way of transporting goods from one part of the world to the other. The theme of National Maritime Day, 2021 is: ‘Sustainable Shipping beyond COVID-19’ on the lines of ‘Aatma Nirbhar Bharat’ initiative.
Indian shipping began on April 5, 1919. This is why India celebrates National Maritime Day on April 5 every year. The first ship of India The SS Loyalty sailed from Mumbai to United Kingdom. It was manufactured by the Scindia Steam Navigation Company Limited. This is highly historic as the sea routes were completely under the British control in those days. On National Maritime Day, the National Maritime Day Awards are presented. The awards recognise the efforts of people from the Indian Maritime Sector. Varuna award is presented for their long and exceptional contribution. The award consists of a statue of Lord Varuna. Also, the NMD Award of Excellence is presented on this day. The other countries that celebrate Maritime Day are China, Mexico, Pakistan, United States. World Maritime Day World Maritime Day is celebrated on September 30 every year by United Nations and also by other international organisations. Just like National Maritime Day, the World Maritime Day is also dedicated to the seafarers. Theme: Seafarers at the core of Shipping’s future
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5. ‘INS Viraat now private property of ship-breaker’ INS Viraat, the Navy’s decomissioned aircraft carrier, has become the “private property” of a ship-breaker who has already torn down 40% of its body, chiefly for scrap, the Supreme Court told a private company, that wants to turn the vessel into a maritime museum-cum- adventure centre. The carrier was bought by the Gujarat-based Shree Ram Group, a ship-breaking firm, in a bid. The 67-year-old iconic warship was towed to the breaking yard after over three decades’ service in the Navy. Envitech Marine Consultants Private Limited, represented by Vishnukant Sharma and Rupali Vishnukant Sharma, had first approached the Bombay High Court with a proposal to reclaim the aircraft carrier and convert it into a museum. The HC had asked the government to take a call. But the government had maintained a non- commital tone and asked Envitech to approach the Shree Ram Group with a proposal to re- purchase the ship. Senior advocate Rajeev Dhavan for Shree Ram Group, asked the court to lift the stay order. Ms. Sharma said warships the world around are used as museums. “We share your sentiments about warships. But it (Viraat) has become their property. They have spent money on it,” Chief Justice Bobde said.
6. Prince Philip passes away Prince Philip, the longest serving royal consort in British history who was a constant presence at Queen Elizabeth II’s side for decades, died aged 99, Buckingham Palace has announced. The death of the Duke of Edinburgh is a profound loss for the 94-year-old monarch, who once described him as her “strength and stay all these years”. Queen Elizabeth announced his passing “with deep sorrow” after he died peacefully in the morning at Windsor Castle, west of London, the palace said in a statement. The outspoken former Navy commander devoted much of his life as the Queen’s husband to charity work — but was notorious for numerous gaffes, some of them causing offence. Announcing his passing, BBC television played the national anthem over a picture of Prince Philip in his prime, dressed in military dress uniform. Flags were lowered to half-mast on royal and government buildings and a notice announcing his death pinned to the gates of Buckingham Palace. The couple, who celebrated their 73rd wedding anniversary in November, had been living largely in isolation at Windsor Castle, west of London, because their age put them at heightened risk from COVID-19. Prince Philip and the Queen — isolated in what they called “HMS Bubble” — received their first vaccinations against the virus in January.
7. Odisha Itihaas The Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently released the Hindi translation of “Odisha Itihaas”. The book is available in Odia and English so far. It was translated to Hindi by
Shankarlal Purohit.
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The book was written by Utkal Keshari Dr Harekrushna Mahatab. He wrote the book Odisha Itihaas in Ahmednagar Fort Jail. He was imprisoned here for two years between 1942 and 1945. Harekrushna Mahatab He was the first Chief Minister of Odisha. He served as the Chief Minister of Odisha between 1946 and 1950 and again between 1956 and 1961. He was popularly known as Utkal Keshari. Utkal Keshari was the leader of the Indian National Congress. He was born in Bhadrak district of Odisha. He joined the Independence struggle in 1921. He was the chairman of the Balasore District Board between 1924 and 1928. He joined the Salt Satyagraha Movement and was imprisoned in 1930. He participated in untouchability movement and opened his ancestral temple to all. He participated in Quit India Movement and was imprisoned again for two years. He founded the Prajatantra Prachar Samiti. He started the weekly magazine Prajantantra in 1923. It later became the Daily Prajatantra. Roles of Mahatab after independence He acted as the Governor of Bombay from 1955 to 1956. He played a significant role in the merger and integration of princely states. Dr Mahatab wanted to integrate twenty six Oriya speaking princely states with the Odisha province in 1946 and took several steps to achieve it. He shifted the capital of Odisha from Cuttack to Bhubaneshwar. It was Mahatab who sanctioned the construction of Hirakud Dam. He was imprisoned in 1976 for protesting against the emergency rule.
8. Northeast citizens faced racial discrimination amid pandemic A study commissioned by the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR) on racial discrimination and hate crimes against people from the northeastern States found that the “northeast India seamlessly fits [an] Indian’s imagination of a Chinese person”. The study found that 78% of the people from the region who were interviewed believed that physical appearance was the most important reason for prejudice. Amid the COVID-19 outbreak last year, people from the region “faced an increased number of acts of hate and prejudices against them”. A series of attacks were reported in various parts of the country, where people from the region were “harassed, abused, and traumatised” and were disparagingly called “coronavirus”, the study said. The Centre for Criminology and Victimology at the National Law University (NLU), Delhi, conducted the study under the aegis of the ICSSR, Delhi, on the prevalence of hate crimes against the people of the region in six metropolitan cities — Mumbai, Pune, Delhi, Chennai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad. Around 1,200 people, mostly women from Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura, were interviewed for the research. The study’s associate is Garima Paul of the NLU.
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The study revealed that the hate crime and racial discrimination against people from the northeast is deep-rooted even in the cosmopolitan cities. Even in restaurants they faced issues forcing them to eat mostly in eateries run by people from their communities. The study quoted a 2020 report from the Right and Risks Analysis Group (RRAG) that found a significant upsurge in acts of racial discrimination against people from the region. It mentioned 22 reported cases of racial discrimination or hate crimes between February and March 25, 2020. The risk of being victimised in racial hatred remains subtle yet deeply entrenched. The highest number of incidents was reported from Mumbai (44.7%). Interestingly, 78% of the northeast people believed that physical appearance was the most important reason for prejudice. It appears as if the northeast India seamlessly fits Indian’s imagination of a Chinese person. Offensive and abusive language were reported to be most common across all the six cities. Mumbai recorded the highest offensive and abusive language-related crime (74%), followed by Chennai (72%), Pune (67.3%), Delhi (64%), Hyderabad (48.7%) and Bengaluru (43.3%). More than 60% of those interviewed said their studies and work were seriously hampered by such experiences. The most pervasive reasons behind hate crime incidents against the northeastern people as per the data analysis were public attitude and insensitivity (44.5%). The incidence of non-reporting of the incidents was 32.3%. As many as 34% of persons faced a common issue of refusal to file FIR by the police. The fear of hate crime was experienced to be particularly high in Chennai (74%).
9. Little Guru The Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) tied up with the Gamapp Sportswizz Tech Private Limited to launch “LITTLE GURU” application. It is a specialized mobile application for learning Sanskrit. It teaches Sanskrit in an interactive platform. This makes learning easier. The app was launched during the celebrations of the 71st Foundation Day of ICCR. It is world’s first Gamified Sanskrit learning application. It will help people to learn Sanskrit in an easy manner based on competition, games, peer to peer interactions, etc.
The application is of great help to the Indian Diaspora wishing to stay connected with their roots. It will also help number of students and faculties associated with Sanskrit Universities located all over the world.
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The ICCR has provided scholarships to more than three hundred Chinese students. The aim of these scholarships is to promote cultural, intellectual, and academic exchanges between India and China. There are several Chinese kids learning Indian culture in the country. During the 71st foundation celebrations of ICCR, Chinese kids of age 6-7 years who are learning Indian dance forms in India performed Indian dances. Their dance performances were based on the theme “Azadi ka Amrit”. The idea of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav was launched by PM Modi in March 2021. It is a series of events organized by the Government of India to commemorate the 75th anniversary of independence. It was launched 75 weeks ahead of the 75th anniversary. It was launched on March 12, 2021 to commemorate 91 years of Dandi March.
10. UAE names first Female Astronaut Noura al-Matroushi was selected as the first female astronaut of UAE from four thousand other applicants. She is to be trained with NASA for future space exploration missions. Noura is to be accompanied by Mohammed al-Mulla. Both astronauts are to be trained with Johnson Space Centre of NASA located in Houston, Texas. UAE does not have any manned mission in near future. However, the country has plans to send unmanned space mission to the moon in 2024. Also, UAE has launched “Amal Satellite” to the Mars in 2020. In 2019, Hazza al-Mansoori was the first UAE astronaut to enter the space. He spent eight days at the International Space Station. Noura is the first Arab woman to enter space. However, the first Muslim woman to enter space was Anousheh Raissyan. She was also the first Iranian woman to enter space. She is an Iranian American telecommunications entrepreneur. In 2006, she paid 20 million USD to travel to the International Space Station as a self-funded tourist.
11. NIA declares bounty on Hidma The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has declared a reward of Rs.7 lakh for the arrest of Madvi Hidma, who heads the People’s Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA) Battalion 1 of the Maoists, a lethally armed and trained unit of the banned group active in southern Chhattisgarh, one of the worst areas affected by Left Wing Extremism. Though the reward has been announced in a 2019 case, pertaining to the killing of Chhattisgarh legislator Bhima Mandavi, the State police had said Hidma was involved in the April 3 ambush at the Sukma-Bijapur border where 22 security personnel were killed. A Rs.10 lakh reward has also been announced for information leading to the arrest of CPI (Maoist) general secretary Basavaraju, alias Nambala Keshava Rao, 66. He already has a reward of Rs.1.85 crore on his head, announced cumulatively by Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh and Odisha. The People's Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA) is the armed wing of the Communist Party of India (Maoist), a banned organisation in India[1] which aims to overthrow the Indian Government through protracted people's war. The People's Liberation Guerrilla Army was founded on 2 December 2000 and known as the People's Guerrilla Army (PGA) by the Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist) People's War, also known as the People's War Group. The PLGA was founded on the first death anniversary of their three Central Committee members, who were killed in an encounter in Koyyuru. In 2004, when the People's War Group merged with the Maoist Communist Centre of India (MCCI) to form the Communist Party of India (Maoist), their respective armed wings also merged. Therefore, the People's Guerrilla Army (the military wing of the People's War
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Group) and the People's Liberation Guerrilla Army (the military wing of MCCI) combined to form the People's Liberation Guerrilla Army.
12. Communist Party of Cuba Raul Castro said he is stepping down as head of Cuba’s Communist Party, ending an era of formal leadership that began with his brother Fidel and country’s 1959 revolution. The 89-year-old Castro made the announcement in a speech at the opening of the eighth congress of the ruling party, the only one allowed on the island. Mr. Castro’s retirement means that for the first time in more than six decades Cubans won’t have a Castro formally guiding their affairs and many had been expecting the change. The pandemic, painful financial reforms and restrictions imposed by the Trump administration have battered the economy, which shrank 11% last year as a result of a collapse in tourism and remittances. Long food lines and shortages have brought back echoes of the “special period” that followed the collapse of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s. Miguel Diaz-Canel becomes the first-ever civilian leader of the communist country As Raul Castro, 89, enters retirement, he handed the all-powerful position of first secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba to Mr. Diaz-Canel, 60, already Cuba’s president since 2018. “April 19, an historic day,” tweeted the new leader, lauding the PCC’s “founding and guiding” generation for handing over the reins. Fidel Castro, still revered as the country’s father and saviour, led the country from 1959 to 2006, when he fell ill and his brother Raul took over. Fidel Castro died in 2016. The PCC congress was held 60 years after Fidel Castro declared Cuba a socialist state, setting up decades of conflict with the United States, which has had sanctions against the country since 1962. It also marked six decades since the failed Bay of Pigs invasion by anti-revolutionary Cuban exiles, backed by the CIA.
13. ‘Oxygen Express’ trains The Railways will run ‘Oxygen Express’ trains over the next few days to transport liquid medical oxygen and oxygen cylinders across the country. Amid spiralling coronavirus cases in the country, the demand for medical oxygen in the country has gone through the roof. Empty tankers will begin their journey from the Kalamboli and Boisar railway stations in and near Mumbai to load liquid medical oxygen from Visakhapatnam, Jamshedpur, Rourkela and Bokaro. The Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra governments had earlier approached the Ministry of Railways to explore whether liquid medical oxygen tankers could be moved by the rail
network.
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On the receipt of the request from the two States, the Railways immediately explored the technical feasibility of transportation of liquid medical oxygen. It has to be transported through roll-on-roll-off service with road tankers placed on flat wagons. Green Corridor is being created for fast movement of the trains. A green corridor is a demarcated, cleared out special road route to facilitate easy transportation.
14. 162 oxygen plants sanctioned Amid heightened demand for medical-grade oxygen, the government had sanctioned 162 pressure swing adsorption (PSA) plants, of which 33 had been installed. Five of them were installed in Madhya Pradesh, four in Himachal Pradesh, three each in Chandigarh, Gujarat and Uttarakhand, two each in Bihar, Karnataka and Telangana and one each in Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Haryana, Kerala, Maharashtra, Puducherry, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh. Oxygen production was being diverted from industrial use to medical use. Additional ventilators were being provided to the States. Maharashtra would get 1,121 of them, Uttar Pradesh 1,700, Jharkhand 1,500, Gujarat 1,600, Madhya Pradesh 152 and Chhattisgarh 230. The Centre has asked hospitals affiliated to public sector units and Union Ministries to set up dedicated blocks, or even exclusive hospitals, to treat COVID-19 patients.
15. Electoral bonds donor The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) is the first party that has declared the name of the entity which made donations to it through electoral bonds. A declaration of a Rs.1 crore donation was made in the party’s 2019-20 contribution report. According to the contribution report of the ruling party in Jharkhand, the donation was made by aluminium and copper manufacturing company Hindalco The ADR, in a new report, said the most common source of income for national and regional political parties in 2019-20 were donations through electoral bonds. Given the anonymity provided to donors by the scheme, electoral bonds have emerged as the most popular channel of donations to parties in the last two years. Electoral bonds have been pitched as an alternative to cash donations made to political parties as part of efforts to bring transparency in political funding.
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16. Vande Bharat Mission The Vande Bharat Mission (VBM), which started repatriating Indians stranded abroad due to COVID-19 and the resultant lockdowns since May 7 last, has turned out to be one of the largest evacuations of civilians by a country. Into the middle of Phase 10, the VBM has surpassed the large-scale airlift of 1,10,000 people in 1990 at the onset of the Gulf War. Till now, the Air India (AI) Group has operated 11,523 inbound flights to carry 18,19,734 passengers and 11,528 outbound flights with 13,68,457 passengers. The national carrier, which carried out the bulk of air transfers under the mission, was supported by its budget carrier Air India Express. The first phase of the VBM, which lasted 11 days from May 7 to 17, was aimed at destinations with high concentration of Indians. As many as 64 inbound and outbound flights each were operated by the AI group to carry 12,708 and 3,562 passengers, respectively. The lengthiest was VBM VI and VII lasting 61 days each. The current VBM Phase 10 has international and domestic schedules operating till October 31. Of these, 373 are international flights from the country and another 376 are flights from abroad. Air India Express (AIE) used its B-737-800 fleet to lift agricultural produce, mainly fruits and vegetables, to West Asian countries, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur. The airline also chartered some of the 24 flights on its fleet as “cargo-only flights” to ship fruits and vegetables, the most sought-after items among the NRIs. Besides helping rural farmers and the NRIs, the aim was to keep the supply chain intact.
17. Ambulance status to carriers of medical oxygen Assam Govt has granted all oxygen vehicles – tankers carrying Nitrogen, Argon and Oxygen – the status of ambulance, to enable their hassle-free movement in state & transit through Assam for speedy delivery of oxygen to critical centres. Officials said the ambulance status would also be given to oxygen carriers to and from Assam’s neighbours in the northeast. The State Health Minister also said everyone in Assam aged 18-45 would get two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine free. The State government had also written to Covaxin maker Bharat Biotech for procurement of 1 crore vaccine doses.
Funds collected in Asom Arogya Nidhi account shall be used to procure the vaccines.
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18. Justice N.V. Ramana is CJI Justice N.V. Ramana was sworn in as the 48th Chief Justice of India (CJI) by President Ram Nath Kovind at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. The ceremony to administer the oath of office, held as per COVID-19 protocol, was attended by Vice-President M. Venkaiah Naidu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, among others. Justice Ramana will have a tenure of one year and four months as CJI and will demit office on August 26, 2022. After Justice K. Subba Rao, Justice Ramana is the second CJI from Andhra Pradesh. Born to agriculturist parents in 1957, Justice Ramana was known for his activism regarding issues involving farmers and industrial workers. Before turning to legal practice, he was a journalist with a prominent Telugu newspaper. He practised at the Andhra Pradesh High Court, Central and A.P. Administrative Tribunals and the Supreme Court before being appointed a permanent Judge of the Andhra Pradesh High Court on June 27, 2000. He functioned as acting Chief Justice of Andhra Pradesh High Court between March 10 and May 20, 2013, and was elevated as the Chief Justice of Delhi High Court on September 2, 2013. He was appointed a judge of the Supreme Court on February 17, 2014.
19. Nuapada district At Bikrampur village, surrounded by the Kudalkiara forest in western Odisha’s Nuapada district, Muralidhar Kand, 52, is relieved that 18 days have passed since he tested positive for COVID-19. The villagers were left puzzled when they tested positive for the coronavirus. They rarely go outside for shopping while vendors occasionally come to them. Their interaction with the outside world is limited. One has to cross a small forest patch to reach Bikrampur, home to about 50 families. While COVID-19 is creating havoc in urban India, in Nuapada, it is infecting people and claiming lives silently. At Belpada village under Lanji panchayat of Nuapada’s Khariar block, 20 out of 30 villagers tested positive when rapid antigen tests were conducted. In Brahmanipada, under Sinapali block, 29 cases were detected in early April. Several villagers under Komna block refused to get tested after 23 persons there tested positive.
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COVID-19 has claimed 42 lives at Nuapada COVID-19 Hospital since April 8. If the deaths of patients who were referred to outside hospitals are taken into account, the toll in the past 20 days will exceed 60. The district headquarters hospital, eight community health centres, around 20 primary health centres and 100 sub-centres of the district cater not just to the people of Nuapada, but also the bordering districts of Chhattisgarh. Nuapada has 2,584 active cases after Khordha (7,969) and Sundargarh (5,981). The rising numbers have greatly strained the health infrastructure in the district. There is one COVID- 19 hospital with 165 beds in Nuapada, and a 50-bedded COVID Care Centre in Khariar. Of the five beds with ventilator facility, only two are functional at any given time. If tests are ramped up, the number of positive cases in Nuapada is likely to shoot up.
20. IA 2030 The IA 2030 is Immunisation Agenda 2030. It was launched by World Health Organisation, GAVI and the UNICEF. It has been titled as the “A Global Strategy to leave No One Behind”. It aims to maximise lifesaving impact of vaccines. The Immunisation Agenda 2030 was launched during the World Immunisation Week. It aims to promote “Vaccination throughout life”, that is, from infancy to adolescent and till old age. According to WHO, if completely implemented, the IA 2030 will avert fifty million deaths. Of this 75% of them will be in low-income and in lower-middle-income countries. It aims to achieve 90% coverage of essential vaccines that are administered to infants, children and adolescents. Also, the IA 2030 agenda will aim to halve the number of children missing vaccines by 2030. Also, it will complete 500 national introductions of new vaccines such as COVID-19 vaccines, Human Papiloma Virus vaccine called the HPV and also rotavirus. In August 2020, the 73rd World Health Assembly passed the resolution of “IA 2030 Agenda”. The seven priorities of IA 2030 are as follows: 1. Commitment and Demand 2. Coverage and Equity 3. Outbreaks and Emergencies 4. Life Course and Integration 5. Supply and Sustainability 6. Research and Innovation 7. Availability and Sustainability
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