Current Affairs March 2019 www.classiciasacademy.com

2019 CURRENT AFFAIRS-MARCH 2019

1. FINLAND’S BASIC INCOME TRIAL 25. MARGINAL COST OF LENDING BOOSTS HAPPINESS, BUT NOT RATE (MCLR) JOBS 26. THE BENAMI 2. THARU TRANSACTIONS 3. REGIONAL COMPREHENSIVE (PROHIBITION) ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP AMENDMENT ACT, 2016 4. CORAL BLEACHING 5. PANEL MOOTS MINIMUM WAGE 27. WHAT GEO-6 MEANS FOR OF 375 PER DAY 6. MARINE HEAT WAVES 28. MORETON WAVE OR SOLAR 7. OCEAN ACIDIFICATION TSUNAMI 8. ABSHER APP 29. RIGHTS ISSUE 9. MUNICH SECURITY 30. DRY EYE SYNDROME (DES) CONFERENCE 31. IN A FIRST, WOMAN BAGS ABEL 10. STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP PRIZE FOR MATHS COUNCIL: INDIA AND SAUDI 32. INDO-PACIFIC REGIONAL ARABIA DIALOGUE – 2019 11. MITOPHAGY 33. PRAYAGRAJ KUMBH MELA 2019 12. SEA SQUIRT, SUCKING UP MAKES IT TO THE GUINNESS PLASTIC PARTICLES FROM WORLD RECORDS THE SEA 13. MOBILE DATA USAGE 34. CENTRE FOR DISABILITY SURGES 69% IN DEC. 2018 SPORTS’ TO BE SET UP AT 14. ACID TEST RATI GWALIOR 15. INDIA TO HAVE OWN DNS 35. AL NAGAH 2019 FOR SAFE BROWSING 36. HAZARDOUS AND OTHER 16. PHILIPPINES LEADS ASIA IN WASTES (MANAGEMENT& GENDER EQUALITY TRANSBOUNDARY MOVEMENT) 17. U.K. SHOULD HAND OVER AMENDMENT RULES, 2019 CHAGOS ISLANDS TO 37. INDO-BANGLADESH JOINT MAURITIUS: ICJ MILITARY EXERCISE SAMPRITI 18. AZAADI KE DIWANE’ MUSEUM – 2019 INAUGURATED AT RED FORT 38. MỸ SƠN TEMPLES 19. FIFTEEN OF THE 20 MOST 39. BUJANG VALLEY POLLUTED CITIES IN THE WORLD 40. GREENFIELD PROJECTS ARE IN INDIA 41. BAN SAGAR DAM 20. STEM CELLS 42. SHADOW BANKING SYSTEM 21. ACQUITTAL OF DEATH ROW 43. WRIS CONVICTS 44. NATIONAL WATER RESOURCES COUNCIL 22. ICDS 45. NATIONAL WATER BOARD 23. SUNDARBAN WETLANDS 46. NATIONAL WATER ACADEMY :WETLAND OF INTERNATIONAL 47. GAGAN IMPORTANCE 48. SETU BHARATAM 24. ‘INDIA RANKS 11TH IN GOLD 49. ATAL PENSION YOJANA - APY HOLDING’ SCHEME

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50. ILO CONVENTION 138 AND 182: 83. INDIA RATIFIED 84. INDIA’S INTANGIBLE CULTURAL 51. NATIONAL CHILD LABOUR HERITAGE LISTED BY UNESCO PROJECT SCHEME (1988) 52. THE CHILD LABOUR (PROHIBITION AND REGULATION) AMENDMENT ACT, 2016 53. V.V.GIRI NATIONAL LABOUR INSTITUTE, NOIDA 54. KANYASHREE 55. PRESS COUNCIL OF INDIA 56. NITI AYOG COMPOSITION 57. MUDUMALAI NATIONAL PARK 58. RUSHIKULYA RIVER 59. GRAPES-3 60. GOLAN HEIGHTS 61. ITALY JOINS OBOR 62. NSCN TALKS 63. DEFEAT OF ISIS 64. INDIA'S FIRST LOKPAL: PC GHOSE 65. INDIA'S FIRST LOKPAL: PC GHOSE 66. URBAN HEAT ISLAND (UHI) 67. PYGMY SEAHORSES 68. UNHRC ON SRI LANKA 69. ELECTION INK 70. RBI DEFERS IMPLEMENTING Ind AS 71. BUMPHEAD PARROTFISH 72. SUCCESSFUL ANTI-SATELLITE (ASAT) MISSILE TEST 73. WORLD’S LONGEST SALT CAVE 74. LIMA-2019 75. YOUNG SCIENTIST PROGRAMME 76. 'DISTRICT INDUSTRIES CENTRE' (DICs) 77. HIGH-LEVEL COMMITTEE ON DEEPENING OF DIGITAL PAYMENTS 78. LEVERAGE 79. LEVERAGE RATIO 80. LIQUIDITY COVERAGE RATIO 81. BASEL III 82. GODAVARI

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FINLAND’S BASIC INCOME TRIAL The Tharus are recognized as an official BOOSTS HAPPINESS, BUT NOT JOBS nationality by the Government of Nepal. Finland’s basic income scheme did not The Government of India recognizes the spur its unemployed recipients to work Tharu people as a scheduled tribe. more to supplement their earnings as REGIONAL COMPREHENSIVE hoped but it did help their wellbeing, ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP researchers said on Friday as the government announced the trial’s initial Regional Comprehensive Economic findings. Partnership (RCEP) is a proposed free The two-year trial, which ended a month trade agreement (FTA) between the ten ago, saw 2,000 Finns, chosen randomly member states of the Association of from among the unemployed, become the Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) first Europeans to be paid a regular (Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, monthly income by the State that was not Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, reduced if they found work. Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam) and the six Asia-Pacific states with which ASEAN has Finland, which will hold parliamentary existing free trade agreements (Australia, elections in April, is exploring alternatives China, India, Japan, South Korea and to its current social security model. New Zealand). The project is being watched closely by RCEP negotiations were formally other governments who see a basic launched in November 2012 at the income as a way of encouraging the ASEAN Summit in Cambodia. The free unemployed to take up often low-paid or trade agreement is scheduled and temporary work without fear of losing their expected to be signed in November 2018 benefits. That could help reduce during the ASEAN Summit and Related dependence on the State and cut welfare Summit in Singapore, after the first RCEP costs, especially as automation sees summit was held on 14 November 2017 in humans replaced in the workforce. Manila, Philippines.

Finland’s Minister of Health and Social CORAL BLEACHING Affairs Pirkko Mattila said the impact on employment of the monthly pay cheque of Coral bleaching occurs when coralpolyps €560($635) “seems to have been minor on expel algae that live inside their tissues. the grounds of the first trial year”. Normally, coral polyps live in an endosymbiotic relationship with this algae THARU crucial for the health of the coral and the reef. The algae provides up to 90% of the The Tharu people are an ethnic coral's energy. Bleached corals continue groupindigenous to the southern foothills to live but begin to starve after bleaching. of the Himalayas; most of the Tharu Some corals recover. people live in the NepalTerai. The word thāruis thought to be derived from Above-average sea water temperatures sthavir meaning follower of caused by global warming is the leading Theravadabuddhism. Some Tharu groups cause of coral bleaching. According to the also live in the IndianTerai, foremost in United Nations Environment Programme, Uttarakhand, and . between 2014 and 2016 the longest recorded global bleaching events killed coral on an unprecedented scale. In 2016,

4 CURRENT AFFAIRS-MARCH 2019 bleaching of coral on the Great Barrier While the Minimum Wages Act was Reef killed between 29 and 50 percent of enacted in 1948, it stipulates different the reef's coral. In 2017, the bleaching wages according to occupation and State; extended into the central region of the there is no national minimum wage. In reef. The average interval between 2016, then Finance Minister Arun Jaitley bleaching events has halved between hiked minimum wages for unskilled non- 1980 and 2016. agricultural workers by 42% to 350 per Coral bleaching may be caused by a day. number of factors. While localized triggers The Code on Wages Bill, 2017, had lead to localized bleaching, the large scale proposed a national minimum wage and coral bleaching events of the recent years five regional minimum wages. However, it have been triggered by global warming. was referred to a parliamentary standing Under increased carbon dioxide committee which, in its December 2018 concentration expected in the 21st report, said State governments must be century, corals are expected to becoming consulted before any national minimum increasingly rare on reef systems. Coral wage is set by the Centre. reefs located in warm, shallow water with low water flow have been more affected MARINE HEAT WAVES than reefs located in areas with higher water flow. Marine heat waves, defined as at least five days with temperatures far above PANEL MOOTS MINIMUM WAGE OF 375 average, are caused by heat from blazing PER DAY sunshine and by shifting warm currents. Among impacts, a 2011 marine heat wave An expert panel has recommended that a off western Australia killed abalone stocks need-based national minimum wage for and a 2012 heat wave off the eastern workers across the country be set at 375 United States drove lobster stocks north per day, or 9,750 per month. towards Canada. In a report submitted to the Ministry of Labour and Employment on Thursday, an Around the world’s oceans, the number of Expert Committee on Determining the days of marine heat waves per year rose Methodology for Fixation of the National 54 percent in the period 1987-2016 from Minimum Wage has also recommended 1925-54, according to the scientists in different national minimum wages for Britain, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, “different geographical regions of the Japan, Spain and the United States. country to suit the local realities and as per socio-economic and labour market The scientists said marine heat waves contexts.” were “emerging as forceful agents of These regional wage recommendations disturbance” that could “restructure entire range from 342 per day in some States marine ecosystems”, disrupting livelihoods including Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and West and food supplies for millions of people. Bengal to 447/day for States such as Delhi, Goa, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Punjab.

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OCEAN ACIDIFICATION ABSHER APP Ocean acidification is the ongoing Absher, the “one-click” e-services app decrease in the pH of the Earth's oceans, launched by the Interior Ministry of Saudi caused by the uptake of carbon dioxide Arab in 2015, is now regarded as the

(CO2) from the atmosphere. Seawater is leading government platform for Saudi slightly basic (meaning pH > 7), and citizens, freeing them from bureaucratic ocean acidification involves a shift towards inefficiency and endless queuing for pH-neutral conditions rather than a everyday services. transition to acidic conditions (pH < 7). An However, in a recent New York Times estimated 30–40% of the carbon dioxide article, the app was criticized as a “tool of from human activity released into the repression” following claims by atmosphere dissolves into oceans, rivers Democratic Senator Ron Wyden and and lakes. To achieve chemical women’s rights groups. equilibrium, some of it reacts with the Apple and Google were urged to remove water to form carbonic acid. the application from their devices over claims that it “enables abhorrent Increasing acidity is thought to have a surveillance and control of women.” It is range of potentially harmful consequences infamous as women tracking app. for marine organisms, such as depressing metabolic rates and immune responses in MUNICH SECURITY CONFERENCE some organisms, and causing coral India raised the issue of the Pulwama bleaching. By increasing the presence of terror attack during bilateral meetings with free hydrogen ions, the additional carbonic several countries, including the U.S., acid that forms in the oceans ultimately Germany and Russia, at the three-day results in the conversion of carbonate ions Munich Security Conference. into bicarbonate ions. Ocean alkalinity The 55th Munich Security Conference, (roughly equal to [HCO −] + 2[CO 2−]) is 3 3 which brings together global leaders and not changed by the process, or may security experts from across the world, increase over long time periods due to was attended by India’s Deputy National carbonate dissolution. This net decrease Security Advisor Pankaj Saran. in the amount of carbonate ions available may make it more difficult for marine The meetings, according to the officials, calcifying organisms, such as coral and were held with the representatives of the some plankton, to form biogeniccalcium U.S., Germany, Russia, NATO (North carbonate, and such structures become Atlantic Treaty Organisation), Afghanistan, vulnerable to dissolution. Ongoing Uzbekistan, Bangladesh, Mongolia, acidification of the oceans may threaten Armenia and Oman. future food chains linked with the oceans. The Munich Security Conference is an As members of the InterAcademy Panel, annual conference on international 105 science academies have issued a security policy that has taken place in statement on ocean acidification Munich, Bavaria since 1963. recommending that by 2050, global CO2 emissions be reduced by at least 50% Over the past four decades the Munich compared to the 1990 level. Security Conference has become the most important independent forum for the exchange of views by international security policy decision-makers. Each year

6 CURRENT AFFAIRS-MARCH 2019 it brings together about 350 senior figures during certain cellular developmental from more than 70 countries around the stages, such as during cellular world to engage in an intensive debate on differentiation of red blood cells. current and future security challenges. The 55th Security Conference was held AUSSIE MAMMAL THE FIRST ‘CLIMATE from 15 to 17 February 2019. CHANGE EXTINCTION STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP COUNCIL: INDIA AND SAUDI ARABIA

India and Saudi Arabia will launch a mechanism for coordinated decisions regarding strategically important issues, sources said on Monday. The announcement came a day before the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman arrives here as part of his tour of Asia, where he chose Pakistan as his first destination.

“India and Saudi Arabia have a strong Australiaofficially declared a Great Barrier independent strategic partnership and it Reef rodent extinct on Tuesday, making it will be further strengthened with the the first mammal believed to have been launching of the Strategic Partnership killed off by human-induced climate Council that will cover critical areas of change. mutual interest,” said a source. The Ministry of External Affairs, NITI Aayog The rat-like Bramble Cay melomys — and other government agencies are whose only known habitat was a small expected to be the constituent units of this sandy island in far northern Australia — council. has not been spotted in a decade. MITOPHAGY Researchers from Queensland determined a key factor in its disappearance was Mitophagy is the selective degradation of “almost certainly” repeated ocean mitochondria by autophagy. It often occurs inundation of the cay — a low-lying island to defective mitochondria following on a coral reef — over the last decade, damage or stress. Mitophagy is key in which had resulted in dramatic habitat keeping the cell healthy. It promotes loss. turnover of mitochondria and prevents accumulation of dysfunctional SEA SQUIRT, SUCKING UP PLASTIC mitochondria which can lead to cellular PARTICLES FROM THE SEA degeneration. It is mediated by Atg32 (in yeast) and NIX and its regulator BNIP3 in mammals. Mitophagy is regulated by PINK1 and parkin proteins. In addition to the selective removal of damaged mitochondria, mitophagy is also required to adjust mitochondrial numbers to changing cellular metabolic needs, for steady-state mitochondrial turnover, and

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A rubbery sea creature with an irritating “The surge in broadband consumption is habit of clinging to ships and invading likely to continue in the next few years beaches could help measure plastic since the current broadband penetration pollution as it can filter tiny particles from is just 45% in the country,” Sanjay Malik, the ocean and store them in its soft head of India market, Nokia said. tissue. ACID TEST RATIO Israeli researchers have found that This refers to a financial metric that is ascidians — round, palm-sized animals used to measure the ability of a firm to also known as sea squirts — can thrive in meet its various short-term obligations. It dirty industrial areas and pristine waters is calculated by dividing the sum of a alike, allowing them to detect and analyse firm’s most liquid assets like cash and waste and its impact in various regions. short-term receivables by its short-term liabilities. Other short-term assets like A staggering amount of plastic flows into inventory, which are not readily the ocean each year. The United Nations convertible into cash, are usually not says it is as if a garbage truck full of included in the calculation of this ratio. plastic was dumped into the water every The acid-test ratio is used by analysts as minute, a rate some estimates show could an important measure of a firm’s liquidity lead to oceans carrying more plastic than position. There is considerable leeway fish in 30 years. involved in the calculation of the ratio MOBILE DATA USAGE SURGES 69% IN since analysts may differ in their opinion DEC. 2018 about the actual liquidity of a firm’s Mobile users in India, on an average, various assets. consumed 10 GB of mobile data per user INDIA TO HAVE OWN DNS FOR SAFE per month in December 2018, a year-on- BROWSING year growth of 69%, driven by popularity The government will soon roll out a public of video streaming applications, according Domain Name Server, or DNS, for India to a report by Nokia. aimed at providing a faster and more Titled ‘Mobile Broadband India Traffic,’ secure browsing experience for Internet the report added that the increase in the users in the country, while ensuring that consumption of data across the country citizens’ data is stored locally. led to overall growth of data traffic by A DNS is a like a directory for the Internet. 109% with 4G technology constituting It helps to convert domain names that are 92% of this growth. easy for people to remember into IP “This growth is led by the growing addresses, which are used by popularity of video streaming and video computers/machines to communicate. If content in local languages on the various the DNS is either slow or fails to work, over-the-top (OTT) applications. The users will not be able to locate web emergence of new media apps, like addresses. TikTok, has further led to an increase in “The main aim of bringing our own public video consumption,” the report said. DNS is to ensure availability, particularly Video streaming continues to remain a for smaller Interest Service Providers major contributor to mobile data traffic (ISPs) who don’t have credible DNS. constituting 70-80% of the total traffic. Bigger ones usually have their own DNS,” an IT Ministry official said.

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PHILIPPINES LEADS ASIA IN GENDER continued administration of the Chagos EQUALITY Islands. The Philippinesis already doing better than ‘AZAADI KE DIWANE’ MUSEUM many other developing nations in Asia in INAUGURATED AT RED FORT gender equality. According to the World Union Minister Mahesh Sharma on Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Monday inaugurated ‘AzaadiKeDiwane’ Report for 2018, the Philippines was museum, dedicated to the unsung heroes ranked eighth among the 10 best of the country’s freedom struggle, on the performers. Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Red Fort premises here and said it would Finland, Nicaragua, Rwanda, New inspire the younger generation. Zealand, Ireland, and Namibia are the other countries on the list. In the study, Built by the Archaeological Survey of India 149 countries were tested for economic (ASI), the museum is the fifth in a series of participation and opportunity, educational recently inaugurated ones — the others attainment, health and survival, and being the Subhash Chandra Bose and INA political empowerment. The report also museum, the Yaad-e-Jallian museum, the took into consideration skills gender gaps Museum on 1857 (on the country’s first related to artificial intelligence (AI). war of Independence) the Drishyakala (a museum on Indian Art) — on the sacrifices Today, the Philippines is the only country of India’s freedom fighters. in Asia (and second to New Zealand in the Asia-Pacific region) to achieve this “This new museum ‘AzaadikeDiwane’ is ranking. Almost 97% of the female started in the series of Kranti Mandir to population of the country is literate and the inspire the younger generation and let most common field of study is Business them know the cost of freedom that the Administration and related courses. great fighters achieve by sacrificing their lives. I congratulate the team of the ASI for U.K. SHOULD HAND OVER CHAGOS coming up with this digitised and ISLANDS TO MAURITIUS: ICJ interactive museum,” said the culture Britain has an obligation to end its Minister. administration of the Chagos Archipelago — home to the U.S. military base of Diego FIFTEEN OF THE 20 MOST POLLUTED Garcia — and complete the process of CITIES IN THE WORLD ARE IN INDIA decolonisation of Mauritius, the Fifteen of the top 20 most polluted cities International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The in the world are located in India, Hague has said in an advisory opinion that according to an analysis of air quality in is a significant legal victory for Mauritius several cities around the world. and other nations, including India, that Gurugram, in Haryana, topped the list supported its case. with an average annual particulate matter Delivering the opinion, ICJ president (PM 2.5) quality of 135 g/m3 Abdulqawi Ahmed Yusuf said the judges (micrograms/cubic metre), in 2018. Delhi had rejected the contention that the issue — a frequent fixture on global pollution did not fall within its jurisdiction because it hotspots — was only the 11th most was a bilateral matter for the two noxious city behind Lahore, Pakistan countries, and concluded that the (10th) and Hotan, China (8th). The other decolonisation of Mauritius was not cities in India that made the list of 20 were lawfully completed, as a result of Britain’s Ghaziabad, Faridabad, Bhiwadi, Noida, Patna, Lucknow, Jodhpur, Muzaffarpur,

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Varanasi, Moradabad, Agra, Gaya and Southeast Asia and 89% of cities in East Jind. Asia breached this level. STEM CELLS

Stem cells are cells that can differentiate into other types of cells, and can also divide in self-renewal to produce more of the same type of stem cells. In mammals, there are two broad types of stem cells: embryonic stem cells, which are isolated from the inner cell mass of blastocysts in early embryonic development, and adult stem cells, which are found in various tissues of fully developed mammals. In adult organisms, stem cells and progenitor cells act as a repair system for the body, replenishing adult tissues. In a developing embryo, stem cells can differentiate into all the specialized cells—ectoderm, endoderm and mesoderm (see induced pluripotent stem cells)—but also maintain the normal turnover of regenerative organs, such as blood, skin, or intestinal tissues. Adult stem cells are frequently used in various medical therapies (e.g., bone marrow transplantation). Stem cells can now be artificially grown and transformed (differentiated) into specialized cell types with characteristics consistent with cells of various tissues such as muscles or When ranked by country, Bangladesh nerves. Embryonic cell lines and emerged as the most polluted followed by autologous embryonic stem cells Pakistan and India respectively. generated through somatic cell nuclear Of the cities analysed, 64% exceeded the transfer or dedifferentiation have also WHO’s annual exposure guideline been proposed as promising candidates (10g/m3) for fine particulate matter, also for future therapies. known as PM2.5. India’s annual The classical definition of a stem cell guidelines range from 40-60 g/m3, requires that it possesses two properties: depending on whether they are residential or industrial areas.  Self-renewal: the ability to go through Every single one of measured cities with numerous cycles of cell division while data in the Middle East and Africa maintaining the undifferentiated state. exceeded the WHO guideline, while 99%  Potency: the capacity to differentiate of cities in South Asia, 95% of cities in into specialized cell types. In the strictest sense, this requires stem cells to be either totipotent or pluripotent—to

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be able to give rise to any mature cell  Oligopotent stem cells can differentiate type, although multipotent or into only a few cell types, such as unipotentprogenitor cells are lymphoid or myeloid stem cells. sometimes referred to as stem cells.  Unipotent cells can produce only one Apart from this it is said that stem cell cell type, their own, but have the function is regulated in a feed back property of self-renewal, which mechanism. distinguishes them from non-stem cells (e.g. progenitor cells, which cannot self-renew). ACQUITTAL OF DEATH ROW CONVICTS Hearing on their review petitions became an occasion for another Bench of the Supreme Court to revisit the 2009 verdict. A three-judge Bench has now found that unreliable testimony had been used to convict the six men. One of the two eyewitnesses had identified four others from police files as members of the gang that had raided their hut in 2003, but these four were not apprehended. The gang had stolen 3,000 and some ornaments, killed five members of the family, including a 15-year-old girl, who was also raped. It is possible that the heinous nature of the crime had influenced the outcome of the case. The belief that condign punishment is necessary for rendering complete justice could be behind courts brushing aside  Totipotent (a.k.a. omnipotent) stem discrepancies or improvements in the cells can differentiate into embryonic evidence provided by witnesses. On a and extraembryonic cell types. Such fresh hearing of the appeals, the court cells can construct a complete, viable has concluded that the accused, who organism. These cells are produced were roped in as accused in this case from the fusion of an egg and sperm after being found to be involved in an cell. Cells produced by the first few unrelated crime elsewhere, were divisions of the fertilized egg are also innocent. totipotent.  Pluripotent stem cells are the The case, in itself, holds a strong descendants of totipotent cells and can argument against the retention of the differentiate into nearly all cells, i.e. death penalty on the statute book. cells derived from any of the three ICDS germ layers. Perhaps the largest mother and child  Multipotent stem cells can differentiate nutrition and care programme of its kind in into a number of cell types, but only the world, the Integrated Child those of a closely related family of Development Services (ICDS) is meant to cells. cover six services: supplementary

11 CURRENT AFFAIRS-MARCH 2019 nutrition, non-formal early education, the delta of the Ganga and the health and nutrition education, Brahmaputra at the mouth of the Bay of immunisation, health check-up, and Bengal in India and Bangladesh. Located referral services. on the southwestern part of the delta, the Indian Sundarban constitutes over 60% of ICDS was launched on October 2, 1975, the country’s total mangrove forest area. with about 5,000 anganwadis. Close to It is the 27th Ramsar Site in India, and half a century later, with about 1.4 million with an area of 4,23,000 hectares is now anganwadis in 7,000 blocks and around the largest protected wetland in the 2.8 million frontline personnel, India is still country. grappling with child malnutrition. The Convention on Wetlands of One-third of the world’s stunted children International Importance, better known as live in India. This is the highest number in the Ramsar Convention, is an the world. Stunting in children is international agreement promoting the associated with underdeveloped brains conservation and wise use of wetlands. It and long-term harmful consequences for is the only global treaty to focus on a learning capacity, school performance, single ecosystem. The convention was and later earning ability. Persistent adopted in the Iranian city of Ramsar in undernutrition is a matter of deep 1971 and came into force in 1975. concern, especially in the context of Traditionally viewed as a wasteland or successive and severe droughts in many breeding ground of disease, wetlands parts of the country. A stunting level of actually provide freshwater and food, and 38% (NFHS4, 2015-16) means 38% of serve as nature’s shock absorber. our young are growing up with impaired Wetlands, critical for biodiversity, are development. disappearing rapidly, with recent Two important recent publications speak estimates showing that 64% or more of to this troubling problem. The first, an the world’s wetlands have vanished since IFPRI (International Food Policy 1900. Major changes in land use for Research Institute) study of equity and agriculture and grazing, water diversion extent of coverage of ICDS from 2006 to for dams and canals and infrastructure 2016, found that the proportion of development are considered to be some respondents using ICDS had increased of the main causes of loss and substantially in the period under study. degradation of wetlands. However, the poorest sections of the The Indian Sundarban met four of the population were still left out, especially in nine criteria required for the status of States with the highest levels of ‘Wetland of International Importance’ — malnutrition. presence of rare species and threatened SUNDARBAN WETLANDS ecological communities, biological :WETLAND OF INTERNATIONAL diversity, significant and representative IMPORTANCE fish and fish spawning ground and migration path. The Indian Sundarban, On January 30, the Indian Sundarban also a UNESCO world heritage site, is was accorded the status of ‘Wetland of home to the Royal Bengal Tiger. The International Importance’ under the Ramsar website points out that the Indian Ramsar Convention. The Sundarbans Sundarban is also home to a large comprises hundreds of islands and a number of “rare and globally threatened network of rivers, tributaries and creeks in species, such as the critically endangered

12 CURRENT AFFAIRS-MARCH 2019 northern river terrapin (Batagurbaska), the endangered Irrawaddy dolphin MARGINAL COST OF LENDING RATE (Orcaellabrevirostris), and the vulnerable (MCLR) fishing cat (Prionailurusviverrinus).” Two of the world’s four horseshoe crab The marginal cost of funds based lending species, and eight of India’s 12 species of rate (MCLR) refers to the minimum kingfisher are also found here. Recent interest rate of a bank below which it studies claim that the Indian Sundarban is cannot lend, except in some cases home to 2,626 faunal species and 90% of allowed by the RBI. It is an internal the country’s mangrove varieties. benchmark or reference rate for the bank. MCLR actually describes the method by which the minimum interest rate for loans ‘INDIA RANKS 11TH IN GOLD HOLDING’ is determined by a bank - on the basis of marginal cost or the additional or incremental cost of arranging one more rupee to the prospective borrower. The MCLR methodology for fixing interest rates for advances was introduced by the Reserve Bank of India with effect from April 1, 2016. This new methodology replaces the base rate system introduced in July 2010. In other words, all rupee loans sanctioned and credit limits renewed w.e.f. April 1, 2016 would be priced with reference to the Marginal Cost of Funds based Lending Rate (MCLR) which will be the internal benchmark (means a reference rate determined internally by the bank) for such purposes. THE BENAMI TRANSACTIONS (PROHIBITION) AMENDMENT ACT, 2016 Though the Benami Transactions (Prohibition) Act, 1988 has been on the statute book, the same could not be made India, which is the world’s largest operational because of certain inherent consumer of gold, has the 11th largest defects. With a view to providing effective gold reserve, with the current holding regime for prohibition of benami pegged at 607 tonnes, as per the latest transactions, the said Act was amended report by the World Gold Council (WGC). through the Benami Transactions (Prohibition) Amendment Act, 2016. India’s overall position in terms of total The amended law empowers the specified gold holding would have been tenth had authorities to provisionally attach benami the list included only countries. Whereas, properties which can eventually be International Monetary Fund (IMF) is confiscated. Besides, if a person is found included and is third on the list with total guilty of offence of benami transaction by gold reserves of 2,814 tonnes.

13 CURRENT AFFAIRS-MARCH 2019 the competent court, he shall be another stark warning: the world is punishable with rigorous imprisonment for unsustainably extracting resources and a term not less than one year but which producing unmanageable quantities of may extend to 7 years and shall also be waste. The linear model of economic liable to fine which may extend to 25% of growth depends on the extraction of ever- the fair market value of the property. higher quantities of materials, leading to The Benami Transactions (Prohibition) chemicals flowing into air, water and land. Amendment Act, 2016 came into effect This causes ill-health and premature from 1 November, 2016. After coming into mortality, and affects the quality of life, effect of the Amendment Act, the existing particularly for those unable to insulate Benami Transactions (Prohibition) Act, themselves from these effects. The UN 1988 was renamed as Prohibition of report, GEO-6, on the theme “Healthy Benami Property Transactions Act, 1988 Planet, Healthy People,” has some sharp (PBPT Act). pointers for India. It notes that East and South Asia have the highest number of The PBPT Act defines benami deaths due to air pollution; by one transactions, prohibits them and further estimate, it killed about 1.24 million in provides that violation of the PBPT Act is India in 2017. As India’s population punishable with imprisonment and fine. grows, it must worry that agricultural The PBPT Act prohibits recovery of the yields are coming under stress due to property held benami from benamidar by increase in average temperature and the real owner. Properties held benami are erratic monsoons. The implications of liable for confiscation by the Government these forecasts for food security and without payment of compensation. health are all too evident, more so for the An appellate mechanism has been 148 million people living in severe provided under the PBPT Act in the form weather ‘hotspots’. Evidently, the task of Adjudicating Authority and Appellate before India is to recognise the human Tribunal. The Adjudicating Authority cost of poorly enforced environment laws referred to in section 6(1) of the and demonstrate the political will Prevention of Money Laundering Act, necessary to end business-as-usual 2002 (PMLA) and the Appellate Tribunal policies. That would mean curbing the use referred to in section 25 of the PMLA have of fossil fuels and toxic chemicals across been notified as the Adjudicating Authority the spectrum of economic activity. and Appellate Tribunal, respectively, for MORETON WAVE OR SOLAR TSUNAMI the purposes of the PBPT Act. A Joint / A Moreton wave or Moreton-Ramsey Additional Commissioner of Income-tax, wave is the chromospheric signature of a an Assistant / Deputy Commissioner of large-scale solar coronalshock wave. Income-tax and a Tax Recovery Officer in Described as a kind of solar "tsunami", each Region have been notified to perform they are generated by solar flares. They the functions and exercise the powers of are named for American astronomer Gail the Approving Authority, Initiating Officer Moreton, an observer at the Lockheed and Administrator, respectively under the Solar Observatory in Burbank, and Harry PBPT Act. E. Ramsey, an observer who spotted them WHAT GEO-6 MEANS FOR INDIA in 1959 at The Sacramento Peak The sixth edition of the Global Observatory. He discovered them in time- Environment Outlook from the UN lapse photography of the chromosphere in Environment Programme has come as the light of the Balmer alpha transition.

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There were few follow-up studies for occasional to severe and continuous.[3] decades. Then the 1995 launch of the Scarring of the cornea may occur in some Solar and Heliospheric Observatory led to cases without treatment. observation of coronal waves, which Dry eye occurs when either the eye does cause Moreton waves. Moreton waves not produce enough tears or when the were a research topic again. (SOHO's EIT tears evaporate too quickly. This can instrument discovered another, different result from contact lens use, meibomian wave type called "EIT waves".) The reality gland dysfunction, allergies, pregnancy, of Moreton waves (a.k.a. fast-mode MHD Sjögren's syndrome, vitamin A deficiency, waves) has also been confirmed by the LASIK surgery, and certain medications two STEREO spacecraft. They observed a such as antihistamines, some blood 100,000-km-high wave of hot plasma and pressure medication, hormone magnetism, moving at 250 km/s, in replacement therapy, and conjunction with a big coronal mass antidepressants. Chronic conjunctivitis ejection in February 2009. such as from tobacco smoke exposure or RIGHTS ISSUE infection may also lead to the condition. Cash-strapped companies can turn to Diagnosis is mostly based on the rights issues to raise money when they symptoms, though a number of other tests really need it. In these rights offerings, may be used. companies grant shareholders the right IN A FIRST, WOMAN BAGS ABEL PRIZE but not the obligation to buy new shares at FOR MATHS a discount to the current trading price. In The Abel Prize in mathematics was this article, we'll explore how rights issues awarded to Karen Uhlenbeck of the U.S. work and what they mean for the company for her work on partial differential and its shareholders. equations, the first woman to win the award, the Norwegian Academy of A rights issue is an invitation to existing Science and Letters said. shareholders to purchase additional new “Karen Uhlenbeck receives the Abel Prize shares in the company. More specifically, 2019 for her fundamental work in this type of issue gives existing geometric analysis and gauge theory, shareholders securities called "rights," which has dramatically changed the which, well, give the shareholders the right mathematical landscape,” said Abel to purchase new shares at a discount to Committee chairman Hans Munthe-Kaas. the market price on a stated future date. The company is giving shareholders a chance to increase their exposure to the stock at a discount price.

DRY EYE SYNDROME (DES) Dry eye syndrome (DES), also known as keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS), is the condition of having dryeyes. Other associated symptoms include irritation, redness, discharge, and easily fatigued eyes. Blurred vision may also occur. The symptoms can range from mild and

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INDO-PACIFIC REGIONAL DIALOGUE – Pacific, as a maritime geographical-entity, 2019 while deliberating aspects of great relevance to regional geopolitics. The In continuation of the process of engaging 2018 edition of the IPRD sought to the global strategic community in an highlight the opportunities that lay before annual review of India’s opportunities and India’s maritime policy-shapers, policy- challenges in the Indo-Pacific region, the makers, and, the practitioners of the second edition of Indo-Pacific Regional country’s maritime policies. Dialogue (IPRD) - 2019 was held on 05 This first edition dwelt upon four basic and 06 March 2019 at the Manekshaw themes: (i) The growth, opportunities and Centre, New Delhi. This dialogue was vulnerabilities of maritime merchandise build upon the foundation laid by the trade, including associated infrastructure inaugural edition and will examine five such as ports and multi-modal fresh themes:(i) Practical solutions for connectivity, as seen from the very achieving cohesion in the region through different perspectives of large and small maritime connectivity; (ii) measures to littoral and island nations; (ii) Regional attain and maintain a free-and-open Indo- connectivity-models; (iii) Pan-regional Pacific; (iii) a regional approach to the challenges such as sustaining persistent region’s transition from a ‘Brown’ to a surveillance at sea, the increasing ‘Blue’ economy; (iv) opportunities and digitisation of the maritime space, the challenges arising from the maritime dangers of cyber-malevolence that are impact of ‘Industry 4.0’; and (v) how the already afflicting the maritime domain, twin conceptualisations of ‘SAGAR’ and etc.; (iv) the role of Indian industry within ‘SAGARMALA’ might best be made both, the private and the public sectors, in mutually-reinforcing on a regional level. enhancing holistic maritime-security. The These themes would be addressed in five 2018 Dialogue was a resounding success, sessions spread over two days, with three with 15 analytical papers presented by of the sessions being steered as panel- renowned strategists and analysts from discussions, which would encourage a across the globe, in five sessions, spread freer flow of ideas and views and ensure over two days. greater audience-interaction. thirteen countries of the Indo-Pacific — PRAYAGRAJ KUMBH MELA 2019 Australia, Bangladesh, Canada, China, MAKES IT TO THE GUINNESS WORLD Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Seychelles, RECORDS Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, the PrayagrajKumbh Mela 2019 has been United Kingdom, and the United States of placed in the Guinness World Records in America are part of IPRD. three sectors. It includes largest traffic and The idea of an Indo-Pacific Regional crowd management plan, the biggest Dialogue (IPRD) was first conceptualised painting exercise of public sites under and conducted in 2018, as the apex level paint my city scheme and biggest conference of the Indian Navy, organised sanitation and waste disposal mechanism. by the National Maritime Foundation as A three member team from Guinness the Navy’s Knowledge Partner. The World Records visited the Prayagraj for permanent theme of this annual dialogue this purpose. Exercise at large scale were is a review of India’s opportunities and done before the team members for three challenges in the Indo-Pacific region. The days from February 28 to March 3. Around aim is to focus attention on the Indo- 503 shuttle buses were pressed into

16 CURRENT AFFAIRS-MARCH 2019 service in one go for the team on February 25 March 2019 at Jabel Al Akhdar 28 on the highway. Several people Mountains in Oman. The exercise will see participated in painting exercise on March both the armies exchanging expertise and 1 and 10 thousand workers engaged in experience in tactics, weapon handling cleaning at PrayagrajKumbh performing and firing, with an aim to enhance their duties all together. interoperability in counterterrorist operations in semi urban mountainous CENTRE FOR DISABILITY SPORTS’ TO terrain. BE SET UP AT GWALIOR India-Oman bilateral security ties have A‘Centre for Disability Sports’will be set up continued to develop since the beginning at Gwalior in . The of India-Oman Joint Military Cooperation proposal regarding setting up of it has meetings in 2006. Exercise Al Nagah III been approved by the Government. It will follows the first two joint exercises that be registered under the Societies were held in Oman in January 2015 and Registration Act, 1860, which is to function India in March 2017 respectively. Similar under the name of Centre for Disability exercises are also in vogue between the Sports, Gwalior.Improved sports navies and air forces of both the nations infrastructure created by this Centre will thus underscoring the growing bilateral ensure effective participation of Persons military and strategic partnership between with Disabilities (PwDs) in sports activities the two important nations of Indian Ocean and also enable them to compete at Region (IOR). national and international levels. Setting HAZARDOUS AND OTHER WASTES up of the Centre will develop a sense of (MANAGEMENT& TRANSBOUNDARY belonging in Divyangjan to facilitate their MOVEMENT) AMENDMENT RULES, integration in society. 2019 The sports identified for training in the Some of the salient features of the Centre are as under: Hazardous and Other Wastes (Management& Transboundary i. Integrated sports (Indoor) like Movement) Amendment Rules, 2019 are Badminton, Basketball, Table as follows: Tennis, Volleyball, Judo, Taekwondo, Fencing and Rugby; 1. Solid plastic waste has been ii. Adapted sports (Indoor) like prohibited from import into the Boccia, Goalball, Football 5 a side, country including in Special Para Dance Sport and Para Power Economic Zones (SEZ) and by Lifting; Export Oriented Units (EOU). iii. Integrated sports (Outdoor) like 2. Exporters of silk waste have now Athletics, Archery, Football 7 a been given exemption from side and Tennis; and requiring permission from the iv. Integrated sports (Indoor & Ministry of Environment, Forest Outdoor) – Swimming. and Climate Change. 3. Electrical and electronic AL NAGAH 2019 assemblies and components Exercise Al Nagah III, third in the series of manufactured in and exported from bilateral joint exercise between India and India, if found defective can now Oman is scheduled to be held from 12 to be imported back into the country,

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within a year of export, without operational orders to the joint field training obtaining permission from the components who executed these orders Ministry of Environment, Forest on ground in simulated realistic situations. and Climate Change.

4. Industries which do not require MỸ SƠN TEMPLES consent under Water (Prevention MỹSơn is a cluster of abandoned and and Control of Pollution) Act 1974 partially ruined Hindu temples in Vietnam, and Air (Prevention and Control of constructed between the 4th and the 14th Pollution) Act 1981, are now century AD by the kings of Champa exempted from requiring (ChiêmThành in Vietnamese). The authorization also under the temples are dedicated to the worship of Hazardous and Other Wastes the god Shiva, known under various local (Management & Transboundary names, the most important of which is Movement) Rules, 2016, provided Bhadreshvara. that hazardous and other wastes generated by such industries are MỹSơn is located near the village of handed over to the authorized DuyPhú, in the administrative district of actual users, waste collectors or DuyXuyên in Quảng Nam Province in disposal facilities. Central Vietnam, 69 km southwest of Da Nang, and approximately 10 km from the INDO-BANGLADESH JOINT MILITARY historic town of TràKiệu. The temples are EXERCISE SAMPRITI – 2019 in a valley roughly two kilometres wide that is surrounded by two mountain Exercise Sampriti-VIII, a joint Indo- ranges. Bangladesh military exercise which witnessed participation of a company The MỹSơn temple complex is regarded group of 9th Battalion the Rajputana Rifles one of the foremost Hindu temple from the Indian Army and the Company of complexes in Southeast Asia and is the 36 East Bengal Battalion, Bangladesh foremost heritage site of this nature in Army concluded at Tangail, Bangladesh Vietnam. It is often compared with other on 14 March 2019. The closing ceremony historical temple complexes in Southeast was graced by HE Mrs Riva Ganguly Das, Asia, such as Borobudur of Java in Indian High Commissioner who Indonesia, Angkor Wat of Cambodia, highlighted the special bonds between the Bagan of Myanmar and Ayutthaya of two nations. Thailand. As of 1999, MỹSơn has been recognized by UNESCO as a world th The exercise was the 8 edition in the heritage site. At its 23rd meeting, Sampriti series, which started in 2009. UNESCO accorded MỹSơn this Exercise Sampriti strengthens and recognition pursuant to its criterion C (II), broadens interoperability and cooperation as an example of evolution and change in between the Indian and Bangladesh culture, and pursuant to its criterion C (III), Armies. It is the fourth Indo-Bangladesh as evidence of an Asian civilization which exercise at Tangail, Bangladesh and is now extinct. compliments number of other exchanges and exercise between the two forces. The commanders and staff officers of both sides were exercised to work in close coordination to receive and collate intelligence and to issue suitable

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BUJANG VALLEY equivalent concept is called "clean sheet The Bujang Valley is a sprawling historical design". complex and has an area of approximately Greenfield also has meaning in sales. A 224 square kilometres (86 sq mi) situated greenfield opportunity refers to a near Merbok, Kedah, in Malaysia. marketplace that is completely untapped These archaeological remains show that and free for the taking. From an there was a Hindu-Buddhistpolity here. In Information Technology Service the term bhujanga refer to Management (ITSM) perspective, an IT serpent, thus the name itself is roughly organization that is being set up from translated into "Serpent Valley". The area scratch is said to start from a "greenfield" consists of ruins that may date more than situation. This is because it would have no 2,535 years old. More than fifty ancient live services or practices in place to start tomb temples, called candi (pronounced with. as "chandi"), have also been unearthed. BAN SAGAR DAM The most impressive and well-preserved Bansagar or Ban Sagar Dam is a of these is located in PengkalanBujang, multipurpose river Valley Project on Sone Merbok. The Bujang Valley Archaeological River situated in the Basin in Museum is also located here. In the area Madhya Pradesh, India with both irrigation of Bujang Valley known as Sungai Batu, and 435 MW of hydroelectric power excavations have revealed jetty remains, generation . iron-smelting sites, and a clay brick monument dating back to AD 110, making The Bansagar Dam across the Sone River it the oldest man-made structure to be was constructed near the village recorded in Southeast Asia. in the . It is surrounded by Satna katniRewa and Shahdol districts. The local rulers adopted Indian cultural The project was called "Bansagar" after and political models earlier than those of Bana Bhatt, the renowned Sanskrit Kutai in eastern Borneo, in southern scholar of the 7th century, who is believed Celebes or Tarumanegara in western to have hailed from this region in India. Java, where remains showing Indian Bansagar Dam is located at Latitude 24- influence have been found dating from the 11-30 N and Longitude 81-17-15 E. early 5th century. Relics found in the Bujang Valley are now on display at the The project was initially called the "Dimba archaeological museum. Items include Project" in 1956 by the Central Water inscribed stone caskets and tablets, metal Commission, New Delhi to be constructed tools and ornaments, ceramics, pottery, on the Sone River at the confluence of the and Hindu icons. Sone and Banas Rivers near Shikarganj town 30 km down river from the present GREENFIELD PROJECTS site. Later it was shifted to the present site Literal examples of greenfield projects are at Deolond. There was an agreement in new factories, power plants, airports which 1973 between the State Governments of are built from scratch on greenfield land. Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar Those facilities which are for the construction of the dam, in which modified/upgraded are called brownfield the states shared the expenditure in the land projects (often the pre-existing ratio of 2:1:1. The 4 million-acre-feet of site/facilities are contaminated/polluted.) water is also shared by the states in the In transportation industries (e.g., same ratio. The construction work was automotive, aircraft, engines) the started in 1978 at original approved cost of

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Rs. 91.31 crores. The final estimated cost Implementation of Web Enabled Water in 1998 was Rs. 1054.96 crores. Resources Information System (India- SHADOW BANKING SYSTEM WRIS) in the country” containing all The shadow banking system is a term for aspects of water resources and related the collection of non-bank financial data have been designed to provide data intermediaries that provide services similar and information in public domain through to traditional commercial banks but India-WRIS WebGIS portal. India-WRIS outside normal banking regulations. The provides 'Single Window solution' for all phrase "shadow banking" contains the water resources data and information in a pejorative connotation of back alley loan standardized national GIS framework. It sharks. Many in the financial services allows users to search, access, visualize, industry find this phrase offensive and understand and analyse comprehensive prefer the euphemism "market-based and contextual water resources data for finance". assessment, monitoring, planning, Economist Paul Krugman described the development and finally Integrated Water run on the shadow banking system as the Resources Management. "core of what happened" to cause the NATIONAL WATER RESOURCES crisis. "As the shadow banking system COUNCIL expanded to rival or even surpass conventional banking in importance, National Water Resources Council was politicians and government officials should set up by the Government of India in have realized that they were re-creating March 1983. The Prime Minister is the the kind of financial vulnerability that made Chairman, Union Minister of Water the Great Depression possible—and they Resources is the Vice-Chairman, and should have responded by extending Minister of State for Water Resources, regulations and the financial safety net to concerned Union Ministers/ Ministers of cover these new institutions. Influential State, Chief Ministers of all States & figures should have proclaimed a simple Lieutenant Governors/ Administrators of rule: anything that does what a bank does, the Union Territories are the Members. anything that has to be rescued in crises Secretary, Ministry of Water Resources is the way banks are, should be regulated the Secretary of the Council. It is highest like a bank." He referred to this lack of decision making body related to national controls as "malign neglect." water policy and management of national WRIS water resources. The project “Generation of Database and Implementation of Web Enabled Water NATIONAL WATER BOARD Resources Information System in the Country” short named as India-WRIS The Government of India constituted a WebGIS is a joint venture of the Central National Water Board in September, 1990 Water Commission (CWC), Ministry of under the Chairmanship of Secretary, Water Resources, Govt. of India and Ministry of Water Resources to review the Indian Space Research Organization progress achieved in implementation of (ISRO), Department of Space, Govt. of the National Water Policy and to report the India progress to the National Water Resources

Council from time to time. The Secretaries A nationwide water resources information of Union Ministries of Agriculture, Rural system, “Generation of Database and Development, Urban Development,

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Surface Transport, Environment & GAGAN Forests, Planning and Science & The GPS-aided GEO augmented Technology, Chairman, Central Water navigation (GAGAN) is an implementation Commission, Chief Secretaries of all of a regional satellite-based augmentation States/Union Territories are its Members system (SBAS) by the Indian government. and Member (Water Planning & Projects), It is a system to improve the accuracy of a Central Water Commission is the Member GNSS receiver by providing reference Secretary. The 10th meeting of National signals. The AAI's efforts towards Water Board was held on 18th September implementation of operational SBAS can 2009. be viewed as the first step towards introduction of modern Communication, NATIONAL WATER ACADEMY navigation and surveillance/Air Traffic National Water Academy (formerly known Management system over Indian airspace. as Central Training Unit) was set up in The project has established 15 Indian Central Water Commission by Govt. of reference stations, 3 Indian navigation India in the year 1988,at Pune to impart land uplink stations, 3 Indian mission training to the in-service engineers of control centers, and installation of all various Central/State organizations associated software and communication involved in the Development & links. It will be able to help pilots to Management of Water Resources. It was navigate in the Indian airspace by an established under USAID assistance and accuracy of 3 m. This will be helpful for strengthened with the subsequent landing aircraft in marginal weather and assistance received from the World Bank. difficult approaches like Mangalore and The NWA is envisaged to function as a Leh airports. 'Center of Excellence' in training water resources personnel. It is addressing the SETU BHARATAM wider training needs of water resources SetuBharatam was launched by Prime engineers of States and Central Agencies MinisterNarendra Modi on 4 March 2016 in the fields of planning, design, at a budget of 102 billion evaluation, construction, operation and (US$1.4 billion), with an aim to make all monitoring of water resources projects. In national highways free of railway its national role, the NWA is concentrating crossings by 2019. on conducting training courses for all Under the project, as many as 208 rail water sector personnel, in the specialized over and under bridges (ROBs/RUBs) and emerging areas, for which the existing would be constructed at unmanned State or other institutes are not adequately railway crossings on national highways equipped to meet the needs. Apart from and 1,500 dilapidated British-era bridges this, in regard to the Central Water would be widened, rehabilitated or Commission, other offices of the Ministry replaced in a phased manner at a cost of of Water Resources, and for States not 208 billion (US$2.9 billion) and 300 having adequate training facilities, it is billion (US$4.2 billion), respectively. conducting induction and refresher SetuBharatamprogramme aims to make courses in all relevant areas of the water all National Highways free of railway level sector. crossings by 2019. This is being done to

prevent the frequent accidents and loss of lives at level crossings. 208 Railway Over Bridges (ROB)/Railway Under Bridges

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(RUB) will be built at the level crossings at  The APY scheme is governed by the a cost of 20,800 crore as part of the Pension Fund Regulatory and programme. Development Authority. ATAL PENSION YOJANA - APY  The applicant’s monthly contribution SCHEME amount will be determined by the The Indian Government introduced the pension that he or she wants each “Atal Pension Yojana” in June 2015 in month and the age at which he or she order to help the unorganised sections of applies for the scheme and begins the society. The Pension Fund Regulatory and contributions. Development Authority (PFRDA) administers the scheme under the Existing subscribers of the National Pension System. SWAVALAMBAN SCHEME will be Some of the key features and automatically migrated to the Atal Pension characteristics of the Atal Pension Yojana Yojana plan, with an additional option of (APY) scheme are: choosing to pull out, provided they meet the required eligibility criteria. The five  Any Indian citizen is eligible to apply for year co-contribution of the Government this scheme. To apply for this scheme, might not however exceed for all these the minimum age is 18 years and the subscribers maximum age is 40 years.  The applicant must have a savings bank ILO CONVENTION 138 AND 182: INDIA account or should be ready to open a RATIFIED savings bank account. This account Entry into force of ILO Convention138 should have an auto-debit facility. occurred one year after deposition of two  The applicant needs to have a mobile first ratifications. As of January 2018, 171 number, which will need to be given to countries have signed Convention C138. the bank at the time of registration. Initially, however, the pace of ratification of  The applicant should not be paying this Convention was extremely slow. income tax. This scheme is primarily Therefore, an alternative Convention with designed for helping individuals working a more limited scope has been initiated in in the unorganised sector, self- 1999. It concerns ILO Convention 182 employed individuals, traders, etc. concerning the Prohibition and Immediate  This scheme provides a pension from Action for the Elimination of the Worst Rs.1,000 to Rs.5,000 to the beneficiary Forms of Child Labour. after he/she turns 60 years. If the Convention C138 enters for a ratifying beneficiary dies, then the spouse will country into force one year after receive the pension. When both the ratification. This can be denounced every beneficiary and the spouse die, the 10 years in the year after 10 years have corpus will be handed over to the passed (e.g. 19 June 2027 – 19 June nominee. 2028). India ratified both in June, 2017.  The current Swavalamban Scheme beneficiaries (who are eligible) who are NATIONAL CHILD LABOUR PROJECT aged between 18 and 40 years will be SCHEME (1988) moved automatically to the Atal Pension The NCLP Scheme seeks: Yojana scheme. 1. To eliminate all forms of child labour through

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 Identification and withdrawal of all children in the Project Area from child labour,  Preparing children withdrawn from work for mainstream education along with vocational training  Ensuring convergence of services provided by different government departments/agencies for the benefit of child and their family 2. To contribute to the withdrawal of all adolescent workers from Hazardous Occupations/ Processes and their Skilling and integration in appropriate occupations through  Identification and withdrawal of all

adolescent workers from hazardous occupations / processes, The Child Labour (Prohibition and  Facilitating vocational training Regulation) Amendment Act, 2016 opportunities for such adolescents through receives the assent of the President on existing scheme of skill developments 29th July, 2016. The Act came into force 3. Raising awareness amongst stakeholders in order to amend Child Labour and target communities, and orientation of (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986. NCLP and other functionaries on the Mentioned below are following issues of ‘Child Labour’ and ‘employment amendments which have taken place due of adolescent workers in hazardous to the amendment Act. occupations/processes’; and  AMENDMENT IN LONG TITLE: 4. Creation of a Child Labour Monitoring, “An Act to prohibit the Tracking and Reporting System. engagement of children in all occupations and to prohibit the The scheme focuses on: engagement of adolescents in 1. All child workers below the age of 14 hazardous occupations and years in the identified target area. processes and the matters 2. Adolescent workers below the age of connected therewith or incidental 18 years in the target area engaged thereto.” in hazardous occupations / processes  AMENDMENT IN SHORT TITLE: 3. Families of Child workers in the identified “the Child Labour (Prohibition and target area. Regulation) Act, 1986”, the words, THE CHILD LABOUR (PROHIBITION brackets and figures “the Child AND REGULATION) AMENDMENT ACT, and Adolescent Labour 2016 (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986” shall be substituted.  SUBSTITUTION OF NEW SECTION FOR SECTION 3: (1) No child shall be employed or permitted to work in any occupation or process. (2) Nothing in sub-section (1) shall apply

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where the child,— (a) helps his V.V.GIRI NATIONAL LABOUR family or family enterprise, which INSTITUTE, NOIDA is other than any hazardous occupations or processes set forth V.V.Giri National Labour Institute, under in the Schedule, after his school the Ministry of Labour of Government of hours or during vacations; (b) India, is an autonomous institute works as an artist in an audio- dedicated to the research in the field of visual entertainment industry, labour and training of labour including advertisement, films, administrators, trade unions, public sector television serials or any such other managers and other government entertainment or sports activities functionaries concerned with labour. except the circus, subject to such Research related to Labour is one of the conditions and safety measures, primary activities of the institute which also as may be prescribed: Provided undertakes seminars,workshops and that no such work under this lectures on specific issues periodically. clause shall effect the school education of the child. Previously called National Labour Institute  INSERTION OF NEW SECTION till 1995, it was renamed to its present 3A: No adolescent shall be name in the honour of former President of employed or permitted to work in IndiaV.V. Giri who was a well-known any of the hazardous occupations union leader in his early days or processes set forth in the KANYASHREE Schedule: Provided that the Central Government may, by Kanyashreeis an initiative taken by the notification, specify the nature of Government of West Bengal to improve the non-hazardous work to which the life and the status of the girls by an adolescent may be permitted to helping economically backward families work under this Act. with cash so that families do not arrange  AMENDMENT OF SECTION 14: the marriage of their girl child before (1) Whoever employs any child or eighteen years because of economic permits any child to work in problem. The purpose of this initiative is to contravention of the provisions of uplift those girls who are from poor section 3 shall be punishable with families and thus can’t pursue higher imprisonment for a term which studies due to tough economic conditions. shall not be less than six months It has been given international recognition but which may extend to two by the United Kingdoms Department of years, or with fine which shall not International Development and the be less than twenty thousand UNICEF. rupees but which may extend to The scheme has two components: fifty thousand rupees, or with both:  Provided that the parents or 1. Annual scholarship of Rs. 750.00 guardians of such children shall 2. One time grant of Rs. 25,000.00 not be punished unless they permit such child for commercial The annual scholarship is for unmarried purposes in contravention of the girls aged 13-18 years enrolled in class provisions of section 3. VIII-XII in government recognized regular or equivalent open school or vocational / technical training courses. Recently the

24 CURRENT AFFAIRS-MARCH 2019 bar of income is withdrawn by Gov. W.B. The Press Council is a statutory, quasi- now every girl can apply for that scheme. judicial body which acts as a watchdog of PRESS COUNCIL OF INDIA the press. It adjudicates the complaints The Press Council of India is a statutory & against and by the press for violation of quasi-judicial body in India that governs ethics and for violation of the freedom of the conduct of the print media. It is one of the press respectively. the most important bodies that sustain The first Press Commission was formed democracy, as it has supreme power in under the Chairmanship of Justice J. S. regard to the media to ensure that Rajadhyakhsa on 23rd September 1952 freedom of speech is maintained. by the Ministry of Information and However, it is also empowered to hold Broadcasting to inquire into the state of hearings on receipt of complaints and take the Press in India. Some of the other suitable action where appropriate. It may members of the 11-member working group either warn or censure the errant were Dr. C.P. Ramaswamy Aiyer, Acharya journalists on finding them guilty. It did so Narendra Deo, Dr. Zakir Hussain, and Dr. on 21st July 2006, when it censured three V.K.V. Rao. It was asked to look into newspapers — Times of India (Delhi and factors, which influence the establishment Pune), Punjab Kesari (Delhi) and Mid Day and maintenance of high standards of (Mumbai) — for violation of norms of journalism in India. The second Press journalistic conduct. The Council's actions Commission was formed under the may not be questioned unless it is proved Chairmanship of P C Goswami/K K to be in violation of the constitution, which Mathews 1978/1980. makes it an exceedingly powerful body. NITI AYOG COMPOSITION Justice Chandramauli Kumar Prasad is With the Prime Minister as the Chairman of the Council as of 2015. Chairperson, presently NITI Aayog consists of: The Press Council of India was first set up on 4 July 1966 by the Parliament to  Vice Chairperson: Rajiv Kumar regulate the press in India. The basis at  Ex-Officio Members: Rajnath Singh, that time was the Press Council Act, 1965 Arun Jaitley, Piyush Goyal and Radha which resulted from the recommendations Mohan Singh of the First Press Commission of India  Special Invitees: Nitin Gadkari, (1952-1959). The objectives stated were Prakash Javadekar and Thawar Chand "to help newspapers maintain their Gehlot independence" and to "lower the  Full-time Members: Bibek Debroy standards" through a code of conduct, (Economist),V. K. Saraswat (former maintaining the "highest professional DRDO Chief), Ramesh Chand standards" and "low standards of public (Agriculture Expert) and Dr. Vinod Paul taste". However, after internal emergency (Public Health expert) in 1975 , the Council functions under the  Chief Executive Officer (CEO): Press Council Act 1978 which arose from Amitabh Kant the recommendations of the Second Press  Governing Council: All Chief Commission of India (1978) which argued, Ministers of States (and Delhi and among other things, for a "cordial Puducherry), Lieutenant Governor of relationship between the government and Andaman & Nicobar Islands, and the press". Special Invites.

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MUDUMALAI NATIONAL PARK Pada, where one can find the nesting sites The Mudumalai National Park and Wildlife of the olive ridley turtles. These are Sanctuary also a declared tiger reserve, fishermen's villages. lies on the northwestern side of the Nilgiri GRAPES-3 Hills (Blue Mountains), in Nilgiri District, The GRAPES-3 experiment (or Gamma about 150 kilometres (93 mi) north-west of Ray Astronomy PeVEnergieS phase-3) Coimbatore city in Tamil Nadu. It shares located at Ooty in India started as a its boundaries with the states of Karnataka collaboration of the Indian Tata Institute of and Kerala. The sanctuary is divided into Fundamental Research and the Japanese five ranges – Masinagudi, Thepakadu, Osaka City University, and now also Mudumalai, Kargudi and Nellakota. includes the Japanese Nagoya Women's The protected area is home to several University. endangered and vulnerable species GRAPES-3 is designed to study cosmic including Indian elephant, Bengal tiger, rays with an array of air shower detectors gaur and Indian leopard. There are at and a large area muon detector. It aims to least 266 species of birds in the sanctuary, probe acceleration of cosmic rays in the including critically endangeredIndian following four astrophysical settings. white-rumped vulture and long-billed These include acceleration of particles to, vulture. (i) ~100 MeV in atmospheric electric fields RUSHIKULYA RIVER through muons, (ii) ~10 GeV in the Solar System through muons, (iii) ~1 PeV in our The Rushikulya River is one of the major galaxy, (iv) ~100 EeV in the nearby rivers in the state of Odisha and covers universe through measurement of diffuse entire catchment area in the districts of gamma ray flux. Kandhamal and [[Ganjam] of Odisha. The Rushikulya originates at an elevation of GOLAN HEIGHTS about 1000 metres from Daringbadi hills of the Eastern Ghats range. The place from The Golan Heights is a region in the where the river originates, Daringbadi is Levant, spanning about 1,800 square called the ' Kashmir of Odisha '. The river kilometres (690 sq mi). The region defined lies within the geographical coordinates of as the Golan Heights differs between 19.07 to 20.19 north latitude and 84.01 to disciplines: as a geological and 85.06 east longitude. It meets the Bay of biogeographical region, the Golan Heights Bengal at Puruna Bandha in Ganjam. Its is a basaltic plateau bordered by the tributaries are the Baghua, the Dhanei, the Yarmouk River in the south, the Sea of Badanadi etc. It has no delta as such at its Galilee and Hula Valley in the west, the mouth. Anti-Lebanon with Mount Hermon in the In 1993, biologists from the Odisha Forest north and Wadi Raqqad in the east; and Department and the Wildlife Institute of as a geopolitical region, the Golan Heights India learned that large scale nesting of is the area captured from Syria and olive ridley sea turtles was taking place occupied by Israel during the Six-Day near the mouth of the Rushikulya River. War, territory which Israel effectively This area is the location of one of the annexed in 1981. This region includes the largest mass nesting (arribada) sites of western two-thirds of the geological Golan olive ridley sea turtles in India. The Heights and the Israeli-occupied part of villages near the mouth are Pali Bandha, Mount Hermon. Since the 1967 Six-Day Puruna Bandha, GokharaKuda and Kantia War, the western two-thirds of the Golan

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Heights has been occupied and INDIA'S FIRST LOKPAL: PC GHOSE administered by Israel. After years of delay, India got its first ITALY JOINS OBOR Lokpal on Tuesday as President Ram Italy is set to become the first member of Nath Kovind appointed its chief and eight the ‘Group of Seven’ most powerful other members. As reported earlier, the nations to join China’s infrastructure plan anti-corruption ombudsman will be headed “One Belt, One Road” (OBOR), despite by retired Supreme Court judge PC the heightened scrutiny of Beijing’s Ghose. Four judicial and non-judicial investment in Europe. members are also part of first Lokpal. The names were cleared by a selection NSCN TALKS committee headed by Prime Minister Deputy National Security Advisor (NSA) Narendra Modi. and Government of India’s representative and Interlocutor for the Naga Peace Talks, The institution of Lokpal is a statutory R.N. Ravi is scheduled to arrive in body without any constitutional backing. Dimapur on March 25 to hold talks with Lokpal is a multimember body, made up of NSCN/GPRN. one chairperson and maximum of 8 Reliable sources informed Nagaland Post members.The person who is to be that this would be the first time where both appointed as the chairperson of the Lokpal the parties will be holding a dialogue in should be either the former Chief Justice Dimapur (likely at Police Complex of India Or the former Judge of Supreme Chumukedima). Court Or an eminent person with NSCN (I-M) will be led by its general impeccable integrity and outstanding secretary and chief negotiator, Th. Muivah ability, having special knowledge and and while Ravi will represent the Centre. expertise of minimum 25 years in the Though, Muivah has given a statement matters relating to anti-corruption policy, that issue of Greater Nagalim is non public administration, vigilance, finance negotiable. including insurance and banking, law and management. DEFEAT OF ISIS The White House announced Friday that Out of the maximum eight members, half the ISIS caliphate in Syria has been 100% will be judicial members. Minimum fifty per defeated, but CNN's team on the ground cent of the Members will be from SC / ST / reported that US-backed forces are still OBC / Minorities and women. The judicial working to clear final pockets of fighters member of the Lokpal should be either a holed up in tunnels alongside the now- former Judge of the Supreme Court or a cleared village of Baghouz, the group's former Chief Justice of a High Court. The last stronghold. non-judicial member should be an eminent Press secretary Sarah Sanders told person with impeccable integrity and reporters that acting Defense Secretary outstanding ability, having special Patrick Shanahan had briefed President knowledge and expertise of minimum 25 Donald Trump on the development as he years in the matters relating to anti- flew to Florida on Friday and additional corruption policy, public administration, information would "soon" come from the vigilance, finance including insurance and Pentagon. banking, law and management. The members are appointed by the president on the recommendation of a selection

27 CURRENT AFFAIRS-MARCH 2019 committee. The selection committee is significantly warmer than its surrounding composed of the Prime Minister who is the rural areas due to human activities. The Chairperson; Speaker of Lok Sabha temperature difference usually is larger at ,Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha ,Chief night than during the day, and is most Justice of India or a Judge nominated by apparent when winds are weak. UHI is him / her, and One eminent jurist. most noticeable during the summer and winter. The main cause of the urban heat The jurisdiction of the Lokpal will include island effect is from the modification of the Prime Minister except on allegations of land surfaces. Waste heat generated by corruption relating to international energy usage is a secondary contributor. relations, security, the public order, atomic As a population center grows, it tends to energy and space and unless a Full Bench expand its area and increase its average of the Lokpal and at least two-thirds of temperature. The less-used term heat members approve an inquiry. It will be island refers to any area, populated or not, held in-camera and if the Lokpal so which is consistently hotter than the desires, the records of the inquiry will not surrounding area. However, during be published or made available t anyone. summers, it has been found that peak day The Lokpal will also have jurisdiction over time temperature in plains and rural areas Ministers and MPs but not in the matter of could be higher than the urban heat anything said in Parliament or a vote given islands. there. Lokpal’s jurisdiction will cover all categories of public servants. PYGMY SEAHORSES The pygmy seahorses comprise several Powers of Lokpal species of tiny seahorse in the syngnathid 1) It has powers to superintendence over, family or Syngnathidae (seahorses and and to give direction to CBI. pipefish). Family Syngnathidae is part of 2) If it has referred a case to CBI, the order Syngnathiformes, which contains investigating officer in such case cannot fishes with fused jaws that suck food into be transferred without approval of Lokpal. tubular mouths. They are found in 3) Powers to authorize CBI for search and Southeast Asia in the Coral Triangle area. seizure operations connected to such They are some of the smallest seahorse case. species in the world, typically measuring 4) The Inquiry Wing of the Lokpal has less than 2 centimetres (0.79 in) in height. been vested with the powers of a civil The first pygmy seahorse known to court. science was Hippocampus bargibanti. At 5) Lokpal has powers of confiscation of least six more species were named after assets, proceeds, receipts and benefits 2000. arisen or procured by means of corruption in special circumstances The pygmy seahorse is both tiny and well 6) Lokpal has the power to recommend camouflaged. It is very difficult to spot transfer or suspension of public servant amongst the sea grasses, soft corals, or connected with allegation of corruption. gorgonians (sea fans) that it inhabits. 7) Lokpal has power to give directions to Other distinctive pygmy seahorse prevent destruction of records during characteristics include a fleshy head and preliminary inquiry. body, a very short snout, and a long, URBAN HEAT ISLAND (UHI) prehensile tail. With their short snouts, An urban heat island (UHI) is an urban they have the appearance of baby area or metropolitan area that is animals. Pygmy seahorses are 14–27

28 CURRENT AFFAIRS-MARCH 2019 millimetres (0.55–1.06 in) long from the tip Indelible ink remains bright for about 10 of the tail to the end of the snout, so that days, after which it starts fading. It is their vertical height while swimming is still known to contain silver nitrate and is smaller.An adult may be as small as 13 manufactured in secrecy. millimetres (0.51 in) long. RBI DEFERS IMPLEMENTING Ind AS

UNHRC ON SRI LANKA The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has The United Nations Human Rights Council deferred the implementation of the new on Thursday approved giving Sri Lanka accounting norms, Ind AS, indefinitely, as two more years to set up a credible war necessary amendments to the relevant crimes investigation into the island law are yet to be made. nation's brutal civil war. The UN's top The move will bring huge relief to the rights body approved without a vote a banks which are yet to recognise stressed resolution to postpone discussing the assets and make necessary provisions as implementation of an official probe into that would require higher capital. While the crimes committed during the 37-year original plan was to implement these guerilla war, which ended in May 2009. accounting norms by April 1, 2018, it had Sri Lankan government troops were to be deferred by a year due to pending accused of killing at least 40,000 ethnic legislative amendments to the Banking Tamil civilians in the final months of the Regulation Act, 1949, as also the level of war. A 2015 UN Human Rights Council preparedness of many banks. Now, the resolution gave Sri Lanka 18 months to implementation has been deferred establish a credible investigation. definitely. Colombo secured a two-year extension in 2017 that expires this month. UN rights “The legislative amendments chief Michelle Bachelet warned earlier this recommended by the Reserve Bank are week that Sri Lanka could slip back into under consideration of the Government of conflict unless it addressed the "worst India. Accordingly, it has been decided to crimes" during the final stages of its ethnic defer the implementation of Ind AS till war. further notice,” RBI said in a statement. Bankers said they had expected the ELECTION INK deferment as necessary amendments to the Act were not made and RBI had not This refers to the violet-coloured ink in issued the final guidelines. India that is applied on a voter’s forefinger after she exercises her vote. In 1962, the BUMPHEAD PARROTFISH Election Commission in collaboration with The survival of the threatened bumphead the Law Ministry, the National Physical parrotfish in the Andaman and Nicobar Laboratory of India and the National Islands hinges on the persistence of coral Research Development Corporation made reefs and presence of marine protected an agreement with Mysore Paints and areas. Implementing fishing regulations Varnish Ltd. to manufacture ink that could help its population bounce back, say couldn't be wiped off easily. Mysore Paints researchers. was founded in 1937 by Maharaja Bumpheads are the world’s largest Krishnaraja Wadiyar IV. The company is parrotfish. Ramming its enormous green the sole supplier of indelible ink for civic head against corals to dislodge them, a body, Assembly and Parliamentary polls. It single bumphead can nibble up to five also supplies ink to about 25 countries.

29 CURRENT AFFAIRS-MARCH 2019 tonnes of coral every year. Though weapons provide the capability to shoot seemingly destructive, this activity down enemy satellites in orbit thereby promotes coral growth and keeps reef disrupting critical communications and ecosystems healthy. However, numbers of surveillance capabilities. ASAT missiles bumphead parrotfish have decreased also act as a space deterrent in worldwide. Overfishing is a concern, for dissuading adversaries from targeting the the fish are highly prized catches. country’s satellite network.

WORLD’S LONGEST SALT CAVE SUCCESSFUL ANTI-SATELLITE (ASAT) Israeli researchers say they have MISSILE TEST discovered the world’s longest salt cave In an incremental advance, India near the desert site where, according to successfully conducted an Anti-Satellite the Bible, Lot’s wife was turned into a pillar (ASAT) missile test, named Mission of salt. Shakti, becoming the fourth country in the The 10-km long warren of underground world to demonstrate the capability to passages and chambers in Mount Sodom, shoot down satellites in orbit. So far, only overlooking the Dead Sea, was mapped the United States, Russia and China have out over two years by cavers from nine this prowess. countries, led by the Hebrew University of “A short while back, our scientists have Jerusalem. The cave is called Malham. shot down a live satellite in the Low Earth Orbit (LEO) at 300 km in space,” Prime LIMA-2019 Minister Narendra Modi said, addressing Langkawi International Maritime Aero the nation around noon. Expo (LIMA-2019) is planned in Langkawi, The satellite downed by the ASAT missile Malaysia from 26 March 2019 to 30 March was Microsat-R, an imaging satellite which 2019. Indian Air Force is participating in was launched into orbit on January 24, the Maritime Aero Expo for the first time, 2019 using a Polar Satellite Launch during which it will showcase its Vehicle (PSLV), a senior Defence indigenously developed LCA fighter Research and Development Organisation aircraft. The team departed from Air Force (DRDO) official said. India has built the Station Kalaikunda for Langkawi today i.e broad capabilities and building blocks to 22 March 2019 via Myanmar (Yangon). develop ASAT missiles for some time as Participation of IAF in LIMA-2019 will part of its Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) provide an opportunity to air-warriors to programme. interact with their Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) counterparts and foster Mr. Modi said the aim of the test was to close relationship between the two maintain peace, rather than war services. This will serve as a foundation mongering. “A BMD interceptor missile for any future interaction with the successfully engaged an Indian orbiting Malaysian Air Force. It will also provide an target satellite in LEO in a ‘hit to kill’ opportunity to RMAF to assess the mode’, the DRDO said in a statement. A capabilities of LCA. DRDO official claimed that the ASAT missile was a modified exo-atmospheric YOUNG SCIENTIST PROGRAMME interceptor missile of the BMD. A LEO of The Indian Space Research Organisation 300 km was chosen to “minimise” debris (ISRO) has launched a special and it also won’t last more than a few programme for School Children called months, the official said. Anti-satellite “Young Scientist Programme”

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“YUvaVIgyaniKAryakram” () ii. Plant and Machinery from this year. The Program is primarily iii. Research, education and training aimed at imparting basic knowledge on iv. Raw materials Space Technology, Space Science and v. Credit facilities Space Applications to the younger ones vi. Marketing assistance with the intent of arousing their interest in vii. Cottage industries the emerging areas of Space activities. ISRO has chalked out this programme to “Catch them young”. The residential HIGH-LEVEL COMMITTEE ON training programme will be of around two DEEPENING OF DIGITAL PAYMENTS weeks duration during summer holidays With a view to encourage digitisation of and it is proposed to select 3 students payments and enhance financial inclusion each from each State/ Union Territory to through digitisation, the Reserve Bank of participate in this programme covering India has decided to constitute a High- state, CBSE, and ICSE syllabus. Those Level Committee on Deepening of Digital who have just finished 9th standard (in the Payments. The composition of the academic year 2018-19) and waiting to Committee is as under: join 10th standard (or those who have 1 Shri Nandan Chairman started 10th Std just now) will be eligible Nilekani for the programme. The selection will be Former Chairman, based on the 8th Std marks. Unique Identification Authority of India 'DISTRICT INDUSTRIES CENTRE' 2 Shri H.R. Khan Member (DICs) Former Deputy The 'District Industries Centre' (DICs) Governor, Reserve programme was started by the central Bank of India government in 1978 with the objective of 3 Shri Kishore Sansi Member providing a focal point for promoting small, Former Managing tiny, cottage and village industries in a Director & Chief particular area and to make available to Executive Officer, them all necessary services and facilities Vijaya Bank at one place. The finances for setting up 4 Smt. Aruna Sharma Member DICs in a state are contributed equally by Former Secretary, the particular state government and the Ministry of central government. To facilitate the Information process of small enterprise development, Technology and DICs have been entrusted with most of the Steel administrative and financial powers. For 5 Shri Sanjay Jain Member purpose of allotment of land, work sheds, Chief Innovation raw materials etc., DICs functions under Officer, Center for the 'Directorate of Industries'. Each DIC is Innovation, headed by a General Manager who is Incubation & assisted by four functional managers and Entrepreneurship three project managers to look after the (CIIE), IIM following activities : Ahmedabad Activities of District Industries Centre The Terms of Reference of the (DIC): Committee are as under: i. Economic Investigation

31 CURRENT AFFAIRS-MARCH 2019 a. To review the existing status of also multiply the potential downside risk in digitisation of payments in the country, case the investment does not pan out. The identify the current gaps in the concept of leverage is used by both ecosystem and suggest ways to bridge investors and companies. Investors use them; leverage to significantly increase the b. To assess the current levels of digital returns that can be provided on an payments in financial inclusion; investment. They lever their investments by using various instruments that include c. To undertake cross country analyses options, futures and margin accounts. with a view to identify best practices that Companies can use leverage to finance can be adopted in our country to their assets. In other words, instead of accelerate digitisation of the economy issuing stock to raise capital, companies and financial inclusion through greater can use debt financing to invest in use of digital payments; business operations in an attempt to d. Suggest measures to strengthen the increase shareholder value. safety and security of digital payments; e. To provide a road map for increasing LEVERAGE RATIO customer confidence and trust while Basel III introduced a minimum "leverage accessing financial services through ratio". This is a non-risk-based leverage digital modes; ratio and is calculated by dividing Tier 1 f. To suggest a medium-term strategy for capital by the bank's average total deepening of digital payments; consolidated assets (sum of the exposures of all assets and non-balance g. Any other related item of importance. sheet items).The banks are expected to The Committee shall submit its report maintain a leverage ratio in excess of 3% within a period of 90 days from the date under Basel III. of its first meeting. LEVERAGE LIQUIDITY COVERAGE RATIO Leverage results from using borrowed The "Liquidity Coverage Ratio" was capital as a funding source when investing requires a bank to hold sufficient high- to expand the firm's asset base and quality liquid assets to cover its total net generate returns on risk capital. Leverage cash outflows over 30 days. It was is an investment strategy of using introduced under Basel -III norms. borrowed money — specifically, the use of various financial instruments or borrowed BASEL III capital — to increase the potential return Basel III (or the Third Basel Accord or of an investment. Leverage can also refer Basel Standards) is a global, voluntary to the amount of debt a firm uses to regulatory framework on bank capital finance assets. When one refers to a adequacy, stress testing, and market company, property or investment as liquidity risk. This third installment of the "highly leveraged," it means that item has Basel Accords was developed in response more debt than equity. to the deficiencies in financial regulation revealed by the financial crisis of 2007–08. Leverage is the use of debt (borrowed It is intended to strengthen bank capital capital) in order to undertake an requirements by increasing bank liquidity investment or project. The result is to and decreasing bank leverage. multiply the potential returns from a project. At the same time, leverage will

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Basel III was agreed upon by the SHIPRA RIVER members of the Basel Committee on The Shipra, also known as the Kshipra, is Banking Supervision in November 2010, a river in Madhya Pradesh state of central and was scheduled to be introduced from India. The river rises in the North of Dhar 2013 until 2015; however, implementation district, and flows north across the Malwa was extended repeatedly to 31 March Plateau to join the at the 2019 and then again until 1 January 2022. MP-Rajasthan boundary in Mandsaur GODAVARI district. It is one of the sacred rivers in The Godavari is India's second longest Hinduism. The holy city of Ujjain is river after the Ganga. Its source is in situated on its east bank. Every 12 years, Triambakeshwar, Maharashtra. It flows the Sinhastha fair (Kumbh Mela) takes east for 1,465 kilometres draining the place on the city's elaborate riverside states of Maharashtra (48.6%), Telangana ghats, as do yearly celebrations of the (18.8%), Andhra Pradesh (4.5%), river goddess Kshipra. There are (10.9%), Madhya Pradesh hundreds of Hindu shrines along the (10.0%), Odisha (5.7%), and Karnataka banks of the river Shipra. (1.4%) emptying into Bay of Bengal Shipra is a perennial river. Earlier there through its extensive network of used to be plenty of water in the river. tributaries. Measuring up to 312,812 km2, Now the river stops flowing a couple of it forms one of the largest river basins in months after the monsoon. the Indian subcontinent, with only the Ganges and Indus rivers having a larger INDIA’S INTANGIBLE CULTURAL drainage basin. In terms of length, HERITAGE LISTED BY UNESCO catchment area and discharge, the India is the land of diverse cultures. is the largest in peninsular Paying tribute to this legacy, UNESCO India, and had been dubbed as the Vridha has inscribed a list of Intangible Cultural Ganga – Ganges. Major Tributaries of Heritage that does not limit itself to Godavari River are Pravara, Purna, monuments, collections of objects or a Manjira, Manair, Pranhita, Indravati, particular places. To preserve this vast Sabari. wealth, UNESCO lists these cultural practices. Indian has a total of 13 such representative ones in the list of the Intangible cultural heritage of Humanity

1. Kumbh Mela

The holy KumbhMelais reputed as “the world’s most massive act of faith.” Now, the UNESCO has recognized the spiritual festival as an “intangible cultural heritage of humanity” in 2017. Kumbh Mela plays a central spiritual role in the country. The event summarizes the science of astronomy, astrology, spirituality, ritualistic

traditions, and social and cultural customs

and practices, making it extremely rich in knowledge.

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Every 12 years, devotees gather at either 3. Navroz – Parsi New Year of the four locations—Haridwar, Allahabad, Nashik-Trimbakeshwar, and Navroz, the celebrations of the Iranian Ujjain Simhastha—to bathe in the holy New Year is a festival that is inscribed by waters of River Ganga, Triveni Sangam UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage (confluence of Ganga, Yamuna and in 2009. The festival is celebrated by Saraswati), River Godavari and Kshipra Parsis, followers of Zoroastrianism all over River respectively. The ritual bath is said the world. Navroz has its own kind of to free from past sins (karma), thereby traditions, rituals and festivities spread becoming eligible for liberation from the over a vast geographical area on March cycle of birth and death. 21 in Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, India, Iran, Kumbh Mela (the festival of the sacred Iraq, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Pitcher) is the largest peaceful Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan and congregation of ascetics, saints, sadhus, Uzbekistan. aspirants-kalpavasis and people from all walks of life, without any difference in Navroz is the New Year day, a start for the caste, creed and status, gathered for the two week festivities. India celebrates divine event. Jamshed Navroz. Exchanging of gifts, feasts with family and friends are common 2. Yoga celebrations while some countries also have street performances of music and The ancient tradition of health and dance, public rituals involving water and wellness, Yoga is that has gained fire, traditional sports and the making of international recognition. It does not come handicrafts and merry-making. The small as a surprise that on 2016, Yoga was community of Parsis and their way of life is inscribed on the UNESCO list of Intangible slowly depleting, therefore needs to be Cultural Heritage. The ancient Indian preserved for continuity in the coming practice is based on unifying the mind with years. the body and soul to allow for greater mental, spiritual and physical wellbeing. 4. Traditional brass and copper craft of utensil making by Thatheras of Said to have originated as the knowledge Jandiala Guru, Punjab of the ‘Rishis’, holy souls who had attained spiritual powers with years of disciplined Brass and copper utensils were the norm life. The awareness was later passed on of the Indian kitchen in the olden days. to the world. Series of poses, meditation, The art of making these utensils were controlled breathing, word chanting and praiseworthy. The ancient practice is other techniques are a part of Yoga. The almost lost except the group of people- the practice of Yoga is said to aid in self- Thanteras of Jandiala Guru in Punjab. The realization, ease any suffering and allow olden tradition of brass and copper for a state of liberation. Traditionally, yoga utensils making had made its name on the was transmitted using the Guru-Shishya list of the UNESCO Intangible Cultural model (master-pupil) with gurus as the Heritage in India. main custodians of the knowledge. The annual Yoga Festival in Rishikesh is a The craft of the making of the utensils is celebration of the ancient wealth of important, both in utility and ritual. Copper, knowledge of health and wellness. brass and kansa (an alloy of copper, ton and zinc) are primarily used. These

34 CURRENT AFFAIRS-MARCH 2019 utensils are recommended by Ayurveda, Chanting of sacred texts is said to have the ancient Indian science of health and positive affect on both performers and wellness for cooking and eating. The use listeners, taking the soul towards spiritual and sales of the said utensils is said to enlightenment. Chanting has always been have decreased over the years as their an auspicious ritual of Buddhism. Ladakh, maintenance is very time consuming. As known as mini Tibet has ancient roots of people bring stainless steel or aluminum in Buddhism in the high mountains of their kitchen, the tradition and the art is Himalayas. Two major sects of Buddhism losing its value. in Ladakh include the Mahayana and the Vajrayana. The Buddhist monks are called 5. Sankirtana, ritual singing, lamas. The chanting of the holy texts of drumming and dancing of Manipur Buddhism is performed in groups. The ritual is performed during a monastery Sankirtana is an art form of ritual singing, festival, or on spiritual bliss in a private drumming and dancing that has spiritual residence. There is a special dress for the origins in the North East Indian province of chanting and the lamas make hand Manipur. The unique tradition has been gestures with each chant to represent inscribed on the list of UNESCO Intangible what Buddha preached. Cultural Heritage of India on 2013. 7. Chhau dance: Semi Classical Marking the various stages in the lives of Dance from Eastern India Vaishnava people of Manipur, Sankirtana includes a number of art forms. The Chhau is semi-classical form of tribal tradition was started by the Manipuri dance, combining martial arts, storytelling, Hindus in the 15th century by princesses martial arts, mock combat, acrobatics, and in palaces. Later, it spread to all corners of athletics and story-telling based in eastern the states and is said to be been its India- Orissa, & West Bengal. pinnacle in the 18th century. People The unique dance form is inscribed in the believed in other yugas – Dwapar, Treta, list of UNESCO World Heritage Site in Satya, one could obtain ‘punya’ (merit) in 2010. The tribal heritage gains recognition various ways which would lead you to and gets preservation after the UNESCO ‘Moksha’ (transcendence) from the circle status. of birth, but in Kaliyuga, punya and moksha is achievable through Sankirtan. The origin of the dance is shrouded in Sankirtan uses 100 different taals or mystery, but basically Chhau started as a rhythmic variations to praise the name of means to portray stories to the audience. lord and feel your soul cleansed in the The tales are taken from two great epics harmonious melodies. of Indian Mythology – Ramayana and Mahabharata, Puranas and other Indian 6. Buddhist texts chanting of Ladakh Literature with religious themes found in Shaivism, Shaktism and Vaishnavism. Buddhism is a widespread religion which Performers decked in colorful attire, has ancient roots in India. It is very much massive masks, and other ornaments a part of the Indian culture and heritage. dance on the beats of Indian instruments – The chanting of Buddhist texts in Dhol, Shehnai and Dhamsa (percussion monasteries of Ladakh is now inscribed on instrument and Indian clarinets) without the list of UNESCO Cultural Heritage of vocals. The dance is performed in a India on 2012. joyous occasion or religious festivals

35 CURRENT AFFAIRS-MARCH 2019 especially Gajan festival, dedicated to Held annually in April (Hindu month of Lord Shiva. Baishak), the festival worships the local deities of the village and also celebrates 8. Kalbelia – Folk songs and dances the time before hard work and harvest of Rajasthan season. In the temple complex as a part of the festivities, a ritual theatre is organized UNESCO inscribe Kalbelia, a form of folk where 18 people play 18 characters, songs and dance in Rajasthan as an wearing 18 masks to dance on 18 beats to Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2010. This celebrate the 18 puranas. Inspired from incredible dance and music performance Ramayana, Ramman narrates stories of comes from actually an untouchable Ramayana, Hindu texts as well as local community from Rajasthan who led stories are narrated. Bringing together the nomadic lives. Traditional known as snake community, festivities are a way to keep charmers, the community relied on trading alive the history and heritage of the village of snakes and snake poison. Later the community. women took control of their livelihood and entertained people with their dance while 10. Ramlila – The Traditional the men provided the music by poongi (a Performance of the Ramayana snake charming instrument). Ramayana is one of the holiest Hindu Kalbelia is a sensuous form of dancing, scriptures in India. The epic devoted to the which mimics the movements of snakes in glory of Rama was translated to Awadhi some sense. Dressed in black with colors, language from the original texts available mirrors and other ornaments, the women in Sanskrit by Goswami Tulsidas in the allure with their fluid dance moves while 16th century. Ramlila is the traditional the musical instrument ‘poongi’ and songs performance of the Ramayana, basically are sung by men. Kalbelias also compose the life of Lord Rama till his victory over their own songs and improvise it according the Demon King Ravana. UNESCO to the changing times. The songs are inscribed Ramlila on the list of Intangible passed on from generations orally, the Cultural Heritage on 2008. heritage of the community is the people itself. During the Sharad Navratras (October – November), Ramlila is performed. The 9. Ramman – Religious festival and performances can be anything from 10 ritual theatre of the Garhwal days to 40 days. Actors narrate the story Himalayas of Lord Rama, his life, struggles in a number of episodes with teachings of life, Ramman is a religious festival celebrated philosophy and concepts of evil & good. only in the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand, The performance is a part of the Indian specifically among the Hindu community in cultural heritage where the stories of the the Saloor-Dungra village. The unique Hindu Epic were performed by actors in tradition is practiced and continued by a front of the masses so that everyone could small community of 1800 people and 196 learn from the knowledge of Ramayana. families without difference on caste and creed. UNESCO inscribed Ramman on 11. The Tradition of Vedic Chanting the list of Intangible Cultural Heritage in India on 2009. The traditional way of reciting the Vedas- Vedic chanting is inscribed by UNESCO

36 CURRENT AFFAIRS-MARCH 2019 on the list on Intangible cultural Heritage in a specific song is sung describing the 2008. Vedas are the primary source of goddess from head to toe, invoking the knowledge on Hindu philosophy, science, Goddes before the ritual. Musicians known myths, art, rituals and traditions that go as masters of SopanaSangeeth, a branch back to about 3,500 years to the time of of Carnatic music accompanies the ritual. the Aryans. There are four chief Vedas – Rig, Yajur, Sama and Atharva. The Vedas 13. Kutiyattam, Sanskrit Theatre, though originally written in Vedic Sanskrit, Kerala have since been translated to Classical Native to Kerala, the Kutiyattam is India’s Sanskrit. Brahmins (priests) passed down oldest existing classical theatre. Inscribed the knowledge of Vedas in form of oral by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural rendition down the generations. Heritage of India in 2008, it among the dying art forms in India in need of Vedic chanting is taught right from preservation. It started traditionally a childhood to ensure that the sound of each temple festival, performed only by word remains unaltered and they follow a Chakyars and Nangiars, women of unique manner of pronunciation. Although Nambiar caste. Vedas are still an important part of Hinduism, only 13 Vedic recitation The theater form uses elements of branches have survived from over 1,000 Sanskrit Theatre and Koothu, besides branches. These recitation schools are elements of theater as old as the Sangam now only found in Maharashtra (central era. The dance performance is always India), Kerala and Karnataka (southern accompanied by many musical India) and Orissa (eastern India). instruments. The Kuzhithalam among the musical instruments is played only by a 12. Mudiyett, ritual theatre, Kerala member of the Nambiar caste. Each of the performers or actors of the art have to go A ritual theatre of Kerala, Mudiyett re- through arduous training. of breathing enacts the tale of Goddess Kali and control, subtle muscle shifts and Demon Darika, Performed for purification, expression for ten to fifteen years before the 4-day festival is a part of the Bhagwati they to actually perform in the temple cult. In fact, it is performed only by festivals. members of the Marar and Kuruppu communities in Thrissur, Ernakulam, Focused on detail and elaboration, even a Kottayam and Idukki districts of Kerala. single act lasts for days. The colorful After the summer harvest, the entire attires, massive headdresses, music, community participates in the reenactment verses, and setting altogether recreate a of mythological tale of the Goddess and story from mythology, vedas or other the Demon. The unique ritual theatre of religious texts. Kerala is a communal activity, inscribed on the list of UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage.

A complete Mudiyettu performance requires a total of 16 people from the entire community without difference in caste or creed. The figure of Kali is painted on the floor of the temple and then

37 CURRENT AFFAIRS-MARCH 2019

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Are Also “Hotspots” For Human 5). New National Mineral Policy 2019 Impacts Approved By The Government

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