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JULY-2018

Vaid’s ICS Lucknow B-36, Sector –C, Aliganj, Lucknow Mob: 9415011892/93, 8765163028 website: www.vaidicslucknow.com

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Content

Pages 1. National Events 3

2. International Events 10

3. Economy 14

4. Science & Technology 18

5. Environment & Ecology 22

6. Treaty & Agreements 25

7. Summit / Conference 28

8. Sports 32

9. Awards & Honours 35

10. Commission & Committee 37

11. Year, Day & Week 38

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Kathua Rape and Unnao Rape cases- NATIONAL EVENTS Rape is the fourth most common crime against

Lok Sabha passes Criminal Law women in India. Around 40,000 rape cases were reported in the country in 2016. The victims (Amendment) Bill, 2018 were children in 40 percent of those cases. The Lok Sabha on July 30, 2018 passed the The latest outpouring of national protests came Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill, 2018 that after details emerged of the gang rape of an proposes to enhance punishment for rape of a eight-year-old Muslim girl Asifa Bano in child. Kathua, a Hindu-dominated area of Jammu and The Bill seeks to replace the Criminal Law Kashmir. The girl, member of a nomadic (Amendment) Ordinance promulgated on April Muslim community, was locked in a Hindu 21, 2018 following an outcry over the rape and shrine, drugged, gang-raped for several days and murder of a minor girl in Kathua in Jammu and beaten to death with a stone. Kashmir and the rape of another woman at In another horrific case, a teenage girl attempted Unnao in Uttar Pradesh. to set herself on fire outside the residence of an Provisions of the Bill MLA in Unnao, northern Uttar Pradesh. The girl • The Bill amends the Indian Penal Code (IPC), accused the MLA of raping her at his house in 1860 to increase the minimum punishment for 2017. The girl’s father was beaten to death by rape of women from seven years to ten years. the lawmaker’s men after the girl refused to • Rape and gang rape of girls below the age of withdraw her complaint against him. 12 years will carry minimum imprisonment of twenty years and is extendable to life imprisonment or death. Parliament passes Bill for merger of • Rape of girls aged between 12 and 16 is five subsidiary banks with SBI punishable with imprisonment of twenty years The Indian Parliament on July 30, 2018 passed or life imprisonment. the State Banks (Repeal and Amendment) Bill, • If a girl aged between 12 and 16 is gangraped, 2017 that merges the subsidiary banks with the the convict faces minimum punishment of life State Bank of India (SBI). sentence. The Bill was introduced in Lok Sabha by then • Repeat offenders will be punished with life Union Minister of Finance Arun Jaitley on July imprisonment or death. 21, 2017. • The Bill provides for time-bound investigation Note- in cases of rape of girl children. The The merger of these subsidiary banks is already investigation into rape of a child must be in effect from April 1, 2017. The merger was completed within two months. approved by the Union Government in • Any appeal against a sentence by the trial court February 2017. needs to be disposed off within six months. • Accused is not entitled to anticipatory bail in Provisions of the Bill- offences of rape of child less than 16 years of The Bill seeks to repeal the State Bank of India age. (Subsidiary Banks) Act, 1959, the State Bank of • The court would be required to give a notice of Hyderabad Act, 1956. These Acts established 15 days to a public prosecutor and the the State Bank of Bikaner, State Bank of representative of the victim before deciding bail Mysore, State Bank of Patiala, State Bank of applications in case of rape of girls below 16 Travancore, and State Bank of Hyderabad, the years of age. subsidiaries of the SBI. • Besides, the National Crime Records Bureau It amends the State Bank of India Act, 1955 to will maintain a national database and profile of remove references related to subsidiary banks. sexual offenders. These references include: (i) the definition of a subsidiary bank in the 1955 Act, and (ii) powers 3

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of SBI to act as an agent of the RBI for a the Bank of Madras (incorporated on 1 July subsidiary bank. 1843). Why was there a need of this merger? • On 27 January 1921, the Presidency banks The merger of subsidiaries with the SBI is a amalgamated and were rechristened as Imperial part of the PSU Banks Consolidation Plan that Bank of India. was proposed by the Union Government in • The imperial Bank of India became the State March 2016 at a congregation of bankers and Bank of India on July 1, 1955. government officials where various issues pertaining to banks were discussed. The move Parliament passes bill for quick aims to stimulate the flow of credit to fuel prosecution in cheque bounce cases private investment. The Parliament on July 26, 2018 passed an Significance of the merger- amended bill that will allow courts to try • With this merger, SBI will join the league of offences related to cheque bounce expeditiously top 50 banks globally in terms of assets. and direct the drawee to pay a minimum of 20 Currently, no Indian bank features in the top 50 per cent of the cheque amount as interim banks of the world. compensation. • The total customer base of the SBI will now The Negotiable Instruments (Amendment) Bill, reach to 37 crore people with a branch network 2018 was passed by the upper house of the of around 24000 and nearly 59000 ATMs across Parliament, the Rajya Sabha through a voice the country. The merged entity will have a vote. The Lok Sabha had cleared the bill on July deposit base of more than Rs 26 lakh crore and 23. advances level of Rs 18.50 lakh crore. Objective- • Soon, the bank will rationalise its branch The new amendment has been brought in the network by relocating some of the branches to law to ensure that people have trust and faith on maximise reach. This will help the bank in issuing cheques. optimising its operations and improve its Key Highlights- profitability. • The 1881 law on negotiable instruments has • Integration of treasuries of the associate banks been amended from time to time. with the treasury of SBI will bring in substantial • The latest amendments aim to insert Section cost saving and synergy in treasury operations. 143A and Section 148 in the Act to provide that About State Bank of India a court trying a cheque bounce offence under Section 138 may order the drawer of the cheque • The State Bank of India is a public sector to pay interim compensation to the complainant. banking and financial services company. It is a • The drawer, who pleads not guilty of the government-owned corporation. accusation, will have to pay at least 20 per cent • Its headquarters are located in Mumbai, of the cheque amount as interim compensation Maharashtra. within 60 days of the trial court's order. • It has more than 14000 branches, including • An additional 20 per cent compensation will 191 foreign offices spread across 36 countries. have to be paid if the drawer goes for an appeal. It makes it the largest banking and financial • If the drawer is acquitted, the court may direct services company in India by assets. the payee to repay the amount paid as interim • SBI’s roots lie in the first decade of the 19th compensation with interest. century, when the Bank of Calcutta, later Other Details- renamed the Bank of Bengal, was established • The amendments to the negotiable instruments on June 2, 1806. bill received support from many members of the • The Bank of Bengal was one of three opposition. Presidency banks. The other two were the Bank • However, the opposition suggested stringent of Bombay (incorporated on 15 April 1840) and 4

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penalties to curb cheque payment defaults. preventive steps at source, transit and • The opposition suggested that the government destination points should come out with laws like other nations • Maintaining coordination between law such as France and the UAE have, where a enforcement agencies and non-governmental person who defaults on cheque payments is organisations and other stakeholders barred from issuing a cheque for five years • Increasing international cooperation with • The members also suggested that the authorities abroad for intelligence sharing, government make cheque payment default a and mutual legal assistance non-bailable offence. Currently, over 16 lakh cases of cheque bounce State Anti-Trafficking Officers- are pending in subordinate courts and around Under the Bill, the state government will 34,000 such cases have gone to the high court appoint a State Nodal Officer who will be following an appeal. responsible for follow up action under the Bill as per the instructions of the State Anti- Trafficking Committee and for providing relief Trafficking of Persons Bill, 2018: and rehabilitation services. Provisions and Penalties The state government will also appoint a Police The Lok Sabha on July 26, 2018 passed the Nodal Officer at the state and district levels. Trafficking of Persons (Prevention, Protection Moreover, the Anti-Trafficking Police Officers and Rehabilitation) Bill 2018. The Bill provides will be designated for each district to deal with for the prevention, rescue and rehabilitation of all matters related to trafficking in the district. trafficked persons and seeks to establish a Anti-Trafficking Units- National Anti-Trafficking Bureau to investigate The Bill also provides for the setting up of Anti- trafficking cases. Trafficking Units (ATUs) at the district level. The Bill was introduced in Lok Sabha by the ATUs will deal with the prevention, rescue, and Union Minister of Women and Child protection of victims and witnesses and for the Development, Maneka Gandhi on July 18, 2018. investigation and prosecution of trafficking Establishment of National Anti-Trafficking offences. Bureau In districts where an ATU is not functional, this responsibility will be taken up by the local • The Bill provides for the establishment of a police station. National Anti-Trafficking Bureau to Anti-Trafficking Relief and Rehabilitation investigate trafficking cases and implement Committee- provisions of the Bill. The Bill provides for the establishment of Anti- • The Bureau will comprise of police officers, Trafficking Relief and Rehabilitation and any other officers as required. Committees (ATCs) at the national, state, and • It may take over the investigation of any district levels. offence under the Bill that has been referred These Committees will be responsible for: to it by two or more states. • Providing compensation to victims • It may request the state government to co- • Repatriation of victims operate in the investigation or transfer the • Re-integration of victims in society case to the state government for investigation Search and rescue- and trial with approval from the central As per the provisions of the Bill, an Anti- government. Trafficking Police Officer or an ATU can rescue Functions of the National Anti-Trafficking persons, if there is an imminent danger to them. Bureau They will be produced before a Magistrate or • Coordinating and monitoring surveillance Child Welfare Committee for medical along known routes examination. • Facilitating surveillance, enforcement and 5

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Protection and rehabilitation- complete the trial within a year The Bill requires the central or state government • Provision of penalties for offences including to set up Protection Homes to provide shelter, trafficking of persons, promoting trafficking, food, counselling and medical services to disclosing the identity of the victim and victims. The central or state government will aggravated trafficking such as trafficking for maintain Rehabilitation Homes in each district bonded labour to provide long-term rehabilitation to the victims. Rehabilitation of victims will not be dependent Atal Innovation Mission and MyGov on criminal proceedings being initiated against jointly launch ‘Innovate India the accused or the outcome of the proceedings. Platform’ The central government will also create a The NITI Aayog’s Atal Innovation Mission and Rehabilitation Fund to set up these Protection MyGov platform on July 26, 2018 jointly and Rehabilitation Homes. launched the ‘#InnovateIndia Platform’, Time-bound trial- collaboration between both the platforms. The Bill provides for setting up designated The #InnovateIndia was launched by R courts in each district to complete the trial Ramanan, Mission Director of Atal Innovation within a year. Mission and Arvind Gupta, CEO of MyGov. Penalties- Highlights of the #InnovateIndia portal- The Bill specifies the penalties for offences • The #InnovateIndia portal will serve as the including trafficking of persons, promoting common point for all the innovation happening trafficking, disclosing the identity of the victim across the nation. and aggravated trafficking such as trafficking • MyGov-AIM portal creates the much-needed for bonded labour. innovations platform for registering both The aggravated trafficking will be punishable grassroots and deep-tech innovators at a national with rigorous imprisonment of 10 years up to level. life imprisonment, along with a minimum fine • Those searching for a critical innovation can of one lakh rupees. The publishing of any leverage the portal advantageously for the material which may lead to the trafficking of a benefit of the economy as well as national social person will be punishable with imprisonment needs. between five and 10 years, and a fine between Key Features- Rs 50000 and one lakh rupees. • The #InnovateIndia platform is open to all Key Takeaways Indian citizens. • The users can view, comment, share, and rate • Establishment of a National Anti-Trafficking the innovations crowdsourced on the Bureau to investigate trafficking cases and #InnovateIndia platform. implement provisions of the Bill. • The users can also view the leader board which • Appointment of State Anti-Trafficking is calculated based on the votes on each Officers innovation. • Setting up of Anti-Trafficking Units (ATUs) • Citizens can share their, their organizations at the district level and even someone else’s innovation on the • Establishment of Anti-Trafficking Relief and platform by logging to the MyGov website. Rehabilitation Committees (ATCs) at the • These innovations can also be shared on national, state, and district levels various social media platforms such as • Setting up of the Protection Homes to provide WhatsApp, Facebook, and Twitter. shelter, food, counselling and medical • With the launch of the platform, citizens will services to victims be able to upload and rate their and their • Setting up designated courts in each district to organizations innovation on the platform. 6

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• The citizens can access the platform on Provisions of the Bill- https://innovate.mygov.in/innovateindia/. • The Bill introduces the offence of giving a Atal Innovation Mission (AIM)- bribe as a direct offence. However, a person • Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) is Union who is compelled to give a bribe will not be Government's flagship initiative to promote a charged with the offence, if he reports the matter culture of innovation and entrepreneurship in the to law enforcement authorities within seven country. days. • AIM is mandated to create an umbrella • The Bill makes specific provisions related to structure to oversee innovation ecosystem of the giving a bribe to a public servant, and giving a country. bribe by a commercial organisation. • AIM envisions the creation of a collaborative • The Bill redefines criminal misconduct to only ecosystem, where students, teachers, mentors cover misappropriation of property and and industry partners work to facilitate possession of disproportionate assets. It does not innovation, foster scientific temper and an cover circumstances where the public official: entrepreneurial spirit. (i) uses illegal means, (ii) abuses his position, or • Atal Tinkering Laboratories (ATLs), Atal (iii) disregards public interest and obtains a Incubation Centre and Established Incubation valuable thing or reward for himself or another Centre will take the innovations to the market person. and a network of incubators will help create • The Bill modifies the definitions and penalties enterprises around these innovations. for offences related to taking a bribe, being a • So far, AIM has already announced selection habitual offender and abetting an offence. of 2441 schools across India to establish ATLs • It introduces the powers and procedures for the covering 93 percent of the total districts in India attachment and forfeiture of property of public and 98 percent of the upcoming smart cities. servants accused of corruption. MyGov platform- • The Bill adds the provision for prior sanction • MyGov is a web platform that was created to to prosecute former officials. The Act only facilitate citizen engagement in good provided for the prior sanction to prosecute governance. serving public officials. • MyGov enables the citizens especially the • It deletes the provision that protects a bribe youth to volunteer for specific tasks and projects giver from prosecution, for any statement made at grassroots level. by him during a corruption trial. This may • It will allow the common people to reach the prevent bribe givers from appearing as witnesses government with ideas and suggestions. in court. • The platform is managed by National • Under the Act, a person is proven guilty for the Informatics Centre (NIC), Department of offences of taking a bribe, being a habitual Electronics and Information Technology offender or abetting an offence. The Bill (DeitY). amends this provision to only cover the offence of taking a bribe. Parliament passes Prevention of • It provides more stringent punishment for the Corruption (Amendment) Bill, 2018 offences of bribery, both for the bribe giver and Parliament passes Prevention of Corruption the bribe taker. It provides for seven years of (Amendment) Bill, 2018 imprisonment or a fine or both for the bribe The Parliament on July 24, 2018 passed the givers. Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Bill Key takeaways from the Bill- 2018 to enhance transparency and accountability • The Bill makes bribing a punishable offence. of the government. • It redefines provisions related to criminal The Bill amends various provisions of misconduct. Prevention of Corruption Act (PCA), 1988. 7

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• It makes mandatory for taking prior approval • Other states in the top ten of relevant Government or competent are Jharkhand (4), Chhattisgarh (6), Madhya authority to conduct any investigation into Pradesh (7), Karnataka (8), Rajasthan (9) offence. and West Bengal (10). • It modifies definitions and penalties for • While Chhattisgarh has topped in terms of offences related to taking bribe, being property registration, Rajasthan topped in terms habitual offender and abetting offence. of construction permit; West Bengal topped in terms of labour regulation; Karnataka topped in Background- terms of environmental registration. The amendment to the Prevention of Corruption • Uttarakhand has topped in terms of land Act, 1988 was necessitated from the obligation availability; Odisha topped in terms of paying of India to review the existing provisions of the taxes; and Uttar Pradesh topped in terms of Act so as to bring it in line with the United obtaining utility permit. Nations Convention against Corruption • Delhi was ranked 23rd in the list while Punjab (UNCAC). was at the 20th position, way behind This led to the introduction of the Prevention of neighbouring Haryana. Corruption (Amendment) Bill, 2013 in the • Mumbai (Maharashtra) and New Delhi Rajya Sabha in August 2013. However, it could (Delhi), the two cities which the World Bank not be passed as the Bill contemplates an takes into consideration for its annual Ease of important paradigm shift in defining offences Doing Business Index, have not performed well relating to bribery. on this state index. Later, the views of the Law Commission of • On the other hand, Meghalaya, India were sought on the proposed amendments. Lakshadweep and Arunachal Pradesh ranked The Bill incorporates the recommendations at the bottom for not doing anything to improve given by the 20th Law Commission headed by business climate. Justice (retd) AP Shah in its 254th Report. Note- Andhra Pradesh tops Ease of Doing In last year's rankings, Andhra Pradesh had Business Rankings jointly topped the index with Telangana while For the second year in a row, Andhra Pradesh Gujarat’s rank dropped to third from the top has topped the third edition of the government’s slot in 2015. ‘Ease of Doing Business’ Index 2018 with a Significant progress made by states this year- final score of 98.42 percent. • A large number of states have made significant The government released the latest ranking of progress this year through the reforms suggested states and UTs under the Business Reform in BRAP 2016. Action Plan (BRAP), 2017. • 17 states achieved a reform evidence score of Key Highlights- more than 90 percent and 15 states achieved a • Andhra Pradesh outperformed 28 other states combined score of 90 percent and more. and seven union territories (UTs) to be the best • The states which have achieved 80 percent or state to do business in the country. more reforms evidence score represent 84 • Andhra Pradesh was followed by percent of the country's area, 90 percent of the neighbouring Telangana (98.33 percent score) country's population and 79 percent of India's and Haryana(98.07 percent score) at the second GDP. and third position, respectively. • Number of reform actions implemented under • This year, Gujarat has slipped to the fifth rank BRAP 2017 increased to 7758 from 2532 in in the ease of doing business from last year’s 2015. third position.

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How the Index was prepared? The index was jointly prepared by the World Bank and the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP). The index data was collected on an online dashboard maintained by the DIPP. The assessment is based on a combined score consisting of reform evidence score that is based on evidence uploaded by States/UTs and feedback score that is based on response gathered from actual users of services provided to businesses. It was for the first time that DIPP has introduced taking feedback to ensure that the reforms have actually reached ground level. The feedback was collected through face-to- face interviews of actual users

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INTERNATIONAL (MMA-P)

EVENTS India, China agree to maintain border tranquility Pakistan Elections Results 2018: Imran India and China on July 26, 2018 reiterated their khan’s party PTI emerges as single commitment to maintain peace and tranquility largest party along their border by enhancing According to the Pakistan Elections results 2018 communications between their militaries. announced by the Election Commission of The agreement came during a meeting between Pakistan on July 29, 2018, Imran Khan’s Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) has emerged as Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the single largest party in the National Assembly the annual BRICS Summit in Johannesburg. after the Pakistan Elections 2018. The PTI has Both leaders agreed to give their militaries the bagged a total of 116 seats. necessary directions to enhance communications While, former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's between them and to maintain peace and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) tranquility in the border areas. bagged 64 seats and former President Asif Ali Other decisions taken during the meeting- Zardari's Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) got 43 • A delegation representing the Indian seats. pharmaceutical industry will visit China on Though PTI has emerged as the single largest August 21-22, 2018 as China approved the party in the National Assembly, the party is still import of generic Indian cancer-treatment drugs. short of numbers to form the government on its • A number of Indian mills in the non-Basmati own. Now, all eyes are on the PTI to reach out rice sector have been cleared by a Chinese to smaller parties and independents to form the delegation on the grounds of phyosanitary and next government. quarantine requirement. Both the leaders are expected to meet again on Note- the margins of the G20 Summit in Argentina at • Pakistan's lower house of Parliament the end of 2018. comprises a total of 342 members, of which India-China Informal Summit- 272 are directly elected. Earlier on April 28, 2018, Prime Minister • A party can only form the government in Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Pakistan, if it manages to secure 172 seats in Jinping highlighted the importance of total. maintaining peace along the India-China border Now, it is quite clear that the PTI will have to during the first-ever two-day informal summit form a coalition government in the country. between both the sides. Pakistan Elections Results 2018: Party-wise Keeping the Doklam Standoff in mind, both the leaders also decided to issue guidance to their Party Seats militaries to implement various confidence- Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) 116 building measures to strengthen the existing institutional mechanisms, thus, preventing and Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz 64 managing the situations in the border areas. (PML-N) Both the leaders stressed the importance of Pakistan People's Party 43 maintaining peace and harmony in all areas of Parliamentarians (PPP) the India-China border region for the overall development of bilateral relations. Independents (IND) 13

Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal Pakistan 13

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Doklam Standoff- prospects of joint investment in markets The dispute at Doklam began in June 2017 after including Central Asia, Egypt and Jordan. the Indian Army stalled the construction of • It would enhance India's international profile Chinese road in Doklam, the area that lies in the and promote its economic interests and give it tri-junction of India, China and Bhutan. Doklam access to EBRD's Countries of Operation and Plateau is a disputed territory for China and sector knowledge, boosting investment Bhutan. opportunities. India said that the road in Doklam is a threat to • It would also increase the scope of cooperation India as the region is close to Siliguri corridor, between India and EBRD through co-financing also known as Chicken’s Neck, which links opportunities in manufacturing, services, India to its northeastern states. China’s road information technology and energy. building activity was also protested by Bhutan. • Since EBRD's core operations pertain to private sector development in its countries of India becomes 69th shareholder of operation, the membership will help India European development bank leverage the technical assistance and sectoral India on July 11, 2018 formally became the 69th knowledge of the bank for the benefit of the shareholder of the European Bank for development of the private sector. It would also Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), contribute to an improved investment climate in paving the way for more joint investment with the country. Indian companies across the bank's regions of • India’s membership of EBRD would also operation. enhance the competitive strength of the Indian India was selected as a member after all the firms and provide an enhanced access to existing EBRD shareholders, who also form its international markets in terms of business board of governors, voted unanimously in opportunities, procurement activities and favour of the country's application in March consultancy assignments. 2018. The membership process was fully • Increased economic activities could lead to the completed this week. creation of more employment opportunities. Key Highlights- • The Indian government had applied for EBRD EBRD and India- membership in December 2017. • The European Bank for Reconstruction and • Though now, India has become a shareholder Development has already cooperated with of the EBRD, it will not be a recipient of the Indian enterprises on several joint projects worth bank’s financing. almost €1 billion, including investments with • In the lead up to the membership, the EBRD Indian companies such as Tata, SREI, Jindal and held its inaugural business forum in Mumbai in Mahindra and Mahindra. June 2018. • The bank is also working closely with leading • The conference, which was co-hosted with the Indian organisations, such as FICCI, the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), the and Industry (FICCI) and with the support of the Associated Chambers of Commerce & Industry Export-Import (EXIM) Bank of India, was held of India (ASSOCHAM) and the International under the banner of ‘Mobilising private sector Solar Alliance (ISA). finance in the EBRD region and how Indian • The issue relating to acquiring the membership companies can benefit’. of the bank had been under consideration of the Impact- Indian Government. • India’s acceptance as a member in the • With the country's impressive economic European Bank for Reconstruction and growth over the years and enhanced Development is expected to open up further international political profile, it was considered appropriate that India should expand its

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presence on the global developmental landscape About the draft law- beyond its association with the Multi-lateral The draft law proposed to put more Development Banks (MDBs) such as the World responsibility on websites to check for copyright Bank, Asian Development Bank and African infringements and forced platforms to pay for Development Bank. linking to news. About EBRD- The move was intended to bring the EU's • The European Bank for Reconstruction and copyright laws in line with the digital age, but Development (EBRD) is an international instead, it led to protests from the websites and financial institution, which was founded in much debate. 1991. The law was backed by several musicians • As a multilateral developmental investment including high-profile music stars such as Paul bank, the EBRD uses investment as a tool to McCartney, Annie Lennox, Placido Domingo build market economies. and David Guetta. • Headquartered in London, the EBRD is owned The two highly contested parts of the law by 65 countries and two EU institutions. Despite included: its public sector shareholders, it invests in private enterprises, together with commercial Article 11 partners. • EBRD has members from all over the world • The section required online platforms to pay including North America, Africa, Asia and publishers a fee if they link to their news content. Australia, with the biggest shareholder being the • The section proposed to protect newspapers and United States, but only lends regionally in its other outlets from internet giants like Google and countries of operations. Facebook using their material without payment. • Initially focused on the countries of the former • The critics branded the section as a ‘link tax’, Eastern Bloc it expanded to support which would hand new, broad rights to large development in more than 30 countries from publishers and hurt smaller start-ups. central Europe to central Asia. • They also argued that the article failed to • It invests in 38 emerging economies across clearly define what constitutes a link and hence, three continents, according to a set of criteria could be manipulated by governments to curb that aim to make its countries more competitive, freedom of speech. better governed, greener, more inclusive, more Article 13 resilient and more integrated. • The section proposed to put greater responsibility on websites to enforce copyright European Parliament rejects EU's laws. It would make online platforms legally controversial copyright law liable for copyrighted material put on the web by European Parliament lawmakers on July 5, 2018 users. rejected a highly controversial European Union • This could mean that social media sites and copyright law proposal that was proposed by other websites would have to check every piece Beatles legend Paul McCartney against the of content uploaded including texts, images, creators of Wikipedia. sounds or code. The draft law failed to get the required support • Since the task would be impossible for humans, with 318 parliamentary legislators voting the websites would require automated copyright against the measure, 278 in favour and 31 checking systems, which would be potentially abstaining from the vote. The proposal was expensive for most companies. firmly resisted by major US tech giants as well • Such systems are known to have a higher error as advocates of Internet freedom. rate. There were also concerns that implementation of such copyright filters could

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effectively ban things like memes and remixes, which use some copyrighted material. • The article has been the most controversial and it faced the most resistance from the critics. Main Debate- For the law Against the law The musicians urged the The critics of the draft politicians to enact a law said that the rules law forcing sites like would stifle internet YouTube and Facebook freedom and creativity. to use filters that would stop users illegally uploading their music, arguing that websites had exploited their content. They argued that Creative Commons musicians were being Chief Ryan Merkley cheated out of money, observed that 'The while websites were Beatles' would have making huge profits been prevented from from their work. performing cover versions under the newly proposed rules.

Wikipedia went down on July 4 in at least three countries - Poland, Spain and Italy - in protest against the European upcoming Parliament vote. Conclusion- The Members of the European Parliament decided at the end that the changes needed more debate and sent the proposals back to the Commission.

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• These items include certain dual-use items and ECONOMY certain less significant munitions items, predominantly parts and components. US elevates India’s status to ease • The STA imposes enhanced compliance export controls for high-tech product requirements by requiring foreign importers to sales certify in advance of receipt of STA-eligible The United States has eased export controls for items that they will abide by US export control high-technology product sales to India by regulations, including the need to obtain a US elevating its status to a Strategic Trade license to export or re-export outside of STA- Authorisation-1 (STA-1) country. eligible countries. The information was shared by US Commerce Background- Secretary Wilbur Ross on July 30, 2018. He said • The announcement of India’s special status that this is a very important change in India's comes ahead of high-level talks between the status in the export control regime. United States and India, which are scheduled to With the move, the United States has granted take place in September 2018. The two-plus-two India the same access as NATO allies, Australia, dialogue will be attended by US Secretary of Japan and South Korea. State Mike Pompeo and Defence Secretary Jim Significance- Mattis. The designation of ‘STA-1 country’ will allow • In recent years, the political and military ties India to buy more advanced and sensitive between India and the United States have technologies from the United States, at par with expanded significantly although trade that of the closest US allies and partners and differences have risen ever since US President ensure enduring cooperation into the future. Donald Trump took office in 2017. It will authorise the export, re-export and • Both India and the United States share a transfer of specified items on the Commerce common interest in countering China’s Control List (CCL) to destinations posing a low expanding economic and military weight. risk of unauthorised or impermissible uses. • The US, in fact, has emerged as a top arms The elevated status will also provide India with supplier to India, selling more than $15 billion greater supply chain efficiency, both for defence of weapons over the past decade. and other high-tech products. • Recent reports reveal that the United States has The granting of the special status to India comes also offered India the armed version of drones after the US recognised India as a Major that were originally authorised for sale as Defence Partner in 2016. It reflects India’s unarmed and for surveillance purposes. efforts to improve its own export-control regime • If the deal comes through then, it would be the and its adherence to multilateral export rules. first time that the United States has sold a About Strategic Trade Authorisation- largely armed drone to a country outside the • The STA-1 list currently comprises 36 NATO alliance. countries in total. • The development also comes as India has been • India is the only South Asian country to admitted to almost all major export control feature on the list. Other Asian countries regimes, except for the Nuclear Suppliers Group designated as STA-1 include Japan and South (NSG). Korea. • Till recently India was designated as STA-2 India becomes Regional Head of Asia countries along with seven others. Pacific Region in WCO • The authorisation permits the export of a India has become the Vice Chair of the Asia defined set of items on the Commerce Control Pacific Region of World Customs Organisation List to Allies and certain other friendly countries (WCO) for a period of two years, from July without a specific license. 2018 to June 2020. 14

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The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and • Currently, WCO represents 182 Customs Customs (CBIC) in partnership with administrations across the globe that collectively Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) is process approximately 98 per cent of world organising an event on July 16, 2018 in New trade. Delhi, to mark the assumption of the new • The WCO is noted for its work in areas leadership role. covering the development of international Key Highlights- conventions, instruments, and tools on topics • The event will be attended by the Customs such as commodity classification, valuation, delegations from 33 countries of the Asia- rules of origin, collection of customs revenue, Pacific Region, Customs officers from different supply chain security, international trade Ports in India, Partner Government Agencies facilitation, customs enforcement activities, and representatives from the trade among combating counterfeiting in support of others. Intellectual Property Rights (IPR), drugs • The Secretary General of WCO, Kuniyo enforcement, illegal weapons trading, integrity Mikuriya will deliver the key note address at the promotion, and delivering sustainable capacity event, while Heads of Customs from Japan and building to assist with customs reforms and Fiji, and senior officials from Korea, Singapore modernisation. and China among others, shall participate in the • The WCO’s governing body, the Council, Ceremony. relies on the competence and skills of a • The underlying theme of the inaugural Secretariat and a range of technical and advisory ceremony will be ‘Customs – Fostering Trade committees to accomplish its mission. Facilitation’. • The Secretariat comprises over 100 • The inaugural ceremony will be followed by a international officials, technical experts and seminar on cross-border trade through e- support staff of some nationalities. commerce and the role of customs • Besides playing a vital role in stimulating the administration. growth of legitimate international trade, the • The seminar would focus on the framework of WCO also helps combat fraudulent activities. standards spearheaded by WCO to cope with the • By promoting the emergence of an honest, exponential growth in e-commerce shipments transparent and predictable Customs and the tsunami of parcels that cross borders environment, the WCO directly contributes to every day. the economic and social well-being of its members. Impact-

• The WCO has divided its membership into six RegPionros,j ecamton g whiSaschah eackt:h of Sunil Mehta the six regions is represented by a regionally elected Vice-Chairperson to the WCO Council. Committee’s 5-pronged strategy to • The position of Vice Chair of the Asia Pacific Retacgionkl eo fN WCPAOs approwill envabedle India to take on the leadership role in the organisatioUnn. ion Finance Ministry approves Mehta • India has a wealth of experience in promoting securCityom andmitt faceei’lits a5tion-pron ogf ecdr ossts-rategy to tackle NPAs border trade. Union Finance Minister Piyush Goyal on July 2, 2018 approved the Sunil Mehta Committee’s About WCO- suggestions of a 5-pronged strategy to tackle the • The World Customs Organization (WCO) was Non-Performing Assets (NPA). established in 1952 as the Customs Co-operation The committee led by Punjab National Bank Council (CCC). Chairman Sunil Mehta has submitted its draft • It is an independent intergovernmental body, report titled 'Sashakt' to the Finance Ministry headquartered in Brussels, Belgium, whose with a strategy to tackle stress in the banking mission is to enhance the effectiveness and sector. However, there is no proposal or efficiency of Customs administrations. recommendation to create a bad bank. 15

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The recommendations now await the approval The plan to set up a national ARC or AMC of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). over and above existing private ARCs come Recommendations of the Committee- amid the mounting bad loans in the system • The 'Sashakt' Report highlights nine guiding leading to bleeding balance sheets of banks. principles aimed at the operational turnaround of Significance- the banking sector in a manner that will create Project Sashakt (recommendations) will help jobs and enhance the value of public sector retain the value of the asset through operational banks. turnaround. Sashakt aims to strengthen the • Resolution of bad assets below Rs 50 crore credit capacity, credit culture and credit within 90 days: Banks will be required to create portfolio of public sector banks. However, a ‘Focused Vertical’ for bad assets below Rs 50 Sashakt does not require any regulatory crore and set up a Steering Committee for forbearance. resolution of such bad assets within 90 days. • Resolution of consortium loans between Rs Constitution of the Sunil Mehta Committee 50-500 crore within 180 days: It suggested the to set up Asset Reconstruction Company Bank Led Resolution Approach (BLRA) for Finance Minister Piyush Goyal in June 2018 loans between Rs 50 and Rs 500 crore. It constituted the committee led by Punjab suggested constitution of an Independent National Bank Chairman Sunil Mehta to look Screening Committee to examine resolution of at the feasibility of a ‘bad bank’-like structure such loans within 180 days and if there is no and give recommendations on formation of an resolution in 180 days, then these bad assets will Asset Reconstruction Company in two weeks be moved to the National Company Law time. Tribunal (NCLT). The committee included State Bank of India • Resolution of loans above Rs 500 crore: The chairman Rajnish Kumar, Bank of Baroda loans above Rs 500 crore will be dealt via managing director and chief executive officer AMC/AIF-led resolution process. The panel P.S. Jayakumar and SBI deputy managing proposed creation of a national Asset director C. Venkat Nageswar. Management Company (AMC) to take over such Non-Performing Assets from banks. Comment- • Recommendations included creating platforms The bankers’ panel has suggested the need to where banks can trade in bunched loan assets. take the function of NPA management out of the banks, thus, suggesting the banks to focus on Creation of National Asset Management core banking activities of lending and growing Company (AMC) their balance sheets. The committee suggested setting up of an They opine that the transfer of NPA AMC with an equity contribution from banks, management to a specialised entity would help foreign funds and infrastructure funds such as clean up the long due loans and experts can help the National Infrastructure Investment Fund restructure the loans. (NIIF). As on March 31, 2018, bad loans across listed The AMC could be set up under an banks stood at over Rs 10 lakh crore. As per the existing Asset Reconstruction Company RBI’s recently released Financial Stability (ARC) like Arcil Ltd which is already Report, the number of gross NPA ratio is set to promoted by banks. rise by March 2019 to 12.2 percent from 11.6 The National AMC will determine the price of percent in March 2018. individual accounts after due diligence and once the asset is sold, turnaround specialists would be appointed. The asset would be sold down to strategic buyers over a period of time.

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Income Tax Department launches • While Aadhaar is issued by the Unique ‘Instant’ PAN Card Service Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) to a The Income Tax Department on July 1, 2018 resident of India, PAN is a 10-digit launched the ‘Instant’ Aadhaar-based PAN alphanumeric number allotted by the IT allotment service for individuals seeking to department to a person, firm or entity. obtain the unique identity for the first time. The facility is free of cost. Under the facility, instant allotment of e-PAN will be available for a limited period on a first- come, first-served basis for valid Aadhaar holders. Highlights of the ‘Instant’ PAN Card Service- • A fresh PAN will be allotted on the basis of a one-time password sent on the mobile number linked to the Aadhaar number of a person. • The new PAN will have the same name, date of birth, gender, mobile number and address as in the Aadhaar. • Once the PAN is allotted to an applicant through his electronic Aadhaar-based verification system, in a few seconds, the applicant will be sent the PAN card by post. • This e-PAN facility is only for resident individuals and not for Hindu Undivided Family, firms, trusts and companies. • The facility can be availed of at the official portal of the department incometaxindiaefiling.gov.in. What led the IT Department to launch the facility? The facility was introduced after the IT Department witnessed the surge in number of applications filed by people for the Permanent Account Number (PAN). CBDT extends deadline for the PAN- Aadhaar linking. • Earlier on June 30, 2018, the Central Board of Direct Taxes, which makes policies for the Income Tax Department, extended the deadline for the PAN-Aadhaar linking to March 31, 2019. This is the fifth time it has extended the deadline. • According to Section 139 AA (2) of the Income Tax Act, 1961, every person having PAN as on July 1, 2017, and eligible to obtain Aadhaar, must intimate his Aadhaar number to the tax authorities. 17

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SCIENCE & the Earth. The probe holds the answers of scientists' TECHNOLOGY outstanding questions • Parker Solar Probe will explore the corona, a NASA to launch Parker Solar Probe to region of the Sun only seen from Earth when the Moon blocks out the Sun's bright face during touch the Sun total solar eclipses. The US space agency NASA on July 20, 2018 • The corona holds the answers of scientists' announced to launch the Parker Solar Probe, a outstanding questions about the Sun's activity robotic car-size spacecraft, to study the Sun and and processes. Scientists hope to learn the secret reveal multiple mysteries behind the star. of the corona's enormously high temperatures. The spacecraft will be launched in August 2018 • The spacecraft is also expected to reveal the on the United Launch Alliance Delta IV Heavy mechanisms at work behind the acceleration of from Cape Canaveral in Florida. solar energetic particles, which can reach speeds This planned seven-year mission will fly into more than half as fast as the speed of light as the Sun's corona within 3.8 million miles (6.1 they rocket away from the Sun. million km) from the solar surface, seven times Parker Solar Probe uses four suites of closer than any other spacecraft. instruments Parker Solar Probe- The spacecraft carries several instruments to • Parker Solar Probe is part of NASA’s Living study the Sun remotely or directly. Together, the with a Star Program to explore aspects of the data from these instruments will help scientists Sun-Earth system that directly affect life and answer three foundational questions about the society. Sun. • The spacecraft has been designed to endure • FIELDS suite: Led by the University of wicked heat while zooming through the solar California, Berkeley, the FIELDS suite corona to study the outermost part of the stellar measures the electric and magnetic fields around atmosphere that gives rise to the solar wind. the spacecraft. FIELDS captures waves and • Parker Solar Probe will fly down within 4 turbulence in the inner heliosphere with high million miles of the sun's surface, facing heat time resolution. and radiation like no spacecraft before it. • WISPR instrument: The Wide-Field Imager for • It will provide new data on solar activity and Parker Solar Probe (WISPR) instrument is the will help scientists in forecasting major space- only imaging instrument aboard the spacecraft. weather events that impact life on Earth. • SWEAP suite: The SWEAP (Solar Wind What made this mission a reality? Electrons Alphas and Protons Investigation) • Technology like the heat shield, solar array suite uses two complementary instruments to cooling system and fault management system gather data. It measures properties as velocity, has made such a mission a reality. density, and temperature to improve our • The heat shield called the Thermal Protection understanding of the solar wind and coronal System (TPS) is a sandwich of carbon-carbon plasma. composite surrounding four and half inches • ISʘIS suite: The ISOIS suite (Integrated of carbon foam. Science Investigation of the Sun) measures • The solar array cooling system allows the particles across a wide range of energies. The solar arrays to produce power under the symbol ‘ʘ’ stands for the Sun. intense thermal load from the Sun and the fault management system protects the spacecraft during the long periods of time when the spacecraft can’t communicate with

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Telecom Commission of India • It also recommended that licensing terms must approves Net Neutrality detail the list of bias the operator may have in The Telecom Commission on July 11, 2018 terms of offering content approved the Telecom Regulatory Authority of The Internet service providers who break the India's (TRAI) net neutrality recommendations rules could lose their licenses to operate in that bar service providers from discriminating India. against internet content and services by The recommendations, which were the result of blocking, throttling or granting them higher a long, multistage consultation process, were speed access. then forwarded to the ministry of IT and The decision that aims to ensure open and free Communication. Internet in the country was taken at a meeting of Exceptions- the Commission, the highest decision-making The rules grant exceptions to some services body in the Department of Telecommunication including internet calling and online television in New Delhi. provided by telecom companies. Speaking after the meeting, Telecom It also allows the net providers to ignore net Commission Chairman Aruna Sundararajan said neutrality in case of emergencies, security that some critical applications or services like threats or to manage high traffic across the remote surgery and autonomous cars will be network. kept out of the purview of the net neutrality framework. Other Details- TRAI’s recommendations on net neutrality- • The Department of Telecom will set-up a • TRAI had issued its recommendations on net multi-stakeholder body for the monitoring and neutrality in India in November 2017. enforcement of net neutrality. • In its recommendations, the regulatory body • The monitoring body will comprise asserted that there should be no intrusion of government representatives, telecom operators, equal internet access to everyone, based on just civil society members and others. the content. • Besides this, the Telecom Commission • According to TRAI, operators must be barred approved the new Telecom policy -National from blocking, degrading or slowing down Digital Communications Policy (NDCP) 2018, internet traffic selectively or granting which will now seek the approval of the cabinet. preferential speed or treatment to any content. • The National Digital Communications Policy • The body said that the principle would apply to aims to attract investments worth Rs 6 lakh any discriminatory treatment based on the 50,000 crores, create 40 lakh new jobs and sender or receiver, the network protocols, or the provide 50 megabits per second broadband user equipment, but not to specialised services access to every citizen in the digital or other exclusions. communications sector by 2022 with the help of • It would also not restrict the adoption of reforms. reasonable traffic management practices by the What is Net Neutrality? service provider. Net neutrality is a principle that requires the • The body also noted that internet is an open Internet service providers to treat all content on platform and Internet of Things (IoT), as a class the Internet equally without favouring or of service is not excluded from the scope of the withholding access to certain websites, services restrictions on non-discriminatory treatment or apps or charging differently based on the • It also recommended restrictions on service user, content, website or platform. providers from entering into any tie-ups or The net neutrality rules prevent internet service agreements that would lead to discriminatory providers from intentionally blocking, slowing treatment of internet content. down internet traffic selectively or charging

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money for specific websites and online content. The move is in line with the vision of Prime The rules aim to give consumers equal access to Minister Narendra Modi who, in a meeting web content and prevent broadband providers chaired by him on May 4, 2018 had desired a from favouring their own content. technology challenge to promote latest technologies to avoid human intervention in the Overall, the Indian government’s decision to cleaning of sewers and septic tanks. approve the net neutrality rules is a major step The challenge will be a part of the Mahatma towards ensuring a free, open and fair internet Gandhi International Sanitation Convention that and it is particularly important, as it comes will be held on October 2, 2018 and will remain months after the Federal Communications open up to 5: 30 pm on August 14, 2018. Commission (FCC) decided to roll back similar Proposals have been invited by the Housing and protections in the United States. Urban Affairs Ministry from interested Indian activists believe net neutrality is vital to innovators, individuals, consortium partners, ensure that hundreds of millions of Indians companies, academic institutions, research and aren't exploited in the process. development centers, NGOs, Parastatal and US repeals Net Neutrality- municipal bodies to provide innovative technical • In December 2017, the United States Federal solutions that will eliminate the need for human Communications Commission (FCC) voted entry into septic tanks and sewers. along party lines to repeal the 2015 Open Objective- Internet Order that protects net neutrality in the The main objective of the challenge is to nation. eliminate human intervention in the cleaning of • The proposal put forth by FCC Chairman Ajit sewers and septic tanks. Pai was approved in a 3-2 vote, at a highly Hence, the challenge aims to: anticipated meeting that was held in Washington • Identify technological as well as business DC. process innovations. • The voting process saw three Republican • Endorse viable business models that are commissioners in favour and two Democrat suitable for a different size, geographies, and commissioners against. class of cities. • The repeal of net neutrality marked a huge • Pilot test and handhold to scale the shortlisted victory for the internet service providers in the technologies/solutions in select project cities. country, as it handed them power over what • Bridge the gap between content consumers can access. innovators/manufacturers and beneficiaries- i.e. • The move will give ISPs greater power to limit ULBs, citizens internet access while favouring certain data streams. Evaluation- A special jury comprising experts from the

Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, faculty Government launches ‘Technology from IITs/IIMs and representatives of leading Challenge’ to eliminate human entry civil society groups will be constituted for into sewers evaluation and scrutiny of the technological Government launches ‘Technology Challenge’ solutions submitted by the participants. to eliminate human entry into sewers The jurors shall adopt the following broad The Union Ministry of Housing and Urban criteria for evaluation of the proposals: Affairs has launched a ‘Technology Challenge: a) The operational effectiveness of the Identifying solutions for cleaning of Sewerage Technology Systems and Septic Tanks’ to promote suitable b) Life or durability of the machinery techniques for cleaning sewers and septic tanks. c) Ease of use (automation) d) Ease of availability/Economies of scale

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e) Adaptability/Versatility • The crew module reached an altitude of nearly f) Made in India 2.7 km under the power of its seven specifically- g) Environmentally Sustainable designed quick acting solid motors to take away Further, the challenge will be conducted for the crew module to a safe distance without two separate categories: exceeding the safe g-levels. Category A- Technological solutions for • Nearly 300 sensors recorded various mission cleaning and maintenance of sewerage systems performance parameters during the test flight. that eliminate the need for human entry. • Further, three recovery boats were exercised to Category B- Technological solutions for retrieve the module as a part of the recovery cleaning and maintenance of septic tanks that protocol. eliminate the need for human entry. Background- • The crew escape system is being developed by ISRO conducts successful flight testing ISRO as a part of its proposed Human of Crew Escape System Spaceflight Programme. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) • The Indian Human Spaceflight Programme on July 5, 2018 conducted successful flight (HSP) is a proposal to ISRO to develop and testing of ‘Crew Escape System’. launch the ISRO Orbital Vehicle, which would The major technology demonstration is the first carry a two-member crew to the Low Earth in a series of ‘pad abort’ tests to qualify the Orbit. system, which is a critical technology relevant • The programme envisages the development of for future human space mission. a fully autonomous orbital vehicle carrying two crew members to about 300 km low earth orbit What is Crew Escape System? and their safe return. The Crew Escape System is an emergency • The spaceship would be launched by the escape measure designed to quickly pull the GSLV MkIII launcher. crew module along with the astronauts to a safe • Pre-project activities have been initiated to distance from the launch vehicle in the event of study and develop critical technologies for the a launch abort. mission. The first test (Pad Abort Test) demonstrated the safe recovery of the crew module in case of any exigency at the launch pad. Key Highlights- • ISRO tested the crew escape system for its new crew capsule in an emergency pad abort test (PAT). • The Crew Escape System along with the simulated crew module with a mass of 12.6 tonnes, lifted off from its launch pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, following a smooth countdown of 5 hours. • The test, which lasted for around 259 seconds, a little over 3 minutes, involved aborting the crew module at launch to save the astronauts. • During the test, the Crew Escape System along with the crew module soared upward towards the sky and then arced out over the Bay of Bengal and floated back to Earth under its parachutes, about 2.9 km from Sriharikota. 21

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the people suffering from air-pollution related ENVIRONMENT / diseases take advantage of the advisories and ECOLOGY precautions in Delhi alone, it would result in a saving of nearly Rs 2,500 crores in terms of

health-related cost benefit. Environment Minister inaugurates • The system will also accelerate public advanced system of air quality awareness and preparedness of air pollution and ‘SAFAR’ weather extremes. Union Environment Minister Harsh Vardhan • It will also lead to a better understanding of unveiled a state-of-the-art Air Quality and linkages among emissions, weather, pollution Weather Forecast System– ‘SAFAR’ (System of and climate. Air Quality and Weather Forecasting) at • It will also monitor all weather parameters like Chandni Chowk in New Delhi on July 21, 2018. temperature, rainfall, humidity, wind speed and First of its kind in the country, the system was wind direction. developed indigenously in record time by Indian • In addition to regular air quality parameters Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Pune and like PM2.5, PM10, Sulfur Dioxide, Ozone, operationalised by India Meteorological Nitrogen Oxides, Carbon Monoxide, the system Department (IMD). will also monitor the existence of Benzene, Key Highlights- Toluene and Xylene. •The giant true colour LED display will give out • Besides health, SAFAR system would benefit real-time air quality index on 24x7 basis with cost savings to several other sectors such as colour coding along with 72-hour advance agriculture, aviation, infrastructure, disaster weather forecast. management skill and tourism, which directly or • Based on the air quality index on a particular indirectly get affected by air quality and day, health advisory and related precaution will weather. be notified to prepare citizens well in advance. • The new system would also be able to measure NMCG organises ‘Ganga sun’s UV-Index and track ultrafine particles such as PM1, mercury and black carbon in real Vriksharopan Abhiyan’ in five Ganga time, which have a direct relevance to human Basin States health. The National Mission for Clean Ganga • Based on the UVI, skin advisories will be (NMCG) organised the ‘Ganga Vriksharopan issued on display. Abhiyan’ in five main Ganga basin states – Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand About SAFAR- and West Bengal. This week-long afforestation The Environment Ministry’s mission model drive was organised during July 9 to July 15, project ‘SAFAR’ is being implemented in four 2018 as ‘Shubharambh Saptah’. cities of India – Delhi, Pune, Mumbai and The State Forest Departments of these five Ahmedabad as an operational service. states acted as the Nodal Agencies for the The system will be an integral part of India’s smooth and effective execution of the campaign. first Air Quality Early Warning System While, the Divisional Forest Officers (DFOs) operational in Delhi and will strengthen the were designated as the district level Nodal existing air quality network of SAFAR, Central Officers and Chief Conservator of Forest (CCF) Pollution Control Board and Delhi Pollution at the State level for the event. Control Committee. Apart from these states, various organisations Benefits- took part in this drive such as the Nehru Yuva • Preliminary economic assessment of the Kendra Sangathan (NYKS), Ganga Vichar benefits of the system reveal that if 5 per cent of Manch (GVM), NGOs and educational

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institutions. • Considering the type of natural ecosystem, Highlights of the ‘Ganga Vriksharopan identification of native vegetation, soil Abhiyan’ conditions and agro-climatic zones, the potential • The campaign was initiated as part of the models of various types have been developed. Forest Interventions in Ganga (FIG) component • The implementation plan aims to contribute of Namami Gange Programme. towards the Clean Ganga Mission, particularly • It was aimed at bringing greater awareness Aviral Dhara and Nirmal Dhara, besides among people and other stakeholders regarding maintenance of the ecological and geological the importance of afforestation for the task of integritie. Ganga Rejuvenation. Significance of Afforestation in Ganga • A number of schools, colleges and departments Basin- were requested to “Adopt a Plant” for turning this campaign into a people’s movement. Forests cause higher rainfall and raise water Various seminars, workshops, lectures, drawing level in the rivers. The abundant leaf litter, and painting competitions are being organised trees and forests decrease the speed of water for the same purpose. dispersion and support slow but greater • Plantation activities were carried out with great infiltration of rainwater to ensure smooth enthusiasm all along the banks of the River functioning of the hydrological cycle. Ganga with participation of local people. Moreover, presence of healthy forest cover • Formal events to mark the campaign were held along the river provides self-cleaning ability to at over 100 locations. In Uttar Pradesh, the the river. Thus, afforestation along the Ganga programme is merged with the Ganga Haritima holds the promise to strengthen the ecosystem, Abhiyan. thereby contributing to the cause of Ganga • Some of the plants which were sown during Rejuvenation. the campaign are Kanji, Sheesham, Farmis, National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) Jamun, Arjun, Gutal, Siras, Chhitvan, Mango, • It was established on 12 August 2011 under Neem, Semal, Jungal Jalebi, Gulmohar, Kadam, the Societies Registration Act 1860. Sagwan, Saal, Mahogni, Ber, Bamboo, • It is the implementation arm of National Karaonda, Ashwagandha, Curry Patta, Jathrofa, Council for Rejuvenation, Protection and Beheda, Dhatura, Sarpgandha etc. Management of River Ganga (National Ganga • In order to implement the afforestation project Council). in a scientific manner, Forest Research Institute • It has a two tier management structure and (FRI), Dehradun was assigned the project to comprises Governing Council and Executive prepare a Detailed Project Report (DPR) on the Committee. basis of which the State Forest Departments • Both the bodies are headed by Director would carry out their plantation activities. General (DG), NMCG. Report of Forest Research Institute (FRI)- • The Executive Committee is authorised to • The Detailed Project Report (DPR) submitted approve projects under mission up to Rs.1000 by Forest Research Institute (FRI), Dehradun Cr. identified a riverscape covering an area of 83946 • The Director General (DG) of NMCG is also km along the five main stem Ganga basin states. an Additional Secretary in Government of India. This riverscape has been marked for afforestation over a period of 5 years at a cost of Rising sea levels could cost world $14 Rs 2293.73 crore. trillion by 2100: Study • The FRI report provides a multi-disciplinary Flooding from rising sea levels could cost $14 approach with potential plantation and treatment trillion worldwide annually by 2100, if the target models. of holding global temperatures below 2ºC above pre-industrial levels is not achieved, as per a 23

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study led by the UK National Oceanographic Jevrejeva stated that if the warming is not Centre (NOC). controlled and follows the RCP8.5 sea level rise The study was published on July 3, 2018 in a projections, the global annual flood costs science journal - Environmental Research without adaptation will increase to $14 trillion Letters. per year for a median sea level rise of 0.86m and According to the study’s lead author, Dr up to $27 trillion per year for 1.8m. This would Svetlana Jevrejeva from the NOC, "More than account for 2.8 per cent of the global GDP in 600 million people live in low-elevation coastal 2100. areas, less than 10 meters above sea level. In a Other Details- warming climate, global sea level will rise due to the melting of land-based glaciers and ice • The projected difference in coastal sea levels is sheets and from the thermal expansion of ocean also likely to mean tropical areas will see waters. So, sea level rise is one of the most extreme sea levels more often. damaging aspects of our warming climate." • These extreme sea levels will have a negative Study: Key Highlights- effect on the economies of developing coastal • The researchers have revealed that upper- nations, and the habitability of low-lying middle income countries such as China would coastlines. see the largest increase in flood costs, whereas • The most vulnerable nations would be small, the highest income countries would suffer the low-lying island nations such as the Maldives. It least, due to existing high levels of protection would mount more pressure on the natural infrastructure. resources and environment of such nations. • The sea level projections exist for emissions • Hence, the results place a high emphasis on scenarios and socio-economic scenarios. putting even greater efforts in controlling the • However, there are no scenarios covering rise in global temperatures. limiting warming below the 2°C and 1.5°C targets during the entire 21st century and beyond. • The study team explored the pace and consequences of global and regional sea level rise with the restricted warming of 1.5 ºC and 2 ºC, and compared them to sea level projections with unmitigated warming following emissions scenario Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP) 8.5. • Using World Bank income groups (high, upper middle, lower middle and low-income countries), the team then assessed the impact of sea level rise in coastal areas from a global perspective and for some individual countries using the Dynamic Interactive Vulnerability Assessment modelling framework. Speaking on the findings, Dr Jevrejeva said that they had found that with a temperature rise trajectory of 1.5°C, the median sea level will have risen by 0.52m (1.7ft) by 2100. But, if the 2°C target is missed, then the world will witness a median sea level rise of 0.86m (2.8ft), and a worst-case rise of 1.8m (5.9ft).

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Africa, Modi will attend 10th BRICS TREATY & Summit at Johannesburg in South Africa. AGREEMENTS • It is the first ever visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Uganda and Rwanda in over 20 years. PM Modi also delivered the keynote India, Uganda sign four MoUs in address at the Ugandan Parliament, thus, various fields becoming the first Indian Prime Minister to India and Uganda on July 24, 2018 signed four do so. Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) in • However, Modi had visited Uganda in 2007 various fields including the areas of defence, when he was the Chief Minister of Gujarat. diplomatic ties, cultural exchange and material • This is not Modi’s first visit to the African testing laboratory. continent as the Prime Minister. He earlier The agreements were signed following the visited Mozambique, South Africa, delegation-level talks between Prime Minister Tanzania, Kenya, Mauritius and Seychelles Narendra Modi and Ugandan President Yoweri in 2015 and 2016. Museveni in Kampala. MoUs signed between India and Uganda: PM Modi’s visit to Rwanda- • MoU on Defence Cooperation During the first leg of his three-African nations’ • MoU on Visa exemption for Diplomatic and tour in Rwanda, PM Modi attended the India- official passport holders. Rwanda Business forum in Kigali. India and • MoU on Cultural Exchange Programme Rwanda signed eight agreements in various • MoU on Material Testing Laboratory. fields including Defence, Trade and Agriculture Other initiatives announced by PM Modi for following delegation-level talks between PM Uganda- Modi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame. • Prime Minister Narendra Modi also announced Moreover, PM Modi also announced to open a two Lines of Credit worth nearly USD 200 High Commission in Rwanda which will not million to Uganda in energy, infrastructure, only establish communication between the agriculture and dairy sectors. governments of the two countries but also • India will continue to play a stable partner in enable facilities for consular, passport and visa. the country's journey towards development. India will also donate 200 cows for Rwanda’s • India will also render vehicles, ambulances and pet social protection scheme, Girinka. cancer therapy machine to Uganda. • PM Modi also offered to build a India, Rwanda sign 8 agreements commemoration centre in Kampala in memory India and Rwanda signed eight agreements on of Mahatma Gandhi. July 23, 2018 following delegation-level talks • Both the countries would work together in between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and trade, investment and tourism sectors, Rwandan President Paul Kagame in Kigali, the supporting mutual prosperity through capital city of Rwanda. reciprocity. Modi and Kagame held wide-ranging talks and • Training, capacity building and infrastructure discussed a host of measures to boost bilateral creation are core areas of cooperation between strategic ties. Addressing a joint press India and Uganda. conference, Prime Minister Modi assured Rwanda that India will continue to back the Note- African country’s development. Rwanda • PM Modi visited Kampala, Ugandan capital President said PM Modi’s visit represents a on the second leg of his three-African milestone between the two nations. nations’ tour after concluding his Rwanda visit. On the last leg of his five-day visit to

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Key Highlights- • From Rwanda, the Prime Minister will visit • The agreements were signed in the fields of Uganda, before heading to Johannesburg in defence, trade, agriculture, leather and allied South Africa to attend the 10th BRICS Summit. products and dairy. • India also extended two lines of credit (LoCs) India, South Korea sign 5 MoUs for worth $200 million to Rwanda: cooperation in Science & Technology - For the development of industrial parks and July 9, 2018 signed five MoUs for cooperation Kigali Special Economic Zone. in the field of Science & Technology. - For the development of three agricultural The MoUs were signed at the conclusion of the projects in Rwanda. 4th India-Korea Science & Technology • Prime Minister Narendra Modi also announced Ministers Steering Committee Meeting. The the opening of the first Indian diplomatic Korean delegation was led by South Korean mission in the East African nation. President Moon Jae-in, who arrived in New • The move will not only establish Delhi on July 8, 2018 on a three-day visit. communication between the governments of the Both the sides reviewed bilateral S&T two countries but also enable facilities for cooperation between the two countries since the consular, passport and visa. last meeting of the Steering Committee at Seoul • Besides this, a task force will be set up in November 2015. between the two countries to enable digital Highlights of the MoUs signed- learning mediums for children. Union Minister for Science & Technology, Dr Other Details- Harsh Vardhan and his South Korean • Modi has become the first Indian Prime counterpart You Young Min signed three MoUs: Minister to visit Rwanda when he landed in (i) Programme of Cooperation 2018-21 Kigali on the first leg of his three-nation tour to (ii) Establishment of Future Strategy Group Africa. The Rwandan President personally (iii) Cooperation in Biotechnology & received Modi at the airport. Bioeconomy • During his visit, the Prime Minister will visit Among other two MoUs, one was signed the Kigali Genocide Memorial which is the final between Council of Scientific & Industrial resting place of more than 2 lakh 50,000 victims Research (CSIR), and South Korean National of Genocide against the Tutsis in Rwanda. Research Council for Science & Technology; • Modi will also visit the Rweru Model Village and another was signed between IIT Mumbai where he would be donating 200 cows under the and Korea Institute of Science &Technology to Girinka programme, a scheme initiated by further accelerate future-oriented cooperation in President Kagame in response to the high rate of their respective sectors. child malnutrition and as a means of They agreed to establish Indo-Korean Center for accelerating poverty reduction and integrate Research and Innovation (IKCRI) in India, livestock and crop farming. which will act as the hub for systematic • Modi would also be taking part in the India- operation and management of all cooperative Rwanda Business Forum. programmes in research and innovation Background- including innovation & entrepreneurship and • The Prime Minister's visit to Rwanda is technology transfer. historic as Rwanda is an important gateway to MoU on Programme of Cooperation 2018-21- Eastern Africa. Both the countries renewed the Programme of • India had elevated its bilateral relations with Cooperation in the field of Science and Rwanda to the level of a strategic partnership in Technology for 2018-21 to augment the January 2017. cooperation in Science, Technology and • The Rwandan President is the current Chair of Innovation. the African Union. 26

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MoU on Cooperation in Biotechnology & Bioeconomy- In the area of biotechnology, both the sides have agreed to extend cooperation in health and medicine, agro-fishery products developed with the adoption of biotechnology; environment- related challenges and developing energy sectors through bio-technology. MoU on Establishment of Future Strategy Group- • The MoU on ‘Establishment of Future Strategy Group’ was signed by Indian Science & Technology and Commerce Ministers, while on the Korean side, it was signed by Science and ICT and Trade Ministers. • The Future Strategic Group will build a collaborative platform that can utilise the potential of both the countries towards fostering innovation and create impact which is of social and economic good. • Both the sides will be co-funding collaborative enterprise-led joint R&D projects covering Digital Transformation, Future Manufacturing, Future Utilities and Health Care. Establishment of two India-Korea Joint Network Centres- They agreed to jointly establish two additional India-Korea Joint Network Centres in areas among ‘Cyber Physical System- Artificial Intelligence, Internet of Things focused on agriculture, energy, water and transportation and ‘Semiconductor Electronics’. These centres will leverage existing infrastructure and funding available from the partners on both sides in focused applied research areas, which have potential towards technology development.

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Climate Change- SUMMIT / The leaders welcomed the progress towards finalising the Work Programme under the Paris CONFERENCE Agreement and expressed their willingness to continue working constructively with other BRICS Summit 2018: Johannesburg Parties to conclude its related negotiations at the Declaration adopted United Nations Framework Convention on The heads of state and government of all five Climate Change (UNFCCC) towards the 24th BRICS nations including Brazil, Russia, India, Conference of the Parties (UNFCCC COP24), China and South Africa convened for the 10th which is to be held in Katowice, Poland in BRICS Summit from July 25-27, 2018 in December 2018. Johannesburg, South Africa. They further called upon all countries to fully Theme: ‘BRICS in Africa: Collaboration for implement the Paris Agreement including the inclusive growth and shared prosperity in the principles of common but differentiated 4th Industrial Revolution' responsibilities and respective capabilities and The summit saw the BRICS leaders come urged the developed countries to provide together and discuss various international and financial, technological and capacity-building regional issues of common concern and adopted support to developing countries to enhance their the 'Johannesburg Declaration' by consensus. capability in mitigation and adaptation. The declaration reaffirms principles of Energy- democracy, inclusiveness and agrees to fight The leaders agreed to strengthen BRICS unilateralism and protectionism. cooperation in energy, especially in transitioning Key Points of the Declaration- to more environmentally sustainable energy The leaders jointly reaffirmed their commitment systems supportive of the global sustainable to the principles of mutual respect, sovereign development agenda and balanced economic equality, democracy, inclusiveness and growth. strengthened collaboration. They also agreed to strive toward universal The BRICS leaders have used the summit to energy access, energy security, energy reject the growing unilateralism and instead affordability, reduced pollution and reiterate their commitment to the strengthening environmental conservation. of multilateral institutions, calling for stronger They also acknowledged that the BRICS intra-trade within member states. Ministers of Energy agreed to establish the The declaration comes as the United States and BRICS Energy Research Cooperation Platform China remain deadlocked in a trade war over and to develop its Terms of Reference. tariffs. Agriculture- Sustainable Development- The leaders reaffirmed their support for the The leaders reaffirmed their commitment to establishment of the BRICS Agricultural fully implementing the 2030 Agenda for Research Platform (ARP) initiated by India in Sustainable Development and the Sustainable 2016. Development Goals (SDGs), to provide They agreed to strengthen the agricultural equitable, inclusive, open, all-round innovation- research collaborative networks among the driven and sustainable development, in its three BRICS countries to enhance the resilience of the dimensions — economic, social and collective agricultural and food systems in the environmental — in a balanced and integrated face of the changing climate. manner, towards the ultimate goal of eradicating They committed to step up intra-BRICS poverty by 2030. collaboration including within the frame of the Agriculture Research Platform and the Basic

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Agriculture Information Exchange System The leaders of China and Russia reiterated the (BAIES). importance they attach to the status and role of Environment- Brazil, India and South Africa in international The leaders reaffirmed to enhance cooperation affairs and their support for their aspiration to and collaboration amongst BRICS countries in play a greater role in the UN. the field of biodiversity conservation, The BRICS leaders further expressed concern sustainable use and equitable access and benefit over the ongoing conflict and heightened sharing of biological resources. tensions in the Middle-East region and stated Population- that there is no place for unlawful resorting to The leaders expressed commitment to the force or external interference in any conflict. continued implementation of the Agenda for Israel-Palestine Crisis- BRICS cooperation on population matters 2015- The leaders reiterated the need for renewed 2020, which was agreed to by the Ministers diplomatic efforts to achieve a just, lasting and responsible for Population Matters in 2014. comprehensive settlement of the Israeli- The dynamics of population age structure Palestinian conflict in order to achieve peace changes in BRICS countries pose challenges and and stability in the Middle East, through present opportunities, particularly with regard to negotiations with a view to creating an gender inequality and women's rights, youth independent, viable, territorially contiguous development, employment and the future of Palestinian State living side by side in peace and work, urbanisation, migration and ageing. security with Israel. Terrorism- Arms Race in Outer Space- The leaders deplored continued terrorist attacks, The leaders expressed serious concern about the including in some BRICS countries and possibility of an arms race in outer space and of condemned terrorism in all its forms and outer space turning into an arena for military manifestations. confrontation. They recalled the responsibility of all the states They reaffirmed that the prevention of an arms to prevent financing of terrorist networks and race, including of the placement of weapons in terrorist actions from their territories. outer space, would avert a grave danger for They called upon the international community to international peace and security. establish a genuinely broad international Economy- counter-terrorism coalition and support the UN's The leaders advocated continued use of fiscal, central coordinating role in this regard. monetary and structural policies in concert, to They called for expeditious finalisation and forge strong, sustainable, balanced and inclusive adoption of the Comprehensive Convention on growth. International Terrorism (CCIT) by the United They expressed concern at the spill-over effects Nations General Assembly. of macro-economic policy measures in some To address the threat of chemical and biological major advanced economies that may cause terrorism, the leaders emphasised on the need economic and financial volatility in emerging for launching multilateral negotiations on an economies and impact their growth prospects international convention for the suppression of adversely. acts of chemical and biological terrorism, Hence, they called on major advanced and including at the Conference on Disarmament. emerging market economies to continue policy International Peace and Security- dialogue and coordination in the context of the The leaders emphasised on the indivisible nature G20, FSB and other fora to address these of peace and security and reiterated that no potential risks. country should enhance its security at the Recalling the Johannesburg Summit's focus on expense of the security of others. the 4th Industrial Revolution and the outcomes of the BRICS Meetings of Science and

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Technology and Industry Ministers, the leaders India at BRICS- commended the establishment of the BRICS • Addressing the 10th BRICS summit, Indian Partnership on New Industrial Revolution Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the (PartNIR). fourth industrial revolution presents both For the full operationalisation of PartNIR, an opportunities and challenges for the BRICS Advisory Group will be set up, comprising nations. respective representatives of BRICS Ministries • He said there is need to be vigilant about the of Industry, to develop the Terms of Reference adverse impact of the disruptive technologies on and a Work Plan, which is to be submitted to the the economies of the developing nations. He BRICS Chair. also laid emphasis on the need to focus on skill The PartNIR aims to deepen BRICS cooperation development and vocational training to reap the in digitalisation, industrialisation, innovation, benefits of 4th industrial revolution. inclusiveness and investment and to maximise • In his concluding remarks, the Prime Minister the opportunities and address the challenges said that there is a need to share best practices arising from the 4th Industrial Revolution. and policies among BRICS countries. Trade- • The Prime Minister held bilateral meetings on Recognising that the multilateral trading system the sidelines of the Summit with the leaders of is facing unprecedented challenges, the leaders Russia, China, South Africa, Argentina and underscored the importance of an open world Angola. economy, enabling all countries and peoples to • It was Modi's third meeting with Chinese share the benefits of globalisation, which should President Xi Zinping in last 3 months. be inclusive and support sustainable Other Details- development and prosperity of all countries. Besides the BRICS Summit 2018, Indian Prime They called upon all WTO members to abide by Minister Narendra Modi participated in the WTO rules and honour their commitments in the BRICS Outreach with leaders from Africa and multilateral trading system. Outreach with leaders from Global South Corruption- summit. The leaders reaffirmed their commitment to In the BRICS Africa Outreach, the invited support international cooperation in combating countries include Rwanda, Uganda, Togo, illicit financial flows, including cooperation Zambia, Namibia, Senegal, Gabon, Ethiopia, within Financial Actions Task Force (FATF) Angola and the African Union Chair. and World Customs Organisation. What is BRICS? Condemning corruption as a global challenge, BRICS is made up of Brazil, Russia, India, the leaders committed to strengthening China and South Africa. international cooperation within the context of The group was formed initially with just four the BRICS Working Group on Anticorruption nations –Brazil, Russia, India and China Cooperation. (BRIC). The term- BRIC was coined by global The leaders agreed to cooperate in anti- economist Jim O'Neill in 2001 as an acronym of corruption law enforcement, extradition of four countries that were all deemed to be at a fugitives, economic and corruption offenders similar stage of newly advanced economic and repatriation in matters relating to assets development. recovery and other related criminal and non- Why only these four countries? criminal matters involving corruption and call According to a thesis proposed by Jim O'Neill, on the International community to deny safe global economist at Goldman Sachs, the haven to corrupt persons and proceeds of economic corruption. potential of Brazil, Russia, India and China is such that they could be among the four most dominant economies by 2050. 30

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The countries not only encompass over 25 per than 50 per cent of world economic growth cent of the world's land coverage and 40 per cent during the last 10 years. of the world's population but also hold a combined GDP (PPP) of $20 trillion. On almost every scale, they would be the largest entity on the global stage, as the four nations are among the biggest and fastest-growing emerging markets. Key Aim- The original aim of the grouping was to establish an equitable, democratic and multi- polar world order. When was the first BRIC meeting held? The first BRIC Foreign Ministers’ Meeting was held in 2006 between China, Brazil, Russia and India on the margins of the general debate of the 61st session of the United Nations General Assembly, which drew the prelude for BRIC cooperation. In 2009, the first BRIC Summit was held in Yekaterinburg, Russia and in 2010, it became a formal institution. Since then, the Summit has become an annual event. Till date, 8 Summits have been held. How did BRIC become BRICS? In December 2010, China, the Chair of the group then, invited South Africa to join BRIC and attend the Summit in Sanya, China. Following the summit, BRIC officially expanded to include 5 countries and the acronym changed from BRIC to BRICS.

Relevance of BRICS today- • With 10 years of development, BRICS has grown into an important platform for cooperation among emerging markets and developing countries. • BRICS countries come from Asia, Africa, Europe and America and are all members of the G20. • Together, the nations account for 26.46 per cent of the world land area, 42.58 per cent of the world’s population, 13.24 per cent of the World Bank voting power and 14.91 per cent of IMF quota shares. • According to IMF’s estimates, the BRICS countries generated 22.53 per cent of the world GDP in 2015 and they have contributed more

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• France’s 19-year-old Mbappe became the only SPORTS second teenager after the Brazilian football legend -Pele to score in a World Cup final. France crowned World Champions • Harry Kane, the tournament’s top goal scorer after 20 years became the first Englishman since Tommy France on July 15, 2018 clinched their second Lawton in 1939 to score in six consecutive FIFA World Cup title, beating Croatia 4-2 in the internationals, although he did not score in highest-scoring final since 1996. England's last three matches in Russia. All his The win comes for France, 20 years after they goals came in England's first four games, with claimed their first FIFA title- in 1998. three from penalty shootouts. The Final: Key Highlights- The Winners- • The 2018 final, which went underway at the Name Team Award Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, saw France lead by 2-1 at halftime with one own goal and a Harry Kane England Golden Boot penalty shot. (6 Goals) Award (Top • The own-goal came off the top of Mario goal scorer) Mandzukic's head in the 18th minute. Luka Modric Croatia Golden Ball • Croatia rallied to equalise the score with a Award (Best terrific left-foot strike by Ivan Perisic in the 28th player) minute. • However, Antoine Griezmann’s penalty shot, Thibaut Belgium Golden Glove after Ivan Perisic handled the ball in his own Courtois Award (Best penalty area, gave France the lead once again. goalkeeper) • In the second half, France made its lead even Kylian France Best Young stronger with goals coming through Paul Pogba Mbappe Player in the 59th minute and Kylian Mbappe in the 65th minute, taking the scorecard to 4-1. Spanish Spain FIFA Fair Play • Despite falling behind, Croatia kept their football team Trophy fighting spirit on and Mario Mandzukic pulled off an intelligent goal for the team in the 69th Hima Das becomes first Indian woman minute. to win gold in World Junior Athletics • However, the scorecard at the end of the extra Indian sprinter Hima Das scripted history on time read 4-2, delivering a blow to Croatia's July 12, 2018 by becoming the first Indian hopes of winning their first-ever Cup. woman athlete to win a gold medal in the • Antoine Griezmann of France was awarded women's 400m final race at the IAAF World the Man of the Match accolade for the game. Under-20 Athletics Championships, held in The Records- Tampere, Finland. • This was the first time that Croatia made it to The 18-year-old, a pre-tournament favourite, the finals of the football World Cup. It is also finished the race in 51.46s. However, this wasn’t the smallest country to reach the final in the her personal best, as she had clocked 51.13 last modern era. month in Guwahati at the National Inter-State • The team’s previous best performance was in Championships. 1998, when again they had lost to France in the semi-finals. The team then failed to get past the The Firsts- group stage in 2002, 2006 and 2014 World Cup • With the win, Das has become the first Indian and did not qualify in 2010. woman, be it junior or senior, to win a gold • For France, it was their first World Cup win medal at any level in a World Championship. after winning on home soil in 1998. • She is also the first Indian, man or woman, to 32

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have won a gold in a track event at the world vault event of the FIG Artistic Gymnastics level. World Challenge Cup at Mersin, Turkey. • In fact, Das is the first Indian track athlete to The win comes as Karmakar returned to action have won a medal in the history of this after a long layoff of almost two years due to a competition. knee injury. The 24-year-old, who hails from • She now joins Indian star Javelin thrower Tripura, scored 14.150 to clinch the gold. Neeraj Chopra, who won a gold medal in the Key Highlights- 2016 edition of the IAAF World U20 • This is Dipa's first medal in a World Challenge Championships, which were held in Bydgoszcz, Cup. She had topped the qualification also with Poland. a score of 13.400. • Other Indian medal winners at the World • In her first attempt, Dipa had a difficulty score Junior Championships incude Seema Punia, who of 5.400 while collecting 8.700 in execution for won bronze in discus throw in 2002 and Navjeet a total of 14.100. She improved the score in her Kaur Dhillon, who also won a bronze medal in second attempt to 14.200 (5.600+8.600), giving discus throw in 2014. her a total average of 14.150. • The contestants who came second and third About Hima Das- included Rifda Irfanaluthfi of Indonesia who • The sprinter belongs to Dhing village in clinched the silver with 13.400 points and Assam's Nagaon distrist. She took up serious Goksu Uctas Sanli from Turkey, who took the running only in 2017. bronze with a score of 13.200. • Das had earlier clocked an Indian U-20 record • Dipa had also qualified in the balance beam of 51.32 seconds to finish sixth in the finals by finishing third in the qualification with Commonwealth Games 400m final in Gold a score of 11.850. However, she ended up Coast in April 2018. finishing fourth in the event. • Since then, she has improved her timings. She • She was accompanied at the event by her bettered her previous performance and lowered coach, Bisheshwar Nandi. India’s U-20 record in 400m by clocking 51.13 seconds in the recent National Inter-State Injury Blow- Championships in Guwahati. Karmakar had suffered an Anterior Cruciate • In the IAAF World Under-20 Athletics Ligament (ACL) injury after 2016 Rio Championships, Das was the favourite to win Olympics and had to undergo a knee surgery. the gold, as she was the U-20 season leader in She was initially confident of making a this quarter-mile event. comeback at the Commonwealth Games but • Running in lane number 4, Das was behind rehabilitation took more time than expected and Romania’s Andrea Miklos at the final bend but she had to miss the Gold Coast event. produced a stunning show during the final 50m stretch to cross the finishing line well ahead of others to clinch the gold. Other Details- • While Miklos settled for silver with 52.07 • Dipa along with Rakesh Patra were the only seconds, USA’s Taylor Manson came third with two Indians who competed in the tournament. 52.28 seconds. • Rakesh Patra missed out on a medal in the men’s rings event finals, as he finished fourth Dipa Karmakar becomes first Indian with a score of 13.650. to win gold at Gymnastics World Cup • Ibrahim Colak of Turkey won the gold in Dipa Karmakar, one of India's leading gymnasts, the event with a total score of 15.100, while scripted history on July 8, 2018 by becoming the Romanian Andrei Vasile (14.600) and first Indian gymnast to win a gold medal in the Dutchman Yuri van Gelder (14.300) won the silver and bronze medal respectively.

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• Rakesh also competed in the parallel bars and former England Women’s wicket-keeper finals but finished fifth. Claire Taylor into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame • World Challenge Cup series is an important in a glittering ceremony in Dublin, Ireland. competition in the calendar of International With the move, Dravid became the fifth Indian Gymnastics Federation. There are six events in player to be named in the Hall of Fame, Ponting the World Challenge Cup series this year and became the 25th from Australia and Taylor this is the fourth leg of the season. became the third female player from England to • Both Dipa and Rakesh have been included be named on the list and seventh overall. Dravid in the 10-member Indian gymnastics team for and Ponting have both scored more than 10,000 the upcoming Asian Games. runs in Tests and ODIs. The three former players were selected into the About Dipa Karmakar- illustrious list by members of the Hall of Fame • On August 10, 2016, Karmakar became the and the media, as per an ICC press release. The first female gymnast from India to qualify for other Indian cricketers to feature in the list the final vault event at the 2016 Rio Olympics, include former Indian captains Anil Kumble, with a score of 14.833. Bishan Singh Bedi, Kapil Dev and Sunil • She missed out on the bronze medal, finishing Gavaskar. 4th in the finals of the Women's Vault event Speaking on the development, Dravid said, “It is with an overall score of 15.066. a matter of great honour to be named by the ICC • She is the first Indian female gymnast ever to in the Cricket Hall of Fame. To find your name compete in the Olympics, and the first Indian in a list of all-time greats across generations is gymnast to do so in 52 years. something one only dreams of while setting out • Karmakar is only the fifth woman in on a cricket career and the kind of recognition gymnastics history to land the Produnova vault that would delight any player.” or the handspring double front. Ponting, who led Australia to World Cup • She first gained attention when she won a victories in 2003 and 2007 besides being part of bronze medal at the 2014 Commonwealth the victorious 1999 squad said, “I feel deeply Games in Glasgow, becoming the first Indian honoured to be recognised by the ICC in this female gymnast to do so in the history of the way. I loved every moment of my journey as a Games. player and am so very proud of the team and • She also won a bronze medal at the Asian personal achievements along the way.” Gymnastics Championships and finished fifth at Taylor on the other hand said, "It's a great the 2015 World Artistic Gymnastics honour to be inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame Championships, creating another set of firsts for alongside some of the greatest names of the India. men's and women's game from across the world

and throughout the generations, players who I • For her commendable performance in Rio looked up to during my playing career and hold Olympics 2016, the Indian Government in great esteem. honoured her with the Khel Ratna award in ICC Chief Executive David Richardson said, August 2016. “The ICC Cricket Hall of Fame is our way of • She also received the Padma Shri, India's honouring the greats of our game. Only the very fourth highest civilian award, in 2017. best players in the world are recognised for their

contribution to cricket in this way and I would Rahul Dravid, Ricky Ponting inducted like to congratulate Rahul, Ricky and Claire into ICC Hall of Fame who are wonderful additions to the list of The International Cricket Council (ICC) on July cricketing luminaries in the Hall of Fame.” 1, 2018 inducted former Indian captain Rahul Dravid, former Australian captain Ricky Ponting

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• The foundation provides free shelter, food, and AWARDS AND psychiatric treatment to such people and work to reunite them with their families. HONOURS Sonam Wangchuk’s contribution and recognition- India's Bharat Vatwani, Sonam • Wangchuk was recognised for "his uniquely Wangchuk among 2018 Ramon systematic, collaborative and community-driven Magsaysay Award winners reform of learning systems in remote northern India's Bharat Vatwani, Sonam Wangchuk India, thus improving the life opportunities of among 2018 Ramon Magsaysay Award winners Ladakhi youth, and his constructive engagement Two Indians, namely, Bharat Vatwani and of all sectors in local society to harness science Sonam Wangchuk on July 26, 2018 won the and culture creatively for economic progress, 2018 Ramon Magsaysay Award, the Asian thus setting an example for minority peoples in version of the Nobel Prize. the world". Bharat Vatwani is a psychiatrist who works for • Wangchuck was just a 19-year-old engineering the mentally-ill street persons, while, Sonam student at Srinagar’s National Institute of Wangchuk works to harness science and culture Technology (NIT) when he went into taking creatively for economic progress that has tuitions to finance his schooling and help improved the lives of the Ladakhi youth. unprepared students in passing the national Vatwani and Wangchuk are among the six college matriculation exams. individuals who were declared as the winners of • In 1988, after earning his engineering degree, this year's Ramon Magsaysay Award. Wangchuk founded ‘Students' Education and Other winners are: Cultural Movement of Ladakh’ (SECMOL) and • Youk Chhang from Cambodia started coaching the Ladakhi student, 95 percent • Maria de Lourdes Martins Cruz from East of whom used to fail the government exams. Timor • In 1994, Operation New Hope (ONH) was • Howard Dee from the Philippines launched with Wangchuk in the lead. The • Vo Thi Hoang Yen rom Vietnam operation was launched to expand and The winners will be formally conferred with the consolidate the partnership-driven educational Award during formal presentation ceremony reform programme. that will be held on August 31, 2018, at the Ramon Magsaysay Award- Cultural Centre of the Philippines. • The Award was established in 1957 and is Bharat Vatwani’s contribution and widely regarded as Asia’s equivalent of the recognition- Nobel Prize. • Vatwani was recognised for "his tremendous • It was established in 1957 in the memory of courage and healing compassion in embracing Philippines’ 3rd President Ramon Magsaysay India's mentally-afflicted destitute, and his who had died in air disaster in March 1957. steadfast and magnanimous dedication to the • The awardees receive a certificate, a medallion work of restoring and affirming the human bearing the likeness of the late President Ramon dignity of even the most ostracised." Magsaysay, and a cash prize. • Vatwani and his wife started an informal • The Award honours those individuals whose operation of bringing mentally-ill street persons lives are characterised by selfless service which to their private clinic for treatment. impacts the lives of many others. • Later in 1988, they established the Shraddha Rehabilitation Foundation with an aim to rescue Surat to receive ‘City Award’ under mentally-ill persons living on the streets. India Smart Cities Award 2018 Surat smart city has been selected for ‘City Award’ for showing great momentum in the 35

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implementation of projects under ‘India Smart Coimbatore and Cities Award’ 2018. Waste to Energy Overall, nine awards have been announced Plant in Jabalpur under the India Smart Cities Awards. The awards are divided into three categories: 6 Transport and Integrated Transit 1. City Award- Mobility Management System The city award will be conferred to Surat for (TMS) from showing great momentum in the implementation Ahmedabad and of projects especially in the categories of urban Surat environment, transport and mobility and 7 Water and Smart Water sustainable integrated development. Sanitation Management through 2. Innovative Idea Award- SCADA from The Innovative idea award is conferred to a Ahmedabad project or an idea that is particularly remarkable About India Smart Cities Award- for its innovative, bottom-up and transformative • The awards were launched on June 25, 2017 approach towards the achievement of with an aim to reward cities, projects and sustainable integrated development. innovative ideas, promoting sustainable The joint winners in the category include development in cities. Bhopal for its Integrated Command and Control • Only smart cities are eligible for the awards. Centre (ICCC) and Ahmedabad for its Safe and • The results were declared after a technical Secure Ahmedabad (SASA) Project. committee comprising international/multilateral 3. Project Award- experts from UN Habitat, Asian Development The award is given to most innovative and Bank and NIUA evaluated the submissions successful projects in seven categories that have based on innovation, impact, replicability and been completed by April 1, 2018. scalability. The selected projects include: • The city award was decided on the basis of the S. Category Project Name cities' performance on their awards score and on No. weekly ranking score as on May 2, 2018, which 1 Governance PMC Care from Pune was the award application submission deadline.

2 Built Environment Smart Place Making from Pune 3 Social Aspects Smart Class rooms from NDMC and Jabalpur, Smart Campus from Visakhapatnam, Lighthouse from Pune

4 Culture and B Nest Incubation Economy Centre from Bhopal, Conservation of Rajasthan School of Arts from Jaipur 5 Urban Public Bike Sharing Environment from Bhopal, Pune,

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and improve the quality and representativeness COMMISSION & of the indices. The CSO had last updated base year for GDP COMMITTEE calculation to 2011-12 in January 2015, replacing the old series base year of 2004-05. Ravindra H Dholakia committee constituted to upgrade norms for computation of economic data The Union Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MOSPI) on June 30, 2018 formed a 13 member committee to upgrade the norms for computation of economic data at states and districts level in the backdrop of plans to revise the base year for National Accounts or GDP calculation. The Committee for Sub-National Accounts will be headed by Ravindra H Dholakia, a retired professor of IIM Ahmedabad. The Ministry has decided to change the base year to 2017-18 for the calculation of GDP and IIP numbers from the current 2011-12 with an aim to capture changes in the economy. Terms of Reference of the Committee- • The panel will review the concepts, definitions, classifications, data conventions, data sources and data requirements for preparation of State Domestic Product (SDP) and District Domestic Product (DDP) to lay down revised guidelines. • It will suggest measures for improving SDP and DDP in the country, taking into consideration availability of data and requirements of the Centre and States or Union Territories. • It will suggest state-level annual or benchmark surveys keeping in view the needs of the System of National Accounts especially in view of the next base year revision. • It will submit its report within one year and may also submit interim reports, as necessary. CSO: Organisation responsible for revising the base year of macroeconomic indicators The Central Statistics Office (CSO), under Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, revises the base year of the macroeconomic indicators as a regular exercise to capture structural changes in the economy

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4. Viral hepatitis causes debilitating diseases YEAR, DAY & WEEK and also places a huge economic burden on families. World Hepatitis Day observed globally 5. Viral hepatitis has become a major killer due 28 July 2018: World Hepatitis Day- to a lack of global attention. The World Hepatitis Day was observed globally 6. Over the past 15 years, more and more people on July 28, 2018 with the theme "Test. Treat. have been dying of viral hepatitis. Hepatitis". 7. At the same time, people are becoming newly On the occasion, the World Health Organisation infected with hepatitis. conducts several activities and events across the 8. Hepatitis attacks the most vulnerable. globe with the aim of achieving the following 9. Hepatitis can be prevented, diagnosed, treated objectives: and even cured. - To support scale-up of hepatitis prevention, 10. You can help eliminate hepatitis testing, treatment and care services, with World Hepatitis Day 2018 specific focus on promoting WHO testing and treatment recommendations. The World Health Organisation along with the - To showcase best practices and promote Government of Mongolia will be holding a universal health coverage of hepatitis services. series of events in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia to - To improve partnerships and funding in the commemorate the World Hepatitis Day 2018. fight against viral hepatitis. The events will engage high-level leaders, Why is the day observed? advocates and patient representatives from • Viral hepatitis B and C are major health global, regional and national organisations. challenges, which affect around 325 million They will be aimed at highlighting the people globally. innovative solutions and partnerships needed in • They are chronic infections that may not show scaling up hepatitis testing and treatment symptoms for a long period, sometimes even for services, as well as celebrating the country's years or decades. championing experience in the global hepatitis • They are also the root causes of liver cancer, response. leading to the deaths of around 1.34 million people every year. India celebrates 19th anniversary of • At least 60 per cent of liver cancer cases are Kargil Vijay Diwas due to late testing and treatment of viral India on July 26, 2018 celebrated the 19th hepatitis B and C. anniversary of Kargil Vijay Diwas to mark the • Hence, low coverage of testing and treatment success of ‘Operation Vijay’ and to remember is the most important gap that needs to be the supreme sacrifice of the Indian soldiers who addressed in order to achieve the 2030 global lost their lives during the 1999 India-Pakistan elimination goal. Kargil War. • By dedicating a day to the cause, more and The Defence Minister Nirmala more people around the world are becoming Sitharaman paid homage to the martyrs on aware of the chronic results of the infection and Kargil Vijay Diwas at Amar Jawan Jyoti in New thus, it can save many lives. Delhi. Ten things to know about Viral Hepatitis- Armed Forces personnel and families of soldiers 1. Viral hepatitis B and C are major health who lost their lives in 1999 Kargil War paid challenges. their tributes at the Dras War Memorial in 2. Viral hepatitis B and C are root causes of Jammu and Kashmir to commemorate the liver cancer. historic win. The memorial was fully lit on the 3. Timely testing and treatment of viral hepatitis eve of the day. B and C can save lives.

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To mark the day, PM Narendra Modi too took markets, as well as what skills youth need to to Twitter and praised the exemplary courage operate in future economies and to become and sacrifices made by the Kargil War martyrs drivers of a sustainable future, will take place on and acknowledged the leadership of then PM July 16 at the UN Headquarters in New York. Atal Bihari Vajpayee for the success of Why is the day important? Operation Vijay. • Rising unemployment among the youth is one Why Kargil Vijay Diwas is observed every of the most significant problems faced by the year on July 26? economies and societies in today’s world. • At least 475 million new jobs need to be • Kargil Vijay Diwas is celebrated on 26 July created over the next decade to absorb the 73 every year to commemorate India’s victory in million youth currently unemployed and the 40 the 1999 Kargil War against Pakistan. million new annual entrants to the labour • The 73-day war, fought during May – July market. 1999, had started with the reports that intruders • At the same time, Organisation for Economic from Pakistan had come deep inside Indian Co-operation and Developmen (OECD) surveys Territory in strategic positions that overlooked suggest that both employers and youth consider the only road link between Srinagar and Leh. that many graduates are ill-prepared for the • On July 26, 1999, the Indian Army world of work. Hence, attaining decent work is a successfully took back control of posts significant challenge. stationed at strategic positions, at a treacherous • In many countries, the informal sector and high altitude and glaciated terrain across the traditional rural sector remain to be a major Himalayas in the Ladakh region of Jammu and source of employment. Kashmir, after fighting for 60 days. • The number of workers in vulnerable Four Param Vir Chakras- employment currently stands at 1.44 billion The Kargil War saw awarding of Four Param worldwide, among which more than half belong Vir Chakras (PVCs), nine Maha Vir Chakras to Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. (MVCs) and 53 Vir Chakras among other medals. Role of technical and vocational education Four Param Vir Chakras were awarded to: and training • Captain Vikram Batra, 13 JAK Rifles, • Technical and vocational education and Posthumous training is expected to address the multiple • Lieutenant Manoj Kumar Pandey, 1/11 demands of economic, social and environmental Gorkha Rifles, Posthumous nature by helping youth and adults develop the • Rifleman Sanjay Kumar, 13 JAK Rifles skills they need for employment, decent work • Grenadier Yogendra Singh Yadav, 18 and entrepreneurship, promoting equitable, Grenadiers inclusive and sustainable economic growth, and supporting transitions to green economies and

environmental sustainability. World Youth Skills Day observed • The training can equip youth with the skills July 15: World Youth Skills Day- required to access the world of work, including The World Youth Skills Day was observed skills for self-employment. across the world on July 15, 2018. The day is • The training can also improve commemorated to raise awareness on the responsiveness to changing skill-demands by importance of investing in youth skills companies and communities, increase development. productivity and increase wage levels. To celebrate the World Youth Skills Day 2018, • It can also reduce access barriers to the a discussion focusing on how innovation and world of work, through work-based learning and emerging technologies, such as artificial ensuring that skills gained are recognised and intelligence (AI), are transforming labor 39

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certified. basic human right to determine freely and • The education can also offer skills responsibly the number and spacing of their development opportunities for low-skilled children.” people who are under- or unemployed, out of Facts and Figures- school youth and individuals not in education, • The current world’s population is 7.6 billion employment and training (NEETs). and is expected to reach 8.6 billion in 2030, Background- according to UN report 2017. • Young people are almost three times more • Roughly 83 million people are being added to likely to be unemployed than adults and world’s population every year. continuously exposed to lower quality of jobs, • China with 1.4 billion people and India with greater labour market inequalities and longer 1.3 billion people are the two most populous and more insecure school-to-work transitions. countries contributing to 19 percent and 18 • In addition, women are more likely to be percent of the global population respectively. It underemployed and under-paid and to undertake is predicted that around 2024 or in 7 years, part-time jobs or work under temporary India’s population will surpass that of china. contracts. • Around 214 million women still lack safe and • This is why education and training are key effective family planning, for reasons ranging determinants of success in the labour market but from lack of information or services to lack of the existing systems are failing to address the support from their partners or communities. learning needs of many young people, and • Nearly half of the estimated 56 million surveys of learning outcomes and skills show abortions carried out worldwide each year are that a large number of youth have low levels of unsafe, leading to the deaths of at least 22800 achievement in basic literacy and numeracy. women every year, due to a combination of lack • Hence, the United Nations decided to of access to contraception, strict laws on designate July 15 as World Youth Skills Day to abortion and stigma around terminations. raise awareness on the importance of investing • 95 percent of the world's births among in youth skills development. adolescent girls occur in developing countries. Nine standards to uphold human right for World Population Day 2018 observed family planning- across the globe Non-discrimination: Family planning 11 July: World Population Day- information and services cannot be restricted on The World Population Day was observed across the basis of race, sex, language, religion, the globe on July 11, 2018 to focus attention on political affiliation, national origin, age, the urgency and importance of population disability status, marital status or gender. issues. Available: Countries must ensure that family Theme 2018: Family Planning is a Human planning commodities and services are Right available to all. The theme of the World Population Day 2018 Accessible: Countries must ensure that family was ‘Family Planning is a Human Right’. planning commodities and services are This year marked the 50th anniversary of the accessible to everyone. 1968 International Conference on Human Acceptable: Contraceptive services and Rights wherein for the first time, family information must be provided in a dignified planning was globally affirmed as a human manner. right. Good quality: Family planning information The conference came up with the ‘Teheran must be clearly communicated and Proclamation’ stating that, “Parents have a scientifically accurate. Informed decision-making: Every person 40

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must be empowered to make reproductive choices. Privacy and confidentiality: All individuals must enjoy the right to privacy when seeking family planning services. Participation: Countries have an obligation to ensure the active and informed participation of individuals. Accountability: Health systems, education systems, leaders and policymakers must be accountable to the people they serve in all efforts to realise the human right to family planning. Source: UN About World Population Day- • World Population Day is an annual event observed on 11 July every year. • The day seeks to raise awareness of global population issues. • The event was established by the Governing Council of the United Nations Development Programme in 1989. • The day aims at increasing people's awareness on various population issues such as the importance of family planning, gender equality, poverty, maternal health and human rights.

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