UNIQUE IAS ACADEMY No.5/45 NVN Layout, New Siddhapudur, Gandhipuram, Coimbatore - 44
UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS JUNE 2019
S.NO INDEX PAGE NO
PAPER – I 1 NILGIRI TRIBALS TENSE AS TREKKERS TRASH PRICELESS ROCK ART 1 2 U.P.’S CHAUKHANDI STUPA DECLARED ‘PROTECTED AREA’ 1 3 U.P. SITE EXPECTED TO GET ‘NATIONAL IMPORTANCE’ TAG 2 4 BUDDHIST RELIC UNEARTHED IN A.P. VILLAGE 2 5 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE VICTORY AT KARGIL 3 6 BY 2027, INDIA POPULATION TO CROSS CHINA’S: UN 3 7 WORLD REFUGEE DAY 2019 3 8 ALL STATES, UNION TERRITORIES CAN NOW SET UP FOREIGNERS TRIBUNALS 4 9 GUJARAT PUT ON HIGH ALERT AS CYCLONIC STORM ‘VAYU’ INCHES TOWARDS COAST 5
PAPER - II 1 GOVERNMENT LAUNCHES NEW ‘JAL SHAKTI’ MINISTRY 5 2 CENTRE SET TO ROLL OUT ‘JAL SHAKTI’ SCHEME FOR WATER-STARVED AREAS 6 3 RBI UNION MOOTS COLLEGIUM TO SELECT GOVERNORS, DEPUTY GOVERNORS 7 4 ‘JAL HI JEEVAN HAI’ SCHEME 7 5 FRAMEWORK FOR DOUBLING FARMERS' INCOME 8 6 CENTRAL ADMINISTRATIVE TRIBUNAL (CAT) AND HIGH COURT 9 7 WHY CABINET COMMITTEES ARE FORMED, WHAT ARE THE FUNCTIONS OF EACH [ 10 EDITORIAL / OPINION ] 8 RETIREMENT AGE OF JUDGES AND SC STRENGTH 11 9 REMOVAL OF HIGH COURT JUDGES 11 10 ONE NATION, ONE POLL 12 11 VOTER VERIFIABLE PAPER AUDIT TRAIL(VVPAT) 14 12 MOTION OF THANKS 15 13 EXTENSION OF PM-KISAN SCHEME TO ALL FARMERS 16 14 PENSION COVERAGE TO CRORES OF FARMERS 16 15 FREE TRAVEL FOR WOMEN IN BUSES AND METRO 17 16 BIHAR FIRST STATE TO LAUNCH UNIVERSAL OLD-AGE PENSION SCHEME 18 17 RAJASTHAN TO IMPLEMENT AYUSHMAN BHARAT 18 18 SELF DEFENCE TRAINING PROGRAMMES FOR GIRLSIN GOVERNMENT SCHOOLS 19 19 GO TRIBAL CAMPAIGN OF TRIBES INDIA 20 20 BAN ON E-CIGARETTES 20 21 SWACHH SURVEKSHAN 2020 22 22 UPTICK FOR INDIA ON SANITATION IN UN REPORT 22 23 IMPERATIVE TO TEST ALL PREGNANT WOMEN FOR GESTATIONAL DIABETES 23 24 FIRST GENE-EDITED BABIES AT EARLY DEATH RISK: STUDY 24 25 FIRST WORLD FOOD SAFETY DAY 24 26 THREE IN FOUR PEOPLE WITH EPILEPSY IN LOW-INCOME COUNTRIES MAY DIE EARLY: 25 WHO 27 TAMIL NADU HEALTH SYSTEM REFORM PROGRAM 26 28 28 CHILDREN DIE OF ‘BRAIN FEVER’ IN BIHAR 27 29 STUBBLE BURNING 27 30 DRUGS OF 18 PHARMA FIRMS FOUND SUBSTANDARD SINCE 2018 28 31 INTEGRATION OF AYUSH SYSTEM WITH MODERN MEDICINES 29 32 INDIA’S AGREEMENT WITH THE WORLD BANK TO ELIMINATE TB 30 33 DRDO, JNU SCIENTISTS DEVELOP MORE POTENT ANTHRAX VACCINE 30 34 INTERNATIONAL YOGA DAY 31 35 JANANI SURAKSHA YOJANA 31 36 ANAEMIA IN WOMEN 32 37 THE DRAFT NATIONAL EDUCATION POLICY 32 38 POLICY MOOTS ALL-INDIA ENTRANCE TESTS FOR UG COURSES IN PUBLIC COLLEGES 33 39 DRAFT NEP PROPOSES FORMAL EDUCATION FROM THE AGE OF THREE 34 40 GOVT HAS TAKEN SEVERAL STEPS TO INCREASE ENROLMENT OF GIRLS IN HIGHER 34 STUDIES 41 RIGHT TO EDUCATION OF CHILDREN OF MIGRANT WORKERS 35 42 2019 TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS REPORT 35 43 GOVERNMENT ALL SET TO IMPLEMENT "ONE NATION-ONE RATION CARD" SCHEME 37 44 NEW POLICY FOR WOMEN EMPOWERMENT 37 45 NILEKANI PANEL SUGGESTS 24×7 RTGS, NEFT, ELIMINATION OF ALL CHARGES 38 46 ICAT RELEASES INDIA’S 1ST BS – VI CERTIFICATE IN TWO WHEELER SEGMENT 38 47 RENEWABLE ENERGY GROWTH REPORT 39 48 J&K ‘BACK TO THE VILLAGE’ OUTREACH PROGRAMME 39 49 GENETICALLY MODIFIED OR GM CROPS 40 50 CROP INSURANCE CLAIMS SURGE, DELAY IN DISBURSALS FALLS 40 51 TECHNOLOGY AND DOUBLING FARMERS’ INCOME 41 52 PLEA IN SC SEEKS PROTECTION FOR NON-NAGAS IN DIMAPUR 42 53 SEZ BILL CLEARED AMID PROTESTS 43 54 NATIONAL MISSION ON NATURAL LANGUAGE TRANSLATION SOON 44 55 U.S. REITERATES THREAT OF SANCTIONS OVER TRIUMF DEAL 45 56 RUSSIA WILLING TO DROP NEW START PACT: PUTIN 46 57 STRAIT OF HORMUZ, THE WORLD’S MOST IMPORTANT OIL ARTERY [ EDITORIAL / 46 OPINION ] 58 IRAN TO BREACH URANIUM STOCKPILE LIMIT 47 59 INDIA TO LOSE PREFERENTIAL TRADE TERMS WITH U.S. 48 60 INDIA, PORTUGAL TO JOIN HANDS IN SETTING UP MARITIME MUSEUM 49 61 KIMBERLEY PROCESS INTERSESSIONAL MEETING 49 62 ICG CO-HOSTS 12TH RECAAP ISC 50 63 INDIA GRANTS $ 15 MN FIRST TIME EVER FOR AFRICAN UNION SUMMIT 50 64 EXERCISE GARUDA-VI 51 65 INDO-FRENCH JOINT NAVAL EXERCISE 52 66 G-20 RESOLVES TO FREE INTERNET OF EXTREMISM 52 67 AT G20 TRILATERAL, CHINA PROPOSES 5G PARTNERSHIP WITH INDIA, RUSSIA 52 68 GLOBAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP SUMMIT 2019 TO HAVE 27 INDIAN ENTRANTS 53 69 INDIA’S NSG MEMBERSHIP NOT ON KAZAKHSTAN MEETING AGENDA, SAYS CHINA 53 70 UNSC NON-PERMANENT SEAT: INDIA’S CANDIDATURE RECEIVES UNANIMOUS 54 ENDORSEMENT BY ASIA-PACIFIC GROUP 71 INDIA TO HOST UN MEET ON LAND DEGRADATION IN SEPTEMBER 55 72 PAKISTAN FACES FATF BLACKLIST 56 73 INDIA, MALDIVES SIGN SIX KEY AGREEMENTS 57 74 SHANGHAI COOPERATION ORGANISATION (SCO) 58 75 NEPALESE NATIONALS MUST HAVE A VISA TO ENTER INDIA VIA PAKISTAN, CHINA 59 76 INDIA SLIPS TO 141 IN ANNUAL GLOBAL PEACE INDEX 59 77 CCI IMPOSES PENALTY ON PHARMA COMPANIES, TRADE ASSOCIATIONS 60 78 HOME MINISTRY WARNS NGOS 61 79 PM SEEKS FIVE-YEAR ROAD MAP FOR EACH MINISTRY 61 80 GOVERNMENT PROPOSES EXEMPTION OF BATTERY OPERATED VEHICLES FROM PAYING 62 REGISTRATION FEES 81 NABCB SECURES INTERNATIONAL EQUIVALENCE FOR PERSONNEL CERTIFICATION 62 82 WELFARE SCHEME FOR WIDOWS 63 83 ‘SHE TEAM’ ON THE PATROL IN ODISHA 64 84 ONLY 20% OF NIRBHAYA FUND HAS BEEN USED BY STATES UNTIL 2018 64 85 ‘NIRBHAYA SQUAD’ TO CURB CRIME AGAINST WOMEN’ 65 86 WAGE CODE BILL 65 87 DRAFT NATIONAL POLICY ON DOMESTIC WORKERS 65 88 COMMON MOBILITY CARD 66 89 UNIVERSAL SMART CARD DRIVING LICENSE 66 90 INDIAN PAYMENT SYSTEM 67 91 MINISTRY OF CORPORATE AFFAIRS &SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE BOARD OF INDIASEBI 67 92 ONLINE PAYMENT OF BILLS: FOUR-FOLD SURGE IN RURAL AND SEMI-URBAN INDIA 68 93 HEALTHY STATES, PROGRESSIVE INDIA – NITI AAYOG 68 94 RIVIGO LAUNCHES NATIONAL FREIGHT INDEX 70 95 AADHAAR BILL INTRODUCED AMID OPPOSITION PROTESTS 70 96 PASSPORTS WITH ADVANCED SECURITY FEATURES SOON 71 97 RBI’S CUSTOMER-COMPLAINT PROCESSING GOES DIGITAL 71 98 DRAFT E-COMMERCE POLICY 72 99 DATA LOCALISATION 72 100 THE AADHAAR AND OTHER LAWS (AMENDMENT) BILL, 2019 73 PAPER – III 1 GDP GROWTH SLUMPS TO 5.8% 74 2 PM’S PANEL REJECTS FORMER CEA’S PAPER ON GDP GROWTH 74 3 GLOBAL GROWTH TO SLOW IN 2019- WORLD BANK 75 4 RETAIL INFLATION AT A 7-MONTH HIGH OF 3.05% 76 5 RBI CUTS INTEREST RATE BY 25 BPS 76 6 NEW DELHI INTERNATIONAL ARBITRATION CENTRE 77 7 ENHANCING THE RATING STANDARD 78 8 FCI PLANS TO INCREASE ITS STORAGE SPACE 78 9 WORLD FOOD INDIA 2019 79 10 RESEARCHERS PRODUCE KEROSENE FROM SUNLIGHT, CO2 AND WATER 79 11 DISPUTE RESOLUTION MECHANISM FOR SOLAR/WIND SECTOR 79 12 INDIA’S FIRST SOLAR CRUISE VESSEL TO BE ROLLED OUT SOON 80 13 DRAFT NATIONAL LOGISTICS POLICY 81 14 THE ISSUES PERTAINING TO RENEWABLE ENERGY SECTOR 83 15 PUBLIC SECTOR BANKS 83 16 INDIA'S EXPORTS UP 3.93% IN MAY; TRADE DEFICIT WIDENS TO $15.36 BN 84 17 GOVERNMENT RATIFIED CONVENTION ON TAX TREATY RELATED CHANGES AGAINST 84 BEPS 18 GROSS NPAS OF BANKS MAY SHRINK TO 8 PER CENT BY MARCH 2020: CRISIL 85 19 INDIA’S GLOBAL TRADE 86 20 CENTRE PROPOSES TO INTEGRATE FASTAG BANK MECHANISM WITH E-WAY BILL TO 86 CHECK GST EVASION 21 E-NAM SCHEME 87 22 ORGANISED FARMING 88 23 BEEKEEPING DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE 88 24 INSURANCE COVER FOR RISK-PRONE CROPS 89 25 WORKING GROUP FOR REVISION OF WPI 89 26 SEBI TIGHTENS NORMS FOR MUTUAL FUND INVESTMENTS 91 27 NATIONAL GREEN TRIBUNAL ON POLLUTION 91 28 INDIAN NAVY’S ENVIRONMENTAL GOALS OF COUNTRY 92 29 SCHOOL NURSERY INITIATIVE IS PROPOSED TO BE LAUNCHED SOON 93 30 EBB IN THE YAMUNA FLOW 94 31 GOLDEN LANGUR TO GET FRUITS OF MGNREGA 95 32 KERALA TO AMEND RULES FOR ELEPHANT CARE 96 33 A WATER CLINIC FOR ELEPHANTS OPENS IN MATHURA 96 34 EASTERN HIMALAYAS, A TREASURE TROVE OF BALSAMS, YIELDS 20 NEW SPECIES 96 35 G20 AGREES TO TACKLE OCEAN PLASTIC WASTE 97 36 WORLD DAY TO COMBAT DESERTIFICATION AND DROUGHT: 17 JUNE 97 37 EU LEADERS TO DEBATE PUSH FOR ZERO EMISSIONS BY 2050 98 38 BITCOIN USE CAUSING HUGE CO2 EMISSIONS: STUDY 99 39 CORINGA MANGROVES 99 40 INDIA’S CARBON SINK COMMITMENT 100 41 SMALL ISLAND STATES AND SDGS: UN 101 42 OZONE POLLUTION 102 43 ROAD WORKS THROUGH TIGER RESERVES 102 44 INDIA TO HOLD FIRST SIMULATED SPACE WARFARE EXERCISE NEXT MONTH 103 45 SPACE WARFARE WEAPON SYSTEMS 104 46 CHANDRAYAAN-2 MISSION 104 47 HYPERSONIC TECHNOLOGY DEMONSTRATOR 106 48 5G NETWORK [ EDITORIAL / OPINION ] 107 49 INDIA SET TO JOIN HEAVYWEIGHT TORPEDO CLUB 108 50 ‘MAKE IN INDIA’ INITIATIVE IN DEFENCE SECTOR 108 51 SPACE POLICY 109 52 INDIGENOUS GPS 110 53 75 BY 75 111 54 ISRO’S OWN SPACE STATION 111 55 NOVEL SELENIUM-GRAPHENE CATALYST FOR FUEL CELLS 112 56 A GLOBAL MAP OF WHERE GROUNDWATER MEETS OCEANS 113 57 A 3D X-RAY MAP OF UNIVERSE 113 58 GENE EDITING [EDITORIAL / OPINION] 114 59 SCIENTISTS DECODE GENOME OF ‘MIRACLE PLANT’ 116 60 PLANTS MAY BE SPREADING SUPERBUGS TO HUMANS 117 61 ILS DEVELOPS ANTIBODIES AGAINST CHIKUNGUNYA INFECTION 118 62 NIPAH VIRUS: EXPERIMENTAL ANTIVIRAL DRUG SHOWS PROMISE 118 63 RINGS AROUND SATURN 118 64 SPACEX 119 65 MARS COLONISATION 120 66 NEW SPACE INDIA LIMITED (NSIL) 120 67 PLAN TO MAKE USE OF NUCLEAR WASTES 121 68 INDIAN ASTRONOMERS FIND EVIDENCE OF SUPERNOVA REMNANTS 121 69 COSMIC WAVES DISCOVERY COULD UNLOCK THE MYSTERIES OF SPACE 122 70 NAVY STEPS UP ANTI-PIRACY PATROL 122 71 CENTRE TO COME UP WITH POLICY ON AI, CYBERSECURITY SOON 123 72 DRAFT BILL MOOTS 10-YEAR JAIL FOR CRYPTO DEALING 124 73 LIBRA IS FACEBOOK’S CRYPTOCURRENCY 124 74 ODISHA COMES UP WITH A FLOOD ATLAS, AIDED BY SATELLITE IMAGERY 125 75 FIRST RESILIENT KERALA PROGRAM 125 76 FORMER PRESIDENT PRATIBHA PATIL AWARDED MEXICO’S HIGHEST CIVILIAN HONOUR 126 FOR FOREIGNERS
UNIQUE IAS ACADEMY UPSC Current Affairs – JUNE 2019 LOGOHERE
GS PAPER - 01 ART AND CULTURE - Indian Culture will cover the salient aspects of Art Forms, Literature And Architecture from Ancient to Modern Times.
NILGIRI TRIBALS TENSE AS TREKKERS TRASH PRICELESS ROCK ART
Context : The rock paintings in Karikiyoor at Kil Kotagiri in the Nilgiri forests have withstood the forces of nature for some 5,000 years, but in just the last few years, close to 40% of the paintings have been destroyed by trekkers, tourists, and vandals. More about the news: Members of the Irula tribal community, who have an ancestral link to the site, said they were extremely angered and disturbed at the damage by illegal trekkers, who have painted over religious symbols using whitener pens and political messages with chalk, while couples have carved their names on the rocks, permanently disfiguring the priceless pre-historic site. The site remained undisturbed till very recently, when a spurt in the number of tourists has led to many people organising illegal treks to the rock art site.
Former director of the Tribal Research Centre in Udhagamandalam, said the society that painted the symbols onto these rocks were contemporaneous with the Indus Valley civilisation. The rock paintings in Karikiyoor contain analogous-Indus script, meaning they resemble the script
found in Indus civilization sites of northern India.
Irula Tribe : Irula are a Dravidian ethnic group inhabiting the area of the Nilgiri mountains, in the states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Irula tribe is officially designated as a Scheduled Tribe. Traditionally, the main occupation of the Irulas has been snake, rat catching and honey collection.
The Irula speak the Irula language, a Dravidian language that is closely related to Tamil.
Source :- The Hindu
U.P.‘S CHAUKHANDI STUPA DECLARED ‗PROTECTED AREA‘ Context : An ancient Buddhist site in Uttar Pradesh‘s Sarnath known as Chaukhandi Stupa has been declared
to be a ―protected area of national importance‖ by the Archaeological Survey of India. Chaukhandi Stupa : The Stupa is known as ‗Chaukhandi‘ because of its four armed plan.
The stupa is an ancient Buddhist site which evolved from burial mounds and served as a shrine for a relic of Buddha. It appears to be in ruins and was originally constructed in the 5th Century AD.
It also finds mention in account of Hiuen Tsang, celebrated Chinese traveler of 7th century AD. It is widely believed that Stupa was originally built as a terraced temple during Gupta period (4th-6th centuries AD) to mark the site where Lord Buddha traveling from BodhGaya to Sarnath was reunited with pancha vargeeya bhikshus (Budhha‘s five companions) who had previously deserted him at Rajgir. After Gupta‘s the stupa‘s architecture was altered by Govardhan, son of Raja Todarmal, who modified stupa to its present shape by building an octagonal tower in commemoration of Humayun (Mughal ruler) visit. Current Structure: Stupa is a high earthen mound covered with brickwork, to which stands atop a terraced rectangular plinth and it is capped by an octagonal Mughal tower. It is maintained, conserved and preserved by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
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Some images of Buddha, such as the image of Buddha in dharmachakra pravartana mudra and other statues found during excavations at this Stupa are believed to be rare artefacts and classic examples of art from Gupta period. Source :- The Hindu
U.P. SITE EXPECTED TO GET ‗NATIONAL IMPORTANCE‘ TAG
Context : Sadikpur Sinauli, located in Baraut tehsil, Baghpat district could be declared a site of national importance by Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). Sinauli : According to ASI, Sinauli was the largest necropolis of the late Harappan period of the early 2nd millennium BCE. ASI has conducted excavations in Sinauli in 2005-06 and in mid-2018. The excavations have so far brought to light a number of burials all in north-south orientation; most of them are primary burials. Further, in 2018, chariots, copper swords, and helmets have been found. The artefacts are supposed to belong to a period between 2000-1800 BCE. The ASI has also approved second phase of excavation at Sinauli. Source :- The Hindu
BUDDHIST RELIC UNEARTHED IN A.P. VILLAGE Context : A Buddhist relic has been unearthed in Andhra Pradesh. It is a limestone pillar, which is carved with half lotus medallions at the centre and top portions on all four sides. The exploration was undertakenunder ‗Preserve Heritage for Posterity‘, an awareness campaign launched by the Cultural Centre of Vijayawada and Amaravati (CCVA), to bring to limelight artefact which remained in neglect in different parts of Andhra Pradesh. Key findings : It belongs to the Amaravati school of Art of the Ikshvaku times.
Buddhist monastery of which this pillar might be part of a Shilamandapa where Buddhist teachers offer regular discourses on the Dhamma of the Buddha. Amaravati School Of Art : Amaravati school of art evolved and flourished for nearly six centuriescommencing from 200-
100 BC in India itself, i.e. it has no outside influence. It was patronized first by the Satavahanas and later by the Ikshvakus. The material used is a distinctive white marble and Amaravati sculptures have a sense of
movement and energy with profound and quiet naturalism in human, animal and floral forms. Prominent places where this style developed are Amravati, Nagarjunikonda, Goli, Ghantasala and Vengi.
Symbolic representation of Buddha's life, the Buddha almost always being represented by a symbol, though in two or three places he is personified. Like the Sanchi Stupa, the Amaravati Stupa also has pradakshina patha enclosed within a vedika
on which many narrative stories from the life of Buddha and bodhisattva dominating such episodes relating to the Birth, the miracles, Enlightenment and the victory over Mara, Sundari, Nanda, Tushita heaven and Angulimala are depicted.
Sculptural form in Amravati Art is characterised by intense emotions as the figures are slim, have a lot of movement, bodies are shown with three bents (i.e. tribhanga), and the sculptural anatomy is more complex than at Stupa of Sanchi. Both religious (mainly Buddhist) and secular images were present in this style. Source :- The Hindu
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20TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE VICTORY AT KARGIL GS PAPER - 01 HISTORY - Post-independence consolidation and reorganization within the country. Context : The year 2019, marks the 20th anniversary of victory in ‗Operation VIJAY‘ popularly known as the‗Kargil War‘. Kargil Vijay Diwas : This year, the 20th anniversary of victory in ‗Operation VIJAY‘ is being celebrated with the theme ‗Remember, Rejoice and Renew‘. The objective of these celebrations is to evoke feeling of nationalism and patriotism through nationwide campaigns especially amongst youth and to pay homage to the valiant soldiers. Source :- PIB
GS PAPER - 01 SOCIETY - Population and its associated Issues.
BY 2027, INDIA POPULATION TO CROSS CHINA‘S: UN Context :
According to ‗The World Population Prospects 2019‘ published by the Population Division of the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, India is projected to surpass China as the world‘s most populous country by 2027. Global Findings :
World's population is expected to increase by two billion people in the next 30 years, from 7.7 billion currently to 9.7 billion in 2050. By 2050, one in six people in the world will be over age 65 (16 per cent), up from one in 11 in 2019
(9 per cent). The number of people aged 80 years or over is projected to triple, from 143 million in 2019 to 426 million in 2050.
Although overall life expectancy will increase (from 64.2 years in 1990 to 77.1 years in 2050), life expectancy in poorer countries will continue to lag behind. India Specific Findings :
India is expected to add nearly 273 million people between 2019 and 2050, while the population of Nigeria is projected to grow by 200 million. Together, these two countries could account for 23% of the global population increase to 2050. The 2017 world population report, released by the UN two years ago, had estimated that the population of India will surpass that of China's by around 2024. China, with 1.43 billion people in 2019, and India, with 1.37 billion, have long been the two most populous countries of the world, comprising 19 and 18 per cent, respectively, of the global total in 2019. After this re-ordering between 2019 and 2050, the ranking of the two largest countries is projected to be preserved through the end of the century, when India could remain the world‘s most populous country with nearly 1.5 billion inhabitants, followed by China with just under 1.1 billion. Source :- Indian Express
WORLD REFUGEE DAY 2019 Context : The World Refugee Day is observed on 20th June every year. The day seeks to draw the public‘s attention to the millions of refugees and internally displaced persons worldwide. World Refugee Day : In 2000, the United Nations General Assembly decided that, from 2000, 20 June would be celebrated as World Refugee Day.
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The main aim of celebrating this day is to increase awareness among the people by sharing the experiences of refugees and their stories. It also reminds people about the failures of the international community or home conflicts due to which people are forced to leave their homes. World Refugee Day 2019: Theme The theme for World Refugee Day 2019 is #StepWithRefugees — Take A Step on World Refugee Day. The theme focuses on that there is a need to take big and small steps in solidarity with refugees from around the world. 1951 Refugee Convention : The 1951 UN‘s Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol sets out the rights of refugees and also highlights the obligations of refugees towards their host country. India is not a party to the Refugee Convention.
The cornerstone of the 1951 Convention is the principle of non-refoulement. According to this principle, a refugee should not be returned to a country where he or she faces serious threats to his or her life or freedom.
According to the Refugee Convention, A refugee is someone who fled his or her home and country owing to a well-founded fear of persecution because of his/her race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion.
Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) are people who have not crossed an international border but have moved to a different region than the one they call home within their own country. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, established in 1950 is mandated to lead and
coordinate international action to protect refugees and resolve refugee problems worldwide. India‘s Stand on Refugee : India is not a signatory to the UN Refugee Convention of 1951 or the 1967 Protocol, which
protects refugee rights. ―India does not have a national refugee protection framework. However, it continues to grant asylum to a large number of refugees from neighbouring states and respects UNHCR‘s mandate for other nationals, mainly from Afghanistan and Myanmar,‖ says the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). While the Government of India deals differently with various refugee groups, in general it respects the principle of non - refoulement for holders of UNHCR documentation. There are some laws that govern refugees, including the Registration of Foreigners Act, 1939; Foreigners Act, 1946, and the Passport Act, 1967. Source :- AIR
ALL STATES, UNION TERRITORIES CAN NOW SET UP FOREIGNERS TRIBUNALS Context : The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has issued Foreigners (Tribunals) Amendment Order, 2019. The order amends the Foreigners (Tribunals) Order, 1964. Changes in Proposed Amendments : The new amendments has empowered district magistrates in all States and Union Territories to set
up foreigner tribunals (FTs) to identify suspected foreigners illegally residing in India. Earlier only the Centre had the power to set up FTs. The amended order (Foreigners (Tribunal) Order, 2019) also empowers individuals to approach
the Tribunals. Earlier, only the State administration could move the Tribunal against a suspect. The amended order also allows District Magistrates to refer individuals who haven‘t filed claims against their exclusion from NRC to the Tribunals to decide if they are foreigners or not.
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Procedure being followed at present: The 1964 order on Constitution of Tribunals says: ―The Central Government may by order, refer the question as to whether a person is not a foreigner within meaning of the Foreigners Act, 1946 (31 of 1946) to a Tribunal to be constituted for the purpose, for its opinion.‖ The tribunals are quasi-judicial bodies, unique to Assam, to determine if a person staying illegally is a ―foreigner‖ or not. In other parts, once a ‗foreigner‘ has been apprehended by the police for staying illegally, he or she is produced before a local court under the Passport Act, 1920, or the Foreigners Act, 1946, with the punishment ranging three months to eight years in jail. Once the accused have served the sentence, the court orders their deportation, and they are moved to detention centres till the country of origin accepts them. Source :- The Hindu
GS PAPER - 01 GEOGRAPHY - Important Geophysical phenomena such as earthquakes, Tsunami, Volcanic activity, cyclone etc.,
GUJARAT PUT ON HIGH ALERT AS CYCLONIC STORM ‗VAYU‘ INCHES TOWARDS COAST Context :
Gujarat has been put on high alert after Cyclonic storm Vayu intensified into a severe cyclonic storm. More about Cyclonic storm ‗Vayu‘ :
The severe cyclonic storm Vayu developed in the Arabian Sea and is expected to make landfall on the Saurashtra coast between Porbandar and Mahuva Kutch. The cyclonic storm has been named Vayu by India.
Cyclone Vayu is considered the worst cyclone to hit the State since 1998. Why the heatwave? Blame Cyclone Vayu, El Niño According to meteorologists, Cyclone Vayu and El Niño are responsible for the second-longest heat wave spell that many parts of India are experiencing. Temperatures are soaring even as the cyclonic activity and El Niño effect has delayed the monsoon. The cyclones that develop in the Arabian Sea impact the monsoon more than those in the Bay of Bengal because the monsoon winds enter the Indian Peninsula from the western coast along the Arabian Sea. This phenomenon of delayed monsoon due to the emergence of cyclonic system was also seen in 2015 when Cyclone Ashobaa had delayed the monsoon. Source :- Down To Earth
GS PAPER - 02 POLITY - Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.
GOVERNMENT LAUNCHES NEW ‗JAL SHAKTI‘ MINISTRY Context :
The government has launched a new unified ‗Jal Shakti‘ ministry.
Jal Shakthi : Aim : To provide clean drinking water as well as fight India's water woes. Key Features : The new ministry has been formed by merging the Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation and Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation. The new ministry will attempt to integrate demand side and supply side of water in the country so that the issues relating to water are dealt with in a holistic manner.
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It will encompass issues ranging from providing clean drinking water, international and inter-states water disputes, to the Namami Gange project aimed at cleaning Ganga and its tributaries, and sub tributaries. The ministry had also signed memorandum of understanding (MoU) with 10 other ministries to synergise activities under the Namami Gange, but concerns were being raised over the success of the project. Source :- Down to Earth
CENTRE SET TO ROLL OUT ‗JAL SHAKTI‘ SCHEME FOR WATER-STARVED AREAS Context : The Centre is set to initiate the Jal Shakti Abhiyan to ramp up rainwater harvesting and conservation
efforts in 255 water-stressed districts, in line with the government‘s promise to focus on water. Jal Sakthi Abhiyan :
The Jal Shakti Abhiyan would aim - To accelerate water harvesting, Conservation and borewell recharge activities already being carried out under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee scheme and the Integrated Watershed Management Programme of the Rural Development Ministry, existing water body restoration and afforestation schemes being undertaken by the Jal
Shakti and Environment Ministries. Progress would be monitored in real time through mobile applications and an online dashboard.
Implementation : Though water is a State issue, the campaign would be coordinated by 255 central IAS officers of Joint or Additional Secretary-rank, drawn from ministries as varied as Space, Petroleum and
Defence, according to a notification issued by the Department of Personnel and Training
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The campaign seems to follow the model of last year‘s Gram Swaraj Abhiyan, where central officials monitored the implementation of seven flagship development schemes in 117 aspirational districts across the country. The campaign would run from July 1 to September 15 in States receiving rainfall during the south- west monsoon, while States receiving rainfall in the retreating or north-east monsoon would be covered from October 1 to November 30. Block and district-level water conservation plans would be drafted, and Kisan Vigyan Kendras would hold melas to promote better crop choices and more efficient water use for irrigation.
Overall, 313 blocks with critical groundwater levels would be covered, along with 1,186 blocks with over-exploited groundwater and 94 blocks with low groundwater availability. A major communications campaign on TV, radio, print, local and social media would be carried out, with celebrities mobilised to generate awareness for the campaign. Source :- The Hindu
RBI UNION MOOTS COLLEGIUM TO SELECT GOVERNORS, DEPUTY GOVERNORS Context :
The RBI union has proposed a Collegium of experts to appoint governors and deputy governors to ensure central bank autonomy and independence. Collegium System :
The collegium should comprise former RBI governors, other prominent central bankers and economists, who can judge the competence, knowledge and experience of incumbents being considered for the posts.
The union said that collegium can ensure the neutrality, autonomy and independence of the central bank of the country and prevent undesirable political and purposive interference in such matter. Background : The recent resignation of the RBI deputy governor at least six months before his term expired is the trigger for mooting such a proposal. Present System of Appointment : Section 8 of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 states the Governor and Deputy Governors (not more than four) are to be ‗appointed by the central board of directors. The board is appointed by the Government of India‘. The Board consists of official directors which includes the Governor and up to four Deputy Governors non-official directors who includes up to ten directors from various fields two government officials and one director from each of four local boards of the RBI.
Source :- The Hindu
GS PAPER - 02 GOVERNANCE - Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes; ‗JAL HI JEEVAN HAI‘ SCHEME Context : The farmers of northern districts of Haryana have shown a keen interest in crop diversification scheme called ‗Jal Hi Jeevan Hai‘ of the Haryana government which promotes to diversify paddy area into maize, arhar dal (pigeon pea) and soybean. Jal Hi Jeevan Hai Scheme :
The ‗Jal Hi Jiwan‘ scheme envisages diversification of 50,000 hectare area of non-basmati rice mainly into maize, pulses or oilseeds to achieve the target.
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Need : Due to continuous Paddy growing in the State about 1 mtr. of water table is depleting per year. A continuous cultivation of water guzzling crops in rice wheat cropping system. Ground water withdrawal has outpaced its recharge that take place from annual precipitation. The method of irrigation in the rice and wheat crops results in excess watering and wastage of water. Crop diversification through the above scheme is intended to promote technological innovation with sustainable agriculture and enable farmers to choose crop alternatives for increasing productivity and income.
Objective : To reduce the area of water guzzling crops in Haryana
Induction of technological innovation for establishing alternate crops for sustainable agriculture. To introduce Resource conservation, To restore ground water table
To control soil fatigue because of rice-wheat cycle and introduce soil conservative and micronutrients balanced crop for the soil. To shift the farmer from paddy wheat cycle and give more profitable crop options to the farmers
Ensure purchase of produce of this diversified area through MSP and also give farmer input support and cover his risk by insuring them completely under PMFBY by paying their insurance premium by the Government with an overall objective of increasing farmers‘ income which will step forward in achieving ‗doubling of farmers‘ income goal‖.
Government Incentive : Under the scheme, the amount Rs. 2000/acre will be transferred into the accounts of farmers in two
phases i.e. Rs. 200/- at the time of registration and the balance Rs. 1800/- after verification of sowing data within two months. Free of cost hybrid seeds would also be provided under the scheme.
The selected farmers will be covered by State Government by paying the farmer‘s premium share also for Maize Crop under PMFBY. The produce of these farmers will be purchased by the state Government at MSP.
Source :- The Hindu
FRAMEWORK FOR DOUBLING FARMERS' INCOME Context :
The Government had constituted an Inter-ministerial Committee in April, 2016 to examine issues relating to ―Doubling of Farmers Income‖ and recommend strategies to achieve the same. The Committee has submitted its Report to the Government in September, 2018.
Recommendations of the committee : The Committee on Doubling Farmers‘ Income (DFI) recognises agriculture as a value led enterprise and has identified seven major sources of growth, viz.,
improvement in crop productivity; improvement in livestock productivity; resource use efficiency or savings in the cost of production; increase in the cropping intensity; diversification towards high value crops; improvement in real prices received by farmers; and shift from farm to non-farm occupations.
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Steps taken By Government : Kisan Credit Cards provides agriculture credit to farmers at subsidized rates, with a 2% interest subvention (IS) and Prompt Repayment Incentive (PRI) of 3% so as to make the effective rate of interest as 4%. Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) : This scheme provides insurance cover for all stages of the crop cycle including post-harvest risks in specified instances. Giving a major boost for the farmers income, the Government has approved the increase in the Minimum Support Price (MSPs) for all Kharif & Rabi crops for 2018-19 season at a level of at least 150 percent of the cost of production. Pradhan Mantri Kisan SAmman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) : The scheme aims to provide a payment of Rs. 6000/- per year, in three 4-monthly installments of Rs. 2000/- to the farmers, subject to certain exclusions relating to higher income groups. Social security net for Small and Marginal Farmers (SMF) : Under this Scheme, a minimum fixed pension of Rs. 3000/- be provided to the eligible small and marginal farmers, subject to certain exclusion clauses, on attaining the age of 60 years. The scheme
aims to cover around 5 crore beneficiaries in the first three years. It would be a voluntary and contributory pension scheme, with entry age of 18 to 40 years. Source :- PIB
GS PAPER - 02 POLITY - Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation
CENTRAL ADMINISTRATIVE TRIBUNAL (CAT) AND HIGH COURT Context :
The Delhi High Court has ruled that the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) can exercise the same jurisdiction and powers as a High Court in respect of its contempt proceedings. More about the news: The case relates to the contempt case registered on the basis of a reference received by the Registrar General,Delhi High Court against a Supreme Court lawyer. The Court observed that Article 323A(2)(b) of the Constitution provided that an administrative tribunal constituted under Article 323A(1) was empowered to punish for contempt if the statute establishing it provided for the same. The High Court also referred to the Supreme Court verdict in its 2001 judgment which had held that Section 17 of the Administrative Tribunals Act,1985 confers jurisdiction on the CAT to punish for its contempt. Central Administrative Tribunal : Part XIV-A of the constitution provides for the tribunals. The provision was added through 42nd Amendment Act, 1976. Article 323A and 323B provide for
Administrative Tribunals and Tribunals related to other matters respectively. Under Article 323A, parliament is empowered to establish administrative tribunals for the adjudication of disputes and complaints with respect to recruitment and conditions of service of
persons appointed to public services and posts in connection with the affairs of the union or of any state or of any local or other authority within the territory of India or under the control of the government of India or of any corporation owned or controlled by the government.
The Administrative Tribunals Act in 1985 enacted by the Parliament authorises the central government to establish central administrative tribunal and the state administrative tribunals. The Central Administrative Tribunal was established for adjudication of disputes in case of
recruitment and conditions of service of persons appointed to public services and posts in connection
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with the affairs of the Union or other local authorities within the territory of India or under the control of Government of India. This was done in pursuance of the amendment of Constitution of India by Articles 323A. Setting up of such Administrative Tribunals aimed at reducing the burden on various courts and reduce pendency and provide to the persons covered by the Administrative Tribunals a speedy and relatively cheap and effective remedy. Source :- The Hindu WHY CABINET COMMITTEES ARE FORMED, WHAT ARE THE FUNCTIONS OF EACH [ EDITORIAL / OPINION ] Context :
The Government of India has reconstituted eight key cabinet committees including two new ones one on Investment, the other on Employment and Skill Development under the Transaction of Business Rules.
Transaction of Business Rules : The executive works under the Government of India Transaction of Business Rules, 1961. These Rules emerge out of Article 77(3) of the Constitution which states that the President shall
make rules for the more convenient transaction of the business of the Government of India, and for the allocation among Ministers of the said business. The Prime Minister constitutes Standing Committees of the Cabinet and sets out the specific
functions assigned to them. He can add or reduce the number of committees. 2 Types of cabinet Committees : Standing Cabinet Committees: Standing cabinet Committees are permanent in nature with a specific job. The Cabinet Ministers are called its members while the people without the rank of Cabinet Committee are called special invitees. The Prime Minister constitutes Standing Committees of the Cabinet and sets out the specific functions assigned to them. He can add or reduce the number of committees. Ad-hoc Cabinet Committees: Ad-hoc Cabinet Committee are temporary in nature and are formed from time to time to deal with specific tasks. Cabinet committees formed : 1. Appointments Committee of the Cabinet. 2. Cabinet Committee on Accommodation. 3. Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs.
4. Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs. 5. Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs. 6. Cabinet Committee on Security. 7. Cabinet Committee on Investment and Growth. 8. Cabinet Committee on Employment & Skill Development. New Panels : Cabinet Committee on Investment and Growth : The Cabinet Committee on Investment will ―identify key projects required to be implemented on a time-bound basis‖, involving investments of Rs 1,000 crore or more, or any other critical projects, as may be specified by it, with regard to infrastructure and manufacturing. It will prescribe time limits for giving requisite approvals and clearances by the ministries concerned in identified sectors. It will also monitor the progress of such projects. Cabinet Committee on Employment & Skill Development :
The Cabinet Committee on Employment and Skill Development is supposed to provide ―direction to all policies, programmes, schemes and initiatives for skill development aimed at increasing the
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employability of the workforce for effectively meeting the emerging requirements of the rapidly growing economy and mapping the benefits of demographic dividend‖. It is required to enhance workforce participation, foster employment growth and identification, and work towards removal of gaps between requirement and availability of skills in various sectors. The panel will set targets for expeditious implementation of all skill development initiatives by the ministries and to periodically review the progress in this regard. The addition of the two committees is indicative of the new focus areas for the government. The goal of both is new jobs. Source :- Indian Express
RETIREMENT AGE OF JUDGES AND SC STRENGTH Context :
The Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi has requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take steps to raise the retirement of High Court judges as 65 year and to increase the strength of SC. To tackle problem of Huge case Backlogs:
Increase the strength of SC : ● The Chief Justice of India, Ranjan Gogoi has batted for Constitutional amendments to raise the retirement age of High Court judges to 65 years and to increase the strength of judges in the
Supreme Court. The Supreme Court currently has a pendency of more than 58,000 cases. Inadequate judge strength is holding back the CJI from constituting Constitution Benches to hear cases concerning the interpretation of the Constitution. Increase in the Retirement age : Further, CJI has requested for Constitutional amendment to increase the retirement age of High Court judges from 62 to 65. He has pointed out pendency of the 43 lakh cases in 24 High Courts and the lack of judge strength in High Courts to deal with the same. The letter states that posts of 399 High Court judges or 37 percent of sanctioned judge strength are lying vacant and despite best efforts by stakeholders, it has not been able to appoint judges to bring the working strength of High Courts upto the sanctioned strength. Hence, CJI Gogoi has suggested increasing the retirement age of judges to 65 as that would help reduce vacancy and thus, tackle arrears.
Source :- The Hindu
REMOVAL OF HIGH COURT JUDGES Context : The Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi has written to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi about
initiating an impeachment motion in Parliament for removal of Allahabad High Court Judge Justice Shri Narayan Shukla.
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Background : Justice Shukla, who was heading a division bench in the high court, had allegedly defied the categorical restraint orders passed by a CJI-led bench of the apex court last year to permit private colleges to admit students for the 2017-18 academic session Impeachment of the HC Judges : When the CJI writes to the President and the PM for removal of a High Court judge, the Rajya Sabha Chairperson appoints a three-judge inquiry committee in consultation with the CJI to look into the allegations. The committee has three members: a Supreme Court judge, a High Court Chief Justice, and an eminent jurist. The committee appointed by the Rajya Sabha chairperson would examine the evidence and records, and opine if the same formed the basis for whether or not removal motion be debated in the Upper House.
After concluding its investigation, the Committee will submit its report to the Speaker or Chairman, who will then lay the report before the relevant House of Parliament. If the report records a finding of misbehaviour or incapacity, the motion for removal will be taken up
for consideration and debated. The motion for removal is required to be adopted by each House of Parliament by: a majority of the total membership of that House; and
a majority of at least two-thirds of the members of that House present and voting. If the motion is adopted by this majority, the motion will be sent to the other House for adoption. Once the motion is adopted in both Houses, it is sent to the President, who will issue an order for the
removal of the judge.
Note :- Till date, no judge of the higher judiciary (Supreme Court and High Courts) has been successfully impeached.
Source :- The Hindu
GS PAPER - 02 GOVERNANCE - Salient features of the Representation of People's Act.
‗ONE NATION, ONE POLL‘ Context :
Prime Minister has called a meeting of all parties represented in Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabha to discuss the issue of ‗one nation, one election‘. One Nation One Poll :
One Nation, One Election is the method of holding single elections for both Lok Sabha and States instead of separate and continuous elections. Simultaneous Elections in India :
First General Elections to the House of People (Lok Sabha) and all State Legislative Assemblies were held simultaneously in 1951-52. That practice continued in three subsequent General Elections held in the years 1957, 1962 and
1967. However, due to the premature dissolution of some Legislative Assemblies in 1968 and 1969, the cycle got disrupted. In 1970, the Lok Sabha was itself dissolved prematurely and fresh elections were held in 1971. Thus, the First, Second and Third Lok Sabha enjoyed full five year terms. The term of the Fifth Lok Sabha was extended till 1977 under Article 352. After that, the Eighth, Tenth, Fourteenth and Fifteenth Lok Sabha could complete their full five year terms. The Sixth, Seventh, Ninth, Eleventh, Twelfth and Thirteenth Lok Sabha was dissolved prematurely.
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As a result of premature dissolutions and extension of terms of both the Lok Sabha and various State Legislative Assemblies, for the last forty eight years there have been separate elections to Lok Sabha and States Legislative Assemblies, and the cycle of simultaneous elections has been disturbed. Pro‘s of One Nation and One Poll: Firstly, it would reduce the massive expenditure incurred for conduct of separate elections every year. Simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies also help ruling parties focus on governance instead of being constantly in election mode. Elections lead to imposition of Model Code of Conduct in the poll bound State/area. Imposition of the Code puts on hold for many months at a stretch, the entire development programmes and activities of the Union and State governments. Most of the time, in the poll bound State it even affects normal day-to-day governance. This often leads to policy paralysis and governance deficit. Frequent elections lead to disruption of normal public life and impact the functioning of essential services. Holding of political rallies disrupts road traffic and also leads to noise pollution. Such disruptions would be limited to a certain predetermined period of time if elections are held simultaneously. Elections are also polarizing events which perpetuate caste, religion and communal issues because candidates are often forced to talk politically’ for the sake of electoral benefits.
Lastly, simultaneous elections would free crucial manpower which is often deployed for prolonged periods on election duties. For example, the 2014 Lok Sabha elections (held with four Assembly elections) was spread over nine phases and 1,077 in -situ companies and 1,349 mobile
companies of the Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) were deployed. Cons of One Nation One Poll : Operational feasibility: Simultaneous elections are almost nearly impossible to implement, as it
would mean arbitrarily curtailing or extending the term of existing legislatures to bring their election dates in line with the due date for the rest of the country. Such a measure would undermine democracy and federalism. The Law Commission in its recent report has suggested an alternative: Categorise States based on proximity to the next general election, and have one round of State Assembly polls with the next Lok Sabha election, and another round for the remaining States 30 months later. But this is still no guarantee that mid-term polls would not be needed. The deployment of security forces and officials in 700,000 polling stations located in widely varying geographic and climatic conditions, all at the same time is going to be extremely difficult. It is precisely these problems that begun to cause elections to be held in multiple phases and on different dates even in the same state.
Critics also say that forcing simultaneous elections is against democracy because trying to force an artificial cycle of elections and restricting the choice for voters is not correct. Impact on voter behavior: Some political parties argue that it may influence voter behavior in a
manner that voters would end up voting on national issues even for State elections and this may lead to larger national parties winning both State and Lok Sabha elections thereby marginalizing regional parties.
State and national elections are often fought on different sets of issues — and in simultaneous elections, voters may end up privileging one set over the other in ways they might not have done otherwise.
Having to face the electorate more than once every 5 years enhances the accountability of politicians and keeps them on their toes. Finally, a lot of jobs are also created during the elections, which boosts the economy at the grassroots level.
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Constitutional and Statutory Provisions : Article 83, which deals with the duration of Houses of Parliament, along with Article 85 (dissolution of Lok Sabha by the President), Article 172 (duration of state legislatures), Article 174 (dissolution of state assemblies) and
Article 356 (President‘s Rule), to facilitate simultaneous polls. EC recommendations : Simultaneous elections may be restored through an amendment of the Constitution, Representation
of the People Act, 1951 and Rules of Procedure of Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies. A definition may be added to section 2 of the 1951 Act. The no-confidence motion may be replaced with a constructive vote of no-confidence through amendments in Lok Sabha and State Assemblies rules of business. Anti-Defection law may be suitably diluted to prevent stalemate in case of a hung Assembly or Parliament Statutory limit of six months for issuance of notification of general elections may be extended for securing flexibility as a one-time measure.
Recommendation of recent Law Commission : Simultaneous polls could be held together ―through appropriate amendments to the Constitution, the Representation of the People Act 1951, and the Rules of Procedure of Lok Sabha and state Assemblies At least 50% of the states may ratify the constitutional amendments. The Commission recommended that all elections due in a calendar year be conducted together. Since a no-confidence motion, if passed, may curtail the term of the Lok Sabha or an Assembly, the Law Commission recommended replacing the ―no-confidence motion‖ with a ―constructive vote of no- confidence‖ through appropriate amendments — a government may only be removed if there is confidence in an alternative government. International scenario: Evidence from countries like Brazil, Argentina, Canada, Germany, the US and Europe supports
the idea that elections that are held simultaneously produce greater alignment between national and regional election outcome. Conclusion :
‗One Nation One Poll‘ is a good idea for Indian polity but its feasibility needs to be thoroughly examined by involving all the stakeholders in debate and discussion. Also, the desired goal of having only one election every five years cannot be achieved overnight in the prevailing circumstances. It has to be achieved in stages. Constitutional amendment can provide for extending or curtailing the term of one or more Legislative Assemblies, say for/by six months or so, wherever it is necessary to achieve the said goal. But it will require unprecedented political will and support. The latest Law Commission report should therefore be considered a good place to start the national debate on Simultaneous Elections. Source :- The Hindu
VOTER VERIFIABLE PAPER AUDIT TRAIL(VVPAT) Context : The Election Commission has decided to re-examine the Rule 49MA which prosecutes a voter for making a false complaint of malfunction of an electronic voting machine(EVM) or voter verifiable paper audit trail machine(VVPAT). Rule 49 : Rule 49MA of the Conduct of Elections Rules was inserted to prescribe the procedure to be followed in case of complaint made by the elector about alleged wrong particulars of a candidate, symbol on
paper slip generated by the printer on casting votes using the EVM.
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Any person making a claim about the malfunction after casting his vote has to make a declaration, after which the person is allowed to cast a ―test‖ vote under Rule 49 MA. If the allegation is found true, the presiding officer shall report the facts immediately to the returning officer, stop further recording of votes in that voting machine and act as per the direction that may be given by the Returning Officer.
If the allegation is false, a case under Section 177 of the IPC is made out for giving a false submission. It prescribes simple imprisonment for a term extending to six months, or with fine of Rs.1,000, or both. Background : In April, during the 17th Lok Sabha elections, the Supreme Court had sought a response from the poll panel on a plea seeking to revoke the rule. The plea alleged that putting the onus on the elector in cases of arbitrary deviant behaviour of machines used in election process infringes upon a citizen‘s right to freedom of expression under the Constitution. This could have the impact of terrifying a voter into not complaining and thus impacting negatively on a free and fair election process, it said. The rule infringed upon a citizen‘s right to freedom of expression, which is a fundamental right of free expression guaranteed under Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution, the petition said. The petition explained the various forms of deviant behaviour the EVMs and VVPATs could possibly have, including an unsolicited programme by ballots cast for one candidate may be transferred, not sequentially, but rather intermittently (at pre-programmed intervals or otherwise) to
another candidate. Source :- The Hindu GS PAPER - 02 POLITY - Parliament and State Legislatures - structure, functioning, conduct of business, powers & privileges and issues arising out of these.
MOTION OF THANKS Context :
The President makes an address to a joint sitting of Parliament at the start of the Budget session, which is prepared by the government and lists its achievements. Motion Of Thanks : Motion of Thanks is a motion in Indian Parliament which follows the address of the President of India to the joint sitting of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha at the commencement of first session of a new Lok Sabha and first session of every year. Procedure : President‘s address is the speech delivered by the President of India to both Houses of Parliament assembled together at the commencement of the first session after each general election to Lok Sabha and at the commencement of the first session of each year (this is usually the budget session). This speech is a statement of the government policy and is approved by the cabinet.
The president highlights legislative and policy activities of the government, achievements of the previous year and broad agenda of the upcoming year. This address is followed by a Motion of Thanks, which is moved in each house by an MP of the
ruling party. The deliberations on this motion last for three to four days. The deliberations allow the opposition to critically discuss the government‘s vision, scope and policies.
At the end of these discussions, the Prime Minister gives replies to the points or questions raised. After the reply of the PM is over, the Members of Parliament vote on this motion of thanks. This motion must be passed in both of the houses.
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A failure to get motion of thanks passed (which may happen rarely) amounts to defeat of government and leads to collapse of government. This is why, the Motion of Thanks is deemed to be a no-confidence motion. However, before such voting, some members may also move amendment to the address. Such amendments may be: for emphasizing or adding issues addressed by the president for including some issues or highlight some issues which did not find mention in the speech there have already been three instances so far. Constitutional Provisions : President‘s Address and Motion of Thanks are governed by Articles 86 (1) and 87 (1) of the Constitution and Rules 16 to 24 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha. Article 86(1) of the Constitution provides that the President may address either House of Parliament or both Houses assembled together, and for that purpose require the attendance of members.
Article 87 provides for the special address by the President. Clause (1) of that article provides that at the commencement of the first session after each general election to the House of the People and at the commencement of the first session of each year, the President shall address both Houses of
Parliament assembled together and inform Parliament of the causes of its summons. No other business is transacted till the President has addressed both Houses of Parliament assembled together. Source :- PIB
GS PAPER - 02 GOVERNANCE - Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes
EXTENSION OF PM-KISAN SCHEME TO ALL FARMERS Context : The Union Cabinet has approved to extend the ambit of the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana. Key Highlights :
This scheme can now be availed by all land holding eligible farmer families (subject to the prevalent exclusion criteria) under the scheme irrespective of the size of land holdings. The revised Scheme is now expected to cover around 2 crore more farmers increasing the coverage
of PM-KISAN to around 14.5 crore beneficiaries. PM - KISAN Scheme : The PM KISAN scheme was announced in the interim Budget 2019-20.
PM KISAN is a Central Sector scheme with 100% funding from Government of India Under the scheme an income support of Rs.6000/- per year in three equal installments will be provided
State Government and UT Administration will identify the farmer families which are eligible for support as per scheme guidelines. The fund will be directly transferred to the bank accounts of the beneficiaries.
Those excluded from Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Siddhi (PM-KISAN) include institutional land holders, farmer families holding constitutional posts, serving or retired officers and employees of state/central government as well as PSUs and government autonomous bodies.
Professionals like doctors, engineers and lawyers as well as retired pensioners with a monthly pension of over Rs Rs 10,000 and those who paid income tax in the last assessment year -- are also kept out of the ambit of the scheme.
Source :- PIB ; The Hindu
PENSION COVERAGE TO CRORES OF FARMERS Context : The Union Cabinet has approved a new Central Sector Scheme to provide pension cover to farmers.
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Key Highlights of the Scheme : The pension scheme will be voluntary and contributory scheme for all Small and Marginal Farmers (SMF) across the country. There will be an entry age of 18 to 40 years with a provision of minimum fixed pension of Rs.3,000/- on attaining the age of 60 years.
A beneficiary farmer is required to contribute Rs 100/ – per month at median entry age of 29 years. The Central Government shall also contribute to the Pension Fund an equal amount as contributed by the eligible farmer.
After the subscriber‘s death the spouse of the SMF beneficiary shall be entitled to receive 50% of the pension received by the beneficiary as family pension, provided he/she is not already an SMF beneficiary of the Scheme. Further, farmers can opt to allow his/her monthly contribution to the Scheme to be made from the benefits drawn from the PM-KISAN Scheme directly. Alternatively, a farmer can pay his monthly contribution by registering through Common Service Centres(CSCs) under Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology(MeitY). This scheme is estimated to benefit 5 crore small and marginal farmers in the first three years itself. This scheme in addition to PM-KISAN monetary support will ease economic burden and lead to greater efficiency for farmers. The government has defined a small and marginal landholder family as the one comprising of husband, wife and minor children up to 18 years of age, who collectively own cultivable land up to 2 hectare as per the land records of the concerned states. Source :- PIB
FREE TRAVEL FOR WOMEN IN BUSES AND METRO Context : Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has announced free Delhi Metro and DTC bus rides for
women in the capital city. Key features of the Scheme : The expenses of the free ride scheme will be borne by the government in Delhi.
On all DTC buses, cluster buses and metro trains, women will be allowed to travel free of cost so that they have safe travel experience and can access modes of transport which they were not able to, due to high prices.
The proposal to make Delhi Metro and DTC rides free was made on Sunday "to encourage the women to use public transport". Why such a move?
As of now only 33 per cent of Metro commuters are women. The fare hike last year hit women the worst, forcing them to shift to more unsafe modes of transport like private buses, ride-sharing, or even walking. India‘s declining female workforce participation has not been on any political party‘s agenda. But the slide has been undeniable. Over 10 years to Census 2011, as many as 19.6 million women fell off India‘s employment map. The Economic Survey for 2015-16 puts India‘s female workforce participation at 24%, the second- lowest in South Asia, above only Pakistan. It would seem that at a time of rising educational attainment, economic growth and female aspiration, more, not less, women should have been opting for paid work. In fact, the opposite has been happening. A complex layer of reasons — from bearing an inordinate burden of housework to social attitudes — seems to be holding women back from employment. Among the constraints, the cost of using public transportation is indeed one. But this cost includes not just the rupee fare, but also time taken and safety.
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This move will help them return to the Metro's safety. More women in any public spaces automatically makes those spaces safer for women. This move will help women reclaim public spaces Source :- The Hindu
BIHAR FIRST STATE TO LAUNCH UNIVERSAL OLD-AGE PENSION SCHEME
Context : Bihar state government has launched a universal old age pension scheme - Mukhyamantri Vridhajan Pension Yojana (MVPY)
Mukhyamantri Vridhajan Pension Yojana (MVPY) : Objective : The Bihar Mukhyamantri Vridhajan Pension Yojana (MVPY) scheme provides financial assistance
to senior citizens of the state. This funding is provided to make all senior citizens in the State independent in their old age. Key Features :
The scheme covers all individuals who are above 60 years of age. The beneficiaries would be provided with a sum of Rs. 400 as monthly pension. his pension fund would be offered until the death of the individual.
The pension amount of the scheme would be directly deposited in the bank holder‘s account. The scheme will be implemented from 1st April 2019. Eligibility :
The applicant has to be a permanent resident of the State. The applicant should have completed 60 years of age. The applicant should not be retired government employee, in order to avail the benefits of the
scheme. The applicant should belong to Below Poverty Line category.
Source :- The Times of India
RAJASTHAN TO IMPLEMENT AYUSHMAN BHARAT
Context : The Rajasthan government has decided to implement Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) in the state after months-long deliberations over the flagship
healthcare scheme. More about the news: AB-PMJAY will be integrated with Rajasthan government‘s existing health scheme — Bhamashah Swasthya Bima Yojana (BSBY). Currently, Rajasthan is providing benefits to 97 lakh families under the BSBY. Many of eligible families under the AB-PMJDY are already covered under the BSBY. Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on September 23, 2018 launched the flagship scheme 'Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana' (PMJAY), also known as Ayushman Bharat or the National Health Protection Mission (AB-NHPM). Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme having central sector component under Ayushman Bharat Mission anchored in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW). 60 percent contribution from the Centre and the remaining from the states.
It is an umbrella of two major health initiatives, namely Health and Wellness Centres and National Health Protection Scheme.
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Key Features : Ayushman Bharat, the government-sponsored health insurance scheme, will provide free coverage of up to Rs 5 lakh per family per year in any government or even empanelled private hospitals all over India. Launched with an aim to help the poor and the economically deprived, the scheme will be available for 10.74 crore beneficiary families and about 50 crore Indian citizens. This scheme will strengthen the healthcare services in India. Around 13000 hospitals in the country have been coordinated for the implementation of the scheme. The benefit cover will also include pre and post-hospitalisation expenses. All pre-existing conditions will be covered from day one of the policy. A defined transport allowance per hospitalisation will also be paid to the beneficiary. The scheme allows the beneficiary to take cashless benefits from any public or private empanelled hospitals across the country. Eligible Criteria : The scheme aims to target poor and vulnerable population of the country, based on the Socio Economic and Caste Census 2011 (SECC) database. There will be no cap on family size and age in the scheme. Implementing Agency : At the national level to manage, a National Health Agency has been set up. States/ UTs are advised to implement the scheme by a dedicated entity called State Health Agency (SHA). Source :- The Hindu
SELF DEFENCE TRAINING PROGRAMMES FOR GIRLSIN GOVERNMENT SCHOOLS Context : The government has introduced a self defence training programme for girlsunder Samagra Shiksha so as to make them strong. Self Defence Training Programme for Girls : Self Defence training is imparted to girls of class VI to XII belonging to Government Schools. The self-defence training is also being provided in Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas (KGBVs) which are residential schools meant for girls of class VI to XII and belonging to
disadvantaged groups. Funds for this purpose are provided for three months @ Rs. 3000/- per school per month for inculcating self-defence skills including life skills for self-protection and self-development among
the girls.‘ The States have been advised for convergence for availing funding for Self-Defence training under the Nirbhaya Fund under Ministry of Woman and Child Development, Government
of India or with other State Government schemes. Need : The crime rate in India has been rising and especially crime against women, therefore, safety and
security of girls is really a concern for the government.
Nirbhaya Fund : Nirbhaya Fund is a dedicated fund set up by the Government of India in 2013, for theimplementation of initiatives aimed at enhancing the safety and security of women in the
country. This is a non lapsable amount. The Fund is administered by the Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance.
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Samgra Siksha : Samagra Shiksha is an overarching programme for the school education sector extending from pre-school to class 12. The scheme has been prepared with the broader goal of improving school effectiveness measured in terms of equal opportunities for schooling and equitable learning outcomes. It subsumes the three Schemes of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) and Teacher Education (TE).
Objective : Provision of quality education and enhancing learning outcomes of students; Bridging Social and Gender Gaps in School Education; Ensuring equity and inclusion at all levels of school education; Ensuring minimum standards in schooling provisions; Promoting Vocationalisation of education; Support States in implementation of Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE)
Act, 2009; and Strengthening and up-gradation of SCERTs/State Institutes of Education and DIET as a nodal agencies for teacher training.
Source :- PIB
‗GO TRIBAL CAMPAIGN‘ OF TRIBES INDIA Context : The Minister of State for Tribal Affairs, launched the ―Go Tribal Campaign‖ of Tribes India.
The Minister also launched ‗Tribes India‘ globally through Amazon Global Selling ―Go Tribal Campaign‖ : The campaign has been launched to widely promote the use of tribal products.
To promote the use of tribal handicrafts, handicrafts and natural products.
Tribes India : Joint collaboration between TRIFED and Amazon, the tribal products will be available in about 190 countries and will help in establishing export market of tribal products worldwide. With this collaboration, tribal products shall be available in the US and will help establish export market of tribal products. The range of tribal products for sale has been increased many a fold in recent years and it provides them ample employment opportunities also. The collaboration with Amazon, the market for tribal products will definitely get a boost. More in news: Collaboration of Tribes India with Central Silk Board for development, promotion, marketing of tribal silk products and empowerment of tribal reelers and weavers. Source :- PIB
GS PAPER - 02 GOVERNANCE - Issues related to Health.
BAN ON E-CIGARETTES Context :
The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has recommended a complete ban on e-cigarettes and other electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), based on currently available scientific evidence.
Key Highlights : The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) in its white paper on Electronic Nicotine Delivery System (ENDS), published on the eve of World No Tobacco Day, has said that ENDS adversely
affects almost all the human body systems.
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The paper has rejected the argument that e-cigarettes could help smokers quit tobacco consumption.
Referring to studies, the white paper stated that youths using ENDS or e-cigarettes are more likely to use regular cigarettes later as it increases the likelihood to experiment with regular tobacco products and increases intention to indulge in cigarette smoking. They also increase the risk of dual-use due to lack of awareness about the harmful effects of ENDS The white paper highlighted that there is very limited evidence regarding the impact of ENDS on tobacco smoking cessation, reduction in cigarette use or adverse health effects.
Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) :
ENDS are devices that heat a solution to create an aerosol, which also frequently contains flavours, usually dissolved into propylene glycol and glycerin. There are various types of ENDS devices like e-cigarettes, heat-not-burn devices, vape, e-
sheesha, e-nicotine flavoured hookah among others. The most common type is an e-cigarette that produces an aerosolised mixture of the flavoured liquids and nicotine, which is inhaled by the user.
Effe cts on Health : Use of ENDS or e-cigarettes has documented adverse effects on humans, which include
DNA damage; carcinogenic, cellular, molecular and immunological toxicity; Respiratory, cardiovascular and neurological disorders; and
Adverse impact on fetal development and pregnancy. There are reports of poisoning due to accidental swallowing by children. These devices also can cause fire and explosion.
Current regulation on ENDS in India : Conflict and ongoing litigation around ENDS is because nicotine in India is regulated as both a pesticide and a drug. In its sulphate form, nicotine is banned as a pesticide in India and other countries. The sale of e-cigarettes is completely banned in 25 countries, including Brazil, Norway and Singapore, while market authorization is required in 17 other countries. Despite the perception that nicotine is a reduced harm alternative to tobacco, nicotine can itself be addictive and toxic. India‘s drug regulator allows a small amount of nicotine to be used for therapeutic purposes for nicotine patches and gum. Last year, the health ministry issued an advisory asking states to ensure nicotine devices are ―not sold (including online), manufactured, distributed, traded, imported and advertised‖.
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The advisory was subsequently challenged in Delhi High Court which ruled it to be non-binding on states and government bodies. However, some states in India including Punjab, Karnataka, Kerala, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Jharkhand, Rajasthan and Mizoram have already banned use and sale of e-cigarettes, Vape and E-Hookah.
Source :- Down To Earth SWACHH SURVEKSHAN 2020 Context :
Swachh Survekshan 2020 League was launched by Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Singh Puri. Swachh Survekshan League 2020 (SS League 2020) :
The Swachh Survekshan League will be a quarterly cleanliness assessment of Indian cities and towns. It will be integrated with Swachh Survekshan 2020, the 5th edition of Swachh Survekshan survey of
urban India, which will be conducted between January and February 2020. Objective : The Swachh Survekshan League has been launched with the aim of sustaining the on-ground performance of cities along with continuous monitoring of service level performance in cleanliness. SS League 2020 Framework : The SS League 2020 will be conducted in 3 quarters April- June, July – September and October- December 2019. It will have a weightage of 2000 marks for each quarter, which will be evaluated on the basis of monthly updation of SBM-U online MIS by cities along with citizen‘s validation on the 12 service level progress indicators through outbound calls. These two parameters will determine the quarterly ranking of cities. The ranks will be assigned in two categories: Cities with population of one lakh and above Cities with population of less than 1 lakh
Significance : The high performance of the Indian cities in Swachh Survekshan League 2020 will be crucial, as it will impact their ranking in Swachh Survekshan 2020, as 25 percent weightage of the quarterly assessment will be included in the annual survey in January 2020. Source :- PIB
UPTICK FOR INDIA ON SANITATION IN UN REPORT Context : Joint Monitoring Programme report by UNICEF and WHO shows that India‘s record has been better with regard to sanitation.
Key Highlights : Sanitation : According to the report the South Asian region, including India, accounted for almost three-fourths of the population who stopped defecating in the open between 2000 and 2017. Of the 2.1 billion people who gained access to basic sanitation services over this time period globally, 486 million live in India. According to the report, India is responsible for almost single-handedly dragging the world towards achieving Sustainable Development Goal of ending open defecation. India‘s Swachh Bharat mission has been an example and inspiration to other countries, especially in Africa, but also East and South Asia However, according to the report, only 30% of the country‘s wastewater is treated at plants providing at least secondary treatment, in comparison to an 80% global average.
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The millions of new toilets which mark the progress of the Swachh Bharat mission are, however, producing large amounts of solid and liquid waste that India simply does not have the ability to treat and dispose of safely. Although government officials confirm that Solid and liquid waste management will be the focus of Swachh Bharat phase 2, which will be launched soon.
Report also highlight inequalities beyond toilet access, it says “The human right to sanitation implies that people not only have a right to a hygienic toilet but also have a right not to be negatively affected by unmanaged faecal waste. This is most relevant to poor and marginalized groups who tend to be disproportionately affected by other people’s unmanaged faecal sludge and sewage,”
Drinking water : As per the report, there has been absolutely no growth in the population with access to piped water facilities over that period, while large inequalities remain between rural and urban areas. As for drinking water, the Joint Monitoring Programme report by UNICEF and WHO shows that India has increased the percentage of its population with access to a protected drinking water source less than 30 minutes away, from 79% in 2000 to 93% in 2017. However, the percentage of households getting piped water has remained stagnant at 44% over the 17-year period. Source :- The Hindu
IMPERATIVE TO TEST ALL PREGNANT WOMEN FOR GESTATIONAL DIABETES
Context : A recent paper published in the Journal of the Association of Physicians of India has highlighted the need to screen every pregnant woman for gestational diabetes even if no symptoms are exhibited.
Key Findings : Arguing that primordial prevention or, in this case, at the earliest stage of development of the foetus, is essential to prevent children from becoming predisposed to diabetes or other non-communicable diseases (NCD), the paper makes a case for testing all pregnant women. The paper states that while several reasons have been ascribed for the rising trend of NCD, the concept of intrauterine programming has not received adequate attention. Quoting David Barker‘s ‗Fetal Origin of Adult Diseases‘ theory, it says the body‘s susceptibility to lifestyle diseases was programmed in the intrauterine period.
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Higher glucose transfer to the foetus, when the mother has high blood sugar, stimulates the foetal pancreatic cells to start secreting insulin earlier and in higher quantities. Once initiated, it becomes self-perpetuating. National guidelines : The Ministry of Health has developed national guidelines for testing, diagnosis and management of hyperglycemia in pregnancy, and they recommend early testing at the time of contact (during the first trimester) and if the test is negative, yet another test should be done between 24-28 weeks. Uttar Pradesh has implemented this programme extremely well. They are even using advanced testing equipment not seen in other parts of the country. Testing all pregnant women has become the norm across the world. The common test is the single dose oral glucose, because it is simple and economical. A single reading of blood sugar two hours after the ingestion of 75 gm oral glucose solution is taken. A value of 140 mg/dl or more indicates GDM. Source :- The Hindu
FIRST GENE-EDITED BABIES AT EARLY DEATH RISK: STUDY Context : According to a recent study by scientists, the world‘s first babies whose genes were altered by the Chinese scientists are more likely to die younger. Key Findings : The researchers found that people who had two mutated copies of the gene had a significantly higher death rate between ages 41 and 78 than those with one or no copies. Previous studies have associated two mutated copies of the gene, CCR5, with a fourfold increase in the death rate after influenza infection, and the higher overall mortality rate may reflect this greater susceptibility to death from the flu. However, scientists have searched for a repository of human subjects DNA to look for the same variants of the CCR5 that the Chinese scientists gave to the children. The scientists have found that the same genome that might grant greater immunity from HIV also makes people vulnerable to dangerous flus and West Nile virus.
C-C chemokine receptor type 5 which is also known as CCR5 or CD195 is a protein on the surface of white blood cells that is involved in the immune system as it acts as a receptor for chemokines. Source :- The Hindu
FIRST WORLD FOOD SAFETY DAY Context : Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare inaugurates the first-ever World Food Safety Day
being celebrated by Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). World Food Safety Day : June 7 is set to be celebrated as the first World Food Safety Day. This was adopted by the United
Nations General Assembly in 2018. Theme : ‗Food Safety, everyone's business‘. WHO, in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is
pleased to facilitate Member States effort to celebrate the World Food Safety Day. Access to sufficient amounts of safe and nutritious food is key to sustaining life and promoting good health.
Food safety is key to achieving several UN Sustainable Development Goals and is a shared responsibility between governments, producers and consumers.
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Government Initiatives: State Food Safety Index (SFSI) : In an effort to motivate states to work towards ensuring safe food for citizens, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has developed the first State Food Safety Index (SFSI) to measure the performance of States on five parameters of food safety. The categories included : Human Resources and Institutional Arrangements; Compliance ; Food Testing- Infrastructure and Surveillance ;Training and Capacity Building and Consumer Empowerment. Raman 1.0: It is a hand-held battery operated device which performs rapid detection (in less than 1 minute) of economically driven adulteration in edible oils, fats and ghee. The equipment tests more than 250 samples per battery charge, collects and stores data on the cloud using a smart device. Food Safety Magic Box: It is an innovative solution to take food safety to schools.
This do-it-yourself food testing kit comprises a manual and equipment to check for food adulterants, which schoolchildren can use in their classroom laboratories. Eat Right Awards: FSSAI has instituted the ‗Eat Right Awards‘ to recognize the contribution of food companies and
individuals to empower citizens to choose safe and healthy food options, which would help improve their health and well-being. Source :- PIB; Down To Earth
THREE IN FOUR PEOPLE WITH EPILEPSY IN LOW-INCOME COUNTRIES
MAY DIE EARLY: WHO Context : A report ―Epilepsy, a public health imperative‖ has been released by the World Health Organization and leading non-governmental organizations for epilepsy, states that More than 75 percent of people with epilepsy in low-income countries are at risk of premature death, due to lack of access to anti seizure medicines. Key Findings of the Report : About 80 percent of people with epilepsy live in low- and middle-income countries. In low- and middle-income countries, early death among people with epilepsy is significantly higher than in high-income countries. More than 75 percent of people with epilepsy in low-income countries are at risk of premature death, due to lack of access to anti-seizure medicines. The reasons include possible lack of access to health facilities when seizures are long-lasting or occur close together without recovery in between, and preventable causes such as drowning, head injuries and burns The report states that the treatment gap for epilepsy is unacceptably high, when 70 percent of people with the condition can be seizure-free when they have access to medicines that can cost as little as $5 per year and can be delivered through primary health systems. Roughly half of adults with epilepsy have at least one other health condition. The most common are depression and anxiety. Around 23 percent of adults with epilepsy will experience clinical depression during their lifetime and 20 per cent will have anxiety. Mental health conditions such as these can make seizures worse and reduce the quality of life.
Development and learning difficulties are experienced by 30-40 percent of children with epilepsy.
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Stigma also prevents people from taking treatment. The Report states that ―political will‖ facilitates the integration of diagnosis and treatment for epilepsy into the primary health services.
Epilepsy :
Epilepsy is a chronic noncommunicable disease of the brain that affects around 50 million people worldwide. It is characterized by recurrent seizures, which are brief episodes of involuntary movement that may involve a part of the body (partial) or the entire body (generalized) and are sometimes accompanied by loss of consciousness and control of bowel or bladder function. Seizure episodes are a result of excessive electrical discharges in a group of brain cells.
Source :- Down To Earth
TAMIL NADU HEALTH SYSTEM REFORM PROGRAM Context : The central government, Tamil Nadu and the World Bank have signed a $287 million loan agreement for the state's Health System Reform Programme. Tamil Nadu Health system Reform programme :
The programme supports interventions to strengthen institutional and state capacity to achieve results. The programme will promote population-based screening, treatment and follow-up for NCDs, and improve monitoring and evaluation.
Patients will be equipped with knowledge and skills to self-manage their conditions. Lab services and health provider capacity will also be strengthened to address mental health. To tackle road injuries, the programme will improve in- hospital care, strengthen protocols,
strengthen the 24×7 trauma care services and establish a trauma registry. This Programme focuses on results instead of inputs through a Programme-for-Results (PforR) lending instrument. This will provide a much greater focus on outputs and outcomes through better
alignment of expenditures and incentives with results. Aim : The Program aims to improve the quality of health care, reduce the burden of Non-communicable
Diseases (NCDs), and fill equity gaps in reproductive and child health services in the State of Tamil Nadu. Another key aim of this Program is to reduce the equity gaps in reproductive and child health. The progremme will support the state government to : To develop clinical protocols and guidelines; Achieve national accreditation for primary, secondary, and tertiary-level health facilities in the public sector; strengthen physicians, nurses and paramedics through continuous medical education; strengthen the feedback loop between citizens and the state by making quality and other data accessible to the public. NITI Aayog Health Index : Tamil Nadu ranks third among all Indian States in the NITI Aayog Health Index which is reflected in vastly improved health outcomes. The State‘s maternal mortality rate has declined from 90 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2005 to 62 deaths in 2015-16 while infant mortality has declined from 30 deaths per 1000 live births to 20 in the same period. Source :- PIB
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28 CHILDREN DIE OF ‗BRAIN FEVER‘ IN BIHAR Context : At least 28 children have died in the last one month in Muzaffarpur district of north Bihar, allegedly due to Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES), which is locally known as Chamki bukhar (brain fever). Key facts and Data : High temperature during summer, along with humidity more than the normal, is considered to be an ideal situation for the outbreak of Acute Encephalitis Syndrome, say doctors. Every year during summer time, especially in the season of luscious fruit litchi, AES outbreak gets reported and takes the lives of children in the district. which is India‘s largest litchi cultivation region. In 2014, when altogether 90 children died in the district due to suspected AES, a research carried by the Lancet Global Health established the connection between litchi consumption and encephalitis deaths. Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES): AES is characterized as acute-onset of fever and a change in mental status (mental confusion, disorientation, delirium, or coma) and/or new-onset of seizures in a person of any age at any time of
the year. The disease most commonly affects children and young adults and can lead to considerable morbidity and mortality.
AES has symptoms of high fever, vomiting, nausea and unconsciousness. Viruses are the main causative agents in AES cases, although other sources such as bacteria, fungus, parasites, spirochetes, chemicals, toxins and noninfectious agents have also been reported over the
past few decades. Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) is the major cause of AES in India (ranging from 5%-35%). Herpes simplex virus, Influenza A virus, West Nile virus, Chandipura virus, mumps, measles,
dengue, Parvovirus B4, enteroviruses, Epstein-Barr virus and scrub typhus, S.pneumoniae are the other causes of AES in sporadic and outbreak form in India. Nipah virus, Zika virus are also found as causative agents for AES.
Source :- The Hindu
STUBBLE BURNING Context :
Stubble burning, which can lead to heart attacks and respiratory diseases, is practised in many areas of Delhi.
Health Issues : Stubble burning can lead to heart attacks, worsen bronchial asthma and other respiratory diseases. It leads to increased particulate matter in the air, mainly PM 2.5, whose impact can be felt over a large area.
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Stubble Burning : Stubble burning is a common practice followed by farmers in the neighboring states Haryana ,Punjab , Delhi and NCR to prepare fields for sowing of wheat in November as there is little time left between the harvesting of paddy and sowing of wheat. Stubble burning results in emission of harmful gases such as carbon dioxide, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide along with particulate matter. Causes behind Stubble burning : Paucity of time forces farmers to burn residue to clear the farms early for preparing them for sowing of wheat in the Rabi season. Farmers in this region have a traditional belief that burning crop residue will restore nutrients back to the soil. Mechanization and employment guarantee schemes like MGNREGA have led to shortage of farm labourers to carry on seasonal migration from UP and Bihar to Punjab and Haryana, as was prevalent earlier. It has become more economical for farmers to burn stubble on field than getting it transported for other uses.
Availability, affordability and awareness regarding crop residue management machines like ‗Happy seeder‘ and ‗Super SMS attachment‘ is inadequate. Way forward : The government should buy it (stubble) from the farmers and use it to make organic fertiliser,
packing material or as fodder in cattle centres they are running, else, the government should provide machines on a rental basis to the farmers. Source :- The Hindu
DRUGS OF 18 PHARMA FIRMS FOUND SUBSTANDARD SINCE 2018 Context : The Bureau of Pharma PSUs of India (BPPI) has found 25 batches of drugs of 18 pharmaceutical companies to be of substandard quality since January 2018. Out of 18 pharmaceutical companies 17 are private, one is a public sector unit (PSU) — Indian Drugs and Pharmaceuticals Limited (IDPL). More about the news:
Bureau of Pharma PSUs of India (BPPI) is the implementing agency of Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP). As on February 8 this year, under the Pradhan Mantri Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP), the BPPI
has entered into a contract with 146 pharmaceutical manufacturing companies for procuring generic medicines to be sold through dedicated retail outlets. Once the affordable generic drugs are procured from pharmaceutical companies by the BPPI, these
are supplied to various Jan Aushadhi Kendras managed under the Pradhan Mantri Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP). There are 4,677 Janaushadhi Kendras functional in the country, as on December 31, 2018.
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Bureau of Pharma PSUs of India :
BPPI was established in 2008 and comes under the Department of Pharmaceuticals. It
got registered as an independent society in 2010 under the Societies Registration
Act,1860. The Bureau will bring about effective collaboration and cooperation in furthering the work and resources of these organizations.
Functions:
Coordinate marketing of the generic drugs through the Jan Aushadhi stores. Coordinate supply of medicines in the State from their own plants, other Pharma PSUs of Central & State Governments and the Private Sector.
Coordinate with Hospitals in preparation of formulary. Monitor proper running of Jan Aushadhi stores with the help of other CPSUs. Provide medicines as per rates decided in the joint Forum/Core Committee Monitor activities of the Jan Aushadhi stores in the areas allocated to them.
Source :- The Hindu
INTEGRATION OF AYUSH SYSTEM WITH MODERN MEDICINES Context : Ministry of AYUSH is taking various initiatives in promotion and integration of Indian AYUSH System with modern system to increase their acceptability as scientific and reliable alternative
system of medicine. Steps taken : The Ministry of AYUSH co-locates AYUSH facilities at Primary Health Centres (PHCs),
Community Health Centres (CHCs) and District Hospitals (DHs) so that patients are enabled to choose between different systems of medicine. The Ministry is also implementing NPCDCS (National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases and Stroke) for health promotion, prevention and management of Non-communicable diseases or Lifestyle related disorders through its three research organizations, which are: Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS) Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine (CCRUM) Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy (CCRH) 10% of the Sub- centres will be upgraded as Health and Wellness Centres (HWCs) under Ayushman Bharat. CCRH has developed a public health program on ‗Homoeopathy for Healthy Child‘ which has been integrated with Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK). Central Council for Research in Siddha (CCRS) conducts special OPD for non-communicable
diseases and geriatric population. Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga (MDNIY), an autonomous organization under Ministry of AYUSH has established 19 Preventive Health Care Units of Yoga in CGHS Wellness Centres in
Delhi and NCR. It conducts Yoga training programmes to mainstream Yoga with the existing health care system.
Source :- PIB
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INDIA‘S AGREEMENT WITH THE WORLD BANK TO ELIMINATE TB Context : The World Bank and the Government of India signed a Loan Agreement of $400 Million to expand the coverage and the quality of interventions for the control of Tuberculosis (TB), which kills approximately half a million people in India every year. The World Bank supported Program will cover Nine State in the country to achieve the target of eliminating TB World Bank Programme to Eliminate TB : The World Bank‘s Program Towards Elimination of Tuberculosis will support the Government of India‘s (GoI) National Strategic Plan to end TB in India by 2025. It will do so by helping improve and strengthen diagnostics and management of drug-resistant tuberculosis and increase the capacity of public institutions engaged in monitoring and treating TB in the country. The World Bank and Govt. of India has over a two-decade long successful partnership in TB control. The National strategic Plan for TB elimination 2017 -2025 : Drug resistant TB is a major public health threat and despite a growing number of TB cases being notified, India has more than a million ―missing‖ cases every year with most of them being either undiagnosed or inadequately diagnosed and treated in the private sector. The Program seeks to ensure that these private sector providers adhere to established protocols of
timely diagnosis, notification and effective management of TB. The Program will provide financial incentives to private sector care providers for reporting cases of TB and ensuring that their patients complete the treatment regimen.
It will also provide Direct Benefit Transfers to patients for acquiring the critical nutrition needed during treatment. The Program will help the GoI strengthen the monitoring and implementation of Nikshay – a web-
based TB case monitoring system introduced by the government The Program will also strengthen the detection, treatment and monitoring of Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis and will track progress in detection of additional drug resistance.
It will also support the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to develop and implement a human resource plan to meet institutional capacity needs at the Centre and State level, for the successful implementation of the NSP. Source :- PIB DRDO, JNU SCIENTISTS DEVELOP MORE POTENT ANTHRAX VACCINE Context : A group of Indian scientists have developed a new vaccine against anthrax. It is claimed to be superior over existing vaccines as it can generate an immune response to
anthrax toxin as well as its spores rather than the toxin alone. Anthrax Vaccine : Anthrax is a deadly human disease caused by the bacterium Bacillus anthracis that also infects
animals like horses, sheep, cattle and goats. Humans, pigs and dogs are comparatively less susceptible and only get infected if exposed to copious amount of spores.
In 2001, these spores were used as agents of bio-terrorism when letters containing anthrax spores were sent to some people in America, leading to widespread panic. Spores of the bacterium that causes anthrax are present in soil and can stay in latent form for years.
However, under favourable environmental conditions, they become active and start to infect. Often, animals pick up spores while grazing, following which spores germinate in their body and produce toxins. Source :- Down To Earth
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INTERNATIONAL YOGA DAY Context : The International Yoga Day is celebrated on 21st June since its inception in 2015. The theme for 2019 Yoga Day is Yoga for Climate Action . International Yoga Day :
UN says that Yoga is an ancient physical, mental and spiritual practice that originated in India. The word ‗yoga‘ derived from Sanskrit and means to join or to unite, symbolizing the union of body and consciousness. The United Nations General Assembly on December 11, 2014, announced that June 21 will be seen as International Yoga Day or World Yoga Day. The resolution on ‗International Day of Yoga‘ was introduced by India‘s Ambassador to UN Asoke Mukerji. It was cosponsored by 177 nations, the highest number ever for any General Assembly resolution. Since 2015, International Yoga Day is celebrated worldwide. Source :- Indian Express
JANANI SURAKSHA YOJANA Context : Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY) is a safe motherhood intervention under the National Health Mission (NHM).
Janani Suraksha Yojana : Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY) is a safe motherhood intervention under the National Health Mission (NHM).
The Yojana was launched on 12th April 2005. It is being implemented in all states and UTs with special focus on low performing states. JSY is a 100 % centrally sponsored scheme and it integrates cash assistance with delivery
and post-delivery care. Objectives: It was Launched for reducing maternal and neonatal mortality, to promote institutional delivery among pregnant women especially with weak socio-economic status i.e.
women from Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and BPL households. Cash assistance: Under the JSY, eligible pregnant women are entitled to cash assistance irrespective of the age of mother and number of children for giving birth in a government or accredited private health facility. Area of Focus: The scheme focuses on poor pregnant woman with special dispensation for states that have low institutional delivery rates, namely, the states of Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Assam, Rajasthan, Odisha, and Jammu and Kashmir. While these States have been named Low Performing States (LPS) under the scheme, the remaining States/UTs have been named High Performing States (HPS). The scheme also provides performance-based incentives to women health volunteers known as ASHA (Accredited Social Health Activist) for promoting institutional delivery among pregnant women.
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Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) : ASHA is a trained female community health activist. Selected from the community itself and accountable to it, the ASHA will be trained to work as an interface between the community and the public health system. The role of an ASHA is that of a community level care provider. This includes a mix of tasks: facilitating access to health care services, building awareness about health care entitlements especially amongst the poor and marginalized, promoting healthy behaviours and mobilizing for collective action for better health outcomes and meeting curative care needs as appropriate to the organization of service delivery in that area and compatible with her training and skills.
Source :- PIB
ANAEMIA IN WOMEN Context :
According to National Family Health Survey (NFHS)–IV (2015-16), the prevalence of anaemia among women aged 15 to 49 years is 53% and among adolescent girls aged 15-19 years is 54%. Under the National Health Mission (NHM), the steps taken to tackle anaemia are: Anaemia Mukt Bharat(AMB): launched in the year 2018 as part of Intensified National Iron Plus Initiative (NIPI)Program for accelerating the annual rate of decline of anemia from one to three percentage points. The target groups for AMB are Children 6-59 months, 5-9 years, Adolescent Girls & Boys of 10-19 years, Women of Reproductive Age (15-49 years), pregnant Women and Lactating mothers. Weekly Iron and Folic Acid Supplementation (WIFS) Programme : Implemented to meet the challenge of high prevalence and incidence of anaemia amongst adolescent girls and boys. The intervention under WIFS includes supervised weekly ingestion of Iron Folic Acid (IFA) tablet. To control worm infestation biannual deworming with Albendazole is provided. Health management information system & Mother Child tracking system is being implemented for reporting and tracking the cases of anaemic and severely anaemic pregnant women. Universal screening : Universal Screening of pregnant women for anaemia is a part of ante-natal care and all pregnant
women are provided iron and folic acid tablets during their ante-natal visits through the existing network of sub-centres and primary health centres and other health facilities as well as through outreach activities at Village Health & Nutrition Days (VHNDs).
Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA) : launched to focus on conducting special ANC check up on 9th of every month with the help of Medical officers/ OBGYN to detect and treat cases of anemia.
Operationalization of Blood Bank: in District Hospitals and Blood Storage Unit in sub district facilities such as Sub-Divisional Hospital/ Community Health Centers is being taken to tackle complications due to severe anaemia. Source :- PIB
GS PAPER - 02 GOVERNANCE - Issues relating to Education:
THE DRAFT NATIONAL EDUCATION POLICY Context : Recently, Dr K. Kasturirangan Committee has submitted the Draft National Educational Policy to the Ministry of Human Resource Development((MHRD).
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Key Highlights of the Recommendations : The Draft Policy has recommended extension of Right to Education Act 2009 to cover children of ages 3 to 18 which currently applies to the age group of 6-14. It has also proposed to rename MHRD as Ministry of Education (MoE). The draft policy also proposes a 5+3+3+4 curricular and pedagogical structure based on cognitive
and socio-emotional developmental stages of children which are Foundational Stage (ages 3-8 yrs): 3 years of pre-primary plus Grades 1-2 Preparatory Stage (8-11 years): Grades 3-5 Middle Stage (11-14 years): Grades 6-8 and Secondary Stage (14-18 years): Grades 9-12. It also proposes the Establishment of a Rashtriya Shiksha Aayog (National Education Commission as a constitutional body with the Prime Minister as its Chairperson. Further, Rajya Shiksha Aayog/State Education Commissions may be constituted in each state. It has proposed the restructuring of higher education institutions with three types of higher education institutions Type 1: Focused on world-class research and high quality teaching
Type 2: Focused on high quality teaching across disciplines with significant contribution to research and Type 3: High quality teaching focused on undergraduate education.
The policy has proposed the establishment of National Research Foundation which will be an apex body for creating a strong research culture and building research capacity across higher education. It has also proposed the four functions of Standard setting, Funding, Accreditation and Regulation to be separated and conducted by independent bodies National Higher Education Regulatory Authority as the only regulator for all higher education including professional education Creation of accreditation eco-system led by revamped NAAC Professional Standard Setting Bodies for each area of professional education and UGC to transform to Higher Education Grants Commission (HEGC).
Source :- PIB
POLICY MOOTS ALL-INDIA ENTRANCE TESTS FOR UG COURSES IN PUBLIC COLLEGES Context :
The Draft National Education Policy, 2019 has recommended that there should be common (all- India) entrance examinations for admission to undergraduate courses in all government-funded universities and colleges
Common entrance Exam - UG courses: The draft has suggested that the National Testing Agency (NTA) should conduct common entrance tests multiple times each year for admissions and fellowships in higher educational institutions.
Tests should be conducted in various aptitude based subjects like logic, quantitative reasoning, and languages, to more specialised subject examinations in the sciences, arts, and vocational subjects. The preferred modality will be computer-based testing.
The draft policy has advocated that such a system would reduce burden on students by eliminating the stress of overemphasis on 12th board grades and that of appearing in multiple university examinations. Further, it would eliminate the need for the universities to devise their own examinations. University will be able to assess each student‘s individual subject portfolio, and admit students into their programmes based on individual interests and talents. Source :- The Hindu
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DRAFT NEP PROPOSES FORMAL EDUCATION FROM THE AGE OF THREE Context : Three years of preschool is recommended by the draft National Education Policy. More about the news : The draft NEP acknowledges a ―severe learning crisis‖ in India, where children in primary school fail to attain basic math and reading skills. Attributing a major part of this crisis to a ―tragic deficiency‖ in early childhood care and education (ECCE) of children in the age group 3-6 years, the draft recommends that ECCE be made an integral part of the Right to Education (RTE) Act. The draft policy also wants early childhood education to be overseen and regulated by the Ministry of Human Resource Development (HRD) as part of the school system, rather than the private pre- schools and anganwadis that currently cater to the 3-to-6 years, age group. The draft Policy praises the contribution of anganwadis to improving health and nutrition but notes that their record in education is not so strong.
This could result in an upheaval in the anganwadi system which has been overseen by the Ministry of Women and Child Development (WCD) for more than four decades. An inter-ministerial task force from Health, HRD and WCD will work out a roadmap for the transition by the end of 2019, says the draft policy.
Issues with Anganawadi :
Anganwadis are deficient in supplies and infrastructure for education; as a result, they tend to contain more children in the 2-4-year age range and fewer in the educationally critical 4-6-year age range They also have few teachers trained in or specially dedicated to early childhood education To strengthen and expand ECCE, the draft policy recommends:
Increased investment in existing anganwadi centres (meant for providing basic nutrition, healthcare and pre-school education to 3-to-6-year-olds),
Locating anganwadi centres in primary schools, Encouraging primary schools to add pre-school, and Building high-quality standalone pre-schools in areas where existing anganwadis and primary
schools are not able to fulfil ECCE requirements. To ensure continuity from pre-primary to primary schools, the draft advocates bringing all aspects of ECCE under the purview of the Human Resource Development Ministry.
The draft Policy suggests a new integrated curricular framework for 3 to 8-year olds with a flexible system based on play, activity and discovery, and beginning exposure to three languages from age 3 onwards.
Source :- The Hindu
GOVT HAS TAKEN SEVERAL STEPS TO INCREASE ENROLMENT OF GIRLS IN HIGHER STUDIES Context : The Government is committed towards encouraging girl students for taking up higher studies. Steps taken by government : The University Grants Commission (UGC) has two specific schemes for promotion of Women‘s Studies in Universities & Colleges namely: Development of Indian Studies in Indian Universities & Colleges and Capacity Building and Women Managers in Higher Education. For supporting single girl child, special scholarship schemes are there namely:
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Post-Graduate Indira Gandhi Scholarship for Single Girl Child and Swami Vivekananda Single Girl Child Scholarship for Research in Social Science. UGC has special schemes for promotion of women hostels in Universities and Colleges and establishment of Day Care Centres therein. UGC has provided support for eight exclusive women universities.
The All India Council for Technical Education is implementing the PRAGATI scholarship scheme for assistance of girls pursuing technical education. To improve female enrolment in the Indian Institute of Technology (IITs), the Government has decided to increase female enrolment in B. Tech. Programmes of IITs from the current 8% to 14% in 2018-19, 17% in 2019-20 and 20% in 2020-21 by creating supernumerary seats. The Government has also decided to increase female enrolment from existing 14% to 20% over a period of 2-4 years by creating supernumerary seats in undergraduate programmes. Source :- PIB
RIGHT TO EDUCATION OF CHILDREN OF MIGRANT WORKERS
Context : The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009 provides for free and compulsory elementary education of equitable quality to all children, including the children of
migrant workers, of 6-14 years age.
Samgra Siksha Abhiyan : Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) was designated as a vehicle programme for universalization of
elementary education up to 2017-18, which was implemented in coordination with the States and UTs. Now, the provisions of RTE Act are implemented through the Samagra Shiksha which subsumes the
erstwhile Centrally Sponsored Schemes of SSA, Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) and Teacher Education (TE). Samagra Shiksha – an Integrated Centrally Sponsored Scheme for School Education has been
launched throughout the country, as on overarching programme for the school education sector extending from pre-school to class XII. This scheme aims towards ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education at all levels of
school education. Under the scheme since its inception, approval has been given for setting up 2.04 lakh primary and 1.59 lakh upper primary schools across the country. Further, to address the issue of seasonal migration for varying periods, States are using various strategies which are supported by Government of India under Samagra Shiksha. All States and UTs are required to conduct household surveys/ update household surveys annually to identify out of school children. These surveys also collect information on children affected by migration of their families In order to ensure provision of elementary education to these children, various interventions are supported under Samagra Shiksha such as Provision of seasonal hostels/residential camps in villages during the period of migrations of families, Residential and non-residential special training centres for out of school, dropout and migrant children,
Provision of mid-day meal, free textbooks and free uniforms as per norms of the scheme. Source :- PIB
2019 TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS REPORT Context : The U.S. State Department has released the Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report for 2019. India continued to be placed in Tier-2 on the country trafficking scale.
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The U.S. State Department report has used the International Labour Organisation (ILO) data. Key Findings : There are 25 million adults and children suffering from labour and sex trafficking all over the world. In 77% of the cases, victims are trafficked within their own countries of residence, rather than across borders.
The number of victims trafficked domestically was high compared to foreign victims being trafficked in all regions of the world except Western and Central Europe, the Middle East, and certain East Asian countries. Victims of sex trafficking were more likely to be trafficked across borders while victims of forced labour were typically exploited within their own countries. The report stresses on the implementation of the Palermo Protocol. The countries need building legal frameworks to prosecute traffickers and provide care for survivors.
Categorisation of Countries : The categorisation is based not on the magnitude of a country‘s trafficking problem but on efforts to meet minimum standards for the elimination of human trafficking. The report contains country narratives and category designations for all countries, including the U.S.
The countries are designated on the three-tier system:
Tier 1 countries are those countries whose governments fully comply with the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) minimum standards. Tier 2 countries are those countries whose governments do not fully comply with the TVPA's minimum standards but are making significant efforts to bring themselves into compliance with those standards. Tier 2 watchlist countries are those countries whose governments do not fully comply with the TVPA‘s minimum standards but are making significant efforts to bring themselves into compliance with those standards and:
The absolute number of victims of severe forms of trafficking is very significant or is significantly increasing; or
There is a failure to provide evidence of increasing efforts to combat severe forms of trafficking in persons from the previous year; or The determination that a country is making significant efforts to bring themselves into
compliance with minimum standards was based on commitments by the country to take additional future steps over the next year.
Tier 3 countries whose governments do not fully comply with the minimum standards and are
not making significant efforts to do so. There are also a few "Special Cases" such as Yemen, where the civil conflict and humanitarian crisis make gaining information difficult, and Sint Maarten where the devastation caused by
Hurricane Irma has made reporting difficult.
India‘s Position : India is placed in Tier 2: The government demonstrated overall increasing efforts compared to the previous reporting period. The report highlights efforts by the government to crack down on trafficking and convicting traffickers.
The government took some action following reports of government complicity in forced labour and sex trafficking, although the systemic failure to address forced labour and sex trafficking in
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government-run and government-funded shelter homes remained a serious problem. The report also highlighted the government‘s failures in this regard. Recommendations for India: It includes amending the definition of trafficking in Section 370 of the Penal Code to include forced labour trafficking and ensure that force, fraud, or coercion are not required to prove a
child sex trafficking offence, To establish Anti-Human Trafficking Units in all districts with dedicated funding and clear mandates. Source :- The Hindu
GOVERNMENT ALL SET TO IMPLEMENT "ONE NATION-ONE RATION CARD" SCHEME Context : The central government is working on a plan to launch a One Nation One Ration Card scheme for beneficiaries especially migrant workers to access the Public Distribution System(PDS) from any
PDS shop across the country. One Nation - One ration card : It was established by the Government of India under Ministry of Consumer Affairs,Food and Public
Distribution and are managed jointly by state governments in India. The aim of the scheme is to provide freedom to beneficiaries as they will not be tied to one PDS shop, reduce their dependence on shop owners and curtail corruption.
The new mechanism will ensure no poor is deprived of PDS entitlement if that person shifts from one place to another. The system will also help remove fake ration card holders
Integrated Management of PDS(IMPDS) under which beneficiaries can avail their share of food grain from any district is operational in Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Haryana, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Telangana and Tripura. The PDS evolved as a system for distribution of food grains at affordable prices and management of emergency situations. It is an Indian food security system. It distributes subsidized food and non-food items to India‘s poor. It functions through a network of Fair Price Shops at a subsidized price on a recurring basis. Source :- PIB
NEW POLICY FOR WOMEN EMPOWERMENT Context : The Ministry of Women and Child Development has prepared the draft National Policy for Women. Key Highlights : The Draft envisions a society in which, women attain their full potential and are able to participate as equal partners in all spheres of life.
The draft policy addresses the diverse needs of women through identified priority areas : Health including food security and nutrition, Education, Economy (including agriculture industry, labour, employment, NRI women, soft power,
service sector, science and technology), Violence against women, Governance and decision making Violence Against Women
Enabling environment (including housing, shelter and infrastructure, drinking water and sanitation, media and culture, sports and social security) Environment and climate change. Source :- PIB
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GS PAPER - 02 GOVERNANCE - Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.
NILEKANI PANEL SUGGESTS 24×7 RTGS, NEFT, ELIMINATION OF ALL CHARGES Context : To encourage digital payments, the Nandan Nilekani committee has suggested a host of measures, including elimination of charges, round the clock RTGS and NEFT facility and duty-free import of
point-of-sales machines. Recommendations of the Panel : The panel has suggested several measures to encourage digital payments such as - elimination of
charges, round-the-clock RTGS and NEFT facility and duty-free import of point-of-sales machines. There should be no convenience fee on payments made to government agencies by customers and payment systems should use machine-driven, online dispute resolution systems to handle
complaints. Further, the committee has also recommended the RBI and the government to put in place a mechanism to monitor the digital payment systems and make aggregated information based on blocks and PIN code which should be available to all players on a monthly basis. The National Payment Council of India should allow digital payments systems such as RuPay and BHIM UPI in other countries to facilitate easy remittance to India. The panel has also called for the creation of a digital financial inclusion index so that progress in an area can be measured along a common scale indicating the evolution of the users and steps taken for correcting the imbalance. Recommendations for Industries: To ease the difficulties faced by the industry the committee recommends a multi-pronged strategy to meet legal and regulatory requirements. This includes encouraging innovation in the process, creating industry wide mechanisms to share data with customer consent, and using a KYC compliant account to open another. Recommendations include, opening a second financial account with the same institution, or a sister institution; Opening a wallet account, by loading it from a KYC compliant bank account;
Opening a mutual fund account, by funding it from a KYC compliant bank account, while restricting that the folio continues to be funded from, and money refunded into that same account.
Source :- The Hindu
ICAT RELEASES INDIA‘S 1ST BS – VI CERTIFICATE IN TWO WHEELER SEGMENT
Context : International Centre for Automotive Technology (ICAT) released India‘s first Type Approval Certificate (TAC) for Bharat Stage - VI (BS – VI) norms for the two wheeler segment.
Bharat stage Norms: Bharat Stage norms are the automotive emission norms which the automotive manufacturers have to comply to sell their vehicles in India. These norms are applicable to all two wheelers, three wheelers, four wheelers and construction equipment vehicles. To curb growing menace of air pollution through the vehicles emission, the Government of India has decided to leapfrog from the exiting BS – IV norms to the BS- VI, Thereby skipping the BS – V norms, and to implement the BS – VI norms with effect from 1st April 2020.
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Only those vehicles will be sold and registered in India from 1st April 2020 onwards, which comply with these norms. The norms are stringent and at par with global standards. International Centre for Automotive Technology (ICAT) ICAT is the premier testing and certification agency authorized by Ministry of Road Transport and Highways for providing testing and certification services to the vehicle and component manufacturers in India and abroad It has the latest equipment, facilities and capabilities to develop, validate, test and certify the engines and vehicles for the latest norms in the field of emission and many other facilities like crash lab, NVH lab, EMC lab and test tracks. Source :- PIB
RENEWABLE ENERGY GROWTH REPORT Context : According to REN21‘s Renewable 2019 Global Status Report (GSR) India‘s investment decreased 16 per cent compared to 2017.
Key Highlights : India, which ranked fourth globally for new investment in renewable energy in 2018, the investment decreased 16 per cent compared to 2017
India‘s new power generation capacity from solar photovoltaic panels decreased compared to 2017, according to the report. However, India placed fifth, overtaking Italy, with 33 gigawatts (GW) total installed capacity. The report confirmed that installed renewable power capacity was more than that of fossil fuel and nuclear power combined for the fourth consecutive year. Subsidy Support to fossil Fuel : Renewables now supply around 26 per cent of global electricity production but the transport, cooling and heating sectors lag far behind in renewable adoption, However, lack of ambitious and sustained policies to drive decarbonising in heating, cooling and transport sectors indicates that countries are not trying to maximise the benefit of energy transition to move to cleaner options.
Lack of political will and fossil fuel subsidies are threatening to derail the crucial United Nations 2030 Climate and Development Goals. Estimated total global subsidies for fossil fuel consumption were $300 billion in 2017, an 11 per cent
increase from 2016. Only 40 countries have taken some measures in terms of fossil fuel subsidy reform since 2015, while 112 countries still continue with the subsidy.
Also, 73 countries provided subsidies of more than $100 million each in 2017. Only 44 countries have implemented carbon pricing policies and most countries have continued supporting subsidies for fossil fuel industry, the report read. Source :- Down To Earth
J&K ‗BACK TO THE VILLAGE‘ OUTREACH PROGRAMME Context :
Jammu and Kashmir government has launched an ambitious initiative to reach out to the people at the grassroots level through a programme named as ‗Back to the Village‘. Why such a move ?
The state has suffered a lot since the connection between government officials and the people has broken due to security reasons and also because of the difficult terrain. The feedback obtained directly from the people will help design government schemes — central and state —based on their needs. This will provide an opportunity for village panchayats to come up with area-specific schemes for the development of their people.
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Back to Village Programme : The basic objective of this programme is to move governance from its seat of operation to the doorsteps of the people in villages. 4 Main Goals : Energising panchayats, Collecting feedback on the delivery of government schemes and programmes, Capturing specific economic potential and undertaking assessment of needs of villages, Besides affording an opportunity to gazetted officers to visit the villages. The programme will involve the people of the state and government officials in a joint effort to deliver the mission of equitable development across all our rural areas The outreach initiative is primarily aimed at energising the 4,483 panchayats and directing development efforts in rural areas through community participation and to create in the rural masses an earnest desire for a decent standard of living
Source :- The Hindu GENETICALLY MODIFIED OR GM CROPS Context :
Shetkari Sanghatana, a farmers‘ body in Maharashtra, has organized a ―civil disobedience‖ movement where they sowed unapproved Genetically Modified seeds of cotton and brinjal as a mark of protest against the central government‘s indecisiveness in approving the next generation of
genetically modified (GM) cotton. Issue : The repeated outbreak of pink bollworm infestation on cotton crops despite farmers using BG-2, Monsanto‘s second generational insecticidal technology for cotton has been blamed by the farmers‘ body on Indian government‘s ban on testing further enhanced version of the seed. Genetically Modified or GM Crops : Genetically Modified or GM Crops are that type of plants whose DNA has been modified through genetic engineering for imbedding a new trait to the plant which does not occur naturally in the species. Foods produced from or using GM organisms are often referred to as GM foods. The only GM crop permitted for cultivation in India by the Central Government is Bt cotton. Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) is apex body under the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change for regulating manufacturing, use, import, export and storage of hazardous microorganisms or Genetically Engineered Organisms (GMOs) and cells in the country. Source :- The Hindu
CROP INSURANCE CLAIMS SURGE, DELAY IN DISBURSALS FALLS Context : The government‘s crop insurance scheme — Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) — has witnessed a rise in claims from farmers across the country in fiscal 2018-19. Surge in Crop Insurance claim : According to General Insurance Corporation of India, The claims ratio of the general insurance industry has gone up to 93 per cent for the year ended March 2019 as against 85 per cent in the previous year.
The higher claims ratio means farmers have claimed a larger amount of the crop insurance portfolio under the scheme as against portfolio in the previous year. Most of the claims have come from states like Maharashtra,Tamil Nadu and Karnataka given that
crop insurance penetration was lower in heartland states like Bihar and UP. In overall terms,India has become the third largest crop insurance market in the world after the US and China.
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Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY): The Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (Prime Minister‘s Crop Insurance Scheme) was launched in 2016. The scheme has replaced the two schemes National Agricultural Insurance Scheme(NAIS) as well as the Modified NAIS. Objective : To provide insurance coverage and financial support to the farmers in the event of failure of any of the notified crop as a result of natural calamities, pests & diseases.
To stabilise the income of farmers to ensure their continuance in farming. To encourage farmers to adopt innovative and modern agricultural practices. To ensure flow of credit to the agriculture sector.
Features : There will be a uniform premium of only 2% to be paid by farmers for all Kharif crops and 1.5% for all Rabi crops. In case of annual commercial and horticultural crops, the premium to be paid by farmers will be only 5%. The premium rates to be paid by farmers are very low and balance premium will be paid by the Government to provide full insured amount to the farmers against crop loss on account of natural calamities.
There is no upper limit on Government subsidy. Even if balance premium is 90%, it will be borne by the Government. Risks Covered under the scheme :
Yield Losses (standing crops, on notified area basis). Comprehensive risk insurance is provided to cover yield losses due to non-preventable risks, such as Natural Fire and Lightning, Storm, Hailstorm, Cyclone, Typhoon, Tempest, Hurricane, Tornado. Risks due to Flood, Inundation and Landslide, Drought, Dry spells, Pests/ Diseases also will be covered. In cases where the majority of the insured farmers of a notified area, having intent to sow/plant and incurred expenditure for the purpose, are prevented from sowing/planting the insured crop due to adverse weather conditions, shall be eligible for indemnity claims upto a maximum of 25 per cent of the sum-insured. In post-harvest losses, coverage will be available up to a maximum period of 14 days from harvesting for those crops which are kept in ―cut & spread‖ condition to dry in the field. For certain localized problems, Loss / damage resulting from occurrence of identified localized risks
like hailstorm, landslide, and Inundation affecting isolated farms in the notified area would also be covered.
Source :- Indian Express
TECHNOLOGY AND DOUBLING FARMERS‘ INCOME Context : The Government has constituted an Inter-Ministerial Committee to examine issues relating to doubling of farmers' income and recommend a strategy to achieve that goal by the year 2022.
The technologies include Artificial Intelligence, Big Data Analytics, Block chain Technology, Internet of Things etc. Major technology interventions include :
Kisan Suvidha mobile application The app facilitates dissemination of information to farmers on the critical parameters viz., Weather; Market Prices; Plant Protection; input dealers (Seed, Pesticide, Fertilizer) Farm Machinery; etc. This helps farmers make informed decisions to sell produce at the right price and right time.
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Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR) : It has compiled more than 100 mobile apps developed by ICAR, State Agricultural Universities and Krishi Vigyan Kendras and uploaded on its website. These mobile apps developed in the areas of crops, horticulture, veterinary, dairy, poultry, fisheries, natural resources management and integrated subjects, offer valuable information to the farmers, including package of practices, market prices of various commodities, weather related information, advisory services, etc. mKisan Portal : For sending advisories on various crop related matter to the registered farmers through SMSs. e-National Agriculture Market initiative : To provide farmers an electronic online trading platform. Integrated Scheme of Agricultural Marketing : To improve/create scientific storage capacity for storing farm produce, processed farm produce and to reduce post-harvest storage loss. Soil Health Card Scheme :
Soil health card provides information to the farmers on nutrient status of their soil along with recommendations on appropriate dosage of nutrients to be applied for improving crop productivity and soil fertility. National Food Security Mission (Oil Seeds and Oil Palm) :
To farmers on seed components, transfer of technologies, production inputs and water carrying devices. Financial assistance is also being provided under this scheme for block demonstration, frontline
demonstration, farmers training to educate farmers to adopt modern techniques of farming to yield good crop economically. Use of space technology for various programmes/ areas such as Forecasting Agricultural Output
using Space, Agro-meteorology and Land-based Observations project, Coordinated programme on Horticulture Assessment and Management using geo-informatics project, National Agricultural Drought Assessment and Monitoring System, Rice-Fallow Area Mapping and intensification, geo tagging of infrastructure and assets created under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana, and Crop Insurance. Using machine learning process along with different computer algorithm for crop classification and area estimation. Setting up of Krishi Vigyan Kendras and Agricultural Technology Management Agencies at district level for dissemination of technologies among farm community. In addition, farmers are provided information through Focused Publicity Campaigns, Kisan Call Centres, Agri-Clinics and Agri-Business Centres of entrepreneurs, Agri Fairs and exhibitions, Kisan SMS Portal, etc. Source :- PIB
PLEA IN SC SEEKS PROTECTION FOR NON-NAGAS IN DIMAPUR Context :
The PIL filed in SC which sought direction to take steps for protection of life and liberty, properties and other fundamental rights of non-Nagas living in commercial hub Dimapur due to imposition to ILP.
More about the news: The petition sought direction to ―declare that all Indian citizens shall have the right to move freely throughout the territory of India and Sections 2, 3 and 4 of the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation, 1873, is arbitrary unreasonable and offends Articles 14, 15, 19 and 21 of the Constitution of India.
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Section 2 of the Regulation empowers a State government to prescribe ‗Inner Line‘ to prohibit citizens of India or any class of such citizens going beyond the prescribed line without a pass. Gujaratis, Rajasthanis, Biharis, Jharkhandis, Bengalis, Gorkhas, Bodos, Dimasas, Karbis, Garos, etc. have been regarded as outsiders by the government of Nagaland, which is racial discrimination.
The petition stated that the colonial era regulation was passed by the then British government to prohibit Indian citizens from moving to select districts to create a monopoly in business and the State Cabinet has taken a decision to extend the operation of the 1873 Regulation in
Dimapur. The petition also raised concern that ―If all the North-Eastern States adopt such an alien concept, then the concept of citizenship will be diluted and fundamental rights will be immensely
circumscribed,” Inner Line Permit : ILP is an official travel document issued by the Government of India to grant inward travel of an Indian citizen into a protected area for a limited period. Visitors are not allowed to purchase
property in these regions. Restrictions are imposed on the entry of outsiders to maintain the original identity of indigenous people of Mizoram, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh. The entry of outsiders are not allowed
without ILP. The document is issued under the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation, 1873 and the conditions and restrictions vary from state to state.
Source :- The Hindu
SE Z BILL CLEARED AMID PROTESTS Context : The Lok Sabha passed the Special Economic Zones (Amendment) Bill, 2019. The bill amends the Special Economic Zones Act, 2005 and replaces an Ordinance that was promulgated on March 2, 2019. Special Economic Zones (Amendment ) Bill 2019 : The Act provides for the establishment, development and management of Special Economic Zones for the promotion of exports. Definition of person: Under the Act, the definition of a person includes an individual, a Hindu undivided family, a company, a co-operative society, a firm, or an association of persons. The Bill adds two more categories to this definition by including a trust, or any other entity which may be
notified by the central government. The amendment seeks to provide flexibility to the central government to include trusts in the definition of a ‗person‘ in a bid to facilitate investments in these zones.
The amendment aims at improving and encouraging more investments and introducing features including single-window clearance and to ease imports and exports. Special Economic Zones:
SEZ are set up under Special Economic Zones Act, 2005 as duty free enclaves to be treated as foreign territory for the purpose of trade operations and duties and tariffs. SEZ are allowed for manufacturing, trading and service activities.
A single window SEZ approval mechanism by Board of Approval Features: Duty free import/domestic procurement of goods for development, operation and maintenance of SEZ units
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100% Income Tax exemption on export income for SEZ units under Section 10AA of the Income Tax Act for first 5 years, 50% for next 5 years thereafter and 50% of the ploughed back export profit for next 5 years. Exemption from minimum alternate tax under section 115JB of the Income Tax Act. External commercial borrowing by SEZ units upto US $ 500 million in a year without any maturity restriction through recognized banking channels. Exemption from Tax. Single window clearance for Central and State level approvals. Exemption from State sales tax and other levies as extended by the respective State Governments.
Source :- The Hindu
NATIONAL MISSION ON NATURAL LANGUAGE TRANSLATION SOON
Context : The Ministry of Electronics and IT is planning to place a Rs. 450 crore proposal before the union cabinet for Natural Language Translation.
National Mission on Natural Language Translation : Natural Language Translation aims to make science and technology accessible to all. Using a combination of machine and human translation, the mission will eventually enable access to teaching and researching material bilingually- in English and one‘s native Indian language. It is one of the key missions identified by the Prime Minister‘s Science, Technology and Innovation Advisory Council (PM-STIAC). The IT ministry is the lead agency for implementation of the mission along with the Ministry of Human Resource Development and Department of Science and Technology. The PM-STIAC is an overarching body that identifies challenges in certain areas of science and technology and then creates a road map to deal with these challenges. It is planned to set up an ecosystem which involves central and state government agencies and start- ups who will work with scientists and build implementable solutions. Under the mission, translation activities would help generate employment for educated unemployed. The mission would help students teachers, authors, publishers, translation software developers and general readers.
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Prime Minister‘s Science, Technology and Innovation Advisory Council (PM-STIAC) : The PM-STIAC is an overarching Council that facilitates the PSA‘s Office to assess the status in specific science and technology domains, comprehend challenges in hand, formulate specific interventions, develop a futuristic roadmap and advise the Prime Minister accordingly. The other important terms of reference of the Council is to formulate, converge, collaborate, coordinate and implement multi-stakeholder policy initiatives, mechanisms, reforms and programmes aimed at:
Synergizing S&T covering fundamental to applied research in collaboration with multiple stakeholders both in central and state governments Enabling future preparedness in emerging domains of science and technology Formulating and coordinating major inter-ministerial S&T missions Providing an enabling ecosystem for technology led innovations and techno- entrepreneurship Driving innovation and technology delivery towards solving socio-economic challenges for sustainable growth Fostering effective public-private linkages for driving research and innovation
Developing innovation clusters with multiple stakeholders including academia, industry and government Skilling in current and futuristic technologies.
Source :- The Hindu
GS PAPER - 02 INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS - Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India's interests, Indian diaspora.
U.S. REITERATES THREAT OF SANCTIONS OVER TRIUMF DEAL Context : An US official has said that India should not assume that it will get a waiver from U.S. sanctions if it goes ahead with its purchase of the S-400 Triumf missile system from Russia. Further, Indo-U.S.
defence relationship might also get affected. Background : India had committed in October 2018 towards purchasing a Russian S-400 Triumf long-range
missile defence shield for about $5 billion. The deal has run the risk of attracting sanctions from the U.S. under a 2017 law — the Countering America‘s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA).
USA‘s National Defence Authorisation Act (NDAA) allows the President to grant waivers from CAATSA sanctions under certain conditions Concern of the U.S.
The U.S. has serious concerns about the S-400, and maintains a position that it would not encourage any country to rely on waiver status for the purchase of any prohibited Russian items, especially the S-400.
S- 400 Triumph : S-400 Triumf Missile System is a mobile, surface-to-air missile system (SAM). It is capable of engaging aircraft, UAVs, cruise missiles, and has a terminal ballistic missile defense capability. It has an operational range of over 400 kms. The S-400 Triumf is known as the SA-21 Growler by the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation
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(NATO). India had signed a $5.4 billion deal to purchase five batteries of the Russian S-400 Triumf missile system, following a 2018 summit between Russian President and Indian Prime Minister in New Delhi.
Source :- The Hindu RUSSIA WILLING TO DROP NEW START PACT: PUTIN Context : Russian President has said that Russia is prepared to suspend the NEW START treaty with the U.S.He said that the US has showed no interest in conducting talks on extending the NEW START treaty. NEW START : The New START (Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty) is a nuclear arms reduction treaty between the United States and the Russian Federation. It was signed in 2010. New START replaced the 1991 START I treaty which expired in 2009 and superseded the 2002 Strategic Offensive Reductions Treaty (SORT) which was terminated when New START treaty
entered into force. The treaty limits the US and Russia to possess a maximum of 1,550 deployed nuclear warheads and 700 deployed missiles and bombers well below Cold War caps.
The duration of the treaty is ten years and can be extended for a period of no more than five years at a time. It includes a standard withdrawal clause like most arms control agreements. If this treaty is withdrawn then it will be the second nuclear weapons treaty to collapse under the
leadership of current US President.
Background : Recently, Russia had officially suspended its participation in the intermediate Range Nuclear Forces(INF) on the grounds that US have violated the INF treaty. The US had already withdrawn from the treaty claiming that Russia had secretly developed a missile that violated the INF. Source :- The Hindu
STRAIT OF HORMUZ, THE WORLD‘S MOST IMPORTANT OIL ARTERY [ EDITORIAL / OPINION ] Context : Explosions that damaged two tankers south of the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday come a month after four vessels were targeted in ―sabotage attacks‖ off the coast of the United Arab Emirates. Background : In May 2019, four vessels – including two Saudi oil tankers – were attacked off the UAE coast near Fujairah, one of the world‘s largest bunkering hubs, just outside the Strait of Hormuz Strait of Hormuz : The strait lies between Oman and Iran It links the Gulf north of it with the Gulf of Oman to the south and the Arabian Sea beyond It is 21 miles (33 km) wide at its narrowest point, with the shipping lane just two miles (three km) wide in either direction The UAE and Saudi Arabia have sought to find other routes to bypass the Strait, including building more oil pipelines Significance of the Strait : Almost a fifth of the world‘s oil passes through the Strait – some 17.2 million barrels per day (bpd) versus consumption of about 100 million bpd in 2017, data from analytics firm Vortexa showed
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OPEC members Saudi Arabia, Iran, the UAE, Kuwait and Iraq export most of their crude via the Strait Qatar, the world‘s biggest liquefied natural gas (LNG) exporter, sends almost all of its LNG through the Strait. Political Tension :
The United States has imposed sanctions on Iran aimed at halting its oil exports Iran has threatened to disrupt oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz if the United States tries to strangle its economy
The U.S. Fifth Fleet, based in Bahrain, is tasked with protecting commercial shipping in the area MAJOR PAST. Bab-el-Mandeb Strait The Bab-el-Mandeb acts as a strategic link between the Indian Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea via the Red Sea and the Suez Canal. The Bab-el-Mandeb is a strait located between Yemen on the Arabian Peninsula, and Djibouti and Eritrea in the Horn of Africa. It connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden. Source :- Indian Express
IRAN TO BREACH URANIUM STOCKPILE LIMIT Context : Iran on Monday said it will "drastically" increase the production of low-level enriched uranium after passing the limit of the stockpile permitted by the 2015 nuclear deal in 10 days, a move that is
expected to heighten tension with the US. Issue : The spokesperson for Iran's Atomic Energy Organization (AEOI), Behrouz Kamalvandi, Iran would
reach the allowed 300kg level of enriched uranium at levels mandated by the agreement with world powers. Iran stopped complying with some elements of the nuclear agreement -- the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), in May, a year after the United States unilaterally withdrew from the deal. Ramping up the Pressure on Other Signatories : Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said on May 8 the remaining signatories - the United Kingdom, France, Germany, China and Russia - had 60 days to implement their promises to protect Iran's oil and banking sectors from reimposed US sanctions. The aim is to increase the bargaining leverage and to put increasing pressure on Europe.
Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) : The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) commonly known as the Iran deal.
It is an international agreement on the nuclear program of Iran reached in Vienna on 14 July 2015 between Iran, the P5+1 (the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council— China, France, Russia, United Kingdom, United States—plus Germany),and the European Union. The nuclear deal was endorsed by UN Security Council Resolution 2231, adopted on July 20, 2015. Iran‘s compliance with the nuclear-related provisions of the JCPOA will be verified by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) according to certain requirements set forth in the agreement. On May 8, 2018, President Trump announced that the United States would withdraw from the JCPOA and reinstate U.S. nuclear sanctions on the Iranian regime.
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Source :- The Hindu
INDIA TO LOSE PREFERENTIAL TRADE TERMS WITH U.S. Context :
According to a Senior State Department official, India will lose access to preferential trade terms with the U.S. under the latter‘s Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) programme. More about the news:
The US has terminated India‘s designation as a beneficiary under GSP highlighting concerns over India not allowing equitable and reasonable access to its markets. The decision of U.S comes in the backdrop of issues like
India‘s new rules on e-commerce that affected firms such as Amazon and Walmart Data localisation rules which forced foreign companies to store their data locally Price controls on medical devices (Cardiac stents) Tariff on ICT products such as smart watches and high end mobile phones Lack of greater market access for the US dairy industry and Trade imbalance between India and the US.
Generalised system of preference :
GSP is a preferential tariff system extended by developed countries to developing countries. It is a preferential arrangement in the sense that it allows concessional low/zero tariff imports from developing countries. Countries like the United States and United Kingdom, as well as the European Union give GSPs to imports from developing countries. The objective of GSP is to give development support to poor countries by promoting exports from them into the developed countries. The GSP of US provides preferential duty-free entry for up to 4,800 products from 129 designated
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countries. According to World Bank data, India is currently the largest beneficiary of the US‘s GSP programme in 2017 with $5.7 billion in imports to the US given duty-free status.
Source :- The Hindu
INDIA, PORTUGAL TO JOIN HANDS IN SETTING UP MARITIME MUSEUM Context : India and Portugal will cooperate in the setting up of a national maritime heritage museum at Lothal in Gujarat. More about the news: The Indian Navy is keen to be a stakeholder in the project and the Portuguese Navy has agreed to assist with their experience of administering the maritime museum in Lisbon, according to defence sources It was agreed that we could work together to develop the maritime museum at the ancient Indian site of Lothal. Portugal Navy looks after their museum in Lisbon so it was discussed that we in India could follow a similar model. The Government of India has allocated a grant for building the maritime museum and the foundation stone for the project was laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in March.
The project is being implemented by the Ministry of Shipping through its Sagarmala programme, with the involvement of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), the State government and other stakeholders.
Source :- The Hindu
KIMBERLEY PROCESS INTERSESSIONAL MEETING Context : The Intercessional meeting of the Kimberley Process (KP) is hosted by India in June, 2019 in
Mumbai. Besides meetings of different Working Groups and Committees of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS), two special forums regarding Diamond Terminology and Artisanal
Mining – Small Steps to Larger Outcomes, will be held during the Intersessional. India and the KPCS : India is one of the founder members of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme and is the Chair
of the Kimberley Process for the year 2019 with Russian Federation as Vice Chair India had earlier chaired KPCS in the year 2008. At present, KPCS has 55 members representing 82 countries including EU with 28 members.
The Kimberley Process is a joint initiative involving Government, international diamond industry and civil society to stem the flow of Conflict Diamonds. Conflict Diamonds means rough diamonds used by rebel movements or their allies to finance
conflict aimed at undermining legitimate governments. It is also described in United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Resolutions. Functioning of KPCS : Task of carrying out a review of the working of the scheme in each participant country through review visit/review missions and gives its recommendations. Collects data in respect of export, import and production of rough diamonds in the participant countries. Solves technical problems in the implementation of the KPCS like proposing changes to the ‗Harmonised System Codes‘ for rough diamonds to World Customs Organisation and harmonisation of valuation methodologies. To promote more effective internal controls on the production and trade of alluvial diamonds.
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Rough diamond trading under the KPCS : As per the Scheme, each shipment of rough diamonds being exported and imported by crossing an international border be transported in a tamper proof container and accompanied by a validated Kimberley Process Certificate. The shipment can only be exported to a co-participant country in the KPCS. No uncertified shipments of rough diamonds are permitted to enter a participant country. Source :- PIB
ICG CO-HOSTS 12TH RECAAP ISC Context : Indian Coast Guard (ICG) will be co-hosting 12th Capacity Building workshop with Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia
(ReCAAP) Information Sharing Centre (ISC). Objective of the workshop : To share updated situation of piracy and armed robbery against ships in Asia and best practices of Asian countries. The workshop also aims to deepen the knowledge of participants on various issues related to piracy and armed robbery such as international laws, prosecution process, forensics and emerging threats. ReCAAP : The ReCAAP is the first regional Government-to-Government agreement to deal with piracy and armed robbery at sea in Asia. The ReCAAP Agreement was launched in November 2006 with14 Asian Contracting Parties including North, Southeast, and South Asian countries. It has 20 Contracting Parties today, including Europe (Norway, the Netherlands, Denmark, and the United Kingdom), Australia, and the United States. Three pillars of co-operation under the ReCAAP agreement : Information sharing, capacity building and Mutual legal assistance
An ISC has been established at Singapore to collate and disseminate the information among the contracting parties and the maritime community. India and ReCAPP :
India played an active role in the setting up and functioning of ReCAAPISC along with Japan and Singapore. Union Government has designated ICG as the focal point within India for ReCAAP.
India has hosted this workshop earlier in November 2011 at Goa and December 2017 at New Delhi. Source :- PIB
INDIA GRANTS $ 15 MN FIRST TIME EVER FOR AFRICAN UNION SUMMIT Context : India has extended $15 million grant assistance to Niger in support of organising of the African Union (AU) summit scheduled from July 7-8, 2019 in Niamey, the capital of Niger . More about the news: India sees the grant assistance as a reiteration of India‘s firm commitment to its developmental partnership with Africa, the continent where it is competing for influence with China. India is also establishing in Niamey the Mahatma Gandhi International Convention Centre under grant assistance. The Centre honours the memory of Mahatma Gandhi whose 150th birth anniversary is in
2019.
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India is also building a convention centre in Niger as part of a plan to build chain convention centres across 20 African states as signature infrastructure projects which was hitherto an expertise for China. India - Nigeria Relation : India‘s relations with Nigeria were elevated to ‗strategic partnership‘ in 2007.
The two countries also have strong defence cooperation. With annual bilateral trade of $11. 76 billion in 2017-18, Nigeria is India‘s largest trading partner in Africa, and India is Nigeria‘s largest trading partner
globally. The bilateral trade amounted to $13.89 billion in 2018-19, up 18.8% year-on-year. Indian companies are among the largest investors in Nigeria and employ a large number of Nigerian nationals. Nigeria is also the fifth largest supplier of crude oil and the second largest supplier of LNG to India.
African Union : The African Union (AU) is a continental body consisting of the 55 member states that make up the countries of the African Continent. It was officially launched in 2002 as a successor to the Organisation of African Unity
Its structure is loosely modelled on that of European Union.It is headquartered in Addis Ababa,Ethiopia. Objective :
To promote the unity and solidarity of the African States; To coordinate and intensify their cooperation and efforts to achieve a better life for the peoples of Africa; To defend their sovereignty, their territorial integrity and independence; To eradicate all forms of colonialism from Africa; and To promote international cooperation, having due regard to the Charter of the United Nations and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Source :- The Times Of India
EXERCISE GARUDA-VI Context : The Indian Air Force is participating in a bilateral exercise between Indian and French Air Force named Exercise ‗Garuda-VI‘ France. Garuda-VI : This is one of the biggest air exercises that is being planned between the two Air Forces. The sixth edition of Exercise Garuda and is being planned in France. The first edition of the Garuda exercise was held in February 2003 in Gwalior. The last exercise, ‗Garuda V‘ was held at Air Force Station Jodhpur in Jun 2014. The Indian Air Force Su-30 MKI will be operating in a simulated operational war fighting scenario along with French Air Forces multirole Rafale aircraft. This will enhance understanding of interoperability during mutual operations between the two Air Forces and provide an opportunity to learn from each others best practices. Participation of IAF in the exercise will also promote professional interaction, exchange experiences and operational knowledge besides strengthening bilateral relations with the French Air Force. It will also provide a good opportunity to the air warriors to operate in an international environment. Source :- PIB
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INDO-FRENCH JOINT NAVAL EXERCISE Context : The latest edition of bilateral maritime exercise ‗Varuna‘ between Indian and French Navy was held in May 2019. Varuna : The first bilateral naval exercise between India and France was held in 1983, and it was named ‗Varuna‘ in 2001. The exercise was conducted in two phases The objective of conducting advanced exercise for a significant period at sea. This is the 17th edition of the naval exercise between the two nations The joint exercises are held either in the Indian Ocean or the Mediterranean sea aiming to improve coordination of the two navies on capabilities like cross-deck operations, replenishment-at- sea, minesweeping, anti-submarine warfare and information sharing. Indian Navy has been engaging with friendly foreign countries in areas of bilateral/multilateral exercises, training and capacity building, hydrography and Human Assistance & Disaster Relief (HADR) as required. Source :- PIB
G -20 RESOLVES TO FREE INTERNET OF EXTREMISM Context : Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other G20 leaders recently resolved to prevent the use of the Internet to fund and facilitate terrorism and extremism, saying that while the Internet must be ―open, free and secure‖, it could not serve as a safe haven for terrorists.
The leaders of the Group of 20 major economies in a statement after the Osaka summit said they are committed to act to protect people from terrorist and violent extremism conducive to terrorism (VECT) exploitation of the internet.
More in the news : They asserted that while the internet must be open,free and secure but it cannot serve as a safe haven for terrorists.
The leaders also called for implementing relevant UN resolutions, the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy and other instruments including the 2017 Hamburg G20 Leaders Statement on Countering Terrorism.
However, they said that such efforts must respect human rights and fundamental freedoms such as freedom of expression and access to information. They also welcomed the UN Security Council Resolution 2462 which stresses the essential role of Financial Action Task Force(FATF) in setting global standards for preventing and combating money laundering, and terrorist financing. Source :- The Hindu
AT G20 TRILATERAL, CHINA PROPOSES 5G PARTNERSHIP WITH INDIA, RUSSIA Context : In Russia-India-China (RIC) trilateral on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Osaka, Japan, Xi urged the three countries to ―expand cooperation in 5G network, high technology, connectivity, energy and other areas,‖ More in the news: Xi also called for reforming the World Trade Organisation (WTO), based on consensus. Xi also proposed during the meeting that the three countries should become guardians of ―global and regional peace and stability‖. Without going into details, he said the trio should ―advocate a common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security concept…‖
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Xi said the three countries should jointly combat terrorism in all forms, and work together to address global challenges such as climate change and cybersecurity. He pointed out that the rise of protectionism and unilateralism had seriously affected the stability of the global landscape, dragged down world economic growth, and exerted a negative impact that cannot be ignored on the international order on which emerging-market countries and developing countries depend.
Source :- The Hindu
GLOBAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP SUMMIT 2019 TO HAVE 27 INDIAN ENTRANTS Context : The 9th edition of the Global Entrepreneurship Summit has started in Hague, Netherlands
Global Entrepreneurship Summit : The theme of the summit is ‗The Future Now‘. Indian firms has also taken part in GES 2019. The Summit is hosted by the governments of the United States of America and the Kingdom of the
Netherlands. It is the first edition of the event to be held in the European Union. The summit features about 1,200 entrepreneurs from across 140 countries. It will also provide an avenue for these entrepreneurs to showcase their ideas and work to 300
investors. The key focus areas of the summit include the five global challenges surrounding Water, agriculture, healthcare , connectivity and energy.
Source :- The Hindu
INDIA‘S NSG MEMBERSHIP NOT ON KAZAKHSTAN MEETING AGENDA, SAYS CHINA Context : China said India‘s membership issue was not on the agenda of the Nuclear Suppliers Group‘s meeting in Astana (Kazakhstan) on 21st June, 2019. More about the news: It also stated that discussion on India‘s entry into the 48-nation club would take place only after reaching a specific plan on non-NPT (Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons) members‘ participation in the grouping. It has also refused to suggest a deadline by which such a consensus can be reached among the member states.
Ever since India applied for the membership of the NSG in May 2016, China has been insisting that only those countries which have signed the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) should be allowed to enter the organisation.
Majority of the NSG member states including the US, Russia, Iceland, Denmark, Finland , Sweden and Norway back for India‘s membership in the grouping considering its non- proliferation record.
India is keen to become a member of NSG as it seeks to significantly expand its nuclear power generation and also enter the export market in coming years. NSG :
The Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) was created following the explosion in 1974 of a nuclear device by a non-nuclear-weapon State (India), which demonstrated that nuclear technology transferred for peaceful purposes could be misused. It is a group of nuclear supplier countries that seeks to contribute to the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons through the implementation of two sets of Guidelines for nuclear exports and nuclear-related exports.
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The grouping has 48 participating governments and the NSG Guidelines are implemented by each member in accordance with its national laws and practices. The NSG takes decisions by consensus.
Non Proliferation Treaty (NPT) : The Treaty on Non – Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons is also famous worldwide with the common name NPT i.e., Non – Proliferation Treaty.
It is one of the most useful international treaties in the world of Nukes and is aimed to achieve the objective of preventing the countries from spreading nuclear weapons and related technology to other countries. It promotes peaceful use of nuclear energy with the mutual co-operation of the nations. The very goal of the treaty is to disarm nuclear weapon states. As of now total 191countries have either signed or ratified the same, which is much higher than for any international treaty signed or ratified by any nation. The treaty establishes a system of safeguards under the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency). Till date only four UN member states have not signed the same which includes India, Pakistan, Israel and South Sudan who does possess nuclear weapons.
The treaty is based on a central bargain i.e., the NPT states who does not possess any nuclear weapon will never acquire such weapons in the near future and the NPT states who does possess such weapons agree to share the benefits of such weapons for peaceful nuclear technology in order
to pursue disarmament which is aimed at the complete elimination of nuclear arsenals. The NPT works on three basic pillars which includes – 1. Non – Proliferation. 2. Disarmament. 3. Right to peacefully use nuclear technology.
Source :- The Hindu
UNSC NON-PERMANENT SEAT: INDIA‘S CANDIDATURE RECEIVES UNANIMOUS ENDORSEMENT BY ASIA-PACIFIC GROUP Context : Fifty-five countries of the Asia-Pacific group at the United Nations unanimously endorsed India‘s
candidature for a non-permanent seat on the Security Council for a two-year term in 2021-2022. More about the news: Both Pakistan and China have supported India‘s candidature.
The Asia-Pacific Group consists of 55 members states, they get to nominate one of its members for the June 2020 elections to a non-permanent seat on the UNSC. Until now, India has been a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for seven terms:
1950-51, 1967-68, 1972-73, 1977-78, 1984-85, 1991-92 and most recently in 2011–2012 Estonia, Niger, Tunisia, Vietnam and St. Vincent and the Grenadines were elected earlier this month. India has been contending for permanent membership at the UNSC from many years and has
been a part of G-4 grouping which is continuously lobbying for UNSC reforms.
United Nation Security Council : The United Nations Charter established six main organs of the United Nations, including the Security Council.
It gives primary responsibility for maintaining international peace and security to the Security Council, which may meet whenever peace is threatened. All members of the United Nations agree to accept and carry out the decisions of the Security
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Council. While other organs of the United Nations make recommendations to member states, only the Security Council has the power to make decisions that member states are then obligated to implement under the Charter.
Permanent and Non-Permanent Members : The Council is composed of 15 Members:
Five permanent members: China, France, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Ten non-permanent members elected for two-year terms by the General Assembly (with the end of
term year):
Belgium (2020), Côte d‘Ivoire (2019), Dominican Republic (2020), Equatorial Guinea (2019), Germany (2020), Indonesia (2020), Kuwait (2019), Peru (2019), Poland (2019), South Africa (2020). Selection of non-permanent members of the Security Council : Each year, the General Assembly elects five non-permanent members (out of ten in total) for a
two-year term. The ten non-permanent seats are distributed on a regional basis:
five for African and Asian countries; one for Eastern European countries;
two for Latin American and Caribbean countries; two for Western European and other countries. Aspiring member needs the vote of two-thirds of the 193 UN General Assembly members to win a
non-permanent seat on the UNSC. Article 23 of the UN Charter concerns the composition of the Security Council.
Source :- The Hindu
INDIA TO HOST UN MEET ON LAND DEGRADATION IN SEPTEMBER Context : India for the first time will host the 14th session of the Conference of Parties (COP-14) of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) in September.
UNCCD COP-14 : It will see participation from at least 5,000 delegates from nearly 197 countries and will be held between September 2 and 14 in Delhi
One of the primary functions of the COP is to review reports submitted by the Country Parties, detailing how they are carrying out their commitments. India will take over the COP presidency from China for two years until the next COP in
2021.
The global Conference is expected to review the progress made, especially during the last two years, to control and reverse the further loss of productive land from desertification, land degradation, and drought.
These are considered growing threats to peace and security in both developed and developing countries due to the widespread loss of livelihoods for communities and even entire regions.
Some of the new and relevant issues that are on the radar of the governments which is a pivotal Agenda 2030 target, includes The interaction between climate and land Optimizing the mix of food, energy and environment demands on land
The rural-urban link
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The negative feedback of land degradation on poverty and human health The role of the faith communities and the rapidly growing global movement on land restoration both of which are essential to achieving land degradation neutrality
United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) : Established in 1994, the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) is the sole legally binding international agreement linking environment and development to
sustainable land management. The Convention addresses specifically the arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid areas, known as the drylands, where some of the most vulnerable ecosystems and peoples can be found.
The Convention‘s 197 parties work together to improve the living conditions for people in drylands, to maintain and restore land and soil productivity, and to mitigate the effects of drought. The new UNCCD 2018-2030 Strategic Framework is the most comprehensive global commitment to achieve Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) in order to restore the productivity of vast expanses of degraded land, improve the livelihoods of more than 1.3 billion people, and reduce the impacts of drought on vulnerable populations to build. UNCCD and India : India faces a severe problem of land degradation, or soil becoming unfit for cultivation.
A 2016 report by the Indian Space Research Organisation found that about 29% of India‘s land (in 2011-13) was degraded, this being a 0.57% increase from 2003-05
At the previous edition of the COP, India had committed to restoring 13 million hectares of degraded and deforested land by the year 2020 and an additional 8 million hectares by 2030. Thus, ahead of the COP-14, India is ready to launch a flagship project as part of a larger international initiative called the Bonn Challenge, to enhance India‘s capacity for forest landscape restoration (FLR).
The project will aim to develop and adopt the best practices and monitoring protocols for the country, and build capacity within the five pilot States (Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Nagaland, and Karnataka) The Bonn Challenge is a global effort to bring 150 million hectares of the world‘s deforested and degraded land under restoration by 2020, and 350 million hectares by 2030. The government is also in the process of launching transformative projects, policy formulation,
research and development in the area of sustainable land management to address the issues of land degradation, desertification, drought and dust storms.
Source :- The Hindu
GS PAPER - 02 INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS - India and its neighborhood- relations. PAKISTAN FACES FATF BLACKLIST Context :
The Asia Pacific Group(APG) has conveyed to Pakistan that its action plans on terrorist groups were inadequate after it was grey-listed by the Financial Action Task Force(FATF) for terror financing. More about the news: APG has said that Pakistan has time until September,2019 to either comply with the demands made
by FATF members or it could be blacklisted. The blacklisting will prevent institutions like IMF from financially supporting Pakistan which is anticipating a financial crisis.
Background : In June 2018,FATF had decided to keep Pakistan on its grey list.
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Pakistan at a three-day plenary meeting in June 2018 in Paris submitted a list of 26 actions that it will take over the next 15 months. Pakistan promised to initiate investigations into the finances of terrorist groups and their members designated by UN Security Council resolution 1267 and 1373. Besides these, it also said that it would update the list of terrorist entities and persons banned under
its own Anti-Terrorism Act and those designated by the UN.
FATF : The FATF is an inter-governmental body established in 1989 at the G-7 Summit in Paris for combating money laundering, terrorist financing and other related threats to the integrity of the international financial system. It works in collaboration with other international stakeholders to identify national-level susceptibilities in order to protect the international financial system from misuse.
The FATF Secretariat is housed at the OECD headquarters in Paris. The objectives of the FATF are to set standards and promote effective implementation of legal, regulatory and operational
measures for combating money laundering ,terrorist financing and other related threats to the integrity of the international financial system.
What is blacklist and grey list? FATF has 2 types of lists;
1. Black List 2. Grey List
1. Black List : The FATF blacklist was the common shorthand description for the Financial Action Task Force list of "Non-Cooperative Countries or Territories" (NCCTs). The FATF blacklist or OECD blacklist has been issued by the Financial Action Task Force since 2000 and lists countries which it judges to be non-cooperative in the global fight against money laundering and terrorist financing, calling them "Non-Cooperative Countries or Territories" (NCCTs).
2. Grey List :
Those countries which are considered as a safe haven for supporting terror funding and money laundering; included in this list. Now Grey list is a warning given to the country that it might come in Black list.
Asia Pacific Group : The Asia/Pacific Group on Money Laundering is an inter-governmental organisation, consisting of 41 member jurisdictions, focused on ensuring that its members effectively implement the international standards against the following money laundering, terrorist financing
proliferation financing related to weapons of mass destruction.
Source :- The Indian Express
INDIA, MALDIVES SIGN SIX KEY AGREEMENTS Context : During Indian Prime Minister state visit to the Maldives,India and Maldives have agreed to intensify economic and cultural relations. More about the news: This was the first state visit of Prime Minister after assuming office for the second term.
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During the visit, India reaffirmed its Neighborhood first policy while Maldives strongly conveyed its India first policy. Indian Prime Minister has also been conferred upon the prestigious Order of Distinguished Rule of Nishan Izzuddeen during the visit. The two leaders reiterated their strong commitment to further strengthening and invigorating the
traditionally strong and friendly relations between India and the Maldives, nurtured by geographical contiguity, ethnic, historical, socio-economic and cultural ties between the peoples of the two countries. India and Maldives has also signed six MoUs : MoU for Cooperation in the Field of Hydrography
MoU on Cooperation in the field of Health
MoU for the Establishment of Passenger and Cargo Services by Sea
MoU for Cooperation in Customs Capacity Building between the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs of India and the Maldives Customs Service
MoU between National Centre for Good Governance, Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances and Maldives Civil Service Commission on Training and Capacity Building Programme for Maldivian Civil Servants
Technical Agreement on Sharing White Shipping Information between the Indian Navy and the
Maldives National Defence Force Source :- The Hindu
SHANGHAI COOPERATION ORGANISATION (SCO) Context :
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, President Xi Jinping agreed to expedite the dialogue on the India- China boundary talks for securing a ―fair‖ solution. The two leaders met in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, where they will participate in the summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO). Key Highlights of the meeting :
The two leaders have asked the Special Representatives to meet and carry forward the discussion and have instructed them to expedite the discussion in this regard for achieving a fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable solution The border dispute dates back to the 1962 India-China war. Several rounds of talks have not
yielded results. The attention on the border issue acquires significance as the Chinese President is expected to visit India later this year for a summit with Mr Modi.
Xi also highlighted the need for regional cooperation and connectivity and singled out the Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar (BCIM) economic corridor as an example for expanding the India-China ties, which had entered a ―new phase‖ after the Wuhan informal summit.
The two sides agreed to celebrate the 70th anniversary of their diplomatic ties in a ―fitting manner‖ by holding 70 events – 35 each – in both countries
Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), or Shanghai Pact, is a Eurasian political, economic,
and security alliance created in 2001. Members are China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, India and Pakistan joined SCO as full members in 2017 at a summit in Astana, Kazakhstan.
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The Heads of State Council (HSC) is the supreme decision-making body in the SCO, it meets once a year and adopts decisions and guidelines on all important matters of the organisation. Criticisms of the SCO include that it is used by member states to shield each other from international criticism regarding human rights violations. The SCO is widely regarded as the "alliance of the East",
Source :- The Hindu
NEPALESE NATIONALS MUST HAVE A VISA TO ENTER INDIA VIA PAKISTAN, CHINA Context :
According to a notice issued by Nepalese Embassy in New Delhi, Nepalese nationals is required to have a visa if they are entering India from Pakistan, China, Hong Kong and Macau. More about the news :
Nepalese nationals travelling to Gulf countries, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain and Lebanon, are required to acquire No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the respective Nepalese Embassies.
To get the NOC, a traveller is required to submit an application to the respective embassy along with relevant documents, including employment permit Why Such a move ? An open border allows Nepalese nationals an easy path to enter India and some of whom subsequently travel to Gulf countries for work. Thus, the decision that a Nepalese citizens now mandatory require NOC to enter Gulf countries via India, is taken amid rising security concerns. However in the past, no separate permit was required to travel any country through Indian immigration clearance. As per existing rule, a citizen of Nepal entering India by land/air directly from Nepal does not require a passport/Visa, but is required to possess an identity card that establishes his/her identity as a Nepalese national. However, for security reasons a citizen of Nepal is generally asked for Passport when entering India from a place other than Nepal.
Source :- The Hindu
INDIA SLIPS TO 141 IN ANNUAL GLOBAL PEACE INDEX Context :
The Global Peace Index(GPI) 2019 has been released. Key Findings : Iceland remains the most peaceful country in the world, a position it has held since 2008, the
Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP) The report also claimed that the gap between the least and most peaceful countries "continues to grow".
Eighty-six countries improved their score in the 2019 report, while 76 deteriorated. India's rank has moved down to 141 from in GPI 2019 (from its previous position at 136), among 163 countries, and it stands at fifth in the (South Asian) region.
India together with the Philippines, Japan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, China, Indonesia, Vietnam and Pakistan are the nine countries with the highest risk of multiple climate hazards. India has the seventh highest overall natural hazard score
Afghanistan is now the least peaceful country in the world, replacing Syria, which is now the second least peaceful. South Sudan, Yemen, and Iraq comprise the remaining five least peaceful countries
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Global Peace Index : The GPI is a report produced by the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP) and developed in consultation with an international panel of peace experts from peace institutes and think tanks with data collected and collated by the Economist Intelligence Unit. The GPI measures ongoing domestic and international conflict, safety and security in society, and the degree of militarisation in 163 countries and territories by taking into account 23 indicators. Source :- Livemint
CCI IMPOSES PENALTY ON PHARMA COMPANIES, TRADE ASSOCIATIONS Context : The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has imposed a heavy fine amounting to Rs 74 crore on four chemists and pharmaceutical companies for indulging in anti-competitive trade practices, Issue : The CCI found activities of Madhya Pradesh Chemists and Druggist Association (MPCDA) and Indore Chemists Association (ICA) to be in contravention of the provisions of the Competition Act,
2002. More about the news: The Commission directed MPCDA to organize at least five competition awareness and compliance
programmes in the next six months for its members and directed ICA to organise one competition awareness programme in Indore. Further, the Commission further directed HDC and IPL to organize a Competition Compliance
Programme and file compliance report with the Commission.
Competition Commission Of India : Competition Commission of India is a body of the Government of India responsible for enforcing The Competition Act, 2002 throughout India and to prevent activities that have an adverse effect
on competition in India. It was established on 14 October 2003. It became fully functional in May 2009.
CCI is quasi-judicial statutory body established under The Competition Act, 2002. CCI earlier consisted of a Chairperson and 6 Members appointed by the Central Government. Government has now approved reduction of members from 6 to 3. The duty of the Commission is to eliminate practices having adverse effect on competition, promote and sustain competition, protect the interests of consumers and ensure freedom of trade in the markets of India. The Commission is also required to give opinion on competition issues on a reference received from a statutory authority established under any law and to undertake competition advocacy, create public awareness and impart training on competition issues. The Competition Act, 2002 prohibits anti-competitive agreements, abuse of dominant position by enterprises and regulates combinations (acquisition, acquiring of control and Merger and
acquisition), which causes or likely to cause an appreciable adverse effect on competition within India. Objective : Make the markets work for the benefit and welfare of consumers. Ensure fair and healthy competition in economic activities in the country for faster and inclusive growth and development of economy. Implement competition policies with an aim to effectuate the most efficient utilization of economic resources. Develop and nurture effective relations and interactions with sectoral regulators to ensure smooth alignment of sectoral regulatory laws in tandem with the competition law.
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Effectively carry out competition advocacy and spread the information on benefits of competition among all stakeholders to establish and nurture competition culture in Indian economy.
Source :- PIB ; The Hindu
HOME MINISTRY WARNS NGOS Context : The Home Ministry has warned NGOs, who have changed their office-bearers and key functionaries without informing the Ministry, with penal action, if they fail to do so within a month. Regulations of Foreign Funding: All NGOs and associations registered under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA), 2010, which makes them eligible to receive foreign funds and donations, have to submit online application for addition, deletion and change of details about office-bearers and key functionaries within one month. As per norms, all associations, granted a certificate of registration under Section 11 and 12 of the
FCRA, 2010 have reported details of their office-bearers and key functionaries while applying for registration. Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA):
The FCRA was enacted in 1976 in order to maintain strict control over voluntary organisations and political associations that received foreign fundings. In the year 1984, an amendment was made to the act requiring all the Non Governmental
Organisations to register themselves with the Home Ministry. In 2010, the act was repealed and a new act with strict provisions was enacted. It is a consolidating act passed by the Government of India.
It seeks to regulate the foreign contributions or donations and hospitality (air travel, hotel accommodation etc) to Indian organizations and individuals and to stop such contributions which might damage the national interest. It is an act passed for regulating and prohibiting the acceptance and utilization of foreign contribution or foreign hospitality by companies, associations or individuals for such activities that could prove to be detrimental to the national interest and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto. Since the Act is internal security legislation, despite being a law related to financial legislation, it falls into the purview of Home Ministry and not the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). Source :- The Hindu
PM SEEKS FIVE-YEAR ROAD MAP FOR EACH MINISTRY Context : Secretaries to the Government of India have been tasked with creating a five-year road map for each Ministry with well-defined targets. More about the news: In their first meeting with Prime Minister after his re-election, Secretaries to the Government of India have been tasked with creating a five-year road map for each Ministry with well-defined targets. PM opined that each department had a role to play in making India a five-trillion dollar economy. While asking each Ministry to focus on ‗ease of living‘, the Prime Minister added that India‘s
progress in ‗Ease of Doing Business‘ should reflect in greater facilitation for small businesses and entrepreneurs. Speaking of the demographic dividend, the Prime Minister said it is essential that the demographics
be utilised efficiently. He touched upon the importance of the ―Make in India‖ initiative, and the need to make tangible progress towards this end.
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He also stressed upon the need to increase the use of technology in governance and also to give due importance to aspirational district. Looking forward, the Cabinet Secretary mentioned two important tasks which would be placed before Sectoral Groups of Secretaries: A five year plan document for each Ministry, with well-defined targets and milestones. A significant impactful decision in each Ministry, for which approvals will be taken within 100 days. During the interaction, various Secretaries shared their vision and ideas on subjects such as administrative decision-making, agriculture, rural development and Panchayati Raj, IT initiatives, education reform, healthcare, industrial policy, economic growth, skill development, etc. Source :- The Hindu
GOVERNMENT PROPOSES EXEMPTION OF BATTERY OPERATED VEHICLES FROM PAYING REGISTRATION FEES Context :
In order to give a boost to Battery-Operated or Electric Vehicles in the country, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has initiated steps for providing for differential registration fees under the Central Motor Vehicles Rules 1989. Key Highlights of the proposed Draft : The amendment proposes to exempt battery-operated vehicles fees for issue or renewal of registration certificate and assignment of the new registration mark This means that electric vehicles would be exempted from such registration charges. Under the new rules, battery operated two, three and four-wheelers, will not have to pay fees for fresh registration or renewal of the certificate. Significance : The move will promote the electric vehicles, It Helps to combat air pollution, Reduce dependence on expensive US dollar driven oil imports Generate employment. Source :- PIB
NABCB SECURES INTERNATIONAL EQUIVALENCE FOR PERSONNEL CERTIFICATION Context : The National Accreditation Board for Certification Bodies (NABCB), India‘s national accreditation body, secured international equivalence for its accreditation programmer for personnel certification bodies in the annual meeting of the Asia Pacific Accreditation Cooperation in Singapore. Background : NABCB signed the Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA) of the Asia Pacific Accreditation Cooperation (APAC)for its accreditation programme based on international standard, ISO/IEC 17024.
ISO/IEC 17024: Conformity assessment – General requirements for bodies operating certification of persons specifies criteria for the operation of a Personnel Certification Bodies (also known as a certification body for persons).
The standard includes requirements for the development and maintenance of the certification schemes for persons upon which the certification is based. Significance :
With the above recognition, NABCB hopes to facilitate export of Indian services and skills into the world market by attesting that persons are certified following international standards by the certifying bodies.
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Personnel Certification would support many professionals in India, especially those who do not have formal education or certificate program. Any person carrying ISO/IEC 17024 certificate with NABCB logo will be recognized internationally. This signifies that the accreditation of personnel certification bodies by NABCB is now accepted as
equivalent at international level.
NABCB : The National Accreditation Board for Certification Bodies provides accreditation to Certification
and Inspection Bodies based on assessment of their competence as per the Board‘s criteria and in accordance with International Standards and Guidelines. NABCB is internationally recognized and represents the interests of the Indian industry at
international forums through membership and active participation with the objective of becoming a signatory to international Multilateral / Mutual Recognition Arrangements NABCB is already supporting Ministry of AYUSH and has accredited a certification body for
certification for Yoga professionals. This would promote Yoga certification scheme internationally. Source :- PIB
GS PAPER - 02 GOVERNANCE - mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections. WELFARE SCHEME FOR WIDOWS Context : There are a number of Schemes being implemented by various Ministries of the Government of India through States Governments/UT Administrations which address the common needs of widows. Major Schemes : Home for Widows: A Home for Widows has been set up in Vrindavan, UP with a capacity of 1000 inmates to provide widows a safe and secure place of stay, health services, nutritious food, legal and
counseling services. SwadharGreh Scheme: This scheme envisions a supportive institutional framework for women victims of difficult
circumstances so that they could lead their life with dignity and conviction. The Mahila Shakti Kendra Scheme: This aims to empower rural women through community participation and to create an environment in which they realize their full potential. Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme: this is a pension scheme for widows and the elderly. National Family Benefit Scheme: Under this, a monetary grant of Rs. 20,000 is given as lump sum assistance to the bereaved household in the event of death of the bread-winner. Annapurna Scheme: Ten kg of food grain is given to those eligible aged persons who have remained uncovered under
the Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS). Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana: This aims at creating efficient and effective institutional platforms of the rural poor.
Prime Minister Awaas Yojana: Aims at providing affordable housing for women. Nari Arthik Sashaktikaran Yojana: Gives support to Scheduled Castes, Single Women/Widows to take up income generating activities. Integrated Programme for Older Persons: for Older Persons to improve the quality of life of senior citizens.
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Assistance for vocational training of widows of ex-servicemen: for vocational training of widows of ex-servicemen, treatment of serious diseases of non- pensioner ex-servicemen/widows and daughter‘s marriage/widows‘ remarriage. Source :- PIB
‗SHE TEAM‘ ON THE PATROL IN ODISHA
Context : Odisha‘s Gajapati district police in Paralakhemundi has started a pilot project called the ‗SHE Team‘. ‗SHE Team‘ : SHE stands for ‗Safety, Health and Environment‘. This project is modelled on the lines of Hyderabad ‗SHE Team‘. The project seeks to ensure the safety and security of young girls and women. The SHE Team is headed by a lady sub-inspector and includes mobile patrolling teams. The police personnel will patrol schools, colleges, other local institutions and public places, where young girls and women are allegedly subjected to eve teasing, stalking and harassment. ‗SHE Team‘ also seeks to prevent harassment of working women at workplaces and public places where they move for their job. The team will also create awareness among women about their rights and help them realise their potential to the fullest to lead an independent lifestyle. It will also train staff of child care units on steps to prevent sexual abuse of minors. A website of ‗SHE Team‘ has been launched and a mobile app is under construction. Source :- The Hindu
ONLY 20% OF NIRBHAYA FUND HAS BEEN USED BY STATES UNTIL 2018
Context : According to Government data, the States and UTs have utilised less than 20% of the budget allocated to them under the Nirbhaya Fund between 2015 and 2018. More in the news: The top five States ranked in terms of utilisation of money across various schemes under the Nirbhaya Fund were Chandigarh (59.83%), Mizoram (56.32%), Uttarakhand (51.68%), Andhra Pradesh (43.23%) and Nagaland (38.17%). However, the government data shows more money was utilised by Chandigarh than what was allocated to it under Central Victim Compensation Fund as well as Women Helpline Scheme. The worst five States include Manipur, Maharashtra, Lakshadweep – which didn‘t spend even a single penny – and were followed by West Bengal (0.76%) and Delhi (0.84%).
The data shows that none of the 36 States and UTs have spent any money on the Cyber Crime Prevention against Women and Children programme. Nirbhaya Fund :
The Nirbhaya fund scheme seeks to support initiatives by the government and NGOs working towards protecting the dignity and ensuring the safety of women in India. The fund was set up in 2013 in the aftermath of the gruesome gang-rape and murder in Delhi.
The key schemes under which the States have been allocated money include : Emergency Response Support System Central Victim Compensation Fund
Cyber Crime Prevention against Women and Children One Stop Scheme Mahila Police Volunteer and Universalisation of Women Helpline Scheme. Source : The Hindu
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‗NIRBHAYA SQUAD‘ TO CURB CRIME AGAINST WOMEN‘ Context : Nashik police in Maharashtra have set up a 'Nirbhaya squad' to check incidents of eve-teasing and harassment of women. Nirbhaya Squad : The newly formed 10-member squad, comprising both men and women security personnel. The squad members will maintain a strict vigil in crowded areas like bus stands, railway stations and malls to ensure the safety and security of women. Citizens, especially women, can also complain to the police on its toll free number ‗1091‘ about any incident of eve-teasing, molestation and other such offences. Source :- The Hindu WAGE CODE BILL Context : Looking to bring in a fresh wave of labour reforms, the Labour Ministry is likely to seek Cabinet approval for the Code on Wages Bill. Wage code Bill : The wage code bill is one of four codes envisaged by the government which would subsume 44 labour laws with certain amendments to improve the ease of doing business and attract investment for spurring growth.
The four codes will deal with wages, social security, industrial safety and welfare, and industrial relations. The Code on Wages will replace the Payment of Wages Act, 1936, Minimum Wages Act, 1948,
Payment of Bonus Act, 1965, and the Equal Remuneration Act, 1976. The bill provides that the central government will fix minimum wages for certain sectors, including railways and mines, while the states would be free to set minimum wages for other category of employment. The code also provides for setting of a national minimum wage. The central government can set separate minimum wages for different regions or states. The draft law also says that the minimum wage would be revised every five years. Background : The bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha on August 10, 2017. It was referred to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on August 21, 2017. The panel had submitted its report on December 18, 2018. The bill lapsed after the 16th Lok Sabha dissolved last month. Source :- The Hindu
DRAFT NATIONAL POLICY ON DOMESTIC WORKERS Context : A draft National Policy on domestic workers is under consideration of the Central Government.
Key Features : Inclusion of Domestic Workers in the existing legislations Domestic workers will have the right to register as workers. Such registration will facilitate their access to rights & benefits accruing to them as workers. Right to form their own associations , trade unions Right to have minimum wages, access to social security, protection from abuse, harassment, violence Right to enhance their professional skills Protection of Domestic Workers from abuse and exploitation
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Domestic Workers to have access to courts, tribunals, etc. Establishment of a mechanism for regulation of concerned placement agencies Status of Domestic Workers in India The state governments of Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Odisha, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu have taken several steps to improve the working
conditions of domestic workers and to provide access to social security schemes. Seven states including Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Odisha, and Rajasthan have introduced minimum wages for domestic workers.
The state governments of Kerala, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu have also constituted Welfare Boards for domestic workers who are able to avail of welfare benefits by registering with these Boards. However, despite these efforts, a large majority of domestic workers remain outside the purview of labour laws even today. Source :- PIB
GS PAPER - 02 GOVERNANCE - Important aspects of governance, transparency and accountability, e- governance- applications, models, successes, limitations, and potential; citizens charters, transparency & accountability and institutional and other measures.
COMMON MOBILITY CARD Context : ● Metro rail commuters in Bengaluru and four other cities will be the first to experience a single pan- India multi-purpose payment card system that is expected to be introduced this year. National common Mobility Card (NCMC) :
The National Common Mobility Card (NCMC), also known as One Nation One Card which was launched in March for seamless travel through various transport modes, modes of travel, shopping, parking, money withdrawal and other uses in place of separate credit, debit and prepaid cards. The NCMC is part of the Digital India mission and is spearheaded by the Ministry of Housing and
Urban Affairs. CDAC is a technology partner. It is enabled through the RuPay card mechanism. The NCMC card is issuable as a prepaid, debit, or credit RuPay card from partnered banks such as
the State Bank of India, Bank of india,Punjab National Bank, and others. Source :- The Hindu
UNIVERSAL SMART CARD DRIVING LICENSE
Context : Indian government to issue Universal Smart Card Driving License nationwide: To follow standardised format and design.
Universal Smart Card Driving License : The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has decided to modify the format of driving licenses to laminated card without chip or smart card type driving licences.
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The Ministry has prescribed a common standard format and design of the Driving Licence for whole of the country which includes the placement of information, standardization of fonts etc. Key Facts and Datas: In the past that around 30% of Indians drive with fake or bogus licenses. Additionally, police reports suggest that in just the region of Delhi NCR, cases of underage driving
has jumped to 589% and in the first 15 days of January 2019, 61 unpermitted juvenile cases were registered and issued with challans. Common countrywide database of all driving license holders - SARATHI : The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways through its flagship application called SARATHI (for Driving License) developed by NIC (National Informatics Centre) have a common countrywide database of all driving license holders. Almost 15 crore driving license records are available in its central repository (National Registry). The SARATHI application has the feature to identify duplicate records in real time online basis and access information about the challans if any, which facilitates the licencing authority that delinquent drivers do not get a duplicate driving licence. Source :- PIB ; Times of India
INDIAN PAYMENT SYSTEM Context : The Reserve Bank of India(RBI) has released a report titled ―Benchmarking India‘s Payments Systems‖. The report provides a comparative position of the payments ecosystem in India relative to comparable payments systems and usage trends in other major economies. Key Findings of the Report : The study found that India has a strong regulatory system and robust large value and retail payment systems, which have contributed to the rapid growth in the volume of transactions in these payment systems. The report, however, notes that India is required to take further efforts to bring down the volume of paper-clearing and increase acceptance infrastructure to enhance digital payments.
While the report acknowledged that the growth in the volume of payment systems transactions had been strong and steady, the relatively high level of cash in circulation offered scope for a higher level of digitisation of payments.
There is an increase in Point of Sale (PoS) terminals, including mobile terminals, which, however, may not be enough to cater to the large population. The report observed low digital payment of utility bills, despite the existence of the Bharat Bill
Payment System (BBPS), an integrated interoperable bill payment system which started live operations from October 2017. The report also said digital communications infrastructure in the form of a robust mobile network is
growing strongly, though broadband infrastructure ―lags behind.‖ The report highlighted that the last few years since demonetisation have witnessed a sea change in the payments landscape, with large growth in digital payments.
The report also said that the level of credit card penetration in India was low when compared to advanced countries, where it was a preferred option for making payments. Source :- The Hindu
MINISTRY OF CORPORATE AFFAIRS &SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE BOARD OF INDIASEBI Context : A formal Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed between the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) and the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) for data exchange between the two regulatory organizations.
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More about the news : The MoU will facilitate the sharing of data and information between SEBI and MCA on an automatic and regular basis. It will enable sharing of specific information such as details of suspended companies, delisted companies, shareholding pattern from SEBI and financial statements filed with the Registrar by corporates, returns of allotment of shares, audit reports relating to corporations. The MoU will ensure that both MCA and SEBI have seamless linkage for regulatory purposes. In addition to regular exchange of data, SEBI and MCA will also exchange with each other, upon request, any information available in their respective databases, for the purpose of carrying out scrutiny, inspection, investigation and prosecution. Significance : The MoU comes in the wake of increasing need for surveillance in the context of Corporate Frauds affecting important sectors of the economy. As the private sector plays an increasingly vital role in economic growth, the need for a robust Corporate Governance mechanism becomes the need of the hour. Source :- PIB
ONLINE PAYMENT OF BILLS: FOUR-FOLD SURGE IN RURAL AND SEMI- URBAN INDIA Context : An analysis of Common Service Centres (CSC) data from 2014 to 2019 has shown that there has
been a four-fold increase in the electricity bill payments and insurance premium renewals, which have emerged as some of the fastest growing non-banking services across rural and semi-urban India.
Common Services Centre (CSC) programme : Common Services Centre (CSC) programme is an initiative of the Ministry of Electronics & IT (MeitY), Government of India.
It was launched in 2006. CSCs are the access points for delivery of various electronic services to villages in India, thereby contributing to a digitally and financially inclusive society.
CSC e-Governance Services India Limited is a Special Purpose Vehicle (CSC SPV) incorporated under the Companies Act, 1956 by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) to monitor the implementation of the Common Services Centres Scheme. CSC 2.0 : The Government launched the CSC 2.0 scheme in 2015 to expand the outreach of CSCs to all Gram Panchayats across the country. Under CSC 2.0 scheme, the aim was to set up at least one CSC in each of the 2.5 lakh GPs across the country by 2019. In 2016, CSC- Wi-Fi Choupal was initiated. It seeks to boost internet connectivity at the last mile by utilizing BharatNet infrastructure. It engages Village Level Entrepreneurs (VLEs) as Community Internet Service Providers.
BharatNet project (previously known as National Optical Fibre Network (NOFN)) seeks to provide high speed broadband connectivity to all gram panchayats across India. Source :- Indian Express ―HEALTHY STATES, PROGRESSIVE INDIA‖ – NITI AAYOG Context : NITI Aayog released the Second Edition of ―Healthy States, Progressive India‖. Healthy States, Progressive India : The report has been developed by NITI Aayog, with technical assistance from the World Bank, and in consultation with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW).
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The Report focuses on measuring and highlighting the overall performance and incremental improvement over a two year period (2016-17 and 2017-18) in the States and UTs. The report ranks states and Union territories innovatively on their year-on-year incremental change in health outcomes, as well as, their overall performance. The ranking is categorized as Larger States, Smaller States and Union Territories (UTs), to
ensure comparison among similar entities. The Health Index is a weighted composite Index based on 23 indicators grouped into the domains of Health Outcomes, Governance and Information, and Key Inputs/Processes. Each domain has been assigned weights based on its importance and has been equally distributed among indicators Key Findings of the Report : Categorization of Larger States on incremental performance and overall performance Among the Larger States, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh & Maharashtra ranked on top in terms of overall performance, while Haryana, Rajasthan and Jharkhand are the top three ranking States in terms of annual incremental performance.Haryana, Rajasthan and Jharkhand showed the maximum gains inimprovement of health outcomes
Incremental Overall Performance Performance Aspirants Achievers Front-runners
Not improved Madhya Pradesh West Bengal Kerala
(0 or less) Odisha Punjab Uttarakhand Tamil Nadu Uttar Pradesh
Bihar Least Improved __ Chhattisgarh Gujarat (0.01-2) Himachal Pradesh
Moderately Maharashtra Improved Jammu & Kashmir (2.01-4.0) Karnataka Telangana Most Improved Rajasthan Haryana Andhra Pradesh (more than 4.0) Jharkhand Assam
Categorization of Smaller States on incremental performance and overall performance: Among Smaller States, Mizoram ranked first followed by Manipur on overall performance, while Tripura followed by Manipur were the top ranked States in terms of annual incremental
performance. Manipur registered maximum incremental progress on indicators such as full immunization coverage, institutional deliveries, total Case Notification Rate of Tuberculosis
Incremental Overall Performance
Performance Aspirants Achievers Front-runners
Not improved Arunachal Pradesh Meghalaya -
(0 or less) Sikkim Goa Least Improved Nagaland Mizoram (0.01-2)
Moderately Tripura Manipur -
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Improved (2.01-4.0) Most Improved - - - (more than 4)
Categorization of UT on incremental performance and overall performance: Among UTs, Chandigarh and Dadra and Nagar Haveli were ranked on top in terms of overall performance (Chandigarh-1 and Dadra and Nagar Haveli-2) as well as annual incremental performance (Dadra and Nagar Haveli-1 and Chandigarh-2).
Incremental Overall Performance Performance Aspirants Achievers Front-runners Not improved Andaman and Nicobar Delhi
(0 or less) Lakshadweep Least Improved (0 or less)
Moderately Improved Puducherry (0 or less) Most Improved Daman and Diu Chandigarh (0 or less) Dadra and Nagar Haveli
Source :- PIB
RIVIGO LAUNCHES NATIONAL FREIGHT INDEX Context :
The logistics start-up Rivigo has launched National Freight Index(NFI) that will provide live freight rates for different lanes and vehicles across the country. National Freight Index(NFI) : The NFI will offers an aggregated picture of both live rates and historical trends of spot price movements in the road freight industry. The index is represented in two forms actual freight rates condensed to rupees per tonne-km and relative movement with respect to a base month. This index will be a step towards easing the crisis in the freight sector and streamlining the sector by giving live spot rates on over 7 million lane and vehicle type combinations in the country. Further, the rates on the exchange and the index are computed using millions of data points from historical transactions, current market dynamics, micro market insights and other factors with the purpose of giving fair and precise representation of the state of the spot market. Source :- Livemint
AADHAAR BILL INTRODUCED AMID OPPOSITION PROTESTS Context : Union law minister has introduced the Aadhaar and Other Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2019 in the Lok Sabha. The legislation will now replace an ordinance issued in March this year, and proposes to impose strict penalties for violation of norms. Aadhaar and Other Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2019 : The bill envisages strengthening of the Aadhaar Act as per the directions of the Supreme Court and recommendations of Justice B.N.Srikrishna.
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The bill says that no individual will be compelled to provide proof of possession of Aadhaar number or undergo authentication for the purpose of establishing his identity unless it is so provided by a law made by Parliament. For the convenience of the general public in the opening of bank accounts,the bill will allow the use of Aadhaar number for authentication on a voluntary basis as an acceptable KYC document under the Telegraph Act,1885 and the Prevention of Money Laundering Act,2002. The bill also gives an option to children who are Aadhaar number holders to cancel their Aadhaar number on attaining the age of eighteen years. The bill proposes deletion of section 57 of the Aadhaar Act relating to use of Aadhaar by private entities. The bill prevents denial of services for refusing to, or being unable to, undergo authentication. It provides for the establishment of Unique Identification Authority of India Fund. Further, thebill provides for civil penalties, its adjudication,appeal thereof in regard to violations of Aadhaar Act and provisions by entities in the Aadhaar ecosystem. Source :- The Hindu
PASSPORTS WITH ADVANCED SECURITY FEATURES SOON Context :
External affairs minister has said that the manufacture of e-passports will be pursued on priority so that a new passport booklet with advanced security features can be rolled out in the near future. The minister also said that the ministry is soon going to have a chip based passport.
The process for the e-passport was initiated in 2017. Chip Based Passport : The Ministry of External Affairs is soon going to have a chip based passport, the software for which
has been developed by IIT-Kanpur and the National Informatics Centre (NIC). This passport will have a better quality of paper, better printing and be enabled with advanced security features.
Also, authorization for floating a three-stage global tender to get the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO)-compliant electronic contactless inlays along with its operating system. The personal details of the applicants will be digitally signed and stored in the chip.
According to officials, in case it is tampered, the system will be able to identify it and the passport will not be authenticated. The chip is protected in a way that without physical protection, the details cannot be read. Source :- The Hindu
RBI‘S CUSTOMER-COMPLAINT PROCESSING GOES DIGITAL Context : The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) launched a Complaint Management System (CMS) on its website. Complaint management System : This will now enable the public to lodge their complaints on its website against any of the regulated entities such as commercial banks, urban co-operative banks, and non-banking financial companies.
This system will be accessible on desktop as well as mobile devices. The system provides features such as acknowledgement through SMS/e-mail notification(s), status tracking through unique registration number,
Receipt of closure advises, and Filing of appeals, where applicable. It also solicits voluntary feedback on the customer‘s experience.
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The Reserve Bank also plans to introduce a dedicated Interactive Voice Response (IVR) System for tracking the status of complaints. The system provides facilities for the generation of a diverse set of reports to monitor and manage grievances by the Regulated Entities. They can use the information from CMS for undertaking root cause analyses and initiating appropriate corrective action, if required. The CMS also has facilities for RBI officials handling the complaints to track the progress of redressal. The information available in CMS could also be used for regulatory and supervisory interventions, if required. Source :- Hindu Business Line
DRAFT E-COMMERCE POLICY Context : A draft National e-Commerce policy has been prepared and placed in the public domain. Draft E- commerce Policy : The policy equating ecommerce with the digital economy offers recommendations on wide-ranging areas well beyond just e-commerce, including data governance, intermediary liability, intellectual property, competition, consumer protection, investments and cloud infrastructure.
This policy addresses six broad areasof the e-commerce ecosystem viz. data, infrastructure development, e-commerce marketplaces,
regulatory issues, stimulating domestic digital economy and Export promotion through e-commerce.
The draft policy is also harmful for startups with intermediaries being asked to take steps to prevent the online dissemination of pirated content; platforms being required to have mechanisms to notify trademark owners/licensees about potential infringement; payment gateways needing to restrict payments to ‗rogue websites‘; and platforms being liable and responsible for ensuring the authenticity of content on their platforms. The draft policy severely restricts the cross-border flow of data, and goes well beyond India‘s draft Personal Data Protection Bill. For most startups, cross-border data flows are intrinsically connected to services critical to their operations, such as cloud computing and storage services.
Restricting the free flow of data across borders will raise the cost of providing services to local businesses, in turn raising their costs, in turn making final products and services more expensive for end consumers in India.
The FDI Policy on e-commerce, allow up to 100 per cent FDI under automatic route in the marketplace model of e-commerce, but bar any investments in the inventory based model of e- commerce. Source :- PIB
DATA LOCALISATION Context : The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has clarified that payment system providers need to store entire payments data in a system only in India.
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Background : In April 2018,Reserve Bank of India(RBI) had asked payment firms to ensure their data are stored exclusively on local servers. RBI had also set a deadline of six months for compliance which some foreign firms such as Mastercard and Visa had missed. Data Localisation : Data stored in India should include end-to-end transaction details and info about payment transactions. The data could be pertaining to:
Customer data like name, mobile number, Aadhaar number, PAN. Payment-sensitive data like customer and beneficiary account details. Payment credentials like OTP, PIN.
Transaction data such as originating and destination system information amount. All data related to payments must be stored only in India and data processed (in case the processing is done abroad) will have to be brought back to the country within 24 hours. There is no bar on the processing of payment transactions outside India if so desired by the Payment System Operators (PSO). Data stored in India can be accessed or fetched whenever required for handling customer disputes as well as for any other related processing activity, such as chargeback.
The data may be shared with the overseas regulator, if so required, depending upon the nature/origin of a transaction with prior approval of the RBI.
For cross border transaction data, (consisting of a foreign component and a domestic component) a copy of the domestic component may also be stored abroad. Source :- The Hindu
THE AADHAAR AND OTHER LAWS (AMENDMENT) BILL, 2019 Context : The Union Cabinet approved ―The Aadhaar and Other Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2019‖ to replace the
Aadhaar and Other Laws (Amendment) Ordinance, 2019. Key Features of the amendments : Provides for voluntary use of Aadhaar number in physical or electronic form by authentication
or offline verification with the consent of Aadhaar number holder; Provides for use of twelve-digit Aadhaar number and its alternative virtual identity to conceal the actual Aadhaar number of an individual;
Gives an option to children who are Aadhaar number holders to cancel their Aadhaar number on attaining the age of eighteen years; Permits entities to perform authentication only when they are compliant with the standards of
privacy and security specified by the Authority; and the authentication is permitted under any law made by Parliament or is prescribed to be in the interest of State by the Central Government; Allows the use of Aadhaar number for authentication on voluntary basis as acceptable KYC
document under the Telegraph Act, 1885 and the Prevention of Money-laundering Act, 2002; Proposes deletion of section 57 of the Aadhaar Act relating to use of Aadhaar by private entities; Prevents denial of services for refusing to, or being unable to, undergo authentication;
Provides for establishment of Unique Identification Authority of India Fund; Provides for civil penalties, its adjudication, appeal thereof in regard to violations of Aadhaar Act and provisions by entities in the Aadhaar ecosystem. Impact : The decision would enable UIDAI to have a more robust mechanism to serve the public interest and restrain the misuse of Aadhar.
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Subsequent to this amendment, no individual shall be compelled to provide proof of possession of Aadhaar number or undergo authentication for the purpose of establishing his identity unless it is so provided by a law made by Parliament. For the convenience of the general public in opening of bank accounts, the proposed amendments would allow the use of Aadhaar number for authentication on voluntary basis as acceptable KYC document under the Telegraph Act, 1885 and the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002. Background : The Aadhaar and Other Laws (Amendment) Ordinance, 2019 amongst other things envisaged strengthening of the Aadhaar Act as per the directions of the Supreme Court and recommendations of Justice B.N.Srikrishna(Retd) Committee. Source :- PIB
GS PAPER - 03 ECONOMY - Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment
GDP GROWTH SLUMPS TO 5.8% Context : According to the recent data released from Central Statistical office showed that, India‘s economy expanded as its slowest pace in over a year in the fourth quarter of 2018-2019.
Key Highlights : India's GDP (gross domestic product) growth for the January-March (Q4) quarter slowed to 5.8 per cent from 6.6 per cent in the previous (October-December) quarter. According to government data, India‘s fiscal deficit for 2018-19 stood at 3.4% of GDP, roughly in line with the Interim Budget‘s estimate. The rate of growth in eight core infrastructure industries during April came to 2.6%, against 4.9% in the previous month. Meanwhile, India's unemployment rate rose to 6.1%+ in 2017/18 fiscal year, according to data released by the statistics ministry.
Factors contributing to the Slowdown: Slowdown in the fourth quarter GDP was due to temporary factors, like stress in the NBFC sector affecting consumption finance. The slowdown can be largely attributed to lacklustre growth in agriculture and mining sectors Concern : The Central Statistics Office (CSO) also revealed that GDP growth during 2018-19 fiscal stood at 6.8 per cent, lowest growth rate in five years. In FY 2017-18 the country recorded at 7.2 per cent growth in GDP. The announcement of GDP figures meant that India lost its place as the world's fastest-growing major economy to China, which is currently on 6.4 percent growth. The government data shows that joblessness in the country was 6.1 per cent of total labour force during 2017-18, the highest in 45 years. Source :- The Hindu
PM‘S PANEL REJECTS FORMER CEA‘S PAPER ON GDP GROWTH Context : PM Economic Advisory Council(PMEAC) rejected former chief economic adviser Arvind Subramanian's claims of overestimation and asserting that his paper "would not stand the scrutiny of
academic or policy research standards." Background : Recently, former CEA had said that India‘s GDP growth in the period 2011-12 to 2016-17 is likely
to have been overestimated.
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He said that the growth during that period was actually 4.5% rather than the 7%. He said this because India had changed its data sources and methodology for estimating real gross domestic product(GDP) for the period since 2011-12. The problems with the new methodology was that the growth numbers no longer correlated with other indicators of economic growth such as :-electricity consumption, two-wheeler sales , airline passenger traffic, index of industrial production and export figures. ‗Lacks vigour, won‘t stand up to scrutiny‘ : However, the EAC asserted that India‘s GDP estimation methodology is on par with its global standing while highlighting that former CEA used 17 high-frequency indicators but ignored the representation of the services sector (60% in GDP) and the agriculture sector (18%) in the analysis. Further, EAC said that there was an institutional bias against the Central Statistical Organisation(CSO) as majority of the 17 indicators have been taken directly from Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy(CMIE) which is a private agency that is not a primary source of information but collects it from different sources. PMEAC is a non-constitutional, non-permanent and independent body constituted to give economic advice to the Government of India, specifically the Prime Minister.
The council serves to highlight key economic issues facing the country to the government of India from a neutral viewpoint. It advises the Prime Minister on economic issues like inflation, microfinance, and industrial output.
Source :- The Hindu
GLOBAL GROWTH TO SLOW IN 2019- WORLD BANK Context : The World Bank has released its Global Economic Prospects report, 2019. Key Highlights : The report has forecasted that the World economy will expand 2.6% in 2019 compared with a projection of 2.9% it made in January, 2019. Growth in emerging market and developing economies is expected to stabilize next year as some countries move past periods of financial strain, but economic momentum remains weak. Emerging and developing economy growth is constrained by sluggish investment, and risks are tilted to the downside. These risks include rising trade barriers, renewed financial stress, and sharper-than-
expected slowdowns in several major economies The report has warned that the world‘s poorest countries will face the most daunting challenges due to entrenched poverty, fragility and geographic isolation.
India‘s Stand : The World Bank has projected that India will grow at 7.5% in the next three years supported by robust investment and private consumption.
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The report said that Private consumption and investment will benefit from strengthening credit growth amid more accommodative monetary policy with inflation having fallen below the Reserve Bank of India‘s target. The World Bank has said that India will continue to retain the position of being the fastest growing emerging economy. And by 2021,its growth rate is projected to be 1.5% more than China‘s 6%. Source :- The Hindu
RETAIL INFLATION AT A 7-MONTH HIGH OF 3.05% Context :
According to the data released from the Central Statistics Office (CSO), retail inflation for the month of May has increased to a seven-month high of 3.05%. More about the news:
Inflation for the overall food basket, based on consumer food price index, increased to 1.83 per cent in May, as against 1.10 per cent a month earlier, the data showed. Last week, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) cut policy rates for the third consecutive time by 25
basis points and changed its stance to accommodative from neutral, signalling more rate cuts were in store to revive growth momentum and support faltering consumer demand.
Retail Inflation : Retail inflation is based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI). It reflects changes in the retail prices of specified goods and services over a time period which are traded by particular consumer group. CPI data is released monthly by the Central Statistics Office which functions under the
Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation. There are four types of CPI: CPI-IW (Industrial Worker),
CPI-UNME (Urban Non-Manual Employees), CPI-AL (Agricultural Labourers) and CPI-RL (Rural Labourers) RBI has adopted CPI as the key measure for determining inflation situation of Indian economy, on recommendation of Urjit Patel Committee.
Source :- The Hindu
RBI CUTS INTEREST RATE BY 25 BPS
Context : The Reserve Bank of India(RBI) Monetary Policy Committee has unanimously cut the repo rate by 25 basis points from 6% to 5.75%. More about the news: The reverse repo rate was also lowered to 5.50% from 5.75%.The reverse repo rate is the rate at which the central bank borrows money from commercial banks. The RBI has changed the monetary policy stance from neutral to accommodative. The change in stance to accommodative means there is a possibility of further monetary easing in the months ahead. The RBI has also lowered India‘s Gross Domestic Product(GDP) growth estimate to 7% for the year 2019-20 from 7.2% that it forecast in April,2019. The GDP growth estimate was lowered due to weak domestic investment activity and slowdown in exports.
Monetary policy Committee : The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) is the body of the RBI, headed by the Governor,
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responsible for taking the important monetary policy decision about setting the repo rate. Repo rate is ‗the policy instrument‘ in monetary policy that helps to realize the set inflation target by the RBI.
Composition of Monetary Policy Committee : The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) is formed under the RBI with six members. Three of the members are from the RBI while the other three members are appointed by the government. Members from the RBI are the Governor who is the chairman of the MPC, a Deputy Governor and one officer of the RBI.
The government members are appointed by the Centre on the recommendations of a search- cum-selection committee which is to be headed by the Cabinet Secretary. The Committee is to meet at least four times a year and make public its decisions following each
meeting. The quorum for the meeting of the MPC is four members. There will be no reappointment of the committee.
Source :- The Hindu
NEW DELHI INTERNATIONAL ARBITRATION CENTRE GS PAPER - 03 ECONOMY - Growth, development and employment. Inclusive growth and issues arising from it. Context : Government is setting up of an independent and autonomous regime for institutionalized domestic and international arbitration are a step in this direction. Impact : The benefits of institutionalized arbitration will be manifold for the Government and its agency and to the parties to a dispute. This will result in quality experts being available in India and also an advantage in terms of cost incurred. It will facilitate India becoming a hub for institutional arbitration. New Delhi International Arbitration Centre (NDIAC) : The New Delhi International Arbitration Centre (NDIAC) will be headed by a Chairperson, who has been a Judge of the Supreme Court or a Judge of a High Court or an eminent person. Appointed by the Central Government in consultation with the Chief Justice of India Besides, it will also have two Full-time or Part-time Members from amongst eminent persons having substantial knowledge and experience in institutional arbitration in both domestic and international. In addition, one representative of a recognized body of commerce and industry shall be nominated on rotational basis as a Part-time Member.
Aim And Objective of NDIAC : To bring targeted reforms to develop itself as a flagship institution for conducting international and domestic arbitration
provide facilities and administrative assistance for conciliation, mediation and arbitral proceedings; maintain panels of accredited arbitrators, conciliators and mediators both at national and international level or specialists such as surveyors and investigators;
facilitate conducting of international and domestic arbitrations and conciliation in the most professional manner; provide cost effective and timely services for the conduct of arbitrations and conciliations at
Domestic and International level; promote studies in the field of alternative dispute resolution and related matters, and to promote reforms in the system of settlement of disputes; and
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co-operate with other societies, institutions and organisations, national or international for promoting alternative dispute resolution. Source :- PIB
ENHANCING THE RATING STANDARD GS PAPER - 03 ECONOMY- Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment. Inclusive growth and issues arising from it. Context : The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) has prescribed guidelines to strengthen the disclosures made by credit rating agencies to enhance the rating standards.
More about the news: Credit rating agencies will now have to disclose the probability of default for the instruments they rate and also clearly state the sensitive factors that could impact the credit worthiness of the entity. Further, the rating agencies will have to adopt a standardised terminology to disclose liquidity indicators like liquid investments, access to credit and cash flows among other factors while rating an instrument. Credit Rating Agencies, in consultation with SEBI, shall prepare and disclose standardised and
uniform PD benchmarks for each rating category on their website, for one-year, two-year and three-year cumulative default rates, both for short-run and long-run Further, such uniform and standardised PD benchmarks will have to be disclosed on the website of
each CRA on a consolidated basis for all financial instruments rated by a CRA by December 31. To bring uniformity in terms of disclosures, the capital market watchdog has mandated standardised terminology, superior, strong, adequate, stretched and poor, to describe the liquidity
indicators. The regulator has also directed CRAs to devise a model to track sharp deviations in the bond spreads of debt instruments when compared to their benchmarks as such deviations have to be
treated as a material event.
Probability of default : Probability of default describes the likelihood of a default over a particular period. It provides the likelihood that a borrower will be unable to meet its debt obligations and is
typically used globally in credit analyses and risk management frameworks.
Source :- The Hindu
GS PAPER - 03 ECONOMY - Food processing and related industries in India- scope and significance,
location, upstream and downstream requirements, supply chain management.
FCI PLANS TO INCREASE ITS STORAGE SPACE Context : The Food Corporation of India has commissioned a new roadmap to speed up silo construction to
meet its target of 100 lakh tonnes of storage space by 2022. More about the news: With record harvests and high procurement over the last few years, the FCI is sitting on a reserve stock of food grains that is almost double the required level, straining capacity and forcing the use of cover and plinth storage which is not entirely weather-proof. The previous government had constructed 6.75 lakh tonnes of storage capacity while work is ongoing for 22 lakh tonnes. The FCI was also in talks with its unions to streamline its labour force and bring all 40,000 workers under a uniform direct payment system. Source :- The Hindu
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WORLD FOOD INDIA 2019 Context : The World Food India event will be held during November 1-4 this year in the national capital as part of the government's effort to boost investment in Food Processing Sector. The tagline of the event will be ―Forging Partnerships for Growth‖.
World Food India : The government initiated a biennial event- World Food India to promote food processing sector at global level. The first such event was conducted in 2017 and received wide success. The event created Brand India in global food map by positioning India as a World Food Factory. Key Facts and Data‘s: Indian Food Processing Industry has grown tremendously recording 11% growth rate, which is twice the pace of Global Industry. The sector has recorded double digit growth rate across all major sub-segments of the sectors both in terms of value and volume. Despite huge domestic market of 1.3 billion customers with the youngest population globally and an abundant agricultural base, the processing levels in India remain low at 7.7% behind several economies such as China, Malaysia and the US. India‘s share in global exports of processed food is only 2%. Source :- PIB
GS PAPER - 03 ECONOMY - Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc.
RESEARCHERS PRODUCE KEROSENE FROM SUNLIGHT, CO2 AND WATER Context : In a first, German researchers have used sunlight, carbon dioxide (CO2) and water to make kerosene,
which has the potential to revolutionise the energy sector. The technology is part of the European Union‘s sun-to-liquids project, which began in January 2016 with the aim to decarbonise transport sector.
Who does it works? The newly developed a novel technology that uses concentrated solar energy to synthesise liquid hydrocarbon fuel from water and CO2. For this product, CO2 and water are taken directly from the
air and split using solar energy. The process yields synthesis gas or syngas — a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide. It is subsequently processed and converted into kerosene, methanol or other hydrocarbons.
Significance : The newly developed novel technology have large effects on the transport sector, especially for aviation and shipping, that will remain dependent on liquid fuels for long distances.
If compared with fossil fuels, the sun-to-liquid cuts CO2 emissions by more than 90 per cent. Source :- Down to Earth DISPUTE RESOLUTION MECHANISM FOR SOLAR/WIND SECTOR Context : Union Minister of State for Power and New & Renewable Energy (IC) and Skill Development & Entrepreneurship has approved a proposal to set up a Dispute Resolution Committee to consider the unforeseen disputes between solar/wind power developers and SECI/NTPC, beyond contractual agreement.
Need : The Solar and Wind Industry have been demanding setting up of Dispute Resolution Mechanism by MNRE for quite some time,
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To resolve expeditiously, unforeseen disputes that may arise beyond the scope of Contractual Agreements between solar power developers / wind power developers and SECI/ NTPC. The issue was considered and it was felt that there is need to erect a transparent, unbiased Dispute Resolution Mechanism, consisting of an independent, transparent and unbiased Dispute Resolution Committee (DRC), For resolving the unforeseen disputes that may arise in implementation of contractual agreements Also for dealing with issues which are beyond the scope of Contractual Agreements between solar power developers/ wind power developers and SECI / NTPC.
Significance : The move will give further fillip to the smooth implementation of solar/wind energy projects in India. It fulfils a long pending demand of the industry to resolve expeditiously, unforeseen disputes
that may arise beyond the scope of Contractual Agreements. Dispute Resolution Committee - Composition : A three member Dispute Resolution Committee (DRC) will be set up with the approval of Hon‘ble
Minister (NRE), consisting of eminent persons of impeccable integrity. The upper age for the DRC members shall be 70 years.
The Committee members of DRC shall be chosen from the eminent persons located in NCR of Delhi so as to avoid expenditure on Air Travel & accommodation. The DRC will consider following kinds of cases:
All cases of appeal against decisions given by SECI (Solar Energy Corporation of India) on Extension of Time requests based on terms of contract: All requests of Extension of Time not covered under the terms of contract.
All such cases referred to it, including the cases where the developer is not satisfied with the decision of SECI/NTPC and it decides to appeal after paying the required fee. Decision : The recommendations of the ‗Dispute Resolution Committee‘ (DRC) along with MNRE‘s observations, will be placed before Hon‘ble Minister (NRE) for final decision. The Ministry shall examine and put up such recommendations to Minister (NRE) with the comments of IFD within twenty one (21) days of receipt of recommendation from the DRC. To arrive at any decision, Committee will be free to interact with the relevant parties of the case and shall record their views. For presenting the case before the DRC, no lawyers shall be permitted. Source :- PIB
INDIA‘S FIRST SOLAR CRUISE VESSEL TO BE ROLLED OUT SOON Context :
Kerala is gearing up for the launch of the country‘s premier solar-powered cruise boat by December. More about the news: The initiative comes from the State Water Transport Department (SWTD), whose solar ferry Aditya in the Vaikom-Thavanakadavu route has proved to be a success. The Rs.3-crore cruise boat that can carry 100 passengers is under construction at a boatyard in Aroor and comes from the stable of the builders of Aditya. It will be rolled out in Alappuzha in December. The hybrid vessel will be powered by a motor that can source energy from solar panels, battery, and generator. Its battery will have 80 KWh (kilowatt hour) power backup, as compared to 50 KWh backup in Aditya
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The double-deck, double-engine catamaran-type vessel adheres to norms specified by the Indian Registry of Shipping (IRS). Benefits : Fuel efficient: Aditya incurs a rock-bottom energy expense of Rs.200 a day, as compared to the approximately Rs.8,000 needed for diesel-powered ferries. Solar vessels do not create air and noise pollution Reduce operational cost Source :- The Hindu
DRAFT NATIONAL LOGISTICS POLICY Context : Union Minister of Commerce and Industry & Railways, reviewed the draft National Logistics Policy.
The Ministry also proposed action plan for implementation of the policy prepared by the Department of Logistics, Ministry of Commerce and Industry. National Logistic Policy :
India‘s logistics sector is highly defragmented and the aim is to reduce the logistics cost from the present 14% of GDP to less than 10% by 2022. As per the Economic Survey 2017-18, the Indian logistics sector provides livelihood to more than 22
million people and improving the sector will facilitate 10 % decrease in indirect logistics cost leading to the growth of 5 to 8% in exports. Further, the Survey estimates that the worth of Indian logistics market would be around USD 215 billion in the next two years compared to about USD 160 billion currently. The key takeaways from the policy The much-awaited India Logistics Policy highlights vision to transform India‘s Logistics sector into an integrated, seamless, efficient, reliable, cost-effective and technology-driven
eco-system and is expected to bring down logistics cost from 14% to 10% of GDP. The key goals and initiatives of the policy are as follows: Key Focus Aim of the Policy Impact Digitisation Intervention for time Developer: Develop digitally compliant spaces with efficiency, real-time in-house Command Centre tracking and procedural Occupiers: Plan for central control over Warehousing compliances through E- tolling, electronic and Cargo Movement documentation, digital verification E-marketplace Digital platform for Developer: Increased potential customer base from MSME[1] for providing MSME single window Occupier: Medium /Small investors avail organized certification, transparent price recovery and direct space at the delivery point access to consumers barring intermediaries.
Data Analytics Online portal to collect, Developer: Investment decisions should be more Centre collate and preserve all authentic backed by absolute data and in line with the logistics data in the supply chain trend of prospective tenants. product value chain of Occupier: Big data emerges as an authentic decision- India. making tool to identify best-suited storage point
Ecommerce Emphasis on Ecommerce Developer: As demand spread to Tier II and Tier III
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Logistics and 3PL sectors for cities, developers can consider taking up speculative first/last mile connectivity positions. by strengthening Occupier: Bring in efficiency in cargo movement and transportation/storage infrastructure, multi-modal reduced dwell time in interstate movement facilities, standardising logistics chain Comprehensive Dedicated Logistics Wing Developer: Sectoral consolidation and demand Implementation under Ministry, Integrated escalation for organized warehousing
Plan National Logistics Action Occupier: Enabling environment with increased Plan and composite development plan amongst logistics efficiency and minimizing transit losses various Ministries and State Governments Impetus to International best practices Developer: Need to develop facilities compliant to Development and formation of Centre handle partial/full automation and robotic technology for Trade Facilitation and on the infra-logistics front. Logistics Excellence for Occupier: Easy access to modern technology and removal of bottlenecks in the overall logistics value compliant real estate assets chain
Support New avenues in logistics Developer: Alternative investment destination would Infrastructure value chain like coastal arise considering alternative cargo handling locations
shipping, inland and modes. waterways, air cargo Occupier: Can consider consolidation of compatible complex, up-gradation of LCS/ ICP, cost effect storage locations & spaces by cost analysis green logistics
Alternative Sponsored Logistics Fund Developer: Shall might get better external Funding for VGF, first/ last mile infrastructure for their investment destination in the connectivity, remote area form of last-mile connectivity
connectivity and Start-up Occupier: Efficient infrastructure and start-ups in this Acceleration Fund for the
inclusion of modern space will facilitate efficient supply chain planning technology
Challenges: Unorganised players: Unorganised players dominate the sector. Probably a ‗RERA‘ like norm applicable to warehousing sector might be beneficial to bring in much-needed transparency in the development sector. Poor last mile connectivity: Non-paved road, lack of maintenance, intersections on highways are few bottlenecks. We believe the ‗Sponsored Logistics Fund‘ as proposed in the Draft Logistics Policy can be utilized in the development of the ‗last mile connections‘ to large warehousing/hub locations of importance.
Lack of professionalism at human interventions: We believe a setting up training centre/skill up- gradation centres in this domain would be helpful in easing out the concerns in this spectrum. Monitoring of Execution of the Policy requires special attention: Special nodal agency should be
there to monitor and evaluate the project progress in a time-bound manner. Easing out Land Acquisition hurdles: Land acquisition remains the biggest challenge. While the Government has shown proactive steps in the recent Union Budget, to identify land parcels for this
purpose, it does not address the concerns around certain local norms like ‗ULCRA‘ in West Bengal or ‗Zoning Restrictions‘ in Maharashtra which provides significant hindrances for acquisition, aggregation and conversion of land.
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Appropriate execution of the policy hopefully can create a supply chain environment for achieving its desired efficiency and effectiveness. Source :- PIB THE ISSUES PERTAINING TO RENEWABLE ENERGY SECTOR Context : Union Minister of State (IC) for Power and New & Renewable Energy held a meeting to review various issues pertaining to the Renewable Energy (RE) sector. Key Highlights : In an attempt to further boost India‘s emerging green economy, the ministry of new and renewable energy (MNRE) would try to impress upon the Reserve Bank of India for removal of the priority
sector lending limit for the renewable energy sector. This will encourage the PSBs (public sector banks) to lend more for RE (renewable energy) projects and help RE developers access easy finance.
In the meeting Shri RK Singh also asked the Banks/Financial Institutes to categorize RE as separate sector different from power sector so that funds would flow to RE projects…The Minister also requested banks to come forward to lend to RE sector.
On the issue of delays in land acquisition for RE projects, the Minister said that SECI will be tying up with State Governments for the land. The Minister said that every measure needs to be taken to promote manufacturing in RE sector in the
country, including corrections of duty structure and approval of a scheme to provide capital subsidy. Source :- PIB GS PAPER - 03 ECONOMY - Effects of liberalization on the economy, changes in industrial policy and their effects on industrial growth.
PUBLIC SECTOR BANKS Context :
To address the underlying causes behind the build-up of stress in PSBs Government of India has taken comprehensive steps under its 4R‘s strategy. 4R‘s Strategy : Recognising NPAs transparently, Resolving and recovering value from stressed accounts through clean and effective laws and processes, Recapitalising banks, and Reforming banks through the PSB Reforms Agenda. Other steps taken by the Government to improve the condition of banks : Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) - In 2016 (IBC) has been enacted, which has provided for the taking over management of the affairs of the corporate debtor at the outset of the corporate insolvency resolution process. Coupled with debarment of wilful defaulters and persons associated with NPA accounts from the resolution process, this has effected a Fundamentally changing the creditor-borrower
relationship, Taking away control of the defaulting company from promoters/owners and Debarring wilful defaulters from the resolution process and debarring them from raising funds
from the market. Fugitive Economic Offenders Act : has been enacted enabling confiscation of fugitive economic offenders‘ property.
National Financial Reporting Authority: has been established as an independent Regulator for enforcing auditing standards and ensuring audit quality.
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Key reforms have been instituted in PSBs : Board-approved Loan Policies of PSBs now mandate tying up necessary clearances/approvals and linkages before disbursement, scrutiny of group balance-sheet and ring-fencing of cash flows, non- fund and tail risk appraisal in project financing. Use of third-party data sources for comprehensive due diligence across data sources has been instituted, thus mitigating risk on account of misrepresentation and fraud. Monitoring Of Loans : For effective monitoring loans above Rs. 250 crore - Monitoring has been strictly segregated from sanctioning roles in high-value loans, and specialised monitoring agencies combining financial and domain knowledge have been deployed. Online end-to-end OTS platforms : It has been set up To ensure timely and better realisation in one-time settlements (OTSs). For faster processing of loan proposals, Loan Management Systems (LMS) have been put in place for personal segment and MSME loans. Bifurcation of Positions :
To strengthen governance at the Board level, the position of Chairman and Managing Director has been bifurcated into a non-executive Chairman and an MD & CEO. A professional Banks Board Bureau has been created for arm‘s length selection of non-executive Chairman and whole-time directors (WTDs).
Impact on PSBs of Government‘s 4R‘s approach : Robust recovery of loans Assets quality has improved as reflected in 45% year-on-year reduction in slippage into NPAs in
FY 2018-19 With substantial cleaning up accompanied by capitalisation of banks, the overall credit growth of PSBs has picked up substantially
Source :- PIB
INDIA'S EXPORTS UP 3.93% IN MAY; TRADE DEFICIT WIDENS TO $15.36 BN Context : India‘s trade deficit expanded to a six-month high of $15.4 billion in May, with import growth
outpacing export growth following a 37% jump in gold imports.
More about the news:
According to data released by the commerce ministry, exports grew 3.93% in May, while imports rose 4.31%. Exports have been in low single digits in six out of the last seven months, barring March when it grew in double digits.
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Reasons for increase in Trade deficits : Rising crude oil prices, amid sanctions on Iranian oil imports, could further increase imports and put pressure on India‘s current account deficit. The escalating trade war between the US and China, and rising protectionism have cast a shadow on India‘s prospects for higher exports. Source :- livemint GOVERNMENT RATIFIED CONVENTION ON TAX TREATY RELATED CHANGES AGAINST BEPS Context : The Union Cabinet, has approved the ratification of the Multilateral Convention to Implement
Tax Treaty Related Measures to Prevent Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (MLI). Background : In the year 2017, India has ratified the Multilateral Convention to Implement Tax Treaty Related
Measures to Prevent Base Erosion and Profit Shifting. More about the Convention : The Convention is one of the outcomes of the OECD/G20 project, of which India is a member, to
tackle base erosion and profit shifting. The Convention enables countries to implement the tax treaty related changes to achieve anti-abuse BEPS outcomes through the multilateral route without the need to bilaterally re-negotiate each such
agreement which is burdensome and time consuming. It ensures consistency and certainty in the implementation of the BEPS Project in a multilateral context. Impact : Ratification of the Multilateral Convention will enable application of BEPS outcomes through modification of existing tax treaties of India in a swift manner. The Convention will modify India's treaties in order to curb revenue loss through treaty abuse and base erosion and profit shifting strategies by ensuring that profits are taxed where substantive economic activities generating the profits are carried out and where value is created.
Base erosion and profit shifting (BEPS) It refers to corporate tax planning strategies used by multinationals to "shift" profits from higher–tax jurisdictions to lower–tax jurisdictions, thus "eroding" the "tax–base" of the higher–tax jurisdictions Source :- PIB
GROSS NPAS OF BANKS MAY SHRINK TO 8 PER CENT BY MARCH 2020: CRISIL Context : According to the Crisil report,public sector banks which account for over 80% of the non-
performing assets(NPAs) could see the gross NPAs decreased to 10.6% by March 2020 from a peak of 14.6% in March 2018. Key Findings :
In March 2018, NPAs in the banking sector was at 11.5 per cent and then it gradually came down to 9.3 per cent in March 2019. State-owned banks, which account for 80 per cent of the NPAs in the banking system, will see their
gross NPAs shrinking 400 bps to 10.6 per cent by March 2020, down from 14.6 per cent in March 2018. According to the report by CRISIL, the rate of accretion of fresh NPAs halved in FY19 to 3.7 per
cent, compared to 7.4 per cent in the previous financial year and is expected to drop to 3.2 per cent in FY20.
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Reasons for Reduction : The report says that the write-offs coupled with recoveries under Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code(IBC) in stressed assets also played a critical role in reduction of NPAs. The report also says that banks have already recognised around Rs 17 lakh crore of stressed loans as NPAs since FY16 led by accelerated NPA recognition following the Reserve Bank of India‘s(RBIs) stringent norms and asset quality reviews. The report assumes that the bulk of the pending cases in the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) would be resolved with higher recovery rates and faster resolution times. Source :- Livemint
INDIA‘S GLOBAL TRADE Context : India‘s share in global trade was 2.1% for exports and 2.6% for imports in 2017 Exports have been growing on a regular basis since 2016-17 for almost three years and total exports
reached a new peak of more than half a trillion dollars, for the first time in 2018-19. Steps taken by government to improve exports : A new Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) 2015-20 :
The policy, inter alia, rationalised the earlier export promotion schemes and introduced two new schemes: one for Merchandise Exports for improving export of goods and Service exports. The Mid-term Review of the FTP 2015-20 was undertaken A new Logistics Division : A new Logistics Division was created in the Department of Commerce to co-ordinate integrated development of the logistics sector. India‘s rank in World Bank‘s Logistics Performance Index moved up from 54 in 2014 to 44 in 2018. Interest Equalization Scheme on pre and post shipment rupee export credit was introduced : providing interest equalisation at 5% for labour intensive / MSME sectors. Trade Infrastructure for Export Scheme (TIES) : To address the export infrastructure gaps in the country.
comprehensive Agriculture Export Policy : aim to double farmers‘ income by 2022 and provide an impetus to agricultural exports. Transport and Marketing Assistance (TMA) scheme : TMA scheme has been launched for mitigating disadvantage of higher cost of transportation
for export of specified agriculture products. Scheme for Rebate of State and Central Taxes and Levies (RoSCTL) : covering export of garments and made-ups - providing refund of duties/taxes at higher rates.
Challenges faced by the exporters : Technical and non-technical barriers to trade such as Sanitary and Phyto-Sanitary (SPS) standards imposed on agricultural items and quality standards on manufactured goods.
Tariff advantages to the exporters of competing countries in key export markets due to trade agreements between their countries and destination countries/regions. Higher logistics and financing costs for Indian exporters.
Source :- PIB
GS PAPER - 02 Economy - Money Laundering and its prevention. CENTRE PROPOSES TO INTEGRATE FASTAG BANK MECHANISM WITH E- WAY BILL TO CHECK GST EVASION
Context : The Government proposes to integrate a FASTag Bank Mechanism with e-way bill and Logistic Data Services to track movement of goods and check GST evasion.
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The Government is contemplating integration of E-Way Bill mechanism of GST with FASTag System of National Highway Authority of India (NHAI). More about the news: Recently a Committee of Officers comprising of officers from Central Government, State Governments, GSTN (Goods and Services Tax Network), NIC (National Informatics Centre), GST Council, to examine the issue of use of RFID data for strengthening of E-Way Bill mechanism under GST was formed by GST Council. The Committee of Officers has submitted its report to the GST Council, recommending integration of FASTag system with E-Way Bill mechanism. Significance of Integration of FASTag system with E-Way Bill mechanism : The proposal, according to officials, will improve operational efficiencies across the country‘s logistics landscape. Currently, lack of harmonisation under the ‗track and trace‘ mechanism in terms of sharing information among different agencies is affecting the ease of doing business in the country. Besides, it is also impacting the logistic costs of the companies. The proposal will also help in preventing goods and services tax (GST) evasion by unscrupulous
traders who take advantage of the loopholes in the supply chain The integration of the e-way bill system with FASTag and LDB is expected to help boost tax collections by clamping down on trade that currently happens on cash basis.
Integration of e-way bill with FASTag will help revenue authorities track the movement of vehicles and ensure that they are travelling to the same destination as the transporter or the trader had specified while generating the e-way bill.
It will also help the suppliers locate the goods through the e-way bill system. Transporters, too, would be able to track their vehicles through SMS alerts that would be generated at each toll plaza. Source :- PIB GS PAPER - 03 ECONOMY - Marketing of agricultural produce and issues and related constraints. E-NAM SCHEME Context : The fund released by the Government of India to States/UTs under e-NAM Scheme based on need.
Major facilities are available to farmers at e-mandis for using e-NAM platform : Farmers can access the prevailing commodity prices information on e-NAM mobile app even without going to the mandi.
Facility of pre-registration of lot by farmers for their produce available through mobile app to facilitate quick gate entry of the lot during peak season. Facility of quality testing of the produce of the farmers before bidding.
Farmers may view progress of online bid value of their produce through mobile. The details of final bid rate of commodity of farmer are received through SMS by farmers. Online payment gateway is available for transfer of bid value directly to bank accounts of
farmers. Integrating with National Agriculture Market (e-NAM) : Three reforms are mandatory for States/Union Territories (UTs) in their respective State Agricultural
Produce Market Committee (APMC) Acts for integrating their mandis with National Agriculture Market (e-NAM) platform Provision for e-trading,
Single point levy of market fee, Unified Single trading license for the State. States without APMC Act like Bihar need to provide legally enforceable guidelines and institutional
mechanism for implementing e-NAM.
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Based on the proposals received from the compliant States/Union Territories (UTs), mandis are considered for integration by Government of India with e-NAM platform. Source :- PIB
ORGANISED FARMING Context :
Government is promoting contract farming and formation of Farmer Producer Organization (FPOs) in order to promote farming in organized manner. There is no specific scheme of the Government to promote organized farming.
Through the Small Farmers Agribusiness Consortium (SFAC), the government promotes the formation of FPOs with technical handholding and financial support to leverage the collectivization from pre-production to post-harvest marketing.
Steps taken : The Government has formulated and released the progressive and facilitative Model Act ―The --- State /UT Agricultural Produce & Livestock Contract farming and Services (Promotion & facilitation ) Act, 2018‖ in May, 2018 for its adoption by the States/Union Territories (UTs). The aforesaid Model Contract Farming Act provides that Farmer Producer Organisation (FPO) may enter into an agreement with the contract farming sponsor to draw all the benefits of contract farming all long the agri-food value chain. Self Help Groups (SHGs) as part of FPOs can avail the benefits. Organised Farming : Contract farming helps to organise farming and make it more efficient. Advantages of contract farming for farmers: provision of inputs and production services; access to credit; introduction of appropriate technology; skill transfer; guaranteed and fixed pricing structures; and access to reliable markets. Source :- PIB
BEEKEEPING DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE Context : The Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister set up a Beekeeping Development Committee under the Chairmanship of Professor Bibek Debroy. The Beekeeping Development Committee (BDC) has released its report. BeeKeeping Development committee : Objective :
identify ways of advancing beekeeping in India, that can help in improving agricultural productivity, enhancing employment generation, augmenting nutritional security and sustaining biodiversity. Further, beekeeping can be an important contributor in achieving the 2022 target of doubling
farmer incomes. Key recommendations of the Committee : Institutionalize the National Bee Board and rename it as the Honey and Pollinators Board of
India under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers‘ Welfare as it will help in advancing beekeeping through multiple mechanisms such as: Setting up of new integrated bee development centers and strengthening the existing ones.
Creating a honey price stabilization fund. Collection of data on important aspects of apiculture. Recognizing honeybees as inputs to agriculture and considering landless Beekeepers as farmers.
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Plantation of bee friendly flora at appropriate places and engaging women self-help groups in managing such plantations. The beekeeping cannot be restricted to honey and wax only, products such as pollen, propolis, royal jelly and bee venom are also marketable and can greatly help Indian farmers. Simplifying procedures and specify clear standards for ease of exporting honey and other bee
products. Recognition of apiculture as a subject for advanced research under the aegis of Indian Council for Agricultural Research.
Training and development of beekeepers by state governments. Development of national and regional infrastructure for storage, processing and marketing of honey and other bee products. Key Facts and Datas: As per Food and Agricultural Organization database, in 2017-18, India ranked eighth in the world in terms of honey production China stood first with a production level Based on the area under cultivation in India and bee forage crops, India has a potential of about 200 million bee colonies as against 3.4 million bee colonies today. Increasing the number of bee colonies will not only increase the production of bee-related products but will boost overall agricultural and horticultural productivity. As per the National Bee Board and Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers‘ Welfare India‘s honey exports have jumped from 29.6 to 51.5 thousand tonnes between 2014-15 and 2017-18. Source :- PIB
INSURANCE COVER FOR RISK-PRONE CROPS Context : Government has conducted several studies to measure and quantify the adverse effects of climate change on agriculture. Key Findings of the Study : There are clear indications of climate change all over the country. There has been a sharp increase in the mean annual temperature in India in the last 30 years. Major crops classified as risk prone under the impacts of climate change with reduced productivity are – Rice & Wheat especially in the Indo Gangetic Plains, Maize in Mid Indo-Gangetic Plains (MIGP) & Southern Plateau (SP), Sorghum & potato in West Bengal, and Southern Plateau. Productivity is expected to increase in Soybean, Groundnut, Chickpea & Potato in Punjab, Haryana and Western Uttar Pradesh, Apple in Himachal Pradesh. Source :- PIB
WORKING GROUP FOR REVISION OF WPI Context : The Government of India has decided to constitute a Working Group for the revision of the current series of Wholesale Price Index (Base 2011-12).
The Terms of Reference of the Working Group are: To select the most appropriate Base Year for the preparation of a new official series of Index Numbers of Wholesale Price (WPI) and Producer Price Index (PPI) in India.
To review commodity basket of the current series of WPI and suggest additions / deletions of commodities in the light of structural changes in the economy witnessed since 2011-12. To review the existing system of price collection in particular for manufacturing sector and suggest
changes for improvement. To decide on the computational methodology to be adopted for monthly WPI/PPI.
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To examine the existing methodology of compilation of PPI approved by Technical Advisory Committee on Series of Prices and Cost of Living and suggest further improvement in compilation and presentation. The Working Group may recommend roadmap for switch over from WPI to PPI. To examine the method of computing linking factor adopted so far and suggest appropriate change in method of computing linking factor, if necessary.
To suggest any other improvements as may be necessary for enhancing the reliability of the official series of WPI / PPI. Need for revision of the Current Series : The current series of Wholesale Price Index (WPI) with 2011-12 as base year was introduced in May 2017. Since 2011-12, significant structural changes have taken place in the economy. Therefore, it has become necessary to examine the coverage of commodities, weighting diagram and related issues pertaining to the existing series of index numbers of WPI.
Wholesale Price Index : Wholesale Price Index (WPI) is an indicator of price changes in the wholesale market.
WPI calculates the price paid by the manufacturers and wholesalers in the market. WPI measure the changes in commodity price at selected stages before goods reach the retail level. Published by - Office of Economic Advisor (Ministry of Commerce & Industry)
Base Year - 2011-12. Producer Price Index (PPI) It measures the average change in the price of goods and services either as they leave the place of production, called output PPI or as they enter the production process, called input PPI.
PPI estimates the change in average prices that a producer receives.
PPI Vs Wholesale Price Index (WPI)
PPI is different from WPI on following grounds:
WPI captures the price changes at the point of bulk transactions and may include some taxes levied and distribution costs up to the stage of wholesale transactions. PPI measures the average change in prices received by the producer and excludes indirect taxes. Weight of an item in WPI is based on net traded value whereas in PPI weights are derived from [1] Supply Use Table . PPI removes the multiple counting bias inherent in WPI. WPI does not cover services and whereas PPI includes services. PPI Vs Consumer Price Index (CPI) PPI estimates the change in average prices that a producer receives while CPI measures the change in average prices that a consumer pays. The prices received by the producers differ from the prices paid by the consumers on account of various factor such as taxes, trade and transport margin, distribution cost etc..
Weights of items in CPI are derived from Consumer Expenditure Surveys whereas for PPI it is calculated on the basis of Supply Use tables.
(Supply and use tables or in short supply use tables are in the form of matrices that record how supplies of different kinds of goods and services originate from domestic industries and imports and how those supplies are allocated between various intermediate or final uses, including exports).
Source :- PIB
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SEBI TIGHTENS NORMS FOR MUTUAL FUND INVESTMENTS Context : The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) has tightened rules for debt mutual funds in the wake of the recent credit crisis that led to the values of these schemes taking a hit. The changes are based on recommendations made by the mutual fund advisory committee constituted by SEBI to limit liquid fund exposure to a single sector, especially to non-banking finance companies (NBFCs) catering to the housing sector. More in the news :
SEBI‘s board had decided on key reforms over liquid funds, credit rating firms, promoters‘ pledge of shares, and royalty payments. It is said that MFs will now be mandated to invest in only listed non-convertible debentures. From now, liquid and overnight schemes will not be permitted to invest in short term deposits, debt and money market instruments having structured obligations or credit enhancements. Liquid funds can invest a maximum of 20% of their assets in a single sector as against the current cap of 25%, and must keep aside at least a fifth of their assets in cash equivalents to meet sudden redemption pressures. Liquid funds are debt mutual funds that can invest in securities up to a maturity of 91 days. It has also reduced liquid funds‘ exposure to the so-called credit-enhanced securities to 10% of Assets under Management. A credit enhancement is typically a promoter guarantee or the offer of shares as collateral in order to enhance the creditworthiness of specific debt paper.
These are also referred to as loan against shares (LAS). The cap on sectoral limit of 25% shall be reduced to 20%. The additional exposure of 15% to HFCs shall be restructured to 10% to HFCs and 5% in securitised debt.
Promoters, promoter groups and persons acting in concert (PACs) will need to disclose the reason for creating an encumbrance as soon as 20% of their share capital is leveraged. SEBI also approved the framework for issuance of differential voting rights (DVRs) and the
introduction of superior voting rights for tech companies, which will be effective from July 01, 2019. Source :- Economic Times
GS PAPER - 03 ENVIRONMENT - Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment
NATIONAL GREEN TRIBUNAL ON POLLUTION Context : The National Green Tribunal today took state governments to task for not taking a clear stand on
pollution and vehicle density in major cities in their jurisdiction and directed them to produce the information by tomorrow failing which bail able warrants will be issued against chief secretaries.
NGT : The NGT was established in 2010 under the National Green Tribunal Act 2010, passed by
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the Central Government. The stated objective of the Central Government was to provide a specialized forum for effective and speedy disposal of cases pertaining to environment protection, conservation of forests and for seeking compensation for damages caused to people or property due to violation of environmental laws or conditions specified while granting permissions. The Chairperson of the NGT is a retired Judge of the Supreme Court, Head Quartered in Delhi. Other Judicial members are retired Judges of High Courts. Each bench of the NGT will comprise of at least one Judicial Member and one Expert Member.
Expert members should have a professional qualification and a minimum of 15 years‘ experience in the field of environment/forest conservation and related subjects.
Legal Jurisdiction of NGT : The NGT has the power to hear all civil cases relating to environmental issues and questions
that are linked to the implementation of laws listed in Schedule I of the NGT Act. These include the following: 1. The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974; 2. The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Cess Act, 1977; (yes, cess act) 3. The Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980; 4. The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981; 5. The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986; (aka EPA) 6. The Public Liability Insurance Act, 1991; (good option to confuse) 7. The Biological Diversity Act, 2002.
The NGT has not been vested with powers to hear any matter relating to the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, the Indian Forest Act, 1927 and various laws enacted by States relating to forests, tree preservation etc. Therefore, specific and substantial issues related to
these laws cannot be raised before the NGT.
Source :- Business Standard
INDIAN NAVY‘S ENVIRONMENTAL GOALS OF COUNTRY Context : Clean and Green Navy – Indian Navy pledges 1.5 % of its ―Works‖ budget towards Renewable
Energy generation Indian Navy Environment Conservation Roadmap (INECR) – Indian Navy has formulated specific plans covering the entire gamut of operations, maintenance, administration and infrastructure/
community living. Indian Navy Environment Conservation Roadmap (INECR) : The Roadmap envisions ‗Reduction in Energy Consumption‘ and ‗Diversification of Energy Supply‘
as the Key Result Areas. While the existing military, diplomatic, constabulary and benign roles envisioned in the Indian Navy‘s Maritime Doctrine define the objectives of its operations, the Green Initiatives Programme of the Indian Navy has added a new dimension i.e. social responsibility to it. Under the INECR, numerous policies aimed at reduction of energy consumption and environment sustenance have been formulated and disseminated to all ships, as well as shore establishments. Solar photovoltaic (PV) projects has been one of the focus areas of the IN since the inception of the INECR. Solar projects consisting of both Rooftop and Land based solar panels are under execution at various shore establishments of the Navy under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission (JNNSM).
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Similarly, pilot projects utilizing wind or a mix of both solar and wind (hybrid) are also being taken up progressively which will not only reduce carbon footprint but also help achieve self-sustenance in energy security. Indian Navy has also focused attention towards addressing the menace of Air Pollution by way of various environmental remediation measures for mitigating it such as sapling plantation, arboriculture and horticulture, anti-plastic drive, effluent treatment plants etc Towards reduction in the energy consumption of all our bases and ships, focused attention has been paid towards use of renewable energy sources and institution of various energy conservation measures such as use of occupancy sensors, battery operated vehicles, solar street lights, LED lights, audit of yards, SCADA based electric metering Water Conservation at various Naval stations has been achieved through incorporation of drip irrigation technique, rain water harvesting, re-use of RO water and SCADA based water distribution system Segregated Waste Collection Centre (SWCC) was inaugurated with the support from Defence Wives Welfare Association (DWWA) at Port Blair, which incorporated modern methods of waste collection and management system.
Biogas Plant, Compost Pits, Vermi-culture, Paper Recycling Machine and Composter machine are some steps taken in Waste Management domain. Awareness drives and programmes by means of coastal cleanship, lectures etc are organized
regularly to enhance participation and ensure better outreach amongst communities and contribute to the ―Swachh Bharat Abhiyan‖. Emphasis is also being accorded to ensure that pollution is kept minimal in harbours and seas.
Source :- PIB
SCHOOL NURSERY INITIATIVE IS PROPOSED TO BE LAUNCHED SOON Context : Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change and for the Ministry of Information will soon launch an initiative called School Nursery across the country. School Nursery : school kids will plant a seed, nurture the sapling and on his/her annual result would take the plant to be a trophy. In this initiative, the local forest department will provide the necessary support, and through this initiative we want to nurture a perpetual bond between school kids and plants. World Environment Day : The World Environment Day (WED) urges governments, industries, communities and individuals to come together to explore renewable energy, green technologies and improve air quality in cities and regions across the world. The celebration of this day provides us with an opportunity to broaden the basis for an enlightened
opinion in preserving and enhancing the environment. World Environment Day is the biggest annual event for positive environmental action and takes place every year on 5th June.
World Environment Day 2019 is being hosted by China this year with a theme of ―Air Pollution‖. Air Pollution :
92 percent of people worldwide do not breathe clean air. Air pollution costs the global economy $5 trillion every year in welfare costs Ground-level ozone pollution is expected to reduce staple crop yields by 26 percent by 2030.
Steps Taken by India : India has formulated and launched the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP).
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This is a long term and time bound national level strategy to tackle the increasing pollution problem across the country. The objective of NCAP is comprehensive plan for prevention, control and abatement of air pollution besides augmenting the air quality monitoring network. The tentative national level target is reduction of PM2.5 and PM10 concentration by 20% – 30% by 2024. The focus of this year WED is on the identified 102 Non attainment cities across the country. Source :- PIB
EBB IN THE YAMUNA FLOW
Context : The Yamuna is one of the most polluted rivers in the world, especially in Delhi, and it is getting more polluted, Reason for Pollution : The National Green Tribunal state that less flow in the river is one of the main reasons for pollution. Three plans to augment the Yamuna‘s volume and flow have either missed deadlines or are progressing very slowly. Details : The NCMG had last year ordered the National Institute of Hydrology, Roorkee, to conduct a study on the minimum flow needed in the river. It set a deadline of April 30, 2019, but the study is nowhere near completion. A National Mission for Clean Ganga-commissioned study on minimum flow needed in the Yamuna, a project to rejuvenate water bodies and recharge groundwater, and a plan to build an off-channel reservoir to store water along the river. An NGT judgment of 2015, had also sought the immediate preparation of a plan to ensure proper flow in the river.
Cleaning of Yamuna (Asita) is also part of the Namami Gange Mission and Government of India has been supplementing the efforts of the States for checking the rising level of pollution of river Yamuna, a tributary of River Ganga, by providing financial assistance to States of Haryana, Delhi
and Uttar Pradesh in phased manner since 1993 under the Yamuna Action Plan (YAP).
Recommendations: Measures including creating off-river reservoirs along the floodplain to increase the river‘s flow.
Such reservoirs would be filled by diverting excess water from the Yamuna during the monsoon and allowed to percolate, thus recharging the groundwater and in turn helping the river‘s flow.
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Asita: ―Asita‖ is another name of river Yamuna. Asita, known as Yamuna River Front Development (RFD) project. It aims to restore, revive & rejuvenate river‘s floodplains & make them accessible to people of Delhi.
Key Features of Project Special focus of project is on reviving river‘s bio-diversity in National Capital. River Front ―walks‖, major component of project, will enable people to develop relationship river Yamuna. Project envisages creating green buffer area approx. 300mts wide along river edge species of riverine ecology. Besides, wide belt of 150mts along peripheral roads will be developed as greenways for public amenities that will include continuous trail of pathways & cycle tracks. To revive ecosystem of floodplains, wetlands will be created to store flood waters & also to improve groundwater recharge which will eventually result in flourishing of biodiversity in floodplains. Environmentally conscious approach for integration of river into urban fabric of city is adopted. Environmental Concerns on River Yamuna Yamuna was declared Dead River. Dissolved oxygen level, which are crucial to life in water, is negligible. River usually flows as heavy toxic foam on its surface & often parts of river actually catch fire. Ostensibly, in last 22 years, over Rs. 2, 000 cr. is spent on clean-up of Yamuna. Source :- The Hindu
GOLDEN LANGUR TO GET FRUITS OF MGNREGA Context :
Recently, Assam‘s Bongaigaon district authorities has launched a project under the MGNREGA to plant guava, mango, blackberry and other fruit trees to ensure that the resident golden langurs of the Kakoijana Reserve Forest do not have to risk their lives to find food.
More about the news: This project was launched after several golden langurs had died due to electrocution and in road accidents while looking for food beyond the reserve forests.
Further,this will be the first time when Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act(MGNREGA) will have non-human beneficiaries. Golden langur :
Scientific Name is Trachypithecus geei. The geographic range of golden langurs is limited to Assam, India and neighboring Bhutan where they live year-round.
Golden langurs occupy moist evergreen and tropical deciduous forests as well as some riverine areas and savannas in Assam and Bhutan. Their hair ranges from dark golden to creamy buff and their faces are black and hairless except for a long pale beard. It has been noted that their fur changes colors according to the seasons. Golden langurs are both folivores and frugivores. Their diets consist of ripe and unripe fruits, young and mature leaves, leaf buds, flower buds, seeds, twigs, and flowers. Although they eat a variety of food, they mostly prefer to eat young leaves. In 2003, they were considered endangered by the IUCN Red List, and listed as Appendix I on the CITES website. The main reason for low numbers of golden langurs is because of their localized habitat and the rapid loss of this habitat due to deforestation. Chakrashila is India‘s first wildlife sanctuary with golden langur as the primary species. Chakrashila has about 600 golden langurs whose population is scattered across western Assam and the foothills of Bhutan. Source :- The Hindu
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KERALA TO AMEND RULES FOR ELEPHANT CARE Context : The government will amend the rules to ensure that captive elephants in Kerala are looked after well. Need of the amendment : The amendment comes in the wake of the increasing harassment of elephants.
In 2018, the Forest Minister said, 34 captive elephants died in the State and a committee that looked into the issue had cited lack of proper rest and upkeep as the major reasons. More about the news:
It will ensure that captive elephants are looked after well and given proper diet and rest and the prescribed guidelines are followed while they are taken for public functions and festivals. The number of captive elephants in the State had come down from 521 to 507 as 14 deaths had been
reported after the first ever census of captive elephants held on November 29 last year by the Forests and Wildlife Department. For implementing the guidelines, a mobile and web application has been prepared and online
monitoring has commenced. A database of captive elephants was ready with the department on the basis of the findings of the census.
The Minister said medical certificates had been made mandatory for captive elephants aged four years and above for parading at public functions. Source :- The Hindu
A WATER CLINIC FOR ELEPHANTS OPENS IN MATHURA Context : India has opened its first specialized hydrotherapy treatment for elephants suffering from
arthritis, joint pain and foot ailments at a wildlife SOS Elephant Hospital, Mathura, UP. Hydrotherapy Treatment for Elephant : The facility has been opened on the banks of the Yamuna in Mathura.
It is a collaboration between Uttar Pradesh Forest Department and the NGO Wildlife SOS. The jumbo hydrotherapy pool installed at the Wildlife SOS Elephant Hospital is equipped with high- pressure water jets that massage the elephants‘ feet and body which is a critically important
component of the treatment as it also helps oxygen and vital minerals to reach the muscle tissues. Hydrotherapy helps in relieving chronic muscle aches as well as rebuild muscle memory with its natural resistance.
NGO Wildlife SOS works towards protecting Indian wildlife, conserving habitat, studying biodiversity, conducting research and taking action against animal cruelty, rescuing wildlife in distress, working to resolve man-animal conflictswhile promoting and educating the public about
the need for habitat protection. Source :- The Hindu
EASTERN HIMALAYAS, A TREASURE TROVE OF BALSAMS, YIELDS 20 NEW
SPECIES Context : About 230 species of Balsams are found in India, a majority of them in the eastern Himalayas and the Western Ghats - have been highlighted in the book , recently published by the Botanical Survey of India. Key Findings : Between 2010 and 2019, botanists and taxonomists working on Impatiens — a group of plants commonly known as Balsams or jewel-weeds — discovered 23 new species from the eastern Himalayas.
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Consisting of both annual and perennial herbs, balsams are succulent plants with high endemism. Because of their bright beautiful flowers, these group of plants are of prized horticultural significance. The book presents 83 species, one variety, one naturalised species and two cultivated species of Balsams. Of the 83 species described, 45 are from Arunachal Pradesh, 24 from Sikkim and 16 species common to both states. They are mostly found in stream margins, moist roadsides, near waterfalls and wet forests. These species need proper conservation initiatives as they are highly vulnerable, especially to climate change. Source :- The Hindu
G20 AGREES TO TACKLE OCEAN PLASTIC WASTE Context : At the recent G20 Ministerial Meeting on Energy Transitions and Global Environment for
Sustainable Growth, held in Japan, G20 economies has adopted a new implementation framework for actions to combat marine plastic pollution. New Framework to combat Marine pollution :
The new framework is aimed at facilitating further concrete action on marine waste, on a voluntary basis. G20 members are tasked with promoting a comprehensive approach to prevent and reduce plastic waste discharge to the oceans through various measures and international cooperation. Further, the member countries will share best practices, promote innovation and boost scientific monitoring and analytical methodologies. Background : In 2017, at G20 Hamburg Summit in Germany, the member countries had adopted the ―G20 action plan on marine litter‖. The plan seeks to promote and initiate measures and actions at local, national, and regional levels to prevent and reduce marine litter. Need of international framework to combat Marine plastic pollution : The issue of plastic waste in our seas has gained prominence in recent years as pollution levels have soared and increasing evidence of the damage being done to wildlife is recorded. Beaches strewn with tonnes of plastic waste and rapidly rising numbers of dead animals found with
stomachs full of plastic have sparked outrage across the world. According to estimates published by the UK government, every year more than 150 million tonnes of plastic waste pollute the world‘s oceans.
Around a million birds and more than 100,000 sea mammals die every year from eating and getting tangled in plastic waste. The growth in single-use consumer plastics has fuelled the surge in plastic pollution. It is estimated
there are now 5.25 trillion pieces of ocean plastic debris, and a recent report estimates the quantity of plastic in the sea will treble by 2025.
Source :- The Hindu
WORLD DAY TO COMBAT DESERTIFICATION AND DROUGHT: 17 JUNE Context : The World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought (WDCD) is observed on 17th June. World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought 2019
Theme : “Let’s Grow the Future Together”. In 2019, the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) celebrates the 25th years of progress made by countries on sustainable land management.
Also, UNCCD looks broad picture for the next 25 years to achieve land degradation neutrality.
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Desertification : Desertification is the degradation of land in arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid areas. It is caused primarily by human activities and climatic variations. According to UNCCD, by 2045 some 135 million people may be displaced as a result of desertification. Desertification and the Sustainable Development Goals: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development declares that ―we are determined to protect the planet from degradation, including through sustainable consumption and production, sustainably managing its natural resources and taking urgent action on climate change, so that it can support the needs of the present and future generations‖. Specifically, Goal 15 states our resolve to halt and reverse land degradation. India - Desertification : According to the State of India's Environment (SoE) 2019 - India has witnessed increase in the level of desertification in 26 of 29 states between 2003-05 and 2011-13. Twenty-one drought-prone districts, of the 78 in the country that were identified by the Indian Space Research Organisation, have more than half of their areas under desertification. Of these nine have also witnessed over two per cent increase in the area under desertification between 2003-05 and 2011-13, the report has claimed.
More than 80 per cent of the country's degraded land lies in just nine states: Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Jammu and Kashmir, Karnataka, Jharkhand, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh and Telangana. India was the signatory to United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in Paris on June 17, 1994. While the country had committed to achieve land degradation neutrality by 2030, it witnessed
an increase of 1.87 million hectares undergoing process of desertification between 2003-05 and 2011-13. Main reasons that cause desertification in India are:
Water erosion (10.98 per cent) Wind erosion (5.55 per cent) Human-made/settlements (0.69 per cent)
Vegetation degradation (8.91 per cent) Salinity (1.12 per cent) Others (2.07 per cent)
Source :- Down To Earth
EU LEADERS TO DEBATE PUSH FOR ZERO EMISSIONS BY 2050 Context : EU leaders have announced that they would discuss setting a target of zero net greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Zero Emission by 2050 : The European Commission proposed last year that the bloc adopt a mid-century net zero emissions goal, meaning the EU would absorb as much greenhouse gases as it emits.
Member country leaders are set to discuss the bloc's long-term climate strategy at a European Council summit European Union leaders meeting in Brussels will debate the 2050 target of ―climate neutrality‖.
The environmental group WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature) says that this has the support of 16 of the EU‘s 28 countries. The EU aims at engaging in an in-depth transformation of its own economy and society to achieve
climate neutrality. EU countries want more debate on financing the shift from an economy running on fossil fuels, especially those in Eastern Europe, to one driven by clean energy.
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The growing stress on climate action comes after the elections to the European Parliament where Green parties made substantial gains. Under the 2015 Paris climate change treaty, the EU pledged to reduce its carbon emissions by 40% below 1990 levels by 2030. Source :- The Hindu
BITCOIN USE CAUSING HUGE CO2 EMISSIONS: STUDY Context : According to the study, Increased use of electricity in the production and transaction of bitcoins
generate carbon dioxide (CO2) between 22 and 22.9 megatonnes per year, which is similar to cities like Bengaluru and Chennai that emit more than 21 million tonnes of the harmful greenhouse gas. Issue :
Until November 2018, the annual electricity consumption by Bitcoin was estimated to be about 46 Terawatt-hour (TWh) The teams also explored large-scale mining ―farms‖ set up by professional operators, as ―extra
energy is needed just for the cooling of the (such) data centre‖. The production of bitcoin or mining involves mathematical puzzles that requires a lot of computing power that increases CO2 emissions and causes an additional burden on the climate..
According to the Emissions Gap Report 2018, global greenhouse emissions show no sign of peaking. It reached a record high 53.5 gigatonnes (Gt CO2) of equivalent carbon dioxide in 2017. In 2018, global energy-related CO2 emissions rose 1.7 per cent to a historic high of 33.1 Gt CO2, said an International Energy Agency report. Way Forward: The researchers have recommended that crypto currency mining should be regulated in regions where power generation is especially carbon-intensive. Also, to improve the ecological balance, more mining farms can be linked to additional renewable generating capacity. Bitcoin It is a cryptocurrency. It is a decentralized digital currency without a central bank or single administrator that can be sent from user to user on the peer-to-peer bitcoin network without the need for intermediaries. Source :- Down To Earth
CORINGA MANGROVES Context : Andhra Pradesh government forms panel to prepare Coringa for UNESCO world heritage site tag. More about the news : Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary has the second largest stretch of mangrove forests in India with 24 tree species. Now, the Andhra Pradesh government has constituted a seven-member committee for fulfilment of norms required for proposing the Godavari Mangroves (Mada forests), at Coringa, as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The committee will be headed by IFS officer Dr Shanti Priya Pandey. Once the Coringa sanctuary gets the heritage site tag, UNESCO will help develop tourism and
protect the wildlife in the mangroves. The government has also sent a proposal to the Centre for identifying the mangroves as a Ramsar Site, a wetland site designated to be of international importance under the Ramsar Convention.
The sanctuary also has an 18-km-long sand pit where olive ridley sea turtles nest from January to March every year. Coringa Sanctuary :
Godavari Mangroves at the Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary (CWLS) are touted to be the second largest mangroves in India. The largest mangrove forest in the world is Sundarbans, West Bengal.
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The mangrove forests in Andhra Pradesh are located in the estuaries of the Godavari and the Krishna rivers. The Godavari mangroves are located in Godavari estuary of East Godavari district. Located in Andhra Pradesh, the CWLS is home to numerous endangered species including the fishing cat, otter, jackal, sea turtles, sea gull, pelican, stork, heron, snipes, flamingos among others. Endangered birds long billed vulture and spot billed pelican, white ibis and other birds are nesting in
the sanctuary. Along with the mangrove forest, the Hope Island, a naturally formed sandy stretch amidst the sea that turned into a synonym for biodiversity, too comes under the purview of the sanctuary.
The sanctuary also has a site where Olive Ridley Sea Turtles nest from January to March every year. Source :- Indian Express
INDIA‘S CARBON SINK COMMITMENT Context : The current rate of afforestation is lower than what is needed to achieve India‘s Intended Nationally
Determined Contribution (INDC) target More about the news : The current rate of afforestation — 35 million tonnes per year carbon dioxide equivalent — is lower than what is needed to achieve the target. Various afforestation programmes like the Green India Mission (GIM) and National Afforestation Programme (NAP) are under-funded, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Science and Technology, Environment and Forests stated earlier this year. There had been a decline in the progress area brought under afforestation as part of the NAP — from 80,583 hectares in 2013-14 to just 35,986 hectares in 2015-16 — the Status of Forests
in India report released on February 12 by the Standing Committee The report also found that there had been no recent studies to know the efficacy of these programmes. Way Forward:
To increase afforestation and reduce land degradation, there was a need to improve the quality of the forest under the categories ‗Open Forests‘ and ‗Shrubs‘. The Ministry should undertake a study to assess the impact of National Afforestation Programme
and Green India Mission in improving the quality of degraded forests so that their actual impact on the forest cover is known and further strategies in this regard could be drawn accordingly.
Green India Mission : GIM is one of the eight missions launched under the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC). GIM‘s launch was supposed to coincide with the starting of the 12th five-year plan in 2012. But, owing to financial delays the mission was finally launched in 2015.
The objective of the mission is to increase green cover to the extent of 5 million hectares (mha) and improve the quality of existing green cover on another 5 mha, improve ecosystem services like carbon sequestration, hydrological services and biodiversity and provisioning services like
fuel, fodder, and timber and non-timber forest products (NTFPs). It also has to increase forest-based livelihood income for about 3 million households.
National Afforestation Programme (NAP) :
The Scheme will be operated by the National Afforestation and Eco-Development Board, Ministry of Environment and Forests as a 100% Central Sector/ Centrally Sponsored Scheme. It continues to be the flagship scheme of NAEB, in so much as it provides support, both in physical and capacity building terms, to the Forest Development Agencies (FDAs) which in turn
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are the main organs to move forward institutionalization of Joint Forest Management. This is a paradigm shift from the earlier afforestation programmes wherein funds were routed through the State Governments. This decentralized two-tier institutional structure (FDA and JFMC) allows greater participation of the community, both in planning and implementation, to improve forests and livelihoods of the people living in and around forest areas. The village is reckoned as a unit of planning and implementation and all activities under the programme are conceptualized at the village level.
The two-tier approach, apart from building capacities at the grassroots level, significantly empowers the local people to participate in the decision making process. Under Entry Point Activities, community assets are created with a ‗care and share‘ concept.
Source :- Down To Earth
SMALL ISLAND STATES AND SDGS: UN Context : Many small island developing states (SIDS) may fail to achieve several Sustainable Development Goals by 2030 because of increasing population and climate change risks, according to the United Nations report on World Population Prospects 2019. Small but growing populations : The total population of these countries is only 71 million, but growing fast: said to increase to 78 million by 2030 and 87 million by 2050, added the report Several SIDS, including Comoros, Guinea-Bissau, Sao Tome and Principe, the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu, are experiencing a sharper population growth than they can handle, read the UN report They have higher population growth rate than the global average. While Comoros‘ population grows 2.3 per cent per year, the global growth rate is 1.07 per
cent, the report highlighted. Similarly, Solomon Islands population growth rate is 2 percent, Sao Tome and Principe‘s is 2.2 percent and Guinea-Bissau‘s population is increasing by 2.5 per cent every year.
SIDS are a group of small island countries that tend to share similar sustainable development challenges, including
Limited resources, remoteness Susceptibility to natural disasters Vulnerability to external shocks Excessive dependence on international trade and Fragile environments. Small but growing populations Climate Change Risk :
The challenge is bigger for these small countries because of their vulnerability to climate change, climate variability and sea-level rise. Climate change affects the development of all nations, regardless of location or size of economy. Yet, no other group of nations is as vulnerable to its devastating effects as SIDS, according to the United Nations Development Programme. One-third of the entire population of SIDS lives on lands that are less than five metres below sea level. This makes them highly vulnerable to sea-level rise, storm surge and coastal destruction. These countries contribute to only 1 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions, and yet are
among the first to experience the worst impacts of climate change, the UNDP added.
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Agricultural production, fisheries, and related sectors are declining as the climate changes, threatening livelihoods and economic growth. In addition, extreme weather spawned by climate change is destroying SIDS land, real estate and infrastructure, with economically catastrophic effects, highlighted UN Environment Programme in a report.
Tourists are also discouraged from travelling to SIDS in the fear of violent and life-threatening storms. Source :- Down To Earth
OZONE POLLUTION Context : According to the Air Quality Index (AQI), released everyday by Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), ozone is emerging as a dominant pollutant along with particulate matter (PM), especially in
Delhi and NCR areas, said environment think tank CSE. Key Findings : According to the AQI which the CPCB releases every day, ozone, along with particulate matter, has
been the dominant pollutant of the day on 28 days between April 1 and June 5, 2019. "During the same period in 2018, ozone was the dominant pollutant along with particulate matter on only 17 days," the study by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) said.
The study said the highest concentration in 2019 went up to 122 microgram per cu m, which is 1.22 times higher than the eight-hour average standard. During 2018, it had gone up to 106 microgram per cu m which is 1.1 times higher than the standard. Ozone : Ozone is made up of three atoms of oxygen. It is highly reactive gas and is represented by O3. It occurs naturally as well as a man-made product in the Earth's upper atmosphere i.e. stratosphere and lower atmosphere i.e. troposphere. Naturally it is formed through the interactions of solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation with molecular oxygen O2. It reduces the harmful UV radiation reaching the Earth's surface. But at ground level ozone is considered as a major air pollutant. Health Effects : Make it more difficult to breathe deeply and vigorously Cause shortness of breath, and pain when taking a deep breath Cause coughing and sore or scratchy throat Inflame and damage the airways Aggravate lung diseases such as asthma, emphysema, and chronic bronchitis Increase the frequency of asthma attacks Make the lungs more susceptible to infection Continue to damage the lungs even when the symptoms have disappeared Cause chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
Long-term exposures to higher concentrations of ozone may also be linked to permanent lung damage, such as abnormal lung development in children.
Source : - Down To Earth
ROAD WORKS THROUGH TIGER RESERVES Context : The Supreme Court on Friday stayed the construction of roads in the ecologically sensitive area
within Rajaji Tiger Reserve and traversing a critical corridor connecting the Corbett Tiger Reserve Issue : The area where the road was being constructed supports four tigers per 100 square kilometers.
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The State had failed to take necessary approvals for constructing the road which traverses an animal corridor between Rajaji Tiger Reserve and Corbett tiger reserve. There appear to be numerous violations of the Forest Conservation Act. It is apparent that the advice of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has not been taken. Permission from the standing committee of the National Board for Wildlife has also not been taken. The reserve forest area which also formed a part of the Shivalik Elephant Reserve rich in wildlife including many endangered species. The roads, bridges and culverts were being constructed illegally in the ecologically sensitive area on Laldhang- Chillarkhal road without the approval of NTCA under the Wildlife Act.
Rajaji Tiger Reserve : The Rajaji Tiger Reserve spreads over three districts of Uttarakhand: Haridwar, Dehradun and Pauri Garhwal. The national park was accorded the status of Tiger Reserve in 2015 and became the 48Th tiger reserve in India. The Ganga and Song rivers flow through the reserve
The park is a home to 315 bird species, 40 species of reptiles and fish and 400 Asian elephants. The park was named after the last Governor-General of independent India, C Rajagopalachari, popularly known as Rajaji.
Jim Corbett National Park :
Jim Corbett National Park was established in 1936 as Hailey National Park- the first national park in India. It is located in Nainital district of Uttarakhand.
The park was declared a Tiger Reserve in 1973- the first to come under the Project Tiger initiative. The reserve is located between the Siwalik Himalayas and the Terai. The park is famous for Royal Bengal tigers and Asiatic elephants. It contains over 550 species of birds making it one of the richest bird regions in India. Birdlife International has declared the area as ‗Important Bird Area‘. The park is home to 488 species of plants. The park also has many migratory birds. It contains 33 species of reptiles including the Indian python. The park also has 7 species of amphibians including crocodiles and gharials. Apart from tigers, Corbett also has leopards. Other mammals such as jungle cat, barking deer,
spotted deer, sambar deer, sloth, chital, Himalayan black bears, langurs, rhesus macaques, otters, etc. are also found there.
Source :- The Hindu GS PAPER - 03 SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY - developments and their applications and effects in everyday life Achievement of Indians in science & technology;
INDIA TO HOLD FIRST SIMULATED SPACE WARFARE EXERCISE NEXT
MONTH Context : India is planning to conduct its first ever simulated space warfare exercise titled ‗IndSpaceEx‘.
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IndSpaceEx :
Main objective of the exercise is to understand the possible challenges in space warfare and to counter China's growing influence in this domain, which poses a major threat to India's national security interest. India took the first step towards developing a credible counter-space capability under ‗Mission Shakti‘ when it launched a 19-tonne interceptor missile to destroy the 740-kg Microsat-R satellite, at
an altitude of 283 km in a ‗hit-to-kill mode‘ on 27th March, 2019. The purpose of the exercise is to understand the possible challenges in space warfare and to counter China's growing influence in this domain, which poses a major threat to India's national security
interest. When India tested A-Sat, China started developing military capabilities in space in terms of both kinetic and non-kinetic (lasers, electromagnetic pulse) weapons.
IndSpaceEx underlines the seriousness with which India is taking the need to counter likely threats to its space assets from countries like China. Source :- The Times Of India
SPACE WARFARE WEAPON SYSTEMS Context : The Cabinet Committee on Security headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has cleared the
setting up of this new agency called the Defence Space Research Agency (DSRO) which has been entrusted with the task of creating space warfare weapon systems and technologies. Defence Space Research Agency (DSRO) :
A senior defence scientist will be headed DSRO who will lead a team of other scientists. The agency is expected to be operational by the end of this year. The organization is also charged with finding and implementing defence applications for India‘s
entire spectrum of space technologies. The agency would be provided with a team of scientists and would be working in close coordination with the tri-services integrated Defence staff officers.
DSRO will support to the Defence Space Agency (DSA) which comprises members of all three forces. Source :- Business Standard CHANDRAYAAN -2 MISSION Context : The Indian Space Research Organisation has scheduled the launch of Chandrayaan 2 mission between 9th and 16th July. Chandrayaan 2 Mission :
Chandrayaan 2 is India‘s second lunar mission which will be launched aboard a GSLV-Mk III rocket.
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Chandrayaan 2 will comprise of an Orbiter, Lander named ‗Vikram‘ and Rover named ‗Pragyan‘. The orbiter will circle the moon and provide information about its surface, while the lander will
make a soft landing on the surface and send out the rover. The rover will be used mostly for in situ experiments. According to ISRO Chandrayaan-2 will be the most complex mission undertaken by ISRO. It is
because the landing on moon involves multiple challenges.
Challenges in landing on Moon :
Firstly, ensuring trajectory accuracy is a major challenge. Since, the distance between the moon and earth is large, navigating such a large distance poses many challenges as trajectory is influenced by the non-uniform gravity of the earth and moon, the gravitational pull of other astronomical bodies, solar radiation pressure, and the moons true orbital motion. Secondly, deep space communication is a challenge, as owing to the large distance from earth and
limited on- board power, radio signals used for communication are weak with heavy background noise. Thirdly, Trans Lunar Injection (TLI) and Lunar capture is a major challenge. As the moon‘s location
is continually changing due to orbital motion, the intersection of Chandrayaan 2 and the Moon‘s path has to be predicted sufficiently in advance with a high level of accuracy.
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Fourthly, while soft landing on the moon, the on-board NGC and propulsion system has to work in union, autonomously, and automatically for a successful landing. Further, the landing site landscape features should not result in a communication shadow area. Fifthly, orbiting around the moon is a challenge. This is because, lunar gravity is ‗lumpy‘ due to uneven mass distribution under its surface and the influences the orbit of the spacecraft.
Sixthly, lunar dust is a major issue. The lunar dust stick to most surfaces, causing a disruption in deployment mechanisms, solar panel performance, and NGC sensor performances. Finally, the extreme temperature and hard vacuum (caused by the ambient pressure) makes the lunar surface extremely hostile environment for lander and rover operations. Significance of the Mission : With Chandrayaan-2, India will become only the fourth country to land a spacecraft on Moon. Chandrayaan-2 will make a landing at a site where no earlier mission has gone, near the south pole of the Moon. The unexplored territory offers an opportunity for the mission to discover something new. So far, all landings, human as well as non-human, have been in areas close to the Moon‘s equator. In January this year, Chinies mission Change 4 landed a lander and rover on the Moon‘s far side (not facing the Earth). The south pole of the Moon holds possibility of presence of water. In addition, this area is also
supposed to have ancient rocks and craters that can offer indications of history of the Moon, and also contain clues to the fossil records of early solar system.
Chandrayaan 1 : India‘s first mission to moon Chandrayaan 1 was launched in October 2008 and operated till August 2009. Unlike Chandrayaan 2, Chandrayaan 1 was designed to just orbit the Moon and make observations with instruments on board. The Chandrayaan-1 mission sent one of its instruments, called Moon Impact Probe, or MIP to crash- land on the Moon‘s surface. Data sent by MIP on its way to the Moon had shown evidence of the presence of water.
However, ISRO could not publish these finding due to anomalies in calibration. The confirmation for water on water on moon came through studies on data produced by another instrument on board the Chandrayaan-1 spacecraft, the M3 or Moon Mineralogy Mapper. M3 was put
on Chandrayaan 1 by NASA.
Source :- The Hindu
HYPERSONIC TECHNOLOGY DEMONSTRATOR Context : The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully conducted the maiden
test of an indigenously developed Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle (HSTDV) along with several technologies. More about the news: Under the HSTDV programme, a demonstrator flight vehicle has been conceptualised to demonstrate the scramjet technology for a short duration of about 20 seconds.
The HSTDV vehicle is mounted on a solid rocket motor which will take it to a required altitude and once it attains certain Mach numbers for speed, the cruise vehicle will be ejected out of the launch vehicle. Subsequently, the scramjet engine will be ignited automatically.
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Apart from being used as a vehicle for hypersonic and long-range cruise missiles, the HSTDV is a dual-use technology that will have multiple civilian applications including the launching of small satellites at low cost. HSTDV : It is developed by DRDO. According to a report, Israel and Russia have provided critical help in the project. HSTDV is an unmanned scramjet demonstration vehicle that can cruise up to a speed of Mach 6 (or six times the speed of sound) and rise up to an altitude of 32 km in 20 seconds It has a range of uses, including missiles of the future, and energy-efficient, low cost and reusable satellite-launch vehicle The HSTDV cruise vehicle is mounted on a solid rocket motor, which will take it to a required altitude, and once it attains certain Mach numbers for speed, the cruise vehicle will be ejected out of the launch vehicle Source :- The Hindu
5G NETWORK [ EDITORIAL / OPINION ] Context : The Union Communications Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad has announced that the government will
be holding an auction for spectrum, which includes airwaves that will be used to offer 5G or fifth- generation services, in the current calendar year. While some countries such as South Korea and the U.S. have begun rolling out commercial 5G
services, India is yet to begin trial for these even as the government is targeting 2020 as the launch year for 5G in the country. What is 5G?
It is the next generation cellular technology that will provide faster and more reliable communication with ultra low latency. A government panel report points out that with 5G, the peak network data speeds are expected to be
in the range of 2-20 Gigabit per second (Gbps). This is in contrast to 4G link speeds in averaging 6-7 Megabit per second (Mbps) in India as compared to 25 Mbps in advanced countries. Benefits : With 5G technology, consumers will be able to download data heavy content such as 8K movies and games with better graphics in just a few seconds. However, it is likely that the primary use of the technology will go beyond delivery of services on personal mobiles devices. 5G is expected to form the backbone of emerging technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT) and machine to machine communications, thereby supporting a much larger range of applications and services, including driverless vehicles, tele-surgery and real time data analytics. The ultra low latency offered by 5G makes the technology desirable for such use cases. Latency is the amount of time data takes to travel between its source and destination. A government panel on 5G says the technology will extend the use of wireless technologies — for the first time — across completely new sectors of the economy from industrial to commercial, educational, health care, agricultural, financial and social sectors. One of the primary applications of 5G will be implementation of sensor-embedded network that will
allow real time relay of information across fields such as manufacturing, consumer durables and agriculture. 5G can also help make transport infrastructure more efficient by making it smart.
5G will enable vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure communication, making driverless cars, among other things, a reality.
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Economic Impact : 5G is expected to create a cumulative economic impact of $1 trillion in India by 2035, according to a report by a government-appointed panel. According to a separate report by telecom gear maker Ericsson, 5G-enabled digitalisation revenue potential in India will be above $27 billion by 2026.
Additionally, global telecom industry GSMA has forecast that India will have about 70 million 5G connections by 2025. Source :- The Hindu INDIA SET TO JOIN HEAVYWEIGHT TORPEDO CLUB Context :
In a bid to boost its underwater firepower, the Indian Navy has decided to induct the indigenous developed heavyweight torpedo Varunastra into in its arsenal. Varunastra :
The weapon developed by the Naval Science and Technology Laboratory (NSTL), Visakhapatnam will put India in a group of eight countries that have the capability to manufacture heavyweight torpedoes.
The heavyweight torpedo, or Varunastra, is a ship-launched, electrically-propelled underwater weapon equipped with one of the most advanced automatic and remote-controlled guidance systems. The weapon system uses its own intelligence in tracing the target
The 1,500-kg Varunastra can carry a warhead weighing 250 kg and has an operational range of 40 km. The anti-submarine electric torpedo is seven to eight metres long with a diameter of 533 mm.
Capable of hitting stealth submarines underwater According to the DRDO, the submarine, which can travel at a speed of 40 knots (74 kmph), can be launched both from ships and submarines. Source :- The Times Of India
‗MAKE IN INDIA‘ INITIATIVE IN DEFENCE SECTOR Context :
‗Make in India‘ programme is being used by the Government for defence procurements by categorising the capital acquisition proposals under ‗Buy (Indian-IDDM)‘, ‗Buy (Indian)‘, ‗Buy and Make (Indian)‘, ‗Make‘ and ‗Strategic Partnership Model‘ categories of Defence Procurement
Procedure (DPP)-2016. Government has issued 439 licenses covering 264 companies till March 2019. Industrial Licenses are issued for manufacturing of tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, defence aircraft, space craft and parts thereof, warship, arms and ammunition and allied items of defence equipment, parts and accessories thereof. In addition, for a large number of defence components, no license is required. The percentage of expenditure on purchase of defence equipment (both Capital & Revenue) by the three Services from Indian companies was 54% of total expenditure in the financial year 2018-19. Measures have been taken to achieve substantive self-reliance in defence production: Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP) : A new category of procurement ‗Buy {Indian-IDDM (Indigenously Designed, Developed and
Manufactured)}‘ has been introduced in DPP-2016 to promote indigenous design and development of defence equipment. Preference has been accorded to ‗Buy (Indian)‘,‗Buy and Make (Indian)‘ & ‗Make‘ categories
of capital acquisition over ‗Buy (Global)‘ & ‗Buy &Make (Global)‘ categories. Strategic Partnership (SP) Model : It envisages establishment of long-term strategic partnerships with Indian entities through a transparent and competitive process, wherein they would tie up with global Original Equipment
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Manufacturers (OEMs) to seek technology transfers to set up domestic manufacturing infrastructure and supply chains. ‗Make‘ Procedure : has been simplified with provisions for funding of 90% of development cost by the Government to Indian industry and reserv ing projectsnot exceeding development cost of Rs.10 Crore (Government funded) and Rs.3 Crore (Industry funded) for MSMEs. ‗Make -II‘ : It has been notified wherein a number of industry friendly provisions such as relaxation of eligibility criterion, minimal documentation, provision for considering proposals suggested by industry/individual etc., have been introduced. Establishment of two defence industrial corridors :
To serve as an engine of economic development and growth of defence industrial base in the country. Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) :
iDEX is aimed at creation of an ecosystem to foster innovation and technologydevelopment in Defence and Aerospace by engaging Industries including MSMEs, Start-ups, Individual Innovators, R&D institutes and Academia and provide them grants/funding and other support to carry out R&D which has potential for future adoption for Indian defence and aerospace needs. Mission Raksha Gyan Shakti : Aims to provide boost to the IPR culture in indigenous defence industry. ● Government has notified a Policy for indigenisation of components and spares used in Defence Platforms : Objective to create an industry ecosystem which is able to indigenize the imported components (including alloys & special materials) and sub-assemblies for defence equipment and platform manufactured in India.
Defence Investor Cell : It has been created in the Ministry to provide all necessary information including addressing queries related to investment opportunities, procedures and regulatory requirements for investment in the sector. Revision of FDI Policy : FDI is allowed under automatic route upto 49% and beyond 49% through Government route wherever it is likely to result in access to modern technology or for other reasons to be recorded. Government has set up the Technology Development Fund (TDF) : To encourage participation of public/private industries especially MSMEs, through provision of grants, so as to create an eco–system for enhancing cutting edge technology capability for defence applications.
Source :- PIB
SPACE POLICY Context :
Currently a ‗Space Activities Bill‘ is being processed, which is under pre-legislative consultations. India is a State Party to UN Treaties on Outer Space activities. UN Treaties :
The obligations under these treaties, such as international responsibility for national activities in outer space and liability for damages caused by its space activities and space objects are to be implemented through national/domestic legislations.
The current Bill will enable the formulation of necessary Rules under the Space Activities Act, to deal with damagesunder the liability provisions and mode of securing financial guarantee for compensating the damages.
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More about the news: Consequent to enactment of Space Activities Act, space activities of non–governmental sector in India would be authorized through a licence issued by the Government on certain terms and conditions. It would address the liability issues arising from their space activities, in a suitable/ rational manner, at par with international practices. Space Activities Bill It is a proposed Bill to promote and regulate the space activities of India. The new Bill encourages the participation of non-governmental/private sector agencies in space activities in India under the guidance and authorisation of the government through the Department of Space. According to the draft, as few start-up companies in India have shown interest in space systems activities and as space activities need participation from private sector agencies, ―there is an urgent need for a legal environment for orderly performance and growth of space sector.‖ Why has it been posted? The Bill seeks comments on the draft from stakeholders and the public. ISRO has given a month‘s time to read the 20-page draft and send comments.
What does the Bill propose? The provisions of this Act shall apply to every citizen of India and to all sectors engaged in any space activity in India or outside India
A non-transferable licence shall be provided by the Central Government to any person carrying out commercial space activity The Central Government will formulate the appropriate mechanism for licencing, eligibility criteria,
and fees for licence. The government will maintain a register of all space objects (any object launched or intended to be launched around the earth) and develop more space activity plans for the country
It will provide professional and technical support for commercial space activity and regulate the procedures for conduct and operation of space activity It will ensure safety requirements and supervise the conduct of every space activity of India and
investigate any incident or accident in connection with the operation of a space activity. It will share details about the pricing of products created by space activity and technology with any person or any agency in a prescribed manner.
If any person undertakes any commercial space activity without authorisation they shall be punished with imprisonment up to 3 years or fined more than ₹1 crore or both.
Source :- PIB INDIGENOUS GPS Context : India‘s own regional navigation satellite system named as ―Navigation with Indian Constellation
(NavIC)‖ is established by ISRO and is functional. Navigation with Indian Constellation (NavIC) : IRNSS is an independent regional navigation satellite system being developed by India.
It is designed to provide accurate position information service to users in India as well as the region extending up to 1500 km from its boundary, which is its primary service area. The IRNSS will provide basically two types of services
1. Standard Positioning Service (SPS) 2. Restricted Service (RS) ISRO has built a total of nine satellites in the IRNSS series; of which eight are currently in orbit
Three of these satellites are in geostationary orbit (GEO) while the remaining in geosynchronous orbits (GSO) that maintain an inclination of 29° to the equatorial plane.
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The eight operational satellites in the IRNSS series, namely IRNSS-1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 1E, 1F, 1G and 1I were launched The Seven satellites in the system are providing Positioning, Navigation and Timing (PNT) services and one satellite (IRNSS-1A) is providing messaging services. Application Of IRNSS : Terrestrial, Aerial and Marine Navigation Disaster Management Vehicle tracking and fleet management Integration with mobile phones Precise Timing
Mapping and Geodetic data capture Terrestrial navigation aid for hikers and travellers Visual and voice navigation for drivers
Source :- PIB
75 BY 75 Context : Up to 75 tiny satellites built by students of Indian universities could fly to the skies between late next year and 2022 in batches. More about the news:
Seventy-five by 75: this is the dream project that the Indian Technology Congress Association (ITCA) has conceived to celebrate the nation‘s 75th birthday. That is also to be the year of Gaganyaan, the first trip of Indian astronauts to space.
The ITCA, a technology promotion body based in Bengaluru, has roped in around 40 engineering colleges to form a consortium. It is also in the midst of discussing launch contracts with the Indian Space Research
Organisation and working out Israeli finance for its ‗75 Student Satellites Mission 2022‘ Students of participating institutions would come from different disciplines and get to build nano satellites weighing between 3 and 12 kg.
Source :- The Hindu
ISRO‘S OWN SPACE STATION Context : India is planning to launch its own space station.
More about the news: India‘s space station is going to be very small. The spacecraft would be placed in a low earth orbit of 300-400 km.
India‘s is planning to have a separate space station. ISRO will launch a small module for microgravity experiments. The ambitious project will be an extension of the Gaganyaan mission.
This ambitious project which will enable the agency to send more humans to space when executed. Space Station : A space station is a spacecraft capable of supporting crew members, designed to remain in space for
an extended period of time and for other spacecraft to dock. Currently, there is only one fully functional space station in the Earth's lower orbit, the International Space Station and astronauts conduct different experiments in it.
The first component of the ISS was launched into orbit in 1998, and first long-term residents arrived in November 2000. The International Space Station is a partnership between European countries represented by
European Space Agency, the United States (NASA), Japan (JAXA), Canada (CSA) and Russia
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(Roscosmos). It is the world's largest international cooperative programme in science and technology. China also plans to build a space station of its own.
ISRO‘s Future Mission : Chandrayaan-2 will be launched on July 15 this year. The spacecraft will attempt to make its first- ever soft landing on the moon The ISRO chief added that Chandrayaan-2 will explore the southern part of the celestial body, making India the first country to do so.
Chandrayaan-2 will comprise of three parts —an orbiter, a lander and the rover —and will carry 14 scientific payloads, including instruments which will help ―understand the moon‘s composition and seismic activities better‖.
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will launch another mission to the Sun by launching Aditya-L1 in the first half of 2020. The mission will study the corona of the Sun, which is the outermost part of its atmosphere.
It is 1.5 million kilometres from the Earth. It will always look at the Sun and give analysis of corona because it has a major impact on climate change Another interplanetary mission to Venus will be launched in the next 2-3 years. To study atmospheric composition of the planet Source :- The Hindu NOVEL SELENIUM-GRAPHENE CATALYST FOR FUEL CELLS Context : A multi-institutional team from India has developed selenium-graphene–based catalyst which is
more efficient, costs less and also remains stable for longer than the usual platinum based catalysts. Issues with present fuel cells : Normally, fuel cells use expensive platinum-like elements. These expensive metal-based
technologies perform excellently for initial few cycles, but then get degraded in performance due to many reasons. As a result, there is a need to change this part of the fuel cell routinely. Selenium - Graphene Catalyst for fuel cell :
Graphene by itself is a ―poor‖ catalyst of this reaction. In the sense that it involves reduction of oxygen in two steps, each of which consume two electrons. This is not very useful either for fuel cells or metal-air batteries. Platinum is often used to catalyse this reaction. As a substitute, the group developed the catalyst with selenium and graphene. Graphene modified with selenium atoms in very low amounts can perform like platinum in a demonstrated reaction. while neither selenium nor graphene can do the trick by themselves, the combination works efficiently. Poisoning -resistant: Methanol fuel cells, a common form of fuel cell used, suffer from a ―poisoning‖ effect. This is a part of the process where the methanol reaches the negative electrode and coats it, so that the electrode becomes ineffective after some cycles. This is especially problematic when expensive catalysts like platinum are used, as they often are. The scientists found that the catalyst they have developed has a high tolerance [to poisoning] while platinum got affected. The concept of single-atom catalyst – that category into which this catalyst falls – is not new. But
earlier concepts had used heavy metals such as platinum, palladium and gold. Using selenium is a novel idea mooted by this group. Such direct water converting oxygen reduction reaction catalyst has enormous applications in other
fields too, such as metal-air battery.
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It is ongoing research for the development of high energy density devices in batteries. This will be far better than the existing lithium ion-based battery. Source :- The Hindu
A GLOBAL MAP OF WHERE GROUNDWATER MEETS OCEANS Context : According to a study published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters,researchers from the U.S. has announced the creation of a global map which shows where groundwater meets oceans. Key Findings : In a study, researchers from The Ohio State University in the U.S. showed that nearly one-half of fresh submarine groundwater discharge flows into the ocean near the tropics. They also found that regions near active fault lines send greater volumes of groundwater into the ocean than regions that are tectonically stable. They found that dry, arid regions have very little groundwater discharge, opening the limited groundwater supplies in those parts of the world to saltwater intrusion. The team worked with researchers at NASA‘s Jet Propulsion Laboratory and the University of Saskatchewan to combine topographical data from satellites and climate models to show the flow of groundwater around the world‘s coasts. The study found that in some parts of the world, groundwater could be polluting oceans and lakes with nutrients and other chemicals. Groundwater, for example, can carry higher concentrations of nitrates — a key contributor of the
types of harmful algal blooms, as well as high concentrations of mercury. The study also found that climate heavily influences groundwater flow, and that cities in dry areas are especially vulnerable to salt water contamination of aquifers.
Significance of the study : The first such analysis of its kind that may help protect both drinking water and the seas. The findings may help coastal communities better protect and manage their drinking water.
It could give scientists better clues about where to monitor groundwater discharge. Understanding how and where groundwater gets to surface water could help policy-makers create better plans to improve those bodies of water.
Source :- The Hindu
A 3D X-RAY MAP OF UNIVERSE Context :
A team of German-Russian scientists is all set to launch a space telescope, which will create a three- dimensional (3D) X-ray map of the universe and unveil unknown super massive black holes, dark energy and stars.
Spectrum-Roentgen-Gamma (SRG) : It will create a three-dimensional (3D) X-ray map of the universe and unveil unknown super massive black holes, dark energy and stars.
Spectrum-Roentgen-Gamma (SRG), will be launched into space on a Russian-built Proton-M rocket from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on June 21, 2019. The four-year mission will survey the entire sky eight times and track the evolution of the universe
and dark energy Aims to detect up to three million supermassive black holes — many of which are unknown — and X-rays from as many as 700,000 stars in the Milky Way. The telescope is the first to be sensitive to high-energy ‗hard‘ X-rays and map the entire sky The SRG will also find how dark matter — the main engine of galaxy formation — is spread in the universe. The SRG will, however, not detect gamma radiation.
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SRG will carry two independent X-ray telescopes: A German-built eROSITA (Extended Roentgen Survey with an Imaging Telescope Array) A Russian-built ART-XC (Astronomical Roentgen Telescope — X-ray Concentrator)
Background :
X-ray sky surveys have also been conducted by previous missions, but they were not able to map the entire sky. Germany's ROSAT mission in the 1990s was sensitive only to ‗soft‘ X-rays, with energies of about 2
keV. NASA‘s Chandra X-ray Observatory and NuSTAR, can see high-energy radiation and resolve tiny details of cosmic structures. But, they see only small parts of the sky. SRG was first proposed in 1987, by Russian astrophysicists, but the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991 led to the cancellation of the plan. It was again revived in 2004, but a proposal to send an X-ray telescope to the International Space Station was scrapped when NASA ended its space-shuttle programme in 2011. The joint mission was approved by the German space agency and Roscosmos later in 2009. Source :- Down to Earth
GS PAPER - 03 SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY - Awareness in the fields of Bio - Technology.
GENE EDITING [EDITORIAL / OPINION]
Context : In a bid to make babies immune to infection by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), He Jiankui, who is a researcher from the Southern University of Science and Technology in Shenzhen, China, used a clinically untested gene editing tool (CRISPR-Cas9) to modify a particular gene.
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The tool has also been used on another woman to make a gene-edited embryo; the pregnant woman is expected to deliver in August, 2019. The announcement of the birth of gene-edited twin girls late last year set off an international furore How does it work ? Unusual but repeated DNA structures that scientists had been observing for some time were given a
name. This name assigned was ―Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats‖ or CRISPR. In 2012, scientists discovered that CRISPR is a key part of the ―immune system‖.
For instance, when a virus enters a bacterium, it fights back by cutting up the virus‘s DNA. This kills the virus but the bacterium store some of the DNA. The next time there is an invasion, the bacterium produces an enzyme called Cas9 which matches the stored fingerprints with that of the invader‘s. If it matches, Cas9 can snip the invading DNA. The CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing tool thus has two components. These are:
1. a short RNA sequence that can bind to a specific target of the DNA and 2. the Cas9 enzyme which acts like a molecular scissor to cut the DNA. To edit a gene of interest, the short RNA sequence that perfectly matches with the DNA sequence that has to be edited, is introduced. Once it binds to the DNA, the Cas9 enzyme cuts the DNA at the targeted location where the RNA sequence is bound. Once the DNA is cut, the natural DNA repair mechanism is utilised to add or remove genetic material or make changes to the DNA.
Was it wrong to use gene editing tool ? He used the CRISPR–Cas9 gene editing technique in the twin girls to disable a gene called CCR5, which encodes a protein that allows HIV to enter and infect cells. Though no guidelines have been drawn up so far, there is a general consensus in the scientific and ethics communities that the CRISPR–Cas9 gene-editing technique should not be used clinically in embryos. There is also consensus that gene editing can be potentially used only to prevent serious genetic
disorders that have no alternative treatment. Further, while HIV cannot be cured, medicines can keep the virus under check. Importantly, human clinical trials have not been carried out anywhere in the world to test whether
disabling the gene completely prevents HIV infection and what the side-effects of doing so would be. In the absence of any clinical trial data as well as consensus to use this tool to prevent HIV infection,
performing it on babies as a form of medical intervention is unethical. According to Nature, the hospital that had supposedly given Dr. He ethical approval to use the technique on pregnant women issued a press statement denying this.
The hospital also ―questioned the signatures on the approval form‖ and said no committee meeting had been held related to his research work. Apparently, information on the consent form suggests that the parents who had participated in the
experiment were never told about the problems of disabling the gene.
Can disabling the CCR5 gene prevent HIV? While it is generally believed that babies without a functional CCR5 gene will become resistant to HIV infection, certain other strains of HIV use another protein (CXCR4) to infect cells. Hence, even people who are born with two copies of the non-functional CCR5 gene are not completely protected or resistant against HIV infection.
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There is also the possibility that the gene editing tool could have caused unintended mutations in other parts of the genome, which may lead to unpredictable health consequences. Most importantly, medicines and delivery through caesarean section and avoiding breast feeding can prevent vertical viral transmission from mother to foetus. It is important to note that while women with HIV have greater chances of passing the virus to the
foetus, in this case, the mother was HIV-free; the father was HIV positive.
Does the CCR5 gene have any protective role? The CCR5 gene‘s protective role against the West Nile virus is well established. According to Nature, the CCR5 gene also helps to protect the lungs, the liver and the brain during certain serious infections and chronic diseases. The gene is known to prompt the immune system to fight the influenza virus in the lungs. Without this gene the defence system would fail. In the case of people with multiple sclerosis, absence of this gene makes them twice as likely to die early.
Was the gene removed in both babies? There are two copies of the gene in every person. In the case of one baby girl both the copies of the gene were disabled but in the other baby, only one copy was disabled. So the baby with one functional copy of the gene might still be susceptible to HIV infection. The decision to implant the embryo with only one disabled copy makes the work all the more unethical. Though Dr. He claimed the babies were born in early November last year (2018), The New York Times reported that the babies were born premature in October.
Steps taken by China to prevent Misuse:
The Chinese national health commission asked the Guangdong health commission to start an investigation. On January 21st this year (2019), Dr. He was fired from the university where he worked after a
probe by the Guangdong health commission found that he had violated the national regulations against using gene-editing for reproductive purposes. According to The Scientist, Dr. He‘s experiment violates the 2003 guidelines that prohibits the use
of gene-manipulated embryos for reproductive purposes. On February 26th, 2019 China posted the draft regulation requiring researchers to obtain prior approval from the government before undertaking clinical trials. Those found violating the rules will be punished and this includes a lifetime ban on research. China is now all set to introduce gene-editing regulation. Source :- The Hindu
SCIENTISTS DECODE GENOME OF ‗MIRACLE PLANT‘
Context : Scientists from the University of Kerala have decoded the genetic make-up of Arogyapacha (Trichopus zeylanicus). More about the news: This ‗miracle plant‘ is known for its traditional use by the Kani tribal community to combat fatigue.
The Kanis, numbering about 16,000, live in the lush tropical forests of the Western Ghats.
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Studies have also proved its varied spectrum of pharmacological properties such as anti-oxidant, aphrodisiac, anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, anti-tumour, anti-ulcer, anti-hyperlipidemic, hepatoprotective and anti-diabetic. Arogyapacha : Arogyapacha is a small herbaceous plant, endemic and found in Western Ghats of Kerala ―Arogya pacha‖, literally meaning ―the green that gives strength‖. Tribal people use it as a stimulant and to keep stamina for a long time. Regular intake of fruits reduces stress and anxiety. Tribal people believe that regular consumption of fruit can prevent ageing and also enhance immunity.
Agasthya Hill : Agasthya hill is a 1,868-metre (6,129 ft) tall peak within Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary, in the Western Ghats of Kerala. The peak lies on the border of Kerala and Tamil Nadu. This peak is a part of the Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve which lies on the border between the states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu. The peak is named after Hindu sage Agastya, who is considered to be one of the seven rishis(Saptarishi) of Hindu Puranas. It is a pilgrimage centre for devotees. The Thamirabarani River is a perennial river which originates from the eastern side of the range and flows into the Tirunelveli district of Tamil Nadu. In Tamil traditions, Agastya is considered as the father of the Tamil language and the compiler of the first Tamil grammar called Agattiyam. The Malayalam language is considered to be born
from Agasthya. Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve is among 20 new sites added by UNESCO to its World Network of Biosphere Reserves in March 2016.
Source :- The Hindu PLANTS MAY BE SPREADING SUPERBUGS TO HUMANS Context : A study has found that Plant-based foods could transmit antibiotic resistance to the microbes living in the gut. Key Highlights of the study : Antibiotic-resistant infections are a threat to global public health, food safety and an economic burden The study has noted that plant foods serve as vehicles for spreading antibiotic resistance to the gut microbiome. In an experiment conducted on mice, researchers observed that superbugs (antibiotic resistant bacteria) hid in the intestines of the mice fed with lettuce contaminated with antibiotic- resistant bacteria, E.coli.
Spread ofAntibiotic resistance Superbugs : Spread of antibiotic-resistant superbugs from plants to humans is different from outbreaks of diarrheal illnesses caused immediately after eating contaminated vegetables.
Superbugs can asymptomatically hide in (or "colonise") the intestines for months or even years, when they then escape the intestine and cause an infection, such as a urinary infection. Such superbugs are asymptomatic.
―Superbugs‖ is a term used to describe strains of bacteria that are resistant to the majority of antibiotics commonly used today. Significance :
The Study highlights the importance of tackling food-borne antibiotic resistance from a complete food chain perspective that includes both plant foods and meat. Source :- The Hindu
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ILS DEVELOPS ANTIBODIES AGAINST CHIKUNGUNYA INFECTION Context : The Institute of Life Sciences(ILS) has successfully developed antibodies against the Chikungunya virus(CHIKV) infection. More about the news: The antibodies were developed following decade-long research on the CHIKV infection at the ILS laboratory. With no prior antibodies reported against CHIKV,the group was the first to develop antibodies against the non-structural proteins – nsP1,nsP3 and nsP4 of CHIKV. Significance : Generation of antibodies has had significant impact on the progress of CHIKV-based research. It
will help researchers unravel myriad aspects of virus pathogenesis. This will also pave the way for the development of antiviral drugs and control strategies against the infection.
Chikungunya : Chikungunya is a viral disease (genus Alphavirus) which is transmitted to humans by infected mosquitoes – including Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus.
The name chikungunya originates from a verb in the Kimakonde language, meaning 'to become contorted'. This refers to the 'stooped' appearance of those suffering with joint pain. Source :- The Hindu
NIPAH VIRUS: EXPERIMENTAL ANTIVIRAL DRUG SHOWS PROMISE Context : Researchers from the National Institutes of Health,U.S have shown that Remade Sivir drug used for
Ebola treatment can stop Nipah virus from making new copies of its genome. More in the news: Remdesivir is a broad-spectrum antiviral drug which is currently in phase 2 clinical trial for the
treatment of Ebola. Eight monkeys were inoculated with a lethal dose of Nipah virus Bangladesh strain, and, 24 hours later, four of them were treated intravenously with the drug for 12 consecutive days.
The ones that did not receive the drug developed respiratory problems.But the four animals which were treated with the drug survived. Nipha : Nipah virus is a zoonotic virus (it is transmitted from animals to humans) and can also be transmitted through contaminated food or directly between people. It is a member of the genus Henipavirus in the family Paramyxoviridae. Fruit bats of the Pteropodidae family are the natural host of Nipah virus. It was first recognised in 1998-99 during an outbreak among pig farmers in Malaysia and Singapore. In infected people, it causes a range of illnesses from asymptomatic (subclinical) infection to acute respiratory illness and fatal encephalitis. The virus can also cause severe disease in animals such as pigs, resulting in significant economic losses for farmers. Source :- The Hindu
GS PAPER - 03 SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY - Awareness in the fields of Space
RINGS AROUND SATURN Context : New analysis of data from the Cassini mission shows that Saturn‘s rings are not smooth, but rather are grainy in texture.
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Scientists believe that tiny moons within the rings cause materials to cluster and form clumps and straw-like patterns, revealing rings which are more complex and dynamic than we realized. New Findings : Scientists recently discovered that Saturn‘s moons were influenced by its rings, as the rings deposited material onto the moons and changed their shape. Now it seems that the process works the other way round as well, with the moons interacting with the particles in the rings to cause these variations in texture. Formation of Saturn's rings and about the formation of planets in general: The scientists found a set of streaks around the outer edge of the rings which are all the same length and orientation, which suggests they were formed by material hitting the rings at the same time. This implies that the rings are formed from material which is already in orbit around the planet, rather than being formed from external material like comets crashing into the rings. NASA‘s Cassini Mission : Launched in 1997, the Cassini mission — a cooperation between NASA, the European Space Agency and the Italian Space Agency — has sent back thousands of stunning images and made numerous discoveries about the ringed planet and its moons. The spacecraft was launched on October 15, 1997. This was the first landing ever accomplished in the outer Solar System. Cassini–Huygens is an unmanned spacecraft sent to the planet Saturn. Cassini is the fourth space probe to visit Saturn and the first to enter orbit.
Its design includes a Saturn orbiter and a lander for the moon Titan. The lander, called Huygens, landed on Titan in 2005. Objective of the mission :
Determine the three-dimensional structure and dynamic behavior of the rings of Saturn. Determine the composition of the satellite surfaces and the geological history of each object. Determine the nature and origin of the dark material on Iapetus‘s leading hemisphere.
Measure the three-dimensional structure and dynamic behavior of the magnetosphere. Study the dynamic behavior of Saturn‘s atmosphere at cloud level. Study the time variability of Titan‘s clouds and hazes.
Characterize Titan‘s surface on a regional scale. Source :- The Hindu
SPACEX Context : SpaceX has launched its Falcon Heavy rocket carrying 24 experimental satellites More about the mission :
Falcon Heavy was carrying satellites of various agencies and organizations, including NASA, military research laboratories, and universities. The mission includes deep space atomic clock, solar sail, a clean and green rocket fuel testbed, and
even human ashes. The company also will attempt to land the Falcon Heavy‘s two boosters back on earth simultaneously, then land the first stage of the rocket on a drone ship in the ocean about 770 miles
away from where it initially takes off. Payloads and Technology Mission in Falcon : Deep Space Atomic Clock : The unique atomic clock will test a new way for spacecraft to navigate in deep space. The technology could make GPS-like navigation possible at the Moon and Mars.
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Green Propellant Infusion Mission : GPIM will test a new propulsion system that runs on a high-performance and non-toxic spacecraft fuel. This technology could help propel constellations of small satellites in and beyond low-Earth orbit. Space Environment Testbeds : Space Environment Testbeds(SET) will study how to better protect satellites from space radiation by analyzing the harsh environment of space near Earth and testing various strategies to mitigate the impacts. This information can be used to improve spacecraft design, engineering and operations in order to protect spacecraft from harmful radiation driven by the Sun. Source :- Livemint
MARS COLONISATION Context : ● As per the new study, Human colonies on Mars may be able to expand their gene pool with shipments of sperm from Earth.
Key Findings of the study :
A new study suggests that exposure to low gravity environments does not damage the viability of frozen samples. The frozen samples of sperm exposed to microgravity retained similar characteristics to sperm samples kept on the Earth. The findings open the possibility of safely transporting male gametes to space and considering the possibility of creating a human sperm bank outside Earth. It opens the possibility of female astronauts going to Mars, taking the sperm with them to populate a new world. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has stated that the first person to walk on Mars is likely to be a woman. It has set a goal of starting a colony on the planet by 2033.
Source :- The Times of India
NEW SPACE INDIA LIMITED (NSIL) Context : New Space India Limited (NSIL), has been incorporated, as a wholly owned Government of
India, under the administrative control of Department of Space (DOS) to commercially exploit the research and development work ISRO Centres and constituent units of DOS. New Space India Limited (NSIL) Functions : Small Satellite technology transfer to industry, wherein NSIL will obtain license from DOS/ISRO and sub-license it to industries Manufacture of Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) in collaboration with Private Sector
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Productionisation of Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) through Indian Industry Productionisation and marketing of Space based products and services, including launch and application Transfer of technology developed by ISRO Centres and constituent units of DOS Marketing spin-off technologies and products/services, both in India and abroad; and
any other subject which Government of India deems fit. Significance : This would enable Indian Industries to scale up high-technology manufacturing
Also production base for meeting the growing needs of Indian space programme and would further spur the growth of Indian Industries in the space sector. Source :- PIB
PLAN TO MAKE USE OF NUCLEAR WASTES Context : India has adopted ―closed fuel cycle‖, where spent nuclear fuel is regarded as a material of resource. Closed Fuel Cycle : Closed fuel cycle aims at reprocessing of spent fuel for recovery of Uranium and Plutonium and recycling them back to the reactor as fuel. This finally leads to a very small percentage of residual material present in spent nuclear fuel requiring their management as radioactive waste. Safe management of radioactive waste : Safe management of radioactive waste has been accorded high priority right from the inception of our nuclear energy programme.
With the advent of new technologies based on partitioning of waste, emphasis is accorded to separation and recovery of these useful radio-isotopes so as to make use of the waste for various societal applications.
Utmost emphasis is given to waste volume minimization, effective containment and isolation of radio-activity followed by near zero discharge of radioactivity to the environment. Source :- PIB
INDIAN ASTRONOMERS FIND EVIDENCE OF SUPERNOVA REMNANTS Context : A team of Indian astronomers had found evidence of a supernova explosion in a star-forming region called G351.7–1.2. More in the news: Scientists from Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST) Thiruvananthapuram, Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru and National Centre for Radio Astrophysics (NCRA), Pune probed the supernova the star-forming region using the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT).
The evidence is in the form of a high-velocity jet of atomic hydrogen.
The explosion should have resulted in a compact stellar object such as a neutron star or a pulsar or a black hole. However, there is no trace of either yet.
The research team found that the jet was racing at the speed of 50 kilometers per second in the direction of the Scorpius constellation. The blast extended up to 20 light years. Technically, massive stars with a mass more than 8-10 times that of our Sun result in supernova explosions. Source :- Down To Earth
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COSMIC WAVES DISCOVERY COULD UNLOCK THE MYSTERIES OF SPACE Context : A team of international astronomers have determined for the first time the precise source of a single/ one-off fast radio bursts (FRBs).The signal has been named FRB 180924. Key Highlights : The signal is named after the date of detection and it originated in the outskirts of a Milky Way-sized galaxy roughly 3.6 billion light-years from Earth. The signal only lasted for 1.3 milliseconds but was so powerful that it emitted as much energy as the Sun would do in 80 years. Further, tracking it down could help scientists finally understand what causes these one-off FRBs. This is the second FRB ever to have been traced to a location.Scientists previously had traced FRB 121102 to a region of a dwarf galaxy some three billion light-years away but this signal bursts repeatedly making difficult to track down. Fast Radio Burst (FRBs) : Fast radio bursts are intense bursts of radio emission that have durations of milliseconds and exhibit the characteristic dispersion sweep of radio pulsars. FRBs flash for only a micro-instant but can emit as much energy in a millisecond as the Sun does in 10,000 years. The first was discovered in 2007 ad so far over 80 have been detected. Exactly what creates these high-energy surges of long waves at the far end of the electromagnetic spectrum remains the subject of intense debate, though scientists now agree they originate in far away galaxies.
Source :- Business Standard
GS PAPER - 03 SECURITY - Security challenges and their management in border areas; linkages of organized crime with terrorism Various Security forces and agencies and their mandate NAVY STEPS UP ANTI-PIRACY PATROL Context : In an expansion of its Mission Based Deployments (MBD) in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), the
Navy deployed its P-8I long-range maritime surveillance aircraft for anti-piracy sorties from Salalah in Oman to patrol the Gulf of Aden. P-8I long-range maritime surveillance aircraft :
P-8I is a long-range, multimission maritime patrol aircraft manufactured by Boeing for the Indian Navy. It is a variant of the P-8A Poseidon operated by the US Navy.
It is armed with deadly Harpoon Block-II missiles, MK-54 lightweight torpedoes, rockets and depth charges. These sensor and radar-packed aircraft are the country‘s intelligent hawk eyes over the Indian Ocean
Region(IOR) that is increasingly getting militarized. Background : Since 2008, India has been conducting anti-piracy patrols in the commercially crucial Gulf of Aden.
This was the second time the P-8I operated from Salalah for anti-piracy this year. It was operated from there first January. Navy‘s Mission Based Deployment: Mission-Based Deployments(MBD) policy was adopted by the Navy in 2017.The mission-ready ships and aircraft are deployed along critical sea lanes of communications and choke points from Malacca straits to the Persian Gulf. These ships are deployed to meet any eventuality across the spectrum of operations ranging from acts of maritime terrorism and piracy to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief(HADR) missions.
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The areas where these ships and corvettes and surveillance aircraft are being deployed include the Malacca Strait, North Andaman Sea, Andaman Sea, Andaman Sea including Bangladesh and Myanmar, Lakshadweep islands and Maldives, besides Madagascar and Persian Gulf. India‘s cooperation with Indian Ocean littoral states : As part of expanding engagement maritime engagement, India has stepped up cooperation with Indian Ocean littoral states and maritime neighbours. Under the ‗Neighbourhood First‘ policy, the Navy undertakes Joint Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) surveillance with Maldives, Seychelles and Mauritius and Coordinated Patrols (CORPAT) with Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand and Indonesia. Search and rescue and capability-enhancement activities have also emerged as major areas. Source :- The Hindu
CENTRE TO COME UP WITH POLICY ON AI, CYBERSECURITY SOON Context : The NITI Aayog has come up with a policy on artificial intelligence and cyber security and it would be taken up by the Union Cabinet soon. More about the news: At a time when the government promoted the digitisation programme and India emerged the second country with most Internet access, the protection of data becomes crucial — be at home, workspace or institutions. The need for giving access to National Knowledge Network for setting up centres of excellence for research on AI for which funding would be provided by the Union Government has also been emphasised.
This disruptive technology is used by various sectors, including agencies for crime control. Concern : Those wanting to cause harm are also becoming smarter with AI necessitating 24×7 protection of the
entire command and control of data network. The main challenge to use AI is to get highly trained manpower.
Additional Information : In 2018, the NITI Aayog had put forward a discussion paper titled ―National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence-#AIforAll‖. The paper focusses on how India can leverage the transformative technologies to ensure social and inclusive growth in line with the development philosophy of the government. In the paper, NITI Aayog identified 5 cores areas for application of artificial intelligence: Healthcare, Agriculture, Education, Smart cities and Infrastructure and Smart Mobility and transportation. NITI Aayog had recommended setting up two-tiered structure for AI research- Centre of Research Excellence (CORE) focused on developing a better understanding of existing core research and pushing technology frontiers through creation of new knowledge
and International Centres of Transformational AI (ICTAI) for developing and deploying application-based research.
It has also called for skilling and Re-skilling of workforce to help in adoption of AI, supporting start- ups, close collaboration between industry, academia, trade bodies and venture capital. Further, it advocated that the role of government should be one of a facilitator, an active promoter and wherever required, of an owner to leverage AI potential and ensure ethical and responsible AI development and adoption.
Source :- The Hindu
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DRAFT BILL MOOTS 10-YEAR JAIL FOR CRYPTO DEALING Context : Government has introduced a draft bill on Banning of Cryptocurrency and Regulation of Official Digital Currency Bill, 2019. Banning of Cryptocurrency and Regulation of Official Digital Currency Bill 2019 : Key Features : The "Banning of Crypto currency and Regulation of Official Digital Currency Bill 2019" draft has proposed 10-year prison sentence for persons who "mine, generate, hold, sell, transfer, dispose, issue or deal in crypto currencies. Besides making it completely illegal, the bill makes holding of cryptos a non-bailable offence. The draft also proposes a monetary penalty of up to three times the loss caused to the exchequer or gains made by the crypto currency user whichever is higher. The bill also proposed that any person holding crypto currencies will be required to declare and dispose of it within 90 days from the date of commencement of the act. Further, a regulator may also be appointed under the act to monitor activity. The draft bill has also proposed the introduction of an official digital rupee in consultation with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). Crypto currency : Crypto currency is a digital currency.
It allows transacting parties to remain anonymous while confirming that the transaction is valid one. It is not owned or controlled by any institution including both government institutions and private institutions.
Various crypto currencies used globally are Bitcoin,Ethereum and Ripple. Source :- The Times Of India
LIBRA IS FACEBOOK‘S CRYPTOCURRENCY Context : Face book has unveiled its own cryptocurrency named ―Libra‖. Libra : Libra is like any other crypto currency powered by block chain technology. Libra also evokes the French libre (―free‖) and reflects the corresponding astrological symbol—the scales of justice, relevant in theory because the crypto is meant to make financial inclusion standard
around the globe. The new crypto‘s symbol, a wave, ―represents the energy that flows between us, the borderless nature of water, and the movement between people, places, and money.
Libra wants to be a ‗global currency‘, one that can be used to transfer money anywhere in the world without any transaction fees. The claim is that Libra will be accessible to anyone with a Smartphone, even a low-cost budget
phone, and a network connection. Calibra : It has also officially announced a digital wallet service named Calibra. The company managing this
wallet is going to be a subsidiary and will be operating independently from Facebook. Calibra is going to be available as a standalone app on the App Store and Play Store. Apart from that, users can also use Libra within Facebook‘s own messaging apps including WhatsApp and Messenger, making it much more accessible. The name is inspired by the origins of money in Ancient Rome, where the Libra was a unit of weight used to mint coins. Source :- The Hindu
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GS PAPER - 03 DISASTER MANAGEMENT - Disaster and disaster management.
ODISHA COMES UP WITH A FLOOD ATLAS, AIDED BY SATELLITE IMAGERY Context : Odisha Chief Minister released a unique flood hazard atlas, which is expected to help the State manage floods more efficiently. Flood Hazard Atlas : Flood hazard atlas on the basis of historic flood inundation captured through satellite imagery over the period from 2001 to 2018 The atlas prepared by the National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Hyderabad had taken the study on flood hazard zonation for Odisha.
Need of Flood Hazard Atlas : "Odisha is a flood prone state. About 8.96% (13.96 lakh hectares) of land in Odisha was affected by floods during 2001-2018. Out of total flood-affected area (13.96 lakh hectares), about 2.81 lakh hectares of land falls under high (inundated 7-9 times) to very high (inundated 10-14 times) flood hazard categories. Eight out of 30 districts such as Bhadrak, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Balasore, Puri, Jajpur, Khordha and Cuttack districts are more flood-affected districts. As high as 77% of Bhadrak and 70% of the Kendrapara district have been categorised as flood hazard. Significance : It is expected to help the State manage floods more efficiently.
This atlas will help identify the disaster prone areas of the state so that necessary plans can be made to tackle the situation. Source :- The Hindu
FIRST RESILIENT KERALA PROGRAM Context : The Government of India, the Government of Kerala and the World Bank have signed a Loan
Agreement of USD 250 million for the First Resilient Kerala Program to enhance the State's resilience against the impacts of natural disasters and climate change. First Resilient Kerala Program :
The Resilient Kerala Program will focus on strengthening the State's institutional and financial capacity to protect the assets and livelihoods of poor and vulnerable groups through an inclusive and participatory approach.
The New Program is part of the Government of India‘s support to Kerala‘s ‗Rebuild Kerala Development Programme‘ aimed at building a green and resilient Kerala. This partnership will identify key areas of policy and institutional strengthening to maximize development impact. It is the first of two Development Policy Operations aiming to mainstream disaster and climate resilience into critical infrastructure and services. State partnership is a key pillar of the Bank‘s new Country Partnership Framework for India. Through such partnerships, the Bank will support select States striving to bring about systemic improvements in the way development initiatives are planned and executed. Objective : Improved river basin planning and water infrastructure operations management, water supply and sanitation services Resilient and sustainable agriculture, enhanced agriculture risk insurance Improved resilience of the core road network Unified and more up-to-date land records in high-risk areas Risk-based urban planning and strengthened expenditure planning by urban local bodies Strengthened fiscal and public financial management capacity of the state.
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Need : The 2018 floods and landslides in Kerala led to severe impact on property, infrastructure, and lives and livelihoods of people. One sixth of the State‘s population – about 5.4 million people – were affected while 1.4 million were displaced from their homes, especially the poor and vulnerable segments of the population. Source :- PIB GS PAPER - 03 AWARD AND HONORS
FORMER PRESIDENT PRATIBHA PATIL AWARDED MEXICO‘S HIGHEST CIVILIAN HONOUR FOR FOREIGNERS Context : Former President of India Pratibha Patil has been conferred with the ―Orden Mexicana del Águila
Azteca‖(Order of the Aztec Eagle). She was awarded for her contribution in strengthening the humanitarian relations between India and Mexico.
Orden Mexicana del ―Aguila Azteca‖(Order of the Aztec Eagle) : It is the highest civilian award of Mexico given to foreigners. The award was created in 1993 by the then President of Mexico, Abelardo L. Rodriguez.It is given to prominent heads of state or government, ambassadors after they have served in Mexico. Pratibha Patil is the first Indian woman and second Indian after Dr Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan to receive such an award. Earlier Dr. Nelson Mandela, Queen Elizabeth II (2nd) and Bill Gates were also honoured with this award. Source :- Indian Express
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