Current Affairs June 2021

Current Affairs July 2021

Contents

Topics Page No.

1. Art and Culture 2-7

2. Polity and Governance 8-17

3. Environment & Ecology 18-26

4. Economy 27-32

5. Science and Technology 33-43

6. Social Issues 44-52

7. International Relations 53-64

8. Government Schemes 65-74

9. Miscellaneous 75-84 2 | Current Affairs – July, 2021 1 Art and Culture

World Heritage Site Mallikarjuna Swamy temple in Srisailam. Why in News ●● Out of the six units, 4 have inscriptions in San- Maharashtra govt seeks World Heritage Site tag for skrit and Nandi-Nāgarī script and the opposite 14 forts. two plates are in Telugu script. Important Points ●● In order to seek the World Heritage Site tag for 14 forts in the state, the Maharashtra government has prepared and submitted a tentative “serial” nomination for these sites. ●● All 14 of them belong to the era of Maratha king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in the 17th century and these forts have been built on the theme of Maratha Military Architecture. ●● The Ministry of Culture after a serial nomination by the Archaeological Survey of India has forwarded the list to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organiza- ●● Initially, workers found 18 inscriptions while tion (UNESCO). digging the ground as part of the renovation ●● The 14 sites listed by Maharashtra include: works. Three more inscriptions were unearthed ●● Raigad Fort, Shivneri Fort, Rajgad Fort, Torna later. The inscriptions are in Sanskrit and Fort, Salher Fort, Lohagad, Rangana Fort, Telugu. Mulher Fort, Ankai Tankai Forts, Sindhudurg ●● A total of 35 inscriptions have been found Fort, Kasa Fort, Alibag Fort, Suvarnadurg and Khanderi Fort. during the renovation works till now. ●● All these forts haveGAURAV historical significance of Tulu Language IAS either the Peshwa rule or battle between the Why in News Marathas and Mughals. Some of them also served as army or naval bases for the Maratha Demand for official language status to Tulu fighters. Important Points Copper plate inscriptions ●● Various organizations initiated a Twitter cam- Why in News paign demanding official language status to 21 copper plate inscriptions found in Srisailam. Tulu in Karnataka and Kerala and received an Important Points overwhelming response. ●● Six units of copper plate inscriptions dating ●● More than 2.5 lakh people tweeted in support back to the 14th or 16th century were found of the campaign. near Ghanta Matham of Sri Bhramaramba

84, First Floor, Bada Bazar, Near Kotak Mahindra Bank, Old Rajinder Nagar, New Delhi-110060 Mob.- (011) 46082452, +91-9958159667, +91-9818733402, +91-9667663402 E-mail: [email protected] | www.gauravias.com 3 | Current Affairs – July, 2021 Tulu in India Battle over basmati rice ●● Tulu is a Dravidian language spoken mainly Why in News in two coastal districts Dakshina Kannada and India, Pakistan takes battle over basmati rice title Udupi of Karnataka and Kasaragod district of to EU. Keral(a) Important Points ●● As per the 2011 Census report, there are ●● India, the world’s largest exporter of basmati 18,46,427 Tulu-speaking people in Indi(a) rice has applied for an exclusive trademark that ●● Some scholars suggest Tulu is among the would grant it sole ownership of the basmati title in the European Union, setting off a dis- earliest Dravidian languages with a history of pute that could deal a major blow to Pakistan’s 2000 years. Robert Caldwell (1814-1891), in position in a vital export market. his book, A Comparative Grammar of the Dra- ●● Pakistan immediately opposed India’s move to vidian or South-Indian Family of Languages, gain Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) called Tulu “one of the foremost highly devel- from the European Commission. oped languages of the Dravidian family”. ●● India is the largest rice exporter in the world, ●● The Tulu speakers, mainly in Karnataka and netting $6.8bn in annual earnings, with Pakistan Kerala, have been requesting the governments in fourth position at $2.2bn, according to the to give it official language status and include United Nations figures. it in the eighth schedule to the Constitution. ●● In India, historically, the long-grained, aromatic rice has been cultivated in Indo-Gangetic plains ●● Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, at the foothills of the Himalayas. Kashmiri, Konkani, Malayalam, Manipuri, Mar- ●● In modern India, this region is spread over Him- athi, Nepali, Oriya, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Sindhi, achal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu, Bodo, Santhali, Maithili Uttar Pradesh, Delhi and Jammu and Kashmir. and Dogri are the 22 languages presently in the ●● Basmati has also been grown for centuries in eighth schedule to the Constitution. the Kalar tract, which lies between the Ravi and Tulu in Education Chenab rivers in Pakistan’s Punjab province. ●● The Karnataka government introduced Tulu as Geographical indications a language in schools a few years ago. ●● A geographical indication (GI) is a distinctive ●● According to the state education department, sign used to identify a product whose quality, in the year 2020, a GAURAVtotal of 956 children from reputation IAS or other such characteristics relate to its geographical origin. Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts wrote Tulu as the third optional language in SSLC ●● GI is applicable for a period of 10 years and is required to be renewed by payment of a (Class 10) examination. renewable fee. GI as an Intellectual Property ●● In 2014-15, 18 students chose the language as Right is included in Article 22 of the TRIPS the third optional when it was introduce(d) Agreement. ●● ‘Jai Tulunad’ conducted an online campaign ●● It requires the member states to protect the iden- demanding to include Tulu in the new National tity of the product, originating from a particular Education Policy (NEP). geographical location, and from preventing the use of such identity for any other product not ●● The organization started a ‘Tweet Tulunad’ originating from that location, so has to protect campaign with the hashtag #EducationInTulu. the public from getting misle(d)

●● India, being a signatory of the TRIPS Agree- ●● He published a pamphlet titled ‘Deshwasiyon ment, subsequently passed the Geographical ke Naam’ and distributed it along with his poem Indication of Goods (Registration and Protec- ‘Mainpuri ki Pratigya’ on January 28, 1918. tion) Act, 1999 and the Rules on Geographical To collect funds for the parties, they looted Indication of Goods (Registration and Protec- government coffers. tion), 2002. ●● He formed the Hindustan Republic Association Ram Prasad Bismil which soon had leaders like Bhagat Singh and Why in News Chandrashekhar Aza(d) Ram Prasad Bismil was born on June 11, 1897 in ●● On August 9, 1925, Ram Prasad Bismil along Uttar Pradesh’s. with companions Ashfaqulla Khan and others Important Points executed the plan of looting the train at Kakori Ram Prasad Bismil was born on June 11, 1897, in a near Lucknow. nondescript village in Uttar Pradesh’s Shahjahanpur district to Murlidhar and Moolmati. ●● Within a month of the attack, the angered colonial authorities(British Police)arrested more About Ram Prasad Bismil than a dozen HRA members. ●● He was associated with the Arya Samaj from an early age. ●● After the trial in the so-called Kakori conspiracy, these four revolutionaries were sentenced to be hange(d) ●● In Barrack number 11 of Lucknow Central Jail, Bismil wrote his autobiography, considered as one of the finest works in Hindi literature and also the cult song “Mera rang de Basanti chola”. ●● With the words “Jai Hind” on his lips, the 30-year-old Bimil was hanged in the Gorakhpur jail on December 19, 1927 and cremated on the banks of Rapti river. The site later came to be known as Raj Ghat. ●● Ram Prasad Bismil wrote powerful patriotic poetries in Urdu and Hindi under the pen ●● The ideals of freedomGAURAV and revolution got first names, ‘Bismil’,IAS ‘Ram’ and ‘Agyat’. ingrained in his mind after he read the death “Desh hit paida huye hai sentence passed on Bhai Parmanand, an Indian nationalist and Arya Samaj missionary. Desh par marr jayenge ●● Bismil got his name etched as a prominent Marte marte desh ko freedom fighter with his participation in the zinda magar kar jayenge” Mainpuri conspiracy of 1918. ●● Bismil along with Genda Lal Dixit, a school Raja Parba teacher from Auraiya, organised youth from Why in News Etahwah, Mainpuri, Agra and Shahjahanpur Raja Parba festival celebrating womanhood com- districts to strengthen their organisations, mences in Odisha ‘Matrivedi’ and ‘Shivaji Samiti’

Important Points ●● During the three days, women are given a break ●● Raja Parba, a 3-day festival celebrating woman- from household work and time to play indoor hood is being celebrated across Odish(a) games. Girls adorn traditional saree and apply alatha on foot. All people abstain from walking ●● During this period, it is believed that Mother barefoot on the earth. Earth menstruates and prepares herself for future agricultural activities with the arrival of Flag Satyagraha monsoon. Why in News ●● Odisha Tourism Development Corporation Shri Prahlad Singh Patel leads the programme (OTDC) launched a special programme named organised to observe Flag Satyagraha in Jabalpur, 'Pitha on Wheels'.As women don't work during Madhya Pradesh. these 3 days 7 vehicles of 'Pitha On wheels' will reach people's doorsteps in odish(a) Important Points ●● Different kinds of pithas such as 'Poda Pitha', ●● The programme was organised by Union Culture 'Manda', 'Kakara', 'Arisha', 'Chakuli' and 'Chan- Ministry and IGNCA as part of Azadi Ka Amrit drakala' have been made available on 'Pitha on Mahotsav being celebrated to commemorate 75 Wheels' (kiosks on wheels). years of Country’s independence. ●● Apart from 'pithas', masks manufactured by ●● The program started with a cultural satyagraha SHGs will also be on sale at the 'Pitha on padyatra from Kamaniya Gate in the city to Wheels' vehicles. Gandhi Bhawan, the Town Hall complex. ●● Raja Parba or Mithuna Sankranti is a three-day- ●● According to the records, the outline of the long festival and the second day signifies the Jhanda Satyagraha was prepared in the year beginning of the solar month of Mithuna from, 1922 in a meeting held in the Town Hall of which the season of rains starts. Jabalpur. ●● It welcomes the agricultural year in Odisha, ●● Despite the deployment of heavy police force, which marks, through biological symbolism, ignoring the orders of the British government, the moistening of the sun-dried soil with the the brave immortal martyrs of Jabalpur had first showers of the monsoon in mid-June thus hoisted the flag in Victoria Town Hall without making it ready for productivity. caring for their lives. ●● It is believed that the mother Goddess Earth ●● The news of flag hoisting in Jabalpur spread or the divine wife of Lord Vishnu undergoes like fire in the country and after flags were menstruation duringGAURAV the first three days. hoisted atIAS several places across the country. ●● The fourth day is called as Vasumati gadhua or Trirashmi Buddhist cave ceremonial bath of Bhudevi. Why in News ●● The term Raja has come from Rajaswala (meaning a menstruating woman) and during Three new caves discovered in the Trirashmi Bud- the medieval period the festival became more dhist cave complex of Nashik popular as an agricultural holiday remarking the Important Points worship of Bhudevi, who is the wife of Lord ●● Nearly two centuries ago, the Trirashmi Bud- Jagannath. dhist caves or the Pandav Leni in a Nashik ●● A silver idol of Bhudevi is still found in Puri hill had been documented by a British military Temple aside from Lord Jagannath(a) officer.

●● Now, three more caves in the same area have ●● Kabir's dohas, devotional poems and songs of been found by the Archaeological Survey of love reflect his humanism and ideals of har- India (ASI). mony and brotherhood in society. ●● It is believed that these caves could be dwellings of Buddhist monks, and while their antiquity has not yet been determined, the archaeologists are of the opinion that these caves date back to before the Trirashmi caves. ●● The Pandav Leni or Trirashmi are a cluster of 25 caves and these date back to some time between the 2 century BC and 6 century AD, having been carved out of the Trirashmi Hill. ●● Captain James Delamaine had documented the complex of the caves back in 1823, and the site is now protected by the ASI and it is a tourist destination. ●● The Discovered caves all have verandahs and ●● His philosophy is based on complete devotion they also consist of a square stone platform in one God and his verses are simple, rich in for monks. Moreover, just like in the Wai compassion and love for fellow human beings. and Kanheri caves, these caves have also been ●● It was in mid 15th century that the poet-saint found to have special arrangements to facilitate Kabir Das was born in Kashi (Varanasi, Uttar meditation of monks. Pradesh). The details about the life of Kabir are ●● The Buddhist sculptures and caves in Nashik are shrouded in uncertainty. a significant early example of Indian rock-cut ●● There are differing opinions, contrasting facts architecture representing the Hinayana tradition and multiple legends about his life. of Buddhism. ●● Even sources discussing his life are scanty. ●● The caves have images of the Buddha and Earliest sources include the Bijak and Adi Bodhisattvas, and sculptures with designs of Granth. Others are Nabhaji by Bhakta Mal, Indo-Greek architecture. Dabistan-i-Tawarikh by Mohsin Fani and Kha- Kabirdas Jayanti 2021 jinat al-Asafiy(a) ●● Kabir was deeply concerned with the spiritual. Why in News In the Dabistan of Mohsin Fani and Ain-i- Kabirdas Jayanti observed on June 24, 2021 Akbari of Abul Fazl, he is mentioned as a GAURAVmuwahid IAS or believer in one Go(d) Important Points ●● Sant Guru Kabir, a 15th-century Indian mystic, ●● Kabir seems to be deeply influenced by social reformer, poet and saint has a significant Upanishadic non-dualism and Islamic monism. role among the people in Indi(a) He was also guided by the Vaishnava Bhakti tradition which stressed on complete surrender ●● Kabir's popular verses and dohas continue to towards Go(d) inspire generations even in the 21st century. ●● He did not acknowledge distinctions based on ●● Kabirdas Jayanti also known as Kabir Prakat caste.Not just caste, Kabir spoke against idol Diwas is celebrated once a year on the full worship and criticised both Hindus and Mus- moon day in the Hindu month Jyeshth(a) On lims for their rites, rituals and customs which this day his followers remember his teachings he thought were futile. and recite his poems together.

MCQs Based on Art and Culture 5. Which of the following GI tags are correctly matched? 1. Consider the following statements Geographical Indications States 1. Maharashtra govt seeks World Heritage Site 1. Kotpad Handloom fabric - Odisha tag for 14 forts 2. Channapatna Toys & Dolls - Tamil Nadu 2. The Ministry of Home Affairs has forwarded 3. Kasuti Embroidery - Karnataka the list to the UNESCO Select the correct answer using the code given Select the correct answer using the code given below below (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 and 3 only (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1,2 and 3 (c) 1 and 2 both (d) Neither 1 nor 2 2. Which of the following languages are presently Explanation included in the eighth schedule to the Consti- tution? 1. (a) 1. Sindhi 1. Maharashtra govt seeks World Heritage Site tag 2. Santhali for 14 forts 3. Bodo 2. The Ministry of Culture after a serial nomination by the Archaeological Survey of India has 4. English forwarded the list to the United Nations Edu- Select the correct answer using the code given cational, Scientific and Cultural Organization below (UNESCO). (a) 1, 2 and 3 only (b) 2, 3 and 4 only 2. (a) 1,2 and 3 only (c) 1, 3 and 4 only (d) All of the above Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, 3. Consider the following statements Kashmiri, Konkani, Malayalam, Manipuri, Mar- athi, Nepali, Oriya, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Sindhi, 1. The jhanda satyagraha was started in March Tamil, Telugu, Urdu, Bodo, Santhali, Maithili 1923 in Jabalpur. and Dogri are the 22 languages presently in the 2. Jhanda satyagraha was led by Sardar Vallabhai eighth schedule to the Constitution. Patel in Jabalpur (1923) 3. (a) 1 only Select the correct answer using the code given 1. The jhanda satyagraha was started in March below 1923 in Jabalpur. (a) 1 only (b) 2 only 2. Jhanda satyagraha was led by Sardar Val- (c) 1 and 2 both (d) Neither 1 nor 2 labhai Patel in Nagpur (1923) 4. Consider the followingGAURAV statements regarding IAS 4. (b) 2 only Raja Parba 1. Raja Parba, a 3-day festival celebrating 1. Raja Parba, a 3-day festival celebrating woman- womanhood is being celebrated across odi- hood is being celebrated across Chhattisgarh sha 2. It is believed that the mother Goddess Earth 2. It is believed that the mother Goddess Earth or the divine wife of Lord Vishnu undergoes or the divine wife of Lord Vishnu undergoes menstruation during the first three days of the menstruation during the first three days of the festival. festival. Select the correct answer using the code given 5. (c) 1 and 3 only below 1. Kotpad Handloom fabric - Odisha (a) 1 only (b) 2 only 2. Channapatna Toys & Dolls - Karnataka (c) 1 and 2 both (d) Neither 1 nor 2 3. Kasuti Embroidery - Karnataka

Sedition Law The court said that the ambit and parameters of the Why in News provisions of Sections 124A (sedition), 153A and 505 of the Indian Penal Code 1860 would require SC restrains AP police from coercive action against interpretation, particularly in the context of the right news channels in sedition case of the electronic and print media to communicate Important Points news, information and the rights. ●● The Supreme Court restrained Andhra Pradesh ●● The court acknowledged the argument that the police from taking any coercive action against media was well within its rights to air critical two Telugu news channels — TV5 and ABN programmes about a prevailing regime without Andhrajyothi. attracting sedition. ●● SC restrained police for alleged sedition in showing ‘offensive’ speeches of YSR rebel MP ●● What is sedition? K Raghu Rama Krishna Raju. ●● In law, sedition is certainly an act of spreading ●● SC flagged indiscriminate use of the sedition disaffection against the government. law against critics, journalists, social media ●● Section 124A of the IPC states, “Whoever, by users, activists and citizens for airing their words, either spoken or written, or by signs, or grievances about the government’s COVID-19 by visible representation, or otherwise, brings management, or even for seeking help to gain or attempts to bring into hatred or contempt, medical access, equipment, drugs and oxygen or excites or attempts to excite disaffection cylinders, especially during the second wave of towards, the government established by law in the pandemic. shall be punished with imprisonment for life, to which fine may be added, or with imprisonment which may extend to three years, to which fine GAURAVmay be added,IAS or with fine.” ●● The sedition law has been in debate ever since it was brought into force by the colonial British rulers in 1860s. ●● Several top freedom movement leaders including Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru were booked under the sedition law. Long-term visas Why in News NPR slips valid for long-term visas as a proof of duration of their stay in India.

Important Points The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2019 ●● According to a Union Home Ministry manual, ●● According to Home ministry guidelines the Migrants who belongs to the six non-Muslim migrants who can apply for LTVs will have to minority communities from Afghanistan, Paki- produce any document issued by the govern- stan and Bangladesh can produce National ments of Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan Population Register (NPR) enrolment slips as clearly showing the religion of the applicant proof of duration of their stay in India, while like school certificate et(c) to establish that applying for long-term visas (LTVs). the applicant is from a minority community. ●● The NPR number is part of an illustrative list of ●● The Home Ministry has been sensitising the more than ten documents that could be provided States of the relevant provisions under the to apply for a LTV. Citizenship Act, 1955 that could help the six communities who entered India on legal doc- ●● LTV is a precursor to acquiring Indian citi- uments before 2014 and are here on LTVs, zenship either by naturalisation or registration expedite their citizenship applications. under Section 5 and 6 of the Citizenship Act, 1955 for the six communities — Hindus, Sikhs, ●● The Ministry officials assert that this particular Jains, Parsis, Christians and Buddhists — from awareness drive is not related to the Citizenship the three countries. Amendment Act, 2019 (CAA) that is intended to benefit undocumented (illegal migrants) ●● The special provision of LTVs for Hindus and from the six communities who entered India Sikhs from Pakistan and Afghanistan was first before the 2014 cut-off date. CAA is yet to be made in 2011. implemente(d) ●● The NPR was first compiled in 2010 simulta- ●● The Home Ministry empowered 13 district neously with the decadal Census exercise and collectors in five States — Gujarat Chhattis- later updated in 2015. It already has a database garh, Rajasthan, Haryana and Punjab to grant of 119 crore residents. citizenship certificates to applicants belonging ●● The NPR is a register of usual residents linked to the six communities. Earlier in 2016, 16 with location particulars down to the village district collectors were granted such power that level and is updated periodically “to incorporate was extended in 2018. the changes due to birth, death and migration”. Panchayat Citizens Charter ●● The Citizenship Rules framed in 2003 says that GAURAVWhy in News IAS NPR is the first step towards compilation of National Register of Indian Citizens (NRIC) or Union Minister of Rural Development, Agriculture NR(c) and Farmers Welfare & Panchayati Raj has releases A Model Panchayat Citizens Charter. ●● The next phase of the NPR, expected to include contentious questions on date and place of birth Important Points of father and mother, last place of residence ●● A Model Panchayat Citizens Charter/ frame- and mother tongue was to be simultaneously work for delivery of the services across the 29 updated with the 2021 House Listing and Hous- sectors aligning actions with localised Sustain- ing Census that has been indefinitely postponed able Development Goals (SDGs) was released due to COVID-19. through virtual program for the Panchayats to adopt & customise.

●● It was released by the Union Minister of Rural ●● Panchayats are responsible for delivery of basic Development, Agriculture and Farmers Welfare services as enshrined under article 243G of the & Panchayati Raj. Constitution of India, specifically in the areas of Health & Sanitation, Education, Nutrition, ●● The framewok was prepared by the Ministry of Drinking Water. Panchayati Raj (MoPR) in collaboration with National Institute of Rural Development & ●● In India, the concept of citizen's charter was Panchayati Raj (NIRDPR). first adopted at a 'Conference of Chief Ministers of various States and Union Territories' held in ●● The Citizen Charter would ensure transparent May 1997 in the national capital. and effective delivery of public services for sustainable development and enhanced citizen ●● Six principles of the Citizens Charter movement as originally framed, were: service experiences; deepening inclusive and accountable Local Self Governments by incor- 1. Quality: Improving the quality of services; porating diverse views while designing and 2. Choice : Wherever possible; delivering services. 3. Standards :Specify what to expect and how ●● The aim of establishing a Citizen charter is to act if standards are not met; to provide services to the people in a time 4. Value: For the taxpayers money; bound manner, redressing their grievances and 5. Accountability : Individuals and Organisa- improving their lives. tions; and ●● This will help in making the citizens aware of 6. Transparency : Rules/ Procedures/ Schemes/ their rights on the one hand, and to make the Grievances. Panchayats and their elected representatives Election Commissioner directly accountable to the people, on the other han(d) Why in News ●● It is expected that the Panchayats will utilise Anup Chandra Pandey, retired UP cadre IAS officer, this framework to draw up a Citizens Charter appointed Election Commissioner and adopt it through a resolution of the Gram Important Points Sabha by 15th August, 2021. States were ●● The Union government appointed Anup Chandra accordingly requested to draw up a time bound Pandey, a retired IAS officer of the 1984 batch, plan of action. GAURAVUttar Pradesh IAS cadre, as Election Commissioner. ●● The Constitution (73rd Amendment) Act, 1992 ●● In the Election Commission, Pandey will have a has added a new part I consisting of 16 Articles little under three years in office and will retire and the Eleventh Schedule to the Constitution. in February 2024. ●● The 73th Amendment envisages the Gram Sabha ●● Pandey has been appointed to the position left as the foundation of the Panchayat Raj System vacant by former Chief Election Commissioner to perform functions and powers entrusted to it Sunil Arora’s retirement. by the State Legislatures. ●● The restores the three-member commission to ●● Panchayats constitute the third tier of govern- its full strength, which will now oversee the ment in the rural areas and represents the first next set of crucial assembly elections in Uttar level of Government interaction for over 60 per Pradesh, Punjab, Goa, Manipur and Uttarakhand cent of the Indian populace. next year.

●● Chief Election Commissioner Sushil Chandra ●● Article 85 says the President can summon a and Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar are session of Parliament “at such time and place as the other two members on the panel. he thinks fit”. Thus, a session can be called on About ECI the recommendation of the government, which ●● The Election Commission of India (ECI) is a decides its date and duration. self-governing constitutional body set up on ●● Article 85 only requires that there should not January 25 1950. be a gap of more than six months between two ●● It is responsible for holding election process in sessions of Parliament. India as per the Constitution of Indi(a) ●● There is no minimum number of days that ●● The Election Commission of India administers Parliament is required to meet in a year. The the election process from the President of India power to convene a session of Parliament rests to the State Legislative Assembly. with the government. ●● As per Article 324 of the Indian Constitution, ●● The decision is taken by the Cabinet Commit- ECI has the supervisory and directional control tee on Parliamentary Affairs, which currently of the complete process election to Parliament comprises nine ministers, including those for and Legislature of every State and to the office Defence, Home, Finance, and Law. of the President and the Vice-President of Indi(a) ●● The decision of the Committee is formalised by the President, in whose name MPs are sum- Session of Parliament moned to meet for a session. Why in News ●● India does not have a fixed parliamentary calen- Govt hopeful of holding monsoon session of Parlia- dar. By convention, Parliament meets for three ment on schedule in July. sessions in a year. Important Points ●● The longest, the Budget Session, starts towards ●● The government is hopeful that the Monsoon the end of January, and concludes by the end Session of Parliament will begin on its normal of April or first week of May. schedule in July. ●● The session has a recess so that Parliamentary ●● Since the pandemic began, three sessions of Committees can discuss the budgetary propos- Parliament were curtailed and the winter ses- als. sion last year had to be cancelle(d) ●● The second session is the three-week Monsoon ●● Parliamentary StandingGAURAV Committee meetings IAS are also expected to resume from the third week Session, which usually begins in July and fin- of June, ishes in August. ●● The authorities are confident of holding the ●● The parliamentary year ends with a three session in July itself as most of the parliamen- week-long Winter Session, which is held from tarians, staff members of both Lok Sabha and November to December. Rajya Sabha secretariats and other stakeholders Karbi Anglong peace accord have received at least one dose of coronavirus vaccine Why in News ●● Article 85: Sessions of Parliament, prorogation Rengma Naga People’s Council demands Autono- and dissolution mous District ‘bifurcating’ Karbi Anglong.

Important Points People’s Liberation Army (UPLA) and three ●● With signing of the proposed Karbi Accord factions of Karbi People’s Liberation Tiger expected soon, the Rengma Naga People’s (KPLT). Council (RNPC) has demanded for “creation of ●● NSCN put on record that it would not accept Rengma Hills Autonomous District bifurcating alienation of Nagas’ ancestral land which is from Karbi Anglong” district. tantamount to undermining the spirit of the ●● The RNPC has submitted a memorandum to Indo-Naga political talks. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma Breach of privilege motion putting forth its demand of creation of an Why in News Autonomous District for the “Rengmas and non-Karbis”. CPI MP Binoy Viswam has filed a breach of privilege movement against the Lakshadweep Administrator. ●● The RNPC alleged that the Government’s announcement of signing of proposed Karbi Important Points Accord has “pushed the Rengmas into the dark ●● CPI MP Binoy Viswam has filed a breach of side of democracy which the government fails privilege movement against the Lakshadweep to see”. Administrator Praful K. Patel for denying him ●● The RNPC, in the memorandum, has mentioned permission to go to the islands. two of their main demands – immediate cre- ●● Praful K. Patel also stopped CPI MP from ation of Rengma Hills Autonomous District assembly his cadre and other people of the with Headquarters at Phentecho by upgrading island amidst rising resentment concerning the the existing Bokajan Sub-division and creation insurance policies of the brand new adminis- of an MLA seat reserved for the Rengmas. trator. ●● NSCN-IM (The National Socialist Council of What is parliamentary privilege? Nagaland )stated any agreement that victimize ●● Parliamentary privilege refers to rights and the Rengma Nagas would not be acceptable immunities enjoyed by Parliament as an institu- to the nagas in general and to the NSCN in tion and MPs in their individual capacity, with- particular. out which they cannot discharge their functions ●● Land alienation is the major point of conflict as entrusted upon them by the Constitution. in the Northeast, particularly Assam and Are these parliamentary privileges defined under Nagalan(d) law? ●● The issue in focus isGAURAV Karbi Anglong, erstwhile ●● According IAS to the Constitution, the powers, priv- known as Rengma Hills. Rengma Hills are made ileges and immunities of Parliament and MP's the victims of aggressive influx of outsiders for are to be defined by Parliament. No law has so vested interests. far been enacted in this respect. In the absence ●● Government of India (GoI) and state govern- of any such law, it continues to be governed by ment of Assam finalizing the proposal to create British Parliamentary conventions. Karbi-Anglong Autonomous Territorial Council What is breach of privilege? (KAATC) in Karbi Anglong. ●● A breach of privilege is a violation of any of ●● It is an agreement to appease the six (6) rebel the privileges of MPs/Parliament. Among other outfits like Karbi Longri North Cachar Hills things, any action 'casting reflections' on MPs, Liberation Front (KLNLF),People’s Democratic parliament or its committees; could be consid- Council of Karbi Longri (PDCKL), United ered breach of privilege.

●● This may include publishing of news items, THE Citizenship Act 1955 editorials or statements made in newspaper/ Acquisition of Citizenship magazine/TV interviews or in public speeches. 1. Citizenship by birth ●● Article 105 of the Constitution expressly men- 2. Citizenship by descent tions two privileges, that is, freedom of speech in Parliament and right of publication of its 3. Citizenship by registration proceedings. 4. Citizenship by naturalisation Citizenship Applications 5. Citizenship by incorporation of territory Why in News Termination of Citizenship MHA invites citizenship applications for non-Muslim 1. Renunciation of citizenship refugees from Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh in 2. Termination of citizenship 13 districts. 3. Deprivation of citizenship Important Points PAC meeting ●● The Union Home Ministry has issued a notifi- Why in News cation under the 2009 rules of the Citizenship Act, 1955. Congress leader Adhir Chowdhury led PAC meet ●● Notification asked non-Muslims belonging turns ugly over Covid jab agenda to Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan and Important Points residing in 13 districts of Gujarat, Rajasthan, ●● India’s vaccine policy has become a polarising Chhattisgarh, Haryana and Punjab to apply for political issue. Against the larger backdrop of a Indian citizenship. supply constraint, a debate has raged over the ●● The fresh order is in no way connected to the approval, purchase, prioritisation, pricing, and Citizenship Amendment Act passed in 2019 as administration of vaccines. the rules under it are yet to be framed by the ●● The Public Accounts Committee of Indian government. Parliament could not arrive at a decision on ●● The Union home ministry issued the notifi- whether to examine the production, purchase cation for immediate implementation of the and distribution of Covid-19 vaccines after order under the Citizenship Act 1955 and Rules members failed to reach unanimity on the framed under the law in 2009. subject. ●● This benefit is extended to minorities from ●● 2021 is the centenary year of the Public Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh who Accounts Committee that was established dur- fulfil all conditionsGAURAV applicable to any foreign IAS ing the British Raj in 1921. citizen seeking citizenship by naturalisation after a minimum of 11 years of residency in ●● The first meeting of the reconstituted Public Indi(a) Accounts Committee of Parliament witnessed unsavoury scenes with the Bharatiya Janata ●● Under the CAA, the period for this category Party and Janata Dal (United) members object- was cut to five years. ing to chairman Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury’s ●● According to the CAA, Indian citizenship will “political comments” criticising the government be given to non-Muslim persecuted minorities Covid vaccine policy. from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan -- ●● Chowdhury is learnt to have proposed that Hindu, Sikh, Jain, Buddhist, Parsi and Christian Covid vaccine procurement and distribution be -- who had come to India till December 31, taken up as an agenda item for PAC investiga- 2014. tion for the current year.

●● The agenda was not accepted because there was ●● The court said that the cases would be closed no consensus on the same. Under PAC rules only after Italy paid the compensation amount - consensus is mandatory to take up any subject. 100m rupees ($1.3m; £1m) - that was mutually ●● The PAC members said their objection was agreed between the two countries. to the “political statement the chairman was ●● The two marines were guarding an Italian oil making at a platform which is not meant for tanker off the coast of the south-western state political point scoring.” of Kerala in 2012 when they fired on the boat ●● This was the first meeting of any parliamentary carrying the fishermen. panel since the second Covid wave hit Indi(a) About Public Accounts Committee ●● The Public Accounts Committee is charged with a critical function of the legislature - overseeing government finances. ●● The PAC holds ministries accountable to the audit reports of the Comptroller and Auditor General, inquires into whether government funds were spent for purposes for which they were allocated, and into the reasons for any excess expenditure by government bodies. ●● By convention, the chairperson of the committee is an opposition MP. Members are elected to the committee for a period of one year. The PAC is formed every year with strength of not more than 22 members of which 15 are from Lok Sabha and 7 from Rajya Sabh(a) Italian marines Why in News India closes criminal cases in 2012 shooting against Italian Marines ●● The marines were arrested by Indian authorities in 2012 and were charged with murder. But Important Points GAURAVIndia ruled IAS out using the death penalty if they ●● India's Supreme court has closed criminal cases were found guilty. against two Italian marines accused of killing two Indian fishermen in February 2012. ●● With the trial pending, the two men were held ●● Last year, an international arbitration court said in custody in India for some years before being that Salvatore Girone and Massimiliano Latorre allowed to return to Italy - Latorre went back are entitled to immunity from prosecution. But in 2014 and Girone in 2016. the panel also said India was entitled to claim ●● The jailing of the marines led to a diplomatic compensation. row between India and Italy, and in 2015, the ●● The Indian government decided to accept the two countries took the case to the Permanent ruling and petitioned India's top court to close Court of Arbitration (PCA) in Hague. the pending cases.

●● In July last year, the PCA said the marines were Important Points immune to prosecution in India but should face ●● The Union government’s invitation to 14 key trial in Italy. political leaders from Jammu and Kashmir for a ●● Rome has also insisted that as the shooting took meeting with the Prime Minister in the national place in international waters, the men should capital this week has led to speculation about be tried in Italy. But India argued it had juris- possible scheduling of the Assembly elections. diction. ●● What is delimitation? ●● The PCA, however, ordered Italy to pay compensation to India "for loss of life, physical ●● Delimitation is the act of redrawing boundaries injuries, material damage to the vessel and of an Assembly or Lok Sabha seat to represent moral harm suffered by the commander and changes in population over time. crew of the fishing vessel". ●● The exercise is carried out by a Delimitation Article 142: Commission, whose orders have the force of ●● The Government of India urged the Court to law and cannot be questioned before any court. invoke the extraordinary power under Article ●● The objective is to redraw boundaries (based on 142 of the Constitution to quash the criminal the data of the last Census) in a way so that the cases against Marines, as the international population of all seats, as far as practicable, be tribunal under the United Nations Convention on Law of Seas had ruled that India lacks the the same throughout the State. jurisdiction to criminally prosecute them. ●● Aside from changing the limits of a constitu- About Permanent Court of Arbitration ency, the process may result in change in the ●● Established by treaty at the First Hague Peace number of seats in a state. Conference in 1899, the Permanent Court of ●● Assembly seats in J&K were delimited in 1963, Arbitration is the oldest global institution for 1973 and 1995. the settlement of international disputes. ●● The last exercise was conducted by the Justice ●● The Court offers a wide range of services for (retired) K K Gupta Commission when the state the resolution of international disputes which was under President’s Rule and was based on the parties concerned have expressly agreed to the 1981 census, which formed the basis of the submit for resolution under its auspices. state elections in 1996. ●● The Permanent CourtGAURAV of Arbitration has no IAS sitting judges: the parties themselves select the ●● There was no census in the state in 1991 and arbitrators. no Delimitation Commission was set up by the state government after the 2001 census as the ●● The Court also provides arbitration in disputes between international organisations and between J&K Assembly passed a law putting a freeze states and international organisations. on the fresh delimitation of seats until 2026. Delimitation in Jammu and Kashmir ●● On March 6, 2020, the government set up the Delimitation Commission, headed by retired Why in News Supreme Court judge Ranjana Prakash Desai, With the Centre having called for a meeting, a look which was tasked with winding up delimitation at how delimitation is carried out, and the status of in J&K in a year. the exercise in Jammu and Kashmir.

4. Which of the following statements are correct MCQs Based on Polity and Governance regarding Public Accounts Committee? 1. The PAC consist of not more than 22 mem- 1. Under which article of Indian Constitution the bers of which 15 are from Rajya Sabha and Parliament has the right to make any provi- 7 from Lok Sabha sion concerning the acquisition and termination of citizenship? 2. The Public Accounts Committee is charged with a critical function of the legislature (a) Article 12 (b) Article 11 overseeing government finances (c) Article 10 (d) Article 9 3. The Members of PAC are elected for a period 2. Consider the following statements of one year 1. The 73th Amendment envisages the Gram Select the correct answer using the code given Sabha as the foundation of the Panchayat below Raj System (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 and 3 only 2. Panchayats constitute the third tier of govern- (c) 1 and 3 only (d) All of the above ment 5. Which among the following duties lie outside 3. Panchayats are responsible for delivery of basic Part IV-A of the Indian Constitution? services as enshrined under article 243G of 1. To pay taxes the Constitution of India Select the correct answer using the code given 2. To cast Vote below 3. To promote family planning (a) 1 and 2 only 4. To abide by the National Anthem (b) 2 and 3 only Select the correct answer using the codes given below (c) 1 and 3 only (a) 1 and 2 only (d) All of the above 3. Consider the following statements regarding (b) 2 only Election Commission of India (c) 1, 2 and 3 only 1. ECI is a self-governing constitutional body (d) 3 and 4 only set up on January 25 1952 Explanation 2. It is a Multi-member body responsible for holding election process in India as per the GAURAV1. (b) Article IAS11 Constitution of India 3. As per Article 324, ECI has the supervisory Under article 11: The Parliament has the right to and directional control of the complete make any provision concerning the acquisition process election to Parliament, Legislature, and termination of citizenship and any other President and the Vice-President of India matter relating to citizenship. Select the correct answer using the code given below 2. (d) All of the above

(a) 1 and 2 only 1. The 73th Amendment envisages the Gram (b) 2 and 3 only Sabha as the foundation of the Panchayat Raj (c) 1 and 3 only System. (d) All of the above

of which 15 are from Lok Sabha and 7 from 2. Panchayats constitute the third tier of Rajya Sabha government 2. The Public Accounts Committee is charged 3. Panchayats are responsible for delivery of with a critical function of the legislature basic services as enshrined under article overseeing government finances 243G of the Constitution of India 3. The Members of PAC are elected for a period 3. (b) 2 and 3 only of one year 1. ECI is a self-governing constitutional body 5. (c) set up on January 25 1950 Option 1, 2 and 3 are correct: The list of 2. It is a Multi-member body responsible for fundamental duties under part IV-A of Indian holding election process in India as per the Constitution is not exhaustive as it does not cover Constitution of India some important duties like casting vote, paying 3. As per Article 324, ECI has the supervisory taxes, family planning and so on. and directional control of the complete Duty to pay taxes was recommended by the process election to Parliament, Legislature, Swaran Singh Committee. President and the Vice-President of India. Option 4 is incorrect: To abide by the Constitution 4. (b) 2 and 3 only and respect its ideals and institutions, the National 1. The PAC consist of not more than 22 members Flag and the National Anthem is a fundamental duty covered under article 51A.

GAURAV IAS

Litoria mira ●● It is to note that Litoria mira bears resemblance Why in News with the common green tree frog of Australia- also known as Litoria cerulean. In the rainforests of New Guinea, a species of frog ●● According to the report, Litoria mira can be lives that looks like it has been made of chocolate. differentiated from all other Litoria due to its Important Points unique combination of webbing on hand, large ●● First spotted by an Australian scientist, Steve size, limbs that are relatively short and robust as well as a small violet patch of skin which is Richards, in 2016, a report noted that the frog present on the edge of its eyes. could be a new species and is being considered as an addition to the knowns of the animal ●● It is likely that both (chocolate frog from New kingdom. Guinea and the Australian green tree frog) were linked by land around 2.6 million years ago and ●● Some specimens have been taken for genetic share biotic elements. tests and research on the cocoa-coloured frogs. Addu Atoll ●● The frogs are now called Litoria mira and the Why in News name has been inspired by the Latin adjective mirum. The Maldives has made no decision on opening an Indian consulate in its southern Addu Atoll. ●● Mirum means surprised or strange and the name fits perfectly for the new species of frog that have surprised scientists. ●● The frog species are considered a member of the predominantly Australian Litoria genus of tree frogs. GAURAV IAS

Important Points ●● Maldives President said that the Maldives has made no decision on opening an Indian consulate in its southern Addu Atoll after the Indian Cabinet cleared a proposal for it.

●● President Solih’s comments appeared to keep ●● The new parks would help to promote conser- the option open, amid an ongoing “#SaveAddu” vation efforts and aid tourism and agriculture social media campaign by a section of Mal- sectors in the state. divians sceptical of another Indian mission ●● Assam now is the state with the second highest presence, in addition to the Embassy in Male. number of national parks in the country, after ●● Legislators from Addu and local body repre- Madhya Pradesh’s 11. sentatives — from the ruling coalition widely ●● The Union Territory of Andaman and Nicobar perceived as India-friendly — have pledged has nine national parks. support to the initiative. ●● The 111.942-sqkm Dehing Patkai wildlife sanc- ●● Apart from its strategic location in the Indian tuary (notified in 2004) is located inside the Ocean, Addu is the second largest city in the larger Dehing Patkai Elephant Reserve. archipelago, home to over 30,000 people. ●● It spreads across Dibrugarh, Tinsukia and ●● The Addul Atoll Biosphere reserve is composed of 30 islands in the southmost sector of the Mal- Sivasagar districts of Upper Assam rich in coal dives. Of these 30 island, 17 are uninhabited. and oil. ●● Within the biosphere reserve there are a large ●● It is believed to be the last remaining contigu- variety of ecosystems including lagoons, reef ous patch of lowland rainforest area in Assam. passes, seagrass beds, sandbanks, coral islands, ●● Known for its elephant population, Dehing Pat- lush tropical vegetation, mangroves, wetlands, kai has 47 mammal species, 47 reptile species brackish lakes locally known as kilhis, agricul- and 310 butterfly species. tural land and residential areas. ●● The area is especially a draw for ornithologists ●● Ecosystems found in this biosphere reserve since it is said to have the highest concentration including seagrass and mangroves function as of the rare endangered White Winged Wood carbon sinks and combat the effects of climate Duck. change. ●● The Raimona national park is surrounded by ●● Addu Atoll is divided by four channels Gan the Phipsoo Wildlife Sanctuary in Bhutan to its Kandu, Viligilikandu, Maakanda and Kodakanda north, the Buxa Tiger Reserve in West Bengal and the island are formed by the peripheral reef. to its west and the Manas National Park to its Dehing Patkai and Raimona east. Why in News GAURAV●● With eleven IAS different forest types and subtypes, Two new national parks, Dehing Patkai and Rai- Raimona national park is home to the golden mona, notified in Assam langurs, elephants, tiger, clouded leopard, Important Points several species of orchids and has more than 150 species of butterflies, 170 species of birds ●● Assam’s Dehing Patkai wildlife sanctuary, in besides 380 species of plants. the eye of a controversy last year following allegations of illegal coal mining has notified Pran Vayu Devta Pension Scheme as a national park. Why in News ●● The announcement comes shortly after Raimona Pran Vayu Devta Pension Scheme and Oxy Van reserve forest in western Assam’s Kokrajhar (Oxygen Forests) were announced by Haryana Gov- district was upgraded to a national park earlier. ernment on the occasion of World Environment Day.

Important Points ●● Oxy Van, Panchkula, will be established in Bir ●● Amid the ongoing pandemic, several states Ghaggar over an area of 100 acres to create including Haryana witnessed a crisis of medical Mother Nature’s green lungs so that residents oxygen that was needed for severely ill Covid- of Panchkula can breathe in fresh oxygen. 19 patients. ●● Oxy Van, Karnal, shall come up along the Old ●● To avoid such a deficit in the future, the Hary- Badshahi Canal (also known as Mughal Canal), ana government has come out with what it says on an area of 80 acres, covering a total length is a “unique and first of its kind initiative”. of 4.2 km. ●● “Pran Vayu Devta Pension Scheme”, and Oxy Reward for rescuing gharials Van (Oxygen Forests) were schemes announced by Haryana Government on the occasion of Why in News World Environment Day. Odisha forest department announces cash reward for Pran Vayu Devta Pension Scheme (PVDPS): rescuing gharials. ●● The Haryana government has taken an initiative Important Points to honour all those trees which are of the age of ●● The Mahanandi Wildlife Division in Odisha 75 years and above and have served humanity announced a cash reward of Rs 1,000 for res- throughout their life by producing oxygen, cuing gharials, a critically endangered crocodile reducing pollution, providing shade and so on. species, and informing wildlife personnel. ●● Such trees will be identified throughout the state and these will be looked after by involving ●● The division will also provide compensation to local people in this scheme fishermen, whose fishing nets are destroyed by gharials. ●● For maintenance of trees older than 75 years, a “pension amount” of Rs 2,500 would be given ●● The announcement of the cash award is an per year in the name of PVDPS. effort to conserve the gharials in the Mahanadi ●● This ‘tree pension’ shall continue to increase river basin. every year, on lines similar to the Old Age ●● The population of gharials in the area was on a Samman Pension Scheme in the state. decline over the last few years and had reduced ●● The Forest Department had commissioned a sur- to just eight in January 2021. vey to identify the old trees. Village panchayats ●● It spiked to 36 when 28 gharials were born last will now be paid Rs 2,500 as ‘pension’ per tree month in the Satkosia gorge of Mahanadi at for their upkeep. GAURAVTikarpada, IAS Angul district. The breeding of these Oxy Van (Oxygen Forest): reptiles in their natural conditions occured after ●● Oxy Van are identified pieces of land, on which years. as many as 3 crore trees would be planted. The ●● The gharial is listed in schedule 1 of the Wild- Oxy Vans will occupy 10 per cent of the 8 lakh life (Protection) Act, 1972 and also described hectares of land across Haryana. as critically endangered on the International ● Haryana governemnt has decided to launch ● Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Oxy Van as a result of vehicular and indus- Threatened Species. trial pollution in urban areas resulting in heat Island Effect and bad air quality; the cities, and ●● Their habitat is threatened because of human towns urgently need Mother Earth’s green lungs encroachment and fishing activities. They are to reduce the heat effect and improve the air genetically weaker than salt water crocodiles quality. and muggers, wildlife experts said.

●● Gharials caught accidentally in fishing nets ●● To analyse the rings, core samples are extracted are either hacked to death or have their snout using a borer that’s screwed into the tree and chopped off by fishermen. pulled out, bringing with it a straw-size sample Heritage Trees of wood. The hole in the tree is then sealed to prevent disease. Why in News ●● A heritage tree will get special protection. The Maharashtra govt’s proposed amendment for Crucially, the tree’s age will determine the protection of ‘heritage trees’ number of trees to be planted as part of the Important Points compensatory plantation – that is anyone cut- ●● The Maharashtra government will make amend- ting a heritage tree will need to plant trees in ments to the Maharashtra (Urban Areas) Pro- the same numbers as the cut tree’s age. tection and Preservation of Trees Act of 1975, ●● According to the current Compensatory Planta- to introduce provisions for the protection of tion in the state, one sapling has to be planted ‘heritage trees’. for each tree that is cut. ●● The Maharashtra Cabinet also green-lighted the ●● In Mumbai, as per the Tree Authority set up formation of the Maharashtra Tree Authority in in 1976, to help in regulating the felling of local civic bodies and councils which will take trees and providing for the planting of an ade- all decisions regarding the protection of trees. quate number of new trees through the Garden What are heritage trees? Department, the compensation ratios are 1:3. ● Under the proposed amendment, a tree with ● ●● The Supreme Court, in March this year, an estimated age of 50 years or more shall be addressed the issue of the value of trees, beyond defined as a heritage tree. the wood/timber cost. ●● It may belong to specific species, which will be ●● In a matter about the felling of trees of ages notified from time to time. up to 150 years for Road Over Bridges and ●● Experts believe that in addition to the age, the road-widening projects in West Bengal, the state climate change department (which will SC ordered setting up a seven-member expert be implementing the Tree Act), should also committee to “prescribe a mechanism for consider a tree’s rarity, its botanical, historical, assessment of both intrinsic and instrumental religious, mythological and cultural importance value of the trees. in defining a heritage tree. Rare Earth Metals ●● The local Tree AuthorityGAURAV will have to ensure IAS tree census to be carried out every five years Why in News along with counting of heritage trees. America and other countries to reduce import Age determination of the tree dependency on China for rare earth minerals ●● The most common method of determining the Important Points age of the tree is Dendrochronology – or tree- ●● At a time of frequent geopolitical friction ring dating also called growth rings. among Europe, USA and China, Washington ●● Each year, roughly a tree adds to its girth, the and Brussels want to avoid chinese dependency new growth is called a tree ring. By counting by investing in the market for 17 minerals the rings of a tree, the age can be determined. with unique properties that today are largely However, the process is invasive. extracted and refined in China.

●● The expected exponential growth in demand ●● India has the world’s fifth-largest reserves of for minerals that are linked to clean energy is rare earth elements, nearly twice as much as putting more pressure on US and Europe to take Australia, but it imports most of its rare earth a closer look at where the vulnerabilities are needs in finished form from its geopolitical and the concrete steps these governments can rival, China. take. ●● Rare earth elements contribute a total value ●● In 2019, the United States imported 80 percent of nearly $200 billion to the Indian economy. of its rare earth minerals from China. The India today has granted government corpo- European Union gets 98 percent of its supply rations such as Indian Rare Earths Limited from China. (IREL) a monopoly over the primary mineral ●● Amid the transition to green energy in which that contains REEs: monazite beach sand, found rare earth minerals are sure to play a role, in many coastal states. China's market dominance is enough to sound ●● IREL produces rare earth oxides (low-cost, an alarm in western capitals. low-reward “upstream processes”), selling these Importance of Rare Earth Minerals to foreign firms that extract the metals and manufacture end products (high-cost, high-reward ●● Rare earth minerals with names like neo- “downstream processes”) elsewhere. dymium, praseodymium and dysprosium are crucial to the manufacture of magnets used in ●● IREL’s focus is to provide thorium — extracted industries of the future like wind turbines and from monazite — to the Department of Atomic electric cars. Energy. ●● They are already present in consumer goods ●● The key challenge for India today is to scale such as smartphones, computer screens and up upstream and downstream processes in the telescopic lenses. rare earths value chain. ●● Others have more traditional uses, like cerium Southern Ocean for glass polishing and lanthanum for car cata- Why in News lysts or optical lenses. National Geographic recognises ‘Southern Ocean’ as ●● Earlier the US Senate passed a law aimed globe’s fifth ocean at improving American competitiveness that Important Points includes provisions to improve critical minerals supply chains. ●● The National Geographic magazine has recognised the ‘Southern Ocean’ as the world’s fifth ●● Washington aims GAURAVto boost production and IAS ocean. processing of rare earths and lithium, another key mineral component, while working with ●● Usually, the magazine has followed the Inter- allies and partners to increase sustainable global national Hydrographic Organization (IHO) on supply and reduce reliance on geopolitical com- marine names. petitor like china. ●● The magazine says the Southern Ocean is the ●● The best hope for boosting American produc- only ocean ‘to touch three other oceans and tion can be found at the Mountain Pass mine to completely embrace a continent rather than in California. being embraced by them’. Its northern limit is a latitude of 60 degrees south. ●● Today China controls nearly 90% of global rare earth production, posing a vulnerability to ●● It is also defined by its Antarctic Circumpolar manufacturing industries. Current that was formed 34 million years ago.

●● Communities living across almost two billion The current flows from west to east around degraded hectares of land include some of the Antarctic world’s poorest and marginalised. ●● The Southern Ocean is home to large popula- ●● The report, titled Generation Restoration: tions of whales, penguins and seals. But indus- Ecosystem restoration for People, Nature and trial fishing on species like krill and Patagonian Climate, said: toothfish had been a concern for decades, the magazine said. ●● The conservation of healthy ecosystems while vitally important — is now not enough. We are ●● It hoped to draw attention to these issues, in using the equivalent of 1.6 Earths to maintain addition to the rapid warming of the Southern our current way of life and ecosystems cannot Ocean due to global warming by officially keep up with our demands. Simply put, we need changing the name of the waterbody. more nature. ●● According to the magazine, the IHO too had ●● The global terrestrial restoration costs not recognised ‘Southern Ocean’ as a distinct body including costs of restoring marine ecosystems of water surrounding Antarctica in 1937 but had are estimated to be at least $200 billion per repealed the same in 1953. year by 2030. ●● However, the United States Board on Geo-

graphic Names as well as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, both recog- nize the term ‘Southern Ocean’. Degraded land Why in News According to UN Report, Degraded land the size of China needs to be restored by 2030 to prevent biodiversity loss. Important Points ●● Humanity needs to urgently restore at least one ●● The report outlined that every $1 invested billion hectares of degraded land in the next in restoration creates up to $30 in economic decade if it wants to avoid biodiversity loss, a benefits. new report by the UNGAURAV Environment Programme IAS (UNEP) and the Food and Agriculture Organ- ization (FAO). ●● The report added that the world was using 1.6 times the amount of services that nature could provide. It noted that conservation efforts alone were insufficient to prevent large-scale ecosystem collapse. ●● These ecosystems include farmlands, forests, grasslands and savannahs, mountains, peatlands, urban areas, freshwaters and oceans.

●● Ecosystem restoration is the process of halting Important Points and overturning degradation, resulting in cleaner ●● In a major experiment in rubber farming, Rub- air and water, extreme weather mitigation, bet- ber Board has started field trial of world’s first ter human health and recovered biodiversity, genetically modified (GM) rubber in Assam. including improved pollination of plants. ●● Developed in the biotechnology laboratory at ●● The report added that degradation is already Rubber Research Institute of India (RRII) in affecting the well-being of an estimated 3.2 Puthuppally, Kottayam, the new variety was billion people that is 40 per cent of the world’s planted at board’s Sarutari research farm in population. Guwahati. ●● Every single year, the earth loses ecosystem ●● The Rubber Board launched the field trial of the GM Rubber in Assam a decade after Kerala services worth more than 10 per cent of our Government denied permission for the same cit- global economic output. ing its possible adverse impact on environment The report noted that: and apprehension on GM crops. ●● Restoration through agroforestry alone has the ●● Having the capacity to withstand adverse cli- potential to increase food security for 1.3 billion matic conditions, the GM variant is expected people. Restoring the populations of marine fish to give a big boost to rubber production in the to deliver a maximum sustainable yield could country. increase fisheries production by 16.5 million ●● It’s a major achievement as India is the first to tonnes, an annual value of $32 billion. plant a GM crop on the soil, while others are ●● Actions that prevent, halt and reverse degrada- still keeping them in labs. tion can deliver one-third of the mitigation in ●● The new crop will greatly benefit farmers once global temperatures that are needed by 2030. the trials are over. It will resist reduced moisture or drought, low and high temperatures as well ●● The report has been launched as the UN Dec- as high light intensity. ade on Ecosystem Restoration 2021-2030 gets underway. ●● The new crop is expected to cut short the maturity period of rubber, indicating chances ●● FAO and UNEP also launched the ‘Digital Hub’ for early yielding as well. for the UN Decade, which included the ‘Frame- ●● The GM rubber was developed by inserting the work for EcosystemGAURAV Restoration Monitoring’. IAS MnSOD gene, which was taken from the rubber ●● The framework enables countries and commu- plant itself. nities to measure the progress of restoration ●● Its copies were multiplied in the laboratory and projects across key ecosystems, helping to build reinserted into a cell of the rubber plant which ownership and trust in restoration efforts. was then regenerated into a full plant that is Rubber Crop now planted. Why in News ●● There are no plant species in India that can breed with natural rubber.GM Rubber is the World's First Genetically Modified Rubber Crop second genetically modified crop to start field Planted in Assam. trial in India after Bt. Cotton.

4. Consider the following statements MCQs Based on Geography, Ecology and Environtment 1. Pran Vayu Devta Pension Scheme was announced by Uttar Pradesh government on 1. Consider the following statements regarding the occasion of World Environment Day Litoria mira 2. For maintenance of trees older than 100 1. It is a new species of frog that looks like it years, a “pension amount” of Rs 2,500 would has been made of chocolate. be given per year in the name of PVDPS. 2. Litoria mira bears resemblance with the Select the correct answer using the code given common green tree frog of Australia known below as Litoria cerulean (a) 1 only Select the correct answer using the code gven (b) 2 only below (c) 1 and 2 only (a) 1 only (d) Neither 1 nor 2 (b) 2 only 5. Which of the following statements are correct? (c) 1 and 2 only 1. Odisha forest department announces cash (d) Neither 1 nor 2 2. Consider the following statements reward for rescuing gharials 2. The gharial is listed in schedule 1 of the Wild- 1. There are 104 existing national parks in India life (Protection) Act, 1972 2. Assam has the highest number of national parks in India 3. Gharials are described as critically endangered Select the correct answer using the code given species below Select the correct answer using the code given below (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (a) 1 and 2 only (c) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 and 3 only (d) Neither 1 nor 2 (c) 1 and 3 only 3. Which of the following statemetns is/are (d) 1, 2 and 3 correct? 1. Gujarat governmentGAURAV has proposed amendment IASExplanation for protection of ‘heritage trees’ 2. Under the proposed amendment, a tree with an 1. (c) 1 and 2 only estimated age of 100 years or more shall be defined as a heritage tree 1. It is a new species of frog that looks like it Select the correct answer using the code given below has been made of chocolate. (a) 1 only 2. Litoria mira bears resemblance with the (b) 2 only common green tree frog of Australia known (c) 1 and 2 only as Litoria cerulean. (d) Neither 1 nor 2

2. (a) 1 only 1. Pran Vayu Devta Pension Scheme was announced by Haryana government on the 1. There are 104 existing national parks in occasion of World Environment Day India. 2. For maintenance of trees older than 75 years, 2. Madhya Pradesh has the highest number of a “pension amount” of Rs 2,500 would be national parks in India. given per year in the name of PVDPS.

3. (d) Neither 1 nor 2 5. (d) 1,2 and 3

1. Maharashtra government has proposed 1. Odisha forest department announced cash amendment for protection of ‘heritage trees’. reward for rescuing gharials

2. Under the proposed amendment, a tree with 2. The gharial is listed in schedule 1 of the an estimated age of 50 years or more shall be Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 defined as a heritage tree. 3. Gharials are described as critically endangered 4. (d) Neither 1 nor 2 species

GAURAV IAS

4 Economy

Digital Taxes ●● These include policies that extend existing Why in News rules to ensure a neutral tax policy toward all businesses, such as when a country extends its U.S. sets and suspends tariffs on six countries over Value-added Tax to include digital services. digital taxes. ●● It also includes special corporate tax rules Important Points designed to identify when a digital company ●● The United States announced 25% tariffs on has a permanent establishment even without a over $2 billion worth of imports from six physical presence. countries over their digital services taxes, but Bitcoin immediately suspended the duties to allow time for international tax negotiations to continue. Why in News ●● The U.S. Trade Representative’s office had El Salvador becomes first country to adopt bitcoin approved the threatened tariffs on goods from as legal tender. Britain, Italy, Spain, Turkey, India and Austria after a “Section 301” investigation concluded that their digital taxes discriminated against U.S. companies. ●● USTR published lists of imports from the six countries that would face tariffs if international tax negotiations fail to reach a solution that prohibits countries from imposing unilateral digital services taxes. ●● USTR would impose 25% tariffs on about $887 million worth of goods from Britain and on about $386 million worth of goods from Italy. ●● USTR would impose tariffs on goods worth $323 million from GAURAVSpain, $310 million from IAS Turkey, $118 million from India. ●● The potential tariffs, based on 2019 import data, aim to equal the amount of digital taxes that would be collected from U.S. firms. ●● U.S. tariffs threatened against France over its digital tax were suspended earlier this year. What Are Digital Taxes? ●● Digital taxes are the taxes which include policies that specifically target businesses which provide products or services through digital means using a special tax rate or tax base.

Important Points their cost of production. ●● El Salvador has become the first country in the Important Point world to adopt bitcoin as legal tender. ●● The government has raised the minimum sup- ●● El Salvador congress approved President Nayib port price (MSP) of paddy marginally by Rs Bukele’s proposal to embrace the cryptocurrency 72 per quintal to Rs 1,940 per quintal for the in an effort to promote “financial inclusion”, 2021-22 crop year, while the rates of pulses, investment and economic development. oilseeds and cereals were hiked substantially. ●● Despite concerns the move could complicate ●● Among the commercial crops, the MSP of cot- talks with the IMF in which El Salvador is ton was increased by Rs 211 per quintal to Rs seeking a financing programme worth more 5,726 for medium staple variety, and by Rs 200 than $1bn. per quintal to Rs 6,025 for long-staple variety ●● The two-page proposal was passed by congress of cotton for the 2021-22 crop year (July-June). with 62 of the assembly’s 84 votes. The con- ●● The government is regularly fixing the MSP for gress is controlled by the president’s party and both rabi and kharif crops. his allies. ●● Procurement of wheat and rice is happening ●● The cryptocurrency’s use as legal tender – through state-run Food Corporation of India alongside the US dollar – will go into law in (FCI), while pulses and oilseeds through other 90 days and the bitcoin/dollar exchange rate agencies. will be set by the market. ●● For the 2021-22 crop year, the government ●● Salvadorans will be able to pay their taxes in raised the MSP of paddy (common variety) by bitcoin and “every economic agent” will be Rs 72 to Rs 1,940 per quintal from Rs 1,868 required to accept the cryptocurrency as pay- per quintal in the year-ago period. ment unless they lack access to the necessary ●● The MSP of Grade A variety of paddy has also technology. been increased by Rs 72 to Rs 1,960 per quintal ●● Bitcoin is the name of the best-known cryp- this year from Rs 1,888 per quintal last year. tocurrency, the one for which blockchain tech- ●● Paddy is the main kharif crop, the sowing of nology was invented. which has begun with the onset of the South- ●● A cryptocurrency is a medium of exchange, west monsoon. such as the US dollar, but is digital and uses ●● The Met Department has projected a normal encryption techniques to control the creation monsoon for the June-September period. of monetary units and to verify the transfer of ●● Among coarse cereals, the government increased funds. the MSP of jowar (hybrid) by Rs 118 to Rs ●● A blockchain is a GAURAVdecentralized ledger of all 2,738 per IAS quintal from Rs 2,620 per quintal last transactions across a peer-to-peer network. year. Using this technology, participants can confirm ●● The government increased the support price of transactions without a need for a central clear- bajra by Rs 100 to Rs 2,250 per quintal from Rs ing authority. 2,150 per quintal last year, while ragi support ●● Potential applications can include fund transfers, price has been increased by Rs 82 to Rs 3,377 settling trades, voting, and many other issues. per quintal from Rs 3,295 per quintal last year. Centre hikes MSP for kharif crops for ●● The support price of maize has been increased 2021-2022 marginally by Rs 20 to Rs 1,870 per quintal Why in News for the 2021-22 crop year from Rs 1,850 per quintal last year. Cabinet has approved the MSP of 14 kharif crops and farmers would get 50 to 85 percent returns over ●● To boost pulses and oilseeds production and

reduce the country's dependence on imports, of the government's $3.4 billion MSME Com- the government increased the support price of petitiveness - A Post-COVID Resilience and tur by Rs 300 to Rs 6,300 per quintal for the Recovery Programme (MCRRP). 2021-22 crop year from Rs 6,000 per quintal ●● The $500 million Raising and Accelerating last year. Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) ●● Among kharif-grown oilseeds, the government Performance (RAMP) Program is the World increased the support price maximum in the Bank's second intervention in this sector. case of sesamum by Rs 452 to Rs 7,307 per ●● The first being the $750 million MSME Emer- quintal for the 2021-22 crop year, against Rs gency Response Program, approved in July 6,855 per quintal last year. 2020. It aims to address the immediate liquidity ●● To attain self-sufficiency in the production of and credit needs of millions of viable MSMEs pulses, a special Kharif strategy has been pre- severely impacted by the ongoing COVID-19 pared for implementation in the ensuing Kharif pandemic. 2021 season. ●● RAMP Program will support the Government ●● A detailed plan for both area expansion and of India's efforts to increase MSME produc- productivity enhancement for tur, moong and tivity and financing in the economic recovery urad has been formulated. phase, crowd in private sector financing in the ●● Under the strategy, all the available high-yield- medium term. ing varieties (HYVs) of seeds will be distributed ●● It will help to tackle long-standing financial free of cost to increase the area through the sector issues that are holding back the growth intercropping and sole crop. of the MSME sector. ●● Similarly, for oilseeds, the government has ●● The RAMP program will provide better access approved an ambitious plan for the free dis- to finance and working capital for MSMEs by tribution of high-yielding varieties of seeds to strengthening the receivable financing markets. the farmers for the Kharif season 2021 in the ●● It will help to scale up online dispute resolution form of mini-kits. mechanisms to address the problem of delayed ●● The special Kharif programme will bring an payments. These efforts are expected to improve additional 6.37 lakh hectare area under oilseeds the cost-effectiveness, quality, accessibility, and is likely to produce 120.26 lakh quintals impact, and outreach of such schemes. of oilseeds and edible oil amounting to 24.36 ●● The RAMP program will intensify efforts to lakh quintals. support firms to return to pre-crisis produc- India's MSME sector tion and employment levels, while laying the foundations for longer-term productivity-driven Why in News GAURAVgrowth andIAS generation of much-needed jobs in World Bank approves $500 mn program to help the MSME sector. boost India's MSME sector. ●● MSME sector is the backbone of the country's Important Points economy, contributing 30 percent of India's ●● The World Bank's Board of Executive Directors GDP and 40 percent of exports. Out of some 58 has approved a $500 million program to support million MSMEs in India, more than 40 percent India's nationwide initiative to revitalise the lack access to formal sources of finance. MSME sector, which has been heavily impacted ●● The RAMP program will support the Govern- by the COVID-19 crisis. ment's MCRRP objective of providing a more ●● The program targets improvements in the per- comprehensive and coordinated Centre-State formance of 555,000 MSMEs and is expected approach to improve MSME sector productiv- to mobilise financing of $15.5 billion, as part ity, reduce the gender gap, and promote more environmentally sustainable investments.

●● The $500 million loan from the International Indian Economy, a Mumbai-based private think Bank for Reconstruction and Development tank. (IBRD), has a maturity of 18.5 years including ●● China has recorded a 18.3 per cent growth in a 5.5-year grace period. January-March 2021. India's GDP India ties with Russia Why in News Why in News India's GDP grows 1.6% in fourth quarter, contracts India ties with Russia as fourth largest forex reserves 7.3% in FY21 holder. Important Points ●● Amid coronavirus pandemic, India's gross domestic product (GDP) grew at 1.6 per cent in the January-March quarter of fiscal year 2020-21. ●● But it witnessed a contraction of 7.3 per cent for the entire fiscal year, showed government data. ●● This is the first full-year contraction in the Indian economy in the last four decades since 1979-80, when GDP had shrunk by 5.2 per cent. ●● This is also the second straight quarter of expansion since India exited a rare recession. ●● India’s GDP figures showed the growth at 3 per cent in Q4 of FY20, while growth for FY20 came at 4 per cent, an 11-year low. ● According to the National Statistical Office ● Important Points data, gross value added (GVA) growth in the manufacturing sector accelerated to 6.9 per cent ●● India's foreign exchange reserves crossed $600 in the fourth quarter of 2020-21 compared to a for the first time. As the foreign exchange contraction 4.2 per cent a year ago. reserves stood at $605 billion, almost tying with Russia as the fourth largest reserve holder in ●● Real GDP or Gross Domestic Product (GDP) at the world. Constant (2011-12) Prices in the year 2020-21 is now estimated to attain a level of Rs 135.13 ●● While India’s forex reserve was $605.008 trillion, as against the First Revised Estimate of billion, Russia’s was $605.2 billion.It took just GDP for the year 2019-20GAURAV of Rs 145.69 trillion. about a yearIAS for the reserves to rise by $100 billion. ●● The growth in GDP during 2020-21 is estimated at -7.3 per cent as compared to 4.0 per cent in ●● The huge accumulation of reserves has also 2019-20. improved India’s import cover substantially. ●● GDP is derived as the sum of the gross value ●● At the end of December 2020, the foreign added (GVA) at basic prices plus all taxes on exchange reserves cover of imports increased products less all subsidies on products. The to 18.6 months. total tax revenue used for GDP compilation ●● The ratio of short-term debt (original maturity) includes non-GST revenue and GST revenue. to reserves has declined to 17.7 per cent at ●● Unemployment in India is soared to a near one- end-December 2020. year high of 14.73% in the week ending May ●● The ratio of volatile capital flows including 2021, according to the Centre for Monitoring cumulative portfolio inflows and outstanding

short-term debt to reserves was 67.0 per cent Mallya and Modi live in the UK, Choksi is in at end-December 2020. Antigua and Barbuda after running away from ED transfers assets India. Why in News Who is a Fugitive Economic Offender (FEO)? ED transfers assets worth Rs 8,442 crore from Mal- ●● An FEO is defined by The Fugitive Economic lya, Choksi and Nirav Modi to PSU banks. Offenders (FEO) Act, 2018 as, Any individual against whom a warrant for arrest in relation Important Points to a scheduled offence has been issued by any ●● The Directorate of Enforcement transferred court in India, who seized assets worth Rs 8,441.5 crore to public sector banks that lost money due to frauds by (i) has left India so as to avoid criminal prosecution; Vijay Mallya, Nirav Modi, and Mehul Choksi. or ●● The three fugitives defrauded public sector (ii) being abroad, refuses to return to India to face banks of Rs 22,586 crore, out of which 80.45 criminal prosecution percent amounting to Rs 18,170 crore - which ●● The FEO Act aims “to provide for measures to included assets worth Rs 969 crore located in deter fugitive economic offenders from evading foreign countries. the process of law in India by staying outside ●● Assets worth Rs 9,371 crore have been trans- the jurisdiction of Indian courts, to preserve the ferred to banks so far, accounting for 40 percent sanctity of the rule of law in India and for mat- of their losses. ters connected therewith or incidental thereto”. ●● Economic offences relate to fraud, counterfeit- ing, money-laundering, tax evasion, etc. Among the laws available for prosecuting these offences are The Prevention of Money-Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, The Benami Properties Trans- actions Act, 1988, and The Companies Act, 2013. ●● Sections of The Indian Penal Code, 1860 and The Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, also cover offences such as forgery and cheating. GAURAVMCQs IAS Based on Indian Economy 1. The higher the Cash Reserve Ratio leads to: (a) Lower the liquidity with the banks (b) Higher the liquidity with the banks (c) No effect on the liquidity with the banks (d) Zero liquidity with the banks ●● Prosecution complaints have been filed against 2. 2nd Narasimham committee is related with all the three accused after completion of the (a) Agricultural reform Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) (b) Industrial reform investigation. (c) Banking sector reform ●● Extradition requests have been sent to coun- (d) Educational reform tries where the three accused are living. While

84, First Floor, Bada Bazar, Near Kotak Mahindra Bank, Old Rajinder Nagar, New Delhi-110060 Mob.- (011) 46082452, +91-9958159667, +91-9818733402, +91-9667663402 E-mail: [email protected] | www.gauravias.com 32 | Current Affairs – July, 2021 3. Which of the following will lead to reduction Explanation in inflation? 1. Reducing incomes 1. (a) Lower the liquidity with the banks 2. Reducing government Expenditure Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) is one of the main 3. Reducing exports components of the RBI’s monetary policy, which Select the correct answer using the code given is used to regulate the money supply, level of below inflation and liquidity in the country. The higher (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 and 3 only the CRR, the lower is the liquidity with the banks (c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1,2 and 3 only and vice-versa. 4. Which of the following statements is/are cor- 2. (c) Banking sector reform rect regarding overhead cost? 1. Overhead costs refer to all direct expenses of 2nd Narasimham committee gives emphasis on running a business. the Banking sector reform. 2. The overhead costs depend on the nature of 3. (d) the business. 3. Overhead cost is also known as Fixed cost All of the above statements will lead to reduction Select the correct answer using the code given in inflation. Inflation is basically decline of below purchasing power of a given currency over time. (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 and 3 only 4. (b) 2 and 3 only (c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3 Overhead costs refer to all indirect expenses of 5. In India, Foreign Direct Investment is prohib- running a business. The overhead costs depend ited in which of the following sectors? on the nature of the business and it is also known 1. Construction of township as fixed cost. Overhead costs provide critical 2. Atomic Energy support for the profit-making activities. 3. Gambling and Betting 5. (d) 4. Lottery Select the correct answer using the codes given In India FDI is prohibited in the following below: sectors: Gambling and Betting. Lottery business (including government/ private lottery, online (a) 1 and 4 only (b) 2 and 4 only GAURAVlotteries etc)IAS Activities /sectors not open to private (c) 1 and 3 only (d) 2, 3 and 4 sector investment (eg, atomic energy /railways)

5G technology Advantages of 5G Why in News ●● Data rates of about 10 Gbps or higher can be Actress Juhi Chawla files plea against 5G technol- achieved. which provides the user with better ogy in Delhi HC. experience and download and upload speeds will be higher. Important Points ●● High resolution and bi-directional large band- ●● Juhi Chawla approached the Delhi High Court width shaping. against the setting up of 5G wireless networks ●● 5G mm-wave can achieve latency rate less than in the country, raising issues related to the 1 ms. which will leads to immediate connection radiation impact. establishment and release with the 5G network ●● She said that these 5G plans threaten to provoke by 5G smartphones. Hence traffic load is serious, irreversible effects on humans and per- decreased on 5G. manent damage to all of the Earth’s ecosystems. ●● According to her if the telecommunications industry’s plans for 5G come to fruition, no person, no animal, no bird, no insect and no plant on Earth will be able to avoid exposure, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, to levels of RF radiation that are 10x to 100x times greater than what exists today. What is 5G? ●● 5G is a unified, moreGAURAV capable air interface. It IAS has been designed with an extended capacity to enable next-generation user experiences, empower new deployment models and deliver new services. ●● Possible to provide a uniform, consistent and ●● With high speeds, superior reliability and uninterrupted, connectivity across the world. negligible latency, 5G will expand the mobile ●● Technology is able to gather all networks on ecosystem into new realms. 5G will impact one platform. every industry, making safer transportation, ●● 5G offers 10x decrease in latency, 100x traffic remote healthcare, precision agriculture, digi- capacity 10x connection density, 3x spectrum tized logistics — and more — a reality. efficiency, and 100x network efficiency.

●● Easily manageable with the previous genera- ●● India begins culling poultry amid bird flu fears tions. ●● H10N3 is low pathogenic, which means it Disadvantages of 5G causes relatively less severe disease in poultry ●● 5G types of equipment are costly, requires and is unlikely to cause a large-scale outbreak. skilled engineers to install and maintain a 5G ●● According to WHO, the source of the patient’s network. This increases the cost of 5G deploy- exposure to the H10N3 virus is not known at ment and maintenance phases this time, and no other cases were found in ●● 5G technology is still under process and emergency surveillance among the local pop- research is going on. ulation. At this time, there is no indication of human-to-human transmission. ●● 5G smartphones are costly. Hence it will take time for the common man to make use of 5G ●● There have been no significant numbers of technology. human infections with bird flu since the H7N9 strain killed around 300 people during 2016- ●● Security and privacy issue yet to be solved in 2017. 5G Covid-19 variant ●● Coverage distance of up to 2 meters (in indoor) and 300 meters (in outdoor) can be achieved Why in News due to higher losses at high frequencies (such According to WHO only one strain of Covid-19 as millimeter waves). 5G mm-wave may suffer variant found in India is matter of concern. many such losses (penetration loss, attenuation Important Points due to rain, foliage loss, etc. ●● The WHO said that only one strain of the H10N3 bird flu Covid-19 Delta variant first detected in India Why in News was now considered "of concern", while two China reports first human case of H10N3 bird flu. other strains had been downgraded. Important Points ●● The B.1.617 variant of the virus, which has in part been blamed for India's explosive outbreak, ●● A 41-year-old man in China’s eastern province has been dubbed a triple mutant variant since it of Jiangsu has been confirmed as the first is split into three lineages. human case of infection with a rare strain of bird flu known as H10N3. ●● Many different strains of bird flu are present in China and some GAURAVsporadically infect people, IAS usually those working with poultry. The risk of a large-scale spread is extremely low. ●● There is no indication that H10N3 can spread easily in humans. No other cases of human infection with H10N3 have been reported globally. ●● Russia sees first case of H5N8 bird flu in humans ●● Dutch and German farms cull flocks over bird flu

●● The B.1.617 variant was first detected in India Important Points and was divided into three lineages – B.1.617.1, ●● China’s Experimental Advanced Superconduct- B.1.617.2 and B.1.617.3. ing Tokamak (EAST), which mimics the energy ●● Delta has been declared as Variant of Concern generation process of the sun, set a new record (VOC) by the World Health Organisation after it ran at 216 million degrees Fahrenheit (WHO). First detected in India, the Delta vari- (120 million degrees Celsius) for 101 seconds. ant is now dominant in the UK. It has displaced ●● For another 20 seconds, the “artificial sun” the B.1.1.7 (Alpha) strain 2 that emerged in the also achieved a peak temperature of 288 mil- UK with the second Covid wave in late 2020. lion degrees Fahrenheit (160 million degrees Celsius), which is over ten times hotter than ●● The B.1.617.2 variant remains a VOC, along the sun. with three other variants of the virus that ●● The latest feat by Chinese scientists is a sig- are seen as more dangerous than the original nificant step in the country’s quest to unlock version because they are more transmissible, clean and limitless energy, with minimal waste deadly or have the potential to get past some products. vaccine protections. China’s ‘artificial sun’ EAST: ●● The Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST) reactor is an advanced nuclear fusion experimental research device located at the Institute of Plasma Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (ASIPP) in Hefei, China. ●● The purpose of the artificial sun is to replicate the process of nuclear fusion, which is the same reaction that powers the sun. ●● The EAST is one of three major domestic tokamaks that are presently being operated cross the country. Apart from the EAST, China is currently operating the HL-2A reactor as well as J-TEXT. ●● In December 2020, HL-2M Tokamak, China’s GAURAVlargest andIAS most advanced nuclear fusion ●● B.1.617.2 strain poses greater health risk experimental research device, was successfully ●● B.1.617.2 remains variant of concern and powered up for the first time. labelled variant Delta. It has become evident ●● Since it first became operational in 2006, the that greater public health risks are currently EAST has set several records for the duration associated with B.1.617.2 of confinement of exceedingly hot plasma. China’s artificial sun ●● The EAST project is part of the International Why in News Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) facility, which will become the world’s largest For 20 seconds, China's 'artificial sun' EAST nuclear fusion reactor when it becomes opera- achieved a peak temperature of 288 million degrees tional in 2035. Fahrenheit.

●● The project includes the contributions of several ●● The missions were decided on because of countries, including India, South Korea, Japan, their potential scientific value and feasibility Russia and the United States. of development plans following a peer review process. ●● The EAST Tokamak device is designed to replicate the nuclear fusion process carried out ●● Second planet from the sun and the hottest in by the sun and stars. the solar system, Venus has a surface temperature of 500C - high enough to melt lead. ●● Nuclear fusion is a process through which high ● The mission, named Davinci+ (Deep Atmosphere levels of energy are produced without generat- ● Venus Investigation of Noble gases, Chemistry, ing large quantities of waste. and Imaging), will examine the planet’s atmos- ●● Previously, energy was produced through nuclear phere in order to see how it evolved and assess fission — a process in which the nucleus of a whether it ever had an ocean. heavy atom was split into two or more nuclei ●● It’s expected the mission will return the first of lighter atoms. ever high resolution images of the planet’s ●● Unlike fission, fusion also does not emit green- geological features, with scientists believing house gases and is considered a safer process they may be comparable to continents on Earth. with lower risk of accidents. Once mastered, ●● The second mission, Veritas (Venus Emissiv- nuclear fusion could potentially provide unlim- ity, Radio Science, InSAR, Topography, and ited clean energy and very low costs. Spectroscopy), aims to understand more about ●● For nuclear fusion to occur, tremendous heat the geologic history of Venus by mapping its and pressure are applied on hydrogen atoms so surface. that they fuse together. ●● Currently, NASA is flying two Discovery missions. The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, ●● The nuclei of deuterium and tritium — both launched in 2009, has spent more than a dec- found in hydrogen — are made to fuse together ade mapping the moon’s surface. The InSight to create a helium nucleus, a neutron along with Lander, launched in 2018, is studying the a whole lot of energy. Martian interior. Missions to Venus ●● In 2021, two more missions will launch: Lucy Why in News will study multiple asteroids and use them to NASA plans two missions to Venus for first time uncover secrets about the early solar system, while Psyche will visit a giant, extremely met- in decades GAURAV IAS al-rich asteroid of the same name. Important Points OneWeb ●● NASA has announced plans to send two new Why in News missions to Venus to examine the planet’s geological features and atmosphere. Bharti Global-backed OneWeb launches 36 LEO satellites ●● Due to launch between 2028 and 2030, the missions will be the first investigation of the Important Points planet in more than 30 years. ●● Bharti Global-backed OneWeb, which is a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite communications ●● The last US probe to the planet was the Magellan operator, has launched its next batch of 36 orbiter in 1990, though spacecraft from Japan satellites. and Europe have orbited Venus since then.

●● The satellites were launched by Arianespace ●● LEO satellite fleets and consequently, a signif- from the Vostochny cosmodrome in Russia. icant capital investment. Due to these costs, of With the latest launch, OneWeb’s total in-orbit the three mediums of Internet – fibre, spectrum constellation stands at 218 satellites. and satellite – the latter is the most expensive. ●● These would be a part of OneWeb’s 648 LEO Competitors satellite fleet that will look to deliver high- ●● OneWeb’s chief competitor is Starlink, a ven- speed, low-latency global connectivity by next ture led by Elon Musk’s SpaceX. year. ●● Starlink currently has 1,385 satellites in orbit ●● The launch represents the fourth in a five-launch and has already started beta testing in North programme that looks to fulfil the ‘Five to 50’ America and initiating pre-orders in countries service, which will enable OneWeb to offer like India. connectivity across the UK, Alaska, Northern ●● Starlink’s satellites fly closer to the earth and Europe, Greenland, the Arctic Seas and Canada. therefore, the company requires a larger fleet ●● OneWeb plans to make global services available to provide global connectivity than OneWeb. in 2022. The company has announced plans to Indian satellite internet market enter the Indian market by 2022. ●● The acquisition of OneWeb by Bharati Limited What is OneWeb? could arguably give it a distinct advantage in ●● OneWeb is a global communications company India and parts of Africa, in which another that aims to deliver broadband satellite Inter- Bharati company, Airtel, already has a signifi- net around the world through its fleet of LEO cant presence. satellites. ●● Currently, Starlink and OneWeb aim to launch LEO technology in India by 2022, with Amazon’s Project Kuiper ●● LEO satellites have been orbiting the planet also in talks to receive regulatory approval to since the 1990s, providing companies and indi- operate in the country. viduals with various communication services. Baby squids going to space ●● LEO satellites are positioned around Why in News 500km-2000km from earth, compared to sta- tionary orbit satellites which are approximately NASA is sending glow-in-the-dark baby squid and 36,000km away. water bears to the International Space Station ●● Latency, or the time needed for data to be sent Important Points and received, is contingentGAURAV on proximity. ●● NASA willIAS send 128 glow-in-the-dark baby ●● As LEO satellites orbit closer to the earth, they squids and some 5,000 tardigrades (also called are able to provide stronger signals and faster water bears) to the International Space Station speeds than traditional fixed-satellite systems. for research purposes. ●● Additionally, because signals travel faster ●● The tiny creatures are part of a cargo resupply through space than through fibre-optic cables, mission. they also have the potential to rival if not exceed ●● The rocket launched from NASA's Kennedy existing ground-based networks. Space Center in Florida — without any humans ●● LEO satellites travel at a speed of 27,000 kph aboard the Dragon cargo capsule. It marks and complete a full circuit of the planet in SpaceX's 22nd commercial resupply mission 90-120 minutes. to space.

●● The creatures will be part of scientific experi- areas, carrying out cutting edge research in ments which include studying how water bears various disciplines, including biology, human handle space, the possible effects of micrograv- physiology, and physical, material and space ity on symbiotic relationships, analyzing the science. formation of kidney stones and more. Covishield ●● The experiments are also aimed at better under- Why in News standing how beneficial microbes interact with animals, potentially leading to breakthroughs in Study finds that the covishield produces more anti- improving human health on Earth. bodies than Covaxin. ●● Newly-hatched bobtail squid will be used to Important Points study symbiotic relationships between benefi- ●● A pan-India study of healthcare workers who cial microbes and their animal hosts, and how had received both the shot revelead that the spaceflight alters this relationship, in order to covishield vaccine manufactured by the Serum develop protective measures for the health of Institute of India produces a greater number of future astronauts on long-term missions. antibodies than the Bharat Biotech’s covaxin. ●● Researchers hope that experiments involving ●● The study shows that both vaccines generated a their genome could help them understand the good immune system response among doctors stress factors affecting humans in space, in and nurses, but the level of antibody production order to counteract them. differed. ●● Also part of the resupply missions is an on-the- ●● The study tested the vaccines on 515 healthcare spot Butterfly IQ Ultrasound, which could workers (305 male, 210 female), finding that, provide key medical capabilities for future overall, both vaccines induced antibodies in 95 missions. per cent of participants. ●● New solar panels are also headed to the space ●● Around 98.1 percent of those vaccinated with station to increase the energy available for Covishield and 80 per cent of healthcare workers research and operations. who received Covaxin showed seropositivity. ●● A space station is essentially a large spacecraft ●● The seropositivity rate, which refers to the that remains in low-earth orbit for extended production of antibodies, as well as the amount periods of time. of anti-spike antibodies produced were signif- ●● It is like a large laboratory in space, and allows icantly higher in Covishield as compared to astronauts to come GAURAVaboard and stay for weeks Covaxin IASrecipients. or months to carry out experiments in micro- ●● The two vaccines are the most widely used in gravity. the country, which is struggling to ramp up the ●● The ISS has been in space since 1998, and production of doses to stave off a potential third has been known for the exemplary cooperation wave. between the five participating space agencies ●● So far, only 3.5 per cent of the population has that run it: NASA (United States), Roscosmos received both doses of either vaccine, while (Russia), JAXA (Japan), ESA (Europe), and close to 14 per cent have got at least one dose CSA (Canada). of either jab. ●● As per NASA, the floating laboratory has hosted ●● The scientists acknowledged in the paper that more than 3,000 research and educational inves- while the results may be surprising, to deter- tigations from researchers in 108 countries and mine whether they were a result of having

fewer Covaxin participants or intrinsic to the ●● Once launched on an Ariane 6 rocket, the nature of the doses themselves would require spacecraft will take about 15 months to reach more study. Venus and will take 16 more months to achieve ●● The study’s authors also noted that Covishield orbit circularisation. produced a strong immune response even after ●● The spacecraft will carry a range of instruments the first jab, while antibody production in to study the planet’s atmosphere and surface, Covaxin recipients was weaker after the first monitor trace gases in the atmosphere and dose but closed the gap after the second. analyse its surface composition. A radar pro- ●● The study also found that the People over the vided by NASA will help to image and map age of 60 or those with type 2 diabetes had a the surface. significantly lower antibody production. ●● At the core of the ESA’s mission is the question ●● Significantly, the study also found that break- of how Earth and Venus evolved so differently through infections — positive Covid-19 tests from each other considering that they are after two weeks of getting a jab — were lower roughly of the same size and composition. in Covaxin recipients at 2.2 per cent, while Cov- Venus is the hottest planet in the solar system ishield takers showed a breakthrough infection because of the heat that is trapped by its thick rate of 5.5 per cent. cloud cover. ●● This could indicate that Covaxin recipients may ●● What history did Venus experience to arrive be less likely to contract the disease after two at this state and does this foretell Earth’s fate doses. should it, too, undergo a catastrophic greenhouse European Space Agency’s EnVision mission effect? Is Venus still geologically active? Could to Venus it have once hosted an ocean and even sustained life? What lessons can be learned about the Why in News evolution of terrestrial planets in general, as After Nasa, ESA announces orbiter to study Venus, we discover more Earth-like exoplanets? these investigate drastic climate change on Earth's mys- are the key questions that ESA’s mission aims terious twin to answer. Important Points ●● EnVision will follow another ESA-led mission ●● After Nasa decided to send two missions to to Venus called ‘Venus Express’ (2005-2014) Earth's mysterious twin Venus, the European that focussed on atmospheric research and Space Agency (ESA), has also announced its pointed to volcanic hotspots on the planet’s own probe for the inhabitableGAURAV world. surface. IAS ●● EnVision will be the next orbiter to circle over ●● Other than this, Japan’s Akatsuki spacecraft Venus providing a holistic view of the planet has also been studying the planet’s atmosphere from its inner core to the upper atmosphere. since 2015. ●● While the two Nasa probes DAVINCI+ and About Venus VERITAS will enter the Venutian atmosphere, ●● Venus is the second-brightest object in the sky EnVision will determine how and why Venus after the moon. It appears bright because of its and Earth evolved so differently, even while thick cloud cover that reflects and scatters light. being in the habitable zone to the Sun. ●● Venus, which is the second closest planet to the ●● The agency is targeting a launch as soon as Sun, is called the Earth’s twin because of their 2030, similar to a timeline of the two Nasa similar sizes, the two planets have significant probes. differences between them.

●● Venus moves forward on its orbit around the ●● In 2018, Blue Origin was one of the ten compa- Sun but spins backwards around its axis slowly. nies selected by NASA to conduct studies and This means on Venus the Sun rises in the west advance technologies to collect, process and use and sets in the East. space-based resources for missions to the Moon ●● One day on Venus is equivalent to 243 Earth and Mars. days because of its backward spinning, opposite What is New Shephard? to that of the Earth’s and most other planets. ●● New Shephard has been named after astronaut Venus also does not have a moon and no rings. Alan Shephard – the first American to go to New Shephard space – and offers flights to space over 100 km above the Earth and accommodation for Why in News payloads. New Shephard, the rocket system designed to pro- ●● Essentially, it is a rocket system that has been vide cost-effective access to space. designed to take astronauts and research pay- Important Points loads past the Karman line – the internationally ●● Amazon founder and billionaire Jeff Bezos’s recognized boundary of space. space company called Blue Origin concluded ●● The idea is to provide easier and more cost-ef- the online auction for the first seat on New fective access to space meant for purposes Shephard, a rocket system meant to take tourists such as academic research, corporate technol- to space. ogy development and entrepreneurial ventures ●● Over 7,600 people registered from 159 coun- among others. tries to bid for the seat, which ultimately went ●● Apart from its academic and research-oriented for a winning bid of $28 million. goal, New Shephard will also allow space tour- ●● The winning bidder will get to fly aboard New ists to experience microgravity by taking them Shephard along with Bezos and his brother. 100 km above the Earth. Space tourism: ●● The first human flight will take on July 20, which marks the 52nd anniversary of Neil ●● Space tourism seeks to give laypeople the Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin’s moon landing. ability to go to space for recreational, leisure or business purposes. The idea is to make space ●● New Shephard completed its seventh test launch more accessible to those individuals who are successfully in October 2020 when it took off not astronauts and want to go to space for from Texas. GAURAVnon-scientific IAS purposes. ●● In 2004, test pilot Mike Melville became the first private astronaut to fly beyond the Karman Line, which is recognised as the edge of space. In 2008, the billionaire video game developer, Richard Garriott became the sixth private citizen to fly to space. PASIPHAE Why in News Polar-Areas Stellar-Imaging in Polarisation High-Ac- curacy Experiment (PASIPHAE) is an international collaborative sky surveying project.

Important Points ●● WALOP will operate on the principle that at ●● The development of a vital instrument, which any given time, the data from a portion of the will be used in upcoming sky surveys to study sky under observation will be split into four stars, is being led by an Indian astronomer. different channels. ●● The project has been funded by the world’s ●● Depending on the manner in which light passes leading institutions, signalling India’s growing through the four channels, the polarisation value expertise in building complex astronomical from the star is obtained. That is, each star will instruments. have four corresponding images which when What is PASIPHAE? stitched together will help calculate the desired ●● Polar-Areas Stellar-Imaging in Polarisation polarisation value of a star. High-Accuracy Experiment (PASIPHAE) is ●● WALOP and its predecessor RoboPol share the an international collaborative sky surveying single shot photometry principle. But the 200 kg project. weighing WALOP will be capable of observing ●● Scientists aim to study the polarisation in the hundreds of stars concurrently present both in light coming from millions of stars. the northern and the southern skies as opposed ●● The name is inspired from Pasiphae, the daugh- to RoboPol, which has a much smaller field of ter of Greek Sun God Helios, who was married view in the sky. to King Minos. Deep ocean mission ●● The survey will use two high-tech optical pola- Why in News rimeters to observe the northern and southern skies, simultaneously. Govt approves proposal to launch ‘deep ocean mission’ for resources, mineral study. ●● PASIPHAE will focus on capturing starlight polarisation of very faint stars that are so far Important Points away that polarisation signals from there have ●● The Centre approved a proposal to roll out a not been systematically studied. “deep ocean mission” to explore the deep ocean ●● The distances to these stars will be obtained for resources and develop deep-sea technologies from measurements of the GAIA satellite. for sustainable use of ocean resources. It will ●● By combining these data, astronomers will support the blue economy and take India into perform a maiden magnetic field tomography a new era. mapping of the interstellar medium of very ●● The proposal for launching the “deep sea mis- large areas of the sky using a novel polarime- sion” came from the Ministry of Earth Sciences. ter instrument knownGAURAV as WALOP (Wide Area IAS Linear Optical Polarimeter). ●● Under the mission, a mineral study will be conducted 6,000 metres deep in the ocean. What is WALOP? The mission will also study the changes, if any, ● Wide Area Linear Optical Polarimeter (WALOP) ● noticed due limited change. is an instrument, when mounted on two small optical telescopes, that will be used to detect ●● An advanced marine station will be set up for polarised light signals emerging from the stars ocean biology under the mission. There will along high galactic latitudes. also be an offshore thermal energy centre, which will help new emerging sectors. ●● A WALOP each will be mounted on the 1.3- metre Skinakas Observatory, Crete, and on the ●● After the US, Russia, France, Japan and China, 1-metre telescope of the South African Astro- India will be the sixth country to have this kind nomical Observatory located in Sutherland. of technology.

MCQs Based on Science and Technology 4. What is New Shephard? (a) It is a new mission of NASA to study Venus 1. Consider the following statements (b) It is a new mission of ISRO to study Mars 1. PASIPHAE is an international collaborative (c) It is the rocket system designed to provide ocean surveying project cost-effective access to space 2. PASIPHAE will focus on capturing starlight (d) It is a Military exercise conducted between USA and Australia recently polarisation 5. Consider the following statements 3. The name is inspired from Pasiphae, the 1. NASA has planned to send Davinci+ and daughter of Greek Sun God Helios, who was Veritas mission to study Jupiter married to King Minos Select the correct answer using the code given 2. Due to launch between 2028 and 2030, the below missions will be the first investigation of the planet in more than 30 years (a) 1 and 3 only (b) 2 and 3 only Select the correct answer using the code given (c) 1 and 2 only (d) 1, 2 and 3 below 2. Which of the following statements are the ad- (a) 1 only (b) 2 only vantages of 5G? (c) 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 1. High resolution and bi-directional large bandwidth shaping Explanation 2. The costing of 5G deployment and maintenance phase 1. (b) 2 and 3 only

3. It offers 10 x decreases in latency 1. PASIPHAE is an international collaborative Select the correct answer using the code given sky surveying project below 2. PASIPHAE will focus on capturing starlight (a) 1 and 3 only (b) 2 and 3 only polarisation (c) 1 and 2 only (d) All of the above 3. Which of the following statement is/are cor- 3. The name is inspired from Pasiphae, the rect regarding EnVision mission? daughter of Greek Sun God Helios, who was married to King Minos 1. NASA announcedGAURAV EnVision mission to study IAS Venus 2. (a) 1 and 3 only 2. EnVision will determine how and why Venus Advantages of 5G and Earth evolved so differently, even while being in the habitable zone to the Sun • Data rates of about 10 Gbps or higher can be Select the correct answer using the code given achieved. which provides the user with better below experience and download and upload speeds will be higher. (a) 1 only (b) 2 only • High resolution and bi-directional large (c) 1 and 2 bandwidth shaping. (d) Neither 1 nor 2

4. (c) • 5G mm-wave can achieve latency rate less than 1 ms. which will leads to immediate It is the rocket system designed to provide connection establishment and release with cost-effective access to space the 5G network by 5G smartphones. Hence Amazon founder and billionaire Jeff Bezos’s traffic load is decreased on 5G space company called Blue Origin concluded • Possible to provide a uniform, consistent and the online auction for the first seat on New uninterrupted, connectivity across the world. Shephard, a rocket system meant to take tourists to space. • Technology is able to gather all networks on one platform. The winning bidder will get to fly aboard New Shephard along with Bezos and his • 5G offers 10x decrease in latency, 100x traffic brother. capacity 10x connection density, 3x spectrum efficiency, and 100x network efficiency. 5. (b) 2 only

• Easily manageable with the previous 1. NASA has planned to send Davinci+ generations. and Veritas mission to Venus in ordeer to examine the planet’s geological features and 3. (b) 2 only atmosphere.

1. ESA announced EnVision mission to study 2. Due to launch between 2028 and 2030, the Venus missions will be the first investigation of the planet in more than 30 years. 2. EnVision will determine how and why Venus and Earth evolved so differently, even while being in the habitable zone to the Sun

GAURAV IAS

6 Social Issues

Indian Railway ●● Some major benefits that will flow out of the Why in News recognition by the Bureau of Indian Standards are: Indian Railways RDSO becomes first institution to ●● Larger participation of industry/vendors/tech- be declared SDO. nology developers/MSME’s in Indian Railways Important Point supply chain ●● Indian Railways Research Design & Standards ●● The competitiveness amongst the industry will Organization (RDSO) has recently become the increase nation’s first institution to be declared as Stand- ●● There will be a reduction in cost and quantum ard Developing Organization (SDO) under the improvement in the quality of product and mission called “One Nation One Standard” on services Bureau of Indian Standards. ●● There will be smooth induction of latest evolving ●● According to the Railway Ministry, this unique & emerging technologies on Indian Railways initiative under the Government of India is ●● Dependence on imports will reduce and “Make- going to set a template for all the rest of India’s in-India” will get a boost leading research and standard development organizations to follow and adapt world-class ●● Improved ease-of-doing-business standards. ●● RDSO will be recognized on international ●● BIS is an institution under the Department of standards-making bodies and there will be inte- gration with global supply chain/global trade Consumer Affairs. BIS, through this scheme, aims at aggregating as well as integrating the 8th Global Nitrogen Conference existing capabilities. Why in News ●● It helps to dedicate GAURAVdomain specific expertises 8th Global NitrogenIAS Conference Focuses on Sustain- that are available with the country’s various able Development Goals. organizations engaged in standards development Important Points in their specific sectors. ●● For the first time, the United Nations (UN) ●● It will allow the convergence of India’s all Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are the standard development activities resulting in main focus of the 8th triennial conference of the “One National Standard for One Subject”. International Nitrogen Initiative (INI). ●● The RDSO in Lucknow, which is the sole ●● Postponed from May last year due to the Research and Design Wing of the Railway COVID-19 pandemic, it is being held virtually Ministry, is one of the nation’s leading standard with over 800 scientists and other stakeholders formulating body undertaking standardization from over 60 countries. work for the railway sector.

●● Also, for the first time since the inception of INI in terms of improvement in their rankings from two decades ago, its conference being hosted 2019. by Germany’s Federal Environment Agency ●● Bihar, Jharkhand and Assam were the worst (Umweltbundesamt – UBA), with the support performing states in this year’s SDG India of the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Index 2020-21. Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety. ●● The Index for Sustainable Development Goals ●● INI conferences always brought together the (SDGs) evaluates progress of states and Union latest science to call for governmental action Territories (UTs) on various parameters includ- and evidence-based policies. ing health, education, gender, economic growth, ●● The increasing inter-governmental attention to institutions, climate change and environment. reactive nitrogen is evident from the programme ●● First launched in December 2018, the index posted on the conference website (ini2021.com). has become the primary tool for monitoring ●● The website also carries a draft of the “Berlin progress on the SDGs in India. It has also Declaration” for comments, which will be final- fostered competition among the states and UTs ized and adopted during the concluding session by ranking them on the global goals. of the conference. ●● Reactive nitrogen compounds like NOx, ammo- nia and the greenhouse gas nitrous oxide impact air, water and soil quality, health, biodiversity and climate change, among others. ●● These compounds are lost from fertilisers, manures and sewage as well as from fuel burning in transport and industry. Assessing and managing them sustainably will be crucial to achieve the 17 UN SDGs targeted for 2030. ●● South Asia is one of the global hotspots for nitrogen pollution. The Indian nitrogen assessment of 2017 has provided a huge impetus to the UN resolution, as well as to the ongoing South Asian nitrogen assessment. Millions of ●● The SDG India Index scores range between lives and livelihoodsGAURAV are affected by nitrogen 0–100, higherIAS the score of a State/UT, the pollution, apart from loss of fertilisers worth greater the distance to target achieved. billions of dollars from farms. ●● States and UTs are classified in four categories SDG index based on their SDG India Index score Why in News 1. aspirant: 0–49; 2. performer: 50–64; Kerala has retained the top rank in NITI Aayog's 3. front-runner: 65–99, SDG India Index 2020-21. 4. achiever: 100. Important Points ●● Currently, there are no states in the aspirant ●● Kerala has retained the top rank in NITI Aay- and achiever category; 15 states/UTs are in the og’s SDG India Index 2020-21, while Mizoram, performer category and 22 states/UTs in the Haryana, and Uttarakhand are the top gainers front runner category.

●● The index is developed in collaboration with the ●● From covering 13 Goals with 62 indicators in United Nations in India. It tracks the progress its first edition in 2018, the third edition of of all states and UTs on 115 indicators aligned the index covers 16 Goals on 115 quantitative with the National Indicator Framework (NIF) indicators. of the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Latest findings: Implementation. ●● The country’s overall SDG score improved by 6 points — from 60 in 2019 to 66 in 2020-21 — on accounts of improvement in performance in providing facilities including clean water and sanitation, affordable and clean energy among others. ●● While Kerala retained its rank as the top with a score of 75, Himachal Pradesh and Tamil Nadu both took the second spot with a score of 74. Bihar, Jharkhand and Assam were the worst performing states in this year’s India index. ●● Chandigarh maintained its top spot among the UTs with a score of 79, followed by Delhi (68). ●● Mizoram, Haryana and Uttarakhand are the top gainers in 2020-21 in terms of improvement in score from 2019, with an increase of 12, 10 and 8 points, respectively. 12th Chief Energy Ministerial conference Why in News India and UK launch new work stream to promote industrial energy efficiency at the 12th Chief Energy Ministerial. Important Points ●● India along with Govt. of United Kingdom launched new workstream to promote industrial energy efficiency under the Clean Energy GAURAVMinisterial’s IAS (CEM). ●● Industrial Deep Decarbonization Initiative (IDDI) co-ordinated by UNIDO , at the 12th Chief Energy Ministerial (CEM) . The IDDI initiative has been supported by Germany and Canada, with more countries expected to join soon. ●● The index is a key tool for focused policy dia- ●● The objective is to infuse green technologies logue, formulation and implementation through and stimulate demand for low-carbon industrial development actions, in line with the global material India is committed to cut emissions SDG framework. It helps in identifying crucial intensity per unit of GDP by 33 to 35% by gaps related to tracking the SDGs and the need 2030. for India to develop its statistical systems.

●● The commitment hinges on effective deploy- ●● Enhance clean energy supply ment of low carbon technologies in Energy ●● Expand clean energy access Intensive Sectors like Iron & Steel, Cement and Anti-hail Guns Petrochemicals. About Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM): Why in News ●● The Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM) is a The Himachal Pradesh government will be test the high-level global forum to promote policies and use of indigenously developed ‘anti-hail guns’. programs that advance clean energy technology, Important Points to share lessons learned and best practices, and ●● To help out horticulturists who face crop dam- to encourage the transition to a global clean age due to hailstorms, the Himachal Pradesh energy economy. government will be testing the use of indige- ●● Initiatives are based on areas of common inter- nously developed ‘anti-hail guns’. est among participating governments and other What are anti-hail guns? stakeholders. ●● An anti-hail gun is a machine which generates ●● The Framework for the Clean Energy Minis- shock waves to disrupt the growth of hailstones terial, reaffirmed at the twelfth Clean Energy in clouds. Ministerial in 2021, defines the CEM governance How do anti-hail guns ‘prevent’ a hailstorm? structure and outlines the mission statement, objectives, membership, and guiding principles. ●● An anti-hail gun comprises a tall, fixed structure somewhat resembling an inverted tower, 12th Clean Energy Ministerial several metres high, with a long and narrow ●● The Twelfth Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM12), cone opening towards the sky. hosted by Chile, convened at a critical moment ●● The gun is “fired” by feeding an explosive to determine the medium and long-term role mixture of acetylene gas and air into its lower of clean energy in supporting the economic chamber, which releases a shock wave (waves recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, which travel faster than the speed of sound, building momentum towards the commitment such as those produced by supersonic aircraft). to cut emissions ahead of COP26 taking place in November 2021, and continuing the shift ●● The shock waves supposedly stop water drop- towards cleaner economies, raising ambition lets in clouds from turning into hailstones, so and accelerating clean energy transitions. that they fall simply as raindrops. ●● The theme of CEM12GAURAV was “Ambition into ●● Hail is IASproduced by cumulonimbus clouds, Action-- Turning a Year of Ambition into a which are generally large and dark and may Decade of Delivery''. The CEM12 programme cause thunder and lightning. included over 40 high-level events and culmi- ●● In such clouds, winds can blow up the water nated with its Ministerial Plenary. droplets to heights where they freeze into ice. ●● CEM12 was 100% virtual and open to all, pro- The frozen droplets begin to fall but are soon viding a platform for all to demonstrate clean pushed back up by the winds and more droplets energy leadership to a global audience. freeze onto them, resulting in multiple layers of ice on the hailstones. The CEM is focused on three global climate and energy policy goals: ●● This fall and rise is repeated several times, till the hailstones become too heavy and fall down. ●● Improve energy efficiency worldwide

An anti-hail gun past use: taken a series of measures across its plant loca- ●● In 2010, the state government had imported tions on sound water management. three anti-hail guns from the United States and ●● NTPC will further imbibe the 3 R’s (Reduce, installed them in three separate villages in the Reuse and Recycle) for water conservation apple-growing belt of Shimla, where hailstorms and management while carrying out its core in summer cause severe damage to the fruit business activity of power generation. every year. Orphaned Children ●● Two of the machines are currently functional Why in News while the third one was rejected by local residents. Supreme Court urged to stop illegal adoption of children orphaned by COVID-19. NTPC joins UN Important Points Why in News ●● The Supreme Court agreed to intervene the plea NTPC joins UN’s CEO Water Mandate to step up of the National Commission for Protection of work on water conservation. Child Rights (NCPCR). Important Points ●● Earlier NCPCR sounded the alarm on a spate NTPC Ltd has become a signatory to the prestig- of complaints about illegal adoption of children ious United Nations Global Compact’s CEO Water orphaned by COVID-19 through private indi- Mandate. vidual and organisations. ●● The CEO Water Mandate is a UN Global Com- ●● The NCPCR informed SC that it has received pact initiative to demonstrate commitment and many complaints against private individuals efforts of companies to better their water and and organisations which have been actively sanitation agenda as part of long term Sustain- collecting data on these children while claiming able Development Goals. that they want to assist families and children in adoption. ●● The CEO Water Mandate is designed to assist companies in the development, implementation, ●● The adoption of orphaned/abandoned/surren- and disclosure of comprehensive water strate- dered children is lawful only after the adoption gies and policies. procedure as given under the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015. ●● It also provides a platform for companies to partner with like-minded businesses, UN agen- ●● The NCPCR statistics shows that 3,621 children cies, public authorities,GAURAV civil society organiza- were orphaned, IAS 26,176 children lost either par- tions, and other key stakeholders. ent and 274 children were abandoned between April 1, 2021 to June 5, 2021. ●● NTPC is India’s largest power utility under Ministry of Power. ●● The Commission is receiving intimation regarding disclosure of children’s identity/ information ●● The NTPC is committed to proactively address by government authorities to private NGOs and water sustainability issues through imple- organizations. menting Water Policy, which will serve as a directive for establishing water management ●● The NCPCR urged the court to direct the States strategies, systems, processes, practices and and Union Territories to not place any confi- research initiatives. dential information about children in the public domain which would make them susceptible to ●● Power Ministry has said that NTPC has already trafficking.

●● The Commission is also concerned to note that ●● Education minister Ramesh Pokhriyal 'Nishank' several NGOs are seeking monetary support in congratulated all three institutions for securing the name of children impacted by COVID. a place among the top 200 global universities. ●● The Commission asked the court to direct the ●● The US-based Massachusetts Institute of States and UTs to create State Juvenile Justice Technology (MIT) has been ranked number 1 Funds to enable the credit of donations/ con- university in the world, with an overall score tributions/ subscriptions directly in the notified of 100. account. ●● University of Oxford has been ranked second, QS World University Rankings 2022 while Stanford University has secured third Why in News position. Three Indian institutions among top-200; IISc-Ben- ●● Asia's two top universities are National Univer- galuru tops globally in research. sity of Singapore (11th) and Nanyang Techno- logical University (12th). Important Points ●● Australia's four top universities rise, with Aus- ●● Three Indian universities are ranked in the top- tralian National University re-entering the top 200 in QS World University Rankings 2022. 30. ●● IIT-Bombay securing 177th position, IIT-Delhi at 185th, and IISc-Bengaluru placed on 186th WHO Global Tuberculosis Programme position. Why in News ●● IISc-Bengaluru has been ranked number 1 in Union Health Minister addresses the WHO Global the world for research, shows the QS Ranking Tuberculosis Programme on ‘Global Drive to Scale data. up TB Prevention’. Important Points ●● Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare participated in a virtual high-level event on ‘Global Drive to Scale up TB Prevention’ organized by WHO Global Tuberculosis Pro- gramme through video conference. ●● The purpose of the special high-level event was to discuss key actions needed at the global and GAURAVcountry-level IAS to scale up TB prevention strategies and drive progress towards achieving the 2022 UN High-Level Meeting target on TB preventive treatment. ●● Affirming India’s commitments, the Union Health Minister said that India is aggressively implementing its fully-funded National Strate- gic Plan to End TB. India is embarking on a ●● QS Quacquarelli Symonds, global higher edu- new TB preventive treatment to combat and end cation analysts, released the 18th edition of the TB by 2025. world's international university rankings.

●● India also stands committed to rapidly achieve ●● people who have not received appropriate treat- national scale-up of TB preventive treatment ment for TB in the past (TPT) and activities to achieve the UN High- ●● TB can cause: Level Meeting (UNHLM) targets of 40 million ●● persistently swollen lymph nodes, or “swollen persons started on TB treatment and 30 million glands” abdominal pain joint or bone pain con- on TPT globally in the remaining 18 months. fusion a persistent headache seizures ●● The expanding access to accurate TB screening ●● Two tests can show whether TB bacteria are and diagnostic tools like NAAT, digital X-ray present: with Artificial Intelligence aided detection, high ●● The TB skin test quality drugs, digital technologies multi-sec- toral community engagements, integrating TB ●● The TB blood test services across all levels of the health system TB vaccination are all aligned to rapidly push down the TB ●● In some countries, children receive an anti-TB incidence and mortality curve in India. vaccination — the bacillus Calmette–Guérin ●● Union Territory of Lakshadweep and the Dis- (BCG) vaccine — as part of a regular immu- trict of Budgam in Jammu & Kashmir have been nization program. certified as the 1st TB Free Union Territory and Children and Digital Dumpsites report 1st TB Free District in the country in 2020. Why in News ●● About WHO Global Tuberculosis Programme According to WHO, over 18 million kids at e-waste ●● The WHO Global TB Programme aims to dumpsites face threat of health hazards advance universal access to TB prevention, Important Points care and control, guide the global response to ●● More than 18 million children and adolescents threats, and promote innovation. working at e-waste dumpsites in low- and About Tuberculosis middel-income countries are potentially at the ●● Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease that risk of severe health hazards, the World Health usually affects the lungs, though it can affect Organization said in its recent report. any organ in the body. It can develop when ●● The new report, titled Children and Digital bacteria spread through droplets in the air. Dumpsites and published, underlined the risk ●● M. tuberculosis bacteria cause TB. They can children working in the informal processing spread through the air in droplets when a per- faced due to discarded electronic devices or son with pulmonaryGAURAV TB coughs, sneezes, spits, e-waste. IAS laughs, or talks. ●● As many 18 million children — as young as ●● TB can be fatal, but in many cases, it is pre- five years — and about 12.9 million women ventable and treatable. work at these e-waste dumpsites ever year, the report said. The risk of developing active TB is higher Trusted Source in: ●● The e-waste from high-income countries is dumped in the middle- or low-income countries ●● anyone with a weakened immune system for processing every year. ●● anyone who first developed the infection in the ●● This e-waste is dismantled and recycled by past 2–5 years children. It contains over 1,000 precious metals ●● older adults and young children and other substances like gold, copper, mercury ●● people who use injected recreational drugs and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.

84, First Floor, Bada Bazar, Near Kotak Mahindra Bank, Old Rajinder Nagar, New Delhi-110060 Mob.- (011) 46082452, +91-9958159667, +91-9818733402, +91-9667663402 E-mail: [email protected] | www.gauravias.com 51 | Current Affairs – July, 2021 MCQs Based on Social Issues ●● The processing is done in low-income countries, which do not have proper safeguarding 1. Consider the following statements regarding regulation and which makes the process even 12th Clean Energy Ministerial more dangerous. 1. The Twelfth Clean Energy Ministerial ●● Children are especially preferred at these dump- (CEM12) was hosted by India. sites because of their small and dexterous hands. 2. The theme of CEM12 was “Ambition into Several women, including expectant mothers, Action-- Turning a Year of Ambition into a also work there. Decade of Delivery''. ●● Processing e-waste exposes them as well as 3. CEM12 was 100% virtual and open to member their children to these toxins, which can lead countries only. to premature births and stillbirth. Select the correct answer using the code given ●● The hazardous impact of working at such sites below is also experienced by families and communi- (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 only ties that reside in the vicinity of these e-waste (c) 1 and 3 only (d) 3 only dumpsites. 2. Consider the following statements ●● Children are more exposed to the toxic chemi- 1. The SDG India Index scores range between cals used and released during the processing of 0–100, higher the score of a State/UT, the e-waste. They are less likely to metabolise or greater the distance to target achieved. eradicate pollutants absorbed. 2. Currently, there are two states (Bihar and ●● The report stressed that children working at Assam) in the aspirant and achiever category. these ‘digital dumpsites’ are more prone to 3. Andhra Pradesh has retained the top rank in improper lung function, deoxyribonucleic acid NITI Aayog’s SDG India Index 2020-21. damage and increased risk of chronic diseases Select the correct answer using the code given like cancer and cardiovascular disease. below ●● The volume of e-waste generated is surging rap- (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 only idly across the globe. About 53.6 million tonnes of e-waste was generated in 2019, according to (c) 1 only (d) 3 only the Global E-waste Statistics Partnership. 3. Consider the following statements ●● Only 17.4 per cent ofGAURAV this e-waste was processed 1. NTPC IAS Ltd has become a signatory to the in formal recycling facilities. The rest of it was prestigious United Nations Global Compact’s dumped in low- or middle-income countries for CEO Water Mandate illegal processing by informal workers. 2. The CEO Water Mandate is designed to assist companies in the development, implementa- ●● This is likely to increase in the coming years tion, and disclosure of comprehensive water because of the rise in the number of smart- strategies and policies phones and computers. Select the correct answer using the code given ●● The report also called for the monitoring, safe below disposal of e-waste and raising awareness about (a) 1 only (b) 2 only its outcomes on the health of children and women working at these dumpsites. (c) 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2

4. Consider the following statements regarding 1. The SDG India Index scores range between QS World University Rankings 2022 0–100, higher the score of a State/UT, the greater the distance to target achieved. 1. Two Indian universities are ranked in the top- 2. Currently, there are no states in the aspirant 200 in QS World University Rankings 2022 and achiever category. 2. The US-based Massachusetts Institute of 3. Kerala has retained the top rank in NITI Technology (MIT) has been ranked number Aayog’s SDG India Index 2020-21. 1 university in the world, with an overall 3. (c) 1 and 2 score of 100 1. NTPC Ltd has become a signatory to the 3. Asia's two top universities are National prestigious United Nations Global Compact’s University of Singapore (11th) and Nanyang CEO Water Mandate Technological University (12th) 2. The CEO Water Mandate is designed to Select the correct answer using the code given assist companies in the development, below implementation, and disclosure of (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 only comprehensive water strategies and policies (c) 2 and 3 only (d) 3 only 4. (c) 2 and 3 only 5. Consider the following statement 1. Three Indian universities are ranked in the 1. DRDO Research Design & Standards Organ- top-200 in QS World University Rankings ization (RDSO) becomes first institution to be 2022. IIT-Bombay securing 177th position, declared SDO IIT-Delhi at 185th, and IISc-Bengaluru placed on 186th position. 2. The RDSO is the sole Research and Design Wing of DRDO and is one of the nation’s 2. The US-based Massachusetts Institute of leading standard formulating body undertak- Technology (MIT) has been ranked number 1 ing standardization work for DRDO university in the world, with an overall score of 100 Select the correct answer using the code given below 3. Asia's two top universities are National University of Singapore (11th) and Nanyang (a) 1 only (b) 2 only Technological University (12th) (c) 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 5. (d) Neither 1 nor 2 Explanation GAURAV1. Indian RailwaysIAS Research Design & Standards 1. (b) 2 only Organization (RDSO) has recently become 1. The Twelfth Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM12) the nation’s first institution to be declared as was hosted by Chile. Standard Developing Organization (SDO) under the mission called “One Nation One 2. The theme of CEM12 was “Ambition into Action-- Standard” on Bureau of Indian Standards. Turning a Year of Ambition into a Decade of Delivery''. 2. The RDSO in Lucknow, which is the sole Research and Design Wing of the Railway 3. CEM12 was 100% virtual and open to all,providing Ministry, is one of the nation’s leading a platform for all to demonstrate clean energy standard formulating body undertaking leadership to a global audience. standardization work for the railway sector. 2. (c) 1 only

China's three children policy ●● The party first imposed a “one-child” policy in Why in News 1980 to slow population growth and bolster the economic boom that was then just beginning. China says that it will allow couples to have 3 children, up from 2 at present. ●● Beijing scrapped its decades-old one-child pol- Important Points icy in 2016, replacing it with a two-child limit to try and stave off risks to its economy from ●● China has said that it would allow all married a rapidly aging population. couples to have three children, ending a two- child policy that has failed to raise the country’s ●● Early this month, a once-in-a-decade census declining birth rates and avert a demographic showed that the population grew at its slowest crisis. rate during the last decade since the 1950s, to ●● The announcement by the ruling Communist 1.41 billion, fueling concerns that China would Party represents an acknowledgment that its grow old before it gets wealthy as well as limits on reproduction, the world’s toughest, criticism that it had waited too long to address have jeopardized the country’s future. declining births. ●● The labor pool is shrinking and the population ●● A study published earlier this year by academics is graying, threatening the industrial strategy from Hangzhou University found that the two- that China has used for decades to emerge from child policy encouraged wealthier couples who poverty to become an economic powerhouse. already had a child and were "less sensitive to ●● Births in China have fallen for four consecutive child-rearing costs", while driving up the costs years, including in 2020, when the number of of child care and education and discouraging babies born dropped to the lowest since the first-time parents. Mao era. GAURAVRohingya protestedIAS ●● The country’s total fertility rate is an estimate of the number of children born over a wom- Why in News an’s lifetime now stands at 1.3, well below the Rohingya protest against living conditions on Bang- replacement rate of 2.1, raising the possibility ladesh island. of a shrinking population over time. Important Points ●● China had a fertility rate of just 1.3 children ●● Several thousand Rohingya refugees have staged per woman in 2020, recent data showed, on “unruly” protests against living conditions on a par with ageing societies like Japan and Italy and far short of the roughly 2.1 needed for cyclone-prone island off Bangladesh where they replacement level. were moved from vast camps on the mainland.

●● Since December, Bangladesh has shifted 18,000 ●● The resolution, co-sponsored by Palestine, was out of a planned 100,000 refugees to the low-ly- approved by 24 votes in favour, nine against ing silt island of Bhashan Char from the Cox’s and 14 abstentions. Bazar region, where around 850,000 people live ●● The UNHRC resolution also mandates the in squalid and cramped conditions. Commission of Inquiry to look into all underly- ●● Most of them had fled a brutal military offensive ing root causes of recurrent tensions, instability in neighbouring Buddhist-majority Myanmar and protraction of conflict, including systematic in 2017 that United Nations investigators con- discrimination and repression based on national, cluded was executed with “genocidal intent”. ethnic, racial or religious identity. ●● The Bangladesh government insists relocation ●● At the UNHRC session, India delivered a is voluntary, that the island is safe and that its statement, but it did not give any reason for facilities are far better than those in the camps. its abstention on the resolution. ●● The Rohingya, a mostly Muslim minority ethnic Syria group in predominantly Buddhist Myanmar, are Why in News escaping what the United Nations has described According to OPCW Syria has likely to used chem- as genocidal violence that follows decades of ical weapons 17 times. persecution and human rights abuses. ●● Today, about 880,000 stateless Rohingya Important Points refugees live in the world’s largest and most ●● The international chemical weapons watchdog densely populated refugee camp, Kutupalong. reported to the U.N. Security Council that its About half of the refugees are children. experts have investigated 77 allegations against UNHRC Vote Syria, and concluded that in 17 cases chemical weapons were likely or definitely used. Why in News ●● Syria was pressed to join the Chemical Weapons Palestine Flays India's Abstention from Crucial Convention in September 2013 by its close ally UNHRC Vote. Russia after a deadly chemical weapons attack Important Points that the West blamed on Damascus. ●● Palestine has expressed concern that India’s ●● In April 2020, OPCW investigators blamed abstention on a resolution in the United Nations three chemical attacks in 2017 on the Syrian Human Rights CouncilGAURAV (UNHRC). government. IAS ●● Palestine seeks to set up a permanent com- ●● France submitted a draft measure on behalf of mission to probe abuses in Israel, including 46 countries in November to suspend Syria’s Israeli-occupied Gaza and West Bank. It stifles “rights and privileges” in the global watchdog. international efforts to protect the human rights ●● In an unprecedented vote on April 21, the of the Palestinian people. OPCW suspended Syria’s rights until all out- ●● The UNHRC passed a resolution in a one-day standing issues are resolved. special session which for the first time set up About OPCW a permanent commission of inquiry without a ●● The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chem- time limit. ical Weapons (OPCW) is the implementing

84, First Floor, Bada Bazar, Near Kotak Mahindra Bank, Old Rajinder Nagar, New Delhi-110060 Mob.- (011) 46082452, +91-9958159667, +91-9818733402, +91-9667663402 E-mail: [email protected] | www.gauravias.com 55 | Current Affairs – July, 2021 body for the Chemical Weapons Convention, G7 which entered into force on 29 April 1997. Why in News ●● The OPCW, with its 193 Member States, over- G7 strikes 'historic' agreement on global corporate sees the global endeavour to permanently and tax to make multinationals liable in country of verifiably eliminate chemical weapons. operants. ●● The 2013 Nobel Prize for Peace was awarded to Important Points the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical ●● Finance ministers from the world's richest coun- Weapons for its extensive efforts to eliminate tries have agreed to back a corporate tax rate of at least 15%, to stop tax havens competing to chemical weapons. attract tech giants like Amazon and Facebook. I-Familia ●● The G7 -- comprising Britain, Canada, France, Why in News Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States, hoped to reach a final tax agreement at the Global database to identify missing persons launched. July gathering of the expanded G20 finance Important Points ministers group. ●● The Interpol has launched a new global database What is the global minimum corporate tax? named “I-Familia” to identify missing persons ●● The US-led proposal focuses on creating a through family DNA and help the police solve global minimum corporate tax rate as well as special rules to change how much tax compa- cold cases in member countries. nies pay and where it is paid. ●● Describing it as a ground breaking database ●● The global minimum tax would be levied only officially, the Interpol said that it applied on the world's 100 largest and most profitable cutting-edge scientific research and used the companies. DNA of relatives to identify missing persons or ●● US President Joe Biden has called for a unified unidentified human remains around the world. minimum corporate rate of 15% in talks with ●● I-Familia is the first global database to automat- the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and G20. ically control the differences without requiring knowledge of the missing person’s genetic Nagorno-Karabakh region ancestry and provide standardised guidelines Why in News on what constitutes GAURAVa match. A peace deal IAShas been agreed between Armenia and I-Familia has three components: Azerbaijan, two former Soviet Union republics in the Caucasus region. ●● A dedicated global database to host the DNA Important Points profiles provided by relatives, held separately ●● Nagorno-Karabakh is part of Azerbaijan, but its from any criminal data; population is majority Armenian. ●● DNA matching software called Bonaparte, ●● As the Soviet Union saw increasing tensions developed by Dutch company Smart Research; in its constituent republics in the 1980s, and Nagorno-Karabakh voted to become part of ●● Interpretation guidelines developed by Interpol. Armenia - sparking a war that stopped with a ceasefire in 1994.

●● Since then, Nagorno-Karabakh has remained republic, run by ethnic Armenians and backed part of Azerbaijan but is controlled by separatist by the Armenian government. ethnic Armenians backed by the Armenian gov- ●● It also established the Nagorno-Karabakh Line ernment. Until recently, negotiations mediated of Contact, separating Armenian and Azerbai- by international powers had failed to deliver a jan forces. peace agreement. ●● Turkey has no official relations with Armenia. ●● Armenia is majority Christian while Azerbaijan In 1993 Turkey shut its border with Armenia is majority Muslim. Turkey has close ties to in support of Azerbaijan during the war over Azerbaijan, while Russia is allied with Arme- Nagorno-Karabakh. nia - although it also has good relations with ●● Fighting came to an end last year when both Azerbaijan. sides agreed to sign a Russian-brokered peace ●● Nagorno-Karabakh was an ethnic-majority deal. Armenian region, but the Soviets gave control ●● Under its terms, Azerbaijan holds on to several over the area to Azerbaijani authorities. areas that it gained control of during the con- ●● The Caucasus is a strategically important moun- flict and Armenia will withdraw troops from tainous region in south-east Europe. them. Almost 2,000 Russian peacekeepers will monitor the truce. BRICS Opposes Exceptionalism Why in News Beijing frames BRICS Ministers’ statement as opposing the West, emphasises on multilateralism. Important Points ●● China said that BRICS countries pursue open- ness, inclusiveness and win-win cooperation, and reject "bloc politics and ideological con- frontation". ●● The BRICS Foreign Ministers, at a virtual meet put out a joint statement on multilateralism. GAURAV●● At the endIAS of the meeting two statements were ●● For centuries, different powers in the region issued on the "Meeting of the BRICS Minis- both Christian and Muslim have viewed for ters of Foreign Affairs/International Relations" control. and another on "BRICS Joint Statement on Strengthening and Reforming the Multilateral ●● Armenian forces gained control of System Nagorno-Karabakh and areas adjacent to ●● The BRICS countries, as emerging markets it before a Russian-brokered ceasefire was and developing countries, are indeed different declared in 1994. from a few developed countries in their attitude ●● After that deal, Nagorno-Karabakh remained towards multilateralism and multilateral coop- part of Azerbaijan, but since then has mostly eration. been governed by a separatist, self-declared

●● The BRICS countries stress the need to observe Important Points the purposes and principles of the UN Charter ●● A record number of fake online pharmacies and oppose exceptionalism and double standard. have been shut down under Operation Pangea ●● The BRICS Joint Statement on Strengthening XIV targeting the sale of counterfeit and illicit and Reforming the Multilateral System laid out medicines and medical products. the following principles. ●● The operation coordinated by INTERPOL ●● First, it should make global governance more involved police, customs and health regulatory inclusive, representative and participatory to authorities from 92 countries. facilitate greater and more meaningful par- ●● It resulted in 113,020 web links including ticipation of developing and least developed websites and online marketplaces being closed countries. down or removed, the highest number since the ●● Second, it should be based on inclusive consul- first Operation Pangea in 2008. tation and collaboration for the benefit of all. ●● Operation Pangea XIV also showed that crim- ●● Third, it should make multilateral organisations inals are continuing to cash in on the demand more responsive, action-oriented and solu- for personal protection and hygiene products tion-oriented based on the norms and principles generated by the COVID-19 pandemic. of international law and the spirit of mutual respect, justice, equality, mutual beneficial cooperation. ●● Fourth, it should use innovative and inclusive solutions, including digital and technological tools. ●● Fifth, it should strengthen capacities of individual States and international organizations. ●● Sixth, it should promote people-centred international cooperation at the core. ●● China has vehemently opposed the formation of the Quad grouping amongst the US, India, ●● Fake and unauthorized COVID-19 testing kits Australia and JapanGAURAV with the Chinese foreign IAS accounted for more than half of all medical ministry emphasising that exchanges and coop- devices seized during the week of action eration between countries should help expand (18 – 25 May) which resulted in 277 arrests mutual understanding and trust, instead of tar- worldwide and the seizure of potentially dan- geting or harming the interests of third parties. gerous pharmaceuticals worth more than USD Operation Pangea 23 million. Why in News What is Operation Pangea? Seven people have been arrested after 90,000 pre- ●● Operation Pangea, is a well-established inter- scription tablets were seized in Northern Ireland as national effort of Interpol to disrupt the online part of an Organised Crime Task Force operation. sale of counterfeit and illicit health products.

amended to incorporate New Delhi’s consider- ●● Pangea works to raise awareness of the risks ations. associated with buying medicines from unreg- ulated websites. ●● The rationalization got after the ‘G7 and Guest Countries: 2021 Open Societies Statement’ Friendship Hospital referred to “politically motivated Internet shut- Why in News downs” which not directly addresses Internet China-Sri Lanka Friendship Hospital inaugurated in blackouts in varied elements of the world Polonnaruwa. together with India. Important Points ●● The ‘Open Societies Statement’ was adopted at the end of an outreach session titled ‘Building ●● President Gotabaya Rajapaksa of Sri Lanka Back Together—Open Societies and Econo- inaugurated the China-Sri Lanka Friendship mies’. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was the Hospital in Polonnaruwa, built with a Chinese lead speaker for this session. grant of $ 60 million. ●● Apart from the G7 countries, India, South ●● The hospital, located in Sri Lanka’s North Cen- Korea, Australia and South Africa were invited tral Province, will specialise in treating kidney as guest countries. ailments, a widely prevalent and recurring concern in the region, especially among farmers. ●● British Prime Minister Boris Johnson called them “Democracies 11”, in summit that was ●● The hospital, said to be one of the largest in held under the impression that the world is South Asia for nephrology care, with a capac- heading towards a showdown between democ- ity of 200 beds, follows China’s earlier grant racies and autocracies. projects in Sri Lanka. ●● India argued that the country has used internet ●● Meanwhile, the Jaffna Cultural Centre, built shutdowns for years, for instance when there with Indian assistance of $ 11.5 million, whose were security concerns like attacks on students construction was completed a year ago, awaits from the northeast and terrorist attacks. inauguration as authorities “iron out” issues over the administrative set up to the run the ●● Kashmir has actually experienced Net and also Centre. mobile telephone closure because Post 370 was changed on August 5,2019 Comparable G7 interaction closures were seen in Delhi and also Why in News GAURAV IAS Assam throughout the demonstrations versus G7 accommodates Indian stand on Internet curbs. the Citizenship Modification Act throughout Important Points 2019-2020 and also the farmer’s objection last January. ●● Internet freedoms are topic to nationwide safety, ●● The assertion within the assertion seems to stated authorities sources, claiming that India’s the touch upon a number of points which are powerful negotiations on the joint communique delicate in nature as they’re usually subjected issued by G7 and Guest Countries on the ses- to public debate in India. sion on Open Societies. ●● Sources point out that the point out of the ●● The session had ensured that the unique lan- subjects within the assertion befell within guage criticising “Internet shutdowns” had been

the backdrop of sustained change of opinion FAO Strategic Framework 2022-2031 between G7 and Indian groups. ●● FAO Members will adopt the Strategic Frame- ●● Government sources stated that “politically work 2022-2031, which will guide the work of motivated Internet shutdowns” clarified that the Organization for the next ten years. nationwide safety and public order consider- ations are an exception to the necessity for Internet freedoms ●● Another G7 statement – which was not signed by India or the other gues countries – criticised China for violating “human rights and fundamental freedoms” in Xinjiang and Hong Kong, and also its “unilateral attempts” to change the status quo in the South China Sea. ●● The “open societies” statement also affirmed “human rights for all, both online and offline, as set out in the Universal Declaration of Human ●● The Framework aims to support the 2030 Rights and other human rights instruments, and Agenda for Sustainable Development through opposition to any form of discrimination, so the transformation to more efficient, inclusive, that everyone can participate fully and equally resilient, and sustainable agri-food systems for in society”. Better Production, Better Nutrition, a Better Environment, and a Better Life, leaving no one 42nd Session of the FAO Conference behind. Why in News ●● The "Four Betters" represent an organizing First virtual FAO Conference kicks off with renewed principle for how FAO intends to contribute calls for rebuilding a better world. to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Important Points particularly SDG 1 (no poverty), SDG 2 (zero ●● As the 42nd Session of the FAO Conference hunger), and SDG 10 (reduced inequalities). kicked off countries made a passionate call for About FAO tangible actions, innovativeGAURAV solutions, and con- ●● The Food IAS and Agriculture Organization (FAO) tinued commitment to rebuild a better, greener is a specialized agency of the United Nations world anchored in efficient, resilient, inclusive that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. and sustainable agri-food food systems that can ●● FAO goal is to achieve food security for all and provide healthy and affordable diets for all, and make sure that people have regular access to resist future crises. enough high-quality food to lead active, healthy ●● The Conference takes place every two years and lives. is FAO's supreme governing body. It determines ●● With over 194 member states, FAO works in the policies of the Organization, approves the over 130 countries worldwide. We believe that budget, and makes recommendations to Mem- everyone can play a part in ending hunger. bers on food and agriculture issues.

●● To enhance regional peace and stability through ADMM-Plus cooperation in defence and security, in view of Why in News the transnational security challenges the region Defence minister Rajnath Singh addressed ASEAN faces; defence ministers meeting plus. ●● To contribute to the realisation of an ASEAN Security Community which, as stipulated in the Important Points Bali Concord II, embodies ASEAN’s aspiration ●● India's defence minister Rajnath Singh addressed to achieve peace, stability, democracy and the ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting Plus prosperity in the region where ASEAN member (ADMM-Plus) virtually. countries live at peace with one another and ●● ADMM Plus is a significant platform involving with the world at large; 10 ASEAN member countries and eight dia- ●● To facilitate the implementation of the Vientiane logue partners: Australia, China, India, Japan, Action Programme, which calls for ASEAN to New Zealand, South Korea, Russia and the build a peaceful,secure and prosperous ASEAN, United States. and to adopt greater outward-looking external ●● The meet is being hosted by the Brunei relation strategies with our friends and Dialogue Ministry of Defence who is the chair of the Partners. ASEAN grouping currently and will hold all ●● The ADMM-Plus currently focuses on seven the meetings. areas of practical cooperation, namely maritime About ADMM-Plus security, counter-terrorism, humanitarian assistance and disaster management, peacekeeping ●● Established in 2010 operations, military medicine, humanitarian ●● Meets annually since 2017 mine action and cyber security. Experts Work- ●● The ADMM-Plus is a platform for ASEAN ing Groups (EWGs) have been established to and its eight Dialogue Partners, namely Aus- facilitate cooperation in these areas. tralia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, ROK, India abstain from voting Russian Federation and the United States, to Why in News strengthen security and defence cooperation for Recently India abstain from voting on the Myanmar peace, stability, and development in the region. resolution at the UN General Assembly. ●● The Inaugural ADMM-Plus was convened in Important Points Ha Noi, Viet Nam, GAURAVon 12 October 2010. IAS The objectives of the ADMM-Plus, are as ●● The United Nations General Assembly over- follows: whelmingly passed a resolution on the “situation in Myanmar” with a vote of 119-1. ●● To benefit ASEAN member countries in building ●● Although not legally binding on member states, capacity to address shared security challenges, the document carries significant political heft. while cognisant of the differing capacities of various ASEAN countries; ●● The resolution calls on the Myanmar military to end the state of emergency, reopen the “demo- ●● To promote mutual trust and confidence between cratically elected parliament”, release detained defence establishments through greater dialogue civilian leaders “immediately and uncondition- and transparency; ally”, “swiftly implement”.

●● In total, 36 countries – including India – ●● Hydrogen, when produced by electrolysis using abstained from voting. Belarus, which requested renewable energy, is known as green hydrogen the vote, was the only country to vote against which has no carbon footprint. This gives the resolution. hydrogen the edge over other fuels to unlock ●● Why did India abstain? various avenues of green usage. ●● The reason that India gave for abstaining is that ●● However, challenges lie in terms of technology, its views had not been reflected in the draft that efficiency, financial viability and scaling up was considered for adoption. which the summit aimed to addressed. ●● It reiterated that a consultative and constructive ●● Global hydrogen initiatives have been gaining approach involving the neighbouring countries traction. Recently, the US-India hydrogen task- and the region remains important in peacefully force was launched under the aegis of US-India resolving the issue. Strategic Clean Energy Partnership. ●● The entire South Asian Association for Regional ●● India also plans to extend the production-linked Cooperation area, with the exception of the incentive (PLI) scheme for manufacturing elec- Maldives, abstained from voting, almost as a trolyzers, which are used for producing green single bloc. hydrogen. ●● India believes that the solution to the crisis ●● Leveraging India’s landmass and green energy in Myanmar needs to come from the region. sources for exporting green hydrogen is one It wants Myanmar’s neighbours in South and of the steps for achieving energy sufficiency Southeast Asia, rather than countries seven seas for the country, according to a draft proposal away, to take the lead in resolving the fix. circulated by the ministry of new and renewable energy (MNRE), for the planned National Green Hydrogen Initiative Hydrogen Energy Mission. Why in News ●● The draft proposal, which recommends green India organised two days summit on Green Hydro- hydrogen exports to Japan, South Korea, and gen Initiative. Europe, also suggests setting up four integrated Important Points hydrogen hubs and running long-range public transport buses fuelled by hydrogen cells. ●● India organised a two-dayGAURAV summit on green IAS hydrogen Initiative, countries like Brazil, Rus- First bullet train in Tibet sia, China and South Africa took part in it. Why in News ●● The countries discussed their initiatives around China launches first bullet train in Tibet, close to the emission-free fuel. Indian border. ●● The summit, is being organised by state-run Important Points NTPC Ltd, that recently floated a global expres- ●● China operationalised its first fully electrified sion of interest (EoI) for setting up two pilot bullet train in the remote Himalayan region of projects to produce hydrogen—a standalone Tibet, connecting the provincial capital Lhasa fuel cell-based backup power system and a and Nyingchi, a strategically located Tibetan microgrid system. border town close to Arunachal Pradesh.

●● The 435.5-km Lhasa-Nyingchi section of the by terrorists, including drones for smuggling Sichuan-Tibet Railway has been inaugurated of weapons and misuse of dark web, artificial ahead of the centenary celebrations of the ruling intelligence, blockchain and social media. Communist Party of China (CPC) ●● He added that there is a need for full Implemen- ●● The Sichuan-Tibet Railway will be the second tation of UN resolutions and targeted sanctions railway into Tibet after the Qinghai-Tibet Rail- against UN designated terrorist individuals and way. It will go through the southeast of the entities. Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, one of the world's most ●● He emphasised on the adoption of international geologically active areas. standards to counter terror-financing, including ●● The Sichuan-Tibet Railway starts from Chengdu, an MOU between SCO and Financial Action capital of Sichuan Province, and travels through Task Force (FATF). Ya'an and enters Tibet via Qamdo, shortening ●● He also said that greater connectivity, includ- the journey from Chengdu to Lhasa from 48 ing through initiatives like Chahbahar, INSTC, hours to 13 hours. Regional Air Corridors and Ashgabat Agree- ●● China claims Arunachal Pradesh as part of ment, always leads to economic gains and South Tibet, which is firmly rejected by India. building trust, however, connectivity must The India-China border dispute covers the respect sovereignty and territorial integrity. 3,488-km-long Line of Actual Control (LAC). ●● The SCO, seen as a counterweight to NATO, SCO Meet is an eight-member economic and security bloc and has emerged as one of the largest transre- Why in News gional international organisations. Doval's Proposed 'Action Plan' Against Lashkar, ●● India and Pakistan became its permanent mem- Jaish Leaves Pakistan Red-faced at SCO Meet. bers in 2017. SCO was founded at a summit in Important Points Shanghai in 2001 by the Presidents of Russia, ●● National Security Advisor Ajit Doval attended China, Kyrgyz Republic, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan a meeting of top security officials from member and Uzbekistan. nations of the Shanghai Corporation Organisa- ●● India has shown keen interest in deepening its tion (SCO) in Dushanbe.GAURAV IAS security-related cooperation with the SCO and ●● Ajit Doval proposed an action plan against its Regional Anti-Terrorism Structure (RATS) Pakistan-based terrorist organisations Lashkar- which specifically deals with issues relating to e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeT) as security and defence. part of SCO framework. ●● India was made an observer at the SCO in 2005 ●● During the SCO meet, National Security Advi- and has generally participated in the ministeri- sors of member countries pledged cooperation al-level meetings of the grouping which focus in the joint fight against international terrorism, mainly on security and economic cooperation extremism and separatism. in the Eurasian region. ●● He adocated to monitor new technologies used

MCQs Based on International 4. Consider the following statements 1. Births in China have fallen for four consec- 1. Consider the following statements regarding utive years, including in 2020 ADMM-Plus 2. China had a fertility rate of just 1.3 children 1. ADMM Plus is a significant platform involv- per woman in 2020 ing 10 ASEAN member countries and eight 3. China first imposed a “one-child” policy in dialogue partners 1970 to slow population growth and bolster 2. The Inaugural ADMM-Plus was convened in the economic boom South Korea Select the correct answer using the code given Select the correct answer using the code given below below (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 and 3 only (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1,2 and 3 only (c) 1 and 2 only (d) Neither 1 nor 2 5. Consider the following statements regarding 2. Consider the following statements regarding I-Familia FAO Strategic Framework 2022-2031 1. It is a new global database to identify missing 1. FAO Members will adopt the Strategic persons through family DNA Framework 2022-2031, which will guide the 2. It has been launched by UN work of the Organization for the next ten 3. It is the first global database to automatically years control the differences without requiring 2. The Framework aims to support the 2030 knowledge of the missing person’s genetic Agenda for Sustainable Development through ancestry the transformation to more efficient, inclusive, Select the correct answer using the code given resilient, and sustainable agri-food systems below Select the correct answer using the code given (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 and 3 only below (c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3 only (a) 1 only (b) 2 only 6. Consider the following statements regarding (c) 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 Pangea 3. Which among the following are the members GAURAV1. Operation IAS Pangea XIV launched to target the of G7 group? sale of counterfeit and illicit medicines and 1. Canada medical products 2. China 2. The operation coordinated by INTERPOL 3. France involved police, customs and health regula- 4. Japan tory authorities from 92 countries Select the correct answer using the code given Select the correct answer using the code given below below (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 1, 2 and 3 only (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) 2, 3 and 4 only (d) 1, 3 and 4 only (c) 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2

Explanation 2. China had a fertility rate of just 1.3 children per woman in 2020

1. (a) 1 only 3. China first imposed a “one-child” policy in 1. ADMM Plus is a significant platform 1980 to slow population growth and bolster involving 10 ASEAN member countries and the economic boom. eight dialogue partners 5. (c) 1 and 3 only 2. The Inaugural ADMM-Plus was convened in 1. It is a new global database to identify missing Ha Noi, Viet Nam, on 12 October 2010. persons through family DNA

2. (c) 1 and 2 2. It has been launched by the Interpol 1. FAO Members will adopt the Strategic Framework 2022-2031, which will guide 3. It is the first global database to automatically the work of the Organization for the next ten control the differences without requiring years knowledge of the missing person’s genetic ancestry 2. The Framework aims to support the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development 6. (c) 1 and 2 through the transformation to more efficient, 1 .Operation Pangea XIV launched to target the inclusive, resilient, and sustainable agri-food sale of counterfeit and illicit medicines and systems. medical products

3. (d) 1, 3 and 4 only 2. The operation coordinated by INTERPOL The seven G7 countries are Canada, France, involved police, customs and health Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK and the US. regulatory authorities from 92 countries.

4. (a) 1 and 2 only 1. Births in China have fallen for four consecutive years, including in 2020 GAURAV IAS

8 Government Schemes

Model Tenancy Act ●● A written agreement will be required between Why in News the owner and tenant for rent and duration of tenancy which is to be submitted to the district's The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Nar- rent authority. endra Modi, has approved the Model Tenancy Act (MTA). ●● The maximum security deposit limit for residential premises will be two months and for Important Points commercial properties six months. ●● The Union Cabinet approved the Model Ten- ●● The maximum security deposit limit is indic- ancy Act to streamline the process of renting ative, and the Centre is not prescribing any property in India and aid the rent economy in limits. At the end of the day, it is the states the estate sector. which have the primary jurisdiction for this, and ●● Union Cabinet gave nod for circulation to all the landlord and the tenant who will determine States/ Union Territories for adaptation by it. way of enacting fresh legislation or amending existing rental laws suitably. ●● The landlord will be responsible for structural repairs (except those caused by the tenant), ●● MTA envisages to balance the interests and whitewashing of walls, painting of doors and rights of both the owner and tenant in an windows, changing and plumbing pipes, inter- accountable and transparent manner. nal and external electrical wiring, and sundry maintenance. ●● Drain cleaning, socket repairs, kitchen fix- ture repairs, replacement of glass panels and maintenance of open spaces among others will largely be the tenant's responsibility, unless GAURAVstated otherwise.IAS ●● Any intentionally or negligent damage to the property would be the tenant's purview ●● Regarding any cases of conflict over repair work or construction of additional structures on the premises that have been let out to a tenant by the landlord, an application can be taken to the rent court.

Important Features of the Law: ●● Tenants will not be evicted during the tenancy agreement period unless otherwise agreed to in ●● The MTA will be applicable prospectively and writing by both parties. not affect existing tenancies.

●● Tenancy will be deemed to be renewed on a SAGE monthly basis if the premises are not vacated Why in News and the tenancy not renewed. The Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment ●● The month-to-month tenancy will follow the launched the SAGE (Senior care Aging Growth same terms and conditions set in the expired tenancy agreement for a maximum period of Engine) initiative and SAGE portal for elderly six months. persons. ●● In case of non-vacancy, the tenant will be liable Important Points to pay compensation of double of the monthly ●● The SAGE portal will be a “one-stop access” of rent for two months and four times of the elderly care products and services by credible monthly rent thereafter. start-ups. ●● Revisions of rent are permitted as per the terms ●● The SAGE project aims to identify, evaluate, set out in the tenancy agreement. verify, aggregate, and deliver products, solu- ●● If rent revision is not in the agreement, the land- tions and services directly to the stakeholders. owner can give a notice three months before the revised rent becomes due. ●● The start-ups will be selected on the basis of innovative products and services, which they ●● If the tenant fails to give a notice of termination, they must accept the proposed revised rent. should be able to provide across sectors such as health, housing, care centers, apart from Teachers Eligibility Test (TET) technological access linked to finances, food Why in News and wealth management, and legal guidance. The Ministry of Education has extended the validity ●● Start-ups can apply for being a part of SAGE of the Teachers Eligibility Test (TET) qualifying through a dedicated portal. The start-ups will be certificate. selected by an independent screening committee Important Points of experts. ●● The Ministry of Education has extended the ●● A fund of uptoRs.1 crore as one-time equity validity of the Teachers Eligibility Test (TET) will be granted to each selected start-up. qualifying certificate from seven years to life with retrospective effect from 2011. ●● The Minister of Social Justice and Empow- erment will act as a facilitator, enabling the ●● Ministry said that all the states and union territories must take necessary action to revalidate/ elderly to access the products through these GAURAVidentified IAS start-ups. issue fresh TET certificates to candidates whose seven years have already elapsed. ●● India’s elderly population is on the rise, and as ●● This step of government will help in increasing per surveys, the share of elders, as a percent- the employment opportunities for candidates age of the total population in the country, is aspiring to make a career in the teaching field. expected to increase from around 7.5% in 2001 ●● Teachers Eligibility Test is one of the essential to almost 12.5% by 2026, and surpass 19.5% qualifications for a person to be eligible for by 2050. appointment as a teacher in schools. ●● There is an urgent need to create a more robust ●● Possessing the TET qualifying certificate is one elder care ecosystem in India, especially in the of the essential qualifications for a person to post-COVID phase. be eligible for appointment as a school teacher.

PGI 2019-20 ●● The PGI exercise envisages that the index would Why in News propel States and UTs towards undertaking multi-pronged interventions that will that will Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank bring about the much-desired optimal education released the Performance Grading Index 2019-20 outcomes. for States and UTs. Important Points ●● The index grades States and Union Territories on a set of 70 parameters. The index helps to assess and catalyse transformational change in the field of education.

●● The PGI helps the States/UTs to pinpoint the gaps and accordingly prioritise areas for intervention to ensure that the school education system is robust at every level. New Findings: ●● Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Puducherry, Punjab and Tamil Nadu have improved their overall PGI scores by 10 per cent. GAURAV●● Andaman IAS and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep and Punjab have shown improvement of 10 per ●● 5 states and union territories namely Punjab, cent or more in the ‘Access’ domain. Chandigarh, Tamil Nadu, Andaman & Nicobar ●● Thirteen states and UTs have shown improve- Islands and Kerala occupy the highest grade ment by 10 per cent or more in ‘Infrastructure (Grade A++) for 2019-20. and Facilities’ while Andaman and Nicobar Performance Grading Index: Islands and Odisha have improved their scores ●● The PGI for States and Union Territories was in the domain by 20 per cent or more. first published in 2019 with reference year ●● In ‘Equity’, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur and 2017-18. Odisha have shown an improvement of more ●● The PGI : States/UTs for 2019-20 is the third than 10 per cent. publication in this series.

●● Nineteen States and UTs have shown improve- ●● Project is meant to modernise kitchens and ease ment by 10% (36 points) or more in the PGI the difficult faced by homemakers in household domain: Governance Process. Andaman & chores. Nicobar Islands, Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal ●● Rs 5 crore has been set up for the initial phase Pradesh, Manipur, Punjab, Rajasthan and West of the scheme. Bengal have shown improvement by at least ●● Project would be implemented through the 20% (72 points or more). Kerala State Financial Enterprises (KSFE), a YounTab scheme state-run chit fund and lending firm. Why in News What is the Smart Kitchen project? Ladakh Lt Governor launches YounTab scheme for ●● Under the scheme, KSFE would give soft loans students to encourage digital learning. to women from all walks of life for purchasing Important Points household gadgets or equipment. ●● Ladakh Lt Governor distributed tablets to the ●● The cost of household equipment can be repaid scholars of 9 to 12 class as a part of the primary as instalments within a particular period. part of the YounTab Scheme. ●● The interest of the loan/cost would be equally ●● A complete of 12 thousand 300 college stu- shared among the beneficiary, local self-gov- dents of sixth to twelfth class from authorities ernment body and the state government. colleges will profit from the scheme. ●● To implement the scheme, KSFE would start ●● YounTab scheme formulated to encourage dig- smart kitchen chits. ital studying, bridge the digital divide between ●● Members of Kudumbashree, which is Kerala’s related and unconnected and mitigate the Covid women empowerment and poverty alleviation pandemic disruptions. scheme, would get preference in purchasing ●● LS said that the additionally 91 new ICT labs kitchen gadgets under smart kitchen scheme. could be arrange whereas 2 Astronomy labs ●● No collateral would be demanded from Kudum- are already arrange to develop scientific tem- bashree members, as per the initial plan. perament among the many college students of Surakshit Hum Surakshit Tum Abhiyaan Ladakh . ●● Within the digital YounTab scheme launch pro- Why in News gramme, Leh hill council CEC Tashi Gyaltson, NITI Aayog & Piramal Foundation launched Surak- Kargil CEC Feroz Ahemed Khan and Ladakh shit Hum Surakshit Tum Abhiyaan. MP Jamyang TseringGAURAV Namgyal have partici- IAS Important Points pated. ●● NITI Aayog & Piramal Foundation launched Kerala’s Smart Kitchen Surakshit Hum Surakshit Tum Abhiyaan in 112 Why in News Aspirational Districts. KSFE would give soft loans to women from all ●● The Abhiyaan is being part of a special ini- walks of life for purchasing household gadgets or tiative, Aspirational Districts Collaborative,in equipment. which local leaders, civil societies and volun- Important Points teers work with district administrations. ●● The Kerala government’s revised budget for the ●● It will help to address emerging problems across current fiscal has announced the introduction of key focus areas of the Aspirational Districts a Smart Kitchen project. Programme.

●● Surakshit Hum Surakshit Tum Abhiyaan will be led by district magistrates in partnership with over 1000 local NGOs. ●● It will enlist and train over 1 lakh volunteers to connect with patients through inbound/out- boundcalls. ●● Piramal Foundation will work with district magistrates to support the training of NGOs and volunteers. ●● Surakshit Hum Surakshit Tum Abhiyaan is a significant initiative that responds to immediate needs and will provide long-term support to India’s poorest communities in the Aspirational SELECTION PROCEDURE OF YOUNG Districts by addressing the lasting impact of AUTHORS Covid-19. ● A total of 75 authors will be selected through ●● The campaign is expected to play a key role in ● district preparedness for managing nearly 70% an All India Contest at MyGov. of Covid cases at home, reducing pressure on ●● The selection will be made by a Committee to the health system, and stemming the spread of be constituted by NBT. fear amongst the people. ●● The contest will run from 4th June to 31st July ●● The campaign will also undertake capacity 2021. building of citizens for correct usage of Oxygen ●● The contestants will be asked to submit a man- concentrators that have been supplied to these uscript of 5,000 words to judge its suitability to districts. develop as a proper book under the Mentorship YUVA Scheme Scheme. Why in News ●● The names of selected authors will be announced on the occasion of Independence Day on 15th PM Modi announced the YUVA scheme for aspiring August 2021. writers. ●● Based on mentorship, the selected authors will Important Points prepare manuscripts for final selection under ●● Prime Minister NarendraGAURAV Modi announced the the guidance IAS of the nominated mentors. national scheme YUVA for mentoring young ●● The entries of the winners will be readied for authors to encourage youngsters to harness their publication by 15th December 2021. writing skills. ●● The published books may be launched on 12th ●● The scheme is meant to mentor young authors January 2022 on YUVA DIVAS or the National across India. Youth Day. ● This scheme will ensure creating a pool of ● Delhi Master Plan 2041 authors of below 30 years who are ready to express themselves and project India on any Why in News international platform, as well as it will help in The Delhi Development Authority has gave its projecting Indian culture and literature globally. preliminary approval to the draft Master Plan for Delhi 2041.

Important Points What are the plan’s main focus areas? ●● Uploaded to the DDA website, the draft is ●● In the housing sector, the draft mentions incen- now in the public domain for objections and tivizing rented accommodation by inviting pri- suggestions from citizens, following which it vate players as well as government agencies for is likely to be enforced by the end of this year. more investment, considering the large migrant population. ●● The plan aims to include pandemic-related changes and boost the city’s night-time econ- ●● The draft also addresses parking problems. It omy. suggests the principle of ‘user pays’, which means all personal motor vehicles’ users, except ●● People can send in their objections and sugges- the users of non-motorised vehicles, have to tions within 45 days, after which we will study make payment for using authorized parking these carefully and scan them department wise. facilities, spaces and streets. What is Delhi Master Plan 2041? ●● Running into 448 pages, the draft plan aims ●● The Master Plan draft for Delhi 2041 includes at making the capital a more sustainable, live- two volumes and 22 number of chapters, which able and safe city, with housing for all and seeks to foster a sustainable, liveable and vibrant better economic activities. From house rents national capital by the year 2041. to ensuring affordable homes, and an eye on ●● The first volume has an introduction, giving an street safety. overview of the city in present times, its global Beed model of crop insurance and regional positioning, population estimates Why in News as well as projections for 2041. The draft pro- ●● Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray poses a plan for the city’s development for the asked him for state-wide implementation of the next 20 years. ‘Beed model’ of the crop insurance scheme ●● Once notified, the Master Plan for Delhi 2041 Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bhima Yogna (PMFBY). will replace the existing Master Plan of Delhi- Important Points 2021, which had come into effect on 7 February Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bhima Yogna (PMFBY): 2007. ●● Launched in 2016, the flagship PMFBY insures ●● With pandemic-related changes and the increase farm losses against inclement weather events. in population, there has been a simultaneous Farmers pay 1.5-2% of the premium with the rise in unemployment.GAURAV IAS rest borne by the state and central governments. ●● Through new initiatives such as the Delhi’s ●● It is a central scheme implemented by state Nightlife Circuit Plan, the 2041 draft Master agriculture departments as per central guide- Plan has tried to further boost the city’s night- lines. For farmers, the low rate of premium time economy, as compared to that in the and relatively decent coverage make the scheme Master Plan 2021. attractive. ●● To enhance public participation in the plan, ●● A premium of Rs 1,300 can insure an hectare the DDA had last year launched an interactive of soyabean for Rs 45,000. Prior to 2020, the microsite, the “Public Engagement Portal for scheme was optional for farmers who did not MPD-2041,to share information on the prepa- have loans pending, but mandatory for loanee ration of the MPD-2041. farmers.

●● Since 2020, it has been optional for all farmers. scheme is that in most years, the claims-to-pre- In Maharashtra, over the years, more non-loanee mium ratio is low with the premium being paid farmers have enrolled, although it was optional to the company. for them. ●● In the Beed model, the profit of the company What is Beed model? is expected to reduce and the state government ●● Located in the drought-prone Marathwada would access another source of funds. region, the district of Beed presents a challenge ●● The reimbursed amount can lead to lower pro- for any insurance company. visioning by the state for the following year, or ●● Farmers here have repeatedly lost crops either help in financing the paying the bridge amount to failure of rains or to heavy rains. Given in case of a year of crop loss. the high payouts, insurance companies have ●● For farmers, however, this model does not have sustained losses. any direct benefit. ●● The state government had a difficult time get- One Nation One Ration Card ting bids for tenders to implement the scheme Why in News in Beed. SC said that the States must implement One Nation ●● During the 2020 kharif season, tenders for One Ration Card policy for migrants. implementation did not attract any bids. So, the state Agriculture Department decided to tweak Important Points the guidelines for the district. ●● The Supreme Court asked the West Bengal ●● The state-run Indian Agricultural Insurance government to implement the One Nation One Company implemented the scheme. Ration Card scheme. ●● Under the new guidelines, the insurance com- ●● The scheme will “immediately” help to benefi- pany provided a cover of 110% of the premium ciaries, especially migrant workers, to avail of collected, with caveats. subsidised food commodities from anywhere in the country. ●● If the compensation exceeded the cover provided, the state government would pay the ●● SC said that the no excuse will be considered bridge amount. and that West Bengal must make the scheme functional in the state. ●● If the compensation was less than the premium collected, the insurance company would keep ●● The scheme is currently functional in 32 states 20% of the amount as handling charges and and Union territories and allows eligible ben- reimburse the rest toGAURAV the state government. eficiaries IAS to get food grain under the National ●● In a normal season where farmers report mini- ●● Food Security Act from fair price shops across mal losses, the state government is expected to India without securing a new ration card. SC get back money that can form a corpus to fund was informed that West Bengal, Chhattisgarh the scheme for the following year. and Assam had not yet implemented the scheme. ●● However, the state government would have to ●● The court noted that the current existing bear the financial liability in case of losses due schemes- the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan to extreme weather events. Yojna and the Atmanirbhar Bharat- for food distribution under the National Food Safety Act, Why is the government pushing for it for the cover only those workers who are registered entire state? and have ration cards. ●● The reason why Maharashtra is pushing for this

●● The court also expressed its displeasure that the ●● It aims to reduce instances of corruption by middlemen and fraudulence in ration cards to creation of a national portal or database to reg- avail benefits from different states. ister unrecognised workers has moved slowly and that the Union government was asking for Who is eligible for One Nation One Ration Card? four more months just to create a module. ●● Any citizen, who is declared under Below Pov- ●● The court underlined that the registration of erty Line (BPL) category, will be eligible to get unorganised workers should be completed as the benefit of this scheme across the country. early as possible and there should be a common ●● The beneficiaries will be identified on the basis national database created with the coordination of their Aadhar based identification through the of the state governments. electronic point of sale (PoS) device. ●● During that hearing, the court directed that ●● All the PDS shops will have the facility of migrant workers be provided with dry ration electronic PoS devices. under any suitable scheme of the Centre or state ●● One Nation One Ration Card' scheme is also government. aimed at reducing the incidents of hunger deaths About One Nation One Ration Card in the country, to further improve rankings in ●● The Union Government launched the 'One the Global Hunger Index. Nation, One Ration Card' scheme on a pilot NISHTHA basis in four states in 2019. Why in News ●● This scheme aims to ensure all beneficiaries, Ministry of Tribal Affairs and NCERT come together especially migrants get ration (wheat, rice and on a joint mission for NISHTHA Capacity Building other food grains) across the nation from any Programme for EMRS Teachers and Principals. Public Distribution System (PDS) shop of their Important Points own choice. ●● To fulfill the long-standing vision of Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) to achieve academic excellence in Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRSs). ●● 120 EMRS teachers and principals from 3 states completed a 40 days’ NISHTHA-National initiative for School Heads’ and Teachers’ Holistic Advancement Program, a national flagship GAURAVprogram IASof NCERT. ●● The capacity building program is aimed to build competencies among teachers and school principals and Improving Quality of School Education through Integrated Teacher Training. ●● MoTA has recently collaborated with National Council of Educational Research and Training ●● It was also launched with the purpose that (NCERT), which a national apex education no poor person should be deprived of getting body for several programmatic initiatives and subsidised food grains under the food security interventions, for conducting such programs scheme when they shift from one place to across 350 functional EMRS schools across another. the country.

●● This was the first batch of 120 EMRS teachers Select the correct answer using the code given and principals from 3 states, namely Himachal below Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 and 3 only ●● The participants were capacitated on 18 holistic (c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1,2 and 3 and comprehensive modules covering different 2. Which of the following statements are correct? aspects of education such as Learning Out- 1. Ministry of Women and Child Development comes, Assessment Practices, learner-centered launched the SAGE (Senior care Aging pedagogy, Art-Integrated Learning, Gender Growth Engine) initiative Equality, Covid Response of Schools, POCSO 2. The SAGE portal will be a “one-stop access” Act, Pedagogy of Science, Mathematics, Lan- of children care products and services by guage, Social Science Subjects etc. credible start-ups ●● The training was conducted in an online mode, 3. The SAGE project aims to identify, evaluate, adopting a blended approach. verify, aggregate, and deliver products, solutions and services directly to the stakeholders ●● While the course material, activities, projects Select the correct answer using the code given were shared on NISHTHA online portal, the below live-interactive sessions with esteemed faculty members from NCERT were held through VC (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 and 3 only platform. (c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3 3. Consider the following statements regarding ●● An amalgam of strategies were adopted by Performance Grading Index 2019-20 National Resource Group (NRG) members of NCERT using narratives, stories, quizzes, and 1. 4 states and union territories occupy the puzzles etc. as part of the training methodol- highest grade (Grade A++) for 2019-20. ogies. 2. The PGI helps the States/UTs to pinpoint the gaps and accordingly prioritise areas for ●● The training impact could be evidently deci- intervention phered from the participants’ feedback to 3. In ‘Equity’, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur and rigorously plan more such in-service training Odisha have shown an improvement of more programs in the times to come. than 10 per cent MCQs Based on Government Schemes Select the correct answer using the code given GAURAVbelow IAS 1. Consider the following statements regarding (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 and 3 only Model Tenancy Act (c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3 4. Consider the following statements regarding 1. MTA envisages to balance the interests and YounTab scheme rights of both the owner and tenant in an accountable and transparent manner. 1. Tablets were distributed to the scholars of 9 2. The MTA will be applicable prospectively and to 12 class as a part of the primary part of not affect existing tenancies the YounTab Scheme 3. The maximum security deposit limit for resi- 2. YounTab scheme formulated to encourage dential premises will be three months and for digital studying, bridge the digital divide commercial properties six months. between related and unconnected and mitigate the Covid pandemic disruptions.

Select the correct answer using the code given 2. The SAGE portal will be a “one-stop access” below of elderly care products and services by cred- (a) 1 only (b) 2 only ible start-ups. (c) 1 and 2 only (d) Neither 1 nor 2 3. The SAGE project aims to identify, evaluate, 5. Which of the following statemetns is/are cor- verify, aggregate, and deliver products, solu- rect regarding Surakshit Hum Surakshit Tum tions and services directly to the stakeholders. Abhiyaan? 3. (b) 2 and 3 only 1. NITI Aayog & WHO launched Surakshit 1. 5 states and union territories occupy the Hum Surakshit Tum Abhiyaan highest grade (Grade A++) for 2019-20 2. Abhiyaan is a significant initiative that 2. The PGI helps the States/UTs to pinpoint responds to immediate needs and will provide the gaps and accordingly prioritise areas for long-term support to India’s poorest commu- intervention nities in the Aspirational Districts 3. In ‘Equity’, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur and Select the correct answer using the code given Odisha have shown an improvement of more below than 10 per cent. (a) 1 only (b) 2 only 4. (c) 1 and 2 only (c) 1 and 2 only (d) Neither 1 nor 2 1. Tablets were distributed to the scholars of 9 to 12 class as a part of the primary part of Explanation the YounTab Scheme 2. YounTab scheme formulated to encourage 1. (a) 1 and 2 only digital studying, bridge the digital divide 1. MTA envisages to balance the interests and between related and unconnected and miti- rights of both the owner and tenant in an gate the Covid pandemic disruptions. accountable and transparent manner. 5. (b) 2 only 2. The MTA will be applicable prospectively 1. NITI Aayog & Piramal Foundation launched and not affect existing tenancies. Surakshit Hum Surakshit Tum Abhiyaan 3. The maximum security deposit limit for 2. Abhiyaan is a significant initiative that residential premises will be two months and responds to immediate needs and will provide for commercial properties six months. long-term support to India’s poorest commu- 2. (c) 1 and 3 only GAURAVnities IAS in the Aspirational Districts. 1. Ministry of Women and Child Development launched the SAGE (Senior care Aging Growth Engine) initiative.

World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day Negative import list Why in News Why in News January 30 adopted as a World Neglected Tropical India expands negative list for defence imports with Diseases Day. 108 new items. Important Points Important Points ●● Delegates at the 74th World Health Assembly unanimously adopted a proposal by the UAE to ●● In order to push for defence indigenisation, declare January 30 as World NTD Day. India approved restrictions on the import of ●● NTDs are a group of infections that are most an additional 108 new items. common among marginalised communities in ●● New items included military weapons and sys- the developing regions of Africa, Asia and tems such as next-generation corvettes, airborne the Americas. They are caused by a variety of early warning systems, tank engines and radars. pathogens such as viruses, bacteria, protozoa and parasitic worms. ●● The first negative list for defence imports com- ●● These diseases generally receive less funding prising 101 items that included towed artillery for research and treatment than malaises like guns, short-range surface-to-air missiles, cruise tuberculosis, HIV-AIDS and malaria. Some missiles and offshore patrol vessels was issued examples of NTDs include snakebite enveno- last August. mation, scabies, yaws, trachoma, Leishmaniasis ●● The restrictions on import of the 108 items that and Chagas disease. figured in the second list will progressively ●● A major milestone in the movement to recog- come into effect in the period from December nise the global burden of these diseases was the London Declaration on NTDs that was adopted 2021 to December 2025. January 30, 2012. GAURAV●● Of the 108IAS items in the second list, the cut-off ●● The first World NTD Day was celebrated infor- date for 49 of those is December 2021. mally in 2020. This year, the new NTD road ●● The major ones on the list are light medium and map was launched January 28. heavy combat armoured vehicles for the infan- The WHO’s new road map for 2021–2030 calls try, helicopter launched anti-tank guided missile for three strategic shifts to end NTDs: (ATGM) for up to 7 km, mission systems for ●● From measuring process to measuring impact. AEW&C, single engine land variant helicopter ●● From disease-specific planning and program- weighing less than 3.5 T among others. ming to collaborative work across sectors. ●● A negative import list is a boost for domestic ●● From externally driven agendas reliant to industries as it details all the military equipment programmes that are country-owned and coun- that the government won’t import in the future. try-financed.

India grant indemnity ●● These trials are important in ascertaining the efficacy and potential side-effects related to the Why in News medicine/vaccine. India may grant indemnity to Pfizer, Moderna for ● India had earlier asked the vaccine makers to their Covid vaccines. ● send their vaccines for bridge trial at CDL Important Points Kasauli. Russian vaccine Sputnik V was also ●● Facing an acute shortage of Covid-19 vaccines, sent to the lab and its first batch got clearance. the Centre is likely to grant indemnity against ●● India is currently using mainly two 'made-in legal proceedings to foreign vaccine makers India' jabs Covishield manufactured by the such as Moderna and Pfizer before the rollout Serum Institute and Covaxin of Bharat Biotech of their vaccines in India. and Russian-made Sputnik V at a smaller ●● India had been at loggerheads with Pfizer over scale to inoculate its population, all of which the pharmaceutical company seeking an 'indem- are approved only for those aged 18 years and nity clause' which would make it immune to above. any claims linked to the use of its Covid-19 INS Sandhayak vaccine. ●● India has not given any vaccine manufacturer Why in News indemnity so far against the costs of compen- INS Sandhayak, the Indian Navy’s indigenously sation for side-effects related to their vaccines. designed and built Hydrographic Survey Ship will ●● Earlier, Pfizer has obtained indemnity in many be decommissioned. countries where its shots are already in use, Important Points including the UK and the US. ●● INS Sandhayak, the Indian Navy’s indigenously What is the Indemnity? designed and built Hydrographic Survey Ship ●● Indemnity means security against a loss or other will be decommissioned after serving the nation financial stress. In legal terms, it means a con- for 40 years. tractual obligation of one party to compensate ●● The decommissioning ceremony of INS Sand- another party due to the acts of the former. The hayak will be held at the Naval Dockyard, clause is commonly used in insurance contracts. Visakhapatnam. ●● In the case of India, if the government gives an ●● Due to Covid-19 protocols in place, only the indemnity to foreignGAURAV vaccine makers to roll out in-station IAS officers and sailors will attend the their vaccine in the country, the government, ceremony and strict Covid-19 protocols will and not the vaccine maker, would be liable to be followed. compensate any citizen who claims to have side About INS Sandhayak effects after taking the vaccine jab. Pfizer has already indicated that it would be able to make ●● INS Sandhayak conducted shallow coastal and available some doses by July 2021 in India. deep-sea hydrographic surveys and collected oceanographic and geophysical data, under the ●● 'Bridging trials' are localised clinical trials which generate data related to the impact of Eastern Naval Command. foreign medicines/vaccines on the indigenous ●● In addition to conducting surveys, it also population before they are rolled out for the assisted as military transport and casualty-carry- public. ing vessels in times of war and natural disasters.

●● In her illustrious 40 years of service, the ship ●● The idea is to phase out cars and CVs older saw 22 commanding officers at the helm, with than 15-20 years to slash urban pollution levels the last commanding the ship on June 17, 2019. and stimulate automotive sales, which continue Mission under INS Sandhayak to suffer during India’s post-COVID recovery phase. ●● The ship has conducted approximately 200 ●● Additionally, the vehicle scrappage policy is major hydrographic surveys and was a part also said to be a part of a stimulus package of several minor surveys on the east and west majorly requested by the original equipment coasts of the country, the Andaman Sea, and manufacturers (OEMs) to infuse their demand. several neighbouring countries. Incentives for scrapping old vehicles and buying ●● Apart from survey missions, it has been an new ones: active participant in many important missions. ●● Vehicle manufacturers can give up to 5% dis- ●● During Operation Pawan, the ship assisted the count for buying new vehicles Indian Peace Keeping Force in Sri Lanka in ●● Zero new registration fee 1987. ●● Scrap value equivalent of 4-6% of ex-showroom ●● After the 2004 tsunami under Operation Sarong price of new vehicles and Operation Rainbow, the ship performed humanitarian aid work. ●● States can give up to 25% and 15% rebate on road tax for personal and commercial vehicles, ●● It also participated in the earlier joint Indo-US respectively HADR exercise ‘Tiger-Triumph’. ●● Reduced maintenance cost and increased sav- Commissioning of INS Sandhayak ings from fuel ●● The ship was commissioned into the Indian Disincentives for keeping old vehicles: Navy on February 26, 1981, by Vice Admiral MK Roy, the then Flag Officer Command- ●● States can levy an additional ‘Green Tax’ ing-in-Chief Eastern Naval Command (ENC). ●● Hike in renewal of registration fee for private vehicles Vehicle Scrapping Policy ●● Increase in renewal of fitness certification for Why in News commercial vehicles Finance Minister gave emphasis on the speeding up ●● Automatic deregistration of unfit vehicles the vehicle scrapping. ●● Vehicles to be exempted: Important Points GAURAV IAS ●● Strong hybrids and electric vehicles ●● Finance and Corporate Affairs Minister has ●● Vehicles using alternative fuels such as CNG, called for expediting the implementation of the ethanol and LPG vehicle scrappage policy and improving the data ●● Farm and agricultural equipment such as trac- as well as road connectivity in hilly regions and tors, tillers and harvesters. aspirational districts of the country. Tentative Timeline and Expected Benefits Vehicle Scrapping Policy ●● The appointments will be generated online ●● According to the new policy, commercial vehi- for which the Ministry of Road Transport and cles of >15 years and passenger vehicles of >20 Highways (MORTH) has not specified any years will have to be mandatorily scrapped if time, but the following tentative timelines: they do not pass the fitness and emission tests.

●● October 1, 2021: Rules for fitness scrapping Important Points centres will be released ●● The Stockholm International Peace Research ●● April 1, 2022: Fitness testing for government Institute (SIPRI) launched the findings of SIPRI and public-sector undertaking (PSU) vehicles Yearbook 2021, which assesses the current state ●● April 1, 2023: Fitness testing for heavy com- of armaments, disarmament and international mercial vehicles security. ●● June 1, 2024: Fitness test rules to be rolled out ●● A key finding is that despite an overall decrease for other categories in the number of nuclear warheads in 2020, more have been deployed with operational Atlantic Charter forces. Why in News ●● The nine nuclear-armed states—the United Biden, Johnson Inspect Documents of the Atlantic States, Russia, the United Kingdom, France, Charter. China, India, Pakistan, Israel and the Dem- Important Points ocratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea)—together possessed an estimated 13 ●● U.S. President Joe Biden and British Prime 080 nuclear weapons at the start of 2021. Minister Boris Johnson looked back on illustrious wartime predecessors as they met ahead ●● It marked a decrease from the 13 400 that of a Group of Seven summit in England. SIPRI estimated these states possessed at the beginning of 2020. ●● At their first meeting in the seaside resort of Carbis Bay, the two leaders inspected docu- ●● Despite this overall decrease, the estimated ments related to the Atlantic Charter. number of nuclear weapons currently deployed with operational forces increased to 3825, from ●● At their meeting, the two leaders plan to sign 3720 last year. what they’re calling a new Atlantic Charter, pledging to defend the principles, values, and ●● Around 2000 of these—nearly all of which institutions of democracy and open societies. belonged to Russia or the USA—were kept in a state of high operational alert. Atlantic Charter ●● While the USA and Russia continued to reduce ●● Atlantic Charter, a declaration signed by British their overall nuclear weapon inventories by Prime Minister Winston Churchill and U.S. dismantling retired warheads in 2020, both are President Franklin D. Roosevelt in August 1941. estimated to have had around 50 more nuclear ●● Atlantic Charter dealsGAURAV with the setting of com- warheads IAS in operational deployment at the start mon goals for the world after World War II. of 2021 than a year earlier. Those goals included freer trade, disarmament ●● Russia also increased its overall military nuclear and the right to self-determination of all people. stockpile by around 180 warheads, mainly due to ●● The original charter is often cited as a corner- deployment of more multi-warhead land-based stone of the trans-Atlantic “special relationship.” intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) and SIPRI Yearbook 2021 sea-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs). Why in News ●● The overall number of warheads in global military stockpiles now appears to be increasing, According to new SIPRI Yearbook, Global nuclear a worrisome sign that the declining trend that arsenals grow as states continue to modernize. has characterized global nuclear arsenals since the end of the cold war has stalled.

●● It has an inbuilt viral filter at the air entrainment end which has a viral efficacy of 99.99% ●● Russia and the USA together possess over 90 ●● The viral filter ensures that the air does not per cent of global nuclear weapons. Both have bring in any pathogens from the environment. extensive and expensive programmes under The device has been manufactured using 3D way to replace and modernize their nuclear printing and has also been tested mechanically. warheads, missile and aircraft delivery systems, ●● ‘Jivan Vayu’ can deliver high flow oxygen and production facilities. (20–60 LPM) while maintaining a continuous ●● China is in the middle of a significant mod- positive pressure of up to 20 cm H2O. ernization and expansion of its nuclear weapon ●● The device is designed to maintain a FiO2 of inventory, and India and Pakistan also appear above 40% with a PEEP (positive end-expira- to be expanding their nuclear arsenals. tory pressure) of 5-20 cm H2O. ●● North Korea continues to enhance its military World Giving Index 2021 nuclear programme as a central element of its Why in News national security strategy. India is 14th most charitable country according to Jivan Vayu the World Giving Index 2021. Why in News Important Points IIT Ropar Develops Power-FreeGAURAV CPAP Device IAS ●● The COVID-19 pandemic has upended giving 'Jivan Vayu'. trends across the world as several western Important Points economies have slipped down the Index due to ●● Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Ropar has COVID lockdowns, as per the World Giving developed a device ‘Jivan Vayu’ which can be Index (WGI) 2021. used as a substitute for a CPAP machine. ●● Released by the Charities Aid Foundation’s ●● It is the nation’s first such device that functions (CAF), this year’s World Giving Index 2021 even without electricity and is adapted to both survey highlights the impact of lockdowns on charitable giving, as the USA, Canada, Ireland, kinds of oxygen generation units like O2 cylin- the UK, and the Netherlands -- all fell out of ders and oxygen pipelines in hospitals. the highest rankings.

●● India ranked at 14 is now in the Top 20 most ●● Most of the western countries which are usually generous countries in the world. This is up from in the Top 10 have fallen far down the rankings. the 10-year global rank of 82. Key Findings ●● Only Australia and New Zealand, where the ●● The extraordinary events of past year have survey was undertaken in the weeks before the reinforced the importance of civil society and first wave of the pandemic took hold, main- international collaboration. tained their top 10 rankings. ●● The CAF World Giving Index offers a unique ●● Scores for India rapidly improved between 2017 glimpse of global trends in generosity: and 2019, and this improvement was maintained during 2020. The improvement in India is seen ●● The Top 10 most generous countries has across all the age groups and amongst both men changed substantially in 2020 and women. 61% of Indians helped strangers; ●● The most generous country in the world is 34% volunteered; and 36% donated money. Indonesia ●● Several countries have moved up the rankings ●● More than three billion people helped someone and made their first appearance in the top 10, they didn’t know in 2020 including Nigeria, Ghana, Uganda, and Kosovo ●● Despite, or perhaps because of, the pandemic, – but whilst their overall giving scores have donating money is up across the globe increased somewhat, their rise is driven by the relative decline of other countries. What is World Giving Index? ●● CAF has been producing its World Giving Index for more than a decade. The first CAF World Giving Index was published in the wake of the global financial crisis, and now this long running study has given us the opportunity to look at how a new global crisisthe Covid-19 pandemic has impacted giving around the world. ●● The study provides combined insight into the scope and nature of giving around the world and looks at three aspects of giving behaviour and asks: Have you done any of the following in the past month? ●● Communities aroundGAURAV the world mobilised to IAS ●● Helped a stranger, or someone you didn’t know help fellow citizens during the pandemic, result- who needed help? ing in the highest ‘helped a stranger’ figures since 2009. ●● Donated money to a charity? ●● More than half (55%) of the world’s adults – ●● Volunteered your time to an organisation? or 3 billion people - reported helping someone Cabinet nod for Inland Vessels Bill they didn’t know in 2020. Why in News ●● Indonesia remains in the first place, followed by The Union Cabinet gave the nod to the Inland Ves- Kenya. Four African nations now sit in the top sels Bill, 2021, which can change the Inland Vessels 10, three of them (Nigeria, Ghana and Uganda) Act, 1917. for the first time.

Important Points ●● The first Yoga Day celebrations were held in ●● A key characteristic of the Bill is a unified reg- 2015 at Raj Path in New Delhi and Modi, along ulation for the complete nation, as an alternative with other dignitaries, had created two Guinness of separate guidelines framed by the States. World Records. ●● The Bill gives for a central knowledge base ●● The first record was set for housing 35,985 peo- for recording the small print of vessel, vessel ple and being the world’s largest yoga session. registration, crew on an digital portal. ●● The second one was for having the most number ●● It requires all mechanically propelled vessels to (84) of nationalities participating in it. be mandatorily registered. ●● The word ‘yoga’ is derived from Sanskrit and ●● All non-mechanically propelled vessels may means to join or to unite, symbolising the union also must be enrolled at district, taluk or of a person’s body and consciousness. panchayat or village degree. Jaan Hai To Jahaan Hai ●● The certificates of registration granted below Why in News the proposed regulation can be deemed to be legitimate in all States and Union Territories, Nationwide campaign ‘Jaan Hai To Jahaan Hai’ and there can be no want to hunt separate launched to create awareness on Corona vaccination permissions from the States. in rural and remote areas June 21 is observed as International Yoga Important Points Day ●● Minority Affairs Minister Mukhtar Abbas Why in News Naqvi launched a nationwide “Jaan Hai ToJ The UN proclaimed June 21 as International Day of ahaan Hai” awareness campaign. Yoga by passing a resolution on December 11, 2014. ●● Launched to create awareness on Corona vacci- Important Points nation in rural and remote areas of the country and also to “Crush and Curb” the rumours and ●● The international community observes June apprehensions regarding the ongoing vaccina- 21 as International Yoga Day, recognising the tion drive. many benefits of the ancient Indian practice of yoga. The year 2021 marks the 7th annual ●● The campaign was launched from the Primary International Yoga Day. Health Centre Chamraua in Rampur, Uttar Pradesh.. ●● The UN proclaimed June 21 as International Day of Yoga by passingGAURAV a resolution on Decem- ●● With increasingIAS hesitancy among people ber 11, 2014 during the 69th session of the towards Covid-19 vaccination in remote and General Assembly. rural areas of the country, campaign help to ●● The United Nations theme for this year is “Yoga create awareness on Corona vaccination in rural for well-being”, which takes into account how and remote areas. the practice can promote the holistic health of ●● Under the campaign, various religious leaders, every individual. prominent people from social, educational, ●● Although yoga has long been recognised as cultural, medical, science and other fields are India’s gift to the global culture of wellness, giving effective messages to the people to get the official UN recognition came after a push vaccinated and street plays will also be organ- by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014. ised across the country.

●● Various social and educational institutions, intention of drawing back all the maritime and NGOs, Women Self Help Groups working shipping business which is located offshore like under "Nai Roshni" scheme of the Minority Dubai and Singapore. Affairs Ministry, have been included in the ●● Arbitration is an add-on maritime service which awareness campaign. we are trying to provide within the Gujarat Gujarat International Maritime Arbitration Maritime cluster that is being created within Centre GIFT City. Why in News India completes ILO”s Governing Body India’s first maritime arbitration centre in Gandhi Tenure nagar Why in News Important Points India's term as chair of the Governing Body of the ●● The Gujarat Maritime University signed a International Labour Organisation (ILO) ended Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Important Points the International Financial Services Centres ●● Apurva Chandra, Secretary (Labour & Employ- Authority in GIFT City to promote the Guja- ment) completed his tenure as Chair of the rat International Maritime Arbitration Centre Governing Body of the International Labour (GIMAC). Organisation after holding the position for the ●● This will be the first centre of its kind in the period October 2020- June 2021. country that will manage arbitration and medi- ●● He handed over the responsibility of the Chair ation proceedings with disputes related to the to Ambassador Anna Jardfelt, Permanent Rep- maritime and shipping sector. resentative of Sweden to the United Nations GIMAC: Office in Geneva. ●● The GIMAC will be part of a maritime cluster ●● India had assumed the chairmanship of the that the Gujarat Maritime Board (GMB) is Governing Body of the International Labour setting up in GIFT City at Gandhinagar. Organisation after a gap of 35 years. ●● The Maritime Board has rented about 10,000 square feet at GIFT House which is part of the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) area with the clearance from the development commissioner. ●● There are over 35 arbitration centres in India. However, none of themGAURAV exclusively deals with IAS the maritime sector. ●● The idea is to create a world-class arbitration centre focused on maritime and shipping disputes that can help resolve commercial and financial conflicts between entities having operations in India. ●● Globally, London is the preferred centre for arbitration for the maritime and shipping sector. ●● During India's chairmanship, the sessions of ●● The maritime cluster consisting of ship leasing the Governing Body held in October 2020 and brokering services is being set up with the and March 2021 and the 109th session of the

International Labour Conference held in June Competition Commission of India 2021 were conducted through a virtual mode. ●● The Competition Commission of India (CCI) ●● All new and innovative procedures for conduct- was established in March 2009 by Government ing these meetings were developed during his of India under the Competition Act, 2002 tenure. for the administration, implementation, and ●● During his tenure, Chandra stressed the need enforcement of the Act. for signing Social Security Agreements. He Objectives of CCI suggested that the member countries should not ●● Eliminate practices having adverse effect on only initiate dialogue for signing Social Security competition Agreements bilaterally but also efforts should ●● Promote and sustain competition be made through ILO to sign the Agreements between a few countries in a region. ●● Protect the interests of consumers ●● Apurva Chandra recommended the member ●● Ensure freedom of trade in the markets of India countries to adopt labour standards of ILO in ●● Establish a robust competitive environment respect of work from home options keeping in view the emerging pandemic and increase in MCQs Based on Miscellaneous digital footprint at the workplace. CCI probes unfair business practices 1. Which of the following statement is/are cor- Why in News rect regarding World Neglected Tropical Dis- eases Day? CCI orders probe against Google over alleged unfair business practices by GPay. 1. 74th World Health Assembly unanimously Important Points adopted a proposal by the USA to declare January 30 as World NTD Day ●● The Competition Commission of India ordered a detailed probe against internet giant Google 2. The first World NTD Day was celebrated for alleged unfair business practices with respect informally in 2021 to Google Pay. Select the correct answer using the code given ●● Google Pay is a popular digital wallet platform. below ●● The watchdog has ordered a detailed probe (a) 1 only (b) 2 only by its Director General (DG), which is the (c) 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 investigation arm, forGAURAV alleged anti-competitive IAS practices with respect to Google Pay. 2. Consider the following statements ●● The Commission is of the prima facie view 1. Recently India decommissioned INS Sand- that the market for apps facilitating payment hayak, a Hydrographic Survey Ship through the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) 2. The decommissioning ceremony of INS Sand- appears to be a distinct relevant market for the hayak held at the Naval Dockyard, Kochi assessment of allegations in the matter. Select the correct answer using the code given ●● The probe has been ordered against five entities below — Alphabet Inc, Google LLC, Google Ireland Ltd, Google India Pvt Ltd and Google India (a) 1 only (b) 2 only Digital Services Pvt Ltd. (c) 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2

84, First Floor, Bada Bazar, Near Kotak Mahindra Bank, Old Rajinder Nagar, New Delhi-110060 Mob.- (011) 46082452, +91-9958159667, +91-9818733402, +91-9667663402 E-mail: [email protected] | www.gauravias.com 84 | Current Affairs – July, 2021 3. Consider the following statements regarding Explanation New Vehicle Scrapping Policy 1. Commercial vehicles of >20 years will have 1. (d) Neither 1 nor 2 to be mandatorily scrapped if they do not pass 1. 74th World Health Assembly unanimously the fitness and emission tests adopted a proposal by the UAE to declare 2. Passenger vehicles of >25 years will have to January 30 as World NTD Day. be mandatorily scrapped if they do not pass 2. The first World NTD Day was celebrated the fitness and emission tests informally in 2020. 3. The idea is to phase out cars and CVs older 2. (a) 1 only than 15-20 years to slash urban pollution 1. Recently India decommissioned INS levels and stimulate automotive sales Sandhayak,a Hydrographic Survey Ship. Select the correct answer using the code given 2. The decommissioning ceremony of INS below Sandhayak held at the Naval Dockyard, (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 1 and 3 only Visakhapatnam. (c) 2 only (d) 3 only 3. (d) 3 only 4. Consider the following statements regarding According to the new policy, commercial vehicles World Giving Index 2021 of >15 years and passenger vehicles of >20 years 1. India is 10th most charitable country accord- will have to be mandatorily scrapped if they do ing to the World Giving Index 2021 not pass the fitness and emission tests. 2. Netherland topped the World Giving Index The idea is to phase out cars and CVs older 2021 than 15-20 years to slash urban pollution levels 3. Released by the Charities Aid Foundation’s and stimulate automotive sales, which continue (CAF), World Giving Index 2021 survey to suffer during India’s post-COVID recovery highlights the impact of lockdowns on char- phase. itable giving 4. (d) 3 only Select the correct answer using the code given 1. India is 14th most charitable country below according to the World Giving Index 2021. (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 1 and 3 only 2. Indonesia remains in the first place, followed (c) 2 only (d) 3 only by Kenya. 5. Which of the following statement regaring 3. Released by the Charities Aid Foundation’s Jivan Vayu is/are correct?GAURAV(CAF), IAS World Giving Index 2021 survey 1. IIT Delhi has developed a device ‘Jivan highlights the impact of lockdowns on Vayu’ which can be used as a substitute for charitable giving. a CPAP machine 5. (b) 2 only 2. It is the nation’s first such device that func- 1. IIT Ropar has developed a device ‘Jivan tions even without electricity and is adapted Vayu’ which can be used as a substitute for a to both kinds of oxygen generation units and CPAP machine oxygen pipelines in hospitals 2. It is the nation’s first such device that Select the correct answer using the code given functions even without electricity and is below adapted to both kinds of oxygen generation (a) 1 only (b) 2 only units and oxygen pipelines in hospitals. (c) 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2

84, First Floor, Bada Bazar, Near Kotak Mahindra Bank, Old Rajinder Nagar, New Delhi-110060 Mob.- (011) 46082452, +91-9958159667, +91-9818733402, +91-9667663402 E-mail: [email protected] | www.gauravias.com 84, First Floor, Bada Bazar, Near Kotak Mahindra Bank, Old Rajinder Nagar, New Delhi-110060 Mob.- (011) 46082452, +91-9958159667, +91-9818733402, +91-9667663402 E-mail: [email protected] | www.gauravias.com