(Pep)-August 2019 Current Affairs Pep 2020

A Very Precise Coverage of Current Affairs of August 2019 in Tabular Form. It covers all important concepts and events in the most comprehensive manner as part of IASbaba’s Prelims Current Affairs Classes-Prelims Exclusive Programme (PEP)-2020

PRELIMS EXCLUSIVE PROGRAMME 2020 (PEP)-AUGUST 2019 CURRENT AFFAIRS PEP 2020

IASBABA

PRELIMS EXCLUSIVE PROGRAMME 2020 (PEP)-AUGUST 2019 CURRENT AFFAIRS Contents Current Events of National & International Importance ...... 2 Culture, History of India and Indian National Movement ...... 7 Indian Polity, Schemes and Governance ...... 10 Economic and Social Development ...... 15 Environment ...... 19 Agriculture ...... 25 Science and Technology ...... 26 Figures and Maps ...... 43

PRELIMS EXCLUSIVE PROGRAMME 2020 (PEP)-AUGUST 2019 CURRENT AFFAIRS Current Events of National & International Importance

TOPICS KEY ASPECTS Value Addition United Nations Industrial • UNIDO and National Institute of • Solar thermal technologies Development Solar Energy (NISE) initiate a skill capture the heat energy from Organization (UNIDO) development programme in the the sun and use it solar thermal energy sector. for heating and/or the production • Objective of UNIDO–promotion of of electricity. industrial development, • This is different from particularly for developing photovoltaic solar panels, which countries, for poverty reduction, directly convert inclusive globalization and the sun's radiation to electricity environmental sustainability. • NISE is an Autonomous Institute of • It is a member of the United Ministry of New and Renewable Nations Development Group. Energy, located in Gurugram, • As of 1 April 2019, 170 States are Haryana. Members of UNIDO (including India). State of Food Security and • Report jointly prepared by FAO, • Conflict and the climate crisis Nutrition in the World, IFAD, UNICEF, WFP and WHO constitute the greatest drivers of 2019 Report • Report shows a rise in world hunger. hunger for a third year in a row • IFAD-International Fund for • There were 821 million chronically Agricultural Development is an undernourished people in the international financial institution world in 2018, up from 811 million and a specialised agency of the in 2017 United Nations that works to • One in nine people in the world address poverty and hunger in now faces hunger. rural areas of developing • However, one in five people were countries. hungry in Africa – region with • SDG Goal 2 -End hunger, achieve highest prevalence of hunger food security and improved • India - Undernourishment declined nutrition and promote sustainable from 22.2% in 2004-06 to 14.5% agriculture between 2016 and 2018. • Undernutrition will reduce GDP by up to 11 % in Africa and Asia Mekong Ganga • MGC, is a sub-regional cooperation Cooperation organisation comprising India and 10th Ministerial meeting five ASEAN countries, namely, held in Bangkok, Thailand Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam. • Launched in 2000 at Laos capital Vientiane. • MGC takes its name from the Ganga and the Mekong, the two civilisational rivers in Southeast Asia. • Mandate: The MGC aims at facilitating closer contacts among the people inhabiting these two major river basins and enhancing cooperation in tourism, culture,

PRELIMS EXCLUSIVE PROGRAMME 2020 (PEP)-AUGUST 2019 CURRENT AFFAIRS education, transport and communications.

G7 • 45th Summit held at Biarritz, France Although no joint communique was Indian PM attended G-7 at • Theme: Fighting Inequality issued, some of the prominent. the invitation of French • G7 is a forum of the world's seven outcomes of 45th Summit are: President largest developed • G7 countries pledged $20 million economies whose government help to fight fires in the Amazon leaders meet annually to discuss rainforests. international economic and • The need for a dedicated monetary issues. multilateral Green Bank • G-7 has its roots in an informal was demanded. It would solely meeting of the finance finance the projects supporting ministers of France, West renewable energies and mitigating Germany, the U.S, Great Britain, environmental challenges. and Japan (the Group of Five) in • There was a call for reinstating the wake of the 1973 oil crisis. Russia back into the group. But, • With addition of Canada & Italy, the consensus for the same was first G7 was held in 1976 not achieved. • In 1998, Russia was added to form G8. However, in 2014, Russia was The G20 was formed in 1999, so as suspended from the group after to bring more countries on board to the annexation of Crimea and address global economic concerns. tensions in Ukraine. India is a member and is slated to • Since then, meetings have host G20 summit in 2022. continued within the G7 process. International Civil • Denial of use of Pakistan’s airspace • The Chicago Convention exempts Aviation Organization to India, taken up by India at ICAO air fuels in transit from (double) (ICAO) • The Convention on International taxation. Civil Aviation was signed on • India is among its 193 members. 7th December 1944 in Chicago • Senior bureaucrat Shefali Juneja which gave rise to ICAO was appointed on June 2019 as • ICAO is a United Nations (UN) representative of India in council specialized agency, established in of ICAO. 1944, which laid the foundation for the standards and procedures for peaceful global air navigation. • HQ: Montreal, Canada.

PRELIMS EXCLUSIVE PROGRAMME 2020 (PEP)-AUGUST 2019 CURRENT AFFAIRS ASEAN Regional Forum • ARF set up in 1994is an important • ASEAN members-Brunei, (ARF) platform for security dialogue in Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, 26th Meeting held in the Indo-Pacific Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Bangkok, Thailand • ARF consists of 27 member states. Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam It includes 10 ASEAN member • 10 ASEAN dialogue partners - states, 10 ASEAN dialogue partners Australia, Canada, China, the ASEAN was established in and 7 other members European Union, India, Japan, 1967 through Bangkok • ARF working involves minimum New Zealand, the Republic of declaration with institutionalization and decision- Korea, Russia and the United Secretariat at Jakarta, making is by consensus. States Indonesia and motto • It makes use of both “first track” • Other members: Bangladesh, the as “One Vision, One and “second track” diplomacy Democratic People's Republic of Identity, One • First-track diplomatic meetings Korea, Mongolia, Pakistan, Sri Community”. consist of gatherings of leading Lanka, and Timor-Leste; one officials to discuss security ASEAN observer (Papua New measures, Guinea). • Second-track meetings consist of scholars, government individuals • India is a member of ARF since not acting in their official capacity, 1996 private think tanks, and other individuals &organizations (NGOs).

Vienna Convention on • The Convention is an international • India had demanded in Consular Relations of 1963 treaty that defines a framework International Court of Justice the for consular relations between consular access to Kulbhushan Adopted in 1963, and in independent states. Jadhav (Indian Naval officer force since 1967, the • The Convention defines and arrested in Pakistan on charges of treaty has been ratified by articulates the functions, rights, espionage) under the rules of 180 states and immunities accorded to the Vienna Convention. consular officers and their offices, • Article 36 of Convention states as well as the rights and duties of that, if any foreign national is "receiving States" (where the detained or arrested on criminal consul is based) and "sending or immigration charges, he/she is States" (the state the consul entitled to be notified about the represents). right to notify the detainee country’s consulate of his/her arrest International Maritime • It is a US led initiative to protect • Iran had seized a British tanker, Security Mission in the merchant vessels travelling Stena Impero, near the Strait of Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz Hormuz for alleged marine • UK and Australia too joined this violations in July 2019 which led initiative UK to join the mission • The mission has been started by • The Strait of Hormuz is a strait USA in the wake of increased US- between the Persian Gulf and the Iran tensions in the region due to Gulf of Oman. 20% of the world’s withdrawal of US from Iran oil passing through it every year. Nuclear deal and re-imposition of sanctions on Iran

PRELIMS EXCLUSIVE PROGRAMME 2020 (PEP)-AUGUST 2019 CURRENT AFFAIRS Astana Consensus • In June 2017, on the side-lines of About SCO the Shanghai Cooperation • SCO a Eurasian political, economic India reiterating the need Organisation (SCO) Summit, India and military organisation created to stick to Astana & China interacted in Astana. in 2001 aiming to maintain peace, Consensus in the wake of • The two countries agreed upon the security and stability in the region China’s statements on fact that their differences should (Eurasia & Central Asia) Kashmir (Abrogation of not be allowed to become • Genesis: Shanghai Five (1996) Article 370) disputes, & if these disputes were which emerged from a series of handled carefully, they may even border demarcation and turn into opportunities. demilitarization talks which the • The Consensus also viewed that four former Soviet republics held India-China relations were with China to ensure stability significant not only bilaterally but along the borders. for the region and the whole world • Presently it consists of eight and were a factor of stability. member-states—India, China, • Astana is the capital city of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Kazakhstan Pakistan, Tajikistan, and • However, Astana was renamed as Uzbekistan Nur-Sultan in March 2019 Special Data • In its 2018 report it states that • India voluntarily subscribed to the Dissemination Standard India failed to comply with SDDS in December 27, 1996. (SDSS) multiple requirements prescribed • India held that its non-compliance in the SDSS with IMF standards in 2018 is one- • SDSS launched by IMF in 1996 off event due to technical • Objective: To guide members to glitches in the National Summary enhance data transparency and Data Page (NSDP) web page. help financial market participants • NSDP provides quick access to a with adequate information to single comprehensive source of assess the economic situations of economic and financial data. countries. • There are over 20 data categories which IMF considers for this report to capture a nation’s economic health including national accounts (GDP, GNI), production indices, employment, and central government operations. UN Special Purpose Trust • SPTF is a specific fund housed • UN Resident Coordinator (RC) Fund (SPTF) for the within the UN Secretariat. system encompasses all Resident Coordinator • It has been established to receive, organizations of the UN system System. consolidate, manage and account dealing with operational activities for all contributions and financial for development, regardless of India has contributed $1 transactions of the new Resident their formal presence in the million to the fund Coordinator (RC) system, in a country transparent and effective way. • RC system aim: To bring together Funding sources include: the different UN agencies to • Voluntary contributions from improve the efficiency and Member States. effectiveness of operational • The doubling of cost-sharing activities at the country level. amounts from UN entities who are • UN Resident Coordinators lead members of the United Nations UN country teams in 129 development system. countries and are the designated

PRELIMS EXCLUSIVE PROGRAMME 2020 (PEP)-AUGUST 2019 CURRENT AFFAIRS • A 1% levy applied to contributions representatives of the Secretary- for UN development-related General for development activities earmarked to a single operations. agency, single programme or project. Chief of Defence Staff • Rank of a four-star General who • CDS will not exercise any military (CDS) oversees and coordinates the command, including over the working of the three Services three Service Chiefs, so as to be PM announces creation of • He will act as the Principal Military able to provide impartial advice to CDS in his Independence Adviser to Defence Minister on all the political leadership. Day Speech tri-Services matters. • So far, the chairmanship of the • CDS will head the Department of CoSC has not been permanent and Military Affairs (DMA), to be is held in rotation by the senior- created within the Ministry of most service chief, which has Defence and function as its caused problems of inadequate Secretary. attention and short tenures as • CDS will also be the Permanent Chairman, CoSC. Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff • Post retirement CDS will not be Committee (CoSC). eligible to hold any government • The tri-service agencies, post. Also not be allowed to take organisations and commands up any private employment, relating to cyber and space will be without prior approval, for a under the command of the CDS. period of five years after • The CDS will also function as demitting the office the Military Adviser to the Nuclear Command Authority Shillong Declaration on e- • 22ndNational Conference on e- • Carved from the erstwhile State of Governance Governance 2019 held in Shillong Assam, Meghalaya became a full- led to this declaration. fledged state (capital as Shillong) • Theme of Conference: Digital on Jan 21 1972. India: Success to Excellence Key highlights of Shillong declaration • Promote timely implementation of India Enterprise Architecture (IndEA). • Consolidate the plethora of successful State level e- Governance projects with a focus to replicate them as a common application software. • Take steps to further improve connectivity in North Eastern States • Explore the possibility for opening an electronics skill center in Shillong. UN Convention on • Union Cabinet has approved the • The Convention was adopted by International Settlement signing of UNISA by India UN General Assembly in Dec 2018 Agreements • It establishes a harmonized legal and open for signature (7th August (UNISA)resulting from framework for the right to invoke 2019) by States and regional Mediation settlement agreements as well as economic integration

PRELIMS EXCLUSIVE PROGRAMME 2020 (PEP)-AUGUST 2019 CURRENT AFFAIRS for their enforcement. organizations also known as the • The Convention is an instrument • Signing of the convention will for the facilitation of international boost the confidence of the “Singapore Convention on trade and the promotion of investors and shall provide a Mediation” mediation as an alternative and positive signal to foreign investors effective method of resolving about India's commitment to trade disputes adhere to international practice • The Convention ensures that a on Alternative Dispute Resolution settlement reached by parties (ADR). becomes binding and enforceable in accordance with a simplified and streamlined procedure.

Culture, History of India and Indian National Movement

TOPICS KEY ASPECTS Value Addition Kolams • Kolam is a form of drawing that is • Kolam is all about symmetry, drawn by using rice flour, chalk, chalk precision, and complexity. Women in Tamil powder or rock powder, often using Nadu are making naturally or synthetically colored Kolam inspired maps powders, in southern Indian states. to identify lucrative • A Kolam is a geometrical line drawing locations to set up composed of curved loops, drawn businesses. around a grid pattern of dots • It is widely practised by female Hindu family members in front of their houses as these are thought to bring prosperity to homes Palani • Palani Panchamirtham, an abishega Other Products to be awarded the GI Panchamirtham Prasadamof Arulmigu Tag in August 2019 are: Dhandayuthapaniswamy Temple, Awarded GI Tag situated in palani Hills in Dindigul 1. Tawlhlohpuan, a medium to District of Tamil Nadu. heavy, compactly woven, good • It is a combination of five natural quality fabric from Mizoram is substances, namely, banana, jaggery known for warp yarns, warping, sugar, cow ghee, honey and cardamom weaving & intricate designs that in a definite proportion. are made by hand. • This is the first time a temple 2. Mizo Puanchei, a colourful ‘prasadam’ from Tamil Nadu has been shawl/textile, from Mizoram, bestowed with the GI tag considered as the most colourful among the Mizo textiles 3. Tirur betel vine from Kerala, which is valued both for its mild stimulant action and medicinal properties. Niraputhari Festival • The annual fertility ritual held in • Sabrimala is a Hindu pilgrimage Sabrimala which devotees believe will center located at Periyar Tiger bring prosperity and good luck. Reserve in Western Ghats in • The ritual involves offering of fresh Kerala.

PRELIMS EXCLUSIVE PROGRAMME 2020 (PEP)-AUGUST 2019 CURRENT AFFAIRS paddy spikes by devotees Kopeshwar Temple • Temple is in Kolhapur district, The temple is divided into four parts Maharashtra. • Swargamandapa – with a circular This 11th Century • On the banks of Krishna River open ceiling supported by 48 temple survives flood • Dedicated to Lord Shiva pillars fury • Built by Shilahara Dynasty, that • Sabhamandapa established itself in northern and • Antaral kaksha southern Konkan, present-day Mumbai • Garbha gruha or Sanctum and southern Maharashtra during the Rashtrakuta period. Unique things about this temple: • Lord Vishnu is in the temple in the form of a ling along with Shivling • No Nandi at the entrance- which is the norm for all Shiva temples Wanchuwa festival • Wanchuwa festival is celebrated by • Tiwas practice Jhum or shifting Tiwa tribesmen of Karbi Anglong cultivation, where the land is first district in Assam. cleared of any vegetation that is • Tiwas pray for a bountiful harvest and later set on fire (slash-and-burn). protection from agrarian pests during • The main festivals of the Tiwa this festival. tribes are: Three Pisu (Bihu), Borot • Tiwa also known as Lalung is indigenous utsav, Sogra phuja, Wanchuwa, community inhabiting the states of Jonbeel Mela, Kabla, Langkhon Assam and Meghalaya and also found Phuja and Yangli Phuja. in some parts of Arunachal Pradesh and • Pig is a staple part of their diet and Manipur. their culture.

Kondapalli Toys • Kondapalli Toys have been granted • The artisans mainly work on the Geographical Indications (GI) tag. producing figures of mythology, Awarded GI Tag • They are cultural icons of Andhra animals, birds, bullock carts, rural Pradesh. life etc., and the most notable one • They are made from soft wood known is Dasavataram, dancing dolls etc. as Tella Poniki which are found in nearby Kondapalli Hills. • The artisans who make the toys are referred as Aryakhastriyas (also known as Nakarshalu),

Saharia Tribe • Saharia tribe comes under the special • The Saharia people of Madhya backward tribes of Madhya Pradesh. Pradesh and Rajasthan are the UIDAI has recorded • Saharias are mainly found in many largest among the Particularly January 1 as default districts of Madhya Pradesh and Baran Vulnerable Tribal Groups date of birth on the district of Rajasthan (PVTGs)with population more than Aadhaar card for • They trace their origin from Shabri of 4 lakhs. Saharia Tribes in the Ramayan. • In 1973, the Dhebar Commission Kakra village in MP • They are also known as the younger created Primitive Tribal Groups brothers of Bhil’s (Bhils or Bheels are (PTGs) as a separate category, who

PRELIMS EXCLUSIVE PROGRAMME 2020 (PEP)-AUGUST 2019 CURRENT AFFAIRS primarily an ethnic group of people in are less developed among the West India). tribal groups. In 2006, the • Their habitats are located in the forest Government of India renamed the area, barren and stony land and they PTGs as PVTGs. are still a primitive society. • Among the 75 listed PVTG’s the highest number are found in Odisha (13), followed by Andhra Pradesh (12). Dindigul Lock: • Awarded GI Tag • More than 3,125 lock • Dindigul is a city in Tamil Nadu known manufacturing units are limited to Awarded GI Tag as “Lock City” an area of 5 km in and around • The Dindigul locks are known Dindigul. throughout the world for their superior • The abundance of iron in this quality and durability. region is the reason for the growth of the industry. Kandangi saree: • Awarded GI Tag • A GI Tag indicates that the product • Mnufactured in the entire Karaikudi originates from a definite territory taluk in Sivaganga district of Tamil in India and has unique Awarded GI Tag Nadu characteristics or qualities • These cotton sarees are characterised • Geographical Indications by large contrast borders. Registry (hq: Chennai, TN) gives • It is manually made using a winding the GI tags in India. This registry is machine, loom, shuttle and bobbin. directly under the Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trademarks (CGPDTM) of India • Darjeeling Tea was the first to get GI tag in 2004. Menhirs • A menhir is a large upright standing • Menhirs may be found singly as stone. (Megalithic monument) monoliths, or as part of a group of • Three menhirs found in Erode district of similar stones. Tamil Nadu dating to 1,500BC-500BC • Their size can vary considerably; • Menhirs are prehistoric stones but their shape is generally uneven commonly found near the ancient and squared, often tapering burial sites or chambers towards the top

PRELIMS EXCLUSIVE PROGRAMME 2020 (PEP)-AUGUST 2019 CURRENT AFFAIRS

Indian Polity, Schemes and Governance

TOPICS KEY ASPECTS Value Addition National Water • NWDA is an autonomous About PMKSY Development Agency organization which was established • Centrally Sponsored Scheme (Core (NWDA) under Societies Registration Act (Act Scheme) launched in 2015. XXI of 1860) in 1972. • Centre- States will be 75:25 per Functions of NWDA cent. In the case of the north- • To carry out the water balance and eastern region and hilly states, it other studies on a scientific and will be 90:10. realistic basis for optimum utilization • Objectives include convergence of of water resources in country investments in irrigation, Har khet • To undertake implementation of ko Pani, improve on-farm water Inter Linking of Rivers projects use efficiency, enhance recharge • Completion of water resources of aquifers and introduce projects under Pradhan Mantri Krishi sustainable water conservation Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY) practices. • To act as a repository of borrowed fund or loan from Banks / other institutions for the execution of projects. Adarsh Smarak Scheme • Launched in 2014 by Ministry of • The objective of scheme is to Culture. provide improved visitor • A total of 100 Monuments protected amenitieslike washrooms, by the Archaeological Survey of India drinking water, signages, (ASI) are being developed and cafeteria,interpretation and maintained as Adarsh Monuments audio-video centers, Wi-fi facilities under the scheme and disabled friendly infrastrutures • The scheme also aims to streamline wastewater and garbage disposal and a rainwater harvesting system. Khadi and Village • KVIC distributed as many as 50 • Observed on August 9 every Industry Commission leather kits and 350 Bee-Boxes with year, World Tribal Day or the (KVIC) live bee colonies in tribal-dominated International Day of the World’s village in Rajasthan Indigenous People is aimed at • KVIC is a statutory body established protecting the rights of the in 1956 world’s tribal population. • It functions under the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises. National Technical • It is a technical intelligence Agency • The impetus for setting up NTRO Research Organisation under the National Security Advisor came after the Kargil war in 1999 (NTRO) (NSA)in the Prime Minister's Office when the Subrahmanyam • Set up in 2004 committee report pointed out • The agency develops technology weaknesses in intelligence capabilities in aviation and remote gathering in the national security sensing, data gathering and set up

PRELIMS EXCLUSIVE PROGRAMME 2020 (PEP)-AUGUST 2019 CURRENT AFFAIRS processing, cyber security, cryptology • In 2017 NTRO was brough under systems, strategic hardware and The Intelligence Organisations software development and strategic (Restriction of Rights) Act, 1985 monitoring. similar to R&W and IB. • It has the right to lawfully intercept and monitor communications externally Composite Water • By NITI Aayog in association with • NITI Aayog first launched and Management Index 2.0 Ministry of JAL Shakti and Ministry of conceptualized the CWMI in 2018 Rural Development as a tool to instil a sense of Released in August 2019 • CWMI 2.0 ranks various states for cooperative and competitive the reference year 2017-18 as federalism among the states. against the base year 2016-17. • It provided actionable guidance to • Gujarat continues to hold on to States on where they were doing its rank one, followed by Andhra well absolutely and relatively and Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Goa, what they needed to focus on to Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. secure their water • 80% of the states have shown improvement in their water management scores over the last three years. National Resource • NREA is one of the key features of • National Resource Efficiency Efficiency Authority National Resource Efficiency Policy Policy, 2019 aims to streamline (NREA) 2019 proposed by Ministry of the efficient use of the resources Environment, Forests and Climate with minimum negative impact on Change environment Functions of NREA: • Resource efficiency very simply • Develop and implement resource put is making more with fewer efficient strategies for material materials. It involves 6Rwhich recycling, reuse and land-filling stands for reduce, reuse, recycle, targets for various sectors. redesign, re-manufacture and • Set standards for reuse of secondary refurbish raw materials to ensure quality. • NREA would be supported by • Maintain a database of material use an Inter-Ministerial National and waste generated, recycled and Resource Efficiency Board to land filled, across various sectors and guide on the aspects critical to its different regions and monitor the implementation. implementation. Deendayal Antyodaya • DAY-NULM was launched in • Aim of DAY-NULM: To uplift Yojana- National Urban 2014 and is being implemented by urban poor by enhancing Livelihoods Mission the Urban Ministry of Housing & sustainable livelihood (DAY- NULM) Poverty Alleviation. opportunities through skill • It is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme development. Also, Rashtriya Shahri • Funding will be shared between Aajeevika Mission the Centre and the States in the ratio About PAiSA portal of 75:25. For North Eastern and • Launched in November 2018, it Special Category – the ratio will be is a centralized IT DAY-NULM has been 90:10. platform which simplifies and conferred the Features of NULM streamlines release of interest prestigious SKOCH • Organizing urban poor in their strong subvention under the Mission. Governance Gold grassroots level institutions (Self Help • It offers end to end online Award for its Portal for Groups) solution for processing, payment,

PRELIMS EXCLUSIVE PROGRAMME 2020 (PEP)-AUGUST 2019 CURRENT AFFAIRS Affordable Credit and • Skill development leading to market- monitoring and tracking of Interest Subvention based employment and interest subvention claims from Access (PAiSA) • Easy access to credit through interest banks on a monthly basis. subvention scheme to helpurban It is designed and developed poor set up self-employment venture by Allahabad Bank (Nodal bank). • Providing shelter equipped with essential services to the urban About SKOCH homeless in a phased manner. • The Skoch Group is a think tank • Address livelihood concerns of the since 1997 that deals with socio- urban street vendorsby facilitating economic issues in the country with suitable space, institutional while focusing on inclusive credit, and social security and skills to growth. the urban street vendor Kisan Urja Suraksha • Launched by The Ministry of New and • All three components combined; Evam Utthaan Renewable Energy in 2019 the scheme aims to add a solar Mahabhiyan (KUSUM) Scheme Consists of 3 components capacity of 25,750 MW by 2022 Scheme • 10,000 MW of Decentralized Ground • It will result in saving of about 27 Mounted Grid Connected Renewable million tonnes of CO2 emission Kusum Scheme aims to Power Plant each of 500KW to 2 MW per annum. promote use of solar in the rural area; • Component-B of the Scheme on energy among farmers. • Installation of 17.50 lakh standalone standalone solar pumps may off-grid Solar Powered Agriculture result in saving of 1.2 billion liters Pumps to fulfil irrigation needs of of diesel per annum farmers not connected to grid • KUSUM scheme can potentially • Solarization of existing grid- convert one-third to one-fourth of connected agriculture pumps to all irrigation pumps into solar- make farmers independent of grid powered pumps in a short period supply and also sell surplus solar of 3 years. power generated to Discom and get extra income Biometric Seafarer • India has become the first country in • The new facial biometric Identity Document the world to issue BSID, capturing the technology is a marked (BSID) facial bio-metric data of seafarers improvement over the two finger • It will have a biometric chip or iris-based bio-metric data, with embedded in it. modern security features. • The card has two optical security • The new card is in confirmation of features: the Convention No. 185 of the o Micro prints/micro texts International Labour

o Unique Guilloche pattern. Organisation on BSID. India • A software has been developed for ratified the Convention in October capturing the facial biometrics and its 2015. authentication through the public key infrastructure. Merits of BSID • A record of each Seafarer Identity • foolproof identification to Indian Document (SID) issued will be seafarers maintained in a national database • facilitate seafarer’s movement andits related information will be • provide ease of getting jobs internationally accessible. • Helps in identifying them from any • In India the BSID project has been location in the world. taken up by Ministry of Shipping in collaboration with Centre for Development of Advanced

PRELIMS EXCLUSIVE PROGRAMME 2020 (PEP)-AUGUST 2019 CURRENT AFFAIRS Computing (CDAC), Mumbai.

National Essential • Indian Council of Medical Research • WHO had released the first Diagnostics List (NEDL) (ICMR) has finalised the first NEDL edition of EDL in May 2018, making India the first country to however, India’s diagnostics list compile such list has been customised and • NEDL aims to bridge the current prepared as per landscape of regulatory system’s gap that do not India’s health care priorities. cover all the medical devices and in- • ICMR, is the apex body in the vitro diagnostic device country for the formulation, • NEDL has been developed for all coordination and promotion levels of health care – village level, of biomedical research. primary, secondary & tertiary care. • Set up in 1911 by the Government • NEDL also recommends list of human as Indian Research Fund resources such as ASHA workers, lab Association (IRFA), it was technicians’ pathologists for different redesigned asICMR in 1949 levels of health care as per the • ICMR is funded by the proposed list of diagnostics. Government of India through the Ministry of Health &Family Welfare. San Sadhan Hackathon • It is the latest initiative under • Since the launch of the SBM, the Swachh Bharat Mission India’s rural sanitation coverage • It is an initiative to ease lives of has increased from 39% in 2014 to Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan) over 99% as of August 2019 by making toilets smarter, more • The international day of persons accessible, and easier to use. with disabilities is observed every • Organized jointly by the Ministry of year on 3rd December. Jal Shakti and the Ministry of Social • In March 2019, Ministry of Social Justice& Empowerment, in Justice and Empowerment collaboration with Atal Innovation entered into Guinness Book of Mission, NITI Aayog, Bill & Melinda World Records for implanting Gates Foundation, and ‘Modern Artificial Limbs (Legs)’ on 91springboard. 260 Divyangjans within eight • Atal Innovation Mission hours. (AIM)including Self-Employment and Talent Utilization (SETU)is a flagship initiative by NITI Aayog to promote a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship in the country. National Time Release • India’s first national TRS is conducted • This initiative will help India Study (TRS) by the Ministry of Finance as part of maintain the upward trajectory on its strategic commitment to improve Ease of Doing Business, global trade. particularly on the Trading Across • TRS is an internationally recognized Borders indicator. Last year tool advocated by World Customs India’s ranking on the indicator Organization to measure the improved from 146 to 80. efficiency and effectiveness of • This exercise will be conducted international trade flows every year across 15 ports • The aim is to identify and address including sea, air, land and dry bottlenecks in the trade flow process ports. and take the corresponding policy

PRELIMS EXCLUSIVE PROGRAMME 2020 (PEP)-AUGUST 2019 CURRENT AFFAIRS and operational measures. SANKALP Project- Skills • SANKALP is a Centrally sponsored • SANKALP aims to implement the Acquisition and scheme of Ministry of Skill mandate of the National Skill Knowledge Awareness Development & Entrepreneurship Development Mission (NSDM) for Livelihood • Collaboration with World Bank Promotion • Objective: To enhance institutional Related Scheme: mechanisms for skills development • Skills Strengthening for Industrial and increase access to quality and Value Enhancement (STRIVE) market-relevant training for the work Scheme is a World Bank Assisted- force. Government of India project with Four Key areas of SANKALP are: the objective of improving the 1. Convergence and Institutional relevance and efficiency of skills strengthening of skill programs at training provided through National & State level Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) 2. Quality Assurance of skill and apprenticeships. development programs through building a pool of quality trainers, developing model curriculum, content & assessment standards. 3. Inclusiveness: Providing access to skill training opportunities to the disadvantaged sections 4. Establishing a robust monitoring and evaluation system for skill training programs. National Digital Library • Launched in August 2019 by Ministry Other Initiatives under NMEICT (NDL) of India of Human Resource Development • SWAYAM- integrated platform for under the aegis of National Mission offering online courses, covering on Education through Information school (9th to 12th) to and Communication Technology Postgraduate Level. (NMEICT). • SWAYAM Prabha: It is an initiative • It is developed by IIT Kharagpur. to provide 32 High Quality • NDL is the Single Window Platform Educational Channels through that collects and collates metadata DTH (Direct to Home) on a 24X7 from premier learning institutions in basis. India and abroad, as well as other • Free and Open Source Software relevant sources. for Education (FOSSEE) • It is a digital repository containing • E-Yantra: It is a project for textbooks, articles, videos, audio enabling effective education books, lectures, simulations, fiction across engineering colleges in and all other kinds of learning media India on embedded systems and • NDL has 1.7 Crore content from more robotics. than 160 sources, in over 200 languages.

PRELIMS EXCLUSIVE PROGRAMME 2020 (PEP)-AUGUST 2019 CURRENT AFFAIRS

Economic and Social Development

TOPICS KEY ASPECTS Value Addition Limited Liability • Under “traditional partnership firm”, • LLP gives the benefits of limited Partnerships (LLP) every partner is liable, jointly with all liability of a company and the the other partners and also for all acts flexibility of a partnership; hence of the firm done while he is a partner. it is called a hybrid between a • Under LLP structure, liability of the company and a partnership. partner is limited to his agreed • The management-ownership contribution. divide inherent in a company is • The internal governance structure of not there in a limited liability a company is regulated by statute (i.e. partnership. Companies Act, 1956) whereas for an • LLP will have more flexibility and LLP it would be by a contractual lesser compliance requirements as agreement between partners. compared to a company. • LLP is governed under the Limited liability partnership act of 2008. • The Corporate Affairs Ministry implements the Act. Consumer Protection Key features of the act are: • The act seeks to enhance the Act, 2019 Definition of a Consumer protection of consumers’ interests • A consumer is defined as a person and timely settlement of their The act replaces the who buys any good or avails a grievances Consumer Protection service for a consideration. • CCPA will have an investigation Act, 1986. • It does not include a person who wing, headed by a Director- obtains a good for resale or a good or General, which may conduct an service for commercial purpose. inquiry or investigation into • It covers transactions through all related violations. modes including offline, and online • CCPA may impose a penalty of up through electronic means, to Rs 10 lakh and imprisonment teleshopping, multi-level marketing for up to 2 years for misleading or direct selling. advertisement. Rights of Consumers • The act also says Consumer • Right to be protected against Disputes Redressal Commissions marketing of goods & services that (CDRCs) will be set up to deal with are hazardous to life & property. grievance redressal at the levels of • Right to be informed of quality, • District– Complaints of value upto quantity, potency, purity, standard & Rs 1 crore price of goods or services. • State – Rs 1 crore - Rs 10 crore • Right to be assured of access to a • National - Exceeds Rs 10 crore variety of goods or services at competitive prices. • Right to Seek redressal against unfair or restrictive trade practices. Also, Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) will be set up to promote, protect and enforce the rights of consumers. Securities Transaction • Union govt. clarified that settlements • STT was introduced in the Union Tax (STT) in derivatives will attract same STT as Budget 2004-05, to stop tax

PRELIMS EXCLUSIVE PROGRAMME 2020 (PEP)-AUGUST 2019 CURRENT AFFAIRS that levied in the equity cash avoidance of capital gains tax. segment. • The rate of STT is determined by • STT is levied on every purchase or the central government sale of securities that are listed on the • STT rate differs based on the type Indian stock exchanges. of security traded and whether • Securities are tradable investment the transaction is a purchase or a instruments such as shares, bonds, sale. debentures, equity-oriented mutual • It is a direct tax. funds (MFs) etc. and are issued either by companies or by the Indian government. Common Service • CSC are a strategic cornerstone of the • The CSC project forms a strategic Centres (CSCs) Digital India programme. component of the National • They are multiple-services-single- eGovernance Plan was approved point model for providing facilities for by the Government in May 2006 multiple transactions at a single • Government launched the CSC 2.0 geographical location. scheme in 2015 to expand the • They are the access points for outreach of CSCs to all Gram delivery of essential public utility Panchayats across the country. services, social welfare schemes, • Under CSC 2.0 scheme, at least healthcare, financial, education and one CSC will be set up in each of agriculture services, apart from host the 2.5 lakh GPs across the of B2C services to citizens in rural and country by 2019. remote areas of the country. Dinesh Sharma • It was set up in April 2017 by Finance • Crypto Currencies are type of Committee Ministry to look into cryptocurrency unregulated digital money. legitimacy. • They are neither issued by central • It was inter-disciplinary committee bank/public authority, nor is headed by Dinesh Sharma Special necessarily attached to fiat Secretary, Department of Economic currency, but is used and accepted Affairs (DEA)with members from among the members of a specific CBDT, Ministry of Home Affairs, MeitY virtual community (Ministry of Electronics and • They are mainly decentralised Information Technology), RBI, NITI peer-to-peer system, and Aayog and SBI transacted between users directly, • The committee recommended a total without an intermediary. ban on cryptocurrency in India • These transactions are verified by • Second inter-disciplinary committee network nodes and recorded in under Subhash Chandra Gargwas public distributed ledger called formed in Nov 2017 to draft blockchain. regulations for cryptocurrencies • They are being transferred, stored • Examples of virtual currencies are or traded electronically. Bitcoin, Litecoin, Darkcoin, Peercoin, Dogecoin, Primecoin etc Goldilocks Economy • A Goldilocks economy exists when A Goldilocks economy is growth is neither too hot, causing characterised by inflation, nor too cold, creating a • Low Unemployment rate recession. • Low market interest rate • It is a situation where the economy is • Low inflation not expanding or contracting by a • Steady GDP growth rate large margin • Increase in assets prices

PRELIMS EXCLUSIVE PROGRAMME 2020 (PEP)-AUGUST 2019 CURRENT AFFAIRS • When an economy has two consecutive quarters—or six months—of negative GDP growth economist say the country is experiencing a recession. Negative Rate Policy • It is an unusual monetary policy tool • Negative interest rates might be in which nominal interest rates are seen during deflationary periods set with a negative value, below the when people or institutions are theoretical lower bound of zero inclined to hoard money, rather percent. than spend or lend it. • Therefore, it is a situation where • Negative rate Policy is thus money deposits incur a charge for intended to incentivize banks to storage at a bank, rather than lend money more freely. receiving interest income • Japan had introduced a negative policy interest rate in 2016 Circular Economy • A circular economy is an alternative • In circular economy all ‘waste’ to a traditional linear economy should become ‘food’ for another NITI Aayog CEO (make, use, dispose) in which process: either a by-product or “Circular economy has resources are kept in use for as long recovered resource for another potential to create as possible and aimed at minimising industrial process, or as nearly one-and-half waste. regenerative resources for nature, crore jobs in next five to • Circular economy employ reuse, eg compost. seven years and create sharing, repair, refurbishment, lakhs of new remanufacturing and recycling to entrepreneurs” create a closed system, minimising the use of resource input and the creation of waste, pollution and emissions Regional Rural Banks • RRBs were set up under Regional • RRBs are scheduled commercial (RRBs) Rural Banks Act, 1976 banks (Government banks) and • RRBs aim to combine efficiency of a therefore have to maintain RBI’s Government is eyeing a commercial bank with grassroots CRR, SLR & PSL norms. mega revamp of networking of a cooperative society • These were set up based on its RRBs for better • RRBs are jointly owned by Narshimham committee Working operational efficiencies. o Central Government (50%), Group recommendations set up Plan envisages bringing o Concerned State Govt (15%) under Indira Gandhi government RRBs down to 38 from o Sponsor Banks (35%) • K C Chakrabarty committee was present 56 Objectives of RRBs are: formed in 2009 to suggest o To serve primarily rural areas of measures to improve financial India with basic banking and conditions of RRBs financial services. o To fulfil credit needs of relatively unserved sections in rural area like farmer, labourer, women, marginalised sections of society • RRBs can also set branches set up for urban operations • Regulated by NABARD, which is a subsidiary of RBI. Other banks in India are directly regulated by RBI. Credit Guarantee Fund • Trust established by Ministry of Objectives of this fund are: Trust for Micro and Micro, Small and Medium • To check the financial viability of

PRELIMS EXCLUSIVE PROGRAMME 2020 (PEP)-AUGUST 2019 CURRENT AFFAIRS Small Enterprises Enterprises, GoI and Small Industries the project of these companies (CGTMSE) Development Bank of India (SIDBI) • To give term loans and composite • Aim: To make available collateral-free credit schemes To implement Credit credit to the micro and small Guarantee Fund enterprise sector. Extent of guarantee cover Scheme for Micro and • Both the existing and the new • 85% for micro enterprises for Small Enterprises. enterprises are eligible to be covered credit up to Rs 5 lakh under the scheme • 50% of the sanctioned amount of • These schemes provide the assurance the credit facility for credit from to the lenders that in case of default Rs 10 lakh to Rs 100 lakh per MSE by them a guarantee cover will be borrower for retail trade activity. provided by trust in the ratio of 50/75/80/85 percent of the amount so given. Price Stabilisation Fund • The fund is constituted for the • The fund is utilised for purpose of containing extreme o Maintaining Strategic buffer by volatility in prices of selected procuring directly from farmers commodities. or by import of goods. • PSF will be maintained as a Central o For granting interest free Corpus Fund by Small Farmers advance of working capital to Agribusiness Consortium (SFAC), Central/State agencies to which will act as Fund manager undertake market intervention • Set up in 2014-15 under the operations. Department of Agriculture, • SFAC is a society promoted by the Cooperation & Famers Welfare. Ministry of Agriculture for linking • However, PSF scheme was agriculture to private businesses transferred to the Department of and investments and technology Consumer Affairs from April, 2016.

Development Banks • These are financial institutions • Some of the development banks in that provide long-term credit for India are IFCI (1948), IDBI (1964), capital-intensive investments spread IIBI (1972), NABARD and EXIM over a long period Bank (1982), SIDBI (1990). • They often lend at low and stable • China has established rates of interest to promote long- Development Banks like Asian term investments that has Infrastructure Investment Bank considerable social benefits. and the New Development Bank • These are different from commercial (with its BRICS partners) banks which mobilise short- to medium-term deposits and lend for similar maturities The Livelihood and • Launched by NABARD in 2015 • National Bank for Agriculture and Enterprise • Aim: at creation of sustainable livelihoods Rural Development (NABARD) is Development amongst Self Help Group members statutory body established in 1982 Programme through cluster approach. • NABARD is development bank • The scheme provides for intensive focusing on providing finance for training for skill building, refresher Agriculture and rural development. training, backward-forward linkages and • NABARD also supervises Cooperative handholding & escort supports. Banks and Regional Rural Banks • It also encompasses the complete value (RRBs) and helping them develop chain and offers end-to-end solution to sound banking practices and integrate the SHG members them to the CBS (Core Banking Solution) platform.

PRELIMS EXCLUSIVE PROGRAMME 2020 (PEP)-AUGUST 2019 CURRENT AFFAIRS

Environment

TOPICS KEY ASPECTS Value Addition Special Report on • Released by Intergovernmental • Negative emissions - methods Climate Change and Land Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). that aim to remove CO2 from • First time IPCC focused solely on the atmosphere and store it in the land sector the land or ocean.

Key findings IPCC • Inter-linkages between land • Intergovernmental scientific degradation and climate change, body under UN. both reinforce each other. • Established in 1988 by WMO • Land is a critical resource - and UNEP. Agriculture, forestry and other • Does not carry its own original types of land use account for 23% research. of human greenhouse gas • It assesses the science related to emissions. climate change. • Desertification and land • Produced 5 assessment reports degradation - less productive and and few Special Reports. reduces the soil’s ability to absorb • Function under UNFCCC. carbon. This exacerbates climate • Won Nobel Peace prize in 2007 change, while climate change in • IPCC Working Group III - turn exacerbates land degradation preparing Sixth Assessment in many ways. Report • Climate change and Food Security - Climate change is affecting food Recent reports security and How food system aids • IPCC Special Report on Global climate change. Warming of 1.5 C • How could ‘negative emissions’ • IPCC Special Report on the affect land, food and wildlife. Ocean and Cryosphere in a • Recommended Sustainable land Changing Climate management, including sustainable forest management to combat desertification. International Coalition • India launched the establishment • Hyogo Framework for Action for Disaster Resilient of an CDRI along with its (2005-2015) Infrastructure (CDRI) supporting Secretariat Office in • Sendai Framework (2015-2030) New Delhi at UN Climate Action – disaster risk reduction Summit, New York. • Sendai – city in Japan • ICDRI registered as a society • Hyogo Prefecture is the key port under the Societies Registration city in Honshu island of Japan. Act, 1860. • Prefecture – administrative • National Disaster Management division of Japan Authority (NDMA) to finalise • UN Global charter document in consultation Assessment Report on Disaster with Ministry of External Affairs. Risk Reduction

Role of CDRI • CDRI would guide and handhold in creating disaster-proof

PRELIMS EXCLUSIVE PROGRAMME 2020 (PEP)-AUGUST 2019 CURRENT AFFAIRS infrastructure. • As a knowledge platform – exchange best practices • Assist countries in capacity building. Convention on • 18th Conference of Parties (CoP18) • CITES also known as International Trade in to the CITES held at Geneva. Washington Convention. Endangered Species on • CoP to CITES, is the supreme • International agreement to Wild Fauna and Flora decision-making body. regulate worldwide commercial (CITES) • India hosted CoP 3rd in 1981. trade in wild animal and plant species. Key Highlights • Signed on March 3, 1973 (World • Smooth-coated otter (Lutrogale wildlife day on March 3). perspicillata) small-clawed otters • Entered into force in July 1975. (Anoyx cinereus) and Indian star • 183 Parties (countries and tortoise moved to CITES Appendix organizations). I. • Legally binding on parties, but • Tokay gecko (Gekko gecko) - CITES does not take the place of Appendix II. national laws. • Administered by the UNEP. Species Classification • Secretariat at Geneva. • Appendix I: Species in danger of extinction. Prohibits commercial • Wildlife Crime Control Bureau trade except in extraordinary of India – statutory body under situations for scientific or Environment Ministry. educational reasons. • The International Consortium • Appendix II: Species not on Combating Wildlife threatened with extinction but Crime (ICCWC), a consortium of that might suffer a serious decline the CITES Secretariat, INTERPOL, if trade is not restricted. Their UN Office on Drugs and Crime, trade is regulated by permit. World Bank and World Customs • Appendix III: Species protected in Organization - to tackle illegal at least one-member country and wildlife trade. that has petitioned others for help • The TRAFFIC, the Wildlife Trade in controlling international trade. Monitoring Network – an NGO, is a joint program of WWF and IUCN. Amazon Fund • Norway - have slashed their • 2019 saw increased forest fires funding to an Amazon Fund. at Amazon forest. • Fund created in 2008 to receive • Policies of current regime in donations for non-reimbursable Brazil have accentuated investments. deforestation. • Fund is managed by the National • Amazon forest – ‘Lungs of the Bank for Economic and Social Earth’, largest equatorial Development (BNDES) of Brazil. rainforests. • Norway is the main donor, • Amazon river – largest river of followed by Germany. the World. • It is a REDD+ mechanism created • REDD+ (Reducing Emissions to raise donations for investments from Deforestation and forest in efforts to prevent, monitor and Degradation), is a mechanism combat deforestation, as well as developed by parties to

PRELIMS EXCLUSIVE PROGRAMME 2020 (PEP)-AUGUST 2019 CURRENT AFFAIRS to promote the preservation and UNFCCC. sustainable use in the Brazilian • G7 – group of 7: USA, Canada, Amazon. UK, France, Germany, Italy and Japan. • E.U. - Mercosur Free Trade Agreement. • Mercosur - South American trade bloc consisting Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay. Bioenergy with Carbon • Process of extracting bioenergy Climate Change Mitigation Capture and Storage from biomass and capturing and Strategies (BECCS) storing the carbon, thus removing • Carbon Sequestration it from the atmosphere. • Carbon Sink • Crops suck carbon dioxide (CO2) • Carbon Credit from the atmosphere, power • Carbon Offsetting plants burn the biomass to • Carbon Tax generate electricity, and the • Geo-Engineering emissions are captured in a smokestack and pumped underground for long-term storage. • It is a Geo-Engineering mitigation technique. • BECCS achieves negative emissions – net removal of CO2. Ratapani Tiger Reserve • NTCA (National Tiger Conservation • Waterbodies – Dahod Dam, Authority) approved Madhya Barna Reservoir and Ratapani Pradesh (MP) proposal to declare Dam (Barrusot lake). Ratapani Tiger Reserve (TR) to be • Tiger – Endangered IUCN) and carved out of the Ratapani wildlife Schedule I animal. sanctuary. • Tiger census – once in 4 years. • Madhya Pradesh’s 7th TR. Tiger count: MP > Karnataka > • Located in Raisen district in Uttarakhand. Vindhayan Range (Bhopal-Raisen • Highest no. of TRs – MP (7) forest division) Maharashtra (6) > Karnataka (5). • Flora – Teak forests. • TRs governed by Project Tiger. • Other Fauna – Leopard, Dhole, • NTCA – statutory body, Hyena, rhesus macaque, four- administer Project Tiger. horned antelope, Vultures, sarus • Global Tiger Forum – 13 tiger crane etc. range countries. • Bhimbetka Rock Shelters (UNESCO World Heritage Site) located within this TR. Recovery Program for • Species Recovery Programme of • IUCN Red List of Threatened Critically Endangered the Union Environment Ministry is Species – CR (Critically Species implemented under Integrated Endangered), EN (Endangered) Development of Wildlife Habitats and VU (Vulnerable). (IDWH). • Aims at targeted conservation CR species. Criteria for CR

PRELIMS EXCLUSIVE PROGRAMME 2020 (PEP)-AUGUST 2019 CURRENT AFFAIRS • 21 species covered: Snow • 90% population reduced over Leopard, Indian Bustard, Dolphin, the last 10 years OR Hangul, Nilgiri Tahr, Marine • < 50 mature individuals exist Turtles, Dugongs, Edible Nest • At least 50% probability of Swiftlet, Asian Wild Buffalo, extinction in wild in their 10 Nicobar Megapode, Manipur years. Brow-antlered Deer, Vultures, • IDWH is a Centrally Sponsored Malabar Civet, Indin Rhinoceros, Scheme, has following 3 Asiatic Lion, Swamp Deer, Jerdon’s components: Courser, Northern River Terrapin, 1. Support to Protected Areas Clouded Leopard, Arabian Sea 2. Protection of Wildlife Humpback Whale and Red Panda. Outside Protected Areas • NBWL has authority to 3. Species Recovery add/remove species. programmes • National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) – statutory body, Chaired by Prime Minister. Indian Star Tortoises • CITES upgraded the protection to • Distribution - India, Pakistan the star tortoises (Geochelone and Srilanka. elegans) by listing in Appendix I. • State wise – Kerala, Karnataka, • Giving it the highest level of Tamil Nadu, Andhra, Odisha, international protection from Gujarat, Rajasthan. commercial trade. • Habitat - dry vegetation types. • Threat - Illegal smuggling for use • IUCN status – VU (Vulnerable). as exotic pets in Asian countries. • CITES Appendix I. • Schedule IV of WPA, 1972. Enhancing Coastal and • ENCORE aims to strengthen • Integrated Coastal Zone Ocean Resource integrated coastal zone Management Project (ICZMP), Efficiency (ENCORE) management in all coastal States also a World Bank supported Program and Union Territories of India. project. • A World Bank-funded project. • Draft Environmental and Social • Society of Integrated Coastal Management Framework Management (SICOM), under (ESMF) is a part of ENCORE MoEFCC is the National Project program. Management Unit (NPMU) for ENCORE Program. Mesovelia • Scientists from Zoological Survey • The combination of hydrophobic of India (ZSI) have discovered setae and water surface tension seven new prevents them from sinking. species of water treaders • These are hemimetabolous belonging to genus Mesovelia. insects without having larval • Water treaders are semi- stage i.e., they go from egg to aquatic insects that can walk or nymph to adult. run on surface of water. • These bugs serve as predators • They are equipped with and scavengers. hydrophobic setae (bristles) on • The claws of Mesovelia are their legs. placed apically (tip or extreme 7 new insects are end of legs), whereas in water • Mesovelia andamana (from striders, they arise from the pre- Andaman Island) apex (just before the tip) of legs. • M. isiasi and M. bispinosa (from • ZSI established in 1916 at Meghalaya) Kolkata.

PRELIMS EXCLUSIVE PROGRAMME 2020 (PEP)-AUGUST 2019 CURRENT AFFAIRS • M. tenuia and M. occulta (from • Founder director of ZSI was Tamil Nadu) Thomas Nelson Annandale. • M. dilatata and M. brevia (both in • ZSI publishes Red Data Book on Meghalaya and Tamil Nadu) Indian Animals. Khangchendzonga Biosp • Included in the UNESCO’s World • BR is an in-situ conservation here Reserve Network of Biosphere Reserve under UNESCO’s Man and (WNBR). Biosphere (MAB) Programme. • It’s the 11th Indian BR in WNBR, is • 11 of the 18 Biosphere Reserves in Sikkim. (BR) of India are in WNBR – • Third highest mountain peak in Nilgiri BR (first to be included), the world, Kanchenjunga (8,586 Gulf of Mannar, Great Nicobar, m). Pachmarhi, Achanakmar- • Highest biosphere reserve of Amarkantak, Simplipal, Nokrek, India. Sundarbans, Nandadevi, • 86% of the core area, is situated in Agastyamalay and the Greater Himalayas. Khangchendzonga. • The core zone - Khangchendzonga • Other 7 BRs – Manas, Dibru- National Park is only ‘Mixed saikkhowa, Dihang-Dibang, Rann World Heritage Site’ on UNESCO of Kachch, Panna, Sheshachalam World Heritage List from India. and Cold Desert. • Flora - temperate broadleaf and • Large number of medicinal mixed forests consisting plants found in Dzongu Valley in of oaks, fir, birch, maple, willow north Sikkim is part of this BR. and alpine grasses, herbs and shrubs. • Fauna - Snow leopard, Himalayan tahr, Asiatic wild dog, Sloth bear, Civet, Red panda, Tibetan wild ass, Himalayan blue sheep, rat snake and Russell's viper. • Birds - Blood pheasant, Himalayan griffon, Green pigeon, Tibetan snowcock, Snow pigeon, Asian emerald cuckoo etc. • Tribes found – Lepcha. Laboratory for • A dedicated facility of CSIR’s • Council of Scientific and Conservation of Centre for Cellular and Molecular Industrial Research (CSIR) - Endangered Species Biology (CCMB) in Hyderabad. largest R&D organisation of (LaCONES) • India’s only facility, uses modern India. biotechnologies for conservation • CSIR function as autonomous of endangered wildlife. body, funded by Ministry of • Indian Mouse Deer was Science and Technology. successfully reintroduced by • Prime Minister is the ex-officio breeding of the elusive species at CSIR President. the dedicated facility. • CSIR-CCMB is a premier research organization in frontier areas of modern biology. National Wildlife Genetic • Established by CCMB-LaCONES • Gene bank is an ex-situ Resource Bank at • India’s first genetic resource bank. conservation method. LaCONES. • So far, genetic resources from 23 • For cryogenic preservation, species of Indian wild animals liquid Nitrogen at minus 195 degrees Celsius.

PRELIMS EXCLUSIVE PROGRAMME 2020 (PEP)-AUGUST 2019 CURRENT AFFAIRS have been collected and preserved. • It facilitates exchange of genetic material between the Indian zoos for maintaining genetic diversity and conservation management. Environmental and Social • The Environment Ministry • Integrated Coastal Zone Management Framework (MoEFCC) has unveiled a draft Management (ICZM) Project is a (ESMF) ESMF for coastal zone World Bank supported project management. that aims to build national • It was prepared by Society for capacity for implementation of Integrated Coastal Management, comprehensive coastal an MoEFCC -affiliated body as part management. of a World Bank-funded project. • ICZM Plan – only 3 states West • It lays out guidelines for coastal Bengal, Odisha and Gujarat have States to adopt when they prepared ICZM plan so far. approve and regulate projects in • ICZM uses ‘ecosystem coastal zones. approach’. • Salient features of ESMF - • National Centre for Sustainable Resettlement Policy Framework, Coastal Management (NCSCM) Gender Action Plan, Indigenous at Chennai. Peoples Planning Framework, Labour Management Framework and Grievance Redress Mechanism. Flue-gas Desulfurization Greenpeace report findings Impacts of SO2 pollution Technology - Sulphur • India is the largest emitter of • Formation of high resistance, Dioxide Emissions Sulphur dioxide (SO2) in the visible corrosion layers REPORT BY Green Peace world, contributing more than 15 • Formation of acid rain. per cent of global anthropogenic • A precursor for sulphate emissions. aerosols, that can affect the • Largest source of SO2 – burning properties of clouds. fossil fuels at power plants due to expansion of coal-based • Greenpeace is an environmental electricity generation. NGO. • The vast majority of power plants • Flue Gas Desulfurization (FGD) in India lack flue-gas involves either wet scrubbing or desulfurization technology to dry scrubbing, a pollutant reduce their air pollution. absorption process. • Major SO2 emission hotspots in • Wet FGD systems, uses liquid India are Singrauli in Madhya absorbent, where SO2 gets Pradesh, Neyveli and Chennai in trapped. Tamil Nadu, Talcher and • Singrauli is at number five in the Jharsuguda in Odisha, Korba in world list of SO2 emission Chhattisgarh, Kutch in Gujarat, Hotspots. Ramagundam in Telangana and Chandrapur and Koradi in Maharashtra - as detected by the NASA OMI (Ozone Monitoring Instrument) satellite. Cnemaspis Anandani • 35th species of day gecko found in • Western Ghats - Biodiversity (Anandan’s day gecko) Western Ghats, in Nilgiris forests Hotspot, UNESCO Heritage site.

PRELIMS EXCLUSIVE PROGRAMME 2020 (PEP)-AUGUST 2019 CURRENT AFFAIRS of Tamil Nadu. • Two endangered species-lion- • Only around 42 mm in size. tailed macaque and Nilgiri Tahr • It’s a species of diurnal, rock- found in Nilgiri Biosphere dwelling, insectivorous gecko. Reserve (NBR). • Endemic to India. • NBR includes the Aralam, • Named after Anandan Mudumalai, Mukurthi, Sethuraman, a conservationist. Nagarhole, Bandipur and Silent • Faces the threat of extinction - Valley National Parks, as well as natural predators such as calotes the Wayanad and (lizards), birds and anthropogenic Sathyamangalam Wildlife factors. sanctuaries.

Agriculture

TOPICS KEY ASPECTS Value Addition Geoponic, Hydroponic, • Geoponic refers to growing plants • Protected cultivation Aquaponic, Aeroponic in normal soil. practices are cropping • Aeroponics growing plants in techniques wherein the mist environment without the use microenvironment is of soil medium. controlled partially/fully as per • Hydroponics growing plants using plant need during their period mineral nutrient solutions, in of growth to maximize the water, without soil. yield and resource saving. • Aeroponic symbiotic environment • National Mission on of aquaculture and hydroponics. Sustainable Agriculture under National Action Plan on Climate Change. Precision Farming • Refers to precise application of • SMART Farming – application agricultural inputs based on soil, of ICT into agriculture. weather and crop requirement to • 3 interconnected tech fields maximize sustainable to SMART Farming are, productivity, quality and Management Information profitability. Systems, Precision Agriculture • A modern agriculture practice and Agricultural automation involving the use of technology and robotics. such as remote sensing (RS), GPS, • National Mission on and geographical information Agriculture Extension & system (GIS). Technology – support tech • More effective use of inputs adoption in agriculture. means greater crop yield and/or • Challenges in adopting quality, without much polluting Precision Farming – small size the environment. of landholdings, large small and marginal farmers and high cost of adoption.

PRELIMS EXCLUSIVE PROGRAMME 2020 (PEP)-AUGUST 2019 CURRENT AFFAIRS

Science and Technology

TOPICS KEY ASPECTS Value Addition Lithium ion battery • Anode - graphite (carbon). • IIT Madras researchers have • Cathode - a combination for the first time fabricated a of lithium-cobalt. rechargeable iron ion battery, • Electrolyte (lithium salt) enables Fe2+ ions perform the the movement of lithium function of Lithium ions here. ions between the electrodes. • Iron ion battery uses mild • When the battery is being steel as the anode charged, lithium ions are absorbed and Vanadium pentoxide as (stored) in the anode. the cathode. • During discharge, lithium ions • Ether-based electrolyte naturally flow back to the cathode containing dissolved iron through the electrolyte. perchlorate is used as an electrolyte. Advantages • Smaller and lighter • Lithium is lightest known • High energy density metal. • Low self-discharge • No lithium reserves in India. • Zero to low memory effect • Lithium Reserves: Chile > • Quick charging China > Australia. • High open-circuit voltage • Li Production: Australia > Chile • Longer lifespan > Argentina > China. • 2019 Chemistry Nobel goes to Disadvantages three scientists for developing • Expensive lithium-ion batteries. • Sensitivity to high temperature • National Mission on • Aging effect Transformative Mobility and • Deep discharge Battery Storage to promote • Safety concerns clean, connected, shared, sustainable and holistic mobility initiatives. Transiting Exoplanet • It is a NASA’s space telescope • Exoplanet or extrasolar planet Survey Satellite (TESS) designed to search for exoplanet. is a planet outside the Solar • TESS will occupy a never-before- System. used orbit high above Earth - • Transiting Exoplanet Survey elliptical orbit, called P/2. Satellite (TESS) is successor of • TESS orbits Earth every 13.7 days. NASA’s Kepler Mission. Its closest point to Earth (108,000 • TESS exploration area is 400 km) is about triple the distance of times larger than that covered geosynchronous orbit. by the Kepler mission. • It’s a two-year survey mission. • It was launched by a SpaceX • It employs the transit method to Falcon 9 rocket from Cape detect exoplanets. Canaveral. • So far TESS has identified about • Goldilocks Zone – habitable 1400 candidate exoplanets, of zone which 34 have been confirmed so • Super-Earth is an extrasolar far. Eg. HD 21749 c, GJ 357 d, TOI planet with a mass higher 700 d, L 98-59b etc. than Earth's.

PRELIMS EXCLUSIVE PROGRAMME 2020 (PEP)-AUGUST 2019 CURRENT AFFAIRS Internal Combustion Comparison Need for EVs Engine Vehicles (ICEVs) • EVs are lighter than ICEVs • To combat increasing air vs. Electric Vehicles (EVs) • EVs occupy less space than ICEVs pollution • EVs are more energy efficient • Energy security EVs use one or more • EVs maintenance cost is low • INDC goals electric motors for • EVs is cleaner, ICEVs has more • Cut oil imports propulsion rather than global warming potential the ICEVs. • EVs reduces import bill as India • National Electric Mobility depends upon oil imports Mission Plan (NEMMP) • ICEVs initial cost of development • Faster Adoption and is low compared to EVs Manufacturing of Hybrid & • Fuelling of EVs take long time Electric vehicles in India (FAME India) Helium Hydride • Scientists have spotted the helium • Helium is a noble gas Molecule hydride molecule (HeH+) for the • Researchers used the NASA’s first time in space. SOFIA, the world’s largest • The helium hydride ion or airborne observatory. hydridohelium (1+) ion is a cation • Stratospheric Observatory for (positively charged ion) with Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) is chemical formula HeH+. a Boeing 747SP jetliner • Found in a planetary nebula, NGC modified to carry a 106-inch 7027, which is the dusty remnant diameter telescope. of a sun-like star. • GREAT Spectrometer Installed • It is the lightest heteronuclear on SOFIA Observatory. ion, and is believed to be one of • Key to understand chemistry the first compounds formed in the of the early universe. Universe after the Big Bang. Quick Reaction Surface- • A Short-Range Surface to Air • ITR, a missile testing facility in to-Air missiles (QRSAM) Missile system. Chandipur, Odisha. • Developed by DRDO in association • Receding waters at low tide with BEL and Bharat Dynamics offer an excellent opportunity Limited for the Indian Army. to walk into the sea at • QRSAM is a compact weapon Chandipur. system with fully automated • Dr. Abdul Kalam Island, Command and Control System and formerly known as Wheeler is mobile. Island is located 70km south • This missile is an all-weather, all- of Chandipur. terrain surface-to-air missile equipped with electronic counter measures against jamming by aircraft radars. • The system has the capability to search and track targets while moving. • It uses solid fuel propellant and has a strike range of 25-30 km. • Tested for 7th time at Integrated Test Range (ITR). • It is likely to be inducted into the armed forces by 2021. Genome India Initiative • India’s first Human Genome • Genome is the organism’s mapping project. complete set of DNA, including

PRELIMS EXCLUSIVE PROGRAMME 2020 (PEP)-AUGUST 2019 CURRENT AFFAIRS • Under it Department of all of its genes. Biotechology (DBT) plan to scan • Genome sequencing is nearly 20,000 Indian genomes figuring out the order of DNA over the next five years, in a two- nucleotides, or bases, in a phase exercise, and develop genome. diagnostic tests that can be used • Data generated would be to test for cancer. accessible to all researchers • Phase I: genome sequencing of for analysis. 10,000 healthy Indians. • ‘Biological Data Storage, • Phase II: genome sequencing of Access and Sharing Policy’ 10,000 diseased individuals. envisaged for establishment of • Implemented by DBT, Ministry of National Biological Data Science and Technology. Centre. Albendazole Tablets • Haryana Health Department will • NDD observed bi-annually on administer Albendazole tablets to 10th February and 10th 94 lakh children of 1-19 years in August. the state on the National • Union Ministry of Health and Deworming Day (NDD). Family Welfare (MoHFW) • Deworming is a process to kill launched National Deworming worms commonly tape, round and Initiative (NDI) hook worm, that infest bodies of • NDI aims to reach more than children. 32.2 crore children aged • Albendazole tablet paralyses the between 1 to 19 years to muscles of these worms, the combat parasitic worm worm loses its grip of intestinal infections. tract and is flushed out of the • Parasitic worm infections may human body. lead to severe complications resulting in anaemia, malnutrition and improper mental and physical development. FSOC Technology • Free Space Optical • Optical fiber cables employs Communication (FSOC) is an Total Internal Reflection optical communication principle of light to transmit technology that uses light to data with high efficiency. wirelessly transmit data to • Bharat Net project, national telecommunication and internet optic fiber network – to applications. provide internet access to 1 • Advantages - unregulated lakh gram panchayats. spectrum, huge bandwidth, less interference and low power consumption. • Disadvantages - influenced by weather conditions, require high sensitive receivers and scattering of signal. • It is a effective for short range communications. Beresheet and • Beresheet probe is a first private • Tardigrade, also known Tardigrade mission to the Moon by Israeli as water bear, are a phylum of non-profit SpaceIL organisation. water-dwelling eight-legged • It was launched by SpaceX Falcon segmented micro-animals.

PRELIMS EXCLUSIVE PROGRAMME 2020 (PEP)-AUGUST 2019 CURRENT AFFAIRS 9 rocket but crashed on the lunar • One among the toughest and surface while landing. most resilient creatures on • Beresheet carried thousands of Earth. specimens of a living organism • Can withstand gamma called tardigrade. radiation, lack of oxygen, blast • Beresheet’s crash landing may of solar winds and go without have scattered the tardigrades food and water for over ten onto the lunar surface. years. • Half a millimetre long, is essentially a water-dweller but also inhabits land. • The organism is known to “come back to life” on rehydration Rotavirus • Health Ministry’s 100 days agenda • Two Rotavac available are to provide Rotavirus vaccine to Rotarix (monovalent vaccine) every child across India by and Rota Teq (pentavalent September, 2019. vaccine). • Pentavalent vaccine protects • Rotavirus is a leading cause of a child from 5 life-threatening severe diarrhoea and death diseases – Diphtheria, among children. Pertussis, Tetanus, Hepatitis B • Rotavirus is a contagious disease and Haemophilus Influenzae • Symptoms - Severe diarrhea, type b (Hib). throwing up, dehydration, fever, • Rotavac is included in Health vomiting and stomach pain. Ministry’s Universal • Rotavirus is responsible for Immunisation Programme around 10% of total child (UIP) and provided under mortality every year. Mission Indradhanush. • Intensified Mission Indradhanush 2.0 – targets districts with low immunization coverage. Gomphothere • Gomphothere is an extinct • Miocene Epoch - 23.03 to 5.3 elephant-like animal, whose fossil million years ago. evidences found in Palasava • Gondwana land – village. supercontinent existed 550 • Indian and French researchers said million years ago. hot arid desert of Kutch was once • Kutch district of Gujarat is the a humid sub-tropical forest with largest district in India by area rich diversity of fauna and flora. followed by Leh, Ladakh. • The fossils, unearthed from • Kutchi people and Kutchi Palasava village of Rapar taluk in language. Kutch, Gujarat consisting mostly of • Katch Peninsula ribs, and parts of teeth and bones • Rann of Katch – shallow from Miocene. wetland, marshy salt flats • Bulk of fossils unearthed in Kutch • Gulf of Katch have so far been mainly marine • Banni grasslands is in Katch. organisms. Versavo (bevacizumab) • Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories launched • Generic drugs are identical to in India Versavo (bevacizumab), a the original in chemical biosimilar of Roche’s Avastin for composition, biosimilar drugs

PRELIMS EXCLUSIVE PROGRAMME 2020 (PEP)-AUGUST 2019 CURRENT AFFAIRS the treatment of cancers. are ‘highly similar’. • Biosimilar a biological medicine • India is one of the leading highly similar to another already manufacturers of biosimilars. approved biological medicine (the • Both generic and biosimilar ‘reference medicine’). drugs reduce cost of drugs, • Biosimilars are highly similar in thus make it affordable. terms of safety, purity and • Cancer is the uncontrolled potency, but may have minor growth of abnormal cells in differences in clinically inactive the body. components. • National Cancer Grid (NCG) is a network of major cancer centers, research institutes, patient groups and charitable institutions across India. Pretomanid • U.S. Food & Drug Administration • Tuberculosis (TB) - bacterial (FDA) has approved a new drug infectious disease caused Pretomanid for treating drug- by Mycobacterium resistant tuberculosis — tuberculosis. multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) • Most often affects the lungs – and extensively drug-resistant TB Pulmonary and Extra (XDR-TB). pulmonary TB. • Only the third new anti-TB drug • Symptoms - Coughing with after Bedaquiline and Linezolid. blood, Bad cough for more • Drug developed by TB Alliance, a than 3 weeks, Chest pain, not-for-profit organisation. Night sweats, Fatigue & weakness etc Multidrug-resistant TB • AMR (Antimicrobial Resistance) - • WHO – Global TB Report (MDR -TB) resistance acquired by any • India – highest TB Burden - microorganism against 24% of MDR-TB cases in the antimicrobial drugs. world. • MDR-TB - do not respond to at • Revised National TB Control least, first-line TB drugs (isoniazid Program (RNTCP) and rifampicin). • Nikshay Poshan Abhiyan - • XDR-TB - resistant to first-line TB DBT scheme for nutritional drugs, plus any fluoroquinolone support to TB patients by and at least one of three MoHFW injectable second-line • Schedule H-1 drugs and Red drugs (amikacin, kanamycin, or line campaign capreomycin). • India target – Zero TB by 2025 • Moscow Declaration to End TB by 2030. BPaL Regimen • US FDA has approved new oral • The success rate of treatment three-drug regimen for XDR-TB. for XDR-TB in India is merely • The treatment involves 23 per cent while for MDR-TB pretomanid tablets in it is 46 per cent. combination with bedaquiline • Thus, the new drug regimen is and linezolid, collectively referred important for India, which has to as the BPaL regimen, and has the second-highest XDR-TB an efficacy rate of 90 per cent. burden, after Russia. • Unlike 18-24 months needed to treat highly-resistant TB using nearly 20 drugs, the BPaL regimen

PRELIMS EXCLUSIVE PROGRAMME 2020 (PEP)-AUGUST 2019 CURRENT AFFAIRS takes just six months with reduced dose of 5 pills/day. CBNAAT (Cartridges • A revolutionary rapid molecular • Over 500 CBNAAT machines Based Nucleic Acid test which detects have been deployed under Amplification Test) Mycobacterium tuberculosis and national TB control rifampicin drug resistance, programme. simultaneously. • Line Probe Assay (LPA) is • This test is fully automated and another diagnostic technique provides results within two hours. used to detect TB. • It is a highly sensitive diagnostic • DOTS (Directly Observed tool and can be used in remote Treatment, Short course) areas without sophisticated Strategy used in controlling TB infrastructure or specialised on a mass basis. training. Dolutegravir (DTG) • Cost-effective HIV treatment drug • India - over 2.1 million people recommended by WHO. living with HIV • Preferred first-line and second- • Treatments - Anti-Retroviral line treatment drug for all Therapy (ART), Stem Cell populations, including pregnant Transplant women. • SDG 3 target to reduce • It is sold under the brand name HIV/AIDS. Tivicay. • 90:90:90 Strategy - 90% diagnosed: 90% gets ART • Human Immunodeficiency Virus treatment: 90% suppressed (HIV) attacks CD4, a type of White • Mission Sampark - to trace Blood Cell (T cells) and bring under ART services. • HIV multiplies itself and destroys • HIV and AIDS (Prevention and CD4 cells, thus severely damaging Control) Act, 2017 - to prevent the human immune system and control the spread of HIV • Acquired Immune Deficiency and AIDS, prohibits Syndrome (AIDS) - last stage of discrimination against persons HIV when the infection is very with HIV and AIDS advanced and if left untreated will • UNAIDS at Geneva lead to death. Lokiarchea • The tree that represents all known • Archaea are single-celled living things has three main microorganisms with structure branches: eukaryotes, bacteria similar to bacteria. and archaea. • Eukaryotes - the group of • Some scientists suggested a kind organisms whose cells have of archaea, Asgard archaea, may nuclei. have been interacted with • Hydrothermal vent is a fissure bacteria, resulting in the first on the seafloor from which eukaryotes. geothermally heated water • DNA analysis of samples of mud issues. from the deep ocean showed • Hydrothermal vents are evidence of both archaea and commonly found near eukaryote-like genomes. volcanically active places • The samples were given the • Metagenomics is the study name Lokiarchaea, because they of genetic material recovered were uncovered from an area directly from environmental close to Loki's Castle, a deep-sea samples. hydrothermal vent.

PRELIMS EXCLUSIVE PROGRAMME 2020 (PEP)-AUGUST 2019 CURRENT AFFAIRS • Now team of researchers in Japan has succeeded in cultivating samples of Lokiarchaea in a special tank in their lab. • It took 12 long years to culture. Hydrothermal • IIT Kharagpur has developed this Benefits of HTC Carbonisation (HTC) technology which can generate • Effective solid waste Technology energy from solid waste with high management. moisture content. • Bio-energy is a renewable • Aims at conversion of wet source, help in achieving biomass into hydro-char (a coal INDCs. like fuel). • Indigenisation of technology • It can convert municipal solid help India adopt it widely. waste to bio-fuel, soil amendment and absorbents. • By-products include ash (can be applied as a plant nutrient enhancer due to its phosphorus content) and potassium loaded liquid (can be used for watering plants). Zmapp, Remdesivir, • These are four candidate drugs • WHO announced Ebola REGN-EB3 and mAb114 tested in a randomised trial for outbreak in Democratic treating Ebola in Congo. Republic of Congo in July, • Two of them REGN-EB3 and 2019 as global health mAb114, were found to be highly emergency. effective. • Merck’s preventive Ebola • REGN-EB3 is a cocktail of three vaccine (rVSV-ZEBOV-GP), antibodies generated by injecting which has had a 97.5% Ebola virus into a mice model that efficacy, helped slow the has a human-like immune system. virus’s spread • mAb114’s development goes back • Ebola viral disease –human to to the Ebola outbreak in 1995 in human transmission possible, Congo. fruit bats is the natural host. • WHO coordinated this Congo • First Ebola outbreak in treatment trial. Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. • ELISA (antibody-capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) – a diagnostic tool. Formalin A toxic, colorless solution that is • Operation Sagar Rani by Food derived by dissolving formaldehyde Safety department of Kerala gas in water. seized fish preserved in • A cancer-inducing chemical used formalin. to preserve fish. • Formaldehyde (CH20) is a • Usage - In pressed wood products, simple chemical compound fabrics, insulation materials and as made of hydrogen, oxygen and fungicide, germicide & carbon. disinfectant and as a preservative • All life forms - bacteria, plants, for bodies and organs to ensure fish, animals and humans - the specimen doesn’t decompose naturally

PRELIMS EXCLUSIVE PROGRAMME 2020 (PEP)-AUGUST 2019 CURRENT AFFAIRS • Formalin causes irritation in the produce formaldehyde as part eyes, throat, skin and stomach. of cell metabolism. Magnetospheric • MMS recently made the first • Interplanetary shocks - type Multiscale Mission precise measurements of an of collision less shock, where (MMS) interplanetary shock using high- particles transfer energy resolution instrument. through electromagnetic • MMS is NASA’s unmanned space fields. mission to study the Earth’s • Magnetic Reconnection - a magnetosphere, using four process that occurs as the sun identical satellites flying in a and Earth’s magnetic fields tetrahedral or pyramid formation. interact. • It aims to map magnetic • Magnetosphere is the region reconnection. of space in which charged • MMS holds Guinness world particles are controlled by the record for highest altitude fix of object’s magnetic field. GPS signal at 70,000 km above the • Auroras are the result of Earth. disturbances in the magnetosphere caused by solar wind. • Aurora borealis at north pole and Aurora australis at south pole. Mission Shakti • An operation that demonstrated • A LEO is an Earth-centered India’s anti-satellite (ASAT) missile orbit with an altitude of 2,000 capability by shooting down a live km or less. satellite. • Kessler Syndrome - a self- • Mission Shakti is a joint sustaining cascading collision programme of DRDO and ISRO. of space debris in low earth • India is only the 4th country to Orbit. acquire such capability after US, • Operation Shakti - Pokhran-II Russia and China. nuclear test in 1998. • ASAT hit Microsat R at Low Earth • Mission Shakti sports Orbit (LEO). initiative • ASAT is a 3-stage modified • Of Maharashtra - to train interceptor missile of DRDO's athletes’ international events Ballistic Missile Defence system. like the Olympics. GROWTH-India • India’s first robotic telescope and • Global Relay of Observatories the first one designed to observe Watching Transients Happen transient events in the universe. (GROWTH) • Located at the Indian • International collaborative Astronomical Observatory (IAO) network of astronomers and at Hanle in Ladakh. telescopes. • It is a joint project of the • 5-year project, funded by Bangalore-based Indian Institute the National Science of Astrophysics (IIA) and the IIT Foundation, an agency of US Bombay. government. • It is fully funded by the SERB • Other telescopes at IAO are (Science and Engineering Research Himalayan Chandra Board) under the Partnerships for Telescope, the High-Altitude International Research and Gamma-ray Array Telescope Education (PIRE) project. (HAGAR), and the Major Atmospheric Cerenkov

PRELIMS EXCLUSIVE PROGRAMME 2020 (PEP)-AUGUST 2019 CURRENT AFFAIRS Experiment Telescope (MACE). Software Defined Radio • Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) • Advantages of SDR (SDR) approved for the procurement of 1. Improved transfer rates SDR technology. for data, voice and video • SDR is a radio communication information system where components 2. Reduced Network latency implemented by means of software on a personal computer • DAC – Chaired by Defence or embedded system. Minister is the highest • SDR technology is the ‘mother’ of decision-making body all solutions for the desired regarding defence acquisition. Tactical Communication needs of • Defence Procurement the Armed Forces. Procedure - contains policies • SDR is indigenously developed and procedures for through joint efforts of Weapons procurement and acquisition. Electronics System Engineering • WESEE - is an autonomous Establishment (WESEE) / Defence organisation under Ministry of Research and Development Defence engaged in R&D. Organisation (DRDO) and BEL • Make-in-India-to (Bengaluru). transform India into a global manufacturing hub. South Atlantic Anomaly • SAA is a region above the South • Van Allen Radiation Belt a (SAA) Atlantic Ocean where there are a zone of energetic charged large number of charged particles particles, most of which (Figure 1) that can damage sensitive originate from the solar wind, instruments. that are captured by and held • It is a portion of Van Allen around a planet by that Radiation Belt. planet's magnetic field. • All space telescopes are shut • Earth has two such belts. down when they pass through the • Gravitational waves space- SAA. time disturbances generated • India’s Astrosat telescope could by accelerated masses, at the not detect gravitational wave speed of light. emanating from a possible • LIGO India (IndIGO) – collision with a neutron star, as it gravitational wave observatory was above SAA. in India. • Astrosat is India's first dedicated multi-wavelength space telescope. Phages and Phage • Researchers in IISER, Pune • McrBC — a complex bacterial Therapy determined the structure of protein which helps prevent McrBC, which prevents viral viral infections in a bacterial infections in bacteria. cell and functions as a • This determination has long-term molecular scissor. implications in ‘phage therapy’ • Antimicrobial resistance and could help combat drug- (AMR) is the ability of a resistant infections. microbe to resist the effects of • Phages or Bacteriophage are medication. groups of viruses that infect and • Microbes resistant to multiple kill bacterial cells. antimicrobials are called • Bacteriophage means ‘bacteria multidrug resistant or eater’. superbugs.

PRELIMS EXCLUSIVE PROGRAMME 2020 (PEP)-AUGUST 2019 CURRENT AFFAIRS • Phage therapy is the therapeutic • Best advantage of phage use of phages to treat bacterial therapy is the ability to tailor infections. treatment accurately to kill • Like the human immune system, the pathogenic bacteria. bacteria too have an elaborate • Bacteriophages are not defence system to combat phages. approved for treatment in • To prevent infection caused by India though clinical trials are phages, bacteria have specialised underway. ‘molecular scissors’ which • Uses of bacteriophages – specifically cut the foreign DNA, phage therapy, basic research, thus preventing phages diagnostics, counteracting bio- multiplication in bacterial cells. weapons and toxins. Adratiklit boulahfa • New species of stegosaurus • The Adratiklit was armoured discovered in the Middle Atlas and herbivorous and lived on Mountains of Morocco. Gondwana, which later split • Dated it to 168 million years ago into Africa, South America, makes it the oldest known Australia and Antarctica. member of that group of • Most stegosaurus remains so dinosaurs. far have been found in the • First stegosaurus to be found in northern hemisphere. North Africa. • The name is derived from the words used by the Berber (an ethnic group indigenous to North Africa) for mountains (Adras), lizard (tiklit) and the area where the specimen was found. (Boulahfa). Coprolite or Coprolith • Coprolites are fossilised feces • Paleofeces are ancient human belonging to animals that lived feces, often found as part of millions of years ago. archaeological excavations. • Scientists have found the oldest • Carbon dating is a method for parasite DNA in the Coprolite of a determining the age of an prehistoric Puma in Argentina. object containing organic • It is estimated that the age of the material by using the coprolite is between 16,500- properties of radiocarbon, a 17,000 years. radioactive isotope of carbon (C14). Mitra Crater • Is a lunar impact crater that is • Impact crater is an attached to the western outer rim approximately circular of the larger crater Mach, on depression in the surface of the far side of the Moon. a planet, moon. • Mitra lies within the Dirichlet- • Other examples of Moon Jackson Basin. Impact craters Bose, Jackson, • It is named after Sisir Kumar Korolev, Mach etc. Mitra, Indian radio physicist. • South Pole - Aitken Basin - • Crater pictures were taken by the Largest crater on the Moon. Terrain Mapping Camera-2 (TMC- 2) of Chandrayaan 2. Chandrayaan-2 • It is the first Space Mission to conduct a soft landing on the Moon's south polar region.

PRELIMS EXCLUSIVE PROGRAMME 2020 (PEP)-AUGUST 2019 CURRENT AFFAIRS • Lander (Vikram) and Rover- (Pragyan). Gravitational Lensing • NASA’s James Webb Space • GL is based on Einstein's Telescope (JWST), going to use theory of general relativity (Figure 2) gravitational lensing (GL) in (Mass bend light). investigating how new stars are • The more massive the object, born. the stronger its gravitational • This programme of NASA is called field and hence the greater TEMPLATES (Targeting Extremely the bending of light rays. Magnified Panchromatic Lensed Arcs and Their Extended Star Applications of GL Formation). • Understand the past and how stars are formed • The gravitational lensing occurs • Study the far away galaxies when a huge amount of matter, • Observe invisible things in the such as a massive galaxy, cluster Universe – dark matter of galaxies or a black hole, creates a gravitational field that distorts • NASA to launch JWST in 2021 and magnifies the light from to succeed Hubble Space objects behind it. Telescope.

SUPRA Scheme • Developed by Science and • SERB - statutory body under (Scientific and Useful Engineering Research Board Department of Science and Profound Research (SERB) Technology (DST) to promote Advancement). • Sole objective - funding and fund research in different exploration of new scientific and scientific disciplines. engineering breakthroughs with • DST - Scientific Social global impact with long-term Responsibility (SSR) Policy impact on our fundamental scientific understanding. Other schemes • It attracts high quality research • SERB – VAJRA Faculty Scheme proposals to provide ‘out-of-box’ • DST - INSPIRE (INNOVATION solutions. IN SCIENCE PURSUIT FOR • Funding - normally for 3 years INSPIRED RESEARCH) SCHEME which could be extended to 2 • MHRD – SPARC, STARS, years (5 years total) as assessed by IMPRESS an expert committee. • MHRD and DST - Impacting Research Innovation and Technology (IMPRINT) India Falaq - Radar System of • Iran’s radar air defence missile • Iran's indigenously developed IRAN system. Khordad 3 air defence system • Upgraded version of the Gamma managed to detect and down system (Russian origin). the US reconnaissance drone, • Can identify all types of cruise RQ-4 Global Hawk in the Gulf. missiles, stealth planes, drone • Khordad 15 - Iranian designed systems and ballistic missiles for a and built surface-to-air range of 400 kms. missile (SAM) system. • Expected to complement the existing air defence systems, such Indian Radars as the S-300 • Indian Doppler Radar (INDRA) • RAJENDRA Radar

PRELIMS EXCLUSIVE PROGRAMME 2020 (PEP)-AUGUST 2019 CURRENT AFFAIRS • ROHINI Radar • Swathi Weapon Locating Radar • AEROSTAT Radar Sericin • A silk protein produced by • India – 2nd largest silk silkworm producer after China • Known to possess anti-oxidant • Top 3 States – Karnataka > and other medicinal properties. Andhra Pradesh > Assam. • These properties depend on • Silk verities - Mulberry, amino acid composition and Tasar, Muga silk and Eri secondary metabolites • Except mulberry, other non- (polyphenols and flavonoids) of mulberry varieties of silks are sericin. wild silks, known as vanya • They vary with source of silks. silkworms and their availability • Central Silk Board at depends on the length of sericin Bengaluru - statutory body, peptides. Ministry of Textiles. • Uses - protection from oxidative • Silk Samagra or Integrated damage, edema, erythema, Scheme for Development of sunburn, premature aging, Silk Industry - a central sector wrinkling, and skin cancer. scheme implemented by CSB.

GI Tags for Silk • Mysore silk - Karnataka • Muga silk of Assam • Bhagalpur silk – Bihar • Banaras silk - UP • Kancheepuram, Salem, Arani and Thirubhuvanam – Tamil Nadu

Indian and World Geography

TOPICS KEY ASPECTS Value Addition Clarion-Clipperton Zone • Is a geological submarine fracture zone of the Pacific Ocean, with a length of around 7240 km • The zone is administered by the International Seabed Authority. • It contains nodules made up of various rare-earth elements - 5.95 Billion tonnes of manganese, 0.27 Bt of nickel, 0.23 Bt of copper and 0.05 Bt of cobalt.

India’s Deep-Sea • The mission proposes to explore the • India has been allotted 75,000 Mission deep ocean similar to the space square kilometres in CIO) by UN exploration by ISRO International Sea Bed Authority

PRELIMS EXCLUSIVE PROGRAMME 2020 (PEP)-AUGUST 2019 CURRENT AFFAIRS Ministry of Earth • focus of the mission will be on deep- (ISBA) for exploration of poly- Sciences plans Rs 8000 sea mining, ocean climate change metallic nodules (potential of 380 Crore ‘Deep Ocean advisory services, underwater million metric tonnes) Mission’ To Boost India’s vehicles and robotics related • CIOB reserves contain deposits of Sea Exploration technologies. metals like iron, manganese, nickel Capabilities • Mission includes Two key projects: and cobalt. o Desalination plant powered by • ISBA is an intergovernmental body tidal energy and based in Kingston, Jamaica, that was o Submersible vehicle that can established under 1982UNCLOS to explore depths of at least 6 km organize, regulate and control all • Mission enable India to develop mineral-related activities in the capabilities to exploit resources in international seabed area beyond Central Indian Ocean Basin (CIOB) the limits of national jurisdiction Pampa River • Pampa River is the third longest river • Sabarimala temple dedicated to in the Kerala after Periyar and Lord Ayyappa is located on the Bharathappuzha. banks of the river Pamba. • It originates at Pulachimalai hill in • Parts of terracotta artefacts of the Peerumedu plateau in the archaeological value have been Western Ghats in Kerala. unearthed from the banks of the • It then flows west before emptying Pampa river giving further support into the Vembanad Lake. to the theory that ‘Pampa Valley • The river is also known as 'Dakshina Civilisation’ flourished. Bhageerathi' and 'River Baris' Heat Domes • Heat domes is used to describe a "lid" that forms when high pressure Was one of the reasons hovers in the atmosphere, stopping for high temperatures in the hot air from escaping North America and and trapping it at the Earth's surface. Western Europe during • They can fuel violent thunderstorms, the months of June & stoke dangerous wildfires and • Hot air tries to escape, the lid causes July. exacerbate drought it to sink • They form blocking patterns in the • The air is forced to warm even more atmosphere, which halt the west-to- as it sinks. east movement of weather

Tawi River • Indian Air Force rescues 2 men • After traversing Jammu city, the stranded in Tawi river. river crosses into Pakistan's Punjab • Originates from the lap of Kailash and joins Chenab river. Kund glacier • The flow of water in the river has • Tawi is a river that flows through the been decreasing in recent years as city of Jammu. the source glacier (Kailash Kund • Tawi is a major left bank tributary of glacier) has been retreating. river Chenab. Sripada Yellampalli • KLIP is claimed to be the world’s • KLIP was previously known as Project (SYP) largest multi-stage and multi-purpose Pranahita-Chevella Lift Irrigation which is a part of lift irrigation scheme. Project. Kaleshwaram Lift • It is located at the confluence point • Pranahita river in itself is a Irrigation Project (KLIP) of Pranhita River and Godavari River confluence of various other smaller i.e, at Kaleshwaram village in tributaries like Wardha, Penganga Telangana and Wainganga Rivers. • Under the scheme, 89 cumecs (cubic • KLIP is meant to irrigate over 37 lakh

PRELIMS EXCLUSIVE PROGRAMME 2020 (PEP)-AUGUST 2019 CURRENT AFFAIRS metres per second) of water will be acres of land and supply drinking lifted to a height of 106 metres from water to Hyderabad and villages en the Sripada Yellampalli reservoir to route. Medaram reservoir and will be used for irrigation and water supply in nearby drought-prone areas. Bharati Huda • The site is in Jalalpur village • During Chalcolithic (Chalco = Copper Excavations done here in Odisha’s Cuttack district and Lithic = Stone) period, by Archaeological Survey • As per ancient artefacts and grain both metal and stone were of India (ASI) discovered here by the ASI, a rural utilized for the manufacture of the settlement had thrived at Bharati equipment in day-to-day life. Huda nearly 3600 years ago • Chalcolithic period spanned • The age of the settlement was around 2500 BC to 700 BC arrived at after radiocarbon dating of • The world-famous Sun temple of charcoal samples found at the site Konark, located some 30 kilometres Other Findings from Excavation from the excavation, was built in the • Chalcolithic Culture 13th century CE. The tradition of Sun • Economy: Agriculture and animal worship seems to have evolved with husbandry (findings of varieties of human settlements in the region. rice & jute & domesticated cattle) • Worship: Nature worship as evident from single specimen of sun motif found Kremlin • The Moscow Kremlin is a fortified • It is similar to "White House" which complex in the center of Moscow, refers to the Executive Office of the overlooking the Moskva River to the President of USA south • The name "Kremlin" means "fortress inside a city" • The complex now serves as the official residence of the President of the Russia and as a museum

Apusiajik Glacier • It is located on the south-eastern • Greenland is the world's largest shore of Greenland island located between the Arctic • During summer, the glacier edge is and Atlantic oceans. also a popular tourist destination for • Greenland is an autonomous boat trips territory within the Kingdom of • With increasing temperature, alarms Denmark have been raised about the melting • Though physiographically a part of of ice and glaciers the continent of North America, • Glacier is a slowly moving mass or Greenland has been politically and river of ice formed by the culturally associated with Europe accumulation and compaction of snow on mountains or near the poles. Pallikaranai Marshland • Only surviving wetland • Wetlands mitigate floods. Eg. ecosystem of Chennai city, shrunk Chennai floods of 2015 was miserably losing 90% of it in last 50 devastating as key wetlands were years. encroached. • Originally formed as a salt marsh • Flora and fauna —birds, mammals, created by the backwaters of Bay amphibians, fishes, butterflies, and

PRELIMS EXCLUSIVE PROGRAMME 2020 (PEP)-AUGUST 2019 CURRENT AFFAIRS of Bengal, it now receives plants. freshwater through rains and • Birds found – Grey wagtail, pallas' surplus water from 31 sub-urban grasshopper warbler, Asian pied water tanks. starling (Pied Myna). • Southern portion of the marshland • Ramsar Convention on wetlands. drain towards Buckingham Canal. • It’s a part of the Central Asian Wetlands of Tamil Nadu flyway. • Point Calimere – Ramsar site. • Threats – Large scale infrastructure • Pulicat Lake Bird Sanctuary development and Perungudi • Muthupet mangroves. sewage treatment plant etc. • Vettangudi Bird Sanctuary. Herat City • New York Times ‘Afghan War • Garland road of Afghanistan Casualty Report’ - multiple connects Kandahar, Kabul, (Figure 3) casualties in Heart by Taliban and Mazar-i-Sharif with Heart. militant attacks. (Refer Figure 1) • Third-largest city of Afghanistan. • Salma Dam / Afghan-India • Capital of Herat Province. Friendship Dam is on Hari river. • Situated in the fertile valley of • India developed Iran port city the Hari River. Chabahar – key to access central India through Afghan. • Afghan is a member of SAARC and party to SAFTA (South Asia Free Trade Agreement). Lambahraun Lava Field • NASA has chosen the Lambahraun • NASA’s ‘Curiosity’ rover – at Gale lava field in Iceland as the site to crater in 2012 (Figure 4) prepare for the next mission to • NASA's MAVEN (Mars Atmosphere Mars in 2020. and Volatile EvolutioN). • Site is at the foot of Iceland's • NASA’s Mars InSight probe – to second biggest glacier, Langjokull. study interior of Mars. • With its black basalt sand, wind- • ISRO’s MOM (Mars Orbiter swept dunes and craggy peaks, it is Mission) - orbiter in many ways reminiscent of Mars. • ISRO’s Mangalayaan 2 – orbiter • NASA is working on MARS 2020 plus rover. Rover and tests its prototype rover on this site. Long Period Average • LPA is the averages of rainfall Five rainfall distribution categories by (LPA) of Monsoon received over a 50-year period IMD between 1951 and 2001. • Normal or Near Normal: When per • New LPA value is 88cm (1961- cent departure of actual rainfall is 2010), 1 cm less than earlier 89cm +/-10% of LPA, that is, between 96- (1951-2000). 104% of LPA • LPA is considered to be the • Below Normal: When departure of 'normal' rainfall in India. actual rainfall is less than 10% of • The 2019 southwest monsoon LPA, that is 90-96% of LPA season - 110% LPA, above normal • Above Normal: When actual rainfall. rainfall is 104-110% of LPA • IMD (India Met Department) – • Deficient: When departure of agency of MoES (Ministry of Earth actual rainfall is less than 90% of Sciences), provides meteorological LPA services. • Excess: When departure of actual • After 2010, this is the first time, rainfall is more than 110% of LPA

PRELIMS EXCLUSIVE PROGRAMME 2020 (PEP)-AUGUST 2019 CURRENT AFFAIRS rainfalls during all the last three • Ensemble Prediction Systems months (July to September) were (EPS) - IMD’s new forecast model. above LPA. • MoES - Monsoon Mission of India. Lower Subansiri • Is the biggest hydroelectric project • Left bank tributaries Hydropower Project undertaken in India so far and is a Brahmaputra: Bibang, Lohit and run of river scheme on the Dhansiri. (Figure 5) river Subansiri. • Right bank tributaries • Located near North Lakhimpur on Brahmaputra: Kamneng, Manas the border of Aruncachal Pradesh and Teesta. and Assam. • Koyna HEP of 1960 MW is the • Capacity: 2,000 MW second largest one. • NHPC (National Hydro Power • Share of hydropower in the total Corporation) signed MoU with both capacity has declined from 50.36% State governments to generate in the 1960s to around 13% in hydroelectricity. 2018-19. • Subansiri River originates in the • NHPC - is a Mini Ratna Category-I Tibet Plateau and enters India Enterprise of the Central through Miri hills in Arunachal Government. Pradesh. • Subansiri is a right bank tributary of Brahmaputra. Port Velho City • The capital city of Rondonia state • Amazon river is largest river in the of Brazil, located at the upper world. (Figure 6) Amazon River basin. • Amazon river - Source is Mantaro • It is on the eastern shore of river in Peru, Atlantic Ocean is the the Madeira River, one of the Mouth. main tributaries of the Amazon • Countries of Amazon basin are River. Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, • Porto Velho’s airport had to be Guyana, Peru, Suriname and closed as the Amazon forest fire Venezuela. raged right up against its perimeter. Bonavista Bay • Located on the northeast coast of • A bay is a recessed, coastal body of the island of Newfoundland in the water that directly connects to a (Figure 7) province of Newfoundland and larger main body of water. Labrador in Canada. • Newfoundland Island – one of the • It opens directly onto the Atlantic major fishing zones as cold Ocean. Labrador current meets with warm • The bay is demarcated by Cape Gulf stream. Freels to the north and Cape • Island blocks the mouth of Bonavista (eastern limit of the Saint Lawrence River, creating the Bonavista Peninsula) to the the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, the south. world's largest estuary. Gandhamardhan Hills • Heavy rain triggered a major • Source of two major tributaries of landslide near Harishankar Temple, the river Mahanadi. (Figure 8) situated on the southern slopes of • Main occupation of local people - the Gandhamardhan Hills in collect herbs and supply them to western Odisha. companies such as Dabur and • Hill is known for medicinal plants Zandu. and Bauxite reserve. • Tribes - Kondha and Gond • BSI has reported the existence of • Two ayurvedic colleges and 220 plant species of medicinal hospitals on both side of

PRELIMS EXCLUSIVE PROGRAMME 2020 (PEP)-AUGUST 2019 CURRENT AFFAIRS value. Gandhamardan. • Nrusinghanath Temple at northern • Medicinal plants from slope of hill. Gandhamardan, as the epic Ramayana says, saved the life Laxman. Rice bowl of Karnataka • Koppal, Ballari and Raichur • It is in Hyderabad Karnataka (Art districts for growing top class rice 371J) region. known as rice bowl of Karnataka. • Tungabhadra river – right tributary • Rice varities - Sona masuri, IR - 64, of Krishna. bapatla sona. • Tungabhadra reservoir or Pampa • At crisis as water level in Sagar. Tungabhadra dam sinks – • Gangavati in Koppal district – rice Tungabhadra command area bowl city of Karnataka. affected. • 'Rice Bowl of India' is the state of Andhra Pradesh. • International rice research institute at Varanasi. • National Rice Research Institute at Cuttack, Odisha. • Hampi is situated on the banks of the Tungabhadra River in the eastern part of central Karnataka near the state border with Andhra Pradesh. Evapotranspiration • IIT Bombay team along with • Potential evapo transpiration is a researchers from Pacific Northwest measure of the ability of the Sum of evaporation and National Laboratory and Oak Ridge atmosphere to remove water from plant transpiration from National Laboratory – developed the surface through the processes the Earth's land and land-surface model to understand of evaporation and ocean surface to the linkages between irrigation and transpiration assuming no control atmosphere. monsoon shift. on water supply. • Land-surface processes including • Actual evapo transpiration or AE is irrigation affect the heat fluxes and the quantity of water that is evapotranspiration. actually removed from a surface due to the processes of evaporation and transpiration. • It is a part of Hydrologic cycle (a gaseous cycle).

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Figures and Maps

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