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Table of Contents Polity And Governance ...... 1 1. Cutting down tribunals (Relevant for GS Prelims, GS Mains Paper II) ...... 1 2. SC allows abortion of ailing foetus (Relevant for GS Mains Paper II) ...... 1 3. SC open to liquor sale on city highways (Relevant for GS Prelims, GS Mains Paper II) ...... 3 4. Selection of ECs must be transparent, SC tells Centre (Relevant for GS Prelims, GS Mains Paper II) ...... 4 5. Presidential Election, 2017 – Right to vote or not to vote (Relevant for GS Prelims, GS Mains Paper II) ...... 5 6. National Pension Service fortnight (Relevant for GS prelims, GS Mains Paper II) ...... 6 7. The new NCBC (Relevant for GS Prelims, GS Mains Paper II) ...... 6 8. SWAYAM, SWAYAM Praba Channels, Programme 17 for 17 ? And National Digital Repository (Relevant for GS Prelims, GS Mains Paper II) ...... 7 9. Scheme for IPR Awareness – Creative India; Innovative India (Relevant for GS Prelims, GS Mains Paper II) ...... 8 10. CBI raids at Lalu Prasad Yadav s premises: All you need to know (Relevant for GS Mains Paper II) ...... 8 11. The First edition of WINGS 2017 – Sab Uden, Sab Juden (Relevant for GDS Prelims, GS Mains Paper II) ...... 9 12. Panel calls for light regulation of NGOs (Relevant for GS Prelims, GS Mains Paper II; Topic: Governance) ...... 10 13. Mission ParivarVikas to focus on 146 districts in 7 states with high TFR (Relevant for GS Prelims, Topic: Government Schemes) ...... 11 14. Odd appointment of Coach Shastri (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS mains paper II) ...... 12 15. HC s verdict: on TN s quota for medical students (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper II, III) ...... 12 16. Explosives in Uttar Pradesh Assembly: PETN – Potent, hard to detect, safe to handle (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper II) ...... 14 17. Hon ble President of India presents the 2.5 Croreth PMUY connection in West Bengal (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper II) ...... 14 18. The TB crisis in India (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper II, III) ...... 15
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19. Five-year roadmap towards eliminating malaria:National Strategic Plan for Malaria Elimination(Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper II, III) ...... 16 20. Digitization of School Records (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper II, III) ...... 17 21. Reviewing the Policy of Moderation of marks (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper II) ...... 18 22. Regulating e-Pharmacy Business (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper II) 18 23. Jal Marg Vikas Project in Ganga River (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper II, III) ...... 19 24. Major Port Authorities Bill approved (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper II, III) ...... 19 25. M P Sharma and Kharak Singh: The cases on Right to privacy (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper II) ...... 20 26. SC nod for new MCI oversight panel(Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper II) ...... 21 27. Kannada flag controversy (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper II) ...... 22 28. Get real on Swachhta: manual scavenging menace (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper II, III) ...... 23 29. Setting up of Enforcement Department (EFD) (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper II) ...... 24 30. Analysis of Mayawati resigning her seat in Rajya Sabha(Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper II) ...... 24 31. Maharashtra s social boycott law/All you need to know about Maharashtra s social boycott law (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper I, II) ...... 25 32. Ram Nath Kovind to be the 14th president (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper II) ...... 26 33. The Child Labour (Prohibition & Regulation) Amendment Act, 2016 (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper I, II) ...... 27 34. Review of the status of implementation of the recommendations of the Majithia Wage Board (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper II) ...... 27 35. Finalising fresh version of DNA Profiling Bill (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper II, III) ...... 28 36. Protection of Dialects (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper III, II) ...... 29
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37. NEET Scam for postgraduate papers (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper II) ...... 30 38. Evaluation of efficacy of Nai Roshni Scheme (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper I and II) ...... 31 39. CAG report on Railways (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper II, III) ...... 32 40. E-Commerce Market and consumer protection (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper II and III) ...... 32 41. Bihar mega alliance collapses, CM back with BJP (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper II) ...... 33 42. On inclusion of mentally retarded in POSCO (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper II) ...... 33 43. Maharashtra Govt. to put in selfie policy to secure dangerous spots(Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper II) ...... 34 44. The shift in Bihar political scenario (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper II) ...... 35 45. Cinema & censorship (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper I, II) ...... 35 46. CAG report: weaknesses in missile defence system (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper II, III) ...... 36 47. Swadhar Grehs (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper II) ...... 37 48. The lowdown on the right to privacy (Relevant for GS Prelims, GS Mains Paper II – Governance) ...... 37 49. Who is Bimal Gurung? (Relevant for GS Prelims, GS Mains Paper II- Governance) .. 38 50. Pradhan Mantri Vaya Vandana Yojana: Senior citizens assured 8% return over 10- year period (Relevant for GS Prelims, GS Mains Paper II-Governance) ...... 40 51. Is Darjeeling stir killing tea and tourism? (Relevant for GS Prelims, GS Mains Paper II) ...... 40 52. PM s interaction through PRAGATI (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains paper III) ...... 42
International Organizations and Relations ...... 43 1. Joint International Taskforce on Shared Intelligence and Collaboration (JITSIC)- Tackling Global Tax Risks (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper II) ...... 43 2. India to Host Global Conference on Cyber Space 2017 – World s Largest Conference on Cyber Space (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper II, III) ...... 44
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3. Why Bhutan is special to India (Relevant for GS Prelims, GS Mains Paper III) ...... 45 4. Colombia s FARC rebels seal historic disarmament (Relevant for GS Prelims, GS Mains Paper II) ...... 46 5. Indian Cultural Centres Abroad (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper II, III) ...... 48 6. Army, PLA in a tug of war over Doklam Plateau (Relevant for GS Prelims, GS Mains Paper II) ...... 48 7. PM s visit to Israel (Relevant for GS Prelims, GS Mains Paper II) ...... 49 8. Victory in Mosul: Iraqi forces take back al-Nuri mosque from IS (Relevant for GS Prelims, GS Mains Paper II) ...... 51 9. Outcome of 5th Meeting of BRICS Education Ministers held in Beijing, China (Relevant for GS prelims, GS Mains Paper II) ...... 53 10. Israel Visit by PM (Relevant for GS Prelims, GS Mains Paper II) ...... 54 11. India, Israel to set up $40 mn research fund (Relevant for GS Prelims, GS Mains Paper II) ...... 54 12. No Modi-Xi meeting at G-20 as atmosphere is not right (Relevant for GS Prelims, GS Mains Paper II) ...... 55 13. Cyprus peace talks – all you need to know (Relevant for GS Prelims, GS Mains paper II) ...... 56 14. Targeting trawling: the need for transition to deep sea fishing (Relevant for GS Prelims, GS Mains Paper II, Topic: Bilateral Relations) ...... 57 15. Cabinet approves Bangladesh JIN pact (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS mains paper II, III) ...... 58 16. LOGIN About the Doklam area of the India-Bhutan-China tri-junction standoff? (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS mains paper II) ...... 58 17. Deadlock in India-China trade talks (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS mains paper II,III) ...... 59 18. What next Sikkim tri-junction? (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper II) .... 60 19. China s new military base at Djibouti (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper II) ...... 62 20. PM Modi s visit to Israel (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper II)...... 62 21. United Nations Peacekeeping Course for African Partners (UNPCAP-02) Commences at Manekshaw Centre (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper II, III) ...... 63
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22. Bilateral Investment Treaty with Israel(Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper II, III ) ...... 64 23. Target Tehran: On USA s sanctions on Iran (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper II) ...... 65 24. Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF) (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper II, III) ...... 66 25. Agreements and protocols to protect Holy Shrines in India Pakistan (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper II) ...... 66 26. Expatriate Levy by Saudi Arabia (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper II, III) ...... 67 27. India, Japan civil nuclear deal comes into force (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper II, III) ...... 67 28. Remittances from Abroad (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper III) ...... 68 29. Why is Iran growing its presence in Iraq? (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper II) ...... 68 30. Codex Alimentarius Commission meeting in Geneva (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper II) ...... 70 31. Sri Lanka s new Hambantota deal (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper II) ...... 70 32. Progress of Rail Project in Border Areas (Relevant for GS Prelims, GS Mains Paper II) ...... 71
Economics ...... 73 1. Union Agriculture Minister reviews the progress of two flagship schemes – National Agricultural Markets (E-Names) and Soil Health Card (Relevant for GS Prelims, GS Mains Paper II) ...... 75 2. MERIT app and e-Bidding portal for utilization of domestic coal in IPP Power Stations for reducing the cost of power generation launched (Relevant for GS Prelims, GS Mains Paper II) ...... 76 3. Cabinet approves SASEC Road Connectivity Investment Program – (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains paper II, III) ...... 75 4. Development of Vizag-Chennai Industrial Corridor (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper II, III) ...... 75
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5. A welcome sale: Air India disinvestment (Relevant for GS Prelims, GS Mains Paper III) ...... 75 6. Two commodity exchanges merge (Relevant for GS prelims, GS Mains Paper III) .... 76 7. NSE co-location case serious, says SEBI (Relevant for GS Prelims, GS Mains Paper III) ...... 76 8. RBI fixes customer liability for unauthorised transactions (Relevant for GS Prelims, GS Mains Paper III) ...... 77 9. Bitcoin — to ban or not to? (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS mains paper III) ...... 78 10. Stakeholders discuss ways to promote coastal shipping and inland navigation under Sagarmala Programme at Bhubaneswar (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS mains paper III) ...... 79 11. Retail inflation on a record low (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper III) .. 79 12. India ranks 116 out of 157 nations on SDG index (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper III) ...... 80 13. EU, India set up fund for investments (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper II, III) ...... 80 14. Divestment of Air India (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper III) ...... 81 15. Record production of food grains in 2016-17 and all previous records were broken (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper III) ...... 82 16. Rising Sensex: what are the reasons behind this?/ All you need to know about the blooming share market in India (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper III) 82 17. Auto Mission Policy (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper III) ...... 83 18. Internal Advisory Committee (IAC) of Reserve Bank of India(Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper III ) ...... 83 19. The stock market surge (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper III) ...... 84 20. IRDAI to be a signatory to International Association of Insurance Supervisors (IAIS) via Multilateral Memorandum of Understanding (MMoU)(Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper III ) ...... 84 21. Rail Development Authority (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper III) ...... 85 22. FM releases National Trade Facilitation Action Plan (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper III) ...... 86 23. The stock market surge (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper III) ...... 87 24. The Goods and Services Tax Network and the Central Board of Direct Taxes to share data (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper III) ...... 88
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25. Analysis of the merger of ONGC and HPCL (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper III) ...... 89 26. Six private telcos defrauded the govt. (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper III) ...... 90 27. RIL unveils 1:1 bonus: one share for every share held (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper III) ...... 91 28. Dedicated Freight Corridors (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper III) ...... 91 29. Nifty crosses the 10,000-mark (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper III) .... 92 30. Credit Guarantee Fund for Startups (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper III) ...... 93 31. Soaring prices of Tomato (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper III) ...... 93
Environment ...... 96 1. Climate change impact: Sunderbans steadily losing its famed mangroves (Relevant for GS Prelims, GS Mains Paper III) ...... 96 2. Aerosols shrinking India s monsoon (Relevant for GS prelims, GS Mains Paper III) 97 3. Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project (KLIP) (Relevant for GS Prelims, GS Mains Paper III) ...... 98 4. Environment Minister to Lead Plantation Drive to Celebrate Van Mahotsav (Relevant for GS Prelims, GS Mains Paper III) ...... 99 5. Confronting the challenge of mounting waste (Relevant for GS Prelims, GS Mains Paper III) ...... 100 6. First Maize Based Mega Food Park in Kapurthala, Punjab (Relevant for GS Prelims, GS Mains Paper III) ...... 101 7. Sensor network to map and predict pollution in Godavari (Relevant for GS prelims and GS mains paper II and III) ...... 102 8. Eco-bridges for the movement of tigers (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper III) ...... 103 9. Jal Marg Vikas Project in Ganga River (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper II, III) ...... 103 10. Sunderbans Terrapin (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper III) ...... 104 11. Rise in Average Temperatures (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper I, III) ...... 101
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12. Project Mausam (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper III) ...... 105 13. Jal Manthan-IV (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper III) ...... 106
Science and Technology ...... 107 1. Minister of Railways launched various Railway initiatives (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains paper II, III) ...... 107 2. Mission Raftaar (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper II, III) ...... 108 3. Melting of Larsen C (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper III) ...... 108 4. FAME India (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper III) ...... 109 5. DIPP to set up India s first TISC in Punjab (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS mains paper III) ...... 110 6. All you need to know about Swine flu (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper III) ...... 110 7. Heaviest satellite of ISRO launched (Relevant for GS Prelims, GS Mains Paper III) 111 8. First ever Satellite image of carbon dioxide concentration over India by Orbiting Carbon Observatory-2 (OCO-2) (Relevant for GS Prelims, GS Mains Paper III) ...... 112 9. Possible remains of two cities : Dwaraka, Gujarat, and Puhar, Tamil Nadu (Relevant for GS Prelims, GS Mains Paper I and III) ...... 113 10. Transgenic mosquitoes to control dengue and malaria (Relevant for GS Prelims, GS Mains Paper III) ...... 113 11. JIGYASA – Student-Scientist connect programme launched (Relevant for GS Prelims, GS Mains Paper II) ...... 114 12. IISc to get Rs 3,000-crore foundry to produce wonder nano material (Relevant for GS prelims, GS Mains Paper III) ...... 114 13. Government approves establishment of the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), South Asia Regional Center (ISARC) at campus of National Seed Research and Training Center (NSRTC) in Varanasi (Relvant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper III) ...... 115 14. National Strategic Plan for Malaria Elimination (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS mains paper III) ...... 115 15. Saraswati, a supercluster of galaxies (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper III) ...... 116 16. AIIMS to set up skin bank, develop artificial skin (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper III) ...... 118
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17. National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper III) ...... 118 18. Defence Innovation Organisation and Defence Innovation Fund (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper III) ...... 119 19. Tacking the HIV problem (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper I, III) ...... 119 20. Finalising fresh version of DNA Profiling Bill (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper II, III) ...... 120 21. Future of INS Vagli (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper III) ...... 121 22. Network challenges: On Reliance Jio Phone(Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper III) ...... 122 23. Fast Breeder Reactors (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper III) ...... 122 24. Food and Seed Irradiations (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper III) ...... 123 25. Mars Orbiter Spacecraft completes 1000 days (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper III) ...... 124 26. Rajya Sabha passes the Indian Institute of Information Technology Public Private Partnership Bill 2017(Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper III) ...... 124 27. CAG report: weaknesses in missile defence system (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper II, III) ...... 124 28. Committee to initiate a National Programme on Scientific Validation and Research on Panchgavya (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper III) ...... 125
Internal Security...... 125 1. Amarnath Attack: All You Need to Know About the Terror Strike on Pilgrims (Relevant for GS prelims and GS mains paper II) ...... 125 2. R.N. Ravi: mediating peace with the Nagas (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper II) ...... 126 3. Six Kerala men among Islamic State fighters in Syria ( Relevant for GS Prelims, GS Mains Paper III) ...... 127 4. NIA arrests 7 J&K separatist leaders for creating unrest (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper II) ...... 127 5. Measures to deal with piracy at sea (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper III) ...... 128 6. NIA unearths new Kashmir terror funding channels (Relevant for GS Mains Paper III – Internal Security) ...... 129
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7. Who are the Lingayats and what are their demands? (Relevant for GS Prelims, GS Mains Paper I- Social issues) ...... 131
Social Issues ...... 1. What is Not in My Name all about? (Relevant for GS Prelims, GS Mains Paper I) . 133 2. SC rejects abortion plea of 10-year-old (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper I) ...... 134
Miscellaneous ...... 135 1. Saint Teresa s blue-bordered sari an Intellectual Property now (Relevant for GS Prelims) ...... 135 2. Revamped NHB RESIDEX launched (Relevant for GS Prelims) ...... 136 3. Indian Power Sector- An Update ...... 136 4. Aaykar Setu (Relevant for GS Prelims) ...... 136 5. Declaration of Historic City of Ahmadabad as a UNESCO s World Heritage Property (Relevant for GS Prelims) ...... 137 6. Village cooperative sets up first-ever solar power plant (Relevant for GS Prelims) 137 7. Japan s men-only island gets UNESCO heritage tag (Relevant for GS Prelims) ...... 137 8. Smriti Mandhana: Cricketer (Relevant for GS Prelims) ...... 138 9. President of India receives first copy of book President s Lady (Pranaber Preyosi) (Relevant for GS Prelims) ...... 138 10. Brief for Integrated Railway Mobile App (IMA) Rail SAARTHI for Indian Railways (Relevant for GS Prelims) ...... 138 11. Roger Federer s longevity (Relevant for GS Prelims) ...... 139 12. President of India inaugurates the 200th anniversary celebrations of the Paika Rebellion of Odisha (Relevant for GS Prelims) ...... 140 13. ICC Women s World Cup 2017 final: Indian women falter at final hurdle, World Cup dream collapses in a heap (Relevant for GS Prelims) ...... 140 14. Promotion of Traditional Art and Folk Art (Relevant for GS Prelims) ...... 140 15. Intangible Cultural Heritage: Yoga (Relevant for GS Prelims) ...... 141 16. Ramayana and Krishna Circuit (Relevant for GS Prelims) ...... 141 17. First meeting of Islands Development Agency (IDA) (Relevant for GS Prelims) ...... 141 18. Achievements made under HamariDharohar Scheme (Relevant for GS Prelims) ... 142 19. Mobile App Smart Consumer for Packaged Products (Relevant for GS Prelims) .. 142 20. Profile of President Shri Ram Nath Kovind (Relevant for GS Prelims) ...... 142 21. Nawaz Sharif picks brother Shahbaz as successor (Relevant for GS Prelims) ...... 143
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22. Amazon s Jeff Bezos is now the richest man in the world (Relevant for GS Prelims) ...... 143 23. Arundhati Roy s The Ministry of Utmost Happiness in 2017 won Man Booker award (Relevant for GS Prelims) ...... 144 24. PM to inaugurate Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Memorial (Relevant for GS Prelims) ...... 144 25. Learn & Earn Scheme (Relevant for GS Prelims) ...... 145 26. Closure of Mahatma Gandhi Pravasi Suraksha Yojana (Relevant for GS Prelims) .. 145 27. High Altitude Cloud Observatory Near Munnar, Kerala (Relevant for GS Prelims) 145
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Polity and Governance
1. Cutting down tribunals (Relevant for GS Prelims, GS Mains Paper II)
Rationalisation of Tribunals The controversy over the Finance Bill, 2017, being passed as a money bill may have died down, but questions about the legality of the merger of several tribunals remain alive. The Bill included amendments to legislation on multiple subjects, in an attempt to rationalise the functioning of multiple tribunals.
As a result, what used to be 26 tribunals are now down to 19. For instance, the Competition Appellate Tribunal will be merged with the National Company Law Tribunal, while Telecom Dispute Appellate Tribunal will also do the work of the Cyber Law Appellate Tribunal and the Airports Economic Regulatory Authority Appellate Tribunal. Similarly, the tribunal relating to the Employees Provident Fund will be subsumed in the Industrial Tribunal. Control of centre over tribunals This rationalisation, however, has raised questions about the independence of these adjudicatory bodies. This is because, henceforth, the qualifications, tenure, conditions of service, removal and emoluments of the chairpersons and members of these tribunals will all be under the control of the Centre, as per Section 184 of the Finance Act, 2017.
The Madras Bar Association has challenged in the Madras High Court the validity of these amendments contending that the independence of these tribunals.
Questions raised: 1. How adjudicatory bodies under different laws can be abolished by a money bill. 2. The petition argues that the Centre is taking over the entire process of removing the presiding officers.
3. In particular, the government, it says, has given the go-by to several salutary principles laid down by the Supreme Court in 2014 to secure the independence of tribunals such as a tenure of at least five years and a selection process that requires the substantive involvement of the judiciary.
A similar petition has been filed in Gujarat High Court.
Question of violation of separation of powers The essential question is whether the doctrine of separation of powers has been violated and the independence of judicial bodies compromised by the Finance Act, which empowers the Centre to fix as well as alter the service conditions of judicial officers manning key adjudicatory bodies.
(Adapted from The Hindu)
2. SC allows abortion of ailing foetus (Relevant for GS Mains Paper II)
Kolkata woman has moved court after she discovered that the foetus suffered from severe cardiac impairment
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Upholding her right to choose, the Supreme Court allowed a woman to abort her over 20-week-old foetus with severe abnormalities. The law (Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act) does not permit abortion if the foetus is over 20 weeks old.
View of Supreme Court The right of a woman to have a reproductive choice was part of personal liberty. The court said every woman had a sacrosanct right to bodily integrity. It allowed the abortion to be conducted at a Kolkata hospital.
On June 24, the court wanted to stretch the law on abortion that would allow termination of pregnancy beyond 20 weeks if the foetus suffered from severe abnormalities. It had referred the present case to a medical Board for an expert opinion.
View of Woman The woman in her petition, stated that of the 26 million births that occur in India every year, approximately 2-3 per cent of the foetuses had severe congenital or chromosomal abnormality. Many suffered Intrauterine Foetal Death (IUFD). It was possible to detect certain abnormalities before 20 weeks, but some could be detected only after that period.
Why the act does not allow termination of pregnancy?
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After 20 weeks of pregnancy, sex determination of foetus is possible. Thus, many couple may go for abortion to avoid unwanted girl child.
(Adapted from The Hindu)
3. SC open to liquor sale on city highways (Relevant for GS Prelims, GS Mains Paper II)
Chandigarh administration s move to de-notify certain roads does not violate orders
The Supreme Court on prima facie observed that there may be nothing wrong in de-notifying particular stretches of highways running inside city limits as city roads and such de-classification does not violate its order that national and State highways across the country should be liquor-free zones.
Rationale by Supreme Court A Bench of Supreme Court orally observed that the purpose of the December 15, 2016 prohibition on the sale of liquor within a distance of 500 metres from the outer edge of national and State highways was to prevent drunken driving on high-speed thoroughfares.
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Clarification by SC The relief is palpable among these establishments as the court had in March 2017 clarified that the ban was not restricted to just liquor shops alongside the highways but also to other larger establishments, including pubs and hotels.
The court had said exempting establishments other than shops involved in sale of liquor which include bar-attached hotels, wine and beer parlours dotting highways would amount to dilution of its December 15 judgment s objective to prevent drunk driving, one of the major killers plaguing Indian roads. — — The pernicious nature of the sale of liquor along the national and State highways cannot be ignored. Drunken driving is a potent source of fatalities and injuries in road accidents. The Constitution preserves and protects the right to life as an over-arching constitutional value, the clarification order had observed.
(Adapted from The Hindu)
4. Selection of ECs must be transparent, SC tells Centre (Relevant for GS Prelims, GS Mains Paper II)
SC Advocates enactment of legislation to fill gap in statute Though so far the election commissioners (ECs) appointed have been outstanding people, very fair and politically neutral, there is still a legitimate expectation that they should be selected through the most transparent and just process formalised in a law enacted by Parliament, the Supreme Court advised the Centre. The court asked the government whether it should intervene in the issue to achieve the constitutional objective under Article 324 (2) relating to appointment of election commissioners.
Various gaps The SC bench pointed out that there is a gap caused by the lack of a parliamentary law which transparently spells out the process of appointment of an election commissioner. Who should be shortlisted? Who shortlists these names? What is the eligibility? There is nothing to show the procedure followed in selecting them, Chief Justice observed. He said that even the selection procedure of the CBI Director is formalised by a written law, but not that of Election Commissioners. Appointment of Election Commissioners Election Commission is a 3-member body consisting of Chief Election commissioner (CEC) and two Election Commissioners. Election commissioners are promoted as CEC. Article 324(2) says that members of election commission are appointed by president on advice of council of ministers. It does not provide for any criteria for selection of election commissioners.
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(Adapted from The Hindu)
5. Presidential Election, 2017 – Right to vote or not to vote (Relevant for GS Prelims, GS Mains Paper II)
Certain doubts have arisen in the minds of some of the electors at the current Presidential Election, 2017 to the effect whether a member of a political party voting in defiance of the political party s decision would attract the disqualification on the ground of defection under the Tenth Schedule to the Constitution of India or the political party taking such decision would be liable to any penalty for asking their members to vote in a particular manner or not to vote at all.
The Commission had issued clarification through Press Note. The Commission would like to clarify in this context that the voting at election to the Office of President of India is not compulsory, like the voting at elections to the House of the People and State Legislatures where also there is no compulsion to vote.
The electoral right of a voter is defined in section 171A(b) of the Indian Penal code to mean the right of a person to stand, or not to stand as, or to withdraw from being, a candidate or to vote or refrain from voting at election . Thus, every elector at the Presidential election has the freedom of making a choice to vote for any of the candidates or not to vote at the election, as per his free will and choice. This will equally apply to the political parties and they are free to canvas or seek votes of electors for any candidate or requesting or appealing to them to refrain from voting. However, the political parties cannot
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issue any direction or whip to their members to vote in a particular manner or not to vote at the election leaving them with no choice, as that would tantamount to the offence of undue influence within the meaning of section 171C of the IPC.
(Adapted from Press Information Bureau)
6. National Pension Service fortnight (Relevant for GS prelims, GS Mains Paper II)
PFRDA is observing NPS Service Fortnight from 27t h June, 2017 to 11th July 2017 to promote and create awareness about the National Pension System (NPS) and improve the quality of services provided to the subscribers.
During this period all the nodal offices, Pay and Account Offices and DDOs under the Central and State Governments, Points of Presence/ banks/ aggregators/ banking correspondents etc. involved with the acquisition and servicing of NPS subscribers across the country are required to provide all necessary assistance to the subscribers/ prospective subscribers, create awareness about the National Pension System, attend to their services requests, etc in a proactive manner.
What is National Pension System? The National Pension System (NPS) is a voluntary defined contribution pension system administered and regulated by the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA), created by an Act of the Parliament of India. The NPS started with the decision of the Government of India to stop defined benefit pensions for all its employees who joined after 1 January 2004. While the scheme was initially designed for all central and state government (except armed forces) employees only, it was opened up for all citizens of India in 2009. NPS is an attempt by the government to create a pensioned society in India.
(Adapted from Press Information Bureau)
7. The new NCBC (Relevant for GS Prelims, GS Mains Paper II)
Lok Sabha passed the 123rd amendment to the Constitution which will, when it becomes law, bring into being a constitutional National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC). The current NCBC was created under an Act of Parliament in 1993. The new insertion into the Constitution (Article 338B) is identical to the Articles 338 and 338A that respectively created the national commission for SCs and another for STs.
What the 123rd amendment amounts to is that the Union government has in one stroke brought BCs in league with the SC/STs as victims of discrimination.
Criticism of proposal to make NCBC constitutional: 1. On the task of identifying backward classes, the new entity will not even be expected to do the job. Hereafter Parliament will determine who is a BC for the Central List. 2. Since it has no responsibility to define backwardness, it cannot address the current challenge of well-off castes demands to be included as BCs. 3. Delinking Article 340 :The 123rd amendment delinks the whole folio of backward classes from Article 340 and brings it closer to provisions related to SC/STs.
What does Art 340 say?
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(1) The President may by order appoint a Commission consisting of such persons as he thinks fit to investigate the conditions of socially and educationally backward classes. (2) A Commission so appointed shall investigate the matters referred to them and present to the President a report setting out the facts as found by them and making such recommendations as they think proper (3) The President shall cause a copy of the report so presented together with a memorandum explaining the action taken thereon to be laid before each House of Parliament.
The government initially proposed to set up the National Commission for Socially and Educationally Backward Classes which is at least closer to Article 340. Once the 123rd amendment —becomes law,— Article 340 will be dead.
What was the need of Art 340? The article reflects the Constituent Assembly s understanding on the matter which is relevant even today: there are classes, not castes, which suffer from social and educational backwardness, and the state has the burden of allocating adequate funds to ameliorate their conditions.
Though Article 338B keeps the socially and educationally backward classes as its subject matter, in practice the proposed system will treat the developmental issues related to BCs on a par with caste discrimination and untouchability suffered by SCs and even by STs. The new NCBC will hear grievances, inquire into complaints, summon officials given its powers as a civil court, issue directions and have the right to be consulted by both Union and the States on policy matters related to BCs.
This illogic will sooner than later degenerate into perversion. Consider a possibility: in case of an atrocity against SCs, the National Commission for Scheduled Castes intervenes as a guardian of their rights. It is not rare that in most atrocities SCs are pitted against Shudras (be they upper or lower). It is irrelevant whether it is an atrocity or a group clash, once an incident flares up two constitutional national commissions will clash, each defending its wards. (Adapted from The Hindu)
8. SWAYAM, SWAYAM Praba Channels, Programme 17 for 17 ? And National Digital Repository (Relevant for GS Prelims, GS Mains Paper II)
President of India Shri Pranab Mukherjee has today launched the SWAYAM, the portal that takes high quality education to the doorstep of everyone. Along with this, he has also launched the SWAYAM Prabha the 32 DTH channels operationalised for telecasting high quality educational content free of charge using the GSAT- 15 satellite transponders. –
What is SWAYAM? Online interactive learning platform that provides, not only video lectures, reading material but also assignments/quizzes that could end up in securing credits after completing the assessment system. More than 400 Courses are available on SWAYAM covering all the engineering and non-engineering subjects at undergraduate and post-graduate levels. The UGC has already issued Regulation that allows transfer of credits earned through the courses done through SWAYAM into the academic record of the students. It is now possible for the students and others to take courses of the prestigious IITs or IIMs without formally studying
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there. The platform has been constructed by Microsoft with totally indigenous efforts. The courses are available on www.swayam.gov.in
SWAYAM Prabha channels The SWAYAM Prabha channels are available for free for anyone who has a set top box to receive either DD Free Dish or DishTV. These channels transmit 4 hours of fresh content every day, and contain lectures from the best teachers in the Country. There is no monthly charge for viewing these channels. These channels include the IIT-PAL channels which were intended to help students taking the prestigious JEE examination, taught by the IIT faculty.
What is Programme 17 for 17 ? The National convention on digital learning ended with adoption of Programme 17 for 17 : A 17 point action plan for 2017 for building digital campuses and high quality education. The action plan covers measures like universal adoption of digital education, digital financial transactions in the campuses – from the current academic year.– Three Books have been launched on the occasion account of NMEICT initiatives, list of 323 courses which are on offer in the current academic semester and a eBook of presentation of digital best practices by more than 500 institutions. –
What is National Academic Depository? National Academic Depository would be repository of online certificates and degrees which would help in easy authentication of the credentials issued by the institutions. This would also help in increasing transparency and ease of operation.
(Adapted from PIB)
9. Scheme for IPR Awareness – Creative India; Innovative India (Relevant for GS Prelims, GS Mains Paper II)
Taking forward the National Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Policy 2016, a Scheme for IPR Awareness Creative India; Innovative India has been launched by Cell for IPR Promotion and Management (CIPAM) under the aegis of the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion. – The Scheme aims at raising IPR awareness amongst students, youth, authors, artists, budding inventors and professionals to inspire them to create, innovate and protect their creations and inventions across India including Tier 1, Tier 2, Tier 3 cities as well as rural areas in the next 3 years.
The Scheme for IPR Awareness aims to conduct over 4000 IPR awareness workshops/seminars in academic institutions (schools and colleges) and the industry, including MSMEs and Startups, as also IP training and sensitization programmes for enforcement agencies and the judiciary.
Workshops will cover all vital IP topics including international filing procedures, promotion of Geographical Indications and highlighting the ill effects of piracy and counterfeiting. The Scheme for IPR Awareness would be implemented through partner organizations to promote innovation and entrepreneurship.
(Adapted from PIB)
10. CBI raids at Lalu Prasad Yadav s premises: All you need to know (Relevant for GS Mains Paper II)
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The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) carried out raids at 12 locations including the residence of former Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav, his wife Rabri Devi and son Tejaswi Yadav in connection with the alleged irregularities in tenders allotted to a private company Sujata Hotels for development, maintenance and operation of two railway hotels BNR Ranchi and Puri.
What is the Lalu Yadav-IRCTCcontroversy? In 2004, the Railway Board transferred complete management of catering services and railway hotels to Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) by signing a memorandum, which included the BNR hotels whose transfer took place the following year. On the day of transfer of the BNR hotels, Harsh Kochhar and Vijay Kochhar, directors of the Sujata Hotels, sold a land to Delight Marketing Company for Rs 1.5 crore.
Sujata hotels bid for the development of BNR hotels in 2006 and won the contract gaining two BNR hotels in Ranchi and Puri. The Delight Marketing Company, owned by Sarla Gupta, allegedly transferred the aforementioned land gradually to Rabri Devi and her son in the course of four years, from 2010 to 2014.
What is CBI s stand? The CBI in its FIR listed eight persons as accused in the case:
The Yadav family: Lalu Prasad Yadav, Rabri Devi and Tejaswi Yadav;
Directors of the BNR Hotels: Vijay Kochhar and Vinay Kochhar;
Director of Delight Marketing Company and the company: Sarla Gupta, wife of Prem Chand Gupta, and M/s Lara Projects LLP
Managing Director of IRCTC: PK Goel
Electronic devices including a laptop and an iPad were retrieved by the CBI and India Today reported that the investigative agency also recovered documents relating to tenders through email.
(Adapted from The Indian Express)
11. The First edition of WINGS 2017 – Sab Uden, Sab Juden (Relevant for GDS Prelims, GS Mains Paper II)
The First edition of WINGS 2017 Sab Uden, Sab Juden - Expanding Regional Connectivity was hosted in New Delhi yesterday by the Ministry of Civil Aviation. – During the Wings-2017, Interactive sessions with Stakeholders of entire Ecosystem such as Tourism Departments, Tour Operators, Airport Operators, Cargo Operators, Aircraft Manufacturers, Engine Manufacturers and other players in the value chain was convened.
(Adapted from PIB)
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12. Panel calls for light regulation of NGOs (Relevant for GS Prelims, GS Mains Paper II; Topic: Governance)
Light regulation of NGOs recommended A high-power committee appointed by the Central government on the orders of the Supreme Court has recommended several steps to ensure the light regulation of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) so as to reduce their harassment. The committee, headed by S. Vijay Kumar, a former Secretary in the Ministry of Rural Development, was formed as part of the Centre s response to the ongoing writ petition filed by Manohar Lal Sharma. A shortened version of the recommendations is now before the Supreme Court, though the government is yet to accept the full set.
Recommendations 1. The committee recommended that the registration procedures be modernised so as to facilitate the seamless operation of the applicable provisions of the IT (Income Tax) Act and FCRA (Foreign Contribution Regulation Act) with respect to NGOs, without the need for cumbersome and intrusive processes.
2. Less physical interface The committee goes on to say that steps must be taken to reduce the need for a physical interface between NGOs and public officials acting under the IT Act and the FCRA, along with reduction in mutual distrust and scope for misuse.
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On the Supreme Court s suggestion, the committee has drawn up a framework of guidelines for the accreditation of NGOs, audit of their accounts, and procedures to initiate action for recovering grants in case of misappropriation.
4. The S. Vijay Kumar Committee has recommended, among other things, a nodal body to oversee the various interfaces between NGOs and the government, and has recommended that NITI Aayog be vested with the power.
5. The committee has recommended a separate law for voluntary agencies engaged in activities of a charitable or public good nature to enable more effective and efficient regulation of the sector.
Regulation should be light and consistent with the fundamental rights, so as to give effect to the objects for which voluntarism is being promoted, the committee has said. It has recommended an overarching legislation with best practices that would replace various State-level and existing Central laws. Details of NGOs should be available as searchable database information. The new framework should enable a national uniformity of approach following the principle of cooperative federalism, the committee said. (Adapted from The Hindu)
13. Mission Parivar Vikas to focus on 146 districts in 7 states with high TFR (Relevant for GS Prelims, Topic: Government Schemes)
Mission Parivar Vikas will focus on 146 high fertility districts in 7 states with high Total Fertility Rate (TFR). Under this, specific targeted initiatives shall be taken for population stabilisation through better services delivery .
Shri Nadda (Union Min for health & family welfare) stated that Mission Parivar Vikas is a new initiative conceived by the Ministry with a strategic focus on improving access through provision of services, promotional schemes, commodity security, capacity building, enabling environment and intensive monitoring. Shri Nadda congratulated the team for undertaking micro-planning for these districts and developing need-based programmes to address TFR.
During the event, Shri J P Nadda introduced the new injectable in the public health system under the Antara program and launched a new software Family Planning Logistics Management Information System (FP- LMIS) designed to provide robust information on the demand and distribution of contraceptives to health facilities and ASHAs to strengthen supply –chain management. – As a part of the new communications campaign linked to the rollout, the Health Minister also launched a new consumer friendly website on family planning and a 52 week radio show for couples to discuss issues related to marriage and family planning, which will be aired across the country. The Health Minister further highlighted the life cycle approach of the Ministry and stated that a continuum of care approach has been adopted by the Ministry with the articulation of Strategic approach to Reproductive Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent health (RMNCH+A), bringing focus on all the life stages. (Adapted from PIB)
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14. Odd appointment of Coach Shastri (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS mains paper II)
Ravi Shastri sappointment as the Indian cricket team s head coach was a foregone conclusion ever since the strained equation between skipper ViratKohli and the then coach, Anil Kumble, forced the latter to resign. Background Kohli has always had a comfortable working relationship with Shastri, who was the team director from 2014 to mid-2016, a phase during which India emerged as the number one Test team besides qualifying for the 2015 World Cup semi-final in Australia.
Yet, the manner in which the latest transition was effected has left much bitterness. It raises the question whether a captain should have such overwhelming influence in picking the team s coach. There is no doubting that it was Kohli s view that prevailed on who should be out of the reckoning and who in. This does not reflect well on the three parties involved in picking the coach the Board of Control for Cricket in India, the Committee of Administrators and the Cricket Advisory Committee featuring eminent former players such as Sachin Tendulkar, SouravGanguly and V.V.S. Laxman. —
The manner of Shastri s appointment does appear odd, but there is no denying his credentials. His commentary stints tend to overshadow his days as a doughty cricketer, when he excelled as a promoted- opener and a tight left-arm spinner.
(Adapted from The Hindu)
15. HC s verdict: on TN s quota for medical students (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper II, III)
Madras High Court Verdict The Madras High Court verdict striking down the Tamil Nadu government order that had earmarked 85% of seats in undergraduate medical and dental courses for students from the State Board is no surprise at all.
Once it was laid down by law as well as by the Supreme Court that the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test will be the sole basis for admission to medical courses, it was unlikely that any court would have allowed a classification of students based on the stream through which they passed their higher secondary examinations.
Background Tamil Nadu had abolished entrance tests in 2006, and since then has been admitting students based on their marks in the qualifying school examination. The only way out for the State was to get its legislation for an exemption from NEET to be approved by the President.
In the absence of presidential assent for its Bills, it was forced to bring in reservation for State Board students through an executive order, but could not defend it in court.
Last year it managed to convince the Centre to amend the law for a one-time exemption for undergraduate courses, but it did not utilise the time to prepare students to master the demanding NEET syllabus.
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Concerns of Tamil Nadu about NEET The fear that NEET would be insurmountable for students from rural and underprivileged backgrounds and those who cannot afford coaching centres is real. The government may not get committed doctors to serve in rural areas if most of the seats are cornered by CBSE students.
Need of striking a balance: According to the government, if a NEET-based merit list is drawn up, 72% of medical seats in government colleges and government quota seats in private colleges would go to CBSE school students. Tamil Nadu is able to run its network of hospitals efficiently mainly because of a recruitment policy that gives weightage to local candidates in post-graduate medical admissions.
NEET may be an answer to rampant commercialisation of medical education, but it should not be at the cost of the government s socio-economic goals.
All you need to know about the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test The Supreme Court gave the green signal for the CBSE to hold National Eligibility Entrance Test (NEET) 2016- 17 in two phases and approved the Medical Council of India s schedule for the common entrance exams for undergraduate medical and dental courses starting on May 1, 2016. The order was passed despite strong protests from several States like Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and U---ttar Pradesh, among other States that it was too late.
What s the uproar over NEET? Several points of contention have been raised the important ones being its viability and the impact on students from different educational backgrounds. — When the exam was first introduced in 2012, several States, including Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, opposed it. These State governments believed that it infringed upon their right to keep education a State subject.
Following the objection, the Supreme Court, in a 2013 judgment, held that NEET would deprive State-run universities and medical colleges of their right to admit students as per their own procedures and declared the test unconstitutional.
Many private colleges in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh had filed petitions in various High Courts, seeking exemption from using the exam as one of the criteria for admissions.
A common exam sounds like a good idea, so why oppose something that standardises the procedure? Students in Tamil Nadu who seek admission to MBBS course are admitted on the basis of their 12th standard final examination marks. A similar criterion is followed in Kerala as well. These States believe that there s a huge difference, in terms of content, in the State and Central Board s syllabus. The NEET may adversely affect the interests of students in the State, in particular those from weaker sections and from rural areas and as it infringes upon the State s right to determine the admission policies to medical educational institutions. Subscribe to PrepMate by sending your name, city and e-mail id through whatsapp on 75972-40000 Page 13 https://prepmate.in/books/ https://telegram.me/upscprepmate To get study material on Whatsapp, send your Name and City on Whatsapp no. 75972-40000
(Adapted from The Hindu)
16. Explosives in Uttar Pradesh Assembly: PETN – Potent, hard to detect, safe to handle (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper II)
The explosive found in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly has been identified as PETN, or Pentaerythritoltetranitrate C5H8N4012, one of the most powerful high explosives used by militaries world over.
Only 100 grams of PETN can fully destroy a medium-sized car. The odourless white crystalline solid, with a specific gravity of 1.76, has a confined detonation velocity of over 25,000 feet/second.
Why is PETN used by terrorists? PETN has been used by terrorists because it is potent, hard to detect and safe to handle.
PETN, like TNT, has extremely low vapour pressures in its purest form. Due to the addition of oils and plasticising agents which give it form and consistency, the vapour pressure goes even lower, making it difficult to be detected by a vapour explosive detector.
When PETN is manufactured, a nitrogen-containing compound called a taggant (with a high vapour pressure) is added to make it more easily detectable. But if PETN has been manufactured using chemicals at home, it may not contain any taggant.
Explosive detectors in India There are very few vapour explosive detectors in India and none on the UP Assembly premises which could have detected the PETN packet. The other alternative would be to use specially-trained sniffer dogs. — — Most Indian establishments, instead, have a metal detector which is not meant to catch explosives it is only meant to detect metal which is required in every detonator, a small cylindrical device the size of a small pen cap. —
What is a detonator? A detonator, whether available commercially for quarrying or used by the military, is essential to detonate a high explosive, such as the PETN packet found in the UP Assembly. As the reports do not indicate the presence of any detonator, it is unlikely that the 150 grams of PETN would have exploded. But the presence of PETN itself is a serious security breach for a highly-protected VIP area such as the UP Assembly.
(Adapted from The Indian Express)
17. Hon ble President of India presents the 2.5 Croreth PMUY connection in West Bengal (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper II)
The 2.5 Croreth LPG Connection under Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) was given by Hon ble President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee.
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This marked the completion of release of 2.5 crore LPG connections to women beneficiaries from below poverty line (BPL) households across the country under the PMUY.
About Pradhan Mantri UjjwalaYojana (PMUY): PMUY was launched by Hon ble Prime Minister, ShriNarendraModi on 1st May 2016 at Ballia, Uttar Pradesh.
Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, is a scheme to provide clean cooking fuel to the women belonging to the Below Poverty Line (BPL) households across the country.
Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) aims to provide LPG connections to 5 Crore BPL households by 2019 and is a part of larger program of adding 10 Crore new LPG connections by 2019 to achieve full coverage of Indian households.
The identification of BPL families has been made on Social Economic Caste Census (SECC)- 2011 data. Providing LPG connections to BPL households has been a landmark program that is ensuring universal coverage of cooking gas in the country. The scheme of providing clean cooking fuel has also reduced drudgery, the time spent on cooking and also provides employment for rural youth in the supply chain of cooking gas.
PMUY scheme provides assistance of Rs. 1600/- to the woman beneficiary, comprising security deposit of 14.2 Kg cylinder and domestic pressure regulator; suraksha hose; domestic gas consumer card and installation charges.
(Adapted from the PIB)
18. The TB crisis in India (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper II, III)
State of TB in the country About 5,500 of over 76,000 children tested in nine Indian cities have been diagnosed with tuberculosis, 9% of them with multi-drug resistant TB (MDR-TB), highlighting the silent spread of the disease.
Though the actual prevalence of MDR-TB among children in India is not known, the results from a limited number of children tested in this sample, under the Revised National TB Control Programme, is worrying.
Fast spread of disease and delay in detection Very often, children who test positive for TB have been in close contact with adults with the disease in the same household. With up to a couple of months delay in diagnosing the disease being the norm, there is a continuing threat of TB spreading among household contacts and in the larger community. What the government should do: 1. The results from this limited study should now compel the government to take up contact screening more urgently.
2. Need for Fixed Drug combinations: Adherence to treatment will improve and correct dosage for children weighing less than 25 kg will become easier when child-friendly FDCs become available throughout the country.
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Using the Xpert molecular diagnostic test to screen children with TB is a positive step and should be welcomed, but all the diagnosed children should be guaranteed paediatric FDCs.
(Adapted from The Hindu)
19. Five-year roadmap towards eliminating malaria: National Strategic Plan for Malaria Elimination (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper II, III)
National Strategic Plan for Malaria Elimination (2017-22) lays down a blueprint of action to tackle the problem.
State of Malaria in India According to the World Malaria Report 2016, India contributed 89% of the incidence of malaria in the South- East Asia region.
State of Malaria in our neighbors? The Indian record stands in sharp contrast to some of its neighbours the Maldives was certified malaria- free in 2015, and Sri Lanka followed in 2016. — What are the actions taken by the government to control malaria? The Health Ministry has now released its vision for ridding the country of malaria by 2027, and of eliminating the disease by 2030. To be declared malaria-free, a country has to report zero incidence for at least three years.
The ambitious National Strategic Plan (NSP) for Malaria Elimination (2017-22) was launched. The NSP, a year-wise roadmap for malaria elimination across the country, is based on last year s National Framework for Malaria Elimination. The NSP is based on World Health Organisation s Global Technical Strategy for Malaria, 2016-2030. What is this plan to eradicate malaria? The NSP divides the country into four categories from 0 to 3 as follows:
Category Zero, the first category, has 75 districts that have not reported any case of malaria for the last three years.
Category 1 has 448 districts, in which the annual parasite incidence (API, or the number of positive slides for the parasite in a year) is less than one per 1,000 population.
Category 2 has 48 districts, in which the API is one and above, but less than two per 1,000 population.
Category 3 has 107 districts, reporting an API of two and above per 1,000 population.
Details of the Plan: 1. The plan is to eliminate malaria (zero indigenous cases) by 2022 in all Category 1 and 2 districts.
2. The remaining districts are to be brought under a pre-elimination and elimination programme. The NSP also aims to maintain a malaria-free status for areas where transmission has been interrupted.
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3. It seeks to achieve universal case detection and treatment services in endemic districts to ensure 100% diagnosis of all suspected cases, and full treatment of all confirmed cases.
Which states have the highest incidence of malaria? In India, malaria is caused by the parasites Plasmodium falciparum (Pf) and Plasmodium Vivax (Pv). Pf is found more in the forest areas, whereas Pv is more common in the plains. The disease is mainly concentrated in the tribal and remote areas of the country. The majority of reporting districts are in the country s eastern and central parts the largest number of cases are found in Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, and the Northeastern states of Tripura, Mizoram and Meghalaya. — What kind of challenges is the NSP likely to face? One of the biggest challenges is the shortage of manpower. According to the Health Ministry, there are only about 40,000 multipurpose health workers (MPWs) against the approximately 80,000 sanctioned posts in the 1,50,000 subcentres in the country.
Other problems include access to conflict-affected tribal areas, and to areas with a high malaria endemicity and insecticide resistance. High endemicity states include those in the Northeast, which share borders with neighbouring countries like Bangladesh, where the prevalence of malaria is high.
How will the NSP be funded? According to the NSP, the finances would be managed from government sources, international donors, and the corporate sector as part of companies corporate social responsibility.
Why is this plan significant? For the first time, the union Health Ministry has come up with a roadmap for elimination of malaria in the country. Before this, the effort was to control malaria under the National Vector Borne Disease Control Program. (Adapted from The Indian Express)
20. Digitization of School Records (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper II, III)
The National Academic Depository (NAD) which is a 24 X 7 online store house of academic awards digitally lodged by various academic institutions / school boards / eligibility assessment bodies has been established.
What all documents shall be lodged in the NAD? The academic awards to be lodged on NAD shall cover degrees, diplomas, certificates, mark-sheets including awards issued for skill development.
The University Grants Commission (UGC) has been designated as authorized body to operationalise NAD.
About National Academic Depository (NAD) NAD comprises of two interoperable digital depositories viz., NDSL Database Management Limited (NDML) and CDSL Ventures Limited (CVL).
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Maintenance of academic awards in a digital depository not only enables online access, retrieval and verification of these awards, but also helps eliminating fraudulent practices such as forgoing of certificates and mark-sheets etc.
How will registration be done for using the digital database? The Aadhaar will be used for registration and usage of the digital database. However, in the event of non- availability of Aadhaar, a unique NAD ID will be generated to facilitate digital services to NAD users.
(Adapted from PIB)
21. Reviewing the Policy of Moderation of marks (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper II)
A meeting to review the Policy of Moderation of marks to avoid spiking of marks was conveyed by the Secretary (School Education and Literacy).
All State Boards decided to constitute Inter Board Working Group (IBWG) comprising of Chairman, Board of Gujarat, Jammu & Kashmir, Kerala, Telengana, Chhattisgarh, Manipur, ICSE with Chairman, CBSE as the Convener of the IBWG.
The following decisions in regard to moderation of marks for upward revision/spiking of marks have been taken unanimously: (i) All State Boards decided to stop awarding moderation of marks for upward revision /spiking of marks from the current year except Kerala Board and subject to amendment in the State regulations, if required. However, Kerala Board conveyed to do away with moderation from the next year.
(ii) All State Boards decided to continue with the policy of Grace Marks for lower level performance to improve the pass percentage but the policy should be placed on Board s website for transparency. It was also decided to show grace marks distinctly in the Marks Sheet. (Adapted from PIB)
22. Regulating e-Pharmacy Business (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper II)
A sub-committee had been constituted by the Drugs Consultative Committee (DCC) to examine issues relating to online sale of drugs. The Sub-Committee has submitted its report to the Drugs Consultative Committee. The Sub-Committee has inter alia recommended:- 1. Creation of a National Portal to act as the nodal platform for transacting and monitoring online sale of drugs.
2. Necessity of evolving a mechanism to register e-pharmacies. Geographical restrictions for operation of e-pharmacies.
3. Existing licencees involved in retail sale of drugs could also register on the National Portal for carrying out online sale of drugs.
4. Requirement of registration with CDSCO under the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945.
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5. Certain categories of drugs viz. the Narcotic and Psychotropic drugs, tranquilizers, habit forming drugs and Schedule X drugs that are prone to being abused or misused be excluded from sale through e-pharmacies.
The Government has issued a notice seeking public comments on regulation of sale of drugs including introduction of an electronic platform for regulation of sale of drugs in the country.
(Adapted from PIB)
23. Jal Marg Vikas Project in Ganga River (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper II, III)
The Jal Marg Vikas Project (JMVP) is being implemented with the technical and investment support of the World Bank to strengthen the navigation capacity and promote transportation of cargo and passengers on National Waterway-1, on the Haldia-Varanasi stretch of Ganga-Bhagirathi-Hooghly River System,.
The project has been appraised by the Public Investment Board, at an estimated cost of Rs. 5,369.18 crore, and is scheduled to be completed by 2021-22.
(Adapted from PIB)
24. Major Port Authorities Bill approved (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper II, III)
Government has approved the draft Major Port Authorities (MPAs) Bill, 2016 to replace the existing Major Port Trusts Act (MPTA), 1963 to empower the 12 major ports to perform with greater efficiency on account of full autonomy in decision making.
What was the need for this bill? With the growth and development of private ports, the major ports are facing severe competition and difficulties in implementing the changes which may help them compete in the evolving market conditions.
The regulation of tariff in the major ports by the Central Government are some of the critical factors hindering their growth and development. To provide greater autonomy, flexibility to the Major Ports and to professionalize their governance, it is proposed to repeal the Major Port Trusts Act, 1963 and to replace it with a new legislation, namely the Major Ports Authorities Bill, 2016.
THE SALIENT FEATURES OF THE MAJOR PORT AUTHORITIES BILL, 2016 ARE AS FOLLOWS: 1. To constitute a Board of Port Authority for each major port in the place of the Board of Trustees.
2. To enable the Board of Port Authority to use its property, assets and funds in such manner and for such purposes as it may deem fit for the benefit of the major ports
3. To make regulations for the purposes of operation, development and planning of the major ports.
4. To claim lien on such goods and to seize and detain the same until such rates and rents are fully paid.
5. To empower the Board of Port Authority to raise loans and issue securities for the purposes of the capital expenditure and working capital requirements of such port authority.
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6. To constitute an Adjudicatory Board for adjudication of disputes among major ports.
7. To make a provision for Corporate Social Responsibility measures within the port limits.
8. An Adjudicatory Board has been proposed inter-alia for expeditious disposal of disputes between ports and PPP concessionaries and suggest measures for revival of such stressed to them. This will help boost private investment in port sector and enable faster dispute resolution.
(Adapted from PIB)
25. M P Sharma and Kharak Singh: The cases on Right to privacy (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper II)
While hearing the challenge to the Aadhaar Act, the Supreme Court decided that it must first consider the question of whether the right to privacy is a fundamental right guaranteed by the Constitution.
The judges noted that two earlier judgements of the court M P Sharma s case in 1954 and Kharak Singh s case in 1962 had held that privacy was not a fundamental right. — A nine-judge —Bench will now decide this question.
What were the M P Sharmaand Kharak Singh cases?
M P Sharma & Others vsSatish Chandra, District Magistrate, Delhi & Others The case related to search and seizure of documents of some Dalmia group companies following investigations into the affairs of MsDalmia Jain Airways Ltd, a group concern, which was registered in July 1946 and went into liquidation in June 1952. The probe indicated malpractices within the company and attempts to conceal from shareholders the actual state of affairs by submitting false accounts and balance sheets.
The DM issued the warrants, and searches were carried out. Voluminous records were seized. In writ petitions before the Supreme Court, the aggrieved parties challenged the constitutional validity of the searches saying their private records were taken away, and claimed that it violated their fundamental rights under Articles 19(1)(f) right to acquire, hold and dispose of property and 20(3) protection against self incrimination. — — — In its judgment, the eight-judge Bench held that a power of search and seizure is, in any system of jurisprudence, an overriding power of the State for the protection of social security and that power is necessarily regulated by law.
Kharak Singh vs The State of U P & Others (December 18, 1962) Petitioner Kharak Singh was challaned in a case of dacoity, but was released as there was no evidence against him. Uttar Pradesh Police subsequently opened a history sheet against him and brought him under surveillance . This was done in exercise of the powers under Chapter XX of the Uttar Pradesh Police Regulations. Regulation 236 authorised six measures of surveillance :
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(a) secret picketing of the house or approaches to the house of suspects;
(b) domiciliary visits at night;
(c) through periodic inquiries by officers not below the rank of Sub-Inspector into repute, habits, associations, income, expenses and occupation;
(d) reporting by constables and chaukidars of movements and absence from home;
(e) verification of movements and absences by means of inquiry slips;
(f) collection and record on a history sheet of all information bearing on conduct.
In his writ petition, Singh challenged the constitutional validity of Chapter XX, and the powers conferred upon police officials thereunder on the ground that they violated his fundamental rights under Articles 19(1)(d) right to freedom of movement and 21 protection of life and personal liberty. — His petition was adjudicated by— a six-judge— Bench which struck down Clause (b) domiciliary visits at night of Regulation 236, but upheld the rest. — The— Bench also held that the right of privacy is not a guaranteed right under our Constitution, and therefore the attempt to ascertain the movements of an individual is merely a manner in which privacy is invaded and is not an infringement of a fundamental right guaranteed in Part III (fundamental rights) .
(Adapted from the Indian Express)
26. SC nod for new MCI oversight panel(Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper II)
The Supreme Court agreed with the government s proposal of five eminent medical practitioners to oversee the functioning and decisions of the Medical Council of India. A new Oversight Committee had to be appointed as the tenure of the previous one led by former Chief Justice of India R.M. Lodha had expired. The court recorded that the panel is clothed with the authority to oversee the functioning of the MCI. Background In June, 2016 Supreme Court used its rare and extraordinary powers under the Constitution to set up a three- member committee, headed by former Chief Justice of India R.M. Lodha, to oversee the functioning of the Medical Council of India (MCI) for at least a year.
The SC endorsed the Parliamentary Standing Committee report of March 2016 that medical education and profession in the country is at its lowest ebb and suffering from total system failure due to corruption.
Background: The Medical Council of India (MCI) an apex body was temporarily suspended in 2010 due to a corruption scandal and its president arrested for corruption charges. It is a paradox that MCI which sets ethical norms for medical professionals found itself to be headed by someone arrested for corruption.
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About MCI: The Medical Council of India was established in 1934 with the main function of establishing uniform standards of higher qualifications in medicine and recognition of medical qualifications in India.
Flaws in MCI: 1. It is alleged that the MCI s policies have been influenced by people with vested interests, leading to a lack of uniform standards in undergraduate and postgraduate medical education and mushrooming of private medical institutions, which are run as business ventures.
2. The MCI has failed to create a transparent system for accrediting medical colleges, leading to geographical mal-distribution and creation of ghost faculties in private medical colleges.
(Adapted from the Hindu)
27. Kannada flag controversy (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper II)
A longstanding demand by Kannada activists for an official state flag exploded into a major controversy, triggering allegations of subverting the Tricolour, and playing the political field ahead of Assembly elections.
While Chief Minister Siddaramaiah maintained that nothing unconstitutional was afoot and dared the BJP to publicly reject the demand for an official flag for Karnataka.
The background In 2014, a demand was made for an official flag for Karnataka.This year, the Kannada and Culture Department of the state government notified the setting up of a nine-member committee to examine the feasibility and legal issues around the demand.
What is the present scenario? The matter had been reported in the local media at the time, but it was picked up again and projected as an effort by Karnataka s Congress government to subvert the national flag and the laws that allow only Jammu and Kashmir to have its own flag. BJP leaders alleged that the Congress was trying to whip up Kannada pride ahead of the 2018 elections. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who has often sided with pro-Kannada activists on issues of local pride, rejected the allegations.
A flag since the 60s Incidentally, Karnataka has had an unofficial state flag since the mid 1960s when pro-Kannada groups were agitating against the screening of non-Kannada films in the state. The red and yellow flag was created for a pro-Kannada political party called the Kannada Paksha, after he observed that many parties representing non-Kannadigas had flags of their own.
This unofficial flag is flown every year on November 1, Karnataka s foundation day, and is a common sight at public places. Pro-Kannada activists have virtually adopted the red and yellow flag as a symbol of state pride. During agitations and protests like those over the sharing of Cauvery water with Tamil Nadu, the red and
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yellow banner often serves as protection against attacks by mobs and private vehicles fly the flag in an attempt at ensuring safe passage for themselves. — BJP flip-flop In 2012, Karnataka s BJP government accorded official status to the Karnataka flag through a notification. Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda said in his 2012 Budget speech that it would be compulsory to hoist the state flag on government buildings, schools and colleges. The government then said it would not make it mandatory to fly the state flag. Eventually, on October 4, 2012, it withdrew the notification ordering the hoisting of the Kannada flag on government offices on November 1.
Political parties will serve their aim of pleasing the vote banks. It is for the people to realize why such issues are raised only prior to the elections. Also these issues shouldn t be allowed to destroy the peace and harmony of the society. (Adapted from The Indian Express)
28. Get real on Swachhta: manual scavenging menace (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper II, III)
Despite the most stringent penal provisions in the law against manual scavenging, it continues in parts of India. The recent order of the Madras High Court asking the Centre and the Tamil Nadu government to ensure the strict enforcement of the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013, in the wake of the death of 30 people engaged in the activity in the State in recent years, points to the malaise.
Evidently, the vigorous national campaign for the rehabilitation of those engaged to manually clean insanitary latrines, and urban structures into which human excreta flows without sewerage, has been unable to break governmental indifference and social prejudice.
Why does Manual Scavenging exist? Manual scavenging persists mainly because of the continued presence of insanitary latrines, of which there are about 2.6 million that require cleaning by hand, according to the activist organisation-Safai Karmachari Andolan.
Role of Central and State governments: In spite of a legal obligation to do so, State governments are not keen to demolish and rebuild old facilities lacking sanitation, or conduct a full census of both the latrines and the people engaged in clearing such waste.
The Central government, which directly runs the self-employment scheme for the rehabilitation of these workers, has reduced funds from Rs. 448 crore in the 2014-15 budget to Rs. 5 crore this year.
High allocation in the past has not meant substantial or effective utilisation. This is incongruous, as sanitation is high on the agenda of the ruling government, and the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan is one of the government s favouriteprogrammes, to which the public was contributing a cess. Solution to problem of manual scavenging 1. There should beorder for accurate survey of manual scavenging prevalent in various parts of the country.
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2. Raising the confidence level among those engaged in manual cleaning is vital; even official data show their reluctance to take up self-employment.
3. Empowerment of manual scavengers holds the key to change, but that would depend on breaking caste barriers through education and economic uplift.
(Adapted from The Hindu)
29. Setting up of Enforcement Department (EFD) (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper II)
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has informed that they have set up an Enforcement Department (EFD). EFD would serve as a centralised department to speed up regulatory compliance.
Objectives of Enforcement Department 1. EFD would serve as a centralised department to speed up regulatory compliance.
2. EFD has been set up to separate those who oversee the possible rule breaches and those who decide on punitive actions so that enforcement process operates fairly and is evidence based.
3. The EFD has become functional with effect from April 03, 2017. The EFD has been entrusted with the responsibility of enforcement action on commercial banks.
(Adapted from the PIB)
30. Analysis of Mayawati resigning her seat in Rajya Sabha(Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper II)
The resignation of Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati from her Rajya Sabha seat provided the high drama in the opening days of Parliament s monsoon session. But it was easy to understand why she is giving up the little she has in Parliament in order to raise her political profile. Present political position of Mayawati In fact, as he joined other Opposition leaders to line up moral support for her, Rashtriya Janata Dal president Lalu Prasad inadvertently highlighted the position of weakness from which she is launching her fightback. He would help get her re-elected to the Rajya Sabha from Bihar, he said. The BSP, with just 19 seats in the 403- member Uttar Pradesh Assembly, does not have sufficient numbers to ensure the former U.P. Chief Minister s re-election, something she would have needed less than a year from now anyway. Shrinking Bahujan Samajwadi party Successive elections have confirmed the squeeze. From being presumed to be both the prime ministerial candidate of the Third Front in 2009 and the beneficiary in 2017 of the cracks in the Samajwadi Party and the expected blowback of the NarendraModi government s demonetisation exercise, she now finds herself to be little more than an aside. The challenge for her is nothing less than crafting the next chapter in the BSP s evolution.
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Background The party had first tasted electoral success under Kanshi Ram s mentorship, with a call for an alliance of the oppressed, along caste, gender and religious lines, to transform society and politics so that they were not simply accommodated through symbolic handouts but the world around them progressed rapidly for them to win their rightful political space. — The next phase took place on Ms. Mayawati s watch when she crafted a bottom-up rainbow coalition of Dalits, Muslims and upper castes, and got a full majority in the 2007 State elections. With its skilful rewrite of the holding majoritarian narrative and its organisational aggression, the BJP has crushed BSP.
(Adapted from The Hindu)
31. Maharashtra s social boycott law/All you need to know about Maharashtra s social boycott law (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper I, II)
The Maharashtra Prohibition of People from Social Boycott (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2016, received Presidential assent, paving the way for its implementation.
About the new law: The new law disallows social boycott in the name of caste, community, religion, rituals or customs.
What amount to social boycott under the new law? 1. If any individual or group tries to prevent or obstruct another member or group from observing any social or religions custom or usage or ceremony, or from taking part in a social, religious or community function, assembly, congregation, meeting or procession, the act amounts to social boycott.
2. So is challenging the freedom of individuals in the name of jatipanchayats, religion, customs, or denying them the right to practise a profession of their choice. Freedom in this case includes the freedom to marry outside one s caste, visit places of worship, wear clothes of one s choice and use any specific language.
3. Discrimination on the basis of morality, political inclination or sexuality also qualifies as social boycott. As does stopping children from playing in a particular space, or disallowing access to crematoria, burial grounds, community halls or educational institutions with mala fide intentions.
How does the Act seek to prevent social boycott? A Collector or District Magistrate, on receiving information of the likelihood of unlawful assembly for imposition of social boycott can, by order, prohibit the assembly. Conviction of the offence of social boycott will attract a prison term of up to three years or a fine up to Rs 1 lakh, or both.
Abetment by an individual or group will invite the same punishment. The offence of social boycott is cognisable and bailable, and will be tried by a Metropolitan Magistrate or a Judicial Magistrate First Class. To ensure speedy justice, trial would have to be completed within a period of six months from the date of filing the chargesheet.
Why was it felt necessary to have such a law in Maharashtra? The decision was a reaction to pressures from growing incidents of atrocities on individuals by jatipanchayats or gavkis wielding extra-judicial powers.
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Incidents of social boycott: Four years ago, a campaign against social boycott received strong public support following the so-called honour killing of 22-year-old PramilaKhumbharkar. Kumbharkar, who belonged to a nomadic tribe and had married Deepak Kamble from a Scheduled Caste, was killed allegedly by her father when she was nine months pregnant.
The slain rationalist NarendraDabholkar had, months before his murder, begun a protest against social boycott. Earlier in May 2012, Rahul Yelange (30), who was part of a team from Pune that conquered Mount Everest, faced social boycott in his village because his wife wore jeans.
(Adapted from the Indian Express)
32. Ram Nath Kovind to be the 14th president (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper II)
Ram NathKovind was declared elected as India s 14th President polling 65.6% of the vote defeating the Opposition s joint candidate, former LokSabha Speaker Meira Kumar, who secured 34% of the vote.
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Mr. Kovind will be the second Dalit President of India after late President K.R. Narayanan but, more significantly, the first from politically significant Uttar Pradesh and the first person from the BJP to hold the office of President since Independence.
Highest vote value The value of each vote of an MP was 708. Among the States, each vote in Uttar Pradesh had the highest value of 208, while each vote from Sikkim had the lowest value of 7. Mr. Kovind got the highest number of votes 335 from U.P. and the lowest just 1 from Kerala. – Ms. Kumar– secured the highest– number– of votes 273 from West Bengal and could not score even a single vote Andhra Pradesh. – – The polling was marked by cross-voting in various States where many Opposition members favoured Mr. Kovind.
According to figures available, cross-voting took place in Gujarat, Tripura, Goa, Delhi and Maharashtra in favour of Mr. Kovind. As many as 11 Congress MLAs appeared to have voted for Mr. Kovind in Gujarat. Cross voting refers to voting for a party one does not belong to.
(Adapted from The Hindu)
33. The Child Labour (Prohibition & Regulation) Amendment Act, 2016 (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper I, II)
After the enactment of the Child Labour (Prohibition & Regulation) Amendment Act, 2016, Government has recently ratified the International Labour Organization (ILO) Conventions No. 138 concerning minimum age for employment and No. 182 concerning prohibition and elimination of worst forms of child labour.
The Child Labour (Prohibition & Regulation) Amendment Act, 2016 provides for stricter punishment and cognizable offence for employing any child or adolescent in contravention of the Act. The penalty provisions against violation of the Act are as under:
(i) In case of first offence of employing any child or adolescent in contravention of the Act, punishment would be imprisonment for a term not less than six months but which may extend to two years or with fine not less than Rs.20,000/, but which may extend to Rs.50,000/- or with both.
(ii) In case of a second or subsequent offence of employing any child or adolescent in contravention of the Act, the minimum imprisonment would be one year which may extend to three years.
(Adapted from PIB)
34. Review of the status of implementation of the recommendations of the Majithia Wage Board (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper II)
Shri Bandaru Dattatreya, the Minister of State for Labour and Employment held a meeting with the representatives of the State Governments to review the status of implementation of the recommendations of the Majithia Wage Board.
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Ministry of Labour and Employment notified the recommendations of the Majithia Wage Boards and The Hon ble Supreme Court, in its judgment in 2014 upheld the Majithia Wage Boards recommendations.
As order was not complied by some newspaper establishments, contempt petitions were filed in the Hon ble Supreme Court. The Hon ble Supreme Court, in 2017 held that the Majithia Wage Board Award has to be implemented in full. The Hon ble Court also clarified on four important issues like payment of wages as per Majithia Wage Board Awards, admissibility of Variable pay, applicability to Contractual employees and financial capacity of the newspaper establishments to pay arrears.
About Majithia Wage Board The Central Government constituted wage boards for working journalists and non-journalists newspaper employees in 2007.
Following are the important recommendations of G.R. Majithia Wage Board: 1. Hike in basic pay from 2.5 to 3 times 2. Fixing the retirement age at 65. 3. The recommendations have to be implemented from 8th January 2008 if accepted by the Govt. of India. 4. Introduced variable pay concept for all employees working in newspaper establishments and news agencies. The Boards proposed a variable pay of 35 per cent. Variable Pay has to be implemented from 1st July 2010.
Present situation A meeting was held to discuss the issues relating to implementation of the recommendations of the Majithia Wage Board Awards with the representative of the State Governments. As per the said Act, the implementation of the recommendations of the Wage Boards lies with the State Governments.
During the meeting, the State Governments/UT Administrations were impressed upon to implement the Wage Board Awards in letter and spirit. Discussions were also held to bring the journalists of electronic & digital media under the ambit of the Working Journalists Act, 1955. State Governments were requested to tender their considered opinion in this regard.
(Adapted from PIB and helloap.com)
35. Finalising fresh version of DNA Profiling Bill (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper II, III)
Two years after a draft Bill to create a regulatory framework for DNA testing triggered a major debate, the government has told the Supreme Court that it was in the process of finalizing a fresh version of the Bill and introduce it in Parliament.
The government s submission in the apex court came in response to arguments that the absence of a national DNA database was hindering the identification of unclaimed bodies. Claims made by the NGO for maintaining DNA profiling The court is hearing a petition by Lokniti Foundation, an NGO, which had suggested that maintaining of DNA profiles of bodies before their disposal could help in their identification by family members at a later stage.
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One of the main reasons for a large number of bodies remaining unidentified is that a person freely moves from one part of the country to another in search of work and members of poor families have no means to keep in touch with their near and dear ones. It becomes difficult for the local police to identify persons who have no local connection and who have died without anyone complaining of death caused by any mischief.
Why was the bill not passed earlier? In 2015, the government had finalized a draft of the Human DNA Profiling Bill, seeking to establish the institutions, standards and guidelines for DNA testing in designated laboratories.
Several provisions of the Bill came under heavy criticism on grounds of privacy and reliability of technology, although there was a general agreement on the need to regulate DNA testing.
The government decided not to introduce the Bill in Parliament and went in for fresh rounds of consultations to improve the provisions of the Bill.Government admitted that the Bill will once again trigger discussions on privacy issues, just like the debate on Aadhar has done.
What are the aims of the bill? 1. The Bill, first mooted about 15 years ago, is aimed mainly to assist law enforcement agencies in tackling crime but provides for DNA testing techniques to be used in other situations as well, like establishing parentage or blood relations between individuals.
2. It seeks to create two new bodies, a DNA Profiling Board that will act as the regulator and supervise all activities relating to testing, storage and matching of DNA samples and a DNA Data Bank both at the national level and in the states.
3. The proposed law also seeks to make it mandatory for all DNA labs to seek accreditation from the Board.
(Adapted from The Indian Express)
36. Protection of Dialects (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper III, II)
The Government of India has initiated a Scheme known as Protection and Preservation of Endangered Languages of India (SPPEL), being implemented by Central Institute of Indian Languages (CIIL), Mysore. Which languages are a part of it ? This scheme aims at protection, preservation and documentation of all the mother tongues/languages of India which are spoken by less than 10,000 people. Dialects being part of a language are covered under this programme.
Steps taken for preservation of languages 1. The University Grants Commission (UGC) has a Scheme for Establishment of Centres for Endangered Languages under which centres were approved in nine Central Universities. 2. UGC has been implementing a scheme namely Funding support to the State Universities for study and research in indigenous and endangered language in India under which seven Universities were approved for grants.
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(Adapted from PIB)
37. NEET Scam for postgraduate papers (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper II)
The Crime Branch of the Delhi Police has filed a charge sheet in the court of Metropolitan Magistrate against officials of Prometric Testing Pvt Ltd, hired by the National Board of Examinations (NBE), to conduct the National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test (NEET) in November 2016 for admissions to post graduate medical courses.
Nearly one lakh students appeared for the PG entrance examination, competing for 35,117 post graduate seats across the country.
How was the scam carried out? According to the charge sheet, computers at the examination centres managed by Prometric were compromised. In some cases, select computers were installed with a remote, screen sharing software, allowing solvers outside to select the correct answers for the students.
In other instances, site supervisors, engineers and officials deployed by Prometric tampered with the security system and ensured that select candidates got access to the Internet by connecting remotely to another computer outside the examination hall.
Sources in the Crime Branch said a list of 500 students has been prepared in a supplementary charge sheet.
Fraud by contract staff Investigations revealed that the NBE contracted Prometric, which then sub-contracted the conducting of the tests to yet another company namely CMS IT Services Pvt Ltd for engineering and support staff. CMS IT Services further contracted out the hiring of local vendors for staff at various examination centres.
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In this way, the selection of suitable staff for the exam seems to be compromised and the security and sincerity of the exam was breached.
According to the charge sheet, the aspirants paid between Rs. 2.5 to 3 lakh to access the Internet during the exam. The NBE is also under investigation for hiringPromteric, an American company, without inviting tenders from other companies. The Crime Branch says Prometric s staff reformatted the computers and destroyed evidence after the exam. (Adapted from The Hindu)
38. Evaluation of efficacy of Nai Roshni Scheme (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper I and II)
NITI Aayog has conducted an evaluation study on NaiRoshni - the scheme for Leadership Development of Minority Women in 2012-13. What are the findings of the study? According to NITI Aayog, majority of the findings of the study indicate that the programme has been appreciated by most of the segments of the population of the society and it has assisted in creating confidence among minority women and developing leadership spirit in them. Moreover, the trained women are also utilizing their enriched knowledge within their surroundings and thereby helping their families as well as neighbours in raising their essential demands and claims from various Government authorities.
What is NaiRoshni scheme? NaiRoshni Scheme Objectives and Features
NaiRoshni is a scheme– for leadership development of minority women.The scheme will be implemented through Ministry of Minority Affairs.
Objectives: tools and techniques to interact with government systems, banks and intermediaries • Empower and install confidence in women of minority communities by equipping them with knowledge, community • Encouraging minority community women to move out of the home and assume leadership roles within the Features
• Financial assistance empower women
• Leadership development training modules will be used to community • Specific training modules will also be based on local needs and issues faced by women from the minority Facts and Stats Other similar schemes implemented for welfare of minority community include
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s New 15 Point Programme for Welfare of Minorities: Covers various schemes of concerned Ministries/Departments by allocating 15% of physical targets/financial outlays for the minorities or via •specific Prime monitoringMinister of flow of benefits
(Adapted from The PIB)
39. CAG report on Railways (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper II, III)
Among the most affordable transport systems in the world, India s railway network carries millions of people every day, linking the remotest destinations. Poor customer services Yet, in a fast-growing country with rising ambitions, the system is unable to scale up its services to global standards and is hobbled by inefficient management. Although the rot in passenger services has been repeatedly identified, it has only grown worse.
CAG report on catering services in Railways The report of the Comptroller and Auditor General on catering services for the year ended March 2016 provides evidence that little has changed in the system: food unsuitable for human consumption, contaminated and recycled items, packaged articles past their use-by date, and unauthorized items are sold on trains, all endangering the health of passengers.
Such gross violations are all the more glaring because the administration has instituted a mechanism to penalise agencies such as the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation and invites passengers to file complaints. Evidently, instances such as a Rs.1 lakh fine levied on the IRCTC for the presence of a cockroach in food supplied on the Kolkata Rajdhani Express three years ago have not resulted in any significant reform.
Nor has private sector participation in food supply provided a panacea for the problems linked to departmental catering.
(Adapted from The Hindu)
40. E-Commerce Market and consumer protection (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper II and III)
Complaints regarding e-commerce received at the National Consumer Helpline (NCH) are referred to the companies for redressal. In some cases, consumers are advised to file complaints in the appropriate Consumer Forum for redressal.
The Consumer Protection Act, 1986, has been enacted to better protect the interests of the consumers. It covers all goods and services and all mode of transactions including e-commerce. Under the provision of said Act, a three tier quasi-judicial mechanism, called Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission/ Forum, has been set up at the district, State and National levels to provide simple, quick and inexpensive redressal to consumer disputes.
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E-commerce activities are governed by number of Regulations/Acts of the Government like the Shop and Establishment Act, Sales of Goods Act, Companies Act, Income Tax Laws, Information Technology Act, the Competition Act, the Consumer Protection Act, etc.
Progress in establishing redressal mechanism at level of central government A Committee has been constituted to examine various issues relating to e-commerce under the Chairmanship of CEO, NITI Aayog.
The Consumer Protection Bill, 2015, already introduced in Parliament, seeks to provide for establishment of a Central Consumer Protection Authority to look into,among others, unfair trade practices and take remedial action.
(Adapted from The PIB)
41. Bihar mega alliance collapses, CM back with BJP (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper II)
The standoff in the ruling coalition in Bihar took a dramatic turn, with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar from Janta Dal (United) submitting his resignation, saying indirectly that his tenure was no longer tenable as Tejashwi Yadav, his deputy from the Rashtriya Janata Dal who was facing corruption charges, had refused to resign.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi immediately hailed Mr. Kumar s uncompromising stand on corruption and the Bharatiya Janata Party extended support to the JD(U) to form the next government. With the JD(U) and the BJP unwilling to face a mid-term poll, the BJP late in the evening handed over to the Governor the letter extending support to Mr. Kumar.
In all likelihood, Mr. Kumar will take oath as Chief Minister of the National Democratic Alliance government with the BJP in the new coalition. .
(Adapted from The Hindu)
42. On inclusion of mentally retarded in POSCO (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper II)
View of Supreme Court The Supreme Court has declined to apply the provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act to mentally retarded adults whose mental age may be that of a child.
Why it was suggested to include mentally retarded people under POSCO? It would have been tempting to give a purposive interpretation to the term child under POCSO, which refers to those below 18 years of age, and rule that it encompasses those with a mental age of a person below 18. It would have been compelling to acknowledge how similarly a child and an adult with inadequate intellectual growth are placed when it comes to sexual assault: both may show the same lack of understanding about the situation they are in and incapacity to protest.
No doubt, any expanded definition to encompass both biological and mental age within the POCSO framework would have helped extend its beneficial features to another section of vulnerable persons.
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The Court has ruled that it is outside its domain. What are the reasons given by the Supreme Court? POCSO is meant to protect children from sexual offences. To extend it to adult victims based on mental age would require determination of their mental competence.
This would need statutory provisions and rules; the legislature alone is competent to enact them.
It noted that there may be different levels of mental competence, and that those with mild, moderate or borderline retardation are capable of living in normal social conditions.
What was the case before the court? The case before the court related to the rape of a 38-year-old woman with cerebral palsy.
Her mother was concerned about the absence of a friendly and congenial atmosphere before the trial court. She approached the courts for a direction to transfer the case to a special court under POCSO, a law that mandates child-friendly procedures and features during the trial, taking into account her daughter s mental age, which she said was that of a six-year-old. In a fateful turn of events, the lone accused died during these proceedings, bringing the criminal case to an end.
Implications of the Supreme Court s ruling 1. The implication of the Supreme Court ruling is that the onus is always on trial judges to keep in mind the degree of retardation of victims and their level of understanding while appreciating their evidence.
2. It would be unfortunate if cases get derailed because of either the victims inability to communicate effectively or because of the court s difficulty in understanding their words or gestures. What is the next step? It is now up to the legislature to consider the introduction of legal provisions to determine mental competence of victims with inadequate mental development may effectively testify against sexual offenders.
(Adapted from The Hindu)
43. Maharashtra Govt. to put in selfie policy to secure dangerous spots(Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper II)
Maharashtra will soon put in place a policy to ensure maximum security and safety at places where taking a selfie would be hazardous.
The decision comes following the death of eight youths at the Vena reservoir near Nagpur last month. It is believed that the 11 people on the boat came on one side of the boat to take selfies and shoot videos, which were later posted on Facebook.
An integrated policy will soon be created with the help of three departments: Home, Urban Development and Tourism. The departments have already identified 29 selfie points in the State, which will be classified as dangerous.
All these places will have additional life guards, high-quality boats, and equipment. A special police force will be deployed at the spots.
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Previously put selfie regulations This is not the first time selfie regulations are being put in place. The Mumbai Police had last year identified 16 spots as dangerous mostly near beaches and forts. The move was in response to the drowning of three girls while clicking selfies at Bandra.
(Adapted from The Hindu)
44. The shift in Bihar political scenario (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper II)
In Bihar, Nitish Kumar belonging to Janta Dal (United) broke alliance from RashtriyaJanta Dal (RJD) leading to fall of government. However, next day Nitish Kumar again came to power by forming alliance with BJP. Mr. Kumar broke alliance on the ground that Deputy CM who is also son of Lalu Prasad Yadav (head of RJD) was involved in corruption.
An analysis of the resignation The sequence of events suggests that Mr. Kumar had secured the new alliance and his continuation as Chief Minister before heresigned. This is why the publicly made reason for his resignation the allegations of corruption against his Deputy Chief Minister and Mr. Prasad s son, TejashwiYadav lacked conviction. — — What does Mr. Kumar s move signify? In 2013 he broke alliance with BJP, with which he led a coalition government in Bihar,on grounds of communalism. Surely, Mr. Kumar knew he had teamed up with a party led by a man convicted for corruption in the fodder scam when he joined hands with Mr. Prasad to fight the 2015 Bihar Assembly election? The record shows that Mr. Kumar s rallying cry changes depending on which political party he chooses to be up against. (Adapted from The Hindu)
45. Cinema & censorship (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper I, II)
In our country, it is said that Censor board retains power to cot or even ban a movie. Though in actual, the role of Censor board is that of certifying body.
Recent incident While rejecting the petition filed by a person claiming to be the daughter of the late Sanjay Gandhi, Supreme Court has argued that the film Indu Sarkar, a film directed by Madhur Bhandarkar, does not have to undergo cuts without a valid reason.
It has reiterated that the film is nothing but artistic expression within the parameters of law and that there is no warrant or justification to curtail it. Earlier, the Central Board of Film Certification, has not exactly distinguished itself, had granted a certificate to the film after suggesting 14 cuts. The Revision Committee had reduced the number of cuts. Yet, a single individual managed to create some uncertainty over the release of the film by approaching the courts.
What is the film about?
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The film relates to events set during the 1975-77 emergency and, going by the director s disclaimer, its factual content is limited to 30%. Role of CBFC Recent experience suggests that the CBFC does not always see itself as a certifying authority, but rather plays the censor quite merrily. In the case of Udta Punjab last year, it was seeking to be the guardian of Punjab s honour against the depiction of the high prevalence of drug addiction in the State. The Bombay High Court had to remind the CBFC that certification, and not censorship, is its primary role and that its power to order changes and cuts must be exercised in accordance with constitutional principles.
The CBFC sought to play the moral censor with regard to Lipstick Under My Burkha, a film it thought was too lady-oriented to be given a certificate, presumably because it depicts their fantasies.
The Film Certification Appellate Tribunal had to intervene to secure the release of the film, with an A certificate. (Adapted From the Hindu)
46. CAG report: weaknesses in missile defence system (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper II, III)
The strategic missile system, a medium range supersonic surface to air missile system to counter aerial threats were deficient in quality, according to a report tabled by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG). The report comes amid increased threat perception to defence installations in the wake of the terrorist attack at the Pathankot airbase in January 2016.
Revelations of the report 1. Over 70 % of the under vehicle scanners (UVS) installed at Indian Air Force (IAF) bases were non- functional.
The IAF in February said that out of the 57 UVS systems, 52 had been installed and only five were yet to be installed. However, 35 systems still remained in unserviceable condition.
Even as on February 2017, over 70 per cent of the procured UVS systems were not functioning or were uninstalled.
2. The IL series of aircraft, which provide vital transport support to IAF during contingencies, has not been upgraded, and continue to fly with 1985 vintage avionics. Thus the security systems procured at a cost of Rs.17.09 crore could not be utilised fully for the security of the air bases even after about five years.
There was delay in carrying out first and second overhaul of IL-76 aircraft which meant that aircraft were flown without overhaul, well past the due date for overhaul.
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This was an undue risk taken by IAF. Air to air refuelling is a crucial capability both during combat as well as peace time operations. IL-78 aircraft are dedicated for this purpose. However, due to inadequate infrastructure and support facilities the air to air refuelling capability was hampered.
3. Audit found that the system delivered by Bharat Electricals Limited (BEL) was deficient in quality.
Out of 80 missiles received 20 were test fired, six of these missiles i.e., 30 % failed the test.
Preliminary failure analysis report revealed that the missiles fell short of the target, had lower than the required velocity, and also there was malfunctioning of critical units like Servo Control Unit and Connector. Two missiles had failed to take off because the booster nozzle had failed.
(Adapted From the Hindu)
47. Swadhar Grehs (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper II)
The Ministry of Women and Child Development is implementing the Swadhar Greh Scheme which targets the women victims of difficult circumstances who are in need of institutional support for rehabilitation so that they could lead their life with dignity.
What all is provided under the scheme? The Scheme envisages providing shelter, food, clothing and health as well as economic and social security for the women victims of difficult circumstances.
The scheme focuses on establishing one Swadhar Greh in each district. The total number of Swadhar Grehs currently operational in the country is 551.
As per Swadhar Greh Guidelines, State Governments/UTs are required to undertake the new projects required in their State/UTs. Therefore, it is incumbent upon the State/UTs to set up the Swadhar Grehs in their State/UTs.
(Adapted from PIB)
48. The lowdown on the right to privacy (Relevant for GS Prelims, GS Mains Paper II – Governance)
What is it? A definite legal definition of privacy is not available. Some legal experts tend to define privacy as a human right enjoyed by every human being by virtue of his or her existence. It depends on no instrument or charter. What is the Privacy in legal framework internationally? 1. Article 12 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 1948 and Article 17 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), 1966, legally protect persons against arbitrary interference with one s privacy, family, home, correspondence, honour and reputation. India signed and ratified the ICCPR on April 10, 1979, without reservation.
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2. Article 7 and 8 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, 2012, recognises the respect for private and family life, home and communications.
Article 8 mandates protection of personal data and its collection for a specified legitimate purpose.
Why was the debate started? The trigger is the government s Aadhaar scheme which collects personal details and biometrics to identify beneficiaries for government welfare schemes. A bunch of petitions was filed in the Supreme Court in 2015 terming Aadhaar a breach of privacy.
What is the government s response? 1. It reasoned that collection and use of personal data of citizens for Aadhaar now a law under the Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Act of 2016 benefits millions of poor. — — 2. The government claims Aadhaar is a panacea for corruption in public distribution, money-laundering and terror funding.
3. Also the government argues that right to privacy is not expressly included in the Constitution.
Present context Plagued by contradictions in the past judicial pronouncements on whether or not privacy is a fundamental right, a five-judge Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court decided to refer the question to a nine-judge Bench.
This nine-judge Bench, for the first time, is engaged in an intense debate with legal scholars and prominent lawyers on whether or not privacy is a fundamental right in the Constitution.
Why does it matter? The apprehension expressed by the Supreme Court about the collection and use of data is the risk of personal information falling into the hands of private players and service providers. The apprehension is best expressed in the words of a judge on the nine-judge Bench: I don t want the state to pass on my personal information to some 2,000 service providers who will send me WhatsApp messages offering cosmetics and air conditioners. That is our area of concern. This adds to the danger of data leakage.
What should be the next step? The Supreme Court repeatedly asked the government whether it plans to set up a robust data protection mechanism. The court pointed to the fact that a large chunk of personal information is already in the public domain and gave an example that through his biometrics (fingerprints) a person can access his Apple iPadand mobile.
(Adapted From The Hindu)
49. Who is Bimal Gurung? (Relevant for GS Prelims, GS Mains Paper II- Governance)
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An unprecedented 45-day shutdown in the Darjeeling hills, with no end in sight, has put the spotlight back on Bimal Gurung, leader of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM), which announced a fresh agitation for a state of Gorkhaland.
It was almost 10 years ago, in October 2007, when Mr. Gurung pulled the rug from under the feet of his mentor Subhash Ghisingh, president of the Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF), and marked the beginning of a new era in the politics of the Darjeeling hills by setting up the GJM, which raised the pitch for Gorkhaland afresh.
His background Born to tea garden workers, Mr. Gurung had to do menial jobs while growing up to help the family. He has said his life took a dramatic turn when the GNLF launched an armed struggle for a Gorkha homeland in 1986. He was 22 and became a member of the Gorkha Volunteers Cell. In 1988, he left the volunteers cell after the GNLF signed an accord with the Centre and West Bengal, leading to the formation of the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC). In 1992, Mr. Gurung floated an organisation for unemployed youths from the hills. Seven years later, he was back with the GNLF after winning the elections as an independent candidate. A sports enthusiast, he was entrusted with the Sports and Youth Affairs department in the autonomous hill body, which he administered well, and became popular among youngsters.
How did he fall out with GNLF? In 2007, when the Centre and the State government were toying with the idea of including the Darjeeling hills in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution and giving the tribal-dominated area special administrative powers, Mr. Gurung seized the opportunity and launched a massive resistance in the hills.
In February 2008, Ghisingh had to face arguably the greatest humiliation in his political career when he was not allowed to return to the hills after a visit to Delhi, as GJM supporters laid siege to all the entry points of the hills. Since then, Mr. Gurung has been the most prominent political leader in the hills, with the GJM overshadowing all other parties.
His relationship with Trinamool Congress After the Trinamool Congress came to power in 2011, ending 34 years of Left Front rule, Mr. Gurung used the chance to enter into a truce with the government by signing the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) agreement for setting up a second regional autonomous body in the hills.
But the relationship with the Trinamool was uneasy, and less than a month before the term of the GTA was to expire, the hills plunged into uncertainty again. Protests erupted after Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced that Bengali would be compulsory for all students. She later clarified that it would be optional in the hills, but the damage had been done, and the situation reached a point of no return when the police raided the residence-cum-party office of Mr. Gurung.
What is the road ahead? As passions run high among the people over the demand for creation of Gorkhaland, pressure is mounting on Mr. Gurung.
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Though a Gorkhaland Movement Coordination Committee (GMCC) with representatives of all major political parties has been set up to take the movement forward, there are rumblings within the GMCC that protests must be directed at the BJP-led government at the Centre with whom the GJM had entered into an electoral understanding in 2007 and for the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.
The murder of All-India Gorkha League leader Madan Tamang in May 2010 has also come back to haunt Mr. Gurung and other leaders of his party.
In such testing times, it remains to be seen how Mr. Gurung finds a way out of the unpleasant situation.
(Adapted From The Hindu)
50. Pradhan Mantri Vaya Vandana Yojana: Senior citizens assured 8% return over 10-year period (Relevant for GS Prelims, GS Mains Paper II-Governance)
Finance Minister launched a senior citizens pension scheme called the Pradhan Mantri Vaya Vandana Yojana (PMVVY), which promises assured annual return of 8 per cent for 10 years. The scheme, being sold by Life Insurance Corporation, provides for pension options of monthly, quarterly, half-yearly and yearly frequency, resulting in return of around 8.3 per cent. It is available till May 3, 2018, for citizens aged 60 years and above.
What was the need for the scheme? Elderly want a reasonable rate of return because not being gainfully employed at that age, they want the security which fixed income can bring them and therefore in this balance this is a scheme which was announced by the Prime Minister, which ensures a real return of 8.30 per cent, which in today s world of reducing interest rate is fairly respectable rate of return particularly for senior citizens and it is exempted from service tax or GST.
If there is a shortfall between the actual return earned under the scheme and the guaranteed return of 8.0 per cent, then the government will subsidise LIC for it.
Other specifications of the scheme 1. Premature withdrawal from the scheme is possible in case the money is required for the treatment of terminal or critical illness of the person or spouse. In this case, 98 per cent of the amount invested will be refunded.
2. On survival of the pensioner to the end of the policy term, purchase price along with final pension instalment shall be payable. In order to meet liquidity, the scheme allows availing loan up to 75 per cent of purchase price after 3 policy years. Interest on loan can be paid from the pension instalments while the loan amount can be paid from the claim proceeds.
3. The ceiling of maximum pension is for entire family, comprising the pensioner, his/her spouse and dependants.
(Adapted From Indian Express)
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51. Is Darjeeling stir killing tea and tourism? (Relevant for GS Prelims, GS Mains Paper II)
What runs the hills economy? Tea and tourism are the twin pillars of the economy of the Darjeeling region. It also has some horticulture, floriculture, spice and cinchona cultivation, but the main income and employment generators are tea and tourism. These two are now under attack as the hills are caught in a fresh spiral of violence.
What is the status of the tea industry? The 87 operating tea gardens in Darjeeling indirectly employ over a lakh people and directly around 60,000 people, 60% of whom are women. As per existing laws, the estates also provide housing and medical facilities to about four lakh people families of the workers. However, the output of the exotic crop has been on a decline, nearly halving over the last few decades. Most worrisome is the fact that the industry for many reasons is not only losing crop— but also revenue.
Why has it been hit hard? The current agitation does not help matters, as it comes during peak production season. The two leaves and a bud, plucked during the summer months between April and July, yield some of the best Darjeeling teas, fragrant with their unique muscatel flavour. These are also the teas that fetch the best prices in domestic and international markets, giving the industry 40% of its annual revenue.
The industry s initial optimism on the agitation being a short-lived one has been dashed. Not only is productivity being affected due to the closure but the movement of inputs to the gardens and output of the made teas are also jeopardised.
The industry has already sent out SOS appeals, saying that this may lead to closure of many gardens even after return to normalcy.
What about tourism? Despite having a palette as rich as the Sundarbans and the Darjeeling Hills, West Bengal was never a top tourist destination. The steps taken by the present government to augment and enhance the state s tourism potential have yielded results and now the State is among India s top 10 tourist destinations. As per latest official statistics of the Union Tourism Ministry, in 2016 West Bengal attracted 74.5 million domestic tourists, slipping to the eighth position from fifth in 2015. It attracted 1.5 million foreign tourists during 2016. A significant portion of them headed to the eastern Himalayas to get a view of the Kanchenjunga range as also to soak in the ambience of this former summer capital of the British Empire. Many of them rushed to scamper back to the safety of the plains as the GorkhaJanmuktiMorcha agitation fanned across the hill district.
Aware that Darjeeling is literally the crown-jewel of the State s tourism assets, the government has taken several steps to spruce up the existing accommodation while adding new ones at Darjeeling and its neighbouring subdivisions like Kalimpong and Kurseong. It has also rolled out a home-stay policy and many people have invested to make their homes a pleasant tourist accommodation. All these are aimed at boosting the employment generation in a State where the scope of generating employment through large industries is limited. These now lie in waste.
What does the future hold?
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Very little, unless the current agitation is resolved. The 18.5 lakh population of the district has a fairly high literacy rate of around 79.6%, according to the 2011 census figures. The tea industry is already losing able hands to a population which is migrating from the district, leaving the women and the infirm to their fate on the tea estates. The tourism industry is run by plains as well as hills people providing employment to the local youth. Little changes for the political leaders in such agitations but much is at stake for the locals, and the Queen of Hill Stations as Darjeeling was once lovingly referred to.
(Adapted from The Hindu)
52. PM s interaction through PRAGATI (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains paper III)
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, chaired his twentieth interaction through PRAGATI the ICT-based, multi-modal platform for Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation. – The Prime Minister began the meeting with a review of the situation arising out of flood and other natural calamities in the North-Eastern States. He assured the States of all possible help from the Centre.
The Prime Minister urged all Chief Secretaries to work expeditiously towards ensuring that all traders register under the GST regime, and this task is completed before August 15th.
What is PRAGATI? PRAGATI is a unique integrating and interactive platform. The platform is aimed at addressing common man s grievances, and simultaneously monitoring and reviewing important programmes and projects of the Government of India as well as projects flagged by State Governments.
(Adapted from the Pib)
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International Organizations and Relations
1. Joint International Taskforce on Shared Intelligence and Collaboration (JITSIC)- Tackling Global Tax Risks (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper II)
India participated in the fourth Joint International Taskforce on Shared Intelligence and Collaboration (JITSIC) meeting reconvened in Paris to pursue the work on the Panama Papers in the last week of June 2017.
Progress in getting information about tax evaders Demonstrating the value and strength of JITSIC, 30 project participant countries have continued to exchange, analyse and act on information about taxpayers and intermediaries connected to Mossack Fonseca. In the past six months, more than 570 requests for information have been sent to 32 countries. India has also sent several requests for information to various jurisdictions in the Panama Paper cases since the last meeting in January 2017.
JITSIC members have established the capability to allow for fast, effective and coordinated multilateral responses to any future data leaks and are sharing the same. JITSIC will continue to identify more arrangements as countries continue their investigations and share intelligence and new data comes to light. Collaboration with JITSIC has been useful for India in its fight against offshore tax evasion.
About Panama Papers The Panama Papers are an unprecedented leak of 11.5 million files from the database of the world s fourth biggest offshore law firm, Mossack Fonseca. The records were obtained from an anonymous source by the German newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung, which shared them with the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ).
What do they reveal? It reveals that for at least the past 40 years, more than 140 of famous and/or politically powered people have hidden their fortunes in anonymous, offshore (and legal) shell companies, allowing them to skirt tax laws and make major money moves in the shadows. These include President of Argentina, President of Ukraine, Iceland PM, King of Saudi Arabia, aides of Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin among a few.
What is Mossack Fonseca? It is a Panama-based law firm whose services include incorporating companies in offshore jurisdictions such as the British Virgin Islands. It administers offshore firms for a yearly fee. Other services include wealth management.
Where is it based? The firm is Panamanian but runs a worldwide operation. Its website boasts of a global network with 600 people working in 42 countries. It has franchises around the world. Mossack Fonseca operates in tax havens including Switzerland, Cyprus and the British Virgin Islands.
The Indian Link:
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The Indian Express reported that over 500 Indians could have links to secret firms in overseas tax heavens.
The Indians on the list include: 1. Amitabh Bachchan 2. AishwariyaRai 3. K.P. Singh of DLF 4. Sameer Gehlaut of India Bulls
They have all said that all the money they transferred was legal and according to Indian laws.
Response of Centre govt.: The Centre has formed a multi-agency group comprising of Central Board of Direct Taxes, the Financial Intelligence Union, Foreign Tax and Tax Research and the RBI to look into leaks.
(Adapted from the PIB and Indian Express)
2. India to Host Global Conference on Cyber Space 2017 – World s Largest Conference on Cyber Space (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper II, III)
Salient Features 1. The GCCS is taking place outside OECD nations for the first time 2. The theme for the GCCS 2017 is Cyber4All: An Inclusive, Sustainable, Developmental, Safe and Secure Cyberspace 3. The conference to take place on 23rd & 24th of November 2017 in New Delhi 4. Shri Narendra Modi, Hon ble Prime Minister of India will inaugurate the conference
India will be hosting the 5th Global Conference on Cyber Space (GCCS) in 2017, one of the world s largest conference on Cyber Space and related issues . The two-day conference will see participation of around 2000 delegates from senior Government officials, industry leaders, academia and civil society from over 100 countries.
About the Global Conference on Cyber Space: GCCS is a prestigious international conference that aims at encouraging dialogue among stakeholders of cyberspace, which has been taking place since 2011.
1. Incepted in 2011 in London, GCCS witnessed a participation of 700 global delegates. It helped in setting up rules and guidelines for the editions to follow.
2. The second conference was held in 2012 in Budapest with focus on relationship between internet rights and internet security and was attended by 700 delegates from nearly 60 countries.
3. The third edition of GCCS was held in 2013 in Seoul with participation from 1600 delegates. The conference built on the themes such as Economic Growth and Development, Social and Cultural Benefits, a Safe and Secure Cyberspace, Cybercrime and International Security.
4. The fourth version GCCS 2015 was held on April 16-17, 2015 in The Hague, Netherlands. Nearly 1800 members from nearly 100 countries participated in this conference and over 60 countries participated with
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delegations led at Ministerial level. The conference focused on Freedom, Security and Growth in cyber space. The launch of Global Forum on Cyber Expertise (GFCE) was main deliverable of the conference for capacity building in cyber space.
5. Goal of GCCS 2017 is to promote an inclusive Cyber Space with focus on policies and frameworks for inclusivity, sustainability, development, security, safety & freedom, technology and partnerships for upholding digital democracy, maximizing collaboration for strengthening security and safety and advocating dialogue for digital diplomacy .
How will GCCS be beneficial for India? a. It will be an opportunity to showcase the Digital India program as a positive, sustainable and scalable model for use of ICTs for addressing developmental challenges and growth opportunities. It can help provide vision of inclusive digital society for inclusive growth, education, healthcare especially for developing world. b. Cyber security will be one of the major focus areas in GCCS 2017 especially as the central government is in the process of setting up separate sector specific emergency response centres to ensure cyber security and strengthen technology infrastructure. The conference will be an ideal forum for the exchange of ideas with global think thanks and promote closer co-operation among the international community. c. Indian start-ups will also get exposure to the global industry leaders and investors in GCCS 2017 to pitch their ideas through multiple seminars, side events and exhibitions.
(Adapted from PIB)
3. Why Bhutan is special to India (Relevant for GS Prelims, GS Mains Paper III)
The present standoff between Indian and Chinese troops in Doka La (Doklam) is a rare insight into New Delhi s very special relationship with Bhutan, which includes military responsibilities towards it.
Official statement by India In India s only official statement on the standoff, the Ministry of External Affairs on Friday said that on June 16, a PLA (People s Liberation Army) construction party entered the Doklam area and attempted to construct a road. It is our understanding that a Royal Bhutan Army patrol attempted to dissuade them from this unilateral activity.
The MEA statement went on to say that the Foreign Ministry of Bhutan has also issued a statement underlining that the construction of the road inside Bhutanese territory is a direct violation of the 1988 and 1998 agreements between Bhutan and China and affects the process of demarcating the boundary between these two countries.
Coordination by armies It further said that in coordination with the Bhutanese army, Indian personnel, who were present at general area Doka La, approached the Chinese construction party and urged them to desist from changing the status quo. These efforts continue.
India-Bhutan Friendship Treaty and India s role to protect Bhutan sovereignity
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Under the 2007 India-Bhutan Friendship Treaty, the two sides have agreed to cooperate closely with each other on issues relating to their national interests. Neither Government shall allow the use of its territory for activities harmful to the national security and interest of the other.
Under the previous treaty, India was to guide Bhutan on foreign and defence policies. The language of the 2007 treaty, is meant to respect the sensitivities of Bhutan regarding its sovereignty. But the reality is that the Indian military is virtually responsible for protecting Bhutan from the kind of external threat that the Chinese military poses.
The Eastern Army Command and the Eastern Air Command both have integrated protection of Bhutan into their role. The Indian Military Training Team (IMTRAT), headed by a Major General, plays a critical role in training Bhutanese security personnel.
(Adapted from The Hindu)
4. Colombia s FARC rebels seal historic disarmament (Relevant for GS Prelims, GS Mains Paper II)
Colombia s leftist FARC rebel force declared its disarmament complete after half a century of war against the state, bringing Latin America s oldest civil conflict close to an end. The move is a key part of efforts to end the long territorial and ideological conflict under a 2016 peace accord. The accord was at first narrowly rejected by Colombians in a referendum last year before it was redrafted and pushed through Congress.
Who are the Farc? The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc, after the initials in Spanish) are Colombia s largest rebel group. They were founded in 1964 as the armed wing of the Communist Party and follow a Marxist-Leninist ideology. Their main founders were small farmers and land workers who had banded together to fight against the staggering levels of inequality in Colombia at the time. While the Farc have some urban groups, they have always been an overwhelmingly rural guerrilla organisation.
How many Farc fighters are there? The security forces estimate that there are between 6,000 and 7,000 active fighters within the ranks of the Farc. They think there are another 8,500 civilians who make up the Farc s support network. This is down considerably from the estimated 20,000 active fighters they are believed to have had around 2002. How are they organised? The rebels are organised in small tactical groups that in turn make up larger fighting units which are organised in regional blocs . They are controlled by the Secretariat, a group of less than a dozen top commanders who devise the overarching strategy of the Farc.The Farc s top leader is Rodrigo Londono Echeverri, better know by his alias Timochenko. Why did they take up arms? The Farc were founded at a time of brutal repression against any form of action considered subversive. Colombia has historically been a country which suffers from huge levels of inequality, where vast swathes of land are owned by a very small elite. This is partly due to the fact that the Colombian state sold off large tracts of land to private owners in the late 19th and early 20th Centuries to pay for its debts. Some of the founders
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of the Farc had established an agricultural commune in the region of Marquetalia, in central Tolima province. Inspired by the Cuban revolution in the 1950s, they demanded more rights and control over the land. But their communist ideals were seen as a threat by big landowners and the state, which sent in the army to disband the commune, or Marquetalia Republic as it had come to be known. The Farc say that it was after the clashes with the army in Marquetalia that they decided to make their struggle an armed one.
Was Colombia peaceful before the Farc? No, Colombia went through a 10-year civil war before the Farc were even founded. During the period known simply as La Violencia (The Violence), between 200,000 and 300,000 people are estimated to have been killed. La Violencia was triggered by the assassination in 1948 of Jorge Eliecer Gaitan, a popular presidential candidate for the Liberal Party. His shooting in Bogota caused riots in the capital, which were followed by 10 years of conflict pitting the followers of the Liberal Party against those of the Conservative Party. The man who would later become the top leader of the Farc, Manuel Sureshot Marulanda, had fought in La Violencia.
Who joined the Farc? Human rights groups have often accused the Farc of forcibly recruiting poor farmers and children. The Farc say that everyone who joined them did so voluntarily. According to their own figures, there were 21 children under the age of 15 in their ranks in May 2016. Most of their fighters are from poor, rural communities and include both men and women of all ages. Some of those who have left the Farc speak of being lured by the promise of adventure and the kudos of carrying a gun.
Who do they fight? The main enemy of the Farc have been the Colombian security forces. Farc fighters have attacked police stations and military posts, and ambushed patrols. But they have also blown up oil pipelines, electricity pylons and bridges and bombed social clubs. Many of their victims have been civilians. They have included children who died when home-made Farc explosives fell short of a rural police station and hit a school, and thousands of people maimed by landmines laid by the Farc. Thousands of people were kidnapped by the Farc for ransom. One police officer, Luis Mendieta, was seized in an attack on a police station in 1998 and held for 14 years before being freed by the army in a rescue operation dubbed Chameleon.
How do they finance themselves? Analysts think the Farc are among the richest rebel movements in the world. Guerrilla commanders have denied the group has stashed away large sums of money. Colombia is one of the main producers of cocaine and the rebels get a large part of their income from drug trafficking or levying taxes on those who do. They have also resorted to extortion and kidnapping for ransom to fill their coffers. Why did they join the peace process? The Farc have been hit hard by the Colombian security forces over the past years. The Colombian army and police received millions of dollars in funding and training from the US government, much of which they invested in fighting the rebels. Many of the top leaders of the Farc were killed or died within the past decade. In 2008, senior rebel leader Raul Reyes was killed in a bombing raid and Farc founder Manuel Marulanda died of natural causes.
In 2011, Alfonso Cano, who took over from Manuel Marulanda, was also killed in a bombing raid. The number of active fighters also diminished from its estimated high of 20,000 to around 7,000 after thousands of guerrilla fighters were demobilised or killed. The Farc themselves insist that they wanted peace all along but that the conditions were not right before.
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(Adapted from The Hindu and http://www.bbc.com)
5. Indian Cultural Centres Abroad (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper II, III) ICCR has 36 Indian Cultural Centres and one Sub-Centre. ICCR has plans to establish new Indian Cultural Centres in Washington and Paris. For these new Centres, the properties are being renovated for establishing Centres.
About Cultural Centres Cultural Centres overseas are ICCR s important arms, which play significant role in promotion of India s soft power strength through its variety of activities like facilitating teaching of Indian dance, music, yoga, Hindi; organizing cultural performances, film screening, lectures, talks, Seminars & Conferences on themes related to India. Activities are organized in the capital and other cities with the help of involvement of local community and Indian Diaspora.
During the recent visit of Prime Minister of India to Israel, announcement for the opening of Indian Cultural Centre in Israel was made.
(Adapted from PIB)
6. Army, PLA in a tug of war over Doklam Plateau (Relevant for GS Prelims, GS Mains Paper II)
The Doklam Plateau, north of the tri-junction of Sikkim, Bhutan and Tibet, by India s claim, is not just a disputed area, but has huge strategic significance for both India and China. The Doklam is witnessing a stand-off between detachments of the Indian Army and the People s Liberation Army (PLA) for the past few days. There have been several incidents that have culminated in the present situation, sources said. Subscribe to PrepMate by sending your name, city and e-mail id through whatsapp on 75972-40000 Page 48 https://prepmate.in/books/ https://telegram.me/upscprepmate To get study material on Whatsapp, send your Name and City on Whatsapp no. 75972-40000
Recent incidents In recent days, the Chinese are believed to have destroyed temporary bunkers of the Indian Army, while the Indian Army is accused of objecting to a road construction by the Chinese side on the disputed area. Finally, there was also an incident of jostling among the soldiers of the two sides.
About Doklan plateau Wedged between Bhutan, India and China are few areas of dispute together accounting for just over 750 square kilometres. Among the disputed areas is Doklam (also called Donglang in China) , which is just about 90 square kilometres where the present dispute is taking pace. —
Relevance of Doklam Plateau to China For the Chinese to reach their border posts with Bhutan, Doklam provides an easy way to construct a road, and they have been trying to do so and India has consistently objected to it. Not very far from Doklam is the strategically important Chumbi Valley in the Tibetan region, to which Chinese are now planning to expand their rail connectivity.
Relevance of Doklam plateau to India The disputed area also provides, according to India s perspective, a bigger buffer to its sensitive Chicken s Neck, or the Siliguri Corridor, which is an extremely narrow stretch of land that connects the Northeast to the rest of the country. From the ChumbiValley it is just a little over 100 kilometres away.
(Adapted from The Hindu)
7. PM s visit to Israel (Relevant for GS Prelims, GS Mains Paper II)
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Minister to visit Israel.
However, unlike President Mukherjee, and three External Affairs Ministers Jaswant Singh (2000), S.M. Krishna (2012) and Sushma Swaraj (2016), Mr. Modi will not pay a visit to the Palestinian side.
Implication on India s relations with Israel and Palestine In recent years, it is alleged that India has been emphasizing on its relations with Israel at the cost of its relations with Palestine. This is a shift from the earlier stand when India has supported the Palestinian cause for separate state even with contiguous borders.
Israel – Palestine Issue The Israeli Palestinian conflict is the ongoing struggle between Israelis and Palestinians that began in the mid-20th century. – Issues The key issues are: mutual recognition, borders, security, water rights, control of Jerusalem, Israeli settlements, Palestinian freedom of movement, and Palestinian right of return. The violence of the conflict, in a region rich in sites of historic, cultural and religious interest worldwide, has been the object of numerous international conferences dealing with historic rights, security issues and human rights, and has been a factor hampering tourism in and general access to areas that are hotly contested.
Solution Many attempts have been made to broker a two-state solution, involving the creation of an independent Palestinian state alongside the State of Israel (after Israel s establishment in 1948). In 2007, the majority of
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both Israelis and Palestinians, according to a number of polls, preferred the two-state solution over any other solution as a means of resolving the conflict.
Moreover, a majority of Jews see the Palestinians demand for an independent state as just, and thinks Israel can agree to the establishment of such a state. The majority of Palestinians and Israelis in the West Bank and Gaza Strip have expressed a preference for a two-state solution. Mutual distrust and significant disagreements are deep over basic issues, as is the reciprocal scepticism about the other side s commitment to upholding obligations in an eventual agreement. Within Israeli and Palestinian society, the conflict generates a wide variety of views and opinions. This highlights the deep divisions which exist not only between Israelis and Palestinians, but also within each society. A hallmark of the conflict has been the level of violence witnessed for virtually its entire duration. Fighting has been conducted by regular armies, paramilitary groups, terror cells, and individuals. Casualties have not been restricted to the military, with a large number of fatalities in civilian population on both sides. There are prominent international actors involved in the conflict.
Current negotiations The two parties engaged in direct negotiation are the Israeli government, currently led by Benjamin Netanyahu, and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), currently headed by Mahmoud Abbas. The official negotiations are mediated by an international contingent known as the Quartet on the Middle East (the Quartet) represented by a special envoy, that consists of the United States, Russia, the European Union, and the United Nations. The Arab League is another important actor, which has proposed an alternative peace plan. Egypt, a founding member of the Arab League, has historically been a key participant.
Israel s behavior in recent years Over the years, Israel steadily expanded the settlements in the West Bank, killing the two-state solution. Presently, Arabs are confined to West bank and Gaza regions.
The settler population in the West Bank, excluding East Jerusalem which Israel has annexed, has increased. During the Obama presidency alone, more than 1,00,000 settlers moved to the West Bank. Now, the number of Israeli settlers in the West Bank and East Jerusalem is more than 7,00,000.
If the two-state solution is dead, what is the alternative? 1. One is to retain the status quo: a militarised Jewish state permanently occupying the Palestinian territories and even annexing parts of it, without giving full citizenship rights to the Palestinians. 2. The other is to have a single democratic federal state with equal rights to Jews, Muslims, Christians and others.
Way out It s clear that Israel wants the former. But it s perhaps time for international actors who care about the plight of the Palestinians to start pushing for the latter. (Adapted from The Hindu)
8. Victory in Mosul: Iraqi forces take back al-Nuri mosque from IS (Relevant for GS Prelims, GS Mains Paper II)
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The city has been taken from the IS. The Iraqi government now needs to win over its people
The capture by Iraqi forces of the Grand al-Nuri Mosque in Mosul, from where Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi declared himself caliph in July 2014, marks the end of the caliphate in Iraq.
For three years, the mosque was a symbol of power for the IS, whose black flag flew atop the historic 150-ft tall al-Hadba minaret. IS fighters blew up the minaret when they retreated, practically declaring their defeat in Iraq s second largest city.
ISIS ending in Iraq They are now confined to some pockets of Mosul and Iraqi commanders believe it is only a matter of days before they can declare total victory. It is quite a turnaround for the Iraqi army, which left its barracks and fled the city without even a nominal fight three years ago when it came under IS attack. The ease with which the IS took Mosul, home to over a million people, had raised alarming questions about the professional capability of the Iraqi army to defend its territory against further possible IS expansion. But Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, who ordered the Mosul mission and stayed the course despite the huge challenges involved, has put to rest such concerns, for now.
Is it the end of ISIS? The destruction of the Caliphate , the proto-state that Baghdadi established, doesn t mean that the IS as an insurgency has been defeated. The group is likely to retreat to Iraq s deserts and struck back when they found an opportunity in crisis situations.
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(Adapted from The Hindu and The Indian Express)
9. Outcome of 5th Meeting of BRICS Education Ministers held in Beijing, China (Relevant for GS prelims, GS Mains Paper II)
Meeting of BRICS Ministers of Education was held on 5th July, 2017 at Beijing, China. The Indian delegation was led by Shri Prakash Javadekar, Minister of Human Resource
Development, India.
BRICS Network University and BRICS Think Tank Council He appreciated the creation of institutional mechanism in the form of BRICS Network University (BRICS-NU) and BRICS Think Tank Council. BRICS Network University, where 12 universities from each of the 5 countries will engage with each other in education research and innovation, is another commendable initiative. Five areas of cooperation are prioritised which are Communication and IT, Economics, Climate Change, Water Resources and Pollution, and BRICS study. India will participate whole-heartedly in all these cooperative efforts.
Government initiatives in the field of higher education Subscribe to PrepMate by sending your name, city and e-mail id through whatsapp on 75972-40000 Page 53 https://prepmate.in/books/ https://telegram.me/upscprepmate To get study material on Whatsapp, send your Name and City on Whatsapp no. 75972-40000
Minister Javadekar highlighted some of the initiatives of the Govt. of India in education. He specifically spoke about the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) which provides a relative ranking of Indian institutions, India s indigenous MOOCs platform, SWAYAM, which has already hosted over 480 courses online and, this year, plan to host 2000 courses and GIAN (Global Initiative for Academics Network) under which 600 professors from 62 countries have already conducted their courses in India and, this year, we expect to receive another 800 faculty from across the world. The Minister spoke about India s research initiative, IMPRINT, which identifies priority areas for research for India, National Digital Library, which provides over 7.2 million online resources free of cost and is ever expanding National Academic Depository (NAD), Smart India Hackathon, which involved over 40000 students in solving over 300 problems received from various sources.
(Adapted from PIB)
10. Israel Visit by PM (Relevant for GS Prelims, GS Mains Paper II)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was received at Tel Aviv s Ben Gurion airport by his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu in a welcome at par with that given to US Presidents. This is the first-ever visit to Israel by an Indian Prime Minister and Mr Netanyahu has announced that he will accompany the Indian Prime Minister at many events during his visit as befits the leader of the largest democracy in the world . 1. Mr Netanyahu and PM Modi later visited the Danziger Flower Farm where a variety of white chrysanthemum was named Modi , and the Yad Vashem memorial to honour the some six million Jews killed by Nazi Germany. Mr Netanyahu later hosted a private dinner in honour of PM Modi. 2. The centerpiece of the collaboration is the Barak-8 air defence system, built jointly by the two countries in a boost for PM Modi s campaign to develop a domestic defence industry and reduce arms imports. The visit to Israel, already, India s top arms supplier, is being seen as historic not just for the pacts that will be signed but because this is the first time that New Delhi has, as one Israeli analyst put it, come out of the closet. 3. India has traditionally been cautious in its dealing with Israel, partly because of an alleged wariness of upsetting Arab states and Iran, upon whom it relies for its vast imports of oil, as also its own large Muslim population. PM Modi will not travel to Ramallah, the seat of the Palestinian Authority and a customary stop for visiting leaders trying to maintain a balance in political ties.
4. The shift in India s approach had started soon after the Narendra Modi government came to power in Delhi. PM Modi and Mr Netanyahu met on the margins of the United Nations General Assembly in New York in September 2014, the first meeting of premiers of the two countries in over a decade. This is Narendra Modi s second visit to Israel; he had last travelled to the Jewish State as Gujarat Chief Minister in 2006. 5. On July 5, PM Modi will also address Indians in Israel who have launched a website for his trip. About 80,000 Indian Jews belonging to four different communities Bene Israel, Cochinis, Baghdadis and Bnei Menashe live in Israel. After Israel, PM Modi will travel to Hamburg for the G-20 Summit being hosted by Germany on July 7-8. The theme chosen for this year summit is Shaping– an Inter-connected World . – (Adapted from ndtv.com)
11. India, Israel to set up $40 mn research fund (Relevant for GS Prelims, GS Mains Paper II)
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India and Israel announced a strategic partnership between the two countries after a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu, and signed seven agreements in the fields of water, agriculture, space, including a $40 million joint fund for research and development in innovation.
The fund of Research and Development will also be called the I4F or India Israel Industrial Innovation Fund. Both the nations will contribute $ 20 million towards the fund. The veiled references to Pakistan and Iran, both of which are nuclear-capable powers, reflected the concerns India and Israel have on the issue of terror.
Water conservation The two agreements in the field of water deal with the increasing awareness of the need for water conservation.
(Adapted from The Hindu)
12. No Modi-Xi meeting at G-20 as atmosphere is not right (Relevant for GS Prelims, GS Mains Paper II)
Beijing reiterates demand for withdrawal of Indian troops in the Doklam as a pre-condition for talks.
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With India and China asserting that no bilateral meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping had been scheduled on the sidelines of the G-20 meeting in Germany, there was no immediate prospect of an end to the continuing boundary standoff between the two countries.
The Prime Minister is visiting Hamburg from 6-8 July for the G-20 summit. His pre-planned bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the Summit are with Argentina, Canada, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Republic of Korea, U.K. and Vietnam.
(Adapted from The Hindu)
13. Cyprus peace talks – all you need to know (Relevant for GS Prelims, GS Mains paper II)
What is the aim of the talks? The purpose of the Geneva talks is to end the partition of the island between the predominantly Turkish north and Greek south, so that the whole island has a unified if federated political structure and can be recognised by the European Union. At present only the south is recognised by the EU, and UN troops oversee a buffer zone across the island. Any agreement would have– to be sanctioned– by the UN and put to a referendum on both sides of the island, probably in the late spring.
What is the background? The island has suffered sporadic intercommunal violence since independence from the UK in 1960. Turkey sent in troops in 1974 to protect Turkish communities after a coup organised by the Greek military aimed at uniting the island with Greece. Nine years later, Turkish Cypriot leaders declared a breakaway state in the north, which is recognised only by Ankara.
Many on the island fled their homes during the violence that culminated in the Turkish invasion, and have remained displaced to this day. The impasse has been one block to Turkish membership of the EU.
Who is attending? The precise list is, even at this late stage, unclear and dependent on how well the talks are going. But the leader of the Greek Cypriot community, President Nicos Anastasiades, and the Turkish Cypriot leader, s special adviser on Cyprus, Espen Barth Eide. Leaders of other Cypriot political parties are also in attendance. Mustafa Akıncı, are already in Geneva along with the UN The talks are due to develop into a multilateral format on 12 January attended by Cpyrus s three guarantor powers : Greece, Turkey and the UK. The British foreign secretary, Boris Johnson, is due to attend, as is the president of the EU commission, Jean- expected to come. Claude Juncker. The Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, is not What is being discussed? Formally the talks cover property, governance including a rotating presidency the economy, territory and security guarantees. One issue blends into another, and neither side is likely to make a final compromise until they see the overall shape of the package. – –
It has always been agreed that some of the territory controlled by the Turkish Cypriots will be ceded to Greek Cypriot control in any peace deal. The debate over how much land should be handed over and its location has hampered previous talks.
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The security issue focuses on the extent, size and terms of a continued Turkish army presence on the island. unpopular among Greek Cypriots. Akıncı also insists on a rotating presidency with a Turkish Cypriot elected every two years, a proposal Britain has offered to give up half the territory of its sovereign bases as part of any deal.
Have we been here before? Close to innumerable times. No UN secretary general has left the Cyprus problem untouched, but the effort that came closest to a solution was overseen by Kofi Annan in 2004. His solution was accepted by the Turks but heavily rejected by Greek Cypriots in a referendum. Efforts are being made to learn from the 2004 errors, including keeping as many island politicians engaged as possible.
How likely is success? One observer has said the dispute never ends due to the absence of a mutually harming status quo , meaning neither side is equally motivated to take a risk. But the island s two leaders are very keen to strike a deal, and the UN has pulled out all the stops. s unpredictability is a factor, and his authoritarianism has made some Greeks uneasy about the island s security. Erdoğan Efforts in the run-up to the Geneva summit did not make as much progress as hoped, and perhaps the best that can be expected is an outline political deal with more meetings to follow.
The test will be whether both sides still have faith in the process at the week s close, or whether they feel they have reached a dead end. (Adapted from the Guardian)
14. Targeting trawling: the need for transition to deep sea fishing (Relevant for GS Prelims, GS Mains Paper II, Topic: Bilateral Relations)
New law by Sri Lanka Sri Lanka s legislative amendment to prohibit bottom trawling, a destructive fishing practice, is a welcome move despite its likely near-term consequence of deepening the fisheries conflict in the Palk Bay region. Bottom trawling in the island nation s territorial waters will now attract a possible two-year prison term and a fine of 50,000 Sri Lankan rupees. What is bottom trawling? The practice, which involves trawlers dragging weighted nets along the sea floor, is known to cause great depletion of fishery resources, and curbing it is in the interest of sustainable fishing.
Reaction from Indian side The initial reaction from Tamil Nadu has been one of concern. Political parties claim the amendment is draconian, and that it is targeted at the State s fishermen who regularly use hundreds of trawlers in Sri Lankan territorial waters. This criticism is way off the mark.
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Need for such law In recent years, some fishermen in northern Sri Lanka have also adopted bottom trawling. If this practice continues to gain ground even among local fishermen, the long-term consequences on fishing resources in the contested Palk Bay region will be irremediable. The amendment is aimed at curbing local trawlers as well as deterring trawlers from Tamil Nadu. An appropriate response from Tamil Nadu would be to expedite the conversion of its trawlers to deep sea fishing vessels, and not merely condemn Sri Lanka.
Solution Fishermen from both countries have been in talks for a long time to resolve the conflict. Sri Lankan fishermen want an immediate end to incursions by Indian trawlers, and those from Tamil Nadu insist on a three-year phase-out period. The proposal to ban bottom trawling is two years old, but the amendment has come at a time when a Joint Working Group set up by both countries last year is in place. Tamil Nadu fishermen are arrested from time to time by the Sri Lankan Navy, and their vessels seized. If more are arrested and slapped with two-year jail terms after a summary trial, as the law now envisages, it may create new flashpoints. Ultimately, the solution lies in the transition from trawling to deep sea fishing, for which a beginning has been made. The Central and State governments plan to provide 500 deep sea fishing boats with long lines and gill nets this year, as part of a plan to replace 2,000 trawlers in three years. However, the question is whether Sri Lanka can be expected to wait for this plan to be fully implemented before enforcing its bottom trawling ban. Even while bracing for an escalation as a result of protests from Tamil Nadu, both countries should ensure that the situation does not disrupt regular meetings of the JWG. Besides the fisheries conflict, they need to discuss marine conservation, thus giving equal importance to protecting livelihoods and sustainable fishing.
(Adapted from The Hindu)
15. Cabinet approves Bangladesh JIN pact (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS mains paper II, III)
In a bid to boost bilateral investments between India and Bangladesh, the Cabinet gave its approval for the Joint Interpretative Notes (JIN) on the Agreement between both the nations for the Promotion and Protection of Investments.
About Joint Interpretative Notes (JIN) The JIN would impart clarity to the interpretation of the existing Agreement between India and Bangladesh for the Promotion and Protection of Investments.
The JIN includes interpretative notes to be jointly adopted for many clauses, including, the definition of investor, definition of investment, exclusion of taxation measures, Fair and Equitable Treatment, National Treatment and Most Favoured Nation treatment, expropriation, essential security interests and Settlement of Disputes between an Investor-and a Contracting Party.
(Adapted from The Hindu)
16. LOGIN About the Doklam area of the India-Bhutan-China tri-junction standoff? (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS mains paper II)
The Doklam is witnessing a stand-off between detachments of the Indian Army and the People s Liberation Army (PLA) for the past few days.
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In recent days, the Chinese are believed to have destroyed temporary bunkers of the Indian Army, while the Indian Army is accused of objecting to a road construction by the Chinese side on the disputed area
Relevance of Doklam Plateau to China For the Chinese to reach their border posts with Bhutan, Doklam provides an easy way to construct a road, and they have been trying to do so and India has consistently objected to it. Not very far from Doklam is the strategically important Chumbi Valley in the Tibetan region, to which Chinese are now planning to expand their rail connectivity.
(Adapted from The Hindu)
17. Deadlock in India-China trade talks (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS mains paper II, III )
Trade talks between India and China remained deadlocked with neither side willing to offer concessions to end the impasse.
Recent bilateral talks on issues relating to farm products, which took place in the backdrop of the military standoff in the Doklam area of the India-Bhutan-China tri-junction, failed to make any headway.
China deferred taking a decision on grant of market access to Indian rice, pomegranate, okra and bovine meat, while India opted to stick to its ban on imports of apple, pear, milk and milk products from China.
The discussions were held with visiting officials from the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of China (AQSIQ) the body in charge of national quality, metrology, entry-exit commodity inspection, entry-exit health quarantine, entry-exit animal and plant quarantine, import-export food safety, certification and accreditation, standardisation,– as well as administrative law-enforcement.
India s goods trade deficit with China, which had increased to $52.7 billion in 2015-16 from just $1.1 billion in 2003-04, eased marginally to $51.1 billion in 2016-17.
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(Adapted from The Hindu)
18. What next Sikkim trijunction?(Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper II)
Indian and Chinese troops have stood face-to-face on the Dolam plateau for nearly a month now. Neither side has seemed willing to back off. Where can things go from here? There are six possible scenarios.
The standoff began on June 16, when Indian soldiers moved on to the Doklam plateau to prevent Chinese soldiers from constructing a road through the area. This area, adjacent to the tri-junction of the borders of India, China and Bhutan, is strategically important for India. Over 300 Indian soldiers have pitched tents opposite the slightly smaller Chinese military unit, with some 100-150 metres separating the two armies.
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What does the future hold?
Scenario 1: India withdraws, China builds the road This is what the Chinese have been demanding aggressively. Their argument is that Indian soldiers are in Chinese territory the Indians contend that it is Bhutanese territory and should withdraw from the area before any talks take place. But realising the threat the Chinese road will pose to the Jampheri Ridge, there is little chance that — India will withdraw unilaterally. There are no problems— of logistics, supply chains or turnover of soldiers for India, which can force it to back off. A unilateral withdrawal will also mean a loss of face for New Delhi.
Unlikely.
Scenario 2: China withdraws unilaterally, India stays. This is the Indian demand that China must stop building the road and withdraw from the area unilaterally. That they are only two kilometres short of Jampheri Ridge, and already south of the Batang La pass, which India claims is the tri-junction— of borders, seems to have emboldened them.
Unlikely.
Scenario 3: Neither side withdraws, stalemate continues Both armies could choose to stay on until something gives. This means status quo with a prolonged stalemate of the kind that happened in 1987, when the two sides were face to face for several months in the Sumdorong Chu valley in Arunachal Pradesh. —
Possible.
Scenario 4: Diplomacy works, both sides withdraw India and China haven t fired a shot on their border for half a decade, and most standoffs have been resolved by diplomatic means. This is how the Chumar incursion was resolved in 2014, as was the Depsang incident in 2013.
Likely.
Scenario 5: Escalation by China, a limited conflict An escalation by the Chinese on the Doklam plateau itself would be suicidal, as Indian forces dominate that area. It is for this reason that the Chinese forces have not even tried to resume road construction after the Indians stopped them. However, the Chinese could, initiate a limited conflict, perhaps in Ladakh or the Northeast. But as Defence Minister ArunJaitley said, 2017 is not 1962. The Chinese know that as well.
Less likely.
Scenario 6: A full-fledged war One thing: nuclear weapons.
Unlikely.
(Adapted from The Indian Express)
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19. China s new military base at Djibouti (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper II)
What the Chinese have to say about the base? The state-run Global Times focused on the strategic importance of the new facility at the mouth of the Red Sea.
Certainly this is the People s Liberation Army s first overseas base and we will base troops there. It s not a said the paper. commercial resupply point… This base can support Chinese Navy to go farther, so it means a lot, However, the Global Times also said, the main role of the base would be to support Chinese warships on anti- piracy and humanitarian missions in the region. It s not about seeking to control the world, it said.
Significance of a military base and its possible implications China s maritime ambitions, the setting up of the overseas base in eastern Africa suggests a fundamental shift in Beijing s stated policy of no forward deployment . It also raises the possibility of forward deployment at India s doorstep at Pakistan s Gwadar port, where the deployment currently is intended only to protect Chinese workers at the facility. — (Adapted from The Indian Express)
20. PM Modi s visit to Israel (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper II)
Why was the Israel visit historic? When Prime Minister Narendra Modi travelled to Israel this month, it was hailed as the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister since the creation of Israel and India s independence in 1947.
Earlier stand of India on Palestinian Issue
India, in the past, has supported the cause of Palestine, and also became the first State in1988 to recognise Palestine as a separate state.
Why was this visit notable? It was also notable as he became the first senior Indian leader not to visit Palestinian areas or meet with Palestinian officials during the visit, or even mention Palestine publicly, overturning the primacy their cause has received from India over the past seven decades.
What is the significance of PMs visit for Israel? For the Israeli side, the visit from the Indian Prime Minister was in itself a major diplomatic victory as India was one of the first countries to recognise the state of Palestine in 1988.
Given India s consistent support to the recognition of Palestine, Mr. Modi s visit signified even more than the visit of a close ally, like the U.S., and its importance was underscored in the way Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dropped all plans for the three days Mr. Modi was in Israel.
A carefully calculated move
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In a carefully coordinated campaign that began in 2015, the Prime Minister set out to woo all the countries in the region that could have looked suspiciously at India s shift away from traditional support to Palestine, including Iran, Israel s chief rival. In May this year, he invited Mr. Abbas (Palestinian head) and gave him a warm welcome in New Delhi. Finally, the government chose dates for the Israel visit when the Palestinian leadership could definitely not host Mr. Modi, given that Mr. Abbas would be away on foreign visits.
What is the message? 1. Many foreign policy analysts also see Mr. Modi s visit as the ending of India s non-aligned movement (NAM) stance that the NDA government has made a decided shift from, underlined by his decision not to attend the NAM summit in Venezuela last year. 2. The decision to drop Palestine from his itinerary may have historical underpinnings for the BJP-led government as well, as the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) has long proposed closer links between Israel and India.
Hindu Mahasabha president Veer Savarkar broke with Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru by supporting the right of Jews to their homeland in Israel, as did the then RSS chief Golwalkar.
What is the state of Indo-Israeli ties now? In modern times, and especially since India established full diplomatic ties with Israel in 1992, the links between the two countries have run a steadily increasing course of engagement, and Israel is now one of India s top most defence suppliers, while India is Israel s tenth biggest trading partner.
Where does India need from Israel? While most Indians would hesitate at comparisons between Kashmir and Palestine, they see a role for cooperation in counter-terrorism, which is something Israeli forces are acclaimed for, while young Indian students increasingly seek ties with Israel on technology, start-ups and innovations.
It is for all these reasons and more that Mr. Modi and the government decided to forge India s relationship with Israel in exclusion of its previous position on the centrality of the Palestinian question. (Adapted from The Hindu)
21. United Nations Peacekeeping Course for African Partners (UNPCAP-02) Commences at Manekshaw Centre (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper II, III)
The Centre for United Nations Peacekeeping (CUNPK) is conducting jointly with the US, the second edition of United Nations Peacekeeping Course for African Partners (UNPCAP-02) in New Delhi from 17 July to 04 Aug 2017.
About the course: The course is aimed to build and enhance the capacity of the African Troop Contributing Countries to the UN and to further train the trainers from these countries. The course, which revolves around the concept of training the trainers, as stated by the UN, is one of the many steps that India has initiated towards active contribution to peace support activities.
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Course is being attended by officers from 19 countries including India. The students include officers who are currently employed in their respective peacekeeping training centres in African peacekeeping training institutions.
The training incorporates topics on operational and logistical matters, humanitarian issues, thematic topics, Blackboard and table Top exercises and mission briefs. The course is also targeted to assist the student officers to further train officers in their respective countries on the nuances of peacekeeping. Internationally the course is already being seen as a milestone in many ways.
(Adapted from PIB)
22. Bilateral Investment Treaty with Israel(Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper II, III )
Growing trade and investment relations are a strong reason to study India-Israel relations on their own merit. 1. Bilateral merchandise trade increased from $200 million in 1992 to around $4 billion in 2016, an increase of 2,000% in 25 years.
2. In Cumulative foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows to India, there is enormous potential for Israeli investment in fields such as renewable energy and water management (drip irrigation and desalination).
3. Defence production, which is at the heart of the Make in India campaign, is another area with significant potential for Israeli investment, a move that will help India save billions of dollars it currently spends on importing weapons from Israel.
Is an India-Israel BIT(Bilateral Investment Treaty) possible? In 1996, India and Israel signed a BIT. However, this was reportedly terminated by India when it unilaterally discontinued 58 BITs recently. For a new BIT to be negotiated, both sides will have to start afresh.
However, there are challenges given the many fundamental differences Israel and India have on BITs, as outlined in their Model BITs of 2003 and 2016, respectively. 1. The investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) provision that allows foreign investors to bring claims against a host state for alleged treaty breaches at international arbitral forums. Foreign investors prefer international arbitration which is faster and independent over litigating in domestic courts.
The Israeli model— gives an investor the choice —to submit any investment dispute with a state to international arbitration if not resolved within six months through negotiations. The Indian model imposes many procedural and jurisdictional restrictions on an investor s right to bring an ISDS claim like foreign investor having to litigate in domestic courts for five years before pursuing a claim under international law. 2. Israel s model provides a broad asset-based definition of foreign investment that covers both FDI and portfolio investment. The Indian model of 2016 defines investment narrowly as an enterprise (with its assets) that has to possess certain characteristics of investment including the investment having significance for the development .These words are not defined in the BIT of Israel.
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3. Israeli model contains a Most favoured nation (MFN) provision a cornerstone of non-discrimination in international economic relations which is missing in the Indian model. The absence of MFN, from Israel s perspective, would mean that its businesses would have no remedy— under international law if India were to discriminate against it, say, by offering— greater incentives to another defence manufacturer over an Israeli one.
4. Indian model excludes taxation altogether from the purview of the BIT. Thus, the foreign investor cannot bring an ISDS claim even if taxes imposed are confiscatory, discriminatory or unfair. However, in the Israeli model, taxation-related measures are recognised as an exception only to MFN and national treatment provisions.
The World Investment Report 2017 issued by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development also points out that tax-related concerns are a deterrent for some foreign investors to invest in India. Thus, Israeli investors will not be comfortable if taxation is completely outside BIT s purview.
So, Indian position on BITs is very pro-state, offering limited rights and protection to foreign investors. The Israeli position is the opposite.
Way out Both sides should work towards having a BIT that reconciles investment protection with a state s right to regulate. (Adapted from The Hindu)
23. Target Tehran: On USA s sanctions on Iran (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper II)
The U.S. administration s decision to slap sanctions on 18 Iranian individuals and entities, only a day after it certified to Congress that Tehran was compliant with the conditions of the nuclear deal, sums up its strategic resolve in taking on the Islamic Republic and the tactical dilemma it faces while doing so.
US President s dislike for Iran: It is no secret that President Donald Trump has been critical of the Iran nuclear deal, which ended the international sanctions on Tehran in return for curbing its nuclear programme. During the campaign, Mr. Trump had vowed to either kill or renegotiate the agreement.
Why can t US withdraw from the agreement? As President, Trump s options are limited with Iran remaining compliant with the terms of the agreement. More importantly, it is not a bilateral pact. The nuclear deal was reached among seven entities, including the U.S., Russia, Germany and Iran. Any unilateral move to withdraw from the agreement would hurt American interests as European countries are keen on expanding economic ties with Iran.
This explains why a reluctant Mr. Trump has re-certified the dealtwice since his inauguration in January. But on both occasions, he slapped additional sanctions on Iran over its ballistic missile programme and support for terrorism . US return to neo-conservatism
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As all international monitors say Iran remains committed to the deal. The logical next step of the nuclear agreement should have been an overall improvement in relations between the West and Tehran. Barack Obama had set the stage for such a policy overhaul and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani had responded to it, but Mr. Trump, in six months, has taken Washington s Iran policy back to Republican neo-conservatism.
Other adverse actions against Iran Besides sanctions, Mr. Trump has also endorsed the Saudi-led Sunni bloc s attempts to isolate Iran. His policy priorities are now clear. The administration will align with Saudi Arabia and Israel, continue to target Iran through sanctions and even try to undermine the nuclear deal in the long term.
Possible impacts of such policy on US But this policy of containing Iran could backfire as Iran has already established itself as a rising regional power with substantial geopolitical clout.
To stabilise Iraq, the U.S. needs Iran s help. And there won t be a long-lasting peace deal in Syria without Iran s participation and cooperation. Way out If the U.S. is serious about working towards peace and stability in West Asia, it should reciprocate Iran s compliance with the nuclear deal, not punish it through additional sanctions. It should also act as a mediator between Saudi Arabia and Iran, instead of taking sides in a destabilising cold war in West Asia.
(Adapted from The Hindu)
24. Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF) (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper II, III)
About Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF) ICWF, set up in 2009, is aimed at assisting Overseas Indian nationals in times of distress and emergency in the most deserving cases on a means tested basis.
Apart from assisting Indian nationals in distress abroad, ICWF has been a critical support in emergency evacuation of Indian nationals in conflict zones in Libya, Iraq, Yemen, South Sudan and other challenging situations like assistance extended to undocumented Indian workers in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia during the Nitaqat drive in 2013 and the ongoing Amnesty drive in 2017.
The scale and speed of these evacuations and assistance rendered through the Fund has been universally appreciated. It has also created a sense of confidence among the migrant workers going overseas about the support they can expect from India during critical times.
How is ICWF funded? ICWF stands extended to all Indian Missions and Posts abroad and is primarily funded by levying service charge on various consular services rendered by Indian Missions and Posts abroad.
(Adapted from the PIB)
25. Agreements and protocols to protect Holy Shrines in India Pakistan (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper II)
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Pant -Mirza Agreement : Major General Mirza(Pakistan) and Pundit Pant (Indian freedom fighter and 1st Chief Minister of United provinces) had discussions on protecting the holy shrines in both countries in the Pant -Mirza Agreement,1955.
About Bilateral Protocol on Visits to Religious Shrines Visits by nationals of India and Pakistan to mutually agreed list of religious shrines in each other s country are facilitated under the Bilateral Protocol on Visits to Religious Shrines signed in September 1974. This includes visits to shrines of HazratMoinuddinChishti (Ajmer), HazratNizamuddinAuliya (Delhi), Hazrat Amir Khusro (Delhi), HazratMujaddid Alf Sani (Sirhind Sharif) and HazratKhwajaAlauddin Ali Ahmed Sabir (Kalyar Sharif) in India and ShadaniDarbar (HyatPitafi), ShriKatasrajDham (Lahore), Gurudwaras of ShriNankana Sahib (Rawalpindi), ShriPanja Sahib (Rawalpindi) and ShriDera Sahib (Lahore) in Pakistan.
Under the Protocol it is the obligation of the concerned country to make every effort to ensure that the places of worship in the agreed list of shrines under the Protocol are properly maintained and their sanctity preserved.
(Adapted from The PIB)
26. Expatriate Levy by Saudi Arabia (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper II, III)
For the last several years, the Saudi Government has been implementing Saudization programme aimed at reducing unemployment among Saudi nationals and to encourage the private sector to employ greater number of Saudi nationals as well as to reducing reliance on expatriate workers.
Further, against the backdrop of declining oil prices, the Saudi Government has introduced a number of new taxes/VAT so as to augment the sources of government revenue.
About the dependent tax The dependent tax, imposed on expatriates who have dependents living in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia beginning July 1, 2017, is one such measure. This is not India-specific and is applicable to all expatriates residing in the Kingdom. The tax rate is SR 100 (Rs.1,700 approx.) per month on each dependent from the year 2017 onwards. The dependent tax will be increased to SR 200 in 2018, SR 300 in 2019 and SR 400 in 2020 per dependent member of the expatriate family.
As per initial feedback from our Mission, there is no indication of any increase in the families returning to India on account of the dependent tax. However, it needs to be seen whether the annual increase in tax would adversely impact the resident Indian families.
(Adapted from The PIB)
27. India, Japan civil nuclear deal comes into force (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper II, III)
The pact was signed in Tokyo during the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Japan in November 2016. 1. This Agreement is a reflection of the strategic partnership between India and Japan and will pave the way for enhanced cooperation in energy security and clean energy.
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2. It seeks to promote full cooperation between the two countries in the development and uses of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes on a stable, reliable and predictable basis.
Significance of the deal The deal is essential for bringing a network of nuclear energy cooperation for India, especially with the U.S. as prominent American nuclear companies are owned by the Japanese nuclear majors like Toshiba.
(Adapted from The Hindu)
28. Remittances from Abroad (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper III)
As per the World Bank, India is the largest remittance receiving country in the world in 2016. Remittances received by top 4 countries in 2016 are given in table below.
Top Four Remittance-Receiving Countries in the World (US$ billion) 2016 India 62.7 China 61.0 Philippines 29.9 Mexico 28.5
- Source: World Bank. ———————————————— Decline in Remittances As per the World Bank s Migration and Development Brief, for the first time in recent history, remittance flows to developing countries registered a decline for two successive years. India, the largest remittance- receiving country worldwide, led the fall with a decrease of 8.9 per cent in remittance inflows.
What are the possible reasons for decline? Low oil prices and weak economic growth in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries is one of the major reasons for the fall in remittances.
(Adapted from PIB)
29. Why is Iran growing its presence in Iraq? (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper II)
What is Iran doing in Iraq? After the U.S. withdrew its troops from Iraq in 2011, Baghdad became increasingly dependent on Tehran on various avenues, from trade to security, which raised Iran s global profile.
Iran established a Shia corridor stretching from Tehran through Baghdad and Damascus to southern Lebanon where Hezbollah operates. But Iran s strategic calculations came under threat when the Islamic State made inroads into north-western Iraq. What are Iran s concerns with Islamic State entering Iraq?
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The IS, which is anti-Shia, captured Mosul, Iraq s second largest city, in June 2014 and was marching towards Baghdad. Had the IS taken over Baghdad, Iran would not only have lost a friendly regime, but also felt the heat of an anti-Shia jihadist group closer to its borders.
Its focus immediately turned to building Shia militia groups, along with the Iraqi government, to fight the IS in Iraq. These groups, known as Popular Mobilisation Unites, or Al-Hashd al-Shaabi, have played a major role in the liberation of Iraqi cities, such as Ramadi, Fallujah and Mosul, from IS rule.
How did Iran gain from US entry into Iraq? If there s one country in West Asia that benefited from the United States 2003 invasion of Iraq, it was Iran. For Iran, which fought an eight-year-long war with Iraq in 1980-88, Saddam Hussein s regime remained a security concern. In the pre-Iraq war scenario, Syria was the only stable ally of Iran, but both countries were separated by a hostile Iraq. Iran had started building influence inside Iraq through its cross-border cultural and religious links, but even that had limitations as the Saddam regime turned against Iraq s Shias in the aftermath of the first Gulf War. The U.S.-led invasion removed this hostile regime and practically opened the gates of Iraq to an ambitious Iran ruled by Shia clergy.Iran sinfluencegrew in Iraq after the fall of Saddam s regime
Iraq is a Shia-majority country, which Saddam Hussein s secular Ba ath party ruled for decades with an iron fist. When the post-Saddam Iraq held the country s first free elections in 2005, Shia parties, most of which had long-standing relations with Iran, rose to power. Ever since, Iran s influence in Iraq has only grown first as a counterforce to the American occupation and then as a security provider to the Iraqi government. — Why is Iraq crucial for Iran? Iran doesn t have many allies in a region which is dominated by hostile Sunni powers. Iran counters this asymmetry in geopolitical leverage by building influence with non-state actors. Hezbollah, the Lebanese Shia militia, is one of its greatest strategic assets in West Asia.
With a friendly government in Baghdad, Iran not only got a buffer between itself and the Sunni bloc, but also direct access to Syria, which has been a conduit for Iranian supplies for Hezbollah.
Will Iran pull back? Now that the Iraqi government has declared the defeat of the IS, will Iran withdraw its militias and let Baghdad run the country on its own? Given Iran s strategic ambitions and the recent history of its dominance in Iraq, it s unlikely to happen. On the contrary, at a time when the U.S. and the Sunni monarchies in the Gulf are teaming up against Iran, Tehran would try to deepen its relations with countries such as Iraq and Syria and non-state militias such as Hezbollah and Hashd al-Shaabi. Al-Shaabi, comprising some 40 militia groups that are loyal to Tehran, could translate its military influence into political clout, which will be crucial as Iraq goes to the polls next year. This explains why the Iraqi political leadership hardly expresses any views critical of Iran.
(Adapted from The Hindu)
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30. Codex Alimentarius Commission meeting in Geneva (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper II)
In a major recognition of India s efforts to benchmark global spices trade, the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) has adopted three Codex standards for black, white and green pepper, cumin and thyme, paving the way for universal agreement on identifying quality spices in various countries.
The member-countries of CAC, the international food standards-setting body which met in Geneva for its 40th session, unanimously approved the adoption of Codex standards for the three spices, which would facilitate evolving a common standardization process for their global trade and availability.
How Codex standards came to be adopted? The Codex standards were adopted in the wake of India conducting three sessions of Codex Committee on Spices and Culinary Herbs (CCSCH) at Kochi (2014), Goa (2015) and Chennai (2017). The Chennai session succeeded in achieving this consensus. Subsequently, these drafts were placed before the CAC, and it was adopted by consensus with an overwhelming support from the member-countries.
With the adoption of the Codex standards on pepper, cumin and thyme, spices have been included for the first time as commodities that will have such universal standards.
Implications of the move 1. The adoption of the Codex standards would imply that there are now reference points and benchmarks for the member-countries to align their national standards for spices with Codex.
2. It will bring harmony to the global spice trade and ensure availability of high quality, clean and safe spices to the world. It will also benefit the trade from universal agreement to identify good quality spices.
About Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) The Codex Alimentarius is a collection of internationally recognized standards, codes of practice, guidelines, and other recommendations relating to foods, food production, and food safety.
The Codex Alimentarius are prepared by international regulatorybody called Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) established in 1963 by Food and Agricultural organisation and World Health a organisation. Its main aim is to protect health of consumers by setting standards in food trade.
(Adapted from the PIB)
31. Sri Lanka s new Hambantota deal (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper II)
The government of Prime Minister Ranil Wickreme Singhe finalised an agreement to sell an 80% stake in the port s operations for $ 1.1 billion to China Merchant Ports Holding Company Ltd, which also has the contract for the Colombo Port. Reason behind the move Sri Lanka took this step to service the debt on the loan it took from Exim Bank China to build the port, the repayment amounting to $ 60 million annually.
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The time line The port began commercial operations in November 2011. By 2016-end, its cumulative losses were estimated at over SL Rs 450 billion ($ 3 billion).
Not far from Hambantota, in the coastal town of Mattala, is a second giant lossmaking project a $ 209 million international airport, also named after Rajapakse. It is the only airport in Sri Lanka where an Airbus A380, the world s largest passenger aircraft, can land. It was built by the Chinese company, with— the Exim Bank of China lending $ 190 million. Details of the agreement The Chinese state-run firm China Merchants Port Holdings was to get 80% of the stake in Hambantota Port for 99 years. The Chinese state-run firm was to invest $ 1.08 billion in the development of the port and associated activities.
Under fire specifically was a related land deal under which 50 sq km (some 15,000 acres) was to be given to Chinese companies to set up factories in a special economic zone.
What were the expectations fromgovernment of Sri Lanka? When Wickremesinghe (PM) took office in August 2015, six months after Sri Lanka voted in President MaithripalaSirisena, it was expected that the duo would correct the China tilt in Sri Lanka s foreign policy, and put relations with India on a firmer footing. Wickremesinghe did not altogether cancel all the Chinese infrastructure projects, including the controversial offshore Colombo Port city deal. But Wickremesinghe has said he would do what is in Sri Lanka s best interests , and has been clear that in order to energise the Sri Lankan economy, he needs a country with deep pockets. China has those pockets, not India. Sri Lanka believes it stands to benefit from One Belt One Road.
(Adapted from The Indian Express)
32. Progress of Rail Project in Border Areas (Relevant for GS Prelims, GS Mains Paper II)
State of Imphal to Morek railway line Reconnaissance Engineering-cum-Traffic Survey for a new Broad Gauge (BG) line from Imphal (India) to Moreh (Mynmar) was completed in 2014-15. As per survey, cost of the project was assessed as Rs. 5428.46 crore. The portion Imphal to Moreh is in India and from Tamu to Kalay is in Myanmar. The project is not yet sanctioned.
State of Agartala-Akhaura rail link Agartala-Akhaura new line project is 15.06 km out of which 5.05 km falls in India and 10.01 km falls in Bangladesh. Bangladesh portion is funded by Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and Indian Portion is being funded by Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER).
An MoU has been signed between Government of India and Bangladesh. So far as Bangladesh portion is concerned, Detailed Project Report has been submitted by IRCON to MEA for further approval of Government of Bangladesh.
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Completion of projects depends on many factors such as land acquisition, forestry and wild life clearances, shifting of services, construction of road over and road under bridges, law and order etc. As many of these factors are not within the control of Railways, it is not feasible to fix timelines for all the projects
(Adapted from PIB)
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Economics
1. Union Agriculture Minister reviews the progress of two flagship schemes – National Agricultural Markets (E-Names) and Soil Health Card (Relevant for GS Prelims, GS Mains Paper II)
9 crore Soil Health Cards distributed to the farmers so far: Shri Singh
Centre making efforts to make e-NAM scheme successful: Shri Singh
Shri Radha Mohan Singh addresses a meeting of Agriculture Minister from States/UTs In this meeting, the progress of two flagship schemes National Agricultural Markets (E-Names) and Soil Health Card was reviewed. – PM vision to double farmer s income Shri Radha Mohan Singh said that Prime Minister, Narendra Modi s dream is to double farmers income by 2022. Shri Singh informed that the first pillar is that the cost of production should be reduced and productivity should be increased. The second pillar is that farmers need to diversify and adopt other agricultural activities such as animal husbandry, poultry, goat rearing, bee keeping, and timber plantation. The third and the most important pillar is that farmers get regulated markets close to their farms to sell their produce and earn profitable returns.
Soil Health card scheme Union Agriculture Minister pointed out that Soil Health Card (SHC) Scheme is a flagship scheme of the Government to promote the use of fertilisers based on analysis of Soil Health and enable farmers to get maximum yields at lower cost with minimum damage to the ecosystem.
The central Government launched this scheme in February 2015 to provide SHC to more than 12 crore farmers once every 2 years. Comprehensive testing of soil samples on 12 parameters including the status of micro-nutrients is being carried out for each and every soil sample under the scheme. The first cycle (2015- 17) of the scheme is expected to be completed by July 2017. Shri Singh said that States have reported 100% collection of soil sample i.e. 253 lakh soil samples and testing of 244 lakh soil samples. So far 9 crore soil health cards have been distributed to farmers. e-NAM In order to double the income of the farmers, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved the National Agricultural Markets (e-NAM) scheme on July 1, 2015, with a budget allocation of Rs.200 crore. As part of the pilot project, 21 Mandis of 8 states were linked to e-National Agricultural Markets (e-NAM) Scheme on 14/04/2016. This scheme provides an online portal to the farmers for electronic trading and provides a transparent market enabling price discovery and competition. Under the scheme, each Mandi is provided assistance of Rs. 30 lakh for the purpose of preparing necessary infrastructure in the integrated regulated markets. In this year s budget, this amount has been increased to Rs.75 lakh.
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The main objective of this scheme is to give farmers access to prices of different Mandis and facility to sell their products in a transparent manner to those who offer the best price. One important component of this scheme is that the farmer gets the value of his yield according to the quality as the quality is checked before the electronic bidding.
For the success of this scheme, the State Governments need to make genuine efforts and the Ministers play a key role in this. e-NAM is an important milestone in promoting digital India and digitisation programs of the government.
2017 Amendment to APMC act Union Agriculture Minister said in the changing scenario, the government has taken an active step in the interest of the farmers by devising a new model called Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) Act and it was inaugurated on 24/04/2017. APMC Act 2017 provides the facility of creating private market yards and farmer-consumer markets. Now, if the states actively enforce the act, it will be easier for the farmers to have a liberal market available as this Act is based on the model of ease of doing business to encourage direct marketing. (Adapted from PIB)
2. MERIT app and e-Bidding portal for utilization of domestic coal in IPP Power Stations for reducing the cost of power generation launched (Relevant for GS Prelims, GS Mains Paper II)
Optimum utilization of Coal through these app/ web portal would save the consumer close to Rs. 20,000 crores five years down the line: Shri Piyush Goyal
Union Minister of State (IC) for Power, Coal, New & Renewable Energy and Mines, Shri Piyush Goyal launched here today the MERIT app (Merit Order Despatch of Electricity for Rejuvenation of Income and Transparency) and the e-bidding portal for providing e-Bidding solution to States to select Independent Power Producers (IPPs) for procurement of power by transferring their domestic coal under the scheme of flexibility in utilization of domestic coal.
The app and the web portal would result in optimum utilization of Coal which would save the consumer close to Rs. 20,000 crores five years down the line, the Minister added.
In sync with Tariff Policy, 2016 The Tariff Policy, 2016 provides that the States/DISCOMs shall follow merit order for procurement of power and there should be uniformity in merit order mechanism. Accordingly, Merit Order Dispatch Committee which was constituted in October 2016 with Chairperson, Central Electricity Authority (CEA) chairperson.
The recommendations of the Committee have been prepared with regard to Transparency in Merit Order operations and promotion of Renewables through effective implementation of Must-Run status of Renewables. Most states follow merit order operation; however, details in this regard need to be made transparently available. Hence, there was a need to have a mechanism to quantify deviation from merit order and check its reasonableness. The adherence to merit order optimizes the power procurement cost and benefits both utility and ultimate consumer.
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In this direction, a web portal and mobile apps for Merit Order Despatch of Electricity (MERIT) have been developed in association with POSOCO. The app displays extensive array of information regarding the merit order such as daily state-wise marginal variable costs of all generators, daily source-wise power purchases of respective states/UTs with source-wise fixed and variable costs, energy volumes and purchase prices. The app also gives information regarding reasons for deviation from merit order such as must run conditions, transmission constraints etc.
(Adapted from PIB)
3. Cabinet approves SASEC Road Connectivity Investment Program – (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains paper II, III)
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has given its approval for upgradation and widening of 65 kms of Imphal-Moreh Section of NH-39 in Manipur at a cost of Rs. 1630.29 crores.
Why is road connectivity so important for Manipur? Manipur being a landlocked state with almost 90% of the area under difficult terrain presently has only road transport as a means of mass transport system within the state. Hence development of the road infrastructure is of paramount importance to improve connectivity and progress of the State.
How is the project being funded? The project is being developed with ADB s loan assistance under the South Asian Sub-Regional Economic Cooperation (SASEC) Road Connectivity Investment Program which aims at upgradation of road infrastructure in Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal and India (BBIN) in order to improve the regional connectivity among BBIN nations.
The project corridor is also a part of the Asian Highway No. 01 (AH01) and acts as India s Gateway to the East.
(Adapted from the Pib.nic.in)
4. Development of Vizag-Chennai Industrial Corridor (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper II, III)
Government of India gave its concurrence for engaging Asian Development Bank (ADB) for carrying out feasibility study and preparing the Conceptual Development Plan (CDP) for East Coast Economic Corridor (ECEC) linking Kolkata in East through Chennai to Tuticorin in South in a phased manner in May, 2014.
Government of Andhra Pradesh (GoAP) is implementing the project.
Aid for the project In September 2016, ADB approved US $631 million (loans and grants) for VCIC. GoAP is to provide counterpart funding of US $215 million.
(Adapted from The PIB)
5. A welcome sale: Air India disinvestment (Relevant for GS Prelims, GS Mains Paper III)
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With the Union Cabinet s in-principle approval for the sale of Air India and five of its subsidiaries, a long- standing demand on the reform checklist has been ticked. Why was decision taken for disinvestment? The rationale for the government to shovel in huge sums of money to keep the loss-making airline afloat was weakening by the year. Today, such life support was being given when competing private airlines already cater to well over 85% of the air travel demand in the country.
Government money that keeps Air India from going bankrupt would be much better used to fund important social and infrastructure programmes that are starved of precious capital each year.
Air India has been surviving on a Rs. 30,000-crore bailout package put together by the United Progressive Alliance government in 2012 to help its turnaround, and the debt relief provided by public sector banks. The airline has a debt load of over Rs. 50,000 crore on its books, and it is estimated that even a well-executed asset sale may not fully cover its present liabilities.
Implication on people So in the event of a sale, taxpayers may have to foot at least some part of the loss either directly in case the government pays off the airline s creditors, or indirectly if the public sector banks write off their loans to the airline. However, it is more likely that the government may divest its three— profit-making subsidiaries separately, with the proceeds going to Air India to help deal with its liabilities.
(Adapted from The Hindu)
6. Two commodity exchanges merge (Relevant for GS prelims, GS Mains Paper III)
NMCE-ICEX union to create third-largest commodities exchange in the country National Multi Commodity Exchange (NMCE), India s first de-mutualised online national multi-commodities exchange, will merge with the Indian Commodity Exchange (ICEX).The proposed merger will create the country s third-largest commodities exchange.
Swap ratio As per the agreed swap ratio, ICEX shareholders will hold 62.8% stake and NMCE shareholders 37.2% stake in ICEX, post merger, which is subject to required regulatory approvals. The merger is expected to be completed by December 2017.
About ICEX ICEX is a deemed recognised stock exchange providing a nationwide online trading platform in commodity derivatives. It has put in place assaying and warehousing facilities in order to facilitate deliveries. Reliance Capital is its largest investor.
About NMCE NMCE is the first de-mutualised, online multi-commodity exchange in India, set up in October 2002.
(Adapted from The Hindu)
7. NSE co-location case serious, says SEBI (Relevant for GS Prelims, GS Mains Paper III)
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The leading stock exchange had submitted to SEBI its draft prospectus for the public offer in December, but the approval has been hanging fire due to issues surrounding the ongoing probe into the NSE co-location case, where some brokers allegedly got preferential access to the exchange s systems.
According to SEBI chairperson, National Stock Exchange (NSE) may have to refile papers for its Rs. 10,000- crore IPO after addressing issues related to alleged preferential access given to some brokers.
In the case, SEBI wants its forensic audit to quantify unlawful gains made by some brokers, even as the exchange is trying to reach a settlement of the case through consent mechanism.
(Adapted from The Hindu)
8. RBI fixes customer liability for unauthorised transactions (Relevant for GS Prelims, GS Mains Paper III)
The maximum liability of account holders The liability will be Rs 5,000 for Savings Bank accounts and pre-paid payment instruments and gift cards and for current/ cash credit/ overdraft accounts of MSMEs.
Moreover, the liability will be Rs 10,000 for current accounts/ cash credit/ overdraft accounts of individuals with annual average balance (during 365 days preceding the incidence of fraud)/ limit up to Rs 25 lakh and credit cards with limit up to Rs 5 lakh.
Liability of Banks The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) said a customer will be entitled to zero liability when unauthorised transaction occurs as a result of contributory fraud, negligence or deficiency on the part of the bank irrespective of whether or not the transaction is reported by the customer.
No liability in case of problem with system In a notification to commercial banks, the RBI said there will be zero liability in the case of third-party breach where the deficiency lies neither with the bank nor with the customer but lies elsewhere in the system, and the customer notifies the bank within three working days of receiving the communication from the bank regarding the unauthorised transaction. For cases reported within four to seven days, the liability will be the transaction value or the amount stipulated for various accounts, whichever is lower and beyond seven working days, the liability will be as per bank s board approved policy.
Details A customer will have limited liability for the loss in cases where the loss is due to negligence by a customer, such as where he has shared the payment credentials,the customer will bear the entire loss until he reports the unauthorised transaction to the bank. Any loss occurring after the reporting of the unauthorised transaction will be borne by the bank, the RBI said in the notification Customer protection limiting liability of customers in unauthorised electronic banking transactions . – (Adapted from The Indian Express)
9. Bitcoin — to ban or not to? (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS mains paper III)
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The government is considering the introduction of a regulatory regime for virtual or crypto-currencies, such as Bitcoin, that would enable the levy of the Goods and Services Tax on their sale.
What is Crypto-currency? Crypto-currency is a digital currency that allows transacting parties to remain anonymous while confirming the transaction is valid. It is not owned or controlled by any institution governments or private.
There are multiple such currencies Bitcoin, Ethereum and Ripple are– some of the popular ones. Currently, they are neither illegal nor legal in India. One bitcoin today is worth as much as 60 grams of gold. The market cap for all crypto-currencies has just— crossed $100 billion, with most of the increase coming in the past few months.
Why were Bitcoins recently in news? Bitcoins were in the news recently when during the two global cyber ransomware attacks WannaCry and Petya attackers sought about $300 in bitcoin as ransom. Crypto-currency can also be used for a lot of legal activities depending of which retailers accept such currency. — — Bitcoin trade may come under SEBI
Why trading of bitcoins is being considered to come under SEBI? The idea is to treat such currency in a manner similar to gold sold digitally, so that it can be traded on registered exchanges in a bid to promote a formal tax base, while keeping a tab on their use for illegal activities such as money laundering, terror funding and drug trafficking.
(Adapted from The Hindu)
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10. Stakeholders discuss ways to promote coastal shipping and inland navigation under Sagarmala Programme at Bhubaneswar (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS mains paper III)
A National Level Workshop titled Accelerating Sagarmala Implementation Promoting Coastal Shipping and Inland Navigation in India was organized by the Ministry of Shipping and Indian Chamber of Commerce at Bhubaneswar in association with Paradip Port Trust today. – The focus was to bring all the port and maritime infrastructure stakeholders of the SagarmalaProgramme to deliberate and discuss challenges and incentives for promoting Coastal Shipping and Inland Navigation in India.
About Sagarmala Programme: Sagar Mala project is a initiative of the Government of India to transform the existing Ports into modern world class Ports and integrate the development of the Ports, the Industrial clusters and hinterland and efficient evacuation systems through road, rail, inland and coastal waterways resulting in Ports becoming the drivers of economic activity in coastal areas.
(Adapted from PIB)
11. Retail inflation on a record low (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper III)
The latest Consumer Price Index data show headline retail inflation has decelerated to a record low of 1.54% in June. The inflation level below the 2% level has led to calls for the RBI to support economic growth by cutting interest rates.
Core inflation, which does not include the relatively volatile food and fuel prices, has also trended lower and eased below 4% for the first time in at least five years.
And with the latest industrial output data from May reflecting weaknesses in key sectors like capital goods and consumer durables, the reduction in interest rates could help increase both investment and consumer demand. Reduction in interest rates leads to cheap money in hand of people, leading to higher investment and expenditure.
However, RBI is not taking immediate steps to reduce inflation rates on account of following reasons:
1. The low rate of inflation is on account of high inflation rate in the last years leading to base rate effect.
2. The impact from the July 1 introduction of the Goods and Services Tax, for instance, will begin to feed into prices only over the coming months based on the initial anecdotal trends in the prices of various services, there could be upward pressure on core inflation. — 3. The payment of increased allowances under the Seventh Central Pay Commission s award, which came into effect from the beginning of this month, could also start to transmit into higher demand and consequently high prices.
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4. Fiscally expansive measures taken by several State governments to address farmers demands for debt relief could pose a tail risk by triggering generalised inflation over time. 5. Restoration of the health of the banking sector, a key caveat for ensuring effective transmission of monetary policy, is as yet far from being close to a fruitful outcome.
Ultimately, the RBI will have to see whether the current trend in inflation is likely to remain durable enough so that it doesn t end up taking a wrong decision of reducing interest rates on the basis of short term trends.
(Adapted from The Hindu)
12. India ranks 116 out of 157 nations on SDG index (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper III)
India is ranked 116 out of 157 nations on a global index that assesses the performance of countries towards achieving the ambitious sustainable development goals (SDGs).
The SDG Index and Dashboards Report produced by the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) and the Bertelsmann Stiftung shows that world leaders need to strengthen their joint efforts to realise the 17 global goals.
What are the main obstacles in achieving global goals? Not only does a rising trend of nationalism and protectionism impede the implementation of the goals, but as the report shows, industrialised countries are not serving as role models . It said many of the richest countries in the world are nowhere near achieving the global policy objectives but also deteriorate the implementation process for poorer countries because of negative spillover effects.
One of the greatest obstacles to achieving the global goals for high-income countries are poor performances regarding sustainable consumption and production. All countries that score lowest on electronic-waste generation, for example, are high-income countries, it said.
Salient features of the report 1. The report said that the countries which are closest to fulfilling the goals are not the biggest economies but comparably small, developed countries.
2. Sweden leads the list, followed by Denmark and Finland. Among the G7 countries, only Germany and France can be found among the top ten performers. The United States ranks 42nd on the Index, while Russia and China rank 62nd and 71st respectively.
India is ranked 116th on the index with a score of 58.1, behind countries such as Nepal, Iran, Sri Lanka, Bhutan and China. Pakistan is ranked 122.
The SDG Index ranks countries based on their performance across the 17 Sustainable Development Goals.
(Adapted from The Economic Times)
13. EU, India set up fund for investments (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper II, III)
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European Union (EU) and India announced the establishment of an Investment Facilitation Mechanism (IFM) for EU investments in India.
The mechanism will allow for a close coordination between the European Union and the Government of India with an aim to promote and facilitate EU investment in India.
IFM will cover new investors as well as those already established in India. As part of the IFM, the EU Delegation to India and the DIPP will hold regular high level meetings to assess and facilitate ease of doing business for EU investors in India. This will include identifying and putting in place solutions to procedural impediments faced by EU companies and investors in establishing or running their operations in India.
Invest India, the Indian government s official Investment Promotion and Facilitation Agency, will also be part of the IFM. It will create a single-window entry point for EU companies that need assistance for their investments at the central or state level. The DIPP will also facilitate participation of other relevant ministries and authorities on a case-to-case basis.
Implications on India 1. The EU is the largest foreign investor in India and this initiative helps ensuring a more robust, effective and predictable business environment for the EU investors. 2. Ease of doing business is a fundamental priority of the Indian Government s Make in India Campaign and the establishment of IFM for facilitating EU investments in India is another step to achieve this goal. 3. Along with being the first trade partner in goods and services, EU is one of the biggest provider of foreign investment in India. There are currently more than 6,000 EU companies present in India, providing direct and indirect employment to over 6 million people.
(Adapted from the Hindu)
14. Divestment of Air India (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper III)
The Union Cabinet gave its in-principle nod to divest stakes in Air India a wholly owned government airline. The Cabinet decided to go for Air India s strategic disinvestment, which means the government is willing to shed a substantial portion of its stake and hand over the management— of the ailing airline to the private sector.
The Cabinet also approved strategic disinvestment in five of Air India s subsidiaries its Maintenance, Repair and overhauling unit (MRO unit) Air India Engineering Services (AIESL), ground handling arm Air India Transport Services, Air India Charters which operates Air India Express and Airline— Allied Services which operates Alliance Air and Hotel Corporation of India (which owns Centaur Hotels).
Background NITI Aayog s recommendation on strategic disinvestment of Central public sector units, including Air India, was the immediate trigger for its stake sale. In its report earlier this year, the NITI Aayog recommended an outright sale of Air India.
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Reasons behind disinvestment of Air India 1. Air India has not registered profit since over a decade after the merger of the erstwhile Indian Airlines (domestic operations) with Air India (international operations) in 2007.
2. The primary reason for Air India s disinvestment was the government s inability to cope with its debt of Rs. 52,000 crore. Around Rs. 22,000 crore of the total debt accounts for aircraft acquisition loan and the rest is related to debt for meeting its daily and operational expenses.
3. Air India s market share has also eroded rapidly over the years due to competition from private players from 19.4% in 2013 to around 13.3% in May 2017 in the domestic sector, which made it unattractive to continue running its operations. — — (Adapted from The Hindu)
15. Record production of food grains in 2016-17 and all previous records were broken (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper III)
As per the Estimates, food grain production in the country has increased to 273 MT in 2016-17, oil seeds to 32.5 MT, and sugarcane to 306 MT. Fruits & Vegetable production has increased to 287 MT.
(Adapted from the PIB)
16. Rising Sensex: what are the reasons behind this?/ All you need to know about the blooming share market in India (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper III)
The benchmark index has risen by 5,500 points in the last six-and-a-half months.
The BSE Sensex has gone from 26,500 at the beginning of the year to 32,000 now. How have other major global indices performed in comparison?
The Sensex and Nifty, India s benchmark indices, have risen by 20% since the beginning of the year among the highest in the world. — India s market capitalisation (the total value of all stocks listed in the country) has now crossed $ 2 trillion; the nation s stock market is now the world s ninth biggest and is closing the gap with Germany and Canada. From where is the liquidity coming to power the markets? Foreign central banks keep a loose monetary policy and buy financial assets. Some part of that money is finding its way into India too.
Internally, a lot of domestic savings is flowing to mutual funds, which too are buying. Therefore, both foreign portfolio investors and domestic institutional investors the two largest categories have been buying consistently. — — What are the reasons behind the confidence? Despite all other factors, India is still one of the fastest growing big economies in the world, with the potential to do more. The current account deficit and fiscal deficit are under control. Retail inflation has fallen to 1.54%.
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The demonetisation exercise has not scarred the economy very much. The government is focusing on ease of doing business and implementing crucial reforms such as the Goods and Services Tax (GST). All these factors could push up the growth rate for Indian companies and the economy in general, is the belief.
Despite the economy growing and stock markets booming, the rate of job creation remains extremely slow. Is there a contradiction here? The primary reason for low job creation in the country could be due to continued weakness in two of the most labour intensive sectors manufacturing and construction.
How best can the ordinary investor— take advantage of the current situation? Investors would do well to study the stocks before buying. A better way to invest depending on a person s risk appetite is to invest in a systematic investment plan in a mutual fund. — (Adapted from— The Indian Express)
17. Auto Mission Policy (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper III)
The Department of Heavy Industry has finalised the Automotive Mission plan 2016-26 (AMP 2026) jointly with Indian Automobile Industries after series of consultations with other stakeholders including Government departments including Ministry of Road, Transport and Highways to achieve following objectives. i. To propel the Indian Automotive industry to become the engine of the Make in India programme. ii. To make the Indian Automotive Industry a significant contributor to the Skill India programme. iii. Promote safe, efficient and comfortable mobility for every person in the country, with a check on environmental protection and affordability through both public and personal transport options. iv. To seek increase net exports of the Indian Automotive industry several fold. v. Promote comprehensive and stable policy dispensation for all regulations impacting the industry.
AMP 2026 seeks to define the path of evolution of the automotive ecosystem in India including specific regulations and policies that govern research, design, technology, testing, manufacturing, imports/exports, sales, use, repair, and recycling of automotive vehicles, components and services. This includes new technologies like electric vehicles and associated infrastructure and new fuel efficiency regulations as well.
(Adapted from PIB)
18. Internal Advisory Committee (IAC) of Reserve Bank of India(Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper III )
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has constituted an Internal Advisory Committee (IAC), which arrived at an objective, non-discretionary criterion for referring accounts for resolution under Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (IBC).
What were the recommendations of Internal Advisory Committee (IAC)?
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In particular, the IAC recommended for IBC reference all accounts with outstanding amount greater than Rs.5000 crore and with 60% or more classified as non-performing by banks as of March 31, 2016.
IAC recommended that banks should finalize a resolution plan within six months.
In cases where a viable resolution plan is not agreed upon within six months, banks should be required to file for insolvency proceedings under the IBC.
Action taken by RBI Accordingly, Reserve Bank of India has issued directions to certain banks for referring 12 accounts, qualifying under the aforesaid criteria, to initiate insolvency process under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016.
(Adapted from the PIB)
19. The stock market surge (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper III)
Why is the stock market doing so well? The BSE Sensex and the NSE Nifty are at record high levels, gaining well over 20% this year. The belief is that high economic growth should lead to higher earnings, thus supporting higher stock prices. But other stock markets across the globe have experienced equally impressive gains. So the present bull run could be better explained by the flow of huge capital into the stock market.
How is liquidity affecting the market? Central banks around the globe have been on a money-printing spree since the crisis of 2007-08, which has distorted the prices of financial securities. New money pouring into the capital markets has bid up the prices of various securities, including bonds and stocks.
What are the riskiest stocks? Mid-cap and small-cap stocks have seen a greater percentage increase in their prices, thanks to investors aggressively pricing in future earnings growth. If future earnings fail to keep up with expectations, already factored into their prices, we could see a sharp fall in their prices.
There is significant risk involved here as many of these companies lack a strong track record of sustainable earnings, which increases the chances of an earnings surprise in the future.
Is a serious crash imminent? Corporate earnings have failed to recover sufficiently to keep up with rising prices, so that is one major risk. A rise in interest rates is another risk, as when central banks stop pouring money into the market, it could affect stock prices adversely.
(Adapted from The Hindu)
20. IRDAI to be a signatory to International Association of Insurance Supervisors (IAIS) via Multilateral Memorandum of Understanding (MMoU)(Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper III )
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The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister ShriNarendraModi has given its ex-post facto approval for IRDAI s admission as a signatory to International Association of Insurance Supervisors (IAIS), Multilateral Memorandum of Understanding (MMoU). What is The International Association of Insurance ? The International Association of Insurance Supervisors is a global framework for cooperation and information exchange between insurance supervisors.
International Association of Insurance Supervisors, Multilateral Memorandum of Understanding is a statement of its signatories intent to cooperate in the Field of information exchange as well as procedure for handling information requests. What is the need to become a member of (IAIS), (MMoU) ? With increasing integration of financial market and growing number of internationally active insurance companies there is an increased need for mutual cooperation and information exchange between insurance industry supervisors. In this background the IRDAI had become a signatory member of the International Association of Insurance Supervisors, Multilateral Memorandum of Understanding.
Benefits of being a signatory to Multilateral Memorandum of Understanding
In the absence of any bilateral agreements the IAIS, MMoU provides a formal basis for cooperation and information exchange between the Signatory Authorities regarding the supervision of insurance companies where cross-border aspects arise. The scope of the IAIS MMoU is wider than the existing agreements as this agreement also provides for supervision of other regulated entities such as insurance intermediaries under Anti Money Laundering, (AML) and Combating the Finance of Terrorism (CFT).
(Adapted from the PIB)
21. Rail Development Authority (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper III)
What is the objective behind forming Rail Development Authority? The objective underlying RDA is to get expert advice for informed decisions on: (i) Pricing of services commensurate with costs. (ii) Suggest measures for enhancement of Non Fare Revenue. (iii) Protection of consumer interests, by ensuring quality of service and cost optimization. (iv) Promoting competition, efficiency and economy. (v) Encouraging market development and participation of stakeholders in the rail sector and for ensuring a fair deal to the stakeholders and customers. (vi) Creating positive environment for investment. (vii) Benchmarking of service standards against international norms and specify and enforce standards with respect to the quality, continuity and reliability of services provided by them. (viii) Providing framework for non-discriminatory open access to the Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC) infrastructure and others in future. (ix) Suggesting measures to absorb new technologies for achieving desired efficiency and performance standards. (x) Suggesting measures for human resource development to achieve any of its stated objectives.
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Background The Union Cabinet approved setting up the rail regulator responsible for recommending passenger fares, setting performance standards for rail operations and creating a level playing policy for private sector participation.
Regulator s structure Government has approved formation of a Rail Development Authority (RDA) comprising Chairman and three Members.
The regulator will, however, not involve itself in policy making of the Indian Railways, operations and maintenance of the rail system, financial management, setting technical standards and compliance of safety standards, the resolution said.
It clarified that the regulator would only make recommendations on tariff and not impose a tariff on the Indian Railways.
Primary reason behind formation of regulator The Authority s primary functions will be to recommend tariff commensurate with costs. This will facilitate in fixing fair tariffs for various services provided by railways. How were fares fixed earlier? Central government has been fixing the fares mostly based on political considerations in the past.
(Adapted from The PIB)
22. FM releases National Trade Facilitation Action Plan (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper III)
The Union Minister of Finance, Defence and Corporate Affairs, ShriArunJaitley said that the entry into force of the WTO-Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) in February, 2017 is a major milestone for the global trading system. He was speaking after releasing the National Trade Facilitation Action Plan (NTFAP).
About the National Trade Facilitation Action Plan 1. The Finance Minister further added that this Action Plan gives a time bound map, not only for implementing TFA, but also for India s initiatives for trade facilitation and Ease of Doing Business which goes beyond TFA. 2. The National Action Plan aims to transform cross border clearance ecosystem through efficient, transparent, risk based, co-ordinated, digital, seamless and technology driven procedures which are supported by state-of-the-art sea ports, airports and land borders.
3. The objectives to be achieved by National Action Plan are improvement in ease of doing business by reduction in cargo release time and cost, move towards paperless regulatory environment, transparent and predictable legal regime and improved investment climate through better infrastructure.
4. The Co-ordination among all the stakeholders is the key to achieve the objective of Trade facilitation.
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Which sectors are covered under the plan? The Action Plan not only covers the activities coming under the TFA but they go beyond the ambit of TFA per se, which have been defined as TFA Plus category.
The Action Plan covers many activities in the areas of infrastructure augmentation, particularly the road and rail infrastructures leading to ports and the infrastructure within ports, airports, ICDs, Land Customs stations, across all stakeholders for which various ministries like Shipping, Civil Aviation, Railways, Road transport and Highways, Home Affairs, Finance.
All actions covered under the plan have been categorized by prioritizing the activities into short term, midterm and long term.
Who would monitor the plan? The National Plan would be monitored by the Steering Committee (the operational arm of the NCTF) chaired by the Revenue Secretary and the Commerce Secretary. The plan would be reviewed by the Cabinet Secretary.
What is Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA)? The TFA is the WTO s first-ever multilateral accord that aims to simplify customs regulations for the cross- border movement of goods. It was outcome of WTO s 9th Bali (Indonesia) ministerial package of 2013. The agreement includes 1. Provisions for Lowering import tariffs and agricultural subsidies: It will make it easier for developing countries to trade with the developed world in global markets.
2. Abolish hard import quotas: Developed countries would abolish hard import quotas on agricultural products from the developing world and instead would only be allowed to charge tariffs on amount of agricultural imports exceeding specific limits.
3. Reduction in red tape at international borders: It aims to reduce red-tapism to facilitate trade by reforming customs bureaucracies and formalities.
Impact of TFA in goods By 2030 the (TFA in Goods) Agreement could add 2.7% points per year to world trade growth and more than half a percentage point per year to world GDP growth. This impact would be greater than the elimination of all existing tariffs around the world.
Benefits of TFA in goods 1. TFA in Goods aims to streamline, simplify and standardise customs procedures. It will help to cut trade costs around the world.
2. In India, it will lead to effective functioning of ports and reduce transaction costs. Logistics will improve, goods will move faster. Besides, since all the ports will be connected electronically, we will have export and import data on a real time basis.
(Adapted from PIB)
23. The stock market surge (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper III)
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Why is the stock market doing so well? The BSE Sensex and the NSE Nifty are at record high levels, gaining well over 20% this year. The belief is that high economic growth should lead to higher earnings, thus supporting higher stock prices. But other stock markets across the globe have experienced equally impressive gains. So the present bull run could be better explained by the flow of huge capital into the stock market.
How is liquidity affecting the market? Central banks around the globe have been on a money-printing spree since the crisis of 2007-08, which has distorted the prices of financial securities. New money pouring into the capital markets has bid up the prices of various securities, including bonds and stocks.
What are the riskiest stocks? Mid-cap and small-cap stocks have seen a greater percentage increase in their prices, thanks to investors aggressively pricing in future earnings growth. If future earnings fail to keep up with expectations, already factored into their prices, we could see a sharp fall in their prices.
There is significant risk involved here as many of these companies lack a strong track record of sustainable earnings, which increases the chances of an earnings surprise in the future.
Is a serious crash imminent? Corporate earnings have failed to recover sufficiently to keep up with rising prices, so that is one major risk. A rise in interest rates is another risk, as when central banks stop pouring money into the market, it could affect stock prices adversely.
(Adapted from The Hindu)
24. The Goods and Services Tax Network and the Central Board of Direct Taxes to share data (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper III)
The Goods and Services Tax Network and the Central Board of Direct Taxes will soon join hands to share data to stop tax evasion.
Small vendors should also register Vendors from whom small businessmen buy products or services are too small to be in GST, but for businesses to get input tax credits, the vendors must be registered. So, even those not eligible for GST have register.
We had done a study of the state VAT and we found that 37% of the taxpayers registered were below the Rs. 5 lakh threshold. They had registered voluntarily precisely for this reason because manufacturers and wholesalers would buy from them only if they were registered so that they could utilise the input tax credits. So the same kind of thing will happen here as well.
But won t there be legal issues in sharing data, since the data is confidential? Both the data are handled by the government. We are only handling it on behalf of the government. So, if the government decides it should be done, there will be no legal issues.
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Before GST even started, in Maharashtra, the State government obtained income tax data and matched it with their VAT data and discovered a tax evasion of the order of Rs. 300 crore in a month. So, this kind of thing is doable and should be done. It will happen.
How many people have registered on the GST Network so far? Of the 86 lakh existing tax payers who are to be migrated to GST, we have reached 70 lakh. By our account, there are about 15 lakh remaining. And still about 10,000-12,000 per day have been coming.
How many provisional IDs have so far been granted? Provisional IDs were created for all 86 lakh who were earlier registered on other tax networks. Of the 70.5 lakhwho have migrated, 41 lakh of the people who have activated their accounts have completed their applications also.
What is the peak traffic capacity of the GST Network? If you look at the number of people we can handle, we had envisaged that at the beginning we could have 1.3 crore people.
As things are going now, we have enough spare capacity for people who want to register afresh.
Is the infrastructure robust enough to handle the peak load of tax filers? 1. We have studied the taxpayer behaviour in terms of return filing for service tax, central excise and VAT and we found that 50% of the taxpayers file their returns on the last day, and during that last day, most of them are between 4 -5 p.m. We have kept that in mind while designing the system.
2. If a company wants to upload invoices as they are generated, that can also be done.
3. We are also going to provide an offline utility which works with an Excel sheet. You can put your invoice data in the Excel sheet and this utility will import that data and upload it to the portal. You don t have to come to the portal to punch in the data. 4. We are also asking the MSMEs to upload their invoices every week at least, and the bigger businesses must upload them every day.
Then, even if everybody comes on the last day, it won t matter, because the bulk of the work is done already.
(Adapted from The Hindu)
25. Analysis of the merger of ONGC and HPCL (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper III)
The Union Cabinet s in-principle nod to the purchase of Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited by the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation has cleared the decks for India to have its own oil giant. The decision follows the Finance Minister s announcement in this year s budget that the government would seek to merge public sector oil companies to create larger entities. This would offer ONGC access to HPCL s refining and retail facilities.
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What is the rationale behind the move? The rationale is that a bigger, vertically integrated oil company can help India achieve the scale required to compete at the global level, and help better absorb oil price shocks.
In addition, the sale of HPCL could contribute almost Rs.30,000 crore to the exchequer and fulfil more than a third of the year s disinvestment target. All this, makes the ONGC-HPCL deal look like a boon for the government, the oil sector and the overall economy. Some concerns regarding the merger 1. There are questions about how ONGC will find the cash to complete the deal.
2. Business combinations, even those that strictly involve private players, may be potentially destructive to shareholder wealth. Notably, the merger of Air India and Indian Airlines in 2007 failed to realise the expected benefits of scale and synergy from a larger enterprise.
3. ONGC does not have a good history of capital allocation. i. The Comptroller and Auditor General had in 2011 criticised it for the expensive acquisition of the U.K.- based Imperial Energy Corporation on unrealistic projections about returns and has also exposed various other inefficiencies in ONGC s operations in subsequent years. ii. Not surprisingly, ONGC s profits have dropped significantly over the years, and in 2015 it lost its place as the most profitable Indian company. iii. All this is reflected in ONGC s lacklustre share price performance over the last few years compared to HPCL s multi-bagger returns. 4. Analysts have also been concerned about whether ONGC will benefit from HPCL s efficient work culture or end up diluting it. (Adapted from The Hindu)
26. Six private telcos defrauded the govt. (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper III)
Six leading private telecom players understated their revenues by over Rs. 61,000 crore, depriving the exchequer of Rs. 7,697.62 crore, the Comptroller and Auditor General of India said.
The auditor also questioned the Department of Telecom (DoT) for failing to take any proactive steps to ensure that the licencees disclosed their revenue as stipulated in the licence agreements. Short-paid revenue The interest dues on the short-paid revenue would amount to Rs. 4,531.62 crore, taking the total potential revenue at stake for the government at over Rs. 12,220 crore.
This revenue loss occurred over the five-year period from 2010-11 to 2014-15 for five telcos Bharti Airtel, Vodafone, Idea Cellular, Reliance Communications and Aircel. For Sistema Shyam Teleservices Limited (SSTL), the findings are for the 2006-07 to 2014-15 period. —
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Lack of consensus on the definition of revenues: In its response to the audit finding, the DoT pointed out that the basic definition of gross revenue and adjusted gross revenue was challenged by the operators in 2002-03. Since then, there has been protracted litigation and it is continuing till date.
What are the actual requirements? The telecom operators share a percentage of their aggregated gross revenue with the government as annual Lease Fee. Besides, they are also required to pay Service Usage Charges for using airwaves allotted to them. Understatement of revenues led to low payment of Lease fee and Service Usage Charges.
(Adapted from The Hindu)
27. RIL unveils 1:1 bonus: one share for every share held (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper III) India s top company by market capitalisation, Reliance Industries, announced a one-for-one bonus issue, one free share for every share held, making it the largest issue of bonus capital to existing shareholders in Indian corporate history.
RIL s latest bonus offering has come after eight years the last one-for-one issue was in 2009. There was a similar issue in 1997. The RIL stock soared 3.76 per cent to Rs 1,586.20 on the BSE. RIL s market capitalisation was Rs 5.15 lakh crore. RIL promoters — Mukesh Ambani and family hold 46.30 per cent stake in the company. — — What is Bonus issue? Bonus issue refers to an issue of additional shares to shareholders instead of a dividend, in proportion to the shares already held.
(Adapted from The Indian Express)
28. Dedicated Freight Corridors (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper III)
Ministry of Railways has sanctioned implementation of Dedicated Freight Corridors (DFCs), namely, Western DFC (1504 km) and Eastern DFC (1856 km).
The commissioning of Western and Eastern DFCs (excluding few sections) is targeted in phases by 2019/2020.
How will the funding be done? The funding of the project is through World Bank loan for the Eastern DFC , and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) loan for the Western DFC and the rest from Budget.
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(Adapted from PIB)
29. Nifty crosses the 10,000-mark (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper III)
Rising from its base value of 1,000 in November 1995, the 50-share Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) breached the 10,000-mark for the first time.
Incidentally, the Nifty took a little over nine years to move from 1,000 in November 1995 to 2,000 in December 2004.
As per data, foreign investors have put in nearly Rs.56,000crore in Indian equities in the current calendar year.
What is Nifty?
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Nifty is an equity benchmark index in India introduced by the National Stock Exchange with base value of 1000 in Novenmber, 1995. The term Nifty is derived from the combination of two words National and Fifty as it consist of 50 actively traded stocks accounting for 12 sectors of the economy. – (Adapted – from The Hindu)
30. Credit Guarantee Fund for Startups (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper III)
Government is formulating a Credit Guarantee Scheme for Startups (CGSS) with a corpus contribution of INR 2000 crores that will enable Startups to raise loans without any collateral for their business purposes.
The proposed scheme will provide credit guarantee upto INR 500 lakhs per case inclusive of term loan, working capital or any other instrument of assistance extended by Member Lending Institutions (MLIs) to finance an eligible borrower i.e. a Startup recognized by Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP).
The main norms and preconditions of the CGSS are as follows: 1. For all resident Directors/Partners, Aadhaar shall be mandatory and for non-resident directors/partners, the passport number shall be a mandatory part of KYC norms.
2. Member Lending Institutions (MLIs) under the scheme can be Scheduled Commercial Banks and Financial Institutions, RBI registered Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs), SEBI registered AIFs, etc.
3. The scheme will function under the trusteeship management of the National Credit Guarantee Trustee Company (NCGTC).
4. Scheme shall provide portfolio- based credit guarantee. Each portfolio shall comprise at least 10 eligible start up loans, during a particular Financial Year.
5. MLIs may provide loans to up to any amount required by an eligible borrower. However, under the scheme the exposure for availing credit guarantee shall be limited to Rs.500 lakh per eligible borrower. Such loan will be extended by MLIs without any collateral security and/or third party guarantee.
6. A Risk Evaluation Committee (REC) shall also be formed to address conflict of interest issues.
(Adapted from The PIB)
31. Soaring prices of Tomato (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper III)
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Source: National Horticultural Research & Development Foundation, New Delhi
In just over a month, retail prices of tomato have gone from about Rs 20 per kg to Rs 70 per kg (all-India average as per Department of Consumer Affairs data), after staying at Rs 10-12/kg through May and early June.
Is the current price spiral in tomatoes unusual, even for this time of the year? Tomatoes do tend to get dearer at this time. The all-India average retail rate at this time last year was Rs 40/kg, and it was Rs 30/kg the year before.
About Tomato crop There are two main crops of tomatoes grown in the country.The first one is what is transplanted from around mid-June in central and southern India, mid-July through August in northern India and stretching up to end- September in eastern India.
The autumn to late-kharif crop is what supplies the market from September onward. This, along with a smaller rabi crop transplanted during October-November, contributes to the familiar low tomato prices through the winter.
Transplanting of the second main crop happens around January-February. This is a longer duration crop of 130-150 days.This summer tomato (because it is harvested mostly over May-July) is grown mostly in areas where the maximum temperatures don t go beyond the mid-to-late thirties range during the flowering and fruiting stages. Such conditions are found mostly in relatively cool or hilly areas. Subscribe to PrepMate by sending your name, city and e-mail id through whatsapp on 75972-40000 Page 94 https://prepmate.in/books/ https://telegram.me/upscprepmate To get study material on Whatsapp, send your Name and City on Whatsapp no. 75972-40000
What are the causes behind such price rise? As already pointed out, the 2016 autumn/kharif tomato crop was a bumper one. That, along with the government s November 8 decision to scrap Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes, led to prices crashing to Rs 3-4 per kg levels during November-December. Farmers, therefore, were inclined to plant less of the summer tomato this time.
In many cases, farmers stopped applying fertilizer or maintaining their summer tomato crop after the first and second pickings.
How will the prices be effected in the future? While high prices could still induce plantings, the fact is the nursery sowing time is over in many areas. If the autumn/kharif crop, too, turns out lower, we may not see any significant cooling of prices in the immediate period.
(Adapted from The Indian Express)
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Environment
1. Climate change impact: Sunderbans steadily losing its famed mangroves (Relevant for GS Prelims, GS Mains Paper III)
The mangrove forest cover in the Indian Sunderbans has been depleting alarmingly over the past few decades.
Report Mangrove Forest Cover Changes in Indian Sundarban (1986-2012) Using Remote Sensing and GIS, a publication by the School of Oceanographic Studies, Jadavpur University, reveals that from 1986 to 2012, 124.418 sq. km. mangrove forest cover has been lost.
The total forest cover of the Indian Sunderbans as assessed by remote sensing studies for the year 1986 was about 2,246.839 sq. km., which gradually declined by 2,201.41 sq. km. in 1996, then down to 2168.914 sq km in 2001 and to 2122.421 sq km in 2012. The loss in the mangrove forest in the Indian Sunderbans is about 5.5 %.
Reason for Loss The loss is in response to climate change and consequent sea level rise. As a result, the carbon sequestration potential and other ecosystem services of this mangrove forest is lost for future.
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The paper also notes that the mean sea level rise at the Sagar Island Station, measured from 1985 onward till 2010, shows a rise by 2.6-4 mm a year, which can be considered a driving factor for coastal erosion, coastal flooding, and an increase in the number of tidal creeks.
(Adapted from The Hindu)
2. Aerosols shrinking India s monsoon (Relevant for GS prelims, GS Mains Paper III)
While greenhouse gases, or GHGs, are causing concern about the long-term fate of the Indian monsoon, researchers now think aerosols from vehicular exhaust, half-burnt crop residue, dust and chemical effluents may be weakening the rainy season even more than GHGs.
Conclusion by IITM team: Reduction in rainfall An Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune, team led by climatologist R. Krishnan reported in the journal Climate Dynamics that a mix of GHGs, aerosols and changes in forest and agricultural cover was affecting the strength of the monsoon, which was known to be weakening over the last 50 years. This result was based on mathematical modelling and computer simulation. The relative contribution of the individual factors, however, was not clear then. New simulations suggest that aerosols may be a far more important factor than GHGs, said Mr. Krishnan. What are aerosols? Subscribe to PrepMate by sending your name, city and e-mail id through whatsapp on 75972-40000 Page 97 https://prepmate.in/books/ https://telegram.me/upscprepmate To get study material on Whatsapp, send your Name and City on Whatsapp no. 75972-40000
A substance enclosed under pressure and released as a fine spray by means of a propellant gas. The broad meaning of aerosols include solid or liquid particles suspended in a gas.
(Adapted from The Hindu)
3. Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project (KLIP) (Relevant for GS Prelims, GS Mains Paper III)
If anything is at stake for the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) government in the youngest State of the country for the next elections due in 2019, it is the execution of the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project (KLIP).
Why is it important? Claimed to be the costliest irrigation project to be taken up by any State till date with an estimated cost of Rs. 80,500 crore, the project holds the key to the TRS government s promise of providing irrigation facility to one crore acres of land under all projects/tanks. The government has already spent Rs. 10,000 crore on the project, including land acquisition, and has allocated Rs. 7,000 crore in the current budget, besides tying up a Rs. 7,400 crore loan from a consortium of banks. Notwithstanding its share of controversies, particularly
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related to land acquisition for the Mallannasagar reservoir, one of the key components of the project for storage of 50 tmcft water, the project is making swift progress.
What s the project? The Kaleshwaram project is an off-shoot of the original Pranahitha-Chevella Lift Irrigation Scheme taken up by the Congress government in 2007 when Andhra Pradesh was not divided. After the formation of Telangana in 2014, the TRS government redesigned the project on the ground that the original plan had too many environmental obstacles and had very low water storage provision only about 16.5 tmc ft. After conducting a highly advanced Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) survey for a couple of months, the government separated the original component serving the Adilabad area as the— Pranahitha project and renamed the rest as Kaleshwaram by redesigning the head works, storage capacity and the canal system based on the data of availability of water at different locations along the course of the Godavari and its tributaries.
The Kaleshwaram project has provision for the storage of about 148 tmcft with plans of utilising 180 tmcft by lifting at least 2 tmcft water every day for 90 flood days.
The project is designed to irrigate 7,38,851 hectares (over 18.47 lakh acres) uplands in the erstwhile districts of Karimnagar, Nizamabad, Warangal, Medak, Nalgonda and Ranga Reddy, the senior engineer said. As a lot is at stake for the government, it is pursuing various clearances and permissions simultaneously with the Union Ministry of Environment and Forest and the Central Water Commission. Recently, the Ministry of Environment has given its nod for utilising 3,168 hectares (7,920 acres) of forestland, including 302 hectares in Maharashtra. The project requires a total of 32,000 hectares. Following severe opposition from a section of farmers against land acquisition for the Mallannasagar reservoir, the State amended the 2013 Land Acquisition Act to speed up the process.
What s unique? According to engineers, KLIP has many unique features, including the longest tunnel to carry water in Asia, running up to 81 km, between the Yellampally barrage and the Mallannasagar reservoir. The tunnel work is nearing completion and the lining work is also in progress, another engineer involved in the project said, adding that the project would also utilise the highest capacity pumps, up to 139 MW, in the country to lift water.
(Adapted from The Hindu)
4. Environment Minister to Lead Plantation Drive to Celebrate Van Mahotsav (Relevant for GS Prelims, GS Mains Paper III)
Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Dr. Harsh Vardhan will lead a month-long drive to plant saplings to mark Van Mahotsav here starting on July 5.
Van Dhan Recollecting the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi s emphasis on Van Dhan to enhance the country s forest-based economy, while improving the biodiversity and living in harmony with nature Need for Van Dhan to meet INDCs
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Dr. Harsh Vardhan also referred to India s Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDCs) to create additional Carbon Sink of 2.5 to 3 Billion Tonnes of CO2 equivalent through additional forest and tree cover by 2030, as has been submitted to UNFCCC.
About Van Mahotsav Van Mahotsav began in 1950, with a tree plantation drive, in which national leaders participated. The festival of tree plantation was started by Dr. K.M. Munshi, the then Union Minister for Agriculture and Food to create enthusiasm among masses for forest conservation and planting trees. The festival was simultaneously celebrated in other states in India.
Van Mahotsav is usually observed in the first week of July every year and is celebrated on different days in different parts of India. The objective behind celebrating Van Mahotsav is to keep local people involved in plantation drives and spread environmental awareness. Dr. Harsh Vardhan urged the people to become Green ambassadors and participate actively in plantation drives during the period of monsoon, in keeping with the spirit of Van Mahotsav. Programmes like screening of short films and documentaries, seminars and exhibition, painting and poster competitions are also organised to mark the occasion.
(Adapted from PIB)
5. Confronting the challenge of mounting waste (Relevant for GS Prelims, GS Mains Paper III)
Rising mounds of waste in urban areas Mini-mountains of accumulated untreated urban waste are common sights in most big and medium cities and towns in the country. Waste dumps greet visitors to any city, reflecting the rapidly rising prosperity in each bit of trash at the waste dump. With cities having literally failed to develop effective ways to dispose of their waste, the resulting mountains of waste in almost all cities have become a serious health hazard.
Government schemes The Government of India is seized of this exacerbating problem, more so having embarked on the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan (SBA) and the Smarts Cities Mission (SCM) to turn things around by driving growth to improve the quality of life through area-based development and city-level smart solutions. In developing Three-Year Action Agenda (2017-18 to 2019-20), the Niti Aayog has drawn a broader framework for addressing the issue of municipal solid waste (MSW).
Niti Aayog will back up its Three Year Agenda with Seven Year Strategy and Fifteen Year Vision for taking the agenda to its logical conclusion. Given the enormity of the situation, the Agenda has recognized the need for speeding up action on managing municipal solid waste.
Size of urban waste It is a timely assertion by the Niti Aayog to develop a time-bound agenda, given the fact that 377 million inhabitants (Census 2011) residing in 7,935 urban centers generate 170,000 tons of solid waste per day. Left unresolved, the nature and magnitude of urban waste will be insurmountable by 2030 when the cities will burst at its seams with 590 million inhabitants. The social and economic reality calls for quick-fix technological solution and NITI Aayog s Agenda seeks to address the issue.
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Proposed Waste to Energy Corporation of India on lines of NHAI The solution being suggested by the Action Agenda is twin-fold: waste-to-energy incinerators for bigger municipalities and composting method of waste disposal for small towns and semi-urban areas. It further suggests establishing a new Waste to Energy Corporation of India (WECI), akin to the National Highway Authority Of India (NHAI), to speed up the process of cleaning up municipal solid waste by developing public-private partnerships to build the plants. Nature of urban waste not suitable for incineration While proposing incineration as a solution, the NitiAayog has also assessed the benefit-cost ratio of thermal pyrolysis and plasma gasification technologies. There are, however, mixed reports on existing waste to energy plants operating in the country on technical and environmental grounds. At the core of the problem is the nature of urban waste in the country, it contain a mix of materials that is unsuitable for efficient incineration. Since 80 per cent of urban waste consists of organic materials such as damp food scraps, the existing plants have found it difficult in meeting prescribed air quality standards.
Costly waste disposal methods City municipalities spend between Rs 500-Rs 1500 per ton on waste management. Since 60-70 per cent is spent on waste collection and remaining 20-30 per cent on transporting collected waste to the landfill sites, there is almost nothing that gets spent on treatment and disposal. And to top it all, setting aside shrinking urban spaces for unhealthy dump sites remains a formidable challenge.
(Adapted from PIB)
6. First Maize Based Mega Food Park in Kapurthala, Punjab (Relevant for GS Prelims, GS Mains Paper III)
Shri Harsimrat Kaur Badal, Union Minister of Food Processing Industry laid the foundation stone for First Maize based Mega Food Park in Kapurthala, Punjab today.
What is a Dark Zone district? She also said that Kapurthala has been declared as a Dark Zone district where slow desertification is happening because of overexploitation of water due to cash crops. So establishment of this Mega Food Park was not allowed. Since this would be a maize based Mega Food Park which will promote crop diversification and water conservation
Why Maize based Mega food park? Maize Based Mega Food Park is the first major and serious step in the history of India for containing the desertification problem of Punjab and would make farmers turn to maize cultivation which need less water for more production. Maize is being used by different industries for seed, starch, brewery, food additives, sweeteners etc and it is also a basic raw material to thousands of industrial products like oil, proteins, pharmaceutical, cosmetics, beverages, film, textile, gum, value added foods, paper industries, bio-ethanol etc.
What is a mega food park? Mega Food Parks scheme is a scheme of the Ministry of Food Processing of the Government of India. Its purpose is to increase processing of perishables from 6% to 20%.
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The idea behind promotion of Mega food parks is that small and medium scale individual food processing units cannot afford to invest in capital intensive support services such as food testing, irradiation, grading, waxing, etc.
In food parks, common support services are arranged for food processing units. Thus, these services become affordable to them. Further, financial assistance is provided by government to establish common facilities.
Highlights of scheme 1. Government provides grants up to Rs 50 crores for each food park to a consortium of companies. 2. 30-35 food processing units are expected to be established in each mega food park with a collective investment of atleast 250 crores. 3. A turnover of 400-500 crore and employment generation of at least 30000 from each mega food park is expected.
(Adapted from PIB)
7. Sensor network to map and predict pollution in Godavari (Relevant for GS prelims and GS mains paper II and III)
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A group of U.S. researchers is working on a system to map undulating pollution trends in the Godavari, India s second longest river. How are the observations made? Using a mix of methods, including satellite-monitoring, traversing stretches of the river to collect water samples and using special sensors to measure bacterial and chemical pollution, the researchers are trying to develop a cost-effective forecast system.
The measures are relayed to a website called Thoreau, a wireless sensing network maintained at the University of Chicago to map parameters, for analysis.
What is the objective of the team? The team s long-term objective is to be able to inform State officials and citizens of a probable spike in levels of dangerous microbes or effluents, similar to weather and air pollution forecasts. Who is conducting the exercise? The exercise is part of a Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation project to support the programme of the Administrative Staff College of India (ASCI) to provide city-wide sanitation improvements in urban Andhra Pradesh. Sensors to monitor river pollution are an emerging technological approach in India.
(Adapted from The Hindu)
8. Eco-bridges for the movement of tigers (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper III)
In a first of its kind, Telangana State will have eco-friendly bridges over a canal cutting across the tiger corridor linking the Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR) in the Chandrapur district of Maharashtra with the forests in Telangana.
What are the requirements for the construction of eco-friendly bridges? 1. It requires the laying of fertile soil to grow grass and plants over the structure, so that fragmentation of the reserve forest is hidden.
2. The eco-bridges will be constructed at key spots along the 72 km-long canal.
(Adapted from The Hindu)
9. Jal Marg Vikas Project in Ganga River (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper II, III)
The Jal Marg Vikas Project (JMVP) is being implemented with the technical and investment support of the World Bank to strengthen the navigation capacity and promote transportation of cargo and passengers on National Waterway-1, on the Haldia-Varanasi stretch of Ganga-Bhagirathi-Hooghly River System,.
The project has been appraised by the Public Investment Board, at an estimated cost of Rs. 5,369.18 crore, and is scheduled to be completed by 2021-22.
(Adapted from PIB)
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10. Sunderbans Terrapin (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper III)
Northern river terrapin: A rare species of fresh water turtle Before winter this year, three fresh water ponds in the Sunderbans Tiger Reserve will house the rare Northern river terrapin (Batagurbaska), whose presence in the wild in West Bengal and Odisha had declined to undetectable levels a decade ago.
Batagurbaska, the 60-cm-long turtle that is presumed extinct in several Southeast Asian countries, is classified as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in its Red List of threatened species. The tiger, by comparison, is endangered.
Species recovery measures For the past ten years, officials of the Sunderban Tiger Reserve with support from experts at Turtle Survival Alliance (TSA), have coordinated a recovery program for what is described as the world s second most endangered turtle, through captive conservation breeding. The Yangtze giant soft shell turtle, Rafetusswinhoei, is considered the most endangered freshwater turtle.
About Fresh water turtles in India Of six large fresh water turtles of the genus Batagur, three are found in India. Batagurkachuga (Red-crowned roofed turtle) and Batagurdhongoka (Three-striped roofed turtle) are found in the tributaries of the Ganga, such as Chambal.
The Northern river terrapin is the most endangered of the three species, and their long-term fortunes depend on an ecologically functional colony getting re-established in the wild.
(Adapted from The Hindu)
11. Rise in Average Temperatures (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper I, III)
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Average Temperature during last ten years (2007 to 2016) was 26.100C. Rise in the average temperature was 0.510C during this period.
Spatial pattern of trend in mean annual temperature anomalies, for the period 1902-2012, suggests significant positive (increasing) trend (0.50 0C in general with few pockets of 1.00 0C) over most parts of the country.
The latest Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report (2014) highlights that mean surface temperature of the globe has risen by 0.850C. However, all India mean temperature has risen around 0.640C over the last 110 years.
Following steps have been undertaken in the area of Climate Change: i) Launched state-of-the-art Center for Climate Change Research (CCCR) at Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune for interdisciplinary research and training in the area of science of climate change.
Development of Earth System Model (ESM) has been taken up for generating future climate change scenarios.
Currently, CCCR is leading Co-ordinated Regional Downscaling Experiment (CORDEX) for the South Asian region under the aegis of the World Climate Research Program (WCRP) of the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO). The CORDEX program provides an important framework for a co-ordinated set of downscaled regional climate simulations for both the historical past and future decades. ii) The National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) released in 2008 by Government of India outlines eight missions in specific areas of Solar Energy, Enhanced Energy Efficiency, Sustainable Habitat, Water, Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem, Green India, Sustainable Agriculture and Strategic knowledge for Climate Change. Eight National Missions form the core of the National Action Plan, representing multipronged, long term and integrated strategies for achieving key goals in the context of climate change.
(Adapted from PIB)
12. Project Mausam (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper III)
Project Mausam is the initiative of Ministry of Culture to be implemented by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) as the nodal agency. Objectives of the project 1. This project aims to explore the multi-faceted Indian Ocean world collating archaeological and historical research in order to document the diversity of cultural, commercial and religious interactions in the Indian Ocean. –
2. It also aims to promote research on themes related to the study of Maritime Routes.
3. Main objective of the project is to inscribe places and sites identified under Project Mausam as trans- national nomination for inscription on UNESCO s World Heritage.
The list of countries identified under the project include 39 nations from Asia and Africa.
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(Adapted from PIB)
13. Jal Manthan-IV (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper III)
Towards its commitment for wider consultations among various stakeholders and to brain-storm new ideas for solutions to various issues of water sector the Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation will be organising a two-day national seminar titled Jal Manthan IV in New Delhi.
The two day meet – On the first day, consultations and discussions will be on Pradhan Mantri Krishi Seenchai Yojana (PMKSY) and its implementation and the Review of progress made by States under Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP) and Command Area Development (CAD) etc.
The discussions on the second day would focus on Inter-linking of Rivers and its implementation followed by Chintan Baithak.
The three earlier Jal Manthan Programmes held in November, 2014, February, 2016 and January, 2017 were hugely successful.
(Adapted from The PIB)
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Science and Technology
1. Minister of Railways launched various Railway initiatives (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains paper II, III)
Minister of Railways Shri Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu launched the following Initiatives:- 1. RAIL CLOUD PROJECT 2. NIVARAN-Grievance Portal (First IT Application on Rail Cloud). 3. Cashless treatment Scheme in Emergency (CTSE)
Salient Features of the Initiatives Launched:
1. Rail Cloud Indian Railway has started a strategic IT initiative, christened IR-One ICT, for enterprise wide digital single platform with an aim to improve customer satisfaction, improve revenue and effective, efficient and safe operations.
To achieve the goal of single digital platform for IR a few foundational projects need to be implemented first, establishment of Rail Cloud is one such project.
Potential benefits to Railways after implementation of Rail Cloud are: Faster and on-demand deployment of application- Rail Cloud will pave the way for swifter deployment of application (within 24 hrs as compared to conventional time running into weeks and months). At the same time the cloud hardware and environment will be available for rigorous testing of the new applications.
Optimum use of Servers and storage- The technology enables maximising the usage of the available server and storage resulting in accommodation of bigger data and more applications within same server space.
Utilization of existing infrastructure as part of Cloud- The existing resources available with railway will be subsumed in Rail Cloud thereby ensuring that expenditure is minimized in acquiring new resources.
Rapid scalability and elasticity- Server and storage space will scale up and down as per the demand. This makes the system suitable to meet the higher demand at peak hours with less expenditure.
IT Security enhancement and Standardization: The cloud shall be equipped with security features as per the latest GOI guidelines, the security features can be updated in one go for all the applications hosted on the cloud, resulting in enhanced security and stability with less expenditure and effort.
Cost reduction: The server and storage infrastructure will be deployed as per the requirement, resulting in substantial savings to railway as expenditure will be incurred as and when required instead of upfront shelling out money on procurement of expensive servers.
Better User Experience: In Cloud, the server resources are constantly scaled up or down as per the no. of users logged on to the system. This ensures a better user experience to the customer.
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The Managed Network and Virtual Desktop Interface (VDI) services are also being planned, in near future, for providing faster and more efficient work environment to each rail worker.
2. NIVARAN-Grievance Portal First IT application on Rail Cloud NIVARAN-Grievance Portal is the first IT application to be launched on the Rail Cloud. It is the platform for resolution of service related grievances of serving and former railway employees. The existing application was hosted on a conventional server; it has been made cloud-ready and being migrated as the first cloud application of Indian Railways. It will save significant revenue and at the same time user experience will also improve.
3. Cashless treatment Scheme in Emergency (CTSE) Railway provides Comprehensive Health Care Facilities to its beneficiaries through in-house health Institutions, supplementing with referrals to recognized hospitals whenever necessary. The beneficiaries include retired employees and their dependent family members. Large no. of retired beneficiaries lives in the newly developed suburbs of various cities. These parts of the city are often far away from the established Railway Health Institutions. In this scenario the RELHS beneficiaries coming to Railway Health Institutions in routine is acceptable, however in emergency situations, precious time (Golden Hour) is lost in travel.
(Adapted from the PIB)
2. Mission Raftaar (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper II, III)
With a view to increasing speed of trains in Indian Railways, Mission Raftaar was announced in the Railway Budget 2016-17. Aim of Mission Raftaar The mission envisages a target of doubling of average speed of freight trains and increasing the average speed of all non-suburban passenger trains by 25 kmph in the next 5 years.
Action Plan for improving mobility and increasing average speed includes removal of speed restrictions, construction of road over bridges (ROBs) and road under bridges (RUBs), right powering of trains, introduction of twin-pipe in wagons, replacement of conventional trains by Main Line Electric Multiple Unit (MEMU) trains and Diesel Electric Multiple Unit (DEMU) trains.
In addition, two projects for raising of speed to 160/200 kmph on existing corridors of New Delhi-Mumbai route (including Vadodara-Ahmedabad) covering 1483 route km and New Delhi-Howrah route (including Kanpur-Lucknow) covering 1525 route kms have been included in the Pink Book of 2017-18.
(Adapted from The PIB)
3. Melting of Larsen C (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper III)
The dramatic but inevitable calving of a trillion-ton iceberg from the Larsen C Ice Shelf in Antarctica raises the question- did a warming atmosphere have a significant impact on the process?
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Scientists from Project MIDAS, a U.K.-based Antarctic research project that has been looking at the ice shelf for many years, have said the formation of icebergs is natural, and no link to human-induced climate change was available in this case.
Previous similar instances This erosion has been interspersed by two previous collapses of smaller ice shelves, Larsen A in 1995 and Larsen B in 2002, the latter providing strong evidence of subsequent accelerated glacier flow into the sea.
Antarctica is a climate stabilising factor, and the importance of the marine West Antarctic ice sheet was highlighted by U.S. scientists over four decades ago. The point made was that except for man-made causes, there was no anticipated factor in the natural geological cycle that would disturb Antarctica.
The separation of an iceberg almost 6,000 sq. km in size from the ice shelf shows the importance of such alarms. Newer satellite technologies, which were not available during earlier instances of iceberg calving, will help in the study of the fragile peninsular region and Antarctica as a whole.
Possible negative impacts: 1. If it disintegrates, glaciers normally feeding into the floating shelf may have nothing to restrain them, and could then contribute to sea level rise, possibly at a slow rate.
2. Among the stark effects of changes could be a shift in biodiversity: species like emperor penguins which depend on sea ice to complete their life cycle are at risk if ice cover declines.
3. Any dramatic changes will only add to the worry of irreversible effects of climate change, given that the Arctic and Greenland have also been losing ice cover.
(Adapted from the Hindu)
4. FAME India (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper III)
As a part of the National Electric Mobility Mission Plan 2020 (NEMMP 2020), the Government of India formulated a scheme namely Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid & Electric vehicles in India [FAME-India] for a period of 6 years, till 2020, wherein it is intended to support the hybrid/electric vehicle market development and its manufacturing eco-system to achieve self-sustenance at the end of the stipulated period.
Key facts: 1. The scheme is one of the green initiatives of the Government of India, which will be one of the biggest contributors in reducing pollution from road transport sector in near future.
2. The scheme has 4 focus areas i.e. Technology Development, Demand Creation, Pilot Projects and Charging Infrastructure.
3. Market creation through demand incentives is aimed at incentivizing all vehicle segments i.e. 2-Wheelers, 3-Wheeler Auto, Passenger 4-Wheeler Vehicles, Light Commercial Vehicles and Buses. The demand incentive is available for buyers (end users/consumers) in the form of an upfront reduced purchase price to enable wider adoption.
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(Adapted from PIB)
5. DIPP to set up India s first TISC in Punjab (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS mains paper III) The Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) signed an Institutional agreement with the Punjab State Council of Science and Technology in New Delhi today to establish India s first Technology and Innovation Support Center (TISC) at Patent Information Centre, Punjab, under the World Intellectual Property Organization s (WIPO) TISC program.
What are the objectives of Technology and Innovation Support Center (TISC) The objective of the TISC is to stimulate a dynamic, vibrant and balanced Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) system in India to foster creativity and innovation, thereby promoting entrepreneurship and enhancing social, economic and cultural development by establishing a network of TISCs in India.
Services offered by TISCs include: 1.Access to online patent and non-patent (scientific and technical) resources and IP-related publications.
2.Assistance in searching and retrieving technology information.
3. Training in database search and On-demand searches (novelty, state-of-the-art and infringement).
4. Monitoring technology and competitors;
5.Basic information on industrial property laws, management and strategy, and technology commercialization and marketing.
Services offered by CIPAM: The Cell for IPR Promotion and Management (CIPAM) is designated as the National Focal Point for the TISC national network. As the national focal point, CIPAM shall identify potential host institutions, assess their capacities and support them in joining the TISC program. CIPAM will also act as the main intermediary between WIPO and TISC host institutions and coordinate all the activities of the national TISC network.
(Adapted from PIB)
6. All you need to know about Swine flu (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper III)
What is H1N1, and why is it killing so many people? The H1N1 variant of the flu virus is commonly and in the present case somewhat erroneously, known as swine flu virus because it was known in the past to occur in people who had been in the vicinity of pigs. That is no longer true the virus in its current form affects and spreads to people who have got nothing to do with the animal. — It is essentially an infection of the respiratory tract characterised by the usual symptoms of flu cough, nasal secretions, fever, loss of appetite, fatigue and headache.
What is the current H1N1 situation in the country?
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Until July 9, 12,460 people have been infected, and 600 have succumbed to it. This is much more than the 2016 tally of 1,786 cases and 265 deaths, although it is nowhere near the outbreak of 2015, when close to 3,000 people died.
Why does swine flu strike in cycles? The present strain of H1N1 emerged in 2009, so it is still a relatively new entrant in the influenza virus pool.
Until the time it stabilises , as epidemiologists call it, and integrates into the seasonal virus pool, this cyclical recurrence will happen. This will go on until the process of antigenic shift by which two or more strains of a virus integrate into a new subtype is completed. The influenza virus goes through an antigenic shift every few years. — It will then become— just one of the many viruses that cause seasonal influenza, and its impact and fatality would both gradually subside. How many years this process takes is not documented, though.
What steps has the government taken to control the situation? On June 22, Oseltamivir, the drug for the treatment of H1N1 influenza, was moved from Schedule X to Schedule H1. This means the drug which could be hitherto stocked only by select authorisedpharmacies, can be sold by all licensed chemists under prescription, thus ensuring its wider availability and accessibility.
The original decision to put Oseltamivir in Schedule X had been taken to prevent resistance.
What are the do s and dont s related to Swine Flu? Some basic influenza do s and dont s are applicable to swine flu too. These include covering the mouth or nose while coughing and sneezing, washing hands frequently, avoiding crowded places, maintaining a distance from a person suffering from flu, avoiding handshakes, etc. Do not self-medicate.
(Adapted from The Indian Express)
7. Heaviest satellite of ISRO launched (Relevant for GS Prelims, GS Mains Paper III)
GSAT-17 will join 17 communication satellites in orbit A 39-minute dusk launch at the South American space port of Kourou placed GSAT-17 in space as the newest Indian communication satellite.
The 3,477-kg spacecraft, the heaviest built by the Indian Space Research Organisation, will soon join the ring of 17 working national communication satellites that are already in orbit. It will add to the services they provide for broadcasting, telecommunications, VSAT services, meteorology, search and rescue, among others, ISRO said.
It went to orbit on the Ariane-5 ECA rocket VA-238, operated by European launch services agency Arianespace. It is launched through Ariane-5 because India at present does not have ability ti launch heavy satellite.
(Adapted from The Hindu)
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8. First ever Satellite image of carbon dioxide concentration over India by Orbiting Carbon Observatory-2 (OCO-2) (Relevant for GS Prelims, GS Mains Paper III)
First ever Satellite image of carbon dioxide concentration over India The first-ever picture of atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration over India shows that it is way above the safety mark and in line with what has been observed in other parts of the world.
Since the 1950s, scientists have been measuring the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere at observatories such as Mauna Loa in Hawaii and since the 1990s, using satellite images.
Beyond 350 molecules: Unsafe It s generally been agreed that for every million gas molecules in the atmosphere, anything beyond 350 carbon dioxide molecules, is considered unsafe. These concentrations are likely to trap enough heat to trigger extreme climate events the world over and it would become progressively harder, and costlier, to suck out the excessive CO2. In 2015, the global average was 400 ppm, according to reports from Mauna Loa. In India, Subscribe to PrepMate by sending your name, city and e-mail id through whatsapp on 75972-40000 Page 112 https://prepmate.in/books/ https://telegram.me/upscprepmate To get study material on Whatsapp, send your Name and City on Whatsapp no. 75972-40000
that year, according to a report published in the latest issue of Current Science, the average CO2 level was 399 parts per million (ppm).
Findings by Orbiting Carbon Observatory-2 (OCO-2) a NASA satellite
The findings are based on the readings from the Orbiting— Carbon Observatory-2 (OCO-2) a NASA satellite to monitor the environment. — (Adapted from The Hindu)
9. Possible remains of two cities : Dwaraka, Gujarat, and Puhar, Tamil Nadu (Relevant for GS Prelims, GS Mains Paper I and III)
Centre to launch underwater robots to find lost cities of Dwaraka, Poompuhar
The Department of Science and Technology (DST) is looking to send robotic vehicles into the sea near Dwaraka, Gujarat, and Puhar, Tamil Nadu, to look for submerged structures that may, according to a person aware of the project, point to evidence on the ancient cities.
Collaboration required of NIOT and NIO The programme, still a preliminary proposal, is expected to involve organisations such as the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), Chennai, and the National Institute of Oceanography (NIO), Goa. The former has indigenously built vehicles capable of plumbing 5,000 metres underwater and the NIO has previous experience in marine archaeology.
Ealier evidence of Dwarka Excavations at Dwaraka, a coastal town in Jamnagar district of Gujarat, have a long history. Nearly a decade ago, the Underwater Archaeology Wing of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) found copper coins and segments of granite structures. Mentioned in the Mahabharata as Dvaraka or Dvaravati, it is also linked to the god Krishna. Dwaraka, a port city, finds mention in ancient Greek texts from the 1st millennium and, according to legend, was a rich city that sank into the sea.
Earlier evidence of Puhar Last year, divers, geologists and archaeologists with the NIO, working off the coast of Tamil Nadu, reportedly found stone remains suggestive of an ancient port and temples, which were reportedly buried about 30 feet into the sea. Tamil and Buddhist literature have references to Poompuhar, or Puhar, as being the port capital of the Chola dynasty.
Related searches In October, an expert committee of geologists, archaeologists and hydrologists said it had found evidence of the course of the Saraswati, a river mentioned in the Rig Veda and in Hindu mythology.
(Adapted from The Hindu)
10. Transgenic mosquitoes to control dengue and malaria (Relevant for GS Prelims, GS Mains Paper III)
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Trials are underway to develop transgenic Aedes Aegypti varitiety at Jalna which will help in controlling dengue and chikungunya.
How will this new variety reduce disease? Aedes Aegypti vector mosquitoes, responsible for spreading dengue and chikungunya among other diseases, but engineered through advanced biotechnology to be self-limiting in other words, genetically modified to cause offspring to die. — Why transgenic mosquitoes are certain to work? The friendly Aedes has already been trademarked by Oxitec (Oxford University research unit). These are transgenic male mosquitoes with a self-limiting gene inserted through advanced genetics. Banking upon the male s natural instinct to mate with a wild female, the OX513A strain is inherited by offspring, causing the larvae to die before maturing into adult mosquitoes. (Adapted from The Indian Express)
11. JIGYASA – Student-Scientist connect programme launched (Relevant for GS Prelims, GS Mains Paper II)
Jigyasa, a student- scientist connect programme was officially launched in the national capital today. Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), has joined hands with Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS) to implement this programme. The focus is on connecting school students and scientists so as to extend student s classroom learning with that of a very well planned research laboratory based learning.
The JIGYASA would inculcate the culture of inquisitiveness on one hand and scientific temper on the other, amongst the school students and their teachers. The Programme is expected to connect 1151 Kendriya Vidyalayas with 38 National Laboratories of CSIR targeting 100,000 students and nearly 1000 teachers annually.
(Adapted from Press Information Bureau)
12. IISc to get Rs 3,000-crore foundry to produce wonder nano material (Relevant for GS prelims, GS Mains Paper III)
What is the wonder nano material? The Indian Institute of Science (IISc) has received initial approvals from the government to set up a Rs 3,000- crore foundry to produce a wonder nano material, gallium nitride, that is emerging as one of the most efficient semiconductors for next-generation strategic technologies, including radars and communication systems.
Why it is a wonder material? GaN is described as a wide-gap semiconductor with unique electronic properties. It is tough and can operate at high temperatures at high switching speeds with power flows much superior to silica.
The nano material Gallium Nitride, or GaN, is a superior alternative to silica-based semiconductors and is expected to generate revenues in the range of $700 million by 2020, from the current range of $300 million, according to experts in the field.
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Where will be the foundry set up? The foundry is proposed to be developed around an existing facility for producing gallium nitride transistors on silicon wafers, at the IISc s Centre for Nano Science and Engineering (CeNSE), under the leadership of associate professor Srinivasan Raghavan. About CeNSE facility The CeNSE facility at the IISc, which was inaugurated in 2015 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is attempting to create an ecosystem of GaN electronics, including materials, devices and systems. GaN-based transistors from the CeNSE are already being sold to researchers in the country. The creation of a commercial GaN foundry would service industry demand for the emerging technology.
(Adapted from The Indian Express)
13. Government approves establishment of the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), South Asia Regional Center (ISARC) at campus of National Seed Research and Training Center (NSRTC) in Varanasi (Relvant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper III)
The Union Cabinet has approved the establishment of the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), South Asia Regional Center (ISARC) at campus of National Seed Research and Training Center (NSRTC) in Varanasi.
About CERVA A Centre of Excellence in Rice Value Addition (CERVA) will be set up in Varanasi. This will include a modern and sophisticated laboratory with capacity to determine quality and status of heavy metals in grain and straw. The Centre will also undertake capacity building exercises for stakeholders across the rice value chain.
This Center will be the first international Center in the eastern India and it will play a major role in harnessing and sustaining rice production in the region.
Benefits from ISARC 1. The Centre will help in utilizing the rich biodiversity of India to develop special rice varieties.
2. This will help India to achieve higher per hectare yields and improved nutritional contents.
3. The Centre will support in adopting value chain based production system in the country. This will reduce wastage, add value and generate higher income for the farmers.
4. The farmers in Eastern India will benefit in particular, besides those in South Asian and African countries.
Management of ISARC ISARC will operate under the governance of the IRRI Board of Trustees who will appoint an appropriate IRRI staff member as Director.
(Adapted from the PIb)
14. National Strategic Plan for Malaria Elimination (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS mains paper III)
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Shri J P Nadda, Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare launched the National
Strategic Plan for Malaria Elimination (2017-22).
About the plan The Strategic Plan gives year wise elimination targets in various parts of the country depending upon the endemicity of malaria in the next 5 years. He further stated that the programme has to be owned by the states.
India s commitment for eliminating malaria is by the year 2030.
Salient features of the NSP 1. Strengthening malaria surveillance: establishing a mechanism for early detection and prevention of outbreaks of malaria.
2. Promoting the prevention of malaria by the use of Long Lasting Impregnated Nets (LLINs).
3. Effective indoor residual spray and augmenting the manpower and capacities for effective implementation for the next five years.
Burden of Malaria One child dies of malaria every two minutes and the burden is the heaviest in the African region. India has the third highest malaria burden in the world.
(Adapted from PIB)
15. Saraswati, a supercluster of galaxies (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper III)
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A group of Indian astronomers have discovered a massive supercluster of galaxies, and have named it Saraswati. The supercluster is about 4 billion light years away and spreads over a great wall about 600 million light years across. This makes it one of the largest superclusters to be discovered and also the farthest. Why is this discovery significant? The current belief is that infant galaxies form in these filaments and then drift to the intersections of the filaments where they grow.
The Saraswati supercluster could challenge this premise, because it had formed so early and building such a big structure far back might have been difficult. It is a supercluster of galaxies 4 billion light years away.Given the belief that the universe is 13.8 billion years old, the discovery implies that such a huge structure existed even when the universe was just about ten billion years old. This raises questions about the formation of large structures and the nature of the universe, astronomers say.
What is Dark matter and dark energy? Dark matter and dark energy are invoked to explain the structure of the universe. Dark matter, being massive, binds together the universe while dark energy, exciting the surrounding space, drives it apart; the balance of the two effects helps in maintaining the universe in its present form.
It is true that the balance between dark matter and dark energy can produce large structures, but a supercluster of this size does present a mystery.
What is a light year?
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A light year is the distance travelled by light in one year. It is used to measure distance in space.
(Adapted from the Hindu)
16. AIIMS to set up skin bank, develop artificial skin (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper III)
With a rise in cases of burn injuries and reconstruction surgeries involving skin, the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) will soon establish North India s first government-run skin bank facility.
The country s premier health facility is also developing artificial skin in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi, to bridge the gap in demand and supply of skin donation. Salient features: The facility will accept cadaver donations from brain dead persons. The facility will use technology to preserve donated skin for a period of 4-5 years. Just like other organs, doctors harvest skin within six hours of death. It is usually taken from the legs, thighs and back. Only the uppermost layer of skin is harvested. The stored skin can be used for patients who have deep burns, chemical burns, electrical burns and radiation burns. Doctors plan to use glycerol, which has anti-bacterial properties, to preserve frozen skin.
Why is there a need for artificial skin? The skin bank cannot bridge the gap between the required demand (and supply) as awareness and willingness to donate skin is a bottleneck. The only way forward is to develop artificial skin.
(Adapted from The Indian Express)
17. National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper III)
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change is embarking on a new National Coastal Mission.
Six research divisions have been established at National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management (NCSCM) that will combine geospatial sciences with cutting-edge research on conservation, pollution, climate change and community interface both in mainland and islands of the country.
The objectives behind – the establishment of National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management include– 1. Promoting integrated and sustainable management of the coastal and marine areas in the country for the benefit and well-being of the traditional coastal and island communities.
2. Strengthening capacity of coastal management at all levels, including stakeholders.
3. Advising Union and State governments and other associated stakeholders on policy and scientific matters related to Integrated Coastal Zone Management.
4. Striving to become a world class institution through cutting-edge research pertaining to understanding coastal zones, coastal processes, integrated planning and management of coastal and marine areas.
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(Adapted from the PIB)
18. Defence Innovation Organisation and Defence Innovation Fund (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper III)
The Government has approved a Scheme of Defence Innovation Fund (DIF), aimed at creating an eco-system to foster innovation and technology development in defence by engaging R&D institutes, academia, industry including MSMEs, start-ups and even individual innovators and provide them award based grant/ funding to carry out innovative development, which has good potential for future commercialization.
The Scheme is proposed to be implemented through a not for profit company namely Defence Innovation Organisation (DIO). DIO has been registered with Bengaluru as its headquarter. The DIO would be funded by two Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs), namely Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL).
(Adapted from PIB)
19. Tacking the HIV problem (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper I, III)
Percentage of HIV affected people with access to treatment For the first time since the global onset of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the 1980s, more than half of all People Living with HIV (PLHIV) now have access to HIV treatment. Globally, AIDS-related deaths have almost halved since 2005, according to the latest UNAIDS report released.
State Of HIV in India In India, the last decade saw the incidence of deaths due to AIDS fall by a staggering 58%. However, India now faces a concentrated epidemic of HIV and is one of 10 countries contributing to over 95% of new HIV infections annually.
In the Indian context, what are the challenges that lie ahead? Targeting high-risk groups like injecting drug users or men who have sex with men (MSM) is difficult and we need to change to a model of self-testing. It will help reaching high-risk groups that face discrimination.
However, the country is close to reaching its first target. Nearly 77% HIV+ people know their status.
How important is it that India continue to play its role as the pharmacy-of-the-world? India is a critical partner for the world in ensuring patients have access to affordable medicines. India played a central role in the global AIDS response and now with making a generic version of the Hepatitis C drug.
For this reason, it is important that the Indian government protects its capacity to utilise provisions under [the] TRIPS agreement to make and export affordable generic medicines. Low- and middle-income countries depend on India to remain the pharmacy of the world.
It is ironic that while India supplies medicines to the world, our own HIV community is facing stock-outs for drugs and testing kits.
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The real issue in India is about the supply chain and making sure that drugs do not run out. In some areas, states have drugs and other don t have any medicines.
UNAIDS has partnered with the Indian government to adopt a situation room model. India is developing a single information system for the HIV programme which will give authorities real-time information and ensure that States coordinate to ensure availability of drugs.
The Indian government has increased its budget allocation for HIV and now funds almost 80% of the budget domestically. The government just needs to address the supply and distribution systems.
Do you think it is necessary for India to bring together the TB and HIV programmes? Tuberculosis is a leading cause of death for people with HIV. Simple economics dictates that these two programmes be brought together so [that] patients can be screened for both diseases at the same public health facility.
It makes a lot of sense for the delivery system as well. These two programmes cannot be implemented in separate silos. In fact, the biggest multilateral donor, The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM), is encouraging joint funding proposals for TB-HIV because of this rationale.
(Adapted from The Hindu)
20. Finalising fresh version of DNA Profiling Bill (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper II, III)
Two years after a draft Bill to create a regulatory framework for DNA testing triggered a major debate, the government has told the Supreme Court that it was in the process of finalizing a fresh version of the Bill and introduce it in Parliament.
The government s submission in the apex court came in response to arguments that the absence of a national DNA database was hindering the identification of unclaimed bodies. Claims made by the NGO for maintaining DNA profiling The court is hearing a petition by Lokniti Foundation, an NGO, which had suggested that maintaining of DNA profiles of bodies before their disposal could help in their identification by family members at a later stage.
One of the main reasons for a large number of bodies remaining unidentified is that a person freely moves from one part of the country to another in search of work and members of poor families have no means to keep in touch with their near and dear ones. It becomes difficult for the local police to identify persons who have no local connection and who have died without anyone complaining of death caused by any mischief.
Why was the bill not passed earlier? In 2015, the government had finalized a draft of the Human DNA Profiling Bill, seeking to establish the institutions, standards and guidelines for DNA testing in designated laboratories.
Several provisions of the Bill came under heavy criticism on grounds of privacy and reliability of technology, although there was a general agreement on the need to regulate DNA testing.
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The government decided not to introduce the Bill in Parliament and went in for fresh rounds of consultations to improve the provisions of the Bill.Government admitted that the Bill will once again trigger discussions on privacy issues, just like the debate on Aadhar has done.
What are the aims of the bill? 1. The Bill, first mooted about 15 years ago, is aimed mainly to assist law enforcement agencies in tackling crime but provides for DNA testing techniques to be used in other situations as well, like establishing parentage or blood relations between individuals.
2. It seeks to create two new bodies, a DNA Profiling Board that will act as the regulator and supervise all activities relating to testing, storage and matching of DNA samples and a DNA Data Bank both at the national level and in the states.
3. The proposed law also seeks to make it mandatory for all DNA labs to seek accreditation from the Board.
(Adapted from The Indian Express)
21. Future of INS Vagli (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper III)
She served the Indian Navy and the nation for over 36 years and could have become only the second submarine museum of the country. But since her decommissioning in 2010, the Russia-designed submarine INS Vagli lies idle at the Chennai port.
Why is it lying on Chennai port? The submarine, which was to be the centrepiece of the maritime heritage museum planned by the Tamil Nadu government in the tourist town of Mamallapuram, was expected to be displayed on a 30-acre stretch of land near the Shore Temple of the UNESCO-declared World Heritage group of monuments.
However, the inability of a contractor to mount the submarine on the intended site at Mamallapuram has forced the vessel to lie idle at the Chennai port.
What had to be done with Vagli? The Tamil Nadu government, under Chief Minister Jayalalithaa had in 2012 decided to set up the maritime museum with the submarine, and senior Navy officials handed over INS Vagli to it in 2013.
INS Vagli has since witnessed a series of incidents. 1. In January 2014, a worker died of asphyxiation while trying to clean the submarine. He was attempting to retrieve his cellphone, which had fallen into the vessel. Two others were hospitalised in the incident.
2. Later that year, a company that was awarded a contract towed the vessel to Mamallapuram, only to find that the submarine could not be mounted on the intended platform at the historic town. In June that year, INS Vagli was towed back to Chennai port.
3. In December 2016, the submarine was almost damaged when Cyclone Vardah hit the Chennai coast.
(Adapted from The Hindu)
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22. Network challenges: On Reliance Jio Phone(Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper III)
There s a fresh twist in the tale for India s telecom sector, which is a success story with around a billion connections issued so far and about 350 million subscribers estimated to have smartphones. Policies of Reliance Jio and its impact About ten months after beginning commercial operations and acquiring 125 million customers with attractive data and voice service offerings, Reliance Jio has announced a plan that could disrupt the telecom landscape by challenging existing price points.
For a refundable security deposit of Rs. 1,500 and a tenth of that as monthly charges, it plans to give away free feature phones that will support 4G services and can be returned after three years.
Similarly, Jio s proposition of connecting the phone to the television has affected the stock prices of direct-to- home service providers, though it may only offer three-four hours of such viewing per day. State of India India s Internet adoption rate remains among the lowest in the Asia-Pacific region with 422 million subscribers. A large chunk of them access the Net through smartphones. Although wireless data usage has shot up dramatically over the past year, 500-550 million Indians use feature phones that offer no data services.
What the studies and surveys say? A Kleiner Perkins Internet Trends Report for 2017 notes that even though smartphone and data costs are declining in India, they are still too high for most.
Cheaper phones as well as data are essential to bring online the next 100-200 million people.
(Adapted from The Hindu)
23. Fast Breeder Reactors (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper III)
Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR) has been carrying out a comprehensive R&D on sodium cooled fast breeder reactor technology for the past 30 years.
A test reactor, called Fast Breeder Test Reactors (FBTR), is in operation from 1985 onwards which has provided valuable feedback.
Design and manufacturing process Based on this experience and also taking into account the international experience, design of a 500MWe Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) has been done. The design has been reviewed by international design agencies.
With respect to manufacturing, an elaborate manufacturing technology development program was undertaken which helped in identifying the major industries towards demonstration of indigenous capability.
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Currently, all the components and equipments, especially the oversized heavy components have been successfully manufactured by Indian industries and erected in PFBR project.
By following the above approach, India has mastered the design and manufacturing of sodium cooled Fast Breeder Reactors (FBR).
Key facts Electricity generated by FBR would be a source of green energy as the waste from the first stage nuclear programme is reprocessed and used as fuel in FBR. The spent fuel from this reactor can be fed back into the reactor core several times, till the spent fuel contains only short lived fission products.
Hence, there is no need of large quantity of fuel materials for the annual external feed and thus eliminates the need for large capacity waste storage spaces with complex construction features.
Indigenously produced Mixed Uranium & Plutonium Oxide will be used as the fuel in the Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor at Kalpakkam.
Other countries that have fast breeding reactors FBRs are currently in operation in Russia. One FBR of 600 MW ecapacity called BN-600 has been in operation since 1980. Recently, Russia has commenced operation of BN-800 (800 MW ecapacity).
China has started a test reactor of 65 MWtcapacity in 2010. Other two reactors JOYO, MONJU in Japan are under shutdown currently.
(Adapted from PIB)
24. Food and Seed Irradiations (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper III)
The use of radiation in agriculture has resulted in developing improved varieties of seeds resulting in increase in the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the country.
Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) is actively working in this area. Using radiation induced mutagenesis along with cross breeding, BARC has developed several varieties of oilseeds, pulses, rice and jute, which have been released and notified for commercial cultivation across the country.
Benefits of radiation in agriculture 1. The major desirable traits in these crops include higher yield, seed size, improved agronomic and quality traits, early maturity and resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses.
2. BARC is also involved in breeder seed multiplication of its released varieties in the case of crops such as ground nuts and pulses.
3. The improved varieties of crops have substantially contributed to the GDP of the country.
Using mutation (and conventional) breeding, Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) has developed 42 new varieties of crops. These varieties include oilseeds (groundnut, mustard, soybean and sunflower), pulses (urdbean, mungbean, pigeonpea, cowpea), rice and jute.
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(Adapted from PIB)
25. Mars Orbiter Spacecraft completes 1000 days (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper III)
Mars Orbiter Mission has successfully completed 1000 days in its orbit on June 19, 2017, surviving well beyond its designed mission life of six months. All Scientific payloads continue to provide valuable data of Mars surface and its atmosphere.
Mars Colour Camera on-board MOM has acquired more than 700 images of Martian surface. MOM atlas is published and updates on MOM images are regularly provided in ISRO website.
(Adapted from PIB)
26. Rajya Sabha passes the Indian Institute of Information Technology Public Private Partnership Bill 2017(Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper III)
Rajya Sabha passed the Indian Institute of Information Technology Public Private Partnership (IIIT-PPP) Bill 2017. The bill has already been passed in Lok Sabha.
This bill is required to grant degrees to the students IIITs set up in PPP mode. It will also grant statutory status to the fifteen IIITs established in PPP mode and declare them Institutes of National Importance.
(Adapted from PIB)
27. CAG report: weaknesses in missile defence system (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper II, III)
The strategic missile system, a medium range supersonic surface to air missile system to counter aerial threats were deficient in quality, according to a report tabled by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG). The report comes amid increased threat perception to defence installations in the wake of the terrorist attack at the Pathankot airbase in January 2016.
Revelations of the report 1. Over 70 % of the under vehicle scanners (UVS) installed at Indian Air Force (IAF) bases were non- functional.
The IAF in February said that out of the 57 UVS systems, 52 had been installed and only five were yet to be installed. However, 35 systems still remained in unserviceable condition.
Even as on February 2017, over 70 per cent of the procured UVS systems were not functioning or were uninstalled.
2. The IL series of aircraft, which provide vital transport support to IAF during contingencies, has not been upgraded, and continue to fly with 1985 vintage avionics. Subscribe to PrepMate by sending your name, city and e-mail id through whatsapp on 75972-40000 Page 124 https://prepmate.in/books/ https://telegram.me/upscprepmate To get study material on Whatsapp, send your Name and City on Whatsapp no. 75972-40000
Thus the security systems procured at a cost of Rs.17.09 crore could not be utilised fully for the security of the air bases even after about five years.
There was delay in carrying out first and second overhaul of IL-76 aircraft which meant that aircraft were flown without overhaul, well past the due date for overhaul.
This was an undue risk taken by IAF. Air to air refuelling is a crucial capability both during combat as well as peace time operations. IL-78 aircraft are dedicated for this purpose. However, due to inadequate infrastructure and support facilities the air to air refuelling capability was hampered.
3. Audit found that the system delivered by Bharat Electricals Limited (BEL) was deficient in quality.
Out of 80 missiles received 20 were test fired, six of these missiles i.e., 30 % failed the test.
Preliminary failure analysis report revealed that the missiles fell short of the target, had lower than the required velocity, and also there was malfunctioning of critical units like Servo Control Unit and Connector. Two missiles had failed to take off because the booster nozzle had failed.
(Adapted From the Hindu)
28. Committee to initiate a National Programme on Scientific Validation and Research on Panchgavya (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper III)
The Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India has constituted a National Steering Committee to initiate a National Programme on Scientific Validation and Research on Panchgavya (SVAROP). What is Panchgavya Ghrita? Panchgavya Ghrita is an Ayurvedic formulation made from cow s five products (milk, curd, ghee, urine and dung) as mentioned in Ayurvedic classical texts. (Adapted from PIB) Internal Security
1. Amarnath Attack: All You Need to Know About the Terror Strike on Pilgrims (Relevant for GS prelims and GS mains paper III)
Within a span of five minutes, terrorists attacked twice in Jammu and Kashmir s Anantnag district, killing seven and injuring 18 devotees who were headed to Jammu after visiting the Amarnath cave shrine. What happened? At 8:15pm, three terrorists opened fire at a check post of STF, SOG & CRPF personnel in Khannabal near Anantnag. The security personnel fired back. There were no casualties. –
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At 8:20 PM, the three motorcycle-borne terrorists fired at a chartered bus carrying at least 56 Amarnath pilgrims at Batengoo in Anantnag district. Batengoo is 65 km south of Srinagar. – Where was the bus headed? The bus was going to Jammu. The pilgrims were returning from Baltal, one of the base camps of the Amarnath pilgrimage. The devotees had planned to visit Vaishno Devi Shrine in Katra the next day.
Was the bus part of the convoy? Yes. The pilgrims were travelling in the bus that was part of the convoy of vehicles taking the Amarnath pilgrims with adequate security, contrary to earlier reports claiming that the bus was not registered with the shrine board and was not part of the convoy. The driver, Sheikh Salim Gafoor, kept running the bus for 2-3 km under continuous firing by terrorists.
Why was there a delay in the bus journey? The ill-fated bus had a flat tyre, and hence, got separated from the convoy.
(Adapted from www.news18.com)
2. R.N. Ravi: mediating peace with the Nagas (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper II)
On August 3, it will be two years since R.N. Ravi signed a framework agreement on behalf of the Union government with the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Isak-Muivah) to end the decades-old Naga insurgency, details of which are still a well-kept secret. A joint intelligence chief (JIC) with the Government of India, he is the chief interlocutor for the Naga peace talks.
What is his northeast link? Mr. Ravi has closely worked with National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval during the latter s stint as Intelligence Bureau Director and is learnt to have his confidence. Mr. Ravi was in charge of the northeast desk during his stint with IB.
How did he get them to talk? The government waited for Mr. Lal s tenure to expire in July 2014 before appointing Mr. Ravi to the post. He opened doors for all Naga groups to come and record their suggestions. What is the demand of NSCN-IM? The NSCN-IM has been fighting for Greater Nagaland or Nagalim it wants to extend Nagaland s borders by including Naga-dominated areas in neighbouring Assam, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh to unite 1.2 million Nagas, a move the three States oppose. —
What about the agreement? Opposition parties have on several occasions asked the government to release the details of the framework agreement. Two years after it was signed with much fanfare at the residence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, there does not seem to be much headway in reaching a final solution.
There has been little progress in talks, particularly after the death of Isak Swu, one of the two leaders of the NSCN-IM.
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What are the hurdles? On February 23 this year, during the economic blockade in Manipur, Mr. Ravi was fielded by the government to allay Manipur s fears that the agreement would not compromise its territorial integrity.
The blockade continued for more than 100 days at the behest of United Naga Council, a conglomerate of Naga bodies, against the Manipur government s decision to carve out seven new districts in the hill areas of the State dominated by the Nagas and other tribes. The UNC operates under the patronage of the NSCN-IM and it put a question mark on Mr. Ravi s efforts.
(Adapted from The Hindu)
3. Six Kerala men among Islamic State fighters in Syria ( Relevant for GS Prelims, GS Mains Paper III)
Six persons from Kerala joined ISIS At least six persons from Kerala are said to be fighting alongside the Islamic State (IS) in Syria since February, according to disclosures by a Kannur resident to the Delhi Police after he was deported from Turkey recently.
He told interrogators that some of them were working in Dubai and had reached Turkey through Iran, from where they crossed over to Syria on foot.
State of ISIS control at present The Islamist organisation, which had captured large areas in Syria and Iraq to establish a Caliphate, has been losing territory over the past few months as coalition forces reclaim the areas under their control. While Mosul in Iraq has been declared free of IS control, Syrian forces were in the last leg to recapture Raqqa, the self-declared capital of the terrorist outfit.
Indians joining ISIS in the past Last year, 21 men, women and children from Kerala had left for Afghanistan via Iran to live in the IS controlled territory. Three of them are learnt to have been killed in drone attacks.
Earlier, agencies had information about 30 Indians who were said to be fighting for IS since 2014. Most of these fighters included former Indian Mujahideen members who fled India after the serial bombings in 2008.
(Adapted from The Hindu)
4. NIA arrests 7 J&K separatist leaders for creating unrest (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper II)
Seven second-rung separatists were arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) for their alleged role in creating unrest in the Kashmir valley.
None of the top leadership of the Hurriyat conference including Syed Ali Shah Geelani had been summoned by the NIA since it registered a case on May 30 under various sections of the anti-terror Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA).
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The NIA official said that inconsistencies were found in the accounts of several NGOs associated with the separatists. Last year, the NIA had registered a separate case to probe whether the proceeds from cross-LoC trade between Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) was being used to finance terrorist activities in the Valley.
Those arrested were identified as Farooq Ahmed Dar alias Bitta Karate, Nayeem Khan, Raja Mehrajuddin Kalwal, Peer Saifullah, Aftab Hilali Shah alias Shahid-ul-Islam, Aiyaz Akbar Khaney and Altaf Ahmed Shah alias Fantoosh Geelani, the son-in-law of hardline separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani.
The FIR registered by the NIA said, The Central government has received credible information that have been acting in connivance with active militants of proscribed terrorist organisations Hizbul Mujahideen (HM), Dukhtaran-e-Milat, Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and others for raising, receiving and collecting funds domestically and abroad through various illegal channels, including hawala to wage war against– India.
What is NIA? National Investigation Agency (NIA) is a central investigation agency established by the Indian Government to combat terror in India. The agency is empowered to investigate with terror related crimes across states without special permission from the states. The Agency came into existence in 2009 with the enactment of the National Investigation Agency Act 2008 by the Parliament of India on 31 December 2008.
(Adapted from The Hindu)
5. Measures to deal with piracy at sea (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper III)
The Government has taken the following steps as part of various preventive/mitigating security measures to deal with sea-piracy:
An Inter-Ministerial Group (IMGO) has been set up by the Government under the Ministry of Shipping to deal with the hostage situation arising out of hijacking at sea of merchant vessels with Indian crew.
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Government had also approved the Contingency Plan for dealing with piracy and hijacking of merchant ships and constituted a Committee of Secretaries on Anti-Piracy and Hijacking at sea (COSAPH) under the Chairmanship of Cabinet Secretary.
In addition to this, the following initiatives have also been taken 1. Guidelines for anti-piracy measures to be implemented on Indian Ships. The guidelines provide for elaborate anti-piracy measures (Best Management Practices), including safe house/citadel for vessels.
2. Advisory issued by Directorate General of Shippingfor not transiting through Gulf of Aden.Naval escort provided by Indian naval ships in the Gulf of Aden since 2008.
3. Enhanced vigil by the Indian Navy in the Indian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and westward upto 65 degree east longitude.
4. Active participation of India in the security meetings of the International Maritime Organization, Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia (CGPCS) and other international fora.
There have been 2 piracy attempts and no incident of hijacking at Indian flag merchant vessels during the last 3 years and the current year.
(Adapted from PIB)
6. NIA unearths new Kashmir terror funding channels (Relevant for GS Mains Paper III – Internal Security)
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) is focussing on a hawala racket relating to the annual Haj pilgrimage and trade fraud along the Line of Control (LoC) as two funding channels being used by separatists and terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir.
As part of its probe, which recently led to the arrest of seven Kashmiri separatists, the NIA is examining what it regards as a deep conspiracy to keep the Valley burning , and not just individual acts of terror.
What does NIA say? According to the NIA, some travel agents who send Indians on the Haj pilgrimage are hand in glove with associates of separatists based in Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. A part of the money collected from pilgrims is diverted for terror and separatist activities, while the cost of accommodation and food are borne by these associates.
How does it happen? Some of these travel agents charge around Rs. 2 lakh per pilgrim and purchase tickets as per the subsidy scheme of the government. Around Rs. 1.5 lakh cash given by the pilgrims is pocketed by them and transferred to separatists.
The pilgrims were taken care of during their pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia by associates of the separatists in Pakistan.
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This opened up a ready stock of legitimate cash for illegal activities.
Does the NIA have proofs? NIA has statements from pilgrims as well as office-bearers [of separatist organisations] who have confirmed the money trail, the official claimed. So far, 80 witness statements have been recorded by the NIA on funds generated to organise terror in Kashmir, he said. About the Haj subsidy Haj subsidy is given to pilgrims only in the form of subsidised air tickets; pilgrims make their own arrangements for food and stay in Saudi Arabia.
Travel operators provide a package deal, which includes accommodation. Pilgrims pay agents by cash and through bank accounts.
What is the other fund-raising channel? Trade across the LoC, has brought some traders under the scanner for alleged fraudulent transactions worth Rs. 2,100 crore at the Salamabad-Uri trade point and Rs. 670 crore at the Chakan Da Bagh-Poonch point since this trade began in 2008.
There are 21 items cleared for trade across the LoC through a barter system, which include garments, handicrafts, carpets and almonds.
The NIA has found undervaluation of products that come from Pakistan, which are then sold at as much as triple their exchange value, generating cash surpluses.
Interestingly, the NIA has recommended to the Home Ministry that the trade across the LoC be stopped, but Jammu and Kashmir Chief Mehbooba Mufti said that this exchange would not be stopped, and more trade routes would be added.
Other revelations by NIA about professional stone pelters 1. 28 WhatsApp groups with over 5,000 members had been identified as linked to the continuing unrest. These groups were being used to mobilise youth to pelt stones [in the Valley]. Most of their administrators are in Pakistan.
2. A list of 103 persons, each involved in more than four incidents of stone-pelting in the Valley in the past one year, has been prepared, and the NIA claims to have established the financial trail between the separatists and these professional stone-throwers.
3. There are quite a few who use mosques to provoke locals against the administration. We have made copies of their speeches and they will also be summoned for investigations, said the official. About National Investigation Agency (NIA) National Investigation Agency (NIA) is a central investigation agency established by the Indian Government to combat terror in India. The agency is empowered to deal with terror related crimes across states without special permission from the states. The Agency came into existence with the enactment of the National Investigation Agency Act 2008.
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(Adapted From The Hindu)
7. Who are the Lingayats and what are their demands? (Relevant for GS Prelims, GS Mains Paper I- Social issues)
What is the demand? The Lingayats, a numerically and politically strong community of Karnataka, want to be categorised as a religious group separate from Hindus.
Followers of the 12th century social reformer-philosopher-poet Basaveshwara who defied the caste system and Vedic rituals, they argue that the premise of this rebellion was rooted in opposition to the established Hindu order. Though Lingayats worship Shiva, they say the concept of Ishta Linga (personal god) and rules of conduct prescribed by Basaveshwara cannot be equated to the Hindu way of life. On the other hand, those opposed to the re-categorisation, including sections in the community, say the rebellion was reformist, like the Bhakti movement, and not aimed at breaking away from the Hindu fold.
Why raise it now? Though the demand for a separate identity is louder now, it is a 40-year-old wish. Many scholars, including M.M. Kalburgi, who was killed by unknown assailants in 2015, have contended that the Lingayat tradition is non-Hindu in spirit. Religious heads too have joined the chorus for a separate identity, including Mate Maha Devi, the first woman seer of the faith who has often courted controversy.
On July 20, a massive Lingayat rally at Bidar surprised both the Congress and the BJP.
What are the political ramifications? The timing is interesting with less than a year left for the Assembly elections in the State, where Lingayat votes matter in 100 constituencies. Lingayats, comprising 10-17% of the population and listed in the Other Backward Classes category, are a strong vote base of the BJP, and its State president B.S. Yeddyurappa is a prominent leader of the community.
In fact, the BJP victory in 2008, marking the first saffron government in South India, is attributed to his ability to capture these votes, which could not be replicated in 2013 when Yeddyurappa left the party to form his own, perhaps taking a large number of Lingayat votes with him.
This is believed to have played a big role in catapulting the Congress to power in 2013.
What is BJPs position? For the BJP, conceding the demand would run contrary to Hindutva, but it is not a section the party can afford to antagonise ahead of the polls. Mr. Yeddyurappa has opposed the demand, calling it a Congress attempt to split the community.
But the BJP has to face up to the challenge of offering the community something that can outweigh the benefits of the status of a religious minority. For instance, the Constitution grants linguistic and religious minorities the right to establish and administer their own educational institutions and Lingayatmaths host a number of such institutions.
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(Adapted from The Hindu)
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Social Issues
1. What is Not in My Name all about? (Relevant for GS Prelims, GS Mains Paper I)
Carrying placards saying Not In My Name , No place for Islamophobia and Shed hate not blood , scores of people gathered at Jantar Mantar in Delhi, and in at least 16 cities across India, including Mumbai, to protest against rising mob violence and cow vigilantism.
The immediate trigger for the spontaneous protest march was the killing of 15-year-old Junaid Khan by a mob on a train while he was returning home to his Khandawali village in Faridabad for Id celebrations. The incident happened at Ballabhgarh station in Haryana.
People from all walks of life responded to the protest march call, which was started by film-maker Saba Dewan through a Facebook post.On Thursday, Prime Minister NarendraModi said killing in the name of gau bhakti was not acceptable, the same day a mob in Jharkhand beat a man to death on the suspicion that he was carrying meat in his vehicle. Subscribe to PrepMate by sending your name, city and e-mail id through whatsapp on 75972-40000 Page 133 https://prepmate.in/books/ https://telegram.me/upscprepmate To get study material on Whatsapp, send your Name and City on Whatsapp no. 75972-40000
(Adapted from The Hindu)
2. SC rejects abortion plea of 10-year-old (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper I)
A 10-year-old rape victim, who was allegedly raped by her maternal uncle, has been left with no choice but to continue with her pregnancy after a medical panel informed the Supreme Court that an abortion will endanger both the girl and her 32-week-old foetus.
The bench had directed doctors from P.G.I., Chandigarh, to medically examine the girl and file a report in court on whether the health of the girl child concerned, who is stated to be of the age of 10 years, and also that of the foetus, would be adversely affected, if the pregnancy is continued for the full term . In a short hearing, the court perused the report filed by the doctors in a sealed cover and denied permission for an abortion.
State-level MTP boards : Need of the hour The Bench has urged the government to consider setting up permanent medical boards across the States so that women, especially child rape victims, could receive expedient access to medical care
What does the law say? The Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act of 1971 bars abortion if the foetus has crossed the 20-week mark. An exception to the law is made if a registered medical practitioner certifies to a court that the continued pregnancy is life-threatening for either the mother or the baby.
Implications of the law Women are forced to undertake the cumbersome process of approaching different courts, from district courts to high courts and finally the Supreme Court, for permission to medically terminate their pregnancies which are over 20 weeks.
The frequent number of such cases which come to the Supreme Court for permission, range from child rape victims to women with substantial foetus abnormalities.
Can a permanent medical board be set up at State-level to examine the cases till the Bill is pending for amendment into the law? An amended Bill of the 1971 law which extends the bar from 20 to 24 weeks has been in the cold storage for the past three years.
It provides reproductive rights in consultation with their medical practitioners. The draft Bill also allows abortion beyond 24 weeks in case the foetus suffers from substantial abnormalities.
As of now, women who have crossed the 20-week limit need a judicial order to even get medically examined on their plea for abortion.
(Adapted From the Hindu)
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Miscellaneous
1. Saint Teresa s blue-bordered sari an Intellectual Property now (Relevant for GS Prelims)
Since 1948, she wore a white sari with 3 blue borders the outer border being wider than the two inner ones. — The famous blue-bordered sari of Mother Teresa, who has been canonized as Saint Teresa of Calcutta by the Vatican, has been recognized as an Intellectual Property of the Missionaries of Charity.
The Trade Marks Registry , Government of India, has granted the registration of the trade mark for that pattern of blue border of sari. About Mother Teresa Mother Teresa MC, known in the Catholic Church as Saint Teresa of Calcutta, born on 26 August 1910 was an Albanian-Indian Roman Catholic nun and missionary. After having lived in Macedonia for eighteen years, she moved to Ireland and then to India, where she lived for most of her life. Subscribe to PrepMate by sending your name, city and e-mail id through whatsapp on 75972-40000 Page 135 https://prepmate.in/books/ https://telegram.me/upscprepmate To get study material on Whatsapp, send your Name and City on Whatsapp no. 75972-40000
In 1950, Teresa founded the Missionaries of Charity, a Roman Catholic religious congregation, which in 2012 consisted of over 4,500 sisters and was active in 133 countries. They run homes for people dying of HIV/AIDS, leprosy and tuberculosis; soup kitchens; dispensaries and mobile clinics; children s and family counselling programmes; orphanages; and schools. Mother Teresa was the recipient of numerous honours, including the 1962 Ramon Magsaysay Peace Prize and 1979 Nobel Peace Prize.
In 2016, Pope Francis proclaimed Mother Teresa of Kolkata a saint. To attain the title of sainthood, two miracles are required to be identified/recognized.
(Adapted from The Hindu)
2. Revamped NHB RESIDEX launched (Relevant for GS Prelims)
The revamped and expanded official online user friendly NHB RESIDEX that captures movements in the prices of residential real estate prices released today revealed that prices during January-March, 2017 have increased over that of October-December, 2016, in about half of the cities covered under the survey while the other half have either registered a decline or remained the same.
(Adapted from The PIB)
3. Indian Power Sector- An Update (Relevant for GS Prelims)
All India Statistics of Indian Power Sector are released by Central Electricity Authority (CEA) today. The main highlights are as follows: - 1. Generation Capacity Addition target during the period 2012-17 from conventional sources was 99,209.47 MW against a target of 88,537 MW, over achieving the same by 112%.
2. The Renewable Energy Sources installed capacity as on 31.03.2014 was 31,692.14 MW. As on 31.03.2017, India has achieved an Installed Capacity of 57,260.2 MW of RES showing an increase of 80% during 2014- 2017.
(Adapted from PIB)
4. Aaykar Setu (Relevant for GS Prelims)
FM launches a new tax payer service module Aaykar Setu that compiles various tax tools, live chat facility, dynamic updates, and important links to various processes within the Income Tax Department in a single module;
Says that this e-initiative would not only provide better taxpayer services but would also help in reducing the direct physical interface between assesses and tax assessing authorities.
(Adapted from PIB)
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5. Declaration of Historic City of Ahmadabad as a UNESCO s World Heritage Property (Relevant for GS Prelims) It is under the dynamic and visionary leadership of the Prime Minister of India that India has been successful in securing the nomination of the Historic City of Ahmadabad on UNESCO s World Heritage list on 8th July, 2017 during the 41st Session of World Heritage Committee. This makes the walled city of Ahmedabad the first city in India and the third in Asia to be inscribed to the World Heritage List. In the past 3 years alone, India has managed to put five built heritage sites on the world heritage list of UNESCO.
India now has overall 36 World Heritage Inscriptions with 28 Cultural, 07 Natural and 01 Mixed site. While India stands second largest in number after China in terms of number of world heritage properties in ASPAC (Asia and Pacific) region, it is overall seventh in the world.
About Ahmedabad Founded in 15th century, the walled city of Ahmadabad, on the eastern bank of the Sabarmati river, presents a rich architectural heritage. Within this complex are 28 ASI Centrally Protected Monuments. The urban structures of the historic city of Ahmedabad are distinctive due to their puras (neighbourhoods), pols (residential streets), and khadki (inner entrances to pols) largely made of timber. The historic architecture reflects symbols and myths connected with its inhabitants. The urban fabric is made up of densely-packed traditional houses (pols) in gated traditional streets (puras) with characteristic features such as bird feeders, public wells and religious institutions. It is a unique example of multi-religious and multicultural coexistence.
Benefits of recognition The international recognition to the city is a matter of pride. It will boost the local economy in a number of ways. It is expected to give a tremendous fillip to domestic and international tourism leading to increased employment generation, creation of world-class infrastructure and augmentation of sale of local handicrafts, handlooms and heritage memorabilia.
(Adapted from PIB)
6. Village cooperative sets up first-ever solar power plant (Relevant for GS Prelims)
A village cooperative society in Sriganganagar district of Rajasthan has set up the first-ever solar power plant to serve its own needs and supply surplus electricity to the power grid. The 20 kV on-grid rooftop solar energy system has been installed.
The plant is likely to produce 33,000 units of electricity annually, of which 23,000 units will be utilized for the cooperative society s own needs through uninterrupted power supply. About 10,000 surplus units will be supplied to the power grid, bringing additional revenue to the cooperative society. (Adapted from The Hindu)
7. Japan s men-only island gets UNESCO heritage tag (Relevant for GS Prelims)
A men-only island in Japan where women are banned and male visitors must bathe naked in the sea before visiting its shrine, has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage site.
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The tiny landmass of Okinoshima is permanently manned by a Shinto priest who prays to the island s goddess, in a tradition that has been kept up for centuries. Limited numbers are permitted to land on the island in the Sea of Japan (East Sea) this year it was 200 for a yearly festival that lasts just two hours, but they must adhere to strict rules. — — Most importantly, they must be men, but they must also strip off and take a purifying dip in the ocean before they are allowed to set foot on the sacred ground of the shrine.
(Adapted from The Hindu)
8. Smriti Mandhana: Cricketer (Relevant for GS Prelims)
After two blistering knocks in the early stages of the ongoing ICC Women s Cricket World Cup in England, left- handed opening bat Smriti Mandhana grabbed most of the headlines. Her 72-ball 90 helped India floor England, host and favorites, in the opening match on June 24, and she followed this up with an elegant, unbeaten, match-winning 106 against the West Indies.
The 20-year-old s attacking style, marked by delightful drives and punishing pulls, has ushered in a new wave of fans to the often-forgotten world of women s cricket. (Adapted from The Hindu)
9. President of India receives first copy of book President s Lady (Pranaber Preyosi) (Relevant for GS Prelims)
The President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee received the first copy of the book President s Lady (Pranaber Preyosi) on his wife Late Smt. Suvra Mukherjee from Vice President of India, Mohd. Hamid Ansari who formally released it at a function held at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
(Adapted from PIB)
10. Brief for Integrated Railway Mobile App (IMA) Rail SAARTHI for Indian Railways (Relevant for GS Prelims)
Currently, there are multiple mobile applications by Indian Railways to cater various passenger requirements including onboard cleaning. Most of the apps cater to one service only. To use different services, users need to search and download each application separately. In order to provide better customer experience, there is a need for an integrated application which will give a single window interface for these services.
In line with the above concept, Minister of Railways had announced integration of all existing ticketing digital solutions under one App in his Budget Speech 2016-17. The same is reproduced below: The following 8 independent Mobile Applications (Apps) available on Google Play Store will become available in the new Integrated Mobile App RAIL SAARTHI - INDIAN RAILWAYS OFFICIAL APP (Centre for Railway Information Systems) Subscribe to PrepMate by sending your name, city and e-mail id through whatsapp on 75972-40000 Page 138 https://prepmate.in/books/ https://telegram.me/upscprepmate To get study material on Whatsapp, send your Name and City on Whatsapp no. 75972-40000
(Adapted from PIB)
11. Roger Federer s longevity (Relevant for GS Prelims) Wimbledon s greatest illusion is the sense of timelessness it evokes. At 35 years and 342 days, Roger Federer became the oldest man to win the singles title in the Open Era a full 14 years after he first claimed the title. Background — When he suffered a knee injury last year, beaten in the semi-finals by Milos Raonic, the future had looked bleak. But far-sighted decisions have proven life-altering. Federer opted to take six months off to undergo surgery and regain his health.
About the Grand slam titles: The Grand Slam tournaments, also called majors, are the four most important annual tennis events. The Grand Slam itinerary consists of 1. Australian Open in mid January, 2. French Open in May and June, 3. Wimbledon in June and July 4. US Open in August and September.
Each tournament is played over a period of two weeks. The Australian and United States tournaments are played on hard courts, the French on clay, and Wimbledon on grass. Wimbledon is the oldest, founded in 1877, followed by the US in 1881, the French in 1891, and the Australian in 1905.
Grand Slam tournament performance timeline
Key W F SF QF #R RR Q# A NH
(W) Won; (F) finalist; (SF) semifinalist; (QF) quarterfinalist; (#R) rounds 4, 3, 2, 1; (RR) round-robin stage; (Q#) qualification round; (A) absent; (NH) not held.
To avoid confusion and double counting, these charts are updated either at the conclusion of a tournament, or when the player s participation in the tournament has ended.
Tournament 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 Win %
Australian
4R W SF W W SF F W SF SF SF SF 3R SF W 87.0
Open A A 80.2
French Open 1R 3R SF F F F W QF F SF QF 4R QF
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89.2
Wimbledon W W W W W F W QF QF W 2R F F SF W A 87.6
US Open 4R W W W W W F SF SF QF 4R SF F Win Loss 13 3 22 1 24 2 27 1 26 1 24 3 26 2 20 3 20 4 19 3 13 4 19 4 18 4 10 2 14 0 86.2
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
(Adapted from The Hindu)
12. President of India inaugurates the 200th anniversary celebrations of the Paika Rebellion of Odisha (Relevant for GS Prelims)
Speaking on the occasion, the President said that it was indeed a privilege for him to be present on the occasion of inauguration of year-long celebration of Bi-Centenary of the Paika Bidroha of Odisha.
About the Paika Bidroha 1. It look place 40 years before the revolt of 1857 under the leadership of Baxi Jagabandhu of Odisha. 2. Many scholars, researchers and historians have opined that the Paika Rebellion of 1817 was India s first organized armed rebellion against British Raj. 3. The Paika uprising was in the nature of a rebellion by people of Odisha. It was aimed at upholding the rights of the Odia people and sovereignty of Odisha.
(Adapted from PIB)
13. ICC Women s World Cup 2017 final: Indian women falter at final hurdle, World Cup dream collapses in a heap (Relevant for GS Prelims)
India s dream of winning their first women s World Cup came to a shattering end as England won the world cup final held at Lord s stadium. Mithali Raj s team who had captured the attention of the global game during their path to the final were on course to lift the trophy when they reached 191 for three in the 43rd over in pursuit of 229. — — (Adapted from The Indian Express)
14. Promotion of Traditional Art and Folk Art (Relevant for GS Prelims)
To protect, preserve & promote various forms of traditional art and folk art throughout the country, the Government of India has set up seven Zonal Cultural Centres (ZCCs) with headquarters at Patiala, Nagpur, Udaipur, Allahabad, Kolkata, Dimapur and Thanjavur.
To develop traditional art across the country these ZCCs are implementing a number of schemes viz. Award to Young Talented Artistes, Guru Shishya Parampara Scheme, Theatre Rejuvenation Scheme, Research & Documentation Scheme, Shilpgram Scheme, Octave and J&K Festivals and National Cultural Exchange Programme (NCEP).
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No State/UT-wise funds are provided for promotion of traditional art and folk art. However, annual grant-in- aid is provided to all these 7 ZCCs by Government of India for carrying out various cultural activities throughout the country for this purpose.
(Adapted from PIB)
15. Intangible Cultural Heritage: Yoga (Relevant for GS Prelims) Yoga was inscribed in UNESCO s Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity during the 11th session of Intergovernmental Committee held from 28th November to 02nd December, 2016 at Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Implications of Yoga being in the in the list The inclusion of Yoga on the UNESCO s Representative List will contribute to the visibility of intangible cultural heritage in general and raise awareness of its importance at the international levels. (Adapted from PIB)
16. Ramayana and Krishna Circuit (Relevant for GS Prelims)
Ramayana Circuit and Krishna Circuit are among the thirteen thematic circuits identified for development under Swadesh Darshan Scheme.
Ministry has initially identified fifteen destinations for development under the Ramayana Circuit theme namely Ayodhya, (Uttar Pradesh), Rameshwaram (Tamil Nadu), etc.
Similarly, twelve destinations have been identified for development under Krishna circuit namely Dwarka (Gujarat), Puri (Odisha), etc.
The completion time for the projects sanctioned under Swadesh Darshan Scheme varies from 18 to 36 months.
(Adapted from PIB)
17. First meeting of Islands Development Agency (IDA) (Relevant for GS Prelims)
The Union Home Minister Shri Rajnath Singh chaired the first meeting of the newly constituted Islands Development Agency (IDA). The IDA was set up on June 01, 2017 following the Prime Minister s review meeting for the development of islands. Highlights of the meeting: 1. The Union Home Minister presented the vision for developing India s maritime economy while preserving the natural eco-system and addressing the security concerns. He emphasized upon the need for sustainable development of Islands with people s participation.
2. The CEO, NITI Aayog made a detailed presentation on the current status and the way forward for holistic development of identified islands. He informed that Concept Development Plans and Detailed Master Plans are being prepared for identified islands.
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3. It was also decided that Lt. Governor of Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Administrator of Lakshadweep Islands will be included as members of IDA.
Which islands have been identified for development in the first phase? After detailed consultations with key stakeholders, 10 islands namely Smith, Ross, Aves, Long and Little Andaman in Andaman & Nicobar and Minicoy, Bangaram, Suheli, Cherium and Tinnakara in Lakshadweep have been identified for holistic development in the first phase.
(Adapted from PIB)
18. Achievements made under Hamari Dharohar Scheme (Relevant for GS Prelims)
The Ministry of Minority Affairs formulated Hamari Dharohar scheme for preservation of rich heritage and culture of minority communities of India in 2014-15. Objective of the scheme The scheme aims to support curation of iconic exhibitions, calligraphy, research and development, etc. Under this scheme, the funding is project based and not the State/District-wise. The following two important projects have been undertaken so far under the scheme: 1. An iconic exhibition of Parsis (Zoroastrians) i.e. The Everlasting Flame to showcase the civilization and culture of the Parsis (Zoroastrians) was organized during March-May, 2016. 2. A project has been allocated to DairatulMaarifil Osmania (an institution established in 1888 AD) under Osmania University, Telangana, for translation of 240 invaluable documents belonging to Medievel period on the subjects of Medicines, Mathematics, Literature, etc. from Arabic language to English, digitization and re- printing. The project implementation has already started and the state Government of Telangana is monitoring the same.
(Adapted from The PIB)
19. Mobile App Smart Consumer for Packaged Products (Relevant for GS Prelims)
In the interest of consumers, the Government has launched a new Mobile App Smart Consumer in December, 2016. Using the App, the consumers can scan the bar code on the package and read the product related information including the labelling information of a packaged commodity.
(Adapted from The PIB)
20. Profile of President Shri Ram Nath Kovind (Relevant for GS Prelims)
A lawyer, veteran political representative and long-time advocate of egalitarianism and integrity in Indian public life and society, Shri Ram NathKovind was born on October 1, 1945, in Paraunkh, near Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh. His parents were Shri Maiku Lal and Smt Kalawati.
Before assuming charge of the office of the 14th President of India in July 2017, Shri Kovind served as the 36th Governor of the state of Bihar.
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Educational and Professional Background Shri Kovind completed his school education in Kanpur and obtained the degrees of B.Com and L.L.B. from Kanpur University. In 1971, he enrolled as an Advocate with the Bar Council of Delhi.
Shri Kovind was Union Government Advocate in the Delhi High Court from 1977 to 1979 and Union Government Standing Counsel in the Supreme Court from 1980 to 1993. He became Advocate-on-Record of the Supreme Court of India in 1978. He practised at the Delhi High Court and Supreme Court for 16 years till 1993.
Parliamentary and Public Life Shri Kovind was elected as a member of the Rajya Sabha from Uttar Pradesh in April 1994. He served for two consecutive terms of six years each till March 2006. Shri Kovind served on various Parliamentary Committees like Parliamentary Committee on Welfare of Scheduled Castes/Tribes; Parliamentary Committee on Home Affairs; Parliamentary Committee on Petroleum and Natural Gas; Parliamentary Committee on Social Justice and Empowerment; and Parliamentary Committee on Law and Justice. He was Chairman of the Rajya Sabha House Committee.
Shri Kovind also served as Member of the Board of Management of the Dr B.R Ambedkar University, Lucknow, and Member of the Board of Governors of the Indian Institute of Management, Kolkata. He was part of the Indian delegation at the United Nations and addressed the United Nations General Assembly in October 2002.
(Adapted from The PIB)
21. Nawaz Sharif picks brother Shahbaz as successor (Relevant for GS Prelims)
Pakistan s ousted Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif picked his brother and Punjab province Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif as his successor and nominated former Petroleum Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi as interim Prime Minister for 45 days.
(Adapted from The Hindu)
22. Amazon s Jeff Bezos is now the richest man in the world (Relevant for GS Prelims) Amazon founder Jeff Bezos became the world s richest person, as a jump in the share price of the US tech giant enabled him to overtake Microsoft founder Bill Gates, Forbes magazine estimated. The magazine said its real-time tracking of personal fortunes showed Bezos with a net worth of $90.5 billion, ahead of the $90 billion for Gates. However, he was again relegated to second richest position after fall in Amazon stock prices.
Bezos owns around 17 per cent of the equity of Amazon, which has been expanding from its original mission as an online retailer to a diversified tech firm in cloud computing, online video, computing hardware and artificial intelligence.
The company also recently announced plans to acquire US grocer Whole Foods, which could help Amazon expand in that sector.
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According to Forbes, Gates has been the richest person in the magazine s annual rankings in March for the past four years and 18 of the past 22 years. Mexican telecom magnate Carlos Slim overtook Gates from 2010 to 2013.
Among the billionaires gaining ground is Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, who has an estimated worth of some $72.9 billion.
(Adapted from The Hindu)
23. Arundhati Roy s The Ministry of Utmost Happiness in 2017 won Man Booker award (Relevant for GS Prelims) Arundhati Roy s latest work of fiction, The Ministry of Utmost Happiness , has made it to this year s Man Booker Prize. The book came after a 19-year- period since the author s debut novel God of Small Things that won the Booker Prize in 1997. About Arundhati Roy Born in 1961, New Delhi based Roy has published several works of non-fiction, including The Algebra of Infinite Justice , Listening to Grasshoppers and Broken Republic with The Ministry of Utmost Happiness her second work of fiction. About the Man Booker Prize Established in 1969, the Man Booker Prize for Fiction, awards writers of any nationality, writing in English and published in the UK, and carries a cash prize of 50,000 pound.
(Adapted from The Hindu)
24. PM to inaugurate Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Memorial (Relevant for GS Prelims)
Prime Minister ShriNarendraModi inaugurated the former President, Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam s memorial at Pei Karumbu, Rameswaram. The memorial is designed and built by DRDO. The PM would flag off Kalam Sandesh Vahini , an exhibition bus which would travel across various States of the country and reach Rashtrapati Bhavan on October 15th which marks the birth anniversary of the former President.
Background of the Kalam Memorial The memorial has been constructed by DRDO in exactly one year. Architecturally, it has taken inspiration from several national landmarks. The front entrance looks similar to India Gate, while the two domes are on the lines of Rahstrapati Bhavan.
The Memorial has four main halls each depicting the life and times of DrKalam. There is a separate section to exhibit some of the personnel belongings of DrKalam, including his famous RudraVeena, G-suit he wore during his Su-30 MKI flight and numerous awards he received. Twelve walls have been utilized for murals and paintings.
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(Adapted from The PIB)
25. Learn & Earn Scheme (Relevant for GS Prelims)
The scheme SeekhoaurKamao (Learn and Earn) is a placement linked skill development scheme, implemented by the Ministry of Minority Affairs through selected Project Implementing Agencies (PIAs) all over the country.
The Government is encouraging the youth from the minority communities to take up employment based skills training and the Ministry has extended the scheme across the country.
(Adapted from The PIB)
26. Closure of Mahatma Gandhi Pravasi Suraksha Yojana (Relevant for GS Prelims)
Reasons behind Mahatma Gandhi PravasiSuraksha Yojana s closure The Mahatma Gandhi PravasiSurakhsha Yojana did not get an encouraging response from Indian emigrant workers for a variety of reasons including its voluntary nature, difficulty in payment of subscriptions from NRI accounts, limited insurance cover, and the restricted regulatory environment in destination countries where the scheme was to be rolled out. The Scheme stands closed with approval of the Cabinet with effect from April 1, 2017.
Existence of a similar scheme already There is already a mandatory Insurance and medical cover under Pravasi Bhartiya Bima Yojana (PBBY) for all Emigration Check Required (ECR) passport holding Indian workers, emigrating with Emigration Clearance to 18 notified ECR countries for overseas employment.
(Adapted from The PIB)
27. High Altitude Cloud Observatory Near Munnar, Kerala (Relevant for GS Prelims)
A high-altitude cloud physics observatory has been established at Munnar (Kerala), in Western Ghats.
What is the function of the observatory? High altitude cloud physics observatory at Munnar is used to observe cloud and rain processes over that region with state of the art observations.
How will this help? Such facility will enable understanding of rainfall distribution and prediction of weather phenomena viz, heavy rainfall, thunderstorm etc., not only over Kerala but for the whole country.
Other High-altitude cloud physics laboratories One high altitude cloud physics laboratories are functional at Mahabaleshwar (Konkan).
(Adapted from The PIB)
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