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INDEX
1. NATIONAL CONSUMER DAY 2018…………………………..2 57. POLAR VORTEX………………………………………………...….25 2. “SAMWAD WITH STUDENTS”………………………………..2 58. NATIONAL POLICY ON TREATMENT OF RARE 3. TRADE UNION ACT, 1926……………………………………….2 DISEASES (NPTRD)…………………………………..…….……..26 4. AGRI EXPORT ZONES……………………………………………..3 59. FUGITIVE ECONOMIC OFFENDERS ACT 2018…….....26 5. INDIAN BRIDGE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM……………….3 60. NEW DELHI INTERNATIONAL ARBITRATION CENTRE 6. ASSAM ACCORD…………………………………………….….…..4 BILL, 2018…………………………………………………………....27 7. NATIONAL HEALTH AUTHORITY…………………….……...5 61. CYCLONE PABUK…………………………………….…………….28 8. RASHTRIYA SASHAKTIKARAN KARYAKRAM……..……..5 62. WORLD BRAILLE DAY……………………………….…………..28 9. UMBRELLA SCHEME FOR FAMILY WELFARE AND 63. MANDAL DAM PROJECT…………………………….…………28 OTHER HEALTH INTERVENTIONS”…………………….…….5 64. CONSTITUTION (ONE HUNDRED & TWENTY FOURTH 10. AGRICULTURE PROJECT WITH FAO…………………………6 AMENDMENT) BILL…………………………………………..….29 11. SCRAMJET ENGINE………………………………………………...6 65. PERSONAL LAWS (AMENDMENT) BILL, 2018…..……29 12. NATIONAL BAMBOO MISSION……………..…………………8 66. 70 POINT GRADING INDEX…………………………………...30 13. IMT TRILATERAL HIGHWAY…………………………………….8 67. REMOVAL OF ROSEWOOD FROM CITES………….……30 14. MENSTRUAL HYGIENE SCHEME………………………………9 68. DNA TECHNOLOGY (USE & APPLICATION) 15. NIKSHAY POSHAN YOJANA………………………………….….9 REGULATION BILL, 2018……………………………………...30 16. CREDIT GUARANTEE FUND FOR START-UPS……………9 69. TRANSPORT SUBSIDY SCHEME………………..…………..31 17. NATIONAL POLICY ON DOMESTIC WORKERS………..10 70. GREEN TECHNOLOGY IN PMGSY………………….……….31 18. NATIONAL ANTI-PROFITEERING AUTHORITY………..10 71. NILEKANI PANEL…………………………………………….…….32 19. OPEN ACREAGE LICENSING PROGRAMME……………11 72. UNIVERSAL BASIC INCOME…………………………..………32 20. INDIAN INSTITUTE OF SKILLS……………………….……….11 73. RBI ALLOWS TOKENIZATION…………………….…………..33 21. SCHEMES: SANKALP AND STRIVE ………………………….12 74. PERSIAN GULF REGIONAL DIALOGUE FORUM……...33 22. AADI MAHOTSAV………………………………………………….12 75. GANGAJAL PROJECT…………………………….……………….34 23. ELISA KITS……………………………………………………..……..13 76. SAMBHAV……………………………………………….……………34 24. WEB WONDER WOMEN CAMPAIGN…………………….13 77. INDIA’S LONGEST SINGLE LANE STEEL CABLE 25. SINO-INDIA DIGITAL COLLABORATION PLAZA……….13 SUSPENSION BRIDGE……………………………………………34 26. NATIONAL CLEAN AIR PROGRAMME…………………….13 78. SWADESH DARSHAN PROJECT IN MEGHALAYA…….34 27. MOHAN REDDY COMMITTEE………………………………..14 79. KNOW INDIA PROGRAMME…………………………..……..35 28. KHUSHI SCHEME…………………………………………………..15 80. E-PRISON……………………………………………………………..35 29. 6TH NATIONAL REPORT TO CBD…………………………….15 81. JAL CHARCHA………………………………………..……………..35 30. SURVEY ON RETAIL HABITS OF INDIVIDUALS…….….16 82. CCPWC SCHEME…………………………………………………..35 31. PANDA BONDS……………………………………………………..16 83. GANDHI CIRCUIT….……………………………………………….36 32. CINEREOUS VULTURE…………………………………………..16 84. PVTGs…………………………………………………………………..36 33. AGREEMENT ON PROHIBITION OF ATTACKS AGAINST 85. SUB-GLACIAL ANTARTIC LAKE SCIENTIFIC ACCESS NUCLEAR INSTALLATIONS & FACILITIES……………..…16 (SALSA)…………………………………………………….………..…36 34. ASIA REASSURANCE INITIATIVE ACT, 2018……………17 86. TOTAL FERTILITY RATE………………………………………….36 35. ORGANIZATIONS BANNED UNDER UAPA………….….17 87. GALAPAGOS ISLANDS……………………………………….….37 36. CONSTITUTION (SCHEDULED TRIBES) ORDER 88. AGASTHYAMALA………………………………………………..…37 (AMENDMENT) BILL, 2018……………………………….….17 89. LAKHON KHOL…………………………………………….………..37 37. MONUMENTS OF NATIONAL IMPORTANCE…..…….17 90. PHOTO DNA……………………….……………………………..…38 38. LEAD & MSG………………………………………………..………18 91. TIME CAPSULE……………………………………………………..38 39. BHARATMALA PARIYOJANA…………………..…………….18 92. COMMODITY EXCHANGE …………………………………….38 40. MAKARAVILAKKU FESTIVAL…………………………….……19 93. SWAP RATIO………………………………………………………..38 41. DIRECTORATE OF REVENUE INTELLIGENCE….……….19 94. SHOLA FOREST GRASSLANDS…………………….…………39 42. PANJ TIRATH…………………………………………………………20 95. U K SINHA COMMITTEE…………………………….……….…39 43. BEHDIENKHLAM FESTIVAL…………………………..……….20 96. US & ISRAEL QUITS UNESCO…………………………….…..39 44. SATTRIYA DANCE…………………………………………..……..20 97. CENTRAL INFORMATION COMMISSION…………….….39 45. THANJUVAR PAINTING……………………………….………..20 98. 106TH INDIAN SCIENCE CONGRESS…………………….….40 46. KUZHALMANNAM RAMAKRISHANAN……………..……21 99. TRAFFICKING OF PERSON (PREVENTION, 47. SIKH TAKHTS…………………………………………………………21 PROTECTION & REHABILITATION) BILL, 2018…….….40 48. ATAL SOLAR KRISHI PUMP YOJANA………………………22 100. CONSUMER PROTECTION BILL 2018………………….….41 49. STREET LIGHTING NATIONAL PROGRAMME…………23 101. COAL SWAPPING SCHEME……………………………………41 50. MEEP……………………………………………………..…………….23 102. MCA-21 DATABASE…………………………………………..….41 51. TRIGENERATION…………………………………………….…….23 103. NMICPS………………………………………………………………..42 52. AGRICULTURE DEMAND SIDE MANAGEMENT 104. BULLSEQUANA SUPERCOMPUTER…………………..……42 (AgDSM) PROGRAMME………………………………………..24 105. SRI SATGURU RAM SINGHJI……………………………..…..43 53. CLIMATE CHANGE PERFORMANCE INDEX 2019……24 54. MOTHER OF ALL BOMBS………………………………………24 55. YUTU-2……………………………………………………………..….25
56. NATIONAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP AWARDS 2018…...25
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CURRENT AFFAIRS 1ST TO 10TH JANUARY 2019
NATIONAL CONSUMER DAY 2018
The Department of Consumer Affairs, Ministry of Consumer Affairs Food and Public Distribution celebrated the National Consumer Day 2018 with the theme “Timely Disposal of Consumer Complaints” in New Delhi.
Every Year 24th December is observed as National Consumer Day with a specific theme in India
The Consumer Protection Act aims to provide consumers with effective safeguards against different types of exploitation such as defective goods, deficiency in services and unfair trade practices. This day provides an opportunity for individuals to highlight the importance of the consumer movement and the need to make every consumer more aware of their rights and responsibilities.
HIGHLIGHTS
▪ Enactment of Consumer Protection Act, 1986 has set in motion a veritable consumer movement in the country. ▪ Under the Consumer Protection Act, 1986, three tier quasi-judiciary machinery has been set up at District, State and Central levels. ▪ It aims for better protection of the interests of consumers and to provide simple and speedy redressal of consumer disputes. ▪ A countrywide multimedia “Consumer Awareness” campaign titled ‘Jago Grahak Jago” is being conducted on various issues related to consumer rights and responsibilities across diverse subjects. ▪ The States/UT have been actively associated in the program especially in expanding the geographic reach of the campaign on consumer awareness. ▪ The Department of consumer affairs also operates the Consumer Welfare Fund to strengthen the Consumer Movement in the country. ▪ It is by the way of financial assistance to the State/UTs, NGOs to raise awareness amongst consumers and as also to educational institutes for research on consumer issues and running of centers on consumer studies.
“SAMWAD WITH STUDENTS”
As part of the enhanced outreach programme of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), a new platform named “Samwad with Students” (SwS) was launched in Bengaluru.
HIGHLIGHTS
▪ Through the SwS initiative, ISRO aims to constantly engage youngsters across India to capture their scientific temperament. ▪ The new conversation mission will inspire students cutting across schools and colleges. ▪ The first SwS event saw 40 wards and 10 teachers from select schools interact with ISRO Chairman Dr K Sivan at the Anthariksh Bhavan.
TRADE UNION ACT, 1926
The Union Cabinet has approved Amendment to the Trade Unions Act, 1926 to make provisions regarding Recognition of Trade Unions.
ADVANTAGES
▪ Recognition of Trade Unions at Central and State level. ▪ Ensure true representation of workers in the tripartite bodies. ▪ Check on the arbitrary nomination of workers’ representatives by the Government. ▪ Reduce litigations and industrial unrest.
HIGHLIGHTS
▪ The proposed Bill will ensure that the nomination of workers’ representatives in tripartite bodies by the government will become more transparent. ▪ Trade Unions so recognized would be accountable in maintaining industrial harmony. Recognition of Trade Unions at Central/State level would reduce duplicity of such exercise by different departments. P a g e 2 | 43
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▪ Recognized Trade Unions may be assigned specific roles at Central or State level.
AGRI EXPORT ZONES
The concept of Agri Export Zone (AEZ) was introduced in 2001, through EXIM Policy 1997-2001, to take a comprehensive look at a particular produce/product located in a contiguous area for the purpose of developing and sourcing the raw materials, their processing/packaging, leading to final exports.
HIGHLIGHTS
▪ The concept hinged primarily on convergence of existing Central and State Government schemes to take care of financial interventions required at various stages of value chain; partnership among various stakeholders viz. Central Government, State Government, farmer, processor, exporter etc.; and focus on targeted products and areas to identify required policy interventions. All these activities did take place in certain respects in the notified Agri Export Zones.
▪ In December 2004, an internal peer review conducted by Department of Commerce concluded that the notified AEZs had not been able to achieve the intended objectives. ▪ It was decided that there will be no creation of new AEZs, unless there were strong and compelling reasons. No new AEZs have been set up after 2004. ▪ All the notified AEZs have completed their intended span of 5 years and have been discontinued. ▪ In all 60 Agri Export Zones (AEZ) were notified by the Government till 2004.
INDIAN BRIDGE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
The Ministry of Road Transport & Highways has inventorized 1,72,517 bridges/structures under Indian Bridge Management System (IBMS).
BACKGROUND
IBMS is being developed to create an inventory of all bridges in the country and rate their structural condition so that timely repair and rehabilitation work can be carried out based on the criticality of the structure. IBMS aims to fill this gap by preparing a data base of all bridges in the country and detailing their structural condition so that timely action can be taken to repair the structures or build new ones in their place. P a g e 3 | 43
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HIGHLIGHTS
▪ IBMS is the largest platform in the world owned by a single owner, with database that could exceed 1,50,000 bridge structures. So far 1,15,000 bridges have been inventorized, of which 85,000 are culverts and the rest are bridges. ▪ During inventory creation each bridge is assigned a unique identification number or National Identity Number based on the state, RTO zone and whether it is situated on an National Highway, State Highway or is a district road. Then the precise location of the bridge in terms of latitude-longitude is collected through GPS and based on this, the bridge is assigned a Bridge Location Number. ▪ Thereafter, engineering characteristics like the design, materials, type of bridge, its age, loading, traffic lane, length, width of carriage way etc are collected and are used to assign a Bridge Classification Number to the structure. ▪ These are then used to do a structural rating of the structure on a scale of 0 to 9, and each bridge is assigned a Structural Rating Number. ▪ The rating is done for each component of the structure like integral and non-integral deck, superstructure, substructure, bank and channel, structural evaluation, deck geometry, vertical clearance, waterway efficiency etc. ▪ In addition to the structural rating, the bridges are also being assigned Socio-Economic Bridge Rating Number which will decide the importance of the structure in relation to its contribution to daily socio-economic activity of the area in its vicinity.
Based on this inventory IBMS will analyse data and identify bridges that need attention. Further inspection will be carried out wherever required to improve the operational availability of the structure, enhance its life and prioritize repair and rehabilitation work. The data will help to decide which bridge needs critical attention, or which needs to be rebuilt.
ASSAM ACCORD
The Union Cabinet approved the setting up of a High-Level Committee for implementation of Clause 6 of the Assam Accord and measures envisaged in the Memorandum of Settlement, 2003 and other issues related to Bodo community.
BACKGROUND
After Assam agitation of 1979-1985, Assam Accord was signed on 15th August, 1985. Clause 6 of the Assam Accord envisaged that appropriate constitutional, legislative and administrative safeguards, shall be provided to protect, preserve and promote the cultural, social, linguistic identity and heritage of the Assamese people.
However, it has been felt that Clause 6 of the Assam Accord has not been fully implemented even almost 35 years after the Accord was signed.
HIGHLIGHTS
▪ The Cabinet, therefore, approved the setting up of a High-Level Committee to suggest constitutional, legislative and administrative safeguards as envisaged in Clause 6 of the Assam Accord. ▪ The Committee shall examine the effectiveness of actions since 1985 to implement Clause 6 of the Assam Accord. ▪ The Committee will hold discussions with all stakeholders and assess the required quantum of reservation of seats in Assam Legislative Assembly and local bodies for Assamese people. ▪ The Committee will also assess the requirement of measures to be taken to protect Assamese and other indigenous languages of Assam, quantum of reservation in employment under Government of Assam and other measures to protect, preserve and promote cultural, social, linguistic identity and heritage of Assamese people. ▪ The Composition and Terms of Reference of the Committee will be issued separately by the Ministry of Home Affairs.
The Cabinet also approved a number of measures to fulfil the outstanding issues related to the Bodo community.
▪ The Bodo Accord was signed in 2003 which resulted in the establishment of a Bodoland Territorial Council under Sixth Schedule of the Constitution of India. However, there have been representations from different organizations of Bodos to fulfil various outstanding demands. ▪ The Cabinet approved the establishment of a Bodo Museum-cum-language and cultural study centre, modernization of existing All India Radio Station and Doordarshan Kendra at Kokrajhar and naming a Superfast Train passing through BTAD as ARONAI Express. ▪ The State Government will also take necessary measures related to appropriate land policy and land laws, besides setting up of Institutions for Research and Documentation of Customs, Traditions and Languages of indigenous communities.
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NATIONAL HEALTH AUTHORITY
The Union Cabinet has approved the restructuring of existing National Health Agency as "National Health Authority" for better implementation of Pradhan Mantri - Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY).
HIGHLIGHTS
▪ With this approval, the existing society "National Health Agency" has been dissolved and will be replaced by National Health Authority as an attached office to Ministry of Health & Family Welfare. ▪ The existing multi-tier decision making structure has been replaced with the Governing Board chaired by the Minister of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India which will enable the decision making at a faster pace, required for smooth implementation of the scheme. ▪ The composition of the Governing Board is broad based with due representations from the Government, domain experts, etc. ▪ Besides, the States shall also be represented in the Governing Board on rotational basis. ▪ No new funds have been approved. Existing budget that was approved earlier by the Cabinet for The National Health Agency, including costs related to IT, human resources, infrastructure, operational costs etc. would be utilized by the proposed National Health Authority. ▪ It is envisaged that the National Health Authority shall have full accountability, authority and mandate to implement PM-JAY through an efficient, effective and transparent decision-making process.
RASHTRIYA SASHAKTIKARAN KARYAKRAM
The Union Cabinet has approved the continuation of Rastriya Yuva Sashaktikaran Karyakram Scheme for the Period 2017-18 to 2019-2020 with budget outlay of Rs.1160 crore as recommended by EFC.
BACKGROUND
The Rashtriya Yuva Sashaktikaran Karyakram Scheme is an ongoing Central Sector Scheme of the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports and has been continuing since 12th Five Year Plan. The Scheme aims to develop the personality and leadership qualities of the youth and to engage them in nation building activities.
HIGHLIGHTS
▪ During 12th FYP period, in rationalization exercise undertaken in consultation with Ministry of Finance and NITI Aayog, the eight schemes were brought under the umbrella scheme of Rashtriya Yuva Sashaktikaran Karyakram as sub- schemes. ▪ This has helped in achieving better synergies between the Schemes and thereby, improves their effectiveness and help in achieving better outcomes with the available resources. ▪ The Scheme beneficiaries are the youth in the age-group of 15-29 years, in line with the definition of 'youth' in the National Youth Policy, 2014. ▪ In case of programme components specifically meant for the adolescents, the age-group is 10-19 years. ▪ Following are eight sub-schemes under Rashtriya Yuva Sashaktikaran Karyakram:
1. Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan(NYKS). 7. National Discipline Scheme (NDS). 2. National Youth Corps (NYC). 8. National Young Leaders Programme (NYLP). 3. National Programme for Youth & Adolescent Development (NPYAD). 4. International Cooperation. 5. Youth Hostels (YH). 6. Assistance to Scouting & Guiding Organizations. “UMBRELLA SCHEME FOR FAMILY WELFARE AND OTHER HEALTH INTERVENTIONS”
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has given its approval for continuation of five schemes under the "Umbrella Scheme for Family Welfare and Other Health Interventions" during the Fourteenth Finance Commission period 2017-18 to 2019-20.
BENEFITS
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Components of, Social Marketing of Contraceptives, Free Supply of Contraceptives are specifically targeted towards low income group people. However, the overall scheme is not restricted to any particular group or category and has a mandate to cover the population throughout India.
HIGHLIGHTS
▪ The target is to support the key goals of the National Health Policy 2017 and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to which India is a signatory. ▪ The attempt through Media / IEC outreach is to move from care for sickness to the concept of wellness by using 360 degrees approach in conventional and social media. ▪ The target of the free distribution and social marketing of contraceptives is to improve the Modern Contraceptive Prevalence Rate (mCPR), help Family Planning and reach population stabilization. The target for NFHS is to provide reliable data on all health indicators.
All the five schemes are Central Sector Schemes with 100% funding from Central Government. These are as follows:
1. Swastha Nagrik Abhiyan (SNA): For dissemination of information on health issues to create awareness among citizens of India of ail age/sex/locations and appropriately influence their health seeking behaviour to encourage healthy lifestyles and empower the citizens. SNA has been approved, with an estimated outlay of Rs. 1030.15 crore for three years.
2. Free Supply of Contraceptives: For providing free supply of contraceptives including condoms, Oral Contraceptive Pills, Pregnancy Test Kits, other contraceptives, etc. to States with a view to improve Maternal and Child Health and achieving population stabilization.
3. MIS Scheme now proposed as Health Surveys and Health Research (HSHR): For sourcing of data on population, health and nutrition for India and its States including through periodically conducted National Family Health Survey, which is one of the largest surveys of its kind worldwide. The NFHS provides valuable data for policy and programmes right up to the district level.
4. Social Marketing of Contraceptives: For branding, attractively packaging, marketing arid selling of products and services related to Family Planning for low-income groups at affordable prices.
5. Population Research Centres (PRCs): For third party evaluation of the scheme on PRCs and specially of those centres which are being considered for continuation will be carried out.
AGRICULTURE PROJECT WITH FAO
The government has launched a Global Environment Facility (GEF) assisted project namely, “Green – Ag: Transforming Indian Agriculture for global environment benefits and the conservation of critical biodiversity and forest landscapes” in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) during September, 2018 in high-conservation-value landscapes of five States namely (i) Madhya Pradesh : Chambal Landscape, (ii) Mizoram: Dampa Landscape, (iii) Odisha: Similipal Landscape, (iv) Rajasthan: Desert National Park Landscape and v) Uttarakhand: Corbett-Rajaji Landscape.
HIGHLIGHTS
▪ The project seeks to mainstream biodiversity, climate change and sustainable land management objectives and practices into Indian agriculture. ▪ The overall objective of the project is to catalyze transformative change of India’s agricultural sector to support achievement of national and global environmental benefits and conservation of critical biodiversity and forest landscapes. ▪ The project will support harmonization between India's agricultural and environmental sector priorities and investments so that the achievement of national and global environmental benefits can be fully realized without compromising India's ability to strengthen rural livelihoods and meet its food and nutrition security.
SCRAMJET ENGINE
The first experimental mission of a sub-scale Scramjet engine, towards the realization of an Air Breathing Propulsion System, was successfully conducted on August 28, 2016 from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota.
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This first experimental mission of ISRO’s Scramjet Engine towards the realisation of an Air Breathing Propulsion System was successfully conducted from Satish Dhawan Space Centre SHAR, Sriharikota.
The Scramjet engine designed by ISRO uses Hydrogen as fuel and the Oxygen from the atmospheric air as the oxidiser. The August 28 test was the maiden short duration experimental test of ISRO’s Scramjet engine with a hypersonic flight at Mach 6. ISRO’s Advanced Technology Vehicle (ATV), which is an advanced sounding rocket, was the solid rocket booster used for this recent test of Scramjet engines at supersonic conditions. ATV carrying Scramjet engines weighed 3277 kg at lift-off.
The present developed technology is useful for launch vehicles and missiles and is not directly applicable for spacecraft propulsion.
India is the fourth country to demonstrate the flight testing of a Scramjet Engine.
BACKGROUND
Ramjet, Scramjet and Dual Mode Ramjet (DMRJ) are the three concepts of air-breathing engines which are being developed by various space agencies.
A ramjet is a form of air-breathing jet engine that uses the vehicle’s forward motion to compress incoming air for combustion without a rotating compressor.
▪ Fuel is injected in the combustion chamber where it mixes with the hot compressed air and ignites. ▪ A ramjet-powered vehicle requires an assisted take-off like a rocket assist to accelerate it to a speed where it begins to produce thrust. ▪ Ramjets work most efficiently at supersonic speeds around Mach 3 (three times the speed of sound) and can operate up to speeds of Mach 6. However, the ramjet efficiency starts to drop when the vehicle reaches hypersonic speeds.
A scramjet engine is an improvement over the ramjet engine as it efficiently operates at hypersonic speeds and allows supersonic combustion. Thus, it is known as Supersonic Combustion Ramjet, or Scramjet.
A dual mode ramjet (DMRJ) is a type of jet engine where a ramjet transforms into scramjet over Mach 4-8 range, which means it can efficiently operate both in subsonic and supersonic combustor modes.
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NATIONAL BAMBOO MISSION
The restructured National Bamboo Mission (NBM) has been launched in April, 2018 with an outlay of Rs.1290 crore for two year i.e. till the end of 14th Finance Commission. Budget Estimate for the Year 2018-19 & 2019-20 is Rs.300.00 crores.
Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare is implementing a 100% Centrally Sponsored Scheme called Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) in which National Bamboo Mission (NBM) is being implemented as a sub scheme.
The Mission will focus on development of bamboo in limited States where it has social, commercial and economical advantage, particularly in the North Eastern region and States including Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Karnataka, Uttarakhand, Bihar, Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
OBJECTIVES
▪ To increase the area under bamboo plantation in non-forest Government and private lands to supplement farm income and contribute towards resilience to climate change as well as availability of quality raw material requirement of industries. ▪ To improve post-harvest management through establishment of innovative primary processing units near the source of production, primary treatment and seasoning plants, preservation technologies and market infrastructure. ▪ To promote product development keeping in view market demand, by assisting R&D, entrepreneurship & business models at micro small and medium levels and feed bigger industry. ▪ To rejuvenate the under developed bamboo industry in India. ▪ To promote skill development capacity building, awareness generation for development of bamboo sector from production to market demand. ▪ To re-align efforts so as to reduce dependency on import of bamboo and bamboo products by way of improved productivity and suitability of domestic raw material for industry, so as to enhance income of the primary producers.
IMT TRILATERAL HIGHWAY
▪ India is keen to move fast on the 1,360-kilometer-long IMT highway, which will Moreh in Manipur to Mae Sot in Thailand through Tamu, Kalewa, Yargi, Monywa, Mandalay, Baw Nat Gyi, Kawkareik and Myawaddy in Myanmar. ▪ India has committed to implement two projects on the IMT Trilateral Highway — construction of 69 bridges on 150 km Tamu-Kyigone-Kalewa section, and upgradation of 120 km road on Kalewa-Yargi section in Myanmar. P a g e 8 | 43
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▪ The National Highways Authority of India has been appointed as the technical executing agency and project management consultant for implementing this project. ▪ Myanmar has earlier conveyed to India that it would proceed with the proposed motor vehicle agreement after comprehensively reviewing the implementation of similar arrangements it has with other countries. ▪ In its report, the Parliamentary Standing Committee has also recommended extending the IMT Highway to Cambodia, Lao PDR and Vietnam as that would be beneficial in facilitating trade and promoting production networks.
MENSTRUAL HYGIENE SCHEME
To address the need of menstrual hygiene among adolescent girls residing primarily in rural areas, Government of India is supporting the Menstrual Hygiene Scheme, under which, funds are provided to States/UTs through National Health Mission for decentralized procurement of sanitary napkins packs for provision primarily to rural adolescent girls at subsidized rates as per proposals received from the States and UTs in their Programme Implementation Plans.
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has been implementing this scheme for promotion of menstrual hygiene among adolescent girls in the age group of 10-19 years primarily in rural areas as part of the Rashtriya Kishor Swasthya Karyakram.
OBJECTIVES
▪ Increasing awareness among adolescent girls on Menstrual Hygiene. ▪ Improving access to and use of high-quality sanitary napkins by adolescent girls in rural areas. ▪ Ensuring safe disposal of Sanitary Napkins in an environmentally friendly manner. ▪ Provision of funds to ASHAs to hold monthly meeting with adolescents to discuss issues related to menstrual hygiene.
HIGHLIGHTS
▪ The scheme was initially implemented in 2011 in 107 selected districts in 17 States wherein a pack of six sanitary napkins called “Freedays” was provided to rural adolescent girls for Rs. 6. From 2014 onwards, funds are now being provided to States/UTs under National Health Mission for decentralized procurement of sanitary napkins packs for provision to rural adolescent girls at a subsidized rate of Rs 6 for a pack of 6 napkins. ▪ The ASHA will continue to be responsible for distribution, receiving an incentive @ Rs 1 per pack sold and a free pack of napkins every month for her own personal use. ▪ She will convene monthly meetings at the Aanganwadi Centres or other such platforms for adolescent girls to focus on issue of menstrual hygiene and also serve as a platform to discuss other relevant SRH issues. ▪ A range of IEC material has been developed around MHS, using a 360 degree approach to create awareness among adolescent girls about safe & hygienic menstrual health practices which includes audio, video and reading materials for adolescent girls and job-aids for ASHAs and other field level functionaries for communicating with adolescent girls.
NIKSHAY POSHAN YOJANA
The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MOHFW) has launched the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) scheme for nutritional support to tuberculosis patients as Nikshay Poshan Yojana (NPY) from 01.04.2018.
HIGHLIGHTS
▪ State/UTs have been given different payment options as per their convenience for either making payment directly through Public Financial Management System (PFMS) or through the Nikshay PFMS interface ▪ Flexibility of providing the benefit through existing bank account of a blood relative has also been given. ▪ State have also been advised to facilitate opening of zero balance accounts for TB patients, if necessary, under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) and Indian Postal Bank.
CREDIT GUARANTEE FUND FOR START-UPS
The Government is planning to set up a Credit Guarantee Fund (CGF) for encouraging start-up companies with a view to providing funding facilities in the country. The scheme has yet to be made operational.
Incentives being provided to Start-ups under Start-up India initiative are:
▪ Self-Certification under 6 Labour Laws & 3 Environmental Laws. ▪ Relaxations in Public Procurement Norms. ▪ Faster exit under the Bankruptcy Code. P a g e 9 | 43
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▪ Rebates on Patent & Trademark filing fees, support from facilitators and expedited examination of Patent application. ▪ Income Tax exemption. ▪ Exemption from Income Tax on investments received above fair market value. ▪ Funding support under the Fund of Funds for Start-ups. ▪ Guidance and facilitation support from Start-up India Hub
Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion hosted Start-up India Global Venture Capital Summit 2018 on 7th December 2018 in Goa.
NATIONAL POLICY ON DOMESTIC WORKERS
The Ministry of Labour & Employment is considering to formulate a National Policy on Domestic Workers which is in the draft stage.
HIGHLIGHTS
▪ Inclusion of Domestic Workers in the existing legislations. ▪ Domestic workers will have the right to register as unorganized workers. Such registration will facilitate their access to rights & benefits. ▪ Right to form their own associations/unions. ▪ Right to minimum wages, access to social security. ▪ Right to enhance their skills. ▪ Protection of Domestic Workers from abuse and exploitation. ▪ Domestic Workers to have access to courts, tribunals for grievance redressal. ▪ Establishment of a mechanism for regulation of private placement agencies. ▪ Establishment of a grievance redressal system for domestic workers.
No such data is maintained at the Central level. However as per the National Sample Survey (NSSO Statsitics-2011-2012, 68th round) according to which estimated 39 lakhs people are employed as domestic workers by private households, of which 26 lakhs are female domestic workers.
NATIONAL ANTI-PROFITEERING AUTHORITY
The National Anti-Profiteering Authority (NAA) has been constituted under Section 171 of the Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017 to ensure that the reduction in rate of tax or the benefit of input tax credit is passed on to the recipient by way of commensurate reduction in prices.
Further, the following steps have been taken by the NAA to ensure that customers get the full benefit of tax cuts:
▪ Holding regular meetings with the Zonal Screening Committees and the Chief Commissioners of Central Tax to stress upon consumer awareness programmes. ▪ Launching a helpline to resolve the queries of citizens regarding registration of complaints against profiteering. ▪ Receiving complaints through email and NAA portal. ▪ Working with consumer welfare organizations in order to facilitate outreach activities.
BACKGROUND
▪ The Authority’s core function is to ensure that the benefits of the reduction is GST rates on goods and services made by GST Council and proportional change in the Input tax credit passed on to the ultimate consumers and recipient respectively by way of reduction in the prices by the suppliers. ▪ The formation of NAA comes in the background of rate-reduction of large number of items by GST Council in its 22nd meeting at Guwahati. ▪ The Authority’s main function is to ensure that traders are not realizing unfair profit by charging high price from consumers in the name of GST. ▪ The responsibility of NAA is to examine and check such profiteering activities and recommend punitive actions including cancellation of Registration. ▪ The chairman, NAA along with 4 Technical members and with help of the Standing Committee, Screening Committee in every state and the Directorate General of Safeguards in the Central Board of Excise & Customs (CBEC), will work together on the anti-profiteering front.
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OPEN ACREAGE LICENSING PROGRAMME
The Hydrocarbon Exploration and Licensing Policy (HELP) replacing the erstwhile New Exploration Licensing Policy (NELP) was approved in March 2016 and the Open Acreage Licensing Programme (OALP) along with the National Data Repository (NDR) were launched in June 2017 as the key drivers to accelerate the Exploration and Production (E&P) activities in India.
The Union Cabinet has approved the Hydrocarbon Exploration and Licensing Policy (HELP).
Four main facets of this policy are:
1. Uniform license for exploration and production of all forms of hydrocarbon. 2. An open acreage policy. 3. Easy to administer revenue sharing model. 4. Marketing and pricing freedom for the crude oil and natural gas produced.
▪ The uniform licence will enable the contractor to explore conventional as well as unconventional oil and gas resources including CBM, shale gas/oil, tight gas and gas hydrates under a single license. ▪ The concept of Open Acreage Policy will enable E&P companies choose the blocks from the designated area. ▪ Present fiscal system of production sharing based on Investment Multiple and cost recovery /production linked payment will be replaced by a easy to administer revenue sharing model. ▪ The govt also introduced National Data Repository (NDR). ▪ It is envisaged as a centralised database of geological and hydrocarbon information that will be available to all. ▪ It will allow potential investors to make informed decisions and will open up a new sector in India. ▪ There are a number of companies that simply explore hydrocarbon basins and sell the information they gather. Thus, via NDR, the govt seeks to incentivise such prospectors.
SCHEMES: SANKALP AND STRIVE
Two new Skill Development Schemes have been approved namely (i) Skills Acquisition and Knowledge Awareness for Livelihood (SANKALP); and (ii) Skills Strengthening for Industrial Value Enhancement (STRIVE).
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▪ The Skills Acquisition and Knowledge Awareness for Livelihood (SANKALP) is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme with a project of total size US Dollar 675 million, including World Bank assistance of US Dollar 500 million, in two tranches of US Dollar 250 million each, with a six-year implementation schedule. ▪ At present, the first tranche has been approved for implementation. ▪ Accordingly, the Loan Agreement of US 250 Million Dollar for the project was signed between Government of India and International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) on 13th December, 2017 which came into effect from 19th January, 2018. ▪ SANKALP is a project to reform the skill development landscape, strengthen institutions at Central and State levels, enable greater decentralization of skill development governance, and improve industry connect of skill development programs.
OBJECTIVES
1. Creating convergence among all skill training activities, both State-led and Government of India funded, at the state level. 2. Improving quality of skill development programs through enablers such as building a pool of quality trainers and assessors, developing model curriculum and content, and standardizing assessment and certification. 3. Establishing robust monitoring and evaluation system for skill training programs. 4. Providing access to skill training opportunities to the disadvantaged sections. 5. Creating industry led and demand driven skill training capacity.
Skills Strengthening for Industrial Value Enhancement (STRIVE)
▪ Skills Strengthening for Industrial Value Enhancement (STRIVE) project is a World Bank assisted-Government of India project with the objective of improving the relevance and efficiency of skills training provided through Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) and apprenticeships. ▪ The financial agreement was signed between Government of India and International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) on 19th December, 2017 and the closing date of the project is November, 2022. ▪ It is a Central Sector Scheme (CSS) with a budget outlay of INR 2200 Crore covering the following 4 result areas: 1. Improved performance of ITI. 2. Increased Capacities of State Governments to support ITIs and Apprenticeship Training. 3. Improved Teaching and Learning. 4. Improved and Broadened Apprenticeship Training.
AADI MAHOTSAV
The Ministry of Tribal Affairs introduced a new concept of organising National Tribal Festival titled “Aadi Mahotsav” in collaboration with Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED) from 2017-18 onwards.
HIGHLIGHTS
▪ The Festival showed exquisite craftsmanship of tribal artisans. ▪ Almost 800 Artisans and Artists from 27 States participated in the Mahotsav and sold their products and displayed their crafts and skill through more than 200 stalls that was set up for them. ▪ 85 Tribal Chefs from 25 States showcased tribal delicacies. ▪ The Ministry as a step forward in this direction to highlight rich tribal culture across the country has also embarked upon an ambitious programme to hold similar events in States and Union Territories too through TRIFED. ▪ Ministry of Tribal Affairs has helped States establish Tribal Research Institutes. ▪ Core responsibility of TRIs is to function as a body of knowledge & research, for tribal development and preservation of art and culture of tribal people. ▪ The TRIs comprise of cultural museum, library, training centre, research wing etc.
ELISA KITS
Union Minister of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare released recombinant Enzyme-linked immune sorbent assay (ELISA) kits: one for Glanders and other for Equine Infectious Anaemia. Both these diseases are notifiable diseases in India and require special diagnosis for control and eradication in the country.
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▪ Glanders is a fatal infectious and notifiable disease of equines including horses, donkeys and mules. ▪ The disease is caused by a bacterium known as Burkholderia mallei and has zoonotic potential. ▪ The organism is also considered as potential bio-weapon and categorized under ‘Tier 1 Select Agent’. ▪ National Research Centre on Equines (NRCE) has been able to develop a recombinant Hcp1 antigen ELISA as an alternate to complement-fixation test (CFT). ▪ The ELISA has been duly validated in India and the OIE Reference Laboratory, Germany and showed excellent sensitivity (97.2%) and specificity (99.6%). ▪ This technology has been transferred to eight State Disease Diagnostic Laboratories following approval of DADF, Ministry of Agriculture & Family Welfare and commercialized for transformation into ready to use kit. ▪ This ELISA has a huge potential of international commercialization as recombinant protein-based ELISA is not available in any other country. ▪ This technology will prove to be a milestone in the control and eradication of glanders from India. ▪ Equine infectious anaemia (EIA) is a chronic, debilitating and persistent infectious disease of equines caused by a retrovirus. It is an OIE notifiable disease. ▪ NRCE has also developed recombinant p26 protein-based ELISA as an alternative to Coggin’s test. ▪ This technology will provide sustainable and homogeneous source of antigen and harmonized protocol to ensure regular surveillance of EIA. ▪ Both kits are highly economical as compare to imported kits.
WEB-WONDER WOMEN CAMPAIGN
The Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of India, has launched an online campaign, ‘#www: Web- Wonder Women’.
HIGHLIGHTS
▪ The Campaign aims to discover and celebrate the exceptional achievements of women, who have been driving positive agenda of social change via social media. ▪ Through the campaign, the Ministry and the Campaign’s Partners aim to recognize the fortitude of Indian women stalwarts from across the globe who have used the power of social media to run positive & niche campaigns to steer a change in society. ▪ This Campaign will recognize and acknowledge the efforts of these meritorious Women.
SINO-INDIA DIGITAL COLLABORATION PLAZA
The Sino-Indian Digital Collaboration Plaza (SIDCOP), an initiative to bring Indian IT companies and Chinese enterprises closer to each other on a single AI enabled platform was launched on 10th January 2019.
HIGHLIGHTS
▪ This is a partnership by National Association of Software and Services Companies (NASSCOM) with Municipal Governments of Guiyang and Dalian. A Joint Venture comprising of one Indian and Chinese company has been tasked with the running of the platform. ▪ SIDCOP, which is a boundary-less marketplace offers this opportunity for Chinese enterprises in order to assist them in operational optimization and adopting industry best practices in business solutions. ▪ This platform could be useful to connect with top providers from India and help Chinese enterprises source the right solution providers for their projects.
NATIONAL CLEAN AIR PROGRAMME
A time bound national level strategy for pan India implementation to tackle the increasing air pollution problem across the country in a comprehensive manner in the form of National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) was launched by Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Dr. Harsh Vardhan in New Delhi.
HIGHLIGHTS
▪ Taking into account the available international experiences and national studies, the tentative national level target of 20%–30% reduction of PM2.5 and PM10 concentration by 2024 is proposed under the NCAP taking 2017 as the base year for the comparison of concentration.
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▪ Overall objective of the NCAP is comprehensive mitigation actions for prevention, control and abatement of air pollution besides augmenting the air quality monitoring network across the country and strengthening the awareness and capacity building activities. ▪ The NCAP will be a mid-term, five-year action plan with 2019 as the first year. ▪ The approach for NCAP includes collaborative, multi-scale and cross-sectoral coordination between the relevant central ministries, state governments and local bodies. ▪ Dovetailing of the existing policies and programmes including the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) and other initiatives of Government of India in reference to climate change will be done while execution of NCAP. ▪ There will be use of the Smart Cities program to launch the NCAP in the 43 smart cities falling in the list of the 102 non-attainment cities. ▪ The NCAP will be institutionalized by respective ministries and will be organized through inter-sectoral groups, which include, Ministry of Road Transport and Highway, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Ministry of Heavy Industry, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Health, NITI Aayog, CPCB, experts from the industry, academia, and civil society. ▪ The program will partner with multilateral and bilateral international organizations, and philanthropic foundations and leading technical institutions to achieve its outcomes.
CITY SPECIFIC PLANS
▪ City specific action plans are being formulated for 102 non-attainment cities identified for implementing mitigation actions under NCAP. ▪ Cities have already prepared action plans in consultation with CPCB. ▪ Institutional Framework at Centre and State Level comprising of Apex Committee at the Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change in the Centre and at Chief Secretary Level in the States are to be constituted. ▪ In addition, sectoral working groups, national level Project Monitoring Unit, Project Implementation Unit, state level project monitoring unit, city level review committee under the Municipal Commissioner and DM level Committee in the Districts are to be constituted under NCAP for effective implementation and success of the Programme. ▪ Other features of NCAP include, increasing number of monitoring stations in the country including rural monitoring stations, technology support, emphasis on awareness and capacity building initiatives, setting up of certification agencies for monitoring equipment, source apportionment studies, emphasis on enforcement, specific sectoral interventions etc.
MOHAN REDDY COMMITTEE
With more than half the engineering seats falling vacant every year, a government committee, headed by IIT-Hyderabad chairman B V R Mohan Reddy, has advised the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) to stop setting up new colleges from 2020 and review the creation of new capacity every two years after that.
RECOMMENDATIONS
▪ No additional seats should be approved in traditional engineering areas such as mechanical, electrical, civil and electronics and that institutes should be encouraged to convert current capacity in traditional disciplines to emerging new technologies. ▪ This recommendation has been justified on the ground that current capacity utilisation in traditional disciplines is just 40% as opposed to 60% seat occupancy in branches such as computer science and engineering, aerospace engineering and mechatronics. ▪ For the same reason, the committee has urged the AICTE to introduce undergraduate engineering programmes exclusively for artificial intelligence, blockchain, robotics, quantum computing, data sciences, cybersecurity and 3D printing and design. ▪ The investigation found glaring gaps in regulation, including alleged corruption; a vicious circle of poor infrastructure, labs and faculty; non-existent linkages with industry; and the absence of a technical ecosystem to nurture the classroom. All this, it found, accounted for low employability ▪ As for approving additional seats in existing institutions, the committee has suggested that the AICTE should only give approvals based on the capacity utilisation of concerned institute.
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KHUSHI SCHEME
Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan launched the Ujjwala Sanitary Napkin initiative in Bhubaneswar, which will expand women’s access to hygiene products and provide them with employment opportunities in every district of the state.
HIGHLIGHTS
▪ The Central scheme will be a counter to the Odisha government’s Khushi scheme, in which sanitary napkins are provided free of cost to female students of government and government-aided schools in the state. ▪ In the first phase of the Ujjwala Sanitary Napkin initiative, around 100 local manufacturing units will be set up by oil marketing companies at Common Service Centres (CSCs) across 93 blocks in all 30 districts of Odisha. ▪ CSCs are facilities set up to deliver the Central government’s e-services in rural and remote locations. ▪ The cost of setting up each manufacturing unit is expected to be Rs 2.94 crores, and the sanitary napkins will be priced at Rs 42 per pack of eight pads. ▪ Each manufacturing unit will employ five or six Ujjwala beneficiaries with an aim to provide employment to nearly 600 women across all districts. ▪ The women will first receive training in manufacturing and sale of sanitary napkins. ▪ Each facility will have the capacity to produce between 1200 to 2000 pads each day. The sanitary pads will be made of biodegradable substances such as virgin wood pulp sheet, non-woven white sheet and a gel sheet. ▪ Sterilisation rooms will be set up at the units to ensure the products are packed in a hygienic manner.
6TH NATIONAL REPORT TO CBD
India submitted its Sixth National Report (NR6) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).
The report was submitted online to the CBD Secretariat by during the inaugural session of the 13th National Meeting of the State Biodiversity Boards (SBBs) organized by the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) in the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), New Delhi.
The Minister also released the document ‘Progress on India’s National Biodiversity Targets: A Preview’ on the occasion.
HIGHLIGHTS
▪ India is among the first five countries in the world, the first in Asia and the first among the biodiversity rich megadiverse countries to have submitted NR6 to the CBD Secretariat. ▪ Submission of national reports is a mandatory obligation on Parties to international treaties, including CBD. ▪ Parties are required to submit their NR6 by 31 December 2018. ▪ The NR6 provides an update of progress in achievement of 12 National Biodiversity Targets (NBT) developed under the Convention process in line with the 20 global Aichi biodiversity targets. ▪ With well over 20 percent of its total geographical area under biodiversity conservation, India has exceeded the terrestrial component of 17 percent of Aichi target 11, and 20 percent of corresponding NBT relating to areas under biodiversity management. ▪ Similarly, India has also made noteworthy achievement towards NBT relating to access and benefit sharing (ABS) by operationalising the Nagoya Protocol on ABS. ▪ Having published the first internationally recognized certificate of compliance (IRCC) under the Protocol in 2015, India has since published nearly 75% of the IRCCs published so far on ABS Clearing House.
BACKGROUND
The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety to the Convention on Biological Diversity is an international agreement which aims to ensure the safe handling, transport and use of living modified organisms (LMOs) resulting from modern biotechnology that may have adverse effects on biological diversity, taking also into account risks to human health. It was adopted on 29 January 2000 and entered into force on 11 September 2003.
The Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization to the Convention on Biological Diversity is an international agreement which aims at sharing the benefits arising from the utilization of genetic resources in a fair and equitable way. It entered into force on 12 October 2014,
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SURVEY ON RETAIL HABITS OF INDIVIDUALS
It is a survey launched by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
HIGHLIGHTS
▪ The survey will capture payment habits of individuals in six cities, including four metropolitan towns. ▪ The survey will cover a sample of 6,000 individuals from various socio-economic backgrounds across six cities — Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru and Guwahati. ▪ The survey seeks qualitative responses from individuals on their payment habits. ▪ The findings may provide some idea about awareness and usage habits of digital payment products.
PANDA BONDS
For the first time in history, the federal cabinet has approved a new financial strategy called Panda-Bonds in Pakistan. These bonds will become the new and favourable method to raise foreign exchange.
HIGHLIGHTS
▪ A Panda bond is a Chinese renminbi-denominated bond from a non-Chinese issuer, sold in the People’s Republic of China. ▪ These bonds were first issued in 2005 by the International Finance Corporation and the Asian Development Bank. ▪ The Chinese government had been negotiating for several years about implementation details before permitting the sale of such bonds; they had been concerned about the possible effects on their currency peg.
CINEREOUS VULTURE
Researchers recently sighted Cinereous vulture in Hazaribagh in Jharkhand.
HIGHLIGHTS
▪ During the winter, the Cinereous vulture migrates from the mountainous regions of Europe and Asia to warmer places, including India. ▪ Cinereous vulture (Aegypius monachus) draws its name from “monachus”, which means hooded (like a monk) in Latin. ▪ It is also known as the black vulture, monk vulture, or Eurasian black vulture. ▪ It is classified as Near Threatened under the IUCN Red List.
AGREEMENT ON PROHIBITION OF ATTACKS AGAINST NUCLEAR INSTALLATIONS & FACILITIES
India and Pakistan exchanged for the 28th consecutive year a list of their nuclear installations under a bilateral agreement that prohibits them from attacking each other’s atomic facilities.
The two countries also exchanged details of civilian prisoners and fishermen lodged in each other’s jails.
HIGHLIGHTS
▪ The two countries, through diplomatic channels simultaneously at New Delhi and Islamabad, exchanged the list of nuclear installations and facilities covered under the Agreement on the Prohibition of Attack against Nuclear installations between India and Pakistan. ▪ The agreement, which was signed on December 31, 1988 and came into force on January 27, 1991, says that the two countries will inform each other of nuclear installations and facilities to be covered under the agreement on January 1 of every calendar year. ▪ This is the twenty eighth consecutive exchange of such list between the two countries, the first one having taken place on January 1, 1992. ▪ The two countries exchanged lists of prisoners and fishermen in keeping with the provisions of a 2008 agreement under which such lists are shared on January 1 and July 1 every year. ▪ To take forward the understanding reached to address the humanitarian issues, especially with respect to elderly, women and mentally unsound prisoners, India has already shared the details of the reconstituted Joint Judicial Committee and that of the Indian medical experts team to visit Pakistan to meet the prisoners.
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ASIA REASSURANCE INITIATIVE ACT, 2018
U.S. signed Asia Reassurance Initiative Act of 2018 (ARIA).
The ARIA Act, specifically, calls for America's increased engagement in the Indo-Pacific region and strengthened support, including arms sales, for U.S. allies in the region.
ORGANIZATIONS BANNED UNDER UAPA
In exercise of the powers vested in the Central Government under Section 3 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (UAPA), the Government on being satisfied that the organizations have become Unlawful, has declared the following Organizations as Unlawful Associates during the last three years:
1. Islamic Research Foundation (IRF). 2. National Liberation Front in Tripura (NLFT). 3. All Tripura Tiger Forum (ATTF).
Under Section 35 of UAPA, the Government on being satisfied that the organization is involved in terrorism had added the following organizations to the First Schedule of UAPA during the last three years:
1. Al-Qaida in Indian Sub-continent (AQIS) and all its manifestations. 2. Islamic State in Khorasan Province (ISKP)/ISIS Wilayat Khorasan/Islamic State of Iraq and the Sham-Khorasan (ISIS-K) and all its manifestations. 3. Khalistan Liberation Force and all its manifestations.
CONSTITUTION (SCHEDULED TRIBES) ORDER (AMENDMENT) BILL, 2018
The Union Cabinet has approved the introduction of The Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Amendment) Bill, 2018 in the Parliament for certain amendments in the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order, 1950 so as to modify the list of Scheduled Tribes (STs) of Arunachal Pradesh.
Changes made in list of Scheduled Tribes of Arunachal Pradesh are:
▪ Deletion of ‘Abor’ in serial No. 1, as it is the same as ‘Adi’ in Serial No. 16. ▪ Replace ‘Tai Khamti’ instead of ‘Khampti’ at serial No. 6. ▪ Inclusion of ‘Mishmi-Kaman’ (Miju Mishmi), Idu (Mishmi) and Taraon (Digaru Mishmi) in serial No. 8. ▪ Inclusion of Monpa, Memba, Sartang, Sajolong (Miji) in serial No. 9 in lieu of ‘Momba’. ▪ Inclusion of ‘Nocte’, ‘Tangsa’, ‘Tutsa’, ‘Wancho’ in lieu of ‘Any Naga Tribes’ in serial No. 10 in list of Scheduled Tribes of Arunachal Pradesh.
After the Bill becomes an Act, member of the communities newly listed will also be able to derive benefits meant for STs under the existing schemes of the Government.
MONUMENTS OF NATONAL IMPORTANCE
The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) recently declared that it has added six structures to the list of monuments of national importance, taking the total number to 3,693.
HIGHLIGHTS
▪ With 506 monuments under its belt, Karnataka continues to top the list in South India, followed by Tamil Nadu (413). ▪ Nationally too, Karnataka is in the second place after Uttar Pradesh, which has 745 such monuments. ▪ The six monuments declared as Monuments of national importance in 2018 are:
1. Old High Court Building in Nagpur, Maharashtra. 2. Haveli of Agha Khan in Agra. 3. Haveli of Hathi Khana in Agra. 4. Neemrana Baori in Rajasthan’s Alwar district. 5. Group of Temples at Ranipur Jharail in Odisha’s Bolangir district. 6. Vishnu Temple in Kotali, Pithoragarh district, Uttarkhand.
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ANCIENT MONUMENTS
According to the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958, any structure, sculpture, inscription, etc., which is in existence for not less than 100 years is termed ancient.
ASI
▪ The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), under the Ministry of Culture, is the premier organization for the archaeological researches and protection of the cultural heritage of the nation. ▪ Maintenance of ancient monuments and archaeological sites and remains of national importance is the prime concern of the ASI. ▪ Besides it regulates all archaeological activities in the country as per the provisions of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958. It also regulates Antiquities and Art Treasure Act, 1972. ▪ The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) was formed in 1861 by a statute passed into law by Canning, with Alexander Cunningham as its first Archaeological Surveyor, to excavate and conserve India’s ancient built heritage.
LEAD & MSG
The Supreme Court of India has lifted a stay on criminal proceedings against Nestle over the alleged presence of lead and MSG or monosodium glutamate in popular noodles.
National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) will now go-ahead with a class action suit brought against Maggi noodle makers Nestle.
BACKGROUND
Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) is a flavour enhancer that is added to food to bring out the savoury taste. It is a food additive used commonly in many foods.
▪ MSG is the sodium salt of glutamate which is an amino acid made in the body. ▪ Glutamate is also a neurotransmitter in the nervous system. ▪ Glutamate is found naturally in some protein-containing foods like meat, peas, yeast extracts, soy sauce, mushrooms and cheese. It is made commercially through fermentation of molasses from sugar beet or sugar cane and starch.
Lead is naturally found in the environment (air, water and soil) where many plants that are important to our food supply grow.
▪ Plants take in small amounts of lead and other naturally occurring compounds as they mature. ▪ Lead amounts can be reduced or removed to a safe level during food processing. ▪ The CODEX Alimentarius Commission, a joint Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and World Health Organization (WHO) (FHO/WHO) program to set global standards for food, serves to provide safe reference levels for contaminants such as lead. ▪ These levels are deemed suitable for all nations that adhere to the CODEX global standards. The CODEX Committee on Contaminants in Food (CCCF) is currently focused on setting maximum levels for lead in select fruits and vegetables
BHARATMALA PARIYOJANA
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) plans to raise Rs10,000 crore through Bharatmala Taxable Bonds in the ongoing financial year.
As per the internal and extra budgetary resources approved for 2018-19 by the government, a sum of Rs62,000 crore is to be raised by NHAI through various instruments/sources including Bharatmala bonds.
Bharatmala Pariyojana is a new umbrella program for the highways sector that focuses on optimizing efficiency of freight and passenger movement across the country by bridging critical infrastructure gaps through effective interventions like development of Economic Corridors, Inter Corridors and Feeder Routes, National Corridor Efficiency Improvement, Border and International connectivity roads, Coastal and Port connectivity roads and Green-field expressways.
HIGHLIGHTS
▪ A total of around 24,800 kms are being considered in Phase I of Bharatmala.
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▪ In addition, Bharatmala Pariyojana phase -I also includes 10,000 kms of balance road works under NHDP, taking the total to 34,800 kms at an estimated cost of Rs.5,35,000 crore. ▪ Bharatmala Phase I - is to be implemented over a five years period of i.e. 2017-18 to 2021-22.
FEATURES
▪ Improving the quality of roads - The launch of the scheme has been done for bring a new wave of development in the nation in the form of well-maintained and developed roads. Under this project, the construction of roads, in all parts of the nation will be undertaken. ▪ Total road construction - As per the draft of the scheme, government and the ministry will strive to complete new roads, which will add up to a whopping 34, 800 kms. ▪ Integrated scheme - The Bharatmala is the name that is given to the road development and it will include many other related schemes as well. With the completion of all the schemes, the overall success of the scheme will be guaranteed. ▪ Total tenure of the program -The central government has the plans of finishing the scheme within a span of five years. Thus, all is set for finishing the first phase before the end of 2022. ▪ Segmentation in phases - Due to the sheer magnitude and spread of the scheme, it will be divided into seven distinct phases. As of now, the first phase in under construction.
MAKARAVILAKKU FESTIVAL
The hill shrine of Lord Ayyappa in Kerala has been opened for the 21 day-long Makaravilakku festival season, marking the concluding phase of the annual pilgrimage season.
Makaravilakku is an annual festival held on Makar Sankranti in Kerala, at the shrine of Sabarimala. The festival includes the Thiruvabharanam (sacred ornaments of Ayyappan) procession and a congregation at the hill shrine of Sabarimala.
DIRECTORATE OF REVENUE INTELLIGENCE
▪ Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, formed in 1957, is the major intelligence agency which eradicates smuggling of drugs, gold, diamonds, electronics, foreign currency, counterfeit Indian currency, etc. ▪ The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence functions under the Central Board of Excise and Customs in the Ministry of Finance, Department of Revenue. ▪ The Directorate is run by officers from Central Excise and Customs. ▪ Though its early days were committed to combating smuggling in of gold, it has now tuned itself to the changing nature of crimes in the field of narcotics and economic crimes.
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PANJ TIRATH
The provincial Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government in northwest Pakistan has declared the ancient Hindu religious site of Panj Tirath in Peshawar as national heritage.
HIGHLIGHTS
▪ Panj Tirath, which got its name from the five pools of water present there, also contains a temple and a lawn with date palm trees. ▪ The five pools of the heritage site now come under the ambit of Chacha Yunus Park and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chamber of Commerce and Industry. ▪ It is believed that Pandu, a mythical king in the Mahabharata, belonged to this area and Hindus used to come to these pools for bathing during the month of Kartik and worship for two days under the trees. ▪ The site was damaged during the reign of the Afghan Durrani dynasty in 1747, however it was restored by local Hindus during the period of Sikh rule in 1834 and worship started again. ▪ The government also announced a fine of up to Rs 2 million and five years of imprisonment for anyone found guilty of damaging the historic site.
BEHDIENKHLAM FESTIVAL
The famous 4-day Meghalaya Annual Cultural Festival, "Behdienkhlam", held every year at the small peripheral town of Jowai, Meghalaya.
▪ Behdienkhlam Festival is the most celebrated religious festival among the Pnars Tribals. It is popular at Jowai the District headquarters of Jaintia Hills District, Meghalaya ▪ “Khlam” means plague or pestilence’ and “beh dien” means to drive away with sticks. ▪ The festival is also known as the festival for chasing away the Demon of Cholera. ▪ It is celebrated mid-July every year after the sowing is over. ▪ The festival reaches its conclusion with the Dad-lawakor ceremony in which groups of men jostle for the possession of a wooden ball, a game which is remotely similar to football. ▪ The festival ends with a final salutation to the divine powers when the women of the tribe offer sacrificial food to their almighty.
SATTRIYA DANCE
Nritya Parva - Sattriya Dance festival is being organised every year to mark the day of recognition of sattriya dance as a classical dance in 2000.
HIGHLIGHTS
• The dance form was introduced in the 15th century A.D by the great Vaishnava saint – Sankaradeva. • The word Sattriya is derived from ‘Sattra’, the place of its birth. • It was once a domain of male monks at the sattras, now it is performed by both men and women. • It is governed by strictly laid down principles in respect of hastamudras, footworks, aharyas, music etc. • The costumes are usually made of pat - a silk produced in Assam which is derived from the mulberry plant and woven with intricate local motifs. • Sankaradeva – He was a poet, a playwright, a social and religious reformer. • His contributions include theatrical performance Ankia Naat, sattriya dance and a form of music called Borgeet, which is sung during the performance of Sattriya. • He founded “Ekasarana Dharma” – a neo-vaishnavite movement, resulted in an assembly of followers.
THANJAVUR PAINTING
It was very tough to know whether the gold and gems used in Tanjavur painting were authentic or fake without ruining the painting.
But with Raman spectroscopy, there is an easy way to tell without taking it apart.
HIGHLIGHTS
• Thanjavur painting is a classical South Indian painting style (especially Thanjavur city of Tamil Nadu)
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• It is characterised by rich, flat and vivid colors, simple iconic composition, glittering gold foils overlaid on delicate but extensive gesso work and inlay of glass beads and pieces or very rarely precious and semi-precious gems. • Tanjore Painting of India devised during the 16th century, under the sovereignty of the Cholas. • In Thanjavur paintings one can see the influence of Deccani, Vijayanagar, Maratha and even European or Company styles of painting.
• They are locally known as ‘Palagai Padam’ as it is mainly done on solid wood planks. • It got GI tag by the Government of India in 2007-08. • The theme of Tanjore Painting of Hindu Gods and Goddesses, along with saints. • The distinctive features were aristocratic or religious figures adorned with jewellery and surrounded by elaborate architectural arches and doorways. • Tanjore paintings are originally done on wood and are encrusted with semi-precious stones. Later the paintings were executed on glass. The glass paintings are coloured from outside inwards. The outlines and final touches have to be done first since the artist paints the picture from the reverse side of the glass.
KUZHALMANNAM RAMAKRISHANAN
Kuzhalmannam Ramakrishnan developed a lightweight version of South Indian percussion instrument mridangam.
• The patent office of Union government awarded the patent for the design to the innovative product. • The Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trademarks has given the patent under ‘drum’ category. • Made of steel and fibre, Mr. Ramakrishnan has named the instrument as ‘sadmridangam.’ • According to him, the ‘sadmridangam’ weighs lesser than the traditional wooden mridangam but there will be no compromise on the output. • “Traditional mridangam is made out of the wood of jackfruit tree and the weight varies between 15 kg and 30 kg. But ‘sadmridangam’ hardly weighs 5 kg.”
SIKH TAKHTS
A proposal for a sixth Sikh takht at Guru Nanak Dev’s birth place in Nankana Sahib in Pakistan has sparked a debate in the Sikh community, and among historians and scholars.
SIKH TAKHT
Takht is a Persian word that means imperial throne. At present Sikhs recognise five places as takhts. Three are in Punjab — Akal Takht (Amritsar); Takht Keshgarh Sahib (Anandpur Sahib); Takht Damdama Sahib (Talwandi Sabo) — and the other two are Takht Patna Sahib (Bihar) and Takht Hazur Sahib (Nanded, Maharashtra).
• Akal Takht (Throne of the Timeless One) is the oldest of the takhts, and considered supreme among the five. • It was set up in 1606 by Guru Hargobind, whose succession as the sixth Guru after the execution of his father, Guru Arjan Dev, is considered a turning point in Sikh history.
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• The Akal Takht, a raised platform that he built in front of the causeway leading to the sanctum sanctorum of the Harmandir Sahib (Golden Temple), symbolised the coming together of the temporal authority and the political sovereignty of the Sikh community (miri) with the spiritual authority (piri). • It is seen as the first marker of Sikh nationalism. • The Akal Takht is a five-storey building, the first storey houses the Guru Granth Sahib.
OTHER TAKHTS
• The other four takhts are linked to Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Guru. It was at Keshgarh Sahib that Guru Gobind Singh raised Khalsa, the initiated Sikh warriors, in 1699. Patna Sahib is his birthplace, and he spent several months in Damdama Sahib and his final days in Hazur Sahib, where he was cremated in 1708. • Damdama Sahib was the last and the most recent one to be recognised as a takht, through a resolution of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) in November 1966, a couple of months after the Reorginsation of States under which Punjab became a separate state.
TAKHTS
Takhts are known to issue hukumnamas from time to time on issues that concern the community. Akal Takht is supreme because it is the oldest and was created by a Sikh guru himself. Any edict or order concerning the entire community is issued only from Akal Takht. Also, it is from Akal Takht that Sikhs found to be violating the Sikh doctrine and code of conduct are awarded religious punishment (declared tankhaiya) and even excommunicated, depending on the degree of violation and failure of adherence to directives of the highest temporal seat of Sikhs.
The first hukamnama was issued by Guru Hargobind from Akal Takht. A seal believed to have been used by Guru Gobind Singh for his edicts is preserved at Damdama Sahib.
ATAL SOLAR KRISHI PUMP YOJANA
Maharashtra govt. has launched Atal Solar Krishi Pump Yojana (ASKP) for farmers to provide subsidy of upto 95% on solar agriculture pump sets.
HIGHLIGHTS
▪ Atal Solar Krishi Pump Yojana (ASKP) will promote the usage of solar energy in agricultural activities. ▪ This scheme is going to promote usage of solar water pumps in agriculture.
KUSUM
The Government of India is in the process of formulating a Scheme ‘Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (KUSUM)’. Ministry of New and Renewable Energy will start implementing this scheme from the next fiscal year to promote solar farming among farmers.
HIGHLIGHTS
This scheme will help in replacing the existing diesel pumps with solar agricultural pumps.
▪ Installation of grid-connected solar power plants each of capacity up to 2 MW in the rural areas. ▪ Installation of standalone off-grid solar water pumps to fulfill irrigation needs of farmers not connected to grid. ▪ Solarization of existing grid-connected agriculture pumps to make farmers independent of grid supply and also enable them to sell surplus solar power generated to DISCOM and get extra income. ▪ Solarization of tube-wells and lift irrigation projects of Government sector. ▪ The Centre will subsidize 30 percent of the cost, the State will do the same, and 30 percent will be a loan. The farmer has to give an upfront cost of 10 percent and then pay the installments to the bank.
Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (Kusum) scheme consists of 4 components which are as follows:-
1. Govt. will set up 10,000 MW solar power plants on the barren land of farmers. 2. Govt. will incentivize DISCOMS to purchase additional energy generated. Govt. will provide 50 paise per unit to buy generated energy. This scheme will enable farmers to sell their excess energy to the grid thereby generating extra income. This component will include subsidy of Rs. 4,875 crore. 3. Accordingly, Central govt. will distribute 17.5 lakh solar agri pump sets (pumps) to the farmers. The subsidy component is Rs. 22,000 crore to buy solar grid pumps. P a g e 22 | 43
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4. Moreover, govt. will solarize the existing agricultural pump sets (farm pumps) having 7250 MW capacity with Rs. 15,750 crore. and various other government tube wells of 8250 MW capacity with subsidy component of Rs. 5000 crore.
STREET LIGHTING NATIONAL PROGRAMME
Launched in 2015, EESL’s Street Light National Programme (SNLP) has been instrumental in replacing over 50 lakh street lights in over 500 cities in India, leading to 135 crore kWh of energy savings and cost saving of INR 742 crore every year.
HIGHLIGHTS
▪ EESL has adopted a unique strategy by joining hands with states, municipal bodies and Urban Local Bodies (ULBs). ▪ Under the programme, EESL replaces the conventional street lights with LEDs at its own costs, with no upfront investment by the municipalities, thereby making their adoption even more attractive. ▪ A seven-year contract with the local bodies guarantees a minimum energy saving of typically 50% and provides free replacements and maintenance of lights at no additional cost to the civic partners. ▪ For instance, the Centralised Control and Monitoring System (CCMS) for remote operation and supervising has mitigated the lack of monitoring mechanism and warranties against technical defects. ▪ By 2019, SLNP aims to replace all the 1.34 crore conventional street lights in India. This ambitious goal will make a tremendous difference, enabling peak demand reduction of 500 MW, annual energy savings of 190 crore kWh, and reduction in 15 lakh tons of CO2.
MEEP
Municipal Energy Efficient Programme (MEEP)
Home to one of the world’s biggest municipal systems, between 40 to 60 percent of India’s energy costs arise only from supplying water, and an estimated 48 crore units in electricity is wasted every year due to inefficient water pumps.
CONCERNS
Modern water pumps have high initial cost, and the lack of awareness and market interest has led to lags in procurements, installation, and commissioning.
HIGHLIGHTS
▪ Programme will replace inefficient pumps in public water works and sewerage systems at no upfront cost to the municipal bodies. ▪ The investment will be recovered from the savings in energy costs. ▪ With the deployment of superior, energy efficient pumps, and their reliability underpinned by 7 years of repair and maintenance, urban residents will be assured of uninterrupted supply, while states benefit from lower municipal energy bills and reduced water wastage. ▪ Programme will also help urban local bodies (ULBs) with managerial, technical, and turnkey project implementation skills, and structure project financing. Over 330 Indian cities will be audited for energy efficiency under AMRUT.
TRIGENERATION
India will need to build 700-900 million square meters of commercial and residential space every year up until 2030 to meet the needs of a booming urban populace. Energy demand just for this sector is anticipated to rise by at least four times in this time frame.
TRIGENERATION
▪ Trigeneration is the simultaneous process of cooling, heating and power generation from only one fuel input. ▪ Typically, gas-fired generators are used to produce electricity. The by-product is waste heat, which is then directed to absorption chillers and boilers for space cooling, hot water and related purposes. ▪ India’s growing access to natural gas, a typical input for trigeneration systems and the cleanest burning hydrocarbon, will greatly enable wider adoption of trigeneration.
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AGRICULTURE DEMAND SIDE MANAGEMENT (AgDSM) PROGRAMME
Agriculture constitutes around 18.5 percent of India’s total energy consumption, and its power consumption is expected to rise by an estimated 54 percent between 2015 and 2022
▪ Under the world’s largest Agricultural Demand Side Management (AgDSM) programme inefficient agricultural pump sets are replaced with BEE 5 star-rated energy efficient pump sets. ▪ AgDSM implantation can reduce peak demand, and, ultimately, the total energy consumption in the agriculture sector. ▪ Farmers are being offered a zero-cost energy efficient pump set (EEPS), and a long-term partnership with us under the ESCO model. ▪ The entire upfront investments, and recover the EEPS cost over a mutually agreed period of time by monetizing energy savings. ▪ Free repair maintenance during the 5-year project duration, further incentivizing farmers to adopt newer, more efficient models. ▪ The EEPS are accompanied with Smart Control Panels, enabling farmers to remotely monitor and control them, and thereby achieve reduction in water and energy wastage.
CLIMATE CHANGE PERFORMANCE INDEX 2019
The index is published by Germanwatch, the New Climate Institute and the Climate Action Network.
BACKGROUND
To implement the Paris Agreement, countries must raise their ambitions and enact concrete measures to make their individual contributions to the global goal. For the past 14 years, the Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI) has tracked countries’ efforts to combat climate change.
➢ The CCPI is an instrument designed to enhance transparency in international climate politics. ➢ Its aim is to put political and social pressure on those countries, which have, up until now, failed to take ambitious action on climate protection. ➢ It also aims to highlight those countries with best practice climate policies. ➢ Based on standardised criteria, the index evaluates and compares the climate protection performance of 56 countries and the EU, which are together responsible for more than 90 percent of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
▪ Since last year’s edition, the CCPI is monitoring the development of all GHG emissions of the 56 countries and the EU that are assessed in the index. ▪ The ranking results are defined by a country’s aggregated performance regarding 14 indicators within the four categories “GHG Emissions”, “Renewable Energy” and “Energy Use”, as well as on “Climate Policy”, in a globally unique policy section of the index. ▪ The CCPI 2019 results illustrate the main regional differences in climate protection and performance within the 56 evaluated countries and the EU. ▪ No country performed well enough to reach the ranking very good in this year’s index, meaning that no country has yet made it to one of the top three places in the rankings. ▪ In this year’s index, Sweden leads the ranking, followed by Morocco and Lithuania. ▪ The bottom five in this year’s CCPI are Saudi Arabia, the United States, Islamic Republic of Iran, Republic of Korea and Chinese Taipei, scoring low or very low across almost all categories.
MOTHER OF ALL BOMBS
China develops its own ‘Mother of All Bombs’.
HIGHLIGHTS
▪ China’s defence industry giant NORINCO for the first time showcased the aerial bomb, the country’s largest non- nuclear bomb. ▪ China has developed a massive bomb, said to be the country’s answer to the US-built ‘Mother of All Bombs’, the most powerful non-nuclear weapon. ▪ Last year, while waging war against militants in Afghanistan, the US military dropped a GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast (MOAB) weapon, more commonly known as the “Mother of All Bombs,” on the Islamic State.
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▪ Although China is using the same nickname for its bomb, said to weigh several tonnes, the Chinese weapon is smaller and lighter than its American counterpart. BACKGROUND
▪ MOAB, also known as the Mother of All Bombs, is the heaviest non-nuclear bomb in the US' armoury. It weighs over 10,000 kilograms including around 8,500 kg of ammunition.
▪ Russia is also said to possess a similar bomb. They call it the Aviation Thermobaric Bomb of Increased Power (ATBIP). This bomb is considered four times more powerful than the MOAB. And, they 'lovingly' call it the Father of All Bombs (FOAB).
▪ India has the Smart Precise Impact and Cost Effective - simply called SPICE - bomb. SPICE is the biggest conventional bomb that Indian Air Force has under its command for use. ▪ The SPICE is manufactured by Israeli firm Rafael Advanced Defence Systems Ltd. It is a precision guided bomb that can be carried on Mirage 2000 fighter planes of the Indian Air Force. ▪ It weighs around 2,000-lb or roughly 1,000-kg. ▪ Besides SPICE, Indian Air Force also has 1,000-lb HSLD or High Speed, Low Drag bombs.
‘YUTU 2’
China has named the lunar rover, successfully deployed to carry out a string of experiments on the far side of the moon, as ‘Yutu-2’.
▪ The rover’s touchdown is part of China Chang’e-4 lunar probe. ▪ China’s lunar probe is part of its ‘Made in China-2025’ project, which focuses on advanced technology, including space applications. ▪ It follows the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System — China’s homegrown Global Positioning System that started worldwide service last month. ▪ Next year China plans to launch its Mars explorer mission. In 2022, it hopes to complete its own Earth-orbiting space station.
NATIONAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP AWARDS 2018
National Entrepreneurship Awards 2018, aimed at recognizing and honouring outstanding young first-generation entrepreneurs and those who have contributed immensely in building the entrepreneurship ecosystem.
A total of 43 awards were given, including 39 awards for Young Entrepreneurs in different sectors and 4 awards for Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Builders.
To catalyze a cultural shift in youth for entrepreneurship, the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) has instituted the National Entrepreneurship Awards (NEA) to recognize and honour outstanding young first-generation Entrepreneurs and their Ecosystem Builders for their outstanding contribution in entrepreneurship development.
POLAR VORTEX
Weather experts are predicting an extremely cold January and February for the north-eastern United States, much of northern Europe and parts of Asia. The reason being given is the polar vortex.
POLAR VORTEX
▪ It is described as a whirling cone of low pressure over the poles that is strongest in the winter months due to the increased temperature contrast between the polar regions and the mid-latitudes, such as the US and Europe. ▪ The polar vortex spins in the stratosphere, a layer of the atmosphere 10-48 km above the ground and above the troposphere, where most familiar weather patterns develop. ▪ Usually, when the vortex is strongest, cold air is less-likely to plunge deep into North America or Europe. In other words, it forms a wall that protects the mid-latitudes from cold Arctic air. ▪ But occasionally, the polar vortex is disrupted and weakens, due to wave energy propagating upward from the lower atmosphere. ▪ When this happens, the stratosphere warms sharply in an event known as sudden stratospheric warming, in just a few days, miles above the Earth’s surface. P a g e 25 | 43
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▪ The warming weakens the polar vortex, shifting its location somewhat south of the pole or, in some instances, ‘splitting’ the vortex up into ‘sister vortices’. ▪ The split higher up in the atmosphere can give rise to both, sudden and delayed effects, much of which involves declining temperatures and extreme winter weather in the eastern US along with northern and western Europe. ▪ A sudden stratospheric warming also leads to a warm Arctic not only in the stratosphere but also in the troposphere as well. A warmer Arctic, in turn, favours more severe winter weather in the Northern Hemisphere mid-latitudes including the eastern US. ▪ But the polar vortex is not a recent phenomenon. It has been tormenting the Earth’s northern regions for well over four billion years.
NATIONAL POLICY ON TREATMENT OF RARE DISEASES (NPTRD)
Centre had announced Rs 100 crore special fund for the children suffering from rare disease under National Policy on Treatment of Rare Diseases (NPTRD), this December, the Centre taking a u-turn informed the court that no allocation had been done under the policy.
ISSUES
The Centre informed a bench of Justice Manmohan that they would reframe the policy again. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said that the policy that was formed a year ago was formed without proper consultation. Adding to it, Centre said that health is a state subject and the centre did not take any agreement from most of the states before framing their policy, which is why they would like to re-think about the policy.
Meanwhile, the standing finance committee has a proposal for adding a sub-component under the umbrella scheme of Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi (RAN) for provision of one-time financial assistance to those below threshold poverty line for specified rare diseases which require one-time treatment.”
RARE DISEASE
▪ Rare disease refers to health conditions with an occurrence of less than one in 2,000. ▪ These rare diseases include genetic diseases, rare types of cancers, tropical infectious diseases and degenerative diseases that are often chronic and life-threatening, in some cases these degenerative disease result in some form of handicap. ▪ Almost 70 million patients are affected by the rare disease in India. ▪ Many suffer from conditions like thalassemia, sickle-cell anaemia, Pompe disease and Gaucher’s disease, but they cannot afford the treatment for the same as it costs from Rs 15 lakh to over Rs 1 crore a year. ▪ There are at least 7000 known rare diseases and every year new diseases are discovered and are added to the databases.
FUGITIVE ECONOMIC OFFENDERS ACT 2018
Vijay Mallya became the first person to be declared a fugitive offender under the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act.
The decision was pronounced by a special PMLA court in Mumbai, which ruled in favour of an application moved by the Enforcement Directorate. It will allow the investigative agency to seize all his properties under the new law.
The order was passed under Section 2F of FEOA against Mallya by the PMLA court.
BACKGROUND
Economic offences relate to fraud, counterfeiting, money-laundering, and tax evasion, among others. Currently, various laws contain provisions to penalise such offences. These include:
1. The Prevention of Money-Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002 which prohibits money-laundering. 2. The Benami Properties Transactions Act, 1988 which prohibits benami transactions. 3. The Companies Act, 2013 which punishes fraud and unlawful acceptance of deposits. 4. Other laws such as the Indian Penal Code, 1860 and the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 also cover economic offences, such as forgery and cheating.
Fugitive economic offender (FEO): An FEO is a person against whom an arrest warrant has been issued for committing any offence listed in the Schedule to the Bill, and the value of the offence is at least Rs 100 crore. Further, the person has left the country and refuses to return, in order to avoid facing prosecution. P a g e 26 | 43
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The Bill lists 55 economic offences in the Schedule, which include: (i) counterfeiting government stamps or currency, (ii) dishonouring cheques, (iii) benami transactions, (iv) transactions defrauding creditors, (v) tax evasion, and (vi) money- laundering.
Authorities: The authorities under the PMLA, 2002 will exercise powers given to them under the Bill. These powers will be similar to those of a civil court, including: (i) search of persons in possession of records or proceeds of crime, (ii) search of premises on the belief that a person is an FEO, and (iii) seizure of documents.
FUGITIVE ECONOMIC OFFENDERS ACT
▪ The Bill allows for a person to be declared as a fugitive economic offender (FEO) if: (i) an arrest warrant has been issued against him for any specified offences where the value involved is over Rs 100 crore, and (ii) he has left the country and refuses to return to face prosecution.
▪ To declare a person an FEO, an application will be filed in a Special Court (designated under the Prevention of Money- Laundering Act, 2002) containing details of the properties to be confiscated, and any information about the person’s whereabouts. The Special Court will require the person to appear at a specified place at least six weeks from issue of notice. Proceedings will be terminated if the person appears.
▪ The Bill allows authorities to provisionally attach properties of an accused, while the application is pending before the Special Court.
▪ Upon declaration as an FEO, properties of a person may be confiscated and vested in the central government, free of encumbrances (rights and claims in the property). Further, the FEO or any company associated with him may be barred from filing or defending civil claims.
NEW DELHI INTERNATIONAL ARBITRATION CENTRE BILL, 2018
The New Delhi International Arbitration Centre Bill, 2018 was introduced in Lok Sabha by the Minister of State for Law and Justice to establish an autonomous and independent institution for better management of arbitration in India.
HIGHLIGHTS
▪ New Delhi International Arbitration Centre (NDIAC): The Bill seeks to provide for the establishment of the NDIAC to conduct arbitration, mediation, and conciliation proceedings. The Bill declares the NDIAC as an institution of national importance. ▪ International Centre for Alternative Dispute Resolution (ICADR): The ICADR is a registered society to promote the resolution of disputes through alternative dispute resolution methods (such as arbitration and mediation). The Bill seeks to transfer the existing ICADR to the central government. Upon notification by the central government, all the rights, title, and interest in the ICADR will be transferred to the NDIAC.
▪ Composition: Under the Bill, the NDIAC will consist of seven members including:
1. Chairperson who may be a Judge of the Supreme Court or a High Court, or an eminent person with special knowledge and experience in the conduct or administration of arbitration. 2. Two eminent persons having substantial knowledge and experience in institutional arbitration. 3. Three ex-officio members, including a nominee from the Ministry of Finance and a Chief Executive Officer (responsible for the day-to-day administration of the NDIAC). 4. A representative from a recognised body of commerce and industry, appointed as a part-time member, on a rotational basis.
▪ Term and superannuation: The members of NDIAC will hold office for three years and will be eligible for re- appointment. The retirement age for the Chairperson is 70 years and other members is 67 years.
▪ Finance and audit: The NDIAC will be required to maintain a fund which will be credited with grants received from the central government, fees collected for its activities, and other sources. The accounts of the NDIAC will be audited and certified by the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India.
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▪ Institutional support: The Bill specifies that the NDIAC will establish a Chamber of Arbitration which will maintain a permanent panel of arbitrators. Further, the NDIAC may also establish an Arbitration Academy for training arbitrators and conducting research in the area of alternative dispute resolution. The NDIAC may also constitute other committees to administer its functions.
CYCLONE PABUK
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has sounded a yellow alert for the cyclone Pabuk. Cyclone Pabuk originated over the Gulf of Thailand and neighbourhood.
The cyclone warnings are issued to state government officials in four stages.
▪ The First Stage warning known as "PRE-CYCLONE WATCH" issued 72 hours in advance contains early warning about the development of a cyclonic disturbance in the north Indian Ocean, its likely intensification into a tropical cyclone and the coastal belt likely to experience adverse weather. ▪ The Second Stage warning known as "CYCLONE ALERT" is issued at least 48 hrs. in advance of the expected commencement of adverse weather over the coastal areas. ▪ The Third Stage warning known as "CYCLONE WARNING" issued at least 24 hours in advance of the expected commencement of adverse weather over the coastal areas. Landfall point is forecast at this stage. ▪ The Fourth Stage of warning known as "POST LANDFALL OUTLOOK" is issued by the concerned ACWCs/CWCs/and CWD at HQ at least 12 hours in advance of expected time of landfall. It gives likely direction of movement of the cyclone after its landfall and adverse weather likely to be experienced in the interior areas.
Stage of warning & Colour Code
▪ Cyclone Alert – yellow ▪ Cyclone Warning – orange ▪ Post landfall outlook - red
WORLD BRAILLE DAY
The United Nations observed the first official World Braille Day on 4th January to create awareness about the importance of Braille.
World Braille Day is celebrated on the January 4th to honour Louis Braille, who is credited for inventing the Braille script. Louis Braille was born in France on 4 January 1809.
BRAILLE
▪ Braille is a tactile writing system used by people who are visually impaired. It is traditionally written with embossed paper. ▪ Braille invention allows visually impaired individuals to lead an independent life through learning and understanding of the Braille codes. ▪ Initially, the code was devised in 1821 by Louis Braille, for the provision of accessibility in learning skills, gaining equal opportunities, achieving goals, managing security and creating various opportunities for intellectual thinkers.
MANDAL DAM PROJECT
Mandal Dam is being built on the North Koel River.
HIGHLIGHTS
▪ The Mandal Dam project will help around one lakh eleven thousand hectares of agricultural land in Jharkhand and Bihar to get irrigation facilities. ▪ 60% of the project cost would be financed by the central government as a grant from Long-Term Irrigation Fund (LTIF) under Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY). ▪ Remaining 40% will be borne by the States through loan financed by NABARD. ▪ North Koel River originates on Ranchi plateau in Jharkhand and joins the Sone River, a few miles north-west of Haidarnagar in Jharkhand. ▪ The river meanders through the northern part of Betla National Park. ▪ The principal tributaries of the North Koel River are Auranga and the Amanat.
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CONSTITUTION (ONE HUNDRED & TWENTY FOURTH AMENDMENT) BILL
The Union Cabinet has approved a proposal for introduction of the Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty- Fourth Amendment) Bill, extending 10% quota to “the economically weaker sections in the general category who are not covered by any of the existing schemes of reservation”.
HIGHLIGHTS
▪ The bill is designed to amend the Constitution to extend 10% reservation in direct recruitment in government jobs and for admission in higher educational institutions to “economically weaker” sections among all castes and communities, Christians and Muslims included, who are not eligible under the existing quotas. ▪ The proposed amendment Bill will define Economically Weaker Section (EWS) as one having: 1. Annual household income below Rs 8 lakh. 2. Agriculture land below 5 acres. 3. Residential house below 1000 sqft 4. Residential plot below 100 yards in notified municipality. 5. Residential plot below 200 yards in non-notified municipality area.
▪ It will need an amendment of Articles 15 (prohibition of discrimination on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth) and 16 (equality of opportunity in matters of public employment) of the Constitution. ▪ The amendment will have to be ratified in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, by at least two thirds of members present and voting, and by the legislatures of not less than half the states.
IMPLICATIONS
The 10% reservation will be in addition to the existing cap of 50% reservation for the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and the Other Backward Classes, taking total reservation to 60%. The quota targets the poor among the upper castes. This will be over and above 50% mandated by Constitution and hence the need for Constitution amendment Bill.
PERSONAL LAWS (AMENDMENT) BILL, 2018
The Personal Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2018 was recently introduced in the Lok Sabha.
Also, Supreme Court has been hearing a petition to uphold the rights of people with leprosy and the repeal of discriminatory laws.
CONCERNS
▪ Over 110 Central and State laws discriminate against leprosy patients. ▪ Some of these colonial laws predate leprosy eradication programmes and medical advancements. ▪ These laws stigmatise and isolate leprosy patients and are coupled with age-old beliefs about leprosy. ▪ Now, modern medicine, especially multi-drug therapy, completely cures the disease. ▪ In independent India, the law has been an instrument for social change.
Recent developments signals hope at removing discrimination in law and society against the leprosy-affected.
HIGHLIGHTS
▪ The Personal Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2018, seeks to make a start in amending the outdated statutes. ▪ It attempts to end the discrimination against leprosy persons in various central laws: 1. The Divorce Act, 1869 2. The Dissolution of Muslim Marriages Act, 1939 3. The Special Marriage Act, 1954 4. The Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 5. The Hindu Adoptions and Maintenance Act, 1956
▪ The Bill eliminates leprosy as a ground for dissolution of marriage or divorce. ▪ The amendments omit the provisions which stigmatise and discriminate against leprosy-affected persons. ▪ The Bill is meant to provide for the integration of leprosy patients into the mainstream. ▪ It was introduced keeping in view the UN General Assembly Resolution of 2010. ▪ It talks on elimination of discrimination against leprosy-affected persons and their family members. P a g e 29 | 43
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▪ India has signed and ratified the Resolution. However, the Bill is only a small step in addressing the issues.
70 POINT GRADING INDEX
The Ministry of Human Resource Development (HRD) has introduced a 70-point grading index to assess the quality of school education offered by states.
▪ This will give the correct picture of where every state stands. ▪ There will be a fair competition to improve each other’s performances. ▪ The ministry has also decided to print more books of the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) as it said there were only 2 crore books two years ago. ▪ The school curriculum will also be reviewed to ensure holistic education in which there will be time for physical education, value education, life skill education and experiential learning.
REMOVAL OF ROSEWOOD FROM CITES
India has proposed to remove rosewood (Dalbergia sissoo) from Appendix II of Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), a multilateral treaty to protect endangered plants and animals.
HIGHLIGHTS
▪ The species is currently part of Appendix II of CITES that has species not necessarily threatened with extinction, but in which trade must be controlled to avoid utilisation incompatible with their survival. But India doesn’t want that for rosewood. ▪ India sent the proposal ahead of the 18th Conference of Parties (COP) of CITES, which will be held in Colombo from May 23 to June 3. ▪ The species grows at a very fast rate and has the capacity to become naturalised outside its native range, even it is invasive in some parts of the world. ▪ The regulation of trade in the species is not necessary to avoid it becoming eligible for inclusion in Appendix I in the near future and the harvest of specimens from the wild is not reducing the wild population to a level at which its survival might be threatened by continued harvesting or other influences. ▪ Apart from Dalbergia sissoo, India has also proposed to transfer small clawed otters (Aonyx cinereus), smooth coated otters (Lutrogale perspicillata), Indian Star Tortoise (Geochelone elegans) from Appendix II to Appendix I, thereby giving more protection to the species. ▪ The otter species, according to the proposal, is threatened by international trade and habitat loss. ▪ The proposal also includes inclusion of Gekko gecko and Wedgefish (Rhinidae) in Appendix II of CITES. It says that Gekko gecko is traded highly for Chinese traditional medicine.
CITES
▪ CITES works by subjecting international trade in specimens of selected species to certain controls. All import, export, re-exports and introduction from the sea of species covered by the convention has to be authorized through a licensing system. ▪ It has three appendices. 1. Appendix I has species threatened with extinction. Trade in specimens of these species is permitted only in exceptional circumstances. 2. APPENDIX II: This Appendix contains species that are protected in at least one country, which has asked other CITES Parties for assistance in controlling the trade. 3. Appendix III contains species that are protected in at least one country, which has asked other CITES parties for assistance in controlling trade.
DNA TECHNOLOGY (USE & APPLICATION) REGULATION BILL, 2018
The Bill regulates the use of DNA technology for establishing the identity of persons in respect of matters listed in a Schedule. These include criminal matters (such as offences under the Indian Penal Code, 1860), and civil matters such as parentage disputes, emigration or immigration, and transplantation of human organs.
HIGHLIGHTS
▪ The Bill establishes a National DNA Data Bank and Regional DNA Data Banks. ▪ Every Data Bank will maintain the following indices: P a g e 30 | 43
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1. Crime scene index. 2. Suspects’ or undertrials’ index. 3. Offenders’ index. 4. Missing persons’ index. 5. Unknown deceased persons’ index.
▪ The Bill establishes a DNA Regulatory Board. Every DNA laboratory that analyses a DNA sample to establish the identity of an individual, has to be accredited by the Board. ▪ Written consent by individuals is required to collect DNA samples from them. Consent is not required for offences with punishment of more than seven years of imprisonment or death. ▪ The Bill provides for the removal of DNA profiles of suspects on filing of a police report or court order, and of undertrials on the basis of a court order. ▪ Profiles in the crime scene and missing persons’ index will be removed on a written request.
TRANSPORT SUBSIDY SCHEME
To facilitate the process of industrialization in hilly, remote and inaccessible areas, transport incentive is provided to the states of:
1. North Eastern Region (including Sikkim) under North Eastern Industrial Development Scheme (NEIDS) – 2017. 2. Jammu & Kashmir under Industrial Development Scheme – 2017. 3. Lakshadweep and A&N Islands under Lakshadweep and Andaman & Nicobar Island Development Scheme – 2018.
HIGHLIGHTS
Under the above-mentioned schemes, all eligible industrial units can avail incentive on transportation of only finished goods through Railways or the Railway Public Sector Undertakings, Inland Waterways or scheduled airline (shipping for Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshadweep islands also) for five years from the date of commencement of commercial production/operation.
FREIGHT SUBSIDY SCHEME
▪ The FSS (2013) replaced the Transport Subsidy Scheme, 1971. ▪ It was in operation in all 8 North Eastern States, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, J&K, Darjeeling District of West Bengal, Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep islands. ▪ The FSS has been discontinued since 22.11.2016. But, the industrial units under these schemes during their currency are eligible for the benefits of the scheme. ▪ While the inland transport incentive is available for certain landlocked states, there is no proposal to provide the same to the state of Chhattisgarh.
TRANSPORT SUBSIDY SCHEME
▪ Government of India had introduced Transport Subsidy Scheme (TSS) on 23.7.1971 to develop industrialization in the remote, hilly and inaccessible areas. ▪ The objective is to develop industrialization in the remote, hilly and inaccessible areas in 8 North Eastern Region. ▪ DIPP (Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion) is the implementing agency of TSS/FSS.
GREEN TECHNOLOGY IN PMGSY
In order to encourage locally available materials and use of green technologies for construction of road under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), guidelines were issued by the Ministry.
HIGHLIGHTS
▪ The State Governments are required to propose minimum 15% of total length of annual proposals under new technologies like Cement stabilization, Lime stabilization, Cold mix, Waste plastics, Cell filled concrete, Paneled cement concrete pavement, Fly ash etc. ▪ The Ministry of Rural Development specifications have also been relaxed in respect of grading of materials for Granular Sub Base layer in order to encourage the usage of locally available/naturally occurring material/marginal materials.
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▪ Andhra Pradesh Government had submitted proposal for converting 37 roads of 163.49 KM sanctioned under Road Connectivity Project for Left Wing Extremism Affected Areas with conventional method of construction to New Technology. ▪ There is no other proposal of the State on New Technology pending with the Government at present. ▪ The Ministry has so far sanctioned 35,922 KM length of roads using New Technologies and 22,983.96 KM have been completed.
PMGSY
Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) encourages the use of ‘Green Technologies’ and non-conventional materials like waste plastic, cold mix, geo-textiles, fly-ash, iron and copper slag etc in rural roads.
▪ The primary objective of PMGSY is to provide connectivity by way of all-weather roads. The programme also has an Upgradation component with a target to upgrade existing rural roads in order to ensure full farm to market connectivity. ▪ Meri Sadak – A mobile application “Meri Sadak” was launched to enable citizens to register complaints regarding the quality and pace of construction of PMGSY roads.
NILEKANI PANEL
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has constituted a high-level committee under Nandan Nilekani to suggest measures to strengthen the safety and security of digital payments in the country.
RBI has provided the following terms of reference for the committee:
▪ To encourage digitisation of payments and enhance financial inclusion through digitization. ▪ Reviewing the existing status of digitisation of payments in the country, identifying the current gaps in the ecosystem and suggesting ways to bridge them. ▪ Assessing the current levels of digital payments in financial inclusion. ▪ Suggest measures to strengthen the safety and security of digital payments. ▪ Suggest a road map for increasing customer confidence and trust while accessing financial services through digital modes. ▪ Undertake cross-country analysis to identify best practices to accelerate digitisation of the economy and financial inclusion through greater use of digital payments. ▪ Suggest a medium-term strategy for deepening of digital payments.
UNIVERSAL BASIC INCOME
Sikkim’s ruling party, the Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF), recently declared to include the Universal Basic Income scheme in its manifesto ahead of the Assembly election in 2019 and aims to implement it by 2022. If everything goes according to the plan, it will be the first state to implement UBI in India.
UNIVERSAL BASIC INCOME IN INDIAN CONTEXT
UBI is a form of social security where all citizens receive an unconditional sum of money. It was originally considered for one of two reasons; as we are moving towards a more technologically competent world, a large portion of the workforce in various sectors, such as agriculture, may become redundant. As a result, UBI would be granted in order to compensate for the losses to make ends meet. Whereas in a developing world, UBI was proposed to help reduce the overall inequality levels.
UNIVERSAL BASIC INCOME
Universal basic income (UBI) is a model for providing all citizens of a country or other geographic area with a given sum of money, regardless of their income, resources or employment status. The purpose of the UBI is to prevent or reduce poverty and increase equality among citizens.
UBI is also known simply as basic income. According to the advocacy group Basic Income Earth Network (BIEN), the essential principle behind basic income is the idea that all citizens are entitled to a liveable income, whether or not they contribute to production and despite the particular circumstances into which they are born.
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BIEN lists the following five defining characteristics of basic income:
1. Periodic: Distributed in regular payments. 2. Cash payment: Distributed as funds rather than, for example, vouchers for goods or services. 3. Individual: Each citizen (or adult citizen) receives the payment, rather than each household. 4. Universal: All citizens receive the payment. 5. Unconditional: Recipients are not required to demonstrate need or willingness to work.
RBI ALLOWS TOKENIZATION
The Reserve Bank of India has allowed tokenization of debit, credit and prepaid card transactions to enhance the safety of the digital payment ecosystem in the country.
By this means the regulator will allow the card details to be masked while a transaction is processed at point of sales, QR codes and other payment modes.
Tokenization is the process of replacing sensitive data with unique identification symbols that retain all the essential information about the data without compromising its security. Tokenization, which seeks to minimize the amount of data a business needs to keep on hand, has become a popular way for small and mid-sized businesses to bolster the security of credit card and e-commerce transactions while minimizing the cost and complexity of compliance with industry standards and government regulations.
HIGHLIGHTS
▪ The central bank has allowed card schemes like Visa, Mastercard and others to start issuing tokens for third party payment applications as well. ▪ his move could be extremely beneficial for mobile wallets, apps which allow cards to be stored for future transactions and also enhance the safety angle for contactless payments. ▪ The additional factor authentication will still be applicable for tokenized card transactions. ▪ However, the RBI has opened up this mode of transaction only for mobile phone or tablets and not for any other electronic devices. ▪ Tokenisation and de-tokenisation shall be performed only by the authorised card network and recovery of original Primary Account Number (PAN) should be feasible for the authorised card network only. ▪ Adequate safeguards shall be put in place to ensure that PAN cannot be found out from the token and vice versa, by anyone except the card network. ▪ The RBI has also given the customer options to register or deregister for these services and will be able to set limits of transactions, number of transactions among other facilities.
PERSIAN GULF REGIONAL DIALOGUE FORUM
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HIGHLIGHTS
▪ The announcement of Persian Gulf Regional Dialogue Forum is significant as it comes in the wake of continued erosion of the Gulf Cooperation Council, which in the recent years has been divided between the Iranian and the Saudi spheres. ▪ The new forum could focus on promotion of peace and prosperity in the region. ▪ Admission to such a forum should be based on accepting generally-recognised principles and shared objectives, notably respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity and the political independence of all states. ▪ The forum should render international boundaries inviolable and use of force impermissible. ▪ The effectiveness of such a forum in dealing with threats like terrorism and extremism that has left the countries of the region in a state of continuous state of insecurity also highlighted by Iran.
GANGAJAL PROJECT
Prime Minister launched civic projects worth Rs 2,980 crore during his visit to the AGRA.
▪ He launched the Gangajal project to provide better and more assured water supply and also laid the foundation stone for an Integrated Command and Control Centre for the Agra Smart City project. ▪ The smart city project is meant to develop the tourism destination as a modern world-class city. ▪ The Gangajal programme will provide Agra with better water supply, benefitting both the residents of the city as well as tourists. ▪ Besides, the SN Medical College in Agra will be upgraded with a 100-bed maternity wing.
SAMBHAV
Men Against Violence and Abuse (MAVA), which works to prevent gender-based violence, will travel to nine cities and four districts this year with its two-day travelling film festival called ‘Sambhav’.
▪ The festival tries to cover the lives and issues of all genders. ▪ There are films on gender discrimination and sexual harassment but also on toxic masculinity and its impact on men and boys. ▪ There are also films portraying the stigma and inhumane treatment faced by homosexual and transgender people.
INDIA’S LONGEST SINGLE LANE STEEL CABLE SUSPENSION BRIDGE
India’s longest single-lane steel cable suspension bridge has been inaugurated over Siang River in Upper Siang district of Arunachal Pradesh.
▪ The bridge is 300-metre-long and is also known as byorung bridge. ▪ The bridge will reduce the distance between Yingkiong and Tuting in Arunachal Pradesh by almost 40 km. ▪ The Tsangpo river, which originates in the Angsi Glacier in the Himalayas, enters India through Arunachal Pradesh where it is called by name Siang. ▪ The river is also called as Dihang in the plain regions. It is joined by the rivers Dibang and Lohit.
SWADESH DARSHAN PROJECT IN MEGHALAYA
The Chief Minister of Meghalaya inaugurated the project “Development of North East Circuit: Umiam (Lake View) - U Lum Sohpetbneng- Mawdiangdiang - Orchid Lake Resort”.
HIGHLIGHTS
▪ It is implemented under Swadesh Darshan Scheme of Ministry of Tourism, Government of India. ▪ Swadesh Darshan scheme is one of the flagship schemes of the Ministry of Tourism for development of thematic circuits in the country in a planned and prioritized manner. ▪ Lake Umiam (“Bara Pani” or the Big Water) is a part of a dam, constructed as a first Hydel Power Project in this North- East Indian State. ▪ U Lum Sohpetbneng is a legendary mountain peak (1434 metres-the navel heavenly umbilical peak) which symbolizes the deep-rooted spiritual belief of the Hynniewtrep – the seven huts people. ▪ The Seven Huts people are predominating in the West Khasi Hills, East Khasi Hills, Ri-Bhoi and Jiantia Hills districts of East Meghalaya.
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KNOW INDIA PROGRAMME
The KIP is a 25-day orientation program organized by the Ministry of External Affairs in partnership with the states of India.
HIGHLIGHTS
▪ It is an initiative of the Government of India with an aim to engage the students and young professionals of Indian Diaspora. ▪ The participants are in the age group of 18 to 30. ▪ The program aims to connect them with their motherland. ▪ The main objective is to motivate and inspire young minds and to give them an exposure to various aspects of India’s art, heritage and culture. ▪ It also aims to promote awareness about different facets of life in the country and the progress made by India in various fields. ▪ KIP provide a unique forum for students & young professionals of Indian origin to visit India, share their views, expectations & experiences and to develop closer bonds with the contemporary India.
E-PRISON
All States and UTs except the States of Manipur, Nagaland, Sikkim and UT of Lakshadweep, have implemented the E- prisons network.
HIGHLIGHTS
▪ It is developed by the National Informatics Centre (NIC) with the financial support from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). ▪ An allocation of 100 crore was approved to procure Information and Commercial Technologies (ICT) setup components like Hardware (Desktop systems, printers, web cameras, finger print, scanners etc.) and the Network {Local Access Network (LAN)/Broadband/Leased Line etc}. ▪ Under E-prison program, the National Prisons Information Portal (NPIP) is a citizen centric portal showing statistical data of various prisons in the country. ▪ It also facilitates online visit request and grievance redressal. ▪ The portal facilitates visitors to visit and also for showcases and sells the products manufactured in various prisons of the country by inmates (Kara Bazaar Portal).
JAL CHARCHA
Union Minister for Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation released the inaugural issue of the monthly magazine of the Ministry – Jal Charcha – in New Delhi recently.
HIGHLIGHTS
▪ Jal Charcha is the third magazine being published by the Ministry. The first is Namami Gange by National Mission for Clean Ganga and second is Jalansh by Central Water Commission. ▪ The magazine is also an effort to bring best practices in water sector to the national stage and move ahead in the direction of creating water consciousness in the minds of the people of the country. ▪ Three regular series – Rivers, Dams and Conservation – will inform readers about the country’s rivers and water storage projects and best practices. ▪ The idea is to provide opportunity to all stakeholders to express themselves on pressing matters of water management.
CCPWC SCHEME
The main objective of Cyber Crime Prevention against Women and Children (CCPWC) Scheme is to have an effective mechanism to handle cybercrimes against women and children in the country.
HIGHLIGHTS
▪ Online cyber-crime reporting platform. ▪ One national level cyber forensic laboratory. ▪ Training of Police officers, judges & prosecutors. P a g e 35 | 43
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▪ Cyber-crime awareness activities. ▪ Research & Development.
‘Police’ and ‘Public’ are State subject as per the Constitution of India. So, States are primarily responsible for prevention, detection and investigation of crime through their law enforcement machinery.
The Law Enforcement Agencies take legal action as per the relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Information Technology Act, 2000 against the cyber fraud offenders.
GANDHI CIRCUIT
A project for “Development of Gandhi Circuit: Bhitiharwa-Chandrahia-Turkaulia under Rural Circuit theme of Swadesh Darshan Scheme” has been sanctioned in Bihar with central financial assistance.
HIGHLIGHTS
▪ The most famous Gandhian site in Champaran, Bihar is Bhitiharwa. ▪ It is a place where Mahatma Gandhi set up a school and ashram in 1917. ▪ Recently government has erected an ashram complex which includes a museum. ▪ On April18, 1917, Mahatma Gandhi embarked on a journey from Motihari to Jasauli Patti in the then undivided Champaran district of Bihar. ▪ During the journey Mahatma Gandhi was served an order by the British rulers at Chandrahia village, prohibiting him from traveling any further. ▪ As a result, he had to return to Motihari, now headquarters of East Champaran district.
PVTGs
The Ministry of Tribal Affairs is implementing a scheme namely “Development of Particularly Vulnerable Tribes Groups (PVTG)” for the welfare of PVTGs.
HIGHLIGHTS
▪ This is a demand driven scheme. ▪ The scheme is flexible as it enables the States/Union Territory (UT) to focus on areas that they consider is relevant to PVTGs and their socio-cultural environment. ▪ The scheme strives to retain the culture and heritage of the community by adopting habitat development approach. ▪ Activities under the scheme include housing, land distribution, land development, agricultural development, animal husbandry, and construction of link roads or any other innovative activity meant for the comprehensive socio- economic development of PVTGs.
SUB-GLACIAL ANTARTIC LAKE SCIENTIFIC ACCESS (SALSA)
An international team of scientists will begin hunting for microbes and other living specimens in an unexplored lake far beneath the surface of the Antarctic ice sheet.
HIGHLIGHTS
▪ The place of exploration is bottom of the ice sheet that covers Mercer Sub-glacial Lake about 370 miles from the South Pole. ▪ SALSA (Sub-glacial Antarctic Lakes Scientific Access) is an expedition that will shed light on what kind of life can survive in such remote regions. ▪ It will also serve as an on-Earth comparison for habitats deep inside Mars or on the ice-covered moons of Jupiter and Saturn. ▪ Mercer will be the second sub-glacial lake that humans have sampled directly. ▪ An ROV will be deployed to make 3-D measurements of lake physical and chemical properties. ▪ It will also characterize sediments and basal ice and to obtain high resolution images of potential higher life forms.
TOTAL FERTILITY RATE
TFR is the number of children born or likely to be born to a woman in her lifetime.
▪ A TFR of 2.1 is seen as replacement level fertility.
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▪ According to National Family Health Survey (NFHS), India’s overall total fertility rate is 2.18. ▪ Bihar and Uttar Pradesh have the highest TFR among the major states. ▪ Population is falling in many states including Andhra Pradesh. ▪ Andhra Pradesh is one of the several Indian states where the Total replacement rate has fallen below replacement rate 2.1.
GALAPAGOS ISLANDS
Galapagos Islands are an archipelago of volcanic islands distributed on either side of the equator in the Pacific Ocean.
▪ It is a World Heritage Site that comes under the jurisdiction of Ecuador. ▪ The islands are known for their large number of endemic species and were studied by Charles Darwin ▪ Ecosystems are very sensitive in the islands and its fauna that is so unique that they are easily affected by even fireworks. ▪ Animals have suffered from elevated heart rates, nervous stress and anxiety, which have “notably” changed their behaviour and affected the survival of species. So, the local government has recently banned fireworks on the Islands to protect the its unique fauna ▪ It is also to avoid any potential deterioration in air quality or pollution of water sources.
AGASTHYAMALA
▪ Agasthyarkoodam or Agathyamala is the second highest peak in Kerala. ▪ It is a 1868m tall mountain within the Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary in Thiruvananthapuram district. ▪ It lies on the border between Kerala and Tamilnadu. ▪ It has long been known as a bird watcher’s paradise. ▪ It is also known for its remarkable flora and fauna, especially certain rare medicinal herbs which have been discovered here. ▪ The various vegetations found in this area are moist deciduous forests, semi evergreen forests, grasslands and evergreen forests. ▪ Over 2000 species including lichens, orchids, mosses and ferns have been recorded in the area ▪ The peak was named after the sage Agastya and is a popular pilgrim site. ▪ Sage Agasthya is one of the seven maharishis (Saptarishis) in Hindu puranas ▪ A shrine dedicated to him is located in the hilltop. ▪ The original inhabitants of these hills are a tribe known as “Kanis”
Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary
▪ The Neyyar Wildlife sanctuary is situated in the southeast corner of the Western Ghats. ▪ The Neyyar sanctuary is the drainage basin of the Neyyar river and its tributaries – Mullayar and Kallar ▪ Neyyar wildlife sanctuary forms a part of Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve (ABR). ▪ ABR is a part of the World network of Biosphere reserves. ▪ The common mammals found are, Tiger, Leopard, sloth bear, Elephant, sambar, barking deer, bonnet macaque, Nilgiri Langur, Nilgiri tahr etc. ▪ The Neyyar Dam nearby is also situated in its vicinity.
LAKHON KHOL
Lakhon khol is a dance drama mask theatre from Cambodia in Southeast Asia.
HIGHLIGHTS
▪ The Cambodian lakhon khol (also lakhon khaol or lakhon bhani) is a sister form of Thailand’s khon mask-theatre ▪ It was recently listed by UNESCO, the United Nations’ cultural agency, as an intangible cultural heritage, along with Thailand’s Khon. ▪ Lakhon Khol began in the early Angkor era. ▪ In accordance with reliefs on Angkor temple walls, it is believed that the genre was first performed in the ninth century. ▪ The only story specifically performed by Lakhon Khol is the Reamke, the Khmer version of the Ramayana, an ancient Indian epic poem.
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▪ There are different variations in Southeast Asia, all featuring dancers wearing elaborate painted masks depicting the Ramayana. ▪ In Cambodia, the art form is still struggling to recover from the Khmer Rouge, under whose genocidal 1975-79 rule at least 1.7 million people, including artists, dancers and writers, died, mostly from starvation, over work, disease, execution or torture.
PHOTO DNA
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) sent an official request to social media platforms to use Microsoft's PhotoDNA for purposes of investigation in regular criminal cases.
HIGHLIGHTS
▪ PhotoDNA is a technology developed and owned by Microsoft, to be used exclusively to identify child exploitation images. ▪ It is mainly used to prevent child pornography from being uploaded on the web and is free to use. ▪ The company has restricted the use of this software beyond this purpose in all countries. ▪ The software creates a unique digital signature of any image and then compares it to other photos to find a similar one. ▪ It is used by giants like Google and its applications Twitter, Facebook and Adobe Systems. ▪ This initiative assists in narrowing the focus of child pornography law enforcement investigations through the use of this technology.
TIME CAPSULE
A Time Capsule with items representing today’s technology and India’s scientific prowess was buried on the occasion of the 106th Indian Science Congress.
▪ It contains 100 items that represent modern-day technology as experienced in India. ▪ The replicas of Mangalyaan, Brahmos Missile and Tejas fighter jet representing India’s scientific prowess and other gadgets such as laptop, landline phone,smart phone, drone, VR glasses, stopwatch, Amazon Alexa etc are the items buried. ▪ The Capsule and will remain buried for the next 100 years. ▪ The Time Capsule has been developed to represent the technology know-how as it stands today and will provide an opportunity for future generations to have a glimpse of today’s technology a century later.
COMMODITY EXCHANGE
Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) directed commodity exchanges to disclose the turnover of various categories of participants like farmers, farmer producer organisations (FPOs), domestic financial institutional investors etc.
HIGHLIGHTS
▪ The commodity market is a physical or virtual marketplace for buying, selling and trading raw or primary products. ▪ Commodities are split into two types: hard and soft commodities. ▪ Hard commodities are typically natural resources that must be mined or extracted (such as gold, rubber and oil), ▪ Soft commodities are agricultural products or livestock (such as corn, wheat, coffee, sugar, soybeans and pork) ▪ A commodities exchange is a legal entity that determines and enforces rules and procedures for the trading standardized commodity contracts and related investment products. ▪ Commodities exchange also refers to the physical centre where trading takes place.
SWAP RATIO
When a company pays for acquisition by issuing its own shares to the shareholders of the target company, this is known as a share swap.
▪ The number of shares to be issued in lieu of their existing holdings in the target company is called the swap ratio. ▪ The swap ratios are based on stock prices. ▪ It is determined by valuing the target company after looking into metrics such as its revenues and profits, as well as its market price.
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▪ Advantages - As shareholders of the target company will also be shareholders of the merged entity, the risks and benefits of the expected synergy from the merger will be shared by both the parties. In a cash deal, if the synergies don’t materialise, shareholders of the acquiring company alone bear the fallout. ▪ In a share swap, there is no cash outgo involved for the acquirer, saving the acquirer borrowing costs. Cash-rich companies can put their cash to use for investments in the business or for other buyouts. ▪ Disadvantages - Issuing fresh shares could lead to a reduction in promoter holding and dilution in earnings for shareholders of the acquiring company.
SHOLA FOREST GRASSLANDS
Shola forest-grassland ecosystem is characterised by patches of forest of stunted evergreen shola trees in the valleys and grasslands on hill slopes.
▪ They are spread across the Western Ghats of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. ▪ Over four decades, almost one-fourth of the grasslands in the high-altitudes of the ecosystem was lost. ▪ The exotic invasive trees like pine, acacia and eucalyptus that were earlier used for afforestation in these areas are the primary reason behind it. ▪ Broadly, these grasslands in Tamil Nadu showed the highest rates of invasion than in Karnataka. ▪ Though the practice has been ceased in 1996, the exotics still invade these ecosystems. ▪ But the shola forests in the valleys have remained “relatively unchanged” over these years. ▪ The Anamalai-Munnar areas have also remained stable during this time.
U K SINHA COMMITTEE
RBI has set up an expert committee under former Sebi chairman U K Sinha to suggest long-term solutions for the economic and financial sustainability of the MSME sector.
HIGHLIGHTS
▪ They will identify the ‘structural problems’ affecting the growth of the small-scale sector. ▪ The eight-member committee will also examine the factors impacting credit flow to MSMEs and propose measures for leveraging technology in accelerating the growth of the sector. ▪ Such a high-level committee has been assigned to examine MSMEs because these enterprises contribute about 40% to India’s export and 45% in the manufacturing sector. ▪ The report will be submitted by the end of June 2019.
US & ISRAEL QUITS UNESCO
The United States and Israel have formally quitted the UNESCO recently.
UNESCO
▪ UNESCO is responsible for promoting peace, social justice, human rights and international security through International cooperation on educational, scientific and cultural programs. ▪ It has 195 member states and is based in Paris, France. ▪ It accorded recognition in 2011 to Palestine as its 195th member. ▪ It is a global development agency with missions that include promoting sex education, literacy, clean water and equality for women. ▪ It is responsible for promoting peace, social justice, human rights and international security through International cooperation on educational, scientific and cultural programs. ▪ It is known for its World Heritage Mission which encourages world countries to protect Natural and Cultural Heritage sites. ▪ It publishes the Global Education Monitoring report and Gender Parity Index. ▪ It also leads the Man and Biosphere Programme for protecting Biosphere reserves across the world.
CENTRAL INFORMATION COMMISSION
The government has appointed Sudhir Bhargava as the new Chief Information Commissioner.
HIGHLIGHTS
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▪ The jurisdiction of the Commission extends over all Central Public Authorities. ▪ The CIC is the highest appeal body under the Right to Information Act. ▪ Chief Information Commission includes 1 Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) and not more than 10 Information Commissioners (IC) who are appointed by the President of India. ▪ Section 12(3) of the RTI Act 2005 provides for a tsearch committee to appoint CIC and IC which includes, 1. The Prime Minister, who shall be the Chairperson of the committee; 2. The Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha; and 3. A Union Cabinet Minister to be nominated by the Prime Minister.
▪ CIC and other ICs shall hold office for a term of five years from the date on which he enters upon his office and shall not be eligible for reappointment. ▪ Every IC shall on vacating his office be eligible for appointment as the CIC, provided that the term of office shall not extend 5 years in aggregate. ▪ The salaries and allowances payable to and other terms and conditions of service of the CIC and IC shall be the same as that of the Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioner respectively. ▪ The decisions of the Commission are final and binding.
106TH INDIAN SCIENCE CONGRESS
▪ 106th Indian Science Congress is going to be held in Jalandhar, Punjab. ▪ It is based on the theme ‘Future India: Science and Technology’. ▪ It will be organised by the Ministry of Science and Technology. ▪ The event will play a pivotal role in stimulating scientific research effort and raising the scientific temperament in the country and the world. ▪ Women’s Science Congress will be part of the event to showcase the contribution of women in Science, Technology and the Society.
TRAFFICKING OF PERSON (PREVENTION, PROTECTION & REHABILITATION) BILL, 2018
The Bill creates a law for investigation of all types of trafficking, and rescue, protection and rehabilitation of trafficked victims.
HIGHLIGHTS
▪ The Bill provides for the establishment of investigation and rehabilitation authorities at the district, state and national level. ▪ Anti-Trafficking Units will be established to rescue victims and investigate cases of trafficking. Rehabilitation Committees will provide care and rehabilitation to the rescued victims. ▪ The Bill classifies certain purposes of trafficking as ‘aggravated’ forms of trafficking. These include trafficking for forced labour, bearing children, begging, or for inducing early sexual maturity. Aggravated trafficking attracts a higher punishment. ▪ The Bill sets out penalties for several offences connected with trafficking. In most cases, the penalties set out are higher than the punishment provided under prevailing laws.
FEATURES
▪ Definition of Trafficking: The Bill defines trafficking to mean: (i) recruitment, (ii) transportation, (iii) harbouring, (iv) transfer, or (v) receipt of a person for exploitation, by using certain means. These means are the use of threat, force, abduction, fraud, deception, abuse of power or through inducement. Exploitation includes physical or sexual exploitation, slavery, or forced removal of organs. ▪ Aggravated Trafficking: The Bill also classifies certain purposes of trafficking as ‘aggravated’ forms of trafficking. These include trafficking for the purposes of: (i) forced labour, (ii) bearing children, (iii) inducing early sexual maturity by administering chemical substances or hormones, or (iv) begging. The punishment for aggravated trafficking is higher than for simple trafficking. ▪ Rescue and Investigation: The Bill sets up various authorities at the district, state and national levels for rescue of trafficked persons and investigation of offences. ▪ Protection and rehabilitation: The Bill requires the central or state government to set up Protection Homes, to provide shelter, food, counselling, and medical services to victims. Further, the central or state government will maintain Rehabilitation Homes in each district, to provide long-term rehabilitation to the victims. The Bill requires the
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central and state governments to set up anti-trafficking committees at the district, state and national levels to ensure the rehabilitation of victims. ▪ Special Courts: The Bill provides for setting up designated courts in each district, which will seek to complete trial of trafficking cases within a year.
CONSUMER PROTECTION BILL 2018
The Bill replaces the Consumer Protection Act, 1986. The Bill enforces consumer rights, and provides a mechanism for redressal of complaints regarding defect in goods and deficiency in services.
▪ Consumer Disputes Redressal Commissions will be set up at the District, State and National levels for adjudicating consumer complaints. ▪ Appeals from the District and State Commissions will be heard at the next level and from the National Commission by the Supreme Court. ▪ The Bill sets up a Central Consumer Protection Authority to promote, protect and enforce consumer rights as a class. It can issue safety notices for goods and services, order refunds, recall goods and rule against misleading advertisements. ▪ If a consumer suffers an injury from a defect in a good or a deficiency in service, he may file a claim of product liability against the manufacturer, the seller, or the service provider. ▪ The Bill defines contracts as ‘unfair’ if they significantly affect the rights of consumers. It also defines unfair and restrictive trade practices. ▪ The Bill establishes Consumer Protection Councils at the district, state and national levels to render advise on consumer protection.
Central Consumer Protection Authority: The Bill sets up the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) to promote, protect, and enforce the rights of consumers as a class. It will be headed by a Chief Commissioner and comprise other Commissioners. It will have an investigation arm headed by a Director General. It may: (i) issue safety notices; (ii) pass orders to recall goods, prevent unfair and restrictive trade practices; (iii) reimburse purchase price paid; and (iv) impose penalties for false and misleading advertisements. It may also file complaints before the Consumer Disputes Redressal Commissions.
Consumer Protection Councils: The Bill sets up Consumer Protection Councils (CPCs) at the district, state, and national levels as advisory bodies. The Councils will advise on promotion and protection of consumer rights. Under the Bill, the Central and State Council will be headed by the Minister-in-charge of Consumer Affairs at the central and state level, respectively. The District Council will be headed by the District Collector.
COAL SWAPPING SCHEME
Government has decided to extend the Coal Swapping Scheme to private power producers and non-regulated cement and steel sectors.
HIGHLIGHTS
▪ It’s a coal supply rationalization scheme to private power producers and non-regulated cement and steel sectors that are importing coal or have domestic supply linkages. ▪ Now bilateral arrangements can be signed between two consumers for swapping full or part of their entitled quantity of coal allocation for at least six months. ▪ This will be facilitated via an electronic platform where participants can register, and on a pre-decided time applicants can swap coal supplies with the registered participants. ▪ Coal India would be the nodal agency for the swapping arrangement.
Scheme to Harness and Allocate Koyla (Coal) Transparently in India (SHAKTI) Policy
▪ Adopted in 2017, it is the new policy of allocating Coal to Thermal Power Plants. ▪ State/Central Power Plans to get coal linkages as per Ministry of Power recommendations. ▪ Coal Linkage on auction basis for private producers.
MCA-21 DATABASE
▪ It is an e-governance initiative that was launched in 2006 to allow firms to electronically file their financial results and advance filing of corporate accounts, to calculate national accounts. P a g e 41 | 43
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▪ It allows for a more granular approach, looking at the balance sheet data of each company and aggregating the performance of the sector from that, after adjusting for inflation. ▪ It also include addition to the volume index of Index of Industrial Production (IIP) and establishment-based dataset of Annual Survey of Industries (ASI).
NMICPS
Recently cabinet approved the launching of National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems (NMICPS) which is to be implemented by Department of Science &Technology for a period of five years.
▪ CPS is an interdisciplinary field that deals with the deployment of computer-based systems that do things in the physical world. ▪ It integrates sensing, computation, control and networking into physical objects and infrastructure, connecting them to the Internet and to each other. ▪ Examples of cyber physical systems are Smart Grid Networks, Smart Transportation System, Enterprise Cloud Infrastructure, Utility Service Infrastructure for Smart Cities, etc. ▪ CPS and its associated technologies, like Artificial Intelligence (Al), Internet of Things (loT), Machine Learning (ML), Deep Learning (DP), Big Data Analytics, Robotics, Quantum Computing, Quantum Communication, Quantum encryption (Quantum Key Distribution), Data Science & Predictive analytics, Cyber Security for physical infrastructure and other infrastructure plays a transformative role in almost every field of human endeavor in all sectors.
CPS
▪ They are physical and engineered systems whose operations are monitored, coordinated, controlled and integrated by a computing and communication core. ▪ CPS engineering has a strong emphasis on the relationship between computation and the physical world. ▪ They are not necessarily connected with internet. ▪ Ex: It may be individual system which integrates the physical and cyber technology like smart electricity meters.
INTERNET OF THINGS
▪ It is the network of devices such as vehicles, and home appliances that contain electronics, software, actuators, and connectivity which allows these things to connect, interact and exchange data. ▪ IoT has a strong emphasis on uniquely identifiable and internet-connected devices and embedded systems. ▪ They are connected to internet. ▪ The Internet of Things (IoT) forms a foundation for this cyberphysical systems revolution. ▪ Ex: Smart Home in which all appliances are connected to each other through internet like TV is connected to mobile, lights are connected to mobile etc.
BULLSEQUANA SUPERCOMPUTER
France-based company Atos signed agreement with Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) for designing, building and installing BullSequana – the supercomputer in India.
HIGHLIGHTS
▪ Atos will supply BullSequana XH200 super computer to India to create a network of over 70 high-performance supercomputing facilities with a cumulative computing power of more than 10 petaflops, for various academic and research institutions across India. ▪ BullSequana will be set up in India under the National Supercomputing Mission (NSM).
BACKGROUND
▪ China is global leader in supercomputing with more than 225 out of top 500 supercomputers in world. ▪ Currently India’s fastest and 39th fastest supercomputer in the world, Pratyush is installed in Pune’s Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology. It is used for simulating and predicting ocean and atmospheric systems. ▪ India has become the only country worldwide to have an Ensemble Prediction System (EPS), running weather models at a 12-km resolution due to Pratyush.
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CDAC
▪ C-DAC was setup in 1988 under Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, for indigenous development of Supercomputers. ▪ C-DAC developed India’s first supercomputer - Param 8000. ▪ It was established after denial of import of Cray Supercomputer (dual use technology which could be used for nuclear weapon simulation), due to arms embargo.
National Supercomputing Mission
▪ NSM was launched in 2015 with following objectives: ➢ To make India one of the world leaders in Supercomputing capability. ➢ To empower our scientists and researchers with state-of-the-art supercomputing facilities. ➢ To minimize redundancies and duplication of efforts, and optimize investments in supercomputing. ➢ To attain global competitiveness and ensure self-reliance in supercomputing technology
▪ It is spearheaded by Department of S&T and Department of Electronics and IT. ▪ Under NSM, 70 supercomputers will be installed in India. These machines will be part of the National Supercomputing grid over the National Knowledge Network, aimed at establishing a strong network for secured & reliable connectivity between institutions.
SRI SATGURU RAM SINGHJI
Recently Ministry of Culture inaugurated an International Seminar to commemorate the 200th Birth Anniversary of Sikh philosopher, Sri Satguru Ram Singhji, also known as Ram Singh Kuka.
▪ He was born in 1816 in Ludhiana and was a great spiritual guru, a thinker, a seer, philosopher, social reformer, and a freedom fighter. ▪ He fought against the caste system among Sikhs and encouraged inter-caste marriages. He preached against killing the girl child in infancy, stood firmly against the Sati Pratha and advocated widow remarriage.
Namdhari/ Kuka Movement:
▪ The movement was founded in 1840 by Bhagat Jawaharmal in Western Punjab. ▪ Its basic tenets were abolition of caste and similar discriminations among Sikhs, discouraging the eating of meat and taking of alcohol and drugs, and encouraging women to step out of seclusion. ▪ After the British took the Punjab, the movement transformed from a religious purification campaign to a political one. ▪ During the Mutiny of 1857, Satguru Ram Singhji formally inaugurated the Namdhari movement, with a set of rituals modelled after Guru Gobind Singh’s founding of the Khalsa. ▪ He strongly opposed to the British rule and started an intense non-cooperation movement against them. Led by him, the people boycotted English education, mill made cloths and other imported goods. The Kuka followers actively propagated the civil disobedience. ▪ All followers of satguru are distinguished by the white dress, straight and pressed turban and a woollen rosary. They were required to wear the five symbols of Sikhism, with only exception of the Kirpan (sword). However, they were required to keep a Lathi (a bamboo stave) with them.
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