WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

Daily Prelims Notes (DPN COMPILATION)

JANUARY 2021 Santosh Sir All 6 CSE Prelims Qualified If I can do it, you can too

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

Contents ARTS ,CULTURE AND HISTORY ...... 11 Ramateertham temple: ...... 11 AJANTA CAVE PAINTINGS: ...... 11 NATIONAL GALLERY OF MODERN ART : ...... 12 BASAVESHWARA : ...... 13 SANGEET NATAK ACADEMY: ...... 15 and Jallikattu: ...... 16 Bhogali : ...... 16 Indian Council of cultural relations (ICCR): ...... 17 Pig painting may be world’s oldest cave art: archaeologists: ...... 17 Nihang Sikhs: ...... 18 Ustad Mustafa Khan: ...... 18 Vista dome Coach : ...... 18 PARAKRAM DIWAS: ...... 19 JERENGA POTHAR: ...... 20 MAMALLAPURAM: ...... 21 BIJU PATNAIK: ...... 22 RISA CLOTH: ...... 22 ALIGARH MUSLIM UNIVERSITY: ...... 23 PADMA AWARDS: ...... 24 MAHA VIR CHAKRA: ...... 25 RED FORT: ...... 26 GOVIND BALLABH PANT: ...... 27 JOY BANGLA: ...... 28 LINGARAJ TEMPLE: ...... 28 GEOGRAPHY ...... 31 WETLAND COMPLEX: ...... 31 NORTHEAST MONSOON: ...... 32 WESTERN DISTURBANCE: ...... 33 PULICAT LAKE: ...... 34 TIDE - RAINFALL QUOTIENT: ...... 35 Transhumance: ...... 35 Earthquake: ...... 36 Lithium reserve found in : ...... 39

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

MONSOON FORECAST MODEL: ...... 40 GEO HAZARD MANAGEMENT: ...... 41 FLASH DROUGHTS: ...... 41 ALABAMA FOREST:...... 42 MOUNT K2: ...... 42 MOUNT MERAPI: ...... 43 SUBASH CHANDRA BOSE AAPDA PRABANDHAN PURASKAR 2021: ...... 43 TROPICAL CYCLONES: ...... 44 INDIAN POLITY & GOVERNANCE ...... 46 FOREIGNER'S TRIBUNAL: ...... 46 DEPARTMENT OF FINANCIAL SERVICES: ...... 47 CENTRAL CONSUMER PROTECTION AUTHORITY: ...... 47 EMERGENCY USE AUTHORIZATION: ...... 48 Agriculture: Division of power between states and the Centre by the Constitution: ...... 50 D Voters: ...... 50 TELE LAW INITIATIVE: ...... 51 CABINET COMMITTEE ON PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS: ...... 52 SIXTH SCHEDULE: ...... 53 APPOINTMENT and REMOVAL OF SUBORDINATE COURT JUDGES: ...... 54 HUNG PARLIAMENT: ...... 55 CREATION OF LEGISLATURE FOT UT'S : ...... 55 DISQUALIFICATION UNDER 10TH SCHEDULE: ...... 56 IMPEACHMENT PROCEDURE IN USA AND INDIA: ...... 57 ARTICLE 179: ...... 59 STATE ELECTION COMMISSION: ...... 59 UAPA: ...... 60 Pravasi Bhartiya Divas: ...... 60 The Supreme Court put a stay on the three farm laws as an Interim order ...... 61 People Mover: ...... 61 National Youth Parliament festival: ...... 62 30 days’ notice period not mandatory under Special Marriage Act, 1954: HC: ... 62 Article 33: ...... 63 Demand for tourism in concurrent list: ...... 64 Consultative Committee of Parliament: ...... 64 Contempt Jurisdiction of the Supreme Court: ...... 65

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

National Investigation Agency (NIA) and Right to Protest: ...... 65 NCBC: ...... 66 NCLAT: ...... 68 CHIEF INFORMATION COMMISSIONER: ...... 68 QUESTION HOUR & ZERO HOUR:...... 68 HABEAS CORPUS: ...... 69 AMENDMENTS IN IBC: ...... 70 NRC: ...... 71 OFFICIAL SECRETS ACT: ...... 72 DISTURBED AREA ACT: ...... 73 NATIONAL GREEN TRIBUNAL: ...... 74 LAW IN ABEYANCE: ...... 75 PARDONING POWERS OF : ...... 76 HORIZONTAL & VERTICAL RESERVATION: ...... 76 CENSUS and SECC: ...... 77 NATIONAL EMERGENCY:...... 78 NATIONAL VOTER DAY: ...... 79 POCSO ACT: ...... 80 USENET POLICY: ...... 80 LAW COMMISSION:...... 81 PREAMBLE: ...... 81 CCI: ...... 83 SC COLLEGIUM: ...... 84 PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS: ...... 85 MAHARASTRA - BORDER DISPUTE: ...... 85 PERSONAL INFORMATION UNDER RTI : ...... 86 NITI AAYOG COMPOSITION: ...... 87 INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS ...... 89 SECTION 301 INVESTIGATIONS : ...... 89 H1 B VISA: ...... 89 Open Sky Treaty (OST): ...... 90 International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA): ...... 90 DEMARCHE: ...... 91 NEW START TREATY: ...... 92 DESERT KNIGHT 21: ...... 93

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

H1-B & H 4 VISA: ...... 93 UFC and G-4 CLUB: ...... 94 ABRAHAM ACCORDS: ...... 95 ECONOMICS ...... 97 FISCAL DEFICIT: ...... 97 CORE INDUSTRIES OUTPUT CONTRACTS: ...... 98 AGRICULTURE INFRASTRUCTURE FUND: ...... 99 NATIONAL DATA REPOSITORY: ...... 100 INFLATION EXPECTATIONS OF HOUSEHOLD SURVEY: ...... 101 INSIDER TRADING:...... 102 FAME INDIA SCHEME: ...... 103 COMPULSORY LICENSING: ...... 104 LITHIUM TRIANGLE: ...... 105 DEVELOPMENT FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS: ...... 106 FACELESS TAX SCHEME: ...... 107 EXIM BANK: ...... 108 CYBER FRAUDS AGAINST EXPORTERS: ...... 109 G-TAM: ...... 110 AEPS AND ABPS: ...... 111 NATIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE PIPELINE: ...... 112 PURCHASING MANAGER'S INDEX : ...... 113 COLLEGE OF SUPERVISORS: ...... 114 FIAT MONEY: ...... 114 SPECTRUM AUCTIONS: ...... 115 FIRST ADVANCE ESTIMATES: ...... 116 EQUALISATION LEVY : ...... 117 TRADE BARRIERS, TPR , MFN: ...... 117 GROSS VALUE ADDED: ...... 119 FOLLOW ON PUBLIC OFFER: ...... 120 Expenditure budget: ...... 121 Gas pipeline from Kochi to Bengaluru: ...... 123 Pre-pack: ...... 123 VANADIUM: ...... 124 INVERTED DUTY STRUCTURE: ...... 124 Excise Duty: ...... 125

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

Consumer Price Index (CPI):...... 125 Index of Industrial Production (IIP): ...... 126 Sandbox guidelines: ...... 126 T-bills (Treasury bills): ...... 126 Clinical Trial Liability Insurance: ...... 127 Fin Min say’s no anti-dumping duty Black Carbon: ...... 127 Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC): ...... 128 Rabi sowing headed for record this year: ...... 128 Seed Fund: ...... 129 Net metering: ...... 130 LIMITED LIABILITY PARTNERSHIP: ...... 130 INSIDER TRADING:...... 131 P – NOTES: ...... 132 DSIB’s: ...... 132 K SHAPED RECOVERY: ...... 133 INVESTMENT MODELS IN E-COMMERCE: ...... 133 INDIA INNOVATION INDEX: ...... 134 SOFR: ...... 135 REVENUE DEFICIT: ...... 135 V SHAPED RECOVERY: ...... 136 GREEN BONDS: ...... 137 SENSEX: ...... 137 REGULATORY FRAMEWORK FOR NBFC's: ...... 138 MCLR vs EXTERNAL BENCHMARK RATE: ...... 140 PREFERENTIAL TRANSACTION IN IBC: ...... 141 GREAT RESET : ...... 141 FIAT CURRENCY: ...... 142 OFF BUDGET BORROWINGS: ...... 143 STAKEHOLDER CAPITALISM METRICS: ...... 144 EXPORT PROMOTION CAPITAL GOODS SCHEME: ...... 144 NON PRICE COMPETITION: ...... 145 QUANTITATIVE EASING: ...... 145 GRANT TO RLB's:...... 146 EXTERNAL FINANCING/DEBT: ...... 146 ECONOMIC SURVEY PREDICTION: ...... 147

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

CENTRAL ISSUE PRICE: ...... 148 STRATEGIC SECTOR: ...... 149 C.SUBRAMANIUM: ...... 150 REGULATORY FORBEARANCE: ...... 150 COUNTER CYCLICAL FISCAL POLICY: ...... 151 DUTCH TULIP BUBBLE BURST:...... 151 SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY: ...... 152 UPI BASED INNOVATIONS: ...... 152 MACROPHAGES:...... 153 EMERGENCY USE LISTING: ...... 154 TiHAN-IIT : ...... 155 Zero Interconnection Usage Charges (IUC): ...... 156 Expert panel clears first indigenous COVID-19 vaccine by and Biosafety level: ...... 157 Tide–Rainfall flood quotient: ...... 157 Klein tunnelling: ...... 158 VOLTAGE DEPENDENT ANION CHANNELS : ...... 158 CONJUGATE VACCINES: ...... 159 EFFICACY RATE IN VACCINES: ...... 159 and COVISHIELD: ...... 160 JEEVAN PRAMAAN: ...... 160 EPIZOOTICS: ...... 161 Immunogenicity: ...... 162 METEORITE: ...... 162 Quantum entanglement: ...... 163 Black box: ...... 163 Cyborg: ...... 164 Entomophagy: ...... 164 AEFI: ...... 164 CO WIN: ...... 165 FORMULATIONS AND BULK DRUG: ...... 166 NASAL VACCINE: ...... 167 PEPSEQ TECHNOLOGY: ...... 167 PepSeq Technology: ...... 168 SILENT CYBER: ...... 168 REGEN-COV: ...... 169

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

INDIAN ASTRONOMICAL UNION: ...... 169 DNA BILL: ...... 171 DOOMSDAY CLOCK: ...... 171 NOVOVAX VACCINE: ...... 172 SUPERNOVA and NEUTRINO: ...... 173 SATURN TILT: ...... 174 PETN EXPLOSIVES: ...... 175 PETN Explosives: ...... 176 CHANDRAYAAN 3: ...... 176 ENVIRONMENT & ECOLOGY: ...... 178 UMRED PAONI KARHANDALA SANCTUARY: ...... 178 Deepor beel: ...... 178 Woolly rhino: ...... 179 ASIATIC LION CONSERVATION PROJECT : ...... 179 AVIAN INFLUENZA ...... 180 STATE DISASTER : ...... 181 PARTICULATE MATTER 2. 5: ...... 182 CARACAL: ...... 183 Tirthan Wildlife Sanctuary and Great Himalayan National Park in / Management Effectiveness Evaluation (MEE): ...... 183 Prevention of cruelty to Animal’s Act: ...... 184 Bird flu and Bird migratory pattern: ...... 185 National Policy on Faecal Sludge and Septage Management (FSSM): ...... 185 Houbara Bustard: ...... 186 Ammonia as pollutant: ...... 187 Blue and green hydrogen: ...... 187 Gucchi Mushroom: ...... 188 GEO ENGINEERING: ...... 188 INDIAN STAR TORTOISES: ...... 190 DRAGON FRUIT: ...... 190 ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION ACT : ...... 191 DRAFT ARCTIC POLICY: ...... 192 US and CLIMATE ACTION: ...... 193 SUNDERBANS: ...... 194 RHESUS MACAQUE: ...... 195 GREEN TAX: ...... 195

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

SEAWEED: ...... 196 ROTATION OF CROPS: ...... 197 GI TAG FOR BASMATI RICE: ...... 198 BEEMA BAMBOO: ...... 199 DEFENCE ...... 200 DEEP SEA SUBMARINE RESCUE SYSTEM: ...... 200 Sea Vigil and Topex: ...... 200 Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS)/Tejas aircraft: ...... 201 S 400: ...... 202 SUKHOI 30 MKI: ...... 202 SHAURYA CHAKRA: ...... 202 NATIONAL &INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS ...... 204 FATF : ...... 204 OPEC: ...... 205 APEDA: ...... 205 Quality Council of India (QCI): ...... 206 G7: ...... 206 International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA): ...... 207 NBA: ...... 207 EUROPEAN COMMISSION: ...... 208 UNSC: ...... 209 FICCI: ...... 210 INTERNATIONAL ENERGY AGENCY: ...... 210 IMD: ...... 211 GOVERNMENT SCHEMES ...... 212 RoDTEP SCHEME: ...... 212 IMPRESS SCHEME: ...... 213 WOMEN SCIENTIST PROGRAMME: ...... 214 RASHTRIYA KAMDHENU AAYOG: ...... 214 LIBERALIZED MSME AEO PACKAGE: ...... 215 INSTITUTION OF EMINENCE: ...... 216 SWAMIH SCHEME: ...... 217 USTAAD scheme: ...... 218 PMKVY 3.0: ...... 218 COVID Vaccine Intelligence Network (CoWIN) system: ...... 219

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

PMAY -G: ...... 220 PLI SCHEME: ...... 220 PRAGATI: ...... 221 UDAN: ...... 222 AYU SAMVAD CAMPAIGN: ...... 222 LIFE MISSION: ...... 223 PM- JAY:...... 223 REPORTS ...... 225 DIGITAL PAYMENTS INDEX: ...... 225 GLOBAL CORRUPTION PERCEPTION INDEX: ...... 225 SWACHH SURVEKSHAN 2020: ...... 226 GLOBAL ECONOMIC PROSPECTUS REPORT: ...... 227 WORLD FOOD PRICE INDEX ...... 228 GLOBAL RISK REPORT: ...... 228 INEQUALITY REPORT: ...... 229 GLOBAL RISK REPORT: ...... 229 INDIA JUSTICE REPORT: ...... 230 CORRUPTION PERCEPTION INDEX: ...... 230 BARE NECESSITIES INDEX : ...... 231 HEALTH AND SOCIAL ISSUES ...... 233 INVISIBLE DISABILITIES: ...... 233 TRANSFAT: ...... 234 Green corridor: ...... 235 Priority list for Covid-19 Vaccination:...... 235 Smoking and vegetarianism could be ‘protective’ against SARS-CoV-2 infection: CSIR survey: ...... 236

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

ARTS ,CULTURE AND HISTORY

Ramateertham temple: Context: Ramateertham temple in district in turned into a political war zone over vandalism of idol of Ram. Concept:  It is a 16th century temple of Lord with Lakshman and in “silver Kavachas”.  Apart from this place is also known as an ancient archaeological site tracing routes to both Jain and Buddhists.  Jain structure is primarily natural caves with slab sculptures set in them.  Black granite hill structure called Bodhikonda has both Buddhist and Jain structure.  The site is currently under maintenance with the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

AJANTA CAVE PAINTINGS: Concept :

 Ajanta is a series of rock-cut caves in the Sahyadri ranges (Western Ghats) on Waghora river near Aurangabad in .

 Number of Caves: There are a total of 29 caves (all buddhist) of which 25 were used as Viharas or residential caves while 4 were used as Chaitya or prayer halls.

Time of Development

 The caves were developed in the period between 200 B.C. to 650 A.D.

 The were inscribed by the Buddhist monks, under the patronage of the Vakataka kings – Harishena being a prominent one.

 Reference of the Ajanta caves can be found in the travel accounts of Chinese Buddhist travellers Fa Hien (during the reign of Chandragupta II; 380- 415 CE) and Hieun Tsang (during the reign of emperor Harshavardhana; 606 - 647 CE). .

Painting:

 The figures in these caves were done using fresco painting.

 The outlines of the paintings were done in red colour. One of the striking features is the absence of blue colour in the paintings.

 The paintings are generally themed around – the life of Buddha and Jataka stories.

 UNESCO Site: The caves were designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1983.

About Aurangabad :

 Aurangabad, city, west-central Maharashtra state, western India. It is situated in a hilly upland region on the Kaum River.

 The city, originally known as Khadki, was founded by Malik Ambar in 1610. Its name was changed by the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, who built the Bibi Ka Maqbara tomb near the city as an imitation of the Taj Mahal in Agra.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

 Aurangabad remained the headquarters of the independent nizams (rulers), but it declined when the capital was moved to Hyderabad in Hyderabad princely state.

 The city is also a popular tourist destination, mainly the result of its proximity to the Ellora and Ajanta cave temples, both of which were designated UNESCO World Heritage sites in 1983.

NATIONAL GALLERY OF MODERN ART : Context : After Opening its doors on January 5, the National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA) has planned a series of programmes, including free weekend visits, at the museum.

Concept :

 The upcoming calendar year at the national institution includes retrospectives of Nandalal Bose, Ramkinker Baij and Amrita Sher-Gil, and an exhibition of Tantra Art.

Ramkinkar Baij

 Ramkinkar Baij (1906-1980), one of the most seminal artists of modern India, was an iconic sculptor, painter and graphic artist.

 He was born in Bankura, West Bengal

 In 1925, he made his way to Kala Bhavana, the art school at Santiniketan and was under the guidance of Nandalal Bose.

 Along with Nandalal Bose and Benodebehari Mukherjee, he played a pivotal role in making Santiniketan one of the most important centres for modern art in pre- Independent India.

Contributions to modern art:

 He assimilated the idioms of the European modern visual language and yet was rooted in his own Indian ethos.

 He experimented restlessly with forms, moving freely from figurative to abstract and back to figurative.

 His themes were steeped in a deep sense of humanism and an instinctive understanding of the symbiotic relationship between man and nature.

 Both in his paintings and sculptures, he pushed the limits of experimentation and ventured into the use of new materials

Nandala Bose

 Nandalal Bose was a disciple of Abanindranath Tagore. He became the principal of Kala Bhavan, Shanti Niketan in 1922.

 Nandalal Bose also originally painted the Indian flag, slightly different from its present form, and it was inspired by the freedom struggle.

 He became principal of the Kala Bhavan at Tagore’s International University Santiniketan in 1922.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

 He was also asked by Jawaharlal Nehru to sketch the emblems for the ’s awards, including the Bharat Ratna and the Padma Shri.

 He is also known to have taken up the task of beautifying the original manuscript of the .

Amrita Sher Gil :

 Known as India’s Frida Kahlo.

 Born in Hungary to a Sikh Aristocrat, mother was a Jewish opera singer from Hungary.

 Early paintings display a significant influence of the Western modes of painting with special influence of works of Hungarian painters, especially the Nagybanya School of painting.

 The first important painting was “Young Girls“. This painting led to her election as an Associate of the Grand Salon in Paris in 1933, making her the youngest ever to have received this recognition.

 She was greatly impressed and influenced by the Mughal and Pahari schools of painting and the cave paintings at Ajanta.

 In 1937, she produced famous South Indian trilogy of paintings – “Bride’s Toilet“, “Brahmacharis” and “The South Indian Villagers”.

 The Government of India has declared her works as National Art Treasures, and most of them are housed in the National Gallery of Modern Art in New .

National Gallery of Modern Art :

 NGMA was established in 1954, at the Jaipur House, New Delhi.

 It is run and administered as a subordinate office to the Ministry of Culture, Government of India.

 The NGMA has two branches, one at and the other at Bengaluru.

 One of its objectives is to acquire and preserve works of modern art from the 1850s onward.

BASAVESHWARA : Context: Karnataka laid the foundation stone for the ‘New Anubhava Mantapa’ in Basavakalyan, the place where 12th century poet-philosopher Basaveshwara lived for most of his life.

Concept:

• The New Anubhava Mantapa, as envisaged now, will be a six-floor structure in the midst of the 7.5 acre plot and represent various principles of Basaveshwara’sphilosophy.

• It will showcase the 12th Century Anubhava Mantapa (often referred to as the “first Parliament of the world”) established by him in Basavakalyan, where philosophers and social reformers held debates.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

• The building will adopt the Kalyana Chalukya style of architecture.

About Basaveshwara

• Basavanna was a 12th-century philosopher, statesman, Kannada poet and a social reformer during the reign of the Kalachuri-dynasty king Bijjala I in Karnataka, India.

• Basavanna spread social awareness through his poetry, popularly known as Vachanaas. Basavanna rejected gender or social discrimination, superstitions and rituals.

• He introduced new public institutions such as the Anubhava Mantapa (or, the “hall of spiritual experience”), which welcomed men and women from all socio-economic backgrounds to discuss spiritual and mundane questions of life, in open.

• As a leader, he developed and inspired a new devotional movement named Virashaivas, or “ardent, heroic worshippers of ”.

• This movement shared its roots in the Tamil Bhakti movement, particularly the Shaiva Nayanars traditions, over the 7th- to 11th-century.

Lingayats

• The term Lingayat denotes a person who wears a personal linga, an iconic form of god Shiva, on the body which is received during the initiation ceremony.

• Lingayats are the followers of the 12th-century social reformer-philosopher poet, Basaveshwara.

• The Lingayats are strict monotheists. They enjoin the worship of only one God, namely, Linga (Shiva).

• The word ‘Linga’ does not mean Linga established in temples, but universal consciousness qualified by the universal energy (Shakti).

• Lingayats had been classified as a Hindu subcaste called “Veerashaiva Lingayats” and they are considered to be Shaivites.

Sharana movement:

• The Sharana movement , Basaveshwara presided over attracted people from all castes, and like most strands of the Bhakti movement, produced a corpus of literature, the vachanas, that unveiled the spiritual universe of the Veerashaiva saints.

• The egalitarianism of Basavanna’s Sharana movement was too radical for its times.

• He set up the Anubhava Mandapa, where the Sharanas, drawn from different castes and communities, gathered and engaged in learning and discussions.

• Sharanas challenged the final bastion of the caste order: they organised a wedding where the bridegroom was from a lower caste, and the bride a Brahmin.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

SANGEET NATAK ACADEMY: Context : More than half a century after the capital’s premier dance institute, Kathak Kendra, became a constituent unit of Sangeet Natak Akademi, it finally has an internal complaints committee (ICC) for reporting and redressal of any sexual harassment complaints.

Concept :

Sangeet Natak Akademi

• The Sangeet Natak Akademi is India's national academy for music, dance and drama.

• It was created by a resolution of the (then) Ministry of Education, Government of India, in 1952 .

• It is presently an Autonomous Body of the Ministry of Culture, Government of India and is fully funded by the Government for implementation of its schemes and programmes.

• The Akademi establishes and looks after institutions and projects of national importance in the field of the performing arts. Few important ones are:

National School of Drama, New Delhi was set up in 1959,

Jawaharlal Nehru Manipur Dance Academy in Imphal- 1954,

Kathak Kendra (National Institute of Kathak Dance) in New Delhi- 1964.

National Projects of Support to Kutiyattam (Sanskrit theatre of Kerala), Chhau dances of eastern India, Sattriya traditions of , etc.

Awards:

Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowships (Akademi Ratna)

• The Fellowship of the Akademi is the most prestigious and rare honor, which is restricted to 40 numbers at any given time. By the election of above four fellows there are presently forty Fellows of Sangeet Natak Akademi.

• The honour of Akademi Fellow carries a purse money of Rs.3,00,000/- (Rupees three lakh) along with a Tamrapatra and Angavastram.

Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards (Akademi Puraskar)

• These awards have been given to forty-four artists from the field of Music, Dance, Theatre, Traditional/Folk/Tribal Music/Dance/Theatre, Puppetry and Overall contribution/scholarship in the Performing Arts.

• These forty-four artists include three joint awards as well.

• Akademi Puraskar carries Rs 1,00,000/- (Rupees one lakh) along with a Tamrapatra and Angavastram.

Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

• The academy has selected 32 (Including one joint Awards) artists of India who have made a mark as young talents in their respective fields of the performing arts for Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar 2018.

• It is conferred upon artists below the age of 40 years with the objective of identifying and encouraging outstanding young talents in diverse fields of performing arts and giving them national recognition early in their lives.

• Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar carries a purse money of Rs 25,000/-

Pongal and Jallikattu: Context: Tamil Nadu elections in 2021 has seen parties trying to make inroads by celebrating and being part of Tamil’s culture and heritage. Concept:  Pongal is the harvest festival of Tamil Nadu. It is a 4-day festival during the solar equinox after harvesting of crops like rice, sugarcane, turmeric, etc.  The word ‘Pongal’ in Tamil literature means “boiling over”.  The festival is a way of thanking nature god for the crops and everything else. It rejects old things and welcomes new things.  People make traditional designs known as kolams in their homes with rice powder. Jallikatu:  It is a traditional bull-taming sport or 'bio cultural sport' seeking to promote native breed of organised in Tamil Nadu during Pongal.  It is also known as Eruthazhuvuthal or Manjuvirattu.  It is a sport in which bull (natively reared) is let loose among a crowd of people. The participants are supposed to take control of the bull by holding its hump for as long as they can.  It is celebrated on the third day of Pongal also called "". It is possibly a 2000-year-old tradition in Tamil society.

Controversy around Jallikatu  In 2011 bull was added to the notification banning the training and exhibition of bears, monkeys, tigers, panthers and dogs and hence a ban on events like Jallikatu. Challenge to it was upheld by the Supreme Court.  andJallikattu was banned by the Supreme Court in 2014, but the Tamil Nadu and central governments stepped in to reverse the bar amid widespread protests in the state.

Bhogali Bihu: Context: Assam is celebrating Bhogali Bihu a traditional harvest festival. Concept:  It is a harvest festival of Assam where people express gratitude for good harvest and marks the end of harvest season. Also called as “” or festival of abundance.  The word Bhogali comes from word “Bhog” i.e., eating delicacies and enjoyment.  It believes in sharing of the gifts of nature as a community, and to strengthen a sense of identity and belonging.  The festival of Bihu has three forms: Bohag Bihu, Kati Bihu and Magh Bihu. Each of these falling in agriculture calendar.  Bihu dance is an important form of expression of joy.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

 This day is considered auspicious in the Hindu lunar year as well and is known as the Makar , i.e., the day when the sun begins its northward journey or Uttarayan and transitions into the Hindu zodiac sign of Makara. On this day the Sun God is worshipped in various parts of India in the form of different festivals such as Pongal (Tamil Nadu), Maghi (Punjab) and Uttarayan ().

Indian Council of cultural relations (ICCR): Context: The Department of Indian Studies at the university in South Korea had been considering phasing out the teaching of Hindi language at the university saying that knowledge of English would be sufficient for Korean nationals interested in working, studying and travelling in India. Concept:  The Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) was founded in 1950 by MaulanaAbulKalam Azad. It completed 70 years in 2020.  It is an autonomous organisation of the Government of India, involved in India's external cultural relations i.e., cultural diplomacy.  Its objectives are: 1. to actively participate in the formulation and implementation of policies and programmes pertaining to India’s external cultural relations. 2. to foster and strengthen cultural relations and mutual understanding between India and other countries, 3. to promote cultural exchanges with other countries and people, and to develop relations with nations.  It is running 36 cultural centres in different countries with the promotion of Indian culture and projecting India as a hub for higher education.  It instituted several awards for foreign nationals as a way to promote India's culture abroad: 1. Distinguished Indologist Award 2. World Sanskrit Award 3. Distinguished Alumni Award – Citation and Plaque 4. Gisela Bonn Award

Pig painting may be world’s oldest cave art: archaeologists: Context: Archaeologists of the Griffith university have discovered the world’s oldest known cave art — a life-sized picture of a wild pig that was painted at least 45,500 years ago in Concept:  It was found in South Sulawesi and consists of a figurative depiction of a warty pig, a wild boar that is endemic to this Indonesian island.  It was found in limestone cave of LeangTedongngeand is now the earliest known representational work of art in the world.  It shows a pig with a short crest of upright hairs and a pair of horn-like facial warts in front of the eyes, a characteristic feature of adult male Sulawesi warty pigs.  These pigs were the most commonly portrayed animal in the ice age rock art of the island, suggesting they have long been valued both as food and a focus of creative thinking and artistic expression  Archaeologists claim that isolated Bugis community living in this hidden valley have never been visited by Western countries even during colonial times.  The team sampled the art for Uranium-series dating, a technique to determine the age of calcium carbonate materials.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

Nihang Sikhs: Context: Amidst the farmers announcement of tractor parade on republic day Nihang Sikhs rehearse with 50 horsemen. Concept:  Nihang or ‘Akali’ Sikhs are community of armed Sikh warriors in Indian subcontinent.  Many trace Nihang Sikhs from Fateh Singh and others from “Akali Dal” formed by Sikh Guru Hargovind.  Traditionally known for their bravery and ruthlessness in the battlefield, the Nihang once formed the irregular guerrilla s quads of the armed forces of the Sikh Empire, the Sikh Khalsa Army.  They wear a traditional dress called “Khalsa Swarupa”. This comprises full attire of super electric blue selected by Guru Gobind Singh, edged bracelets of iron round their wrists (jangi kara) and quoits of steel (chakram) tiered in their high conical blue turbans, together with the traditional dagger carried by all Sikhs (kirpan).  This is accompanied with swords. About Guru Hargovind and Fateh Singh:  Guru Hargovind was the 6th Guru (at age of 11) after his father Guru Arjan (5th Guru) was killed by Jahangir.  He initiated the process of militarization which was complete during Guru Govind Singh’s time.  He wore two sword (Nihangs follow it today) to symbolize concepts of “miri and piri” (temporal power and spiritual authority).  He constructed the “Akal Takht” (the throne of timeless one) in front of Harmandir Saheb as the highest seat of earthly authority of the Khalsa (the collective body of the Sikhs) today.  Fateh Singh is the fourth and youngest son of Guru Gobind Singh. among the most revered martyrs in Sikhism. He is also known as Baba Fateh Singh.

Ustad Mustafa Khan: Context: Winner of Padma Shri in 1991, Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 2003, Padma Bhushan in 2006 and Padma Vibhushan in 2018, Ustad Mustafa Khan died recently. Concept:  He belonged to Rampur Sahaswan gharana and was part of the Hindustani Classical music tradition.  Rampur Sahaswan gharana is a gharana of Hindustani Musical tradition centred in Rampur and Sahaswan in North Uttar Pradesh.  Ustad Inayat Hussain khan was the founder of this gharana, who was inspired by Mehboob Kha (his father who was a Khayal singer).  Gharana is closer to Gwalior gharana and emphasizes on medium-slow tempos, a full- throated voice and intricate rhythmic play  It represents diversity and intricacy of the taans (rapid-fire elaborations), as well as tarana singing.

Vista dome Coach : Context: Prime Minister flagged off eight trains from different parts of the country to Kevadia in Narmada district, where the Statue of Unity is located. Concept:

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

 It is a state-of-the-art coach made by Indian Railways, designed to provide passengers with travel comfort as well as an enhanced viewing experience of their surroundings.  It has been manufactured at the Integral Coach Factory in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.  It is for the first time that the Vistadome coach has been made on the Linke Hofmann Busch (LHB) platform, made for passenger coaches for trains in India.  The coach with large window for scenic experience also has CCTV surveillance, fire alarm system and an LED destination board, GPS-based public-address-cum passenger information system etc.

PARAKRAM DIWAS: Context: The Union Culture Ministry on Tuesday announced that January 23, birth anniversary of Subhas Chandra Bose, would be celebrated as “ParakramDiwas” — day of courage — every year.

Concept:

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi would preside over the inauguration of the celebrations in Kolkata, where a permanent exhibition on Netaji at the Victoria Memorial would be opened. A programme would be held in Cuttack, birth place of Bose.

• Mr. Patel said a commemorative coin and postage stamp would be released. An artists’ camp at the National Library, Kolkata and an international conference on Bose’s legacy would be organised as well.

Subhash Chandra Bose’s Role in Indian Independence Struggle

• Bose was sent to prison in Mandalay for nationalist activities in 1925. He was released in 1927 and became the INC’s general secretary.

• He worked with Jawaharlal Nehru (Born on November 14 – 1889) and the two became the Congress Party’s young leaders gaining popularity among the people.

• He advocated complete Swarajand was in favour of the use of force to gain it.

• Bose stood for and was elected the party’s president in 1939 but was forced to resign due to differences with Gandhi’s supporters.

• Bose’s ideology tilted towards socialism and leftist authoritarianism. He formed the All India Forward Bloc in 1939 as a faction within the Congress.

• At the start of the Second World War, Bose protested against the government for not consulting Indians before dragging them into the war. He was arrested when he organised protests in Calcutta for the removal of the monument memorialising the Black Hole of Calcutta.

• In Germany, he met with the Nazi leaders and hoped to stage an armed struggle against the British to gain independence. He hoped to befriend the Axis powers since they were against his ‘enemy’, the British.

• He founded the Indian Legion out of about 4500 Indian soldiers who were in the British army and had been taken prisoners by the Germans from North Africa.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

• In 1943, he left Germany for Japan disillusioned with the lukewarm German support for Azad Hind.

• Bose’s arrival in Japan revived the Indian National Army (Azad Hind Fauj) which had been formed earlier with Japanese help.

• Azad Hind or the Provisional Government of Free India was established as a government-in- exile with Bose as the head. Its headquarters was in Singapore. The INA was its military.

• Bose motivated the troops with his fiery speeches. His famous quote is, “Give me blood, and I shall give you freedom!”

• The INA supported the Japanese army in its invasion of northeast India and also took control of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. However, they were forced to retreat by the British forces following the Battles of Kohima and Imphal in 1944.

JERENGA POTHAR: Context: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch a special programme of the Assam government to distribute land 'patta' or land allotment certificates to over one lakh landless indigenous people.

The event will be held at Jerenga Pothar in Sivasagar district, a historical place connected with Assam's erstwhile Ahom kingdom.

Concept:

• Formerly known as Rangpur, Sivasagar was the seat of the powerful Ahom dynasty, who ruled Assam for six centuries (1228-1826).

• Jerenga Pothar, an open field in Sivasagar town, is popularly connected to the valour of 17th century Ahom princess Joymoti.

• While the courage of Ahom kings is well-documented, Joymoti's story — little-known until the latter part of the 19th century — is today celebrated and invoked as a symbol of inspiration.

Present day Significance

• Jerenga Pothar itself is not a protected archaeological site, its vicinity includes a number of protected sites.

• Na Pukhuri tank to its east and the Pohu Garh, a natural zoo built during the Ahom era, to its west. Close by is the large Joysagar tank, built by Ahom king Swargadeo Rudra Singha in 1697, and the Dol temple.

Joymoti Konwari:

• Joymoti Konwari, was the wife of Tai-Ahom Prince Gadapani (later Supatphaa).

• She was accorded the honorific Mohiyokhi on account of her heroic endurance of torture until the end, dying at the hands of royalists under Sulikphaa Loraa Roja without disclosing her

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

exiled husband Prince Gadapani's whereabouts, thereby enabling her husband to rise in revolt and assume kingship.

• Gadapani and Joymoti's son Rudra Singha had the Joysagar Tank dug at the spot where she was tortured.

Ahom Kingdom

• The Ahom kingdom (1228–1826) was a late medieval kingdom in the Brahmaputra Valley in Assam.

• It is well known for maintaining its sovereignty for nearly 600 years and successfully resisting Mughal expansion in Northeast India.

• The Ahom state depended upon forced labour. Those forced to work for the state were called paiks.

• Ahom society was divided into clans or khels. A khel often controlled several villages.

• Ahoms worshipped their own tribal gods but instead of imposing their own language, religion and rituals on communities living in Assam, they accepted the Hindu religion and the Assamese language.

• However, the Ahom kings did not completely give up their traditional beliefs after adopting .

• Ahom society was very sophisticated. Poets and scholars were given land grants and theatre was encouraged. Important works of Sanskrit were translated into the local language.

• Historical works, known as buranjis, were also written, first in the Ahom language and then in Assamese.

• The kingdom became weaker with the rise of the Moamoria rebellion, and subsequently fell to repeated Burmese invasions of Assam.

• With the defeat of the Burmese after the First Anglo-Burmese War and the Treaty of Yandabo in 1826, control of the kingdom passed into East India Company hands.

MAMALLAPURAM: Context : The Pallava era monuments at Mamallapuram, where the informal summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping took place in October 2019, will be among the highlights at the Republic Day parade in New Delhi.

Concept :

• Mamallapuram, also called Mahabalipuram or Seven Pagodas, is a town that lies along the Coromandel Coast of the Bay of Bengal, 60 km south of Chennai.

• The town’s religious centre was founded by a 7th-century Hindu Pallava King— Narasimhavarman, also known as Mamalla—for whom the town was named.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

• It contains many surviving 7th- and 8th-century Pallava temples and monuments, chief of which are the sculptured rock relief popularly known as “Arjuna’s Penance,” or “Descent of the Ganges,” a series of sculptured cave temples, and a Shiva temple on the seashore.

• The town’s Five Rathas, or monolithic temples, are the remnants of seven temples, for which the town was known as Seven Pagodas.

• The entire assemblage collectively was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984.

BIJU PATNAIK: Context : Tucked away inside the Indonesian Embassy in New Delhi is a special room — one that has been built in recognition of the nation’s freedom struggle from Dutch colonialism 74 years ago, and named, unusually, for an Indian leader, Biju Patnaik.

Concept:

• Bijayananda Patnaik (1916 – 1997), popularly known as Biju Patnaik, was an Indian politician, aviator and businessman.

• Aviation: As a pilot, Patnaik flew with private airlines but at the start of the Second World War he joined the Royal Indian Air Force eventually becoming head of air transport command.

• Role in Indian freedom struggle: During quit India Movement, he used air force transports to fly clandestine missions that carried freedom fighters like Ram Manohar Lohia from hideouts across India to secret meetings that charted the independence struggle.

• Role in integration: Biju Patnaik had fearlessly flown a DC-3 transport aircraft to Srinagar on October 27, 1947, ferrying soldiers of the Sikh regiment after the tribal invasion from in Kashmir.

• Role in Indonesian freedom struggle: Patnaik rescued two key Indonesian independence leaders from a remote hideout in Indonesia and flew them to India, outraging the Dutch. For this act of bravery, he was given honorary citizenship in Indonesia and awarded the 'Bhoomi Putra' the highest Indonesian award.

• Politics: As politician, he served twice as the Chief Minister of the State of Odisha. Biju Patnaik's younger son, Naveen Patnaik, is the current Chief Minister of Odisha.

RISA CLOTH: Context : Tripura government have been promoting the traditional risa, a handwoven cloth used by the state’s indigenous communities, as a signature identity of the state Concept : • Risa is one of the three parts of customary Tripuri female attire, the other two being the Rignai and Rikutu.

• The Risa, which is essentially a customary hand-woven cloth, is used as headgear, stole, female upper cloth or presented to honour a distinguished recipient.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

• The Rignai is primarily used to cover the lower part of the body and literally translates into ‘to wear’. The Rituku covers the upper half of the body, wrapping it all around.

• However, it is also used as a ‘chunri’ or a ‘pallu’ of the Indian saree. It is also used to cover the head of newly married Tripuri women.

Cultural significance • Apart from its beautiful designs, the Risa plays a host of crucial social utilities.

• Adolescent Tripuri girls are first given Risa to wear when she reaches 12-14 years in an event called Risa Sormani.

• The event involves prayers to a Lampra god, where her elder women pray for her wellbeing throughout her life.

• However, it is also used in religious festivals like the Garia Puja, a customary festival of the tribal communities, or as a head turban by male folks during weddings and festivals, as a cummerbund over dhoti or headscarf.

• The cloth is even used as a makeshift baby carrier on the mother’s back.

ALIGARH MUSLIM UNIVERSITY: Context : The Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) will bury a time capsule recording the evolution of the varsity over the last 100 years of its existence on Republic Day as part of its centenary celebrations. Concept : • The capsule, which weighs around 1.5 tonnes, will contain documents showcasing the rich history of the AMU.

• The time capsule will contain documents showcasing the history of the varsity and its journey over the past 100 years.

• It will also have the biography of founder Sir Syed Ahmed and his addresses. It will also have texts of speeches of prominent people from pre-Independence era.

• The capsule has been built with high tempered steel and is around four feet deep. It will be buried 30 feet deep into the earth.

About AMU • AMU became a University in 1920, through an Act of Indian Legislative Council by elevating the Mohammedan Anglo Oriental (MAO) College to the status of a Central University.

• MAO College was set up in 1877 by Sir Syed Ahmad Khan.

• The University campus is located in the city of Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh. It also has three off- campus centres in Malappuram (Kerala), Murshidabad-Jangipur (West Bengal) and Kishanganj ().

Contributions of Syed Ahmed Khan • He started his career as a civil servant and served the British before the revolt of 1857.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

• The 1857 revolt was one of the turning points in Syed Ahmed’s life and he penned a pamphlet titled “The Causes of the Indian Revolt” to explain the reasons of the revolt from a “native perspective”.

• He supported the British during the 1857 revolution.

• He raised voice against the existing religious intolerance, ignorance and irrationalism prevailing in the society at that time.

• He denounced the orthodox systems of purdah, polygamy and easy divorce of the Muslim community.

• Tahzebul Akhlaq (Social Reformer in English), a magazine founded by him, tried to awaken people’s consciousness on social and religious issues in very expressive prose.

• He instituted the Scientific Society in 1863 to instill a scientific temperament into the Muslims and to make the Western knowledge available to Indians in their own language.

• He launched The Aligarh Institute Gazette, an organ of the Scientific Society in March 1866 and succeeded in agitating the minds in the traditional Muslim society.

• In 1875, Sir Syed founded the Madarsatul Uloom in Aligarh and patterned the MAO College after Oxford and Cambridge universities that he went on a trip to London. His objective was to build a college in line with the British education system but without compromising its Islamic values.

The Aligarh Movement: • Sir Syed Ahmad Khan is best known for the Aligarh Movement a systemic movement aimed at reforming the social, political and educational aspects of the Muslim community.

• In 1886, he set up the Mohammedan Anglo-Oriental Education Congress which was later renamed the Mohammedan Anglo-Oriental Educational Conference. It aimed to bring together education and culture.

• He also emphasised the need for an autonomous Muslim institution free of any government funding.

• It undertook to modernise Muslim’s education by adapting English as a medium of learning and western education rather than just focusing on traditional teachings.

• The movement helped the Muslims revival and gave them a common language Urdu.

PADMA AWARDS: Context: President has approved the conferment of 119 Padma Awards this year . It includes 102 padma shri , 10 padma bhushan and 7 padma vibhushan awards. Concept: • The Padma Awards are announced annually on the eve of Republic Day (26th January).

• Instituted in the year 1954, it is one of the highest civilian honours of India.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

• The Award seeks to recognize achievements in all fields of activities or disciplines where an element of public service is involved.

• The Awards are given in three categories:

Padma Vibhushan (for exceptional and distinguished service), Padma Bhushan (distinguished service of higher-order) and Padma Shri (distinguished service). • The Awards are given in various disciplines/ fields of activities, viz.- art, social work, public affairs, science and engineering, trade and industry, medicine, literature and education, sports, civil service, etc.

• The Awards are conferred on the recommendations made by the Padma Awards Committee, which is constituted by the Prime Minister every year.

• The awards are presented by the usually in the month of March/April every year.

• The award does not amount to a title and cannot be used as a suffix or prefix to the awardees’ name.

• The total number of awards to be given in a year (excluding posthumous awards and to NRI/foreigners/OCIs) should not be more than 120.

Bharart Ratna • The Bharat Ratna (Jewel of India) is the highest civilian award of India.

• Instituted in 1954, the award is conferred “in recognition of exceptional service/performance of the highest order”, without distinction of race, occupation, position, or sex.

• The recommendations for the Bharat Ratna are made by the Prime Minister himself to the President, with a maximum of three nominees being awarded per year. No formal recommendations for this are necessary.

• Recipients receive a Sanad (certificate) signed by the President and a peepal-leaf–shaped medallion; there is no monetary grant associated with the award.

• Bharat Ratna recipients rank 7th in the Indian order of precedence.

MAHA VIR CHAKRA: Context : Colonel B. Santhosh Babu, Commanding Officer of 16 Bihar regiment deployed in Galwan during Operation Snow Leopard, has been posthumously selected for the Maha Vir Chakra (MVC), the second highest wartime gallantry award of India. Five other personnel deployed there have been named for the Vir Chakra (VrC), which is the third highest wartime gallantry award. Concept : Mahavir Chakra • The Mahavir Chakra (MVC) is the second-highest military decoration in India and is awarded for acts of conspicuous gallantry in the presence of the enemy, whether on land, at sea or in the air.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

• The Mahavir Chakra was instituted on 26 Jan 1950 to recognise the act of gallantry in the presence of the enemy.

• The most MVCs awarded in a single conflict were in the Indo-Pakistan War of 1971 when eleven awards are given to the Indian Air Force alone.

• Till 2017, there are around 218 personnel have been awarded from this medal.

Gallantry Awards • Gallantry Awards have been instituted by the Government of India to honour the acts of bravery and sacrifice of the officers/personnel of the Armed Forces, other lawfully constituted Forces and civilians.

• These gallantry awards are announced twice in a year - first on the occasion of the Republic Day and then on the occasion of the Independence Day.

Types of Gallantry awards • Gallantry Awards are classified into two Categories

Gallantry in the Face of Enemy Gallantry Other than in the Face of Enemy • First Category of Gallantry Awards Comprises of the following Awards

Param Vir Chakra (PVC) Mahavir Chakra (MVC) Vir Chakra • Second Category of Gallantry Awards Comprises of the following Awards

Ashok Chakra Kirti Chakra Shaurya Chakra • Order of precedence of these awards is the Param Vir Chakra, the Ashoka Chakra, the Mahavir Chakra, the Kirti Chakra, the Vir Chakra and the Shaurya Chakra.

RED FORT: Context : Farmers protesting against new agriculture laws in India broke through police barricades around the capital and entered the grounds of Delhi’s historic Red Fort , in chaotic and violent scenes that overshadowed the country’s Republic Day celebrations.

Concept :

• Red fort fuses architectural styles of the Timurids and the Persians.

• Red Fort has many structures that serve as fine examples of Islamic architectural style and Mughal architecture,

• Built By: Shah Jahan

• Architect: Ustad Ahmad Lahauri Architectural styles: Mughal, Indo-Islamic Current

• Status: UNESCO World Heritage Site On the Banks of River Yamuna,

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

• The Red Fort is known for its gardens and a water channel called The Stream of Paradise.

Indian Indo Islamic Architecture:

• The Indo-Islamic architecture inculcates the elements of Saracenic, Turkish and Arab architecture

• The first new element added in the Indian architecture was the use of shapes instead of natural forms. This apart, use of calligraphy as inscriptional art was also a new element added to by Muslims

• Inlay decoration and use of coloured marble, painted plaster and brilliantly glazed tiles.

Salient Features of Indo-Islamic Architecture:

• Islamic Architecture is characterised by a few Visible Symbols.

• One is the arch, which frames the space;

• second symbol is the dome, which looms over the skyscape;

• third is the Minaret, which pierces the skies. Minarets were Actually Symbols in the Middle of Deserts

• Muslims forbidden to replicate living forms on any surface, developed their religious art and architecture consisting of the arts of arabesque, geometrical patterns and calligraphy on plaster and stone.

Indo-Islamic architecture is conventionally categorised into the following four Categories:

• Imperial Style (Delhi Sultanate)

• Provincial Style (Mandu, Gujarat, Bengal, and Jaunpur)

• Mughal Style (Delhi, Agra, and Lahore)

• Deccani Style (Bijapur, Golconda).

GOVIND BALLABH PANT: Context : The 9-feet statue of Govind Ballabh Pant inside Parliament premises has been temporarily relocated .

Concept :

• Pandit Govind Ballabh Pant (1887 – 1961) was a lawyer, an Indian freedom fighter and one of the architects of modern India.

• In 1921, he was elected to the Legislative Assembly of the United Provinces of Agra and Oudh.

• He was an untiring participant in both the Non-Cooperation Movement and the Civil Disobedience Movement.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

• He was also a member of the Central Legislative Assembly and the Constituent Assembly.

• He served as the 2nd Chief Minister of United Provinces from 1937 to 1939.

• After independence, he served as the 1st Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh from 1950 to 1954.

• He served as Union Home Minister from 1955–1961.

• As Home Minister, his chief achievement was the re-organisation of States along linguistic lines.

• He was also responsible for the establishment of Hindi as an official language of the central government and a few states.

• To honour his exemplary services to the nation, he received Bharat Ratna, in 1957.

JOY BANGLA: Context: Even as the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of religious politics by repeating the ‘Jai Shri Ram’ chant, the latter has countered that the ruling party in the state was engaging in Bengal sub-nationalism with itsuse of the slogan ‘Joy Bangla’.

Concept:

• ‘Joy Bangla’, which translates as ‘victory to Bengal’ or ‘hail Bengal’ is the national slogan of Bangladesh and that it has a special place in the country’s memory of the 1971 Liberation war.

• But the roots of the slogan go way back to 1922, when a nationalist movement against the British was raging in India.

Origins of ‘Joy Bangla’

• The phrase ‘Joy Bangla’ is taken out of a poem written by Bengali poet, musician and writer Kazi Nazrul Islam.

• The poem written in 1922 spoke about the spirit of revolutionaries in Bengal, who shattered the shackles of oppression through generations.

• His writings were of inspiration to Bengalis of East Bengal during the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation war, when the country broke away from West Pakistan.

• In 1972, Nazrul was crowned the titled ‘national poet of Bangladesh’.

LINGARAJ TEMPLE: Context : The ASI came across the stone structure engraved with arts while undertaking the excavation drive being done under the Ekamra Kshetra heritage project for beautification of the Lingaraj temple and its surroundings.

Concept :

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

About Lingaraj Temple

• It is an ancient temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, situated in the city of Bhubaneswar.

• The temple was built in the 7th century by the King Jajati Keshari.

• Lingaraj is referred to as "Swayambhu" i.e. self-originated Shivling.

• The temple marks the culmination of the temple architecture in Bhubaneswar which was the cradle of the Kalinga School of Temple Architecture.

• The temple can broadly be divided into four main halls i.e.

• Garba Griha (Sanctum Sanctorum),

• Yajana Mandapa (the hall for prayers)'

• Natya Mandapa (dance and music hall) and

• Bhoga Mandapa (where devotees can have the Prasad (offering) of the Lord).

• It signifies the syncretisation of Shaivism and sects in Odisha.

• Bhubaneswar is called the Ekamra Kshetra as the deity of Lingaraja was originally under a mango tree (Ekamra) as noted in Ekamra Purana, a 13th-century Sanskrit treatise.

• Bindusagar is the sacred pond near the temple which is the second most attractive place after the temple.

• Bindusagar is considered as the union of drops of water from various sacred rivers of India.

Additional Information Kalinga School of Temple Architecture

• An inscription in the Amrtesvara Temple at Holal in Karnataka refers to four styles of Hindu temple architecture i.e. Nagara, Kalinga, Dravida and Vesara.

• Kalinga style is identified as a sub-class under the Nagara category.

• Bhuvanapradipa primarily defines three kinds of Kalinga temple styles i.e. Rekha, Khakhara and Bhadra.

• Rekha-deul (temple) is distinguished with its square plan topped with a curvilinear tower.

• A Pidha-deul, also referred as Bhadra deul, also has a square plan topped with a pyramidal tower composed of horizontal tiers arranged in receding manner.

• A Khakhara deul is surmounted with a barrel-shaped (vault-shape) tower over a rectangular plan.

• Silpaprakasha is the most famous text describing the Odishan temple architecture which was authored by Ramachandra Kaulachara who belonged to the reign of king Viravarman.

• A typical Kalinga (Odishan) temple consists two parts, a sanctuary where an idol or linga is placed and a hall where pilgrims can view the lord installed in the sanctuary.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

• The sanctuary is referred as deul while the hall is known as jagamohana. The other components under Kalinga style temple are:

Pitha is the platform over which the entire structure of the temple stands.

Bada is the vertical wall over which tower is supported.

Gandi is the lower part of the tower while mastaka is the upper part of the tower.

Are you confident of cracking Prelims 2021? Do you want to score more to crack IFS cut off? Scoring high in Prelims is possible. I have done it multiple times with 100% success rate You can do it too, if you follow my scientific study plan and master my prediction

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

GEOGRAPHY

TSO KAR WETLAND COMPLEX: Context: One more wetland in India has been added to the list of recognised sites of international importance under the treaty of Ramsar Convention, taking the number of such wetlands in the country to 42, the highest in South Asia.

Concept:

• The latest site to be added to the list is a high-altitude wetland complex of two connected lakes, Startsapuk Tso and Tso Kar, in .

• Last month, two wetlands — the Lonar lake in Maharashtra and Sur Sarovar, also known as Keetham lake, in Agra — were added to the list of Ramsar sites.

About Wetland Complex

• The Tso Kar Basin is a high-altitude wetland complex, consisting of two principal waterbodies, Startsapuk Tso, a freshwater lake of about 438 hectares to the south, and Tso Kar itself, a hyper-saline lake of 1,800 hectares to the north, situated in the Changthang region of Ladakh.

• It is called Tso Kar, meaning white lake, because of the white salt efflorescence found on the margins due to the evaporation of highly saline water.

Flora and Fauna

• The inlets of the Tso Kar are a source of non-saline water; pondweeds and basic nettles grow there, forming floating islands of vegetation in the spring and dying off in the winter.

• Sedge and large numbers of buttercups grow on the shores of Startsapuk Tso and of the tributaries of the Tso Kar, while some parts of the high basin are marked by steppe vegetation interspersed with tragacanth and pea bushes.

• Due to the salinity of the Tso Kar, most of the resident fauna is found in its tributaries and in Startsapuk Tso.

• There are large breeding colonies of grebes and brown-headed gulls, and some strip geese, rust geese and terns. In the vicinity of the lake black-necked cranes and Tibetan grouse are relatively common.

• The basin of the Tso Kar and the adjoining More Plains constitute one of the most important habitats of the kiang, Tibetan gazelles, Tibetan wolves and foxes; there are himalayan marmots in the higher reaches. Yaks and horses are kept by the nomads.

Ramsar Site

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

• Ramsar Convention on Wetlands is an intergovernmental treaty adopted in 1971 in the Iranian city of Ramsar, on the southern shore of the Caspian Sea.

• It came into force for India on 1st February, 1982. Those wetlands which are of international importance are declared as Ramsar sites.

• The Convention’s mission is “the conservation and wise use of all wetlands through local and national actions and international cooperation, as a contribution towards achieving sustainable development throughout the world”.

• The Montreux Record is a register of wetland sites on the List of Wetlands of International Importance where changes in ecological character have occurred, are occurring, or are likely to occur as a result of technological developments, pollution or other human interference. It is maintained as part of the Ramsar List.

• At present, two wetlands of India are in Montreux Record: Keoladeo National Park () and Loktak Lake (Manipur).

• Chilika Lake (Odisha) was placed in the record but later removed from it.

NORTHEAST MONSOON: Context: The southern states recorded normal rainfall during the recently concluded Northeast monsoon season, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has said.

Kerala, however, ended with a 26 per cent deficit of rainfall this season.

Concept :

• In 2020, the onset of the Northeast monsoon, also known as winter monsoon, was delayed by 10 days over Tamil Nadu and Puducherry and was realised on October 28.

• The season began on a good note but soon lost steam in November.

• The Northeast monsoon came under the influence of weak La Nina conditions along with the neutral phase of the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD).

Northeast Monsoon

• The Northeast monsoon occurs during October to December.

• It is confined to the Southern peninsula.

• It is also called the winter monsoon.

• Northeast monsoon is important for Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Karaikal, Yanam, Pradesh, Kerala, north interior Karnataka, Mahe and Lakshadweep.

• Tamil Nadu records about 48% of its annual rainfall during these months, making it the key factor for undertaking agricultural activities.

• Some South Asian countries such as Maldives, and Myanmar, too, record rainfall during October to December.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

La Niña

• La Niña (Spanish for ‘little girl’) refers to the large-scale cooling of the ocean surface temperatures in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean, along with changes in the tropical atmospheric circulation.

• It usually has the opposite impacts on weather and climate as El Niño, which is the warm phase of the so-called El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO).

Indian Ocean Dipole

• IOD is the difference between the temperature of eastern (Bay of Bengal) and the western Indian Ocean (Arabian Sea).

• This temperature difference results into pressure difference which results in flowing of winds between eastern and western parts of Indian Ocean.

• IOD develops in the equatorial region of Indian Ocean from April to May peaking in October.

• A ‘positive IOD’ — or simply ‘IOD’ — is associated with cooler than normal sea-surface temperatures in the eastern equatorial Indian Ocean and warmer than normal sea-surface temperatures in the western tropical Indian Ocean.

• The opposite phenomenon is called a ‘negative IOD’, and is characterised by warmer than normal SSTs in the eastern equatorial Indian Ocean and cooler than normal SSTs in the western tropical Indian Ocean.

WESTERN DISTURBANCE: Context: Rain lashed Delhi and NCR on Sunday morning, leading to a drop in day temperatures amidst strong winds and thunderstorm. Concept:  According to IMD , the effect of the western disturbance over the region is expected to start waning and only light rain is expected during the day, after which the sky is expected to clear, paving the way for another spell of fog in the mornings. Western Disturbances  Western Disturbances are low pressure systems, embedded in western winds (westerlies) that flow from west to the east.  It is a term coined by an Indian Meteorologist for the weather phenomenon which is propagated from the West.  Western Disturbances begin is a low pressure system that originates in the Mid- latitude region near the Atlantic ocean and Europe.  The low pressure typically forms over the Mediterranean Sea and travels over Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan before entering India loaded with moisture.  These moisture laden western disturbances eventually come up against the himalayas and get blocked, as a consequence, the moisture gets trapped and precipitation is shared in the form of snow and rain over Northwest India and sometimes, other parts of North India.  An average of 4-5 western disturbances form during the winter season and the rainfall distribution and amount varies with every western disturbance.  The word 'Western' refers to the direction from which they originate with regard to India.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

 The word 'disturbance' is used because the air within the low pressure systems tends to be unstable or disturbed.  Sometimes, when western disturbances become more intense in the Indian Region, they can extend even upto 15 degree north, resulting into rainfall upto north Maharashtra, Gujarat and the entire to the south. Impact  Western Disturbances are the cause of the most winter and pre-monsoon season rainfall across North-West India. This phenomenon is usually associated with cloudy sky, higher night temperatures and unusual rain. It is estimated that India gets close to 5-10% of its total annual rainfall from western disturbances.  In winter, western winds bring moderate to heavy rain in low lying areas and heavy snow to mountainous areas of the Indian subcontinent.  India is a rain dependent country and while the south west monsoon covers most of India, parts of North India don’t get much rain from it. These regions depend upon snow and rain from western disturbance during winter season from November to March.  Precipitation during the winter season has great importance in agriculture particularly for rabi crops including wheat, which is one of the most important Indian crops.  They start declining after winter. During the summer months of April and May, they move across North India and at times help in the activation of monsoon in certain parts of northwest India.  During the monsoon season, western disturbances may occasionally cause dense clouding and heavy precipitation.  Weak western disturbances are associated with crop failure and water problems across north India.  Strong western disturbances can help residents, farmers and governments avoid many of the problems associated with water scarcity.

PULICAT LAKE: Context: The Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) of the Environment Ministry has directed a sub-committee to visit the coastal stretch of Pulicat lake where the Department of Fisheries, Tamil Nadu, has proposed two training walls for permanent stability for the bar mouth of the lake.

Concept:

• Pulicat Lagoon is the second largest brackish water lagoon in India, after Chilika Lake. It is present in the Coromondal Region i.e. Andhra Pradesh–Tamil Nadu Border.

• The barrier island of Sriharikota separates the lake from the Bay of Bengal and is home to the Satish Dhawan Space Centre.

• The lake encompasses the Pulicat Lake Bird Sanctuary.

• Flamingo Festival is held every year to promote tourism in Pulicat lake and Nellapattu. It has been organised for the past 12 years

• The primary inflows to the Pulicat Lake are Arani, Kalangi and Swarnamukhi.

• About 96% of the Pulicat Lake is present in Andhra Pradesh while only 3% is present in Tamil Nadu.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

• The Buckingham Canal, a navigation channel, is part of the lagoon on its western side.

TIDE - RAINFALL QUOTIENT:

Context : To understand if a coastal city is more prone to floods caused by tidal events or extreme rainfall, a team from the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay devised a new metric or measure called the Tide–Rainfall Flood Quotient.

Concept :

• Using the past rainfall data, tidal data, and topography of the region this framework can be applied to pinpoint the major factor at play.

• The team selected three geographically diverse flood-prone coastal regions – Mithi Catchment in Mumbai, Maharashtra, Jagatsinghpur District in Odisha, and Greater Chennai Corporation in Tamil Nadu to test their new metric.

• The new method helped classify these regions into ‘storm-tide dominated’ or ‘pluvial (rainfall) dominated’ regions.

• The metric can help disaster management experts in framing better flood risk management systems directed towards long term planning.

Additional Information

• The C40 Cities report of 2018 notes that by 2050, over 570 low-lying coastal cities will face projected sea level rise by at least 0.5 meters, putting over 800 million people at risk from the impacts of rising seas and storm surges.

• While the inland areas can be flooded due to the heavy rainfall, the coasts are threatened by the impact of tidal surges.

Transhumance: Context: Ladakh's nomads have been forced to migrate due to climate change and other reasons with impact on future of pashmina wool. Concept:  Pashmina is considered the finest craftsmanship in the world which transforms the exceptionally warm and delicate Cashmere threads to opulent accessories.  The fleece of Changthangi Goat is known as Pashm. This goat is exotic and is only found there, 15000 feet above sea level in Ladakh - Jammu and Kashmir, making the art of Pashmina even rarer and revered all over the world.  Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has published an Indian Standard for identification last year for marking and labelling of Pashmina products to certify its purity

About Pashmina Goat

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

 It is a breed of goat indigenous to the high-altitude regions of Ladakh in Jammu and Kashmir, also found in , Tibet and Central Asia  They are raised for ultra-fine cashmere wool, known as Pashmina once woven.  These goats are generally domesticated and reared by nomadic communities called the Changpa in the Changthang region of Greater Ladakh. Pashmina goats and climate change  Pashmina wools of such quality needs exceptionally warm, light and fine fibre, the animals need the particular climatic conditions of the Changpa's homeland.  Northern India is at the forefront of the ravages of climate change, suffering more droughts, floods and cyclones.  Social, cultural and environmental impacts such as the loss of culture, loss of language, loss of territory and loss of biodiversity due to climate change is leading to migration of these nomads. About Transhumance  Transhumance is a form of pastoralism or nomadism organized around the migration of livestock between mountain pastures in warm seasons and lower altitudes the rest of the year.  Most people who practice transhumance also practice some form of crop cultivation and some kind of permanent settlement seasonally.  These are practiced mostly in mountains, highlands, or other areas that are too cold to be inhabited and utilized for grazing except in summer.

Earthquake: Context: A magnitude 6.2 quake hit the Indonesia and killed at least 35. Concept:

 An earthquake is shaking or trembling of the earth’s surface, caused by the seismic waves or earthquake waves that are generated due to a sudden movement (sudden release of energy) in the earth’s crust (shallow-focus earthquakes) or upper mantle (some shallow-focus and all intermediate and deep-focus earthquakes).  The point where the energy is released is called the focus or the hypocentre of an earthquake.  The point on the surface directly above the focus is called epicentre (first surface point to experience the earthquake waves).  A line connecting all points on the surface where the intensity is the same is called an isoseismic line.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

Causes:

 Fault Zones  Plate tectonics  Volcanic activity  Human Induced Earthquakes Waves:

 There are several different kinds of seismic waves, and they all move in different ways. The two main types of waves are body wavesand surface waves.  Body waves can travel through the earth’s inner layers, but surface waves can only move along the surface of the planet like ripples on water  The first kind of body wave is the P waveor primary wave. This is the fastest kind of seismic wave, and, consequently, the first to ‘arrive’ at a seismic station. The P wave can move through solid rock and fluids, like water or the liquid layers of the earth. It pushes and pulls the rock it moves through just like sound waves push and pull the air.  The second type of body wave is the S waveor secondary wave, which is the second wave felt in an earthquake. An S wave is slower than a P wave and can only move through solid rock, not through any liquid medium. It is this property of S waves that led seismologists to conclude that the Earth’s outer core is a liquid.  S waves move rock particles up and down, or side-to-side–perpendicular to the direction that the wave is traveling in (the direction of wave propagation) Distribution of Earthquakes

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

Measuring earthquake: Mercallivs Richter

 The Mercalli scale bases its measurement on the observed effects of the earthquake and describes its intensity. It is a linear measurement.  On the other hand, the Richter scale measures the seismic waves, or the energy released, causing the earthquake and describes the quake’s magnitude. It is a logarithmic Faults:

 A fault is a fracture or zone of fractures between two blocks of rock. Faults allow the blocks to move relative to each other.  This movement may occur rapidly, in the form of an earthquake – or may occur slowly, in the form of creep.  Faults may range in length from a few millimeters to thousands of kilometers.  Most faults produce repeated displacements over geologic time. During an earthquake, the rock on one side of the fault suddenly slips with respect to the other.

 The fault surface can be horizontal or vertical or some arbitrary angle in between.  Earth scientists use the angle of the fault with respect to the surface (known as the dip) and the direction of slip along the fault to classify faults.  Faults which move along the direction of the dip plane are dip-slip faults and described as either normal or reverse (thrust), depending on their motion.  Faults which move horizontally are known as strike-slip faults and are classified as either right- lateral or left-lateral.  Faults which show both dip-slip and strike-slip motion are known as oblique-slip faults.

Lithium reserve found in India: Context: Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research (AMD) survey estimates the presence of 1,600 tonnes of lithium resources in the igneous rocks of the Marlagalla-Allapatna region of Karnataka’s Mandya district Concept:

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

 Lithium is a silver white and alkali metal i.e., Alkali metal are any of the six chemical elements that make up Group 1 (Ia) of the periodic table—namely, lithium (Li), sodium (Na), potassium (K), rubidium (Rb), cesium (Cs), and francium (Fr). The alkali metals are so called because reaction with water forms alkalies (i.e., strong bases capable of neutralizing acids).  AMD is carrying out surface and sub-surface exploration for lithium in potential geological domains of the country.  Lithium-ion rechargeable batteries powering electric vehicles (EVs), laptops and mobile phones etc. has led to a “lithium rush” in the world i.e., Acquiring constant supply of lithium for these sensitive sectors.  India’s strategy has been to have share in global value chain by: 1) Domestic exploration 2) Deals and joint ventures with the Lithium triangle countries. About Lithium Triangle: LITHIUM TRIANGLE - Optimize IAS

MONSOON FORECAST MODEL: Context : The India Meteorological Department (IMD) may introduce new monsoon models this year to better forecast changes in rainfall.

Concept :

Dynamical Model:

• It is also called the Monsoon Mission Coupled Forecast System. It relies on the supercomputers, mathematically simulating the physics of the ocean and the atmosphere.

• This model is better at forecasting the state of the weather a week or two in advance and is not yet considered reliable by meteorologists in forecasting the monsoon.

Statistical Model:

• Traditional statistical model equates relationships of physical parameters, such as for instance sea surface temperatures, snowfall, the temperature of landmass etc, with the actual observed rainfall in the past.

• For example , it takes into consideration the global weather models pointing to negligible chances of El Nino, a warming of the central equatorial Pacific which is associated with the drying up of monsoon rain. The IMD relies on this model.

• In any given year, there is a 33% chance of a normal monsoon that’s why there is high confidence that the monsoon in 2020 would be normal.

Proposed Models

• The three models under consideration are:

• 12 global circulation models (dynamical) whose outputs would be combined into a single one.

• Model that gauges rainfall based on the sea surface temperature in the tropics .

• Statistical model based on climate variables observed during the pre-monsoon.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

• All of them are ‘ensembles’ meaning smaller models are combined to arrive at an average value.

GEO HAZARD MANAGEMENT: Context: Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has entered into a framework MoU with the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH) to strengthen collaboration on sustainable Geo-Hazard management. Concept : • DRDO’s Defence Geo-Informatics Research Establishment (DGRE) is working for the development of critical technologies for enhancing combat effectiveness in various kinds of terrains and avalanches.

• The expertise of DGRE in mapping, forecasting, control and mitigation of landslides and avalanches in Himalayan terrain will be utilized for designing national highways including tunnels.

• MoRTH is responsible for development & maintenance of National Highways across the country.

FLASH DROUGHTS: Context: A new study has now pointed out that India could experience more such flash droughts by the end of this century.

Several factors including atmospheric anomalies, anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions play an important role.

Concept:

• Fash drought is the rapid onset of drought.

• It can develop in as little time as 10 to 15 days.

• In contrast with conventional drought, which is mainly driven by lack of precipitation, flash drought usually includes abnormally high temperatures, winds, and/or incoming radiation that leads to abnormally high evapotranspiration (ET) rates.

• Flash droughts occur more often than perceived and can cause major agricultural losses if they are not predicted and detected in a timely manner.

• The prediction of flash droughts on subseasonal timescales is of critical importance for impact assessment, disaster mitigation, and loss prevention.

Findings of the study

• The research team found that flash droughts had sudden decreases in ET anomaly over the drought regions before onset.

• That means that soil moisture was plentiful prior to the drought, but rapidly evaporated due to heat/wind/radiation.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

• The researchers noticed sharp declines in soil moisture anomaly associated with the sudden decreases in ET anomaly.

• Temperatures during the development periods were warmer than normal, due to heatwaves in the regions, and the three-month Standardized Precipitation Indexes were negative for flash droughts.

• This suggests that closely monitoring rapid changes in ET (a responding variable to temperature), along with soil moisture and precipitation conditions, can provide early warnings of flash drought development.

ALABAMA FOREST: Context: Among the petitions before United States President Joe Biden from environmentalists is one to save a unique forest off the coast of Alabama.

Concept:

• Entire Alabama forest is underwater — 10 fathoms (60 feet) deep — and made up of the remains of cypress trees that grew in the ice age, 60,000 years ago, when prehistoric humans were just starting to move out of Africa.

• Cypress is a common name for various coniferous trees or shrubs of northern temperate regions that belong to the family Cupressaceae.

• The forest was submerged in the waters of the Gulf of Mexico as sea levels rose, and remained entombed in thick layers of sediment, mud and sand for millennia.

• The sediments prevented oxygen from decomposing the stumps, barks and other remnants of the forest.

• The forest was discovered only after Hurricane Ivan hit the Gulf Coast in 2004 and unleashed giant waves that removed the sediments.

• Divers thereafter saw a perfectly preserved cypress forest that was unlike anything else on earth.

MOUNT K2: Context: On January 16, a group of Nepali mountaineers became the first climbers to scale the K2 peak in winter. Concept: • At 8,611 metres, K2 or Mount Godwin Austen is the second-highest mountain in the world, after Mount Everest above sea level.

• It is located on the China–Pakistan border between Baltistan in the Gilgit-Baltistan region of northern Pakistan, and Dafdar Township of Xinjiang, China.

• It is the highest point of the Karakoram mountain range and the highest point in both Pakistan and Xinjiang.

Major Mountain peaks in Indian subcontinent

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

• Kangchenjunga

8586 metres The third highest summit in the World Also known as the ‘five treasures of snow’ Lies in Himalayan Mountain Range • Nanda Devi

7816 metres Ranked the 23rd highest peak across the world. The Nanda Devi National Prak, located in vicinity to the peak, consists of the best high altitude flora and fauna. This is the highest peak located entirely within India It is a part of Himalayan mountain ranges (Garhwal) • Kamet

7756 metres It is located near the Tibetan Plateau It is located in the Garhwal region •

7742 metres It is located near the Siachen Region. The Saltoro Kangri is ranked the 31st highest independent peak in the world It lies in Saltoro range (a part of Karakoram Mountain range)

MOUNT MERAPI: Context : Indonesia's most active volcano Mt Merapi erupts again, unleashing river of lava.

Concept :

• Merapi (Mountain of Fire) is the most active of Indonesia’s 130 active volcanoes.

• It rises to 2,911 metres and has steep slopes with dense vegetation on its lower sides.

• It is located near the centre of the island of Java and Indonesia’s cultural capital, Yogyakarta.

• Mt Merapi’s last significant eruption was in 2010. At that time, more than 300 people were killed and some 2,80,000 residents were forced to evacuate the surrounding areas.

SUBASH CHANDRA BOSE AAPDA PRABANDHAN PURASKAR 2021: Context : For the year 2021, (i) Sustainable Environment and Ecological Development Society and (ii) Dr. Rajendra Kumar Bhandari have been selected for the Subhash Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puraskar.

Concept :

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

• The Government of India instituted Subhash Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puraskaar to recognise the excellent work done by the individuals and institutions in the field of disaster management.

• Administered By: National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA - created by the Ministry of Home Affairs under the Disaster Management Act, 2005).

Award:

• The awards are announced on the birth anniversary of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose on 23rd January every year.

• In addition to a certificate, these awards carry a cash award of Rs. 51 lakhs for an Institution and Rs. 5 lakhs for an Individual.

• The Institution has to utilize the cash prize for Disaster Management related activities only.

Eligibility:

• Only Indian nationals and Indian institutions can apply for the award.

• The nominated individual or institution should have worked in any area of disaster management like Prevention, Mitigation, Preparedness, Rescue, Response, Relief, Rehabilitation, Research, Innovation or early warning in India.

TROPICAL CYCLONES: Context: Tropical cyclones across the globe, except Atlantic hurricanes, are moving closer to land in recent decades, a new study found.

Concept:

• Tropical cyclones generally have been moving westward by about 30 kilometres per decade since 1982, putting them closer to land and making them more dangerous, a study published in Science said.

• Storms generally move east to west because of trade winds in the tropics, so a greater westward shift usually puts them closer to where the land is, Study said.

• Storms that form just west of land, such as in the Pacific off the California and Mexican coasts, are usually moving away from land already, so this shift doesn’t spare more land.

• However , it's mysterious that, unlike other areas, the Atlantic hurricane basin didn’t show any significant westward shift, but that could be because the Atlantic hurricane zone is more closely surrounded by continents.

Tropical Cyclones

• Tropical cyclones are violent storms that originate over oceans in tropical areas and move over to the coastal areas bringing about large scale destruction due to violent winds, very heavy rainfall and storm surge.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

• They are irregular wind movements involving closed circulation of air around a low pressure center. This closed air circulation is a result of rapid upward movement of hot air which is subjected to Coriolis force.

Conditions Favourable for Tropical Cyclone Formation

• Large sea surface with temperature higher than 27°C.

• Presence of the Coriolis force enough to create a cyclonic vortex.

• Small variations in the vertical wind speed.

• A pre-existing weak low-pressure area or low-level-cyclonic circulation.

• Upper divergence above the sea level system.

Favorite Grounds for Tropical Cyclones

• South-east Caribbean region where they are called hurricanes.

• Philippines islands, eastern China and Japan where they are called typhoons.

• Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea where they are called cyclones.

• Around south-east African coast and Madagascar-Mauritius islands.

• North-west Australia.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

INDIAN POLITY & GOVERNANCE

FOREIGNER'S TRIBUNAL: Context : After a year-and-a-half in a detention centre as ‘illegal foreigners’, the has brought freedom and citizenship to Mohammad Nur Hussain, 34, his wife Sahera Begum, 26, and their two minor children, who have been declared Indians in a re-trial by a Foreigners’ Tribunal (FT).

Concept:

Foreigners Tribunal

• In 1964, the govt brought in the Foreigners (Tribunals) Order.

• Composition: Advocates not below the age of 35 years of age with at least 7 years of practice (or) Retired Judicial Officers from the Assam Judicial Service(for assam) (or) Retired IAS Officers (not below the rank of Secretary/Addl. Secretary) having experience in quasi-judicial works.

Who can setup these tribunals?

• The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has amended the Foreigners (Tribunals) Order, 1964, and has empowered district magistrates in all States and Union Territories to set up tribunals (quasi-judicial bodies) to decide whether a person staying illegally in India is a foreigner or not.

• Earlier, the powers to constitute tribunals were vested only with the Centre.

• Typically, the tribunals there have seen two kinds of cases: those concerning persons against whom a reference has been made by the border police and those whose names in the electoral roll has a “D”, or “doubtful”, marked against them.

Who can approach?

• The amended order (Foreigners (Tribunal) Order, 2019) also empowers individuals to approach the Tribunals. Earlier, only the State administration could move the Tribunal against a suspect.

Process

• Foreigners Tribunals, quasi-judicial authorities , have been deciding on matters pertaining to citizenship in order to identify foreigners.

• The process begins by the border police or the Election Commission referring the case of a suspected foreigner to the Foreigners Tribunal.

• The tribunal calls on the person to appear before it and prove that they are not a foreigner, and then passes an order in favour or against them.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

DEPARTMENT OF FINANCIAL SERVICES: Context : The Finance Ministry has sought feedback from key stakeholders in the financial system on whether compliances under major Acts administered by the Department of Financial Services (DFS) can be rationalised.

Concept:

• This exercise is aimed at making the regulatory framework simple and to rationalise the compliance burden for citizens and business.

• The ministry, which sought feedback from banks, insurance companies, microfinance institutions and a couple of large non-banking finance companies, said the key objective of this exercise is to provide services in a time-bound, transparent, and predictable manner with minimum human interface.

• The major Acts administered by the DFS that are being considered for rationalisation of compliances are: the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Act, 1934; the Banking Regulation (BR) Act, 1949; the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) Act, 1999; the Insurance Act, 1938; the Credit Information Companies (Regulation) Act, 2005; and the National Housing Bank (NHB) Act, 1987.

About the DFS

• The Department of Financial Services covers Banks, Insurance, and Financial Services provided by various government agencies and private corporations.

• It also covers pension reforms and Industrial Finance and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise. It started the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana.

• PFRDA, Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) is a statutory body which also works under this department.

CENTRAL CONSUMER PROTECTION AUTHORITY: Context: Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) Chief Commissioner stated that 2,850 complaints pertaining to "transactions failed/cancelled but money not refunded" forming 20 per cent of grievances registered in the banking sector have been received through the government-run National Consumer Helpline (NCH).

Concept:

Central Consumer Protection Authority

• The authority is being constituted under Section 10(1) of The Consumer Protection Act, 2019.

• Aim: To protect the rights of the consumer by cracking down on unfair trade practices, and false and misleading advertisements that are detrimental to the interests of the public and consumers.

• It will be headquartered in the National Capital Region of Delhi but the central government may set up regional offices in other parts of the country.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

Powers and Functions:

• Inquire or investigate into matters relating to violations of consumer rights or unfair trade practices suo motu, or on a complaint received, or on a direction from the central government.

• Recall goods or withdrawal of services that are “dangerous, hazardous or unsafe.

• Pass an order for refund the prices of goods or services so recalled to purchasers of such goods or services; discontinuation of practices which are unfair and prejudicial to consumer’s interest”.

• Impose a penalty up to Rs 10 lakh, with imprisonment up to two years, on the manufacturer or endorser of false and misleading advertisements. The penalty may go up to Rs 50 lakh, with imprisonment up to five years, for every subsequent offence committed by the same manufacturer or endorser.

• Ban the endorser of a false or misleading advertisement from making endorsement of any products or services in the future, for a period that may extend to one year. The ban may extend up to three years in every subsequent violation of the Act.

• File complaints of violation of consumer rights or unfair trade practices before the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, and the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission.

Composition:

• It will have a Chief Commissioner as head, and only two other commissioners as members — one of whom will deal with matters relating to goods while the other will look into cases relating to services.

• The CCPA will have an Investigation Wing that will be headed by a Director General.

• District Collectors too, will have the power to investigate complaints of violations of consumer rights, unfair trade practices, and false or misleading advertisements.

EMERGENCY USE AUTHORIZATION:

Context: The government-appointed expert panel on Friday emergency use approval for the Oxford University-AstraZeneca Vaccine made and distribute by the Serum Institute of India.

Concept:

• After Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) gives its approval India too will likely begin the mass immunisation programme with a dosing regimen that had shown an efficacy rate of 62 Percent.

• AstraZeneca had said its vaccine had shown 90% efficacy in a small subset of volunteers — none older than 55 administered with a half dose followed by a full dose a month.

Emergency Use Authorizations (EUA)

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

• Vaccines and medicines, and even diagnostic tests and medical devices, require the approval of a regulatory authority before they can be administered.

• In India, the regulatory authority is the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO).

• The approval is granted after an assessment of their safety and effectiveness, based on data from trials. In fact, approval from the regulator is required at every stage of these trials.

• This is a long process, designed to ensure that medicine or vaccine is absolutely safe and effective.

• The fastest approval for any vaccine until now — the mumps vaccine in the 1960s — took about four-and-a-half years after it was developed.

Accelerated Approval Process in India

• Under this process, a new drug is approved based on data generated in clinical trials. The Rules provide a relaxation for skipping Phase III clinical trials, which crucially test for a vaccine or drug’s efficacy in preventing disease in the local population.

• Phase III trial is allowed to be skipped if ‘remarkable efficacy’ is observed with a defined dose in the Phase II clinical trial of the new drug.

• The regulator can then also grant market approval for the new drug or vaccine based on Phase II data to meet what the Rules call ‘unmet medical needs of serious and life threatening diseases in the country’.

• The Rules also state that in such cases, additional studies ‘may’ be required after approval to generate data on a larger population to verify its benefits.

• Unmet medical needs essentially means a situation where treatment or diagnosis of disease is not addressed adequately with the available therapy.

• Further, the Rules provide for relaxations for unapproved or imported drugs or vaccines. The regulator relies on clinical trial data generated abroad to approve the vaccines in such scenarios and additional non-clinical or clinical data may be required to back the claims.

Exceptions for emergency

• In emergency situations, like the current one, regulatory authorities around the world have developed mechanisms to grant interim approvals.

• However, there should sufficient evidence to suggest a medical product is safe and effective.

• Final approval is granted only after completion of the trials and analysis of full data; until then, EUA allows the medicine or the vaccine to be used on the public.

• India’s drug regulations do not have provisions for a EUA, and the process for receiving one is not clearly defined or consistent.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

Agriculture: Division of power between states and the Centre by the Constitution:

Context: India has been witnessing a month-long farmers’ protest over three farm acts passed by the Parliament. One of the issues in whole saga has been “agriculture” as a subject which is majorly in states subject list is being encroached by the Centre. Concept:  The Constitution under article 246 divides subject in three lists: 1) Union list with exclusive power of legislation to the Parliament. Ex- Defence, Citizenship etc. 2) State list: Exclusive power to the state legislatures in normal circumstances (Exception examples are like Emergency). Ex- Policing, Public order etc. 3) Concurrent List: Both can make laws with the Parliament having overriding power. Ex- Education 4) Residuary list: Any subject not in above list to be legislated by the Parliament.  Agriculture subjects under state list: Entry 14: Agriculture, including agricultural education and research, protection against pests and prevention of plant diseases energy; Entry 18: Rights in or over land, land tenures, rents, transfer agricultural land, agricultural loans, etc. Entry 26: Trade and commerce within the State subject to the provisions of entry 33 of List III or concurrent list (Trade and commerce in, and the production, supply and distribution of … b) foodstuffs, including edible oilseeds and oils) Entry28: Markets and fairs Entry 30: Money-lending and money-lenders; Entry 45: Land revenue, land records, etc.) Entry 46: Taxes on agricultural income Entry 47: Succession of agricultural land Entry 48: Estate duty in respect of agricultural land Entry52: Taxes on the entry of goods in to a local area for consumption, use or Sale therein  Concurrent List: Entry 6 mentions transfer of property other than agricultural land; Entry 7 is about various contracts not relating to agricultural land; and Entry 41 deals with evacuee property, including agricultural land.  Parliament enacted law for contract farming, inter-state commerce as in farm laws under the entry 33 of the concurrent list: Trade and commerce in, and the production, supply and distribution of … b) foodstuffs, including edible oilseeds and oils)  The committees headed by Ashok Dalwai and Ramesh Chand recommended that ‘agricultural market’ be entered in the Concurrent List.

D Voters: Context: A group of 100 volunteers from various fields have teamed up with lawyers to arm economically and educationally weak people with knowledge about their rights against victimisation in Assam as many have been categorised as “D Voters” or default voters. Concept:  D Voters is a category of voters in Assam whose citizenship has been doubtful (due to lack of citizenship credentials in form of supporting documents) or is under dispute.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

 Foreigner Tribunal set up under Foreigner Tribunals order 1964 determines once status as D voters and such persons can’t hold voter I-card.  Category was introduced in 1997 when the Election Commission of India (ECI) was revising the state’s voter list in the wake of huge immigration from Bangladesh.  While ‘D’ voters continue to remain on Assam’s electoral roll, they cannot vote in an election unless their case is decided by a Foreigners’ Tribunal.

TELE LAW INITIATIVE: Concept:

• Tele-Law programme was launched by the Ministry of Law and Justice in collaboration with the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) launched in 2017 to address cases at pre–litigation stage.

• It is a service that uses video conferencing facilities and telephone services to connect lawyers to litigants who need legal advice. This service aims to reach out to the needy especially the marginalized and disadvantaged.

• Common Service Centres: Under this programme, smart technology of video conferencing, telephone/instant calling facilities available at the vast network of Common Service Centres at the Panchayat level are used to connect the indigent, down-trodden, vulnerable, unreached groups and communities with the Panel Lawyers for seeking timely and valuable legal advice.

• Benefits: Tele Law service enables anyone to seek legal advice without wasting precious time and money. The service is free for those who are eligible for free legal Aid as mentioned under Section 12 of the Legal Services Authority Act, 1987. For all others a nominal fee is charged.

• According to a recent report titled ‘Quality of Legal Representation: An Empirical Analysis of Free Legal Aid Services in India’, the majority of the people who are entitled to the free legal aid system see the service as an option only when they cannot afford a private lawyer.

• It can be noted that this initiative is in line with Sustainable Development Goal-16, which seeks to "Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels".

Legal Services Authorities (LSA) Act

• In 1987, the Legal Services Authorities (LSA) Act was enacted to give free and competent legal services to the poor and paved the way for the constitution of National Legal Service Authority (NALSA) and other legal service institutions at the State, district and taluka level.

• Free legal services under LSA Act are available to a person belonging to Schedule Tribe and Schedule Caste, woman, child, victim of human trafficking, differently abled person, industrial workman, and person in custody in a protective home and the poor.

Constitutional Provision

• Article 39A of the Constitution of India provides that State shall secure that the operation of the legal system promotes justice on a basis of equal opportunity, and shall, in particular,

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

provide free legal aid, by suitable legislation or schemes or in any other way, to ensure that opportunities for securing justice are not denied to any citizen by reason of economic or other disability.

• Articles 14 and 22(1) also make it obligatory for the State to ensure equality before the law and a legal system which promotes justice on a basis of equal opportunity to all.

CABINET COMMITTEE ON PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS:

Context : The Budget Session of Parliament is likely to begin on January 29 and the Union Budget will be presented on February 1.

The more than two-month-long session with a recess of 20 days is expected to be held along with a number of precautions and curbs in view of Covid-19, sources said.

Concept :

• Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs (CCPA) decided to hold the first part of the session from January 29 to February 15, to be followed by another month-long session from March 8.

• The government is expected to reach out to opposition leaders before the announcement.

About CCPA :

• The Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs draws the schedule for Parliament sessions and monitors the progress of government business in Parliament.

• It is the only Cabinet Committee headed by Union Home Minister where all other are headed by PM.

• It scrutinises non-government business and decides which official Bills and resolutions are to be presented.

Cabinet Committees

• The Cabinet Committees are extra-constitutional in emergence.

• In other words, they are not mentioned in the Constitution. However, the Rules of Business provide for their establishment.

• The executive in India works under the Government of India Transaction of Business Rules, 1961.

• These Rules emerge out of Article 77(3) of the Constitution, which states: “The President shall make rules for the more convenient transaction of the business of the Government of India, and for the allocation among Ministers of the said business.”

• The Prime Minister constitutes Standing Committees of the Cabinet and sets out the specific functions assigned to them. He can add or reduce the number of committees.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

SIXTH SCHEDULE: Context: A committee would be constituted under Minister of State for Home G. Kishan Reddy to find an appropriate solution to the issues related to language, culture and conservation of land in the of Ladakh, the Home Ministry said in a statement.

Concept:

• The representatives expressed their concern with respect to conservation of language, culture and land of Ladakh. A protest was also held in this regard before the LAHDC [Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council] elections.

LAHDC

• The Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council- was created in 1995 under the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council Act 1995 and an Autonomous Hill Council has also been established in neighbouring District.

• The autonomous hill councils work with village panchayats to take decisions on economic development, healthcare, education, land use, taxation, animal husbandry and local governance which are further reviewed at the block headquarters in the presence of the chief executive councillor and executive councillors.

• As per Hill Council norms, the Chief Executive Councilor possess the rank and powers of a Cabinet Minister while as the Executive Councilors possess the rank and status of Deputy Minister.

• The council is composed of 30 Councillors of which 26 are directly elected and 4 are nominated members.

• The executive arm of the council consists of an executive committee composed of a Chief Executive Councillor and four other executive councillors.

• National Commission for Scheduled Tribes in 2019 recommended that the Union Territory of Ladakh be brought under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.

The Sixth Schedule

• The Sixth Schedule of the Constitution consists of provisions for the administration of tribal areas in Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram, according to Article 244 of the Indian Constitution.

• Passed by the Constituent Assembly in 1949, it seeks to safeguard the rights of tribal population through the formation of Autonomous District Councils (ADC).

• ADCs are bodies representing a district to which the Constitution has given varying degrees of autonomy within the state legislature.

• The Governors of these states are empowered to reorganise boundaries of the tribal areas.

• In simpler terms, she or he can choose to include or exclude any area, increase or decrease the boundaries and unite two or more autonomous districts into one.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

• They can also alter or change the names of autonomous regions without a separate legislation.

• Along with ADCs, the Sixth Schedule also provides for separate Regional Councils for each area constituted as an autonomous region.

• In all, there are 10 areas in the Northeast that are registered as autonomous districts – three in Assam, Meghalaya and Mizoram and one in Tripura.

• These regions are named as of (name of district) and regional council of (name of region).

• Each autonomous district and regional council consistsof not more than 30 members, of which four are nominated by the governor and the rest via elections. All of them remain in power for a term of five years.

• The Bodoland Territorial Council, however, is an exception as it can constitute up to 46 members.

APPOINTMENT and REMOVAL OF SUBORDINATE COURT JUDGES: Context: Bihar High Court sacks 16 employees of a civil court

Concept:

Subordinate Courts in India

• The District Courts of India are the district courts of the State governments in India for every district or for one or more districts together taking into account the number of cases, population distribution in the district.

• They administer justice in India at a district level.

• These courts are under administrative control of the High Court of the State to which the district concerned belongs. The decisions of District court are subject to the appellate jurisdiction of the High court.

• Control over subordinate courts is the collective and individual responsibility of the High Court as it is the head of the judiciary in the state and has got administrative control over the subordinate courts in respect of certain matters.

Appointment and Removal of Judges

• The appointment, posting, promotion is made by Governor after consultation with High court

He/she should have been an advocate or pleader for 7 years.

He/she should be recommended by high court.

He /she shouldn’t already be in service of centre or state.

• Other appointments of judicial service are made by Governor after consulting high court and state public service commission. Appointments of judicial service below district judge are made by high court.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

• District judge (Civil cases) / Sessions judge (Criminal cases) has highest judicial position in district. He has original and appellate jurisdiction over civil and criminal cases.

• A district judge or additional judge may be removed from his office by the governor on conformation from the high court collegium.

HUNG PARLIAMENT: Context: Former President Pranab Mukherjee stated that he was ready to break the convention and invite a Congress-led coalition to form a government if the 2014 Lok Sabha election had thrown up a hung Parliament.

Concept:

• Hung Parliament refers to a Parliament wherein no party has a working majority.

• A Hung Parliament occurs when neither of the parties has gained an outright majority and the Parliament is equally balanced. Hence, no party can automatically assume control over the executive.

• A Hung Parliament is not a time-specific phenomenon. Even when a party or a pre-electoral alliance has gained the majority and formed the government, a reduction in the membership of this party of alliance can cause a Hung Parliament.

Role of the President

• When the situation of Hung Parliament arises, the constitutional institution of the President is empowered to take certain steps, making the role of the President pivotal in such a situation.

• In India, fresh elections are conducted when none of the parties are capable of forming the government. Until then, the President’s rule is applied.

• However, before bringing President rule, the President in case of Lok Sabha elections and the Governor of the State in case of State legislatures gives the opportunity to the parties to form a coalition government so that fresh elections can be avoided.

• The sarkaria commission on centre - state relations has observed that:

First preference should be given to a pre-electoral alliance that has attained a majority.

The second preference should be given to the single largest party which is not having a majority.

The third preference should be given to the post-electoral alliance with a majority.

Last preference should be given to a post-electoral alliance where some partners join the government while others provide outside support.

CREATION OF LEGISLATURE FOT UT'S : Concept :

 Article 239 A(1) of the Indian Constitution states that a Parliament through law can enact a

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

body that can function as a Legislature for the Union Territory of Puducherry consisting of:

 elected or partly elected or partly nominated persons,

 or can make a body consisting of the Council of Ministers,

 or can create both of these with the constitutional powers and functions vested to the Parliament.

 This provision was not part of the Constitution of India, 1950. It was inserted by the Constitution (Fourteenth Amendment) Act, 1962.

Special Provisions with respect to Delhi

 They are added by Constitution (69th Amendment) Act, 1991,

 Special provisions are enshrined for the creation of Legislature under Article 239 AA of the Constitution with regards to Delhi.

 Clause (2)(a) of Article 239 AA further also states that a Legislative assembly will be formed in the NCT of Delhi whose members will be selected by the process of direct election from territorial constituencies.

 The total number of members, the reservation of the members of the Scheduled Castes, the division of National Capital Territory into territorial various constituencies.

 The basis for dividing NCT of Delhi into constituencies and all other such matters relating to the functioning of the Legislative Assembly are under the direct supervision and control of the Parliament as stated in Clause (2)(b) of Article 239AA.

 The Legislative Assembly is also empowered to make laws for matters listed in the State List and the Concurrent List except Land , Law & Order ( Entries 1, 2 & 18 of the State List).

DISQUALIFICATION UNDER 10TH SCHEDULE: Context : The Supreme Court will examine if those disqualified under the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution for defection be barred from re-contesting by-elections in the remaining term of the House to which they were elected.

Concept :

 The Tenth Schedule was inserted in the Constitution in 1985 by the 52nd Amendment Act.

 It lays down the process by which legislators may be disqualified on grounds of defection by the Presiding Officer of a legislature based on a petition by any other member of the House.

 The decision on question as to disqualification on ground of defection is referred to the Chairman or the Speaker of such House, and his decision is final.

 The law applies to both Parliament and state assemblies.

Disqualification:

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

 If a member of a house belonging to a political party:

 Voluntarily gives up the membership of his political party, or

 Votes, or does not vote in the legislature, contrary to the directions of his political party. However, if the member has taken prior permission, or is condoned by the party within 15 days from such voting or abstention, the member shall not be disqualified.

 If an independent candidate joins a political party after the election.

 If a nominated member joins a party six months after he becomes a member of the legislature.

Exceptions under the law:

 Legislators may change their party without the risk of disqualification in certain circumstances.

 The law allows a party to merge with or into another party provided that at least two-thirds of its legislators are in favour of the merger.

 In such a scenario, neither the members who decide to merge, nor the ones who stay with the original party will face disqualification.

Decision of the Presiding Officer is subject to judicial review:

 The law initially stated that the decision of the Presiding Officer is not subject to judicial review.

 This condition was struck down by the Supreme Court in 1992, thereby allowing appeals against the Presiding Officer’s decision in the High Court and Supreme Court.

 However, it held that there may not be any judicial intervention until the Presiding Officer gives his order.

IMPEACHMENT PROCEDURE IN USA AND INDIA:

Context : House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California said that the House would move to impeach President Donald Trump over his role in inciting a violent mob attack on the Capitol if he did not resign “immediately,” appealing to Republicans to join the push to force him from office.

Concept:

Impeachment in US

• Impeachment is a provision that allows Congress to remove the President of the United States.

• Under the US Constitution, the House of Representatives (Lower House) has the “the sole power of impeachment” while the Senate (Upper House) has “the sole power to try all impeachments”.

• The Chief Justice of the US Supreme Court has the duty of presiding over impeachment trials in the Senate.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

Grounds for impeachment

• The President can be removed from office for “treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors”.

• What constitutes these “high crimes” and “misdemeanors” (misdemeanors), however, is not clearly spelt out.

• No US President has ever been removed as a direct result of impeachment.

House Vote

• It begins with an investigation by a House committee.

• In the lower house, the House Judiciary Committee will do the investigation and recommends to the full House.

• If they find that there is enough evidence of wrongdoing, it will refer the matter to the full House .

• When the full House votes, if one or more of the articles of impeachment gets a majority vote, the President is impeached. Next, the proceedings move to the Senate.

Senate Trial and Vote

• The Senate holds a trial, overseen by the chief justice of the Supreme Court.

• A team of lawmakers from the House, known as managers, play the role of prosecutors.

• The President has defence lawyers, and the Senate serves as the jury.

• If at least two-thirds of the Senators present find the President guilty, he is removed and the Vice President takes over as President.

Impeachment of President of India(Article 61 )

• The president may be removed before the expiry of the term through impeachment for violating the Constitution of India by the .

• The process may start in either of the two houses of the parliament.

• The house initiates the process by levelling the charges against the president.

• The charges are contained in a notice that has to be signed by at least one-quarter of the total members of that house.

• The notice is sent up to the president and 14 days later, it is taken up for consideration.

Procedure

• A resolution to impeach the president has to be passed by a two-thirds majority of the total number of members of the originating house.

• It is then sent to the other house.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

• The other house investigates the charges that have been made. During this process, the president has the right to defend oneself through an authorised counsel.

• If the second house also approves the charges made by special majority again, the president stands impeached and is deemed to have vacated their office from the date when such a resolution stands passed.

• No president has faced impeachment proceedings so the above provisions have never been used.

ARTICLE 179:

Context : The Opposition in kerala state assembly , had moved a statutory resolution under Article 179 to remove the Speaker from his office on charges of lowering the esteem of the House.

Concept :

• Article 179: Vacation/resignation/removal from the offices of Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Assembly.

• (a) shall vacate his office if he ceases to be a member of the Assembly;

• (b) may at any time by writing under his hand addressed, if such member is the Speaker, to the Deputy Speaker, and if such member is the Deputy Speaker, to the Speaker, resign his office; and

• (c) may be removed from his office by a resolution of the Assembly passed by a majority of all the then members of the Assembly:

• Provided that no resolution for the purpose of clause (c) shall be moved unless at least fourteen days’ notice has been given of the intention to move the resolution:

• Provided further that, whenever the Assembly is dissolved, the Speaker shall not vacate his office until immediately before the first meeting of the Assembly after the dissolution.

STATE ELECTION COMMISSION:

Context : Puducherry state election commission gears up to hold local body polls.

Concept :

State Election Commission:

• The Constitution of India vests in the State Election Commission, consisting of a State Election Commissioner.

• Articles 243K, 243ZA gives the superintendence, direction and control of the preparation of electoral rolls for, and the conduct of all elections to the Panchayats and the Municipalities to SEC.

• It states that the tenure and appointment will be directed as per the law made by the state legislature.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

• However, State Election Commissioner shall not be removed from his/her office except in like manner and on the like grounds as a Judge of a High Court.

• The State Election Commissioner is appointed by the Governor.

• As per article 243(C3) the Governor, when so requested by the State Election Commission, make available to the State Election Commission such staff as may be necessary for the discharge of the functions conferred on the SEC.

• The provisions of Article 243K of the Constitution, which provides for setting up of SECs, are almost identical to those of Article 324 related to the EC. In other words, the SECs enjoy the same status as the EC.

UAPA: Context: PDP youth wing leader Waheed Ur Rehman Para was Saturday granted bail by Special Judge Sunit Gupta, holding that “offences, particularly falling under Unlawful Activities Act (UAPA), are not prima facie made out against the applicant/accused”. Concept: Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act:  Passed in 1967, the law aims at effective prevention of unlawful activities associations in India.  The Act assigns absolute power to the central government, by way of which if the Centre deems an activity as unlawful then it may, by way of an Official Gazette, declare it so.  It has death penalty and life imprisonment as highest punishments.  Under UAPA, both Indian and foreign nationals can be charged. It will be applicable to the offenders in the same manner, even if crime is committed on a foreign land, outside India.  Under the UAPA, the investigating agency can file a charge sheet in maximum 180 days after the arrests and the duration can be extended further after intimating the court. Amendments and changes:  The 2004 amendment, added “terrorist act” to the list of offences to ban organisations for terrorist activities, under which 34 outfits were banned. Till 2004, “unlawful” activities referred to actions related to secession and cession of territory.  In August, Parliament cleared the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Amendment Bill, 2019 to designate individuals as terrorists on certain grounds provided in the Act.  The Act empowers the Director General of National Investigation Agency (NIA) to grant approval of seizure or attachment of property when the case is investigated by the said agency.  The Act empowers the officers of the NIA, of the rank of Inspector or above, to investigate cases of terrorism in addition to those conducted by the DSP or ACP or above rank officer in the state. Pravasi Bhartiya Divas: Context: PM addressed inaugural address to the 16th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas convention. Concept:  PM emphasized on country’s diversity and the importance of the Indian diaspora abroad.  Suriname President Chandrikapersad ‘Chan’ Santokhi, was the chief guest at the function.  Indian diaspora has important role in strengthening the identity of Brand India as part of Atma Nirbhar Bharat. About Pravasi Bhartiya Divas

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

 Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) is celebrated on 9th January every year to mark the contribution of Overseas Indian community in the development of India.  January 9 is special since it was on this day in 1915 that Mahatma Gandhi, the greatest Pravasi, returned to India from South Africa, led India’s freedom struggle and changed the lives of Indians forever.  Since 2003 it is celebrated each year and since 2015 once in two years.  It acts as a platform to the overseas Indian community to engage with the government and people of the land of their ancestors for mutually beneficial activities.  It also provides platform for sharing their experience in various fields.  It is sponsored by sponsored by the Ministry of External Affairs of the Government of India and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), the Confederation of Indian Industries and the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region. The Supreme Court put a stay on the three farm laws as an Interim order:

Context: The Supreme Court has put a stay on the three farm laws while hearing petitions dealing with issues leading to farmers protest due to these laws. Concept:  The Supreme Court under article 13, 31 and also art 136 and 143 gets implicit power for judicial review.  Judicial Review is power of judiciary to review the lawfulness of a decision or action made by a public body.  Under this power Supreme Court examines the constitutionality of any laws or executive action. Staying the laws:  Stay on the laws are different from holding it unconstitutional. It just prevents it from implementation till the time matter is decided by the court.  Traditionally the courts have taken approach not to pass interim order to stop implementation. For ex- Even in case of NJAC, Act it didn’t put stay, even though later on held it unconstitutional.  However, Supreme Courts have pout stay on orders passed by the High courts time to time. Apart from that it has stayed away from putting a stay. Generally, approach is that the Parliament’s power to legislate, drawn from Article 254(1) of the Constitution, can only be restricted if the law violates the Constitution.  Three grounds for halting implementation of laws: 1. Legislative competence: if parliament has no power to legislate on the matter. 2. Violation of fundamental rights 3. Violations of any other Part of the Constitution What next?  The Centre opposed stay on law, yet, the order passed means the Supreme Court taking position based on consideration of matter of “public interest”. Though, this is welcome it may bring back the question of judicial overreach.  For now possibility is that the SC may propose a court-led committee to look into laws and associated problems.

People Mover: Context: Construction of Central Vista or Parliament building. Concept:

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

 Underground people mover will be constructed to directly connect building with the two metro stations in New Delhi.  People mover is small transit systems serving a limited number of people in a defined area, like theme parks, airport terminals, etc.  It is generally an automated guided transit system serving small areas. About Central Vista Project CENTRAL VISTA REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT - Optimize IAS

National Youth Parliament festival: Context: The PM addressed and listened to the youth in the 2nd National Youth Parliament Festival on 12th January 2021. Concept:  The emphasized on rooting out dynastic politics for better future of Indian democracy.  The National Youth Parliament Festival is organized as part of celebrations on the National Youth Day to commemorate the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekanand.  The first festival was based on the idea of current PM in “Man kiBaat”.  Aim is to hear the voice of youth between 18 and less than 25 years of age, who are electors but can not stand in elections through deliberations in youth Parliament at district level and above.  It seeks to make youth aware on public issues, understand others opinion and form once own opinion. It also promotes decision making abilities.  To develop respect and views of others and also contribute to public policies.  The festival also promotes national integration, the spirit of communal harmony, brotherhood, courage, and adventure.  The theme of 2021 festival held in virtual mode was “YUVAAH – UtsahNaye Bharat Ka”.  NYKS (Nehru Yuva Kendra Sanghthan) organises the festival. Format and levels of participation 1. District Youth Parliament (DYP): At the district level youth participates in Parliament. 2. State Youth Parliament (SYP): 1st and 2nd winners from participating districts numbering will participate in this and will be judged by the jury for their speech. 3. National Youth Parliament Festival: Winners of State youth Parliament will take part in this. About NYKS  Nehru YuvaKendras were established in the year 1972 with the objective of providing rural youth avenues to take part in the process of nation building as well providing opportunities for the development of their personality and skills.  In 1987-88 NYKS was Nehru was set up as an autonomous organization under the Government of India, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, to oversee working of these Kendras. It is largest grassroot level youth organisation in the world to promote principles of voluntarism, self-help and community participation

30 days’ notice period not mandatory under Special Marriage Act, 1954: Allahabad HC: Context: The Allahabad High Court has ruled that couples seeking to solemnize their marriage under the Special Marriage Act, 1954 can choose not to publish the mandatory 30-day notice of their intention to marry. It is significant in wake of targeting of inter-faith couples by vigilante group and passing of anti-conversion law by the states like UP. Concept:

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

 The judgement is significant for it gives emphasis on Right to Privacy which was accepted as fundamental right in Puttaswamy (Retd) case in 2017.  Mandatory provisions will invade in the fundamental rights of liberty and privacy, including within its sphere freedom to choose for marriage without interference from state and non-state actors, of the persons concerned.  The significance of the judgement is evident for inter-faith couple being targeted increasingly after giving notice and even court note of anti-conversion laws could also impact rights by privacy laws is significant.  Court noted that notice out of free will not be a violation but is exercise of right of choice of couples.  It becomes interesting to look as similar provisions exists in The Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Ordinance, 2020, which declares conversion of religion by marriage to be unlawful, mandates a 60-day notice to the . About Special Marriage act, 1954:  It is a central legislation for couples of all faith.  The Special Marriage Act to provide a framework for inter-caste and inter-religious marriages was originally enacted in 1872.

Article 33: Context: The Supreme Court on Wednesday issued notice on Centre's application for clarification that its 2018 judgment decriminalising adultery under IPC should not apply to the Armed Forces where personnel can be cashiered from service on grounds of "unbecoming conduct" for committing adultery with a colleague’s wife. Concept:  The Court decriminalised adultery, striking down Section 497 of the , 1860 (IPC) in Joseph Sine judgement in 2018.  On the other hand, The Armed Forces Act, there is provision of ‘unbecoming conduct’ under which one can be court martialled and adultery falls under ‘unbecoming conduct’.  The centre says it may create instability in armed forces as defence forces are mostly separated from families due to nature of duty.  The Centre pointed to the court that the application of fundamental rights to members of armed forces is restricted as per Article 33 of the Constitution.  Matter has been referred to a constitutional bench with two main question: 1. Whether the persons subject to Army Act, by virtue of Article 33 of Constitution of India being a distinct class should continue to be subject to the section 497 by making an exception. 2. If Adulterous acts by persons subject to Army Act should be allowed to be governed by the provisions of Army Act Section 45 or Army Act Section 63 and under corresponding provisions of Navy Act and Air Force Act by treating it as an abrogation of Fundamental Rights provided by law in terms of Article 33 of the Constitution of India. About Article 33:  It empowers the Parliament to restrict or abrogate the fundamental rights of the members of armed forces, para-military forces, police forces, intelligence agencies etc. (include employees who are non-combatants), for proper discharge of their duties and the maintenance of discipline.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

 Under the law, only Parliament can make laws to give the effect to them(and not states), it cannot be challenged on violation of any of the fundamental rights.  A parliamentary law enacted under Article 33 can also exclude the court martial from the writ jurisdiction of the Supreme Court and the high courts, so far as the enforcement of Fundamental Rights is concerned.

Demand for tourism in concurrent list: Context: The Federation of Hotel and Restaurant Associations of India (FHRAI) has urged the Union government to bring tourism under the concurrent list and to grant the ''industry'' status to the hospitality sector in the wake of sector being the biggest causality in Covid-19 led slowdown in economy. Concept:  Currently tourism is not specifically mentioned in any of the list provided for by the constitution.  However, currently it is found in state list as “Pilgrimages, other than pilgrimages to places outside India” is mentioned in the state list. Pilgrimage outside India comes under union list.  Thus, currently tourism falls in the sphere of states. Earlier also demand for it to be in concurrent list was made (Both centre and state able to make laws with overriding power with the Union), but opposition by many states did not let it happen.  The demand currently is to ensure recovery of sector by aligning tourism to national agenda.  States does not want it as tourism has emerged as source of high revenue and employment generation. Why “Industry” status is demanded?  Conferring industry status basically entails an inclusion in the State/Central industrial policy.  Ensure loans at lower interest rates  Enabling large investors to be financing partners  Allowing developers refinance their existing debts

Consultative Committee of Parliament: Context: Consultative committee on foreign affairs questioned govt’s foreign policy on several issues. Concept:  The meeting of committee was a way of fixing accountability of government as well as making every member aware of India’s foreign policy developments. It brought out many questions facing Indian Foreign Policies today:

I. India’s Internal policies and decisions (ex- Art 370, 35 withdrawal; Citizenship Act) have been critically viewed by some countries. II. Government plans to engage with the new US administration as it is expected it will be completely different from Trump’s regime III. Addressing Chinese assertiveness IV. The need to find a balance between India’s ties with the US and Russia and the geopolitical contest that has broken out between the US and China V. Restoring the internal dialogue and consultation process on foreign policy issues About Consultative Committees:  These are attached to the various ministries/department of the Central government

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

 Its membership encompasses members of both the houses.  The Minister/Minister of State-in-Charge is the chairperson.  It is a platform for informal consultations between government and members on policies and their implementation.  These committees are formed by the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs who formulate guidelines for composition, structure and procedure as well. It is also responsible of holding of meeting during as well as between sessions.  It is constituted normally after the formation of new Lok Sabha. Currently around 32 such committees are there.  Sometimes informal consultative committees for railway zones are formed during session period only with MPs of the zone nominated as member.

Contempt Jurisdiction of the Supreme Court: Context: Amidst controversies surrounding use of Contempt of court in recent times Mr Harish Salve spoke in 16th PD Desai Memorial Lecture on 'Criticism of Judiciary, Contempt Jurisdiction and its use in the Age of Social Media'. Concept:  Supreme Court enjoys two major power as a Court of Record: I. The judgements, proceedings and acts of court is kept for perpetual memory and testimony. These have evidentiary value and recognised as the legal precedents and can’t be questioned when brough in front of the court. II. Power to punish for contempt of court. It is both civil and criminal punishment i.e., jail term up to 6 months or Rs 2000 as fine or both. The SC has power to punish not only for itself, but HCs, subordinate courts and tribunals within country.  Civil contempt: When there is wilful disobedience of to any of the judgement, order, writ or other processes of a court or breach of undertaking to the court.  Criminal contempt: Publication of any matter or doing an act which: 1) scandalises or lowers court’s authority; 2) Prejudices or interferes with the due proceedings of the court; 3) Interferes or obstructs the administration of justice in any manner.  Innocent publication and distribution of matter, fair and true reporting of judicial proceedings, fair and reasonable criticism of judicial acts and comment on the administrative side of judiciary does not warrant contempt of court.  The power is given to ensure independence of judiciary in India.

National Investigation Agency (NIA) and Right to Protest: Context: NIA sent notice and summons to various farmers’ leaders during ongoing farmer sprotes under sections of IPC and UAPA. Concept: Right of protest of citizens and to gather peacefully without arms is a fundamental aspect of India’s thriving democracy, though it has to exercised without destroying public properties and sufferings to the citizens. It can be derived from following constitutional provisions.  Article 19(1)(a) guarantees the freedom of speech and expression.  Article 19(1)(b) assures citizens the right to assemble peaceably and without arms.  Article 19(2) imposes reasonable restrictions on the right to assemble peaceably and without arms.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

 Reasonable restrictions: In the interest of sovereignty and integrity of India, the security of the State, friendly relations with foreign States, public order, decency or morality or in relation to contempt of court, defamation or incitement to an offence.  Article 51A, the Constitution makes it a fundamental duty of every citizen “to safeguard public property and to abjure violence”  RamlilaMaidan Incident v. , Union Of India case (2012): Citizens have a fundamental right to assembly and peaceful protest which cannot be taken away by an arbitrary executive or legislative action About NIA: Concept:

 NIA was constituted under the National Investigation Agency Act, 2008 as the aftermath of the Mumbai Terror attack of 2008.  The National Investigation Agency (NIA) acts as the Central Counter-Terrorism Law Enforcement Agency. The agency is authorised to investigate any terror-related matter across the country without special permission of the states.  The National Investigation Agency aims to be a thoroughly professional investigative agency matching the best international standards.  The NIA aims to set the standards of excellence in counter terrorism and other national security related investigations at the national level by developing into a highly trained, partnership oriented workforce.  NIA aims at creating deterrence for existing and potential terrorist groups/individuals. It aims to develop as a storehouse of all terrorist related information.

NCBC: Context : The National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) has sought an inquiry into a complaint against a government-appointed committee that recently recommended that IITs be exempt from reserving faculty positions.

Concept :

National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC)

• 102nd Constitution Amendment Act, 2018 provides constitutional status to the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC).

• Previously NCBC was a statutory body under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment .

Composition

• The Commission consists of five members including a Chairperson, Vice- Chairperson and three other Members appointed by the President by warrant under his hand and seal.

• The conditions of service and tenure of office of the Chairperson, Vice- Chairperson and other Members is determined by President.

Powers and functions of NCBC

• Under the Constitution Amendment Bill, the duties of the NCBC will include:

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

(i) Investigating and monitoring how safeguards provided to the backward classes under the Constitution and other laws are being implemented,

(ii) Inquiring into specific complaints regarding violation of rights, and

(iii) Advising and making recommendations on socio-economic development of such classes.

• The central and state governments will be required to consult with the NCBC on all major policy matters affecting the socially and educationally backward classes.

• It presents to the President, annually and at such other times as the Commission may deem fit, reports upon the working of those safeguards. The President laid such reports before each House of Parliament.

• Where any such report or any part thereof, relates to any matter with which any State Government is concerned, a copy of such report shall be forwarded to the State Government.

• NCBC has to discharge such other functions in relation to the protection, welfare and development and advancement of the socially and educationally backward classes as the President may, subject to the provisions of any law made by Parliament, by rule specify.

Quasi Judicial Body

• Under the Constitution Amendment Act, the NCBC will have the powers of a civil court while investigating or inquiring into any complaints. These powers include:

(i) Summoning people and examining them on oath,

(ii) Requiring production of any document or public record, and

(iii) Receiving evidence.

Relevant Constitutional Provisions

• Article 340 deals with the need to identify those "socially and educationally backward classes", understand the conditions of their backwardness, and make recommendations to remove the difficulties they face.

• 102nd Constitution Amendment Act inserted new Articles 338 B and 342 A.

• The amendment also brings about changes in Article 366.

• Article 338B provides authority to NCBC to examine complaints and welfare measures regarding socially and educationally backward classes.

• Backward classes: The Constitution Amendment Bill states that the President may specify the socially and educationally backward classes in the various states and union territories. He may do this in consultation with the Governor of the concerned state. However, a law of Parliament will be required if the list of backward classes is to be amended. (Article 342 A) .

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

NCLAT: Context : The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) has ruled that the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) cannot accept a revised offer from a bidder who enters the fray late even if the offer is higher than that of other bidders that have adhered to the bidding timeline.

Concept :

• It was constituted under Section 410 of the Companies Act, 2013 for hearing appeals against the orders of National Company Law Tribunal.

• NCLAT is also the Appellate Tribunal for hearing appeals against the orders passed by NCLT(s) under Section 61 of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (IBC).

• NCLAT is also the Appellate Tribunal for hearing appeals against the orders passed by Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India under Section 202 and Section 211 of IBC.

• NCLAT is also the Appellate Tribunal to hear and dispose of appeals against any direction issued or decision made or order passed by the Competition Commission of India (CCI).

CHIEF INFORMATION COMMISSIONER: Context: DelhiHigh Court on Tuesday issued a notice to the government on a petition challenging a 2020 Central Information Commission (CIC) order in which the statutory body had observed that sufficient information regarding the app was already in public domain.

Concept:

• The Chief Information Commissioner(CIC) and Information Commissioners(CI) shall be appointed by the President on the recommendation of a committee consisting of

• The Prime Minister, who shall be the Chairperson of the committee.

• The Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha.

• A Union Cabinet Minister to be nominated by the Prime Minister.

• Section 12(5) of the RTI Act 2005 provides that the CIC and IC shall be persons of eminence in public life with wide knowledge and experience in law, science and technology, social service, management, journalism, mass media or administration and governance.

• Also, CIC/IC shall not be a MP or MLA, or hold any other office of profit or connected with any political party or carrying on any business or pursuing any profession.

Tenure of CIC : It has been mentioned that the CIC and ICs (at the central and state level) will hold office for a term of five years. However after RTI RULES 2019 , The CIC and ICs (at the central and state level) will hold office for a term of three years.

QUESTION HOUR & ZERO HOUR: Context: Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla said both Houses will have five-hour sessions each with Question Hour and Zero Hour. Rajya Sabha will sit from 9 am to 2 pm, and Lok Sabha from 4 pm to 9 pm.

Concept:

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

Question Hour

• The first hour of every parliamentary sitting is slotted for this.

• It is regulated according to parliamentary rules and presiding officers of both the houses are the final authority for conducting the question hour.

• During this time, the members ask questions and the ministers usually give answers.

• Questions can also be asked to private members of the house.

• The questions are of three kinds, namely, starred, unstarred and short notice.

• Starred question (distinguished by an asterisk)- this requires an oral answer and hence supplementary questions can follow.

• Unstarred question- this requires a written answer and hence, supplementary questions cannot follow.

• Short notice question is one that is asked by giving a notice of less than ten days. It is answered orally.

• Question Hour in both Houses is held on all days of the session. But there are two days when an exception is made.

When the President addresses MPs from both Houses.

The President’s speech takes place at the beginning of a new Lok Sabha and on the first day of a new Parliament year.

On the day the Finance Minister presents the Budget.

Zero Hour

• Unlike the question hour, the zero hour is not mentioned in the Rules of Procedure.

• Thus it is an informal device available to the members of the Parliament to raise matters without any prior notice.

• The zero hour starts immediately after the question hour and lasts until the agenda for the day (ie, regular business of the House) is taken up.

• In other words, the time gap between the question hour and the agenda is known as zero hour.

• It is an Indian innovation in the field of parliamentary procedures and has been in existence since 1962.

HABEAS CORPUS: Context: The court said this while disposing a Habeas Corpus plea filed by an MBA student seeking that a 23-year-old woman, whom he wished to marry, be produced before the court, as she had been illegally detained.

Concept:

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

• According to Article 32, both the High Courts and the Supreme Court can be approached for violation or enactment of fundamental rights through five kinds of writs.

• Habeas corpus – related to personal liberty in cases of illegal detentions and wrongful arrests

• The writ of habeas corpus primarily acts as a writ of enquiry; it is issued by the courts to ascertain the grounds of detention of an individual.

• Therefore, it acts as a procedural safeguard against the law enforcement authorities, specifically their power to take into custody.

• Moreover, if sufficient legal grounds of arrest are missing, the court will order the immediate release of the individual.

• The writ of habeas corpus serves as a procedural device, by which executive, judicial, or other governmental restraints on personal liberty are subjected to judicial scrutiny.

• The Writ of Habeas Corpus is a remedy available to the person who has lost his personal liberty and as such, it cannot be invoked to challenge past illegal detentions.

• However, the Supreme Court has expanded the dimension of this writ and now the Court awards compensation not only for past illegal detentions.

• Other writs available are:

• Mandamus — directing public officials, governments, courts to perform a statutory duty;

• Quo warranto — to show by what warrant is a person holding public office;

• Prohibition — directing judicial or quasi-judicial authorities to stop proceedings which it has no jurisdiction for; and

• Certiorari — re-examination of an order given by judicial, quasi-judicial or administrative authorities.

AMENDMENTS IN IBC: Context: The Supreme Court on Tuesday upheld amendments in the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code which prescribe that at least 100 allottees from the same real estate project should support the initiation of corporate insolvency resolution process in NCLT against their property developer.

Concept:

• The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (Amendment) Act of 2020 had introduced a threshold that required a minimum of 100 allottees, or 10% of the total allottees of a project, whichever was less, to jointly apply for corporate insolvency resolution in the NCLT.

• The allottees should be from the same real estate project. Aggrieved allottees drawn from different projects of the same developer cannot form the 100.

About IBC:

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

• Insolvency and bankruptcy code 2016 was introduced to resolve the bankruptcy crisis in corporate sector.

• Under IBC, either the creditor (banks) or the loaner (defaulter) can initiate insolvency proceedings.

• It is done by submitting a plea to the adjudicating authority, the National Companies Law Tribunal (NCLT).

• According to IBC, a financial creditor holds an important role in the corporate insolvency process.

• The Committee of Creditors (CoC) under IBC includes all financial creditors of a corporate debtor.

• The CoC will appoint and supervise the Insolvency Professional.

• It has the power to either approve or reject the resolution plan to revive the debtor, or to proceed to liquidate the debtor.

NRC: Context: Rongali Bihu festivities will be kept in mind while deciding the schedule for the Assam Assembly elections, Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora said, while clarifying that exclusion from the NRC doesn’t render one ineligible to vote.

Concept:

• The National Register of Citizens, published in August 2019, excluded around 19 lakh people.

• People would be allowed to vote, as per 2019 directive by the Home Ministry which said that the non-exclusion of a person from the list does not amount to them being declared a foreigner.

• CEC clarified that such persons remain on the voter list and shall be eligible to vote unless a decision is taken by the concerned tribunal.

About NRC

• The NRC is the list of Indian citizens and was prepared in 1951, following the census of 1951.

• The process of NRC update was taken up in Assam as per a Supreme Court order in 2013.

• In order to wean out cases of illegal migration from Bangladesh and other adjoining areas, NRC updation was carried out under The Citizenship Act, 1955, and according to rules framed in the Assam Accord.

• It set March 25, 1971, as the cut-off date for the deportation of illegal migrants.

• Since the cut-off date prescribed under articles 5 and 6 of the Constitution was July 19, 1949 - to give force to the new date, an amendment was made to the Citizenship Act, 1955, and a new section was introduced.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

• It was made applicable only to Assam.

Rongali Bihu Festival:

• Bihu is the main festival of Assam. It is celebrated three times a year.

• Kongali or Kati Bihu observed in October and Bhogali or Magh Bihu observed in January.

• Rongali or Bohag Bihu is observed in April.

• Rongali or Bohag Bihu is the Assamese new year and spring festival. The Rongali Bihu coincides with Sikh New Year- Baisakhi.

• The Bohag Bihu dates are April 13 to April 21. It is a harvest or sowing festival. It marks the first day of the Hindu solar calendar and is also observed in Bengal, Manipur, Mithila, Nepal, Orissa, Punjab, Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

• Men and women in traditional Muga silk (golden silk) attires dance to the rhythm of Bihu tunes and beatings of the bihudhol (traditional drum) across the State.

• Bihu dance is Assam’s most popular folk dance.

OFFICIAL SECRETS ACT: Context: The Maharashtra government has decided to seek legal opinion whether Republic TV owner and editor-in-chief can be charged under Official Secrets Act for his revelations about the Balakot airstrike three days in advance.

Concept:

• OSA has its roots in the British colonial era. The original version was The Indian Official Secrets Act (Act XIV), 1889.

• This was brought in with the main objective of muzzling the voice of a large number of newspapers that had come up in several languages, and were opposing the Raj’s policies, building political consciousness and facing police crackdowns and prison terms.

• It was amended and made more stringent in the form of The Indian Official Secrets Act, 1904, during Lord Curzon’s tenure as Viceroy of India. In 1923, a newer version was notified. The Indian Official Secrets Act (Act No XIX of 1923) was extended to all matters of secrecy and confidentiality in governance in the country.

• It broadly deals with two aspects

• Section 3 cover spying or espionage, covered

• Section 5 covers disclosure of other secret information of the government. Secret information can be any official code, password, sketch, plan, model, article, note, document, or information. Under Section 5, both the person communicating the information and the person receiving the information can be punished

RTI Act vs OSA

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

• Section 22 of the RTI Act provides for its primacy vis-a-vis provisions of other laws, including OSA. Therefore, if there is any inconsistency in OSA with regard to furnishing of information, it will be superseded by the RTI Act.

• However, under Sections 8 and 9 of the RTI Act, the government can refuse information. Effectively, if the government classifies a document as “secret” under OSA Clause 6, that document can be kept outside the ambit of the RTI Act, and the government can invoke Sections 8 or 9.

DISTURBED AREA ACT: Context: The Gujarat High Court directed the state government to not issue any fresh notification in operation of the amended sections of the Disturbed Areas Act, which deals with “improper clustering”, until further hearing.

Concept:

About the Act:

• The Act was first introduced in in 1986.

• It is formally known as Gujarat Prohibition of Transfer of Immovable Properties and provision for Protection of Tenants from Eviction from Premises in the Disturbed Areas act.

• Under the DA Act, a District Collector can notify a particular area of a city or town as a “disturbed area”. This notification is generally done based on the history of communal riots in the area.

• Following this notification, the transfer of immovable property in the disturbed area can take place only after the Collector expressly signs off on an application made by the buyer and the seller of the property.

• In the application, the seller has to attach an affidavit stating that she/he has sold the property of her/his free volition, and that she/he has got a fair market price.

• Violation of the Act’s provisions, that is, if property in a notified disturbed area is transferred without the Collector’s permission, invites imprisonment and a fine.

• The state government claims it is aiming to check communal polarisation of various parts of the state through the Act.

• The DA Act is applicable in Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Surat, Himmatnagar, Godhra, Kapadvanj and Bharuch.

2020 Amendments

• Section 2(d)- concept of “proper clustering of persons” as has been introduced and defined.

• Section 3 subsection 1 (ii) and (iii)- government can notify any area as a ‘disturbed area’ where it sees the possibility of a communal riot, or where it sees the possibility of a particular community’s polarisation.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

NATIONAL GREEN TRIBUNAL: Context: A project to build a 37-floor high rise near Delhi University’s North Campus will need new environmental clearance (EC), the National Green Tribunal (NGT) was told. Concept: • It is a specialised body set up under the National Green Tribunal Act (2010) for effective and expeditious disposal of cases relating to environmental protection and conservation of forests and other natural resources.

• With the establishment of the NGT, India became the third country in the world to set up a specialised environmental tribunal, only after Australia and New Zealand, and the first developing country to do so.

• NGT is mandated to make disposal of applications or appeals finally within 6 months of filing of the same.

• The NGT has five places of sittings, New Delhi is the Principal place of sitting and Bhopal, Pune, Kolkata and Chennai are the other four.

Structure of NGT • The Tribunal comprises of the Chairperson, the Judicial Members and Expert Members. They shall hold office for term of five years and are not eligible for reappointment.

• The Chairperson is appointed by the Central Government in consultation with (CJI). A selection committee would be formed for this purpose.

Powers & Jurisdiction • The Tribunal has jurisdiction over all civil cases involving substantial question relating to environment (including enforcement of any legal right relating to environment).

• Being a statutory adjudicatory body like Courts, apart from original jurisdiction side on filing of an application, NGT also has appellate jurisdiction to hear appeal as a Court (Tribunal).

• The Tribunal is not bound by the procedure laid down under the Code of Civil Procedure 1908, but shall be guided by principles of ‘natural justice’.

• While passing any order/decision/ award, it shall apply the principles of sustainable development, the precautionary principle and the polluter pays principle.

• An order/decision/award of Tribunal is executable as a decree of a civil court.

• The NGT Act also provides a procedure for a penalty for non compliance.

Appeal : • An appeal against order/decision/ award of the NGT lies to the Supreme Court, generally within ninety days from the date of communication.(However appeal can be filed either before the state high court or supreme court )

• The NGT deals with civil cases under the seven laws related to the environment, these include:

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

• The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974,

• The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Cess Act, 1977,

• The Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980,

• The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981,

• The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986,

• The Public Liability Insurance Act, 1991 and

• The Biological Diversity Act, 2002.

• Two important acts – Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 and Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 have been kept out of NGT’s jurisdiction.

LAW IN ABEYANCE: Context : As farmers reject the government’s proposal to keep the three contentious farm laws in abeyance for 18 months, experts have raised questions over the legislative options the Government has going forward.. Concept : Can a law can be kept in Abeyance? • The laws, passed by Parliament in September last year, were notified in the official gazette on September 27 after President Ram NathKovind gave his assent.

• While Parliament can repeal the law, there is no vocabulary in the Constitution or Parliamentary procedure for keeping a law in abeyance.

• While the government cannot stay a law, it can delay its implementation before rules are notified.

• For example, the Citizenship Amendment Act, passed by both Houses in December 2019 was notified in the official gazette in January 2020.

• Parliamentary procedure dictates that the rules for the legislation are to be notified within six months from the date of publication in the gazette. However, the government is yet to notify the rules for the law to be implemented.

• Similarly, the Benami Transaction (Prohibition) Act, 1988 was not implemented for almost 28 years till the rules were notified in 2016.

• However, once the rules are notified, the only options before the government are to ask the Supreme Court to continue its stay order or take the laws back to Parliament. The Parliament can either amend or repeal the laws.

• The Parliament’s powers to repeal laws come from Article 245 of the Constitution, the provision which empowers it to make laws.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

PARDONING POWERS OF GOVERNOR: Context: Tamil Nadu Governor BanwarilalPurohit would take a decision “as per the Constitution” in the next three or four days on the plea for release filed by A.G. Concept: Pardoning Powers of Governor • Article 161 deals with the Pardoning Power of the Governor.

• The Governor can grant pardons, reprieves, respites and remissions of punishments or suspend, remit and commute the sentence of any person convicted of any offence against any law relating to a matter to which the executive power of the state extends.

• The Governor cannot Pardon a Death Sentence. (The President has the power of Pardon a death Sentence).

• The Governor cannot grant pardon, reprieve, respite, suspension, remission or commutation in respect to punishment or sentence by a court-martial. However, the President can do so.

Additional Information • Pardon: means completely absolving the person of the crime and letting him go free. The pardoned criminal will be like a normal citizen.

• Commutation: means changing the type of punishment given to the guilty into a less harsh one, for example, a death penalty commuted to a life sentence.

• Reprieve: means a delay allowed in the execution of a sentence, usually a death sentence, for a guilty person to allow him some time to apply for Presidential Pardon or some other legal remedy to prove his innocence or successful rehabilitation.

• Respite: means reducing the quantum or degree of the punishment to a criminal in view of some special circumstances, like pregnancy, mental condition etc.

• Remission: means changing the quantum of the punishment without changing its nature, for example reducing twenty-year rigorous imprisonment to ten years.

HORIZONTAL & VERTICAL RESERVATION: Context: The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has questioned the legislative competence of State governments to enact laws which provide horizontal reservation to government school students in medical admissions every year. Concept: • There are two types of reservations, which may be referred to as ‘vertical reservations’ and ‘horizontal reservations’.

• The reservations in favour of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes [(under Article 16(4)] may be called vertical reservations.

• Whereas reservations in favour of physically handicapped, Women , Ex-servicemen etc (under clause (1) of Article 16] can be referred to as horizontal reservations.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

• The percentage of reservation allotted to Horizontal reservation categories should be adjusted against percentage of SC/ST/ OBC and General categories in vertical reservation.

• Horizontal reservations cut across the vertical reservations – what is called interlocking reservations.

CENSUS and SECC: Concept :

Difference between CENSUS and SECC

• The duration of Census 2011 and SECC 2011 was different. Census 2011, was conducted during 9th to 28th February 2011.

• While Socio Economic Caste Census 2011 was largely carried out in 2011 and 2012 with a few states taking enumeration and verification in 2013 also.

• Individual information(personal data) gathered under the Census Act, 1948, (Census 2011 is conducted under Census Act,1948 not SECC) are kept confidential.

• While the SECC, 2011 requires putting such statistics (except for caste-related data) in the public domain.

• Apex organization for Census is Census Commissioner (Home Ministry) While for SECC it is Rurul Development ministry and Planning Commission.

• Purpose of the census is to provide general demographic information: age, gender, religion, occupation, migration etc.

• While SECC helps in preparing BPL list and identifying beneficiaries for welfare schemes.

Features of SECC

• SECC 2011 is the first paperless census in India.

• Household data was taken from the National Population Register along with the temporary identification number.

• At each stage there was an opportunity for transparency and grievance redressal.

• SECC methodology defines poverty through deprivation, instead of consumption.

• SECC takes caste into account for the first time since 1931.

About Census

• The census provides information on size, distribution and socio-economic, demographic and other characteristics of the country's population.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

• During the regime of the Mughal king Akbar, the administrative report 'Ain-e-Akbari' included comprehensive data pertaining to population, industry, wealth and many other characteristics.

• A systematic and modern population census, in its present form was conducted non synchronously between 1865 and 1872 in different parts of the country.

• However, the first synchronous census in India was held in 1881. Since then, censuses have been undertaken uninterruptedly once every ten years.

NATIONAL EMERGENCY: Context: Justices N.V. Ramana and D.Y. Chandrachud of the Supreme Court on Saturday shared their personal experiences as students when the Emergency was declared in 1975.

Concept:

• Emergency can be declared due to war / external aggression [external emergency] or armed rebellion [internal emergency]. A proclamation can be issued by the president for different grounds. It can be issued when an already existing proclamation is in force too.

• It can apply to entire country or a part.

• It can be declared even before an actual occurrence if president is satisfied of imminent threat.

• The president can declare this only after written recommendation of the entire cabinet.

• A proclamation can be subject to judicial review.

• A proclamation must be approved by both houses within one month by a special majority. This extends the life of emergency by six months at a time. This can be done infinite times.

• If Lok Sabha is dissolved then the approval of proclamation or extension of its life can be done by Rajya Sabha. The proclamation survives till 30 days after first sitting of the newly reconstituted Lok Sabha.

• A proclamation can be revoked by president anytime [this doesn’t need parliament ratification]. Also Lok Sabha can force a revocation by disapproving it with a simple majority. Thus Rajya Sabha has no role in revocation.

Effects of national emergency:

• Centre can issue executive directions to states on any matters. However state governments aren’t suspended.

• Parliament can make laws on matters in the state list. If parliament isn’t in session president can pass ordinances on state list matters.

• Parliament can also confer powers and duties on center and its authorities to carry out tasks under its extended jurisdiction.

• Such legislative actions become inoperative within 6 months of the emergency ceasing to operate. Such laws apply even to states where the emergency isn’t imposed.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

• President can modify distribution of revenues between centre and states till the end of financial year when emergency is over. Such orders have to be laid before parliament.

• Parliament by law can extend term of Lok Sabha and state legislative assembly by 1 year at a time [any number of times]. This becomes inoperable by the end of 6 months of emergency ending.

• Under article 358, all fundamental rights under Article 19 i.e. Right to Freedom, are automatically suspended when a proclamation of national emergency on external grounds [not armed rebellion] is declared. This action applies to whole country not a part.

• Any law can be passed that violates these rights but not any other, such a law can’t be invalidated till the emergency is operative. Any action as per laws also remains above judicial remedy even after emergency is revoked.

• Under article 359 a presidential order can be passed disallowing people from seeking judicial remedy to enforce other fundamental rights i.e. article 14-32 that are specified in that order [ except article 20&21: right to life and liberty] for a specific period only.

• The rights remain in force but right to seek remedy is suspended. The state can make laws abridging the fundamental rights mentioned in the order such laws can’t be challenged in court.

• Any executive action under such laws is also protected. Presidential order has to be approved by both houses. Article 359 is available even during national emergency on armed rebellion. The presidential order can apply to whole country or a part.

NATIONAL VOTER DAY: Concept : • The National Voters' Day has been celebrated on January 25 every year since 2011, all across the country to mark the foundation day of the Election Commission of India on January 25, 1950.

• The main purpose of the NVD celebration is to encourage, facilitate and maximise enrolment, especially for the new voters.

• The theme for this year's NVD, 'Making Our Voters Empowered, Vigilant, Safe and Informed', envisages active and participative voters during elections.

e-EPIC • Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad will launch the e-EPIC programme and distribute e- EPICs and Elector Photo Identity Cards to five new voters.

• e-EPIC is a non-editable secure portable document format (PDF) version of the EPIC and will have a secured QR code with image and demographics like serial number, part number, etc

• e-EPIC can be downloaded on a mobile or a computer and can be digitally stored. This is in addition to physical IDs being issued for fresh registration.

• The e-EPIC initiative would be launched in two phases.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

• In the first phase from January 25 to 31, all new voters who have applied for the voter-ID card and registered their mobile numbers in Form-6 will be able to download the e-EPIC .

• The second phase will start from February 1. It will be open for the general voters.

'Hello Voters' • ECI's Web Radio 'Hello Voters' is an online digital radio service which will stream voter awareness programmes.

• It will be accessible through a link on the Election Commission of India website.

• It will provide information and education on electoral processes through songs, drama, discussions, spots, stories of elections, etc. in Hindi, English and regional languages from all over the country.

POCSO ACT: Context : The Nagpur Bench of the acquitted a man of charges under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and convicted him under a “minor offence” of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Concept : Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 • It was enacted to protect the children from offences of sexual assault, sexual harassment and pornography with due regard for safeguarding the interest and well-being of children.

• It defines a child as any person below eighteen years of age and regards the best interests and welfare of the child as a matter of paramount importance at every stage, to ensure the healthy physical, emotional, intellectual and social development of the child.

• It defines different forms of sexual abuse, including penetrative and non-penetrative assault, as well as sexual harassment and pornography.

• It deems a sexual assault to be “aggravated” under certain circumstances, such as when the abused child is mentally ill or when the abuse is committed by a person in a position of trust or authority like a family member, police officer, teacher, or doctor.

• It also casts the police in the role of child protectors during the investigative process.

• The Act stipulates that a case of child sexual abuse must be disposed of within one year from the date the offence is reported.

• It was amended in August 2019 to provide more stringent punishment, including the death penalty, for sexual crimes against children.

USENET POLICY: Context : The proposed Udyog Sahayak Enterprises Network framework draft has been put together by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) and Azim Premji University. Concept : USENET Framework approach:

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

• The approach is based on the belief that India rather than creating more nano- entrepreneurs, should rather focus on helping existing MSEs grow in size.

• The framework is aimed at providing a slew of growth-driven services to over 62 million nano and micro-enterprises that currently employ over 100 million people in India.

• The USENET framework aims to create a countrywide entrepreneurial network. The platform will give the nano and micro-enterprises, facing growth challenges, information on policies, government schemes and credit options, and visibility to lenders and customers and thereby help them grow.

• The Union government is likely to sanction upto ₹5,000 crore to part-fund CAPEX to set up at least 19 lakh USENET centres.

• Each of these centres will be headed by a Udyog Sahayak, who will have a mandate to help and monitor the growth of 15 to 50 enterprises.

LAW COMMISSION: Context: The Supreme Court asked the Home and Law Ministries to explain the nearly three-year- long lapse in making appointments to the Law Commission. Concept: • The is a non-statutory body constituted by the Government of India from time to time.

• The first Law Commission of independent India was established in 1955 for a three-year term. Since then, twenty one more Commissions have been established.

• The first Law Commission was established during the British Raj era in 1834 by the Charter Act of 1833 and was chaired by Lord Macaulay.

• It works as an advisory body to the Ministry of Law and Justice.

• The Law Commission undertakes research in law and review of existing laws in India for making reforms therein and enacting new legislations on a reference made to it by the Central Government or suo-motu.

PREAMBLE: Context : Invoking the Preamble in times of protest.

Concept :

• The preamble to the Constitution of India is a brief introductory statement that sets out the guiding purpose, principles and philosophy of the constitution.

• The ideals behind the Preamble to India’s Constitution were laid down by Jawaharlal Nehru’s Objectives Resolution, adopted by the Constituent Assembly on January 22, 1947.

• Although not enforceable in court, the Preamble states the objectives of the Constitution, and acts as an aid during the interpretation of Articles when language is found ambiguous.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

• Preamble gives an idea about the following : (1) the source of the constitution, (2) nature of Indian state (3) a statement of its objectives and (4) the date of its adoption.

Components of Preamble

• It is indicated by the Preamble that the source of authority of the Constitution lies with the people of India.

• Preamble declares India to be a sovereign, socialist, secular and democratic republic.

• The objectives stated by the Preamble are to secure justice, liberty, equality to all citizens and promote fraternity to maintain unity and integrity of the nation.

• The date is mentioned in the preamble when it was adopted i.e. November 26, 1949.

Key words in the Preamble

• We, the people of India: It indicates the ultimate sovereignty of the people of India. Sovereignty means the independent authority of the State, not being subject to the control of any other State or external power.

• Sovereign: The term means that India has its own independent authority and it is not a dominion of any other external power. In the country, the legislature has the power to make laws which are subject to certain limitations.

• Socialist: The term means the achievement of socialist ends through democratic means. It holds faith in a mixed economy where both private and public sectors co-exist side by side.

• It was added in the Preamble by 42nd Amendment, 1976.

• Secular: The term means that all the religions in India get equal respect, protection and support from the state.

• It was incorporated in the Preamble by 42nd Constitutional Amendment, 1976.

• Democratic: The term implies that the Constitution of India has an established form of Constitution which gets its authority from the will of the people expressed in an election.

• Republic: The term indicates that the head of the state is elected by the people. In India, the President of India is the elected head of the state.

Amendment of the Preamble

• 42nd Amendment Act, 1976: After the judgment of the Kesavanand Bharati case, it was accepted that the preamble is part of the Constitution.

• As a part of the Constitution, preamble can be amended under Article 368 of the Constitution, but the basic structure of the preamble can not be amended.

• Because the structure of the Constitution is based on the basic elements of the Preamble. As of now, the preamble is only amended once through the 42nd Amendment Act, 1976.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

• The term ‘Socialist’, ‘Secular’, and ‘Integrity’ were added to the preamble through 42nd Amendment Act, 1976.

• ‘Socialist’ and ‘Secular’ were added between ‘Sovereign’ and ‘Democratic’.

• ‘Unity of the Nation’ was changed to ‘Unity and Integrity of the Nation’.

CCI: Context : The CCI, in its key observations and findings of the telecom sector’s market study conducted by ICRIER, also notes the conflict between allowing access and protecting consumer privacy.

Concept :

• Competition Commission of India (CCI) is a statutory body of the Government of India responsible for enforcing the Competition Act, 2002, it was duly constituted in March 2009.

• The Monopolies and Restrictive Trade Practices Act, 1969 (MRTP Act) was repealed and replaced by the Competition Act, 2002, on the recommendations of Raghavan committee.

• Competition Commission of India aims to establish a robust competitive environment.

• Through proactive engagement with all stakeholders, including consumers, industry, government and international jurisdictions.

Competition Act, 2002

• The Competition Act was passed in 2002 and has been amended by the Competition (Amendment) Act, 2007. It follows the philosophy of modern competition laws.

• The Act prohibits anti-competitive agreements, abuse of dominant position by enterprises and regulates combinations (acquisition, acquiring of control and M&A), which causes or likely to cause an appreciable adverse effect on competition within India.

• In accordance with the provisions of the Amendment Act, the Competition Commission of India and the Competition Appellate Tribunal have been established.

• Government replaced Competition Appellate Tribunal (COMPAT) with the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) in 2017.

Composition of CCI

• The Commission consists of one Chairperson and six Members as per the Competition Act who shall be appointed by the Central Government.

• The commission is a quasi-judicial body which gives opinions to statutory authorities and also deals with other cases. The Chairperson and other Members shall be whole-time Members.

• Eligibility of members: The Chairperson and every other Member shall be a person of ability, integrity and standing and who, has been, or is qualified to be a judge of a High Court, or, has special knowledge of, and professional experience of not less than fifteen years in

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

international trade, economics, business, commerce, law, finance, accountancy, management, industry, public affairs, administration or in any other matter which, in the opinion of the Central Government, may be useful to the Commission.

SC COLLEGIUM: Context: Expressing concern over the government delaying action on the recommendations of the Collegium to fill up vacancies in the High Courts, the Supreme Court on Wednesday asked Attorney General K K Venugopal to apprise it of the Centre’s timeline in the matter.

Concept:

• The Collegium System is a system under which appointments/elevation of judges/lawyers to Supreme Court and transfers of judges of High Courts and Apex Court are decided by a forum of the Chief Justice of India and the four senior-most judges of the Supreme Court.’

• There is no mention of the Collegium either in the original Constitution of India or in successive amendments.

• The recommendations of the Collegium are binding on the Central Government; if the Collegium sends the names of the judges/lawyers to the government for the second time

How did this come into being?

• ‘First Judges Case’ (1981) ruled that the “consultation” with the CJI in the matter of appointments must be full and effective. However, the CJI’s opinion should have primacy.

• Second Judges Case (1993) introduced the Collegium system, holding that “consultation” really meant “concurrence”. It added that it was not the CJI’s individual opinion, but an institutional opinion formed in consultation with the two senior-most judges in the Supreme Court.

• Third Judges Case (1998): SC on President’s reference expanded the Collegium to a five- member body, comprising the CJI and four of his senior-most colleagues.

Procedure followed by the Collegium:

• The President of India appoints the CJI and the other SC judges.

• For other judges of the top court, the proposal is initiated by the CJI.

• The CJI consults the rest of the Collegium members, as well as the senior-most judge of the court hailing from the High Court to which the recommended person belongs.

• The consultees must record their opinions in writing and it should form part of the file.

• The Collegium sends the recommendation to the Law Minister, who forwards it to the Prime Minister to advise the President.

• The Chief Justice of High Courts is appointed as per the policy of having Chief Justices from outside the respective States.

• The Collegium takes the call on the elevation.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

Appointment of Judges for High Courts:

• High Court judges are recommended by a Collegium comprising the CJI and two senior- most judges.

• The proposal, however, is initiated by the Chief Justice of the High Court concerned in consultation with two senior-most colleagues.

• The recommendation is sent to the Chief Minister, who advises the Governor to send the proposal to the Union Law Minister.

PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS: Context : As many as 18 Opposition parties, led by the Congress, announced their decision to boycott President address to the joint sitting of Parliament at the start of the Budget session on Friday in solidarity with the farmers protesting against the three farm laws.

Concept :

• All executive power is vested in the President of India. The Council of Ministers headed by the Prime Minister aids and advises the President who exercises his powers in accordance to such advice.

• Article 87 of the constitution provides two instances when the President specially addresses both Houses of Parliament.

• The President of India addresses both the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha at the beginning of the first Session after each general election when the reconstituted lower house meets for the first time.

• The President also addresses both the houses at beginning of the first session of each year.

• The President’s speech essentially highlights the government’s policy priorities and plans for the upcoming year. The address provides a broad framework of the government’s agenda and direction.

MAHARASTRA - KARNATAKA BORDER DISPUTE: Context: Maharashtra has staked claim to over 7,000 sq km area along its border with Karnataka, comprising 814 villages in areas predominantly Marathi-speaking.

Concept:

• Maharashtra has staked claim to over 7,000 sq km area along its border with Karnataka, comprising 814 villages in the districts of Belagavi (Belgaum), Uttara Kannada, Bidar, and Gulbarga, and the towns of Belagavi, Karwar, and Nippani.

• All these areas are predominantly Marathi-speaking, and Maharashtra wants them to be merged with the state.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

What is the dispute?

• According to the State Reorganisation Act of 1956, Belagavi was handed over to the Mysore state, which was renamed as Karnataka in 1973.

• In 1957, slighted by the implementation of the States Reorganisation Act, 1956, Maharashtra demanded readjustment of its border with Karnataka.

• Maharashtra invoked Section 21 (2) (b) of the Act and submitted a memorandum to the Ministry of Home Affairs stating its objection to Marathi- speaking areas being added to Karnataka.

• The central government constituted the Mahajan Committee in 1966 to assess the situation. Representatives from both sides, Maharashtra and the then Mysore state were part of the committee.

• In 1967, the committee recommended that some villages in Karwar, Haliyal and Suparna talukas of Karnataka be given to Maharashtra but left Belagavi with the southern state.

• In 2006, the Supreme Court held that the issue should be resolved through mutual negotiation and that linguistic criterion should not be considered as it may create more practical problems.

• The case is still being heard by the Supreme Court.

The Mahajan Commission report:

• While demarcating borders, the Reorganisation of States Commission sought to include talukas with a Kannada-speaking population of more than 50 per cent in Mysore.

• Opponents of the region’s inclusion in Mysore argued, and continue to argue, that Marathi- speakers outnumbered Kannadigas who lived there in 1956.

• In September 1957, the Bombay government echoed their demand and lodged a protest with the Centre, leading to the formation of the Mahajan Commission under former Chief Justice Mehr Chand Mahajan in October 1966.

Recommendations of the Commission:

• The Commission in its report in August 1967 recommended that 264 villages be transferred to Maharashtra (which formed in 1960) and that Belgaum and 247 villages remain with Karnataka.

• Maharashtra rejected the report, calling it biased and illogical, and demanded another review.

• Karnataka welcomed the report, and has ever since continued to press for implementation, although this has not been formally done by the Centre.

PERSONAL INFORMATION UNDER RTI : Context : The court had on January 12 observed that the disclosure of interest regarding information being sought under RTI law would be necessary to establish the bonafides of an applicant.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

Concept :

• The Delhi High Court Friday clarified its recent observation regarding the necessity for disclosure of interest by an applicant about the information being sought under the RTI Act, and said that it only pertained to the seeking of personal information under the law.

• The order had come under criticism, with many pointing out that it contradicts the Section 6(2) of the RTI Act .

• It states that “an applicant making request for information shall not be required to give any reason for requesting the information or any other personal details except those that may be necessary for contacting him”.

Other Important sections under RTI Law

• Section- 2(j): “Right to Information” means the right to information accessible under this Act which is held by or under the control of any public authority and includes the right to:

. Inspection of work, documents, records; . Taking notes, extracts or certified copies of documents or records; . Taking certified samples of material;

Obtaining information in the form of diskettes, floppies, tapes, video cassettes or in any other electronic mode or through printouts where such information is stored in a computer or in any other device.

• Section 4:It requires Suo motu disclosure of information by each public authority. However, such disclosures have remained less than satisfactory.

• Section 8 (1) mentions exemptions against furnishing information under RTI Act.

• Section 8 (2) provides for disclosure of information exempted under Official Secrets Act, 1923 if larger public interest is served.

• Section 8(1)(j):“The information which cannot be denied to the Parliament or a State Legislature shall not be denied to any person” under the RTI Act.

NITI AAYOG COMPOSITION: Context : Amid Covid-19 vaccination drive, the NITI Aayog may soon call the next meeting of its governing council to discuss the issue of vaccine management in states.

Concept :

Composition of NITI Aayog:

• Chairperson: as the Chairperson.

• Governing Council comprising the Chief Ministers of all the States and Lt. Governors of Union Territories.

• Regional Councils will be formed to address specific issues and contingencies impacting more than one state or a region. These will be formed for a specified tenure.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

• The Regional Councils will be convened by the Prime Minister and will comprise of the Chief Ministers of States and Lt. Governors of Union Territories in the region. These will be chaired by the Chairperson of the NITI Aayog or his nominee.

• Experts, specialists and practitioners with relevant domain knowledge as special invitees nominated by the Prime Minister.

The full-time organizational framework :

• Vice-Chairperson: To be appointed by the Prime Minister.

• Members: Full-time.

• Part-time members: Maximum of 2 from leading universities research organizations and other relevant institutions in an ex-officio capacity. Part time members will be on a rotational basis.

• Ex Officio members: Maximum of 4 members of the Union Council of Ministers to be nominated by the Prime Minister.

• Chief Executive Officer : To be appointed by the Prime Minister for a fixed tenure, in the rank of Secretary to the Government of India.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

SECTION 301 INVESTIGATIONS : Context : Digital services taxes adopted by India, Italy and Turkey discriminate against U.S. companies and are inconsistent with international tax principles, the U.S. Trade Representative’s office said.

Concept :

 USTR, releasing the findings of its “Section 301” investigations into the digital taxes, said it was not taking specific actions at this time, but “will continue to evaluate all available options.”

About 301 Probe

 Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 provides the United States administration with the authority to enforce trade agreements, resolve trade disputes, and open foreign markets to U.S. goods and services.

 The law also provides the United States to impose trade sanctions on foreign countries that either violate trade agreements or engage in other unfair trade practices.

 The law states that when negotiations to remove the offending trade practices fail, the United States may take action to raise import duties on the foreign country’s products as a means to rebalance lost concessions.

 The list of products on which the United States raises import duties is called a “retaliation list.”

 The USTR carefully chooses the products to be included on retaliation to minimize the adverse impact on U.S. consumers, firms, and workers.

H1 B VISA: Context : The United States on Thursday announced that it will modify the selection process for H-1B visa, giving priority to salary and skills, instead of the current lottery procedures.

Concept :

• The current H-1B random selection process makes it difficult for businesses to plan their hiring, fails to leverage the programme to compete for the best and brightest international workforce.

• It has predominantly resulted in the annual influx of foreign labor placed in low-wage positions at the expense of US workers.

• Modifying the H-1B cap selection process will incentivise employers to offer higher salaries, and/or petition for higher-skilled positions, and establish a more certain path for businesses to achieve personnel needs and remain globally competitive, said US Citizenship and Immigration Services.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

• The final rule will be effective 60 days after its publication in the Federal Register. The next H-1B visa filing season is slated to start on April 1.

H1 B VISA

• The H-1B category is an expedient and lawful method to bring foreign-born professionals temporarily to the United States, and therefore one of the most widely sought after visa classifications for employment in the United States.

• The H-1B is a non-immigrant visa in the United States under the Immigration and Nationality Act, section 101(a)(15)(H).

• It allows U.S. employers to temporarily employ foreign workers in specialty occupations.

• If a foreign worker in H-1B status quits or is dismissed from the sponsoring employer, the worker must either apply for and be granted a change of status to another non-immigrant status, find another employer (subject to application for adjustment of status and/or change of visa), or leave the U.S.

• An individual may work in H-1B status for a maximum of six years

Open Sky Treaty (OST): Context: After USA, Russia also has withdrawn from the Open Sky Treaty. Concept:  This withdrawal is among the rising trend of USA withdrawing from major international pacts reducing relevance of pacts and other countries following suit, thus weakening the multilateralism.  USA accused Russia of non-compliance with OST protocols, blaming Moscow of obstructing surveillance flights on its territory, while misusing its own missions for gathering key tactical data and withdraw from OST. About Open Sky Treaty:  It is 34-member treaty (key Arms control framework) allowing participants to fly unarmed reconnaissance flights over any part of their fellow member states.  It was proposed way back in 1955 during the rising tensions in cold war. But it could be signed only post fall of Soviet Union in 1992.  Currently it has 35 signatories (before USA withdrawal) along with one non-ratifying member (Kyrgyzstan).  It aims at mutual openness to reduce the chances of accidental war.  Under this a member state can “spy” on any part of the host nation, with the latter’s consent.  A country can undertake aerial imaging over the host state after giving notice 72 hours before, and sharing its exact flight path 24 hours before.  The information gathered under such operations such as on troop movements, military exercises and missile deployments, has to be shared with all member states.

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA): Context: Iran asked UN’s nuclear watchdog to stop publishing unnecessary details about its nuclear program.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

Concept:  Post-USA’s withdrawal from Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action as part of Iran and P5+1 (EU)’s nuclear deal framework Iran has been pushing for protection of deal or it will restart its nuclear program for uranium enrichment.  This has made world’s effort for nuclear proliferation weak.  Iran has been complaining of UN watchdog IAEA revealing unnecessary details which it got access to as part of deal and is leading to unnecessary misunderstanding. About IAEA:  The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), an UN agency is the world's central intergovernmental forum for scientific and technical co-operation in the nuclear field.  It works for the safe, secure and peaceful uses of nuclear science and technology, contributing to international peace and security and the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals.  It was formed in 1957 as a result of Conference on the Statute of the International Atomic Energy Agency held at the UN headquarters. Initially it was known as ‘Atoms for peace’.  It is headquartered in Vienna, Austria.  It has 171 members (Sain Lucia being most recent member).  Though it is and independent international agencies, yet, it reports annually to UNGA.  It along with its Director General won Nobel Peace prize in 2005.  The IAEA’s policy-making bodies decide on the Agency’s programmes and budgets. They comprise the General Conference of all Member States and the 35-member Board of Governors. The IAEA’s three main areas of work are:  Safety and security  Science and technology  Safeguards and verification Funding of IAEA:  The IAEA carries out its work in two main areas: the regular programme and the Technical Cooperation programme. These two programmes are financed from separate funds.  They are additionally supported by extra-budgetary contributions from Member States and non-member states donors. The IAEA's budget is approved annually by the IAEA General Conference.

DEMARCHE: Context: India lodged a strong protest with Sri Lanka over the death of three fishermen from Tamil Nadu in a collision between their vessel and a Lankan naval craft, saying Colombo should take steps to prevent the recurrence of such incidents. Concept: Demarche • A demarche is a more formal type of communication of one government’s official position, views, or wishes on a given subject to an appropriate official in another government.

• Demarches generally seek to persuade, inform, or gather information from a foreign government. Governments may also use a demarche to protest or object to actions by a foreign government.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

• Diplomatic démarches are delivered to the appropriate official of the government or organization.

Other formal types of diplomatic communications Note Verable • A note verbale is a diplomatic communication from one government to another, delivered through each other’s diplomatic representatives.

• It literally means a verbal note, because it was meant to be delivered orally to the recipient. In modern times, it is a written note.

• Notes verbale are the commonest method of formal diplomatic communication. They are used to convey information or requests of all kinds.

Demi Official • A demi official (DO) is a first person communication that begins with a “Dear…” and is signed by the writer, usually a high representative of the sending entity.

• DOs are used only when the addressee and the representative know each other extremely well and occupy high office.

NEW START TREATY: Context : Russia has welcomed US President Joe Biden's proposal to extend the last remaining Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty between the two countries, which is set to expire in less than two weeks.

Concept :

About the treaty

• It is a treaty between the United States of America and the Russian Federation on measures for the further reduction and limitation of strategic offensive arms.

• It entered into force on 5th February, 2011.

• New START has replaced the 1991 START I treaty, which expired December 2009, and superseded the 2002 Strategic Offensive Reductions Treaty (SORT), which terminated when New START entered into force.

• It is a successor to the START framework of 1991 (at the end of the Cold War) that limited both sides to 1,600 strategic delivery vehicles and 6,000 warheads.

• It continues the bipartisan process of verifiably reducing the USA and Russian strategic nuclear arsenals by limiting both sides to 700 strategic launchers and 1,550 operational warheads.

• It will lapse in February 2021 unless extended for a five-year period.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

DESERT KNIGHT 21: Context : As part of the first edition of the exercise Desert Knight-21, four French Rafale fighters landed in Jodhpur after flying directly for around four hours from the Djibouti airbase.

Concept :

• Indian Air Force (IAF) and French Air and Space Force will conduct a bilateral Air exercise, Ex Desert Knight-21 at Air Force Station Jodhpur from 20 to 24th Jan 2021.

• The French side will participate with Rafale, Airbus A-330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT), A-400M Tactical Transport aircraft and approximately 175 personnel.

• The IAF aircraft participating in the exercise will include Mirage 2000, Su-30 MKI, Rafale, IL-78 Flight Refuelling Aircraft, AWACS and AEW&C aircraft.

• The exercise is unique as it includes fielding of Rafale aircraft by both sides and is indicative of the growing interaction between the two premiers Air Forces.

• Presently, the French detachment for Ex Desert Knight-21 is deployed in Asia as part of their ‘Skyros Deployment’ and will ferry in forces to Air Force Station Jodhpur.

Other Defence Exercises between India and France:

• Varuna – Naval exercise

• Garuda – Air exercise

• Shakti – Army exercise.

H1-B & H 4 VISA: Context : A week after his inauguration, US President Joe Biden has withdrawn a Trump- era rule rescinding work authorisation for H4 visa holders, who are spouses of those possessing H-1B work visas, with majority being highly-skilled Indian women.

Concept :

H1 B VISA

• The H-1B category is an expedient and lawful method to bring foreign-born professionals temporarily to the United States, and therefore one of the most widely sought after visa classifications for employment in the United States.

• The H-1B is a non-immigrant visa in the United States under the Immigration and Nationality Act, section 101(a)(15)(H).

• It allows U.S. employers to temporarily employ foreign workers in specialty occupations.

• If a foreign worker in H-1B status quits or is dismissed from the sponsoring employer, the worker must either apply for and be granted a change of status to another non-

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

immigrant status, find another employer (subject to application for adjustment of status and/or change of visa), or leave the U.S.

• An individual may work in H-1B status for a maximum of six years.

H-4 VISA

• An H-4 visa is issued by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to immediate family members (spouse and children under 21 years of age) of the H-1B visa holders, most of whom are Indian IT professionals.

• The H4 visa is normally issued to those who have already started the process of seeking employment-based lawful permanent resident status in the US.

• An H4 Visa holder is allowed to remain in the US as long as the H-1B visa holder remains in legal status.

UFC and G-4 CLUB: Context : US President Joe Biden’s pick for the ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, on Wednesday did not explicitly commit the support of the new administration for India to be a permanent member of the Security Council.

Concept :

Coffee Club/Uniting for Consensus

• An informal "coffee club", comprising 40-odd members states, has been instrumental in holding back reforms to the United Nations Security Council.

• Most members of the club are middle-sized states who oppose bigger regional powers grabbing permanent seats in the UN Security Council.

• The prime movers of the club include Italy, Spain, Australia, Canada, South Korea, Argentina and Pakistan.

• While Italy and Spain are opposed to Germany's bid for Security Council's permanent membership, Pakistan is opposed to India's bid.

• Similarly, Argentina is against Brazil's bid and Australia opposes Japan's.

• Canada and South Korea are opposed to developing countries, often dependent on their aid, wielding more power than them at the UN.

G4 Nations

• The G4 nations comprising Brazil, Germany, India, and Japan are four countries which support each other’s bids for permanent seats on the United Nations Security Council.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

• Basis for these demands:

• Each of these four countries have figured among the elected non-permanent members of the council since the UN’s establishment.

• Their economic and political influence has grown significantly in the last decades, reaching a scope comparable to the permanent members (P5).

Additional Information

Intergovernmental Negotiations

• IGN is a group of nation-states working within the United Nations to further reform of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC)

• The IGN is composed of several different international organizations, namely:

African Union

G4 nations

Uniting for Consensus Group (UfC)

L.69 Group of Developing Countries

Arab League

Caribbean Community (CARICOM).

ABRAHAM ACCORDS:

Context : Mr. Sullivan described the Quad and the Abraham Accords — deals signed in 2020 to normalise relations between Israel and certain West Asian and North African countries — as examples of Trump administration’s actions that were positive and ones the Biden administration would build on.

Concept :

• The Abraham Accord between Israel, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain is mediated by the USA. It is the first Arab-Israeli peace deal in 26 years.

• Previous Agreements: There were the only two peace deals between Israel and the Arab States in more than a quarter of a century.

• Egypt was the first Arab State to sign a peace deal with Israel in 1979.

• Jordan signed a peace pact in 1994.

The Agreement:

As per the agreements, the UAE and Bahrain will establish:

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

• Embassies and exchange ambassadors.

• Working together with Israel across a range of sectors, including tourism, trade, healthcare and security.

• The Abraham Accords also open the door for Muslims around the world to visit the historic sites in Israel and to peacefully pray at Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, the third holiest site in Islam.

• In the Islamic tradition, the Kaaba in Mecca is considered the holiest site, followed by the Prophet's Mosque in Medina, and Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem.

• Reason: Bringing Israel, the UAE and Bahrain together reflects their shared concern about Iran’s rising influence in the region and development of ballistic missiles. Iran has been critical of both deals.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

ECONOMICS

FISCAL DEFICIT: Context: India’s fiscal deficit shot up to 135.1% of the Budget target of nearly ₹8 lakh crore for 2020-21, in the 8 months from April to November 2020, as per data released by the Controller General of Accounts.

Concept:

Fiscal Deficit

• The government describes fiscal deficit of India as “the excess of total disbursements from the Consolidated Fund of India, excluding repayment of the debt, over total receipts into the Fund (excluding the debt receipts) during a financial year”.

• It is calculated as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), or simply as total money spent in excess of income.

• Fiscal Deficit = Total expenditure of the government (capital and revenue expenditure) – Total income of the government (Revenue receipts + recovery of loans + other receipts).

• Expenditure component: The government in its Budget allocates funds for several works, including payments of salaries, pensions, etc. (revenue expenditure) and creation of assets such as infrastructure, development, etc. (capital expenditure).

• Income component: The income component is made of two variables, revenue generated from taxes levied by the Centre and the income generated from non-tax variables.

• The taxable income consists of the amount generated from corporation tax, income tax, Customs duties, excise duties, GST, among others.

• Meanwhile, the non-taxable income comes from external grants, interest receipts, dividends and profits, receipts from Union Territories, among others.

• It is different from revenue deficit which is only related to revenue expenditure and revenue receipts of the government.

• The government meets the fiscal deficit by borrowing money. In a way, the total borrowing requirements of the government in a financial year is equal to the fiscal deficit in that year.

• A high fiscal deficit can also be good for the economy if the money spent goes into the creation of productive assets like highways, roads, ports and airports that boost economic growth and result in job creation.

• The Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Act, 2003 provides that the Centre should take appropriate measures to limit the fiscal deficit upto 3% of the GDP by 31st March, 2021.

• The NK Singh committee (set up in 2016) recommended that the government should target a fiscal deficit of 3% of the GDP in years up to March 31, 2020 cut it to 2.8% in 2020-21 and to 2.5% by 2023.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

Additional Information

Revenue deficit:

• The revenue deficit mentions to the surplus of government’s revenue expenditure over the revenue receipts.

• Revenue deficit = Revenue expenditure – Revenue Receipts

• This deficit only incorporates current income and current expenses. A high degree of deficit symbolises that the government should reduce its expends.

Primary Deficit

• A primary deficit is the amount of money that the government requires to borrow apart from the interest payments on the formerly borrowed loans.

• The aim of quantifying the primary deficit is to concentrate on current fiscal imbalances.

• To attain an approximate of borrowing on account of current expends overreaching revenues, we need to compute what has been known as the primary deficit. It is the fiscal deficit – the interest payments.

• Gross primary deficit = Gross fiscal deficit – Net interest liabilities

• Net interest liabilities comprise of interest payments – interest receipts by the government on net domestic lending.

CORE INDUSTRIES OUTPUT CONTRACTS: Context: Contracting for the ninth consecutive month, the output of eight core infrastructure sectors dropped by 2.6 per cent in November, 2020.

Concept:

• The production of eight core sectors had recorded a growth of 0.7 per cent in November 2019, data released by the commerce and industry ministry showed.

• Barring coal, fertilizer and electricity, all sectors — crude oil, natural gas, refinery products, steel and cement — recorded negative growth in November 2020.

Core Industries

• Core industry can be defined as the main industry which has a multiplier effect on the economy.

• In most countries, there is particular industry that seems to be backbone of all other industries and it qualifies to be the core industry.

• The Eight Core Industries comprise 40.27% of the weight of items included in the Index of Industrial Production (IIP).

• The eight Core Industries in decreasing order of their weightage: Refinery Products> Electricity> Steel> Coal> Crude Oil> Natural Gas> Cement> Fertilizers.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

• Weightage for Industries (In percentage)

Petroleum & Refinery production 28.04

Electricity generation 19.85

Steel production 17.92

Coal production 10.33

Crude Oil production 8.98

Natural Gas production 6.88

Cement production 5.37

Fertilizers production 2.63.

Additional Information

Index of Industrial Production

• The Index of Industrial Production (IIP) is an index which details out the growth of various sectors in an economy such as mineral mining, electricity, manufacturing, etc.

• It is compiled and published monthly by the Central Statistical Organisation (CSO), Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation six weeks after the reference month ends, i.e a lag of six weeks.

• The Base Year of the Index of Eight Core Industries has been revised from the year 2004-05 to 2011-12 from April, 2017.

AGRICULTURE INFRASTRUCTURE FUND: Concept :

• It is a Pan India Central Sector Scheme-Agriculture Infrastructure Fund.

• The scheme shall provide a medium - long term debt financing facility for investment in viable projects for post-harvest management Infrastructure and community farming assets through interest subvention and financial support.

Loans provided from the fund

• Under the scheme, Rs. One Lakh Crore will be provided by banks and financial institutions as loans to Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS), Marketing Cooperative Societies, Farmer Producers Organizations (FPOs), Self Help Group (SHG), Farmers, Joint Liability Groups (JLG), Multipurpose Cooperative Societies, Agri-entrepreneurs, Startups, Aggregation Infrastructure Providers and Central/State agency or Local Body sponsored Public Private Partnership Project

• Loans will be disbursed in four years starting with sanction of Rs. 10,000 crore in the current year and Rs. 30,000 crore each in next three financial years.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

• All loans under this financing facility will have interest subvention of 3% per annum up to a limit of Rs. 2 crore.

• This subvention will be available for a maximum period of seven years.

• Further, credit guarantee coverage will be available for eligible borrowers from this financing facility under Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro and Small Enterprises (CGTMSE) scheme for a loan up to Rs. 2 crore.

• The fee for this coverage will be paid by the Government. In case of FPOs the credit guarantee may be availed from the facility created under FPO promotion scheme of Department of Agriculture, Cooperation & Farmers Welfare (DACFW).

• The total outflow as budgetary support from Government of India (GoI) will be Rs.10,736 crore:

• Moratorium for repayment under this financing facility may vary subject to minimum of 6 months and maximum of 2 years.

Online Platform

• Agri Infra fund will be managed and monitored through an online Management Information System (MIS) platform.

• It will enable all the qualified entities to apply for loan under the fund. The online platform will also provide benefits such as transparency of interest rates offered by multiple banks, scheme details including interest subvention and credit guarantee offered, minimum documentation, faster approval process as also integration with other scheme benefits.

NATIONAL DATA REPOSITORY: Context : Given the need to accelerate hydrocarbon explorations in the country, the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas is considering creating an autonomous body that will mine the data, which is the key for improving India’s strike rate in the sector.

Concept :

• At present, all data acquired from exploration and production (E&P) activities in sedimentary basins of the country is stored in the National Data Repository (NDR) in Directorate General of Hydrocarbons (DGH).

• Ministry intends to create an autonomous body, in the form of a society registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 which will retain the brand name of ‘National Data Repository’.

National Data Repository

• The National Data Repository (NDR) is an integrated data repository of Exploration and Production (E&P) data of Indian sedimentary basins.

• It is hosted at Directorate General of Hydrocarbons (DGH) in Noida. The DGH is a technical arm of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG).

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

• The repository offers a unique platform to all E&P Operators, E&P Service Companies, E&P Investors and Academia to delve inside diverse E&P datasets of Indian sedimentary basins.

• It is a step towards fulfilment of the Union Government’s ambitious project, which includes setting up of a National Knowledge Hub (NKH) alternatively called as National Knowledge Centre (NKC) in E&P area in coming few years.

• The main objective is to set up National Data Repository of reliable exploration and production data for India with provisions for seamless access and online data management.

Proposed Autonomous Body

• It is set up by the government for a specific purpose. It is independent in day-to-day functioning, but the government has some control over them.

• The government funds them in some way — revenue expenditure, capital expenditure, or both.

• The proposed branded NDR will enable acquisition and dissemination of exploration data to all stakeholders.

• The intent is to transform NDR to scale up efficiency in data management, share E&P data with wider section of stakeholders, promote exploration activities by providing latest data to update resource mapping, trigger quality data generation and mature into a database platform where data science methods including big data analytics can be used to gain subsurface understanding and mitigate risks in exploration.

• According to officials, the proposed NDR will generate, validate, archive, preserve, reproduce and disseminate all data and samples relating to prospecting, exploration, development and production of hydrocarbons.

• The body will also promote and facilitate data disclosure, data reporting, data exchange and data trading between the Central Government or its nominee and other parties.

• The proposed body will also create and maintain a modern platform for effective application of data analytics, reporting, mapping, and visualization techniques.

• It will also encourage new prospecting, exploration, development and production activities by providing high quality and reliable geo-scientific and engineering data.

INFLATION EXPECTATIONS OF HOUSEHOLD SURVEY:

Context : The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) announced the launch of the next round of household surveys to capture inflation expectations and consumer confidence, which provide useful inputs for its monetary policy.

Concept :

• RBI said it aims to capture subjective assessments on price movements and inflation from about 6,000 households based on their individual consumption baskets across 18 cities.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

• The survey is conducted regularly across 13 cities -- Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Bhopal, Chennai, Delhi, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai, Patna and Thiruvananthapuram. The survey covers about 5,400 respondents across 13 cities.

• The survey seeks qualitative responses from households on price changes (general prices as well as prices of specific product groups) in the next three months as well as in the next one year and quantitative responses on current, three-month ahead and one-year ahead inflation rates.

• The RBI said the result of the surveys provides useful inputs for monetary policy. The next meeting of the Monetary Policy Committee, the rate-setting panel, is scheduled for February 3-5, 2021.

INSIDER TRADING: Context: The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) imposed penalties totaling Rs 70 crore on Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL), its chairman & managing director and two other entities for alleged manipulative trading in the shares of erstwhile Reliance Petroleum Ltd (RPL) in November 2007.

Concept:

• The RPL case has been hanging fire for the last 13 years. RIL had sold 4.1 per cent of its stake in RPL. However, to prevent a plunge in the RPL share price, the equity was apparently sold first in the futures market and later in the spot market.

• The crux of the Sebi notice is that the company was aware there would be a sale of shares in the spot market and hence, its sales in the futures market before that amounted to insider trading.

Insider Trading

• Insider trading is the buying or selling of a publicly-traded company’s shares/debt papers by someone who has confidential information about that shares/debt papers.

• Insider trading is defined as a malpractice wherein trade of a company’s securities is undertaken by people who by virtue of their work have access to the otherwise non-public information/confidential information which can be crucial for making investment decisions.

• When insiders, e.g. key employees or executives who have access to the strategic information about the company, use the same for trading in the company’s stocks or securities, it is called insider trading.

• An insider is a person who possesses either access to valuable non-public information about a corporation or ownership of stock equaling more than 10% of a firm’s equity. This makes a company’s directors and high-level executives insiders.

Mechanism to prevent insider trading

• According to SEBI Promoters will be held responsible for violation of insider trading norms, if they possess unpublished price-sensitive information (UPSI) regarding the company without any “legitimate purpose".

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

• Legitimate purpose – Sharing of the UPSI by an insider with partners, collaborators, lenders, customers, suppliers, merchant bankers, legal advisors, auditors, insolvency professionals or other advisors or consultants, provided that such sharing has not been carried out to evade or circumvent the prohibitions of these regulations.

Recommendation of Kotak committee

• The committee has recommended flow of unpublished price sensitive information (UPSI) shall be considered for ‘legitimate purpose’, and not an offence under the SEBI (Insider Trading) for those who:

Is part of the promoter group.

Has a nominee director on the board.

• The information should be pursuant to a formal agreement in accordance with the regulations.

• Communication of information must comply with the Insider Trading Regulations.

FAME INDIA SCHEME: Concept :

• FAME India is a part of the National Electric Mobility Mission Plan. Main thrust of FAME is to encourage electric vehicles by providing subsidies.

• The FAME India Scheme is aimed at incentivising all vehicle segments.

Two phases of the scheme:

• Phase I: started in 2015 and was completed on 31st March, 2019

• Phase II: started from April, 2019, will be completed by 31st March, 2022

• The scheme covers Hybrid & Electric technologies like Mild Hybrid, Strong Hybrid, Plug in Hybrid & Battery Electric Vehicles.

• Monitoring Authority: Department of Heavy Industries, the Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises.

• Fame India Scheme has four focus Areas:

Technology development

Demand Creation

Pilot Projects

Charging Infrastructure

Objectives of FAME Scheme:

• Encourage faster adoption of electric and hybrid vehicles by way of offering upfront Incentive on purchase of Electric vehicles.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

• Establish a necessary charging Infrastructure for electric vehicles.

• To address the issue of environmental pollution and fuel security.

Salient Features of Phase II:

• Emphasis on electrification of the public transportation that includes shared transport.

• This phase aims to support, through subsidies, approximately 7000 e-Buses, 5 lakh e-3 Wheelers, 55000 e-4 Wheeler Passenger Cars and 10 lakh e-2 Wheelers.

• In 3-Wheel (W) and 4-Wheel (W) segment incentives will be applicable mainly to vehicles used for public transport or registered for commercial purposes.

• In the 2-Wheel (W) segment, the focus will be on the private vehicles.

• To encourage advanced technologies, the benefits of incentives will be extended to only those vehicles which are fitted with advanced batteries like a Lithium Ion battery and other new technology batteries.

• The scheme proposes for establishment of charging infrastructure, whereby about 2700 charging stations will be established in metros, other million plus cities, smart cities and cities of Hilly states across the country so that there will be availability of at least one charging station in a grid of 3 km x 3 km.

• Establishment of Charging stations are also proposed on major highways connecting major city clusters.

• On such highways, charging stations will be established on both sides of the road at an interval of about 25 km each.

COMPULSORY LICENSING: Context: The central government recently published the Patent (Amendment) Rules, 2020 amending the format of a statement that patentees and licensees are required to annually submit to the Patent Office disclosing the extent to which they have commercially worked or made the patented inventions available to the public in the country Concept:  The amendment has significantly watered down the disclosure format, and this could hamper the effectiveness of India’s compulsory licensing regime which depends on full disclosure of patent working information. What is a Patent?  The Patents Act, 1970 was amended three times in 1999, 2002, 2005 respectively to include the concept of ‘compulsory license’ and these are given in the sections 84-92 of the Indian Patents Act, 1970.  A patent is an exclusive right granted for an invention, whether it is a product or a process which gives a new technical solution to a problem, and this patent is granted for a specific period to the inventor. What are ‘compulsory licenses’ under the Patents Act?

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

 In simple terms, compulsory licenses are authorizations given to a third-party by the Government to make, use or sell a particular product or use a particular process which has been patented, without the need of the permission of the patent owner.  The provisions regarding compulsory licenses are given in the Indian Patents Act, 1970 and in the TRIPS (Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights) Agreement at the International level.  Although this works against the patent holder, generally compulsory licenses are only considered in certain cases of national emergency, and health crisis. There are certain pre- requisite conditions which need to be fulfilled if the Government wants to grant a compulsory license in favor of someone.  Under Indian Patents Act, 1970 the provisions of ‘compulsory license’ are specifically given under Chapter XVI, and the conditions which need to be fulfilled are given is Sections 84-92 of the said Act. Section 84  At any time after the expiration of three years from the date of the grant of a patent, any person interested may make an application to the Controller for grant of compulsory license on patent on any of the following grounds, namely: a) That the reasonable requirements of the public with respect to the patented invention have not been satisfied, or b) that the patented invention is not available to the public at a reasonably affordable price, or c) that the patented invention is not worked in the territory of India.  However compulsory licenses may also be granted under , Section 92 A- For exports, under exceptional circumstances. Section 92A- In case of national emergency, extreme urgency of public non-commercial use by notification of the Central Government Section 92 A (1) – To a country which has insufficient or no manufacturing power in the pharmaceutical sector to address public health.

LITHIUM TRIANGLE: Context : India, through a newly-floated state-owned company, inked a pact with an Argentine firm mid-last year to jointly prospect lithium in the South American country that has the third largest reserves of the silver-white alkali metal — a crucial building block of the lithium-ion rechargeable batteries. Concept:  The new company, Khanij Bidesh India Ltd — incorporated in August, 2019 by three state- owned companies, NALCO, Hindustan Copper and Mineral Exploration Ltd, with a specific mandate to acquire strategic mineral assets such as lithium and cobalt abroad — is also learnt to be exploring options in Chile and Bolivia, two other top lithium-producing countries. Lithium Triangle  Lithium Triangle is an intersection of Chile, Bolivia and Argentina, known for high quality salt flats.  Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia, Salar de Atacama in Chile and Salar de Arizaro in Argentina contains over 45%of known global lithium reserves.  Beneath Salar de Uyuni, the world’s largest salt flat lies the world’s greatest lithium deposits.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

 Bolivia, one of South America’s poorest countries, envisions development by harvesting lithium on an industrial scale from underground saltwater brines.  It can be mined from rock or processed from brine.  Lithium dissolved in underground saline aquifers called “brine”, pumped to surface by wells and then allowed to evaporate in vast knee-deep ponds. About Lithium  Lithium is a chemical element with symbol Li and atomic number 3.  It is a soft, silvery-white alkali metal.  Under standard conditions, it is the lightest metal and the lightest solid element.  Lithium is highly reactive and flammable, and is stored in mineral oil.  It never occurs freely in nature, but only in (usually ionic) compounds, such as pegmatitic minerals, which were once the main source of lithium.  Due to its solubility as an ion, it is present in ocean water and is commonly obtained from brines.  Lithium metal is isolated electrolytically from a mixture of lithium chloride and potassium chloride. Applications  Lithium and its compounds have several industrial applications, including heat-resistant glass and ceramics, lithium grease lubricants, flux additives for iron, steel and aluminium production, lithium batteries, and lithium-ion batteries.  It works with other elements, drugs, enzymes, hormones, vitamins, and growth factors in the body in many different ways. People use it for medicine.  Lithium salts have proven to be useful as a mood-stabilizing drug in the treatment of bipolar disorder in humans.

DEVELOPMENT FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS: Context: In her last Budget speech, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman proposed to set up DFIs for promoting infrastructure funding. Concept:  About 7,000 projects were identified under the National Infrastructure Pipeline (NIP) with projected investment of a whopping ₹111-lakh crore during 2020-25.  The proposed DFI would play a key developmental role, apart from providing conventional innovative financial mechanisms. DFI  Development finance institutions or development finance companies are organizations owned by the government or charitable institution to provide funds for low-capital projects or where their borrowers are unable to get it from commercial lenders.  Types of Finance provided are – Medium (1 – 5 years) and Long term ( >5 years). Classification  The Development Finance Institutions can be classified into four categories:  National Development Banks Ex: IDBI, SIDBI, ICICI, IFCI, IRBI, IDFC  Sector specific financial institutions Ex: TFCI, EXIM Bank, NABARD, HDFC, NHB  Investment Institutions Ex: LIC, GIC and UTI  State level institutions Ex: State Finance Corporations and SIDCs. Reasons for Decline

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

 After 2000-2001, the prominence of development banking has started to decline as many firms from development banking had quit post liberalization  DFIs suffered huge NPAs, with many sliding to actual or near unviable status. It was also noted that (Desai-1999) the DFIs had failed in several crucial areas.  They financed industrial groups rather than new entrepreneurs, diluted the standard of scrutiny of proposals, had weak project/ implementation monitoring skills, etc. The report also noted that DFIs had inherited a bureaucratic attitude, which prevented a comprehensive achievement of their founding objectives.  This state of affairs confronted the two Narasimham Committee on Financial Sector Reforms in the 1990s which noted that the DFIs may not be viable, since these institutions were raising funds at the current market rates and lending to businesses with long gestation and often high risk of failubjre with high credit cost.

FACELESS TAX SCHEME: Context : The government’s faceless tax assessment scheme, an attempt to remove individual tax officials’ discretion and potential harassment for income tax payers, has managed to deliver about 24,000 final orders since its introduction in August 2020.

Concept:

 The government has now passed the Taxation and Other laws (Relaxation and Amendment of certain Provisions) Act, 2020 on September 2020 to incorporate the Faceless Assessment Scheme under the provisions of Income Tax Act, 1961.

Key Features

 The National Faceless Assessment Centre (NFAC) will serve a notice to the taxpayer under section 143(2) of the Act. The taxpayer should file his/her response to the notice within 15 days of receipt of the notice from the NFAC.

 The NFAC will assign the case selected for the purpose of faceless assessment to a specific assessment unit in any one Regional Faceless Assessment Centre (RFAC) through an automated allocation system (AAS).

 After considering the material available on record, the assessment unit will prepare draft assessment order either accepting or modifying the returned income of the taxpayer and send it to NFAC along with the details of penalty proceedings to be initiated (if any).

 The NFAC will examine the draft assessment order in accordance with the risk management strategy by way of an automated examination tool.

 NFAC will then finalise the assessment and serve the order to the tax payer or issue a show cause notice to the taxpayer. NFAC can even assign the draft order to the review unit through AAS if required.

Significance

 Taxpayer has to comply with assessment without requirement for physical attendance in the offices of the Income tax Department.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

 Faceless assessment is expected bring positive changes to the assessment system, thereby saving travel time and cost for the taxpayer.

 Being environment friendly as there will not be any submission made physically, review by more than one assessment unit for a single assessment making the entire assessment process more transparent and objective.

EXIM BANK: Context : The Exim Bank is in the international bond market with a more than $1 billion dollar money issue, merchant bankers said.

Concept:

 Export-Import Bank of India is a wholly owned Govt. of India entity which was established in 1982.

 HQ : New Delhi

 Aim : financing, facilitating and promoting foreign trade of India.

 The EXIM bank extends Line of Credit (loC) to overseas financial institutions, regional development banks, sovereign governments and other entities abroad.

 Thus the EXIM Banks enables buyers in those countries to import developmental and infrastructure, equipment’s, goods and services from India on deferred credit terms.

 The bank also facilitates investment by Indian companies abroad for setting up joint ventures, subsidiaries or overseas acquisitions.

Functions of the EXIM Bank

 It finances the import and export of goods and services from India and countries other than India.

 Provides refinancing services to banks and other financial institutes for their financing of foreign trade

 The bank also provides technical and other assistance to importers and exporters. Depending on the country of origin there are a lot of processes and procedures involved in the import-export of goods. The EXIM bank will provide guidance and assistance in administrative matters as well.

 Will also underwrite shares/debentures/stocks/bonds of companies engaged in foreign trade.

 Will offer short-term loans or lines of credit to foreign banks and governments.

 EXIM bank can also provide business advisory services and expert knowledge to Indian exporters in respect of multi-funded projects in foreign countries.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

CYBER FRAUDS AGAINST EXPORTERS: Context : The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has warned the Commerce Ministry on the increasing number of phishing cyber frauds taking place against Indian exporters.

Concept :

 The MEA has informed that email spoofing/phishing cyber frauds are causing increased bilateral trade disputes.

 Though this is registered as a cybercrime in the respective jurisdictions of the country, the authorities cannot do much to reverse the transaction.

 The victims end up being the Indian exporters who after supplying the goods, have neither the goods in their possession nor have received payment for it.

Preventive Measures

 The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), under the Commerce Ministry, has in turn advised export organisations and all traders to implement necessary security protocols for protection.

 Such problems can be largely resolved by implementing security protocols such as Sender Policy Framework (SPF), Domain Keys identified Mail (DKIM) and Domain- based Message Authentication Reporting & Conformance (DMARC).

 SPF, DKIM, and DMARC are protocols for standard email signatures which meet various safety issues and all three must be implemented in order to ensure the best possible deliverability.

 All three prove that the sender is legitimate that their identity has not been compromised and that they’re not sending email on behalf of someone else. They are all based on the Domain Name System (DNS) of the domain.

 It was also proposed that exporters could confirm bank details by another channel such as a secure voice line.

Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT):

 It is an agency of the Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry and is responsible for implementing the country’s foreign trade policy. It was established in 1991.

 It has headquarters in New Delhi with 38 regional offices all over the country.

 It is headed by the Director-General of Foreign Trade. The Appointments Committee of Cabinet (ACC) appoints the DGFT.

 It is responsible for administering laws regarding foreign trade and foreign investment in India and for the execution of India’s import and export Policy.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

 It offers facilitation to exporters in connection with developments in international trade such as WTO Agreements, Rules of Origin etc. to aid them in their export and import decisions in an international dynamic environment.

G-TAM: Context: In December, 90 million units of electricity were sold in G-TAM (Green Term Ahead Market) of India's Biggest Energy Exchange, the IEX.

Concept:

G-TAM

• Green Term Ahead Market (GTAM) in electricity launched as a first step towards greening the Indian short term power market.

• It is an alternative new model introduced for selling off the power by the renewable developers in the open market on daily and short term basis without getting into long term PPAs.(Power Purchase Agreements).

Features of G-TAM:

• Transactions through GTAM will be bilateral in nature with clear identification of corresponding buyers and sellers, there will not be any difficulty in accounting for RPO.

• GTAM contracts will be segregated into Solar RPO & Non-Solar RPO as RPO targets are also segregated.

• Further, within the two segments, GTAM contracts will have Green Intraday, Day Ahead Contingency, Daily and Weekly Contracts

• Green Intraday Contract & Day Ahead Contingency Contract – Bidding will take place on a 15-minute time-block wise MW basis.

• Daily & Weekly Contracts – Bidding will take place on an MWh basis.

• Price discovery will take place on a continuous basis i.e. price-time priority basis. Subsequently, looking at the market conditions open auction can be introduced for daily & weekly contracts.

• Energy scheduled through GTAM contract shall be considered as deemed Renewable Purchase Obligations(RPO) compliance of the buyer.

Significance

• The introduction of GTAM platform would lessen the burden on RE-rich States and incentivize them to develop RE capacity beyond their own RPO.

• This would promote RE merchant capacity addition and help in achieving RE capacity addition targets of the country.

• GTAM platform will also lead to increase in number of participants in renewable energy sector.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

• It will benefit buyers of RE through competitive prices and transparent and flexible procurement.

AEPS AND ABPS: Concept:

Aadhaar Enabled Payment system (AEPS)

• Enabled Payment System is a payment service empowering a bank customer to use Aadhaar as his/her identity to access his/ her respective Aadhaar enabled bank account and perform basic banking transactions.

• This initiative has been taken up by National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), which is an umbrella organization for all retail payments system in India and was started by joint efforts of Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and Indian Banks’ Association (IBA).

• Under AEPS currently following services are present:

Balance Enquiry

Aadhaar to Aadhaar Fund Transfer

Cash Withdrawal

Cash Deposit

Best finger detection.

Benefits of AEPS :

• Aadhaar enabled Payment system is easy to use, safe and secure payment platform to avail benefits by using Aadhaar number & finger prints.

• Aadhaar enabled Payment System facilitate disbursements of Government entitlements like NREGA, Social Security pension, Handicapped Old Age Pension etc. of any Central or State Government bodies, using Aadhaar authentication.

• Aadhaar enabled Payment System facilitates inter-operability across banks in a safe and secured manner - Reaching the unreached.

• The model enable banks to extend financial services to the unreached clients beyond their branch network as beneficiaries of the BCs are mostly located at unbanked and underbanked areas.

Aadhaar Payment Bridge System

• APBS is a gateway created by National Payments Corporation of India to enable departments and agencies administering government schemes to transfer funds to Aadhaar- enabled bank accounts of beneficiaries.

• It acts on the principle that a person’s Aadhaar number becomes their financial address.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

• Instead of providing multiple account details to receive a bank transfer, one only has to provide their Aadhaar number which significantly eases out the entire process.

• Induction of a bank account into APBS involves two distinct steps, both of which are meant to be based on informed consent. First, the account must be linked or ‘Seeded’ with the customer’s Aadhaar number.

• Second, it must be connected to the NPCI mapper, which serves as a repository of Aadhaar numbers linked with particular bank and used for the purpose of routing the Aadhaar based payment transactions to the destination banks. This step is known as “mapping”.

• In cases of multiple accounts for the same person, the APBS automatically sends money to the latest-mapped account.

Benefits of APBS

• It sub-serves the goal of financial inclusion and provides an opportunity to the government to attempt financial re-engineering of its subsidy management program.

• The implementation of ABP System has also led to electronification of a large number of retail payment transaction which were predominantly either in cash or cheque.

• It eliminates inordinate delays, multiple channels & paper-work involved in the existing system making the process less cumbersome and eco-friendly and transfers benefits & subsidies in a seamless & timely manner and directly into the Aadhaar Enabled Bank Account.

NATIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE PIPELINE: Context: Finance and Corporate Affairs Minister Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday reviewed the progress of the National Infrastructure Pipeline (NIP) as the government seeks to accelerate infrastructure spending in the economy.

Concept:

• The NIP has been expanded from 6,385 projects at the time of its introduction a year ago, to more than 7,300 projects, and is making progress despite the pandemic, the government said in a statement.

About NIP:

• NIP was announced in union budget in 2019-20 for an outlay of Rs 100 lakh Crore for infrastructure projects over the next 5 years.

• NIP is a first-of-its-kind initiative to provide world-class infrastructure across the country and improve the quality of life for all citizens.

• It will improve project preparation, attract investments (both domestic & foreign) into infrastructure, and will be crucial for attaining the target of becoming a $5 trillion economy by FY 2025.

• Covers both economic and social infrastructure projects.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

Atanu Chakraborty Report:

• The task force headed by Atanu Chakraborty on National Infrastructure Pipeline (NIP), in May 2020, submitted its final report to the Finance Minister. It has recommended the following ,

• Investment needed: ₹111 lakh crore over the next five years (2020-2025) to build infrastructure projects and drive economic growth.

• Energy, roads, railways and urban projects are estimated to account for the bulk of projects (around 70%).

• The centre (39 percent) and state (40 percent) are expected to have an almost equal sharein implementing the projects, while the private sector has 21 percent share.

• Aggressive push towards asset sales.

• Monetisation of infrastructure assets.

• Setting up of development finance institutions.

• Strengthening the municipal bond market.

PURCHASING MANAGER'S INDEX : Context: India’s services sector activity expanded at a slower pace in December as growth in sales eased to a three-month low and staff hiring came to a halt amid weak business optimism, a PMI survey showed.

Concept:

• The Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) is an index of the prevailing direction of economic trends in the manufacturing and service sectors.

• It consists of a diffusion index that summarizes whether market conditions, as viewed by purchasing managers, are expanding, staying the same, or contracting.

• The purpose of the PMI is to provide information about current and future business conditions to company decision makers, analysts, and investors.

• The PMI is a number from 0 to 100.

PMI above 50 represents an expansion when compared to the previous month;

PMI under 50 represents a contraction, and

A reading at 50 indicates no change.

• If PMI of the previous month is higher than the PMI of the current month (as is the case mentioned above), it represents that the economy is contracting.

• The PMI is usually released at the start of every month.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

It is calculated separately for the manufacturing and services sectors and then a composite index is constructed.

COLLEGE OF SUPERVISORS: Context: Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on January 6 said it is now fully operationalising a College of Supervisors (CoS) to further strengthen supervision over regulated entities.

Concept:

• Reserve Bank had set up a College of Supervisors (CoS) to augment and reinforce supervisory skills among its regulatory and supervisory staff both at entry level and on a continuous basis.

• This was done to facilitate the development of unified and focused supervision by providing training and other developmental inputs to the concerned staff.

• The CoS will have a full-time Director supported by an Academic Advisory Council (AAC).

• The Cos will be headed by former deputy governor N S Viswanathan and will have five other members.

• The AAC will identify areas where skill building/up-skilling are required, plan and develop curricula of all programmes, benchmark the programmes with international standards/best practices, develop appropriate teaching methods, etc.

• The full-fledged operationalisation of the CoS will further contribute to effective oversight of the regulated entities by augmenting and ensuring a consistent quality of supervisory resources pool.

FIAT MONEY:

Context: There are parallels between bitcoin and gold. Both are the opposite of fiat money—i.e., their value is independent of any controlling authority—and both have a limited stock of supply.

Concept:

 Fiat money is government-issued currency that is not backed by a physical commodity, such as gold or silver, but rather by the government that issued it.

 The value of fiat money is derived from the relationship between supply and demand and the stability of the issuing government, rather than the worth of a commodity backing it as is the case for commodity money.

 Most modern paper currencies are fiat currencies, including the U.S. dollar, the euro, and other major global currencies.

Fiat Money vs Legal Tender

 Fiat money has no intrinsic value, while legal tender is any currency declared legal by a government.

 Governments can issue fiat currency and make it legal tender by setting it as the standard for

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

debt repayment.

 The benefit of fiat money is that it gives central banks greater control over the economy, but governments can print too much money and create hyperinflation.

 The U.S. dollar , Indian Rupee etc are both fiat money and legal tender.

SPECTRUM AUCTIONS: Context: Department of Telecommunications (DoT) said on Wednesday (January 6) that auctions for 4G spectrum in the 700, 800, 900, 1,800, 2,100, 2,300, and 2,500 MHz bands will begin from March 1. Licence holders have until February 5 to submit their applications.

Concept:

 The last spectrum auctions were held in 2016, when the government offered 2,354.55 MHz at a reserve price of Rs 5.60 lakh crore(only 40% of the spectrum was sold out).

 The need for a new spectrum auction has arisen because the validity of the airwaves bought by companies is set to expire in 2021.

 The government plans to sell spectrum for 4G in the 700, 800, 900, 1,800, 2,100, 2,300, and 2,500 MHz frequency bands.

 The reserve price of all these bands together has been fixed at Rs 3.92 lakh crore for the upcoming auctions. Depending on the demand from various companies, the price of the airwaves may go higher, but cannot go below the reserve price.

 Deferred payment plan : Bidders for the sub-1 GHz bands of 700, 800 and 900 MHz can opt to pay 25 per cent of the bid amount now, and the rest later.

 In the above-1 GHz bands of 1,800, 2,100, 2,300, and 2,500 MHz frequency bands, bidders will have to pay 50 per cent upfront, and can then opt to pay the rest in equated annual instalments.

 The successful bidders will, however, have to pay 3 per cent of Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR) as spectrum usage charges, excluding wireline services.

What is Spectrum Auction ?

 Energy travels in the form of waves known as electromagnetic waves, these waves differ from each other in terms of frequencies, and this whole range of frequencies is called the spectrum.

 In Telecom, like TV, radio and GPRS, electromagnetic waves of different wavelengths are used, they are divided into bands based on frequencies.

 In telecommunication

 A spectrum auction is a process whereby a government uses an auction system to sell the rights (licences) to transmit signals over specific bands of the electromagnetic spectrum and to assign scarce spectrum resources.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

 Spectrum auctions makes use of natural resources for revenue raising and ensuring economic development.

Adjusted Gross Revenue

 Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR) is the usage and licensing fee that telecom operators are charged by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT).

 It is divided into spectrum usage charges and licensing fees, pegged between 3-5 percent and 8 percent respectively.

 As per DoT, the charges are calculated based on all revenues earned by a telco – including non-telecom related sources such as deposit interests and asset sales.

FIRST ADVANCE ESTIMATES:

Context : Pulled down by a sharp contraction in the services, manufacturing and mining sectors, India’s gross domestic product (GDP) will contract 7.7 per cent in the current financial year as against a growth of 4.2 per cent in the previous fiscal.

Concept :

 National Statistical Office has released the first advance estimates for India's GDP for the year 2020-21.

 The estimates will be based on the growth numbers of the first two quarters of the current fiscal as well as other higher frequency data.

 The data is typically released one month ahead of the presentation of the Union budget.

 Prior to 2017, the first advance estimate used to be released in the last week of January as the budget was presented on 28 February.

 However, since 2017, the data has been released in the first week of January to help the government prepare its budget presented on 1 February.

First Advance Estimates and their significance

 The First Advance Estimates (FAE) extrapolate a variety of data, such as the Index of Industrial Production (IIP), the financial performance of listed companies, first advance estimates of crop production etc., for the first 7 to 8 months to arrive at the annual figure.

 The significance of the FAE is that this is the final bit of official data before the government presents its next Budget.

 The sector-wise Estimates are obtained by extrapolation of indicators like-

IIP of first 7 months of the financial year,

financial performance of Listed Companies in the Private Corporate sector available upto quarter ending September, 2019

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

1st Advance Estimates of Crop production,

accounts of Central & State Governments, information on indicators like Deposits & Credits, Passenger and Freight earnings of Railways, Passengers and Cargo handled by Civil Aviation, Cargo etc., available for first 8 months of the financial year.

EQUALISATION LEVY : Context : government had moved an amendment in the Finance Bill 2020-21 imposing a 2 per cent digital service tax (DST) on trade and services by non-resident e-commerce operators with a turnover of over Rs 2 crore.

Concept :

 It effectively expands the scope of equalisation levy that was applied to digital advertising services only till last year.

 The new levy came into effect from April 1. E-commerce operators are obligated to pay the tax at the end of each quarter.

 The USTR analysis has identified 119 companies likely subject to India’s DST, of which 86 (72 per cent) are US companies, followed by China and the UK with 7 companies each, France with 6 companies, and Japan with 5.

Equalisation Levy

 Government introduced vide Budget 2016, the equalisation levy to give effect to one of the recommendations of the BEPS (Base Erosion and Profit Shifting) Action Plan.

 Equalisation Levy is a direct tax, which is withheld at the time of payment by the service recipient. The two conditions to be met to be liable to equalisation levy:

 The payment should be made to a non-resident service provider;

 The annual payment made to one service provider exceeds Rs. 1,00,000 in one financial year.

 Currently, not all services are covered under the ambit of equalisation Levy. The following services covered:

 Online advertisement;

 Any provision for digital advertising space or facilities/ service for the purpose of online advertisement;

 Now , Government has expanded its scope to all Digital Trade and Services.

BEPS (Base Erosion and Profit Shifting)

 Base erosion and profit shifting refers to the phenomenon where companies shift their profits to other tax jurisdictions, which usually have lower rates, thereby eroding the tax base in India.

TRADE BARRIERS, TPR , MFN:

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

Context : The US, China and the European Union (EU) have come down heavily on India for its “rising trade barriers and restrictive investment policies” at the Geneva-based World Trade Organization (WTO).

Concept :

 According to the official, the US has said that since India’s last TPR, which took place in 2015, New Delhi has increased the country’s average ‘Most Favoured Nation’ (MFN) tariff rate to 17.6 per cent in 2019 from 13.5 per cent in 2015.

Trade Policy Review :

 The TPR is an important mechanism under the WTO’s monitoring function and involves a comprehensive peer-review of a member country’s trade and economic policies.

 It is being carried out under the aegis of WTO’s General Council, its highest decision-making body.

Most Favoured Nation (MFN) tariff

 MFN tariffs are what countries promise to impose on imports from other members of the WTO, unless the country is part of a preferential trade agreement. In other words, MFN rates are the highest rates that WTO members charge one another.

Non - Tariff Trade Barriers

 A nontariff barrier is a way to restrict trade using trade barriers in a form other than a tariff.

 Nontariff barriers include quotas, embargoes, sanctions, and levies.

 As part of their political or economic strategy, some countries frequently use nontariff barriers to restrict the amount of trade they conduct with other countries.

Types of Nontariff Barriers

 Licenses : Countries may use licenses to limit imported goods to specific businesses. If a business is granted a trade license, it is permitted to import goods that would otherwise be restricted for trade in the country.

 Example : Sanitary and Phytosanitary measures and other technical barriers etc

 Quotas : Countries often issue quotas for importing and exporting both goods and services. With quotas, countries agree on specified limits for products and services allowed for importation to a country.

 Embargoes : Embargoes are when a country–or several countries–officially ban the trade of specified goods and services with another country.

 Sanctions : Countries impose sanctions on other countries to limit their trade activity. Sanctions can include increased administrative actions–or additional customs and trade procedures–that slow or limit a country’s ability to trade.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

 Voluntary Export Restraints : Exporting countries sometimes use voluntary export restraints. Voluntary export restraints set limits on the number of goods and services a country can export to specified countries.

Tariff Barriers

 Tariffs are a type of protectionist trade barrier that can come in several forms.

 Tariff barriers can include a customs levy or tariff on goods entering a country and are imposed by a government. Free trade agreements seek to reduce tariff barriers.

 While tariffs may benefit a few domestic sectors, economists agree that free trade policies in a global market are ideal.

 Tariffs are paid by domestic consumers and not the exporting country, but they have the effect of raising the relative prices of imported products.

 Specific Tariffs : A fixed fee levied on one unit of an imported good is referred to as a specific tariff. This tariff can vary according to the type of good imported.

 For example, a country could levy a $15 tariff on each pair of shoes imported, but levy a $300 tariff on each computer imported.

 Ad Valorem Tariffs : This type of tariff is levied on a good based on a percentage of that good's value. An example of an ad valorem tariff would be a 15% tariff levied by Japan on U.S. automobiles.

 Anti - Dumping Duty : An anti-dumping duty is a protectionist tariff that a domestic government imposes on foreign imports that it believes are priced below fair market value.

 Dumping is a process wherein a company exports a product at a price that is significantly lower than the price it normally charges in its home (or its domestic) market.

 Countervailing Duties : They are applicable when a foreign government provides subsidies or assistance to a local industry. This can be in the form of low-rate loans, tax exemptions, or indirect payments.

 The assistance provided enables these suppliers and manufacturers to potentially export and sell the goods for less than domestic companies.

GROSS VALUE ADDED: Context : The 7.2% fall in gross value added (GVA) for 2020-21, as per the National Statistical Office’s first advance estimates released on Thursday, would be the sharpest ever recorded in India.

Concept :

Gross Value Added

• In 2015, India opted to make major changes to its compilation of national accounts and decided to bring the whole process into conformity with the United Nations System of National Accounts (SNA) of 2008.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

• The SNA is the internationally agreed standard set of recommendations on how to compile measures of economic activity.

• As per the SNA, GVA is defined as the value of output minus the value of intermediate consumption and is a measure of the contribution to growth made by an individual producer, industry or sector.

• It provides the rupee value for the number of goods and services produced in an economy after deducting the cost of inputs and raw materials that have gone into the production of those goods and services.

• It can be described as the main entry on the income side of the nation’s accounting balance sheet, and from an economics perspective represents the supply side.

• At the macro level, from a national accounting perspective, GVA is the sum of a country’s GDP and net of subsidies and taxes in the economy.

• Gross Value Added = GDP + subsidies on products - taxes on products

• Earlier, India had been measuring GVA at ‘factor cost’ till the new methodology was adopted in which GVA at ‘basic prices’ became the primary measure of economic output.

• GVA at basic prices will include production taxes and exclude production subsidies.

• GVA at factor cost included no taxes and excluded no subsidies.

• The base year has also been shifted to 2011-12 from the earlier 2004-05.

• The NSO provides both quarterly and annual estimates of output of GVA. It provides sectoral classification data on eight broad categories that includes both goods produced and services provided in the economy.

FOLLOW ON PUBLIC OFFER: Context : Capital markets watchdog SEBI relaxed the framework for follow-on public offers (FPOs), a move that will help promoters of companies to raise funds more easily through this route.

Concept :

• The applicability of minimum promoters’ contribution norm and the subsequent lock-in requirements for the issuers making the FPO have been done away with by the regulator, as per a notification.

• Earlier, promoters were mandated to contribute 20% towards a FPO.

• Besides, in case of any issue of capital to the public, the minimum promoters’ contribution was required to be locked-in for three years.

• SEBI said the relaxation would be available for those companies which are frequently traded on a stock exchange for at least three years. Also, such firms should have redressed 95% of investor complaints.

Follow on Public Offer

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

• A follow-on public offer (FPO), also known as a secondary offering, is the additional issuance of shares after the initial public offering (IPO).

• Companies usually announce FPOs to raise equity or reduce debt.

• The two main types of FPOs are dilutive—meaning new shares are added—and non- dilutive—meaning existing private shares are sold publicly.

• An at-the-market offering (ATM) is a type of FPO by which a company can offer secondary public shares on any given day, usually depending on the prevailing market price, to raise capital.

Expenditure budget: Context: Government looks at expenditure budget to revive growth. Concept:  With less than 1.5% of GDP as additional spending in pandemic year government has significant scope for spending as recent green shoots in economy if supported by further public investment can help the growth of the economy.  British economist John Maynard Keynes had argued that free markets cannot be relied upon to fuel GDP growth when there is a recession, of the kind India and the world, has witnessed in 2020 following the Covid-19 pandemic.  India witnessed contraction of discretionary expenditure by consumer leading to fall in demand and hence private sector investing less. Thus, it necessiates more spending by the government. About expenditure budget:  Expenditure budget provides all the information about the total finance of the Union in a financial year.  It divides expenditure in two parts: capital expenditure and revenue expenditure. While the former results in the creation of a physical asset or investment, the latter comprises mainly operational expenses such as payment of wages, pensions, subsidies, and interest.  Revenue expenditure does not lead to any asset creation or reduction of liabilities. Whereas capital expenditure yields asset or invested in sectors which will yield dividend in future (Ex- Skill).  Expenditure budget has two components: 1. Charged expenditure: According to Article 112 (3) and Article 202 (3) of the Constitution of India, certain expenditure does not require a vote and is charged to the Consolidated Fund. They include: Salary, allowances and pension for the President as well as Governors of States, Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the House of People, the Comptroller General of India and Judges of the Supreme and High Courts. They also include interest and other debt related charges of the Government and any sums required to satisfy any court judgment pertaining to the Government. 2. Voted expenditure: Other revenue and capital expenditure which need approval of the Lok Sabha.  The information about both capital and revenue expenditure is further given in two separate categories as charged and voted expenditure as per the requirement of voting in the Lok Sabha.  The demands for grants in budget include both charged and voted expenditure.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

Gas pipeline from Kochi to Bengaluru: Context: Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicated to the nation the Kochi-Mangaluru natural gas pipeline of the Gail Authority of India Limited (GAIL). Concept:

 It is South India’s first LNG-receiving, regasification and re-loading terminal with a capacity of five million metric tonnes per annum.  It will deliver liquefied natural gas (LNG) sourced from a terminal in Kochi to region.  It is part of the project in existence since 2007 and envisages pipelines from Kochi to Mangaluru and to Bengaluru (delayed due to protests in Kerala).  First phase saw laying of infrastructure in Kochi and in second phase which completed extended it to Mangaluru and work on connecting Bengaluru is going on.  It seeks to supply LNG to industrial and residential customers.

Pre-pack: Context: According to the report submitted by the panel headed by Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India chairman M S Sahoo, the ‘pre-pack’ insolvency scheme will be available for any stress i.e., pre-default and post-default. Concept:  The scheme is sought to be put in place to for the identification of stress in the banking system, facilitate fast resolution of bad loans before the debtor faces substantial value erosion and reduce costs and litigation.  This seeks to ensure resolution of the debt of a distressed company.  It seeks to do it through an agreement between investors and secured creditors unlike public bidding process in IBC.  It has a time limit of 90 days and 30 days for plan to be approved by NCLT. Sahoo panel recommendations on ‘pre-pack’  Implementation may be phased, starting with defaults from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 1 cr and Covid defaults  Eligible promoters to retain control of debtors  Usually, promoters will submit a base plan, which will face Swiss challenge  No liquidation for defaults below Rs 1 cr and Covid-19 defaults  Resolution plan to be submitted in 90 days; NCLT to approve it in 30 days  IBC may be amended quickly to roll out pre-pack, preferably by an Ordinance

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

Why pre-pack schemes?  Much faster: Current IBC process takes almost 270 days for corporate insolvency resolution.  Reduce litigation: As basis is prior consultation mong stakeholders. VANADIUM: Context: Exploration being carried out by Geological Survey of India (GSI) has placed Arunachal Pradesh on the vanadium map of the country. Concept:  Vanadium is a chemical element with the symbol V and atomic number 23.  It is a hard, silvery-grey, malleable transition metal.  The elemental metal is rarely found in nature, but once isolated artificially, the formation of an oxide layer (passivation) somewhat stabilizes the free metal against further oxidation. Deposits over world countries:  Vanadium occurs naturally in about 65 minerals and in fossil fuel deposits.  It is produced in China and Russia from steel smelter slag.  Other countries produce it either from magnetite directly, flue dust of heavy oil, or as a byproduct of uranium mining. Uses of Vanadium:  Vanadium alloys are durable in extreme temperature and environments, and are corrosion- resistant.  Its addition improves the tensile strength of steel and of reinforcing bars used for buildings, tunnels and bridges.  vanadium, a high-value metal used in strengthening steel and titanium.  It is mainly used to produce specialty steel alloys such as high-speed tool steels, and some aluminium alloys.  The most important industrial vanadium compound, vanadium pentoxide, is used as a catalyst for the production of sulfuric acid.  Apart from increasing fuel-efficiency in automotive and aviation industries due to its high strength-to-weight ratio, the metal forms the integral part of vanadium redox batteries that have the least ecological impact in energy storage. Toxicity:  Large amounts of vanadium ions are found in a few organisms, possibly as a toxin. The oxide and some other salts of vanadium have moderate toxicity.  Particularly in the ocean, vanadium is used by some life forms as an active center of enzymes, such as the vanadium bromoperoxidase of some ocean algae. About the findings in India: The expected grade of vanadium mineralisation in Arunachal Pradesh is comparable to the important vanadium deposits of the world. The largest deposits are in China, followed by Russia and South Africa,” according to the specialists.

INVERTED DUTY STRUCTURE: Budget may try to straighten ‘inverted duty’ structure to reduce its impact on the domestic industry. Concept: The inverted duty structure denotes prevalence of higher taxes on inputs than on finished items.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

Impacts of Inverted Duty Structure: According to FICCI, Inverted customs duty structure on finished goods is eroding competitiveness of the manufacturing sector and discouraging domestic value addition, as the same tariff on the raw material or intermediate product is lower.

Excise Duty: Concept: Excise duty is a form of tax imposed on goods for their production, licensing and sale. An indirect tax paid to the Government of India by producers of goods, excise duty is the opposite of Customs duty in that it applies to goods manufactured domestically in the country, while Customs is levied on those coming from outside of the country. Union Excise Duty: This is a duty on manufactured goods, which is levied at the time of manufacture. Union Excise Duty and GST: Excise duty is imposed in addition to an indirect tax such as goods & services tax (GST), sales tax or value-added tax (VAT). Eg: Petrol and Diesel The Budget estimate of the government's excise duty revenue for the year 2020-21 was Rs 2,67,000 crore. The revised estimates of excise duty for the 2019-20 Budget came at Rs 2,48,000 crore, while the actuals for the 2018-19 Budget stood at Rs 2,30,992 crore.

Consumer Price Index (CPI): Context: The Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose by 4.59 per cent in December. Concept:  CPI is a measure of retail inflation (WPI measure wholesale inflation) in economy. It is calculated on monthly basis. There is also an annual report with a 1-month lag.  CPI -IW - Optimize IAS Why CPI is important?  Tracks inflation in economy.  RBI and other estimating agencies study CPI so as to understand the price change of various commodities and keep a tab on inflation.  It also gives an idea of cost of living.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

Index of Industrial Production (IIP): Context: It measure the factory output, which is measured in terms of Index of Industrial Production (IIP), contracted by -1.9 per cent in November. Concept: INDEX OF INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION - Optimize IAS

Sandbox guidelines: Context: IRDAI proposes extension of regulatory sandbox guidelines by 2 years for proposals under it needs more time for completion. Concept:  To give a fillip to insurance penetration and facilitate innovations in the sector, especially those triggered by technology, the regulator had notified the IRDAI (Regulatory Sandbox) Regulations, 2019 on July 26, 2019.  Sandbox regulations is live testing of new products or services in a controlled/test regulatory environment for which regulators may (or may not) permit certain relaxations for the limited purpose of the testing.  It allows regulator, innovators, financial service providers and customers to test a product or service for its risks as well as benefits.  It is a way of promoting innovations particularly for fincial products like in banking, insurance etc.

T-bills (Treasury bills): Context: Treasury bill yields rise in India after RBI’s cash move. The 190 billion rupees ($2.6 billion) sale was the first sovereign auction since the Reserve Bank of India said late on Friday it plans to drain cash via a reverse repo operation. Concept:  The government raised fund from financial market in two ways: 1) T bills (treasury bills). 2) Government Bonds.  T-bills are the instruments for raising fund by the government for the short-term up to a year.  These bills are issued by the Central government only and interest rate is determined by the market forces. It is issued at a discount to original value and the buyer gets the original value upon maturity. For example, a Rs 100 treasury bill can be availed of at Rs 90, but the buyer is paid Rs 100 on the maturity date.  They are issued via auctions conducted by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) at regular intervals. Individuals, trusts, institutions and banks can purchase T-Bills.  The returns on T-bills are influenced by the liquidity as well. When there is liquidity crisis than the yield is higher on the T-bills.  It is considered a very safe financial instrument for zero-risk weightage attached to it.  Banks give treasury bills to the RBI to get money under repo. Similarly, they can also keep it to fulfil their Statutory Liquid Ratio (SLR) requirements.  Treasury bills, or T-bills, have a maximum maturity period of 364 days and thus called money-market instruments.  Currently they are issued in three maturities: 91-day, 182-day and 364-day (earlier 14-day bill was also issued).  T-bills are available for a minimum amount of Rs.25,000 and in multiples of Rs. 25,000.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

 The 91-day T-bills are auctioned every week on Friday and 182-day and 364-day T-bills are auctioned every alternate week on Wednesdays. The Reserve Bank of India issues a calendar of T-bill auctions.  Government paper with tenor beyond one year is known as dated security. At present, there are dated securities with a tenor up to 20 years in the market

Clinical Trial Liability Insurance: Context: Pharma companies have opted to buy insurance covers from domestic general insurers for their clinical trials to develop vaccines in the country as the vaccine demand is set rise and it is a highly risk activity. Concept:  It offers protection against legal liabilities which result from clinical trials.  Clinical trials refer to scientific tests and treatments experimented on people to understand the efficacy of a medicine or medication.  A clinical trial insurance covers physical injury, loss of data or property which occurs during the trial.  Clinical Trial offers protection in two ways: 1. Negligent Harm: This is a special policy which offers compensation in case a research subject is harmed due to negligence from the researcher or institute. 2. Non- negligent Harm: This is the general insurance policy which covers unintentional physical damage caused to the research subject.  These cover mainly: Personal damage; Material damage; Data breach; Extended period offering: This refers to the time period after the policy period has expired; Cross liability (coverage of more than one insured candidate; the total liability amount remains the same)

Fin Min say’s no anti-dumping duty Black Carbon: Context: Finance Ministry has turned down DGTR recommendation to continue the anti-dumping duty of black carbon from China. Concept:

Black Carbon:

Carbon black is a material produced by the incomplete combustion of heavy petroleum products such as FCC tar, coal tar, or ethylene cracking tar.  Carbon black is a form of paracrystalline carbon that has a high surface-area-to-volume ratio, albeit lower than that of activated carbon.  It is dissimilar to soot in its much higher surface-area-to-volume ratio and significantly lower (negligible and non-bioavailable) polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) content. However, carbon black is widely used as a model compound for diesel soot for diesel oxidation experiments.

Application: Carbon black is mainly used as a reinforcing filler in tires and other rubber products. In plastics, paints, and inks, carbon black is used as a color pigment

Why Black carbon is used in tyres? Rubber in its ‘natural’ state is white, soft and has poor resistance to abrasion.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

Use of black carbon significantly increases the stiffness, tensile strength and abrasion resistance of rubber compounds. So carbon black is critical to the strength, handling, wear and durability of any rubber tyre

Anti-Dumping:

 An anti-dumping duty is a protectionist tariff that a domestic government imposes on foreign imports that it believes are priced below fair market value.  Dumping is a process where a company exports a product at a price lower than the price it normally charges in its own home market.  The duty is aimed at ensuring fair trading practices and creating a level-playing field for domestic producers vis-a-vis foreign producers and exporters.  The duty is imposed only after a thorough investigation by a quasi-judicial body, such as Directorate General of Trade Remedies, in India.  The imposition of anti-dumping duty is permissible under the World Trade Organization (WTO) regime.

Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC): Context: TRP controversy with some news channel using unfair means to raise TRP by having access to exclusive TRP data. Concept:  Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) India is a Joint Industry Company founded by stakeholder bodies that represent Broadcasters, Advertisers, and Advertising and Media Agencies.  It is built upon a robust and future-ready technology backbone, BARC India owns and manages a transparent, accurate, and inclusive TV audience measurement system.  Apart from the currency products to the TV industry, BARC India also provides a suite of Insight products designed for Broadcasters, Advertisers and Agencies. The Big Data and Insights generated by BARC India powers efficient media spends and content decisions in a highly dynamic and growing television sector.

Rabi sowing headed for record this year: Context: Agriculture Ministry released data on acreage with record sowing for Rabi crops like wheat, gram and mustard. Concept:  According to data released by the Agriculture Ministry on Friday, rabi crops have so far been planted over nearly 652 lakh hectares (lha), nearly two per cent more than around 642 lha covered in the corresponding week last year.  Country is heading for a record high with wheat, gram and mustard already surpassing the best acreage in the past.  Good rainfall in September and October and high premium commanded by wheat from region in Central Peninsular India (MP and Maharashtra) ked to diversion from chickpea to wheat.  This fall in acreage of Gram was offset by increased acreage of Gram in Maharashtra and Gujrat. This led to pulses acreage highest at 162 lha (2% rise).

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

 Even Oilseeds saw acreage growth. In spite of it falling under Oilseed Mission target of 80 lakh hectares, it was at record high at 73 lha.  Boost in mustard sowing was due to: 1. FSSAI’s timely decision to not allow blending of other oils in mustard oil. 2. Mustard fetching higher price in market than MSP. 3. Constant focus of Oilseeds Mission. About Rabi crops: Concept:

 Rabi crops or Rabi harvest are agricultural crops sown in winter and harvested in the spring in the South Asia.  The term is derived from the Arabic word for “spring”, which is used in the Indian subcontinent, where it is the spring harvest (also known as the “winter crop”).  The rabi crops are sown around mid-November, after the monsoon rains are over, and harvesting begins in April/May.  The crops are grown either with rainwater that has percolated into the ground, or with irrigation. Some important Rabi Crops are:

 Barley  Gram  Rapeseed  Mustard  Oat  Wheat About FSSAI  The FSSAI is an autonomous body established under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India.  It has been established under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 which is a consolidating statute related to food safety and regulation in India.  It is responsible for protecting and promoting public health through the regulation and supervision of food safety.  It is headed by a non-executive Chairperson, appointed by the Central Government, either holding or has held the position of not below the rank of Secretary to the Government of India.

Startup India Seed Fund: Context: The government will launch aRs 1,000-crore seed fund for start-ups, called Start-up India Seed Fund. It was announced at the “Prarambh: Start-up India International Summit”. Concept:  A one thousand crore rupees seed money for start ups under the Startup India Seed Fund.  It will help in starting and growing new startups.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

 It will complement Fund of funds scheme that is already helping startups raising equity capital.  Similar incentive was seen in budget of Rs 95.03 crore being earmarked for the programme named ‘Chunauti’, to be spent over a period of three years. About Prarambh: Start-up India International Summit  First start-up conclave of BIMSTEC nation was organized.  It seeks to reap vibrant energy in the start-up space in BIMSTEC counties like Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar and Thailand.  It will be based on collaboration and taking responsibility to come together.

Net metering: Context: To popularise solar energy Bengal govt has allowed net metering for individual household staring from 1 KW onwards. Concept:  Earlier institutional, commercial, industrial and cooperative housing were only allowed the benefit of net metering and that too for 5 KW capacity onward.  Allowing households will remove any restrictions and anyone can install rooftop solar panel.  Net metering concept allows to set-off the number of units produced from the total consumption and the consumer pays electricity charges of only what he had derived from the grid or distribution company. About Net Metering:  Net metering is a billing mechanism that credits solar energy system owners for the electricity they add to the grid.  It gives consumer power over electricity bills and promote renewable energy.

LIMITED LIABILITY PARTNERSHIP: Context :Decriminalising various offences and permitting LLPs to issue non-convertible debentures are among the changes being proposed under the Limited Liability Partnership (LLP) Act.

Concept :

• LLP is an alternative corporate business form that gives the benefits of limited liability of a company and the flexibility of a partnership. Hence LLP is called a hybrid between a company and a partnership.

• All limited liability partnership is governed under the limited liability partnership act of 2008.

• The Corporate Affairs Ministry implements the Act.

LLP vs Traditional partnership firm:

• Under “traditional partnership firm”, every partner is liable, jointly with all the other partners and also severally for all acts of the firm done while he is a partner.

• Under LLP structure, liability of the partner is limited to his agreed contribution. Thus, individual partners are shielded from joint liability created by another partner’s wrongful acts or misconduct.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

LLP vs a Company:

• The internal governance structure of a company is regulated by statute (i.e. Companies Act, 1956) whereas for an LLP it would be by a contractual agreement between partners.

• The management-ownership divide inherent in a company is not there in a limited liability partnership.

• LLP will have more flexibility as compared to a company.

• LLP will have lesser compliance requirements as compared to a company.

INSIDER TRADING:

Context : The Andhra Pradesh High Court on Wednesday quashed cases filed by the CID alleging insider trading in land transactions — during the tenure of the Telugu Desam Party.

Concept:

• Insider trading is the buying or selling of a publicly-traded company’s shares/debt papers by someone who has confidential information about that shares/debt papers.

• Insider trading is defined as a malpractice wherein trade of a company’s securities is undertaken by people who by virtue of their work have access to the otherwise non-public information/confidential information which can be crucial for making investment decisions.

• When insiders, e.g. key employees or executives who have access to the strategic information about the company, use the same for trading in the company’s stocks or securities, it is called insider trading.

• An insider is a person who possesses either access to valuable non-public information about a corporation or ownership of stock equaling more than 10% of a firm’s equity. This makes a company’s directors and high-level executives insiders.

Mechanism to prevent insider trading

• According to SEBI Promoters will be held responsible for violation of insider trading norms, if they possess unpublished price-sensitive information (UPSI) regarding the company without any “legitimate purpose”.

• Legitimate purpose – Sharing of the UPSI by an insider with partners, collaborators, lenders, customers, suppliers, merchant bankers, legal advisors, auditors, insolvency professionals or other advisors or consultants, provided that such sharing has not been carried out to evade or circumvent the prohibitions of these regulations.

Recommendation of Kotak committee

• The committee has recommended flow of unpublished price sensitive information (UPSI) shall be considered for ‘legitimate purpose’, and not an offence under the SEBI (Insider Trading) for those who:

Is part of the promoter group

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

Has a nominee director on the board.

• The information should be pursuant to a formal agreement in accordance with the regulations.

• Communication of information must comply with the Insider Trading Regulations.

P – NOTES: Context: Data show that ₹87,132 crore ($11.6 billion approx) worth of P-note positions were outstanding as of December 2020.

Concept:

• A promissory note is an instrument in writing (not being a bank note or a currency note) containing an unconditional undertaking, signed by the maker, to pay a certain sum of money only to or to the order of a certain person or to the bearer of the instrument.

• In a promissory note there are two parties the maker of the note and the payee.

• The PN can be Demand Promissory Note or Usance Promissory Note.

• Demand Promissory Note has to be paid immediately on demand and Usance Promissory Note has to be paid after certain time period.

• In a promissory note there is a promise to make the payment whereas in a bill of exchange there is an order for making the payment.

• Also, a promissory note requires no acceptance as it is signed by the person who is liable to pay. The drawer of a bill of exchange is generally the creditor of the drawee and therefore it must be accepted by the drawee before it can be presented for payment.

DSIB’s: Context : The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has retained State Bank of India, ICICI Bank and HDFC Bank as domestic systemically important banks (D-SIBs) or banks that are considered as “too big to fail”.

Concept :

• D-SIB means that the bank is too big to fail.

• According to the RBI, some banks become systemically important due to their size, cross- jurisdictional activities, complexity and lack of substitute and interconnection. Banks whose assets exceed 2% of GDP are considered part of this group.

Classification:

• RBI has to disclose names of banks designated as D-SIB. It classifies the banks under five buckets depending on order of importance.

• Based on the bucket in which a D-SIB is, an additional common equity requirement applies. Banks in bucket one need to maintain a 0.15% incremental tier-I capital from April 2018. Banks in bucket three have to maintain an additional 0.45%.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

• All the banks under D-SIB are required to maintain higher share of risk-weighted assets as tier-I equity.

Significance:

• Should such a bank fail, there would be significant disruption to the essential services they provide to the banking system and the overall economy.

• The too-big-to-fail tag also indicates that in case of distress, the government is expected to support these banks. Due to this perception, these banks enjoy certain advantages in funding. It also means that these banks have a different set of policy measures regarding systemic risks and moral hazard issues.

K SHAPED RECOVERY: Concept:

• A K-shaped recovery occurs when an economy recuperates unevenly, and there’s a separate trajectory for two segments of the society.

• While the financial markets recover and grow, the real economy, or the flow of goods and services, gets worse.

• That’s worrying, because 84% of the stock market is owned by 10% of households. While the market continued to rise even amid a global pandemic, GDP and employment rates fell.

• These different paths follow the direction of the two spokes that poke out from the

• The two prongs can also represent: people with high and low wage levels, those that have the ability to work from home and those who don’t, and those who have liquid wealth assets to survive during the recession and those who don’t. It’s very much a split of the ‘haves’ and the ‘have-nots’.

INVESTMENT MODELS IN E-COMMERCE: Context: India is considering revising its foreign investment rules for e-commerce, three sources and a government spokesman told Reuters, a move that could compel players, including Amazon.com Inc., to restructure ties with some major sellers.

Concept:

• It is a type of business model, or segment of a larger business model, that enables a firm or individual to conduct business over an electronic network, typically the internet.

• In India, there are three types of e-commerce business model:

Inventory base model of e-commerce

Marketplace base model of e-commerce

The hybrid model of inventory based and marketplace model.

Marketplace and Inventory-Based Model:

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

• Marketplace based model of e-commerce means providing an information technology platform by an e-commerce entity on a digital & electronic network to act as a facilitator between the buyer and seller.

• In a marketplace model, the e-commerce firm is not allowed to directly or indirectly influence the sale price of goods or services and is required to offer a level playing field to all vendors.

• Inventory based model of e-commerce means an e-commerce activity where the inventory of goods and services is owned by e-commerce entity and is sold to the consumers directly.

FDI guidelines for e-Commerce

• In India 100% FDI is permitted in B2B e-commerce, however, No FDI is permitted in B2C(Inventory based ) e-commerce.

• 100% FDI under automatic route is permitted in the marketplace model of e-commerce, while FDI is not permitted in inventory based model of e-commerce.

INDIA INNOVATION INDEX: Context: Karnataka retained its position as the most innovative major state in the country in the India Innovation Index 2020 released by NITI Aayog on January 20, 2021.

Concept:

• NITI Ayog with the Institute for Competitiveness releases the India Innovation Index .

• The index, developed on the lines of the Global Innovation Index, would help the innovation ecosystem of Indian states and Union Territories (UTs) to design policies to drive innovation across regions.

• Based on the index each state needs to formulate its own policy, based on its unique resources and strengths and which caters to its specific needs.

• The index goes beyond traditional approaches for measuring innovation such as patents per million of population, publication in scientific journals, percentage of GDP spending on research and adds parameters that are specific to the Indian economy (eg. Demographic dividend), to give it a more holistic coverage.

2020 Report Findings

• Karnataka scored 42.5, followed by Maharashtra at second place with a score of 38 and Tamil Nadu at third place with 37.91 score. Bihar was ranked the last in the index with 14.5 score.

• Himachal Pradesh topped among the NE/ Hilly states with a score of 25.06, followed by Uttarakhand and Manipur, while Meghalaya was ranked last with 12.15 score.

• Delhi topped among the UT/ City States with a score of 46.60, followed by Chandigarh and Daman & Diu and Lakshadweep came last with 11.71 score.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

SOFR: Context : State Bank of India (SBI) has executed two inter-bank short term money market deals with pricing linked to SOFR (Secured Overnight Financing Rate).

Concept :

• This follows the U.K.’s Financial Conduct Authority deciding not to compel banks on LIBOR calculation after December.

• SOFR is a replacement for USD LIBOR that may be phased out end-2021.

About SOFR

• The secured overnight financing rate (SOFR) is a benchmark interest rate for dollar- denominated derivatives and loans that is replacing the London interbank offered rate (LIBOR).

• SOFR is based on transactions in the Treasury repurchase market,where investors offer banks overnight loans backed by their bond assets.

• It is seen as preferable to LIBOR since it is based on data from observable transactions rather than on estimated borrowing rates.

• While SOFR is becoming the benchmark rate for dollar-denominated derivatives and loans, other countries have sought their own alternative rates, such as SONIA and EONIA.

LIBOR

• LIBOR is the benchmark interest rate at which major global banks lend to one another.

• LIBOR is administered by the Intercontinental Exchange, which asks major global banks how much they would charge other banks for short-term loans.

• The rate is calculated using the Waterfall Methodology, a standardized, transaction-based, data-driven, layered method.

• LIBOR has been subject to manipulation, scandal, and methodological critique, making it less credible today as a benchmark rate.

• LIBOR is being replaced by the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) on June 30, 2023, with phase-out of its use beginning after 2021.

REVENUE DEFICIT: Context : The States are headed for a fourfold expansion in their revenue deficit this fiscal over the last year due to far lesser tax collections, Crisil Ratings said in a report.

Concept :

Revenue Deficit

• Revenue deficit is excess of total revenue expenditure of the government over its total revenue receipts.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

• It is related to only revenue expenditure and revenue receipts of the government.

• Alternatively, the shortfall of total revenue receipts compared to total revenue expenditure is defined as revenue deficit.

• Revenue deficit actually indicates that the government’s own earning is inadequate to meet normal functioning of government departments and provision of services. Revenue deficit results in borrowing.

• When the government spends more than what it collects by way of revenue, it incurs revenue deficit.

• The revenue deficit includes only such transactions which affect the current income and expenditure of the government.

• Revenue deficit = Total Revenue expenditure – Total Revenue receipts

Implications

• The deficit has to be met from capital receipts, i.e., through borrowing and sale of its assets. Given the same level of fiscal deficit, a higher revenue deficit is worse than lower one because it implies a higher repayment burden in future not matched by benefits via investment.

Effective Revenue Deficit

• Effective Revenue Deficit is the difference between revenue deficit and grants for creation of capital assets.

• The concept of effective revenue deficit has been suggested by the Rengarajan Committee on Public Expenditure.

• It is aimed to deduct the money used out of borrowing to finance capital expenditure. The concept has been introduced to ascertain the actual deficit in the revenue account after adjusting for expenditure of capital nature.

V SHAPED RECOVERY: Context : The economy is within striking distance of attaining positive growth, officials of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) wrote, adding that the letter ‘V’ in the V-shaped recovery stood for vaccine. Concept: • V-shaped recovery: It is a scenario in which the economy quickly recoups lost ground and gets back to the normal growth trend-line.

• In this, incomes and jobs are not permanently lost, and the economic growth recovers sharply and returns to the path it was following before the disruption.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

•

GREEN BONDS: Context: RBI Governor says that the cost of green bond issuance is high in India. Concept: • A green bond is like any other regular bond but with one key difference: the money raised by the issuer are earmarked towards financing `green’ projects, i.e. assets or business activities that are environment-friendly.

• The issuance of the first green bond in 2007 was made by two multilateral development banks (World Bank and European Investment Bank).

• India's first green bond was issued by YES Bank in 2015.

Benefits of Green Bonds • Green bonds enhance an issuer’s reputation, as it helps in showcasing their commitment to wards sustainable development.

• It also provides issuers access to specific set of global investors who invest only in green ventures.With an increasing focus of foreign investors towards green investments, it could also help in reducing the cost of capital.

• Green bonds present the opportunity for investors to feel as if they’re making a difference for the environment while earning a respectable return in the process.

SEBI Regulations • For designating an issue of a corporate bond as green bond, an issue apart from complying with the issue and listing of debt securities regulations, would have to disclose additional information in the offer document such as use of proceeds.

• SEBI’s indicative list includes renewable and sustainable energy such as wind and solar, clean transportation, sustainable water management, climate change adaptation, energy efficiency, sustainable waste management and land use and biodiversity conservation.

SENSEX: Context : Launched on January 2, 1986 (base year:1978-79 = 100), the country’s first equity index has risen from 124 in April 1979 to 50,000 today, a compounded annual growth rate of 15.9% over 42 years. Concept :

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

• Sensex, otherwise known as the S&P BSE Sensex index, is the benchmark index of India's BSE, formerly known as the Bombay Stock Exchange.)

• The Sensex is comprised of 30 of the largest and most actively-traded stocks on the BSE, providing a gauge of India's economy.

• The index's composition is reviewed in June and December each year. Created in 1986, the Sensex is the oldest stock index in India.

• Analysts and investors use it to observe the cycles of India's economy and the development and decline of particular industries.

Free-Float vs Market Capitalization Method • When it was launched in 1986, the Sensex was calculated based on a market-capitalization weighted methodology.

• Since September 2003, the Sensex has been calculated based on a free-float capitalization method, which provides a weighting for the effect of a company on the index.

• This is a variation of the market cap method, but instead of using a company's outstanding shares, it uses its float, which is the number of shares that are readily available for trading.

• The free-float method, therefore, does not include restricted stocks, such as those held by company insiders, which can't be readily sold.

NIFTY • Nifty is derived from the term National Stock Exchange Fifty and it comprises of 50 companies that are traded on NSE. It is the benchmark index of NSE and was introduced in 1996.

REGULATORY FRAMEWORK FOR NBFC's: Context : The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) plans to usher in a four-layered regulatory and supervisory framework for non-banking finance NBFCs as it embarks on the path of a scale-based regulation in the backdrop of the recent stress in the sector.

Concept :

• RBI said its proposed framework could be visualised as a pyramid, comprising NBFCs grouped in four layers -- Base Layer (BL), Middle Layer (ML), Upper Layer (UL) and a possible Top Layer (TL).

• There will be least regulatory intervention for NBFCs in BL. As one moves up the pyramid, the regulatory regime will get stricter.

• The framework proposes to prescribe Bank-like regulations for the top 25 to 30 NBFCs in the country.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

• Difference between NBFC and Banks :

• NBFCs lend and make investments, and hence their activities are akin to that of banks; however, there are a few differences. Unlike banks ,

• NBFC cannot accept demand deposits;

• NBFCs do not form part of the payment and settlement system and cannot issue cheques drawn on itself.

• Deposit insurance facility of Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation is not available to depositors of NBFCs, unlike in case of banks.

• Unlike Banks which are regulated by the RBI, the NBFCs are regulated by multiple regulators; Insurance Companies- IRDA, Merchant Banks- SEBI, Micro Finance Institutions- State Government, RBI and NABARD.

• The norm of Public Sector Lending does not apply to NBFCs.

• The Cash Reserve Requirement also does not apply to NBFCs.

Systemically important NBFCs

• Systemically important NBFCs are those with an asset size of Rs 500 crore or more.

• NBFCs-ND are categorized into two broad categories viz.,

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

1. NBFCs-ND (those with assets of less than Rs. 500 crore) and

2. NBFCs-ND-SI (those with assets of Rs. 500 crore and above).

(ND mean Non-Deposit taking NBFCs)

• For Systemically Important Core Investment Companies (NBFC -CIC- SI), the asset size is Rs 100 crore.

MCLR vs EXTERNAL BENCHMARK RATE: Concept : Marginal Cost of Lending Rate • It is a benchmark lending rate for floating-rate loans which came into effect in 2016.

• This is the minimum interest rate at which commercial banks can lend.

• This rate is based on four components—the marginal cost of funds, negative carry on account of cash reserve ratio, operating costs and tenor premium.

• MCLR is linked to the actual deposit rates. Hence, when deposit rates rise, it indicates the banks are likely to hike MCLR and lending rates are set to go up.

• The transmission of policy rate changes to the lending rate of banks under the current MCLR framework has not been satisfactory.

External Benchmark • So, RBI mandated all banks to link their floating rate loans to an external benchmark instead of the marginal cost-based lending rate (MCLR).

• This was done to make sure that the RBI's action on key policy rates at transmitted in a timely and transparent manner to the ender user, i.e., the borrower.

• Banks can choose from one of the four external benchmarks — repo rate, three-month treasury bill yield, six-month treasury bill yield or any other benchmark interest rate published by Financial Benchmarks India Private Ltd.

Financial Benchmarks India Private Ltd • It was incorporated on 9th December 2014 under the Companies Act 2013.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

• It was recognised by the Reserve bank of India as an independent Benchmark administrator on 2nd July 2015.

• The main objective of the company is to act as the administrators of the Indian interest rate and foreign exchange benchmarks and to introduce and implement policies and procedures to handle the benchmarks.

• It is located in Mumbai.

PREFERENTIAL TRANSACTION IN IBC: Concept : • Under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy code 2016, section 43 is dealt with Preferences if any given by the Corporate Debtor before and during the insolvency.

• Success of the insolvency depends upon timely completion of the process of insolvency and also ensures the corporate debtor should not alienate the property to others during twilight period.

• Twilight period means that time during which Directors have to come understand that they cannot avoid the commencement of insolvency and actual date of commencement of insolvency.

• Generally Directors will transfer certain properties to their nearby relatives. To avoid this, National Company Law Tribunal was given certain powers to undo these transactions and retransfer the properties to the control of insolvency Professional.

• A transaction is said to be a 'preferential transaction' if:

(a) the transaction relates to transfer of the property or interest of the corporate debtor for the benefit of a creditor, surety or guarantor in relation to an antecedent / past liability; and (b) the transaction has the effect of giving such creditor, surety or guarantor a beneficial position in the distribution of assets in the event of liquidation under Section 53 of the IBC. (c) This transfer should be done within the relevant period. The relevant period should be 2 years for related party and 1 year for other parties preceding the date of commencement of insolvency of the corporate debtor. • But the following transfers made by the corporate debtor will not be considered as preferential transfer.

(a). If the transfer of property or interest has been done in the ordinary course of the business or financial affairs of the corporate debtor or transferee (b). Any transfer creating a security interest in property acquired by the corporate debtor.

GREAT RESET : Concept : • The Great Reset is an initiative by the World Economic Forum.

• It has been conceptualised by the founder and executive chairman of the WEF, Klaus Schwab, and has evolved over the last few years.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

• It is based on the assessment that the world economy is in deep trouble.

• The current situation has been made worse by factors, like the effects of the pandemic on global society, the unfolding technological revolution, and the consequences of climate change.

• The world must act jointly to revamp all aspects of our societies and economies, from education to social contracts and working conditions.

• Every country must participate and every industry must be transformed.

• In short, there is a need for ‘Great Reset’ of capitalism.

Three Components of Great Reset • First is the question of reforming capitalism. WEF has been at the forefront of calling for “stakeholder capitalism” that looks beyond the traditional corporate focus on maximising profit for shareholders.

• Second, WEF is certainly right to focus on the deepening climate crisis. Climate sceptics have been ousted from Washington and President Biden has rejoined the 2015 Paris accord on mitigating climate change.

• Third is the growing difficulty of global cooperation that WEF wants to promote. The era of great power harmony that accompanied the liberalisation of the global economy at the turn of the 1990s has yielded place to intense contestation. The contestation is not just political but increasingly economic and technological.

FIAT CURRENCY: Context : Reserve Bank of India (RBI) said it was open to exploring the possibility of a digital version of fiat currency. Concept : • Fiat currency is government-issued currency that is not backed by a physical commodity, such as gold or silver, but rather by the government that issued it.

• The value of fiat currency is derived from the relationship between supply and demand and the stability of the issuing government, rather than the worth of a commodity backing it as is the case for commodity money.

• Most modern paper currencies are fiat currencies, including the U.S. dollar, the euro, and other major global currencies.

Fiat currency vs Legal Tender • Fiat currency has no intrinsic value, while legal tender is any currency declared legal by a government.

• Governments can issue fiat currency and make it legal tender by setting it as the standard for debt repayment.

• The benefit of fiat currency is that it gives central banks greater control over the economy, but governments can print too much money and create hyperinflation.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

• The U.S. dollar , Indian Rupee etc are both fiat currency and legal tender.

Digital Fiat currency • The growing popularity of digital currencies (or cryptocurrency) such as Bitcoin, over the last decade, had made most central banks look seriously at launching a digital currency controlled by them that can address the shortcomings of digital currencies while hastening the shift towards a cashless society.

• Hence, the RBI is exploring the possibility as to whether there is a need for a digital version of fiat currency and in case there is, then how to operationalise it.

Digitalisation of Fiat Currency vs Digital Currency. • In order to understand the importance of a Digital Rupee, it is required to distinguish the digitalisation of fiat currency from digital currency.

• The digitisation of fiat currency stems from the advent of electronic payment and interbank IT systems, allowing commercial banks to more efficiently and independently generate the credit flows that expand the broad money supply.

• By contrast, digital currency, enabled by blockchain technology, affects the base currency allowing the central bank to bypass commercial banks and regain control of currency creation and supply end-to-end.

OFF BUDGET BORROWINGS: Context : According to the last Budget documents, in the current financial year the Centre was set to borrow Rs 5.36 lakh crore as off - budget borrowings.

Concept :

• Off-budget borrowings are loans that are taken not by the Centre directly, but by another public institution which borrows on the directions of the central government. Such borrowings are used to fulfil the government’s expenditure needs.

• But since the liability of the loan is not formally on the Centre, the loan is not included in the national fiscal deficit. This helps keep the country’s fiscal deficit within acceptable limits.

• Such borrowings are made by state-owned firms to fund government schemes but are not part of the official budget calculations.

• Off budget borrowing is excluded from the fiscal deficit calculations, but at the same time, are added to the total debt of the government.

• In recent years, several CPSUs have raised resources from the market by issuing Government of India-Fully Serviced Bonds (GoIFSB) for which the repayment of both principal and interest is to be done from the Budget.

• This means that though the borrowing is not a part of the consolidated fund of India, the interest payment for such borrowings are made out of the consolidated fund.

• Comptroller and Auditor General report of 2019 points out, this route of financing puts major sources of funds outside the control of Parliament despite it's fiscal implications.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

STAKEHOLDER CAPITALISM METRICS: Context : 61 business leaders, including members of the World Economic Forum and its International Business Council (IBC), have committed to the core Stakeholder Capitalism Metrics released by the IBC.

Concept :

• Stakeholder Capitalism Metrics offer a set of universal, comparable disclosures focused on people, planet, prosperity and governance that companies can report on, regardless of industry or region

• The move signals that private sector leaders view environmental, social and governance factors as critical to the success and long-term viability of all businesses and a unified voice is gathering pace on a global solution for non-financial reporting.

• The metrics include non-financial disclosures centred around the four pillars: people, planet, prosperity and principles of governance.

• Intentionally built on existing standards, the pillars include metrics such as greenhouse gas emissions, pay equality and board diversity, among others.

• By adopting and reporting on these metrics and disclosures, the business community will continue to catalyse greater cooperation and alignment among existing standards and encourage progress on the development of a systemic, globally accepted set of common standards for reporting on sustainability performance.

EXPORT PROMOTION CAPITAL GOODS SCHEME: Context : Government considering continuation of export promotion scheme in new trade policy

Concept :

• In order to facilitate import of capital goods for producing quality goods and services and enhance India’s manufacturing competitiveness, the Central Government has been implementing a Scheme called the Export Promotion Capital Goods Scheme.

• Under the Scheme, EPCG Authorizations are issued with actual user condition and import validity of 24 months to import capital goods (except those specified in negative list) for pre- production, production and post-production at zero customs duty.

• It is subject to fulfilment of specific Export Obligation equivalent to 6 times of duties, taxes and cess saved on capital goods, to be fulfilled in 6 years from date of issue of Authorization.

• Authorization holder is required to fulfil Average Export Obligation achieved by him in the preceding three licensing years for the same and similar products.

• However, if minimum 75% of specific Export Obligation and 100% of Average Export Obligation is fulfilled within half the original export obligation period, remaining export obligation can be condoned.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

NON PRICE COMPETITION: Context : Data privacy can take the form of non-price competition and abuse of dominance can lower privacy protection, a study by the Competition Commission of India (CCI) has said.

Concept :

• The study also made observations about other non-price factors such as quality of service (QoS), data speeds and bundled offerings, which are likely to be the new drivers of competitive rivalry between service providers in telecom sector in addition to just price

Non price competition

• Non-price competition is a marketing strategy "in which one firm tries to distinguish its product or service from competing products on the basis of attributes like design and workmanship".

• It often occurs in imperfectly competitive markets because it exists between two or more producers that sell goods and services at the same prices but compete to increase their respective market shares through non-price measures such as marketing schemes and greater quality.

• It is a form of competition that requires firms to focus on product differentiation instead of pricing strategies among competitors.

• Such differentiation measures allowing for firms to distinguish themselves, and their products from competitors, may include, offering superb quality of service, extensive distribution, customer focus, or any sustainable competitive advantage other than price.

• It can be contrasted with price competition, which is where a company tries to distinguish its product or service from competing products on the basis of low price.

• Non-price competition typically involves promotional expenditures (such as advertising, selling staff, the locations convenience, sales promotions, coupons, special orders, or free gifts), marketing research, new product development, and brand management costs.

QUANTITATIVE EASING: Context: RBI’s calibrated measures will likely be able to address the issue of an increase in demand for funds from both the govt and the private sector in FY22.

Concept:

• Quantitative easing (QE) is a form of unconventional monetary policy in which a central bank purchases longer-term securities from the open market in order to increase the money supply and encourage lending and investment.

• Buying these securities adds new money to the economy, and also serves to lower interest rates by bidding up fixed-income securities. It also expands the central bank's balance sheet.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

• When short-term interest rates are either at or approaching zero, the normal open market operations of a central bank, which target interest rates, are no longer effective.

• Instead, a central bank can target specified amounts of assets to purchase.

• Quantitative easing increases the money supply by purchasing assets with newly-created bank reserves in order to provide banks with more liquidity.

GRANT TO RLB's: Context: The Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance has released an amount of Rs.12,351.5 crore for providing grants to the Rural Local Bodies (RLBs). This amount is the 2nd instalment of basic grants released in the financial year 2020-21.

Concept:

• The grant has been released to 18 States who have provided the Utilisation Certificate for the first instalment and on the recommendation of the Ministry of Panchayati Raj.

• The grants to RLBs are released as per the recommendations of the 15th Finance Commission to create community assets and improve financial viability of the RLBs.

• The grants are provided to all the three tiers of Panchayati Raj - Village, Block and District to enable pooling of resources across villages and blocks.

• The 15th Finance Commission has recommended two types of grants to the RLBs – basic and tied grants.

• Basic grants are untied and can be used by the local bodies for location specific felt needs except for salary or other establishment expenditure.

• Tied grants can be used for the basic services of (a) sanitation and maintenance of Open Defecation Free (ODF) status and (b) supply of drinking water, rain water harvesting and water recycling.

• The grants are meant to ensure additional funds to RLBs over and above the funds allocated by the Centre and the State for sanitation and drinking water under the Centrally Sponsored Schemes like Swachh Bharat and Jal Jeevan Mission.

• The States are required to transfer the grants to the RLBs within 10 working days of receipt from the Union Government. Any delay beyond 10 working days requires the State Governments to release the grants with interest.

EXTERNAL FINANCING/DEBT: Context : The Budget is expected to turn to external financing of the fiscal deficit during FY22. The gross marketing borrowing, however, is likely to be less than the enhanced amount for the current fiscal.

Concept :

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

• It refers to money borrowed from a source outside the country. External debt has to be paid back in the currency in which it is borrowed.

• External debt can be obtained from foreign commercial banks, international financial institutions like IMF, World Bank, ADB etc and from the government of foreign nations.

• Normally these types of debts are in the form of tied loans, meaning that these have to be used for a predefined purpose as determined by a consensus of the borrower and the lender.

• Government and corporations are eligible to raise loans from abroad. These are in the form of external commercial borrowings.

• The interest rate on foreign loans is linked to LIBOR (London Interbank Offer rate) and the actual rate will be LIBOR plus applicable spread, depending upon the credit rating of the borrower.

External Debt Risks

• Interest Rates - There is greater unpredictability and unexpected changes in the interest rates can result in defaulting of loans and precipitate a crisis.

• The raising of interest rates by the U.S. Federal Reserve has already caused borrowing rates to rise in various countries.

• Exchange Rate - Unexpected changes in the exchange rates of currencies, like say a steep fall in the value of the rupee, for instance, is a big risk.

• This can cause severe difficulties for Indian borrowers who will now have to shell out more rupees than previously, to pay back dollar-denominated loans.

• Lenders generally take possible currency fluctuations into account when determining their lending rates, but currency predictions are prone to failures.

• While there could also be gains from such fluctuations, emerging market currencies usually tend to depreciate when the world economy is reviving.

ECONOMIC SURVEY PREDICTION: Context : After an estimated 7.7 per cent contraction in 2020-21, the Finance Ministry’s Economic Survey projects that India’s real GDP would record a growth of 11 per cent in 2021-22.

Concept:

• The nominal GDP growth has been estimated at 15.4 per cent, implying an assumption of 4.4 per cent inflation during the year.

Basis for Growth Projections

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

• One of the factors is the low base while calculating the year-on-year inflation rate, given the contraction this fiscal.

• The Survey noted that the “conservative estimates” of growth in FY22 “reflect upside potential that can manifest due to the continued normalisation in economic activities as the rollout of Covid-19 vaccines gathers traction”.

• This will further be supported by a supply-side push from reforms and easing of regulations, push to infrastructural investments, boost to manufacturing sector through the Productivity Linked Incentive Schemes, recovery of pent-up demand for the services sector, increase in discretionary consumption subsequent to the roll-out of the vaccine and pick up in credit given adequate liquidity and low-interest rates, the survey noted.

• This path would entail a growth in real GDP by 2.4 per cent over the absolute level of 2019- 20 – implying that the economy would take two years to reach and go past the pre-pandemic level.

• India is expected to emerge as the fastest growing economy in the next two years as per IMF, the Survey has noted.

CENTRAL ISSUE PRICE: Context : Observing that the food subsidy is becoming “unmanageably large”, the Economic Survey 2020-21 has recommended the revision of Central Issue Prices (CIP) of foodgrains released from the central pool, which have been unchanged for the last several years.

Concept:

• The CIP is the price at which the government makes available food grains for beneficiaries of the National Food Security Act, 2013 and other welfare schemes to the states from the central pool.

• The issue price for wheat and rice has not been revised since the introduction of the National Food Security Act in 2013, the survey observed.

• It noted that the economic cost to the Food Corp. of India (FCI) for wheat rose to ₹27 per kg in 2020-21 from ₹19 per kg in 2013-14, while for rice it increased to ₹37 per kg from ₹26 per kg in 2013-14.

• The centre procures food grains from farmers at a minimum support price (MSP) and sells it to states at central issue prices. It is responsible for transporting the grains to godowns in each state.

• States bear the responsibility of transporting food grains from these godowns to each fair price shop (ration shop), where the beneficiary buys the food grains at the lower central issue price. Many states further subsidise the price of food grains before selling it to beneficiaries.

Public Distribution System in India

• The Public distribution system (PDS) is an Indian food Security System established under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food, and Public Distribution.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

• PDS evolved as a system of management of scarcity through distribution of food grains at affordable prices.

• PDS is operated under the joint responsibility of the Central and the State Governments.

• The Central Government, through Food Corporation of India (FCI), has assumed the responsibility for procurement, storage, transportation and bulk allocation of food grains to the State Governments.

• The operational responsibilities including allocation within the State, identification of eligible families, issue of Ration Cards and supervision of the functioning of Fair Price Shops (FPSs) etc., rest with the State Governments.

• Under the PDS, presently the commodities namely wheat, rice, sugar and kerosene are being allocated to the States/UTs for distribution. Some States/UTs also distribute additional items of mass consumption through the PDS outlets such as pulses, edible oils, iodized salt, spices, etc.

STRATEGIC SECTOR: Context : Highlighting the need for strong indigenous pharma companies, a Parliamentary panel has recommended that the pharma industry should be categorised as a "strategic sector" and called for a necessary follow-up action in this regard.

Concept :

• The Committee said it was of the strong opinion that pharma sector plays a very important role to keep the nation healthy and strong, and this has been quite apparent during the current pandemic when the need for strong indigenous pharma companies has been realised with more intensity.

Strategic Sectors of India

• An industry is considered strategic if it has large innovative spillovers and if it provides a substantial infrastructure for other firms in the same or related industries.

• Earlier, the strategic sectors were defined on the basis of industrial policy.

• The government classified Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) as ‘strategic’ and ‘non- strategic’ on the basis of industrial policy that keeps on changing from time-to-time.

According to this, the Strategic sector PSUs are:

• Arms & Ammunition of defence equipment

• Defence aircraft & warships

• Atomic energy

• Applications of radiation to agriculture, medicine and non-strategic industry

• Railways

• Banking, insurance, defence, and energy are likely to be part of the strategic sector list.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

• All other PSUs apart from the strategic sectors fall under Non-strategic Sector including Power Discoms.

C.SUBRAMANIUM: Context : C. Subramaniam’s call for ‘science for the economic freedom of humanity’ echoes on his birth anniversary today.

Concept :

• C. Subramaniam is best known as the architect of India's modern agricultural development policy.

• After the success of his programme which led to a record production of wheat in 1972 - an achievement termed as the Indian Green Revolution.

• As Minister for Food and Agriculture, he played a decisive role in the introduction of high- yielding varieties of seeds and more intensive application of fertilizers which paved the way for increased output of cereals in the late 60s and attainment of self-sufficiency in food-grains in the country.

• He appointed M. S. Swaminathan, who played a major role in green revolution and Verghese Kurien as the chairman of National Dairy Development Board when he ushered the Indian White Revolution.

• Shri Subramaniam is an institution-builder of the Institute of Mathematical Sciences and the Madras Institute of Development Studies owe their inception to his encouragement and support.

• Shri Subramaniam has an international standing which is equalled by few of his compatriots. He was closely associated with the UNO and its organs, the. FAQ and the UNESCO.

• He was awarded India's highest civilian honour, Bharat Ratna in 1998.

REGULATORY FORBEARANCE: Context : The Economic Survey 2020-21 has prescribed an early withdrawal of the regulatory forbearance that was adopted in the wake of the pandemic to ward off the threat of financial sector failures impacting the real economy.

Concept :

Regulatory forbearance

• A regulatory policy (i.e., a policy implemented by central banks and other regulatory authorities) that permits banks and financial institutions to continue operating even when their capital is fully depleted.

• Regulators give banks extended periods of time during which they have to comply with regulatory requirements (by securing new capital funds).

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

• This inaction reflects the unwillingness of regulators to take disciplinary action against problem banks for some period of time.

• Regulatory forbearance is also known as capital forbearance

COUNTER CYCLICAL FISCAL POLICY: Context : CEA says it is time to switch fiscal gears from cautious stance to ‘counter-cyclical’ push.

Concept :

• Counter-cyclical fiscal policy refers to the steps taken by the government that go against the direction of the economic or business cycle.

• Thus, in a recession or slowdown, the government increases expenditure and reduces taxes to create a demand that can drive an economic boom.

• On the other hand, during a boom in the economy, counter-cyclical fiscal policy aims at raising taxes and cutting public expenditure to control inflation and debt.

Pro-cyclical fiscal policy

• In a pro-cyclical fiscal policy, the government reinforces the business cycle by being expansionary during good times and contractionary during recessions.

• Pursuing a pro-cyclical fiscal policy is generally regarded as dangerous. It could raise macroeconomic volatility, depress investment in in real and human capital, hamper growth and harm the poor, say economists.

DUTCH TULIP BUBBLE BURST: Context : Now, almost exactly 385 years and another pandemic later, Wall Street waits to see how long it will take for history to repeat itself.

Concept :

• Shares of video game retailer GameStop Corp have soared 1,625% since the start of January. Driving the rally are individual investors who have been stuck at home for the last ten months.

• The value soars until one day the market runs out of buyers and freezes, causing prices to plummet and some unlucky few to lose fortunes more than ten times their annual incomes in the span of a few hours.

Dutch Tulip Bubble Burst

• The Dutch tulip bulb market bubble, also known as 'tulipmania' was one of the most famous market bubbles and crashes of all time.

• It occurred in Holland during the early to mid 1600s when speculation drove the value of tulip bulbs to extremes.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

• At the height of the market, the rarest tulip bulbs traded for as much as six times the average person's annual salary.

• Today, the tulipmania serves as a parable for the pitfalls that excessive greed and speculation can lead to.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY:

UPI BASED INNOVATIONS: Concept:

OPEN CREDIT ENABLEMENT NETWORK (OCEN)

• OCEN is a credit protocol infrastructure, which will mediate the interactions between loan service providers, usually fintech and mainstream lenders, including all large banks and NBFCs.

• It is developed by a think tank, Indian Software Products Industry Round Table (iSPIRT).

• With this, a credit will become more accessible for a large number of entrepreneurs and small businesses in the country.

• Private equity and venture capital players, angel investors, high net worth individuals and others also could be part of this exercise as investors.

• There are already seven banks including SBI, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank and Axis that are enrolled on Sahay GEM and, over time, presumably, others will enrol as well

• Account Aggregators which will be using these APIs to embed credit offerings in their applications, and will be called ‘Loan Service Providers’, which will play a crucial role in democratizing access to credit, and lowering interest rates for customers.

Significance

• The cost of lending being too high in India, small value loans becomes very unfeasible.

• OCEN which seeks to connect lenders to marketplaces and thereby to borrowers is a technology system.

• If implemented, the technology can democratize lending to micro-enterprises and street vendors in a big way.

SAHAY GEM PLATFORM

• SAHAY platform, a new avenue has opened up to provide a solution to the working capital needs of MSMEs.

• 'GeM-SAHAY' can be utilised to provide frictionless financing for MSMEs on GeM(Government e Marketplace) where they can now get a loan at the point of acceptance of an order on the platform.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

• The country's leading lenders are associated with the SAHAY platform .

• It is a mix of the largest public sector bank SBI, leading private sector banks like ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank, Axis Bank ,IDFC First Bank and leading NBFC like Bajaj Finserv'

OPEN HEALTH SERVICES NETWORK

• OHSN is the interface which governs the relationship between various market players in the healthcare ecosystem such as tele consult providers, pharmacies, or diagnostic centres on one side, and government or private apps and platforms on the other side.

• Open Health Services Network (OHSN) is to be handled by the National Health Authority.

• As in the case of OCEN, doctors, hospitals, pathology labs, pharmacies, etc, are free to join, and patients are then free to choose whose service they want to avail.

• Since electronic health records are not always portable, standards will be laid down to ensure this, and a health data consent manager will ensure consent is taken and privacy maintained.

• OHSN objectives ,

To establish baseline standards of care.

And to provide auditable and transparent processes governing the transfer of data and payments.

• If these two objectives are met, the healthcare ecosystem as a whole can be made more accessible, secure, and efficient for both users and service providers.

MACROPHAGES: Context: Researchers at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden describe how different kinds of immune cells, called macrophages, develop in the lungs and which of them may be behind severe lung diseases.

Concept :

• The structure of the lungs exposes them to viruses and bacteria from both the air and the blood.

• Macrophages among other things, protect the lungs from such attacks.

• But under certain conditions, lung macrophages can also contribute to severe lung diseases, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and COVID-19.

MACROPHAGES

• Macrophages are important cells of the immune system that are formed in response to an infection or accumulating damaged or dead cells.

• Macrophages are large, specialized cells that recognize, engulf and destroy target cells.

• Macrophages are formed through the differentiation of monocytes, one of the major groups of white blood cells of the immune system.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

• When there is tissue damage or infection, the monocytes leave the bloodstream and enter the affected tissue or organ and undergo a series of changes to become macrophages.

• These macrophages can modify themselves to form different structures in order to fight various different microbes and invaders.

• The macrophages present in humans are around 21 micrometers in diameter. They can survive for months at a time. They are also involved in the development of non-specific or innate immunity.

• Each of the macrophages has specific protein markers on the cell surface. Some examples include CD14, CD11b, EMR1, MAC-1/MAC-3, Lysozyme M, and CD68. These markers can be identified using a technical process called flow-cytometry.

• Macrophages may have different names according to where they function in the body. For example, macrophages present in the brain are termed microglia and in the liver sinusoids, they are called Kupffer cells.

EMERGENCY USE LISTING: Context: The World Health Organization listed Pfizer and BioNTech's Covid-19 vaccine for emergency use, in a move seeking to speed access in the developing world.

Concept:

• The vaccine has gotten regulatory backing from the United Kingdom, the European Medicines Agency, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Health Canada, Bahrain, Israel, Kuwait, Mexico, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Singapore.

• Pfizer and BioNTech's messenger RNA vaccine was found to be 95% effective after two doses 21 days apart.

• The United Nations health agency said it will work with regional partners to tell national health authorities about the two-dose shot and its anticipated benefits.

• The WHO's review found Pfizer/BioNTech's vaccine met the "must-have" criteria for safety and efficacy benefits outweigh its risks.

• The UN health agency, with the GAVI Vaccine Alliance and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), are spearheading a global effort called COVAX to secure and distribute vaccines to poorer countries, to ensure shots do not go only to wealthy nations.

• The WHO-backed COVAX alliance has agreements for nearly 2 billion doses, with first deliveries due in early 2021. The alliance has been in talks with Pfizer and BioNTech to secure vaccine

Emergency Use Listing

• Emergency Use Listing (EUL) is the procedure to streamline the process by which new or unlicensed products can be used during public health emergencies.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

• The EUL replaces the Emergency Use Assessment and Listing (EUAL) procedure, which was used during the West Africa Ebola outbreak of 2014-2016.

• The WHO established its emergency use listing (EUL) process to help poorer countries without their own regulatory resources quickly approve medicines new diseases like Covid- 19, which otherwise could lead to delays.

Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization:

• GAVI, officially Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, is a public–private global health partnership with the goal of increasing access to immunisation in poor countries.

• GAVI has observer status at the World Health Assembly. It was founded in 2000 and is located at Geneva, Switzerland.

• GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance as part of its mission to save lives, reduce poverty and protect the world against the threat of epidemics, has helped vaccinate more than 822 million children in the world’s poorest countries, preventing more than 14 million future deaths.

Additional Information

• Union Minister of Health, Harsh Vardhan will be representing the South East Area Regional Office (SEARO)/ Western Pacific Regional Office (WPRO) constituency on the GAVI Board.

• Harsh Vardhan will be representing India from 1stJanuary 2021 until 31st December 2023.

• The Board normally meets twice a year in June and November/ December and holds an annual retreat, normally in March or April.

• The GAVI Board is responsible for strategic direction and policy-making, oversees the operations of the Vaccine Alliance and monitors programme implementation.

TiHAN-IIT HYDERABAD:

Context: Union Minister of Education laid foundation stone of ‘TiHAN-IIT Hyderabad’, India’s first Test bed for Autonomous Navigation Systems (Terrestrial and Aerial).

Concept:

• The Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India, has sanctioned Rs. 135 crores to IIT Hyderabad under the National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber- Physical Systems (NM-ICPS) to set up a Technology Innovation Hub on Autonomous Navigation and Data Acquisition Systems (UAVs, RoVs, etc.).

• The Technology Innovation Hub on Autonomous Navigation Systems for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and Remotely Operated Vehicles at IIT Hyderabad, known as 'TiHAN Foundation' has been incorporated as a Section-8 company by the institute in June 2020.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

• TiHAN Foundation is a multi-departmental initiative, including researchers from Electrical, Computer Science, Mechanical and Aerospace, Civil, Mathematics, and Design at IIT Hyderabad with collaboration and support from reputed institutions and industry.

• Special Features of this Facility include Test Tracks, Emulation of Real-World Scenarios, State of the Art Simulation Technologies, Road Infrastructure, V2X Communication, Drone Runways and Landing Area, Mechanical Integration Facility, Centralized Control Room/Ground Control Station, Hangars and many more.

National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems (NM-ICPS):

• Union Cabinet approved the launch of National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems (NM-ICPS) in 2018.

• It had a total outlay of INR 3,660 crores for a period of five years.

• The mission implementation would develop and bring:

Cyber Physical Systems (CPS) and associated technologies within reach in the country,

adoption of CPS technologies to address India specific National / Regional issues,

produce Next Generation skilled manpower in CPS,

catalyze Translational Research,

accelerate entrepreneurship and start-up ecosystem development in CPS,

give impetus to advanced research in CPS, Technology development and higher education in Science, Technology and Engineering disciplines, and

place India at par with other advanced countries and derive several direct and indirect benefits.

Zero Interconnection Usage Charges (IUC): Context:

From January 1 onwards, the termination charge for wireless to wireless domestic calls has become zero .Until now operators paid Interconnection Usage Charges (IUC) of 6 paise per minute on mobile calls.

Concept:

IUC is the cost that a mobile operator pays to another operator for carrying through/ terminating a call. If a customer of Mobile Operator A calls a customer of Mobile Operator B and the call is completed, then A pays an IUC charge to B for carrying/facilitating the call. Essentially, it is the originating network compensating the receiving network for cost of carrying the call. In India IUC is set by the TRAI

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

Expert panel clears first indigenous COVID-19 vaccine by Bharat Biotech and Biosafety level: Context: A day after restricted emergency approval for Covishield, the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine manufactured under license in India by the Serum Institute of India, similar approval has been granted to Covaxin, first indigenous COVID-19 vaccine by Bharat Biotech. Concept:  COVAXIN is India's indigenous COVID-19 vaccine by Bharat Biotech.  It is developed in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) - National Institute of Virology (NIV).  It is being developed in Bharat Biotech’s BSL-3 (Bio-Safety Level 3) high containment facility.  BSL-levels from 1 to 4 are a series of protection for carrying out industrial and scientific processes (particularly in medical fields) requiring elevated temperature and pressure in biological labs.  These levels are designated based on the agents or organisms that are being researched or worked on in any given laboratory setting. BSL-1 is lowest safety level and BSL-4 is highest biosafety level.  These biosafety levels are determined by: o Risks related to containment o Severity of infection o Transmissibility o Nature of the work conducted o Origin of the microbe o Agent in question o Route of exposure

Tide–Rainfall flood quotient: Context: The Indian Institute of Technology Bombay team devised a new metric to understand if a coastal city is more prone to floods caused by tidal events or extreme rainfall. Concept:  It formulates metrics based on the rainfall data, tidal data, and topography of the region.  It was based on study of data from flood-prone coastal regions – Mithi River Catchment in Mumbai, Jagatsinghpur District in Odisha, and Greater Chennai Corporation in Tamil Nadu.  It helped classify these regions into ‘storm tide dominated’ or ‘pluvial (rainfall) dominated’ regions. I. Mithi catchment: Storm tide dominated flood II. Jagatsinghpur: “Pluvial dominate” as High rainfall inundated several areas in the central region and the flatness of the terrain prevented easy drainage of the floodwater into the Bay of Bengal III. Chennai: “Pluvial dominated” as Rainfall was cause in Northern and central region and storm tide as cause in eastern coastal region Significance of metric:  Better flood risk management system in long term planning for disaster preparedness. Ex- 1) Storm-dominated Mithi catchment can see plan for as closure dams, tide breakers, and storm surge barriers at appropriate locations. 2) “Pluvial dominated” region can see structural measures such as rainwater storage structures, lakes, and detention basins should be prioritised in the flood management plans

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

Klein tunnelling: Context: Researchers have shown in the lab evidence for the nearly century old proposition that relativistic particles can penetrate a barrier with 100% transmission. Concept:  Relativistic particle is particles which moves with the speed of speed comparable to the light or kinetic energies are comparable with the product of their masses m and the square of the velocity of light, or mc2 (mc square).  As long as gravitational effects can be ignored, which is true so long as gravitational potential energy differences are small compared with mc2, the effects of Einstein’s general theory of relativity may be safely ignored.  Klein tunnelling is based on the Klein paradox which says that if potential is of the order of the electron mass or rest mass energy (V ~ mc^2) the barrier becomes nearly transparent (It is unlike the phenomenon of electron barrier when a barrier is met). Significance of Klein tunnelling:  Revolutionise electronics industry: Possibility of developing graphene-based field-effect transistors for high-frequency applications  Significantly boost development in quantum mechanics as well as basic sciences  Applications in on-chip logic devices, acoustic signal processing and sound energy harvesting.

VOLTAGE DEPENDENT ANION CHANNELS : Concept:  VDAC, located in the mitochondrial outer membrane, functions as gatekeeper for the entry and exit of mitochondrial metabolites, thereby controlling cross-talk between mitochondria and the rest of the cell. VDAC is also a key player in mitochondria-mediated apoptosis.  Meant to promote cell growth in general, the VDAC proteins act as gatekeepers, binding themselves to the pro cell-death proteins and inactivating them to help the cells live longer. Meant to promote cell growth in general, the VDAC proteins act as gatekeepers, binding themselves to the pro cell-death proteins and inactivating them to help the cells live longer.  VDACs are of three kinds — identified as 1, 2 and 3. All of them function as gatekeepers and ion transporters, but it is the VDAC2 that can bind with and inactivate another protein that, if left alone, can allow a cell to die.  The differences between VDAC 1,2,3 can be used to elicit VDAC-specific function, so that the cell decides whether to live or die.  VDAC2 has 11 extra amino acids compared with the other two. She removed these 11 amino acids and tested the protein and it behaved like VDAC1, which does not have these 11 extra acids.  So that it will be used to target the differences to let each VDAC do the work we desire VDAC in Cancer Treatment  Cancer spreads in the body due to unchecked growth of diseased cells. But did you know there are some kinds of proteins that help cells, including diseased cells, die?  These death-hastening proteins, if left alone, would rampage through the body, killing even the good cells.  Special type of ‘membrane proteins’ called VDAC can be used to treat cancer.  Diseased cells die quickly by interfering it with the VDAC2 function that let the diseased cells die.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

CONJUGATE VACCINES: Concept:  A conjugate vaccine is a type of vaccine which combines a weak antigen with a strong antigen as a carrier so that the immune system has a stronger response to the weak antigen.  Vaccines are used to prevent diseases by invoking an immune response to an antigen, the foreign part of a bacteria or virus that the immune system recognizes.  This is usually accomplished with an attenuated or dead version of a pathogenic bacterium or virus in the vaccine, so that the immune system can recognize the antigen later in life.  Many vaccines contain a single antigen that the body will recognize.  However, the antigen of some pathogenic bacteria does not elicit a strong response from the immune system, so a vaccination against this weak antigen would not protect the person later in life. In this case, a conjugate vaccine is used in order to invoke an immune system response against the weak antigen. In a conjugate vaccine, the weak antigen is covalently attached to a strong antigen, thereby eliciting a stronger immunological response to the weak antigen. Most commonly, the weak antigen is a polysaccharide that is attached to strong protein antigen. However, protein and protein/protein conjugates have also been developed. Approved conjugate vaccines  The most commonly used conjugate vaccine is the Hib conjugate vaccine. Other pathogens that are combined in a conjugate vaccine to increase an immune response are Streptococcus pneumoniae and Neisseria meningitidis, both of which are conjugated to protein carriers like those used in the Hib conjugate vaccine  Another conjugate vaccine is typhoid conjugate vaccine which may be more effective and prevents typhoid fever in many children under the age of five years.  Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV) prevents pneumococcal disease.The vaccine is a mix of several bacteria of the pneumococci family, which are known to cause pneumonia.

EFFICACY RATE IN VACCINES: Context: Different pharmaceutical companies are now coming out with the success stories of their potential vaccines, and the efficacy rates of these vaccines are reported to be high – 70%, 90%, 95%, and so on. Concept:  ‘Vaccine efficacy’ is defined to measure whether the vaccine is able to prevent the disease significantly or not, and if so, to what extent.  Vaccines are usually approved on the basis of results from three stages of clinical trials. The trials aim to assess short-term safety, ability to generate an immune response, and efficacy How Efficacy is calculated?  Phase III trial, which is often the most elaborate one, investigates the efficacy of the vaccine under trial – usually in comparison to a placebo, which maybe a similar-looking injection having no medical effect.  In a phase III trial, often thousands of people are given the vaccine or a placebo, and then these people are monitored over several months to see whether the people receiving the vaccine get infected at a lower rate than people who get the placebo, on average.  Thus, the performance of the vaccinated group is compared to that of the unvaccinated group.  Vaccine efficacy is expressed as a proportionate reduction in disease attack rate, AR, between the unvaccinated, (ARU) and vaccinated, ( ARV) groups under the phase III trial.  The ratio of ARV to ARU is called the risk ratio,(RR). A lower value of RR clearly indicates better performance of the potential vaccine.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

 When both the vaccinated and unvaccinated groups have, more or less, equal number of individuals, RR is the simple ratio of the number of infected in the vaccine group to that in the placebo group.  And, one minus RR, expressed in percentage, is called the “Vaccine Efficacy”.

COVAXIN and COVISHIELD: Context: The Central Drugs and Standards Committee (CDSCO) on Sunday formally approved the COVID-19 vaccines by Bharat Biotech and the Serum Institute of India (SII). Concept:  This allows the vaccines — Covishield by SII and based on the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine, and Covaxin by Bharat Biotech — to be offered to healthcare workers and frontline workers in India.  The Health Ministry had said that 3 crore such personnel, considered at the highest risk for COVID-19, would be given the vaccine for free. It isn’t yet known which vaccine will be made available to these personnel though officials said roll-outs could begin in less than a fortnight. COVAXIN  COVAXIN is an inactivated vaccine, created from a strain of the infectious SARS-CoV-2 virus, that has shown promise in preclinical studies, demonstrating extensive safety and effective immune responses.  COVAXIN has been developed by Bharat Biotech in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the National Institute of Virology (NIV).  The SARS-CoV-2 strain was isolated in NIV, Pune and transferred to Bharat Biotech. The indigenous, inactivated vaccine will be developed and manufactured by Bharat Biotech’s BSL-3 (Bio-Safety Level 3) High Containment facility located in Genome Valley, Hyderabad, India.  Human clinical trials of the experimental COVID-19 are scheduled to start across the country in July 2020.  Bharat Biotech’s track record in developing Vero cell culture platform technologies has been proven in several vaccines for polio, rabies, rotavirus, Japanese Encephalitis, Chikungunya and Zika. COVISHIELD  The COVISHIELD the vaccine is developed by the University of Oxford and the British Pharmaceutical major Astra Zeneca. In India, the vaccine is to be made and marketed by Pune Serum Institute of India.  It is technically referred to as AZD1222 or ChAdOx 1 nCoV-19.  The COVISHIELD vaccine uses harmless virus to transport genetic material in order to trigger the immune response to the COVID-19 virus.  The COVISHIELD trials in India were conducted by the Serum Institute of India  It is already being tested in the UK, South Africa and Brazil, where participants are being administered two doses nearly a month apart.

JEEVAN PRAMAAN: Context : Along with the extension of various tax deadlines recently, the submission of life certificate by pensioners was also extended to February 28, 2021.

Concept :

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

Life Certificate

 A life certificate is a proof of existence produced to an authorised pension distributor or agency such as bank or by an individual stating that he/she is alive.

 The government and insurance companies insist on this certificate before making pension or annuity payments. The certificate is usually required annually.

 The individual drawing the pension is required to be personally present before the pension disbursing agency.

 However, with the outbreak of pandemic, digital life certificate (DLC) is sufficient proof for pension payments.

Jeevan Pramaan /DLC's

 Jeevan pramaan is one of the main requisites for the pensioners to avail pension is to provide Life Certificates (LCs).

 "Jeevan Pramaan '' – an "Aadhar-based Digital Life Certificate" for pensioners. It is a move that could eventually benefit over a crore pensioners.

 The proposed digital certification will do away with the requirement of a pensioner having to submit a physical Life Certificate in November each year, in order to ensure continuity of pension being credited into his account.

 It can be operated on a personal computer or a smartphone, along with an inexpensive biometric reading device.

 This facility will also be made available at Common Service Centres being operated under the National e-Governance Plan, for the benefit of pensioners residing in remote and inaccessible areas.

EPIZOOTICS: Context :Samples of dead migratory water birds found at the Pong Dam Lake in Himachal Pradesh have tested positive for avian influenza or bird flu. It has now become the fifth state to report suspected cases of bird flu after Haryana, Rajasthan, Kerala and Madhya Pradesh .Concept :

 Bird flu is a highly infectious and severe respiratory disease in birds caused by the H5N1 influenza virus, which can occasionally infect humans as well, although human-to-human transmission is unusual, according to the World Health Organisation.

EPIZOOTICS:

 An epidemic outbreak of disease in an animal population akin to an epidemic in humans, often with the implication that it may extend to humans.

 An epizootic may be restricted to a specific locale (an "outbreak"), general (an "epizootic"), or widespread ("panzootic").

 High population density is a major contributing factor to epizootics.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

 For Example , Kyasanur Forest Disease Virus , avian influenza, Swine flu , Foot and Mouth disease etc.

 It generally causes serious economic or public health issues and are of major importance in the international trade of animals and animal products

Immunogenicity: Context: The term has been news for vaccines for Covid-19 being approved and these being tested for immunogenicity as well. Concept:  Immunogenicity is the ability of a foreign substance, such as an antigen, to provoke an immune response in the body of a human or other animal.  It results from biomaterial being detected by the body’s immune system as a foreign object.  A biochemical cascade then occurs, whereby T-helper cells (these are arguably the most important cells in adaptive immunity, as they are required for almost all adaptive immune responses) migrate towards the biomaterial. This immune response can result in rejection of the biomaterial, and non-union between the biomaterial and the wound site.  It is of two types: 1. Wanted immunogenicity: It is used in case of vaccines, where the injection of an antigen (the vaccine) provokes an immune response against the pathogen (virus, bacteria), protecting the organism from future exposure. 2. Unwanted immunogenicity: It is an immune response by an organism against a therapeutic antigen (ex. recombinant protein, or monoclonal antibody). This reaction leads to production of anti-drug-antibodies (ADAs) inactivating the therapeutic effects of the treatment and, in rare cases, inducing adverse effects.

METEORITE: Context: Researchers have decoded the nature of a meteorite that fell near Jaipur in 2017. Concept: A meteorite is a solid piece of debris from an object, such as a comet, asteroid, or meteoroid that originates in outer space and survives its passage through the atmosphere to reach the surface of a planet or moon. When the original object enters the atmosphere, various factors such as friction, pressure, and chemical interactions with the atmospheric gases cause it to heat up and radiate energy. It then becomes a meteor and forms a fireball, also known as a shooting star or falling star. There are three main types of meteorites:  Iron meteorites: which are almost completely made of metal.  Stony-iron meteorites: which have nearly equal amounts of metal and silicate crystals.  Stony meteorites: which mostly have silicate minerals.

Why study of a meteorite is important? Studying meteorites are helpful because they contain a record of our solar system's history going back some 4.6 billion years. By studying meteorites, we can learn details about how our solar system evolved into the Sun and planets of today and how meteorite impacts could affect our future. Findings from the study of meteorite that fell in Jaipur:

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

This is a type of stony meteorite, considered the most primitive meteorite and a remnant of the first solid bodies to accrete in the solar system. The composition of carbonaceous chondrites are also similar to the Sun, according to researchers

Quantum entanglement: Context: Recognising the importance of quantum technology, the Department of Science and Technology of the Government of India had initiated a programme called QuEST at a modest 200- crore-rupee budget to explore the possibilities and engage with the researchers. Concept: Quantum entanglement is a physical phenomenon that occurs when a pair or group of particles is generated, interact, or share spatial proximity in a way such that the quantum state of each particle of the pair or group cannot be described independently of the state of the others, including when the particles are separated by a large distance. Entanglement is a primary feature of quantum mechanics lacking in classical mechanics. Potential Uses of Entanglement: Entanglement has many applications in quantum information theory. With the aid of entanglement, otherwise impossible tasks may be achieved.  Among the best-known applications of entanglement are superdense coding and quantum teleportation.  Most researchers believe that entanglement is necessary to realize quantum computing.  Entanglement is used in some protocols of quantum cryptography.  This is because the "shared noise" of entanglement makes for an excellent one-time pad.  Moreover, since measurement of either member of an entangled pair destroys the entanglement they share, entanglement-based quantum cryptography allows the sender and receiver to more easily detect the presence of an interceptor.  In interferometry, entanglement is necessary for surpassing the standard quantum limit and achieving the Heisenberg limit.

Black box: Context: Black boxes of crashed Indonesian airlines The Sriwijaya Air Boeing 737 is recovered from sea. Concept: Flight recorder is an electronic recording device placed in an aircraft for the purpose of facilitating the investigation of aviation accidents and incidents. Flight recorders are also known by the misnomer black box—they are, in fact, painted bright orange in color to aid in their recovery after accidents.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

There are two different flight recorder devices: the flight data recorder (FDR) preserves the recent history of the flight through the recording of dozens of parameters collected several times per second; the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) preserves the recent history of the sounds in the cockpit, including the conversation of the pilots. The two devices may be combined into a single unit. Together, the FDR and CVR objectively document the aircraft's flight history, which may assist in any later investigation. The two flight recorders are required by international regulation, overseen by the International Civil Aviation Organization, to be capable of surviving the conditions likely to be encountered in a severe aircraft accident. For this reason, they are typically specified to withstand an impact of 3400 g and temperatures of over 1,000 °C (1,830 °F).

Cyborg: Context: Rise of artificial intelligence, robotics and threat of machine overpowering human Concept:  It is shorter version of cybernetic organism. It is part human part machine i.e, biological and technology.  It is the application of idea that the evolution of human won’t be a function of natural selection.  It applies to organisms with restored functions or enhanced abilities due to the integration of some artificial technology based on some sort of feedback.

Entomophagy: Context: The EU food safety agency has certified the yellow mealworm (not actually a nematode, but the larva of a species of darkling beetle)as being i.e., safe to be part of meal. Concept:  Entomophagy is the technical term for eating insects. It is a sustainable, cheap diet that can help the cause of nutrition security around the world.  It is a source of protein and fibre, and said to taste like peanuts, mealworms are however not recommended for those with certain allergies.  Insect as food industry is seen as alternative as current protein source is largely the meat and poultry industry and have been tied to significant greenhouse gas emissions and serious public health risks.  low-income nations, especially those struggling with nutrition-sufficiency, could benefit greatly from insect-consumption  Mealworms are the larval form of the mealworm beetle. These are holometabolic insects (Describing insect development in which there is complete metamorphosis and the immature stages, called larvae, are markedly different from the adults)

AEFI: Context: According to data collated by the 81 centres where the vaccination programme is being carried out, 26 cases of AEFI (adverse event following immunisation) have been reported with one beneficiary being hospitalised.

Concept:

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

Adverse events following immunization (AEFI)

• As vaccine-preventable infectious diseases continue to Adecline, people have become increasingly concerned about the risks associated with vaccines.

• Furthermore, technological advances and continuously increased knowledge about vaccines have led to investigations focused on the safety of existing vaccines which have sometimes created a climate of concern.

• Adverse event following immunization is any untoward medical occurrence which follows immunization and which does not necessarily have a causal relationship with the usage of the vaccine.

• If not rapidly and effectively dealt with, can undermine confidence in a vaccine and ultimately have dramatic consequences for immunization coverage and disease incidence.

• Alternatively, vaccine-associated adverse events may affect healthy individuals and should be promptly identified to allow additional research and appropriate action to take place.

• In order to respond promptly, efficiently, and with scientific rigour to vaccine safety issues, WHO has established a Global Advisory Committee on Vaccine Safety.

CO WIN: Context : To carry out the Covid-19 vaccination drive as smoothly as possible, the government is relying on Co-WIN, a digital intelligence platform.

Concept :

• It is built on an indigenously developed electronic Vaccine Intelligence Network (eVIN) which has been in use since 2015.

• Each person who would be receiving Covid-19 vaccination in India would have to register on the Co-WIN network and and he/she would be followed up for subsequent shots as well as for any adverse event following immunisation (AEFI).

• Registration on the Co-WIN app is mandatory for anyone to receive the vaccination.

About CO WIN

• Co-WIN is a cloud-based IT solution for planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of Covid-19 vaccination in India.

• It is an end-to-end solution that connects the entire public health system from national level right up to the vaccinator level.

• Co-WIN allows for creation of different users (admins, supervisors, and vaccinators), registration of beneficiaries, followed by planning and scheduling sessions and subsequently vaccine administration and following up of beneficiaries after the vaccination.

• In a real-time basis, the app tracks not only the beneficiaries but also the availability of vaccine stock at the national, State and district levels. This allows the system to monitor the utilisation, wastage, coverage of Covid-19 vaccination at various levels.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

FORMULATIONS AND BULK DRUG: Bulk Drug

• A bulk drug, also called an active pharmaceutical ingredient (API), is the key ingredient of a drug or medicine, which lends it the desired therapeutic effect or produces the intended pharmacological activity. For example, paracetamol is a bulk drug, which acts against pain.

• Bulk drugs are mixed with binding agents or solvents to prepare the finished pharmaceutical product, ie a paracetamol tablet, capsule or syrup, which is consumed by the patient.

Finished Dosage or Formulation

• It is the form in which the drug is consumed by us.

• A dosage form of a drug is usually composed of two things: The API, which is the drug itself; and an excipient, which is the substance of the tablet, or the liquid the API is suspended in, with other masking, stabilising and binding agents/material that is pharmaceutically inert.

• APIs are supplied by Pharmaceutical manufacturers to Formulations players or for own consumption for in-house Formulations.

Generic and Branded drug

• A generic drug is a drug named after the internationally accepted scientific name of the API.

• For example if a company sells antibiotic bulk drug Ciprofloxacin by that name, it is generic Ciprofloxacin and if a formulation of the drug is sold as Ciprofloxacin in the retail market, it is generic formulation of Ciprofloxacin.

• If a company sells the same formulation under its proprietary brand name, then it is a branded drug

• Branded names are capitalised while generic names are not. Generally, prices of generic products are expected to be lower than the prices of branded items.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

NASAL VACCINE: Context: Recently, the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation recommended granting permission for phase 1 human clinical trials for Bharat Biotech’s nasal COVID-19 vaccine, BBV154.

Concept:

About the Vaccine

• Bharat Biotech has partnered with Washington University School of Medicine in St Louis for a novel intranasal coronavirus vaccine (BBV154).

• Intranasal vaccines are vaccines that are administered through the nose to the mucosal layer.

• An intranasal vaccine stimulates a broad immune response – neutralizing IgG, mucosal IgA, and T cell responses.

• Immune responses at the site of infection (in the nasal mucosa) – essential for blocking both infection and transmission of COVID-19.

• So far, intranasal vaccination is being used only for influenza.

• However, it cannot be used on certain groups of people, particularly those who have compromised immune systems.

Vaccine Advantages

• The nasal route has excellent potential for vaccination due to the organized immune systems of the nasal mucosa.

• Non-invasive, Needle-free.

• Single dose regimen.

• Ease of administration – does not require trained health care workers.

• Elimination of needle-associated risks (injuries and infections).

• High compliance (Ideally suits for children’s and adults).

• Scalable manufacturing – able to meet global demand.

PEPSEQ TECHNOLOGY:

Context : The results of a new study suggest that the immune systems of people infected with Covid- 19 may rely on antibodies created during infections from earlier coronaviruses (other than SARS- CoV-2) to help fight the disease.

Concept:

• The study sought to understand how coronaviruses ignite the human immune system and conduct a deeper dive on the inner workings of the antibody response.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

• The researchers used a tool called PepSeq to finely map antibody responses to all human- infecting coronaviruses. .

• Besides SARS-CoV-2, researchers examined the antibody responses from two other potentially deadly coronaviruses: MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV-1.

PepSeq Technology: • Molecules that bind to critical targets (organisms, proteins, toxins, or other biological molecules) have great potential as diagnostic/detection tools and also as potential therapeutic drugs.

• For detection/diagnostics, the current standard is antibodies that are produced in rodents or with phage display technologies. This is labor intensive and lacks in cost and time effectiveness.

• This technology relates to a method for identifying synthetic molecular binding agents from peptide libraries using the PepSeq technology.

• This method uses large libraries of peptides tagged with DNA sequences to precisely identify particular peptides.

• Target molecules (e.g., proteins, toxins, enzymes, pathogens, biomarkers) are incubated with the libraries to identify specific peptides that bind to the targets.

SILENT CYBER: Context : “Insurers may place this matter (silent cyber issue) high on the agenda and address this problem sooner than later,” the IRDAI committee said in its report.

Concept :

• Silent cyber is the unknown exposure in an insurer’s portfolio created by a cyber peril, which has not been explicitly excluded or included.

• This is also known as “unintended” or “non-affirmative” cyber coverage. A cyber event can trigger losses across various lines of insurance.

• Silent cyber refers to potential cyber-related losses stemming from traditional property and liability policies that were not specifically designed to cover cyber risk.

• Unlike the specialist standalone cyber insurance products that are available in the market today, traditional liability policies were not designed with cyber exposures in mind and therefore may not implicitly include or exclude cyber risks.

• This coverage ambiguity can result in a silent cyber scenario, whereby an insurer may have to pay claims for cyber losses off a policy not designed for that purpose.

About IRDAI

• The IRDAI is an autonomous, statutory body established under Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority Act, 1999

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

• It is tasked with regulating and promoting the insurance and re-insurance industries in India.

• Its headquarters is in Hyderabad, Telangana and is a 10-member body including the chairman, five full-time and four part-time members appointed by the government of India.

REGEN-COV: Context : Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc said its antibody cocktail was found effective in preventing COVID-19 in people exposed to those infected with the new coronavirus in an ongoing late stage trial.

Concept :

• The two-antibody cocktail, REGEN-COV, caused a 100% reduction in symptomatic infection and roughly 50% lower overall rates of infection, based on an early analysis of 400 participants in the trial who had a household member with COVID-19.

• The current trial tested REGEN-COV for use as a passive vaccine, which involves direct delivery of virus-fighting antibodies into the body unlike traditional vaccines in which the receiver’s immune system is activated to develop its own antibodies.

INDIAN ASTRONOMICAL UNION: Context : The Indian Astronomical Observatory located in near Leh was featured in the Republic day tableau .

Concept :

• The Indian Astronomical Observatory (IAO), located in Hanle near Leh in Ladakh, India, has one of the world's highest located sites for optical, infrared and gamma-ray telescopes.

• The Indian Astronomical Observatory, the high-altitude station of IIA is situated at an altitude of 4500 metres above mean sea level to the north of Western Himalayas.

• It is operated by the Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Bangalore. It is currently the ninth highest optical telescope in the world, situated at an elevation of 4,500 meters.

• A 2-m optical infrared telescope is installed at the observatory. This telescope is remotely operated from CREST, Hosakote, using dedicated satellite links.

• A 0.70m wide field robotic telescope is under installation for monitoring transients, under the GROWTH project.

• Other larger facilities at IAO in Hanle include the Himalayan Chandra Telescope, the gamma-ray array telescope (HAGAR), and the imaging Cherenkov telescope (MACE)

• IAO also hosts several site monitoring instruments such as seeing monitor, extinction monitor, all sky camera, Automated Weather Station, etc. The site is being characterised for a 10m class telescope.

Global Relay of Observatories Watching Transients Happen (GROWTH)

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

• The GROWTH program is a 5 year project, funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF). NSF is a United States government agency.

• It is an international collaborative network of astronomers and telescopes dedicated to the study of short-lived cosmic transients and near-earth asteroids.

• Cosmic transients are energetic flashes of light that are millions to billions of times the brightness of the sun, e.g. explosive deaths of massive stars, white dwarf detonations, etc.

• Key follow-up observations of fast-fading or fast-moving events must occur at night promptly after discovery but before the sun rises.

• Therefore, a relay or network of telescopes spanning multiple longitudes (time-zones) on earth is required to pass the baton amongst each other to effectively extend the night-time darkness.

• GROWTH enables detailed monitoring of events that would otherwise vanish before the next night.

• Its goals are threefold:

Search for explosions in the optical regime whenever Laser Interferometer Gravitational- wave Observatory (LIGO) group detects a Binary Neutron Star merger.

Study nearby young supernova explosions.

Study nearby asteroids.

• These data using REGEN-COV as a passive vaccine suggest that it may both reduce transmission of the virus as well as reduce viral and disease burden in those who still get infected.

Antibody Cocktail

• An antibody is a protein made by immune cells that is just the right shape and size to attach itself to a specific spot on a particular foreign substance, such as a virus or bacteria in the blood.

• By attaching, the antibody can potentially directly stop these invaders from causing an infection, or it can mark them for destruction by immune cells.

• The REGN-COV2 antibody cocktail in these trials is a combination of two potent, complementary, virus-neutralizing antibodies.

• They were selected by Regeneron scientists after screening thousands of options. Each binds to the spike proteins on the virus, which is that corona we see in pictures of the virus.

• Those spikes allow the virus to attach to and penetrate other cells. If we block that interaction, the virus is less successful at binding to healthy cells.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

• One antibody comes from a human survivor of COVID-19.. The other antibody is from a mouse that has been engineered to have a human immune system. The cocktail does not contain human blood products.

DNA BILL: Context : MPs file dissent notes to Parliamentary Standing Committee’s report on DNA Technology (Use and Application) Regulation Bill 2019.

Concept :

• The Bill provides for the establishment of a National DNA Data Bank and Regional DNA Data Banks for states.

• DNA laboratories are required to share DNA data with the National and Regional DNA Data Banks.

• Every Data Bank will be required to maintain indices for the following categories of data-

 a crime scene index . a suspects’ or undertrials’ index . an offenders’ index . a missing persons’ index . an unknown deceased persons’ index

• It aims to store the unique genetic information for administrative purposes.

• It also provides for the establishment of a DNA Regulatory Board, which will supervise the DNA Data Banks and DNA laboratories.

• The Secretary, Department of Biotechnology, will be the ex officio Chairperson of the board and the additional members will be-

o experts in the field of biological sciences o Director General of the National Investigation Agency o Director of the Central Bureau of Investigation.

• The bill also proposes a written consent by individuals be obtained before collection of their DNA samples. However, consent is not required for offences with punishment of more than seven years in jail or death.

• It also provides for the removal of DNA profiles of suspects on the 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.

DOOMSDAY CLOCK: Context : The hands of the ‘Doomsday Clock’, a visual depiction of how vulnerable the world is to a climate or nuclear catastrophe, remained at ‘100 seconds to midnight’ for the second consecutive year — the closest it has been to the symbolic annihilation of humanity.

Concept:

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

• The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, founded by Albert Einstein and students from the University of Chicago in 1945, created the ‘Doomsday Clock’ as a symbol to represent how close the world is to a possible apocalypse.

• This clock represents that the closer the minute hand is to midnight, the closer the world is to disaster.

• This clock is maintained by the members of the "Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists" since 1947.

• The scientists of this organization are attributed for the forward or backward movement of the needles of the clock.

• When scientists think that humanity is at risk, the needles of the clock are set closer to 12 O'clock and when the danger passes away, the needles are set a few minutes away from the 12 O'clock.

• For example, after the two years of nuclear attack on Hiroshima and Nagasaki by the USA; the Doomsday Clock was set at just 7 minutes to midnight i.e. 12 O'clock for the first time.

NOVOVAX VACCINE: Context : American company Novavax, whose COVID-19 vaccine is set to be made in large numbers by the Pune-based Serum Institute of India (SII), has reported that its vaccine has proved to have 89% efficacy in preventing the infection in some trial volunteers in the United Kingdom.

Concept :

• In January 2020, Novavax announced development of a vaccine candidate, named NVX- CoV2373, to establish immunity to SARS-CoV-2.

• NVX-CoV2373 is a protein subunit vaccine that contains the spike protein of the SARS-CoV- 2 virus.

• Novavax's work is in competition for vaccine development among dozens of other companies.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

• The company released phase 3 trials showing that it has 89% efficacy against Covid-19. It also provides strong immunity against new variants. It has applied for emergency use in the US and UK.

SUPERNOVA and NEUTRINO: Context : A team from IIT Guwahati has come up with new insights into the part played by neutrinos in this dramatic death of massive stars.

Concept :

• Many stars, towards the end of their lifetimes, form supernovas - massive explosions that send their outer layers shooting into the surrounding space.

• Most of the energy of the supernova is carried away by neutrinos – tiny particles with no charge and which interact weakly with matter.

Supernova

• All stars burn nuclear fuel in their cores to produce energy. The heat generates internal pressure which pushes outwards and prevents the star from collapsing inward due to the action of gravity on its own mass.

• But when the star ages and runs out of fuel to burn, it starts to cool inside. This causes a lowering of its internal pressure and therefore the force of gravity wins; the star starts to collapse inwards.

• This builds up shock waves because it happens very suddenly, and the shock wave sends the outer material of the star flying. This is what is perceived as a supernova. This happens in very massive stars.

• In stars that are more than eight times as massive as the Sun, the supernova is accompanied by a collapsing of the inner material of the dying star – this is also known as core collapse supernova or Type II supernova.

• The collapsing core may form a black hole or a neutron star, according as its mass.

Neutrinos

• Proton, neutron, and electron are tiny particles that make up atoms

• The neutrino is also a tiny elementary particle, but it is not part of the atom

• They are the second most widely occurring particle in the universe, only second to photons, the particle which makes up light

• Neutrino has a very tiny mass, no charge and spin half

• It interacts very weakly with other matter particles

Origin of neutrino

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

• Neutrinos come from the sun (solar neutrinos) and other stars, cosmic rays that come from beyond the solar system, and from the Big Bang from which our Universe originated

• They can also be produced in the lab

Types of neutrino

• Neutrinos come in three types or “flavors” – electron neutrino, tau neutrino and muon neutrino

• They can change from one flavor to another as they travel.

• This process is called neutrino oscillation and is an unusual quantum phenomenon

How are atmospheric neutrinos produced in nature?

• Atmospheric neutrinos are produced from cosmic rays which consist of protons and heavy nuclei.

• These collide with atmospheric molecules such as Nitrogen to give off pions and muons which further decay to produce neutrinos.

SATURN TILT: Context : The tilt of the rotation axis of the gas giant Saturn may in fact be caused by its moons, scientists from CNRS, Sorbonne University and the University of Pisa have reported.

Concept :

• Recent observations have shown that Titan and the other moons are gradually moving away from Saturn much faster than astronomers had previously estimated.

• The researchers concluded that this process affects the inclination of Saturn's rotation axis: as its satellites move further away, the planet tilts more and more.

• The current tilt of Saturn's rotation axis is caused by the migration of its satellites, and especially by that of its largest moon, Titan.

Saturn

• Saturn is similar to Jupiter, although about one-third the mass. It spins so fast that its diameter at the equator is 10 percent larger than its diameter from pole to pole.

• Saturn has a solid core likely made of rock and ice, which is thought to be many times the mass of Earth.

• Covering this core is a layer of liquid metallic hydrogen, and on top of that are layers of liquid hydrogen and helium.

• These layers conduct strong electric currents that, in turn, generate Saturn’s powerful magnetic field.

Saturn’s Moons

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

• Saturn has 62 confirmed moons, and its largest moon is Titan, which is larger than Earth’s own moon and has a thick, opaque atmosphere.

• Titan is the second-largest moon in the Solar System (larger than Mercury) and it is the only satellite in the Solar System with a substantial atmosphere (nitrogen-rich).

Saturn’s Ring System

• The most spectacular part of Saturn is its magnificent system of planetary rings, which stretch some 300,000 kilometers across. The ring system is divided into three main parts: the bright A and B rings and the dimmer C ring.

• Saturn’s rings are probably made up of billions of particles of ice and ice-covered rocks.

Additional Information

CASSINI MISSION

• The Cassini–Huygens mission, commonly called Cassini, was a collaboration between NASA, the European Space Agency, and the Italian Space Agency to send a probe to study the planet Saturn and its system, including its rings and natural satellites.

DRAGONFLY MISSION

• Dragonfly aims to search for signs of microbial alien life on Saturn’s moon Titan, while navigating its earth-like gravity and aerodynamics in the process.

• The mission will succeed NASA’s Cassini probe, which ended its 13-year mission orbiting Saturn in September 2017 by diving into Saturn’s atmosphere.

• Dragonfly mission is a part of NASA’s New Frontiers program, which includes a series of space exploration missions, which are being conducted with the purpose of researching several of the Solar System bodies, including the dwarf planet Pluto.

• The New Frontiers programme also includes Pluto probe New Horizons, Jupiter probe Juno and OSIRIS-Rex asteroid mission.

PETN EXPLOSIVES:

Context : A day after a low intensity explosion took place near the Israeli embassy in New Delhi, Israel’s ambassador Ron Malka said Indian and Israeli agencies were working together “to find out what happened, who is standing behind this”.

Concept :

• Sources in the security establishment said preliminary forensic examination of the site and the bomb have revealed that the explosive used was PETN.

• A military grade explosive, PETN is not easily available and has been used in the past by groups such as Al Qaeda for making bombs.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

PETN Explosives: • PETN or Pentaerythritol tetranitrate is one of the most dangerous plastic explosive. The substance is available in black market, and belongs to the same family as nitroglycerin.

• It is preferred by militant groups because it cannot be easily detected owing to its colourless crystals.

• Majority of explosive detectors use metal detectors, but PETN can be kept hidden in a sealed container or an electrical equipment and thus can easily surpass security checks.

• PETN does not go on its own. The explosive needs a secondary detonating mechanism to produce heat or a shockwave, which can detonate the explosive.

CHANDRAYAAN 3: Context : K Sivan, the chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), revealed the estimated cost for Chandrayaan-3 to be Rs 6.15 billion (about $91.2 million), a much lower figure in comparison with Chandrayaan-2, which cost Rs 9.7 billion, as per news reports.

Concept :

Chandrayaan-3

• Chandrayaan-3 s a planned third lunar exploration mission by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

• Following Chandrayaan-2, where a snag in communication led to the failure of the lander's soft landing attempt after a successful orbital insertion, another lunar mission for demonstrating soft landing was proposed.

• Chandrayaan-3 will be a mission repeat of Chandrayaan-2 but will only include a lander and rover similar to that of Chandrayaan-2. It will not have an orbiter.

Chandrayaan-2 mission:

• In September 2008, the Chandrayaan-2 mission was approved by the government for a cost of Rs 425 crore.

• It is India’s second mission to the moon.

• It aims to explore the Moon’s south polar region.

• The mission is an important step in India’s plans for planetary exploration, a program known as Planetary Science and Exploration (PLANEX).

• There are three components of the mission, an orbiter, a lander and a rover.

• The mission payloads include — Terrain Mapping Camera which will generate a Digital Elevation Model (DEM) of the entire moon, Chandrayaan 2 Large Area Soft X-ray Spectrometer which will test the elemental composition of the Moon’s surface Solar X-Ray Monitor which will provide solar X-ray spectrum inputs for CLASS.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

• The orbiter will be deployed at an altitude of 100 kilometers above the surface of the Moon. The lander will then separate from the orbiter, and execute a soft landing on the surface of the Moon, unlike the previous mission which crash landed near the lunar south pole.

• The lander, rover and orbiter will perform mineralogical and elemental studies of the lunar surface.

• The rover is named Pragyan.

• The mission’s lander is named Vikram after Dr Vikram A Sarabhai, the Father of the Indian Space Programme.

GSLV Mk-III:

• Developed by ISRO, the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark-III is a three-stage vehicle.

• Primarily designed to launch communication satellites into geostationary orbit.

• It has a mass of 640 tonnes that can accommodate up to 8,000 kg payload to LEO and 4000 kg payload to GTO.

• GSLV Mk-III vehicle is powered by two solid motor strap-ons (S200), a liquid propellant core stage (L110) and a cryogenic stage (C25), that has been designed for carrying the four- tonne class satellites.

• The C25 is powered by CE-20, India’s largest cryogenic engine, designed and developed by the Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre.

Why the south polar region of the moon?

• According to ISRO, the lunar south pole is an interesting surface area, which remains in shadow as compared to the north pole.

• There is a possibility of the presence of water in permanently shadowed areas around it, the agency said, adding craters in the south pole region have cold traps and contain fossil records of the early solar system.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

ENVIRONMENT & ECOLOGY:

UMRED PAONI KARHANDALA SANCTUARY: Context: A tigress and her two cubs were found dead on Friday evening in Umred Paoni Karhandala Sanctuary, some 50 kilometres from Nagpur, an official said.

Concept:

About the Sanctuary

• Umred Karhandla Wildlife Sanctuary, about 58 km from Nagpur and 60 km from Bhandara spreed over Pauni Tahsil of Bhandara district and Umred, Kuhi and Bhivapur Taluka of Nagpur district, Maharashtra .

• This Sanctuary has also connection with Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve through forest along Wainganga river.

• The sanctuary is home to resident breeding tigers, herds of Gaur, wild dogs and also rare animals like flying squirrels pangolins and honey badger.

• It is bounded roughly by the Wainganga river and the Gose Khurd Dam on the northeast, State Highway 9 and Bhiwapur Town on the south, Umred on the west and a narrow 10 km long range of 600-800 m hills to the northwest.

• It is located 40 km north of Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve and 50 km southwest of Nagzira Wildlife Sanctuary & 60 km from Nagpur, Maharashtra. Pench Tiger Reserve is 80 km to the northwest.

Wainganga River

• Wainganga River is one of the key tributaries of the river Godavari.

• The river rises in the Mahadeo Hills in the Seoni District of Madhya Pradesh.

• It drains Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra.

• The Wainganga after joining the Wardha River at Chaprala in Gadchiroli district (Maharashtra) is known as the Pranahita River.

• Wardha river originates in Satpura Range in Betul District, Madhya Pradesh. Penganga river is a major tributary of the Wardha river and rises in the Ajanta range.

• Pranahita river empties into the Godavari River at , Telangana.

• Pranahita river is the largest tributary of the Godavari river covering about 34% of its drainage basin.

• Gosekhurdh irrigation project is being constructed on the Wainganga River.

Deepor beel:

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

Context: Community fishing has been banned in Deepor beel as the only Ramsar site in Assam shrank by 35% from 1991 level. Concept:  Deepor Beel, a freshwater lake on the south-western edge of Guwahati, was designated a Ramsar site in 2002 for sustaining a range of aquatic life forms besides sustaining 219 species of birds.  It sustains a major population of wild elephants from the adjoining Rani Reserve Forest and Deepor Beel Wildlife Sanctuary.  Why it is shrinking? I. Wetland losing connectivity with the small local rivers like Kalmoni, Khonajan and Basistha flowing through Moral Bharalu channel. II. Expansion of the city and encroachment upon natural channel III. Community fishing has impacted its ecosystem. Ramsar sites:  A Ramsar site is a wetland designated to be of international importance under the Convention on Wetlands on February 2, 1971, in the Iranian city of Ramsar on the Caspian Sea shore.  Aim of Ramsar sites is to develop and maintain an international network of wetlands which are important for the conservation of global biological diversity and for sustaining human life through the maintenance of their ecosystem components, processes and benefits  With Tso Kar Wetland Complex in Ladakh as 42nd Ramsar site in India, it has highest number of Ramsar sites in South Asia.

Woolly rhino: Context: Preserved carcass of an Ice Age-era woolly rhino has been unearthed as a result of melting permafrost. Concept:  Recent years have seen major discoveries of the remains of mammoths, woolly rhinos, foal, several puppies and cave-lion cubs in parts of Siberia. Such discoveries are becoming too frequent as a result of global warming melting permafrost across Arctic.  It is an extinct species of rhinoceros found in fossil deposits of the Pliocene and Pleistocene epochs (5.3 million to 11,700 years ago) in Europe, North Africa, and Asia.  It is estimated it became extinct at the end of most recent ice age.  It was also present in more temperate, non-glacial regions, where it inhabited grasslands.  Evidence so far suggest that they were not hunted to extinction by human beings, rather climate change was the cause.

ASIATIC LION CONSERVATION PROJECT : Concept:

• Asiatic Lion Conservation Project” has been launched by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change(MoEFCC).

• MoEFCC has approved the project for three financial years from 2018 to 2021.

• The Asiatic Lion. endemic to Gir landscape of Gujarat is one of the 21 critically endangered species identified by the Ministry for taking up recovery programmes.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

• The project envisages scientific management with the involvement of communities in coordination with multi-sectoral agencies for disease control and veterinary care for overall conservation of Asiatic lion.

• This project has “Species Conservation over a large landscape” approach.

Large Landscape Conservation

• Large landscape conservation is an approach to conservation and management that focuses on actions that are taken across large areas, such as entire watersheds. Large landscape conservation generally involves many forest divisions, government agencies, and conservation organizations.

• As Asiatic Lions are found only in the Gir Landscape, this project will focus on conservation efforts of Asiatic Lions over whole Gir Range.

• Modern Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is proposed in the conservation, protection and development efforts of the Greater Gir Region. Additional ICT will include the following:

• GPS Based Tracking like Surveillance Tracking Animal Tracking and Vehicle Tracking

• Automated Sensor Grid like Magnetic Sensors, Movement Sensors, and Infra-red heat sensors

• Night vision capability enhancement

• GIS-based real-time monitoring, analysis and report generation.

Asiatic lion (Panthera leo persica)

• Asiatic lions are slightly smaller than African lions.

• Males have only moderate mane growth at the top of the head so that their ears are always visible.

• The most striking morphological character, which is always seen in Asiatic lions, and rarely in African lions, is a longitudinal fold of skin running along its belly.

• Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972: Schedule 1

• CITES : Appendix I

• IUCN Red List: Endangered

• Asiatic lions were once distributed to the state of West Bengal in east and Rewa in Madhya Pradesh, in central India.

• At present Gir National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary is the only abode of the Asiatic lion.

AVIAN INFLUENZA: Context: Avian influenza, popularly known as bird flu, has been reported from Kerala, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh in recent weeks.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

Concept: Avian influenza, known informally as avian flu or bird flu, is a variety of influenza caused by viruses adapted to birds. Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI): The two virus types identified so far in the outbreaks — H5N1 and H5N8come under the category of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), which is of major concern to those keeping birds, because it leads to disease and death of fowl and causes economic havoc. H5N1 is a known threat to humans as well Out of the three types of influenza viruses (A, B, and C), influenza A virus is a zoonotic infection with a natural reservoir almost entirely in birds. Avian influenza, for most purposes, refers to the influenza A virus. Though influenza A is adapted to birds, it can also stably adapt and sustain person-to-person transmission. MODE OF TRANSMISSION: Avian influenza is most often spread by contact between infected and healthy birds, though can also be spread indirectly through contaminated equipment. The virus is found in secretions from the nostrils, mouth, and eyes of infected birds as well as their droppings. HPAI infection is spread to people often through direct contact with infected poultry, such as during slaughter or plucking. IS THIS INFLUENZA AIRBORNE? Though the virus can spread through airborne secretions, the disease itself is not an airborne disease. HUMAN TO HUMAN TRANSMISSION: In its present form, human-to-human infection is not known — human infections have been reported only among people who have handled infected birds or carcasses.

STATE DISASTER : Context : The avian flu outbreak has been classified as a ‘state disaster’ in Kerala after the Centre notified the outbreak of H5N8 subset of Influenza A in the two districts.

Concept : State Disaster :

• A State Government may use up to 10 percent of the funds available under the SDRF for providing immediate relief to the victims of natural disasters that they consider to be ‘disasters’ within the local context in the State

• It should not be included in the notified list of disasters of the Ministry of Home Affairs.

• is subject to the condition that the State Government has listed the State specific natural disasters and notified clear and transparent norms and guidelines for such disasters with the approval of the State Authority, i.e., the State Executive Authority (SEC).

ASIAN WATER BIRD CENSUS:

Context : The two-day Asian Waterbird Census-2020 commenced in Andhra Pradesh under the aegis of experts from the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), covering at least two dozen sites, including Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary, Kolleru Lake and Krishna Sanctuary.

Concept :

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

Asian Waterbird Census:

• The Asian Waterbird Census (AWC) is an international programme that focuses on monitoring the status of water birds and wetlands. It also aims to increase public awareness on issues related to wetland and water bird conservation.

• In India, the AWC is annually coordinated by the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) and Wetlands International.

• Asian Waterbird Census is a part of the global project ‘International Waterbird Census Programme’ and is carried out every year in January.

• The data collected each year is shared by Wetlands International with global conservation organisations such as IUCN and Ramsar Convention, while state coordinators share data with local wildlife departments to ensure conservation and sustainable management of wetlands in the region.

Bombay Natural History Society:

• BNHS is a non government Organisation (NGO) founded in the year 1883, and is engaged in conservation and biodiversity research.

• BNHS is the partner of Bird Life International in India. It has been designated as a 'Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation' by the Department of Science and Technology.

PARTICULATE MATTER 2. 5: Concept:

Particulate matter

• Particulate matter, or PM, is the term for particles found in the air, including dust, dirt, soot, smoke, and liquid droplets.

• Particles can be suspended in the air for long periods of time.

• Some particles are large or dark enough to be seen as soot or smoke. Others are so small that individually they can only be detected with a microscope.

• Many manmade and natural sources emit PM directly or emit other pollutants that react in the atmosphere to form PM.

PM 2.5

• Particles less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter (PM2.5) are referred to as “fine” particles and are believed to pose the greatest health risks.

• Because of their small size (approximately 1/30th the average width of a human hair), fine particles can lodge deeply into the lungs.

• Particles with diameters between 2.5 and 10 micrometers are referred to as “coarse" particles.

• PM 2.5 particles can only be detected with the help of electron microscope.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

Sources of PM

• Sources of fine particles include all types of combustion activities (motor vehicles, power plants, wood burning, etc.) and certain industrial processes.

• Sources of coarse particles include crushing or grinding operations, and dust from paved or unpaved roads.

• Other particles may be formed in the air from the chemical change of gases. They are indirectly formed when gases from burning fuels react with sunlight and water vapor. These can result from fuel combustion in motor vehicles, at power plants, and in other industrial processes.

CARACAL: Context: Union forest minister Prakash Javdekar, who tweeted that with the addition of the caracal there will now be 22 species under critically endangered species recovery programme.

Concept:

• The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) lists caracals as a species of ‘least concern’, mainly due to their large numbers in Africa. But in India they are ‘endangered’.

• Now it is classified as 'Critically Endangered' in India.

• since 2001, the Caracal's presence has been only reported the three states, including Rajasthan, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh

About Caracal

• The caracal wild cat (Caracal caracal) is a rare species in India.

• The black tufted ears of this cat are one of its most distinguishing features.

• In Kutch dialect of Gujarat Caracals are locally referred to as Hornotro which means killer of a Blackbuck whereas in Rajasthan it is known as Junglee Bilao or Wildcat.

• They are mostly found in the tropical dry deciduous and tropical thorn and shrub forests of Central and Western India.

• Caracals had appeared in Indian paintings dating back to seventeenth century.

• Their survival in India is endangered primary reasons being the rapid loss of scrub and thorn habitat and unchecked human activates in the caracals habitat

Tirthan Wildlife Sanctuary and Great Himalayan National Park in Himachal Pradesh/ Management Effectiveness Evaluation (MEE): Context: Management Effectiveness Evaluation (MEE) of 146 national parks and wildlife sanctuaries in the country was released by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. These two topped in the survey. Concept:

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

 India has a network of 903 Protected Areas in the country covering about 5% of the total geographic area of the country. In order to assess the efficacy of Protected Areas, evaluation of management effectiveness is required.  Management Effectiveness Evaluation (MEE) of Protected Areas (PAs) is a tool to study effectiveness of protected areas and is used by those involved in better strategy across the globe today.  India’s MEE score of 62.01% is better than the global average mean of 56%.  It provides valuable guidance on various aspects of wildlife and protected area.  It has now been extended for Marine protected areas as well by WII (Wild Life Institute of India) and MoEF&CC.  MEE-ZOO has also been launched for survey of zoo across India.

Prevention of cruelty to Animal’s Act: Context: The Supreme Court held that the removal of an animal from the custody of an accused as mentioned in 2017 rules brought by the government is not contrary to the provisions of the Act. Concept:  2017 rules notified by the Centre allowed forfeiting of animals of traders and transporters during pendency of trial in cases under The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, 1960.  It just provided for “seizure” and not confiscation. Confiscation means transfer of ownership of the property (only done after order in case comes) and seizure is just taking possession of property and is temporary in nature (one gets back property if decision is in their favour).  Under 2017 rules the local magistrate by its discretion on interim custody sometimes hand over the animal to some local Pinjarapoles or Gaushala or Animal Shelter Houses, when the accused owners are not fit to get interim custody of the cattle as per law laid down by the court.  The expenditure incurred by such shelter houses in caring for the rescued cattle during pendency of the litigation has to be borne by the accused owner and the transporter as provided in the Act. About the Prevention of Cruelty to Animal Act:  It prohibits any person from inflicting, causing, or if it is the owner, permitting, unnecessary pain or suffering to be inflicted on any animal.  It provides for punishment for causing unnecessary cruelty and suffering to animals.  Section 2 of the act defines animals and types of animals like domestic or captive animals.  Section 4 provides for Welfare Board of India (WBI), a statutory advisory body for animal welfare and protection of animals from unnecessary suffering and pain. Late Smt. Rukmini Devi Arundale, well known humanitarian and Bharatnatyam exponent led it since its foundation for almost 20 years.  It mentions forms of cruelty, exceptions, and killing of a suffering animal in case any cruelty has been committed against it, so as to relieve it from further suffering.  Provides the guidelines relating to experimentation on animals for scientific purposes.  An animal cannot be exhibited or trained by any person, if: 1. Such a person is unregistered as per the provisions of this chapter; 2. Such an animal has been barred from being included in any performance by the Central Government through a notification in the Official Gazette.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

Bird flu and Bird migratory pattern: Context: Subject: Rising bid flu cases in India has impacted mainly poultry but many states like Kerala, Himachal Pradesh forests have reported bird flu in migratory birds raising concern about many endangered species. Concept:  forest and protected areas of Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat, and Kerala Reported bird flu from migratory duck species mainly.  Advisory for strict vigil on the wintering habitats of migratory birds including wetlands for any mortality or outbreak signs.  Most migratory waterfowl species are known to be carriers of the H5N1 virus (it can jump from birds to mammals and also spreads through fomites or infected surfaces). Ex- Reports of red junglefowl (considered rugged species) being infected is a dangerous sign.  The avian influenza virus normally does not jump over to humans is easily transmitted from migratory species to domestic birds and has great potential to completely damage our poultryand even pigs.  It also threatens many endangered species like vultures as they come in contact with the migratory birds.  Affected birds have symptoms such as tremors, diarrhoea, head tilt, and paralysis.  Most domestic birds are kept away from wild birds but as domesticated ducks feed in the same paddy fields where wild ducks also feed and sometimes poultry fields are also near to areas near poultry farm there is chances of growing bird flu if care is not taken.  Care has to be taken in protected areas, wetlands and wildlife areas attracting migratory birds. About migratory birds:  Migratory birds are those birds moving from one habitat to another during different times of the year, due to various factors such as food, sunlight, temperature, climate, etc.  The movement between habitats, can sometimes exceed thousands of miles/kilometres for some migratory birds. A migratory route can involve nesting and also requires the availability of habitats before and after each migration.  Every year September and October sees huge migration of birds to India from Northern hemisphere.  Like our highways, we have nine flyways in the world that the waterbirds use for migration,” says S Sivakumar, scientist at Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS).  For Asia, it is the Central Asian Flyway that covers 30 countries including India at the tail end with huge landmass and habitat variations, especially the wetlands.  When daylight shrinks and there is shortage of food supply at the breeding sites, the birds take the cue and start migrating towards wintering sites in the South. The return journey begins in March or April.  India receives birds from 29 countries during migration.

National Policy on Faecal Sludge and Septage Management (FSSM): Context: Himachal submitted its action plan earlier this month to the Central Monitoring Committee (CMC), which is overseeing compliance to a set of merged National Green Tribunal orders to make sewage 100 per cent treated by March 2021. Concept:  It was issued by Ministry of Urban Development in 2017.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

 It seeks to facilitate nationwide implementation of FSSM services in all ULBs and to set priorities, and direction for safe and sustainable sanitation in every household in India. Features of the FSSM:  It provides for state-level guidelines, framework, objectives, timelines and implementation plans to address septage management.  Formulating strategy to initiate capacity-building for training on FSSM.  A sanitation benchmark framework to be used by ULBs to develop a database and registry of certified onsite sanitation system and a reporting ecosystem.  Ensure funding for FSSM projects and with promotion of public private partnerships (PPP).  Achieving integrated citywide sanitation along with safe disposal. Gaps and issues in urban sanitation: 1. Access: Due to households having financial issues and space crunch for constructing individual toilets, apart from some cultural and social barrier. 2. Septage collection and conveyance: Illegal Manual scavenging, No / Limited access to tanks, Inappropriate tank sizing & design, Lack of infrastructure, and a regulated schedule for cleaning, Lack of formal private players are issues in this. 3. Treatment and Disposal: lack of adequate centralized/ decentralized facilities and designated sites for sewage and for septage treatment and disposal is a major burden. 4. Poor Awareness: Faecal Sludge and septage management has been accorded low priority and there is poor awareness 5. Fragmented Institutional Roles and Responsibilities: Lack of an Integrated City-wide Approach: Faecal Sludge and septage management investments are currently planned in a piece-meal manner and do not take into account the full cycle of safe confinement, treatment and safe disposal 6. Limited Technology Choices: Technologies have been focussed and the disposal techniques are not environmentally friendly no cost-effective 7. Gender Sensitive Gap: The burden of poor sanitation (compounded by the lack of FSSM services) disproportionately affects women, especially the urban poor, because this falls along established fault-lines of malnutrition and family health caregiving. Ex- The Economic Survey Report (2016- 17) of the Finance Ministry indicates the adverse impact of lack of sustainable sanitation on health of women and impedes in cognitive development of girls and infants.

Houbara Bustard: Context: Members of the United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) royal family arrived in Pakistan’s Balochistan to hunt the internationally protected and highly vulnerable houbara bustard under a license issued by Pakistan’s foreign ministry Concept:  It is a large terrestrial bird found in parts of Asia, the Middle East and Africa. The North African houbara (Chlamydotis undulata) and the Asian houbara (Chlamydotis macqueenii) are two separate species of Houbara bustard.  It migrates in flock to the Indian subcontinent to spend winter in Pakistan, the Arabian Peninsula and nearby Southwest Asia after it breeds in Central Asia during spring in original habitat.  It is very similar to the critically endangered Great Indian Bustard (native to India).  IUCN categorised it as Vulnerable.  Poaching, unregulated hunting and the degradation of its natural habitat has been major causes for decline in population of Houbara bustard.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

 Wealthy dignitaries from the UAE, Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries arrive in the country to hunt the birds every year using hunting gear and falcons. They kill the bird for sport and also because its meat is supposed to have aphrodisiac qualities  Pakistan has been hosting wealthy dignitaries for last few decades. But, the Supreme Court imposed a ban on hunting the houbara bustard in 2015.

Ammonia as pollutant: Context: An inspection done by expert committee from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) in 2018 reported high levels of Ammonia in Yamuna river between Haryana’s Hathnikund and Delhi’s Wazirabad barrage coming from Haryana drains. Concept:  National Green Tribunal-appointed Yamuna Monitoring Committee (YMC) share detail with Haryana govt and also appraised Supreme Court on a plea to direct Haryana to stop discharging pollutant in river.  It has not only impacted the quality of water in Yamuna, but also created problem of water supply due to high ammonia level. Expert committee recommendation to check Ammonia pollution in Yamuna:  Construction of a dividing wall was recommended by committee between two drains in Sonepat area in which drain carries freshwater and the other carries industrial and domestic wastewater, which at the time included untreated waste. It concurrently leads to both water mixing and polluting the river Yamuna.  In-situ bioremediation  Phytoremediation has to be undertaken in drains to stop untreated effluents going into the river. Other measures could be: Treating with freshwater, chlorination and restoring ecological flow of river. About Ammonia and Ammonia pollution in River:  Ammonia (NH3) is a colourless gas and used as an industrial chemical in fertilisers, plastic, synthetic fibres and dues etc.  Natural source of ammonia is breakdown of organic waste. On the other hand, industrial effluent and agriculture run-off is major man-made contribution to rise in ammonia levels.  Ammonia concentration above 1 ppm is dangerous for fishes.  Ammonia also reduces dissolved oxygen in water by combining with the oxygen to form oxidised form of Nitrogen.  Water intake with high ammonia level may damage internal organs of human as well.  Bureau of Indian Standards has put maximum permissible limit of Ammonia in water at 0.5 ppm.

Blue and green hydrogen: Context: Oil-Rich Abu Dhabi Targets Hydrogen as Future Export Fuel. Concept:  Abu Dhabi is planning to use two of its sovereign wealth funds to turn the petroleum-rich emirate into an exporter of blue and green hydrogen.  Munich-based Siemens Energy is already building a hydrogen demonstration plant at the neighbouring emirate of Dubai.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

 This is done to diversify export amidst demand for cleaner fuels. Potential for hydrogen fuel in Abu Dhabi:  Huge natural gas base, which it could use to develop what is known as blue hydrogen.  Ample sunshine, which can be harnessed to make a variant called green hydrogen Hydrogen as fuel:  Hydrogen is a clean fuel that, when consumed in a fuel cell, produces only water. Hydrogen can be produced from a variety of domestic resources, such as natural gas, nuclear power, biomass, and renewable power like solar and wind.  Hydrogen is a versatile energy carrier that can be produced from a wide range of sources and used in many ways across the entire energy sector.  It can be produced from Solar-driven processes using light as the agent for hydrogen production  Water can be separated into oxygen and hydrogen through a process called electrolysis  Biological processes use microbes such as bacteria and microalgae and can produce hydrogen through biological reactions. In microbial biomass conversion, the microbes break down organic matter like biomass or wastewater to produce hydrogen, while in photo biological processes the microbes use sunlight as the energy source. Grey, Blue and green hydrogen  When produced industrially from natural gas (which generates significant carbon emissions) it is known as “grey” hydrogen. (It is cheapest)  When hydrogen is produced from natural gas but carbon emissions are captured and stored, or reused it is called “blue” hydrogen. (price is influenced both by natural gas and carbon capture and storage)  The cleanest one of all is “green” hydrogen, which is generated by renewable energy sources without producing carbon emissions in the first place. Gucchi Mushroom: Context: GI tag has been sought for India’s costliest mushroom ‘Gucchi mushroom’. Concept:  It grows in J&K’s Doda district.  On the back of saffron from state receiving GI tag, now the demand is for Gucchi to be given GI tag.  Locally called Gucchi, or Morel, the mushroom, priced at over ₹20,000 a kg, is a forest produce collected by local farmers and tribals in region.  It is a spongy, edible fungus that is said to have medicinal and anti-inflammatory properties is found in the temperate forests of the Doda district.  They also have antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. They are also considered a rich source of protein, carbohydrates and Vitamin B.

GEO ENGINEERING: Concept :

• Geoengineering is an umbrella term for human interventions that change the earth's climate system .

• There are currently two main approaches under the geoengineering umbrella: carbon-dioxide removal (CDR) and solar radiation management (SRM).

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

• CDR tackles the root cause of global warming by removing greenhouse gases from the atmosphere — think carbon capture and storage.

• SRM, meanwhile, leaves greenhouse gases untouched, but offsets their impact by reflecting sunlight away from the earth.

• Whereas CDR addresses the cause of global warming, reducing greenhouse gases, SRM only masks it or offsets it.

Geoengineering Techniques

Bio-energy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS)

• It is the process of extracting bioenergy from biomass and capturing and storing the carbon, thereby removing it from the atmosphere. The carbon in the biomass comes from the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide (CO2) which is extracted from the atmosphere by the biomass when it grows.

• Energy is extracted in useful forms (electricity, heat, biofuels, etc.) as the biomass is utilized through combustion, fermentation, pyrolysis or other conversion methods.

Ocean fertilization or ocean nourishment

• Ocean fertilizationis a type of climate engineering based on the purposeful introduction of nutrients to the upper ocean to increase marine food production and to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

• A number of techniques, including fertilization by iron, urea and phosphorus have been proposed.

Soil carbon sequestration (SCS)

• Soils can serve as a sink for carbon dioxide since atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide have crossed 410 parts per million and oceans are already turning acidic.

• Carbon sequestration in soils has the potential to offset GHG emissions from fossil fuels by up to 15% annually.

• Soil organic carbon (SOC) comes from plants, animals, microbes, leaves and wood, mostly found in the first metre or so.

• There are many conditions and processes that determine changes to SOC content including temperature, rainfall, vegetation, soil management and land-use change.

Stratospheric aerosol injection (SAI)

• SAI is the main type of solar radiation management (SRM) .

• In the case of SAI, gases are pumped into the stratosphere to reflect some of the sun's heat, mimicking an effect that happens naturally in a strong volcanic eruption.

• Scale of SAI makes its governance difficult — implementing it in one country can trigger rain and extreme weather across borders. Lack of public support might be the biggest hurdle.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

Marine cloud brightening (MCB)

• MCB involves reflecting sunlight away from the earth in some way. In this case, sea salt or other particles are sprayed into marine clouds to make them thicker and more reflective.

Cirrus cloud thinning (CCT)

• CCT is almost the opposite of marine cloud brightening. High-altitude Cirrus clouds are thin and whispy, so they don't reflect much solar radiation back into space, and instead trap long- wave radiation on earth.

• CCT proposes thinning them further through cloud seeding, letting more long-wave radiation escape.

INDIAN STAR TORTOISES: Context : Forest Department personnel on Monday seized as many as 414 live endangered Indian star tortoises.

Concept :

• Indian star tortoise is found across the Indian sub-continent, more specifically, in the Central and Southern parts of India, in West Pakistan and in Sri Lanka.

• Star Tortoises are protected under Schedule IV of Wild Life Protection Act, 1972 and Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) of Wild Fauna and Flora.

• The IUCN has listed it under the vulnerable category.

• The species faces two threats: loss of habitat to agriculture and illegal harvesting for the pet trade.

• The Indian star tortoise is the single most confiscated species of freshwater tortoise in the world, according to wildlife-trade watchdog TRAFFIC.

• TRAFFIC is an international wildlife trade monitoring network.

• The tortoise, protected under CITES Appendix I, got a big boost in its protection status, where the illegal international trade of the Indian star tortoises, as well as that of the smooth- coated otter and Asian small-clawed otter, was declared illegal.

• Now, trading in these animals will require registration and special permits.

• Appendix II still makes allowances for the regulated trade of captive-bred animals, which isn't something that applies to species protected under Appendix I.

DRAGON FRUIT: Context: Government in Gujarat has initiated the process of patenting the name of the variety of dragon fruit grown in Gujarat as ‘kamalam’, which is also the name of the state party headquarters.

Concept:

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

• Dragon fruit is the fruit of a species of wild cactus indigenous to South and Central America, where it is called pitaya or pitahaya.

• The world’s largest producer and exporter of dragon fruit is Vietnam, where the plant was brought by the French in the 19th century.

• Dragon fruit is also cultivated in — apart from its native Latin America — Thailand, Taiwan, China, Australia, Israel, and Sri Lanka.

• It was brought to India in the 1990s, and is grown in Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Odisha, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, and Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

• It grows in all kinds of soil, and does not require much water.

About the proposal

• ICAR sources said the Gujarat government’s proposal had been forwarded to the Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare.

• Whatever nomenclature, release of varieties, production, it is all done by the Department of Agriculture and Cooperation.

• ICAR officers said such a proposal would need approval from the Botanical Survey of India and the National Biodiversity Authority under the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.

• Dragon fruit is not a species native to India and any change in its nomenclature in official annals can lead to international litigation. Hence, the opinion of BSI and NBA matters.

ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION ACT : Context : The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has landed in trouble in the Karnataka High Court for claiming in a submission that the Environment Protection Act, 1986 was “passed by Parliament not only for protection of environment but also at the instance of foreign powers” while referring to a UN conference.

Concept :

About the Act

• In the wake of the Bhopal tragedy, the government of India enacted the Environment Act of 1986.

• The purpose of the Act is to implement the decisions of the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment of 1972.

• The decisions relate to the protection and improvement of the human environment and the prevention of hazards to human beings, other living creatures, plants and property.

• The Act is an “umbrella” for legislations designed to provide a framework for Central Government, coordination of the activities of various central and state authorities established under previous Acts, such as the Water Act and the Air Act.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

• In this Act, main emphasis is given to “Environment”, defined to include water, air and land and the inter-relationships which exist among water, air and land and human beings and other living creatures, plants, micro-organisms and property.

• “Environmental pollution” is the presence of pollutant, defined as any solid, liquid or gaseous substance present in such a concentration as may be or may tend to be injurious to the environment.

• “Hazardous substances” include any substance or preparation, which may cause harm to human beings, other living creatures, plants, microorganisms, property or the environment.

• Through this Act Central Government gets full power for the purpose of protecting and improving the quality of the environment.

Main provisions of the Act

• The Act empowers the centre to “take all such measures as it deems necessary”.

• The Act explicitly prohibits discharges of environmental pollutants in excess of prescribed regulatory standards.

• There is also a specific prohibition against handling hazardous substances except those in compliance with regulatory procedures and standards.

• The Act provides provision for penalties. For each failure or contravention, the punishment included a prison term up to five years or fine up to Rs. 1 lakh, or both.

• The Act imposed an additional fine of up to Rs. 5,000 for every day of continuing violation.

• If a failure or contravention occurs for more than one year, offender may be punished with imprisonment which may be extended to seven years.

• Section 19 provides that any person, in addition to authorized government officials, may file a complaint with a court alleging an offence under the Act.

• This “Citizens’ Suit” provision requires that the person has to give notice of not less than 60 days of the alleged offence of pollution to the Central Government.

DRAFT ARCTIC POLICY: Context : India has unveiled a new draft ‘Arctic’ policy that, among other things, commits to expanding scientific research, “sustainable tourism” and mineral oil and gas exploration in the Arctic region.

Concept :

• The policy envisages connecting the Arctic residents, especially the indigenous communities with those living in the Himalayan regions.

• The policy aims to create opportunities where the Indian enterprises can be involved to become part of the international commerce businesses and promote traditional indigenous knowledge.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

• The Arctic Policy has been synchronised and adapted to Goal 11 of Sustainable Development Goals ( Sustainable Cities and Communities).

• India believes that any human activity in this fragile region should be sustainable, responsible, and transparent with respect for international laws, including UNCLOS [United Nations Convention for the Law of the Sea].

Additional Information

• India signed the Svalbard Treaty in Paris. The treaty allowed free access to the Arctic region along with the commitment of not militarizing it.

• India launched its first scientific expedition to the Arctic in 2007.

• In 2008, India established a research base called Himadri at Ny Alesund, Svalbard, Norway.

• In 2014, India deployed IndArc. It is a multisensory observatory in Kongsfjorden. In 2016, India set up Gruvebadet Atmospheric Laboratory at Ny Alesund, Svalbard.

US and CLIMATE ACTION: Context: Joe Biden assumed office as President of the United States on January 20, 2021, and among the first orders he signed was one to restore America’s participation in the United Nations Paris Agreement on climate change.

Concept:

US National Pledge

• To achieve an economy-wide reduction of its GHG emissions by 26%-28% below the 2005 level in 2025 and to make best efforts to reduce emissions.

• Contribution of about $3 billion to the UN’s Green Climate Fund. However it had stopped its contribution, after transferring an estimated $1 billion.

Paris Agreement

• The Paris Agreement, adopted at COP 21 in Paris, on 2015, constitutes a landmark agreement on climate change that seeks to limit global average temperature rise to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels and endeavour to limit the increase to 1.5°C.

• The agreement, which came into force on November 4, 2016, currently has 188 parties.

• All parties to it are expected to undertake ambitious efforts to support the agreement’s goals and communicate their related intentions every five years in the form of NDCs.

UN Green Climate Fund

• The GCF was set up in 2010 under the UNFCCC’s financial mechanism to channel funding from developed countries to developing countries to allow them to mitigate climate change and also adapt to disruptions arising from a changing climate.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

• The Green Climate Fund will support projects, programmes, policies and other activities in developing country Parties using thematic funding windows.

• It is intended to be the centrepiece of efforts to raise Climate Finance of $100 billion a year by 2020.

• The Fund will promote the paradigm shift towards low-emission and climate-resilient development pathways by providing support to developing countries to limit or reduce their greenhouse gas emissions .

• The Fund is governed and supervised by a Board that will have full responsibility for funding decisions and that receives the guidance of the Conference of Parties (COP). The Fund is accountable to, and functions under the guidance of, the COP.

SUNDERBANS: Context : The Indian Sunderbans, which is part of the largest mangrove forest in the world, is home to 428 species of birds, a recent publication of the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) states. Concept : • The scientists said of the 428 birds listed, some, like the masked finfoot and the Buffy fish owl, are recorded only from the Sunderbans.

• The area is home to nine out of 12 species of kingfishers found in the country as well rare species such as the Goliath heron and the spoon-billed sandpiper.

• The mudflats exposed in the low tides, rich in microorganism deposited during tidal activity, are ideal feeding for migratory birds. The mudflats and wetlands of the Sunderbans act as a stopover site for migratory flight south [southwards] and back.

About Sunderbans • It is a vast contiguous mangrove forest ecosystem in the coastal region of Bay of Bengal spread over India and Bangladesh on the delta of the Ganges, Brahmaputra and Meghna rivers.

• The site is intersected by a complex network of tidal waterways, mudflats and small islands of salt-tolerant mangrove forests and presents an excellent example of ongoing ecological processes.

• It constitutes over 60% of the country’s total mangrove forest area.

• Indian Sundarbans was recognised as UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987, ‘Wetland of International Importance’ under the Ramsar Convention in January 2019 and also a Biosphere Reserve in 1989.

• The area is known for its wide range of fauna, and is home to many rare and globally threatened wildlife species such as the Estuarine Crocodile, Royal Bengal Tiger, Water Monitor Lizard, Gangetic Dolphin and Olive Ridley Turtles.

• The Sunderbans Delta is the only mangrove forest in the world inhabited by tigers.

• For its preservation, Discovery India and World Wide Fund (WWF) India partnered with the Government of West Bengal and local communities in the Sundarbans in 2019.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

RHESUS MACAQUE: Context: The rhesus macaque, a monkey widely prevalent in India, is a promising model for vaccines against Covid-19, according to two independent studies. Concept: • Scientists at Texas Biomedical Research Institute (Texas Biomed) and Southwest National Primate Research Center (SNPRC) evaluated three nonhuman primate species — Indian rhesus macaques, African baboons and new-world origin common marmosets — and young and old animals.

• They found that the macaque and baboon models develop strong signs of acute viral infection leading to pneumonia, and the non-human primate immune system mounts a strong response and clears the SARS-CoV-2 infection.

• Scientists have reported that rhesus macaques infected with SARS-CoV-2 developed protective immune responses that might be reproduced with a vaccine.

Rhesus Macaque • These are familiar brown primates with red faces and rears. They have close-cropped hair on their heads, which accentuates their very expressive faces.

• Their natural range includes Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Southeast Asia, and China. A few troops of introduced rhesus macaques now live wild in Florida.

• It has a least concerned status in the IUCN red list.

• These intelligent animals can adapt to many habitats, and some can even become accustomed to living in human communities. This is most common in India.

• Rhesus Macaque monkeys are protected species under Schedule II of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. The law allows for it to be hunted by declaring it ‘vermin’ for a specific period if it poses a danger to human life or property.

GREEN TAX: Context: Green tax mooted for personal vehicles older than 15 years. Concept: • Personal vehicles will be charged a tax at the time of renewal of Registration Certification after 15 years.

• The levy may differ depending on fuel (petrol/diesel) and type of vehicle. The proposal will now go to the States for consultation before it is formally notified.

• It includes 10-25% of road tax on transport vehicles older than eight years at the time of renewal of fitness certificate.

• The proposal on green tax also includes steeper penalty of up to 50% of road tax for older vehicles registered in some of the highly polluted cities in the country.

• The policy will come into effect from April 1, 2022.

Green Tax

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

• Green tax is also called as pollution tax or environmental tax and is the tax levied on all the goods that cause environmental pollution. It is believed that charging tax on emissions will help bring about changes in firms and households.

• Green tax is an environmental tax that aims at ensuring that polluters are duly punished for the activities that deter the environment by charging them a penalty for the harm caused to others.

• Charging direct taxes to perpetrators on emissions is an economical means to provide them with an incentive to lower their pollution to the extent where further reduction could potentially turn out to be more expensive than paying the tax itself.

SEAWEED: Context : India is aiming to increase seaweed production in the country to 11.5 lakh tonnes from the current production levels of 2,500 tonnes in the next five years.

Concept :

• Seaweeds are also known as Macroalgae. They constitute several species of marine plants and algae.

• Seaweeds may also include Red, Green and Brown algae.

• Seaweeds can grow in ocean, rivers, lakes and other water bodies. There are many types of seaweeds such as nori and laver seaweed.

• They belong to different groups on the basis of thallus color

Green algae- such as sea lettuce or ulva, and sea grapes..

Brown algae- such as kombu, arame, kelp, and wakame (the miso soup with seaweed).

Red algae- such as dulse, laver, and nori (the sushi seaweed).

Blue-green algae- such as spirulina and chlorella.

Characteristics of Seaweeds

• Seaweeds are macroscopic and multicellular organisms.

• Some species of seaweeds are microscopic such as phytoplankton.

• Seaweed can be as small as the one-celled phytoplankton or as large as giant kelp.

• Even though seaweeds are not categorised as plants, it also requires light, water and nutrition for the growth and sustenance.

Advantages of Seaweeds-

• Nutrients affluent- Seaweed can provide important nutrients as it is full of vitamins, minerals, and fiber, and can be tasty.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

• Medicinal use- Many seaweeds contain anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial agents and it can be used as a medicinal plant.

• Cancer Fighting agents- Certain seaweeds do, in fact, possess powerful cancer-fighting agents that researchers hope will eventually prove effective in the treatment of malignant tumors and leukemia in people.

• Industrial use- Among their many uses in manufacturing, they are effective binding agents (emulsifiers) in such commercial goods as toothpaste and fruit jelly, and popular softeners (emollients) in organic cosmetics and skin-care products.

Seaweed farming

• Seaweed farming is the practice of cultivating and harvesting seaweed. In its simplest form, it consists of the management of naturally found batches. In its most advanced form, it consists of fully controlling the life cycle of the algae.

• Seaweed farming has frequently been developed as an alternative to improve economic conditions and to reduce fishing pressure and over exploited fisheries.

ROTATION OF CROPS: Context : Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao on Sunday advised farmers to do away with the single crop cultivation system and opt for crop rotation system to increase yield and gain profits.

Concept :

Crop Rotation

• In this pattern, different crops are grown on the same land in preplanned succession. The crops are classified as one-year rotation, two-year rotation, and three-year rotation, depending upon their duration.

• Legumes are included in the crop rotation programme to increase soil fertility. The crops which require high fertility level (wheat) can be grown after the legumes. The crops which require low inputs can be grown after the crops that require high inputs.

Selection of crops for Rotation

• While selecting the crops for rotation, the following criteria should be adopted:

• Enough moisture should be available.

• Availability of fertilizers, man-power, and machine-power.

• Marketing and processing facilities.

• Availability of nutrients in the soil.

• The crop duration- short or long.

Advantages of Crop Rotation

• The soil fertility is maintained for a prolonged period.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

• The growth of weeds and pests is prevented.

• A lot of chemical fertilizers are not required.

• The physical and chemical nature of the soil remains unaltered.

GI TAG FOR BASMATI RICE: Context : Pakistan has received the Geographical Indicator (GI) tag for its Basmati, paving the way for creating a local registry for the particular strain of rice and making a case in the international market.

Concept :

• Experts on Basmati rice and patents said there was no cause for worry January 28, 2021 a day after Pakistan said it had got a Geographical Indications (GI) tag for its Basmati rice.

• They also noted that Basmati rice was a joint heritage of India and Pakistan and that Pakistan was as entitled to secure its Basmati rice trade as India. They added that Pakistan securing the GI tag for its Basmati rice would, in no way, dent India’s Basmati exports.

• A GI tag can be filed in international fora only when one has GI laws in their country.

• So far, Pakistan did not have them. But now, it has enacted an Act and can thus follow India’s path. We had a GI Act in place in 2001 and filed an application in 2008. We are much ahead of them. There is no need to worry,” officials added.

• A GI is a tag on products that have a specific geographical origin and possess certain qualities due to that origin and are safeguarded by legalities such as by the World Intellectual Property Organisation.

Basmati Rice

• It is one of the best known varieties of rice all across the globe.

• It is a long grain rice which has its origin from India and some parts of Pakistan.

• It has a unique position in the rice world due to its price, fragrance, grain morphology as well as quality.

• Basmati rice has a unique fragrance and flavour caused due to the presence of a chemical called 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline.

• This chemical is found in basmati rice at about 90 parts per million (ppm) which is 12 times more than non-basmati rice varieties.

• Basmati rice needs specific climatic conditions to grow which is why it is cultivated in selected regions of India.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

• It is cultivated in the states of Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, Jammu and kashmir and western Uttar Pradesh.

Geographical Indication (GI)

• It is an insignia on products having a unique geographical origin and evolution over centuries with regard to its special quality or reputed attributes.

• It is a mark of authenticity and ensures that registered authorized users or at least those residing inside the geographic territory are allowed to use the popular product names.

• GI tag in India is governed by Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration & Protection) Act, 1999. It is issued by the Geographical Indications Registry (Chennai).

BEEMA BAMBOO: Context : Crash barriers made of Beema bamboo and coir are being developed as a low-cost solution as the Centre looks for innovative, newer ways to bring down fatalities and mishaps on roads.

Concept :

Beema Bamboo

• Beema or Bheema bamboo is a type of bamboo engineered to be a stronger, fast-growing and tall clone of the traditional bamboo found in the Indian subcontinent, especially the North- East. This variety grows well in southern India also.

• This cloned Bamboo is a superior clone, selected from Bambusa balcooa, a higher Biomass yielding Bamboo species.

• It is thornless, sterile, fast growing and High yeilding superior bamboo. It can grow in the field for more than hundred years without need for replanting.

• If it is managed as per the Silvicultural methods it will higher Biomass on sustainable basis. Soil, water requirement and climatic conditions are similar as sugarcane crop.

• Beema Bamboo acts as a Carbon Sink and absorbs excess Carbon-di-oxide in the air three to four times than other trees.

• Obviously, it is eco-friendly and absorbs 400 to 500 Kg of Carbon-di-oxide every year and grows five times faster than other spices of Bamboo

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

DEFENCE

DEEP SEA SUBMARINE RESCUE SYSTEM: Concept:

• The Indian Navy has formally inducted its first Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle (DSRV) System at the Naval Dockyard in Mumbai.

• DSRV is used to rescue crew members stranded in submarines that get disabled. The Indian Navy joins a select group of naval forces in the world that boasts of this niche capability.

• The DSRV can be operated at a depth of 650 meters and can hold around 15 people.

• The Indian Navy in March 2016 had commissioned two DSRVs, the second will deployed at the Eastern Naval Command in .

• The induction of the DSRV marks the culmination of years of effort of the Indian Navy in acquiring this niche submarine rescue capability.

Need for DSRV System

• The Indian Navy currently operates submarines of the Sindhughosh, Shishumar, Kalvari Classes as well as nuclear powered submarines.

• The operating medium and the nature of operations undertaken by submarines expose them to high degree of inherent risk.

• In such an eventuality, traditional methods of search and rescue at sea are ineffective for a disabled submarine.

• To overcome this capability gap the Navy has acquired a third generation, advanced Submarine Rescue System considering of a Non-tethered Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle (DSRV) and its associated equipment.

Significance

• The Indian Navy’s DSRV System is considered to be the most advanced system currently in operation globally for its capability of undertaking rescue from a disabled Submarine upto 650 m depth.

• It is operated by a crew of three, can rescue 14 personnel from a disabled Submarine at one time and can operate in extreme sea conditions (sea state 6).

Sea Vigil and Topex: Context: Navy is set to conduct Sea Vigil a coastal defence exercise on January 12 and 14. Concept:  Sea vigil is a biennial coastal defence exercise conducted by Indian Navy along the entire coastline and Exclusive Economic Zone of India (What are EEZ and Continental Self? - Optimize IAS)

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

 It includes all 13 coastal states and UTs, with other maritime stakeholders (Indian Air Force, Coast Guard, , the , oil handling agencies and airports) and coastal and fishing communities.  Its conduct is being facilitated by Ministries of Defence, Home Affairs, Shipping, Petroleum and Natural Gas, Fisheries, Customs, State Governments and other agencies of Centre/ State.  It aims at assessing strengths and weaknesses along coast to boost maritime and national security.  Theatre Level Readiness and Operational Exercise (TROPEX) is an inter-service military exercise involving the participation of the , Air Force, Navy and the Coast Guard.  TROPEX was started as an annual exercise in 2005 and is now a biennial exercise.  TROPEX extending over a month is done in three phases: 1. Individual level 2. Joint exercise 3. Tactical phase  TROPEX focusses on combat readiness of Indian navy as well as Indian army, Air force and also seeks to ensure interoperability and jointness for overall security.

Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS)/Tejas aircraft: Context: CCS cleared the largest indigenous procurement of Rs 48000 crore for 83 Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA). Concept:  India is facing host of security challenges from border dispute with China and Pakistan to terrorism across the border. This apart from need to reduce dependency on import for defence the government has brought changes in procurement policy to support indigenisation.  The procurement of 83 Tejas MK 1A LCA would not only strengthen armed force but would also push the indigenisation strategy forward. About Tejas MK 1A LCA  Designed by the Aeronautical Development Agency under the Department of Defence Research and Development, the Tejas Mk-1A multirole light fighters will be manufactured by state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).  LCA is multirole jet military aircraft modified or designed for engaging in light combat missions, either in light strike or attack missions, reconnaissance or interdiction roles or trainer role.  Tejas is a fully-weaponised light fighter (India’s first indigenised fighter aircraft) with a single engine. It is an indigenously designed and manufactured fourth-generation fighter with critical operational capabilities  Critical operational capabilities: Active Electronically Scanned Array radar; Beyond Visual Range air to-air missiles; Advanced Electronic Warfare suite; air-to-air refuelling capabilities.  The naval variant of the Tejas, in development stage, successfully performed "arrested landings" on the aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya. About CCS CABINET COMMITTEE ON SECURITY - Optimize IAS

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

S 400: Context : As India prepares to receive the first batch of S-400 long-range air defence system by year-end, the first group of Indian military specialists are scheduled to depart for Moscow soon to undergo training courses on the S-400, the Russian Embassy here said in a statement.

Concept:

• The S-400 Triumf, (NATO calls it SA-21 Growler), is a mobile, surface-to-air missile system (SAM) designed by Russia.

• It is the most dangerous operationally deployed modern long-range SAM (MLR SAM) in the world, considered much ahead of the US-developed Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system (THAAD).

• The system can engage all types of aerial targets including aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) and ballistic and cruise missiles within the range of 400km, at an altitude of up to 30km. The system can track 100 airborne targets and engage six of them simultaneously.

• The S-400 Triumf air defence system integrates a multifunction radar, autonomous detection and targeting systems, anti-aircraft missile systems, launchers, and command and control centre. It is capable of firing three types of missiles to create a layered defence.

SUKHOI 30 MKI: Context: The resurrection of 222 Squadron at Thanjavur with Sukhoi-30 aircraft has paved the way for strengthening maritime security in the southern peninsula and maintaining Indian interests in the Indian Ocean region, Air Marshal Amit Tiwari, Air has said.

Concept:

• Sukhoi 30 is a twin-engine Fighter Jet manufactured by Sukhoi Aviation Corporation.

• There are many variants of Sukhoi-30 aircraft, and the variant used by Indian Air Force is Sukhoi 30 MkI.

• Apart from the Russian and Indian Air Force, the other users of Sukhoi-30 aircraft are Algeria, China, Vietnam, Venezuela, Malaysia.

• Sukhoi 30 MKI is the backbone of the Indian Air Force. As of January 2020, India operates around 260 Sukhoi 30 MKI fighter jets.

• Range – 3000 Km

• Maximum Speed – Mach 2.

SHAURYA CHAKRA: Context: The National Investigation Agency Wednesday took over the probe into the killing of Shaurya Chakra recipient Balwinder Singh Sandhu in Punjab.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

Concept:

• The Shaurya Chakra is an Indian military decoration awarded for valour, courageous action or self-sacrifice while not engaged in direct action with the enemy.

• It may be awarded to civilians as well as military personnel, sometimes posthumously.

• It is third in order of precedence of peacetime gallantry awards and comes after the Ashoka Chakra and the Kirti Chakra. It precedes the Sena Medal.

• Order of precedence of these awards is the Param Vir Chakra, the Ashoka Chakra, the Mahavir Chakra, the Kirti Chakra, the Vir Chakra and the Shaurya Chakra.

• It is the peacetime equivalent of the Vir Chakra. It is generally awarded for Counter- Insurgency operations and actions against the enemy during peace-time.

Following categories of persons are eligible for the Shaurya Chakra:

• Officers and men and women of all ranks of the Army, the Navy and the Air Force, of any of the Reserve Forces, of the Territorial Army, Militia and of any other lawfully constituted forces.

• Nursing officers of military nursing service .

• Civilian citizens of either sex in all walks of life and members of Police Forces including Central Para-Military Forces and Railway Protection Force.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

NATIONAL &INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS

FATF : Context: The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) had deferred its once-a-decade evaluation of India’s anti-money laundering regime scheduled for this year, citing the COVID-19 pandemic, and indicated that the onsite review to be conducted by global experts may now take place in early 2021.

Concept:

• The FATF undertakes peer reviews of each member on an ongoing basis to assess the implementation of its recommendations and provides a detailed analysis of each country's system for preventing criminal abuse of the financial system.

About FATF

• The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) is an inter-governmental body established in 1989 on the initiative of the G7.

• It is a “policy-making body” which works to generate the necessary political will to bring about national legislative and regulatory reforms in various areas.

• The FATF Secretariat is housed at the OECD headquarters in Paris.

Roles and functions:

• Initially it was established to examine and develop measures to combat money laundering.

• In October 2001, the FATF expanded its mandate to incorporate efforts to combat terrorist financing, in addition to money laundering.

• In April 2012, it added efforts to counter the financing of proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

Composition:

• The FATF currently comprises 37 member jurisdictions and 2 regional organisations, representing most major financial centres in all parts of the globe. It also has observers and associate members.

Blacklist and Grey list

• Black List: Countries knowns as Non-Cooperative Countries or Territories (NCCTs) are put in the blacklist. These countries support terror funding and money laundering activities. The FATF revises the blacklist regularly, adding or deleting entries.

• Grey List: Countries that are considered safe haven for supporting terror funding and money laundering are put in the FATF grey list. This inclusion serves as a warning to the country that it may enter the blacklist.

• Considered in the grey list may face:

Economic sanctions from IMF, World Bank, ADB.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

Problem in getting loans from IMF, World Bank, ADB and other countries.

Reduction in international trade.

International boycott.

OPEC: Concept:  The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) wasfounded in Baghdad, Iraq, with the signing of an agreement in September 1960 by five countries namely Islamic Republic of Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Venezuela.  They were to become the Founder members of the Organization.  As of 2020, OPEC has a total of 13 Member Countries viz. Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Saudi Arabia, Algeria, Libya, Nigeria,Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Republic of Congo, Angola and Venezuela are members of OPEC.  OPEC’s objective is to co-ordinate and unify petroleum policies among member Countries, in order to secure fair and stable prices for petroleum producers; an efficient, economic and regular supply of petroleum to consuming nations; and a fair return on capital to those investing in the industry.  It is head quartered in Vienna, Austria.  OPEC membership is open to any country that is a substantial exporter of oil and which shares the ideals of the organization.

APEDA: Context : Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) has removed the word 'halal' from its ‘Red Meat Manual’.

Concept :

 APEDA clarified that Halal Certification agencies are accredited directly by respective importing countries. No government agency has any role in this.

About APEDA :

 The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) was established by the Government of India under the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority Act 1985.

 The Authority replaced the Processed Food Export Promotion Council (PFEPC).

 APEDA, under the Ministry of Commerce and Industries, promotes export of agricultural and processed food products from India.

 APEDA is mandated with the responsibility of export promotion and development of the following scheduled products.

Administrative Structure :

 Chairman – Appointed by the Central Government.

 Director – Appointed by APEDA.

 Secretary – Appointed by the Central Government.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

 Other Officers and Staff – Appointed by the Authority.

Quality Council of India (QCI): Context: EDMC got open-defecation free tag by QCI. Concept:  Third-party inspection’ conducted by the Quality Council of India (QCI) on behalf of Union government’s Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA).  Exercise was part of the nationwide Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM)  A QCI team surveyed 17 spots in the trans-Yamuna area — an amalgam of slums, residential colonies, markets and school premises — and found no evidence of human excreta lying in the open  Roko Toko’ and ‘Seeti Bajao’ campaigns has been used in region.  The certificate is renewed every six months based on mandatory re-evaluation by QCI. A total of 3,246 Urban Local Bodies in India has been declared ODF by the MoHUA. The central government aims to make India 100% open defecation-free by October 2, 2019 About QCI:  QCI was set up in 1997 as an autonomous body attached to the Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion, Ministry of Commerce and Industry.  The Chairman of QCI: Appointed by the Prime Minister on recommendation of the industry to the government.  Mandate: Establish and operate the National Accreditation Structure (NAS) for conformity assessment bodies and providing accreditation in the field of health, education and quality promotion.  National Accreditation Board for Certification Bodies (NABCB) and National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) are two accreditation boards of the QCI.  These two bodies work closely to support the Government and regulators to ensure that the data provided by accredited conformity assessment bodies is robust, reliable, trustworthy in terms of decision making, compliance testing and standards setting.  Indian industry is represented in QCI by three premier industry associations namely ASSOCHAM, CII and FICCI.

G7: Context: UK has invited Indian PM along with the South Korea and Australia as the guest countries. Concept:  G7 summit will be held in Cornwall in UK this year.  It will be first in-person summit in two years.  The invitation to three countries is seen as potential expansion into D-10 (G7+3) with representation of 60% of people living in the democracies worldwide. Last year even USA proposed the expansion.  Expansion is significant for declining importance of G7 as it does not reflect current realities of world order with none of the emerging economies represented. About G7:  It is a platform of World’s 7 developed countries USA, UK, France, Canada, Italy, Japan, and Germany.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

 Its origin is traced to oil crisis of 1973 and formed as a result of a summit in France in 1975. It expanded to include Russia in 1997 as G-8. After annexation of Crimea by Russia it was suspended and grouping again became G-7.  It seeks to discuss economic and monetary issues of the international importance and meets annually.

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA): Context: Iran asked UN’s nuclear watchdog to stop publishing unnecessary details about its nuclear program. Concept:  Post-USA’s withdrawal from Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action as part of Iran and P5+1 (EU)’s nuclear deal framework Iran has been pushing for protection of deal or it will restart its nuclear program for uranium enrichment.  This has made world’s effort for nuclear proliferation weak.  Iran has been complaining of UN watchdog IAEA revealing unnecessary details which it got access to as part of deal and is leading to unnecessary misunderstanding. About IAEA:  The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), an UN agency is the world's central intergovernmental forum for scientific and technical co-operation in the nuclear field.  It works for the safe, secure and peaceful uses of nuclear science and technology, contributing to international peace and security and the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals.  It was formed in 1957 as a result of Conference on the Statute of the International Atomic Energy Agency held at the UN headquarters. Initially it was known as ‘Atoms for peace’.  It is headquartered in Vienna, Austria.  It has 171 members (Sain Lucia being most recent member).  Though it is and independent international agencies, yet, it reports annually to UNGA.  It along with its Director General won Nobel Peace prize in 2005.  The IAEA’s policy-making bodies decide on the Agency’s programmes and budgets. They comprise the General Conference of all Member States and the 35-member Board of Governors. The IAEA’s three main areas of work are:  Safety and security  Science and technology  Safeguards and verification Funding of IAEA:  The IAEA carries out its work in two main areas: the regular programme and the Technical Cooperation programme. These two programmes are financed from separate funds.  They are additionally supported by extra-budgetary contributions from Member States and non-member states donors. The IAEA's budget is approved annually by the IAEA General Conference.

NBA: Context : News Broadcasters Association (NBA) demanded that Indian Broadcasting Federation, a body of television channels of the country, should suspend the channel’s membership.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

Concept :

News Broadcasters Association (NBA):

• The News Broadcasters Association (NBA) represents the private television news & current affairs broadcasters.

• It is the collective voice of the news & current affairs broadcasters in India. It is an organization funded entirely by its members.

• The NBA has presently 26 leading news and current affairs broadcasters (comprising 70 news and current affairs channels) as its members.

• The NBA presents a unified and credible voice before the Government, on matters that affect the growing industry.

• News Broadcasters Services Authority (NBSA) administers the Codes of Ethics & Broadcasting Standards, which has been voluntarily drawn by the News Broadcasters Association (NBA) for its member broadcasters to demonstrate their commitment to responsible broadcasting and to self regulate themselves.

EUROPEAN COMMISSION: Context : European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen urged the Biden administration to join forces against “the darker sides of the digital world,” which she said was partly behind the “shock” storming of Capitol Hill on January 6.

Concept :

• It is an executive body of the European Union, responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, upholding the EU treaties and managing the day-to-day business of the EU.

• The Commission operates as a cabinet government, with 28 members of the Commission. There is one member per member state.

• These members are proposed by member countries and European Parliament gives final approval on them.

• One of the 28 members is the Commission President proposed by the European Council and elected by the European Parliament.

• The Commission is divided into departments known as Directorates-General (DGs) that can be likened to departments or ministries is headed by a director-general who is responsible to a commissioner.

• High Representative (HR) of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy is appointed by the European Council by voting and the President of the EC must be in agreement with the decision.

• HR is charged with shaping and carrying out the EU's foreign, security and defence policies.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

UNSC: Context : India has said that the UN Security Council is finding itself unable to act effectively to address increasingly complex issues of international peace and security as it lacked inclusivity of those who need to be members of the powerful organ of the world body.

Concept :

• The Security Council was established by the UN Charter in 1945. It is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations.

• The other 5 organs of the United Nations are—the General Assembly, the Trusteeship Council, the Economic and Social Council, the International Court of Justice, and the Secretariat.

• Its primary responsibility is to work to maintain international peace and security.

• The council has 15 members: the five permanent members and 10 non-permanent members elected for two-year terms.

• The five permanent members are the United States, the Russian Federation, France, China and the United Kingdom.

• Each member of the Security Council has one vote. Decisions of the Security Council on matters are made by an affirmative vote of nine members including the concurring votes of the permanent members.

• A "No" vote from one of the five permanent members blocks the passage of the resolution.

• Any member of the United Nations which is not a member of the Security Council may participate, without vote, in the discussion of any question brought before the Security Council whenever the latter considers that the interests of that member are specially affected.

• The council's presidency is a capacity that rotates every month among its 15 members.

• The council is headquartered at NewYork.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

FICCI: Context : The country’s economic growth is expected to contract 8 per cent in the current fiscal and fiscal deficit is likely to be at 7.4 per cent of GDP (gross domestic product) for 2020-21, according to the latest round of Ficci’s Economic Outlook Survey.

Concept :

Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI)

• FICCI is a non-government, not-for-profit organisation established in 1927.

• It is the largest and oldest apex business organisation in India whose history is closely interwoven with India's struggle for independence, its industrialization, and its emergence as one of the most rapidly growing global economies.

• FICCI influences the economic policies of India’s government by sponsoring discussion forums for economists, civil servants, and industrialists and through informal consultative arrangements with government planners and policy makers.

• FICCI also provides practical advice and information, services, and networking opportunities to its business members.

• It is headquartered in New Delhi and maintains offices in various Indian states and foreign countries.

INTERNATIONAL ENERGY AGENCY: Context: In a significant development that boosts energy security, India is going to enter into a strategic partnership framework with the International Energy Agency (IEA)

Concept:

• Established in 1974 as per framework of the OECD, IEA is an autonomous intergovernmental organisation.

• Mission – To ensure reliable, affordable and clean energy for its member countries and beyond. Its mission is guided by four main areas of focus: energy security, economic development, environmental awareness and engagement worldwide Headquarters (Secretariat): Paris, France.

Roles and functions:

• Established in the wake of the 1973-1974 oil crisis, to help its members respond to major oil supply disruptions, a role it continues to fulfil today.

• IEA’s mandate has expanded over time to include tracking and analyzing global key energy trends, promoting sound energy policy, and fostering multinational energy technology cooperation.

Composition and eligibility:

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

• It has 30 members at present. IEA family also includes eight association countries. A candidate country must be a member country of the OECD. But all OECD members are not IEA members.

Reports:

• Global Energy & CO2 Status Report.

• World Energy Outlook.

• World Energy Statistics.

• World Energy Balances.

• Energy Technology Perspectives.

IMD: Context : The India Meteorological Department has opened a portal that allows the public to share details about weather events in their surroundings.

Concept :

India Meteorological Department (IMD)

• Formed in 1875, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) is the national meteorological service of the country and it is the chief government agency dealing in everything related to meteorology, seismology, and associated subjects.

• The administrative responsibilities of the Department are under the supervision of the Ministry of Earth Sciences of the Indian Government.

• The IMD is headquartered in New Delhi.

• The IMD also releases a winter forecast every year in November which gives predictions on the severity of the winter season starting December to February.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

GOVERNMENT SCHEMES

RoDTEP SCHEME: Context : Benefit of Remission of Duties and Taxes on Exported Products (RoDTEP) scheme will be extended to all export goods from January 1, 2021, the finance ministry said in a statement

Concept :

• Under the scheme, the embedded central, state and local duties or taxes will get refunded and credited in an exporter’s ledger account with customs.

• This can be used to pay basic customs duty on imported goods. The credits can also be transferred to other importers, the ministry said.

• So far refunds were not taking place, adversely impacting exports. India's exports fell 8.74% in November, steeper than 5.12% dip in October at $23.52 billion.

• The RoDTEP rates, conditions and exclusions under which it can be availed would be specified by the department of commerce, based on recommendation of the GK Pillai committee that are expected soon.

About RoDTEP Scheme

• RoDTEP is a scheme for the Exporters to make Indian products cost-competitive and create a level playing field for them in the Global Market.

• It has replaced the current Merchandise Exports from India Scheme, which is not in compliance with WTO norms and rules.

• The new RoDTEP Scheme is fully WTO compliant scheme.

• It will reimburse all the taxes/duties/levies being charged at the Central/State/Local level which are not currently refunded under any of the existing schemes but are incurred at the manufacturing and distribution process.

Merchandise Exports from India Scheme (MEIS)

• MEIS was launched with an objective to enhance the export of notified goods manufactured in a country.

• This scheme came into effect on 1 April 2015 through the Foreign Trade Policy and will be in existence till 2020.

• MEIS intends to incentivise exports of goods manufactured in India or produced in India.

• The incentives are for goods widely exported from India, industries producing or manufacturing such goods with a view to making Indian exports competitive.

• The MEIS covers almost 5000 goods notified for the purpose of the scheme.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

IMPRESS SCHEME: Concept:

• The Government of India had sanctioned the scheme “Impactful Policy Research in Social Sciences (IMPRESS)” at a total cost of Rs. 414 Cr for implementation up to 31.03.2021.

Highlights of the Scheme:

• 1500 research projects will be awarded for 2 years to support the social science research in the higher educational and to enable research to guide policy making.

• Indian Council of Social Science and Research (ICSSR) is the implementing agency of the scheme.

Objectives of the Scheme:

• To identify and fund research proposals in social sciences with maximum impact on the governance and society.

• To ensure selection of projects through a transparent, competitive process on online mode.

• To provide opportunity for social science researchers in any institution in the country, including all Universities (Centre and State), private institutions with 12(B) status conferred by UGC.

• ICSSR funded/recognized research institutes will also be eligible to submit research proposals on the given themes and sub-themes.

ICSSR

• Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR) was established in the year of 1969 by the Government of India to promote research in social sciences in the country.

HEFA

• Higher Education Financing Agency (HEFA) is a joint venture of MHRD Government of India and Canara Bank with an agreed equity participation in the ratio of 91% and 9% respectively.

• It is for financing creation of capital assets in premier educational institutions in India as part of rising 2022.

• HEFA’s scope is greatly expanded to cover school education, educational institutes under Ministry of Health, etc.

• HEFA is registered under Section 8 [Not-for-Profit] under the Companies Act 2013 as a Union Govt company and as Non-deposit taking NBFC (NBFC-ND-Type II) with RBI.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

WOMEN SCIENTIST PROGRAMME: Context : Vice President said that while India produces the highest percentage of women STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Management) graduates in the world — about 40 percent but their share in jobs these categories in the country is very low — 14 per cent.

He also lauded the Centre’s ‘Women Scientists’ programme that encourages women to take up careers in science and maths.

Concept:

About the Scheme:

• Department of Science and Technology (DST) launched “Women Scientists Scheme (WOS).

• Under this scheme, women scientists are being encouraged to pursue research in frontier areas of science and engineering, on problems of societal relevance and to take up S&T- based internship followed by self-employment

• This initiative primarily aimed at providing opportunities to women scientists and technologists between the age group of 27-57 years who had a break in their career and not having regular employment, to explore possibility of re-entry into the profession..

• Following three categories of fellowships, with research grants, are available for India citizen:

• Women Scientist Scheme-A(WOS-A): Research in Basic/Applied Science

• Women Scientist Scheme-B (WOS-B): S&T interventions for Societal Benefit

• Women Scientist Scheme-C (WOS-C): Internship in Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) for the Self-Employment.

Qualifications:

• Minimum Post Graduate degree, equivalent to M.Sc. in Basic or Applied Sciences or B.Tech. or MBBS or other equivalent professional qualifications

• M.Phil/M.Tech/M.Pharm/M.VSc or equivalent qualifications

• Ph.D. in Basic or Applied Sciences.

RASHTRIYA KAMDHENU AAYOG: Context: The examination – Kamdhenu Gau-Vigyan Prachar-Prasar Pareeksha – will be held on February 25, Rashtriya Kamdhenu Aayog (RKA) chairman Vallabhbhai Kathiria said.

Concept:

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

• The exam will be conducted in four categories: primary level (up to class VIII); for students between classes IX and XII; a third category for college and university students; and the fourth will be open to all, in which not only Indian citizens but anyone can appear.

• The exam will be conducted by Rashtriya Kamdhenu Aayog(RKA)under the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying.

About RKA:

• RKA has been constituted by the Government of India for the conservation, preservation, protection and development of cows and their progenies and for giving directions for the cattle development programmes.

Functions:

• The Aayog will work in collaboration with Veterinary, Animal Sciences or Agriculture University or departments or organizations of the Central/State Government engaged in the task of research in the field of breeding and rearing of cow, organic manure, biogas etc.

• It will take up scientific activities for genetic upgradation and increasing productivity of cows.

• It will provide the policy framework and direction to the cow conservation and development programmes in the country and for ensuring proper implementation of laws with respect to the welfare of cows.

LIBERALIZED MSME AEO PACKAGE:

Context : Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs, CBIC has taken a new initiative to introduce its flagship Liberalised MSME AEO Package.

Concept :

 In order to attract MSMEs to become Authorised Economic Operators, AEOs and avail the various benefits, the CBIC has relaxed the compliance criteria provided the MSMEs have a valid certificate from their line-Ministry.

 The relaxed requirements allow MSMEs who have filed minimum 10 Customs clearance documents in one year and who have a clean compliance record over 2 years to apply for the scheme.

 The CBIC commits to take a decision on an application for grant of AEO status within only 15 days from electronic submission of complete documents for AEO Tier T1.

 Additional benefits, like further reduction in Bank Guarantee requirements, have been introduced for MSMEs and will be expanded subsequently.

Authorised Economic Operators Programme

 AEO is a programme under the aegis of the World Customs Organization (WCO) SAFE Framework of Standards to secure and facilitate Global Trade.

 AEO is a voluntary compliance programme.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

 It enables Indian Customs to enhance and streamline cargo security through close cooperation with the principle stakeholders of the international supply chain viz.importers, exporters, logistics providers, custodians or terminal operators, custom brokers and warehouse operators.

 Under this programme, an entity engaged in international trade is approved by Customs as compliant with supply chain security standards and granted AEO status & certain benefts.

 For Example , Direct Port Delivery of imported containers, Direct Port Entry of their Export Containers, high level of facilitation in customs clearance , exemption from Bank guarantees, priority for refund or rebate or duty Drawback, as well as a Client Relationship Manager at the customs port as a single point of interaction.

About WCO

 The World Customs Organization (WCO), established in 1952 as the Customs Co-operation Council (CCC) is an independent intergovernmental body whose mission is to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of Customs administrations.

 WCO is the only international organization with competence in Customs matters and can rightly call itself the voice of the international Customs community.

 The WCO has divided its Membership into six Regions. Each of the six Regions is represented by a regionally elected Vice-Chairperson to the WCO Council.

INSTITUTION OF EMINENCE: Context : The University Grants Commission (UGC) has amended its regulations, allowing Institutions of Eminence (IoEs) to set up campuses abroad after receiving no objection certificates from the Ministry of External Affairs and Ministry of Home Affairs.

Concept :

• The amendments also permit the IOEs to start new off campus centres, with a maximum of three in five years and not more than one in an academic year.

• The Institutions of Eminence Deemed to be Universities shall ensure that the norms and standards of the off shore campus shall be the same as that maintained on the main campus for similar courses, and the off-shore campus shall also follow similar admission criteria, curriculum, examination system and evaluation system.

• The IOEs have also been permitted to start an off campus centre on an interim campus “subject to the condition that the permanent campus shall be ready within a reasonable time period of not exceeding five years.”

Institution of Eminence scheme

• The institutes of eminence scheme under the Union human resource development (HRD) ministry aims to project Indian institutes to global recognition.

• The selected institutes will enjoy complete academic and administrative autonomy.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

• The selection shall be made through challenge method mode by the Empowered Expert Committee constituted for the purpose.

• Grant: The public institutions under IOE tag will receive a government grant of 1,000 crore, while the private institutions will not get any funding under the scheme.

Criteria

• Global/National Ranking: Only those institutions which have appeared in any of the global/national ranks shall be recommended for the IoE status.

• Public institutions are assessed on the basis of QS-2020 world rankings, in case of a tie QS- 2019 rankings are used.

• Private institutions are assessed on the basis of their ranking in the QS India or National Institution Ranking Framework (NIRF), the NIRF ranking being used as a tie-breaker.

• Any institution that did not appear in any rankings (QS-2019, QS-2020 and NIRF) is excluded completely from the list of IOE tag.

• Greenfield Proposals: Only after exhausting the above criterion, if any slot remains vacant, consideration shall be given to yet to be established (Greenfield) proposals.

• The term greenfield project generally refers to the initiation of a project without the need to consider any prior work.

• The Greenfield Institutions would get 3 year period to establish and operationalise the institution, and thereafter, EEC will consider giving IoE status to such institutions.

• Satya Bharti Foundation (telecom major Airtel’s philanthropic arm) became the second greenfield institution to be given IoE status, after Reliance’s Jio Institute.

SWAMIH SCHEME:

Context : Centre’s SWAMIH—Special Window for Affordable and Mid-Income Housing— scheme seems to have been hit by the lockdown and the slowdown in construction due to the labour shortage.

Concept :

About SWAMIH:

• SWAMIH Investment Fund has been formed to complete construction of stalled, RERA- registered affordable and mid-income category housing projects which are stuck due to paucity of funds.

• The fund was set up as a Category-II AIF (Alternate Investment Fund) debt fund registered with SEBI.

• The Investment Manager of the Fundis SBICAP Ventures, a wholly-owned subsidiary of SBI Capital Markets, which in turn is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the State Bank of India.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

• The Sponsor of the Fundis the Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, Government of India on behalf of the Government of India.

Who will be the investors of the fund?

• AIFs created/funded under the Special Window would solicit investment into the fund from the Government and other private investors including cash-rich financial institutions, sovereign wealth funds, public and private banks, domestic pension and provident funds, global pension funds and other institutional investors.

USTAAD scheme: Context: The ministry of Minority affairs has invited proposals for empanelment of project implementing agencies for year 2020-21. Concept:  It is a scheme of Ministry of Minority affairs since 2015 for welfare of minorities by upgrading the skills and training in Traditional Arts/Crafts and to preserve the rich heritage of traditional arts/crafts of minorities.  HunarHaat is also being organised under this Scheme from 2016-17 to further promote traditional crafts/arts, employment generation and strengthen their market linkages.  These market linkages will also be extended to global markets.  The HunarHaat is an effective platform wherein opportunity is given to artisans/craftsmen and culinary experts from across the country to showcase and market their handmade, rare, exquisite indigenous products.  Other schemes of Ministry of Minority Affairs: NaiManzil is a scheme for formal school education & skilling of school dropouts; HamariDharohar scheme is done to preserve rich heritage of minority communities under the overall concept of Indian Culture; Gharib Nawaz Skill Development Training for Minorities – A scheme to provide short-term job oriented skill development courses to youths belonging to 06 Centrally notified minority communities, namely, Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Parsis and Jains {implemented through Maulana Azad Education Foundation (MAEF); Bridge Course for madarsa students & school dropouts; NaiRoshni for minority women; NaiUdaan - Support for Students clearing Prelims Conducted by UPSC/SSC,State Public Service Commission(PSC) etc.; JiyoParsi etc.

PMKVY 3.0: Context: PMKVY 3.0 was launched to build on learning from PMKVY 1.0 and PMKVY 2.0 to align skill framework to aspirational India’s demand. Concept:  It was launched in 717 districts across all states of India by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE).  It aims at unlock the vision of making India the ‘Skill Capital’ of the world (over 300 skills available).  It will also focus on demand-driven and decentralised in its approach, with focus on digital technology and Industry 4.0 skills.  Its focus is on new age skills and Covid-19 related skills. It is a trainee- and learner-centric approach addressing the ambitions of aspirational Bharat.  It focuses on training of eight lakh candidates over a scheme period of 2020-2021 with an outlay of Rs. 948.90 crore.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

 It will be implemented by the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Kendras (PMKK), emapneled non-PMKK centres and ITIs.  District Skill Committees (DSCs), under the guidance of State Skill Development Missions (SSDM), shall play a key role in addressing the skill gap and assessing demand at the district level.  It will incentivise states by healthy competition between states by making available increased allocation to those states that perform better.

COVID Vaccine Intelligence Network (CoWIN) system: Context: IT minister launched Grand Challenge for strengthening the COVID Vaccine Intelligence Network (CoWIN) system. Concept:  Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) along with Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has announced the launching of “CoWIN”.  Grand challenge aims at strengthening the COVID-19 Vaccine Intelligence Network (CoWIN) system.  It will be launched on the MSH (MeitY Startup Hub) portal.  It calls for participation from talented and innovative startups and emerging technology specialists to augment and scale the CoWIN platform.  It focuses on 7areas for technology development: 1. Infrastructure 2. Monitoring 3. Management 4. Dynamic learning and information systems 5. Constraints of human resources-including technical capacities 6. Vaccine logistics management 7. Tracking enlisted beneficiaries for any adverse event following immunization on real time basis.  The challenge will need registration and finally five participants will be provided CoWIN APIs (Application Programming Interface) to prove the efficacy of their solutions for possible integration with the platform with prize of Rs 2 lakh for winners. About CoWIN platform:  CoWIN is a national platform for digital ecosystem to be used to effectively roll out and scale up the mechanism for COVID Vaccine Distribution System.  It was launched by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) to help agencies keep a track of Covid-19 vaccination programme and allow Indian citizens to apply for a Covid-19 vaccine shot.  As part of platform the government developed CoWIN-20 app for real-time monitoring of covid-19 vaccine. It will integrate with real-time data from cold storage facilities with integration from eVIN (Electronic Vaccine Intelligence Network)

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

PMAY -G: Context: Prime Minister released assistance worth Rs 2,691 crore to over 6 lakh beneficiaries of Pradhan MantriAwas Yojna (Gramin) in Uttar Pradesh through a video conference.

Concept:

• PMAY-G is implemented by Ministry of Rural Development.

• The erstwhile rural housing scheme Indira Awaasyojana (IAY) has been restructured into Pradhan MantriAwaasYojana –Gramin (PMAY-G) from 2016.

• PMAY-G aims at providing a house, with basic amenities, to all houseless householder and those households living in kutcha and dilapidated house, by 2022.

• This scheme targets construction of 2.95 crore houses with all basic amenities by the year 2022.

• The cost of unit assistance in this scheme is shared between Central and State Governments in the ratio 60:40 in plain areas and 90: 10 for North Eastern and Himalayan States.

• In PMAY-G, programme implementation and monitoring is to be carried out through an end to end e-Governance model- Using AwaasSoft and Awaas App.

• The scheme envisages training of Rural Masons with the objective of improving workmanship and quality of construction of houses while at the same time, increasing availability of skilled masons and enhancing employability of such masons.

Selection of beneficiaries:

• Based on housing deprivation parameters of Socio-Economic and Caste Census (SECC), 2011, subject to 13 point exclusion criteria, followed by Gram Sabha verification.

PLI SCHEME: Context : The Government has given approval to drug firms including Aurobindo Pharma and Karnataka Antibiotics & Pharmaceuticals under the PLI scheme for promotion of domestic manufacturing of critical bulk drugs.

Concept :

• The Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme aims at promotion of domestic manufacturing of critical key starting materials (KSMs)/drug intermediates and active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) in the country.

• This will be achieved by setting up greenfield plants with minimum domestic value addition in four different target segments with a total outlay of Rs 6,940 crore for the period 2020-21 to 2029-30.

• The scheme was launched by Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

• The Target Segment-I includes 4 eligible products, viz., Penicillin G; 7-ACA; Erythromycin Thiocyanate (TIOC) & Clavulanic Acid, in which the country is presently fully import dependent. These were considered on priority as per the decided evaluation and selection criteria.

• The setting up of plants under the scheme will lead to total committed investment of Rs 3,761 crore by the companies and employment generation for around 3,825 people.

PRAGATI: Context: Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, will chair the 32nd interaction through PRAGATI- the ICT-based, multi-modal platform for Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation.

Concept:

• Prime Minister had launched the multi-purpose and multi-modal governance platform PRAGATI on 25th March 2015.

• PRAGATI is an integrating and interactive platform, aimed at addressing the common man’s grievances.

• PRAGATI also helps in simultaneously monitoring and reviewing important programmes and projects of the Government of India, as well as projects flagged by various State governments.

• It is a three-tier system (PMO, Union Government Secretaries, and Chief Secretaries of the States).

• The three objectives of PRAGATI are:

Grievance Redressal

Programme Implementation

Project Monitoring

• The PRAGATI platform uniquely bundles three latest technologies: Digital data management, video-conferencing and geo-spatial technology.

• It promotes cooperative federalism as it brings on one platform the Secretaries of Government of India and the Chief Secretaries of the States.

• It is a robust system for bringing e-transparency and e-accountability with real-time presence and exchange among the key stakeholders.

• It is an innovative project in e-governance and good governance.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

UDAN: Context : The first direct flight operations between (Maharashtra) and Belgaum (Karnataka) started today under the RCS-UDAN (Regional Connectivity Scheme — Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik) of the Government of India.

Concept :

• Operationalizing of this route expands the aerial connectivity of Belgaum to the 10 destinations across India.

• Star Air was awarded the Belgaum-Nashik route during the UDAN 3 bidding process. The airlines are being provided Viability Gap Funding (VGF) under the UDAN scheme to keep the fares affordable & accessible for the common people.

• The airline will be operating thrice-weekly flights on the route and will deploy its 50-seater Embraer ERJ-145 aircraft.

Ude Desh Ka Aam Naagrik

• Ude Desh Ka Aam Naagrik (UDAN) was launched as a regional connectivity scheme under the Ministry of Civil Aviation in 2016.

• It is an innovative scheme to develop the regional aviation market.

• The objective of scheme is to create affordable yet economically viable and profitable flights on regional routes so that flying becomes affordable to the common man even in small towns.

• The scheme envisages providing connectivity to un-served and underserved airports of the country through the revival of existing air-strips and airports.

• The scheme is operational for a period of 10 years.

• Under-served airports are those which do not have more than one flight a day, while unserved airports are those where there are no operations.

AYU SAMVAD CAMPAIGN: Concept :

• “AYU SAMVAD” (My Health My Responsibility) is one of the largest public awareness campaign program being organised on AYURVEDA and COVID 19 PANDEMIC.

• Organized by: All India Institute of Ayurveda New Delhi, as envisioned & supported by Ministry of AYUSH.

• More than 5 lac lectures will be organized across the nation by Ayurveda Physicians for citizens of India.

• Main objective: To create awareness through Lecture series to make common people aware about the theme “Ayurveda for COVID 19 Pandemic”.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

LIFE MISSION: Context : As part of Kerala Government’s Life Mission project, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan inaugurated 2.5 lakh houses in Thiruvananthapuram.

Concept :

• Mission LIFE (Livelihood Inclusion and Financial Empowerment) envisages a comprehensive housing scheme for all the landless and homeless in the State.

• Housing is the very basic requirement that holds the key to accelerate social development in many ways, hence the Government of Kerala launched the LIFE.

• The target of the mission is to provide safe housing to nearly 4.30 lakhs of homeless in the State within a period of 5 years.

• Among the homeless, about 1.60 lakh landless families have been historically excluded from various housing schemes of the past.

• Under the programme, the homeless will be provided with:

modern housing complexes with provision for pursuing their livelihoods,

converging social services including Primary Health Care,

Geriatric Supports,

Skill Development and

provision for financial services inclusion.

• The mission will also help those who received assistance from other schemes but could not complete the construction and move into a safe house.

• Priority will be given to coastal population, plantation workers and those who stay in temporary shelters in government lands.

• It envisages a situation where the beneficiaries will be empowered and their active participation is mobilized in the maintenance of housing complexes.

PM- JAY: Context : The Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) contributed to improvement in many health outcomes in States that implemented the ambitious programme to provide healthcare access to most vulnerable sections, according to the Economic Survey 2020-21.

Concept :

• States that joined the PM-JAY, compared to those that did not, experienced greater penetration of health insurance, reduction in infant and child mortality rates, realised

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

improved access and utilisation of family planning services and greater awareness of HIV/AIDS.

• Across all the States, the proportion of households with health insurance increased by 54% for States that implemented PM-JAY while falling by 10% in States that did not.

Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY)

• PMJAY offers a sum insured of 5 lakh per family for secondary care (which doesn’t involve a super specialist) as well as tertiary care (which does). For the beneficiaries, this is a free scheme.

• It is an entitlement-based scheme that targets the beneficiaries as identified by latest Socio- Economic Caste Census (SECC) data.

• Individuals can walk into any empanelled hospital that can process cashless payments.

• Once identified by the database, the beneficiary is considered insured.

• The insurance cost is shared by the centre and the state mostly in the ratio of 60:40.

• Empanelled hospitals agree to the packaged rates under PMJAY—there are about 1,400 packaged rates for various medical procedures under the scheme.

• These packaged rates also mention the number of average days of hospitalization for a medical procedure and supporting documents that are needed.

• National Health Agency has been constituted as an autonomous entity under the Society Registration Act, 1860 for effective implementation of PMJAY in alliance with state governments.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

REPORTS

DIGITAL PAYMENTS INDEX: Context: Digital payment transactions surge in lockdown to surpass pre-Covid levels according to the report.

Concept:

About the Index

• The RBI has constructed a composite Digital Payments Index (DPI) with March 2018 as the base period to capture the extent of digitization of payments across the country.

• It was recommended by a committee headed by Nandan Nilekani on deepening digital payment.

• RBI-DPI will be published on the central bank’s website on a semi-annual basis from March 2021 onwards with a lag of four months.

• It comprises of five broad parameters that enable measurement of deepening and penetration of digital payments in the country over different time periods.

• The parameters are:

Payment enablers (weight 25 per cent)

Payment infrastructure–demand-side factors (10 per cent)

Payment infrastructure – supply-side factors (15 per cent)

Payment performance (45 per cent) and

Consumer centricity (5 per cent)

• Each of these parameters has sub-parameters which, in turn, consist of various measurable indicators, RBI said.

Significance

• Digital payments in India have been growing rapidly.

• The DPI reflects accurately the penetration and deepening of various digital payment modes.

GLOBAL CORRUPTION PERCEPTION INDEX:

Context: India and China both share the 80th rank with a CPI score of 41 in the Global Corruption Perception Index 2019—an empirical measure for corruption accepted worldwide.

Concept:

• Released by Transparency International from 1995.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

• This index is annually released (once a year.)

• Corruption is defined as the misuse of public power for private benefit by Corruption Perception Index.

• It ranks about 180 countries globally.

• Transparency International undertakes multiple surveys and assessments from different international organizations including the World Bank.

SWACHH SURVEKSHAN 2020: Concept :

• Swachh Survekshan 2020 report has been launched by the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA).

• It is the fifth edition of the annual cleanliness urban survey conducted by the MoHUA. It is one of the world’s largest sanitation surveys.

Key Points

• This year the Ministry has released rankings based on the categorisation of cities on population, instead of releasing overall rankings.

• The categories based on population were introduced in 2019 for the first time but the exact groupings have been changed this year.

Major Categories and Rankings:

• Cities with a population of more than 10 lakh:

Indore was ranked first, securing the rank for the fourth consecutive year, followed by Surat and Navi Mumbai.

All the National Capital Region (NCR) cities, Greater Mumbai, Bruhat Bengaluru, Amritsar, Kota, Chennai, etc. have performed poorly.

Patna with the rank 47, is at the bottom of the list.

• Cities with a population of 1-10 lakh:

Chhattisgarh’s Ambikapur has been surveyed as the cleanest city in the country, followed by Mysore and New Delhi.

Bihar’s Gaya with a rank of 382, is at the bottom.

• Cities with a population of less than 1 lakh:

Karad has been ranked as the cleanest followed by Sasvad and Lonavala (all three in Maharashtra).

• The dynamic and evolving nature of the Swachh Survekshan framework was also highlighted. From being just a monitoring framework for measuring outcomes, it has become an

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

implementation accelerator for Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban (SBM-U), enabling sustainability of outcomes by institutionalizing cleanliness.

• SBM-U was launched in 2014, with the objective of making urban India 100% Open Defecation Free (ODF) along with 100% scientific solid waste management.

• It has a deep impact on health, livelihoods, quality of life and behaviour, which proved to be very helpful while dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic as well.

• MoHUA is also actively working on coming up with a second phase of the SBM-U (SBM 2.0), which was initially supposed to be till March 2020 but has been extended till March 2021. It envisions to:

• Take current targets further, making cities open defecation-free, including 100% sludge management and zero dumping of waste in the open.

• Safe containment, transportation and disposal of faecal sludge and septage from toilets and also the grey and black water from households and establishments.

• Treat all wastewater before discharging into water bodies and their maximum possible re-use.

• Provide adequate safety gear and mechanised equipment to all sanitation workers with maximum attention.

• To ensure the sustainability of on-ground performance of cities, the MoHUA had also introduced Swachh Survekshan League in 2019.

• It is a quarterly cleanliness assessment of cities and towns done in three quarters with 25% weightage integrated into the final Swachh Survekshan results.

• MoHUA launched the sixth edition of the survey, Swachh Survekshan 2021 and also introduced a new performance category, the Prerak DAUUR Samman.

• It has a total of five additional subcategories namely Divya (Platinum), Anupam (Gold), Ujjwal (Silver), Udit (Bronze) and Aarohi (Aspiring).

GLOBAL ECONOMIC PROSPECTUS REPORT: Context : Global economic output is projected to grow by 4% in 2021 assuming widespread roll-out of a COVID-19 vaccine throughout the year, as per the World Bank’s Global Economic Prospects (GEP) report.

Concept :

• This projection is still 5% below pre-pandemic levels. India is expected to grow at 5.4% in fiscal year 2021-22 and 5.2% in fiscal 2022-23 after an expected contraction of 9.6% in fiscal 2020-21.

About the Report

• The World Bank produces the GEP twice a year, in January and June, as part of its in-depth analysis of key global macroeconomic developments and their impact on member countries.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

• The GEP provides intelligence in support of achieving development goals and is a trusted resource for member countries, stakeholders, civil organizations and researchers.

WORLD FOOD PRICE INDEX:

Context : World food prices rose for a seventh consecutive month in December, with all the major categories, barring sugar, posting gains last month, the United Nations food agency said.

Concept :

 The Food and Agriculture Organization’s (FAO) food price index averaged 107.5 points last month versus 105.2 in November.

 It consists of the average of five commodity group ( vegetable oil ,sugar, cereals,dairy and meat ) price indices weighted by the average export shares of each of the groups over 2014- 2016.

Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO)

 Established in 1945, the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has its headquarters in Rome, Italy.

 It was founded with a goal to provide food security for everyone and assure that people will have access to high-quality food in sufficient quantities to achieve a healthy lifestyle.

 Every year, the FAO publishes a number of major ‘State of the World’ reports related to food, agriculture, forestry, fisheries and natural resources.

GLOBAL RISK REPORT: Context: The report, released ahead of the virtual ‘Davos Agenda’ summit of the WEF from January 25-29 that would be attended by Prime Minister Modi among other global leaders.

Concept:

• The (16th edition) report was released by World economic forum and it is a part of it's global risk initiative.

• It has said that the world needs to wake up to long-term risks, after witnessing in 2020 the catastrophic effects of ignoring long-term risks such as pandemics, which is now an immediate risk.

• The 16th edition of Global Risks Report analyses the risks from societal fractures— manifested through persistent and emerging risks to human health, rising unemployment, widening digital divides, youth disillusionment, and geopolitical fragmentation.

• Businesses risk a disorderly shakeout which can exclude large cohorts of workers and companies from the markets of the future. Environmental degradation—still an existential threat to humanity—risks intersecting with societal fractures to bring about severe consequences.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

INEQUALITY REPORT: Context : A new report by Oxfam has found that the Covid pandemic deeply exacerbated existing inequalities in India and around the world. Concept : • The report, titled ‘The Inequality Virus’, has found that as the pandemic stalled the economy, forcing millions of poor Indians out of jobs, the richest billionaires in India increased their wealth by 35 per cent.

• In stark contrast, 170,000 people lost their jobs every hour in the month of April 2020, the report points out.

• Sectorally, India’s large informal workforce was the worst hit as it made up 75 per cent of the 122 million jobs lost. Informal workers had relatively fewer opportunities to work from home and suffered more job loss compared to the formal sector.

• Oxfam has argued the urgent need for policymakers to tax the wealthy individuals and rich corporates and use that money to “invest in free quality public services and social protection to support everyone, from cradle to grave”.

GLOBAL RISK REPORT: Context: Recently the Global Risks Report 2021 was recently released by the World Economic Forum.

Concept:

• The global economy has been facing an increased risk of stagnation and climate change is striking harder and more rapidly than expected.

• The report provides an open viewpoint which can lead to global economic benefit.

• The World Economic Forum has argued since 1970 for the need to consider social well-being alongside economic gains. Unless the global economic system is reformed to be more socially conscious, the twin risks of prolonged slowdown and stronger defiance towards the current economic model will continue to exacerbate each other

• As per the report the following can lead to dire consequences and lost opportunities for large parts of the global population:

Risk of job losses

A widening digital divide

Disrupting social interactions

Abrupt shifts in markets.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

INDIA JUSTICE REPORT: Context : At 25.3 per cent, Bihar leads the list of 25 states for employing most women in its police force, according to the second annual survey on police, prisons, judiciary and legal aid, India Justice Report, released on Thursday.

Concept :

• India Justice Report prepared by the Tata Trusts in collaboration with the Centre for Social Justice, Common Cause, and the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative has been released.

• The India Justice Report is an exhaustive study of the objective conditions prevailing in India’s legal system, including its bottlenecks, use of new technologies and its key failings.

• This is the first-ever ranking of Indian states on justice delivery.It is released annually.

• The report has divided states on the basis of the population into two parts:

• The large-medium states (Population 1 crore and above)

• The small states and Union Territories (Population less than 1 crore).

Key Findings

• Maharashtra is India’s best-performing state, according to the latest India Justice Report, 2020

• The other states in the top five are Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Punjab and Kerala.

• Among the 18 major states, the worst in terms of justice-delivery are Karnataka, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh.

• Among the seven small states that have a population of less than a crore, the best- performing states were Tripura followed by Sikkim and Himachal Pradesh.

On diversity, Karnataka is the only state to meet its quotas for SC, ST and OBC in both officer cadre and constabulary, Chhattisgarh being the only other state that meets the diversity requirements for constabulary.

CORRUPTION PERCEPTION INDEX: Context : India’s rank slips to 86th in corruption perception index 2020.

Concept :

• India’s rank has slipped six places to 86th among 180 countries in a corruption perception index (CPI) in 2020.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

• India’s rank is 86 out of 180 nations with a score of 40. “India was ranked at 80th position out of 180 countries in 2019. The CPI score for India is constant this year as well as the previous year’s score,” the index said.

• This year, New Zealand and Denmark were ranked at first position with scores of 88. Somalia and South Sudan were ranked lowest at 179th position with scores of 12.

About the Index

• First launched in 1995 by the Transparency International, the Index has been widely credited with putting the issue of corruption on the international policy agenda.

• Transparency International is a non-profit, non-governmental organisation dedicated to fighting corruption. It was founded in 1993 and is based in Berlin, Germany.

• The index, which ranks 180 countries and territories by their perceived levels of public sector corruption according to experts and business people, uses a scale of 0 to 100, where 0 is highly corrupt and 100 is very clean.

BARE NECESSITIES INDEX : Context : The Survey has underlined the need to focus on reducing variations in the access to bare necessities across states, between rural and urban areas, and between income groups.

Concept :

• The Economic Survey 2020-21 has constructed a Bare Necessities Index at rural, urban & all India level, with 26 indicators on 5 dimensions- sanitation, water, housing,micro- environment, & other facilities.

• The BNI builds on the idea of Thalinomics in the Economic Survey for 2019-20, through which it had sought to examine the access to food in the country.

• The BNI summarises 26 indicators on five dimensions — water, sanitation, housing, micro- environment, and other facilities — and has been created for all states for 2012 and 2018 using NSO data.

• The index classifies areas on three levels of access — high, medium, low — to bare necessities.

Key Findings

• The survey showed that all states have increased access to bare necessities in 2018 in comparison to 2012. The highest access was recorded in states like Punjab, Kerala, Gujarat, Punjab and Haryana and lowes was recorded in Jharkhand, Odisha, West Bengal and Tripura.

• The inter-state disparities in the access to “the bare necessities” also showed a decline in 2018 in comparison to 2012 across rural & urban areas.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

• Further, the annual survey noted that the access to the bare necessities has improved disproportionately more for the poorest households in comparison to the richest households across rural & urban areas.

• Lastly, the survey noted that improved access to “the bare necessities” correlates with improvement in health indicators such as infant mortality and under-5 mortality and improvement in education indicators.

Thalinomics: The Economics of a plate of food in India. It is an attempt to quantify what a common person pays for a Thali across India.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

HEALTH AND SOCIAL ISSUES

INVISIBLE DISABILITIES: Concept :

• Invisible conditions are more difficult to detect by medical doctors. Many such conditions go undiagnosed or are misdiagnosed.

• The stigma surrounding a chronic disease or disorder and the realisation that a seemingly healthy child is having a condition which affects functional efficiency throughout life, may in many cases compel parents to conceal the disability in social settings.

Common Invisible Disabilities:

• Some of the most common invisible disabilities in which people appear healthy and in control of their lives and bodies are:

• Minimal brain injury and developmental cognitive disorders which interfere with memory, motor skills planning, organisational abilities, cognition and communication. Children may find it difficult to perform higher level of academics, planning, and as adults they may make ‘mistakes’ in tasks which involve precision and multi-step processes such as digital transactions.

• Outwardly, they appear clumsy, distracted and disorganised.

• Learning Disabilities: Neurological disorders resulting in impairment in reading (dyslexia) writing (dysgraphia) or mathematics (dyscalculia), commonly associated with Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity disorder.

• Appearance: Lazy, distracted, intentionally avoiding work.

• Autism Spectrum Disorders: Neurodevelopmental disorders beginning early in childhood and severely affecting the ability to communicate, learn social skills and social interaction, associated with rigid and repetitive behaviours.

• Appearance: Rude, undisciplined, fussy, stubborn, avoiding instructions, and not cooperating.

• Chronic diseases such as certain renal disorders as also Fibromyalgia which is a chronic rheumatic condition that causes widespread pain and throughout the soft tissue in the body, accompanied by fatigue.

• Appearance will be lazy and constantly avoiding work.

• Depression: Mental health and mood disorders involving persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness and loss of interest strong enough to affect normal functioning; commonly associated with anxiety disorders causing persistent feelings of worry and fear.

• Outwardly appearance: Being unnecessarily sensitive, exerting oneself to become cheerful and trying to adjust.

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

• Sensory Disorders: Children who have sensory issues may have an aversion to anything that triggers their senses, such as light, sound, touch, taste, or smell. Common symptoms of sensory processing issues may include avoidance or hyperactivity.

• They will appear too fussy, not cooperating, need for stem discipline.

TRANSFAT: Context : The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has capped the amount of trans fatty acids (TFA) in oils and fats to 3% for 2021 and 2% by 2022 from the current permissible limit of 5% through an amendment to the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restriction on Sales) Regulations. Concept:  Trans fatty acids (TFAs) or Trans fats are the most harmful type of fats which can have much more adverse effects on our body than any other dietary constituent.  These fats are largely produced artificially but a small amount also occurs naturally. Thus in our diet, these may be present as Artificial TFAs and/ or Natural TFAs.  Artificial TFAs are formed when hydrogen is made to react with the oil to produce fats resembling pure ghee/butter.  In our diet the major sources of artificial TFAs are the partially hydrogenated vegetable oils (PHVO)/vanaspati/ margarine while the natural TFAs are present in meats and dairy products, though in small amounts.  WHO recommendation: Limited to less than 1% of total energy intake. It has called for the total elimination of TFAs in global food supply by 2023.

Harmful effects:  TFAs pose a higher risk of heart disease than saturated fats. While saturated fats raise total cholesterol levels, TFAs not only raise total cholesterol levels but also reduce the good cholesterol (HDL), which helps to protect us against heart disease.  Trans fats consumption increases the risk of developing heart disease and stroke.  It is also associated with a higher risk of developing obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance, infertility, certain types of cancers and can also lead to compromised fetal development causing harm to the yet to be born baby. Are all fat bad?  All-natural fats and oils are a combination of monounsaturated, polyunsaturated and saturated fatty acids or trans fatty acids. Our body needs the first two categories of ‘healthy’ fats as apart from being a major source of energy, they help absorb some vitamins and minerals and build cell membranes and the sheaths surrounding nerves.  Saturated fatty acids on the other hand are considered harmful as it clogs arteries and result in hypertension, heart attacks, and other cardiovascular issues.  Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death globally, causing over 1.8 crore deaths every year. The WHO estimates that over 5 lakh people with cardiovascular issues die globally every year due to the consumption of industrially produced TFAsAbout Trans Fats:  These are saturated fats produced from vegetable oils. They are commonly used in baked and fried foods as well as adulterated ghee, which becomes solid at room temperature.  There are of two types Natural and Artificial trans fats. Artificial trans fats are man-made fats produced through a chemical process called hydrogenation (Hydrogenation is a process in which a liquid unsaturated fat is turned into a solid fat by adding hydrogen).

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

 Hydrogenation is used in industry increase their shelf life, and for use as an adulterant as they are cheap.  Naturally-occurring trans fats can be found in many animal products, including milk and meat.

Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) reduced the permissible limit of trans fatty acids (TFA) in oils and fats to 3% for 2021 and 2% by 2022, against the earlier cap of 5%.  The amendment was brought through an amendment in Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restriction on Sales) Regulations.  It applies to edible refined oils, vanaspati (partially hydrogenated oils), margarine, bakery shortenings, and other cooking media like vegetable fat spreads and mixed fat spreads.  WHO had called for a global elimination of industrially produced TFAs by 2023. It brought a step-by-step guide called ‘REPLACE’ to help countries frame policies.  Denmark became the first country to ban TFAs in 2003 after threat of non-communicable disease started getting attention in world.

Why India needs to take urgent action?  As per FSSAI, about 77,000 deaths take place annually in India due to TFAs.  Last year, 11 of the 15 countries that account for two-thirds of deaths linked to trans fats still needed to act. These were Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Ecuador, Egypt, India, Iran, Mexico, Nepal, Pakistan, Republic of Korea.  Challenge as implementation is the state subject.

Green corridor: Context: A truck with the first batch of Serum Institute of India’s Covishield vaccine pashed from IGI airport in Delhi to the Rajiv Gandhi super specialty hospital. Concept:  A special road route managed in a way such that all the traffic signals in the route determined for medical emergencies or organ transplantation, are green and controlled manually.  It seeks to ensure an unrestricted movement of vehicle and cut the traffic time by 60-70% in the process.  It needs an active collaboration between transplant coordinators, local police, traffic police and airport staff etc.  Primarily it seeks to ensure no organ is wasted as organ for transplantation have very short preservation time.  In India it was adopted in 2014 and Chennai was the first city to adopt it.  The requisite regulatory procedures and coordination was carried out with National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO) for the green corridor.  NOTTO is a National level organization set up under Directorate General of Health Services, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, located in New Delhi.

Priority list for Covid-19 Vaccination: Context: With India approving two vaccine for Covid-19 the next challenge is roll out for which now government has come out with the order of priority for vaccination. Concept: Priority will be in following order:

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

1. 3 crore healthcare workers and frontline workers 2. Those above 50 years of age and 3. That under-50 with co-morbidities  However, it also said rollout in these three priority groups will be guided by vaccine availability and won’t be “necessarily sequential”.  Operational guidelines given to the states, the prioritization of groups will depend on the “disease incidence and prevailing pandemic situation.”  Rolling out of vaccine for states with high incidence of cases (Ex- Maharashtra and Kerala)  Every eligible person for Covid vaccination needs to be registered on Co-WIN app and a mechanism has been created to mark out different priority groups (use will be made of voter list).  The DM, helped by the District Immunization Officer, will link sessions sites, vaccinators, supervisors and beneficiaries and decide the date and time for the vaccination session.  Multi-level governance mechanism: Block Task Force will check all proposed sites and the District Task Force will check a sample of the sites to ensure that required space, infrastructure, including security

Smoking and vegetarianism could be ‘protective’ against SARS-CoV-2 infection: CSIR survey: Context: CSIR survey in different parts of India conducted on its employee has claimed Smoking and vegetarianism could be ‘protective’ against SARS-CoV-2 infection, however, causes has not been established. Concept:  The aim of survey is to build a medical cohort to give long-term perspective on the malaises that affect Indians, and determine if such a data bank can be used to help with predicting, say, the onset of diabetes or cardiovascular disease  The survey was to note prevalence of COvid-19 virus.  It found nearly 10% of 10,400 were infected.  Most common symptom was fever and 1/4th also lost smell or taste.  Class bias in infection as Public transport users, persons engaged as security or housekeeping staff, non-smokers and meat consumers recorded higher seroprevalence (the level of a pathogen in a population, as measured in blood serum.) compared to those who worked from home or has access to private vehicle.  Seroprevalence was highest for AB blood group, followed by B, O and then A.  Key neutralising antibodies waned after infection but were present even after 6 months.  It found smoking and vegetarian habit were more protective against SARS-COV-2 virus.  An association between smoking and protection against SARS-CoV-2, or lower odds of infection by the virus, has also been reported in studies in China and France About CSIR:  It is the largest research and development (R&D) organization in India since 1942.  It is funded by the Ministry of Science and Technology and it operates as an autonomous body through the Societies Registration Act, 1860.  Its president is Prime Minister of India (Ex-officio president).  Union Minister of Science and Technology (Ex-officio) is its vice-president.  It has a governing Body headed by Director General and advisory board consisting of 15- members.  CSIR covers a wide spectrum of science and technology: from radio and space physics, oceanography, geophysics, chemicals, drugs, genomics, biotechnology and

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM | WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM

nanotechnology to mining, aeronautics, instrumentation, environmental engineering and information technology.  It provides significant technological intervention in many areas with regard to societal efforts which include environment, health, drinking water, food, housing, energy, farm and non-farm sectors. Further, CSIR’s role in S&T human resource development is noteworthy.  It is pioneer of India’s intellectual property movement.

Are you confident of clearing Prelims 2021? Optimize your prelims preparation with LAQSHYA OPTIMA 2021

WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM |