PT-365-Updated-Classroom-Material-March-April-2019.Pdf

UPDATION Table of Contents 1. POLITY AND CONSTITUTION ______3 3.12. Datasmart Cities Strategy ______20 1.1. Model Code of Conduct ______3 3.13. Electrification in India ______20 1.2. Electoral Bonds ______3 3.14. Hydro Power Sector______20 1.3. Party Symbol Allocation ______4 3.15. Asian Tea Alliance ______21 1.4. Lokpal ______5 3.16. News in Shorts ______22 1.5. Tribunals ______6 3.16.1. Ease Reforms Index ______22 1.6. Armed Forces Special Powers Act______6 3.16.2. Festival of Innovation and 1.7. News in Short ______7 Entrepreneurship ______22 1.7.1. Self-Regulation of Social Media in Elections7 3.16.3. Nugen Mobility Summit ______22 1.7.2. World Press Freedom Index ______7 3.16.4. 20th Livestock Census ______22 1.7.3. E-Dharti App and E-Dharti Geo Portal ___ 7 4. ENVIRONMENT ______24 1.7.4. World Summit on The Information 4.1. International Solar Alliance ______24 Society (WSIS) Awards ______7 4.2. Star Rating ______25 2. INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS ______8 4.3. UNNATEE (Unlocking National Energy 2.1. Indo-Pacific Regional Cooperation _____ 8 Efficiency Potential) ______25 2.2. Belt and Road Initiative______8 4.4. National Mission on Transformative 2.3. Organisation of Islamic Countries______9 Mobility and Battery Storage ______26 2.4. Rome Statute ______9 4.5. India Cooling Action Plan ______26 2.5. Golan Heights ______9 4.6. Renewable Energy Certificates ______27 2.6. Arab League ______10 4.7. Peatland ______28 2.7. UN Designates Masood Azhar as Global 4.8. Climate Vulnerability Maps for Himalayan Terrorist ______10 States ______28 2.8. Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) ______10 4.9. Hazardous and Other Wastes 2.9. News in Short ______11 (Management & Trans Boundary Movement) 2.9.1. PM Awarded Russia’s Highest Civilian Amendment Rules, 2019 ______29 Award ______11 4.10. Global Environment Outlook ______30 2.9.2. Japan-India Space Dialogue ______11 4.11. State of The Global Climate Report __ 30 2.9.3. India’s 3rd IT Corridor in China ______11 4.12. Global Energy & CO2 Status Report __ 31 2.9.4. Triangular Development Cooperation in 4.13. Financing for Sustainable Development Asia and Africa ______11 Report 2019 ______31 2.9.5. Significant Reduction Exceptions ______12 4.14. Marine Heat Wave ______32 2.9.6. Kafala System ______12 2.9.7. Migration and Development Brief 2018 _ 12 4.15. Coalition for Disaster Resilient 2.9.8. Sovereign Internet Law ______12 Infrastructure ______32 2.9.9. International Day of Multilateralism and 4.16. Animal Cruelty Issues Now Under Farm Diplomacy for Peace ______12 Ministry ______33 2.9.10. Multi-Disciplinary Terror Monitoring 4.17. Summer Ploughing ______33 Group on Terror Financing in J&K ______12 4.18. Cloud Seeding ______33 3. ECONOMY ______14 4.19. News in Short ______34 3.1. Swap Facility ______14 4.19.1. National Mission for Clean Ganga _____ 34 3.2. Monetary Policy Transmission ______14 4.19.2. UN World Wildlife Day ______34 3.3. Limits Set on Ways & Means Advances 15 4.19.3. Energy Transition Index ______34 3.4. Swift Norms ______16 4.19.4. Ultra-Low Emission Zone ______34 3.5. Small Finance Bank ______16 4.19.5. Israel Unveils World’s Longest Salt Caves35 3.6. White Label Atms ______16 5. SOCIAL ISSUES ______36 3.7. Capital Gains Tax ______17 5.1. National Annual Rural Sanitation Survey36 3.8. Circular Trading ______18 5.2. Affordable Housing in India ______36 3.9. National Investment and Infrastructure 5.3. Women in Science ______37 Fund ______18 5.4. Reports in News ______38 3.10. Municipal Bonds ______19 5.4.1. Global Report on Food Crises 2019 _____ 38 5.4.2. World Happiness Report 2019 ______38 3.11. Ind AS ______19

5.4.3. Social Institutions and Gender Index (SIGI) 6.17.1. Priority Watch List ______51 Report ______38 6.17.2. Atmospheric Waves Experiment ______51 5.4.4. State of World Population Report, 2019 38 6.17.3. Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter______52 5.5. News in Short ______39 6.17.4. Baresheet Mission ______52 5.5.1. Nari Shakti Puruskar ______39 6.17.5. Hope Probe Project ______52 5.5.2. Centre for Disability Sports ______39 6.17.6. Honeypot ______52 6. SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ______40 6.17.7. AJIT ______52 6.1. 3-Parent Baby ______40 6.17.8. Artificial Intelligence Summit ______52 6.17.9. Abel Prize ______52 6.2. Malaria Vaccine ______41 6.17.10. Royal Society of London ______53 6.3. Global Influenza Strategy ______42 6.17.11. Candida Auris ______53 6.4. National Aids Control Programme-IV 6.17.12. I-STEM Portal ______53 (NACP-IV) ______42 6.17.13. INS Imphal ______53 6.5. Mission Shakti ______43 6.17.14. Nirbhay Missile ______53 6.6. Chandrayaan-2 ______45 6.17.15. Operation Sunrise ______53 6.7. AstroSat ______45 6.17.16. Military Exercises ______53 6.8. PSLV C-45 ______46 7. CULTURE ______55 6.9. Black Hole ______46 7.1. 100 Years of Jallianwala Bagh Massacre 55 6.10. Forward Search Experiment (FASER) _ 47 7.2. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel ______56 6.11. GRAPES-3 ______48 7.3. 75th Anniversary of Battle of Kohima _ 56 6.12. Universe’s First Molecule ______48 7.4. Charminar ______57 6.13. China’s Artificial Sun ______48 7.5. Konyak Dance ______57 6.14. Nano-Pharmaceuticals ______49 7.6. Navroz Festival ______58 6.15. Graphene ______50 7.7. News in Short______58 6.16. Cabinet NOD for Joining Nice, Vienna, 7.7.1. Saraswati Samman ______58 Locarno Agreements ______51 7.7.2. Lalit Kala Akademi ______58 6.17. News in Short ______51 7.7.3. Recent GI Tags ______58

1. POLITY AND CONSTITUTION 1.1. MODEL CODE OF CONDUCT o During bye-elections, the code is applicable in the entire district or districts Why in news? in which the constituency falls. Legal Status of Model Code In the run up to the Indian General Election for the • The MCC is not enforceable by law. However, 17th Lok Sabha, various violations of the Model certain provisions of the MCC may be enforced Code of Conduct have been witnessed. through invoking corresponding provisions in other statutes such as the Indian Penal Code, 1860, About Model Code of Conduct (MCC) Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, and • The MCC is a set of guidelines laid down by Representation of the People Act, 1951. the Election Commission to govern the • For example: o Any activity aggravating tension between conduct of political parties and candidates in different castes and communities is a corrupt the run-up to an election. This is in line with practice under the Representation of the Article 324 of the Constitution, which gives People Act. the Election Commission the power to o Bribery to voters is both a corrupt practice and supervise elections to the Parliament and an electoral offence under the Act and Section state legislatures. 171B of the Indian Penal Code. • The origins of the MCC lie in the Assembly o Serving or distributing liquor on election day elections of Kerala in 1960, when the State and during the 48 hours preceding it is an administration prepared a ‘Code of Conduct’ electoral offence. for political actors. The leading political parties of the State voluntarily approved the 1.2. ELECTORAL BONDS code, which proved useful during the Why in news? elections. Subsequently, in the Lok Sabha elections in 1962, the ECI circulated the code The Supreme Court of India in its interim order to all recognised political parties and State has asked all political parties to disclose, the governments. details of the donations received by them • It is intended to provide a level playing field through anonymous electoral bonds, in sealed for all political parties, to keep the campaign covers to the Election Commission of India. fair and healthy, avoid clashes and conflicts Background between parties, and ensure peace and order. So, there are guidelines on general conduct, • Electoral bond scheme was announced in meetings, processions, polling booths, Union Budget 2017-18 in an attempt to observers, election manifesto of political “cleanse the system of political funding in parties. the country.” • Its main aim is to ensure that the ruling party, • The electoral bonds were introduced by either at the Centre or in the states, does not amendments made through the Finance Act misuse its official position to gain an unfair 2017 to the Reserve Bank of India Act 1934, advantage in an election. There are guidelines Representation of Peoples Act 1951, Income on conduct of ministers and other authorities Tax Act 1961 and Companies Act. in announcing new schemes, using public • However, there are certain provisions in the exchequer for advertisements etc. scheme, which raised an objection on • The MCC comes into force the moment an transparency of political funding itself. election is announced and remains in force till o The rules for declaring sources of funding the results are declared. This was laid down by for political parties are outlined in Section the Supreme Court in the Union of India vs. 29C of the Representation of the People Harbans Sigh Jalal and Others Case. Act, 1951. Prior to 2017, the Act said all • Applicability of MCC: registered parties had to declare all o During general elections to the House of donations made to them of over People (Lok Sabha), the code is applicable Rs.20,000. throughout the country. o However, an amendment in finance act o During general elections to the Legislative has kept electoral bonds out of the Assembly (Vidhan Sabha), the code is purview of this section and hence applicable in the entire State. prevents allow ECI to check violation of

provisions in the Representation of the o Limiting the time for which the bond is valid People Act. ensures that the bonds do not become a o Further, political parties are legally bound parallel currency. to submit their income tax returns • Protects donor from political victimization- annually under Section 13A of the Income through non-disclosure of the identity of the donor. Tax Act, 1961. The electoral bonds have also been exempt from IT Act. Thus, 1.3. PARTY SYMBOL ALLOCATION removing the need to maintain records of names, addresses of all donors. Why in news? o Allows unchecked foreign funding- An amendment to the Foreign Contribution Recently the Delhi High Court upheld the Election Regulation Act (FCRA) allow political Commission of India’s allotment of the ‘Two parties to receive funding from foreign Leaves’ symbol to the AIADMK party following a companies with a majority stake in Indian dispute between the two rival factions of the companies. It can lead to Indian policies party. being influenced by foreign companies. Rules Governing allocation of Party Symbol • The Section 29A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 governs the election symbols reservation, allocation order and registration of Political parties in India. • The Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968 empowers the EC to recognise political parties and allot symbols. How the symbols are allotted? • A party seeking registration has to submit an application with their choice of a symbol to the Commission within a period of 30 days following the date of its formation as per guidelines prescribed by the Election Commission of India. • The allotment of symbols is made on first- come-first- served basis. If two or more political parties apply at the same time and opt for the same symbol, then the allotment is decided based on draw of lots. • Two or more recognised political parties can have the same symbol provided they are not contenders in the same States/UT. For example: Federal Party of Manipur and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) use 'Rising Sun' as their symbol. • The registered but unrecognised political parties do not have the privilege of contesting Positives of Electoral Bonds elections on a fixed symbol of their own • Limits the use of cash in political funding and choice. They have to choose from a list of curbs black money as: ‘free symbols’ issued by the ECI. o Payments made for the issuance of the • Initially, the commission allotted symbols electoral bonds are accepted only by means of unilaterally. However, from 1968 onwards, a demand draft, cheque or through the parties obtained a say in the choice of their Electronic Clearing System or direct debit to symbol, which gave them an opportunity to the buyers’ account”. choose meaningful visual representations of o Buyers must comply with KYC requirements, their identity. and the beneficiary political party has to disclose the receipt of this money and must account for the same.

1.4. LOKPAL o Any society or trust or body that receives foreign contribution above ₹10 lakh. Why in news? • Exception for Prime Minister o It does not allow a Lokpal inquiry if the PM-led selection panel recently cleared the allegation against the PM relates to former Supreme Court Judge Pinaki Chandra international relations, external and Ghose as first Lokpal of India. internal security, public order, atomic Background energy and space. o Complaints against the PM are not to be • The Lokpal and Lokayukta Act, 2013 was probed unless the full Lokpal bench enacted after the Indian anti-corruption considers the initiation of inquiry and at movement of 2011 with series of protests for least 2/3rds of the members approve it. the Jan Lokpal Bill. o Such an inquiry against the PM (if • However, the appointment of the Lokpal was conducted) is to be held in camera and if delayed because of absence of leader of the Lokpal comes to the conclusion that opposition, who is a member of selection the complaint deserves to be dismissed, panel to recommend Lokpal. After this the the records of the inquiry are not to be Supreme Court intervened and set deadlines published or made available to anyone. for appointing the Lokpal at the earliest. • Salaries, allowances and service conditions of Salient features of The Lokpal and Lokayukta Act, the Lokpal chairperson will be the same as 2013 those for the Chief Justice of India; those for other members will be the same as those for a • Institutional mechanism: Establishment of judge of the Supreme Court. Lokpal for the Union and Lokayukta for • Inquiry wing and prosecution wing: Inquiry States to inquire into allegations of corruption Wing for conducting preliminary inquiry and against certain public functionaries. Prosecution Wing for the purpose of • Composition: Lokpal will consist of a prosecution of public servants in relation to chairperson and a maximum of eight any complaint by the Lokpal under this Act. members, of which 50% shall be judicial • Power with respect to CBI: Power of members and 50% shall be from SC/ST/OBCs, superintendence and direction over any minorities and women. investigation agency including CBI for cases • Appointment process: referred to them by Lokpal. Transfer of o A search committee which recommends a officers of CBI investigating cases referred by panel of names to the high-power Lokpal would need approval of Lokpal. selection committee. • Timelines for enquiry, investigation: Act o The selection committee comprises of: specifies a time limit of 60 days for the Prime Minister, the Speaker of the Lok completion of inquiry and 6 months for Sabha, the Leader of the Opposition, the completion of investigation by the CBI. This Chief Justice of India (or his nominee) and period of 6 months can be extended by the an eminent jurist (nominated by President Lokpal on a written request from CBI. based on the recommendation of other • Confiscation of property: The act also members of the panel). incorporates provisions for attachment and o President will appoint the recommended confiscation of property acquired by corrupt names. means, even while prosecution is pending. • Jurisdiction: The jurisdiction of Lokpal • The administrative expenses of the Lokpal, extends to including all salaries, allowances and pensions o Anyone who is or has been Prime of the Chairperson, Members or Secretary or Minister, or a Minister in the Union other officers or staff of the Lokpal, will be government, or a Member of Parliament, charged upon the Consolidated Fund of India as well as officials of the Union and any fees or other money taken by the government under Groups A, B, C and D. Lokpal shall form part of that Fund. o The chairpersons, members, officers and • Suspension, removal of Chairperson and directors of any board, corporation, member of Lokpal: The Chairperson or any society, trust or autonomous body either Member shall be removed from his office by established by an Act of Parliament or order of the President on grounds of wholly or partly funded by the Centre. misbehaviour after the Supreme Court

report. For that a petition has to be signed by o Article 323A deals with administrative at least one hundred Members of Parliament. tribunals. • Special Court shall be setup to hear and o Article 323B deals with tribunals for other decide the cases referred by the Lokpal. matters. Issues with the Act • Technical Expertise: They play an important • Requirement of Government Approval: The Act role and part in the sphere of the adjudication does not vest power of prior sanction with Lokpal of disputes especially when the subject for enquiry and investigation of government demand technical expertise. officials. • They do not have to follow any uniform • Timeframe limitation: The Act envisages that the procedure as laid down under the Civil Lokpal shall not inquire into any complaint, made after seven years from the date on which the Procedure Code and the Indian Evidence Act offence has been committed. but they have to follow the principles of • No Suo Moto power with Lokpal: The Lokpal has Natural Justice. been deprived of the authority of taking suo moto • They enjoy some of the powers of a civil cognizance of the cases of corruption and court, viz., issuing summons and allowing maladministration. witnesses to give evidence. Its decisions are legally binding on the parties, subject to 1.5. TRIBUNALS appeal. Why in news? 1.6. ARMED FORCES SPECIAL Recently Chief Justice of India while heading a POWERS ACT Constitution Bench suggested having as few tribunals as possible. Why in news? More in news After 32 years of imposition, Armed Forces Special • The Bench is hearing a batch of petitions, Powers Act (AFSPA) was partially withdrawn from which challenges the amendments in the three of the Arunanchal Pradesh’s nine districts by Finance Act, 2017. Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). • The amendments to the Finance Act, 2017: About AFSPA o provides that the central government • Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, enacted may make rules to provide for the in the year 1958, grants extra-ordinary qualifications, appointments, term of powers and immunity to the armed forces to office, salaries and allowances, bring back order in the “disturbed areas”. resignation, removal, and other • Areas are considered disturbed “by reason of conditions of service for the Chairpersons differences or disputes between members of and other members of the Tribunals that different religious, racial, language or regional will continue to operate. groups or castes or communities". o state that the central government will • AFSPA empowers the Governor of the have the power to amend the list of state/Union territory to issue an official Tribunals, through a notification. notification declaring the state or a region o replaces certain existing Tribunals and within as a “disturbed area", after which the transfer their functions to other Tribunals. centre can decide whether to send in armed For example, the Airports Economic forces. Regulatory Authority Appellate Tribunal • Some of these extra-ordinary powers include: has been replaced by the Telecom o Fire upon anyone after giving warning Disputes Settlement and Appellate who is acting against law & order in the Tribunal (TDSAT). disturbed area. Tribunals in India o Arrest anyone without warrant. o Stop and search any vehicle or vessel. • A tribunal is a quasi-judicial body established o Armed forces personnel have legal in India by an Act of Parliament or State immunity for their actions. Legislature under Article 323A or 323B to • resolve disputes that are brought before it. Presently AFSPA is enforced in the 5 states of North East (parts of Arunachal, Assam, • Articles 323-A and 323-B were inserted Manipur, Mizoram & Nagaland) and J&K. through the 42nd Amendment Act of 1976 on • recommendation of Swaran Singh AFSPA was removed from Tripura in 2015 and Committee. from Meghalaya in 2018. 6 8468022022 DELHI | JAIPUR | PUNE | HYDERABAD | AHMEDABAD | LUCKNOW

1.7. NEWS IN SHORT 1.7.3. E-DHARTI APP AND E-DHARTI GEO PORTAL 1.7.1. SELF-REGULATION OF SOCIAL • The Union Ministry of Housing and Urban MEDIA IN ELECTIONS Affairs has launched the e-Dharti app and e- • Social media platforms and the Internet and Dharti Geo Portal to enable citizens to obtain Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) have information and transact on their properties. presented a ‘Voluntary Code of Ethics for the • e-Dharti App: is a new online system where all General Election 2019’ to the Election the three main modules i.e. Conversion of Commission. property from leasehold to freehold, • The ‘Code of Ethics” has been developed to Substitution of names of legal heirs and ensure free, fair & ethical usage of Social Mutation in the name of purchaser, have been Media Platforms to maintain the integrity of made online. the electoral process for the General Elections • e-Dharti GeoPortal: Through this application 2019. each and every Government property under • About Internet and Mobile Association of Land & Development Office (L&DO) is India (IAMAI) proposed to be GIS mapped. Through this o It is a not-for-profit industry body portal the Lessee of the property will be able registered under the Societies Act, 1986. to see the basic details of his/her property o Its mandate is to expand and enhance the along with map showing its location. online and mobile value-added services 1.7.4. WORLD SUMMIT ON THE sectors. o IAMAI is the only specialized industry INFORMATION body in India representing the interests of SOCIETY (WSIS) AWARDS online and mobile value-added services • Two schemes of the West Bengal government industry. Utkarsh Bangla” and “Sabooj Sathi have won 1.7.2. WORLD PRESS FREEDOM INDEX the prestigious World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) awards of the • The Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has United Nations. released the World Press Freedom Index 2019 o Utkarsh Bangla aims to provide in which India has dropped two places ranking vocational training to school dropouts by 140th out of 180 countries. providing training ranging from 400 to • List is topped by Norway, and the report 1200 hours free of charge. highlights increased sense of hostility o Sabooj Sathi aims to empower the towards journalists across the world. students, especially the girls and reduce • It notes death of at least six journalists in drop outs in higher education by 2018 and highlights the violence against distributing bi-cycles to students of class journalists including police violence, attacks IX to XII studying in Govt. run and Govt. by Maoist fighters and reprisals by criminal aided Schools and Madrashas. groups or corrupt politicians. • The World Summit on the Information • Reporters Without Borders (Reporters Sans Society (WSIS) Forum is a global United Frontieres-RSF): is an international non-profit Nations (UN) multistakeholder platform organization, based in Paris that conducts • It is co-organized by ITU, UNESCO, UNDP and political advocacy on issues relating UNCTAD, in close collaboration with other UN to freedom of information and freedom of the organizations. press. • It represents the world's largest annual gathering of the ‘ICT for development’ community.

2. INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS o How the twin conceptualizations of ‘SAGAR’ 2.1. INDO-PACIFIC REGIONAL and ‘SAGARMALA’ might best be made COOPERATION mutually reinforcing on a regional level. Why in news? 2.2. BELT AND ROAD INITIATIVE Recently, the Ministry of External Affairs has Why in news? setup a dedicated Indo-Pacific division for the matters related to the Indo-Pacific. The second Belt and Road Forum (BRF) was recently held in Beijing, two years after first forum Background was held in May 2017. The “Indo-Pacific” idea was originally conceived in Details of Belt and Road Initiative 2006- 07. The term ‘Indo-Pacific’ combines the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) and the Western • The BRI announced in 2013, is made up of a Pacific Region (WP) – inclusive of the contiguous “belt” of overland routes and a maritime seas off East Asia and Southeast Asia – into a “road”, which aims to connect Asia, Europe singular regional construct. and Africa. • The Belt refers to the Silk Road Economic Belt Indian Initiatives which comprises overland routes: connecting • Defence Cooperation such as Joint defence China, Central Asia, Russia and Europe. exercises like Malabar, RIMPAC; inter- • The Road refers to the 21st Century Maritime operability where countries can use each Silk Road designed to provide an impetus to other’s military bases. trade from China to Europe through the South • FIPIC- Forum for India- Pacific Islands China Sea and the Indian Ocean, and from cooperation. China through the South China Sea towards • Asia-Africa Growth Corridor- an economic the South Pacific. cooperation agreement between the • BRI has domestic and international governments of India, Japan and multiple dimension: as it visualises a shift from African countries. developed markets in the west to developing • SAGAR Approach- Security and Growth for All economies in Asia, Africa and a shift in China’s in the Region. development strategy concentrating on • Indo-Pacific Regional Dialogue provinces in central and western China Related News instead of the developed east coast region. Indo-Pacific Regional Dialogue (IPRD) • India and BRI - India has boycotted both the • The second edition of Indo-Pacific Regional BRFs citing territorial sovereignty and other Dialogue (IPRD) was held recently in New Delhi reasons. • The Indian Navy launched this apex level conference in 2018, in recognition towards the importance of Indo-Pacific for the region. • It is organised by the National Maritime Foundation as the Navy’s Knowledge Partner. • The permanent theme of this annual dialogue is a review of India’s opportunities and challenges in the Indo-Pacific region. • The 2018 edition sought to highlight the opportunities that lay before India’s maritime policy-shapers, policy-makers, and, the practitioners of the country’s maritime policies. • Themes of 2019 Dialogue o Practical solutions for achieving cohesion in the region through maritime connectivity. o Measures to attain and maintain a free-and- open Indo-Pacific. o A regional approach to the region’s transition from a ‘Brown’ to a ‘Blue’ economy. o Opportunities and challenges arising from the maritime impact of ‘Industry 4.0’. 8 8468022022 DELHI | JAIPUR | PUNE | HYDERABAD | AHMEDABAD | LUCKNOW

2.3. ORGANISATION OF ISLAMIC 2.4. ROME STATUTE

COUNTRIES Why in news? Why in News? Recently, Malaysia signed the Instrument of Accession to the Rome Statute, becoming 123rd Recently for the first time India’s External Affairs member state of International Criminal Court. Minister, attended the inaugural plenary of the 46th session of the Council of Foreign Ministers International Criminal Court • (CFM) of Organisation of Islamic Countries (OIC). It is the first permanent, treaty-based, International criminal court, with jurisdiction to Background prosecute individuals for international crimes of genocide, crimes against Humanity, war crimes and • India was invited to attend the first summit of crimes of aggression. the OIC 50 years ago in 1969 in Morocco. But • Established in 2002 and governed by the Rome the Indian delegation had to return midway Statute, which was adopted in 1998. due to a withdrawal of the invitation after • It has territorial jurisdiction over nations that are Pakistan’s objection. It was a setback for party to the Rome Statute or have accepted the Indian diplomacy. court’s jurisdiction. • In 2002, it was Qatar that first proposed • It is an independent judicial body distinct from the observer status for India at the OIC foreign UN. • It works in cooperation with UN, Reports annually ministers’ meet but Pakistan had consistently to the UNGA and also hear cases referred to by blocked the move. UNSC. • In 2018, Bangladesh along with Turkey • It is located in The Hague, The Netherlands. proposed restructuring of the charter of the • India is not a member of ICC (neither signed nor Organisation of Islamic Cooperation to pave ratified). way for the inclusion of non-Muslim countries • The ICC has no police force of its own to track like India as an 'observer state'. down and arrest suspects. Instead it relies on About the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) national police services to make arrests and seek • It is the second largest inter-governmental their transfer to The Hague. organization after the United Nations, established in 1969 with a membership of 57 states spread over 2.5. GOLAN HEIGHTS four continents. • The Organization is the collective voice of the Why in news? Muslim world. Its administrative headquarter is in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. US President has officially recognised Israeli • It has permanent delegations to the United sovereignty over the occupied Golan Heights, Nations and the European Union. seized from Syria in 1967. • It endeavors to safeguard and protect the interests of the Muslim world in the spirit of promoting international Peace and harmony among various people of the world. 46th Session of CFM of OIC • Theme of the meet: “50 years of Islamic cooperation: The road map for prosperity and development," • It adopted the “Abu Dhabi declaration”. “Abu Dhabi declaration”: • It was named “Document on Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together” and it seeks to encourage stronger relationships between people to promote coexistence among peoples and to confront extremism and its negative impacts. • The OIC refrained from giving in to Pakistan's demands to include Kashmir issue in the final declaration. Background

• In 1981 Israel passed a law extending its 2.7. UN DESIGNATES MASOOD jurisdiction to Golan Heights, effectively annexing it. However, UNSC resolution 497, AZHAR AS GLOBAL TERRORIST adopted in December 1981, declared that the Why in news? Israeli Golan Heights Law "null and void and without international legal effect" and Recently, Pakistan-based terrorist leader Masood further called on Israel to rescind its action. Azhar was added to the UN Security Council Two- State Solution of Israel Palestine Issue (UNSC) “ISIL (Da’esh) and Al-Qaida Sanctions It envisages an independent State of Palestine Committee” (colloquially, the 1267 Committee) alongside the State of Israel west of Jordan river. sanctions list. • 1937: Proposed on basis of Peel Commission report but rejected by Arabs. Details • 1948: UN partition plan given with Jerusalem under • Sanctions Committee of the UN Nations international control Security Council was established under • Oslo Accord, 1991: Provided the foundation for political boundaries as it stands today. Resolution 1267 in 1999, which imposed • The Madrid Conference of 1991 was a peace limited sanctions on the Taliban. conference co-sponsored by the US and the Soviet • The Committee comprises all 15 members of Union to revive the Israeli–Palestinian peace the Security Council and makes its decision by process through negotiations. consensus. • UNSC Resolution 1397: Agreed in 2000 with • Meaning of Global Terrorist: Once a person or support from USA and becoming first UNSC entity is designated a terrorist by the Security resolution to agree on two state solution. Council, all the member of the United Nations, will have to establish a range of domestic 2.6. ARAB LEAGUE mechanisms such as adoption of the list at the national level, or the use of nationally-based Why in news? designations of individuals or entities The Arab League has pledged to pay $100m a appearing on them. month to the Palestinian Authority (PA) to plug o A series of bans, including finances, travel the gap left when Israel blocked tax transfers and arms, will be imposed on the person earlier in the year. or the entity. Details • Monitoring of Sanctions: The sanctions committee oversees the implementation of • Arab League is a union of Arab-speaking the sanctions measures and reports annually African and Asian countries formed in 1945. to the Security Council on the implementation • Its idea was mooted in 1942 by the British, of these measures. who wanted to rally Arab countries against the Axis powers. 2.8. ARMS TRADE TREATY (ATT) • Its foundation was laid by The Alexandria Protocol of 1944 issued by representatives of Why in News? Egypt, Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, and Transjordan US President has announced that he will withdraw (now Jordan). his country from the international Arms Trade • It is headquartered in Cairo (Egypt), having Treaty. created a permanent General Secretariat, and About the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT): scheduled sessions to meet biannually, or at the request of two members in extraordinary • It is the first legally binding international circumstances. agreement to regulate the global trade in • Presently it has 22 member states, five conventional arms by establishing common observer states and India is amongst the five- international standards for member countries. observer state for the Arab League. • It has 101 states parties and an additional 34 • Its objective is to strengthen ties among the signatories, including the United States, member states, coordinate their policies, and which had signed but did not formally ratify promote their common interests. the treaty. Countries who neither signed nor ratified included Russia, China, India, Iran, North Korea, Saudi Arabia and Syria.

• It was endorsed by the UN General Assembly 2.9.2. JAPAN-INDIA SPACE DIALOGUE in April 2013, and entered into force on December 23, 2014. • India and Japan conducted their first Annual • It regulates ammunition or munitions fired, Bilateral Space Dialogue at New Delhi. launched, or delivered by the conventional • Major issues discussed during the dialogue arms covered under the treaty. include: Space-based maritime domain • It requires states to monitor their arms awareness and satellite reconnaissance, exports, and to ensure their weapons sales do sharing of satellite and radar information as not break existing arms embargoes. well as ground infrastructure etc. • Nations also need to ensure the weapons they export do not end up being used for 2.9.3. INDIA’S 3RD IT CORRIDOR IN genocide, crimes against humanity, war CHINA crimes or terrorist acts. If they do find out the arms will be used for any of these, they need • Recently India’s National Association of to stop the transfer. Software and Services Companies Conventional Arms which ATT covers (NASSCOM) entered into a partnership with • Battle tanks China's Xuzhou city (Jiangsu Province) to help • Armoured combat vehicles; develop India’s 3rd IT corridor in China. • Large-calibre artillery systems • NASSCOM has already launched two such IT • Combat aircraft corridors at Dalian, India's first IT hub in China • Attack Helicopters (in Liaoning Province) and Guiyang (in • Warships Guizhou province) to tap the burgeoning • Missiles and missile launchers Chinese IT industry market. • Small arms and light weapons • The first two corridors have paved the way for cooperation in co-create mode in the 2.9. NEWS IN SHORT emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, Internet of Things and Analytics 2.9.1. PM AWARDED RUSSIA’S in the Chinese market. HIGHEST CIVILIAN AWARD • It will also help to provide market access to Indian IT firms in the huge Chinese market. • Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been India has been demanding China to provide awarded the Order of St. Andrew the market access to Indian IT and Apostle, the highest civilian award of the pharmaceutical firms for several years to Russia. reduce bilateral trade deficit. • The award was given for achievement in NASSCOM developing the Special and Privileged Established in 1988, it is a non-profit trade association Strategic Partnership between Russia and of Indian Information Technology (IT) and Business India and deepening the friendly relations Process Outsourcing (BPO) industry. between the peoples of the two countries. • The Order is awarded to prominent 2.9.4. TRIANGULAR DEVELOPMENT government and public figures, COOPERATION IN ASIA AND AFRICA representatives of science, culture, art and • various sectors of the economy for India and the United States recently signed “exceptional services that contribute to the the First Amendment to the Statement of prosperity, greatness and glory of Russia.” Guiding Principles (SGP) on Triangular Global awards conferred on PM Modi since 2014 Cooperation for Global Development. • Amir Amanullah Khan Award- Afghanistan’s • The SGP Agreement, signed in November highest civilian award 2014, provides a framework for promoting • Order of King Abdulaziz Sash- Saudi Arabia's cooperation between the two countries to highest civilian honour meet the developmental aspirations of • Grand Collar of the State of Palestine- Palestine’s partner countries, particularly in Asia and highest honour given to foreign dignitaries Africa. • Seoul Peace Prize- by Seoul Peace Prize • Under the Agreement, India and U.S. will Foundation. continue to offer capacity building assistance • Order of Zayed- UAE's highest civil honour. to partner countries in multiple sectors, • Champions of the Earth award – UN’s highest focusing primarily on agriculture, regional environmental honour, awarded by UNEP.

connectivity, trade and investments, health • There has been overwhelming condemnation etc. of the Kafala system, often termed as a • This amendment extends the validity of the contemporary form of slavery, from SGP Agreement up-to 2021. international organisations and civil society • It also expands the scope of capacity building with subsequent calls for the system to be activities undertaken jointly by India and the abolished and replaced with an alternate United States under this framework and labour migration governance policy. provides a consultative mechanism for joint biannual monitoring and review of activities 2.9.7. MIGRATION AND DEVELOPMENT undertaken under the SGP. BRIEF 2018 2.9.5. SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION • The World Bank recently released its EXCEPTIONS Migration and Development Brief 2018. • India has retained its spot as the world's top • India is being forced to stop importing crude remittance recipient. oil from Iran after the United States ended • India was followed by China ($67 billion), sanction waivers, known as “Significant Mexico ($36 billion), the Philippines ($34 Reduction Exceptions” on countries’ billion) and Egypt ($29 billion) importing oil from Tehran. • USA had decided to withdraw from 2015 Joint 2.9.8. SOVEREIGN INTERNET LAW Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), with • Recently Russian President signed into law a Iran and reinstate sanctions upon it because it "Sovereign Internet" Bill which will allow was alleged that Iran was placing restrictions Russia to isolate the country's internet. on the work of the inspectors of the • The law requires all internet service providers International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). to filter all their traffic through special nodes • The US had granted waivers, known as which are under the control of Kremlin's “Significant Reduction Exceptions” that internet censor, Roscomnadzor. allowed India and seven other countries to continue importing reduced quantity of 2.9.9. INTERNATIONAL DAY OF Iranian oil for six months ending May 1, 2019. MULTILATERALISM AND DIPLOMACY Any imports would have triggered secondary FOR PEACE sanction from US. • On April 24 2019, the first official International 2.9.6. KAFALA SYSTEM Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for • Recently UN’s International Labour Peace was celebrated. Organization announced that Qatar is all set • The International Day was officially approved to abolish its controversial Exit visa system on 12 December, 2018 by United Nations for all foreign workers by the end of 2019. General Assembly through a resolution. The • It emerged in the 1950’s to regulate the day underscores the value of international relationship between employers and migrant cooperation for the common good. workers in many countries in West Asia. • The International Day is a reaffirmation of the • Under this system a migrant worker’s UN Charter and its principles of resolving immigration status is legally bound to an disputes among countries through peaceful individual employer or sponsor (kafeel) for means. It acknowledges the use of their contract period. multilateral decision-making and diplomacy o The migrant worker cannot enter the in achieving peaceful resolutions to conflicts country, transfer employment nor leave among nations. the country for any reason without first 2.9.10. MULTI-DISCIPLINARY TERROR obtaining explicit written permission from the kafeel. MONITORING GROUP ON TERROR o The worker must be sponsored by a FINANCING IN J&K kafeel in order to enter the destination • The union government has set up a multi- country and remains tied to this kafeel disciplinary terror monitoring group (MDTMG) throughout their stay. to ensure synergised and concerted action

against terror financing and terror-related • The other members would be IGP, J and K activities in Jammu and Kashmir. Police, Additional Director IB, Jammu and • It will be an eight-member body headed by Kashmir and representatives of CBI, NIA, ADGP, CID, Jammu and Kashmir Police. CBDT, CBIC, any other member co-opted by the Chairman.

3. ECONOMY 3.1. SWAP FACILITY • Control appreciation of Rupee- as there will be increased supply of Rupee. This will help Why in news? Indian exporters. • Reduce financial stress on NBFCs- Lending The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has introduced a from the Non-Banking Financial Companies $5-billion dollar-rupee swap facility for the banks may also increase. to facilitate permanent liquidity support. • Lower hedge costs for importers- as Salient Features of Swap Facility increased rupee liquidity is likely to bring down the forward rates. • Process of Operation- Under the swap, a bank • Rise in bond yields- as there may be fewer would sell US dollars to the RBI and Open Market Operations. simultaneously agree to buy the same amount of US dollars at the end of the swap period Concerns with the Swap Facility (March 26,2019 to March 28, 2022). • Limited Impact as only small portion • In the auction, the RBI will accept the spot addressed- 5bn $ is only about 0.3% of bank dollars for a small fee (forwards premium), net demand and time liabilities and will commit to provide the dollars three • May be helpful more for foreign banks- as years down the line. the public sector banks that need liquidity • Maximum limit- The RBI will buy US dollars support the most, may not be in a from banks totaling to $5 billion. Hence, at an comfortable position to take benefit of the average spot rate of 70 per dollar, the RBI will scheme. able to infuse about Rs. 35,000 crore into the system through this auction process. 3.2. MONETARY POLICY • Forward Premium- TRANSMISSION o The participating banks have to bid in the auction by quoting a forward premium in Why in news? terms of paisa that they will pay to buy The State Bank of India Ltd announced the linking back the dollars. of savings bank account deposits and short-term o A cut-off premium will be decided by the loans to the RBI’s repo rate which may ensure central bank, based on the bids. faster monetary transmission. o For example, if the spot exchange rate is 70 to a dollar and Bank A quotes a Background premium of 150 paisa and bids for $25 • Monetary transmission refers to the process million. So, the bank will get Rs.175 crore by which a central bank’s monetary policy ($25 million multiplied by the exchange signals (like repo rate) are passed on, through rate of 70). After three years, the bank financial system to influence the businesses has to pay back approximately Rs.179 and households. crore ($25 million multiplied by the • exchange rate of 71.5) to the RBI to buy In India, policy rate changes by RBI are not back $25 million. reflected in the base rates of banks regularly. While rate hikes are passed on immediately, Benefits of the Swap Facility but same is not witnessed in rate cuts by the • Reduce interest by banks- with improved RBI. This shows there is a lag in monetary liquidity condition with the banks, especially transmission. after constrained balance sheets due to Reasons for a lag in monetary transmission in double financial repression. This will help India customers with cheap loans for homes, cars • etc. Overdependence on banks- The Indian financial system remains bank-dominated, and • Increase RBI’s Foreign Exchange Reserves- the share of non-bank finance companies the auction will help boost it by another $5 (NBFCs) and markets (corporate bonds, billion to the current $400bn corpus. This commercial paper, equity, etc.) is less. Hence, further improves India’s capacity in dealing most public savings are in Bank deposits, with hot money outflow and balance of reducing the banks' dependency on repo rate. payment crisis.

• Locking of bank funds- 3.3. LIMITS SET ON WAYS & o Double Financial Repression- Pressure on banks due to locking of funds in MEANS ADVANCES government securities (SLR) and cash Why in news? reserves (CRR). o Priority Sector Lending- creates RBI, in consultation with Government of India, has additional burden on banks to lend on a decided that limits for Ways & Means Advances priority basis. (WMA) for H1 of FY 2019-20 (April to September • Increasing Non Performing Assets- in bank 2019) will be Rs 75000 crore. balance sheets, which impedes the bank’s About Ways Means & Advances (WMA) ability to offer lower interest rates. • Sub-optimal performance of MCLR system- • The Ways Means & Advances Scheme which As per a report by Janak Raj Committee, the commenced in 1997 was designed to meet transmission- temporary mismatches in the receipts and o was uneven across borrowing categories. payments of the central & state government. o was asymmetric over monetary policy • Under the WMA system, the Reserve Bank cycles – higher during the tightening extends short-term advances up to the pre- phase and lower during the easing phase announced half-yearly limits, fully payable – irrespective of the interest rate system. within three months. Steps taken • Interest rate for WMA is currently charged at • Soon after deregulation, banks were asked to the repo rate. disclose their prime-lending rate (PLR), the • The limits for WMA are mutually decided by rate charged to the prime borrowers. the RBI and the Government of India. • In 2003, the RBI instructed banks to announce • Overdrafts are allowed at an interest rate 2% formula-based benchmark PLR (BPLR) with above the repo rate, if WMA limits are the option to lend below BPLR in deserving breached. They cannot be extended beyond cases of short-term loans like export credit. 10 consecutive working days. • However, banks misused this option and the • When 75% of the limit of WMA is utilised by credit market was dominated by the sub-BPLR the government, the RBI may trigger fresh lending. To plug this loophole, the RBI issued flotation of market loans. guidelines on base rate system in 2010 • Under the WMA scheme for the State prohibiting lending below base rate, barring a Governments, there are two types of WMA – few exceptions. Special and Normal WMA. • As base rate was not flexible enough to o Special WMA is extended against the transmit monetary policy signals at the collateral of the government securities desired speed and magnitude, the RBI held by the State Government. introduced marginal cost-based lending rate o After the exhaustion of the Special WMA (MCLR) in April 2016. limit, State Government is provided a Marginal Cost of Funds Based Lending Rate (MCLR) Normal WMA which are unsecured System advances at bank rate (Marginal Standing • The marginal cost of funds based lending rate Facility). Normal WMA limits are based on (MCLR) refers to the minimum interest rate of a three-year average of actual revenue and bank below which it cannot lend, except in some capital expenditure of the state. cases allowed by the RBI. Thus, it is an internal • benchmark or reference rate for the bank. Whenever the government resorts to WMA, it • Base rate calculation is based on cost of funds, effectively also adds to the liquidity in the minimum rate of return, i.e. margin or profit, system. operating expenses and cost of maintaining cash Government Securities reserve ratio while the MCLR is based on marginal • A Government Security (G-Sec) is a tradeable cost of funds, tenor premium, operating expenses instrument issued by the Central Government or and cost of maintaining cash reserve ratio. the State Governments. It acknowledges the • Calculation of marginal cost under MCLR: Marginal Government’s debt obligation. cost is charged on the basis of following factors • Such securities are: interest rate for various types of deposits, o Short term (usually called treasury bills, with borrowings and return on net worth. Therefore, original maturities of less than one year) MCLR is largely determined by marginal cost of o Long term (usually called Government bonds funds and especially by deposit rates and repo or dated securities with original maturity of rates. one year or more) 15 DELHI | JAIPUR | PUNE | HYDERABAD | AHMEDABAD | LUCKNOW 8468022022

• In India, the Central Government issues both, • Currently, SFBs constitutes 0.2% of the total treasury bills and bonds or dated securities while deposits of all scheduled commercial banks the State Governments issue only bonds or dated and makes up 0.6% of the total lending securities, which are called the State Development undertaken by the scheduled commercial Loans (SDLs). banks in India. • G-Secs carry practically no risk of default and, Regulations for SFBs hence, are called risk-free gilt-edged instruments. • They cannot set up subsidiaries to undertake non- banking financial service activities. 3.4. SWIFT NORMS • They have Minimum paid-up equity capital requirement of Rs 100 crore. Why in news? • The promoter's minimum initial contribution to Recently the Reserve Bank of India, imposed ₹2 the paid-up equity capital of such bank shall at crore penalty on Punjab National Bank for non- least be 40% which can be gradually brought down compliance of regulatory directions with regard to to 26% within 12 years from the date of SWIFT operations. commencement of operations. • 75% of its Adjusted Net Bank Credit (ANBC) should About SWIFT be advanced to the priority sector as categorized • SWIFT stands for the Society for Worldwide by RBI. Interbank Financial Telecommunications. • It must have 25% of its branches set up in • It is a messaging network that financial unbanked areas. institutions use to securely transmit • Maximum loan size to a single person cannot information and instructions through a exceed 10% of total capital funds; cannot exceed 15% in the case of a group. standardized system of codes. • They can undertake financial services like • SWIFT assigns each financial organization a distribution of mutual fund units, insurance unique code that has either eight characters products, pension products, and so on, but not or 11 characters. The code is called SWIFT without prior approval from the RBI. code. • They will be subject to all prudential norms and • The ₹14,000-crore PNB fraud perpetrated by regulations of the RBI as applicable to existing Nirav Modi was a case of misuse of this SWIFT commercial banks. For ex: maintaining cash software. reserve ratio (CRR) and statutory liquid ratio (SLR). 3.5. SMALL FINANCE BANK • It can transform into a full-fledged bank, but only after RBI's approval.

Why in News? Differentiated Banks Recently data from the Reserve Bank of India • They are banking institutions licensed by the RBI to (RBI) show that the small finance bank sector has provide specific banking services and products. been seeing remarkable growth in credit • Main aim for giving license to these banks is to disbursement as well as deposits. promote financial inclusion and payments. • Differentiated banks licensing was launched in About Small Finance Banks (SFBs) 2015. • They are of two types-Payment banks and Small • These are private financial institution for the finance banks. objective of financial inclusion without any restriction in the area of operations, unlike the 3.6. WHITE LABEL ATMS Regional Rural Banks or Local Area Banks. • They can provide basic banking services like Why in News? accepting deposits and lending to the Recently, RBI has eased business guidelines for unbanked sections such as small farmers, White Label ATMs (WLAs) to enhance their micro business enterprises, micro and small viability. industries and unorganised sector entities. • Some of the operational Small Finance Banks Related Information in India are: Ujjivan SFB, Janalakshmi SFB, Brown label ATMs Equitas SFB, AU SFB, and Capital SFB. • These are ATMs which are owned by banks but • They were proposed by the Nachiket Mor operations and maintenance are outsourced to a third party. Committee of RBI, as one of the • Such ATMs operate as the ones belonging to the differentiated banking system for credit bank itself, including having the bank’s branding. outreach and announced in the annual Budget of 2014.

About White Label ATMs Aadhaar Enabled Payment System (AePS), National Automated Clearing House (NACH) for financial • ATMs set up, owned and operated by non- institutions etc. bank entities are called white label ATMs. • They are authorized under the Payment and 3.7. CAPITAL GAINS TAX Settlement Systems Act, 2007, by the RBI. • Cash in ATMs is provided by the sponsored Why in News? bank while ATM machine does not have any Capital gains on investments made in India branding of Bank. through companies in Mauritius and Singapore • Their role is confined to enabling the became fully taxable from April 1 after the transactions of all banks customers by concession period of 2 years ceased to exist. establishing technical connectivity with the existing authorized, shared ATM Network More on News Operators or Card Payment Network • India amended the double tax avoidance Operators. agreements (DTAA) with the two countries in • The operators are entitled to receive a fee 2016, to prevent aggressive corporate tax from the banks for the use of ATM resources avoidance. by the bank’s customers and are not • The loophole in these tax treaties had led to a permitted to charge bank customer directly. situation where gains from investments into • Tata Communications Payment Solutions India from the two countries were taxed Limited (Indicash) is the first company neither in India nor in the country where the authorized by RBI to open WLAs in the investing entity was located. country. • Now, entity from Mauritius and Singapore will About eased business guidelines have to pay capital gains tax here while selling • White label ATM Operators (WLAO) can now shares in a company in India. source cash directly from RBI offices and Capital Gains Tax currency chests against full payment, and will no longer be dependent on sponsor banks for • Any Income derived from a Capital asset procurement of cash. movable or immovable is taxable under the • These operators can also source cash from head Capital Gains under Income Tax Act 1961. any scheduled bank that includes the regional • Any profit or gain that arises from the sale of rural banks and cooperative banks. a ‘capital asset’ is a capital gain. This gain or • WLAOs can now offer bill payment and Inter- profit is considered as income and hence operable cash deposit services subject to charged to tax in the year in which the technical feasibility and certification by transfer of the capital asset takes place. This is National Payments Corporation of India called capital gains tax, which can be short- (NPCI). term or long-term. • They are allowed to display advertisements of • Capital gains are not applicable when an asset non-finance products/services anywhere is inherited because there is no sale, only a within the WLA premises, including the WLA transfer. However, if the asset is sold by the screen, except the main signboard. person who inherits it, capital gains tax will be • Further, banks may issue co-branded ATM applicable. cards in partnership with the authorised WLA • Short-term capital asset: An asset which is Operators and may extend the benefit of ‘on- held for a period of 36 months or less. Assets us’ transactions (transaction carried out at an like equity or preference shares in a company ATM of the card issuing bank) to their WLAs listed on a recognised stock exchange in India, as well. securities (debentures, bonds, government About NPCI securities), equity oriented mutual funds, zero • It is an initiative of RBI & Indian Banks Association coupon bonds are considered short term if (IBA) under provisions of the Payment & held for less than 12 months. Settlement Systems Act, 2007. • Long-term capital asset: An asset that is held • It is the umbrella organization for all retail for more than 36 months (24 months for payments and settlement systems in the country. immovable property like land, building). The • It also manages the UPI platform & links all the Long-term capital gain is taxable at 20%. ATMs in India. • Other initiatives under NPCI are: BHIM, Unified Payments Interface (UPI), RuPay, BharatQR, 17 DELHI | JAIPUR | PUNE | HYDERABAD | AHMEDABAD | LUCKNOW 8468022022

What is DTAA? • The DTAA treaty is signed in order to avoid double 3.9. NATIONAL INVESTMENT AND taxation on the same declared asset in two INFRASTRUCTURE FUND different countries. • These DTAAs are made to make a country Why in news? attractive for investment purpose by providing Off late, the National Investment and relief on dual taxation. The relief is provided by Infrastructure Fund (NIIF) has been adopting exempting income earned overseas from tax in the various approaches to mobilize resources for resident country or by providing credit to the extent wherein taxes have already been paid funding infrastructure projects. abroad. About NIIF • India has Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement • NIIF is India’s first sovereign wealth fund that (DTAA) with 88 countries, but presently 85 have seeks to create long-term value for domestic been in force. and international investors seeking 3.8. CIRCULAR TRADING investment in Greenfield, Brownfield and Stalled infrastructure projects. Why in news? • This fund will invest only in commercially viable projects, which can pay back returns. Recently Mumbai High Court granted bail to those • NIIF is registered with SEBI as a Category II arrested for circular trading and evasion of GST. Alternative Investment Fund with a planned What is circular trading? corpus of Rs. 40,000 crore. • It is a quasi-sovereign wealth fund, where 49 • Circular trading refers to selling and buying of percent stake is with the Government and the goods via shell corporations to artificially rest held by marquee foreign and domestic inflate turnover. There is no actual change in investors such as Abu Dhabi Investment ownership or movement of goods. Authority, Temasek and HDFC Group. • For example, a company “A” sold goods to • It is run as a professional body with a full time another company “B”, which sold the same CEO. But, Governing Council headed by goods to another company “C”. Now, the Finance Minister oversees the activities. third company “C” sold the goods to the first company “A”. All this while, the goods were Different Approaches adopted by NIIF kept at a godown of first company. • Investment through different types of funds- • Here GST credits were paid on every lap of o Master Fund- for primarily investing in transaction. The series of sales helped the operating assets in core infrastructure firms inflate turnover and avail larger sectors such as roads, ports, airports, valuations and loans. This amounts to tax power etc. evasion. o Fund of Funds- for investing with • This is illegal under Prohibition of Fraudulent experienced fund managers who have a and Unfair Trade Practices Regulations issued strong track record and enable them to by SEBI. Ketan Parekh stock market scam of attract further institutional investors to 1999 was related to circular trading. invest in their funds. o Strategic Fund- aimed at growth and development stage investments in projects/companies in a broad range of sectors that are of economic and commercial importance and are likely to benefit from India’s growth trajectory over the medium to long-term • Monetization of assets- by converting non- revenue generating assets into sources of revenue. • Tapping Sovereign Funds- by channelizing money of other countries into India. E.g.-

o India and the UK announced joint UK- SEBI Guidelines on municipal bonds India Fund, namely a Green Growth Equity As per the SEBI Regulations, 2015, a municipality or a Fund that aims to leverage private sector Corporate Municipal Entity (CME) to issue Municipal investment to invest in green Bonds should meet certain conditions: • infrastructure projects in India. The ULB should not have negative net worth in any of three immediately preceding financial years. • Directly Investing in Infrastructure- by using • Non-default: The municipality should not have the revenue generating through its various defaulted in repayment of debt securities or loans sources. Some examples are- obtained from banks or financial institutions during o Partnered with HDFC in an investment the last 365 days. platform for mid-income and affordable • Municipalities need to contribute at least 20% of housing in India. the project cost. o Acquired IDFC Infrastructure Finance • No wilful defaulter: The corporate municipal Limited from IDFC. entity, its promoter, group company or director(s), should not have been named in the list of the wilful Alternative Investment Fund defaulters published by the RBI or should not have • It refers to any privately pooled investment fund in defaulted on payment of interest or repayment of form of a trust or a company or a body corporate principal amount in respect of debt instruments or limited liability partnership which do not come issued by it to the public, if any. jurisdiction of any regulatory agency in India. • Municipal bonds should have mandatory ratings • AIFs have been defined in Regulation 2(1)(b) of above investment grade for public issue. SEBI (Alternate Investment Fund) Regulations 2012. And its definition includes venture capital fund, hedge fund, private equity fund etc. 3.11. IND AS Sovereign wealth fund • It consists of pools of money derived from a Why in news? country's reserves, set aside for investment Recently the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has purposes to benefit the country's economy and deferred the implementation of the Ind AS-the citizens. new accounting norms, indefinitely as necessary • The funding for a sovereign wealth fund comes amendments to the relevant law are yet to be from central bank reserves that accumulate as a result of budget and trade surpluses, and from made. revenue generated from the exports of natural About Ind AS resources. • The Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA), in 3.10. MUNICIPAL BONDS 2015, had notified the Companies (Indian Accounting Standards (IND AS)) Rules 2015, Why in news? which stipulated the adoption and The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has allowed applicability of IND AS in a phased manner foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) to invest in beginning from the Accounting period 2016- municipal bonds. 17. • These are standards that have been What are municipal bonds? harmonised with the globally accepted • They are debt securities issued by International Financial Reporting Standards government or semi-government institutions (IFRS) to make reporting by Indian companies who need funding for civic projects. more globally accessible. • Normally, they are issued and redeemed at • National Advisory Committee on Accounting par and carry a fixed interest rate. Standards (NACAS) recommends these to the • There are two types of municipal bonds Ministry of corporate affairs, which then o General obligation bonds are issued for notifies it. enhancing civic amenities such as water, • It advocates the ‘fair value’ method of sanitation, garbage disposal, etc. They accounting. generally are not backed by revenue from • It also promises clearer disclosures to a specific project. investors in certain cases. o Revenue bonds are issued for a specific • It will govern the accounting and recording of purpose such as construction of a toll financial transactions as well as the road or a toll bridge. presentation of statements such as profit and • Bangalore Municipal Corporation was the first loss account and balance sheet of a company. urban local body (ULB) to issue Municipal Bond in India in 1997. 19 DELHI | JAIPUR | PUNE | HYDERABAD | AHMEDABAD | LUCKNOW 8468022022

• It will not just change the way companies 3.13. ELECTRIFICATION IN INDIA present their numbers, but may also bump up or knock down the profits/losses of firms. Why in news? • Ind AS for non-banking financial companies came into effect in 2018. India has made substantial progress towards achieving household electrification under the 3.12. DATASMART CITIES Saubhagya Scheme, with the states having electrified 2.5 crore willing households. STRATEGY Details Why in news? • Government of India achieved 100% village The Ministry of Housing and Urban affair electrification in April, 2018. The definition of (MoHUA) released the new DataSmart Cities an electrified village includes the following- Strategy, which aims to better harness the use of o Provision of basic infrastructure such as data in addressing complex urban challenges in distribution transformers and lines in the Smart Cities. inhabited locality. Foundational Pillars to accrue benefits of this o Provision of electricity in public places strategy like schools, panchayat office, health • People- i.e. institutionalization of Data centers, dispensaries, and community Governance structure based on principles centers. such as integrity, transparency, accountability o At least 10% of the total number of and by identifying the actors who are households in the village are electrified. responsible for delivering and enforcing the • The government of India had launched rules of this structure. various schemes such as Rajiv Gandhi • Process- i.e. institutionalization of Data Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojana (RGGVY), Deen Governance processes so that data is reliable, Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana trusted and be in a form that aids exercise of (DDUGKY) among others. However, there decision making and authority for data-related were reports of variation in level of household matters. electrification across various regions. • Platforms- i.e. a set of Digital Infrastructure • Thus, the government launched the ‘Pradhan components needed for the management, Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana’- analysis and use of data for a data-led Saubhagya to achieve universal household governance. electrification in the country by 31st March, Recent Initiatives taken by Ministry of Housing and 2019. Urban Affairs • After making progress on achieving village • India Urban Observatory- This geospatial platform and household electrification, the will help in getting reliable, up-to-date information government is committed to achieve 24x7 on a meaningful set of indicators over various Power for All. Following initiatives have domains such as transport, health, environment, already been taken by the government- water, finance and so on, which will further assist o Integrated Power Development Scheme in developing best practices, future strategies and policy interventions as and when required. (For Urban Areas); o Unnat Jyoti By Affordable Leds For All • Video Wall- it will showcase the insights gained from the Observatory and the various (UJALA); Missions/offices with the idea to proactively o Street Lighting National Program; engage with citizens/visitors in spreading o Ujwal Discom Assurance Yojana (UDAY); awareness about the various initiatives of the o URJA (Urban Jyoti Abhiyan) App; Ministry. o MERIT (Merit Order Despatch of Electricity for Rejuvenation of Income Related news • Recently first ever Cities Summit was held as a and Transparency) web portal; part of Fourth United Nations Environment o National Power Portal (NPP). Assembly held at Nairobi. • More on news 3.14. HYDRO POWER SECTOR • Cities summit was co-organised by UN Environment Programme, UN Habitat, United Why in news? Cities and Force and Cities Alliance. The summit The Union government has approved various called for local action and the need for an measures to promote hydropower sector. integrated approach to urban infrastructure. 20 8468022022 DELHI | JAIPUR | PUNE | HYDERABAD | AHMEDABAD | LUCKNOW

Measures approved • Levying of water cess by the States- e.g. J&K Hydro Energy Sector: Initiatives So Far • Declaration of Large hydropower projects • National Electricity Policy, 2005: The policy lay (LHPs, i.e. >25 emphasis on full development of the feasible • MW) as renewable energy projects. hydro potential in the country. • Hydro Purchase Obligation as a separate • Hydro Power Policy, 2008: Under this transparent entity within Non-Solar Renewable Purchase selection criteria to be followed by the States for Obligation for DISCOMS- The HPO shall cover awarding sites to private developers. all LHPs commissioned after this order. • National Rehabilitation & Resettlement Policy, • Tariff rationalization measures for bringing 2007: It aims to minimize displacement and addressing special needs of Tribal and vulnerable down hydropower tariff such as providing sections who get displaced due to Developmental flexibility to the developers to determine Projects. tariff by back loading of tariff after increasing • Tariff Policy, 2016: Policy aims to promote Hydro project life to 40 years, increasing debt power generation including Private sector repayment period to 18 years and introducing participation to provide adequate peaking escalating tariff of 2%. reserves, reliable grid operation and integration of • Budgetary support for funding flood variable Renewable Energy sources. moderation component of hydropower projects 3.15. ASIAN TEA ALLIANCE • Budgetary support to Cost of enabling Why in News? infrastructure i.e. roads and bridges. Recently the Asian Tea Alliance (ATA), a union of five tea-growing and consuming countries, was launched in Guizhou, China. Details The forging of this alliance is an outcome of the signing of a memorandum of understanding in December 2018 between the Indian Tea Association and China Tea Marketing Association. • Participating countries: India, China, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Japan. o It will work towards enhancing tea trade, Issues faced by hydropower sector promoting tea globally, and creating a • Lack of enabling infrastructure- such as roads, sustainability agenda for the future of bridges to access remote areas where such Asian tea. potential sites are available. Climatic Condition suitable for Tea • Delay due to land acquisition- for dam, power • Temperature: 210C to 290C is ideal for Tea. The house etc. lowest temperature for the growth of tea is 160C. • Delay due to environment and forest clearances. • Rainfall: 150-250 cm of rainfall is required for tea • Rehabilitation and Resettlement-which invite cultivation. opposition from locals for employment, extra • Soil: Tea shrubs require fertile mountain soil mixed compension etc. It also creates law and order with lime and iron. The soil should be rich in problems like blasting, muck disposal. humus. • Cultural/ Religious Issues- sentiments attached • Land: Tea cultivation needs well drained land. with rivers Stagnation of water is not good for tea plants. • Political will- lacks political traction due to long Indian Tea Industry: At a Glance gestation period, Inter-state issues, especially over • As of 2018 India was the second largest producer Riparian rights. E.g. Mullaperiyar Dam (between of Tea in the world after China. Kerala and Tamil Nadu) • India stands fourth in terms of tea exports after • High Tariff of Hydro Projects- as compared to Kenya, China and Sri Lanka respectively. other sources of power (conventional as well as • India is one of the world’s largest consumers of renewable sources) mainly due to construction of tea, with about three-fourths of the country’s total complex structures which have long gestation produce consumed locally. period, unavailability of loans of lower interest rate • The main tea-growing regions are in Northeast & longer tenures, high R&R cost, infrastructure etc. India (including Assam) and in north Bengal • Financing Issues- High cost of Finance and lack of (Darjeeling district and the Dooars region) along long tenure funding for hydropower projects. with Nilgiris in south India.

Related news • National Biennial Grassroots Innovation • Recently, Commerce Ministry has reappointed P K Award is an initiative of National Innovation Bezbaruah as chairman of the Tea Board. Foundation (NIF)- India. • Tea Board is a statutory body under Ministry of o NIF-India is an autonomous body of Commerce and Industry established under Tea Act Department of Science and Technology. 1953. o It is India's national initiative to o Its members appointed by the Government represent different sections of the Tea strengthen the grassroots technological industry. innovations and outstanding traditional o Besides Head Office in Kolkata, Zonal offices knowledge. and regional offices, it also has overseas o NIF helps grassroots innovators and offices. outstanding traditional knowledge o It looks after the overall development of the holders get due recognition, respect and tea industry. reward for their innovations. o Being the regulatory body, the Board exerts control over the producers, manufacturers, 3.16.3. NUGEN MOBILITY SUMMIT exporters, tea brokers, auction organizers and warehouse keepers through various control • The International Centre for Automotive orders notified under Tea Act. Technology (ICAT) is going to organize NuGen Mobility Summit, 2019, at Manesar, Haryana 3.16. NEWS IN SHORTS in November 2019. • Objectives 3.16.1. EASE REFORMS INDEX o To share new ideas, learnings, global experiences, innovations and future • Recently, Ministry of Finance & Corporate technology trends for faster adoption, Affairs released first report on EASE Reforms assimilation and development of Index, prepared by Indian Banks’ Association advanced automotive technologies for a (IBA) and Boston Consulting Group. smarter and greener future. • It measures the performance of each Public o Building a platform for bringing together Sector Banks (PSB) on EASE (Enhanced all stakeholders in the automotive Access and Service Excellence) Agenda industry to understand global • It comprises 140 metrics across 6 key themes: advancements in technologies. Customer Responsiveness, Responsible • The summit will host conferences, track Banking, Credit Off-take, Udyami Mitra for events and an exhibition in which MSMEs, Deepening Financial Inclusion & manufacturers, suppliers and service Digitalisation and Developing Personnel for providers will showcase their products and Brand PSB. services, with a special focus on touch and • In this year’s index, Punjab National Bank has feel of the concurrent and futuristic been ranked first. technologies. 3.16.2. FESTIVAL OF INNOVATION AND About ICAT • It is a division of NATRIP Implementation Society ENTREPRENEURSHIP (NATIS) under the Department of Heavy Industries, Government of India. • The President of India inaugurated the • It provides services for testing, validation, design Festival of Innovation and Entrepreneurship and homologation of vehicles. (FINE) in Gandhinagar, Gujarat and also • Its mission is to assist the automotive industry in presented the 10th Biennial National adopting cutting edge technologies in vehicle Grassroots Innovation Awards. evaluation and component development for new • FINE is a unique initiative of the Office of the generation mobility solutions. President of India to recognise, respect and reward grassroots innovations and foster a 3.16.4. 20TH LIVESTOCK CENSUS supportive ecosystem. • Livestock Census has been conducted every 5 o It provides platform to the innovators for year in the country since 1919-20, under the building the linkages with potential aegis of Department of Animal Husbandry, stakeholders whose support can improve Dairying and Fisheries (Ministry of Agriculture their prospects in coming years for the & Farmers Welfare). larger social good.

• The 20th Livestock Census will be conducted household enterprises and institutions will be in all the districts of the India in participation counted at their site. with all States and Union Territories. • This census would be a breed-wise Livestock • Various species of animals (Cattle, Buffalo, Census, which will be helpful for framing Mithun, Yak, Sheep, Goat, Pig, Horse, Donkey, policies or programmes for breed Camel, Dog, Rabbit and Elephant)/poultry improvement. birds (Fowl, Duck, Emu, Turkeys, Quail and • Currently, India has highest livestock other poultry birds) possessed by the population in world at 125.5 crore. households, household enterprises/non-

4. ENVIRONMENT 4.1. INTERNATIONAL SOLAR o Funding under ISA is also been exempted to be treated as a foreign source of ALLIANCE funding for Indian NGOs and other entities under the FCRA. Why in News? • It is a first treaty based international Recently, Bolivia became the 74th country to sign intergovernmental organization the framework agreement of the International headquartered in India. Solar Alliance (ISA). • The ISA Secretariat has launched o a Solar Technology Application and About ISA Resource – Centre ( iSTAR-C) to support • It is an initiative jointly launched by India and capacity building efforts in the ISA France in 2015 on the sidelines of COP-21 of member countries. UNFCCC in Paris. o the ISA Solar Award (Kalpana Chawla • It was officially established on 6 December Solar Award) to recognize solar scientists 2017, on the entry into force of the doing extraordinary work across ISA Framework Agreement. member countries. • The membership is open to those solar • ISA has also been developing a Common Risk resource-rich States, which lie fully or Mitigating Mechanism (CRMM) for de-risking partially between the Tropic of Cancer and and reducing the financial cost of solar the Tropic of Capricorn, and are members of projects in the ISA member countries. the United Nations. Related news o The First Assembly at Delhi adopted the • India is reaching out to the ‘Lithium Triangle’ in proposal made by India to expand the South America which consists of Chile, Argentina scope of membership of the ISA to all and Bolivia. members of United Nations. This has not • Khanij Bidesh India Ltd., (KABIL) consortium of three PSU companies including : National yet entered into force. Aluminum Company (NALCO), Hindustan Copper • Through this initiative, the countries share the (HCL) and Mineral Exploration Corp Ltd., (MECL) collective ambition: visited these countries recently. o to address obstacles that stand in the way of rapid and massive scale-up of solar energy; o to undertake innovative and concerted efforts for reducing the cost of finance and cost of technology for immediate deployment of competitive solar generation; and o to mobilise more than 1000 Billion US Dollars of investments by 2030. o accelerate the development and deployment of over 1,000GW of solar generation capacity in member countries. • The ISA has established five key programmes of action: o scaling up solar applications for agricultural use o affordable finance at scale o scaling up solar mini-grids o scaling up solar rooftop o scaling up solar e-mobility and storage • All costs relating to the running of the ISA will be funded through voluntary contributions of member-countries, partner countries, partner organisations and Strategic Partners.

Significance of ISA • Ensure Energy Security 4.3. UNNATEE (UNLOCKING • Integration of Global South and Global North NATIONAL ENERGY EFFICIENCY • To Solve Global Energy Poverty as according to POTENTIAL) International Energy Association (IEA), there are more than “600 million people without access to Why in news? electricity” in Sub-Saharan Africa. • Creation of an Alternative Electricity Energy Grid Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) has developed a Based on solar energy among various countries, to national strategy document titled UNNATEE overcome a financial constraint in tapping solar (Unlocking NATional Energy Efficiency Potential) energy. towards developing an energy efficient nation (2017-2031). 4.2. STAR RATING Background Why in news? • Some key numbers can be seen as- o India’s energy demand in 2016-17= 790 Microwave ovens and Washing machines will Mtoe(million tonnes of oil equivalent) now be assigned Star ratings based on their o Energy saving potential by 2031= 87 Mtoe energy efficiency metrics. o Total emission reduction= 858 MtCO2 in More on News 2030 o Total energy efficiency investment • There will be a revised program for Washing potential= Rs. 8.40 lakh crore by 2031 Machines, which will revise the criteria for inclusion of water efficiency in addition to UNNATEE Implementation Strategy energy performance for grant of Star Rating. • Favourable Regulations - through an • Initially it will be implemented on a voluntary overarching energy efficiency policy, which basis and will be valid up to 31st December includes targets, incentives and penalties. 2020. o Agriculture- Inclusion of agro projects Standards & Labelling (Star Rating) program under the National Clean Energy Fund o Buildings- Introduction of incentives for • It has been formulated by the Bureau of purchasing energy efficient houses. Energy Efficiency (BEE) with a key objective is o Industry- Increasing the scope of the PAT to provide the consumer an informed choice programme. about the energy saving and thereby the cost o Transport- Roll out of the proposed saving potential of the relevant marketed FAME-II scheme. product. • Institutional Framework - through strong • It targets display of energy performance enforcement mechanism at state levels, which labels on high energy end use equipment & would lend further strength to the national appliances and lays down minimum energy and local level program. performance standards. o Agriculture- A single window system for • It has been developed in a collaborative and export of products and services will consensus driven approach with active improve the competitiveness of sector participation from all the stakeholders. R&D. • It has two categories of appliances for the o Buildings- A reporting framework for ratings: where the states are required to update o Mandatory Appliances for the Star rating their progress in implementation of are- Air Conditioners, Frost free Energy Conservation Building Code in Refrigerators, Colour T.V, Florescent their state. Lamps etc., o Industry- Creation of an energy o Voluntary appliances are Induction management cell. motors, Pump sets, Ceiling Fans, • Availability of Finance - in the form of a Computers etc. revolving fund, risk guarantee, On-bill • Any electrical appliances can avail star rating financing, Energy Savings Insurance, Energy on a scale of 1 to 5 based on test report from Conservation Bonds. NABL or equivalent labs subsequent to • Other important components include use of scrutiny by the BEE. technology, stakeholder engagement, data collection via setting up of a Nodal Agency and setting State wise targets. 25 DELHI | JAIPUR | PUNE | HYDERABAD | AHMEDABAD | LUCKNOW 8468022022

• Reduce refrigerant demand by 25% to 30% by 2037- 4.4. NATIONAL MISSION ON 38, TRANSFORMATIVE MOBILITY • Reduce cooling energy requirements by 25% to 40% AND BATTERY STORAGE by 2037-38, • Recognize “cooling and related areas” as a thrust Why in News? area of research under national S&T Programme, • Training and certification of 100,000 servicing The Union Cabinet has recently approved The sector technicians by 2022-23, synergizing with Skill National Mission on Transformative Mobility and India Mission Battery Storage. About Cooling Action Plan Background • During the Global Mobility Summit organized • India is one of the first countries in the world by NITI Aayog held in September 2018, Prime to develop a comprehensive ‘Cooling Action Minister had outlined the vision for the future Plan’, to fight ozone layer depletion adhering of mobility in India based on 7C’s which are to the Montreal Protocol. Common, Connected, Convenient, • It provides an integrated vision: Congestion-free, Charged, Clean and Cutting- o To address the cooling requirement edge mobility. across different sectors of the economy • Hence, there was a need felt to establish a such as residential and commercial dedicated multi-disciplinary Mission that will buildings, cold-chain, refrigeration, facilitate cooperative federalism, extensive transport and industries. stakeholder and inter-ministerial consultations o To lists out actions which can help reduce and implement end-to-end policy framework the cooling demand, enhancing energy for transforming the mobility landscape. efficiency and better technology options. About the Mission Key actions included under ICAP • Aim is to promote “clean, connected, shared • Cooling buildings naturally through better and sustainable” mobility initiative in the design. country. • Adopting comfortable range of thermostat • It will have an inter-ministerial steering set-points in commercial buildings as well as committee, chaired by CEO, NITI Aayog that for affordable housing projects under the will coordinate among key stakeholders to Pradhan Mantri Aawas Yojana. integrate various initiatives to transform • Improving efficiency of cooling appliances: A mobility in India. drive for widespread adoption of 5-star • It will support and implement Phased labelled fans and room air conditioners in new Manufacturing Programme (valid for 5 years and existing public buildings. till 2024) for large scale, export competitive • Reducing cost of efficient air-conditioning integrated batteries and cell-manufacturing through public procurement schemes. Giga plants in India. • Skilling and certifying AC and refrigerator • The Mission will launch another programme service technicians. to localize production across entire Electric • Promoting renewable energy-based energy vehicle value chain and finalise its details. efficient cold chains • The Mission will have ‘Make in India’ strategy • Investing in research and development (R&D) for Electric Vehicle components and battery of refrigerant gases that do not harm or warm technologies. the planet. Related news 4.5. INDIA COOLING ACTION • The first-ever global coalition on clean and efficient cooling (the Cool Coalition) was launched PLAN at the First Global Conference on Synergies between the 2030 Agenda and Paris Agreement in Why in news? Copenhagen, Denmark. Recently the Ministry for Environment, Forest and • The Cool Coalition aims to inspire ambition and Climate Change released the India Cooling Action accelerate action on the transition to clean and efficient cooling. Plan—a 20 year road map (From 2018 to 2038). • It is a global effort led by UN Environment, the Key targets of ICAP Climate and Clean Air Coalition, the Kigali Cooling • Reduce cooling demand across sectors by 20% to Efficiency Program, and Sustainable Energy for All 25% by 2037-38. (SEforALL). 26 8468022022 DELHI | JAIPUR | PUNE | HYDERABAD | AHMEDABAD | LUCKNOW

• It includes ministers of environment from Chile RECs through two Power Exchanges namely, and Rwanda and Foreign Affairs from Denmark as Indian Energy Exchange (IEX) and Power well as the heads of Danish engineering firm Exchange of India (PXIL). Danfoss and ENGIE, and the leaders of civil • The price of RECs is determined by market society, research, academia and demand, and contained between the ‘floor intergovernmental institutions. price’ and ‘forbearance price’ specified by the • It is a unified front that links action across the Kigali Amendment, Paris Agreement and Central Electricity Regulatory Commission Sustainable Development Goals. (CERC). These tariffs are reviewed periodically • The Cool Coalition offers a three-in-one to reflect the average tariffs quoted in the opportunity to cut global warming, improve lives latest RE Power Purchase Agreement (PPA). of hundreds of millions of people and make huge • There is a concentration of RE potential in a financial savings. few states, which means that the same level • It will complement and build upon ongoing of Renewable Purchase Obligation successful programmes to advance clean and compliance cannot be expected from all efficient cooling, including the Cooling for All states. Secretariat, the Climate and Clean Air Coalition, the • Kigali Cooling Efficiency Programme, private sector So, this mechanism provides a means to action like the Global Cooling Prize, and other address the dispersed availability of initiatives. renewable energy sources across various States in the Country. 4.6. RENEWABLE ENERGY CERTIFICATES

Why in news? Recently, the Renewable Energy (RE) companies have moved the Delhi High Court, seeking an exemption for Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) under the goods and services tax (GST). About Carbon Market in India • In a bid to promote renewable energy market in India, the Government of India has framed policies under the Electricity Act, 2003 and the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC). • Consequently, India currently has two carbon market-based trading schemes in place- o The Perform, Achieve & Trade (PAT), which is designed to accelerate implementation of cost-effective measures in energy efficiency in large energy-intensive industries. o The Renewable Energy Certificate (REC), which designed to promote generation of renewable energy (RE) within the country. Renewable Energy Certificates • A Renewable Energy Certificate (REC) is a market-based instrument that certifies the bearer owns one megawatt-hour (MWh) of electricity generated from a renewable energy resource. Renewable Purchase Obligation (RPO) • Once the power provider has fed the energy • Launched in 2010, RPOs make it obligatory for into the grid, the REC they receive can be sold distribution companies, open-access consumers in the open market as a commodity. A pan- and captive power producers to meet part of their India market has been created for trading in energy needs through green energy.

• Pre-defined RPO target for all states currently Threats to Peatlands ranges from 3 per cent to 10 per cent of the total

energy requirement of the states. RPO is divided in • Drainage for agriculture: Drained peatlands two parts- solar RPO and non-solar RPO. are mainly used for agriculture and forestry, • The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy and peat is extracted for horticulture and (MNRE) introduced incremental annual RPO energy production. CO2 emissions from targets amounting to 21 per cent in 2022. drained peatlands are estimated at 1.3 gigatonnes of CO2 annually. This is equivalent 4.7. PEATLAND to 5.6% of global anthropogenic CO2 emissions. Why In news? • Commercial Forestry: It is the second greatest Recently, United Nations Environment Assembly cause of land-use changes in peatland mostly in Nairobi, Kenya, has adopted its first ever prevalent in Scandinavian countries, UK, resolution on peatlands. Russia, South-East Asia etc. • Peat extraction and usage: Peat as a source of More on News energy is being used on a large scale by • The adoption of the global resolution on the households. It is also used as raw material for Conservation and Sustainable Management producing growing media for professional of Peatlands urges member States and other horticulture and for home gardening. stakeholders to give greater emphasis to the • Infrastructure Development: Conversion of conservation, sustainable management and peatlands in coastal areas to meet the urban restoration of peatlands worldwide. development, waste disposal needs, • However, it is not legally binding. development of roads and other infrastructure. What are Peats? • Peats are a heterogeneous mixture of plant material (vascular plants, mosses and humus) that had accumulated in a water-saturated area and are only partially decomposed due to absence of oxygen. • The natural areas covered by peat are called peatlands. Various types of peat are – swamp forests, fens, bogs or mires. • They are mostly found in permafrost regions towards the poles and at high altitudes, in coastal areas, beneath tropical rainforest and in boreal forests. Countries with largest peatland areas are – Russia, Canada, Indonesia, USA, Finland etc. • Several multilateral conventions take peatland into consideration such as UNFCCC, Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, Convention on Biodiversity and United Nation Convention to Combat Desertification. o Brazzaville Declaration: was signed to promote better management and conservation of Cuvette Centrale Region in Congo Basin in the backdrop of the 3rd 4.8. CLIMATE VULNERABILITY Conference of Partners of the Global MAPS FOR HIMALAYAN STATES Peatlands Initiative (GPI), 2018. o Global Peatlands Initiative: is an effort by Why in News? leading experts and institutions to save Recently Indian Scientists have developed a peatlands as the world’s largest terrestrial common framework for Climate Change organic carbon stock and to prevent it Vulnerability Assessment for the Indian being emitted into the atmosphere. It is Himalayan Region. led by UN Environment.

About the Index back into the country, within a year of export, • The Index developed is based on 4 broad without obtaining permission. indicators: • The industries that do not require consent o Socio-economic factors, demographic under Water (Prevention and Control of and health status Pollution) Act 1974 and Air (Prevention and o Sensitivity of agricultural production Control of Pollution) Act 1981, will now be o Forest-dependent livelihoods exempted from requiring authorization also o Access to information, services and under the Hazardous and Other Wastes Rules, infrastructure. 2016, provided that hazardous and other • The assessment has been done jointly by wastes generated by such industries are experts from Indian Institutes of Technology handed over to the authorized actual users, (IIT) at Guwahati and Mandi, in collaboration waste collectors or disposal facilities. with Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore • Exporters of silk waste have now been given with support from the Department of Science exemption from requiring permission from and Technology (DST) and the Swiss the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Development Corporation (SDC) which is Climate Change. implementing the Indian Himalayas Climate Salient features of Hazardous and Other Wastes Adaptation Program (IHCAP). (Management & Trans boundary Movement) Rules, 2016 • Assam has the highest vulnerability index • For the first time, the ambit of the Rules has been (0.72) followed by Mizoram (0.71) and Sikkim expanded by making a distinction between is the least vulnerable state (0.42). Hazardous Waste and other wastes. Other wastes • The climate vulnerability index is a relative include: Waste tyre, paper waste, metal scrap, used measure and does not show vulnerability in electronic items, etc. absolute sense. Therefore, even least • The import of metal scrap, paper waste and vulnerable states also have several inherent various categories of electrical and electronic drivers of vulnerability that needs to be equipments for re-use purpose has been addressed. exempted from the need of obtaining Ministry’s permission. Indian Himalayas Climate Adaptation Programme • Ban on import of waste edible fats and oil of • It is a project under Global Programme Climate animals, or vegetable origin, household waste, Change and Environment (GPCCE) of Swiss Critical Care Medical equipment, Tyres for direct re- Development Corporation (SDC) and is use purpose, Solid Plastic wastes including Pet implemented in partnership with Department of bottles, Waste electrical and electronic assemblies Science and Technology, GoI. scrap, other chemical wastes especially in solvent • It supports the implementation of National form among others. Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem • The rules allow the municipalities to levy user free (NMSHE) as knowledge and technical partner. for waste management and make individuals responsible for disposal of the garbage. 4.9. HAZARDOUS AND OTHER • The source segregation of waste as wet WASTES (MANAGEMENT & (Biodegradable), dry (Plastic, Paper, metal, wood, etc.) and domestic hazardous wastes has been TRANS BOUNDARY MOVEMENT) made mandatory for waste generators. AMENDMENT RULES, 2019 • Integration of waste / rag pickers into formal system, the responsibility of which is on the state Why in news? governments. • Procedure has been simplified to merge all the Recently Ministry of Environment, Forest and approvals as a single window clearance for setting Climate Change has amended the Hazardous and up of hazardous waste disposal facility and import Other Wastes (Management & Trans boundary of other wastes. Movement) Rules, 2016. • State Pollution Control Board is mandated to Amendments introduced prepare an annual inventory of the waste generated; waste recycled, recovered, utilised • Prohibition on import of solid plastic waste including co-processed; waste re-exported and even in special economic zones (SEZ) and by waste disposed and submit to the Central Pollution export-oriented units (EOUs). Control Board every year. • Electrical and electronic assemblies and components manufactured in and exported from India, if found defective can be imported

• UNEP was established in June 1972 as an outcome 4.10. GLOBAL ENVIRONMENT from the United Nations Conference on the OUTLOOK Human Environment (Stockholm Conference, 1972). Why in news? • Its headquarters is in Nairobi, Kenya. • It mainly depends on voluntary contributions with The sixth edition of the UN Environment 95 per cent of UNEP’s income coming from Programme’s (UNEP) flagship Global voluntary donations. Environmental Outlook (GEO-6) report was • UN Environment hosts the secretariats for many released at the UN Environment Assembly. critical multilateral environmental agreements GEO-6 and research bodies. This include o The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) • GEO has been published since 1997. o The Convention on International Trade in • The sixth Global Environment Outlook (GEO- Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora 6), focusses on the theme “healthy planet, (CITES) healthy people”. o The Minamata Convention on Mercury • GEO-6 builds on previous GEO reports. It, o The Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm however, differs from previous GEO reports in Conventions its emphasis on Sustainable Development o The Vienna Convention for the Protection of Goals and in providing possible means of Ozone Layer and the Montreal Protocol o The Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) accelerating achievement of these goals. o The Carpathian Convention • The worst impacts of climate change are o The Bamako Convention projected to occur in the Pacific and South o The Tehran Convention and South-East Asia. Focussing on the Related news population at risk from sea-level rise by 2050, The UN Environment Programme has launched its seven of the 10 most vulnerable countries latest Frontiers report 2018/19, which explores five of worldwide are in the Asia Pacific region. the most significant emerging issues on the o India tops the chart with nearly 40 environment. million people in the country projected to • In 2016 UNEP launched this new yearly publication be at risk from rising sea levels, followed series, Frontiers - Emerging Issues of Environmental Concern. by more than 25 million in Bangladesh, • The report identifies and provides an insight into a over 20 million in China and nearly 15 broad range of emerging environmental issues million in the Philippines. that require attention and action from UN Environment Assembly (UNEA) governments, stakeholders, decision makers as • It is the world’s highest-level decision-making well as the public at large. body on the environment. • The Environment Assembly meets biennially to set 4.11. STATE OF THE GLOBAL priorities for global environmental policies and CLIMATE REPORT develop international environmental law. • The UNEA was created in June 2012 during the Why in News? United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, also referred to as RIO+20. Recently, the World Meteorological Organization • The Assembly is the governing body of the UN (WMO), released its annual report, State of the Environment Programme (UN Environment) and Global Climate in 2018. the successor of its Governing Council. The UNEA, with a universal membership, is now composed of 193 Member States. • The Fourth Environment Assembly was held in Nairobi (11-15 March 2019), focusing on the theme “Innovative solutions for environmental challenges and sustainable consumption and production”. UN Environment Programme (UN Environment/UNEP) is the leading global environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda, promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system, and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment.

Highlights of the report hydrological and related environmental services by its Members, for the improvement of the well- • Warmest years: The past four years—2015, being of societies of all nations. 2016, 2017 and 2018—taken together are the four warmest years on record. In contrast to 4.12. GLOBAL ENERGY & CO2 the other top warmest years, 2018 began with La Niña conditions, which are typically STATUS REPORT associated with lower global temperatures. Why in news? o Average global temperature reached approximately 1 °C above pre-industrial The International Energy Association’s (IEA) levels. recently released the Global Energy & CO2 status • CO2 concentration and mean sea level rise: in 2018 report. continued to increase in 2018. A new record Highlights of the report high of fossil CO2 emission – 36.9 (+/-1.8) billion tons of CO2 was reached in 2018. • Global trend: India’s energy demand • Ocean acidification: In the past decade, the outpaced global demand growth in 2018. oceans absorbed around 25% of China, US, and India together accounted for anthropogenic carbon dioxide emissions and nearly 70 per cent of the rise in energy the decrease in gobal ocean oxygen has demand. continued. More than 90% of the energy • CO2 emissions: India saw emissions rise by trapped by greenhouse gases, goes into the 4.8%, or 105 Mt, with the growth split evenly oceans. between power and other sectors such as • Glaciers and sea ice: Arctic sea-ice extent was transport and industry. Despite this growth, well below average throughout 2018. The per capita emissions in India remain low at Greenland ice sheet has been losing ice mass only 40% of the global average. nearly every year over the past two decades. o It found that CO2 emitted from coal • Ozone: 2018 Ozone hole was 24.8 million km² combustion was responsible for over as against 28.2 million km² in 2015. 0.3°C of the 1°C increase in global average • Natural Hazards: In 2018, weather and climate annual surface temperatures above pre- events accounted for most of nearly 62 million industrial levels. This makes coal the people affected by natural hazards. The single largest source of global report identified the floods in Kerala as one of temperature increase. the main indicators of extreme weather • Oil: Global oil demand rose by 1.3% in 2018, led events due to climate change. by strong growth in the United States. Indian • Population Displacement and Human oil demand grew 5% in 2018 compared to 2017. Mobility: Out of the 17.7 million IDPs • Natural gas: consumption grew by an (Internally Displaced People), over 2 million estimated 4.6% in 2018, its largest increase people were displaced due to disasters linked since 2010. to weather and climate events as at o China was the world’s largest natural gas September 2018. importer in 2018, ahead of Japan, and was The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) the second-largest contributor in volume • It is an intergovernmental organization which to global demand growth after the United originated from the International Meteorological States. Organization (founded in 1873). • Established by the ratification of the WMO 4.13. FINANCING FOR Convention on 23 March 1950, WMO became the SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT specialised agency of the United Nations for meteorology (weather and climate), operational REPORT 2019 hydrology and related geophysical sciences a year later. Why in news • India is a member. Recently, the Inter-agency Task Force on • The Secretariat, headquartered in Geneva, is Financing for Development has released its fourth headed by the Secretary-General. report titled, ‘Financing for Sustainable

• Its supreme body is the World Meteorological Development Report 2019’. Congress. • WMO provides world leadership and expertise in Background international cooperation in the delivery and use of • The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) high-quality, authoritative weather, climate, were adopted by the 193 member countries of 31 DELHI | JAIPUR | PUNE | HYDERABAD | AHMEDABAD | LUCKNOW 8468022022

the United Nations with quantitative and Details qualitative targets and timelines through to • A marine heatwave is commonly defined as 2030. Mobilizing sufficient financing remains a temperatures being warmer than 90 per cent major challenge in implementing them. of the previous Sea Surface Temperature • Recent estimates indicate that the SDGs will observations at the same time of year over a require an additional US$2.4 trillion of annual 30-year period, for at least five days in a public and private investment into the low- row. It can occur in both summer or winter. carbon infrastructure, energy, agriculture, • Factors that cause marine heatwaves include: health, education and other sustainability o ocean currents which can build up areas sectors globally. of warm water and • The Inter-Agency Task Force on Financing for o air-sea heat flux, or warming through the Development, convened by the Secretary- ocean surface from the atmosphere. General to follow up on the Addis Ababa o winds can enhance or suppress the Action Agenda, comprises of over 50 United warming in a marine heatwave, Nations agencies, programmes and offices, o climate modes like El Niño can change the regional economic commissions and other likelihood of events occurring in certain relevant international institutions regions. • This report puts forward key messages and o Rising sea surface temperatures due to policy recommendations targeted at helping greenhouse gases emissions. achieve tangible progress on financing for • It affects ecosystem structure, by supporting sustainable development in 2019 and beyond. certain species and suppressing others. It can Addis Adaba Action Agenda (AAAA) change the habitat ranges of certain species. • It is a new global framework for financing sustainable development that aligns all financing • It can cause economic losses through impacts flows and policies with economic, social and on fisheries and aquaculture. environmental priorities and ensures that financing is stable and sustainable. 4.15. COALITION FOR DISASTER • It lays out the steps the international community RESILIENT INFRASTRUCTURE promises to take to fund the world’s new sustainable development agenda. Why in news? • It was adopted after being agreed at the 3rd International Conference on Financing for India has pledged Rs 480 crore to setup global Development in 2015. It entered into “Coalition for Disaster resilient Infrastructure”. implementation in 2016. • There are seven action areas in this agenda- Background o Domestic public resources • India announced the creation of a Coalition o Domestic and international private business for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure and finance (CDRI) after the Asian Ministerial Conference o International development cooperation o International trade as an engine for on Disaster Risk Reduction (2016), held in development New Delhi. o Debt and debt sustainability • At the International Workshop on Disaster o Addressing systemic issues Resilient Infrastructure (2019) held at New o Science, technology, innovation, and capacity Delhi, agreement was reached among building representatives from 33 countries to establish • There is an annual Economic and Social Council a Coalition for Disaster Resilient forum on Financing for Development and an Inter- Infrastructure. Agency task force, which reports annually on • The CDRI is envisaged as a knowledge progress in implementing the financing for exchange and capacity development development outcomes and the means of implementation of the post2015 development partnership. The coalition will work towards agenda. developing common standards in infrastructure building, financial and 4.14. MARINE HEAT WAVE compliance mechanisms, appropriate governance arrangements, and invest in R&D Why in news? that will also determine funding from multilateral banks onwards future Recently, researchers have found out that Marine investments by countries. Heat Waves have pushed record number of

Second International Workshop on Disaster Resilient About Summer Ploughing Infrastructure • It is defined as the ploughing the field across It was organised at Delhi by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) in collaboration with the slope during hot summer with the help of United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction specialized tools with primary objective of (UNISDR), and in partnership with the Global opening of the soil crust accompanied by Commission on Adaptation, United Nations deep ploughing and simultaneously Development Programme and the World Bank. overturning of the soil underneath to disinfect it with the help of piercing sun rays. 4.16. ANIMAL CRUELTY ISSUES • The ploughing activity is taken up in the NOW UNDER FARM MINISTRY direction perpendicular to the natural flow of water/gradient or wind flow so that soil Why in News? erosion is arrested and whatever small quantum of rain received gets into the soil Recently the Central Government has transferred preserving it for the crop to be sown during administrative control and matters concerning kharif. cow shelters, Prevention of cruelty to animals • It is done one month in advance i.e. in the and its governing laws, from MoEF&CC to month of May for Kharif crops. Ministry of Agriculture and Farmer’s Welfare. Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 Benefits of summer ploughing • • It was enacted to prevent the infliction of Increased permeability of Soil: this further unnecessary pain or suffering on animals and increases in-situ moisture conservation. to amend the laws relating to the prevention Consequently, plant roots will get more of cruelty to animals. moisture with less effort. • • The Animal Welfare Board of India was Improves Soil structure: It improves soil formed under this Act. structure due to alternate drying and cooling. Tillage improves soil aeration which helps in • Section 22 of the PCA Act restricts the multiplication of micro-organisms. Organic exhibition and training of performing matter decomposition is hastened resulting in animals - as per the list maintained by the higher nutrient availability to the plants. central government. • Reduced toxicity: Increased aeration also • MoEF published Gazette notifications under helps in degradation of herbicide and the PCA Act, in 2017, to regulate dog pesticide residues and harmful allelopathic breeders, animal markets, and aquarium and chemicals exuded by root of previous crops or pet fish shop owners. weeds which inhibit the growth of other • Central Government also brought out nearby plants. Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Regulation • Reducing hazards of insects and pests: Lot of of Livestock Market) Rules, 2017 which insects and pests hibernate underneath the imposes ban of sale of cattle in animal soil crust or stubbles during hot summer markets for the purpose of slaughter. season. Due to overturning of the soil in Animal Welfare Board of India • Its headquarter is in Haryana in 2018. summer ploughing the sharp rays of sun • Rukmini Devi Arundale was instrumental in setting enters the soil and kills the eggs, larvae and up the board and was its first chair. pupae of soil borne insects and pests. It is also • The Board oversees Animal Welfare Organisations an important method to control nematodes. (AWOs) by granting recognition to them if they • Weeds Control: Deep ploughing and meet its guidelines. overturning uproots the weeds. • Other functions include: Providing financial Consequently, the roots and stems of the assistance to recognised AWOs, prescribing weeds get desiccated and die. As a result, changes to animal welfare laws and rules, raising weed control and less application of awareness among the public. weedicides is one of the major advantages of 4.17. SUMMER PLOUGHING summer ploughing.

Why in News? 4.18. CLOUD SEEDING Recently concept of summer ploughing has been Why in news? gaining traction among the farmers for soil The Rural Development and Panchayati Raj conservation. Department of Karnataka has called tender for 33 DELHI | JAIPUR | PUNE | HYDERABAD | AHMEDABAD | LUCKNOW 8468022022

cloud seeding operations during the monsoons of celebrate and raise awareness of the world’s 2019 and 2020. It seeks to replicate the success of wild animals and plants. Project Varshadhare, executed by the state in the • The theme of World Wildlife Day 2019 is “Life year 2017. Below Water: For people and planet” making it first World Wildlife Day highlighting the About Cloud seeding importance of marine biodiversity. • It is a weather modification process that aims • It was jointly organised by Convention on to cause additional rainfall by dispersing International Trade in Endangered Species of substance chemicals (like silver iodide, Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and United potassium chloride, and sodium chloride or Nations Development Programme (UNDP). dry ice) into the clouds that serves as ice o CITES is a legally binding inter- nuclei or condensation nuclei for moisture to governmental agreement which aims to form rain droplets. ensure that international trade in • There are certain challenges associated with specimens of wild animals and plants does cloud seeding as well: not threaten their survival. o Depends on environmental conditions like o UNDP partners with people at all levels of temperature and cloud composition and society to help them achieve human hence, not reliable. development along with Sustainable o Exposure of animals and humans to silver Development. Its three main focus areas iodide toxicity and soil contamination. are Sustainable development, Democratic o Expensive as it requires Doppler radars governance and peacebuilding and for identifying rain bearing clouds and Climate and disaster resilience. special aircrafts for seeding. o No established mechanism to verify and 4.19.3. ENERGY TRANSITION INDEX determine the success of technique. • India has moved up two places to rank 76th Cloud Seeding in India • In India, Tamil Nadu became the first state to among 115 economies in 2019 on World attempt cloud seeding in 1970s. Maharashtra and Economic Forum’s Energy Transition Index. Karnataka followed in 2003, 2008 and 2017 as and • Despite its low ranking, India is the second when drought conditions prevailed. best in the BRICS block of emerging • IITM’s Cloud Aerosol Interaction and Precipitation economies, with Brazil being the best at 46th Enhancement Experiment (CAIPEEX) has been place globally. China lags behind at 82nd in the involved in Cloud Seeding efforts in Maharashtra. list. • Sweden remains on the top on the list and is 4.19. NEWS IN SHORT followed by Switzerland and Norway in the top three. 4.19.1. NATIONAL MISSION FOR CLEAN • WEF has ranked economies on how well they GANGA are able to balance energy security and access with environmental sustainability and • The National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) affordability. was awarded the distinction of “Public Water • It considers both the current state of the Agency of the Year” by Global Water countries’ energy system and their structural Intelligence at the Global Water Summit in readiness to adapt to future energy needs. London. • The Global Water Awards are presented at 4.19.4. ULTRA-LOW EMISSION ZONE the Global Water Summit, the major business conference for the water industry worldwide. • London became the first city in the world to • The awards recognize excellence across the implement a special Ultra Low Emission Zone international water industry and reward those (ULEZ) that would charge an entry fee for initiatives in the water, waste water, and older vehicles if they do not meet the desalination sectors, which bring remarkable emission standards. improvements in the lives of people • A ULEZ is a defined area within which all vehicles will have to meet strict emission 4.19.2. UN WORLD WILDLIFE DAY norms or face a daily charge to travel. • ULEZ is based on European emissions • rd UN World Wildlife Day is observed on 3 standards and associated goal is to discourage March, day of the signature of CITES, to people from driving heavily polluting vehicles

in the city, in a bid to bring down levels of air • Earlier 3 N cave in southern Iran’s Qeshm pollution and associated health problem. island was the longest salt cave in the world with length of 6 km. 4.19.5. ISRAEL UNVEILS WORLD’S Related information LONGEST SALT CAVES • The Mammoth Cave system in Kentucky, US, is the longest in the world stretching for about 651.8 • Cave explorers have discovered the world’s kilometers. longest salt cave (around 10 km) named • The longest natural cave in India is Krem Liat Prah Malham in the Mount Sodom, Israel. in the Jaintia Hills, which is 30.9 km.

5. SOCIAL ISSUES 5.1. NATIONAL ANNUAL RURAL income, falls below the median household income of the country. SANITATION SURVEY • In India, the 2012 report of the Technical Group on Urban Housing Shortage for the Why in news? 12th Plan (TG-12) pegged the total number of Recently, the second edition of National Annual households without “decent” housing in Rural Sanitation Survey was released on the cities at 18.78 million. status of rural sanitation in India. o It also pointed out that economically weaker sections (EWS) and low-income National Annual Rural Sanitation Survey group (LIG) accounted for 96 per cent of • It is a third-party survey that has been conducted by the Independent Verification Agency (IVA) the total housing shortage in India. under the World Bank support project. The NARSS • The Governments of India and States along 2018-19 was the second edition of the survey. with the Reserve Bank of India have taken • It surveyed 92040 households in 6136 villages various initiatives to promote affordable across States and UTs of India. housing. • It has used the PPS (Probability Proportion to • Government initiatives include the National Size) sampling methodology, which yields results Housing Policy, 1994; Jawaharlal Nehru within a confidence interval of 95 per cent. National Urban Renewal Mission, 2005; Rajiv • It measures the outcomes on the basis of World Awas Yojana 2013. Bank's Disbursement Linked Indicators (DLI) – • o Reduction in prevalence of open defecation The Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) was o Sustain ODF status in villages launched in 2015, subsuming all previous o Increase in population with solid and liquid urban housing schemes. It provides central waste management. assistance to Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) and other implementing agencies for: In-Situ Key findings of the survey Rehabilitation (ISSR) of existing slum • Sanitation refers to public health conditions dwellers; Credit Linked Subsidy Scheme related to clean drinking water and adequate (CLSS); Affordable Housing in Partnership treatment and disposal of human excreta and (AHP) and Beneficiary-Led sewage. Construction/Enhancement (BLC). A total of • Status of sanitation- 79.77 lakh houses have been approved under o Toilet coverage- 93.1% of rural households this scheme and 5.07 lakh beneficiaries have had access to toilets (National Sanitation been approved to avail benefit under the Coverage) interest subvention scheme. o Toilet Usage- 96.5% of the people who • Similarly, PMAY (rural) was launched to had access to toilets, used them. subsume the previous Indira Awas Yojana to o ODF Status- 90.7% of verified Open provide housing in rural areas. Defecation Free villages were confirmed • Other Measures announced by the as ODF. Government of India- o Litter- 95.4 % of the villages found to have o Granting infrastructure status to minimal litter and stagnant water. affordable housing; o Increasing the time for project completion 5.2. AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN to affordable housing promoters from INDIA earlier three years to five years; o The Affordable Housing Fund (AHF) Why in news? established in National Housing Bank (NHB); The government has completed the construction o Providing a year’s time to developers to of 18.07 lakh houses in the period of 2014-2019, in pay tax on notional rental income on the mission to achieve Housing for All by 2022. completed but unsold units; Background o Reducing the tenure for long-term capital gains for affordable housing from three • Affordable housing means providing houses, to two years; which can be afforded by the people who’s

o Revision of the qualifying criteria for and development workforce are women, affordable housing from saleable area to while the global average is 30%. the carpet area; • According to a report “Women in Science & o Announcement of a new CLSS for the Technology” by an inter-academy panel, only MIG with a provision of `1,000 crore; 12.6% of women opt for studying science and o Refinancing facility by National Housing 16.34% opt for engineering & technology at Bank (NHB) for individual loans for the undergraduate level. affordable housing segment. • The Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Awards, • Apart from the Centre, some State instituted in 1958 by CSIR, include less than 20 Governments, viz., Madhya Pradesh, women awardees in 61 years. Chhattisgarh and Gujarat are also Relevant Government Initiatives encouraging affordable housing by providing rebates on stamp duty rates levied on housing • KIRAN (Knowledge Involvement in Research for the EWS, LIG and MIGs. Advancement through Nurturing) Scheme: • The Reserve Bank has taken policy measures An umbrella of women specific programmes such as such as- o Defined affordable housing loans as o CURIE (Consolidation of University eligible under priority sector lending. Research for Innovation and Excellence o Allowed banks to issue long term bonds in Women Universities) to develop state- (of minimum 7 years maturity) to finance of-the-art infrastructure in women loans to affordable housing and exempt universities in order to attract, train and such bonds from the computation of retain promising girls students in S&T adjusted net bank credit (ANBC). domain. o Allowed the banks to provide home loans o KIRAN is providing budgetary support for up to 90 per cent for properties that cost creating Women Technology Park (WTP) up to Rs 30 lakh in October 2015. where appropriate S&T packages for o Modified the provisioning or risk-weight women are developed to improve norms for home loans to make them livelihood and health & nutrition besides cheaper. reducing drudgery in order to enhance their quality-of-life. 5.3. WOMEN IN SCIENCE o Mobility Scheme: It will address relocation issue (marriage, transfer of Why in news? husband to any other location within the Ministry of Science and Technology recently country, attending ailing parents, and invited applications for Women Scientists accompanying children studying in Scheme. different city) of women scientists working in regular position in Government More about news Organizations. • The scheme is meant to encourage women in • Indo-U.S. Fellowship for Women in STEMM S&T domain, preferably those having a break (Science, Technology, Engineering, in career (between the age group of 27-57 Mathematics and Medicine): It will provide years) and not having regular employment, to opportunities to Indian Women Scientists, explore possibility of re-entry into the Engineers & Technologists to undertake profession. international collaborative research in premier • Through this endeavor of the Department of institutions in U.S.A, to enhance their research Science and Technology, concerted efforts capacities and capabilities. It is a joint have been made to give women a strong endeavor of Department of Science and foothold into the scientific profession. The Technology and Indo-U.S. Science and candidates selected for the scheme will get Technology Forum (IUSSTF). job training in the area of Intellectual Property • UDAAN: launched by Ministry of Human Rights (IPR), along with monthly stipend and Resource Development to address the lower potential research grant. enrolment ratio of girl students in science and Present Scenario engineering colleges. The aim of UDAAN is to enrich and enhance teaching and learning of • As per the National Task Force on women in Science and Mathematics at Senior Secondary science report, only 15% of the Indian research level by providing free and online resources to

every girl, with a focus on special incentives Lanka have been placed ahead of India in the and support to 1000 selected disadvantaged ranking. girls per year. • Finland retained the top spot; it is followed by • Biotechnology Career Advancement and Re- Denmark and Norway. People in war-torn orientation Programme (BioCARe): An South Sudan are most unhappy with their initiative of Department of Biotechnology, it lives, followed by Central African Republic mainly focuses on Career Development of (155) and Afghanistan (154). employed/ unemployed women Scientists Sustainable Development Solutions Network upto 55 years of age. The purpose is to build • It has been operating since 2012 under the auspices capacities for women Scientists employed of the UN Secretary-General. fulltime in Universities and small research • SDSN mobilizes global scientific and technological laboratories or unemployed women expertise to promote practical solutions for sustainable development, including the Scientists’ after a career break so as to help implementation of the Sustainable Development them undertake independent R&D projects. Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Climate Agreement. • SDSN’s National and Regional networks support 5.4. REPORTS IN NEWS the localization of SDGs and their implementation. 5.4.1. GLOBAL REPORT ON FOOD 5.4.3. SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS AND CRISES 2019 GENDER INDEX (SIGI) REPORT

• Global Report on Food Crises 2019 was jointly • Recently, OECD released the Social presented by the European Union, the Food Institutions and Gender Index (SIGI) Report, and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and the 2019. UN World Food Programme (WFP). • The OECD SIGI is a unique cross-country • The report is prepared annually by Food measure of discriminatory social Security Information Network (FSIN). institutions, that are formal and informal • FSIN is an initiative by FAO, WFP and IFPRI to laws/practices which restrict women’s rights strengthen food and nutrition security and access to empowerment opportunities. information systems for producing reliable, • The report suggests that global level of accurate data to guide analysis and decision- discrimination in social institutions is 29%, making. ranging from 8% in Switzerland to 64% in • It serves as a neutral technical platform for Yemen. India is placed in the medium level of exchanging expertise, knowledge and best discrimination. practices, developing harmonized methods • Building on these outcomes, the report and tools, and facilitating capacity provides a set of policy recommendations to development on food and nutrition security enhance governments’ efforts to deliver their measurement and analysis gender-equality commitments. 5.4.2. WORLD HAPPINESS REPORT 5.4.4. STATE OF WORLD POPULATION 2019 REPORT, 2019

• The 2019 edition of World Happiness Report • United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) was released recently. recently released the 2019 edition of the State • The report was released by the Sustainable of World Population report titled ‘Unfinished Development Solutions Network for the Business: the pursuit of rights and choices for United Nations on March 20 which was all’. declared as World Happiness Day by the UN • The 2019 State of the World Population General Assembly in 2012. Report reflects on the current state of sexual • The report ranks countries on six key and reproductive health. variables that support well-being: income, o The year 2019 marks the 50th anniversary freedom, trust, healthy life expectancy, social of UNFPA's founding and the 25th support and generosity. anniversary the International Conference • India slipped 7 spots as compared to last year on Population and Development in Cairo. and is ranked 140 among 156 nations. Most of • The report includes, for the first time, data on India’s neighbours including Pakistan, women’s ability to make decisions over three Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, China and Sri key areas: sexual intercourse with their partner, contraception use and health care. 38 8468022022 DELHI | JAIPUR | PUNE | HYDERABAD | AHMEDABAD | LUCKNOW

o Women’s sexual and reproductive • They are conferred on eminent women and autonomy was greatest in two countries: institutions rendering distinguished service to the Philippines and Ukraine, where 81 per the cause of women especially belonging to cent of women are empowered to make the vulnerable and marginalized sections of these decisions for themselves. the society. About UNFPA • Instituted by Ministry of Women and Child • It is United Nations sexual and reproductive health Development, the awards are given away by agency. the President of India. • UNFPA calls for the realization of reproductive • They are not presented posthumously. rights for all and supports access to a wide range of sexual and reproductive health services 5.5.2. CENTRE FOR DISABILITY including voluntary family planning, maternal health care and comprehensive sexuality SPORTS education. • A ‘Centre for Disability Sports ‘will be set up at About International Conference on Population and Development, 1994 Gwalior in Madhya Pradesh. • At the ICPD in Cairo, 179 countries adopted a • It will be registered under the Societies forward-looking, 20-year Programme of Action Registration Act, 1860. (extended in 2010) which recognized that • The Improved sports infrastructure created by reproductive health and rights, as well as women's this Centre will ensure effective participation empowerment and gender equality, are of Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) in sports cornerstones of population and development activities. programmes. • The centre would aid in achieving the objective under the Section 30 of the Rights 5.5. NEWS IN SHORT of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016 which enjoins the Government to take 5.5.1. NARI SHAKTI PURUSKAR measures to ensure effective participation of • The Nari Shakti Puraskars were awarded on Persons with Disabilities in sports activities. the 8th of March, International Women’s Day.

6. SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY the abnormal mitochondria is transferred to the 6.1. 3-PARENT BABY emptied zygote. • Why in news? After this procedure the embryo with normal mitochondria and maternal and paternal genome is Recently, a team of Greek and Spanish doctors transferred to the uterus. has produced a baby from three people using About “three-parent” babies maternal spindle transfer technique (a method of Mitochondrial Replacement Therapy). • Mitochondrial Replacement therapy (MRT) is a form of In Vitro Fertilization (Assisted Background Reproductive Technology). • The mitochondria are organelles inside cells • It is used to replace mother’s faulty that are involved in releasing energy by Mitochondrial DNA with healthy producing adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the Mitochondria from a donor woman during key energy currency that drives metabolism. IVF process, thus the name- “three-parent” o Mitochondria are referred to as the baby. powerhouse of the cell. • The resulting child is still conceived from two • In addition to energy production parents and will have nuclear DNA from the mitochondria also helps to regulate the self- woman and her partner, and mitochondrial destruction of cells (aptosis), necessary for DNA from the donor. production of substances such as cholesterol • The donor’s mitochondria contribute just 37 and heme (a component of haemoglobin). genes to the child, compared with more than • While most of DNA is found in cell nucleus, 20,000 from the parents. That is a negligible some DNA is also found in the mitochondria, it amount and far less than one would gain from is called mitchochondrial DNA (mtDNA). a blood transfusion or organ transplant. • Mitochondria are inherited solely from the • No other characteristics in terms of mother and this results into cases of babies intelligence, eye colour, hair colour, height been born with rare mitochondrial diseases if etc. are changed. mother has the faulty mtDNA. • Advantages: It could prevent severe genetic • Certain disorders caused due to mtDNA diseases being passed from mother to dysfunction are diabetes, respiratory offspring and can be used to treat infertility. disorders, Huntington’s disease, Parkinson’s • UK became the first country in 2015, to have disease, Alzheimer’s disease etc. officially approved procedures to create • There is currently no cure for mitochondrial “three-parent” babies. diseases. Process of MRT The Process of Mitochondrial Replacement Therapy can be done by two methods – Pronuclear transfer and Spindle transfer. Spindle Transfer • In this method the spindle and associated chromosomes from the normal mitochondria are removed and destroyed and the spindle and related chromosomes form the mother’s eggs/abnormal mitochondria are transferred to the emptied donor egg. • The reconstituted egg is fertilised with sperm from father and the embryo with normal mitochondria and maternal and paternal genomes is transferred to the uterus. Pronuclear Transfer • In this method, first mother’s eggs with abnormal mitochondria and the donated egg with normal mitochondria are fertilised with sperm. • Then the pronuclei from the normal mitochondria are destroyed and the pronucleus from zygote of

(GTS) for Malaria 2016-2030 of World Health 6.2. MALARIA VACCINE Organisation (WHO). • Why in news? The Government has drafted National Strategic Plan for malaria elimination (2017-2020) wherein Government of Malawi recently launched the the country has been stratified based on the world’s first malaria vaccine in a landmark pilot malaria burden into four categories – category 0 to programme. category 3 and based on this the intervention of malaria control and prevention are being More in news strengthened. WHO Global Technical Strategy for Malaria 2016-2030 • The country is the first of three in Africa in • Adopted by the World Health Assembly in May which the vaccine, known as RTS,S (Trade 2015, it provides a technical framework for all name: Mosquirix), will be made available to malaria-endemic countries. children up to 2 years of age. • It is intended to guide and support regional and • Ghana and Kenya will introduce the vaccine country programmes as they work towards malaria later. control and elimination. • Financing for the pilot programme has been • The Strategy sets ambitious but achievable global mobilized through a collaboration among targets, including: three key global health funding bodies: Gavi, o Reducing malaria case incidence by at least the Vaccine Alliance; the Global Fund to Fight 90% by 2030. o AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria; and Unitaid. Reducing malaria mortality rates by at least 90% by 2030. RTS,S o Eliminating malaria in at least 35 countries by 2030. • RTS,S/AS01 (RTS,S) is the world’s first malaria o Preventing a resurgence of malaria in all vaccine shown to provide partial protection countries that are malaria-free. against malaria in young children. The Global Malaria Programme (GMP) • RTS,S aims to trigger the immune system to • The WHO Global Malaria Programme defend against the first stages of malaria (GMP) coordinates WHO's global efforts to control when the Plasmodium falciparum parasite and eliminate malaria by: enters the human host’s bloodstream o setting, communicating and promoting the through a mosquito bite and infects liver cells. adoption of evidence-based norms, standards, policies, technical strategies, and guidelines; • The vaccine is designed to prevent the o keeping independent score of global parasite from infecting the liver, where it can progress; mature, multiply, reenter the bloodstream, o developing approaches for capacity building, and infect red blood cells, which can lead to systems strengthening, and surveillance; and disease symptoms. o identifying threats to malaria control and • It has been developed by British elimination as well as new areas for action. pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline in “High burden high impact approach" partnership with the PATH Malaria Vaccine • A new country-driven response – “High burden to Initiative (a non profit organisation). high impact” – was launched in Mozambique in November 2018. It will be supported by WHO. Malaria • The approach will be driven by the 11 countries that • Malaria is a communicable disease caused by carry the highest burden of the disease (Burkina Plasmodium parasites that are transmitted to Faso, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the people through the bites of infected female Congo, Ghana, India, Mali, Mozambique, Niger, Anopheles mosquitoes. Nigeria, Uganda and United Republic of Tanzania). • It is preventable and curable. Related news • In 2017, 5 countries accounted for nearly half of all • Recently the Indian Council of Medical Research malaria cases worldwide: Nigeria (25%), the has launched the 'Malaria Elimination Research Democratic Republic of the Congo (11%), Alliance (MERA) India' to prioritise, plan and scale Mozambique (5%), India (4%) and Uganda (4%). up research to eliminate the disease from India by India and Malaria 2030. • As per the World Malaria Report 2017 of World • ‘Malaria Elimination Research Alliance-India Health Organization (WHO), the estimated malaria (MERA-India)’ is a conglomeration of partners cases from India are 87% in South East Asia region. working on malaria control. • The National Framework for Malaria Elimination • The principal activity of the alliance is to prioritise, (NFME) 2016-2030 lays out the vision, mission, plan, conduct, scale up and translate relevant broad principles and practices to achieve the research in a coordinated and combinatorial way target of malaria elimination by 2030 in order to have a tangible impact on the synchronising with the Global Technical Strategy 41 DELHI | JAIPUR | PUNE | HYDERABAD | AHMEDABAD | LUCKNOW 8468022022

population who are at risk of malaria. o Expand partnerships to increase research, • It intends to complement the efforts on national innovation and availability of new and scale while contributing to the broader global improved Global Influenza tools (vaccines, agenda. antivirals, and treatments) to benefit all • It will facilitate trans-institutional coordination and countries. collaboration around a shared research agenda which responds not only to programmatic challenges and addresses gaps in available tools 6.4. NATIONAL AIDS CONTROL but also proactively contributes to targeted PROGRAMME-IV (NACP-IV) research. Why in news? 6.3. GLOBAL INFLUENZA Recently Cabinet approved continuation of STRATEGY National AIDS Control Programme-IV (NACP-IV) beyond 12th Five Year Plan for a period of three Why in news? years from 2017 to 2020. Recently, WHO has released a Global Influenza Background Strategy for 2019-2030 aimed at protecting people • The National AIDS Control Programme in all countries from the threat of Influenza. (NACP), launched in 1992, as a comprehensive Influenza, also called as “the flu” in humans, is a programme for prevention and control of respiratory illness in animals, birds and humans caused HIV/AIDS in India. by Influenza viruses. Human Influenza is highly • Its objective was to slow down the spread of contagious and is usually spread by coughs and sneezes HIV to reduce morbidity and mortality. of an infected person. • It focused on awareness generation, setting Types of Influenza virus: A, B and C. up surveillance system for monitoring, A: Responsible for regular outbreaks (human). measures to ensure access to safe blood and B: causes of sporadic outbreaks. preventive services for high risk group C: mild illness, not known to cause epidemics. populations. • Seasonal influenza: It has seasonal pattern of • National AIDS Control Board (NACB) and an outbreaks and can cause annual epidemics that autonomous National AIDS Control peaks during winter in temperate regions, and Organization (NACO) was set up to irregular outbreaks in tropical regions throughout implement the project. the year. • Zoonotic Influenza: It occurs when humans are About NACP IV (2012-17) infected with influenza viruses circulating in • It aims to accelerate the process of reversal animals through direct contact with infected and further strengthen the epidemic animal or contaminated environment. The transmission of this virus between humans is not response in India through a cautious and well- efficient. Ex: Swine Flu (pigs), Bird flu (birds), defined integration process over the next five Equine Flu (horses). years. • Pandemic Influenza: It occurs when a novel • Its Objectives were: influenza virus gains the ability for effective and o Reduce new infections by 50% (2007 sustained Human- to-Human transmission and Baseline of NACP III) spreads globally. o Provide comprehensive care and support More about the move to all persons living with HIV/AIDS and treatment services for all those who • The Goal of the strategy- require it. o to prevent seasonal influenza, • It was aimed at zero infection, zero stigma o control the spread of influenza from and zero death. animals to humans, Related Information o Prepare for the next influenza pandemic. • NACP II (1999) was launched with World Bank’s • Focus of the strategy credit support. National AIDS Prevention and o Work closely with countries to improve Control Policy (2002) was adopted. The policy and their capacities for disease surveillance, strategic shift was reflected in its two key response, prevention and control. objectives: o Calls every country to have a tailored o To reduce the spread of HIV infection in India, and influenza programme that contributes to o To increase India’s capacity to respond to national and global preparedness and HIV/AIDS on a long-term basis. health security. 42 8468022022 DELHI | JAIPUR | PUNE | HYDERABAD | AHMEDABAD | LUCKNOW

o Launch of National Anti-Retroviral Treatment health threat by 2030 as part of the (ART) programme Sustainable Development Goals. The SDG 3 • NACP III (2007) was launched with the goal of Target 3.3 includes this goal. Halting and Reversing the Epidemic by the end of • Programme 90-90-90 by 2020: It is an project period. Through Scaling up prevention ambitious Treatment Target to help end the efforts among High Risk Groups (HRG) and AIDS epidemic. 90% of those who are HIV General Population and integrating them with Support & Treatment services. positive in the country know their status, 90% National Aids Control Organisation (NACO) of those who know their status are on • It is an organisation which was set up under treatment and 90% of those who are on Ministry of Health and Family Welfare for treatment experience effective viral load formulation of policies and implementation of suppression. programs for prevention and control of HIV/AIDS. Related News Other Steps taken CCR5-delta 32 • The Red Ribbon Express (RRE) programme: It • Recently, a patient named the “London patient” covered 8 million population and 81,000 —has been in remission from HIV for the past 18 months (after coming off antiretroviral therapy grassroots functionaries were trained (ARV) making him the second such patient on HIV/AIDS issues in the villages to further potentially cured of the infection by duplicating take down the messages. NACO has been the CCR5-delta 32 experiment. conducting regular thematic Mass Media • The case comes a decade after the Berlin campaigns on TV and Radio to cover HIV patient was cleared of the virus by Dr Hütter. Both related issues. patients received stem cell transplants (a bone • The National Strategic Plan for HIV/AIDS and marrow transplant) from donors who carried a STIs 2017-2024: It provides a solid framework rare genetic mutation known as ‘CCR5 delta 32 to tailor the response to local needs based on resistant to these HIV patients. context-specific evidence to realise an AIDS • The patient went through an allogeneic stem cell transplant, which involved replacing his immune free India. It reaffirms our vision to realise the system with donor hematopoietic stem cells 'Three Zeros' - zero new infections, zero AIDS- (usually found in bone marrow) so that his immune related deaths and zero discrimination. system could be regenerated, with no malignant • Mission Sampark: The programme is launched cells. with the aim to trace those who are Left to • About CCR5 Follow Up and are to be brought under Anti- o CCR5 belongs to a large family of chemokine Retroviral Treatment (ART) services. Under receptors that are expressed on surface of this the “Community Based Testing” has lymphocytes and other cell types, where they helped in fast-tracking the identification of all are involved in signaling and coordination of who are HIV positive and subsequently linking immune responses. o CCR5 is the most commonly used receptor by to ART programme. HIV-1. HIV-1 virus cannot exist without normal • Prevention of Parent to Child Transmission of CCR5 receptors. However, the specific HIV/AIDS (PPTCT) program 2002: It was aimed mutation — CCR5 delta 32 — prevents the to prevent cases where HIV transmitted from virus from using CCR5 as a receptor to enter a HIV positive mother to her child during host cells. pregnancy, delivery or breast feeding (mother-to-child transmission). 6.5. MISSION SHAKTI • ‘Test and Treat’ Policy (2017): The policy launched by GoI mandates that all people Why in news? living with HIV are to be treated with ART On March 27, 2019, India tested its first anti- regardless of CD4 count, clinical stage, age or satellite (ASAT) missile as part of ‘Mission Shakti’ population. against a “live” satellite launched by it a few • ECHO Clinics (Extension for Community months earlier. Healthcare Outcomes) India’s first ECHO clinic began in 2008 as a collaboration between the National Aids Control Organization (NACO) and Maulana Azad Medical College (MAMC) on managing HIV AIDS patients. • ‘Ending of AIDS by 2030’: UNAIDS is leading the global effort to end AIDS as a public

• Addressed the concerns of Space Debris- DRDO has said that all the debris of India’s ASAT will decay in 45 days. • Develops credible deterrence. • Test done before any kind of international sanctions come in place- as UN General Assembly is trying to bring about an international legally binding document on the prevention of an arms race in outer space that would include the prevention of placement of weapons in outer space among other thing Background (PAROS). Related Information • An anti-satellite weapon is anything that The United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of destroys or physically damages or Outer Space (COPUOS) is the forum for the incapacitates a satellite for strategic military development of international space law. The purposes. Only the United States, Russia, Committee has concluded five international treaties: China, and now India have demonstrated this • The "Outer Space Treaty" which regulates capability successfully. activities of States in the Exploration and Use of • India’s Defence Research and Development Outer Space. • Organisation acknowledged publicly in April The "Rescue Agreement": on the Rescue of Astronauts, the Return of Astronauts and the 2012 that India possessed the critical Return of Objects Launched into Outer Space. technologies for an ASAT weapon from radars • The "Liability Convention": Convention on and interceptors developed for Indian Ballistic International Liability for Damage Caused by Space Missile Defence Programme Objects. • Mission Shakti is India’s response to the • The "Registration Convention": Convention on potent case of future weaponization of Registration of Objects Launched into Outer space, where enemy nation can indulge in Space. space war to disrupt critical infrastructure of • The "Moon Agreement": which governs the the nation. Activities of States on the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies. • The DRDO’s Ballistic Missile Defence United Nations Office for Outer Space interceptor was used, which is part of the Affairs (UNOOSA) ongoing ballistic missile defence programme. • It serves as the secretariat for Committee on the Indian Ballistic Missile Defence Programme Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS). • It is an initiative to develop and deploy a multi- • It is also responsible for implementing the layered ballistic missile defence system to protect Secretary-General's responsibilities under India from ballistic missile attacks. international space law and maintaining the United • It has two broadly defined target tiers, called endo- Nations Register of Objects Launched into Outer atmospheric and exo-atmospheric. Space. • Mission Shakti falls in the exo-atmospheric Outer Space Treaty category. • The Outer Space Treaty, formally the Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the ASAT and Space Debris Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the • Mission Shakti was done in a low orbit of less than Moon and Other Celestial Bodies, is a treaty that 300 kilometres and at a particular angle to ensure forms the basis of international space law. that minimal debris were disbursed above into • It was adopted by the UN General Assembly in space to avoid damage to other satellites or the 1963 and entered into force in 1967. International Space Station (ISS). • India is a signatory to this treaty, and ratified it in • In contrast, when China tested its ASAT missile in 1982. The Outer Space Treaty prohibits only 2007 destroying one of its own weather satellites, weapons of mass destruction in outer space, not it created close to 2500 pieces of space debris. ordinary weapons. Significance of Mission Shakti • It mandates that use of outer space shall be carried out for the benefit and in the interests of all • India’s entry in the elite group- India is only countries and shall be the province of all mankind. the 4th country to acquire such a specialised Prevention of an Arms Race in Outer Space (PAROS) and modern capability. • It is a UN resolution that reaffirms the fundamental • Entire effort is indigenous principles of the 1967 Outer Space Treaty and advocates for a ban on the weaponization of space. 44 8468022022 DELHI | JAIPUR | PUNE | HYDERABAD | AHMEDABAD | LUCKNOW

• It is currently being discussed in the Conference on • Primary Objective: To demonstrate the ability Disarmament (CD). to soft-land on the lunar surface and operate • Till now, the parties have discussed various issues a robotic rover on the surface. and possible solutions. Some parties like the • Scientific Goals include studies of lunar Russian federation and Venezuela, have even topography, mineralogy, elemental pledged to not be the first to deploy any type of weapon in outer space. abundance, the lunar exosphere, and • It would prevent any nation from gaining a military signatures of hydroxyl and water ice. advantage in outer space. • Scientific Payload: It comprises a visible Related news terrain mapping camera, a neutral mass Recently ISRO launched a capacity building spectrometer, a synthetic aperture radar, a programme on Nanosatellite development named near infrared spectrometer, a radio UNNATI. occultation experiment, a soft X-ray • It is an initiative to commemorate the spectrometer and solar X-ray monitor. 50th anniversary of the first United Nations o The lander will carry a camera, conference on the exploration and peaceful uses seismometer, thermal profiler, and of outer space (UNISPACE+50). Langmuir probe, while the rover will hold • It would provide opportunities to the participating developing countries to strengthen in assembling, cameras, alpha-proton X-ray integrating and testing of Nanosatellite. spectrometer, and a laser-induced About Nanosatellite ablation spectroscopy experiment to • In mass classification a Nanosatellite is any satellite analyse the lunar soil. with mass from 1kg to 10kg. o It will also carry NASA-owned laser o Nanosatellite covers all CubeSats, PocketQubes, retroreflector arrays that allow scientists TubeSats, SunCubes and non-standard to make precise measurements of the picosatellites. distance to the Moon. • These satellites can reduce the cost of launching Related News because weight is the most important (and most About Chandrayan-1 expensive) aspect of launching an object into • Chandrayan-1 was launched by India in October, space. 2009 using PSLV-C11. • Many Nanosatellites are deployed together in • Primary Objective: To prepare a three-dimensional network of satellites (satellite constellation) that atlas of both near and far side of the moon and operates as a single entity which can capture chemical, mineralogical and photo-geological minute details. mapping of moon. • This system can provide people in poor, rural or • It carried 11 payloads from India, Europe and USA. low population density areas around the world (Chandrayaan-2 will carry 14 Indian payloads) with affordable, high-speed internet access which Findings of Chandrayan-1 is currently underserved due to high cost of • Detection of Water – Major finding was the traditional satellites. detection of Water (H2O) and Hydroxyl (OH) on the surface of the moon. The data revealed its 6.6. CHANDRAYAAN-2 presence in abundance around the polar region. • Magma Ocean Hypothesis – It confirmed the Why in News? Ocean Magma Hypothesis i.e. the moon was once ISRO is planning to launch Chandrayaan-2 mission completely in molten state. by mid-July 2019. • New Spinel-rich Rock – Data from Chandrayaan-1 have led to detection of new spinel-rich rock type Details on lunar far-side. • X-Ray signals detected– It detected x-ray signals • Chandrayaan-2 is a completely indigenous during weak solar flares thus indicating presence mission comprising of an Orbiter, Lander of magnesium, aluminium, silicon and calcium on (called Vikram) and Rover (called Pragyan). lunar surface. • It will be launched by Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mk III (GSLV-F10). 6.7. ASTROSAT • It will be ISRO’s first inter-planetary mission to land a rover on any celestial body. Why in news? • The mission will attempt to soft land a rover Indian multi-wavelength space observatory 600km from the lunar south pole. AstroSat discovered new population of ultraviolet o Only three countries have ever soft- stars in the globular cluster NGC 2808. landed on the moon— the United States, the U.S.S.R. and China.

Significance of the finding international customer satellites into their designated orbits. • Globular clusters are collections of thousands to millions of stars, moving as one unit. These Unique Features of PSLV-C45 stars are tightly held together by gravity of • It was the first time ISRO launched a rocket the cluster itself, and are believed to have that injected satellites in three different formed together at roughly the same time. orbits. • Since a globular cluster contains stars with a o Till now, these satellites have been variety of masses but with similar chemical ejected in two different orbits at the composition, a snapshot of it could reveal most, with only a marginal difference in stars of different masses at different stages of the vertical distances between the their evolution. satellites’ orbits. • Stars which are more massive than the Sun • For placing the satellites in 3 different orbits, will undergo different evolutionary paths, and the rocket needed to undertake 2 revolutions will be much brighter in the ultraviolet range around the Earth. This was achieved by since they are hotter. Hence globular clusters reigniting the 4th stage engines (employed are good laboratories to test theories of for the first time). Earlier missions used to be stellar evolution. “single-shot” operations in which the engines More about ASTROSAT used to fire just once. • The 4th and last stage of the rocket will • Launched in 2015, it is India’s first dedicated function as a satellite itself for some time, multi wavelength space observatory. It instead of being rendered junk after ejecting enables the simultaneous multi-wavelength its payloads. observations of various astronomical objects • Also, the rocket carried four strap-on motors with a single satellite. for first time. • It has 5 payloads which includes: o Strap-ons are booster rockets attached o Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (UVIT): externally to the main rocket, and provide capable of observing the sky in the Visible, additional thrust, or energy, by firing Near Ultraviolet and Far Ultraviolet themselves midway during the flight. regions of the electromagnetic spectrum. o In earlier flights, ISRO has used two or six o Large Area X-ray Proportional Counter strap-on motors. The four extra-large (LAXPC): It is designed for study the strap-ons used this time reduced the variations in the emission of X-rays from overall weight while still delivering the sources like X-ray binaries, Active Galactic power equivalent to six motors. Nuclei and other cosmic sources. About EMISAT o Soft X-ray Telescope (SXT): It is designed • Developed by DRDO under Project Kautilya, it is for studying how the X-ray spectrum of the primary satellite placed in sun-synchronous 0.3-8 keV range coming from distant polar orbit of 748 km height by PSLV-C45, intended celestial bodies varies with time. for electromagnetic spectrum measurement. o Cadmium Zinc Telluride Imager (CZTI): It • It is India's 1st Electronic Intelligence Satellite. It is functioning in the X-ray region, extends will increase the situational awareness of the the capability of the satellite to sense X- armed forces by providing the location and rays of high energy in 10-100 keV range. information of hostile radars placed at the borders. o Scanning Sky Monitor (SSM): It is intended to scan the sky for long term 6.9. BLACK HOLE monitoring of bright X-ray sources in Why in news? binary stars, and for the detection and location of sources that become bright in Recently, the Event Horizon Telescope revealed X-rays for a short duration of time. the first ever photograph of the shadow of a black hole. 6.8. PSLV C-45 About Black Hole Why in news? • A black hole is a region of space-time, which Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) exhibits the property of extremely intense successfully launched the PSLV-C45 rocket from gravitational force, which is so strong, that Satish Dhawan Space Centre SHAR, Sriharikota nothing, not even light, can escape it. (Andhra Pradesh), which injected EMISAT and 28 46 8468022022 DELHI | JAIPUR | PUNE | HYDERABAD | AHMEDABAD | LUCKNOW

• Black holes were predicted by the Einstein's 6.10. FORWARD SEARCH theory of general relativity, which showed that when a massive star dies, it leaves behind EXPERIMENT (FASER) a small, dense remnant core. Why in news? • If the core's mass is more than about three times the mass of the Sun, the force of gravity CERN have approved a new experiment named overwhelms all other forces and produces a FASER designed to identify light and weakly black hole. interacting particles. • In the center of a black hole is a gravitational Forward Search Experiment (FASER) singularity, a one-dimensional point which contains a huge mass in an infinitely small • FASER is a proposed experiment dedicated to space, where density and gravity become searching for light, extremely weakly- infinite and space-time curves infinitely, and interacting particles at the Large Hadron the laws of physics as we know them cease to Collider (LHC). operate. • Such particles may be produced in the LHC’s • Black holes cannot be directly observed high-energy collisions in large numbers in the because they themselves do not emit or far-forward region and then travel long radiate light, or any other electromagnetic distances through concrete and rock without waves that can be detected by instruments interacting. built by human beings. But the area just • A small and inexpensive detector placed in the outside the boundary of the black hole (Event far-forward region may therefore be capable Horizon), which has vast amounts of gas, of extremely sensitive searches. The FASER clouds and plasma swirling violently, emit all program is specifically designed to take kinds of radiations, including even visible advantage of this opportunity. light. Hence, the presence of black holes can • These particles may decay to visible particles be inferred by detecting their effect on other in FASER, which is placed 480 m downstream matter nearby them. of the ATLAS interaction point. • Now, the Event Horizon Telescope has captured the just outside region of a black Related Information hole, located 55 million light-years from Earth, • ATLAS is an enormous multi-purpose detector at the centre of a galaxy named Messier 87. situated at one of the crossing points of the two The image shows a photon (light quantum) oppositely directed proton beams of the Large can orbit the black hole without falling in. Hadron Collider's (LHC). Large Hadron Collider This is called the ‘last photon ring’. • The LHC accelerator, located at CERN on the • This finding enhances the understanding of French-Swiss border near Geneva, is housed in an gravitational force- which can be useful for enormous tunnel roughly 27 km in circumference the Global Positioning Satellites in order to and 100 m underground. make them accurate to more than a few • The LHC and its detectors were designed to study metres. the smallest fundamental building blocks that Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) make up our universe – to find out what these • A long-standing goal in astrophysics is to directly building blocks are and how they interact (and observe the immediate environment of a black don't interact) with one another. hole. The ‘event horizon’ is the boundary defining Physics Beyond Colliders (PBC) the region of space around a black hole from which • PBC is an exploratory study aimed at exploiting the nothing can escape. full scientific potential of CERN's accelerator • The EHT is an international collaboration to complex and its scientific infrastructure in the next continue the progress in achieving this goal, using two decades through projects complementary to the technique of Very Long Baseline the LHC, High Luminosity LHC (HL-LHC) and other interferometry (VLBI) at short wavelengths. possible future colliders. • In this technique, a network of 8 ground-based • FASER Programme is one such component of PBC. radio telescopes have been linked and exploit the Dark Matter rotation of our planet to form one virtual Earth- • Composition of the universe: 68% dark energy, 27% size telescope observing at a wavelength of 1.3 dark matter, 5% normal matter. mm. • The chief property of dark matter is that it is "dark", i.e. that it emits no light. • In addition, dark matter must interact with visible matter gravitationally. So, the dark matter must be massive enough to cause the gravitational 47 DELHI | JAIPUR | PUNE | HYDERABAD | AHMEDABAD | LUCKNOW 8468022022

effects that we see in galaxies and clusters of galaxies. 6.12. UNIVERSE’S FIRST • The two main categories of objects that scientists MOLECULE consider as possibilities for dark matter include MACHOs and WIMPs. Why in news? o MACHOs (Massive Compact Halo Objects): MACHOs are objects ranging in size Scientists have detected Helium hydride ion from small stars to super massive black holes. (HeH+), the first molecule to be formed in our MACHOS are made of ordinary matter (like universe, for the first time ever. protons, neutrons and electrons). They may be More on the news black holes, neutron stars, or brown dwarfs. o WIMPs (Weakly Interacting Massive • Helium hydride, was detected roughly 3,000 Particles): WIMPs are the subatomic particles light-years from Earth by NASA's which are not made up of ordinary matter. Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared They are "weakly interacting" because they Astronomy (SOFIA). can pass through ordinary matter without any • It was detected in a planetary nebula, NGC effects. They are "massive" in the sense of having mass (whether they are light or heavy 7027. Planetary Nebula is a cloud of dust and depends on the particle). The prime gas in outer space formed when a star, at the candidates include neutrinos, axions, and end of its lifetime, blows off its outer layers as neutralinos. it runs out of fuel to burn. 6.11. GRAPES-3 Details • Almost 14 billion years ago, after Big Bang Why in news? when universe cooled down, ionised For the first time in the world, researchers at the hydrogen and neutral helium atoms reacted GRAPES-3 muon telescope facility in Ooty recently to form HeH+. measured the electrical potential, size and height • As this process progressed, HeH+ reacted of a thundercloud simultaneously. with neutral hydrogen and created molecular hydrogen, marking the beginning of star More on news formation and modern universe. • Learning about the properties of Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy thunderclouds can be useful in following (SOFIA) ways: • It is a Boeing 747SP aircraft modified to carry a 106- inch diameter telescope. o Navigation of aircraft and preventing • short circuits. It is a joint project of NASA and the German Aerospace Centre. o If its energy could be harnessed, it would change the landscape of the energy 6.13. CHINA’S ARTIFICIAL SUN sector. This thunderstorm cloud carried about 2 gigawatts (GW) of power, making Why in news? this single cloud more powerful than most powerful nuclear power plants China has recently reported that it is close to in the world. completing its “artificial sun”- Experimental • Gamma Ray Astronomy PeV EnergieS phase-3 Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST) (GRAPES-3) is designed to study cosmic rays reactor, after it achieved an ion temperature of with an array of air shower detectors and a 100 million degrees Celsius. large area muon detector. Background o It is a collaboration of the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai, India • Nuclear fusion has been the focus of the and the Osaka City University, Osaka, researchers as the solution for clean energy, Japan. which can replace the conventional sources of • Muons and other particles are produced when energy like coal, oil, gas etc. cosmic rays bombard air particles surrounding • But the application and control of fusion the earth. The muons produced can have process is not easy to harness. A very high positive or negative charge. These particles pressure and temperature is required to have about half the spin of electrons but 200 initiate the fusion process. Even if those times the weight, and are very good at conditions are created, then the energy penetrating matter.

generated during the process is prone to the plasma away from the reactor's walls, so bursts, which can be deadly. that it doesn't cool down and lose its energy • The scientists have been working on potential. harnessing this process from a long time, the • Three conditions must be fulfilled to achieve most prominent among them being the fusion in a laboratory: International Thermonuclear Experimental o Very high temperature (on the order of Reactor (ITER). 15million Celsius); • China is working on an Experimental o Sufficient plasma particle density (to Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST) increase the likelihood that collisions do reactor — an "artificial sun" designed to occur); mimic the nuclear fusion process the real Sun o Sufficient confinement time for fusion to uses to generate energy. occur • The machine, called HL-2M Tokamak, is being constructed at the Southwestern Institute of Physics in China. International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor • It is an international nuclear fusion research and engineering megaproject, which will be the world's largest magnetic confinement plasma physics experiment. • The project is funded and run by seven member entities—the European Union, India, Japan, China, Russia, South Korea, and the United States. Significance of Nuclear Fusion • The goal of ITER is to demonstrate the scientific and technological feasibility of fusion energy for • Sustainability- Fusion fuels are widely peaceful use. available and nearly inexhaustible. Deuterium • The tokamak is an experimental machine designed can be distilled from all forms of water, while to harness the energy of fusion. Inside a tokamak, tritium will be produced during the fusion the energy produced through the fusion of atoms reaction as fusion neutrons interact with is absorbed as heat in the walls of the vessel. lithium. Nuclear Fusion Process • Environment friendly- Fusion doesn't emit harmful toxins like carbon dioxide or other • It involves light elements, such as hydrogen, greenhouse gases into the atmosphere smashing together to form heavier elements, • Limited risk of proliferation: Fusion doesn't such as helium. For fusion to occur, hydrogen employ fissile materials like uranium and atoms are placed under high heat and plutonium pressure until they fuse together. When this • happens, a tremendous amount of energy is No risk of meltdown: A Fukushima-type released in the process. nuclear accident is not possible in a tokamak fusion device. It is difficult enough to reach • Reaction between two hydrogen isotopes, and maintain the precise conditions necessary deuterium (D) and tritium (T) has been for fusion—if any disturbance occurs, the identified as the most efficient fusion plasma cools within seconds and the reaction reaction in the laboratory setting. The DT stops. fusion reaction produces the highest energy gain at the "lowest" temperatures. 6.14. NANO-PHARMACEUTICALS • At extreme temperatures, electrons are separated from nuclei and a gas becomes a Why in News? plasma—an ionized state of matter similar to a gas. Department of Biotechnology under Ministry of • Composed of electrons and ions, plasmas are Science and Technology has prepared draft very tenuous environments, nearly one million guidelines for evaluation of nano-pharmaceuticals times less dense than the air we breathe. in India. Fusion plasmas provide the environment in Background which light elements can fuse and yield energy. • Conversion of any material in nanoscale • The tokamak device uses magnetic fields to results in alteration of its physicochemical, contain and control the hot plasma, to keep biological, mechanical, optical, electronic, etc.

properties which can be utilized for different bioavailability, better encapsulation, useful activities. control release and reduction of toxic • Nano-pharmaceutical is an emerging field that potential. Examples: albumin, combines nanotechnology with chitosan, gelatin, polycaprolactone pharmaceutical and biomedical science with etc. the goal of targeted drug delivery which may ✓ Nonbiodegradable nanoparticles are improve efficacy and safety profile. relatively less used in pharmaceutical • There are no uniform internationally products (though these systems are acceptable guidelines for nano- more commonly used in pharmaceuticals. cosmeceuticals). Almost all non- • The main challenges faced by regulatory biodegradable nanoparticles have institutions in India include: regulatory potential to toxic effects. Examples: capacity, information asymmetry, Inter- titanium oxide, iron oxide, and metals agency coordination, overlapping roles and such as gold, silver, platinum, etc. mandates etc. o According to nature of nanomaterial: Benefits of nano-pharmaceuticals include: Nanomaterial may be organic or inorganic • It overcomes the limitations of the conventional in nature. It may also be multicomponent drug delivery systems and precision targeting via nanoparticle. nano-pharmaceuticals reduces toxic systemic side ✓ Organic Nanoparticles: are the effects, resulting in better patient compliance. nanomaterials or nanoparticles • They offer the ability to detect diseases at much composed of organic compounds like earlier stages and the diagnostic applications could lipids, proteins, carbohydrates. They build upon conventional procedures using have been primarily developed for nanoparticles. • Nano pharmaceutical reduces the cost of drug drug delivery to reduce or overcome discovery, design & development and enhances the risk of toxicity. the drug delivery process. ✓ Inorganic Nanoparticles: are more Related information stable than organic nanostructures. Mission on Nano Science and Technology (Nano They are easier to prepare with a Mission) defined size and a very narrow size • Ministry of Science and Technology launched the distribution. However, most of the Nano Mission in 2007 as an "umbrella capacity- inorganic nanoparticles may not be building programme". biodegradable. • The Mission's programmes will target all scientists, ✓ Multicomponent nanoparticles are institutions and industry in the country. the nanoparticles composed of two or • It will also strengthen activities in nano science and technology by promoting basic research, human more different materials. resource development, research infrastructure o According to nanoform of the ingredient: development, international collaborations, ✓ A nanocarrier is a nanomaterial being orchestration of national dialogues and nano used as a transport module for applications and technology development. another substance like a drug. • It is steered by a Nano Mission Council chaired by ✓ Some of the conventional/traditional an eminent scientist. drugs may be converted into Salient features of the Draft guidelines nanocrystals, thereby increasing their potential for improved dissolution • Defines nano-pharmaceuticals: as a and bioavailability. pharmaceutical preparation containing o According to the approval status of drug nanomaterials (size scale range of 1 to and nanomaterial. 100nm) intended for internal or external • It mandates that the stability testing of application on the body for the purpose of nanopharmaceuticals should be done therapeutics, diagnostics and any health according to the general requirements benefit. specified in Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945. • Categorises nano pharmaceuticals: o According to degradability of 6.15. GRAPHENE nanomaterial: ✓ Biodegradable nanoparticles have Why in news? been used frequently as drug delivery Researchers at Delhi’s National Physical vehicles due to its improved Laboratory (CSIR-NPL) have designed a low-

pressure chemical vapour deposition (LPCVD) • The Vienna Agreement (1973) establishes a device that allows high quality, single-layer classification (the Vienna Classification) for marks graphene to be grown. that consist of, or contain, figurative elements. • About Graphene The International Patent Classification (1971) is used to classify patents and utility models • It is a single layer (monolayer) of carbon according to the different areas of technology to atoms, tightly bound in a hexagonal which they pertain. It was established by honeycomb lattice. the Strasbourg Agreement. • It is an allotrope (property of some chemical elements to exist in two or more different 6.17. NEWS IN SHORT forms, in the same physical state) of carbon. • Graphene is the thinnest compound known to 6.17.1. PRIORITY WATCH LIST man at one atom thick, the lightest material • known, the best conductor of heat at room India has been retained on the “priority watch temperature and also the best conductor of list" in the latest Special 301 report released electricity known. by the United States Trade Representative (USTR). • It is also 100-300 times stronger than steel. • The Special 301 Report (Report) is the result • Other notable properties of graphene are of an annual review of the state of IP its uniform absorption of light across the protection and enforcement in U.S. trading visible and near-infrared parts of the partners around the world. spectrum and its potential suitability for use • in spin transport (where electron spin is Each year the USTR identifies countries which manipulated instead of charge for information do not provide "adequate and effective" processing). protection of intellectual property rights or "fair and equitable market access to United 6.16. CABINET NOD FOR JOINING States persons that rely upon intellectual property rights NICE, VIENNA, LOCARNO • The report ranks countries mainly into two AGREEMENTS categories - priority foreign country (PFC) and priority watch list (PWL). Why in News? • While a PFC grading obligates the US Trade Recently the Union Cabinet approved the Representative (USTR) to initiate unilateral proposal for Accession of India to the measures like suspension of trade Nice, Vienna and Locarno Agreements, related to concessions in case of failure of negotiation, the World Intellectual Property Organization’s the PWL increases “bilateral attention (WIPO) international classification systems. concerning the problem areas.” Background 6.17.2. ATMOSPHERIC WAVES • Applicants for national or international IP EXPERIMENT protection are required to determine whether their creation is new or owned/claimed by • The NASA has selected a new mission someone else. To determine this, huge Atmospheric Waves Experiment (AWE) and is amounts of information must be searched. expected to be launched in August 2022, • International classifications facilitate such attached to the exterior of the Earth-orbiting searches by organizing information International Space Station. concerning inventions, trademarks and • It will investigate how waves in the lower industrial designs into indexed, manageable atmosphere, caused by variations in the structures for easy retrieval. densities of different packets of air, impact • WIPO administers various Classification the upper atmosphere. treaties/agreements for this purpose. • The experiment will focus on colourful bands WIPO-Administered Treaties for Classifications: of light in Earth's atmosphere, called airglow, • The Nice Agreement (1957) establishes a to determine what combination of forces classification of goods and services for the drive space weather in the upper purposes of registering trademarks and service atmosphere. marks (the Nice Classification).

• The Locarno Agreement (1968) establishes a classification for industrial designs (the Locarno Classification).

6.17.3. LUNAR RECONNAISSANCE • It’s country's first indigenously-produced ORBITER microprocessor for SPARC ISA architecture. • India recently also had its first indigenously- • NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) developed open-source processor in the form has observed water molecules moving around of Shakti (developed by IIT Madras). That was the dayside of Moon. instead based on RISC-V architecture. • LRO is a robotic mission that set out to map • The other main difference between the two is the moon's surface. that Shakti is smaller and geared towards • It was the first mission within the Lunar smartphones and IoT devices. Ajit instead is Precursor and Robotic Program (LPRP) which aimed at larger systems like robots, aims at gathering data important for reducing automation systems, appliances, and in the the risks of returning humans to the moon by future perhaps even servers and 2020. workstations. • LRO’s recent finding could help us learn about accessibility of water that can be used by 6.17.8. ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE humans in future lunar missions. SUMMIT 6.17.4. BARESHEET MISSION • United Arab Emirates (UAE) is set to host the world’s foremost Artificial Intelligence summit • Recently, first private funded mission named named: 'AI Everything’ (AiF). Baresheet Lender, launched by Israel private • It will be hosted by the UAE’s National firm SpaceIL, crashed on moon surface. Programme for Artificial Intelligence, with the • The mission was inspired by the Google Lunar support of International Telecommunication X prize an international competition to land a Union (ITU) and World Intellectual Property probe on the moon. However, the prize (WIPO). expired unclaimed in 2018. • The high-octane content at Ai Everything will • If mission was successful it would be both the feature various industry tracks in artificial first Israeli moon mission and the first private intelligence including education, finance, mission to do so. healthcare, transportation, Energy, government & smart cities etc. 6.17.5. HOPE PROBE PROJECT ITU • It was found in 1865 to facilitate international • The UAE Space Agency and Mohammed bin connectivity in communications networks. Rashid Space Centre recently announced that • It acts as specialised agency of United Nation and 85% of the Hope Probe project has been Indian is member of it. completed. • It allocates global radio spectrum and satellite • Hope Probe is an ambitious project of UAE to orbits, develop the technical standards that ensure send a mission to Mars. It is the first Arab interconnected network. probe to be launched to explore an exoplanet. 6.17.9. ABEL PRIZE 6.17.6. HONEYPOT • The Abel Prize in mathematics was awarded to Karen Uhlenbeck, the first woman to win • Cybercriminals attempted attacks on a the award for her pioneering achievements in Mumbai Cloud server honeypot more than geometric partial differential equations. 678,000 times in a month. • The Abel Prize was established on 1 January • A honeypot is a system intended to mimic 2002, it is named after Swedish likely targets of cyber attackers for security mathematician Niels Henrik Abel (1802-29). researchers to monitor cybercriminal • The purpose is to award the Abel Prize for behaviour. outstanding scientific work in the field of • Recently, honeypots were set-up in 10 of the mathematics most popular Amazon Web Services (AWS) • The International Mathematical Union and the data centres in the world. European Mathematical Society nominate members of the Abel Committee, who in turn 6.17.7. AJIT recommend recipients to The Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters, which • Recently, a team from IIT Bombay unveiled a awards the Abel Laureate. chip designed, AJIT.

• In 2007 Indian-born New York University o Mazagaon Dock Shipbuilders Limited, professor Srinivasa SR Varadhan won the Mumbai has been entrusted to build four Abel Prize for mathematics for his guided missile destroyers under Project fundamental contributions to probability 15B (P 15B). theory. o The design of P15B ships has been developed in house by the Directorate of 6.17.10. ROYAL SOCIETY OF LONDON Naval Design. o These ships are amongst the most • Recently, Gagandeep Kang became the first technologically advanced Guided Missile Indian woman scientist getting selected as a Destroyers of the world, with state-of-the- fellow of the Royal Society (FRS) London. art weapon/sensor package, advanced • Other prominent past fellows include: stealth features and a high degree of Srinivasa Ramanujan, Jagdish Chandra Bose, automation. C.V. Raman etc. o The Navy had earlier launched INS • Royal society is a self-governing fellowship Vishakhapatnam and INS Mormugao made up of the most eminent scientists, under Project 15B. engineers and technologists from the UK and the Commonwealth. Fellows and Foreign 6.17.14. NIRBHAY MISSILE Members are elected for life through a peer review process on the basis of excellence in • Defence Research and Development science. Organisation (DRDO) successfully test-fired its first indigenously designed and developed 6.17.11. CANDIDA AURIS long-range sub-sonic cruise missile 'Nirbhay' from a test range in Odisha. • Recent studies conducted by various medical • The missile can be launched from multiple institutions highlighted the increasing cases of platforms and is capable of carrying Candid auris in hospitalised patients. conventional and nuclear warheads. • It is a multidrug resistance yeast (also known • The missile is capable of loitering and cruising as C. auris) which causes fungal disease- at 0.7 Mach at altitude as low as 100 metre Candidiasis, a serious illness often affects with a range of 700 km to 1,000 km. After its hospitalised patients having weak immune launch in typical missile style, it can be system. controlled in aircraft mode. 6.17.12. I-STEM PORTAL • The guidance, control and navigation systems of the missile are configured around the • The government is all set to launch— Indian indigenously designed Ring Laser Gyroscope Science, Technology and Engineering and MEMS based, inertial Navigation System. Facilities Map (I-STEM) portal, developed by IISc Bangalore. 6.17.15. OPERATION SUNRISE • It is a national portal of publicly-funded • Indian forces and Myanmar Army conducted a research facilities and equipment to enable joint operation “Operation Sunrise” easy and timely access of resources to • The operation targeted Myanmar insurgent researchers working anywhere in the group, Arakan Army, and a North-East Indian country. insurgent group the NSCN (K), • It would enable them to compare the usage • It was required as Arakan Army threatened charges, make payments and schedule the the Kaladan multi-mode transit project, a joint time-slots. project of India and Myanmar which seeks to • It will avoid duplication of expensive link Kolkata with Sitwe in Myanmar through equipment thus bringing down the cost of sea route. It would have provided another doing research in India. route to reach Mizoram from Kolkata. 6.17.13. INS IMPHAL 6.17.16. MILITARY EXERCISES • The Indian Navy recently launched its third • AFINDEX-19: It is a joint field training exercises guided missile destroyer (INS Imphal) as part between Indian Army and Armies of 17- of its Project 15B. African Nations. • Project 15B • Sampriti – 2019: It is the 8th edition of joint military exercise between Indian and 53 DELHI | JAIPUR | PUNE | HYDERABAD | AHMEDABAD | LUCKNOW 8468022022

Bangladesh Army to increase inter-operability • Bold Kurukshetra 2019: It is a joint military and cooperation between the two. exercise between India and Singapore. • Mainamati Maitree Exercise-2019: It is a series • Indian Navy-Vietnam Peoples’ Navy Bilateral of joint exercise between Border Security Exercise (IN – VPN BILAT EX): It is 2nd edition Force (BSF) and Border Guards Bangladesh of the bilateral maritime exercise between (BGB) conducted at Tripura-Bangladesh Indian Navy and Vietnam Peoples’ Navy. boarder. Its aim is to conduct anti-smuggling, • Exercise Varuna: It is the naval exercise tackle illegal migration activity at integrated between India and France. check-post with ultimate aim of achieving better border management.

7. CULTURE 7.1. 100 YEARS OF JALLIANWALA o He also directed that Amritsar's popular leaders Satyapal and Saifuddin Kitchlew BAGH MASSACRE be deported to some ''unknown place''. They had been agitating against the Why in news? implementation of Rowlatt Act, 13th April, 2019 marked the 100 years of the o On Baisakhi day, people gathered in the historical Jallianwalla Bagh Massacre. small park for peaceful protest against arrest of their leaders. Details o The army surrounded the gathering under • The Anarchical and Revolutionary Crimes Act orders from General Reginald Dyer, who of 1919, better known as the Rowlatt Act, was given a free hand by Governor came into force in March 1919, even though Michael O’ Dwyer. The only exit point was every single Indian member of the Central blocked, and army opened fire on the Legislative Council opposed it. unarmed crowd, killing more than 1000. • The Rowlatt Act bestowed on the Aftermath Government the power: o to set up special courts consisting of • Mahatma Gandhi was overwhelmed by the three High Court Judges for specified atmosphere of violence and withdrew the offences; Rowlatt satyagraha on 18th April, 1919. o to direct execution of bond for good • Rabindranath Tagore renounced his behaviour; internment within city knighthood in protest. reporting at police station; and abstention • On 14 October 1919, after orders issued by from specific acts; and the Secretary of State for India, Edwin o to arrest anybody suspected of terrorist Montagu, the Government of India activities, detain them for up to 2 years announced the formation of a committee of without trial, search a place without a inquiry into the events in Punjab. warrant, and impose severe restrictions o Referred to as the Disorders Inquiry on the freedom of the press. Committee, it was later more widely • It shocked most Indians who had expected to known as the Hunter Commission. be rewarded, not punished, for willingly o Congress boycotted this committee. fighting alongside the British in the First o The Hunter Commission did not impose World War. any penal or disciplinary action because • Immediately after the passage of the Rowlatt Dyer's actions were condoned by various Act, B.N.Sarma resigned his office as member superiors (later upheld by the Army of the Imperial Legislative Council. Council). • The Madras Satyagraha Sabha under the o Dyer was initially lauded by conservatives leadership of C.Rajagopalachari, in the empire, but in July 1920 he was A.Rangaswamy Iyengar, G.Harisarvottama censured and forced to retire by the Rao and T.Andhinarayana Chetty opposed the House of Commons. He was disciplined by Rowlatt Act. being removed from his appointment, • Mahatma Gandhi called for a satyagraha was passed over for promotion and was against the act (Rowlatt Satyagraha). The prohibited from further employment in hartal was observed on 6 April 1919 after the India. Viceroy gave his assent to the Rowlatt Bill. • Mahatma Gandhi, in 1920, returned the Kaiser- • But even before the satyagraha there were i-Hind medal awarded to him after the Boer large-scale violent, anti-British demonstrations War by the British Government as a part of his in Calcutta, Bombay, Delhi, Ahmedabad, etc. movement against Punjab and khilafat • In Punjab, the situation was tense under the injustice. oppressive regime of lieutenant governor Sir • The corrupt mahants of the Golden temple Michael O' Dwyer who had imposed martial honoured General Dyer with a saropa (robe of law. honour), which led to the agitation that o It was under his orders that Gandhi was resulted in the formation of a committee arrested at Palwal near Delhi and known as Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak prevented from entering Punjab. Committee (SGPC), which was given the 55 DELHI | JAIPUR | PUNE | HYDERABAD | AHMEDABAD | LUCKNOW 8468022022

control and management of the Golden • He was the chairman of Advisory Committee Temple, the Akal Takht, and other on Fundamental Rights, Minorities and Tribal Gurudwaras. and Excluded Areas of the Constituent • Accepting the report of the Repressive Laws Assembly. Committee, the Government of India repealed • He was the first Home Minister of the the Rowlatt Act, the Press Act, and twenty- country. two other laws in March 1922. • He was bestowed with the country's highest • Udham Singh, a revolutionary belonging to civilian award, Bharat Ratna, posthumously in the Ghadar Party assassinated Michael O' 1991. Dwyer in London, on 13 March 1940. Kheda Satyagraha (1918) – First Non Cooperation • It was Satyagraha movement organized by 7.2. SARDAR VALLABHBHAI Mohandas Gandhi in Kheda district of Gujarat. • It was the third Satyagraha movement after PATEL Champaran Satyagraha and Ahmedabad mill strike. • Why in news? Gandhi organised this movement to support peasants of the Kheda district. On occasion of the 89th anniversary of the iconic • People of Kheda were unable to pay the high taxes Dandi March, PM Modi published a blog paying levied by the British due to crop failure and a tributes to the contributions made by Sardar plague epidemic. Vallabhbhai Patel to the movement. Bardoli Satyagraha (1928) • The Bardoli Satyagraha movement was started in Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and Dandi March January 1928 after the land revenue in Bardoli taluka was increased by 30 per cent. • He played a very significant role in mobilizing • In February 1928, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel was people for the Dandi march (Salt Satyagraha). called to lead the movement. • Patel was arrested five days before the march • It was Bardoli satyagraha where Vallabhbhai patel was scheduled. He was sentenced to three got title "Sardar" by women. months imprisonment and lodged at Sabarmati jail in Ahmedabad. The news of 7.3. 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF Patel’s arrest shook the entire population of BATTLE OF KOHIMA Gujarat who rose up in protest against the government. Why in News? About Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Recently 75th anniversary of the Battle of Kohima • He was a political and social leader of India was observed by the Nagaland government. who played a major role in the country's Related News struggle for independence and subsequently Platinum Jubilee Commemoration of Battle of Kangla guided its integration into a united, Tongbi – It was fought in 1944 and is considered one of independent nation. He was called the "Iron the fiercest battles of World War II. Japanese forces Man of India". had planned a three-pronged offensive to capture • He already had a successful practice as a Imphal and the surrounding areas. lawyer when he was first inspired by the work About Battle of Kohima and philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi. • • Patel subsequently organised the peasants of Context: o Kheda, Borsad, and Bardoli in Gujarat in a The British and Indian Fourteenth Army, non-violent civil disobedience movement was building up logistical bases at against oppressive policies imposed by the Dimapur and Imphal for an eventual British Raj; in this role, he became one of the offensive into Burma in the course of most influential leaders in Gujarat. Second World War. o • He is also remembered as the "Patron Saint" In March 1944, the Japanese 15th Army of India's civil servants for establishing began an advance against India’s north- modern all-India services. east frontier to forestall a planned British invasion of Burma. • He was elected President of the Indian o The fighting in and around Kohima in the National Congress in 1931 (Karachi Session). spring of 1944 was part of a larger • He took charge of the task to forge a united Japanese offensive, known as “Operation India from the 565 semi-autonomous princely U-Go”. states and British-era colonial provinces.

• Strategic location of Kohima - This was the his capital to Golconda (later in 1591 capital route the Japanese intended to take to was shifted to newly formed Hyderabad). invade India from Burma, by capturing the • Though they started off by introducing British supply bases on the Imphal Plain and Persian as the official language; they later cut the road linking Dimapur and Imphal at started using Telugu as the primary language Kohima. With Imphal in their hands, the of administration in the kingdom; earning Japanese would be able to interrupt air them the title of ‘Telugu Sultans’. supplies to China and to conduct air attacks • The dynasty ruled Golconda for 171 years, until against India. the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb conquered • Battle of Kohima: the Deccan in 1687. o It was fought between the Allied Forces • Some examples of Golcondan Indo-Persian and the Japanese Army on the Naga Hills architecture are the Golconda Fort, tombs of in three stages from April to June 1944. the Qutb Shahis, Char Minar and the Char o The Nagas were drawn into it on both Kaman, Mecca Masjid and the Toli mosque. sides some with the British and some with the Japanese. 7.5. KONYAK DANCE • Consequences of the Battle: o The defeat sealed the fate of Tokyo’s Why in News? imperial ambitions in South Asia. • The Guinness World Records has o The huge losses the Japanese suffered in acknowledged Konyak Dance as the "largest the Battle of Kohima weighed heavily on traditional dance”, in which around 4,700 them during the next phase of the war, Konyak Naga women in their colourful allowing the Allied to take control of traditional attire came together to perform Burma in 1945. largest "Traditional Konyak Dance". o In 2013, the National Army Museum of • It was organised during the “Aoleang Monyu” London, voted the Battle of Kohima and festival of the Konyak tribe, which is Imphal as “Britain’s Greatest Battle” celebrated in the first week of April every beating out Battle of D-Day and Battle of year to welcome the spring Waterloo. o The Battle is often referred to as the About Konyak Tribe “Stalingrad of the East”. • Konyak is one of the 16 Naga tribes, known for its fierce head-hunting history. 7.4. CHARMINAR • They mainly live in the Mon district of Nagaland however they are also found in Why in news? Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and Myanmar. Recently, from the south-west minaret of the • They are easily distinguishable from other Charminar suffered major damage. Naga tribes by their pierced ears; and tattoos Details which they have all over their faces, hands, chests, arms, and calves. • Charminar (also referred as Arc de Triomphe • Other unique traditional practices of Konyaks of the East) is a monument and a mosque, are: Gunsmithing, iron-smelting, brass-works, which was completed in 1591 CE. and gunpowder-making. • It is believed that Mohammed Quli Qutb • Konyak Dance: Dancers dance to the beats of Shahi, the fifth sultan of the Qutub Shahi traditional instruments and sing a ceremonial dynasty had built the monument to song along the dance. commemorate the end of a deadly plague menace that had gripped the city then. Spring Festivals of India • It is located near the bank of the river Musi. Festival Region • It is an example for Indo-Islamic architecture Chapchar kut Mizoram combined with few Persian elements. Garia puja Tripura Myoko Festival Apatanis of Arunachal Pradesh Qutb Sahi Dynasty (1518–1687), Moaste and Tsichye Aos and the Rengma Tribe of • It was one of the five successor states of the Nagaland Bahmani kingdom. Lai Haroba Manipur • The founder was Quli Quṭb Shah. Quṭb Shah Mopin Galo tribe in Arunachal Pradesh Aoleang Konyak tribe of Nagaland's declared his independence in 1518 and moved

Gangaur Rajasthan published during the last 10 years in any of Holi North India the languages mentioned in Schedule 8 of the Vasant Panchami North India constitution. Tulip Festival Kashmir • The award comprises of a citation and a Bohag Bihu Assam plaque apart from award money of 15 lakh Baisakhi Punjab rupees. Thrissur Pooram Kerala • Besides the Saraswati Samman, the K.K.Birla Gudi Padwa Maharashtrian foundation also gives away two other literary Ugadi Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka awards Vyas Samman and Bihari Puraskar. 7.6. NAVROZ FESTIVAL 7.7.2. LALIT KALA AKADEMI

Why in news? • Lalit Kala Akademi recently announced the The Parsi community recently celebrated the winners of the 60th Annual Academy Awards. annual festival of Navroz. • It is an autonomous organisation under the Ministry of Culture, established in 1954, by Background the then Minister for Education, Maulana Abul • Navroz (meaning ‘new day’) is a 3,000-year- Kalam Azad. It is fully funded by Ministry of old Zoroastrian tradition which includes a Culture. ritual celebration that signals the start of • It is the Government’s apex cultural body in Spring and the Persian new year. the field of visual arts in India. • In more modern times, in A.D. 1079, a king of • It has headquarters at New Delhi and regional Iran named Jalaluddin Malekshah started centers at Bhubaneswar, Chennai, Garhi observing it on March 21. (Delhi), Kolkata, Lucknow and Shimla. • In the 18th century, a rich tradesman from • It organizes international level exchanges and Surat, Nusservanji Kohyaji, who often co-operation in the field of art, promotes co- travelled to Iran, came to know about Navroz operation among artists and various and began celebrating the day back home; organizations, awards scholarships etc. that brought the festival to India. Over a • The Fellow of the Lalit Kala Akademi is period of time, the festival was introduced in regarded as the highest honour conferred on India on a wide scale by members of the Parsi an artist by the Lalit Kala Akademi. community. • It has been recognized as an Intangible 7.7.3. RECENT GI TAGS Cultural Heritage by the UNESCO in 2016. 14 products from different States accorded GI tags Other Festivals celebrating New Year so far this year. • Navreh (Kashmiri New year) State Product • Losar (Tibetan New Year) Odisha • Kandhamal Turmeric: Grown • Rongali Bihu (Assamese New Year) organically by tribals in Kandhamal • Baisakhi (Punjabi New Year) district and has high antimicrobial, • Pohela Boishakh (Bengali New Year) anti‐inflammatory property and anti- • Gudi padwa (Marathi & Konkani New Year) carcinogenic quality. • Puthandu (Tamil New Year) Tamil Nadu • Erode Turmeric: It has distinctive • Pana Sankranti (Odia New Year) golden yellow colour and also • Ugadi (Telugu New Year) characteristic sweet taste and • Vishu (Malayali New Year) aroma. • Thirubuvanam Silk Sarees 7.7. NEWS IN SHORT Karnataka • Sirsi Supari: It is the first in the arecanut sector to get a GI Tag. It 7.7.1. SARASWATI SAMMAN has a unique taste due to differences in chemical composition • Telugu poet K Siva Reddy was conferred with and the total average flavonoids the prestigious Saraswati Samman for 2018, content in it is around 90 whereas in for his collection of poems titled Pakkaki others it is around 80. Ottigilite (Turning Aside While Lying Down). • Coorg Arabica Coffee • Chikmagalur Arabica Coffee • This prestigious award instituted by K.K.Birla • Bababudangiris Arabica Coffee foundation is given every year to an outstanding work of an Indian citizen 58 8468022022 DELHI | JAIPUR | PUNE | HYDERABAD | AHMEDABAD | LUCKNOW

Kerala • Marayoor jaggery: High sweetness Uttar • Chunar Balua Patthar (sandstone): with less saltiness, high iron Pradesh It is the second GI tag under natural content, less sodium, less insoluble goods after Makrana Marble of impurities, organic method of Rajasthan. production are its special features. Himachal • Himachali Chulli (Apricot) oil • Wayanad Robusta Coffee Pradesh • Himachali Kala Zeera (Black cumin) Andhra • Araku Valley Arabica Coffee: It is Pradesh grown around Visakhapatnam district in Andhra Pradesh and Koraput district in Odisha. Chattisgarh • Jeeraphool: It is a superfine variety of rice.

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