May -2018 UPSC/IAS Current Affairs

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May -2018 UPSC/IAS Current Affairs

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May -2018 UPSC/IAS Current Affairs ‘GOBAR-DHAN scheme’ Significance of this outcome (GS2: Government policies for development in The buoyancy in the tax revenue of GST reflects various sectors) the upswing in the economy and better Issue: Union Minister for Drinking Water and compliance. Sanitation, Sushri Uma Bharti, today launched the Source: GOBAR (Galvanizing Organic Bio-Agro http://pib.nic.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=15 Resources - DHAN scheme at the National Dairy 30774 Research Institute (NDRI) Auditorium, Karnal in ‘Labour Day’ the presence of the Chief Minister of Haryana, (Facts that could be asked in Prelims) Shri Manohar Lal Khattar. Issue: May Day, Labour Day or Workers‘ Day, About the scheme the 1st day of the month of May is recognized as The scheme aims to positively impact village International Labour Day to celebrate the strength cleanliness and generate wealth and energy from and dedication of the working class. cattle and organic waste. The scheme also aims at History of May Day celebrations creating new rural livelihood opportunities and Basically a European Spring festival, 1 May was enhancing income for farmers and other rural chosen to be International Workers' Day to people. The Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin) commemorate the 1886 Haymarket affair in comprises two main components for creating clean Chicago. villages – creating open defecation free (ODF) Labour Day has its origins in the labour union villages and managing solid and liquid waste in movement, specifically the eight-hour day villages. With over 3.5 lakh villages, 374 districts movement, which advocated eight hours for work, and 16 States/UTsof the country being declared eight hours for recreation, and eight hours for rest. ODF, the stage is set for ODF-plus activities, For most countries, Labour Day is synonymous including measures to enhance solid and liquid with, or linked with, International Workers' Day, waste management. The GOBAR-DHAN scheme, which occurs on 1 May. with its focus on keeping villages clean, increasing Labour Day in India is more popularly known as the income of rural households, and generation of May-Day. It was first celebrated in Chennai on energy from cattle waste, is an important element May 1, 1923. The initiative was taken by the of this ODF-plus strategy. The scheme envisages Labour Kisan Party of Hindustan. The leader of the implementation of 700 bio-gas units in the party, Comrade Singaravelar arranged two different states of the country in 2018-19. meetings to celebrate this occasion. Source: One meeting was held at the [Triplicane] Beach, http://pib.nic.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=15 and the other took place at the beach opposite 30719 Madras High Court. On the meeting, Singaravelar ‘GST revenue collection’ passed a resolution which stated that the (GS3: Indian Economy) government should announce a national holiday Issue: The total Gross GST revenue collected in on the May Day or Labour Day in India. He also the month of April 2018 is Rs.1,03,458 crore of emphasized the need for non-violence within a which CGST is Rs18,652 crore, SGST is political party. This was the first time that a red Rs.25,704 crore, IGST is Rs. 50,548 crore flag was used in India. (including 21,246 crore collected on imports) and Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life- Cess is Rs.8554 crore (including Rs.702 crore style/events/labour-day-2018-wishes-quotes- collected on imports). history-images/articleshow/63983870.cms April was also the month for filing of Quarterly ‘World Asthma Day 2018’ Return for Composition Dealers. Out of 19.31 (GS2: Issues related to Health) lakh Composition Dealers, 11.47 lakh have filed Issue: On the eve of World Asthma Day (May 1), their Quarterly Return (GSTR 4) which is 59.40% studies reveal one among every ten persons and have paid total tax of Rs.579 crores, which is affected by asthma globally is an Indian, with the included in the above figure of Rs.1.03 lakh crore country having 20 million such patients and the of total GST collection. number is on the rise

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May -2018 UPSC/IAS Current Affairs The study says while the number of asthmatic Asthma causes three main changes to the airways patients in India is quiet high, the attacks are not inside the lungs, and all these can happen together: as frequent as in Australia and certain European * the thin layer of muscle within the wall of an countries where asthma has a higher rate due to airway can contract to make it tighter and certain genetic reasons. narrower – reliever medicines work by relaxing Asthma is hereditary. The genetic factors interact these muscles in the airways with environmental factors such as pollution to *the inside walls of the airways can become trigger asthma. Also viral infections and obesity swollen, leaving less space inside – preventer acts as a trigger for asthma among the teenagers medicines work by reducing the inflammation that About World Asthma Day causes the swelling World Asthma Day is an annual event organized *Mucus can block the inside of the airways – by the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) to preventer medicines also reduce mucus. improve asthma awareness and care around the *Asthma symptoms can be triggered by different world. The theme for 2018 it is ‗Allergy and things for different people. Common triggers Asthma‘ – dedicated to the prevention, diagnosis include colds and flu, allergies, and cigarette and treatment of asthma. smoke. About Asthma Source: Asthma is a disease of the airways – which are the http://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/health/wo breathing tubes that carry air into our lungs. rld-asthma-day-2018-history-objective-theme- Sometimes it is harder for a person with asthma to 2018-5156112/ breathe in and out, but at other times their ‘Telecom Commission’ breathing is normal. (GS3: Digital Infrastructure) It is important to understand that asthma is a long- Issue: Telecom Commission, the highest decision term (chronic) disease. And although there is making body in the Department of currently no cure, with the right knowledge and Telecommunications, is likely to discuss key good management, most people with asthma can issues, including in-flight connectivity and net lead full and active lives. neutrality Causes of Asthma Other issues being discussed include Asthma and allergies are closely linked. Asthma 1. The panel may also take up for examination the is more common in families with allergies or need for an ombudsman to address grievances of asthma, but not everyone with asthma has consumers allergies. 2. On the long-pending issue of net neutrality, the  Adults of any age can develop asthma, even if regulator in its recommendation in November last they did not have asthma as a child. year had said that the service providers should be some people have asthma during childhood, but restricted from entering into any arrangement that later have very few or no symptoms as adults has the effect of discriminatory treatment based on Indoor and outdoor pollution (including moulds, content, sender or receiver, protocols or user gases, chemicals, particles and cigarette smoke) equipment. can increase the risk of developing asthma. 3. In addition, a discussion is also likely on topics Athletes can develop asthma after very intensive such as ease of doing business, machine to training over several years, especially while machine communication and regulatory breathing air that is polluted, cold or dry framework for internet telephony Symptoms of asthma What is Net neutrality? The most common symptoms of asthma are: Net neutrality is the principle that governments *wheezing – a continuous, high-pitched sound should mandate Internet service providers to treat coming from the chest while breathing all data on the Internet the same and not *shortness of breath – a feeling of not being able discriminate or charge differently by user, content, to get enough air website, platform, application, type of attached *a feeling of tightness in the chest equipment, or method of communication. For *Coughing – alongside other symptoms. instance, under these principles, internet service

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May -2018 UPSC/IAS Current Affairs providers are unable to intentionally block, slow Gahirmatha Sanctuary compacted their sand-pit down or charge money for specific websites and nests. online content. This year, over six lakh turtles nested at Source: Gahirmatha, which hosts more numbers of Olive http://www.thehindu.com/business/Economy/pane Ridleys than any mass nesting ground in India. A l-to-take-up-telecom-issues- spell or two of rain around now is normal but today/article23731708.ece continuous and heavy rainfall this year, especially ‘Pharma Exports’ every afternoon between April 24 and 29, has had (GS3: Indian Economy) a catastrophic impact on the Gahirmatha rookery. Issue: Pharmaceutical exports from India, a key Although the loss of hatchlings has not been component of the country‘s foreign trade basket, quantified, the sight of half-hatched eggs and baby are estimated to have grown to $17.25 billion in turtle carcasses stuck in the sand has left on-duty the financial year ended March 31 or almost 2.5% forest personnel devastated. higher than the previous fiscal. Source: http://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy- Significance of the growth and-environment/heavy-rain-spells-doom-for- The growth assumes significance in the context of baby-turtles/article23731665.ece challenges under which it was achieved, from increased competition in the mainstay generics ‘Lake Victoria’ space, particularly in the U.S., pricing pressure as (GS3: Environment) well as heightened regulatory scrutiny. Issue: A fresh report backed by the International Though better compared with the previous fiscal Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) year and having several several positives, the total assessed the extinction risk of 651 freshwater export – AYUSH, bulk drugs, intermediates, species like fish, molluscs, dragonflies, crabs and formulations, biologicals, herbal products, aquatic plants native to Africa's largest lake. surgicals and vaccines – is way short of the What the report says? ambitious $50 billion target by 2020. 1. In its report, the IUCN pointed out that freshwater species are important sources of food, medicine and construction material for the millions of people living in the area surrounding the lake. The lake, which stretches into Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda and whose catchment also touches Burundi and Rwanda, is known for its high-level of unique biodiversity. 2. The report pointed for instance to the African Lungfish, a long eel-like fish, which it said has seen its numbers dwindle due largely to overfishing, poor fishing practices and environmental degradation as wetlands are converted to agricultural land. 3. Industrial and agricultural pollution, over- harvesting and land clearance are among the main Source: threats to biodiversity in the region, the report http://www.thehindu.com/business/pharma- said. exports-climb-to-1725-bn/article23732313.ece Source: http://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-

and-environment/lake-victoria-biodiversity-under- ‘Olive Ridley Turtle’ threat-warns- (GS3: Conservation of Environment) report/article23731344.ece?utm_source=energy- Issue: Hundreds of thousands of Olive Ridley and-environment&utm_medium=sticky_footer turtle hatchlings were found buried alive after four days of persistent thundershowers in Odisha‘s ‘Antarctic Glacier Melting’

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May -2018 UPSC/IAS Current Affairs (GS3: Environmental pollution) is deflected back. This in turn helps in increasing Issue: Britain and the United States launched a global temperatures, and leads a rise in the sea $25 million project on April 30 to study the risks water temperature. As the icebergs melt faster, the of a collapse of a giant glacier in Antarctica that sea levels also rise, threatening the low lying is already shrinking and nudging up global sea regions. levels. 2. Fresh-Water Shortage About the research Just over 2% of the total water amount on our The five-year research, involving 100 scientists, planet is freshwater that is fit for human use; over would be the two nations' biggest joint scientific 70% consists of the glacier ice and snow. Melted project in Antarctica since the 1940s. The water gets renewed as ice on the glacier through a scientists would study the Thwaites Glacier, which process known as precipitation. In many parts of is roughly the size of Florida or Britain, in West the world, this is the 'only' source of freshwater Antarctica supply throughout the year. An ever-increasing About Glaciers human population, and a rapidly decreasing Glaciers are also known as 'rivers of ice', as they glacier mass will lead to severe freshwater are not stationary, but are moving constantly like a shortage in the near future (some places like those river; much slower, from a few millimeters to few surrounding the Himalayas are already facing a meters a day. crisis of such a shortage, especially in the dry The snow keeps on freezing and thawing months). (depending on the climate and temperature), and 3. Reduced agricultural output finally gets converted into ice, which further gets Agriculture that depends solely on rain will be compacted and firm, when a new layer of snow mostly unaffected by the effects of ice glaciers falls over it and compresses it under pressure. As melting. Such areas are very few, and do not more snow gets converted into ice, the weight and contribute to the major chunk of farmland. Areas size of the glacier keeps increasing. This helps the affected will be those that depend on water layers to start moving slowly. The upper portions emanating from ice glaciers. During the dry of the glacier are usually not compressed to the seasons, there will be a shortage of fresh-water levels of the lower layers, and are more brittle, from ice glaciers, making the land dry and forming deep cracks (crevasses) as they move. unsuitable for agriculture. Total agricultural output Ice glaciers either break off into smaller icebergs will reduce, leading to a shortage of food grains. and melt directly into the sea, or melt on land and 4. storage of electricity form river that will empty into the sea. Hence, it is There are many places across the planet that normal for their melting process to occur. depend solely on the constant flow of water from Sea water is evaporating constantly and is replaced melting glaciers for the production of electricity. by melting glacier water. A problem here occurs Once this flow of water is reduced or stops, the when the snow replenishing it is less than the production of electricity will also stop. Absolutely melted water. This is exactly what is happening no nation can do without electricity, and this will with most of the glaciers around the world today, force such places to adopt different sources to gradually reducing their size, and at the same time, produce electricity; most of them will pollute our increasing the sea water levels. planet, and possibly even increase global Effects of melting of ice glaciers warming. 1. Global Warming 5. Excessive flooding Temperatures across the globe have gone upward, In places where there are ice glaciers on higher helping the cause of ice glaciers melting faster altitudes, and they are all melting rapidly, it will than required. In certain places across the world, lead to a sudden increase in water input to rivers, small ice glaciers have vanished, exposing the causing floods all along the river. This excess Earth below. Ice glaciers are able to deflect almost water could also lead to the formation of new 80% heat of the sun, absorbing approximately lakes, which will keep on increasing in size. This 20% heat. This figure gets reversed when sunlight is a serious cause of worry, since the water falls on the planet; 80% is absorbed and only 20% contained in these lakes could be tremendous, and

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May -2018 UPSC/IAS Current Affairs the bursting of such lakes could cause a major 2. The mission will focus on seven verticals: catastrophe all around, destroying everything in its indigenous manufacturing; an assessment of path. technology and cost trends; a policy and 6. Animal habitat loss regulatory framework; financing, business models There are many organisms that depend solely on and market creation; research and development; glaciers for survival. Certain animals need the standards and testing; and grid-planning for temperatures of glaciers for their daily activities. energy storage. Some bird species depend on the fish species that Current situation of Renewable Energy in are found in fresh melting waters of a glacier. India With an increase in sea water temperature and Renewable energy sources now make up almost rising sea levels, the aquatic plant species will be one-fifth of India‘s total installed power capacity. affected firstly. This will reduce the number of However, as power grids increase their share of fish species, which in turn will make survival of solar and wind energy, the problem remains that many bird species difficult. the peak supply of renewable sources does not 7. Coral reefs always meet peak demand Corals require sunlight for photosynthesis to Batteries could help store surplus energy during survive and thrive. As the sea level rises, enough peak generation times, but are more immediately sunlight will not reach these corals, deteriorating needed to stabilize the grid when shifting between their quality, and even possibly killing them in renewables and the base-load thermal capacity. time. Fish that depend on these corals for food will The Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) not survive. This will have an effect on the people expects to issue tenders for grid-connected storage who fish for survival in these areas. by the end of the year 8. Earth will get re-contaminated About SECI Many today would never have heard of DDT and Solar Energy Corporation of India Ltd. (SECI) is a many such pesticides, which were banned CPSU under the administrative control of the worldwide years ago. Most of the pesticides got Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), airborne, and were finally deposited in cool areas set up on 20th Sept, 2011 to facilitate the containing glaciers. A few years ago, these implementation of JNNSM and achievement of harmful chemicals remained trapped in these targets set therein. It is the only CPSU dedicated layers. Rapid melting of these glaciers is now to the solar energy sector. It was originally releasing such chemicals back into the incorporated as a section-25 (not for-profit) environment, in many lakes and rivers formed by company under the Companies Act, 1956. such 'rivers of ice'. However, through a Government of India Source: http://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy- decision, the company has recently been converted and-environment/new-study-on-antarctic-glacier- into a Section-3 company under the Companies hoping-to-crack-sea-level- Act, 2013. The mandate of the company has also risks/article23728811.ece?utm_source=energy- been broadened to cover the entire renewable and-environment&utm_medium=sticky_footer energy domain. In the present outlook of the RE sector, especially ‘Renewable Energy Storage’ solar energy, SECI has a major role to play in the (GS3: Infrastructure related to Power) sector‘s development. The company is responsible Issue: The draft National Energy Storage Mission for implementation of a number of schemes of expects to kick-start grid-connected energy storage MNRE, major ones being the VGF schemes for in India, set up a regulatory framework, and large-scale grid-connected projects under JNNSM, encourage indigenous manufacture of batteries solar park scheme and grid-connected solar What are the targets of the draft policy? rooftop scheme, alongwith a host of other 1. The draft sets a ―realistic target‖ of 15-20 specialized schemes such as defence scheme, gigawatt hours (GWh) of grid-connected storage canal-top scheme, Indo-Pak border scheme etc. In within the next five years addition, SECI has ventured into solar project development on turnkey basis for several PSUs.

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May -2018 UPSC/IAS Current Affairs The company also has a power-trading license and cost engineering, technology forecasting, training is active in this domain through trading of solar & capacity building, skill development, promotion power from projects set up under the schemes & awareness campaigns etc. in India and abroad being implemented by it. 10. To promote, organize, conduct and render Objectives of SECI consultancy services in the related activities of the The Main Objectives of the Company are: Company in India and abroad 1. To plan and execute an integrated programme on development and implementation of renewable ‘Exercise Vijay Prahar’ energy projects (Facts that could be asked in Prelims) 2. To own, manage, investigate, plan, promote, Issue: Formations of South Western Command develop, design, construction, operation, are carrying out Exercise VIJAY PRAHAR maintenance, renovation, modernization of power employing more than 20000 troops, cutting edge projects in solar, on-shore/off-shore wind, geo- equipment and state of the art force multipliers in thermal, tidal, bio-gas, bio-mass, small hydro and the Mahajan Field Firing Ranges close to other renewable energy sources in India and Suratgarh in Rajasthan. abroad About the exercise 3. To carry on business of generation, forecasting, The exercise is aimed to orchestrate wide purchasing, producing, manufacturing, importing, spectrum of threats which are planned to be exporting, exchanging, selling and trading in tackled through high tempo joint air and land power products and services in India and abroad operation involving hundreds of aircrafts, 4. To plan, develop, maintain, lease, hire, manage thousands of tanks and artillery pieces supported solar parks, infrastructure facilities, and all related by real time intelligence, surveillance, ancillary facilities & services in India and abroad reconnaissance and just in time logistic support. 5. To carry on the business of planning, During the exercise, the formations of South investigation, survey, research, design and Western Command are practicing and preparation of preliminary feasibility and detailed operationalising certain innovative concepts of project reports, related to Power Projects in India operating in the network centric environment, and abroad integrated employment of modern day sensors 6. To co-ordinate the activities of its subsidiaries with the weapon platforms, employment of attack and Joint Venture Companies, to determine their helicopters in the air cavalry role and bold economic and financial objectives / targets and to offensive of application of the Special Forces. review, control, guide and direct their performance Source: with a view to secure an optimum utilization of all http://pib.nic.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=15 resources placed at their disposal 30866 7. To assist, carry out such directions as may be ‘India-Japan’ ties issued by the Administrative Ministry from time to (GS2: Bilateral Relations) time in executing, evolving, managing, overseeing Issue: The 9th India Japan Energy Dialogue was and coordinating programmes and projects under held in New Delhi Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission and all Highlights of the meeting such other Programmes or Missions as may from 1. Both Japan and India, as the third and the time to time to be implemented seventh largest economies respectively, 8. To establish, provide, maintain, conduct, recognized that having access to reliable, clean scientific and technical research, experiments, and economical energy is critical for their pilot projects and tests of all kinds and to process, economic growth improve, innovate and invent new products, 2. Both India and Japan with a view to implement technologies, directly or in collaboration with Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) other agencies in India & abroad to achieve under the aegis of the United Nations Framework commercialization Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) 9. To engage in the business of performance recognized the importance of development and monitoring, data analysis, resource assessment,

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May -2018 UPSC/IAS Current Affairs deployment of next generation technologies 5. Of the 3.8 million deaths caused by including hydrogen to realize de-carbonization. household air pollution globally, the region 3. Both India and Japan appreciated the relevance accounts for 1.5 million or 40% deaths, and of the of the grid stability given the high penetration of 4.2 million global deaths due to ambient air variable renewable energy. Both countries agreed pollution, 1.3 million or 30% are reported from the to initiate the discussion towards development of region Electric Vehicles (EVs) 6. The PM2.5 includes pollutants like sulfate, 4. Both India and Japan reiterated the continued nitrate and black carbon, which pose the greatest importance of coal-based electricity generation in risk to human health. the energy mix in both the countries and also 7. According to the report, more than 90% of air agreed to promote the cooperation on pollution-related deaths occur in low- and middle- environmental measures for coal-fired power income countries (including India), mainly in Asia plants. and Africa, followed by low- and middle-income 5. Both India and Japan further confirmed their countries of the Eastern Mediterranean region, commitment to work together in promoting well- Europe and the Americas. functioning energy markets and affirmed to What is Particulate matter? promote transparent and diversified Liquefied PM stands for particulate matter (also called Natural Gas (LNG) market through the relaxation particle pollution): the term for a mixture of solid of destination clause. particles and liquid droplets found in the air. Some Source: particles, such as dust, dirt, soot, or smoke, are http://pib.nic.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=15 large or dark enough to be seen with the naked 30828 eye. Others are so small they can only be detected ‘Polluted cities in the world’ using an electron microscope. (GS3: Environmental pollution) Particle pollution includes: Issue: Delhi and Varanasi are among the 14 *PM10 : inhalable particles, with diameters that Indian cities that figured in a list of 20 most are generally 10 micrometers and smaller; and polluted cities in the world in terms of PM2.5 *PM2.5 : fine inhalable particles, with diameters levels in 2016, data released by the WHO that are generally 2.5 micrometers and smaller. Highlights of the report  How small is 2.5 micrometers? Think 1. The WHO data also said that nine out of 10 about a single hair from your head. The people in the world breathe air containing high average human hair is about 70 levels of pollutants micrometers in diameter – making it 30 2. Other Indian cities that registered very high times larger than the largest fine particle. levels of PM2.5 pollutants were Kanpur, Sources of PM Faridabad, Gaya, Patna, Agra, Muzaffarpur, * These particles come in many sizes and Srinagar, Gurgaon, Jaipur, Patiala and Jodhpur shapes and can be made up of hundreds of followed by Ali Subah Al-Salem in Kuwait and a different chemicals. few cities in China and Mongolia. * Some are emitted directly from a source, 3. In terms of PM10 levels, 13 cities in India such as construction sites, unpaved roads, fields, figured among the 20 most-polluted cities of the smokestacks or fires. world in 2016. * Most particles form in the atmosphere as a 4. The World Health Organisation has called result of complex reactions of chemicals such as upon member-countries in its Southeast Asia sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides, which are region to aggressively address the double burden pollutants emitted from power plants, industries of household and ambient (outdoor) air pollution, and automobiles. saying the region, which comprises India, Harmful effects of PM accounts for 34% or 2.4 million of the seven Particulate matter contains microscopic solids or million premature deaths caused by household and liquid droplets that are so small that they can be ambient air pollution together globally every year. inhaled and cause serious health problems. Particles less than 10 micrometers in diameter

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May -2018 UPSC/IAS Current Affairs pose the greatest problems, because they can get Enceladus—just the sort of place where deep into your lungs, and some may even get into extraterrestrial life could be hiding out. your bloodstream. Fine particles (PM2.5) are the Plus there's the magnetic field, which is intriguing main cause of reduced visibility (haze) because Earth's equivalent plays a crucial role in Source: http://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy- making the planet comfortable for life by shielding and-environment/14-out-of-worlds-20-most- the surface from plasma released by the sun. polluted-cities-in-india-who/article23745178.ece Source: http://www.newsweek.com/jupiters- ‘Appointment to IRDAI’ moon-ganymede-pounded-plasma-rain-scientists- (GS2: Regulatory body) discover-20-year-old-907557 Issue: Former IAS officer Subhash Chandra ‘Cubesats’ Khuntia was appointed as the new chairman of (GS3: Science) Insurance Regulatory Development Authority of Issue: When NASA's InSight Mars lander India (IRDAI) for three years. His appointment launches for the Red Planet on Saturday (May 5), was approved by Appointments Committee of the it won't be traveling alone. Two small spacecraft, Cabinet (ACC) nicknamed "Wall-E" and "Eva," are hitching a ride About IRDAI as the first cubesats to visit another planet. The Insurance Regulatory and Development About the Cubesats Authority of India (IRDAI) is an autonomous, The twin cubesats are tiny spacecraft of a type statutory body tasked with regulating and whose design became popular in the 2000s as promoting the insurance and re-insurance miniaturized computers increased the craft's industries in India. It was constituted by the capabilities. While they don't have all the backup Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority systems and capabilities of bigger spacecraft, Act, 1999, an Act of Parliament passed by the cubesats are useful for applications such as Government of India. The agency's headquarters communications, tracking shipping or performing are in Hyderabad, Telangana, where it moved Earth observation. Until now, all of them stayed from Delhi in 2001. close to our home planet. IRDAI is a 10-member body including the So, Mars InSight's twin cubesats, officially called chairman, five full-time and four part-time Mars Cube One (MarCO), will be pioneering Red members appointed by the government of India. Planet spacecraft. Source: Source: https://www.space.com/40457-insight- https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india mars-lander-nasa-cubesat-hitchhikers.html -business/ex-karnataka-chief-secy-to-head- ‘Rainfall in Bengaluru’ irdai/articleshow/63993443.cms (GS3: Environment) ‘Ganymede’ Issue: The bountiful rain of last year seems to be (GS3: Science) spilling over this year too, with the first four Issue: New data suggests that Ganymede, the months of 2018 recording 58% more rain than largest moon of Jupiter as has been bombarded by ―normal‖. a rain of plasma, or highly charged particles What the data says? The newly rediscovered information came from a Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring spacecraft called Galileo, which launched in 1989, Centre data shows that Bengaluru urban has got flew past Venus and two asteroids, then spent its 69% excess rainfall, while it is 88% in Bengaluru main mission studying Jupiter and its moons until Rural. However, there is little respite from the 2003. But not all of the spacecraft's data was heat, with the maximum temperature — preceding analyzed. the storms — hovering between 33 degrees About Ganymede Celsius and 35 degrees Celsius. Ganymede is the single largest moon in our solar Source: system, and scientists think that it may have a http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/ci giant liquid ocean sloshing around beneath its ty-records-excess-rain-in-first-four- surface—like the more famous Europa and months/article23740736.ece ‘Section 377’

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May -2018 UPSC/IAS Current Affairs (GS2: Fundamental Rights) persons and human remains and for medical Issue: The Supreme Court on Tuesday admitted research purposes. the petition of a man to quash the ―tyranny‖ of It however had also flagged that privacy concerns Section 377 IPC, which criminalizes and the ethics involved in this scientific collection homosexuality. of data was very high. A Bench led by Chief Justice of India issued The Commission said the procedure for DNA notice to the government and tagged the petition profiling, if given statutory recognition, should be with a series of petitions to be heard by a done legitimately as per constitutional provisions. Constitution Bench. Primarily, the Bill provides for the setting up of a Source: statutory DNA Profiling Board to spell out http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/sc- procedures and standards to establish DNA admits-plea-to-quash-section- laboratories and grant of accreditation to these 377/article23740961.ece labs. Source: http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/govt-to- table-dna-profiling-bill-in-monsoon- session/article23739072.ece ‘Core Sector growth’ (GS3: Indian Economy) Issue: The growth of eight core sectors slowed to a three-month low of 4.1% in March due to weak performance in six sectors including coal, crude oil and natural gas. The other sectors which showed slower growth rates were refinery products, steel and electricity.

‘DNA profiling Bill’ Cumulatively, the eight core sectors grew 4.2% in (GS2: Legislative powers) 2017-18. The growth was 4.8% in the previous Issue: The government on Tuesday informed the fiscal and 3% in 2015-16. The core sector growth Supreme Court that it will introduce a DNA would have an impact on the Index of Industrial profiling Bill in the Monsoon Session of the Production (IIP) data as these eight segments Parliament. The government was responding to a account for about 41% of the total factory output. PIL filed by NGO Lok Niti Foundation in 2012 on Only the fertilizer and cement sectors reported the use of DNA profiling for identifying healthy numbers, growing 3.2% and 13% unclaimed bodies, especially to match them with respectively in March. cold cases of missing persons. Source: About the bill https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/econo Last year, the Law Commission of India, in its my/indicators/core-sector-grows-4-1-in- 271st report, prepared the draft Bill named The march/articleshow/63987447.cms DNA Based Technology (Use and Regulation) ‘Telecom Panel’ Bill, 2017 after examining various judicial (GS3: Infrastructure) pronouncements and constitutional provisions. Issue: In a major relief to consumers, the Telecom The exercise was initiated by the Commission Commission on Tuesday gave its nod to a after the Department of Biotechnology forwarded proposal for setting up an ombudsman for its draft of 'The Use and Regulation of DNA based resolution of grievances of telecom consumers. Technology in Civil and Criminal Proceedings, About the Ombudsman Identification of Missing Persons and Human Under the new mechanism, consumers can first Remains Bill, 2016'. approach the operator. If dissatisfied, they can The Commission recorded that DNA profiling was then approach the Consumer Grievance Redressal indeed used for disaster victim identification, Forum. Final appeals can be taken to the investigation of crimes, identification of missing Ombudsman.

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May -2018 UPSC/IAS Current Affairs Source: India‘s drug pricing authority is also pushing to http://www.thehindu.com/business/Industry/teleco bring three more devices, used in treating heart m-panel-okays-post-of- ailments, under the ambit of price controls as they ombudsman/article23740870.ece are sometimes more expensive than the stent itself ‘Foreign Portfolio investors’ Reason for US raising a concern (GS3: Indian Economy) India‘s $5 billion medical device market has Issue: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has provided rich fishing grounds for U.S.-based allowed foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) to invest companies like Abbott Laboratories and Boston in treasury bills issued by the central government. Scientific Corp, but the prospect of price caps What are T-bills? being extended to more products sent shivers Treasury bills or T-bills, which are money market through their ranks. In September, the U.S. Trade instruments, are short term debt instruments issued Representative (USTR) wrote to the Prime by the Government of India and are presently Minister Narendra Modi‘s office and Trade issued in three tenors, namely, 91 day, 182 day Minister Suresh Prabhu urging them ―to not and 364 day. Treasury bills are zero coupon expand price controls to additional medical securities and pay no interest. They are issued at a devices‖ discount and redeemed at the face value at Equating high trade margins on some medical maturity. For example, a 91 day Treasury bill of devices with ‖illegal profiteering‖, the government ₹100/- (face value) may be issued at say ₹ 98.20, last year capped prices of some high-end heart that is, at a discount of say, ₹1.80 and would be stents — small wire-mesh structures used to treat redeemed at the face value of ₹100/-. The return blocked arteries — at around $450, compared to to the investors is the difference between the $3,000 charged earlier. maturity value or the face value (that is ₹100) and The NPPA wrote to the health ministry on Feb. 26, the issue price asking for three other devices used to treat heart What are FPI? ailments — cardiac balloons, catheters and guide- Foreign portfolio investment (FPI) consists of wire — to be added to a list of products eligible securities and other financial assets passively held for price controls. by foreign investors. It does not provide the The NPPA also said intraocular lenses, which are investor with direct ownership of financial assets used during eye surgery, should be brought under and is relatively liquid depending on the volatility the list. Medical device manufacturers argue that of the market. Foreign portfolio investment differs India‘s price control mechanism hurts innovation, from foreign direct investment (FDI), in which a profits and future investment, and the USTR domestic company runs a foreign firm, because described India‘s policy as ―very troubling‖. although FDI allows a company to maintain better Indian officials anticipate coming under more control over the firm held abroad, it may face pressure from the U.S. The USTR is currently more difficulty selling the firm at a premium price reviewing India‘s eligibility under its Generalized in the future. System of Preferences (GSP), which allows duty- Source: free imports of certain goods. India was the largest http://www.thehindu.com/business/Economy/rbi- GSP beneficiary at $5.6 billion allows-fpis-to-buy-t-bills-debt-limit- Source: stays/article23740947.ece http://www.thehindu.com/business/Industry/india- ‘Medical device price caps’ rejects-us-request-on-medical-device-price- (GS2: Government policies for development in caps/article23740922.ece various sectors and issues arising out of their ‘In-flight Connectivity’ design and implementation) (GS3: Infrastructure) Issue: India has told the United States it won‘t Issue: Airlines on Tuesday welcomed the abstain from capping prices for more medical Telecom Commission‘s decision to allow WiFi devices, regardless of pressure to rethink its stance onboard flights after price controls on heart stents and knee Pricing is likely to be the key to the success of the implants spoilt the market for some U.S. firms service

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May -2018 UPSC/IAS Current Affairs Source: http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp- people-killed-in-rain-and-dust-storms-in-uttar- business/spicejet-vistara-hail-wifi- pradesh-rajasthan/articleshow/64012137.cms nod/article23742483.ece ‘Rajasthan-Uttar Pradesh weather’ ‘Exoplanet’ (GS3: Disaster management) (GS3: Science) Issue: As many as 72 people were killed in Uttar Issue: Astronomers have detected helium gas in Pradesh (UP) and Rajasthan as heavy rain and dust the atmosphere of a planet that orbits a star far storm on Wednesday evening wreaked havoc in beyond our solar system for the first time. parts of the two states. An international team from the University of In Rajasthan, at least 27 persons died and more Exeter in the UK, discovered evidence of the inert than a 100 were injured as strong winds and dust gas on 'super-Neptune' Exoplanet WASP-107b, storms hit Alwar, Bharatpur and Dholpur districts, 200 light years from Earth and in the constellation leaving a trail of destruction and uprooting of Virgo hundreds of trees Helium is the second most common element in the Action taken till now universe and it has long-since been predicted to be Relief and rescue teams have been pressed into one of the most readily-detectable gases on giant service to clear debris and restore power supply. Exoplanet. He said contingency funds have been released to What is an Exoplanet? the respective district administrations. An Exoplanet or extra-solar planet is a planet What is Dust storm? outside our solar system that orbits a star. A dust storm is a meteorological phenomenon Source: http://www.business- common in arid and semi-arid regions. Dust standard.com/article/pti-stories/helium-gas- storms arise when a gust front or other strong wind detected-around-exoplanet-for-first-time- blows loose sand and dirt from a dry surface. Fine 118050300323_1.html particles are transported by wind and suspension, a process that moves soil from one place and ‘Dead Zone’ deposits it in another. (GS3: Environmental Pollution) Dry-lands around North Africa and the Arabian Issue: Underwater robots have found that a vast, Peninsula are the main terrestrial sources of oxygen-depleted "dead zone" in the Gulf of Oman airborne dust. Also with some contributions from is now the largest such area in the world. The Iran, Pakistan and India into the Arabian Sea, and seagliders found a zone with little to no China's significant storms deposit dust in the oxygen covering almost 165,000 square Pacific. It has been argued that recently, poor kilometres, roughly the size of Florida or Scotland. management of the Earth's dry-lands, such as The Gulf of Oman covers 181,000 square neglecting the fallow system, are increasing dust kilometres and is actually a strait linking the storms size and frequency from desert margins and Arabian Sea with the Strait of Hormuz. changing both the local and global climate, and What is a Dead zone? also impacting local economies. Dead zones can occur naturally in deep water, but The term sandstorm is used most often in the they're increasing in size and number at the bottom context of desert sandstorms, especially in the of coastal waters across the globe, mostly due to Sahara Desert, or places where sand is a more the use of chemical fertilizers and wastewater. prevalent soil type than dirt or rock, when, in The agricultural runoff feeds oxygen-greedy algae addition to fine particles obscuring visibility, a blooms. Algae can clog fish gills and certain considerable amount of larger sand particles are species of the photosynthetic organisms release blown closer to the surface. The term dust storm is toxins. All types use up oxygen when they die and more likely to be used when finer particles are decay. blown long distances, especially when the dust Earlier this year, scientists warned that ocean dead storm affects urban areas zones absent of oxygen have quadrupled in size Source: since 1950. They said the number of very low https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/63-

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May -2018 UPSC/IAS Current Affairs oxygen sites near coastlines have increased 10- generated by LIC and the assured return of 8% per fold. annum would be borne by Government of India as Source: http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/gulf- subsidy on an annual basis. of-oman-marine-dead-zone-1.4645018 Source: http://pib.nic.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=15 ‘150th Birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi’ 30962 (Facts that could be asked in Prelims) Issue: The President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovind, chaired the first meeting of the National Committee for the Commemoration of the 150th Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, at Rashtrapati Bhavan About the committee The Committee has a total of 125 members, including 116 from India and encompasses the President (as chair), the Vice-President, Prime Minister, Union Ministers, former Prime Ministers, Chief Ministers, senior MPs and political leaders from across party lines, and eminent Gandhians, social thinkers and activists representing a cross-section of Indian society and regional diversity. Indian Petroleum & Explosives Safety Service Source: (IPESS) http://pib.nic.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=15 (GS2: Governance) 31126 Issue: The Union Cabinet chaired by chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved ‘Pradhan MantriVayaVandanYojana’ the Cadre review and formation of Group ‗A‘ (GS2: Welfare policies for vulnerable section of service of the technical cadre of Petroleum & the population) Safety Organization (PESO) in the name of Indian Issue: The Union Cabinet chaired by chaired by Petroleum & Explosives Safety Service (IPESS). Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its The measure will enhance the capacity and approval for extending the investment limit from efficiency of the organization and it will also Rs 7.5 lakhs to Rs 15 lakhs as well as extension of enhance career progression of its Group ‗A‘ time limits for subscription from 4thMay 2018 to officers. 31stMarch, 2020 under the Pradhan About PESO MantriVayaVandanYojana (PMVVY) as part of PESO is a subordinate office under Department of Government's commitment for financial inclusion Industrial Policy & Promotion (DIPP). The and social security. organization is serving the nation since 1898 as a About the scheme nodal agency for regulating safety of substances The PMVVY is being implemented through Life such as explosives, compressed gases and Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) to provide petroleum. Over the years, the role and social security during old age and protect elderly responsibilities of PESO have increased manifold persons aged 60 years and above against a future and expanded into diverse fields. Today, the fall in their interest income due to uncertain organization deals with wide range of subjects market conditions. The scheme provides an related to explosives, petroleum, compressed assured pension based on a guaranteed rate of gases, pressure vessels, gas cylinders, cross- return of 8% per annum for ten years, with an country pipelines, Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), option to opt for pension on a monthly / quarterly / Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), Auto Liquefied half yearly and annual basis. The differential Petroleum Gas (Auto LPG) etc. The increase in return, i.e. the difference between the return

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May -2018 UPSC/IAS Current Affairs workload is manifested in the quantum jump in the About the protocol number of licensed premises and other activities. The protocol lays down obligations of the parties. Source: It spells out supply chain control measures that http://pib.nic.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=15 must be adopted by the parties viz. licensing of 30955 manufacture of tobacco products and machinery for manufacturing of tobacco products, due ‘Pradhan MantriSwasthya Suraksha diligence to be kept by those engaged in Yojana(PMSSY)’ production, tracking and tracing regime, record (GS2: Issues related to Human resources) keeping, security; and measures to be taken by Issue: In a major boost to the expansion of those engaged in e-commerce, manufacturing in healthcare infrastructure in the country, the Union free-trade zones and duty free sales. Cabinet Chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra The protocol lists out offences, enforcement Modi has approved the continuation of Pradhan measures such as seizures and disposal of seized MantriSwasthya Suraksha Yojana(PMSSY) products. It calls for international cooperation in beyond 12thFive Year Plan to 2019-20. information sharing, maintaining confidentiality, About the scheme training, technical assistance and cooperation in The PMSSY, a Central Sector Scheme, aims at scientific and technical and technological matters. correcting the imbalances in the availability of The WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco affordable tertiary healthcare facilities in different Control (WHO FCTC) is the first international parts of the country in general, and augmenting public health treaty negotiated under the auspices facilities for quality medical education in the of the WHO. The objective of FCTC is to provide under-served States in particular. a framework for supply and demand reduction The PMSSY was announced in 2003 with measures for tobacco control at the national, objectives of correcting regional imbalances in the regional and global levels. availability of affordable/ reliable tertiary Impact healthcare services and also to augment facilities 1. Elimination of illicit trade in tobacco products for quality medical education in the country. through strengthened regulation will help in PMSSY has two components - strengthening comprehensive tobacco control, 1. Setting up of AIIMS-like institutions; and leading to reduction in tobacco use which in turn, 2. Up-gradation of existing State Government will result in reduction in disease burden and Medical College (GMCs). mortality associated with tobacco use. Source: 2. Accession to such treaty will provide actionable http://pib.nic.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=15 alternatives against such prevailing practices that 30952 are affecting public health at large. India 3. The protocol to eliminate illicit trade in tobacco ‘World Health Organization Framework products is a path breaking initiative in Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO strengthening global action against tobacco and is FCTC)’ also a new legal instrument in public health (GS2: Issues related to Human resources) Source: Issue: The Union Cabinet Chaired by Prime http://pib.nic.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=15 Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given approval 30950 to accede to the Protocol under World Health Organization (WHO) Framework Convention on Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram tobacco control to eliminate illicit trade in tobacco (PMJVK) products. It will be applicable to both smoking and (GS2: Welfare policies for vulnerable section of chewing or smokeless tobacco (SLT) forms the population) as negotiated and adopted under Article 15 of the Issue: The Cabinet Committee on Economic World Health Organization Framework Affairs chaired by the Prime Minister, Shri Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO Narendra Modi today has approved the proposal FCTC). India is a party to WHO FCTC. for renaming and restructuring of Multi-sectoral

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May -2018 UPSC/IAS Current Affairs Development Programme (MsDP) as Pradhan Issue: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram (PMJVK). Affairs, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Impact of this decision Narendra Modi has given its approval for the 1. The restructured programme would provide Umbrella Scheme, "Green Revolution – better socio economic infrastructure facilities to Krishonnati Yojana" in agriculture sector beyond the minority communities particularly in the field 12th Five Year Plan for the period from 2017-18 to of education, health & skill development as 2019-20 compared to the present situation, which would About the scheme further lead to lessening of the gap between the The Umbrella scheme comprises of 11 national average and the minority communities Schemes/Missions. These schemes look to with regard to backwardness parameters develop the agriculture and allied sector in a 2. The criteria for identification of Minority holistic and scientific manner to increase the Concentration Towns and Clusters of Villages income of farmers by enhancing production, have been rationalized by lowering the population productivity and The Schemes that are part of the percentage criteria of Minority Communities Umbrella Schemes are :- 3. The Programme aims to address development (i) Mission for Integrated Development of deficits in the identified minority concentration Horticulture (MIDH): It aims to promote holistic areas. The identification of minority concentration growth of horticulture sector; to enhance areas has been done on the basis of presence of horticulture production, improve nutritional substantial population of notified Minority security and income support tofarm Households. Communities based on Census, 2011. (ii) National Food Security Mission (NFSM), About the programme including National Mission on Oil Seeds and Oil 1. MsDP has been identified as one of the Core of Palm (NMOOP): It aims to increase production of the Core Schemes under National Development rice, wheat, pulses, coarse cereals and commercial Agenda in the Report of the Sub-Group of Chief crops, through area expansion and productivity Ministers on Rationalization of Centrally enhancement in a suitable manner in the identified Sponsored Schemes, which was constituted by districts of the country, restoring soil fertility and NITI Aayog. The programme was launched in the productivity at the individual farm level and year 2008-09 in 90 identified Minority enhancing farm level economy. It further aims to Concentration Districts (MCDs) having at least augment the availability of vegetable oils and to 25% minority population and below national reduce the import of edible oils. average with respect to one or both of the (iii) National Mission for Sustainable backwardness parameters with the objective of Agriculture (NMSA): It aims at promoting developing assets for socio-economic and basic sustainable agriculture practices best suitable to amenities. The MCDs were identified on the basis the specific agro-ecology focusing on integrated of census 2001 data. The programme continued farming, appropriate soil health management and during 11th Five Year Plan. synergizing resource conservation technology. 2. The projects considered are additional class (iv) Submission on Agriculture Extension rooms, laboratories, school buildings, hostels, (SMAE): It aims to strengthen the ongoing toilets, buildings for Polytechnics, ITIs, extension mechanism of State Governments, local Community Health Centres, Primary Health bodies etc., achieving food and nutritional security Centres / Sub-centres, Anganwadi Centres, Rural and socio-economic empowerment of farmers, to Housing etc. institutionalize programme planning and Source: implementation mechanism, to forge effective http://pib.nic.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=15 linkages and synergy amongst various stake- 30946 holders, to support HRD interventions, to promote pervasive and innovative use of electronic / print "Green Revolution – Krishonnati Yojana" media, inter-personal communication and ICT (GS3: Indian agriculture) tools, etc.

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May -2018 UPSC/IAS Current Affairs (v) Sub-Mission on Seeds and Planting Material agricultural marketing, processing, storage, (SMSP): it aims to increase production of certified computerization and weaker section programmes; / quality seed, to increase SRR, to upgrade the to help cotton growers fetch remunerative price for quality of farm saved seeds, to strengthen the seed their produce through value addition besides multiplication chain, to promote new technologies ensuring supply of quality yarn at reasonable rates and methodologies in seed production, processing, to the decentralized weavers. testing etc., to strengthen and modernizing (x) Integrated Scheme on Agricultural infrastructure for seed production, storage, Marketing (ISAM): it aims to develop agricultural certification and quality etc. marketing infrastructure; to promote innovative (vi) Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanisation and latest technologies and competitive (SMAM): It aims to increase the reach of farm alternatives in agriculture marketing mechanization to small and marginal farmers and infrastructure; to provide infrastructure facilities to the regions where availability of farm power is for grading, standardization and quality low, to promote ‗Custom Hiring Centres‘ to offset certification of agricultural produce; to establish a the adverse economies of scale arising due to nationwide marketing information network; to small landholding and high cost of individual integrate markets through a common online ownership, to create hubs for hi-tech and high market platform to facilitate pan-India trade in value farm equipment, to create awareness among agricultural commodities, etc. stakeholders through demonstration and capacity (xi) National e-Governance Plan (NeGP-A) it building activities, and to ensure performance aims to bring farmer centricity & service testing and certification at designated testing orientation to the programmes; to enhance reach & centers located all over the country. impact of extension services; to improve access of (vii) Sub Mission on Plant Protection and Plan farmers to information &services throughout crop- Quarantine (SMPPQ): It aims to minimize loss to cycle; to build upon, enhance & integrate the quality and yield of agricultural crops from the existing ICT initiatives of Centre and States; and ravages of insect pests, diseases, weeds, to enhance efficiency & effectiveness of programs nematodes, rodents, etc. and to shield our through making available timely and relevant agricultural bio-security from the incursions and information to the farmers for increasing their spread of alien species, to facilitate exports of agriculture productivity. Indian agricultural commodities to global markets, Source: and to promote good agricultural practices, http://pib.nic.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=15 particularly with respect to plant protection 30942 strategies and strategies. (viii) Integrated Scheme on Agriculture Census, Economics and Statistics (ISACES): It aims to undertake the agriculture census, study of the cost of cultivation of principal crops, to undertake research studies on agro-economic problems of the country, to fund conferences/workshops and seminars involving eminent economists, agricultural scientists, experts and to bring out papers to conduct short term studies, to improve agricultural statistics methodology and to create a hierarchical information system on crop condition and crop production from sowing to harvest. (ix) Integrated Scheme on Agricultural Cooperation (ISAC): It aims to provide financial ‘Pollution in Indian cities’ assistance for improving the economic conditions (GS3: Environmental pollution) of cooperatives, remove regional imbalances and Issue: Responding to the air pollution data to speed up - cooperative development in released by the World Health Organisation

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May -2018 UPSC/IAS Current Affairs (WHO) on Wednesday, the government claimed Source: that various measures have led to pollution levels http://www.thehindu.com/business/Economy/man actually falling in 2017. ufacturing-pmi-rises-marginally-in- At 143 microgrammes/cubic metre, Delhi‘s PM april/article23746897.ece (2.5) levels in 2016 — as reported by the WHO — made it the sixth most polluted city in the world. ‘Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank’ The government, citing Central Pollution Control (GS2: Multilateral agencies) Board data, said it was 134 microgrammes/cubic Issue: The Ministry of Finance, Government of metre in 2016 and 125 microgrammes/cubic metre India in collaboration with the Confederation in 2017 of Indian Industry (CII), and Research and Source: Information System for Developing Countries http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/governme (RIS) organized the 4th Regional Conference on nt-claims-pollution-dipped-in- Futuristic, Resilient and Digital Infrastructure 2017/article23751638.ece in Bengaluru The Conference saw eminent delegates ‘Taj Mahal Discoloration’ representing partner institutions, academia, civil (GS3: Environmental pollution) society organizations and experts from various Issue: Experts say that the discolouration of the fields expressing their views on how to bring Taj Mahal — the ‗browning‘, as observed by the about institutional approaches for futuristic and Supreme Court on Wednesday — is due to a mix digital infrastructure in India. of weathering as well as industrial pollution but About AIIB thorough studies are required before remedial The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank measures are implemented. (AIIB) is a multilateral development bank that Various environmental threats to Taj aims to support the building of infrastructure in 1. Sulphur-dioxide emanating from the Mathura the Asia-Pacific region. The bank currently has 64 refinery member states while another 20 are prospective 2. A study by Indian and US researchers argued members for a total of 84 approved members and that the key culprits responsible for the was proposed as an initiative by the government of discoloration were: particulate matter; carbon from China. burning biomass and refuse; fossil fuels; and dust The bank was proposed by China in 2013 and the — possibly from agriculture and road traffic. initiative was launched at a ceremony in Beijing in Source: October 2014. India is a member of this bank http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/taj- Source: mahal-discolouration-experts-for-more-study- http://pib.nic.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=15 before-remedy/article23752532.ece 31243

‘Manufacturing Growth’ ‘Nuclear Titanic’ (GS3: Indian Economy) (GS3: Science) Issue: Manufacturing sector activity improved Issue: Akademik Lomonosov is the first nuclear marginally in April, driven by rise in new business plant in its class. It is capable of producing enough orders amid favorable demand conditions, amid energy to power a city of 200,000 people. easing inflationary pressures According to the owner of the 70-megawatt The Nikkei India Manufacturing Purchasing floating nuclear power plant, Rosatom, the craft is Managers Index (PMI), rose from 51.0 in March being towed through the Baltic Sea to a base in to 51.6 in April, indicating faster improvement in Murmansk. the health of the country‘s manufacturing Concerns about this project economy than in the prior month. Greenpeace recently warned that there was a The survey noted that business sentiment was at danger of a ―Chernobyl on ice‖, referencing the the strongest level since the implementation of the 1986 nuclear disaster at the Chernobyl reactor in goods and services tax (GST) in July 2017. Soviet-controlled Ukraine that prompted a mass

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May -2018 UPSC/IAS Current Affairs evacuation and left swathes of Ukraine and erupt in areas called hot spots where the crust is neighboring Belarus uninhabitable. thin. Source: Volcanoes erupt in different ways, producing https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/world/nucle different landforms. Steep, cone-shaped volcanoes ar-titanic-russias-floating-power-plant-akademik- form when plates collide. All the pressure and heat lomonosov-sets-sail-2560301-3.html of the collision make for a violent eruption. The cone forms when lava and other material eject and ‘Job creation’ build up around the opening. This type of volcano (GS3: Indian Economy) is known as a stratovolcano, and Mt. Rainier is a Issue: India‘s services sector continued to good example. Sometimes an eruption is so improve in April, mainly spurred by increased violent that the top of the volcano collapses, business activities, and job-creation accelerated at leaving a huge pit or caldera. You can see calderas the fastest pace in more than seven years in Yellowstone National Park and Crater Lake. Reasons for the uptrend When plates pull apart, lava escapes through the With growth in new orders and easing inflationary rift. This more gentle flow creates new crust on pressures also helping in improved demand the seafloor and wide, rounded volcanoes on the condition surface called shield volcanoes. Hawaii‘s Kilauea Source: is a shield volcano. It is also an example of a https://www.financialexpress.com/economy/good- volcano that formed over a hotspot. news-job-creation-fastest-in-over-7-years-high-as- Volcanic eruptions can be deadly. Eruptions of services-activity-continues-to-grow-in- Krakatau and Tambora in Indonesia caused the april/1155533/?google_editors_picks=true deaths of more than 100,000 people. Dangerous as they are, volcanoes also build and shape the land, ‘Volcano eruption’ creating mountains and new seafloor and (GS1: Geophysical phenomenon) depositing minerals and nutrients that enrich soil. Issue: Hawaii's Kilauea volcano erupted today, 2 Types of lava flow sending lava shooting into the air in a residential (1)Basic lava flow neighborhood and prompting mandatory * more fluid and thin and the lava travels over a evacuation orders for nearby homes. longer distance before solidifying. The county has ordered evacuations for all of * lava flow faster and spread widely Leilani Estates, which according to the 2010 U.S. * Gives rise to a more gentle-sloping volcano Census has a population of 1,500. The state also (shield volcano). mobilized the Hawaii National Guard to assist (2) Acidic lava flow with evacuations. * Lava is thicker and more viscous. About Volcano * Travels over a shorter distance and cools and A volcano is an opening in Earth‘s crust that solidify faster. allows molten rock from beneath the crust to reach * Gives rise to volcano with steeper slopes. the surface. This molten rock is called magma Pacific ring of fire when it is beneath the surface and lava when it The Ring of Fire is a major area in the basin of erupts or flows from a volcano. Along with lava, the Pacific Ocean where many earthquakes and volcanoes also release gases, ash, and rock. It‘s a volcanic eruptions occur. In a 40,000 km super hot mix that can be both incredibly (25,000 mi) horseshoe shape, it is associated with destructive and creative. a nearly continuous series of oceanic trenches, Volcanoes form at the edges of Earth‘s tectonic volcanic arcs, and volcanic belts and plate plates. These huge slabs of Earth‘s crust travel movements. It has 452 volcanoes (more than 75% atop the partly molten mantle, the layer beneath of the world's active and dormant volcanoes). The the crust. Sometimes, though, plates collide with Ring of Fire is sometimes called the circum- one another or pull apart, and it‘s at these active Pacific belt. zones where volcanoes form. Volcanoes may also

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May -2018 UPSC/IAS Current Affairs The Indian dry deciduous forests are mainly located at tropical and subtropical latitudes. They occur in climates that are warm, year-round, and may receive several hundred centimeters or rain per year. The seasonal droughts in these forests have a great impact on all the living beings, as the trees lose moisture through their leaves, during this time. In spite of being less biologically diverse than rainforests, the Indian dry deciduous forests are home to a wide variety of wildlife. Some of the most notable animals include monkeys, large cats, parrots, various rodents, and ground dwelling birds. The Mammalian biomass also tends to live in higher numbers in dry forests than in rain forests. The Northern Dry Deciduous Forests Ecoregions in India do not have large number of species or Source: http://www.business- they are not high in numbers of endemic species, standard.com/article/pti-stories/hawaii-volcano- as well. However, they harbour several large shoots-lava-into-sky-evacuations-ordered- vertebrates, which include the largest and most 118050400262_1.html charismatic carnivore of Asia, the tiger (Panthera tigris). The northern Indian dry deciduous forests ‘Forest fire threat’ are mainly located across the Indian states of (GS3: Environment) Bihar, Orissa, and Madhya Pradesh. They can also Issue: Incessant rains over the past few days in the be found in the rain shadow of the Eastern Ghats Mysuru region have doused the threat of forest Mountain Range. The vegetation in the Indian dry fires in Nagarahole and Bandipur National Parks, deciduous forests is made up of associations of much to the relief of the authorities. Anogeissus latifolia, Dalbergia latifolia, While Bandipur had a good spell of unseasonal Pterocarpus marsupium, Stereospermum rains late in March and in early April, it received suaveolens, Spondias pinnata, Cleistanthus moderate to heavy rains more recently, putting a collinus, Acacia lenticularis, Flacourtia indica, cloak of green over the dry deciduous forest. The Boswellia serrata, Butea monosperma, etc. The scenario is similar in the adjoining Nagarahole, dry forests do not harbor large numbers of where heavy rains have doused the threat of fires endemic species, or they are not exceptionally rich for this year. in biodiversity, as well. The known mammal fauna Meanwhile, animal sightings have increased in in these forests consists of sixty-eight species and Bandipur and park officials say that a good there are no eco-regional endemic species. number of elephants that otherwise migrate to the However, the threatened species include the tiger, Kabini backwaters in search of fodder and water wild dog, sloth bear, and chousingha. have returned. Among the Indian dry deciduous forests, the South About Dry deciduous forest Deccan Plateau dry deciduous forests are not The dry deciduous forests are mainly situated in exceptionally outstanding for biological richness the areas, where annual rainfall ranges from 500 - or endemism. The South Deccan Plateau dry 1,500 mm and every species in these forests has its deciduous forests are located on the lee side of the own time of leaf casting. Sal is the most Western Ghats Mountain Range. The forests in significant tree found in the dry deciduous forests. this region extend across the southern Indian states Several studies have revealed that the dry of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu and their vegetation deciduous forests are step by step replacing the is highly influenced by climate. As the tall moist deciduous forests in India. Western Ghats Mountain Range intercepts the moisture from the southwest monsoon, the eastern

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May -2018 UPSC/IAS Current Affairs slopes and the Deccan Plateau receive very little What is Cyclonic circulation? rainfall. The annual rainfall in these forests ranges Cyclonic rotation or circulation is movement in from 900 to 1,500 millimeters (mm). the same direction as the Earth's rotation, as The Indian dry deciduous forests in this region opposed to anti-cyclonic rotation. The Coriolis have a three-storied structure, with an upper Effect causes cyclonic rotation to be in a canopy at 15-25 meters, an understory at 10-15 counterclockwise direction in the northern meters, and undergrowth at 3-5 meters. The hemisphere, and clockwise in the southern vegetation in these forests is characterised by hemisphere. A closed area of winds rotating Boswellia serrata, Anogeissus latifolia, Acacia cyclonically is known as a cyclone. catechu, Terminalia tomentosa, Terminalia Cyclonic circulation is the swirling motion of paniculata, Terminalia belirica, Chloroxylon winds caused by a low pressure area. Its counter- swietenia, Albizzia amara, Cassia fistula, part is called anti cyclonic circulation caused by a Hardwickia binata, Dalbergia latifolia, etc. The high pressure area. forests are also home to several important Cyclonic circulation normally pulls in warm moist populations of India's large threatened vertebrates. air resulting in cloudiness which may result in One of the most important among them is the rainfall whereas anti-cyclonic circulation pushes elephant population that ranges from the Nilgiri away air resulting in clear weather. Hills to the Eastern Ghats. Some of the other In northern hemisphere, cyclonic circulation important species include the Asian elephant, wild rotates in a counter clock wise direction whereas dog, sloth bear, chousingha, gaur, and grizzled in southern hemisphere it rotates in a clockwise giant squirrel. direction. Source: Source: http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other- /rains-douse-threat-of-fire-in-national- states/cyclonic-circulation-in-haryana-could-have- parks/article23763586.ece set-off-dust-storms/article23763693.ece

‘New snake species’ (GS3: Environment) Issue: Just 40 cm long and iridescent brown, Bhupathy‘s shieldtail is the latest addition to the snake fauna of the Western Ghats. About the discovered species The snake, currently found only in the forests of the Anaikatty hills in Tamil Nadu‘s Coimbatore district, has been named Uropeltis bhupathyi, after the late herpetologist S. Bhupathy, for his contributions to the field. The reptile belongs to a family of snakes found ‘Cyclonic circulation’ only in peninsular India and Sri Lanka. They are (GS1: Geophysical phenomenon) non-venomous, mostly burrowing and earthworm- Issue: A cyclonic circulation over Haryana was eating, and are called shieldtails after the large, the trigger for the deadly dust storm that swept flat tips of their tails, which make them appear parts of Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, weather almost sliced off. experts said on Thursday, estimating that the wind Source: http://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy- speed during the storm might have gone up to 100 and-environment/new-snake-found-in-western- kms per hour. ghats/article23763921.ece Reasons for this disaster There were primarily four reasons that lead to the ‘Western Ghats’ thunderstorm -- excessive heating, availability of (GS3: Conservation of Environment) moisture, instability in atmosphere and a trigger for the storm www.iasjnana.com 21 9916399276

May -2018 UPSC/IAS Current Affairs Issue: Researchers have found one more reason 3. The GST Council also ruled out the automatic why urgent steps have to be taken to stop reversal of input tax credit from the buyer on non- deforestation in the Western Ghats. The dense payment of tax by the seller. vegetation in the Western Ghats determines the About GST council amount of rainfall that Tamil Nadu gets during the Goods & Services Tax Council is a constitutional summer monsoon. body for making recommendations to the Union What the study says? and State Government on issues related to Goods 1. A team led by Prof. Subimal Ghosh from the and Service Tax. The GST Council is chaired by Department of Civil Engineering at the Indian the Union Finance Minister and other members are Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay has found the Union State Minister of Revenue or Finance that dense forests of the Western Ghats contribute and Ministers in-charge of Finance or Taxation of as much as 40% of moisture to the southwest all the States. monsoon rainfall over Tamil Nadu during normal Mandate of GST council monsoon years. The average contribution is 25- The Goods and Services Tax Council shall make 30%. But during monsoon deficit years, the recommendations to the Union and the States on— contribution increases to as high as 50%. 1. the taxes, cesses and surcharges levied by the 2. The study found the forests of Western Ghats Union, the States and the local bodies which may contribute as much as 3 mm per day of rainfall be subsumed in the goods and services tax; during August and September over a ―majority of 2. the goods and services that may be subjected to, locations‖ in Tamil Nadu and 1 mm per day or exempted from the goods and services tax; during June and July. 3. model Goods and Services Tax Laws, principles 3. The researchers found a significant drop in of levy, apportionment of Goods and Services Tax rainfall in the range of 1-2.5 mm per day when the levied on supplies in the course of inter-State trade vegetation cover was removed from the Western or commerce under article 269A and the principles Ghats. This translates to an average of 25% of the that govern the place of supply; total monsoon rainfall over Tamil Nadu. But only 4. the threshold limit of turnover below which small parts of Kerala get affected by deforestation goods and services may be exempted from goods in Western Ghats. and services tax; Source: http://www.thehindu.com/sci- 5. the rates including floor rates with bands of tech/science/western-ghats-forest-cover-vital-for- goods and services tax; tamil-nadus-sw-monsoon- 6. any special rate or rates for a specified period, rainfall/article23761534.ece?utm_source=science to raise additional resources during any natural &utm_medium=sticky_footer calamity or disaster; 7. special provision with respect to the States of ‘GST council meeting’ Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Jammu and Kashmir, (GS3: Indian Economy) Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Issue: The GST Council on Friday decided to roll Sikkim, Tripura, Himachal Pradesh and out in six months a new, simpler process of filing Uttarakhand; and monthly returns 8. Any other matter relating to the goods and Highlights of the meeting services tax, as the Council may decide. 1. In its 27th meeting, the GST Council also * The Goods and Services Tax Council shall decided to take complete ownership of the goods recommend the date on which the goods and and services tax network (GSTN) by acquiring the services tax be levied on petroleum crude, high equity share held by non-government institutions. speed diesel, motor spirit (commonly known as 2. On the imposition of a cess on sugar as well as a petrol), natural gas and aviation turbine fuel. two per cent incentive for making payments * While discharging the functions conferred by digitally, the panel decided to set up two separate this article, the Goods and Services Tax Council groups of five finance ministers of states to give shall be guided by the need for a harmonized recommendations on both issues. structure of goods and services tax and for the

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May -2018 UPSC/IAS Current Affairs development of a harmonized national market for Thunderstorms, along with squall are also very goods and services. likely at isolated places over Assam and * One-half of the total number of Members of the Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura Goods and Services Tax Council shall constitute as well the quorum at its meetings. What is a squall? * The Goods and Services Tax Council shall A squall is a sudden, sharp increase in wind speed determine the procedure in the performance of its that is usually associated with active weather, such functions. as rain showers, thunderstorms, or heavy snow. * Every decision of the Goods and Services Tax Squalls refer to an increase in the sustained winds Council shall be taken at a meeting, by a majority over a short time interval, as there may be higher of not less than three-fourths of the weighted votes gusts during a squall event. They usually occur in of the members present and voting, in accordance a region of strong mid-level height falls, or mid- with the following principles, namely: — level tropospheric cooling, which force strong 1. the vote of the Central Government shall have a localized upward motions at the leading edge of weightage of one third of the total votes cast, and the region of cooling, which then enhances local 2. The votes of all the State Governments taken downward motions just in its wake. together shall have a weightage of two-thirds of Source: http://www.business- the total votes cast, in that meeting. standard.com/article/current-affairs/storm-in- * No act or proceedings of the Goods and Services north-india-today-weather-in-rajasthan-up-punjab- Tax Council shall be invalid merely by reason delhi-uttarakhand-124-killed-mha-issues-advisory- of— top-10-developments-118050500120_1.html 1. any vacancy in, or any defect in, the constitution of the Council; or 2. any defect in the appointment of a person as a Member of the Council; or 3. any procedural irregularity of the Council not affecting the merits of the case. * The Goods and Services Tax Council shall establish a mechanism to adjudicate any dispute between the Government of India and one or more States; or between the Government of India and any State or States on one side and one or more other States on the other side; or Between ‘SWAYAM’ two or more States, arising out of the (GS2: Issues related to Education) recommendations of the Council or Issue: The Ministry of Human Resource implementation thereof. Development has launched a major and unique Source: http://www.business- initiative of online professional development of standard.com/article/economy-policy/27th-gst- 1.5 million higher education faculty using the council-meeting-dates-arun-jaitley-says-gst- MOOCs platform SWAYAM. return-filing-to-get-simpler-top-highlights- What is SWAYAM? 118050401227_1.html SWAYAM is a programme initiated by Government of India and designed to achieve the three cardinal principles of Education Policy viz., ‘Thunderstorms’ access, equity and quality. The objective of this (GS1: Geophysical phenomenon) Issue: Another set of thunderstorms is likely to hit effort is to take the best teaching learning India's northwestern plains on Saturday. resources to all, including the most disadvantaged. According to the India Meteorological Department SWAYAM seeks to bridge the digital divide for (IMD), regions including northern Rajasthan, students who have hitherto remained untouched by western Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and the digital revolution and have not been able to parts of Uttarakhand will be affected. join the mainstream of the knowledge economy.

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May -2018 UPSC/IAS Current Affairs This is done through an indigenous developed IT to the public drainage network. In addition, the platform that facilitates hosting of all the courses, high resolution GIS enabled data will help in taught in classrooms from 9th class till post- regulating the proposed protected and regulatory graduation to be accessed by anyone, anywhere at zones along the banks of river. any time. All the courses are interactive, prepared About NMCG by the best teachers in the country and are National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) available, free of cost to the residents in India. was registered as a society on 12th August 2011 More than 1,000 specially chosen faculty and under the Societies Registration Act 1860.It acted teachers from across the Country have participated as implementation arm of National Ganga River in preparing these courses. Basin Authority (NGRBA) which was constituted The courses hosted on SWAYAM are in 4 under the provisions of the Environment quadrants – (1) video lecture, (2) specially (Protection) Act (EPA),1986. NGRBA has since prepared reading material that can be been dissolved with effect from the 7th October downloaded/printed (3) self-assessment tests 2016, consequent to constitution of National through tests and quizzes and (4) an online Council for Rejuvenation, Protection and discussion forum for clearing the doubts. Steps Management of River Ganga (referred as National have been taken to enrich the learning experience Ganga Council) by using audio-video and multi-media and state of The Act envisages five tier structure at national, the art pedagogy / technology. state and district level to take measures for Source: prevention, control and abatement of http://pib.nic.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=15 environmental pollution in river Ganga and to 31332 ensure continuous adequate flow of water so as to rejuvenate the river Ganga as below; ‘NAMAMI GANGE project’ 1. National Ganga Council under chairmanship of (GS3: Conservation of Environment) Hon‘ble Prime Minister of India Issue: National Mission for Clean Ganga has 2. Empowered Task Force (ETF) on river Ganga brought on board Survey of India, the oldest under chairmanship of Hon‘ble Union Minister of scientific department in the country set up in 1767, Water Resources, River Development and Ganga to facilitate the Ganga rejuvenation task by using Rejuvenation. Geographic Information System (GIS) technology. 3. National Mission for Clean Ganga(NMCG). Aim of the project 4. State Ganga Committees and 1. NMCG aims to strengthen planning and 5. District Ganga Committees in every specified implementation at national/state/local levels. The district abutting river Ganga and its tributaries in project includes use of Digital Elevation Model the states. (DEM) technology which ensures accurate data NMCG has a two tier management structure and collection, an important aspect for river basin comprises of Governing Council and Executive management planning. Committee. Both of them are headed by Director 2. DEM technology enables identification of entire General, NMCG. Executive Committee has been topography of an area making it easy for policy authorized to accord approval for all projects up to makers to analyze the available data thereby Rs.1000 crore. Similar to structure at national supporting the decision-making process. level, State Programme Management Groups 3. The use of GIS technology for Namami Gange (SPMGs) acts as implementing arm of State programme will also ensure decentralization. The Ganga Committees. Thus the newly created data collected and subsequent actions taken by the structure attempts to bring all stakeholders on one government can easily be shared with the local platform to take a holistic approach towards the public through geo portals and mobile apps. task of Ganga cleaning and rejuvenation. 4. For effective discharge management, outlet of The Director General (DG) of NMCG is a sewerage and other discharges from all units - Additional Secretary in Government of India. For industrial, commercial and all types of other effective implementation of the projects under the institutions will be mapped from the source outlet overall supervision of NMCG, the State Level

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Program Management Groups (SPMGs) are, also Environment Education has been initiated. headed by senior officers of the concerned States. Forestry interventions for Ganga has been About NAMAMI GANGE project executed as per the Detailed Project Report ‘Namami Gange Programme’, is an Integrated prepared by Forest Research Institute, Dehradun Conservation Mission, approved as ‗Flagship for a period of 5 years (2016-2021) at project cost Programme‘ by the Union Government in June of Rs.2300 Crores. Work has been commenced in 2014 with budget outlay of Rs.20,000 Crore to 7 districts of Uttarakhand for medicinal plants. accomplish the twin objectives of effective 6. Public Awareness:- A series of activities such abatement of pollution, conservation and as events, workshops, seminars and conferences rejuvenation of National River Ganga and numerous IEC activities were organized to Its implementation has been divided into Entry- make a strong pitch for public outreach and Level Activities (for immediate visible impact), community participation in the programme. Medium-Term Activities (to be implemented Various awareness activities through rallies, within 5 years of time frame) and Long-Term campaigns, exhibitions, shram daan, cleanliness Activities (to be implemented within 10 years). drives, competitions, plantation drives and The key achievements under Namami Gange development and distribution of resource materials programme are:- were organized and for wider publicity the mass 1. Creating Sewerage Treatment Capacity:- 63 mediums such as TV/Radio, print media sewerage management projects under advertisements, advertorials, featured articles and implementation in the States of Uttarakhand,Uttar advertorials were published. Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal.12 7. Industrial Effluent Monitoring:- Real Time new sewerage management Projects Launched in Effluent Monitoring Stations (EMS) has been these states.Work is under construction for installed in 572 out of 760 Grossly Polluting creating Sewerage capacity of 1187.33 Industries (GPIs). Closure notice have been issued (MLD).Hybrid Annuity PPP Model based two to 135 GPIs so far and others have been given projects has been initiated for Jagjeetpur, deadlines for compliance to stipulated norms and Haridwar and Ramanna, Varanasi. for installations of online EMS. 2. Creating River-Front Development:-28 8. Ganga Gram:- Ministry of Drinking Water and River-Front Development projects and 33 Entry Sanitation (MoDWS) identified 1674 Gram level Projects for construction, modernization and Panchayats situated on the bank of River Ganga in renovation of 182 Ghats and 118 crematoria has 5 State (Uttarakhand,Uttar been initiated. Pradesh,Bihar,Jharkhand,West Bengal). Rs. 578 3. River Surface Cleaning:-River Surface Crores has been released to Ministry of Drinking cleaning for collection of floating solid waste from Water and Sanitation (MoDWS) for construction the surface of the Ghats and River and its disposal of toilets in 1674 Gram Panchayats of 5 Ganga are afoot and pushed into service at 11 locations. Basin States. 4. Bio-Diversity Conservation:- Several Bio- National Mission for Clean Ganga endeavors to Diversity conservation projects are namely: deploy best available knowledge and resources Biodiversity Conservation and Ganga across the world for Ganga rejuvenation. Clean Rejuvenation, Fish and Fishery Conservation in Ganga has been a perennial attraction for many Ganga River, Ganges River Dolphin Conservation international countries that have expertise in river Education Programme has been initiated. 5 Bio- rejuvenation. Countries such as Australia, United Diversity center‘s at Dehradun, Narora, Kingdom, Germany, Finland, Israel etc. have Allahabad, Varanasi and Barrackpore has been shown interest in collaborating with India for developed for restoration of identified priority Ganga rejuvenation. Memorandums of species. Understanding (MoUs) were signed with various Central Ministries viz.- Ministry of Human 5. Afforestation:- Forestry interventions for Resource Development, Ministry of Rural Ganga through Wildlife Institute of India; Central Development, Ministry of Railways, Ministry of Inland Fisheries Research Institute and Centre for

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Shipping, Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Ayush, The partnership aims to work together towards use Ministry of Petroleum, Ministry of Youth Affairs of technology to provide insights to farmers to and Sports, Ministry of Drinking Water & improve crop productivity, soil yield, controls Sanitation and Ministry of Agriculture for agricultural input with the overarching goal of synergizing the Government schemes. improving farmers‘ incomes. Source: IBM will be using Artificial Intelligence to http://pib.nic.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=15 provide all the relevant data and platform for 31305 developing technological models for improving agricultural output and productivity for various ‘National Water Informatics Centre’ crops and soil types, for the identified districts. (GS3: Conservation of Environment) NITI Aayog, on its part, will facilitate the Issue: Consequent upon approval of the Cabinet, inclusion of more stakeholders on the ground for National Water Informatics Centre (NWIC) has effective last mile utilization and extension, using recently been created by Ministry of Water the insights generated through these models. Resources, River Development and Ganga What is precision agriculture? Rejuvenation at New Delhi vide notification dated Precision agriculture is also known as precision ag 28th March 2018. or precision farming. Perhaps the easiest way to About NWIC understand precision ag is to think of it as NWIC would be a repository of nation-wide water everything that makes the practice of farming resources data and would work as a Subordinate more accurate and controlled when it comes to the Office under the Ministry of Water Resources, growing of crops and raising livestock. A key River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation. The component of this farm management approach is centre would be headed by a Joint Secretary level the use of information technology and a wide officer. array of items such as GPS guidance, control Source: systems, sensors, robotics, drones, autonomous http://pib.nic.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=15 vehicles, variable rate technology, GPS-based soil 31304 sampling, automated hardware, telematics, and software. Source: http://pib.nic.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=15 31374

‘National Security clearance policy’ (GS3: Internal security) Issue: Among foreign countries, the maximum investment proposals in critical sectors like telecom and defence that was cleared by the Home Ministry in 2017 were from China, United Kingdom, U.S. and Mauritius. Earlier the time taken for security clearance for a project was eight-nine months on an average. This has been brought down to 40 days since last year. ‘Precision Agriculture’ The Ministry had formulated a new national (GS3: Science and Technology) security clearance policy in 2015 after the Issue: NITI Aayog and IBM signed a Statement of government decided to speed up projects, which Intent (SoI) today to develop a crop yield were stuck for lack of approval by Intelligence prediction model using Artificial Intelligence (AI) Bureau (IB) or other agencies including the State to provide real time advisory to farmers in police. Aspirational Districts. About the policy Objective of the partnership

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May -2018 UPSC/IAS Current Affairs The policy has 15 parameters on which inputs * Border Roads Organisation (BRO), is from security agencies are sought. Once it has got celebrating its Raising Day on 07 May 2018. an application from an investor, the Ministry * BRO, a leader in the arena of infrastructural decides on the status of security clearance to the development in the border areas of the country is company within 4-6 weeks. celebrating its 58 years of glorious service to the The objective is to evaluate potential threats, nation. visible or embedded, in proposals received by the * On this occasion, Director General Border Ministry and to provide a national risk assessment. Roads Lt Gen Harpal Singh, conveyed his Security inputs from the Intelligence Bureau, the greetings to all veterans and BRO personnel. CBI, the Enforcement Directorate and other * Works executed in friendly foreign countries are agencies are sought only in cases of serious crimes a message of the Organisation‘s ideology and not in case of minor offences. ‗Shramena Sarvam Sadhyam‘. Source: About BRO http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/ministry- 1. The Border Roads Organisation(BRO) fast-tracks-security-clearance-for-overseas- develops and maintains road networks in India's investment-proposals/article23776931.ece border areas and friendly neighboring countries. 2. The BRO operates and maintains over 32,885 ‘Open market operations’ kilometers of roads and about 12,200 meters of (GS3: Indian Economy) permanent bridges in the country. Issue: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) will buy 3. The BRO consists of Border Roads Wing in the government bonds worth up to Rs10,000 crore on Ministry of Defence and the General Reserve 17 May, a move that could bring some relief to the Engineer Force (GREF) bond market which is reeling under the pressure of rising yields despite a slew of regulatory HRD Ministry notifies 75 National Resource measures. Centres for online for Higher Education faculty Bond prices and yields move in opposite through SWAYAM directions. (GS2: Issues related to Education) The purchase of securities will be made under the * The Ministry of Human Resource Development central bank‘s open market operations (OMOs) has launched a major and unique initiative of What is OMO? online professional development of 1.5 million OMOs are the market operations conducted by the higher education faculty using the MOOCs RBI by way of sale/ purchase of G-Secs to/ from platform SWAYAM. the market with an objective to adjust the rupee * In the first phase, 75 discipline-specific liquidity conditions in the market on a durable National Resource Centres have been identified basis. When the RBI feels that there is excess which are tasked to prepare online training liquidity in the market, it resorts to sale of material with focus on latest developments in the securities thereby sucking out the rupee liquidity. discipline, new & emerging trends, pedagogical Similarly, when the liquidity conditions are tight, improvements and methodologies for transacting RBI may buy securities from the market, thereby revised curriculum. releasing liquidity into the market. * A varied set of institutions such as, Centres Source: under the Ministry‘s Pandit Madan Mohan https://www.livemint.com/Money/1tuGGbyhCE8u Malaviya National Mission on Teachers and 9Bc1siT94O/RBI-to-buy-up-to-Rs10000-crore-of- Teaching (PMMMNMTT) located in Central government-bonds-on-17-Ma.html Universities, IISc, IUCAA, IITs, IISERs, NITs, State Universities ; UGC‘s Human Resource Border Roads Organisation to celebrate Development Centres( HRDCs), National Raising Day Institutes for Technical Teachers Training (GS3: Various security forces and their (NITTTRs), IIITs, Open Universities have been mandate) notified as NRCs.

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May -2018 UPSC/IAS Current Affairs * These NRCs cover wide ranging disciplines of * The Jaipur Foot has benefited 17 lakh people Social Sciences, Sciences, Engineering and across the world and has its presence in 29 Technology, Design & Manufacturing, countries Humanities, Language Teaching, Commerce, * The BMVSS has recently entered into an Management, Education Planning and agreement with the Ministry of External Affairs Administration, Public Policy, Leadership & for holding camps abroad Governance, Library & Information Science, India, Sri Lank to firm up plan to combat drug Astronomy & Astrophysics, Assessment and crimes: Bilateral meet in Delhi Evaluation, Pedagogy and research methods , (GS2: India-Sri Lanka bilateral ties) cutting edge areas of Nano-sciences, Internet Decision on drug related crimes of Things, etc 1. India and Sri Lanka have decided to enhance * Under this initiative, all in-service teachers, mutual cooperation to combat drug crimes irrespective of their subject and seniority will have 2. A two-day bilateral meeting of anti-narcotics an enabling opportunity to keep abreast of the agencies of the two countries is going on latest developments in their disciplines through the 3. Sri Lankan officers have arrived to hold talks technology based online refresher course. with their Indian counterparts, the Narcotics About SWAYAM Control Bureau (NCB) * SWAYAM or Study Webs of Active –Learning 4. This is the 3rd bilateral meeting between the for Young Aspiring two countries as part of 2013 India-Sri Lanka Minds programme of Ministry of Human agreement on cooperation to combat terrorism and Resource Development, Government of India, illicit drug trafficking Professors of centrally funded institutions Control delivery operations like IITs, IIMs, central universities will offer 1. The two agencies will explore the feasibility to online courses to citizens of India. have controlled delivery operations, the status of * Here learner can choose from hundreds of arrested persons and sharing of best practices courses , virtually every course that is taught at the 2. These operations means ―letting drug couriers university / college / school level and these shall carry out their operation under surveillance to be offered by best of the teachers in India and catch them red-handed‖ elsewhere. 3. Controlled delivery operations will help the two * If a student is studying in any college, he/she countries in cracking down on criminal syndicates can transfer the credits earned by taking these in a big way as it is a time-tested method to get courses into their academic record. success in drug crimes * All courses would be offered free of cost under National Centre for Antarctic and Ocean this programme however fees would be levied in Research case learner requires certificate. (GS3: Science) 1. The National Centre for Antarctic and Ocean Jaipur Foot to be exhibited at the U.N. Research (NCAOR) was established as an (Facts that could be asked in Prelims) autonomous Research and Development Exhibiting philanthropy Institution of the Ministry of Earth Sciences. * The world-famous and most widely used 2. It is designated as the nodal organization for the artificial limb, Jaipur Foot, will be exhibited at co-ordination and implementation of the Indian the United Nations headquarters in New York Antarctic Program. * The event will be the first of its kind in the U.N. 3. It is also responsible for the maintenance of * Bhagwan Mahaveer Viklang Sahayata Samiti India‘s permanent station in Antarctica. (BMVSS)has been giving aids and appliances free 4. It is located in the state of Goa. of cost to the beneficiaries 5. It has the Governing Council comprising 12 About the exhibition members representing a cross section of the * The seminar and exhibition will highlight India‘s country's leadership in Polar and Ocean Sciences, contribution in providing mobility and dignity to research education and administration. the differently abled

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May -2018 UPSC/IAS Current Affairs 6. Secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences, is the * A committee set up by the Centre to prepare a Chairman (ex-officio) of the Governing Council. report on the issue of inter-country parental child Cryoconite Holes abduction has questioned one of the basic (GS3: Environmental pollution) principles of the Hague Convention * National Centre for Antarctic and Ocean * The committee has argued that the return of the Research (NCAOR), Goa, scientists found a child to his or her habitual residence may not crowd of shallow circular puddles of water in necessarily be in the best interest of the child Spiti‘s Chandra basin. * There is immense pressure on India from the * The holes about 5-50 cm in diameter and up to U.S. to accede to the Hague Convention on the 20 cm in depth—with dark brown sediments Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction deposited at the bottom. Justice Rajesh Bindal Committee * The sediment is actually mineral dust which is recommendations alien to this place. * The Justice Rajesh Bindal Committee was set up * In the presence of sunlight and water, chemical last year to suggest a model legislation to and biological processes are powered in the dust safeguard the interest of the child as well those of and are leading to the evolution of life. the parents when an NRI (Non-Resident Indian) * Alien dust carried and deposited on the glacier marriage goes sour and one of the parents flees surfaces by winds absorb more solar radiation from one country to another with the child owing to their darker color. * It recommended that returning a child to the * These dust holes are also called as cryoconite place of habitual residence may result in sending holes. the child to an inharmonious set-up as well as * The word ―cryoconite‖ is derived from the overlook the fact that a mother is the primary combination of two Greek words—―kryos‖ caregiver of the child meaning ice and ―konis‖ meaning dust. * The panel has also prepared a draft law to * Cryoconite holes were first observed by ships safeguard the interest of the children, as well as traversing the edges of the Arctic Circle in the those of the parents, particularly mothers 19th century. Proposed legislation * These holes might also be contributing to the * The proposed legislation lays various exceptions problem of accelerated glacier melting. under which a child will not be returned to the Role of Western Ghats in monsoon country of habitual residence which are: (GS1: Indian Monsoon) 1. the best interest of the child 1. Researchers have found that the dense 2. domestic violence or mental or physical cruelty vegetation in the Western Ghats determines the 3. harassment against the parent who fled with the amount of rainfall that Tamil Nadu gets during the child summer monsoon. 4. the parent claiming the return of the child was 2. The Western Ghats contribute as much as 40% not exercising the custody rights at the time of of moisture to the southwest monsoon rainfall over removal Tamil Nadu during normal monsoon years. 5. if there is a grave risk that the child would be 3. The average contribution is 25-30%, however exposed to physical or psychological harm during monsoon deficit years, the contribution Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of increases to as high as 50%.. International Child Abduction 4. It was also found that deforestation of the Ghats 1. Hague Abduction Convention is a multilateral led to 0.25 degree C increase in surface treaty developed by the Hague Conference on temperature across the State. Private International Law (HCCH) that provides Inter-country child abduction: central panel an expeditious method to return a child questions key principle of Hague Convention internationally abducted by a parent from one (GS2: Issues related to Human resources) member country to another Questioning basic principles of the Hague 2. The Convention was drafted to ensure the Convention prompt return of children who have been abducted from their country of habitual residence or

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May -2018 UPSC/IAS Current Affairs wrongfully retained in a contracting state not their still recovering from the initial jitters and country of habitual residence confusion around the tax regime 3. The Convention applies only to children under * Firms will again have to cope with significant the age of 16 changes in accounting software in 4. The Convention requires that a court in which a New compliance system Hague Convention action is filed should not * The GST Council has recently decided to consider the merits of any underlying child introduce a new compliance system under which a custody dispute, but should determine only that single monthly GST return will have to be country in which those issues should be heard submitted by firms, barring a few exceptions 5. The Convention mandates return of any child * The new compliance system will be who was ―habitually resident‖ in a contracting implemented in phased manner nation immediately before an action that * with the first of three transition stages to begin constitutes a breach of custody or access rights six months from now 6. The Convention provides special rules for There are some gaps in the new compliance admission and consideration of evidence system independent of the evidentiary standards set by * For instance, in the second stage of the transition any member nation to simpler returns, buyers will get provisional 7. The Convention was concluded 25 October input credit even if the seller doesn‘t upload the 1980 and entered into force between the invoices signatories on 1 December 1983 * While this could lead to disputes, in the third 27th GST council meeting: The new compliance stage input credits will only be granted after system sellers upload invoices (GS3: Indian Economy) * But if a seller defaults on depositing GST dues New compliance system collected from a buyer and remains evasive, the * The GST Council has recently decided to authorities can reverse the credit availed by the introduce a new compliance system under which a buyer for such outstanding taxes single monthly GST return will have to be Fresh uncertainty for businesses: Issue with the submitted by firms, barring a few exceptions timeline * The new compliance system will be * In any case, the timelines for the transition are implemented in phased manner long and bring fresh uncertainty for businesses * with the first of three transition stages to begin still recovering from the initial jitters and six months from now confusion around the tax regime There are some gaps in the new compliance * Firms will again have to cope with significant system changes in accounting software in * For instance, in the second stage of the transition Border Roads Organisation to celebrate to simpler returns, buyers will get provisional Raising Day input credit even if the seller doesn‘t upload the (GS3: Various security forces and their invoices mandate) * While this could lead to disputes, in the third * Border Roads Organisation (BRO), is stage input credits will only be granted after celebrating its Raising Day on 07 May 2018. sellers upload invoices * BRO, a leader in the arena of infrastructural * But if a seller defaults on depositing GST dues development in the border areas of the country is collected from a buyer and remains evasive, the celebrating its 58 years of glorious service to the authorities can reverse the credit availed by the nation. buyer for such outstanding taxes * On this occasion, Director General Border Fresh uncertainty for businesses: Issue with the Roads Lt Gen Harpal Singh, conveyed his timeline greetings to all veterans and BRO personnel. * In any case, the timelines for the transition are * Works executed in friendly foreign countries are long and bring fresh uncertainty for businesses a message of the Organisation‘s ideology ‗Shramena Sarvam Sadhyam‘.

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May -2018 UPSC/IAS Current Affairs About BRO an enabling opportunity to keep abreast of the 1. The Border Roads Organisation(BRO) latest developments in their disciplines through the develops and maintains road networks in India's technology based online refresher course. border areas and friendly neighboring countries. About SWAYAM 2. The BRO operates and maintains over 32,885 * SWAYAM or Study Webs of Active –Learning kilometers of roads and about 12,200 meters of for Young Aspiring permanent bridges in the country. Minds programme of Ministry of Human 3. The BRO consists of Border Roads Wing in the Resource Development, Government of India, Ministry of Defence and the General Reserve Professors of centrally funded institutions Engineer Force (GREF) like IITs, IIMs, central universities will offer online courses to citizens of India. HRD Ministry notifies 75 National Resource * Here learner can choose from hundreds of Centres for online for Higher Education faculty courses , virtually every course that is taught at the through SWAYAM university / college / school level and these shall (GS2: Issues related to Education) be offered by best of the teachers in India and * The Ministry of Human Resource Development elsewhere. has launched a major and unique initiative of * If a student is studying in any college, he/she online professional development of 1.5 million can transfer the credits earned by taking these higher education faculty using the MOOCs courses into their academic record. platform SWAYAM. * All courses would be offered free of cost under * In the first phase, 75 discipline-specific this programme however fees would be levied in National Resource Centres have been identified case learner requires certificate. which are tasked to prepare online training material with focus on latest developments in the Jaipur Foot to be exhibited at the U.N. discipline, new & emerging trends, pedagogical (Facts that could be asked in Prelims) improvements and methodologies for transacting Exhibiting philanthropy revised curriculum. * The world-famous and most widely used * A varied set of institutions such as, Centres artificial limb, Jaipur Foot, will be exhibited at under the Ministry‘s Pandit Madan Mohan the United Nations headquarters in New York Malaviya National Mission on Teachers and * The event will be the first of its kind in the U.N. Teaching (PMMMNMTT) located in Central * Bhagwan Mahaveer Viklang Sahayata Samiti Universities, IISc, IUCAA, IITs, IISERs, NITs, (BMVSS)has been giving aids and appliances free State Universities ; UGC‘s Human Resource of cost to the beneficiaries Development Centres( HRDCs), National About the exhibition Institutes for Technical Teachers Training * The seminar and exhibition will highlight India‘s (NITTTRs), IIITs, Open Universities have been contribution in providing mobility and dignity to notified as NRCs. the differently abled * These NRCs cover wide ranging disciplines of * The Jaipur Foot has benefited 17 lakh people Social Sciences, Sciences, Engineering and across the world and has its presence in 29 Technology, Design & Manufacturing, countries Humanities, Language Teaching, Commerce, * The BMVSS has recently entered into an Management, Education Planning and agreement with the Ministry of External Affairs Administration, Public Policy, Leadership & for holding camps abroad Governance, Library & Information Science, India, Sri Lank to firm up plan to combat drug Astronomy & Astrophysics, Assessment and crimes: Bilateral meet in Delhi Evaluation, Pedagogy and research methods , (GS2: India-Sri Lanka bilateral ties) cutting edge areas of Nano-sciences, Internet Decision on drug related crimes of Things, etc 1. India and Sri Lanka have decided to enhance * Under this initiative, all in-service teachers, mutual cooperation to combat drug crimes irrespective of their subject and seniority will have

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May -2018 UPSC/IAS Current Affairs 2. A two-day bilateral meeting of anti-narcotics * In the presence of sunlight and water, chemical agencies of the two countries is going on and biological processes are powered in the dust 3. Sri Lankan officers have arrived to hold talks and are leading to the evolution of life. with their Indian counterparts, the Narcotics * Alien dust carried and deposited on the glacier Control Bureau (NCB) surfaces by winds absorb more solar radiation 4. This is the 3rd bilateral meeting between the owing to their darker color. two countries as part of 2013 India-Sri Lanka * These dust holes are also called as cryoconite agreement on cooperation to combat terrorism and holes. illicit drug trafficking * The word ―cryoconite‖ is derived from the Control delivery operations combination of two Greek words—―kryos‖ 1. The two agencies will explore the feasibility to meaning ice and ―konis‖ meaning dust. have controlled delivery operations, the status of * Cryoconite holes were first observed by ships arrested persons and sharing of best practices traversing the edges of the Arctic Circle in the 2. These operations means ―letting drug couriers 19th century. carry out their operation under surveillance to * These holes might also be contributing to the catch them red-handed‖ problem of accelerated glacier melting. 3. Controlled delivery operations will help the two Role of Western Ghats in monsoon countries in cracking down on criminal syndicates (GS1: Indian Monsoon) in a big way as it is a time-tested method to get 1. Researchers have found that the dense success in drug crimes vegetation in the Western Ghats determines the National Centre for Antarctic and Ocean amount of rainfall that Tamil Nadu gets during the Research summer monsoon. (GS3: Science) 2. The Western Ghats contribute as much as 40% 1. The National Centre for Antarctic and Ocean of moisture to the southwest monsoon rainfall over Research (NCAOR) was established as an Tamil Nadu during normal monsoon years. autonomous Research and Development 3. The average contribution is 25-30%, however Institution of the Ministry of Earth Sciences. during monsoon deficit years, the contribution 2. It is designated as the nodal organization for the increases to as high as 50%.. co-ordination and implementation of the Indian 4. It was also found that deforestation of the Ghats Antarctic Program. led to 0.25 degree C increase in surface 3. It is also responsible for the maintenance of temperature across the State. India‘s permanent station in Antarctica. Inter-country child abduction: central panel 4. It is located in the state of Goa. questions key principle of Hague Convention 5. It has the Governing Council comprising 12 (GS2: Issues related to Human resources) members representing a cross section of the Questioning basic principles of the Hague country's leadership in Polar and Ocean Sciences, Convention research education and administration. * A committee set up by the Centre to prepare a 6. Secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences, is the report on the issue of inter-country parental child Chairman (ex-officio) of the Governing Council. abduction has questioned one of the basic Cryoconite Holes principles of the Hague Convention (GS3: Environmental pollution) * The committee has argued that the return of the * National Centre for Antarctic and Ocean child to his or her habitual residence may not Research (NCAOR), Goa, scientists found a necessarily be in the best interest of the child crowd of shallow circular puddles of water in * There is immense pressure on India from the Spiti‘s Chandra basin. U.S. to accede to the Hague Convention on the * The holes about 5-50 cm in diameter and up to Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction 20 cm in depth—with dark brown sediments Justice Rajesh Bindal Committee deposited at the bottom. recommendations * The sediment is actually mineral dust which is * The Justice Rajesh Bindal Committee was set up alien to this place. last year to suggest a model legislation to

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May -2018 UPSC/IAS Current Affairs safeguard the interest of the child as well those of 6. The Convention provides special rules for the parents when an NRI (Non-Resident Indian) admission and consideration of evidence marriage goes sour and one of the parents flees independent of the evidentiary standards set by from one country to another with the child any member nation * It recommended that returning a child to the 7. The Convention was concluded 25 October place of habitual residence may result in sending 1980 and entered into force between the the child to an inharmonious set-up as well as signatories on 1 December 1983 overlook the fact that a mother is the primary 27th GST council meeting: The new compliance caregiver of the child system * The panel has also prepared a draft law to (GS3: Indian Economy) safeguard the interest of the children, as well as New compliance system those of the parents, particularly mothers * The GST Council has recently decided to Proposed legislation introduce a new compliance system under which a * The proposed legislation lays various exceptions single monthly GST return will have to be under which a child will not be returned to the submitted by firms, barring a few exceptions country of habitual residence which are: * The new compliance system will be 1. the best interest of the child implemented in phased manner 2. domestic violence or mental or physical cruelty * with the first of three transition stages to begin 3. harassment against the parent who fled with the six months from now child There are some gaps in the new compliance 4. the parent claiming the return of the child was system not exercising the custody rights at the time of * For instance, in the second stage of the transition removal to simpler returns, buyers will get provisional 5. if there is a grave risk that the child would be input credit even if the seller doesn‘t upload the exposed to physical or psychological harm invoices Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of * While this could lead to disputes, in the third International Child Abduction stage input credits will only be granted after 1. Hague Abduction Convention is a multilateral sellers upload invoices treaty developed by the Hague Conference on * But if a seller defaults on depositing GST dues Private International Law (HCCH) that provides collected from a buyer and remains evasive, the an expeditious method to return a child authorities can reverse the credit availed by the internationally abducted by a parent from one buyer for such outstanding taxes member country to another Fresh uncertainty for businesses: Issue with the 2. The Convention was drafted to ensure the timeline prompt return of children who have been abducted * In any case, the timelines for the transition are from their country of habitual residence or long and bring fresh uncertainty for businesses wrongfully retained in a contracting state not their still recovering from the initial jitters and country of habitual residence confusion around the tax regime 3. The Convention applies only to children under * Firms will again have to cope with significant the age of 16 changes in accounting software in 4. The Convention requires that a court in which a New compliance system Hague Convention action is filed should not * The GST Council has recently decided to consider the merits of any underlying child introduce a new compliance system under which a custody dispute, but should determine only that single monthly GST return will have to be country in which those issues should be heard submitted by firms, barring a few exceptions 5. The Convention mandates return of any child * The new compliance system will be who was ―habitually resident‖ in a contracting implemented in phased manner nation immediately before an action that * with the first of three transition stages to begin constitutes a breach of custody or access rights six months from now

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May -2018 UPSC/IAS Current Affairs There are some gaps in the new compliance 2.The total contribution of the Centre will be Rs. system 2,849.54 crore and nearly Rs. 1,700 crore will be * For instance, in the second stage of the transition contributed by the States to simpler returns, buyers will get provisional 3.The remaining will be funded through the input credit even if the seller doesn‘t upload the government‘s tie-up with multilateral agencies invoices such as the World Bank * While this could lead to disputes, in the third About World Bank stage input credits will only be granted after 1. The World Bank is an international financial sellers upload invoices institution that provides loans to countries of the * But if a seller defaults on depositing GST dues world for capital projects. collected from a buyer and remains evasive, the 2. The World Bank is a component of the World authorities can reverse the credit availed by the Bank Group and was created at the 1944 Bretton buyer for such outstanding taxes Woods conference along with IMF Fresh uncertainty for businesses: Issue with the 3. It comprises two institutions: the International timeline Bank for Reconstruction and Development * In any case, the timelines for the transition are (IBRD), and the International Development long and bring fresh uncertainty for businesses Association (IDA) still recovering from the initial jitters and confusion around the tax regime Ministry of Tribal Affairs to expand Van Dhan * Firms will again have to cope with significant Vikas Kendras in Tribal Districts changes in accounting software in (GS-2: Governance, welfare schemes) India gets $200 million loan for nutrition 1.After the launch of the Van Dhan Vikas Kendra mission atBijapur by the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra (GS-2: Governance, welfare schemes) Modi on 14thApril, 2018, the Ministry of Tribal Agreement with the World Bank Affairs (MoTA), Government of India proposes to India has signed an agreement with the World expand Van Dhan Vikas Kendras in Tribal Bank for a $200 million loan for implementing the Districts across the country. National Nutrition Mission across 315 districts of 2.This initiative is aimed at mainstreaming the the country tribal community by promoting primary level Aim of the mission value addition to Minor Forest Produce (MFP) at 1. The mission aims at reaching 10 crore grassroots level. beneficiaries, mainly children upto the age of six 3.As per the plan, TRIFED will facilitate years, pregnant women and lactating mothers and establishment of MFP-led multi-purpose Van adolescent girls Dhan Vikas Kendras, a cluster of 10 Self Help 2.The programme will be implemented in three Groups (SHG) comprising of 30 tribal MFP phases between 2017 and 2020 across all districts gatherers each , in the tribal areas. of the country 4.The value chain of Non-Timber Forest Produce 3.The mission targets a 2% reduction in both is expected to rise from the present 20% to around under-nutrition and low birth weight per annum 60%. About 3000 such Van Dhan Kendras are 4.It also aims to bring down anemia among young proposed to be set up in two years in the forested children, women and adolescent girls by 3% per Tribal Districts of the country. year until 2020 5.The scheme will be implemented through 5.The government will also strive to reduce the Ministry of Tribal Affairs as Nodal Department at prevalence of stunting from the current level of the Central Level and TRIFED as Nodal Agency 38.4% (as per the National Family Health Survey at the National Level. 4) to 25% by 2022 6.The initiative aims to promote MFPs-centric Budgetary provisions livelihood development of tribal 1.The National Nutrition Mission has an approved gatherers, artisans and the primary source of budget of Rs. 9,046.17 crore income and livelihood for about 5 crore tribal people in the country.

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May -2018 UPSC/IAS Current Affairs About Van Dhan Initiative 2. Initially it has set up 182 Centres till date under 1.At unit level, aggregation of produce would be the scheme of One Stop Centres (OSCs) for done by SHGs having about 30 members each women affected by violence since April, 2015. forming Van Dhan Vikas ‗Samuh‘. The SHGs Over 1.3 lakhs such women affected by violence would also undertake primary value addition of have been assisted at these centres till date in 33 the MFPs using equipment such as small cutting States/UTs. and sieving tools, decorticator, dryer, packaging 3. The purpose of these OSCs is to facilitate tool etc based on MFPs available in the area. integrated services for women affected with 2.A typical Van Dhan Vikas Samuh would have violence such as police assistance, medical aid, the following facilities: psycho-social counseling, legal aid/counseling, 3.Provision for required building/ infrastructure temporary stay for 5 days etc. support to be established in one of the 4. Every OSC is integrated to the Universalization beneficiary‘s house/ part of house or Government/ of Women's Helpline (181) of the Ministry that gram panchayat building was also started in April, 2015. The Helpline have 4.Equipment/ Tool Kit comprising of equipment assisted over 16.5 lakh women so far. such as small cutting and sieving tools, 5. The OSC at Raipur, Chhattisgarh that is decorticator, dryer, packaging tool etc. based on functional as the premier constructed building has MFPs available in the area received the Hon‘ble President‘s award on 8th 5.Fully equipped training facilities for a batch of March, 2018, International Women‘s Day. 30 trainees with provision for raw material for NITI Aayog partners with Google to grow training purpose and supply of trainee kits India’s artificial intelligence ecosystem (comprising of bag, scribbing pad, pen, brochures, (GS-3: Science & Technology) training manual, booklet etc) Fostering AI Ecosystem in India 6.Provisioning of working capital for the SHGs 1. The government think-tank Niti Aayog said that through tie up with financial institutions, banks, it will be working with tech giant Google to NSTFDC etc develop AI-based solutions aimed at improving About TRIFED the overall economic productivity of the nation 1.TRIFED is Tribal Cooperative Marketing 2. The move is aimed at fostering growth for Development Federation of India Limited India‘s nascent AI and machine learning (ML) (TRIFED). ecosystem, said Niti Aayog 2.It was established in August 1987 by the then 3. India is embracing future technologies such as Ministry of Welfare, Government of India, under machine learning and AI to augment its capacity the Multi State Cooperative Societies Act 1984 in health care, improve outcomes in education, (which has now been replaced by the Multi-State develop innovative governance systems for our Cooperative Societies Act, 2002). citizens and improve overall economic 3.The core objective was institutionalizing the productivity of the nation. trade of Minor Forest Produce (MFP) and Surplus 4. While announcing the budget, finance minister Agriculture Produce (SAP) collected/cultivated by had said that Niti Aayog will setup a national tribals as tribals are heavily dependent on these programme to conduct research and development natural products for their livelihood. in frontier technologies such as AI Committees on AI 100 additional One Stop Centres(OSCs) 1. In February, the IT ministry formed four AI approved committees on – (GS-2: Governance, welfare schemes) *citizen-centric services 1. The Ministry of Women and Child *data platforms, skilling, re-skilling and R&D Development today has approved 100 additional *legal regulatory One Stop Centres in the States of Haryana, *cyber security Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, 2. These committees would be headed by IIT Mizoram, Nagaland, Odisha, Tamil Nadu and director and industry experts from bodies such as Uttar Pradesh. Nasscom

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May -2018 UPSC/IAS Current Affairs 3. The ministry will ―coordinate‖ with Niti Aayog opportunity for broadcasters in Asia to share their on this thoughts on broadcasting and information. Particulars of the programme 4. In the concluding session, World Television 1. Niti‘s partnership with Google will unlock Awards 2018 would be presented by Minister of massive training initiatives, support start-ups and State for Information & Broadcasting, Youth encourage AI research through PhD scholarships, Affairs & Sports all of which contributes to the larger idea of a About Asia-Pacific Institute for Broadcasting technologically-empowered New India Development (AIBD) 2. Under the aegis of this program, Google will 1. AIDB is regional inter-governmental train and incubate Indian AI start-ups in an organization servicing countries of United Nations accelerator program Economic and Social Commission for Asia and 3. These start-ups will be mentored and coached the Pacific (UN-ESCAP) in field of electronic by Google and its affiliates to enable them to media development. better leverage AI in their respective business 2. It was established in 1977 under auspices of models UNESCO. It is hosted by Government of Malaysia About Machine Learning and its secretariat is located in Kuala Lumpur. 1. Machine learning is the science of getting 3. Currently it has 26 full members (countries), computers to act without being explicitly represented by 34 organizations and 67 Affiliate programmed. Members (organizations) and over 50 partners in 2. It is an application of artificial intelligence (AI) Asia, Pacific, Europe, Africa, Arab States and that provides systems the ability to automatically North America learn and improve from experience without being 4. The AIBD is mandated to achieve vibrant and explicitly programmed. cohesive electronic media environment in Asia- 3. Machine learning focuses on the development Pacific region through policy and resource of computer programs that can access data and use development. it learn for themselves. 4. The process of learning begins with Overfishing of hilsa . observations or data, such as examples, direct (Facts that could be asked in Prelims) experience, or instruction, in order to look for 1.Scientists have raised alarm over the exploitation patterns in data and make better decisions in the of hilsa, Tenualosa ilisha in West Bengal. future based on the examples that we provide. 2. The publication by the scientists points out that 5. In the past decade, machine learning has given the annual catch has decreased by 13 % over the us self-driving cars, practical speech recognition, past decade. effective web search, etc. 3. The hilsa fishery in the northern Bay of Bengal Examples: Google Assistant, Google Allo etc. is targeting smaller fish, which is unsustainable in the long run. India to host 15th Asia Media Summit 4. Hilsa or ilish is intrinsically linked to the culture (GS-3, International Relations) of the west Bengal and makes 11% of the total fish 1.India is going to host 15th Asia Media Summit catch of the State. (AMS-2018) in New Delhi from May 10-12, 2018. 5. The hilsa fishery in the northern Bay of Bengal 2. The summit is being organized by Asia-Pacific is ―being unsustainably exploited‖ and the over Institute for Broadcasting Development (AIBD) in fishing about 38% over the past few years (2012- collaboration with the Ministry of Information and 16) has been noticed after comparing the fishing Broadcasting, Government of India, jointly with mortality. the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), New Delhi and Broadcast Engineering Green City Concept . Consultants India Limited (BECIL) (Facts that could be asked in Prelims) 3. The theme of the annual summit is ―Telling our 1.Maharashtra‘s Forest Minister called for the Stories- Asia and More‖. It aims to provide unique implementation of the green city concept along

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May -2018 UPSC/IAS Current Affairs with the smart city programme to increase tree cover in the State. 2. Green city actually means a new way of enhancing the sustainability of urbanized areas. 3. Ecosystem services lie at the core of the concept. 4. Green or eco cities can be pre-existing cities that feature management directed towards o reducing the inputs of energy, water and food and o reducing the outputs of heat, water and air pollution 5. In a nutshell is a city built from the principles of living within environment means. A RAT that spies on computers (GS-3: Cyber Security) Microbeads in soaps, gels flow into water 1. GravityRAT, a malware allegedly designed by bodies Pakistani hackers, has recently been updated (GS-2: Environment, Pollution) further and equipped with anti-malware evasion 1.The age-old Indian obsession with fair skin is capabilities, Maharashtra cybercrime officials having its dark impact on the environment. said. 2. Liquid soaps and shower gels containing 2. The RAT was first detected by Indian Computer microbeads, or plastic beads smaller than 0.2 mm Emergency Response Team, CERT-In, on various which help peel away dead skin, are finding their computers in 2017. way into water bodies. 3. It is designed to infiltrate computers, steal the 3. In May 2017, the Bureau of Indian Standards data of users, and relay it to command and control (BIS) classified microbeads as unsafe for use in centres in other countries. cosmetic products and added the clause to its 4. The ‗RAT‘ in its name stands for Remote specification for household detergents: ―The Access Trojan, which is a program capable of material shall not contain any microbeads or other being controlled remotely and thus difficult to synthetic abrasive material.‖ trace. 4. While the law exists on paper, soap, creams and 5. GravityRAT functions as an Advanced gels containing microbeads are available off the Persistent Threat (APT). Once it infiltrates a shelf and online. system, silently evolves and does long-term 5 This is the only known study of microplastic damage. waste in India and the researchers used a ‗neuston 6. According to latest inputs, GravityRAT has now net‘ to trap and analyze the plastic debris. become self aware and is capable of evading 6. ―We were surprised by the presence of primary several commonly used malware detection microplastics which are more dangerous than techniques,‖ an officer of the cybercrime unit said. secondary microplastics which is the debris of 7. One such technique is ‗sandboxing‘, to isolate plastic waste,‖ said a researcher involved. malware from critical programs on infected 7. These are dangerous as they are ingested by devices and provide an extra layer of security. small creatures which can find their way into the 8. ―The problem, however, is that malware needs food chain. to be detected before it can be sandboxed, and GravityRAT now has the ability to mask its presence. Typically, malware activity is detected by the ‗noise‘ it causes inside the Central Processing Unit, but GravityRAT is able to work silently. It can also gauge the temperature of the CPU and ascertain if the device is carrying out high intensity activity, like a malware search, and act to evade detection,‖ an officer said. www.iasjnana.com 37 9916399276

May -2018 UPSC/IAS Current Affairs 9. Officials said that GravityRAT infiltrates a 1. Brent crude oil is the international benchmark system in the form of an innocuous looking email price for oil. attachment, which can be in any format, including 2. It was priced around $27 a barrel as late as MS Word, MS Excel, MS Powerpoint, Adobe January 2015. Acrobat or even audio and video files. 3. It has recently breached $75 per barrel. 4. The price rise is driven by a deepening First record of invasive aphid in Kashmir economic crisis in Venezuela. Valley 5. It is also a result of the fear of US's (GS-3 and prelims perspective) consideration on reimposing sanctions against 1. It‘s bad news for Kashmir Valley, the fruit bowl Iran. of India. Why is it a concern for India? 2. The brown peach aphid – an insect that attacks 1. The price of the Indian basket of imported crude temperate fruit trees – has been recorded here for oil, too, has risen sharply. the first time. 2. Worryingly, India primarily meets its energy 3. The spread of the aphid could affect the local needs through imports. economy which is dependent on fruit trees to a 3. Oil imports rose by over 25% in 2017-18 to large extent, say scientists. $109 billion from a year ago. 4. Aphids feed on the saps of plants, attacking 4. Elevated oil prices could affect India‘s trade plant tissues that transport food to all different deficit. plant parts. 5. Consequently, the current account deficit could 5. The brown peach aphid Pterochloroides also increase. persicae is a notorious pest of peach and almond Domestic fuel pricing regime trees in the Mediterranean regions. 1. The Centre introduced the dynamic fuel pricing 6. In India, the aphid was recorded for the first mechanism in June last year (2017). time in the 1970s from Himachal Pradesh and 2. This allowed oil marketing companies (OMCs) Punjab. to revise fuel prices daily. 7. Now, almost 40 years later, it has resurfaced in 3. State-owned fuel retailers were revising the the Kashmir Valley. prices in tune with changes in international prices. 8.The pest could have come with plants imported 4. Notably, the price of Brent crude oil has from other countries. increased by more than 50% since June last year. 9. Several combinations and concentrations of 5. It has risen to the highest level since late-2014. natural chemicals including neem plant extracts 6. Responding to this, the government has recently and lavender oil can help control aphid numbers. asked public sector oil companies to pause their 10. The scientists also note that while the blood- daily retail price revision. red ant extracted honey dew from the aphid for 7. The oil companies have thus kept petrol and food, wasps and several other parasites also diesel prices unchanged for nearly two weeks. preyed on the aphids. 8. This is despite the rise in average price of the 11. The scientists are taking steps to ensure that Indian basket of crude oil. the aphids do not spread along with the saplings Implications they supply to several Indian states. 1. Oil companies - It has exerted pressure on the marketing margins of public sector oil companies. Rise in Oil Prices 2. The average marketing margin has considerably (GS-2 international relations) gone down by about 45%. What is the issue? 3. This would impact the oil companies as they 1. Crude oil prices have risen to their highest level may face a capital crunch. since late-2014. 4. India‘s oil exploration and refinery upgradation 2. In this backdrop, changes to the domestic fuel efforts could slow down. pricing regime have raised some concerns. 5. The performance of OMC stocks in the last few Recent developments weeks also suggests that the markets are not convinced.

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May -2018 UPSC/IAS Current Affairs 6. Policy - The government has discretionarily 1. Discoms face multiple challenges, ranging stopped a market-linked pricing regime. from revenue losses due to high costs of power 7. Regardless of the reason, such an intervention procurement to power theft undermines the credibility of its own policy and irregularity and delay in disbursement of decision. state subsidies assured to domestic and agriculture 8. Worryingly, the decisions are largely influenced consumers by political considerations such as elections. 2. The lack of political will across governments 9. The policy of transferring the burden to the to rationalize tariffs and slash these subsidies is a OMCs by offloading the burden on consumers is long-running problem unsustainable in the long run. 3. The current government attempt to address 10. The government should opt to ease the burden discoms‘ financial stress via the Ujwal Discom of fuel taxes. Assurance Yojana (Uday) is the latest in a long 11. A possible option is to bring domestic fuels line of government bailouts. It hasn‘t been any under the purview of the goods and services tax. more successful than previous attempts 12. For now, the government could bring down 4. The scheme was rolled out in 2015 prices by reducing excise duties on oil. New norms for labeling food planned The problem of lack of rural electricity demand (GS-1 Health) (GS-2 Governance) 1.All packaged food with at least 5% content from Context genetically engineered sources need to be labeled 1. The government has announced the so. electrification of all inhabited census villages 2.Moreover, foods that exceed norms of sugar and 2. However, nearly one-fifth of India‘s rural fat will need to carry ‗red' and ‗green' labels households (around 31 million) still remain in specifying the extent to which they do so, acute darkness according to draft regulations from the Food Government efforts Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). 1. The government is committed to reaching 3.Current laws prohibit any GM food - unless these households through the Saubhagya scheme cleared by the Genetic Engineering Appraisal by 31 December 2018—a deadline that has been Committee, a Union Environment Ministry body - moved up from 31 March 2019 from being sold in India. 2. The project‘s ambition is praiseworthy 4.Through a 2007 notification, the Environment Power For All: Electricity Access Challenge In Ministry had exempted processed foods from this India requirement. This has been stayed by the courts. A World Bank study 5.The draft also defines safe levels of fat, sugar 1. According to the study, ―even where and salt in processed food. electricity service has been locally available, many About FSSAI: village households choose not to adopt a 1. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of connection‖ India was established under food safety and 2. For instance, states like Tripura and Sikkim, standards act, 2006 under the ministry of health despite almost universal access, have among the and family welfare. lowest consumption rates 2. FSSAI is responsible for protecting and 3. Examining this gap between electricity access promoting public health through the regulation and household-level adoption allows for a better and supervision of food safety. understanding of supply-demand problems 3. The FSSAI is headed by a non-executive 4. Only six states had, on average, 24-hour Chairperson, appointed by the Central power supply in rural areas as of December 2017 Government, either holding or has held the 5. This lack of reliability often discourages position of not below the rank of Secretary to the households from adopting electricity, which Government of India. disincentivises discoms, thus undermining 4. The FSSAI has its headquarters at New Delhi. investment in rural electrification The authority also has 6 regional offices located in Challenges faced by Discoms

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May -2018 UPSC/IAS Current Affairs Delhi, Guwahati, Mumbai, Kolkata, Cochin, and Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) and non- Chennai. regional developed countries. Tholu Bommalata 3. From 31 members at its establishment, ADB (GS-1, Art & culture, prelims) now has 67 members, of which 48 are from within 1. It is Andhra Pradesh's shadow theatre which has Asia and the Pacific and 19 outside. a rich and strong tradition. 4. The ADB was modeled closely on the World 2. The puppets are large in size and have jointed Bank, and has a similar weighted voting system waist, shoulders, elbows and knees. where votes are distributed in proportion with 3. They are colored on both sides and throw members' capital subscriptions. colored shadows on the screen. 5. The highest policy-making body of the bank is 4. The music is dominantly influenced by the the Board of Governors, composed of one classical music of the region. representative from each member state. The Board 5. The theme of the puppet plays are drawn from of Governors also elects the bank's president. the Ramayana, Mahabharata and Puranas. UN report for social inclusion 6. The skin of wild animals including the antelope (GS-3 economy, inclusive growth) and the spotted deer was used to make puppet. UN Economic and Social Survey of Asia and 7. Now the skin of Goats is used to make the the Pacific (ESCAP) Report, 2018 puppets, as the hunting of deer is banned. 1. A UN report on the Asia-Pacific region has Strategy 2030 urged the regional powers to invest in inclusive and sustainable growth (GS-2 International relations, prelims) 2. The UN Economic and Social Survey of Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) 2018, the annual report Asian Development Bank is preparing Strategy from the UN Economic and Social Commission 2030. (ECOSOC) for Asia and the Pacific have urged 1.Its new long-term strategy, to respond to the countries to take advantage of high growth rate changes brought about by a rapidly evolving Asia and share the benefits with the national society and the Pacific. 3. Governments of countries in the Asia-Pacific 2. The new strategy builds on the 2014 midterm region are advised to take advantage of the review of its current strategy—Strategy 2020. currently favorable economic conditions in order 3. It outlines a vision and key directions for to address vulnerabilities and enhance the ADB‘s engagement with developing member resilience, inclusiveness, and sustainability of their countries until 2030. economies stated the report highlighting the 4. It aligns with the Sustainable Development urgency facing the economies of the region Goals, the Paris Agreement on climate change, 4. The report was launched at the Indian Council and other global commitments. for Research in International Economic Relations 5. It identifies institutional reforms necessary to (ICRIER) sharpen ADB's efficiency and effectiveness. 5. The report described South and Southwest 6. Under Strategy 2030, ADB will sustain its Asia as the fastest growing sub-region of the Asia- efforts to eradicate extreme poverty, given the Pacific region and urged the countries to increase region‘s unfinished poverty agenda, and expand its social spending. vision to achieve a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, About ESCAP and sustainable Asia and the Pacific. 1. The United Nations Economic and Social About ADB Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) is 1. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is a the regional development arm of the United regional development bank established on 19 Nations for the Asia-Pacific region. December 1966, which is headquartered in Metro 2. It is established in 1947 with its headquarters Manila, Philippines. in Bangkok, Thailand. 2. The bank admits the members of the United 3. Parent Organization: UN ECOSOC Nations Economic and Social Commission for 4. ESCAP works to overcome some of the region‘s greatest challenges by providing results-

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May -2018 UPSC/IAS Current Affairs oriented projects, technical assistance, and 1. The course is conducted by the Centre for capacity building to member States in the United Nations Peacekeeping in India (CUNPK) following areas: in partnership with the US, the Indian Army 5. Macroeconomic Policy and Development 2. The first and second editions of the course including the publishing of Asia-Pacific were held in New Delhi in 2016 and 2017, Development Journal (APDJ) twice a year respectively 6. Trade and Investment SIKKIM House expansion likely to get Home 7. Transport Ministry’s nod 8. Social Development (GS-2 polity, prelims-RPA1950) 9. Environment and Sustainable Development Increase in assembly seats 10. Information and Communications Technology 1. The Ministry of Home Affairs is all set to and Disaster Risk Reduction Statistics move a proposal before the Union Cabinet to increase the number of seats in the Sikkim Assembly from 32 to 40 2. This would be the first expansion of seats since Sikkim was merged with India in 1975 Process for an increase in seats The cabinet proposal will include amendments to the Second Schedule to the Representation of People Act, 1950 Reservation of seats 1. The proposal to expand the House is likely to benefit the Limboo and Tamang communities 2. They were notified as Scheduled Tribes in 2002 Edition Of UNPCAP Inaugurated In New 3. The existing reservations for Bhutias, Delhi Lepchas, Scheduled Castes and Sanghas will be (GS-2 International relations, prelims) retained The third edition of the United Nations Peacekeeping Course for African Partners Representation of People Act (very important) (UNPCAP) https://www.clearias.com/salient-features-of- 1. It was recently inaugurated in New Delhi the-representation-of-peoples-act/ 2. The UNPCAP sessions will be held from May https://www.gktoday.in/academy/article/repres 7-25 entations-of-peoples-acts-ropa-1950-and-1951- Aim of the UNPCAP key-features/ 1. The course is aimed to build and enhance the Indian teen's satellite soars in Mexico sky capacity of the African Troop Contributing (prelims) Countries to the UN and to further train the 1. Anitha-SAT, a lightweight satellite developed trainers from these countries by a 17-year-old Plus Two pass out student of 2. The training incorporates topics on R.S.K. Higher Secondary School, Tiruchi, to operational and logistical matters, humanitarian measure the effects of air pollution and global issues, thematic topics and table top exercises, and warming, was launched from Aztra Labs in mission briefs Mexico City. India’s contribution 2. Villet Oviya, a medical aspirant who appeared The course revolves around the concept of training for NEET, had named the conical-shaped satellite, the trainers(as stated by the UN) is one of the weighing just 500 g, after the late Ariyalur student many steps that India has initiated towards active who could not pursue her career in medicine after contribution to peace support activities failing to clear the entrance test. Background 3. Fitted with a global positioning system and a camera, the satellite was pushed into the

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May -2018 UPSC/IAS Current Affairs troposphere, to a height of 15 km, in a helium 1. The proposed will require the government to balloon. establish and run at least one Senior Citizen Care 4. Thereafter, the balloon exploded and the Home in every district in the country capsule began its descent towards the sea, Provision related to the transfer of property measuring temperature, air quality and 1. The bill states that if parents transfer property to concentration of gases in the strata of atmosphere. their children on the condition that they take care 5. Ms. Oviya's effort was an outcome of of them, participation in a reality TV show ‗Ezham Arivu' 2. and this clause is breached, the transfer of three years ago. property will be deemed to be ―made by fraud or coercion or under undue influence‖ and a tribunal Senior Citizen draft bill: govt. proposes 6 can order it to be transferred back to the parent months jail for abandoning, abusing elderly Source: parents http://indianexpress.com/article/india/senior- (GS-2 governance) citizen-draft-bill-govt-proposes-six-month-jail-for- The Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and abandoning-abusing-elderly-parents-5170643/ Senior Citizen Draft Bill, 2018 1. It will amend the 2007 version of the legislation Only 20% of Clean Ganga mission funds spent to expand its scope and provide for more stringent till march penalties (GS-3 environment) 2. The bill is drafted by the Ministry of Social What is the issue? Justice and Empowerment 1. Only about a fifth of the Rs. 20,000 crore Some of the new provisions of the bill allotted for the National Clean Ganga Mission 1. The Centre has proposed to enhance the jail (NCGM) has been utilized till March 2018 term for those found abandoning or abusing their 2. That is roughly the same proportion of the parents, 60 years or older, to six months from the sanctioned money utilized the same time last year existing three months 3. Amid complaints that the government‘s 2. The Bill also expands the definition of children, marquee Ganga-cleaning exercise was dawdling, which currently refers to only biological children Union Water Resources Ministry had achieved(in and grandchildren, to include daughter-in-law and 2017) a ―visible change‖ in the Ganga water son-in-law and also adopted/step-children quality by 2019 3. It also extends the definition of maintenance Financial account from the NCGM beyond provision of food, clothing, housing, * It says that as of March 2018, Rs. 20,601 crore health care to include ―safety and security‖ of the had been sanctioned for 193 projects. So far, only parent Rs. 4,254 crore had actually been spent on their 4. Senior citizens can also approach a implementation Maintenance Tribunal in case their children Main focus neglect or refuse to maintain them 1. About half the money, or Rs. 2,814 crore, had Proposed provisions related to the maintenance been spent on establishing sewage infrastructure amount 2. About 12,000 MLD of sewage is emptied into 1. The Act currently provides an upper limit of Rs the Ganga across 11 States, from Uttarakhand to 10,000 per month as maintenance amount West Bengal 2. The Bill proposes to make this amount variable 3. At present, the capacity for sewage treatment is as people who earn more, can afford to shell out a just 4,000 MLD; of this, 1,000 MLD is functional higher amount for the upkeep of their parents 4. Also, till date, only 24 of the 65 ‗entry-level‘ 3. The Bill also introduces a punitive measure of projects had been completed up to one month imprisonment in case the monthly 5. These ‗entry level‘ projects are meant for allowance remains unpaid cleaning the ghats and establishing new ones and Establishment of the Senior Citizen Care Home cleaning the river front and the river surface What is the issue?

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May -2018 UPSC/IAS Current Affairs 1. Only about a fifth of the Rs. 20,000 crore form the Directorate General of Trade allotted for the National Clean Ganga Mission Remedies (DGTR) (NCGM) has been utilised till March 2018 2. This is in line with US International Trade 2. That is roughly the same proportion of the Commission (USITC) sanctioned money utilised the same time last year Current Scenario 3. Amid complaints that the government‘s 1. Currently, Directorate General of Anti- marquee Ganga-cleaning exercise was dawdling, Dumping and Allied Duties (DGAD) deals with Union Water Resources Ministry had romised(in anti-dumping and countervailing duty cases, while 2017) a ―visible change‖ in the Ganga water Directorate General of Safeguards (DGS) deals quality by 2019 with safeguard measures and DGFT deals with Financial account from the NCGM quantitative restriction (QR) safeguards * It says that as of March 2018, Rs. 20,601 crore 2. The finance ministry had administrative control had been sanctioned for 193 projects. So far, only over the DGS Rs. 4,254 crore had actually been spent on their 3. The commerce ministry has DGAD under its implementation control Main focus Functions of new body 1. About half the money, or Rs. 2,814 crore, had 1. The refurbished DGTR will also bring been spent on establishing sewage infrastructure safeguards (quantitative restrictions) functions 2. About 12,000 MLD of sewage is emptied into of Directorate General of Foreign Trade the Ganga across 11 States, from Uttarakhand to (DGFT)into its fold West Bengal 2. DGTR will also provide trade defense support 3. At present, the capacity for sewage treatment is to India‘s domestic industry and exporters in just 4,000 MLD; of this, 1,000 MLD is functional dealing with increasing instances of trade remedy 4. Also, till date, only 24 of the 65 ‗entry-level‘ investigations instituted against them by other projects had been completed countries 5. These ‗entry level‘ projects are meant for About Directorate General of Trade Remedies cleaning the ghats and establishing new ones and (DGTR) cleaning the river front and the river surface 1. The Government of India carried out an 6. They had been allotted Rs. 492 crore Amendment to the Government of India Main source of pollutants (Allocation of Business) Rules, 1961 for the 1. Though the industrial pollution, volume-wise, creation of an integrated single umbrella National accounts for about 20%, its toxic and non- Authority to be called the Directorate General of biodegradable nature has a disproportionate Trade Remedies (DGTR) for providing impact comprehensive and swift trade defense mechanism 2. The industrial pollutants largely emanate from in India tanneries in Kanpur and distilleries, paper mills 2. The amendment of Allocation of Business and sugar mills in the Kosi, Ramganga and Kali Rules has also mandated Department of river catchments Commerce with work pertaining to the 3. The municipal sewage, at a billion liters a day, recommendation of Safeguard measures accounts for 80% of the pollution load 3. The DGTR will bring DGAD, DGS and Source: http://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy- Safeguards (QR) functions of DGFT into its fold and-environment/only-20-of-clean-ganga-mission- by merging them into one single national entity funds-spent-till-march-2018/article23828319.ece 4. DGTR will deal with Anti-dumping, CVD and Safeguard measures India merges anti-dumping and import 5. The DGTR will function as an attached office safeguard bodies of Department of Commerce (GS-3 Economy) 6. The recommendation of DGTR for the Better coordination in import duties imposition of Anti-dumping, countervailing & 1. India has finally merged the two separate bodies Safeguard duties would be considered by the handling anti-dumping and import safeguards to Department of Revenue

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May -2018 UPSC/IAS Current Affairs Source: Government launches Digital India Internship https://www.livemint.com/Politics/Pvg3Ht9aDPsb Scheme portal O8OdPEeODM/India-merges-antidumping- (GS-2 Govt. programs) import-safeguard-bodies.html The Union Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeITY) has launched NABH (Nextgen Airports for Bharat) Nirman the website of Digital India Internship Scheme. initiative The portal will facilitate students to apply online (GS-2, Governance, Prelims) for internship. It was launched by Information 1. Minister for Civil Aviation stated that the Technology Minister Ravi Prasad Shankar in New government is committed to the building of airport Delhi. capacity as part of NABH (NextGen Airports for Objectives BHarat) Nirman initiative. 1. Provide opportunity for student to secure first 2. The three key aspects of NABH Nirman are hand and practical work experience under * Fair and equitable land acquisition guidance of qualified and experienced Supervisor * Long-term master plan for airport and regional and mentor development and 2. Ensure active participation of students in * Balanced economics for all stakeholders. learning process through experimentation and 3. The air traffic of the country is increasing, both putting into practice the knowledge acquired in the at domestic and international level. classrooms 4. India airlines flew highest-ever domestic 3. Under this scheme, 25 interns will be inducted passengers by flying about 117 passengers during for period of three months. These interns will be 2017. paid a stipend of Rs. 10, 000 per month Source: Eligibility: http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=1 Indian 79179 students from recognized universities in India who have secured at least 60% marks in the l Rariphotic Zone off the coast of Bermuda ast held degree or certificate examination. (prelims prespective) Students pursuing B.E/B.Tech or M.E/M.Tech or 1. Oxford scientists have discovered an ocean dual degrees and are in their course of study can zone off the coast of Bermuda with over 100 apply for internships on the portal. species new to science. Duration of Internship: 2. The Rariphotic Zone (rare light zone) extends It will be offered two times in year i.e. summer from 130 meters to 300 meters in depth. Internship during May and June and winter 3. The zone joins five other areas which have Internship during December and January. The distinct biological communities living and minimum duration of internship will be of two growing within them. months and extendable up to three months, 4. Tanaids - minute crustaceans - dozens of new depending on the performance of the candidate algae species and black wire coral that stand up to Proposed broad areas for Internship: R&D, Cyber two meters high are some of the new species Laws & Cyber Security, e-Governance, Digital found. Literacy (HRD), International Cooperation & 5. The team has also discovered a major algal Industrial Promotion, Hardware Industry and forest on the summit of an underwater mountain Digital Payments and Electronic Testing. 24 km off the coast of Bermuda. Source: 6. There are over 100,000 underwater mountains https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/natio in seas across the globe yet less than 50 have been nal/meity-launches-internship-scheme-for-tech- biologically sampled in detail students/article23826684.ece Source: http://www.business- 5 ways India could be affected by U.S. decision standard.com/article/pti-stories/ocean-zone-home- to pull out of Iran nuclear deal to-over-100-new-species-discovered- (GS-2 IR) 118050800286_1.html

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May -2018 UPSC/IAS Current Affairs 1. S. President Donald Trump decided to pull out Pacific quadrilateral with the U.S., Australia, and of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action Japan (JCPOA) * The move may also rile other adversaries of 2. The deal itself won‘t be scrapped as long as Iran Iran, like Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Israel and the other signatories: U.K., France, Russia, 5. Rules-based order China, Germany and the European Union remain *India has long been a proponent of a ―rules-based committed to it order‖ that depends on multilateral consensus and Impact on India an adherence to commitments made by countries India could face the impact of the U.S. decision on on the international stage the deal as well as instituting the ―highest level of *By walking out of the JCPOA that was signed by economic sanctions‖ in several ways: the Obama administration, the U.S. government 1. Oil prices has overturned the precept that such international * Iran is presently India‘s third biggest supplier agreements are made by ―States‖ not just with (after Iraq and Saudi Arabia), and any increase in prevailing governments or regimes prices will hit both inflation levels as well as the *This could also impact all agreements India is Indian Rupee negotiating both bilaterally and multilaterally with * Non-oil trade with Iran may not be impacted as the U.S., and the government will have to choose much its future course factoring in the new U.S. 2. Chabahar behavior * India‘s moves over the last few years to develop *New Delhi will have to consider a new berths at the Shahid Beheshti port in Chabahar understanding of its ties with Washington in this was a key part of its plans to circumvent context, and some of this understanding may be Pakistan‘s blocks on trade with Afghanistan built during the first ―2+2‖ dialogue between * The new U.S. sanctions could slow or even bring Foreign and Defence Ministers of both countries those plans to a halt depending on how strictly to be scheduled in the next few weeks in they are implemented Washington 3. INSTC Source: * India has been a founder of the International http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/5-ways- North South Transport Corridor (INSTC) since it india-could-be-affected-by-the-us-decision-to- was ratified in 2002 withdraw-from-iran-nuclear- * It starts from Iran and aims to cut right across deal/article23820123.ece Central Asia to Russia over a 7,200-km multi- mode network Universities are better off with greater * Plans for INSTC sped up after the JCPOA was autonomy signed in 2015 and sanctions on Iran were lifted (GS-2 governance) * New U.S. sanctions will affect these plans Context immediately Autonomy is a matter on which there have been 4. Shanghai Cooperation Organization protests across many public universities * India joined the SCO along with Pakistan last Greater Autonomy to Universities year, and both will be formally admitted in June 1. In March, the central government announced 201 that 60 universities and colleges would be given * This year, Chinese officials say they will full autonomy consider inducting Iran into the 8-member 2.The protests have been against the granting of Eurasian security organization this autonomy Surprisingly * If the proposal is accepted by the SCO which is 3. To outsiders, it seems mystifying why people led by China and Russia, India will become a within universities would protest greater autonomy member of a bloc that will be seen as anti- when all these years the higher education sector American has protested against subversion of its autonomy * It will also run counter to some of the Broadly, two reasons are being given for not government‘s other initiatives, for eg. the Indo- wanting this autonomy

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May -2018 UPSC/IAS Current Affairs 1. One, there is apprehension that autonomy is a 2. The month-long exercise was aimed to covert path to reduction in public funding orchestrate wide spectrum of threats 2. Indeed, public funding will get s reduced, it will including Nuclear, Chemical or Biological (NCB) be deeply damaging to higher education attack which are planned to be tackled through 3. Universities need more public funding, not less high tempo joint air and land operation. 4. But nothing suggests that the move towards About Vijay Prahar exercise autonomy is in any way specifically about cutting 1. In this month long exercise, over 20,000 troops public funding, beyond the general trend of the participated with fighting equipment for couple of past couple of decades weeks to fine-tune jointmanship with Indian Air 5. Two, that autonomy implies that some people Force. It involved hundreds of aircrafts, thousands within the university will take all the decisions of tanks and artillery pieces supported by real time 6. Outsiders taking decisions has been continually intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and condemned till now(and rightly so) logistics. 7. But now if insiders are allowed to take 2. The exercise was conducted to practice troops decisions, that is also being condemned in penetrative manoeuvres across obstacle ridden The big issues affecting Universities terrain under a nuclear umbrella. In it, formations 1. Over the past few decades, our public of South Western Command practiced and universities have become battlefields of vested operationalised certain innovative concepts of political and commercial interests of the worst operating in network centric environment. kind Source: 2. Very few institutions or parts of institutions https://www.latestly.com/india/information/indian have survived this unscathed. This has turned -armys-vijay-prahar-exercise-concludes-over- Indian higher education into a stagnant wasteland 25000-soldiers-participated-153994.html 3. Poor governance, failure to recruit high-quality ‘Malaysian Prime Minister’ faculty, and turf battles between vested interests to (Facts that could be asked in Prelims) gain and retain control define the fate of our Issue: Ninety-two-year-old Mahathir Mohammad institutions of higher learning was Thursday sworn in as the world's oldest The way forward elected leader after a stunning election win that 1. Inside universities, people want to protect their swept Malaysia's establishment from power after territories, reputations and power. Anything that more than six decades. disturbs or threatens this equilibrium is resisted About Malaysia 2. Thus, saving public universities is not going to There are two major parts to this country, be easy Peninsular Malaysia to the west and East Malaysia 3. Internal dissension, failure of structures of to the east, in additional numerous smaller islands governance and poor public support contribute to surrounding both landmasses. Peninsular Malaysia create a vicious downward spiral is situated on the southernmost section of the 4. Change on all fronts is absolutely essential but Malay Peninsula, south of Thailand, north of ever elusive Singapore and east of the Indonesian island of Source: Sumatra; East Malaysia comprises most of the https://www.livemint.com/Opinion/HpJ6P3gAQo northern part of Borneo island, with land borders dYHB3GqWi2XL/Universities-are-better-off- shared with Brunei to the north and Indonesian with-greater-autonomy.html Borneo which is to the south. Vijay prahar exercise of Indian army concludes Located near the equator, Malaysia's climate is in suratgarh, Rajasthan categorized as equatorial, being hot and humid (GS-3 Security, prelims) throughout the year. The average rainfall is 250 1. Indian Army‘s month long Vijay Prahar centimetres (98 in) a year and the average exercise concluded in Suratgarh, Rajasthan. It was temperature is 27 °C (80.6 °F). The climates of the conducted by South Western Command of Indian Peninsula and the East differ, as the climate on the Army peninsula is directly affected by wind from the mainland, as opposed to the more maritime

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May -2018 UPSC/IAS Current Affairs weather of the East. Malaysia is exposed to the El reduce by about two-thirds the number of its gas Niño effect, which reduces rainfall in the dry centrifuges for 13 years. For the next 15 years, season. Iran will only enrich uranium up to 3.67%. Iran Source: also agreed not to build any new heavy-water http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/maha facilities for the same period of time. Uranium- thir-mohamad-sworn-in-as-malaysian-prime- enrichment activities will be limited to a single minister-begins-second-innings-at- facility using first-generation centrifuges for 10 92/article23839936.ece?homepage=true years. Other facilities will be converted to avoid proliferation risks. To monitor and verify Iran's ‘Iran Nuclear Deal’ compliance with the agreement, the International (GS2: Effects of developed countries on India’s Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) will have regular interests) access to all Iranian nuclear facilities. The Issue: India will safeguard its interest following agreement provides that in return for verifiably the withdrawal of the U.S. from the Iran nuclear abiding by its commitments, Iran will receive deal, the Ministry of External Affairs said on relief from U.S., European Union, and United Thursday. Nations Security Council nuclear-related India’s official position post US decision to economic sanctions. rescind from Iran deal About IAEA India has maintained that peaceful negotiations The International Atomic Energy Agency should be carried out to resolve the situation that (IAEA) is an international organization that seeks has risen after U.S. President Donald Trump to promote the peaceful use of nuclear energy, and withdrew his country from the deal. Russia, China, to inhibit its use for any military purpose, the U.K., Germany, Italy and France are the other including nuclear weapons. The IAEA was signatories to the deal. established as an autonomous organisation on 29 Main concern for India if sanctions are placed on July 1957. Though established independently of Iran the United Nations through its own international 1. Oil import would be affected treaty, the IAEA Statute, the IAEA reports to both 2. Possibility of greater unrest in the middle east the United Nations General Assembly and where India has sizeable economic and cultural Security Council relations The IAEA has its headquarters in Vienna. 3. Main economic impact would be on the port of Source: Chabahar where India is involved in upgrading http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/india- and developing infrastructure. The future of studying-effect-of-us-withdrawal-from-iran- India‘s work at the port would depend on how deal/article23841371.ece?homepage=true strictly the U.S. implements sanctions on countries that maintain business ties with Tehran. ‘River Ganga’ About JCPOA (Joint Comprehensive Plan of (GS3: Environmental pollution) Action) Issue: Union Water Resources Minister Nitin The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action known Gadkari said the government will spend ₹8,000 to commonly as the Iran nuclear deal or Iran deal, ₹10,000 crore this year to ensure that at least 70% is an international agreement on the nuclear of the Ganga will be clean by next May. program of Iran reached in Vienna on 14 July Current scenario 2015 between Iran, the P5+1 (the five permanent 1. The government has only spent ₹4,500 crore members of the United Nations Security since 2015 when the ₹20,000-crore tranche for Council—China, France, Russia, United cleaning the 2,500-km long river was Kingdom, United States—plus Germany), and the operationalised. European Union. 2. A total of 195 projects worth ₹20,959 crore Under the agreement, Iran agreed to eliminate its have been sanctioned for various activities such as stockpile of medium-enriched uranium, cut its sewage infrastructure, ghats and crematoria stockpile of low-enriched uranium by 98%, and

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May -2018 UPSC/IAS Current Affairs development, river-front development and river 1. Starting the Arun III hydropower project is the surface cleaning. main highlight of the visit. Source: 2. Both sides are likely to discuss the Pancheshwar http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/70-of- power project ganga-will-be-cleaned-by-may- 3. PM will visit the famous temple of Sita at 2019/article23841159.ece?homepage=true Janakpur and attend a civic reception in the city where he is expected to announce measures to ‘USA-North Korea summit’ integrate the city to the Ramayana tourism circuit. (GS3: International relations) Source: Issue: U.S. President Donald Trump on May 10 https://www.livemint.com/Opinion/XLwTO8wun announced his historic summit with North Korean OqlYC00zlmOaM/India-and-Nepal-are-scaling- leader Kim Jong-un will take place in Singapore up-their-ties.html on June 12. About the summit ‘E-vehicles’ The two leaders are expected to discuss North (GS3: Conservation of Environment) Korea's nuclear weapons development and testing Issue: To promote electric vehicles in India, the programme, which has deepened long-seated government has approved green license plates tensions between Washington and Pyongyang. bearing numbers in white fonts for private e- Source: vehicles and yellow for taxis http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/dona The government also plans to allow youth in the ld-trump-to-meet-kim-jong-un-in-singapore-on- age bracket of 16-18 years to drive electric june-12/article23840188.ece?homepage=true scooters, besides mandating taxi aggregators to have a certain percentage of e-vehicle fleet. ‘Siachen Glacier’ Other attractive measures offered by the (GS3: Defence) government to promote E-vehicles Issue: President Ram Nath Kovind on Thursday 1. Exemption from permit will be a game changer visited the Army base camp located at an altitude as restricted permit regime is a major concern of 18,875 feet in Siachen in Ladakh, first time by a 2. All public transport operators may also be President in 14 years. mandated to provide 1 per cent incremental fleet About Siachen from 2020 onwards The Siachen Glacier is a glacier located in the 3. Ministry of Road Transport and Highways will eastern Karakoram ranges in the Himalayas at request the Finance Ministry that the rate of about just northeast of the point NJ9842 where the depreciation on EVs may be allowed at 50 per cent Line of Control between India and Pakistan ends. as against the rate of 15 per cent for conventional At 76 km (47 mi) long, it is the longest glacier in vehicles. the Karakoram and second-longest in the world's 4. The proposals include bringing down the GST non-polar areas on batteries to 12 per cent at par with the GST on Source: EVs. http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/ram-nath- Source: kovind-visits-siachen-base- http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/govt- camp/article23837325.ece approves-green-licence-plates-for-e- vehicles/article23825450.ece ‘India-Nepal ties’ (GS2: Bilateral ties) ‘Social Inclusion’ Issue: India will be a strong partner of Nepal as (GS2: Global groupings) Kathmandu consolidates the benefits of Issue: A UN report on the Asia-Pacific region has democratic rule, said Prime Minister Narendra urged the regional powers to invest in inclusive Modi indicating the agenda for the May 11-12 trip and sustainable growth. The UN Economic and to the Himalayan country. Social Survey of Asia and the Pacific 2018 Topics to be discussed during the visit Highlights of the report

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May -2018 UPSC/IAS Current Affairs 1. Governments of countries in the Asia-Pacific achieve inclusive and sustainable economic and region are advised to take advantage of the social development in Asia and the Pacific. currently favorable economic conditions in order Source: to address vulnerabilities and enhance the http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/un- resilience, inclusiveness and sustainability of their report-for-social-inclusion/article23816317.ece economies 2. The report described South and Southwest Asia ‘Taj Mahal discoloration’ as the fastest growing sub region of the Asia- (GS3: Environmental pollution) Pacific region and urged the countries to increase Issue: Unwashed socks worn by visitors and social spending. rampant algae seem to turn the Taj Mahal from its About United Nations Economic and Social natural white to yellow, brown and green, the Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), charged The United Nations Economic and Social with the maintenance of the historic monument, Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) is told the Supreme Court the regional development arm of the United Current scenario of Taj Mahal Nations for the Asia-Pacific region. Made up of 53 The upkeep of the UNESCO World Heritage site Member States and 9 Associate Members, with a was in shambles. River Yamuna, which used to geographical scope that stretches from Turkey in flow nearby, had dried up. Encroachments and the west to the Pacific island nation of Kiribati in industries have cropped up in the neighborhood of the east, and from the Russian Federation in the the white marble mausoleum. north to New Zealand in the south, the region is About Taj Mahal home to 4.1 billion people, or two thirds of the The Taj Mahal is located on the right bank of the world‘s population. This makes ESCAP the most Yamuna River in a vast Mughal garden that comprehensive of the United Nations five regional encompasses nearly 17 hectares, in the Agra commissions, and the largest United Nations body District in Uttar Pradesh. It was built by Mughal serving the Asia-Pacific region with over 600 Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife staff. Mumtaz Mahal with construction starting in 1632 Established in 1947 with its headquarters in AD and completed in 1648 AD, with the mosque, Bangkok, Thailand, ESCAP works to overcome the guest house and the main gateway on the some of the region‘s greatest challenges by south, the outer courtyard and its cloisters were providing results oriented projects, technical added subsequently and completed in 1653 AD. assistance and capacity building to member States The existence of several historical and Quaranic in the following areas: inscriptions in Arabic script have facilitated * Macroeconomic Policy, Poverty Reduction and setting the chronology of Taj Mahal. For its Financing for Development construction, masons, stone-cutters, inlayers, * Trade, Investment and Innovation carvers, painters, calligraphers, dome builders and * Transport other artisans were requisitioned from the whole * Environment and Development of the empire and also from the Central Asia and * Information and Communications Technology Iran. Ustad-Ahmad Lahori was the main architect and Disaster Risk Reduction of the Taj Mahal. * Social Development The Taj Mahal is considered to be the greatest * Statistics architectural achievement in the whole range of * Sub-regional activities for development Indo-Islamic architecture. Its recognised * Energy architectonic beauty has a rhythmic combination ESCAP is committed to a resilient Asia and the of solids and voids, concave and convex and light Pacific founded on shared prosperity, social equity shadow; such as arches and domes further and sustainability. Our vision is to be the most increases the aesthetic aspect. The color comprehensive multilateral platform for combination of lush green scape reddish pathway promoting cooperation among member States to and blue sky over it show cases the monument in ever changing tints and moods. The relief work in

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May -2018 UPSC/IAS Current Affairs marble and inlay with precious and semi precious survived-earthquakes- stones make it a monument apart. decoded/article23837874.ece Source: http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/dirty- ‘Mrinalini Sarabhai’ socks-algae-behind-taj-mahal-discolouration-asi- (Facts that could be asked in Prelims) tells-supreme-court/article23822441.ece Issue: Today‘s Doodle celebrates Indian classical dancer Mrinalini Sarabhai, who quickly developed ‘World’s second oldest rock’ her own technique, spirit, and strength by training (GS3: Science) at a young age, studying both the South Indian Issue: A rock sample recovered nearly eight years classical dance form of Bharatanatyam and the ago from Champua in Odisha‘s Kendujhar district classical dance-drama of Kathakali. has put India at the forefront of geological About Mrinalini Sarabhai research in the world. She was the founder of the Darpana Academy of About the discovery Performing Arts, an institute for imparting training Scientists have found in the rock a grain of in dance, drama, music and puppetry, in the city of magmatic zircon (a mineral that contains traces of Ahmedabad. She received many awards and radioactive isotopes) that is an estimated 4,240 citations in recognitions of her contribution to art. million years old — a discovery of great promise She trained over 18,000 students in Bharatnatyam to study the earth‘s early years. and Kathakali. The only instance of zircon older than this Besides choreographing more than three hundred discovery was the one found in Jack Hill, Western dance dramas,she has also written many novels, Australia, which was 4,400 million years old and poetry, plays and stories for children. Mrinalini is the oldest known rock sample. Sarabhai has been awarded by the Indian Source: http://www.thehindu.com/sci- government with the national civilian awards tech/science/worlds-second-oldest-rock-is-from- Padma Bhushan in 1992 odisha/article23829527.ece Source: https://www.google.com/doodles/mrinalini- 16th European Conference in Earthquake sarabhais-100th-birthday Engineering (GS1: Geophysical phenomenon) ‘Ebola outbreak in Congo’ Issue: The soft foundational soil beneath the (GS2: Issues related to Health) Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy has helped it stand Issue: The Government of the Democratic through numerous strong earthquakes since 1280, Republic of the Congo declared a new outbreak of say scientists who unveiled the mystery behind Ebola virus disease (EVD) in Bikoro in Equateur how the structure remained undamaged, despite Province leaning at a precarious five-degree angle. About Ebola The results from the study will be formally Ebola virus disease (EVD), also known as Ebola announced at the 16th European Conference in hemorrhagic fever (EHF) or simply Ebola, is a Earthquake Engineering taking place in Greece viral hemorrhagic fever of humans and other About Dynamic soil-structure interaction primates caused by ebola viruses. Signs and (DSSI) symptoms typically start between two days and The considerable height and stiffness of the Tower three weeks after contracting the virus with a combined with the softness of the foundation soil, fever, sore throat, muscular pain, and headaches. causes the vibrational characteristics of the Then, vomiting, diarrhea and rash usually follow, structure to be modified substantially, in such a along with decreased function of the liver and way that the Tower does not resonate with kidneys. At this time, some people begin to bleed earthquake ground motion. This has been the key both internally and externally. The disease has a to its survival. high risk of death, killing between 25 and 90 Source: http://www.thehindu.com/sci- percent of those infected, with an average of about tech/science/how-the-leaning-tower-of-pisa- 50 percent. This is often due to low blood pressure

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May -2018 UPSC/IAS Current Affairs from fluid loss, and typically follows six to sixteen 3. This concurrence between economic poverty days after symptoms appear and energy poverty will be a barrier to the goal of The virus spreads by direct contact with body universal access fluids, such as blood, of infected human or other The main issue in these seven states animals. This may also occur through contact with 1. Electricity distribution companies (discoms) in an item recently contaminated with bodily fluids. these seven States are already highly indebted, Source: http://fortune.com/2018/05/09/congo- accounting for 42% of accumulated debts of all ebola-virus-outbreak/ discoms as on March 2016 In a state of energy poverty 2. Their debts account for 17% of accumulated (GS-2) liabilities of the States Issue: It is uncertain if the goal of electrifying all 3. Despite continued State subvention (except by ‗willing households‘ will mean universal access. Odisha), all these discoms have been consistently Important turnarounds running at a loss, accounting for about 47% of the 1. There is now 100% village electrification in loss in electricity distribution business India, an important milestone in the country‘s Given the context, it is uncertain whether the development trajectory goal of electrifying all ‘willing households’ by 2. Another important turnaround came last year March 2019 would translate into universal when India claimed to be a net surplus and access to electricity exporter of electricity (a scenario projected to Challenge is from Distribution network continue for at least a decade) capacity: Another major challenge But do these developments mark an end to 1. The distribution infrastructure in India is India’s energy poverty? overburdened causing a high level of technical 1. 31 million rural households and about five losses and frequent breakdowns million urban households are still to be connected 2. The distribution network capacity in several to the grid( the highest in any single country) States is inadequate to carry available electricity 2. At the same time, a significant portion of 3. Subsequently, discoms have been resorting to connected rural households is yet to get adequate load shedding while their contracted generation quantity and quality of supply capacities are underutilised Future plans of the government 4. Adding new load to the existing fragile 1. The Central government has set itself an distribution network will only compromise the ambitious target of connecting all remaining quality and reliability of supply households by the end of March 2019 and made 5. It could result in continued blackouts for the budgetary allocations to cover the cost of rural poor during peak hours electrification Efforts done by the government: Inadequate 2. As part of a Centre-State joint initiative on 24×7 funding ‗Power for All‘, State governments have already 1. The available funding support has been short of committed to ensuring round-the-clock supply to the growing requirement all households from April 2019 2. Current allocations under the Deen Dayal Regional imbalances in electricity access: Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana (DDUGJY) and Barriers and fallibility Integrated Power Development Scheme (IPDS), to 1. Seven States (Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Odisha, augment rural and urban distribution networks, Jharkhand, Assam, Rajasthan and Madhya respectively, are only a fraction of the requirement Pradesh) account for 90% of un-electrified 3. Moreover, disbursement of these grants has households been much slower, 17% under DDUGJY and 31% 2. Coincidentally, these States are ranked poorly in under IPDS, reflecting sluggish implementation social development indices and house about two- The way forward thirds of the population living below the poverty 1. Low achievement of earlier electrification line schemes has often been blamed on incompatibility and a lack of cooperation between the Centre and States

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May -2018 UPSC/IAS Current Affairs 2. Given that six of the seven low access States as 3. And while the Indian military routinely well as the Centre are run by a single political exercises bilaterally with the US, Japan, and party (and allies), there seems to be a strong Australia, it stopped short of joining them all in a political consensus on the goal of universal access high-profile grouping which would upset China Source: http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp- 4. Even if India did not intend this as a concession opinion/in-a-state-of-energy- to China, that may be the perception that gains poverty/article23859171.ece traction around the region Sop to China or signal to Australia 5. And, of course, perceptions have real effects (GS-2 IR) Possible effect on QUAD Issue: India‘s refusal to let Australia participate in 1. The denial of Australian participation in the upcoming Malabar naval exercise will hurt the Malabar will harm the Quad Quad 2. At a minimum, the denial is a missed Why this refusal? opportunity to build momentum for the Quad 1. India, it seems, remains skeptical of Australia‘s 3. Worse, it may undermine the Quad‘s credibility commitment as a strategic partner and reinforce widespread scepticism that it will 2. It was, after all, Australia that backed out of the ever amount to anything Quad‘s first incarnation in 2007 4. India‘s opposition to Australia even observing But it’s now high time that India updated its this naval exercise in effect amounts to opposition thinking about Australia to the Quad conducting any military activities, at 1. A lot has changed since 2007 least for now 2. In the years since, China began a much more The way forward aggressive campaign of coercion to assert Until India updates its views on Australia, it will dominance in its near seas, including with island- further delay the efforts of like-minded powers to building in the South China Sea build a bulwark against Chinese coercion across 3. In response, Australia recalibrated its defense the region policies Source: 4. In successive policy statements, Australian http://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/malabar- governments from both major parties named navy-exercise-modi-xi-summit-india-us-japan- China as the primary strategic challenge, drawing australia-malabar-exercise-5171940/ China‘s ire each time India and Nepal are scaling up their ties 5. They spoke out against Chinese provocations (GS-2 IR) when few others did, including against China‘s Issue: 1. The Indian PM is visiting Nepal from 11- 2013 declaration of an Air Defense Identification 12 May Zone, and in support of the 2016 arbitration ruling 2. The back-and-forth visits(of both PMs) indicate in favor of the Philippines that India and Nepal are working towards scaling 6. The Australian military continues to conduct air up their bilateral relationship and sea patrols of the South China Sea, which is What explains the frequent meetings between frequently met with robust Chinese responses the premiers of the two countries? 7. And it has deepened its US alliance, with the 1. There seems to be a growing recognition in basing of Marines in Darwin India as well as in Nepal that deterioration in Was the denial of Australian participation in relations between the two countries, with close Malabar another Indian accommodation of socio-economic-cultural relations, is not desirable China? 2. There is a strong opinion that India is reaching 1. The timing of the rejection suggests that Modi out to Kathmandu because of China‘s growing may have been signaling a pre-emptive sweetener presence in Nepal for his China ―reset‖ Complexities of the relationship 2. China‘s strategic policy is to prevent regional 1. Given Nepal‘s power asymmetry with India and states coordinating against it — so India slow- China, it should be no surprise that it seeks to rolling such an alignment suits China‘s interests swing between the two nations to maintain perfectly autonomy

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May -2018 UPSC/IAS Current Affairs 2. However, from an Indian perspective, it appears 3. The goal of the student innovator programme is that New Delhi has been at the receiving end of to test the innovations in the community considerable animosity 4. Students will be trained on business and 3. On the other hand, there is a strong opinion in entrepreneurship skills, including intellectual some segments in Nepal on cultivating a robust property, effective communication, making an relationship with China in response to alleged elevator pitch and so on Indian interference in domestic politics Part of the Atal Innovation Mission Railway line project NITI Aayog had in December selected an 1. A railway line to Kathmandu from India was additional 1,500 schools for setting up ATLs recently announced under the government‘s flagship programme Atal 2. Once operationalized, it will significantly Innovation Mission (AIM) taking the total number enhance the already rich people-to-people of such labs to 2,441 interactions The innovation marathon 3. Now, if the Chinese build a railway line to The NITI Aayog had recently organised the Kathmandu and Indians deliver on their own innovation marathon to identify India‘s best promise, then it would become a de facto trilateral student innovators across six different thematic project areas including clean energy, water resources, 4. Given the growing trade deficit, the prospect of waste management, healthcare, smart mobility and granting direct and greater market access to China agri-tech without any reciprocal gestures will raise concerns More about the ATL labs in India 1. Atal Tinkering Labs are innovation play China and Nepal relationship: The issues workspaces for students between grade 8 to 12, 1. While China does not have people-to-people stimulating innovations combining science and interactions on a par with India, it has a long technology history of deploying overseas assistance to Nepal 2. Their aim is to promote innovation and 2. The Chinese connectivity projects need to entrepreneurship in schools, universities and overcome two significant limitations industry 3. First, their economic viability is contingent on Atal Innovation Mission their ability to access the Indian market NITI Aayog‘s Atal Innovation Mission is among 4. Second, they will have to traverse the Terai one of the flagship programs of the Government of region, which enjoys a close socio-cultural India to promote innovation and entrepreneurship relationship with India in the country to set up the Atal Tinkering Labs Will India and China also collaborate to build across the country connectivity projects in Nepal? Source: 1. It is doubtful at the moment https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/scienc 2. In addition to traversing the Himalayas, such e/5000-atal-tinkering-labs-to-be-set-up-by-march- collaboration would also have to overcome a 2019/articleshow/64112226.cms mountain of distrust Tiny fossil shells unveil details about ancient Source: https://www.livemint.com/Opinion/XLw Earth’s climate TO8wunOqlYC00zlmOaM/India-and-Nepal-are- (GS-1 geography, prelims) scaling-up-their-ties.html News-Scientists have discovered tiny fossil shells that unveil details about the Earth‘s climate over 5,000 Atal Tinkering labs to be set up by March half a billion years ago. 2019 Beyond News (GS-3 Science & technology) 1. The research, suggests that early animals Atal Tinkering Labs (ATLs) diversified within a climate similar to that in 1. The NITI Aayog will set up 5,000 Atal which the dinosaurs lived. Tinkering Labs (ATLs) by March 2019 covering 2. An international collaboration of scientists, led all districts in the country by the University of Leicester in the UK, has 2. Aim: To promote innovation among students

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May -2018 UPSC/IAS Current Affairs investigated by combining climate models and organisation spreading the ideals and vision of chemical analyses of fossil shells about 1mm long. former President Dr. A.P.J Abdul Kalam. 3. This interval in time is known for the Source: http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp- ‗Cambrian explosion‘, the time during which national/tp-telangana/pawan-kalyan-unfurls- representatives of most of the major animal groups largest-indian-flag/article23843648.ece first appear in the fossil record. 4. These include the first animals to produce Power generation accounts for highest shells, and it is these shelly fossils that the emissions in State scientists used. ( GS-3 Environment) 5. Data from the tiny fossil shells, and data from News-The energy sectors account for the highest new climate model runs, show that high latitude amount of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in (about 65 degree South) sea temperatures were in Andhra Pradesh State with emissions touching excess of 20 degrees C. 82.79 million tons of CO2 equivalent (eq) in 2013- 6. Careful examination of these tiny fossils 14. revealed that some of them have exceptionally Beyond News well-preserved shell chemistry which has not 1. Of this, 37.026 million tons of CO2 eq were changed since they grew on the Cambrian sea emitted from electricity generation. In fact, the floor. GHG emissions were mere 43.31 million tons of 7. Analyses of the oxygen isotopes of these fossils CO2 in 2005-06. suggested very warm temperatures for high 2. The per capita GHG emissions were a mere latitude seas, probably between 20-25 degree 1.16 MT CO2 in 2005. In less than a decade, they Celsius. touched 2.06 MT. Also, the CO2 eq emissions 8. To see if these were feasible sea temperatures, surpassed the national per capita of 2.28 MT in the scientists then ran climate model simulations 2014. for the early Cambrian. The climate model 3. In comparison, the per capita GHG emissions at simulations also suggest that Earth‘s climate was all India were 1.07 tons in 2005 and 1.73 tons in in a ‗typical‘ greenhouse state, with temperatures 2014. Also, the emissions‘ intensity has increased similar to more recent, and better understood, to 10% in the State, while it has been decreasing at greenhouse intervals in Earth‘s climate history, the national level. like the late Mesozoic and early Cenozoic eras. 4. These facts came to light in an inventory of Importance greenhouse gas emissions for Andhra Pradesh 1. Ultimately, these findings help to expand our prepared by the Vision Management Unit, the AP knowledge of the early animals of the period and State Development Planning Society (APSDPS) of the environment in which they lived. the Planning Department in association with the 2. They hope that this approach can be used by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI). other researchers to build up a clearer picture of 5. The highest contribution to the emissions was ancient climates where conventional climate proxy from electricity generation 31.25%, while the data are not available. cement production accounted for 11.45%. The Source: http://www.thehindu.com/sci- manufacturing industries‘ share was 10.35%. tech/science/tiny-fossil-shells-unveil-details- Replacing coal-based generation with natural gas, about-ancient-earths-climate/article23837263.ece promoting renewable energy up to maximum Pawan Kalyan unfurls ‘largest’ Indian flag potential were some of the strategies being (Prelims) planned to bring down the emissions. News-The largest Indian flag was unfurled at NTR 6. In fact, the State witnessed a significant Stadium here coinciding with the anniversary of reduction in dependence/supply on thermal power India‘s First War of Independence of 1857. supply. It has come down to 72% of the supply in Beyond News 2017 compared to 84% in 2016. Likewise, the The flag, measuring 183 feet in length and 122 renewable and hydel power supply increased. feet in breadth, was unfurled by Pawan Kalyan, at Source: an event organised by Vibrants of Kalam, an http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-

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May -2018 UPSC/IAS Current Affairs pradesh/power-generation-accounts-for-highest- contributed to a significant rise in commercial emissions-in-state/article23842245.ece disputes. Hot-money risks seen rising as India courts A bill for easier Commercial Disputes ‘bond tourists’ Resolution (GS-3 Economy) 1. The Commercial Courts, Commercial Division News -A series of measures from the central bank and Commercial Appellate Division of High to lure foreign buyers into the country‘s short-term Courts (Amendment) Bill of 2018 is pending in debt market could easily backfire, investors fear, Parliament. exposing the economy to volatile ―hot money‖ 2. The Bill intends to jump-start India as a sought- flows. out business destination in the world. Its objective Beyond News is to set India at the top of the ‗Ease of Doing 1. The Reserve Bank of India lifted (RBI) a Business‘ index of the World Bank. restriction limiting foreign investors to 3. It aims to create a conductive regulatory buying bonds with three years or more to maturity environment for investors to set up and operate and also gave them access to short-term sovereign businesses. treasury bills. Particulars of the Bill 2. The RBI‘s lifting of the maturity restriction 1. The Bill proposes to lower the specifiedvalue of came after government bonds tanked when a commercial dispute to 3 lakh from the present 1 sovereign bond auctions failed to attract many crore so that commercial disputes of a reasonable buyers, followed by a spike in yields when value can be decided by commercial courts. surprisingly hawkish minutes of a monetary policy 2. This would bring down the time taken (at meeting raised fears of the RBI hiking interest present, 1,445 days) in resolving commercial rates. disputes of less value, and further improve India‘s 3. The new rules have stoked fears of an influx of ranking in the index. ―bond tourists‖ and the associated rapid-fire 3. The Bill provides for the establishment of switching in and out of short-term debt by foreign commercial courts at the district judge level for traders. the territories over which the respective High 4. Such volatile flows could make India‘s financial Courts have ordinary original civil jurisdiction, as markets more vulnerable at a time when the rupee in Chennai, Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai and has been the worst performer in the region, high Himachal Pradesh. oil prices are driving up the current account 4. The State governments in such territories may deficit, and interest rates could soon rise on by notification specify such pecuniary value of heightened inflation risks, investors said. commercial disputes to be adjudicated at the 5. The immediate reaction to the lifting of maturity district level. curbs on overseas buyers was less than 5. In the jurisdiction of High Courts other than inspirational, with foreigners selling a net $240.92 those exercising ordinary original jurisdiction, a million of bonds on May 2 – a day after the RBI‘s forum of appeal in commercial disputes decided announcement by commercial courts below the level of district Source: https://thewire.in/business/hot-money- judge is being provided, in the form of risks-seen-rising-as-india-courts-bond-tourists Commercial Appellate Courts to be at the district Getting down to business judge level. (GS- 2 polity) Introducing the Pre-Institution Mediation Issue: 1. With rapid economic development, there (PIM) has been a considerable increase in commercial 1. The introduction of the Pre-Institution activities and a consequent steep rise in the Mediation (PIM) process in cases where no urgent number of commercial disputes at the domestic or interim relief is contemplated would provide an and international levels. opportunity to the parties to resolve commercial 2. Increase in foreign direct investment and disputes outside the ambit of the courts through overseas commercial transactions have further the authorities constituted under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987.

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May -2018 UPSC/IAS Current Affairs 2. The Bill proposes a new Section, 21A, which 4. A total of 66 Bal Panchayat members from the enables the Centre to make rules and procedures six states – Bihar, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Madhya for PIM. Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh formed the About Ease of Doing Business Index Maha Bal Panchayat of 2018. 1. Ease of Doing Business is an index of World Source: http://www.thehindu.com/todays- Bankwhich inter alia refers to the dispute paper/tp-in-school/child-leaders-elected-to- resolution environment in a country which eradicate-social-evils-against- facilitates the investors in deciding for setting up children/article23843054.ece of and operation of a business. Government to link 200 more mandis to eNAM 2. This index has been created by the World Bank this fiscal: Agriculture secretary Group and since 2002; it has been evaluating 1. Union Government is going to link additional almost all the countries of the world. 200 wholesale mandis to online trading platform 3. A high ease of doing business ranking means eNAM (electronic National Agriculture Market) the regulatory environment is more conducive to this fiscal (2018-19) and also encourage inter- the starting and operation of the business. mandi transactions 4. India has emerged out as one among top ten 2. At present, 585 regulated mandis in 14 states improvers and for the first time ever, India has are linked with the electronic National Agriculture jumped 30 positions. Market (eNAM) launched in April 2016. 5. India reached 100th rankedcountry in terms of 3. So far, 73.50 lakh farmers, 53,163 commission ‗Ease of Doing Business‘ amongst 190 countries. agents and over 1 lakh traders are registered on the 6. This manifests that India is fast adopting the eNAM platform from 14 states. best practices in regulatory framework for Ease of 4. Government is ensuring that all wholesale agri- Doing Business at all fronts. mandis adopt online auction and gradually allow Source: http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp- trading between mandis in state and eventually opinion/getting-down-to- between mandis outside states, thereby setting up business/article23843129.ece single national agriculture market for benefit of National Maha Bal Panchayat farmers In news 5. The 14 states include Andhra Pradesh, 1. Nobel laureate Kailash Satyarthi conducted the Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal 4th National Maha Bal Panchayat elections at his Pradesh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Bal Ashram, Viratnagar in Jaipur. Maharashtra, Odisha, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, 2. The idea is to ensure children's role in local Telangana, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarkhand. governance. About eNAM 3. The Maha Bal Panchayat will work for 1. eNAM is pan-India electronic trading portal for * basic infrastructure in schools farm produce which aims creates unified national * school teacher appointment market for agricultural commodities by integrating * monitoring for regular attendance existing Agriculture Produce Market Committee * preventing cases of early child marriage (APMC) markets. * facilitating links to several social welfare 2. It provides single window service for all APMC schemes related services and information, such as About Bal ashram commodity arrivals and prices, provision for 1. Bal Ashram is a rehabilitation and educational responding to trade offers, buy and sell trade support Centre for children rescued from various offers, among other services. It was launched in states. April 2016 2. The event was jointly organized by Kailash 3. It is being implemented in different phases to Satyarthi Children‘s Foundation and Global March integrate 585 regulated markets across country Against Child Labour with common e-market platform by March 2018 3. The election was held under the Bal Mitra Gram 4. Small Farmers‘ Agribusiness Consortium (BMG) program. (SFAC) is the lead promoter of eNAM. On this platform, farmers can showcase their produce

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May -2018 UPSC/IAS Current Affairs online from their nearest market and traders can 1. The United Nations Development quote price from anywhere. It aims to foster Programme(UNDP) is the United Nations global greater competition among traders and also ensure development network headquartered at new York open price discovery and better returns to farmers 2. UNDP advocates for change and connects Source: countries to knowledge, experience and resources https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/econo to help people build a better life. my/agriculture/government-to-link-200-more- 3. The UNDP Administrator is the third highest- mandis-to-enam-this-fiscal-agriculture- ranking official of the United Nations after secretary/articleshow/64144705.cms the United Nations Secretary-Generaland Deputy Secretary-General. UNDP to set up skill development centre in 4. UNDP is funded entirely by voluntary Hyderabad contributions from member nations. The (GS-2 Governance, prelims) organization operates in 177 countries, where it News- 1.The United Nations Development works with local governments to meet Programme (UNDP) would soon be setting up a development challenges and develop local skill development centre at 'Bharosa,' an integrated capacity. support centre for distressed women and children Source: http://www.business- in Hyderabad, Telangana. standard.com/article/pti-stories/undpto-set-up- 2. The centre would be aimed at empowering skill-development-centre-in-hyderabad- vulnerable and marginalised women by imparting 118051300178_1.html skills training. Telangana govt. launches rs 8,000/Acre Key Highlights investment support scheme for farmers * 'Bharosa,' is a state-of-the-art centre set up by (GS-3 agriculture) the Hyderabad City Police to support women and First-of-its kind investment support scheme for children who are victims of violence. farmers in Telangana: The Rythu Bandhu * Since its establishment in 2016, a total of 3,560 scheme victims have approached the centre with a range of 1. Farmers will get Rs 8,000 per acre every year as problems. crop investment support * Among these, over 2,600 victims have sought 2. About 58 lakh farmers who till over 1.42 crore aid with regard to domestic violence. acres are expected to be benefitted from the * The UNDP has proposed to set up a skill initiative development centre exclusively for the clients of More about the scheme Bharosa. 1. Farmers will directly get the financial support * The necessary arrangements for setting up of the twice every year to maximize agricultural centre are already underway and it would start in production and productivity the next two-three months. 2. The financial assistance will be for two crops * The consultations with agencies that provide each year training are also underway. The training duration 3. The state government has already set aside Rs will vary on the basis of the kind of skill imparted. 12,000 crore in the 2018-19 budget exclusively for * The Bharosa centre provides 24x7 services this scheme related to police, medical, legal, prosecution, Other efforts done by the state government psycho-therapeutic counselling and relief and 1. As a proof of ownership, Rao also distributed rehabilitation services in completely private ‗pattadar‘ passbook among farmers. Land title counseling rooms to maintain confidentiality and documents were prepared after a comprehensive privacy. land survey * The centre is equipped with well-trained staff 2. He pointed out that the survey identified 1.42 and modern gadgets, including facilities like video crore acres as cultivable land in the state conferencing so that the victims need not go to the 3. For seamless implementation of various court. agriculture-related schemes, land records have About UNDP been updated and digitized

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May -2018 UPSC/IAS Current Affairs Source: 4. Under the Ministry‘s Swadesh Darshan scheme, https://www.financialexpress.com/economy/telang the development of Sanchi, Satna, Rewa, ana-govt-launches-rs-8000-acre-investment- Mandsaur, and Dhar. will be carried out support-scheme-for-farmers/1163149/ India’s first trans-national tourist circuit Multidimensional Poverty 1. The Buddhist circuit is being imagined as (GS-2 welfare, prelims) India‘s first trans-national tourist circuit, with In News -Study says poverty fell from 55% to efforts to promote tourism starting from Lumbini 21% in a decade, mainly due to lowered burden in in Nepal, where Buddha was born, to the sites in southern states India he traversed, including Bodh Gaya, Sarnath, 1. A paper titled ‗Estimates of Multidimensional Kushinagar, Rajgir, Vaishali, Sravasti and Poverty in India: Evidence from National Family Sankasia (in UP and Bihar) Health Survey-4 (2015-2016)‘ reveals the reason 2. The Tourism ministry is also in talks with the for significant reason for Multidimensional World Bank and the Japanese government for Poverty drop. funding of infrastructure projects connected with 2. The poverty levels fell from 55% to 21% in a these sites decade and it is deu to the lowered burden in the 3. The ministry also plans to involve the private southern States. sector in building tourism infrastructure pertaining 3. MDP is an international measure of acute to the circuit poverty based on three key categories — health, 4. Under the plan, Sarnath would be made the hub education and living standards. of Buddhist tourismin India and connected to other 4. The national average is 21% whereas in the five sites through air, rail and road transport southern States (Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Source: Telangana and Andhra Pradesh) the average MDP http://indianexpress.com/article/india/govt-set-to- is 9%. expand-buddhist-tourism-circuit-to-21-more- 5. Bihar is the poorest State with 43% incidence of states-5173373/ poverty. Adopt a Heritage Scheme 6. Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Odisha, (GS-2 governance) Madhya Pradesh and Assam are above the national What is Adopt a Heritage scheme? average (21%). 1. It is an initiative of the Ministry of Tourism, in 7. Chhattisgarh, which is affected by Left Wing collaboration with the Ministry of Culture and the insurgency, has done well, bringing down its Archaeological Survey of India. poverty level from 71% to 22%. 2. Under the scheme government invites entities, Source: including public sector companies, private sector http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/southern- firms as well as individuals, to develop selected comfort-indias-global-poverty-rank- monuments and heritage and tourist sites across improves/article23866587.ece India. Govt. set to expand Buddhist tourism circuit to 3. Development of these tourist sites calls for 21 more states providing and maintaining basic amenities, (GS-2 Governance) including drinking water, ease of access for the Expansion of Buddhist Circuit differently abled and senior citizens, standardized 1. Earlier envisaged by the government as mainly signage, cleanliness, public conveniences, etc. comprising seven major Buddhist pilgrimage sites, How the scheme works? in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, the ‗Buddhist Circuit‘ 1. The sites/monument for this scheme will be will now be expanded to 21 other states. selected on the basis of tourist footfall and 2. The Ministry of Tourism has identified stupas visibility and can be adopted by private and public and viharas in these states, around which small sector companies and individuals known as intra-state Buddhist zones will be developed Monument Mitras for an initial period of five 3. These include states of Madhya Pradesh and years. Rajasthan, Kerala, West Bengal, Goa, Gujarat and Jammu & Kashmir

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May -2018 UPSC/IAS Current Affairs 2. The Monument Mitras are selected by the Source: ‗oversight and vision committee,‘ co-chaired by http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other- the Tourism Secretary and the Culture Secretary. states/a-remote-up-village-shines-the-torch-on-a- 3. There is no financial bid involved and the lurking-virus/article23867236.ece corporate sector is expected to use corporate social Nepal to host 2018 BIMSTEC summit responsibility (CSR) funds for the upkeep of the (GS-3 IR,prelims) site. In news -1. Nepal is going to host 2018 Bay of 4. The Monument Mitras, in turn, will get limited Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and visibility on the site premises and on the Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) summit Incredible India website. 2. It was announced by Nepal‘s Prime Minister KP 5. The oversight committee also has the power to Sharma Oli during his meeting with Indian Prime terminate a memorandum of understanding in case Minister Narendra Modi in Kathmandu. of non-compliance or non-performance. About BIMSTECH Current Status 1. The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral 1. The government looks forward that the scheme Technical and Economic Cooperation(BIMSTEC) would help to increase tourist footfall and improve is an international organisation of seven nations of the infrastructure around the monument. south asia and sout east asia 2. So far, 31 agencies or Monument Mitras have 2. The BIMSTEC member states been approved to adopt 95 monuments/tourist Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Sri sites. Lanka, Thailand, Bhutan, and Nepal are among 3. MoUs has been signed for adopting Mt. Stok the countries dependent on the Bay of Bengal. Kangri (in Ladakh), Trail to Gaumukh, (in 3. The main objective of BIMSTEC is Uttarakhand), Red Fort (in Delhi) and the technological, economic cooperation investment, Gandikota Fort (in Andhra Pradesh). technology, tourism, human resource 4. This is a pretty small list, as the ASI protects development, agriculture, fisheries, transport and 3,686 ancient monuments and archaeological sites, communication, textiles, leather etc. including 36 world heritage sites. 4. BIMSTEC Permanent Secretariatis at Dhaka 5. Union government further intends to expand the was opened in 2014 and India provides 33% (65% ‗Adopt a Heritage‘ scheme. of region's population) of its expenditure. Source: Source: http://www.business- http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/what-is- standard.com/article/news-ani/pm-kp-sharma-oli- adopt-a-heritage-scheme/article23866697.ece nepal-to-hold-bimstec-2018- Hepatitis C 118051200456_1.html (prelims) Research on Stalagmite 1. In Uttra Pradesh, Bijnor district, Pahuli village (GS-3 environment, prelims) has emerged as a hotspot of hepatitis C infection. 1. Physical Research Laboratory (PRL), 2. Hepatitis C is caused by Hepatitis C virus Ahmadabad analyzed bits of a stalagmite from (HCV) that affects the liver. Kotumsar cave in Central India. 3. It has the same mode of transmission as HIV, 2. The analysis has revealed variations of the spreading through blood, injecting drugs, blood Indian summer monsoon over some 3,000 years, transfusion and sexual activity, and from mother starting from 8,500 years ago to 5,600 years ago. to child during pregnancy. 3. The Kotumsar cave is 35 metres below ground 4. The Central government estimates that about level and located in the Kanger Valley National 1.2 crore people are positive for hepatitis C in the Park of Chhattisgarh. country. 4. The stalagmite in this region is formed by slow 5. The estimate is six times the number of people dissolution of the Kanger limestone by water from living with HIV/AIDS. the Indian summer monsoon. 6. Viral infections of the liver that are classified as 5. Stalagmite and Stalactite are elongated forms of hepatitis include hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E. various minerals deposited from solution by slowly dripping water.

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May -2018 UPSC/IAS Current Affairs 6. The analysis also studied Source: the Speleothems which are rocks that were http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/gender- formed in caves over several years by the bias-caused-excess-deaths-of-girls-under-5-lancet- deposition of water from monsoon. study/article23885961.ece 7. They hold records of seasonal variation and help in understanding Paleoclimate. Bharatmala will raise debt issues for some Source:http://www.thehindu.com/sci- (GS-3 Economy) tech/science/prl-group-deciphers-climate- The poor condition of roads variations-recorded-in- 1. Indian roads are usually characterized by poor stalagmite/article23865312.ece infrastructure and congestion 2. This affects travel time and road safety which Gender bias caused ‘excess’ deaths of girls is a big hindrance to economic development and under 5: Lancet study leads to inefficiency in the transportation of goods (GS-1 Social Issues, prelims) and services across the country Highlights of Lancet Global Health Journal Bharatmala program and diversion of traffic 1. There have been 2,39,000 ―excess deaths‖ 1. The Bharatmala programme may result in per year of girls under the age of five in India, and traffic diversion from the existing road network to 29 out of new roads, 35 States contributed to this mortality, according thereby affecting the toll collection and, to a study in the online, open access, peer- consequently, the debt servicing ability of some of reviewed the BOT and journal OMT projects 2. That works out to about 2.4 million deaths in 2. Out of the proposed 44 Economic Corridors in a decade, and the additional deaths were found in Bharatmala, about 21 would partially or fully 90% of affect the existing alignments districts in the country 3. This has raised the risk of default on 25 3. Around 22% of the overall mortality burden national highway toll projects which involve Rs of under-five females is therefore due to gender 19,435 crore of bias debt 4. Excess mortality is the difference between 4. The risk of such loan defaults will add to observed and expected mortality rates in both banks‘ and financial lenders‘ stressed assets and genders non-performing assets Issue of Concern What can BOT operators do? 1. The worst affected areas were all rural, 1. The stretches under ECs of the Bharatmala agricultural areas with lower levels of education, Pariyojana are either longer by more than 20%, or high population traverse a densities, low socio-economic development and new route completely high levels of fertility 2. Hence, they do not fit into the description of 2. Many deaths of females under five are partly the additional tollways, as defined in Article 30 of due to unwanted childbearing and subsequent the neglect concession agreement 3. The sustained fertility decline currently 3. Thus, there would be no compensation observed in north India is likely to lead to a payable for traffic loss on account of the reduction in Bharatmala programme postnatal discrimination 4. In such cases, the concessionaire (contractor) 4. Unless son preference diminishes, lower may opt for termination of the concession fertility, however, might bring about a rise in agreement, in gender-biased sex selection as was observed 20 which case the termination payment is payable by years ago in western India the Authority (under Authority Event of Default)

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May -2018 UPSC/IAS Current Affairs 5. The termination payment is equivalent to 90% 5. The end goal is to create economic corridors of the debt due (ECs) along the path—new industries, more Kelkar Committee Recommendations employment and new markets—thereby bringing 1. To ensure that the existing BOT projects that socio-economic change and upliftment of the are at risk of default do not turn bad for the underdeveloped regions of the country financial Source: institutions, swift and adequate measures are https://www.livemint.com/Opinion/1bEsr7RhhyK needed pFNBXhINylI/Bharatmala-will-raise-debt-issues- 2. The Kelkar committee had observed that since for-some.html infrastructure projects span over 20-30 years, a Multiple threats to Himalayan biodiversity private developer may lose bargaining power (GS-3 environment) owing to abrupt changes in the economic or policy Zoological Survey of India Report environment 1. The Indian Himalayas, which constitute about 3. It has thus recommended that the private 12% of the country‘s landmass, is home to about sector must be protected against such loss. This 30.16% of its fauna, says a new publication from could be ensured by allowing renegotiation of the the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) terms of the concession agreement 2. The publication, Faunal Diversity of Indian 4. Financial institutions are already reluctant to Himalaya, lists 30,377 species/subspecies in the finance the infrastructure sector, given the rise in region with the entire identified fauna in the non-performing assets (NPAs) country adding up to 1,00,762 Way Forward The spread of Himalayan Region 1. The need of the hour is to realign the terms 1. Spread across six States — from Jammu and and conditions of the model concession agreement Kashmir in the west through Himachal Pradesh, to ensure that banks do not end up accumulating Uttarakhand, Sikkim and West Bengal‘s NPAs Darjeeling to Arunachal Pradesh in the far east. 2. Alternatively, the NHAI can compensate the 2. The Indian Himalayas are divided into two affected BOT operators and account for it in the bio-geographic zones — the Trans-Himalaya and total outlay of the Bharatmala programme the Himalaya, based on physiographic, climatic 3. Having an appropriate remedial mechanism and eco-biological attributes for BOT operators will help retain interest for Abundance of species investments in new projects; for the lenders, it will 1. The entire region, spread over 3.95 lakh sq. help curtail the number of stressed assets from the km. is home to 280 species of mammals, 940 risk of default species of birds, 316 species of fishes, 200 species About Bharat Mala Pariyojana of reptiles and 80 species of amphibians 1. The government has embarked upon a massive 2. This put together accounts for 27.6% of the overhaul of the country‘s road network through total vertebrate diversity of the country Bharatmala Pariyojana Unique Features of the Himalayan region 2. It is an umbrella highway development 1. The ZSI publication lists 133 vertebrate programme involving 34,800 km of road network species of the region cited as threatened in the at an IUCN Red List. This includes 43 species of investment of Rs5.35 trillion, to be completed by mammals like the critically endangered Pygmy 2022 Hog, the Namdapha flying squirrel and the 3. The government has assigned NHAI, National endangered Snow leopard, the Red Panda and the Highway and Industrial Development Corporation Kashmir Gray Langur (NHIDCL) and state public work departments for 2. Fifty-two species of birds are also in the the highway projects threatened category like the critically endangered 4. The programme focuses on optimizing the White-Bellied Heron and Siberian crane and efficiency of road traffic movement across the vulnerable species like the Black Necked crane country by bridging critical infrastructure gaps and the Indian Spotted Eagle, among others through shorter routes

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May -2018 UPSC/IAS Current Affairs 3. Some of the rare high-altitude butterflies Enforcement Directorate, Financial Intelligence found in the Himalayas are Parnassius Unit, Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, capital stoliczkanus (Ladakh banded Apollo) and markets regulator SEBI and the Income Tax Parnassius epaphus (Red Apollo), listed under Department Schedule I and Schedule II of the Wildlife 2. Definitions under consideration include those Protection Act, 1972, respectively from the Organization for Economic Cooperation Threats and Development, which has defined a shell 1. Most of the threatened species of vertebrates, company as being formally registered, particularly mammals, require population incorporated or otherwise legally organized in an assessment and study of the role of climate change economy but which does not conduct any on their habitat operations in that economy other than in a pass- 2. Climate change is a major threat as far as through capacity mammals and birds are concerned 3. SEBI has suggested entities having no 3. The impact is visible in the shifting significant operational assets or business activity distribution of sensitive species like the Asiatic but acting in a pass-through capacity as conduits Black Bear, the Snow leopard, and the Himalayan may be thus defined Marmot UN’s provision to chase black money 4. Carnivores and their habitats are threatened by 1. Tough negotiations on this subject in Vienna, ever-increasing human-wildlife conflict in the Austria, in 2003 were a vital part of the United region Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC). 5. Habitat loss due to land use change, illegal 2. The first breakthrough came when the group wildlife trade, forest fires and increasing established asset recovery as a ―fundamental anthropogenic activities pose threats to this principle‖ of the convention. Himayalan biodiversity 3. Then it was only a matter of laying a Source: http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp- framework, in both civil and criminal law, for national/multiple-threats-to-himalayan- tracing, freezing, forfeiting and returning funds biodiversity/article23869292.ece obtained through corrupt activities. Govt. regulators mull ‘shell firm’ definition 4. What did the convention accomplish? Legal (GS-3 Internal security) obstacles should be tackled with international Lack of proper definition impeding government cooperation rather than by domestic laws. action 5. Some of the relevant provisions of the 1. As multiple agencies and regulators probe the convention are crucial to the question of recovery suspected use of ‗only-on-paper‘ firms for of assets. financial irregularities, the government is looking 6. It provides that each state party shall take such to put in place a proper definition for ‗shell measures as may be necessary to permit its companies‘ so that investigations are not competent authorities to give effect to an order of hampered and prosecution can withstand scrutiny confiscation issued by a court of another state in courts of law party. They are also required to share information 2. A key issue has been lack of a proper and with the competent authorities of another state, uniform definition for ‗shell companies‘ a term when necessary, to investigate, claim and recover generally used for companies that are set up for proceeds of offences. financial maneuverings only or are kept dormant Source: for some future use http://www.thehindu.com/business/Industry/govt- 3. These companies generally exist only on regulators-mull-shell-firm- paper and may be used for nefarious activities definition/article23874323.ece Recommendations of Task Force on Shell More tests required for GM mustard: regulator Companies (GS-3 Science & Tech) 1. The Ministry of Corporate Affairs has Observation of the Genetic Engineering received preliminary suggestions from a multi- Appraisal Committee agency task force comprising officials from the

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May -2018 UPSC/IAS Current Affairs 1. The committee has said that in light of several has 24 members and meets every month to review representations both ―for and against‖ the release the applications in the areas indicated above of GM mustard, there was a need for more tests Source: http://www.thehindu.com/todays- 2. The Centre has also demanded more tests for paper/tp-national/more-tests-required-for-gm- genetically modified mustard, a year after clearing mustard-centre/article23886999.ece the crop for ―commercial cultivation‖ Ministry of New and Renewable Energy issues One of the main issue National Wind-solar Hybrid Policy 1. The GM mustard has never been tested as a (GS-2, Govt. programs) herbicide tolerant crop, for its environmental and News health ramifications Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has 2. It is a point that has remained unaddressed by issued National Wind-Solar Hybrid Policy with an the regulators aim to boost renewable power generation by Background promoting new projects as well as hybridization of 1. A team of scientists at Delhi University led by existing ones. former vice-chancellor Deepak Pental has bred Objectives of policy: DMH-11, a genetically modified (GM) mustard 1. Provide comprehensive framework for hybrid promotion of large grid connected wind-solar 2. Hybrids are normally obtained by crossing two Photo Voltaic (PV) hybrid system for efficient genetically diverse plants from the same species utilization of transmission infrastructure and land 3. The first-generation offspring resulting from it 2. Reduce variability in renewable power has higher yields than what either of the parents is generation and achieving better grid stability. individually capable of giving 3. Encourage new technologies, methods and way- 4. But there is no natural hybridization system in outs involving combined operation of wind and mustard, unlike in, say, cotton, maize or tomato solar PV plants. 5. What team has done is, that they have created a Flexibility in share of wind and solar viable hybridization system in mustard using GM components: technology It has been provided in hybrid project, subject to 6. The resulting GM mustard hybrid, it is claimed, condition that, rated power capacity of one gives 25-30% more yield than the best varieties resource be at least 25% of rated power capacity such as ‗Varuna‘ currently grown in the country of one resource be at least 25% of rated power About GEAC capacity of other resource for it to be recognized Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee hybrid project. (GEAC) Technology front: 1. It functions in the Ministry of Environment, Policy provides for integration of both energy Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC). As per sources i.e. wind and solar at alternating current Rules, 1989, it is responsible for appraisal of (AC) as well as direct current (DC) level. activities involving large scale use of hazardous Hybrid projects: microorganisms and recombinants in research and The policy seeks to promote new hybrid projects industrial production from the environmental as well as hybridisation of existing wind and solar angle projects. It allows hybridisation of existing 2. The committee is also responsible for projects (wind or solar) with higher transmission appraisal of proposals relating to release of capacity than sanctioned one, subject to genetically engineered (GE) organisms and availability of margin in existing transmission products into the environment including capacity. experimental field trials Procurement of power: 3. GEAC is chaired by the Special It will be on tariff based transparent bidding Secretary/Additional Secretary of MoEF&CC and process for which Government entities may invite co-chaired by a representative from the bids. Department of Biotechnology (DBT). Presently, it Use of battery storage:

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May -2018 UPSC/IAS Current Affairs The policy permits use of battery storage in hybrid 1. The founder of Sulabh International, Dr project for optimising output and reduce Bindeshwar Pathak was honoured with the Nikkei variability. Asia Prize in Japan for his contribution to Asia‘s Standards and regulations: development It mandates the regulatory authorities to formulate 2. Dr Pathak was described as Indian social necessary standards and regulations for wind-solar reformer tackling two of his country‘s biggest hybrid systems. challenges — poor hygiene and discrimination. He Source: was among three who were conferred with this http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=1 award 79270 Nikkei Asia Prize First all-woman Post Office Passport Seva Nikkei Inc. is one of the largest media Kendra starts operations in Phagwara, Punjab corporations in Japan. It has been presenting (PRELIMS) Nikkei Asia Prize since 1996 to honor people in News Asia who have made significant contributions in The Post Office Passport Seva Kendra (POPSK) one of the three areas: Economic and Business run by an all-woman team began its operations Innovation, Science, Technology, Environment, Phagwara, Punjab. It was was inaugurated by Culture and Community Union Minister Vijay Sampla in the local head Dr Bindeshwar Pathak Post Office of Phagwara 1. He had founded Sulabh International in 1970. It Key Facts is an NGO that works to promote human rights, 1. This kendra was 192nd POPSK in the country environmental sanitation among other social and first one to be operated by an all-woman team. services. It was launched as part of Central Government‘s 2. It has built Sulabh flush composting toilets initiative for women empowerment. throughout India, contributing to better sanitation, 2. It will cater needs of people from Kapurthala, safety for rural women and freedom from manual Nawandhar and Jalandhar rural districts. It will labour of removing human waste benefit people immensely in this area as town is Source: http://www.business- NRI hub of Doaba region of Punjab. standard.com/article/pti-stories/sulabh- 3. It will enable people of the region to get all international-founder-awarded-nikkei-asia-prize- facilities related to applying for and processing of 118051401194_1.html passport applications. Domestic Violence Act for divorced women too: About post office passport Seva Kendra Supreme Court 1. POPSK is Government initiative led by (GS-2 Governance) Ministry of External Affairs (India) (MEA) and Act Extends post Divorce as well Department of Posts (DoP). Where Head Post 1. The Domestic Violence Act, 2005 — meant to Offices (HPO) and post offices are being utilized punish men who abuse women in a relationship — for delivery of passport related services to citizens extends to all man-woman relationships, and also 2. It aims to develop passport related services on protects divorced women from their former bigger scale and to ensure wider area coverage for husbands, the Supreme Court has upheld simplifying process to traveling abroad 2. A three-judge Bench of Justices confirmed a 3. The first POPSK was inaugurated at the Mysuru Rajasthan High Court ruling of 2013 that the term Head Post office in Karnataka on January 25, 2017 ‗domestic violence‘ cannot be restrained to marital Source: http://www.business- relations alone standard.com/article/pti-stories/first-all-woman- 3. The Supreme Court‘s recent order differ with post-office-passport-seva-kendra-starts- the High Court‘s conclusion that ‗domestic operations-118051400601_1.html relationship‘ includes consanguinity, marriage, a Sulabh International founder Dr Bindeshwar relationship in the nature of marriage, adoption or Pathak honoured with Nikkei Asia Prize as family members living together as a joint (prelims) family News Why such ruling?

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May -2018 UPSC/IAS Current Affairs 1. The court held that domestic violence can floor of the House, and to provide a stable continue even after divorce and the reach of the government Act should not be shackled by confining only for 5. Ironically the Governor has no option except to the protection of women living in marriage invite the new coalition, which had a ―clear 2. It illustrated how a divorcee husband could majority‖ in the House resort to violence by entering the workplace of his The peculiarity of recent cases former wife to commit an act of violence or even 1. Even though a party did not have a majority in attempt to communicate with her, or threaten or the Assembly, and wasn‘t the single-largest party cause violence to her relatives or dependants or either. any other person 2. But it still returned to power after the post-poll 3. It amounts to domestic violence if the former alliance Example: Goa, Manipur, Meghalaya husband tried to dispossess the woman from a Recommendations of the Sarkaria Commission jointly-owned property or refuse to return her 1. The central government set up the Justice R S ‗stridhan‘ or valuable security or other property Sarkaria Commission in June 1983 to examine the 4. The Act brings all these acts of violence within relationship and balance of power between state its ambit and central governments SC on Domestic Relations 2. The Commission, which dealt with the role of 1. The apex court did not intervene with the Governors, suggested that in choosing a Chief interpretation that ‗domestic relationship‘ is not Minister, the Governor should be guided by the confined to the relationship as husband and wife following principles: or a relationship in the nature of marriage, but it * The party or combination of parties that includes other relationship as well such as sisters, command the widest support in the Legislative mother, etc. Assembly should be called to form the 2. The domestic relationship includes any government relationship between two persons who either live * The Governor‘s task is to see that a government at the present moment or have at any point of time is formed — and not to try to form a government in the past lived together in a shared household that will pursue policies that he approves 3. The absence of subsisting domestic relationship * If no party has a majority, the Governor has to in no manner prevents the court from granting invite: a) a pre-poll alliance, b) the largest single certain reliefs specified under the Act, the High party that is able to gain majority support, c) a Court‘s reasoning was upheld by the Bench post-election coalition that has the required Source: members, d) a post-election coalition in which http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/domestic- partners are willing to extend outside support violence-act-for-divorced-women-too-supreme- 3. The Commission recommended that the Chief court/article23874365.ece Minister must seek a vote of confidence in the The Problem of Hung Assembly Assembly within 30 days of taking over (GS-2 Polity, governance) 4. It also said the Governor should not risk News- Frequent instances of hung assembly determining the issue of majority support outside 1. The growing instances of a hung assembly are the Assembly, and that the prudent course would on the rise, with the recent example of Karnataka be to have the claims tested on the floor of the Assembly mandate where there is lack of clear House majority Recommendations of the Punchhi Commission 2. The Constitution of India does not mandate any 1. A Commission headed by former Chief Justice procedure to be followed by the Governor, in case of India M M Punchhi was set up in April 2007 to of hung assembly take a fresh look at the roles and responsibilities of 3. This gives scope for the Governor to use his governments at various levels, and the relations discretion. She/he has the discretion to invite any between them. leader to form the government 2. The Commission recommended that there 4. But she/he must make a choice keeping in mind should be clear guidelines for the appointment of the leader‘s ability to prove his majority on the Chief Ministers so that there was some sort of

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May -2018 UPSC/IAS Current Affairs regulation on the discretionary power of the recommendation of the IMTF has been approved Governor by the Competent Authority. 3. It said that a pre-poll alliance must be treated as Context: one political party, and laid down the order of 1. Coal linkage rationalization shall be an exercise precedence that the Governor must follow in case in which the coal linkage of a Thermal Power of a hung House: Plant (TPP) of an Independent Power Producer * Group with the largest pre-poll alliance (IPP) may be transferred from one Coal Company commanding the largest number; to another based on the availability during the * Single largest party with support of others; fiscal and future coal production plan of the coal * Post-electoral coalition with all parties joining company. the government; 2. The underlying objective behind the exercise * Post-electoral alliance with some parties joining shall be to reduce the landed cost of coal due to the government, and the remaining, including reduction in transportation cost. The savings Independents, supporting from outside achieved due to this reduction of landed price of Way Forward: When Supreme Court backed coal are required to be passed on to the Governor’s discretion in Goa Discom/consumer of power. 1. The opposition contended that since there was 3. This exercise shall be voluntary on the part of no pre-poll alliance, the Governor should have the TPPs. The exercise aims to reduce the distance first asked the single largest party if it was in a by which coal travels, thus, easing up the Railway position to form the government infrastructure for gainful utilization for other 2. The SC ruled that- If the single largest party has sectors. the majority, then no such question has to arise. 4. The one time process of calling for the requests But when no political party is in majority, then it of the IPP for linkage rationalization shall be is the bound duty of the Governor to see who can undertaken jointly by CIL, SCCL and CEA in a form the government. If nothing happens, then the transparent manner. Governor is duty-bound to call the leader of the 5. This linkage rationalization shall be considered single largest party but if someone goes to the only for IPPs having linkages through allotment Governor with a list of supporters, then it is a route. The IPPs shall also be stating the Minimum different issue altogether Order Quantity (MOQ) for which the linkage 3. The Supreme Court also ordered a floor test, rationalization shall be requested and their saying that the ―instant sensitive and contentious preferred mode of transportation after the linkage issue can be resolved by a simple direction, rationalization. requiring the holding of a floor test at the earliest 6. The Fuel Supply Agreement (FSA) of the 4. The holding of the floor test would remove all rationalized source from any coal company would possible ambiguities, and would result in giving be signed/implemented only after the appropriate the democratic process, the required credibility Electricity Regulatory Commission approves the Source: supplementary agreement. http://indianexpress.com/article/explained/karnata 7. Any dispute as and when it arises would be ka-assembly-election-results-house-hung-over-to- resolved as per the provision of the Arbitration governor-vajubhai-vala-5178389/ and Conciliation Act. Methodology for Linkage Rationalization for Implementation strategy and targets: Independent Power Producers (IPPs) The proposed rationalization of linkages is News -An Inter-Ministerial Task Force (IMTF) transparent, objective and creates a level playing was constituted to undertake a comprehensive field for IPPs in each domain. It attempts to make review of existing coal sources of Independent optimal rationalization of the vital natural Power Producers (IPPs) having linkages and resources across the power units of IPPs. consider the feasibility for rationalization of these Major impact: sources with a view to optimize transportation 1. The reduced landed price of coal shall lead to cost, given the various technical constraints. The savings in cost of power generated and shall reduce transportation cost of coal.

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May -2018 UPSC/IAS Current Affairs 2. The savings achieved due to reduction in the 1. By December of each year, through a bottom-up landed price of coal shall be passed on to the participatory planning approach, every State Discom/consumers of power. submits a labour budget (LB) to the Centre 3. The exercise shall also help in reducing the load 2. This contains the anticipated labour demand for on the transportation infrastructure. the next financial year Source: 3. The Centre, on its part, has been using an http://pib.nic.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=15 arbitrary ―Approved Labour Budget‖ to cut down 32219 funds requested by States (using the National A triple blow to job guarantee scheme Electronic Fund Management System, or Ne- (GS-Governance) FMS), making this a supply-driven programme News-Pending wages under MGNREGA Curtailing the Work-demand of Workers 1. The total amount of wages pending under the 1. Ne-FMS guidelines issued in 2016-17 say the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Management Information System (MIS) ―will not Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) scheme for the allow‖ States to ―generate more employment whole country (2016-17) was around 11,000 crore above the limits set by Agreed to LB‖ 2. This sum is a fifth of the MGNREGA budget 2. This meant that the work demand of workers announced for the financial year 2018-19 was not even getting registered and the MIS was 3. On the other hand, rising instances of frauds being used as a means to curb work demand whose amounts exceed far than the requirements 3. Thus the ―approved labour budget‖ puts a cap of the very job guarantee scheme need to be put in on funds perspective Worsening situation due to poor allocation What the Scheme actually say? 1. The Ministry of Finance memorandum said that 1. The scheme is meant to be demand-driven in the principal reasons for payment delays the sense that the government is mandated to were infrastructural bottlenecks, unavailability of provide work within 15 days of a worker seeking funds and lack of administrative compliance work. Otherwise, the worker is entitled to an 2. The study findings and this memorandum are at unemployment allowance odds with the Centre‘s dubious claims of 85% of 2. A second key provision of the Act pertains to payments having been made on time payment of wages within 15 days of completion of 3. The poor are paying a heavy price for this work, failing which a worker is entitled to a delay throttling of funds by the Centre compensation of 0.05% per day of the wages Stagnating Wages earned 1. Delinking of MGNREGA wage rates from 3. However, both these provisions have been the Minimum Wages Act (MWA), 1948 has routinely violated. There is an ongoing Public contributed to this Interest Litigation in the Supreme Court (Swaraj 2. MGNREGA wages are a less lucrative option Abhiyan v. the Union of India) concerning these for the marginalized, being lower than the violations minimum agricultural wages in most States Three ways in which a lack of funds has led to a 3. As primary beneficiaries of the Act, women, subverting of these provisions in letter and Dalits, and Adivasis could be the most affected spirit and pushed to choose more vulnerable and * Budget allocation over the years has been hazardous employment opportunities insufficient 4. Such contravention of the MWA is illegal 1. While there has been an increase in the nominal Way Forward budget in the last two years, after adjusting for 1. MGNREGA now faces a triple but correlated inflation, the budget has actually decreased over crisis - a lack of sufficient funds, rampant payment the years delays, and abysmal wage rates 2. The real budget of 2018-19 is much lower than 2. What this reflects is not only a legal crisis that of 2010-11 created by the Centre but also a moral one where * Even this low budget allocation has the fight is not even for a living wage but one for undergone various kinds of curtailment subsistence

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May -2018 UPSC/IAS Current Affairs 3. One hopes for a just order from the judiciary thus have not produced a draft document to guide Source: http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op- full implementation of the PA ed/a-triple-blow-to-job-guarantee- The way forward scheme/article23896197.ece 1. Even if the current NDCs were implemented, Is it possible to slow global warming? the world would be on track to be warmer by (GS-3 environment) about 3°Celsius UN Framework Convention on Climate Change 2. The UN is also expected to release the report on (UNFCCC) meeting the impacts from a 1.5°C warming around the 1. A two-week-long meeting was recently same time concluded in Bonn (April 30-May 10) where the 3. Unless the youth remind governments and the operational guidelines for implementing the Paris public of the responsibilities of their countries Agreement were to be discussed and agreed upon towards mitigation, adaptation and support for by all parties means of implementation, keeping global warming 2. This meeting was the 48th session of the under reasonably safe levels for humankind could UNFCCC Subsidiary Body for Implementation be impossible (SBI) and Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Source: http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op- Technological Advice (SBSTA), referred to as ed/is-it-possible-to-slow-global- SB48 warming/article23885493.ece 3. With insufficient progress towards goals, Creating jobs for women in the renewable another interim meeting has been proposed in energy sector Bangkok ahead of COP-24 in Katowice, Poland, (GS-3 economy) in December 2018 Context Roadblocks at the Bonn meeting 1. Studies estimate that India‘s ambitious target of 1. On the issue of the NDCs, the question was the achieving 175 GW of renewable energy (RE) by scope of the rulebook 2022 could create 3,30,000 jobs in the wind and 2. Developing countries want them to cover solar energy sectors alone mitigation targets, adaptation and the means of 2. Can this rapidly growing industry create jobs implementation for the NDCs and entrepreneurial opportunities for women? 3. Developed or rich countries would like the 3. And can these opportunities provide better rulebook to be limited to mitigation, the reduction salaries and health-care benefits, skilling and of greenhouse gases training opportunities, and enhance the quality of 4. But since most countries require adaptation life for women and their families? programmes in a warming world and need support 4. What can decision-makers do to support the to implement their national targets, it is essential inclusion of more women in this growing sector? that these be included too A study by the McKinsey Global Institute The issues related to loss and damage (L&D): According to the study, India can increase its GDP Another roadblock by up to 60% by 2025 by enabling more women to 1. L&D is a means to provide assistance to poor participate in its workforce countries that experience severe impacts from Can the new RE projects be planned in a climate change but have contributed very little to manner that also creates good quality jobs for the greenhouse gases responsible for the warming women in these areas? and its effects 1. Currently, India‘s RE industry sector, as with 2. This is a very important issue for the least other sectors, has low participation of women developed countries and for small islands, which 2. India ranks a poor 120 among 131 countries on are already experiencing the brunt of sea level rise female labour force participation, according to 3. But there was little progress on the funds that World Bank data could be used to support L&D 3. A majority of women currently employed in the 4. Participants could not come to an agreement (at RE sector work at project sites, doing civil the Bonn meeting) on any significant issue and masonry work, which is temporary and labour- intensive with little potential for future growth

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May -2018 UPSC/IAS Current Affairs 4. Moreover, the working conditions on many sites children in need of care and protection, and help in are not always suitable for women as they are their successful rehabilitation. devoid of safety and support systems 2. According to the Juvenile Justice (Care and 5. Where there is a need for more skilled or semi- Protection) 2015 Act, every State government skilled labour, fewer women can respond due to shall constitute one or more Child Welfare existing barriers to formal education and training Committees for exercising powers and to 6. Consequently, there are very few women in discharge duties in relation to children in need of production, facilities, and operations and care and protection and also ensure that induction maintenance roles in the RE sector training and sensitization of all members of the Potential in the RE sector committee is provided within two months from the 1. In a recent study, we found that jobs in the RE date of notification. sector can impact poverty, provided several 3. According to the Department officials, they changes are made to the existing systems have proposed a plan where one CWC each can be 2. Particularly with the growth of the decentralized constituted in north, south and central Chennai. RE and off-grid energy sector, there is significant 4. The city currently has only one such committee, potential to include local women in the workforce that too without a chairperson and only three 3. Overall, the study concluded that if the members. The committee has weekly hearings; government, clean energy enterprises, training two at the Royapuram Government Children‘s institutes and civil society work together to Home for Boys and one at the Kellys Government implement these ―tweaks‖, India could create Children‘s Home for Girls. good-quality employment opportunities that can 5. Adding to this, director, CHANGE India, said support the inclusion of more women that, Chennai has over 70 lakh population and 4. But such interventions need to be designed with children constitute at least 43% of it. Having more women at the centre and not as an afterthought CWCs would also help in speedy disposal of cases What can be done? and avoid overcrowding in government homes.‖ 1. Training institutes could reduce the bar on Source: http://www.thehindu.com/todays- entry, allowing for less formally educated women paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/two-more-child- to learn new skills and receive training welfare-committees-sought/article23887241.ece 2. Training should be customized to respect Agricultural Landscape a crucial habitat for specific needs like location, hours of engagement, Bengal florican safety and sanitation (GS-3 ecology, prelims) 3. Mobile training modules that can cater to small 1. The critically endangered Bengal florican, a groups of women in remote areas can be grassland bird more threatened than tiger use not developed just protected grasslands but agricultural fields, 4. This sensitization to women‘s specific needs too. can help increase participation of women in the 2. It is also called as Bengal Bustard. RE workforce 3. Bengal floricans which are fewer than 1,000 Source: http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op- adult remain in the world in two very fragmented ed/creating-jobs-for-women-in-the-renewable- populations. energy-sector/article23884727.ece 4. One of them is in the grasslands of the terai, the Two more child welfare committees sought fertile foothills of the Himalayas. (GS-2 Governance) 5. The other area is around Cambodia and News- The Department of Social Defence has Vietnam. submitted a proposal to the State government to 6. It inhabits lowland dry, or seasonally inundated constitute two more Child Welfare Committees natural and semi-natural grasslands. (CWC) in Chennai. 7. The grasslands are often interspersed with Context: scattered scrub or patchy open forest. 1. The officials said that having two more CWCs, 8. It is under the CITES appendix 1. apart from the one already existing in the city, would help in better discharge of duties related to

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May -2018 UPSC/IAS Current Affairs Source: http://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy- revival of minor irrigation tanks taken up by the and-environment/agricultural-landscape-a-crucial- Telangana government as one of the best practice habitat-for-bengal-florican/article23865325.ece in irrigation water management. State increases environmental fee for Context: infrastructure projects 1. The report observed ―public participation will (GS-2 Governance) lead to ownership and help in long-term News-The Maharashtra government has sustainability of the interventions‖ and suggested substantially increased the processing fee, ―restoration and maintenance of water resources effective Monday, for major infrastructure projects should be a continual process and locals should be seeking environmental clearances. trained to manage their resources‖. Context 2. The report prepared in August last was kept in 1. The 50% hike and over will be implemented in the public domain by NITI Aayog recently. five categories. The hike is co-related to the cost 3. The report comes as a breather of fresh air for of projects starting at 1 crore and reaching up to the Irrigation Department, the implementing over 1,000 crore. agency of Mission Kakatiya, after the Comptroller 2. The environmental clearance fee was introduced and Auditor General (CAG) report found in the State after Gujarat and Tamil Nadu shortcomings in the implementation including implemented it in 2014. The minimum fee, which unrealistic targets, skewed prioritisation and was restricted to the range of 1 lakh to 15 lakh, meeting the intended targets such as silt removal, has now reached the range of 1.5 lakh to 20 lakh for the year ending March 2017. in all categories. 4. Complimenting the objective of the 3. The fee is imposed by the State Expert intervention, the report stated that the government Appraisal Committee (SEAC) and the State aims restoration of minor irrigation sources such Environment Impact Assessment Authority as ponds and tanks to enhance development of (SEIAA), both dealing with smaller projects not minor irrigation infrastructure, strengthening making it to the Ministry of Environment, Forest community-based irrigation management in a and Climate Change. decentralised manner for utilising 265 tmc ft water 4. The new hike has been effected as per the allocated for minor irrigation in the Godavari and directive of the State finance ministry, which had Krishna river basins. asked all departments to increase their revenue 5. The report said de-siltation of tanks, restoration collections. The fee is also used to pay for the of feeder channels, re-sectioning of irrigation administrative expenses of the SEAC and the channels, repairs to tank bunds, weirs and sluices SEIAA, members of the committee said. and raising of full tank level (FTL) are being 5. The hike is based on a Central directive-2000, carried out wherever required. which allows charge of the fee for giving 6. Further, the intervention had helped in clearances of the coastal regulation zone increasing the storage capacity of tanks and other permissions, and carrying out the environmental water bodies, made available water accessible to impact assessment. This is in addition to the small and medium farmers, increased water Supreme Court judgment on polluters to pay retention capacity of the sources and improved on- principle, an official said. farm moisture retention capacity. Source: 6. The intervention has bridged 63% ayacut gap http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/mumbai/stat and also helped stabilisation of ayacut. Steps such e-increases-environmental-fee-for-infrastructure- as mixing of silt on farm land reduced use of projects/article23886585.ece chemical fertilizers and improved water retention Mission Kakatiya best water management capacity of the soil. An appreciable change was practice: NITI Aayog also observed in the nutritive values of the soil, (GS-3 Environment) development of fisheries and livestock and rise in News-A report prepared by NITI Aayog with the the groundwater table in that area, the report said. support of TERI School of Advanced Studies, Source: New Delhi, has recognised the restoration and http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Hyderabad/

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May -2018 UPSC/IAS Current Affairs mission-kakatiya-best-water-management- development financial institution in India, practice-niti-aayog/article23886215.ece headquartered at Mumbai. 2. NABARD was established on the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana: recommendations of B.Sivaraman Committee, (by Cabinet approves Micro Irrigation Fund under Act 61, 1981 of Parliament) on 12 July 1982 to NABARD implement the National Bank for Agriculture and (GS-3 agriculture) Rural Development Act 1981 Fund for micro-irrigation project 3. The Bank has been entrusted with "matters The government has approved a dedicated Rs concerning policy, planning and operations in the 5,000 crore fund to bring more land area under field of credit for agriculture and other economic micro-irrigation as part of its objective to boost activities in rural areas in India". agriculture production and farmers income 4. NABARD is the most important institution in Particulars of the fund the country which looks after the development of 1. The fund has been set up under NABARD the cottage industry, small scale industry and 2. It will provide this amount to states on village industry, and other rural industries. concessional rate of interest to promote micro- 5. NABARD also reaches out to allied economies irrigation and supports and promotes integrated 3. An allocation of Rs2,000 crore has been made development. for this fiscal while Rs3,000 crore has been Source: earmarked for the 2019-20 fiscal http://indianexpress.com/article/india/union- 4. NABARD will extend the loan to state cabinet-okays-rs-5000-crore-micro-irrigation- governments during this period fund-5179831/ More about the fund 1. The dedicated fund would supplement the efforts of PMKSY programme and help bring about 10 lakh hectares under micro-irrigation 2. The fund will facilitate States to mobilise resources for their initiatives, including additional (top up subsidy) in implementation of PMKSY- PDMC to achieve the annual target of about 2 million hectares per year during the remaining period of 14th Finance Commission Low interest rate 1. Borrowings from NABARD shall be paid back in seven years including the grace period of two Cabinet approves National Policy on Biofuels - years 2018 2. The lending rate under MIF has been (GS-3 Economy) proposed at 3% lower than the cost of raising the News fund by NABARD The Union Cabinet has approved National Policy 3. This cost would be met from the ongoing on Biofuels – 2018 in order to promote biofuels in scheme of PMKSY-PDMC (per drop more crop the country component) by amending the existing guidelines Salient Features: Low coverage: Micro-Irrigation 1. The Policy categorises biofuels as "Basic It currently has a coverage of only 10 million Biofuels" viz. First Generation (1G) bioethanol & hectares as against the potential of 70 million biodiesel and "Advanced Biofuels" - Second hectares Generation (2G) ethanol, Municipal Solid Waste About NABARD (MSW) to drop-in fuels, Third Generation (3G) 1.National Bank for Agriculture and Rural biofuels, bio-CNG etc. to enable extension of Development (NABARD) is an apex appropriate financial and fiscal incentives under each category.

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May -2018 UPSC/IAS Current Affairs 2. The Policy expands the scope of raw material available which can convert waste/plastic, MSW for ethanol production by allowing use of to drop in fuels. One ton of such waste has the Sugarcane Juice, Sugar containing materials like potential to provide around 20% of drop in fuels. Sugar Beet, Sweet Sorghum, Starch containing 5. Infrastructural Investment in Rural Areas: It materials like Corn, Cassava, Damaged food is estimated that, one 100klpd bio refinery will grains like wheat, broken rice, Rotten Potatoes, require around Rs.800 crore capital investment. At unfit for human consumption for ethanol present Oil Marketing Companies are in the production. process of setting up twelve 2G bio refineries with 3. Farmers are at a risk of not getting appropriate an investment of around Rs.10,000 crore. price for their produce during the surplus 6. Employment Generation: One 100klpd 2G bio production phase. Taking this into account, the refinery can contribute 1200 jobs in Plant Policy allows use of surplus food grains for Operations, Village Level Entrepreneurs and production of ethanol for blending with petrol with Supply Chain Management. the approval of National Biofuel Coordination 7. Additional Income to Farmers: By adopting Committee. 2G technologies, agricultural residues/waste which 4. With a thrust on Advanced Biofuels, the Policy otherwise are burnt by the farmers can be indicates a viability gap funding scheme for 2G converted to ethanol and can fetch a price for these ethanol Bio refineries of Rs.5000 crore in 6 years waste if a market is developed for the same in addition to additional tax incentives, higher Source: purchase price as compared to 1G biofuels. http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=1 5. The Policy encourages setting up of supply 79313 chain mechanisms for biodiesel production from Railways to install ‘panic button’ in trains for non-edible oilseeds, Used Cooking Oil, short women safety gestation crops. (GS-2 social justice) 6. Roles and responsibilities of all the concerned News: Ministries/Departments with respect to biofuels With a view to strengthen security of women has been captured in the Policy document to passengers in trains, the North Eastern Railway synergise efforts. (NER) plans to deploy women police personnel on Expected Benefits: trains during night hours as well as install ‗panic 1. Reduce Import Dependency: One crore lit of buttons‘ in coaches. E10 saves Rs.28 crore of forex at current rates. Context: The ethanol supply year 2017-18 is likely to see a 1. Currently, women passengers have to depend supply of around 150 crore litres of ethanol which on either on helpline numbers by call or SMS, or will result in savings of over Rs.4000 crore of on chain-pulling in emergency situation, but with forex. this system immediate action can be taken, he 2. Cleaner Environment: One crore lit of E-10 said. saves around 20,000 ton of CO2 emissions. For 2. Among the other measures proposed to ensure the ethanol supply year 2017-18, there will be women safety are having a different colour on the lesser emissions of CO2 to the tune of 30 lakh ton. coaches earmarked for women for easy By reducing crop burning & conversion of identification, wire mesh in windows of ladies agricultural residues/wastes to biofuels there will coaches. be further reduction in Green House Gas 3. Railways also proposed month-wise calendar emissions. of activities with focus on women security and 3. Health benefits: Prolonged reuse of Cooking gender sensitisation and upgradation of all-India Oil for preparing food, particularly in deep-frying security helpline. is a potential health hazard and can lead to many 4. It also proposes CCTV cameras in women diseases. coaches of sub-urban trains with live feed if 4. MSW Management: It is estimated that, possible, CCTV cameras on platforms to cover annually 62 MMT of Municipal Solid Waste gets ladies coaches during halt of trains, amendment in generated in India. There are technologies

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May -2018 UPSC/IAS Current Affairs the Railways Act to ensure enhanced punishment 2. It confirmed with statistical analysis, that ENSO for offences pertaining to women, he said. and EQUINOO are two major drivers for Indian 5. It also intends special drive under the monsoon and explain around 50% variability in Railways Act to prosecute offenders. monsoon Source: 3. Such studies would help scientists to better tune http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/railways- their models for accurate weather prediction to-install-panic-button-in-trains-for-women- 4. The research assumes significance as the safety/article23901174.ece monsoon decides the livelihood of more than a Scientists develop new model to determine billion people and influences the agrarian monsoon variations across India economy which is largely dependent on its (GS-3 Agriculture) accurate forecast New model for estimating variability and Source:https://www.livemint.com/Science/57gUJ trends in rainfall u4zoTkYVSFg25p8gO/Scientists-develop-new- 1. Scientists have developed a new model for model-to-determine-monsoon-variations.html estimating variability and trends in rainfall over V.K. Singh makes surprise visit to North Korea different climate regions of the country (GS-3 IR) 2. The new statistical model based on multiple News: linear regression (MLR) Minister of State for External Affairs Gen. (Retd.) 3. It has been developed by scientists from the V.K.Singh has reached Pyongyang for talks with Centre for Oceans, Rivers, Atmosphere and Land the Democratic People‘s Republic of Korea (North Sciences (CORAL), IIT Kharagpur, the Indian Korea) government, the official Korean newspaper Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune, Rodong Sinmun reported. and the Indian National Centre for Ocean Context: Information Services (INCOIS), Hyderabad 1. During the visit on May 15-16, that was Complexities in Predicting Monsoon previously unannounced, Mr. Singh met with Variability DPRK Vice President Kim Yong Dae, and the 1. Indian monsoon, both southwest and northeast Foreign and Culture ministers on ―a range of is complex issues covering political, regional, economic, 2. It depends on various climatic forcings educational and cultural cooperation between the (conditions) like El Nino, Indian Ocean Dipole, two countries,‖ a statement from the MEA said. which affect rainfall in different regions, in 2. According to the statement, DPRK officials different ways discussed recent peace initiatives with the 3. Researchers highlight that current dynamic Republic of Korea (South Korea) as well as models used for monsoon forecast face two major proposed talks with the United States. Mr. Singh problems raised the issue of DPRK links with Pakistan. 4. First, they respond a little too much to El Nino 3. Minister highlighted the threat from nuclear Southern Oscillation (ENSO) proliferation, in particular India‘s concerns in the 5. Second, the relationship between Equatorial context of the proliferation linkages with India‘s Indian Ocean Oscillation (EQUINOO) and neighbourhood. The DPRK side emphasized that summer monsoon in models has been found to be as a friendly country DPRK will never allow any opposite to actual observation action that would create concerns for India‘s 6. If we can improve our understanding of security,‖ the statement added. EQUINOO‘s impact on monsoon, then we can 4. The visit by Gen. Singh and the secrecy make corrections in the dynamic model and surrounding it suggests that India is trying to improve our teleconnections. This will help us get quietly rebuild ties with the reclusive regime, an accurate monsoon forecast ostracized by most of the world due to its defiance Importance of this weather model of UNSC norms on nuclear weapons. In the past 1. The research is one of the first to have analyzed year, India had joined the U.S. and allies in the variability of the Indian monsoon because of statements ―deploring‖ nuclear tests and ballistic these factors together

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May -2018 UPSC/IAS Current Affairs missile tests by the DPRK, although it had earlier 3. It is believed to have disappeared from States refrained from similarly strong language. such as Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and 5. In March 2017, the government even issued a Madhya Pradesh. gazette notification instituting major restrictions 4. The largest population is found in Rajasthan, on any trade with North Korea other than with a few birds in Gujarat and Maharashtra. essentials like food and medicines. The following are the sanctuaries that shelter Source: the great Indian bustard. http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/vk- Desert National Park, Thar Desert, Rajasthan singh-makes-surprise-visit-to-north- 1. It is the State bird of Rajasthan. korea/article23903652.ece 2. The Desert National Park is spread across India- 3rd largest solar market Jaisalmer and Barmer districts of Rajasthan. (GS-3 Economy) 3. The Park also welcomes the migrant Houbara News Bustard and several other bird species 1. India emerged as the third largest solar market Kutch Bustard Sanctuary, Gujarat in the world in 2017 behind China and the US. 1. The sanctuary is dominated by vast swathes of 2. According to a report by Mercom grasslands. Communications India set a new record with 9.6 2. It was declared a sanctuary in 1992 GW of solar installations in 2017, Great Indian Bustard Sanctuary, Maharashtra 3. It was more than double the 4.3 GW installed in 1. It is also known as the Jawaharlal Nehru 2016. Bustard Sanctuary of Maharashtra. 4. The large-scale project development accounted 2. This sanctuary is located in Ninnaj, over 20 km for 92 per cent of the all-time cumulative solar from the city of Solapur. installations in India. 3. Unconfirmed reports suggest that today those 5. The Government has also recently released the sprawling grasslands are home to perhaps not a National solar-wind hybrid policy to improve the single bustard. share of renewable energy in the total energy mix. Source:http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp- 6. The policy provides for a comprehensive in-school/did-you-know/article23897808.ece framework to promote large grid-connected wind- Scientists have developed a flexible, honeycomb solar photovoltaic (PV) hybrid system. like material could eliminate pollution Source: (GS-3 Environment) https://www.financialexpress.com/industry/india- News: 3rd-largest-solar-market-in-world-behind-china- Scientists have developed a flexible, 3D porous and-us-says-mercom-report/1168697/ material that mimics the shape of a honeycomb Sanctuaries that conserve Great Indian and could help filtering air to remove pollutants or Bustard (prelims) viruses. News Beyond News: Recently, officially confirmed reports stated that 1. Both the lattice of a honeycomb and the there have been no sightings of the bird for the last symmetry of a diatom are complex living few years at both the Great Indian Bustard structures comprising patterns and shapes that Sanctuary (and Ghatigaon Sanctuary) in Gwalior have long provided inspiration for scientists. district and the Karera Sanctuary in Shivpuri 2. One recent application is to develop artificial district of Madhya Pradesh. hierarchical porous materials that are stable, yet About Indian bustard have a large surface area and the ability to 1. The great Indian bustard (or simply Indian selectively extract materials. It has been difficult bustard) is a large, white-and-brown bird with however to build these structures at the nano scale wing markings and a black crown. due to their complexity and pattern repeatability 2. A bird native to India and Pakistan, it has today across scales from the individual compartments to lost almost 90 % of its original habitats. the whole structure. 3. A team from King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) in Saudi

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May -2018 UPSC/IAS Current Affairs Arabia, has proposed a simple method that, in just 2. Under the provisions in the proposed Act, the five minutes, can produce a flexible film with a guardian may also be given associated rights and complex hierarchical structure that has repeating responsibilities patterns of interconnected, regularly shaped pores. 3. There was no clear provision earlier regarding 4. By using this method they create an important deposits by minors in the existing Acts platform to design artificial porous materials that 4. And if the minor dies and there is no replicate highly ordered porous and complex nomination, the balance amount shall be paid to systems mimicking nature. the guardian 5. These have potential use for separations, such Other provisions of the proposed law as virus filtration, and for biological scaffolds, 1. The Bill also has clear provisions on the such as those used for bone regeneration. operation of accounts in the name of physically Source:http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp- infirm and differently abled persons in-school/mop-up- 2. As per the existing Acts, if a depositor dies pollution/article23897766.ece?utm_source=tp-in- and nomination exists, the outstanding balances school&utm_medium=sticky_footer will be paid to the nominee 3. The proposed law has clearly defined the right Making life easier for small savers: Savings of nominees Promotion Act (GS-2 Governance) Basics : Context 1. The Union Cabinet has recently decided to Small Savings Schemes (SSS) bring a law to make life easier for small savers, 1. The Central Government operates Small especially those who save for girl children and Savings Schemes (SSS) through the nationwide senior citizens network of about 1.5 lakh post offices, more than 2. And to ―further strengthen the objective of 8,000 branches of the Public-Sector Banks and ‗minimum government, maximum governance‘ select private sector banks and more than 5 lakh Government has proposed the Savings small savings agents Promotion Act 2. The Small Savings Schemes can be grouped 1. Government has proposed the merging of the under three: Public Provident Fund (PPF) Act of 1968, the (i) Post office Deposits: Post Office Savings Government Savings Banks Act of 1873 and the Account, Post Office Time Deposits (1,2,3 and 5 Government Savings Certificates Act of 1959 years), Post Office Recurring Deposits, Post 2. There is no proposal to take away existing Office Monthly Account, benefits to depositors through this merger (ii) Savings Certificates: National Savings 3. The main objective is to make implementation Certificate (VIII Issue) and Kisan Vikas Patra easier for the depositors through this Act (iii) Social Security Schemes: Public Provident New benefits for depositors Fund, Senior Citizens Savings Scheme, and Provisions for premature closing of the SSS Sukanya Samriddhi Account 1. The PPF Act states that an account cannot be Source: http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp- closed before completion of five financial years opinion/making-life-easier-for-small- 2. The proposed Act seeks to make premature savers/article23919856.ece closure of an account easier by introducing New clean mission targets 48 riverfronts, provisions through a specific scheme notification beaches (Prelims) 3. The benefits of premature closure of Small News Savings Schemes (SSS) may now be introduced to Environment Ministry to clean Riverfronts and deal with medical emergencies, higher education beaches needs, and so on 1. As many as 48 stretches of riverfronts and Provisions for minors beaches in the country will be cleaned up ahead of 1. Now, investment in SSS can be made by a World Environment Day on 5 June, the guardian on behalf of minor(s) government said.

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May -2018 UPSC/IAS Current Affairs 2. The environment ministry said in a statement Statement by a member of the IBBI(Insolvency that it would undertake cleaning riverfronts and and Bankruptcy Board of India) beaches of plastic litter, in as many as 19 states, A member of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy including nine coastal states. Board of India (IBBI) said the current time limit to 3. A recent water quality assessment indicated that resolve insolvency cases was more than adequate there are 302 polluted stretches on 275 rivers A significant statement across the country. 1. This assumes significance in light of demands 4. The most polluted riverfronts include Ghaggar for more time to resolve cases filed for bankruptcy in Haryana, Satlej in Punjab, Hooghly in West 2. In the present era, we have professionals with Bengal, Cauvery in Karnataka, the Narmada in technology and offices that are increasing in Madhya Pradesh and Ganga in Kanpur and efficiency Varanasi. 3. With the availability of these, why should any 5. Some of the beaches identified include Kannur time be lost? and Calicut beaches in Kerala, Puri in Odisha, 4. The sooner we remove such cases, the sooner Calangute, Miramar and Colva in Goa. will we clear the way for the business sector to Nodal Agencies move ahead 1. The Central authorities identified the water Current status bodies after consulting the state pollution control 1. Currently, after a case is admitted in the boards and the college of fisheries. National Company Law Tribunal, it has to be 2. A total of 19 teams headed by senior officers of resolved within 180 days, failing which the the ministry of the environment have been formed company goes into liquidation for each of the states, which would include 2. In exceptional cases, the NCLT may allow members of state nodal agencies, and members of another 90 days for resolution the State Pollution Control Boards. Default is not always related to criminal 3. Colleges, non-government organizations, conduct National Cadet Corps, Border Security Force, 1. When a loan is not repaid, the default is Central Industrial Security Force, Indo-Tibetan automatically construed as criminal conduct under Border Police and the Coast Guard would also be the Code tapped for the exercise. 2. But there could be situations where the default This is in line with this year’s theme of World is purely a result of market forces Environment Day— 3. Therefore, it can‘t be called criminal conduct in Beating plastic pollution, identified as a global all cases emergency by the United Nations in 2017 Source: Source: http://www.thehindu.com/business/Industry/180- https://www.livemint.com/Politics/r8qdK5BLQ days-too-long-for-resolving-insolvency-says-ibbi- QqmOFPuWm5qQN/New-clean-mission- member/article23917794.ece targets-48-riverfronts-beaches.html Swachhata Survekshan 2018 (Prelims) News *The result of Swachh Survekshan 2018 was released recently by the Ministry of Urban Development. *It assessed 4203 Urban Local Bodies and was organized by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), under the aegis of the Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban). *The on-field survey for Swachh Survekshan has been conducted by an independent agency and the data for ranking of the cities collected from 3 sources: 180 days too long for resolving insolvency, says IBBI member (GS-2 governance) www.iasjnana.com 76 9916399276

May -2018 UPSC/IAS Current Affairs 1. Service Level Progress: To verify whether the cleanest among cities with a population of systems and processes are in place in Urban Local between 3 lakh and one million. Bodies (ULBs) to implement Swachh Bharat Source: https://www.swachhsurvekshan2018.org/ Mission (Urban) in the most efficient way. Microhyla kodial 2. Direct Observation: To verify and assess (GS-3 Ecology, Prelims) general cleanliness in the cities by making random 1. M.kodial is the latest addition to India‘s frog field visits in different parts of the city and public fauna. conveniences (Community/Public Toilets). 2. It is also known as the Mangaluru narrow- 3. Citizens Feedback: To collect feedback directly mouthed frog. from citizens and monitor the performance of 3. It is christened as Microhyla kodial after the Swachhata App, a citizens grievance Mobile App. city of Mangaluru (called kodial in the Konkani *Under ‗Service Level Progress‘, Swachh language). Surveksan-2018 has introduced one more 4. The frog is seen only in a small industrial component ‗Innovation and Best Practices‘ in region, a former timber dumping yard. addition to existing five components. 5. It is surrounded by seaport, petrochemical, *At the national level, the Top 3 cleanest cities chemical and refinery industries. are: (Madhya Pradesh) 6. The yard is bounded by the rail line of the 1. Indore Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited 2. Bhopal on one side and the busy National Highway 66 on 3. Chandigarh another. * Mangaluru is ―India‘s best city in solid waste Source:http://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy- management‖ under the categories of cities having and-environment/newest-frog-for-india-from- a population between three lakh and 10 lakh. karnataka/article23905903.ece Beyond news Banned ozone-destroying chemical on rise: 1 .Maharashtra stood second behind Jharkhand, scientists while Chhattisgarh was at the third position in the (GS-3 Environment) category of ‗best-performing States‘ in the News ‗Swachh Survekshan 2018‘ released by Housing *The decline in the atmosphere of an ozone- and Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Singh Puri depleting chemical banned by the Montreal here. Protocol has recently slowed by half, suggesting a 2. Indore and Bhopal have retained their serious violation of the 196-nation treaty, respective positions from the last year survey. But researchers revealed. this year, the survey has covered 4,203 cities while Context in 2017 only 434 cities were surveyed. 1. Measurements at remote sites, including the 3. State ranking was introduced in this year‘s Mauna Loa Observatory in Hawaii, of the survey, which was conducted between January 4 chemical, known as CFC-11, point to East Asia as and March 10. the source or renewed production. 4. The New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) got 2. They show that the rate of decline of the tag of India‘s ‗cleanest small city‘ (urban local atmospheric CFC-11 was constant from 2002 to body) with population between 1 lakh and 3 lakh 2012, and then slowed by about 50% after 2012. in the 2018 survey. 3. This evidence strongly suggests increased CFC- 5. In the ‗cantonment‘ category, the Delhi 11 emissions from eastern Asia after 2012. Cantonment has emerged as the cleanest, followed 4. The ozone layer in the stratosphere, 10-to-40 by Almora, Ranikhet and Nainital (all three in kilometres above Earth‘s surface, protects life on Uttarakhand). the planet from deadly ultraviolet radiation. 6. Uttar Pradesh‘s Ghaziabad was adjudged the 5. The 1987 Montreal Protocol banned industrial ―fastest mover big city‖ in this survey. aerosols such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) that 7. Mysuru has been ranked the cleanest medium- were chemically dissolving ozone, especially sized city in the country. Mysuru has been ranked above Antarctica.

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May -2018 UPSC/IAS Current Affairs 6. The findings, reported in Nature, also have What are the important provisions in the NFP, implications for the fight against climate change. 1988? 7. Perhaps even more serious is the role of CFCs 1. The NFP required for most careful examination as long-lived greenhouse gases. by specialists to decide upon the diversion of 8. Two decades ago, CFCs accounted for around forest land for any non-forest purpose. 10% of human-induced global warming. 2. The Policy mandated cost-benefit analyses with Source: http://www.thehindu.com/todays- respect to social and environmental factors while paper/tp-life/banned-ozone-destroying-chemical- diverting forest land for other activities. on-rise- 3. These two requirements were prerequisites scientists/article23907636.ece?utm_source=tp- before grant of any clearances for diversion of life&utm_medium=sticky_footer forest land. IP Nani (GS-2 Governance, Prelims) 4. In addition, the policy directs the government to 1. The Minister of Commerce and Industry totally safeguard the tropical rain/moist forests, launched the Intellectual Property (IP) mascot – IP particularly in areas like Arunachal Pradesh, Nani. Kerala, and Andaman & Nicobar Islands. 2. It was released at the conference on National What are the concerns due to omission of Intellectual Property Rights Policy. diversion clause? 3. Mascot IP Nani is a tech-savvy grandmother 1. In the past years, many forest clearances were who helps the government and enforcement granted by the Ministry of Environment, Forest agencies in combating IP crimes with the help of and Climate Change without considering the her grandson ―Chhotu‖ aka Aditya. provisions of NFP. 4. The IP mascot will spread awareness about the 2. Cost benefit analyses and opinion of specialists importance of Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) were not sought while diverting the forest lands. among people, especially children, in an 3. Now with the omission of this clause in the new interesting manner. draft policy, it is highly likely that there will be no 5. The first and foremost objective of the National protection for the forests, especially in the rain IPR Policy 2016 is ―IPR Awareness: Outreach and forests and ecologically sensitive zones. Promotion‖. 4. The new draft policy has changed the 6. Under this objective, one of the key focus areas requirement of cost benefit analysis after the is awareness on IPR for school children, as it is diversion of land, which previously was before essential to nurture creativity and the ability to any sanctions for diversions. innovate starting out from a young age. 5. It has also altered the opinion of specialists to 7. In this context, the Cell for IPR Promotion and opinion of forest officers in the region. Management (CIPAM), a professional body under 6. Thus, these concerns will surely affect the the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion health and wealth of forests in India. (DIPP) collaborated with the European Union Source:http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op- Intellectual Property Office (EU-IPO) to produce a ed/anything-but-green/article23906285.ece series of animated videos. New vistas for India (GS-3 IR) 8. The videos were on IPRs for children with IP What is the issue? Nani as their central character. The upcoming SCO Summit in June is expected to Source: open new vistas for India in terms of anti- http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=1 terrorism and improving regional ties. 79350 What is the SCO? Concerns with Draft National Forest Policy, 1. The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) 2018 is a multi-government organisation formed in (GS-3 Environment) 2001 by China, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, What is the issue? Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan. The Draft National Forest Policy, 2018 published 2. It was launched as an expression of greater recently has omitted the diversion clause present coordination among the major powers in the in the National Forest Policy (NFP), 1988. Eurasian region after the cold war.

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May -2018 UPSC/IAS Current Affairs 3. And it aimed to create a fair and rational new Source: http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp- international political and economic order. opinion/new-vistas-for-india/article23907527.ece 4. Its agenda was shaped under the Shanghai Five Cliff habitat needs a vulture safe zone Mechanism which included violent liberation (GS-3 Ecology, prelims) movements and counter-terrorism efforts against News the growing unilateral moves by the US. The Long-billed vulture or Indian vulture 5. The Organisation served as a platform to (gyps indicus) is critically endangered. According facilitate warmer ties among its members by to conservationists, the way to conserve its present enhancing cooperation on various fronts. population and increase it is to step up 6. The SCO also played a major role in helping conservation efforts at the Palarapu cliff vulture China resolve its border problems with the Central habitat in Kumram Bheem Asifabad. Asian region. Context What is its agenda? 1. A team of Forest Department officials 1. The agenda of the nascent SCO was shaped connected with conservation of vultures at under the Shanghai Five Mechanism to include Palarapu habitat the only one in Telangana violent liberation movements and counter- State recently visited the Jatayu Conservation terrorism efforts. Breeding Centre (JCBC), Pinjore, Haryana, to 2. For instance, in a criticism of U.S.-led study the methods and status of conservation. intervention in various states in West Asia and the 2. According to them, the Vulture Safe Zone Balkans, the Shanghai Five Mechanism aimed to (VSZ) initiative of the Pinjore JCBC needs to be secure national sovereignty of the member implemented in Telangana too to make it safer for countries. the scavenger birds here. 3. The SCO also served as a platform to facilitate 3. The JCBC has launched the initiative to protect warmer ties among its countries by enhancing three species of vultures including the Long-billed cooperation on the economic, technology, culture, vulture, but its efforts are concentrated in North energy and other fronts, subsequently helping Indian States only. China resolving its border problems with the 4. The team will submit its report to the authorities Central Asian region. soon which will discuss the VSZ. 4. The SCO aims to create a ‗fair and rational new 5. The project envisages elimination of the international political and economic order‘. probability of consumption of the drug Diclofenac What is the significance of this upcoming through animal carcasses by the vultures within a summit to India? radius of 100 km which is considered to be the *This is the first full-fledged summit after India‘s range of the habitat. membership in 2017. 6. The VSZ will need the cooperation of Forest, *India is expected to participate in all activities of Food and Drug Administration and Animal SCO Secretariat in Beijing. Husbandry departments to control the supply of *It will also gain access to the Regional Anti- Diclofenac. Terrorist Structure (RATS) which provides a rare 7. As the zone will encompass 32,000 sq km in platform for regional cooperation to counter- Telangana, Maharashtra and Chattisgarh, the terrorism. involvement of the governments of these States is *India along with all the members including also essential. Pakistan will participate in counter-terrorism 8. The initiative involves massive awareness on exercises. the issue of Diclofenac not only among people but *This summit is likely to push for Iran‘s formal other stakeholders like the government entry into SCO as a signal against the US departments. withdrawal from Iran nuclear deal. The effort in establishment of VSZ will also *Hence it will be an opportunity for India to reset benefit vulture habitats in Maharashtra and its regional ties with China and Russia as they Chattisgarh. navigate the adverse impacts of U.S. Treasury Source: sanctions. http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Hyderabad/c

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May -2018 UPSC/IAS Current Affairs liff-habitat-needs-a-vulture-safe- batteries and zone/article23906438.ece (4) a rule mandating taxi aggregators to have a Cyclone SAGAR certain percentage of EVs in their fleet (Prelims, GS-3 Environment) 2. Government has spoken about making the The India Meteorological Department issued an public transport system fully electric through the advisory to Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Goa, second phase of Faster Adoption and Maharashtra and the Lakshadweep archipelago Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric vehicles in over cyclonic storm 'Sagar'. India (FAME India) scheme 1. Sagar is the name given by India, which is part 3. It‘s possible that some of these plans will not of cyclone name list for the Northern Indian materialize Ocean. Important issue related to the EVs: Pricing 2. WMO maintains rotating lists of names which 1. EVs are superior to internal combustion are appropriate for each Tropical Cyclone basin. engines, but also expensive 3. If a cyclone is particularly deadly or costly, then 2. Therefore, incentives to purchase EVs, as well its name is retired and replaced by another one. as procurement of EVs for public transport, could 4. Infamous storm names such as Haiyan be fiscally expensive, and we might end up with (Philippines, 2013), Sandy (USA, 2012), Katrina an overpriced fleet of early-generation vehicles (USA, 2005), Mitch (Honduras, 1998) and Tracy 3. Suggestion: Just like early smartphones, a (Darwin, 1974) are examples for this. better idea would be to wait until the rich nations 5. Tropical cyclone is a localized, very intense buy sufficient volumes of the products on offer, low-pressure wind system, forming over tropical and bring prices down oceans and with winds of hurricane force. An all-electric fleet of buses is an expensive Source: solution to the problem: A World Bank study https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/cyclone- 1. A World Bank study on the cost effectiveness sagar-imd-issues-advisory-to-5-states-1-union- of electric and hybrid buses in developing territory/articleshow/64210613.cms countries concluded that 2. in order to tackle air pollution, the policy goal should be to incentivise more people to leave their cars at home Government should be cautious 1. The government should avoid regulating the supply of infrastructure with arbitrary prescriptions and subsidies 2. While everyone agrees that charging infrastructure is essential to the success of EVs, whether there should be a charging station at every five kilometres or 10 cannot be known in advance 3. Factors such as the driving range of vehicles, Electric vehicles don’t need a government push private charging capabilities of users and charging (GS-2 Governance) speed will determine the number and location of News-EVs are the future, but the investments are charging stations still risky and rushing the change could leave us 4. Similarly, shifts in technology(such as wireless with an overpriced fleet of early-generation charging, solid state batteries or a transition to vehicles hydrogen fuel cells) will have to be anticipated as Government is considering some exemptions these might render existing infrastructure obsolete 1. Government has recently announced that the The way forward government is considering 1. The government needs to focus on the less (1) exemption from permits, concessional toll, appealing, but more effective solutions (2) a rate of depreciation of 50% as against the prevailing 15% for conventional vehicles, (3) lowering of the goods and services tax on www.iasjnana.com 80 9916399276

May -2018 UPSC/IAS Current Affairs 2. Choosing new technologies is the task of existing resources in the competitive knowledge venture capitalists and entrepreneurs, not the world‖ government 5. The portal will be launched with detailed Source: information on resources in some key subjects: https://www.livemint.com/Opinion/zSjp4nPZiaqj History, Political Science, Sociology, Economics, NEh2BQndFN/Electric-vehicles-dont-need-a- Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Biology government-push.html 6. Education and Management will also feature Online resource for academicians soon among the chosen disciplines ( GS-3 Science& Tech) Source: News -A Portal to connect with experts, access http://www.thehindu.com/education/online- books and journals in their fields of study resource-for-academicians- 1. University and college teachers across the soon/article23930662.ece country will soon be able to connect with experts What is the S.R. Bommai case, and why is it in their fields of study and also pose queries on quite often in news? academic questions that they wish resolved (GS-2 Polity) through suggestions offered by these experts or Who was S.R. Bommai? other teachers of their discipline. 1. R. Bommai was the Chief Minister of the Janata 2. A National Resource Centre, envisaged as a Dal government in Karnataka between August 13, one-stop point for Indian academicians to enhance 1988 and April 21, 1989 their research and teaching skills, will make such 2. His government was dismissed on April 21, cooperation across universities possible with the 1989, under Article 356of the Constitution and launch of a portal within months from now President‘s Rule was imposed, in what is then a 3. The National Institute of Educational Research mostly common mode to keep Opposition parties and Planning (NIEPA) is in the process of rolling at bay out the centre 3. The dismissal was on grounds that the Bommai 4. The initiative is part of the Pandit Madan government had lost majority following large- Mohan Malaviya National Mission on Teachers scale defections engineered by several party and Training (PMMMNMTT) leaders of the day Particulars of the Portal 4. Then Governor P. Venkatasubbaiah refused to 1. The center will enable college and university give Bommai an opportunity to test his majority in teachers to access a detailed database of academic the Assembly despite the latter presenting him resources, including lists of books, top journals with a copy of the resolution passed by the Janata and subject experts in their area of interest Dal Legislature Party 2. It will also suggest a mechanism to higher What happened then? education institutions to assess students‘ 1. Bommai went to court against the Governor‘s satisfaction with teaching and research in the decision to recommend President‘s Rule institutions so that the faculties are able to figure 2. First, he moved the Karnataka High Court, out what students think about their which dismissed his writ petition college/university and make improvements 3. Then he moved the Supreme Court 3. NIEPA will hold a series of intensive What did the Supreme Court do? workshops with experts in various disciplines in 1. The case, which would go on to become one of the next two months to put together an effective the most cited whenever hung Assemblies were resource centre, said an official who did not want returned, and parties scrambled to form a to be named government, took almost five years to see a logical 4. The PMMMNMTT calls for a National conclusion Resource Centre to be ―set up with the vision of 2. On March 11, 1994, a nine-judge Constitution developing teachers who are able to enhance their Bench of the Supreme Court issued the historic potential and push the frontiers of knowledge order, which in a way put an end to the arbitrary through research, networking, and sharing of dismissal of State governments under Article 356 by spelling out restrictions

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May -2018 UPSC/IAS Current Affairs What did the judgment say? 3. And later whenever the case of a hung 1. The verdict concluded that the power of the Assembly, and the subsequent exercise of President to dismiss a State government is not government formation, came up, the Bommai case absolute would be cited, making it one of the most quoted 2. The verdict said the President should exercise verdicts in the country‘s political history the power only after his proclamation (imposing Source: his/her rule) is approved by both Houses of http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/what-is- Parliament the-sr-bommai-case-and-why-is-it-quoted- 3. Till then, the Court said, the President can only often/article23929119.ece suspend the Legislative Assembly by suspending Governor’s discretion cannot be arbitrary or the provisions of Constitution relating to the fanciful: SC Constitution Bench Legislative Assembly (GS-2 Polity) 4. The dissolution of Legislative Assembly is not a Appointing a pro-tem Speaker matter of course 1. Article 180 (1)of the Constitution gives the 5. It should be resorted to only where it is found Governor the power to appoint a pro-tem Speaker necessary for achieving the purposes of the 2. The Article says that if the chair of the Speaker Proclamation falls vacant and there is no Deputy Speaker to fill What happens if the Presidential proclamation the position, the duties of the office shall be is not approved by the Parliament? performed ―by such member of the Assembly as 1. In case both Houses of Parliament disapprove or the Governor may appoint for the purpose‖ do not approve the Proclamation, the Proclamation 3. The Supreme Court ordered the appointment lapses at the end of the two-month period. In such of a pro-tem Speaker to conduct a floor test to a case, the government which was dismissed decide the majority in the hung Karnataka revives Assembly 2. The Legislative Assembly, which may have Article 180 (1) is silent about the extent to been kept in suspended animation gets reactivated which the Governor can use his discretion 3. Also, the Court made it amply clear that 1. The Governor‘s appointment of Mr. Bopaiah is a Presidential Proclamation under Article 356 is being defended by quoting Article 163(2)of the subject to judicial review. Constitution What is the significance of the S.R. Bommai vs 2. The latter part of this Article mandates that ―the Union of India case? validity of anything done by the Governor shall 1. The case put an end to the arbitrary dismissal of not be called in question on the ground that he State governments by a hostile Central ought or ought not to have acted in his discretion government What SC ruled out in Nabam Rebia 2. And the verdict also categorically ruled that the Judgement, 2016 floor of the Assembly is the only forum that 1. The Rebia case dealt with the problem of the should test the majority of the government of the Arunachal Pradesh Governor advancing the date day, and not the subjective opinion of the for the sixth Assembly session in the northeastern Governor, who is often referred to as the agent of State. the Central government 2. The five-judge Constitution Bench of the When the verdict’s impact was first seen? Supreme Court led by then Chief Justice J.S. 1. In one of the first instances of the impact of the Khehar in the Nabam Rebia judgment of 2016 case, the A.B. Vajpayee government in 1999 was ruled that Article 163 does not give Governors a forced to reinstate a government it dismissed ―general discretionary power‖ as is often 2. The Rabri Devi government, which was sacked misunderstood on February 12, 1999, was reinstated on March 8, 3. The area for the exercise of his (Governor) 1999, when it became clear that the Central discretion is limited government would suffer a defeat in the Rajya 4. Even this limited area, his choice of action Sabha over the issue should not be arbitrary or fanciful. It must be a

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May -2018 UPSC/IAS Current Affairs choice dictated by reason, actuated by good faith 1. Forecasting for the year 2050, the UN agency and tempered by caution has estimated that the percentage of urban 5. In his speech on the constitutional role of residents in India would be 52.8, compared to 34 Governors, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar described how a today Governor should use his discretion not as 2. Delhi would edge past Tokyo as the world‘s ―representative of a party‖ but as ―the most populous city by 2028 representative of the people as a whole of the 3. India, China and Nigeria are expected to lead State‖ other countries and account for 35% of the Issues with the Speaker’s Appointment projected growth in urban population by mid- 1. One of the issues which may arise is whether or century not the discretion of the Governor can be This forecast frames the challenge before judicially reviewed by the Supreme Court developing countries, India in particular 2. But a Constitution Bench judgement in 2006 in The imperative before the Government the Rameshwar Prasad Casehas held that the The government should come up with policies ―immunity granted to the Governor under Article that provide adequate services in the villages 361 (1) does not affect the power of the Court to Crucial issues in Indian Cities judicially scrutinise the attack made to the 1. Housing deficits have led to the proliferation of proclamation issued under Article 361(1) of the slums, Constitution of India on the ground of mala fides 2. lack of enforcement of building norms has left or it being ultra vires‖ the metros heavily congested, and Justified the Powers of Pro-tem Speaker 3. poor investment in public transport has fuelled 1. The powers of a pro-tem Speaker are wide unsustainable levels of private vehicle use 2. The Bombay High Court in its 1994 judgment 4. Most cities are also unable to collect and in the Surendra Vassant SirsatCaseholds that a dispose of municipal waste scientifically, and pro-tem is Speaker of the House ―for all purposes simply dump them in the suburbs with all powers, privileges and immunities‖ until 5. Such a dismal scenario can only get worse with the Speaker is elected higher population concentrations, unless city 3. The Odisha High Court also agreed in governments come into their own the Godavari Misra versus Nandakisore Das, What should be done? Speaker, Orissa Legislative Assemblycase when 1. Now is the time to take a fresh look at urban it said the powers of the Speaker pro-tem are co- governance extensive with the powers of elected Speaker 2. While the Centre‘s goal of homes for all by 4. The proceedings of the Legislature chaired by 2022 is laudable, it is unlikely to be realised the Speaker pro-tem are as much protected under without a push from the States the Constitution as those chaired by the elected 3. Integrating green spaces, open commons and Speaker wetlands will make cities cleaner and aesthetically Source: richer http://www.thehindu.com/elections/karnataka- About The United Nations Department of 2018/governors-discretion-cannot-be-arbitrary-or- Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) fanciful-sc-constitution- 1. It is part of the United Nations Secretariat and is bench/article23930414.ece responsible for the follow-up to major United Growing cities: Migration from rural areas Nations Summits and Conferences, as well as (GS-1 Social issues) services to the United Nations Economic and Context- A fresh look at urban governance is Social Council and the Second and Third necessary as migration from rural areas picks up Committees of the United Nations General pace Assembly 2018 Revision of the World Urbanization 2. UN DESA assists countries around the world in Prospects: By the UN Department of Economic agenda-setting and decision-making with the goal and Social Affairs of meeting their economic, social and environmental challenges

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May -2018 UPSC/IAS Current Affairs 3. It supports international cooperation to promote 7. The theme of this year‘s edition of World sustainable development for all, having as a Environment Day is - ―Beat Plastic Pollution‖. foundation the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Source: Development and the 17 Sustainable Development http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=1 Goals (SDGs) as adopted by the UN General 79361 Assembly on 25 September 2015 Russia unveils world's first floating nuclear 4. In providing a broad range of analytical power station (GS-3 science & tech, prelims) products, policy advice, and technical assistance, News UN DESA effectively translates global Russia has unveiled the world's first floating commitments in the economic, social and nuclear power station in the port of the city of environmental spheres into national policies and Murmansk, where it will be loaded with nuclear actions and continues to play a key role in fuel before heading to eastern Siberia. monitoring progress towards internationally 1. Akademik Lomonosov was constructed by the agreed-upon development goals state nuclear power firm Rosatom, the 144 by 30 5. It is also a member of the United Nations metre holds two reactors with two 35 megawatt Development Group nuclear reactors that are similar to those used to Source:http://www.thehindu.com/todays- power icebreaker ships. paper/tp-opinion/growing- 2. It has displacement of 21,500 tonnes and crew cities/article23919845.ece of 69 people. Teams to clean beaches, river fronts 3. It is named after Russian Academician (GS-3 Environment) Mikhail Lomonosov. It has latest security systems News: Environment Ministry Forms 19 Teams to and is considered as one of safest nuclear Undertake Cleaning of Beaches, River Fronts and installations in the world. Lakes in Nine Coastal States It will be primarily used to power oil rigs as Context- 1. In the build-up to the World Russia pushes further north into the Arctic to drill Environment Day 2018, the Ministry of for oil and gas and needs electricity in far-flung Environment, Forest and Climate Change, has locations. formed 19 teams to take up cleaning of beaches, Significance river fronts and lakes in the country. 1. The low-capacity, mobile (floating) nuclear 2. The teams will include senior officers of power plant can produce enough electricity to MoEF&CC, state nodal agencies in-charge of eco- power town of 200,000 residents living in Russia‘s clubs of schools, State Pollution Control Boards, far-flung northernmost Arctic region where large district administration, college of fisheries located amounts of electricity is not needed‘ and along the coastal stretches and other construction of conventional power station based educational/research institutions. on coal, gas and diesel is complicated and costly 3. The Ministry will be engaging Eco-club 2. It can save up to 50,000 tonnes of carbon schools, which are being provided assistance from dioxide emissions per year MoEF&CC under the National Green Corps 3. The project is part of Russia‘s greater aims to program. secure rich deposits of oil and gas in North Pole 4. State Nodal Agencies (SNAs) are the nodal region in Arctic. Due to climate change, new points for implementing the programme of the shipping routes are opening up in Russia‘s north Ministry in every State. and as result, it is strengthening its military 5. At the end of the program, the Minister will be position in the region awarding certificates titled ‗Green School/college‘ Source: to institutions that declare themselves free from https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/europe/r plastic pollution. ussia-unveils-worlds-first-floating-nuclear-power- 6. India is the global host of World Environment station/articleshow/64234985.cms Day celebrations 2018, the largest UN-led celebrations on environment.

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May -2018 UPSC/IAS Current Affairs bulbs, and 8-10 times that of CFLs, and therefore provide both energy and cost saving. Source:https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/indu stry/energy/power/eesl-distributes-30-cr-led- bulbs-helped-save-rs-15k-cr- annually/articleshow/64234103.cms Zojila tunnel: PM Narendra Modi launches construction of Asia’s longest road tunnel (GS- 2 governance, prelims) News 1. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated construction of Rs 6,809 crore Zojila tunnel UJALA scheme: EESL distributes over 30 project in Jammu and Kashmir‘s Leh. crore LED bulbs across the country (GS-2 2. It will be India‘s and Asia‘s longest and Governance) strategic bi-directional road tunnel, which will News provide all-weather connectivity between 1. State run Energy Efficiency Services Ltd Srinagar, kargil & Leh (EESL) has distributed over 30 crore light emitting Context diode (LED) bulbs across country under zero- 1. It will be situated at altitude of 11,578 feet on subsidy Unnat Jyoti by Affordable LEDs for All Srinagar-Kargil-Leh National Highway (NH-1A). (UJALA) scheme. It consists of 14.150 km long two-lane 2. The distribution of 30 crore LED bulbs has bidirectional single tube tunnel with parallel led to energy savings of over 38,952 million kWh, 14.200 km long egress (escape) tunnel, making it annually amounting to energy savings of Rs. Asia‘s longest bidirectional road tunnel. 15,581 crore 2. Its objective is to provide safe, fast and cheap Context all whether connectivity to strategically important 1. The implementation of scheme has increased Leh region in J&K which at moment is limited to penetration of LED in domestic market to 10% at best six months because of snow on from mere 0.4% earlier. It has also increased mountainous passes and threat of avalanches. India‘s share in global LED market to 12% from a 3. The tunnel will have latest safety features like mere 0.1%. uninterrupted power supply (UPS), tunnel 2. It has increased annual LED domestic emergency lighting, fully transverse ventilation production rom 30 lakh bulbs to over 6 crore system, CCTV monitoring, variable message signs bulbs, simultaneously creating 60,000 jobs. (VMS), traffic logging equipment, over height About Unnat Jyoti by Affordable LEDs for All vehicle detection, tunnel radio system etc. (UJALA) Scheme 4. The construction project will be implemented 1. It is zero-subsidy scheme that aims promote by Ministry of Road Transport & Highways efficient lighting, enhance awareness on using (MoRTH) through National Highways and efficient equipment which reduce electricity bills Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited and preserve environment. (NHIDCL) on Engineering, Procurement and 2. It is LED based Domestic Efficient Lighting Construction (EPC) mode. Programme (DELP). Its purpose is to help reduce Source: https://www.businesstoday.in/sectors/infr electricity bills of consumers and also contribute a/zojila-pass-tunnel-longest-in-asia-narendra- to energy security of India modi/story/277283.html 3. The scheme was launched in January 2015 MHA agency to ensure crime scene and is currently largest LED distribution videography (GS-3 Internal Security) programme in the world. It is being implemented News by EESL, a joint venture of PSU under the Central oversight body (COB) Ministry of power. 1. The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) 4. LED Bulbs are distributed. LED bulbs have a has set up a central oversight body (COB) very long life, almost 50 times more than ordinary www.iasjnana.com 85 9916399276

May -2018 UPSC/IAS Current Affairs 2. Aim: To ensure use of videography at crime Source: scenes and video-recording of statements of http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=1 witnesses in an effort to prevent botch-up at the 79411 crime scene and hostile witnesses, particularly in Western Ghats need more attention: IUCN high-profile cases (GS-3 Environment) Implementation strategy for the first phase News 1. The Home Ministry will ensure use of Western Ghats and Manas Wildlife Sanctuary face videography at crime scene in the selected cities ‗significant concern,‘ says the IUCN World and states within the next three months Heritage Outlook 2 report, putting them in the 2. Cities with a population of 50 lakh or more, second highest risk category in the global along with at least one district of every remaining assessment. state or Union Territory, will be taken up for the Beyond News project in its first phase 1.The IUCN considered the status of 241 natural Centre’s proposal for the state world heritage sites. The two Indian areas were so 1. As per the proposal, the states will have to classified based on their values being ―threatened‖ introduce digital cameras and establish secured or showing signs of deterioration. portals, and investigation officers can email 2.The report called for ―significant additional photographs taken at the crime scene to these conservation measures‖ to maintain and/or restore portals values over the medium to long term. 2. The MHA has also suggested that the states 3.The Kaziranga and Sundarbans National Parks set up an oversight mechanism, an independent were classified as good, with some concerns. committee to study CCTV footage installed to There were no Indian sites in the critical category. check human rights abuse at police stations 4.Many factors severely threatened the Source: http://indianexpress.com/article/india/uni Outstanding Universal Value of the region and on-ministry-of-home-affairs-agency-to-ensure- required coordinated conservation. crime-scene-videography-5182546/ 5.The 39 serial sites of the Ghats were ―under PM Narendra Modi inaugurates Kishanganga increasing population and developmental Hydroelectric project in J&K (GS-2 pressure‖ that required intensive and targeted Governance, prelims) management to conserve existing values and News remedy past damage, it said. 1. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated 6.Grazing, massive pilgrimage tourism and mining 300MW Kishanganga Hydroelectric Project in are among the identified threats. bandipora district of Jammu & Kashmir. 7.The report noted that about 50 million people 2. He and laid the Foundation Stone of the live in the Western Ghats Region, resulting in Pakal Dul Power Project in Jammu & Kashmir greater pressures than many protected areas today. Pakal Dul, with 1000 MW capacity, will be around the world.‖ Forest loss, encroachment and the largest Hydro Power Project in Jammu & conversion affected the ghats. Kashmir on completion. 8.In Manas, the threat, although low, came from Kishanganga Hydro Electric Project unsustainable and illegal logging. Monitoring 1. It is 37 m high concrete faced rockfill dam operations by staff was being done. In recent years (CFRD) constructed on Kishanganga River in the level of poaching here had again increased. Jhelum River basin in Bandipore in Jammu and Recent cases of rhino poaching were linked to the Kashmir. Its construction was started in 2007 and activity of insurgent groups. completed in 2016. 9.These groups also reportedly poached deer and 2. It has underground power House with 3 Units buffalo. of 110 MW capacity each (330 MW). Source: 3. It‘s all units were synchronized in May 2018. http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/we It will provide a free power of 13% to the state, stern-ghats-need-more-attention- which will be around Rs. 133 crore per year. iucn/article23930845.ece

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May -2018 UPSC/IAS Current Affairs ‘Green Good deeds movement’ (GS3: NiV was first identified during an outbreak of Conservation of Environment) disease that took place in Kampung Sungai Nipah, Issue: Green Good Deeds, the societal movement Malaysia in 1998. On this occasion, pigs were the launched by the Union Minister for Environment, intermediate hosts. However, in subsequent NiV Forest & Climate Change, Dr Harsh Vardhan, to outbreaks, there were no intermediate hosts. In protect environment and promote good living in Bangladesh in 2004, humans became infected with the country, has found acceptance by the global NiV as a result of consuming date palm sap that community. The ongoing BRICS Ministerial on had been contaminated by infected fruit bats. Environment at Durban, South Africa, has agreed Human-to-human transmission has also been to include ―Green Good Deeds‖ in its official documented, including in a hospital setting in agenda in the next Ministerial in Brazil and India. another meeting in Russia About the movement NiV infection in humans has a range of clinical It focuses on his social & public activities and presentations, from asymptomatic infection to involvement of citizens in ―Green Good Deeds‖ acute respiratory syndrome and fatal encephalitis. movement, which urges people to perform at least NiV is also capable of causing disease in pigs and one Green Good Deed every day. other domestic animals. There is no vaccine for Some of the 500 Green Good Deeds listed in the either humans or animals. The primary treatment Mobile App include – planting trees, saving for human cases is intensive supportive care. energy, conserving water, use of public transport Source: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia- and promoting carpool. india-44193145 The objective of transforming Green Good Deeds ‘New model to detect monsoon variations in into a peoples‘ movement can be best achieved by India’ (GS3: Science) starting mass digital campaigns that can reach out Issue: Scientists have developed a new model for to youth and children. estimating variability and trends in rainfall over A two-way digital communication tool – different climate regions of the country, which is ‗Connect with Me’is a unique feature of the set to help in improving the existing weather Application. forecasting for both the southwest and northeast This provides six different ways of direct monsoons. connection – Social Corner, Send Video/Photo, About the new model Join My Initiative, Cast Your Vote, Submit An The new statistical model based on multiple linear Idea and Chat Room. regression (MLR) has been developed by Source: scientists from the Centre for Oceans, Rivers, http://pib.nic.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=15 Atmosphere and Land Sciences (CORAL), IIT 32823 Kharagpur, the Indian Institute of Tropical ‘NIPAH virus’ (GS2: Issues related to Health) Meteorology (IITM), Pune, and the Indian Issue: Health officials in the south Indian state of National Centre for Ocean Information Services Kerala say nine people have died in confirmed and (INCOIS), Hyderabad. suspected cases of the deadly Nipah virus. Three Need for a new model victims tested positive for the virus in the last Researchers highlight that current dynamic models fortnight. The results of the remaining six samples used for monsoon forecast face two major will be available later on Monday. problems. First, they respond a little too much to About the Nipah virus El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO). Second, the Nipah virus (NiV) infection is a newly emerging relationship between Equatorial Indian Ocean zoonosis that causes severe disease in both Oscillation (EQUINOO) and summer monsoon in animals and humans. The natural host of the virus models has been found to be opposite to actual are fruit bats of the Pteropodidae Family, Pteropus observation. genus. The research is one of the first to have analysed the variability of the Indian monsoon because of these factors together. It confirmed with statistical

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May -2018 UPSC/IAS Current Affairs analysis, that ENSO and EQUINOO are two major Issue: The India Meteorological Department drivers for Indian monsoon and explain around (IMD) will add 30 Doppler radars in the next two- 50% variability in monsoon. three years across the country, of which several About ENSO AND EQUINOO will be in the northeast El Niño is the warm phase of the El Niño What are Doppler radars? Southern Oscillation (commonly called ENSO) Doppler radars provide precise information about and is associated with a band of warm ocean water thunderstorms, dust storms, hailstorms, rainfall that develops in the central and east-central and wind patterns. With a radius of 250km, they equatorial Pacific (between approximately the help in issuing nowcasts 2-3 hours prior to severe International Date Line and 120°W), including off weather events. the Pacific coast of South America. El Niño The first Doppler radar was installed in Chennai in Southern Oscillation refers to the cycle of warm 2002. Its need became more compelling after the and cold temperatures, as measured by sea surface 2005 Mumbai floods. There are currently 27 temperature, SST, of the tropical central and Doppler radars in the country. eastern Pacific Ocean. El Niño is accompanied by About RADAR high air pressure in the western Pacific and low air Radar is an object-detection system that uses pressure in the eastern Pacific. The cool phase of radio waves to determine the range, angle, or ENSO is called "La Niña" with SST in the eastern velocity of objects. It can be used to detect Pacific below average and air pressures high in the aircraft, ships, spacecraft, guided missiles, motor eastern and low in western Pacific. The ENSO vehicles, weather formations, and terrain. A radar cycle, both El Niño and La Niña, cause global system consists of a transmitter producing changes of both temperatures and rainfall electromagnetic waves in the radio or microwaves During the positive phase of the ‗Equatorial Indian domain, a transmitting antenna, a receiving Ocean Oscillation (EQUINOO),‘ there is antenna (often the same antenna is used for enhanced cloud formation and rainfall in western transmitting and receiving) and a receiver and part of the equatorial ocean near the African coast processor to determine properties of the object(s). while such activity is suppressed near Sumatra. Radio waves (pulsed or continuous) from the This phase is associated with good rains over transmitter reflect off the object and return to the India. Its negative phase, when cloud formation receiver, giving information about the object's and rainfall flares up near Indonesia, retards rains location and speed. over India. Source: The fate of the monsoon depends to a large extent https://www.livemint.com/Science/VIlUXxg4fhF9 on the Pacific Ocean system and EQUINOO JaYceFsbYI/IMD-to-add-30-Doppler-radars-in- Source: country.html https://www.livemint.com/Science/57gUJu4zoTk India successfully test-fires BrahMos missile YVSFg25p8gO/Scientists-develop-new-model-to- along Odisha coast (GS-3 Security, prelims) determine-monsoon-variations.html News New Indigenous Technology in BrahMos 1.India successfully test-fired the Indo-Russian joint venture BrahMos supersonic cruise missile from a test range along the Odisha coast to validate some new features 2.The missile was test-fired from a mobile launcher stationed at Launchpad 3 of the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur 3.The trial was conducted to validate its ―life extension‖ technologies developed for the first time in India by DRDO and team BrahMos

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May -2018 UPSC/IAS Current Affairs 4.The world-class BrahMos is the first weapon 5.The regular CSC services are banking, health, system whose life has been extended from 10 education, financial services, and a host of other years to 15 years services. 5.The successful test will result in huge savings of 6.In addition, the CSC model has adopted six replacement cost of missiles held in the inventory villages in the country in the pilot phase and they of the Indian Armed Forces are called as Digital villages. Old variants 7.DigiGaon or Digital Village is conceptualized as 1.Induction of the first version of BrahMos missile a connected village where citizens can avail system in Indian Navy began with INS Rajput in various e-Services of the Central Government, 2005 state Governments and private players in rural and 2.The two-stage missile—first being solid and the remote villages in the country. second one, a ramjet liquid propellant—has 8.DigiGaons are projected to be change agents, already been introduced in the Army and Navy promoting rural entrepreneurship and building Induction in IAF rural capacities and livelihoods through 1.India successfully launched the world‘s fastest community participation and collective action. supersonic cruise missile from a Sukhoi-30 MKI 9.The digital villages have been equipped with combat jet for the first time against a target in the solar lighting facility in their community center, Bay of Bengal in November 2017 LED assembly unit, sanitary napkin unit (with 2.At least two Su-30 squadrons with 20 planes active participation on Asha and Anganwadi each are planned to be equipped with the air- workers) and Wi-Fi choupal (rural Wi-Fi launch variant BrahMos missile, 500kg lighter infrastructure and a slew of suitable applications). than land/naval variants Source: Expanding range after MTCR http://pib.nic.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=15 1.Increasing the missile‘s range from 400km to 32879 further 800km is now possible after India‘s Role of the Governor after Polls (GS-2 polity, induction into the Missile Technology Control prelims) Regime (MTCR) in June 2016 News 2.Prior to that, India was bound by restrictions that Karnataka assembly elections have brought focus limited the range of the missile, which is an Indo- for a clearer definition on role of a governor after Russian joint venture product, to less than 300km polls. Source: What happened in Karnataka? https://www.livemint.com/Politics/HDvUZwJb6dI 1.The Karnataka assembly has 225 seats out of kShlsrfUpXM/India-successfully-testfires- which 224 are elected members and one is the BrahMos-missile-along-Odisha-c.html nominated member from Anglo-Indian community Common Service Centres (GS-2 Governance) by the governor of the state. News 2.In the recent assembly elections candidates from 1.The network of Common Service Centres (CSC) three major political party contested in the polls is set to be expanded to 2.50 lakh gram panchayats and BJP secured 104, Congress 78, JD(S) 37 and soon. others 6 seats respectively. 2.CSC acts as access points for delivery of various 3.After the polls BJP approached the governor of electronic services to villages in India. the state to call their party to form the government 3.Common Services Centers (CSC) scheme is one on the basis of single largest party in the state. of the mission mode projects under the Digital 4.At the same time the opposition parties got India Program. majority of seats by forming collation government, 4.CSCs are the access points for delivery of hence approached the governor to give a call to essential public utility services, social welfare form the government. schemes, healthcare, financial, education and 5.But the governor ordered the BJP candidate to agriculture services, apart from host of B2C form the government and provided him 15days of services to citizens in rural and remote areas of the time to prove his majority. country.

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May -2018 UPSC/IAS Current Affairs 6.Against this decision the opposition parties 5.By this the faith of the electorate in the approached the SC, in this case SC ordered for a democratic process and in the power of votes floor test which was to be telecasted live. would be restored. In the end, the Bharatiya Janata Party‘s (BJP‘s) Source: http://www.business- gambit to turn a hung assembly in Karnataka into standard.com/article/opinion/after-the-circus-role- victory failed. of-a-governor-after-polls-needs-clearer-definition- What is the reason behind SC’s decision? 118052000635_1.html 1.The Supreme Court did not allow enough time A blow to patriarchy (GS-3 Society) for the BJP party to peel away members of the News other two legislative parties, the Congress and the Madras high court has ruled an outstanding Janata Dal (Secular). judgment on natural guardian. 2.In any case morale in the newly created post-poll What is Natural Guardian means according to coalition seemed high. judiciary? 3.Transcripts of phone calls released in the media 1.In divorce situations, the parent with custody 0f exposed BJP‘s move to bribe newly elected the child is considered the natural guardian. members of the Karnataka legislative assembly to 2.The opposite of a natural guardian is an stay away from their respective parties. appointed guardian or legal guardian, who will be 4.SC gave a strong blow to BJP‘s effort to engage authorized by a court or a will to care for and openly in underhand means, when the opposition make decisions on behalf of a minor child. appeared newly energetic. 3.The natural or legal guardian must authorise the How political parties misuse the powers of the financial and medical decisions of the minor governor? children who do not have legal authority to make 1.The office of the governor has been made dull such decisions. by some of its occupants as the ruling parties in 4.In India, on the grounds of Section 6 of the the centre used to freely misuse the governor‘s Hindu Minority and Guardianship Act, 1956, the powers. ―natural guardian‖ was the father. 2.Depending on the outcome of state elections, What is the case ruled by Madras HC? various political parties have expected the 1.Madras high court ruled an unusual paternity governor to do different things, and call on case where the petitioner was legally separated different leaders to ―prove‖ their mandate on the from her husband, had subsequently conceived a floor of the assembly. child through artificial insemination. 3.Earlier Congress wanted the governor to call on 2.The efforts of the petitioner to get authorities to it, as the largest-single party, in Goa and Manipur, leave the father‘s name blank in the child‘s birth for example. certificate were repeatedly rejected. 4.This kind of inconsistency is not supportive of 3.This was because of the bureaucratic cussedness constitutional morality. and notions of hard-wired patriarchy in the What measures need to be taken? officialdom. 1.Pre-poll alliances take precedence over post-poll 4.Given the complexities of the case, name of a alliances, which, in turn, supersede individual male friend of the petitioner had been erroneously parties in terms of numbers. entered as the child‘s father. 2.The role of the governor in appointing speakers 5.The officials‘ unwillingness to accommodate the and scheduling the vote of confidence also needs petitioner‘s repeated requests for name deletion to be spelled out. and leaving the ‗father‘s name‘ column blank 3.If politicians do not step in and define a clear set betrayed an excessive preoccupation with rules of guidelines for the governor on the occasion of a and regulations, unmindful of the human hung assembly, then the Supreme Court will have dimension. to do so. 6.In this case Madras HC directed authorities to 4.Proper political consensus needs to be evolved leave the father‘s name blank by sending out on this matter and the Supreme Court has already signal against regressive notions centred on addressed the subject on various occasions. paternity.

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May -2018 UPSC/IAS Current Affairs What is the significance of Madras HC’s 1.Definition of Data and Entities - Any company decision? offering back-end services to companies operating 1.The directive of the Madras High Court in an in the EU or elsewhere, if they are receiving EU unusual paternity case advances the progressive resident data, may fall within the definition of a spirit of earlier rulings in related matters of gender processor under the GDPR. justice. 2.Under GDPR a data controller will have to 2.The Madras High Court directive advances the provide consent terms that are clearly spirit of other similar rulings including the famous distinguishable. 1999 case taken by the Supreme Court. 3.The GDPR also requires data collectors to 3.That case, in which author the petitioner provide information on the ‗who‘ and ‗how.‘ challenged the RBI‘s rejection of an application 4.Individuals will also have the right to have for investments in her son‘s name (with her as the personal data deleted under certain conditions. ―natural guardian‖). 5.Stronger obligations - Under GDPR, data 4.In this case the petitioner argued that the breaches have to be reported within 72 hours and provision discriminated against women in the failure to comply with the new laws could result in matter of guardianship rights over their own a fine up to 4% of global turnover or maximum children. amount of fine 20 million Euros. 5.In its ruling, the Court asserted the pre-eminence 6.It mandates the concept of ‗privacy by design of the child‘s welfare in all considerations, and and default‘ and creates categories of data privacy held that in this instance the mother was the compliance that never existed earlier. ―natural guardian‖. 7.Higher Autonomy - The GDPR has global 6.Thus Madras High court‘s decision have steered implications as it applies to those outside the E.U. bureaucratic rules away from the rigidities of a who either monitor the behaviour of EU residents patriarchal system. or sell goods and services to them. Source: 8.By which it empowers EU statutory authorities https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/opinion/col to impose heavy administrative fines and to umns/from-the-viewsroom/a-blow-to- impose bans on data processing, ordering patriarchy/article23943590.ece rectification, restriction or erasure of data and We must adapt to EU data privacy(GDPR) suspending transfers to certain countries. rules (GS-3 IR,Security) How GDPR differs from Indian IT laws? News 1.Under India‘s existing data protection regime, The European Union has declared the deadline for only one legislation, the Information Technology the compliance of General Data Protection Act, 2000 (the IT Act) has attempted to deal with Regulation (GDPR) data protection in a comprehensive manner. What is GDPR? 2.The IT (Reasonable Security Practices and *The GDPR redefines the understanding of the Procedures and Sensitive Personal Data or individual‘s relationship with their personal data. Information) Rules 2011 (The IT-RS Rules) under *It relates to an identifiable living individual and the IT Act seek to address data privacy issues. includes names, email IDs, ID card numbers, 3.However, the granularity of detail at which the physical and IP addresses. GDPR addresses data protection compliance is *This law grants the citizen substantial rights in hard to compare to the approach taken by the IT- his/her interaction with RS Rules. 1.Data controllers - Those who determine why 4.The GDPR commits five detailed provisions to and how data is collected such as a government or the essentiality of lawful consent for processing private news website. data and factors to determine whether consent was 2.Data processors - Those who process the data lawfully obtained. on behalf of controllers, such as an Indian IT firm 5.The language of the GDPR indicates that to which an E.U. firm has outsourced its data consent is interwoven through most of its analytics. important provisions, making it a key foundation How GDPR works? of GDPR compliance.

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May -2018 UPSC/IAS Current Affairs 6.Thus there are certain aspects of the GDPR may also figure during the talks between Modi and which are not reflected anywhere in the IT-RS, Putin. such as the adoption of a rights-based approach to 5.India is not going to allow its defence data privacy. engagement with Russia to be dictated by any Why GDPR is relevant to India? other country, New Delhi has been lobbying with 1.The GDPR is being adopted at a time where SC the Trump administration on the issue. recognised the concept of informational privacy 6.The aim of the informal summit is to use the and noted that legislation should be enacted to friendship and trust between the two countries to ensure enforceability against non-State actors create convergence on key global and regional (private entities). issues, the sources said. 2.By this there are indications that future data 7.The two leaders may also deliberate on protection legislation in India will share several extending the Indo-Russia civil nuclear commonalities with the GDPR. cooperation to third countries, possible areas for 3.From this perspective, GDPR compliance may cooperation for the International North-South be considered an opportunity for Indian companies Transport Corridor project, India‘s engagement to achieve early compliance with potential Indian with the five-nation Eurasian Economic Union and data privacy legislation. the situation in the Korean peninsula. Source: Source: https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/opinion/we http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/prime- -must-adapt-to-eu-data-privacy- minister-narendra-modi-to-meet-russian-president- rules/article23943555.ece vladimir-putin-in-sochi/article23943013.ece Talks will strengthen India-Russia partnership: Foreign investors cold to Permanent Residency Modi(GS-3 IR) Status scheme (GS-2 Governance) News News Prime Minister Narendra Modi voiced the hope his Two years after it was launched by the Union talks with President Vladimir Putin would further government, the Permanent Residency Status strengthen the ―special and privileged‖ strategic (PRS) scheme providing a host of facilities for partnership between India and Russia. foreigners who invest at least 10 crore under the Beyond News Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) route is yet to 1.During their informal summit in the Russian city find a single applicant. of Sochi, the two leaders will primarily focus on Beyond News global and regional issues, including the impact of 1.A senior Home Ministry official said no the U.S. decision to withdraw from a nuclear deal foreigner had applied, but cautioned that the lack with Iran. of applicants should not be seen as ―no foreign 2.Official sources said the two leaders would meet investment‖. for 4-6 hours for the ―agendaless‖ talks where 2.Except Pakistani citizens or third-country deliberations on bilateral issues were likely to be nationals of Pakistani origin, the scheme is open limited. for citizens of every country. 3.They said the issues on the table might include 3.Most European Union countries, the U.S., the economic impact on India and Russia in the Canada and others offer permanent residency to wake of the U.S. withdrawal from the nuclear foreign investors. deal, the situation in Afghanistan and Syria, the 4.The U.S. offers the EB-5 visa programme where threat of terrorism and matters relating to the foreigners could apply for permanent residency if upcoming SCO (Shanghai Cooperation they created employment opportunities for 10 Organisation) and BRICS summits. people with a minimum investment of 6.5 crore. 4.The sources said the possible impact of the US 5.An official said this was not a ―citizenship‖ that sanctions against Russia under the Countering was being offered to foreigners and was subject to America‘s Adversaries through Sanctions Act review every 10 years. (CAATSA) on Indo-Russia defiance cooperation 6.The Union Cabinet had cleared the PRS in 2016 to boost its ―Make in India‖ policy. The scheme is

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May -2018 UPSC/IAS Current Affairs open for foreign investors who invest a minimum pattern and other physical features but also arrive of ₹10 crore within 18 months or 25 crore in 36 at their count in a more accurate manner. months. 5.The authorities have for the first time used a new 7.The PRS card holders are also eligible to buy app Tigers Intensive Protection and Ecological residential property in India. Status (M-StrIPES) to avoid human error in the 8.Among foreign countries, the maximum traditional recording of the pugmarks and other investment proposals in critical sectors such as signs during the carnivore sign survey. telecom and defence that was cleared by Home 6.The department has engaged about 250 members Ministry in 2017 were from China, the U.K., the of the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group U.S. and Mauritius. (PVTG) of Chenchus as trackers for protecting 9.Last year, the Ministry gave security clearance and monitoring the tigers. to more than 1,071 proposals in 11 critical sectors 7.They have been trained to handle the GPS-fitted like defence, telecommunications, information and equipment while moving in different directions broadcasting. from the base camp to capture evidence such as 10.Over 90% of the FDI proposals have come pug marks, droppings etc. through the automatic route. Source: 11.Among the foreign countries, the U.S., China http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra- (including Hong Kong), Mauritius and the U.K. pradesh/signs-of-proliferation-of-tigers-in-the- have received the green signal for the most state/article23944519.ece number of projects at 10 each, followed by India to attend SCO meet on counter-terror in Germany at six, Bangladesh at three and Italy, Pakistan (GS-2 IR) Israel, Netherlands and Switzerland at two each. News Source: Legal experts to discuss counter-terror strategy http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/foreign- among Shanghai Cooperation investors-cold-to-permanent-residency-status- Organisation(SCO) members scheme/article23944218.ece 1.India is sending senior representatives to discuss A high-tech tiger census in Andhra legal modalities of counter-terrorism for a meeting Pradesh(GS-3 ECOLOGY) that Pakistan will host along with the members of News the SCO Amid signs of the proliferation of the big cats in 2.India, China and other member countries will Andhra Pradesh, the third phase of the fourth All- participate in the Shanghai Cooperation India Tiger Estimation (AITE) is being taken up in Organisation-Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure full swing in the vast tiger landscape spread over (SCO-RATS) that will be meeting in Islamabad 3,728 sq. km. in the mighty Nallamala hills. from May 23 to 25 Beyond News Why is this meeting important? 1.Indications are there that the big cats have also The event will be the first such time Pakistan will spread to the region south of the Nagarjunasagar- host India and other members of SCO to discuss a Srisailam Tiger Reserve (NSTR) in the forest up response to terrorism to the Penna river, says Chief Conservator of SCO focus on counter terrorism Forests and Project Tiger Field Director. 1.As members of the SCO, countries are expected 2.This is the maiden tiger estimation in the new to be active in the SCO Secretariat and also State. participate in the RATS, headquartered at 3.During the last estimation in the united State, the Tashkent count was put at 68, four fewer than the figure 2.Counter-terrorism has been on the agenda of the arrived at during the second AITE in 2010 due to SCO since its inception in 2001 but has been the biodiversity loss. It was 95 in the first AITE in boosted since membership was granted to India 2006. and Pakistan in 2017 4.Sophisticated cameras with infrared sensors put Background in pairs at every two-sq. km. grid would help not only identify the individual big cats through stripe

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May -2018 UPSC/IAS Current Affairs 1.The RATS held its meeting in the first week of 1.The RBI data backs up this assertion, showing April to finalise a draft for counter-terror that only 34.5% of agricultural credit outstanding cooperation for 2019-‘21 as of 2017 has gone to rural farmers 2.The organisation also held a discussion in Delhi 2.The remaining has gone to semi-urban, urban, during January 31 to February 2 and metropolitan farmers 3.The data also shows that the onus of providing Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) agricultural credit is falling on the public sector 1.The Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS), banks, with 12 out of 23 of the private sector headquartered in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, is a banks for which data is available having failed to permanent organ of the Shanghai Cooperation meet the 18% lending target for the agricultural Organisation(SCO) which serves to promote sector in 2017 cooperation of member states against the three There are two ways of seeing this evils of terrorism, separatism and extremism 1.One is that it is not equitable, where some 2.The Head of RATS is elected to a three-year farmers, the larger ones and the ones closer to term urban areas, are over-represented in terms of 3.Each member state also sends a permanent access to credit representative to RATS 2.Secondly, so far as the priority sector lending Source: mandates are concerned, the mandate is not to http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/india reach a particular type of farmer. So, the -to-attend-sco-meet-on-counter-terror-in- programme itself is not targeted pakistan/article23961211.ece Lending costs- Is it the real cause of discrepancies in such lending? 1.The RBI‘s rules are that 18% of a bank‘s Adjusted Net Bank Credit must go to the agricultural sector and within this, 8% must go to small and marginal farmers 2.While the banking sector has overall met this limit, there is still an inherent targeting problem arising out of the costs of lending to the sector 3.The priority sector lendingmandate is in place because it is felt that banks would not otherwise lend as much to this sector 4.What then happens is that banks choose to lend to those areas where the cost of lending is lower, How agri credit is missing those who really such as those close to urban areas, or to those need it (GS-2 Economy) farmers who are more credit-worthy. That is, the News medium and large farmers Small farmers are getting only 30-40% of loans What are the issues associated with such meant for the sector, says RBI report lendings? 1.As per information provided by the Reserve 1.The point is that these farmers would get credit Bank of India showed that the small and marginal even without the priority sector lending mandate farmers are receiving only 30-40% of loans meant 2.It tells us that this calls for a deeper examination for the sector of the priority sector lending mandates 2.As per a report submitted by the RBI to the 3.Maybe the limit can be reduced, but the rules Parliamentary Standing Committee on Agriculture can be made stricter about to whom the loans are in response to its queries, only 42.2% of given to agricultural credit disbursed in 2016-17 went to 4.The data also shows a great disparity of small and marginal farmers performance between states, with some states such Only 35.5% of total agri credit to Rural as Meghalaya giving 93.6% of its agricultural Farmers credit to small and marginal farmers, while other

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May -2018 UPSC/IAS Current Affairs states like Sikkim have this proportion as low as 2.Also, the strict time limit for the resolution 1.67% process as mandated by the IBC is an area that has 5.While some of this could be explained by the drawn much attention, distribution of farmer types in these states, a large and it merits further review in order to balance the part of the discrepancy could be due to a targeting twin objectives of speedy resolution and problem maximising recovery for the lenders Source: The way forward http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/how-agri- 1.Going forward, amendments to the bankruptcy credit-is-missing-those-who-really-need- code should primarily be driven by the goal of it/article23963045.ece maximising the sale price of stressed assets 2.This requires a robust market for stressed assets Miles to go for the new bankruptcy code (GS)-3 that is free from all kinds of entry barriers. Economy Source: News http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/miles- The new bankruptcy code yields its first success to-go/article23953472.ece 1.Tata Steel acquired 73% stake in the bankrupt firm Bhushan Steel for about Rs. 35,000 crore last The impact of rising oil prices on Indian week, making it the first major resolution of a economy (GS-3 Economy) bankruptcy case under the new Insolvency and News Bankruptcy Code (IBC) India was a key beneficiary of falling crude oil 2.Bhushan Steel was one among the 12 major prices between 2013 and 2015 accounts referred to the National Company Law 1.Some research had indicated that almost the Tribunal at the behest of the Reserve Bank of entire reduction of about 0.6% of the GDP in India last year to ease the burden of bad loans on India‘s fiscal deficit between FY14 and FY16 banks could be attributed to the sharp fall in crude prices Expectations of the Finance Ministry from 2.Lower crude prices also contributed to the Banks narrower current account deficit 1.The Finance Ministry now expects banks to 3.But the pass-through of the fall in crude prices to recover more than Rs. 1 lakh crore from the retail consumers was limited resolution of the other cases referred by the RBI to (the government retained a large part of the the NCLT benefits by hiking excise duty on retail fuel Possible benefits products) 2.If the banks do indeed recover funds of this Risk of rising crude prices scale, it would considerably reduce the burden on With the US‘ decision to walk away from the Iran taxpayers nuclear deal and to re-impose sanctions on Iran, 3.Even more important, speedy resolution would upside risks to crude prices cannot be ruled out free valuable assets to be used for wealth-creation Possible impact of higher crude prices on the Many challenges are still there Indian economy 1.The resolution of one high-profile case, 1.We can conclude that higher crude prices will however, should not deflect attention from the adversely affect the twin deficits of the many challenges still plaguing the bankruptcy economy(fiscal and current account deficit) resolution process 2.It will also have impact on the monetary policy, 2.The IBC, as the government itself has admitted, and consumption and investment behaviour in the remains a work in progress economy Some issues with the present IBC Possible reasons behind this increase 1.The issues such as the proposed eligibility 1.According to the recent World Economic criteria for bidders have left it bogged down and Outlook (WEO) by the IMF, roughly 80% of the suppressed its capacity to help out creditors recent oil price increase was caused by efficiently deterioration in supply conditions

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May -2018 UPSC/IAS Current Affairs 2.This, however, is not the only study on the 1.The 2011 Census reveals that women form factors leading to higher crude prices almost 80 per cent of internal migration 3.The ―Oil Price Dynamics‖ report published by 2.An Indiaspend analysis of Census shows that the Federal Reserve Bank of New York finds that women migrating for work grew by 101 per cent less than two-fifth of the rise in oil prices since the — more than double the growth rate for men (48.7 beginning of 2018 was on account of supply-side per cent) factors 3.However, both the Census and National Sample These contrasting studies lead to uncertainty Survey Office have failed to capture this trend regarding the sustainability of higher crude 4.These continue to cite marriage as the primary prices reason for women migration Data on fiscal conditions The main issue 1.An increase of $10 per barrel in crude prices will Consequently, such surveys treat women as lead to an increase of about Rs17,000 crore (or secondary earners and ignore her other $2.5 billion at an exchange rate of 67/$) in fuel motivations for migration and her labour subsidies, equivalent to 0.09% of GDP participation post migration 2.In the Union Budget 2018-19, the government The problems faced by women migrants had budgeted for petroleum subsidy of Rs25,000 1.They remain mostly discriminated in the crore, similar to that in FY18 workforce and invariably suffer economic Impact on Current Account of deficit exclusion 1.An increase of $10 per barrel in crude oil prices 2.Denied maternity benefits or special care and will lead to an adverse impact of $10-11 billion (or more vulnerable to sexual harassment, these 0.4% of GDP) on current account deficit women migrants are more likely to be paid less 2.There are two opposite forces at work in current than male migrants and non-migrant women account deficit. Higher oil prices will push the 3.In addition to low pay and inhuman working import bill higher; conditions however, it will be partly offset by higher oil Low-skilled women migrants often get work exports and better remittances that is saddled with health hazards Possible impact on inflation 1.According to a study by Cividep, garment 1.With a weightage of only 2.4% in headline CPI, workers in Bengaluru, comprising 90 per cent the adverse impact will entirely depend on the women migrants extent to which higher crude oil prices are passed 2.They often suffer from respiratory illness, on to the consumers tuberculosis, ergonomic problems like back pain, 2.Considering the general election next year and mental health problems such as depression and thus, the direct impact on CPI inflation is likely to reproductive health issues such as white discharge, remain muted irregular periods and excessive bleeding source: What should be done? https://www.livemint.com/Opinion/PnHcP040QN 1.The first step should be better data collection ZYkLT5BWK5rL/The-impact-of-rising-oil- 2.Capturing the complex dynamics of gender- prices-on-Indian-economy.html specific migration would improve the visibility of The Invisible Majority: Women form 80 women as economic actors and help the state percent of urban migrants (GS-1 Social issues) respond better to their needs News 3.Aadhaar card to women migrants can ensure her UN report on urban migration in India access to basic needs, opening of Jan Dhan 1.The report says India is on the ―brink of an accounts and availing benefits of the National urban revolution‖, as its population in towns and Health Protection Mission cities are expected to reach 600 million by 2031 We can learn from other countries 2.Fuelled by migration, megacities of India (Delhi, 1.India can learn from countries such as Austria, Mumbai and Kolkata) will be among the largest Belgium, Norway, Romania, UK, etc which urban concentrations in the world provide vocational training to improve Women as urban migrants

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May -2018 UPSC/IAS Current Affairs employability of women migrants and access to (5) Maharashtra (Satara) support services (6) Goa (Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary) 2.The ―We the Women‖ programme of Vietnam (7) Tamil Nadu (Mudumalai Tiger Reserve) that helped create job opportunities for women (8) Assam and Arunachal Pradesh migrants is also worth studying Source: Indian Example http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other- 3.States should emulate Kerala which provide states/camera-traps-record-rare-black-panther-in- insurance and free medical treatment for its 30 odisha/article23953165.ece million migrant workers The way forward World Bank listens to Pak’s grievances on 1.Women migrants have a right to equal access to Indus Waters Treaty (GS-2 IR) employment, adequate income and social News protection A Pakistani delegation raised the issue of India‘s 2.An inclusive National Urban Policy should alleged violation of the Indus Waters Treaty with integrate migration and the needs of migrants(in the World Bank which discussed opportunities particular women migrants) within the treaty to seek an amicable resolution, Source: officials said. http://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/t Beyond News he-invisible-majority-women-urban-migrant- 1.Meeting took place days after Prime Minister workers-5185862/ Narendra Modi inaugurated the 330 MW Camera traps record rare black panther in Kishanganga hydroelectric project in Jammu and Odisha (GS-2 Environment) Kashmir, amid protests from Pakistan which News claims that the project on a river flowing into Recording the presence of Black Panther Pakistan will disrupt water supplies. 1.The wildlife wing of Odisha‘s Forest and 2.Pakistan‘s Foreign Office had voiced concern Environment Department has recorded the over the inauguration of the hydroelectric project, presence of a black panther in a forest in saying inauguration without resolution of dispute Sundargarh district between the two countries will tantamount 2.The photographs make Odisha the ninth State in to violation of the Indus Waters 1960 that India where the elusive and rare big cat has been regulates the use of waters in the shared rivers. seen 3.Islamabad had been raising objections over the Why is it important? design of the hydel project, saying it is not in line Although the presence of black panther was with the criteria laid down under the Indus Waters reported 26 years ago, no scientific or pictorial Treaty (IWT) between the two countries. records could establish the claim 4.The project was started in 2007, located at Some important facts regarding the panther Bandipore in North Kashmir, envisages diversion 1.The leopards‘ skins vary in colour and the jet of water of Kishan Ganga river to underground black melanistic form is called black panther power house through a 23.25-km-long head race 2.It is as shy as a normal leopard and very difficult tunnel to generate 1713 million units per annum. to detect 5.On May 17, 2010, Pakistan moved for 3.It is mostly found in densely forested areas of international arbitration against India under the southern India provisions of the Indus Waters Treaty. Presence of the panther is also reported from 6.The Hague-based International Court of other parts of the country Arbitration allowed India in 2013 to go ahead with Black panthers have also been reported from construction of the project in North Kashmir and (1) Kerala (Periyar Tiger Reserve) upheld Indias right under the bilateral Indus (2) Karnataka (Bhadra Tiger Reserve Waters Treaty to divert waters from the (3) Dandeli-Anshi Tiger Reserve and Kabini Kishanganga for power generation in Jammu and Wildlife Sanctuary) Kashmir. (4) Chhattisgarh (Achanakmar Tiger Reserve)

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May -2018 UPSC/IAS Current Affairs 7.The international court, however, decided that 1.The Chinese giant salamander(Andrias India shall release a minimum flow of nine cubic davidianus) is the largest salamander and the metres per second into the Kishanganga river largest amphibian in the world, reaching a length (known as Neelam in Pakistan) at all times to of 1.8 m (5.9 ft). maintain environmental flows. 2.It is fully aquatic and is endemicto rocky 8.Pakistan is building a 969 MW Neelum-Jhelum mountain streams and lakes in China. It has hydroelectric project downstream. been introduced to Kyoto Prefecture in Japan and 9.The Pak Foreign Office in a statement in possibly Islamabad last week said it was seriously 3.It is considered critically endangereddue concerned about the inauguration of the to habitat loss, pollution, and over collection, as it hydroelectric project. is considered a delicacy and used in traditional Source: Chinese medicine. It has been listed as one of the http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/worl top 10 "focal species" in 2008 by d-bank-listens-to-paks-grievances-on-indus- the Evolutionarily Distinct and Globally waters-treaty/article23956744.ece Endangered (EDGE) project. Giant Chinese salamander speeding towards 4.The Chinese giant salamander is considered to extinction, says study (GS-3 Ecology,prelims) be a "living fossil‖ Although protected under News Chinese law and CITES Appendix I, it is The world‘s largest amphibians, giant Chinese estimated that the wild population has declined by salamanders, were once thought to be widespread more than 80% since the 1950s. but now face imminent extinction due to illegal Source: http://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy- poaching and hunting as a luxury food, researchers and-environment/giant-chinese-salamander- said. speeding-towards-extinction-says- Beyond News study/article23957636.ece 1.The over exploitation of these incredible animals for human consumption has had a catastrophic effect on their numbers in the wild over an amazingly short time span. 2.Unless coordinated conservation measures are put in place as a matter of urgency, the future of the world‘s largest amphibian is in serious jeopardy. 3.Vast surveys were conducted in 2013 and 2016 at river sites where the critically endangered salamanders the size of small alligators and weighing some 64 kg are known to live. 4.China has a programme in place to breed and release giant salamanders back into the wild. At U.S. Supreme Court to hear dispute over power the few sites where salamanders were seen, plant in Gujarat (GS-3 Environment) researchers could not confirm whether they were News wild or farmed. The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to take up an 5.Field surveys and interviews indicate the species appeal by Indian villagers against a power plant has experienced catastrophic range-wide decline in Gujarat, funded by U.S.-based International apparently driven by overexploitation. Finance Corporation (IFC), which has allegedly 6.The status of wild populations may be even resulted in environmental damages. worse than data suggest. Beyond News 7.Conservation strategies for the salamander 1.The villagers along with several other farmers require urgent updating. and fishermen allege that coal-fired Tata Mundra About Chinese Salamander Power Plant has resulted in widespread environmental damages.

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May -2018 UPSC/IAS Current Affairs 2.Washington DC-based IFC, the financing wing 1.Such an application was made available for the of the World Bank, has provided $450 million in first time in Bengaluru in the run-up to the financial assistance to the project. recently concluded Karnataka Assembly polls 3.The Supreme Court said it would decide whether 2.As part of the implementation, the application the IFC enjoyed immunity under the 1945 will also be made operational in the coming International Organisations Immunity Act. Assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh, 4.Petitioners knocked the door of the Supreme Rajasthan, and Chhattisgarh Court this year after lower courts dismissed their Tackling social media petitions arguing that the IFC enjoyed immunity, 1.The growing abuse of social media bots for like other foreign countries, under the 1945 influencing public opinion has emerged as another International Organisations Immunity Act. major challenge for the Election Commission and 5.In their petition, the villagers argued that the plans are on to devise a counter mechanism Tata Mundra Power Plant has failed to comply 2.These bots are automated accounts often active with international environmental standards. This on popular social media platforms like Twitter and has resulted in devastation of local environment. Facebook, which use Artificial Intelligence to 6.In 2015, the applicants Indian farmers, trigger and influence political debates with an fishermen, a trade union of fishworkers, and a objective to shape public opinion. local government entity sued the IFC in the U.S. 3.A social media cell is already functional in order District Court for the District of Columbia. They to address such challenges in the cyber world brought claims for negligence, negligent Source: supervision, public nuisance, private nuisance, http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/ec-to- trespass, and breach of contract. launch-app-to-help-voters-share-malpractice- 7.The petitioners lost the case before a district proof/article23962920.ece court in 2016 and the U.S. Court of Appeals for International trade tensions: a worry for the District of Columbia in 2017. Both the courts Asia(GS-3 Economy) argued that IFC enjoys immunity. News Source: Context https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/us- The uncertainty in the global trade environment supreme-court-to-hear-dispute-over-power-plant- does not bode well for Asian economies that are in-gujarat/articleshow/64268339.cms heavily dependent on international trade and EC to launch app to help voters share investment as a means of sustained growth malpractice proof (GS-2 Polity) The growth decade between 2002 and 2017 News 1.Between 2002 and 2017, economic growth in Model Code of Conduct Violation Reporting Asia averaged about 6% annually which expanded App about 4% on an average 1.The Election Commission will launch a multi- 2.Consequently, Asia‘s share of GDP rose from lingual mobile application empowering people 25% in 2002 to about 35% in 2017 across the country to share evidence of 3.Asia‘s share of global exports spiked from about malpractice by political parties, their candidates 29% in 2002 to 38% in 2017, and activists ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, while its share of global imports increased from directly with the electoral body about 22% to 31% during the period 2.The application helps prevent abuse of money The tit-for-tat tariff threats by the US and and muscle power, allows for sharing of photos China and short audio and video clips from the spot itself 1.The Donald Trump administration announced along with geolocation the imposition of tariffs on $60 billion worth of 3.Through this mechanism, EC intends to Chinese imports encourage larger public participation in checking 2.This was in addition to the more general tariffs corrupt practices and ensuring a free and fair imposed on washing machines, solar panels, steel election process and aluminium imports on China and its other Recent trials trading partners

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May -2018 UPSC/IAS Current Affairs 3.China, in turn, has threatened retaliatory tariffs Scientists have discovered the first known worth $3 billion of goods from the US with 90% permanent immigrant to the solar system an in food-related products and the rest in steel tubes asteroid, nestling in Jupiter‘s orbit, which and aluminium products migrated from another star system. Both parties have a role to play in the US- Beyond News China and overall global trade tensions 1.All the planets in the solar system travel around China is not following the WTO rules for its the Sun. aspirations 2.But this asteroid, named (514107) 2015 BZ509, 1.China is working on the ―Made in China 2025‖ moves in the opposite direction, referred to as (inspired by Germany‘s ―Industry 4.0 plan‖) ‗retrograde‘ orbit. which aims to develop world-class dominance in Source: http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp- 10 domestic tech-manufacturing industries life/solar-systems-first-interstellar-immigrant- 2.In so doing, critics have argued that China has discovered/article23964046.ece?utm_source=tp- failed at times to respect the World Trade life&utm_medium=sticky_footer Organization (WTO) agreements on Trade Related Indo-Dutch Startup Initiative: StartUpLink to Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPs) be Launched (GS-2 IR) and Trade Related Aspects of Investment News Measures (TRIMs) The Indo-Dutch #StartUpLink is developed for 3.Counter view: Others have argued that the Indian and Dutch startups that are exploring each WTO itself is ill-equipped to deal with the unique other‘s markets and offers access to key challenges posed by a rising China with its unique information, relevant networks, pilot economic structure opportunities, and navigators for the respective The US has undertaken aggressive startup ecosystems. unilateralism Context 1.The US administration has undertaken 1.Startup India Hub under Invest India and aggressive unilateralism due to its ―diminished Netherlands Enterprise Agency under the Ministry giant syndrome‖ of Economic Affairs and Climate Change would 2.The trade threats make it look as if ―America act as single points of contact and navigators for believes in the law of the jungle rather than the their respective countries. rule of law‖ 2.As a partner for the Indo Dutch #StartUpLink, Possible implications for Asia Shell has come on board with the aim of 1.For now, the global trade environment will be accelerating India‘s transition to a sustainable much less buoyant and much more uncertain than energy future. it was in the past 3.The Indo-Dutch #StartUpLink is developed for 2.This does not bode well for Asian economies, Indian and Dutch startups that are exploring each particularly those, which are heavily dependent on other‘s markets and offers access to key international trade and investment as a means of information, relevant networks, pilot sustained growth opportunities, and navigators for the respective 3.For the rest of Asia, it is critical that they startup ecosystems reaffirm the importance of an open, transparent 4.‗Clean Air‘ India Ring, a critical component of and rules-based multilateral trading system, the Indo-Dutch #StartUpLink, will be launched on 4.while pushing forward with greater intra- 24th May. The initiative is a multi-corporate regional trade initiatives that are of mutual benefit challenge that will test and scale innovations Source: through collaboration between startups, corporates https://www.livemint.com/Opinion/F2HPnwyBRF and governments by providing pilot opportunities lpDpVzNEkyYN/International-trade-tensions-a- for promising innovations that solve the problem worry-for-Asia.html of pollution. Solar system’s first interstellar immigrant Source: discovered (GS-3 science & tech) http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=1 News 79472

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Curtain Raiser: India-Nepal Joint Battalion Level *It is an online exam which covers a wide range of Exercise SURYA KIRAN-XIII(GS-2 IR, prelims) topics including general knowledge and current affairs, numerical ability, legal aptitude, and News logical reasoning for 200 marks in 120 minutes. Joint Military Exercise SURYA KIRAN-XIII *This year, the organising university was the between India and Nepal will be conducted at National University of Advanced Legal Studies Pithoragarh from 30 May to 12 June 2018. (NUALS), Kochi. Context What is the controversy about? 1. Exercise SURYA KIRAN is a biannual event *The candidates appearing for the CLAT this year which is conducted alternatively in Nepal and faced many challenges in completing the exam India. successfully due to technical glitches and 2. Notably in the series of military training mismanagement. exercises undertaken by India with various *Mismanagement was on part of the organising countries, Exercise SURYA KIRAN with Nepal is university NUALS, hence majority of the the largest in terms of troop participation. candidates were affected and now have lesser 3. The exercise will comprise of nearly 300 chances of clearing the exam with good scores. soldiers from both Indian and Nepal Army who *Many cases have been filed in various High would be sharing their experiences gained during Courts as these issues would be directly upsetting conduct of various counter insurgency and counter the candidates‘ careers. terrorism operations in the past Issues faced by the candidates 4. The aim of this exercise is to conduct 1.There was technical error in the computers, battalion level joint training with emphasis on which increased the time taken to navigate counter terrorism operations in mountainous between questions. terrain. During the exercise, aspects of disaster 2.Many of the students dint receive computers management and joint effort towards relief work which weren‘t functioning properly and that was have also been included. the case with almost all computers in many 5. The joint military exercise will enhance the centres. level of defence cooperation which will further 3.Some students complained that they had to keep strengthen the bilateral relations between the two entering passwords for every answer and this nations. reduced the time which they had to answer other Source: questions. http://pib.nic.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID= 4.Air conditioners weren‘t functioning in many 1533274 centres which affected the servers which had to CLAT is in the courts(GS-2, polity) hold the load of so many computers. News 5.Even signing attendance sheets caused much Many cases have been filed in various High trouble, as students were interrupted between Courts due to controversy in conduct of national exams to fill the sheets. law entrance exam. 6.There were no invigilators in some labs to About CLAT oversee such issues as and when they arise. *The Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) is Source: the biggest and most important of all law entrance http://indianexpress.com/article/explained/national examinations in India. -law-entrance-exam-nclt-2018-5187302/ *It is conducted by India‘s 19 National Law Cabinet okays ordinance to set up India's first Universities by rotation, in the order of their dates sports varsity in Manipur (GS-2 Governance, of establishment. prelims) *CLAT was organised for the first time in 2008 News which enabled more than 40,000 candidates to The Union Cabinet has approved an ordinance to take exams and get enrolled in law institutions set up the country‘s first national sports university every year after their Class XII exam. in in Imphal (west), ManipurThe ordinance is on the lines of National Sports University Bill, 2017

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May -2018 UPSC/IAS Current Affairs which is pending in Parliament (introduced in Lok 3.The satellites will use a monthly reference point. Sabha in August, 2017 When ice melts, the oceans‘ mass rises. When it Context rains a lot in a certain region, the volume of the 1.The specialised university will be the first of its aquifers mounts. The satellites will pick this up, kind in the country and adopt best international and the data will show that the mass in a certain practices. Manipur government has already area was higher than it was in the prior month, or allocated land for the proposed university year. 2.The proposed university is expected to 4.That is how the GRACE-FO satellites will bridge gap that exists in sports environment of establish a map of the water on Earth, every 30 country in various areas such as sports science, days, showing which areas have more and which sports technology, high performance training. have less, whether above or below ground. They 3.It also empowers the University to grant degrees, will operate with a precision equivalent to a diplomas and certificates. It also allows change of 0.4 inches (one cm) in water height Government to establish campuses and study across areas of about 340 km in diameter. centres in other parts of the country 5.The prior mission, GRACE, allowed scientists to Objectives of National Sports University gain an understanding of how much ice Greenland 1.Research, development and dissemination of was losing. It was more than they thought, based knowledge in physical education and sports on ground-observations. sciences. 6.The satellites were also able to track just how 2.Strengthening physical education and sports much ice Antarctica was losing, and produced training programmes colourful maps that showed losses in red and gains 3.Generating knowledge capabilities, skills and in blue. competence at various levels. 7.Renewing the mission will allow scientists to 4.Training talented athletes to help them to evolve continue to track trends in sea level rise, glacial into international level athletes and ice melt, and the drying up of certain aquifers. Source: Source: https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/sports http://indianexpress.com/article/technology/scienc /watch-cabinet-okays-ordinance-to-set-up-indias- e/twin-satellites-to-track-earths-water-launched- first-sports-varsity-in- nasa-5188362/ manipur/videoshow/64291068.cms New satellites to keep track of earth’s water SIDBI, CSC SPV ink MoU to provide financial (GS-3 Science & Tech) support to village level entrepreneurs (GS-2 News Governance) * The reason we know today just how much News ice is melting in Greenland and Antarctica is Small Industries Development Bank of India because of a pair of satellites, launched in 2002 by (SIDBI) and Common Service Centres (CSC) NASA and the German Research Centre for Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) signed MoU for Geosciences (GFZ). providing financial support village level * Now, they are set to be replaced by a more entrepreneurs in CSCs. Through the MoU, SIDBI modern duo. will extend financial support to VLEs of CSCs, Beyond News with minimum one year of operation, under its 1.A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket hoisting into orbit the direct financing window. spacecraft known as GRACE-FO, a follow-on to Context the prior, 15-year mission known as the Gravity 1. Through the MoU, both CSC SPV and SIDBI Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE). seek to work together to bring more citizens under 2.Two satellites, each the size of a car, will circle ambit of financial inclusion. Moreover, it will also the Earth at a distance of 220 km from each other. aim to enhance financial viability of CSCs by They will be flying about 490 km above the Earth including additional services in their bouquet of for the next five years. products

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May -2018 UPSC/IAS Current Affairs 2. Under Direct Financing Window, CSC SPV 1.In the last three years, it has lost 36,500 hectares will approve list of VLEs, within 25 km distance of forest land to development of SIDBI Branch Offices, who require financial 2.Expansion of National Highways 6 and 7 in support. central India is destroying at least six crucial tiger 3. To avail loan, VLEs need to submit their CSC corridors, including the Pench-Kanha corridor project, with maximum project outlay of Rs. 3.50 3.The submergence of a part of the Panna tiger lakh and term loan requirement not exceeding Rs. reserve by river interlinking projects, proposed 2 lakh denotification of tiger reserves for mining and About Common Service Centres (CSC) hydropower projects are also huge setbacks for the 1.CSC is an initiative of Ministry of Electronics & conservation of biodiversity IT (MeitY) Convention on Biological Biodiversity (CBD): 2.It is strategic cornerstone of the Digital India Not as per expectations programme. It is pan-India network catering to 1.A total of 196 countries, including India, are regional, geographic, linguistic and cultural signatories of the CBD and will highlight their diversity of country, thus enabling Government‘s achievements as part of the programme mandate of a socially, financially and digitally 2.All 196 signatories are part of the Strategic Plan inclusive society. for Biodiversity for 2011-2020 3.There are as many as 2.91 lakh CSCs operate in 3.However, with only two years left for the country today. They are mostly ICT enabled completion, experts say there is little to celebrate front end service delivery points at village level when the actual figures and status are considered for delivery of government and private services. Financial Issues 4.These CSCs serve as access points for delivery 1. India currently spends about $2 billion per of essential public utility services, social welfare year on biodiversity conservation efforts, schemes,financial, healthcare, education and 2. but the country requires between $5-15 agriculture services, apart from host of B2C billion more every year to meet its services to citizens in rural and remote areas of the biodiversity conservation targets country. Reality is quite different from Government About Small Industries Development Bank of Data India (SIDBI) 1.Yet there are glaring examples of how natural 1.SIDBI is principal development financial forest is getting fragmented by linear institution for promotion, financing and infrastructure development of Micro, Small and Medium 2.Rampant poaching of endangered species, Enterprises (MSME) sector in india. excessive pollution, unplanned infrastructure and 2.It was established on April 2, 1990 through an urban development are indicating a decline in Act of Parliament (thus, it is statutory body). It is biodiversity headquartered in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. Source: 3.It facilitates and strengthens credit flow to https://www.livemint.com/Politics/9oiXLaSDxYc MSMEs and address both financial and R7T8tDrozVM/India-falling-short-of-meeting- developmental gaps in MSME eco-system across conservation-goals-on-biodiv.html the country. Do we need the office of the Governor? (GS-2 Source: Polity) https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/money- Context and-banking/csc-sidbi-ink-pact-for-financial- Role of governor support-to-village-level- 1.Inviting the immediate majority party to form entrepreneurs/article23979592.ece the government is perhaps a legitimate exercise of India falling short of meeting conservation Governors constitutional discretion. goals on biodiversity (GS-3 Environment) 2.However, the recent Karnataka elections have News raised questions about the Governor‘s India is falling way short of fulfilling discretionary powers following several open conservation goals criticisms about the office bearer

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May -2018 UPSC/IAS Current Affairs 3.If we want to put an end to the continuous expertise to States otherwise starved of it, are no misuse of the Raj Bhavan for partisan political longer valid justifications ends in a manner that threatens both federalism 2.On the other hand, the Governor‘s interference and democracy, we have to rethink the role of the with the democratic process is both real and Governor in the constitutional scheme continuing Where does the flaw lie? 3.As history shows, the solution is not to tinker 1.Some have suggested that the post of the around the edges or hope that the courts will come Governor be reserved for non-political appointees, to our rescue and still, others have urged the Supreme Court to Source: lay down the law on how the Governor ought to http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/do-we- act when an election yields a fractured verdict need-the-office-of-the- 2.All of these, however, are patchwork solutions governor/article23971800.ece that miss the point India ranks 145th among 195 countries in 3.For that, it is important to understand the origins healthcare, disparity among states (Facts for of the office in the colonial British regime Prelims) Provisions in Govt. of India Act, 1935 News 1.Through the course of the early 20th century, the Highlights of the HAQ Report Indian nationalist movement managed to extract 1.India ranks a lowly 145th among 195 countries gradual and incremental reforms towards in terms of healthcare access and quality in 2016, responsible government from the British rulers as assessed in a Global Burden of Disease study 2.These reforms culminated in the Government of published in The Lancet. India Act, 1935 which established provincial 2.The global average HAQ score was 54.4. legislative assemblies elected from a limited Iceland and Norway top the list with a HAQ score franchise of 97 each. 3.In order to ensure that overriding power 3.India‘s HAQ score is 41.2, up from 24.7 in 1990 remained with the British, the Act retained the showing improvement. post of Governor, and vested him with ―special 4.For the first time, the study also analysed responsibilities‖ that, in essence, allowed for healthcare access and quality between regions of intervention at will seven countries including India. The Critique of the Post 5.The study used an index based on 32 causes of 1.In a searing critique, K.T. Shah (who was later death that should be preventable with effective one of the most articulate members of the medical care. Each country was given a healthcare Constituent Assembly), wrote that the Governor access and quality (HAQ) score between 0-100. would inevitably be biased in his functioning and Performance by States his actions would remain at odds with those of 1.Goa and Kerala had the highest scores in 2016, popularly elected Ministers both over 60, whereas Assam and Uttar Pradesh 2.During CA debates, it was pointed out that the had the lowest, both below 40. Articles dealing with the powers of the Governor 2.Particularly low were scores like 12 for skin were almost verbatim reproductions of the 1935 cancer, 24 for neonatal deaths and adverse medical Act. treatment, and 30 for tuberculosis and chronic Defenders of the office raised two broad kidney ailments. arguments: Low score in TB 1.First, that there was a dearth of competent 1.This is not surprising, since India accounts for legislators in the States nearly 30 per cent of global TB deaths. 2.Second that a certain amount of centralization of 2.TB being often missed by practitioners and power was necessary in a nascent state such as MDR-TB is diagnosed very late. India What are its inferences? The way forward: Specify the rules 1.This scorecard shows that the health system is 1.The idea of the Governor standing as a bulwark weak in our country. against secessionism, or providing legislative

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May -2018 UPSC/IAS Current Affairs 2.While centrally funded schemes have provided 1.The Amendment Bill seeks to strengthen human health access in some areas, quality has not rights institutions so that they can discharge their improved in certain states. roles and responsibilities effectively. Source: 2.Moreover, the amended Act will be in sync with http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-ranks- the agreed global standards and benchmarks on 145th-among-195-countries-in-healthcare- ensuring rights relating to life, liberty, equality and disparity-among-states-lancet-5190070/ dignity of individuals in the country. For better protection of Human Rights(GS-1 3.The amendment to the Protection of Human social issues) Rights Act, 1993 will make the NHRC and State Context Human Rights Commissions more compliant with 1.The National Human Rights Commission the Paris Principle ―concerning its autonomy, (NHRC) has been often described as a toothless independence, pluralism and wide-ranging tiger, unable to protect ordinary citizens from functions in order to effectively protect and human rights violations, committed at times by the promote human rights‖. state machinery. Source: http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op- 2.In one such case, the NHRC, disillusioned by its ed/for-better-protection-of-human- helplessness in bringing justice in the alleged rights/article23981087.ece extrajudicial killings of 1,528 persons in Manipur, India disappointed by rich nations’ Paris had last year referred to itself as a ―toothless tiger‖ Climate Agreement track record(GS-3 before the Supreme Court. environment) Protection of Human Rights (Amendments) News Bill, 2018 India’s concern 1.On April 4, the Union Cabinet approved the 1.As negotiators bargain the details of the Paris Protection of Human Rights (Amendments) Bill, climate agreement that starts next decade, India is 2018, in order to protect and promote better concerned that rich nations still haven‘t fulfilled human rights in India. pledges made in a previous treaty 2.The Bill intends to give the NHRC teeth as well 2.Other emerging nations have also joined a as claws to act against human rights violations.The chorus of criticism on rich countries‘ lack of Bill makes many proposals. One is to ensure that progress on emission cuts and funding to adapt to the NHRC is more inclusive. the increased frequency of storms, droughts and Broadening the Scope of NHRC floods 1.To make itself more inclusive, the Bill proposes Bad performance of Western Countries to include one member of the National 1.Germany will probably miss its 2020 emissions- Commission for Protection of Child Rights within reduction target its fold as a deemed member as well as a woman 2.The US is rolling back domestic measures member. designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 2.It proposes to enlarge the scope of eligibility and Doha amendment: Ratification not completed selection of the Chairperson of the NHRC as well yet as of SHRCs. 1.Under an extension to Kyoto, known as the 3.It also proposes to incorporate a mechanism to Doha amendment, 37 nations agreed to cut look into cases of human rights violations in greenhouse gases by 5% to 40% by 2020 versus Union Territories. 1990 levels 4.Further, it proposes to amend the term of office 2.It‘s ratified by 112 countries, short of the 144 of the Chairperson and members of the NHRC and required, according to the UN climate unit the SHRCs to ensure that it is in consonance with Source: the terms of the Chairpersons and members of https://www.livemint.com/Politics/PoMwgGYepiJ other commissions. jG26Dvf8IDJ/India-disappointed-by-rich-nations- The Way Forward Paris-Climate-Agreement.html 5th India-CLMV Business Conclave held at Phnom Penh, Cambodia( GS-2 IR)

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May -2018 UPSC/IAS Current Affairs News group) to take advantage of free trade agreements 1. The Ministry of Commerce & Industry, they have with various countries such as China. Government of India along with Ministry of Source: Commerce of Cambodia organized the 5th India- http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=1 CLMV Business Conclave in Phnom Penh on 21- 79525 22 May 2018. The one-child policy had limited impact on 2.After four rounds of the Business Conclave in growth(GS-1 Social issues) India, this initiative was brought by Department of Context Commerce of Government of India to 1.After four decades of population control, the Cambodia,for greater participation from the concerns of an ageing population have caught up region. The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) with the Chinese is the institutional partner of the event. 2.There have been reports suggesting that it will Context likely phase out population controls in 2019 1.The business conclave provided opportunity for 3.The Chinese experience holds valuable lessons developing better understanding of CLMV for other developing countries that are economies which have untapped potential for experiencing declining fertility due to economic development and offer more scope for growth enhancement of economic engagement with India. Background 2.The conclave called for collaboration of CLMV 1.The one-child policy was implemented by Deng countries and India on agriculture, health, tourism, Xiaoping in 1979, at a time when China was home education and connectivity to promote regional to a quarter of the world‘s population, and two- integration and creation of value chain and thirds of it was under 30 years emphasized need for strengthening India-CLMV 2.A large, young population together with business and trade relations. economic liberalization became the foundation for 3.The sessions of conclave focused on sectors three decades of economic growth in China such as SME, manufacturing, agriculture, 3.In 2011, China surpassed Japan to become the plantation, fisheries and related industries, second-largest economy at market exchange rates, healthcare, education, information technology and and 2016 World Bank data shows it‘s already skill development. ahead of the US in purchasing-power-parity 4.India proposed setting up of India-Cambodia dollars Chamber of commerce with institutional The one child policy which contributed to this partnership between CII and Cambodian Chamber growth is coming back to bite China of Commerce. 1.China‘s fertility rate was around 2.7 at the end of 5.Such similar bilateral business forums will be the 1970s, and dropped to 1.57 in 2015 also setup in Vietnam and Laos to institutionalize 2.That is far less than the rate of replacement—the bilateral business to business engagements of fertility rate needed to hold the population size India with each of CLMV countries. constant—which is 2.1 Background 3.That means even if the fertility rate increases by 1.CLMV region is considered as India‘s gateway 0.7 percentage point (which is an optimistic to entire ASEAN and provides access to huge number), China‘s total population would peak in markets of these countries. 2030, at approximately 1.46 billion 2.These four countries represents rapidly growing 4.The composition of the population is, however, economy with rising consumption, strategic changing unfavourabl location and access, rich natural resources (oil, 5.The working-age population, which peaked in gas, copper, teak and gemstones), biodiversity and 2014, is at present below 2010 levels and is industrious workforce with low wages. expected to shrink by 23% by 2050 3.They also offer significant opportunities for The problem of population ageing is going to trade in goods and services, investment and affect every developed country project exports. India seeks to invest in CLMV 1.Europe is well and truly in population decline, countries (which are part of 10-member ASEAN and government debt is already at unsustainable

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May -2018 UPSC/IAS Current Affairs levels due to unfunded liabilities, primarily due to UNICEF launches data visualisation app(GS-1 social security Social empowerment) 2.The US, with a fertility rate of 1.76, has been an News outlier in the developed world because it has The UNICEF (United Nations Children‘s historically been open to immigrants, whose Emergency Fund) launched Data Visualisation fertility rate is also higher App to provide user-friendly visual representation 3.Australia has not had a recession in the last three of complex analytics of education scenario in decades, despite stagnant per-capita output, India. because of its rapidly increasing population, which Context has grown 50% in that period 1. It was developed with technical inputs from 4.This success, however, is difficult to emulate for the UNICEF, in collaboration with National homogenous, and inert, societies like China Council for Educational Research and Training 5.Japan, another ageing and inert nation, has (NCERT) and National Institute of Education struggled to build political support for Planning and Administration (NIEPA). immigration 2. The app uses UDISE (Unified District Advantage for India Information System for Education), NAS 1.The immensity of the ageing problem should (National Assessment survey) and demographic make it obvious that India has a massive data. demographic advantage 3. It can be used as visual tool by policy makers, 2.It has a growing share of working-age academia, senior government officials, and population, at the same time as China‘s is researchers to address gaps and monitor programs declining; and the country‘s median age is only in field of education 27, against China‘s 38 Shiksha mela But this is also a challenge UNICEF India in partnership with Ministry of 3.But while China managed its demographic Human Resource Development organised Shiksha dividend by transitioning to stable jobs in Mela Education Open Day to demonstrate case manufacturing, the share of manufacturing jobs in stories showcasing holistic and equitable quality India has remained stagnant in the last three education achieved through convergent decades, at 10% programming across 17 states. 4.Moreover, the share of labour-intensive jobs Source:https://www.indiatoday.in/pti- within manufacturing, such as textiles and leather, feed/story/unicef-launches-data-visualisation-app- has actually shrunk 1240451-2018-05-24 5.As the economy struggles to create formal sector Rustom-2 drone to be delivered to armed forces jobs, India is creating an army of peons, guards by 2020: DRDO chief(GS-3 Science & tech) and delivery boys News Lesson for India Delivery of the Rustom-II 1.What the Chinese economic success has shown 1.Rustom-II Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) is that a burgeoning population can be the source will be delivered to the armed forces by 2020 of economic prosperity, if accompanied by 2.It is being developed by the Defence Research economic liberalization and Development Organisation (DRDO) 2.India, on the other hand, will squander its Development of the UAV demographic advantage if it doesn‘t act on key 1.Rustom II has completed one test at Chitradurga policy challenges in its labour, land acquisition recently and trade policy 2.At present, the basic UAV system is being Source: perfected https://www.livemint.com/Opinion/3SF19XZDJ52 3.Attempts are also being made to increase the jIkvSMMazPI/The-onechild-policy-had-limited- altitude impact-on-growth.html 4.By the end of this year, DRDO will be ready with the bird, after which the focus will be on the machine systems on it

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May -2018 UPSC/IAS Current Affairs Particulars of the UAV *To holistically examine best international 1.The drone is being developed for use by all three practices for the health sector and seek to services of the Indian Armed Forces, primarily for benchmark our frameworks to these practices for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance optimizing benefits keeping in mind our local (ISR) operations issues. 2.The medium-altitude prototype can fly at over Source: 22,000 feet and is a long-endurance UAV that has http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=1 an 20 hours approximate flight time 79524 Rustom-2 project May 25: World Thyroid Awareness 1.Rustom 2 or TAPAS-BH-201 is a medium- Day(Prelims) altitude long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle News (UAV), designed to carry out surveillance and The World Thyroid Day is observed every year on reconnaissance roles for the Indian Armed Forces May 25 to spread awareness of thyroid health and 2.It is capable of carrying different combination of educating about prevention and treatment of payloads including synthetic aperture radar, thyroid disease. electronic intelligence systems and situational Objective awareness systems 1.Increase awareness of thyroid health. 3.The UAV has an endurance of 24 hours and is 2.Promote understanding of advances made in similar to the American predator series of drones treating thyroid diseases. 4.DRDO carried out a successful test flight of 3.Emphasize prevalence of thyroid diseases. Rustom 2 on 25 February 2018, at the 4. Focus on urgent need for education and Aeronautical Test Range (ATR) located in prevention programs. Chalakere, Chitradurga district. This was the first 5.Expand awareness of new treatment modalities flight of the UAV in user configuration with Thyroid gland higher power engine. 1.Thyroid gland, often referred to as simply Source: thyroid, is one of the largest endocrine glands. It http://indianexpress.com/article/india/rustom-2- butterfly-shaped gland located in neck drone-to-be-delivered-to-armed-forces-by-2020- 2. Thyroid health is extremely important, as drdo-chief-s-chistopher-5191487/ hormones produced by it influence critical body Fifteenth Finance Commission constitutes a functions and regulate metabolism. Thyroid High Level Group to examine the expansion of disorders are very common worldwide, they affect Health Sector (GS-2 Governance) people of all ages and have large range of News symptoms. The Fifteenth Finance Commission has constituted 3. The most common thyroid disorders include a high level group consisting of eminent experts hypothyroidism (abnormally decreased thyroid from across the country in Health Sector. Dr. activity), hyperthyroidism (abnormally increased Randeep Guleria, Director, AIIMS, New Delhi thyroid activity, thyroiditis or Goitre will be its Convenor. (inflammation of thyroid gland) and thyroid The role and functions of the High Level Group cancer. They are often caused by iodine on Health Sector will be: deficiency. *To evaluate the existing regulatory framework in Background the Health sector and examine its strength and In 2008, European Thyroid Association (ETA) and weaknesses for enabling a balanced yet faster American Thyroid Association (ATA) had joined expansion of the health sector keeping in view hands to create, for first time ever day devoted India‘s demographic profile; globally to Thyroid Gland and its numerous and *To suggest ways and means to optimize the use often ‗invisible‘ symptoms. It was observed for of existing financial resources and to incentivize the first time in 2009. Since then, it has been the state governments‘ effort on fulfillment of celebrated annually round globe together with its well-defined health parameters in India; and extension, International Thyroid Awareness Week, which surrounds main Day.

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May -2018 UPSC/IAS Current Affairs Source: 1.One of the most notable provisions of the RERA http://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/health/wo is the requirement to keep 70% of funds received rld-thyroid-day-2018-hypothyroidism-5189460/ for a project in a separate escrow account The RERA report card (GS-2 Governance) (a step to prevent a diversion of funds which News usually happens and in turn results in project Context delays) 1.It is a year since the Real Estate (Regulation and 2.Perhaps because of this stipulation and the Development) Act, 2016 (RERA) came into effect overall ill-health of the real estate sector, many (May 1) developers are now facing insolvency proceedings 2.A year after the real estate legislation came into under the new Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code effect, the follow-up in many States has been (IBC) dismal 3.There appears to be a potential conflict 3.There is still a long way to go before the real developing between the IBC and RERA which estate sector operates in an ―efficient and needs to be checked as it would be against transparent manner and protect the interest of consumer interests consumers‖ Government is taking the cognizance of the Implementation of the Act: Issues issue Dilution of the RERA rules 1.Recently, the Central government notified June 1.Only 20 of the 28 States (the Act is not 30 as the date by which all States have to do away applicable in Jammu and Kashmir) have framed with dilutions and bring in all incomplete projects the rules stipulated under RERA to carry out its within the ambit of RERA legal mandate 2.This date is also the deadline by when 2.In some States such as Uttar Pradesh, the Act‘s permanent regulators have to be formed and for provisions have been watered down in favour of the websites of all States to become functional builders by altering the definition of ―on-going 3.One hopes that in due course, developers will projects‖ which need registration under RERA recognise that they can no longer operate with 3.There is also a dilution on the penalties for non- impunity by arbitrarily escalating costs of compliance construction or missing timelines without being The speedy dispute redress mechanism held responsible. envisaged by the Act is yet to take shape Source: http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op- 1.Apart from Maharashtra, only Punjab and ed/the-rera-report-card/article23993951.ece Madhya Pradesh have appointed a permanent Nari Shakti Puraskar to INSV Tarini team regulatory authority (to be established within a (Prelims, GS-1 role of women) period of a year) 1.Minister for Women and Child Development 2.To ease the transition, RERA allows State presented the prestigious Nari Shakti governments to designate an existing body as the Puraskar2017 to the members of the INSV Tarini regulatory authority until a permanent one is team. established 2.The crew of the Indian Navy Sailing Vessel 3.This has resulted in 13 States working with only 'Tarini' is a part of the Indian Navy‘s unique a designated regulatory authority. West Bengal is project 'Navika SagarParikrama'. yet to even designate a regulatory authority 3.It is an all-women team circumnavigating the Other issues globe, promoting ocean sailing activities in the 1.Additionally, only six States have set up the Navy and depicting Government of India's online portal contemplated by the Act commitment towards women empowerment. 2.In the Northeastern States, RERA has been 4.The Project aims to demonstrate the thrust of challenged on certain constitutional grounds — of Nari Shakti on the world platform. land belonging to the community and autonomous 5.The voyage also showcased the 'Make in India's councils initiative by sailing on-board the indigenously Conflict between the IBC and the RERA built INSV Tarini.

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May -2018 UPSC/IAS Current Affairs 6.All six members of the crew were trained for deployment of Main Battle Tanks, Armoured over three years under Captain Dilip Donde, who Vehicles, troops and equipment from ship to is also the first Indian to successfully carry out shore. solo-circumnavigation of the globe between 2009 2. These ships based at the Andaman and and 2010. Nicobar Command, can be deployed for multirole Source: activities like beaching operations, search and http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=1 rescue, disaster relief operations, supply and 79517 replenishment and evacuation from distant islands. CSIR bags the Clarivate Analytics India 3. The Mark IV LCU vessels are further Innovation Award 2018 (GS-3 Science & Tech) improved version of Mark III LCU vessels News presently being used by Indian Navy. These total 8 Council of Scientific & Industrial Research has vessels under Mark IV category have been ordered been awarded the Clarivate Analytics India by Indian Navy from GRSE. Innovation Award 2018 in the Government 4. The ship is fitted with state-of-the-art Research Organizations Category. This award yet equipment and advanced systems like Integrated again recognizes CSIR as the top innovator. Bridge System (IBS) and Integrated Platform CSIR Management System (IPMS). 1.CSIR is a pioneer of India‘s intellectual property Source: movement and a leader in terms of sheer volume http://pib.nic.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=15 of patents published. 33485 2.CSIR‘s patent portfolio touches a wide spectrum of areas in science and technology, some of the top filing areas include: polymers and applications in medicine, materials, electrical industry, pharmaceutical research, fermentation, enzymes, catalysis and applications, chemical & biological treatment of water. 3.Every year, Clarivate Analytics – formerly the IP & Science division of Thomson Reuters - recognizes the most innovative companies in India according to patent-related metrics. 4.The evaluation is strictly driven by metrics for both patent volume (patents published) as well as patent quality (grant success rate, extent of globalization, and citations). Source: http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=1 79519

Commissioning of Fourth Ship of Landing Craft Utility MK-IV (PRELIMS, GS-3 Internal security)

News Indian Navy inducted Landing Craft Utility MK- IV LCU vessel L54 at Port Blair, Andaman & Nicobar Island. It is fourth of total eighth Mark IV LCU vessels to be introduced into Indian navy. LCU MK-IV 1. LCU MK-IV ship is an amphibious ship with its primary role being transportation and

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May -2018 UPSC/IAS Current Affairs

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