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1. Economics Nobel for Abhijit Banerjee, Esther Duflo and Michael Kremer

 The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences has decided to award the 2019 Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel, popularly called the Nobel Prize in Economics, to Abhijit Banerjee, Esther Duflo, and Michael Kremer “for their experimental approach to alleviating global poverty”.  The research conducted by this year’s laureates has considerably improved our ability to fight global poverty. In just two decades, their new experiment-based Development economics is a branch of approach has transformed development economics that focuses on improving economics, which is now a flourishing fiscal, economic, and social conditions in field of research. developing countries. Development  They sought to introduce a new economics considers factors such as health, approach to obtaining reliable answers education, working conditions, domestic about the most effective ways to and international policies, and market combat global poverty. Rather than condition with a focus on improving focusing on big-picture questions, they conditions in the world's poorest countries. divided the issue into smaller, more manageable and measurable questions. They then showed that these smaller questions could be best answered through carefully designed experiments among the people who are most affected. This thought process has resulted in what are called Randomized Control Trials, previously used in the pure sciences and in clinical drug trials, to be deployed in the social sciences.  Large number of concrete results on specific mechanisms is outcome of these trials.

Nobel Prize in Economics –

 The Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences (Nobel Prize in Economics), is an award for outstanding contributions to the field of economics, and generally regarded as the most prestigious award for that field. The award's official name is The Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel.  As it is not one of the prizes that Alfred Nobel established in his will in 1895, it is not technically a Nobel Prize. However, it is administered and referred to along with the Nobel Prizes by the Nobel Foundation  Amartya Sen, an Indian economist was awarded the 1998 Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences for his contributions to welfare economics and social choice theory and for his interest in the problems of society's poorest members.

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. On schooling, strong evidence now shows that the employment of contract teachers is generally a cost-effective way to improve student learning, while the impact of reduced class size is mixed, at best. . On health, poor people’s investment in preventive care has been shown to be very sensitive to the prices of health products or services, giving a strong argument for generous subsidies to such investments. . On credit, growing evidence indicates that micro-finance programmes do not have the development effects that many had thought when these programmes were introduced on a large scale. 2. FASTags will work as Aadhaar to track vehicles

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Monday called FASTags — a device to make automatic payments at toll booths — the equivalent of Aadhaar for vehicles, which will allow the government to track their movement across the country. The government has already announced that FASTags will be mandatory for all vehicles at all National Highways from December 1. What is ‘FASTag’?

 A FASTag uses Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology to make cashless payments through a prepaid account linked to it. The tag is fixed to the windscreen of a vehicle and an RFID antenna in the canopy of the toll gate scans the QR code and the tag identification number, following which the boom barrier lifts to allow a vehicle to pass through it without the need for a vehicle to stop.  A FASTag is valid for five years and needs to be recharged only as per requirement.  The payment method is a part of the National Electronic Toll Collection (NETC) programme. The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) collects the payments.  FASTags are likely to reduce the nation’s GDP loss by bringing down loss of fuel while waiting at toll plazas.

How FASTag will help track vehicles?

A FASTag is linked to a bank account. When a vehicle passes through a toll, an SMS with date, time and place of transaction will be sent to the owner of the vehicle. The master data of all transactions will be with the concessionaire of the toll booth concerned, along with the bank with which the owner has registered the FASTag and the National Payments Corporation of India.

‘One Nation One FASTag’ scheme

 At the One Nation One FASTag conference, Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) were signed between state departments and other agencies for bringing in a unified electronic tolling solution across the country. DEVELOPING SUCCESS INSTITUTE 9643350984, 011-47021344 Page 2

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 The existing FASTags under various jurisdictions of states and agencies would be enabled under this scheme, thus integrating the collection of toll digitally so that seamless services can be provided to consumers all over India.  The 'One Nation One FASTag' scheme will be implemented from December 1 and can be availed upon activation by new cars having Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags on national and state highways throughout the country. 3. High quality fake notes back: NIA

 The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has said “high quality” fake currency notes have “resurfaced”, with Pakistan being the “main source”.  The circulation of high quality FICN (Fake Indian National Investigation Agency Currency Notes) was one of the six major emerging  The National Investigation Agency (NIA) is a challenges cited by the central agency established by the Indian NIA. The others listed by Government to combat terror in India. the agency are increase in  It acts as the Central Counter Terrorism Law Khalistani activities, Enforcement Agency. collection of evidence  The agency is empowered to deal with terror from cyber space and related crimes across states without special capacity enhancement of permission from the states. cyber forensic labs.  The Agency came into existence with the  The NIA is the nodal enactment of the National Investigation Agency agency for FICN related Act 2008 by the Parliament of India. cases and has so far investigated 48 such cases,  Headquartered in New Delhi, the NIA has branches of which 13 ended in in Hyderabad, Guwahati, Kochi, Lucknow, Mumbai, conviction. Kolkata, Raipur and Jammu. It maintains NIA Most  High quality notes were Wanted list. being pushed through the  NIA has concurrent jurisdiction which empowers “western border and the Central Agency to probe terror attacks in any Nepal.”Bangladesh had part of the country, covering offences, including emerged as the source of challenge to the country's sovereignty and low quality FICNs. integrity, bomb blasts, hijacking of aircraft and  Counterfeiting of the ships, attacks on nuclear installations. The newly-designed ₹500 amendments to the NIA Act has brought the notes shot up by 121 per offences relating to the smuggling in High-Quality cent and of the ₹2,000 Counterfeit Indian Currency under the definition of notes by 21.9 per cent in a terrorist Act aimed at damaging the monetary 2018-19 in comparison to stability of the country and therefore can be the previous year, the RBI investigated by the NIA. said

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 Fake Indian currency notes worth Rs 28.1 crore were seized in 2017, almost doubling from the previous year’s mark of Rs 15.9 crore, according to the Crime in India-2017 report put together by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB).  A state/union territory-wise analysis showed that Gujarat topped the list with fake currency worth over Rs 9 crore seized. This was followed by Delhi (Rs 6.7 crore), Uttar Pradesh (Rs 2.8 crore) and West Bengal (Rs 1.9 crore).

4. SC gives Centre, States a month to respond to writ petition seeking RTI portals

The Supreme Court on Monday gave the Centre and 25 States a month’s time to respond to a writ petition seeking a direction to establish Right to Information (RTI) web portals across all States to enable citizens, especially those living abroad, to file RTI applications online.

 The Central government established an online RTI portal whereby any Indian citizen, including Non-Resident Indians (NRIs), can apply for information under the RTI Act with the desired Ministry or Department under the Central government. An applicant can also pay the requisite fee through online payment in this portal and submit the RTI application.  The Centre had also requested the various State governments to explore the feasibility of implementing online RTI portals. It had even offered to provide technical support for this purpose through the National Informatics Centre (NIC) to the States.  However, only the States of Maharashtra and Delhi have established their respective online portals for obtaining information from the departments of their respective governments  According to the petitioner, “the provision of an online web portal will help the Indian citizens, including the Non-Resident Indians by speedy dissemination of information requested, which in turn would only help in achieving the aim of the RTI laws of bringing transparency in administration”. Right to Information Act 2005 mandates timely response to citizen requests for

government information. It is an initiative taken by Department of Personnel and Training, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions to provide a– RTI Portal Gateway to the citizens for quick search of information on the details of first Appellate

Authorities,PIOs etc. amongst others, besides access to RTI related information / disclosures published on the web by various Public Authorities under the government of India as well as the State Governments

The basic objective of RTI is

 Empowerment of the citizens  Promotion of transparency and accountability in the functioning of the government  Prevention and elimination of corruption  Making the democracy work for the people in its real sense.

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5. IMF cuts India’s growth projection to 6.1% in 2019

 The IMF slashed India’s GDP growth projection for the year 2019 to 6.1%, which is 1.2% down from its April projections. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) in April said India will grow at 7.3% in 2019. IMF noted that the Indian economy is expected to pick up the next year at 7.0% in 2020.  World Bank in its latest edition of the South Asia Economic Focus said India’s growth rate is projected to fall to 6% in 2019 from 6.9% of 2018.  Reasons for Downward revision according to IMF - . weaker-than-expected outlook for domestic demand . corporate and environmental regulatory uncertainty . health of the non-bank financial sector  Growth prospects according to World Economic Outlook- Growth will be supported by . the lagged effects of monetary policy easing . a reduction in corporate income tax rates . recent measures to address corporate and environmental regulatory uncertainty . government programs to support rural consumption  Way Forward - . Monetary policy and broad-based structural reforms should be used to address cyclical weakness and strengthen confidence. . A credible fiscal consolidation path is needed to bring down India’s elevated public debt over the medium term. . This should be supported by subsidy-spending rationalization and tax-base enhancing measures. . Governance of public sector banks and the efficiency of their credit allocation need strengthening, and the public sector’s role in the financial system needs to be reduced. . Reforms to hiring and dismissal regulations would help incentivize job creation and absorb the country’s large demographic dividend. . Land reforms should also be enhanced to encourage and expedite infrastructure development.

Global Growth -  IMF downgraded global growth in 2019 to 3%, the slowest since the global financial crisis.  Globally, rising trade barriers, heightened uncertainty around trade and geopolitics, idiosyncratic factors that have strained several emerging markets and structural factors such as advanced economies’ ageing population and low productivity growth were the causes behind a “synchronized slowdown” the IMF said in its 2019 World Economic Outlook (WEO)  Emerging economies will show increased growth — from 3.9% in 2019 to 4.6% in 2020, while advanced economies will slow to 1.7% in 2019 and 2020. The report called for defusing trade tensions, “reinvigorating” multilateral cooperation and “providing timely support to economic activity where needed”.

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6. Dutch royals to inaugurate Rembrandt’s Mughal- inspired art

 One of the most prolific names in art history, Rembrandt made 25 drawings based on Mughal miniatures from India during 1656 to 1661, at the height of his career. This is in spite of the fact that the Dutch artist never set foot on Indian soil.  The original artwork — depicting kings, princes and courtiers — made its way to the artist thanks to the Dutch East India Company that controlled trade in Asia. Rembrandt bought drawings and prints of these paintings in Amsterdam.  In 2019, India and the Netherlands will commemorate Rembrandt’s 350th death anniversary with a showcase that will celebrate the two countries’ culture and heritage. Titled ‘India & the Netherlands in the Age of Rembrandt’, the exhibition is the first collaboration between the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya (CSMVS), Mumbai and the Rijksmuseum - The museum of the Netherlands, Amsterdam.

The tradition of Indian Miniature Painting

 History - The tradition of Indian miniature painting can be traced from the 9th-10th century in the Buddhist Pala period palm leaf manuscript of eastern India and in the western India in the Jaina palm leaf manuscript. With the introduction of paper in 12th century in India, illustrations on paper manuscript began to come into vogue. But apart from such manuscripts still there were no schools of Miniature Paintings in India. There came into existence in the Lodi period (1451-1526 AD) a Sultanate bourgeois school of manuscript. The Sultanate illustrated manuscript represented the court style. With Mughal Empire, (1526-1757 AD) the studios were established at the Imperial court and Indian painting began a new phase in its evolution. It was from there that illustrated manuscripts, album miniatures, portraits, celebratory or genre scenes and various other paintings made their way allover India. Indian miniature painting was subjected to a strong initial Persian influence, but it was short lived since the Indian artists soon recovered their own independence and originality.  Miniatures were profoundly influenced by Indian literature and were executed as illustrations to texts or as individual paintings. They were small-scale, highly detailed pictorial compositions, often providing a true record of the social and cultural life of the time. The paintings often revolved around themes like battles, legendary stories, hunting scenes, wildlife, royal life, mythology, etc.  Mughal miniatures drew from India, Persia, and Europe to create something entirely new.  Humayun on his return way from exile, brought two great masters from Persia -Mir Sayyid Ali and Abd us-Samad. These two great masters trained in the Persian court were responsible for establishing the first atelier of painting in India. Humayun thus laid the foundation of Mughal Paintings in India. Later, Akbar, Shahjahan, Jahangir also patronized Mughal style of painting.

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7. Gujarat, Tamil Nadu top performers under PM-JAY health scheme

 Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Chhattisgarh, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh have emerged as the top performing States with free secondary and tertiary treatment availed under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY), the flagship health assurance scheme of the Government in just over a year.  Launched last year, the scheme crossed the 50-lakh treatment mark this week with secondary and tertiary level treatments worth ₹7,901 crore being carried out across 32 States and Union Territories

Ayushman Bharat Ayushman Bharat, a flagship scheme of Government of India was launched as recommended by the National Health Policy 2017, to achieve the vision of Universal Health Coverage (UHC). This initiative has been designed on the lines as to meet Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and its underlining commitment, which is "leave no one behind". Ayushman Bharat is an attempt to move from sectoral and segmented approach of health service delivery to a comprehensive need-based health care service. Ayushman Bharat aims to undertake path breaking interventions to holistically address health (covering prevention, promotion and ambulatory care), at primary, secondary and tertiary level. Ayushman Bharat adopts a continuum of care approach, comprising of two inter-related components, which are -  Health and Wellness Centres (HWCs)  Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) 1. Health and Wellness Centers (HWCs)  In February 2018, the Government of India announced the creation of 1, 50,000 Health and Wellness Centres (HWCs) by transforming existing Sub Centres and Primary Health Centres.  These centres would deliver Comprehensive Primary Health Care (CPHC) bringing healthcare closer to the homes of people covering both maternal and child health services and non- communicable diseases, including free essential drugs and diagnostic services. 2. Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY)  PM-JAY aims at providing health insurance cover of Rs. 5 lakhs per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization to over 10.74 crores poor and vulnerable families (approximately 50 crore beneficiaries).  There is no cap on the family size under the scheme.  Earlier known as National Health Protection Scheme (NHPS) before it was rechristened to PM- JAY. The scheme subsumed then existing Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY), launched in 2008.  PM-JAY has been rolled out for the bottom 40% of poor and vulnerable population. The households included are based on the deprivation and occupational criteria of Socio- Economic Caste Census 2011 (SECC 2011) for rural and urban areas respectively.

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Swachh Survekshan 2019

 World's largest cleanliness survey  4237 cities covered  Survey completed within 28 days  GFC STAR RATING,ODF,ODF+ and ODF++  Completely digitized and paperless survey  41 lakhs Geotagged Photos captured from field  Massive participation by citizens - 64 Lakhs citizen feedback collected  Social Media Outreach of 4 Crores  Indore was adjudged India’s cleanest city for the third straight year in the central Swachh Survekshan government’s cleanliness survey.  The second and third positions in the  Union Ministry of Housing category were grabbed by Ambikapur in and Urban Affairs has Chhattisgarh and Mysuru in Karnataka. initiated an inquiry into  While the New Delhi Municipal Council alleged irregularities during area was given the ‘Cleanest Small City’ the Swachh Survekshan award. 2019 for Madhya Pradesh –  Uttarakhand’s Gauchar was adjudged the declared the best in solid ‘Best Ganga Town’. waste management, and  The ‘Cleanest Big City’ award has been boasting eight cities in the bagged by Ahmadabad top 25 – that helped upstage certain cities, while downplaying performances of others.  Swachh Survekshan is a ranking exercise taken up by the Government of India to assess rural and urban areas for their levels of cleanliness and active implementation of Swachhata mission initiatives in a timely and innovative manner.  The objective of the survey is to encourage large scale citizen participation and create awareness amongst all sections of society about the importance of working together towards making towns and cities a better place to live in. Additionally, the survey also intends to foster a spirit of healthy competition among towns and cities to improve their service delivery to citizens, towards creating cleaner cities and towns.  The Ministry of Urban Development, Government of India takes up the Swachh Survekshan in urban areas and the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation in rural areas. The Quality Council of India (QCI) has been commissioned the responsibility of carrying out the assessment.

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8.Rangdum monastery in Kargil likely to become a monument of national importance

 A Buddhist monastery in Ladakh in Kargil district (Jammu and Kashmir) could soon be given Central protection as the Archaeological Survey of India on invited objections or suggestions on declaring the Rangdum monastery a monument of national importance.  The 18th century monastery is “perched picturesquely on a top of a hillock like an ancient fort”. Apart from the monastery, the Rangdum locality, located 130 km from Kargil town, also serves as the base for various trekking routes  Rangdum Monastery is a Tibetan Buddhist monastery situated on top of a small hill at the head of the Suru Valley, in Ladakh.

A "Monument of National Importance" is designated by the Archaeological Survey of India and includes the following: 1. The remains of an ancient monument 2. The site of an ancient monument 3. The land on which there are fences or protective covering structures for preserving the monument 4. Land by means of which people can freely access the monument

Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958 defines an "Ancient Monument" as “Ancient Monument means any structure, erection or monument, or any tumulus or place of interment, or any cave, rock-sculpture, inscription or monolith which is of historical, archaeological or artistic interest and which has been in existence for not less than 100 years”.

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is an attached office in the Ministry of Culture. It was set up in 1861 with the primary object of surveying antiquarian remains in this country and their study. ASI’s function is to “explore, excavate, conserve, preserve and protect the monuments and sites of National and International Importance”.

9. Tulagi Island

 Under a secretive deal signed last month with a provincial government in the South Pacific nation, a Beijing-based company with close ties to the Chinese Communist

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Party has secured exclusive development rights for the entire island of over 1,000 people and its surroundings. But the fate of the deal is not clear.  The South Pacific region is rich in natural resources, and China’s investments have provoked worries in the U.S. and Australia that the projects could give Beijing an opening to establish a military foothold for everything from ships and planes to its own version of the GPS.  The island of Tulagi served as a South Pacific headquarters for Britain and then Japan. During Second World War, its natural deepwater harbour across from Guadalcanal made it a military gem soldiers fought and died for.  Tulagi is now part of the Solomon Islands.

10. Govt. officials violate RTI Act with impunity, says CIC

Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) Sudhir Bhargava has accused government officials of violating the Right to Information Act with impunity, taking advantage of court orders that they cannot be penalized except in cases of mala fide intent. Public information officers take advantage of this as it is very hard to prove mala fide intent. Data from the commissions showed that they failed to impose penalties in 97% of the cases where violations of the RTI Act took place in 2018-19. Right to Information (RTI) Act 2005 - Objectives of the Act . To empower the citizens . To promote transparency and accountability . To contain corruption and . To enhance people’s participation in democratic process. Features of the Act  It extends to the whole of India except the State of Jammu and Kashmir. DEVELOPING SUCCESS INSTITUTE 9643350984, 011-47021344 Page 10

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 Section- 2(f):"Information" means any material in any form, including Records, Documents, Memos, e-mails, Opinions, Advices, Press releases, Circulars, Orders, Logbooks, Contracts, Reports, Papers, Samples, Models, Data material held in any electronic form and information relating to any private body which can be accessed by a Public Authority under any other law for the time being in force.  Section- 2(j) : "Right to Information" means the right to information accessible under this Act which is held by or under the control of any public authority and includes the right to: . Inspection of work, documents, records; . Taking notes, extracts or certified copies of documents or records; . Taking certified samples of material; . Obtaining information in the form of diskettes, floppies, tapes, video cassettes or in any other electronic mode or through printouts where such information is stored in a computer or in any other device.  "Public authority" means any authority or body or institution of self-government established or constituted— . by or under the Constitution; . by any other law made by Parliament/State Legislature. . by notification issued or order made by the appropriate Government, and includes any— o body owned, controlled or substantially financed; o Non-Government organization substantially financed, directly or indirectly by funds provided by the appropriate Government.  Section 4 of the RTI Act requires suo motu disclosure of information by each public authority. However, such disclosures have remained less than satisfactory.  Section 8 (1) mentions exemptions against furnishing information under RTI Act.  Section 8 (2) provides for disclosure of information exempted under Official Secrets Act, 1923 if larger public interest is served.  The Act also provides for appointment of Information Commissioners at Central and State level. Public authorities have designated some of its officers as Public Information Officer. They are responsible to give information to a person who seeks information under the RTI Act.  Time period: In normal course, information to an applicant is to be supplied within 30 days from the receipt of application by the public authority. If information sought concerns the life or liberty of a person, it shall be supplied within 48 hours.  Section 20 (1) Where the Central Information Commission or the State Information Commission, as the case may be, is of the opinion that the Central Public Information Officer or the State Public Information Officer, as the case may be, has, without any reasonable cause, refused to receive an application for information or has not furnished information within the time specified under sub-section (1) of section 7 or malafidely denied the request for information or knowingly given incorrect, incomplete or misleading information or destroyed information which was the subject of the request or obstructed in any manner in furnishing the information, it shall impose a penalty of two hundred and fifty rupees each day till application is received or information is furnished, so however, the total amount of such penalty shall not exceed twenty-five thousand rupees. Commission can also recommend

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disciplinary action against the Central Public Information Officer or the State Public Information Officer

11. No growth in desi milk-producers: Livestock Census 2019

 The Centre’s drive to increase indigenous breeds of cattle seems to have had little impact among cows kept for dairy purposes, according to data from the 20th Livestock Census. There are 4.85 crore desi (native) milch cows in the country, less than 1% higher than the 4.81 crore population in the last census in 2012.  On the other hand, the milch population of exotic and crossbred cattle — including varieties such as Jersey or Holsteins which have much higher milk yields — saw a whopping growth of 32% over the last seven years, growing from 1.9 crore to 2.5 crore animals.  Milch cattle are cows kept for the purpose of milk production. Among this category, therefore, foreign breeds now have a population that is more than half the population of desi breeds.  The Rashtriya Gokul Mission, launched in 2014, aimed to promote indigenous desi breeds. However, the total population of such cattle — male and female together, milk-producing or not — actually dropped 6% to 14.2 crore animals, while exotic and crossbred cattle saw an overall growth of almost 27% to 5 crore animals.

Rashtriya Gokul Mission  Rashtriya Gokul Mission (RGM) has been launched in December 2014 under Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare with an outlay of Rs 2025 crore for development and conservation of indigenous breeds through selective breeding in the breeding tract and genetic up gradation of nondescript bovine population. The scheme comprises of two components namely National Programme for Bovine Breeding (NPBB) and National Mission on Bovine Productivity (NMBP).  Initiatives under the Rashtriya Gokul Mission . Establishment of integrated cattle development centers ‘Gokul Grams’ to develop indigenous breeds. . Awards for encouraging farmers and breeder societies to rear Indigenous breeds of Bovines such as Gopal Ratna award and Kamdhenu award . National Kamdhenu Breeding Centres are being established as Centres of Excellence to develop and conserve Indigenous Breeds in a holistic and scientific manner. . An e-market portal “E-Pashu Haat”- Nakul Prajnan Bazaar for connecting breeders and farmers, an authentic market for quality- disease-free bovine germplasm. . Pashu Sanjivni Programme encompassing the provision of Animal Health cards (‘Nakul Swasthya Patra’) along with UID identification and uploading data on National Data Base. . Advanced Reproductive Technology to improve the availability of disease-free female bovines. . National Bovine Genomic Center for Indigenous Breeds (NBGC-IB) for selection of breeding bulls of high genetic merit at a young age using highly precise gene-based technology.

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12.Legislative Council abolished in J&K

 The Jammu & Kashmir Legislative Council, the upper house of the Assembly, was abolished on Thursday as per Section 57 of the J&K Reorganisation Act, 2019, which reduced the State to the Union Territories of J&K and Ladakh.  The Council, which had a strength of 36 members, also used to be a part of the Electoral College for the Rajya Sabha elections.  The tenure of all 22 current Members of Legislative Council (MLCs) has also come to an end.  In 1957, a new constitution was adopted by the constituent assembly and the Parliament of India passed the Legislative Councils Act. These two pieces of legislation created a bicameral legislature for Jammu and Kashmir. Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019  The Act reorganizes the state of Jammu and Kashmir into: (i) the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir with a legislature, and (ii) the Union Territory of Ladakh without a legislature. The Union Territory of Ladakh will comprise Kargil and Leh districts, and the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir will comprise the remaining territories of the existing state of Jammu and Kashmir.  Lieutenant Governor: The Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir will be administered by the President, through an administrator appointed by him known as the Lieutenant Governor. The Union Territory of Ladakh will be administered by the President, through a Lieutenant Governor appointed by him.  Legislative Assembly of Jammu and Kashmir: The Act provides for a Legislative Assembly for the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. The total number of seats in the Assembly will be 107. Of these, 24 seats will remain vacant on account of certain areas of Jammu and Kashmir being under the occupation of Pakistan. The Lieutenant Governor may nominate two members to the Legislative Assembly to give representation to women, if they are not adequately represented.  The Assembly will have a term of five years. The Legislative Assembly may make laws for any part of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir related to: (i) any matters specified in the State List of the Constitution, except “Police” and “Public Order”, and (ii) any matter in the Concurrent List applicable to Union Territories. Further, Parliament will have the power to make laws in relation to any matter for the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.  Council of Ministers: The Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir will have a Council of Ministers of not more than ten percent of the total number of members in the Assembly. The Council will aide and advice the Lieutenant Governor on matters that the Assembly has powers to make laws.  Legislative Council: The Legislative Council of the state of Jammu and Kashmir will be abolished. Upon dissolution, all Bills pending in the Council will lapse.

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13.FMCG industry sees worst rural growth in 7 years

 For the first time in seven years, rural growth has fallen below that of urban for the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) industry, whose sales are often looked upon as a barometer of overall economic growth and consumption due to the range and reach of products across price points.  According to a latest study by Nielsen, rural India contributes 36% to the overall FMCG sales  Rural growth took a hit primarily due to high rural inflation, lowest annual wage hike since 2009 and floods in as many as 13 states leading to crop loss and thereby farm income.  First three months of 2020 could see the industry grow in the range of 7.5% to 8.5% due to a combination of factors like government policies, Budget provisions, monsoon, on set of festive season and rise of e-commerce.

FMCG Industry in India- Fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) sector is the 4th Fast-Moving Consumer Goods largest sector in the Indian economy. Growing (FMCG) are products that are awareness, easier access and changing lifestyles have sold quickly and at a relatively been the key growth drivers for the sector. The urban low cost. Examples include non- segment is the largest contributor to the overall durable household goods such as revenue generated by the FMCG sector in India packaged foods, beverages, However, in the last few years, the FMCG market has toiletries, over-the-counter grown at a faster pace in rural India compared with drugs, and other consumables. urban India. Many fast-moving consumer The government has allowed 100 per cent Foreign goods have a short shelf life, Direct Investment (FDI) in food processing and single- either as a result of high brand retail and 51 per cent in multi-brand retail. consumer demand or as the This would bolster employment and supply chains, result of fast deterioration. Some and also provide high visibility for FMCG brands in FMCGs, such as meats, fruits, organized retail markets, bolstering consumer vegetables, dairy products, and spending and encouraging more product launches. baked goods are highly perishable.

14.U.K. to post liaison officer at Navy’s information centre

 The U.K. is “accepting” the offer made by India to place a liaison officer at the Indian Navy’s Information Fusion Centre (IFC) for the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) in Gurugram.

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 India and the U.K. have steadily ramped up their military-to-military cooperation in recent years with a flurry of visits and exchanges. Indian Navy’s Information Fusion Centre (IFC) for the Indian Ocean Region (IOR)

 The IFC-IOR stems from the importance of Significance of Indian Ocean the Indian Ocean to world trade and  home to a vast majority of world’s security, and the need for the various population maritime nations and organizations to  can be considered as the collaborate towards enhancing maritime economic highway that drives safety and security on the seas of this global commerce. region.  With over 75% of the world’s  In addition to utilizing the collective maritime trade and 50% of daily wisdom and resources towards addressing global oil consumption passing myriad challenges in the region, IFC-IOR through the region. will help interface and integrate, wherein,  fragile environment, with threats all partners and stakeholders would such as maritime terrorism, piracy, benefit from each other’s best practices human and contraband trafficking, and expertise. illegal and unregulated fishing,  The IFC has been established at Gurugram, arms running and poaching being India and is collocated with Information prevalent. Management and Analysis Centre which  rich in natural resources. 40% of is jointly administered by the Indian Navy the world’s offshore oil production and Indian Coast Guard. takes place in the Indian Ocean  IFC-IOR is established with the vision of basin. strengthening maritime security in the  Fishing in the Indian Ocean now region and beyond, by building a common accounts for almost 15% of the coherent maritime situation picture and world’s total. acting as a maritime information hub for  Mineral resources are equally the region. important, with nodules  Entire region will benefit by mutual containing nickel, cobalt, and iron, collaboration and exchange of information and massive sulphide deposits of and understanding the concerns and manganese, copper, iron, zinc, threats which are prevalent in the region. silver, and gold present in sizeable  The information Exchange at the IFC-IOR quantities on the sea bed. would be initially undertaken by virtual means, using telephone calls, faxes, emails and video conferencing over internet. Subsequently, to enable better interconnection, quicker analysis of information and provide timely inputs, the IFC-IOR would host Liaison Officers from partner countries.

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 Through this Centre, information on “white shipping”, or commercial shipping, will be exchanged with countries in the region to improve maritime domain awareness in the Indian Ocean.  Additionally, towards enhancing capability building, the IFC-IOR would undertake conduct of exercises and training capsules in maritime information collection and sharing. The setting up of IFC-IOR underscores the governmental approach towards Security and Growth of All in the Region (SAGAR).

15.C40 Cities World Mayors Summit

 The C40 World Mayors Summit in Copenhagen to build a global coalition of leading cities, businesses and citizens that rallies around the radical and ambitious climate action our planet needs. Kolkata bagged award for green mobility at the summit.  The C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group (C40) is a group of 94 cities around the world that represents one twelfth of the world's population and one quarter of the global economy.  Around the world, C40 Cities connects 94 of the world’s greatest cities to take bold climate action, leading the way towards a healthier and more sustainable future. Mayors of the C40 cities are committed to delivering on the most goals of the Paris Agreement at the local level, as well as to cleaning the air we breathe.  C40 started in 2005 from London, U.K.  Indian Cities – Bengaluru, Chennai, Jaipur, Kolkata, Mumbai, New Delhi.

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16.Food Safety Mitra (FSM) Scheme

 Food Safety Mitra (FSM) scheme for strengthening and scaling up ‘Eat Right India’ movement launched.  It is a scheme launched by Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)to support small and medium scale food businesses to comply with the food safety laws and facilitate licensing and registration, hygiene ratings and training.  Apart from strengthening food safety, this scheme would also create new employment opportunities for youth, particularly with food and nutrition background.  The scheme will increase transparency in the food business and reduce hassle, by training individuals (Food Safety Mitra) to assist food business operators (FBO) with registration and licencing.  Food Safety Mitra will have three roles - . A digital mitra will file new applications for licensing or registration, respond to queries and look into suspended licenses or registration. . A trainer mitra will train food safety supervisors and conduct trainings at ‘Eat Right’ campuses certified by the FSSAI. . A hygiene mitra will conduct audits at FBO outlets to check if they are implementing hygiene safety guidelines. Hygiene mitras will also train food safety supervisors and food handlers about safe and hygienic practices to handle food. Eat Right Movement  Eat Right Movement built on two broad pillars of ‘Eat Healthy’ and ‘Eat Safe’, aims to engage, excite and enable citizens to improve their health and wellbeing. Led by FSSAI, it is a collective effort to make both the demand and supply-side interventions through engagement of key stakeholders. . On the demand side, it focuses on social and behavioural change among citizens and nudging citizens towards making the right food choices. . On the supply side it focuses on nudging the food businesses to reformulate their products, provide better nutritional information to consumers and make investments in healthy food as responsible food businesses.  Eat Healthy pillar is about nudging citizens to make healthy food choices and building healthy food habits. It encourages them to choose nutritious and fortified foods in the right proportion and limit foods that are high in salt, sugar and fat. It also stresses upon the importance of physical activity and mental wellbeing.  Eat Safe pillar is about ensuring food safety to prevent food borne diseases. It includes maintaining hygiene and sanitation, proper waste disposal and combating adulteration.  It brings together three ongoing initiatives of FSSAI –  The Safe and Nutritious Food (SNF) Initiative  The Eat Healthy Campaign  Food Fortification

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 It is a multi-sectoral effort with primary focus on reducing our daily intake of salt, sugar, fat, phasing out trans-fats from our diets and promoting healthier food options.

17.TB cases see decrease in India

. The Tuberculosis incidence rate in India has decreased by almost 50,000 patients over the past one year, according to the World Health Organization (WHO)-2019 edition of the Global Tuberculosis (TB) Report. . The report notes that in 2017, India had 27.4 lakh TB patients which came down to 26.9 lakh in 2018. Incidence per 1,00,000 Tuberculosis (TB) population has decreased . Tuberculosis (TB) is caused by bacteria from 204 in 2017 to 199 in (Mycobacterium tuberculosis) that most often 2018 affect the lungs. Tuberculosis is curable and . TB remains the top preventable. infectious killer in the . TB is spread from person to person through the air. world claiming over 4,000 . About one-quarter of the world's population has lives a day. This report latent TB, which means people have been infected presents progress towards by TB bacteria but are not (yet) ill with the disease targets set at the first-ever and cannot transmit the disease. United Nations General . Persons with compromised immune systems, such Assembly high-level as people living with HIV, malnutrition or diabetes, meeting on TB in 2018, or people who use tobacco, have a higher risk of that brought together falling ill. heads of state, as well as . Over 95% of cases and deaths are in developing the targets of the WHO countries. End TB Strategy and . People with undernutrition are 3 times more at Sustainable Development risk. Goals. . On 26 September 2018, the United Nations (UN) . The India TB-Report 2019 held its first- ever high-level meeting on TB, notes that India is closest elevating discussion about the status of the TB ever to covering all TB epidemic and how to end it to the level of heads of cases through the online state and government. It followed the first global notification system ministerial conference on TB hosted by WHO and (NIKSHAY). “With the aim the Russian government in November 2017. The of universal access to free outcome was a political declaration agreed by all diagnostics and treatment UN Member States, in which existing services, state-of-the-art commitments to the Sustainable Development diagnostic tests and quality Goals (SDGs) and WHO’s End TB Strategy were assured drugs have been reaffirmed, and new ones added. SDG Target 3.3 extended to all patients includes ending the TB epidemic by 2030. seeking TB care,” notes the . DEVELOPING SUCCESS INSTITUTE 9643350984, 011-47021344 Page 18

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India report. . In India, of the estimated 2.69 million TB cases emerging in 2018, 2.15 million were reported to the Government of India — leaving a gap of 5,40,000 patients who are going unreported.

18. Terror funding watchdog puts Pakistan on notice

 The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) retained Pakistan on the “grey list” and gave a stern warning that it will be blacklisted if it does not fulfil the global standards criteria on combating terrorist financing by February 2020.  The terror financing watchdog discussed Pakistan's actions for countering terror financing and anti-money laundering at the International Co-operation Review Group (ICRG) plenary in Paris.  Pakistan was placed on the grey list by the FATF in June 2018 and was given a plan of action to complete by October 2019, or face the risk of being placed on the black list with Iran and North Korea.  Since Pakistan continues to be in the FATF 'Grey List', it would be difficult for the country to get financial aid from the IMF, the World Bank, ADB and the European Union. Financial Action Task Force (FATF)  The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) is an inter-governmental body established in 1989.  The objectives of the FATF are to set standards and promote effective implementation of legal, regulatory and operational measures for combating money laundering, terrorist financing and other related threats to the integrity of the international financial system. The FATF is therefore a “policy-making body” which works to generate the necessary political will to bring about national legislative and regulatory reforms in these areas.  The Financial Action Task Force (FATF), also known by its French name, Grouped d'action financiered (GAFI), is an intergovernmental organization founded in 1989 on the initiative of the G7 to develop policies to combat money laundering. In 2001 its mandate expanded to include terrorism financing. In April 2012, it added efforts to counter the financing of proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.  Secretariat is housed at the OECD headquarters in Paris.  The FATF currently comprises 37 member jurisdictions (including India) and 2 regional organizations, representing most major financial centers in all parts of the globe.  The FATF has developed a series of Recommendations that are recognised as the international standard for combating of money laundering and the financing of terrorism and proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. They form the basis for a co-ordinated response to these threats to the integrity of the financial system and help ensure a level playing field. First issued in 1990, the FATF Recommendations were revised in 1996, 2001, 2003 and most recently in 2012 to ensure that they remain up to date and relevant, and they are intended to be of universal application.

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 The FATF monitors the progress of its members in implementing necessary measures, reviews money laundering and terrorist financing techniques and counter- measures, and promotes the adoption and implementation of appropriate measures globally. In collaboration with other international stakeholders, the FATF works to identify national-level vulnerabilities with the aim of protecting the international financial system from misuse.  The FATF's decision making body, the FATF Plenary, meets three times per year. 19.37.7% of processed milk samples unsafe : FSSAI

 Milk samples from Telangana, followed by Madhya Pradesh and Kerala accounted for the highest number of cases of adulteration, according to a national milk sample safety quality survey released by the Food Safety and Standard Authority of India (FSSAI)  The study noted that processed milk, including that of major brands, failed to meet the prescribed quality norm in 37.7% of the total samples tested, and in the safety parameters too, 10.4% of the processed milk samples were non-compliant.  10.4% of the total processed milk samples failed to comply with the FSSAI norm as contaminants like aflatoxin-M1, antibiotics and pesticides were found. In case of raw milk, non-compliance was at an even higher rate of 47% of the total samples of 3,825.  In terms of quality, the survey found that 37.7% of the total sample of processed milk did not comply with quality parameters because the presence of contaminants such as fats, Maltodextrin and sugar were above permissible limits.  Following this report, the FSSAI has now directed the organized dairy sector to strictly start complying with the quality norms by January 1, 2020.  Contamination was more a serious problem than adulteration. Problem of Aflatoxin- M1 is more dominant in processed milk than raw milk.  In large doses, aflatoxins can be life threatening, usually through damage to liver.  Aflatoxin-M1, a kind of fungus comes in the milk through feed and fodder that are currently not regulated in the country, and it is for the first time that such a detailed survey of the presence of this residue in milk has been done in India.  India is the world’s largest producer of milk. The total estimated milk production in the country was 176.35 million tonnes during 2017-18. Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)

 Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is an autonomous body established under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India.  The FSSAI has been established under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006which is a consolidating statute related to food safety and regulation in India.  FSSAI is responsible for protecting and promoting public health through the regulation and supervision of food safety.  The FSSAI has its headquarters at New Delhi.  The FSSAI consists of a chairperson & 22 members. DEVELOPING SUCCESS INSTITUTE 9643350984, 011-47021344 Page 20

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 Powers and Functions - . Framing of regulations to lay down food safety standards . Laying down guidelines for accreditation of laboratories for food testing . Providing scientific advice and technical support to the Central Government . Contributing to the development of international technical standards in food . Collecting and collating data regarding food consumption, contamination, emerging risks etc. . Disseminating information and promoting awareness about food safety and nutrition in India 20. Downturn in India-Turkey ties

 The Government of India (GoI) has decided to put off a proposed visit by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Ankara, as a part of a number of measures showing its displeasure over Turkish President Recip Tayyip Erdogan’s UNGA (United Nations General Assembly) speech last month where he criticized its move on Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir.  India’s sharp criticism of Ankara’s military operations in Syria (Operation Peace Spring) this week, as well as an “expected” decision to cancel the selection of Turkey’s Anadolu shipyard to build naval support ships for it followed its “unhappiness” over Turkey’s stand on Kashmir.  Rules for local procurement and security concerns over Anadolu’s work for the Pakistan navy were reasons for the likely cancellation; Turkey’s recent statements and its support for Pakistan at the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) on terror financing were also considered. India-Turkey Relations

 There are historical connections between India and Turkey. The first exchange of diplomatic missions between the Ottoman Sultans and the Muslim rulers of the subcontinent dates back to the years 1481-82. The Sufi philosophy of Mevlana Jelaluddin Rumi found resonance in the Indian sub-continent with its own traditions of Sufism and the Bhakti movement.  India also extended support in the 1920s to Turkey’s War of Independence and the formation of the Turkish Republic. Mahatma Gandhi himself took a stand against the injustices inflicted on Turkey at the end of World War-I.  Bilateral relations have remained warm and cordial although some sporadic tensions are present because of turkey’s aligned position with Pakistan. Balance of trade is in India’s favour.

21. Walk For Freedom

 In an effort to raise awareness against human trafficking and modern-day slavery, Chennai and nine other Indian cities joined the global discourse as part of the ‘Walk

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for Freedom’ event on October 19. The event, which is will take place simultaneously in 450 locations across 50 countries, will see participants taking a pledge to end human trafficking.  This is the third time that the awareness drive is taking place in India  The annual Walk For Freedom was organised by A21, a global anti-human trafficking organisation, in association with The Movement India, a Mumbai-based non-profit organisation. Human Trafficking

 Human trafficking involves recruitment, harbouring or transporting people into a situation of exploitation through the use of violence, deception or coercion and forced to work against their will.  In other words, trafficking is a process of enslaving people, coercing them into a situation with no way out, and exploiting them.  People can be trafficked for many different forms of exploitation such as forced prostitution, forced labour, forced begging, forced criminality, domestic servitude, forced marriage, and forced organ removal.  When children are trafficked, no violence or coercion needs to be involved. Simply bringing them into exploitative conditions constitutes trafficking.  Smuggling or trafficking? . People often confuse human trafficking and people smuggling. People smuggling is the illegal movement of people across international borders for a fee. On arrival, the smuggled person is free. . Human trafficking is different. The trafficker is moving a person for exploitation. There is no need to cross an international border. Human trafficking occurs at a national level, or even within one community.  Human trafficking in numbers(Global Report on Trafficking in Persons (GLOTIP) 2014 by The United Nations Office for Drugs and Crime (UNODC)) . 49% of identified victims of trafficking are women, 33% children and 18% men . 72% people exploited in the sex industry are women . 72% of identified traffickers were men and 28% women . 43% of victims are trafficked domestically within national borders  International Efforts to end Human trafficking – . The Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially Women and Children, was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 2000 and entered into force on 25 December 2003. . The Trafficking Protocol, which supplements the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, is the only international legal instrument addressing human trafficking as a crime and falls under the jurisdiction of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). 22.Mars had salt lakes similar to Earth: study

 Mars once had salt lakes that went through wet and dry phases similar to those on Earth, according to a study published in the journal Nature Geosciences. DEVELOPING SUCCESS INSTITUTE 9643350984, 011-47021344 Page 22

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 This indicates that the red planet’s climate ‘dried out’ a long time. According to the researchers, over 3 billion years ago, the lake that was present in Gale Crater — a rocky basin that is being explored with NASA’s Curiosity rover since 2012 — underwent a drying episode possibly linked to the global drying of Mars. The Gale Crater formed about 3.6 billion years ago when a meteor hit Mars, the study noted.  According to the researchers, liquid water on Mars may have become unsustainable and evaporated as the planet’s atmosphere and the pressure of the surface became thinner.  Salt ponds on Mars are similar to some found on the Earth such as those in a region called Altiplano near the Bolivia-Peru border.  Altiplano is an arid, high-altitude plateau where rivers and streams from mountain ranges “do not flow to the sea but lead to closed basins, similar to what used to happen at Gale Crater on Mars”. “This hydrology creates lakes with water levels heavily influenced by climate. During the arid periods Altiplano lakes become shallow due to evaporation, and some even dry up entirely,” she said.  According to the researchers, the climate on Mars may have similarly fluctuated between wetter and drier periods.

23. How insects, pests wipe off Ajanta cave paintings

 A classic masterpiece of Buddhist art, the Ajanta caves (Maharashtra), is a UNESCO world heritage site and a protected monument of the Archaeological Survey of India. But the cave paintings have started deteriorating in the past few decades and are losing the battle against insects and other climatic stressors.  A research team from National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (CSIR- NEERI) writes that the most common insects were silverfish, beetles and common bugs. Another main problem was the entry of rainwater and water from the Waghura River. This leads to dampness in the cave atmosphere causing an increase in algae, fungi, insects, and microbes. All these together were changing the original colour of the paintings — white is turning to yellow and blue is becoming green.  The researchers have suggested using certain lights and colour to tackle the problem of insects. For instance, they suggest using ultraviolet light traps as nocturnal insects are known to get attracted to ultraviolet radiation. Also many diurnal species move to yellow light traps so yellow lamps can also be an excellent tool to effectively control moths. Ajanta Cave Paintings

 There are about 30 rock-cut Buddhist cave monuments which date from the 2nd century BCE to about 480 or 650 CE. The Ajanta cave paintings and rock cut sculptures are described as among the finest surviving examples of ancient Indian art, particularly expressive painting that present emotion through gesture, pose and form.

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 The majority of caves were Viharas, (Buddhist monastery halls of residence) with five Chaitya-grihas (stupa halls) containing Buddhist shrines.  The paintings in the Ajanta caves predominantly narrate the Jataka tales (legends about previous births of Buddha). 24. RCEP trade negotiations

Negotiations on the final agreement under the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) are becoming increasingly urgent as the deadline approaches. The RCEP countries are expected to finalise, in November 2019, the agreement and the countries that would be members. What is RCEP?  Once finalised, the RCEP trade grouping will be one of the world’s biggest free trade pacts as it includes the 10 Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), as well as India, China, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and South Korea.  These 16 nations account for a little less than half of the world’s population and about a third of the world’s GDP. Trade between the 16 countries also makes up a little more than a quarter of global trade.  Talks on finalising RCEP began all the way back in 2012, but have not yet been concluded. The uncertainty in global trade is slowing down talks further. What are the potential benefits and disadvantages?

 Once the deal is concluded, it will likely bring stability to trade relations in an area where such ties have historically been unpredictable.  The deal — in essence a free trade agreement between the signatories — would open up markets of each of the partner countries to the others.  On the face of it, this is a favourable outcome for all involved, but there are some niggling issues, especially between India and China, that are throwing a spanner in the works.  In addition, there is a fear that, at a time when the U.S. and China are embroiled in a trade war, a trade grouping with China at the helm would mean that the other countries, including India, would be forced to take its side against the U.S. This is a complicated issue since India has been going to great lengths to further bolster trade with the U.S. In fact, the two countries are currently in talks on a bilateral trade deal, which could be put at risk if India is seen to be overtly siding with China. What are India’s issues with RCEP?

 The main problem Indian industry has with the RCEP trade deal is that it would give China near-unfettered access to India markets. Cheap imports from China have already been seen to be impacting India’s domestic industry, with the Indian government having taken a number of steps to curb such imports. These include imposing a safeguard duty on solar panel imports, and imposing anti-dumping measures on items such as steel. DEVELOPING SUCCESS INSTITUTE 9643350984, 011-47021344 Page 24

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 According to reports from the various RCEP negotiations that have taken place, India would, under the agreement, reduce duties on 80% of items imported from China.  Under the agreement, India would have to cut duties on 86% of imports from Australia and New Zealand, and 90% for products from ASEAN, Japan and South Korea.  There are several other aspects to the RCEP agreement which include investments and e-commerce that are of major concern as well. . It has already been reported that India has agreed to the investment chapter of the RCEP agreement, which would mean that the government can no longer mandate that a company investing in India must also transfer technology and know-how to its Indian partners. The investment chapter also says that a signatory government cannot set a cap on the amount of royalties an Indian company can pay to its foreign parent or partner. These aspects have also raised concerns since technology sharing was a major way in which Indian companies were being able to compete globally. Further, there is also the fear that companies might be forced to transfer huge royalty sums to foreign partners, instead of paying dividends to Indian shareholders. . The e-commerce chapter, which is still under negotiation, is quite tricky because it contains provisions that, if agreed to, would mean that India would not be able to pursue its data localisation plans. The wording of the agreement would be key. What is the way forward? China has already said that the grouping should go ahead without the nay-sayers, with a clause allowing them to join later. This suggestion was echoed by Malaysia as well, but was ultimately rejected.It does not seem a good idea for India to be out of the agreement from its inception, only to join it later. This would mean it would have missed out on the chance to frame the discussions and the precedents from the beginning and would have to accept them later.

25. Government appoints 3 new members to PMEAC

 The government has appointed economists Neelkanth Mishra, Neelesh Shah and V. Anantha Nageswaran to the Prime Minister's Economic Advisory Council (PMEAC).The moves comes soon after the PMEAC was reconstituted, with the new members appointed for two years.  Bibek Debroy remains the chairman of the PMEAC and Ratan Watal its Member- Secretary.  Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (EAC-PM) is a non-constitutional, non-permanent and independent body constituted to give advice on economic and related issues to the Government of India, specifically to the Prime Minister.

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 The Terms of Reference of EAC-PM include . analyzing any issue, economic or otherwise, referred to it by the Prime Minister and advising him thereon, . addressing issues of macroeconomic importance and presenting views thereon to the Prime Minister. These could be either suo-motu or on reference from the Prime Minister or anyone else. . attending to any other task as may be desired by the Prime Minister from time to time.  The PMEAC has been constituted several times since the independence of India.

26. IMF members delay quota changes, agree to maintain funding

At a time when multilateral institutions stand on increasingly shaky ground, members of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) agreed to maintain it’sfunding at $ 1 trillion but postponed changes to its voting structure. The deal is a compromise with the U.S., the Fund’s largest shareholder, which has resisted changes to the organisation’s voting structure as well as increases in its permanent resource base. Supplementary sources New deal will allow an extension of non-permanent, supplementary sources of funds – such as the

 New Arrangement to Borrow (NAB), a renewable funding mechanism that has existed since 1998. Agreement envisions potential doubling of the NAB.  Bilateral borrowings from countries - the IMF had entered into these after the 2008 financial crisis to increase its lending ability. The agreement extended the bilateral borrowing facility by a year to the end of 2020. Deal Doesn’t Change Quotas (Primary Source of IMF funds)

 Specifically, the agreed package will leave IMF quotas (the primary source of IMF funds), which determine voting shares, unchanged. Instead, these will be reviewed before the end of 2023.  Some IMF members have become frustrated with the pace of governance reforms, as the balance of economic and geopolitical power has shifted, becoming more dispersed across the world, particularly with the emergence of China and India - among the world’s largest and fastest growing economies.  IMF quotas are distributed according to a four pronged formula that considers a member country’s GDP, its economic openness, its “economic variability” and international reserves.  India’s quota is 2.76% and China’s is 6.41%, while the U.S.’s quota is 17.46 % (translates to a vote share of 16.52%) giving it a unique veto power over crucial decisions at the IMF, many of which require a supermajority of 85%.

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 The U.S. has resisted diluting its share, wary that it will benefit countries such as China.  Quotas are supposed to be reviewed every five years although these reviews can be delayed – as was the case with the 14th review. That process, completed in 2010, needed approval of the U.S. Congress, and it was not closed out till early 2016. The review’s outcomes included a doubling of the quota total and a shift in some voting rights to underrepresented and emerging market countries. India’s vote share increased marginally.  The 15th quota review is currently underway. Where the IMF Gets Its Money

 Quotas are the IMF’s main source of financing. Each member of the IMF is assigned a quota, based broadly on its relative position in the world economy.  Multilateral Borrowing Arrangements -Through the New Arrangements to Borrow (NAB) a number of member countries and institutions stand ready to lend additional resources to the IMF. The NAB constitutes a second line of defense to supplement IMF resources to forestall or cope with an impairment of the international monetary system.  Bilateral Borrowing Agreements serve as a third line of defense after quotas and the NAB. Since the onset of the global financing crisis, the IMF has entered into several rounds of bilateral borrowing agreements to ensure that it could meet the financing needs of its members. International Monetary Fund (IMF)  The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is an organization of 189 countries, working to foster global monetary cooperation, secure financial stability, facilitate international trade, promote high employment and sustainable economic growth, and reduce poverty around the world.  The IMF was conceived in July 1944 at the United Nations Bretton Woods Conference in New Hampshire, United States. Created in 1945, the IMF is governed by and accountable to the 189 countries that make up its near-global membership.  The IMF's primary purpose is to ensure the stability of the international monetary system—the system of exchange rates and international payments that enables countries (and their citizens) to transact with each other. The Fund's mandate was updated in 2012 to include all macroeconomic and financial sector issues that bear on global stability.  Surveillance: In order to maintain stability and prevent crises in the international monetary system, the IMF monitors member country policies as well as national, regional, and global economic and financial developments through a formal system known as surveillance. The IMF provides advice to member countries and promotes policies designed to foster economic stability, reduce vulnerability to economic and financial crises, and raise living standards.  Financial assistance: Providing loans to member countries that are experiencing actual or potential balance-of- payments problems is a core responsibility of the IMF. Individual country adjustment programs are designed in close cooperation with the IMF and are supported by IMF financing, and ongoing financial support is dependent on effective implementation of these adjustments.  Capacity development: The IMF provides technical assistance and training to help member countries build better economic institutions and strengthen related human capacities.  SDRs: The IMF issues an international reserve asset known as Special Drawing Rights, or SDRs,that can supplement the official reserves of member countries.

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27.DNA Technology Regulation Bill referred to parliamentary standing committee

The DNA Technology Regulation Bill, which seeks to control the use of DNA technology for establishing the identity of a person, has been referred to a parliamentary standing committee on science and technology for examination.

The Bill that seeks to control the use and application of the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) technology for establishing the identity of certain categories of persons, including offenders, victims, suspects and under trials, was passed by the Lok Sabha in July.

The DNA Technology (Use and Application) Regulation Bill, 2019

 Use of DNA Data: Under the Bill, DNA testing is allowed only in respect of matters listed in the Schedule to the Bill. These include offences under the Indian Penal Code, 1860, and for civil matters such as paternity suits. Further, the Schedule includes DNA testing for matters related to establishment of individual identity.  Collection of DNA: While preparing a DNA profile, bodily substances of persons may be collected by the investigating authorities. Authorities are required to obtain consent for collection in certain situations. For arrested persons, authorities are required to obtain written consent if the offence carries a punishment of up to seven years. If the offence carries more than seven years of imprisonment or death, consent is not required.  DNA Data Bank: The Bill provides for the establishment of a National DNA Data Bank and Regional DNA Data Banks, for every state, or two or more states. DNA laboratories are required to share DNA data prepared by them with the National and Regional DNA Data Banks. Every Data Bank will be required to maintain indices for the following categories of data: (i) a crime scene index, (ii) a suspects’ or under trials’ index, (iii) an offenders’ index, (iv) a missing persons’ index, and (v) an unknown deceased persons’ index.  Removal of DNA profiles: The Bill states that the criteria for entry, retention, or removal of the DNA profile will be specified by regulations. However, the Bill provides for removal of the DNA profiles of the following persons: (i) of a suspect if a police report is filed or court order given, (ii) of an under trial if a court order is given, and (iii) on written request, for persons who are not a suspect, offender or under trial, from the crime scene or missing persons’ index.  DNA Regulatory Board: The Bill provides for the establishment of a DNA Regulatory Board, which will supervise the DNA Data Banks and DNA laboratories. The Secretary, Department of Biotechnology, will be the ex officio Chairperson of the Board.  Functions of the Board: The functions of the Board include: (i) advising governments on all issues related to establishing DNA laboratories or Data Banks, and (ii) granting accreditation to DNA laboratories. Further, the Board is required to ensure that all information relating to DNA profiles with the Data Banks, laboratories, and other persons are kept confidential.

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 DNA laboratories: Any laboratory undertaking DNA testing is required to obtain accreditation from the Board. Every DNA laboratory is required to follow standards for quality assurance in collection, storing, and analysis of DNA samples.  Offences: The Bill specifies penalties for various offences, including: (i) for disclosure of DNA information, or (ii) using DNA sample without authorization. For instance, disclosure of DNA information will be punishable with imprisonment of up to three years and fine of up to one lakh rupees.

28.Global Hunger Index 2019: India ranked lower than Nepal, Pakistan, Bangladesh

 India is ranked 102 of 117 countries in the Global Hunger Index 2019, behind its neighbours Nepal, Pakistan and Bangladesh.  The Report termed the level of hunger in India “serious”.  In 2018, it was ranked 103 out of 119 countries. In 2000, the country was ranked 83 out of 113 countries. Now, with 117 countries in the fray, it has dropped to 102.  Its GHI score has also decelerated — from 38.9 in 2005 to 32 in 2010 and then from 32 to 30.3 between 2010 and 2019.  The share of wasting among children in India rose from 16.5% in the 2008-2012 period to 20.8% in 2014-2018, according to the report.  Just 9.6% of all children between 6 and 23 months of age are fed a “minimum acceptable diet”, it said. “India’s child wasting rate is extremely high at 20.8%, the highest for any country in this report,” it said. Countries like Yemen and Djibouti, which are conflict-ridden and facing severe climate issues respectively, fared better than India on that front.  Neighboring countries like Nepal (73), Sri Lanka (66), Bangladesh (88), Myanmar (69) and Pakistan (94) are also in the ‘serious’ hunger category, but have fared better at feeding its citizens than India, according to the report.

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 However, India has shown improvement in other indicators such as the under-5 mortality rate, prevalence of stunting among children and prevalence of undernourishment owing to inadequate food, the report said.

Global Hunger Index (GHI) GHI is a tool designed to comprehensively measure and track hunger at global, regional, and national levels. GHI scores are calculated each year to assess progress and setbacks in combating hunger. The GHI is designed to raise awareness and understanding of the struggle against hunger, provide a way to compare levels of hunger between countries and regions, and call attention to those areas of the world where hunger levels are highest and where the need for additional efforts to eliminate hunger is greatest.  The GHI score is calculated on four indicators – . under nourishment; . child wasting, the share of children under the age of five who are wasted (that is, who have low weight for their height, reflecting acute under nutrition); . child stunting, children under the age of five who have low height for their age, reflecting chronic under nutrition; and . child mortality, the mortality rate of children under the age of five.  Created in 2006, the GHI was initially published by the US based International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) and Germany based Welthungerhilfe. In 2007, the Irish NGO Concern Worldwide also became a co-publisher. 2018 onwards, the GHI is a joint project of Welthungerhilfe and Concern Worldwide, with IFPRI stepping aside from its involvement in the report.

29.Siachen now open for tourism

 The Siachen area is now open for tourists and Tourism. From Siachen Base Camp to Kumar Post, the entire area has been opened for Tourism purposes.  There is already a civil trek from the Siachen Base Camp to the Kumar post located at about 15,500 feet facilitated by the Army. While it was supposed to be annual, it was cancelled on several occasions due to weather and border tensions.  The ‘Col Chewang Rinchen Setu’ was constructed by the Border Roads Organization (BRO) at an altitude of 14650 feet in the forward area of Ladakh region.  Setu will not only provide all weather connectivity in the region but also be a strategic asset in the border areas.  The construction of the 1400-ft.-long bridge started in 2007. It will be boost road connectivity from Drabuk to Daulat-Beg-Oldie (DBO). This is part of the strategic roads under construction to facilitate faster movement of the military.

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Siachen Glacier  The Siachen Glacier at the height of around 20,000 ft in the Karakoram Range(just northeast of the point NJ9842 where the Line of Control between India and Pakistan ends) is known as the highest militarised zone in the world.  At 76 km (47 mi) long, it is the longest glacier in the Karakoram and second-longest in the world's non- polar areas.  About 35 years ago it was closed down for civilians. Pakistan, in the early 1980s, started sending expeditions there, triggering an alarm in India that it could be a ploy to capture the strategically important region. Wary of Pakistani misadventure, India rushed its troops in 1984 under 'Operation Meghdoot' and has ever since maintained strategic control of the glacier. 30.Total wealth in India touches $12.6 trillion - Credit Suisse study

 Total wealth in India increased fourfold between 2000 and 2019, reaching $12.6 trillion in 2019, making India the fifth globally in terms of the number of ultra-high net-worth individuals.  According to the study, the wealth per adult in India grew by an average of 11% annually over the period 2000–2019 and the wealth per adult is estimated at $14,569 in mid-2019 after a year of moderate growth.  Personal wealth in India is dominated by property and other real assets, which make up the bulk of household assets.  Incidentally, while India has 8.27 lakh adults in the top 1% of global wealth holders – 1.6% share of the global pool — it is estimated that India has 4,460 adults with wealth of over $50 million and 1,790 that have more than $100 million.  However, the study also found that while the number of wealthy people in India has been on the rise, a larger section of the population has still not been part of the growth in overall wealth.

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 “While wealth has been rising in India, not everyone has shared in this growth. There is still considerable wealth poverty, reflected in the fact that 78% of the adult population has wealth below $10,000,” stated the report, while highlighting the fact that a small fraction of the population — 1.8% of adults — has a net worth of more than $100,000. Meanwhile, as per the financial major, India is expected to grow its wealth very rapidly and add $4.4 trillion in just five years, reflecting an increase of 43%.

Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation (DICGC)

 Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation (DICGC) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Reserve Bank of India.  The functions of the DICGC are governed by the provisions of 'The Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation Act, 1961' (DICGC Act) and 'The Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation General Regulations, 1961' framed by the Reserve Bank of India.  Banks covered by Deposit Insurance Scheme . All commercial banks including the branches of foreign banks functioning in India, Local Area Banks and Regional Rural Banks. . Co-operative Banks - All eligible co-operative banks as defined in Section 2(gg) of the DICGC Act are covered by the Deposit Insurance Scheme. All State, Central and Primary co- operative banks functioning in the States/Union Territories which have amended their Co- operative Societies Act as required under the DICGC Act, 1961  Types of Deposits Covered DICGC insures all bank deposits, such as saving, fixed, current, recurring, etc. except the following types of deposits. . Deposits of foreign Governments; . Deposits of Central/State Governments; . Inter-bank deposits . Deposits of the State Land Development Banks with the State co-operative banks; . Any amount due on account of and deposit received outside India . Any amount which has been specifically exempted by the corporation with the previous approval of the RBI. At present all Co-operative banks are covered by the Scheme. The Union Territories of Lakshadweep and Dadra and Nagar Haveli do not have Co-operative Banks.

31.Revisiting deposit insurance

The latest Punjab & Maharashtra Cooperative bank crisis has put the focus back on bank deposit insurance. In India, the insurance limit of deposits is woefully small compared to other economies as the amount has not been raised in the last 26 years.  At a time when the banking sector is going through liquidations and amalgamations, a low sum insured is a danger to depositors.

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 The government has set up Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation (DICGC) under RBI to protect depositors if a bank fails.  As of today, bank deposits are insured for a sum of ₹1 lakh -- this figure was last revised in 1993.  Compared to many BRICS nations, countries of comparable per capita income and advanced economies, India has the lowest deposit insurance limit.  As of FY19, only 28% of Indian bank deposits were insured. Back in FY '92, it peaked at 75.4%. In the following years, income levels increased, and deposits grew, thus rendering the deposit cover “insufficient”  61% of bank accounts have less than ₹1 lakh, but they contribute to only 7.8% of the total deposit base - They are the safest customers in case a bank fails as their entire money is insured.  On the other end of the spectrum, 0.2% of bank accounts have more than ₹1 crore, and they contribute to 32.5% of total deposit base. Most of these accounts are in stronger banks which rarely fail.  About 38.7% of accounts which have between ₹1 lakh and ₹1 crore forms 59.7% of the total deposit base.  Recommendations to raise deposit insurance limit . The Raghuram Rajan Committee on Financial Sector Reforms 2009 recommended strengthening the capacity of the Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation, a more explicit system of prompt, corrective action, and making deposit insurance premium more risk-based. . M Damodaram Committee 2011 recommended raising deposit insurance limit to Rs. 5 Lakh from present limit of Rs. 1 Lakh. 32.Centre all set to revamp British era Indian Penal Code

The Home Ministry is all set to overhaul the Indian Penal Code (IPC) designed by the British. The idea behind the overhaul is that the master-servant concept envisaged in IPC should change. After it was framed, the IPC has never been amended in totality. Some additions and deletions have been made.  Recently the Ministry wrote to all States and Union Territories seeking suggestions to amend various sections of the IPC.Two committees comprising legal luminaries have also been constituted by the Ministry.  Indian Penal Code (IPC) – The Indian Penal Code (IPC) is the official criminal code of India. It is a comprehensive code intended to cover all substantive aspects of criminal law. The code was drafted in 1860 on the recommendations of first law commission of India established in 1834 under the Charter Act of 1833 under the Chairmanship of Lord Thomas Babington Macaulay. It came into force in British India during the early British Raj period in 1862.  Way Forward in amending IPC – . Victimological underpinnings ought to be given a major thrust in reforming laws to identify the rights of crime victims. The launch of victim and witness protection schemes, use of victim impact statements, advent of victim advocacy, increased victim participation in criminal trials, enhanced access of DEVELOPING SUCCESS INSTITUTE 9643350984, 011-47021344 Page 33

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victims to compensation and restitution all point towards the increased role of victims in the criminal justice system. . Construction of new offences and reworking of the existing classification of offences must be informed by the principles of criminal jurisprudence. For instance, liability questions in offences need a fresh look. Criminal liability could be graded better to assign the degree of punishments. . New types of punishments like community service orders, restitution orders, and other aspects of restorative and reformative justice could also be brought in this fold. . The scheme of chapters and classification of offences can be drastically reworked. Chapters of the IPC are overloaded at several places. Chapterscan be redefined and narrowed. New offences under a fresh classification scheme, like those suggested by the Malimath Committee on criminal justice reforms, can be introduced. . Unprincipled criminalisation must be avoided to save the state from dealing with too many entrants into the criminal justice system. Unprincipled criminalisation often leads to not only the creation of new offences on unscientific grounds, but also arbitrariness in the criminal justice system. . On the procedural side, sentencing reforms are highly imperative. Principled sentencing is needed as judges at present have the discretion to decide the quantum and nature of sentence to be imposed and often sentence convicts differently for crimes of the same nature and/or gravity.

33.Crime in India Report 2017 - NCRB After a delay of two years the annual Crime in India Report 2017 was published by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB).  Crime against Women - As per the report, 3,59,849 cases of crime against women were reported in the country. Uttar Pradesh topped the list with 56,011 cases followed by Maharashtra with 31,979 cases and West Bengal 30,002. Majority of cases under crimes against women were registered under . ‘Cruelty by Husband or his Relatives’ (27.9%) followed by . ‘Assault on Women with Intent to Outrage her Modesty’ (21.7%), . ‘Kidnapping & Abduction of Women’ (20.5%) and . ‘Rape’ (7.0%)  Rioting -58,880 incidents of rioting were reported, of which the maximum incidents were reported from Bihar - 11,698, followed by Uttar Pradesh - 8,990 and Maharashtra - 7,743.Of the total riots reported, communal and sectarian riots accounted for 723 and 183 incidents respectively. There were 805 riots due to caste conflict and 1909 riots occurred due to political reasons.  Crimes against SC/ST -The incidents registered under the Scheduled Caste Prevention of Atrocities Act saw an increase from 5,082 incidents reported in 2016 to 5,775 in 2017. Incidents of crime related to Scheduled Tribes dipped from 844 in 2016 to 720 in 2017.  A total of 95,893 cases of kidnapping and abduction were registered during 2017, showing an increase of 9.0% over 2016.

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 The NCRB for the first time collected data on circulation of “false/fake news and rumors.” Under the category, maximum incidents were reported from Madhya Pradesh (138), Uttar Pradesh (32) and Kerala (18). National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) Though, police is a State subject under the Indian constitution, the Central Government through the Ministry of Home Affairs has been assisting and aiding the States in the modernization of the State Police Forces with the financial aid and through the constitution of Study Groups, Committees and formation of central organizations to help States fight the menace of crime more effectively. Accepting the recommendations of the National Police Commission - 1977, the Ministry of Home Affairs constituted a Task Force in 1985 to work out the modalities for setting up of the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB). The Government accepted the recommendations of the Task Force and constituted the NCRB with headquarters at New Delhi in January, 1986. Objectives  Create and maintain secure sharable National Databases on crimes and criminals for law enforcement agencies and promote their use for public service delivery.  Collect and process crime statistics at the national level and clearing house of information on crime and criminals both at National and International levels.  Lead and coordinate development of IT applications and create an enabling IT environment for Police organizations.  National repository of fingerprints of all criminals.  Training and capacity building in Police Forces in Information Technology and Finger Print Science. 34.Anthrax scare in reserve after death of buffaloes Veterinarians have confirmed anthrax as the cause of death of two Asiatic water buffaloes in central Assam’s Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary.  Anthrax -Anthrax, caused by the bacterium Bacillus anthracis, can be fatal for humans who come in contact with infected animals. It is characterized by blisters around swellings on the skin, chest pain, vomiting, diarrhoea and fever. Among the vulnerable animals are the rhinos, whose population in the sanctuary in 2018 was estimated to be 102.  Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary -Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary is a wildlife sanctuary on the southern bank of the Brahmaputra in Morigaon district in Assam, India. . It provide grassland and wetland habitat for the Indian rhinoceros. . It has the highest concentration of one-horned rhinos in the world and second highest concentration of Rhino in Assam after Kaziranga National Park and is often called ‘Mini Kaziranga’ due to similar landscape and vegetation. . Other mammals occurring in the sanctuary are golden jackal, wild boar and feral water buffalo, Barking deer, Indian leopard and rhesus macaque. . It is an Important Bird Area and home for more than 2000 migratory birds and various reptiles.  Asiatic Water Buffalo (Wild Water Buffalo) – . Wild water buffalois a large bovine native to the Indian Subcontinent and Southeast Asia.

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. It is associated with wet grasslands, swamps and densely vegetated river valleys. . It has been listed as Endangered in the IUCN Red List. . A population decline of at least 50% over the last three generations (24–30 years) is projected to continue. The global population has been estimated at 3,400 individuals, of which 91% live in India, mostly in Assam. . Some populations also exists in Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya and Chhattisgarh. 35.Rohingya refugees agree to move to island Thousands of Rohingya living in Bangladeshrefugee camps have agreed to move to an island (Bhashan Char) in the Bay of Bengaldespite fears the site is prone to flooding.Dhaka has long wanted to move 100,000 refugees to the muddy silt islet, saying it would take pressure off the overcrowded border camps where almost a million Rohingya live.  Some 740,000 Rohingya fled Myanmar in August 2017 in the face of a military crackdown, joining 200,000 refugees already in makeshift tent settlements at Cox’s Bazar.  Approximately 6,000-7,000 refugees have already expressed their willingness to be relocated to Bhashan Char Island.  Rights groups have warned the island, which emerged from the sea only about two decades ago, might not be able to withstand violent storms during the annual monsoon season.  Bhashan Char was previously known as Thengar Char. Rohingya –  The Rohingya are an ethnic group, the majority of whom are Muslim, who have lived for centuries in the majority Buddhist Myanmar. Currently, there are about 1.1 million Rohingya in the Southeast Asian country.  The Rohingya speak Rohingya or Ruaingga, a dialect that is distinct to others spoken throughout Myanmar. They are not considered one of the country's 135 official ethnic groups and have been denied citizenship in Myanmar since 1982, which has effectively rendered them stateless.The Rohingya population is denied citizenship under the 1982 Myanmar nationality law.  Nearly all of the Rohingya in Myanmar live in the western coastal state of Rakhine.  By December 2017, an estimated 625,000 refugees from Rakhine, Myanmar, had crossed the border into Bangladesh since August 2017.Since 2015, over 900,000 Rohingya refugees have fled to southeastern Bangladesh alone, and more to other surrounding countries, and major Muslim nations. Described by the United Nations in 2013 as one of the most persecuted minorities in the world. DEVELOPING SUCCESS INSTITUTE 9643350984, 011-47021344 Page 36

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36.India, Maldives to take forward defence ties With the recent improvement in relations, India and the Maldives will take forward several pending measures to promote defence cooperation in the next few months.  These include . Lease of a Dornier aircraft, . Bringing the Maldives under India’s coastal radar chain network and . A broad-based humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) exercise.  New Delhi sent a Letter of Exchange for a two-year lease of the Dornier at the request of Male a few years ago. But the deal was not finalized by the Maldives owing to the friction in the relationship.  India had gifted the Maldives two ALHs (Advanced Light Helicopters) in 2013 and each was operated by the Indian Coast Guard and the Indian Navy. However, a controversy broke out last year after the previous Maldives government refused to extend the visas of Indian military personnel and asked India to take back the helicopters.  Work on the radar stations to plug the Maldives into India’s coastal radar chain is progressing fast. Two of the stations are functional and the third is in an advanced stage. It should be fully linked by January. In the aftermath of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, India began setting up the coastal radar chain network to monitor the movement of traffic on the high seas. Mauritius, Seychelles and Sri Lanka have already been part of the network.  A proposal for a joint humanitarian assistance and disaster relief exercise is in the works. In the recent past, the Indian Navy has become the first responder to calls for help from countries affected by natural disasters in the Indian Ocean Region. The bilateral relationship went on a downward trajectory since the Maldives started moving closer to China under the earlier regime of President Abdulla Yameen. However, the relations have normalised after President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih took over. India – Maldives Relations Background  India and Maldives share ethnic, linguistic, cultural, religious and commercial links and enjoy close, cordial and multi-dimensional relations. India was among the first to recognize Maldives after its independence in 1965 and to establish diplomatic relations with the country.  As per India’s “Neighborhood First Policy,” India “stands ready to fully support the Government of Maldives in its socio-economic development” and Maldivian government has reiterated its “India First” policy” to work closely with the government of India on all issues. Economic:  Indian expatriates: There are about 25,000 Indian expatriates in Maldives who are engaged in a number of professional pursuits and their security is also of prime concern for India.  Blue economy: Maldives plays an integral role in realizing the potential of Indian Ocean blue economy as a contributor to the security and sustainable development of sea resources.  Tourism: India and Maldives see regular tourist visits between the two and Indian tourists also account for close to 6% of tourists Maldives receives each year.

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 Health: India is a preferred destination for Maldives citizens seeking health services, which boosts Indian healthcare sector. SAARC factor  SAARC has a special importance for India because it includes all India’s neighbors and excludes China. Of lately, China has been creating inroads into SAARC countries which is reducing India’s influence in the bloc, for example Pakistan’s CPEC, China’s Hambantota port etc. and Maldives is China’s next destination. Highlights of recent visit of Solih to India, December 2018  India and Maldives signed the following agreements: . Agreement on the Facilitation of Visa Arrangements . MoU on Cultural Cooperation . Establishing Mutual Cooperation to Improve the Ecosystem for Agribusiness.  India and Maldives agreed to work together to create institutional linkages and to establish a framework of cooperation in the following areas: . Health cooperation . Mutual Legal Assistance on Criminal Matters . Investment promotion. . Human Resource Development. . Tourism and climate change. . Combating terrorism and piracy in the Indian Ocean. . Reforming the UN General Assembly and the Security Council.  India announced financial assistance of US $ 1.4 billion in the form of budgetary support, currency swap and concessional lines of credit for socio-economic development of Maldives.  Both agreed to strengthen cooperation to enhance maritime security in the IOR (Indian Ocean Region) through coordinated patrolling and aerial surveillance, exchange of information and capacity building. 37. Cross-LoC (Line of Control) Trade  In 2005, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh flagged the first cross-LoC bus, called ‘Karwaan-e-Aman’, from the Sher-i-Kashmir stadium in Srinagar towards Muzaffarabad. This Confidence Building Measure (CBM) came as a humanitarian reform reuniting divided families and friends.  In 2008, the two governments decided to further exploit the potential of existing transport routes by establishing trade .Cross-LoC trade, following barter system, thus began in 2008, across Uri-Muzaffarabad and Poonch-Rawalakot, for a list of 21 mutually agreed trade able items. This measure was aimed at converting social interconnectedness into commercial interdependence of the two separate sides of the LoC.

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The whole concept of exchange across this border was not coined as isolated economic activity but, instead, to open a new chapter of building bridges and reconnecting communities. And cross-LoC trade did manage to connect the two divided sides of Jammu and Kashmir, thereby creating a constituency of peace in an otherwise tense region.

LoC (Line of Control)

 India's response to Pakistani intrusion in Jammu and Kashmir resulted in a war that was declared over in 1949 with the United Nations intervening and accepting that the merger of Jammu and Kashmir with India was legal.  A ceasefire line (CFL) was drawn depending on the actual positions held by the two armies The ceasefire line temporarily bifurcated Jammu and Kashmir with India getting control of about 65 per cent of the state and Pakistan the rest 35 per cent. The ceasefire line was formalised in a Karachi Agreement signed in July 1949 between India and Pakistan.  Two incidents altered status quo on Jammu and Kashmir during 1960s -- the India-China War of 1962 and India-Pakistan War of 1965.  China humbled India in 1962 war and captured nearly 20 per cent area of the princely state. This area is called Aksai Chin and China denies India's sovereignty over the cold desert region.Further in 1963, Pakistan signed an agreement with China and handed over about 2,000 sq miles area in northern Kashmir to China, which has held all of that since then.  The 1965 war saw both India and Pakistan occupying each other's territories - India capturing over 750 sq miles while Pakistan taking over about 200 sq miles. But with Tashkent agreement, both militaries returned to their previous positions including along the Line of Control.  It was the 1971 war between India and Pakistan over the question of Bangladesh that turned the ceasefire line into the Line of Control (LoC), as it is known today. There was no LoC before 1972 Shimla Agreement was signed between India and Pakistan.  The northernmost point of the Line of Control is known as NJ9842. Another ceasefire line separates the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir from the Chinese- controlled area known as Aksai Chin. Lying further to the east, it is known as the Line of Actual Control (LAC)  In April 2019, cross-LoC trade was suspended by India. Between 2008-2018, trade worth ₹7,500 crore was transacted across the LoC, generating more than 1.7 lakh job days and an approximate freight revenue of ₹66.4 crore for transporters in J&K, Steps for a revival  Given the present situation in J&K, it is imperative that India plans an outreach connecting all stakeholders from across the spectrum including the ecosystem of cross-LoC trade. However, there is need for a revised strategy towards re-initiation of cross-LoC trade.  The lack of transparency needs to be addressed in the complete ecosystem which includes the standard operating procedure, invoicing, Goods and Services Tax (GST) norms, trader registration, rules of origin to avoid third country goods, GST rates and inter-State taxation rules to avoid tax evasions.

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 Digitisation of systems and procedures at the trade facilitation centres at Uri and Poonch is another important step to help take LoC trade to the next level.  As talks begin for a revival of normalcy in J&K, strengthened and more transparent cross-LoC trade mechanisms could be put on the table as a part of the economic package. 38.NITI Aayog launches India Innovation Index 2019

 NITI Aayog with Institute for Competitiveness as the knowledge partner released the India Innovation Index (III) 2019.  Karnataka is the most innovative major state in India.  Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Telangana, Haryana, Kerala, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Gujarat, and Andhra Pradesh form the remaining top ten major states respectively. The top ten major states are majorly concentrated in southern and western India.  The aim is to create a holistic tool which can be used by policymakers across the country to identify the challenges to be addressed and strengths to build on when designing the economic growth policies for their regions.  The states have been bifurcated into three categories: major states, north-east, and hill states, and union territories/city states/small states.  The index attempts to create an extensive framework for the continual evaluation of the innovation environment of 29 states and seven union territories in India and intends to perform the following three functions- 1) Ranking of states and UTs based on their index scores, 2) Recognizing opportunities and challenges, and 3) Assisting in tailoring governmental policies to foster innovation.  The India Innovation Index 2019 is calculated as the average of the scores of its two dimensions – Enablers and Performance. The Enablers are the factors that underpin innovative capacities, grouped in five pillars: . Human Capital, . Investment, . Knowledge Workers, . Business Environment, and . Safety and Legal Environment. The Performance dimension captures benefits that a nation derives from the inputs, divided in two pillars: . Knowledge Output and . Knowledge Diffusion 39.IMNEX-2019: India Myanmar Naval Exercise

 The India Myanmar Naval Exercise called IMNEX-2019 is being organized from 19 to 22 October in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. The opening ceremony of the second edition of Indo-Myanmar joint naval exercise was conducted onboard INS Ranvijay.

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 This year’s edition includes increased scope and complexity and is a testimony of growing maritime cooperation between two navies.

Operation Peace Spring– Turkish military operation to create a safe zone on the border of Syria.

Typhoon Hagibis– Japan

Important Locations –

 Ras al-Ain –Kurdish Fighters were withdrawing from the Syrian border town of Ras al-Ain under an agreement with United States. Turkey had launched an offensive under Operation Peace Spring to occupy border town of Syria.  Sarrin – U.S. forces withdraw from Sarrin, their largest base in northern Syria.  Mount Paektu– sacred peak in North Korea.  Town Manbij– Border town of Syria

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