MARCH 2021 CONTENTS Cover Story - Draft national policy on migrant workers 1. ECONOMY 1.1 ESIC, other social security safety nets to cover gig economy workers 1.2 Govt. agrees to maintain States’ share in the divisible pool of taxes 1.3 ‘India’s weak fiscal position to remain a key credit challenge’ 1.4 For affluent, EPF is not nest egg but goose that lays golden eggs 1.5 Retail investors to be able to buy G-Secs directly: RBI 1.6 Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) 1.7 In PM’s words for pvt sector, India Inc sees booster shot 1.8 ‘Bad bank’ idea: Govt guarantee for ARC paper likely 1.9 RBI sets up panel for strengthening UCBs 1.10 PM reaffirms plan to include natural gas under GST regime 1.11 Cabinet approves PLI plan for telecom 1.12 Gadkari urges auto firms to raise localisation to 100% 1.13 What rise in bond yield means for investors and govt 1.14 RBI working paper defends 4% inflation target for India 2. INDIA AND WORLD 2.1 No Indian role in developing ECT in Colombo 2.2 For New Delhi, the tightrope on Myanmar is back 2.3 ECT fiasco: Indian envoy meets Gotabaya, Mahinda 2.4 ‘India ready to supply weapon systems to Indian Ocean nations’ 2.5 Ukraine looking at defence purchases from India 2.6 Israel wants India by its side against ICC ruling, Delhi silent 2.7 India is an important partner in the Indo-Pacific region, says U.S. 2.8 Assam central to success of Act East policy: S Jaishankar 2.9 Quad meet: India, U.S. call for rule of law in Myanmar IAS GOOGLE – MONTHLY CURRENT AFFAIRS BOOKLET 1 MARCH 2021 2.10 PANGONG DISENGAGEMENT OVER, OTHER FRICTION POINTS 2.11 INDIA-MALDIVES RELATION 2.12 Iran says talks with IAEA chief ‘fruitful’ 2.13 India, China to push for resolving remaining issues 2.14 Maldives Parliament debates defence deal with India 2.15 Border tension aside, China India’s top trade partner in 2020 2.16 India, Pakistan agree to adhere to 2003 ceasefire 3. INTERNATIONAL 3.1 Britain to apply to join Asia-Pacific free trade bloc 3.2 U.S. extends New START nuclear treaty with Russia 3.3 China’s New Project in Sri Lanka 3.4 Sri Lanka considering India’s grant instead of China project 3.5 Transatlantic Alliance Is The Foundation On Which US, European Security, Prosperity Are Built: Biden 3.6 Facebook to end Australia news blackout 3.7 ‘Propose bilateral green deal to U.S.’ 4. NATIONAL 4.1 Centre likely to postpone Census to 2022 4.2 Medical board on abortion ‘unfeasible’ 4.3 Centre set to allow steel from recycled scrap to be used in road, bridge projects 4.4 Auto sector welcomes vehicle scrappage policy 4.5 Centre to amalgamate market laws into single code 4.6 Granted Rs 8,000 crore, govt looks at 8 new cities 4.7 Jal Jeevan Mission to help revive urban waterbodies 4.8 Awareness campaign planned to dispel ‘rumours’ on NPR, Census 4.9 GOBARDHAN activities 4.10 Chauri Chaura Centenary Celebrations 4.11 HAL gets contract for 83 LCAs in 48,000 cr. Deal 4.12 ‘Aero components sector to double to 60,000 cr. by 2024’ 4.13 An 84-year-old on a mission to conserve rare mango varieties 4.14 17 major OTT players adopt self-regulatory toolkit IAS GOOGLE – MONTHLY CURRENT AFFAIRS BOOKLET 2 MARCH 2021 4.15 Tholpavakkoothu 4.16 Aadi Mahotsavsees a Major Increase in Footfall As Delhiites are Enjoying Rich Tribal Craft, Culture & Cuisine 4.17 Challenge for Food Corporation of India: Rising stocks, cost, & push to procure 4.18 Fossils of ‘Dickinsonia’ found at Bhimbetka 4.19 Assam uses combs for voter literacy 4.20 PM hands over Arjun Mk-1A tank to Army 4.21 National Coal Index 4.22 Saksham Portal and Seaweed Mission: TIFAC 4.23 Lateral Entry Into the Administrative Services 4.24 NCLAT suspends Gymkhana’s board, halts new membership 4.25 Draft Blue Economy Policy for India 4.26 Biometric authentication to benefit farmers: Centre 4.27 COVID DIPLOMACY PITCH BY PM: VISA FOR MEDICS , AIR AMBULANCE 4.28 MODI LAUNCHES CONNECTIVITY PROJECTS IN ASSAM 4.29 Software Defined Radio (SDR) for Indian Army under Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan 4.30 Govt. looks at easing e-visa restrictions 4.31 Development knows no religion, says PM at launch of Kerala projects 4.32 India successfully test fires Helina, Dhruvastra anti-tank guided missiles 4.33 Why does India need conclusive land titling? 4.34 New freight plan: Loaded trucks will take the train 4.35 Railways stung by IT ‘breaches’ 4.36 Govt. to monitor OTT content 5. POLITICAL ISSUES, HUMAN RIGHTS AND GOVERNANCE 5.1 A bullet through an island’s heart 5.2 ‘3-language policy is not applicable to Central govt. offices’ 5.3 Citing shortage of officers in J&K, Govt introduces Bill to merge its cadre with AGMUT 5.4 Centre ready to introduce Bill defining Delhi govt., L-G powers 5.5 Veil of privacy can be lifted for legitimate state interest: Centre response in Delhi HC IAS GOOGLE – MONTHLY CURRENT AFFAIRS BOOKLET 3 MARCH 2021 5.6 Whopping 900% rise in rejection of crop insurance claims 5.7 Privacy concerns over Haryana’s ID scheme 5.8 Sub-categorisation of OBCs explained: What a Commission has found so far 5.9 Kuruba community to urge the state government of Karnataka 5.10 Rajya Sabha passes Bill extending protection to illegal constructions 5.11 RS passes ports Bill despite opposition 5.12 ‘Governance and lawmaking should be left to legislature’ 5.13 ‘Sedition law can’t be used to quell disquiet: court 5.14 No role in Tamil Nadu govt.’s quota decisions, Centre tells SC 5.15 Month-long drive launched to register construction workers 5.16 Vice President calls for ending low representation to women in Parliament and legislatures 5.17 Puducherry: Cabinet gives nod for President’s Rule 5.18 Rajasthan budgets for universal health; Right to Health soon 6. SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 6.1 Garbage-to-power plant in veggie market 6.2 ‘Collection of DNA samples will lead to misuse’ 6.3 Square Kilometre Array Telescope – what largest telescope will do? 6.4 Hydrogen – the clean fuel for future 6.5 MPS II (Hunter Syndrome) 6.6 Bengaluru scientists develop a new marigold variety 6.7 India to formulate policy to develop new battery tech for EVs 6.8 Excessive alcohol can cause irreversible changes to DNA’ 6.9 A puppet master with a chip in the brain 6.10 Hydrogen as the future energy 6.11 NASA’s Perseverance rover lands on Mars: Will search for signs of life, to collect rock samples 6.12 Scientist from IIT Kanpur develops washable adhesive and related products 6.13 Genetically Modified Organisms as Imported Food Crops 7. SOCIAL ISSUES AND DEVELOPMENT 7.1 Allocation Of Rs 24,435 crore Hike in WCD budget, Mission Poshan 2.0 launched IAS GOOGLE – MONTHLY CURRENT AFFAIRS BOOKLET 4 MARCH 2021 7.2 Marriage age: SC to study plea to transfer HC cases to itself 7.3 Working on umbrella scheme to address issues of transgender community: Govt 7.4 Maternal welfare scheme beneficiaries cross 1.75 crore 7.5 Men access mental health helpline more 7.6 Beggars learning vocational skills for life with dignity 7.7 Centre objects to plea against Special Marriage Act 7.8 HC allows minor to end pregnancy 7.9 Inter-marriages can reduce caste tensions, says court 7.10 SC and ST applicants are half as likely to get selected for a Ph.D. programme at IITs 7.11 New nodal agency to tackle fraud, pesky SMSes & calls 7.12 Indians concerned about privacy: CJI 7.13 Trifed’s Village and Digital Connect – Establishing a Connect with Tribal People 7.14 Cabinet approves Amendments to the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 7.15 Indradhanush 3.0 to fill gap in immunisation 7.16 Former NCBC chief: Without caste census, OBC sub-categorisation not scientific 7.17 Tribals seek forest rights, officials cite core are a rule 7.18 Same Sex Marriage 8. ENVIRONMENT 8.1 Experts point to climate change impact 8.2 Flash flood disasters in Uttarakhand 8.3 Pong Dam Lake Wildlife Sanctuary in Himachal Pradesh 8.4 Sadiya earthquake in history 8.5 Mission Innovation 2.0 8.6 The world smallest reptile and how it compares to other reptiles. 8.7 Ladakh will get India’s first geothermal power project 8.8 Govt. looks for new agency to do pollution source study 8.9 On fastest highway, wildlife gets safe passage with bridges, passes 8.10 Lahaul-Spiti residents want hydro projects in the region scrapped IAS GOOGLE – MONTHLY CURRENT AFFAIRS BOOKLET 5 MARCH 2021 8.11 High diversity of birds, many rarely seen in Delhi, in Mangar area: Study 8.12 Birds use massive magnetic maps to migrate — and some could cover the whole world 8.13 Leatherback nesting sites could be overrun by Andamans development project 8.14 Healthy rivers: How DNA tool can help keep tabs on freshwater quality 8.15 Massive coal use in Mumbai’s industrial clusters worsening city’s air quality: CSE study 8.16 Leopard population tracking gets new approach 8.17 Hyderabad wins global ‘Tree City’ status 8.18 Sun shines at night in remote Nagaland village bordering Myanmar 8.19 CARBON WATCH 8.20 INCOIS to go for aerial mapping of ocean floor 8.21 NGT Suggests National River Rejuvenation Mechanism Draft national policy on migrant workers Spurred by the exodus of 10 million migrants (as per government estimates) from big cities during the Covid-19 lockdown, NITI Aayog, along with a working subgroup of officials and members of civil society, has prepared a draft national migrant labour policy.