Current Affairs Topic-wise Strategy Contents Current Affairs 1-132 1. National 1 z AFSPA Removed From Meghalaya and Few Parts of Arunachal Pradesh 4 z Walmiki and Malhar : Two Endangered Languages Discovered 1 Where AFSPA is in Force at Present? 4 What is AFSPA? 4 Important Points 1 What is a ‘Disturbed Area’ and How is North Dravidian Languages 1 an Area Declared as ‘Disturbed’? 4 Impact 1 Where AFSPA Can be Invoked? 5 Endangered Languages 1 Powers Conferred on the Armed Forces z Government Appoints Panel to Under AFSPA 5 Review CSR Enforcement Under z Rajya Sabha Chairman Venkaiah Companies Act 1 Naidu Rejected Impeachment Terms of Reference 1 Notice Against CJI Dipak Misra 5 Panel Members 2 Key Highlights 5 Background 2 Background 5 Corporate Social Responsibility 2 How is the CJI Removed? 5 z HRD Ministry Constitutes Committee Impeachment Procedure 5 to Reduce the Fear of Maths z Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan Amongst Students 2 Launched 6 National Achievement Survey 2 Key Highlights of Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan 6 Setting up of Kadiyam Srihari Committee to Strengthen the States and UTs Covered 6 Teacher’s in-service Training 2 Expenditure to be Incurred on Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan 6 z India Formed Committee to Reform Higher Defence Planning 2 Significance 7 Background 7 Composition of the Committee 2 z HRD Ministry Launched Second Functions of the Committee 2 Edition of Unnat Bharat Abhiyan 7 Significance 3 Objective 7 Background 3 About Unnat Bharat Abhiyan 7 z President Signed Ordinance to Unnat Bharat Abhiyan 2.0 7 Provide Death Penalty to Rapists z PM Modi Launched Van Dhan Scheme of Girls Below 12 Years 3 to Help Increase Tribal Income 7 Key Features of the Ordinance 3 Key Highlights 8 Other Details 3 Van Dhan Vikas Kendra 8 Background 4 Significance 8 z GOBAR-DHAN Scheme Launched Transformation of the Higher Under Swachh Bharat Mission to Education Set up is Guided Promote Wealth and Energy by the Following Principles: 15 From Waste 8 z President Ram Nath Kovind GOBAR-DHAN Scheme 8 Launched Solar Charkha Mission 15 Impact 8 Solar Charkha Mission 15 How GOBAR-DHAN Scheme Will Sampark Portal 15 Impact the Swachh Bharat Indian Micro, Small and Medium Mission (Gramin)? 8 Enterprises Sector 15 Swachh Bharat Mission 9 z Suresh Prabhu launched ‘ReUnite’ z India Ranked 4th in Asia-Pacific on Mobile App 16 Power Index 9 Highlights of the App 16 How is the Index Measured? 9 Bachpan Bachao Andolan 16 Key Findings of the Report 9 Facts and Figures 16 India’s Score 9 z Language Census 2011: Surge Conclusion 9 in Hindi and English Speakers; Ranks of Other Nations 9 Tribal Language Speakers Decline 16 z Union Cabinet Approved National Key Highlights of the 2011 Census Policy on Biofuels 2018 10 Data on Language and Mother Tongue 16 National Policy on Biofuels 2018 10 Rise in Hindi Language Speakers 16 Benefits 10 Decline in South Indian Language z Home Minister Commissioned Speakers 17 Anti-Naxal ‘Bastariya’ Battalion 10 Growth of Hindi Language Speakers Key Highlights 10 in South India 17 Deployment 11 Drop in Numbers of Urdu Speakers 17 Background 11 Bengali Retains its Position as 2nd z Health Insurance to Now Cover Most Spoken Language 17 Mental Illness: IRDAI 11 Sharpest Language Divide in Assam 18 Provisions of Mental Healthcare Act, 2017 11 Increase in English Language Speakers 18 z Centre Allows Oxytocin Sale by Decline in Tribal Languages Speakers 18 Private Chemists 11 Language Census 18 About Oxytocin 12 z Government launched Student z India Launched its First National Police Cadet Programme 19 Healthcare Facility Registry 12 Objective 19 Significance 13 Key Highlights 19 E Sreedharan Committee to Lay Down Other Details 19 Standards for Metro Rail Systems 13 z Government Launched Logo, Cooperative Federalism 14 Tagline For ‘Geographical Background 14 Indication’ Certified Products 19 z Government Approved Draft Act to Significance 19 Replace UGC with Higher Education The Contest 20 Commission of India 14 z PM Modi launched Ayushman Provisions of the Draft Act and the Bharat Yojana 20 Role of Higher Education Commission Hospital Empanelment 21 of India (HECI) 14 Remaining States 21 z Cabinet Approved Provision of z New Plant Species Fimbristylis Bail in Instant Triple Talaq Bill 21 Agasthyamalaensis Discovered in What is the concept of Triple Talaq Western Ghats 26 as per Islamic Law? 22 Critically Endangered Species 26 Islamic Countries Which Have Already Key Points 26 Banned the Practice of Triple Talaq 22 Different from Fimbristylis z PM Narendra Modi Inaugurated Onchnidiocarpa 26 Inland Multi-Modal Terminal z Chocolate Production May be Port in Varanasi 22 Harming Environment: Study 27 Study: Key Findings 27 Jal Marg Vikas Project (JMVP) 22 Background 27 z #MeToo Movement: Union Minister MJ Akbar Resigns From His Post Mountain Erosion can Release CO Back Into Atmosphere: Study 27 Over Sexual Harassment Charges 23 2 Study: Key Highlights 27 Reaction of NCW 23 z Union Environment Ministry Notified #MeToo Movement in India 23 Plastic Waste Management z Government Constituted GoM (Amendment) Rules, 2018 27 to Look Into Sexual Harassment Plastic Waste Management at Workplace 23 (Amendment) Rules, 2018 27 Objective 23 Background 27 Key Details 23 z FAO Designated 14 New Sites as Background 24 Globally Important Agricultural z PM Modi Unveiled World’s Tallest Heritage Systems 28 Statue ‘Statue of Unity’ 24 14 New Agricultural Heritage Sites 28 Key Highlights 24 Globally Important Agricultural Other Details 24 Heritage Systems (GIAHS) 28 z Union Environment Ministry Background 24 Released the Draft of National 2. Environment & Ecology 25 Clean Air Programme 28 Highlights of the National Clean z Scientists Developed Sun Shield to Protect Great Barrier Reef 25 Air Programme 28 NCAP Details a Host of Measures to Key Points 25 Bring Down Air Pollution 28 Great Barrier Reef 25 z Population of Critically z Nepal Launched ‘Accessible’ Endangered River Dolphin Trekking Trail For Disabled, Elderly 25 Increased for First Time 28 Key Highlights 25 Significance 28 z NASA to Build Quiet Supersonic Reasons for the Dolphin Population Manned Plane 25 Increase 29 Key Highlights 25 Background 29 Design of the Plane 26 z Government Relaxed Protected, z NASA’s Hubble Telescope Captured Restricted Area Permit Regime in the Most Distant Star Ever Seen 26 Selective Areas 29 How the Astronomers Were able to Objective 29 Spot this Distant Star? 26 What is a Protected Area? 29 Hubble Space Telescope 26 What is a Protected Area Permit (PAP)? 29 z National Workshop for Creating z Gaj Yatra Launched in Garo Hills Disaster Risk Reduction Database of Meghalaya 34 Begins in Delhi 29 Highlights of the Gaj Yatra 34 Objective 29 Gaj Yatra Campaign 34 Significance 29 z NGT Directs Hill States to File Key Highlights 29 Report on Forest Fires 34 Background 30 z Uttarakhand HC Banned z India Begins First Organised Census to Commercial Use of Elephants Estimate Population of Indus Dolphin 30 in Tiger Reserve 35 Objective 30 Court’s Directions for Various Significance 30 Departments 35 Key Highlights 30 Ban on Elephant Joyrides 35 About Indus Dolphins 30 Court’s Directions Came on the PIL z National Workshop for Creating Filed by Ramanagar-based NGO 35 Disaster Risk Reduction Database z World’s First Thermal Battery Plant Concludes 30 Inaugurated in Andhra Pradesh 36 Objective 30 Key Highlights 36 Significance 30 Background 36 Key Highlights 31 z National Green Tribunal Formed Background 31 Monitoring 36 z India Develops Model to Forecast Committee to Clean Yamuna 36 Reach of Tsunami Waves 31 Composition of the Committee 37 Key Highlights 31 Key Highlights 37 Background 31 Other Details 37 z UN Chief Antonio Guterres DJB on its Progress 37 Announces to Hold Climate Background 37 Summit in September 2019 32 z Khangchendzonga Biosphere US Withdrawal From Paris Agreement Reserve Enters UNESCO List 37 on Climate Change 32 Key Highlights 37 z Renewable Energy Ministry Issues z IMD to Set up Cyclone Warning National Wind-solar Hybrid Policy 32 Centre in Thiruvananthapuram 38 Key Features of the Policy 32 Significance 38 Significance 33 Third C-B and Doppler Weather Radar z Environment Ministry formed 19 to be Set up to Cover Northern Kerala 38 Teams to Undertake Cleaning Other Details 38 of Beaches, River Fronts 33 Background 38 Key Highlights 33 z World’s Largest Iceberg Set to Cleaning Drive: Other Details 33 Disappear After 18-year-Long Background 33 Journey 38 z Banned Ozone-destroying Chemical z Green Climate Fund Approved Emissions on a Rise: Study 33 $1 Billion to Assist Poor Countries 39 Key Highlights 33 Key Highlights 39 The Study: Key Points 34 Background 39 z NGT Set up Committee to Check z National Pension System: Air Quality in Delhi-NCR 39 Government’s contribution Joint Committee Headed by the Delhi to NPS hiked to 14 per cent 44 Government’s Urban Development Changes Approved in the National Secretary 39 Pension System 44 Terms of Reference 40 When Will these Changes Plea Filed by Westend Green be Implemented? 45 Farms Society 40 Expenditure Involved 45 3. Economy 41 Number of Beneficiaries 45 Impact 45 z RBI Board Meeting: Key Decisions 41 z Government Decided to Set up a Some Undecided Issue 41 Domestic Gold Council in India 45 What Will be the Impacts of Why Gold Council? 45 These Decisions? 41 z Allied and Healthcare Council z Baba Kalyani Committee Submits of India