NIRVANA IAS ACADEMY INDEX 1. NATIONAL CONSUMER DAY 2018…………………………..2 57. POLAR VORTEX………………………………………………...….25 2. “SAMWAD WITH STUDENTS”………………………………..2 58. NATIONAL POLICY ON TREATMENT OF RARE 3. TRADE UNION ACT, 1926……………………………………….2 DISEASES (NPTRD)…………………………………..…….……..26 4. AGRI EXPORT ZONES……………………………………………..3 59. FUGITIVE ECONOMIC OFFENDERS ACT 2018…….....26 5. INDIAN BRIDGE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM……………….3 60. NEW DELHI INTERNATIONAL ARBITRATION CENTRE 6. ASSAM ACCORD…………………………………………….….…..4 BILL, 2018…………………………………………………………....27 7. NATIONAL HEALTH AUTHORITY…………………….……...5 61. CYCLONE PABUK…………………………………….…………….28 8. RASHTRIYA SASHAKTIKARAN KARYAKRAM……..……..5 62. WORLD BRAILLE DAY……………………………….…………..28 9. UMBRELLA SCHEME FOR FAMILY WELFARE AND 63. MANDAL DAM PROJECT…………………………….…………28 OTHER HEALTH INTERVENTIONS”…………………….…….5 64. CONSTITUTION (ONE HUNDRED & TWENTY FOURTH 10. AGRICULTURE PROJECT WITH FAO…………………………6 AMENDMENT) BILL…………………………………………..….29 11. SCRAMJET ENGINE………………………………………………...6 65. PERSONAL LAWS (AMENDMENT) BILL, 2018…..……29 12. NATIONAL BAMBOO MISSION……………..…………………8 66. 70 POINT GRADING INDEX…………………………………...30 13. IMT TRILATERAL HIGHWAY…………………………………….8 67. REMOVAL OF ROSEWOOD FROM CITES………….……30 14. MENSTRUAL HYGIENE SCHEME………………………………9 68. DNA TECHNOLOGY (USE & APPLICATION) 15. NIKSHAY POSHAN YOJANA………………………………….….9 REGULATION BILL, 2018……………………………………...30 16. CREDIT GUARANTEE FUND FOR START-UPS……………9 69. TRANSPORT SUBSIDY SCHEME………………..…………..31 17. NATIONAL POLICY ON DOMESTIC WORKERS………..10 70. GREEN TECHNOLOGY IN PMGSY………………….……….31 18. NATIONAL ANTI-PROFITEERING AUTHORITY………..10 71. NILEKANI PANEL…………………………………………….…….32 19. OPEN ACREAGE LICENSING PROGRAMME……………11 72. UNIVERSAL BASIC INCOME…………………………..………32 20. INDIAN INSTITUTE OF SKILLS……………………….……….11 73. RBI ALLOWS TOKENIZATION…………………….…………..33 21. SCHEMES: SANKALP AND STRIVE ………………………….12 74. PERSIAN GULF REGIONAL DIALOGUE FORUM……...33 22. AADI MAHOTSAV………………………………………………….12 75. GANGAJAL PROJECT…………………………….……………….34 23. ELISA KITS……………………………………………………..……..13 76. SAMBHAV……………………………………………….……………34 24. WEB WONDER WOMEN CAMPAIGN…………………….13 77. INDIA’S LONGEST SINGLE LANE STEEL CABLE 25. SINO-INDIA DIGITAL COLLABORATION PLAZA……….13 SUSPENSION BRIDGE……………………………………………34 26. NATIONAL CLEAN AIR PROGRAMME…………………….13 78. SWADESH DARSHAN PROJECT IN MEGHALAYA…….34 27. MOHAN REDDY COMMITTEE………………………………..14 79. KNOW INDIA PROGRAMME…………………………..……..35 28. KHUSHI SCHEME…………………………………………………..15 80. E-PRISON……………………………………………………………..35 29. 6TH NATIONAL REPORT TO CBD…………………………….15 81. JAL CHARCHA………………………………………..……………..35 30. SURVEY ON RETAIL HABITS OF INDIVIDUALS…….….16 82. CCPWC SCHEME…………………………………………………..35 31. PANDA BONDS……………………………………………………..16 83. GANDHI CIRCUIT….……………………………………………….36 32. CINEREOUS VULTURE…………………………………………..16 84. PVTGs…………………………………………………………………..36 33. AGREEMENT ON PROHIBITION OF ATTACKS AGAINST 85. SUB-GLACIAL ANTARTIC LAKE SCIENTIFIC ACCESS NUCLEAR INSTALLATIONS & FACILITIES……………..…16 (SALSA)…………………………………………………….………..…36 34. ASIA REASSURANCE INITIATIVE ACT, 2018……………17 86. TOTAL FERTILITY RATE………………………………………….36 35. ORGANIZATIONS BANNED UNDER UAPA………….….17 87. GALAPAGOS ISLANDS……………………………………….….37 36. CONSTITUTION (SCHEDULED TRIBES) ORDER 88. AGASTHYAMALA………………………………………………..…37 (AMENDMENT) BILL, 2018……………………………….….17 89. LAKHON KHOL…………………………………………….………..37 37. MONUMENTS OF NATIONAL IMPORTANCE…..…….17 90. PHOTO DNA……………………….……………………………..…38 38. LEAD & MSG………………………………………………..………18 91. TIME CAPSULE……………………………………………………..38 39. BHARATMALA PARIYOJANA…………………..…………….18 92. COMMODITY EXCHANGE …………………………………….38 40. MAKARAVILAKKU FESTIVAL…………………………….……19 93. SWAP RATIO………………………………………………………..38 41. DIRECTORATE OF REVENUE INTELLIGENCE….……….19 94. SHOLA FOREST GRASSLANDS…………………….…………39 42. PANJ TIRATH…………………………………………………………20 95. U K SINHA COMMITTEE…………………………….……….…39 43. BEHDIENKHLAM FESTIVAL…………………………..……….20 96. US & ISRAEL QUITS UNESCO…………………………….…..39 44. SATTRIYA DANCE…………………………………………..……..20 97. CENTRAL INFORMATION COMMISSION…………….….39 45. THANJUVAR PAINTING……………………………….………..20 98. 106TH INDIAN SCIENCE CONGRESS…………………….….40 46. KUZHALMANNAM RAMAKRISHANAN……………..……21 99. TRAFFICKING OF PERSON (PREVENTION, 47. SIKH TAKHTS…………………………………………………………21 PROTECTION & REHABILITATION) BILL, 2018…….….40 48. ATAL SOLAR KRISHI PUMP YOJANA………………………22 100. CONSUMER PROTECTION BILL 2018………………….….41 49. STREET LIGHTING NATIONAL PROGRAMME…………23 101. COAL SWAPPING SCHEME……………………………………41 50. MEEP……………………………………………………..…………….23 102. MCA-21 DATABASE…………………………………………..….41 51. TRIGENERATION…………………………………………….…….23 103. NMICPS………………………………………………………………..42 52. AGRICULTURE DEMAND SIDE MANAGEMENT 104. BULLSEQUANA SUPERCOMPUTER…………………..……42 (AgDSM) PROGRAMME………………………………………..24 105. SRI SATGURU RAM SINGHJI……………………………..…..43 53. CLIMATE CHANGE PERFORMANCE INDEX 2019……24 54. MOTHER OF ALL BOMBS………………………………………24 55. YUTU-2……………………………………………………………..….25 56. NATIONAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP AWARDS 2018…...25 P a g e 1 | 43 NIRVANA IAS ACADEMY – www.nirvanaias.com NIRVANA IAS ACADEMY CURRENT AFFAIRS 1ST TO 10TH JANUARY 2019 NATIONAL CONSUMER DAY 2018 The Department of Consumer Affairs, Ministry of Consumer Affairs Food and Public Distribution celebrated the National Consumer Day 2018 with the theme “Timely Disposal of Consumer Complaints” in New Delhi. Every Year 24th December is observed as National Consumer Day with a specific theme in India The Consumer Protection Act aims to provide consumers with effective safeguards against different types of exploitation such as defective goods, deficiency in services and unfair trade practices. This day provides an opportunity for individuals to highlight the importance of the consumer movement and the need to make every consumer more aware of their rights and responsibilities. HIGHLIGHTS ▪ Enactment of Consumer Protection Act, 1986 has set in motion a veritable consumer movement in the country. ▪ Under the Consumer Protection Act, 1986, three tier quasi-judiciary machinery has been set up at District, State and Central levels. ▪ It aims for better protection of the interests of consumers and to provide simple and speedy redressal of consumer disputes. ▪ A countrywide multimedia “Consumer Awareness” campaign titled ‘Jago Grahak Jago” is being conducted on various issues related to consumer rights and responsibilities across diverse subjects. ▪ The States/UT have been actively associated in the program especially in expanding the geographic reach of the campaign on consumer awareness. ▪ The Department of consumer affairs also operates the Consumer Welfare Fund to strengthen the Consumer Movement in the country. ▪ It is by the way of financial assistance to the State/UTs, NGOs to raise awareness amongst consumers and as also to educational institutes for research on consumer issues and running of centers on consumer studies. “SAMWAD WITH STUDENTS” As part of the enhanced outreach programme of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), a new platform named “Samwad with Students” (SwS) was launched in Bengaluru. HIGHLIGHTS ▪ Through the SwS initiative, ISRO aims to constantly engage youngsters across India to capture their scientific temperament. ▪ The new conversation mission will inspire students cutting across schools and colleges. ▪ The first SwS event saw 40 wards and 10 teachers from select schools interact with ISRO Chairman Dr K Sivan at the Anthariksh Bhavan. TRADE UNION ACT, 1926 The Union Cabinet has approved Amendment to the Trade Unions Act, 1926 to make provisions regarding Recognition of Trade Unions. ADVANTAGES ▪ Recognition of Trade Unions at Central and State level. ▪ Ensure true representation of workers in the tripartite bodies. ▪ Check on the arbitrary nomination of workers’ representatives by the Government. ▪ Reduce litigations and industrial unrest. HIGHLIGHTS ▪ The proposed Bill will ensure that the nomination of workers’ representatives in tripartite bodies by the government will become more transparent. ▪ Trade Unions so recognized would be accountable in maintaining industrial harmony. Recognition of Trade Unions at Central/State level would reduce duplicity of such exercise by different departments. P a g e 2 | 43 NIRVANA IAS ACADEMY – www.nirvanaias.com NIRVANA IAS ACADEMY ▪ Recognized Trade Unions may be assigned specific roles at Central or State level. AGRI EXPORT ZONES The concept of Agri Export Zone (AEZ) was introduced in 2001, through EXIM Policy 1997-2001, to take a comprehensive look at a particular produce/product located in a contiguous area for the purpose of developing and sourcing the raw materials, their processing/packaging, leading to final exports. HIGHLIGHTS ▪ The concept hinged primarily on convergence of existing Central and State Government schemes to take care of financial interventions required at various stages of value chain; partnership among various stakeholders viz. Central Government, State Government, farmer, processor, exporter etc.; and focus on targeted products and areas to identify required policy interventions. All these activities did take place in certain respects in the notified Agri Export Zones. ▪ In December 2004, an internal peer review conducted by Department of Commerce concluded that the notified AEZs had not been able to achieve the intended objectives. ▪ It was decided that there will be no creation of new AEZs, unless there were strong and compelling reasons. No new AEZs have been set up after 2004. ▪ All the notified AEZs have completed their intended span of 5 years and have been discontinued.