iso 9001 : 2015 vetrii ias study circle · niti aayog, piramal foundation ink agreement ... it also...

CONTENTS PAGE:5 - 24 INTERNATIONAL / BILATERAL Navika Sagar Parikrama - Tarini Enters Cape Town, South Africa Bangladesh, Russia, India Sign Pact For Rooppur Atomic Plant Myanmar Puts Off Border Pact With India India, Vietnam Ink Three Mous On Nuclear, Economic And Trade Cooperation India, Malaysia Discuss Cooperation In Traditional Medicine Cc Approves Signing Of Migration And Mobility Partnership Agreement Between India And France Cc Approves Mou Of India And France To Facilitate “Mutual Recognition Of Academic Qualifications” India France Together Shake Hands To Prevent Illicit Consumption Of Narcotic Drugs Ireda & European Investment Bank Sign Euro 150 Million Loan Agreement For Renewable Energy Financing In

India India, France Ink 14 Pacts To Boost Cooperation India, France Co-hosts International Solar Alliance Summit India-uk Joint Team Wins Newton-bhabha Fund Philippines Withdraws From International Criminal Court Indian Railways Hands Over 18 Locomotives To Myanma Railways Informal World Trade Organisation Ministerial Meeting Cabinet Approves Closure Of India Development Foundation Of Overseas Indians Cabinet Approves Revision Of Dtaa Between India And Qatar Cabinet Approves Opening Of 18 Missions In Africa African Union Join Hands To Make Continent Free Trade Area March 25: International Day Of Remembrance Of The Victims Of Slavery International Solar Alliance, India Ink Host Country Agreement India And China Agree Roadmap For Addressing Trade Imbalance Pakistan Test Fires Submarine Launched Cruise Missile Babur

25 - 32 INFRASTRUCTURE Eesl To Install Energy-efficient Leds Across All Airports In India First Mega Food Park In Maharashtra At Satara Inaugurated One Million Solar Study Lamps Scheme Successfully Implemented National Perspective Plan (Npp) For Inter-linking Of Rivers Innovation Boost: Research Parks In Iits All Weather Roads For Char Dham World Happiness Index 2018: India Ranks 133 India And Adb Sign $120 Million Loan To Improve Rail Infrastructure

33 GEOGRAPHY World’s Longest Sandstone Cave Found In Meghalaya

34 - 40 ECONOMICS Cabinet Approves Fugitive Economic Offenders Bill, 2018 Premium Tag For Coffee Grown In Araku Valley Rbi Formalises Arrangement With Insolvency And Bankruptcy Board Development Of Eight New National Waterways IIP Rises To 7.5% Government Approves Plastic Park To Be Set Up In Deoghar District, Jharkhand Cabinet Approves Export Of All Edible Oils In Bulk

41 - 63 INDIAN POLITY National Policy For Domestic Workers Tribal Health Care Research Programme Initiated In 14 States Cabinet Approves The Arbitration And Conciliation (Amendment) Bill, 2018 Cabinet Approves The Commercial Courts, Commercial Division And Commercial Division Of High Courts (Amendment)

Bill, 2018 ‘Wings India 2018’ Event Gets Underway Supreme Court Allows Passive Euthanasia In Landmark Judgment Construction Of Toilets In Schools Taken Up Under Various Schemes Of The Government Pm Launches Campaign To Eradicate Tb From India By 2025 Laqshya Program Launched To Improve Quality Of Maternity Care Asics 2017 Report: Pune Tops In Urban Governance Niti Aayog, Piramal Foundation Ink Agreement Parivara And Talawara: Cabinet Approves Inclusion Of Communities St List Cabinet Approves North-east Industrial Development Scheme (Neids) 2017 Cabinet Approves Amendments In Surrogacy Bill, 2016 Parliament Passes Payment Of Gratuity (Amendment) Bill, 2018 First ‘Indian Sign Language’ Dictionary Of 3000 Words Launched Indian Navy’s Warship Ins Ganga Decommissioned Videsh Aaya Pradesh Ke Dwaar Launched By Mea E-tribes India On E-commerce Platforms Launched Ccea Approves Continuation Of Credit Guarantee Fund For Education Loans Scheme Cabinet Approves Re-structuring Of Nsdf And Nsdc Ccea Approves Continuation Of Nutrient Based Subsidy And City Compost Scheme Cabinet Approve New Integrated Scheme For School Education

64 - 71 ENVIRONMENT 49 Lakh Led Street Lights Installed Through Street Lighting National Programme Maharashtra Government Bans Use Of Plastic New Species Of Water Strider Found In Nagaland Icfre And Tifac Ink Mou For Supporting Forest Based Communities Chhattisgarh Wins National Water Digest Award Brazzaville Declaration Signed To Protect World’s Largest Tropical Peatland Surat Becomes First District With 100% Solar Powered Health Centres India’s First Insect Museum Opened In Tamil Nadu Rhino Population Rises By 12 In Kaziranga National Park

72 - 88 SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY Radiation Technologies For The Prevention Of Food Loss Ccras Developed A Ayush Drug Qol-2c For Cancer Patients Icmr Wins 2017 Kochon Prize For Tb Research Government Forms Committee To Probe Illegal Cultivation Of Ht Cotton

Celebration Of 6th Foundation Day Of BiracFluorimeter: Dae Develops Device To Measure Uranium Traces In WaterIsro–bhel Tie Up For Production Of Space Grade Lithium-ion CellsIsro Postpones Launch Of Chandrayaan-2 MissionGpi Tracker System: Swift Broadens Payment Tracking CapabilitiesTess: Nasa, Spacex Collaborate To Search For ExoplanetsGsat-6a Successfully Launched By IsroMadhya Pradesh Wins Gi Tag For Black ChickenInsight Mission: Nasa’s First Mission To Explore Deep Interior Of MarsChina Launches Twin Beidou-3 Navigation Satellites Into SpaceInterstitium: Scientists Discover New Organ In Human BodyRussia Conducts Another Test For Icbm Sarmat MissileTerls

89 - 90 DISASTER MANAGEMENT First India-japan Workshop On Disaster Risk ReductionOdisha To Collaborate With Rimes For Disaster Management

91 - 97 DEFENCE & INTERNAL SECURITYNavy’s Three-week Tri-service Maritime Exercise ConcludesGovt. Puts Delayed Road Projects On Indo-china Border On TrackIndia, France Sign Strategic Pact On Use Of Each Other’s Military BasesIndian Air Force Lands Its Largest Transport Aircraft In Arunachal Pradesh’s TutingMiles-18: Naval Exercise Held In AndamanSach-gaurav: India’s First Cloned Assamese Buffalo BornIndo-french Naval Exercise “Varuna-18” Begins Off Goa Coast

98 - 104 ART AND CULTURE13 Intangible Cultural Heritage Elements From India Inscribed On Unesco’s List12 Cities Under Hriday SchemeJaipur To Host 8th Theatre OlympicsTaj Mahal Is One Of The Monuments Under ‘Adopt A Heritage Project’ National Cultural Audiovisual Archives (Ncaa) Becomes The World’s First Trusted Digital RepositoryTaj Mahal Is One Of The Monuments Under ‘Adopt A Heritage Project’ National Cultural Audiovisual Archives (Ncaa) Becomes The World’s First Trusted Digital Repository Print Biennale India 2018: First International Exhibition Held In New Delhi

105 - 106 SOCIAL ISSUESNirbhaya Fund To Create 8 Safe Cities

106 - 107 AGRICULTUREKrishi Unnati Mela Begins In Delhi

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UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRSINTERNATIONAL / BILATERAL

INTERNATIONAL / BILATERAL

NAVIKA SAGAR PARIKRAMA - TARINI ENTERS CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA

What Is It?

Navika Sagar Parikrama is a project wherein a team of women officers of the Indian Navy would circumnavigate the globe on an Indian-built sail boat INSV Tarini and it entered Cape Town (South Africa) today during its maiden voyage.

This is the first ever Indian circumnavigation of the globe by an all-women crew.

The expedition will be covered in five legs, with stop-overs at 4 ports Fremantle (Australia), Lyttleton (New Zealand), Port Stanley (Falklands), and Cape Town (South Africa) for replenishment of ration and repairs as necessary.

The indigenously-built INSV Tarini is a 56-foot sailing vessel, which was inducted in the Indian Navy earlier this year, and showcases the ‘Make in India’ initiative on the International forum.

The expedition titled ‘Navika Sagar Parikrama’, is in consonance with the national policy to empower women to attain their full potential. It also aims to showcase ‘Nari Shakti’ on the world platform and help in transforming societal attitudes and mindset towards women in India by raising visibility of their participation in challenging environs.

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The crew has also been collating and updating meteorological, ocean and wave data on a regular basis for accurate weather forecast by India Meteorological Department (IMD), as also monitoring marine pollution on the high seas. They would interact extensively with the local populace, especially children, during the port halt to promote Ocean sailing and the spirit of adventure.

• • • • •BANGLADESH, RUSSIA, INDIA SIGN PACT FOR ROOPPUR ATOMIC PLANT

What Is It?

Bangladesh, India and Russia have signed a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation on implementing the Rooppur nuclear power plant.

The deal was signed in Moscow between Russian State Atomic Energy Corporation (Rosatom), science and technology ministry of Bangladesh and the Department of Atomic Energy of India.

Under the deal, Indian companies can be involved in construction and installation works, supply of materials and equipment of a non-critical category in the interests of the project. Significantly, India is not a member of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), which controls global nuclear commerce, and hence cannot participate directly in construction of atomic power reactors. India is also not a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty which New Delhi considers as “discriminatory”.

This is the first instance of a third country (India) being involved in the construction of the Rooppur power plant in Bangladesh for which the first agreement was signed between Bangladesh and Russia in November 2011.

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Rooppur Nuclear project is having capacity of 2 - 1200 MWs. It is Bangladesh’s first atomic energy project. It is being built with Russia’s help near Dhaka. After commissioning of this plant, Bangladesh will become third South Asian country after India and Pakistan to harness atomic energy for energy purpose. Russia will build nuclear power plant for this plant on a turnkey basis.

• • • • •MYANMAR PUTS OFF BORDER PACT WITH INDIA

What Is It?

Myanmar has indefinitely deferred signing an agreement with India to streamline the free movement of people within 16 km along the border. India is keen to sign the agreement but Myanmar — citing “domestic compulsions” — has asked more time before the agreement is sealed.

The Union Cabinet on recently approved an agreement between India and Myanmar on land border crossing which the government said would enhance economic interaction between people of the two countries.

The agreement will also facilitate movement of people on the basis of valid passports and visas which will enhance economic and social interaction between the two countries. It is expected to provide connectivity and enhance interaction of the people from north-eastern states of India with those of Myanmar.

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To give it shape, the Centre had asked four States - Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram - that share the unfenced border with Myanmar to distribute “border pass” to all the residents living within 16 km from the border. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been deferred twice in the past seven months.

The domiciles were to be allotted border passes and those going across for agriculture, work or to meet relatives should carry the pass at all times. The official said both the countries intend to put a system in place after India raised the issue of movement of extremists and smugglers freely across the border.

Myanmar has been dragging its feet on the agreement. They have asked for more time and are reluctant due to domestic compulsions. They fear that if they sign the pact, the international agreement will have to be adhered to.

India and Myanmar share a 1,643 km unfenced border along Arunachal Pradesh (520 km), Nagaland (215 km), Manipur (398 km) and Mizoram (510 km) and permit a ‘free movement’ regime up to 16 km beyond the border.

• • • • •INDIA, VIETNAM INK THREE MOUS ON NUCLEAR, ECONOMIC AND

TRADE COOPERATION

What Is It?

India and Vietnam inked three Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs), including on cooperation between the Global Centre for Nuclear Energy Partnership, India (GCNEP) and the Vietnam Atomic Energy Institute (VINATOM), after talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang.

The purpose of the MoU is to strengthen the technical cooperation in the field of atomic energy for peaceful purposes. Besides this, the two countries signed an MoU on economic and trade cooperation aimed at establishing a framework for enhancing economic and trade promotion.

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GCNEP is sixth Research & Development unit under Department of Atomic Energy (DAE). It is located near Bahadurgarh, Haryana. It helps in capacity building, in association with interested countries and International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). It is involved technology, human resource development, education & training and giving momentum to R&D in enlisted areas.

Both countries also signed a work plan for the years 2018-2022 between the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Vietnam. The purpose of this Work Plan is to promote cooperation in the transfer of technology and exchange of visits of technical experts in the fields of agriculture and allied.

Vietnam is an important partner in Southeast Asia under New Delhi’s Act East Policy and is currently the country coordinator for India with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) regional bloc, a role that will be handed over to Thailand later this year.

India-Vietnam trade stood at $6.24 billion in fiscal 2016-17 and the two sides have agreed to raise this to $15 billion by 2020.

• • • • •INDIA, MALAYSIA DISCUSS COOPERATION IN TRADITIONAL MEDICINE

What Is It?

As part of an agreement signed in 2010, India and Malaysia discussed cooperation in the field of traditional systems of medicine and the establishment of an Ayurveda Chair in the fifth bilateral technical meeting held at a private university in Malaysia.

They also discussed the evaluation of safety and efficacy of combining Ayurvedic and traditional products for clinical trials, a bilateral MoU between National Medicinal Plants

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Board under the AYUSH ministry and Malaysia for cooperation in the field of medicinal plants and registration of homeopathic practitioners and their capacity building module in Malaysia.

The salient features of the MoU are as follows:

Cooperation for the promotion of traditional medicine including the regulation for teaching, practice, drugs and drugless therapies of Traditional Systems of Medicine.

Exchanging experts for training of practitioners, paramedics, scientists, teachers and students in Traditional Systems of Medicine.Accommodating interested practitioners, paramedics and students in institutions for educational and training programmes on Traditional MedicineMutual recognition of Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha, Pharmacopeia of Indian and the Malaysian Herbal PharmacopoeiaSetting up of Academic Chairs on Traditional Systems of Medicine.

• • • • •CC APPROVES SIGNING OF MIGRATION AND MOBILITY PARTNERSHIP

AGREEMENT BETWEEN INDIA AND FRANCE

What Is It?

The Union Cabinet has approved the signing of Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreement between India and France.

The Agreement is expected to be signed during the forthcoming State visit of the French President to India.

The Agreement represents a major milestone in enhancing people-to -people contacts, fostering mobility of students, academics, researchers and skilled professionals and strengthening cooperation on issues related to irregular migration and human trafficking between the two sides.

The Agreement is a testimony to India’s rapidly expanding multi-faceted relationship with France and symbolizes the increasing trust and confidence between the two sides.The Agreement is initially valid for a period of seven years, incorporates provision for automatic renewal and a monitoring mechanism through a Joint Working Group.

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CC APPROVES MOU OF INDIA AND FRANCE TO FACILITATE “MUTUAL RECOGNITION OF ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS”

What Is It?

The Union Cabinet has given its approval for signing of an Agreement between India and France to facilitate Mutual Recognition of educational qualifications and periods of study undertaken by students in duly approved, recognized and/or accredited educational Institutions within the two countries.

The signing of the agreement will help in deepening the educational ties between India and France and will go a long way in boosting the educational relationship between the two countries.

The agreement will be instrumental in encouraging mobility of students from both the countries by facilitating possibilities for them to continue their studies in the other country and would also promote excellence in higher education through innovative partnerships/collaborations and research activities which will be leading to the improvement of the quality of education in India.• • • • •

INDIA FRANCE TOGETHER SHAKE HANDS TO PREVENT ILLICIT CONSUMPTION OF NARCOTIC DRUGS

What Is It?

India and France join hands to strengthen bilateral ties by signing MoU on the cooperation on the Prevention of Illicit Consumption and Reduction of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs, Psychotropic Substances and Chemical Precursors and related offences.

This MoU is aimed at enhancing mutual cooperation between two countries in the prevention of the illicit consumption and reduction of illicit traffic in narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and chemical precursors, and related offences through exchange of information, expertise and capacity building.

Also this agreement would help in establishing effective institutional interaction and curbing transnational narcotics trafficking including disruption of terrorist financing structures is also envisaged in this agreement.

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IREDA & EUROPEAN INVESTMENT BANK SIGN EURO 150 MILLION LOAN AGREEMENT FOR RENEWABLE ENERGY FINANCING IN INDIA

What Is It?

European Investment Bank (EIB) and Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA) Ltd. have signed a loan agreement for a second line of credit (LoC) of Euro 150 million on non-sovereign basis here, today.

The line of credit is for tenure of 15 years including a grace period of 3 years, and it will be used for financing Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency projects in India. More than 1.1 million households are expected to benefit from clean energy produced with these funds.

EIB:

EIB is the long-term lending institution of the European Union owned by its Member States. It works closely with other EU institutions to implement EU policy and is also engaged in multilateral financing. More than 90 per cent of its activity is in Europe but it is also a big investor globally.

EIB’s activities focus on four priority areas including innovation and skills, access to finance for smaller businesses, infrastructure and climate & environment.

IREDA:

IREDA is the dedicated financing arm of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy for financing the renewable and energy efficiency projects and has been spearheading the growth of renewable energy in the country for over three decades. It has financed renewable and energy efficiency projects of financial value of over Rs.34,534.06 crore till date.

To meet the financing requirement of renewable energy projects in the country, IREDA has been raising resources from various bilateral and multilateral agencies, Masala bonds, and domestic - taxable and tax-free bonds.

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INDIA, FRANCE INK 14 PACTS TO BOOST COOPERATION

What Is It?

India and France today inked 14 pacts in key areas of defence, security, nuclear energy and protection of classified information besides resolving to deepen cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region and step up joint efforts to contain terrorism.

The agreements were signed after extensive talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron, including on the changing security dynamics in the Indian Ocean and Pacific.

List Of Agreements:

MoU on cooperation in the field of Environment.

MoU on technical cooperation in the field of Railways.

India-France Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreement.

Agreement to facilitate Mutual Recognition of Academic Qualifications.

Letter of Intent for creation of permanent Indo-French Railways Forum.

Agreement on cooperation in the field of Sustainable Urban Development.

MoU for co-operation in projects in ISA member countries in areas of solar energy.

Implementing Arrangement for pre-formulation studies of a Maritime Awareness Mission.

Agreement regarding provision of reciprocal logistics support between their Armed Forces.

Bilateral Arrangement on cooperation in matter of Hydrography and Maritime Cartography.

Agreement regarding exchange and reciprocal protection of classified or protected information Credit Facility Agreement of Euros 100 million for funding of Smart City Projects through a Challenge Process.

Industrial Way Forward Agreement between NPCL and EDF, France for construction of six nuclear reactors at Jaitapur, Maharashtra.

Agreement on Prevention of Illicit Consumption and Reduction of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs, Psychotropic Substances and Chemical Precursors and Related Offences.

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INDIA, FRANCE CO-HOSTS INTERNATIONAL SOLAR ALLIANCE SUMMIT

What Is It?

India and France came together to reiterate their commitment to provide leadership to slow down global warming and transition to a sustainable and low carbon development pathway to economic growth and development.

The International Solar Alliance is the first international treaty-based organisation that enables co-operation among sun-rich countries lying fully or partially between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn.

The aim of the summit was to deliberate on finance mechanism for promotion of solar energy in member countries, crowd-funding and technology transfer.

The summit was co-hosted by President Ram Nath Kovind and his French counterpart President Emmanuel Macron. It was attended by 21 heads of states and heads of government, several top ministers and bureaucrats apart from participants from multilateral banks and United Nations.Its focus was to mobilise $1 trillion of investments needed by 2030 for massive deployment of solar energy. The summit was of particular significance to India as it strives to achieve ambitious target of generating 175 GW of renewable energy, including 100 GW of solar energy, by 2022. • • • • •

INDIA-UK JOINT TEAM WINS NEWTON-BHABHA FUND

What Is It?

The joint team of India and United Kingdom has won the Newton-Bhabha Fund for the project called “Groundwater Arsenic Research in Ganga River Basin.

The project is jointly undertaken by India’s Department of Science and Technology along with the Natural Environment Research Council of UK. The research was focused on finding solutions to water challenges faced in pervasively arsenic-affected Ganga River Basin.

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The project aims at assessing the problem of arsenic poisoning can get aggravated in the next 25 to 30 years and influence groundwater management practices and suggest water remedial technologies accordingly.

The project to be conducted from three sites - Bijnor and Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh and Nadia in West Bengal.

The Indian team comprised representatives of Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur, National Institute of Hydrology, IIT Roorkee and Mahavir Cancer Sansthan and Research Centre of Patna.

The UK team consisted of representatives of University of Manchester, University of Salford, British Geological Survey and University of Birmingham.

The Newton Bhabha Fund, provided by the British Council, aims to bring together the UK and Indian scientific research and innovation sectors to find joint solutions to the challenges facing India in economic development and social welfare.

Arsenic Contamination:

Arsenic is natural component in the earth’s crust. It is widely distributed throughout the environment in the air, water and land. It is highly toxic in its inorganic form. Arsenic contaminated water used for drinking, irrigation of food crops and food preparation poses the greatest threat to public health from arsenic.

Long-term exposure to arsenic from drinking-water and food can lead to chronic arsenic poisoning. It can cause cancer, skin lesions, developmental effects, cardiovascular disease, neurotoxicity and diabetes. Arsenic Contamination is a high-profile problem in the Ganges Delta, due to the use of deep tubewells for water supply. The groundwater’s in these tube wells have high concentrations of arsenic in deeper levels.

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PHILIPPINES WITHDRAWS FROM INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT

What Is It?

The Philippines has notified the U.N. secretary-general of its decision to withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC) citing reason of international bias and held that ICC was being utilised as a political tool against it, but has assured the United Nations of its commitment to the rule of law.

It will make Philippines only second country to withdraw from the Rome statute, following Burundi in 2017. South Africa attempted to leave in 2016, but its withdrawal was revoked by UN.

Philippines had ratified Rome statute related to Hague-based ICC in 2011. Its ratification was seen as big step forward for human rights in Asia. Now its withdrawal is seen as blow for international accountability in the region.

The ICC in February 2018 had announced that it was launching preliminary examination of President Rodrigo Duterte’s bloody anti-drug crackdown that has drawn international concern.

It is claimed that nearly 4,000 drug suspects were killed as part of campaign, while human rights groups claim the toll is around three times the numbers given by authorities.

ICC is the world’s first intergovernmental legal body with permanent international jurisdiction to prosecute individuals for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes.

It is based in The Hague, Netherlands. It began its functioning on 1 July 2002, the date that Rome Statute entered into force. It has 123 member states (India is not its member). The Rome Statute is multilateral treaty which serves as ICC’s foundational and governing document. India has not signed Rome Statute.

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INDIAN RAILWAYS HANDS OVER 18 LOCOMOTIVES TO MYANMA RAILWAYS

What Is It?

Indian Railways has formally handed over eighteen 1350 HP AC/DC diesel electric locomotives to Myanma Railways. It was the first project completed in current Indian Line of Credit (LoC).

India and Myanmar have been long enjoying cooperation in Railway sector over the last two decades. Moreover, Indian Railways is playing a pivotal role in developing cordial relations with the neighbouring countries.

These 18 locomotives are fitted with micro-processor control based system. 1350 HP AC/DC main line diesel locomotives with maximum speed of 100 KM PH have been customised for Myanma Railways, built by Diesel Locomotive Works, Varanasi, India.

They are extremely fuel efficient are equipped with the latest features. Most of these supplies in the railway sector have been carried out under Indian Line of Credit. As per the agreement schedule, all locomotives were to be delivered by September, 2018. They have been delivered six months ahead of the schedule.

RITES, a Public Sector Enterprise under the Ministry of Railways is the export arm of the railways undertaking various projects worldwide. RITES has engaged in the supply of Railway rolling stock (locomotives, coaches, wagons, permanent way maintenance vehicles), maintenance of railway infrastructure, technical studies, training of Myanmar Railway officials. Soon, RITES would take up the study for upgradation & maintenance of workshops. A team of experts from Diesel Modernization Works, Patiala would visit Myanmar soon.

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INFORMAL WORLD TRADE ORGANISATION MINISTERIAL MEETING

What Is It?

Delegates from as many as 52 countries, including the US and China, are participating in the informal meeting of the WTO amid increasing protectionism in global trade.

India has called this meeting to explore options to reinvigorate the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

All heads of delegations appreciated the Commerce & Industry Minister’s initiative in calling this meeting and providing political guidance for the work in the WTO.

The meeting expressed concerns over increasing protectionism because of the announcement by the US of new tariffs on steel and aluminium. In response, we also heard announcements of other potential trade restrictive actions by numerous other economies.

• • • • •CABINET APPROVES CLOSURE OF INDIA DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION OF

OVERSEAS INDIANS

What Is It?

The Union Cabinet has given its approval for closure of India Development Foundation of Overseas Indians (IDF-OI) to enhance synergies in channelizing Diaspora’s contributions to Government of India’s flagship programmes such as National Mission for clean Ganga and Swachh Bharat Mission.

IDF-OI was set up by Government of India with the approval of Cabinet in 2008 as an autonomous not-for-profit Trust, to facilitate Overseas Indian philanthropy into social and development projects in India.

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Promotion of Government of India’s Flagship programmes - National Mission for Clean Ganga and Swachh Bharat Mission; and Social and Development projects identified by State Governments - was added to the mandate of IDF-OI.

Although, between April 2015 and March 2018, the Trust received Rs.10.16 crore, most of the contribution received were for either projects related to National Mission for Clean Ganga or Swachh Bharat Mission, which are separately administered by their respective Administrative Agencies. In order to enhance synergies, improve efficiencies and avoid duplication of work, it was decided by the 9th Meeting of Board of Trustees of the IDF-OI that the Trust would be closed down by March 31, 2018.

• • • • •CABINET APPROVES REVISION OF DTAA BETWEEN INDIA AND QATAR

What Is It?

The Union Cabinet has given its approval for revision existing Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) between India and Qatar. The purpose of revision is for avoidance of double taxation and for prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income. The existing DTAA between India and and Qatar was signed in April 1999 and came into force in January, 2000.

The existing Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) with Qatar was signed on 7thApril, 1999 and came into force on 15thJanuary, 2000.The revised DTAA updates the provisions for exchange of information to latest standard, includes Limitation of Benefits provision to prevent treaty shopping and aligns other provisions with India’s recent treaties.

The revised DTAA meets the minimum standards on treaty abuse under Action 6 and Mutual Agreement Procedure under Action 14 of G-20 OECD Base Erosion & Profit Shifting (BEPS) Project, in which India participated on an equal footing.

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CABINET APPROVES OPENING OF 18 MISSIONS IN AFRICA

What Is It?

The Union Cabinet has approved the opening of 18 new Indian missions in Africa. The new Indian missions will be set up over four years, from 2018 to 2021.

India already has 29 resident missions in Africa. The new mission will be opened in Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Mauritania, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Swaziland and Togo.

These new missions are also a step towards implementing the vision of enhanced co-op-eration and engagement with Africa.

India wants to expand its influence in the African continent which is rich in resources. China has been trying to increase its appearance in Africa. The decision will enhance India’s diplomatic outreach in the African continent and allow India to engage with Indian diaspora in African countries.

• • • • •AFRICAN UNION JOIN HANDS TO MAKE CONTINENT FREE TRADE AREA

What Is It?

Out of 55 members of the African Union, 44 members signed the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) during a summit of the African Union in Kigali, Rwanda. But 10 countries, including Nigeria, have refused to sign the deal.

These members pledged to make Africa the largest free trade bloc by using the potential to bring over 1.2bn people together into the same market.

Currently, the trade between African countries is relatively low. It accounts for only 10% of all commerce on the continent - compared with 25% in south-east Asia. It will improve the trade between African countries as 27 member states have agreed to provide free movement of the persons. It will also reduce the barriers like import duties and non-tarrifs from the path of free trade and it will definitely boost commerce, trade and employment.

It will create a single continental market for goods and services, with free movement of business persons and investments and will also encourage the competitiveness at the industry and enterprise level through exploitation of opportunities for scale production, continental market access and better reallocation of resources.

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Once implemented, AfCFTA will be largest free-trade area in terms of participating countries since the formation of the World Trade Organization (WTO).

During the 18th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union in January 2012, the member adopted a decision to establish a Continental Free Trade Area by an indicative date of 2017. The Summit also endorsed the Action Plan on Boosting Intra-Africa Trade (BIAT) which identifies seven priority action clusters: trade policy, trade facilitation, productive capacity, trade related infrastructure, trade finance, trade information, and factor market integration.

• • • • •MARCH 25: INTERNATIONAL DAY OF REMEMBRANCE OF THE VICTIMS OF

SLAVERY

What Is It?

Every year on 25 March, the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade is observed.

The day is observed to remember and honour the victims of brutal slavery system. A memorial has been built at United Nations Headquarters to honours the victims permanently. The day also aims at creating awareness about the danger of slavery, prejudice and racism. It was first observed in 2008 with the theme “Breaking the Silence, Lest We Forget” to honor the lives of those who died as a result of slavery or experienced the horrors of the transatlantic slave trade. It is also an occasion to raise awareness about the dangers of racism and prejudice. Since then it is commemorated every year.

About 17 million people were transported against their will from Africa to North, Central and South America during the 16th century and up until the 19th century. Millions more died while being transported to the Americas. This mass deportation and resulting slavery are seen as one of the worst violations of human rights.

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INTERNATIONAL SOLAR ALLIANCE, INDIA INK HOST COUNTRY AGREEMENT

What Is It?

The International Solar Alliance (ISA) and the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has signed the Host Country Agreement that will give ISA a juridical personality and will empower it with the power to contract, to acquire and dispose movable and immovable properties, to institute and defend legal proceedings.

Under the agreement, ISA shall enjoy such privileges, applicable tax concessions and immunities as are necessary for ISA’s Headquarter to independently discharge its function and programmes. ISA shall be deriving its status, privileges, and immunities as per Article 10 of the Framework agreement. As per the agreement, ISA has now become a Juridical personality.

The Agreement has provisions covering definition, interpretation and objectives, legal status, capacity and freedom of assembly, funds and assets, communication facility for the implementation of the ISA Secretariat activity, visas, privileges and immunities, waiver of privileges and immunities, settlement of disputes, supplemental agreements, general provisions, entry into force, and duration.

ISA is initiative jointly launched by India and France in November 2015 at Paris on side lines of COP21 UN Climate Change Conference. Its Framework Agreement came into force in December 2017. It celebrated its founding day on 11th March, 2018.

It is headquartered at campus of Natioanl Institute of Solar Energy (NISE), Gurugram, Harayana, making it first international intergovernmental treaty based organization to be headquartered in India.

The main objective of ISA is to undertake joint efforts required to reduce the cost of finance and the cost of technology, mobilize more than the US $ 1000 billion of investments needed by 2030 for massive deployment of solar energy, and pave the way for future technologies adapted to the needs of 121 countries lying fully or partially between the Tropics.

ISA has presently four ongoing programmes: Scaling Solar Applications for Agricultural Use, Affordable Finance at Scale, Scaling Solar Mini Grids and Scaling Solar Rooftop catering to the needs of solar energy in specific areas.

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INDIA AND CHINA AGREE ROADMAP FOR ADDRESSING TRADE IMBALANCE

What Is It?

India and China on The eleventh session of the China-India joint-group on Economic Relations, Trade, Science & Technology was held in New Delhi agreed to draw up a medium- and long-term roadmap with action points and timelines to address the $51 billion trade deficit between them.

Both countries reaffirmed and reiterated their commitments to promote balanced and sustainable bilateral trade. They agreed to continue to take fforward initiatives identified in Five Year Development Programme for Economic and Trade Cooperation (DPETC) signed between both countries in September 2014.

The Chinese side noted India’s concerns regarding the long-standing imbalance along with requests for market access of Indian products and services and expressed commitment to address those.

The Chinese side iterated its commitment to expeditiously work towards giving market access to Indian agricultural products such as non-basmati rice, rapeseed and soybean meals, pomegranate and pomegranate arils, okra, banana, other fruits and vegetables, and beef. The two sides also reaffirmed their aim to promote bilateral trade in pharmaceuticals and resolve issues involving Indian pharma exports to China.

The two sides agreed to strengthen cooperation within World Trade Organisation and other multilateral and regional frameworks to uphold common interests and reiterated commitment to rules-based multilateral global trade.

The two largest emerging economies account for 35 percent of the world population and around 20 percent of the gross domestic product. However, the bilateral trade is less than 1 percent of global trade.

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PAKISTAN TEST FIRES SUBMARINE LAUNCHED CRUISE MISSILE BABUR

What Is It?

Pakistan conducted successful test fire of indigenously developed Submarine Launched Cruise Missile (SLCM) BABUR having a range of 450 KMs.

The Missile was fired from an underwater dynamic platform, which successfully engaged its target with precise accuracy, meeting all the flight parameters, said ISPR Press Release.

SLCM BABUR is capable of delivering various types of payloads and incorporates state of the art technologies including underwater controlled propulsion, advanced guidance and navigation features. It provides Pakistan credible second strike capability, augmenting the existing deterrence regime.

Development of this capability also reflects Pakistan’s response to provocative nuclear strategies and posture being pursued in neighbourhood through induction of nuclear submarines and ship-borne nuclear missiles; leading to nuclearisation of Indian Ocean Region.

Pakistan eyes this landmark development as a step towards reinforcing the policy of Credible Minimum Deterrence through indigenization and self-reliance.

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UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRSINFRASTRUCTURE

INFRASTRUCTURE

EESL TO INSTALL ENERGY-EFFICIENT LEDS ACROSS ALL AIRPORTS IN INDIA

What Is It?

Energy Efficiency Services Ltd (EESL) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Airports Authority of India (AAI) for installing energy-efficient LED lights at airports, buildings and facilities owned by the AAI across India. EESL will make the entire upfront investment of Rs 24.41crore on the project.

A MoU was signed under the Buildings Energy Efficiency Programme (BEEP). The entire procurement of lighting equipment, installation and maintenance will be undertaken by EESL without any cost burden on AAI. The project will be completed within four months from the date of signing a definitive Energy Performance Agreement (EPA).EESL will execute the energy efficiency programme on the ESCO model, where the entire upfront investment is borne by EESL and recovery of investments is made through monetised shared savings. The contract period is five years and EESL would take complete responsibility for replacement /repair for the duration.Replacement of existing conventional light fittings with energy-efficient LEDs across airports and buildings of AAI will contribute significantly to India’s climate goals and will have successfully transformed multiple commercial buildings in India into energy-efficient complexes. Initiative will lead our way to radically transforming the energy efficiency scenario in the country by retrofitting huge commercial complexes.

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EESL has earlier partnered with institutions like the Indian Railways, Central Public Works Department, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation among others to replace inefficient lighting and cooling appliances with efficient equipment.

As part of the Buildings Energy Efficiency Programme launched in May 2017, EESL intends to bring investment of around Rs. 1000 crore covering more than 10,000 large government and private buildings by 2020 to enable annual monetary savings of Rs. 800 crore, energy savings of 100 crore kWh per year and annual CO2 reduction of 10 lakh tonne.

EESL, which is a joint venture of PSUs under the power ministry, has earlier taken the lead to issue tenders for LED bulbs, helping the prices of the energy-efficient devices fall steeply. It is also actively involved in the government’s initiative to procure electric vehicles for use by official departments and state-run firms.

Source: PIB.

• • • • •FIRST MEGA FOOD PARK IN MAHARASHTRA AT SATARA INAUGURATED

What Is It?

The first Mega Food Park in the state of Maharashtra Satara Mega Food Park Private Limited at Village Degaon, District Satara was inaugurated by Harsimrat Kaur Badal, Union Minister of Food Processing Industries.

This is the 10th Mega Food Park being operationalized in the country and the 8th operationalized during the tenure of the present government. Satara Mega Food Park has been set up in 64 acres of land at a cost of Rs. 139.30 crore.

To give a major boost to the food processing sector by adding value and reducing food wastage at each stage of the supply chain with particular focus on perishables, Ministry of Food Processing Industries is implementing Mega Food Park Scheme in the country.

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Mega Food Parks create modern infrastructure facilities for food processing along the value chain from farm to market with strong forward and backward linkages through a cluster based approach.

Common facilities and enabling infrastructure is created at Central Processing Centre and facilities for primary processing and storage is created near the farm in the form of Primary Processing Centers (PPCs) and Collection Centers (CCs). Under the Scheme, Government of India provides financial assistance upto Rs. 50.00 Crore per Mega Food Park project”.

The Mega Food Park will leverage an additional investment of about Rs. 250 crore in 25-30 food processing units in the park and would eventually lead to an turnover of about Rs. 450-500 crore annually. “The Park will also provide direct and indirect employment to 5,000 persons and benefit about 25,000 farmers in the CPC and PPC catchment areas.

The food processing sector will contribute immensely towards ‘Doubling Farmers income’ in the coming years and is need of the hour to make the agriculture sustainable.

Source: PIB.

• • • • •ONE MILLION SOLAR STUDY LAMPS SCHEME SUCCESSFULLY

IMPLEMENTED

What Is It?

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy said today it has distributed one million solar study lamps under a scheme for states including Assam, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha and Uttar Pradesh.

The scheme which was sanctioned in January 2014 for empowering under-served communities in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra has been successfully completed. Following this, the ministry sanctioned 5 lakh solar study lamps in various states in May 2016.

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A new project for distribution of 70 lakh solar study lamps in Assam, Bihar, Jharkhand Odisha and Uttar Pradesh which was sanctioned by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) in December 2016, is currently under implementation.

The ministry also has a separate skill development programme “Surya Mitra” for imparting training in the field of solar energy for installation and repair and maintenance of solar power systems.

Surya Mitra Scheme:

The programme aims to develop the skills of youth, considering the opportunities for employment in the growing Solar Energy Power project’s installation, operation & maintenance in India and abroad. The Suryamitra Programme is also designed to prepare the candidates to become new entrepreneurs in Solar Energy sector.

The Suryamitra Skill Development Programmes are sponsored by Ministry of New & Renewable Energy, Government of India.

• • • •NATIONAL PERSPECTIVE PLAN (NPP) FOR INTER-LINKING OF RIVERS

What Is It?

The Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation has formulated a National Perspective Plan (NPP) for Water Resources Development envisaging inter-basin transfer of water from surplus basins to deficit basins/ areas. Based on surveys, investigations and detailed studies, National Water Development Agency (NWDA) has prepared pre-feasibility reports which facilitated identification of 30 links under the NPP.

The Government is pursuing the Interlinking of River program in a consultative manner. Its implementation is dependent upon the consensus and co-operation of the concerned States and upon obtaining various mandatory clearances from Ministry/ Departments of Central and State Governments including statutory clearances.

The implementation of National Perspective Plan for water Resources Development would create an additional irrigation potential of approximately 35 million hectare and generate 34000 megawatts (MW) hydro power apart from the incidental benefits of flood moderation, navigation, drinking and industrial water supply, fisheries, salinity and pollution control etc.

Under the NPP, the National Water Development Agency (NWDA) identified 30 links (16 under

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Peninsular Component & 14 under Himalayan Component) for preparation of Feasibility Reports (FRs). The Pre-Feasibility Reports (PFRs) of all 30 links have been prepared and circulated to the concerned State Governments. After survey and investigations, FRs of 14 links under Peninsular Component and FRs of 2 links and draft FRs of 7 links (Indian portion) under Himalayan Component have been completed.

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INNOVATION BOOST: RESEARCH PARKS IN IITS

What Is It?

The Government has approved setting up of nine Research Parks one each at IIT Madras, IIT Kharagpur, IIT Bombay, IIT Gandhinagar, IIT Delhi, IIT Guwahati, IIT Kanpur, IIT Hyderabad, and IISc Bangalore.

These research parks will come at a cost of Rs 75 crore each, entailing a total cost of Rs 375 crore. At present, there are research parks at four IITs – Chennai, Gandhinagar, Bombay and Kharagpur. HRD ministry will fund the existing research parks at IIT Bombay and Kharagpur with Rs 100 crore each.

The research park at IIT Gandhinagar at a total cost of Rs 90 crore is funded by the Department of Science & Technology. IIT Chennai was the first among IITs to establish a research park in 2010. It currently has 43 R&D clients, 4 incubators, 55 startups and 5 centres of excellence.

Research parks will assist companies with a research focus to set up a base in the park and leverage the expertise available at IITs. They help develop the knowledge and innovation ecosystem and also help industry to create, integrate and apply advancements in knowledge.

IIT Bombay’s research park, ASPIRE focusses on four sectors – IT and telecom, energy, chemical and semiconductor and heavy engineering. Globally, institutions such as Harvard, Stanford and MIT have a very vibrant research culture. This is reflected in the number of startups that get incubated at these institutes. HRD ministry, through these research parks wants to replicate a similar culture at IITs.

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ALL WEATHER ROADS FOR CHAR DHAM

What Is It?

Char Dham Expressway National Highway is a proposed two-lane (in each direction) express National Highway with a minimum width of 10 metres in the state of Uttarakhand.

The proposed highway will compliment the under development Char Dham Railway by connecting the four holy places in Uttarakhand states includes Badrinath , Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri.

The project includes 900 km national highways will connect whole of Uttarakhand state.

Total project cost for project is Rs. 11,700 crore. The construction work on the Char Dham project has been started and the project is targeted to be completed by March 2020.

The Chardham highway project connecting four pilgrimage towns of Uttarakhand is extremely important from a strategic point of view as it is close to the China border.

The improvement of the national highway will facilitate better connection with India-China border roads. However, all possible precautions will be taken to ensure that stability of mountain does not get disturbed in the process.

Moreover, defence preparedness will get adversely affected in case the roads are not improved as per the requirement of defence forces.

In the eventuality of any aggression, movement of heavy weapons, plants and equipments, artillery guns etc. would not be possible in case roads are not improved.

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WORLD HAPPINESS INDEX 2018: INDIA RANKS 133

What Is It?

India ranked 133 out of 156 countries in the “World Happiness Index 2018 surveyed by the UN. The country slipped 11 places and it at the bottom of all the SAARC nations and even Afghanistan is above India in the ranking.

The less-developed nations like Nepal, Pakistan, Bhutan are ahead of in the index. Evidently, India is growing in quantitative terms but when it comes to quality the country lags behind.

The World Happiness Report is a landmark survey of the state of global happiness. The World Happiness Report 2018, ranks 156 countries by their happiness levels, and 117 countries by the happiness of their immigrants.

The report suggests that people aren’t happy in India and there is a consistent urge of migrating to other nations. The 2018 WHR observed Indians were increasingly migrating to other countries. There were big flows from the Indian sub-continent to the Gulf States.

Parameters of Happiness Index:GDP

Social Support

Generosity

Perception of Corruption

Life Expectancy

Dystopia

Freedom to Make Life Choices

The index states that Finland is the happiest nation in the world followed by Norway, Denmark, Iceland, Switzerland. Netherlands, Canada, New Zealand, Sweden and Australia come at the 6th to 10th place respectively. Talking about SAARC Nations, Pakistan is at 75th position, up five spots from last year. Nepal stood at 101, Bhutan at 97, Bangladesh at 115 while Sri Lanka was at 116.

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INDIA AND ADB SIGN $120 MILLION LOAN TO IMPROVE RAIL INFRASTRUCTURE

What Is It?

Government of India and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) today signed a $120 million loan agreement for completion of works for double-tracking and electrification of railways tracks along high-density corridors to improve operational efficiency of Indian railways.

The project is aimed at enhancing the efficiency of the rail infrastructure through electrification, introduction of modern signaling system, and doubling rail tracks on key routes in the country.

The Program will help develop an energy-efficient, safe, and reliable railway system that will result in reduced travel time along project rail routes and improved operational and financial efficiency and also reduce annual accident rate.

Funding for tranche 3 loan will contribute towards achieving the overall Program outputs of double-tracking about 840 kilometer of rail routes and electrification of 640 kilometer of tracks along high density corridors, said Mr. Yokoyama. The program is also helping implement new accounting systems and provide additional safety measures including collision avoidance equipment.

The investment program is targeting busy freight and passenger routes in the states of Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, including the Golden Quadrilateral corridor that connects Chennai, Kolkata, Mumbai and New Delhi.

ADB, based in Manila, is dedicated to reducing poverty in Asia and the Pacific through inclusive economic growth, environmentally sustainable growth, and regional integration. Established in 1966, it is owned by 67 members—48 from the region.

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UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRSECONOMY

WORLD’S LONGEST SANDSTONE CAVE FOUND IN MEGHALAYA

What Is It?

Meghalaya has added another beautiful feather in its crown with the discovery of world’s longs sandstone cave called “Krem Puri” near Laitsohum village in Mawsynram area in East Khasi Hills district. Meghalaya is famous for several caves hidden under undulating hills.

Krem Puri cave system also has fossils of dinosaurs, especially Mosasaurus, a giant reptile that lived 66-76 million years ago.

It is longest sandstone cave in the world at 24,583m, with dinosaur fossils from 66-76 million years ago. It was first discovered in 2016 but the actual length is obtained by Meghalaya Adventurers’ Association (MAA) during one of its recent expeditions.

It is 6,000m longer than the currently listed sandstone cave in the world, Cueva El Samán, (18,200m) in Venezuela.

This sandstone cave is also India’s second longest cave in general category after limestone Krem Liat Prah-Umim-Labit system measuring little over 31 km in Jaintia Hills, Meghalaya.

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GEOGRAPHY

GEOGRAPHY

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ECONOMY

CABINET APPROVES FUGITIVE ECONOMIC OFFENDERS BILL, 2018

What Is It?

The Union Cabinet on Thursday approved the Fugitive Economic Offenders Bill 2018 which will be tabled in Parliament in the next session.

The Fugitive Economic Offenders Bill 2018 will confiscate assets of fugitive, who left the country after committing economic offences and even Benami assets will be confiscated. It also provided provisions of confiscating assets that are situated on foreign lands, provided cooperation of the country where the property is situated will be needed for the same.

The Cabinet also approved establishment of National Financial Reporting Authority (NFRA). “NFRA will act as an independent regulator for the auditing profession which was one of the key changes brought in by the Companies Act, 2013”.

Jurisdiction of NFRA for investigation of Chartered Accountants and their firms under Section 132 of the Act would extend to listed companies and large unlisted public companies, the thresholds for which shall be provided in the rules.

The authority will apply to only certain companies that will be notified in the rules. These will include all listed companies, and large unlisted companies. The size of these unlisted companies will be decided in the rules.The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India will continue its audit procedures for smaller companies. The law will apply to defaulters who have an outstanding of Rs 100 crore or more and have escaped from the country. There will be a list of scheduled offences along with the Bill. If a person committed an offence on the list, and a competent court issued an arrest warrant, and the person left the country to avoid this, then the court could deem him or her a fugitive economic offender.

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PREMIUM TAG FOR COFFEE GROWN IN ARAKU VALLEY

What Is It?

The Coffee Board has applied for registration of Araku coffee under Geographical Indications to protect the unique identity of the coffee grown by the tribal communities of Araku Valley in Visakhapatnam district of Andhra Pradesh.

Arakku coffee beans grown by the Soliga tribals amid the forests of BR Hills,who dominate the coffee sector in the State with the large planters of Kodagu and Chikkamagaluru districts.

The Central Government, through the Coffee Board, is promoting production of coffee in Araku Valley by implementing the “Integrated Coffee Development Project”. The scheme includes extending financial support for replanting and expansion, creation of water harvesting and irrigation infrastructures and mechanisation of coffee estate operations.

In the non-traditional areas financial support is extended for consolidation of existing coffee plantations through gap filling and application of compost. Technical assistance is also provided by organising capacity building programs and field demonstrations.

TheCoffee Board is facilitating collective marketing of Araku Coffee by providing incentives at Rs. 10 per Kg for SHGs and grower collectives.

Arabica coffee from the Araku Valley area has gained popularity as a high quality speciality coffee internationally. The Coffee Board has developed exclusive logos for coffee grown in the country based on their geographical distinctiveness.Coffee Board encourages the coffee growers to participate in the “Flavour of India-The Fine Cup Award” competition organised by Coffee Board every year.

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RBI FORMALISES ARRANGEMENT WITH INSOLVENCY AND BANKRUPTCY BOARD

What Is It?

The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI) on Monday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) for enhancing cooperation between the two regulators to ensure better implementation of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC).

RBI and IBBI will share data and resources with each other to the extent allowed by law and hold frequent discussions to overcome regulatory bottlenecks with respect to implementation of IBC.

The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (Code) provides for reorganisation and insolvency resolution of corporate persons, partnership firms and individuals in a time bound manner for maximization of the value of assets of such persons, to promote entrepreneurship, availability of credit and balance the interests of all the stakeholders and, for this purpose, has established an institutional infrastructure comprising of Adjudicating Authorities, the IBBI, insolvency professionals, insolvency professional agencies and information utilities.

The IBBI exercises regulatory oversight over the Insolvency Professionals, Insolvency Professional Agencies and Information Utilities. It writes and enforces rules for processes, namely, corporate insolvency resolution, corporate liquidation, individual insolvency resolution and individual bankruptcy under the Code.

The memorandum will allow forSharing of information and resources between the two, to the extent feasible and permitted by law,Periodic meeting between the two to discuss matters of mutual interest such as regulatory requirements that impact each of their responsibilities in relation to the IBC and cases under it,

cross training staff to utilise collective resources more effectively,

capacity building of insolvency professionals and financial creditors,joint efforts towards enhancing the level of awareness among financial creditors about the importance and necessity of swift resolution of various types of borrowers in distress under the IBC.

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DEVELOPMENT OF EIGHT NEW NATIONAL WATERWAYS

What Is It?

The Government has commenced work on development of eight new National Waterways; their details and operational status is given below:

River Barak (NW-16): Bhanga – Lakhipur Stretch of 121 km.

Under Phase-1, the stretch between Silchar to Bhanga (71 km) has been taken up for development. Waterway is operational with limited infrastructure facility.

River Gandak (NW-37):

Bhaisalotan Barrage near TriveniGhat to confluence with Ganga river at Hajipur (296 km)in Bihar and UP.

Development works have commenced from Ganga confluence to Bagaha Bridge (250 km approx.) stretch of NW-37 under Phase-1.

Waterways in Goa

NW-27-Cumberjua – confluence with Zuari to confluence with Mandovi river (17 km)

NW 68 – Mandovi– Usgaon Bridge to Arabian Sea (41 km)

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NW 111 – Zuari– Sanvordem Bridge to Marmugao Port (50 km).

Development works for expansion/ setting up of floating jetties and upgradation/ installation of navigational aids is underway. NWs of Goa are operational.

Alappuzha – Kottayam – Athirampuzha Canal (NW-9)

Boat Jetty, Alappuzha to Athirampuzha (38 km) in Kerala.

Development work in the Alappuzha-Kottayam stretch has commenced under Phase-1 for cargo movement. Waterway is already operational for ferry services.

River Rupnarayan (NW-86):

Confluence of Dwarkeshwar and Silai rivers (Pratappur) to confluence with Hooghly river (Geonkhali) (72 km) in West Bengal.

Approximately 34 kms between Geonkhali to Kolaghat stretch has been taken up for development under Phase-I.

Sunderbans Waterways (NW-97):

Namkhana to AtharaBankiKhal & 13 connected rivers (654 km) in West Bengal.Phase-I development work of this waterway from Namkhana to AtharaBankiKhal (172 km) has been taken up. Waterway is already operational under Indo-Bangladesh Protocol (IBP) route.

• • • • •IIP RISES TO 7.5%

What Is It?

Industrial activity expanded 7.5 per cent in January, up from 7.1 per cent in December. This is the third straight month that industrial output has expanded by more than 7 per cent, suggesting economic activity is gaining as the effects of demonetisation and the goods and services tax (GST) dissipate.

Factory output grew at 7.1% in December 2017, before hitting 25-month high of 8.4% in November 2017. The cumulative IIP growth for period of April-Jan over corresponding period of previous year was 4.1%.

As far as retail inflation is concerned, it fell to a 4-month low of 4.44 per cent in February on cheaper food articles and lower cost for fuel. Retail inflation, based on Consumer Price Index (CPI), was at 5.07 per cent in January. However, it was 3.65 per cent in February 2017 and 4.88 per cent in November.

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The IIP is composite indicator that measures short-term changes in volume of production of basket of industrial products during given period with respect to chosen base period. It is compiled and published monthly by Central Statistical Organization (CSO), Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation.

The CSO had revised the base year of the IIP from 2004-05 to 2011-12 in May 2017 to capture structural changes in the economy and improves the quality and representativeness of the indices.

• • • • •GOVERNMENT APPROVES PLASTIC PARK TO BE SET UP IN DEOGHAR

DISTRICT, JHARKHAND

What Is It?

The Union Ministry for Chemicals & Fertilizers and Parliamentary Affairs, Shri Ananthkumar announced that the Government of India has approved the setting up of a Plastic Park in Deoghar District, Jharkhand, here today. The project would be set up at a cost of Rs. 120 crores in an area of 150 acres and a range of polymer products including woven sacks, moulded furniture, water tanks, bottles, pipes mosquito nets, etc would be manufactured.

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Moreover, it will also set up Central Institute for Plastic Engineering & Technology (CIPET) and Plastic Recycling unit at Deoghar.

It has great potential for attracting investment for setting up an ecosystem for plastic industry and generate employment opportunities for the local populace.

The project is likely to provide direct employment generation to about 6000 people and indirect employment to over 30000 people.

This human resource is of vital importance as the plastic industry is growing at a rapid pace and the polymer consumption in India would double from the current 10 million metric tonnes to 20 million metric tonnes by 2022.

The coming up of the Plastic Park, CIPET and the Plastic Recycling unit would build an ecosystem that would encourage setting up of Plastic Industry at Deoghar, thereby making it a ‘Plastic Hub’ in the future.

• • • • •CABINET APPROVES EXPORT OF ALL EDIBLE OILS IN BULK

What Is It?

Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has given its nod to the proposal of Ministry of Commerce & Industry to allow the export of all varieties of edible oils except mustard oil.

Mustard oil will continue to be exported only in consumer packs to 5 Kgs and with a minimum export price of US $900 per tonne.

Removing of restrictions on the export of all edible oils will provide additional marketing avenues for edible oils and oilseeds. It will also benefit the farmers by way of better realisation for oilseeds. Idle capacity in India’s edible oils industry will be utilised.

This move is a step towards Ease of Doing Business by removing confusion arising out of prohibition on the export of edible oils and a plethora of exemptions.India witnessed a jump in the production of oilseeds in 2016-17. At present, only certain edible oils can be exported in bulk and other oils only in consumer packs up to 5 Kg with MEP. In order to support growing production of oilseeds and to explore additional avenues for marketing of edible oils, it is required to allow bulk export of all edible oils with the exception of mustard oil, which is an item of mass consumption in India.*-*

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UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRSINDIAN POLITY

NATIONAL POLICY FOR DOMESTIC WORKERS

What Is It?

The labour and employment ministry told that discussion is underway regarding a Policy for Domestic Workers.

India’s domestic workers numbers around 5 million domestic workers of which around 3.5 million are women and the tasks performed by them are not recognised as “work”.The absence of legislation in this area led to a thriving industry of illegal private placement agencies.

Many agencies lure women from rural areas to cities promising them lucrative salary, lifestyle and benefits. Mostof the victims are of tribal origin from poor areas and are often subjected to abuses. It includes working around the clock, physical violence, sexual assaults and even threat to their lives.

Salient features of National Policy for Domestic Workers:

Inclusion of Domestic Workers in the existing legislations

Registration of Domestic workers.

Right to form their own associations , trade unions

Right to have minimum wages, access to social security, protection from abuse, harassment, violence

INDIAN POLITY

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Right to enhance their professional skills

Protection of Domestic Workers from abuse and exploitation

Domestic Workers to have access to courts, tribunals, etc.

Establishment of a mechanism for regulation of concerned placement agencies.

• • • • •TRIBAL HEALTH CARE RESEARCH PROGRAMME

INITIATED IN 14 STATES

What Is It?

Tribal Health Care Research Programme is aimed at collecting information about folk medicines and traditional practices from different parts of the country besides extending health care services to tribal population.

The programme is presently being implemented through 16 peripheral institutes and units of CCRAS spread across the country.

CCRAS through its institutes in Itanagar, Bangalore, Jhansi and Tari Khet in Uttarakhand is also conducting medico-ethno botanical survey in different regions across the country for documenting and publishing the same from time to time.

The aim & objectives of THCRP are as under: -

To Study the living conditions of tribal people

To Collect information related to health statistics

To study dietetic habits, nature and frequency of prevalent diseases, use of common medicinal plants in the area

To provide medical aid at the door steps of tribals.

To propagate knowledge about Ayurvedic concept of Pathyapathya including hygiene habits, dietary practice.

To prevent diseases by adopting healthy way of living & clean environment (Swachhata).

To collect LHTs/folk medicines/ traditional practices prevalent in the area.

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CABINET APPROVES THE ARBITRATION AND CONCILIATION (AMENDMENT) BILL, 2018

What Is It?

The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the Arbitration and Conciliation (Amendment) Bill, 2018 for introduction in the Parliament. It is a part of the efforts of the Government to encourage institutional arbitration for settlement of disputes and make India a centre of robust Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanism.

Benefits: Salient Features:

The Amendments in the Act of 1996 will facilitate achieving the goal of improving institutional arbitration by establishing an independent body to lay down standards, make arbitration process more party friendly, cost effective and ensure timely disposal of arbitration cases.

Salient Features:

To facilitate speedy appointment of arbitrators through designated arbitral institutions by the Supreme Court or the High Court, without having any requirement to approach the court in this regard. It is envisaged that parties may directly approach arbitral institutions designated by the Supreme Court for International Commercial arbitration and in other cases the concerned High Courts.

The amendment provides for creation of an independent body namely the Arbitration Council of India (ACI) which will grade arbitral institution and accredit arbitrators by laying down norms and take all such steps as may be necessary to promote and encourage arbitration, conciliation, mediation and other ADR Mechanism and for that purpose evolve policy and guidelines for the establishment., operation and maintenance of uniform professional standards in respect of all matters relating to arbitration and ADR mechanism. The Council shall also maintain an electronic depository of all arbitral awards,The ACI shall be a body corporate. The Chairperson of ACI shall be a person who has been a Judge of the Supreme Court or Chief Justice or Judge of any High Court or any eminent person. Further, the other Members would include an eminent academician etc. besides other Government nominees,

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It is proposed to amend sub section (1) of section 29A by excluding International Arbitration from the bounds of timeline and further to provide that the time limit for arbitral award in other arbitrations shall be within 12 months from the completion of the pleadings of the parties.

A new section 42A is proposed to be inserted to provide that the arbitrator and the arbitral institutions shall keep confidentiality of all arbitral proceedings except award. Further, a new section 42B protects an Arbitrator from suit or other legal proceedings for any action or omission done in good faith in the course of arbitration proceedings.

A new section 87 is proposed to be inserted to clarify that unless parties agree otherwise the Amendment Act 2015 shall not apply to (a) Arbitral proceedings .which have commenced before the commencement of the Amendment Act of 2015 (b) Court proceedings arising out of or in relation to such arbitral proceedings irrespective of whether such court proceedings are commenced prior to or after the commencement of the Amendment Act of 2015 and shall apply only to Arbitral proceedings commenced on or after the commencement of the Amendment Act of 2015 and to court proceedings arising out of or in relation to such Arbitral proceedings.

Background:

The Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996, was amended by the Arbitration and Conciliation (Amendment) Act, 2015 in order to make arbitration process user friendly, cost effective and ensure speedy disposal and neutrality of arbitrators. However, to give a boost to institutional, arbitration vis-a-vis ad hoc arbitration and to remove some practical difficulties in applicability of the Arbitration and Conciliation (Amendment) Act, 2015, a High Level Committee (HLC) under the Chairmanship of Justice B. H. Srikrishna, Retired Judge, Supreme Court of India, was constituted by the Central Government, The HLC was given the mandate.

to examine the effectiveness of existing arbitration mechanism by studying the functioning and performance of Arbitral Institutions in India;

to devise a road map to promote institutionalized arbitration mechanisms in India;

to evolve an effective and efficient arbitration eco-system for commercial dispute resolution and submit a Report on suggested reforms in the statute.

The HLC submitted its Report on 30th July, 2017 and has recommended for amendments in the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996. The proposed amendments are as per the recommendations of the High Level Committee.

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CABINET APPROVES THE COMMERCIAL COURTS, COMMERCIAL DIVISION AND COMMERCIAL DIVISION OF HIGH COURTS (AMENDMENT) BILL, 2018

What Is It?

The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the Commercial Courts, Commercial Division and Commercial Appellate Division of High Courts (Amendment) Bill, 2018 for introduction in the Parliament.

The Bill seeks to achieve the following objectives:

The Bill brings down the specified value of a commercial dispute to 3 Lakhs from the present one Crore: Therefore, commercial disputes of a reasonable value can be decided by commercial courts. This would bring down the time taken (presently 1445 days) in resolution of commercial disputes of lesser value and thus further improve India’s ranking in the Ease of Doing Business.

The amendment provides for establishment of Commercial Courts at district Judge level for the territories over which respective High Courts have ordinary original civil jurisdiction i.e in the cities of Chennai, Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai and State of Himachal Pradesh. The State Governments, in such territories may by notification specify such pecuniary value of commercial disputes to be adjudicated at the district level, which shall ‘not be less than three lakhs rupees and not more than the pecuniary jurisdiction of the district court. In the jurisdiction of High Courts other than those exercising ordinary original jurisdiction a forum of Appeal in commercial dispute decided by commercial courts below the level of District judge is being provided, in the form of Commercial Appellate Courts to be at district judge level.

The introduction of the Pre-Institution Mediation process in cases where no urgent, interim relief is contemplated will provide an opportunity to the parties to resolve the commercial disputes outside the ambit of the courts through the authorities constituted under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987.will also help in reinforcing investor’s confidence in the resolution of commercial disputes.

Insertion of new section of 21A which enables the Central Government to make rules and procedures for PIM.

To give prospective effect to the amendment so as not to disturb the authority of the judicial forum presently adjudicating the commercial disputes as per the extant provisions of the Act.

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‘WINGS INDIA 2018’ EVENT GETS UNDERWAY

What Is It?

The four-day biennial event ‘WINGS INDIA 2018 ‘, jointly organized by Ministry of Civil Aviation and Airport Authority of India and FICCI got underway in Hyderabad today. The theme of the four-day biennial event this year is ‘India-Global Aviation Hub’. WINGS INDIA 2018 is a platform for interactions, forging alliances, investments and air connectivity between the States and the global aviation players & stakeholders.

The exhibition on Civil Aviation and Aerospace, organised as part of the event, is expected to witness participation from sectors such as Aircraft Manufacturing, Aircraft Machinery and Equipment, Aircraft Interiors, Airlines, Airline Services and Air Cargo, Airports Infrastructure and Equipment, the Space Industry and the Skill Development and Aviation Training Institutes.

The four-day event will witness the presence of 125 exhibitors and 35 CEOs. WINGS 2018 will also see representation from 10 countries. Besides the conference and exhibition, Roundtables on Tourism, Cargo and Logistics and Skills and G2B and B2B meetings are scheduled. More than 300 B2B meetings are scheduled during the event. The conference will focus on fostering partnership to transform Indian aviation and the role of conducive regulatory framework to facilitate growth of civil aviation market.

Coinciding with WINGS India 2018, FICCI is set to launch its maiden edition of ‘WINGS INDIA AWARDS’ for Excellence in the aviation sector. The awards will be conferred upon the Aviation-related Companies/Institutions/Organizations in 14 categories.

• • • • •SUPREME COURT ALLOWS PASSIVE EUTHANASIA IN LANDMARK

JUDGMENT

What Is It?

In a historic judgment, the Supreme Court held that the right to die with dignity is a fundamental right, saying that an individual could make an advance “living will” that would authorise passive euthanasia under certain circumstances. The apex court’s Bench held that passive euthanasia and living will were legally valid.

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The apex court said on its verdict that a person could prepare a “living will”, under which the withdrawal of life-support system could be authorised if he reached an irreversible stage of terminal illness in the medical view.

However, while a five-judge Constitution Bench, headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra, allowed an individual to prepare the advance directive, or living will, it attached strict conditions for executing the “will”, which would be made by a person in his or her normal state of health and mind.

The court said it was time to dispense with such shared suffering and sense of guilt and face the reality. Doctors who attended on the terminally ill were under pressure and dithered in letting the patient go, apprehending criminal liability and fear of being drawn into the “vortex” of a possible family struggle for inheritance.

The apex court was delivering its verdict on a public interest litigation filed in 2005 by an NGO called Common Cause and argued by lawyer Prashant Bhushan.

On May 11, 2005, the Supreme Court had taken note of Common Cause’s PIL seeking approval for terminally ill individuals to be allowed to execute a living will for passive euthanasia. The apex court had sought the Centre’s response on the plea that sought the declaration of ‘right to die with dignity’ as a Fundamental Right under Article 21 (right to life) of the Constitution.

• • • • •CONSTRUCTION OF TOILETS IN SCHOOLS TAKEN UP UNDER VARIOUS

SCHEMES OF THE GOVERNMENT

What Is It?

The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009 under Section 19 provides for norms and standards for a school. The appropriate Governments have the responsibility and mandate to provide school infrastructure including toilets in schools as per the RTE norms.

All States and UTs have been advised to comply with the provision of the RTE Act, 2009 which inter alia states that every school building should have separate toilets for boys and girls. Construction of toilets in schools across the country to ensure adequate number of toilets as per student strength in the school or upgradation of schools is a continuous process.

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The Ministry supports States and Union Territories (UTs) for creation and augmentation of infrastructure facilities including toilet facilities in schools across the country at elementary level through Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) and at secondary level through Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA).

Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan:

Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) is a flagship programme for achievement of Universalization of Elementary Education (UEE) in a time bound manner, as mandated by 86th amendment to the Constitution of India making free and compulsory Education to the Children of 6-14 years age group, a Fundamental Right.

Objectives

To provide useful and elementary education for all children in the 6-14 age group.

To bridge social, regional and gender gaps with the active participation of community in the management of schools.

To allow children to learn about and master their natural environment in order to develop their potential both spiritually and materially.

To inculcate value-based learning that allows children an opportunity to work for each other’s well being rather than to permit mere selfish pursuits.

To realize the importance of Early Childhood Care and education and looks at the 0-14 age as a continuum.

Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA)

Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) is a centrally sponsored scheme of the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India, for the development of secondary education in public schools throughout India. It was launched in March 2009.

The implementation of the scheme has started from 2009-2010 to provide conditions for an efficient growth, development and equity for all. The scheme includes a multidimensional research, technical consulting, various implementations and funding support.

Objectives:

To improve quality of education imparted at secondary level through making all secondary schools conform to prescribed norms.

To remove gender, socio-economic and disability barriers.

Universal access to secondary level education by 2017, i.e., by the end of the XII Five Year Plan.

Universal retention of students by 2020.

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PM LAUNCHES CAMPAIGN TO ERADICATE TB FROM INDIA BY 2025

What Is It?

On the inaugural ceremony of “End of TB Summit 2018” at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, Prime Minister Sh. Narendra Modi launched a campaign to end tuberculosis from India by 2025.

The summit was co-hosted by Union Health Ministry, World Health Organisation (WHO) South East Asia Regional Office and Stop TB Partnership. It set stage for September 2018 United Nations High-Level Meeting on TB, where for first time, TB will be discussed in UN General Assembly (UNGA) at Heads of State level.

TB Free India campaign launched during the summit held in New Delhi. This campaign aims at taking up various activities under the National Strategic Plan for TB Elimination forward in the mission mode to end up the disease by 2025. The target to end the TB was set up by 2030 but honourable Prime Minister with great self-confidence declare to root it out five years earlier than planned.

National Strategic Plan is backed by a historic funding of over 12,000 crore rupees for the next three years it also ensures the access to quality diagnosis, treatment, and support for every TB patient.

This plan adopts a multi-pronged approach and aims to ‘Detect’ all TB patients, ‘Treat’ all patient irrespective of where they seek care, ‘Prevent’ emergence of TB in susceptible population groups and ‘Build’ empowered institutions and human resources to streamline implementation.

Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis generally affecting the lungs and sometime the other parts of the body.

There were an estimated 28 lakh new cases of TB in 2016, with over 4 lakh people succumbing to the disease, including those with TB and HIV.

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LAQSHYA PROGRAM LAUNCHED TO IMPROVE QUALITY OF MATERNITY CARE

What Is It?

Ministry of Health and Family Welfare launched program ‘LaQshya’ to improve the quality of care in labour room and maternity Operation Theatre (OT). The Program will improve quality of care for pregnant women in labour room, maternity Operation Theatre and Obstetrics Intensive Care Units (ICUs) and High Dependency Units (HDUs).

It is implemented at all Medical College Hospitals, District Hospitals and First Referral Unit (FRU) and Community Health Center (CHCs).

Under it, multi-pronged strategy has been adopted such as improving infrastructure up-gradation, ensuring availability of essential equipment, providing adequate human resources, capacity building of health care workers and improving quality processes in labour room.

The Program aims at implementing ‘fast-track’ interventions for achieving tangible results within 18 months. A multi-pronged strategy has been adopted such as improving infrastructure up-gradation, ensuring availability of essential equipment, providing adequate human resources, capacity building of health care workers and improving quality processes in the labour room.

Highlights of the programme

LaQshya will help in reducing the maternal and newborn morbidity and mortality.

The quality of care during delivery will be improved.

Steps like improving infrastructure up-gradation, ensuring availability of essential equipment, providing adequate human resources, capacity building of health care workers and improving quality processes in the labour room are to be taken.

Obstetrics, dedicated Obstetric ICUs at Medical College Hospital level and Obstetric HDUs at District Hospital are operationalized under LaQshya program.

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ASICS 2017 REPORT: PUNE TOPS IN URBAN GOVERNANCE

What Is It?

Janaagraha Centre for Citizenship and Democracy (Janaagraha) released the 5th edition of its Annual Survey of India’s City-Systems (ASICS) report. The report assessed the quality of governance in 23 major cities of India across 20 states based on 89 questions. The cities are scored between 3.0 and 5.1 on 10.

Pune secured the number one position from Thiruvananthapuram in ASICS 2017. Surat gained 12 positions over 2016 to the 5th spot. This was on the back of improved performance on own revenue generation, higher capital expenditure per capita by the city and implementation of AMRUT reforms including the appointment of an internal auditor and credit rating.

The recurring floods, garbage crises, fire accidents, building collapses, air pollution and dengue outbreaks are only symptoms of this deeper governance crisis in our cities.

The report does not rank the cities on the basis of the quality of infrastructure and services such as roads and traffic, garbage, water, housing, sanitation and air pollution.

It measures the preparedness of cities to deliver high-quality infrastructure and services in the long-term.

It evaluated the spatial planning and design standards, municipal finance, municipal staffing, political leadership at the city level and transparency and citizen participation.

ASICS stated that there are five systemic challenges that need to be urgently addressed for our cities to deliver a better quality of life to citizens in a sustainable manner. These are:

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Lack of a modern, contemporary framework of spatial planning of cities and design standards for public utilities

Weak finances in terms of financial sustainability and financial accountability of cities

Poor human resource management

Powerless mayors and city councils

Total absence of platforms for systematic citizen participation and lack of transparency in finances

• • • • •NITI AAYOG, PIRAMAL FOUNDATION INK AGREEMENT

What Is It?

The policy think tank of India, NITI Ayog has entered into an agreement with Piramal Foundation. According to the statement of intent(SoI) NITI Ayog and Piramal will work to transform the healthcare, education and nutrition in “Aspirational Districts”.

The objective will be fulfilled with the help of District Collectors and key officers of “Aspirational Districts”

During the four years of collaboration, Piramal Foundation will work in with the district administration, State Prabhari Officers, Central Prabhari Officers, state government and concerned Central ministries to improving the identified indicators. The six socio-economic parameters are pertaining to health and nutrition, education, financial inclusion and skill development, agriculture and water resources and basic infrastructure.

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The focus will be on strengthening the existing public systems specifically in the health and nutrition and education sectors.

Piramal Foundation will provide support to focus on leadership development, change management, technology integration and implementing various innovative practices.

The collaboration is for a duration of four years, with the option to continue, based on mutual agreement.

The Centre has commenced a major policy initiative for rapid transformation of 115 districts that are lagging on specific development parameter. Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked collectors and officers-in-charge of the 115 aspirational districts to come up with pioneering innovations to achieve visible results for development by April 14, the birth anniversary of B R Ambedkar.

• • • • •PARIVARA AND TALAWARA: CABINET APPROVES INCLUSION OF

COMMUNITIES ST LIST

What Is It?

The Union Cabinet under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Sh. Narendra Modi has approved the recommendation of Karnataka Government to include “Parivara” and Talawara communities in the list of scheduled tribes (STs).

The two communities will be given the synonyms of “Nayaka” at SI NO. 38 in the list.

The decision has been taken to gratify the long-term demand of the two communities to grant them the status of Scheduled Tribes in Karnataka. Now the people belonging to the communities will be able to apply for a certificate of Scheduled Tribes from Karnataka state consequently they will enjoy the benefits meant for the ST communities in the state.

The first specification of Scheduled Tribes in relation to a particular State or Union territory is by a notified Order of the President, after consultation with the State Government / UT concerned.

Any subsequent inclusion in or exclusion from and other modifications in the list of Scheduled Tribes can be made only through an amending Act of Parliament.

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Scheduled Tribes are notified under Article 342 of Constitution. Karnataka Government had recommended for inclusion of Parivara and Talawara communities as synonyms of ‘Nayaka’ in list STs of state.

The first specification of STs in relation to particular State/Union territory is by notified Order of President, after consultation with concerned state government/UT.

• • • • •CABINET APPROVES NORTH-EAST INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT

SCHEME (NEIDS) 2017

What Is It?

PM Modi led Union Cabinet of India has approved the North East Industrial Development Scheme with the financial assistance of Rs. 3000 crores up to March, 2020. The required financial assistance will be offered after analysing the progress of the scheme in 2020.

It will promote industrialization in North Eastern Region (NER) states including Sikkim and will boost income generation and employment. Government is incentivizing primarily MSME Sector through this scheme. It is also providing specific incentive through scheme to generate employment.

It will provide various incentives and benefits to all eligible industrial units. The overall cap for benefits under all components of incentives will be of Rs. 200 crores per unit.

Under the Scheme, the following incentives shall be provided to new industrial units set up in the North Eastern States including Sikkim:

30% of the investment in Plant & Machinery with an upper limit of Rs.5 Crore on the incentive amount per unit.

3% on working capital credit advanced by eligible Banks/ Financial institutions for first 5 years from the date of commencement of commercial production by the unit.

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Reimbursement of 100% insurance premium on insurance of building and Plant & Machinery for 5 years from the date of commencement of commercial production by the unit

Reimbursement up to the extent of Central Govt. share of CGST and IGST for 5 Years from the date of commencement of commercial production by the unit.

Income-Tax (IT) Reimbursement

Reimbursement of Centre’s share of income tax for first 5 years including the year of commencement of commercial production by the unit.

Transport Incentive (TI) 20% of the cost of transportation including the subsidy currently provided by Railways/ Railway PSU for movement of finished goods by rail. 20% of cost of transportation for finished goods, for movement through inland waterways Authority of India. 33% of the cost of transportation of air freight on perishable goods (as defined by IATA) from the airport nearest to place of production to any airport within the country.

The Government shall pay 3.67% of the employer’s contribution to the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) in addition to Government bearing 8.33% Employee Pension Scheme (EPS) contribution of the employer in the Pradhan Mantri RojgarProtsahanYojana (PMRPY).

• • • • •CABINET APPROVES AMENDMENTS IN SURROGACY BILL, 2016

What Is It?

With an aim to regulate surrogacy in India, the Union Cabinet has given its approval to amend the “Surrogacy Regulation Bill 2016. The bill, applicable to the whole of India except Jammu and Kashmir.

Once enacted, the bill will provide rights of a child born through surrogacy equal to those of a natural or biological child.

It will make it mandatory to register surrogacy clinics with the appropriate state authorities.

16 months of extended insurance coverage for surrogate mothers to cover all complications will be offered and a clause to prevent exploitation of the surrogate mother has been added.

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India has been emerging as a “surrogacy hub” for couples from different countries and with this, the incidents of unethical practices, exploitation of surrogate mothers, abandonment of children born out of surrogacy and rackets of intermediaries importing human embryos and gametes have been increasing.

The 228th report of the Law Commission had recommended prohibiting commercial surrogacy and allowing ethical altruistic surrogacy by enacting a suitable legislation.

Surrogacy Bill 2016:

Only for couples who cannot conceive a child can avail the benefit of surrogacy. In case of any other medical conditions which could prevent a woman from giving birth to a child, this procedure isn’t allowed.

The intending couple needs to fulfil the requirement in order to commission surrogacy.

The surrogate mother and the intending couple need eligibility certificates from the appropriate authority

The surrogate mother must be a ‘close relative’ of the intending couple. .

For an abortion, in addition to complying with the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1971, the approval of the appropriate authority and the consent of the surrogate mother is required.

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PARLIAMENT PASSES PAYMENT OF GRATUITY (AMENDMENT) BILL, 2018

What Is It?

The Parliament has passed Payment of Gratuity (Amendment) Bill, 2017 to empower government to fix period of maternity leave and tax-free gratuity amount with an executive order. The Bill seeks to amend Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972 on two issues related to maternity leave and ceiling of gratuity payable to an employee.

Features of the Act

The act seeks to increase the maximum limit of the employees’ gratuity in private as well as in the public sector undertakings Autonomous Organizations under Government who are not covered under CCS (Pension) Rules, at par with Central Government employees.

It also demands the calculation of continuous service for the purpose of gratuity in case of female employees who are on maternity leave from ‘twelve weeks’ to such period as may be notified by the Central Government from time to time.

The maximum maternity leave, for the purpose of calculating continuous service under the Act, was based on the maternity leave provided under the Maternity Benefit Act, 1961. The maximum maternity leave under the 1961 Act was changed from 12 weeks to 26 weeks by the Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act, 2017.

The Bill removes the reference to 12 weeks in the 1972 Act and empowers the central government to notify the maximum maternity leave.

The maximum amount of gratuity payable to an employee cannot exceed Rs 10 lakh. The Bill removes the existing ceiling and states that the ceiling may be notified by the central government.

• • • • •FIRST ‘INDIAN SIGN LANGUAGE’ DICTIONARY OF 3000 WORDS LAUNCHED

What Is It?

The very first sign language dictionary of India called “Indian Sign Language Dictionary” has been launched in New Delhi by the Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment Shri Thaawarchand Gehlot.

The dictionary has been developed by Indian Sign Language Research & Training Centre (ISLR&TC) that works under the department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities M/o Social Justice & Empowerment.

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The dictionary will help the deaf to remove the communication barriers and also it will help them with an opportunity to express openly and clearly. With the help of ISL, deaf people will be brought to the main stream of the society.

Features of the dictionary

The very impressive feature of the dictionary is that it collaborates around 3000 words in it. It will be available in English and Hindi Languages making it easier for the deaf to understand a foreign language. The ISL dictionary has been categorised into following sections:

Everyday Terms -The terms that are used in everyday communication. The videos contain the sign and the corresponding English term.

Legal Terms – This category includes videos for 237 legal terms help explain complicated legal terminology like “Affidavit”, “Acquittal”, etc. That are used in various legal situations.

Academic Terms - To help deaf children understand complex academic concepts, the academic dictionary contains explanations for terms like “Nervous System”, “Rotation” and “Revolution”, etc. The words are from various subjects like Physics, Geography, Biology, Maths, etc. This category contains 229 videos for 212 terms.

Medical Terms – This category includes 200 sign videos for 200 medical terms will help the deaf community to better understand medical terminology used in hospitals and in medical situations.

Technical Terms - This category has 206 videos of sign and explanations in ISL for 204 technical terms that are used in vocational training or in computer courses.

• • • • •INDIAN NAVY’S WARSHIP INS GANGA DECOMMISSIONED

What Is It?

INS Ganga, an indigenously built frigate of the Indian Navy, was decommissioned here on Thursday evening, after over three decades of service.

Commissioned in December 1985, the ship represented a big step forward in the nation’s warship building capability.

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INS Ganga (F22) was a Godavari-class guided-missile frigate of the Indian Navy. It was built by Mazagon Dock Limited, Mumbai and was commissioned into Indian Navy on 30 December 1985. The Godavari class was first indigenous warship design and development initiative of Indian Navy.

The warship along with Shakti and INS Godavari were deployed to Somalian capital Mogadishu in December 1994 to support withdrawal of Indian Army’s 66 Brigade, including the 2nd Battalion, Jammu & Kashmir Light Infantry (2 JAKLI).

• • • • •VIDESH AAYA PRADESH KE DWAAR LAUNCHED BY MEA

What Is It?

The Ministry of External Affairs launched an initiative titled ‘Videsh Aaya Pradesh ke Dwaar’ in Hyderabad with an aim to strengthen public diplomacy.

The other objective of the initiative was to enhance the commitment to take mandates of our foreign policy to the all the people.

The programme encourages regional media of different cities to curve their own and create a vast readership profile. The ministry will attempt to explain the foreign policy priorities in a simple manner with the help of regional media. Through this initiative, a pool of media professionals will be created to guide and connect the people at grass root level with the foreign policy of India.

The event was attended by around 40 Editors and representatives from the main media organisations based in Hyderabad.

• • • • •E-TRIBES INDIA ON E-COMMERCE PLATFORMS LAUNCHED

What Is It?

The Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India, (TRIFED), under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, has launched the “e-Tribes India” that banners at Amazon, Snapdeal, Paytm & GeM.

Also, two websites of TRIFED that includes www.tribesindia.com, www.trifed.in were launched along with Retail Inventory Software and M-commerce app.

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The event also marked the launch of TRIFED’s Handbook for Retail Trade and TRIFED’s quarterly magazine ‘Tribes Haat’

The Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India Limited (TRIFED is promoting and marketing tribal products, tribal art and crafts within the country and abroad by providing marketing support to tribal products through its network.

It also organizes exhibitions like National Tribal Craft Expo called “Aadi Mahotsav” etc. in which it promotes and markets tribal products. It also facilitates the participation of tribal artisans to enable them to interact directly with art lovers to assess the market needs. In the last three years, it has begun providing e-commerce platforms to the tribal artisans to sell their products.

TRIFED has entered into agreements with e-commerce platforms like Snapdeal and Amazon with an objective to offer their customers various tribal products and produce through their portals www.snapdeal.com and www.amazon.com respectively to facilitate the online sale.

On the request of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Ministry of Commerce has also made provision for sale of tribal products through TRIFED on www.gem.gov.in. Also, Tribes India products are available on Flipkart and Paytm too.

• • • • •CCEA APPROVES CONTINUATION OF CREDIT GUARANTEE FUND FOR

EDUCATION LOANS SCHEME

What Is It?

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) today approved continuation of the Credit Guarantee Fund Scheme for Education Loans and continuation and modification of the Central Sector Interest Subsidy (CSIS) Scheme.

The Scheme with a financial outlay of Rs 6,600 crore for the period from 2017-18 to 2019-20 and will provide education loans to 10 lakh students during this period.

The Credit Guarantee Fund Scheme for Education Loans provides guarantee for the education loan disbursed by banks without seeking any collateral security and third-party guarantee, for a maximum loan amount of Rs 7.5 lakh per student.

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Under the CSIS Scheme, which was launch in April 2009, full interest subsidy is provided for education loans taken from scheduled banks for all the professional/technical courses in India.

Students with annual gross parental income up to Rs 4.5 lakh are eligible for the scheme and the loans are disbursed without any collateral security and third-party guarantee.

An amount of Rs 9,408.52 crore has been disbursed towards interest subsidy and 25.10 lakh students have benefitted till date.

• • • • •CABINET APPROVES RE-STRUCTURING OF NSDF AND NSDC

What Is It?

The Union Cabinet chaired has given its approval for restructuring of National Skill Development Fund (NSDF) and National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) to strengthen governance, implementation and monitoring framework.

The restructuring will also ensure better corporate governance, transparency and accountability in operations of NSDC besides strengthening the oversight role of NSDF. The approval would lead to restructuring of composition of Board of NSDF and the NSDC to strengthen governance, implementation and monitoring framework.

NSDC and NSDF were set up by the Ministry of Finance and registered in July, 2008 and January, 2009 respectively for implementing coordinated action for skill development. NSDF trust was incorporated to act as a receptacle for financial contributions from Governmental sources, bilateral/multilateral and other agencies. Its main objective is to enhance, stimulate and develop the skills of Indian youth force by various sector specific programmes.

NSDF entered into an Investment Management Agreement (IMA) with NSDC for utilization of its corpus to meet the desired objectives of National Skill Development Mission and encourage skill development in the country. Provision of supervisory role of NSDF over NSDC’s functions is also included in the IMA between NSDC and NSDF

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CCEA APPROVES CONTINUATION OF NUTRIENT BASED SUBSIDY AND CITY COMPOST SCHEME

What Is It?

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved the proposal of the Department of Fertilizers for continuation of Nutrient Based Subsidy (NBS)and City Compost Scheme beyond 12th Five Year plan till 2019-20. The total expenditure for continuation of both the schemes till 2019-20 will be Rs. 61,972 crore.

The expenditure for the scheme will be on actual basis since national roll out of DBT entails 100% payment of subsidy to fertilizer companies on sale of fertilizers to farmers at subsidized rates.

The subsidy on the P&K fertilizers and Market Development Assistant (MDA) on City Compost will be provided on the subsidy rates approved by the CCEA on annual basis.

The continuation of the Nutrient Based Subsidy Scheme and City Compost Scheme will ensure that adequate quantity of P&K is made available to the farmers at statutory controlled price.

Government is making available fertilizers, namely Urea and 21 grades of P&K fertilizers to farmers at subsidized prices through fertilizer manufacturers/importers. The subsidy on P&K fertilizers is being governed by NBS Scheme w.e.f 01.04.2010. Similarly, the MDA is being governed by City Compost Scheme w.e.f. 10.02.2016. Accordingly, these schemes have been extended beyond the 12th Five Year Plan till 2019-20.

• • • • •CABINET APPROVE NEW INTEGRATED SCHEME FOR SCHOOL EDUCATION

What Is It?

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given its approval to the proposal of Department of School Education and Literacy.

The department suggested to formulate an Integrated Scheme on School Education by subsuming Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) and Teacher Education (TE) from April 1, 2018, to March 31, 2020.

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UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRSINDIAN POLITYObjectives of the Scheme

Ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education from nursery to senior secondary stage

Improving the quality of school education by focussing on the two T’s - Teacher and Technology.

Providing quality education and enhancing learning outcomes of students

Bridging social and gender gaps in school education

Promoting vocationalization of education

Implementing Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009.

Strengthening and upgrading State Councils for Educational Research and Training (SCERTs)/State Institutes of Education and District Institutes for Education and Training (DIET) as nodal agencies for teacher training

Features of the scheme

The scheme will equip the children with varied skills and knowledge essential for their holistic development and prepare them for the world of work or higher education in the future.

Optimal utilization of budgetary allocations will be led.

It would provide a holistic approach to education with the inclusion of senior secondary levels and pre-school levels in support for School education for the first time.

Quality of education will be focused on by improving the learning outcomes and enhanced capacity building of teachers.

Use of digital technology in education will be promoted through smart classrooms, digital boards and DTK channels. Specific provision will be made for Swachhta activities - support ‘SwachhVidyalaya’. The quality of infrastructure in Government Schools will be improved.

An enhanced commitment will be given to ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ besides upgrading of KGBVs from class VI-VIII to class XII. There will be an emphasis on ‘Kaushal Vikas’ in schools and support for ‘Khelo India’ - provision for sports and physical equipment.

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UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRSENVIRONMENT

49 LAKH LED STREET LIGHTS INSTALLED THROUGH STREET LIGHTING NATIONAL PROGRAMME

What Is It?

49 lakh LED street lights have been installed till date, covering 28 states/UTs under the Street Lighting National Programme (SLNP). The Programme aims to replace 1.34 crore conventional street lights with energy efficient LED lights by March, 2019.

It is world’s Largest Street Light Replacement Programme. Rajasthan was the first state to adopt this scheme.

SLNP is being implemented by Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL), a joint venture company of Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) under Ministry of Power.

SLNP Objectives:

Reduce energy consumption in lighting which helps DISCOMs to manage peak demand

Mitigate climate change by implementing energy efficient LED based street lighting

Provide sustainable service model that obviates need for upfront capital investment as well as additional revenue expenditure to pay for procurement of LED lights.

Enhance municipal services at no upfront capital cost of municipalities.

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ENVIRONMENT

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MAHARASHTRA GOVERNMENT BANS USE OF PLASTIC

What Is It?

Maharashtra Government has banned use of plastic in time-bound manner, citing environmental and public health concerns.

The state, which had already banned certain type of plastic bags, is now planning to ban disposable containers, flags, flex boards, banners and non-woven polypropylene bags, among others.

In the 2005 deluge in Mumbai, it was found that plastic bags were a major reason why the storm water drains were clogged, leading to floods in several areas. Now, state environment officials want to extend the ban to all types of plastic bags and other items that are not just clogging the drains, but are also damaging the ecology as they are non-biodegradable.

The ban exempts plastic used to cover medicines, forest and horticulture products, solid waste, tree saplings and use of plastic in special economic zones (SEZ) for export purposes. Similarly, plastic covers and wrappers used for manufactured and processed products would also be exempted. The decision will be enforced across rural and urban Maharashtra. All municipal corporations, councils, district collectors and chief executive officers (CEOs) of zilla parishads have been sensitised to ensure its implementation in their respective regions.

All small and medium-scale industries (SMEs) and big industries involved in plastic businesses will be provided adequate time frame to switch over to alternative modes of businesses. Government has recommended various business models along with employment to people engaged in plastic industries.Government will also provide some incentives to those who strictly adhere to ban decision. There is also proposal to slap penalty such as non-renewing of licences for shops and industries which violate decision.• • • • •

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NEW SPECIES OF WATER STRIDER FOUND IN NAGALAND

What Is It?

Scientists from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) have discovered a new species of water strider from Nagaland. The species, named Ptilomera nagalanda Jehamalar and Chandra, was found in the river Intanki, Peren district.

Water striders are a group of insects adapted to life on the surface of water, using surface tension to their advantage.Water striders, also known as pond skater or skimmer, are insects of the family Gerridae (order Heteroptera).

Scientists working on the water striders say that their presence serves as an indicator water of water quality and they are found on water surface.

The new species ‘Ptilomera nagalanda Jehamalar and Chandra’ can be easily differentiated from all the known striders through the absence of curly and tangled dark brown swimming setae and the presence of silvery setae on the sublateral region of the meso and metanota of the male.

This particular species is orange in colour with black stripes on the dorsal (back) side and has a pale yellowish brown ventral (front) part of the body.

The presence of black stripes on the dorsal side differentiates this species from other known species of the subgenus Ptilomera.

It has long slender legs and measures about 11.79 mm. There were only five species of water striders under the subgenus Ptilomera in India.

This includes Ptilomera assamensis, Ptilomera agriodes, Pltilomera occidentalis, Ptilomera laticaudata, and Ptilomera tigrina.

With the discovery of Ptilomera nagalanda Jehamalar, the number of species of water striders belonging to the Ptilomera subgenus has increased to six.

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ICFRE AND TIFAC INK MOU FOR SUPPORTING FOREST BASED COMMUNITIES

What Is It?

The Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE), Dehradun (an Autonomous Council under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change) and Technology Information, Forecasting & Assessment Council (TIFAC), New Delhi (an Autonomous Council under Department of Science and Technology) signed a MoU with an objective to provide livelihood opportunities and augment income of the forest based communities.

TIFAC shall help ICFRE to refine and up-scale the technologies developed, take technologies to the end users including farmers, State Forest Departments, forest based industries and forest dependent communities in a more effective manner.

Salient features of MoU:

Prioritization of technologies developed by ICFRE in consultation with stakeholders

Creating patent awareness in the field of forestry and environment including wood science and allied subjects for ICFRE and its institutes

Patent searching and filing in the field of Forestry and allied subjects

Identifying technology gaps and commercialization of technologies

Forest based technologies extension and transfer through stakeholder consultations

Interaction with stakeholders on regular basis

ICFRE through its Institutes and Centres located throughout the country is carrying, promoting and coordinating forestry research, extension, education, and their applications.

Currently ICFRE is focusing on contemporary issues of national and international importance particularly in the area of climate change, forest productivity, and biodiversity and skill development.

TIFAC looks ahead in technology domain, assesses the technology trajectories, and supports innovation by networked actions in selected areas of national importance. TIFAC continues to strive for technology development in the country by leveraging technology innovation through sustained and concerted programmes in close association with industry and academia.

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CHHATTISGARH WINS NATIONAL WATER DIGEST AWARD

What Is It?

Chhattisgarh bagged the National ‘Water Digest Award’ for Water Conservation-Diversion and for increasing the irrigation capacity in the State.

This is the first time that Chhattisgarh Water Resources Department had been given national Award during the past 17 years.

Chhattisgarh State bagged the award for increasing the irrigation capacity, community participation, water management -water diversion, water conservation, efforts towards inter-linking of rivers, better techniques utilized in irrigation facilities.

The Award is presented every year by globally renowned magazine ‘Water Digest’ which focuses mainly on water resources. The award is given in association with Central Water Resources River Development (CWRRD) and Ganga Cleaning Ministry, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Central Water Board (CWB), Central Water Commission (CWC) and Ganga Purification National Mission. The award is recognised by UNESCO.

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BRAZZAVILLE DECLARATION SIGNED TO PROTECT WORLD’S LARGEST TROPICAL PEATLAND

What Is It?

In order to protect world’ largest tropical peatland “Cuvette Centrale”, Brazville declaration has been signed off. The declaration aims at promoting better management and conservation of tropical peatland located in Congo Basic.

Jointly signed by Democratic Republic of Congo, Republic of Congo and Indonesia with an objective to prevent the unregulated land use, drainage and degradation

Significance

Brazzaville declaration aims to implement coordination and cooperation between different government sectors to protect the benefits provided by peatland ecosystems. It also recognizes the importance of the scientific breakthrough of mapping the world’s largest tropical peatland area.

The Cuvette Centrale is at stake in the protection. The equivalent of three years of global greenhouse gas emissions are stored in the Congo Basin, emissions that could be released if the peatlands are degraded or the natural wetlands drained.

To preserve the future of these valuable natural peatlands, the DRC and the Republic of Congo established a transboundary collaboration agreement. The agreement noted the importance of good land use and infrastructure planning that takes the nature of peatlands into account.

PeatlandsPeatlands are wetlands that contain a mixture of decomposed organic material, partially submerged in a layer of water, lacking oxygen.The complex biodiversity of the peatlands means they are home to a variety of species, but their high carbon content makes them uniquely vulnerable to incineration if they are drained. • • • • •

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SURAT BECOMES FIRST DISTRICT WITH 100% SOLAR POWERED HEALTH CENTRES

What Is It?

Surat has become the first district in the country to have 100 percent solar powered Primary Health Centers (PHC).There are a total of 52 PHCs in the district and all of them are now powered by solar system.

This initiative will not only bring down the electricity bill by 40 percent but also help fight global warming.

With this, Surat sets an example for country by developing villages that use sustainable forms of energy at a time when global warming is mounting with each passing day.

Other than PHCs, there are 572 gram panchayats in the Surat District, out of which 150 are solar powered gram panchayats and soon the other 422 panchayats will too be solar powered. 25 percent of the total expense of making the gram panchayat solar powered has been borne by the district panchayat.

• • • • •INDIA’S FIRST INSECT MUSEUM OPENED IN TAMIL NADU

What Is It?

An insect museum first of its kind in Country was established at the Department of Agricultural Entomology of Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU), the museum houses 20,000 insects from 50 species.

Established at a cost of ` 5 crore, the museum displays insects as preserved specimens, live specimens depicting their life cycle, images, videos and models on their behaviour, habits and habitat under the theme ‘Bugs Are Kings’.

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The museum has been established at an area of 6,691 sqft. It is fully dedicated to insects. It will display insects preserved as specimens as also live ones depicting their different developmental stages.

It will provide information about insects through images, videos and models of their unique behaviour, habits and habitats.

Three touch screen gadgets with information on insect trivia, insect records and insects around you are also kept at the museum.

• • • • •RHINO POPULATION RISES BY 12 IN KAZIRANGA NATIONAL PARK

What Is It?

The population of the precious one-horned rhinoceros has registered a marginal rise in Kaziranga National Park (KNP) of Assam, as per the latest census carried out on March 26 and 27 last.

A forest official informed that the census team spotted 2413 rhinos registering a marginal increase of only 12 rhinos compared to the figure of the last rhino census carried out in the park in the year 2015.

Out of the rhinos spotted, 642 are adult males and 793 are adult females while sex of 206 adult rhinos could not be determined during the census operation.

There are 115 male rhinos in the age group of 4-6 years and 149 females in the same age group. The sex of another 122 rhinos in the same group could not be determined.

The rhino abode which is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has 230 rhinos aged one year while there are 155 calves under one year of age.

Presence of abundant elephant grass in the national park posed hurdles for the census team in spotting rhinos this year and another census will be carried out next year.

It may be mentioned that altogether74 rhinos were by poachers in Assam during 2015-17 and most of those were from Kaziranga National Park while 316 poachers were arrested during 2015-17. As many as 21 rhinos were killed in 2015, 22 in the year 2016 and nine in 2017, as per data provided in Assam Assembly by the state forest department.

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UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRSSCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

RADIATION TECHNOLOGIES FOR THE PREVENTION OF FOOD LOSS

What Is It?

Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) & Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) in particular is engaged in extensive research on use of radiation processing for extending shelf life of food products. Irradiation is very effective in treating agricultural produce to enhance its shelf life. Shelf life extension of agriculture produces is very much dependent on the produce, variety and storage conditions.

Irradiation and proper storage substantially increases shelf life of fresh agricultural produce. Unique advantages of radiation processing of products (including fruits, vegetables, cereals, pulses, spices, sea foods and meat products) are:

Cold (no temperature increase) and clean process (no chemical residue)

Effective elimination of harmful bacteria and insects/pests

Treatment after final packaging to avoid recontamination

Significant increase in shelf life.

The wholesomeness and nutritional adequacy of irradiated food has been well established. The technology is endorsed by the World Health Organization, Food & Agriculture Organization, Codex Alimentarius Commission, International Plant Protection Convention, and World Trade Organization.

Research work on radiation technology at BARC has resulted in shelf life extension of potato, onion and phytosanitary treatments of fruits (like Mango, Pomegranate, etc). In case of potato and onion, sprouting during storage results in loss of quality and nutritional values. Mango irradiation was started in 2007. Around 1150 tons of mangos were radiation treated in 2017 for export to USA. Recently the harmonisation of food irradiation rules with the international regulation has taken place in India. This has provided class wise clearance of irradiated food items which will enable the large scale deployment of this technology.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

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Application of nuclear techniques has helped in increasing productivity and production in agriculture. Experience gained by BARC has shown that using radiation for crop improvement is an efficient plant breeding method complementing the conventional methods.

DAE has developed 42 new varieties of crops using radiation induced mutation (and conventional) breeding. These include 15 varieties in groundnut, 3 in mustard, 2 in soybean, 1 in sunflower (total 21 in oilseeds), 8 in mungbean, 5 in uradbean, 5 in pigeonpea, 1 in cowpea (total 19 in pulse crops), 1 each in rice and jute.

The major desirable traits in these crops include higher yield, seed size, improved agronomic and quality traits, early maturity and resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses. Several of these varieties enjoy high patronage among the farming community.

• • • • •CCRAS DEVELOPED A AYUSH DRUG QOL-2C FOR CANCER PATIENTS

What Is It?

Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS), an autonomous body under the Ministry of AYUSH has undertaken development of a coded drug AYUSH QOL-2C for improving the quality of life in cancer patients.

Coded formulation AYUSH-QOL-2C developed to minimize side effects of Chemo and radiotherapy in Cancer patients.

License has been granted to eight firms through National Research Development Corporation (NRDC) for commercialization.

It is not possible to compare the expenditure on research on cancer in Ayurveda viz-à-viz Allopathy as it depends upon variables like methodology, parameters etc. adopted for research.

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ICMR WINS 2017 KOCHON PRIZE FOR TB RESEARCH

What Is It?

Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has won the 2017 Kochon Prize for building a tradition of excellence in TB research and development.

It was awarded for establishing India TB Research Consortium to accelerate R&D efforts in the country. The consortium is working with public and private institutes to guide country’s research efforts towards development of point-of-care diagnostics, shorter treatment regimens and effective vaccine for TB.

ICMR and several of its research groups like NIRT, JALMA and India TB Research Consortium are engaged in TB research, and some of them for a very long time. Kochon Prize to ICMR recognises decades of ground-breaking TB research by India, which shaped the global DOTS strategy.

ICMR:

ICMR is the apex body in India that formulates and coordinates the biochemical research. Funded by Government of India, ICMR is the largest and one of the oldest research bodies in the world. It works under the Department of Health Research, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

ICMR has 26 National Institutes and 6 regional centres. National Institutes research on specific health topics like tuberculosis, leprosy, cholera and diarrhoeal diseases, viral diseases including AIDS, malaria, kala-azar, vector control, nutrition, food & drug toxicology, reproduction while the regional centres address themselves to regional health problems, and also aim to strengthen or generate research capabilities in different geographic areas of the country.

Kochon Prize:

The Kochon Prize is awarded annually by Stop TB Partnership to individuals and/or organizations for their significant contribution to combat TB. It endowed by the Kochon Foundation, a non-profit foundation registered in the Republic of Korea, consists of a USD $65,000 award.

The Kochon Prize was established in 2006 in honour of the late Chairman Chong-Kun Lee (left), founder of the Chong Kun Dang Pharmaceutical Corporation and Kochon Foundation in Korea, who was committed throughout his career to improving access to low-cost lifesaving antibiotics and anti-TB drugs. “Kochon” was a pen name that he used.

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GOVERNMENT FORMS COMMITTEE TO PROBE ILLEGAL CULTIVATION OF HT COTTON

What Is It?

The Department of Biotechnology in Ministry of Science and Technology has constituted Field Inspection and Scientific Evaluation Committee (FISEC) to investigate matter of illegal cultivation of Herbicide Tolerant (HT) or BG-III cotton in four states.

Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) of the Ministry of Environment has not approved the cultivation of BG-III or HT cotton. Even though, the government has received several representations for ban of illegal cultivation of Herbicide Tolerant (HT) or BG-III cotton in the country. There were a number of media reports citing the illegal or unauthorised cultivation of HT cotton in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Gujarat and Maharashtra.

The unofficial estimates put the extent of unauthorised cotton to be about 20% in the country. The commercial cultivation, sale, cultivation and seed Act 1966, Seed Rule 1968, Seeds (Control) Order 1983 with regard to Environmental Protection Act, 1986 and Environmental Protection Rules, 1989.

Herbicide-Tolerant (HT) Cotton also known as BG-III cotton is innovation in Bt Cotton as it takes care of weeds problem at much lower cost as compared to physical labour required for weeding. It contains Round-up Ready and Round-up Flex (RRF) gene. The RRF herbicide-tolerant trait was developed and commercialised by US-based multinational seed giant Monsanto.

The herbicide-resistant gene in HT cotton can spread through pollen into biodiversity system leading to transformation of weeds into super weeds on large-scale. It will threaten growth and yields of all crops in future and also increase cultivation costs and lead to health hazards.

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CELEBRATION OF 6TH FOUNDATION DAY OF BIRAC

What Is It?

The Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) celebrated its sixth Foundation Day. The observance of the day was themed around ‘‘Sustaining Innovation – A Market Driven Pathway’.

BIRAC has played a critical role in supporting the entrepreneurial aspirations of brightest minds in the country through its programs and mentor support networks in keeping with the Government’s mandate. Through these efforts, India has been able to develop affordable products and technologies that will better the lives of our people.

BIRAC has played in bringing together healthcare, entrepreneurship and science.

From affordable devices or diagnostics to treatments, BIRAC supported innovators and technologies are on their way to changing healthcare in India and beyond.’

BIRAC has supported over 650 projects, more than 500 start-ups, & entrepreneurs, and 30 incubators across the country in six years.

BIRAC implements a wide range of high impact initiatives providing access to risk capital through targeted funding, facilitating technology transfer, and supporting intellectual property management and handholding schemes for biotech firms to make them globally competitive.

BIRAC has 10 flagship schemes that are supported by funding from the Department of Biotechnology and manages 7 collaboratively funded programs.

Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council is a not-for-profit Public Sector Enterprise, set up by Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Ministry of Science and Technology Government of India. It was set up to empower the emerging biotech industry to undertake strategic research and innovation.

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FLUORIMETER: DAE DEVELOPS DEVICE TO MEASURE URANIUM TRACES IN WATER

What Is It?

The Raja Ramanna Centre for Advanced Technology (RRCAT), an Indore-based unit of Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) has developed an instrument called luorimeter, to measure traces of uranium in water. The device is capable of examining traces of uranium in sample of water from 0.1 PPB (Parts-per-billion) unit to 100 PPB.

It can be easily taken anywhere and water can be taken from any source for testing to instantly reveal if uranium traces present in water.

The device, costing Rs 1 lakh, would help in detecting traces of uranium in water. It will be especially helpful in areas like Punjab where uranium traces in water sources have been found to be at dangerous levels.

Uranium is a radioactive element. The Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) has fixed permissible radiological limit to 60 PPB of uranium concentration for drinking water.

It is advisable to people to avoid using water from sources where uranium traces are more than fixed limit.Drinking water with high levels of uranium traces increases radiological and chemical risks to human health. It may cause thyroid cancer, blood cancer, depression and other serious ailments.

• • • • •ISRO–BHEL TIE UP FOR PRODUCTION OF SPACE GRADE

LITHIUM-ION CELLS

What Is It?

ISRO has entered into a Technology Transfer Agreement (TTA) with Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL), which is one of the country’s leading PSUs, to transfer the technology for the manufacture of space grade Li-Ion cells. The TTA was signed at ISRO Headquarters, Bengaluru.

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ISRO uses Li-Ion batteries as power sources for satellite and launch vehicle applications due to their high energy density, reliability and long cycle life. Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) of ISRO at Thiruvananthapuram has successfully developed the technology to produce space grade Li-ion cell, demonstrated the performance of the cell under various testing conditions and established its cycle life characteristics in accelerated mode. These cells are currently being used for various satellite and launch vehicle applications.

This Li-ion cell Technology Transfer will enable BHEL to produce space grade Li-Ion cells which can meet the country’s space programme requirements. This technology can also be adopted to cater to the Li-Ion cell requirement for other national needs.

Li-ION CELLS

A lithium-ion battery or Li-ion battery (abbreviated as LIB) is a type of rechargeable battery in which lithium ions move from the negative electrode to the positive electrode during discharge and back when charging.

Li-ion batteries use an intercalated lithium compound as one electrode material, compared to the metallic lithium used in a non-rechargeable lithium battery.

The electrolyte, which allows for ionic movement, and the two electrodes are the constituent components of a lithium-ion battery cell.

ISRO has developed four types of cells for space applications—1.5Ah, 5Ah, 50Ah, and 100Ah. Out of the four cells, ISRO had earlier allowed Automotive Research Association of India (an industrial automobile research association) to use 50Ah and 100Ah cells for developing prototypes of e-scooters and e-cars, respectively.

• • • • •ISRO POSTPONES LAUNCH OF CHANDRAYAAN-2 MISSION

What Is It?

The launch of India’s second lunar mission ‘Chandrayaan-2’, slated for next month, has been postponed to October as the moon mission requires more tests.

It will be launched on board of Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mk III (GSLV-F10).

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Chandrayaan 2 is India’s second mission to Moon and is advanced version of previous Chandrayaan-1 mission (launched in 2008). It has been developed indigenously by ISRO. It consists of Orbiter, Lander and Rover configuration. In this mission, ISRO will for first time attempt to land a rover on moon’s south pole.

The spacecraft (orbiter) weighs around 3,290 kg and it will orbit around moon and perform objectives of remote sensing moon. Once GSLV-F10 put spacecraft in 170 km x 20,000 km elliptical orbit, orbiter will be manoeuvred towards 100-km lunar orbit by firing thrusters and then lander housing the rover will separate from orbiter.

• • • • •GPI TRACKER SYSTEM: SWIFT BROADENS PAYMENT

TRACKING CAPABILITIES

What Is It?

The SWIFT (Society for World Interbank Financial Telecommunication System) platform has expanded its GPI (Global Payment Innovation) Tracker system to help banks track their global transactions at all times, keeping full vigil on the payments activity.

The introduction of the unique end-to-end transaction reference in all payment instructions will be effected through the mandatory annual standards update in November 2018, a unique end-to-end transaction reference will be included in all payment instructions carried between all 11,000 customers on SWIFT at all times, across more than 200 countries and territories.

SWIFT GPI improves customer experience by increasing speed, transparency and automatically provides status updates to all GPI banks involved in any GPI payment chain.

SWIFT GPI facilitates more accurate reconciliation of payments and invoices, optimises liquidity with improved cash forecasts and reduces exposure to FX risk, with the same-day processing of funds in beneficiaries’ time zones.

Until last year, it was impossible for banks to gather this information on behalf of their customers, but the introduction of the GPI Tracker has addressed this challenge head on, transforming cross-border payments and dramatically improving the service that banks can offer to their customers in a very cost efficient way.

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GPI accounts for 10 percent of cross-border payment traffic and is enabling more than a hundred billion dollars to be transferred across the world rapidly and securely every day.

The over Rs 13,000 crore fraud which has been unearthed at Punjab National Bank (PNB) was a case of misuse of non-linkage of bank’s core-banking system (CBS) with SWIFT messaging system as a few PNB officials, bypassed the reporting of global transactions to bank’s CBS.

SWIFT

SWIFT is global financial messaging service that enables financial institutions worldwide to send and receive information about financial transactions in secure, standardized and reliable environment. It is used to transmit messages relating to cross border financial transactions.It was founded in 1973 and is headquartered in La Hulpe, Belgium. It is a cooperative society under Belgian law owned by its member financial institutions with offices around the world.

• • • • •TESS: NASA, SPACEX COLLABORATE TO SEARCH FOR EXOPLANETS

What Is It?

NASA’s next planet-hunting mission has arrived in Florida to begin preparations for launch. The Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) is scheduled to launch on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station nearby NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida no earlier than April 16, pending range approval.

TESS is the next step in NASA’s search for planets outside our solar system, known as exoplanets. The mission will scan nearly the entire sky to monitor more than 200,000 of the nearest and brightest stars in search of transit events - periodic dips in a star’s brightness caused by planets passing in front of their stars. TESS is expected to find thousands of exoplanets.

TESS is designed to carry out first spaceborne all-sky transiting exoplanet survey. It is equipped with four wide-angle telescopes and associated charge-coupled device (CCD) detectors.

The primary mission objective of TESS is to survey brightest stars near Earth for transiting exoplanets over two-year period.

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It will use array of wide-field cameras to perform all-sky survey. It will create catalog of thousands of exoplanet candidates using transit photometry method.

It will provide prime targets for further characterization by James Webb Space Telescope, as well as other large ground-based and space-based telescopes of the future.

TESS is a NASA Astrophysics Explorer mission led and operated by MIT in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and managed by NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland

TESS is designed to carry out first spaceborne all-sky transiting exoplanet survey. It is equipped with four wide-angle telescopes and associated charge-coupled device (CCD) detectors.

The primary mission objective of TESS is to survey brightest stars near Earth for transiting exoplanets over two-year period.It will use array of wide-field cameras to perform all-sky survey. It will create catalogue of thousands of exoplanet candidates using transit photometry method.

• • • • •GSAT-6A SUCCESSFULLY LAUNCHED BY ISRO

What Is It?

Indian Space Research Organisation has successfully launched the GSAT6A satellite which is a twin of GSAT6. The communication satellite was launched from Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) in Sriharikota

GSLV Mk II (F08) carrying GSAT-6A took off from the second launch pad in Sriharikota.

The satellite will offer mobile communication to India through multibeam coverage facility.

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It will also provide a platform for developing technologies such as demonstration of 6m S-Band Unfurlable Antenna, handheld ground terminals and network management techniques that could be useful in satellite-based mobile communication applications.

It is high power S-band communication satellite built on I-2K satellite bus with a mission life of about ten years.

In its oval shaped GTO, GSAT-6A orbits the Earth with a perigee (nearest point to Earth) of 169.4 km and an apogee (farthest point to Earth) of 36,692.5 km with an orbital inclination of 20.64 deg with respect to the equator.Induction of high thrust Vikas engine and electromechanical actuation system were made in the rocket’s second stage this time around.

• • • • •MADHYA PRADESH WINS GI TAG FOR BLACK CHICKEN

What Is It?

Madhya Pradesh has won the Geographical Indication (GI) tag for Kadaknath, a black-feathered chicken.

The chicken is known for its flavourful meat and found mainly in the tribal district of Jhabua, Chhattisgarh

The GI tage indicates that a product possesses certain qualities exclusive to its land of origin.

The GI tag will ensure that no one else can use the name Kadaknath while selling any other black chicken and will also translate into higher prices for producers

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Kadaknath is in demand for its taste and low cholesterol and high protein content. It sells at about Rs 500 per kg, which is around five times the price of normal broiler chicken.

Kadaknath, the black chicken, also lays black eggs. Besides, its blood is also black in colour. The breed is also popular abroad due to high iron content.

• • • • •INSIGHT MISSION: NASA’S FIRST MISSION TO EXPLORE DEEP INTERIOR

OF MARS

What Is It?

NASA’s next Mars mission known as InSight, which is scheduled for a 2018 lift-off, will focus on examining the deep interior of Mars, the US space agency has announced.

The long form of InSight’s name is Interior Exploration using Seismic Investigations, Geodesy and Heat Transport, reports Xinhua news agency.

The mission is expected to launch after 8 May, 2018 from the Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, with a Mars landing scheduled after October 2018.

InSight or the Interior Exploration using Seismic Investigations, Geodesy and Heat Transport mission, carries a suite of sensitive instruments to gather data. Unlike a rover mission, these instruments require a stationary lander from which they can carefully be placed on and below the martian surface.

Mars is the exoplanet next door - a nearby example of how gas, dust and heat combine and arrange themselves into a planet. Looking deep into Mars will let scientists understand how different its crust, mantle and core are from Earth.

NASA is not the only agency excited about the mission. Several European partners contributed instruments or instrument components to the InSight mission.

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France’s Centre National d’Etudes Spatiales led a multinational team that built an ultra-sensitive seismometer for detecting marsquakes.

The German Aerospace Center (DLR) developed a thermal probe that can bury itself up to five metres underground and measure heat flowing from inside the planet.This week, it completed what is known as a spin test: the entire spacecraft is rotated at high speeds to confirm its centre of gravity. That is critical for its entry, descent and landing on Mars in November.

• • • • •CHINA LAUNCHES TWIN BEIDOU-3 NAVIGATION SATELLITES INTO SPACE

What Is It?

China has successfully sent pair of twin Beidou-3MEO satellites – Beidou-30 and Beidou-31 –into space as part of its third and final stage of launching its domestic Beidou (Compass) satellite navigation system.

They were launched on board Long March-3B carrier rocket from Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China’s Sichuan Province. It was 269th mission for the Long March rocket family.

The twin satellites are MEO satellites i.e. Medium Earth Orbit component of the third phase of Beidou satellite navigation system. They will work together with six previously launched BeiDou-3 satellites once they pass series of tests.

They were developed by the Innovation Academy for Microsatellites at Chinese Academy of Sciences and China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology, respectively. These satellites are part of fleet of Beidou satellites that will expand the system to global navigation coverage.

These satellites reside in 21,500 – 21,400 km nominal orbit at 55.5 degrees. These satellites are using new bus that features phased array antenna for navigation signals and laser retroreflector.

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BeiDou is 2nd generation of Chinese home grown navigational system seen as rival to US’s Global Positioning System (GPS). It was named after Chinese term for plough or Big Dipper constellation. It comprises constellation of total 35 satellites including 27 MEO (21,500 km orbits) satellites, 3 IGSO satellites and 5 GSO satellites.

• • • • •INTERSTITIUM: SCIENTISTS DISCOVER NEW ORGAN IN HUMAN BODY

What Is It?

Scientists have discovered a new organ ‘Interstitium’ in the human body, a discovery that could help the scientists understand the spread of cancer within the body.The findings of the study were published in the Nature’s Scientific Reports journal.

Scientists used a special live imaging technique called a Probe-based Confocal Laser Endomicroscopy (pCLE) to locate the interstitium in various parts of the body such as lungs and digestive tract.

The study was conducted by David Carr-Locke and Petros Benias, doctors of Mount Sinai Beth Israel Medical Centre, while investigating patient’s bile duct for cancer.

The research team collected tissue specimens of bile ducts during twelve cancer surgeries that involved removal of pancreas and the bile duct.

The study reveals that layers of body ‘Connective Tissues’ that were long thought to be dense, lining the digestive tract, lungs and urinary systems and surrounding arteries and veins - are instead interconnected and fluid-filled compartments.

These compartments have been termed as ‘Interstitium’ by the scientists.

After a thorough study, scientists concluded that the interstitium can compress or expand in size, suggesting it could serve as “shock absorber” for other parts of the body.

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Once confirmed as an organ, interstitium will take skin’s place as the largest organ in the human body. Earlier, no one studied these spaces due to the medical field’s dependence on the examination of fixed tissue on microscope slides to get the most accurate view of biological reality.

• • • • •RUSSIA CONDUCTS ANOTHER TEST FOR ICBM SARMAT MISSILE

What Is It?

Russia has successfully test fired its latest nuclear Inter Continental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) RS-28 Sarmat. This missile can carry an array of warhheads capable of dodging missile defenses.

The test was carried out at the Plesetsk Cosmodrome, as spaceport in the west of Russia, close to the Arctic Circle.

The ICBM Sarmat has the capacity to reach any point in the world. The missile will enter into service by 2021.

The RS-28 Sarmat is a heavy liquid-propellant ICBM capable of carrying nuclear charges. This missile is under development in Russia since 2000ss.

The ojective of this development is to replace the R-36M2 Voyevoda ICBM, which is Russia’s only Strategic Missile Force since 1988.

The name Sarmat is bassed upon the nomadic Sarmatian tribes which used to live between 6th and 4th century BC in current territories of Russia, Ukraine and Kazakhstan.

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TERLS

What Is It?

To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the dedication of TERLS to the UN, which fell on February 2, 2018, ISRO honoured former employees of TERLS who had contributed to the sounding rocket programme.

What Is TERLS?

The Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station (TERLS) is an Indian spaceport operated by the Indian Space Research Organisation.

It is located in Thumba, Thiruvananthapuram which is near the southern tip of mainland India, very close to earth’s magnetic equator, making it the ideal location for scientists to conduct atmospheric research.

The location is also ideal for low-altitude, upper atmosphere and ionosphere studies.

It is currently used by ISRO for launching sounding rockets.

Thumba is also one of the farthest points from Pakistan, China and Bangladesh.

The presence of a strong ‘equatorial electroject’ current over Thumba, which was also very close to the geomagnetic equator, made it an ideal site for the launch of sounding rockets.”

What Is The Back Drop For Its Formation?

During the 1950s and 1960s, the Cold War between the U.S. and the USSR accelerated as they entered the space race, which eventually turned into a bitter rivalry and raised the risk of space weaponisation.

Thankfully, this was avoided after the Outer Space Treaty of 1967.

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It was against this backdrop that the Indian space programme was born in 1963 with the launch of Nike-Apache sounding rockets from Thumba in Thiruvananthapuram.

The launch site was named the Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station (TERLS), or India’s first space port.

During the 1960s, TERLS became an international launch station and the sounding rockets launched from here proved instrumental in studying the equatorial electrojet.

The Indian space programme received support from the U.S., the USSR, France, the U.K. and West Germany.

Often, this was in the form of technical equipment such as telemetry receivers, tracking systems and computers.

In return, India offered to dedicate TERLS to the United Nations as a goodwill gesture.

Consequently, the UN formally sponsored TERLS as an international scientific facility open to all its members.

What Is The Present Situation?

In these five decades and more, a lot of things have changed in the Indian space programme. But India’s commitment to the peaceful use of outer space has been a constant, a fact that is doubly commendable given that the entire programme advanced on the back of a considerable resource crunch. Compared to developed nations, the Indian programme still functions on a relatively small budget.

At its heart, the space programme remains focussed on civilian benefits, using space technology to improve the life of the common man. This includes the use of satellites to: map and survey crops, assess damage from natural disasters, and bring telemedicine and telecommunication to the remote areas of rural India.

Source: The Hindu

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UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRSDISASTER MANAGEMENT

FIRST INDIA-JAPAN WORKSHOP ON DISASTER RISK REDUCTION

What Is It?

India and Japan, two of the most disaster-prone countries in the world, are coming together to address disaster risk.

Over a two-day workshop, experts will discuss issues pertaining to Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR), especially earthquakes.

uncontrolled development without proper disaster risk assessment has increased the risk of losses from disasters and climate change has further aggravated the disaster risk. Therefore, disaster risk management can no longer remain isolated from the overall strategy of sustainable development.

The workshop will present an opportunity to explore as to how Japan invests in making its infrastructure resilient to present and future disaster risks.

It will also help understand recent advancements in Japan in the area of earthquake detection and early warning systems and adapt them to India’s context. This will play a vital role in enhancing preparedness and response at every level.

This workshop is being jointly organised by the Ministry of Home Affairs, National Disaster Management Authority, India and Government of Japan. The workshop is a follow-up of the Memorandum of Cooperation, which was signed between India and Japan in 2017 during the visit of Mr. Shinjo Abe, Prime Minister of Japan, to India. It aims to develop a specific bilateral Action Plan on areas of cooperation in DRR. • • • • •

DISASTER MANAGEMENT

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UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRSDISASTER MANAGEMENT

ODISHA TO COLLABORATE WITH RIMES FOR DISASTER MANAGEMENT

What Is It?

The government of Odisha is all set up to join hands with the Thailand-based Regional Integrated Multi-Hazard Early Warning System (RIMES). Odisha State Disaster Mitigation Authority (OSDMA) and RIMES would forge a partnership in the field of drought monitoring and early warning for different natural disasters.

The decision is taken to fortify the early warning services of the state. Also, the state aims at preparing for management of hazards using the system. The collaboration of OSDMA and RIMES will help improve the disaster management capability of the State.

Under the drought monitoring system, both institutions would work on a system to archive, analyse and visualise data, besides evaluating station performance and validating forecast data.

RIMES is expected to provide a one-stop risk management system for all OSDMA needs.

It would also enhance the warning-response capacities of the OSDMA by imparting specialised expert training. The RIMES will help to develop a one-stop risk management system for all OSDMA needs- integration of multiple data database/servers.

RIMES:

The Regional Integrated Multi-Hazard Early Warning System is an international and intergovernmental institution, owned and managed by its Member States. RIMES was established on 30 April 2009 and was registered with the United Nations on 1 July 2009. RIMES operate from its regional early warning centre located at the campus of the Asian Institute of Technology in Pathumthani, Thailand.

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UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRSDEFENCE & INTERNAL SECURITY

NAVY’S THREE-WEEK TRI-SERVICE MARITIME EXERCISE CONCLUDES

What Is It?

Paschim Lehar, a three-week tri-service maritime exercise off India’s western coast, in which several ships, submarines and fighter aircraft participated, has concluded attaining its objective of the exercise to build interoperability.

The Western Naval Command concluded the large-scale operational exercise in the Arabian Sea. The three-week long exercise termed Exercise Paschim Leher, tested the operational readiness of the Command and the execution of its operational plans.

Over 40 naval assets including the aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya, frontline ships of the Western Fleet and Eastern Fleet, including the newly-inducted Kolkata class ones, submarines, potent missile vessels of the 22nd Killer Squadron, patrol vessels and craft of the local flotilla and the Coast Guard participated in the exercise.

The exercise also witnessed intense flying activity by carrier-borne Mig29K, P-8I, IL-38SDs, Dorniers and Remotely Piloted Aircraft and saw enhanced participation by the Indian Air Force planes, in coordinated flying missions with Navy’s air assets.

Maritime role Jaguars, Su-30 MKI, AWACS and Flight Refuellers participated in large numbers from different airfields in Gujarat, Maharashtra and North India.

An amphibious landing was also conducted, which included the participation of the 91 Infantry Brigade of the Army. The exercise enabled testing and revalidation of operational plans and manoeuvres in a hostile maritime scenario on India’s Western seaboard.

It also rehearsed defence of Indian offshore assets like oil rigs, escort operations of merchant ships and coastal defence.

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DEFENCE & INTERNAL SECURITY

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GOVT. PUTS DELAYED ROAD PROJECTS ON INDO-CHINA BORDER ON TRACK

What Is It?

Two months after the Doklam stand-off, when the Indian Army prevented the Chinese from building a road that would have given China access to the North East, the Centre cleared an additional `3,400 crore for making 73 strategic roads along the Chinese border a reality. The strategic roads project had been sanctioned in 2005 and the roads should have been constructed by 2012.

The project known as ICBR-I (Indo-China Border Roads), has missed several deadlines. Now the CCS has set 2020 as another deadline to complete the project. So far only “13 roads have been completed in all respects and are in operational use.” Agencies have blamed inclement weather, rough terrain and shortage of manpower as reasons for the delay.

Agencies have blamed inclement weather, rough terrain and shortage of manpower as reasons for the delay. To redress the situation arising out of lack of infrastructure along the India-China border, the Government has decided to undertake construction of 73 roads of operational significance along the border.

Out of these 73 roads, 27 roads involving 804.32 km are being constructed by Ministry of Home Affairs in Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh at an estimated cost of `1,937 crore.

the construction of 15 roads has been assigned to Border Roads Organisation (BRO), eight to the Central Public Works Department (CPWD), two to NPCC and two to the Himachal Pradesh Public Works Department.

• • • • •INDIA, FRANCE SIGN STRATEGIC PACT ON USE OF EACH OTHER’S

MILITARY BASES

What Is It?

India and France have inked strategic pact providing for the use of each other’s military facilities including opening naval bases to warships, an agreement that comes amid Chinas growing military expansionism in the Indo-Pacific region.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron held wide-ranging deliberations during which they also decided to create an annual defence dialogue at the ministerial level to explore ways to further deepen defence and strategic ties.

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The two countries signed a pact on exchange and reciprocal protection of classified or protected information which came in the backdrop of the Indian government refusing to divulge details of the multi-billion dollar Indo-French Rafale fighter jet deal.

The agreement will facilitate reciprocal provision of logistic support, supplies and services between armed forces of India and France during authorised port visits, joint exercises and joint training among others. It will be crucial in order to maintain the safety of international sea lanes for unimpeded commerce and communications in Indo-Pacific region.

The deal is similar to logistical support pact (LEMOA) with US on use of each other’s land, air and naval bases and is indicator of strategic depth and maturity reached in India-France defence ties.

Both countries have decided to create an annual defence dialogue at the ministerial level to explore ways to further deepen defence and strategic ties. They also signed pact on exchange and reciprocal protection of classified or protected information.On ties in maritime security sphere, both countries will have unprecedented level of cooperation to ensure peace and stability in Indian and Pacific Oceans. Space agencies of both countries will also have joint monitoring mechanism for developments in maritime sphere, while their navies of share intelligence and call their respective military bases for any requirement.

• • • • •INDIAN AIR FORCE LANDS ITS LARGEST TRANSPORT AIRCRAFT IN

ARUNACHAL PRADESH’S TUTING

What Is It?

The Indian Air Force today landed its largest transport aircraft, a Boeing-made C-17 Globemaster III, at Tuting in Arunachal Pradesh in what is clearly a demonstration of military mobility near the sensitive border with China.

The landing of the US-manufactured aircraft is seen as part of the IAF’s move to strengthen its overall operations in the strategically-key border state.

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It also demonstrated IAF’s capability in terms of operational performance and tactical air mobility in challenging Tuting airfield which is surrounded high hills in narrow valley.

Earlier, in November 2016 too, IAF had successfully carried out landing of C-17 Globemaster at its strategic ALG of Mechuka in West Siang district of Arunachal Pradesh which was re-activated in May 2016 and is just 29 kilometers from border with China.

The C-17 is US-manufactured transport aircraft commonly used to perform strategic airlift missions, transporting troops and cargo throughout the world along with medical evacuation and airdrop duties.

It is 174 feet long and has wingspan of about 170 feet (52 m). Its cargo compartment is 88 feet (27 m) long by 18 feet (5.5 m) wide by 12 feet 4 inches (3.76 m) high.It can be operated in diverse terrain from Himalayan air bases in North India at 13,000 ft to Indian Ocean bases in South India. It can carry payload of 77.50 tonnes and its maximum takeoff weight is 265 tonnes.

• • • • •MILES-18: NAVAL EXERCISE HELD IN ANDAMAN

What Is It?

The Indian Navy on Tuesday began an eight-day-long mega naval exercise along with leading maritime powers of the region at the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, amid heightened regional tension in the region.

The exercise called “Milan” held in the backdrop of imposition of state of emergency in Maldives and Sri Lanka, two of India’s maritime neighbours, and China’s growing assertiveness in the region.. The military exercise, with the participation of 23 countries, was organised with the theme of “Friendship Across the Seas”.

Almost 28 warships including 17 from India and 11 from Australia, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Thailand participated in the exercise to expand regional cooperation and combat unlawful activities in critical sea lanes.

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Participation of 39 delegates from 16 countries, made it the largest gathering since its inception in 1995.

The Indian warships participating in the exercise include 11 ships of Andaman and Nicobar Command and six ships of the Eastern Fleet.

Exercise MILAN was first held in 1995 with five participating nations; India, Indonesia, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Thailand. The aim of the initiative was to have an effective forum to discuss common concerns in the Indian Ocean Region and forge deeper cooperation among friendly navies. Since 1995, the exercise was conducted bi-annually except in 2001, 2005 and 2016.

• • • • •SACH-GAURAV: INDIA’S FIRST CLONED ASSAMESE BUFFALO BORN

What Is It?

The Central Institute for Research on Buffaloes (CIRB) has claimed that India’s first cloned Assamese buffalo male calf named Sach-Gaurav was born in Hisar, Haryana.

It was born to Murrah buffalo, at Hi Tech Sach Dairy Farm, 100 kms from cloning laboratory, making it first buffalo calf to be born in field.

Indian Council of Agricultural Research-CIRB is a central institute and it has a mandate to conserve superior animals of all buffalo breeds.

The genotype of the calf was confirmed by microsatellite analysis (parentage verification) and chromosome analysis.

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Animal cloning can be an excellent reproductive tool for conservation and multiplication of selected superior animals of buffalo breeds.

The Sach-Gaurav calf was produced unique methods and was delivered through normal delivery. The birth weight of calf was 54.2 kgs and it was in good health. It had normal physiological parameters and blood profile. The ovaries of Murrah buffaloes were used as a source of recipient oocytes. Small tissue of Assamese buffalo was airlifted from Veterinary College, Khannapara, Guwhati, 2000 km away from our cloning laboratory, to culture establish the donor cells.

• • • • •INDO-FRENCH NAVAL EXERCISE “VARUNA-18” BEGINS OFF GOA COAST

What Is It?

The navies of India and France are currently engaged in a joint bilateral exercise, “Varuna-18”, in the Arabian Sea off the Goa coast, which commenced days after the leaders of the two countries decided to further deepen their maritime cooperation.

The two countries would explore the measures to facilitate the operational-level interactions between their respective armed forces and increase mutual cooperation, considering the common global threats.

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Varuna-18 was conducted in three sea areas, including the Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal and South Western Indian Ocean. The exercise was conducted in three phases and included anti-submarine, air defence and asymmetric engagement exercises.

The first phase of the exercise was held in Arabian Sea. The second phase was held off the Chennai coast in Bay of Bengal in April 2017 and third near France’s La Reunion Island in South Western Indian Ocean in May 2018.

The French Navy’s anti-submarine frigate, Jean de Vienne, the Indian Navy’s destroyer, INS Mumbai, and frigate INS Trikand are among the vessels participating in the exercise.

The Indian Navy’s submarine, Kalvari, P8-1 and Dornier maritime patrol aircraft and MiG 29K fighter aircraft are also participating.

Indian Navy and the French Navy have been conducting naval exercises since 1983. These exercises were christened as Varuna in 2001. The last edition of this annual bilateral exercise was conducted off French coast in April 2017. The Varuna series of exercises now has grown in scope and complexity and provides opportunity to naval forces of both countries to increase interoperability and learn from each other’s best practices.

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UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRSART & CULTURE

13 INTANGIBLE CULTURAL HERITAGE ELEMENTS FROM INDIA INSCRIBED ON UNESCO’S LIST

What Is It?

A total of 13 Intangible cultural heritage (ICH) elements from India have been inscribed till date on the UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

For inclusion of an element in the UNESCO’s Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage, the state parties are required to submit nomination dossier on the relevant element for evaluation and examination of the UNESCO Committee.

The Ministry of Culture has appointed the Sangeet Natak Akademi, an autonomous organisation under the Ministry of Culture, as nodal office for matters relating to the intangible cultural heritage including for preparation of the nomination dossiers for the Representative List of UNESCO.

The Ministry of Culture makes regular Schemes as well as organisations make efforts towards preservation, protection and promotion of intangible cultural heritage in the country. Various autonomous bodies under the Ministry of Culture have comprehensive mandates in this regard and are functioning in various spheres of preservation and promotion of intangible cultural heritage and diverse traditions of the country.

UNESCO’s list of Intangible Cultural Heritage is a coveted list is made up of those intangible heritage elements that help demonstrate diversity of cultural heritage and raise awareness about its importance. It was established in 2008 after Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, 2003 came into effect.

List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity from India:

Koodiyattam: Sanskrit Theatre of Kerala.

Mudiyett: theatre ritual of Kerala.

ART & CULTURE

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Tradition of of Vedic Chanting.

Kalbelia: folk songs and dances of Rajasthan.

Ramlila: Traditional Performance of the Ramayana.

Sankirtana: singing, drumming and dancing ritual of Manipur.

Ramman: religious festival and ritual theatre of Garhwal Himalayas.

Traditional brass and copper craft of of utensil of Thatheras: Punjab.

Chhau dance: classical Indian dance originated in the eastern Indian states.

Buddhist chanting of Ladakh: recitation of sacred Buddhist texts in Ladakh region of Jammu and Kashmir.

Yoga:an ancient Indian tradition of health and wellness

Navroz:the celebrations of the Iranian New Year is a festival

Kumbh Mela: A ritual bath represnting world’s most massive act of faith.

• • • • •12 CITIES UNDER HRIDAY SCHEME

What Is It?

HRIDAY scheme aims at preserving and revitalizing the soul and the unique character of the heritage cities in lndia. Under the Scheme, twelve cities namely, Ajmer, Amritsar, Amaravati, Badami, Dwarka, Gaya, Kanchipuram, Mathura, Puri, Varanasi, Velankanni, and Warangal have been identified for development. The mission period of HRIDAY Scheme is till November, 2018.

HRIDAY Scheme supports the development of core heritage linked civic infrastructure projects which includes revitalization of urban infrastructure for areas around heritage, religious, cultural and tourism assets of the cities. These initiatives include development of water supply, sanitation, drainage, waste management, approach roads, footpaths, street lights, tourist conveniences, electricity wiring, landscaping etc.So far, 63 projects amounting to Rs. 421.47 cr. for the 12 HRIDAY Cities have been approved under the Scheme out of which 241.26 cr. has been released.

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• • • • •JAIPUR TO HOST 8TH THEATRE OLYMPICS

What Is It?

The Pink City, Jaipur is all ready to co-host the 8th Theatre Olympic for the very first time in India. The event organised by National School of Drama (NSD) under the aegis of Ministry of Culture in collaboration with Ravindra Manch Society and Art & Culture Department, Government of Rajasthan.

As a co-host, it will provide great opportunity to highlight the cultural heritage of Rajasthan. It will provide platform to number of folk art forms and theatre performers from state have. Rajasthan has number of indigenous folk and theatrical art forms, most of which are popular among people such as puppet dance, Kalbelia, Ghoomar among others.

The fest will cover 17 cities in India with more than 25,000 artists performing 450 shows, 600 ambience performances and 250 youth shows

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There will be 15 plays between consisting of international, national, and folk theatre forms.

The 8th Theatre Olympics is an opportunity to highlight the cultural heritage of Rajasthan. Many folk forms from the state have already been showcased during the festival. This international festival will give a boost to the folk and theatre performers.

The Theatre Olympics was established in 1993 in Delphi, Greece, on the initiative of the famous Greek theatre director, Theodoros Terzopoulos. The event presents some of the achievements of the greatest theatre practitioners from around the world.

• • • • •TAJ MAHAL IS ONE OF THE MONUMENTS UNDER ‘ADOPT A HERITAGE

PROJECT’

What Is It?

Taj Mahal is one of the monuments under ‘Adopt a Heritage Project’, launched on the World Tourism Day, 2017.

The Union Ministry of Tourism gave Letters of Intent (LoI) to seven shortlisted companies for adopting 14 monuments under Adopt a Heritage Scheme at their Corporate Social Responsibilities (CSR) activities.

The private players will undertake gap analysis of the actual requirement of the basic and advanced amenities, within the permissible guidelines of Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and

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prepare a Vision Bid Proposal accordingly for the site opted by them. Once vision bid is accepted, MoU will be signed with the related party for upkeep of the Monument for overall enhanced tourist experience.

14 adopted monuments include: Jantar Mantar, Purana Quila, Safdarjung Tomb, Agrasen ki Baoli, and Qutub Minar (Delhi), Hampi (Karnataka), Ajanta Caves(Maharashtra), Sun Temple, Raja Rani Temple and Ratnagiri Monuments (Odisha), Leh Palace and Mt. StokKangri (Jammu & Kashmir), Mattancherry Palace Museum (Kerala), Gangotri Temple Area and Trail (Uttarakhand).

The scheme was launched by Union Ministry of Tourism on World Tourism Day (27th September). Under it, Private, Public Sector Companies and Corporate individuals were invited to adopt heritage sites and to take up responsibility for making them and promote sustainable tourism through conservation and development under their CSR activities.

This scheme was launched by Tourism Ministry in close collaboration with Ministry of Culture and Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). It envisages at developing monuments, heritage and tourist sites across India and making them tourist friendly and enhance their tourism potential and cultural importance in planned and phased manner.

• • • • •NATIONAL CULTURAL AUDIOVISUAL ARCHIVES (NCAA) BECOMES THE

WORLD’S FIRST TRUSTED DIGITAL REPOSITORY

What Is It?

National Cultural Audiovisual Archives (NCAA) project of the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, implemented by Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) has been certified as the world’s first Trusted Digital Repository as per ISO 16363:2012 standard, granted by Primary Trustworthy Digital Repository Authorisation Body Ltd. (PTAB), United Kingdom.

NCAA primary objective is to identify and preserve cultural heritage of India available in audiovisual form through process of digitization and make it accessible to the people.

Leveraging this historic achievement, the plan for the next phase is to integrate about three lakh hours of audiovisuals materials, a corpus estimated based on a scoping survey conducted in 25 cities across the country, on this platform over the next five years.

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The digitization and metadata standards followed by the Project are in parity with international standards within the overall framework of the OAIS model. The digitization standards are in concordance with those prescribed by the International Association of Sound & Audiovisual Archives (IASA).

NCAA has a total of twenty-one (21) Partnering Institutions from across the country, covering 11 governmental and 10 non-governmental cultural organisations.

Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts has been set up by the Government of India, as a premier research institute dedicated to holistic understanding and expression of Indian arts in their inter and multi-disciplinary nature.

One of the principal aims of the centre is to serve as a major national resource centre for the arts. The IGNCA has been designated by the Government of India as the nodal agency for a data bank on art, humanities and cultural heritage.

The Centre has also been identified by UNESCO as nodal agency for the development of regional databases for South and South East Asian countries on art, cultural heritage and life-styles through the application of state-of-the-art technologies for standardization, exchange and dissemination of data.

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PRINT BIENNALE INDIA 2018: FIRST INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION HELD IN NEW DELHI

What Is It?

With the participation of 17 countries, Lalit Kala Akademi of New Delhi hosted the very first International Print Biennale of India. The prime focus of the event was to discover new trends in print making nationally and internationally.

A total of 200 original prints created by Indian and international artists of impeccable competence were the in the highlights and is a window view into the giant strides in printmaking that is taking place in India and the world.

The participants cane from countries such as USA, UK, Sri Lanka, Italy, Mexico, China, Israel, Sweden, Lithuania, Poland, Argentina, Greece, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Mauritius. A total number of 988 entries at the national level were received of which 127 have been chosen for display. The number of entries at the international level was 137 of which 50 artists have been selected. A total of 73 artworks of international artists are on display. While, the ‘Eminent Printmakers of India’ show consisted of 98 artists to be displayed at the NGMA galleries from Monday 26th March till April 22nd, 2018.

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UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS

NIRBHAYA FUND TO CREATE 8 SAFE CITIES

What Is It?

The Union Ministry of Women and Child Development has approved projects worth Rs 2,919 crore under Nirbhaya Fund for creating eight safe cities. They are Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Lucknow.The Nirbhaya Fund was announced in 2013 union budget by the government with a corpus of Rs 1,000 crore. This fund was created to support the initiatives taken by the government and NGOs working towards protecting the dignity and ensuring the safety of women in India.The government, in April 2015, made the women and child development ministry (WCD) as the nodal agency for the Nirbhaya Fund replacing the Home Ministry.To approve the funds under Nirbhaya fund, a committee has been constituted which comprised officials from various ministries, including women and child development, home affairs, road transport and railways.

Measures to create safe citiesAll the plans for safe cities have been prepared in coordination with municipal corporations and police commissioners of these cities.To enhance the safety of public places like roads, schools and metro etc., use of latest technology such as facial recognition analytics, video monitoring, and person tracking systems.Dedicated women safety patrol vans with GPS tracking.It will enable GIS mapping of criminal hotspots, training of investigating officers and quick response police teams.

SOCIAL ISSUES

SOCIAL ISSUES

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Strengthen the “Police Didi” programme wherein female police officers interact with women living in slums.A cybercrime and legal assistance compensation lab will also be set up.ABHAYAM Vans for quick response to women in distress, One Stop Crisis Centres and ‘She Teams’ of women for surveillance.

User trial of the panic button feature on mobile phones.

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AGRICULTURE

KRISHI UNNATI MELA BEGINS IN DELHI

What Is It?

PM Modi inaugurated the annual Krishi Unnati Mela at Indian Agricultural Research Institute in the New Delhi. During the inaugural event, he unveiled Jaivik Kheti portal on organic farming and laid the foundation stone of 25 Krishi Vigyan Kendras.

‘Krishi Karman’ and ‘Deen Dayal Upadhya Krishi Vigyan Protsahan’ awards were also conferred on the occasion. This year’s event has the theme of doubling farmer’s income by 2022.To achieve the goal of doubling farmers’ income by 2022, the government has ensured that sectors like animal husbandry, fisheries and dairy farming fetch more income to the farmers. Also, implementation of the schemes at ground level is stressed.

AGRICULTURE

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The theme pavilions were on doubling of farmers income, organic farming, cooperatives, farm inputs to assist farmers with latest developments in farmiing technique and popularize dairy, animal husbandry, fisheries and horticulture.The Krishi Mela owed to the interests of farmers and those involved in allied sectors. Theme based pavilions have been set up that aim to-Double the farmers’ income by 2022Encourage organic farmingGive a boost to cooperatives sectorEnsure farmers establish direct contacts with companies manufacturing seeds, fertiliser and pesticidesPopularize dairy, animal husbandry, fisheries and horticulture

Creating awareness about the latest technological developments

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AGRICULTURE

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