the hindu and indian express in 5 minutes april 2021

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April Monthly Current Affairs 2021

The Hindu and Indian Express in 5 Minutes

APRIL 2021

Anubhav Deepani

Polity

• No News.

Governance

Farm Laws

• News Context: Supreme Court-appointed panel

submitted report on 3 agricultural reform laws.

3 Farm laws are:

• The Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce

(Promotion and Facilitation) Act.

• The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act.

• The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection)

Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services

Act.

Issues with farm Laws:

• Government says, ‘These laws will liberate

farmers from middlemen’.

• Farmers says, ‘They will lose more than they

could gain’.

o ‘The main beneficiaries will be

agricultural corporations.’

Provisions of farm Laws:

• It makes easier for farmers to bypass government-

regulated markets (Mandis) and sell products

directly to private buyers.

• Farmers can enter into contracts with private

companies, known as contract farming, and sell

across state borders.

Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in

Legislative Assembly

• News Context: Haryana has amended several

provisions under this.

New Provisions:

• At least 2 ministers must be present during every

sitting of House.

• Members ‘shall not tear off documents in House in

protest’.

• Speaker shall allow not more than 2

supplementary questions to be asked on any

question.

• New definition of Leader of Opposition:

o Leader of a Party having largest number

of members in opposition.

o It must have strength at least equal to

strength of Quorum.

National Policy for Rare Diseases, 2021

Provisions of the Policy:

• Rare diseases patients will be eligible for one-time

treatment under Ayushman Bharat.

• This policy will not just be beneficial for BPL

families, but will be extended to 40% Population.

• Categorization of rare diseases into 3 groups:

o One-time curative treatment.

o Long term or Lifelong Treatment.

o Definitive treatment is available but tough

to make optimal patient selection for

benefit.

Issue related to policy:

• It increases Government support from ₹15 lakh to

₹20 lakh.

o But it does not match actual costs of

treatment.

• Lack of funding.

Rare Disease (Orphan Disease):

• It affects small portion of population.

o Most rare diseases are genetic.

• They present throughout a person’s life, even if

symptoms do not immediately appear.

Tribunals Reforms (Rationalisation and Conditions of

Service) Ordinance, 2021

Changes under Reform:

• It dissolves few existing appellate bodies and

transfer it to other existing judicial bodies.

• It empowers Centre to make rules for:

o Qualifications, Appointment, Term of

office, Salaries and Allowances.

o Resignation, Removal, Other terms and

conditions of service.

• Chairperson and Members of Tribunals will be

appointed by Centre on recommendation of

Selection Committee.

o Committee will be headed by CJI or a

Supreme Court judge nominated by him.

• Tenure of Chairperson: 4 years or till the age of

70 years.

• Tenure of other Members: 4 years or till age of

67 years.

Transfer and Posting of Vigilance Units

• News Context: CVC has modified guidelines of

transfer and posting of officials in the vigilance

units.

• Vigilance officers to be transferred every 3

years.

Guidelines:

• Personnel can have 2 continuous postings in

vigilance units at different places of posting.

o Each running to a maximum of 3 years.

• Personnel who have worked for over 3 years at

one place should be transferred in phases.

• Priority given to those who have served for

maximum period.

• Those having completed over 5 years at one place

should be shifted on top priority.

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Draft National Migrant Labour Policy

• NITI Aayog has drafted this.

• It is to better recognize migrants’ contribution to

economy and support them.

Recommendations:

• Facilitate Migration: Migration should be

acknowledged as an integral part of development.

o Government policies should not hinder

but seek to facilitate internal migration.

• Increase Wages: To raise minimum wages.

o It will fill demand and supply gap.

• To create new National Migration Policy.

• Formation of a special unit within Labour

Ministry.

Film Certificate Appellate Tribunal (FCAT), 1983

• It was a statutory body constituted by I&B

Ministry, under Cinematograph Act, 1952.

• It was to hear appeals filed under Section 5C of

Cinematograph Act.

• The appeals were against the decision of Central

Board of Film Certification (CBFC).

• Headquarter: New Delhi.

• Composition: Chairperson and 4 members.

o It includes Secretary appointed by

Government.

• Implications of the move:

o Filmmakers will now approach High

Court if they want to challenge CBFC

certification.

• News Context: Government has abolished FCAT

by Tribunals Reforms (Rationalization and

Conditions of Service) Ordinance, 2021.

Darbar Move

• It is a century-old practice in which Government

functioned for 6 months each in 2 capitals of

Srinagar and Jammu.

• It was started in 19th century by Ranbir Singh,

Maharaja of J&K.

• It was started to take administration to doorstep

of people of Kashmir.

Criticisms

• It is wastage of of time, efforts and energy.

• It taxes for security forces too.

• It leads to lack of governance.

• It delays in justice as Government records are

not available in one region for 6 months at a time.

• Valuable and sensitive documents are put to risk

in transportation.

• There is no constitutional basis for Darbar Move

tradition. -J&K High Court.

• News Context: It is set to be broken partially then

permanently.

Register of Indigenous Inhabitants of Nagaland (RIIN),

2019

• News Context: Nagaland wants to revive RIIN

exercise.

• It is to prevent outsiders from obtaining fake

indigenous certificates for seeking jobs and

benefits of Nagaland Government schemes.

• It will be the list of all indigenous inhabitants of

state.

Students & Teachers’ Holistic Advancement through

Quality Education (SARTHAQ)

• News Context: Education Minister released an

indicative and suggestive implementation for this.

• It is launched for goals of NEP-2020, to assist

States and UTs.

The plan includes:

• All-around development for students at primary

and secondary level.

• Safe, inclusive, conducive learning environment

for students and teachers.

• Curriculum reforms, New National-State

curriculum frameworks for school education.

• Early childhood care and education, Enrollment

ratio.

• Foundational Literacy and Numeracy, Vocational

education.

• Sports, Arts, Awareness of environment, Teacher

Education Programmes.

Mettur-Sarabanga Lift Irrigation Project

• It is implemented by Tamil Nadu.

• It is to irrigate 4,200 acres of land in Edappadi,

Omalur, Sankagiri, Mettur taluks.

o Diverting surplus water from Mettur

reservoir.

• News Context: NGT allowed the project to

proceed.

Transport 4 All (T4All) Challenge

• It is launched by:

o Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry.

o Institute for Transportation and

Development Policy (ITDP).

• It is to develop solutions to improve public

transport.

• It brings together:

o Cities, Citizen Groups, Start-ups.

Start-Up India Seed Fund Scheme (SISFS)

• It to provide financial assistance to start ups for:

o Proof of concept, prototype development.

o Product trials, Market entry,

Commercialization.

• Nodal Department: Department for Promotion of

Industry and Internal Trade.






Haryana Recovery of Damages to Property During

Disturbance to Public Order Act, 2021

• It allows authorities to recover compensation

from violent protesters who cause damage to

property.

• News Context: Protest against the act.

Cybercrime Volunteer Programme

• It brings citizens together to serve nation on

single platform.

• It contributes in fight against cybercrime in

country.

• News context: Home Ministry said, it does not

maintain a centralized list of volunteers enrolled

under this programme.

Compulsory Licensing

• It is issued by government that allows company

or individual seeking other’s intellectual

property to use it.

o In which, Consent of IPR owner is not

included.

• IPR is dealt with compulsory licensing in India

by:

o Indian Patents Act 1970.

o Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects.

Project Ladakh Ignited Minds: A Centre of Excellence

and Wellness

• It is initiated by Indian Army.

• It is to provide better educational opportunities

for Ladakhi students.

SWAMITVA Scheme

• It comes under Panchayati Raj ministry.

• It is to map residential land ownership in rural

sector using modern technology like, drones.

• It will revolutionize property record maintenance

in India.

• Property card for every property will be prepared

by states.

Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985

• It fulfils India’s treaty obligations under:

o Convention on Narcotic Drugs.

o Convention on Psychotropic Substances.

o UN Convention Against Illicit Traffic in

Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic

Substances.

• It sets out statutory framework for drug law

enforcement in India.

• Under this:

o Cultivation, Production, Manufacture,

Consumption.

o Possession, Sale, Purchase,

Transportation, Warehousing.

o Inter-State movement, Trans-shipment etc.

is prohibited.

• Note: It does not include medical or scientific

purposes.

• Governments are empowered to appoint officers for

this Act.

• News Context: Punjab approves a reward policy to

encourage information and inputs related to this

act.

‘2 Children’ Service Rule for Maharashtra government

Employees

• Maharashtra Civil Services (Declaration of

Small Family) Rule of 2005 defines a small

family as:

o Wife, husband, 2 children.

• Under this, a person is not eligible for a job with

Maharashtra Government, if:

o He or She has more than 2 children after

2005.

• Note: This definition does not include adopted

children.

Elections

• No News.

Judiciary

Chief Justice of India

Justice N.V. Ramana: 48th CJI.

Supreme Court on Rohingyas in Jammu

• News Context:

o Supreme Court said illegal Rohingyas

migrants, detained in Jammu, will not be

deported to Myanmar without following

law.

Supreme court saying on the Issue:

• Article 14 and Article 21 are available to both

citizens and foreigners.

o The right “not to be deported” is

ancillary to citizenship.

Laws and Regulations Regulating Refugees in India:

• No legislation has been passed that specifically

refers to refugees.

• Rohingya refugees are seen as illegal immigrants

deported by Government under Foreigners Act

1946 and Foreigners Order 1948.

• Legally, refugees are special category of

immigrants and cannot be seen as illegal

immigrant.

Delhi HC on Salary and Pension

• Salary and Pensions are fundamental rights of all

employees: Delhi HC.

• Non-availability of funds cannot be a ground to

deny salaries and pension on time.






Prakash Singh v. Union of India (2006)

• This judgement deals with Police Reforms, which

should have been brought in all states and UTs.

• News Context:

o Supreme Court stated, this judgment is

used only as a mantra, to suit the

occasion whenever it arises.

Measures suggested by Supreme Court:

• Fixing the tenure and selection of DGP.

• No political interference, a minimum tenure was

sought for IG.

• Postings of officers should be done by Police

Establishment Boards (PEB).

o Comprising of Police Officers and Senior

Bureaucrats.

• To set up State Police Complaints Authority

(SPCA).

o A platform where common people

aggrieved by police action could

approach.

International Relations

The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA)/ Iran

Nuclear Deal

• This deal was negotiated in 2013-15 among:

o Iran, China, France, Germany, Russia,

UK, USA, EU.

• Under the deal, Iran agreed to cut its stores of

enriched uranium and heavy water.

o Which are all key components for nuclear

weapons.

Issues and Concern:

• USA pulled itself out of the deal in 2018.

• Sanctions were imposed on Iran.

• Iran started increasing its enrichment of

uranium.

• News Context: USA and Iran will negotiate to

revive this deal.

Uighurs

• They are Muslim minorities in China’s

northwestern Xinjiang province.

• They claim closer ethnic ties to Turkey, Central

Asian countries than to China.

• News Context: Japanese Foreign Minister

Toshimitsu Motegi has expressed concerns about

human rights situation of Uighurs.

E9 initiative

• It aims to accelerate SDG 4 agenda.

• It is to bring rapid changes in education systems

in 3 of 2020 Global Education Meeting

priorities:

o Support to Teachers.

o Investment in Skills.

o Narrowing the Digital Divide.

• Participants: UN, E9 countries (Bangladesh,

Brazil, China, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Mexico,

Nigeria, Pakistan).

Bhutan and China Boundary Discussions

• Discussion will be focused on 2 disputed areas:

Pasamlung and Jakarlung valleys.

• They are to North of Bhutan and Doklam to the

West of Bhutan, along the tri-junction with

India.

• Background:

o China raised objection to grant for

Bhutan’s Sakteng Sanctuary to the East

frontier, saying that it was disputed.






Freedom of Navigation

• It is an international law that ships flying the flag

of any sovereign state shall not suffer

interference from other states.

o Apart from exceptions provided for in

international law.

• It is defined as:

o Freedom of movement for vessels,

Freedom to enter ports.

o To make use of plant and docks, to load

and unload goods.

o To transport goods and passengers.

• This right is codified as Article 87(1) of 1982 UN

Convention on Law of Sea.

• USA has neither signed nor ratified the

convention.

o However, USA enforces practice.

• Freedom of Navigation Operation (FONOP)

involves passages conducted by US Navy through

waters claimed by coastal nations as their

exclusive territory.

• News Context:

o USA Navy conducted FONOP in India’s

EEZ near Lakshadweep without seeking

India’s consent.

Vaccine Passports

• It is an electronic record of vaccination, in form

of a QR code.

• It is accessible through smartphone.

• It is mostly used for International travel.

• Note: Israel became 1st country to introduce it.

World Organisation for Animal Health (Office

International des Epizooties: OIE), 1924

• It is an intergovernmental organization to

support and promote animal disease control.

• News Context: WHO, OIE, UNEP called for a halt

to sale of live wild mammals in food markets to

prevent the emergence of new diseases such as

COVID-19.

Net Zero Producers’ Forum

• It is cooperative forum to develop pragmatic net

zero emission strategies.

• Members: Qatar, USA, Saudi Arabia, Canada,

Norway.

• Roles and functions of Net Zero Producers’

Forum:

o To consider strategies and technologies

which include:

o Methane Abatement, Advancing circular

carbon economy approach.

o Development and deployment of clean

energy.

o Carbon capture and storage technologies.

o Diversification from reliance on

hydrocarbon revenues.

Net-Zero:

• It is referred as carbon-neutrality.

• It does not mean that a country would bring down

its emissions to zero.

• It is a state where country’s emissions are

compensated by absorption and removal of

greenhouse gases.

NATO to exit Afghanistan.

• Covered in The Hindu.

UN Food Systems Summit 2021

• News Context: India Holds National Dialogue on

UN Food Systems Summit 2021.

• It strategizes actions for positive change in Agri-

food systems in World.

• It also helps in vision of SDG 2030 Agenda.

• Food Systems

o It involves activities of producing,

processing, transporting, consuming

food.

o It touches every aspect of human

existence.

Report on Macroeconomic and Foreign Exchange

Policies of Major Trading Partners of USA

• It is released by USA Treasury.

• It reviews currency practices of USA’s 20 biggest

trading partners.






• There are 3 criteria are used to review partners:

o A significant (at least $20 billion) bilateral

trade surplus.

o A material current account surplus.

o Persistent one-sided intervention in forex

markets.

Highlights of report and India:

• India is one of 11 countries on the ‘Monitoring

List’ with regard to their currency practices.

Currency Manipulation:

• When countries deliberately influence exchange

rate between their currency.

o If US dollar to gain “unfair competitive

advantage in international trade”.

Travel Bubble

• News Context: Sri Lanka to postpone travel

bubble with India.

• Creating a travel bubble involves:

o Reconnecting countries or states that

have shown success in containing

pandemic.

Bao Forum, 2001

• It was initiated by 25 Asian countries and

Australia.

• It is a non-profit organisation.

• It has provided a high-end platform for:

o Political, Business, academic leaders in

Asia and world.

• It is built on World Economic Forum idea.

• It promotes regional economic integration.

o It brings Asian countries closer to their

development goals.

U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom

(USCIRF) Report

• It designated 14 countries as Countries of

particular concern (CPCs).

• As their governments are engaged in or tolerate:

o Systematic, ongoing violations of

religious freedom.

• Note: It also includes India.

Karen National Union (KNU)

• It is a political organisation representing ethnic

Karen minority communities in Karen,

bordering Thailand.

• Demands:

o Karen nationalists have been fighting

for an independent state known as

Kawthoolei since 1949.

Cities Combating Plastic Entering Marine Environment

• India and Germany signed this Technical

Cooperation agreement.

• It is for ‘Prevention of Marine Litter’.

• It is to prevent plastic entering marine

environment.

• Implemented Regions: UP, Kerala, Andaman &

Nicobar Islands.

Project Dantak, 1961

• It was tasked to construct pioneering motorable

roads in Bhutan Kingdom.

• It included:

o Paro Airport, Yonphula Airfield.

o Thimphu-Trashigang Highway.

o Telecommunication & Hydro Power

Infrastructure.

o Sherubtse College, Kanglung and India

House Estate.

• News Context: This project completed 60 years.

India’s CAG as external auditor of Organisation for the

Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW)

• News Context: India’s CAG is elected as external

auditor by OPCW for 3 years.

• Appointment was made through an election

process at OPCW conference.

• India was selected as executive council member of

OPCW.

o India will represent Asia group.

• Executive Council:

o It is governing body of OPCW.

o Members: 41

o It supervises activities of Technical

Secretariat.

o It effectively implements Convention.

• OPCW: Covered in PT 360.






Kowloon Peninsula

• Hong Kong will grant a site on western Kowloon

peninsula to China’s national security office as

permanent base.

• It forms southern part of main landmass in Hong

Kong.

Supply Chain Resilience Initiative (SCRI)

• India, Japan, Australia have launched it.

• Its a move to counter China’s dominance of

supply chain in Indo-Pacific region.

• It will enhance supply chain to attain strong,

sustainable, balanced, inclusive growth in region.

• It will promote investment events, buyer-seller

matching events to explore possibility of

diversification of their supply chains.

• It includes:

o Utilization of Digital Technology.

o Trade and investment diversification.

Human Rights Watch, 1978

• It is an international non-governmental

organization.

• It conducts research and advocacy on human

rights.

• It pressures governments, policy makers,

companies, individual human rights abusers to

follow the policies.

• It works on behalf of refugees, children,

migrants, political prisoners.

• Headquarter: New York City.

• News Context:

o Human Rights Watch said on that Israel

is committing crime of to maintain

Jewish domination over Palestinians.

Armenian Genocide, Turkey

• It happened between 1915-22, during 1st World

War.

• News Context: US President to formally

acknowledge Armenian Genocide.

o Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day:

April 24.

Economy

Inflation Targeting

• It is a central banking policy that revolves around

adjusting monetary policy to achieve a specified

annual rate of inflation.

• It is for long-term economic growth, which is

achieved by maintaining price stability.

• 2016 Amendment to RBI Act, 1934:

o It provides Inflation target to be set by the

Government in consultation with RBI,

once in 5 years.

• Current Inflation Target:

o 4% CPI inflation as the target for the

period from 2016 to 2021.

o Upper limit of 6%.

o Lower Limit of 2%.

Harmonized System of Nomenclature Code (HSN)/

Harmonized System (HS)

• It is a 6-digit identification code.

• It is developed by World Customs Organization

(WCO).

• It is called ‘Universal Economic Language’ for

goods.

• It is a multipurpose international product

nomenclature.

• The system currently comprises of around 5,000

commodity groups.

Significance:






• It makes customs tariffs, gathering international

trade statistics, making trade policies, monitoring

goods easy.

• It helps in harmonize customs and trade

procedures, reduces costs in international trade.

News Context:

• It is mandatory for GST taxpayer to have more

than Rs 5 crore in preceding financial year, to get

6 digits HSN Code.

Digital Currency Electronic Payment (DCEP) (Digital

RMB/ Renminbi)

• It is China’s digital currency.

• It can be downloaded and exchanged via an

application authorized by People’s Bank of

China.

Features of Digital Currency:

• It is a legal tender guaranteed by central bank, not

a payment guaranteed by a 3rd party operator.

• There is no 3rd party transaction, hence, no

transaction fee.

• This digital currency does not require Internet

connectivity.

• The payment is made through Near-field

Communication (NFC) technology.

Public Debt

• It is total amount borrowed by Government of a

country.

• It includes total liabilities of government that

have to be paid from Consolidated Fund.

o It excludes liabilities contracted against

Public Account.

o As per Article 292.

• There are Internal and External debt.

• Sources of Public Debt:

o Dated government securities or G-secs.

o Treasury Bills or T-bills.

o External Assistance.

o Short term borrowings.

• News Context: According to Moody’s Investors

Service:

o India’s public debt level is among

highest in emerging economies.

National Start-up Advisory Council (NSAC)

• It is constituted by Department for Promotion of

Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT).

• It advises Government on:

o To create an ecosystem for innovation

and start-ups.

o To drive sustainable economic growth.

o To generate large scale employment

opportunities.

• Organization:

o Chairman: Commerce & Industry

Minister.

o Non-Official members: Nominated by

Government.

o Members: Not below rank of Joint

Secretary.

Asset Reconstruction Company (ARC)

• It is a specialized financial institution that buys

Non-Performing Assets (NPAs) from banks and

financial institutions.

o So that they can clean up their balance

sheets.

• Banks need not to go after defaulters.

o They can sell bad assets to ARCs at a

mutually agreed value.

• Note: ARCs are registered under RBI.

• News Context: RBI has set up Sudarshan Sen

Committee to undertake a comprehensive review

of (ARCs).

AIM-PRIME (Program for Researchers on Innovations,

Market-Readiness & Entrepreneurship)

• It is launched by Atal Innovation Mission with

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

• It is to promote science-based deep-tech startups

& ventures across India.

Means Advances (WMA) Scheme, 1997

• It put end to old system of Temporary Treasury

Bills to finance Government deficit.

Ways and Means Advances

• They are temporary loan facilities provided by

RBI to Government.

• It fulfils temporary gaps between revenue and

expenditure.

• Government makes interest payment to RBI,

when it borrows money.

o Interest rate is same as Repo rate.

• limits for WMA are mutually decided by RBI

and Government.

• News Context: RBI to continue with existing

WMA scheme limit.

o Increased limit comes when government

expenditure can rise.

Health

MANAS (Mental Health and Normalcy Augmentation

System)

• It is a national program by PM’s Science,

Technology, Innovation Advisory Council (PM-

STIAC).

• It is national digital wellbeing platform.

• It is to check mental well-being of Indian citizens.

CoWIN

• It is a cloud-based IT solution for:

o Planning, Implementation.

o Monitoring, Evaluation of Covid-19

vaccination in India.

• Co-WIN platform comes under Health Ministry.






Art & Culture

Uruka

• A day before Magh Bihu is known as Uruka.

• Last day of Poush month as per Assamese

calendar.

• Bihu is a set of 3 important Assamese festivals,

which includes:

o Rongali or Bohag Bihu in April.

o Kongali or Kati Bihu in October.

o Bhogali or Magh Bihu in January.

Places of worship Act, 1991

• Covered in The Hindu.

International Day for Monuments and Sites, 18th April

• It is marked by UN.

• It is also known World Heritage Day.

• Theme: “Complex Pasts: Diverse Futures”.

• It is promoted by International Council on

Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS).

Dekho Apna Desh

• This Webinar Series is an effort to showcase

India’s rich diversity under Ek Bharat Shreshtha

Bharat.

• News Context: Tourism Ministry organised

webinar on Khajuraho under Dekho Apna Desh.

Dadasaheb Phalke Award, 1969

• It is presented annually at National Film Awards

for outstanding contribution to the growth and

development of Indian Cinema.

• It is set up by Information and Broadcasting

Ministry.

• The award is to commemorate Dadasaheb Phalke's,

known as ‘Father of Indian cinema’.

• News Context: 2019 Award: Rajinikanth.

Society

Stand-Up India Scheme

• It is to promote entrepreneurship at the grass-root

level among women, SC, ST.

• Eligibility under this Scheme:

o SC/ST and/or women entrepreneurs,

above 18 years.

o Loans are available for only Greenfield

project.

o Borrower should not be in default to any

bank or financial institution.

My Body is My Own

• It is a report launched by UN Population Fund’s

(UNFPA).

• It is 1st UN report to focus on bodily autonomy.

• Bodily Autonomy

o Power to make choices about your body

without fear of violence or having

someone else decide for you.

United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) (UN Fund for

Population Activities), 1969:

• It is an UN sexual and reproductive health

agency.

• It improves reproductive and maternal health

worldwide.

• It includes:

o Developing national healthcare strategies

and protocols.

o Increasing access to birth control.

o Leading campaigns against child marriage.






o Gender-based violence.

o Obstetric Fistula.

o Female genital mutilation.

Plea to Decriminalize Begging

• The plea refers 2018 verdict of Delhi HC.

o Which had decriminalized begging in

capital.

• It used Bombay Prevention of Begging Act, 1959.

o Which treats begging as an offence and

against constitutional scrutiny.

Gender Samvaad

• It is a joint attempt between:

o Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National

Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-

NRLM).

o Initiative for What Works to Advance

Women and Girls in the Economy

(IWWAGE).

• It is to create a common platform to share

experiences emerging from this effort.

• It is to generate awareness on gender related

interventions.

Enviornment, Geography & maps

Desert Dust and Indian Summer Monsoon

• Dust is known to influence monsoons, hurricanes

and fertilize rainforests.

• Dust coming from deserts in the West, Central

and East Asia plays important role in Indian

Summer Monsoon.

Reverse effect

• Indian Summer Monsoon has a reverse effect and

can increase winds in West Asia to produce yet

more dust.

• Dust from desert when lifted by strong winds can

absorb solar radiation and become hot.

• This can cause following phenomena:

o Heating of Atmosphere, Change Air

Pressure.

o Wind Circulation Patterns, Influence

Moisture Transport.

o Increase Precipitation and Rainfall.

• A strong monsoon can also transport air to West

Asia and again pick up a lot of dust.

• Not just the dust from the Middle East (West

Asia), Iranian Plateau also influences Indian

Summer Monsoon.

o Hot air over Iranian Plateau can heat

atmosphere over plateau.

• It can strengthen the circulation over Arabian

Peninsula deserts and increase dust emission

from West Asia.

Mahendragiri Biosphere Reserve

• Odisha has proposed this to be 2nd Biosphere

Reserve of state.

• The 1st is Simlipal Biosphere.

Forest (Conservation) Act (FCA), 1980

• It regulates deforestation in India.

• It prohibits felling of forests for any ‘non-

forestry’ use without prior clearance by Centre.

• Clearance process includes consent from locals

and from wildlife authorities.

• Centre can reject or allow such requests with legal

boundation.

• News Context:

o Environment Ministry has proposed some

amendments FCA.

Draft Amendments:

• To grant exemptions to railways, roads, tree

plantations, oil exploration, wildlife tourism,

strategic projects in forests.

• To empower states to lease forest land to private

individuals and corporations.

• To create ‘no-go’ areas, where specific projects

would not be allowed.

• Issue and concerns:

o It would violate provisions of

Godavarman vs UOI, 1996.

o Other common environment concerns.

Heat Waves

• It is considered when:

o Maximum temperature touches at least 40

degrees Celsius or more for plains.

o 37 degrees Celsius or more for coastal

regions.

o At least 30 degrees Celsius or more for

hilly regions.

Criteria

• Heatwave is declared when:

o Departure from normal temperature is by

4.5 to 6.4 degrees Celsius.

• Severe Heatwave is when:

o Departure from normal is more than 6.4

degrees Celsius.

News Context: Heat wave conditions over Rajasthan,

Vidarbha, interior Tamil Nadu.






Boosting yield From Poppy/Opium

• News Context: Government has decided to rope

opium in private sector.

• It is to increase production of concentrated

poppy from India’s opium crop to boost yield of

alkaloids.

• Alkaloids: They are used for medical purposes.

• Few countries are permitted to cultivate opium

for export and extraction of alkaloids.

• India only extracts alkaloids from opium gum

under control of Revenue Department.

• Farmers extract gum by manually lancing opium

pods and sell it to Government factories.

Red sea (Erythraean Sea)

• It is between Africa and Asia.

• Salinity of Red Sea is greater than world

average, 4%.

• This is due to several factors:

o Lack of significant rivers draining into

sea.

o Limited connection with Indian Ocean,

which has lower water salinity.

o High rate of evaporation and very little

precipitation.

Indian Ocean Humpback Dolphins

• Protection Status:

o IUCN: Endangered.

o CITES: Appendix I.

• Habitation: Indian Ocean.

Ganga and Irawadi Dolphins

• Covered in The Hindu and PT 360.

Indo- Pacific Bottlenose Dolphins


o IUCN status: Near Threatened.

• Habitation: India, Northern Australia, South

China, Red Sea, Eastern African coast.

Doomsday Glacier (Thwaites Glacier), Antarctica

• It has a size of 1.9 lakh square km.

• It contains enough water to raise world sea level

by half metre.

• Concern: Melting of this Glacier.

Seroja

• It is a tropical cyclone formed near western

Australian coast.

• Seroja means lotus in Indonesian.

Umngot River, Meghalaya

• It is India’s clearest river.

• It is a natural boundary between Jaintia Hills and

Khasi Hills.






Indian Rhino Vision 2020 (IRV 2020), 2005

• It is an initiative of Assam, WWF India,

International Rhino Foundation etc.

• It is to increase Rhino population in Assam to

3,000.

• Rhinos found in 4 Protected Areas in Assam:

o Pabitora Wildlife Reserve.

o Rajiv Gandhi Orang National Park.

o Kaziranga National Park, Manas National

Park.

One- horned rhinos (Indian Rhinos):

• It is largest rhino species.


o IUCN: Vulnerable.

o CITES: Appendix I

o Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule

I

• News Context: 2 one-horned rhinos translocated

from Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary to Manas

National Park, under this Vision.

Monkey Dactyl (Kunpengopterus Antipollicatus)

• It is a flying reptile with the ‘oldest opposable

thumbs’.

• New pterosaur fossil was discovered in Liaoning,

China.

• They were close cousins of dinosaurs.

• Opposable Thumb:

o It can simultaneously flex, abduct and

rotate thumb.

o In a way that tip of thumb could touch

tips of other fingers.

Cholistan Desert, Pakistan

• News Context: Shooting of 2 Great Indian

Bustards (GIBs).

• Great Indian Bustrad: Covered in PT 360 and

The Hindu.






Climate Vulnerability Assessment for Adaptation

Planning in India Using a Common Framework Report

• It identifies most vulnerable states and districts

in India.

o With respect to current climate risk and

key drivers of vulnerability.

• It has identified following states highly vulnerable

to climate change:

o Jharkhand, Mizoram, Orissa.

o Chhattisgarh, Assam, Bihar.

o Arunachal Pradesh, West Bengal.

Earth Day, April 22

• 2021 theme: Restore Our Earth.

• It was 1st observed in 1970.

• Note: Paris Agreement was signed on Earth Day,

2016.

Codex Committee on Spices and Culinary Herbs

(CCSCH), 2013

• It elaborates worldwide standards for spices and

culinary herbs.

• It consults with other international organizations

for standards development process to avoid

duplication.

• Host Country: India.

• Secretariat: Spices Board (Commerce and

Industry Ministry).

• News Context: Its 5th session was inaugurated by

FSSAI.

Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC), 1963:

• It is an intergovernmental body.

• It was established by:

o Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).

o WHO.

• It was within framework of Joint Food

Standards Programme.

• Secretariat: FAO Headquarters, Rome.

• It protects health of consumers and ensures

fair practices in food trade.

• Members: 189.

Food & Nutrition

Production-linked Incentive Scheme

• It is a scheme for food processing industry.

Objectives:

• To creation of global food manufacturing.

• To strengthen Indian brand of food products

for wider acceptance in international markets.

• To create employment opportunities for off-

farm jobs.

• To ensure remunerative prices of farm

produce and higher income to farmers.

Significance:

• It includes ready-to-cook and ready-to-eat

foods.

• processed fruits and vegetables, marine products.

• Organic products, Poultry.

MACS 1407

• It is a high-yielding and pest-resistant variety of

soybean.

• Suitable Cultivation States:

o Assam, West Bengal, Jharkhand,

Chhattisgarh, North-Eastern states.

• It was developed using conventional Cross

Breeding Technique.

Science & Technology

Baikal-GVD (Gigaton Volume Detector)

• It is one of 3 largest Neutrino Detectors in the

world.

o Other 2 are: Ice-Cube at South Pole.

o ANTARES in Mediterranean Sea.

• Aim: To study elusive fundamental particles

called neutrinos and to determine their sources.

Neutrinos:

• They are 2nd most widely occurring particle in

universe, only 2nd to photons.

• The particle which makes up light.

• News Context: Russia launched underwater

neutrino telescopes.

o It is launched in Lake Baikail, world’s

deepest lake in Siberia.

Rapid Diagnosis of Dengue

• IIT Delhi have developed a handheld Surface

Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS).

• It is for early diagnosis of dengue and gives

dengue test results within an hour.

• Conventional diagnostic tools like nucleic acid

detection using Reverse Transcriptase

Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) is a time-

taking process.

• It also requires expensive equipment.






Plasma Therapy

• Plasma is liquid part of blood.

• Convalescent plasma, extracted from patients’

blood recovering from an infection, is a source

of antibodies against infection.

• This therapy involves using their plasma to help

others recover.

• For Covid-19, this has been one of the treatment

options.

• The donor has to be a documented case of Covid-

19 and healthy for 28 days since last symptoms.

African Swine Fever (ASF)

• It is a highly contagious and fatal animal disease.

• It infects domestic and wild pigs, as mortality is

close to 100%.

• It is typically resulting in an acute form of

hemorrhagic fever.

• It was 1st detected in Africa in 1920s.

• It has no cure, besides killing the animals.

• It is not a threat to humans, as it spreads from

animals to animals.

• News Context: ASF has killed 276 domestic pigs

in Mizoram.

B.1.617

• It is Double mutant strain of COVID-19.

• Besides this, other mutants in India are E484Q and

L425R.

Mutation:

• It means a difference, a change in genome.

• It means change in sequence in which its

molecules are arranged.

• Mutations in viruses are a natural part of

evolution.

Brucellosis

• It is a zoonotic infection caused by bacteria of

genus Brucella.

o Infection can spread from animals to

humans.

• Most commonly through consumption of raw or

un-pasteurized dairy products.

Sulfur Dioxide (SO2)

• Largest source of SO2 is burning of fossil fuels

by power plants and other industrial facilities.

• Smaller sources of SO2 emissions include:

o Industrial processes such as extracting

metal from ore.

• Natural sources such as:

o Volcanoes, Locomotives, ships and other

vehicles.

o Heavy equipment that burn fuel with a

high sulfur content.

• News Context:

o SO2 emissions from a volcanic eruption

in Caribbean (La Soufriere volcano)

reached India.






Whitest Ever’ Paint

• This ultra-white paint is made up of barium

sulphate, which makes it whiter.

• This paint can keep surfaces 19 degrees

Fahrenheit cooler than surroundings.

Temperature Determining Sex in some Reptile and Fish

Embryos

• Bearded dragon embryos (Lizards) can use 2

different sets of genes to become a female lizard.

o One is activated by sex chromosomes.

o Other is activated by high temperatures

during development.

• It is called temperature-dependent sex

determination.

o It was discovered in 1960s.

• Male bearded dragons have ZZ sex

chromosomes.

• While females have ZW sex chromosomes.

• However, hot temperatures can override ZZ sex

chromosomes.

o It can cause male lizard to develop as a

female.

Ingenuity

• It is a tiny Helicopter flew successfully by NASA.

• It is 1st powered flight on another planet.

MOXIE Aboard Perseverance

• It is a 6 wheeled science rover.

• It is Mars Oxygen In-Situ Resource Utilization

Experiment.

• NASA has extracted O2 from CO2 in thin

Martian atmosphere.

• Unprecedented extraction of O2 on Mars was

achieved by this device.

Security

Exercise Shantir Ogroshena 2021

• It is a multinational military exercise in

Bangladesh.

• Occasion: Birth centenary of Bangladesh ‘Father

of the Nation’ Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur

Rahman.

• Countries Participated: India, Bangladesh,

Bhutan, Sri Lanka.

• Observers: USA, UK, Russia, Turkey, Saudi

Arabia, Kuwait, Singapore.

• Other Exercises involving Bangladesh and

India:

o Sampriti (Army).

o Table-Top (Airforce).

o IN-BN Corpat (Navy).

Joint Logistic Hub (Joint Logistic Node: JLN)

• It will provide integrated logistics cover to

Armed Forces for:

o Small Arms Ammunition, Rations, Fuel,

General Stores, Civil hired transport,

Clothing, Spares.

• News Context:

o 3rd JLN is operationalized in Mumbai

after Guwahati and Port Blair.

La Perouse

• It is a multilateral maritime exercise conducted in

Eastern Indian Ocean Region.

• It is led by French Navy.

• Participants: India, France, USA, Japan, Australia.

• Note: INS Satpura, INS Kiltan, P8I Long Range

Maritime Patrol Aircraft are participating.

o Another Indo-French Naval Exercise:

Varuna

Civil Defence Volunteers/ Personnel

• They work under command of District

Magistrates.

• Overall command lies with divisional

commissioner, to which the DMs report.

• They are governed by Civil Defense Act, 1968.

Issue:

• Role of these volunteers has come under scrutiny.

o Because of being lauded for their work

during pandemic of facing allegations of

high-handedness.

• News Context:






o Delhi Police issued a statement, that civil

defense personnel, have no power to

stop people using police barricades.

o They cannot prosecute them for violation

of Covid-19 appropriate behaviour such

as not wearing masks.

Exercise Varuna

• It is an Indo-French naval exercise, held annually.

Trends in Global Military Expenditure Report

• It is released by Stockholm International Peace

Research Institute (SIPRI).

• 5 biggest spenders in 2020 are:

o USA, China, India, Russia, UK.

• SIPRI, 1966:

o It is an independent international

institute dedicated to research into:

o Conflict, Armaments, Arms Control,

Disarmament.

Miscellaneous

Vaccine Wastage

• It is an expected component of any large

vaccination drive.

• Guidelines by the Centre to States:

o To maintain vaccine wastage at less

than 1% (At present, its 6%).

o To review wastage regularly across all

levels.

o To utilize the vaccines on time before it

gets expired.

Chenab Bridge

• It is world’s highest Railway Bridge, constructed

in J&K.

• It is part of Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla rail

link project (USBRL).

• Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla rail link project

(USBRL):

o It connects Kashmir with rest of the

Country.

o The project comes under Northern

railway.

Global Youth Mobilization Local Solutions Campaign,

2021

• It is launched by UN agencies and youth

organisations.

• It is to involve world youth in building their lives

impacted by coronavirus disease.

Gender Bias and Inclusion in Advertising in India

• It is a study on Gender in Media released by:

o UNICEF.

o Geena Davis Institute.

Issue related to India in Report:

• Female representation dominates in Indian ads.

• They are still marginalized by:

o Colorism, Hyper-sexualisation.

o Without Careers or Aspirations.

• Misrepresentation and harmful stereotypes of

women in advertising.

Chandler Good Government Index (CGGI)

• It measures capabilities and effectiveness of 104

governments in world.

• It is published by Chandler Institute of

Governance (CIG).

• CIG is an international non-profit organisation.

• Headquarter: Singapore.

• Index focuses on 7 pillars:

o Leadership and foresight, Robust Laws

and Policies.

o Strong Institutions, Financial Stewardship.

o Attractive Marketplace, Global Influence

and Reputation.

o Helping people Rise.

World Press Freedom Index

• It is released by Media Watchdog Group

Reporters Without Borders.

• t is based on an evaluation of media freedom that

measures:

o Pluralism, Media independence.






o Quality of legal framework.

o Safety of journalists.

• It also includes indicators of the level of media

freedom violations in each region.

• Note: Norway topped for 5th time.

o India ranked 142 out of 180.

National Internet Exchange of India (NIXI), 2003

• It is a not-for-profit organization.

• It spreads internet infrastructure to people.

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the hindu and indian express in 5 minutes april 2021

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