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TTTeeeaaammm CCCuuurrrrrreeennnttt AAAffffffaaaiiirrrsss OOOnnnlllyyy This Edition of magazine is contribution and hard work of our team who gave their best efforts in all

perspective. We express our gratitude to all our team members and thankful to all the advisors for

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▪ Editor-in-Chief Sandeep Sajwan ▪ Advisory Board Dr. M.K Laxman, Prof. Vinod Jain, Shri Vijay Pal, IPS, Manish Singh

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CONTENTS

EESL launches $454 million ‘Creating and

Sustaining Markets for Energy Efficiency’

project in partnership with the GEF .................. 3

Cabinet approves amendment in the National

Council for Teacher Education Act, 1993........... 4

Launch of Food Regulatory Portal Announced –

World Food India 2017 ..................................... 5

Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) ................ 8

7th Asian Ministerial Energy Roundtable in

Bangkok – INTERNATIONAL ENERGY FORUM ... 9

Various schemes and programs initiated by the

Government to achieve the target of Doubling

of Farmers’ Income by 2022 ........................... 11

Indo – Kazakhstan Joint Exercise “PRABAL

DOSTYK 2017” Begins ..................................... 12

Bureau of Indian Standard celebrates 48th

World Standards Day ..................................... 12

DRDO Successfully Test Fires Smart Anti-Airfield

Weapon (SAAW) System ................................ 13

SDG4-Education 2030: Strengthening

Accountability in the Implementation of SDG4’

in the 39th General Conference of UNESCO in

Paris ............................................................... 13

Deen Dayal SPARSH Yojana ............................ 14

Coastal Berth Scheme..................................... 16

International Conference – ‘FIPSPHYSIOCON

2017’ .............................................................. 16

India Pitches for Strong Pre-2020 Climate Action

by Developed Countries .................................. 18

India Pavilion Launched at Cop 23 in Bonn

“Conserving Now, Preserving Future” is India’s

Theme ............................................................ 19

SHe-Box Online Complaint Management System

for working women to lodge complaints of

sexual harassment at workplace .................... 21

NDMA conducts brainstorming session on use

of UAVs in Disaster Management ................... 21

CZT Imager of AstroSat measures first phase

resolved X-ray polarisation of Crab pulsar ...... 22

Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI)

strengthens its Due Diligence Framework under

the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 .... 24

2nd meeting of Island Development Agency

(IDA) .............................................................. 25

India’s Second Technology and Innovation

Support Center (TISC) ..................................... 25

Centre approves creation of National Testing

Agency ........................................................... 26

2nd Meeting of EAC-PM focuses on Job

Creation, Social Sector and Infrastructure ...... 28

Cabinet approves appointment of Second

National Judicial Pay Commission for

Subordinate Judiciary in the country .............. 29

India Youth Development Index and Report

2017 .............................................................. 29

Railway Minister gives directions for

“comprehensive training programme” for all

employees of Indian Railways to boost

productivity & efficiency ................................ 31

AADI MAHOTSAV Festival .............................. 31

300 Cyber security experts to attend first ever

Asia Pacific Computer Emergency Response

Team (Apcert) Conference ............................. 33

Hunar Haat .................................................... 33

India’s Positive Actions at Ministerial Press

Conference of BASIC Countries at COP 23....... 34

Asia Pacific Cert (APCERT) Discuss Building Trust

in Digital Economy ......................................... 35

Cabinet approves the establishment of the

National Anti-profiteering Authority under GST

...................................................................... 36

Cabinet approves Continuation of sub-schemes

under Umbrella Scheme “Integrated Child

PIB Compilation Volume 11: November 2017

www.currentaffairsonly.com EG Classes (Mukherjee Nagar)

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Development Services (ICDS)” for the period till

November, 2018 ............................................. 38

India to Host Global Conference on Cyber Space

2017: A Giant Leap Towards a Secure and

Inclusive Cyberspace....................................... 39

‘Saubhagya’ Web-Portal – a Platform for

Monitoring Universal Household Electrification

...................................................................... 40

South Asia Regional Training and Technical

Assistance Center (SARTTAC)- IMF .................. 41

International Committee of Military Medicine

(ICMM)........................................................... 42

Moscow declaration ....................................... 43

Aadhaar Data is Never Breached or Leaked:

UIDAI ............................................................. 44

Nagaland, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Dadra

& Nagar Haveli & Daman & Diu sign MoU with

Government of India under UDAY Scheme ...... 44

Logistics Sector granted Infrastructure Status 45

North East Development Summit ................... 47

Manipur Sangai Festival 2017 ........................ 48

Pradhan Mantri Mahila Shakti Kendra'........... 49

42nd International Committee on Military

Medicine World Congress ............................... 50

Cabinet approves India’s Membership for

European Bank for Reconstruction &

Development .................................................. 50

Cabinet approves expansion of umbrella

scheme “Mission For Protection And

Empowerment For Women” and introducing a

new scheme ‘ Pradhan Mantri Mahila Shakti

Kendra’ .......................................................... 52

Cabinet approves continuation of the scheme

on Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs beyond

the 12th Plan Period ...................................... 54

Brahmos Flight test from IAF’s Su-30MKI fighter

aircraft .......................................................... 55

Pradhan Mantri Khanij Kshetra Kalyan Yojana

(PMKKKY) ...................................................... 55

Defence of Andaman & Nicobar Islands Exercise

(DANX-17) ..................................................... 56

Cabinet Secretary Chairs the first meeting of

Prabhari Officers for Rapid transformation of

115 Backward Districts .................................. 57

Rajnath to chair meet on Centre-State relations

...................................................................... 58

36th International Geological Congress ......... 59

National Law Day .......................................... 60

Program to train Elected Women

Representatives of PRIs .................................. 61

INSPIRE 2017 ................................................. 63

International Multilateral Maritime Search and

Rescue Exercise (IMMSAREX) ......................... 64

Global Entrepreneurship Summit 2017........... 64

Health Ministry and ICMR launch India

Hypertension Management Initiative (IHMI) .. 65

Skill India partners with Airbnb to Upskill

Hospitality Entrepreneurs .............................. 67

15th finance commission ............................... 67

Practice Questions for UPSC Prelims Exam

based on PIB .................................................. 69



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EESL launches $454 million ‘Creating and Sustaining Markets for Energy Efficiency’ project in partnership with the GEF

{Energy}

In news

Global Environment Facility (GEF) has now partnered with Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL), under Ministry of Power, for the project ‘Creating and Sustaining Markets for Energy Efficiency’.

• The project will receive a composite funding of $454 million comprised of the GEF grant of $20 million and co-financing of $434 million in the form of loans and equity, including a $200 million loan from the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

Key facts

• The EERF mechanism will support the ‘proof of concept’ investments for the new technologies of super-efficient ceiling fans, tri-generation technologies & smart grid-applications and ultimately scaling up energy efficiency financing and programme development to help cover initial investment costs of identified energy efficiency programmes like street lighting, domestic lighting, five-star rated ceiling fans and agricultural pumps, in the country.

• This unique model will help in addressing the upfront risks of new technologies. Further, the accrued savings from these technologies can then be used to finance additional projects, which would allow capital to revolve as a sustainable funding mechanism.

• The GEF project further brings together many technical and financing partners including United Nations which aims to mitigate 60 million tons of CO2 eq (carbon dioxide equivalent), that will enable a total direct energy savings of 38.3 million GJ by 2022 and 137.5 million GJ by 2032.

• The funding announcement was made at the launch of the GEF-6 fund which supports two projects – ‘Creating Markets for Energy Efficiency’ and ‘District Energy in Cities

Global Environment Fund

Global Environment Fund (GEF) is a global alternative asset manager established in 1990 that has grown into one of the leading investment firms dedicated to the energy, environmental, and natural resources sectors.

• The Global Environment Facility (GEF) was established on the eve of the 1992 Rio Earth Summit to help tackle our planet’s most pressing environmental problems.

• Since then, the GEF has provided over $17 billion in grants and mobilized an additional $88 billion in financing for more than 4000 projects in 170 countries.



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• Today, the GEF is an international partnership of 183 countries, international institutions, civil society organizations and the private sector that addresses global environmental issues.

EESL: (Energy Efficiency Services Limited)

• Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) is a joint venture of four National Public Sector Undertakings – NTPC Limited, Power Finance Corporation Limited, Rural Electrification Corporation Limited and POWERGRID Corporation of India Limited, set up under Ministry of Power, Government of India.

• EESL is a Super Energy Service Company (ESCO). • It acts as the resource center for capacity building for State Distribution Companies (DISCOMs),

Energy Regulatory Commissions (ERCs), State Development Authorities (SDAs), upcoming ESCOs, financial institutions, etc.

• EESL’s energy efficient appliances and technologies have saved India over 35 billion kWh energy annually.

• As South Asia’s first and foremost energy efficiency leader, EESL leads the market-related activities of the National Mission for Enhanced Energy Efficiency (NMEEE), one of the 8 national missions under the Prime Minister’s National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC).

Implementing the world’s largest energy efficiency portfolio

• Street Lighting National Programme (SLNP): World’s largest street light replacement programme • Unnat Jyoti by Affordable LEDs for All(UJALA): World’s largest zero-subsidy domestic LED bulb

programme • World’s largest Agricultural Demand Side Management programme (AgDSM)

Cabinet approves amendment in the National Council for Teacher Education Act, 1993

{Education}

The Union Cabinet has given its approval for introduction of a Bill in Parliament to amend the National Council for Teacher Education Act, 1993, namely the National Council for Teacher Education (Amendment) Act, 2017 to grant retrospective recognition to the Central/State/Universities who are found to be conducting teacher education courses without NCTE permission. NCTE Act, 2017



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• The amendment seeks to grant retrospective recognition to the Central/State/Union Territory funded Institutions/Universities conducting Teacher Education Courses without NCTE recognition till the academic year 2017-2018.

• The amendment will make students studying in these Institutions/Universities, or already passed out from here, eligible for employment as a teacher. With a view to achieve above mentioned benefits, Deptt. of School Education & Literacy, Ministry of Human Resource Development has brought about this amendment.

• All institutions running Teacher Education Courses such as B.Ed. and D.El.Ed. have to obtain recognition from the National Council for Teacher Education under section 14 of the NCTE Act. Further, the courses of such recognised Institutions/Universities have to be permitted under section 15, of the NCTE Act.

Background

The NCTE Act, 1993 came into force on 1st July, 1995 and is applicable throughout the country, except the State of Jammu and Kashmir.

The main objective of the Act Is to provide for the establishment of a NCTE

• To achieve planned and coordinated development of the teacher education system, • Regulation and ensure proper maintenance of norms and standards in the said system. • In order to achieve the objectives of the Act, separate provisions have been, made in the Act, for

recognising Teacher Education courses and to lay down guidelines for compliance by recognized Institutions/Universities.

Launch of Food Regulatory Portal Announced – World Food India 2017

{Business & Economy}

In news

World Food India 2017 Expo, as India gets ready to host its biggest food event aiming to transform the food economy and double farmers’ income.

• As global and Indian food companies prepare to explore business opportunities in India at World Food India 2017, MoFPI and FSSAI, the apex Regulatory body for Food Safety in India announced a powerful new tool called ‘the Food Regulatory Portal.’



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• Planned as a single interface for food businesses to cater to both domestic operations and food imports, this portal would be a game changer for effective and transparent implementation of the food safety laws in the country.

• Aiming to create an enabling environment for businesses to operate, the portal is strategically aligned with Government’s mission of One Nation, One Food Law.

World Food India 2017

What would government do with investments?

The government is planning to reduce agricultural waste by revolutionising the food processing industry over a period of India.

The country wasted food worth Rs 92,000 crore every year, which makes up about 40% of total production.

What food processing is?

• Food processing istransforming cooked or perishable food ingredients, by physical or chemical processes, to make it marketable and for longer usage.

• Food processing makes the food into products that easily prepared and served by the consumer. Food processing typically involves activities such as mincing and macerating, liquefaction, emulsification, cooking, pickling, pasteurization, preservation and canning.

How it will help India?

• India allows 100% Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in food processing industry. Of the expected $10 billion investment, Rs 65,000 crore private investment has already been committed.

• The investments will be used to build food processing industries in the country, which will subsequently build synergy between farmer, consumer and industry.

About World Food India

A global event to facilitate partnerships between Indian and international businesses and investors, World Food India (WFI) is a gateway to the Indian food economy and an opportunity to showcase, connect, and collaborate. Organized by the Ministry of Food Processing Industries, Government of India, WFI will be the largest gathering of investors, manufacturers, producers, food processors, policy makers, and organizations from the global food ecosystem.



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Why INDIA?

It aims to provides opportunities for both investment and trade in the food processing sector for leading Indian and international companies. Encompassing the entire food spectrum from production to consumption, WFI is looking at creating a better sourcing environment, thereby enabling higher returns for farmers, creating employment, and fostering entrepreneurship. With a massive food market that is fast-expanding, exciting growth in the retail sector, and attractive economic policies and fiscal incentives, India’s food ecosystem is the place to be in.

Advantage India

• Among fastest growing economies in the world. • Largest producer of several agricultural commodities. • 3 Billion consumers with increasing demand for branded food. • 4th largest economy in terms of purchasing parity. • Proactive government policies with attractive fiscal incentives. • Significant investments in world class ports, logistics and supply chain infrastructure. • Rich demographic dividend with high focus on skill development, availability of skilled personnel. • Opportunity for investors across the food processing supply chain.

A favourable economic and business environment

• India’s GDP growth in 2016 stood at 7.6%. • Large skilled workforce. • 100% FDI through automatic route in food processing. • 100% FDI in retail marketing, including through e-commerce, of food products that are produced and

/ or manufactured in India. • Proactive policy support. • Single-window clearance.

The advantage of Food Processing Sector in India

• India ranks 2nd in terms of total food production globally • Indian ranks 1st in the world in terms of production of milk, bananas, mangoes, guavas, papayas,

ginger and okra • India ranks 2nd in the world in production of green peas, potatoes, tea, tomato, sesame and many

other key commodities



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• The food processing sector ranks 1st in terms of employment and number of factories in operation and 3rd in terms of output

• The industry has witnessed a growth 7.1% during 2013-14, much higher that the growth in agriculture sector and at par with the manufacturing sector

• Strategic geographic location and proximity to food-importing nations makes India favorable for the export of processed foods

• The sector has a total of 37,175 registered units with fixed capital of nearly USD 24 Billion and aggregate output of around USD 114 Billion. Major industries constituting the food processing sector are grains, sugar, edible oils, beverages and dairy products

Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY)

{Agriculture Policy}

In news To make farming a remunerative profession, the government on Wednesday approved changes to ongoing central scheme Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) with a focus on value chain, post-harvest infrastructure and agri-entrepreneur development, among others. Now, the scheme has been rebranded as RKVY-Remunerative Approaches for Agriculture and Allied sector Rejuvenation (RAFTAAR) to be implemented for three years till 2019-20. Highlights

• RKVY is a continuing scheme under implementation from XI Five Year Plan. • RKVY – RAFTAAR scheme will incentivize States in enhancing more allocation to Agriculture and

Allied Sectors. • It will provide considerable flexibility and autonomy to states in planning and executing programmes

for investment in agriculture and allied sectors. • The funds would be provided to the States as 60:40 grants between Centre and States (90:10 for

North Eastern States and Himalayan States). • It will also strengthen farmer’s efforts through creation of agriculture infrastructure that help in supply

of quality inputs, market facilities etc. • It will further promote agri-entrepreneurship and support business models that maximize returns to

farmers. • Innovation and agri-entrepreneur development through creating end-to-end solution, skill development

and financial support for setting up the agri-enterprise -10% of annual outlay including 2% of administrative costs.



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RKVY-RAFTAAR funds would be provided to the States as 60:40 grants between Centre and States (90:10 for North Eastern States and Himalayan States) through the following streams Way ahead

• During XI Plan and XII Plan, States have taken over 13,000 projects in agriculture and allied sector through State Agriculture Department as Nodal Implementing Agency.

• The interim report of RKVY evaluation done by Institute of Economic Growth summarizes that the income emanating from agriculture measured as the agricultural state domestic product (AGSDP) is higher in the post-RKVY period than in the pre-RKVY period.

• Further, almost all the states registered higher value of output from agriculture and allied activities in the post-RKVY period. Continuation of RKVY-RAFTAAR will therefore keep the momentum of agriculture and allied sector growth.

7th Asian Ministerial Energy Roundtable in Bangkok – INTERNATIONAL ENERGY FORUM

{Energy}

In news

The 7th Asian Ministerial Energy Roundtable (AMER7) took place in Bangkok, Thailand from 1-3 November 2017. The Government of Thailand hosted this prestigious biennial event, which is a key feature of the global energy dialogue promoted under the neutral banner of the International Energy Forum.

In AMER7 Ministers will not only consider the benefits of embracing energy efficiency measures along the entire energy value chain, but also discuss the practical implications that energy transition pathways may have for a healthy and stable development of oil and gas markets The programme of AMER7 is structured around three key sessions that aim to focus on today’s most pertinent questions for energy security:

• What potential impacts may step-changes in technology and shifts in transition policy have on upstream investment in the short and longer-term; not only for unconventional and conventional resources, but also for oil market stability more broadly?

• To what extent can gas suppliers rely on policy and market levers to facilitate the role of gas as the fuel of choice in support of emerging clean energy technologies that in conjunction with other technologies, are expected to underpin sustainable growth and development in Asia and other regions?



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• How can long-term policy and technology cooperation help foster efficiency and productivity improvements to natural resource management and use, and shape supply chainsthat are fit the future?

Currently in India

• Coming to India, our gas uptake is less 6.5% of India’s primary energy basket against a global average of more than 24%. Government of India has envisioned to increase the share of natural gas in India’s energy mix to 15% by 2030

• India is currently the world’s fourth-largest importer of LNG, behind Japan, South Korea and China • Last year, India imported approximately 19 Million metric tons of LNG, an increase of around 15%

over the previous year. India also has domestic gas production of almost the same amount. Fertilizer, Power & City Gas Distribution are the three main sectors which contribute to the natural gas demand in India.

• In coming years, industrial sectors such as refinery and petrochemicals, ceramics and glass, cement, steel and sponge iron, paints and dyes, chemicals and auto manufacturing are expected to give a boost to natural gas demand in the country

• India to increase domestic production of gas and also to promote the usage of gas • Introduced pricing and marketing freedom for gas producers in future exploration bidding rounds. • India is developing a Natural Gas Trading Exchange where both imported LNG and domestically

produced gas can be traded.

Some of the schemes followed by India to distribution of Gas

• Under a scheme called Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, we have distributed 30 million LPG cooking gas connections to poor households with government subsidy.

• Multilateral organizations like the UN Women, the World Bank and others have shown great interest in our LPG schemes and delegations from several countries have approached us to know about our experience and initiatives.

• An initiative called Gas4Indiain collaboration with industry bodies. • Natural gas is the natural choice for green economy, and will complement our huge program of 175

Gigawatts of solar, wind and other renewable energy.

Gas4India

• Gas4India is a unified cross-country, multimedia, multi-event campaign aimed at promoting the use of natural gas in the country in order to move towards a gas-based economy.

• It will communicate the national, social, economic and ecological benefits of using natural gas as the fuel of choice to every citizen.



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• Public and private sector companies working in the sector will promote the natural gas sector under this campaign

7TH ASIAN MINISTERIAL ENERGY ROUNDTABLE- INTERNATIONAL ENERGY FORUM India is the current Chair of the IEF which is the largest inter-governmental organisation in the field of oil and gas comprising 72 member countries, accounting for 90% of global supply and demand of oil and gas. Members include developing, developed, OPEC, Non-OPEC and G20 countries. 18 of the G20 countries are members of IEF.

• The Government of Thailand will host this prestigious biennial event, which is a key feature of the global energy dialogue promoted under the neutral banner of the International Energy Forum.

Background

• In previous AMER events, IEF Ministers have recognised their interdependence and placed an emphasis on the need for trust and dialogue in building and sustaining partnerships.

• AMER6 was convened between the adoption of the United Nations Sustainable Development Agenda (UNSDA) 2030 and the Paris Agreement in 2015 to discuss Asian energy market dynamics.

• This culminated in the endorsement of a proposal by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to establish an Asian Energy Efficiency Knowledge Sharing Framework under the IEF that has since been adopted by the 2nd G20 Energy Ministers Meeting (Beijing, June 2016) and the IEF15 Ministerial (Algiers, September 2016).

• AMER7 will build upon these outcomes to strengthen established partnerships and forge new bonds accordingly. This event shall ultimately underpin the development of the increasingly complex and dynamic relationships between energy producers and consumers in Asia and beyond.

Various schemes and programs initiated by the Government to achieve the target of Doubling of Farmers’ Income by 2022

{Agriculture}

The Ministry is working towards achieving the goal. And to achieve this target, the Prime Minister has advocated a seven-point strategy:

• Special focus on irrigation with sufficient budget, with the aim of “Per Drop More Crop”. • Provision of quality seeds and nutrients based on soil health of each field. • Large investments in Warehousing and Cold Chains to prevent post-harvest crop losses. • Promotion of value addition through food processing. • Creation of a National Farm Market, removing distortions and e-platform across 585 Stations. • Introduction of a New Crop Insurance Scheme to mitigate risks at an affordable cost. • Promotion of ancillary activities like poultry, beekeeping, and fisheries.



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Government has launched a number of schemes and programs to Double Farmers’ Income • Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana, • Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, • Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana, • Soil Health Card, • Neem-Coated Urea and • e-NAM Schemes are few of our flagship programs that aim to improve the productivity and earnings

of our farmers.

Indo – Kazakhstan Joint Exercise “PRABAL DOSTYK 2017” Begins

{Defence}

A fourteen day joint training exercise “PRABAL DOSTYK – 2017” between the Indian Army and the Kazakhstan Army commenced today with the Opening Ceremony at Bakloh, Himachal Pradesh. The joint exercise is aimed at enhancing the military ties between the two countries as also at achieving interoperability between the two armies. The training contingents comprise of platoon strength from the 11th Gorkha Rifles of the Indian Army and a similar strength of the Kazakhstan Army.

Bureau of Indian Standard celebrates 48th World Standards Day

In news

Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Department of Consumer Affairs working on bringing Hallmarking regulations under the new BIS Act 2016 “Standards Make Cities Smarter” organized by BIS

• It Emphasis on the consumer protection that would get enhanced through new Consumer Protection and the BIS Act.

• The theme for this year’s World Standards Day “Standards Make Cities Smarter” was chosen collectively by International Organization for Standardization (ISO), International Electro Technical Commission (IEC) and International Telecommunication Union (ITU).

• Building a smart city is a highly complex task having its own challenges and standards are the only common denominator that can simplify this task.

• National Standards make the smart cities work safely and smoothly. Besides, it provides important guidance for all aspects of city life, including energy-efficient buildings, intelligent transportation, and improved waste management, thereby builds sustainable communities.



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• Department of Consumer Affairs, in his keynote address stressed on the changing scenario and the role Bureau of Indian Standards is playing in the national and international arena.

DRDO Successfully Test Fires Smart Anti-Airfield Weapon (SAAW) System

{Defence}

India successfully tested the Smart Anti-Airfield Weapon System or the SAAW system. SAAW

The SAAW is a lightweight high precision guided bomb designed to destroy ground targets, such as runways, bunkers, aircraft hangers and other reinforced structures.Weighing 120 kg (260 lb), it has deep penetration capabilities, carries a high explosive warhead

• The Smart Anti-Airfield Weapon is an indigenously designed and developed smart weapon. • It is developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). • The guided bomb which were released from the aircraft and guided through precision navigation

system, reached the targets at greater than 70 km range, with high accuracies, according to DRDO scientists.

• A total of three tests with different release conditions and ranges were conducted and all were successful.

• There are two variants of the guided bombs-Garuthmaa (winged version with range upto 100 kms) and the Garudaa (non winged with range of 30 kms to scalable upto 100 kms). The latter also has on board navigation and guidance systems.

SDG4-Education 2030: Strengthening Accountability in the Implementation of SDG4’ in the 39th General Conference of UNESCO in Paris

{Education}

In news

The latest Global Education Monitoring Report released recently points out that“at the global level, international commitments to finance the education sector, remains weak”. The Report indicates that “only 6 of 28 OECD-DAC countries met their commitment to allocate 0.7% of national income to aid.” Therefore, OECD developed countries must fulfil their commitment. Ultimately, investing in education is investing in peace and sustainable future.



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Highlights

• It involves accountability in financing of education on the part of both the development partners and individual countries.

• Accountability on the part of development partners relates to the commitment to enhance funding that is needed to implement SDG4-Education 2030 agenda.

• The latest Global Education Monitoring Report released recently points out that “at the global level, international commitments to finance the education sector,”.

• Accountability on the part of individual countries relate to the commitment to set nationally appropriate spending targets for education, mobilising financial resources and achieving in a progressive manner the international benchmarks of allocating at least 4% to 6% of gross domestic product (GDP) to education; and/or allocating at least 15% to 20% of public expenditure to education.

• Accountability on the part of individual countries also relates to efforts aimed at ensuring that the available funds are used efficiently and effectively.

Significance

• The Government of India recognises that achieving the education development goals and targets set in the context of SDG4-Education 2030 agenda requires increased and well-targeted financing and effective and efficient utilisation of allocated funds.

• Government of India is investing nearly 4.5 % of GDP on education, despite competing demands on resources.

• The Central and State/ UT governments have been making efforts to provide adequate and equitable financing to educational priorities. There has been a broad consensus that investment on education be gradually increased to reach a level of six per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

• Efforts are being made to step up the outlay on education by facilitating substantial increase in both public and private sector investment in education.

• Furthermore, improved coordination, monitoring and evaluation processes have been attempted to ensure that the available funds are used efficiently and effectively, and with measurable education outcomes and impacts for children and youth, especially in terms of attainment of expected learning outcomes.

Deen Dayal SPARSH Yojana

{Educational}



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In News

Minister of Communications Shri Manoj Sinha today launched a Pan India scholarship program for school children called Deen Dayal SPARSH Yojana to increase the reach of Philately. Key points

• Under the scheme of SPARSH (Scholarship for Promotion of Aptitude & Research in Stamps as a Hobby), it is proposed to award annual scholarships to children of Standard VI to IX having good academic record and also pursuing Philately as a hobby through a competitive selection process in all postal circles.

• It is proposed to award 920 scholarships to students pursuing Philately as a hobby. • Every Postal Circle will select a maximum of40 scholarships representing 10 students each from

Standard VI, VII, VIII & IX. The amount of Scholarship will be Rs. 6000/- per annum @ Rs. 500/- per month.

• To avail this scholarship, a child must be a student of a recognized school within India and the concerned school should have a Philately Club and the candidate should be a member of the Club.

Philately

• It is the hobby of collection and study of Postage stamps. • It also entails the collection, appreciation and research activities on stamps and other related

philatelic products. • The hobby of collecting Stamps includes seeking, locating, acquiring, organizing, cataloguing,

displaying, storing, and maintaining the stamps or related products on thematic areas. • Philately is called the king of hobbies because Stamp collection as a hobby has lot of educational

benefits – it teaches a lot about the socio economic political reality of the period in which the stamp is issued or the theme on which it is issued.

A postage stamp

It is a small piece of paper that is purchased and displayed on an item of mail as evidence of payment of postage.

Typically, stamps are printed on special custom-made paper, show a national designation and a denomination (value) on the front, and have an adhesive gum on the back or are self-adhesive. Postage stamps are purchased from a postal administration (post office) or other authorized vendor, and are used to pay for the costs involved in moving mail, as well as other business necessities such as insurance and registration. They are sometimes a source of net profit to the issuing agency, especially when sold to collectors who will not actually use them for postage.



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• The Minister said that to avail this scholarship, a child must be a student of a recognized school within India and the concerned school should have a Philately Club and the candidate should be a member of the Club.

• In case the school Philately Club hasn’t been established a student having his own Philately Deposit Account will also be considered.

• Every prospective school, which participates in the competition, would be assigned a Philately mentor to be chosen from amongst the renowned Philatelists.

• The Philately mentor would help in formation of the School level Philately Club, providing guidance to young and aspiring Philatelists on how to pursue the hobby and also helping the aspiring Philatelists on their Philately Projects etc.

Coastal Berth Scheme

{Infrastructure & Development}

In news

The Ministry of Shipping has taken up projects worth Rs 2,302 crore for financial assistance under the Coastal Berth Scheme of the flagship Sagarmala Programme.

The Ministry, after due appraisal in consultation with NITI Aayog and Department of Expenditure, has extended the period of the scheme for three years, upto 31st March, 2020 and expanded its scope to cover capital dredging at Major Ports and preparation of DPR for coastal berth project.

Highlights

• The Coastal Berth Scheme aims to provide financial support to ports or state governments for creation of infrastructure for movement of cargo and passenger by sea or national waterways.

• Once completed, the projects will help to promote coastal shipping and increase its share in domestic cargo movement in India.

• Better infrastructure for coastal shipping will decongest rail and road network besides ensuring cost competitive and effective multi-modal transportation solution.

• The country has high potential to use coastal shipping for its internal cargo movement given its 7500 kms long coastline.

International Conference – ‘FIPSPHYSIOCON 2017’



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{Health Issue}

“FIPSPHYSIOCON 2017”, Conference on Human Physiology – VII Congress of Federation of Indian Physiological Societies (FIPS) along with XXIX Annual Conference of the Physiological Society of India (PSI) organised by Defence Institute of Physiology and Allied Science (DIPAS) of DRDO was inaugurated at Vallabhbhai Patel Chest Institute (VPCI), University of Delhi. Objective

To update the scientific community about most recent advances in human Physiology in extreme environments, Neuroscience, Yoga, Sport Physiology and translational research. Highlights

Integrating Physiological and Biomedical Science Approaches to Improve Performance, Health and Safety.

• Environmental Physiology (High altitude, desert, underwater space etc) • Cardiovascular and Respiratory Physiology • Exercise and Sports physiology • Nutritional, Metabolism and Lifestyle • Neurophysiology and Endocrinology • Biochemistry, Pharmacology and Immunology • Molecular biology and omic sciences • Complementary & alternative approaches, Yoga for healthy living • Biomedical instrumentation: Health monitoring • Occupational health and Ergonomics

About DIPAS

• Defence Institute of Physiology & Allied Sciences (DIPAS), a DRDO life sciences establishment under Ministry of Defence is immensely contributing for improving the performance and habitability of Armed Forces Personnel in extreme hot & humid areas, high and extreme altitude areas, under water and closed environment operations.

Vision



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Be a centre of excellence in the field of environmental physiology and human factor research

Mission

Optimization of human performance in different occupational environment conditions using physiological, biochemical, nutritional and ergonomic approach.

• Defence Institute of Physiology & Allied Sciences (DIPAS) was officially established on 20th September 1962. In India, research in military physiology was initiated in the year 1950 through a small group of scientists and medical physiologists within the realm of Defence Science Laboratory, Delhi. In 1962, with the thrust area identification of high altitude physiology, nutrition and biochemistry of human in severe stress environment and also with the urgent need felt for ergonomic assessment of workstations and man-machine interface, a full-fledged laboratory was established.

About FIPS

• The FIPS is a scientific federation of all the physiologists of this country. • It is affiliated to the Federation of Asian and Oceanian Physiological Societies. • The Association of Physiologists and Pharmacologists of India (APPI), Physiologists Society of India

(PSI), Indian Society for Comparative Animal Physiology (ISCAP) and Society for Animal Physiologists of India (SAPI) are its constituents societies.

India Pitches for Strong Pre-2020 Climate Action by Developed Countries

In news

The opening plenary of the 23rd Conference of Parities (COP) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) provided a flicker of hope to the poor and vulnerable people in the developing countries who are most at risk to the adverse impacts of climate change.

• The thirteenth session of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol CMP 13

Convention on Kyoto Protocol

• The much forgotten, pre-2020 agenda, under which developed countries are to ratify the second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol (KP II) to undertake greenhouse gas emission cuts and also provide finance and technology support to developing countries for enhancing their ambition, found a place in the COP 23 agenda.



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• Meeting the long-term temperature goal of limiting the temperature rise to 2°C by the end of century requires strong short-term action.

• Enhanced pre-2020 action will reduce the overall costs and economic challenges for making a transition to low carbon growth pathway and also reduce climate risks and help realize immediate co-benefits such as improved public health as a result of lower air pollution, improved energy security, reduced crop yield losses among others.

Significance

• India along with the Like Minded Developing Countries (LMDC) group strongly voiced the need for urgent time bound action on climate change by developed countries in the pre-2020 period to build trust and confidence for ambitious climate action in post 2020 era.

• In his intervention, Chief Negotiator of India on Climate Change, called for early time-bound ratification ofKP II by developed countries to ensure the highest possible mitigation efforts under the Convention by all Parties. That this agenda is of utmost importance for developing countries and is not new but was agreed upon and under discussion since 2007. While action on Post-2020 period under the Paris Agreement has gained momentum, the discussions on Pre-2020 actions have lagged behind.

• COP 23 is critical and maybe the last chance for the developing countries to fight for their right to development and the global carbon space by ensuring that the developed countries act on their pre-2020 commitments. It is the foundation upon which climate action should be built after the year 2020.

India Pavilion Launched at Cop 23 in Bonn “Conserving Now, Preserving Future” is India’s Theme

{Environment}

In news

The India Pavilion at COP 23 was inaugurated by Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, at Bonn in Germany.

• The Minister is leading the Indian delegation, which is participating in the 23rd Conference of Parties (COP-23) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) being held at the Bonn, Germany

• COP-23 in Bonn to move forward and work towards developing guidelines for efficient implementation of the Paris Agreement under the Convention.



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India’s Participation

• India’s theme for COP 23 “Conserving Now, Preserving Future” takes India’s message forward. • Though India’s per capita emissions are only one-third of global average, and its contribution to

global stock of carbon dioxide is less than 3%, it has still moved ahead with implementation of path breaking initiatives under the dynamic leadership of the Prime Minister.

Initiatives towards addressing climate change concerns

• Achieving about 58.3 GW of Renewable Energy Capacity out of a targeted 175 GW for 2022. • Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana for providing free LPG connections and Ujala for embracing energy

efficient LED bulbs dedicated towards supporting citizens move towards sustainable lifestyle. • As part of our mission on strategic knowledge on climate change, we have established 8 Global

Technology Watch Groups in the areas of Renewable Energy Technology, Advance Coal Technology, Enhanced Energy Efficiency, Green Forest, Sustainable Habitat, Water, Sustainable Agriculture and Manufacturing.

• India is one of the few countries where, despite ongoing development, forest and tree cover has increased transforming country’s forests into a net sink owing to national policies aimed at conservation and sustainable management of forests.

• Swachh Bharat Mission has been launched with aim to make India clean and litter free. Government has recently revised following waste management rules to make them more effective, efficient and stringent.

• Government has revised six waste management rules which are more effective, efficient and stringent. These include rules for solid waste, Plastic waste, E-waste, bio-Medical and Hazardous and Construction and Demolition Waste.

• Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana has been formulated with the vision of extending the coverage of irrigation and improving water use efficiency ‘More crop per drop’.

• Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana has been launched for farmers’ welfare. Another scheme has been launched to provide Soil Health Card to every farmer. Further Government of India has set up the goal is to double the income of the farmers by 2022.

• Zero Effect, Zero Defect is a policy initiative to enhance energy efficiency and resources efficiency in Medium & Small Industries.

• Another important initiative relating to rivers is the National Mission for Clean Ganga which seeks to rejuvenate the river along its length of more than 2,500 km.

• Digital India has been launched to transform India into digital empowered society and knowledge economy.

• All these schemes contribute to mitigation and adaptation.



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SHe-Box Online Complaint Management System for working women to lodge complaints of sexual harassment at workplace

{Social Issue}

In news

WCD Minister launched a comprehensive SHe-Box online complaint Management System for women working in both public and private organizations to lodge complaints of sexual harassment at workplace. What is ‘SHe-box’?

• It is a comprehensive online complaint Management System for women working in both public and private organizations to lodge complaints of sexual harassment at workplace.

• Launched by Ministry of Women and Child Development Objectives

• To provide platform to aggrieved women to make their complaints directly so that suitable action is taken to redress their grievances. These complaints will be monitored by the WCD Ministry

• It ensure the effective implementation of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act (the SH Act), 2013.

• SHe-Box portal is an effort to provide speedier remedy to women facing sexual harassment at workplace.

• The portal also provides information on 112 institutions empaneled by MWCD to conduct training/workshops on the issue of sexual harassment at the workplace.

• It is an effort to utilise the digital space to enable speedier response to the complaints of women against sexual harassment at workplace.

Background

• This is a proactive step taken by MWCD in the wake of the worldwide social media campaign #MeToo, where women have related their experience of facing sexual harassment and abuse

NDMA conducts brainstorming session on use of UAVs in Disaster Management

{Disaster Management}



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In news

The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) today conducted a one-day national-level brainstorming session on “Application of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) in Disaster Management“. Objective

The event aimed to build and improve the capacity of stakeholders to use UAVs and related technologies for better disaster preparedness and response.

Highlights

• This would encourage various stakeholders to collaboratively work towards research and development of UAV technology for Disaster Risk Reduction.

• UAVs can provide high-resolution, real-time images of even the inaccessible locations. • These images can then be used to produce accurate hazard maps so that prevention and mitigation

measures for reducing disaster risks are planned accordingly. In a post-disaster situation, UAVs can be used to map the affected areas in high resolution within a short time, which, in turn, can aid swift and efficient response.

National Disaster Management Authority- Ministry of Home Affairs

• To build a safer and disaster resilient India by a holistic, pro-active, technology driven and sustainable development strategy that involves all stakeholders and fosters a culture of prevention, preparedness and mitigation.

• The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), headed by the Prime Minister of India, is the apex body for Disaster Management in India. Setting up of NDMA and the creation of an enabling environment for institutional mechanisms at the State and District levels is mandated by the Disaster Management Act, 2005.

Vision

“To build a safer and disaster resilient India by a holistic, pro-active, technology driven and sustainable development strategy that involves all stakeholders and fosters a culture of prevention, preparedness and mitigation.”

CZT Imager of AstroSat measures first phase resolved X-ray polarisation of Crab pulsar



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{Science & Tech}

In news

AstroSat, India’s multi-wavelength space telescope, has successfully accomplished the extremely difficult task of measuring X-ray polarisation.

• In a paper published in ‘Nature Astronomy’, the team has documented the results of their eighteen-month study of the Crab pulsar in the Taurus Constellation and measured the variations of polarisation as this highly magnetised object spins around 30 times every second.

• This landmark measurement puts up a strong challenge to prevailing theories of high energy X-ray emission from pulsars.

About AstroSat

AstroSat is the first dedicated Indian astronomy mission aimed at studying celestial sources in X-ray, optical and UV spectral bands simultaneously. The scientific objectives of ASTROSAT mission are

• To understand high energy processes in binary star systems containing neutron stars and black holes

• Estimate magnetic fields of neutron stars • Study star birth regions and high energy processes in star systems lying beyond our galaxy • Detect new briefly bright X-ray sources in the sky • Perform a limited deep field survey of the Universe in the Ultraviolet region.

Payloads of ASTROSAT

• The Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (UVIT), capable of observing the sky in the Visible, Near Ultraviolet and Far Ultraviolet regions of the electromagnetic spectrum

• Large Area X-ray Proportional Counter (LAXPC), is designed for study the variations in the emission of X-rays from sources like X-ray binaries, Active Galactic Nuclei and other cosmic sources.

• Soft X-ray Telescope (SXT) is designed for studying how the X-ray spectrum of 0.3-8 keV range coming from distant celestial bodies varies with time.



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• Cadmium Zinc Telluride Imager (CZTI), functioning in the X-ray region, extends the capability of the satellite to sense X-rays of high energy in 10-100 keV range.

• Scanning Sky Monitor(SSM), is intended to scan the sky for long term monitoring of bright X-ray sources in binary stars, and for the detection and location of sources that become bright in X-rays for a short duration of time.

Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI) strengthens its Due Diligence Framework under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016

{Banking & Economy} In news

Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI) has amended its Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process Regulations to ensure that as part of due diligence, prior to approval of a Resolution Plan, the antecedents, credit worthiness and credibility of a Resolution Applicant, including promoters, are taken into account by the Committee of Creditors.

Key facts

• Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI) has amended its Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process Regulations to ensure that as part of due diligence, prior to approval of a Resolution Plan, the antecedents, credit worthiness and credibility of a Resolution Applicant, including promoters, are taken into account by the Committee of Creditors.

• With a view to ensure that the Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process results in a credible and viable Resolution Plan, the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI) has carried-out amendments to the IBBI (Insolvency Resolution Process for Corporate Persons) Resolution Process, 2016 (CIRP Regulations).

• The Revised Regulations make it incumbent upon the Resolution Professional to ensure that the Resolution Plan presented to the Committee of Creditors contains relevant details to assess the credibility of the Resolution Applicants.

• The details to be provided would include details with respect to the Resolution Applicant in terms of convictions, disqualifications, criminal proceedings, categorization as willful defaulter as per RBI guidelines, debarment imposed by SEBI, if any, and transaction, if any, with the Corporate Debtor in the last two years.

The Preamble of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code describes the basic functions of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code as:

• To consolidate and amend the laws relating to reorganization 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,



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• To promote entrepreneurship, availability of credit and balance the interests of all the stakeholders including alteration in the order of priority of payment of Government dues and

• To establish an Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code of India, and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.

2nd meeting of Island Development Agency (IDA)


In news

The Island Development Agency reviewed the concept development plans and detailed master plans for holistic development of 09 islands – four in A&N Islands i.e. Smith, Ross, Long, Avis and five in Lakshadweep i.e. Minicoy, Bangaram, Thinnakara, Cheriyam, Suheli.

Objective

The project being steered by NITI Aayog aims at promoting and implementing development based on sustainable approach to building a thriving maritime economy of the project islands.

IDA

The IDA was set up on June 1 this year following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s review meeting for the development of islands. The meetings of the agency are chaired by the Union Home Minister.

Members of the IDA include cabinet secretary, home secretary, secretary (environment, forests and climate change), secretary (tourism) and secretary (tribal welfare).

India’s Second Technology and Innovation Support Center (TISC)

{Science & Tech}

In news



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The Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP), Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry, has signed an Institutional agreement with Anna University to establish India’s second Technology and Innovation Support Centre (TISC).

About TISC

• These centres will be set up under WIPO’s Technology and Innovation Support Centers (TISC) program.

• The programme provides innovators in developing countries with access to locally based, high quality technology information and related services, helping them to exploit their innovative potential and to create, protect, and manage their intellectual property (IP) rights.

Objective of the TISC

To stimulate a dynamic, vibrant and balanced Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) system in India to foster creativity and innovation, thereby promoting entrepreneurship and enhancing social, economic and cultural development by establishing a network of TISCs in India.

• The Cell for IPR Promotion and Management (CIPAM) is designated as the National Focal point for the TISC national network.

• As the national focal point, CIPAM will identify potential host institutions, assess their capacities and support them in joining the TISC project.

• CIPAM will also act as the main intermediary between WIPO and TISC host institutions and coordinate all the activities of the national TISC network.

Services offered by TISC’s

• Access to online patent and non-patent (scientific and technical) resources and IP-related publications.

• Assistance in searching and retrieving technology information. • Training in database search. • On-demand searches (novelty, state-of-the-art and infringement). • Monitoring technology and competitors. • Basic information on industrial property laws, management and strategy, and technology

commercialization and marketing.

Centre approves creation of National Testing Agency



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{Education}

In news

The Union Cabinet has approved creation of National Testing Agency (NTA) as a Society registered under the Indian Societies Registration Act, 1860, and as an autonomous and self-sustained premier testing organization to conduct entrance examinations for higher educational institutions.

Benefit

Its creation will relieve the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) – which conducts exams like the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test – and the All India Council for Technical Education of the burden of conducting entrance tests.

Features

• The NTA would initially conduct those entrance examinations which are currently being conducted by the CBSE.

• Other examinations will be taken up gradually after NTA is fully geared up.

• The entrance examinations will be conducted in online mode at least twice a year, thereby giving adequate opportunity to candidates to bring out their best.

• In order to serve the requirements of the rural students, it would locate the centers at sub-district/district level and as far as possible would undertake hands-on training to the students.

Constitution

• NTA will be chaired by an eminent educationist appointed by MHRD. • The CEO will be the Director General to be appointed by the Government. • There will be a Board of Governors comprising members from user institutions.



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• The Director General will be assisted by 9 verticals headed by academicians/ experts.

Finances

NTA will be given a one-time grant of Rs.25 crore from the Government of India to start its operation in the first year. Thereafter, it will be financially self-sustainable.

Impact

Establishment of NTA will benefit about 40 lakh students appearing in various entrance examinations. It will relieve CBSE, AICTE and other agencies from responsibility of conducting these entrance examinations, and also bring in high reliability, standardized difficulty level for assessing the aptitude, intelligence and problem-solving abilities of the students.

2nd Meeting of EAC-PM focuses on Job Creation, Social Sector and Infrastructure

{Indian Economy}

In news

Tre Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister in its second meeting laid out a roadmap for stepping up skill development, job creation; enhanced resource investment in the social

Highlights

• It formulated recommendations to guide the evolving framework for the 15th Finance Commission, including the incentivization of states for achieving health, education and social inclusion outcomes.

• The Council is also evolving the design of a new Economy Tracking Monitor, linking economic growth indicators with social indicators.

EAC-PM

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has constituted five member EAC-PM in September 2017 as an independent body to provide advice on economic issue to the government, specifically to the Prime Minister. It consists of economists of high repute and eminence. It serves as an independent



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institutional mechanism, to provide informed advice to the Prime Minister on addressing issues of macroeconomic importance and related aspects.

Cabinet approves appointment of Second National Judicial Pay Commission for Subordinate Judiciary in the country

{Economic Policy}

In news

• The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved appointment of Second National Judicial Pay Commission (SNJPC) for Subordinate Judiciary in the country.

• The commission will decide on a salary hike for almost 21,000 judges of the subordinate judiciary level.

• The Commission will make its recommendations to the State Governments preferably within a period of 18 months.

About SNJPC

• It will examine the present structure of emoluments and conditions of service of Judicial Officers in the States and UTs.

• The Commission aims to evolve the principles which would govern pay structure and other emoluments of Judicial Officers belonging to the Subordinate Judiciary of the country.

• It will examine the work methods and work environment as also the variety of allowance and benefits in kind that are available to Judicial Officers in addition to pay and to suggest rationalization and simplification thereof.

• The Commission will devise its own procedures and formulate modalities necessary for accomplishing the task.

• The Commission also aims at making the pay scales and conditions of service of Judicial Officers uniform throughout the country.

• The recommendations of the Commission will help in promoting efficiency in Judicial Administration, optimizing the size of judiciary etc. and to remove anomalies created in implementation of earlier recommendations.

The current entry-level salary for a junior civil judge is Rs45,000 while a senior judge gets nearly Rs80,000.

India Youth Development Index and Report 2017



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{Development}

In news

Union Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports (Independent Charge) Col. Rajyavardhan Rathore here today released the India Youth Development Index and Report 2017.

Objective

To track the trends in Youth Development across the States. The Index enables recognizing the high and low performing states, identifies the weak domains and informs the policy makers the priority areas of intervention for youth development in the states.

Youth Development Index

• The index tracks the trends in Youth Development across the States. The Index enables recognizing the high and low performing states, identifies the weak domains and informs the policy makers the priority areas of intervention for youth development in the states.

• This report is of immense value to enable comparisons across geographical areas and categories, as human development index has done in comparing the development situation across regions, nations and localities.

• The index also measures the achievements made besides serving as an advocacy tool for youth development and facilitates to identify priority areas for development of Policy and Interventions.

• As an effective decision – support tool, the YDI-2017 will enable the policy makers track the national and the regional progress as well setbacks in youth development policies, planning, priority identification and implementation strategies. Besides providing insights to suggest alternatives and options, it also aids in judicious allocation of resources.

How is India Youth Development Index different from Global YDI?

• In the India Youth Development Index 2017, the first five dimensions are retained same as that of Global YDI. The indicators and weights have been modified based on the availability of data at sub-national level and the importance of the indicators in explaining Youth Development with the aim of capturing the multidimensional properties that indicate progress in youth development at the sub-national level i.e., state level. Global YDI is different from YDI constructed for India in one unique way; YDI for India adds a new domain, social inclusion, to assess the inclusiveness of societal progress as structural inequalities persist in Indian society. This construction helps to identify the gaps that require intensification of policy intervention.



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• Youth are defined as those aged 15 to 29 in the national youth policy (2014). This age-group constitutes 27.5% of India’s population.

Railway Minister gives directions for “comprehensive training programme” for all employees of Indian Railways to boost productivity & efficiency

{Employment & Development}

In news

Comprehensive plan for imparting training to all employees of Indian Railways is being prepared with a view to upgrade skill & knowledge. This comprehensive training programme named as “Project Saksham” will help boost productivity and efficiency. Key facts

• Under Project Saksham, over the next one year, all employees in each zone will be put through a week’s training in skills and knowledge relevant to their work area.

• It will be a five-day-on-the-job or classroom training in Railway Training Centers, depending on the nature of their employment.

• The nature of short-duration training will range from refresher courses, with eye on evolved global practices in respective areas, to skills in existing lining of functioning.

• Employees from rank of a peon to higher echelons of Railway Board Members will undergo the training.

AADI MAHOTSAV Festival

{Art & Culture}

In news

Ministry of Tribal Affairs along with Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation Ltd (TRIFED), is organizing “AADI MAHOTSAV” a celebration of the spirit of Tribal Culture, Cuisine and Commerce. The Mahotsav : Showcasing Tribal Culture, Commerce & Cuisine

• The festival will run for a fortnight through 30th November 2017. The theme of the festival is: A Celebration of the Spirit of Tribal Culture, Cuisine and Commerce. The festival will feature exhibition-



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cum-sale of tribal handicrafts, art, paintings, fabric, jewellery and much more through about 200 stalls.

• Over 750 tribal artisans and artists from over 25 States will be participating in the festival. A special feature of the festival is Tribal India cuisine, recreated and presented in delectable forms to suit urban tastes by special tribal chefs.

Background

• MSP for MFP Scheme for providing a fair and equitable deal to the tribals. • Minor Forest Produce (MFP) is a major source of livelihood for tribals who belong to the poorest of

the poor section of society. • The importance of MFPs for this section of the society can be gauged from the fact that around

100 million forest dwellers depend on MFPs for food, shelter, medicines and income. • It provides them critical subsistence during the lean seasons, particularly for primitive tribal groups

such as hunter gatherers, and the landless. Tribals derive 20-40% of their annual income from MFP. • This activity has strong linkage to women’s financial empowerment as most of the MFPs are

collected and used /sold by women. MFP sector has the potential to create about 10 million workdays annually in the country.

• The scheme was ready for implementation in March 2014 after a series of studies conducted by the Planning Commission since 2007 (Haque Committee & Sudha Pillai Committee) the recommendation of which supports providing support price to MFP gatherers, enhance their income level and ensure sustainable harvesting of MFPs. The MSP scheme seeks to establish a framework to ensure fair prices for the produce collected by them, assurance of buying at a particular price, primary processing, storage, transportation etc.

Other schemes

• Government of India has taken a number of initiatives for socio economic development of tribals like introduction Forest Rights Act, 2006 (Section- 3), PESA Act, 1996 (Section -4), and has been implementing schemes for development of MFP by providing financial support to State TDCCs and TRIFED for market development of MFPs.

• Recognizing the critical importance which MFPs hold for tribals and the potential to generate large scale employment opportunities empowering the tribals, Government of India introduced an ambitious scheme of providing fair price for the MFP collected by tribals through Minimum Support Price (MSP).

“Young Entrepreneur Development Programme”

• Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development of India Ltd., TRIFED plans to expand sale operations by empaneling young and smart sales boys/girls for undertaking house to house campaign for sale of our tribal products.



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• These young sales boys/girls shall be known as “Young Entrepreneurs of TRIFED (YET)”. Under this programme, young boys and girls fulfilling the prescribed basic criteria shall be registered as Entrepreneur of TRIFED for a period of 1 year, which will be renewed depending upon the performance of the YET.

300 Cyber security experts to attend first ever Asia Pacific Computer Emergency Response Team (Apcert) Conference

{Internal Security}

In news

The Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) under the aegis of Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology organizing the Asia Pacific Computer Emergency Response Team (APCERT) Conference.

This is the 15th Conference of APCERT and first ever conference in India and South Asia and is expected to be attended by 21 economies. The conference theme is “Building Trust in the Digital Economy” CERT-In

CERT-In is operational since January 2004. The constituency of CERT-In is the Indian Cyber Community. CERT-In is the national nodal agency for responding to computer security incidents as and when they occur.

In the recent Information Technology Amendment Act 2008, CERT-In has been designated to serve as the national agency to perform the following functions in the area of cyber security:

• Collection, analysis and dissemination of information on cyber incidents. • Forecast and alerts of cyber security incidents • Emergency measures for handling cyber security incidents • Coordination of cyber incident response activities. • Issue guidelines, advisories, vulnerability notes and whitepapers relating to information security

practices, procedures, prevention, response and reporting of cyber incidents. • Such other functions relating to cyber security as may be prescribed.

Hunar Haat



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{Governance}

The fourth Hunar Haat exhibition was recently organised by the Ministry of Minority Affairs at India International Trade Fair (IITF) at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi.

Hunar Haats

• Hunar Haats are organised by Ministry of Minority Affairs under USTTAD (Upgrading the Skills & Training in Traditional Arts/Crafts for Development) scheme.

• The USTTAD scheme aims at preserving & promoting the rich heritage of the traditional arts & crafts of the Minority communities. This is one of the flagship programs of the Ministry.

Key facts

• Hunar Haats have become a successful mission to provide employment and income generation opportunities with platforms for marketing the products of master artisans, craftsmen and culinary experts belonging to the minority communities.

• It envisages at boosting the skill of craftsmen, weavers and artisans who are already engaged in the traditional ancestral work.

India’s Positive Actions at Ministerial Press Conference of BASIC Countries at COP 23

{Environment & Ecology}

Context

This article highlights the talks of conference at Bonn

Highlights of this conference

• India has been amongst the frontrunners in meeting its voluntary targets of reduction of emission intensity of its GDP.

• The Minister called upon both developed and developing countries to fulfil their commitment for pre-2020 period. He further voiced India’s equal commitment to achieve Nationally Determined Contribution target of reduction of energy intensity of India’s GDP by 33-35% by 2030.



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• An early ratification of second commitment period of Kyoto Protocol and concrete actions on provisions of support. India expects that the second commitment period is operationalized as per existing commitments.

• By 2020, the goal of $100 billion per year must be achieved and following the principle of non-regression and that this must improve further in following years.

India’s Contribution

• India’s contribution to cumulative stock of CO2 equivalent is less than 3% • India’s positive climate actions including promotion of renewable energy, sustainable transport,

afforestation policies, climate friendly agricultural practices, energy efficiency, water conservation, smart cities. That India is one of the few countries where, despite ongoing development, forest and tree cover has increased, transforming country’s forests into a net sink owing to national policies aimed at conservation and sustainable management of forests. As an NDC goal, India aims at creating an additional carbon sink of 2.5 to 3 billion tones of CO2 equivalent through additional forest and tree cover by 2030.

• India has achieved the renewable energy capacity of 60 GW and that aims to scale it up further to achieve about 40 percent of cumulative electric power installed capacity from non-fossil fuel based energy resources by 2030.

BASIC Countries

• The BASIC countries (also Basic countries or BASIC) are a bloc of four large newly industrialized countries – Brazil, South Africa, India and China – formed by an agreement on 28 November 2009.

• The ministers from BASIC grouping (Brazil, South Africa, India and China) the large number of ratifications under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) achieved to date and requested remaining parties to the UNFCCC to ratify the Agreement at an early date.

Asia Pacific Cert (APCERT) Discuss Building Trust in Digital Economy

{Cyber Security}

In news



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First ever Asia Pacific Computer Emergency Response Team (APCERT) Open Conference in India and the first in South Asia.

Innovation in cyber security is a big focus of the Government. Key facts

• There are more than 100 cyber security product companies in India and it was proposed that in furtherance of the Public Procurement (Preference to Make in India) preference shall be provided by all procuring entities in the government to domestically manufactured / produced Cyber Security Products.

• India was selected to be part of the steering committee of APCERT along with 6 (Australia, China, Japan, Korea, Malaysia and Taiwan) other countries to shape the agenda for the next 2 years across the region.

• In India, cyber security professionals got an opportunity to attend a highly content rich technical conference, interact with the Asia Pacific incident response leaders in cyber security and the International community got to see the skills and depth of some of the cyber security start-ups from India.

• The spectrum of topics covered included setting up sectoral CSIRTS, Nation State exploits, vulnerabilities of block chain, secure communication in industrial internet, cyber-crime in financial technology ecosystem, building a sharing economy, machine learning, malicious behavior in encrypted traffic, mobile security and Artificial Intelligence.

Asia Pacific Computer Emergency Response Team

• With the rapid development of the Internet, many Asia Pacific economies are now increasingly dependent on public network applications such as online banking, online stock trading, e-business, e-government and e-customs.

• The protection of the various national information infrastructures that make up this new and emerging Asia Pacific e-economy is critical to the region’s political and economic stability and security. The need to protect these critical national information infrastructures is also urgent.

• This growing threat in the Asia Pacific region requires a collaborative approach with the various CERT and CSIRT organizations taking the lead role with full support from their respective governments.

Cabinet approves the establishment of the National Anti-profiteering Authority under GST

{Economic Policy}



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In news

The Union Cabinet approved establishing the National Anti-Profiteering Authority (NAA) under the Goods and Service Tax (GST) to ensure fair pricing.

The decision was an outcome of sharp reduction in the GST rates of a large number of items of mass consumption.

About NAA

• NAA aims to ensure that benefit of the reduction in prices under the uniform tax regime reaches the consumers. This is the second major GST-related decision taken by the government

• It ensures that the latest tax rate reductions approved by the GST Council on more than 200 items are implanted immediately by businesses.

• Help in controlling inflation.

Duties of NAA

To determine whether any reduction in the rate of tax on any supply of goods or services or the benefit of input tax credit has been passed on to the recipient by way of commensurate reduction in prices

To identify the registered person who has not passed on the benefit of reduction in the rate of tax on supply of goods or services or the benefit of input tax credit to the recipient by way of commensurate reduction in prices;

To order

(a) reduction in prices; (b) return to the recipient, an amount equivalent to the amount not passed on by way of commensurate reduction in prices along with interest at the rate of eighteen per cent. from the date of collection of the higher amount till the date of the return of such amount or recovery of the amount not returned, as the case may be, in case the eligible person does not claim return of the amount or is not identifiable, and depositing the same in the Consumer Welfare Fund;

(c) imposition of penalty;

(d) cancellation of registration.



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Positive Implications

• Inflation: GST may bring in general inflation in the introductory phase as some goods and service become expensive and others cheaper (but the reduction in price is not passed on to customers). The anti – profiteering clause will minimize this risk.

• Confidence in GST: With a legal obligation on businesses to pass on the benefit, this will help in instilling confidence in GST among people.

• Intermediate Goods: Sectors dependent on intermediate goods may face sudden rise in price. This clause protects them.

Negative Implications

• Against Free Market: In a free market prices are decided by demand and supply. They eventually balance out. This is a distortion

• Fear of Tax Raj: Companies fear tax authorities may misuse this rule to unfairly target them or worse lead to bribed and corruption

• Adverse Impact on Investments: There may be a fall in investments due to the confusion created in implementation of this clause.

Cabinet approves Continuation of sub-schemes under Umbrella Scheme “Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS)” for the period till November, 2018

{Social Issue}

In news

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has given its approval for continuation of Anganwadi Services, Scheme for Adolescent Girls, Child Protection Services and National Crèche Scheme till 30.11.2018 with an outlay of over Rs. 41,000 crores.

These are the sub-schemes under Umbrella Scheme “Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS)”. Features

• The approved Schemes include 1. Anganwadi Services 2. Scheme for Adolescent Girls 3. Child Protection Services 4. National Crèche Scheme



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• The decision also provides for conversion of National Crèche Scheme from Central Sector to Centrally Sponsored Scheme with the revised cost sharing between Centre and States as 60:40 for all States and UTs with legislature, 90:10 for NER and Himalayan States and 100% for UTs without legislature and implementation of the Scheme through States/UTs instead of existing implementation agencies.

Background

The aims of these schemes are as under • Anganwadi Services (ICDS) aims at holistic development of children under the age of six years and

its beneficiaries are children of this age group and Pregnant Women & Lactating Mothers. • The objective of the Scheme for Adolescent Girls is to facilitate, educate and empower Adolescent

Girls so as to enable them to become self-reliant and aware citizens through improved nutrition and health status, promoting awareness about health, hygiene, nutrition, mainstreaming out of school AGs into formal/non-formal education and providing information/guidance about existing public services.

• The objectives of Child Protection Services are to provide safe and secure environment for children in conflict with law and children in need of care and protection, reduce vulnerabilities through a wide range of social protection measures, prevent actions that lead to abuse, neglect, exploitation, abandonment and separation of children from families etc., bring focus on non-institutional care, develop a platform for partnership between Government & Civil Society and establish convergence of child related social protection services.

• National Creche Schemeaims at providing a safe place for mothers to leave their children while they are at work, and thus, is a measure for empowering women as it enables them to take up employment. At the same time, it is also an intervention towards protection and development of children in the age group of 6 months to 6 years.

Impact

The sub-schemes listed above are not new schemes but are continuing from the XII Five Year Plan. The programme through targeted interventions will strive to reduce the level of malnutrition, anaemia and low birth weight babies, ensure empowerment of adolescent girls, provide protection to the children who are in conflict with law, provide safe place for day-care to the children of working mothers, create synergy, ensure better monitoring, issue negative alerts for timely action, encourage States/UTs to perform, guide and supervise the line Ministries and States/UTs to achieve the targeted goals and bring more transparency.

India to Host Global Conference on Cyber Space 2017: A Giant Leap Towards a Secure and Inclusive Cyberspace



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{Science & Tech}

In news

India, for the first time ever, is going to host the Global Conference on Cyber Space (GCCS), one of the world’s largest conferences in the field of Cyber Space and related issues, on 23 & 24 November 2017, at Aerocity, New Delhi.

• Incepted in 2011 in London, second GCCS was held in2012 in Budapest with focus on relationship between internet rights and internet security.

• Thethird edition of GCCS was held in 2013 in Seoul with commitment to Open and Secure Cyberspace.

• Thefourth version GCCS 2015 was held on April 16-17, 2015 in The Hague, Netherlands. Themed on Cyber4All: A Secure and Inclusive Cyberspace for Sustainable Development, This is the fifth edition of GCCS wherein international leaders, policymakers, industry experts, think tanks and cyber experts will gather to deliberate on issues and challenges for optimally using cyber space. The overall goals of GCCS 2017 To promote the importance of inclusiveness and human rights in global cyber policy, To defend the status quo of an open, interoperable and unregimented cyberspace,

To create political commitment for capacity building initiatives to address the digital divide and assist countries, and to develop security solutions in a balanced fashion that duly acknowledge the importance of the private sector and technical community.

‘Saubhagya’ Web-Portal – a Platform for Monitoring Universal Household Electrification

{Energy}

In News

Minister of Power and New & Renewable Energy, launched the Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana – ‘Saubhagya’ Web Portal . The portal can be accessed at http://saubhagya.gov.in. Benefits of this portal

• The Saubhagya Dashboard is a platform for monitoring household electrification progress, which would disseminate information on Household Electrification Status (State, District, village-wise),



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http://saubhagya.gov.in/

Household Progress on live basis, State-wise Target vs Achievement, Monthly Electrification Progress, etc.

• The Ministry has directed NTPC to mix straw/ crop residue pellets with coal, upto 10%, for power generation in all of its Thermal Power Plants. This step would reduce crop residue burning in agriculture dominated States like Punjab, Haryana etc. and hence reduce air pollution that is currently being experienced.

Background of SAUBHAGYA SCHEME

• ‘Saubhagya’ scheme was launched by Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi on 25th September, 2017 . Under Saubhagya scheme, all willing households in rural areas and poor families in urban areas are given free electricity connections. There are around 4 Crore un-electrified households in the country and they are targeted for providing electricity connections by December 2018.

• Till recently, the focus of electrification has been on village electrification through creation of village electricity infrastructure for all households and providing free electricity connections to poor household families in rural areas. Now, Saubhagya has come into existence for providing free electricity connections to all households (both APL and poor families) in rural areas and poor families in urban areas.

• Rural Electrification Corporation Limited (REC) is the Nodal Agency for the operationalization of the scheme throughout the country.

South Asia Regional Training and Technical Assistance Center (SARTTAC)- IMF

{Economic Policy}

In news

An Interim Meeting of the Steering Committee of the International Monetary Fund (IMF)’s South Asia Regional Training and Technical Assistance Centre (SARTTAC) was held here today in national capital to assess the Centre’s activities since its inauguration in February 2017 and to review the Fiscal Year 2018 Work Plan. SARTTAC is expected to become the focal point for the delivery of IMF capacity development services to South Asia. Mission

• SARTTAC’s goal is to help its six member countries strengthen their capacity to design and implement policies that promote macroeconomic stability, sustainable growth, and poverty reduction in line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.



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• SARTTAC provides hands-on technical advice in a range of macroeconomic and financial areas and training to strengthen the skills of officials to formulate and manage effective macroeconomic and financial policies.

• It is the IMF’s newest capacity development center and the first of the 14 regional centers to fully integrate technical assistance and training activities.

SARTTAC

South Asia Regional Training and Technical Assistance Center (SARTTAC) is a collaborative venture between the IMF, the member countries (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Sri Lanka), and development partners.

• SARTTAC, the newest addition to the IMF’s global network of fourteen regional centers, is a new kind of capacity development institution, fully integrating customized hands-on training with targeted technical advice in a range of macroeconomic and financial areas, and generating synergies between the two. It was inaugurated at Delhi in February 2017.

• SARTTAC is financed mainly by its six-member countries — Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka — with additional support from Australia, the Republic of Korea, the European Union and the United Kingdom.

International Committee of Military Medicine (ICMM)

{Health Issue}

In news

The 42nd World Congress of the International Committee of Military Medicine (ICMM) was recently organised by the Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS) under the aegis of the Ministry of Defence (MoD).

• The event is being organised for the first time in India,and is the largest medical conference ever organised by the AFMS. Around 350-400 foreign delegates from 80 countries are attending the event.

The theme of this 42nd World Congress is “Military Medicine in Transition: Looking Ahead.” ICMM

The ICMM is an international inter-governmental organisation created in 1921 with its secretariat at Brussels in Belgium and currently has 112 nations as members.

• The ICMM was established after World War I had revealed the lack of care provided to victims and the need to strengthen cooperation between the health services of the armed forces worldwide.



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Objective of the ICMM

To ensure that our medical services personnel have the means to work together, using similar practices, in operations involving international cooperation.

This is a long-term goal, and the ICMM can work towards achieving this in a number of ways: by encouraging activities at which scientific and technical experience is shared, by developing contacts with the scientific community, by promoting regional events. This will enable us to pool our resources and work experience of military medicine, both in the theatre of operations and in a support role in the case of crisis situations.

Moscow declaration

{Health Issue}

In news

• Health ministers, NGOs, and private sector representatives from 120 countries adopted the Moscow Declaration, committing themselves to eliminating additional deaths from HIV co-infection by 2020 and achieving synergy in coordinated action against TB and non-communicable diseases.

• A co-infection is when a person suffers from two infections at the same time.

Objective

• The Moscow declaration emphasised the need for fixing multisectoral responsibility towards ending TB by 2035, the global target.

What was the needs?

• Global efforts to combat TB have saved an estimated 53 million lives since 2000 and reduced the TB mortality rate by 37%. However, progress in many countries has stalled, global targets are off-track, and persistent gaps remain in TB care and prevention.

Significance

• Move rapidly to achieve universal health coverage by strengthening health systems and improving access to people-centered TB prevention and care, ensuring no one is left behind.

• Mobilize sufficient and sustainable financing through increased domestic and international investments to close gaps in implementation and research.



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• Advance research and development of new tools to diagnose, treat, and prevent TB. • Build accountability through a framework to track and review progress on ending TB, including multi-

sectoral approaches.

Aadhaar Data is Never Breached or Leaked: UIDAI

In news

UIDAI said in a statement here that the Aadhaar data is fully safe and secure and there has been no data leak or breach at UIDAI.

UIDAI Statements

• UIDAI said that this said data on these websites was placed in public domain as a measure of proactive disclosure under RTI Act by these government and institutional websites which included beneficiaries’ name, address, bank account, and other details including Aadhaar number and was collected from the third party/users for various welfare schemes.

• It was this collected info which had been displayed in the public domain under RTI Act. • There was no breach or leakage of Aadhaar data from UIDAI database or server as has been aired

by the said report.

Highlights

• UIDAI clarified that Aadhaar number is not a secret number. • It is to be shared with authorized agencies when an Aadhaarholder wishes to avail a certain

service or benefit of government welfare scheme/s or other services. But that does not mean that the proper use of Aadhaar number poses a security or financial threat.

• Also, mere availability of Aadhaar number will not be a security threat or will not lead to financial/other fraud, as for a successful authentication fingerprint or iris of individual is also required. Further all authentications happen in presence of personnel of respective service provider which further add to the security of the system.

Nagaland, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Dadra & Nagar Haveli & Daman & Diu sign MoU with Government of India under UDAY Scheme

{Development}

In news



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On the 2nd Anniversary of Ujwal DISCOM Assurance Yojana (UDAY) today, the Government of India signed four Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) under the Scheme with the State of Nagaland and with Union Territories (UTs) of Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Dadra & Nagar Haveli & Daman & Diu for operational improvements.

The MoU paves way for improving operational efficiency of the Electricity Departments/DISCOM of the State/Union Territory. Significance

• Demand Side interventions in UDAY such as usage of energy-efficient LED bulbs, agricultural pumps, fans & air-conditioners and efficient industrial equipment through PAT (Perform, Achieve, Trade) would help in reducing peak load, flatten load curve and thus help in reducing energy consumption in the State/UTs.

• Further, with improved efficiency, they would be in a better position to fund their capex at cheaper rates for Power infrastructure development/improvement in the State/UTs.

Deendayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana (DDUGJY)

Scheme approved on 20.11.2014 with a total outlay of Rs 44,033 crore which includes a budgetary support of Rs 33,453 crore from Govt. of India. The objectives of scheme are:

• Separation of agriculture and non-agriculture feeders • Strengthening of sub-transmission and distribution networks in the rural areas; • Metering of distribution transformers / feeders / consumers in the rural area. • Rural Electrification

Logistics Sector granted Infrastructure Status

{Infrastructure}

In news

The Logistics Sector has been granted Infrastructure status.

• The government has defined “logistics infrastructure” to include a multimodal logistics Park comprising an Inland Container Depot (ICD) with a minimum investment of Rs50 crore and minimum area of 10 acre, a cold chain facility with a minimum investment of Rs15 crore and minimum area of 20,000 sq. ft and a warehousing facility with a minimum investment of Rs25 crore



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and a minimum area of 100,000 sq ft.

What are ‘Logistics’?

• Logistics is the general management of how resources are acquired, stored and transported to their final destination

• “Logistics” was initially a military-based term used in reference to how military personnel obtained, stored and moved equipment and supplies. Since its initial use, “logistics” is used widely in the business sector to refer to how resources are handled and moved along the supply chain.

• In simple terms, “logistics” means having the right amount of a good at the right time, getting it to the appropriate location in proper condition and delivering it to the correct customer.

• Logistics is a web that links to businesses in every industry sector. The goal is to manage the fulfillment of each customer, moving quickly and efficiently from one section of the supply chain to the next.

Primary Functions of a Logistician

The tasks for which a logistician is responsible vary depending on the business. Primary responsibilities include overseeing and managing inventory, arranging for appropriate transportation, and establishing adequate storage for the inventory. A qualified logistician plans out all of these and other aspects, coordinating the steps as inventory moves along the supply chain. The logistician is also responsible for consultations with potential and existing clients as well as the companies that are transporting and storing resources.

Why it is needed?

• Development of logistics would give a boost to both domestic and external demand thereby encouraging manufacturing and ‘job creation’.

• This will in turn be instrumental in improving country’s GDP. Therefore, the need for integrated Logistics sector development has been felt for quite some time in view of the fact that the logistics cost in India is very high compared to developed countries. High logistics cost reduces the competitiveness of Indian goods both in domestic as well as export market.

• Infrastructure status will enable the Logistics Sector to avail infrastructure lending at easier terms with enhanced limits, access to larger amounts of funds as External Commercial Borrowings (ECB), access to longer tenor funds from insurance companies and pension funds and be eligible to borrow from India Infrastructure Financing Company Limited (IIFCL).

• Infrastructure status for cold chains and warehousing facilities will provide a big boost to attracting private investment in this sector.



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Background

In 2017, India’s logistics performance improved from 54 to 35 under World Bank Logistics Performance Index (LPI). The government expects the Indian logistics sector to grow to $360 billion by 2032 from the current $115 billion.

North East Development Summit


In News

Manipur is hosting the first ever North East Development Summit (NEDS) 2017 in Imphal from November 21.

North East Development Summit

Highlights

• It was aimed to boost trade and investment in underdeveloped region of North East and at building confidence and altering perception among visiting delegates and investors

• Various international finance agencies laid down their plan for development in the region

• Around 36 companies/firms from India participated in addition to associations like FICCI, CII, NASSCOM, Border Trade Moreh, Myanmar India Business Chamber, India Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce etc.

Agreements signed

• The state forest department signed four MoUs -- two with the HSMM Group of Laos for Agarwood plantation and production of essential oil and commercial production of orchids, one with NLR of Netherland for production of bio-fuels from bamboo and one with the Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India for minimum support prices for minor forest produces

• For setting up a private university in Manipur the state's higher education department signed an MoU with Unesco Centre, UK

• With the aim of attracting investment in trade and tourism the finance department signed an MoU with the Indo-Swiss Centre, Switzerland



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• The agriculture department signed a MoU with MSTC, a government of India undertaking, for e-marketing of agricultural produce from Manipur

• The state tourism department signed a MoU with the Lao Peoples Democratic Republic for development of tourism and another with Star Track Business House Pvt Ltd, Mumbai, for Rs 50-crore infrastructure development project

• The Manipur Police Housing Corporation signed an MoU with Fitzroy Salai Holdings, Calcutta, for a cable car project in the state.

Manipur Sangai Festival 2017

{Art & Culture}

In news

Every year the State of Manipur celebrates the “Manipur Sangai Festival” from 21st to 30th November.

Sangai festival

The ‘Festival’ is named after the State animal, Sangai, the brow-antlered deer found only in Manipur.

It started in the year 2010 and has grown over the years into a big platform for Manipur to showcase its rich tradition and culture to the world.

The festival is labeled as the grandest festival of the State today and helps promote Manipur as a world class tourism destination.

Every edition of the festival showcases the tourism potential of the state in the field of Arts & Culture, Handloom, Handicrafts, Indigenous Sports, Cuisine, Music and Adventure sports of the state etc.

The festival will reflect the State’s proud cultural heritage and the love for art which is inherent amongst various tribes inhabiting the State of Manipur. The State’s classical dance form, ‘Ras Leela’ is quite famous all over the world for its distinctiveness from any other dance forms in India. The other folk dance performances like the Kabui Naga dance, Bamboo dance, Maibi dance, Lai Haraoba dance, Khamba Thoibi dance etc. which will be showcased at the festival.



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Indigenous sports will also be a major highlight of the State’s biggest tourism festival this

year. Manipur’s famous martial arts–

• Thang Ta (a combination Spear & Sword skills), Yubi-Lakpi (a game played with greased coconut like rugby), Mukna Kangjei (a game that combines hockey and wrestling), and Sagol Kangjei- Modern Polo (believed to have evolved in Manipur) will all form part of the festival.

Pradhan Mantri Mahila Shakti Kendra'

{Women Empoerment}

In news

• The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for expansion of the schemes of Ministry of Women and Child Development under Umbrella Scheme "Mission for Protection and Empowerment for Women" for a period 2017-18 to 2019-20.

• CCEA has also given approval to the new scheme called ‘Pradhan Mantri Mahila Shakti Kendra', which will empower rural women through community participation to create an environment in which they realize their full potential.

Benefits of the Scheme

• The approved sub-schemes are social sector welfare schemes especially for care, protection and development of women.

• It will also aim at improvement in declining Child Sex Ratio; ensuring survival. & protection of the girl child; ensuring her education, and empowering her to fulfil her potential.

• It will provide an interface for rural women to approach the government for availing their entitlements and for empowering them through training and capacity building. Student volunteers will encourage the spirit of voluntary community service and gender equality.

• These students will serve "agents of change" and have a lasting impact on their communities and the nation.

Major activities of the Umbrella Scheme

The new scheme "Pradhan Mantri Mahila Shakti Kendra (PMMSK)" is envisaged to work at various levels. While, National level (domain based knowledge support) and State level (State Resource Centre for Women) structures will provide technical support to the respective government on issues related to women, the District and Block level Centres will provide support to PMMSK and also give a foothold to BBBP in 640 districts to be covered in a phased manner.



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42nd International Committee on Military Medicine World Congress

{Health Issue}

In news

The 42nd ICMM World Congress on Military Medicine in New Delhi has reached the half way mark. The proceedings during the opening sessions for the day included a plenary session on “International Collaborations in Military Medicine

Military Medicine

It is the Association's official monthly journal. Articles published in the journal are peer-reviewed scientific papers, case reports, and editorials. The journal also publishes letters to the editor.

Objective

To promote awareness of Federal medicine by providing a forum for responsible discussion of common ideas and problems relevant to Federal healthcare. Its mission is.

To increase healthcare education by providing scientific and other information to its readers; to facilitate communication; and to offer a prestige publication for members’ writings.

Cabinet approves India’s Membership for European Bank for Reconstruction & Development

{Banking & Economy}

In news

The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved India’s Membership for European Bank for Reconstruction & Development (EBRD)

• Necessary steps will be initiated by the Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance to acquire the membership of the EBRD.



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Impact

• Membership of EBRD would enhance India’s international profile and promote its economic interests. Access to EBRD’s Countries of Operation and sector knowledge.

• India’s investment opportunities would get a boost. • It would increase the scope of cooperation between India and EBRD through co-financing

opportunities in manufacturing, services, Information Technology, and Energy. • EBRD’s core operations pertain to private sector development in their countries of operation.

The membership would help India leverage the technical assistance and sectoral knowledge of the bank for the benefit of development of private sector.

• This would contribute to an improved investment climate in the country. • The membership of EBRD would enhance the competitive strength of the Indian firms, and

provide an enhanced access to international markets in terms of business opportunities, procurement activities, consultancy assignments etc.

• This would open up new vistas for Indian professionals on the one hand, and give a fillip to Indian exports on the other.

• Increased economic activities would have the employment generating potential. • It would also enable Indian nationals to get the employment opportunity in the Bank.

Financial Implications

• The minimum initial investment towards the membership of EBRD will be approximately €1 (one) million.

• However, this assumption is based on India deciding to buy the minimum number of shares (100) required for obtaining the membership. If India were to buy a higher number of Bank shares, the financial implications could be higher.

• In-principle approval of the Cabinet at this stage is being obtained for joining the Bank.

Background

• The issue relating to acquiring the membership of the “European Bank for Reconstruction & Development (EBRD)” had been under consideration of the Government.

• With the country’s impressive economic growth over the years and enhanced international political profile, it was considered appropriate that India should expand its presence on the global developmental landscape beyond its association with the Multi-lateral Development Banks (MDBs) such as the World Bank, Asian Development Bank and African Development Bank.

• The decision to join the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and the New Development Bank (NDB) was taken earlier in this backdrop.



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EBRD

• The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) was established to help build a new, post-Cold War era in Central and Eastern Europe. It has since played a historic role and gained unique expertise in fostering change in the region – and beyond.

• The EBRD is committed to furthering progress towards ‘market-oriented economies and the promotion of private and entrepreneurial initiative’. This has been its guiding principle since its creation at the beginning of the 1990s and, new challenges and the welcoming of new countries to the EBRD world notwithstanding, will continue to be its mission in years to come.

The EBRD’s unique mandate

• Uniquely for a development bank, the EBRD has a political mandate in that it assists only those countries ‘committed to and applying the principles of multi-party democracy [and]pluralism’. Safeguarding the environment and a commitment to sustainable energy are also central to the EBRD’s activity.

• The EBRD serves the interests of all its shareholders – 66 countries from five continents plus the European Union and the European Investment Bank – not just those countries which receive its investments (€9.4 billion in 2016). We all stand to gain from the EBRD region’s closer and deeper integration into the global economy.

Cabinet approves expansion of umbrella scheme “Mission For Protection And Empowerment For Women” and introducing a new scheme ‘ Pradhan Mantri Mahila Shakti Kendra’

{Women Empowerment}

In news

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs chaired by the Prime Minister has given its approval for expansion of the schemes of Ministry of Women and Child Development under Umbrella Scheme “Mission for Protection and Empowerment for Women” for a period 2017-18 to 2019-20.

• CCEA has also given approval to the new scheme called ‘Pradhan Mantri Mahila Shakti Kendra’, which will empower rural women through community participation to create an environmentin which they realize their full potential.

• Expansion under Beti Bachao Beti Padhaohas also been approved based on the successful implementation in 161 districts.



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Benefits of the Scheme

• The approved sub-schemes are social sector welfare schemes especially for care, protection and development of women.

• It will also aim at improvement in declining Child Sex Ratio; ensuring survival. & protection of the girl child; ensuring her education, and empowering her to fulfil her potential.

• It will provide an interface for rural women to approach the government for availing their entitlements and for empowering them through training and capacity building.

• Student volunteers will encourage the spirit of voluntary community service and gender equality. • These students will serve “agents of change” and have a lasting impact on their communities

and the nation.

PMMSK

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs a new scheme called ‘Pradhan Mantri Mahila Shakti Kendra’, which aims at empowering rural women through community participation to create an environment in which they realise their full potential.

• The new scheme “Pradhan Mantri Mahila Shakti Kendra (PMMSK)” is envisaged to work at various levels. While, National level (domain based knowledge support) and State level (State Resource Centre for Women) structures will provide technical support to the respective government on issues related to women, the District and Block level Centres will provide support to PMMSK and also give a foothold to BBBP in 640 districts to be covered in a phased manner.

• To provide comprehensive support to women affected by violence, One Stop Centres (OSCs) will be established in 150 additional districts during the period. These one stop Centres will be linked with women helpline and will provide 24 hour emergency and non-emergency response to women affected by violence both in public and private space across the country.

Monitoring and Evaluation of the Scheme

• One common Task Force shall be created at National, State and district level for planning, reviewing and monitoring all the sub-schemes in this Umbrella, with the objective of ensuring convergence of action and cost efficiency.

• Every scheme shall have a set of clear, focussed target set forth in the guidelines, aligned with SDGs. Mechanism for monitoring of outcome based indicators for all the sub-schemes as suggested by NITI Aayog will be put in place.

• The schemes will be implemented through the States/UTs and Implementing Agencies. All the sub-schemes have inbuilt monitoring structure at the Central Level, State, District and Block level.



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BBBP

• The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs chaired by Prime Minister has given its approval for expansion of Beti Bachao Beti Padhao for a Pan India reach covering all the 640 districts (as per census 2011) of the Country to have a deeper positive impact on Child Sex Ratio. Expansion under BBBP has been approved based on the successful implementation in 161 districts.

• The Government recognized the challenge of declining Child Sex Ratio (CSR), as a telling indicator of gender discrimination towards girl child, requiring immediate attention and action and launched BBBP scheme in 2015.

Cabinet approves continuation of the scheme on Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs beyond the 12th Plan Period

{Governance}

The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for continuation of the scheme on Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs (IICA) for another three financial years (FYs 2017-18 to 2019-20) and providing Grants-in-aid of Rs.18 crore to the Institute.

• It will make the Institute self-sustainable by the end of FY 2019-20.

Impact

• The training programs, research activities and projects conducted by the Institute in partnership with public and private sector in the niche areas of Corporate Governance will enhance the skill sets resulting in increased employability of students as well as professionals.

• The thrust of the Institute is to become a prestigious Institute in the field of Corporate Laws while enhancing its resources and revenues.

• It is envisaged that IICA will be an Institute of National importance thereby becoming an engine of growth leading to increased economic activity.

• The improvement in the professional competence is also expected to help the professionals in tapping employment opportunities in emerging corporate areas including those in overseas.

Background

• The National Foundation for Corporate Social Responsibility (NFCSR) at IICA is responsible for Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives.



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• The Foundation has been designed around the new provisions of Companies Act, 2013. The NFCSR conducts various activities in partnership with Corporates in the field of CSR, oriented towards social inclusion.

• IICA is a think-tank and repository of data and knowledge to support rational decision-making for the policy makers, regulators as well as other stakeholders working in areas related to the corporate sector.

• It offers services to stakeholders in the field of corporate laws, corporate governance, CSR, accounting standards, investor education, etc. Various activities of IICA also help first-generation entrepreneurs and small business for imparting multi-disciplinary skills as they are unable to afford to employ separate experts in management, law, accountancy, etc.

Brahmos Flight test from IAF’s Su-30MKI fighter aircraft

{Defence}

In news

In a first, air-launched Brahmos missile test-fired

Highlights

• Brahmos, the world’s fastest supersonic cruise missilecreated history on 22nd Nov 2017 after it was successfully flight-tested first time from the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) frontline fighter aircraft Sukhoi-30MKI against a sea based target in the Bay of Bengal.

• The missile was gravity dropped from the Su-30 from fuselage, and the two-stage missile’s engine fired up and straightway propelled towards the intended target at the sea in Bay of Bengal.

• In a major milestone, the Brahmos supersonic cruise missile has been successfully test fired for the first time from the Indian Air Force’s frontline Sukhoi-30 MKI combat jet, significantly bolstering the country’s aerial prowess.

• Brahmos ALCM weighing 2.5 ton is the heaviest weapon to be deployed on India’s Su-30 fighter aircraft modified by HAL to carry weapons.

• Brahmos, the world-class weapon with multi-platform, multi-mission role is now capable of being launched from Land, Sea and Air, completing the tactical cruise missile triad for India.

• Brahmos is a joint venture between DRDO of India and NPOM of Russia.

Pradhan Mantri Khanij Kshetra Kalyan Yojana (PMKKKY)



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{Social Welfare}

Recently PMKKKY was in news

PMKKKY

• The programme is meant to provide for the welfare of areas and people affected by mining related operations, using the funds generated by District Mineral Foundations (DMFs).

Objectives of the scheme

• To implement various developmental and welfare projects/programs in mining affected areas that complement the existing ongoing schemes/projects of State and Central Government.

• To minimize/mitigate the adverse impacts, during and after mining, on the environment, health and socio-economics of people in mining districts.

• To ensure long-term sustainable livelihoods for the affected people in mining areas. • High priority areas like drinking water supply, health care, sanitation, education, skill

development, women and child care, welfare of aged and disabled people, skill development and environment conservation will get at least 60 % share of the funds.

• For creating a supportive and conducive living environment, balance funds will be spent on making roads, bridges, railways, waterways projects, irrigation and alternative energy sources.

District Mineral Foundations (DMFs)

• The Mines and Minerals (Development & Regulation) Amendment Act, 2015, mandated the setting up of District Mineral Foundations (DMFs) in all districts in the country affected by mining related operations.

• In case of all mining leases executed before 12th January, 2015 (the date of coming into force of the Amendment Act) miners will have to contribute an amount equal to 30% of the royalty payable by them to the DMFs. Where mining leases are granted after 12.01.2015, the rate of contribution would be 10% of the royalty payable.

Defence of Andaman & Nicobar Islands Exercise (DANX-17)

{Defence}



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In news

Defence of Andaman and Nicobar Islands Exercise (DANX) was conducted under the aegis of Andaman & Nicobar Command. The five day exercise started on 20 Nov 2017 and culminated on 24 Nov 2017.

Objective

To practice & validate procedures and drills of all the Command forces aimed at defending Andaman & Nicobar Islands. Accretional forces from the main land including fighters, Special Forces, Naval ships and heavy lift transport aircraft participated in the exercise.

Highlights

Fighter ops, night para jumps at sea, slithering of troops from helicopters and amphibious landings of troops by ships

Cabinet Secretary Chairs the first meeting of Prabhari Officers for Rapid transformation of 115 Backward Districts


In news

Government has identified 115 backward districts for rapid transformation by 2022. For each of the Districts, a senior official in the rank of Additional secretary and Joint secretary has been nominated as Prabhari officer.

How will the officer work?

• Prabhari officers would take it up as a challenge and succeed in their mission by making a difference in the lives of millions of citizens in these districts. Prabhari officers would form a team with State representatives and bring convergence in their effort.

• Prabhari officers will assist the District administration in sharing the vision for 2022, to ensure the convergence of the efforts of central and state government and to set up a robust mechanism to monitor the improvements in key outcomes in the district.

• Funds are not a constraint in this program since large funds are available under different Schemes. The officers will explore the availability of funds in District Mineral funds, wherever available for this purpose. In addition, they will also use flexi-fund which are significant in amount and are available under different Schemes of the Government.



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• For the program to succeed, third party validation of key performance indicators in the field of education, health and nutrition, basic infrastructure including roads, electricity, household toilets, agriculture and irrigation is necessary.

Significance

• If these districts are transformed, there would be tremendous improvement in the internal security environment of the country.

• While 35 Districts have been selected on the basis of reported violence by Left Wing Extremism, 55 districts out of 115 are affected by Left Wing extremism and another 15, including districts in J&K and North East are affected by terrorism.

• If Prabhari officers can bring convergence in the development efforts of different Ministries and state Governments and the schemes specially launched by Home Ministry in these districts, it would serve as a great opportunity to ensure rapid development in the country.

Rajnath to chair meet on Centre-State relations

{Internal Relation}

Home Minister Rajnath Singh will chair a meeting of the Standing Committee of the Inter State Council (ISC) to discuss the recommendations made by the Puncchi Commission on Centre-State relations.

The subjects discussed at the meeting

Matters related to financial transfers from the Centre to the States; Goods and Services Tax; Structure and devolution of functions to local bodies; District Planning; Special provisions for Fifth and Sixth Scheduled Areas; Maintenance of communal harmony; Deployment of Central Forces; Migration issues; Police reforms; Criminal justice system and other internal security issues. The Standing Committee at its meeting considered 118 recommendations contained in Volumes-III, IV and V and finalised its recommendations.

About Puncchi Commission

• The Punchhi Commission, which was notified in 2005, submitted its report in 2010. • Its recommendations pertaining to national security, communal harmony, Centre-State financial

relations and planning are expected to be discussed.



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Commission observations

• The Commission in its report had said that ‘National Security’as a subject was not specifically listed in any of the three Lists, i.e. the Union, the State or the Concurrent List.

• The subject of Security under the Article 352and under the Emergency Provisions in Part XVIII of the Constitution has been assigned to the Union Government. Though it is an overriding executive power of the Union, in Constitutional practice, however, ‘Security’ is a subject in which the States and the Union have a common interest and are expected to act in a co-ordinated manner.

• The Commission also said that in case of communal riots, which has a potential of causing widespread violence within a territory, “the use of Article 355 may be in order.” “A clarificatory line in this, regard, if required, may be inserted making the provision explicitly clear that the Centre can depute Paramilitary Forces to such trouble spots in exceptional circumstances even if a request from the State Government is not received. The aim has to be to ensure quick control of the situation, bring it back to normal, hand over the area to the local administration as quickly as possible and then withdraw the Central forces.

About Inter-State Council (ISC)

• The inter-state council was established under Article 263 of the Constitution of India through a Presidential Order dated 28 May 1990.

• The Council shall consist of prime minister who is the chairman, chief ministers of all states who are members, chief ministers of union territories and administrators of UTs as members, and six union ministers of cabinet rank in the union council of ministers nominated by the prime minister are also members.

• The inter-state council is not a permanent constitutional body for coordination between the states and union government.

• It can be established ‘at any time’ if it appears to the President that the public interests would be servedby the establishment of such a council.

36th International Geological Congress

{Science & Tech}

In news

• The 36th International Geological Congress (IGC) to be held in Delhi, India in the year 2020. • The IGCs are held quadrennially under the aegis of the IUGS through a process of global

bidding.



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• India won the bid in 2012 at Brisbane, Australia to host the Congress in 2020. The win is a remarkable achievement as the event makes a come back to the Indian soil after nearly 6 decades much to the excitement of the entire geoscientific community.

• The event is being jointly funded by the Ministry of Mines and Ministry of Earth Sciences with the active support of the Indian National Science Academy (INSA), and the Science Academies of the other neighbouring co-host countries, Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

About the International Geological Congress (IGC)

• International Geological Congress (IGC) is the prestigious global platform for advancement of Earth Science.

• The first session of IGC assembled in 1878 in Francewith an aim to provide the global geological community with an opportunity to create an organizational frame work for meeting at regular intervals.

• It envisaged a spirit of fraternal cooperation that transcends boundaries, languages and has the ability to bring together the geo-scientific community across the continents and oceans.

• Founded as a non-profit scientific and educational organization in 1878, IGC came under the aegis of International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS) in 1961.Since then the meetings of IGC are held in collaboration and under scientific sponsorship of IUGS.

• Since the inception of IGC, 33 Congresses have been hosted by 24 countries throughout the world at 3- to 5-year intervals.

• The 34th Session was held at Brisbane, Australia during August 2012 and the 35thIGC is scheduled to be held at Capetown, South Africa in 2016.

About IUGS

• The IUGS was founded in 1961and is a Scientific Union member of the International Council for Science (ICSU), which it recognizes as the coordinating body for the international organization of science.

• Currently geologists from 121 countries (and regions) are represented in IUGS through 121Adhering Organization. It is an international non-governmental organization devoted to international cooperation in the field of geology.

• IUGS is a joint partner with UNESCO for the International Geoscience Programme (IGCP) and they also participate in the Global Network of National Geoparks (GGN).

National Law Day

{Indian Judiciary}



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November 26 is regarded as the second Constitution Day in the modern history of India. It is also celebrated as the National Law Day.

This year, the National Law Day was celebrated jointly by the Law Commission of India and NITI Aayog.

Day is an occasion to pay homage to the makers of the Constitution.

National Law Day

• Sixty-eight years ago on November 26, the Constitution of India was adopted by the Constituency Assembly. However, the Constitution was only partially adopted that day. The full adoption came two months later on January 26, 1950 – the day is celebrated as the Republic Day to mark the anniversary of occasion.

Constitution Day or National Law Day

• The government in October 2015 decided that November 26 would be celebrated as the Constitution Day in the memory of Dr BR Ambedkar. On November 19 that year, the government issued a gazette notification declaring that November 26 as the Constitution Day.

Facts about constitution

• The Constitution was prepared over 2 years, 11 months and 17 days. The session of the Constituent Assembly was held on December 9, 1946.

• A total of 11 sessions of the Constituent Assembly was held including those by the drafting committee under the chairmanship of BR Ambedkar.

• The drafting committee was one of the 17 such bodied set up under the Constituent Assembly. • Dr Rajendra Prasad, who went on to become the first President of India, was the chairman of

the Constituent Assembly. The Constitution making committees held meetings on 165 days to hold deliberations and debate provisions to be incorporated.

• There were 299 members, including 15 women, of the Constituent Assembly. Of them 284 members finally signed the Constitution, when it was adopted in 1949.

Program to train Elected Women Representatives of PRIs

{Women Empowerment}



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In news

The government has launched an intensive training program for Elected Women Representatives (EWRs) of Panchayati Raj Institutions and Master Trainers, in New Delhi.

Key facts

• This capacity building program is being organized by National Institute of Public Cooperation and Child Development (NIPCCD) of the WCD Ministry which will ultimately train approximately twenty thousand EWRs covering nearly 50 EWRs from each district by March, 2018.

Training two lakh women sarpanches across the country will help bring following important changes:

• It will help to create model villages. • It will help prepare women as political leaders of the future.

Objectives

• Build capacities of Elected Women Representatives (EWRs) for effective functioning and setting of women’s agenda.

• Institutionalize mechanisms to strengthen capacity building of EWRs to better understand and perform their functions.

• Mobilize community and strengthen processes of constituency building to enable women to articulate their voices and participate in the electoral process.

• The project activities were implemented through Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) to harness their expertise in mobilizing women and creating awareness of issues at the grassroots level. For each of the 10 states, one CSO was identified based on the demonstrated work experience on local governance issues in that area. The capacity-building project focused on EWRs and panchayat functionaries.

Background

A million women have been elected at the village, block and district levels, following the landmark 73rd Amendment to the Constitution of India (1992), reserving 33 percent of the seats in Panchayati Raj Institutions for women.

• The process of decentralization has provided representation but representation does not necessarily lead to participation.

• Women still face a number of challenges for their engagement in political spaces such as inadequate education, lack of financial independence, burden of productive and reproductive roles and opposition stemming from entrenched patriarchal views. Training, therefore, has emerged as a critical concern for facilitating their effective participation.



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• The 73rd and 74th Amendments to the Constitution of India provide the legal basis for direct democracy at the local-level, both in rural and urban areas.

• The amendments stress the need to bring people belonging to marginalized groups into the political process by reserving seats for women and for people belonging to the Scheduled Castes (SC)1 and Scheduled Tribes (ST)2 .

• It is envisaged that by mandating not less than one-third of the seats for women in local government bodies, the governance process at the local government level will reflect the voices of women and the concerns and issues that confront them.

INSPIRE 2017

{International Relation}

The first edition of the International Symposium to Promote Innovation & Research in Energy Efficiency (INSPIRE 2017) was kicked off in Jaipur recently.

About INSPIRE 2017

• INSPIRE 2017 is an International Conference that brings together various stakeholders such as policy makers, innovators, financiers, influencers to showcase best practices in the sector.

• It provides a platform for energy efficiency community to discuss energy efficiency policies, market transformation strategies, emerging technologies, delivery and business-model driven transformations. The event is further designed to provide global and national thought-leaders and implementers to expand perspectives on energy efficiency and spur ideas and solutions that will help leverage the full potential of energy efficiency and bring its multiple co-benefits to the fore.

• Policy makers and experts from Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), The World Bank Group, The Energy Institute (TERI), International Energy Agency (IEA), Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI), USA and representatives of the Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM) will take part in the event. Several global organizations like the Asian Development Bank, African Development Bank, Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, International Finance Corporation, International Energy Agency will also share their perspectives at INSPIRE.

Other programmes of Government

Through an innovative market-led approach towards energy efficiency, India has charted its progress towards being a low-carbon economy, through implementation of large scale zero subsidy initiatives like Unnat Jyoti by Affordable LEDs for All (UJALA), Street lighting National Programme, Electric vehicles, Smart Meter programme, Solar Rooftop projects etc.



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Way ahead

Energy efficiency is the winning strategy to simultaneously address a variety of policy objectives, including security of supply, climate change, competitiveness, balance of trade, reduced investment need and environmental protection.

International Multilateral Maritime Search and Rescue Exercise (IMMSAREX)

{International Relation}, {Defence}

In news

Chief of the Naval Staff Sunil Lanba has embarked on a two-day visit to Bangladesh to participate in an International Multilateral Maritime Search and Rescue Exercise (IMMSAREX) being from November 26 to November 28 under the aegis of Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS).

Highlights

• This is the first ever operational exercise held under the aegis of Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) in Bangladesh.

• The Exercise comprised drills related to fire-fighting, sea accidents and rescue, as well as deep sea searches for missing ships, searches for missing aircraft, and other emergency rescue operations.

• IONS: Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS)is a multilateral maritime security initiative undertaken in 2008. In the broader perspective it was initiated taking all the littoral countries of the Indian Ocean (IO) onboard to promote friendly relationship and build professional cooperation among the IOR littorals.

Objective

• To promote measures and mechanisms of constructive engagement that bear upon issues of regional maritime security and cooperation in the maritime domain. Over a very short span of time IONS has emerged as one of the largest alliance of navies and maritime security agencies of the world.

• In-addition to the conduct of the exercise, an ‘Extraordinary Conclave of Chiefs (ECoC)’ meeting of IONS is also scheduled on 28 November 2017, at Cox Bazar, which would also be attended by the Chiefs of the Navy.

Global Entrepreneurship Summit 2017



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In news Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump’s advisor and daughter Ivanka Trump jointly inaugurated 8th annual Global Entrepreneurship Summit (GES 2017) in Hyderabad, Telangana. The mega event was co-hosted by National Institution for Transforming India (NITI) Aayog and US Government n partnership with Telangana Government.

The Global Entrepreneurship Summit is being held for the first time in South Asia in Hyderabad, India, from November 28-30 2017.

With the theme of “Women First, Prosperity for All,” this will be the first GES in which women are the majority, over 52.5 per cent, of the participants. This year’s summit theme demonstrates the commitment of the U.S. and Indian governments to the principle that when women are economically empowered, their communities and countries thrive. Women entrepreneurs help drive innovation and job creation, as well as address the world’s greatest and most critical challenges.

About GES

• GES is preeminent annual entrepreneurship gathering that convenes over one thousand emerging entrepreneurs, investors, and supporters from around the It is organized annually since 2010.

• GES 2017 aims to empower Indian entrepreneurs to pitch their ideas, build partnerships, secure funding, and create innovative products and services that will transform societies for better future.

• It will not only bring global best practices to India, but also create irreplaceable place for India in global entrepreneurial ecosystem.

• The four primary focus areas of GES 2017 are Digital Economy and Financial Technology, Health Care and Life Sciences, Energy and Infrastructure, and Media and Entertainment. The summit will deliberate on four key sectors, focus on critical aspects of entrepreneurship and host interactive sessions between panelists and audience.

Health Ministry and ICMR launch India Hypertension Management Initiative (IHMI)

{Health Issue}



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In news

The IHMI aims to reduce disability and death related to cardiovascular disease (CVD), the leading cause of death in India, by improving the control of high blood pressure (hypertension), reducing salt consumption and eliminating artificial trans-fats, leading risk factors for CVD.

About The India Hypertension Management Initiative (IHMI)

• It is a collaborative project of Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), State Governments, World Health Organization (WHO), and Resolve to Save Lives initiative of Vital Strategies.

Primary goal

To reduce morbidity and mortality due to CVDs, the leading cause of death in India, by improving the control of high blood pressure, which is a leading risk factor for CVDs among adults in India.

• The IHMI is focused on five essential components of scalable treatment of hypertension. It will support the adoption of standardized simplified treatment plans for managing high blood pressure, ensure the regular and uninterrupted supply of quality-assured medications, task sharing so health workers who are accessible to patients can distribute medications already prescribed by the medical officer, and patient-centered services that reduce the barriers to treatment adherence.

• Data on hypertension will be improved through streamlined monitoring systems, and the lessons learned and practice-based evidence will inform further interventions to improve cardiovascular care.

• IHMI will be progressively rolled out in 25 districts in the first two years across districts selected by the Health Ministry for expansion of active screening and intensification of treatment activities for hypertension.

Current Stats

Around 200 million adults in India have high blood pressure, yet control rates for the condition remain low. Studies suggest that in rural areas in India, only one quarter of people with hypertension are aware of their condition, and only around 10 percent have their blood pressure controlled. In urban areas, around 40 percent of people with hypertension are aware of their condition, and only around 20 percent have their blood pressure controlled.

Benefits

• This initiative aims to strengthen the cardiovascular disease component of the Health Ministry’s National Program for Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases and Stroke (NPCDCS).



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• It will focus on strengthening hypertension management and monitoring at the primary health care level, within the existing healthcare system, and is aligned with WHO’s Global HEARTS Initiative and National Guidelines.

Skill India partners with Airbnb to Upskill Hospitality Entrepreneurs


A tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed here today between National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) and Tourism and Hospitality Sector Skill Council (THSC) with Airbnb, the world’s leading community-driven hospitality company.

The MoU will provide hospitality skills training to hospitality micro-entrepreneurs in India. The MoU signed aims to empower more citizens, including those in rural and underserved areas to join the ‘alternate accommodation’ sector and pursue new livelihood opportunities by sharing their homes.

Under the terms of the MoU, the parties agree to

• ESTABLISH occupation standards and competency matrices for job roles and develop the courses for hospitality entrepreneurs offering homestay and facilities, other unique accommodations and local experiences for travellers;

• CREATE standards for certification and accreditation as per the requirements and global benchmarks of Tourism and Hospitality industry for hospitality entrepreneurs offering homestay facilities, other unique accommodations and local experiences for travellers;

• SET the framework for long-term Council-Industry partnership; • STRENGTHEN the Skilled Labour Pool required by Tourism and Hospitality industry.

Scope for Growth

• By bringing in global best practices for the training of small hospitality entrepreneurs the domestic tourism has immense potential in India and this partnership will benefit the ecosystem by creating opportunities for women and youth. We will extend all possible cooperation to make India a tourism hotspot.

• This partnership will help to create more skilled, digitally-literate hospitality entrepreneurs – especially among the women and those in underserved areas – who can create a homestay in every home, offer authentic experiences in every Indian locality and help spread the benefits of tourism.

15th finance commission



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In news

Meeting for the first time after its constitution last week, the 15th Finance Commission on Monday decided to involve various research organisations across the country.

The committee’s chairman N K Singh said that this would help in engaging all stakeholders to decide on issues which concern not only the Centre, but states as well.

Highlights

• The panel will decide on devolution share of states from central taxes as well as suggest measures to augment the Consolidated Fund of a State to supplement the resources of the Panchayats and Municipalities.

• Thepanel has been asked to take into account the impact of the GST, including payment of compensation for possible loss of revenues for 5 years, and abolition of a number of cesses, earmarking thereof for compensation and other structural reforms programme, on the finances of Centre and States.

• The commission would also involve consultations with stakeholders involving ministries and local bodies.

Basics

What is a Finance Commission?

It is a body set up under Article 280 of the Constitution. Its primary job is to recommend measures and methods on how revenues need to be distributed between the Centre and states.

What does the finance commission do?

The commission has to take on itself the job of addressing the imbalances that often arise between the taxation powers and expenditure responsibilities of the centre and the states, respectively. Primarily, it has to ensure a sense of equality in public services across the states.

What does it means to States?

As against a total devolution of Rs. 3.48 lakh crore approximately in 2014-15, the total devolution to the States in 2015-16 will be Rs. 5.26 lakh crore approximately, a year-on-year increase of Rs. 1.78 lakh crore approximately

What will the impact of this recommendation if accepted by the Centre?



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“The higher tax devolution will allow States greater autonomy in financing and designing schemes as per their needs and requirements,” says the report. Practically, it will give more power to states in determining how they spend this money.

What is the implication of this recommendation?

Well, it comes at a time when the Centre is trying to push GST (goods and services tax). Perhaps, higher devolution will help to reassure the States that they will not be at the wrong end of the stick if GST is introduced.

Practice Questions for UPSC Prelims Exam based on PIB

Q.1- The Cabinet Committee on Economic

Affairs has given its approval for continuation

of Anganwadi Services, Scheme for

Adolescent Girls, Child Protection Services

and National Crèche Scheme till

November.2018 with an outlay of over

Rs.41,000 crore, it will NOT impact which of

the following?

a) In reduction of the level of malnutrition, anaemia and low birth weight babies.

b) It will provide protection to the children who are in conflict with law.

c) It will provide safe place for day-care to the children of working mothers.

d) It will provide digital education to Girls.

Q.2-Recently One of the world’s largest conferences in the field of Cyber Space and related issues, Global Conference on Cyber Space (GCCS) 2017 was hosted by

a) Engand b) Begium c) South Africa d) India

Q.3-Recently Ministery of Power and New & Renewable Energy, launched the Web-Portal for Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli HarGhar Yojana, for Monitoring Universal Household Electrification, what is its name?

a) Surya web b) Ujalla c) Saubhagya d) Roshani

Q.4- South Asia Regional Training and

Technical Assistance Center (SARTTAC) is expected to become the focal point for the delivery of IMF capacity development services

to South Asia, SARTTAC is financed mainly by

a) Six member countries

b) Five member countries

c) Four member countries

d) Seven member countries

Q.5- The 42nd World Congress of the

International Committee of Military Medicine (ICMM) was recently organised by the Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS) under the aegis of the Ministry of Defence (MoD), which of the statement is INCORRECT about the ICMM.



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a) The ICMM is an international inter-governmental organization.

b) The ICMM was established after World War I.

c) The World Congress of ICMM is being organised for the 2nd time in India.

d) The ICMM secretariat is at Brussels in Belgium and it currently has 112 nations as members.

Q.6- Health ministers, NGOs, and private

sector representatives from 120 countries adopted the Moscow Declaration at the recently held first WHO Global Ministerial Conference on Ending which disease in the Sustainable Development Era.

a) Tuberculosis

b) AIDS

c) Diabetes

d) Breast cancer

Q.7- What was the theme of the World Toilet

Day 2017?

a) Wastewater

b) 2030: aim to reach everyone with

sanitation,

c) 2030: halve the proportion of

untreated wastewater

d) increase recycling and safe reuse.

Q.8- The Island Development Agency (IDA) was

set up in June 2017 to review meeting for the

development of islands, the meetings of the

agency is chaired by the

a) Union Home Minister

b) Prime Minister

c) President

d) Cabinet Secretary

Q.9- India’s first Technology and Innovation Support Center (TISC) will come up in Punjab and second in Chennai , under the World Intellectual Property Organization’s TISC program, which among the follling is NOT among the objective of the TISC

a) To stimulate a dynamic, vibrant and

balanced Intellectual Property

Rights (IPRs) system in India

b) To foster creativity and innovation

c) Promoting entrepreneurship

d) Promoting Indian Start up globally.

Q.10- Recently constituted five member

Economic Advisory Council to the Prime

Minister (EAC-PM), in its second meeting

advised macroeconomic importance and

related aspects opportunities in India , how

among the following is its chairman

a) Ratan Watal

b) Bibek Debroy

c) Surjit Bhalla

d) Arvind Pangariya

Q.11-Recently union cabinet has approved

appointment of Second National Judicial Pay

Commission (SNJPC) for Subordinate



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Judiciary in the country, the Commission is to

be headed by

a) Shri (Justice Retd.) JP.Venkatrama Reddi

b) Shri (Justice Retd.) R. Basant

c) Justice kudeep Ansuman

d) Shri A. K. Mathur

Q.12- Railway Minister gives directions for “comprehensive training programme” for all employees of Indian Railways to boost productivity & efficiency, being launched under the name

a) Project Skill Indian Railway

b) Project Saksham

c) Project Saksham Suraksha

d) Project Surakha

Q.13- Ministry of Tribal Affairs along with Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation Ltd (TRIFED), organized which celebration recently, of the spirit of Tribal Culture, Cuisine and Commerce.

a) AADI MAHOTSAV

b) TRIBES INDIA

c) JANGAL MOHATSAV

d) JUGNOO FESTIVAL

Q.14-Which of the following is the INCORRECT statement in Recognizing the India’s efforts towards a low emission-economy and focusing on energy efficiency programmes?

a) The Global Environment Facility (GEF) has now partnered with Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL).

b) EESL recently launched $454 million project ‘Creating and Sustaining Markets for Energy Efficiency’.

c) Global Environment Facility (GEF) recently provided a grant of around $454 million to EESL.

d) EESL proposes Energy Efficiency Revolving Fund (EERF) for sustainable funding mechanism of energy efficiency projects.

Q.15- In terms of farm produce India’s rank in the world is

a) First

b) Second

c) Third

d) Fourth

Q.16- India successfully tested the Smart Anti-Airfield Weapon System or the SAAW system, which of the following statement is INCORRECT about it?

a) The Smart Anti-Airfield Weapon is

an indigenously designed smart

weapon.

b) It is developed by the Defence

Research and Development

Organisation (DRDO).

c) It reached the targets at greater

than 20 km range.



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d) There are two variants of the

guided bombs-Garuthmaa and the

Garudaa.

Q.17- Recently the 23rd Conference of Parties (COP-23) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) being held at the

a) Bonn, Germany

b) Paris, France

c) New York, USA

d) Nerobi, Kenya

Q.18-The first ever North-East Development

Summit (NEDS) 2017 which was aimed to

boost trade and investment in

underdeveloped region of North East,

hosted by which state

a) Tripura

b) Nagaland

c) Manipur

d) Arunachal Pradesh

Q.19-The first edition of the International Symposium to Promote Innovation & Research in Energy Efficiency (INSPIRE 2017) was recently held in

a) New Delhi

b) Jaipur

c) Hyderabad

d) Bangalore

Q.20-The world’s fastest supersonic cruise

missile bramhos created history on 22nd Nov

2017 after it was successfully flight-tested first

time from the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) fighter

aircraft

a) MIG-21

b) Tejas

c) Mirrage 2000

d) Sukhoi-30MKI

Q.21-Which of the statement is INCORRECT?

a) Home Minister recently chaired a meeting of the Standing Committee of the Inter State Council (ISC).

b) The ISC was established under Article 263 of the Constitution of India through a Presidential Order dated 28 May 1990.

c) The Punchhi Commission, which was notified in 2005, submitted its report in 2007.

d) The Punchhi Commission made recommendations for national security, communal harmony, Centre-State financial relations.

Q.22.- International Multilateral Maritime Search and Rescue Exercise (IMMSAREX) was

recently held in November 2017 at

a) Singapore

b) Bangladesh

c) India

d) Myanmar



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Q.23- The India Hypertension Management

Initiative (IHMI) is a collaborative project of

Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR),

Ministry of Health and Family Welfare

(MoHFW) which aims to

a) reduce disability to cardiovascular disease

b) reduce hypertension cases through new public health policy

c) death related to cardiovascular disease

d) reduce disability and death

related to cardiovascular disease

Q.24-To prepare women as political leaders of the future, The government has launched an intensive training program for Elected Women

Representatives (EWRs) of

a) Panchayati Raj Institutions

b) Union and State legislative

assemblies

c) Woman registered as member of

any political party

d) All the above

Q.25-Recently Union Cabinet approved

establishing the National Anti-Profiteering

Authority (NAA) under the Goods and Service

Tax (GST), which of the statement is/are

correct about it?

i) It will be headed by union finance minister.

ii) It will help in controlling inflation.

iii) It aims to ensure fair pricing.

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

a) i, ii

b) i only c) ii, iii d) i, ii, iii

Q.26- Recently Global Entrepreneurship

Summit (GES) held in india, which of the of

the statement is/are correct about it?

i) It was its 8th edition.

ii) The theme of “Women First, Prosperity for All”.

iii) It co-hosted by the Japan and India in Ahmadabad.

Select the correct answer using the codes given below: a) i, ii b) i only c) ii, iii d) i, ii, iii

Q.27-Recently the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved creation of National Testing Agency (NTA), which of the following statements are correct about it?

i) It will be a Society registered under the Indian Societies Registration Act, 1860.

ii) It will be a autonomous and self-sustained premier testing organization.

iii) It will conduct the entrance examinations for higher educational institutions.

iv) It will be chaired by an eminent educationist appointed by President.

Select the correct answer using the codes given below: a) i, ii, iv



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b) ii, iii, iv c) i, ii, iii d) i, ii, iii, iv

Q.28- Which of the statement is/are correct about the ASTRO SAT?

i) It is India’s first dedicated multi wavelength space observatory.

ii) Recently, it successfully measured the X-ray polarisation of Crab pulsar.


a) i only b) ii only c) Neither i nor ii d) Both i and ii

Q.29-Which of the following statement is/are correct about the National Disaster

Management Authority (NDMA)?

i) It is headed by the Prime Minister of India.

ii) It promotes Application of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) in Disaster Management.

iii) This authority was made under Disaster Management Act, 2002.

iv) It envisions the development of an ethos of Prevention, Mitigation and

Preparedness.

Select the correct answer using the codes given below: a) i, ii, iv

b) i only c) ii, iii, iv d) i, ii, iii

Q.30-Government of India recently launched a SHe-Box portal, a online complaint Management System to lodge complaints of sexual harassment at workplace, which of the statement is/are correct about it?

i) It is for women working in public organizations.

ii) It is for women working private organizations.

iii) It is made under the SH Act 2013.


a) i, ii, b) i only c) ii, iii, d) i, ii, iii

Q.31- Recently INTERNATIONAL ENERGY FORUM (IEF) remained in news, which of the following statement is/are correct about it?

i) It is the largest inter-governmental organisation in the field of oil and gas.

ii) India is the current Chair of the IEF.

iii) India hosted 7TH ASIAN MINISTERIAL ENERGY ROUNDTABLE in Nov 2017.


a) i, ii b) i only c) ii, iii d) i, ii, iii



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Q.32-Which of the following statements are correct about the various schemes and programs initiated by the Government to achieve the target of Doubling of Farmers’ Income by 2022.

i) Budget Fund with the aim of “Per Drop More Crop”.

ii) Promotion of value addition through food processing.

iii) Opening jan dhan accounts. iv) Creation of a National digital Farm

Market(e-NAM).

Select the correct answer using the codes given below: a) i, ii, iv b) i ,iv c) ii, iii, iv d) i, ii, iii

Q.33- Recently the Ministry of Shipping has extended the Coastal Berth Scheme of the flagship Sagarmala Programme, which of the statement is/are correct about?

i) It extended the period of the scheme for five years, upto 31st March, 2022.

ii) This flagship Scheme also aims to provide financial support for inland waterway.


a) i only b) ii only c) Neither i nor ii d) Both i and ii

Q.34-The Union Cabinet recently approved India’s Membership for European Bank for Reconstruction & Development (EBRD), which of the following are possible benefits from its membership?

i) It would enhance India’s

international profile and promote

its economic interests.

ii) India’s investment opportunities

would get a boost.

iii) It would help India leverage the

technical assistance and sectoral

knowledge of the bank for the

benefit of development of private

sector.

iv) This would open up new vistas for

Indian professionals.


a) i, ii, iii, iv b) i ,iv c) ii, iii, iv d) i, ii, iii



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For answers of the above practice questions

visit https://currentaffairsonly.com/

(or)

google {CAO PIB mcq November 2017}

Mail us: - [email protected]

WhatsApp: - 7200981752



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