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Table of Contents

Polity & Governance .............................................................................................................................. 1

1. Key Achievement 2017: MeitY (Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology)

(Relevant for GS Prelims and Mains Paper II & III) .................................................................. 1

2. NCST Protection of Jarawa Tribes (Relevant for GS Prelims and Mains Paper II) ................ 2

3. All you need to know about electoral bonds (Relevant for GS Prelims and Mains Paper II) . 3

4. Lok Sabha passes bill to hike salaries of judges (Relevant for GS prelims, GS mains Paper

II) ..................................................................................................................................................... 4

5. Implementation of NFSA (Relevant for GS prelims, GS Mains Paper II) .................................. 5

6. State of Bharat Net Project (Relevant for GS Prelims, GS Mains paper II) ............................. 5

7. Cabinet approves fixed term for Chairperson and Members of the National Trust (Relevant

for GS Prelims, GS Mains Paper II) .............................................................................................. 6

8. Cabinet approves continuation of Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme

beyond 12th Plan (Relevant for GS prelims, GS Mains Paper II) ............................................. 6

9. Row over Mandovi river escalates (Relevant for GS Prelims, GS mains Paper II) ................. 7

10. Analysis of Section 126 of RP Act, 1951 (Relevant for GS Prelims, GS Mains Paper II) ......... 9

11. Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA) Crosses One Crore Mark (Relevant

for GS Prelims, GS Mains Paper II and III) ................................................................................ 10

12. All about National Health Policy, 2017 (Relevant for GS Prelims and Mains Paper II)

………………………………………………..………………………………………………………………………………….......11

13. Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship schemes (Relevant for GS Prelims) ...... 13

14. Initiatives by Ministry of Women and Child Development in year 2017 (Must for GS

prelims, GS Mains Paper II and

III)…………………………………………………………………………………………….15

International Organizations and Relations ..........................................................................19

1. Japan’s Official Development Loan Assistance to India for an amount of Yen 45 billion

(=Rs.2587 crore approx.) for Bengaluru Water Supply and Sewerage Project (Phase 3)

(I).

(Relevant for GS Prelims, GS Mains Paper II) ............................................................................. 19

2. BBIN Motor Vehicles Agreement Regains Momentum: Bangladesh, India and Nepal

agree on operating procedures for movement of Passenger vehicles (Relevant for GS

Prelims, GS Mains Paper II) ............................................................................................................ 19

3. PM Modi, Israeli PM Netanyahu dedicate iCreate to the nation (Relevant for GS

Prelims) ............................................................................................................................................... 21

Economics .............................................................................................................................................. 22

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1. All you need to know about Financial Resolution and Deposit Insurance (FRDI) Bill,

2017 (Relevant for GS Prelims, GS Mains Paper III) ................................................................ 22

2. Government schemes to reduce MMR (Relevant for GS prelims, GS mains paper II) .........

............................................................................................................................................................ 25

3. FDI policy further liberalized in key sectors (Relevant for GS prelims, GS Mains Paper

III) ....................................................................................................................................................... 27

4. India’s First agri-Options by National Commodity and Derivatives Exchange Limited

(NCDEX) (Relevant for GS Mains Paper III) .............................................................................. 28

5. International Workshop on Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (IWDRI) (Relevant for GS

Prelims, GS Mains Paper III) ......................................................................................................... 29

6. National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF) makes its First Investment

(Relevant for GS Prelims, GS Mains Paper III) .......................................................................... 30

7. Govt. unveils Rs. 2.1 lakh crore bank recapitalisation plan (Relevant for GS Mains Paper III

and GS Prelims) ........................................................................................................................... 31

8. Registrar of Companies removed names of 2,26,166 defunct companies in 2017

(Relevant for GS Mains Paper III) ................................................................................................ 32

9. Amendment in companies act having bearing on working of the Insolvency and

Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (Code) (Relevant for GS Prelims, GS Mains paper III) ................ 33

10. State of Milk production (Relevant for GS Prelims, GS Mains Paper III) ............................ 34

Geography ............................................................................................................................................. 36

1. Total Eclipse of Moon to take place on January 31 (Relevant for GS prelims) .................. 36

Environment .......................................................................................................................................... 37

1. High Ash content (Relevant for GS Prelims, GS Mains Paper III) ......................................... 37

2. Measures to Stop /Prevent Underground Fire in Coal Mines (Relevant for GS Prelims, GS

Mains Paper III) ............................................................................................................................... 38

3. Changes in Cryosphere affecting Global Climate (Relevant for GS Prelims, GS Mains Paper

III) ................................................................................................................................................. 38

Science & Technology .......................................................................................................................... 40

1. PSLV successfully launches 31 satellites in a single flight (Relevant for GS Prelims, GS

Mains Paper III) .......................................................................................................................... 40

Social Issues ................................................................................................................................41

1. Swachh Survekshan 2018: Categories of Ranking — 500 cities with more than 1 lakh

population to have National Ranking — 3541 cities with less than 1 lakh population to

have State/Regional Ranking (Relevant for GS prelims) ....................................................... 41







Miscellaneous ....................................................................................................................................... 43

1. PM pays tributes to Savitribai Phule on her Jayanti (Relevant for GS Prelims) ................ 43

2. Cabinet approves construction of 2-lane bi-directional Zojila tunnel (Relevant for GS

Prelims) ............................................................................................................................................. 43

3. Incredible India 2.0 Campaign (Relevant for GS Prelims) .................................................... 44

4. Cabinet approves setting up of new AIIMS in Bilaspur (Relevant for GS Prelims) ........... 44

5. Marketing of Tribal Goods (Relevant for GS prelims) ........................................................... 44

6. Aanchal Thakur won India’s first international medal in skiing at FIS International

Skiing Competition in Turkey (Relevant for GS Prelims) ....................................................... 45

7. Hunar Haat (Relevant for GS Prelims) ........................................................................................ 46

8. Saksham-2018 (Relevant for GS Prelims) ................................................................................. 46

9. President of India presents Sangeet Natak Akademi’s fellowships and Akademi Awards

for 2016 (Relevant for GS prelims) ............................................................................................. 47

10. PM Modi, Israeli PM Netanyahu dedicate iCreate to the nation (Relevant for GS Prelims)

....................................................................................................................................................... 48

11. SH. Rawat appointed Chief Election Commissioner (Relevant for GS Prelims) ................ 48

12. SARAS PT1N makes its maiden flight (Relevant for GS Prelims) ......................................... 50

13. Padma Awards 2018 announced (Relevant for GS Prelims) ................................................. 50

14. Gallantry Awards 2018 (Relevant for GS Prelims) .................................................................. 52

15. India is the leading country in coconut production and productivity in the world

(Relevant for GS Prelims) .............................................................................................................. 52

16. India’s First National Rail and Transportation University at Vadodara (Relevant for GS

Prelims) ............................................................................................................................................. 53

17. Khelo India Pledge (Relevant for GS prelims) .......................................................................... 53

Internal Security .................................................................................................................................. 55

1. Govt launched e-portal to boost diary productivity (Relevant for GS Prelims and Mains

Paper II) ............................................................................................................................................. 55

2. Setting up of National Security Commission (Relevant for GS Prelims, GS Mains Paper II)

....................................................................................................................................................... 52

3. Zero-Accident Mission Of Railways (Relevant for GS Prelims, GS Mains Paper III) ........ 56





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Polity and Governance 1. Key Achievement 2017: MeitY (Ministry of Electronics and Information

Technology) (Relevant for GS Prelims and Mains Paper II & III)

Digital India, the flagship project of the Government of India, has made rapid progress in

the year 2017.

The Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY), as a key ministry under the

Government of India and the enabler of Digital India programme, has undertaken

numerous revolutionary initiatives in the area of IT/ ITeS.

About Digital India:

Digital India is a campaign launched by the Government of India to ensure that Government

services are made available to citizens electronically by improved online infrastructure and

by increasing Internet connectivity or by making the country digitally empowered in the

field of technology.

Detailed schemes that substantiate the country s march towards a robust digital economy:

-The Mobile Phone Revolution: Today India is home to 121 Crore Mobile Phone users,

compared to 103 crore in 2016.

–Jeevan Pramaan: It is an Aadhaar based platform for biometric authentication of the

pensioners and senior citizens.

–Digital Locker System (DigiLocker): DigiLocker, launched in July 2016, serves as a

platform to enable citizens to securely store and share their documents with service

providers electronically after giving due permission.

– Common Services Centres (CSCs): CSCs are the world s largest digital service delivery

network. These information and communication technology enabled kiosks with

broadband connectivity has been providing various governments, private and social

services at the doorsteps of citizen.

– MyGov: This is a citizen-centric digital collaboration platform that empowers people to

connect with the Government & contribute towards good governance.

Other noteworthy achievements:

– India BPO Promotion Scheme: India BPO Promotion Scheme (IBPS) The Government

has approved India BPO Promotion Scheme (IBPS) under the Digital India Programme to

create employment opportunities and promotion of BPO/ITES operations across the






2



country to secure balanced regional growth of IT/ITES industry, with an outlay of Rs. 493

crore.

– Jan Suraksha Schemes Registrations: Following the success of the Pradhan Mantri Jan

Dhan Yojana scheme, an accidental cover scheme, which became a hit with the citizens of

the country, the Modi-led government has introduced three new schemes known as the Jan

Suraksha Schemes. The schemes cover areas such as insurance for the poor, pension and so

on.

The three schemes introduced under the Jan Suraksha Schemes are: – Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana,

– Atal Pension Yojana and

– Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana.

The schemes were simultaneously launched in 160 cities and towns across India.

– eNAM: National Agriculture Market (NAM) is a pan-India electronic trading portal which

networks the existing APMC mandis to create a unified national market for agricultural

commodities. The NAM Portal provides a single window service for all APMC related

information and services.

– National Scholarship Portal: National Scholarships Portal is one-stop solution through

which various services starting from student application, application receipt, processing,

sanction and disbursal of various scholarships to Students are enabled.

– GeM: Government created one stop Government e-Marketplace (GeM) to facilitate on line

procurement of common use Goods & Services required by various Government

Departments / Organizations / PSUs.

GeM will enhance transparency, efficiency and speed in public procurement. It will also

provide the tools of e-bidding and reverse e-auction as well as demand aggregation to

facilitate the government users to achieve the best value for the money.

(Adapted from PIB)

2. NCST Protection of Jarawa Tribes (Relevant for GS Prelims and Mains Paper II)

National Commission of Scheduled Tribes (NCST) has issued directions to the officials of

A&N islands for taking strict action against those who upload inappropriate video films/

photos of tribal communities on You Tube.

About NCST:






3



The National Commission for Scheduled Tribes has been set up under Article 338A to

oversee the implementation of various safeguards provided to Scheduled Tribes under the

Constitution.

Under which law is it a punishable offence?

A&N Administration has clarified that posting/ uploading of pictures/ videos of tribes of

A&N Islands in any social networking sites is punishable with imprisonment upto three

years as per Section 7 of the A&N (Protection of Aboriginal Tribes) Amendment Regulation,

2012 and also attracts Section 3 (i) ® of the SC & ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act 1989.

Objectives underlining the policy to protect Jarawa tribe:

Andaman & Nicobar Administration had issued Policy on Jarawa Tribe of Andaman Islands

with the following objectives:

1. To protect the Jarawas from harmful effects of exposure and contact with the outside

world.

2. To preserve the social organization, mode of subsistence and cultural identity of the

Jarawa community.

3 To conserve the ecology and environment of the Jarawa Reserve Territory and

strengthen support systems in order to enable the Jarawas pursue their traditional modes

of subsistence end way of life; and

4. To sensitize settler communities around the Jarawa habitat and personnel working for

the protection and preservation of the Jarawas about the need to preserve this ancient

community and to value their unique culture and life styles.

About Jarawa Tribe:

The Jarawas are an indigenous people of the Andaman Islands in India. They live in parts of

South Andaman and Middle Andaman Islands, and their present numbers are estimated at

between 250–400 individuals. They have largely shunned interaction with outsiders, and

many particulars of their society, culture and traditions are poorly understood.

(Adapted from PIB)

3. All you need to know about electoral bonds (Relevant for GS Prelims and Mains

Paper II)

The Government of India notifies the Scheme of Electoral Bonds to cleanse the system of

political funding in the country.






4



The Government of India today notified the Scheme of Electoral Bonds to cleanse the

system of political funding in the country.

The broad Features of the Scheme are given below:

1. Electoral Bond would be a bearer instrument and an interest free banking instrument. It

will not carry the name of payee.

2. A citizen of India or a body incorporated in India will be eligible to purchase the bond.

3. Electoral Bond (s) would be issued/purchased for any value, in multiples of Rs.1,000,

Rs.10,000, Rs.1,00,000, Rs.10,00,000 and Rs.1,00,00,000 from the Specified Branches of the

State Bank of India (SBI).

4. The purchaser would be allowed to buy Electoral Bond(s) only on due fulfilment of all

the extant KYC norms and by making payment from a bank account.

5. Electoral Bonds would have a life of only 15 days during which it can be used for making

donation only to the political parties registered under section 29A of the Representation of

the Peoples Act, 1951 (43 of 1951) and which secured not less than one per cent of the

votes polled in the last general election to the House of the People or a Legislative

Assembly.

6. The Electoral Bonds under the Scheme shall be available for purchase for a period of 10

days each in the months of January, April, July and October, as may be specified by the

Central Government.

7. An additional period of 30 days shall be specified by the Central Government in the year

of the General election to the House of People.

The Electoral Bond(s) shall be encashed by an eligible political party only through a

designated bank account with the authorised bank.

(Adapted from PIB and PrepMate.in)

4. Lok Sabha passes bill to hike salaries of judges (Relevant for GS prelims, GS mains

Paper II)

The hike is in line with the recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission.

The Lok Sabha passed a bill to hike the salaries of judges of the Supreme Court and High

Courts. The Bill proposes to hike the salary of the Chief Justice of India to Rs. 2.80 lakh a

month, and that of judges of the Supreme Court and Chief Justices of High Courts to Rs. 2.5

lakh a month. Judges of High Courts will draw a salary of Rs. 2.25 lakh a month once this

Bill becomes law.






5



The Rajya Sabha has to pass the Bill before the bill becomes a law.

Separation of powers

The salary hike, in line with the recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission for officers of

all-India services, will come into force with effect from January 1, 2016.

(Adapted from PIB)

5. Implementation of NFSA (Relevant for GS prelims, GS Mains Paper II)

Provisions of NFSA

The National Food Security Act, 2013 (NFSA), provides for coverage of 75% of the rural and

50% of the urban population for receiving foodgrains at highly subsidized prices of

Rs.1/2/3 per kg for coarse grains/wheat/rice respectively. Coverage under the Act is under

two categories- households covered under the Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) and

remaining households as priority households. AAY is therefore a part of NFSA.

Implementation of the act : 80.72 crore persons identified by States/ UTs for coverage

under the NFSA

The Act is being implemented in all the States/Union Territories (UTs) and foodgrains are

being allocated for 80.72 crore persons identified by State Governments/ UT

Administrations for coverage under the Act. This includes 2.36 crore families belonging to

AAY category.

Administrative body under the act

Under NFSA, there is no provision for any Commission at the national level or District level.

The Act provides for State Food Commission (SFC) in every State/UT, for the purpose of

monitoring and review of implementation of the Act. The total expenditure on SFC depends

on terms and conditions of appointment of Chairperson and Members of the Commission

as determined by the State Government, the staff support to the Commission, other

expenditure etc. and therefore differs from State to State. Central Government provides

one-time Central assistance of upto Rs.50 lakh for non-building assets for the State Food

Commission.

(Adapted from PIB)

6. State of Bharat Net Project (Relevant for GS Prelims, GS Mains paper II)

Government has achieved a significant milestone under the BharatNet by completing

Phase-1 of the project by connecting over one lakh Gram Panchayats (GP) across the

country with high speed optical fibre network as per the declared deadline of 31 Dec 2017.






6



About Bharat Net Project (National Optical Fibre Network project)

As part of Digital India Mission, the Government of India entity Bharat Broadband Network

Limited (BBNL) which executes the National Optical Fibre Network project is the custodian

of Digital India (DI) project. It has an objective to connect 250,000 villages through

broadband network.

The government is planning to set up at least one Common Service Centre in each of the

gram panchayats in the state.

(News Adapted from PIB)

7. Cabinet approves fixed term for Chairperson and Members of the National Trust

(Relevant for GS Prelims, GS Mains Paper II)

The Union Cabinet has approved the proposal to amend Section 4(1) and Section 5(1) of

the National Trust for the Welfare of Person with Autism, Cerebral Plasy, Mental

Retardation and Multiple Disabilities Act, 1999 to fix the term of the Chairperson and

Members of the Board of National Trust for three years.

Tenure of members and chairperson

Section 4(1) of the National Trust Act, 1999 provides that the Chairperson or a Member

of the Board of National Trust would continue in office beyond the prescribed term of three

years until his successor shall have been duly appointed.

In case of resignation of the Chairperson, section 5(1) of the Act provides for him to

continue in office until his successor is duly appointed by the Government. The wording of

the above provisions of the Act in its present form has resulted in continuation of a

Chairman for an indefinite period as no suitable successor could be found eligible for

appointment. The proposed amendments in these provisions of the Act seek to avoid such a

situation and will thus eliminate any chance of prolonged continuation in the same post by

any incumbent.

(Adapted from PIB)

8. Cabinet approves continuation of Members of Parliament Local Area Development

Scheme beyond 12th Plan (Relevant for GS prelims, GS Mains Paper II)

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has given its approval to continuation of

Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) till the term of the

14th Finance Commission i.e. 31.03.2020.

Details:






7



The Scheme would entail an annual allocation of Rs. 3,950 crore and a total outlay of Rs.

11,850 crores over the next three years with an additional annual allocation of Rs. 5 crore

per year for monitoring through independent agency(ies) and for capacity

building/training to State/District officials to be imparted by the Ministry.

The MPLADS funds are released to the nodal District Authorities on receipt of requisite

documents and as per provisions of Guidelines on MPLADS.

Impact:

The entire population across the country stands to benefit through creation of durable

assets of locally felt needs, namely drinking water, education, public health, sanitation and

roads etc., under MPLAD Scheme.

The MPLAD Scheme has resulted into creation of various durable community assets which

have impacted the social, cultural and economic life of the local communities in one way or

the other.

Background:

The MPLAD Scheme is an ongoing Central Sector Scheme which was launched in 1993-94.

Since the inception of the Scheme till August, 2017, a total number of 18,82,180 works for

Rs. 44,929.17 crore have been sanctioned from MPLADS fund.

The Scheme enables the Members of Parliament to recommend works for creation of

durable community assets based on locally felt needs to be taken up in their constituencies

in the area of national priorities namely drinking water, education, public health,

sanitation, roads etc. The Scheme is governed by a set of guidelines, which have been last

revised in June, 2016.

(Adapted from PIB)

9. Row over Mandovi river escalates (Relevant for GS Prelims, GS mains Paper II)

The row between Goa, Karnataka and Maharashtra over the sharing of the Mahadayi

(Mandovi) river has escalated. With Karnataka headed for elections and the Mahadayi

Water Disputes Tribunal setting a February date for the final hearing, political parties in

both States have upped the ante.

What is the Mahadayi row?

Karnataka seeks to divert water from tributaries of the river through the Kalasa-Bhanduri

Nala project towards the parched Malaprabha river basin (a tributary of River Krishna),

which is being strongly opposed by Goa.






8



This has led to a long-drawn farmers agitation in Karnataka, which has been revitalised as

the State goes to the polls later this year.

The 80-km-long river rises from the forests of the Western Ghats at Devgaon in northern

Karnataka. It enters Goa where it is a lifeline, both for the people and the rich flora and

fauna of its forests. While the demand for drawing water from the Mahadayi is four decades

old, it was in 2002 that Karnataka drew up the Kalasa-Bhanduri project to supply drinking

water to four parched districts of north Karnataka. The NDA government even cleared the

project, which was kept in abeyance after opposition from Goa. The project has since

become a point for a political stand-off between the two States. By 2010, the Centre set up

the Mahadayi Water Disputes Tribunal.

What are the contentions?

Goa s main contention is that Karnataka cannot divert water from an already-deficit

Mahadayi basin to the Malaprabha river basin: 115 tmcft was available in the basin, while

the requirement for the three States is 145 tmcft. It has said that any attempt to divert

water from one river basin to the other will cause irreparable environmental damage.

Karnataka claims 199.6 tmcft is available and the river is water-surplus. Of this, Karnataka

wants 24.15 tmcft.

Both States have received minor victories and losses at the tribunal over the last three

years. However, a resolution is far from over, and anger continues to rise. Both the BJP and

the Congress have attempted to leverage this anger.

However, with the BJP helming Goa and the Union government, the Congress has found

itself on the backfoot.

Why has it spiralled now?

As Karnataka heads to the elections, channelling the anger against the failure to implement

the project is becoming key for any party that wants to grab power. On December 20, 2017,

Karnataka BJP leader B.S. Yeddyurappa met the brass of the party and Goa Chief Minister

Manohar Parrikar about the issue. Mr. Parrikar, responding to a letter by Mr. Yeddyurappa,

said that in principle, Goa would not oppose the justified quantum to be utilised for

drinking purpose alone on humanitarian grounds, and he was ready for discussions

within the parameters of the tribunal. However, the plot has not worked out the way it was

intended.

Mr. Parrikar remains under criticism in Goa, where he was asked to withdraw the letter.

Water Resources Minister Vinod Palienkar called it a political stunt.

In Karnataka, the agitating farmers from the Malaprabha basin travelled to Bengaluru to

stage a dharna in front of the BJP office, demanding that Mr. Yeddyurappa keep his

promise. The Congress, on the other hand, attempted to portray this episode as the BJP s






9



ploy before the elections. But the farmers are building pressure on the government to hold

an all-party meeting and take another delegation to the Centre to resolve the issue without

resorting to one-upmanship.

What lies ahead?

The Mahadayi Water Disputes Tribunal has scheduled the final hearing of the case for

February 6-22. The extended term of the tribunal will expire on August 26, 2018. With the

elections in Karnataka expected to be held between the last week of April and the first

week of May, Mahadayi is bound to remain on the boil.

(Adapted from PIB)

10. Analysis of Section 126 of RP Act, 1951 (Relevant for GS Prelims, GS Mains Paper

II)

The schedule for calling general elections to the Legislative Assemblies of Meghalaya,

Nagaland & Tripura has been announced on 18th January, 2018. Poll is scheduled to be

held in single phase on 18/02/2018 in Tripura and on 27/02/2018 in Meghalaya &

Nagaland.

Section 126 of Representation of the People Act, 1951

Section 126 of Representation of the People Act, 1951, prohibits displaying any election

matter by means, inter alia, of television or similar apparatus, during the period of 48 hours

before the hour fixed for conclusion of poll in a constituency. The relevant portions of the

said Section 126 are re- produced below: –

1. 126. Prohibition of public meeting during period of forty-eight hours ending with hour

fixed for conclusion of poll-

(1) No person shall display to the public any election matter by means of cinematograph,

television or other similar apparatus;

In any polling area during the period of forty-eight hours ending with the hour fixed for the

conclusion of the poll for any election in the polling area.

(2) Any person who contravenes the provisions of sub-section (1) shall be punishable with

imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both.

(3) In this Section, the expression election matter means any matter intended or

calculated to influence or affect the result of an election.)

2.During elections, there are sometimes allegations of violation of the provisions of the

above mentioned Section 126 of Representation of the People Act, 1951 by TV channels in






10



the telecast of their panel discussions/debates and other news and current affairs

programmes.

3.The Commission once again reiterates that the TV/Radio channels and cable networks

should ensure that the contents of the programme telecast/broadcast/displayed by them

during the period of 48 hours referred to in Section 126 do not contain any material,

including views/appeals by panelists/participants that may be construed as

promoting/prejudicing the prospect of any particular party or candidate(s) or

influencing/affecting the result of the election. This shall, among other things, include

display of result of any opinion poll and of standard debates, analysis, visuals and sound-

bytes.

4.Further Section 126A of the R.P. Act 1951 prohibits conduct of Exit poll and

dissemination of their results during the period reckoned from the commencement of polls

and till half an hour after the close of poll in all the States.

What are Exit polls?

An election exit poll is a poll of voters taken immediately after they have exited the polling

stations. Unlike an opinion poll, which asks for whom the voter plans to vote, an exit poll

asks for whom the voter actually voted.

According to Representation of People (Amendment) Act, 2009, no person shall conduct

any exit poll and publish by any means the result of the exit poll during the period notified

by the Election Commission.

Exit polls have been restricted in multi-phase elections because voting patterns in earlier

phases may influence the voting in later phases. Any person who contravenes this

provision shall be punishable with fine or imprisonment up to 2 years or with both.

(Adapted from PIB and Exit Polls from PrepMate-Cengage Polity Book Chapter 20,

Page 254)

11. Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA) Crosses One Crore Mark

(Relevant for GS Prelims, GS Mains Paper II and III)

The PMSMA programme was launched in 2016 to fulfil his vision and ensure

comprehensive and quality antenatal checkups to pregnant women across India. More

than one crore antenatal check-ups have been conducted under the ambitious Pradhan

Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA), which has provided quality antenatal

checkups to pregnant women on the 9th of every month.

What is PMSMA?






11



The Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA) has been launched by the

Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW), Government of India to provide fixed-day

assured, comprehensive and quality antenatal care universally to all pregnant women on

the 9th of every month. As part of the Abhiyan, a minimum package of antenatal care

services would be provided to pregnant women in their 2nd / 3rd trimesters, by

Radiologist/ Physicians at government health facilities, with support from private sector

doctors to supplement the efforts of the government.

(Adapted from Pib)

12. All about National Health Policy, 2017 (Relevant for GS Prelims and Mains Paper

II)

The Policy seeks to reach everyone in a comprehensive integrated way to move towards

wellness. It aims at achieving universal health coverage and delivering quality health care

services to all at affordable cost.

The main objective of the National Health Policy 2017 is to achieve the highest possible

level of good health and well-being, through a preventive and promotive health care

orientation in all developmental policies, and to achieve universal access to good quality

health care services without anyone having to face financial hardship as a consequence.

Highlights:

-The Policy envisages raising public health expenditure progressively to 2.5% of the GDP

by 2025.

-The State Governments, have also been requested to increase their budget outlay for

Health. A draft implementation framework has also been devised to implement the

National Health Policy, 2017.

-The Government has also requested all the concerned authorities for implementation of

the health policy.

Important Steps undertaken are as follows:

Implementation of schemes like:

1.Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakaram (JSSK),

Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakaram (JSSK) has been launched on 1st June, 2011, which

entitles all pregnant women delivering in public health institutions to absolutely free and

no expense delivery including Caesarean section. The initiative stipulates free drugs,

diagnostics, blood and diet, besides free transport from home to institution, between

facilities in case of a referral and drop back home. Similar entitlements have been put in

place for ante-natal and post–natal complications during pregnancy and all sick infants

accessing public health institutions for treatment.






12



2.Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakaram (RBSK),

The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India, under the National Health

Mission launched the Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK), which envisages Child

Health Screening and Early Intervention Services.

Child Health Screening and Early Intervention Services basically refer to early detection

and management of a set of 30 health conditions prevalent in children less than 18 years of

age. These conditions are broadly Defects at birth, Diseases in children, Deficiency

conditions and Developmental delays including Disabilities – 4D s.

It is estimated that about 270 million children in the age group from birth to eighteen years

including the newborn and those attending Angawadi Centers and Government schools will

be benefitted through this programme in a phased manner (Census 2011).

3.Rashtriya Kishor SwasthyaKaryakaram (RKSK)

The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare has launched a health programme for

adolescents, in the age group of 10-19 years, which would target their nutrition,

reproductive health and substance abuse, among other issues.

The Rashtriya Kishor Swasthya Karyakram was launched in 2014. The programme

envisions enabling all adolescents in India to realize their full potential by making informed

and responsible decisions related to their health and well being and by accessing the

services and support they need to do so.

To guide the implementation of this programme, MOHFW in collaboration with UNFPA has

developed a National Adolescent Health Strategy. It realigns the existing clinic-based

curative approach to focus on a more holistic model based on a continuum of care for

adolescent health and developmental needs.

The Rashtriya Kishor Swasthya Karyakram (National Adolescent Health Programme),will

comprehensively address the health needs of the 243 million adolescents. It introduces

community-based interventions through peer educators, and is underpinned by

collaborations with other ministries and state governments.

4.Jan Aushadhi Scheme

A total of 2091 Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) Kendras are

functional across the country, as on 31.07.2017.

Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana is a campaign launched by the

Department of Pharmaceuticals, Govt. Of India, to provide quality medicines at affordable

prices to the masses through special kendra s known as Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Jan

Aushadhi Kendra.






13



Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Jan Aushadhi Kendra (PMBJK) have been set up to provide

generic drugs, which are available at lesser prices but are equivalent in quality and efficacy

as expensive branded drugs.

5.Rashtriya Swasthya BimaYojana (RSBY) which provides for smart card based cashless

health coverage on family floater basis.

Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY, literally National Health Insurance Programme ,

is a government-run health insurance programme for the Indian poor.The scheme aims to

provide health insurance coverage to the unrecognised sector workers belonging to the

BPL category and their family members shall be beneficiaries under this scheme. It

provides for cashless insurance for hospitalisation in public as well as private hospitals.

The scheme started enrolling on April 1, 2008 and has been implemented in 25 states of

India. A total of 36 million families have been enrolled as of February 2014. In the starting

RSBY is a project under the Ministry of Labour and Employment. Now it is transferred to

Ministry of Health and family welfare from April 1, 2015.

Every below poverty line (BPL) family holding a yellow ration card pays Rs. 30

registration fee to get a biometric-enabled smart card containing their fingerprints and

photographs. This enables them to receive inpatient medical care of up to Rs. 30,000

(US$470) per family per year in any of the empanelled hospitals. Pre-existing illnesses are

covered from day one, for head of household, spouse and up to three dependent children or

parents.

(Adapted from Pib and prepmate.in)

13. Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship schemes (Relevant for GS

Prelims)

Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) completed it 3 successful

years since inception in 2014. For the first time, a ministry with its core focus on

converging all skill development initiatives in the country under one National Skills

Qualification Framework (NSQF), was created by the Government of India. Out of 2.5 crores

candidates who have been skilled under MSDE programs alone, more than one crore have

been trained in 2017.

Schemes by the ministry –Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Kendras: In year 2017, MSDE focused extensively on building

industry standardized infrastructure for driving skill development training under which it

launched its Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Kendras (PMKK). PMKK has the potential to become

the benchmark of skill development infrastructure, training, and placement in the






14



respective district and; also in the country. It will make skill development quality oriented,

sustainable and aspirational.

As on December 22, 2017, 527 Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Kendras (PMKKs) have been

allocated across 27 states.

–MSDE also laid down the Foundation stone of the First Regional Vocational Training

Institute (RVTI) of Hyderabad in Andhra Pradesh. Currently, there are 15 RVTIs spread

across the nation.

–Indian Institute of Skills (IIS): These are state of the art center of excellence being set up

across the 5 regions of India on the lines on ITE Singapore. The construction for the first IIS

will begin soon in Mumbai, in collaborations Tata Group. Total budget of Rs. 476 Crore has

been laid down for building IIS, which will provide hands-on training in advanced courses

such as energy efficient construction, industrial electronics and automation etc.

–Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) and Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):

Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship is implementing flagship scheme

known as Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) on pan–India basis. PMKVY

enables large number of prospective youth, which also includes tribal, for taking Short

Term Training (STT) and Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) through accredited and

affiliated training partner/training centers. The schemes run across 252 job roles related to

35 Sector Skill Councils, which is a diverse and exhaustive representation of the industry.

–SANKALP & STRIVE: MSDE In October, 2017 got approval by Cabinet Committee on

Economic Affairs on the Skills Acquisition and Knowledge Awareness for Livelihood

Promotion (SANKALP) and Skills Strengthening for Industrial Value Enhancement

(STRIVE) which are all set to boost the Skill India Mission in the country.

SANKALP is Rs 4455 Crore centrally sponsored project including Rs. 3300 Crore support

from World Bank whereas STRIVE is a Rs. 2200 crore – central sector project, with half of

the project outlay as World Bank assistance. SANKALP and STRIVE are outcome focused

projects marking a shift in government s implementation strategy in vocational education

and training from inputs to results building in a strong shift to an outcome based skill

ecosystem.

–Takshashila (Trainers and Assessors Portal) – National Portal for Trainers and Assessors

is an initiative by NSDC under Skill Indian Mission. The portal is a dedicated platform

towards the management of trainers and assessors training life-cycle and would function

as the central repository of information concerning the development of quality Trainers

and Assessors in the Indian skill eco-system. It is built in with a feature to search trainers






15



and assessors trained by SSCs across states, sectors and job roles for access to a pool of

qualified and skilled professionals.-

–National Entrepreneurship Awards 2017 In order to reorganize the entrepreneurial spirit

of India s youth and encourage more young Indians to become entrepreneurs, MSDE

presented the National Entrepreneurship Awards for the 2nd year on 09-11-2017 the third

foundation day of the Ministry, in New Delhi to 10 Young Entrepreneurs (Award track

winners with a cash prize of Rs 5 lakh per award) and 02 (two) awards (Recognition Track

Winner @10 lakhs per award) to Institutes/organizations as well as three awards to

individual (Mentors) carrying a prize money of 5 lakhs each

–Recognition to States and Enterprises promoting Entrepreneurship: Further, in

recognition of achievement for engaging apprentices, one best State, one best Central

Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE), one best State Public Sector Enterprises (SPSE), and one

best Private establishment were also conferred with Champions of Change award on this

occasion. The award winners are i) State Government of Haryana (Best State Category), ii)

Bharat Heavy Electronicals Limited (BHEL)

(Adapted from Pib)

14. Initiatives by Ministry of Women and Child Development in year 2017 (Must for

GS prelims, GS Mains Paper II and III)

During the year 2017, the Ministry of Women and Child Development launched several big

initiatives like National Nutrition Mission , pan-India expansion of Beti Bachao Beti Padhao,

launch of Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana, Universal Scheme for Adolescent Girls,

launch of Mahila Shakti Kendra scheme and a large number of measures for promotion of

safety of women and children as well as leveraging ICT to ensure transparency, quick

delivery of services as well as preventing leakages, among others.

1.NATIONAL NUTRITION MISSION (NNM):

Although malnutrition indices have shown a decline as per National Family Health Survey

(NFHS) – 4 in 2015-16 over NFHS (3) in 2005-06, the overall malnutrition scenario still

continues to look bleak across the country.

In NFHS(4), 35.7% children under 5 years of age are underweight and 38.4% are stunted

indicating a reduction from the previous NFHS – 3 which reported 42.5% children under 5

years of age as underweight and 48% stunted. Further, 22.9% women (15-49 years of age)

have chronic energy deficiency (BMI less than 18.5) which is a decline from the previous

NFHS-3 levels which reported 35.5% women having chronic energy deficiency.

To deal with this problem of malnutrition on a war footing, the Government of India has

approved setting-up of the National Nutrition Mission on 30.11.2017 with a three year

budget of Rs. 9046.17 Crores commencing from 2017-18.






16



It ensures convergence with various programmes i.e Anganwadi Services, Pradhan Mantri

Matru Vandana Yojana, Scheme for Adolescent Girls of WCD Ministry; Janani Suraksha

Yojana (JSY), National Health Mission (NHM) of Ministry of Health & Family Welfare;

Swachh Bharat Mission of Ministry of Drinking Water & Sanitation (DW&S); Public

Distribution System (PDS) of Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution

(CAF&PD); Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) of

Ministry of Rural Development (M/o RD); Drinking Water & Toilets with Ministry of

Panchayati Raj and Urban Local Bodies through Ministry of Urban Development.

The Goals of NNM are to achieve improvement in nutritional status of Children from 0-6

years, Pregnant Women and Lactating Mothers in a time bound manner during the next

three years beginning 2017-18.

One of the key activities in project is Information and Communication Technology enabled

Real Time Monitoring (ICT-RTM) of ICDS. Accordingly, a customized mobile based Common

Application software (ICDS-CAS) has been developed. Anganwadi workers feed the

information regarding the services delivered, through the mobile devices installed with

ICDS-CAS application.

2. Pan-India expansion of Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) Scheme after successful

implementation in 161 districts:

Beti Bachao Beti Padhao is one the flagship programmes of the Government, launched on

22nd January, 2015 at Panipat, Haryana to address the declining Child Sex Ratio (CSR) and

address other related issues of disempowerment of women.

It is a tri-ministerial, convergent effort of Ministries of Women and Child Development,

Health & Family Welfare and Human Resource Development with focus on Awareness and

Advocacy Campaign; Multi-sectoral action in select 161 districts (low on CSR); Effective

enforcement of Pre-Conception and Pre Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PC&PNDT) Act and

enabling girls education.

Based on the successful implementation in 161 districts, the Cabinet has approved the

expansion of BBBP which would include Multi-sectoral intervention in 244 districts in

addition to existing 161 districts, where physical implementation of the scheme will

happen under the leadership of Collector/DM/DC. 235 districts are to be covered through

Alert District Media, Advocacy and Outreach, thus covering all the 640 districts (as per

census 2011) of the Country to have a deeper positive impact on Child Sex Ratio.

3. Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY)

The Prime Minister, on 31st December, 2016, had announced Pan-India implementation of

Maternity Benefit Programme to eligible pregnant women and lactating mothers. The

Programme has since been named as Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY).






17



The eligible beneficiaries would receive cash incentive of Rs 6000/- as per approved norms

during pregnancy and after institutional delivery.

4. Universal Scheme for Adolescent Girls:

The Government on 16.11.2017 approved implementation of the Scheme for Adolescent

Girls for out of school girls in the age group of 11-14 years to provide them nutrition

support and vocational /skill training under non-nutrition. The scheme has been extended

to additional 303 districts in addition to existing 205 districts across the country in 2017-

18.

5. Women Welfare:

2017 saw the launch of Mahila Shakti Kendra scheme to address women s issues at the

village level. Over 300 thousand student volunteers are being sent out in 115 most

backward districts under this new scheme. These volunteers, mobilised through local

colleges, NCC, NSS, NYK etc., will work with local women to help them access government

schemes for their benefit. District Level Centres for Women are also being set up in 640

districts under this scheme, which will provide convergence at the district level for all

initiatives related to women. State Resource Centres for Women will be the state-level

mechanism to ensure coordination between blocks, districts, state and centre.

Other initiatives for Women

1. The National Policy for Women, 2017 was drafted and is currently under consideration.

The draft Policy addresses the diverse needs of women with regard to health including

food security and nutrition; education; economy including agriculture, industry, labour,

employment, NRI women, soft power, service sector, science and technology; governance

and decision making; violence; creation of an enabling environment among others.

2. Maternity leave has been extended to a period of 26 weeks (~6 months).

3. Passport rules have been amended in favour of single mothers. Now either mother or

father s name can be provided in application form and do not have to provide certificate of

marriage/divorce during application.

4. 117 new One Stop Centres (OSCs) have become operational in addition to previous 51

OSCs. These 168 centres have offered support to over 70,000 women. They offer a single

window to a range of services including access to police, medical, legal and psychological

support and temporary shelter in 32 States/UTs. A further 150 OSCs are planned to be set

up by 2020.

5. During 2017, 10 new Women Helplines with the uniform code 181 have been started

taking total coverage now in 28 States. Over 11 lakh calls of women have been handled in

the past one year or so.






18



6. To help women report incidents of Sexual harassment at the workplace, an online

complaint mechanism – SHe-Box – has been established. Any female employee in the

country, whether employed by the government or private, can file an online complaint of

sexual harassment through this portal.

7. An amendment has been proposed by the Ministry to the Prohibition of Child Marriage

Act, 2006 so as to make child marriages henceforth void ab initio or invalid in law. This

would be an effective deterrent to the practice. In 2017, the Ministry also took up the issue

for dichotomy between IPC Section 375 (rape) and the Protection of Children Against

Sexual Offences Act (POCSO), 2012. In accordance with this, a decision by the Hon ble

Supreme Court this year has criminalized sex between a man and his underage wife.

Further, since Panchayats are usually aware of the child marriages occurring in their

villages, the Ministry is working to prosecute panchayat members for promoting or

permitting solemnization of child marriages.

8. The Ministry has conceptualized, after extensive stakeholder consultations, a

comprehensive Bill on Trafficking which clearly outlines and differentiates between

Regulatory and Rehabilitation aspects. The Bill is under consideration.

9. A number of projects are being implemented under the Nirbhaya Fund, which is

managed by the Ministry for the safety and security of women. Proposals amounting to

more than Rs. 2,000 Cr. have been appraised in the last one year.

A focussed project for women s safety in 8 prominent cities is being prepared under the

Nirbhaya Fund, which will cover Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru,

Hyderabad and Lucknow.

Central Victim Compensation Fund has been created under Nirbhaya, which is a corpus

fund to support States/UTs for their Victim Compensation Scheme.

10. Mahila Police Volunteers are being appointed to encourage women to report crime and

are serving as role models in their communities. The scheme is currently operational in 5

States.

11. Swadhar Greh: Swadhar Greh Scheme targets the women victims of difficult

circumstances and envisages providing shelter, food, clothing and health as well as

economic and social security for these women. At present total 561 Swadhar Greh are

functioning in the country benefiting 17291 beneficiaries. In addition one Widow Home

with the capacity of 1000 inmates fully funded by the Ministry has been constructed at

Sunrakh Bangar, Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh.

(Adapted from Pib)






19








20



International Organizations and Relations 1. Japan’s Official Development Loan Assistance to India for an amount of Yen 45

billion (=Rs.2587 crore approx.) for Bengaluru Water Supply and Sewerage Project

(Phase 3) (I). (Relevant for GS Prelims, GS Mains Paper II)

The Government of Japan has committed JICA Official Development Assistance loan for an

amount of Yen 45 billion (=Rs.2587 crore approx.) for the project.

India and Japan have had a long and fruitful history of bilateral development cooperation

since 1958. In the last few years, the economic cooperation between India and Japan has

steadily progressed. This further consolidates and strengthens the Strategic and Global

Partnership between India and Japan.

About the project

This Project will provide residents of Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagar Palike (BBMP) area

especially in 110 villages with safe and stable water supply and sewerage services by

carrying-out construction of water treatment plant and sewage treatment plants thereby

improving living conditions of the residents as well as the investment environment in the

concerned areas in BBMP in the State of Karnataka.

What is Official development assistance?

Official development assistance (ODA) is defined as government aid designed to promote

the economic development and welfare of developing countries. Loans and credits for

military purposes are excluded. Aid may be provided bilaterally, from donor to recipient, or

channelled through a multilateral development agency such as the United Nations or the

World Bank. Aid includes grants, soft loans (where the grant element is at least 25% of

the total) and the provision of technical assistance.

Official development assistance (ODA) is a term coined by the Development Assistance

Committee (DAC) of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)

to measure aid. The DAC first used the term in 1969.

(Adapted from Pib)

2. BBIN Motor Vehicles Agreement Regains Momentum: Bangladesh, India and Nepal

agree on operating procedures for movement of Passenger vehicles (Relevant for GS

Prelims, GS Mains Paper II)

Bangladesh, India and Nepal have agreed on the text of the operating procedures for

passenger vehicle movement in the sub-region under the Bangladesh-Bhutan-India-Nepal

(BBIN) Motor Vehicles Agreement (MVA) signed in June 2015, and will soon complete the






21



internal approval processes for signing of the passenger protocol. The progress on

agreement was halted after withdrawal of Bhutan.

How it came into existence?

The sub-grouping, BBIN as it is referred to, was an alternative mooted by the government

after Pakistan rejected the Motor Vehicles Agreement (MVA) at the SAARC summit in

Kathmandu in 2014.

What does BBIN aim to do?

It seeks to allow trucks and other commercial vehicles to ply on one another s highways to

facilitate trade.

What all countries are party to it?

Of the other SAARC members, Sri Lanka and the Maldives are not connected by land, and

Afghanistan could only be connected if Pakistan was on board.

Bhutan has withdrawn from BBIN on account of environmental concerns; India, Nepal and

Bangladesh have decided to go forward with the agreement.

Why did Bhutan opt out of BBIN?

The main concern expressed by Bhutanese citizen groups and politicians is over increased

vehicular and air pollution in a country that prides itself on ecological consciousness.

Despite the setback, New Delhi must go on with its efforts because:

1. Bhutan s objections are environmental, not political, and its government may well

change its mind as time goes by.

2. Dry runs have been conducted along the routes, and officials estimate the road links

could end up circumventing circuitous shipping routes by up to 1,000 km.

3. Bhutan s concerns may be assuaged if India considers the inclusion of waterways and

riverine channels as a less environmentally damaging substitute.

4. A similar initiative for the Asian Highway project under the BCIM (Bangladesh-China-

India-Myanmar) corridor got a boost as countries moved to upgrade the dialogue to the

governmental level.

Connectivity is the new global currency for growth and prosperity as it secures both trade

and energy lines for countries in route, and India must make the most of its geographic

advantages.

(Adapted from PIB and background from prepmate.in)






22



3.PM Modi, Israeli PM Netanyahu dedicate iCreate to the nation (Relevant for GS

Prelims)

Prime Minister Modi and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu dedicated to the nation, the

iCREATE facility located on the outskirts of Ahmedabad.

About iCreate facility

iCreate is an independent Centre created with the objective of facilitating entrepreneurship

through a blend of creativity, innovation, engineering, product design and leveraging

emerging technologies to deal with major issues such as food security, water, connectivity,

cybersecurity, IT and electronics, energy, bio-medical equipment and devices etc. iCreate

aims to develop an ecosystem in India to generate quality entrepreneurs.

(Adapted From Pib)






23



Economics 1. All you need to know about Financial Resolution and Deposit Insurance (FRDI)

Bill, 2017 (Relevant for GS Prelims, GS Mains Paper III)

Rationale for the Financial Resolution and Deposit Insurance Bill, 2017

There is no comprehensive and integrated legal framework for resolution, including

liquidation, of financial firms in India presently.

– The powers and responsibilities for resolution of financial services providers are given

under multiple laws to regulators, Government and the Courts, which does not facilitate

development of specialised resolution capabilities. Also, because of this dispersed role

definition, resolution of financial conglomerates becomes difficult.

– The resolution instruments presently available under the respective legislations are

limited, and so is guidance on the process leading up to the resolution. For example, the

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is empowered to take certain resolution actions with respect

to banks, branches of foreign banks in India, and cooperative banks. However, these

resolution powers are quite limited. RBI can effect change in bank management, or impose

moratorium and recommend mandatory mergers. In the case of a bank, typically either of

the two methods of resolution has been used, that is, amalgamation or merger of a weak

bank with another bank; or winding up of the bank. Other resolution instruments are not

available.

– The Central Government has the power to restructure public sector banks, and regional

rural banks. Non-banking financial companies can be liquidated or wound up under law by

High Courts only, either voluntarily or on the application of RBI. Resolution regimes for

insurance companies, financial market infrastructure, and other financial services

providers are also quite inadequate. The current resolution regime is especially

inappropriate for private sector financial firms in the light of significant expansion of

private financial firms and many of these acquiring systemically important status in India.

The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 has introduced in the country a comprehensive

resolution regime for mainly non-financial firms, but such a regime is not available in the

country for financial firms.

The Financial Resolution and Deposit Insurance Bill, 2017 (FRDI Bill) will replace the

existing resolution regime by providing a comprehensive resolution regime that will help

ensure that, in the rare event of failure of a financial service provider, there is a system of

quick, orderly and efficient resolution in favour of depositors.

– The impact of failures of financial services providers is much wider and can have a

systemic effect on the economy and financial stability of a country, unlike traditional






24



insolvency, where the affected parties are mostly limited to the creditors of the insolvent

entity. Since financial service providers handle consumer funds, some of them are critical

for financial stability, and therefore, it is important to resolve failing financial service

providers expeditiously through a specialised resolution process, as lengthy resolution

proceedings can lead to losses for consumers, or instability in the financial system.

– The FRDI Bill proposes to establish a Resolution Corporation and a comprehensive

resolution regime to enable timely and orderly resolution of a failing financial firm. Such

institutional framework for expeditious resolution of financial firms exists in most other

comparable countries. Further, it is favourable for depositors if in case of bank failures, a

bank is resolved rather than liquidated, because the depositors are expected to get a much

higher value in resolution of the bank as a going concern than in liquidation.

– It provides for detecting incipient insolvencies in financial firms by introducing a five-

stage health classification of financial firms and stepping in to appropriately nurse a

financial firm at the stage when its health becomes weak and it is classified in the category

of material risk to viability, much before it is it is classified in the category of critical risk to

viability when there might be no option but to resolve or liquidate the financial firm.

– FRDI Bill also introduces a menu of resolution tools, including transfer of whole or parts

of the assets and liabilities of a financial firm to another person, acquisition, merger or

amalgamation, bridge service provider, and bail-in, and mandates recovery and resolution

planning obligations to enable careful monitoring of risk to viability of a financial firm.

– The FRDI Bill also transfers the deposit insurance functions from the Deposit Insurance

and Credit Guarantee Corporation to the Resolution Corporation, targeting at an integrated

approach to the depositor protection and resolution.

Protection and enhancement of depositors’ rights under the FRDI Bill

The FRDI Bill does not modify present protections to the depositors adversely at all. The

FRDI Bill provides only additional protections to the depositors in a more transparent

manner, the details of which are as follows. – At present, deposits with banks are insured upto Rs. 1 lakh. The similar protection would

continue under the FRDI Bill and the Resolution Corporation is empowered to increase the

deposit insurance amount.

– The uninsured depositors, that is, beyond Rs. 1 lakh, of a banking company are treated on

par with unsecured creditors under the present law and paid after preferential dues,

including Government dues, in the event of its liquidation. As per the provisions of the FRDI

Bill, the claims of uninsured depositors in the case of liquidation of a bank will be higher

than those of the unsecured creditors and Government dues. Therefore, the rights of






25



uninsured depositors will be better protected and such depositors will have an elevated

status in the

FRDI Bill compared to the existing legal arrangements. – Thus, the interests of depositors (both insured and uninsured) would be better protected

under the FRDI Bill.

Bail-in provision

Indian Banks have adequate capital and are also under prudent regulation and supervision

to ensure safety and soundness, as well as systemic stability. The existing laws ensure the

integrity, security and safety of the banking system. In India, all possible steps and policy

measures are taken to prevent the failure of banks and protection of interests of depositors

(e.g. issue of directions/prompt corrective action measures, capital adequacy and

prudential norms).

Bail in has been proposed as one of the resolution tools in the event a financial firm is

sought to be sustained by resolution. Certain misgivings have been expressed in the media,

especially social media, regarding the depositor protection in the context of bail-in

provisions of the FRDI Bill. These misgivings are entirely misplaced. The Government

always stands ready to take care of the capital needs of the public sector banks. Bail-in

amounts to liabilities holders bearing a part of the cost of resolution by reduction in their

claims. Bail-in is only one of many resolution tools in the FRDI Bill; others are acquisition,

merger and bridge service provider, and is to be used either singly or in combination with

other tools. Bail in provision may not be required to be used in case of any specific

resolution. Most certainly, it will not be used in case of a public sector bank as such a

contingency is not likely to arise.

Following formal safeguards have been built in the FRDI Bill pertaining to the appropriate

use of bail-in, whereas the rights or interests of depositors can be, inter-alia, reduced in

case of forced merger of a banking company with another bank under the present law

without these explicit safeguards.

– Insured deposits of banks can not be used in case of bail-in.

– The Resolution Corporation will have the option to design an appropriate bail-in

instrument, which will be subject to Government scrutiny and oversight of the Parliament.

– Cancellation of the liability of the depositor beyond insured amount will be possible only

with the prior consent of the depositor. On the other hand, in case of the forced mergers of

banks under the Banking Regulation Act, 1949, the right of depositors of a merging bank

(transferor bank) can be reduced and has been reduced, without the consent of depositors.






26



– Bail-in power can be used in a judicious and reasonable manner only by the Resolution

Corporation and it will have to ensure that all creditors, including uninsured depositors, get

at least such value, which they would have received in the event of liquidation of a bank. In

case of injudicious and unreasonable exercise of bail-in power by the Resolution

Corporation, for example, where the depositors of a bank get less value than in liquidation,

such affected depositors will have the right to get compensation from the Resolution

Corporation on an order of the National Company Law Tribunal.

The FRDI Bill does not prohibit the Government from extending support to banks

The FRDI Bill does not propose in any way to limit the scope of powers for the Government

to extend financing and resolution support to banks, including public sector banks.

Government s implicit guarantee for solvency of public sector banks remains unaffected as

the Government remains committed to adequately capitalise the public sector banks and

improve their financial health. The Government is committed to protecting the existing

protection to depositors and providing additional protection to them.

Examination of the FRDI Bill by the Joint Committee of Parliament on FRDI Bill

The FRDI Bill, introduced in the Lok Sabha on August 10, 2017, is presently under the

consideration of the Joint Committee of the Parliament, which is consulting all the

stakeholders on the provisions of the FRDI Bill. The Joint Committee of Parliament has been

asked to submit their Report to the Parliament by the last day of the Budget Session, 2018.

The Government is awaiting the recommendations of the Joint Committee of Parliament in

regard to the FRDI Bill and would favourably consider the recommendations.

(Adapted from PIB)

2. Government schemes to reduce MMR (Relevant for GS prelims, GS mains paper II)

As per the latest Registrar General of India- Sample Registration System (RGI-SRS) Report

(Special Bulletin on Maternal Mortality in India 2011-13); the Maternal Mortality

ratio(MMR) of India is 167 per 100,000 live births.

What is MMR?

The Maternal Mortality Ratio is a key performance indicator for efforts to improve the

health and safety of mothers before, during, and after childbirth per country worldwide.

Often referred to as MMR, it is the annual number of female deaths per 100,000 live births

from any cause related to or aggravated by pregnancy or its management (excluding

accidental or incidental causes). It is not to be confused with the Maternal Mortality Rate,

which is the number of maternal deaths (direct and indirect) in a given period per 100,000

women of reproductive age during the same time period.

The key schemes taken under the National Health Mission (NHM) are:






27



1.Janani Suraksha Yojana aims to reduce maternal mortality among pregnant women and

infant mortality by encouraging women to deliver in an institutionalized set-up such as

hospitals. Under the scheme, cash assistance is provided to eligible pregnant women for

giving birth in a government health facility.

JSY is a 100% centrally sponsored scheme, and it integrates cash assistance with delivery

and post-delivery care. The success of the scheme is determined by the increase in

institutional delivery among the poor families. ASHA as well as anganwadi activists become

the effective link between the government and poor women in this programme.

The duties of ASHA or other health worker associated with JSY are as follows:

1.Identify pregnant women as a beneficiary of the scheme and report or facilitate

registration for ante-natal checkup.

2.Provide and/or help the women in receiving at least three ante-natal checkups, including

Tetanus injections .

3.Counsel for institutional delivery.

4.Escort the beneficiary women to the pre-determined health centre and stay with them till

they are discharged.

5.Arrange immunization of the new-born till the age of 14 weeks.

Cash assistance in LPS and HPS states

The scheme focuses on poor pregnant women with special dispensation for states having

low institutional delivery rates. While these states have been named low-performing states

(LPS), the remaining states have been named high-performing states (HPS). The women

who deliver in government hospitals, health centres, or even in accredited private hospitals

are eligible for cash assistance, if they are above 19 years.

In LPS states, cash assistance is provided for all women, whereas in HPS states, cash

assistance is provided only for BPL women. Cash incentive is also given to ASHA/other

health activists per delivery case facilitated by her.

2.Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakaram (JSSK) has been launched on 1st June, 2011, which

entitles all pregnant women delivering in public health institutions to absolutely free and

no expense delivery including Caesarean section. The initiative stipulates free drugs,

diagnostics, blood and diet, besides free transport from home to institution, between

facilities in case of a referral and drop back home. Similar entitlements have been put in

place for ante-natal and post–natal complications during pregnancy and all sick infants

accessing public health institutions for treatment.






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3.The Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA) has been launched by the

Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW), Government of India to provide fixed-day

assured, comprehensive and quality antenatal care universally to all pregnant women on

the 9th of every month. As part of the Abhiyan, a minimum package of antenatal care

services would be provided to pregnant women in their 2nd / 3rd trimesters, by OBGY

specialists/ Radiologist/ Physicians at government health facilities, with support from

private sector doctors to supplement the efforts of the government.

(Adapted from PIB and PrepMate-Cengage Economics Book, Chapter 7 Important

Government Schemes)

3. FDI policy further liberalized in key sectors (Relevant for GS prelims, GS Mains

Paper III)

Role of FDI

Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) is a major driver of economic growth and a source of non-

debt finance for the economic development of the country. Government has put in place an

investor friendly policy on FDI, under which FDI up to 100%, is permitted on the automatic

route in most sectors/ activities.

Measures undertaken by the Government have resulted in increased FDI inflows in to the

country. During the year 2014-15, total FDI inflows received were US $ 45.15 billion as

against US $ 36.05 billion in 2013-14. During 2015-16, country received total FDI of US $

55.46 billion. In the financial year 2016-17, total FDI of US $ 60.08 billion has been

received, which is an all-time high.

Recent changes in FDI policy

It has been felt that the country has potential to attract far more foreign investment which

can be achieved by further liberalizing and simplifying the FDI regime. Accordingly, the

Government has decided to introduce a number of amendments in the FDI Policy.

Details:

Government approval no longer required for FDI in Single Brand Retail Trading (SBRT)

Prsent FDI policy on SBRT allows 49% FDI under automatic route, and FDI beyond 49%

and up to 100% through Government approval route. It has now been decided to permit

100% FDI under automatic route for SBRT.

Civil Aviation

As per the extant policy, foreign airlines are allowed to invest under Government approval

route in the capital of Indian companies operating air transport services, up to the limit of

49% of their paid-up capital.






29



However, this provision was presently not applicable to Air India, thereby implying that

foreign airlines could not invest in Air India. It has now been decided to do away with this

restriction and allow foreign airlines to invest up to 49% under approval route in Air India

subject to the conditions that:

1. Foreign investment(s) in Air India including that of foreign Airline(s) shall not exceed

49% either directly or indirectly

2. Substantial ownership and effective control of Air India shall continue to be vested in

Indian National.

Power Exchanges

Present policy provides for 49% FDI under automatic route in Power Exchanges registered

under the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (Power Market) Regulations, 2010.

However, FII/FPI purchases were restricted to secondary market only. It has now been

decided to do away with this provision, thereby allowing FIIs/FPIs to invest in Power

Exchanges through primary market as well.

Competent Authority for examining FDI proposals from countries of concern

As per the existing procedures, FDI applications involving investments from Countries of

Concern, requiring security clearance are to be processed by the Ministry of Home Affairs

(MHA) for investments falling under automatic route sectors/activities, while cases

pertaining to government approval route sectors/activities requiring security clearance are

to be processed by the respective Administrative Ministries/Departments, as the case may

be. It has now been decided that for investments in automatic route sectors, requiring

approval only on the matter of investment being from country of concern, FDI applications

would be processed by Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion (DIPP) for

Government approval. Cases under the government approval route, also requiring security

clearance with respect to countries of concern, will continue to be processed by concerned

Administrative Department/Ministry.

(Adapted from PIB and The Hindu)

4. India’s First agri-Options by National Commodity and Derivatives Exchange

Limited (NCDEX) (Relevant for GS Mains Paper III)

The Union Finance & Corporate Affairs Minister launched the country s First Agri-

commodity Options.

In an effort to make the agri-economy more efficient and bring huge amount of value for

the farmers of India, the National Commodity and Derivatives Exchange Limited (NCDEX),

is launching the country s First agri-commodity Options in Guar Seed. NCDEX Guar seed

options is an important hedging tool.






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What are Options?

Options are further of two types:

Call option is an option to purchase a particular commodity or share at a pre-decided price

on a future date, on payment of a premium to enter into an agreement. The purchaser of a

call option has the option to purchase. The purchaser will exercise the option only if he/she

can purchase the asset at a lower price than the prevalent market price on the pre-decided

future date.

Put option is an option to sell the commodity or share at a pre-determined price on a future

date, on payment of a premium. The purchaser of put option has the option to sell. The

purchaser will exercise the option only if he/she can sell the asset at a higher price than the

prevalent market price on the pre-decided future date.

(Adapted from PIB and Background from PrepMate-Cengage Economics Book,

Chapter 9 Financial Market)

5. International Workshop on Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (IWDRI) (Relevant

for GS Prelims, GS Mains Paper III)

The Union Home Minister Shri Rajnath Singh inaugurated the International Workshop on

Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (IWDRI) in New Delhi. The two-day workshop is being

organised by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) in collaboration with

United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR).

India’s commitment towards global cooperation on Disaster Risk Reduction

Reiterating India s commitment towards building resilience and strengthening global

cooperation, Shri Rajnath Singh talked about the Prime Minister s 10-point agenda,

outlined during the Asian Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (AMCDRR)

held in New Delhi in November 2016. At that conference, our Prime Minister outlined a

ten-point agenda to give a sense of urgency to the implementation of Sendai Framework for

DRR. His 1st point emphasized the need for investing in infrastructure in a manner so that

it can withstand hazards not only now but also in the future, he said.

Need for robust infrastructure

The Union Home Minister said robust infrastructure will be at the core of sustainable

development in the coming decades; this is also recognized in the way the (United Nations )

Sustainable Development Goals have been framed. The infrastructure that we will build in

the next twenty years will be more than what we built over the last two thousand years. At

the global level, by 2040, to adequately meet the infrastructure needs of humanity, we will

need nearly $100 trillion. By 2030, Asia alone will need $26 trillion in infrastructure

investment, he said.






31



Who all are participating in the conference?

Experts from about 23 countries, multilateral development banks, the United Nations, the

private sector, academia and other stakeholders are participating in the workshop.

Deliberations at the workshop will take the dialogue on Disaster Resilient Infrastructure

and global cooperation further. It will also help foster a sustained dialogue and mutual

exchange of experiences, lessons and solutions.

(Adapted from PIB)

6. National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF) makes its First Investment

(Relevant for GS Prelims, GS Mains Paper III)

National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF) has made its First investment today.

NIIF has partnered with DP World to create an investment platform for ports, terminals,

transportation and logistics businesses in India. The platform will invest in opportunities in

the ports sector, and beyond sea ports into areas such as river ports and transportation,

freight corridors, port-led special economic zones, inland container terminals, and logistics

infrastructure including cold storage.

Source of funds

The first close of the NIIF Master Fund took place on October, 16, 2017 with contributions

from a subsidiary of Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) and four Domestic

Institutional Investors (DIIs), viz., HDFC Group, ICICI Bank, Kotak Mahindra Life and Axis

Bank.

India-UK Green Growth Equity Fund (GGEF)

An India-UK Green Growth Equity Fund (GGEF) is also being set-up under the fund of funds

vertical of NIIF, and shall have anchor commitments 120 million each from Government of

India (through NIIF) and Government of UK.

About NIIF

The NIIF is being operationalized by establishing three Alternative Investment Funds

(AIFs) under the SEBI Regulations. The proposed corpus of NIIF is Rs. 40,000 Crores

(around USD 6 Billion). GOI s contribution to the AIFs under the NIIF scheme shall be 49%

of the total commitment. NIIF has mandate to solicit equity participation from strategic

anchor partners, like overseas sovereign/quasi-sovereign/multilateral/bilateral investors.

Objective

NIIF is a fund created by the Government of India for enhancing infrastructure financing in

the country. The objective of NIIF is to maximize economic impact mainly through

infrastructure development in commercially viable projects, both greenfield and






32



brownfield, including stalled projects. It could also consider other nationally important

projects, for example, in manufacturing, if commercially viable.

Functions of NIIF

The functions of NIIF are as follows:

1.Fund raising

2.Servicing of the investors of NIIF.

3.Considering and approving candidate companies/institutions/ projects (including state

entities) for investments and periodic monitoring of investments.

4.Investing in the corpus created by Asset Management Companies (AMCs) for investing in

private equity.

5.Preparing a shelf of infrastructure projects and providing advisory services.

(Adapted from Pib)

7. Govt. unveils Rs. 2.1 lakh crore bank recapitalisation plan (Relevant for GS Mains

Paper III and GS Prelims)

Details of recapitalisation plan

The Government of India today unveiled details of the re-capitalisation of Public Sector

Banks (PSBs) announced in October, 2017.The capital infusion plan for 2017-18 includes






33



Rs.80,000 crore through Recap Bonds and Rs.8,139 crore as budgetary support. This plan

addresses regulatory capital requirement of all PSBs and provides a significant amount

towards growth capital for increasing lending to the economy.

Recapitalisation along with reforms in functioning of banks

The recap would be accompanied by a strong reforms package across six themes

incorporating 30 action points. The reforms agenda is based on the recommendations

made at the PSB Manthan held in November, 2017 involving senior management of PSBs

and representatives from Government. The reform agenda is aimed at EASE – Enhanced

Access and Service Excellence, focusing on six themes of customer responsiveness,

responsible banking, credit off take, PSBs as Udyami Mitra, deepening financial inclusion &

digitalisation and developing personnel for brand PSB. The overarching framework for the

reforms agenda is Responsive and Responsible PSBs .

Capital infusion by the Government is contingent on performance of PSBs on the reform.

Whole Time Directors of PSBs would be assigned theme wise reforms for implementation.

Their performance in this regard would be evaluated by the bank Board. A survey by an

independent agency in respect of EASE would be conducted to measure public perception

about improvements in access and service quality. Results of the survey shall be made

public each year.

Taken together, the recap & reform agenda is sharply focused on strengthening PSBs,

increasing lending to MSMEs and making it easier for MSMEs and retail customers to

transact as well as significantly increasing access to banking services. It includes a

commitment to banking services within 5 kms of every village, refund within 10 days of

any unauthorised debit in electronic transactions, a mobile App for locating banking

outlets and a mobile ATM in every underserved district.

(Adapted from Pib and The Hindu)

8. Registrar of Companies removed names of 2,26,166 defunct companies in 2017

(Relevant for GS Mains Paper III)

The Government has initiated campaign against black money, wilful defaulters and erring

directors. There are a number of registered companies that are facing action from

authorities after the demonetisation.

Action taken by registrar of companies

Prior to demonetisation, 16,08,637 number of companies stood registered. After

demonetisation, the Registrars of Companies (RoCs) has identified 2.97 lakh companies

during 2017-18 which were not filing their Financial Statements or Annual Returns for a

continuous period of two or more financial years and, prima facie, were not conducting any

business or in operation. Out of such identified companies, ROCs has removed the names of






34



2,26,166 companies as on 19.12.2017 from the register of companies by following the due

procedure under the Companies Act, 2013.

Further, based on information received from various banks, the Central Government has

ordered investigations into the true ownership of 68 such companies, which have

deposited Rs. 25 crores or more in Bank Accounts and withdrew in an exceptional manner

post demonetisation. The investigations are underway.

As of now, the Government has identified 3,09,619 directors as disqualified u/s 164(2)(a)

of the Companies Act, 2013 pertaining to companies for which Financial Statements or

Annual Returns have not been filed for a continuous period of three Financial Years.

(Adapted from pib)

9. Amendment in companies act having bearing on working of the Insolvency and

Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (Code) (Relevant for GS Prelims, GS Mains paper III)

The Central Government notified the Companies (Amendment) Act, 2017 (Amendment

Act) on 3rd January, 2018. The provisions of this Amendment Act shall come into force on

the date or dates as the Central Government may appoint by notification(s) in the Official

Gazette. A few provisions in the Amendment Act have important bearing on the working of

the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (Code).

Provision of issuing shares to creditors at discount

Section 53 of the Companies Act, 2013 prohibited issuance of shares at a discount. The

Amendment Act now allows companies to issue shares at a discount to its creditors when

its debt is converted into shares in pursuance of any statutory resolution plan such as

resolution plan under the Code or debt restructuring scheme.

Approval of creditors for paying managerial remuneration in excess of 11% of

profits in case of default

Section 197 of the Companies Act, 2013 required approval of the company in a general

meeting for payment of managerial remuneration in excess of 11 percent of the net profits.

The Amendment Act now requires that where a company has defaulted in payment of dues

to any bank or public financial institution or non-convertible debenture holders or any

other secured creditor, the prior approval of the bank or public financial institution

concerned or the non-convertible debenture holders or other secured creditor, as the case

may be, for such payment of managerial remuneration shall be obtained by the company

before obtaining the approval in the general meeting.

Restrictions on registered valuer in case of interest in company






35



Section 247 of the Companies Act, 2013 prohibited a registered valuer from undertaking

valuation of any assets in which he has a direct or indirect interest or becomes so

interested at any time during or after the valuation of assets. The Amendment Act now

prohibits a registered valuer from undertaking valuation of any asset in which he has direct

or indirect interest or becomes so interested at any time during three years prior to his

appointment as valuer or three years after valuation of assets was conducted by him.

(News Adapted from PIB)

10. State of Milk production (Relevant for GS Prelims, GS Mains Paper III)

Important facts

1.Milk production was around 17-22 million tonnes in the 1960s, increased to 165.4

million tonnes in 2016-17. Particularly, it increased by 20.12% during the year 2016-17 in

comparison to 2013-14.

2.Per capita availability of milk increased from 307 grams in 2013-14 to 355 grams in

2016-17, registering a growth of 15.6%.

3.Income of Dairy farmers grew by 23.77% during the period 2014-17 in comparison to

2011-14.

4.The minister said that since last 20 years, India continues to be the largest milk producer

in the world and the credit goes to the Government initiatives and implementing various

schemes to increase the productivity of milch animals.

5.The Minister said that factors such as increased consumer interest in high protein diets

and increasing awareness & availability of value-added dairy products through organised

retail chains are also driving its demand.

Government initiatives

Union Minister for Agriculture & Farmers Welfare Shri Radha Mohan Singh said that

Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying & Fisheries has initiated a number of schemes

with the objective of doubling the dairy farmers income by 2022.

Rashtriya Gokul Mission

He said that for the first time our government started a new initiative called Rashtriya

Gokul Mission in December 2014 for the conservation and development of indigenous

breeds. Under this scheme, so far proposals worth Rs.1,348 crore from 28 states have been

approved and Rs.503 crore has been released.

Among other initiatives, Rashritya Gokul Mission also includes setting up of Gokul Gram.






36



These Gokul Grams will act as Centres for development of indigenous breeds and a

dependable source for supply of high genetic breeding. Currently, 18 Gokul Grams are

being set up in 12 different states.

(Adapted from PIB)






37



Geography 1. Total Eclipse of Moon to take place on January 31 (Relevant for GS prelims)

A total eclipse of the moon will occur on January 31, 2018. This is the first eclipse of the

year, with a rare coincidence of a blue moon and a super full moon.

The full moon on that day happens to be the second full moon of the calendar month of

January, termed as a blue moon. Further, the moon will be at perigee on January 30, as

such the full moon will occur when the moon is near the closest to earth in its orbit. Hence,

this full moon will be a little bigger and brighter than the regular full moon, popularly

referred to as a super moon.

The eclipse will be visible in the region covering North America except the eastern part,

western South America, Asia including India, Australia, the Middle East, northern

Scandinavia, eastern Europe and eastern Africa.

The next eclipse of the Moon will occur on July 27-28, 2018, which will be a total lunar

eclipse and will be visible in India.

Lunar eclipse

Lunar eclipse: It occurs when the Earth is between the Sun and the Moon. As a result,

sunlight is blocked by the Earth from reaching the Moon. A lunar eclipse takes place during

the Full

Moon phase. A Full Moon is when we can see the entire lit portion of the Moon. The Full

Moon phase occurs when the Moon is on the opposite side of the Earth from the Sun, called

opposition.

(Adapted from pib and PrepMate-Cengage Geography Book, Chapter 2, Page 22)






38



Environment

1.High Ash content (Relevant for GS Prelims, GS Mains Paper III)

Ash content in Indian coal

Ash content of coal produced in the country is generally 25 to 45 % whereas average ash

content of imported coal varies from 10 to 20 %. Indian Coal has comparatively higher ash

content than imported coal.

MOEFCC directive

As per Ministry of Environment and Forest & Climate Change (MOEF&CC) stipulation, coal

based thermal power plant (situated beyond 500 km from the pit-head) be supplied with,

and shall use, raw or blended or beneficiated coal with ash content not exceeding thirty-

four percent, on quarterly average basis. Coal Companies are supplying coal to their

customers maintaining ash percentage below 34% on quarterly average basis as per the

aforesaid MOEF&CC stipulation.

Steps by Coal India Limited to reduce ash content

Coal India Limited has taken following steps to adopt international standards in Coal

Mining:

1.Deployment of surface miners (during 2016-17 around 46% of total production achieved

using surface miner) for selective mining;

2.Replacement of manual method of underground mining by mechanized and semi-

mechanized mining method.

Position of imported coal

As per the current import policy, coal is kept under Open General License (OGL) and

consumers are free to import coal from the source of their choice as per their contractual

prices on payment of applicable duty.

In view of the buoyant production and adequate availability of domestic coal, it has been an

endeavor to reduce the import of coal by power plants and to substitute it with domestic

coal supply. In this regard, Coal India Limited (CIL) has taken the following steps for

promotion of substituting imported coal with indigenous coal:

1.Rationalization of sources by part of coal supply coming from sources of higher grade

coal.






39



2.Offering coal from various sources including higher grades through various types of e-

auction schemes including special forward e-auction for power sector.

However, the gap between demand and supply of coal cannot be bridged completely as

there is insufficient domestic availability of coking coal and power plants designed on

imported coal will continue to import coal for their production.

(Adapted from PIB)

2. Measures to Stop /Prevent Underground Fire in Coal Mines (Relevant for GS

Prelims, GS Mains Paper III)

The following measures are normally taken to stop /prevent underground fire in coal

mines:

1.Ensuring proper ventilation.

2.Adoption of panel system working.

3.Provision of gas detecting apparatus.

4.Sealing off of worked out / depillared panels.

5.Extraction of highly susceptible or thick coal seams in conjunction with sand stowing.

6.Monitoring ambient mine environment conditions by sampling and analysis on regular

basis.

7.Stone dusting.

8.Removal of spalled fallen coal regularly from workings, which are not sealed-off.

9.Regular inspection of old workings.

The main reason of fire in underground coal mines is spontaneous combustion of coal

which is the process of self-heating of coal when exposed to air. If the rate of dissipation of

heat is relatively slow as compared to the progress of heat by oxidation, there is a gradual

build-up of heat and coal bed temperature reaches to the ignition point of coal thereby

causing fire.

Such fire can be prevented by nitrogen flushing in fire affected areas and use of quick

setting materials for construction of isolation stopping.

(Adapted from PIB)






40



3. Changes in Cryosphere affecting Global Climate (Relevant for GS Prelims, GS Mains

Paper III)

What is Cyrosphere?

According to the 5th Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate

Change (IPCC), the cryosphere, comprising snow, river and lake ice, sea ice, glaciers, ice

shelves and ice sheets, and frozen ground, plays a major role in the Earth s climate system

through its impact on the surface energy budget, the water cycle, primary productivity,

surface gas exchange and sea level and is a fundamental control on the physical, biological

and social environment over a large part of the Earth s surface.

Cryosphere is a natural integrator of climate variability and provides one of the most

visible signatures of climate change. Observations show that there has been a continued net

loss of ice from the cryosphere, although there are significant differences in the rate of loss

between cryospheric components and regions.

GOI response

The Government has launched the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) in June

2008 to achieve its goals and to deal with the issues related to climate change. NAPCC

comprises eight missions in specific areas of solar energy, enhanced energy efficiency,

sustainable habitat, water, sustaining Himalayan ecosystems, Green India, sustainable

agriculture and strategic knowledge for climate change.

The National Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem (NMSHE) under NAPCC

encompasses conservation measures for sustaining and safeguarding the Himalayan

ecosystems through establishment of monitoring network, promotion of community based

management, human resource development, and strengthening regional cooperation.

Major initiatives include establishment of a Centre for Himalayan Glaciology at the Wadia

Institute of Himalayan Geology, Dehradun .

(Adapted from pib)






41



Science and Technology

1. PSLV successfully launches 31 satellites in a single flight (Relevant for GS Prelims,

GS Mains Paper III)

PSLV- C40 launch

ISRO s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C40), in its forty second flight, successfully

launched the 710 kg Cartosat-2 Series Remote Sensing Satellite along with 30 co-passenger

satellites today from Satish Dhawan Space Centre SHAR, Sriharikota. This flight is

designated as PSLV-C40.

So far, PSLV has successfully launched 51 Indian satellites and 237 customer satellites from

abroad.

Details of launch

After separation, the two solar arrays of Cartosat-2 series satellite deployed automatically

and ISRO s Telemetry, Tracking and Command Network (ISTRAC) at Bengaluru took over

the control of the satellite.

The 11 kg INS-1C and the 100 kg class Microsat, the two Indian co-passenger satellites of

Cartosat-2, are also being monitored and controlled from ISTRAC, Bengaluru. The 28

international customer satellites belong to Canada, Finland, France, Republic of Korea, UK

and the USA.

Cartosat 2 series

The Cartosat-2 Series Satellite is the primary satellite carried by PSLV-C40 (Polar Satellite

Launch Vehicle). The imagery sent by the remote-sensing satellite will be useful for

cartographic applications, urban and rural applications, coastal land use and regulation,

utility management like road network monitoring, water distribution, creation of land-use

maps, change detection to bring out geographical and manmade features and various other

Land Information System (LIS) as well as Geographical Information System (GIS)

applications.

(Adapted from PIB)






42



Social Issues

1. Swachh Survekshan 2018: Categories of Ranking — 500 cities with more than 1

lakh population to have National Ranking — 3541 cities with less than 1 lakh

population to have State/Regional Ranking (Relevant for GS prelims)

Swachh Survekshan 2018 is the largest survey impacting more than 40 crore urban

population. Swachh Survekshan 2018 will have two categories of ranking-

1) 500 cities with more than 1 lakh population will have National Ranking

2) 3541 cities with less than 1 lakh population will have State and Regional ranking.

The survey attempts to capture the progress in following 6 broad parameters –

1.Collection and Transportation of Municipal Solid Waste: to ensure that segregated dry

and wet waste is collected daily from the households and public areas are clean.

2.Processing and Disposal of Municipal Solid Waste: to encourage cities to process their

waste and wherever possible recycle the dry waste.

3.Sanitation related progress: to verify whether city is Open defacation free with access to

toilet available for citizens. This year even all Petrol Pumps of the country are coming

forward to offer their toilets as Public Toilets.

4.IEC (Information, Education and Communication): Whether cities have started campaigns

promoting Swachh Survekshan, engaging citizens in waste management, maintenance of

Community and Public Toilets etc.

5.Capacity Building: to assess whether officials were provided sufficient opportunities to

attend trainings and go for exposure visits.

6.Innovation and Best Practices: This component has been introduced first time in this

survey – encourage cities to come forward and share their best practices in Swachh Bharat

Mission. It will help the country to learn how our cities have responded the call for Make

India Clean and Open defacation free by October 2019.

In October, 2015, the Swachh Bharat Mission team in the Ministry conceptualized and

introduced a healthy competition Swachh Survekshan among cities to improve the status

of urban sanitation in India.






43



– Swachh Survekshan-2016 conducted in January, 2016 assessing 73 Urban Local Bodies.

Mysuru got the tag of Cleanest City of India.

– Swachh Survekshan-2017 was conducted in January-February 2017. Indore emerged as

the Cleanest City of India.

The methodology of the survey focuses on collection of data from 3 sources:

1.Service Level Progress: This will carry 35% weightage in the survey, where ULB s

documents are physically verified to assess whether systems and processes are in place to

implement Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban) in the most efficient way.

2.Direct Observation: will have 30% weightage to observe and ascertain general

cleanliness in the cities by making random field visits in different parts of the city and

public conveniences covering Community/Public Toilets.

3.Citizens Feedback: has been given 35% weightage to diagnose the experience of the

citizens – city s pulse is checked by collecting citizens response against 6 specific questions

covering issues around general cleanliness and sanitation related progress made by the

city. SwachhataApp, a grievance mechanism tool handed over to citizens also contributes in

indicating the efforts made by the cities in resolving the issues raised by the citizens. Till

date more than 49 lakh citizens have downloaded the App.

(Adapted from PIB)






44



Miscellaneous

1. PM pays tributes to Savitribai Phule on her Jayanti (Relevant for GS Prelims)

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has paid tributes to Savitribai Phule on her Jayanti.

About Savitribai Jyotirao Phule

Savitribai Jyotirao Phule (3 January 1831 –10 March 1897) was an Indian social reformer

and poet. Along with her husband, Jyotirao Phule, she played an important role in

improving women s rights in India during British rule. Phule, along with her husband

founded the first girls school in Pune run by native Indians at Bhide Wada in 1848. She

worked to abolish discrimination and unfair treatment of people based on caste and

gender. She is regarded as an important figure of the social reform movement in

Maharashtra.

(Adapted from PIB and Background from PrepMate- Cengage Modern History Book)

2.Cabinet approves construction of 2-lane bi-directional Zojila tunnel (Relevant for

GS Prelims)

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has given its approval to the construction,

operation and maintenance of 2-lane bi-directional Zojila Tunnel. The construction of this

tunnel will provide all weather connectivity between Srinagar, Kargil and Leh and will

bring about all round economic and socio-cultural integration of these regions. The project

has strategic and socio-economic importance and shall be an instrument for the

development of the economically backward districts in Jammu & Kashmir.

Project Details: – The construction period of the project is seven years which shall be reckoned from the

date of commencement of construction.

– The Project aims at construction of 14.150 km long two lane bidirectional single tube

tunnel with a parallel 14.200 km long tunnel.

Impact:

-The main objective of the project is to provide all whether connectivity to strategically

important Leh region in Jammu & Kashmir which at the moment is limited to at best 6

months because of snow on the passes and threat of avalanches.






45



-The project, on completion, would lead to enormous boost in employment as local

businesses get linked to National market and the beautiful region is able to receive round

the year tourist traffic.

(Adapted from PIB)

3. Incredible India 2.0 Campaign (Relevant for GS Prelims)

The Ministry of Tourism has launched the Incredible India 2.0 Campaign during 2017-18 to

position India as a Must Experience destination amongst overseas travelers and to increase

foreign tourist arrivals to the country.

The strategy for the Incredible India 2.0 Campaign will aim at moving to the next level of

promotion and marketing with a shift from the present generic promotions being

undertaken across the world to market specific and focused promotional plans and product

specific content creation.

The objective of the campaign is to promote India as a holistic destination and various

tourism products including spirituality, medical and wellness will be promoted through

this Campaign.

(Adapted from PIB)

4. Cabinet approves setting up of new AIIMS in Bilaspur (Relevant for GS Prelims)

The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for

establishment of new AIIMS in Bilaspur (Himachal Pradesh) under the Pradhan Mantri

Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY). The cost of the project is Rs.1351 crore.

Salient features:

-The Institution will consist of a hospital with a capacity of 750 beds and trauma center

facilities.

-It will have a Medical college with an intake of 100 MBBS students per year.

-The hospital will have 20 Speciality/Super-Speciality Departments including 15 Operation

Theatres.

-It will also have an AYUSH department with 30 beds for providing treatment facilities in

traditional system of medicine.

Impact:

The establishment of new AIIMS will serve the dual purpose of providing super speciality

health care to the population while also help create a large pool of doctors and other health






46



workers in this region that can be available for primary and secondary level institutions /

facilities being created under National Health Mission (NHM).

Background:

Under this scheme, AIIMS have been established in Bhubaneshwar, Bhopal, Raipur,

Jodhpur, Rishikesh and Patna while work of AIIMS Rae Bareli is in progress. Also, three

AIIMS in Nagpur (Maharashtra), Kalyani (West Bengal) and Mangalagiri in Guntur (Andhra

Pradesh) have been sanctioned in 2015, two AIIMS have been sanctioned at Bathinda and

Gorakhpur in 2016 and an AIIMS in Kamrup (Assam).

(Adapted from PIB)

5. Marketing of Tribal Goods (Relevant for GS prelims)

The Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India Limited (TRIFED), a

multi-State Cooperative Society under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, is promoting and

marketing tribal products, tribal art and crafts within the country and abroad by providing

marketing support to tribal products through its network of 31 retail outlets TRIBES

INDIA , 37 consignment outlets of various State Emporia and 16 franchisee outlets.

It also organizes exhibitions like National Tribal Craft Expo called Aadi Mahotsav etc. in

which it promotes and markets tribal products. It also facilitates the participation of tribal

artisans to enable them to interact directly with art lovers to assess the market needs. In

the last three years, it has begun providing e-commerce platforms to the tribal artisans to

sell their products.

Towards this, TRIFED has entered into agreements with e-commerce platforms like

Snapdeal and Amazon who will offer their customers various tribal products and produce

through their portals www.snapdeal.com and www.amazon.com respectively to facilitate

online sale. On the request of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Ministry of Commerce has also

made provision for sale of tribal products through TRIFED on www.gem.gov.in.

(Adapted from PIB)

6. Aanchal Thakur won India’s first international medal in skiing at FIS International

Skiing Competition in Turkey (Relevant for GS Prelims)

Aanchal Thakur won India s first international medal in skiing at FIS International Skiing

Competition in Turkey.

About FIS International Skiing Competition

The Fédération Internationale de Ski is the world s highest governing body for

international winter sports. Founded in 1924, it is responsible for the Olympic disciplines






47



of Alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, ski jumping, Nordic combined, freestyle skiing and

snowboarding. The FIS is also responsible for setting the international competition rules.

The organization now has a membership of 118 national ski associations and is based in

Oberhofen am Thunersee, Switzerland.

(Adapted from PIB)

7. Hunar Haat (Relevant for GS Prelims)

About Hunar Haat

Ministry of Minority Affairs is organising Hunar Haat under USTTAD scheme in different

parts of the country and Hunar Haat have become a successful mission to provide

employment and employment opportunities and national, as well international markets for

thousands of master artisans, craftsmen and culinary experts.

What is Hunar Haat?

It is an exhibition. The artisans display and sell very exquisite pieces of Handicraft &

Handloom work like cane & bamboo & jute products of Assam; tussar, geeja, matka silk of

Bhagalpur; traditional jewellery, lac bangles & jewellery from Rajasthan & Telangana;

Kantha products of West Bengal; brocades of Varanasi; Lucknawi Chikan work, Zari Zardozi

from U.P; Khurja Ceramic Products; Clay items, Blackstone Pottery, Dry Flowers and

Traditional Handicrafts of North-East; Shawls, Carpets & Papier-machie of Kashmir; Ajrakh

Print, Mutva, Kutch Embroidery & Bandhej of Gujarat; Batik/Bagh/Maheshwari of Madhya

Pradesh; Aplique & Ajrakh of Barmer; Leather Products, Brassware of Moradabad;

Kalamkari of Telangana; to name a few.

(Adapted from PIB)

8. Saksham-2018 (Relevant for GS Prelims)

Saksham (Sanrakshan Kshamta Mahotsav) is an annual flagship event of Petroleum

Conservation Research Association (PCRA) under the aegis of Ministry of Petroleum &

Natural Gas, Govt. of India , with active involvement of the Oil & Gas PSUs along with other

stakeholders like State Governments, for creating focused attention on fuel conservation

through people centric activities and to sensitize the masses about the conservation and

efficient use of petroleum products leading to better health and environment.

The month long campaign aims to intensify efforts for making citizens aware about the

conservation and effective utilization of petroleum products. For this, PCRA will carry out

various people centric activities such as Training Programs for Drivers / Fleet Operators,

Fuel Efficient Driving Competitions, Group Talk with Ladies / Cooks / Maids / School /

College Girls on fuel saving & benefits of LPG / PNG over biomass, Educational Programs






48



for Schools / Colleges / Universities, Awareness Programs for Farmers, Walkathons,

Concerts, Exhibitions, etc. Beside this, PCRA has also planned to observe Cycle Day on 21st

January throughout the country & Cyclothon event at Indore, Bhubaneswar, Mumbai etc.

to spearhead the message of fuel conservation, reduction of vehicular emission by reducing

congestion and improving traffic flow.

Nationwide campaign on various media platforms viz. All India Radio, Doordarshan, TV

channels, Private FM channels, Digital Cinema Theaters etc. on fuel conservation and

Cyclothon activities are planned for various cities. An exhaustive coverage through social

media across the country is also planned by PCRA during Saksham campaign including

interactive contests through Facebook, twitter, MyGov platform etc.

(Adapted from PIB)

9. President of India presents Sangeet Natak Akademi’s fellowships and Akademi

Awards for 2016 (Relevant for GS prelims)

The President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovind, presented the Sangeet Natak Akademi s

Fellowships (Akademi Ratna) and Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards (Akademi Puraskar) for

the year 2016 at a function held at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Sangeet Natak Akademi

Sangeet Natak Akademi (The National Academy for Music, Dance and Drama ) is the

national level academy for performing arts set up by the Government of India.

It was set up by the Indian education ministry on 31 May 1952 and became functional the

following year. The academy s Fellowship and Award are considered very prestigious.

Award and Fellowship

Sangeet Natak Akademi Award

The Sangeet Natak Akademi Award is the highest national recognition given to practicing

artists, gurus and scholars. It carries a purse money of Rs. 1,00,000/-, a shawl, and a

tamrapatra (a brass plaque). The number of awards given annually is 33 at present and, till

date, over 1000 artists have been honoured.

Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship, Ratna Sadsya

Each year the Academy awards Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowships, Ratna Sadsya, to

distinguished individuals for their contribution to the field of arts, music, dance and

theatre.

The first Fellow of the Akademi was elected in 1954, and till date, the Akademi has

honoured 123 eminent personalities as Akademi Fellows (Akademi Ratna).

Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puruskar






49



Instituted in 2006, in memory of Ustad Bismillah Khan, this award is given to young artists

(below 35 years of age) for their talent in the fields of music, dance and drama.

Indian classical dances

The Sangeet Natak Akademi confers classical status on eight Indian dance forms:

1.Bharatanatyam: originating in Tamil Nadu

2.Odissi: originating in Odisha

3.Kuchipudi: originating in Andhra Pradesh

4.Mohiniaattam: originating in Kerala, performed by women

5.Sattriya: originating in Assam, conferred classical status most recently

6.Kathakali: originating in Kerala, performed by men

7.Kathak: originating in Northern India

8.Manipuri: originating in Manipur

(Adapted From Pib and PrepMate-Cengage Ancient and Medieval History & Culture

Book)

10. PM Modi, Israeli PM Netanyahu dedicate iCreate to the nation (Relevant for GS

Prelims)

Prime Minister Modi and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu dedicated to the nation, the

iCREATE facility located on the outskirts of Ahmedabad.

About iCreate facility

iCreate is an independent Centre created with the objective of facilitating entrepreneurship

through a blend of creativity, innovation, engineering, product design and leveraging

emerging technologies to deal with major issues such as food security, water, connectivity,

cybersecurity, IT and electronics, energy, bio-medical equipment and devices etc. iCreate

aims to develop an ecosystem in India to generate quality entrepreneurs.

(ADAPTED FROM PIB)

11. SH. Rawat appointed Chief Election Commissioner (Relevant for GS Prelims)






50



The President appointed the senior-most Election Commissioner, Shri Om Prakash Rawat

as the Chief Election Commissioner in the Election Commission. Shri Om Prakash Rawat

will assume the charge of office of the Chief Election Commissioner with effect from the

23rdJanuary, 2018 on account of retirement of Shri Achal Kumar from office of the Chief

Election Commissioner on the 22nd January, 2018.

Further, the President is also pleased to appoint Shri Ashok Lavasa, IAS(Retd.) as the

Election Commissioner.

ELECTION COMMISSION OF INDIA (ART. 324)

Election Commission is a three-membered body:

1.Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and

2.Two Election Commissioners (ECs)

Election Commission works on the basis of majority principle. Initially, Election

Commissioners cast vote on a particular matter. In case of their disagreement, CEC

exercises a casting vote.

All the members of Election Commission enjoy the status of a judge of the Supreme Court.

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC)

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) is appointed by the President on the advice of Council

of Ministers. He can be removed only in a manner in which the judge of Supreme Court is

removed. His service conditions cannot be varied to his disadvantage after his

appointment.

Conditions of service of CEC are regulated by Parliament.

1.Chief Election Commissioner shall be appointed for a term of 6 years or till the age of 65

years, whichever is earlier.

2.After retirement, he shall not be eligible for reappointment or hold any other office of

profit (executive office).

3To be eligible for appointment as CEC, a person should be well-versed with the

administration of the country.

4.His salary, allowances, and pension cannot be reduced to his disadvantage after his

appointment.

Election Commissioner






51



An Election Commissioner (EC) is appointed by the President on advice of Council of

Ministers. EC can be removed by the President on the recommendation of CEC. CEC can

give the recommendation only when the President asks for it.

All other service conditions of EC are regulated by Parliament. Election Commissioner s

service conditions are as follows:

1.EC shall be appointed for a term of 6 years or till the age of 65 years.

2.After retirement, he shall not be eligible to hold any other office of profit (executive

office) or for reappointment. However, EC can be appointed as CEC.

3.He shall be well-versed with the administration of the country.

4.His salary, allowances, and pension cannot be reduced to his disadvantage after his

appointment.

5.He enjoys the status of the Supreme Court judge.

6.He enjoys equal powers as that of CEC.

(Adapted from pib and Background from PrepMate-Cengage Polity Book Chapter 20,

Page 253)

12. SARAS PT1N makes its maiden flight (Relevant for GS Prelims)

SARAS PT1N (14 seater) designed and developed by CSIR-National Aerospace Laboratories

(CSIR-NAL), a frontline aerospace research laboratory, has successfully made its maiden

flight today. The aircraft flew for about 40 minutes at the maximum height of 8500 ft at

the speed of 145 knots.

What is the objective of flight?

The primary objective is to evaluate the system performance in about 20 flights and the

data collected from this shall be used to freeze the design of production version aircraft.

The production version aircraft will be of 19 seat capacity and will undergo civil / military

certification.

(Adapted from Pib)

13. Padma Awards 2018 announced (Relevant for GS Prelims)

About Padma awards

Padma Awards – one of the highest civilian Awards of the country, are conferred in three

categories, namely, Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri. The Awards are






52



given in various disciplines/ fields of activities, viz.- art, social work, public affairs, science

and engineering, trade and industry, medicine, literature and education, sports, civil

service, etc.

Padma Vibhushan is awarded for exceptional and distinguished service; Padma Bhushan

for distinguished service of high order and Padma Shri for distinguished service in any

field.

The awards are announced on the occasion of Republic Day every year.

2018 Padma awardees

These awards are conferred by the President of India at ceremonial functions which are

held at Rashtrapati Bhawan usually around March/ April every year. This year the

President of India has approved conferment of 85 Padma Awards including two duo cases

(in a duo case, the award is counted as one) as per list below. The list comprises 3 Padma

Vibhushan, 9 Padma Bhushan and 73 Padma Shri Awards. 14 of the awardees are women

and the list also includes 16 persons from the category of Foreigners/NRI/PIO/OCI and 3

Posthumous awardees.

Receivers of Padma Vibhushan

Music composer Ilaiyaraaja, Indian classical musician Ghulam Mustafa Khan and P.

Parmeswaran, a senior RSS ideologue from Kerala, will receive Padma Vibhushan, the

second highest civilian honour in the country.

Receivers of Padma Bhushan

Late Russian ambassador Alexander Kadakin, who served in India from 2009-17, will be

given the Padma Bhushan posthumously.

Cricketer Mahendra Singh Dhoni will also be given the Padma Bhushan.

Receivers of Padma Shri

Actor Manoj Joshi, who featured in a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) election campaign video

in the run- up to the Gujarat Assembly elections last year, will get the Padma Shri.

Other sportspersons honoured include Pankaj Advani who will get the Padma Bhushan,

tennis player Somdev Devvarman from Tripura, badminton player Kidambi Srikanth from

Andhra Pradesh, weight-lifter Saikhom Mirabai Chanu from Manipur and para-Olympian

Murlikant Petkar from Maharashtra, who will be given the Padma Shri.

United States-based academic Ved Prakash Nanda, who was among a group of several

academics to have written an open letter in 2015 welcoming Prime Minister Narendra

Modi s visit, will get the Padma Vibhushan.






53



Previous awardees given higher award

Incidentally Mr. Ilaiyaraaja was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 2010. Mr. Khan was

awarded the Padma Shri in 1991 and the Padma Bhushan in 2006.

(Adapted from The Hindu and the Pib)

14. Gallantry Awards 2018 (Relevant for GS Prelims)

About Gallantry Awards

Wartime gallantry awards

1. Param Vir Chakra — Highest military award for, equivalent to the Victoria Cross (which

was replaced once India gained its independence).

2.Maha Vir Chakra – The Maha Vir Chakra (MVC) is the second highest military decoration

in India and is awarded for acts of conspicuous gallantry in the presence of the enemy,

whether on land, at sea or in the air.

3.Vir Chakra – Third in precedence in the awards for wartime gallantry

Peacetime gallantry awards

1.Ashok Chakra Award – An Indian military decoration awarded for valour, courageous

action or self-sacrifice away from the battlefield. It is the peacetime equivalent of the Param

Vir Chakra.

2. Kirti Chakra – Second in order of precedence of peacetime gallantry awards.

3. Shaurya Chakra – Third in order of precedence of peacetime gallantry awards.

Wartime/Peacetime service and gallantry awards

Sena Medal / Nao Sena Medal / Vayusena Medal

2018 awardees

The President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovind has approved the award of one Kirti Chakra

and nine Shaurya Chakras to the Indian Army personnel on the occasion of Republic Day

2018.

(Adapted from Pib)






54



15. India is the leading country in coconut production and productivity in the world

(Relevant for GS Prelims)

Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Shri Radha Mohan Singh said that

India is leading in the global coconut production and productivity. He said that the annual

coconut production is 2395 crore from 20.82 lakh hectare and the productivity is 11505

coconuts/hectare.

Coconut contributes to about Rs.27900 crore to the country s Gross Domestic Product

(GDP). In the year 2016-17, coconut products worth of Rs.2084 crore were exported. More

than one crore population depends on coconut cultivation for their livelihood.

We started exporting coconut oil to Malaysia, Indonesia, and Sri Lanka, the countries from

where we were importing earlier.

(Adapted from Pib)

16. India’s First National Rail and Transportation University at Vadodara (Relevant

for GS Prelims)

Government has plan to set up the first ever National Rail and Transport University (NRTU)

in Vadodara to skill its human resources and build capability. This innovative idea will be a

catalyst for transformation of rail and transport sector towards New India.

Expected benefit from University

1.Indian Railways on the path of modernization through widespread technological and

infrastructure upgradation

2.Contribute to Make in India and Skill India and help generate large scale employment

3.Foster innovative entrepreneurship and support start-up India initiative

4.Use of latest pedagogy and technology applications: Envisioned to be a best-in-class

institute which will use latest pedagogy and technology applications to provide high-

quality education and training.

(Adapted from PIB)

17. Khelo India Pledge (Relevant for GS prelims)

Following the launch of Khelo India School Games earlier this month, the Ministry of Youth

Affairs and Sports today launched the PLEDGE for Khelo India at the Khelo India School

Games Carnival in Delhi. The pledge is a promise to participate and encourage

sportsmanship spirit and it is aimed at inspiring youngsters to build mass participation and

excellence in sports.






55



To expand the reach of the pledge it will be shared with one million plus schools across the

country – who will impart the pledge to students and teachers.

The initiative commences with Khelo India School Games that concentrates on creating a

platform to showcase hidden talent, fostering young sports prodigies and creating

awareness and cognizance about physical fitness as well as good health amongst

youngsters.

Khelo India School Games will be held at multiple venues across Delhi.

खेल इंडिया शपथ

हम शपथ लेते हैं कि

खेलों ि अपने जीवन िा हहस्सा बनाएंगे,

खेलेंगे और खेलना ससखाएंगे |

खेलों से जुड़ िर हम स्वस्थ भारत बनाएंगे,

खेल-खखलाड़ी िा हम ह सला बढाएंगे |

हम शपथ लेते हैं कि

हार-जीत से आगे बढिर मैं ि हम बनाएंगे,

खेलों से खखलिर हम नई क्ांतत लाएंगे,

न्यू इंडिया बनाएंगे, खेलेंगे और खेलना ससखाएंगे |

जय हहदं !

(Adapted from PIB)






56








57



Internal Security

1.Govt launched e-portal to boost diary productivity (Relevant for GS Prelims and

Mains Paper II)

Government has launched e-PashuHaat portal (www.epashuhaat.gov.in) for connecting

breeders and farmers of indigenous breeds.

About e-PashuHaat portal:

E-pashuhaat is a web portal launched by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare,

Government of India, under the Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries

(DADF) to boost dairy productivity in India by organizing the livestock market.

1. The portal allows farmers and entrepreneurs find information about bovine animals, buy

or sell livestock, frozen semen and embryos.

2. It also helps them to check information on feed and fodder and manage the

transportation of animals once a purchase is made.

3. A multi-channel communication system, via, video, email, SMS, audio and chat is

available to let interested stakeholders, including buyers and sellers communicate.

Relevance of the portal:

This portal is playing crucial role in development and conservation of indigenous breeds.

As on date; 40,542 live animals, 6.25 crore semen doses and 372 embryos are available on

the portal.

(Adapted from PIB)

2. Setting up of National Security Commission (Relevant for GS Prelims, GS Mains

Paper II)

In pursuance of directions given by the Hon ble Supreme Court for setting up a National

Security Commission, a Committee namely Committee on National Security and Central

Police Personnel Welfare (CNS & CPPW) has been constituted for recommending the

names of IPS officers to the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet for appointment at the

level of Director General at the centre.

The composition of the Committee is as under:-

1.Union Home Minister- Chairman

2.National Security Adviser- Member






58



3. Cabinet Secretary- Member

4.Union Home Secretary- Member

5.Director, Intelligence Bureau- Member

Further, taking into consideration the seniority, service profile, suitability, availability of

the officers and looking to the tenure of officers for the post, the Committee recommends

names of the officers for appointment as Chief of Central Armed Police (CAPFs). All

appointments of Director General in CAPFs is done on the basis of recommendations of the

said Committee.

Setting up Police Establishment Board is one of the directives given by the Hon ble

Supreme Court on 22nd September, 2006 in Writ Petition filed by Prakash Singh & others

and UoI and others. Police establishment board will make appointments at senior level

ranks in state police.

Further, Policed being a State subject in the seventh schedule to the Constitution of India,

it is primarily the State Government which have to implement various police reforms

measures. The Centre has been consistently persuading the States from time to time to

bring the requisite reforms in the Police administration to meet the expectations of the

people.

(Adapted from PIB)

3. Zero-Accident Mission Of Railways (Relevant for GS Prelims, GS Mains Paper III)

State of rail accidents

During the last three years, the number of consequential train accidents (including

accidents at Unmanned Level Crossings) have decreased from 135 in 2014-15, to 107 in

2015-16 and further to 104 in 2016-17. In the last year (upto 15th December, 2017) the

number of consequential train accidents have reduced to 52 as compared to 87 in the

corresponding period of the previous year.

Mission Zero accident

In the Railway Budget 2016-17, Mission Zero Accident was one of the Missions announced,

comprising the two sub-missions:

1.Elimination of unmanned level crossings (UMLC) over broad gauge in the next 3-4 years.

2.Train Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) to prevent collisions and signal passing at

danger by the Loco Pilot.

Other measures






59



Track renewal: As far as steps taken for improving tracks is concerned, railway tracks are

replaced through track renewal works which is an ongoing process. Track renewal works

are undertaken as and when a stretch of track becomes due for renewal.

Signals: In order to improve signaling, electrical/electronic interlocking system with

centralized operation of points and signals are being provided to eliminate human failure

and to replace old mechanical systems.

Coaches : Superior and safer Linke Hofmann Busch (LHB) Coaches having anti-climbing

features have been progressively introduced on Indian Railways to reduce the fatalities in

case of accidents.

Rashtriya Rail Sanraksha Kosh: In the Budget 2017-18, an exclusive fund called

Rashtriya Rail Sanraksha Kosh (RRSK) has been made with a corpus of Rs.1 lakh crore

over a period of 5 years for giving a major boost to safety related works over Indian

Railways for improving safety of tracks, rolling stock and proliferation of other safety

technologies and training of staff.

(Adapted from pib)





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