issue no. #8 | may 2019 price: rs. 60 | 60 pages …...bohag bihu • bohag bihu is the assamese new...

Civil Service Digest | May 2019

CIVIL SERVICE DIGESTPrice: Rs. 60 | 60 PagesIssue No. #8 | May 2019

TABLE OF

CONTENTSGS-I: Art & CultureNew year in different parts of India • Chenchu Tribe • Jallianwalla bagh mas-sacre (1919)

GS-I: Geography

Ocean heat hits record high • Monsoon likely to be near normal • State of world population 2019

GS-I: Social IssuesHealth sector issues • Vitamin deficien-cy high among urban adults • Finland Ranked Happiest Country For Second-year • Health sector issues

GS-II: International RelationsAwards To Prime Minister • India - U.S. pact to ease MNC’s compliance

GS-II: Polity & GovernancePolitical parties yet to comply with RTI Act • National investigation agency

GS-III: Enivironment

NuGen Mobility Summit2019 • Solar e-waste – A threat to India • Global cooling coalition • NuGen Mo-bility Summit 2019 • State of Global Air 2019

GS-III: Internal Security

Nirbhay Cruise Missile • Al-shabaab militants • Chinook will be a game changer, says Air Force chief • Rawat bats for indigenisation

GS-III: Science & Technology

Event Horizon Telescope (EHT)dating • PSLV-C45 • Chandrayaan 2 to carry NASA’s instrument • Methane trace on Mars

GS-III: Economy

IEA Report • EU extends Brexit dead-line to Oct 31 • National highway 44

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Editorial BoardFounder & MD

Mrs. S. Praba

Editor In-Chief

Dr. Saravanan Subramaniam

Editorial Board

Mr. A. Shanmuga Sundaram

Mr. T. Gokulakrishnan

Mr. J. Vijay

Mr. S. Cholaraja

Mr. J.Deepan

Ms. S. Aarthi Srinivasan

Correspondence Address

SWASTHI PUBLISHERSPlot No. 1884, I Block, 25th Street,Anna Nagar, Chennai - 600 040Tamil Nadu, India.

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ART & CULTURE GS-I

ART & CULTURE

Nauroz Festival

Why in news?

• On March 21 it is celebrated throughout the world.

In brief

About Nauroz Festival:

• Nauroz is the Iranian New Year or Per-sian New Year festival which is celebrated worldwide.

• It has celebrated for over 3000 years in Western Asia, Central Asia, the Caucasus, the Black Sea Basin, and the Balkans.

• It is a secular holiday for most people, but remains a holy day for Zoroastrians, Bahais and some Muslim communities.

• This New Year is the day of the vernal equi-nox, and marks the beginning of spring in the Northern Hemisphere.

• It falls on the day after Diwali.

Gudi Padwa

• It is a spring-time festival that marks the tra-ditional new year of Marathi and Konkani Hindus.

• It is celebrated on the first day of the Chai-tra month. The festival is observed with co-lourful floor decorations called rangoli.

Losoong

• It is the Sikkimese New Year Festival cele-brated primarily by the Bhutia tribe but also by the Lepchas tribe.

• Based on the Tibetan Lunar Calendar, the festival falls on the month of December.

Bohag Bihu

• Bohag Bihu is the Assamese New year cel-ebrated by performing the folk dance Bihu and a grand buffet.

• It is also known as Rongali Bihu.• It usually falls on 2 April week, historically

signifying the time of harvest.

Pahela Baishakh

• Pahela Baishakh is the Bengali New Year celebrated on 14 April.

• This new year festival is celebrated in the Indian states of West Bengal, Odisha , Tri-

Dhimsa dance• Dhimsa is a popular form of folk

dance performed by the agricul-turists in Vishakhapatnam district, Andhra Pradesh.

• It is one among the most colourful dances that present a tribal kalei-doscope in costume, lyric, style and zest it is generally performed in the local fairs and festivals.

New year in different parts of India

Navreh

• Navreh is the Kashmiri New Year Festival celebrated by the Kashmiri Pandits.

• The festival falls on the first day of the bright half of the month of Chaitra.

• The word navreh, derived from the Sanskrit nava varsha, literary meaning ‘new year’.

Bestu Varas

• Bestu Varas is the Gujarati New Year Fes-tival.

• It is also called as Varsha-pratipada or Pad-wa, and falls in the month of Kartik, the first month of Gujarati Calendar.

pura and part of Assam by people of Bengali heritage, irrespective of their religious faith.

Cheti Chand

• Cheti Chand is a festival which marks the beginning of the Hindu New Year for the Sindhi Hindus.

• It falls on the month of Chaitra.• It also marks the birth of Jhulehal, the pri-

mary god of Sindhi community.

New year Celebrated in Middle of April

• Ugadi - Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh & Telangana

• Vishu - Kerala • Baisakhi - Punjabi New Year• Puthandu - Tamil Nadu

Jallianwalla bagh massacre (1919)

• Also known as Amritsar massacre, it took place on 13 April 1919 when troops of the British Indian Army under the command of Colonel Reginald Dyer fired rifles into a crowd of Indians, who had gathered in Jalli-anwala Bagh, Amritsar, Punjab.

• The unarmed crowd was protesting against the arrest of two local leaders Saiffudin Kichlew and Satyapal and the notorious Rowlatt Act.

• According to the official estimates the num-ber of dead was around 400 but in reality it was more than 1500.

• Gandhi withdrew his anti-rowlatt satyagra-ha movement on April 19, 1919 and called it a “Himalayan Blunder”.

• On May 30,1919, Rabindranth Tagore re-nounced his knighthood title awarded by British.

• Gandhi returned the Kaiser-i-Hind Gold medal given to him for his work during Boer War in South Africa.

• The Hunter committee (1919) was formed to inquire into the incident.


GEOGRAPHY

Chenchu Tribe

About Chenchu Tribe:

• The Chenchus are Adivasi, a designated Scheduled Tribe in the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka and Odisha.

• They speak the Chenchu language, a mem-ber of the Dravidian language family.

• Many Chenchus live in the dense Nallama-

la forest of Andhra Pradesh.• They are referred to as one of the Particu-

larly Vulnerable Tribal Groups that are still dependent on forests and do not cultivate land but hunt for a living.

Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs)

• PVTG (earlier Primitive Tribal Groups) was the category with in Scheduled Tribes creat-ed on recommendation of Dhebar commis-sion.

GEOGRAPHYGS-I

Urban areas cooler than non urban regions during heat waves.

In news:

According to the study by IIT-Gandhinagar Though there is an absolute increase in tem-perature during heat waves in both urban and non-urban areas, the urban areas are relatively cooler than the surrounding non-urban areas.At 1.94°C, the absolute increase in temperature during the day in non-urban areas during a heat wave was significantly higher than in urban ar-eas (0.14°C).

In brief:

However, during the night, all urban areas were hotter than the surrounding non-urban areas.The urban areas witness less temperature increase during heat waves compared with non-urban areas due to significantly higher tree cover and more number of water bodies.In non-urban areas, the vegetation cover in the form of crops and soil moisture from cropland irrigation decline sharply after crops are har-vested and well before the onset of heat waves during summer.

Ocean heat hits record high

• According to the United Nations, the Ocean heat hit a record high in 2018.

• The data from the State of the Climate overview issued by the World Metero-logical Organization clearly indicates the recent development.

• This thermal expansion - water swelling as it warms - is expected to raise sea levels by 30 cm.

• Climate Action summit will be held in Sep-tember 23, 2019 with concrete plans to re-duce greenhouse gas emissions by 45% over the next decade and to net zero by 2050.

Rain, thunderstorms leave over 50 dead in four states

In news:

Over 50 people were killed as rains coupled with thunderstorm and lightning hit several parts of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Maharashtra causing damage to property and crops.The unseasonal rain was part of a western dis-turbance.

What are Western Disturbances?A Western Disturbance is an extratropical storm originating in the Mediterranean region that brings sudden winter rain to the north-western parts of the Indian subcontinent. It is a non-monsoonal precipitation pattern driven by the westerlies and sub-tropical westerly Jet-stream.Disturbance means an area of “disturbed” or reduced air pressure. Equilibrium exists in na-ture due to which the air in a region tries to nor-malise its pressure.“Extra-tropical” means outside the tropics. As the Western Disturbance originates outside the tropical region, the word “extra-tropical” has been associated with them.A Western Disturbance is associated with rain-fall, snowfall and fog in northern India. Upon

• Presently there are 75 tribal groups catego-rized by Ministry of Home Affairs as Partic-ularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTG)s.

• PVTGs reside in 18 States and UT of A&N Islands.

its arrival in Pakistan and northern India, clouds along with rain and snow also arrive. The mois-ture which Western Disturbances carry with them comes from the Mediterranean Sea and/or from the Atlantic Ocean.It is highly useful for Rabi crops, especially wheat. Wheat requires moderate rainfall during its growing phase, but dry conditions during harvest phase.This phenomenon occurs mainly during months of November-February. But, the unseasonal rain and hailstorms have hit Gujarat’s mango growers hard. The State is one of the country’s top mango producers, especial-ly of the Kesar variety.


GEOGRAPHY

Monsoon likely to be near normal

According to India Meteorological Department (IMD), Indiais likely to have ‘near normal’ monsoon this year with a well-distributed rain-fall which could be beneficial for the agricul-ture sector in the ensuing Kharif season.The seasonal rainfall is likely to be 96% of the

Long Period Average (LPA) with a model error of plus or minus 5% according to Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES).The IMD’s optimism stems from global cli-mate models projecting a ‘weakening El Nino’.The IMD defines average, or normal rainfall as between 96% and 104% of Long Period Aver-age for the entire four-month season beginning June.

What is LPA?

LPA is the average rainfall received by the country as a whole during the south-west mon-soon, for a 50-year period. The current LPA is 89 cm, based on the average rainfall over years 1951 and 2000. This acts as a benchmark against which the rainfall in any monsoon sea-son is measured.

El-Nino:

The term El Niño refers to the large-scale ocean-atmosphere climate interaction linked to a periodic warming in sea surface temperatures across the central and east-central Equatorial

Pacific.Normally, strong winds along the equator push the warm surface water near South America westward toward Indonesia. When this hap-pens, the cooler water underneath rises up to-wards the surface of the ocean near west coast of South America.During an El Niño event, the surface waters in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean become significantly warmer than usual. Easterly trade winds (which blow from the Americas toward Asia) falter and can even turn around into westerlies. In El Niño years, lots of rain clouds forms over eastern part of the Pacific ocean. Meanwhile, other parts of the world can suffer drought.It also reduces the upwelling of cooler, nutri-ent-rich waters from the bottom of the sea.Many fish that live in the normally cooler wa-ters off the coast of South America move away or die. The fishermen call this condition of warm coastal waters and poor fishing “El Niño” meaning “the Christ Child,” because in the oc-casional years it comes, it comes at Christmas time.

La-Nina:

La Niña events sometimes follow El Niño

events, which occur at irregular intervals of about two to seven years. La Niña means The Little Girl in Spanish.La Niña is caused by a build-up of cool-er-than-normal waters in the tropical eastern Pacific ocean. Unusually strong, westward moving trade winds move warm surface water to the west pa-cific and ocean currents bring cold water to the surface by a process known as upwelling. Coastal sea-surface temperatures near Ecuador and Peru may drop nearly 4 degrees Celsius than normal levels.La Niña is characterized by lower-than-normal air pressure over the western Pacific. These low-pressure zones contribute to increased rainfall. Rainfall associated with the summer monsoon

in Southeast Asia tends to be greater than nor-mal, especially in northwest India and Bangla-desh. La Niña usually has a positive impact on the fishing industry of western South America. Up-welling brings cold, nutrient-rich waters to the surface. Nutrients include plankton eaten by fish and crustaceans. Higher-level predators, in-cluding high-value fish species such as sea bass, prey on the crustaceans.

State of world population 2019

Why in news?

The United Nations Population Fund has released the State of World Population 2019 report.

Key Findings of the report:

• India’s population grew at an average an-nual rate of 1.2 per cent between 2010 and 2019 to 1.36 billion. It was more than double the annual growth rate of China.

• The total fertility rate per woman was 5.6 in 1969. It dropped to 3.7 in 1994 and 2.3 in 2019.

• The life expectancy at birth in 1969 was 47 years, growing to 60 years in 1994 and 69 years in 2019.

• 7 per cent of India’s population was in the age bracket of 0-14 years and 10-24 years each, while 67 per cent of India’s population was in the 15-64 age bracket. Six per cent of India’s population was of the age 65 and above.

About UN Population Fund:

• The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) is a UN organization agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every child birth is safe and every young person’s potential is fulfilled”.

• It is active from 1969 and has its headquar-ters at New York, United States.

• Their work involves the improvement of reproductive health; including creation of national strategies and protocols, and birth control by providing supplies and services.

• The organization has recently been known for its worldwide campaign against child marriage, obstetric fistula and female geni-tal mutilation.


SOCIAL ISSUES

SOCIAL ISSUESGS-I

Finland RankedHappiest Country For Secondyear

Key Highlights:

1.India drops from 133 to 140; South Su-dan least happy: UN report2.Finl and has topped a global happiness-ranking for the second year in a row.3.It beat Nordic peers Denmark,Nor-wayand Iceland in aranking of 156 coun-tries by the United Nations Sustainable Development SolutionsNetwork.4.The ranking saw the US drop one place, to19th, while people in South Sudan were the least happy.5.India dropped sevenranks to the 140th place.6.7th annual Global happinessreport.7.The results are base donanaverage of-three years of surveys taken by Gallup between 2016 and 2018 and include fac-tors such asA.Gross Domestic Product

Health sector issuesWhy in news?

• Recently the U.S.- based Centrer for Dis-ease Dynamics, Economics & Policy (CD-DEP) highlighted the issues faced by the Indian Health Sector.

Key takeaways from the report:

• In India, there is one government doc-tor for every 10,189 people (the World Health Organisation (WHO) recom-mends a ration of 1:1,000), or there is a deficit of 6,00,000 doctors, and the nurse: patient ratio is 1:483, implying a shortage of two million nurses.

• High out-of-pocket medical costs to the patient are compounded by lim-ited government spending for health services.

• In India, 65% of health expenditure is out-of-pocket, and such expenditures push some 57 million people into pov-erty each year.

• The study also noted that lack of ac-cess to antibiotics kills more people than anitbiotic resistance.

• Worlwide, the irrational use of antibi-otics and poor antimicrobial steward-ship lead to treatment failure.

B.Social support from friends and family, healthy life expectancy, freedom to make life choicesC.Generosity, perceived corruption and recen-temotions—both happy and sad.

What do we infer?

• Thedataofferstheworld’sgovernmentsand-individualstheopportunitytorethinkpublic

policies and individual life choices, to raise happiness and well-being.

Way ahead:

• We are in an era of rising tensions and neg-ative emotions and these findings point to underlying challenges that need to bead-dressed.

About National Health Profile:

• National Health Profile (NHP) is an annual publication of the Central Bureau of Health Intelligence (CBHI), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

• The first release of the annual publication was in 2005.

• It covers all the major information on De-mography, Socio-Economic Status, Disease Morbidity & Mortality, Healthcare Finance, Human Resources in Health and Health-care Infrastructure.

• NHP is an initiative which is at par with in-ternational standards of data publication


SOCIAL ISSUES

the case of India, it notes.• India has to adopt measures to prevent TB

on a population level to eliminate the dis-ease in the comingdecades.

Fight Against Tuberculosis(TB)

• TB is second only to HIV/AIDS as the greatest infectious killer diseaseworldwide

• India has the highest TB burden in the world, accounting for almost 25 percent of global TB cases.

• According to the Global TB Report 2017 released by World Health Organisation (WHO), India has topped list of seven coun-tries, accounting for 64% of the over 10mil-lion new tuberculosis (TB) cases world wi-dein year 2016.

• India’s domestic budget for fighting tuber-culosis showed a dramatic jump from about

Integrate TB Services With Primary health System:Lancet

Why In News:

Of the 10 million new tuberculosis (TB) cases reported globally in 2017 by the World Health Organisation, 2.74 million were from India, showing a marginal reduction from 2.79 million in 2016. Despite TB incidence in the country being 204 cases per 1,00,000 in 2017, the gov-ernment has set a highly ambitious target of “eliminating TB by 2025”, five years ahead of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)target.

In Brief:

The Lacent Data:

• According to The Lancet Global Health ar-ticle based on modelling for three high-bur-den countries, includingIndia, compared with 2015 data, 57% reduction in incidence and72% reductioninmortalitywillbeensee-nonlyby2035.

• Strengthening the care cascade could re-duce cumulative TB incidence by 38% in

700 crore in 2015 to 2,500 crore last year.• According to World Health Statistics

2018 released by World Health Organisa-tion(WHO),India saw estimated 211 cases of tuberculosis (TB) per 1,00,000 people in 2016.

• India has pledged to eradicate tuberculosis by 2025, five years ahead of global target set byWHO.

Basics about TB:

• Tuberculosis is an infectious, airborne dis-ease caused by the bacterium Mycobacteri-umtuberculosis. It mainly affects the lungs.It can be transmitted from person to person through the air when people with TB cough, sneeze, laugh or speak, spit, propelling the-germs into the atmosphere

Why TB is an issue?

• With proper diagnosis and treatment, TB can becured.

• However, too many people with TB don’t seek care for early symptoms and get prop-erly diagnosed. Of those in whom the dis-ease is detected, many do not complete their treatment.

• Despite global efforts to combat TB, which saved an estimated 53million

Vitamin deficiency high among urban adults

It shows widespread dietary inade-

quacies in Hyderabad

Why in News? Several Vitamin Deficiencies and dietary inade-quacies are hidden under our apparently health exterior.

In Brief:

When scientists at the ICMR-National Institute of Nutrition (NIN) led by G. Bhanuprakash Reddy screened the sub-clinical status of vi-tamins — A, D, B1, B2, B6, B12 and folate —

among urban adults in the twin cities, they found several vitamin deficiencies and dietary inadequacies hidden under their apparently healthy exterior.

Results- What do we infer?

• The results of the study involving 300 participants conducted in and around Hy-derabad and Secunderabad have been published in an internationally acclaimed journal ‘Nutrition’.

• It has, for the first time, explored the blood levels of major vitamins along with dietary intakes of urban adults and explored the ho-mocysteine levels which amplify the chanc-es of non-communicable diseases like heart diseases.

• Screened participants showed vitamin defi-ciencies to an extent of 50% of B2, 46% of B6, 46% of B12, 29% of D and 32% of folate. In terms of diet intake, nutrient inadequacy was found in diets of 72% of the study pop-ulation while additionally high homocyste-ine levels were prevalent in 52% of them.

• An institute release on Friday stated vita-mins are micronutrients essential for normal cellular and molecular functions, growth and maintenance of body issues. Their de-ficiencies are major risk factors for disease burden in countries like India.

• Despite physiological significance of all the vitamins, only a few like folate, Vitamin B12

and D have received considerable attention globally.

• It is now known that deficiency of any vi-tamin, either independently or in combina-tion, results in deleterious consequences as even a mild form of deficiency can result in adverse results.

• The study highlighted the widespread prev-alence of vitamin deficiency and dietary in-adequacies with women being at particular risk while high homocysteine levels have been observed mostly among men.

• Caution: RedAlert- High deficiencies of B2, B6 was noticed in addition to the commonly reported vitamins of B12, D and folate.

• It has recommended screening of vitamin levels regularly and calls for necessity of a nationally representative data to direct the improvement of nutrition intervention and public health programme such as multiple micronutrient fortifications, dietary diver-sification and supplementation to achieve sustainable development goals.

Poor diet

• 300 urban adults in and around Hyderabad, Secunderabad screened for NIN study

• Nutrient inadequacy found in diets of 72% of study population; additionally high homo-cysteine levels (which amplify the chances of non-communicable diseases) prevalent in 52% of them


INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS


GS-II

India - U.S. pact to ease MNC’s compliance

In news:

• An Inter-Governmental Agreement for ex-change of Country-by-Country (CbC) re-ports of multinational companies regarding income allocation and taxes paid to help check cross-border tax evasion was signed between India and US.

• The agreement was signed by PC Mody, Chairman, Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), and Kenneth I Juster, US Ambas-sador to India.

In brief:

• It will enable the two countries to automat-ically exchange the reports filed by the ul-timate parent entities of the multinational enterprises in the respective jurisdictions pertaining to the years commencing on or after January 1, 2016.

• It will also exclude the need for Indian sub-sidiary companies of the American multi-national enterprises to do local filing of the CbC Reports, thereby reducing the compli-ance burden.

• This is a key step in making India compli-ant with the Base Erosion and Profit Shift-ing (BEPS)

About BEPS:

• Base erosion and profit shifting refers to the activities of multinational corporations to shift their profits from high tax jurisdictions to lower tax jurisdiction, thereby eroding the tax base of the high tax jurisdictions and depriving them of tax revenue.

• In order to combat this, many countries en-tered into agreements to share tax informa-tion with each other to enhance transparen-cy and make such profit shifting that much harder.

• BEPS Action Plan adopted by the Organisa-tion for Economic Co-operation and Devel-opment (OECD) and G20 countries in 2013 recognised that the way forward to mitigate risk from base erosion and profit shifting was to enhance transparency.

• Against this background, a template was re-leased in 2014, which outlined how MNEs could report the required information for each tax jurisdiction in which they do busi-ness. These are called the country-by-coun-try reports.

• 1974 to supervise the implementation of the Agreement on Disengagement and main-tain the ceasefire with an area of separation known as the UNDOF Zone.

• A UN peacekeeping force continues to monitor the cease-fire agreement’s imple-mentation, patrolling a narrow buffer be-tween them.

Awards To Prime Minister :

1.UAE’S top honour for Modi

UAE President Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan has awarded Prime Minister Narendra Modi the highest civilian award, ‘the Order of Zayed’ on April 4.

2.Russia’s highest civilian award

Prime Minister NarendraModi has been award-ed the Order of St. Andrew the Apostle, the highest civilian award of the Russian Federa-tion through a Presidential decree.

In brief:

The award is being given to the Prime Minister for his distinguished achievement in develop-ing the Special and Privileged Strategic Part-nership between Russia and India and deepen-ing the friendly relations between the peoples of the two countries.The award which is given for exceptional ser-vices has, since its inception in 1998, been con-ferred on 18 distinguished personalities.It is the highest order and the oldest state or-der of Russia, first established in 1698. It was abolished under the Soviet Union but re-estab-lished in 1998.Previous recipients include Chinese President Xi Jinping, and presidents of Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan, former Soviet leader Mikhail Gor-bachev and author Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s other highest civilian award

1.Order of Abdulaziz Al Saud- Saudi Arabia

2.State Order of Ghazi Amir Amanul-lah Khan - Afghanistan

3.Grand Collar of the State of Pales-tine - The highest honour granted to foreigners by Palestine

4.Order of Zayed- United Arab Emirates



Israel election: Netanyahu set forrecord fifth term

In News:

Benjamin Netanyahu has won a fifth term in the Israeli elections, putting him on course to become the country’s longest serving prime minister.

Other Important Issues of Israel:

Golan Heights

• President of the United State, Mr, Donald trump proclaimed Israel’s sovereignty over occupied Syrian land.

• No country in the world recognizes Israel’s rule over the Golan Heights, occupied by Israel in 1967 and unilaterally annexed in 1981 – no country, that is, until now.

• The President has earlier recognised the disputed city of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, moved the American Embassy there from

Tel Aviv, and stopped aid to Palestinian ref-ugees.

• Last year, the US voted against a ritual an-nual UN resolution condemning Israel’s continued seizure of the Golan Heights.

• UNDOF (the United Nations Disengage-ment Observer Force) was established in 1974 to supervise the implementation of the Agreement on Disengagement and maintain the ceasefire with an area of sepa-ration known as the UNDOF Zone.

• A UN peacekeeping force continues to monitor the cease-fire agreement’s imple-mentation, patrolling a narrow buffer be-tween them.

About Golan Heights

Importance of Golan Heights

• Having control of the Golan gives Israel a vantage point from which to monitor any Syrian military movements towards Israel.

• The area is a key source of water for an arid region. Rainwater from the Golan’s catch-

ment feeds into the Jordan River. The area provides a third of Israel’s water supply.

• The land is fertile, with the volcanic soil be-ing used to cultivate vineyards and orchards and to raise cattle. The Golan is also home to Israel’s only ski resort.

GAZA Strip:

• The Gaza Strip is a small Palestinian terri-tory, located along the Mediterranean coast between Egypt and Israel. Palestinians are ethnic Arab and majority Muslim. It is deeply impoverished, kept in isolation by the Israeli military and ruled by Hamas, an anti-Israeli terrorist group.

• Israelis and Arabs have been fighting over Gaza on and off, for decades. It’s part of the wider Arab Israeli conflict.

• The Rafah Border Crossing or Rafah Cross-ing Point is the sole crossing point between Egypt and Gaza Strip. It is located on the Gaza–Egypt border, which was recognized by the 1979 Israel–Egypt Peace Treaty

Borders of Israel:

• Mediterranean sea, Egypt – West• Red Sea (Gulf of • Aqabah) – South• Jordan – East• Syria, Lebanon - North

India-Israel relations:

• India had formally recognised Israel in Sep-tember 1950.

• Embassies were opened in 1992 after full diplomatic relations were established.

• Since the upgradation of relations in 1992, defence and agriculture have been the main pillars of bilateral engagement.

• In recent years, bilateral ties have expanded to areas such as education, science and tech-nology and homeland security.

• The future vision of the cooperation is of a strong hi-tech partnership as both countries leading knowledge economies.



SCO offers mediation in India-Pak talks

Why In News:

The eight nation Shanghai Cooperation organ-isation (SCO) offered to smoothen a bilateral dialogue between India and Pakistan so that the two countries can resolve their differences, following Pulwama terror attack in Kashmir.

In Brief:

• Tensions between India and Pakistan esca-lated after a suicide bomber of terror group JeM killed 40 CRPF personnel in Pulwama.

• SCO has decided to offer mediation to smoothen talks between both the countries since the membership of India and Paki-stan-two large states in South Asia-benefit-ed the entire Eurasian region.

• The SCO’s proposal follows similar open-ings for mediation by China and Russia.

• Military tensions between India and Pa-kistan, both SCO members, had escalated dramatically following the February 14 Pul-wama attack, in which more than 40 CRPF

personnel had been killed.• The SCO head made it plain that the group-

ing does not offer a dispute settlement mechanism where member countries can lodge their differences.

• SCO is of the opinion that one of such fun-damental obligations (of SCO members) is not to bring bilateral contradictions and dis-agreements to the SCO family, as the SCO is not engaged in the settlement of disput-able bilateral issues, whether border, water or other topics in relations between individ-ual Member States.

• But he pointed out that because of their in-volvement in its institutions and initiatives, the SCO provides India and Pakistan ample

o p p o r t u n i -ties, to qui-etly address their differ-ences and concerns.• Mr. Nor-ov said that representa-tives of In-dia and Pa-kistan have been active-ly working in the SCO Secreta r ia t and the ex-ecutive com-mittee of the Ta s h k e n t based SCO R e g i o n a l Anti-Terror-ist Structure

(RATS). Besides the two countries were working together in all the 29 working mechanisms of the organisation.

US designates Iran’s elite military unit as a terrorist organization

In news:

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Mon-day designated Iran’s elite Islamic Revolution-ary Guard Corps a foreign terrorist organization, an unprecedented step that raises tension in the Middle East.

In brief:

• It is the first time the US has labelled anoth-er nation’s military as a terrorist organisation.

• In retaliation, Iran’s national Security Coun-cil declared US Central Command (CENT-COM) a terrorist organisation. CENTCOM is the Pentagon wing that oversees Wash-ington’s security interests across the central area of the world map, most notably Afghan-

istan, Iraq, Iran, Pakistan and Syria.• Labelling the Guards as a terrorist organi-

sation will allow the US to impose further sanctions - particularly affecting the busi-ness sector, given the IRGC’s involvement in Iran’s economy.

• The fear is that it could encourage the IRGC or its proxies to take action against US personnel or other targets in places where they might be vulnerable, for exam-ple in Iraq. And may one day, spill into open military conflict.

• Critics have warned that the move could open U.S. military and intelligence officials to similar actions by unfriendly govern-ments.

What is the IRGC?

• Iran’s most elite military unit was set up shortly after the 1979 Iranian revolution to defend the country’s Islamic system and to provide a counterweight to the regular

armed forces.• It has since become a major military, polit-

ical and economic force in Iran, with close ties to the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and many other senior figures hailing from its ranks.

• The IRGC is estimated to have more than 150,000 active personnel, boasts its own ground forces, navy and air force, and over-sees Iran’s strategic weapons, including its ballistic missiles.

• The IRGC exerts influence elsewhere in the Middle East by providing money, weap-ons, technology, training and advice to allied governments and armed groups through its shadowy overseas operations arm, the Quds (Jerusalem) Force.



Don’t help the maduro regime: U.S

In the Iran row, Next comes Venezuela: Don’t help the Maduro regime – USA to India

Why in news:

Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale discussed the situation in Venezuela and Venezuelan oil purchases with U.S. Secretary of State Michael Pompeo during their meeting.

In Brief:

• USA wants India not be the economic life-line of Venezuela

• India and seven other countries were given a six month exemption from U.S. sanctions on trade with Iran and allowed to purchase a limited quantity of Iranian oil without fac-ing sanctions.

Twitter warning:

Regarding Venezuela, U.S. National Security Advisor John Bolton had warned India and oth-er countries on Twitter last month against pur-chasing oil from Venezuela in response to Vene-zuelan Oil Minister Manuel Quevedo making a trip to India to pitch for more oil sales.

Why India is targetted?

Venezuela the third largest supplier of oil to In-dia, the world’s third-biggest oil consumer.

Fulani TribesWhy in news?

• More than 130 Fulani ethnic people were killed in an attack on a village in Central Mali on Saturday by militants belonging to Dogon community.

• The clash between Fulani and Dogon com-munity has been due to access to land and water.

About Fulani tribes:

• The Fulani tribes are one of the largest eth-nic groups in the Sahel and West Africa., widely dispersed across the region.

• They are considered to be largest nomadic pastoral community in the world.

The mueller reportWhy in news?

The Mueller Report found that neither Trump nor anyone in his campaign conspired or coordi-nated with the Russian government to help him win the US Presidential election of 2016.

About Mueller Probe:

• The Special Counsel investigation of 2017 to 2019 also referred to as the Mueller probe was a United States law enforcement and counterintelligence investigation of the Russian government’s effort to interfere in the 2016 presidential election.

• Rober Mueller is an American attorney and the Special Counsel of this probe.

Asian Tea Alliance launched in China

In news:

The Asian Tea Alliance (ATA), a union of five tea-growing and consuming countries, was launched on 19th April 2019 in Guizhou in Chi-na.

Background:

• Members:Indian Tea Association, China Tea Marketing Association, Indonesian Tea Marketing Association, Sri Lanka Tea Board and Japan Tea Association.

Boosting tea trade

• ATA plans to work towards enhancing tea trade, cultural exchanges, technology ex-changes as well as globally promoting tea.

• It will also work towards enhancing global consumption of tea, while creating a sus-tainability agenda for the future of Asian tea.

• The forging of this alliance comes close on the heels of the signing of a memorandum of understanding in December 2018 be-tween the Indian Tea Association and Chi-na Tea Marketing Association.

• The two associations signed the pact to pro-mote green and black tea consumption in major tea markets of Europe, the U.S., Rus-sia and West Asia, besides India and China.


Brexit: All you need to know about the UK leaving the EU

What does Brexit mean?

It is a word that is used as a shorthand way of saying the UK leaving the EU - merging the words Britain and exit to get Brexit, in the same way as a possible Greek exit from the euro was

dubbed Grexit in the past.

Why is Britain leaving the Eu-ropean Union?

A referendum - a vote in which every-one (or nearly every-one) of voting age can take part - was held on Thursday 23 June, 2016, to de-cide whether the UK should leave or remain in the Euro-pean Union. Leave won by 51.9% to 48.1%. The refer-endum turnout was

71.8%, with more than 30 million people voting.

When is the UK due to leave the EU?

The UK had been due to leave on 29 March 2019, two years after it started the exit process by invoking Article 50 of the EU’s Lisbon Trea-ty. But the withdrawal agreement reached be-tween the EU and UK has been rejected three times by UK MPs.Having granted an initial extension of the Ar-ticle 50 process until 12 April 2019, EU lead-

ers have now backed a six-month extension until 31 October 2019. However, the UK will leave before this date if the withdrawal agreement is ratified by the UK and the EU before then.

So is Brexit definitely happening?

As things stand, the UK is due to leave the European Union at 23:00 GMT on 31 October 2019. If the UK and EU ratify the withdrawal agreement before then, the UK will leave on the first day of the following month.

But could Brexit be cancelled?

Yes. Stopping Brexit would require a change in the law in the UK, something neither the gov-ernment nor the main UK opposition parties want to do at this point. The European Court of Justice ruled on 10 December 2018 that the UK could cancel the Article 50 Brexit process with-out the permission of the other 27 EU mem-bers, and remain a member of the EU on its ex-isting terms, provided the decision followed a “democratic process”, in other words, if Parlia-ment voted for it. In March, an online petition calling for Article 50 to be revoked gained over six million signatures.

Could Brexit be delayed?

Theresa May has said she wants the UK to leave the EU as soon as possible, if possible by 22 May, so the UK will not have to take part in the European Parliament elections taking place across Europe that month. The EU has said the Brexit process should not be extended again beyond 31 October 2019, but legally speaking another extension could happen if all EU coun-tries, including the UK, agree to it.

What is the European Union?

The European Union - often known as the EU - is an economic and political partnership in-volving 28 European countries. It began after World War Two to foster economic co-opera-tion, with the idea that countries which trade together were more likely to avoid going to war with each other.It has since grown to become a “single market” allowing goods and people to move around, ba-sically as if the member states were one coun-try. It has its own currency, the euro, which is used by 19 of the member countries, its own parliament and it now sets rules in a wide range of areas - including on the environment, trans-port, consumer rights and even things such as mobile phone charges


GSP withdrawal by U.S. likely to affect India’s plastics exportsIn news:

According to Plastic Export Promotion Coun-cil (Plexconcil), the move by the United States to terminate India’s designation as beneficiary developing country under the Generalized Sys-tem of Preferences (GSP) programme is likely to affect plastic exports from India.The GSP concessions extended by the U.S. amounted to a duty reduction of $30 million per annum on imports of plastic products worth

$600 million for the period January to Decem-ber 2018

Generalized System of Preferences (GSP):

• The Trade Act of 1974, which gives the US President the power to provide duty-free treatment under GSP to an eligible article from a designated beneficiary developing country. It also gives the President the pow-er to withdraw, suspend or limit such du-ty-free treatment given to any beneficiary developing country.

• It is considered to be an exception to the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) principle, which dictates that WTO member coun-

tries cannot normally discriminate between their trading partners.

• Nearly 2,000 products including auto com-ponents and textile materials can enter the US duty-free if the beneficiary developing countries meet the eligibility criteria estab-lished by the Congress.

• India was the largest beneficiary of the pro-gramme in 2017 with USD 5.7 billion.

• The GSP programme allows duty-free en-try of 1,784 products from India into the US

• Exporters of textiles, engineering, gems and jewellery and chemical products ben-efit the most from this programme



India Africa health sciences collaborative platform

• India and African Union recently signed an agreement to establish an India-Afri-ca health science collaborative platform to initiate and strengthen the cooperation in health sector in a structured and organised manner.

• It will be established to carry forward the strategic vision of India-Africa Forum Sum-mit (IAFS) III.

About India-Africa Forum Summit:

• The India–Africa Forum Summit (IAFS) is the official platform for the African-Indian relations. IAFS will be held once in every three years.

• First India-Africa Forum Summit held in 2008 in New Delhi, India.

• Second India-Africa Forum Summit held in 2011 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

• Third India-Africa Forum Summit held in 2015 in New Delhi, India.

Trump told Kim to ship n-weapons to U.S

In news:

U.S. President Donald Trump gave North Kore-an leader Kim Jong Un a list of demands when they met in Hanoi February 2019 for a second summit, which collapsed over conflicting de-mands by Pyongyang for sanctions relief and by Washington for North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons.

In brief:

• The document called for fully dismantling North Korea’s nuclear infrastructure, chem-ical and biological warfare programme and related dual-use capabilities, and ballistic missiles, launchers, and associated facilities and transfer of Pyongyang’s nuclear weap-ons and bomb fuel.

• It also called on North Korea to Provide a comprehensive declaration of its nuclear programme and full access to U.S. and inter-

national inspectors• Halt all related activities and construction

of any new facilities• Eliminate all nuclear infrastructure• Transition all nuclear programme scientists

and technicians to com-mercial activities.

About North Korea:

The Korean Peninsula was first divided along the 38th parallel in 1945. In 1953, The two sides agreed to create a four-ki-lometer-wide buffer zone between the states, known as the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). This new bor-der, reflecting the territory held by each side at the end of the Korean war, crossed the 38th parallel diagonally.• North Korea is located

between Korea Bay and Sea of Japan.

• Capital: Pyongyang• It is bordered by South Korea in South, Chi-

na to the North and Russia to the North-east.

Strait of Hormuz

Why in news?

• The United States signed a strategic port deal with Oman on Sunday which U.S. officials say will allow the U.S. military better ac-cess the Gulf region and re-duce the need to send ships through the Strait of Hor-muz, a choke point off Iran.

In Brief:

About Strait of Hormuz:

• The Strait of Hormuz is a

strait between Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman.

• It provides the only sea passage from the Persian Gulf to the open ocean.

• On the north coast lays Iran, and on the south coast the United Arab Emirates and Mu-sandam, an exclave of Oman.• About 20% of the world’s petroleum pass-es through the strait, making it a highly im-portant strategic location for international trade.


Iran seeks improved trade ties with India amid sanctions

In News:

Despite of sanctions from U.S. Iran is exploring ways to increase its bilateral trade with India, including expanding banking channels.

India – Iran Relations:

1. Energy:

• India can decrease the dependence on Sau-di for oil and Iran oil is comparatively cheap

• Iran has the world’s second-largest reserves of natural gas, yet it is not a major exporter.

• Iran has several challenges to overcome before it can become an energy supplier to Europe and Asia. Iran’s energy infrastruc-ture – long neglected as a result of Western sanctions – requires major upgrades to make it capable of sustained energy exports.

• This will require massive foreign invest-ment and India can tremendously help here.

2. Chabahar port:

It is located on the Makran coast, Chabahar in south-eastern Iran. Its location lies in the Gulf of Oman. This coast is a relatively under-developed free trade and industrial zone, especial-ly when compared to the sprawling port of Bandar Abbas further west. Also, it is the only Iranian port with direct access to the ocean.

Why this port is of interest to India?

• India believes the port is critical to its interests and wants to develop it as a counter to Pakistan’s Gwadar port which was built with Chinese assistance

• The port will allow India to bypass Pakistan to transport goods to Afghanistan and Cen-tral Asia using a sea-land route

• Chabahar Port lies in the Persian Gulf in Iran and will help India in expanding its maritime commerce in the region

• It also provides opportunities to Indian companies to penetrate and enhance their footprint in the region

• It is located 76 nautical miles (less than 150km) west of the Pakistani port of Gwa-dar, being developed by China. This makes it ideal for keeping track of Chinese or Pa-kistani military activity based out of Gwadar

• The port will cut transport costs/time for In-dian goods by a third

• From Chabahar, the existing Iranian road network can link up to Zaranj in Afghan-istan, about 883 kms from the port. The Zaranj-Delaram road constructed by India in 2009 can give access to Afghanistan’s Gar-land Highway, setting up road access to four major cities in Afghanistan — Herat, Kanda-har, Kabul and Mazar-e-Sharif.

3. Role in Afghanistan:

• Iran-Afghan railway link:• India is currently involved in constructing a

560 mile long railway line linking the Irani-an port with the iron ore mines in Hajigak in southern Afghanistan.

• The railway link when completed will po-tentially afford India some strategic benefits including –

• Increasing India’s position and leverage in Afghanistan and the central Asian region. This affords India an easier connection to Afghanistan after avoiding Pakistani block-ages.

• Apart from the impact on security and re-gional politics this more importantly implies

that Indian companies will have opportuni-ties to start exploration over Afghanistan’s mineral wealth which is estimated to be close to $3 trillion. (This alone is over dou-ble the size of India’s economy.)

• Both Iran and India share the goal of a stable government in Kabul free of the Taliban’s influence and not revert to the Taliban-con-trolled Pakistani client state that it was in the 1990s. To that end, India and Iran must engage each other to strengthen the hand of the government in Kabul.

4. Industries:

• Iran believes that India fulfils a substan-

tial part of Iran’s needs. For example, In-dia is very capable in steel, in aluminium, in mines and metals, railroads, software, IT, technology and so on. There is a lot of de-mand in these sectors in Iran.

• One of the biggest advantages in recent times is that Indians are offering a credit line to the Iranians. That’s a very substan-tial element in the hands of the Indians to offer for different projects to Iranians and this credit, which is in rupees, is beneficial to Indians. According to the financial struc-ture, Indian companies will benefit from it, the rupee will benefit from it.

5. Geopolitical:

• Iran would act as a gateway to Central Asia• After removal of sanctions the significance

of Iran geopolitically has increased.• Central Asia is going to be the scene of re-

newed great power rivalry, and India must act, not as a mere spectator, but as a leading player.

• Notwithstanding Iran’s growing bonhomie with Pakistan and China, India must stay in close contact with Iran and consciously and consistently pursue good diplomatic and

economic relations with it.

6. Terrorism:

• Globally, New Delhi and Tehran are on the same page in their opposi-tion towards groups like al-Qaeda and the Islamic State.• Increasing hold of ISIS is a threat to Iran and with India effective efforts against terrorism India can be a attrac-tive partner

7. Culture:

• India has the 2nd largest popu-lation of Shias in the world after Iran some of whom probably also have an-cestral ties to Iran. This ties back to a complex political situation in India. Religion and national allegiances play a large part in Indian politics and this is

magnified with the upcoming elections.

8. Other projects:

• India has been vigorously pursuing the Iran–Pakistan–India (IPI) gas pipeline proj-ect for the last decade. The operation of the IPI project would be reinforced by the trilat-eral “Framework Agreement,” in which the three governments would be committed to the provisions of the Energy Charter Treaty

• With the Iran-Pakistan-India (IPI) pipeline still stuck and the Turkmenistan-Afghani-stan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) pipeline yet to take off, India is very keen to kick-start an undersea pipeline project that would bring Iranian gas to India via the Arabian Sea by-



passing Pakistan.• This is a great opportunity for India to

transport natural gas from Iran to Porbandar port in Gujarat

• Zaranj-Delaram Highway is being built with financial support from India.

• A strategic partnership between India, Iran and Russia is intended to establish a multi-modal transport link connecting Mumbai with St Petersburg, providing Europe and the former Soviet republics of Central Asia access to Asia and vice versa.

• Iran may also provide connectivity to Cen-tral Asia and Europe, via the International North South Transport Corridor(INSTC), which is estimated to be 40 percent short-er and 30 percent less expensive than trade via the Red Sea-Suez Canal-Mediterranean route.


Sri Lanka opens China-financed railway line

In News:

The Sri Lankan government officially opened a railway line constructed between Matara and Beliatta in the southern part of the island coun-try.

In Brief:

• This railway line is the first railway project undertaken by Chinese enterprises in the island country nder the Belt and Road Ini-tiative, also that it is the first newly built railway line since Sri Lanka’s independence in 1948.

• The Matara-Beliatta railway line includes the country’s longest and second-longest railway bridges of 1.5 km and 1.04 km, re-spectively.

Rise of Chinese Influence in Sri Lanka

With the end of the civil war, India is now slow-

ly losing its momentum and is now on the brink of losing Sri Lanka to China.

Geopolitical importance of Sri Lanka

• The Sri Lanka position is strategically loca-tion at the center of the Indian Ocean region.

Chinese pres-ence in Sri Lanka

• H a m b a n t o t a port is located right in middle of vital

energy supply lines in Indian Ocean, connect-ing Middle East and East Asia.

• Sri Lanka has signed a US $1.1 billion deal to sell a 70% stake of the strategic Hambantota deep-sea port to China.

• Hambantota port is a deep-water port in the southern tip of Sri Lan-ka.

• Under the 99-year lease agreement, China will invest up to US $1.1 bil-lion in the port and ma-rine-related activities.

• The deal had fanned concerns of countries with competing strate-

gic interests with China, particularly India and US.

• Local residents of Hambantota are also pro-testing selling of “national assets to foreign entities” leading to violent clashes.

Advantages to China:

• The port is expected to play a key role in China’s Belt and Road initiative (BRI), which will link ports and roads between China and Europe.

• It is also considered that, this deal gives an advantage to China in the bunkering busi-ness, which provides fuel to ships.

Canada removes Khalistani extremism from terror report

1. Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh said that Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau administration’s decision to remove all references to Khalistani extremism in its 2018 report on terrorist threats was a threat to Indian and global security.2. It was claimed to be clearly aimed at pro-tecting its political interests in an election year, which could have serious consequences for In-do-Canadian relations in the long run.3. The erasure of the various references to Khalistan and Khalistani organisations from the latest threat report as an unpardonable act in

the eyes of the peace-loving global community, according to the CM of Punjab.4. Sikh radical group Dal Khalsa has mean-while welcomed the removal of the reference to “Khalistani Extremism” from the Canada Pub-lic Safety Report 2018.

About the Khalistan Movement:

1. A Sikh separatist movement that wants to create a separate country(The Land of the Pure).

2. To serve as a homeland of Sikhs.

3. The Proposed territory wants to combine the states of both the Punjab(India and Pakistan), includes Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and Rajasthan.


acting as a mediator, that Qatar should agree in full within 10 days, which expired on 2 July 2017.

QATAR STAND

• That its neighbours were “demanding that we have to surrender our sovereignty”. That was something it would “never do”.

Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)

• It is a regional intergovernmental group• It deals with political and economic issues• It includes all

Arab states of Persian Gulf except Iraq

Members:• Bahrain• Kuwait• Oman• Qatar• Saudi Arabia• UAE• Established in

1981

HQ : Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

• All members are monarchies, including three constitutional monarchies (Kuwait, Qatar and Bahrain), two absolute monar-chies (Oman and Saudi Arabia) and one federal monarchy (UAE which is composed of seven member states, each of which is ab-solute monarchy).

• The GCC is a political and economic alli-ance of six countries, including Qatar, Saudi, Bahrain, the UAE, Oman and Kuwait.

WHY

• The Saudi-led coalition cited Qatar’s alleged support for terrorism as the main reason for their actions, insisting Qatar has violated a 2014 agreement with members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).

• Qatar’s relations with Iran, with which it shares the world’s largest gas field. The Shia Muslim power is Sunni Muslim-ruled Saudi Arabia’s main regional rival.

RELATION CONDITION

• Two states in the six-member Gulf Co-op-eration Council (GCC) did not cut ties with Qatar – Kuwait and Oman.

• The dispute, which is being mediated by Kuwait, has put this month’s Gulf Coopera-tion Council (GCC) summit in jeopardy

IMPACTS

• Qatar is dependent on imports by land and sea for the basic needs of its population of 2.7 million, and about 40% of its food came in through the land border with Saudi Ara-bia.

13 DEMANDS

• Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Egypt and Bahrain issued Qatar a list of 13 demands through Kuwait, which is

Pompeo urges resolution to gulf crisis

Why In News:

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Wednesday renewed calls for a resolution to a festering dispute between Qatar and four other Arab nations, all of them America’s partners.The dispute that has roiled the Gulf Coopera-tion Council for almost two years is hindering efforts to combat regional threats posed by Iran, the Islamic State and other terrorist groups.

In Brief:

• Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates, along with Egypt, issued a syn-chronized series of announcements in June to cut ties with Qatar, followed by a land, sea and air blockade.


UNMISSWhy in news?

• Days just earlier 150 Indian peacekeepers serving with the UN Mission in south Su-dan (UNMISS) were honoured with medals of honour by the United Nations for their dedicated service and sacrifice.

About United Nations Mission in South Sudan:

• The United Nations Mission in South Su-dan (UNMISS) is the newest United Na-

tions peacekeeping mission for the recently independent south Sudan, which became independent on 9 July 2011.

• It support for peace consolidation and thereby fostering long-term state building and economic development.

• It also supports the Government of the Re-public of South Sudan in exercising its re-sponsibilities for conflict prevention, miti-gation and resolution and protects civilians.

UN Peacekeeping Missions and India:

• India is one of the top troop-contributing nations to UN Peacekeeping Missions.

• So far, more than 2 lakh military and police

have served under the various peacekeep-ing missions.

• More than 150 Indian military personnel have lost their lives under the UN flag.

• Currently, India is the second largest con-tributor of peacekeepers to UNMISS with more than 2,400 military and police person-nel currently deployed in the mission

Japan’s new imperial era to be named ‘Reiwa’

In news?

• It is the name of the new imperial era de-clared by Japan.

• It will replace the Heisei era which is the current era of Japan which started on 8 Jan-uary 1989, when the Emperor Akihito, ac-ceded to the throne as the 125th Emperor.

• The Reiwa marks the accession of Crown Prince Naruhito to the Japanese throne which will happen on May 1, 2019.

In Brief :

• Japan imported the imperial calendar sys-tem from China about 1,300 years ago.

• Starting with the Meiji era (1868-1912), it adopted the practice of “one emperor, one era name.” Previously, era names were sometimes changed mid-reign, such as after

disasters. There have been four era names in the modern period: Meiji, Taisho (1912-1926), Showa (1926-1989) and the current Heisei.


• The Kartarpur Corridor was first proposed in early 1999 by the prime ministers of Pa-kistan and India, Nawaz Sharif and Atal Bihari Vajpayee, respectively, as part of the Delhi–Lahore Bus diplomacy.

Sudan president Badhil ousted by armed force(DARFUR REGION)

In news:

Sudan’s President Omar al-Bashir has been ousted and arrested by the military after nearly 30 years in power.Three-month state of emer-gency was being put in place.

In brief:

• Demonstrations against Mr Bashir, who has governed Sudan since 1989, have been tak-ing place for several months.

• The protests were startedin December over the soaring price of bread evolved into a countrywide street movement that har-nessed the frustrations of many young Su-danese.

• Lt. Gen. Awad Mohamed Ahmed Ibn Auf, the defense minister and a confidant of Mr. al-Bashir announced that

• the dissolution of government• the release of political prisoners• a two-year transition steered by a military

council• the suspension of Sudan’s Constitution• curfews starting at 10 p.m. that night• There is also the question of the cracks

within the Sudanese security establishment which was evident during the clashes be-tween soldiers and intelligence/militia forc-es in recent days.

• This is a military coup with no clear road-map for how the generals plan to hand over

power to civilian rule. The fear will be that they have no such intention.

• The protesters are now demanding a civil-ian council to lead the transition rather than a military one.

Who is Omar al-Bashir?

• Formerly an army officer (Paratrooper), he seized power in a military coup in 1989.

• Al-Bashir also oversaw a long-running civil war between north and south Sudan, which ended in a peace agreement in 2005 and eventually led to the break-up of his coun-try with the independence of South Sudan, in 2011.

• In the 1990s, he hosted Osama bin Laden, inviting US sanctions

• Sudan has been classified as a state sponsor of terror by the US State De-partment since 1993.

• In addition, he sent thousands of Sudanese soldiers to fight outside the country, includ-ing in the civil war in Yemen.

• Mr Bashir is a subject of an international arrest warrant issued by the

International Criminal Court (ICC), which accuses him of organising war crimes and crimes against humanity in Sudan’s western Darfur region.

Darfuri humanitarian crisis:

Numerous rebel groups drawn from Sudan’s African tribes had risen up to fight govern-ment-backed militias made up of Sudanese Arabs – the country’s largest ethnic group. The rebels accused the Arab militias of stealing their land. These militias, backed by the government in Khartoum, had massacred indigenous African tribal people and burned and looted their vil-lages. Hundreds of thousands were killed, and 2 million people internally displaced since 2003.


Shardapeeth corridor

Why in news?

Pakistan approves plan to open Sharda Temple corridor in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) for Hindu pilgrims.

In Brief :

• Established in 237 B.C. during the reign of Emperor Ashoka, the 5,000 year-old ShardaPeeth is an abondanoed temple and ancient centre of learning dedicated to the Hindu goddess of learning.

• Between the 6th and 12th centuries C.E, ShardaPeeth was one of the foremost temple universities of the Indian sub-continent.

• The ShardaPeeth corridor, when opened, will be the second religious tract after Kartarpur corridor in Pakistan-con-trolled territory that will connect the two neighbourings.

Also read :KARTARPUR CORRIDOR

• A proposed border corridor between the neighboring nations of India and Pakistan, connecting the Sikh shrines of Dera Baba Nanak Sahib (located in Punjab, India) and GurdwaraDarbar Sahib Kartarpur (in Pun-jab, Pakistan).


POLITY & GOVERNANCE

POLITY & GOVERNANCE

GS-II

Political parties yet to comply with RTI Act

Why in News:

In a time of deep political polarisation, refusing to comply with the RTI Act seems to be one of the few issues that has united national parties across the ideological spectrum.

In Brief :

Despite a June 2013 ruling from the Central Information Commission (CIC) that they fall within the ambit of the transparency law, par-ties insist that they cannot be considered public authorities under the Act.Six years later, on the verge of another Lok Sabha election, the Supreme Court is set to ad-

judicate on the issue, with a petition filed joint-ly by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and RTI activist Subhash Chandra Agrawal coming up for a hearing .“National political parties are the main players as far as elections are concerned. In a democratic system of governance, it is essential that they are held accountable by informed citizens.”The Political parties also have constitutional and legal responsibilities as they are registered with the Election Commission of India (ECI) and play a vital role in public life and gover-nance. A number of non-governmental organi-sations, trusts, schools and clubs have also been declared public authorities under the Act.A full bench of the CIC ruled that the national parties are public authorities under Section 2(h) of the Act, and directed them to make voluntary disclosures, appoint public information officers and re-spond to RTI applications.Also read: Central Information commission (Static), Electoral Bonds, Right To Information Act (RTI), Election Commission

Centre ,assam lax on illegal migration : SC

Why in News?The Supreme Court on Wednesday blamed the Centre and the Assam government for being lax, that is it is not being careful about tackling the illegal inflow of foreigners into the north-eastern State and their deportation.The court is hearing a petition filed by activist Harsh Mander about the dismal living condi-tions in the detention centres in the State.

Supreme Court’s Observance:

The court pointed out that though the State’s foreigners tribunals had identified over 58,000 illegal immigrants, the detention centres house only 900.Assam government has explained that the vari-ance in numbers is because orders of the tribu-nals are given ex-parte as the alleged foreigner absconds and merges with the local populace the moment proceedings against him begin.

Govt. notifies new rules for drugs , clinical trials.

In news:

• The Union Health Ministry notified New Drugs and Clinical Trials Rules, 2019. The aim is to promote clinical research in India, have predictable, transparent and effective regulations for such trials and also make faster accessibility of new drugs to the Indi-an population.”

Highlights of the rules:

• Patients will be enlisted for trials with in-

formed consent to ensure safety. The ethics committee will monitor the trials and decide on the amount of compensation in cases of adverse events.

• Compensation in cases of death and perma-nent disability or other injuries to a trial sub-ject will be decided by the Drug Controller General

• In case of injury to a clinical trial subject, medical management will be provided as long as required as per the opinion of the investigator or till such time it is established that the injury is not related to the clinical trial.

• Disposal of clinical trial applications by way of approval or rejection or seeking further information within 90 days for drugs devel-

oped outside India.• However, in case of an application for con-

ducting a clinical trial of a new drug or in-vestigational new drug as part of discovery, research and manufacture in India, the ap-plication is to be disposed of within 30 days.

• In case of no communication from DCGI, the application will be deemed to have been approved, the rules stated.

• The requirement of a local clinical trial may be waived for approval of a new drug if it is approved and marketed in any of the coun-tries to be specified by the DCG with the approval of government from time to time and certain other conditions.


POLITY & GOVERNANCE

Plea in SC on voting rights of under trials and convicts

In news:

A petition has been filed in Supreme Court challenging the vires of Section 62(5) of the Representation of People Act, 1951 (RP Act),as it prohibits a person confined in a prison from casting her vote.

In brief:

The Public Interest Litigation (PIL) petition has been filed by one Aditya Prasanna Bhattacharya, a student from the National Law School of India University, Bangalore.

Section 62(5) of RP Act reads:

“No person shall vote at any election is he is confined in a prison, whether under a sentence of imprisonment or transportation or otherwise, or is in the lawful custody of the police:Provided that nothing in this sub-section shall apply to a person subjected to preventive de-tention under any law for the time being in force.”The word “confinement” in the section is the yardstick thereby creating several anoma-lies.In addition to convicts who have been sen-tenced to a particular period of imprisonment, even under-trials, whose innocence or guilt has not been conclusively determined, are deprived of their right to vote, as they too are confined in prison, although they have not been sentenced to imprisonment.The petitionhighlights how the Section sees both an undertrial and a convicted person equally. The former’s guilt is yet to be proved in a court. A person is innocent until proven guilty by law. Despite this, it denies an undertrial the right to vote but allows a detainee the same.However, a convict who has been imprisoned as part of her sentence can still cast her vote if she is released on bail. This is because such a person is not per se confined in prison, the pe-tition states.In 2014, Election Commission of India (EC), once again settled that the Prisoners, both con-victs and under trials, in the country, cannot vote in the elections.Those who have been detained under the Goondas Act, National Security Act (NSA) and Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smug-gling Activities Act (COFEPOSA) can cast their votes from prison itself. A ballot paper is sent to the detainee in prison and he can cast his vote. The ballot paper is sent back to the returning officers by the prisons department.The provision operates in the nature of a blan-

ket ban, as it lacks any kind of reasonable clas-sification based on the nature of the crime com-mitted or the duration of the sentence imposed. This lack of classification is anathema to the fundamental right to equality under Article 14, the petition contends.Further, the petition also places reliance on the judgment in ShayaraBano v Union of India[2017] wherein the Supreme Court re-affirmed the doctrine of arbitrariness as the litmus test to determine a violation of Arti-cle 14. Since Section 62(5) disenfranchises any person confined in a prison in a manner that is arbitrary, it hits Article 14.The proviso to the provision carves out an ex-ception for detainees, because such persons cannot be said to have committed any crime yet. If this is the case, then this rationale should also apply to under-trials and those detained in civil prisons, as even they cannot be said to be guilty of a crime, the petition states.The petitioner has also raised violation of Article 326 of the Constitution submitting that right to vote is a Constitutional right under Article 326 of the Constitution, as was held by the Supreme Court in People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) v Union of India [2003] and Rajbala v State of Hary-ana[2016].Almost 70 percent of prison inmates are under-trials and the provision disenfranchises people who have not yet been found guilty effectively taking away the fruits of ‘presumption of inno-cence’.

Doctorine of Arbitrariness:

It determines the scope of Article 14, where it provides a guarantee against arbitrary State ac-tion, whether exercised under authority of law or in exercise of executive power without mak-ing of law. The Supreme Court, in Om Kumar and Ors.vs Union of India, has laid down the grounds to be followed to challenge an adminis-trative action as arbitrary, where the order of the administrator needs to be examined to see if it is ‘rational’ or ‘reasonable’. The basis of inquiry is “whether the administrator has done well in his primary role, whether he has acted illegally or has omitted relevant factors from consider-ation or has taken irrelevant factors into con-sideration or whether his view is one which no reasonable person could have taken.”

Jaitley says Art - 35A is curbing J&K ‘s progress

Why In News:

An NGO, We the Citizens, challenged 35A in SC in 2014 on grounds that it was not added to the Constitution through amendment under Article 368. It was never presented before Par-liament. Another petition, claims Article 35A discrimi-nates against woman’s right to property.

In Brief:

• Article 35A - It is a provision in Constitution of India that allows the Jammu-Kashmir assembly to define permanent residents of the state. It was brought in by a Presiden-tial order in 1954 to safeguard the rights and guarantee the unique identity of the people of Jammu-Kashmir.

• Definition of ‘Permanent Residents’ - Ac-cording to the Jammu-Kashmir constitution, a Permanent Resident is defined as a person who was a state subject on May 14, 1954, or who has been residing in the state for a pe-riod of 10 years, and has “lawfully acquired immovable property in the state.

• Rights granted to Permanent Resident of J & K:

• Property rights; • Employment in state government; • Participation in Panchayat, Municipalities

and Legislative Assembly Elections; • Admission to government-run technical ed-

ucation institutions; scholarships and other social benefits.

• Challenge before Supreme Court - A three-judge bench of the court intends to consider if Article 35A infringes the Constitution’s basic structure.

Views against Article 35A

• It is against the “very spirit of oneness of India” as it creates a “class within a class of Indian citizens”

• It violates fundamental rights of other cit-izens under Articles 14, 19 and 21 of the Constitution.

• It restricts the basic right to property if a native woman marries a man not holding a permanent resident certificate.

Views in favour of Article 35A

• Its removal may lead to further erosion of J&K’s autonomy and trigger demographic change.

• The Constitution of India establishes a form of asymmetric federalism Article 370 is as much a part of the Constitution as Article 368, thereby justifies the validity of Art 35A.


POLITY & GOVERNANCE

Release list of convicted officials , CIC orders customs department

Why In News:

The Central Information Commission (CIC) has directed the Customs Department to make public a list of officers caught red-handed for smuggling gold and heroin, and other illegal ac-tivities.The CIC also called for making public details of officers convicted or jailed for giving false statements or evidence. Because such data can-not be considered personal information, as held by the Customs Department, and should be made available in the public interest.

In Brief:

Background:

Right To Information request was filed to the Chief Commissioner of Customs in Amritsar, asking for information on officers caught, con-victed or jailed for smuggling over the last 10 years.

Central Information Commission:

• CIC was established in 2005 by Central Government under provisions of Right to

Information (RTI) Act (2005).• The Chief Information Commissioner

heads the Central Information Commission.• The general superintendence, direction and

management of affairs of Commission are vested in Chief Information Commissioner who is assisted by Information Commission-ers.

• CIC hears appeals from information-seek-ers who have not been satisfied by the pub-lic authority, and also addresses major issues concerning the RTI Act.

• CIC submits annual report to Union gov-ernment on the implementation of the pro-visions of RTI Act.

• The central government inturn places this report before each house of Parliament.

• The Chief Information Commissioner and Information Commissioners are appointed by the President on the recommendation of a committee consisting of—

• The Prime Minister, who shall be the Chair-person of the committee.

• The Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha.• A Union Cabinet Minister to be nominated

by the Prime Minister.

Functions and Powers of CIC

• It can order inquiry into any matter if there are reasonable grounds.

• It can secure compliance of its decisions from the public authority.

• It can recommend steps to be taken for pro-

moting such conformity, if public authority does not conform to provisions of RTI Act.

• It receives and inquire into a complaint from• It examines any record which is under con-

trol of the public authority and which may be withheld from it on any grounds during the enquiry. While inquiring, it has powers

of civil court

Right to Information

• Right to Information (RTI) is an Act of the Parliament of India to provide for setting out the practical regime of right to informa-tion for citizens.

• It replaces the erstwhile Freedom of infor-mation Act, 2002.

• Under the provisions of the Act, any citizen of India may request information from a “public authority” (a body of Government or “instrumentality of State”) which is re-quired to reply expeditiously or within thir-ty days.

• The Act also requires every public authority to computerize their records for wide dis-semination and to proactively certain cat-egories of information so that the citizens need minimum recourse to request for in-formation formally.

• Information disclosure in India was restrict-ed by the Official Secrets Act 1923 and var-ious other special laws, which the new RTI Act relaxes.


POLITY & GOVERNANCE

Right to Travel Abroad an Important Basic Human Right: SC

In news:

In a recent order the Supreme Court has ob-served that the right to travel abroad is a gen-uine and basic human right like marriage and family.

In brief:

The court was hearing an appeal filed by an IPS officer - Satish Chandra Verma, Inspector General of Police/Principal, Central Training College, Central Reserve Police Force at Coim-batore in Tamil Nadu, who was refused permis-sion to take a private trip abroad to visit rela-tives as he had a departmental enquiry pending against him. The appeal said he was denied permission despite the fact that he had no crim-inal case against him.The Central Administrative Tribunal, Chennai Bench, and the Madras High Court denied him his right. The High Court upheld the tribunal’s position that he cannot travel abroad without vigilance clearance.Supreme Court referred to its Maneka Gandhi judgment upholding the right to travel and the landmark U.S. Supreme Court case of 1958 Kent vs Dulles, which said, which said “freedom to

go abroad has much social value and represents the basic human right of great significance”.SC observed, “The right to travel abroad is an important basic human right for it nourishes in-dependent and self-determining creative char-acter of the individual, not only by extending his freedoms of action, but also by extending the scope of his experience. The right also extends to private life; marriage, family and friendship are humanities which can be rare-ly affected through refusal of freedom to go abroad and clearly show that this freedom is a genuine human right.”Apex Court bench observed that he has a fun-damental right to travel and that right cannot be infringed on the ground that vigilance clearance has not been given.The Court also noted that he was earlier per-mitted to travel to U.S.A. in the year 2017 and he had promptly come back.

Taking note of this, the bench permitted the officer to go to U.S.A. and France between the period 28.04.2019 and 01.06.2019, subject to fil-ing of an undertaking to the Registry that he will come back on 01.06.2019.

Maneka Gandhi vs Union of India, 1978:

This case is a landmark judgement which played the most significant role towards the

transformation of the judicial view on Article 21.

Maneka Gandhi was issued a passport on 1/06/1976 under the Passport Act 1967. The regional passport officer, New Delhi, issued a letter dated 2/7/1977 addressed to Maneka Gandhi, in which she was asked to surrender her passport under section 10(3)(c)of the Act in public interest, within 7 days from the date of receipt of the letter.

A writ petitionwas filed by Maneka Gandhi under Article 32 of the Constitution in the Su-preme Court challenging the order of the gov-ernment of India as violating her fundamental rights guaranteed under Article 21 of the Con-stitution.

Article 21 of the Constitution says, “No person shall be deprived of his life or personal liberty except according to procedure established by law.”

SC Judgement: the right to travel and go out-side the country is included in the right to per-sonal liberty guaranteed under Article 21. The Court ruled that the mere existence of an en-abling law was not enough to restrain personal liberty. Such a law must also be “just, fair and reasonable”.

SC asks petitioners to seek remedy from legislature

Why In News:

Supreme Court said that it is the within the do-main of the legislature to carve out an appellate forum, where people who have been declared “foreigner” by Foreigners Tribunals and their names deleted from the Assam NRC list can

seek relief, instead of expecting SC to carve out such an appellate forum using its extraordinary powers under Article 142 of the Constitution.

In Brief :

About NRC:

• The National Register of Citizens (NRC), is the list of Indian citizens in Assam. It is be-ing updated to weed out illegal immigration from Bangladesh and neighbouring regions.

• The process of NRC update was taken up in Assam as per a Supreme Court order in

2013.• It was carried out under The Citizenship

Act, 1955, and according to rules framed in the Assam Accord.

• For a person’s name to be included in the updated NRC list of 2018, he/ she will have to furnish:

• Existence of name in the legacy data: The legacy data is the collective list of the NRC data of 1951 and the electoral rolls up to midnight of 24 March 1971.

• Proving linkage with the person whose name appears in the legacy data.


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Mrs. S. Praba

Editor In-Chief


Editorial Board



Mr. J. Vijay

Mr. S. Cholaraja

Mr. J.Deepan






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POLITY & GOVERNANCE

PCI guidelines on election reporting & paid news Press council of India

Why in news?

Recently the Press Council of India issued guidelines on election reporting and paid news.

In Brief :

• The guidelines called the newspapers not to indulge in unhealthy election campaigns, exaggerated reports about any candidate or party during the elections.

• It also cautioned the press to eschew the news reports which might kindle religious animosity.

• The PCI guidelines ordered the media to refrain from paid news which is defined as “any news or analysis appearing in any me-dia (print & electronic) for a price in cash or kind as consideration.”...

About Press Council of India:

• The Press Council of India was first set up

on 4 July 1966 by the Parliament to regulate the press in India. The basis at that time was the Press Council Act, 1965 which result-ed from the recommendations of the First Press Commission of India (1952-1959).

• Hence the Press Council of India is a statu-tory & quasi-judicial body in India that gov-erns the conduct of the print media.

• It adjudicates the complaints against and by the press for violation of ethics and for viola-tion of the freedom of the press respectively.

• It is headed by the Chairman, who should be a retired judge of the Supreme court of India.

• The Council has 28 members of which 20 have to represent the press by being nom-inated by the press organi-zations, agencies and other bodies.

• 5 members are nominated by the 2 houses of the par-liament and 3 represents cul-tural and legal fields and one nominee of the Bar Council of India.

• However, it is also empow-ered to hold hearings on re-ceipt of complaints and take

suitable action where appropriate. It may either warn or censure the errant journalists on finding them guilty.

Powers of the Council

• They have the power to censure any rule which generally violates the journalists’ eth-ics and the public taste.

• They can hold any enquiry against any edi-tor of the journal if they found that any mis-conduct has been taken place with regard to any matter related to the press.

• The proceedings should be taken place with regard to the judicial hearing under Section 193 and 228 of the Indian Penal Code.

Commerce ministry for law to ban making, sale of e-cigarettes

In News:

The commerce ministry has also been asked to issue a notification banning the import of electronic nicotine delivery systems, including e-cigarettes and flavoured hookah.

In Brief:

Over 1,000 doctors from 24 states and three union territories in April urged Prime Minister to enforce a ban on electronic nicotine delivery systems before it becomes an “epidemic in In-dia”, especially among the youth. The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisa-tion also directed all drug controllers in states and union territories not to allow the man-ufacture, sale, import and advertisement of electronic nicotine delivery systems, including e-cigarettes and flavoured hookah, in their ju-risdictions.

WHO Report:

World Health Organisation report on the Global Tobacco Epidemic 2017, 30 countries, including Mauritius, Australia, Singapore, Korea (Demo-cratic People’s Republic), Sri Lanka, Thailand,

Brazil, Mexico, Uruguay, Bahrain, Iran, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates, have already banned electronic nicotine delivery systems.

E- Cigarates:

• ENDS are devices that heat solution to cre-ate aerosol, which also frequently contains flavours, usually dissolved into propylene glycolor and glycerin.

• e-cigarettes (electronic cigarettes) are most common prototype of ENDS.

• These devices do not burn or use tobacco leaves but instead vaporise solution, which user then inhales.

• ENDS solutions and emissions contain oth-er chemicals, some of them considered to be toxicants.

• They contain nicotine, addictive compo-

nent of tobacco products.• In addition they contain metals, including

lead, chromium and nickel and chemicals like formaldehyde with concentrations equal to or greater than traditional ciga-rettes.

• Use of ENDS may affect development of foetus during pregnancy.

• It may contribute to cardiovascular disease to people who use ENDS.

• Moreover, nicotine may function as ‘tumour promoter’ and seems to be involved in biol-ogy of malignant diseases.

• Foetal and adolescent nicotine exposure have long-term consequences for brain de-velopment, potentially leading to learning and anxiety disorders.


POLITY & GOVERNANCE

Retried judge to head T.N Lokayukta

Why in News?

The Governor has appointed retired High Court judge P. Devadass as the chairperson of the five-member Lokayukta. Judicial and non-judicial members are also been appointed.

Tenure:

The chairperson and the members shall hold office for five years from the day they enter of-fice or the date on which they attain the age of 70 years, whichever is earlier.

Lokayuktha:

1. Maharashtra was the first state to establish Lokayuktha .2. Odisha had passed the Act in 1970, but came in to force in 1983 only.3. Its structure is not the same in all the states.4. Few states have both Lokayukthas and Upa-

lokayukthas, few have only Lokayukthas.

Appointment:

• By the Governor.• The Governor consults Chief Justice of

state High Court and the Leader of Opposi-tion in the State Assembly.

• Also read : Lokpal, Lokpal and Lokayuk-thas Act 2013.

• The Lokayukta is an anti-corruption om-budsman organization in the Indian states.

• Once appointed, Lokayukta can not be dis-missed nor transferred by the government, and can only be removed by passing an im-peachment motion by the state assembly.

• The Administrative Reforms Commission (ARC) headed by Morarji Desai submitted a special interim report on “Problems of Re-dressal of Citizen’s Grievances” in 1966.

• In this report, the ARC recommended the setting up of two special authorities desig-nated as ‘Lokpal’ and ‘Lokayukta’ for the redressal of citizens’ grievances.

• The Lokayukta, along with the Income Tax

Department and the Anti Corruption Bu-reau, mainly helps people publicise corrup-tion among the Politicians and Government Officials.

• Many acts of the LokAyukta have resulted in criminal or other consequences for those charged.

• Maharashtra was the first state to introduce the institution of Lokayukta through The Lokayukta and Upa-Lokayuktas Act in 1971.

• This was followed by similar acts that were enacted by the states of Odisha, Rajasthan, Bihar, UttarPradesh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and the union territory of Del-hi.

• The Maharashtra Lokayukta is considered the weakest Lokayukta due to lack of pow-ers, staff, funds and an independent investi-gating agency.

• On the other hand, the Karnataka Lokayuk-ta is considered the most powerful Lo-kayukta in the country.

National investigation agency

In news:

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on March 10th arrested separatist leader and Jam-mu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) chief Yasin Malik after a special court granted his 13-day custody to the probe agency.

Background:

• Mr. Malik, chief of the banned group, the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front, and a constituent of the All Parties Hurri-yat Conference (APHC), was arrested on Wednesday in the alleged J&K “terror fund-ing” case.

• Malik was booked under the Public Safety Act on March 7 and shifted from Srinagar to a jail in Jammu. Earlier, the separatist leader was arrested on February 22 from his Mai-suma residence, a week after the Pulwama attack. The NIA carried out searches of Ma-lik’s residence in Srinagar on February 26.

Call for shutdown

• The Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL), comprising Syed Ali Shah Geelani, the Mir-waiz and Malik, has called for a total shut-down on April 11 against the NIA crack-down.

• A complete shutdown called against the so-called Indian parliamentary elections and against the NIA aggression against our leaders, besides sustained interrogation and repeated summoning of two sons of Mr.

Geelani, Syed Naeem-uz-Zafar Geelani and Syed NaseemGeelani.

National Investigation Agency (NIA)

• National Investigation Agency (NIA) is a federal agency established by the Indian Government to combat terror in India. It acts as the Central Counter Terrorism Law Enforcement Agency.

• The agency is empowered to deal with ter-ror related crimes across states without spe-cial permission from the states.

• The Agency came into existence with the enactment of the National Investigation Agency Act 2008 by the Parliament of India on 31 December 2008.

• NIA was created after the 2008 Mumbai ter-ror attacks as need for a central agency to combat terrorism was realised.

• NIA has concurrent jurisdiction which em-powers the Centre to probe terror attacks in any part of the country, covering offences, including challenge to the country’s sover-eignty and integrity, bomb blasts, hijacking of aircraft and ships, and attacks on nuclear installations.

• Other than offenses of terrorism, it also deals with counterfeit currency, human traf-ficking, narcotics or drugs, organised crime (extortion mobs and gangs), plane hijack-ing and violations of atomic energy act and weapons of mass destruction act.

Special Courts:

• Various Special Courts have been notified by the Central Government of India for tri-al of the cases registered at various police

stations of NIA under the NIA Act 2008. Any question as to the jurisdiction of these courts is decided by the Central Govern-ment. These are presided over by a judge appointed by the Central Government on the recommendation of the Chief Justice of the High Court with jurisdiction in that region.

• Supreme Court of India has also been em-powered to transfer the cases from one spe-cial court to any other special court within or outside the state if the same is in the in-terest of justice in light of the prevailing cir-cumstances in any particular state. They are empowered with all powers of the court of sessions under Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 for trial of any offense.

• An appeal from any judgment, sentence or order, not being an interlocutory order, of a Special Court lies to the High Court both on facts and on law. Such an appeal is heard by a bench of two Judges of the High Court.

• At present there are 38 Special NIA Courts. State Governments have also been empow-ered to appoint one or more such special courts in their states.


World Press Freedom Index

Why in news?

India has dropped two places on a global press freedom index to be ranked 140th out of 180 countries in the annually released World Press Freedom Index.

More on news:

• Norway topped the ranking for the third

POLITY & GOVERNANCE

Government defends move on Finance Act

Why In News?

The Constitution Bench is hearing a clutch of petitions, including one by Member of Parlia-ment Jairam Ramesh, challenging certain pro-visions of the Finance Act, 2017 which modify the terms of appointment and functioning in various statutory tribunals, including the Na-tional Green Tribunal.The Centre defended the passing of the Fi-nance Act, 2017 as a Money Bill.

In Brief:

• The current government has piloted the Fi-nance Act, 2017 through Parliament to get substantial legal provisions passed without the scrutiny of the Rajya Sabha.

• Many appellate tribunals that hear appeals against orders by regulatory authorities which were initially passed by both the houses have been merged with other tribu-

nals without the approval of Rajya Sabha.• The Constitution has an inbuilt check and

balance in the office of the Speaker of the Lok Sabha.

• She/he has the last word on whether or not a proposed law is a Money Bill, that is, a law that deals with matters of finance and tax, as set out in the Constitution.

• If the parliament thinks that the speaker of the Lok Sabha is wrong, nothing can be done except a constitutional amendment to change the powers of the speaker.

• Constitutional courts may be visited with challenges to the abuse, but nothing much can be expected.

• It is equally true that courts have not always steered clear of every wrong that is not jus-ticiable.

• Either entire legislation (for example, envi-ronmental charge for entry of vehicles into Delhi) including de facto contents of the Constitution (for example, the judges’ colle-gium for judicial appointments) have been created in the past by judge-made law.

• In a challenge to the replacement of gover-

nors of states as political decisions, courts have ruled that no decision of the govern-ment, including a decision to replace a gov-ernor can be arbitrary, yet ruling that the decision cannot be interfered with.

What is the previous precedence of such acts?

• This act of simply circumventing the Rajya Sabha has been resorted to in the past.

• The Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999, had been passed by both Houses of Parliament as a non-criminal law to replace the dreaded criminal law contained in the Foreign Exchange Regulation Act, 1974.

• That was not a Money Bill.• Two years ago, provisions criminalising ex-

change controls were brought into FEMA through a Money Bill., thus no consent of the Rajya Sabha was needed.

• There are some laudatory amendments like extending the retirement age of the presid-ing officer to 70 years.

year in a row.• Afghanistan (121), UAE (133) and Chad

(122) were ranked ahead of India.• Pakistan dropped three places to 142 and

Bangladesh went down four spots to 150.• The index cited attacks on Indian journal-

ists by the Hindutva followers as the reason for India’s dismal performance in the index.

About World Press Freedom Index:

• WPFI is produced by France-based inter-national non-governmental organization Reporters Without Borders (RWB).

• It ranks performance of countries according

to index calculated based upon various pa-rameters.

• These parameters include media pluralism and independence, respect for the safety and freedom of journalists, and the legisla-tive, institutional and infrastructural envi-ronment in which the media operate.

• WPFI aims to promote and defends free-dom of information and freedom of the press.


POLITY & GOVERNANCE

In SC, Govt. defends electoral bonds

In News?

• Govt. defends electoral bonds scheme in SC. It claimed that it ensures transparency and checks misuse.

• Electoral bonds have been introduced to promote transparency in funding and dona-tion received by political parties, the gov-ernment told the Supreme Court.

In Brief:

1. The bonds can be encashed by an eligible political party only through their accounts with authorised banks.

2. The bonds do not have the name of the do-nor or the receiving political party and only carry unique hidden alphanumeric serial numbers as an in-built security feature.

3. The government described the scheme as an “electoral reform” in a country moving towards a “cashless-digital economy.”

Why strike down the provision?

The government was responding to a peti-tion filed to strike down the ‘Electoral Bond Scheme 2018’ and amendments in the Finance Act, 2017, which allow for “unlimited donations from individuals and foreign companies to po-litical parties without any record of the sources of funding.”

Government’s Justification:

1. Denying the charge, the government said

“the scheme envisages building a transparent system of acquiring bonds with validated KYC and an audit trail.”

2. It said a limited window and a very short maturity period would make misuse improbable.

3. The electoral bonds will prompt do-nors to take the banking route to do-nate, with their identity captured by the issuing authority. This will ensure transparency and accountability and is a big step towards electoral reform.

About the Elector al Bonds:

4. An electoral bond is designed to be a bearer instrument like a Promissory Note — in effect, it will be similar to a bank note that is payable to the bearer on demand and free of interest.

5. It can be purchased by any citizen of India or a body incorporated in India.

What are the characteristics of elec-toral bonds?

1. The bonds will be issued in multiples of ₹1,000, ₹10,000, ₹1 lakh, ₹10 lakh and ₹1 crore and will be available at specified branches of State Bank of India.

2. They can be bought by the donor with a KYC-compliant account. Donors can donate the bonds to their party of choice which can then be cashed in via the party’s verified ac-count within 15 days.

3. Every party that is registered under section

29A of the Representation of the Peoples Act, 1951 (43 of 1951) and has secured at least one per cent of the votes polled in the most recent Lok Sabha or State election will be allotted a verified account by the Election Commission of India.Electoral bond transac-tions can be made only via this account.

4. The bonds will be available for purchase for a period of 10 days each in the beginning of every quarter, i.e. in January, April, July and October as specified by the Central Govern-ment.

5. An additional period of 30 days shall be spec-ified by the Central Government in the year of Lok Sabha elections.

After SC rap , EC wakes up to its powers

In News:

• Poll body acted against communal speeches

after top court pulled it up and gave it 24 hours to act

InBrief:

1. The Supreme Court on Tuesday took note of the Election Commission of India (ECI) quickly changing tack on April 15 to pass a

flurry of restraining orders against leading political candidates for their communally provocative and divisive speeches.

2. The ECI orders came shortly after the poll body invited the court’s wrath for describing itself as “toothless” in the face of hate.

3. The CJI was referring to ECI action taken against Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Bahujan Samaj Party supremo Mayawati, Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan and BJP leader Maneka Gandhi.4. All four leaders were variously restrained from election cam-paigning for 48 to 72 hours.


POLITY & GOVERNANCE

EVM vs Paper Ballot and VVPAT

Background

The conventional ballot paper voting in India was subjected to various issues: high expendi-ture, large number of invalid votes and preva-lence of booth capturing and use of muscle pow-er to manipulate and disrupt election process. To overcome these problems the EC mooted the introduction of electronic voting machines.1. 1977: Election Commission proposed the

introduction of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs)

2. 1988: Representation of People’s Act, 1951 amended- New section 61A introduced empowering Commission to use voting ma-chine

3. 1990– Electoral Reforms Committee ap-pointed. Constituted a technical Expert Committee for the evaluation of EVMs

4. 2000- EVMs put to use5. 2013: SC directs to use VVPAT6. 2017: VVPAT used in Goa and Gujarat as-

sembly Elections; proposed to be used in 2019 General elections

Recent Demand for paper ballot

• In the recent past, political parties have al-leged that verdicts in state assembly elec-tions which went against them were be-cause the EVMs had been tampered with.

• Recently, some opposition parties have de-manded that Election Commission should return back to the use of paper ballots in elections. The demand for paper ballot aris-es out of the issues and allegations against EVMs.

Issues and Allegations against EVMs:

• Alleged tamperiability• Alleged hacking• EVMs only stores vote. Verification of vote

is not possible• Technical issues• Leads to favouritism: A candidate can know

how many people from a polling station vot-ed for him. This may lead to favouritism.

International Practice:

1. 2006: Netherlands banned the EVMs on the grounds of lack of transparency and security.

2. 2009: Ireland banned use of EVMs3. 2009: the Supreme Court of Germany ruled

that voting through EVMs was unconstitu-tional primarily on the grounds of transparen-cy. It held that transparency is a constitution-al right but efficiency is not a constitutionally protected value.

Arguments against:

• The official stand of EC is that EVMs are 100% reliable and tamperproof

• EVMs are standalone machines and are not networked either by wire or by wireless to any other machine or system. Therefore, they cannot be manipulated by signals from any sources. Example mobile phones

• The software in the EVM is burnt into a one-time programmable chip. It can never be tampered with.

• The source code of the software is not hand-ed over to any outsider.

• Stringent operating procedures: 3 Level pro-cesses-

1. Level 1: party representatives are invited before the machines are allotted to various constituencies from storage points. Random 5% of machines selected in which up to 1,000 votes will be polled to demonstrate the reliability. After that a computer programme ran-domly allocated machines to con-stituencies.

2. Level 2: Computer programme allo-cates machines randomly to polling stations from the constituencies. Candidates are allowed to test the machines at random

3. Level 3: On the day of election, each presiding officer conducts a mock poll to demonstrate the “cor-rectness” the machine in recording votes.

• ECI also cited various High Court judgements were it was held that EVMs are credible, reliable and tamper-proof. Example: Madras high Court, 2001, Kerala High Court, 2002, Delhi High Court, 2004

• Gopalaswami, former chief Election Commissioner observes that the in-ternational examples of pulling out of EVM use are cited without prop-er knowledge. For example: In Neth-erlands, EVMs were PC-type of machine running on OS. However, Indian EVMs are not networked machines.

Other advantages of EVMs include:

1. Cost effective-• Eliminates need for production and printing

of ballot papers• A substantial reduction in expenses happens

when it comes to transportation, storage, and recruiting counting staff.

2. Environment friendly- No use of papers; ‘Greener’ and can be used repeatedly

3. Time effective- Reduction in time taken in election procedures

4. Results can be stored in machine memory; later deleted manually

5. Reduction in invalid votes6. Prevent booth capturing

Disadvantages of paper ballots:

Cumbersome processExpensive: Economic and Environmental costProne to capturing, riggingStorage concerninvalid votes

VVPAT

• The VVPAT, or Voter Verifiable Paper Au-dit Trail, is an EVM-connected verification printer device.

• It allows voters to verify if their vote has been cast correctly by leaving a paper trail of the vote cast.

Demand for VVPAT and SC Judge-ment:

• Time and again various political parties have complained about probable tampering of EVMs. The demand for VVPATs began in 2010.

• In 2012, Subramanian Swamy had moved to SC to incorporate the system of paper trail in EVMs. He had alleged that the EVMS were hacking.

• In 2013, the SC directed the Election Com-mission to introduce VVPAT in EVMS in a phased manner for the 2014 Lok Sabha elections and asked the Centre to provide funds for procurement.

• The SC upheld that VVPATs were indis-pensable for conducting fair and transparent


POLITY & GOVERNANCE

elections• VVPATs were approved by the EC in 2013;

used in the Nagaland by-election the same year.

• Goa and Gujarat were the first and sec-ond states respectively to use EVMs with VVPAT machines their 2017 Assembly Elections.

• The EC seeks to conduct the 2019 general elections using VVPAT connected EVMs. The Centre has already sanctioned funds for procuring VVPAT machines

Benefits of VVPAT:

1. Enables to verify vote: Instant feedback to voter that vote polled has been allocated to the intended candidate

2. Enables authorities to count the votes manu-ally if there is a dispute in the electronically polled votes

3. Operates under a Direct Recording Election system (DRE) which detects fraud and exis-tent malfunctions

4. Will ensure greater transparency in voting process

5. Gives both the voters and political parties an assurance.

Electoral bonds

• The electoral bonds scheme was announced in Union Budget 2017 with an aim for in-creasing transparency in political funding.

• It makes India first country in the world to have such unique bonds for electoral fund-ing.

• These bonds are bearer instrument in na-ture of promissory note and interest-free banking instrument.

• It aims at rooting out current system of largely anonymous cash donations made to political parties which lead to generation of black money in the economy.

• These electoral bonds can be bought for any value in multiples of Rs 1,000, Rs 10,000, Rs 1 lakh, Rs 10 lakh or Rs 1 crore after fulfill-ing all existing Know Your Customer (KYC) norms and making payments from bank ac-count.

• It will not carry name of payee.• The bond deposited by any eligible politi-

cal party to its account shall be credited on the same day.

• No payment shall be made to any payee po-litical party if bond is deposited after expiry of validity period.

• Eligible political parties can encash elector-al bonds only through their bank accounts.

• Electoral Bonds may be purchased by only citizen of India.

• An individual can buy Electoral Bonds, ei-ther singly or jointly with other individuals.

• Electoral Bonds are valid for fifteen calen-dar days from the date of issue.

• Only registered political parties, that have secured not less than 1% of votes polled in last election of Lok Sabha or legislative as-sembly of state, will be eligible to receive electoral bonds.

• The cash donation has been capped at Rs.

2000 and beyond that donations are via electoral bonds.

Indelible Ink:

Composition and Chemistry of Indeli-ble Election ink:

Indelible ink which is applied to fingers of vot-ers during elections to prevent double voting contains Silver nitrate, which make it stain the skin, very difficult to wash off.The ink has been produced by Mysore Paints and Varnish Limited (MPVL) and it is not only used in India but also exported to many other countries.

Chemistry of Indelible Ink:

When the indelible ink is applied to skin, the Silver Nitrate present in it reacts with the salt present on skin to form silver Chloride, which clings to skin and is not soluble in cold or hot water, alcohol, bleach, nail polish remover etc. The ink automatically disappears when old skin cells die and are replaced with new cells.

Where it is applied?

It is put on the left hand forefinger nail of the voter. If the voter does not have a left hand forefinger, the indelible ink should be applied on any finger on his left hand.If he or she does not have any fingers on the left hand, the ink will have to be applied on the right hand forefinger.If the voter does not have a right hand forefin-

ger, the ink can be applied on any finger.But if there are no fingers on either hand, the ink should be applied on ‘such extremity (stump) of his left or right hand as he possesses.Usually Indelible Ink is in violet color. South American country, Suriname, used Orange color

ink in its legislative elections of 2005.

What is MCC?

These are the guidelines issued by the Election Commission of India for conduct of political parties and candidates during elections mainly with respect to speeches, polling day, polling booths, election manifestos, processions and general conduct.

When it comes into force?

• The Model Code of Conduct comes into force immediately on announcement of the election schedule by the commission.

• Election Commission (EC) has announced that Model Code of Conduct comes into force immediately in states where legisla-tive assemblies have been dissolved prema-turely.

• The Code remains in force till the end of the electoral process.

Status:

The need for such code is in the interest of free and fair elections. However, the codedoes not have any specific statutory basis. It has only a persuasive effect. It contains what is known as “rules of electoral morality”. But this lack of statutory backing does not prevent the Com-mission from enforcing it.

Evolution:

The Commission issued the code for the first time in 1971 (5th Election) and revised it from time to time. This set of norms has been


POLITY & GOVERNANCE

evolved with the consensus of political parties who have consented to abide by the principles embodied in the said code and also binds them to respect and observe it in its letter and spirit.

What it contains?

The salient features of the Model Code of Con-duct lay down how political parties, contesting candidates and party(s) in power should con-duct themselves during the process of elections i.e. on their general conduct during electioneer-ing, holding meetings and processions, poll day activities and functioning of the party in power etc.

Legal Status of MCC?

• The MCC is not enforceable by law. How-ever, certain provisions of the MCC may be enforced through invoking corresponding provisions in other statutes such as the In-dian Penal Code, 1860, Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, and Representation of the People Act, 1951.

• The Election Commission has argued against making the MCC legally binding; stating that elections must be completed within a relatively short time (close to 45 days), and judicial proceedings typically take longer, therefore it is not feasible to make it enforceable by law.

• On the other hand, in 2013, the Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievanc-es, Law and Justice, recommended making the MCC legally binding since most provi-sions of the MCC are already enforceable through corresponding provisions in other statutes, mentioned above.

The main points of the code are:

• Government bodies are not to participate in any new recruitment process during the electoral process.

• The contesting candidates and their cam-paigners must respect the home life of their rivals and should not disturb them by hold-ing road shows or demonstrations in front of their houses. The code tells the candidates to keep it.

• The election campaign rallies and road shows must not hinder the road traffic.

• Candidates are asked to refrain from distrib-uting liquor to voters. It is a widely known fact in India that during election campaign-ing, liquor may be distributed to the voters.

• The election code in force hinders the government or running party leaders from launching new welfare programmes like construction of roads, provision of drinking water facilities etc. or any ribbon-cutting ceremonies.

• The code instructs that public spaces like meeting grounds, helipads, government guest houses and bungalows should be equally shared among the contesting can-didates. These public spaces should not be monopolised by a few candidates.

Election Commission of India:

• Election Commission of India is a perma-nent body entrusted for the conduct of free and fair elections.

• An independent Election Commission has been provided for in Article 324 of the Con-stitution of India.

• Currently has three members including Chief Election Commissioner (CEC).

• They all are appointed by the President for a term which is fixed by the President.

• Tenure: The service conditions and tenure of office of CEC and Election Commission-ers are determined by Act of parliament ti-tled The Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Conditions of Service) Act, 1991. This act has fixed their term for 6 years or till age of 65 years, which-ever is earlier.

• Power/salary: The CEC and election com-missioners have equal power and receive equal salary, allowances and other perqui-sites, which are similar to judge of Supreme Court. In case of difference of opinion amongst the Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioner, the matter is decided by the Commission by majority.

• One of the most important functions of the election commission is to prepare an up-to-date list of all the persons who are entitled to vote at the elections.

Election Commission is en-trusted with :• Election of President;• Election of Vice-President;• Election of Lok Sabha as well as Rajya

Sabha;• Elections to State Legislatures as well as

Legislative Councils;• Reservation of Seats in Lok Sabha and State

Legislatures;• Qualifications of the MPs and MLAs;• Determination of population for purposes of

the election.


POLITY & GOVERNANCE

SC irked after poll panel’s counsel says it is ‘powerless’

Supreme Court ordered the Election Commis-sion of India (ECI) to explain its lawyer’s sub-missions that the poll body is largely “power-less” and “toothless” to act against religious and hate speeches by candidates during the on-go-ing Lok Sabha election campaigning.

Hate speech

Hate speech is a statement intended to de-mean and brutalize another. It is the use of cruel and derogatory language, gestures or vandalism often directed towards an individual or group. Hate speech is speech that attacks a person or a group on the basis of attributes such as race, religion, ethnic origin, national origin, sex, dis-ability, sexual orientation, or gender identity. The laws of some countries describe hate speech as speech, gestures, conduct, writing, or displays that incite violence or prejudicial ac-tions against a group or individuals on the basis of their membership in the group, or disparages or intimidates a group, or individuals on the ba-sis of their membership in the group. The law may identify a group based on certain characteristics.[4][5][6] In some countries, hate speech is not a legal term.

Hate Speech Laws in India:

Freedom of speech and expression is protect-ed by article 19 (1) of the constitution of India, but under article 19(2) “reasonable restrictions” can be imposed on freedom of speech and ex-pression in the interest of “the sovereignty and integrity of India, the security of the State, friendly relations with foreign States, public order, decency or morality, or in relation to con-tempt of court, defamation or incitement to an offence”.

What is MCC?

These are the guidelines issued by the Election Commission of India for conduct of political parties and candidates during elections mainly with respect to speeches, polling day, polling booths, election manifestos, processions and general conduct. Aim: To ensure free and fair elections.

When it comes into force?

• The Model Code of Conduct comes into force immediately on announcement of the election schedule by the commission.

• Election Commission (EC) has announced that Model Code of Conduct comes into force immediately in states where legisla-tive assemblies have been dissolved prema-

turely.• The Code remains in force till the end of

the electoral process.

Status:

• The need for such code is in the interest of free and fair elections. However, the code-does not have any specific statutory basis. It has only a persuasive effect. It contains what is known as “rules of electoral morality”. But this lack of statutory backing does not prevent the Commission from enforcing it.

Evolution:

• The Commission issued the code for the first time in 1971 (5th Election) and revised it from time to time. This set of norms has been evolved with the consensus of political parties who have consented to abide by the principles embodied in the said code and also binds them to respect and observe it in its letter and spirit.

What it contains?

• The salient features of the Model Code of Conduct lay down how political parties, contesting candidates and party(s) in power should conduct themselves during the pro-cess of elections i.e. on their general con-duct during electioneering, holding meet-ings and processions, poll day activities and functioning of the party in power etc.

Legal Status of MCC?

• The MCC is not enforceable by law. How-ever, certain provisions of the MCC may be enforced through invoking corresponding provisions in other statutes such as the In-dian Penal Code, 1860, Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, and Representation of the People Act, 1951.

• The Election Commission has argued

against making the MCC legally binding; stating that elections must be completed within a relatively short time (close to 45 days), and judicial proceedings typically take longer, therefore it is not feasible to make it enforceable by law.

• On the other hand, in 2013, the Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievanc-es, Law and Justice, recommended making the MCC legally binding since most provi-sions of the MCC are already enforceable through corresponding provisions in other statutes, mentioned above.

The main points of the code are:

• Government bodies are not to participate in any new recruitment process during the electoral process.

• The contesting candidates and their cam-paigners must respect the home life of their rivals and should not disturb them by hold-ing road shows or demonstrations in front of their houses. The code tells the candidates to keep it.

• The election campaign rallies and road shows must not hinder the road traffic.

• Candidates are asked to refrain from distrib-uting liquor to voters. It is a widely known fact in India that during election campaign-ing, liquor may be distributed to the voters.

• The election code in force hinders the government or running party leaders from launching new welfare programmes like construction of roads, provision of drinking water facilities etc. or any ribbon-cutting ceremonies.

• The code instructs that public spaces like meeting grounds, helipads, government guest houses and bungalows should be equally shared among the contesting can-didates. These public spaces should not be monopolised by a few candidates.


POLITY & GOVERNANCE

SC seeks centre’s reply to plea on jail terms

Why in News:

The Supreme Court sought a response from the government to a petition that various jail terms awarded to a convict under special laws on corruption and terrorism should run consec-utively, as in countries like the U.S., and not concurrently.

In Brief:

Special laws on corruption

1.Prevention of corruption Act 1988

• Provides a definition for corruption and lists out the acts which would amount to as cor-ruption such as bribes, gifts for favors etc.

• Seeks to create a balance between need to bring corrupt to the books and protect honest officers. Prosecution of an officer re-quires sanction from the government

• Includes employees of the central govern-ment and the union territories, the employ-ees of public undertakings, nationalized banks etc.

• Special judges are appointed for trial under the act who can order a summary trial in ap-propriate cases

2. Benami property Act 1988• Recent amendments have widened the

definition of the benami property and allow the government to confiscate such proper-ties without any hassles of court approvals

3. Central Vigilance commission Act 2003

• Gives statutory status to CVC. Central Vig-ilance Commissioner shall be appointed by President on recommendation of a Commit-tee consisting of the PM, MHA and LoP in LS

• Covers AIS officers, Gazetted officers of center, senior members of the PSB banks etc.

• Commission, while conducting the inquiry has all the powers of a Civil Court

4. Right to Information Act 2005

• Makes disclosure of information a legal right of the public to promote transparency

• Section 4 mandates proactive disclosure of the information and digitization of the re-cords

• Many RTI activists have used it to bring out the irregularities in the functioning of the public authorities e.g. Vyapam scam of MP

5. Whistleblower protection Act 2014

• More than 60 RTI activists have been mur-dered and many more assaulted due to lack

of protection• WPA accords special protection to the peo-

ple who disclose the acts of wrongdoing in the government. Provides anonymity and protection from prosecution under acts such as Official secret act 1923

6. Lokpal and Lokayukta Act 2013

• Appoints an independent authority Lokpal at center and Lokayukta at states to probe into the complaints of wrongdoing by the public servants

• Lokpal will be appointed by committee consisting of PM, LoP, CJI, Speaker and an eminent jurist.

Special Laws on Terrorism:

TADA

• Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Preven-tion) Act, 1987, was at one time the main law used in cases of terrorism and organised crime.

• But due to rampant misuse, it was allowed to lapse in 1995.

• The Act defined what “terrorist act” and “disruptive activities” mean, and put re-strictions on the grant of bail.

• It also gave enhanced power to detain sus-pects and attach properties.

• The law made “confessions given to a po-lice officer” admissible as evidence.

• Separate courts were set up to hear cases filed under TADA.

POTA

• In wake of the 1999 IC-814 hijack and 2001 Parliament attack, there was a clamour for a more stringent anti-terror law.

• This came in the form of “Prevention of Terrorism Act” (POTA), 2002.

• A suspect could be detained for up to 180 days by a special court.

• The law made fundraising for the purpose of terrorism a “terrorist act”.

• A separate chapter to deal with terrorist or-ganisations was included.

• Union government was mandated to main-tain a list of organised that would fall un-der the act’s radar and had full authority to make additions or removals.

• However, reports of gross misuse of the Act by some state governments led to its repeal in 2004.

UAPA

• Strengthening - In 2004, the government chose to strengthen the “Unlawful Activi-ties (Prevention) Act, 1967, in accordance with international standards.

• It was amended to overcome some of the difficulties in its enforcement and to update it to match “Financial Action Task Force” (international) guidelines.

• By inserting specific chapters, the amend-ment criminalised the raising of funds for a terrorist act, and holding of the proceeds of terrorism.

• Membership of a terrorist organisation, sup-port to a terrorist organisation, and the rais-ing of funds for a terrorist organisation were also made a crime.

• It increased the time available to law-en-forcement agencies to file a charge sheet to six months from three.

• Further - The law was again amended in 2008 after the Mumbai Serial attacks, and again in 2012 to make it more comprehen-sive.

• The definition of “terrorist act” was ex-panded to include offences that threaten economic security, and counterfeiting Indi-an currency.

• Procurement of weapons was also made a crime under the act.

• Additional powers were granted to courts to provide for attachment or forfeiture of prop-erty or the proceeds of terrorism involved in the offence.


POLITY& GOVERNANCE

Constitutional Provisions for the Appointment of Judges

The constitution of India provides for the fol-

lowing provisions for the appointment of judg-es:• Article 124(2) of the Indian Constitution

provides that the Judges of the Supreme Court are appointed by the President after consultation with such number of the Judg-es of the Supreme Court and of the High Courts in the States as the President may deem necessary for the purpose.

• Article 217 of the Indian Constitution states that the Judge of a High Court shall be ap-pointed by the President consultation with the Chief Justice of India, the Governor of the State, and, in the case of appointment of a Judge other than the Chief Justice, the Chief Justice of the High Court.

1. How Collegium came into exis-tence?

The system of appointment and transfer of judges by collegium has evolved through judg-ments of the Supreme Court, and not by an act

of the Parliament or by a provision of the Con-stitution, which are famously referred as Three-Judge Case.• In the First Judges Case of 1980, the Su-

preme Court had declared that there was no need to provide primacy for the opinion of the Chief Justice of India while recom-

mending a candidate to the President.• This judgment was over-ruled in 1993

when the nine-judge bench ruled in favour of granting primacy to the Chief Justice of India in appointing the key members of the top judicial brass. This is referred to as sec-ond judge case.

• Things were clarified in the third judge case which was the Presidential reference to the Supreme Court on what the term “consul-tation”, implies which the President was required to do with judges before selecting a judge, referred to in the Constitution. In reply, SC laid down nine guidelines for the functioning of the

As a result in the process of appointment of Judges to the High Courts and Supreme Courts, the role of the President is reduced to the ceremonial participant. The attempt by the central government to constitute the National Judicial Appointments Commission through constitutional amendment act as per the recom-

mendations of the Justice MN Venkatachaliah Commission was also quashed by the Supreme Court as unconstitutional.

Collegium vs NJAC:

Right to Information Act 2005

• This law was passed by Parlia-ment on 15 June 2005 and came fully into force on 12 October 2005.• It mandates timely response to citizen requests for government in-formation by various public author-ities under Central Government as well as the State Governments.• The law imposes penalty for wilful default by government offi-cials.• Citizens can ask for anything that government can disclose to Parliament.• Objectives of RTI are to em-power citizens (as right to infor-mation is fundamental right of the citizens under Article 19), promote transparency and accountability in working of Government, check cor-ruption and make our democracy work for the people in real sense.• Public authorities defined un-der this law are required to reply expeditiously or within thirty days of the request.• The law also mandates every public authority to computerise their records for wide dissemina-tion and proactively certain catego-ries of information so that citizens need minimum recourse to request for information formally.

Note:

• Information that can prejudicially impact in-ternal security, relations with foreign coun-tries, intellectual property rights, breach of parliamentary privilege and impedes inves-tigations cannot be shared with public un-der RTI.

• Cabinet papers are exempted from RTI un-til decision has been implemented.

• However, discussions within Cabinet are never disclosed under RTI.

• Non-Resident Indians (NRI) cannot file Right to Information (RTI) applications to seek governance-related information from Central government departments.

• Only citizens of India have the right to seek information under the provisions of RTI Act, 2005 and NRIs are not eligible to file RTI applications.


ENVIRONMENT

ENVIRONMENTGS-III

2019 summer will be warmer than normal

In news:The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has indicated that there is about 44 per cent probability of increase in the average maximum temperatures from April to June by half a de-gree in several places in Central India and north-west India.

In brief:

This was done by using simu-lations by the Monsoon Mis-sion Coupled Forecasting Sys-tem (MMCFS) developed under the Monsoon Mission project,

NuGen Mobility Summit 2019

The International Centre for Automotive Tech-nology (ICAT) is organizing a NuGen Mobility Summit, 2019, at Manesar, NCR, from 27th to 29th November 2019.

The objective of the Summit is to share new ideas, learnings, global experiences, innova-tions and future technology trends for faster adoption, assimilation and development of ad-vanced automotive technologies for a smarter and greener future.

About ICAT:

• The International Centre for Automotive Technology, Manesar is a division of NA-

Waste management in India

• Ministry of New and Renewable Energy estimates that the solid waste generated from cities/towns in India has a potential to generate power of approximately 500 MW, which can be enhanced to 1,075 MW by 2031.

• However in India, less than 60% of waste is collected from households and only 15% of the urban waste is processed.

Issues with Solid Waste Management:

• Non Segregation of Waste: The seg-regation of waste into organic, recyclable and hazardous categories is not enforced at source.

• Low Calorific Waste: The low calorific value of the waste is due to the presence of a large organic fraction of 40-60% (This is primarily due to non-segregation of waste).

• Lack of Monetary Benefits: The resi-dents are not paid well enough for segrega-tion and recycling.

• High toxic waste: Incinerators develop toxic ash or slag, containing heavy metals and gas pollutants which are toxic (corrosive impact) and pollute underground water.

• Lack of Finance for Urban Local Bodies (ULBs): It affects institutional ca-pacity necessary for integrated management of municipal solid waste, which requires in-vestments for Waste to Energy projects.

Way Forward:

• We need a comprehensive waste manage-ment policy that stresses the need for de-centralised garbage disposal practices.

• This will incentivise private players to par-ticipate which might be helpful in overcom-ing the issues with solid waste management.

and is based on the initial conditions of March, 2019.The El Niño, an anomalous heating of the Cen-tral Pacific that occurs once in three-five years and linked to droughts in India, may be playing a role. Current observations suggest weak El Niño conditions. The latest forecast indicates that these conditions are likely to persist during April-June.

Heat wave:

In India, IMD declares a heat wave if• The maximum temperature of a station

reaches at least 40°C or more in the plains, 37°C or more in coastal areas, and 30°C or more in hilly regions. • The temperature is at least 4.5°C more than normal, or if actual maximum temperature is equal to or more than 45°C, in at least two stations in a region for two consecutive days or more.

TRIP Implementation Society (NATIS) under the Department of Heavy In-dustries, Government of India.

• It provides services for testing, validation, design and homologation of all categories of vehicles.

About NATRiP:

• National Automotive Testing and R&D In-frastructure Project (NATRiP), the largest and one of the most significant initiatives in Automotive sector so far.

• It represents a unique joining of hands be-tween the Government of India, a number of State Governments and Indian Auto-motive Industry to create a state of the art Testing, Validation and R&D infrastructure in the country.


ENVIRONMENT

Solar e-waste – A threat to India

In News:

India’s PV (photovoltaic) waste volume is esti-mated to grow to 200,000 tonnes by 2030 and around 1.8 million tonnes by 2050.

In Brief:

By 2050, India will likely stare at a pile of a new category of electronic waste, namely solar e-waste. Currently, India’s e-waste rules have no laws mandating solar cell manufacturers to recycle or dispose waste from this sector.India is among the leading markets for solar cells in the world, buoyed by the government’s commitment to install 100 GW of solar power by 2022. So far, India has installed solar cells for about 28 GW and this is largely from im-ported solar PV cells.

Photovoltaics:

Solar cell modules are made by processing sand to make silicon, casting silicon ingots, using wafers to create cells and then assem-bling them to make modules.India’s domestic manufacturers are largely in-volved in assembling cells and modules.These modules are 80% glass and alumin-ium, and non-hazardous. Other materials used, including polymers, metals, metallic compounds and alloys, and are classified as potentially hazardous, says the study.

Lack of Policy:

India is poorly positioned to handle PV waste as it doesn’t yet have policy guidelines on the same a lack of a policy framework is coupled with the fact that even basic recycling facilities for laminated glass and e-waste are unavailable. Despite the e-waste regulation being in place for over seven years, only less than 4% of esti-mated e-waste is recycled in the organised sec-tor as per the latest estimates from the Central Pollution Control Board.

E- Waste in India:

• India generates around 2 million tonnes per annum (TPA) of E-waste of which 12% con-stituted of telecom equipment alone.

• Defunct gadgets are broken for precious metals.

• Under, E-Waste (Management & Handling) Rules 2011, EPR: Extended Producer Re-

sponsibility. Manufacturers have to set up collection centre for their product.

• E-Waste (Management) Rules 2016: CFL and other mercury lamp now in ambit of e-waste

• Citizen should buy product with least toxic material, recycle and reuse capable and cer-tified by regulatory authority.

• According to ASSOCHAM, India is the world’s fifth largest electronic waste (e-waste) producer.

• In India, e waste accounts for 4% of global e-waste

• A recent ASSOCHAM-NEC study on “Electricals & Electronics Manufacturing in India” has revealed that India recycles only 5% of its e-waste and the country is one of the biggest contributors of e-waste in the world.

Global cooling coalition

Why in news?

The Global Cooling Coalition was launched very recently at the first Global Conference on Synergies between the 2030 Agenda and Paris Agreement held at Copenhagen, Germany More on news:The Global Cooling Coalition is a platform where the actions will be contemplated and executed cutting across the Kigali Amendment, Paris Agreement and Sustainable Development Goals.The Global Cooling Coalition is supported by the UN, Climate and Clean Air Coalition, the Kigali Cooling Efficiency Program and Sustain-able Energy for All (SEforALL).

About Kigali Amendment:

• The Kigali Amendment amends the 1987 Montreal Protocol that was designed to

close growing ozone hole in by banning ozone-depleting coolants like chlorofluoro-carbons (CFCs).

• Thus, amended Montreal Protocol which was initially conceived only to plug gases that were destroying the ozone layer now includes HFCs responsible for global warm-ing.

• This move will help to prevent a potential 0.5 degree Celsius rise in global tempera-ture by the end of the century.

• The Kigali Agreement amended Montreal Protocol for HFCs reduction will be binding on countries from 2019.

• It also has provisions for penalties for non-compliance. Under it, developed coun-tries will also provide enhanced funding support estimated at billions of dollars glob-ally.

About Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC):

• The Climate and Clean Air Coalition to Reduce Short-Lived Climate Pollutants

(CCAC) was launched by the United Na-tions Environment Programme (UNEP) and six countries- Bangladesh, Canada, Ghana, Mexico, Sweden, and the United States on 16 February 2012.

• The Coalition aims to catalyse rapid reduc-tions in short lived climate pollutants like Black Carbon, Methane, Hydrofluorocar-bons, Tropospheric or Ground Level Ozone.

About Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL)

• It is an international organization launched in 2011 by the then Secretary-General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon.

• It aims to help mobilize achievement of universal energy access, improve energy ef-ficiency, and increase the use of renewable energy.

• It is headquartered in Vienna, Austria, with an executive office in Washington.


ENVIRONMENT

Steps taken by India:

• PradhanMantriUjjwalaYojana• Accelerated Bharat Stage 6/VI clean vehicle standards by 2020.• National Clean Air Pro-gramme.• In India, 60% of the popula-tion still uses solid fuels. In Ban-gladesh the number rises to 79%.

State of Global Air 2019

The report was published by Health Effects In-stitute (HEI)in cooperation with the Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) at the University of Washington, the University of British Columbia, and the University of Texas, Austin.

Highlights of the report:

• The current high level of air pollution has shortened the average lifespan of a South Asian child by two-and-a-half years while globally the reduction stands at 20 months.

• Exposure to outdoor and indoor air pollution contributed to over 1.2 million deaths in In-dia in 2017. Air pollution was responsible for more deaths than many better-known risk factors such as malnutrition, alcohol abuse and physical inactivity.

• China and India together were responsible for over half of the total global attributable deaths.

• In India, air pollution is the third-highest cause of death among all health risks, rank-ing just above smoking.

• Long-term exposure to outdoor and indoor air pollution contributed to nearly 5 million deaths from stroke, diabetes, heart attack, lung cancer, and chronic lung disease in 2017.

• Out of these, 3 million deaths are directly attributed to PM2.5, half of which are from India and China together. The South Asian region — Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Pa-kistan — led the world as the most polluted, with over 1.5 million air-pollution related deaths according to the report.

World Health Organization:

• Exposures to toxic air both indoors and out kills some 600,000 children under the age of 15 each year.

• It found that children are often more vul-nerable to the impact of air pollution since they breath more rapidly than adults, and thus absorb more pollutants at a time when their brains and bodies are still developing.

• Every day, 93 per cent of children under the

age of 15 breath dangerously polluted air.

Kerala forests home to new spider species

In news:

A group of jumping spiders that mostly occur in Eurasia and Africa, has been spotted for the first time in Ernakulam’sIllithodu forests by arach-nologists from Kochi.

In brief:

They belong to the genus Habrocestum that has been recorded mostly in Eurasia and Africa and never in India.• It is brownish-black in colour with white

and creamy-yellow patches.• It measures just around 2 mm and seems to

prefer dry habitats, dwelling in forest litter.Comparisons with studies of European Habro-cestum spiders revealed that the spiders from Illithode are a new species altogether, for they had distinctly different reproductive organs.The spider also has a single long spine on the underside of both its first legs, and this gave it

its scientific name Habrocestumlongispinum.While more detailed ecological studies are re-quired, threats could include unregulated tour-ism activities and even climate change - which could affect the small insects by altering the specific micro-climates that they prefer.The discovery also lends support to the conti-nental drift theory that suggests that the world’s continents were one large, contiguous landmass where these creatures thrived many millions of years ago.


ENVIRONMENT

Yangtze giant softshell turtle

In news:

The last known female Yangtze giant softshell turtle has died inSuzhou Zoo in China.It is be-lieved to be more than 90 years old.IUCN status: Critically Endangered

In brief:

It died after local staff, together with interna-tional experts, attempted to artificially insemi-nate her.

The research team comprised of domestic and international experts would conduct an autopsy to determine the cause of death.The Wildlife Conservations Society (WCS) calls the Yangtze giant softshell turtle the world’s most critically endangered turtle species, killed off due to hunting as well as habitat destruction.Now, there are only three left in the world. The Suzhou Zoo houses a male Yangtze giant softs-hell turtle. The other two live in Vietnam, but their genders are unknown. Both live in the wild.Yangtze giant softshell turtles originated in Chi-na, making their homes in the Yangtze River and Taihu Lake

European Union bans single use plastics

• The European parliament has voted to ban single-use plastic cutlery, cotton buds, straws and stirrers as part of a sweeping law against plastic waste that despoils beaches and pollutes oceans.

• The vote by MEPs paves the way for a ban on single-use plastics to come into force by 2021 in all EU member states.

• EU member states will have to introduce measures to reduce the use of plastic food containers and plastic lids for hot drinks. By 2025, plastic bottles should be made of 25% recycled content, and by 2029 90% of them should be recycled.


Bleaching hits world’s southernmost coral reef

In news:

The corals off Lord Howe Island, some 600 km offshore from Sydney were affected by elevated temperatures this summer, despite escaping se-vere bleaching that damaged the Great Barrier Reef in 2016 and 2017.Scientists found severe bleaching of up to 90% at Lord Howe’s inshore, shallow lagoon reefs.Increasing baseline temperatures caused by cli-mate change, and local factors such as elevated temperatures in the area this summer, caused the bleaching to occur.

Conditions for growth of coral reefs:

1. Temperature of sea water - 200C – 300C2. Sediment free water

Vultures on the brink of extinction

In news:

The population of vultures has declined so drastically in Andhra Pradeshthat the scaveng-ing bird is on the verge of extinction.The number of vultures has dwindled from around 8,500 in 1997 to a few now.Non-availability of cattle carcasses on which vultures feed is the main cause of decline.Conservationists suggested to the Andhra Pradesh State government to start at least two “vulture restaurants” (feeding facility) – one each in Adilabad and at Srisailam Tiger Reserve to provide diclofenac-free carcasses regularly as part of urgent conservation measures.• At least 37 vultures belonging to three en-

dangered species died after feeding on pes-ticide-laced cattle carcass in eastern Assam’s Sivasagar district.

• Most of the 37 vultures that died are Hi-

3. Salinity4. Existence of submarine

platformsThe western margins of the continents mostly lack coral reefs because of the pres-ence of cold ocean currents.

Coral bleaching:

Bleaching occurs when ab-normal environmental con-ditions, such as warmer sea temperatures, cause corals to expel tiny photosynthetic algae, draining them of their colour.Corals can recover if the wa-ter temperature drops and the algae are able to recolo-nise them.

malayan griffon. A few are oriental white-backed and slender-billed vultures

It was a clear case of poisoning the carcass of a cow by the villagers, meant to killferal dogs.

Reasons for decline:

Unlike in North India, people who own cattle in the South India sell their cattle to slaughter houses if it was not found to be useful. This pat-tern had increased in the recent past because of the presence of mechanised slaughter houses.In the mid-1990s India experienced a precipi-tous vulture decline, with more than 95 per cent of vultures disappearing by the early 2000s. Di-clofenac, a veterinary anti-inflammatory drug that relieved pain in cattle, but proved highly toxic to vultures.Several inherent ecological traits also likely contribute to vultures’ extinction risk, includ-ing their large body masses, slow reproductive rates and highly specialised diets.Studies have shown that there is a direct re-lationship between the decline of vultures in India and the spread of deadly diseases like

rabies. “The potential human health impact of rabies associated with the vulture decline is found to be significant”.

Efforts:

The government has planned to set up of 8 vul-ture safe zones, which are diclofenacfree areas with a radius of 100 km and at least one nesting colony.The Maharashtra forest department has set up vulture ‘restaurants’ in Gadchiroli, Nashik and Raigad.There are nine species of vulture found all over India, they are mostly concentrated in Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra.

Critically endangered vultures in India:

1. White-backed Vulture2. Slender billed Vulture3. Red headed Vulture4. Indian Vulture

ENVIRONMENT


6 new GI tags

In News:

The Geographical Indications Registry has granted the Geographical Indication (GI) tag to • Coorg Arabica Coffee, • Wayanad Robusta Coffee, • Chikmagalur Arabica Coffee, • Araku Valley Arabica Coffee,• Bababudangiri Arabica Coffee.• Erode Turmeric

In Brief:

• According to the GI application, Coorg Ara-bica Coffee is grown specifically in Kodagu district in Karnataka.

• Coffee based farming system is a notable feature of Wayanad. Coffee is grown both as pure crop and as mixed crop along with pepper. Wayanad produces almost around 90% of the state’s Coffee produce which lit-erally concludes that the coffee economy of Kerala is highly correlated with the coffee economy existing in Wayanad. Robusta cof-fee produce is more than 95% of the total coffee cultivation done in Wayanad.

• Chikmagalur Arabica Coffee and Bababu-dangiris Arabica Coffee are both grown in Chikmagalur district, Karnataka which is also known as the birthplace of coffee in the country, as per the application petitions.

Coffee production in India

• It is dominated in the hill tracts of South Indian states, with Karnataka accounting for 71%, followed by Kerala with 21% and Tamil Nadu (5% of overall production with 8,200 tonnes).

• New areas developed in the non-traditional areas of Andhra Pradesh and Orissa in the eastern coast of the country and with a third region comprising the states of Assam, Ma-nipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Tripura, Naga-land and Arunachal Pradesh of Northeast-ern India, popularly known as “Seven Sister States of India.

• Export: As of 2018, Indian coffee made up just 4.5% of the global production. Almost 80% of Indian coffee is exported; Of which, 70% is bound for Germany, Russia, Spain, Belgium, Slovenia, United States, Japan, Greece, Netherlands and France. Italy ac-counts for 29% of the exports.

About Erode Turmeric:

• The variety is called Erode local, i.e., Chin-nanadan.

• The crop is grown in hot moist conditions prevalent in the area with temperature rang-ing from 20 degrees to 37.9 degrees Celsius with an average of 600 to 800 mm rainfall in a year.

• The mean length of the fingers of Erode turmeric was about 4.15cm and the mean circumference was about 3.03cm.

• The plant’s underground stems or rhizomes

have been used as spice, dye, medicine and religious maker since antiquity.

• The spice’s colour comes mainly from cur-cumin, a bright yellow phenolic compound that has been in the news for its ostensible potential to fight cancer. It contains 2.5 to 4.5% of curcumin contentand resistence to pests after boiling.

• Tamil Naduis the third largest grower of tur-meric in the country (behind Telangana and Maharashtra), with 132.4 tonnes produced in 2015-16.

GI Tag:

• Geographical Indication is a genre of Intel-lectual Property.

• GI tag is an insignia on products having a unique geographical origin and evolution over centuries with regards to its special quality or reputation attributes.

• The status to the products marks its authen-ticity and ensures that registered authorised users are allowed to use the popular product name.

• These could be naturally grown crops like Assam Chilies or manufactured products like Jaipur Pottery.

• GI tags are given on the basis of the Geo-graphical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999.

• The registration of GI is valid for 10 years after which it needs to be renewed.

• Violation of GI tags is punishable offence under law.

ENVIRONMENT


Climate change may hit India’s wind power

In News:

Increased warming in the Indian Ocean and the resultant weakening of the Indian summer monsoon may come in the way of India’s goal of leading the world’s wind power generation.

In Brief:

• Summer winds in India are driven by the temperature contrast between the Indian subcontinent and the Indian Ocean, and the warming in the Indian Ocean reduced this contrast. Also, warming of the Equatorial In-dian Ocean resulted in a decline in the wind speed.

• The Indian government has set a target of

60 GW of cumulative wind power capacity by 2022. The researchers say that this goal can be beneficial only if planners in India take these historical reconstructions into ac-count while setting up wind power installa-tions in the future.

Wind Energy in India

• The Union Government has set an am-bitious target of achieving 175 Giga Watt (GW) power capacity from clean renewable energy resources by 2022.

• Out of this, 60 GW target is set for wind power. The present installed wind power capacity in the country is nearly 26.7 GW accounting for nearly9% of total installed capacity.

• Globally, India is at 4th position in term of installed wind power capacity after China, USA and Germany.

• The National Institute of Wind Energy

ENVIRONMENT

(NIWE) under the MNRE assesses the wind power potential in the country at 100 meter above ground level.

• It has estimated it over 302 GW and there are 8 windy states namely Maharashtra, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu and Tel-angana

• India has achieved the largest-ever wind power capacity addition of 3,423 MW in 2015-16, exceeding the target by 44%.

Targets:

• Medium term target for Offshore wind pow-er : 5 GW by 2022

• Long term target for Offshore wind power : 30 GW by 2030

• Target for Onshore wind power : 60 GW• The offshore wind power will add new el-

ement to already existing basket of renew-able energy of the country.

Oil-eating bacteria found in world’s deepest ocean trench

In news:

Scientists have discovered a unique oil eating bacteria in the Mariana Trench, the deepest part of the Earth - 11,000 metres.The hydrocarbons may help microbes survive the crushing pressure at the bottom of the Mariana Trench, which is equal to 1,091 kilo-grammes pressed against a fingernail.

Bioremediation:

It is a process that uses mainly microorganisms, plants, or microbial or plant enzymes to detox-

ify contaminants at contaminated sites, such as water, soil, sludge, and waste streams. The con-cept includes biodegradation, which refers to the partial, and sometimes total, transformation or detoxification of contaminants by microor-ganisms and plants.The process of bioremediation enhances the rate of the natural microbial degradation of con-taminants by supplementing the indigenous microorganisms (bacteria or fungi) with nutri-ents

Major incidents where Bioremediation was employed:

• It was used in the Alaska oil spill from the Exxon Valdez in 1989.

• The Deepwater Horizon oil spill, which added roughly 800 million litres of hydro-carbons to the Gulf of Mexico in 2010.

MSC Chitra oil spill:

Two cargo ships had collided off Mumbai coast, re-sulting in oil spill. The Energy and Resources Insti-tute (TERI), car-ried out the biore-mediation process by using the ‘oilz-apper’ technology.The Oilzapper, the bacteria that feeds on hydrocar-bon compounds present in crude oil and oily sludge

(a hazardous hydrocarbon waste generated by oil refineries) and converts them into harmless CO2and water. The Oilzapper is neatly packed into sterile polythene bags and sealed aseptically for safe transport. The shelf life of the product is three months at ambient temperature.Over 5 kg of microbes can clean 1 tonne of oil-contaminated sand or soil.This method is cost-effective and safe.More than 5000 hectares of cropland contam-inated with crude oil spills has already been reclaimed in different parts of India and more than 26,000 tonnes of oily sludge successfully treated with Oilzapper. Many oil-slick contam-inated lakes in the north-eastern parts of India have also been cleaned up in last two years.

Not a Panacea:

Various nutrients, such as nitrogen and phos-phorus are needed for active bacterial action. This is why bioremediation process is difficult in the open ocean.Scientists caution that bioremediation is only a partial solution. It’s best used on sandy beach-es and in salt marshes after the thickest oil has been removed by bulldozer and shovel.The cleaning up of the rocky areas on the beaches and mangroves is difficult using Oilz-apper. The oil must be mopped out from the rocks with the help of cotton waste, which can then be treated with the help of bioremedia-tion. Rocky beaches will take a very long time to recover.


Cuban crocodile

Why in news?

• A critically endangered Cuban crocodile died at the Madras Crocodile Bank, near Chennai.

• It is alleged that the reason for its death was due to the stress created by the noise pollu-tion from a nearby resort.

In Brief:

• The critically endangered Cuban crocodile is a small species of crocodile found only in Cuba.

• But it is bred in different countries under controlled conditions.

• The 3 types of crocodile species present in India are

1. Gharial (Critically Endangered)2. Mugger Crocodile (Vulnerable)3. Salt Water Crocodile (Least Concern)

CUBAN CROCODILE (CRITICALLY ENDANGERED)

GHARIAL (CRITICALLY ENDAN-GERED)

MUGGER CROCODILE (VULNER-ABLE)

SALTWATER CROCODILE (LEAST CONCERN)

Ganga has higher proportion of antibacterial agents

In News:

A study commissioned by the Union Water Re-sources Ministry to probe the “unique proper-ties” of the Ganga found that the river water contains a significantly higher proportion of organisms with antibacterial properties.

In Brief:

• The study, ‘Assessment of Water Quality and Sediment To Under-stand Special Properties of River Ganga,’ was conducted by the Nag-pur-based National En-vironmental Engineering and Research Institute (NEERI), a CSIR lab.

• As part of the assessment, five pathogenic species of bacteria (Escherichia, Enterobacter, Salmonel-la, Shigella, Vibrio) were selected and isolated from the Ganga, Yamuna and the Narmada and their numbers compared with the bac-teriophages present in the river water.

The Ganga River System

The total length of the Ganga is about 2,510 km. The river basin is bounded by the Hima-layas on the north, by the Aravalli on the west, by the Vindhyas and Chhotanagpur plateau on the south and by the Brahmaputra Ridge on the east. The river is a lifeline to millions of Indians who live along its course and depend on it for their daily needs. From time immemorial, Gan-ga has been the holiest river of the Hindus. It is thus also a culturally important river of India.Source of origin: The Ganga rises from the

Gangotri glacier near Gomukh in Uttarkashi district of the state of Uttarakhand.Confluence or Mouth: The Ganga river

drains into the Bay of Bengal before forming a very huge delta.

The course of the Ganga river

The Ganga is called the Bhagirathi above Devprayag and below this town, the Ganga. The Ganga initially flows in the southern di-rection, then in the south-east direction up to Mirzapur and then in the east direction in the Bihar plains. Near the Rajmahal hills, it turns into south-east direction and after flowing some distance in Murshidabad district of West Ben-

gal, it enters Bangladesh. In Bangladesh, it gets divided into two main distributaries- the Bhagirathi and the Hugli. The main river goes to Bangladesh where it is firstly known by the name of the Padma and then the Meghna which drains into the Bay of Bengal.

The Five Prayags

1. Devaprayag, the place of confluence of Bhagirathi river and Alaknanda river.2. Rudraprayag, the place of conflu-ence of Mandakini river and Alaknanda riv-er.3. Nandaprayag, the place of conflu-ence of Nandakini river and Alaknanda riv-er.4. Karnaprayag, the place of conflu-ence of Pindar river and Alaknanda river.5. Vishnuprayag, the place of con-

fluence of Dhauliganga river and Alaknanda river.

ENVIRONMENT

Mukundara Hills Tiger Reserve

Why in news?

• Recently a massive fire broke out at an en-closure of Mukundara Hills Tiger reserve.

About Mukundra Hills Tiger Reserve:

• It is the third tiger reserve in Rajasthan when it was declared so in 2013.

• The other two tiger reserves in Rajasthan are Ranthambore and Sariska.

• The Mukundara Hills covers existing Dar-rah sanctuary, JawaharSagar Sanctuary and Chambal Sanctuary, all in Rajasthan.

• Recently two tigers have been shifted to it from the Ranthambore Tiger reserve.


vore - the Nilgiri marten.• Other notable animals found here are El-

ephants, Buffaloes, Lion tailed macaque, guar and Niligirilangurs.

NILGIRI MARTEN (ENDANGERED)

India’s carbon dioxide emissions up 5%

1. India emitted 2,299 million tonnes of carbon dioxide in 2018, a 4.8% rise from last year, according to a report by the International Energy Agency (IEA).

2. India’s emissions growth this year was higher than that of the United States and China — the two biggest emitters in the world — and this was primarily due to a rise in coal con-sumption.

3. China, the United States, and India together accounted for nearly 70% of the rise in ener-gy demand.

4. India’s per capita emissions were about 40% of the global average and contributed 7% to the global carbon dioxide burden. The Unit-

Pampadum SholaNational Park

Why in news?

• A massive breaks out at the Kurinji reserve area and the adjoining Pampadum Shola National Park.

About Pampadum Shola National Park:

• It is the smallest national park in Kerala lo-cated in the Idukki district.

• It is a part of Palani hills.• The keystone species here is the highly elu-

sive and endangered, endemic small carni-

ENVIRONMENT

ed States, the largest emitter, was responsi-ble for 14%.

5. As per its commitments to the United Na-tions Framework Convention on Climate Change, India has promised to reduce the emissions intensity of its economy by 2030, compared to 2005 levels.

6. It has also committed to having 40% of its energy from renewable sources by 2030 and, as part of this, install 100 GW of solar power by 2022.

7. However the IEA report, showed that India’s energy intensity improvement declined 3% from last year even as its renewable energy installations increased 10.6% from last year.

8. Global energy consumption in 2018 in-creased at nearly twice the average rate of growth since 2010, driven by a robust glob-al economy and higher heating and cooling

needs in some parts of the world. 9. The United States had the largest increase in oil and gas de-mand worldwide. Gas consumption jumped 10% from the previous year, the fastest increase since the beginning

of IEA records in 1971.10. India needs at least $2.5trillion (Rs. 150

trillion approx.) to implement its climate pledge, around 71% of the combined re-quired spending for all developing country pledges.

International Energy Agency (IEA)

• Autonomous intergovernmental organiza-tion Established in 1974 in the wake of the 1973 oil crisis

• The IEA was initially dedicated to respond-ing to physical disruptions in the supply of oil, as well as serving as an information source on statistics about the international oil market and other energy sectors.

• The IEA acts as a policy adviser to its mem-ber states, but also works with non-member countries, especially China, India, and Rus-sia

• India has become an associate member of IEA.

• Presently it has 30 member countries in-cluding India.

• The Agency’s mandate has broadened to fo-cus on the “3Es” of effectual energy policy:

• Energy security,• Economic development,• Environmental protection• The IEA has a broad role in promoting alter-

nate energy sources (including renewable energy), rational energy policies, and multi-national energy technology co-operation

Reports Published:

• Global Energy & Co2 Status• Tracking Energy Transitions• World Energy Outlook.

Maitri bridge• Maitri Bridge is the Indian Army built lon-

gest suspension bridge over Indus Indusriv-er in Leh in just 40 days.

• This cable suspension bridge is expected to give a major boost to connectivity in remote areas in Ladakh.

• It has been named ‘Maitri Bridge’, symbol-izing the excellent civil-military relations existing in the region

• Maitri Bridge has been dedicated to the people of India to commemorate the 20th year of Kargil victory.


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Mrs. S. Praba

Editor In-Chief


Editorial Board



Mr. J. Vijay

Mr. S. Cholaraja

Mr. J.Deepan






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INTERNAL SECURITY

GS-III

CENTRE BANS JKLF UNDER UAPA

Why in news:

In the wake of a series of crackdowns follow-ing the Pulwama attack, the Centre banned Hurriyat leader Yasin Malik’s Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) under section 3 of the anti-terror law, Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (UAPA).

In brief:

The moves comes nearly a month after a ma-jor crackdown on separatists in the valley was launched on 24 February where 130 separatists from the Jamaat-e-Islami (Kashmir) and the Hurriyat Conference were arrested, including JKLF Chief Yasin Malik and Jamaat-e-Islami chief Abdul Hamid Fayaz.The ban under the UAPA, 1967 is on the grounds that JKLF had spearheaded separatist ideology in Kashmir and triggered the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits by murdering members of the minority community in the late eighties.According to the Home Ministry the activities of the outfit pose a serious threat to the securi-ty of the country and the organisation has been actively and continuously encouraging, feelings of enmity and hatred against the lawfully estab-lished Government.This organisation is also responsible for illegal funnelling of funds for fomenting terrorism, ac-tively involved in raising of funds and its distri-bution to Hurriyat cadres and stone-pelters to fuel unrest in the Kashmir Valley as well as for subversive activities

Vice Admiral Karambir Singh appointed next Navy Chief

Why In News:

The government appointed Vice Admiral Karambir Singh as the next Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS). With the announcement, the gov-ernment has for the second time overlooked the seniority principle in service chief appoint-ments.Vice Admiral Singh will take over as the 24th Navy chief from incumbent CNS Admiral Sunil Lanba, who is set to retire on May 31 on com-pleting three years in office.

Chief of the Naval Staff

• The Chief of the Naval Staff is the com-

INTERNAL SECURITY

Nirbhay Cruise Missile• The sub-sonic Nirbhay missile recently test

fired successfully off the Odisha coast.

About Nirbhay Cruise Missile:

• It is a long range, all-weather, sub-sonic cruise mis-sile designed and developed in India by the De-fence Research and Develop-ment Organisa-tion.

• The missile can be launched from multiple plat-forms and is ca-pable of carrying

conventional and nuclear warheads.• It has an operational range of about 1000 –

1500 km.• It has a speed range of about 0.6-0.7 Mach.• It is two stage missile powered by solid

rocket motor booster.• It will eventually supplement the role

played by B r a h m o s missile for the Indi-an Armed Forced by d e l i v e r i n g warheads far-ther than the 450 km range of Brahmos.

mander and the highest-ranking officer in the Indian Navy.

• The position is abbreviated CNS in Indian Navy cables and communication, and usu-ally held by a four-star officer in the rank of Admiral.

Appointments Committee of the Cabinet

• The Appointments Committee of the Cabi-net (ACC) decides appointments to several top posts under the Government of India.

• The committee is composed of the Prime Minister of India (who is the Chairman), the Minister of Home Affairs.

• Originally the Minister in-charge of the concerned Ministry was also the part of the committee but as per the new notification (as on 14 July 2016) the minister of con-cerned ministry has been excluded from the committee.


Al-shabaab militants

Why in news?

• The Al-Shabaab militants leveraged a car bomb explosion at Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia, killing atleast 15 people.

In Brief:

Al-Shabaab militants:

• Al-Shabaab (Literally “The Youth” or “The Youngsters”) is a jihadist fundamentalist group based in East Africa..

• In 2012, it pledged allegiance to the militant Islamist organisation Al-Qaeda.

• As of 2015, the group has retreated from the major cities, however al-Shabaab still con-trols large parts of the rural areas.

How will you trace the ‘undeclared foreigners’ in Assam, SC asks State govt.

Why In News?

1. The Supreme Court on Monday raised ques-tions over the Assam government’s efforts to trace over 70,000 illegal immigrants who have already mixed with the local popula-tion.

2. The court noticed that many detainees con-tinue to be lodged inside the 6 jail cum de-tention centres even after the expiry of their term of imprisonment for illegally entering the country.

In Brief:

A Ministry-of-Home-Affairs affidavit filed in the Supreme Court regarding the data and numbers which is shown in the image.

Undeclared Foreigners?

A Bench led by Chief Justice of India Ranjan-Gogoi observed that there may even be “unde-clared foreigners” who have already succeeded in “merging with the local population” of the State.The number of these undeclared foreigners, when ques-tioned by the Apex Court has drawn a blank from the Assam government.The Home Ministry ex-plained that persons de-clared as ‘il-legal foreign-ers’ by the tribunals ei-ther abscond immediately or are already untraceable.

Questions to the Assam government:

1.Where are those illegals who have neither been deported nor are lodged in the deten-tion centres? Where are they? How will you track them? What have you done in the past five years?

2. What percentage of illegal migrants have you proceeded against? What are you doing to improve the conditions of those detained in the detention centres? How long will they remain?

3. The absence of the Assam Chief Secretary in court to personally answer these questions irked the Bench. Where is the Chief Sec-retary? he was here the last time. Who ex-empted him from personal appearance this time? Does he get to decide that he need not come?”

Many obstacles

The hearing saw the Supreme Court criticise the policy of “pushing back” illegal foreigners to Bangladesh without enquiring about their country of origin.This was in the backdrop of the Home Ministry spelling out the obstacles in the nationality-ver-ification process of illegal foreigners.They either do not provide information or give the information. Details of the country of origin depend completely upon information provided by the person, observed the affidavit from the Home Ministry.Though as a sovereign nation, India has the ab-solute right to deport illegal immigrants, it can-not do so randomly, the Ministry agreed with the court’s point of view.

Deportation and the Push Back Policy:

The “push-back” policy was dropped in 2013 and nowadays diplomatic channels are em-ployed to determine the nationality of an illegal foreigner and to deport the person.

CJI’s Reaction:

1. The Ministry has been pushing them back without knowing their country of origin and now the ministry has grown wise and has thus resorted to diplomatic channels.

2. The Government of Assam is playing around with the court according to the CJI.

INTERNAL SECURITY

Chinook will be a game changer, says Air Force chief

Why in News:

IAF inducts 4 combat-ready Chinook helicop-ters

In Brief:

The Indian Air Force (IAF) inducted the first batch of four Chinook CH-47F(I) heavy-lift he-licopters, which will significantly improve airlift to high-altitude areas.1. It will Enhance our Heli lift capability across

all types of terrain to the full effect.2. It will be a game changer as expected by IAF.3. The service ceiling of 20,000 feet would

redefine heavy lift not just in operations, inter-valley transport and artillery transport but also in humanitarian assistance and di-saster relief efforts in far-flung areas, he said.

4. These helicopters will be deployed in the northern and eastern regions.

5. Besides Chandigarh, another unit will be created at Dinjan in Assam.

6. India finalised a contract for 15 Boeing Chi-nook helicopters in September 2015. The first batch arrived at the Mundra Port in Gu-jarat in February this year. All helicopters will be delivered by March next year.

7. The first batch of 12 pilots and as many flight engineers underwent training in the U.S. in October 2018.

8. The Chinook can carry a maximum payload of 11 tonnes and 54 combat-ready troops or 24 stretcher patients.


Rawat bats for indigenisation

Chief of Army Staff General BipinRawat called for enhanced coastal security and expressed sat-isfaction over the thrust being attached by the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) for indigenisation and augmenting its fleet under ‘Make in India’ programme to face the challenges posed by var-ious elements.

Why is indigenisation critical?

• About 62% of India’s arms imports in 2013-17 originated in Russia, 15% in the US and 11% in Israel.

• India is the largest customer for the Rus-sian and Israeli defence industries and the third-largest for the French.

• Significantly, India’s imports from the US jumped around 500% between 2008-12 and 2013-17.

• India’s rising imports of arms is in sharp con-trast to China.

• China reported a 19% drop in overseas pur-chases between 2008-12 and 2013-17.

• It accounts for 4.6% of the global arms ex-port market.

• With this, it has emerged the fifth-largest exporter of arms.

• Given this high level of dependence, indi-genisation of defence procurement is criti-cal for strategic reasons.

Steps taken for Indigenization:

• Private sector - ‘Make in India’ focuses on increasing indigenous defence manufac-turing and becoming self-reliant.

• The resultant private participation in de-

High Court orders release of Manipur television journalist in sedition case

In News:

The Manipur High Court has ordered the release of television anchor Kishorechan-draWangkhem who was charged with sedition under the National Security Act (NSA) for crit-icising Chief Minister N.Biren Singh on social media.

In Brief:

National Security Act

• The National Security Act of 1980 is an act of the Indian Parliament whose purpose is

fence sector has helped foreign OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers).

• They have entered into strategic partner-ships with Indian companies.

• It has leveraged opportunities in the domes-tic as well as global markets.

• Duty exemption - The preferential treatment given to DPSUs in excise and customs duty has been discontinued.

• This is to create a level playing field for all Indian industries (public and private).

• Indigenisation - The Defence Procurement Procedure 2013 was amended with effect from April, 2016.

• This was to encourage indigenous design, development and manufacture of defence equipment.

• India’s focus on indigenous manufacturing is paying off.

• Evidently, the ministry of defence over the last 2 years unveiled several products manu-factured in India.

These include

i. The HAL Tejas light combat aircraftii. The composite Sonar domeiii.A portable telemedicine system for the

Armed Forcesiv. Penetration-cum-blast and thermobaric am-

munition specifically designed for Arjun tanks

v. A heavyweight torpedo called Varunastra manufactured with 95% locally sourced parts

vi.medium range surface to air missiles

• Defence deals - The Defence Acquisi-tion Council under the ministry of defence has cleared many defence deals.

• Deals worth over Rs 820 billion under the “buy and make” and “buy Indian” catego-

ries were cleared.• FDI - 100% FDI is allowed in the defence

sector.• Of this, up to 49% is under the automatic

route.• FDI above 49% is permitted through the

government route.• This is done on a case-by-case basis where it

is likely to result in access to modern tech-nology.

• Budget - The government increased the defence budget by around 5.9% for 2018-19.

• Accounting for around 12% of total govern-ment expenditure, it is around 7.8% more than the last year’s budget.

• Industries - It is planned to develop two defence industrial production corridors.

• Formulating an industry-friendly military production policy is also under consider-ation.

• An industry-friendly “defence production policy 2018” to promote domestic produc-tion by the public sector, private sector and MSMEs is also underway.

• Foreign trade policy - It provides guidelines for engaging with Indian mis-sions abroad.

• It facilitates exports of indigenously devel-oped defence systems.

• In an unprecedented move, India recently called in all its 44 defence attaches from missions abroad.

• It aimed at tapping the potential for defence exports and strengthening the interface be-tween the government and industry.

• The measures have contributed to increas-ing defence manufacturing and exports.

“to provide for preventive detention in cer-tain cases and for matters connected there-with”. The act extends to the whole of India except the State of Jammu and Kashmir. It was passed during the Charan Singh Gov-ernment.

• This act empowers the Central Government and State Governments to detain a person to prevent him/her from acting in any man-ner prejudicial to the security of India, the relations of India with foreign countries, the maintenance of public order, or the mainte-nance of supplies and services essential to the community it is necessary so to do. The act also gives power to the governments to detain a foreigner in a view to regulate his presence or expel from the country.

• The other enactments relating to nation-al security are the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, the Criminal Law Amendment Act, the Official Secrets Act, 1923, Chapters 6 and 7 of the Indian Penal Code etc.

• India had a long history of preventive de-tention laws like the Defence of India Act of 1858, The Government of India Act of 1935, the Preventive Detention Act of 1950, the Maintenance of Internal Security Act in 1971 and the NSA in 1980.

• The only period in the Indian “republic without any preventive detention law was the three year period, beginning with the repeal of MISA in 1977 to the promulgation of the NSA in 1980.

• The maximum period of detention is 12 months, but the detention should be report-ed to the State Government along with the grounds on which the order has been made. No such order shall remain in force for more than twelve days unless approved by the State Government.

INTERNAL SECURITY


’World’s largest plane’ lifts off

In news:

Built by Stratolaunch, the company set up by the late Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen in 2011.Its 385 ft (117 m) wingspan is the length of an American foot-ball field.

In brief:

The plane is designed to drop rock-ets and other space vehicles weighing up to 500,000 pounds at an altitude of 35,000 feet and has been billed by the company as making sat-ellite deployment as “easy as booking an airline flight.”The twin-fuselage six-engine jet flew up to 4,572m and reached speeds of about 274 km/h on its maiden flightover the Mojave Desert in California.Stratolaunch describes its vessel as the “world’s largest plane” but there are aircraft which are longer from nose to tail.British billionaire Richard Branson’s company Virgin Galactic has also developed aircraft that launch rockets into orbit from great height.

About C-295 aircraft:

• It is a twin-turboprop tactical military trans-port aircraft, and is currently manufactured by Airbus Defence and Space in Spain.

About Defence Acquisition Council:

• The Defence Acquisition Council was formed in 2006.

• It is neither a Constitutional nor a Statutory body.

• It was formed by the Executive reso-lution.• It is headed by Union Minister of Defence and was constituted to ensure a fair defence pro-curement planning process.• The Council aims to ensure expe-ditious procurement

of the requirements of the Armed Forces in terms of capabilities sought and time frame prescribed by optimally utiliz-ing the allocated budgetary re-sources.

• The functions of the DAC in-clude

1.In principle approval of 15 Years Long Terms Integrated Per-spective Plan for Defence Forc-es

2.Accord of Acceptance of Neces-sity to acquisition proposals

INTERNAL SECURITY

3.Categorization of the acquisition proposals relating to ‘Buy’, ‘Buy & Make’ and ‘Make’

4.Issues relating to Single vendor clearance5.Decision regarding ‘offset’ provisions in re-

spect of acquisition proposals above Rs. 300 crores

6.Decisions regarding Transfer of Technology under ‘Buy & Make’ category of acquisition proposals and

7.Field Trial evaluation. • The composition of the DAC is as follows:

1.Defence Minister: Chairman2.Minister of State for Defence: Member3.Chief of Army Staff: Member4.Chief of Naval Staff: Member5.Chief of Air Staff: Member6.Defence Secretary: Member7.Secretary Defence Research & Develop-ment: Member

8.Secretary Defence Production: Member9. Chief of Integrated Staff Committees HQ IDS: Member

10.Director General (Acquisition): Member11.Dy. Chief of Integrated Defence: Staff Member Secretary


SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

GS-III

Event Horizon Telescope (EHT)

Astronomers have capturedthe first image of a black hole at the center of Messier 87 or M87, a giant galaxy in the constellation Virgo. The breakthrough image was cap-tured by the Event Horizon telescope (EHT), a network of eight radio tele-scopes spanning locations from Ant-arctica to Spain and Chile, in an effort involving more than 200 scientists.The black hole measures 40 billion km across - 3 mil-lion times the size of the Earth and 500 million trillion km away. It has a mass 6.5 billion times that of the Sun.

What is Black Hole?

Black hole is an infinitely dense object whose grav-ity is so strong that nothing can escape its immediate proximity, not even light. As matter spirals into a black hole, it forms a disk that is heated to enormous tem-peratures, emitting copious quantities of X-rays and Gamma-rays that indicate the presence of the underlying hidden companion.

HAYABUSA 2

In news:

• Recently the mission discovered that the asteroid Ryugu is infact a “rubble pile” formed when rocks were blasted off a big-gerasteroid and came back together again.

• The discovery means that asteroid Ryugu has a parent body out there somewhere.

About HAYABUSA 2:

• It is an asteroid sample-return mission op-erated by the Japanese space agency, JAXA.

• It was launched on 3 December 2014 and rendezvoused with the near-Earth asteroid Ryug on 27 June 2018.

• It is in the process of surveying the asteroid for a year and a half, departing in December 2019, and returning to Earth inDecember

2020.

Black holes were first predicted by Einstein’s theory of relativity – although Einstein him-self was sceptical that they actually existed. Since then, astronomers have accumulated overwhelming evidence that these cosmic sinkholes are out in space, including recent detection of gravitational waves that ripple across the cosmos when pairs of them collide.

The fact that black holes do not allow light to escape makes viewing them difficult. The sci-entists will be looking for a ring of light - radiation and matter circling at tremendous speed at the edge of the event horizon - around a region of darkness rep-resenting the actual black hole. This is known as the black hole’s shadow or silhouette.

A black hole’s event horizon, one of the most violent places in the universe, is the point of no return beyond which anything - stars, planets, gas, dust, all forms of electromag-netic radiation including light - gets sucked in

irretrievably.

About EHT:

The Event Horizon Telescope relies on a tech-nique called interferometry. This is a bit like

trying to reconstructing a pebble being dropped into a pond by placing detectors around the pond’s edge to measure the ripples sent out. Similarly, with the EHT, the signals from all

eight telescopes have to be combined and fed through a computer to turn a mountain of in-comprehensible blips into a visual picture.The EHT picks up radiation emitted by parti-cles within the disc that are heated to billions of degrees as they swirl around the black hole at close to the speed of light, before vanishing down the plughole.

The EHT team has also attempted to image Sagittarius A*, the black hole at the center of the Milky Way galaxy. That data is still being processed.



PSLV-C45

In News:

The PSLV-C45/Emisat mission lifted of from Sriharikotaon April 1,was a memorable one for the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

In news:

It was ISRO’s first attempt at placing payloads in three different orbits.1. The chief payload — the 436 kg Emisat —

was injected into a 749 km orbit. 2. After that, the fourth stage of the rocket was

manoeuvred to a 504 km orbit for releasing 28 international satellites.

3. Once that job is over, the fourth stage was restarted and guided to an altitude of 485 km.

4. For the next six months, this stage will serve as an orbital platform for space-based exper-iments. This is another first for the ISRO. Normally, the spent stage simply becomes space junk.

5. The orbital platform will also sport solar pan-els, which too is a first.

The launch vehicle itself is a new variant, des-ignated PSLV-QL.

• For the first time, ISRO will be employing four XL strap-on motors on the first stage.

Chandrayaan 2 to carry NASA’s instrument

In news:

India’s lunar mission Chandrayaan 2 will carry NASA-owned laser retro-reflector arrays that al-low scientists to make precise measurements of the distance to the Moon.Israeli lander Beresheet also carried the same instrument.

In brief:

Retro-reflectors are sophisticated mirrors that reflect laser light signals sent from the Earth. The signals can help pinpoint precisely where the lander is, which scientists can use to pre-cisely calculate the Moon’s distance from Earth.The scientists could see the daily rise and fall of any surface the device is resting on as that surface expands and contracts with the Moon’s dramatic temperature changes.

About the Mission:

• Chandrayaan-2 is a 3,890-kg spacecraft, to be launched onboard the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) Mk-3, will orbit around the Moon to study its condi-

• One of the three experiments aboard the orbital platform is the IIST’s Advanced Retarding Potential Analyser for Ionospheric Studies (ARIS).

• This is the first time that an IIST payload is flying aboard an ISRO mission. ARIS will study the structure and composition of the ionosphere.

• The other two experimental payloads aboard the orbital platform are the Auto-matic Identification System (AIS), an ISRO payload for maritime satellite applications, and the Automatic Packet Repeating Sys-tem (APRS), meant to assist amateur radio operators.

About Emisat:

• EMISAT is an electronic surveillance satel-lite which will provide location and informa-tion of hostile radars placed at the borders.

• This will be done by measuring the electro-magnetic spectrum of those radars.

• The launching of EMISAT will add mus-cle to India’s space based electronic intelli-gence (ELINT).

• EMISAT was successfully injected into in-tended sun-synchronous polar orbit of 748 km height.

About PSLV:

Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) is the third generation launch vehicle of India. It is

the first Indian launch vehicle to be equipped with liquid stages. After its first successful launch in October 1994, PSLV emerged as the reliable and versatile workhorse launch vehicle of India.The vehicle also successfully launched two spacecrafts – Chandrayaan-1 in 2008 and Mars Orbiter Spacecraft in 2013.It can take up to 1,750 kg of payload to Sun-Syn-chronous Polar Orbits of 600 km altitude. Due to its unmatched reliability, PSLV has also been used to launch various satellites into Geosyn-chronous and Geostationary orbits, like satel-lites from the IRNSS constellation. Payload to Geosynchronous Transfer orbits is 1,425 kg.First Stage: It uses the solid rocket motor that is augmented by 6 solid strap-on boosters. Its fuel is Hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene (HTPB).Second Stage: It uses an Earth storable liq-uid rocket engine for its second stage, known as the Vikas engine, developed by Liquid Propul-sion Systems Centre. Its fuels are Unsymmetri-cal dimethylhydrazine (UDMH) + N2O4Third Stage: It is a solid rocket motor that provides the upper stages high thrust after the atmospheric phase of the launch. . Its fuel is HTPBFourth Stage: It is the uppermost stage of PSLV, comprising of two Earth storable liquid engines. Its fuels are Monomethylhydrazine (MMH) + Mixed Oxides of Nitrogen (MON).

tions and collect data of its topography, min-eralogy and exosphere.

• Its total cost is expected to be Rs. 800 crore.• The lander has been named “Vikram” as a

tribute to the pioneer of India’s space pro-gramme and former ISRO chairman (1963-71) Vikram Sarabhai. It has a mass of 1471 kg, including the 27 kg rover. The rover is a

6-wheeled vehicle which uses solar power. Rover is named “Pragyan”.

• When Chandrayaan-2’s rover lands on the Moon, India will become the fifth country in the world to achieve the feat after Soviet Union in 1959, the US in 1969, China in De-cember 2013 and Israel in 2019.



Mission Shakti

In news:

• India conducted its first anti-satellite (ASAT) missile test successfully destroying a low earth orbit satellite in space by using a missile.

• The satellite downed by the ASAT missile was Microsat-R, an imaging satellite which was launched into orbit on January 24, 2019 using a Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV).

In brief:

• The test was carried out from the APJ Abdul Kalam Island in Odisha and the interceptor was a three-stage missile with two solid rocket boosters. ASAT missile was a modi-fied exo-atmospheric interceptor missile of the Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD).

• The missile travelled a distance of almost 300 km from earth and hit the target within three minutes of its launch.

• The test places India in a select group alongside the US, Russia and China.

As per India’s understanding, the test does not violate any international law or treaty obliga-tion and is much less harmful than the Chinese ASAT test in 2007 that led to a large-scale scat-tering of debris in space that threatened other satellites. Debris that is generated will decay and fall back to the earth within weeks.Anti-satellite weapon systems are missile-based systems to attack moving satellites. They have a long history and were a product of the Cold War hostilities between the United States and the Soviet Union.

Methane trace on Mars

In news:

Reanalysis of data received six years ago from NASA’s Curiosity rover confirm that it appar-ently detected traces of methane—an import-ant chemical linked to life on Mars.

In brief:

NASA’s Curiosity rover mission recently de-termined that background levels of methane in Mars’ atmosphere cycle seasonally, peaking in the northern summer. It has detected two surges to date of the gas inside the Red Plan-et’s 96-mile-wide (154 kilometers) Gale Cra-ter — once in June 2013 and then again in late 2013 through early 2014.Methane is a pos-sible biosignature. Though the gas can be produced by a variety of geological processes, the vast majority of meth-ane in Earth’s air is pumped out by microbes and other living creatures.

Curiosity rover:

• It is part of NA-SA’s Mars Ex-ploration Pro-gram

Mars base simulator unveiled in Gobi desert

In news:

• Mars base simulator was unveiled in the middle of China’s Gobi desert.

• “Chinese company C-Space has set up a Mars-based stimulator in the Gobi Desert. It acts an educational facility and hosts stu-dents. The company also plans to open the stimulator for tourists in 2020.

• China had also established a vil-lage simulating the environmen-tal conditions on Mars, in north-west China’s Qinghai Province. The village was constructed in red rock area of the Qaidam ba-sin in western Qinghai, which has been dubbed “the most Martian place on Earth.”

• The facility’s unveiling comes as China is making progress in its efforts to catch up to the Unit-

ed States and become a space power, with ambitions of sending humans to the moon someday.

• These projects are part of China’s Mars ex-ploration preparation. China has planned to send a probe to the Mars in 2020.

• Earlier in 2019, China had achieved a mile-stone after its spacecraft Chang’e-4 made first-ever soft landing on the far side of the moon


• It is also called Mars Science Laboratory and explores Gale Crater.

• Curiosity was designed to assess whether Mars ever had an environment able to sup-port small life forms called microbes.

• The record of the planet’s climate and ge-ology is essentially “written in the rocks and soil” in their formation, structure, and chemical composition.

• The rover’s onboard laboratory will study rocks, soils, and the local geologic setting in order to detect chemical building blocks of life (e.g., forms of carbon) on Mars and will assess what the martian environment was like in the past.


Evidence of water found on asteroid bennu

In news:

• NASA’s spacecraft OSIRIS-REx has dis-

covered plumes erupting from the cosmic body’s surface, including evidence of wa-ter-bearing minerals.

About OSIRIS-Rex:

• The Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Re-source Identification, Security-Regolith Explorer (OSIRIS-REx) travelled to a near-

Sharp rise in H1N1 cases

In News:

• In a matter of three weeks, the number of influenza A (H1N1) cases and deaths in India has risen sharply by about 6,200 and over 225, respectively.

• From 14,803 cases and 448 deaths till Feb-ruary 24 this year, the number of cases and deaths till March 17 has touched 20,977 and 677, respectively.

About H1N1:

• Swine flu is an infection caused by a virus. It’s named for a virus that infects pigs.

• People do not normally get swine flu, but human infections can and do happen. In 2009 a strain of swine flu called H1N1 in-fected many people around the world.

• There are antiviral medicines you can take to prevent or treat swine flu. There is a vac-cine available to protect against swine flu.

Symptoms

The signs and symptoms of swine flu are similar to those of infections caused by other flu strains and can include:• Fever (but not always), Chills, Cough, Sore

throat, Runny or stuffy nose, Watery, red eyes, Body aches, Headache, Fatigue, Diar-rhoea, Nausea and vomiting

Flu symptoms develop about one to three days after you’re exposed to the virus.

Earth asteroid called Bennu and is set to bring a small sample back to Earth for study. The mission was launched in Sept. 8, 2016.

• The orbit of Bennu is almost near to earth’s orbit.

• It has reached the asteroid in December 2018 and will return with a sample to Earth in 2023.

• It revealed the presence of molecules that

contain oxygen and hydrogen atoms bond-ed together, known as “hydroxyls.”

• While Bennu itself is too small to have ever hosted liquid water, the finding does indi-cate that liquid water was present at some time on Bennu’s parent body, a much larger asteroid.



Fungus immune to drugs secretly sweeping the globe

In news:

An elderly patient who was hospitalized at a hospital in Brooklyn for abdominal surgery was infected with a fungus called Candida Auris, which has recently been found to be particu-larly lethal. He died 90 days later, while traces of the fungus were found in every corner of his room.

In brief:

• C. auris is so tenacious, in part, because it is impervious to major antifungal medica-tions, making it a new example of one of the world’s most intractable health threats.

• It is so invasive that the hospital needed special cleaning equipment and had to rip out some of the ceiling and floor tiles to eradicate it.

• The public health experts have warned that the overuse of antibiotics was reducing the effectiveness of drugs that have lengthened life spans by curing bacterial infections once commonly fatal. But lately, there has been an explosion of resistant fungi as well.

Enzyme to curb bacterial cell growth

In news:

• Recently, the scientists at Centre for Cel-lular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) have discovered a new enzyme that could break the cell wall of bacteria.

In Brief :

• This application will help in overcoming the prevailing problem of antibiotic drug re-sistance among bacteria.

• When the bacterial cell wall is broken it will ease the delivery of the drug resulting in complete destruction of the target cell.

About Antibiotic Resistance:

• Antibiotics are medicines used to prevent and treat bacterial infections.

• Antibiotic resistance occurs when bacteria change in response to use of these medi-cines.

• Antibiotic resistance occurs naturally, but misuse of antibiotics in humans and animals is accelerating the process. Poor infection prevention and control further accelerate it.

Plea to ensure prescrip-tion of generic drugs

In news:

The Delhi High Court on Monday declined to entertain a petition seeking directions to the Centre and the Medical Council of India (MCI) to ensure that doctors prescribe generic medi-cines.

In brief:

MCI had on January 21, 2013, issued a circular addressed to the deans of all medical colleges, director of all hospitals, president of all State medical councils, whereby the doctors practis-ing medicines were called upon to prescribe drugs with generic name as far as possible.The plea said that• The authorities have failed to ensure that

doctors write only generic medicines in their prescription despite clear statutory di-rections.

• ThePradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushdhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) was introduced in 2008 to lower healthcare costs by providing quali-ty generic medicines at affordable prices.

• Generic medicine works and provides the

same clinical benefit as brand-name ver-sions, and added that generic medicine cost between 5% to 60% less than their branded counterparts.

What are Generic medicines?

When a company develops a new drug often af-ter years of research and it applies for a patent, which prohibits anyone else from making the drug for a fixed period. To recover the cost of research and development, companies usually price their brand- name drugs on the higher side. Once the patent expires, other manufacturers duplicate and market their own versions of the drug. Since the manufacture of these generic drugs do not involve a repeat of the extensive clinical trials to prove their safety and efficacy, it costs less to develop them.Thus, Generic medicines are unbranded med-icines which are equally safe and having the same efficacy as that of branded medicines in terms of their therapeutic value.

Pradhan Mantri BhartiyaJanaushdhi Pariyojana (PMBJP):

• “Jan Aushadhi” is the novel project launched by Government of India in the year 2008.

• Objective: Making quality medicines available at affordable prices for all, partic-

ularly the poor and disadvantaged, through exclusive outlets “Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya-Janaushadhi Kendras”, so as to reduce out of pocket expenses in healthcare.

• It is a direct market intervention scheme of the Department of Pharmaceuti-cals.

• In addition to medicines and surgical items supplied by BPPI, Jan Aushadhi stores also sell allied medical products commonly sold in chemist shops so as to improve the viabil-ity of running

• State Governments or any organization / reputed NGOs / Trusts / Private hospitals / Charitable institutions / Doctors / Unem-ployed pharmacist/ individual entrepre-neurs are eligible to apply for new Jan Au-shadhi stores.

• The applicants shall have to employ one B Pharma / D Pharma degree holder as Phar-macist in their proposed store.

• Bureau of Pharma PSUs of India (BPPI) is the implementing agency which will provide one-time assistance in furnish-ing and establishment costs of the outlet.

• It is a self-sustaining business model not dependent on continuous government sub-sidies or assistance.

• Antibiotics are also used widely to prevent disease in farm animals, and antifungals are also applied to prevent agricultural plants from rotting. Some scientists cite evidence that rampant use of fungicides on crops is contributing to the surge in drug-resistant fungi infecting humans.

• Resistant germs are often called “super-bugs,” but this is simplistic because they don’t typically kill everyone. Instead, they are most lethal to people with immature or compromised immune systems, including newborns and the elderly, smokers, diabet-ics and people with autoimmune disorders who take steroids that suppress the body’s defenses.



Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation

In News:

Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) sent letter to pharmamanufacturers to display information on 7 common antibiotics.

In Brief:

• Alerted by the Union Health Ministry’s pharmaceutical watchdog, the National Co-ordination Centre of the Pharmacovig-ilance Programme of India (PvPI), on ad-verse reactions that were being reported from some commonly-used antibiotics, the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisa-tion (CDSCO) has now asked manufactur-ers to ensure that this information be made available to the general public.

• CDSCO has written to drug manufactur-ers, to mention in leaflets inserted into drug packets or on promotional literature, infor-

World’s first 3D-printed heart with human tissue

In news:

Scientists at Tel Aviv University in Israel un-veiled a 3D print of a heart with human tissue and vessels.

In brief:

• It marked the first time anyone anywhere has successfully engineered and printed an entire heart replete with cells, blood vessels, ventricles and chambers.

• Earlier scientists have managed to 3D-print the structure of a heart in the past, but not with cells or with blood vessels.

• The heart produced by researchers is about

mation about the adverse reactions of these medicines. All of the seven formulations — antibiotics Cefotaxime, Ofloxacin and

Cefixime; Tranexamic Acid, used to control bleeding; antipsychotic drug Quetiapine; anti-rheumatoid drug Sulfasalazine and the anti-epileptic medicine Sodium Valproate — have been instructed to warn patients of the “new” side effects.

• All zonal and sub-zonal officers have been instructed to direct the manufacturers of these formulations to mention the additional reaction in the package insert or promotional literature of the drug notes the letter sent the State Drug Controllers.• The Union Health Ministry was alerted about the adverse reactions

last year in August.• Antibiotic Cefixime is used to treat a wide

variety of bacterial infections and is known to haveadverse reactions, including pain, di-arrhoea, nausea and headaches.

About Pharma Covigilance Prgramme:

The Central Drugs Standard Control Organi-sation (CDSCO), New Delhi, under the aegis of Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Gov-ernment of India has initiated a nation-wide pharmacovigilance programme in July, 2010, with the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi as the National Coordi-nating Centre (NCC) for monitoring Adverse Drug Reactions (ADR) in the country to safe-guard Public Health.In year 2010, 22 ADR monitoring centres (AMCs) including AIIMS, New Delhi had been set up under this Programme. To ensure

implementation of this programme in a more effective way, the National Coordinating Cen-tre was then shifted from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi to the Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC), Ghaziabad, (U.P.) in April, 2011.

Mission:

• The mission of PvPI is to safeguard the health of the Indian population by ensur-ing that the benefit of use of medicine out-weighs the risks associated with its use.

• Since there exist considerable social and economic consequences of adverse drug reactions and the positive benefit/cost ratio of implementing appropriate risk manage-ment - there is a need to engage healthcare professionals and the public at large, in a well structured programme to build syner-gies for monitoring adverse drug reactions in the country.

• The purpose of the PvPI is to collate data, analyze it and use the inferences to recom-mend informed regulatory interventions, besides communicating risks to healthcare professionals and the public.

• The broadened patient safety scope of pharmacovigilanceincludes the detection of medicines of substandard quality as well as prescribing, dispensing and administration errors.

• Counterfeiting, antimicrobial resistance, and the need for real time surveillance in mass vaccinations are other pharmacovig-ilance challenges which need to be ad-dressed.

• The vision of PvPI is to improve patient safety and welfare in Indian population by monitoring drug safety and thereby reduc-ing the risk associated with use of medi-cines.

the size of a rabbit’s heart.• The cells are currently able to contract, but

do not yet have the ability to pump.Then they plan to transplant them into animal models, hopefully in about a year.

Importance of 3D heart printing:

• Cardiovascular disease is the world’s lead-ing cause of death, according to the World Health Organization, and transplants are currently the only option available for pa-tients in the worst cases.

• But the number of donors is limited and many die while waiting.

When they do benefit, they can fall victim to their bodies rejecting the transplant — a prob-lem the researchers are seeking to overcome.• Research involved taking a biopsy of fatty

tissue from patients that was used in the development of the “ink” for the 3D print.

• Current 3D printers are also limited by the size of their resolution and another chal-

lenge will be figuring out how to print all small blood vessels.

• Researchers at the University of Toronto are working on using such technology to print skin over wounds, and the University of Minnesota has developed a transparent mouse skull that helps its researchers to better understand brain activity.



Scientists revive brain function in dead pigs

In News:

Scientists restored the cell function in the brains of pigs hours after they died.

In Brief:

In human and large mammal brains, cells cru-cial for neural function begin to degrade as soon as blood supply is cut -- a process long con-sidered to be irreversible. But the findings of the trial, show that the brains of pigs can have their blood flow and cell function restored even hours after death.

The Experiment:

• The team from the NIH BRAIN initiative, a federally funded US research programme, used the brains of 32 pigs that had been slaughtered for food and discarded, without blood or glucose flow, for four hours each.

• Then, using a tissue support system that pumps a liquid designed to mimic blood through organs, they rehydrated the brains for a further six hours.

• Some brains received the patented life-sup-port solution and others were given a con-trol substance.

South Korea first to roll out 5G services, beating U.S. and China

In News:

South Korea will become the first country to commercially launch fifth-generation (5G) ser-vices as it rolls out the latest wireless technolo-gy with Samsung Electronics’ new 5G-enabled smartphone Galaxy S10.

About 5G

• 5G is the fifth generation mobile network.• It’s a unified platform which is much more

capable than previous mobile services with more capacity, lower latency, faster data de-livery rate and better utilisation of spectrum.

• The standards for the usage of 5G are de-fined and driven by 3rd Generation Partner-ship Project (3GPP).

Timeline: Evolution from 1G to 5G

• 1G: Launched in the 1980s. Analog radio signals and supported only voice calls.

• 2G: Launched in the 1990s. Uses digital

radio signals and supported both voice and data transmission with a BandWidth(BW) of 64 Kbps.

• 3G: Launched in the 2000s. With a speed of 1 Mbps to 2 Mbps it has the ability to trans-mit telephone signal including digitised voice, video calls and conferencing.

• 4G: With a peak speed of 100 Mbps-1 Gbps it also enables 3D virtual reality.

• 5G: with a speed of more than 1Gbps,it is capable of connecting entire world without limits.

Salient features

• Capability: 5G will provide much faster mobile broadband service as compared to the previous versions and will provide sup-port to previous services like mission critical communication and the massive Internet Of things(IoT).

• Speed: With peak delivering rate of up to 20 Gbps and an average of 100Mbps, it will be much faster as compared to its predeces-sors.

• Capacity: There will be up to 100 x in-crease in traffic capacity and network effi-ciency.

• Spectrum usage: Will provide better usage for every bit of spectrum, from low

bands below 1 GHz to high bands.• Latency: It’s expected to have lower la-

tency with better instantaneous, real-time access of the data.

• The 5G, like 4G LTE, also uses Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing(OFDM) but the new 5G NR(New Radio)air inter-face will enhance OFDM and provide bet-ter flexibility in data delivery.

Applications Of 5G technology

• High-Speed mobile network• Entertainment and multimedia• Internet of Things• Smart cities • Smart farming• Mission critical aplications

High-Level 5G India 2020 forum:

Government has constituted High-Level 5G India 2020 Forum with three Secretaries of key Ministries/Departments Telecom, Meity and DST, and also comprising renowned experts. The primary aims of the forum are:• Early deployment of 5G in India.• A globally competitive product devel-opment and manufacturing ecosystem targeting 50% of India market and 10% of global market over next 5 to 7 years.

Flickers of life

• The brains that received the artificial blood had basic cell function restored.

• Their blood vessel structure was revived, and the team even observed some localised processes -- including in synapses and im-mune responses -- flickering back to life.

• Those that received the control solution

turned within hours • The main conceptual finding is this: cell

death in the brain occurs across a longer time period than we previously thought.

• The findings suggest that scientists may have underappreciated the brain’s capacity for self-restoration after a patient is declared brain dead.



Helium Hydride Ion (Heh+)

Why in news?

Recently the German researchers working in the Max Planck Institute for Radio Astrono-my (MPIfR) detected the most ancient type of molecule in our Universe, ie- Helium Hydride Ion (HeH+).

More on news:

• They detected this molecule near the plan-etary nebula NGC 7027.

• They detected using the flying observatory SOFIA.

About SOFIA:

• SOFIA, the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy, is the largest airborne observatory in the world, capable of mak-ing observations that areimpossible for even the largest and highest ground-based tele-scopes.

• It was established in 2010 and is a joint proj-ect of NASA and the German Aerospace Centre.

Genome sequencing (DNA Sequencing)

Why in news?

• Council of Scientific and Industrial Re-search plans to conduct genome sequencing of nearly 1,000 rural youth from the length and breadth of India.

• Thisproject aims at educating a generation of students on the “usefulness” of genom-ics.

More on news:

• Globally, many countries have undertaken genome sequencing of a sample of their citizens to determine unique genetic traits, susceptibility (and resilience) to disease.

• At the global level the human genome was first sequenced in 2003 under The Human Genome Project (HGP).

• This is the first time that such a large sam-ple of Indians will be recruited for a detailed study.

• The project is an adjunct to a much larger government led-programme, to sequence atleast 10,000 Indian genomes.

• This project is led by the Centre for Cellu-

lar and Molelcular Biology (CCMB)

About Genome Sequencing:

• Genome Sequencing is the process of deter-mining the complete DNA sequence of an organism’s genome at a single time.

• This entails sequencing all of an organism’s chromosomal DNA as well as DNA con-tained in the mitochondria and, for plants, in the chloroplast.

Applications of Genome Sequencing:

• It helps identify changes in genes, associ-ations with diseases and phenotypes, and identify potential drug targets.

• It is used in evolutionary biology to study how different organisms are related and how they evolved.

• In the field of metagenomics, the genome sequencing helps in identification of organ-isms present in a body of water, sewage, dirt, debris filtered from the air, or swab samples from organisms.

• In medical biology, it is useful in identifying the presence or risk of genetic diseases in patients.

• Genome Sequencing/ DNA sequencing along with DNA profiling is useful in foren-sic identification and paternity testing.



Artificial womb to sup-port premature lambs

• In a world-first, scientists from Tohoku University in Japan have demonstrated the ability of an ‘artificial womb’ to support ex-tremely premature lambs.

• This development in future can save the human infants in the near future.

3 Indian teams win NASA awards

In news:

• Days earlier, 3 Indian teams from Mumbai, Punjab and Ghaziabad win awards at NASA Rover Challenge.

About The Human Exploration Rover Challenge:

• It is NASA’s annual competition for high school and college students to design, build, and race human-powered, collapsible vehi-cles over simulated lunar or Martian terrain.

Earth sized exoplanet found-TESS

In news:

NASA’s Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite, TESS, has discovered its first Earth-sized ex-oplanet.

In brief:

• The planet, HD 21749c, is about 89% Earth’s di-ameter.

• It orbits HD 21749, a star with about 70% of the Sun’s mass located 53 light-years away in the southern c o n s t e l l a t i o n Reticulum, and is the second planet TESS has identified in the system.

• The new world is likely rocky and circles very close to its star, completing one orbit in just under 7.8 days.

• The planet is likely very hot, with surface temperatures perhaps as high as 427o C.

• This is the 10th confirmed planet discov-ered by TESS.

GRAPES - 3 muon tele-scope – Ooty

In news:

For the first time in the world, researchers at the GRAPES-3 muon telescope facility in Ooty have measured the electrical potential, size and height of a thundercloud that passed overhead on December 1, 2014. At 1.3 gigavolts (GV), this cloud had 10 times higher potential than the previous record in a cloud.

In brief:

Muons and other particles are produced when cosmic rays bombard air particles surrounding the earth. When muons pass through clouds, its energy varies. Using a computer simulation and the observed muon intensity variations, the group worked out the relationship with the electric potential of the cloud.Learning about the properties of thunderclouds can be useful in navigation of aircraft and pre-venting short circuits.

About GRAPES-3(Gamma Ray Astron-omy PeVEnergieS phase-3):

The GRAPES-3 experiment located at Ooty in India started as a collaboration of the Tata Insti-tute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai, India and the Osaka City University, Osaka, Japan.It is designed to study cosmic rays with an array of air shower detectors and a large area muon detector. Also to study, Sun the closest astro-physical object, accelerator of energetic parti-cles and its effects on the Earth.The GRAPES-3 is located at 2200m above mean sea level.

TESS: NASA’s planet hunting satellite

The Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) is a MIT led NASA mission for a two-year survey that will discover exoplanets in orbit around bright stars. The mission is also funded by Google.The TESS satellite uses an array of wide-field cameras to perform a survey of 85% of the sky.Orbiting the Earth, it looks for any periodic dips

in starlight that could indicate the presence of an exoplanet as it passes in front of its host star.

TESS will also help re-s e a r c h e r s measure mass and may-be even the composition of planetary

atmospheres.Many exoplanets will be studied using TESS so that, NASA can determine the best targets for missions like the James Webb Space Tele-scope, which was planned for launch in 2021.



ECONOMYGS-III

IIP growth slows to 1.7%, retail inflation rises to 2.57%

Why in News?

Industrial activity slowed in January 2019 grow-ing by just 1.7% due in large part to a deceleration in the manufactur-ing, electricity, and capital goods sec-tors.Retail inflation snapped a four-month declining trend by rising to 2.57%.

In brief

• The Index of Industrial Pro-duction (IIP) saw growth slip below the 2% for the sec-

IEA Report

Why in News

• India’s carbon emission grew by 4.8% during 2018.

• But India’s per capita carbon emission is less than 40% of the global average.

• At the global level, renewable sources of en-ergy grew by 7% during 2018.

• China and Europe contributed to bulk of global carbon savings.

• India is far away from fulfilling its target

EU extends Brexit deadline to Oct 31

• Britain won’t be leaving the EU after Brit-ain and the EU agreed to an extension till the end of October — with the option of

leaving earlier• Leaders made clear that the onus was very

much on Britain to find a solution and deliv-er within this period.

ond time in three months in January, with the previous occurrence being the 0.32% growth seen in November 2018. Growth in the IIP was at 2.6 in December.

Declining inflation

• Retail inflation, as measured by the Con-sumer Price Index (CPI), quickened for the first time in five months in February to 2.57% from 1.97% in January, mainly due to firming food prices.

• Core inflation moved down slightly as ex-pected, reflecting easing of input costs, pric-

ing powers and growing slack in the econ-omy

Index of Industrial Production (IIP)

The Index of Industrial Production (IIP) is an index which shows the growth rates in different industry groups of the economy in a stipulated period of time. The IIP index is computed and published by the Central Statistical Organisa-tion (CSO) on a monthly basis. Currently IIP figures are calculated considering 2011-12 as base year.

under the Paris agreement (to cut energy intensity of GDP by 33-35% by 2030, over 2005 levels.

In Brief:

About International Energy Agency:

• IEA is an inter-governmental organization established in 1974 as per framework of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

• It was established in the wake of the 1973 oil crisis after the OPEC cartel had shocked the world with a steep increase in oil prices.

ECONOMY

India shifts to net steel importer in 2018-19fiscal

In News:

India shifts to net steel importer in 2018-19 fis-cal

In Brief:

• Becasue of USA and Europe’s protection-

• Members: Presently it has 29 member countries. India is lone associate member of IAE. Headquarters (Secretariat): Paris, France.

• Mandate: Its prime focus is on the “3Es” of effectual energy policy: energy security, economic development and environmental protection. It also seeks to promote alter-nate energy sources (including renewable energy), rational energy policies and multi-national energy technology co-operation.

• It publish World Energy Outlook Report.

ism and other tariff measures, Indian steel-market was captured by other Asian manu-facturers.

• It hurts the sentiments of Indian manufac-turers and compel them to go for reducing their value-added finished steel products, which makes India to import cheaper steel from other Asian competitors.


Blockchain enabled marketplace app for coffee

In news:

The commerce ministry Thursday launched a Blockchain based coffee e-marketplace to help farmers integrate with markets so that they can realise fair prices for the commodity.

In brief:

The app is intended to bring in transparency in coffee trade and maintain the traceability of In-

IMF forecasts dip in global growth in 2019

In News:

• India’s growth projected to pick up from 7.1% last year to 7.3% this year and 7.5% in 2020

In Brief:

1. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has projected that global growth will be 3.3% in 2019, down from 3.6% in 2018 and 4% in 2017.

2. This lower projection is due to lower global expansion in tzhe second half of 2018 caused by U.S.-China trade tensions, macroeconom-ic stress in Turkey and Argentina, tighter credit policies in China and financial tight-ening plus a normalisation of monetary poli-cy in advanced economies.

National highway 44• National Highway 44 (NH 44) is the lon-

gest-running major north–south National Highway in India.

• It begins from Sri-nagar and terminates in Kanyakumari; the high-way passes through the states of Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Ut-tar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharash-tra, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu.

• Days earlier the Gov-ernment of India banned the Udhampur to Baramulla sector of

dian coffee from bean to cup so as the consumer tastes real Indian coffee and the grower is paid fairly for his produce India is the only country in the world where entire coffee is grown under shade, handpicked and sun dried.

About Blockchain Technology:

A blockchain is a database (is a growing list of records) that is shared across a network of com-puters. Once a record has been added to the chain it is very difficult to change. To ensure all the copies of the database are the same, the net-work makes constant checks.• The idea was described in 1991 by Stuart

Haber and W. Scott Stornetta.

• When information is to be stored, the record lists the details, including a digital signature from each party.

• The accepted records are added to a block. Each block contains a unique code called a hash. It also contains the hash of the previ-ous block in the chain.

• The block is added to the blockchain. The hash codes connect the blocks together in a specific order.

• Any change to the original input will gen-erate a new hash. The changed hash breaks the chain.

Unlike traditional ledgers, a blockchain data-base is decentralized and has no “master.”

NH44 in Jammu and Kashmir for civilian usage on every Sundays and Wednesdays till May 31, 2019.

• This was done to prevent any terror attacks on the eve of elections.

ECONOMY

SFIO arrests former IL&FS top Official

In News

• The former vice-chairman and managing director IL&FS was arrested here by the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO)

In Brief:

Arrested grounds: Abuse of powers in IL&FS through his fraudulent conduct and in granting loans to entities which were not creditworthy or have been declared non-per-forming assets, and caused wrongful loss to company and its creditors.

Serious Fraud Investigation Office:

• The Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) is a fraud-investigating agency set up to investigate corporate frauds of very serious and complex nature. The mandate

of SFIO is limited to investigating frauds relating to a company under the Companies Act and its investigation is considered sep-arate from other normal investigation into the affairs of the company.

• SFIO falls under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Corporate Affairs

• The SFIO is involved in major fraud probes. • It coordinates with the Income Tax Depart-

ment and the Central Bureau of Investiga-tion for fraud investigation.

Why was it setup?

• Based on the recommendation of Naresh Chandra Committee on corporate gov-ernance (appointed by the Government of India in 2002) and in the backdrop of stock market scams as also the failure of non-banking companies resulting in huge financial loss to the public.

Process

• SFIO starts an investigation only after re-ception of an order from the Union govern-

ment in this respect which means, it cannot take up cases suomoto.

• If any case has been assigned by the Central Government to the SFIO for investigation under Companies Act, 2013 no other investi-gating agency of the Central Government or any State Government can embark upon the investigation in such cases.

Can SFIO Arrest?

• The Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) has powers to arrest people for vio-lations of company law.

Prior written approval of the central govern-ment is necessary for the arrest of a person in connection with a government or a foreign com-pany under investigation.


National investment and infrastructure fund

Why in news?

Recently NIIF joined hands with Roadis (an European private investor) to set up a platform to invest $2 billion in road projects in India.

About NIIF:

• National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF) is India’s first sovereign wealth fund that was set up by the Government of India in February 2015.

• It was created to maximize economic im-pact mainly through infrastructure invest-ment in commercially viable projects, both Greenfield and Brownfield.

• The Governing Council of NIIF is chaired by Union Finance Minister.

• NIIF has been registered with Securities and Exchange Board of India as a Alternate Investment Fund.

• It has targeted corpus of Rs 40,000 crore to be raised over the years — 49% of it will be funded by government and re-maining 51% will be raised from domestic and global investors, including international pension funds, sovereign wealth funds, and multilateral/bilateral investors.

• As of April 2019, the NIIF manages funds of over US$ 3.4 billion

Highest Ever GST collections

Why In News?

Goods and Services Tax collections in March 2019 hit 1.06 lakh crore, the highest in the his-tory of the tax in India, and the fourth time monthly collections have crossed 1 lakh crore this year, according to an official data release on Monday. Centre says revenue growth picking up despite rate rationalisa-tion measures.Average collections in the year stand at 98,114 crore, up 9.2% from the average in 2017-18. GST collections had previously crossed the 1 lakh croremark in April, October, and January this fiscal.1. The steep increase in GST collections is

quite welcome for the economy.2. Major reasons for the growth could be rec-

onciliations by businesses of outward and inward supplies, intelligent data analytics-re-lated tax leakage detections and consequent GST payment by businesses.

3. A higher GST collection will reduce pres-sure on the Centre emanating from compen-sation paid to the States for any revenue loss (14 per cent annual growth).

4. Any surplus in the compensation cess ac-count would be a bonus both for the Central and State governments.

IIT-Madras tops NIRF higher education rankings

In News:

The Indian Institute of Technology, Madras (IIT-Madras) has topped the Centre’s ranking of higher education institutions, followed by the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, and IIT-Delhi.

In Brief:

Seven IITs appear in the top 10 list of the Na-tional Institution Ranking Framework (NIRF) for 2019.The rankings, published annually since 2016, are based on multiple parameters, • Including teaching, learning and resources; • Research and professional practice; • Graduation outcomes; • Outreach and inclusivity; and the • Perception of the public, academics and

employers.

Financial sector assess-ment programme

Why in news?

• The Report of the Financial Sector Assess-ment Programme for India by the Interna-tional Monetary Fund (IMF) recommended important actions to be taken by the Indian government.

Key recommendations:

• On the backdrop of increased level of non-performing loans, the IMF has fa-voured augmenting the level of capitaliza-tion of some banks, particularly govern-ment-owned banks.

• In addition it called for resolution and the recognition of Non-performing loans as part of the process of cleaning up the banking system of non-performing loans.

About Financial Sector Assessment Programme:

• The Financial Sector Assessment Program (FSAP) is a joint program of the Internation-al Monetary Fund and the World Bank.

• Launched in 1999 in the wake of the Asian financial crisis, the program brings together Bank and Fund expertise to help countries reduce the likelihood and severity of finan-cial sector crises.

NIRF Survey

NIRF survey is indigenous ranking framework for higher education institutions in country.It outlines methodology and follows Indian methodology to rank institutions across country based on five parameters broadly covering • Teaching,

• Learning and Resources, • Research and Professional practices, • Graduation Outcomes, • Outreach and inclusivity and Perception.It ranks nine categories of institutions including universities, engineering, management, phar-macy, architecture, Law, medical institutions and general degree colleges.

ECONOMY


Dena and Vijaya bank merges with Bank of Baroda

In News:

Bank of Baroda (BoB) became the second larg-est state-owned lender after merging Dena Bank and Vijaya Bank into itself as part of the first three-way amalgamation.

In Brief:

Historical Background of Bank Consol-idation in India:

After the wave of economic liberalization, a committee under the chairmanship of MaidavoluNarasimham (13thGovernor of Re-serve Bank of India (RBI) was constituted in

1991 and again in 1998 to recommend reforms required in banking sector.

Narsimhan Committee Recommenda-tion

• 1991 - Structural Reorganizations of the Banking sector :

• 1998 - Strengthening Banks in India by merging of strong banks

Procedure of Merging

• Bank mergers are regulated under (Banking Regulation) Act, 1949.

• Any two public sector banking entities can initiate merger talks, but the scheme of the merger must be finalized by the government in consultation with the RBI and it must be placed in the Parliament.

• Parliament reserves the right to modify or reject the mergers.

• Alternative Mechanism Panel for PSBs

ECONOMY

Sweden tops Global energy transition index

Why in news?

India ranks 76th on WEF’s global Energy Tran-sition index

In Brief :

• World Economic Forum said India is amongst the countries with high pollution levels and has a relatively high CO2 intensi-ty in its energy system.

• China is ranked even lower than India at 82nd position.

• Despites its low ranking, India is the second best in the BRICS block of emerging econ-omies, with Brazil being the best at 46th place globally.

• The World Economic Forum said its index considers both the current state of the coun-tries’ energy system and their structural readiness to adapt to future energy needs.

merger– Recently, the government has put in place an Alternative Mechanism Panel headed by the Finance Minister to oversee merger proposal of PSBs. The other mem-ber of the panel are Railway Minister and Defence Minister.

• It is made to fast-track consolidation process to create strong lenders.

• The first proposal was the merger of Bank of Baroda, Vijaya Bank and Dena Bank.

History of Bank of Baroda:

• In 1908, Maharaja SayajiraoGaekwad III, set up the Bank of Baroda (BoB),

• BoB established its first branch in 1911 at Ahmedabad

• In 1953 it crossed the Indian Ocean to serve few African Nations

• In 1958 BoB acquired Hind Bank ,which became BoB’s first domestic acquisition.

Stressed assets circular to be revised soon

As Supreme Court quashing the February 12 circular of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on stressed asset resolution, RBI governorShak-tikanta Das said that the central bank would come up with revised norms.

Measures taken by Government:

1. PROMULGATION OF BANKING REGULATION (AMENDMENT) ORDINANCE: This is a healthy step to-wards the resolution of this grave problem as it helps in the following ways:

• It empowers the RBI to direct Banks to ini-tiate insolvency resolution, wherever such need arises.

• It also gives advice to banking agencies on ways of combating with its stressed asset problems.

• It aims to check this menace in a time bound manner and helps in timely recovery of the stressed assets.

2. INCORPOTATION IF SARFAESI ACT: The Securitization and Reconstruc-tion of Financial assets and Enforcement of Security Interest Act 2002 empowers the banking systems to auction residential or commercial properties (except agricultural land) to recover their loans.

• Strategic Debt Restructuring(SDR): Credi-tors could take over the assets of the firms and sell them to new owners

• 5/25 refinancing of infrastructure: Scheme focused on rescheduling amortisations to give firms more time to repay their loans

• Sustainable Structuring of Stressed Assets (S4A): An independent agency hired by

the banks will decide on how much of the stressed debt of a company is sustainable. The rest (unsustainable) will be converted into equity and preference share.

• The Public-Sector Asset Rehabilitation Agency (PARA) colloquially called “Bad Bank” is a proposed agency to assume the Non-Performing Assets (NPA) of public sector banks in India

• Govt plans ‘Indradhanush 2.0’ for recapital-isation of public sector banks

3. IMPLEMENTATION OF DEVT RE-COVERY ACTS: These laws establish debt recovery tribunals with the power to recover debts of Banks and Financial Insti-tutions.

4. CONCEPT OF BAD BANKS: In this the banking institution sell their bad loans to an intermediary and thus they write off their bad loan and the intermediary has to recover the loan from the defaulter.

5. MEDIATION FOR LOAN RECOV-ERY: This concept has been introduced so that , genuine defaulters , who are unable to pay off their loans , but are not able to put forward their situations with the banking authorities , hire a mediator , who discusses this with the banking officers and come to a solution , be it decreasing the rate of interest or repayment holiday.


Govt. Earns Rs. 85,000 Crore From Disinvestment, Over shoots Target

Why In News:

The government has overshot its disinvestment target for the second consecutive year as against a target of Rs. 80,000 crore for disinvestment for the current year, the divestment receipts have touched Rs. 85,000 crore.

In Breif:

Disinvestment policy in India:

Divestment in India is a by-product of the eco-nomic reforms initiated in 1991. Although the objective of redefining the role of the govern-ment versus the market started in 1991 and there was considerable discussion on the role of PSUs, the process of divestment was formalized only after the Divestment Commission was set up in 1996 to examine and suggest withdrawal from non-strategic sectors• The department of divestment was formed

in December 1999, which later was made the ministry of disinvestment in September 2001. In May 2004, it was shifted to the min-istry of finance as one of the departments under it.

• Now, the department has been renamed as Department of Investment and Public As-set Management (DIPAM)

What was objective of divestment then?

• The main objective of disinvestment is to put national resources and assets to optimal use.

• Through divestment the role of the govern-ment versus the market was sought to be re-defined and market discipline was sought to be injected in PSUs’ decision-making

• Through divestment loss-making public enterprises were also sought to be revived and additional resource needs for contain-ing the fiscal deficit and capital expenditure generated

Current setup for Disinvestment:

• Department of Disinvestment : Set-up in 1999. Responsible to deal with all matters relating to disinvestment of Cen-tral Government equity in Central Public Sector Undertakings. This department now works under the Ministry of Finance.

• National Investment Fund: In 2005, the government formed a National Invest-

ment Fund or NIF, to which the proceeds of disinvestment were channelled. The man-date of the Fund, managed by profession-al investment managers, was to utilise 75% of annual funds in social sector schemes to promote education, health and employ-ment. But with the economic slowdown of 2008-09, and later a drought, this was waived for three years — and later, in 2013, restructured to provide flexibility in using the Fund.

Purposes of NIF :

• Subscribing to the shares being issued by the CPSE including PSBs and Public Sec-tor Insurance Companies, on rights basis so as to ensure 51% ownership of the Gov-ernment in those CPSEs/PSBs/Insurance Companies, is not diluted.

• Preferential allotment of shares of the CPSE to promoters as per SEBI Regulations, so that Government shareholding does not go down below 51% in all cases where the CPSE is going to raise fresh equity to meet its Capex programme.

• Recapitalization of public sector banks and public sector insurance companies.

• Investment by Government in RRBs/IIF-CL/NABARD/Exim Bank.

• Equity infusion in various Metro projects.• Investment in Bhartiya Nabhikiya Vidyut

Nigam Limited and Uranium Corporation of India Ltd.

• Investment in Indian Railways towards cap-ital expenditure.

Why a relook at divestment policy is necessary now?

Over the years, the policy of divestment has in-creasingly become a tool to raise resources to cover the fiscal deficit with little focus on mar-ket discipline or strategic objective.

Why divestment is good?

• Reduces financial burden on the Govern-ment.

• Improves public finances.• Introduces competition and market disci-

pline.• Funds growth.• Encourages wider share of ownership.• Depoliticizes non-essential services.

Why divestment is not so good?

• Government’s dividend income will decline and hence fiscal deficit will increase.

• If government’s role is reduced, the goal of equal distribution of resources for all classes cannot be achieved.

• In future, this might also lead to private mo-nopolies

NEW approach:

3 pronged approach:

1. Winding up loss-making units,2. Profitable PSUs will be listed on stock ex-

changes 3. Strategic sales of high-value and big-size

companies

What policy changes are necessary now?

• Define the priority sectors for the govern-ment based on its strategic interests.

• Investment in PSUs have to serve social/strategic purposes and not only financial purpose.

• Government ownership is required for sec-tors with strategic relevance such as de-fence, natural resources etc. The govern-ment should, therefore, exit non-strategic sectors such as hotels, soaps, airlines, travel agencies and the manufacture and sale of alcohol.

• The outlook towards strategic divestment should move from the current policy of em-phasizing on public ownership and retaining majority shareholding to looking at the stra-tegic interest. As per the current divestment policy, government has to retain majority shareholding, i.e., at least 51% and manage-ment control of the PSUs. The policy there-by limits the scope to create divestments that would allow easy exit for the govern-ment from non-strategic sectors. Allowing ownership of less than 51% will be the first step in the right direction. Eventually, the objective of divestment should be to limit the government ownership to strategic sec-tors.

• It is important to realize that ownership is not a substitute for regulation. Therefore, instead of creating PSUs in non-priority sectors, the government should look into strengthening the regulatory framework that ensures efficient market conditions. The regulations should also ensure that the basic necessities of the consumers are met

Land Bank of loss making PSUs

• Vijay Kelkar panel in 2012 suggested for this creation of Land bank .

• The government is looking at creating a bank from the land available at loss-making state-run enterprises as part of its efforts to sell these entities and push the overall disin-vestment programme. The idea is to create a special purpose vehicle (SPV) which will hold all the land resources from loss-making public sector enterprises. The SPV then can give the land for other projects which may

come up.• Land available with state-run firms is seen

as an asset and several defunct PSUs have huge tracts of land available with them.

ECONOMY


NITI Ayog’s recommendations:

The NITI Aayog has submitted two sets of rec-ommendations to the Centre for strategic disin-vestment of State-owned companies.

Its recommendations:

1. NITI Aayog has submitted a list of rec-ommendations on each of the sick and

ECONOMY

RBI cuts benchmark interest rate again

In News:

The monetary policy committee of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) for the second consecutive time cut the benchmark lending rate by 25 ba-sis points to 6%.

Composition of MPC

• The formation of the monetary policy com-mittee was mooted by the Urjit Patel com-mittee.

• MPC will be a 6 member committee and meet four times in 1 year

• 3 members will be from RBI. These 3 mem-bers would include the governor who will also be the ex-officio chairperson of the committee.

• 3 members will be appointed by the central govt. These members should be experts in the field of finance or banking or economics or monetary policy. They will have a tenure of 4 years and will not be eligible for reap-pointment.

• The members appointed by the govt. will be appointed based on the recommenda-tions by the search-cum-selection commit-tee which will be headed by the cabinet secretary.

• Decisions will be taken by majority vote with each member having a vote

• The governor will not enjoy a veto power to overrule the other panel members, but will have a casting vote in case of a tie.

• No government official will be nominated to the MPC

RESERVE BANK OF INDIA

Reserve Bank of India is the central banking in-stitution, which regulates the monetary policy of the Indian rupee. Under the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934, RBI was established on 1st April 1935, based on the suggestions of “Royal Commission on Indian Currency & Finance” also known as Hilton Young Commission.RBI is not a Commercial Bank. The Central Office of RBI was primarily established in Calcutta and then permanently moved to Mumbai in 1937.RBI is an institution of national importance which regulates the credit and currency sys-

tem in India and it’s the pillar of surging Indian economy. It is a member of IMF.

Functions of RBI:

• Monetary Authority• Regulator and administrator of the financial

system• Managing Foreign Exchange• Issuer of currency• Developmental role

Monetary Policy in India

Monetary policy refers to the use of instru-ments under the control of the central bank to regulate the availability, cost and use of money and credit.

What are the goals?

1. Price Stability along with growth2. The agreement on Monetary Policy Frame-

work between the Government and the Re-serve Bank of India in 2015 defines the price stability objective explicitly in terms of the target for i.e.,

(a) below 6 per cent by January 2016(b) (b) 4 per cent (+/-) 2 per cent for the finan-cial year 2016-17 and all subsequent years. Lot of instruments available before RBI to control the liquidity(CRR, SLR, LAF, MSF, OMOs, MSS). Currently RBI experimented curency swap auction to increase liquidity in the market

What is it?

The RBI has different tools through which it injects liquidity into financial markets. Adjust-ing repo rates and purchasing bonds by con-

ducting open market operations (OMO) are a couple of tools which the RBI uses regularly either to increase or decrease the currency sup-ply in the market. The recent ‘swap auction’ is one such tool. This is being done to increase the supply of rupees in the market. Technically, this activity is being termed as a USD/INR Buy/Sell Swap Auction.Through this auction, the RBI will buy US dol-lars from banks totalling to $5 billion. In turn the RBI will pay rupees to the participating banks at the current spot rate. At an average spot rate of 70 per dollar, the RBI will able to infuse about 35,000 crore into the system through this auction process.Simultaneously, the banks will agree to buy-back the same amount of dollars from the RBI after three years — the tenor of this auction. The participating banks have to bid in the auc-tion by quoting a forward premium in terms of paisa that they will pay to buy back the dollars.

Why is it important?

Indian financial markets have been undergo-ing liquidity problems since the IL&FS crisis emerged last year. The market is likely to see even tighter liquidity from a rush to pay ad-vance tax as the financial year end is less than a week away.In addition to this, the demand for rupees is ex-pected to spike as a result of a huge spending towards the general elections.For the RBI, the auction will help boost its forex reserves by another $5 billion. The re-serves as on March 15, is $405.6 billion. The forex reserve is one tool which the RBI uses to intervene in the currency market at times of ab-normal volatility.

loss-making government-owned companies. Of 74 such companies, it has recommend-ed closure of 25 companies in which revival plans were attempted but had failed. After the closure their assets, especially land hold-ings, could be disposed off and employees be offered voluntary retirement.

2. In the remaining cases, either mergers with other public sector units or strategic disin-

vestment is recommended. In some compa-nies, the Aayog preferred to let revival plans run their course, before taking a call on their future.

3. In another set of suggestions, it has recom-mended strategic disinvestment on priority in 15 PSUs. This list has been submitted to the Department of Investment and Public Asset management in the Finance Ministry.

issue no. #8 | may 2019 price: rs. 60 | 60 pages …...bohag bihu • bohag bihu is the assamese new...

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