1 volume: 6 · 2020. 3. 5. · 6.3 Swadesh Darshan scheme 50 7. Social Justice: Empowerment of Women and SC,ST /Child Rights 7.1 Disha Bill 51 7.2 Dalit families enter 200-year-old

www.iasupsc.com 1 volume: 6

www.iasupsc.com page 1

http://www.iasupsc.com/




I would like to thank my outstanding and brilliant team

members who have given their valuable support,

cooperation, suggestions and expert advice from time to

time in successfully completing this magazine and

encourage me throughout this work.

DATE: 06 /JANUARY /2019 A. SIDHARTH

M.A., PH.D IN GEOGRAPHY





dECEMBER 2019 www.iasupsc.com

1. National and International events

1.1 World “AIDS” Day 7

1.2 Saudi Arabia became the first Arab nation to head G20 8

1.3 Siberia Gas pipeline project 9

1.4 World Soil Day 10

1.5 Dr. B.R. Ambedkar 11

1.6 Uighur issue 12

1.7 Carbon Market 13

1.8 International Anti – Corruption Day 14

1.9 Paika Rebellion 15

1.10 Human Development Index 16

1.11 Human Rights Day 18

1.12 WADA bans Russia from all major sporting events 19

1.13 Gender Inequality Index 20

1.14 Abiy Ahmed Ali received the Nobel Peace Prize 21

1.15 Vijay Diwas 22

1.16 Britain Elections 23

1.17 Macau to Celebrate 20th Anniversary 24

1.18 UN medal for Indian peacekeepers in South Sudan 25

1.19 National Population Register (NPR) 27

1.20 First Global Refugee Forum (GRF) 29

2. National and International Institutions/Agency

2.1 Sustainable Development Cell for Environmental Mitigation Measures 30

3. Indian Defence

3.1 Indian Navy Day 31

3.2 Special Protection Group (Amendment) Bill, 2019 32

3.3 Armed Forces Flag Day 34

3.4 Rare Earth Elements 35





3.5 Chief of Defence Staff 36

4. Indian Polity, Governance, Constitution, Security and Justice

4.1 Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu (Merger of Union Territories) Bill, 2019 37

4.2 Lok Sabha passes the Arms (Amendment) Bill, 2019 38

4.3 126th Constitution Amendment Bill 39

4.4 Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2019 40

4.5 Lok Sabha passed International Financial Services Centers Authority Bill, 2019 41

4.6 Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act 42

4.7 ‘Good Governance Index’ 43

4.8 AFSPA Extended in Nagaland 45

4.9 ‘Nagpur Resolution: A holistic approach for empowering citizens’ 46

5. Political System

5.1 Demand for Reforms in Rajya Sabha 47

6. Social Welfare Schemes: Tourism and Agriculture

6.1 Odisha to merge Kalia scheme with PM Kisan scheme 48

6.2 Kaleswaram project 49

6.3 Swadesh Darshan scheme 50

7. Social Justice: Empowerment of Women and SC,ST /Child Rights

7.1 Disha Bill 51

7.2 Dalit families enter 200-year-old temple 53

8. Social Life: Art, Culture, Languages, Heritages And Religion

8.1 Shore Temple 54

8.2 UNESCO’s List of Intangible Cultural Heritage 55

8.3 DSC Prize for South Asian Literature 2019 56

9. Social Development: Health Sector/Education Reforms

9.1 Government launched Intensified Mission Indradhanush (IMI) 2.0 57

9.2 E-Cigarettes Ordinance 58

9.3 World Malaria Report 2019 59





9.4 Centre stops online sale of medicines 61

9.5 Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan 62

9.6 Measles 63

9.7 Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) 64

9.8 Biosimilar medicine 66

10. Indian Economy

10.1 Bharat Bond ETF 67

10.2 National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF) 68

10.3 RBI released Guidelines for on tap Licensing of Small Finance Banks 69

10.4 Taxation Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2019 70

10.5 India Skills Report 71

10.6 7th Economic Census: First time digital 72

10.7 Tripura gets its first SEZ 73

10.8 National Electronic Funds Transfer (NEFT) 75

11. General Science/Technology

11.1 Human Space Mission 76

11.2 Chandrayaan 2 77

11.3 Delhi to get 11,000 hotspots across city 78

11.4 RISAT 78

11.5 New definition of kilogram 80

12. Urbanization

12.1 Jaga Mission 81

12.2 AMRUT mission 82

12.3 Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban 83

12.4 Western Dedicated Freight Corridor 85

13. Biodiversity and Climate Change

13.1 Blue Flag Certification for beaches 87

13.2 Gangetic Dolphins 88

13.3 Torrefaction to reduce stubble burning 89

13.4 Asian Elephant Specialist Group (ASESG) 90

13.5 Assessment of Plastics Along the West Coast of India 91

13.6 “India State Of Forest Report (ISFR)” 92





14. Sustainable Development

14.1 Mullaperiyar Dam 94

14.2 National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management 95

14.3 Sustainable Development Goal Index 96

15. Renewable Energies

15.1 National Energy Conservation Day 97

15.2 Electro-kinetic streaming: To produce energy from flowing or stagnant water 98

16. Social Sector/Government Initiatives and General Issues on Environmental Ecology

16.1 India’s first HAM project in sewerage sector 99

16.2 Global Carbon Project 100

16.3 Atal Bhujal Yojana 101

16.4 EChO Network 102

16.5 Jal Jeevan Mission 103

16.6 National Ganga Council 104

17. Indian and World Geography-Physical, Social and Economic

17.1 Winter solstice 2019 106

17.2 Typhoon Phanfone 107

17.3 Solar Eclipse 108

18. 50 Sample UPSC Prelims Questions

110

19. Answer key

123





CONTEXT

World AIDS Day is observed on 1 December every year. The day aims to raise public awareness about AIDS. The day aims to motivate the people who are infected by the fatal disease.

THEME: The theme of the 2019 World AIDS Day is Communities Makes The difference. The theme provides an opportunity to recognize the essential role that communities have played and continue to play in the AIDS response at the local, national and international levels.

AIDS: Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is a pandemic disease that is caused due to the infection of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). HIV causes damage to the immune system.

HISTORY:

World AIDS Day was first observed on 1st December 1988.

The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS ) took the lead on campaigning for World AIDS Day from 1994-2004.

A study reported that 37.9 million people globally were living with HIV and 23.3 million people are accessing antiretroviral therapy. The report also said that 1.7 million people became newly infected with HIV.

7,70,000 people died from AIDS-related illnesses.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?

For prelims and mains: awareness about AIDS

Sources: the Hindu.

*****************************





CONTEXT

Recently, Saudi Arabia became the first Arab nation to take over the G20 Presidency on December 1, 2019.

HIGHLIGHTS:

It has taken over from Japan and it will host the G20 Summit in its capital, Riyadh on November 21 and 22, 2020.

THE THEME OF SUMMIT:

“Realising Opportunities of the 21st Century for All”

THE THREE KEY AIMS OF THE G20 PRESIDENCY, 2020 ARE:

Empowering People by creating the conditions in which all people mainly women and youth can live, work and thrive.

Safeguarding the Planet by fostering collective efforts to protect our global common-pool resources.

Shaping New Frontiers by adopting long-term and bold strategies to share the benefits of innovation and technological advancement.

CHALLENGES:

As the presiding nation, Saudi Arabia has to work towards mitigating global risks like climate change, demographic issues, such as low birth rates, rising life expectancy and aging societies which requires coordinated efforts at global level.

However, rising populism and nationalism may prevent the progress at the multilateral level. It has promoted a liberalisation drive, including granting greater rights to women. However,

incidents like the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi drew intense global criticism over human rights issues in Saudi Arabia.

Therefore, G20 member states should exert pressure on the Saudi Arabia for its authoritative policies and hold it accountable for its human rights obligations.





ABOUT G20:

The G20 is an informal group of 19 countries and the European Union, with representatives of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.

The G20 membership comprises a mix of the world’s largest advanced and emerging economies, representing about two-thirds of the world’s population, 85% of global gross domestic product, 80% of global investment and over 75% of global trade.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?

For prelims and mains: G 20 group

Sources: the Hindu.

*****************************

CONTEXT

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping launched the Siberia pipeline project. The pipeline will transport natural gas from Siberia to northeast China.

AIM:

The move aims to boost the economic and political ties between Russia and China.

SIBERIA PIPELINE:

The pipeline project shows Russia’s attempts in helping China from the financial sanctions imposed by the US over China’s 2014 annexation of Ukraine’s Crimea.

It is a 3,000-km-long Power of Siberia pipeline. It will transport gas from the Chayandinskoye and Kovytka fields in eastern Siberia The project will generate $400 billion for Russian state coffers. The project began in October 2012 and it was commissioned on 2 December 2019.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?





For prelims and mains: pipeline project

Sources: the Hindu.

*****************************

CONTEXT

World Soil Day is celebrated every year on 5th of December by Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of United Nations.

AIM:

To communicate messages on importance of soil quality for food security, healthy ecosystems and human well-being

THEME 2019:

‘Stop Soil Erosion, Save Our Future’

SOIL POLLUTION-CONCERNS:

Soil pollution is a hidden danger that lurks beneath our feet. 1/3 of our global soils are already degraded. Yet we risk losing more due to this hidden

danger. Soil pollution can be invisible and seems far away but everyone, everywhere is affected.

With a growing population expected to reach 9 billion by 2050, soil pollution is a worldwide problem which degrades our soils, poisons the food we eat, the water we drink and the air we breathe.

Most of the pollutants originate from human activities, such as unsustainable farming practices, industrial activities and mining, untreated urban waste and other non-environmental friendly practices.

Technology improvements may also lead to new contaminants being released into the environment.

NEED FOR CONSERVATION AND PROTECTION OF SOIL:





Soil holds three times as much carbon as the atmosphere and can help us meet the challenges of a changing climate.

815 million people are food insecure and 2 billion people are nutritionally insecure, but we can mitigate this through soil.

95% of our food comes from soil. 33% of our global soils are already degraded.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?

For prelims and mains: CONSERVATION AND PROTECTION OF SOIL

Sources: the Hindu.

*****************************

CONTEXT

Dr. B.R. Ambedkar was born on 14 April 1891 and died on 6 December 1956 .He is known as the Father of the Indian Constitution and was independent India’s first law minister.Dr. Ambedkar was a social reformer, jurist, economist, author, polyglot orator, a scholar and thinker of comparative religions.

ABOUT DR. AMBEDKAR:

Dr. B.R. Ambedkar was born on 14 April 1891 in Mhow, Central Province (now Madhya Pradesh).

In the year 1912, Bhimrao graduated in Political Science and Economics from Bombay University. Although he got a job in Baroda, he moved to the United States in 1913 for further studies.

In 1916, he received a doctorate degree from Columbia University and became the first Indian to pursue a doctorate in economics abroad.

When he returned from the United States, the Maharaja of Baroda appointed Dr. Ambedkar as his political secretary. Bhimrao moved to Bombay in 1917 and established a fortnightly newspaper Mooknayak” in 1920.

Baba Saheb was appointed by the Bombay Presidency Committee to work in the Simon Commission in 1925. He started fortnightly and weekly papers named ‘Excluded India’, ‘Mook





Nayak’, ‘Janta’ to raise voice against the atrocities on Dalits. He founded Bahishkrit Hitkarni Sabha (1923).

He led the Mahad Satyagraha in March 1927 to challenge the regressive customs of the Hindus.

He was appointed as the law minister of India after independence. On 29 August 1947, he was appointed as the Chairman of the Constitution Drafting Committee for the constitution of independent India

He participated in all three round-table conferences.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?

For prelims and mains: ABOUT DR. AMBEDKAR

Sources: the Hindu.

*****************************

CONTEXT

On December 3rd, the US House of Representatives passed by a 407-1 vote a Bill –The Uighur Human Rights Policy Act 2019 – that seeks to impose sanctions on senior Chinese officials for their involvement in the detention of Muslims.

HIGHLIGHTS:

The bill also calls for the United States Secretary of Commerce to consider prohibiting the sale of US-made goods or services to any state agent in Xinjiang.

The Uyghurs are a Turkic ethnic group who live in East and Central Asia.They live primarily in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of China, where they are one of 55 officially recognized ethnic minorities. Uyghurs primarily practice Islam.

China has detained at least a million Uighurs and other Muslims, including ethnic Kazakhs and Uzbeks, in “re-education camps” in the country’s northwesternXinjiang province.

The crackdown against the Muslims in the region — who are ethnically and culturally closer to central Asia than to the mainland Han Chinese — intensified after riots broke out in the regional capital Urumqi in 2009, in which over 200 people were killed.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?





For prelims and mains: The Uighur Human Rights Policy Act 2019

Sources: the Hindu.

*****************************

CONTEXT

‘Carbon Markets’ has become a contentious issue at the Conference of Parties 25 (CoP 25), being held in Madrid (Spain) from 2nd-13th December, 2019.

HIGHLIGHTS:

Carbon markets allow for buying and selling of carbon emissions with the objective of reducing global emissions.

Carbon markets existed under the Kyoto Protocol, which is being replaced by the Paris Agreement in 2020.

CARBON MARKETS:

Carbon Markets can potentially deliver emissions reductions over and above what countries are doing on their own.

For example, technology upgradation and emission reduction of a brick kiln in India can be achieved in two ways:

1. A developed country which is unable to meet its reduction target can provide money or technology to the brick kiln in India, and thus claim the reduction of emission as its own.

2. Alternatively, the kiln can make the investment, and then offer on sale the emission reduction, called carbon credits. Another party, struggling to meet its own targets, can buy these credits and show these as their own.

CARBON MARKETS UNDER THE PARIS AGREEMENT:

The provisions relating to setting up a new carbon market are described in Article 6 of the Paris Agreement.





Article 6.2 enables bilateral arrangements for transfer of emissions reductions.

Article 6.4 talks about a wider carbon market in which reductions can be bought and sold by anyone.

Article 6.8 provides for making ‘non-market approaches’ available to countries to achieve targets.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?

For prelims and mains: PARIS AGREEMENT AND ENVIRONMENT CONSERVATION

Sources: the Hindu.

*****************************

CONTEXT

The International Anti-Corruption Day is observed on 9th December every year.

BACKGROUND:

The United Nations General Assembly on 31st October, 2003, adopted the United Nations Convention against Corruption, and designated December 9 as International Anti-Corruption Day, in order to raise awareness about corruption and of the role of Convention in fighting and preventing it.

The convention came into force in the year 2005, and since then the day is being observed annually.

THEME FOR 2019:

The theme for the year 2019 is, ‘United against Corruption.’

INDIA CORRUPTION SURVEY REPORT 2019(HIGHLIGHTS) :





According to the ‘India Corruption Survey 2019’, conducted by independent agencies Transparency International India (TII) and LocalCircles, the percentage of people who had paid bribes fell from 58% in 2018 to 51% in 2019.

In 2017, the figure was 45%. The survey revealed that people in Delhi, Haryana, Gujarat, West Bengal, Kerala, Goa and

Odisha reported low instances of corruption while Rajasthan, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Jharkhand and Punjab had higher occurrences.

Also, India was ranked at 78th place out of 180 countries in ‘Corruption Perception Index’ (CPI) released by Transparency International in 2018. India was ranked 81 in 2017 and 79 in 2016.

STEPS TAKEN BY INDIA:

The Central Vigilance Commission though created in 1964, became an independent statutory body only in 2003 by an Act of Parliament. Its mandate is to oversee the vigilance administration and to advise and assist the executive in matters relating to corruption.

Related Legislations:

Right to Information Act, 2005, Prevention of Corruption Act, the Judges (Inquiry) Act, the Lokpal and Lokayukta Act 2013, WhistleBlowers Protection Act 2011, Prevention of Money Laundering Act, Benami Transactions (Prohibition) Act, etc

Ratification of United Nations Convention Against Corruption in 2011. Introduction of e-governance and direct benefit scheme.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?

For prelims and mains: CURRUPTION IN INDIAN CONTEXT AND HOW TO FIGHT AGAINST IT?

Sources: the Hindu.

*****************************

CONTEXT

President Ram Nath Kovind recently laid the foundation of a memorial dedicated to the 1817 Paika Rebellion.





WHO ARE PAIKAS?

Recruited since the 16th century by kings in Odisha from a variety of social groups to render martial services in return for rent-free land (nish-kar jagirs) and titles, They were the traditional land-owning militia of Odisha and served as warriors

HOW THE REBELLION BEGAN:

When armies of the East India Company overran most of Odisha in 1803, the Raja of Khurda lost his primacy and the power and prestige of the Paikas went on a decline. So, they rebelled back.

The British were not comfortable with these aggressive, warlike new subjects and set up a commission under Walter Ewer to look into the issue.

The commission recommended that the hereditary rent-free lands granted to the Paikas be taken over by the British administration and this recommendation was zealously adhered to. They revolted against the British.

Bakshi Jagabandhu Bidyadhar Mohapatra Bharamarbar Rai, the highest-ranking military general of King of Khorda Mukund Dev II, led the Paikas to join the uprising.

However, the rebellion also had several other underlying causes – like the rise in the price of salt, abolition of the cowrie currency for payment of taxes and an overtly extortionist land revenue policy.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?

For prelims and mains: social groups OF India

Sources: the Hindu.

*****************************

CONTEXT

India ranked 129 out of 189 countries on the 2019 Human Development Index (HDI) improving from the 130th position in 2018.

REPORT HIGHLIGHTS OF INDIA PERFORMANCE:





UNDP warned about the inequalities that India might have to struggle with. The report said that the group-based inequalities persist in India, especially affecting women and girls.

It stated that more Indians showed biases in gender social norms, indicating a backlash to women’s empowerment.

The overall index showed that India scored 0.647 in 2018, as against 0.643 in 2017. The score is calculated in the range of 1 to 0.

Beyond income, beyond averages, beyond today: inequalities in human development in the 21 st century report stated that 271 million Indians were lifted out of poverty from 2005-06 to 2015-16.

TOP PERFORMERS IN 2019 :

Norway, Switzerland, Ireland occupied the top three positions in that order. Germany is placed fourth along with Hong Kong, and Australia secured the fifth rank on the

global ranking. India’s Neighbours in 2019 Sri Lanka (71) and China (85) were higher up the rank scale. Bhutan (134), Bangladesh (135), Myanmar (145), Nepal (147), Pakistan (152) and Afghanistan

(170) were ranked lower on the list.

ABOUT HUMAN DEVELOPMENT INDEX :

o HDI is part of the Human Development Report that is published by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

o HDI emphasizes that people and their capabilities should be the ultimate criteria for assessing the development of a country, not economic growth alone.

HDI measures average achievement of a country

in three basic dimensions of human development:

1. A long and healthy life, 2. Access to knowledge, and 3. A decent standard of living

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?

For prelims and mains: KEY POINTS OF THE HUMAN DEVELOPMENT INDEX REPORT

Sources: the Hindu.

****************************





CONTEXT

Human Rights Day is observed on 10 December every year. The day aims to recognize and empower human rights. The day includes social, economic, cultural rights and international commitments on civil and political rights.

THEME:

The theme of the 2019 Human Rights Day is Youth Standing Up for Human Rights. The United Nations kept the theme with a belief that the participation of youth is an essential element to achieve sustainable development for everyone.

INDIA:

On 28 September 1993, Human rights law came into existence in India. The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) was constituted on 12 October 1993. NHRC, after its formation, made recommendations to the Government to protect the rights of

ordinary citizens, children, women, elderly human rights, and people of the LGBT community in the country.

The government implemented appropriate amendments in the Constitution, following several recommendations made by NHRC.

UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS:

Universal Declaration of Human Rights was proclaimed under UNGA resolution 217 A in Paris.

It set out, for the first time, fundamental human rights to be universally protected. It states that ‘All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.

They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.’

It entitles everyone to all the rights and freedoms and prohibits slavery and slave trade in all forms.

Other rights recognized under the declaration are right to a nationality, right against arbitrary arrest, detention or exile, the right to seek asylum from prosecution, the right to freedom of movement and residence, etc.

The Universal Declaration is not a treaty, so it does not directly create legal obligations for countries.

However, it is an expression of the fundamental values which are shared by all members of the International community.





The Universal Declaration of Human Rights holds the Guinness World Record as the most translated document.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?

For prelims and mains: IMPORTANCE OF THE DAY

Sources: the Hindu.

*****************************

CONTEXT

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) banned Russia for a four-year term from all major sporting events. Under the ban, the Russian national flag and anthem will not be allowed at events such as the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and Paralympics and football’s 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

WHY BANNED:

After a three-year suspension for Russia’s vast state-sponsored doping scandal, Russia had to hand over data to Wada as a condition of its controversial reinstatement in 2018.

The ban comes after Russia’s Anti-Doping Agency (Rusada) was declared non-compliant to manipulate laboratory data that was handed over to investigators in January 2019.

ABOUT WORLD ANTI-DOPING AGENCY (WADA):

The institution of WADA was initiated by the International Olympic Committee, Formed on 10 November 1999, Headquarterd in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

The aim of WADA is to cooperate, promote, monitor the fight against drugs in sports.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?





For prelims and mains: World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)

Sources: the Hindu.

*****************************

CONTEXT

The GII is an inequality index released by UNDP. It measures gender inequalities in three important aspects of human development.

KEY POINTS:

reproductive Health, measured by maternal mortality ratio and adolescent birth rates; Empowerment, measured by proportion of parliamentary seats occupied by females and

proportion of adult females and males aged 25 years and older with at least some secondary education; and

Economic status, expressed as labour market participation and measured by labour force participation rate of female and male populations aged 15 years and older.

The GII is built on the same framework as the IHDI—to better expose differences in the distribution of achievements between women and men.

It measures the human development costs of gender inequality. Thus the higher the GII value the more disparities between females and males and the more loss to human development.

In the Gender Inequality Index (GII), India is at 122 out of 162 countries. Neighbours China (39), Sri Lanka (86), Bhutan (99), Myanmar (106) were placed above India.

The report forecasts that it may take 202 years to close the gender gap in economic opportunity.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?

For prelims and mains: ABOUT THE GENDER Inequality Index

Sources: the Hindu.

*****************************





CONTEXT

Ethiopian Prime Minister “Abiy Ahmed Ali” received the “Nobel Peace Prize” on 10 December 2019 at Oslo’s City Hall. The Norwegian Nobel Committee conferred the 100th Nobel Peace Prize to the Prime Minister in the presence of the Norwegian royal family.

AWARDED FOR:

Abiy Ahmed was awarded for his extraordinary efforts to end the decades-long conflict with neighbouring Eritrea.

It recognized his three major achievements for his crucial role in creating peace between Eritrea and Ethiopia, his contribution to peace and reconciliation processes in East and North East Africa and his efforts to build democracy in Ethiopia by strengthening civil liberties and developing institutions.

ERITREA-ETHIOPIA CRISIS:

o Eritrea got independence from Ethiopia in 1991. It fought a disastrous border war during 1998-2000 with Ethiopia. More than 80,000 people were killed in the war.

o Mr. Abiy took measures to resume the stalled peace process. He led Ethiopia’s first state visit to Eritrea and met Isaias Afwerki, the President of Eritrea.

o They declared the end of the border war in few days after the meeting.

DR. ABIY AHMED ALI ACHIEVEMENTS:

Abiy made sustainable peace at home and in the region one of his central domestic and foreign policy objectives.

He argued that a stable, peaceful and prosperous Ethiopia is inconceivable without the peace, stability and development of the wider Horn of Africa region.

He often preached about peace, forgiveness, reconciliation, unity, synergy and understanding. He even established a cabinet-level ministry with a mandate to build peace and national

consensus and to oversee federal law enforcement organs, including the country’s security and intelligence agencies.





At the regional level, he initiated an economic integration plan, a programme that aims to link the Horn of Africa region through joint investment in infrastructure and economically vital strategic assets with the aim of making nations and communities in the region frontline stakeholders in peace and stability.

In the process, he captured the imagination of Ethiopians and other people in the region. While his domestic achievements were an important part of the picture, Abiy won the prize, in

the words of the Nobel Committee, “for his decisive initiative to resolve the border conflict with neighbouring Eritrea”.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?

For prelims and mains: NOBEL PRIZE

Sources: the Hindu.

*****************************

CONTEXT

Vijay Diwas is celebrated on 16 December every year. The day aims to commemorate the victory of India over Pakistan in 1971. The day also a remembrance of the brave soldiers of India and Mukti Joddhas who sacrificed their lives for a noble cause.

CELEBRATIONS AND EVENTS:

To mark the day, a wreath-laying ceremony was held at Vijay Smarak at Fort William the Head Quarters of Eastern Command in Kolkata, West Bengal.

A 3-day event was organized in Kolkata from 14-16 December. A delegation of Mukti Joddhas from Bangladesh and Indian war veterans are taking part in the

celebrations. Vijay Diwas is a day for Remembrance of the brave soldiers and Mukti Joddhas who sacrificed

their lives for a noble cause and also a day for taking pledged to save our homeland from any possible attack of external enemies.





HISTORY:

On 16 December 1971, the chief of the Pakistani forces, General AA Khan Niazi, along with 93 thousand troops, surrendered to the allied forces consisting of the Indian Army and Mukti Bahini.

The war culminated with the subsequent secession of East Pakistan into Bangladesh.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?

For prelims and mains: THE IMPORTANCE OF VIJAY DIWAS, THE WAR OF 1971

Sources: the Hindu.

*****************************

CONTEXT

Britain elected Boris Johnson of the Conservative Party as its Prime Minister in the recently concluded elections. This victory gives Boris Johnson a clear mandate to take the United Kingdom out of the European Union without any delay.

KEY POINTS:

Johnson called for an early election after reaching a new divorce deal with the EU. He turned the poll into a de facto Brexit referendum.

His strategy was to consolidate the pro-Brexit vote, get a fresh mandate in Parliament and then quicken the Brexit process.

The Brexit Financial Settlement (Divorce Bill) is a sum of money UK needs to pay to the EU for settling all shares of the financial obligations undertaken while being a member of the EU.

BREXIT:

In 2016, a referendum was held by the U.K. government and the nation voted to leave the EU. Now the process is under the U.K. Parliament for formal withdrawal from the EU. Brexit supporters wanted Britain to take back full control of its borders and reduce the

number of people coming here to live and/or work.





CHALLENGES:

The road ahead is not smooth even after a timely exit. The Brexit agreement itself is controversial and it could erect an effective customs border between Britain and the island of Ireland after implementation.

It raises the concern on Brexit’s impact on the Good Friday Agreement. The Good Friday Agreement or the Belfast Agreement: It was a peace agreement between the

British and Irish governments and most of the political parties in Northern Ireland, on how Northern Ireland should be governed.

Negotiating an agreement on the U.K.’s future relationship with the EU is an equally challenging task.

The Scottish National Party swept Scotland’s seats which might revive pro-independence sentiments in Scotland.

Scotland had a referendum in 2014 on whether it should stay in the U.K. or be independent of it. The referendum rejected independence and the Scottish population was in favour of remaining in the European Union.

Scotland rejected independence by 55% to 45%.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?

For prelims and mains: Brexit process.

Sources: the Hindu.

*****************************

CONTEXT

Macau celebrated the 20th Anniversary since the former Portuguese colony was returned to China.

IN NEWS:





The Macau Special Administrative Region (MSAR) is an integral part of China and example of China’s “one country, two systems” model.

“One country, two systems” is a constitutional principle describing the governance of Hong Kong and Macau since they became regions of China in 1997 and 1999, respectively.

ADMINISTRATION:

It does not practice China’s socialist economic system. Also, it enjoys a high degree of autonomy in all matters except foreign and defence affairs.

LOCATION:

It is situated on the south-east coast of China near the mouth of the Pearl River. It is 60 kilometres from Hong Kong. Macau consists of the Macau peninsula and the two islands of Taipa and Coloane.

POPULATION:

It is one of the most densely populated areas in the world.

ECONOMY:

Macau is heavily dependent on the gambling industry with its casinos contributing about 80% of government income.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?

For prelims and mains: POLITICAL AND GEOGRAPHICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF MACAU

Sources: the Hindu.

*****************************

CONTEXT





Indian peacekeepers have received the United Nations Medal for their dedication and sacrifice serving so far away from home to protect civilians and build durable peace in South Sudan.

CONTRIBUTIONS OF INDIA PEACEKEEPERS:

The soldiers were particularly praised for their efforts to support peace talks between Government and Opposition forces in the Upper Nile region and establishing the first-ever UNMISS base on the west bank of the Nile at Kodok.

Outside of their duties, the peacekeepers have also supported local communities by building veterinary hospitals at Kodok and Malakal, training cattle-keepers to better care for their livestock and provided life-saving medical assistance to people in need.

BACKGROUND:

o India has been the largest troop contributor to UN missions since inception. o So far India has taken part in 49 Peacekeeping missions with a total contribution exceeding

2,45,000 troops and a significant number of police personnel have been deployed.

WHAT IS PEACEKEEPING? IT’S SIGNIFICANCE?

United Nations Peacekeeping was created in 1948. Its first mission involved the establishment of the UN Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO), which served to observe and maintain ceasefire during the 1948 Arab-Israeli War.

SIGNIFICANCE AND THE NEED FOR PEACEKEEPING:

United Nations Peacekeeping helps countries torn by conflict create conditions for lasting peace.

Peacekeeping has proven to be one of the most effective tools available to the UN to assist host countries navigate the difficult path from conflict to peace.

Peacekeeping has unique strengths, including legitimacy, burden sharing, and an ability to deploy and sustain troops and police from around the globe, integrating them with civilian peacekeepers to advance multidimensional mandates.

UN PEACEKEEPING IS GUIDED BY THREE BASIC

PRINCIPLES:

1. Consent of the parties. 2. Impartiality 3. Non-use of force except in self-defence and defence of the mandate.





GLOBAL PARTNERSHIP:

UN peacekeeping is a unique global partnership. It brings together the General Assembly, the Security Council, the Secretariat, troop and police

contributors and the host governments in a combined effort to maintain international peace and security.

Its strength lies in the legitimacy of the UN Charter and in the wide range of contributing countries that participate and provide precious resources.

ABOUT UNITED NATIONS MISSION IN SOUTH SUDAN:

On 9 July 2011 South Sudan became the newest country in the world. The birth of the Republic of South Sudan is the culmination of a six-year peace process which began with the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) in 2005.

However, the Security Council determined that the situation faced by South Sudan continued to constitute a threat to international peace and security in the region and established the United Nations Mission in the Republic of South Sudan (UNMISS) to consolidate peace and security and to help establish conditions for development.

Following the crisis which broke out in South Sudan in December 2013, the Security Council reinforced UNMISS and reprioritized its mandate towards the protection of civilians, human rights monitoring, and support for the delivery of humanitarian assistance and for the implementation of the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?

For prelims and mains: WHAT IS PEACEKEEPING? IT’S SIGNIFICANCE?, UNITED NATIONS

MISSION IN SOUTH SUDAN

Sources: the Hindu.

*****************************

CONTEXT





Following the footsteps of West Bengal, the Kerala Government has decided to put on hold all proceedings for updating the National Population Register (NPR).

WHY?

Because of the apprehensions among the general public about the conduct of NPR related activities would lead to national register of citizens (NRC) in the wake of citizenship amendment act 2019.

WHAT IS NATIONAL POPULATION REGISTER (NPR)?

It is a Register of usual residents of the country. It is being prepared at the local (Village/sub-Town), sub-District, District, State and National

level under provisions of the Citizenship Act 1955 and the Citizenship (Registration of Citizens and issue of National Identity Cards) Rules, 2003.

It is mandatory for every usual resident of India to register in the NPR.

OBJECTIVES:

To create a comprehensive identity database of every usual resident in the country.

WHO IS A USUAL RESIDENT?

A usual resident is defined for the purposes of NPR as a person who has resided in a local area for the past 6 months or more or a person who intends to reside in that area for the next 6 months or more.

COMPONENTS:

The NPR database would contain demographic as well as biometric details. As per the provisions of the NPR, a resident identity card (RIC) will be issued to individuals

over the age of 18. This will be a chip-embedded smart card containing the demographic and biometric attributes

of each individual. The UID number will also be printed on the card.

WHAT IS THE CONTROVERSY AROUND IT?

Comes in the backdrop of the NRC excluding lakhs of people in Assam.

It intends to collect a much larger amount of personal data on residents of India.

There is yet no clarity on the mechanism for protection of this vast amount of data.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?





For prelims and mains: CONTROVERSY RELATED TO NPR

Sources: PIB

*****************************

CONTEXT

The first Global Refugee Forum (GRF), a two-day gathering of United Nations member states, began in Geneva, Switzerland, on December 17th.

HIGHLIGHTS:

The Forum, jointly hosted by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the government of Switzerland,

Aims to debate and discuss the response of the world’s countries to the global refugee situation.

The first GRF has been organised around six areas of focus: burden- and responsibility-sharing, education, jobs and livelihoods, energy and infrastructure, solutions, and protection capacity.

The number of refugees has risen to over 25 million people worldwide The GRF will be held every four years at the Ministerial level. It is intended to present an opportunity for UN member states and other stakeholders to

announce action plans and pledges towards meeting objectives such as easing the burden on the host country, enhancing refugee self-reliance, expanding access to third-country solutions, and supporting conditions in countries of origin for return in safety and dignity.

GLOBAL REFUGEE FORUM

o First ever Global Refugee Forum is being held in Geneva, Switzerland. o Jointly hosted by United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) along with Government of

Switzerland.

WHAT IS GLOBAL REFUGEE FORUM?





Guided by the Global Compact on Refugees, the Global Refugee Forum is an opportunity to translate the principle of international responsibility-sharing into concrete action.

The Forum will showcase impactful pledges and contributions and the exchange of good practices.

REFUGEES SITUATIONS-CONCERNS AND

CHALLENGES:

Refugee situations continue to increase in scope, scale, and complexity. There are 25.4 million refugees around the world, and 85 per cent of them are hosted in low-

and middle-income countries facing their own economic and development challenges. Despite the tremendous generosity of host countries and donors, the gap between needs and

the resources available to meet them continues to grow. There is an urgent need for a more equitable sharing of the burden and responsibility for

hosting and supporting the world’s refugees. Refugees and host communities should not be left behind.

WHAT IS GLOBAL COMPACT ON REFUGEES?

It was affirmed by the United Nations General Assembly in December 2018. It represents the determination of the international community to strengthen solidarity with

refugees and the countries that host them. The Compact sets out arrangements to ensure that host countries receive predictable and

sustainable support; that refugees can contribute to their host communities and secure their own futures; and that solutions are sought from the outset.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?

For prelims and mains: WHAT ARE THE CONCERNS AND CHALLENGES RELATED TO

REFUGEES SITUATIONS?

Sources: the Hindu.

*****************************





CONTEXT

The Ministry of Coal has decided to establish a ‘Sustainable Development Cell’.

ABOUT THE CELL:

OBJECTIVE:

To promote environmentally sustainable coal mining in the country and address environmental concerns during the decommissioning or closure of mines

ROLES AND FUNCTIONS:

Advise, mentor, plan and monitor the mitigation measures taken by the coal companies for maximising the utilisation of available resources in a sustainable way.

Act as nodal point at Ministry of Coal level in this matter. Formulate the future policy framework for the environmental mitigation measures including the Mine closure Fund.

IMPLICATIONS:

This move gains significance as the new private entities are now going to form a significant part of the future, a set of guidelines for proper rehabilitation of mines need to be evolved in tune with global best practices.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?

For prelims and mains: ABOUT THE CELL

Sources: PIB

*****************************

CONTEXT





Indian Navy Day is observed every year on 4 December. The day commemorates the Operation Trident. The Day celebrates the achievements and role of the Indian naval force in the country.

HISTORY:

The Navy Day was first observed on 4 December 1971. The day was designated in order to work towards securing marine borders and strengthen relationships with other countries through joint exercises, humanitarian missions, and relief operations.

THEME: The theme for the 2019 Navy day is Indian Navy-Salient, Strong and Swift. The theme celebrates the courageous Navy personnel for their valuable service and sacrifices that made the nation stronger and safer.

OPERATION TRIDENT:

o Operation Trident was held on 4-5 December 1971. The first offensive operation was launched against Pakistan’s port city of Karachi during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 by the Indian Navy.

o During the operation, Indian suffered no loss whereas Pakistan’s 3 ships sunk, 1 ship badly damaged, and the Karachi harbour fuel storage tanks destroyed.

o INS Nipat, INS Nirghat and INS Veer played an important role in the attack.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?

For prelims and mains: The Navy Day

Sources: the Hindu.

*****************************

CONTEXT





The Parliament has passed the Special Protection Group (Amendment) Bill, 2019. The SPG Bill will amend the SPG Act of 1988.

AMENDMENTS:

REDUCED SPG COVERAGE:

The protection to be offered only to the Prime Minister, former Prime Ministers and their immediate family members that will reside with him at his official residence.

Currently, the security cover is provided to the Prime Minister, former Prime Ministers and their immediate family members.

TIME PERIOD:

o The security will be provided only for a period of five years to the former Prime Ministers and their immediate family after they leave the office.

o However, the immediate family members need to be residing with the former Prime Minister at the allotted residence.

WITHDRAWAL:

When the proximate security is withdrawn from a former Prime Minister such proximate security will also stand withdrawn from members of his immediate family.

SPECIAL PROTECTION GROUP (SPG) : Special Protection Group was formed in 1988 by an act of the Parliament of India. It is headquartered in New Delhi. The special force provides security to the Prime Minister of India and the former Prime Ministers of India.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?

For prelims and mains: ABOUT THE BILL

Sources: the Hindu.

*****************************





CONTEXT

The Armed Forces Flag day is celebrated on December 7 to honour the personnel of the Indian Armed Forces. The objective of this day is also to raise funds from people for the betterment of the Armed Forces staff just by selling Indian flags, batches, stickers and other items.

THREE BRANCHES OF THE INDIAN ARMED FORCE:

1. Indian Army, 2. Indian Air Force 3. Indian Navy

Organize a variety of programs to showcase their efforts towards national security

SIGNIFICANCE:

There are three basic purposes to observe the Armed Forces Flag Day: Welfare of serving personnel and their families. Rehabilitation of battle casualties. Resettlement and welfare of ex-servicemen and their families.

HISTORY:

On August 28, 1949, a committee was set up under the then Defence Minister of India decided to observe a Flag Day annually on December 7.

The main idea to observe this day was to distribute flags to people and collect funds from them.

People across the country distribute small flags and car flags in red, deep blue and light blue colours representing the three Services in return for funds.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?

For prelims and mains: Armed Forces Flag day

Sources: the Hindu.





*****************************

CONTEXT

The US Army plans to fund the construction of a Rare Earths processing facility to secure the domestic supply of minerals that are used to make military weapons and electronics.

WHAT ARE REMS?

The rare earths minerals (REM) are a set of seventeen metallic elements. These include the fifteen lanthanides on the periodic table in addition to scandium and yttrium that show similar physical and chemical properties to the lanthanides.

The REMs have unique catalytic, metallurgical, nuclear, electrical, magnetic and luminescent properties. While named ‘rare earth’, they are in fact not that rare and are relatively abundant in the Earth’s crust.

STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE OF REMS:

They have distinctive electrical, metallurgical, catalytic, nuclear, magnetic and luminescent properties.

Its usage range from daily use (e.g., lighter flints, glass polishing mediums, car alternators) to high-end technology (lasers, magnets, batteries, fibre-optic telecommunication cables).

Even futuristic technologies need these REMs (For example high-temperature superconductivity, safe storage and transport of hydrogen for a post-hydrocarbon economy, environmental global warming and energy efficiency issues).

Due to their unique magnetic, luminescent, and electrochemical properties, they help in technologies perform with reduced weight, reduced emissions, and energy consumption; therefore give them greater efficiency, performance, miniaturization, speed, durability, and thermal stability.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?

For prelims and mains: USAGE OF REMS

Sources: the Hindu.

*****************************





CONTEXT

The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) has approved the creation of a chief of defence staff (CDS).

ABOUT CDS:

o He will be the single-point military adviser to the government as suggested by the Kargil Review Committee in 1999. CDS oversees and coordinates the working of the three Services.

CONDITIONS:

He will be a Four-star General. Not eligible to hold any Government office after demitting the office of CDS. No private employment without prior approval for a period of five years after demitting the

office of CDS.

ROLES AND FUNCTIONS:

CDS will provide “single-point military advice” to the government, inject synergy in planning, procurements and logistics in the armed forces.

It will ensure integration of land-air-sea operations through the eventual setting up of theatre commands.

The CDS will also function as the military advisor to the PM-led Nuclear Command Authority, as also have direct command of tri-Service organizations to handle the new warfare domains of space and cyberspace.

WHAT IS THE CASE FOR HAVING A CDS?

The first proposal for a CDS came from the 2000 Kargil Review Committee (KRC).Although the KRC did not directly recommend a CDS — that came from the GoM — it underlined the need for more coordination among the three Services, which was poor in the initial weeks of the Kargil conflict.

PRESENT CHALLENGES:

The KRC Report pointed out that India is the only major democracy where the Armed Forces Headquarters is outside the apex governmental structure.





It observed that Service Chiefs devote most of their time to their operational roles, “often resulting in negative results”.

Long-term defence planning suffers as day-to-day priorities dominate. Also, the Prime Minister and Defence Minister do not have the benefit of the views and

expertise of military commanders, in order to ensure that higher level defence management decisions are more consensual and broadbased.

The CDS is also seen as being vital to the creation of “theatre commands”, integrating tri-service assets and personnel like in the US military.

SIGNIFICANCE:

The charter of the CDS, if implemented properly, will prepare the 15-lakh strong armed forces for the wars of the future.

The CDS is mandated to ensure the Army, Navy and IAF, which often pull in different directions, truly integrate to slash wasteful expenditure amidst the ongoing severe fund crunch for military modernization because of the ballooning pay and pension bills.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?

For prelims and mains: NEED TO CREATE A CHIEF OF DEFENCE STAFF, ROLE AND FUNCTIONS

OF CDS

Sources: PIB

*****************************

CONTEXT

Parliament passed the Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu (Merger of Union Territories) Bill, 2019.

WHY MERGE:





Having two separate constitutional and administrative entities in both the Union territories leads to lot of duplicity, inefficiency and wasteful expenditure.

It causes unnecessary financial burden on the Government. Besides these, there are various challenges for cadre management and career progression of employees.

The merger of union territories of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, in view of fruitful utilization of manpower, improve administrative efficiency, reduce administrative expenditure and improve service delivery as well as facilitate better monitoring of schemes.

It would also ensure better cadre management of employees.

KEY POINTS:

The merger would bring about administrative convenience, speedy development and effective implementation of central and state government schemes.

The new entity would be called the UT of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu and would be governed under the jurisdiction of the Bombay High Court.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?

For prelims and mains: Merger of Union Territories

Sources: the Hindu.

*****************************

CONTEXT

Lok Sabha passed the Arms (Amendment) Bill, 2019. Amendment to the Act after 1988

AMENDMENTS:

o The Bill seeks to enhance the punishment for existing offences like illegal manufacture, sale, transfer, etc.; illegal acquiring, possessing or carrying prohibited arms or prohibited ammunition; and illegal manufacture, sale, transfer, conversion, import, export, etc., of firearms.





o It also proposes to define new offences and prescribing punishment for them, such as for taking away firearms from police or armed forces, involvement in organized crime syndicate, illicit trafficking including smuggled firearms of foreign make or prohibited arms and prohibited ammunition, use of firearms in rash and negligent manner in celebratory gunfire endangering human life, etc.

o Further, the Bill seeks to enhance the period of arms license from three years to five years and also to issue arms license in its electronic form to prevent forgery.

WHY NEED AMENDMENTS:

Growing nexus between possession of illegal firearms and commission of criminal offences. With the advancement in technology, the fire power and sophistication of illegal firearms

have increased significance over the years. The trans-border dimensions of illegal arms trafficking are causing threat to internal security

and to prevent the usage of illicit firearms so trafficked has also become a prime concern. To effectively curb crimes related to or committed by using illegal firearms and to provide

effective deterrence against violation of law, there is an urgent need to strengthen the existing legislative framework by making appropriate amendments in the Arms Act, 1959.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?

For prelims and mains: ABOUT THE bill

Sources: the Hindu.

*****************************

CONTEXT

The reservation given to SCs, STs and the Anglo-Indian community for the past 70 years is to end on January 25, 2020.

HIGHLIGHTS:





The 126th Constitution Amendment Bill seeks to extend by 10 years reservation to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in the Lok Sabha and the Assemblies

The reservation has been included in Article 334 and therefore the bill seeks to amend the article.

Article 334 lays down that the provisions for reservation of seats and special representation of Anglo-Indians, SC and ST will cease after 40 years.

The clause was included in 1949. After 40 years, it is being amended with an extension of 10 years.

A similar reservation for the Anglo-Indian community in Lok Sabha and state assemblies is not being extended, as per the provisions of the bill.

According to Law Minster, there are only 296 members of the Anglo-Indian community in India.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?

For prelims and mains: Constitution Amendment Bill

Sources: the Hindu.

*****************************

CONTEXT

The Lok Sabha today passed the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2019.

AMENDMENTS:

The Bill seeks to grant Indian Citizenship to persons belonging to Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi and Christian communities who have migrated to India after facing persecution on grounds of religion in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh, if they fulfil conditions for grant of citizenship.

The provisions of the amendments to the Act would not apply to tribal area of Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram or Tripura as included in the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution and the





area covered under ‘The Inner Line’ notified under the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation, 1873.

The Bill also seeks to amend the Third Schedule to the Act to make applicants belonging to the said communities from the aforesaid countries eligible for citizenship by naturalisation if they can establish their residency in India for five years instead of the existing eleven years.

Manipur would be brought under the Inner Line Permit (ILP) regime and with that the problems of all the North Eastern States would be taken care of.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?

For prelims and mains: CITIZENSHIP BILL

Sources: the Hindu.

*****************************

CONTEXT

The Lok Sabha passed International Financial Services Centres Authority Bill, 2019 on 11 December 2019. The bill aims to set up a unified authority to regulate all financial activities in international financial services centres (IFSCs) in India. The bill was withdrawn in Rajya Sabha.

AMENDMENTS:





The bill will amend 14 Acts, including the SEBI Act, the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDA) Act and the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) Act.

The bill will bring several regulators together as one unit (an authority) to deal with various institutions that are present in the IFSC

The unified authority will regulate various financial activities in the IFSC The authority will follow all that processes that are applicable to such financial services,

financial products, and financial institutions All the laws of the land and the unified authority will be subject to audit by the Central

Vigilance Commission (CVC) and the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG). The bill defines various financial products including IT-enabled services in the financial sector. As per the bill, there will be a tax holiday only for 10 years in the IFSC after which it will not

become a tax haven. The first IFSC was set up at Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT) in Gandhinagar,

Gujarat.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?


Sources: the Hindu.

*****************************

CONTEXT

Despite a law against the destruction of property, incidents of rioting, vandalism, and arson have been common during protests across the country.

WHAT THE PREVENTION OF DAMAGE TO PUBLIC

PROPERTY ACT, 1984 SAYS?

It punishes anyone “who commits mischief by doing any act in respect of any public property” with a jail term of up to five years and a fine or both.

Provisions of this law can be coupled with those under the Indian Penal Code.





WHAT IS A PUBLIC PROPERTY?

Public property under this Act includes “any building, installation or other property used in connection with the production, distribution or supply of water, light, power or energy; any oil installation; any sewage works; any mine or factory; any means of public transportation or of telecommunications, or any building, installation or other property used in connection therewith”.

NEED FOR REVIEW:

The Supreme Court has on several earlier occasions found the law inadequate, and has attempted to fill the gaps through guidelines.

In 2007 The court took suo motu cognizance of “various instances where there was large scale destruction of public and private properties in the name of agitations, bandhs, hartals and the like”, and set up two Committees headed by former apex court judge Justice K T Thomas and senior advocate Fali Nariman to suggest changes to the law.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?

For prelims and mains: NEED AND SIGNIFICANCE OF THE ACT

Sources: the Hindu.

*****************************

CONTEXT

Latest edition of the ‘Good Governance Index’ has been launched on the occasion of ‘Good Governance Day’.

BACKGROUND:

Good Governance Day is observed on the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee (25th December). It was observed for the first time in 2014.

What is the Good Governance Index (GGI) : It is a tool to assess the status of governance and the impact of various interventions taken up

by the State Government and UTs.





THE OBJECTIVES OF GGI ARE:

To provide quantifiable data to compare the state of governance in all states and UTs. To enable states and UTs to formulate and implement suitable strategies for improving

governance. To shift to result-oriented approaches and administration.

HOW IS THE GGI CALCULATED?

The GGI takes into consideration 10 sectors — agriculture and allied sectors, commerce and industries, human resource development, public health, public infrastructure and utilities, economic governance, social welfare & development, judicial and public security, environment and citizen-centric governance.

These 10 governance sectors are further measured on a total of 50 indicators. These indicators are given different weightage under one governance sector to calculate the value.

The states and UTs are divided into three groups — big states, north-east and hill states, and Union territories.

KEY FINDINGS OF THE FIRST GGI REPORT :

o Top performers among the big states: Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat. The bottom six states are Odisha, Bihar, Goa, Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand.

o Among the North-East & Hill States: Top 3 states are Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Tripura. The bottom 3 states are Meghalaya, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh.

o Pondicherry leads among the UTs followed closely by Chandigarh with Delhi bagging the third spot. Lakshadweep is at the bottom among the UTs.

SECTOR-WISE RANKING: IN THE ENVIRONMENT

SECTOR:

The top three states are West Bengal, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. The bottom 3 states are Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Goa. Judicial and public security ranking: West Bengal is at the bottom two in the judicial and public

security ranking. Tamil Nadu tops the chart here. Economic governance: Karnataka is at the top under the economic governance category. Health: Kerala is at the top in the public health sector.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?

For prelims and mains: KEY POINTS OF THE GGI REPORT

Sources: PIB

*****************************





CONTEXT

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has declared the entire State of Nagaland as a “disturbed area” for six more months, under the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 (AFSPA).

WHAT’S THE MATTER?

According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, the area comprising the whole of State of Nagaland is in a disturbed and dangerous condition and the use of armed forces in aid of civilian power is necessary.

ARMED FORCES (SPECIAL POWERS) ACT, 1958 (AFSPA):

o The Act came into force in the context of increasing violence in the North-eastern

States decades ago, which the State governments found difficult to control. o AFSPA gives armed forces the power to maintain public order in “disturbed areas”. They have

the authority to prohibit a gathering of five or more persons in an area, can use force or even open fire after giving due warning if they feel a person is in contravention of the law.

o If reasonable suspicion exists, the army can also arrest a person without a warrant; enter or search premises without a warrant; and ban the possession of firearms.

DISTURBED AREAS:

A disturbed area is the one which is declared by notification under Section 3 of the AFSPA. It can be invoked in places where the use of armed forces in aid of civil power is necessary.

An area can be considered to be disturbed due to differences or disputes between members of different religious, racial, language or regional groups or castes or communities.

The Central Government or the Governor of the State or administrator of the Union Territory can declare the whole or part of the State or Union Territory as a disturbed area.

Once declared ‘disturbed’, the region is maintained as disturbed for a period of three months straight, according to The Disturbed Areas (Special Courts) Act, 1976. The government of the state can suggest whether the Act is required in the state or not.

STATES UNDER AFSPA, ACT:





It is effective in the whole of Jammu and Kashmir, Nagaland, Assam, Manipur (excluding seven assembly constituencies of Imphal) and parts of Arunachal Pradesh.

In Arunachal Pradesh, the impact of AFSPA has been reduced to eight police stations.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?

For prelims and mains: Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 (AFSPA)

Sources: the Hindu.

*****************************

CONTEXT

The ‘Nagpur Resolution – A holistic approach for empowering citizens’ has been adopted at the end of the Regional Conference on ‘Improving Public Service Delivery – Role of Governments’, held recently in Nagpur, Maharashtra.

KEY FACTS:

The conference was organised by the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG), Government of India, in collaboration with the Government of Maharashtra and the Maharashtra State Commission for Right to Public Services.

Previously, the Shillong Declaration and the Jammu Resolution have been adopted for good governance.

OVERVIEW OF THE RESOLUTION:

As per the resolution, the GOI, the Government of Maharashtra and other participating States shall collaborate to:





To empower the citizens by policy interventions for better service delivery through timely updation of citizens charters, implementation of enactments and benchmarking standards for continuous improvement;

To empower citizens by adopting a bottom-up approach to bring massive improvements in quality of grievance redressal and reduction in timelines of grievance redressal;

To adopt a holistic approach of systemic public grievance reforms through improved mapping, formulation of monitoring matrix, data collection and evaluation in quality of grievance redressal;

To provide an enabling environment for States and Ministries/Departments of the Government of India for creating web portals and to adopt a holistic approach for improved service delivery through digital platforms;

To focus on dynamic policy-making and strategic decisions, monitoring of implementation, appointment of key personnel, coordination and evaluation;

To achieve a sense of common identity by exchange of technical expertise in the areas of Improved Service Delivery between the paired States under the Ek Bharat – Shreshth Bharat Program;

To ensure timely publication of Good Governance Index to identify the quality of governance in 10 sectors especially those pertaining to welfare and infrastructure at the Union, State and District levels.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?

For prelims and mains: ABOUT THE RESOLUTION

Sources: PIB

*****************************

CONTEXT

Recently, the members of Parliament have demanded equal representation for states and more time to speak in Rajya Sabha.

REPRESENTATION FOR STATES:





The Upper House is the Council of States and thus it is expected to reflect the true spirit of federalism through the uniform representation for all states.

But, currently, the seats in Rajya Sabha are allotted on the basis of population of the particular state.

Hence, the number of representatives varies from state to state. For example, Uttar Pradesh has 31 members while Tripura has 1 member only.

Also, smaller states need to have more number of representatives in the house according to issues and needs of the state.

Currently, the northeastern states, barring Assam have only one seat each in the Rajya Sabha. The recent demand asks for allocation of seats in Rajya Sabha on the lines of USA. In the USA, all states are given equal representation in the Senate, irrespective of their

population. The USA has 50 states and the Senate has 100 members—2 from each state.

TIME TO SPEAK IN RAJYA SABHA:

Currently, the independent or nominated members and MPs from smaller parties get less time to speak in the House.

The inadequacy of time to speak for the nominated members restricts the benefits from their special expertise.

The members of Rajya Sabha are given time to speak according to the strength of their party in the House.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?

For prelims and mains: The Upper House of The Parliament

Sources: the Hindu.

*****************************

CONTEXT

The Odisha government is to merge the State’s Krushak Assistance for Livelihood and Income Augmentation (Kalia)





scheme with the Centre’s Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-Kisan) yojana due to financial constraint.

KALIA SCHEME:

KALIA Chhatravritti scheme was launched by the Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik in December 2018.

Under the scheme farmers, mostly small and marginal cultivators will get Rs.10,000 in two installments for two crops in a year.

The landless agricultural farmers eligible to get Rs.12,000 per annum for three years.

PM-KISAN SCHEME:

Under the PM-Kisan scheme, the central government is providing annually Rs.6,000 in three equal installments to about 14 crore farmers.

NEW GUIDELINES:

Of the announced annual financial assistance of Rs.10,000, the state government will give Rs.4,000 to farmers while the rest will be provided from the Centre’s scheme.

Landless farmers will get Rs.12,000 per year under the Kalia scheme.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?

For prelims and mains: PUBLIC WELFARE POLICIES

Sources: the Hindu.

*****************************

CONTEXT

Telangana State government has requested the Centre to treat Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project (KLIP) as a National Project.





WHAT ARE NATIONAL PROJECTS?

National Projects are provided Central grant of 90% of the estimated cost for their completion in a time bound manner.

WHAT’S THE PROJECT?

The Kaleshwaram project is an off-shoot of the original Pranahitha-Chevella Lift Irrigation Scheme.

It is on the Godavari River. The Centre under the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014 is mandated to support

programmes for the development of backward areas in the successor States, including expansion of physical and social infrastructure.

IMPACT:

The Kaleshwaram project has provision for the storage of about 148 tmc ft with plans of utilising 180 tmc ft by lifting at least 2 tmc ft water every day for 90 flood days.

The project is designed to irrigate 7,38,851 hectares (over 18.47 lakh acres) uplands in the erstwhile districts of Karimnagar, Nizamabad, Warangal, Medak, Nalgonda and Ranga Reddy.

WHAT’S UNIQUE?

According to engineers, KLIP has many unique features, including the longest tunnel to carry water in Asia, running up to 81 km, between the Yellampally barrage and the Mallannasagar reservoir.

The project would also utilize the highest capacity pumps, up to 139 MW, in the country to lift water.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?

For prelims and mains: Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project (KLIP)

Sources: the Hindu.

*****************************

CONTEXT





The Cabinet approves the release of funds for 10 projects of the Swadesh Darshan Scheme sanctioned in 2018-19.

SCHEME LAUNCHED BY:

Tourism Ministry launched the scheme in 2015.

OBJECTIVE:

To develop theme-based tourist circuits in the country. These tourist circuits will be developed on the principles of high tourist value, competitiveness and sustainability in an integrated manner.

Under the Scheme 15 circuits have been identified for development namely Himalayan Circuit, North East Circuit, Krishna Circuit, Buddhist Circuit and Coastal Circuit, Desert Circuit, Tribal Circuit, Eco Circuit, Wildlife Circuit, Rural Circuit, Spiritual Circuit, Ramayana Circuit, Heritage Circuit, Tirthankar Circuit and Sufi Circuit.

FEATURES OF SWADESH DARSHAN SCHEME :

100% centrally funded for the project components undertaken for public funding. To leverage the voluntary funding available for Corporate Social Responsibility

(CSR)initiatives of Central Public Sector Undertakings and corporate sector. Funding of individual project will vary from state to state and will be finalised on the basis of

detailed project reports prepared by PMC (Programme Management Consultant). PMC will be a national level consultant to be appointed by the Mission Directorate. A National Steering Committee (NSC)will be constituted with Minister in charge of M/O

Tourism as Chairman, to steer the mission objectives and vision of the scheme. A Mission Directorate headed by the Member Secretary, NSC as a nodal officer will help in

identification of projects in consultation with the States/ UTs governments and other stake holders.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?

For prelims and mains: ABOUT THE SCHEME

Sources: the Hindu.

*****************************





CONTEXT

The Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly has passed the Andhra Pradesh Disha Bill, 2019 (Andhra Pradesh Criminal Law (Amendment) Act 2019).

WHO IS DISHA?

Disha is the name given to a veterinarian who was raped and murdered in Hyderabad on November 27.

HIGHLIGHTS:

It envisages the completion of investigation in seven days and trial in 14 working days, where there is adequate conclusive evidence, and reducing the total judgment time to 21 days from the existing four months.

It prescribes life imprisonment for other sexual offences against children and includes Section 354 F and 354 G in IPC.

In cases of harassment of women through social or digital media, the Act states two years imprisonment for the first conviction and four years for second and subsequent convictions. For this, a new Section 354 E will be added in IPC, 1860.

As per the Bill, the Andhra Pradesh government will establish, operate and maintain a register in electronic form, to be called the ‘Women & Children Offenders Registry’. This registry will be made public and will be available to law enforcement agencies.

The government will establish exclusive special courts in each district to ensure speedy trial. These courts will exclusively deal with cases of offences against women and children including rape, acid attacks, stalking, voyeurism, social media harassment of women, sexual harassment and all cases under the POCSO Act.

The government will constitute special police teams at the district level to be called District Special Police Team to be headed by DSP for investigation of offences related to women and children.

The government will also appoint a special public prosecutor for each exclusive special court.





WHAT’S IMPORTANT?

For prelims and mains: SIGNIFICANCE OF THE BILL

Sources: the Hindu.

*****************************

CONTEXT

Celebration rented the air at Hosur village of Pattikonda mandal of Kurnool district (Andhra pradesh) when 300 Dalit families formally entered the temple for the first time.





WHAT’S THE MATTER?

According to the temple authorities, while the records for the Veerabhadra Swamy (village deity of Hosur) temple exist only from the 1960s, the temple is said to be about 200 years old. Dalits of the village were not allowed into the temple since the beginning.

THE TRIGGER:

The village’s power structures were challenged by young educated Dalits in early September. The Dalits demanded that they be included in the ‘Peerla Panduga’ (Muharram) processions.

However, “caste Hindus” disagreed to include them. This attention brought various caste organizations and the Human Rights Forum (HRF) to

Hosur. These organisations alleged that the Dalits in Hosur were facing numerous issues, including exclusion from temples.

The district authorities took up the issue promptly and held about four meetings with Dalits and “caste Hindus”.

According to the authorities, the “caste Hindus” agreed to the propositions and told them that Dalits could enter the temple freely.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?

For prelims and mains: EMPOWERMENT OF THE SCHEDULE TRIBE AND CASTE

Sources: the Hindu.

*****************************

CONTEXT

The shoreline on the northern side of the Shore temple in Mamallapuram, Tamil Nadu is facing severe sea erosion.

HIGHLIGHTS:

o Shore Temple is one among a number of Hindu monuments at Mamallapuram (Mahabalipuram), on the Coromandel Coast of Tamil Nadu.

o It is considered the finest early example of medieval southern Indian temple architecture.





o It was built probably in the reign of Narasimhavarman II, also known as Rajasimha (Pallava ruler) who reigned from 700 to 728 CE.

o Unlike most of its neighbours at the site, it is built of cut stones rather than carved out of caves.

o It has two shrines, one dedicated to Shiva and the other to Vishnu. o It has been built in Dravidian style. Its style is characterized by a pyramidal kutina-type

tower that consists of stepped stories topped by a cupola and finial, a form quite different from the northern Indian sikhara.

o The Mamallapuram monuments and temples, including the Shore Temple complex, were collectively designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1984.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?

For prelims and mains: IMPORTANT MONUMENTS OF INDIA

Sources: the Hindu.

*****************************

CONTEXT

UNESCO has recognised the “Nuad” Thai massage as part of its Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

ABOUT UNESCO’S LIST OF INTANGIBLE CULTURAL

HERITAGE:

The list is made up of those intangible heritage elements that help demonstrate diversity of cultural heritage and raise awareness about its importance.

UNESCO maintains three lists under its “Intangible Cultural Heritage” banner: the list of intangible cultural heritage in need of urgent safeguarding, the list of the intangible cultural heritage of humanity and the register of good safeguarding practices.

Some of the criteria for inclusion in the representative list are if the inscription of the element will ensure visibility and awareness of it and if the element has been nominated after having





“the widest possible participation” of the community, group or individuals concerned and with their free, prior and informed consent.

FROM INDIA THE INTANGIBLE CULTURAL HERITAGES ADDED INTO THIS LIST INCLUDE:

Tradition of Vedic chanting. Ramlila, the traditional performance of the Ramayana. Kutiyattam, Sanskrit theatre. Ramman, religious festival and ritual theatre of the Garhwal Himalayas. Mudiyettu, ritual theatre and dance drama of Kerala. Kalbelia folk songs and dances of Rajasthan. Chhau dance. Buddhist chanting of Ladakh: recitation of sacred Buddhist texts in the trans-Himalayan

Ladakh region, Jammu and Kashmir. Sankirtana, ritual singing, drumming and dancing of Manipur. Traditional brass and copper craft of utensil making among the Thatheras of Jandiala Guru,

Punjab. Kumbh Mela.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?

For prelims and mains: Cultural Heritage OF INDIA AND THE WORLD

Sources: the Hindu.

*****************************

CONTEXT

Author Amitabha Bagchi has won the DSC Prize for South Asian Literature 2019 for his fiction novel – Half The Night Is Gone.





HIGHLIGHTS:

The DSC Prize for South Asian Literature celebrates the rich and varied world of literature of

the South Asian region. Authors could belong to this region through birth or be of any ethnicity but the writing should pertain to the South Asian region in terms of content and theme.

The South Asian region includes Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

The DSC Prize for South Asian Literature was instituted in 2010 by its founders, Surina Narula and Manhad Narula. The prize is now administered by the South Asian Literature Prize & Events Trust which is focused on improving the quality of life in South Asian society.

The DSC Prize carries an award of US $25,000 and over the last eight years, the prize has generated tremendous response in international literary forums.

DSC Prize Secretariat is located in New Delhi.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?

For prelims and mains: DSC PRIZE

Sources: the Hindu.

*****************************

CONTEXT

Government has launched Intensified Mission Indradhanush (IMI) 2.0 on 2 December 2019. The IMI 2.0 will be carried out between December 2019 and March 2020.





AIM: The drive aims to prevent eight diseases under the mission. The scheme ensures the children under the age of 2 years and pregnant women are immunized against eight vaccine-preventable diseases.

ABOUT IMI 2.0:

The IMI 2.0 targets full immunization coverage in 272 districts spread over 27 States. The IMI covers vaccines for whooping cough, tetanus, diphtheria, poliomyelitis, tuberculosis,

measles, meningitis and Hepatitis B. In selected areas, vaccines for Japanese encephalitis (JE) and Hemophilus influenza are also

provided.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?

For prelims and mains: Mission Indradhanush, health services provided by govt. of india

Sources: the Hindu.

*****************************

CONTEXT

The Government of India prohibited electronic-cigarettes and like devices through promulgation of ‘The Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes (Production, Manufacture, Import, Export, Transport, Sale, Distribution, Storage and Advertisement) Ordinance, 2019

PROVISIONS OF THE BILL:

The Bill categorizes production, manufacture, import, export, transport, sale, distribution, storage, and advertisement of e-cigarettes and similar devices as cognizable offences.

The bill stipulates that persons found in violation of the law for the first time will face a jail term of up to one year or a fine of up to one lakh rupees, or both. For subsequent offences, a jail term of up to three years and fine up to Rs. 5 lakh.

It further punishes storage of e-cigarettes with imprisonment up to six months or a fine of up to Rs 50,000, or both. Once the Bill comes into force, the owners of existing stocks of e-





cigarettes will have to declare and deposit these stocks at the nearest office of an authorized officer.

WHAT ARE ELECTRONIC-CIGARETTES?

Battery-operated devices that produce aerosol by heating a solution containing nicotine, which is the addictive substance in combustible cigarettes.

These include all forms of Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems, Heat Not Burn Products, e-Hookah and the like devices.

WHY PROHIBIT:

Their use has increased exponentially and has acquired epidemic proportions in developed countries, especially among youth and children.

Apart from nicotine, e-cigarettes may also be used for delivery of other psychoactive substances.

Widespread use and unchecked proliferation of e-cigarettes and the like devices would seriously undermine and derail Government’s efforts to reduce the prevalence of tobacco use.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?

For prelims and mains: The Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes (Production, Manufacture,

Import, Export, Transport, Sale, Distribution, Storage and Advertisement) Ordinance, 2019

Sources: the Hindu.

*****************************

CONTEXT

World Malaria Report 2019 was recently released by the World Health Organization (WHO). Globally; there were 228 million cases of malaria in 2018, down from 251 million cases in 2010.

GLOBAL ANALYSIS:





Incidence rate: It has declined globally between 2010 and 2018, from 71 to 57 cases per 1000 population.

Deaths: The number of deaths due to malaria has decreased globally. (405,000 deaths in 2018 from 416,000 deaths in 2017).

20 countries in sub-Saharan Africa and India accounted for 85 per cent of the global malaria burden in 2018

NATIONAL ANALYSIS:

Incidence Rate:

India reported 2.6 million fewer cases in 2018 compared to 2017. Thus the overall incidence of malaria in the country has reduced.

However, 7 states (Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, Gujarat, Odisha and Madhya Pradesh) account for about 90% of the burden of malaria cases in India.

The major challenges in India remains decreased funding, treatment failures and vector resistance to pyrethroids, the insectides used against the vectors.

STEPS TAKEN BY THE INDIA

o National Strategic Plan for Malaria Elimination (NSPME) (2017-22)

o The Strategic Plan gives year wise elimination targets in various parts of the country depending upon the endemicity of malaria in the next 5 years.

o It is based on the National Framework for Malaria Elimination 2016 which is in line with WHO’s Global Technical Strategy for Malaria, 2016-2030.

ABOUT MALARIA:

Malaria is caused by Plasmodium parasites. The parasites are spread to people through the bites of infected female Anopheles

mosquitoes, called “malaria vectors”, World Malaria Day is observed on 25th April. It can be noted that WHO officially endorses disease-specific global awareness days for only

four diseases viz. HIV-AIDS, TB, Malaria, and Hepatitis.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?

For prelims and mains: KEY POINTS OF THE REPORT

Sources: the Hindu.

*****************************





CONTEXT

Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) has directed all states and Union territories to prohibit the sale of medicines through unlicensed online platforms as per the Delhi High Court order.

WHAT’S THE ISSUE?

The PIL filed in the court observed that the online illegal sale of medicines would lead to a drug epidemic, drug abuse and misuse of habit forming and addictive drugs.

The PIL also said that since there was no mechanism to control the sale of medicines online, this puts health and lives of people at a high risk and affects their right to a safe and healthy life under Article 21 of the Constitution.

Online sale of prescription medicines is a relatively recent phenomenon in India and laws are yet to be framed to regulate the industry.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE DRAFT:

All the e-pharmacies have to be registered compulsorily with the Central Drugs Standard control organisation.

Psychotropic substances, habit-forming medicines like cough syrup and sleeping pills, schedule x drugs will not be sold online.

Apart from registration, the e pharmacies have to obtain a license from the State government to sell the medicines online.

The application of registration of e-pharmacy will have to be accompanied by a sum of Rs 50,000 while asserting that an e-pharmacy registration holder will have to comply with provisions of Information Technology Act, 2000 (21 of 2000).

The details of patient shall be kept confidential and shall not be disclosed to any person other than the central government or the state government concerned, as the case may be.

The supply of any drug shall be made against a cash or credit memo generated through the e-pharmacy portal and such memos shall be maintained by the e-pharmacy registration holder as record.

Both state and central drug authorities will be monitoring the data of sales and transactions of e pharmacies. Any violation of rules the registration of e-pharmacies will be suspended, and it can be cancelled too.





The premises from which e-pharmacy is operated regular inspections will be conducted every two years by the central licencing authority.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?

For prelims and mains: Central Drugs Standard control organisation.

Sources: the Hindu.

*****************************

CONTEXT

Ministry of Human Resource Development is implementing the Scheme of Vocationalisation of School Education. Under the scheme, a vocational subject is offered for Classes IX to XII along with the general education to provide necessary employability and vocational skills for a variety of occupations.The above scheme is being implemented under the umbrella of ‘Samagra Shiksha – an integrated scheme for school education’.

SAMAGRA SHIKSHA:

Samagra Shiksha is an integrated scheme for school education extending from pre-school to class XII to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education at all levels of school education.

It subsumes the three Schemes of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) and Teacher Education (TE).

The scheme treats school education holistically as a continuum from Pre-school to Class 12. The main emphasis of the Scheme is on improving the quality of school education by focussing

on the two T’s – Teacher and Technology.

FUNDING:

The Scheme will be implemented as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme.





The fund sharing pattern for the scheme between Centre and States is at present in the ratio of 90:10 for the North-Eastern States and the Himalayan States and 60:40 for all other States and Union Territories with Legislature.

It is 100% centrally sponsored for Union Territories without Legislature. The scheme also proposes to give flexibility to the States and UTs to plan and prioritize their

interventions within the scheme norms and the overall resource envelope available to them.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?

For prelims and mains: IMPLEMENTATION AND SIGNIFICANCE OF THE SCHEME

Sources: the Hindu.

*****************************

CONTEXT

2.3 million Children in India unvaccinated for measles. India is second highest, next only to Nigeria with 2.4 million.

HIGHLIGHTS:

In 2018, measles caused an estimated 10 million cases and 1,42,000 deaths globally, according to a report published on December 6.

The estimated cases and deaths are much more than what countries have reported to the World Health Organization and UNICEF.

The number of measles cases reported in 2018 was only 3,53,000.

FAILING TO IMMUNISE:

In India, the first dose of measles vaccine is given at nine-12 months of age and the second dose is given at 16-24 months of age through the national immunisation programme.

But it appears that millions of children in India do not receive measles vaccine through routine immunisation activities.

According to the MMWR report, in 2018, 19.2 million children globally worldwide did not receive the first dose through routine immunisation services.

Nearly 163 million children in India received the measles vaccination during mass immunisation campaigns.





India accounted for 47% of the 346 million children across the world who received measles vaccine during mass-immunisation campaigns.

PREVENTABLE CONDITION:

Measles can be prevented through two doses of vaccination. But the number of children who are not vaccinated against measles is alarmingly high in six countries.

The WHO recommends 95% coverage using two doses of measles vaccine to prevent outbreaks.

Though vaccine coverage with first and second dose has increased globally since 2000, it has not reached anywhere near 95%.

In 2018, only 86% of children globally received the first dose through routine immunisation. In the case of second dose, the coverage globally is just 69%.

EFFECTIVE STRATEGY:

Mass immunisation campaigns are an effective strategy for delivering vaccination to children who have otherwise been missed by routine services.

But it does reflect how many children get missed by the routine immunisation programme. The first dose of measles vaccine was introduced as part of the national immunisation

programme in the 1990s. Based on the WHO’s recommendation to administer a second dose to prevent infection and

death in 90-95% of vaccinated children, India introduced the second dose from 2010 onwards. India was one of the last countries to add a second dose of measles vaccine as recommended

by the WHO. The first mass immunisation campaigns for the second dose of measles vaccine were launched

in 2010 in 14 States where the coverage for the first dose was below 80%. The campaign targeted children aged nine months to 10 years of age.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?

For prelims and mains: HOW CAN INDIA FIGHTS AGAINST MEASLES?

Sources: the Hindu.

*****************************





CONTEXT

A laboratory analysis of most packaged and fast food items sold in India has revealed high salt and fat content, in violation of thresholds set by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE STUDY:

The study was conducted by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). The study found that much of Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) is used (or exhausted)

by eating these foods. The results show that in almost all the food CSE tested, companies have underreported the

amount of transfats in their products.

WHAT IS RECOMMENDED DIETARY ALLOWANCE

(RDA)?

It is used to understand how much of any nutrient (salt, sugar, fat) should be consumed from different meals.

Most packaged foods fall in the ‘snack’ category and the RDA of this food is, therefore, a proportion of daily intake.

IT IS INFLUENCED BY:

1. Sex:

In general requirement is more for men than women.

2. Age:

Adult men and women require nutrients for maintenance where as infants and children require it for growth and maintenance. Nutrient requirements during childhood are proportional to growth rate.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?

For prelims and mains: HIGHLIGHTS OF THE RDA REPORT

Sources: the Hindu.

*****************************





CONTEXT

WHO prequalifies first biosimilar medicine– trastuzumab- to increase worldwide access to life-saving breast cancer treatment?

WHAT IS TRASTUZUMAB?

Trastuzumab – a monoclonal antibody – was included in the WHO Essential Medicines List in 2015 as an essential treatment for about 20% of breast cancers.

BACKGROUND:

Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer in women. 2.1 million women contracted breast cancer in 2018. 630 000 of them died from the disease, many because of late diagnosis and lack of access to affordable treatment.

WHAT ARE BIOSIMILARS?

It is a biologic medical product that is almost an identical copy of an original product that is manufactured by a different company.

They are officially approved versions of original “innovator” products and can be manufactured when the original product’s patent expires.

Reference to the innovator product is an integral component of the approval.

CHARACTERISTICS:

o Biological medicines contain active substances from a biological source, such as living cells or organisms.

o Most biological medicines in current clinical use contain active substances made of proteins.

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BIOSIMILARS AND GENERICS:

Biosimilars involve developing equivalent of biological entity while generics involve developing equivalent of a chemical entity-the Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient.

Because biosimilars are made from living organisms, though, and don’t contain identical ingredients to their name-brand counterparts, they still require some testing. So, they cost more than generics, but less than the branded biologic.

COST:





Generic drugs are chemically identical to the original branded drug and, as such, cost significantly less because they don’t require much testing.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?

For prelims and mains: diagnosis and lack of access to affordable treatment OF BREST

CANCER.

Sources: the Hindu.

*****************************

CONTEXT

The government has approved the launch of Bharat Bond ETF, India’s first corporate bond exchange traded fund, comprising debt of state-run cstubble burningompanies.

SIGNIFICANCE:

o This move will allow retail investors to buy government debt. o It will provide retail investors easy and low-cost access to bond markets, with smaller amount

as low as ₹1,000. o They will provide tax efficiency as compared to bonds, as coupons (interest) from the bonds

are taxed depending on the investor’s tax slab.

KEY FEATURES OF BHARAT BOND ETF:

It is a basket of bonds issued by central public sector enterprises/undertakings or any other government organization bonds.

It will have a fixed maturity of three and ten years and will trade on the stock exchanges. It will invest in a portfolio of bonds of state-run companies and other government entities. It will track an underlying index on risk replication basis, matching credit quality and average

maturity of the index. The index will be constructed by an independent index provider, National Stock Exchange.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?





For prelims and mains: India’s first corporate bond exchange traded fund

Sources: PIB

*****************************

CONTEXT

Canada’s largest pension fund Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) has agreed to invest about $600 million in National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF) through the NIIF Master Fund.

ABOUT NIIF:

The government had set up the ₹40,000 crore NIIF in 2015 as an investment vehicle for funding commercially viable Greenfield, brownfield and stalled infrastructure projects.

The Indian government is investing 49% and the rest of the corpus is to be raised from third-party investors such as sovereign wealth funds, insurance and pension funds, endowments, etc.

NIIF’s mandate includes investing in areas such as energy, transportation, housing, water, waste management and other infrastructure-related sectors in India.

NIIF currently manages three funds each with its distinctive investment mandate. The funds are registered as Alternative Investment Fund (AIF) with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI).

THE THREE FUNDS ARE:

Master Fund:

Is an infrastructure fund with the objective of primarily investing in operating assets in the core infrastructure sectors such as roads, ports, airports, power etc.

Fund of Funds:





Managed by fund managers who have good track records in infrastructure and associated sectors in India. Some of the sectors of focus include Green Infrastructure, Mid-Income & Affordable Housing, Infrastructure services and allied sectors.

Strategic Investment Fund:

Is registered as an Alternative Investment Fund II under SEBI in India. The objective is to invest largely in equity and equity-linked instruments. It will focus on green field and brown field investments in the core infrastructure sectors.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?

For prelims and mains: ABOUT NIIF

Sources: the Hindu.

*****************************

CONTEXT

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has released ‘Guidelines for ‘on tap’ Licensing of Small Finance Banks (SFB) in the Private Sector’. With these new guidelines, RBI has introduced major changes from earlier Guidelines issued by the apex bank on 27 November 2014, for licensing of Small Finance Banks in private sector.

NEW GUIDELINES ON SFBS:

Licensing window will be open ‘on-tap’. The on-tap facility allows RBI to accept applications and grant licence for banks throughout the year. This policy also allows aspirants to apply for





universal bank licence any time, subjected to fulfilling certain conditions. As of now, the RBI has issued licences to 10 SFBs.

Minimum paid-up voting equity capital/ net worth requirement shall be Rs.200 crore. For Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks (UCBs), aspiring to voluntarily transit into SFBs, initial

requirement of net worth shall be at Rs.100 crores that will have to be increased to Rs.200 crores within 5 years from date of commencement of business. However, the net-worth of all SFBs currently in operation is in excess of Rs.200 crore.

SFBs will have general permission to open banking outlets from date of commencement of operations.

SFBs will be given scheduled bank status immediately upon commencement of operations. Payments Banks like Paytm an IndiaPost and Fino can apply for conversion into SFB after 5

years of operations, if they are otherwise eligible as per these guidelines.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?

For prelims and mains: Guidelines for ‘on tap’ Licensing of Small Finance Banks (SFB),

INDIAN ECONOMY

Sources: the Hindu.

*****************************

CONTEXT

The Rajya Sabha approved the Taxation Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2019, replacing an ordinance that was promulgated to cut corporate tax rates to boost growth rate in a slowing economy. Since it deals with taxes, the bill was introduced as a money bill in the Lok Sabha earlier.

HIGHLIGHTS:





The Taxation Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2019 replaces an ordinance that reduced the tax rate for domestic companies from 30% and 25% (for those with an annual turnover of over ₹400 crores) to 22%.

The rate for new domestic manufacturing companies set up after October 1 was lowered to 15%.

The new effective tax rate inclusive of surcharge and cess for domestic companies would be 25.17% and for new domestic manufacturing companies would be 17.01%.

MONEY BILL:

A Bill is said to be a Money Bill if it only contains provisions related to taxation, borrowing of money by the government, expenditure from or receipt to the Consolidated Fund of India.

Bills that only contain provisions that are incidental to these matters would also be regarded as Money Bills.

A Money Bill may only be introduced in Lok Sabha, on the recommendation of the President. It must be passed in the Lok Sabha by a simple majority of all members present and voting.

The Rajya Sabha cannot amend money bills but can recommend amendments. A money bill, that solely concerns taxation or government spending, must be returned to the Lok Sabha within 14 days, or the bill is deemed to have passed both houses in the form it was originally passed by the Lok Sabha.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?


Sources: the Hindu.

*****************************

CONTEXT

India Skills Report 2019-20 has been released.

WHAT IS INDIA SKILLS REPORT?

It is a joint initiative by PeopleStrong, a Global Talent Assessment Company, in collaboration with Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) along with partners like UNDP, AICTE, and AIU. The report also consists of an in-depth study of employability amongst the fresh candidates joining the workforce.





KEY FINDINGS:

About 46.21 per cent students were found employable or ready to take up jobs in 2019, compared with 33 per cent in 2014, and 47.38 per cent in 2018.

Female employability witnessed an upward trend at 47 per cent this year from 38 per cent in 2017 and 46 per cent in 2018.

Most employable candidates as per the courses were MBA Students at 54 per cent as against 40 per cent in the last two years.

A decline in employability was seen in BTech, Engineering. MCA graduates, Technical & Computer-related courses.

PERFORMANCE OF STATES:

Top three states in terms of employability: Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh. Top two employable cities : Mumbai and Hyderabad.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?

For prelims and mains: KEY POINTS OF THE REPORT

Sources: the Hindu.

*****************************

CONTEXT

The Seventh Economic Census is being conducted nationwide through Common Service Centres (CSC) and is expected to be completed by March 2020. This is the first time the census is being conducted digitally.

HIGHLIGHTS:





As the census is being conducted digitally, the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation conducting the census has tied up with CSC e-governance services for the 7th census.

Currently the census is being held in Delhi. Delhi is the 26th place where the census is launched.

The process is long and will take minimum of three months to complete the census in Delhi region alone. Already the census is on in 20 states and 5 union territories.

Initially the economic census process will take minimum of 2 years to complete. With digital processes implemented in the census, it is being completed in less than 6 months according to the Ministry.

Around 1.5 lakh trained enumerators have been employed in the census. They will visit 35 crore households and establishments to carry out the census.

ECONOMIC CENSUS:

The Indian Economic Census is counting entrepreneurial units in the country. It involves both agricultural and non-agricultural activities.

It provides information such as number of persons employed, number of establishments, type of ownership, source of finance, etc.

The information provided by the census is used to plan and assess contribution of various sectors towards GDP of the country.

The Indian Economic Census was first launched in 1977. So far 6 census have been conducted in the years 1977, 1980, 1990, 1998, 2005, 2013.

The economic census 1980 and 1990 were integrated with population census.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?

For prelims and mains: ECONOMIC CENSUS

Sources: the Hindu.

*****************************

CONTEXT

Recently, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry has notified setting up of Tripura’s first ever Special Economic Zone (SEZ).





DEVELOPED BY:

Tripura Industrial Development Corporation (TIDC) Ltd.

AIM:

To provide Special privileges For the industries based on rubber, textile and apparel, bamboo and agri-food processing.

WHAT ARE SEZS?

Special Economic Zones (SEZs) are geographically delineated ‘enclaves’ in which regulations and practices related to business and trade differ from the rest of the country and therefore all the units therein enjoy special privileges.

The basic idea of SEZs emerges from the fact that, while it might be very difficult to dramatically improve infrastructure and business environment of the overall economy ‘overnight’, SEZs can be built in a much shorter time, and they can work as efficient enclaves to solve these problems.

FACILITIES AND INCENTIVES FOR SEZS:

Duty-free import/domestic procurement of goods for development, operation and maintenance of SEZ units.

Income tax exemption on export income for SEZ units under the Income Tax Act for first 5 years, 50% for next 5 years thereafter and 50% of the ploughed back export profit for next 5 years.

Exemption from Minimum Alternate Tax (MAT). Single window clearance for Central and State level approvals.

CONCERNS WITH PRESENT SEZ:

SEZs in India have not been as successful as their counterparts in many other countries. Several Asian economies, particularly China, Korea, Malaysia, and Singapore, have greatly benefitted from these zones.

Most of India’s new generation SEZs came up not for exporting, but for avoiding taxes. Large fiscal sops, in the form of a bunch of reliefs from central and state taxes, lured developers into building SEZs.

Most manufacturing SEZs in India have performed below par due to their poor linkages with the rest of the economy. Weak connections of coastal SEZs with their hinterlands inhibited these zones from utilising their full potential.

States did not match the central SEZ Act with State-level legislation, which rendered the single window system ineffective.

Lack of a robust policy design, efficient implementation and effective monitoringhave seriously jeopardised India’s effort to industrialise through SEZs.





WHAT’S IMPORTANT?

For prelims and mains: WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF SEZ AND CONCERNED RELATED WITH

IT?

Sources: the Hindu.

*****************************

CONTEXT

RBI has extended the availability of National Electronic Funds Transfer (NEFT) round-the-clock on all the seven days of the week — 24×7 basis — to facilitate beyond the banking hour fund transfer.

SIGNIFICANCE:

The RBI joins an elite club of countries having payment systems which enable round the clock funds transfer and settlement of any value.

So far, Australia, Hong Kong, Mexico, Sweden, Turkey, the UK, South Korea, Singapore, South Africa, and China have such payment system.

WHAT IS NEFT?

o NEFT is an electronic funds transfer system maintained by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). o Started in November 2005, the setup was established and maintained by Institute for

Development and Research in Banking Technology (IDRBT). o NEFT enables bank customers in India to transfer funds between any two NEFT-enabled bank

accounts on a one-to-one basis. o It is done via electronic messages. o Unlike Real-time gross settlement (RTGS), fund transfers through the NEFT system do not

occur in real-time basis.





WHAT IS RTGS?

RTGS are specialist funds transfer systems where the transfer of money or securities takes place from one bank to any other bank on a “real time” and on a “gross” basis.

Settlement in “real time” means a payment transaction is not subjected to any waiting period, with transactions being settled as soon as they are processed.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?

For prelims and mains: SIGNIFICANCE OF NEFT

Sources: the Hindu.

*****************************

CONTEXT

The Gaganyaan Programme has been approved by the Government of India. Gaganyaan is targeted for December 2021.

HIGHLIGHTS:

GSLV Mk III launcher which is ISRO’s heavy lift launcher is identified for Gaganyaan mission. It has requisite payload carrying capacity for Orbital module in desired elliptical orbit. Process for human rating of GSLV Mk-III is progressing well.

The design and configuration of major subsystem are finalized. The procurement and system/ subsystem realisation for tests and flight has commenced.

ISRO is planning to collaborate with national and international agencies. MoUs in this regard have already been signed with DRDO labs, Indian Air Force and Russian space agency.

The crew selection and training process for Gaganyaan mission is progressing well including the training in Russia under Gaganyaan Mission.

ISRO has wide experience in technological areas with respect to Launch vehicle, spacecraft management, ground infrastructure etc.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?

For prelims and mains: THE GAGANYAN PROGRAMME





Sources: the Hindu.

*****************************

CONTEXT

NASA released some images showing the site of the Vikram lander’s impact and the associated debris field.Nasa credited a Chennai-based techie with the discovery

NASA said the debrisis about 750 metres northwest of the main crash site where Vikram made a hard landing on September 7th 2019.

HIGHLIGHTS:

Isro’sChandrayaan 2 mission was expected to make a soft landing on the Moon’s surface when it lost contact with the Vikram lander ahead of the scheduled touchdown.

Chandrayaan 2’s Vikram lander hard-landed on Moon’s surface as reduction in velocity during its descent did not match with the designed parameters.

The indigenously developed Chandrayaan-2 spacecraft comprising of orbiter, lander (Vikram) and rover (Pragyan) was successfully launched on-board the indigenous GSLV MK III-M1 Mission on July 22, 2019

The Isro is planning to launch Chandrayaan 3 probably in November next year.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?

For prelims and mains: ABOUT THE MISSION

Sources: the Hindu.

*****************************





CONTEXT

Delhi government announced the installation of 11,000 hotspots across Delhi as part of the free Wi-Fi scheme promised by the AamAadmi Party in its 2015 manifesto.

HIGHLIGHTS:

Of the 11,000 hotspots, around 4,000 would come up near bus stands and the remaining 7,000 across marketplaces with each constituency to get 100 hotspots each

The total expenditure on the installation will be around ₹100 crore, The people of Delhi will be able to locate a Wi-Fi connection after every 500 metres, with the

hotspot connections supporting a radius of 100 metres. Every user will get free 15 GB data per month, with a data limit of 1.5 GB per day. On an average, the maximum speed of the connection will be 200 Mbps, but the estimated

speed will be between 100 and 150 Mbps Each hotspot would be able to support 150-200 users simultaneously. The Delhi government will pay the rent every month to the company for each hotspot

installed.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?

For prelims and mains: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLGY

Sources: the Hindu.

*****************************

CONTEXT





India’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle, in its 50th flight (PSLV-C48), successfully launched RISAT-2BR1, an earth observation satellite, along with nine commercial satellites of Israel, Italy, Japan and USA from Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) SHAR, Sriharikota.

HIGHLIGHTS:

These satellites were launched under commercial arrangement with NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), the commercial arm of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

RISAT-2BR1:

It is a radar imaging earth observation satellite weighing about 628 kg. The satellite will provide services in the field of Agriculture, Forestry and Disaster

Management. The mission life of RISAT-2BR1 is 5 years. It is believed that RISAT-2BR1 along with Cartosat-3, a remote sensing satellite which was

launched on November 27, 2019, will also be used for military reconnaissance. Before the launch of RISAT (Remote Imaging Satellite), India relied on images provided by

Canadian satellites as the current domestic remote sensing spacecraft are not equipped to capture images of the earth during cloud cover.

PSLV:

Initially, the PSLV had a carrying capacity of 850 kg, and over the years it has been enhanced to 1.9 tonnes.

The PSLV is very versatile, having various mission options.The PSLV had helped take payloads into almost all the orbits in space, including the the Geo-Stationary Transfer Orbit (GTO), the moon and mars, and would soon be launching a mission to the Sun

The PSLV has failed only twice — the maiden flight of the PSLV D1 in September 1993 and the PSLV C-39 in August 2017.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?

For prelims and mains: India’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle, RISAT-2BR1

Sources: the Hindu.

*****************************





CONTEXT

The prototype of one kilogram (NPK-57) is now available in India and placed at the National Physical Laboratory, New Delhi.

BACKGROUND:

Scientists, last year, have changed the way the kilogram is defined. The decision was made at the General Conference on Weights and Measures. The new definitions came into force on 20 May 2019.

HOW DOES THE NEW SYSTEM WORK?

Electromagnets generate a force. Scrap-yards use them on cranes to lift and move large metal objects, such as old cars. The pull of the electromagnet, the force it exerts, is directly related to the amount of electrical

current going through its coils. There is, therefore, a direct relationship between electricity and weight.

So, in principle, scientists can define a kilogram, or any other weight, in terms of the amount of electricity needed to counteract the weight (gravitational force acting on a mass).

WHAT IS PLANCK’S CONSTANT?

There is a quantity that relates weight to electrical current, called Planck’s constant – named after the German physicist Max Planck and denoted by the symbol h.

But h is an incredibly small number and to measure it, the research scientist Dr Bryan Kibble built a super-accurate set of scales.

The Kibble balance, as it has become known, has an electromagnet that pulls down on one side of the scales and a weight – say, a kilogram – on the other.

The electrical current going through the electromagnet is increased until the two sides are perfectly balanced.

By measuring the current running through the electromagnet to incredible precision, the researchers are able to calculate h to an accuracy of 0.000001%. This breakthrough has paved the way for Le Grand K to be deposed by “die kleine h”.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?





For prelims and mains: General Conference on Weights and Measures

Sources: PIB

*****************************

CONTEXT

Odisha has won the ‘World Habitat Award’, global recognition for its ambitious initiative — Jaga Mission.

ABOUT JAGA MISSION:

Odisha Liveable Habitat Mission “JAGA” is a society under Housing & Urban Development Department, Government of Odisha.

Recently, this project was also awarded the ‘India Geospatial Excellence Award’ for technological innovation in transforming the lives of urban poor.

COMPOSITION:

Headed by the Chief Secretary, Odisha as Chairman and Principal Secretary, H&UD as Member Secretary

AIMS:

Transform the slums into liveable habitat with all necessary civic infrastructure and services at par with the better off areas within the same urban local body (ULB).

Continuously improve the standard of the infrastructure and services and access to livelihood opportunities.

Leverage and converge various schemes/ programs/ funding opportunities by strengthening collaboration among various Departments and other Stakeholders.

Provide advisory support to Government of Odisha to examine options for policy reforms required for the sustainable transformation of lives of urban poor.

WHAT IS WORLD HABITAT AWARD?





This award is given by World Habitat, a UK-based organization, in partnership with United Nation (UN)-Habitat, every year, in recognition of innovative, outstanding, and revolutionary ideas, projects, and programmes from across the world.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?

For prelims and mains: WORLD HABITAT AWARD, INDIA GEOSPATIAL EXCELLENCE

Sources: the Hindu.

*****************************

CONTEXT

Unable to meet set targets for urban renewal in 500 cities, the Centre has decided to extend the mission period of its flagship initiative Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) by two more years.

ABOUT AMRUT MISSION:

Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) is the new avatar of the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM). But, in a significant departure from the earlier mission, the Centre will not appraise individual projects.

THE MISSION WILL FOCUS ON THE FOLLOWING

THRUST AREAS:

1. Water Supply. 2. Sewerage and septage management. 3. Storm Water Drainage to reduce flooding 4. Non-motorized Urban Transport. 5. Green space/parks. 6. Five hundred cities have been selected under AMRUT. The category of cities that have been

selected under AMRUT is given below: 7. All Cities and Towns with a population of over one lakh with notified Municipalities as per

Census 2011, including Cantonment Boards (Civilian areas).





8. All Capital Cities/Towns of States/ UTs, not covered in above. 9. All Cities/ Towns classified as Heritage Cities by MoHUA under the HRIDAY Scheme. 10. Thirteen Cities and Towns on the stem of the main rivers with a population above 75,000 and

less than 1 lakh. 11. Ten Cities from hill states, islands and tourist destinations (not more than one from each

State).

IMPLEMENTATION:

AMRUT adopts a project approach to ensure basic infrastructure services relating to water supply, sewerage, storm-water drains, transportation and development of green spaces and parks with special provision for meeting the needs of children.

Under this mission, 10% of the budget allocation will be given to states and union territories as incentive based on the achievement of reforms during the previous year.

States will only submit state annual action Plans to the centre for broad concurrence based on which funds will be released.

Central assistance will be to the extent of 50% of project cost for cities and towns with a population of up to 10 lakhs and one-third of the project cost for those with a population of above 10 lakhs.

Under the mission, states will transfer funds to urban local bodies within 7 days of transfer by central government and no diversion of funds to be made failing which penal interest would be charged besides taking other adverse action by the centre.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?

For prelims and mains: IMPLEMENTATION OF THE AMRUT MISSION

Sources: PIB

*****************************

CONTEXT

Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban (SBM-U) has achieved its target of creating Urban India Open Defecation Free (ODF). Urban areas of 35 states / UTs have become ODF and certified through third-party verification.





KEY POINTS:

Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) launched various initiatives to make SBM-U a successful project. Some of them include:

Norms under ODF: No visible faces shall found in the environment and every household, as

well as public/community institutions, should be using safe technology option for disposal of faeces.

Norms under ODF+: Not a single person should be defecating and/or urinating in open. All

community and public toilets should be properly maintained and cleaned.

Norms under ODF++: Proper treatment and management of faecal sludge/septage and

sewage is safely managed and treated. There should be no discharge or dumping of untreated faecal sludge/septage and sewage in drains, water bodies or open areas.

Water + Protocol: It is designed to ensure that no untreated wastewater is discharged into the

open environment or water bodies.

STAR RATING PROTOCOL FOR GARBAGE FREE

CITIES:

It is based on 12 parameters which follow a SMART framework – Single metric, Measurable, Achievable, Rigorous verification mechanism and Targeted towards outcomes.

As on date, 4 cities namely, Indore (Madhya Pradesh), Ambikapur (Chattisgarh), Navi Mumbai (Maharashtra) and Mysuru (Karnataka) have been certified as 5-star cities.

MATERIAL RECOVERY FACILITIES (MRFS):

MoHUA has also partnered with National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to use the plastic waste for road construction.

Additionally, cities have been asked to set up adequate Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs) to handle the segregation, processing and recycle of plastic waste.

SWACHH SUREVKSHAN:

MoHUA launched the Swachh Survekshan 2020 (SS 2020) league, a quarterly cleanliness assessment of cities and towns in India.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?

For prelims and mains: IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROJECT





Sources: the Hindu.

*****************************

CONTEXT

The Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Ltd. (DFCCIL) has opened the more than 300-km section between Rewari, Haryana to Madar, Rajasthan, for commercial trial runs. This is the first section to be opened on the under-construction 1,500-km western freight corridor.

ABOUT WESTERN DEDICATED FREIGHT CORRIDOR (DFC):

It is a broad gauge corridor. The 1,504-km western freight corridor begins at Dadri in Uttar Pradesh and stretches till the

country’s largest container port — Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust, near Mumbai. In October 2006, a dedicated body, the Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India

(DFCCIL) has been established to carry out the project. The project will be funded by a soft loan of $4bn provided by Japan International Cooperation

Agency under special terms for economic partnership (STEP).

IMPORTANT PLACES IN THIS ROUTE:

It passes through Vadodara,Ahmedabad, Palanpur, Phulera and Rewari. Passing through P., Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Maharashtra.

SIGNIFICANCE:

o The western DFC will separate freight and passenger traffic to increase the speed of freight movement.

o It will be used to transport fertilisers, food grains, salt, coal, iron & steel and cement.





o The project will eventually be linked to the Eastern DFC to form four hubs known as India’s Golden Quadrilateral including Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata.

WHY DO WE NEED DFCS?

1. INCREASED BURDEN :

Covering a total of 10,122 km, these corridors carry the heaviest traffic and are highly congested. The route carries 52% of passenger traffic and 58% of freight traffic, according to the Make-in-India report of 2017. Also, these routes are highly saturated, with line capacity utilisation reaching as high as 150%.

2. RISE IN DEMAND :

Considering increased transport demands, overtly congested routes and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with road transport, these freight corridors will help reduce the cost and allow faster transportation.

3. REVENUE GENERATION :

They will open new avenues for investment, as this will lead to the construction of industrial corridors and logistic parks along these routes.

ABOUT DEDICATED FREIGHT CORRIDOR

CORPORATION OF INDIA (DFCCIL):

The DFCCIL is a corporation run by the Ministry of Railways (India) to undertake planning & development, mobilisation of financial resources and construction, maintenance and operation of the Dedicated Freight Corridors.

DFCC has been registered as a company under the Companies Act 1956 on 30 October 2006.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?

For prelims and mains: WHY DO WE NEED DFCS AND ITS SIGNIFICANCE?

Sources: the Hindu.

*****************************





CONTEXT

The Ministry has embarked upon a programme for ‘Blue Flag’ Certification for select beaches in the country.

HIGHLIGHTS:

This Certification is accorded by an international agency “Foundation for Environment Education, Denmark” based on 33 stringent criteria in four major heads i.e.

(i) Environmental Education and Information,

(ii) Bathing Water Quality,

(iii) Environment Management and Conservation and

(iv) Safety and Services in the beaches.

BLUE FLAG

The ‘Blue Flag’ beach is an Eco-tourism model endeavouring to provide to the tourists/beach goers clean and hygienic bathing water, facilities/amenities, safe and healthy environment and sustainable development of the area.

13 pilot beaches that have been identified for the

certification, in consultation with concerned coastal States/UTs, are:

1. Ghoghala Beach (Diu), 2. Shivrajpur beach (Gujarat), 3. Bhogave (Maharashtra), 4. Padubidri 5. Kasarkod (Karnagaka), 6. Kappad beach (Kerala), 7. Kovalam beach (Tamil Nadu), 8. Eden beach (Puducherry), 9. Rushikonda beach (Andhra Pradesh),





10. Miramar beach (Goa), 11. Golden beach (Odisha), 12. Radhanagar beach (Andaman & Nicobar Islands) 13. Bangaram beach (Lakshadweep).

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?

For prelims and mains: Eco-tourism, environment and sustainable development

Sources: the Hindu.

*****************************

CONTEXT

According to data provided in Rajya Sabha by Ministry of Environment, at last count, the rivers of Assam and Uttar Pradesh respectively had 962 and 1,275 Gangetic dolphins (or Platanistagangetica).

The International Union for Conservation of Nature has listed the Gangetic dolphin as an endangered species in India.

According to the WWF, the main threat to the Gangetic dolphin is the creation of dams and irrigation projects.

In addition to the species being India’s national aquatic animal, the Gangetic dolphin has been notified by the Assam government as the state aquatic animal, too.

Silting and sand lifting from rivers in Assam has been stopped to maintain its population.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?

For prelims and mains: WATER POLLUTION AND GANGETIC DOLPHINS: AN endangered

species in India

Sources: the Hindu.

*****************************





CONTEXT

India tests Swedish torrefaction technology to reduce stubble burning.

WHAT IS TORREFACTION?

It is a thermal process used to produce high-grade solid biofuels from various streams of woody biomass or agro residues.

The end product is a stable, homogeneous, high quality solid biofuel with far greater energy density and calorific value than the original feedstock, providing significant benefits in logistics, handling and storage, as well as opening up a wide range of potential uses.

HOW IT WORKS?

Biomass torrefaction involves heating the biomass to temperatures between 250 and 300 degrees Celsius in a low-oxygen atmosphere.

When biomass is heated at such temperatures, the moisture evaporates and various low-calorific components (volatiles) contained in the biomass are driven out.

During this process the hemi-cellulose in the biomass decomposes, which transforms the biomass from a fibrous low quality fuel into a product with excellent fuel characteristics.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?

For prelims and mains: HOW THE Torrefaction Technology Can Be Helpful To Reduce

Stubble Burning?

Sources: the Hindu.

*****************************





CONTEXT

The International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) 10th Asian Elephant Specialist Group (AsESG) Meeting was held recently at Kota Kinabalu in Sabah, Malaysia.

HIGHLIGHTS:

More than 130 elephant conservationists, partner organisations and experts gathered at the meeting.

Issues discussed included national action plans for elephant conservation by Asian elephant range states, best practices in managing human-elephant conflict, mechanisms to involve group members in monitoring the illegal killing of elephants, issues related to captive elephant welfare and sharing and learning from the African experience.

ABOUT ASESG:

The IUCN Asian Elephant Specialist Group (AsESG) is a global network of specialists (both scientists and non-scientists) concerned with the study, monitoring, management, and conservation of Asian Elephants (Elephas maximus).

AIM:

To promote the long-term conservation of Asia’s elephants and, where possible, the recovery of their populations to viable levels

FUNCTIONS:

o It shall provide the best available scientifically grounded evidence to the abundance, distribution, and demographic status of Asian elephant populations in all 13 range states.

o Gajah is the bi-annual journal of the IUCN/SSC Asian Elephant Specialist Group (AsESG).

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?

For prelims and mains: WILDLIFE CONSERVATION





Sources: the Hindu.

*****************************

CONTEXT

Recently, National Institute of Oceanography (NIO) conducted a study which states that beaches in Maharashtra are more polluted with microplastics and macroplastics than those in Goa and Karnataka.

THE TITLE OF THE STUDY:

‘Assessment of macro and micro plastics along the west coast of India: abundance, distribution, polymer type and toxicity’.

KEY POINTS:

The assessment of macro and microplastic contamination was conducted for two years on 10 beaches along the western coast of India and their toxic effects on marine organisms.

Plastics less than five millimeters in length are called ‘microplastics’ and the relatively larger particles, of more than five millimeters, are classified as ‘macroplastics’.

REASONS FOR POLLUTION:

Land-based contaminants coming from near shore plastic industries, port areas, petroleum industries and high tourism activities.

RECOMMENDATIONS:

The government should frame policies to shun single-use plastic, increase it’s recycling and also conduct community awareness programmes to prevent the marine environment from being affected by plastic contaminants.





NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF OCEANOGRAPHY

It is a multi-disciplinary oceanographic research institute and is one of the constituent laboratories of the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR), New Delhi.

It’s headquarter is at Dona Paula, Goa with regional centres at Kochi (Kerala), Mumbai (Maharashtra) and Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh).

It was established on 1 January 1966 following the International Indian Ocean Expedition (IIOE) in the 1960s.

The principal focus of research has been on observing and understanding special oceanographic characteristics of the Indian Ocean.

The major research areas include the four traditional branches of oceanography – biological, chemical, geological/geophysical and physical, as well as ocean engineering, marine instrumentation and marine archaeology.

INTERNATIONAL INDIAN OCEAN EXPEDITION

During years 1962-1965, it was one of the greatest international, interdisciplinary oceanographic research efforts to explore Indian Ocean in which 40 oceanographic research vessels belonging to 13 countries surveyed the Indian Ocean and collected useful data in almost all disciplines in the marine sciences.

This was one of the first coordinated efforts to explore the Indian Ocean. The Second International Indian Ocean Expedition (IIOE-2), for the period of 2015-2020, is a

major global scientific program which will reveal new information on the Indian Ocean which is fundamental for future sustainable development and expansion of the Indian Ocean’s blue economy.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?

For prelims and mains: community awareness programmes to prevent the marine

environment, sustainable development and expansion of the Indian Ocean’s blue economy.

Sources: the Hindu.

*****************************

CONTEXT :





The Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Shri Prakash Javadekar released the biennial “India State of Forest Report (ISFR)”.

WHO PREPARES AND WHY?

The report is published by the Forest Survey of India (FSI) which has been mandated to assess the forest and tree resources of the country including wall-to-wall forest cover mapping in a biennial cycle.

Starting 1987, 16 assessments have been completed so far. ISFR 2019 is the 16th report in the series.

SOME MAJOR FINDINGS:

Area-wise Madhya Pradesh has the largest forest cover in the country followed by Arunachal

Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha and Maharashtra. In terms of forest cover as percentage of total geographical area, the top five States are

Mizoram (85.41%), Arunachal Pradesh (79.63%), Meghalaya (76.33%), Manipur (75.46%) and Nagaland (75.31%).

The Mangrove ecosystems are unique & rich in biodiversity and they provide numerous ecological services.

Mangrove cover has been separately reported in the ISFR 2019 and the total mangrove cover in the country is 4,975 sq km.

The total growing stock of India’s forest and TOF is estimated 5,915.76 million cum of which 4,273.47 million cum is inside the forests and 1,642.29 million cum outside.

The extent of bamboo bearing area of the country has been estimated 16.00 million hectare. There is an increase of 0.32 million hectare in bamboo bearing area as compared to the last assessment of ISFR 2017.

Wetlands within forest areas form important ecosystems and add richness to the biodiversity in forest areas, both of faunal and floral species.

Due to importance of wetlands, FSI has carried out an exercise at the national level to identify wetlands of more than 1 ha within RFA.

METHODOLOGY:

ISFR 2019 is the 16th report in the series. In tune with the Government of India’s vision of

Digital India, FSI’s assessment is largely based on digital data whether it is satellite data, vector boundaries of districts or data processing of field measurements.

The report provides information on forest cover, tree cover, mangrove cover, growing stock inside and outside the forest areas, carbon stock in India’s forests, Forest Types and Biodiversity, Forest Fire monitoring and forest cover in different slopes & altitudes.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?





For prelims and mains: MAJOR FINDINGS OF THE REPORT

Sources: the Hindu.

*****************************

CONTEXT

The Ministry of Jal Shakti has constituted a three-member Supervisory Committee to settle the issue of Mullaperiyar dam between Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

ISSUE:

The tension between the two states over the issue has persisted since the 1960s, with Kerala citing concerns regarding the dam’s safety and arguing for the reduction of the dam’s water levels.

But with the water from the dam being diverted to five districts in Tamil Nadu and its importance in the state’s irrigation and power production practices, Tamil Nadu has consistently opposed this.

MULLAPERIYAR DAM:

The Mullaperiyar dam is located on the confluence of the Mullayar and Periyar rivers in Kerala’s Idukki district.

It is operated and maintained by the Tamil Nadu for meeting the drinking water and irrigation requirements of five of its southern districts.

According to a 999-year lease agreement made during the British rule the operational rights were handed over to Tamil Nadu.

The dam intends to divert the waters of the west-flowing river Periyar eastward to the arid rain shadow regions of the Tamil Nadu.

PERIYAR RIVER:

The Periyar River is the longest river in the state of Kerala with a length of 244 km. It is also known as ‘Lifeline of Kerala’ as it is one of the few perennial rivers in the state. A perennial river is a channel that has continuous flow in parts of its stream bed all year

round.





Periyar River originates from Sivagiri hills of Western Ghats and flows through the Periyar National Park.

The main tributaries of Periyar are Muthirapuzha, Mullayar, Cheruthoni, Perinjankutti.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?

For prelims and mains: CONSTRUCTION OF DAM AND ITS EFFECT ON OUR ENVIRONMENT

AND WILDLIFE.

Sources: the Hindu.

*****************************

CONTEXT

The National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management (NCSCM) is established under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change to undertake studies and research in the area of Coastal Zone Management including coastal resources and environment.

OBJECTIVE:

It aims to promote integrated and sustainable management of the coastal and marine areas in India for the benefit and wellbeing of the traditional coastal and island communities.

It also intends to promote sustainable coasts through increased partnership, conservation practices, scientific research and knowledge benefit and well-being of current and future generation.

ROLE:





It has various research divisions including, Geospatial Sciences, Remote Sensing and Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Coastal environmental impact assessment, Conservation of Coastal & Marine Resources, etc.

Survey of India and NCSCM has mapped the Hazard Line for the entire coast of India, which includes vulnerability mapping of flood, erosion and sea-level rise.

It also advices the Union and State Governments and other associated stakeholders on policy, and scientific matters related to Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM).

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?

For prelims and mains: Sustainable Coastal Management

Sources: Pib.

*****************************

CONTEXT

NITI Aayog has released the 2019 SDG India Index.

HIGHLIGHTS:

Kerala tops states in progress towards UN Sustainable Development Goals, while Bihar is at the bottom .

Himachal Pradesh and Sikkim have joined all the southern states in the top tier of front runners who scored more than 65 points, out of a possible 100.

Ending hunger and achieving gender equality are the areas where most states fall far short, with the all-India scores for these goals at 35 and 42 points respectively.

Niti Aayog has given India an overall score of 60 points, driven mostly by progress in clean energy and sanitation (88); peace, justice and strong institutions (72); and affordable and clean energy (70).

KEY FACTS OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOAL INDEX:





The SDG India Index, launched last year by Niti Aayog with the help of United Nations, took

into account 16 out of 17 goals specified by the United Nations as SDGs . The Index this year ranked states based on 54 targets spread over 100 indicators out of 306

outlined by the UN.

The first report, which was launched in 2018 had 13 goals and 39 indicators. The year 2020 will be the fifth anniversary of the adoption of SDGs by 193 countries at the UN

General Assembly. The SDGs, constituted through an unprecedented consultative process, have 17 goals and 169

related targets to be achieved by 2030.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?

For prelims and mains: KEY FINDINGS OF THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOAL INDEX

Sources: the Hindu.

*****************************

CONTEXT

The National Energy Conservation Day is celebrated every year on 14 December. The Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), under Union Ministry of Power spearheads the celebrations of the day every year since 1991.

OBJECTIVE:

To drive mass awareness about importance of energy efficiency and conservation To showcase India’s achievements in energy efficiency and conservation.

NATIONAL ENERGY CONSERVATION DAY:





Every year on this occasion a National Energy Conservation Awards Programme is also organised to recognize and encourage the efforts of various organizations, who have achieved efficient utilization and conservation of energy.

The award also recognizes energy efficiency achievements in 56 sub sectors across industry, establishments and institutions including zonal railways, railway workshops and stations, municipalities, thermal power stations, electricity distribution companies, State Designated Agencies, hospitals, hotels, shopping malls and manufacturers of BEE Star labeled appliances or equipment.

In addition to felicitating awards to winners of National Energy Conservation Awards Programme, BEE also felicitates prizes to winners of National Painting Competition on Energy Conservation, with the objective to sensitize school children towards Energy Efficiency and Energy Conservation.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?

For prelims and mains: CONSERVATION OF THE ENERGY

Sources: the Hindu.

*****************************

CONTEXT

Researchers at the IIT-Guwahati (IIT-G) have developed materials that can produce energy from flowing or stagnant water in households.

HIGHLIGHTS:

Electro-kinetic streaming potential: When fluids stream through tiny channels (made up of special semiconducting material) that are charged, they can generate an electrical voltage, which may be harnessed through miniaturised generators.

Devices with doped graphene flakes was also fabricated for generating power by dipping it in a bucket of water or any stagnant water source to “complementary charge transfer activities”





Graphene is the sheet produced by oxidation followed by reduction of natural graphite flakes.

VALUE ADDITION FOR PRELIMS–GRAPHENE:

Graphene is a form of carbon and a super-strong, ultra-light material discovered in 2004 Graphene consists of a single layer of carbon atoms arranged in a hexagonal lattice, each atom

bound to its neighbours by chemical bonds. It enables flexible electronic components, enhances solar cell capacity, and promises to

revolutionise batteries.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?

For prelims and mains: RENEWABLE ENERGY

Sources: the Hindu.

*****************************

CONTEXT

India’s first Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) under Hybrid Annuity Mode will come up in Haridwar (Uttarakhand) and Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh).

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE PROJECT:

It is first time ever in India that Hybrid Annuity-based Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode is being applied in sewerage sector.

This Plant is based on advanced aerobic biological process, Sequential Batch Reactor (SBR) process, capable of removing the nutrients during treatment and is a 100% eco-friendly project. The plant will meet the highest standards of output parameters.

This will ensure continued performance of sewage infrastructure assets created due to better ownership, accountability and optimal performance.





Another unique feature of this HAM project is that after its commissioning, this plant will also be maintained and operated for a period of 15 years by the same developer for efficient performance and for meeting output parameters.

HYBRID ANNUITY MODEL:

The Union Cabinet had approved to Hybrid Annuity-PPP model in January 2016 with 100% central sector funding.

Under this model, development, operation and maintenance of STPs will be undertaken ba Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) created by winning bidder at local level.

As per this model, 40% of capital cost quoted will be paid on completion of construction while remaining 60% cost will be paid over life of project as annuities along with operation and maintenance cost (O&M) expenses.

In this model, Annuity and O&M payments are linked to performance of STP mainly to ensure continued performance of assets created due to better accountability, ownership and optimal performance.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?

For prelims and mains: HYBRID ANNUITY MODEL, India’s first Sewage Treatment Plant (STP)

Sources: the Hindu.

*****************************

CONTEXT

Observations made by the Global Carbon Project on India.

HIGHLIGHTS:

India’s emissions in 2019 were likely to be only 1.8 per cent higher than in 2018. Weak economic growth in India has led to slower growth in oil and natural gas use. With a weakening economy, growth in India’s generation of electricity has slowed from 6 per

cent per year to under 1 per cent in 2019, despite electrification of villages adding to potential demand.

Moreover, the addition of a very wet monsoon led to very high hydropower generation and a decline in generation from coal.





ABOUT GLOBAL CARBON PROJECT:

Formed in 2001 to help the international science community to establish a common, mutually agreed knowledge base that supports policy debate and action to slow the rate of increase of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

It is a Global Research Project of Future Earth and a research partner of the World Climate Research Programme.

It works collaboratively with the International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme, the World Climate Programme, the International Human Dimensions Programme on Global Environmental Change and Diversitas, under the Earth System Science Partnership.

Its projects include global budgets for three dominant greenhouse gases — CO2, methane, and nitrous oxide — and complementary efforts in urban, regional, cumulative, and negative emissions.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?

For prelims and mains: the Global Carbon Project

Sources: Indian Express.

*****************************

CONTEXT

The World Bank has approved Atal BhujalYojana (ABHY), a Rs.6, 000 Crore Central Sector Scheme, for sustainable management of ground water resources with community participation. The funding pattern is 50:50 between Government of India and World Bank.

ATAL BHUJAL YOJANA:

The objective of scheme is to recharge ground water and create sufficient water storage for agricultural purposes.

It also focuses on revival of surface water bodies so that ground water level can be increased, especially in the rural areas.





It will give emphasis to recharging ground water sources and ensure efficient use of water by involving people at local level.

SIGNIFICANCE:

This scheme will help those who are in need for constant ground water supply especially farmers who have been hard impacted by acute shortage of ground water for past several years. Its focus is primarily on involvement of communities and convergence with different water schemes.

Its major component is making society responsible and bringing about behaviour change to manage groundwater resource.

It will help improve overall outlook towards water resource.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?

For prelims and mains: SIGNIFICANCE OF THE SCHEME

Sources: the Hindu.

*****************************

CONTEXT

Indian Government has launched a network to encourage cross-disciplinary leadership- Called EChO Network.

AIM:

To identify gaps in knowledge regarding environment and then train postdoctoral leaders in research and outreach on these topics, incorporating current public and private efforts

KEY FEATURES:

It will provide a template for cross-disciplinary leadership in India with the specific focus of increasing research, knowledge, and awareness of Indian ecology and the environment.

The Network would develop a national network to catalyse a new generation of Indians who can synthesize interdisciplinary concepts and tackle real-world problems in medicine, agriculture, ecology, and technology.





HOW IT WORKS?

Through interactive sessions with citizens, industry, academia, and the government, the Network will identify gaps in knowledge regarding selected topics in human and environmental ecosystems.

The program will then train postdoctoral leaders in research and outreach on these topics, while also incorporating current public and private efforts into a national network.

It would then go on to establishing nation-wide awareness in these issues through public discourse and education for citizens, industry, and government with information exchange at all educational levels.

THE NEED:

Despite concerted efforts to promote ecological and environmental research, India lacks trained scientists with interdisciplinary skills and collaborative mind-set. Educators and students need to be trained to identify and solve problems in an interdisciplinary manner.

This network will inspire an entirely new approach to Indian education and exploration necessary for the post-technological world.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?

For prelims and mains: HOW THE Echo NETWORK WORKS AND WHY WE NEED IT?

Sources: PIB

*****************************

CONTEXT

Operational guidelines for the implementation of Jal Jeevan Mission have been released.

ABOUT JAL JEEVAN MISSION:

The Mission was announced in August 2019. The chief objective of the Mission is to provide piped water supply (Har Ghar Jal) to all rural

and urban households by 2024.





It also aims to create local infrastructure for rainwater harvesting, groundwater recharge and management of household waste water for reuse in agriculture.

The Mission will converge with other Central and State Government Schemes to achieve its objectives of sustainable water supply management across the country.

BENEFITS OF THE MISSION:

Household pipeline water supply. Clean and drinkable water. Recharge of groundwater level. Better local infrastructure. Less water-borne diseases. Less water wastage.

NEED FOR AND SIGNIFICANCE OF THE MISSION:

India has 16% of the world population, but only 4% of freshwater resources. Depleting groundwater level, overexploitation and deteriorating water quality, climate

change, etc. are major challenges to provide potable drinking water. It is an urgent requirement of water conservation in the country because of the decreasing

amount of groundwater level. Therefore, the Jal Jeevan Mission will focus on integrated demand and supply management of

water at the local level.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?

For prelims and mains: ABOUT THE MISSION

Sources: PIB

*****************************

CONTEXT

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi chaired the first meeting of the National Ganga Council in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh on 14 December.





AIM: The first meeting of the Council was aimed to reinforce the importance of a Ganga-centric approach in all departments of the concerned states and relevant Central Ministries.

HIGHLIGHTS:

The Council is given overall responsibility for superintendence of pollution prevention and rejuvenation of River Ganga Basin, including Ganga and its tributaries.

The council reviewed the progress of the amount of work done on various aspects of cleaning river Ganga with a focus on swachhta, aviralta and nirmalta.

The Central Government made a commitment of Rs.20,000 crores for the period 2015-20 to the five states through which Ganga passes. It aims to ensure adequate and uninterrupted water flows in the river. The government has already spent Rs.7700 crores prominently for the construction of new sewage treatment plants.

ABOUT NATIONAL GANGA COUNCIL:

National Council for Rejuvenation, Protection and Management of River Ganga is an authority created in October 2016 under the River Ganga (Rejuvenation, Protection and Management) Authorities Order, 2016, dissolving the National Ganga River Basin Authority.

In this backdrop, National Ganga Council has been established as an authority and National Mission for Clean Ganga has been also converted into an authority.

RESPONSIBILITIES AND FUNCTIONS:

The National Ganga Council will be overall responsible for the superintendence, direction, development and control of River Ganga and the entire River Basin (including financial and administrative matters) for the protection, prevention, control and abatement of environmental pollution in River Ganga and its rejuvenation to its natural and pristine condition and to ensure continuous adequate flow of water in the River Ganga and for matters connected therewith.

The National Ganga Council may consult experts and expert organizations or institutions in the field of river rejuvenation, river ecology and river management, hydrology, environmental engineering, social mobilization and other relevant fields.

NATIONAL GANGA COUNCIL COMPOSITION:

Prime Minister will be the ex-officio Chairperson for the council Union Minister for Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation will be the

ex-officio Vice-Chairperson. The ex-officio members of the council. Union Minister for Environment, Forests and Climate Change Union Minister for Finance Union Minister for Urban Development Union Minister for Rural Development Union Minister for Power, Union Minister for Science and Technology





Union Minister for Drinking Water and Sanitation Union Minister of State for Tourism Union Minister for Shipping Vice Chairman of NITI Aayog Chief Ministers of Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?

For prelims and mains: ESTABLISHMENT OF NATIONAL GANGA COUNCIL

Sources: the Hindu.

*****************************

CONTEXT

Winter Solstice this year falls on December 22.

WINTER SOLSTICE:

The winter solstice happens every year when the Sun reaches its most southerly declination of -23.5 degrees.

In other words, it is when the North Pole is tilted farthest away from the Sun, delivering the fewest hours of sunlight of the year.

The Sun is directly overhead of the Tropic of Capricorn in the Southern Hemisphere during the December solstice and is closer to the horizon than at any other time in the year.

The day after the winter solstice marks the beginning of lengthening days, leading up to the summer solstice in June.

WHAT DOES ‘SOLSTICE’ MEAN?

The term ‘solstice’ derives from the Latin word ‘solstitium’, meaning ‘Sun standing still’. On this day the Sun seems to stand still at the Tropic of Capricorn and then reverses its

direction as it reaches its southernmost position as seen from the Earth. Some prefer the more teutonic term ‘sunturn’ to describe the event.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?





For prelims and mains: WINTER SOLSTICE

Sources: the Hindu.

*****************************

CONTEXT

The Philippines was hit by typhoon Phanfone on 25th December 2019.

HIGHLIGHTS:

Typhoon Phanfone is known as Ursula in the local language in the Philippines. It is the second typhoon after typhoon Kammuri which hit the Philippines recently. Phanfone is following a similar path as Super Typhoon Haiyan, which had hit the country

in 2013. Typhoon is a region-specific name of the Tropical Cyclone (swirling system of clouds and

thunderstorms that originates over tropical or subtropical oceans). The Philippines is the first major landmass facing the Pacific cyclone belt. It is hit by about 20

storms and typhoons each year.

TROPICAL CYCLONE:

Cyclone is the formation of a very low-pressure system with very high-speed winds revolving around it. Factors like wind speed, wind direction, temperature and humidity contribute to the development of cyclones.

Cyclones are called ‘Hurricanes’ in the North Atlantic and Eastern Pacific, ‘Typhoons’ in South-East Asia and China and ‘Tropical Cyclones’ in the South-West Pacific and Indian Ocean Region.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?

For prelims and mains: FORMATION OF CYCLONE

Sources: the Hindu.

*****************************





CONTEXT

On 26th December 2019, India experienced an Annular Solar eclipse of 0.97 magnitudes, with 3 minutes and 39 seconds’ maximum duration of totality.

PLACES THAT EXPERIENCED SOLAR ECLIPSE

Parts of Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu experienced the full glimpse of the “Ring of Fire” solar eclipse.

Cheruvathur in Kasaragod district, Kerala is one of the three places in the world where the solar eclipse was seen most clearly.

Partial phases of the solar eclipse were visible from all over the country in varying magnitude depending upon the geographical position.

This annular solar eclipse was also visible from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Oman, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Northern Mariana Islands, and Guam.

SOLAR ECLIPSE:

A solar eclipse is a phenomenon that occurs when the moon comes in the way of the sun’s light. The moon’s shadow casts itself on Earth, blocking out the sun’s light (as seen from Earth).



https://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1577432106_image2.jpg



The ‘ring of fire’ is a characteristic of the annular solar eclipse. It causes the sun to look like a ring (annulus) and hence the name annular eclipse.

But it won’t be the case this time as the Moon is presently quite farther than average from Earth and once it will cross the Sun, a “negative shadow” or what technically called the antumbra will become visible in the form of the ring of fire. This is known as an annular eclipse.

Ophthalmologists warn against viewing the phenomenon with the naked eye or taking pictures using mobile phones or cameras.

TYPES OF ECLIPSE:

The moon’s shadow has two parts:

1. a central region (umbra) 2. an outer region (penumbra).

Depending upon which part of the shadow passes over the Earth, one of three types of solar eclipses could be observed:

1. Total Solar Eclipse- The entire central portion of the sun is blocked out by the moon.

2. Partial Solar Eclipse- Only part of the sun’s surface is blocked out.

3. Annular Solar Eclipse- The sun is covered in such a way that only a small ring-like

sliver of light is seen from the sun’s disc. This ring is known as the ring of fire.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?

For prelims and mains: SOLAR ECLIPSE

Sources: the Hindu.

*****************************





Q1. Consider the following statements:

1. NEFT is an electronic funds transfer system maintained by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).

2. RBI has extended the availability of National Electronic Funds Transfer (NEFT) round-the-

clock on all the seven days of the week — 24×7 basis

3. RTGS are specialist funds transfer systems where the transfer of money or securities takes

place from one bank to any other bank on a “real time” and on a “gross” basis.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

A. 1,2

B. 2,3

C. 1,3

D. 1,2,3


1. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar became the first Indian to pursue a doctorate degree in economics abroad ,

from Columbia University.

2. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar was appointed by the Bombay Presidency Committee to work in the Simon

Commission in 1925.

3. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar led the Mahad Satyagraha in March 1927 to challenge the regressive customs

of the Hindus.

Select the correct statement(s).

A. 1,2

B. 2,3

C. 1,3

D. 1,2,3

Q3. In context to "Plogging Run" , consider the following statements

1. It is a combination of jogging while picking up litter.

2. Ripu Daman Bevli is India’s first plogger. His mission is to Run to make Litter Free India

which is in line Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Swachh Bharat campaign.






A. Only 1 is correct.

B. Only 2 is correct.

C. Both are Correct.

D. None of the above.

Q4. Consider the following statements about Gandhi Citizenship Education Prize recently in

news

1. It has been instituted by United Nations so as to promote Gandhian Ideals

2. The first edition of the prize would be dedicated to animal welfare.

Select the correct answer from codes given below.



C. Both are correct.

D. None of the Above.

Q5. Consider the following statements about National Population Register

1. It is a register of all citizens of India who are above 18 years of age.

2. It has been decided to update NPR along with the Houselisting phase of Census 2021 during

April to September 2020 in all the States/UTs except Assam.

Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?





Q6. Operation twist recently in news is related to which of the following areas?

A. Indian Military’s strike across Myanmar border against Naga insurgents

B. ISRO’s mission to target and destroy spy satellites

C. RBI’s open market operations to manage bond yields

D. None of the above

Q7. Consider the following statements about India State Level Disease Burden Initiative’s

(ISLDBI) 2018 report

1. It was released by World Bank in association with NITI Aayog.

2. According to report, the average life expectancy in India would have been 1.7 years higher

had the air pollution levels been less than the minimal level causing health loss.


A. 1 only





B. 2 only

C. Both 1 and 2

D. Neither 1 nor 2

Q8. "Uyghurs" often seen in news, is associated with which country?

A. South Africa

B. Australia

C. Myanmar

D. China

Q9. Consider the following statements "Paika rebellion"

1. "Paikas" are the social groups to render martial services in return for rent-free land (nish-

kar jagirs) and titles.They were the traditional land-owning militia of Odisha and served as

warriors.

2. It was led by Bakshi Jagabandhu who fought the battle against British primarily for its land

revenue & land settlement policies which disrupted Tribal way of life.


A. 1 only

B. 2 only

C. Both 1 and 2

D. Neither 1 nor 2


1. Ms. Sanna Marin becomes the youngest-ever Prime Minister of Finland.

2. Mr. Oleksiy Honcharuk is the youngest prime Minister(Ukraine) in the world.

Which of the above statements is are correct.





Q11. Consider the following statements about Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons

(TPNW).

1. It is the first legally binding international agreement to comprehensively prohibit nuclear

weapons.

2. It was passed in 1974 after India conducted its first nuclear test.

3. The treaty prohibits the development, testing, production, stockpiling, transfer and use of

nuclear weapons for all the UN member countries.








C. Only 3 is correct.

D. All of the above.

Q12. National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) can hear appeals against the orders

passed by which of the following bodies?

1. National Company Law Tribunals

2. Competition Commission of India

3. Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India


A. 1,2

B. 2,3

C. 1,3

D. 1,2,3

Q13. Feni is a transboundary river between which two countries?

A. India and Nepal

B. India and Bhutan

C. India and Pakistan

D. India and Bangladesh

Q14. Recently, Parliament passed the Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu (Merger

of Union Territories) Bill, 2019 , consider the following statements about it.

1. The new entity would be called the UT of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu and

would be governed under the jurisdiction of the Bombay High Court.

2. The merger would bring about administrative convenience, speedy development and

effective implementation of central and state government schemes.






Q15. Which Article of Indian Constitution describes the Fundamental duties?

A. Article 48-A

B. Article 49-A

C. Article 50-A

D. Article 51-A





Q16. Consider the following statements about "Gangetic dolphin"

1. The International Union for Conservation of Nature has listed the Gangetic dolphin as an

endangered species in India.

2. The main threat to the Gangetic dolphin is the creation of dams and irrigation projects.






Q17. Consider the following regarding "The Indian Navy "

1. The first offensive operation was launched against Pakistan’s port city of Karachi during the

Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 by the Indian Navy.

2. The Navy Day was first observed on 4 December 1971. The day was designated in order to

work towards securing marine borders and strengthen relationships with other countries

through joint exercises, humanitarian missions, and relief operations.






Q18. Which Bill prohibits the use of hazardous materials in a ship with imprisonment or penalty

or both?

A. Recycling of Ships (Amendment) Bill, 2018

B. Prohibition of hazardous materials and Recycling of Ships (Amendment) Bill, 2018

C. Recycling of Ships Bill, 2019

D. Prohibition of hazardous materials and Recycling of Ships (Amendment) Bill, 2019

Q19. Consider the following statements regarding the powers and functions of Securities and

Exchange Board of India.

1. Registering and regulating the working of venture capital funds and collective

investment schemes, including mutual funds.

2. Promoting investors‘ education and training of intermediaries of securities markets.

3. Promoting insider trading in securities.


A. 1, 2

B. 1, 3





C. 2, 3

D. 1, 2, 3

Q20. Sukapaika river, recently seen in news is the distributary of which river?

E. Yamuna

F. Godavari

G. Mahanadi

H. Krishna

Q21. Consider the following statements about Bharatnet Project

1. It is being implemented by Prime Minister’s Office in collaboration with NITI Aayog

2. It aims to connect all 2.5 lakh gram panchayats through optical fibre.






Q22. Consider the following statements with regard Kinzhal missile system

1. It is developed by India in collaboration with Russia

2. The missile can fly10times faster than the speed of sound and can carry a nuclear or a

conventional warhead.

Which of the above statement(s) given above is/are correct?





Q23. Consider the following statements about Rohtang Pass

1. It is a high mountain pass on the eastern PirPanjal Range of the Himalayas.

2. It connects the Kullu Valley with the Lahaul and Spiti Valleys of Himachal Pradesh.










Q24. Consider the following statements about Chief of Defence Staff(CDS)

1. CDS will exercise any military command, including over the three Service Chiefs, so as to be

enable quick decision making.

2. CDS would come in the ambit of ‘Right to Information Act’, in accordance with the

provisions of the RTI Act, 2005.






Q25. Mach number often seen in news deals with which of the following

A. Intensity of earthquakes

B. Elasticity of material

C. Speed of an object


Q26. Consider the following statement regarding "E-Cigarettes"

1. E- cigarette is an Battery-operated devices that produce aerosol by heating a solution

containing nicotine, which is the addictive substance in combustible cigarettes.

2. production, manufacture, import, export, transport, sale, distribution, storage, and

advertisement of e-cigarettes is permissible in India.

Select the correct Statement(s).





Q27. Consider the following statements about "Siberia Gas pipeline project"

1. It is a pipeline in Eastern Siberia that transports natural gas from Yakutia to Primorsky Krai

and China.

2. It is a 3,000-km-long Power of Siberia pipeline.

3. The project began in October 2012 and it was commissioned on December 2019.

Select the correct. statement(s).

A. 1,2

B. 2,3





C. 1,3

D. 1.2.3

Q28. Consider the following statements regarding "Special Protection Group"

1. The protection to be offered only to the Prime Minister, former Prime Ministers and their

immediate family members that will reside with him at his official residence.

2. The security will be provided for a lifetime period to the former Prime Ministers after they

leave the office.






Q29. India’s cold wave zone covers which of the following states.

1. Punjab

2. Haryana

3. Gujarat

4. Madhya Pradesh

5. Bihar

Select the correct answer code:

A. 1, 2, 3

B. 1, 4, 5

C. 1, 2, 3, 4

D. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Q30. Consider the following statements regarding Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana.

1. The “Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana” (MKSP), a sub component of National Food

Security Mission (NFSM) seeks to improve the present status of women in Agriculture.

2. Projects are conceived in such a manner that the skill base of the women in agriculture is

enhanced to enable them to pursue their livelihoods on a sustainable basis.






Q31. Reporters without Borders, often in the news, is





A. An inter-governmental agency sponsored by European Union

B. A United Nations agency to help refugees of civil war

C. Non-governmental organization on issues relating to freedom of the press

D. United Nations organisation to regulate freedom of press.

Q32. Recently, World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) banned Russia for a four-year term from all

major sporting events. World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) initiated by

A. International Olympic Committee

B. International Anti-doping Organisation

C. World Anti-drugs Committee


Q33. Consider the following statements about "Climate Change Performance Index" (CCPI)

1. It is released by Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change in Collaboration with United

Nations.

2. India for the first time ranks among the top ten countries in the 2020 released index.


A. 1 only

B. 2 only

C. Both 1 and 2

D. Neither 1 nor 2

Q34. Consider the following statements about Pinaka Missile system

1. It is developed by DRDO

2. It is a Multi-Barrel Rocket System to supplement the existing artillery gun at ranges beyond

500 kilometres to make precision hits.





D. D. None of the Above.

Q35. GOAL (Going Online As Leaders), a mission to empower women is launched by

A. Google

B. Microsoft

C. Facebook

D. Twitter

Q36. Consider the following statements regarding Directorate of Revenue Intelligence.





1. The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence is the apex anti-smuggling agency of India, working

under the Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs.

2. It is tasked with combating commercial frauds related to international trade and evasion of

Customs duty.

3. Curbing illicit international trade in wildlife and environmentally sensitive items does not

come under the ambit of Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, as it is the responsibility of

Wildlife Crime Control Bureau.


A. 1,2

B. 2,3

C. 1,3

D. 1,2,3

Q37. Exercise Indra is joint military exercise conducted by which countries?

A. India and Sri Lanka

B. India, USA and Japan

C. India and Russia


Q38. Consider the following statements regarding “Power of Siberia” gas pipeline.

1. Power of Siberia is the first cross-border gas pipeline between Russia and China.

2. The pipeline passes through China’s Yangtze River.






Q39. Global Gender Gap Index is released by which body/organisation?

A. World Bank

B. International Council of Women

C. United Nations Development Programme

D. World Economic Forum

Q40. Consider the following statements about Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF)

1. Money for this fund would be raised through a prescribed percentage of the revenue earned

by the telecom licensees.

2. The Indian Telegraph (Amendment) Act, 2003 gives statutory status to the fund which is to

be utilized exclusively for meeting the Universal Service Obligation.










Q41. India’s first Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) under Hybrid Annuity Model is located in

A. Haridwar and Varanasi

B. Mumbai and Pune

C. Hydrabad and Bangalore

D. Delhi and Ghaziabad

Q42. Consider the following statements.

1. India has become the first country to make the entire process for pilgrims going on Haj

completely digital.

2. E-MASIHA (E-Medical Assistance System for Indian Pilgrims Abroad), an online system to

maintain the health database of Indian pilgrims has been developed to deal with any emergency in

Mecca and Madina.






Q43. Who recommended the observation of World Soil Day?

A. United Nations Environment Programme

B. International Union of Soil Sciences

C. World Soil Conservation Commission

D. International Soil Research Centre

Q44. Consider the following statements about the First Global Refugee Forum

1. The Forum is jointly hosted by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees

(UNHCR) and the government of Switzerland.

2. It aims to debate and discuss the response of the world’s countries to the global refugee

situation










Q45. Consider the following statements

1. Special Economic Zones (SEZs) are geographically delineated ‘enclaves’ in which

regulations and practices related to business and trade differ from the rest of the country

and therefore all the units therein enjoy special privileges.

2. Recently, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry has notified setting up of Tripura’s first

ever Special Economic Zone (SEZ).





D. None of the Above

Q46. Consider the following statements regarding Goldman Environmental Prize.

1. The Prize recognizes individuals for sustained and significant efforts to protect and enhance

the natural environment.

2. The Prize was instituted by World Wide Fund for Nature(WWF).






Q47. Consider the following statements regarding Operation ‘Clean Art’.

1. It is the first pan India operation to crackdown on the smuggling of mongoose hair.

2. Operation Clean Art was conceived by Wildlife Crime Control Bureau.

3. Any smuggling or possession of mongoose body part is a non-bailable offence.


A. 1,2

B. 2,3

C. 1,3

D. 1,2,3

Q48. Consider the following statements regarding Question Hour in the Indian Parliament.

1. A Starred Question is one to which a member desires an oral answer from the Minister in

the House and is required to be distinguished by him/her with an asterisk.





2. An Unstarred Question is not called for oral answer in the House and no supplementary

question can be asked thereon.

3. As per Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha, there are no Questions

addressed to Private Members.


A. 1,2

B. 2,3

C. 1,3

D. 1,2,3

Q49. Consider the following statements regarding Common But Differentiated Responsibilities

and Respective Capability (CBDR-RC).

1. Common but Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities (CBDR–RC) is a

principle within the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

2. The UNFCCC divided countries into “Annex I” and “non-Annex I,”the former generally

referring to developing countries and the latter to developed countries.

3. CBDR-RC and the annex classifications were codified in the 1997 Kyoto Protocol.


A. 1,2

B. 2,3

C. 1,3

D. 1,2,3

Q50. Consider the following statements about Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI)

1. It is a statutory body established under the provisions of the Aadhar Act, 2016

2. It functions under the overall guidance of Ministry of Home Affairs





D. None of the Above





QUESTION’S NUMBERS

ANSWERS DESCRIPTION

1 D

2 D

3 C

4 B

5 B

6 C

7 B

8 D They live primarily in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of China, where they are one of 55 officially recognized ethnic minorities. Uyghurs primarily practice Islam.

9 C

10 A Ukraine’s prime minister Oleksiy Honcharuk, who is currently 35 yrs old is the second yougest prime Minister in the world.

11 A

12 D

13 D

14 C

15 D

16 C

17 C

18 C The Bill prohibits the use of hazardous materials of recycled ships. Use hazardous materials in a ship will be punishable with imprisonment of up to three months or a fine of up to Rs.5 lakh or both.

19 C

20 C

21 B

22 B

23 C

24 B

25 C

26 A





************************************

27 D

28 A The security will be provided only for a period of five years to the former Prime Ministers and their immediate family after they leave the office

29 D

30 B

31 C

32 A

33 B

34 A

35 C

36 A

37 C

38 C

39 D

40 C

41 A

42 C

43 B In 2002, the International Union of Soil Sciences (IUSS) recommended the observation of the World Soil Day annually on 5 December.

44 C

45 C

46 A

47 D

48 A

49 C

50 A



Documents

1 volume: 6 · 2020. 3. 5. · 6.3 Swadesh Darshan scheme 50 7. Social Justice: Empowerment of Women and SC,ST /Child Rights 7.1 Disha Bill 51 7.2 Dalit families enter 200-year-old