6.68 T-Oct 2017 Flashcards
POLITY AND GOVERNANCE
GOVT. SCHEMES AND PROGRAMMES
1. MPLAD SCHEME
The Member of Parliament Local Area Development (MPLAD) scheme was launched in 1993-94
It is a Central Sector Scheme
It enables MPs (both elected and nominated) to recommend works for creation of durable community assets
The MPs can recommend the work(s) in their constituency (in case of Lok Sabha)or anywhere in the state from where
they are elected (in case of Rajya Sabha)
Nodal ministry: The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MSPI)
The funds released under the scheme are non-lapsable
The annual entitlement under the scheme per MP at present is Rs.5 crore
Role of MPs for the projects is only recommendatory
MPLADS funds are used for the implementation of the SansadAdarsh Gram Yojana
15% and 7.5% funds must be entitled to areas with SC and ST population respectively.
In case of insufficient tribal population in the area, they can recommend the creation of community assets in tribal
areas outside of their constituency, within their State of election
- NORTH EAST REGION TEXTILE PROMOTION SCHEME (NERTPS)
It aims to develop and modernise the textile sector in the North East Region (including Sikkim)
It is being implemented under two broad categories viz., Integrated Sericulture Development Project (ISDP) and
Intensive Bivoltine Sericulture Development Project [IBSDP]
Sericulture
It is production of natural silk using silkworms
India is the second largest producer of silk in the world.
Four major types of silk produced in India: Mulberry, Tasar, Muga, Eri
Mulberry accounts for 70% of total raw silk production
Major states of Mulberry silk production: Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Jammu & Kashmir and West Bengal
Vanya Silk:Tasar, Muga, Eri comes under this category as the silkworms producing these types mostly feed on the wild
leaves.
Muga silk: It is golden coloured silk and mostly produced in Assam. The GI tag has also been given to this variety.
Other varieties of silk mainly produced in the Jharkhand, Odisha, and Chhattisgarhetc
Central Silk Board, as a statutory body under Ministry of Textiles, entrusted with the overall responsibility of
developing silk industry
National Sericulture Project:
The project aims to support the Central Silk Board (CSB) in research and training activities
The project is funded from World Bank
- BHARATMALA PROJECT
Recently cabinet has given approval to Bharatmala Project, for construction of 34,800 Km of highways
ABOUT
It is an umbrella project under the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.
The project is part of the government’s plan on point-to-point expressways and border road connectivity
Under the plan the government intends to develop 83,677 km of highways and roads at an investment of around Rs.7
lakh crore over the next five years.
It also includes first phase of new umbrella programme Bharat Mala Pariyojana I that involves construction of 34,800
km highways by 2022
It focuses on the new initiatives like development of Border and International connectivity roads, Coastal & port
connectivity roads, improving efficiency of National Corridors, Economic corridors and others.
Funding: market borrowings, central road fund, monetizing government-owned road assets and budgetary allocation
Implementedby -Ministry of road transport and highways, NHAI and National Highways and Infrastructure
Development Corporation Ltd (NHIDCL) and respective state public works departments (PWDs)
CONNECTIVITY PROGRAMMES
Currently, there are three infrastructure connectivity programmes in India viz. Bharatmala, Sagarmala and Sethu Bharatam
Bharatmala will be the umbrella road development programme which shall cover various categories of roads.
Sagarmala is a port development project comprising road, rail, inland and coastal waterways to improve port
connectivity and port-led development.
The objective of SethuBharatam is to make all national highways free of railway crossings by 2019
- SANKALP AND STRIVE PROGRAMMES
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved two schemes Viz. Skills Acquisition and Knowledge
Awareness for Livelihood Promotion (SANKALP), Skill Strengthening for Industrial Value Enhancement (STRIVE)
These schemes are outcome focused and aimed at institutional reforms, imparting market relevant skills to boost the
Skill India Mission
SANKALP SCHEME
It is a Central Sector Scheme with the financing support ofthe World Bank
The objective is to enhance the employability potential of the youth by providing market relevant training
It envisages setting up of over 50 Trainers and Assessors academies with self-sustainable models
It will focus on greater decentralization in skill planning by institutional strengthening at State level which includes
setting up of SSDMs and allow states to come up with State and District level Skill Development Plans (SSDPDSDP)
STRIVE SCHEME
It is Centrally Sponsored Scheme with loan support from the World Bank
The objective of project is to improve access to quality and market-driven vocational training and apprenticeships
It will incentivize ITIs to improve overall performance including apprenticeship by involving SMEs, business
association and industry clusters.
It also involves strengthening of institutions such as, National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), SSDMs etc. to
improve the quality of skill training.
It will support universalization of National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF) including National Quality
Assurance Framework (NQAF) across skill development schemes
Note: Nai Manzil and Tejaswini schemes are also funded by the World Bank
- SAMPOORNA BIMA GRAM YOJANA (SBG)
To provide affordable life insurance services to people, particularly those living in rural areas, Union Government has
launched Sampoorna Bima Gram (SBG) Yojana and expanded coverage of Postal Life Insurance (PLI)
Under the scheme at least one village (having a minimum of 100 households) will be identified in each of revenue
districts of country to cover all households of identified village with minimum of one RPLI (Rural Postal Life
Insurance) policy each.
Coverage of all households in identified village under Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana is primary objective of this scheme
POSTAL LIFE INSURANCE (PLI)
It was introduced in 1884 for the benefit of Postal employees.
It is one of the oldest life insurance scheme in the country
Low premium and high bonus is unique to this scheme
Apart from Government and semi-Government employees, benefits of PLI have now been expanded to professionals
such as Doctors, Engineers, Lawyers, and Bankers etc. and to employees of listed companies of National Stock
Exchange and Bombay Stock Exchange.
SANSAD ADARSH GRAM YOJANA (SAANJHI)
Launched on the birth anniversary of Jayaprakash Narayan
It was launched for the development of model villages through implementation of existing schemes and certain new
initiatives
Under it, Members of Parliament (MPs) will be responsible for developing the socio-economic and physical
infrastructure of three villages each by 2019, and a total of eight villages each by 2024.
Funds will be utilized from existing schemes such as MPLAD, MGNREGA etc.
- PROJECT CHAMAN
It is an initiative by the Department of Agriculture, Cooperation & Farmers Welfare.
Under this project, sound methodology for estimation of Horticulturecrops is being developed and implemented on
pilot basis using Sample Survey methodology and Remote Sensing technology.
The Coordinated Horticulture Assessment and Management using geo-informatics (CHAMAN) uses GIS tools along
with remote sensing data for generating action plans for horticultural development
Implementation: Mahalanobis National Crop Forecast Centre (MNCFC), New Delhi
- START-UPSANGAM INITIATIVE
Launched by Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas
To develop new business models, marketing plans, technology and innovations in heavy oil and gas industry sector
by supporting 30 start-ups
For the same, 10 oil and gas PSUs have setup Rs.320-crore venture capital fund to encourage start-ups based on
innovative ideas in the energy sector
The selected start-ups will work in various energy fields such as converting waste plastics to petroleum fuels, solar
stove, and multipurpose fuel from agricultural waste biomass and leak detectors for liquefied natural gas (LNG)
cylinders etc.
It is expected to reduce fuel import dependence through innovations in alternative fuels
- SAATHI SCHEME
Ministries of Power and Textiles have joined hands under SAATHI (Sustainable and Accelerated Adoption of efficient
Textile technologies to Help small industries) initiative
Under this initiative, Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL), would procure energy efficient Power looms, motors
and Rapier kits in bulk and provide them to the small and medium Power loom units at no upfront cost
The initiative will be jointly implemented by Energy Efficient Services Limited (EESL) and the office of the Textile
Commissioner on a pan-India basis.
- PAT SCHEME
The PAT (perform, achieve & trade) scheme was launched by Bureau of Energy Efficiency (Ministry of Power) under
the National Mission for Enhanced Energy Efficiency (NMEEE)
It is a market based mechanism in which certain sectors are assigned efficiency targets
Industries which over-achieve target get incentives in the form of energy saving certificates (ESCert)
These certificates are tradable
Background: Government in 2012 set target to save energy in eight energy intensive sectors, under the Energy
Conservation Act, 2001
The Eight Energy Intensive Sectors are: Thermal Power plants, Iron & Steel, Cement, Fertilizer, Aluminium, Textile,
Pulp & Paper and Chlor-alkali
The recent outcome report of the scheme shows that energy-intensive industries in India have reduced their carbon
emissions by 2% of India’s total annual emissions.
- RASHTRIYA SWASTHYA BIMA YOJANA (RSBY)
Recently, the quantitative evaluation of the RSBY found that it is unable to reduce out-of-pocket payment for
healthcare for the poor, thus illness remains one of the most prevalent causes of human deprivation in India.
It is a government-run health insurance scheme for the BPL family.
It provides cashless insurance for hospitalisation in public as well as selected private hospitals
The scheme has been tagged as the world’s largest publicly funded health insurance scheme
RSBY became fully operational in 2008
It provides for IT-enabled and smart–card-based cashless healthy insurance cover, up to Rs.30,000/- per annum on a
family floater basis to the BPL families (a unit of five) and 11 occupational groups in the unorganized sector and most
importantly the workers who have worked for more than 15 days under MGNREGS
The beneficiary has to pay Rs.30 per annum as registration/renewal fee to get biometric-enabled smart card for
identifying their eligibility.
Beneficiary is also eligible to receive transportation cost within a limit of Rs.1000 per annum.
It also covers maternity benefits.
Funding pattern centre and states - 75:25
Initially the RSBY project was under the Ministry of Labour and Employment, but from April 1, 2015 it was
transferred to Ministry of Health and family welfare
- ADOPT A HERITAGE SCHEME
Recently, the Union Ministry of Tourism gave Letters of Intent (LoI) to seven shortlisted companies for adopting 14
monuments under the scheme
The monuments are Jantar Mantar, Purana Quila, Safdarjung Tomb, Agrasen ki Baoli, and Qutub Minar (Delhi), Hampi
(Karnataka), Ajanta Caves (Maharashtra), Sun Temple, Raja Rani Temple and Ratnagiri Monuments (Odisha), Leh
Palace and Mt. StokKangri (Jammu & Kashmir), Mattancherry Palace Museum (Kerala), Gangotri Temple Area and
Trail (Uttarakhand)
The shortlisted companies will be future ‘Monument Mitras’ who would associate pride with their Corporate Social
Responsibilities (CSR) activities.
The scheme was launched by Union Ministry of Tourism on World Tourism Day (27th September).
Under it, Private, Public Sector Companies and Corporate individuals were invited to adopt heritage sites and to take
up responsibility for making them and promote sustainable tourism through conservation and development under
their CSR activities.
This scheme was launched by Tourism Ministry in close collaboration with Ministry of Culture and Archaeological
Survey of India (ASI)
- E-SAMIKSHA PLATFORM
It is an online monitoring and compliance mechanism developed by Cabinet secretariat with technical help from
National Informatics Centre.
It was first launched by the railway ministry to monitor implementation of railway projects.
Now, It is being used for tracking the progress on projects & policy initiatives of various ministries by cabinet
secretary and Prime Minister on a real-time basis.
E-Patrachar – It is a facility launched to send meeting notices via SMS, email etc
- PUBLIC FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (PFMS)
Recently, Government made the use of PFMS mandatory to monitor allCentral Sector Schemes
It is an electronic fund tracking mechanism compiles, collates and makes available in real-time, information regarding
all government schemes
It rolled out by Controller General of Accounts, Department of Expenditure ofMoF
It covers Central Sector and Centrally Sponsored Schemes as well as other expenditures including Finance
Commission Grants
It integrated with the Core banking system in the Country
So far total of 613 Central Sector Schemes are covered under PFMS
STATUTORY BODIES/ ACTS
14. TRIBUNALS (Article 323A, 323B)
Recently, the Law Commission of Indialaid out a detailed procedure for the working of the tribunal system in India
The 42nd Amendment Act of 1976 - insertedArticles 323-A and 323-B in the Constitution.
323 (A)-
1. It deals with administrative tribunals
2. These can be established by a parliament law
3. For adjudication or trial of disputes and complaints
relating to, central and state public servants
4. Article 323(A) (2): An act on Administrative
Tribunals may exclude jurisdiction of all courts
(excluding the Supreme Court) on decisions made by
the Administrative Tribunals.
5. Example: the Electricity Act, 2003, and the TRAI
(Amendment) Act, 2000, provide for direct appeals to
the Supreme Court against orders of appellate
tribunals
6. Under this Article, The Administrative Tribunals Act,
1985 passed to establish one CAT and Sate
administrative tribunalson the request of the specific
governments
7. There is no possibility of creation of hierarchy of
tribunals under this articles
8. Jurisdiction of the CAT: Extend to all central
government employees except members of the
defence forces, officers and servants of the Supreme
Court and secretarial staff of the Parliament.
323 (B) 15. It dealswith tribunals for ‘other matters’ 16. These can be established by the Parliament and the state legislatures 17. For the adjudication of disputes relating to, a) Taxation, b) Foreign exchange, import and import, c) Industrial and labor d) Ceiling on urban property e) Elections to Parliament and state legislatures f) Food stuffs g) Rent and tenancy rights h) Land reforms 18. Hierarchy of tribunals may be created under this article
- BUREAU OF INDIAN STANDARDS (BIS) ACT 2016
This act brought into force recently and thus it replaced the existing Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 1986
Nodal ministry: Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution
It made the BIS as the National Standards Body of India for the purpose of standardization, marking and certification
of articles and processes
It allows central government to make it mandatory for certain notified goods, articles, processes, etc. to carry the
standard mark
It also allows the self-declaration of conformity against standard by the manufacturers
Note: The standards of BIS are not available for “open access”. So a PIL filed in the SC to free them up for public
- T. K. VISWANATHAN COMMITTEE
It is constituted to recommend stringent legal provisions for hate speech.
The committee has suggested that section78 of the IT Act needs to be substituted and Section153 &
505A of the Indian Penal Code needs to be amended
Amendments in Cr. PC to enable each state to have a State Cyber Crime Coordinator (Sec 25B) and a District Cyber
Crime Cell (Sec 25C).
Hate speech addressed in India through,
i. Article 19 – reasonable restriction to Right to Freedom of Speech and Expression
ii. Section 153(a) - promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth,
residence, language, etc.,
iii. Section 295 (a) – “deliberate and malicious intentions” of hurting the religious feelings of a community.
PC Sections – Demand for reforms
- Section124A - Sedition
- Section 153 (a) - Hate speech
- Section 375 - Marital Rape
- Section 377 - Criminalising Homosexuality
- Section 499, 500 – Criminal defamation
- Section 306 – Criminalising suicide (Now, decriminalised)
- Section 498 A- Domestic violence
- Section 295A – Hurting religious feelings of a community
RIGHTS ISSUES
17. NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION (NHRC)
Recently, Union Home Ministry moved a cabinet note to seek its nod to allow retired SC judges to be appointed as
NHRC chief
ABOUT NHRC
NHRC is apex statutory watchdog of human rights in the country
Formed as per the statutory provisions of Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993
It is multimember body consisting of Chairman and four members
It has the powers of a civil court
Its orders on compensation are only recommendatory in nature
It cannot take up the cases older than 1 year
The chairman should be a retired chief justice of India
President appoints the Chairman and members of the NHRC on the recommendation of the high-powered committee
headed by the Prime Minister. The committee includes,
o Prime Minister (Head),
o Lok Sabha Speaker,
o Union Home Minister,
o Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha,
o Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha
Term of Chairman and members: 5 years or until attain the age of 70 years.
The salaries, allowances and other conditions of service of the chairman or a member are determined by the Central
government.
The Chairman and members can be removed by the President according due process.
- UNITED NATIONS CONVENTION AGAINST TORTURE (UNCAT)
Recently, Law Commission of India has recommended the Centre to ratify the United Nations Convention Against
Torture.
It also proposed standalone anti-torture law - Prevention of Torture Bill 2017
India had signed the UNCAT in 1997 but not yet ratified it.
Besides India, there are other 8 countries which are not part of the convention.
UNCAT
It is an international human rights instrument aimed to prevent torture and cruel, inhuman degrading treatment or
punishment around the world.
This convention is in force since 1987.
It requires states to take effective measures to prevent torture in any territory under their jurisdiction and forbids
states to transport people to any country where there is reason to believe they will be tortured
- SUB CATEGORIZATION OF OTHER BACKWARD CLASSES
The President has appointed a five-member Commissionto examine the sub-categorisation of Other Backward
Classes (OBCs) under Article 340 of the Constitution
It will be headed by former Delhi High Court’s Chief Justice G Rohini
Article 340:It allows the president to appoint a commission to investigate the condition of socially and economically
backward classes and table the report in the parliament
SOCIAL ISSUES
20. GLOBAL HUNGER INDEX – 2017
India ranked100th position among 119 countries
Slipped by 3 places compared to last year
India is at the high end of “serious” hunger problem category
India’s neighbours ranking are Nepal (72), Myanmar (77), Bangladesh (88), Sri Lanka (84) and China (29), Pakistan
(106) and Afghanistan (107)
North Korea (93) and Iraq (78) fared better in hunger parameters and GHI rankings than India
GHI
GHI is multidimensional measure that describes state of hunger situation on regional, national and global level.
It is published annually by International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) since 2006.
It ranks countries on a 0 to 100-point scale calculated by taking into account four indicator parameters.
Zero means best score (no hunger) and 100 is worst.
GHI scores are based on four indicators:
undernourishment
child wasting
child stunting
child mortality
- SECTION 375 OF IPC
The Supreme Court recently held that sexual intercourse by a man with his wife, who is below 18 years of age, is rape
Therefore it read down the exception to Section 375 of the IPC, which allowed the husband of a girl child — between
15 and 18 years of age — blanket liberty to have non-consensual sexual intercourse with her
- HEALTH OF OUR HOSPITALS’ INDEX
NITI Aayog along with the Health ministry has started this initiative to rank district hospitals all over India
- SWACHH ICONIC PLACES
The Swachh Iconic Places is an initiative under the Swachh Bharat Mission.
The Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation will be the coordinating Ministry for this initiative, in association with
the Ministry of Urban Development, Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Tourism and the concerned State governments.
Under this Initiative government will undertake a special clean-up initiative focused on 100 iconic heritages, spiritual
and cultural places in the country.
Recently, Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple in Madurai has been adjudged the best ‘Swachh Iconic Place’ (clean
place) in India
- WORLD HABITAT DAY (WHD)
It is observed every year on the first Monday of October throughout the world
Theme of 2017:”Housing Policies: Affordable Homes.”
Theme of 2016:”Housing at the Centre”.
WHD was established in 1985 by the UNGA, and was first celebrated in 1986
- THE NEW URBAN AGENDA
It is the outcome document agreed upon at the Habitat III cities conference in Quito, Ecuador, in October 2016
- WORLD POLIO DAY
On 24th October
It was established by Rotary International.
Today, there are only three countries where transmission of wild poliovirus is occurring: Afghanistan, Nigeria and Pakistan
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
27. INDIA – EUROPEAN UNION
a. The 14th annual Summit between India and the European Union (EU) was recently held in New Delhi
b. Joint statement issued contained statement on terrorism, UN reforms agenda, multi polarity of the world, Iranian
nuclear issue, Afghanistan, and BTIA.
c. The EU is India’s largest regional trading partner in 2016.
d. The EU is also the largest destination for Indian exports and a key source of investment and technologies.
Issues in concluding Broad-based Trade and Investment Agreement (BTIA).
Issues in concluding Broad-based Trade and Investment Agreement (BTIA).
India’s demands.
Mode I : Improved market access toITES, BPO, and
knowledge process outsourcing (KPO).
Mode IV:Movement of skilled professionals like
software engineers
Barriers to Mode 4: Include work permits, wageparity conditions, visa formalities and nonrecognition of professional qualifications..
Agricultural commodities trade:
EU’s peak import tariff rates on certain products such
as dairy, fruits and vegetables , and sugar &
confectionary and highly subsidized fishery and dairy
sectors.
India wants to make ‘investment protection’ a part of
the negotiations on the proposed comprehensive
BTIA.
EU’s demands.
Mode 3:
Liberalisation of FDI in insurance, accountancy and legal
services
For entry of foreign banks – Do away with priority sector
lending and financial inclusion norms
Data exclusivity, Ever greening.Import duties on goods such as automobiles and wines
and spirits.
It demand India to reduce tariffs on dairy products,
poultry, farms and fisheries from the EU.
EU is keen on finalization of an India-EU Bilateral
Investment Treaty (BIT) before the relaunch of the FTA
talks
- EUROPEAN UNION
It is as an economic and political partnership consisting of 28 (Including the UK) member countries.
A law made in European Parliament is applicable and binding on all Member States directly.
It is a single market allowing the free movement of goods and people.
The union has its own currency, the Euro, which is being used by 19 member countries.
9 EU countries which are not part of the Euro currency are : Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Hungary,
Poland, Romania, Sweden, and the United Kingdom
The capital of EU is located in Brussels, Belgium
THE SCHENGEN AREA
It is the area comprising 26 European countries that have abolished passport and any other type of border control and
functions as a single country for international travel purposes.
The area came to establishment in June 1985
Non-Schengen EU states:Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Ireland, Romania and the UK
Non-EU Schengen states: Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein
- CHABAHAR PORT
Recently, India sent its first consignment of wheat to Afghanistan through the Chabahar port in Iran
It is located at the mouth of Gulf of Oman
Bandar Abbas Port (Iran)
Located near Strait of Hormuz, in Persian Gulf
It conceived as the hub for the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC)
India’s efforts for economic connectivity.
Initiative The International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) (2000) Mode of transport :ship, rail, and road Member Countries :Founders : India, Iran, Russia 10 new members: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkey, Ukraine, Belarus, Oman and Syria. Objective:It aims to link Indian Ocean and Persian Gulf to the Caspian Sea via Iran, and onward to northern Europe via St. Petersburg in Russia. Initiative :Kaladan Multi Model Transport Project (2008) Mode of transport :ship, Inland Water and road Member Countries: India, Myanmar Objective: Economic development of the North-East India and improve the bilateral relations between India and Myanmar Initiative :Ashghabhat agreement (2011) Mode of transport:Ship, rail, and road Member Countries :Foundingmembers: Uzbekistan, Iran, Turkmenistan and Oman. Kazakhstan later joined.(India, Pakistan to accede this agreement) Objective :Facilitating the transportation of goods between Central Asia and the Persian Gulf. Initiative :TAPI Project (2010) .Mode of transport :Pipeline. Member Countries: Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India (Galkynysh field of Turkmenistan - World’s 2nd largest field). Objective :To transport natural gas from the Caspian Sea, Turkmenistan to India through Afghanistan and Pakistan. Initiative :IPI Pipeline (1993). Mode of transport:Pipeline Member Countries: Iran, Pakistan, India. Objective: To transport natural gas from Iran to Pakistan and India
- INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY (IAEA)
It is an international organization that seeks to promote the peaceful use of nuclear energy, and to inhibit its use for
any military purpose, including nuclear weapons.
It was established as an autonomous organization in 1957 through its own international treaty, the IAEA Statute
It is independent of the United Nations but reports to both the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) and Security
Council (UNSC).
The IAEA has no authority to act on its own, but relies on the willingness of nations to cooperate, or on a UN mandate
Headquarters: Vienna, Austria
Director-general: Yukiya Amano
Known nuclear-armed states: China, France, India, North Korea, Pakistan, Russia, UK, US (Israel is widely believed to
have nuclear arms)
- CATALONIA’S INDEPENDENCE REFERENDUM
Recently an independence referendum held in Catalonia which was backed by 90 percent of voters supporting the
region breaking away from Spain.
It is Spain’s 17 autonomous regions and enjoys a relatively large level of autonomy, except over the areas of
infrastructure and taxes.
The 1979 Constitution of Spain only allows the Spanish to vote for sovereignty of the nation and no part of population
should vote against it
- KURDISTAN
Recently, Iraq’s Kurds voted in a referendum on support for independence.
However, it is non-binding on the state to grant independence
Kurdistan is a roughly defined geo-cultural region comprising parts of
i. Eastern Turkey (Turkish Kurdistan),
ii. Northern Iraq (Iraqi Kurdistan),
iii. North-western Iran (Iranian Kurdistan) and
iv. Northern Syria
It habited mainly by Kurds.
Kurds are an ethnic group who speak Kurdish languages.
They are and culturally and linguistically closely related to the Iranian people.
java revolution:
It is a political, social and military conflict taking place in Northern Syria, known as Rojava.
Rojava is regarded by Kurdish nationalists as one of the four parts of Kurdistan.
World – Colour Revolutions: These describe various political movements that developed in several countries across the world.
S.No. Revolution Country
1. Orange Revolution Ukraine
2. Lotus Revolution Egypt
3. Jasmine Revolution Tunis
4. Umbrella Revolution Hong Kong
5. Green Revolution Iran
6. Saffron Revolution Myanmar
7. Cedar Revolution Lebanon
8. Tulip Revolution Kyrgyzstan
9. Purple Revolution Iraq
10. Sunflower Revolution Taiwan
11. Yellow Revolution Philippines
12. Rose Revolution Georgia
- 8th IBSA TRILATERAL MINISTERIAL COMMISSION
It was organized at Durban, South Africa
The Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the three countries signed an agreement to renew and ensure the continuity of
their contributions to the India, Brazil and South Africa Facility for Poverty and Hunger Alleviation (IBSA Fund)
The fund is managed by the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC)
IBSA Dialogue Forum: It is an international tripartite grouping for promoting international cooperation among these
countries. It was launched in June 2003.
ECONOMY
34. BANKS RECAPITALIZATION
Union government has approved Rs.2.11 lakh crore recapitalisation plan for the Public Sector Banks (PSBs) over the
next two years
PSBs need as much as $65 billion by 2019 to meet Basel III standards
Basel III norms
Basel III is a comprehensive set of reform measures, to strengthen the regulation, supervision and risk management
of the banking sector
Developed by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision
Basel Committee was established by the Bureau of International Settlement.
Financial Stability Board (FSB) in consultation with Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (BCBS) publishes the
Global Systemically Important Banks (G-SIBs)
The central banks of each country identify Domestic Systemically Important Banks (D-SIBs)
- EASE OF DOING BUSINESS RANKINGS – WORLD BANK
• Released by World Bank in its Doing Business Report, 2018
• India’s rank has risen to 100 in the latest report compared to 130 in the Doing Business Report, 2017.
• This edition of the report acknowledges India as a top improver, with an improvement of 30 ranks compared to last
year’s report, the highest jump in rank of any country in the DB Report, 2018.
• India is the only country in South Asia and BRICS economies to feature among most improved economies of the DB
Report this year
NITI Aayog – Ease of Doing Business Report
NITI Aayog has collaborated with the IDFC Bank Ltd to conduct an enterprise survey of manufacturing firms including
start-ups, across India to assess the ease of doing business.
The primary objective of this survey is to assess the business regulatory environment in each State and Union
Territories (UTs) and identify policy and regulatory hurdles faced by businesses in the States/UTs.
- GLOBAL INVESTMENT COMPETITIVENESS REPORT 2017
It is published by World Bank
It shows various factors affecting investment decision in a country
Those factors include domestic market size, macroeconomic stability and a favourable exchange rate, labour force
talent and skills, physical infrastructure etc.
Other Reports
Report Released by
Global Competitiveness Report WEF
Global Competitiveness Index WEF
The World Economic Outlook IMF
The World Development Report International Bank for Reconstruction and Development
The Travel and Tourism
Competitiveness Report
WEF
World Investment Report UNCTAD
- UDAY KOTAK COMMITTEE
Appointed by SEBI
To suggest measures for improving corporate governance
Recently, it submitted its report to SEBI
Other committees previously constituted for this purpose were Kumar Mangalam Birla (1999) and N.R. Narayana
Murthy (2003)
- STATE OF COMMODITY DEPENDENCY 2016
Recently launched by UNCTAD
According to this report, a country is considered dependent on commodities when its commodity exports account for
more than 60 per cent of its total merchandise exports in value terms.
Where the share exceeds 80 per cent in a particular country, it is considered “strongly” dependent on commodity
export.
91 out of 135 developing countries are considered to be dependent on commodity exports, according to this study.
In India, the total value of commodity exports has increased by 44.3 per cent from 2009- 10 to 2014-15
UNCTAD
The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) was established in 1964.
It is an organ of UN General Assembly
UNCTAD Objective is to maximize the trade, investment and development opportunities of developing countries and
assist them in their efforts to integrate into the world economy on an equitable basis
The UNCTAD Conference meet once in every 4 years, last one at Nairobi, Kenya (2016)
It organizes World Investment Forum
Member countries:193
It is a member of the United Nations Development Group
Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland
Generalised System of Preferences (GSP)
To conceive and implement the GSP is one of the UNCTAD achievements
It is a preferential tariff system extended by developed countries (also known as donor countries) to developing
countries (also known as beneficiary countries).
It involves reduced MFN tariffs or duty free entry of exported products of beneficiary country into the donor country.
Recently, US firms approached the United States Trade Representative (USTR) with a request to either suspend or
withdraw India’s benefits under Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) against the price capping of medical
devices by India.
Reports of UNCTAD
The Trade and Development Report
The Trade and Environment Review
The World Investment Report
The Economic Development in Africa Report
The Least Developed Countries Report
UNCTAD Statistics
The Information Economy Report
The Review of Maritime Transport
The International Accounting and Reporting Issues Annual Review
- POWER GENERATION IN INDIA
India for the first time has become a net exporter of electricity in fiscal 2016-17
India exported around 5,798 million units of electricity to Bangladesh, Nepal and Myanmar in 2016-17
Total installed capacity of thermal sector – 220 GW
Solar energy capacity – 12 GW (Target 100 GW by 2022)
Wind energy capacity – 33 GW (Potential 103 GW) (Target 60 GW by 2022)
Total renewable energy capacity - 46 MW (Therefore first time surpassed the hydro capacity)
Hydro power - 44GW (Potential 148 GW)
Total power installed capacity 330 GW
In total installed power: Coal>Hydel>Wind>Gas>Solar>Nuclear
(Or Thermal>Renewable>Hydel>Nuclear)
Among Non-renewable sources: Coal>Gas>Diesel
Among Renewable Sources: Hydel>Wind>Solar>Biomass>Waster to Power
Increase in renewable energy due to policy initiatives and several years of early stage private sector investments
Hydro suffered because of non-availability of long term financing, the cost imposed by royalty of power (from 12 to
36%) to be offered free to the state government, and limited opportunities for the private sector
- RO-RO FERRY SERVICE
Recently, Ro-Ro (‘roll-on, roll-off) Ferry Service was launched in Gujarat
Between Ghogha and Dahej
Executed by the Gujarat Maritime Board (GMB),
It is South Asia’s first world class Ro-Ro ferry service
Ro-Ro ferry is a small part of Sagarmala project of Central Government that aims to promote port-led development in
the country
Roll-on/roll-off (RORO or ro-ro) ships are vessels designed to carry wheeled cargo, such as cars, and trucks etc. that
are driven on and off the ship on their own wheels or using a platform vehicle, such as a self-propelled modular
transporter.
This is in contrast to lift-on/lift-off (Lolo) vessels, which use a crane to load and unload cargo.
The services also proposedin other places viz., Kolkata, Sahibganj, Varanasi, Patna and Bhagalpur besides setting up
small terminals at a cost of Rs.1000 crore.
- GOLD OPTIONS
Launched for the first time in India on Multi Commodity Exchange
Earlier initiativesfor easing trade in gold are the Gold Monetisation Scheme launched in 2015 and the Sovereign Gold
Bonds launched in 2016.
The options allow trading in 1 kg of gold.
The gold options would allow investors to hedge any volatility in the price of the metal
MCX: It is an exchange where commodities are traded..
It was formed in 2003 and falls under the regulatory purview of SEBI
- DR. JANAK RAJ PANEL
It is a RBI panel to determine external benchmark rate for banks
It recommended linking the bank lending rates to a market benchmark in order to hasten the monetary policy
transmission
Currently, the banking lending rates are determined by the MCLR or marginal cost of funds lending rate
Before MCLR, base rate system was used to determine the bank lending rates
Both the base rate and the MCLR were internally determined by the banks themselves.
However, the major difference between the two was that calculation of base rate was done as the bank saw fit while
MCLR was to be calculated through a set formula
- PEER TO PEER LENDING
It refers to a crowd-funding platform (mostly online) where people looking to invest and people in need of borrowing
come together
These companies follow a reverse auction process, that is, lenders bid for borrower’s proposal and the borrower is
free to choose whether or not to borrow
Recently, RBI classified peer to peer lending as non-banking financial companies (NBFCs)
Until now, P2P companies were registered under the Companies Act, 2013
A NBFC is a company registered under the Companies Act
It engaged in the business of loans and advances, acquisition of shares/stocks/bonds /debentures/securities
Banks Vs NBFCs
NBFC cannot accept demand deposits
They are not part of the payment and the settlement system and thus cannot issue cheques drawn on itself.
Deposit insurance facility of Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation is not available to depositors of
NBFCs
- INFORMATION UTILITY
Recently, National e-Governance Services Ltdbecame India’s first information utility (IU) for bankruptcy cases under
the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016.
Information utility is an information network that will store financial data like borrowings, default and security
interests among others of firms.
The utility would specialize in procuring, maintaining and providing financial information to businesses, financial
institutions, adjudicating authority, insolvency professionals and other relevant stakeholders.
Information utilities are governed by the Insolvency and Bankruptcy code, 2016 and IBBI (Information Utilities)
Regulations, 2017
The objective behind information utilities is to provide high quality, authenticated information about debts, defaults
and expeditiously process & verify information received.
- SAFE CITIES INDEX 2017
The Economist Intelligence Unit launched safe cities index 2017.
The report ranks 60 cities across 49 indicators covering digital security, health security, infrastructure security and
personal security and ranks them accordingly
According to the index Tokyo tops the overall ranking.
SECURITY AND DEFENCE
46. DIGITAL POLICE PORTAL
Recently Union Home Ministry launched a digital police portal under the CCTNS project.
The police portal is a platform for citizens to file online crime related complaints and also request for antecedent
verification.
It will also provide 11 searches and 46 reports from the national database for state police and central investigation
agencies.
Central investigating and research agencies also have been provided logins to the portal to access crime statistics
The portal also generates various thematic reports of trends of incidence of crime across the country to facilitate
policy analysis and undertaking targeted interventions.
CCTNS, launched in 2009, has originally aimed at maintenance of crime and criminal records of individuals through a
national database, and delivery of web based police related services to all citizens.
- FREE MOVEMENT REGIME (FMR)
The Union Cabinet has approved, recently, agreement between India and Myanmar on Land Border Crossing.
It is an enabling arrangement for movement of people across border of both countries
The FMR was a bilateral agreement between India and Myanmar that allows free movement of Indian and Myanmar
citizens within 16 km of the border without visa restrictions for 72 hours.
Its purpose is to alleviate insecurity of tribal people living along India and Myanmar border as they still continue to
have trans-border linkages with their kith and kin.
However, it has been misused by militants and criminals who are using it to smuggle weapons, narcotics, contraband
goods and Fake Indian Currency Notes (FICN)
Earlier, Rina Mitra Committee has been constituted to study the Free Movement Regime along the Myanmar border
India’s border states with Myanmar: Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram
- INS KILTAN
Recently, INS Kiltan, indigenously developed, Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) stealth corvette was commissioned into
the Indian Navy at Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh
It is India’s first major warship to have a superstructure of carbon fibre composite material resulting in improved
stealth features, lower top weight and maintenance costs
INS Kiltan is third of the four kamorta class anti-submarine warfare corvettes being built under naval modernisation
project P-28.
It was designed by Directorate of Naval Design and constructed by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Limited,
Kolkata
- OPV VIKRAM
An Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV), countryfirst-ever such defence craft to be built in a private shipyard, was handed
over to the Coast Guard.
OPV Vikram is a 100% in-house designed vessel made by an Indian private sector L&T for Indian Coast Guard.
It is the first of the seven vessels for which contract had been awarded by the Ministry of Defence in March 2015to L
& T.
ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY
50. UN OFFICE FOR DISASTER RISK REDUCTION (UNISDR)
Established in 1999, as part of the United Nations Secretariat
It was established to ensure the implementation of UNGA’s “the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction”
resolution.
It serves as the focal point for the coordination of disaster reduction and to ensure synergies among the disaster
reduction activities of the United Nations system and regional organizations and activities in socio-economic and
humanitarian fields.
Headquarter: Geneva
Report: Global Assessment Report
UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) report, India has been ranked as the world’s most disaster-prone
country for displacement of residents.
The International Day for Disaster Reduction (IDDR): October 13.
The 2017 theme is “Home Safe Home: Reducing Exposure, Reducing Displacement
- THE UN SASAKAWA AWARD FOR DISASTER REDUCTION:
It is awarded to an individual or institutions that have taken active efforts in reducing disaster risk in their
communities and advocates for disaster risk reduction.
Along with WHOSasakawa Health Prize and the UN Environment Programme Sasakawa Environment Prize, the United
Nations Sasakawa Award for Disaster Reduction is one of three prestigious prizes established in 1986
- SENDAI FRAMEWORK FOR DISASTER RISK REDUCTION 2015-2030
It was adopted during the third UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction held in Sendai, Japan in March 2015
Its adaptation involves adopting integrated and inclusive institutional measures in order to work towards preventing
vulnerability to disaster
It is successor to Hyogo framework for Disaster Risk Reduction
- WORLD METEOROLOGICAL ORGANIZATION
According to the World Meteorological Organization’s (WMO) Greenhouse Gas Bulletin, the concentration of carbon
dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere has hit a new high
WMO is an intergovernmental organization
Its mandate covers weather, climate and water resources.
It has become UN specialized agency in 1951 for meteorology, operational hydrology and related geophysical sciences
It is dedicated to international cooperation and coordination on state and behaviour of Earth’s atmosphere, its
interaction with land and oceans, the weather and climate and distribution of water resources
It has 191 Member States and Territories.
It originated from the International Meteorological Organization (IMO), which was founded in 1873.
Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland
Annual report: Greenhouse Gas Bulletin
The World Meteorological Day: 23rd , March
2017 Theme: “Understanding Clouds”
It also launched the International Cloud Atlas in 2017
- CMS COP 12
The 12th Conference of Parties (CoP) of Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS)
held in Manila, Philippines.
Theme: “Their Future is Our Future – Sustainable Development for Wildlife and People”
CMS CoP is also known as a Global Wildlife Conference
In the conference several species of vultures, including four that have India on their migratory routes, were awarded
the highest protection
Species of vulture which received highest protection under the convention (Appendix I) are the red-headed vulture,
white-rumped vulture, Indian vulture and slender-billed vulture
Whale shark and Caspian Seal also accorded global protection in the convention
There are nine species of vultures in India out of which, 3 have been on critically endangered list of IUCN and also
listed under Schedule I of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972. These are,
i. White-backed Vulture
ii. Slender billed Vulture
iii. Indian Vulture/long-billed vulture
Though Red-headed vulture is on critically endangered list of IUCN but not listed under Schedule I of the Wild Life
(Protection) Act, 1972
CoP 13 will be held in: India
- CMS CONVENTION
CMS is an international treaty concluded under aegis of United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
It is concerned with conservation of wildlife and habitats on a global scale.
It is also known as the Bonn Convention
CMS aims to conserve terrestrial, marine and avian migratory species throughout their range.
It was signed in 1979 in Bonn and entered into force in 1983
Headquarters: Bonn, Germany.
Appendix I of the Convention: It includes Migratory species threatened with extinction
Appendix II of the Convention: It includes Migratory species that need or would significantly benefit from
international co-operation
- GLOBAL WILDLIFE PROGRAMME
Recently held in New Delhi
Jointly hosted by MoEF, World Bank, UNDP
Theme: “Peoples’ participation in wildlife conservation”
During the event, India’s National Wildlife Action Plan (NWAP) for the period 2017-2031 and Secure Himalaya were
released.
The GWP is World-Bank led global partnership of 19 countries in Asia and Africa to promote the conservation and
sustainable development by combating trafficking in wildlife.
It was initiated in 2015 by the Global Environment Facility (GEF)
The implementing agencies channelling the funds to the governments or other partners for the national projects are
World Bank Group, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
& Asian Development Bank (ADB)
It serves as a platform to exchange knowledge and coordinate in on-ground action for combating illegal poaching of
wildlife and improve governance on wildlife conservation
- SECURE HIMALAYA
The project aims to Sustain critical ecosystem services, conserve vulnerable snow leopards and other endangered
species, Improving knowledge, advocacy and information systems for promoting landscape-based conservation
approaches
Specific landscapes under SECURE Himalayas are:
o Changthang (Jammu and Kashmir)
o Lahaul – Pangi and Kinnaur (Himachal Pradesh)
o Gangotri – Govind and Darma – Byans Valley in Pithoragarh (Uttarakhand)
o Kanchenzonga – Upper Teesta Valley (Sikkim)
- TURTLE SANCTUARY
Under Namami Gange programme, government has decided to set up a turtle sanctuary at Allahabad
Previously, Turtle sanctuary was set up in Varanasi in 1989 under the Ganga Action Plan-I
- ICHTHYOSAUR FOSSIL
A 152 million-year-old fossil of an Ichthyosaur - an extinct marine reptile – discovered in Gujarat.
Many ichthyosaur fossils have been found in North America and Europe, but this is the first time an ichthyosaur fossil
has been discovered in India.
The fossil belongs to Jurassic era and was found inside rocks belonging to Mesozoic Era
- SAWFISH
According to the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute,the sawfish may be the most endangered fish species in
India.
They included in Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972 enacted to save them from exploitation,
There are only five species of the sawfish ever identified – dwarf sawfish, knifetooth sawfish, small tooth sawfish, large
tooth sawfish and green sawfish.
The sawfish family has been assessed either ‘Endangered’ or ‘Critically Endangered’ in the International Union for
Conservation of Nature Global Red List, considering their threatened status, high extinction risk and observed
population decline.
- BLUE PLANET PRIZE 2017
Won by Prof Hans Joachim Schellnhuber from Germany
It is the world’s most prestigious award for pioneers in environmental science and often considered as Nobel Prize
for environmental research.
It was instituted by Asahi Glass Foundation.
It carries prize of 50 million yen (about $450,000) and is handed over in presence of Japan’s Imperial Prince and
Princess.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
62. NOBEL PRIZE – 2017
Chemistry - Jacques Dubochet, Joachim Frank and Richard Henderson for the development of high-resolution cryoelectron microscopy
Cryo-electron microscopy is a method for imaging frozen-hydrated specimens at cryogenic temperatures by
electron microscopy
Cryo-Electron Microscopy specializes in interpreting and visualizing unstained biological complexes such as
viruses, small organelle, and macromolecular biological complexes of 200 kDa or larger preserved in
vitreous (i.e. glassy or non-crystalline) ice.
Physics - Rainer Weiss, Barry Barish and Kip Thorne for contributions to the LIGO detector and the observation of
gravitational waves
Physiology or Medicine - Jeffrey C. Hall, Michael Rosbash and Michael W. Young for their discoveries of molecular
mechanisms controlling the circadian rhythm
The discoveries explain how plants, animals and humans adapt their biological rhythm so that it is
synchronised with the Earth’s revolutions
Literature - British author Kazuo Ishiguro.
He is best known for his novel ‘The Remains of the Day’ for which Ishiguro has won Booker prize as well in
1989
Economics - Richard Thaler (USA)
for his contributions in the field of behavioural economics
Peace - International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN)
ICAN is an international coalition of non-government organizations running the campaign to advocate UN
Weapon Ban treaty in about 100 countries.
Due to their efforts the United Nations’ Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons was officially adopted
in July 2017 and will come into force after ratification by 50 countries.
- EMBRYO TRANSFER TECHNOLOGY (ETT)
It is a technique of assisted reproduction in which the embryo or zygote is collected from a donor animal with higher
genetic merit and transferred to a recipient animal which serves as surrogate for rest of the pregnancy
Recently, Department of Animal Husbandry launched ETT to increase the livestock productivity.
Under this, a Mass Embryo Transfer programme in Indigenous Breeds undertaken
National Mission on Bovine Productivity:The programme is implemented with the objective of conservation and
development of indigenous breeds under Rashtriya Gokul Mission
- READY-TO-USE THERAPEUTIC FOOD
RUTF is a medical intervention to cure Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) among children
It includes readymade packed paste made of high energy fortified supplements (peanuts, oils, dried milk etc.
In addition to these ingredients, RUTF contains nuts, sweeteners and grains for improving the taste.
RUTF is also known as energy dense nutritious food (EDNF)
It is general administered to children aged between 6 months and 6 years daily for about a month.
It is being implemented under the global initiative Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) movement and ICDS in India, through
collaboration with the state governments.
Recently, the Union Ministry of Women and Child Development (WCD) has asked the states and Union Territories not
to use RUTF for managing malnutrition as it is not an accepted policy of the Indian government
- QUASI-ZENITH SATELLITE SYSTEM (QZSS)
It is Japan’s version GPS and is dubbed as Michibiki system.
It is intended for civilian use, with a claimed positioning accuracy down to mere centimetres.
The QZSS constellation of 8 satellites will trace out a figure-8 pattern over Japan, the Western Pacific, and Australia.
The Michibiki system can cover the Asia-Oceania region and works with the US-operated GPS to provide higher level
of precision than previously possible with fewer satellites in visible range
Recently, Japan launched fourth satellite as part of the programme
HISTORY
66. PAIKA REBELLION
Recently the MoHRD announced that Paika Rebellion will be renamed as “First War of Independence”.
The Paika rebellion took place in 1817 in Khurda, Odisha.
Paikas were the peasant militias of the Gajapati rulers of Odisha who rendered military service to the king during
times of war while taking up cultivation during times of peace
They owned rent-free land that was given to them for their military service
However they were forcefully usurped their land rendering them landless by the policies of British East India
Company in 1803
But in 1817 Paikas rebelled against the British under the leadership of BaxiJagandhu Bidyadhara, hereditary chief of
militia army to throw off the British.
It ended with the surrender of Jag
- INTERNATIONAL DIALOGUE ON CIVILISATION
Held at New Delhi
The Initiative started in 2013 by National Geographic Society
- RASHTRIYA EKTA DIWAS
Central and state governments across India observe31st October as Rashtriya Ekta Diwas.
The day is observed to commemorate the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, one of the founding fathers of
the Republic of India.
Sardar Patel is credited with the integration of more than 500 princely states into India between 1947-49 after
independence Act 1947
