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INDEX

1. National news 1.1 RDA to define performance standards

1.2 Triple Talaq Case

1.3 Indian Scientist unveil home grown gold standard

1.4 Centre may execute proposed social security law in phases

1.5 National Employment Policy this year

1.6 Cabinet gives nod for 10 indigenous nuclear reactors

1.7 NTRO now under Intelligence Act

1.8 ICJ stays Jadhav execution

1.9 Survival of newborns India ranks lower than Somalia

2. International News 2.1 South Korea elected new President

2.2 Belt-Road Initiative (BRI)

3. Polity and Governance 3.1 SC plans to go paperless

3.2 Voluntary Unemployment rising: NITI

3.3 Minority status only if trusts enrol on NITI site

4. Economy 4.1 GST to herald a new era in federalism: RBI

4.2 Centre cuts UDAN levy on air tickets

4.3 Cash is back as digital payment dip on costs

4.4 Foreign food retailers can sell non-foods too

4.5 GST council sets rates for most commodities

4.6 GST council finalises rates for services

4.7 GST rates could have aided green goods

5. Science and Tech

5.1 Spyder Surface to Air Missile test fired

5.2 Global Cyberattack affecting 150 countries

5.3 India’s first nuclear uterine transplant performed

6. Environment / Geography 6.1 GEAC gives nod for GM Mustard

6.2 Traffic pollution reaches the Himalayas

6.3 Yellow eyed Penguins could be wiped out in 25 years


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7. Health Issues

7.1 Multi-Drug Resistant TB will rise in India says new study

8. India and World

8.1 India aims to boost to trade ties with Africa

9. Short News

9.1 Navy saves ship from pirates

9.2 PM calls for evergreen revolution in the country


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Current Affairs (11-May to 20 May, 2017)

1. National News

1.1 RDA to define performance standards

India’s first rail regulator, Rail Development Authority (RDA), would not just look at tariff

structures for passenger and freight operations but also set standards of performance and

efficiency that would be enforceable under the Railways

Act.

RDA can define standards of performance and efficiency;

such standards would be notified as rules under the

Railway Act to give a binding force upon acceptance.

The regulator will set “standards for efficiency and

performance for consumer satisfaction in both passenger and freight” and will also be

“authorised to check for deviations and suggest remedial measures.”

The regulator will provide guidance on quantity and quality of service provided to passengers.

These may include setting standards including hours of service, frequency of trains, capacity per

coach, cleanliness level, and quality of water, food, furnishing and linen.

Structure of RDA

The Railway Board also defined the structure of the RDA with a Chairman along with three

members each for tariff, public private partnership and efficiency, standards and benchmarking.

The regulator will, however, not involve itself in policy making of the Indian Railways, operations

and maintenance of the rail system, financial management, setting technical standards and

compliance of safety standards.

1.2 Triple Talaq Case

Supreme Court condemned the practice of triple

talaq calling it the ‘worst and undesirable form’

of dissolution of marriage among Muslims even

though certain schools of thought termed it

legal.

The Islamic divorce practice, legal under the

Muslim Personal Law of Shariat, allows

husbands to separate from their wives by

uttering the word ‘talaq’ three times. Under the

present law, ‘talaq’ can be given via text

message as well.

Apex court is hearing a clutch of petitions

challenging the constitutional validity of the

practice of instant triple talaq (talaq-e-bidat).


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Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told the Supreme court that the Centre was against

all forms of triple talaq and would argue on all aspects of gender justice including polygamy.

Triple talaq is opposed by a host of women’s organisations in the country who call it regressive

and anti-women. The practice leads to abuse and discrimination against women.

Centre will enact divorce law, if SC strikes Triple Talaq

The Centre promised to enact a divorce law for Muslim men if the Supreme Court strikes down

all three forms of triple talaq unilaterally pronounced by a Muslim man on his wife.

Earlier, the apex court said it was keeping open for adjudication in the future the issues of

polygamy and 'nikah halala' among Muslims as the Centre insisted deliberations on these

aspects as well.

During the last hearing, the apex court had observed that triple talaq is the "worst" and "not a

desirable" form of dissolution of marriage among the Muslims, even though theire were schools

of thought which called it "legal".

1.3 Indian Scientist unveil home grown gold standard

India now has its own standard bar of gold that is 99.99% pure and can be used to verify the

purity of gold sold in shops.

Despite India being one of the largest markets for gold,

goldsmiths so far depended on imported reference gold

bars to check the purity of their biscuits, coins and

jewellery.

Bharatiya Nirdeshak Dravya (BND 4201), the bar,

weighing 20gm and with the dimensions of a ‘Parle-G’

biscuit, will mean that Indian jewellers will no longer

need to import gold bars to check the purity of

ornaments.

The gold bar would be 25% cheaper than the imported version and as a business (reference

gold bars being bought by dealers for tests) could be worth nearly ₹1000 crore per annum.

Government produces Standard Gold Bars of standard fineness and purity of 10g, 50g, 100g,

500g & 1000g denominations.

1.4 Centre may execute proposed social security law in phases

The Labour Ministry may implement its proposed social security law in a phased manner

exempting small factories, employing up to 10 workers, from its ambit initially.

The small factories could be covered in the second phase. Factories employing more than 10

workers and informal sector workers can be covered in the first phase.

The Labour Ministry had in March proposed a labour code on social security which will provide

social security cover to the entire workforce in the country, including self-employed and

agricultural workers.

The provident fund and pension contribution, administered by the Employees’ Provident Fund

Organisation (EPFO), is mandatory only for factories employing at least 20 workers at present.


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Further, medical benefits under the Employees’ State Insurance Act apply to factories with at

least 10 workers and it is also applicable to shops, hotels, restaurants, cinemas and road

transport undertakings.

1.5 National Employment Policy this year

The Centre will frame a new sector-wise National Employment Policy in this financial year even

as it grapples with low employment generation.

New policy would ensure a transition from

informal to formal jobs takes place in the

country.

The pace of job creation fell to a six-year low in

2015 with 1.35 lakh new jobs being created

compared with 4.21 lakh new jobs in 2014 and

4.19 lakh in 2013, according to a survey of

conducted by Labour Bureau.

At present, in India, around 92% of the workers are engaged in informal employment — those

who are not covered by any social security law.

1.6 Cabinet gives nod for 10 indigenous nuclear reactors

Union Cabinet cleared the proposal to construct 10 indigenous pressurised heavy water nuclear

reactors with a total capacity of 7,000 MWe.

Presently India have 6,780 MWe of operational nuclear power plants and about 6,700 MWe of

plants under implementation, which will be set up by 2021-22.

The decision comes against the backdrop of recent troubles for India’s international

collaborations in nuclear projects.

While the U.S. deal, involving Toshiba Westinghouse for six reactors in Andhra Pradesh, is

floundering after Westinghouse filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, the deal with French company

Areva for reactors in Jaitapur remain mired in negotiations over costing.

Proposed 10 plants would create Rs. 70,000 crore worth of business for domestic manufacturers

and generate about 33,400 jobs.


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India generated 37,674 million units of nuclear energy in 2016-17, according to the Nuclear

Power Corporation of India, at a capacity factor of 80%.

Other Cabinet approvals

Cabinet also approved a coal linkage policy, called the Scheme for Harnessing and Allocating

Koyala Transparently in India (Shakti), that will award fuel supply agreements to coal plants

already holding letters of assurance (LoAs).

Thermal plants holding LoAs will be eligible to sign fuel supply pacts under the new policy after

ensuring that all the conditions are met.

1.7 NTRO now under Intelligence Act

National Technical Research Organisation (NTRO), which reports to the Prime Minister’s Office

(PMO) and the National Security Advisor (NSA) will now have the same

“norms of conduct” as the Intelligence Bureau (IB) and the Research

and Analysis Wing (R&AW).

Home Ministry issued a notification listing NTRO under Intelligence

Organisations (Restriction of Rights) Act, 1985, a demand being made

by the organisation for over a decade now.

Restriction imposed under the Act

The Act prevents employees of a notified agency from forming unions/associations, puts

restrictions on the employee’s freedom of speech, bars any communication with the press, or

publishing a book or other document without the permission of the head of the intelligence

organisation.


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Both IB and R&AW have on earlier occasions opposed the inclusion of any other organisation in

the list of monitoring agencies under the Act.

About NTRO

NTRO was created after the 1999 Kargil conflict as a dedicated technical intelligence agency.

It has been fighting tooth and nail to get included in the list as it has the right to lawfully

intercept and monitor communications externally.

In the schedule to the Intelligence Organisations (Restriction of Rights) Act, 1985 after serial number 3

and the entries relating thereto, the following shall be inserted namely-The National Technical Research

Organisation.

1.8 ICJ stays Jadhav execution

International Court of Justice (ICJ) stayed the execution of former Indian naval officer

Kulbhushan Jadhav, in a move swiftly welcomed by the government but dismissed by Pakistan.

ICJ ordered Pakistan to “take all measures at its disposal” to prevent the execution of Mr.

Jadhav, pending its final judgment.

The court accepted India’s argument that the failure by Pakistan to provide required consular

notification and access fell under the scope of Article 1 of the Optional Protocol of the Vienna

Convention of Human Rights.

Pakistan should now inform the court about the steps it takes to implement the order.

The ICJ judges are clear that these provisional measures are binding and create international

legal obligations for the country to which they are addressed.

The ICJ has rejected Pakistan’s objections regarding the urgency of the matter. It rejected

Pakistan’s own jurisdiction to take up the case and its claim that a 2008 bilateral agreement

between the two countries precluded the matter from being raised before the ICJ.

About International Court of Justice

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations (UN).

It was established in June 1945 by the Charter of the United Nations and began work in April

1946.

The seat of the Court is at the Peace Palace in The Hague (Netherlands). Of the six principal

organs of the United Nations, it is the only one not located in New York (United States of

America).

The Court’s role is to settle, in accordance with international law, legal disputes submitted to it

by States and to give advisory opinions on legal questions referred to it by authorized United

Nations organs and specialized agencies.

The Court is composed of 15 judges, who are elected for terms of office of nine years by the

United Nations General Assembly and the Security Council. It is assisted by a Registry, its

administrative organ. Its official languages are English and French.


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1.9 Survival of newborns India ranks lower than Somalia

Newborns in India have a lesser chance of survival than babies born in Afghanistan and

Somalia, according to the latest Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study published in the medical

journal The Lancet.

In the GBD rankings for healthcare access and quality (HAQ), India has fallen 11 places, and

now ranks 154 out of 195 countries.

Further, India’s healthcare index of 44.8 is the lowest among the sub-continental countries, as

Sri Lanka (72.8), Bangladesh (51.7), Bhutan (52.7), and Nepal (50.8) all fared better.

India’s Health care performance last year

India’s downward slide in the rankings indicates that it has failed to achieve health care

targets, especially those concerning neonatal disorders, maternal health, tuberculosis, and

rheumatic heart disease.

In the case of neonatal mortality, on a scale of 1 to 100, India scored 14 in the HAQ index, while

Afghanistan scored 19/100 and Somalia, 21/100. Access to tuberculosis treatment in India was

scored 26 out of 100, lower than Pakistan (29), Congo (30) and Djibouti (29).

For diabetes, chronic kidney diseases, and congenital heart diseases, India scored 38, 20, and 45,

respectively.

Global Burden Diseases

The Global Burden

of Diseases,

Injuries, and Risk

Factors study is put

together by the

Institute for Health

Metrics and

Evaluation (IHME),

an independent

population health

research centre

associated with the University of Washington, along with a consortium of 2,300 researchers in

more than 130 countries.

The HAQ Index is based on death rates from 32 ailments that could be avoided by timely

medical intervention.


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2. International News

2.1 South Korea elected new President

South Korea just elected a new president Moon Jae-in of the liberal

Democratic Party had a career human rights lawyer and the son of North

Korean refugees.

He vowed to tackle immediately the difficult tasks of addressing North

Korea's advancing nuclear ambitions and soothing tensions with the

United States and China.

Moon stated in his first speech as president he would begin efforts to

defuse security tensions on the Korean peninsula and negotiate with

Washington and Beijing to ease a row over a U.S. missile defense

system being deployed in the South.

2.2 Belt-Road Initiative (BRI)

68 countries are now part of BRI initiative.

It is a $900 billion infrastructure project.

It reaches 4.4 billion people and up to 40% of global GDP.

The road stretches from China to Europe to improve trade.

Project is funded by China development Bank, EXIM Bank of China, AIIB and New Development

Bank.

China to invest $800 bn in Belt & Road in 5 years

Chinese investments related to the Belt and Road initiative have totalled $60 billion since 2013,

and Beijing plans to invest $600 billion to $800 billion in the next five years.

China Development Bank and the Export-Import Bank of China have extended $110 billion in

loans for the Belt and Road projects by the end of 2016.

China has signed currency swap deals with the countries along the Belt and Road routes totaling

900 billion yuan.

India skips B&R Forum

India decided to boycott the One Belt One

Road project as a part of it passes through

the Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir.

India had got the official invite to attend

the six forums. All the South Asian

countries barring India have already

signed up for OBOR.

Xi evokes panchasheel as India skips meet

Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed five principles of peaceful co-existence or Panchsheel — the brainchild of China, India and Myanmar in the 1950s.

He Proposed it as the mantra for advancing the Belt and Road Initiative (B&RI), and as a vehicle for achieving sustainable globalisation.


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Reason for India’s Objection

India’s primary objection to the OBOR that it sees as a ‘unilateral’ or ‘national’ initiative of China

is that one of its subsets – China-Pakistan Economic Corridor traverse through Gilgit-Batlistan

that India considers to be its territory.

India categorically stated that connectivity projects must "respect sovereignty and territorial

integrity".

India also hinted at how OBOR projects have been creating bad debt in countries where the

projects have been undertaken.

Importance of India’s participation in China’s BR initiative

Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) — which already has contracts of over $1 trillion covering over 60 countries — as enlarging areas of cooperation; and push for India as the southern node and a ‘Digital Asia’.

India cannot be a $10 trillion economy by 2032 without integrating itself with the growing Asian market and its supply, manufacturing and market networks.

Complementing to China’s Initiative, New Delhi should develop common standards with the fastest growing economies in Asia that are on the periphery of the B&R Initiative, such as Bangladesh, Vietnam and Indonesia, to facilitate trade, investment and business engagement.

It offers a new cooperation framework in South Asia around global challenges. For example, sharing meteorological reports, region specific climate research and the ‘Aadhaar’ digital experience, despite on-going security concerns.

Hinduism and Buddhism spread to East and South-East Asia with commerce and an urbanising Asia and world, and needs a new organising principle around shared prosperity — principles that dominated India till 1800 making it the world’s richest country for over two millennia.

Despite their territorial dispute, strategic differences and military deployment in the South China Sea, China and Japan have just agreed to strengthen financial cooperation, and the Forum could provide an impetus to settling the border dispute between India and China.

The BRI seeks “complementarities between a countries’ own development strategy and that of others”, though its goals have yet to be formalised, and India would lend a powerful voice to a strategy and structure that ensures common goals will not be neglected.


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3. Polity and Governance

3.1 SC plans to go paperless

Supreme Court launched Integrated Case Management Information System (ICMIS) will allow a

litigant to digitally file a case and watch its progress on a real-time basis.

The system will help litigants access data and retrieve

information online. It will be a step towards a paperless

Supreme Court.

Chief Justice of India J.S. Khehar proposed to integrate the

system with all the 24 High Courts and the subordinate

courts. It would help usher in transparency, reduce

manipulation and help the litigant track the progress of a case on a real time basis.

Chief Justice had urged High Court judges to work for a few days during the summer break.

Over 61,000 cases are pending in the apex court, while the 24 High Courts have 38.70 lakh

pending cases, government data shows.

3.2 Voluntary Unemployment rising: NITI

Niti Aayog flagged a dramatic rise in voluntary unemployment across the country, where

people choose not to work below a certain income level after ‘investing’ in education.

The trouble with current official data on labour and

employment is that they can be used to claim ‘jobless

growth’ as well as ‘growth-less jobs’ — and fail to capture

the pre-dominantly informal and unorganised nature of

the Indian economy.

NITI Aayog also pointed out that India need 10 to 12

million new jobs to provide employment opportunities to the young Indian Population.

The primary growth in jobs will come from the services sector. Even when reforms happen in

agriculture, most of the jobs will be created in areas that will show up in national income

accounts as services such as transportation, logistics.

3.3 Minority status only if trusts enrol on NITI site

Educational trusts and societies seeking minority status will now be required to register as

non-governmental organisation with the NITI Aayog, whether they are seeking government aid

or not.

The registration with the NITI Aayog portal Darpan is likely to put all the financial transactions

of the trust and its office-bearers under government scanner as details such as PAN and Aadhaar

of all trustees and office-bearers will be required for the enrolment.

The National Commission for Minority Educational Institutions stated this rule will not be

applicable to institutions run by individuals.


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The government had made it mandatory for NGOs and voluntary organisations to register

with the NITI Aayog portal to enable them to apply for grants from any Ministry. However, the

trusts and NGOs not seeking government funding were not required to do so.

The Constitution of India gives linguistic and religious minorities a fundamental right to

establish and administer educational institutions of their choice.

Rights of Minorities in Indian Constitution

The Indian constitution enshrines various provisions for the protection of the rights and interest of the

minorities.

India declares herself a secular state. No particular religion or the religion of the overwhelming

majority, has been made the religion of the state.

Article 29 give the religious and linguistic minorities right to establish and manage educational

institutions of their own. The minorities have been given the unrestricted rights to promote and

preserve their own culture.

Article 30 is vital to the protection and preservation of rights of the minorities. The minorities

have been given the right to establish and administer educational institutions of their choice.

The state also cannot discriminate against educational institutions established and managed by

the minorities in matters of granting aids.


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4. Economy

4.1 GST to herald a new era in federalism: RBI

The Goods and Services Tax (GST), which is likely to be introduced

from July 2017, is set to usher in a new era of cooperative

federalism, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) observed in its report

on State finances.

Expected Outcomes of GST

The successful implementation of GST would help boost

revenue through easier tax administration, supported by user-friendly IT systems.

It is expected to reduce administrative costs for collection of tax revenue and improve revenue

efficiency.

Moreover, uniformity in tax rates and procedures across the country will economise on

compliance cost.

4.2 Centre cuts UDAN levy on air tickets

Civil Aviation Ministry has decided to significantly

reduce the levy on air tickets imposed to fund the

Centre’s new regional connectivity scheme UDAN.

From June 1, it will only charge a uniform levy of

₹5,000 per flight on major routes, down from ₹7,500-

₹8,500 per flight it had ordered to charge earlier.

The move will come as a relief to passengers taking

flights on major domestic routes as each passenger

will have to bear about ₹30 as cess against about ₹50 as per government’s previous order in

November 2016.

The Centre had ordered imposing a levy of ₹7,500 for flights up to 1,000 km, ₹8,000 for flights

between 1,000 and 1,500 km and ₹8,500 for flights beyond 1,500 km, except north-eastern

states and regional routes, effective from December 1.

A reduction in levy is also seen as government’s efforts to bring domestic airlines on board its

UDAN scheme as most domestic airlines refused to charge a levy on air tickets.

UDAN Scheme

As per the UDAN scheme, airfares on all flights operating from regional airports will be capped

at ₹2,500 for an hour’s journey.

The Centre will provide subsidy to fund the losses incurred by airlines through a regional

connectivity fund.

While 80% of the fund will be financed by the levy imposed on air tickets, the rest 20% will

flow from respective state governments.

4.3 Cash is back as digital payment dip on costs


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Cash transactions are beginning to trump almost every form of digital payment alternative

with April clocking a decline in volumes as well as value of transactions conducted through

cards, mobile banking and the Unified Payment Interface (UPI).

The trend assumes significance six months after the Centre announced demonetisation of

₹500 and ₹1,000 notes on November 8.

The near-completion of the remonetisation process

and merchant’s unwillingness to pay user charges

also known as Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) to

banks has resulted in a slump in demand for new

point of sale (PoS) devices, according to industry

players.

The RBI’s database shows that Immediate Payment

Service (IMPS) transactions contracted 3.4% in

volume and 0.5% in value in April 2017 compared

with the previous month. In contrast, December saw

a growth of 46% and 33% in the volume and value of

IMPS transactions.

Similarly, the volume of UPI transactions grew only

about 11% in April, down from 47% in March. The

value of these transactions contracted 8% in April as

opposed to a growth of 25% in March. Card transactions contracted 3.6% in volume and 1.1% in

value over the same period.

Merchant Discount Rate (MDR)

The rate charged to a merchant by a bank for providing debit and credit card services. The rate

is determined based on factors such as volume, average ticket price, risk and industry.

The merchant must set up this service with a bank, and agree to the rate prior to accepting

debit and credit cards as payment.

The average merchant discount rate is between 1-3%. However, for online merchants, the rate

tends to be higher. This applies to merchants that deal both online and in-store. They will often

pay a higher rate for their online sales.

4.4 Foreign food retailers can sell non-foods too

Centre is expected to pave the way for multi-brand foreign retailers to tap the Indian market, by

allowing overseas investors in the food retail segment to offer ‘Made in India’ non-food items as

well.

While India’s $600 billion retail sector, with 70% of it comprising food, is a ‘mind boggling’

proposition for foreign retailers grappling with stagnating growth in the developed world.

India had opened up 100% FDI in multi-brand food retail and food processing sectors in early

2016.


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4.5 GST council sets rates for most commodities

Setting the stage for rollout of goods and services tax (GST) from July, the Centre and states

decided on rates for specific products which may lead to lower prices for a majority of products

of mass consumption.

The idea is to ensure that the impact of GST is not inflationary. Rates on 1,211 items were

finalised by the GST council with 81% facing a levy of up to 18%. There is no increase (in burden)

on any commodity.

Proposed GST rates

Milk, cereals (unpackaged and unbranded), and jaggery will be exempt from any GST, while

sugar, tea, coffee (except instant), and edible oil will be taxed at 5%.

Common use items such as soap, toothpaste, and hair oil, which currently attract a tax rate of

22-24%, will be taxed at 18%. Coal, which is currently taxed at 11.7%, will attract a GST rate of

5%.

Consumer durables will come under the 28% tax bracket, down from the current 30-32% rate.

Capital goods and industrial intermediaries will be taxed at 18%.

According to sources, small petrol and diesel cars will be taxed at 28% with small petrol cars

attracting a cess of 1% and small diesel cars 3%.

Luxury cars will attract a 15% cess in addition to 28% GST. 350 cc bikes will attract a cess of 3%.

Important measures taken by Government

Stressing that no commodity would witness an increase in taxation was an important step

towards rollout of GST from July 1.


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The six categories to be discussed include bidis/cigarettes, footwear, gold, and agriculture

implements. Tax rates on services will also be part of the next agenda.

4.6 GST council finalises rates for services

Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council finalised tax rates for all services, except lottery, under

the new indirect tax regime to be rolled out from July 1.

Services already exempted from tax, such

as healthcare and education, will continue

to enjoy the concession.

The GST Council finalised four tax rates of

5, 12, 18 and 28% to apply on services

including telecom, insurance, hotels and

restaurants under the biggest tax reform

since the Independence.

Travelling on metro, local train and

religious travel including Haj yatra will all

continue to be exempt from GST.

Tax on gold and precious metals will be

taken up at the next meeting of the Council

on 3 June.

E-commerce players like Flipkart, Snapdeal

will have to deduct 1% TCS (tax collected at

source) while making payments to

suppliers.

Entertainment tax will be merged with

service tax under GST and a composite 28%

levy charged on cinema services as well as

gambling or betting at race course.

Hotels and lodges charging per day tariff of

Rs1,000 will be exempt from GST. Rate for

hotels with tariff of Rs1,000 to 2,000 per

day would be 12% while those with tariff of

Rs2,500 to Rs5,000 would be 18%. GST for hotels with tariff above Rs5,000 will be 28%.


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4.7 GST rates could have aided green goods

The Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council’s

treatment of goods such as commercial LPG,

hybrid cars, and renewable energy

components has missed an opportunity to

back environmentally friendly goods,

according to an industry official and an

economist.

The GST Council finalised the rates and cess

for most of the goods under the purview of

the tax. Among these, it set a rate of 18% for

commercial LPG, and 5% for all renewable

energy devices and spare parts.

LPG for domestic use would be taxed at 5%

while LPG used commercially and in cars

would be taxed at 18%.

Under GST, the government would also levy cesses on certain sin and luxury goods, over and

above the highest tax rate of 28%.

In this system, it has clubbed together sport-utility vehicles (SUVs), which usually have higher

emission levels, and hybrid vehicles, and set the cess at 15%.

At the same time, the cess on ultra-luxury products like private planes and yachts has been set

at a relatively low 3%.


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5. Science and Tech

5.1 Spyder Surface to Air Missile test fired

India test fired a surface-to-air missile ‘Spyder’ from a test range in Odisha as part of missile launch

practice of a series of tests of the short-range quick reaction.

Spyder Missile

Spyder (Surface-to-air PYthon and DERby) is an acquired missile system from Israel which is a

short-range, quick reaction surface-to-air missile.

It neutralises enemy targets up to a distance of 15 km

and at heights between 20-and-9,000 metres.

Spyder is shorter than India’s indigenously developed

surface-to-air ‘Akash’ missile

It is an all-weather missile which has an automatic

process of engaging an aggressive aircraft or missile.

5.2 Global Cyberattack affecting 150 countries

A global cyber-attack has been underway, affecting more than 200,000 organisations in 150

countries.

The worldwide “ransomware” cyberattack spread to thousands of more computers as people

logged in at work, disrupting business, schools, hospitals and daily life.

The initial attack, known as “WannaCry,” paralysed computers running factories, banks,

government agencies and transport systems in scores of countries, including Russia, Ukraine,

Brazil, Spain, India and Japan, among others.


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WannaCry – Ransomeware

The "WannaCry" ransomware appears to have used a flaw in Microsoft's software.

Ransomware, which demands payment after launching a cyber attack, has become a rising trend

among hackers looking for a quick payout.

What is Ransomware?

Ransomware is a kind of cyber attack that involves hackers taking control of a computer system

and blocking access to it until a ransom is paid.

For cyber criminals to gain access to the system they need to download a type of malicious

software onto a device within the network. This is often done by getting a victim to click on a

link or download it by mistake.

Once the software is on a victim's computer the hackers can launch an attack that locks all files

it can find within a network. This tends to be a gradual process with files being encrypted one

after another.

What is Wanna Decryptor?

Wanna Decryptor, also known as WannaCry or wcry, is a specific ransomware program that

locks all the data on a computer system and leaves the user with only two files: instructions on

what to do next and the Wanna Decryptor program itself.

When the software is opened it tells computer users that their files have been encryted, and

gives them a few days to pay up, warning that their files will otherwise be deleted. It demands

payment in Bitcoin, gives instructions on how to buy it, and provides a Bitcoin address to send it

to.


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Most computer security companies have ransomware decryption tools that can bypass the

software.

Why ransomware demands Bitcoin?

Ransomware often demands between 0.3 and 1 Bitcoins (£400 - 1,375), but can demand a

payment denominated in dollars but made via Bitcoin.

The digital currency is popular among cybercriminals because it is decentralised, unregulated

and practically impossible to trace.

5.3 India’s first nuclear uterine transplant performed

A team of 12 doctors at the city’s Galaxy Care Laparoscopy Institute (GCLI) successfully

completed the highly complex and delicate procedure of India’s first uterine transplant on a

woman from Solapur district.

The woman suffers from congenital absence of uterus and is to be fitted with her mother’s

womb to enable her to conceive normally.

According to team members, the surgery was successful. While the donor’s health is fine, the

recipient has been placed under a 24-hour observation.

Still in its nascent, experimental stage, only a handful of these operations have met with success

in other countries, primarily in Sweden.

The operations are meant to help women who want to conceive but cannot because they were

born without uterus, suffered damage to it or had to have it removed.


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Earlier Uterus transplant surgeries

In 2012, doctors at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden led by Dr. Mats Brännström

performed nine uterus transplants, resulting in five births.

The first baby, born to the recipient in 2014, was delivered prematurely through Caesarean

section, and was healthy.

The first uterine transplant in the U.S., which was performed in February 2016 on a 26-year-old

woman from Texas, Lindsey MacFarland, at a Cleveland clinic in Ohio.

It was the first of 10 uterine transplants planned by the clinic, in an experimental programme

meant to enable women without uterus to become pregnant and give birth.

In April 2000, a woman who received uterus transplant in Saudi Arabia (considered to be the

world’s first uterus transplant) needed the organ removed barely three months after the

operation. In that case, the organ deteriorated after clots blocked the blood supply.

Another woman in Turkey received uterus transplant from a deceased donor in 2011, and while

she was able to conceive, she unfortunately miscarried.


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6. Environment / Geography

6.1 GEAC gives nod for GM Mustard

Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC), India's apex regulator for genetically modified seeds,

cleared GM mustard for environmental release and use in farmer fields. However, the approval is

contingent on a final nod from Environment Minister.

GM Mustard

The GM mustard Dhara Mustard Hybrid - DMH -11, developed by a Delhi University institution,

is only the second food crop which got its clearance from the central regulator.

The GEAC had earlier in 2010 cleared the Bt Brinjal but the decision was not accepted by

environment minister.

Currently, only Bt Cotton - a non-food GM crop - is commercially cultivated in the country.

Opposition to GM mustard crops

Decision of the GEAC was vehemently opposed by environmentalists

GM crops fearing the reliance on expensive seeds patented by multinationals like Monsanto.

Safety of food produced by way of GM crops is not guaranteed.

Why GM Mustard crop needed

GM crops are superior as they are resistant to pests and diseases—implying lower usage of

pesticides

Increase in the yield of crops by 30-60% from the present non-GM seeds.

6.2 Traffic pollution reaches the Himalayas

India’s notorious traffic pollution is no longer an urban malaise, its impact is now being felt

4,000 metres above sea level, in the Himalayas.

Geologists have found high levels of sulphur from diesel emissions along the Manali-Leh

highway that snakes through the northwestern Himalayas.

Soil samples from four sites along the 480 km highway were tested for 10 heavy metals and

sulphur among other chemicals.

Indian diesel contains some of the highest concentrations of sulphur in the world and an

estimated 70% of automobiles running on Indian roads use diesel.

Experts caution that the accumulation of sulphur can cause soil acidification. Excessive sulphur

can, besides, be toxic to humans and animals.


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6.3 Yellow eyed Penguins could be wiped out in 25 years

New Zealand’s iconic Yellow-eyed penguins may go extinct within the next 25 years due to

rising ocean temperatures and climate change, unless urgent conservation actions are

undertaken, a new study has warned.

Researchers from the University of Otaga in New

Zealand predict that the breeding success of the

penguins will continue to decline to extinction by

2060, largely due to rising ocean temperatures.

The study highlights where conservation efforts could

be most effective in building penguins’ resilience

against climate change.

Increasing sea surface temperatures in part explain

the negative trend in penguin numbers, according to the researchers.


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7. Health Issues

7.1 Multi-Drug Resistant TB will rise in India says new study

A study published online in the Lancet Infectious Disease journal has forecast an increase in

drug-resistant tuberculosis cases in the four high-burden countries, including India.

It suggested that person-to-person transmission will become the engine that drives drug-

resistant tuberculosis in these countries.

By 2040, 12.4 per cent, or an eighth, of TB cases in India will be multi-drug-resistant, up from 7.9

per cent in 2000.

Nearly 40% of all drug-resistant cases occur in Russia, India, the Philippines, and South Africa –

accounting for more than 230,000 cases of drug-resistant disease in 2015.

Of the multi-drug-resistant cases, one in 10 are expected to be extensively drug-resistant by

2040.

According to health ministry figures, India has 2.8 million cases of TB every year. Of these, 2.8

per cent are new cases of multi-drug resistance while another 11.2 are acquired cases of multi-

drug resistance.


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8. India and World

8.1 India aims to boost to trade ties with Africa

India has extended credit totalling $7.6 billion to African nations and aims to use the upcoming

annual meeting of the African Development Bank in Gujarat to

strengthen its trade ties with the continent.

As on March 31, 2017, India has extended 152 lines of credit to

44 African nations amounting to $7.6 billion.

The African Development Bank (AfDB) has 81 member countries,

57 of which are from Africa. India is among the other 24 non-

regional members.

Indian companies have invested $72 billion in African nations as of 2014-15 this made up 20% of

the total investment in those countries.


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9. Short News

9.1 Navy saves ship from pirates

Deploying its ship INS Sharda, the Navy rescued a merchant vessel, m.v. Lord Mountbatten,

from a piracy attempt in the Gulf of Aden.

The ship received a distress call from m.v. Lord Mountbatten, 230

nm [nautical miles] south-west of Salalah in the Gulf of Aden. The

vessel had reported an incident of attempted piracy by two

suspicious mother vessels along with 7-8 skiffs.

In April, the Navies of India and China jointly foiled a hijack

attempt on a bulk cargo carrier in the Gulf of Aden.

9.2 PM calls for evergreen revolution in the country

Prime Minister pitched for an "evergreen revolution" to enable the country to meet the

challenge faced by the agriculture sector.

He emphasised the need for moving from the concept of 'food security' to 'nutrition security',

for which he favoured the scientific and technological intervention.

He stated that government is working in this direction as part of its "dream" to ensure that the

farmers' income doubles by 2022, when the country celebrates its 75th Independence day.

Malnutrition is a challenge and therefore the pulses need to have improved nutrition quotient.

The "economic imbalance" among various regions of the country and said this needs to be

addressed because "the country cannot run for long with the imbalance.


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