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May 2018 3rd Week Summary
REPLACE CAMPAIGN
World Health Organization (WHO) has launched comprehensive plan “REPLACE” to eliminate industrially-produced
artificial trans-fats from global food supply by 2023.
The elimination of trans-fats is key to protecting health and saving lives.
REPLACE is abbreviated in six strategic actions as Review, Promote, Legislate, Assess, Create awareness and Enforce.
The campaign provides step-by-step guide in six strategic actions of ‘REPLACE’ package to ensure prompt, complete,
and sustained elimination of industrially-produced trans-fats from global food supply.
Implementing six strategic actions will help achieve elimination of trans-fat and represent major victory in the global
fight against cardiovascular diseases.
Six areas of action include:
1. Review dietary sources of industrially produced transfats and landscape for required policy change.
2. Promote replacement of industrially produced transfats with healtier fats and oils.
3. Legislate or enact regulatory actions to eliminate industrially produced transfat.
4. Assess and monitor trans-fat content in the food supply and changes in transfat consumption in the
population…
5. Create awareness of the negative health impact of trans-fat among policy makers, producers, suppliers and
the public.
6. Enforce compliance with policies and regulations.
Integrated Centre for Crisis Management (ICCM)
President Ram Nath Kovind inaugurated Integrated Centre for Crisis Management (ICCM) at Bhabha Atomic Research
Centre (BARC) in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
The ICCM will help nation to respond more effectively to chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN)
emergencies.
It will monitor radiological data from a network of 504 radiation sensors across the country.
Other launches
Multi-leaf collimator system: It has been developed by BARC. It is used radiotherapy as it enables gamma radiation
to be exposed only on cancer-affected organs.
Trombay Chhattisgarh Dubraj Mutant-1: It is high-yielding dwarf variety of Dubraj mutant rice. It is 43rd high-yielding
crop variety developed by BARC.
President Kovind also remotely inaugurated three other nuclear facilities of Department of Atomic Energy (DEA). They
are
May 2018 3rd Week Summary 1. Metal fuel pin fabrication facility: It has been jointly developed by BARC and Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic
Research at Kalpakkam, near Chennai, Tamil Nadu. It will help to increase plutonium production in fast breeder
reactors.
2. High-power electron beam melting furnace: It is jointly developed by scientists of BARC and Nuclear Fuel
Complex. It will be used for nuclear and strategic applications.
3. Integrated enriched boron tri-fluoride gas generation facility: It was developed by Heavy-water Board in Odisha.
It will be used in neutron detectors.
Bharat Inclusion Initiative
Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad’s (IIMA’s) centre for innovation, incubation and entrepreneurship (CIIE)
has launched $25 million ‘Bharat Inclusion Initiative’ to fund start-ups.
CIIE was founded at IIMA to support entrepreneurs and turn business ideas into viable businesses models. It partners
with industry experts, mentors, corporates, IIMA community and investors to help incubate early-stage start-ups.
CIIE’s ‘Bharat Inclusion Seed Fund’ aims to provide continuum of solutions to inclusion focused tech entrepreneurs
across the pre-incubation, seed and scale-up stage and help them jump to the next orbit.
It will mentor and invest in start-ups in the early stage and seed segment over the next three-four years. The fund will
look at start-ups in areas such as financial inclusion, livelihood, education, agriculture, and health. It has set aside
$22.5 million to invest in pre-Series A technology start-ups.
The initiative has received initial pledge of $12.5 million from Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Michael and Susan
Dell Foundation and Omidyar Network.
Trade facilitation pact in services
India has pitched for inclusion of the trade facilitation pact on services in the World Trade Organisation (WTO) saying
it would help promote growth of the global economy.
On the lines of the trade facilitation pact in goods, India has submitted a detailed proposal to the WTO to negotiate a
trade facilitation agreement in services (TFS). India is pitching for this pact as the sector contributes over 60% to the
GDP and 28% to total employment.
About Trade Facilitation agreement in services:
The TFS proposal aims at liberalising rules for movement of professionals and other steps to reduce transaction costs
with a view to boost growth of the services sector.
It will focus on issues like liberalised visa regime, long-term visas for business community and freer movement of
professionals for the greater benefit of both India and the world, among others.
Key proposals:
The proposed agreement would set provisions on all four modes of services supply of the General Agreement on
Trade in Services (GATS).
For services supplied through “mode 3” (a foreign company setting up subsidiaries or branches to provide services
in another country), it suggests streamlining the setting up of businesses through a “single window”.
For the cross-border movement of services suppliers (known as “mode 4”), it suggests simplifying work permit and
visa procedures and ensuring that measures relating to taxation, fees and social security contributions do not unfairly
disadvantage foreign service suppliers.
Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) BARC is India’s premier nuclear research facility based in Mumbai, Maharashtra. It is multi-disciplinary research centre
with extensive infrastructure for advanced research and development. Its R&D covers entire spectrum of nuclear
science, engineering and related areas. BARC’s core mandate is to sustain peaceful applications of nuclear energy,
primarily for power generation.
May 2018 3rd Week Summary Other suggestions include enhancing cooperation among authorities, facilitating cross-border data flows, and
allowing WTO members to comment on measures before their entry into force. The proposal also foresees special
and differential treatment for developing countries.
State Startup Ranking Framework 2018
30 States and Union Territories have participated in the State Startup Ranking Framework 2018 launched by DIPP.
The participating States and UTs shall now be evaluated on a score of 100, against 38 action points categorized into
7 areas of intervention such as Startup Policy and implementation, Incubation support, Seed Funding, Angel and
Venture Funding, Simplification of Regulations, Easing Public Procurement and Awareness & Outreach.
In order to evaluate States/UTs in a balanced and transparent manner, the assessment will be based on the
aggregate score of the documentary proofs substantiating the implementation of action points by the State/ UT
Government and also feedback from Startup ecosystem beneficiaries/components.
DIPP has appointed seven dedicated evaluation committees involving members from all relevant departments and
reputed players in the ecosystem, for evaluating States’ responses in each area of intervention.
The key objective of the Startup States and UTs Ranking Framework is to encourage States and UTs to take proactive
steps towards strengthening the Startup ecosystems at the local level.
The Ranking Framework will measure the
impact of each step initiated at the local level
for building a strong Startup ecosystem.
The Ranking Framework will also enable
continuous learning through the dissemination
of good practices.
The Ranking Framework is based on the
feedback collected from Startup ecosystem
stakeholders, which include start-ups, mentors,
investors, accelerators, incubators and the
government bodies. Areas which should be
given greater thrust like seed funding support,
women entrepreneurship are given more score.
National Dengue Day
National Dengue Day is observed on May 16 in order to create awareness regarding the viral disease.
Spread of the disease: It is contagious and can easily be spread from one person to another. The disease is mainly
caused by 1 of the 4 closely related dengue viruses. The fever is transmitted when Aedes mosquito infected with
dengue virus bites a person.
Symptoms: High fever, severe headaches, nausea, joint and muscle pain are some of the symptoms of the disease,
which typically starts after 6 days of being infected with it. Those with weak immune system are at the higher risk of
dengue.
Prevention: The best way to prevent the disease is to try the best not to get bit by mosquitoes. Keep your surrounding
clean and increase the usage of mosquito repellents. Avoid roaming in grassy areas in night. Don’t forget to close
door and windows of your house. To prevent breeding of mosquitoes, avoid still water near your surroundings.
India emerged as third largest solar market in world
According to recently released report by Mercom Communications, India emerged as third largest solar market in
world in 2017 behind China and United States.
Mercom Communications India is arm of global clean energy consulting firm Mercom Capital Group.
India has set new record with 9.6 GW of solar installations in 2017, which was more than double the 4.3 GW installed
in 2016.
In 2017, India’s solar market had grown at Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of approximately 170% since
2010. The robust growth boosted India’s total solar installed capacity to 19.6 GW as of December 2017. As of 2017-
end, large-scale solar project development accounted for 92% of the all-time cumulative solar installations in India
with 19.6 GW and 2017 alone made up 90% of such installations with 8.6 GW. Of the total 1.6 GW cumulative solar
rooftop installations in India by 2017, 995 MW was installed last year.
NTPC signs MoU with Bihar Government to improve performance of power sector in Bihar
The NTPC Limited has signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Bihar Government to improve performance
of power sector in the state.
The MoU envisages transfer of three power generation facilities in Bihar to NTPC.
It has been undertake as part of NTPC’s strong capability in turning around under-performing state owned power
stations
These three power generation facilities are Barauni Thermal Power Station, Kanti Bijlee Utpadan Nigam Limited
(KBUN) and Nabinagar Power Generating Company (Pvt.) Limited (NPGC). All three power generation facilities are
envisaged to be transferred to NTPC through Statutory Transfer Scheme. The transfer of these power stations to NTPC
will result in their optimal and efficient utilization, bring power tariff down and benefit people of state.
May 2018 3rd Week Summary
NTPC is the largest power generating company of India with total installed capacity of 53651 MW (including JVs) from
coal, gas, hydro, solar and wind power projects. It is one of the seven maharatna company in India functioning under
the Ministry of Power.
Sanctuaries that conserve Great Indian Bustard
The following are the sanctuaries that shelter or were set up to conserve a very unique species that’s now critically
endangered - the great Indian bustard.
Desert National Park, Thar Desert, Rajasthan
1. It is the State bird of Rajasthan.
2. The Desert National Park is spread across Jaisalmer and
Barmer districts of Rajasthan.
3. The Park also welcomes the migrant Houbara Bustard and
several other bird species
Kutch Bustard Sanctuary, Gujarat
1. The sanctuary is dominated by vast swathes of grasslands.
2. It was declared a sanctuary in 1992
Great Indian Bustard Sanctuary, Maharashtra
1. It is also known as the Jawaharlal Nehru Bustard Sanctuary of Maharashtra.
2. This sanctuary is located in Ninnaj, over 20 km from the city of Solapur.
3. Unconfirmed reports suggest that today those sprawling grasslands are home to perhaps not a single bustard.
The great Indian bustard (or simply Indian bustard) is a large, white-and-brown bird with wing markings and a black
crown.
A bird native to India and Pakistan, it has today lost almost 90 % of its original habitats.
It is believed to have disappeared from States such as Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.
The largest population is found in Rajasthan, with a few birds in Gujarat and Maharashtra.
National Policy on Biofuels – 2018
The Union Cabinet has approved National Policy on Biofuels – 2018
The Policy categorises biofuels as
1. "Basic Biofuels" as First Generation (1G) bioethanol & biodiesel
2. "Advanced Biofuels"- Second Generation (2G) ethanol, Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) to drop-in fuels
3. Third Generation (3G) biofuels, bio-CNG etc.
It is to enable extension of appropriate financial and fiscal incentives under each category.
The Policy allows use
of surplus food grains for
production of ethanol for
blending with petrol with the
approval of National Biofuel
Coordination Committee.
One of the expected
benefits is that the Used
Cooking Oil can be used as
potential feedstock for
biodiesel and its use for
making biodiesel will
prevent diversion of used
cooking oil in the food
industry.
In order to promote
biofuels in the country, a
National Policy on Biofuels
was made by Ministry of
New and Renewable Energy
during the year 2009.
May 2018 3rd Week Summary
Swachhata Survekshan 2018
The result of Swachh Survekshan 2018 was released recently by the Ministry of Urban Development.
It assessed 4203 Urban Local Bodies and was organized by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), under
the aegis of the Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban).
The on-field survey for Swachh Survekshan has been conducted by an independent agency and the data for ranking
of the cities collected from 3 sources:
1. Service Level Progress: To verify whether systems and processes are in place in Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) to
implement Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban) in the most efficient way.
2. Direct Observation: To verify and assess general cleanliness in the cities by making random field visits in
different parts of the city and public conveniences (Community/Public Toilets).
3. Citizens Feedback: To collect feedback directly from citizens and monitor the performance of Swachhata App, a
citizen’s grievance Mobile App.
Under ‘Service Level Progress’, Swachh Surveksan-2018 has introduced one more component ‘Innovation and Best
Practices’ in addition to existing five components.
At the national level, the Top 3 cleanest cities are: (Madhya Pradesh)
1. Indore
2. Bhopal
3. Chandigarh
Mangaluru is “India’s best city in solid waste management” under the categories of cities having a population
between three lakh and 10 lakh.
World Health Organisation (WHO) has published its first Essential Diagnostics List
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has published its first Essential Diagnostics List, a catalogue of tests needed
to diagnose most common diseases along with number of global priority diseases.
It aims to address people’s inability to access diagnostic services, which results in them from receiving correct
treatment.
The essential diagnostics list concentrates on in-vitro tests like tests of blood and urine. It contain overall 113
products which comprises 58 tests for detection and diagnosis of a wide range of common conditions. Remaining 55
tests for detection, diagnosis and monitoring of
‘priority’ diseases such as tuberculosis, malaria, HIV,
hepatitis B and C, syphilis and human papillomavirus.
For each category of test, list specifies type of test and
intended use, format and if appropriate for primary
health care or for health facilities with laboratories.
It also provides links to WHO guidelines or
publications and to pre-qualified products.
Some of tests enlisted in it are particularly suitable for
primary health care (PHCs) facilities, where laboratory
services are often poorly resourced and sometimes
non-existent.
World Health Organization (WHO)
WHO is a specialized agency of the United Nations that
acts as a coordinating authority on international public
health. Established on 7 April 1948, it succeeded the
Health Organization, which was an agency of the League
of Nations. It is a member of the United Nations
Development Group and its headquarters is located at
Geneva. WHO flag features the Rod of Asclepius as a
symbol for healing.
May 2018 3rd Week Summary
Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY)
The Union Cabinet has approved setting up of a new All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Deoghar,
Jharkhand under the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY).
Significance:
The setting up of new AIIMS at Deoghar will serve the dual purpose of providing super speciality health care to the
population while also helping to create a large pool of doctors and other health workers in this region to be available
for primary and secondary-level institutions/facilities being created under the National Health Mission (NHM).
About PMSSY:
The Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY) was announced in 2003 with objectives of correcting
regional imbalances in the availability of affordable/ reliable tertiary healthcare services and also to augment
facilities for quality medical education in the country.
It is a central sector scheme.
The scheme has two components: Setting up of new AIIMS and up gradation of government medical colleges.
National Institute of Mental Health Rehabilitation (NIMHR) at Bhopal.
NIMHR will be the first of its kind in the country in the area of mental health rehabilitation. It will serve as an institution
of excellence to develop capacity building in the area of mental health rehabilitation and also help the Government
to develop models for effective rehabilitation of persons with mental illness.
NIMHR has been established as a Society under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 under the aegis of the
Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities.
The main objectives of the NIMHR are to provide rehabilitation services to the persons with mental illness, capacity
development in the area of mental health rehabilitation, policy framing and advanced research in mental health
rehabilitation.
The Institute will conduct 12 courses to offer diploma, certificate, and graduate, post graduate, M.Phil. degrees in the
area of mental health rehabilitation.
Micro Irrigation Fund’ (MIF)
The government on Wednesday approved a dedicated Rs5, 000 crore fund to bring more land area under micro-irrigation
as part of its objective to boost agriculture production and farmer’s income.
About the Micro Irrigation Fund:
‘Micro Irrigation Fund’ (MIF) has been setup with NABARD under Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY).
An allocation of Rs2,000 crore has been made for this fiscal while Rs3,000 crore has been earmarked for the 2019-
20 fiscal. NABARD will extend the loan to state governments during this period.
NABARD will provide this amount to states on concessional rate of interest.
Borrowings from NABARD shall be paid back in seven years including the grace period of two years.
The lending rate under MIF has been proposed at 3% lower than the cost of raising the fund by NABARD.
This cost would be met from the ongoing scheme of PMKSY-PDMC (per drop more crop component) by amending the
existing guidelines.
Beneficiaries:
The dedicated fund would supplement the efforts of PMKSY programme and help bring about 10 lakh hectares under
micro-irrigation.
The fund will facilitate States to mobilise resources for their initiatives, including additional (top up subsidy) in
implementation of PMKSY-PDMC to achieve the annual target of about 2 million hectares per year during the
remaining period of 14th Finance Commission.
The states might access this fund for innovative integrated projects, including projects in the Public Private
Partnership (PPP) mode and also for incentivizing micro irrigation.
Farmers Producers Organization (FPO)/Cooperatives/State Level Agencies can also access the funds with state
government guarantee or equivalent collateral.
Farmers Co-operatives may access this fund for innovative cluster based community irrigation projects.
PMKSY is an umbrella scheme incorporating ongoing schemes of the Ministry like Mega Food Parks, Integrated Cold
Chain and Value Addition Infrastructure, Food Safety and Quality Assurance Infrastructure, etc. and also new schemes
like Infrastructure for Agro-processing Clusters, Creation of Backward and Forward Linkages, Creation / Expansion of
Food Processing & Preservation Capacities.
May 2018 3rd Week Summary
Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor Project
Cabinet has approved development of Trunk
Infrastructure Components for Integrated Multi Modal
Logistics Hub known as “Freight Village” at Nangal
Chaudhary in Haryana under Delhi Mumbai Industrial
Corridor Project. The Freight Village will be connected
through Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC) at
Dabla.
What is a freight village?
A ‘Freight Village’ is a specialised industrial estate
which attracts companies that require logistics
services and can cluster to improve their
competitiveness. This will allow relocation of retailers,
warehouse operators and logistics service providers
supplying the regional FMCG market. Due to its
proximity to the main city, it will serve as a distribution
centre and as a point of transfer between long
distance transport by truck, rail and waterway and
short distance distribution with delivery vans. ‘Freight
Village’ includes an inter-modal terminal, which
facilitates integration between different modes of
transport.
About DMIC:
What is it? Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor is a mega
infra-structure project of USD 90 billion with the
financial & technical aids from Japan, covering an
overall length of 1483 KMs between the political
capital and the business capital of India, i.e. Delhi and
Mumbai. A MoU in this regard was signed in 2006.
Components: The project would include six mega
investment regions of 200 square kilometres each
and will run through six states Delhi, Western Uttar
Pradesh, Southern Haryana, Eastern Rajasthan, Eastern Gujarat, and Western Maharashtra. However, the Project
Influence Region of DMIC includes parts of Madhya Pradesh too.
Aim: The project aims to develop an environmentally sustainable, long lasting and technological advanced
infrastructure utilizing cutting age Japanese
technologies and to create world class
manufacturing and investment destinations in this
region.
Western Corridor:
In October 2006, the Indian Government established
a dedicated body, the Dedicated Freight Corridor
Corporation of India (DFCCIL), to carry out the
project.
The western DFC will separate freight and passenger
traffic to increase the speed of freight movement. It
will be used to transport fertilisers, food grains, salt,
coal, iron & steel and cement.
The project will eventually be linked to the Eastern
DFC to form four hubs known as India’s Golden
Quadrilateral including Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and
Kolkata.
The Western Dedicated Freight Corridor covers a
distance of 1504 km of double line electric track
from JNPT to Dadri via Vadodara-Ahmedabad-Palanpur-Phulera-Rewari.
The Western Corridor passes through 5 states- Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh.
May 2018 3rd Week Summary
Intellectual Property (IP) mascot – IP Nani
The government has launched the Intellectual Property (IP) mascot – IP Nani.
About IP Nani:
Mascot IP Nani is a tech-savvy grandmother who
helps the government and enforcement agencies
in combating IP crimes with the help of her
grandson “Chhotu” aka Aditya.
The IP mascot will spread awareness about the
importance of Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs)
among people, especially children, in an interesting
manner.
This character is also in line with the World
Intellectual Property Organization’s (WIPO)
campaign for the World IP Day which celebrates the
brilliance, ingenuity, curiosity and courage of the
women who are driving change in our world and shaping our common future.
About WIPO:
The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) is one of the 17 specialized agencies of the United Nations.
It was created in 1967 “to encourage creative activity, to promote the protection of intellectual property throughout
the world.”
It has currently 188 member states, administers 26 international treaties, and is headquartered in Geneva,
Switzerland.
Non-members are the states of Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, Solomon Islands,
South Sudan and Timor-Leste. Palestine has observer status.
India is a member of WIPO and party to several treaties administered by WIPO.
Network For Spectrum (NFS) project.
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has given its approval for enhancement of budget by Rs.11, 330 crore
for the Network for Spectrum (NFS) project.
Network for Spectrum (NFS) project is for laying of alternate communication network for Defence Services.
The project is being implemented by Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL).
The project will also have forward linkages to other related industries such as telecom equipment manufacturing and
other telecommunication related services.
The NFS project will boost the communication capabilities of the Defence Forces in a major way leading to enhanced
national operational preparedness.
The project is crucial since the armed forces will migrate all their communication needs to this optic-fibre network
and free more bandwidth for commercial telephony services.
BSE becomes first Indian stock exchange to get US SEC’s DOSM recognition
BSE Ltd (earlier known as Bombay Stock Exchange) became first Indian exchange to be designated as Designated
Offshore Securities Market (DOSM) by United States Securities and Exchange Commission (US-SEC).
DOSM status will allow sale of securities to US investors through trading venue of BSE without registration of such
securities with US SEC. This will ease trades by US investors in India and also enhance attractiveness of Indian
Depository Receipts (IDRs) amongst US investors.
The new status is also expected to primarily benefit securities issued in US private placements to institutional
investors. Moreover, it will provide liquid resale market which will exempt offerings by BSE-listed companies, making
them more attractive to US investors.
DOSM status will also provide additional benefits to companies whose securities are traded both in US and on BSE.
It will allow certain directors and officers of dual-listed companies to resell their securities on BSE, regardless of any
restrictions or holding periods that may apply under US securities laws.
Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE)
BSE is Indian stock exchange located at Dalal Street, Mumbai (Maharashtra). It was established in 1875 (founded
by Premchand Roychand as Native Share & Stock Brokers’ Association), making it Asia’s first stock exchange. It was
first Indian stock exchange to be recognized by Government under the Securities Contracts Regulation Act in 1957.
It has established India’s first international exchange India INX in December 2016 in GIFT city, Gujarat.
BSE’s popular equity index -S&P BSE SENSEX is India’s most widely tracked stock market benchmark index. BSE also
provides host of services to capital market participants including risk management, clearing, settlement, market data
services and education.
BSE is the world’s 12th largest stock exchange with overall market capitalization of more than $ 2 trillion as of July,
2017. It also claims to be world’s fastest stock exchange, with median trade speed of 6 microseconds. It is also a
Partner Exchange of United Nations Sustainable Stock Exchange initiative, joining in September 2012.
May 2018 3rd Week Summary BSE is first exchange in India and second in world to obtain an ISO 9001:2000 certification. It is also first Exchange
in India and second in world to receive Information Security Management System Standard BS 7799-2-2002
certification for its On-Line trading System (BOLT).
Microhyla kodial: New frog species discovered in coastal Karnataka
Scientists have discovered new frog species named Microhyla kodial or Mangaluru narrow-mouthed frog in a small
industrial region in coastal Karnataka. It is christened Microhyla kodial after city of Mangaluru (called kodial in
Konkani language) from where they spotted it two years ago.
The frog is seen only in small industrial region which was former timber dumping
yards surrounded by seaport, petrochemical, chemical and refinery industries.
Microhyla kodial
Mangaluru narrow-mouthed frog belongs to Microhyla genus which is primarily
recorded from south Asia. It is small in size measuring just 2 cm long. It is greyish-
brown in colour with thick olive-green band on its head, less-prominent dark green
bands on rest of its body. It has very distinct loud, long calls. It is not seen outside
urban area and its behavioural observations revealed that it breeds only during
monsoon.
Cabinet approves strengthening commercial disputes resolution mechanism of CPSEs
Union Cabinet has approved strengthening commercial disputes resolution mechanism of Central Public Sector
Enterprises (CPSEs) inter se and also between CPSEs and other Government Departments and Organizations. The
Cabinet decision is based on recommendations of Committee of Secretaries (CoS).
The new strengthened mechanism puts in place institutionalized mechanism within Government for speedy
resolution of commercial disputes of CPSEs without matter being referred to the Courts of law.
It replaces existing Permanent Machinery of Arbitration (PMA) mechanism and excludes disputes concerning
Railways, Income Tax, Custom and Excise Departments from its ambit. It will promote equity through mutual and
collective efforts to resolve commercial disputes thereby reducing number of litigations regarding commercial
disputes in Court of Law and also avoid wastage of public money.
New two-tier mechanism
First level (tier): Such commercial disputes will be referred to a committee comprising secretaries of the
administrative ministries to which the disputing parties belong and Law Secretary. The financial advisors of two
ministries concerned will represent issues related to dispute in question before the committee.
In case the two disputing parties belong to same ministry, then committee will comprise secretary of administrative
ministries concerned, Law Secretary and Secretary, Department of Public Enterprises. In such case, the matter will
be represented by financial advisor and one joint secretary of that ministry. For the prompt disposal of disputes, 3
months’ time schedule at this level has been prescribed.
Second level (tier): In case dispute remains unresolved, even after consideration by above Committee in first tier, it
will be referred to Cabinet Secretary, whose decision will be final and binding on all concerned.
Ebola health risk assessment
The World Health Organization (WHO) has raised the Ebola health risk assessment to “very high” in the Democratic
Republic of Congo.
While the WHO raised the national public health risk to ‘very high,” it said the global risk level is “currently low.”
More than 11,000 people died in the Ebola outbreak in West Africa in 2014-2015, mainly in Guinea, Sierra Leone
and Liberia. The last outbreak in the DRC was in 2014 and killed more than 40 people. The region affected lies 1,300
km north-east of Kinshasa, close to the border with the Central African Republic.
Ebola virus disease (EVD), formerly known as Ebola haemorrhagic fever, is a severe, often fatal illness in humans.
Transmission: The virus is transmitted to people from wild animals and spreads in the human population through
human-to-human transmission.
The average EVD case fatality rate is around 50%. Case fatality rates have varied from 25% to 90% in past outbreaks.
Prevention: Community engagement is key to successfully controlling outbreaks. Good outbreak control relies on
applying a package of interventions, namely case management, surveillance and contact tracing, a good laboratory
service and social mobilisation.
Early supportive care with rehydration, symptomatic treatment improves survival. There is as yet no licensed
treatment proven to neutralise the virus but a range of blood, immunological and drug therapies are under
development.
Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE): ‘Designated Offshore Securities Market’ (DOSM)
Asia’s first stock exchange, the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) has become the first stock exchange in India to have
received recognition as a ‘Designated Offshore Securities Market’ (DOSM) from the United States Securities and
Exchange Commission (SEC).
May 2018 3rd Week Summary The DOSM status allows the sale of securities to U.S. investors through the trading venue of BSE without registration
of such securities with the US SEC and thus eases the trades by US investors in India.
Prior to this recognition, investors who wished to sell such securities (i.e., equity or debt securities issued by BSE
listed companies in a private placement under the U.S. securities laws) had to take certain measures to ascertain
the location of the purchaser prior to re-selling.
An IDR is a depository receipt denominated in Indian rupees issued by a domestic depository in India. Much like an
equity share, it is an ownership pie of a company. Since foreign companies are not allowed to list on Indian equity
markets, IDR is a way to own shares of those companies. These IDRs are listed on Indian stock exchanges.
IDRs are similar to equity shares. IDR holders have the same rights as shareholders; They can vote for or against
company moves or decisions as and when it comes to them, get dividends, bonus and rights issues as and when the
company declares them.
The availability of a liquid resale market is expected to:
Make exempt offerings by BSE-listed companies more attractive to U.S. investors.
Enhance the attractiveness of Indian Depository Receipts (IDRs) amongst US investors.
Radar in a CubeSat (RainCube)
NASA is planning to deliver RainCube to the ISS on the OA-9 resupply mission.
RainCube (Radar in a CubeSat) is a technology demonstration mission to enable Ka-band precipitation radar
technologies on a low-cost, quick-turnaround platform.
RainCube will demonstrate the feasibility of a radar payload on a CubeSat platform.
Sponsored by NASA’s Earth Science Technology Office (ESTO) through the InVEST-15 program, RainCube developed
a 35.75 GHz radar payload to operate within the 6U CubeSat form factor.
RainCube has three main objectives:
1. Develop, launch, and operate the first radar instrument on a CubeSat (6U).
2. Demonstrate new technologies and provide space validation for a Ka-band (35.75 GHz) precipitation profiling
radar.
3. Enable future precipitation profiling Earth science missions on a low-cost, quick-turnaround platform.
If successful, RainCube could open the door for lower-cost, quick-turnaround constellation missions, in which multiple
CubeSats work together to provide more frequent observations than a single satellite.
Cyclone sagar
Cyclone ‘Sagar’ is a tropical cyclone in Arabian Sea.
It is the first cyclonic storm of the season to develop in the Indian waters. Presently in Gulf of Aden, Cyclone Sagar is
also expected to affect Somalia; Ethiopia, Djibouti.
Tropical cyclones are most common in the Arabian Sea in spring and autumn, during the transition periods between
the strong southwest flow of the summer monsoon and the strong northeast flow that predominates in winter. On
average, the Arabian Peninsula is affected by a tropical cyclone every year or two.
Arsenic Sensor and Removal Media: IISER develops device to detect and remove arsenic from water
Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) in collaboration with private company has developed
a new device-Arsenic Sensor and Removal Media to detect and remove arsenic content from water and make it
safe and usable by households.
Arsenic Sensor and Removal Media
The device is very easy to use, very cost effective and anyone can use it to detect arsenic easily.
It uses very simple and household detection sensing methodology.
It is capable of sensing soluble arsenic (3) which cannot be easily detected and removed.
It can show immediate change in colour in arsenic contaminated water. It provides holistic approach in immediate
detection of arsenic contamination levels from available water resources and thereafter produces arsenic-free
potable water. It has high sensitivity as it can sense up to parts per billion (ppb) level compared to many currently
available techniques which sense parts per million (ppm).
Arsenic Pollution
Arsenic is a natural component in the earth’s crust. It is widely distributed throughout the environment in the air,
water and land. It is highly toxic in its inorganic form. Intake of soluble inorganic arsenic over long period can lead
to chronic arsenic poisoning (arsenicosis), diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and cancer. WHO permissible limit
of arsenic in groundwater is 0.1 mg per litre. . In India, it was revised recently by Bureau of Indian Standards from
0.05 mg/l to 0.01 mg/l. In India, Arsenic pollution big problem in Bengal and neighbouring states. In Bengal, there
are 83 blocks in eight districts where groundwater is arsenic contaminated. Malda, Murshidabad and Nadia
districts have higher levels of arsenic concentration.
May 2018 3rd Week Summary
Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR)
Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry issued notification for creation of Directorate General of Trade
Remedies (DGTR) in Department of Commerce. In this regard amendments were made in Government of India
(Allocation of Business) Rules, 1961.
DGTR will be apex national authority for administering all trade remedial measures including anti-dumping,
countervailing duties and safeguard measures.
It will bring Directorate General of Anti-dumping and Allied duties (DGAD), Directorate General of Safeguards (DGS)
and Safeguards (QR) functions into its fold by merging them into one single national entity.
It will also provide trade defence support to our domestic industry and exporters in dealing with increasing
instances of trade remedy investigations instituted against them by other countries.
It will serve as multi service organization drawing upon the skill-set of various officers from various ministries in
the field of International Trade, Customs, Revenue, Finance, Economics, Costing and Law. Creation of DGTR will
result in savings of 49 posts to Government on account of merging DGAD and DGS. Thus, its establishment will
be in line with Government’s goal of “Minimum Government Maximum Governance.
In recent years, Government had initiated more than 130 anti-dumping, countervailing duty and safeguard cases
to deal with rising incidences of unfair trade practices and provide a level playing field to domestic industry. The
issue of creation of DGTR was pending since 1997 to provide a level playing field to domestic industry.
World Economic Situation and Prospects (WESP)
According to UN World Economic Situation and Prospects (WESP), India’s economy is projected to grow 7.6% in
fiscal year 2018-19, making it fastest growing economy in the world.
GDP growth in India is expected 7.5 and 7.6% in fiscal years 2017-18 and 2018-19 respectively.
May 2018 3rd Week Summary World economy: It is projected to reach 3.2% both in 2018 and 2019, an upward revision by 0.2 and 0.1%,
respectively. Global GDP is expected to expand, reflecting strong growth in developed countries and broadly
favourable investment conditions. However rising trade tensions, heightened uncertainty over monetary policy,
increasing debt levels and greater geopolitical tensions can potentially thwart growth progress.
World trade growth: It also has accelerated, reflecting widespread increase in global demand. Many commodity-
exporting countries will also benefit from the higher level of energy and metal prices. The modest rise in global
commodity prices will exert some upward pressure on inflation in many countries. But the inflationary pressures
remain contained across most developed and developing regions.
India: GDP growth is expected 7.5 and 7.6% in fiscal years 2017-18 and 2018-19 respectively. This is a
substantial recovery from 6.7% growth India registered in fiscal year 2017. Growth in India is gaining momentum,
underpinned by robust private consumption, slightly more supportive fiscal stance and benefits from past reforms.
Though capital spending in India has shown signs of revival, more widespread and sustained recovery in private
investment remains crucial challenge in India.
China: It is projected to gradually moderate from 6.9% in 2017 to 6.5% in 2018 and 6.3% in 2019. Its growth is
expected to remain solid, supported by robust consumer spending and supportive fiscal policies followed by
ongoing structural reforms.
South Asia: GDP growth in region is expected to strengthen to 6.6% in 2018 and 6.8% in 2019, following an
expansion of 6% in 2017. It remains favourable, amid robust domestic demand, strong infrastructure investment
and moderately accommodative monetary policies. Moreover, regional inflation is anticipated to remain stable
and at relatively low levels.
UN World Economic Situation and Prospects (WESP)
The report is joint product of UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN/DESA), UN Conference on Trade
and Development (UNCTAD) and five United Nations regional commissions.
Cauvery Management Scheme
The Supreme Court has ordered the Central government to implement its draft Cauvery Management Scheme after
finding it in consonance with its February 16 judgment.
The court also found the draft scheme in conformity with Section 6A of the Inter-State River Water Disputes Act.
The apex court, in its verdict delivered on February 16, had asked the Centre to frame the Cauvery management
scheme, including creation of the Cauvery Managament Board, for release of water from Karnataka to Tamil Nadu,
Kerala and Puducherry.
Modifications made by the Court:
The top court had modified the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal (CWDT) award of 2007 and made it clear that it will
not be extending the time for this on any ground.
It had raised the 270 tmcft share of Cauvery water for Karnataka by 14.75 tmcft and reduced Tamil Nadu’s share,
while compensating it by allowing extraction of 10 tmcft groundwater from the river basin, saying the issue of drinking
water has to be placed on a “higher pedestal”.
About the Cauvery Management Scheme:
The Cauvery water management scheme will deal with the release of water from Karnataka to Tamil Nadu, Kerala
and Puducherry.
It will be implemented by the Cauvery Management Authority (CMA). CMA will be the sole body to implement the
Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal award as modified by the apex court. The Centre would have no say in it except for
issuing administrative advisories to it.
What’s the dispute?
The dispute began with Karnataka’s demand of ‘equitable sharing of the waters’ after it expanded farming activities in
the Cauvery basin. It claimed that the previous agreements, which happened between erstwhile Madras Presidency and
Kingdom of Mysore in 1924, were highly skewed to what is present day Tamil Nadu. Tamil Nadu used to get about 602
TMC of the total water, leaving only about 138 TMC for Karnataka.
Cauvery River rises on Brahmagiri Hill of the Western Ghats in south-western Karnataka state. It flows in
a south-easterly direction for 475 miles through the states of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
Before emptying into the Bay of Bengal south of Cuddalore, Tamil Nadu, the river breaks into a large
number of distributaries forming a wide delta called the “garden of southern India.” The river is important
for its irrigation canal projects.
In the upper course, at the Krishnaraja Sagara, the Kaveri is joined by two tributaries, the Hemavati and
Lakshmantirtha, where a dam was constructed for irrigation.
Upon entering Tamil Nadu, the Kaveri continues through a series of twisted wild gorges until it reaches
Hogenakal Falls.
There the Mettur Dam was construted for irrigation and hydel power.
The Kaveri’s main tributaries are the Kabani (Kabbani), Amaravati, Noyil, and Bhavani rivers.
May 2018 3rd Week Summary
Northeast Frontier Railway.
Northeast Frontier Railway of Indian Railway has started operating one lease Parcel Cargo Express Train (PCET)
connecting north-eastern part of the country to West Coast on fortnightly basis.
It was launched on line of Government’s priority to provide connectivity to northeast region and empowering local
industries of this region.
The PCET will enable farmers from northeast to market their lucrative products like tea, betal nuts, pineapple, jute,
horticulture products, cane furniture etc. at retail markets in Mumbai, Bengaluru, Nagpur, and Pune.
Its route will cover New Guwahati in Assam to Kalyan in Maharashtra.
It will serve as business tool without any additional strain on resources of railways. Moreover, it will help to promote
industries of north region by providing them markets and also provide sustainable job opportunity to local youths
including unskilled labour.
The leased PCET will also generate substantial revenue to Indian Railways in their contractual periods of 6 years
each. The unit transportation cost through PCET is relatively less than cost of road transportation. Thus, benefiting
transporters as well as consumers on account of less transportation cost.
Single PCET can carry consignment equivalent to 52 trucks. This will ensure less carbon emission which will
contribute for Green India and saving of foreign exchange on account of purchasing of fuel.
“AYUSH” finds a place in English Language
The Commission for Scientific and Technical Terminology has decided to adopt the word ‘AYUSH’ in Hindi and English
languages for scientific and technical purposes.
As approved by the Commission, the word ‘ayush’ will have the meaning “Traditional and Non-Conventional Systems
of Health Care and Healing which include Ayurveda, Yoga, Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, Sowa Rigpa, Homoeopathy
etc.
The “AYUSH” became popular as the acronym for five traditional and complementary systems of medicine, namely
Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy and successfully adopted and used in all
Government communications.
This decision will give a boost to India’s efforts to find a place for the Indian Systems of Healthcare in the International
Classification of Diseases (ICD) of the World Health Organization. The Indian systems finding a place in ICD will lead
to their international acceptance, increased rigor of research in them and their over-all development.
15th SCO Cultural Ministers’ Meeting
15th SCO Cultural Ministers’ Meeting is being
held in Sanya, China.
India is participating in the Cultural Ministers’ Meet for first time as full time member.
The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is an eight-member multilateral organization, established on 15 June
2001 in Shanghai, China by the leaders of China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
Pakistan also became the full member of SCO along with India, taking its membership to 8.
After the expansion of membership, SCO represents approximately 42% of the world’s population, 20% of its GDP
and 22% of the landmass.
The main objectives of the SCO are to strengthen relations among member states; promote cooperation in various
fields like political affairs, economics, and education, culture, tourism, environment protection etc. and promote
regional peace, security, and stability among others.
About International Classification of Diseases (ICD)
The International Classification of Diseases is the standard
diagnostic tool for epidemiology, health management, and
clinical purposes.
This includes the analysis of the general health situation of
population groups.
It is used to monitor the incidence and prevalence of
diseases and other health problems, providing a picture of
the general health situation of countries and populations.
The first international classification edition, known as the
International List of Causes of Death, was adopted by the
International Statistical Institute in 1893.
WHO was entrusted with the ICD at its creation in 1948. The
ICD is revised periodically and is currently in its 10th
revision.
Commission for Scientific and
Technical Terminology
The Commission for Scientific &
Technical Terminology (CSTT) was set
up on December 21, 1960 by a
resolution of Government of India
under the proviso to Clause (4) of
Article 344 of the Constitution with the
objective to evolve and define scientific
and technical terms in Hindi and all
Indian languages; publish glossaries,
definitional dictionaries, and
encyclopaedia.
May 2018 3rd Week Summary
“Green Good Deeds”
The BRICS Ministerial on Environment has agreed to include “Green Good Deeds” in its official agenda in the next
Ministerial in Brazil and another meeting in Russia.
“Green Good Deeds” campaign:
The campaign has been launched by the Environment Ministry to sensitise the people and students, in particular,
about climate change and global warming. The objective of the campaign is to restore and return the clean and green
environment to the next generation.
The Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change had drawn up a list of over 500 Green Good Deeds and asked
people to alter their behaviour to Green Good Behaviour to fulfil their Green Social Responsibility.
These small positive actions to be performed by individuals or organisations to strengthen the cause of environmental
protection, were put on a mobile application named “Dr Harsh Vardhan App”.
Akademik Lomonosov: Russia unveils world’s first floating nuclear power plant
Russia unveiled world’s first floating nuclear power station at port city of Murmansk.
It will be loaded with nuclear fuel at Murmansk and will be towed to port of Pevek in autonomous Chukotka region in
Russia’s far northeast in Arctic Circle region.
Akademik Lomonosov was constructed by Russian state nuclear power firm Rosatom.
For power generation, it has been fitted with two modified KLT-40 naval propulsion nuclear reactors (each of 35 MW
capacity) together providing up to 70 MW of electricity and 300 MW of heat.
It is named after Russian Academician Mikhail Lomonosov.
It has latest security systems and is considered as one of safest nuclear installations in the world. However,
environmentalists have dubbed it as ‘nuclear Titanic’ or ‘Chernobyl on ice’.
It will be primarily used to power oil rigs in remote areas of Artic region where Russia is pushing to drill for oil and gas.
The low-capacity, mobile (floating) nuclear power plant can produce enough electricity to power town of 200,000
residents living in Russia’s far-flung northernmost Artic region where large amounts of electricity is not needed’ and
construction of conventional power station based on coal, gas and diesel is complicated and costly.
It can save upto 50,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions per year.
The project is part of Russia’s greater aims to secure rich deposits of oil and gas in North Pole region in Artic.
Due to climate change, new shipping routes are opening up in Russia’s north and as result, it is strengthening its
military position in the region.
Emergency Summit of OIC held in Istanbul to discuss Israel-Palestine violence
The 57-member Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) held extraordinary summit in Istanbul, Turkey to discuss
recent Israeli violence against Palestinian protesters in Gaza Strip.
The summit was convened at the invitation of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
It condemned massacre of Peaceful Palestinian civilian protestors by the Israeli forces as well as on the official
opening of US Embassy in Jerusalem in defiance of international law, UN Security Council (UNSC) and General
Assembly (UNGA) Resolution.
May 2018 3rd Week Summary Recently violent protests were held in Gaza which coincided with Israel’s 70th anniversary – an event Palestinians
refer to as Nakba or “Catastrophe” and relocation of the US Embassy to Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
In these protests more than 100 Palestinian protesters were killed by Israeli security forces deployed along the other
side of the border.
Turkey had responded to the violence by asking Israeli ambassador to leave the country, while also recalling its
ambassadors to US and Israel for consultations.
Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)
OIC is international organization that aims to provide collective voice to Muslim world and safeguard and protect
interests of the Muslim world in the spirit of promoting international peace and harmony.
It was established in 1969 and has administrative centre (headquarters) in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
OIC consists of 57 member states spread over four continents with collective population of over 1.3 billion as of 2009
with 47 countries being Muslim Majority countries. It has permanent delegations to United Nations and the European
Union.
Its official languages are Arabic, English, and French.
It is second largest inter-governmental organization after UN.
Issues with India: In this organisation, India is a blocked country, though it second largest country (after Indonesia)
in terms of Muslim population (It has about 12% of the world’s Muslim population). India has been blocked by
Pakistan from joining the OIC over Kashmir issue. OIC regard parts of Kashmir as “occupied by India”.
Kishanganga Hydroelectric Project
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated 300 MW Kishanganga Hydroelectric Project in Bandipora District of
Jammu & Kashmir. He also laid foundation stone of 1000 MW capacity Pakal Dul Power Project.
Pakal Dul Hydroelectric Project
Pakal Dul Dam is proposed 167m concrete-face rock-fill dam (CFRD) on Marusadar River, a tributary of Chenab River
in Kishtwar district of J&K.
The primary purpose of the dam is hydroelectric power generation.
Its underground power house has four units each of 250 MW capacity (total 1000 MW).
With 1000 MW capacity, it will be largest Hydro Power Project in J&K on completion. It will be also first storage project
in J&K.
Its project cost is shared by Government of India as well as the
Government of J&K. It will have immense benefits for J&K by
supplying power and also by improving water availability during
lean season.
Kishangana Hydroelectric Project
It is 37 m high concrete faced rockfill dam (CFRD) constructed
on Kishanganga River in Jhelum River basin in Bandipore in
Jammu and Kashmir.
Its construction was started in 2007 and completed in 2016.
It has underground power House with 3 Units of 110 MW
capacity each (330 MW).
It’s all units were synchronised in May 2018. It will provide a free
power of 13% to the state, which will be around Rs. 133 crore
per year.
Zojila tunnel
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated construction of Rs 6,809 crore Zojila tunnel project in Jammu and
Kashmir’s Leh.
It will be India’s and Asia’s longest and strategic bi-directional road tunnel, which will provide all-weather connectivity
between Jammu and Kashmir’s Srinagar, Kargil and Leh.
Zojila Tunnel
It will be situated at altitude of 11,578 feet on Srinagar-Kargil-Leh National Highway (NH-1A).
It consists of 14.150 km long two-lane bidirectional single tube tunnel with parallel 14.200 km long egress (escape)
tunnel, making it Asia’s longest bidirectional road tunnel.
Its objective is to provide safe, fast and cheap all whether connectivity to strategically important Leh region in J&K
which at moment is limited to at best six months because of snow on mountainous passes and threat of avalanches.
It will reduce time taken to cross Zojila pass from present three and half hours to just fifteen minutes.
The tunnel will have latest safety features like uninterrupted power supply (UPS), tunnel emergency lighting, fully
transverse ventilation system, CCTV monitoring, variable message signs (VMS), traffic logging equipment, over height
vehicle detection, tunnel radio system etc.
May 2018 3rd Week Summary The construction project will be implemented by Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH) through National
Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) on Engineering, Procurement and
Construction (EPC) mode. It will be completed in five years.
The construction of this tunnel will provide all weather safe, fast
and cheap connectivity between Srinagar, Kargil and Leh. It will
bring about all round economic and socio-cultural integration of
these regions. It also has strategic and socio-economic importance
and it will be instrument for development of economically backward
districts in J&K. The project, on completion, will also lead to
enormous boost in employment as local businesses get linked to
National market and beautiful region is able to receive round the
year tourist traffic. It will also benefit defence forces as they now
have to face hard time ensuring supplies to border posts during
winters. The Zogi La pass is most strategic for entire Kargil sector
of J&K which has seen intrusion and war in past.
India’s first Centre for Energy Regulation (CER)
Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)-Kanpur has set up India’s first Centre for Energy Regulation (CER) with the help
of Government of United Kingdom.
The first of its kind centre in India aims at providing independent advisory on policy and regulatory matters in the
power and energy sector.
Centre for Energy Regulation (CER)
It is initiative of Department of Industrial and Management Engineering of IIT Kanpur to enhance regulatory
research and networking in Indian power sector.
CER and identified activities under it are funded by Department for International Development (DfID), Government
of United Kingdom (UK).
CER focuses on need for India specific forward-looking research in collaboration of regulatory institutions and
relevant stakeholders to provide solutions to issues such as growth of Indian economy, increasing energy demand,
energy efficiency, security and access to electricity.
It encourages interaction between regulatory and academic institutions. It targets to offer research in emerging
areas of power sector regulation and policy. It core research areas comprise regulatory and policy changes in power
and energy sector, energy finance, energy sector modelling and operative planning in energy markets etc.
Central Institute of Indian Languages
The Central Institute of Indian Languages (CIIL) at Mysore is a subordinate office of the Ministry of Human Resource
Development.
It was set up in 1969 to help in evolving and implementing the language policy of Government of India.
It was also to coordinate the development of Indian Languages by conducting research in the areas of language
analysis, language pedagogy, language technology and language use in the society.
For promotion of its objectives, CIIL organizes a number of programs, some of which are:
1. Development of Indian Languages
2. Regional Language Centers (RLCs)
3. Grant in Aid Scheme
4. National Testing Service
Amravati Bonds
The Andhra Pradesh Capital Region Development Authority (AP-CRDA) is all set to enter the capital markets with
‘Amravati bonds’ worth Rs. 2,000 crore.
It is a significant development pertaining to mobilizing funds for the construction of the capital city, Amravati.
The State government would stand as the guarantor for the bonds.
London School of Economics (LSE) had come forward to help the CRDA in transforming Amravati into a world-class
happy city.
The Students of LSE will study the different facets of socio-economic development of the capital city.
Protected lands under urbanization pressure
A team of scientists used global “human footprint” maps to quantify the intensity of human pressure in 41,927
protected areas in 213 countries.
The result shoed that around 1/3rd of the world’s protected areas is under intense pressure from human activities
such as road construction, grazing for livestock and urbanization.
Protected areas are the natural spaces that are legally protected to conserve nature and biodiversity.
It shows that 32.8% of protected land worldwide is highly degraded.
55% of protected areas created before the ratification of the Convention of Biological Diversity in 1992 have
experienced increases in pressure from human activities.
May 2018 3rd Week Summary The Aichi Biodiversity Target 11 which mandates including at least 17% of terrestrial areas of a country as
protected by 2020 will be undermined if widespread human pressure continues inside protected areas.
India’s freshwater stocks in danger
A first-of-its-kind study using an array of NASA satellite observations of the earth have revealed the status of the
freshwater resources in the world.
According to the study, India is among the hotspots where overuse of water resources has caused a sharp decline
in the availability of freshwater.
Wetter parts of the earth’s were getting wetter and dry areas getting drier due to a variety of factors, including
human water use, climate change and natural cycles.
Areas in northern and eastern India, West Asia, California and Australia are among the hotspots where there is a
serious decline in the availability of freshwater.
In northern India, groundwater extraction for irrigation of wheat and rice crops has led to depletion.
Central Sheep and Wool Research Institute (CSWRI)
Scientists at the Central Sheep and Wool Research Institute (CSWRI), Avikanagar, have come up with a new
laparascope-assisted insemination technique for sheep.
It is a premier Institute of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) engaged in research and extension
activities on sheep.
It was established in 1962 at Malpura in Rajasthan.
The Institute has developed new strains of Avikalin for carpet wool production and Bharat Merino sheep for fine
wool production in temperate climate.
It has three Regional Research Centres in different climatic zones of the country to develop region specific
technologies.
1. North Temperate Regional Station (NTRS) was established in 1963 in temperate region at Garsa, Kullu in
Himachal Pradesh
2. The Southern Regional Research Centre (SRRC) was established in 1965 in sub temperate region at
Mannavanur in Tamil Nadu.
3. Arid Region Campus (ARC) was established in 1974 at Bikaner in arid region of Rajasthan.
Project Asita
It is the Delhi Development Authority’s Yamuna River Front Development Project.
The Director General of the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) inspected the Yamuna River Front
Development (RFD) recently.
Yamuna RFD project aims to restore, revive and rejuvenate the river’s floodplains and make them accessible to the
people of Delhi.
River Front “walks”, a major component of the project, will enable people to develop a relationship with river
Yamuna.
The project is given the name “Asita” as it is another name of river Yamuna.
The project envisages creating a green buffer area approx. 300mts wide along the river edge with species of
riverine ecology.
To revive the ecosystem of the floodplains, wetlands will be created to store the flood waters and also to improve
the groundwater recharge which will eventually result in flourishing of biodiversity in the floodplains.
Common Service Centres
The network of Common Service Centres (CSC) is set to be expanded to 2.50 lakh gram panchayats soon.
CSC acts as access points for delivery of various electronic services to villages in India.
Common Services Centres (CSC) scheme is one of the mission mode projects under the Digital India Program.
CSCs are the access points for delivery of essential public utility services, social welfare schemes, healthcare,
financial, education and agriculture services, apart from host of B2C services to citizens in rural and remote areas of
the country.
The regular CSC services are banking, health, education, financial services, and a host of other services.
In addition, the CSC model has adopted six villages in the country in the pilot phase and they are called as Digital
villages.
DigiGaon or Digital Village is conceptualized as a connected village where citizens can avail various e-Services of the
Central Government, state Governments and private players in rural and remote villages in the country.
DigiGaons are projected to be change agents, promoting rural entrepreneurship and building rural capacities and
livelihoods through community participation and collective action.
The digital villages have been equipped with solar lighting facility in their community center, LED assembly unit,
sanitary napkin unit (with active participation on Asha and Anganwadi workers) and Wi-Fi choupal (rural Wi-Fi
infrastructure and a slew of suitable applications).
May 2018 3rd Week Summary Sadharan Brahmo Samaj (SBS)
Sadharan Brahmo Samaj (SBS), the party funded by Rabindranath Tagore’s father in the initial years, has entered
into a legal battle with the West Bengal State government over its decision to dissolve the governing bodies of eight
colleges in Kolkata run by the organisation.
The governing bodies of the eight colleges were dissolved following the decision of the State’s Minority Affairs and
Madrasah Education Department to not to grant the SBS the status of a minority religion.
The order argued that since SBS is not a “separate minority religion”, the related colleges administered by it should
be treated as “non-minority Government-aided Colleges.”
About Sadharan Brahmo Samaj
The Sadharan Brahmo Samaj was formed in May 1878. Mr. Anandamohan Bose was appointed the first President
Mr. Shib Chandra Deb the first Secretary and Mr. Umesh Chandra Dutta the Assistant Secretary.
It was formed as a result of schisms in the Brahmo Samaj.
Debendranath Tagore, father of Rabindranath Tagore was actively
involved with the organisation.
The Samaj had faith in a Supreme Being and believed that
existence after Death is natural to man. It regarded the relation
between God and men to be direct and immediate. It did not believe
in the infallibility of any man or any scripture.
Nipah virus
Recently, the presence of Nipah virus was confirmed in Kerala.
Nipah virus (NiV) infection is a newly emerging zoonosis that causes
severe disease in both animals and humans.
The natural host of the virus is fruit bats of the Pteropodidae Family,
Pteropus genus.
NiV was first identified during an outbreak of disease that took
place in Kampung Sungai Nipah, Malaysia in 1998.
NiV infection in humans has a range of clinical presentations, from
asymptomatic infection to acute respiratory syndrome and fatal
encephalitis.
NiV is also capable of causing disease in pigs and other domestic
animals.
There is no vaccine for either humans or animals.
The primary treatment for human cases is intensive supportive
care.
Himalayan trillium
The Himalayan trillium is a common herb of the Himalayas.
It is a natural source of steroidal saponins which are important components of steroidal drugs
It could soon go locally extinct in many parts of its range in India due to its excessive harvest.
It is found across India, Bhutan, Nepal and China.
Increased demands over the last decade have made its illegal collection from the wild a rather lucrative business in
India.
Mature plants (which can live to 30 years or more) usually produce only one flower per year and vegetative
reproduction through tubers occurs only in very old plants.
Authority for advance rulings (AAR)
The GST council has asked the Centre and states to expedite setting up of appellate authorities for aggrieved entities
to appeal against orders of the authority for advance rulings (AAR).
With AARs in different states started giving rulings since March, it has become imperative for the Centre as well as
states to set up the appellate authority for advance ruling (AAAR). So far only 12 states, including West Bengal,
Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh, have issued notifications for setting up AAARs.
However, these have not become operational as the members have not yet been appointed.
About AAAR:
As per the state GST law, the appellate authority will have two members – the chief commissioner of central tax as
designated by CBIC and the commissioner of state tax.
The appellate authority has been mandated to pass order within 90 days of the filing of appeal.
Under the GST (goods and services tax) law, an aggrieved party can file an appeal against the order of the authority
for advance rulings within 30 days, which may be further extended by a month.
What is an Advance Ruling?
“Advance ruling” means a decision provided by the Authority or the Appellate Authority to an applicant on matters or
on questions specified in sub-section (2) of section 97 or subsection (1) of section 100 of the CGST Act, 2017, in
relation to the supply of goods or services or both being undertaken or proposed to be undertaken by the applicant.
May 2018 3rd Week Summary The broad objectives for setting up a mechanism of Advance Ruling are:
Provide certainty in tax liability in advance in relation to an activity proposed to be undertaken by the applicant.
Attract Foreign Direct Investment (FDI).
Reduce litigation.
Pronounce ruling expeditiously in a transparent and inexpensive manner
‘Authority for advance ruling’ (AAR) and ‘Appellate authority for advance ruling’ (AAAR):
The Authority for advance ruling constituted under the provisions of State Goods and Services Tax Act or Union
Territory Goods and Services Tax Act shall be deemed to be the Authority for advance ruling in respect of that State
or Union territory under the CGST Act, 2017 also.
The Appellate Authority for Advance Ruling constituted under the provisions of a State Goods and Services Tax Act or
a Union Territory Goods and Services Tax Act shall be deemed to be the Appellate Authority in respect of that State
or Union territory under the CGST Act, 2017 also.
Thus it can be seen that both the Authority for Advance Ruling (AAR) & the Appellate Authority for Advance Ruling
(AAAR) is constituted under the respective State/Union Territory Act and not the Central Act. This would mean that
the ruling given by the AAR & AAAR will be applicable only within the jurisdiction of the concerned state or union
territory. It is also for this reason that questions on determination of place of supply cannot be raised with the AAR or
AAAR.
What happens when there is difference of opinion among the members?
Before giving the ruling, AAR must hear the applicant or his authorised representative as well as the jurisdictional
officers of CGST/SGST.
If there is a difference of opinion between the two members of AAAR, they shall refer the point or points on which
they differ to the AAAR for hearing the issue. If the members of AAAR are also unable to come to a common conclusion
in regard to the point(s) referred to them by AAR, then it shall be deemed that no advance ruling can be given in
respect of the question on which difference
persists at the level of AAAR.
Gilgit Baltistan
Pakistan’s top civil and military leaders have
decided to give greater administrative and
financial authority to Pakistan-administered
Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan.
It is located in the northern Pakistan. It
borders China in the North, Afghanistan in the
west, and Tajikistan in the North West and
Kashmir in the south east.
Gilgit-Baltistan is treated as a separate
geographical entity by Pakistan. It has a
regional Assembly and an elected Chief
Minister.
Gilgit-Baltistan shares a geographical
boundary with Pakistan-occupied Kashmir,
and India considers it as part of the undivided
Jammu and Kashmir, while Pakistan sees it as a separate from PoK. The USD 46 billion China-Pakistan Economic
Corridor (CPEC) also passes through this region.
Gilgit-Baltistan is home to five of the “eight-thousanders” and to more than fifty peaks above 7,000 metres (23,000
ft). Three of the world’s longest glaciers outside the Polar Regions are found in Gilgit-Baltistan.
India’s opposition
India has termed as “entirely unacceptable” any possible attempt by Pakistan to declare the Gilgit-Baltistan region,
bordering the disputed Pakistan-administered Kashmir, as the fifth province.
Permanent Residency Status (PRS) scheme
Recent report by the government shows that even after two years after it was launched, the Permanent Residency
Status (PRS) scheme providing a host of facilities for foreigners who invest at least ₹10 crore under the Foreign Direct
Investment (FDI) route has not found a single applicant.
Features of the PRS scheme:
Under the Scheme, suitable provisions will be incorporated in the Visa Manual to provide for the grant of PRS to
foreign investors.
The PRS will be granted for a period of 10 years with multiple entry. This can be reviewed for another 10 years if the
PRS holder has not come to adverse notice.
PRS will serve as a multiple entry visa without any stay stipulation and PRS holders will be exempted from the
registration requirements.
PRS holders will be allowed to purchase one residential property for dwelling purpose.
May 2018 3rd Week Summary The spouse/ dependents of the PRS holder will be allowed to take up employment in private sector (in relaxation to
salary stipulations for Employment Visa) and undertake studies in India.
The scheme will be applicable only to foreign investors fulfilling the prescribed eligibility conditions, his/her spouse
and dependents. These include:
The foreign investor will have to invest a minimum of Rs. 10 crores to be brought within 18 months or Rs.25 crores
to be brought within 36 months.
Further, the foreign investment should result in generating employment to at least 20 resident Indians every financial
year.
ToneTag: sound-based data transfer technology
ToneTag, a Bengaluru-based financial technology company, is set
to introduce sound-based data transfer technology named
ToneTag.
ToneTag is a technology which is a communication protocol that
will enable data transfer using sound waves. It is not hardware
dependent and works with the devices that do not have a
microphone or speaker.
ToneTag sound-wave communication platform enables highly
secure proximity payments, customer engagement services and
on-the-go mobility solutions.
The approach in this technology makes the entire process device agnostic and completely frictionless, making the
user experience intuitive and highly adaptable.
Global action to protect bees
On the occasion of World Bee Day celebrated on May 20th, the United Nation’s Food and Agricultural Organization
and the European Union have called for global action to protect pollinators, and bees in particular, which are crucial
for ensuring food security.
World Bee Day
To underline the importance of the issue, and following a Slovenian proposal, the UN has named May 20 as World
Bee Day, as it marked the birthday of Anton Jansa (1734-1773), a Slovenian pioneer in modern beekeeping.
Concerns
Pollinators, such as bees, birds, bats, butterflies and beetles are responsible for most of the crops and food that we
eat. However, the UN has warned that 40% of invertebrate pollinators—particularly bees and butterflies—risk global
extinction.
The absence of an appropriate habitat for bees could lead to a continuous decline in pollination. Mono-cropping,
pesticides and higher temperatures associated with climate change all pose problems for bee populations and, by
extension, the quality of food we grow.
Declining pollination also poses an immediate threat to nutrition. If this trend continues, nutritious crops such as
fruits, nuts, and many vegetable crops will be substituted increasingly by staple crops like rice, corn, and potatoes,
eventually resulting in an imbalanced diet.
Importance of Pollinators:
Most of our staple food crops such as wheat, rice, sorghum, barley and maize do not require animals for their
pollination. However, wild pollinators play a very important role in the production of other crops such as some pulses,
sunflower seeds, cardamom, coffee, cashew nuts, oranges, mangoes and apples.
Pollinators also provide a key ecosystem service vital to the maintenance of both wild and agricultural plant
communities.
Besides, the annual economic value of the crops pollinated by animals worldwide is estimated to be between $235
billion and $577 billion (in 2015).
Declines in the health and population of pollinators pose what could be a significant threat to the integrity of
biodiversity, to global food webs, and to human health. At least 80% of our world’s crop species require pollination to
set seed.
Protection measures for farmers and governments:
Recommended practices for farmers to create a good habitat for bees to ensure pollination include:
Leaving some areas under natural habitat.
Creating hedgerows.
Reducing or changing the usage of pesticides.
Leaving nesting sites.
Planting attractive crops around the field.
On a policy level, a more diverse agriculture and less dependency on toxic chemicals to facilitate an increase in
pollination, leading to improved food quality and a surge in food quantity are encouraged.
May 2018 3rd Week Summary India to host World Environment Day 2018:
India is the global host of 2018 World Environment Day which will take place on June 5, 2018.
Theme: “Beat Plastic Pollution”.
World Environment Day is a UN Environment-led global event, the single largest celebration of our environment each
year, which takes place on June 5 and is celebrated by thousands of communities worldwide. Since it began in 1972,
it has grown to become a global platform for public outreach that is widely celebrated across the globe.
Queqiao satellite: China launches relay satellite to explore dark side of Moon
China launched relay satellite named Queqiao (Magpie Bridge) to establish communication link between earth and
its planned Chang’e-4 lunar probe (rover) that will explore the dark side of moon. It was launched as part of Chinese
Lunar Exploration Program (CLEP) onboard of Long March-4C rocket from Xichang launch centre.
Queqiao (Magpie Bridge)
Queqiao (meaning bridge of magpies) satellite will serve as communications relay for future Chang’e-4 rover that will
explore in South Pole-Aitken Basin in moon’s far side. It will be situated in halo orbit i.e. Earth-moon Lagrange point
L2, a gravitationally stable spot located 64,000 kilometers beyond lunar far side. It will be world’s first communication
satellite operating in this location. It will help China to realise its goal of being first country to send probe to soft-land
on and rove far side of the moon.
Need for relay Satellite
Moon is tidally locked to Earth, meaning it always shows same face (near side) to Earth. So, relay link is necessary to
communicate with spacecraft on far side, which will otherwise have to send their signals through moon’s rocky bulk.
Chang’e program
Chinese Lunar Exploration Program (CLEP) also known as Chang’e program after Chinese moon goddess Chang’e, is
ongoing series of robotic Moon missions by conceived by China National Space Administration (CNSA). The program
incorporates lunar orbiters, landers, rovers and sample return spacecraft, launched using Long March rockets. Under
it, Chang’e 1 and Chang’e 2 probes already have reached lunar orbit in 2007 and 2010, respectively. The Chang’e 3
mission is in process to put lander and rover on moons near side. China is also planning to laugh Chang’e 5 T1, a
mission to send sample-return capsule around moon and back to Earth to demonstrate technology needed to survive
fiery atmospheric entry.
CRPF raises Bastariya Battalion to combat Naxals activities in Bastar region of Chhattisgarh
The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has commissioned special unit called Bastariya Battalion (numbered 241)
to combat Naxals activities in Bastar region of Chhattisgarh. This is for first time CRFP has raised special battalion
that includes local representation to enhance combat capabilities in Naxal-hit area of Bastar district.
241 Bastariya Battalion
241 Bastariya Battalion comprises total 739 local tribal youths including 198 women combatants (33% female
candidates as per government policy) selected from four highly Naxal infested district in Chhattisgarh, i.e Bijapur,
Dantewada, Narayanpur and Sukma. It will be deployed in Special Operation Zone (SOZ) of Chhattisgarh to fight
against naxals.
To raise this battalion, CRPF had undertaken special recruitment drive to recruit 743 rural ST candidates to give a
fair chance to the aspirants. It also had imparted pre-educational and physical training during the recruitment drive
to ensure maximum participation and equal opportunities in coordination with state administration.
Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF)
CRPF is the largest central armed police force or paramilitary force in India. It functions under the aegis of Ministry of
Home Affairs (MHA). It was established in 1939, under Crown Representative’s Police but after independence, it was
made statutory after enactment of the CRPF Act, 1949. Its primary role is to assist States/Union Territories in police
operations to maintain law and order and contain the insurgency. Apart from anti-Naxal operations, CRPF personnel
also carries out several operations in situations of crisis like terrorist attacks, counter-terrorism operations, rescuing
citizens during terrorist attacks among others.
26th BASIC Ministerial Meeting of Environment Ministers
The 26th BASIC Ministerial Meeting of Environment Ministers was held in Durban, South Africa. The grouping is a
bloc of four countries – Brazil, South Africa, India and China. It was attended by from BASIC countries and Michal
Kurtyka of Poland, next president of Conference of Parties (COP-24) under United Nations Framework Convention on
Climate Change (UNFCCC). India was represented by Union Environment Minister Harsh Vardhan.
Key Outcomes of Meeting
BASIC countries decided to preserve integrity of historic 2015 Paris Agreement, including principles of common but
differentiated responsibilities and equity. They held that world is at critical stage in combating climate change and
response of developed nations to tackle the issue is still not adequate.
They reiterated that developed nations should take lead in terms of mitigation and providing means of
implementation to developing countries. They should equally give importance to ambition of developing countries by
providing them supported and sustained, predictable and adequate finance, technology and capacity-building
May 2018 3rd Week Summary support. Union Environment Minister Harsh Vardhan reiterated his appeal for joint efforts to create societal
movement in combating climate change through Green Good Deeds.
BASIC countries are bloc (geopolitical alliance) of four large newly industrialized countries – Brazil, South Africa, India
and China. It was formed by agreement in November 2009. They are committed to act jointly at Copenhagen climate
summit, including possible united walk-out if their common minimum position was not met by the developed nations
during climate talks. It is working to define common position on emission reductions and climate aid money and try
to convince other countries to sign up to Copenhagen Accord.
INSV Tarini
INSV Tarini has completed a historic global Circumnavigation. This is the first-ever Indian circumnavigation of the
globe by an all-women crew.
The expedition titled ‘Navika Sagar Parikrama’ is in consonance with the National policy to empower women to attain
their full potential.
It has showcased ‘Nari Shakti’ on the world platform and helped change societal attitudes and mind-set towards
women in India by raising visibility of their participation in challenging environs.
During her 254 day long voyage, the vessel has covered over 22,000 Nautical miles, visiting five countries – Australia,
New Zealand, Falkland Islands (UK), South Africa and Mauritius.
During the course of her voyage, the vessel has met all criteria of circumnavigation, viz. crossing the Equator twice,
crossing all Longitudes, as also the three great capes (Cape Leeuwin, Cape Horn and Cape of Good Hope).
The expedition was covered in six legs, with halts at 5 ports: Fremantle (Australia), Lyttleton (New Zealand), Port
Stanley (Falklands), Cape Town (South Africa) and Port Louis (Mauritius).
INSV Tarini is a 56 foot sailing vessel built in India by M/s Aquarius Shipyard Pvt Ltd, Goa. It was inducted into the
Indian Navy recently in February 2017. It has Raymarine navigation suite and an array of satellite communication
systems for perfect navigation anywhere in the world. It showcases the ‘Make in India’ initiative on the International
forum.
International Bio-diversity Day: 22 May
The International Bio-diversity Day is observed every year on 22 May to increase understanding
and awareness of biodiversity issues. The theme this year is ‘Celebrating 25 Years of Action
for Biodiversity’. It marks 25th anniversary of entry into force of Convention on
Biological Diversity (at United Nations Environment Programme Headquarters,
Nairobi on 22 May 1992) and to highlight progress made in achievement of its
objectives at national and global levels. The day was proclaimed by United Nations General Assembly in 2000 via
resolution 55/201
On the occasion, National Mission for Clean Ganga and World Wildlife Federation (WWF)-India jointly organised
workshop Ganga and its Bio-diversity: Developing a Road Map for Habitat and Species Conservation in New Delhi.
May 2018 3rd Week Summary The workshop was aimed at forming integrated approach for conservation of Ganga’s ecology, environment and bio-
diversity by restoring Ganga’s ecological integrity.
Biodiversity: The term Biological Diversity (or Biodiversity) was first coined by wildlife scientist and conservationist
Raymond F. Dasmann in 1968. This term became widespread in use during 1980s. Biodiversity refers to totality of
genes, species and ecosystems of a region.
There are three levels of biodiversity viz. species diversity, ecosystem diversity and genetic diversity. The term
biodiversity is used to address several problems in conservation of environment including loss of species, destruction
of habitats, invasive species, genetic pollution, over exploitation and effects of climate change on biodiversity.
Biodiversity is unequally distributed on Earth and it varies across regions on the basis of climatic and geographical
factors. On earth, highest biodiversity is found in tropics. In comparison to Oceans, terrestrial biodiversity is much
greater. The terrestrial biodiversity is greater at equator in comparison to poles. Around 90% of world’s biodiversity is
found in tropical rainforests which occupy less than 10% of Earth’s surface. The marine biodiversity is highest along
coasts in Western Pacific which is known for highest sea temperature.
Convention on Biological Diversity
CBD (commonly known as Biodiversity Convention) is legally binding document, which came as outcome of Earth
Summit in Rio de Janeiro in June 1992 and entered into force in December 1993.
Its objectives are conservation of biodiversity, sustainable use of its components and fair and equitable sharing of
benefits arising from genetic resources.
The idea is to develop national strategies for conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity. 198
countries/territories including India are parties to CBD.
United States has signed but not ratified convention.
UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam naagrik) Scheme
The first commercial flight (42-seater ATR aircraft of the Alliance Airlines) of Arunachal Pradesh under UDAN scheme
landed at Pasighat airport or Advance Landing Ground (ALG) in East Siang district. This historic moment puts border
state on the aviation map of the country.
Alliance Air, a subsidiary of Air India, will operate flight services on Kolkata-Guwahati-Pasighat route thrice a week –
on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.
Pasighat airport is on advance landing ground or ALG, meant to support operations of small aircraft and some military
planes
UDAN RCS (Regional Connectivity Scheme) was launched in October 2016 to develop the regional aviation market.
It is vital component of the National Civil Aviation Policy (NCAP), 2016. It aims to make flying affordable by providing
connectivity to un-served and under-served airports of country through revival of existing airstrips and airports so that
persons in regional towns are able to take affordable flights.
It is applicable on flights covering distance between 200 km and 800 km with no lower limit set for hilly, remote,
island and security sensitive regions. It seeks to reserve a minimum number of UDAN seats i.e. seats at subsidized
rates and also cap fare for short distance flights. It has unique market-based model to develop regional connectivity.
It has Viability Gap Funding (VDF) mechanism to meet the VGF requirements under the scheme. Airports Authority of
India (AAI) is implementing agency of the scheme.
Clean energy ministerial meeting (CEM)
The 3rd Mission Innovation Ministerial (MI-3) takes place in Malmö, Sweden, back to back with the 9th Clean Energy
Ministerial in Copenhagen, Denmark.
The cities of Malmö and Copenhagen are famously linked by the Öresund Bridge, chosen for the event as a powerful
symbol of joining forces to accelerate the clean energy revolution.
CEM is a high-level global forum to promote policies and programs that advance clean energy technology, to share
lessons learned and best practices, and to encourage the transition to a global clean energy economy.
The Framework for the Clean Energy Ministerial, adopted at the seventh Clean Energy Ministerial in 2016.
The annual meeting of energy ministers and other high-level delegates from the 24 member countries and the
European Union provide an opportunity to leverage high-level political will and private sector leadership to drive
ambitious, real-world clean energy policies and actions.
The CEM is focused on three global climate and energy policy goals:
i. Improve energy efficiency worldwide
ii. Enhance clean energy supply
iii. Expand clean energy access
India is a member of the CEM and hosted CEM4 in 2013.
The active organizations in CEM from India are
1. Bureau of Energy Efficiency
2. Power System Operation Corporation Ltd.
3. Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd.
Mission Innovation is a global platform of 23 countries and European Union aimed at accelerating clean energy
innovations through enhanced Government funding, greater public-private sector partnership and enhanced global
cooperation.
May 2018 3rd Week Summary Mission Innovation is complemented by private sector-led investments of extraordinary levels of private capital in
clean energy, focusing on early-stage innovations.
As part of the initiative, participating countries have committed to seek to double their governments’ clean energy
research and development (R&D) investments over five years, while encouraging greater levels of private sector
investment in transformative clean energy technologies. These additional resources will dramatically accelerate the
availability of the advanced technologies that will define a future global energy mix that is clean, affordable, and
reliable.
Mission Innovation was announced on November 30, 2015, as world leaders came together in Paris to undertake
ambitious efforts to combat climate change.
India is Founding Member of the Steering Committee and also a Member of the two sub-groups: Joint research and
Capacity Building and Private Sector Engagement.
Multi Commodity Exchange of India Limited (MCX) launched: copper options contracts.
India’s largest commodities exchange platform, Multi Commodity Exchange of India Limited (MCX) launched country’s
first copper options contracts.
The option contract will provide physical market participants additional instrument to hedge their price risk. The
copper option contracts were launched with lot size of 1 tonne in three contracts expiring in June, August and
November 2018.
Copper is third-most-consumed industrial metal in the world, after iron and aluminium.
In last few years, world’s refined copper usage has surged, owing to growing demand in sectors like electrical and
electronic products, industrial machinery and equipment, building construction, transportation equipment and
consumer and general products. Copper ore production in India stood at 3,846 thousand tonnes in 2016-17 and its
consumption demand for refined copper was 820 thousand tonnes in the FY16.
Options are an instrument that gives buyer right to buy or sell an underlined at present price on a future date. They
are of two types: puts (right to sell) and calls (right to buy). According to market experts, options are also a much
better hedging instrument as compared to futures for hedgers.
Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX)
MCX is country’s first listed commodity futures exchange that facilitates online trading, and clearing and settlement
of commodity futures transactions, thereby providing platform for risk management. It was launched in November
2003 and operates within regulatory framework of Forward Contracts Regulation Act, 1952 (FCRA, 1952) under SEBI.
MCX offers futures trading in bullion, ferrous and non-ferrous metals, energy, and a number of agricultural
commodities (mentha oil, cardamom, potatoes, palm oil and others). Globally, MCX ranks no. 1 in silver, no. 2 in
natural gas, no. 3 in crude oil and gold in futures trading.
BrahMos supersonic cruise missile
BrahMos supersonic cruise missile was successfully test-fired from mobile launcher from Integrated Test Range (ITR)
at Balasore (Chandipur), Odisha to validate some new features aimed at increasing its life from 10 to 15 years. The
successful test will help in huge savings of
replacement cost of BrahMos missiles held in
inventory of Indian armed forces. It makes it first
Indian missile whose life has been extended from
10 to 15 years.
BrahMos Missile
BrahMos is supersonic cruise missile developed
by joint-venture between Russia’s
Mashinostroyenia and India’s Defence Research
and Development Organisation (DRDO). It has
been named after two rivers Brahmaputra and
Moskva (river in western Russia).
It is two-stage missile, the first one being solid and
the second one ramjet liquid propellant. It is self-
propelled guided missile that sustains flight
through aerodynamic lift. It operates on ‘fire and
forget principal’. It is capable of being launched
from land, sea, sub-sea and air against sea and
land targets.
It is claimed that missile has strike accuracy rate
of 99.99% and it follows a variety of trajectories
like high, high-low, low, surface-skim etc. It is
capable of carrying warhead of 300 kilogram
(both conventional as well as nuclear) and has top
supersonic speed of Mach 2.8 to 3 (roughly three
times speed of sound). It is hailed as world’s
fastest anti-ship cruise missile in operation.
May 2018 3rd Week Summary Its range was initially capped at 290 km as per obligations of Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR). Since India’s
entry into the elite club, its range was extended to 450 km and plan is to increase it to 600km. It has been already
inducted in Indian Army and Navy. The air-launched version of missile was test-fired in November, 2017 for first time
from modified Su-30MKI aircraft, making it world’s fastest supersonic cruise missile to be fired from a combat jet
against a target.
World Health Assembly
Plenary Meeting of the 71st World Health Assembly is being held at Geneva.
In addition to its three main themes of celebrating the 70th anniversary of the Organization, the 40th Anniversary of
Alma-Ata and WHO’s top priority, universal health coverage, it will cover many topics on health throughout the life-
course including sexual and reproductive health; early childhood development; maternal, infant and young child
nutrition; poliomyelitis and the Global Vaccine Action Plan.
World Health Assembly (WHA):
The World Health Assembly (WHA) is the forum through which the World Health Organization (WHO) is governed by
its 194 member states.
It is the world’s highest health policy setting body and is composed of health ministers from member states.
The members of the World Health Assembly generally meet every year in May in Geneva, the location of WHO
Headquarters.
The main functions of the World Health Assembly are to determine the policies of the Organization, appoint the
Director-General, supervise financial policies, and review and approve the proposed programme budget.
Gandiv Vijay: Chetak Corps of South Western Command conduct military exercise in Rajasthan
Chetak corps of South Western Command of Indian Army conducted military exercise Gandiv Vijay in Mahajan field
firing ranges of Rajasthan. The exercise was conducted two months to validate their operational plans of Chetak
corps and concluded on May 23, 2018.
Gandiv Vijay miliarty exercise
The Gandiv Vijay miliarty exercise was based on central role of carrying out offensive operations through joint air-land
battle in network-centric environment employing modern intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance concepts and
equipment.
It involved multi-mode mobilisation of thousands of troops from dispersed locations along with array of war fighting
equipment in terrain orchestrated on lines of operational responsibility of formation in hot adverse weather conditions
of deserts of Rajasthan. The participating formations carried out synergistic employment of long-range vectors along
with infantry and mechanised forces and air arm to achieve decisive victory.
Black Panther: Chhattisgarh to get specialised anti-Naxal combat force
Chhattisgarh will get specialised anti-Naxal combat force called Black Panther on the lines of the Greyhounds unit of
Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.
It was announced by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh after chairing meeting on Left-Wing Extremism (LWE).
Currently, training is being imparted for personnel who will be part of Black Panther elite force.
Greyhounds
Greyhounds is elite commando force that specialises in anti-insurgency operations against Naxals and Maoists and
also expert in jungle warfare with operational jurisdiction in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.
It was raised in 1989 by IPS officer KS Vyas to combat left wing extremists in then undivided Andhra Pradesh.
It is described as best anti-insurgency force that specialises in anti-Maoist operations and as experts in jungle
warfare, even above CRPF’s CoBRA force which has more men, budget and better arms than Greyhounds.
The Ulysses Clause
It is a term related to the advance directive or living will.
An advance directive is a document executed by patients authorizing the cessation of medical treatment when the
doctor deems they are beyond recovery.
The Ulysses Clause is a built-in exception: it authorizes doctors to ignore the objection under some conditions and
continue treatment.
The term is derived from a story in Greek mythology.
Ulysses, eager to hear the beguiling song of the Sirens, which will draw the listeners to their death, asks his men to
cover their ears with wax, while he himself is to be bound to the ship’s mast, but free to listen to the song.
They have orders to prevent him from breaking free.
Raja Ram Mohan Roy
India's most celebrated social reformer Raja Ram Mohan Roy, remembered best as the "father of the Indian
Renaissance" was born on May 22, 1772.
He was born in Radhanagar village in Murshidabad district of West Bengal.
He was a staunch supporter of monotheism.
He also shunned the orthodox Hindu rituals and idol worship right from the childhood.
In his first book "Tuhfat al-muwahhidin” he advocated for reason in religion and opposed ritualism.
May 2018 3rd Week Summary He opposed "Sati", the regressive practice that forced a widow to immolate herself on husband's pyre.
In 1828, Raja Ram Mohan Roy founded the "Brahmo Samaj", which is said to be one of the first Indian socio-religious
reform movements.
Google search engine marked his birthday by a doodle.
Ashtapadiyattam
Vice-President launched the ancient dance drama 'Ashtapadiyattam' based on 'Gita Govindam' believed to be penned
by 12th century poet Jayadeva, at a function in Kerala.
It is called Ashtapadis (Ashta- 8) as the Gita Govinda has couplets grouped into eights.
So the name Ashtapadi + attam (Dance), a dance –drama based on Ashtapadi
Jayadeva’s Gita Govindam classic encompasses a unique mix of classical literature, classical music and classical
dance.
Gita Govindam’s unusually wide appeal comes from the story of Sri Krishna and his love for Radha.
The performance of the Gita Govinda at Puri Jagannath by the Mahatis and later by the Goutipas was significant in
the development of Odissi.
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus building
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, earlier known as Victoria Terminus has completed 130 years of its
construction on 20th May 2018.
It was designed by Frederick William Stevens, a consulting architect.
It is designed in Gothic style adapted to suit Indian context.
The dome of the terminus has been reported to be the first octagonal ribbed masonry dome that was adapted to an
Italian Gothic style building.
The crowning point of the whole building is the central main dome
carrying up a colossal figure of lady pointing a flaming torch upwards in
her right hand, and a spooked wheel low in the left hand, symbolizing
`Progress’.
In 2004, UNESCO has enlisted this building as World Heritage Site for its
architectural splendour.
It is the headquarters building of Central Railway.
It is the most photographed building after Taj Mahal
Healthcare access and quality (HAQ) index
India ranked 145th among 195 countries in terms of Healthcare access and quality (HAQ) index in the year 2016,
behind its neighbours like China, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Bhutan.
The index was released as part of Global Burden of Disease study released by Lancet, one of the world’s oldest and
best known peer-reviewed general medical journal.
Healthcare access and quality (HAQ) Index
The study used index to measure quality and accessibility of healthcare, based on 32 causes of death which should
be preventable with effective medical care. Each of 195 countries and territories assessed were given score between
0 (lowest)-100 (highest). For the first time, it also analysed healthcare access and quality between regions within
seven countries: Brazil, China, India, England, Japan, Mexico, and US.
Top five countries with highest levels of healthcare access and quality in 2016 are Iceland (rank-1st, score-97.1
points), Norway (2nd, 96.6), Netherlands (3rd, 96.1), Luxembourg (4th, 96.0), and Finland and Australia (5th, each
with 95.9).
The global average healthcare access and quality score in 2016 was 54.4, increasing from 42.4 points in 2000. The
countries with lowest scores are Central African Republic (18.6), Somalia (19.0), Guinea-Bissau (23.4), Chad (25.4),
and Afghanistan (25.9).
India’s Neighbours: India lags behind China (48th), Sri Lanka (71st), Bangladesh (133rd) and Bhutan (134th) in terms
of levels of healthcare access and quality. But it is better than Nepal (149th), Pakistan (154th) and Afghanistan
(191st).
India related Facts
India has seen improvements in healthcare access and quality since 1990.
In 2016, India’s healthcare access and quality scored at 41.2 (up from 24.7 in 1990).
India performed poorly in tackling cases of rheumatic heart diseases, Ischaemic heart diseases, stroke, tuberculosis,
testicular cancer, colon cancer and chronic kidney disease among others.
Though, India’s improvements on HAQ index has hastened from 2000 to 2016, but gap between country’s highest
and lowest scores widened (23·4-point difference in 1990, and 30·8-point difference in 2016).
Goa and Kerala have highest HAQ index scores in 2016, each exceeding 60 points, whereas Assam and Uttar Pradesh
have lowest, each below 40.
May 2018 3rd Week Summary Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya National Mission on Teachers and Training (PMMMNMTT).
The National Institute of Educational Research and Planning (NIEPA) is in the process of rolling out the National
Resource centre, an initiative that is part of the Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya National Mission on Teachers and
Training (PMMMNMTT).
About the National Resource Centre:
The National Resource Centre is envisaged as a one-stop point for Indian academicians to enhance their research
and teaching skills.
The centre will enable college and university teachers to access a detailed database of academic resources, including
lists of books, top journals and subject experts in their area of interest.
It will also suggest a mechanism to higher education institutions to assess students’ satisfaction with teaching and
research in the institutions, so that the faculty are able to figure out what students think about their college/university
and make improvements.
About PMMMNMTT:
Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya National Mission on Teachers and Teaching (PMMMNMTT) is a Scheme launched by
the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India.
The aim of the scheme to improve the quality of school and higher education by addressing comprehensively all
issues related to teachers, teaching, teacher preparation, professional development, Curriculum Design, Designing
and Developing Assessment & Evaluation methodology, Research in Pedagogy and developing effective Pedagogy.
The Mission proposes to have following components:
Schools of Education (in Central Universities).
Centres of Excellence for Curriculum and Pedagogy.
Inter-University Centres for Teachers’ Education.
National Resource Centre for Education.
Centres for Academic Leadership and Education Management.
Innovations, Awards, Teaching Resource Grant, including Workshop & Seminar, Subject Networks for Curricular
Renewal and Reforms.
Model Code of Conduct Violation Reporting App
Election Commission of India (ECI) is launching multi-lingual mobile application called Model Code of Conduct
Violation Reporting App ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.
The app aims at empowering people across the country to share evidence of malpractice by political parties, their
candidates and activists directly with ECI.
Through this mobile app, ECI intends to encourage larger public participation in checking corrupt practices in elections
and ensure free and fair election process. The app will be launched across the country as part of steps taken by ECI
to prevent abuse of money and muscle power.
The app allows sharing of photos and short audio and
video clips related to electoral malpractices from spot
itself. It also records geo-location of reported incidents
and the officials concerned will immediately receive the
alerts. This will ensure an effective response.
The app was made available for first time in Bengaluru
(capital of Karnataka) in run-up to recently concluded
state assembly elections. It had registered total of 780
downloads and complaints were received from users.
Accordingly, officials concerned in all the cases had
taken actions.
Election Commission of India (ECI)
ECI is permanent and independent constitutional body
established directly by Constitution of India to ensure
fair and fair elections in the country. It is multi-member
body and currently has three members including Chief
Election Commissioner (CEC) appointed by President of
India.
Shanghai Cooperation Organisation-Regional Anti-Terrorist
Structure (SCO-RATS)
Pakistan is hosting its first ever Shanghai Cooperation
Organisation-Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (SCO-
RATS) meeting in Islamabad.
The participants of the meeting include the executive
committee of the SCO and of RATS along with legal
advisors from eight member states.
Mahamana Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya
Indian educationist and politician notable for his role in
the Indian independence movement and as the twice
president of Indian National Congress.
Mahamana is most remembered as the founder
of Banaras Hindu University (BHU) at Varanasi in 1916,
which was created under the B.H.U. Act, 1915. The
largest residential university in Asia and one of the
largest in the world, having over 40,000 students
across arts, sciences, engineering, medical,
agriculture, performing arts, law and technology from
all over the world. He was Vice Chancellor of Banaras
Hindu University from 1919–1938.
Malaviya was one of the founders of Scouting in
India. He also founded a highly influential, English-
newspaper, The Leader published from Allahabad in
1909. He was also the Chairman of Hindustan
Times from 1924 to 1946. His efforts resulted in the
launch of its Hindi edition named Hindustan Dainik in
1936.
Pandit ji was posthumously conferred with Bharat
Ratna, India's highest civilian award, on 24 December
2014, a day before his 153rd Birth Anniversary.
May 2018 3rd Week Summary The main agenda is to talk over the issue related to terrorist threats in the region and how to overcome them.
The Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS), headquartered in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, is a permanent organ of the
Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) which serves to promote cooperation of member states against the three
evils of terrorism, separatism and extremism.
The Head of RATS is elected to a three-year term. Each member state also sends a permanent representative to
RATS.
Model Agriculture Produce and Livestock Contract Farming and Services (Promotion & Facilitation) Act, 2018
The government has released the Model Agriculture Produce and Livestock Contract Farming and Services
(Promotion & Facilitation) Act, 2018. It is drafted as a promotional and facilitative act and not regulatory in its
structure.
With a view to integrate farmers with bulk purchasers including exporters, agro- industries etc. for better price
realization through mitigation of market and price risks to the farmers and ensuring smooth agro raw material supply
to the agro industries, Union Finance Minister in the budget for 2017-18 announced preparation of a “Model Contract
Farming Act” and circulation of the same to the States for its adoption.
Salient features of the Act:
The act lays special emphasis on protecting the interests of the farmers, considering them as weaker of the two
parties entering into a contract. It brings contract farming outside the ambit of the APMC Act.
It provides for a “Registering and Agreement Recording Committee” or an “Officer” at the district/block/taluka level
for online registration of sponsor and recording of agreement. The contracted produce will also be covered under
crop/livestock insurance in operation.
In a bid to allay the fears of individual farmers, the act explicitly states that no permanent structure can be developed
on farmers’ land/premises under such contracts.
It gives no right, title of interest of the land to the sponsor. Similarly, no rights, title ownership or possession to be
transferred or alienated or vested in the contract farming sponsor.
The act provides for the promotion of Farmer Producer Organization (FPOs)/Farmer Producer Companies (FPCs) to
mobilise small and marginal farmers. The FPO/FPC can also be a contracting party if so authorized by the farmers.
As per the law, the contracting party will be obliged to buy the entire pre-agreed quantity of one or more of agricultural
produce, livestock or its product of contract farming producer as per contract.
It also envisages the setting up of Contract Farming Facilitation Group (CFFG) for promoting contract farming and
services at village/panchayat level.
It also includes an accessible and simple dispute settlement mechanism at the lowest level possible for quick
disposal of disputes.
What is Contract farming?
The concept of Contract Farming (CF) refers to a system of farming, in which bulk purchasers including agro-
processing/exporting or trading units enter into a contract with farmer(s), to purchase a specified quantity of any
agricultural commodity at a pre-agreed price.
Contract farming in India:
Although varied forms of contract farming existed in pockets in the country, the formal contract farming is not,
however, wide spread in India. By and large, cultivation of commercial crops like cotton, sugarcane, tobacco, tea,
coffee, rubber and dairy have had some elements of informal contract farming for a long time.
What is the existing regulatory structure?
Currently, contract farming requires registration with the Agricultural Produce Marketing Committee (APMC) in few
states. This means that contractual agreements are recorded with the APMCs which can also resolve disputes arising
out of these contracts. Further, market fees and levies are paid to the APMC to undertake contract farming. The
Model APMC Act, 2003 provided for contract farming and was released to the states for them to use this as reference
while enacting their respective laws. Consequently, 20 states have amended their APMC Acts to provide for contract
farming, while Punjab has a separate law on contract farming. However, only 14 states notified rules related to
contract farming, as of October 2016.
What are the issues with the current structure?
Over the years, expert bodies have identified issues related to the implementation of contract farming. These include:
(i) role of APMCs which are designated as an authority for registration and dispute settlement in most states, (ii)
provisions of stockholding limits on produce under contract farming, and (iii) poor publicity of contract farming among
the farmers about its benefits.
National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM)
Vice-President M Venkaiah Naidu recently laid the foundation-stone for the southern campus of the National Institute of
Disaster Management (NIDM) at Kondapavuluru village of Gannavaram mandal in Andhra Pradesh.
About NIDM:
NIDM is a premier institute of the Government of India under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
It was constituted under an Act of Parliament with a vision to play the role of a premier institute for capacity
development in India and the region.
Under the Disaster Management Act 2005, NIDM has been assigned nodal responsibilities for human resource
development, capacity building, training, research, documentation and policy advocacy in the field of disaster
management.
May 2018 3rd Week Summary NIDM also serves as international SAARC Disaster Management Centre (SDMC) and works as focus for its operation
and planning.
‘Nidaan’
It is a new software launched in Rajasthan for presumptive diagnosis and monitoring of seasonal and non-
communicable diseases as well as the trends of ailments found in specific areas. It is expected to help in formulation
of specific action plans for control of diseases.
It will facilitate online entries of as many as 46 diseases and healthcare services available for their treatment in
different institutions.
Oumuamua: Alien asteroid discovered in Solar system
Scientists have discovered an asteroid named Oumuamua (or (514107) 2015 BZ509) nestling in Jupiter’s orbit that
had migrated from another star system.
It makes it first known permanent immigrant to our solar system.
It confirms suspicions of scientists’ that asteroids from other stars have arrived in our solar system.
The asteroid Oumuamua was actually first discovered in 2014, but after four years of tracking it, scientists were able
to determine that it had arrived in our solar system some 4.5 billion years ago – just as Earth was beginning to form.
GRACE-FO (Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment Follow-On)
Elon Musk-led SpaceX has successfully launched twin NASA satellites GRACE-FO (Follow-On) that will track Earth’s
water Cycle i.e. water movement and ice melt. It was launched on-board of SpaceX’s preflown Falcon 9 Rocket from
Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, US.
GRACE-FO (Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment Follow-On)
GRACE-FO is joint project between National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and German Research
Center for Geosciences (GFZ). It is follow-on mission to original GRACE mission, which had mapped Earth’s water and
ice by measuring changes in Earth’s gravity field from 2002 to 2017.
GRACE-FO will pick up where GRACE left off to continue study of rising sea levels, melting of glaciers and polar ice
caps and other changes in distribution of water on Earth. The two GRACE-FO satellites will orbit together at 490km
altitude near-polar orbit, circling Earth every 90 minutes.
To measure Earth’s gravity, two satellites will orbit around Earth together, with one trailing behind other at distance
of 220km. The instruments on board of these satellites are so sensitive that they can detect changes with precision
of about 1 micrometer (i.e. about one-tenth of a human hair over long distance).
These satellites have payload called Laser Ranging Interferometer. It can precisely measure gravity field changes due
to change in separation distance between two satellites, revealing information about what kinds of features they are
flying over. Earth is not perfect sphere) different features, like mountains and oceans, across its surface, so
gravitational pull exerted on these satellites is not consistent. When gravity field changes, separation between two
satellites changes slightly.