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CONTENTS

POLITY : 4-14

Sexual Harassment of women at workplace – 4 AFSPA – 4 Permanent commission for women in army- 6 Bombay prevention of begging act 1959 – 6 Mahadayi verdict – 7 CARA – 8 Mullaperiyar dam issue – 8 Parliamentary disruptions – 9 Polavaram Project – 10 Simultaneous elections – 11 Lateral entry – 13 Prevention of corruption (Amendment) Bill,2018 - 14

ECONOMY : 15-19

Currency war – 15

T.K. Viswanathan committee – 16

UPI 2.0 – 16

Participatory Notes – 17

Depreciation of Rupee - 18

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY : 20 – 25

AMBIS - 20

ISRO TV - 20

Parker solar probe – 21

Gangayaan – 22

E- cigarette - 23

RUCO - 24

Oxytocin ban - 24

LIGO - 25

ENVIRONMENT : 26 - 30

Project elephant – 26

India’s First Genetic Bank – 27

Coral Reef – 28

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Air pollution – 29

Chilika Lake – 29

Bhitarkanika National Park – 29

Kerala Floods - 30

MISCELLANEOUS : 31 – 36

STA 1 Status - 31

Ease of Living Index – 31

Pitch To Move – 32

Unnat Bharat Abhiyan 2.0 – 32

Swadesh Darshan – 33

Ayushman Bharat – 34

Global Liveability Index – 34

Caspian Sea Agreement – 35

YOJANA : AUGUST (India’s MMR @ 130) – 35

Manutrition in Inida – 36

MOCK TEST – 37 -41

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POLITY

SEXUAL HARASSMENT OF WOMEN AT WORKPLACE

CONTEXT-

Ministry of Corporate Affairs has amended the Companies (Accounts) Rules, 2014 to mandate the disclosure regarding implementation of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act in the Directors Report of every company.

SEXUAL HARASSMENT OF WOMEN AT WORKPLACE (PREVENTION, PROHIBITION AND REDRESSAL) ACT, 2013 The Act defines sexual harassment at the work place and creates a mechanism for redressal of complaints. It also provides safeguards against false or malicious charges.

Every employer is required to constitute an Internal Complaints Committee at each office or branch with 10 or more employees. The Committee is required to complete the inquiry within a time period of 90 days. On completion of the inquiry, the report will be sent to the employer or the District Officer, as the case may be, they are mandated to take action on the report within 60 days.

The Complaints Committees are required to provide for conciliation before initiating an inquiry, if requested by the complainant.

FICCI REPORT

According to a FICCI-EY November 2015 report, 36% of Indian companies and 25% among MNCs are not compliant with the Sexual Harassment Act, 2013. The government has threatened to take stern action against employers who fail to comply with this law.

SHe-BOX

It was launched for working women in both public and private organizations to lodge complaints online of

sexual harassment at workplace.

Users of SHe-Box also have the option of interacting with Ministry of WCD through this portal, with an assured time-bound response.

ARMED FORCES SPECIAL POWER ACT (AFSPA)

The Centre wanted to reduce the areas under the Armed Forces Special Power Act (AFSPA) in Assam but the State government did not concur.

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WHAT DOES THE AFSPA MEAN

In simple terms, AFSPA gives armed forces the power to maintain public order in “disturbed areas”. They have the authority to prohibit a gathering of five or more persons in an area, can use force or even open fire after giving due warning if they feel a person is in contravention of the law. If reasonable suspicion exists, the army can also arrest a person without a warrant; enter or search a premises without a warrant; and ban the possession of firearms.

Any person arrested or taken into custody may be handed over to the officer in charge of the nearest police station along with a report detailing the circumstances that led to the arrest.

WHAT IS A “DISTURBED AREA” AND WHO HAS THE POWER TO DECLARE IT

A disturbed area is one which is declared by notification under Section 3 of the AFSPA. An area can be disturbed due to differences or disputes between members of different religious, racial, language or regional groups or castes or communities. The Central Government, or the Governor of the State or administrator of the Union Territory can declare the whole or part of the State or Union Territory as a disturbed area.

The Ministry of Home Affairs would usually enforce this Act where necessary, but there have been exceptions where the Centre decided to forego its power and leave the decision to the State governments. WHAT’S THE ORIGIN OF AFSPA The Act came into force in the context of increasing violence in the Northeastern States decades ago, which the State governments found difficult to control. The Armed Forces (Special Powers) Bill was passed by both the Houses of Parliament and it was approved by the President on September 11, 1958. It became known as the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, 1958. WHICH STATES ARE, OR HAD COME UNDER THIS ACT

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It is effective in the whole of Nagaland, Assam, Manipur (excluding seven assembly constituencies of Imphal) and parts of Arunachal Pradesh. The Centre revoked it in Meghalaya on April 1, 2018. Tripura withdrew the AFSPA in 2015.

PEOPLE’S REACTION TOWARDS THE ACT

It has been a controversial one, with human rights groups opposing it as being aggressive. Manipur’s Irom Sharmila has been one if its staunchest opponents, going on a hunger strike in November 2000 and continuing her vigil till August 2016. Her trigger was an incident in the town of Malom in Manipur, where ten people were killed waiting at a bus stop.

PERMANENT COMMISSION FOR WOMEN IN ARMY

IN NEWS

Addressing the nation on the occasion of 72nd Independence Day, from the ramparts of the Red Fort, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that Short Service Commissioned women in the Armed Forces will be given Permanent Commission.

PRESENT STATUS

Presently, women are recruited in the Army as officers through short service commission.

At the moment, women in the Indian Army are eligible for Permanent Commission only in select branches such as the Judge Advocate General (JAG) Department and in Army Education Corps (AEC) of Army.

In the Indian Navy, women officers are presently inducted through SSC in branches such as- Logistics, Law, Observers, Air Traffic Control (ATC), Pilots (Maritime Reconnaissance Stream), Naval Armament Inspectorate cadre (NAIC), Naval Architecture and Education Branch.

WHAT IS SSC AND PC

SSC is an option of Joining the Army and serving as a Commissioned Officer for 10/14 years. At the end 10 yrs person have 3 options. Either elect for a Permanent Commission or opt out or have the option of 4 years extension. They can resign at any time during this period of 4 yrs extension. A Permanent Commission means a career in the Army till you retire. For Permanent Commission, you have to join National Defence Academy, Pune or Indian Military Academy, Dehradunor Officers Training Academy, Gaya.

Bombay prevention of begging Act, 1959

WHY IN NEWS

The Begging Act was passed in 1959 by the State of Bombay, and has continued to exist in as many as 20 States and two Union Territories. But the Delhi High Court has struck it down.

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WHAT IS BEGGING

The Act defines it to include “soliciting or receiving alms, in a public place whether or not under any pretence such as singing, dancing, fortune telling, performing or offering any article for sale” and “having no visible means of subsistence and wandering about or remaining in any public place in such condition or manner, as makes it likely that the person doing so exist soliciting or receiving alms.”

PROVISIONS

A. It criminalises begging. B. It gives the police the power to arrest individuals without a warrant. C. It gives magistrates the power to commit them to a “certified institution” (like, a detention centre) for up to three years on the commission of the first “offence”, and up to 10 years upon the second “offence”. D. The Act also authorises the detention of people “dependant” upon the “beggar” and the separation of children over the age of five.

CRITICISM

- Not only do these vague definitions give unchecked power to the police to harass citizens but they also reveal the prejudices underlying the law.

- The pointed reference to “singing, dancing, fortune telling, performing or offering any article for sale” makes it clear that the purpose of the Act is not simply to criminalise the act of begging, but to target communities whose patterns of life do not fit within mainstream stereotypes of the law-abiding citizen with a settled job.

WAY FORWARD

It is important to remember one thing: a court can strike down an unconstitutional law, but it cannot reform society.

It is the task of the Legislative Assembly and the government to replace the punitive structure of the (now defunct) Begging Act with a new set of measures that genuinely focuses on the rehabilitation and integration of the most vulnerable members of our society.

MAHADAYI VERDICT

The Mahadayi Water Disputes Tribunal which has been hearing the tussle over sharing of the Mahadayi or Mandovi river between Goa, Karnataka and Maharashtra, delivered its final verdict.

DISPUTE

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The Mahadayi river basin drains an area of 2032 square kilometres of which 375 square km lies in Karnataka, 77 sq km in Maharashtra and the remaining in Goa.

The dispute arose since Goa was opposed to Karnataka’s plans to divert waters from the tributaries of the river, which Karnataka justified was for drinking water purposes. The tribunal was constituted in November 2010.

VERDICT

Ending a 50-year-old dispute, the tribunal allowed Karnataka access to 13.4 tmc of water for its consumptive use (5.4 tmc) and power generation (8.02 tmc).

The tribunal also directed the Centre to set up the Mahadayi Water Management Authority to implement its report and final decision.

CARA (CENTRAL ADOPTION RESOURCE AUTHORITY)

WHY IN NEWS

Australia has lifted a ban on its nationals to adopt children from India after eight years.

CARA

Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA) is a statutory body of Ministry of Women & Child Development, Government of India.

It functions as the nodal body for adoption of Indian children and is mandated to monitor and regulate in-country and inter-country adoptions.

CARA is designated as the Central Authority to deal with inter-country adoptions in accordance with the provisions of the Hague Convention on Inter-country Adoption, 1993, ratified by Government of India in 2003.

MULLAPERIYAR DAM

WHY IN NEWS

The Supreme Court has said that the Centre must decide whether water should be released from the Mullaperiyar dam -- over which Kerala and Tamil Nadu are at loggerheads.

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CONTROVERSY

The Mullaperiyar dam was built more than 130 years ago by the British to irrigate the parched southern Tamil Nadu. Though the dam is located in Kerala, under a 999-year lease, Tamil Nadu operates it.

The agreement was renewed by the two state governments in independent India in the 1970s. Tamil Nadu was given rights to the land and the water from the dam as well as the authority to develop hydro-power projects at the site, and Kerala would receive rent in return.

However, safety concerns surfaced in 1979 after reports in the Kerala press claimed a minor earthquake had caused cracks in the dam.

The Central Water Commission recommended that the level of water stored in the reservoir be lowered to 136 feet from about 142 feet.

From this point on, two divergent perspectives have emerged.

Tamil Nadu claims that though it has undertaken periodic repairs on the dam, the Kerala government has not allowed it to raise the water level. It says it has suffered huge losses from not being able to use the dam to its full capacity. Kerala, on the other hand, contends it is not safe to raise the water level as Idukki district, where the dam is located, is earthquake-prone and has experienced multiple low-intensity quakes.

SUPREME COURT VERDICT

The Supreme Court held in 2014 that 2006 amendment to the Kerala Irrigation and Water Conservation Act restricting the water level in the dam to 136 feet was unconstitutional. It said Kerala could not obstruct Tamil Nadu from raising the water level to 142 feet. To allay Kerala’s concerns, it directed that a three-member committee be set up to oversee the process of raising the water level, inspect the dam routinely and look into the safety concerns.

PARLIAMENTARY DISRUPTIONS

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Context- The monsoon session of the Parliament began on July 18 and ended on August 10. The session saw 17 sittings.

FUNCTIONS OF THE PARLIAMENT

The primary function of Parliament is to make laws for the governance of the country.

Parliament exercises control over the Executive through question-hour, zero hour, half-an-hour discussion, short duration discussion, calling attention motion, adjournment motion, no confidence motion, censure motion and other discussions.

It discusses various issues of national and international significance.

CAUSES OF PARLIAMENTARY DISRUPTIONS

Discussion on matters of controversy and public importance -. In the name of raising matters of public importance, there have also been a number of instances where members have made allegations and accusations against the other members of the House or against members belonging to a specific political party, particularly the ruling party. These allegations/accusations led to disruptions in the House.

Government driven transactions- Most disruptions to have been initiated by members of the opposition parties. This is because the transaction of business in the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha is, in some sense, as is only to be expected, driven by the government.

Publicity- Since live telecast of the debates on television can be viewed by any member of the public, and any significant disruption is likely to be carried in the news cycle on matters of immediate controversy or, more generally, on matters of public importance, several MPs, it appears, use parliamentary disruptions as a tool for gaining greater visibility in the public eye.

Privileging Party over Member- Due to the application of the anti-defection law, an MP who, for instance, does not approve of disruptions on the floor of the House, may be compelled to toe the party line during parliamentary discussions, and be forced to tolerate or actively support disruptions by the leaders and other members of his party.

IMPACT OF PARLIAMENTARY DISRUPTIONS

Over Rs 2.5 lakh is spent per minute to run Parliament, implying that disruptions are a waste of taxpayer’s money. Many of the pending Bills deal with the daily lives of the common people.

CONCLUSION

Structure and nature of Parliament is in urgent need of reform. Such reform is necessary not just for reducing disruptions and improving productivity but restoring Parliament as the forum for legislative activity and meaningful debate. Presiding officers of the Parliament should not hesitate to use their powers to maintain the decorum of the houses. People of the country should carefully watch the members of the Parliament and keep them out from the Parliament in the next poll.

POLAVARAM PROJECT WHY IN NEWS

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The Supreme Court has decided to examine whether the Polavaram project and its design, as approved by the Central Water Commission, is in consonance with the Godavari Water Disputes Tribunal (GWDT) award of 1980. CONTROVERSY The controversy in this case is with regard to the capacity and specification as mentioned in the Godavari Water Dispute Tribunal Award of 1980 with regard to the Polavaram dam. Odisha submits that the design of the dam is such that it can have a capacity of 50 lakh cusecs as against 36 lakh cusecs mentioned in the Award. Odisha argues that its residents will face several problems due to the project, including submergence of tribal land, flooding of fertile agricultural land and mass displacement of villagers. The court has to look into the need for fresh environment clearance in view of the change in the design of the spillway of the project and if there is any diversion of forest land due to change in design affecting the tribal areas and population in Odisha, Chhattisgarh and Telangana.

ABOUT POLAVARAM PROJECT

1. Polavaram Project is a multi-purpose irrigation project.

It has been accorded national project status by the government of India.

2. The dam, across the Godavari River, is under construction. It is located in West Godavari District and East Godavari District in Andhra Pradesh state.

3. In this project's case, the Godavari river basin is considered as a surplus one, while the Krishna River basin is considered to be a deficit one.

Based on the estimated water requirements in 2025, a study recommended that sizeable surplus water was to be transferred from the Godavari River basin to the Krishna River basin.

SIMULTANEOUS ELECTIONS

CONTEXT Chief Election Commissioner said that EC is not ready for simultaneous polls.

BACKGROUND

The push by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government for simultaneous elections at the Centre and the states has gathered pace. A paper put out by NITI Aayog also argued in favour of the proposal.

The Law Commission too invited political parties to a consultation on the simultaneous elections proposal.

WHAT IS SIMULTANEOUS ELECTION

It basically means a uniform calendar on elections for the Centre and the states and holding these synchronized elections every five years.

ADVANTAGES

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Those who are in favour of it, they argue that it will reduce :

(i) The massive expenditure that is currently incurred for the conduct of separate elections.

(ii) The policy paralysis that results from the imposition of the Model Code of Conduct during election time.

(iii) The impact on delivery of essential Services.

(iv) The burden on crucial manpower that is deployed during election time.

DISADVANTAGES

1. the concept of simultaneous elections fundamentally runs against the grain of our Westminster-style federal political union. “One nation, one election” would make sense if India were a unitary state.

2. A government may choose to dissolve itself, or a government may fall if its loses its majority, and then the governor, acting on behalf of the president of the republic, will be obliged either to ask another combine to form a government, or must perforce call fresh elections. Keeping a moribund assembly in a state of suspended animation while the governor rules the state, presumably under guidance from the Centre, until the next predetermined election date rolls around, is nothing other than anti-democratic in spirit.

3. Suppose a Union government loses its majority within the middle of a fixed five-year electoral cycle. Now, if we have president’s rule for the duration of the five-year period under the advice of a council of ministers drawn presumably from the now defunct Lok Sabha and the still functioning Rajya Sabha, what we have can better be described as constitutional oligarchy. It will certainly not be Westminster democracy.

4. In a single big election, national issues would tend to come to the fore and drown out issues of regional interest. The latter would presumably dominate an assembly election, which occurs organically rather than one forced to fit the Procrustean bed of a single national election.

CONCLUSION

To avoid frequent elections it is necessary to have stable elected bodies. It is pertinent to note that a no-confidence motion is not mentioned in the Constitution or any law, for that matter. It finds place in Rule 198 of the Rules and Conduct of Business of the Lok Sabha, which states that 50 or more members can move a no-confidence motion. If it succeeds, the government has to resign and if no other party or parties can form the government, premature elections follow.

The Law Commission of India in its report of 1999 has dealt with the problem of premature and frequent elections. It had recommended an amendment of this rule on the lines of the German Constitution, which provides that the leader of the party who wants to replace the chancellor has to move the no-confidence motion along with the confidence motion. If the motions succeed, the president appoints him as the chancellor. If such an amendment to Rule 198 is made, the Lok Sabha would avoid premature dissolution without diluting the cardinal principle of democracy that is a government with the consent of the peoples’ representatives with periodical elections. It will also be consistent with the notion of collective responsibility of the government to the House as mentioned in Article 75 (3) of the Constitution.

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LATERAL ENTRY

CONTEXT The Centre has opened the highest echelons of the bureaucracy to skilled individuals from the private sector and academia, inviting applications for ten candidates at the level of joint secretary across various departments. Joint Secretaries play a crucial role in formulating and implementing policy.

Bypassing the UPSC exam, it will select ten ‘outstanding’ individuals for the post of Joint Secretary across the government departments.

PROS OF LATERAL ENTRY:

1) The lack of specialisation across the top tier of Indian bureaucracy is a concern that has remained unaddressed until now.

2) IAS officers get recruited at a very early age via the UPSC exams. It is difficult to gauge their administrative judgement and capabilities then. Some may pass with flying colours, while others don’t make the cut even later on in their careers. Allowing for lateral entry of seasoned professionals and experts into the service makes up for this deficiency.

3) Career promotions in the IAS move along seamlessly with few impediments along the way. Attempts to introduce ‘meritocracy’ hasn’t quite worked out. Bringing in experts from the professional sphere is expected to shake the IAS out of their comfort zone.

4) This isn’t the first time that the government brought in professionals from the private sector or academia into the top tier of government. Finance Ministry, Reserve Bank of India and even the current NITI Aayog have hired the likes of Raghuram Rajan, Arvind Subramanian and Arvind Panagriya to name a few.

5) The IAS was designed for a time when the State was all-powerful. That reality somewhat changed with liberalisation in 1991, where the state was compelled to cede more space to markets. Therefore, it becomes more critical for the government to ascertain the impact its policy decisions have on various stakeholders such as the private sector, non-profits, and general public, i.e. those who have experienced government from the outside.

CONCERNS WITH LATERAL ENTRY:

1) Lateral entrants from the private sector and academia may not work well with the bureaucracy. The same pretty much goes for any inter-sector scenario. Differences in work culture, turf wars and systemic inertia often come in the way.

2) It’s important to gauge what processes the Centre has put in place to ease the transition and establish authority. Candidates coming from the outside may not know the nuances of the system which can be exploited against them in any number of ways.

3) The IAS establishment is likely to baulk at lateral entrants who haven’t made it through probably the hardest open competitive exam in the world, but because of privilege and social networks.

4) One of the distinguishing aspects that the current crop of IAS officers can hold up is their experience in the field, serving some of the poorest districts in our hinterlands. Those entering from privileged backgrounds and the private sector may have never seen a village school.

CONCLUSION

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Any new system will take time to evolve. So one can only hope that those at the top see this through till it becomes efficient and transparent and ensure a way to keep the public informed about it objectively.

Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Bill 2018

CONTEXT

Parliament has passed the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Bill.

PROVISIONS

1) there were no specific provisions except as abetment but under the amendment giving a bribe is now an offence, punishable by a 7-year prison term except when one is forced to give a bribe. However, it should be reported within 7 days.

2) Under the amendment to the act, criminal misconduct will now include only two offences -misappropriating of property entrusted to the banker & amassing assets disproportionate to known sources of income.

3) Now, a police officer will need prior approval of relevant authority or government to begin investigation. However, the same does not apply when the accused is caught red-handed.

4) A sanction is needed for prosecuting former officials for offences done while in office. The decision on sanction request is to be made under three months which may be extended by a month. Centre may notify about the guidelines.

ANALYSIS

- One of the welcome amendments widens the definition of criminal misconduct to include the bribe giver too. In the past, the bribe giver had enjoyed immunity and that helped perpetuate corruption.

- The amendments include a stipulation for a day-to-day trial and completion of court proceedings within two years. Where this is not possible, the judge concerned will have to record reasons for prolongation of the trial and give himself an initial extension of six months. Given the overburdening of the judiciary, even fast-track courts may be unable to stick to this deadline.

- One reasonable apprehension is that where a public servant causes performance of a public duty which is improper and against prescribed rules and procedures, and there is no proof of a transaction of bribery, he will go scot free.

The primary objective of these amendments is to tone down law enforcement excesses without diluting the authority of agencies like the CBI; or, in other words, to strike a balance between enforcement overzealousness and the need for stringent action against corrupt public servants. With some civil servants complaining that they had been wronged for discharging their lawful duties, such a balance is the need of the hour.

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ECONOMY

CURRENCY WAR

Recently, RBI Governor Urjit Patel warned that the global trade war could escalate into a currency war.

WHAT IS IT

Currency wars are triggered when nations either allow their currencies to weaken appreciably or devalue them to gain a competitive advantage over trade rivals.

WHAT IS DEVALUATION

Devaluation is a deliberate downward adjustment of the value of a country's currency relative to another currency, group of currencies or standard. Countries that have a fixed exchange rate or semi-fixed exchange rate use this monetary policy tool.

Devaluation is different from depreciation, which is a decrease in the currency’s value due to market forces of demand and supply when the exchange rate of the currency is floating.

DOES DEVALUATION HELP

One reason a country may devalue its currency is to combat a trade imbalance. Devaluation reduces the cost of a country's exports, rendering them more competitive in the global market.

This, in turn, increases the cost of imports so that domestic consumers are less likely to purchase them, further strengthening domestic businesses.

While devaluing a currency may be an attractive option, it can have negative consequences.

Increasing the price of imports protects domestic industries, but they may become less efficient without the pressure of competition. Higher exports relative to imports can also increase aggregate demand, which can lead to higher gross domestic product and inflation.

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WAS THE RUPEE EVER DEVALUED

1. In June 1966, hit by drought after two major wars (with China and Pakistan), India devalued the rupee by 36.5%.

2. Again, in July 1991, a BoP crisis exacerbated by the sharp spike in oil prices in the wake of the Gulf War spurred India to devalue the rupee in “a two-step downward adjustment of 18-19%.

T.K. VISWANATHAN COMMITTEE REPORT

BACKGROUND

The committee was set up in August last year by SEBI as it was felt that a strong legal framework and strict enforcement actions are required to deal with market abuse and ensure fair market conduct in the securities market.

RECOMMENDATIONS

1. The committee has recommended that “SEBI may seek direct power to intercept calls to aid in investigation, akin to the power granted to the Central Board of Direct Taxes”.

2. The panel has suggested that SEBI, rather than the Central government, be given the power to grant immunity to whistle-blowers who help uncover illegal activities.

3. A key recommendation is that the stock market watchdog be granted the power to act directly against “perpetrators of financial statements fraud”. This means SEBI can act not only against listed entities under its extant powers but also against those who aid or abet financial fraud — including accountants and auditors.

4. It has mooted new ideas to address market manipulation, from better scrutiny of price-sensitive information to the creation of processes to expedite investigation into cases.

CONCERNS

- Banking on fear too much could also scare away genuine investors. - Given that SEBI is now considering a cap on trading by retail investors based on their assessed ‘net

worth’, the committee’s suggestion that it may consider any trading by players beyond their known ‘financial resources’ as fraud could lead to undue harassment of investors.

BENEFITS

- Greater executive powers, it is being suggested, can help the regulator take swifter action against offenders instead of relying on government bodies such as the Ministry of Corporate Affairs.

- Since SEBI is better placed to understand the complex nuances that financial market fraud entails, compared to other investigative agencies or even those in charge of implementing the Companies Act, it may also be better placed to enforce the law.

UPI 2.0 RELEASED BY NPCI

RBI Governor Urjit Patel has urged payment system operators to ensure adequate attention is paid to ensuring cybersecurity and redressing customer grievances

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WHAT IS UPI

The Unified Payments Interface (UPI) is one of NPCI’s more successful products as it powers multiple bank accounts into a single mobile application thus enabling both immediate fund transfers and a variety of payments without a user having to part with sensitive information.

HOW DOES IT WORK

1. UPI will use existing systems such as Immediate Payment Service (IMPS) and Aadhaar Enabled Payment System (AEPS) to ensure seamless settlement across accounts.

2. It facilitates push (pay) and pull (receive) transactions and even works for over-the-counter or barcode payments, as well as for multiple recurring payments such as utility bills, school fees and other subscriptions.

3. Once a single identifier is established, the system allows mobile payments to be delivered without the use of credit or debit cards, net banking or any need to enter account details.

4. This would not just ensure greater safety of sensitive information, but connect people who have bank accounts via smartphones to carry out hassle-free transactions.

5. Overall, UPI implies fewer cash transactions, and it could potentially reduce the unbanked population.

WHAT IS NPCI

National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), an umbrella organisation for operating retail payments and settlement systems in India, is an initiative of Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) under the provisions of the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007, for creating a robust Payment & Settlement Infrastructure in India.

PARTICIPATORY NOTES

WHY IN NEWS

Investments through participatory notes into Indian capital markets plunged to over nine-year low.

DEFINTION P-notes are issued by registered foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) to overseas investors who wish to be part of the Indian stock market without registering themselves directly. They, however, need to go through due diligence process.

REASONS BEHIND THE DECLINE

1. The decline could be attributed to several measures taken by the market watchdog to stop the misuse of the controversy-ridden participatory notes.

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2. In July 2017, Sebi had notified stricter norms stipulating a fee of USD 1,000 on each instrument to check any misuse for channelising black money.

3. It had also prohibited FPIs from issuing such notes where the underlying asset is a derivative, except those which are used for hedging purposes.

4. In April last year, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) had barred resident Indians, NRIs and entities owned by them from making investment through P-notes.

DEPRECIATION OF INDIAN CURRENCY

WHY IN NEWS The Indian rupee saw the worst day in its history recently, touching 70 a dollar for the first time. The Indian rupee, which strengthened 6.75 percent against the U.S. dollar last year, has been on a general downtrend since the start of 2018.

WHAT IS DEPRECIATION OF CURRENCY

Depreciation is a decrease in the currency’s value due to market forces of demand and supply when the exchange rate of the currency is floating.

REASONS

1. The recent rise in oil prices now threatens to widen the country's deficits at a time when government spending has increased. India is a net importer of oil and every $10 per barrel increase in price could worsen its current account and fiscal balances by 0.4 percent and 0.1 percent of GDP, respectively.

2. With interest rates in the U.S. set to rise further, India — one of the biggest victims during the "taper tantrum" in 2013 — has once again found itself defending against large amounts of capital outflow. That's placing additional pressure on the rupee.

3. The sharp dip in Turkish Lira after US decided to impose tariffs is one of the reasons impacting Indian currency. Turkish lira depreciated around 30 percent, so far, in August after US President Donald Trump doubled tariffs on imports of Turkish steel and aluminum. The fall in lira was also on account of concerns about country's President Tayyip Erdogan showing reluctance to hike interest rates despite rising inflation and a widening diplomatic spat with the United States. The lira shock and strength in dollar hit not only Asia but also European currencies.

4. The dollar index is trading near a multi-month high level on expectation of aggressive interest rate hike by the Federal Reserve due to strength in the US economy.

5. The trade war is escalating between US and China; this may have consequences on India as well. Crude oil prices are fluctuating sharply.

IMPACT

1. A weaker rupee and higher oil prices will cause inflation to accelerate, which may prompt the Reserve Bank of India to hike interest.

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2. Higher domestic rates, coming before the economy has found a stable footing, could also derail India's recovery.

3. India has over the last year built up its foreign reserves, but its financing needs — a result of its twin deficits — mean the central bank may not have much room to intervene should the selloff worsen.

4. India's forex reserves currently at around $400 billion, having already fallen by $20-25 billion and to stem the rupee fall is one of the reasons behind erosion in reserves

CONCLUSION

The fall in depreciation is in line with sell-off in other emerging market currencies.

The RBI said economic activity could accelerate given signs of rising capital expenditure and improving global demand, which would help the currency to stabilize. The rupee could find a foothold eventually when rates and oil stabilize and a sustained global growth could eventually narrow the current account deficit, boost income and anchor the rupee.

India today is far better prepared to cope with global shocks relative to 2013 during the taper tantrum, owing to multiple structural reforms that have made the domestic economy more resilient.

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SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

AMBIS

Maharashtra government is planning to implement its ambitious Automated Multi-modal Biometric Identification System (AMBIS).

This is a system that uses mobile live scanners, and a police patrol team can ascertain on the spot if a suspect has criminal antecedents.

WHAT IS BIOMETRICS

The term biometrics refers to all processes used to recognize, authenticate and identify persons based on certain physical or behavioral characteristics such as DNA or fingerprints.

Unlike passwords, biometrics is the only method that establishes a link between our physical and digital identities. This helps us prevent identity theft, enabling us to prove that a person accessing an account or device is really who he or she claims to be.

ISRO TV

India will soon launch a dedicated space and science television.

OBJECTIVE

1. The channel will telecast science programmes and highlight the benefits of the space agency's missions in regional languages as well as English, so that it reaches people across the country.

2. The space agency also aims to develop scientific rigour among India's children and youth through this channel.

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ISRO will also be setting up a module for students from classes 8-10 to be trained at the space agency for a month. In order to inculcate scientific temper among students, ISRO officials will mentor them for 25-30 days and allow them to visit ISRO's labs and launch facilities.

PARKER SOLAR PROBE

NASA has launched the Parker Solar Probe – the space agency’s first mission to the sun – that will explore the sun’s atmosphere and its outermost atmosphere, the corona.

ABOUT

Flying through the corona for the first time, the probe will take a combination of measurements and imaging to help revolutionize our understanding of the corona and expand our knowledge and evolution of the solar wind. The solar wind is a collection of charged particles that stream from the star and flow past Earth at speeds of more than a million mph (400 kilometers per second).

These events can affect satellites and astronauts as well as the Earth — including power grids and radiation exposure on airline flights.

The information will help researchers and scientists solve two longstanding mysteries: * How the solar wind is accelerated * Why the sun’s outer atmosphere, or corona, is so much hotter than the solar surface. EXPLAINED

The Parker Solar Probe will arrive at the sun in November, spending seven years studying the star from 3.7 million miles (6 million km) away. Mercury, the closest planet to the sun, only gets as close as 29 million miles (47 million km) in its highly eccentric orbit. The probe is named after Eugene Parker, who first hypothesized that high-speed matter and magnetism constantly escaped the sun, and that it affected the planets and space throughout our solar system. This phenomenon is now known as the solar wind. It will study how heat and energy move through the corona and explore what accelerates the solar winds that affect Earth and other planets.

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WHAT PART OF THIS MISSION WILL ‘TOUCH’ THE SUN The Solar Probe Cup, dubbed ‘the bravest little instrument’, is a sensor that will extend beyond the heat shield to “scoop up samples” of the Sun’s atmosphere.

EUROPE’S SOLAR PROBE IN WORKS The European Space Agency is also building a similar solar probe. Solar Orbiter, or SolO as it’s sometimes known, is undergoing final assembly and testing in the UK. It is expected to launch in 2020.

GAGANYAAN

IN NEWS

Gaganyaan, the human space flight programme green-flagged and set for 2022 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is highly doable.

WHAT IS IT

Gaganyaan is an example of the technologies that will help in sending an Indian astronaut to space - like human crew module and environment control and life support system.

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E-CIGARETTE

BACKGROUND

In a recent hearing on a public interest litigation in the Delhi High Court, the Delhi government said it was planning to ban e-cigarettes.

The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has taken a stand against e-cigarettes.

PROS/CONS

At high temperatures, e-cigarettes produce carcinogens such as formaldehyde, although these are fewer in number compared to regular cigarettes. They also increase the odds of lung disease and myocardial infarction, but to a lesser extent than normal cigarettes do.

Given that e-cigarettes are a young technology, it will take time to uncover their ill-effects. Already we know some carcinogens in e-cigarettes have a non-linear effect on cancer. This means even the low doses in e-cigarette aerosols can be carcinogenic if inhaled for years.

Still, the evidence so far indicates that e-cigarettes are safer than combustible cigarettes. Because they heat a liquid to generate a nicotine-containing aerosol, instead of burning tobacco, they do not produce toxic tars.

WAY FORWARD

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A more pragmatic option would be to regulate e-cigarettes tightly, by creating standards for the aerosols and banning underage and public use. This would leave smokers with a therapeutic alternative, while protecting youngsters from a gateway drug.

RUCO (REPURPOSE USED COOKING OIL)

Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has launched RUCO, an initiative that will enable collection and conversion of used cooking oil to bio-diesel.

ABOUT RUCO Under this initiative, 64 companies at 101 locations have been identified to enable collection of used cooking oil. For instance: McDonald’s has already started converting used cooking oil to biodiesel from 100 outlets in Mumbai and Pune. The regulator believes India has the potential to recover 220 crore litres of used cooking oil for the production of biodiesel by 2022 through a co-ordinated action.

ABOUT FSSAI It is a statutory body under Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 - itis the primary law for regulation of food products. This act also sets up the formulation and enforcement of food safety standards in India. The FSSAI appoints food safety authorities on the state level.

OXYTOCIN BAN

Doctors are already feeling the pinch with the government’s decision to ban oxytocin..

BACKGROUND

On 1 july, Government announced to ban import as well as production (except by KAP ltd.) of oxytocin and its formulations for the domestic market. It was intended to curb the hormone injection’s misuse in cattle.

ABOUT OXYTOCIN

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Often called the ‘love hormone’, oxytocin is released naturally in human bonding activities such as sex, childbirth and breastfeeding.

CONCERN

Known as a natural hormone, oxytocin helps in effective uterine contractions during labour and preventing post partum haemorrhage. While there are alternatives that one can use to stop bleeding post delivery, if any, for effective contractions, doctors say, oxytocin is the only option.

LIGO (LASER INTERFEROMETER GRAVITATIONAL WAVE OBSERVATORY)

IN NEWS The Environment Ministry has allowed scientists to test the suitability of land in Maharashtra’s Hingoli district to host the India wing of the ambitious Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory (LIGO) project.

WHAT IS LIGO

LIGO is the world's largest gravitational wave observatory and a cutting edge physics experiment. Comprising two enormous laser interferometers located thousands of kilometers apart, LIGO exploits the physical properties of light and of space itself to detect and understand the origins of gravitational waves.

WHAT IS LIGO INDIA

LIGO-India project is envisaged as an international collaboration between the LIGO Laboratory and three lead institutions in the IndIGO consortium: Institute of Plasma Research (IPR) Gandhinagar, Inter University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA), Pune and Raja Ramanna Centre for Advanced Technology (RRCAT),Indore. Indian scientists would provide the infrastructure to install the detector at a suitable site in India and would be responsible for commissioning it. The proposed observatory would be operated jointly by IndIGO and the LIGO-Lab and would form a single network along with the LIGO detectors in USA and Virgo in Italy.

IMPACT ON INDIAN SCIENCE

A major initiative like LIGO-India will further inspire frontier research and development projects in India. It will bring together scientists and engineers from different fields like optics, lasers, gravitational physics, astronomy and astrophysics, cosmology, computational science, mathematics and various branches of engineering. In order to fully realize the potential of multi-messenger astronomy, the LIGO-India project will join forces with several Indian astronomy projects.

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ENVIRONMENT

PROJECT ELEPHANT

Project Elephant (PE), a centrally sponsored scheme, was launched in February 1992 to provide financial and technical support to major elephant bearing States in the country for protection of elephants, their habitats and corridors. It also seeks to address the issues of human-elephant conflict and welfare of domesticated elephants.

OBJECTIVE

1. conservation and protection of viable population of wild elephants in their natural habitats in the country;

2. restoration of natural habitats and traditional corridors/migratory routes or movement paths used by the elephants, wherever necessary, through eco-restoration, acquisition etc;

3. ensuring safeguards against poaching and other threats.

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ACTIVITIES UNDER PROJECT ELEPHANT

1. Existing natural habitats and migratory routes of elephants are restored ecologically.

2. Scientific and planned management is being developed for conservation of elephant habitats and viable population of Wild Asiatic elephants in India to reduce man-elephant conflict in crucial habitats.

3. Promotional measures have been applied.

Till now 28 Elephant Reserves (ERs) extending over about 61830.08 sq km have been formally notified by various State Governments.

MONITORING OF ILLEGAL KILLING OF ELEPHANTS ( MIKE ) PROGRAMME

Mandated by COP resolution of CITES , MIKE program started in South Asia in the year 2003 with following purpose – To provide information needed for elephant range States to make appropriate management and enforcement decisions, and to build institutional capacity within the range States for the long-term management of their elephant populations.

INDIA'S FIRST GENETIC BANK FOR WILDLIFE CONSERVATION

BACKGROUND India’s one of a kind bank built for the conservation of wildlife was inaugurated at the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) Laboratory of Conservation of Endangered Species (LaCONES) in Hyderabad. OBJECTIVE

1. National Wildlife Genetic Resource bank has been started with the initiative of the revival and conservation of endangered and to-be extinct species in the near future.

2. This bank aims at the cryopreservation of living cell lines, embryos and gametes of various endangered species prevailing in India

3. This facility would also facilitate exchange of genetic material between Indian zoos for maintaining

genetic diversity and conservation management made accessible to scientists and wildlife managers for implementing conservation programmes.

ABOUT LaCONES

The LaCONES is a dedicated laboratory of the CSIR-Centre for CCMB, Hyderabad and the only institute in the country working towards conservation of endangered wildlife using modern biotechnologies to save endangered wildlife species of India.

WHAT IS GRB

Wildlife Genetic Resource Banking (GRB) is the systematic collection and preservation of tissues, sperm, eggs and embryos, genetic material (DNA/RNA).

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It is one of the promising options for future species management of threatened populations that also extends the reproductive life span of individuals beyond their life and prevents the loss of valuable individuals to the gene pool.

CORAL REEF AND GLOBAL WARMING

Scientists have found that coral-algal partnerships have endured numerous climate change events since the age of dinosaurs.

WHAT IS CORAL REEF

Coral reefs are large underwater structures composed of the skeletons of coral, which are marine invertebrate animals. The coral species that build coral reefs are known as hermatypic or"hard" corals because they extract calcium carbonate from seawater to create a hard, durable exoskeleton that protects their soft, sac-like bodies.

HOW THEY SURVIVE

The micro-algae, commonly called zooxanthellae, lives inside the cells of corals, allowing them to acquire energy from sunlight and to build the massive, economically valuable reef formations upon which countless marine organisms rely for habitat.

CONCERNS

Coral reefs are home to 25% of all marine life on the planet. In fact the variety of life supported by coral reefs rivals that of the tropical forests of the Amazon or New Guinea.

But without urgent action to address climate change, pollution, overfishing and other threats these beautiful and life-sustaining organisms could disappear.

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AIR POLLUTION IN INDIA

BACKGROUND As per a report, more than 660 million Indians live in areas that exceed the country’s standard for what is considered safe exposure to fine particulate pollution (PM 2.5).

WHAT DOES REPORT SUGGEST Researchers from the University of Chicago and Harvard Kennedy School have laid out five key evidence-based policy recommendations in a new report. The group’s recommendations include improving emissions monitoring by better aligning incentives of auditors, providing regulators with real-time data on polluters’ emissions, applying monetary charges for excess emissions, providing the public with information about polluters, and using markets to reduce abatement costs and pollution. AQLI EPIC-India researchers have developed the air quality life index (AQLI), a metric that provides a means to predict the overall reduction in life expectancy caused by living in places with high levels of air pollution.

CHILIKA LAKE WHY IN NEWS Green Nobel prize winner environmental activist Prafulla Samantara said his organisation Lok Shakti Abhiyan will oppose the proposed water aerodrome project in Chilika lake(Odisha). The major concern of the activists is that noise pollution will drive migratory birds away from the lake. ABOUT

1. It is Asia's largest brackish water lagoon. 2. It is separated from the Bay of Bengal by a 60 km long narrow strip of marshy islands and sand-flats. 3. Because of its rich bio-diversity and socio-economic importance, Chilika was designated as a

Ramsar site in 1981. 4. The Nalabana Island covering about 16 sq km in the lagoon area was declared a bird sanctuary in

1987. 5. Another major attraction at Chilika is Irrawady dolphins which are often spotted off Satpada Island.

BHITARKANIKA NATIONAL PARK(BNP)

IN NEWS The carcass of a seven feet long saltwater crocodile was found in Baitarani river near Bhitarkanika National Park. ABOUT THE BNP - Bhitarkanika National Park is a beautiful place, located in the Kendrapara district of the state of Odisha. The sanctuary is the second largest mangrove ecosystem in India.

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- Teak, Salaia, Bamboo, Hair, Babul, Zizphus, Kauriculata, Palas are the other significant flora of the region. - The park is home to the endangered saltwater crocodile, White crocodile, Indian python King Cobra, Black ibis and many other species of flora and Fauna. - The Park is also a prime habitat of leopard cat, fishing cat, jungle cat, hyena, wild boar, spotted deer, sambar, porcupine, dolphin, water monitor lizards etc.

KERALA FLOODS

IN NEWS The ongoing south-west monsoon has wreaked havoc in Kerala.

WHAT IS FLOOD A flood occurs when water overflows or inundates land that's normally dry. Excessive rain, a ruptured dam or levee, rapid ice melting in the mountains, or even an unfortunately placed beaver dam can overwhelm a river and send it spreading over the adjacent land, called a floodplain. Coastal flooding occurs when a large storm or tsunami causes the sea to surge inland.

REASONS BEHIND FLOODS IN KERALA

- This year, the south-west Monsoon brought three spells of rains to Kerala — first during mid-June, second during mid-July and the third in mid-August.

- The relentless rainfall in three successive spells meant that river water levels were increasing steadily. - As rainfall increased, the inflow of water to reservoirs also increased, swelling their storage levels. - The steep increase in inflows has led to storage levels in reservoirs nearing the maximum. - After storage levels peaked, the spills (excess water deliberately released from reservoirs) have

increased, flooding nearby places.

PREVENTION

Sea / Coastal Defence Walls - Sea walls and tide gates have been built in some places to prevent tidal waves from pushing the waters up ashore. Retaining walls - In some places, retaining walls levees, lakes, dams, reservoirs or retention ponds have been constructed to hold extra water during times of flooding. Town planning - It is important that builders acquire permission before buildings are erected. This will ensure that waterways are not blocked. Also, drainage systems must be covered and kept free from objects that chock them. Vegetation - Trees, shrubs and grass help protect the land from erosion by moving water. Detention basin - These are small reservoirs built and connected to waterways. They provide a temporary storage for floodwaters. This means in an event of flooding, water is drained into the basin first, giving people more time to evacuate. It can also reduce the magnitude of downstream flooding.

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MISCELLANEOUS

INDIA THIRD ASIAN NATION TO GET STA-1 STATUS FROM U.S.

BACKGROUND

India has become the third Asian country after Japan and South Korea to get the Strategic Trade Authorisation-1 (STA-1) status after the U.S. issued a federal notification to this effect.

India is the 37th country to be designated the STA-1 status by the United States.

U.S. has placed only those countries in the STA-1 list who are members of the four export control regimes: Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR), Wassenaar Arrangement (WA), Australia Group (AG) and the NSG.

WHAT IS STRATEGIC TRADE AUTHORISATION (STA)

STA allows for license exception with regards to exports from the US. This type of US government authorisation allows a certain item to be exported under defined conditions without a transaction-specific license.

IMPACT

India and the United States share an interest in countering China’s expanding economic and military weight and the United States has emerged as a top arms supplier to India, selling more than $15 billion of weapons over the past decade as New Delhi modernizes its Soviet-era military.

Looking at current exports from the US to India, 50% of those are eligible now under STA-1. This can free up $2.1 billion in trade, make US exporters more competitive in the global marketplace, help provide India more advanced US technology.

EASE OF LIVING INDEX

The Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry Monday released the results of its survey on the Ease of Living in cities across the country

WHAT’S ELI

The ministry studied quality of life in each city based on several parametres, including institutional (governance), social (identity, education, health, security), economic ( economy, employment) and physical (waste water and solid waste management, pollution, housing/ inclusiveness, mixed land use, power and water supply, transport, public open spaces) factors.

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Each parametre carried a weightage totaling 100 marks — institutional (25), social (25), physical (45) and economic (5). Based on this, the cities are given an overall rank. RESULT

There were 111 cities surveyed by the ministry. West Bengal refused to participate in the study. The top three cities were all in Maharashtra; Pune is ranked the highest, followed by Navi Mumbai and Greater Mumbai. The cities which were ranked the poorest were Patna, Kohima and Rampur in Uttar Pradesh. The index, which was conceived in 2017, is based on information from the 2011 Census.

NITI AAYOG LAUNCHES “PITCH TO MOVE”

WHAT IS IT

It is a mobility pitch competition that aims to provide budding entrepreneurs of India a unique opportunity to pitch their business ideas to industry leaders and Venture Capitalists for raising investments.

WHAT ARE THE AIMS

Pitch to MOVE aims to identify and incentivise the startups, which will help the Government realize its vision of Shared, Connected, Intermodal and Environment Friendly Mobility for India. The objective is to harness the latest disruption for generating employment and growth in our country.

ABOUT “PITCH TO MOVE”

“Pitch to MOVE” is organised by NITI Aayog in collaboration with Invest India and Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) as a part of a series of engaging featured events in the run up to the main event.

UNNAT BHARAT ABHIYAN 2.0

VISION

Unnat Bharat Abhiyan is inspired by the vision of transformational change in rural development processes by leveraging knowledge institutions to help build the architecture of an Inclusive India.

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MISSION

The Mission of Unnat Bharat Abhiyan is to enable higher educational institutions to work with the people of rural India in identifying development challenges and evolving appropriate solutions for accelerating sustainable growth.

It also aims to create a virtuous cycle between society and an inclusive academic system by providing knowledge and practices for emerging professions and to upgrade the capabilities of both the public and the private sectors in responding to the development needs of rural India.

GOALS

1. To build an understanding of the development agenda within institutes of Higher Education and an institutional capacity and training

2. Relevant to national needs, especially those of rural India.

3. To re-emphasize the need for field work, stake-holder interactions and design for societal objectives as the basis of higher education.

4. To stress on rigorous reporting and useful outputs as central to developing new professions.

IIT Delhi has been designated to function as the National Coordinating Institute for this program.

SWADESH DARSHAN SCHEME (SDS)

BACKGROUND

First project under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme the ‘North East Circuit: Imphal & Khongjom’ in Manipur inaugurated.

ABOUT SDS

Swadesh Darshan scheme is one of the flagship scheme of Ministry of tourism for development of thematic circuits in the country in a planned and prioritised manner.

Under the scheme ‘Swadesh Darshan’, the Ministry of Tourism provides Central Financial Assistance (CFA) to State Governments/Union Territory Administrations, for various tourism projects subject to availability of funds, liquidation of pending utilization certificates and adherence to the scheme guidelines. Under the Swadesh Darshan scheme, thirteen thematic circuits have been identified, for development. MANIPUR SITES The project covers two sites i.e. Kangla Fort and Khongjom. Kangla Fort is one of the most important historic and archaeological site of Manipur located in the heart of the Imphal city. It served as the seat of Manipur’s power till 1891.

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PRADHAN MANTRI JAN AROGYA ABHIYAAN (AYUSHMAN BHARAT)

WHY IN NEWS In his fifth Independence Day speech from the ramparts of Red Fort, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 15 announced that the government will launch the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Abhiyaan (Ayushman Bharat) on September 25 on the birth anniversary of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay.

ABOUT PMJAA

1. It will be launched on 25th September,2018.It aims to cover over 10 crore vulnerable families (approximately 50 crore beneficiaries) and provide health cover up to Rs 5 lakh per family per year.

2. According to the latest Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC) data, the scheme will target poor, deprived rural families and identified occupational category of urban workers’ families – 8.03 crore in rural and 2.33 crore in urban areas.

3. The government has decided not to put a cap on family size and age in ‘Ayushman Bharat’ scheme. The insurance scheme will cover pre and post-hospitalisation expenses.

4. The expenditure as premium payment will be shared by the Central and state governments in a specified ratio – 60:40 for all states and UTs with their own legislature, 90:10 in Northeast states and the three Himalayan states of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal and Uttarakhand.

GLOBAL LIVEABILITY INDEX

ABOUT

The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) publishes an annual Global Liveability Ranking, which ranks 140 cities for their urban quality of life based on assessments of stability, healthcare, culture and environment, education and infrastructure.

For the first time in this survey's history, Austria's capital, Vienna, ranks as the most liveable of the 140 cities surveyed by The Economist Intelligence Unit in 2018.

The Syrian capital, Damascus, was ranked the least liveable city of the 140 assessed in 2018, reflecting the effects of ongoing conflict in that country.

INDIA

South Asian countries including India have fared poorly in the ranking of the world's most liveable cities. For India, only New Delhi and Mumbai could make it to the list with:

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1. New Delhi at 112th position 2. Mumbai at 117th position

CASPIAN SEA AGREEMENT

WHY IN NEWS

Russia, Iran, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan - all bordering the Caspian Sea - have agreed in principle on how to divide Caspian Sea. Their leaders signed the Convention on the Legal Status of the Caspian Sea in the Kazakh city of Aktau. It establishes a formula for dividing up its resources and prevents other powers from setting up a military presence there.

BACKGROUND

The dispute is whether or not the 370,000 sq km body of landlocked water should be considered a lake. Until the dissolution of the Soviet Union (USSR) in 1991, that's what it was known as and shared between the USSR and Iran.

But the arrival on the scene of new countries complicated this issue, with ensuing claim and counterclaim.

Iran had argued it was a lake and not a sea, but none of the four other countries agreed. If it was treated as a sea, then it would be covered by international maritime law, namely the United Nations Law of the Sea. This binding document sets rules on how countries can use the world's oceans. It covers areas such as the management of natural resources, territorial rights, and the environment. And it is not limited to littoral

states, meaning others can seek access to its resources.

THE CONVENTION

The signed convention gives the body of water a "special legal status" which means it is not defined as a sea or a lake. The surface water will be in common usage, meaning freedom of access for all littoral states beyond territorial waters.

YOJANA - AUGUST (INDIA’S MMR NOW AT 130)

DEFINITION

MMR (Maternal Mortality Rate) is defined as number of maternal deaths from any cause related to or aggravated by pregnancy or its management (excluding accidental or incidental causes) during pregnancy or child birth or within 42 days of termination of pregnancy, irrespective of the duration or the site of the pregnancy, per 100,000 live births, for a specified period.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE ARTICLE

1. MMR is a reflection of the whole national health system and represents the outcome of its pros and cons with its other characteristics such as inter-sectoral collaboration, transparency and disparaties.

2. India has reduced MMR from 167/lakh live births in 2011-13 to 130/lakh live births 2017-18. This means every day, a 30 women are now being saved from pregnancy related deaths in India as compared to 2013.

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3. The top 3 states to contribute to this achievement are UP, Uttarakhand and Assam with more than 60 point decline in their MMRs.

4. India is on its way to achieve the SDG MMR target of 70/lakh live births as 3 of our states (Kerala, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu) have already achieved the same.

5. JANANI SURAKSHA YOJANA scheme is being implemented which has so far benefitted 1 crore pregnant women.

6. The JANANI SHISHU SURAKSHA KARYAKARAM ensures that every pregnant woman delivering at government health centres gets facilities like free drugs, medicines diagnostics, diet, delivery, caesarean section, to and fro transportation.

7. The PRADHAN MANTRI SURAKSHIT MATRITVA ABHIYAN was launched in 2016 to ensure quality antenatal care to pregnant women in the country on the 9th of every month and till date more than 1 crore ante natal check ups have been conducted.

8. The government needs to ensure adequate and safe supply of blood and blood components in government health centres. It also needs to form partnerships with states and development partners.

9. Our country is poised to achieve sustainable development goal for maternal mortality before the global target date of 2030.

MALNUTRITION IN INDIA

Malnutrition refers to deficiencies, excesses or imbalances in a person's intake of nutrients. Malnutrition covers under-nutrition and over-nutrition.

TYPES OF MALNUTRITION

The term malnutrition covers 2 broad groups of conditions. One is ‘under-nutrition’- which includes stunting (low height for age), wasting (low weight for height), underweight (low weight for age) and micronutrient deficiencies or insufficiencies (a lack of important vitamins and minerals). The other is overweight, obesity and diet-related non-communicable diseases (such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes and cancer).

CAUSES OF MALNUTRITION IN INDIA

Economic inequality- One of the major causes for malnutrition in India is economic inequality. Due to poverty people’s diet often lacks in both quality and quantity because of non-accessibility.

Poor Sanitation- UNICEF is recognizing the poor sanitation as one of the reasons for malnutrition. Because of poor sanitation situation, more people in India are exposed to bacteria.

STATUS OF MALNUTRITION IN INDIA

From NFHS-4 in 2015-16 (the latest available information), to the Global Nutrition Report 2016 and the Global Hunger Index (GHI) 2017, which ranks India at 100 out of 119 countries, with a low overall score of 31.4.

GOVERNMENT INITIATIVES TO REDUCE MALNUTRITION

National Nutrition Mission (NNM)- It will comprise mapping of various Schemes contributing towards addressing malnutrition, including a very robust convergence mechanism, ICT based Real Time Monitoring system, incentivizing States/UTs for meeting the targets, incentivizing Anganwadi Workers (AWWs) for

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using IT based tools, eliminating registers used by AWWs, introducing measurement of height of children at the Anganwadi Centres (AWCs), Social Audits, setting-up Nutrition Resource Centres, involving masses through Jan Andolan for their participation on nutrition through various activities, among others. NNM targets to reduce stunting, under-nutrition, anemia (among young children, women and adolescent girls) and reduce low birth weight by 2%, 2%, 3% and 2% per annum respectively.

National Nutrition Strategy (NNS)- NSS has been published by NITI Aayog in 2017 with a vision of “Kuposhan Mukt Bharat” by 2022. Targets- 3 point percentage / year reduction in underweight prevalence in children (0-3 years) by 2022 from NFHS-4 levels. 1/3rd reduction in anaemia in children, adolescent & Women of Reproductive Age (WRA).

Midday meal scheme in schools- It serves millions of children with fresh cooked meals in almost all the government run schools or schools aided by the government fund.

Integrated child development scheme (ICDS)- ICDS has been instrumental in improving the health of mothers and children under age 6 by providing health and nutrition education, health services, supplementary food, and pre-school education.

MAA (Mothers’ Absolute Affection) programme- In order to promote and support breastfeeding, Government has implemented ‘MAA’ programme to improve breastfeeding coverage and appropriate breastfeeding practices in the country.

CONCLUSION

Government should involve private sector to overhaul the capacity and capability in existing programmes aimed to reduce malnutrition. Government should promote sanitation, large-scale staple food fortification to address micro-nutrient deficiency, reduce taxes for nutritious food etc.

MOCK TEST

Q 1 Consider the following statements: 1. Wildlife Genetic Resource Banking is the systematic collection and preservation of tissues, sperm, eggs and embryos, genetic material. 2. The National Wildlife Genetic Resource Bank would facilitate exchange of genetic material between Indian zoos for maintaining genetic diversity and conservation management. Which of the above is/are correct? a) 1 only b) 2 only c) Both 1 and 2 d) Neither 1 nor 2 Q 2 Which of the following is not a likely outcome of Devaluation of Indian Currency with respect to US dollar? a) Increase in the Export of the country. b) Increased emphasis on import of raw material c) Increased emphasis on domestic production. d) More inflow of foreign tourists.

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Q. 3 : Which of the following statements is/are correct about Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Abhiyan ? 1. It is a health financing scheme with an insurance cover of Rs 5 lakh, which will cover 10 crore poor families. 2. Also known as Ayushman Bharat scheme it will be launched on 2nd October on Mahatma Gandhi’s birth anniversary. Choose the correct option. a) 1 only b) 2 only c) Both 1 and 2 d) Neither 1 nor 2 Q 4 : Which of the following statements is/are correct about Global Liveability Index? 1. It is published by Economist Intelligence Unit. 2. The index assigns cities scores on broad parameters like stability, healthcare, culture/environment, education, and infrastructure. Choose the correct option. a) 1 only b) 2 only c) Both 1 and 2 d) Neither 1 nor 2 Q.5 Which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. VVPAT allow voters to verify that their vote was cast correctly and detect possible election fraud or malfunction. 2. Counting of all votes is now done from VVPAT slips. Choose the correct answer: a) 1 only b) 2 only c) Both 1 and 2 d) Neither 1 nor 2 Q.6 Consider the following statements regarding the Chilika lake 1. Chilika Lake is a fresh water lagoon in the state of Odisha. 2. Chilika lake has been removed from the Ramsar Convention list. 3. It is included in the list of UNESCO world Heritage sites. Which of the above statements is/are correct regarding the Chilika lake? a) 1 and 3 only b) 1 and 2 only c) 2 only d) 3 only Q.7 Which of the following comprise ‘Stressed Assets’? 1. Non-performing Assets 2. Restructured Loans 3. Written off Assets Select the correct answer using the code below: a) 1 and 2 only

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b) 1 only c) 2 and 3 only d) All of the above Q.8 The justice A.R. Dave panel had been set up by SEBI to look into which of the following matters? a) Consent mechanism of SEBI for settling matters related to tax benefits. b) Corporate Governance reforms c) Alternative Investment Funds d) Regulating crowd funding Q.9 Consider the following statements regarding the LIGO project 1. The LIGO project is related to detection of Infrared waves. 2. The LIGO project operates only 3 detectors in the world. 3. From India, the participants in the project are the Department of Atomic Energy and Department of Science and Technology. Which of the above statement/s is/are correct regarding the LIGO project? a) 1 and 2 only b) 2 and 3 only c) 3 only d) 1 only Q.10 Bhitarkanika National park is situated in which of the following states? a) Rajasthan b) West Bengal c) Odisha d) Himachal Pradesh Q.11 Consider the following statements regarding the festival of Nowruz 1. Nowruz is the Persian new Year celebration. 2. Nowruz is included in the Intangible cultural heritage of India. Which of the above statement/s is/are correct regarding the festival of Nowruz? a) 1 only b) 2 only c) Both 1 and 2 d) Neither 1 nor 2 Q.12 Which of the following can be the possible consequences of a weak rupee against dollar? 1. Increase in exports. 2. Increase in petroleum oil prices. 3. Decrease in valuation of remittances to India. 4. Increase of import prices of goods. Select the correct answer using the code below: a) All of the above b) 1,2 and 4 only c) 1,2 and 3 only d) 2 and 4 only Q.13 In a coral reef, what kind of relationship is seen between corals and zooxanthellae? a) Parasitism b) Mutualism

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c) Commensalism d) Predation Q. 14 India’s financial assistance has increased consistently to which of the following SAARC countries since 2013? a) Afghanistan b) Tajikistan c) Myanmar d) Maldives Q.15 Consider the following statements regarding e-cigarettes 1. E-cigarette works by heating a liquid to generate an aerosol, commonly called a vapor that the user inhales. 2. The WHO has encouraged countries to promote use of e-cigarettes as it may help reduce smoking habit in people. Which of the above statement/s is/are correct regarding e-cigarettes? a) 1 only b) 2 only c) Both 1 and 2 d) Neither 1 nor 2 Q.16 Consider the following statements regarding the devaluation of currency 1. The only reason for devaluation of currency is to increase the exports. 2. India has devalued its currency two times since independence. Which of the above statement/s is/are correct with regard to devaluation of currency? a) 1 only b) 2 only c) Both 1 and 2 d) Neither 1 nor 2 Q.17 Consider the following statements regarding the Competition Commission of India 1. The Competition Commission of India is a statutory body. 2. The idea of Competition Commission was conceived and introduced in the form of The Competition Act, 2002. 3. The Competition Commission of India lies outside the purview of RTI. Which of the above statement/s is/are correct regarding the CCI? a) 1 and 2 only b) 2 and 3 only c) 1 and 3 only d) All of the above Q.18 There is a proposal to increase the number of seats in the Sikkim Assembly. Which of the following are correct with respect to this matter? 1. The approval for the proposal will be provided by the Cabinet committee on Political Affairs. 2. The increase in number of seats will give representation to some tribal groups in the assembly. 3. The Election Commission of India will be assigned the work of assigning new constituencies. Select the correct answer using the code below: a) 1 and 3 only b) 2 and 3 only c) 1 and 2 only

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d) All of the above Q.19 Operation ‘ Madad’ is related to which of the following? a) Rescue mission of India for Rohingyas in Myanmar b) Rescue mission by the Indian navy after tsunami in India. c) Mission to provide food and medicines to poor people in Sudan. d) Disaster relief operations by Indian navy in Kerala. Q. 20 Consider the following statements regarding the Periyar river 1. Periyar river is a tributary of the Ganga. 2. The Idduki Dam is built on the Periyar river. 3. The Periyar river flows through the state of Kerala only. Which of the above statement/s is/are correct regarding the Periyar river? a) 2 only b) 2 and 3 only c) All of the above d) 3 only ANSWERS :

1. C 2. B 3. A 4. C 5. A 6. C 7. D 8. A 9. B 10. C 11. C 12. B 13. B 14. D 15. A 16. B 17. A 18. C 19. D 20. A

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