CONTENT Pg.No. Peace Dividend: Still a Mirage Cover Story ...€¦ · 6.9 Implementation Guidelines of Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana 115 6.10 NITI Aayog launches the National

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CONTENT Pg.No.

Peace Dividend: Still a Mirage – Cover Story

1.ECONOMY

1.1. ADB plans to raise annual lending to India to $4 billion 1 1.2 BSNL mobile tower assets to be hived off into separate company 1 1.3 CBDT signs 4 more Advance Pricing Agreements 2 1.4Centre announces new PPP Policy to promote private investments in affordable housing

2

1.5 FTSE SBI Bond Index: India‟s first bond index series 4 1.6 Government launches negotiable warehousing receipts in e-format 4 1.7 Govt launches online facility to resolve foreign trade issues 5 1.8 GSTN reopens window for composition scheme 5 1.9 India Ranked 40th On World Economic Forum‟s Global Competitiveness Index

6

1.10 India-European FTA talks this month 8 1.11 India's first spot gold exchange 8 1.12 Inter-bank Local Currency Credit Line Agreement and Cooperation Memorandum relating to Credit Ratings

9

1.13 Ministry of DoNER invites young start-ups to avail Northeast Venture Fund

10

1.14 NITI Aayog constitutes Expert Task Force on Employment & Exports 11 1.15 NITI Aayog, International Road Federation ink SoI for Intelligent Transportation Systems

12

1.16 No move to fix national minimum wage at Rs. 18,000/month: Govt 12 1.17 Peer-to-peer lending platforms to be treated as NBFCs 14 1.18 PM Modi constitutes Economic Advisory Council headed by Bibek Debroy 16 1.19 Rajaswa Gyan Sangam – 2017 16 1.20 RBI includes HDFC Bank in the „too big to fail‟ list 17 1.21 Review of FSI/FAR norms in mega cities 18 1.22 SAIL‟s retail sales gets boost with SAIL‟s Gaon ki Ore campaign 19 1.23 SEBI eases fundraising norms for REITs, InvITs 19 1.24 The lowdown on the petrol pricing policy 21

1.25 Third round of NAFTA talks 22

1.26 TRAI recommends delicensing of some spectrum for M2M services 23 1.27 UGC invites applications from institutes seeking „Institutions of Eminence‟ status

24

1.28 UJALA scheme launched in Melaka, Malaysia 25

2. NATIONAL

2.1 “Dairy Processing & Infrastructure Development Fund” 27 2.2 5 September: National Teachers Day 28 2.3 Ahmedabad gets status of India‟s first World Heritage City by UNESCO 28




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2.4 All set for NIRF ranking exercise next year 29 2.5 APEDA develops mobile app- Hortinet- for farm registration, certification 30 2.6 Army to induct women into military police soon to probe gender crimes 32 2.7 Assam Assembly adopts resolution for Population Policy 33 2.8 Assam forms „State Capital Region‟ around Guwahati 34 2.9 Bharat Petroleum set to get Maharatna status 34 2.10 BSF, ITBP chiefs stress on need for technology in border management 36 2.11 Cabinet approves Extension of time period of Udaan 37 2.12 Commemorative Coins on Dr. M.S. Subbulakshmi 37 2.13 Committee to advise on RERA 38 2.14 Deendayal Hastkala Sankul 38 2.15 Diamond Jubilee celebrations of Directorate General of Quality Assurance 39 2.16 FarmerZone: The future of agriculture 39

2.17 FSSAI launches online platform for food inspection, sampling 40 2.18 Government Checking Report On Law To Deal With Internet Hate Speech 41 2.19 Govt launches Pradhan Mantri LPG Panchayat to boost PMUY 42 2.20 Graded Surveillance Measure 43 2.21 Health Ministry launches two new contraceptives 44 2.22 Home Ministry team to study risks faced by border villages 45 2.23 India and Norway sign Letter of Intent to extend health cooperation 46 2.24 India introduces no-fly list for unruly passengers 47 2.25 India will soon grant citizenship to Chakma, Hajong refugees 48 2.26 INS Kalvari, First Indian Scorpene Submarine, Handed Over to Navy 49 2.27 INS Tarasa commissioned into Indian Navy 50

2.28 Japan teams up with India for Northeast 51

2.29 Japan to fund mass rapid transit systems in Gujarat, Haryana 52 2.30 Kandla Port renamed as Deendayal Port 53 2.31 Karnataka govt invokes ESMA against garbage contractors 53 2.32 Ministry of AYUSH 54 2.33 Multi-Agency Exercise „Pralay Sahayam‟ 54 2.34 National Nutrition Week 2017 55 2.35 Navika Sagar Parikrama 56 2.36 On his 67th birthday, PM Modi dedicates Sardar Sarovar Narmada Dam to the nation

58

2.37 President Kovind lays foundation stone for Link-4 of SAUNI scheme 58 2.38 Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhayay Vigyan Gram Sankul Pariyojana 59 2.39 Sashastra Seema Bal to get intelligence wing 60 2.40 Shaheed Gram Vikas Yojana launched 62 2.41 Sitharaman becomes India‟s first full-time woman defence minister 62 2.42 UN Security Council Unanimously Steps Up Sanctions Against North Korea

62

2.43 Vijay Mallya: Law Ministry okays draft bill on fugitive economic offenders 64 2.44 Workshop on implementation of Emergency Action Plan for Dams held 65

3. INDIA AND WORLD

3.1 12th Indo-Nepal Joint Exercise Surya Kiran 67 3.2 2nd India-Afghanistan Strategic Partnership Council held in New Delhi 67 3.3 9th BRICS summit adopts Xiamen Declaration 68 3.4 Cabinet approves Bilateral Investment Treaty between India and Belarus 69 3.5 China Wants India To Go Slow On Asia-Africa Corridor 69




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3.6 CSIR ranked 9th public research institution of the world 70 3.7 Govt to strengthen „Korea Plus‟ cell to strengthen FDI from S.Korea 71 3.8 India and China need to demarcate LAC 71 3.9 India refuses to sign Bali Declaration over Rohingya issue 73 3.10 India to attend 2nd Indian Ocean Conference (IOC) 2017 73 3.11 India, Switzerland sign two MoUs on Railways 74 3.12 India-Japan sign open sky agreement, fares may come down 74 3.13 INDO-USA Joint Exercise Yudh Abhyas –2017 75 3.14 Operation Insaniyat 75 3.15 U.S. ends amnesty scheme for young immigrants 76

4. INTERNATIONAL

4.1 27 September: World Tourism Day 78 4.2 28th September: World Maritime Day 78 4.3 5 banks of BRICS nations sign pact for credit lines 79 4.4 50 nations ink UN nuclear ban treaty opposed by big powers 79 4.5 8th September: International Literacy Day 80 4.6 Saudi Arabia women hail end of driving ban 81 4.7 Chennai-Vladivostok sea route to make it near East 82 4.8 Fiji, Niger, Tuvalu join International Solar Alliance 836 4.9 Former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon elected as Chair of the IOC Ethics Commission

84

4.10 Hasina floats five-point peace plan 84 4.11 Undersea line from Iran to port cheap gas 86 4.12 India at 103 rank on Global Human Capital Index 86 4.13 India reluctant to join Hague Convention 88 4.14 India Signs Deal with JICA to Upgrade Alang-Sosiya Shipyards 88 4.15 India, China petition WTO against trade-distorting farm subsidies 89 4.16 India-Sri Lanka joint maritime naval exercise – SLINEX 2017 90 4.17 Merkel wins fourth term 90 4.18 Rohingya children to get UNHCR cards in Bengal 91 4.19 Uninhabited Lakshadweep island Parali I vanishes, 4 others shrinking fast: study

92

4.20 Uttarakhand to bring special heritage law 93 4.21 VASTRA 2017 94 4.22 World Development Report 2018 95

5. POLITICAL ISSUES, HUMAN RIGHTS AND GOVERNANCE

5.1 Cabinet approves introduction of the Payment of Gratuity (Amendment) Bill, 2017 in the Parliament

96

5.2 Cabinet approves pact to collaborate in modernization of Afghan police 96 5.3 Cabinet approves Revamped Khelo India Programme 97 5.4 Cabinet approves umbrella scheme of Modernisation of Police Forces 98 5.6 Karnataka Cabinet clears anti-superstition bill 99 5.7 Private member‟s bill proposes MPs also declare assets after term ends 100 5.8 Refugees go to SC against Article 35A 101 5.9 SC to hear Rohingya plea for help 102 5.9 Sports Ministry approves empowered steering committee for Olympic preparation

104

5.10 States will have to compete for central projects 105 5.11 Supreme Court for open air jails, better treatment for prisoners 106




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5.12 VVPAT to be used in Gujarat polls 107

6. SOCIAL ISSUES AND DEVELOPMENT

6.1 „PENCIL‟ Portal On Child Labour Elimination 109 6.2 Bharat ke Kaushalzaade‟ 109 6.3 CARA launches monthly “Jan Sampark” Program to facilitate adoption 111 6.4 Diksha Portal 111 6.5 Disability pension for defence forces to be on par with civilians 112 6.6 Divyang Sarathi mobile app for disabled launched 113 6.7 Gorakhpur, Koraput and Thane to launch Zero Hunger Programme 113 6.8 Govt data shows India‟s infant mortality rate has declined 8% 114 6.9 Implementation Guidelines of Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana 115 6.10 NITI Aayog launches the National Nutrition Strategy 116 6.11 NITI Aayog‟s SATH Program launched in Assam 116 6.12 PM launches Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana “Saubhagya” 117 6.13 Tribes India products to be sold on Amazon 118 6.14 Welfare and Rehabilitation Board (WARB) Mobile App 118

7. ENVIRONMENT

7.1 „BIMSTEC Disaster Management Exercise- 2017‟ 119 7.2 “Wood is Good” Campaign 119 7.3 13th Formation Day of the National Disaster Management Authority 120 7.4 16 September: International Day for Preservation of Ozone Layer 121 7.5 A „Boat Lab‟ to study Brahmaputra 121 7.6 A new species of non-venomous aquatic snake discovered in Western Ghats 122 7.7 All states gain if rivers linked through waterways: Expert 123 7.8 Cabinet approves survey of Un-appraised Areas of Sedimentary Basins of India

124

7.9 CGWB enters into MoA with IIS for development of ground water flow models

125

7.10 CPCB issues guidelines to manage odour at urban solid waste landfills 125 7.11 Environment ministry notifies new wetland rules 126 7.12 In a first, govt to run safety checks on 5,000 big dams 128 7.13 Mouse deer released in Amrabad Reserve for the first time 129 7.14 New species of edible fish found in Pampa river 130 7.15 NGT paves way for Chardham highway project 132 7.16 Prakriti Khoj 133 7.17 Snow leopards no longer endangered for first time in 45 years 133 7.18 Social media campaign to promote Geographical Indications 134 7.19 ZSI produces first compendium of animal diversity in the Sundarban islands

135

7.20 Swachhta Hi Seva campaign 137 7.21 Tigers to make a comeback in Buxa reserve 138

7.22 Uttarakhand ropes in HNB Garhwal University students to clean Ganga 139

7.23 VNL, BSNL launch disaster management service in India 140

8. SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

8.1 4th gravitational wave detected by LIGO, Virgo observatory 142 8.2 Andhra Pradesh to get India‟s first Hyperloop 143 8.3 Breakthrough Listen detects 15 radio bursts from a distant galaxy 144 8.4 C N R Rao chosen for 2017 Von Hippel Award 145 8.5 Asteroid-bound NASA spacecraft Osiris-Rex swings by Earth 145




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8.6 CARB-X (Combating Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria Biopharmaceutical Accelerator)

146

8.7 CERT-In issues alert on „Locky Ransomware‟ 147 8.8 Considering to extend FAME-India scheme 148 8.9 CSIR‟s artificial leaf creates fuel from sunlight, water 148 8.10 DRDO successfully test fires „Fire and Forget‟ Nag missile 149 8.11 Google Tez 150 8.12 India gets first state-of-the-art homoeopathy research lab 150 8.13 India joins quantum computing race 150 8.14 India‟s Mars Orbiter Mission completes 3 years in orbit 151 8.15 Indian Nobel Laureate's theory confirmed: Regulus star spinning fast at crazy 320 kmps, emits polarised light

152

8.16 Indigenous artillery gun – „ATAGS‟ sets new record in range 153 8.17 ISRO‟s IRNSS 1H satellite launch fails 153 8.18 NASA‟s Cassini completes last flyby of Saturn‟s moon Titan 155 8.19 Pluto mountains named after Tenzing Norgay, Edmund Hillary 156 8.20 Scientists create world‟s first „molecular robot‟ 158 8.21 Scientists make fuel from oxygen in air 159 8.22 Scientists map lunar water with data from Chandrayaan-1 159 8.23 Successful Development Trials of Astra Missile 161 8.24 Sun and sea water powers vegetable farms in Jordan 162 8.25 World‟s first quantum trunk line 162 8.26 World‟s biggest and powerful X-ray laser gun unveilded 163 8.27 TRAPPIST-1 planets likely to have water 163 8.28 Ultra-thin craft may wrap and destroy space junk 164 8.29 Wheat pathogen Ug99 167


RajasirIAS Peace Dividend: Still a Mirage OCTOBER - 2017


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Peace Dividend: Still a Mirage

Diplomacy is in retreat, with the world arms trade reaching a new, post-Cold War high—resulting

in increasing security treats—and the huge inflow of migrants from the conflict zones. On the other

hand, the significant initiatives by United Nations on achieving the Sustainable Development Goals by

2030 and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change to restrict global warming provide some rays of

hope. As a part of its peace operations, the UN Security Council has introduced a WPS (women, peace

and security) agenda to explore the potential of women in peace-building and also to protect women and

girls in conflict. In addition to that, 62 multilateral peace operations were conducted in 2016—

including efforts by the UN, regional organisations and ad hoc coalitions of states. In this mixed global

scenario, can peace, security and development initiatives with stand the global arms race, especially when

arms trade has just hit its post-Cold War peak?.

According to the World Military Expenditure Report released by the Stockholm International

Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) in early 2017, global defence spending has risen for the first time

since 2011, with the world spending $1.68 trillion on arms in 2016. This is in contrast to the trend in world

military expenditure after 2011—after increasing continuously from 1998 to 2011, it had begun to plateau.

It is also significant to note that India is one among the top five military powers in the world in terms

of defence spending, behind the the US, China, Russia and Saudi Arabia. While the international

transfer of arms has been growing, transparency in arms-transfer has been declining, SIPRI notes.

While the global military spending in 2016 was 2.2% of the world GDP, India spends around 2.5%

of its GDP on military needs. Military spending in Asia and Oceania has risen by 4.6% in 2016 as

compared to 2015, and now stands at $450 billion. The ongoing tensions in Asia—more specifically,

between India & Pakistan and India & China—lets governments justify the need to modernise existing

capabilities and also increase military expenditure. Even so, US military-spending is almost three times

that of China. Coming back to global arms trade, India was the top-ranked arms importer during 2012-

2016. The other countries following India in the list of arms importers are Saudi Arabia, UAE, China and

Algeria. Due to the demand from India, Saudi Arabia and other countries in Asia and Middle East, the

international transfer of arms has reached its highest level since the Cold War. The volume of world

arms trade was 8.4% higher in 2012-16 than in the 2007-11period. During the 2012-16 period, the US and

Russia produced more than half of the world’s arms.

India, the biggest importer of arms in the world, alone accounted for 13% of the total global arms

imports in 2012-16. The rise in Indian imports is mainly due to the inability of the Indian arms industry to

produce competitive, indigenously-designed weapons, despite the government mounting efforts under

its Make-in-India initiative for the defence production sector. The major supplies come from Russia and

China. The Asia and Oceania region together imported around 43% of global arms traded due to

turbulence in the South China Sea.


RajasirIAS Peace Dividend: Still a Mirage OCTOBER - 2017


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As per SIPRI data, the US exported 33% of the arms traded, making it the biggest exporter of arms in

2012-16 period in the world. The other countries at the top are Russia (23 %), China (6.2%), France

(6%) and Germany (5.6%). These five countries accounted for approximately 75% of international

transfer of arms. What determines defence spending? The perceptions of security and armed conflict are

not the sole factors that determine the size of the defence budget. Recently, oil price has also become a

significant factor in determining the size of the defence budget. The oil-price slump has compelled oil-

exporting countries to cut their national budgets, including for defence, as oil revenues form 80% of their

budgets. Saudi Arabia has downsized military spending not as a result of economic diplomacy, but as an

offshoot of aggregate reduction in expenditure budget due to plummeting oil prices.

SIPRI researchers have highlighted that there is no evidence that increasing defence spending can

lead to greater political and economic stability. The compelling questions here are what role does the

State play in ensuring peace and resilience, and which kind of public expenditure—spending on a

“security state” or on a “development state”—are most relevant for economic growth and

development. What is the plausible link between defence spending and economic growth? A recent

study, titled Fiscal Policy, Innovation and Economic Growth: An Empirical Analysis of G20

Countries, published by Levy Economics Institute of Bard College, New York (by Horst Hanusch, Lekha

Chakraborty and Swati Khurana), revealed that in the context of G20 countries, for the period 2000-2012,

innovation and R&D spending and public spending on human capital formation (especially health and

education) mattered more for economic growth than the defence spending.

The 2017 Munich Security Conference “Post-Truth, Post-West, Post-Order” has painted a bleak

picture, flagging that the international security environment is highly volatile than any other time since

World War II. As rightly highlighted by Wolfgang Ischiner, the Chairman of Munich Security Conference

(MSC), “international security is increasingly a problem and an opportunity”; We hope the world

leaders will consider the crises to fuite en avant (“escape forward” as the French say, and as noted by

former national security adviser Shivshankar Menon in his recent book, Choices: Inside the Making of

India’s Foreign Policy), seeing the “challenges as opportunities” to catalyse policies that are politically

difficult to achieve in normal times and reap the peace dividend. Source – Financial Express


RajasirIAS OCTOBER - 2017


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1. ECONOMY

1.1. ADB plans to raise annual lending to India to $4 billion

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has decided to raise its annual lending to India from an average

$2.65 billion per year at present to $4 billion per year during 2018-22 to help propel Asia‘s third largest

economy towards upper middle-income status.

The proposal was endorsed at new ADB Country Partnership Strategy (CPS) for 2018-2022.

ADB‘s programme in India will focus on three main pillars of activity during the 5-year period —

boosting economic competitiveness to create more and well-paid jobs, improved access to infrastructure

and services, and addressing climate change and improving climate resilience.

The planned lending level, which includes private sector operations, compares with an average of $2.65

billion a year in loans extended in the period 2012-2016.

Financing will also go for public sector management, agriculture, natural resources and rural

development as well as skills development and urban health.

The new lending will be complemented by technical assistance to undertake strategic studies, build

capacities and prepare projects.

ADB said it will also explore co-financing opportunities, including climate funds for relevant projects.

1.2 BSNL mobile tower assets to be hived off into separate company

The Union Cabinet has approved proposal for hiving off mobile tower assets of Bharat Sanchar Nigam

Limited (BSNL) into a separate tower infrastructure company, fully owned by BSNL.

Significance of the move

The Cabinet approval authorizes BSNL to monetize its telecom tower infrastructure with formation of

separate subsidiary company.

Independent, dedicated tower company of BSNL with a focused approach will help to increase BSNL‘s

external tenancies and generate higher revenue for new company.

Tower Infrastructure Company

The tower infrastructure company owns passive infrastructure assets (tower structure, Diesel Generator

sets, power interface unit, battery units, air-conditioning etc) and leases it to telecom service providers.

It enables telecom companies to achieve economies of scale and reduce capital investment costs for

providing mobile services.

It helps them to minimize duplication of investments and economize on costs of Operation and

Maintenance (O&M), thereby improving profitability.

There are around 4.42 lakh mobile towers in country out of which more than 66 thousand are of BSNL.

The telecom tower industry has emerged as independent business to harness potential for sharing of

infrastructure.




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The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) policy also allows sharing of passive infrastructure

which has facilitated growth of the telecom infrastructure industry.

1.3 CBDT signs 4 more Advance Pricing Agreements

The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has entered into four more Advance Pricing Agreements

(APAs), pertaining to sectors like telecom, banking, manufacturing and education in August 2017.

Out of these four agreements, three were unilateral and one was bilateral.

The bilateral APA was for international transactions between an Indian company and UK-based

company.

With this, total number of APAs entered into

by CBDT has reached 175. This includes 162

unilateral APAs and 13 bilateral APAs.

APA scheme

The APA scheme was introduced in the

Income-tax Act in 2012 and the ―Rollback‖

provisions were introduced in 2014.

The scheme endeavours to provide certainty to

taxpayers in the domain of transfer pricing by

specifying the methods of pricing and setting

the prices of international transactions in

advance.

Since its inception, the APA scheme has attracted tremendous interest and that has resulted in more

than 700 applications (both unilateral and bilateral) having been filed in just four years.

APA scheme

The progress of the APA Scheme strengthens the Government‘s mission of fostering a non-adversarial

tax regime.

An Advance Pricing Agreement (APA) is a contract, usually for multiple years, between a taxpayer and

at least one tax authority (CBDT) specifying the pricing method that the taxpayer will apply to its

related-company transactions.

These programmes are designed to help taxpayers voluntarily resolve actual or potential transfer pricing

disputes in a proactive, cooperative manner, as an alternative to the traditional examination process.

1.4Centre announces new PPP Policy to promote private investments in affordable housing

With the aim of attracting private players in the affordable housing sector to meet the ‗housing for all‘

target by 2022, the government has unfolded a new public-private partnership (PPP) policy that allows

extending central assistance up to Rs 2.5 lakh per house built by private builders, even on private land.




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The policy also envisages opening up potential for private investments in affordable housing projects on

government land in urban areas.

With the new policy in place, it is expected that the private sector will actively participate.

The policy gives eight PPP options for the private sector to invest in the affordable housing sector.

Eight PPP options, including six for promoting affordable housing with private investments using

government lands have been evolved after extensive consultations with States, promoter bodies and

other stakeholders.

Two models using private lands

The two PPP models for private investments in affordable housing on private lands include extending

central assistance of about Rs.2.50 lakh per each house as interest subsidy on bank loans as upfront

payment under the Credit Linked Subsidy Component (CLSS) component of Pradhan Mantri Awas

yojana (Urban).

Under the second option, central assistance of Rs.1.50 lakh per each house to be built on private lands

would be provided, in case the beneficiaries do not intend to take bank loans.

The six models using government lands are

1. DBT Model: Under this option, private builders can design, build and transfer houses built on

government lands to public authorities. Government land is to be allocated based on the least cost of

construction. Payments to builders will be made by the public authority based on progress of project as

per agreed upon milestones and buyers will pay to the Government.

2. Mixed Development Cross –subsidized Housing: Government land to be allotted based on number

of affordable houses to be built on the plot offered to private builders, cross subsidizing this segment

from revenues from high end house building or commercial development.

3. Annuity Based Subsidized Housing: Builders will invest against deferred annuity payments by the

Government. Land allocation to builders is based on unit cost of construction.

4. Annuity-cum-Capital Grant Based Affordable Housing: Besides annuity payments, builders could

be paid a share of project cost as upfront payment.

5. Direct Relationship Ownership Housing: As against government mediated payments to builders and

transfer of houses to beneficiaries in the above four models, under this option, promoters will directly

deal with buyers and recover costs. Allocation of public land is based on unit cost of construction.

6. Direct Relationship Rental Housing: Recovery of the costs by builders is through rental incomes

from the houses built on government lands.

Under these six Government land based PPP models, beneficiaries can avail central assistance of Rs.1.00

to Rs.2.50 lakh per house as provisioned under different components of PMAY(Urban). Beneficiaries

will be identified as per the norms of PMAY (Urban).




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Concerns have been expressed over the private sector so far not entering affordable housing segment

despite huge scope for the same under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana(Urban) and an enabling eco-system

put in place through several concessions and incentives offered including the grant of infrastructure

status for this segment.

1.5 FTSE SBI Bond Index: India‘s first bond index series

State Bank of India (SBI) launched India‘s first bond index series, the FTSE SBI Bond Index

Series, for overseas investors at the London Stock Exchange (LSE).

The launch of this index aims to give people a benchmark based on which they can make investment

calls

The FTSE SBI Bond Index Series is launched by India‘s largest commercial bank- SBI, along with global

index and data provider FTSE Russell.

The Index is positioned as a first-of-its-kind transparent benchmark for investors in international

markets to analyse India‘s government bond market.

Indian government bond market is worth around $1.7 trillion.

Prior to launch of FTSE SBI Bond Index, the bond market was not having any reliable international

indices on which international investors can invest in the country. Investors are eager to invest in India,

but lacked enough depth in terms of the various types of bond products.

1.6 Government launches negotiable warehousing receipts in e-format

The Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution launched web portal of Warehousing

Development and Regulatory Authority (WDRA) & Electronic Negotiable Warehouse Receipt (e-NWR)

System under Digital India mission.

Negotiable Warehouse Receipts (NWRs)

NWRs are documents issued by warehouses to depositors against commodities deposited in warehouses

for which warehouse is bailee.

They are transferred by endorsement and delivery i.e. either original depositor or holder in due course

(transferee) can claim commodities from warehouse.

NWRs can be traded, sold, swapped and used as collateral to support borrowing or loans from banks.

These receipts were made negotiable under Warehouse (Development and Regulation) Act, 2007 and

are regulated by Warehousing Development and Regulatory Authority (WDRA).

Significance of e-NWR

e-NWR will have no chances of any tempering, mutilation, fudging, loss or damage and also no

possibility of any multiple financing.

It will not only facilitate an easy pledge financing by banks and other financial institutions but also

smooth trading on various trading centres like commodity exchanges, electronic National Agriculture

Markets (e-NAM) and other electronic platforms.




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e-NWR will also help to save expenditure in logistics as stocks could be traded through multiple buyers

without physical movement and can be even split for partial transfer or withdrawal.

Significance of these initiatives

Initiatives like WDRA and e-NWR aim at simplifying Warehouse Registration Rules, digitizing entire

process of registration, monitoring and surveillance as well as creation and management of NWRs in

electronic form through two repositories.

These initiatives will revolutionise marketing of agricultural commodities and help farmers realize better

price for their produce which will be step towards doubling farmers‘ income by 2022.

The whole purpose of simplifying processes and moving towards online system will enhance WDRA‘s

regulatory functions and bring greater fiduciary trust among banks, depositors and trade on e-NWR

system.

1.7 Govt launches online facility to resolve foreign trade issues

The Union government has set up an online service facility, Contact@DGFT, which can be used by

importers and exporters to resolve all foreign trade-related issues.

The facility was activated on Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) website.

It will enable traders to raise all trade related matters to Directorate or other agencies of Centre and

States.

To ensure systematic monitoring and effective resolution of issues, DGFT has requested exporters and

importers to not to send their queries through social media platforms and use Contact@DGFT service

instead.

Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) is nodal agency responsible for execution of import and

export Policies of India.

It is entrusted with responsibilities for formulating and implementing foreign trade policy with main

objective of promoting India‘s exports.

It comes under the Union Ministry of Commerce and Industries.

1.8 GSTN reopens window for composition scheme

The GST Network (GSTN) has reopened composition scheme window facility for small taxpayers with

turnover of up to Rs.75 lakh to opt for composition scheme, which offers easy compliance for business

as returns are to be filed only quarterly.

The window will be open for those taxpayers who have migrated from earlier excise, service tax or VAT

regime as well as for the newly registered taxpayers.

GSTN

The GSTN is a private limited company floated to aid the rollout of the new indirect tax regime.




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The company will provide information technology support to all stakeholders for smooth

implementation of the new taxation regime across the country and will be the repository of all

information related to taxation and entities registered under GST.

The majority (51%) shareholding in the firm is with private entities including HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank

and LIC among others. The central government, jointly with state governments and Union Territories,

own 49% in the company.

Composition scheme

The composition scheme is an alternative method of levy of tax designed for small taxpayers whose

turnover is up to Rs 75 lakh — Rs 50 lakh in the case of eight north-eastern states and the hilly state of

Himachal Pradesh.

The objective behind it is to bring simplicity and reduce the compliance cost for small taxpayers.

The scheme is optional under which manufacturers other than those of ice cream, pan masala and

tobacco products have to pay a 2% tax on their annual turnover. The tax rate is 5% for restaurant

services and 1% for traders.

As per the Central GST Act, businesses are eligible to opt for the composition scheme if a person is not

engaged in any inter-state outward supplies of goods and not into making any supply of goods through

an electronic commerce operator who is required to collect tax at source.

While a regular taxpayer has to pay taxes on a monthly basis, a composition supplier is required to file

only one return and pay taxes on a quarterly basis. Also, a composition taxpayer is not required to keep

detailed records that a normal taxpayer is supposed to maintain.

1.9 India Ranked 40th On World Economic Forum‘s Global Competitiveness Index

India has been ranked as the 40th most competitive

economy – slipping one place from last year‘s ranking –

on the World Economic Forum‘s global competitiveness

index.

India has slipped by one position compared to 39th spot

in 2016 GCI.

Global Competitiveness Index (GCI)

The GCI released by the World Economic Forum

(WEF) is one of the major studies which indicate how a

country scores in the scale of global competitiveness.

The index is calculated by aggregating indicators across 12

pillars in the report which covers both business and social

indicators.




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These 12 pillars or indicators directly or indirectly impact the competitiveness of the country in the

global arena.

The GCI measures 12 pillars which include institutions, macro-economic environment, infrastructure,

health and primary education, higher education and training, labour market efficiency, goods and market

efficiency among others.

Highlights of the report

Global: The list is topped by Switzerland. The US and Singapore are in the second and third places, respectively.

Other countries in the top 10 are the Netherlands (4th rank), Germany (5), Hong Kong SAR (6),

Sweden (7), United Kingdom (8), Japan (9) and Finland (10).

Among the BRICS nations, China and Russia (38) are placed above India. South Africa and Brazil are

placed at the 61st and 80th spots, respectively.

In South Asia, India has garnered the highest ranking, followed by Bhutan (85th), Sri Lanka (85th),

Nepal (88), Bangladesh (99) and Pakistan (115).

India‘s performance

India remains most competitive country in South Asia. It has improved across most pillars of

competitiveness, particularly infrastructure (66th,

up by 2), higher education and training (75th, up

by 6), and technological readiness (107th, up by 3)

reflecting recent public investments in these areas.

The report has lauded India‘s efforts in

information and communications technology

(ICT) sector as it can boost internet economy.

The private sector still considers corruption to be

the most problematic factor for doing business in

India.

The second biggest bottleneck is ‗access to

financing‘, followed by ‗tax rates‘, ‗inadequate

supply of infrastructure‘, ‗poor work ethics in

national labour force‘ and ‗inadequately educated

work force‘, among others.

Another big concern for India is the disconnect

between its innovative strength (29) and its

technological readiness (up 3 to 107): as long as




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this gap remains large, India will not be able to fully leverage its technological strengths across the wider

economy.

1.10 India-European FTA talks this month

India and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) are planning to shortly conclude their long

pending negotiations on FTA.

The trade pact talks had started in October 2008. So far, 16 rounds of negotiations have been held at the

level of chief negotiators.

The last round of negotiations was held in November 2013 and thereafter the negotiations have

remained suspended.

Proposed Free Trade Agreement (FTA)

The proposed pact covers trade in goods and services, market access for investments, protection of

intellectual property and public procurement.

Under an FTA, trading partners give market access to each other with a view to promoting bilateral

trade in goods and services, besides investments.

India‘s FTAs with other countries/groups

India is negotiating similar pacts with several other countries, including Australia, New Zealand, Israel

and Canada.

It has implemented FTAs with Singapore, South Korea, Japan and ASEAN, among others.

EFTA

The European Free Trade Association (EFTA) is an intergovernmental trade organisation and free trade

area consisting of four European states: Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland.

It was established in 1960 by the EFTA Convention for the promotion of free trade and economic

integration between its Member States.

The organisation operates in parallel with the European Union (EU), and all four member states

participate in the EU‘s single market.

While the EFTA is not a customs union, it does have a co-ordinated trade policy. As a result, its

member states have jointly concluded free trade agreements with a number of other countries.

1.11 India's first spot gold exchange

The World Gold Council (WGC) plans to form a committee soon to help set up India's first spot gold

exchange within 12 to 18 months, a senior official of the industry body said.

A dedicated exchange for physical gold is expected to pave the way for standard gold pricing practices in

India, apart from bringing in transparency into a market which sees large cash transactions.

The committee, which is likely to be formed in the December quarter, will not set up the exchange.

It will provide guidance in setting up the exchange, while releasing a WGC report highlighting the need

for a dedicated spot gold exchange in the country.




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In 2015, Indian government had floated the idea of setting up a national gold exchange.

India's push for an exchange follows the gold monetisation and sovereign bond schemes launched in last

few years, designed to mobilise the country's gold hoard and reduce imports of the precious metal that

weighs on the country's trade deficit.

The Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX) and National Commodity and Derivatives Exchange

(NCDEX) currently offer gold futures contracts in India, but do not have a platform for physical trade.

A physical exchange would enable jewellers, retailers, refiners and banks to trade over a regulated

platform, the WGC report said.

China, world's top gold consumer, runs such a bourse where gold, domestically produced and imported,

can be bought and sold.

1.12 Inter-bank Local Currency Credit Line Agreement and Cooperation Memorandum relating to

Credit Ratings

The Union Cabinet has given its approval to the signing of the (i) Interbank Local Currency Credit

Line Agreement and (ii) Cooperation Memorandum Relating to Credit Ratings by Exim Bank

with participating member banks under BRICS Interbank Cooperation Mechanism.

As both the Agreement and the MoU are umbrella pacts, and are non-binding in nature, the Board of

Directors of Exim Bank has been authorized to negotiate and conclude any individual contracts and

commitments within their framework.

Significance of these Agreements

They will promote multilateral interaction within area of mutual interest which will deepen political and

economic relations with BRICS nations.

It will position Exim Bank in international platform along with large development finance institutions of

BRICS member countries.

They will enable Exim Bank to leverage these agreements and can enter into bilateral agreement with

any of these member institutions to raise resources for its business.

It will enable lending in single currency by any two member institutions.

Exim Bank finances, facilitates and promotes India‘s international trade.

It provides competitive finance at various stages of business cycle covering import of technology, export

production, export product development and export credit at pre-shipment and post-shipment stages

and investments overseas.

It raises resources in off-shore market in diverse currencies and swaps to mitigate the risk.

Interbank Local Currency Credit Line Agreement

It is a framework mechanism to extend credit lines in local currencies to the BRICS‘ Interbank

Cooperation Mechanism (ICM) members.




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The initial Master Agreement on Extending Credit Facility in Local Currency under BRICS ICM had

validity of five years and expired in March 2017.

Under it some member banks of BRICS had entered into bilateral agreements for local currency

financing under Master Agreement signed in 2012.

Cooperation Memorandum Relating to Credit Ratings

It enables sharing of credit ratings amongst BRICS member banks, based on request received from

another bank.

It serves as ideal mechanism to mitigate credit risks associated with cross-border financing.

It can also serve as pre-cursor to proposal of having an alternate rating agency by BRICS nations.

1.13 Ministry of DoNER invites young start-ups to avail Northeast Venture Fund

In a bid to make northeast a favourite destination for young Startups, the government has invited young

start-ups to avail the benefits of Northeast Venture Fund.

Northeast Venture Fund

Launched in April 2017, North East Venture Fund was the first dedicated venture capital fund for

the North-Eastern region.

North Eastern Development Finance Corporation Limited (NEDFi) in association with

Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (M-DoNER) has launched the North-East

Venture Fund.

It is focussed to encourage entrepreneurship in the region, primarily by offering support to the first-

generation entrepreneurs.

In addition to the provisions of tax holiday and exit period available in the Government of India‘s

―Standup India, Startup India‖ programme, the Ministry of DoNER has also rolled out ―Venture Fund‖

for anybody who wishes to Startup in the Northeast region, which would provide a huge financial relief

particularly to young entrepreneurs.

The primary objective of North East Venture Fund (NEVF) would be to invest in enterprises focused

on and not limited to Food Processing, Healthcare, Tourism, Aggregation of Services and IT&ITES

located in the NER and to provide resources for entrepreneurs from the region to expand throughout

the country.

The objective of the Fund is to contribute to the entrepreneurship development of the NER and

achieve attractive risk-adjusted returns through long term capital appreciation by way of investments in

privately negotiated equity/ equity related investments.

1.14 NITI Aayog constitutes Expert Task Force on Employment & Exports




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With an aim to create new jobs by enhancing India‘s export, the NITI Aayog constituted an Expert Task

Force.

The task force will be chaired by the NITI Aayog Vice Chairman, Dr. Rajiv Kumar.

The task force, which includes government and private sector representatives, has been asked to submit

its report by November 2017.

Steps outlined by the task force

The steps outlined by the task force to address this challenge of creating well-paid, formal sector jobs,

include:

Proposing a comprehensive plan of action to generate employment and alleviate under-employment in

both goods and services sectors and low wages by boosting India‘s exports in key labour-intensive

industries

Recommending sector-specific policy interventions in key employment sectors

Recommending measures to enhance trade in services with high employment potential

Identifying key macro economic factors constraining exports and suggesting methods to address these

constraints

Assessing the effectiveness of existing schemes to promote exports

Addressing issues related to logistics, export credits and trade facilitation

Suggesting ways to enhance the availability of data on trade such that it is reliable, globally comparable

and timely, particularly with respect to trade in services.

Need for the task force

While the Indian workforce has high

aspirations, a majority of the workers are

still employed in low-productivity, low-

wage jobs in small, micro and own-account

enterprises. An urgent and sustained

expansion of the organized sector is

essential to address India‘s unemployment

and under-employment issue.

An important strategy is also to enable a

shift towards more labour-intensive goods

and services that are destined for exports.

Given the importance of exports in

generating jobs, India needs to create an environment in which globally competitive exporters can

emerge and flourish.

1.15 NITI Aayog, International Road Federation ink SoI for Intelligent Transportation Systems




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The National Institution for Transforming India (NITI) Aayog and International Road Federation

(IRF), Geneva have signed Statement of Intent (SoI) to cooperate in field of Intelligent Transportation

Systems (ITS).

The objective of SoI is to create National Platform, involving all relevant Union Government

stakeholders, Indian and foreign companies active in sector.

It will also create platform for relevant technical experts for developing National ITS Policy.

The national platform will provide coherent and consistent National ITS Policy.

ITS Policy will be covering

1. Traffic Management,

2. Parking Management,

3. Electronic Enforcement of Traffic Rules and Regulations,

4. Fleet Management and Monitoring,

5. Innovation in the field of ITS and

6. Education in field of ITS.

Objective of the ITS Policy

Its objective will be to contribute to reduce urban traffic congestion, improving situation around parking

of vehicles in cities, improving road safety, and improving security of passenger and goods traffic.

It will be also covering domains such as traffic and parking management, enforcement, and security.

International Road federation (IRF)

The IRF is global non-governmental, not-for-profit organisation with mission to encourage and

promote development and maintenance of better, safer and more sustainable roads and road networks.

It was founded in 1948. Its motto is Better Roads. Better World.

It is headquartered in Washington, DC, United States.

IRF seeks to promote social and economic benefits of sustainable and environmentally sound road

transport infrastructure at all levels of society.

It helps to put in place technological solutions and management practices that provide maximum

economic and social returns from national road investments.

It provides a wide base of expertise for planning road development strategy and policy for governments

and financial institutions in all aspects of road policy and development.

1.16 No move to fix national minimum wage at Rs. 18,000/month: Govt

The Centre cleared the air regarding the fixation of minimum wage as Rs. 18000 per month and clarified

that government has not fixed or mentioned any amount as ―national minimum wage‖ in the Code on

Wages Bill 2017.

It also denied any move to revise the formula of fixing wages by increasing the number of family

members from three to six, as demanded by trade unions.




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The statement comes as a big relief to employers who have been ―apprehensive‖ about the move, saying

it would affect their competitiveness.

However, it deals a blow to trade unions, who have been demanding higher minimum wages and a

revised unit-based formula for fixing wages from three members of a family to six, including dependent

parents.

Issue

The Minimum Wages Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha last month. Some news reports have been

published regarding the fixation of minimum wage as Rs 18,000 per month by the central government.

Highlights of the Code on Wages Bill, 2017

The Labour Code on Wages Bill consolidates the four wage-related statutes:

1. Minimum Wages Act, 1948,

2. Payment of Bonus Act, 1965,

3. Payment of Wages Act, 1936 and

4. Equal Remuneration Act, 1976.

The bill will be applicable across all classes of workers who are at present employed in scheduled

industries or establishments by law and

across all sectors.

National minimum wage

The code ensures minimum wages to one

and all and timely payment of wages to all

employees irrespective of the sector of

employment without any wage ceiling.

It introduces concept of statutory National

Minimum Wage for different geographical

areas.

It will ensure that no state government fixes

minimum wage below the National

Minimum Wages for that particular area as

notified by Union Government.

It specifies that central or state governments will revise or review minimum wage every five years.

Advisory boards

The central and state governments will constitute their respective advisory boards to advise respective

governments on aspects of fixing minimum wages and increasing employment opportunities for women.




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These boards will have representation from employees, employers, and independent persons. Further,

one-third of total members will be women.

Payment of Wages:

The code proposes payment of wages through cheque or digital/electronic mode along with

conventional cash payments.

It mentions deduction of employee‘s wages on certain grounds by not exceeding 50% of employee‘s

total wage.

Working hours

The central or state governments will fix

the number of hours that will constitute

a working day.

Further, they will provide for a day of

rest for employees every week.

An employee will receive overtime for

working beyond these working hours on

any day. This amount will be at least

twice the normal wage of the employee.

Redressal of grievances and settlement

of claims

It proposes appellate authority between

Claim Authority and Judicial Forum for

speedy, cheaper and efficient redressal of

grievances and settlement of claims

Offences

The Code specifies penalties for offences committed by an employer. Such penalties vary depending on

nature of offence have been rationalized with the amount of fines varying as per gravity of violations.

Moreover, it specifies that compounding of offences is not punishable by penalty of imprisonment.

1.17 Peer-to-peer lending platforms to be treated as NBFCs

The Union Cabinet has approved the revamped Khelo India programme that aims at mainstreaming

sport as a tool for individual development, community development, economic development and

national development.

The Union Government has issued gazette notification, notifying that Peer-to-peer lending (P2P)

platforms will be treated as non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) and thus regulated by Reserve

Bank of India (RBI).




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The notification will help P2P lenders to gain official recognition and opens new avenues for fund-

raising and business expansion.

It also ends the regulatory vacuum in which P2P lending firms were operating.

P2P lending

P2P lending allows an individual to lend or borrow money to or from other unrelated individuals

without assistance from any financial intermediary. This is mainly done via an online platform that

connects lenders and borrowers.

P2P lending is a form of crowd-funding used to raise loans which are paid back with interest.

It enables individuals to borrow and lend money – without use of an official financial institution as an

intermediary.

It can use an online platform that matches lenders with borrowers in order to provide unsecured loans.

P2P lending gives access to credit to borrowers who are unable to get it through traditional financial

institution. It boosts returns for individuals who supply capital and reduces interest rates for those who

use it.

In India, P2P lending platforms are largely technology companies registered under the Companies Act.

The biggest challenge in the sector is that most of the players are outside the formal credit rating and

reporting process — a reason why lenders and even several investors shy away from investing.

What are the advantages?

People who may not be eligible to get loans from banks or such institutions can get loans.

It also allows customers to become lenders and earn interest.

It promotes alternative forms of finance, where formal finance is unable to reach. It has potential to

soften lending rates as result of lower operational

costs and enhanced competition with traditional

lending channels.

What are the disadvantages?

Interest rates are higher than what a bank or non-

banking financial company might charge.

Currently, it is not regulated so consumers cannot

approach any ombudsman in case of distress.

Necessity of P2P lending

Although nascent in India and not significant in

value yet, the potential benefits that P2P lending

promises to various stakeholders and its associated

risks to the financial system are too important to be ignored.




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Coming under the purview of the RBI will not only be a confidence booster for the sector, but also for

individual lenders.

1.18 PM Modi constitutes Economic Advisory Council headed by Bibek Debroy

Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India Limited (TRIFED) has inked MoU

with e-commerce giant Amazon for selling tribal products.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi constituted an Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister

(EAC-PM).

The five-member council consists of economists of high repute and eminence. Dr. Bibek Debroy, a

member of the NITI Aayog has been appointed as the Chairman of the council.

Ratan Watal, the Principal Advisor to Niti Aayog will be the secretary of the Council.

Formation of EAC by PM Narendra Modi comes over three years after he assumed power.

The last chairperson of the Council, when Manmohan Singh was the Prime Minister, was former

Reserve Bank of India Governor C. Rangarajan.

Economic Advisory Council

The EAC-PM is an independent body which provides advice on economic issues to the

government, specifically to the Prime Minister.

The five-member council consists of economists of high repute and eminence.

Terms of reference of EAC

EAC will analyse any issue, economic or otherwise, referred to it by prime minister and advising him

thereon.

It will also address issues of macroeconomic importance and present its views to the prime minister.

Its advise can be either suo-motu or on reference from prime minister or anyone else.

It can also attend any other task as may be desired by prime minister from time to time.

1.19 Rajaswa Gyan Sangam – 2017

The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) and the Central Board of Excise & Customs (CBEC) have

been holding a joint Conference of the two Boards under the umbrella of ―Rajaswa Gyan Sangam‖.

The objective of the Conference is to enable a two-way communication between the policy-makers and

the senior officers in the field offices with a view to increase revenue collection and facilitate effective

implementation of law and policies in key result areas.

The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) and the Central Board of Excise & Customs (CBEC) have

been holding annual Conferences of senior officers for a number of years.

In 2016, the first time joint Conference of the two Boards was held under the umbrella of ‗Rajaswa

Gyan Sangam‘, which was inaugurated by the Hon‘ble Prime Minister.




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The Rajaswa Gyan Sangam, 2017 will be attended by the senior officers of CBDT and CBEC. For the

first time ever, senior officers of the Finance Department of the States and Union Territories will also be

attending the event.

1.20 RBI includes HDFC Bank in the ‗too big to fail‘ list

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has added HDFC Bank, the second largest private sector lender

of country in list of Domestic Systemically Important Banks (D-SIBs).

HDFC Bank is third bank in country to be added in list of D-SIBs after State Bank of India (SBI)

and ICICI Bank which were added in 2016 and continue to be in that category.

What does this mean?

The addition means that HDFC has now being considered as too big to fail bank. These banks are

subject to more rigorous regulation and capital requirement.

Since 2015, RBI has been identifying banks whose failure would impact the whole financial system.

What are Systemically Important Banks?

SIBs are perceived as certain big banks in country. Since country‘s economy is dependent upon these

banks, they are perceived as ‗Too Big To Fail (TBTF)‘.

There are two types of SIBs:

1. Global SIBs, identified by BASEL committee on banking supervision and

2. Domestic SIBs; identified by central Bank of country.

RBI Framework for dealing with D-SIBs

RBI had issued Framework for dealing with D-SIBs in July 2014.

D-SIB Framework requires RBI to disclose names of banks designated as D-SIBs every year in August

starting from August 2015.

The framework also requires that D-SIBs may be placed in four buckets depending upon their Systemic

Importance Scores (SISs).

Based on bucket in which D-SIB is placed, an additional common equity requirement has to be applied

to these listed banks, as mentioned in Framework.

In case foreign bank having branch presence in India is Global-SIB, it has to maintain additional CET1

capital surcharge in India as applicable to it as a G-SIB, proportionate to its Risk Weighted Assets

(RWAs) in India under the D-SIB Framework.

Identification of D-SIBs

The D-SIB Framework specifies a two-step process of identification of D-SIBs.

In first step, sample of banks to be assessed for systemic importance has to be decided. The selection of

banks in sample for computation of SIS is based on analysis of their size as a percentage of annual GDP.




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Moreover, additional Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1) requirements are also applicable to D-SIBs from

April 1, 2016 in phased manner and will be fully effective from April 1, 2019. The additional CET1

requirement will be in addition to the capital conservation buffer.

Need for recognition of banks as SIBs

Following the global financial crisis of 2008, it was observed that problems faced by certain large and

highly interconnected financial institutions hampered orderly functioning of financial system, which in

turn, negatively impacted real economy.

As some of the banks are perceived as TBTF, they can lead to reckless practices on their part like

increased risk-taking, reduction in its market discipline, creation of competitive distortions etc. because

of expectation of government support them at time of distress. All this can increase probability of

distress in future.

Therefore, it is required recognition of these banks as SIBs and subjected to additional policy measures

to deal with systemic risks and moral hazard issues posed by them. They are forced to have additional

capital against financial emergency, so that taxpayer money not wasted in rescuing them during crisis.

1.21 Review of FSI/FAR norms in mega cities

The government has ordered the review of Floor Space Index (FSI) and Floor Area Ratio (FAR)

norms in mega cities of the country.

The time bound review of these norms will be taken up in all the 53 cities with a population of one

million and above each.

A similar review for State Capitals with

less than million population will also be

taken up each in due course.

The review to be taken up in

consultation with States and cities is to

cover an assessment of the existing

norms and to what extent it could be

enhanced.

Floor Space Index (FSI)

FSI is the ratio of a building‘s total floor

area to the size of the piece of the land

on which it is built.

In Indian cities, it is generally about 1.50, which is said to be on the lower side given the needs of rapid

urbanization.

Need for review




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NITI Ayog in their report noted that a comparison of Mumbai and Shanghai illustrates the deleterious

effects of restrictive FSI. In 1984, Shanghai had only 3.65 sq.mt of space per person. Through liberal use

of FSI, despite increase in population since 1984, the city had increased the available space to 34 sq.mt

per person. In contrast, in 2009, Mumbai on average had just 4.50 sq.mt of space per person.

Besides, increasing the availability of land in urban areas is critical to meet the demand for affordable

housing under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban).

Review is necessary to give a properly planned push to the urban development in the country.

1.22 SAIL‘s retail sales gets boost with SAIL‘s Gaon ki Ore campaign

Steel Authority of India Ltd. (SAIL), is running a nation-wide campaign SAIL steel – Gaon ki ore which

is aimed at boosting steel consumption in country.

This has started to reflect positively through the dealer sales numbers, which recorded an 18% jump in

the month of August 2017 over CPLY selling 91,000 tonnes of steel in the month.

SAIL targets to sell 1 Million Tonnes steel through its dealer network this financial year and aims at

doubling it in next three financial years.

SAIL had identified the potential of rural markets for enhancing steel consumption which is currently

around 10 kgs per capita per year as against around 150 Kg per capita consumption in Urban India.

Gaon ki ore campaign

The Gaon ki ore campaign is designed to familiarize end users at the Grass-root level, especially of rural

areas, with innovative usage of SAIL steel and its applications and advantages in construction,

household equipment, agriculture etc.

Through this nation-wide campaign, SAIL aims to cover more than 100 locations by the end of this

year.

Through engagement activities the audience are informed how using SAIL steel can increase durability,

life, safety and longevity of any construction and product.

This new age marketing campaign strategically aims to develop a stronger link with consumers through

direct engagement.

All workshops of the campaign are designed to familiarize participants about SAIL‘s production process,

product range, applications and advantages and the interactive sessions are conducted in local language

for easier connect with audience.

1.23 SEBI eases fundraising norms for REITs, InvITs

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has relaxed the guidelines for Real Estate

Investment Trusts (REITs) and Infrastructure Investment Trusts (InvITs) in order to broaden the scope

of fund raising by such instruments.

It has been decided to allow REITs and InvITs to raise capital by issuing debt securities.




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REITs have also been allowed to lend to an underlying holding company or a special purpose vehicle

(SPV).

What are REITs?

REITs are similar to mutual funds. While mutual funds provide for an opportunity to invest in equity

stocks, REITs allow one to invest in income-generating real estate assets.

How does an REIT work?

REITs raise funds from a large number of investors and directly invest that sum in income-generating

real estate properties (which could be offices, residential apartments, shopping centres, hotels and

warehouses).

The trusts are listed in stock exchanges so that investors can buy units in the trust. REITs are structured

as trusts. Thus, the assets of an REIT are held by an independent trustee on behalf of unit holders.

REIT‘s investment objective

The investment objective of REITs is to provide unit holders with dividends, usually generated from

rental income and capital gains from the profitable sale of real estate assets.

Typically, the trust distributes 90 per cent of its income among its investors by issuing dividends.

REITs in India?

REITs, as a concept, have been on the horizon for a while now.

India‘s regulations in 2014 for the sector have not been able to attract investor interest.

REITs obtained exemption from dividend distribution tax in the Budget, a step towards making them

attractive for the investors.

The current SEBI guidelines for REITs permit investments only in rent-yielding assets.

Why invest in REITs?

For investors who are averse to investing in physical purchase of property due to the risks involved,

REIT is an alternative.

Investors purchase units of REITs which are traded on the stock exchange, as against physical purchase

of property. Therefore, investors can buy and sell units of REIT on the stock exchange as and when

required, making investment easier to liquidate compared to physical property transaction.

Potential investment risks

REITs units are listed on, and are subject to the vagaries of the stock exchanges, resulting in negative or

lower returns than expected.

As in mutual funds, retail investors in REITs have no control over investments and exits being made by

the trust.

InvITs




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An Infrastructure Investment Trust (InvITs) is like a mutual fund, which enables direct investment of

small amounts of money from possible individual/institutional investors in infrastructure to earn a small

portion of the income as return.

SEBI notified the SEBI (Infrastructure Investment Trusts) Regulations, 2014 on September 26, 2014,

providing for registration and regulation of InvITs in India.

The objective of InvITs is to facilitate investment in the infrastructure sector.

InvITS are like mutual funds in structure. InvITs can be established as a trust and registered with SEBI.

An InvIT consists of four elements:

1. Trustee,

2. Sponsor(s),

3. Investment Manager and

4. Project Manager.

InvITs work like mutual funds or real estate investment trusts (REITs) in features.

InvITs can be treated as the modified version of REITs designed to suit the specific circumstances of

the infrastructure sector.

1.24 The lowdown on the petrol pricing policy

Amid protests against the recent spike in petrol and diesel prices, the government has ruled out the

possibility of an end to the recently introduced policy of revising fuel prices daily.

Since June 16 this year, petrol and diesel prices across the country have been revised on a daily basis,

against the previous policy of revising prices every fortnight.

By opting for daily pricing, India has joined advanced countries like the United States and others which

follow the practice.

How did it come about?

The daily pricing policy is in line with the government‘s efforts over the years to deregulate the pricing

of essential fuels.

The prices of petrol and diesel were first deregulated in 2010 and 2014 respectively, bringing in the

practice of fortnightly revision of prices.

Proponents of the new policy

The new daily pricing policy, the government argues, will now allow oil marketing companies to price

their products even better, that is, in accordance with their fluctuating input costs.

The oil companies need not wait a fortnight to change prices, and it is believed that this would allow

them to quickly pass on the benefit of lower crude oil prices to retail customers.

Also, daily price revisions will reduce the risk of huge revisions in prices, which is more common under

the fortnightly pricing policy.




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Opponents of the new policy

The daily pricing policy has been blamed in recent weeks for the sharp increase in petrol and diesel

prices.

Fuel prices fell in the initial days after the implementation of the new policy, but have seen a sharp

acceleration ever since. The price of petrol in metro cities like Delhi and Kolkata, for instance, has risen

by more than ₹5 since the introduction of daily pricing. The government has blamed supply constraints

due to floods in the United States for the present rise in prices.

A wider criticism, however, is that domestic fuel prices have also failed to match the drastic fall in

international crude oil prices over the last few years. The surprising divergence in the cost of crude oil

and domestic fuel prices has caused a lot of anger.

Who is the main culprit?

Taxes are the main culprit stopping petrol and diesel prices from reflecting the fall in international crude

oil prices.

About half the retail price paid by consumers for petrol and diesel goes towards paying the excise duty

and the value added tax imposed on them.

These taxes increase the price at which oil companies can profitably sell essential fuels to consumers,

thus restricting supply and keeping prices high.

What next?

One option is to reduce VAT on petroleum products. But, for this, states have to forgo their share of

the Centre‘s revenue from fuel taxes. 42% of the Central tax receipts from petrol go to the States.

Another option is to bring petrol and diesel under the GST to lower the tax burden. This will help bring

down their prices, but only when it is combined with better competition in the oil sector.

Otherwise, lower taxes will merely improve the profits of oil companies without any of the benefits,

whether it is lower crude oil prices or any other fall in input costs, being passed on to consumers.

Way ahead

What is being missed is the fact that fuel prices are determined by market forces, not costs. So lower

crude oil prices need not necessarily lead to lower fuel prices.

Costs only determine the profits of oil companies, whose operating margins have naturally improved

since deregulation.

1.25 Third round of NAFTA talks

Representatives from Mexico, Canada and the US began the third round of the North American

Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) talks.

Canadian chief negotiator Steve Verhuel said he did not expect this round to see any new US proposal

to increase American content requirements for autos, reports Xinhua news agency. Rules of origin of




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autos will be ―a subject for discussion but we‘re not expecting to see anything radically new at this

point‖, he added.

Under NAFTA‘s current rules of origin, vehicles must have at least 62.5 per cent North American

content to qualify for duty-free movement between Canada, the US and Mexico.

Concern has been mounting among trade experts that the year-end deadline for the NAFTA will be

impossible to meet if negotiators did not start during this round to confront some of the most

contentious issues, including the rules of origin of autos.

At the first round of negotiations in Washington last month, US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer

pronounced that the North American content requirement must be raised and a specific American

content requirement must be added, along with a way to verify that content.

Last week, US Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross slammed the NAFTA for allowing outside countries to

provide parts for vehicles that aren‘t covered by the content requirement. Canada reportedly believes

that resolving American concerns about the exodus of automotive jobs to low-wage Mexico is the key to

staving off US President Donald Trump‘s threat to rip up NAFTA.

A total of seven rounds of discussions are planned for the NAFTA renegotiations, with the first two

rounds being held in Washington and Mexico City.

1.26 TRAI recommends delicensing of some spectrum for M2M services

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has recommended delicensing of chunk of spectrum

in few bands to facilitate smooth roll-out of machine-to-machine (M2M) communications.

TRAI has suggested that no separate spectrum band will be allocated exclusively for M2M services,

rather it will utilise existing license exempt airwaves.

Important recommendations made by TRAI

TRAI has suggested to Department of Telecom (DoT) that all existing operators should be allowed to

provide connectivity for M2M services. Under this technology, devices will be fitted with SIM or

universal integrated circuit card (eUICC).

TRAI has suggests delicensing of 1 MHz of spectrum from 867-868 MHz frequencies and another six

units from the 915-935 MHz range

for M2M communication services.

TRAI has suggested that government,

through DoT, should identify critical

services in M2M sector and these

services should be provided only by

connectivity providers using licensed

spectrum.




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It also suggested that companies offering M2M services using unlicensed spectrum should be covered

under licence through a new permit to be called Unified Licence (M2M).

M2M communications

Unlike person-to-person (P2P) communication, M2M technologies involve communication between

two devices.

The technology is basis for automated information exchange between machines.

It enables wired and wireless devices to talk to each other using sensors.

It is also a key component of the emerging Internet of Things (IoT) revolution.

Applications of self-communicating machines using M2M communications can be deployed in new-age

infrastructure projects and various industry verticals such as smart cities, smart grids, smart homes,

smart transportation and smart heath sectors.

TRAI acknowledged its potential in National Telecom Policy 2012.

1.27 UGC invites applications from institutes seeking ‗Institutions of Eminence‘ status

The University Grants Commission (UGC) rolled out an application process for universities and higher

education institutes (public or private) seeking ―institutions of eminence‖ status.

Aim of scheme

To help higher education institutions from country break into top 500 global rankings in 10 years, and

then eventually break into top 100 over time.




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20 institutions — 10 public and 10 private — will be given this status with aim to give them freedom to

become world-class institutions.

What is the application process?

It will be 90-day application process for interested public and private institutions.

Institutions applying for it will be divided into three categories- existing government educational

institutions, existing private higher educational institutions and sponsoring organisation for setting up of

private institutions.

The HRD Ministry will set up empowered expert committee to process application. The entire process

of shortlisting institutions will be completed by March-April 2018.

Eligible Institutions

Top 50 of National Institute Ranking Framework (NIRF) rankings or those who have secured ranking

among top 500 of Times Higher Education World University Rankings, Shanghai Ranking Academic

Ranking of World Universities or QS University Rankings will be eligible to apply.

Benefits of having institutions of eminence status

The 10 state-run institutions get additional benefit — provision of Rs. 10,000 crore over a period of 10

years, over and above regular grants.

Such institutions will be free from usual regulatory mechanism to choose their autonomous path to

become institutions of global repute with emphasis on multi-disciplinary initiatives, global best practices,

high quality research and international collaborations.

These institutions will have liberty to enroll up to 30% foreign students. Moreover, selected public

institutions can recruit up to 25% foreign faculty and there will be no such limit for selected private

institutions.

They will have freedom of devising their own courses, own fee structure, create centres without coming

to UGC.

1.28 UJALA scheme launched in Melaka, Malaysia

India‘s zero-subsidy UJALA (Unnat Jyoti by Affordable Lighting for All) Scheme was launched in

Melaka State of Malaysia by Efficiency Services Limited (EESL), under Union Ministry of Power.

It highlights success of Indian model UJALA scheme to promote efficient lighting, using efficient

equipment to reduce electricity bills and preserve environment at global level.

India‘s Ujala scheme will be replicated in Malaysia, under which each household in Melaka state will get

10 high quality 9-watt LED bulbs, at subsidised rate almost half price offered in market.

The initiative is implemented by India‘s EESL with logistical assistance and facilitation support from

Green Growth Asia, a non-profit organisation in Malaysia. The EESL is planning to distribute about 1

million 9W LED bulbs, replacing 18W CFLs.




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It will help Melaka promote efficient lighting and conserve the resources, money and environment by

reducing 19,000 tonnes carbon emissions per year.

UJALA scheme

UJALA is a flagship project of the Govt. of India where it wants every home in India to use LED bulbs

so that the net power or energy consumption rate comes down and the carbon emission rates can also

be checked.

The main objective of scheme is to promote efficient lighting, enhance awareness on using efficient

equipment which reduce electricity bills and preserve environment.

It is LED based Domestic Efficient Lighting Programme (DELP). Under it, LED Bulbs are distributed.

Its purpose is not only to help reduce electricity bills of consumers but also contribute to energy security

of India.

It is being implemented by EESL, a joint venture of PSUs under Union Ministry of Power.

LED bulbs have a very long life, almost 50 times more than ordinary bulbs, and 8-10 times that of

CFLs, and therefore provide both energy and cost savings.

The Ujala scheme uses economy of scale and a sustainable market mechanism.

It is globally one of the largest efficiency programmes.




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2. NATIONAL

2.1 ―Dairy Processing & Infrastructure Development Fund‖

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved a ―Dairy Processing & Infrastructure

Development Fund‖ (DIDF) with an outlay of Rs 10,881 crore during the period from 2017-18 to

2028-29.

The project will focus on

1. Building an efficient milk procurement system by setting up of chilling infrastructure & installation

of electronic milk adulteration testing equipment,

2. Creation/modernization/expansion of processing infrastructure and manufacturing faculties for

Value Added Products for the Milk Unions/ Milk Producer Companies.

Management of DIDF

The project will be implemented by National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) and National

Dairy Development Cooperation (NCDC)directly through the End Borrowers such as Milk Unions,

State Dairy Federations, Multi-state Milk Cooperatives, Milk Producer Companies and NDDB

subsidiaries meeting the eligibility criteria under the project.

An Implementation and Monitoring Cell (IMC) located at NDDB, Anand, will manage the

implementation and monitoring of day-to-day project activities.

The end borrowers will get the loan @ 6.5% per annum. The period of repayment will be 10 years with

initial two years moratorium.

The respective State Government will be the guarantor of loan repayment. Also for the project

sanctioned if the end user is not able to contribute its share; State Government will contribute the same.

Benefits from DIDF

The investment in diary sector will benefit 95,00,000 farmers in about 50,000 villages.

It will help for additional milk processing capacity of 126 lakh litre per day, milk chilling capacity of 140

lakh litre per day, milk drying capacity of 210 MT per day.

It will also support installation of 28000 Bulk Milk Coolers (BMCs) along with electronic milk

adulteration testing equipment and increase value added products manufacturing capacity of 59.78 lakh

litre per day of milk equivalent.

Employment Generation Potential

The implementation of DIDF scheme will generate direct and indirect employment opportunities for

skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled manpower.




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Direct employment

opportunities for about

40,000 people will be

created under the scheme

through project activities

like expansion &

modernisation of existing

milk processing facilities,

setting up of new processing

plants, establishment of

manufacturing facilities for

value added products and

setting up of Bulk Milk

Coolers (BMCs) at village

level.

About 2 lakh indirect

employment opportunitieswill be created on account of expansion of milk and milk product

marketing operations from existing Tier I, II & III to Tier IV, V & VI cities/towns etc. This will lead to

deployment of more marketing staff by Milk Cooperatives, appointment of distributors and opening of

additional milk booths/retail outlets in urban/rural locations.

With the increase in milk procurement operations of the Milk Cooperatives,there would be generation

of additional manpower employment for supervision of increased milk procurement operations,

transportation of milk from villages to processing units, and increased input delivery services like

Artificial Insemination (AI) services, Veterinary Services, etc.

2.2 5 September: National Teachers Day

The National Teachers Day is observed every year on 5th September in India to commemorate birthday

of country‘s first Vice President and second President Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan.

Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan was first recipient Bharat Ratna, India‘s highest civilian award along with

politician C. Rajagopalachari, scientist C. V. Raman.

2.3 Ahmedabad gets status of India‘s first World Heritage City by UNESCO

The 600-year-old Walled City of Ahmedabad has been formally accorded the status of India‘s first

World Heritage City by UNESCO.

In July, the UN agency had inscribed Ahmedabad as India‘s first World Heritage City at a meeting held

in Poland.




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The walled city of Ahmedabad is first city in India to get World Heritage City status and third in Asia

after Bhaktapur (Nepal) and Galle (Sri Lanka).

India now has total 36 World Heritage Inscriptions 28 cultural, 7 natural and 1 mixed site.

India is second after China in terms of number of world heritage properties in Asia and Pacific (ASPAC)

region, and overall seventh in world.

Walled City of Ahmedabad

The Walled City of Ahmedabad is located on the eastern banks of Sabarmati river.

It was founded by Sultan Ahmed Shah I of Gujarat Sultanate in in 1411.

It presents a rich architectural heritage from the sultanate period, notably the Bhadra citadel, walls and

gates of the Fort city and numerous mosques and tombs, as well as important Hindu and Jain temples of

later periods.

The city‘s historic characteristics include densely-packed traditional houses (‗pols‘) in gated traditional

streets (‗puras‘) with features such as bird feeders, public wells and religious institutions.

The city also holds rare distinction of being one of the oldest trading points in India and also centres of

Indian freedom struggle under Mahatma Gandhi.

World Heritage Cities Programme

It is one of six thematic programmes formally approved and monitored by the World Heritage

Committee (WHC) of UNESCO.

It aims to assist state parties in the challenges of protecting and managing their urban heritage.

The programme is structured along a two-way process (i) development of a theoretical framework for

urban heritage conservation, and (ii) provision of technical assistance to States Parties for the

implementation of new approaches and schemes.

2.4 All set for NIRF ranking exercise next year

The Centre has set the ball rolling for a more comprehensive ranking of higher educational institutions

in the next round of the National Institutional Ranking Framework in 2018.

The idea

Instead of institutions choosing to take part in the exercise, they are being auto-registered through a

large online database — the All-India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) portal — of institutions

available with the Ministry of Human Resource Development.

The institutions, however, have to provide details like patents, publications, research projects and

campus placements that are not available on the portal.

The 2016 and 2017 NIRF lists reflected the ranks of only those institutions that had taken part in the

exercise. The number was about 3,300 in 2017.

Among universities, Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore was ranked first and Jawaharlal Nehru

University in Delhi was second. Miranda House in Delhi was ranked India‘s best college.




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NIRF

The National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) is a methodology adopted by the Ministry of

Human Resource Development (MHRD) to rank all institutions of higher education in India.

It has been approved by the MHRD and was launched in September, 2015.

This framework outlines a methodology to rank institutions across the country.

The methodology draws from the overall recommendations and broad understanding arrived at by a

Core Committee set up by MHRD, to identify the broad parameters for ranking various universities and

institutions.

The parameters broadly cover ―Teaching, Learning and Resources‖, ―Research and Professional

Practices‖, ―Graduation Outcomes‖, ―Outreach and Inclusivity‖ and ―Perception‖.

NIRF has been given the responsibility of ranking institutions that have applied and submitted their

data.

The ranking of the Institutions will be done based on the parameters proposed by NIRF for different

disciplines.

2.5 APEDA develops mobile app- Hortinet- for farm registration, certification

Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) has developed a

mobile app, ―Hortinet‖ for farmers to facilitate registration, testing and certification of certain fruits and

vegetables.

Hortinet

The app ―Hortinet‖ is an integrated traceability system developed by APEDA for providing internet-

based services to the stakeholders.

The app will facilitate ―farm registration, testing and certification of grape, pomegranate and vegetables

for export from India to the European Union in compliance with standards‖.

This new Mobile app will also assist State Horticulture/ Agriculture Department to capture real time

details of farmers, farm location, products and details of inspections like date of inspection, name of

inspecting directly from field. After registration and approval of farm, farmer gets approval information.

The key features of the app are:

Online Farm registration application and status tracking

Processing and approval on on-line farmer applications by State Horticulture /Agriculture department.

Registration of farmers, farms and products by State Horticulture/Agriculture department

Capture geo location of the farms registered through the app

Sample collection by APEDA authorized Laboratories along with geo location of the sample.

Significance of this initiative

This initiative is expected to increase the accessibility and reach of the traceability software system

among farmers and other stakeholders




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The app would also assist state horticulture and agriculture departments to capture real time details of

farmers, farm location, products and details of inspection.

APEDA

APEDA is an apex body of the Ministry of Commerce, Government of India, to promote the

export of agricultural commodities and processed food products.

APEDA was established by the Government of India under the Agricultural and Processed Food

Products Export Development Authority Act 1985.

The Authority replaced the Processed Food Export Promotion Council (PFEPC).

APEDA links Indian exporters to global markets besides providing comprehensive export oriented

services.

APEDA provides referral services and suggest suitable partners for joint ventures.

APEDA‘s export basket ranges from typically Indian ethnic products like pickles, chutneys, sauces,

curries etc. to rice, honey, fresh and processed fruits and vegetables, beverages, guar gum, poultry,

livestock products, confectionery, cut flowers, food grains, aromatic plants and other Indian delicacies.

Vietnam, UAE, Saudi Arabia, USA, Iran, Iraq and Nepal are the major destinations for export of food

products from India.

APEDA has marked its presence in almost all agro potential states of India and has been providing

services to agri-export community through its head office, five Regional offices and 13 Virtual offices.

Composition of the APEDA Authority

As prescribed by the statute, the APEDA Authority consists of the following members namely:

1. A Chairman, appointed by the Central Government

2. The Agricultural Marketing Advisor to the Government of India, ex-offical.

3. One member appointed by the Central Government representing the Planning Commission

4. Three members of Parliament of whom two are elected by the House of People and one by the

Council of States

5. Eight members appointed by the Central Government representing respectively; the Ministries of

the Central Govt.

Products Monitored by APEDA:

APEDA is mandated with the responsibility of export promotion and development of the following

scheduled products:

1. Fruits, Vegetables and their Products.

2. Meat and Meat Products.

3. Poultry and Poultry Products.

4. Dairy Products.

5. Confectionery, Biscuits and Bakery Products.




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6. Honey, Jaggery and Sugar Products.

7. Cocoa and its products, chocolates of all kinds.

8. Alcoholic and Non-Alcoholic Beverages.

9. Cereal and Cereal Products.

10. Groundnuts, Peanuts and Walnuts.

11. Pickles, Papads and Chutneys.

12. Guar Gum.

13. Floriculture and Floriculture Products.

14. Herbal and Medicinal Plants.

2.6 Army to induct women into military police soon to probe gender crimes

The government has decided to recruit women jawans into the Army‘s Corps of Military Police (CMP)

for investigating gender specific crimes.

Significance of this proposal

The plan is seen as major step towards breaking gender barriers in force.

The proposal is very significant as women will be inducted in the military‘s non-officer cadre for the

first time, although they will be in a non-combat role.

The decision to induct women in Corps of Military Police will help in investigating allegations of gender

specific crimes.

Under this plan 800 women will be inducted initially with yearly intake of 52.

Women were required in the Corps of Military Police (CMP) to investigate gender-specific allegations

and crime.

The women will be inducted as junior commissioned officers and jawans.

Very few countries have allowed women in combat roles. The exceptions include Germany, Australia,

Canada, the US, Britain, Denmark, Finland, France, Norway, Sweden and Israel.

Women in armed forces

The armed forces account for around 3,500 women officers, all of whom are in non-combat roles.

Currently, women are allowed in select areas such as medical, educational, legal, signals and engineering

wings of Indian Army.

Women were allowed to join the military as officers outside the medical stream for the first time in 1992.

In the navy, women are still not permitted to serve in submarines and warships, while the army bars

them from front-line ground combat positions and tank units.

Way ahead

Though this is good move, induction of women into the Army‘s combat arms could still be a long way

as the CMP is only a support arm.




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For women to progress on to roles of higher responsibility and hence equality, there need to be

operational changes in the way the Army looks at its lady officers and at the same time bring out a

mentality change.

Corps of Military Police (CMP)

Corps of Military Police (CMP) is the military police of the Indian Army.

They can be identified by their red berets, white lanyards and belts, and they also wear a black brassard

with the letters MP imprinted in red.

The term ‗red berets‘ is synonymous with the personnel of the elite corps of Military Police (CMP), since

all ranks of this Corps adorn the exclusive red berets along with white belts to distinguish themselves

from other Corps of Army.

Functions of CMP

The role of this Corps is primarily to assist Army formations in maintaining a high standard of discipline

of its troops, prevent breaches of various rules and regulations and to assist in the preservation of high

morale of all ranks of the formation.

The CMP is trained to handle prisoners of war and to regulate traffic, as well as to handle basic

telecommunication equipment such as telephone exchanges.

2.7 Assam Assembly adopts resolution for Population Policy

Asserting that the limited resources cannot afford the rapid population growth and raising an alarm over

the fast changing demography of the State, the Assam legislative assembly has passed a

new ‗Population and Women Empowerment Policy of Assam‘.

Highlights of the policy

The policy has a strict two-child policy for government servants and elected/nominated representatives

of panchayat, municipal and statutory bodies, with stress on women empowerment and awareness.

The Policy seeks to empower women for making learned choice regarding motherhood as it would lead

to better living conditions for the communities.

The policy has provisions to bar people with more than two children from contesting election for

panchayat, municipal and other statutory bodies and committees at the state level.

Assam‘s Demography and its impact on economy

Assam‘s average family size is 5.5 which is above the national average that has pushed the state‘s

population by almost one crore to 3.12 cr between 2001 and 2011 census while the population density is

398 as per 2011 census as against 340 in 2001.

The population pressure has had a profound impact on the economy as Assam was among the lowest

five States in terms of GDP growth (less than 6%) between 2005 and 2014.

Also, the 37.9% of the population fall in the category of ―poverty headcount ratio‖ of UNDP. At 61, the

unemployment rate in the State is also high, compared to the national average of 50.




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Opposition

The policy has received flak from state‘s minority outfits for being ‗against the marginalised‘.

Some argued that Muslims are not even 1% of the government workforce, and the policy intends to shut

them out of the limited job opportunities in the future.

There is a perception that Muslims have more children, but the world knows illiteracy and poverty add

to the numbers.

Some other argued that the population policy infringed upon the reproductive rights of women who

could be forced into unsafe abortions.

2.8 Assam forms ‗State Capital Region‘ around Guwahati

While hearing a 2013 PIL on prevailing inhuman conditions prevailing in 1,382 prisons across the

country, the Supreme Court of India has passed a slew of directions on prison reforms.

In line with the National Capital Region, Assam will have a State Capital Region encompassing

Guwahati and its peripheral areas with the passing of a bill in the state Assembly.

Rationale behind the move

The authority and guidelines of existing Guwahati Municipal Corporation Development Authority

(GMDA), Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) and other urban authorities were not sufficient for

desired development and growth of SCR.

The Assembly recently passed Assam State Capital Region Development Authority (ASCRDA) Bill

2017 to set up the regional authority for preparation of a plan for rapid development of the SCR.

Note

The SCR shall comprise the districts of Kamrup Metropolitan, Kamrup, Nalbari, Darrang and

Morrigaon, fully or partly. Capital Guwahati is in Kamrup Metropolitan district.

ASCRDA will be the overall authority to direct, implement and monitor the development of SCR.

ASCRDA will be headed by the State Chief Minister. It will prepare a regional plan for the area and

coordinate the preparation of functional plans, regional plans, development schemes and project plans

by the authority itself as well as by the municipal corporations, local bodies, panchayats and different

government departments.

The body will be entrusted to organise and oversee the financing of selected development projects in the

State Capital Region through government funding as well as other sources of revenue

2.9 Bharat Petroleum set to get Maharatna status

State-run oil marketing company Bharat Petroleum Corporation (BPCL) is all set to become a

Maharatna company.

The decision to elevate BPCL to Maharatna status was taken by a panel headed by the Cabinet secretary.

BPCL is at present a Navratna firm.

Benefits of becoming Maharatna




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After becoming a Maharatna firm, the board of BPCL will get enhanced powers which will help in

expansion of operations, both in India and abroad.

Eligibility for Maharatna status

Under government rules, a firm is eligible for Maharatna status if

It is already a listed Navratna firm,

It has an average turnover, net worth and

annual net profit after tax of at least Rs 25,000

crore, Rs 15,000 crore and Rs 5,000 crore,

respectively, in the last three years.

The company should have significant global

operations.

At present, there are seven Maharatna

companies

1. Bharat Heavy Electricals,

2. Coal India,

3. GAIL (India),

4. Indian Oil Corporation (IOC),

5. National Thermal Power Corporation

(NTPC),

6. Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) and

7. Steel Authority of India (SAIL)

2.10 BSF, ITBP chiefs stress on need for technology in border management

Highlighting the role of technology for better border management, the chiefs of the Border Security

Force and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police have said that sealing the border with Pakistan using smart

technology- aided fence will be in place by December next year.

What is CIBMS?

At the moment, BSF is working on a Comprehensive Integrated Border Management System (CIBMS)

which will be deployed along the International Border with Pakistan.

CIBMS is expected to counter infiltration and cross-border terror attacks.




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The system employs latest technology

which would detect infiltration via land,

underwater, air and tunnels.

The concept of CIBMS is the integration

of manpower, sensors and command and

control to improve situational awareness

and facilitate quick response to emerging

situations.

Components of CIBMS

Among major components of CIBMS is

the ‗virtual fence‘.

The second component is the command

and control, which will help in optimum

use of resources for border management.

Another component is power management to keep CIBMS running.

Indo-Pakistan border

India shares 3323 Km (including Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu & Kashmir sector) of its land border

with Pakistan.

This border runs along the States of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Punjab and Jammu & Kashmir.

The Indo-Pakistan border has varied terrain and distinct geographical features.

This border is characterized by attempts at infiltration by terrorists and smuggling of arms, ammunition

and contraband, the Line of Control being the most active and live portion of the border.

India‘s coastal security challenges

India‘s long coastline presents a variety of security challenges including illegal landing of arms and

explosives at isolated spots on the coast, infiltration/ex- filtration of anti-national elements, use of the

sea and off shore islands for criminal activities, smuggling of consumer and intermediate goods through

sea routes etc.

Absence of physical barriers on the coast and presence of vital industrial and defence installations near

the coast also enhance the vulnerability of the coasts to illegal cross border activities.

What needs to do?

Smart borders on one hand should allow seamless movement of authorized people and goods, while on

the other, minimise cross-border security challenges using innovation and technology enablement.

Over the long term, smart border management will also have to incorporate systems that digitally

monitor patterns of activity through and around border areas to root out organised crime and anti-

national events.




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There is also a need to revisit the policies on border management to ensure that the frontier regions

grow in step with the rest of the country.

2.11 Cabinet approves Extension of time period of Udaan

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) extended time period ―Special Industry Initiative

for J&K‖ (Sll J&K)- Udaan Scheme till December, 2018 without any modification and cost escalation.

Proposal in this regard was forwarded by Ministry of Home Affairs.

Initially the time period of UDAAN Scheme was upto 2016-17.

UDAAN Scheme

Udaan is national integration scheme with goal to mainstream J&K youth with rest of country.

It not only provides skill enhancement and job opportunity but also connects bright youths from J&K

with vibrant corporate sector of country.

Udaan Scheme provides exposure to youth of J&K to best of corporate India and corporate India to

rich talent pool available in State.

So far, 109 leading corporate entities have partnered with National Skill Development Corporation

(NSDC) under scheme with commitment to train youth from State covering Banking, Financial Services,

IT, ITES, Organized Retail, Infrastructure, Hospitality etc.

2.12 Commemorative Coins on

Dr. M.S. Subbulakshmi

Commemorative coins of Rs

100 and Rs 10 denomination

were released on the occasion

of 101st Birth Centenary of

noted Carnatic musician Dr.

MS Subbulakshmi.

She was the first musician to

be awarded Bharat Ratna,

India‘s highest civilian honour

in 1998.

She was also the first Indian

musician to receive the Ramon Magsaysay award, often considered Asia‘s Nobel Prize in 1974 and first

Indian musician to perform at UN General Assembly.

In 2016, to mark her birth centenary, UN Postal Administration had issued stamp to honour her.




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2.13 Committee to advise on RERA

The Centre is setting up a 31-member Central Advisory Council that will advise the government on

protecting home buyers' interests, better implementation of the real estate regulation law and ensuring

growth in the real estate sector.

The committee will include secretaries from various ministries, state departments' representatives, home

buyers' associations, and construction workers advisory committee. Further, members of builders'

association and the Namma Bengaluru Foundation will also be part of the committee. As reported

earlier, six out of ten under-construction projects in Mumbai revised their delivery targets by more than

a year after the Real Estate Regulation and Development (RERA) Act, 2016, came into force.

About 57 per cent of projects registered with RERA authority in Maharashtra have extended the

delivery timelines, said a survey by property consultant Knight Frank.

The report covered residential units registered with the Maharashtra RERA regulator, or the

MahaRERA, in the Mumbai suburbs until August 16, 2017.

RERA came into force on May 1, with the government calling it the beginning of a "new era".

The act specifies that all existing projects must be registered with the state's regulatory authority by July

2017 and that no new project can be launched without this registration.

As reported earlier, under the central law, each state has to notify rules and set up a regulatory authority

to manage the real estate sector. The law provides for strict penalties against promoters and builders for

not fulfilling promises.

According to industry information, between 2011 and 2015, about 2,349 to 4,488 real estate projects

were launched every year amounting to a total of 17,526 projects with a total investment of Rs 13.70

lakh crore in 27 cities, including 15 state capitals.

2.14 Deendayal Hastkala Sankul

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Deendayal Hastkala Sankul, a trade facilitation centre and

Crafts Museum for handicrafts at Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh.

Deendayal Hastkala Sankul

The centre will facilitate weavers/artisans/exporters in promotion of handlooms and handicrafts in both

domestic and international markets.

Moreover, Crafts Museum at the centre will preserve traditional handloom/handicrafts products of

Varanasi and showcase handloom & handicraft products.

The centre and Crafts Museum was proposed by Union Finance Minister in his 2014-15 Budget speech

to develop and promote handlooms, handicrafts and silk products.

Significance

The centre will help to

1. Promotes rich traditional craft of ancient Varanasi.




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2. Provides enabling platform and environment to showcase Indian handloom and handicrafts.

3. Provides supply chain linkages to domestic and foreign buyers.

4. Give thrust to domestic and international tourism.

5. Give boost to trade and economic development of Varanasi as well as eastern parts of the country.

2.15 Diamond Jubilee celebrations of Directorate General of Quality Assurance

Directorate General of Quality Assurance (DGQA) has completed 60 years of its existence.

Directorate General of Quality Assurance (DGQA)

DGQA functions under Department of Defence Production, Ministry of Defence.

This organisation is more than hundred years old. Although it was established in 1957, its origin dates

back to 1869.

Its headquarters are located in New Delhi.

Functions of DGQA

DGQA‘s mandate is to provide Quality Assurance (QA) cover for entire range of Arms, Ammunitions,

Equipments and Stores supplied to Armed Forces.

It is responsible for import substitution and associates with Defence Research and Development

Organisation (DRDO) in the development projects.

It ensures documentation, codification and standardisation action for minimizing variety of

components/ equipments.

It also renders services such as promotion of small scale industries, post procurement services, defect

investigations and technical consultancy to users, production agencies and Defence Ministry.

2.16 FarmerZone: The future of agriculture

Sri Lanka welcomed External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj‘s visit to the nation to attend two-day

Indian Ocean Conference.

The Union Ministry of Science and Technology is planning to create FarmerZone, a collective open-

source data platform for smart agriculture by using biological research and data to improve

lives of small and marginal farmers.

It was announced by Department of Biotechnology (DBT) at recently convened Smart Agriculture

Conclave in New Delhi.

The objective of conclave was to set stage for ―FarmerZone‖.

It was organised by DBT in partnership with UK‘s Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research

Council (BBSRC) and Research Councils UK (RCUK) India.

FarmerZone platform

FarmerZone envisioned by the DBT aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi‘s call for effective

decision-making in agriculture by integrating science, technology, innovation and farm ecosystem.




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This platform aims to

cater all needs of

farmer from dealing

with climate change,

weather predictions

and soil, water and

seed requirements.

It will connect farmers

and scientists,

government officials,

economists and

representatives from

global companies who

work in the big-data

and e-commerce space

to bring about

technology-based

localised agri-

solutions.

This platform will work to collect relevant quality data related to agriculture into the cloud and also

develop sites to help link with farmers and evolve PPP based enterprises for data delivery.

2.17 FSSAI launches online platform for food inspection, sampling

To bring in transparency in food safety inspection and sampling, food regulator Food Safety and

Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has put in place a nationwide online platform called

‗FoSCoRIS‘.

FSSAI has asked states to adopt this system as it would help eliminate discrepancy and make food safety

officers accountable.

‗FoSCoRIS‘ system

The web-based ‗FoSCoRIS‘ system will help verify compliance of food safety and hygiene standards by

food businesses as per the government norms.

The new system will bring together all key stakeholders — food businesses, food safety officers (FSOs),

designated officers, state food safety commissioners — on a nation-wide IT platform and data related to

inspection, sampling and test result data will be shared seamlessly by all the officials.

This system will give a clear picture to the FSSAI on the real-time basis and helps eliminate any

discrepancy, hence inspection is accountable.




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The system will ease out the process of sample collection, make it transparent and traceable and controls

the quality of compliances.

How will it be implemented?

The new system requires a hand-held device with internet connectivity with FSOs.

FSSAI has asked those states that have already provided hand-held devices to FSOs to straightway adopt

the system while other states have been asked to provide such devices to FSOs or on rental and even

reimburse mobile expenses to them.

The states have been told to appoint a nodal officer for this purpose and send the details of the officers

of the state food authority for integrating them with FoSCoRIS.

Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is an agency of the Ministry of Health &

Family Welfare, Government of India.

The FSSAI has been established under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006which is a

consolidating statute related to food safety and regulation in India.

The FSSAI is led by a non-executive Chairperson, appointed by the Central Government.

The Chairperson is in the rank of Secretary to Government of India.

The agency also has 8 regional offices, 4 referral laboratories and 72 local laboratories located

throughout India..

2.18 Government Checking Report On Law To Deal With Internet Hate Speech

The Home Ministry is examining a report given by a high-level committee formed to propose new laws

or amendments to deal with hate speech on the internet.

The committee, headed by TK Viswanathan, has submitted a report on this to the Home Ministry

recently.

Recommendations made by the committee

Section 78 of the IT Act needs to be substituted and Section 153 and 505A of the Indian Penal Code

need to be amended.

Section 78 primarily dealt with capacity building and needs to be relooked at with a view to sensitise law

enforcement agency officers. Under it, a police officer of the rank of inspector or above was empowered

to investigate offences.

Each state should have a State Cyber Crime Coordinator which should be an officer not below the rank

of Inspector General of Police.

Each district to have a District Cyber Crime Cell headed by an officer not below the rank of sub-

inspector.

The TK Viswanathan committee was formed after the Supreme Court struck down section 66A of the

Information Technology Act.




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Section 66A defines the punishment for sending ―offensive‖ messages through a computer or any other

communication device like a mobile phone or a tablet. A conviction can fetch a maximum of three years

in jail and a fine.

Considering the growing menace of hate speech and abuse on the internet in the absence of the

provision, the committee was reportedly set up to propose new laws and amendments in existing laws.

2.19 Govt launches Pradhan Mantri LPG Panchayat to boost PMUY

The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas launched country-wide Pradhan Mantri LPG Panchayat

scheme to distribute LPG connections among rural areas where conventional fuel is used for domestic

purposes.

It is backup scheme to existing Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana.

LPG Panchayat scheme

The LPG Panchayat scheme aims at spreading awareness among LPG users about how to properly use

clean fuel and its useful benefits.

It will provide platform to trigger discussion through sharing of personal experiences on benefits of use

of clean fuel compared to traditional fuels like cowdung,

charcoal or wood.

It also aims to connect with beneficiaries of Ujjwala Yojana

to resolve issues and wrong traditional beliefs among people

through officials of oil PSUs, NGOs, Asha workers and

social workers.

Under it, one lakh LPG Panchayats will be activated across

coun

try

to

deal

with

issue of safe use of LPG as well as discuss its

various benefits on environment, health and

how it empowers women.

LPG Panchayat will serve as an interactive

platform between those who received LPG

cylinders under PMUY.

One panchayat will have around 100 LPG

customers of nearby areas.




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The panchayats discuss issues such as safe practices, quality of service provided by distributors and

availability of refill cylinders.

Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana

Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana aims to provide five crore LPG connections to women in Below

Poverty Line (BPL) households over the next three financial years, at a cost of Rs. 8,000 crore.

The scheme is being implemented by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.

The scheme will be partially funded from the savings accruing to the government from LPG users who

gave up their subsidy as part of the Give It Up programme.

The new users who receive LPG connections under the scheme will not have to pay the security deposit,

while the Rs. 1,600 administrative costs, cost of pressure regulator booklet and safety hose will be borne

by the government.

The households will be selected using the socio-economic and caste census data. Consumers will have

the option to purchase gas stove and refills on EMI.

2.20 Graded Surveillance Measure

More than 900 companies are being monitored under the Graded Surveillance Measure, designed by

market regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI).

Graded Surveillance Measure

Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) and Exchanges in order to enhance market integrity and

safeguard interest of investors, have introduced Graded Surveillance Measures(GSM) wherein certain

identified securities shall be subjected to enhanced monitoring and surveillance actions

The main objective of these measures is to:

1. alert and advice investors to be extra cautious while dealing in these securities and

2. advice market participants to carry out necessary due diligence while dealing in these securities.

Why did SEBI bring in the measure?

The underlying principle behind the graded surveillance framework is to alert and protect investors

trading in a security, which is seeing abnormal price movements.

SEBI may put shares of companies under the measure for suspected price rigging or under the ambit of

‗shell companies‘.

The measure would provide a heads up to market participants that they need to be extra cautious and

diligent while dealing in such securities put under surveillance.

How the Graded Surveillance Measure works?

Once a firm is identified for surveillance it goes through six stages with corresponding surveillance

actions and the restrictions on trading in those securities gets higher progressively.




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In the first stage.the securities are put in the trade-to-trade segment (meaning no speculative trading is

allowed and delivery of shares and payment of consideration amount are mandatory). A maximum of

5% movement in share price is allowed.

In the second stage, in addition to the trade-to-trade segment, the buyer of the security has to put

100% of trade value as additional surveillance deposit. The deposit would be retained by the exchanges

for a period of five months and refunded in a phased manner.

In the third stage, trading is permitted only once a week ie every Monday, apart from the buyer putting

100% of the trade value as additional surveillance deposit.

In the fourth stage, trading would be allowed once a week and the surveillance deposit increases to

200% of the trade value.

In the fifth stage, trading would be permitted only once a month (first Monday of the month) with

additional deposit of 200%.

In the sixth and final stage, there are maximum restrictions. Trading is permitted only once a month

at this stage, with no upward movement allowed in price. Also, the additional surveillance deposit would

be 200%.

Will securities remain permanently in the Graded Surveillance list?

There would a quarterly review of securities. Based on criteria, the securities would be moved from a

higher stage to a lower stage in a sequential manner.

How would these measures affect small investors?

The challenge for the small investors is that these announcements are often made at very short notice

and implemented from the next day itself thus giving those who have already entered the stock less than

adequate time to exit it.

There is also potentially another risk. For example, even if time is given, the stock might crash next day

on the news, triggering the lower price circuit and leaving no exit opportunity.

2.21 Health Ministry launches two new contraceptives

In a bid to keep a check on the increasing population in the country, The Ministry of Health and Family

Welfare has launched two new contraceptives- Antara and Chhaya.

They have been launched in 10 states under Mission ParivarVikas, a central family planning initiative.

These 10 states of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Haryana, West

Bengal, Odisha, Delhi and Goa.

Antara is injectable contraceptive, effective for three months drug whereas Chayya is contraceptive pill,

effective for one week.

Both of contraceptives are safe and highly effective. They will be available for free in medical colleges

and district hospitals in 10 states.




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The introduction of these new contraceptives will expand the basket of choices for country‘s population

to meet their family planning needs

Mission ParivarVikas

The Mission ParivarVikas aims to accelerate access to high quality family planning choices based on

information, reliable services and supplies within a rights-based framework.

Its main objective is to bring down Total Fertility Rate (TFR) to 2.1, which is when population of

country starts stabilizing by 2025.

Its strategic focus is on improving access to contraceptives through delivering assured services, ensuring

commodity security and accelerating access to high quality family planning services.

It will utilise RMNCH+A strategy, FPLMIS and consumer friendly website on family planning.

The mission is being implemented in 146 high focus districts that house 44% of country‘s population,

with highest TFR of 3 and more in country.

The high focus districts are in 7 states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Jharkhand,

Chhattisgarh and Assam.

2.22 Home Ministry team to study risks faced by border villages

The home ministry will set up an expert group to look into the problems people living in villages along

the Line of Control (LoC) face.

The study group will look at ways to improve lives of cross-border ceasefire violation victims.




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The study group is expected to come up with suggestions to not only increase the safety and security of

the border residents but also to look at ways of making funding in Border Are a Development

Programmes effective.

What are the concerns?

Many people have abandoned their home and have been living in relief camps for the last four months

to escape firing and shelling from across the border.

Lives of the people who faced such frequent firing are fraught with risks and more is needed to be done.

According to numbers in the home ministry, in 2011, there were 62 ceasefire violations by Pakistan.

There were 114 of those in 2012 and 347 in 2013. In 2014, the number of cross- fire violations went up

to 583.

It was 405 in 2015 and 449 in 2016. In 2017, till August, there have been 418 ceasefire violations by

Pakistan.

2.23 India and Norway sign Letter of Intent to extend health cooperation

India has signed Letter of Intent (LoI) with Norway to extend the cooperation within health sector

through the Norway India Partnership Initiative (NIPI) for a period of three years starting from 2018.

Through this letter, the cooperation between India and Norway will continue to be aligned with the

development goals of the Indian Government as outlined in its National Health Policy 2017 for

achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The cooperation would mainly focus on global health issues of common interest.

It would also include areas related to reproductive, maternal, newborn, child, adolescent health and

strengthening of the health system.

It would also build on experiences from NIPI phase I and II.




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Besides this, it would focus on innovative, catalytic and strategic support taking the Indian

Government‘s Intensification Plan for Accelerated Maternal and Child Survival in India as the starting

point.

In 2006, governments of India and Norway had agreed to collaborate towards achieving MDG 4 in

order to reduce child mortality based on commitments made by the two Prime Ministers.

The partnership, based on India‘s health initiative- the National Health Mission (NHM), was aimed at

facilitating rapid improvement in the quality of child and maternal health services in four high focus

states – Bihar, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.

Besides the four states, the partnership initiative will now also be extended to the state of Jammu &

Kashmir.

2.24 India introduces no-fly list for unruly passengers

The Ministry of Civil Aviation has issued rules to tackle on-board disruptive and unruly behaviour by

passengers. It allows for formation of national, No Fly List of such unruly passengers.

In this regard, DGCA has revised relevant sections of Civil Aviation Requirement.

It has been done in accordance with provisions of Tokyo Convention 1963.

The promulgation of No-Fly List in India is unique and first-of-its-kind in world.

Its concept is based on concern for safety of passengers, crew and aircraft and not just on security

threat.

Highlights of the new rule

Applicability

Revised CAR will be applicable for all Indian operators engaged in scheduled and non-scheduled air

transport services, both domestic and international.

It will also be applicable to foreign carriers subject to compliance of Tokyo Convention 1963.

Categories of unruly behavior

It defines three categories of unruly behavior

Level 1: Behaviour that is verbally unruly, and calls for debarment upto 3 months if found guilty;

Level 2: Physical unruliness and can lead to passenger being debarred from flying for upto 6 months

and

Level 3: Life-threatening behaviour where debarment would be for a minimum of 2 years.

Probe

The cases of unruly behaviour will be probed by an internal committee set up by every domestic airline

under chairmanship of retired District and Sessions judge.




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Its members will be from different

scheduled airlines and consumer

associations, passenger associations and

retired officials of Consumer Dispute

Redressal Forum.

Internal committee

The internal committee will have to decide

matter of offence committed by passenger

within 30 days along with duration of ban.

In case Internal Committee fails to come

to a decision in 30 days then passenger

will be free to fly.

Appeal

Revised CAR also has appeal mechanism which provides an aggrieved person provision to appeal within

60 days of order to an appellate committee constituted by Ministry of Civil Aviation.

No- Fly list

Interestingly, under new CAR one airline is not be bound by no-fly list of another domestic airline. It

also does not allow passenger to circumvent domestic fly ban by flying to nearby foreign country and

then fly back to original destination in India.

Moreover, unruly behaviour of passengers in airport premises will be dealt with by relevant security

agencies.

2.25 India will soon grant citizenship to Chakma, Hajong refugees

The Centre will soon grant citizenship to nearly one lakh Chakma and Hajong refugees, who came from

the erstwhile East Pakistan five decades ago and are living in camps in the northeast.

Government‘s decision comes in line with Supreme Court order in 2015 in this regard.

The apex country had directed Union government to grant citizenship to these refugees, mostly staying

in Arunachal Pradesh.

Chakmas and Hajongs?

Chakmas and Hajongs were originally residents of Chittagong Hill Tracts in the erstwhile East Pakistan.

They left their homeland when it was submerged by the Kaptai dam project in the 1960s.

The Chakmas, who are Buddhists, and the Hajongs, who are Hindus, also allegedly faced religious

persecution and entered India through the then Lushai Hills district of Assam (now Mizoram).

The Centre moved the majority of them to the North East Frontier Agency (NEFA), which is now

Arunachal Pradesh.




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Their numbers have gone up from about 5,000 in 1964-69 to one lakh. At present, they don‘t have

citizenship and land rights but are provided basic amenities by the state government.

In 2015, the Supreme Court had given deadline to Union Government to confer citizenship to these

refugees within three months.

Later, Arunachal Pradesh Government moved to top court against the order. However, the apex court

rejected Arunachal Pradesh Government‘s plea. Since then state and the Centre began consultations on

the issue.

Opposition to their citizenship

Several organisations and civil society in Arunachal Pradesh are opposing granting citizenship to

refugees saying it would change demography of state and would reduce indigenous tribal communities to

minority and deprive them of opportunities.

Way ahead

The Union Government is trying to find workable solution by proposing that these refugees will not be

given rights to own land, which are exclusively enjoyed by Scheduled Tribes in Arunachal Pradesh.

However, Government may be given Inner Line permits (required for non-locals to travel and work in

three states Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram and Nagaland).

2.26 INS Kalvari, First Indian Scorpene Submarine, Handed Over to Navy

INS Kalvari, the first of the six Scorpene-class submarines, has been handed over to the Indian Navy by

shipbuilder Mazgaon Dock limited, paving way for its commissioning soon.

The development marks a major milestone in Indian Navy‘s submarine programme as the vessel is

expected to bolster India‘s maritime prowess.

Features of INS Kalvari

INS Kalvari is a class of diesel-electric attack submarine. These submarines are based on the Scorpene-

class submarine being built for the Indian Navy.

Kalvari is named after a deep-sea tiger shark. The Scorpene is part of the ambitious Project 75 of

Indian Navy‘s submarine programme.

While INS Kalvari is designed by French naval defence and energy company DCNS, they are being

manufactured by Mazagon Dock Limited in Mumbai.

All six Kalvari class submarines being built in India will be equipped with anti-ship missiles.

It is stealth submarine difficult to be detected by the enemy and is designed to operate in all theatres

including the tropics.

It can undertake various operations including multifarious warfare, Anti-submarine warfare, Intelligence

gathering, mine laying, area surveillance etc.

It can launch attack on the enemy using precision guided weapons and attack can be launched from

underwater or on surface.




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It can launch attack on the enemy using precision guided weapons and attack can be launched from

underwater or on surface.

These missiles will provide the submarines the ability to neutralise surface threats at extended ranges and

boost India‘s maritime security.

Six Scorpene submarines are being built under Project-75 by Mazgaon Docks Limited (MDL) with

technology transfer from France.

All the six submarines under this projects will be indigenously built at Mumbai‘s Mazagaon Dockyard

Ltd.

All six submarines will be fitted with indigenous Air Independent Propulsion System (AIP) technology

developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) to extend their endurance.

The second Scorpene submarine in the series, INS Khanderi was launched in January 2017 after the

ghost of data leak which threatened to derail project in August 2016.

2.27 INS Tarasa commissioned into Indian Navy

INS Tarasa, a Water Jet Fast Attack Craft (WJFAC) was recently commissioned into the Indian Navy.

INS Tarasa

INS Tarasa is the fourth and last of the follow-on Water Jet FAC‘s built by the Garden Reach

Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata.

INS Tarasa has been named after the picturesque island in the Andaman and Nicobar archipelago in

Bay of Bengal.

The ship is an ideal platform for missions like coastal and off-shore surveillance, EEZ Patrol, law

enforcement as well as non-military missions such as Search and Rescue, Humanitarian Assistance and

Disaster Relief.

This is the second ship of the Indian Navy to be named INS Tarasa. The first INS Tarasa was in service

of the Navy from 1999 to 2014. She was gifted to Seychelles Coast Guard as a symbol of India‘s

partnership with friendly maritime nation in IOR.

The new INS Tarasa will be based at Mumbai under the operational control of Western Naval

Command.

The ship is of proven design, has good endurance, low draught, high speed and manoeuvrability, thus

making her most suited for her primary role of extended coastal and offshore surveillance and patrol.

WJFACs are ideally suited and used for interception of fast-moving surface craft. INS Tarasa is fourth

and last of follow-on WJFAC‘s indegenously built GRSE, Kolkata.

The first two ships of class INS Tarmugli and INS Tihayu were commissioned in 2016 and are based

at Visakhapatnam. The third ship INS Tillanchang was commissioned earlier in March 2017 at

Karwar, Gujarat.




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2.28 Japan teams up with India for Northeast

India and Japan have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to set up India Japan Act East

Forum to enhance connectivity and promote developmental projects in Northeast India.

It was one of the 15 major agreements signed between both countries during Japanese Prime Minister

Shinzo Abe‘s visit to India for the 12th Indo-Japan annual summit.

India Japan Act East Forum

The purpose of forum is to converge India‘s Act East Policy with Japan‘s Free and Open Asia-Pacific

strategy in the backdrop of China‘s One Belt One Road initiative.

It will enhance connectivity and promote developmental projects in India‘s Northeast region in an

efficient and effective manner.

It can complement India‘s connectivity initiatives in Bangladesh, Myanmar and beyond, besides BBIN

(Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal) and BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical

and Economic Cooperation) Motor Vehicle Agreements.

Japan has historic connection with India‘s northeast and is among few countries that India has allowed a

presence in eight landlocked northeastern states which are India‘s gateway to ASEAN members

countries.

India and Japan agree that improving connectivity between Asia and Africa is vital for achieving

prosperity of the entire region.

Japanese Contribution to North East

Japan has cooperated with variety of

development projects in Northeast,

ranging from connectivity

infrastructure such as roads and

electricity, water supply and sewage

and environmental conservation such

as forest resource management and

biodiversity.

India and Japan have signed document

on Japanese loan and aid for highway

development in Northeast which can

complement India‘s connectivity

initiatives in Bangladesh, Myanmar

and beyond.

Japan is also extending loan of Rs.2,239 crore to India for ‗North East Road Network Connectivity

Improvement Project‘ to improve National Highway 40 (NH-40) and construct a bypass on NH-54 in




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Northeast. These projects are expected to improve intra-regional and international connectivity through

regional economic development.

Chinese Opposition

China has expressed dissatisfaction over proposed Japanese investments in India‘s North-East states.

China warned that third-party should not meddle in border disputes between India and China.

It held that negotiations are still on to settle eastern section of China-India border, so it is oppoing

involvement of any third party in region in whatsoever form.

2.29 Japan to fund mass rapid transit systems in Gujarat, Haryana

On the eve of Antyodaya Diwas 2017, Rural Skills Division, Ministry of Rural Development has

organized an event ‗Bharat ke Kaushalzaade‘.

Funds from a Japanese government loan will soon be utilised for the first time in the $100 billion, Delhi-

Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC) project.

So far, the mega-project was being developed only with the

Indian government‘s financial assistance.

A soft loan (with concessional conditions) to the tune of

$4.5 billion to be extended by the Japan International

Cooperation Agency (JICA), will shortly be utilised to

develop two Mass Rapid Transit Systems (MRTS) — one

each in Gujarat and Haryana — that will be part of the

DMIC.

DMIC

Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC) 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.

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.

The corridor would pass through the six States – U.P, NCR of Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan,

Gujarat and Maharashtra.

It‘s end terminals would be at Dadri in the National Capital Region of Delhi and Jawaharlal Nehru Port

near Mumbai.

Distribution of length of the corridor indicates that Rajasthan (39) and Gujarat (38%) together constitute

77% of the total length of the alignment of freight corridor.




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2.30 Kandla Port renamed as Deendayal Port

The Ministry of Shipping has issued a notification renaming Kandla Port Trust as Deendayal Port Trust

with effect from 25th of September, 2017.

As per the Ministry‘s notification, the Central Government, in exercise of powers conferred on it under

Indian Ports Act, 1908, made the amendment to replace ―Kandla‖ with ―Deendayal‖.

The name was changed as part of yearlong centenary celebrations of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay, who

had stood for uplift of poor and weaker sections of society.

Kandla Port, located on the Gulf of Kutch in Gujarat, is one of the twelve major ports in the country.

It is the largest port of India in terms of volume of cargo handled (around 100 million tons freight).

It was constructed in 1950s as main seaport to serve in western India, alternative to Karachi port which

came under Pakistan‘s control after partition.

In March 2016, Kandla Port had created history by becoming first Major Port in the country to cross

100 million tons freight handling capacity.

2.31 Karnataka govt invokes ESMA against garbage contractors

The Karnataka government has invoked the Essential Services Maintenance Act against garbage

contractors and sanitation workers employed under them following complaints that they were not

discharging their duties.

The law has been invoked for a year to ensure that waste is removed from the city.

What‘s the issue?

The garbage problem has turned worse in Bengaluru recently as the contractors have allegedly stopped

removing the waste, causing a huge pileup that has left many important places stinking and brought the

city civic body Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike in the line of fire.

About ESMA Act:

The Essential Services Maintenance (ESMA) is an act of Parliament of India which was established to

ensure the delivery of certain services, which if obstructed would affect the normal life of the people.

This include services like public transport (bus services), health services (doctors and hospitals).

The ESMA is a central law, that is, a law made by the Parliament of India; but the discretion on the

execution of it mostly lies with the State governments.

Each state in the union of India hence has a separate state Essential Services Maintenance Act with

slight variations from the central law in its provisions. This freedom is accorded by the central law itself.

Although it is a very powerful law, its execution rests entirely on the discretion of the State government.

The law has seen little use in India, with many strikes by public transport providers or staff, doctors or

Government employees, being continued for weeks without ESMA being invoked by the Union

Government or the State Government.




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There have been instances of citizens approaching courts for implementation of ESMA, and the

executive being forced by court orders to declare ESMA over a strike and the strikes being called off

overnight.

2.32 Ministry of AYUSH

The Department of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy (AYUSH) is a

governmental body in India.

Its aim is developing, education and research in Ayurveda, yoga, naturopathy, unani, siddha,

homoeopathy, Sowa-rigpa and other indigenous medicine systems.

The department was created in March 1995 as the Department of Indian Systems of Medicine and

Homoeopathy (ISM&H).

The department was renamed AYUSH in March 2003.

The Ministry of AYUSH was formed with effect from 9 November 2014 by elevation of the

Department of AYUSH..

2.33 Multi-Agency Exercise ‗Pralay Sahayam‘

A multi-agency exercise was recently conducted on the banks of Hussain Sagar Lake as the final event of

‗Pralay Sahayam‘ in Hyderabad.

The two-day exercise was jointly organised by Telangana state government in association with all central

and state agencies National Disaster Relief Force (NDRF) and Armed Forces.

The exercise aimed to create public awareness about man-made and natural climate change and urban

disasters including flooding.

The exercise brought out the role and function of the State Emergency Operations in coordinating

conduct of the joint operations.

The exercise emphasized the significance of early warning systems of agencies like Indian Meteorological

Department (IMD), National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) and Indian National Centre for Ocean

Information Services (INCOIS).

The exercise culminated with a static display which demonstrated the efficient and functional layout of a

relief and rehabilitation camp for the displaced persons.

NDRF

The Disaster Management (DM) Act has made the statutory provisions for constitution of National

Disaster Response Force (NDRF) for the purpose of specialized response to natural and man-made

disasters.

Role and mandate of NDRF

Specialized response during disasters

Proactive deployment during impending disaster situations

Acquire and continually upgrade its own training and skills




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Liaison, Reconnaissance, Rehearsals and Mock Drills

Impart basic and operational level training to State Response Forces (Police, Civil Defence and Home

Guards)

Community Capacity Building Programme

Public Awareness Campaign

What are the features which make NDRF a Unique Force?

The only dedicated disaster response force of the world.

The only agency with comprehensive response capabilities having multi-disciplinary and multi-skilled,

high-tech, stand alone nature.

Experienced paramilitary personnel specially trained and equipped for disaster response.

Capabilities for undertaking disaster response, prevention, mitigation and capacity building.

Locations of NDRF BNs

These NDRF battalions are located at ten different locations in the country based on the vulnerability

profile of country and to cut down the response time for their deployment at disaster site.

2.34 National Nutrition Week 2017



The National Nutrition Week will be observed throughout the country from 1st to 7th September.

The theme of the National Nutrition Week for 2017 is ―Optimal Infant & Young Child Feeding

Practices: Better Child Health‖.

The basic objective of this annual event is to intensify awareness generation on the importance of

nutrition for health which has an impact on development, productivity, economic growth and ultimately

National development.

During this week, the Food and Nutrition Board of Ministry of Women & Child Development will

coordinate with concerned Department of the State/UT Governments, National Institutions, NGOs

and organize State/UT Level Workshops, Orientation Training of Fields Functionaries, Awareness

Generation Camps, Community meetings during the week on the specified theme.

Large numbers of State, district and village level activities are being organized during this week.

One day workshops will be held to sensitize and for capacity building of State/Districts Level officers

on importance of nutrition for better health.

Right Nutrition: Significance

Nutrition is an issue of survival, health and development for current and succeeding generations.

Child born underweight have impaired immune function and increased risk of diseases such as diabetes

and heart diseases in their later life.




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Malnourished children tend to have lower IQ and impaired cognitive ability, thus affecting their school

performance and then productivity in their later life.

It has to be realized that the nutritional health and all age groups represent say National Economic

Asset. Therefore, improving the nutritional status of the population is imperative for National

Development.


Undernutrition in young children continues to be a major public health problem in India.

The NFHS4 has not shown an encouraging improvement in the nutritional status, especially among

women and children.

As per NFHS-4 the level of underweight has decreased by 6.8% and is stunting by 9.6%.

Level of anaemia has decreased by 11% as compared to NNHS-3 figures.

What need to be done?

Malnutrition is not to be viewed merely as an offshoot of poverty having adverse effects on health and

development of individuals but as a national problem that results in loss of productivity and economic

backwardness.

Time has come to create a moment so as to improve nutrition at the individual level.

Thus, series of convergent and well coordinated actions in different sectors are required to be

undertaken in the mission mode approach to address this big network problem of malnutrition.

2.35 Navika Sagar Parikrama

Defence Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman recently flagged-off all-women crew of Navika Sagar Parikrama

at the INS Mandovi naval training base near Panaji.

The crew of the ‗Sagar Parikrama‘ comprises of six-member all women team on board the sailing

vessel INSV Tarini. INSV Tarini is the sister vessel of INSV Mhadei.

They will circumnavigate the globe in approximately 165 days and is expected to return to Goa in April

2018.

This is the first ever Indian circumnavigation of the globe by an all-women crew. The project is

considered essential towards promoting Ocean Sailing activities in the Navy while depicting

Government of India‘s thrust for ‗Nari Shakti‘.

Navika Sagar Parikrama would cover the expedition in five legs with stop-overs at four ports

(Fremantle, Australia; Lyttleton, New Zealand; Port Stanley, the Falklands; and Cape town, South

Africa) for replenishment of ration and repairs as necessary, before returning to Goa in April 2018.




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Additional aims of the Expedition are as follows

Nari Shakti

In consonance with the National policy to empower women to attain their full potential, the expedition

aims to showcase ‗Nari Shakti‘ on the world platform.

This would also help to discard the societal attitudes and mindset towards women in India by raising

visibility of participation by women in challenging environment.

Environment and Climate Change

Sailing encourages the use of environment friendly non-conventional renewable energy resources which

affects the life of women.

The expedition thereby aims at harnessing the energy to optimise the livelihood of the women onboard.

Make in India

The voyage also aims to show case the ‗Make in India‘ initiative by sailing onboard the indigenously built

INSV Tarini.

Meteorological/ Ocean/ Wave Data Observation

The crew would also collate and update Meteorological/ Ocean/ Wave data on a daily basis for

subsequent analysis by research and development organisations.




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Marine Pollution

The crew would monitor and report marine pollution on the high seas. 2.36 On his 67th birthday, PM Modi dedicates Sardar Sarovar Narmada Dam to the nation

With the project‘s completion, Gujarat would see a green revolution as farmers in the parched northern

and Saurashtra regions would have their lands irrigated.

Though the dam has been completed in Narmada district of south Gujarat, the massive and sprawling

canal network remains woefully incomplete.

Its potential benefits to the farmers will, therefore, not be realised for many years, till the canal network

is in place.

So far, 50% of the canal network is yet to be built. The main canal and all branch canals have been built

but distributary and field channels will take years to be completed.

The project was delayed by a strong movement by the Narmada BachaoAndolan, led by social activist

MedhaPatkar, who opposed the dam on the ground that it displaced thousands of families in Madhya

Pradesh and Maharashtra where thousands of hectares of forest land was submerged.

A sustained campaign by the activists had also led to the World Bank‘s withdrawal from

funding the multi-purpose project, which is often described as the lifeline of drought-prone

Gujarat.

In 1985, the World Bank had agreed to provide $450 million as loan to fund the multi-purpose project

and subsequently, a prominent U.S. environmental expert, T. Schudder, was appointed consultant to

oversee rehabilitation of project-affected families, mostly tribal communities in Madhya Pradesh and

Maharashtra.

2.37 President Kovind lays foundation stone for Link-4 of SAUNI scheme

President Ramnath Kovind laid foundation stone for link-4 of Saurashtra Narmada Avataran Irrigation

Scheme (SAUNI) Yojana in Rajkot district, Gujarat.

SAUNI Yojana

Unlike traditional irrigation projects, SAUNI is a ‗linking‘ project, where the water will be filled in

irrigation dams that are already equipped with canal network.

In 2012, Narendra Modi as chief minister of Gujarat had announced the project.

The government has set a target to complete the four phase project by 2019.

This network of canals will then help channel water into farms.

To meet the water demands of Saurashtra region, under the SAUNI scheme, 115 dams will be provided

with excess water of the Sardar Sarovar Dam from the river Narmada.

This will be done through a network of pipelines.




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The total cost of the project is Rs. 12,000

crore. In the first phase, the government

has constructed 57km of pipeline, which

will fill up 10 dams of three districts of

Saurashtra region.

Does it benefit farmers?

Saurashtra region faces drought-like

situation. This project will irrigate over 4

lakh hectares of land and tackle water

woes.

The government claims that when all the

115 dams are filled farmers in 5,000

villages will benefit.

Farmers can reap both Kharif and Rabi crop — as opposed to Kharif crop cultivation so far — once

the project makes more water accessible for agriculture.

Though the project will not be added to the command area under irrigation, it will strengthen the

existing network by providing 1 acre million cubic feet of surplus Narmada water from the Sardar

Sarovar Dam through a new pipeline network connecting existing dams.

2.38 Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhayay Vigyan Gram Sankul Pariyojana

The Ministry of Science &

Technology has launched

Pandit Deen Dayal

Upadhayay Vigyan Gram

Sankul Pariyojana to

formulate and implement

appropriate S&T

interventions for sustainable

development through cluster

approach in Uttarakhand.

Once this concept is

validated in the few selected

clusters, it can be replicated

across large number of

village clusters in the

country.




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Under the scheme, Department of Science and Technology (DST) will adopt few clusters of villages in

Uttarakhand and transform them to become self-sustainable in time bound manner through tools of

S&T.

Local resources and locally available skill sets will be utilised using S&T under the scheme for substantial

value addition for local produce and services which can sustain rural population.

The areas selected under these clusters will process and add value to milk, honey, horticulture and local

crops, herbal tea, mushroom, forest produce, medicinal & aromatic plants and traditional craft and

handloom.

This project will also ensure, stringent product and process control interventions for energy and water

conservation.

The project will also give emphasis to practice of agriculture, agro-based cottage industries and animal

husbandry in an eco-friendly manner.

It will mainly undertake post-harvest processing of Kiwi, Cherry, Strawberry, Tulsi, Adrak, Badi Elaichi

through solar drying technology, extraction of apricot oil using cold press technology.

Benefits of the scheme

It will directly or indirectly about a lakh of people in four identified clusters of 60 villages in

Uttarakhand.

It will help in creating models that are appropriate for different altitudes and could be replicated in other

hill states.

It will promote sustainable employment and livelihood options within the clusters such as eco-tourism,

naturopathy and yoga, are also planned to be promoted.

It will ensure that local communities are not compelled to migrate from their native places in search of

jobs and livelihoods.

2.39 Sashastra Seema Bal to get intelligence wing

The Union Ministry of Home Affairs has launched the SSB‘s first ever intelligence wing.

The intelligence wing will have 650 field and staff agents to gather actionable information.

SSB‘s intelligence wing personnel will be deployed on India-Nepal and India-Bhutan borders where

there are no restrictions on movement of people on either side due to visa free regime.

SSB has been declared as the Lead Intelligence Agency (LIA) for both the Indo-Nepal and Indo-Bhutan

borders.

India shares 1,751 km-long border with Nepal and 699 km-long border with Bhutan.

The border with Nepal touches Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal and Sikkim and border

with Bhutan touches Sikkim, West Bengal, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.




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India has visa free regime with Nepal and Bhutan as border population on both the sides has strong

regional, cultural and economic ties. Due to visa-free regime, there is trans-border movement of

criminals and anti-national elements which pose major security challenge.

Significance of the intelligence wing of SSB

The intelligence wing of SSB will help to institutionalise a well-knit intelligence network of highest

capability that can play important role in comprehensive border management.

Based on intelligence SSB can undertake essential operations to prevent criminals and smugglers from

taking advantage of friendly borders with Nepal and Bhutan.

Sashastra Seema Bal

The Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) is a paramilitary police force under the Ministry of Home affairs

responsible for guarding India‘s international borders with Nepal and Bhutan.

It is one of India‘s Central Armed Police Forces, which includes ITBP, BSF, CRPF and CISF.

The Special Service Bureau (now Sashastra Seema Bal) was conceived in November 1962 and eventually

created in March 1963.

When it was created in 1963, it was called Special Services Bureau. The name was changed to Sashatra

Seema Bal in 2001 after it was given charge of the Nepal border.

It was established with the sole objective of achieving ‗total security preparedness‘ in the remote border

areas for performing a ‗stay-behind‘ role in the event of a war.

Presently, SSB has been deployed with its mandate to guard 1751 kilometers of Indo-Nepal and 699

kilometers of Indo-Bhutan borders.

Besides this, the force is also deployed in Jammu and Kashmir for counter insurgency operations and

anti-Naxal operations in Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Bihar. It also provides internal security during

elections in various states.

Primary role of the SSB

The primary role of the SSB is to physically guard and manage the international border thereby

promoting a sense of security and pride amongst the local border population.

SSB is the lead intelligence unit for Nepal and Bhutan borders and the coordination agency for national

security activities.

Besides this, SSB undertakes construction of schools, buildings, toilets, roads under border area

developmental plan.

It also gives regular guidance and training to unemployed youth in general studies and physical training.

In border villages, SSB teaches the border population the best agricultural practices, horticulture,

pisiculture etc.




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SSB has also taken up a unique and important task to adopt and fund the education of the girl child in poor

villages along the border and teach them unarmed combat training. This is done to eliminate rampant

human trafficking of women across the border.

2.40 Shaheed Gram Vikas Yojana launched

The Jharkhand state government launched the ‗Shaheed Gram Vikas Yojana‘ to develop villages of

freedom fighters.

It was launched from Ulihatu Village, birth place of freedom fighter Birsa Munda.

These villages had remained inaccessible for long time after Independence because of Left-wing

extremism.

Key features of the scheme

Under the scheme, villages of many tribal freedom fighters will be developed and their habitants will be

provided with basic amenities.

The concerned villages have remained inaccessible for a long time after Independence because of Left-

wing extremism.

The current scheme will now provide the inhabitants of the Ulihatu village with 136 pucca houses.

The pucca houses will include two rooms, a verandah, bathroom and a toilet each.

Birsa Munda

Birsa Munda was a freedom fighter, religious leader, and folk hero who belonged to the Munda tribe

from Chhotanagpur area

He is known for leading Munda rebellion towards end of 19th century against British Raj.

Munda rebellion began in the year 1895 to revolt against British administration interference in tribal

politics and their religious matters

Birsa Munda was a master at Guerilla Warfare techniques. He launched various surprise attacks in which

many police officials were killed

The Britishers were able to arrest Birsa Munda on Mar 3, 1900. He was sentenced to death but he died

beforehand inside the jail due to cholera.

2.41 Sitharaman becomes India‘s first full-time woman defence minister

Nirmala Sitharaman became first full time woman Defence Minister of India after she was promoted to

the Union Cabinet.

Ms Sitharaman is second woman to become Defence Minister of India.

First was former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, who was holding additional portfolio as Defence

Minister from 1980-82.

Sitharaman will now be a member of the crucial Cabinet Committee on Security, which includes the

prime minister, home minister, external affairs minister and the finance minister.

2.42 UN Security Council Unanimously Steps Up Sanctions Against North Korea




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The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has unanimously passed new set of tougher sanctions

against North Korea over its sixth and most powerful nuclear test (claimed to be Hydrogen bomb).

It was overall the ninth sanctions resolution unanimously adopted by UNSC since 2006 over North

Korea‘s ballistic missile and nuclear programs.

The new sanctions imposes ban on North Korea‘s textile exports and capping imports of crude oil.

New sanctions include

Limits on imports of crude oil and oil products. China, Pyongyang‘s main economically, supplies most

of North Korea‘s crude oil.

A ban on exports of textiles, which is Pyongyang‘s second-biggest export worth more than $700m

(£530m) a year.

Measures to limit North Koreans from working overseas, which the US estimates would cut off $500m

of tax revenue per year.

How will these new sanctions affect North Korea?

The ban on all textile exports and prohibition of any country from authorizing new work permits for

North Korean workers are the two key sources of hard currency for the North Korea.

The textile ban is significant as textiles are North Korea‘s main source of export revenue after coal, iron,

seafood and other minerals that have already been severely restricted by previous UN resolutions.

As per the US mission, a cut-off on new work permits will eventually cost North Korea about USD 500

million a year once current work permits expire.

In recent months, North Korea under the leadership of Kim Jong-un had staged series of missile tests

including ICBMs that appeared to bring much of US mainland into range. It was followed up with sixth

nuclear test on September 3, 2017 which was the largest to date, was claimed to be a miniaturized

hydrogen bomb.

The US and its Asian allies argue that tougher sanctions will

put pressure on North Korea to come to the negotiation

table to discuss end to its nuclear and missile tests.

Russia and China, which are close allies of North Korea also

are pushing for talks. They have proposed suspension of US-

South Korean military drills for freezing North Korea‘s

missile and nuclear tests.

United Nations Security Council (UNSC)

UNSC is one of six principal organs of the United Nations

Organisation (UNO).

Its mandate is to maintain international peace and security.




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UNSC has 15 members, including five permanent viz. China, France, Russia, United Kingdom and

United States. Each of the five permanent members has veto power.

The Council‘s 10 non-permanent seats are allocated according to a rotation pattern set by the Assembly

in 1963, to ensure a proportionate representation over time from the different parts of the world: five

from African and Asian States; one from Eastern Europe; two from Latin American States; and two

from Western European and Other States.

Its powers include establishment of peacekeeping operations, imposing international sanctions, and

authorization of collective military action

against through resolutions.

The Security Council is also responsible

for determining the existence of a threat

against peace and to respond to an act of

aggression. It is also responsible for

finding peaceful means to settle a conflict or a dispute between States.

In some cases, the Council can resort to sanctions or even authorize the use of force to maintain or

restore international peace and security.

It is the only UN body with the authority to issue binding resolutions to member states.

2.43 Vijay Mallya: Law Ministry okays draft bill on fugitive economic offenders

The Union Law ministry has approved Fugitive Economic Offenders Bill, 2017 to empower

government to confiscate property of economic offenders and defaulters who flee India.

The bill was drafted in pursuance of Finance Minister Arun Jaitley‘s 2017-18 Budget speech promising

legislative changes or even new law to confiscate the assets of such fugitives.

The Finance Ministry had prepared the draft Cabinet note on the bill and

sought the law ministry‘s opinion on it.

Who is a fugitive economic offender?

The bill defines fugitive economic offender as a person who has an arrest

warrant issued in respect of a scheduled offence and who leaves or has left

India so as to avoid criminal prosecution, or refuses to return to India to

face criminal prosecution.

Highlights of the Bill

The Bill seeks to deter economic offenders from evading the process of

Indian law by fleeing the country.

The proposed law will be applicable in cases where the value of offences is over Rs 100 crore.




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The bill proposes to allow the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), the premier technical snoop wing under

the finance ministry, to file an application for the declaration of fugitive economic offender for

confiscation of their assets.

The courts under PMLA would be entrusted with the responsibility to try the case.

Also, the bill has provision for appointment of an administrator to dispose off the property to pay off

the creditors. Besides, the provisions of the proposed law will override provisions of other existing laws.

Also, the burden of proof for establishing that an individual is a fugitive economic offender will be on

the authorities.

Saving Clause

Law Ministry wants Saving Clause to be incorporated in the Bill before it is introduced in Parliament.

Saving clause provides for certain exception(s) in a statute.

It enables repealed law to be in force with respect to some existing rights as provisions of the proposed

bill has bearing on the provisions of existing laws.

Existing laws related to fugitive economic offenders

The existing laws under which such fugitive economic offenders are tried include:

1. Recovery of Debts Due to Banks and Financial Institutions Act (RDDBFI),

2. Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest Act, 2002,

(SARFESI)

3. Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC).

Need for a law

There have been several instances of economic offenders fleeing the jurisdiction of Indian courts,

anticipating the commencement, or during the pendency, of criminal proceedings.

The absence of such offenders from Indian courts has several deleterious consequences— first, it

hampers investigation in criminal cases; second, it wastes precious time of courts of law; third, it

undermines the rule of law in India.

2.44 Workshop on implementation of Emergency Action Plan for Dams held

With the purpose of increasing awareness about dam safety measures in the country and finalisation of

Emergency Action Plan (EAP) a stakeholders consultation Workshop was recently organised by Tamil

Nadu Water Resources Department in collaboration with Central Water Commission.

Need for the preparation of EAP for each dam and involvement of all agencies in ensuring effective

relief and rescue operations was highlighted during the meeting.

Participants

Delegates representing the stakeholders involved with relief and rescue operations and representatives

from National Disaster Management Authority, State Disaster Management Authority, India




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Meteorological Department, State Health, Fire, Police, Revenue and Road Departments and Railways

participated in the Workshop.

India ranks third globally with 5254 large dams in operation and 447 large dams under

construction.

About 4% of these large dams (209) are over 100 years old and about 17% (876 dams) are more than 50

years old.

Many of these dams are facing varying degrees of inadequacies in meeting the current standards of dam

health and safety due to various reasons.

The Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation has taken on board

selected premier academic and research institutes, for capacity building in the areas of dam safety

through World Bank assisted Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (DRIP).

DRIP

The Ministry of Water Resources (MoWR), Government of India, with assistance from the World Bank,

is implementing the Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (DRIP).

DRIP is a project involving 9 implementing agencies (IAs) across seven states of India (Kerala, Madhya

Pradesh, Orissa, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Uttarakhand, and Jharkhand) and targets rehabilitation of

about 225 dam projects across the country.

The Project is also facilitating the institutional strengthening of the implementing agencies for

sustainable dam safety initiatives.

The project will also promote new technologies and improve Institutional capacities for dam safety

evaluation and implementation at the Central and State levels and in some identified premier academic

and research institutes of the country.

The Central Dam Safety Organisation of Central Water Commission, assisted by a Consulting firm, is

coordinating and supervising the Project implementation.

The preparation of Emergency Action Plan (EAP) for all DRIP dams is one of the important activities

under DRIP. This document defines clear roles for all concern agencies as well as Standard Operating

Protocols during various stage of exigencies, as well as contains all technical details about the flood

waves moving downstream affecting the downstream habitation.

The project development objectives of DRIP are:

1. To improve the safety and performance of selected existing dams and associated appurtenances in a

sustainable manner, and

2. To strengthen the dam safety institutional setup in participating states as well as at central level.

3. Even though our dams are quite safe, in the rare event of a dam failure, extensive damage to

property, environment and sometimes loss of life occurs. Managing the exigencies caused by a

failure of a dam requires coordinated efforts of all national and States agencies.




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3. INDIA AND WORLD

3.1 12th Indo-Nepal Joint Exercise Surya Kiran

The 12th edition of India-Nepal joint military exercise- Surya Kiran XII was held in Nepal.

In this edition of exercise, Indian Army was represented by troops of Kumaon Scouts and Narayan Dal

Battalion participated on behalf of Nepal Army.

Both troops focused on the various counter insurgency operations. They also focused on important

aspects such as humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) operations and environmental

conservation.

The exercise mutually benefited both armies by gaining varied experiences and also strengthened

friendly relation between India and Nepal.

The Surya Kiran series of military exercises are being conducted bi-annually, alternatively in India and

Nepal.

It is largest exercise in terms of troop‘s participation in series of military training exercises undertaken by

India with various countries.

It aims at promoting military relations while increasing interoperability in conducting joint counter

insurgency operations in mountainous terrain.

The 11th edition of the joint exercise was held in Pithoragarh in Uttarakhand.

3.2 2nd India-Afghanistan Strategic Partnership Council held in New Delhi

The 2nd meeting of the Strategic Partnership Council between India and Afghanistan, set up under the

aegis of bilateral Strategic Partnership Agreement 2011, was held in New Delhi.

During the meeting, India and Afghanistan exchanged four pacts in areas of health, transport, space and

new development partnership.

Important Agreement signed

Motor Vehicles Agreement for the Regulation of Passenger, Personal and Cargo Vehicular Traffic.

Memorandum of Understanding for mutual cooperation in the field of pharmaceutical products

regulation. This MoU was signed and exchanged between the National Medicine and Healthcare

Products Regulatory Authority of Afghanistan and the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation

CDSCO), Directorate General of Health Services, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

The Orbit Frequency Coordination Agreement between India and Afghanistan on South Asia Satellite

(SAS).

Letters establishing the New Development Partnership and launching 116 High Impact Community

Development Projects.

In addition, the two nations agreed to expeditiously conclude the agreements/MoUs related to technical cooperation on police training and development, as well as technical cooperation between railway authorities; mutual legal assistance; and cooperation in the areas of food safety among others.




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3.3 9th BRICS summit adopts Xiamen Declaration

The leaders of all five BRICS nations including Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa convened

for the 9th BRICS Summit in Xiamen, China.

At the end of the summit, Xiamen declaration was adopted by the leaders of the five countries.

The main theme of the summit was, ―BRICS: Stronger Partnership for a Brighter Future‖.

This is the second time the China has hosted the summit after the 2011 summit.

Highlights of the Xiamen declaration

BRICS countries agreed to strive towards broad partnerships with emerging markets and developing

countries and pursue equal-footed and flexible practices and initiatives for dialogue and cooperation

with non-BRICS countries, including through BRICS Plus cooperation (It includes Thailand, Tajikistan,

Egypt, Kenya

and Mexico).

Member

countries

resolved to

promote

development of

BRICS local

currency bond

markets and

agreed to jointly

establish a

BRICS local

currency bond

fund and

facilitate

financial market

integration.

They will also

encourage

explorations

toward the establishment of the BRICS Institute of Future Networks.

They agreed to enhance joint research, development and innovation in information and communications

technology (ICT), including internet of things (IoT), big data, data analytics, cloud computing,

nanotechnology, artificial intelligence, 5G and their innovative applications.




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They agreed to strengthen BRICS cooperation on energy and work to foster open, flexible and

transparent markets for energy commodities and technologies.

They also agreed to work together to promote most effective use of fossil fuels and wider use of gas,

hydro and nuclear power to move towards low emission economy, better energy access and sustainable

development.

It is proposed to be established in India which will serve as virtual network facilitating cooperation in

priority areas.

They called upon international community to establish genuinely broad counterterrorism coalition and

support UN‘s central coordinating role in this regard.

It should be promoted for development and enhancing mutual understanding, friendship and

cooperation among BRICS countries.

3.4 Cabinet approves Bilateral Investment Treaty between India and Belarus

The Union Cabinet has given its approval for signing and ratification of the Bilateral Investment Treaty

(BIT) between the India and Belarus on Investments.

The Treaty is likely to increase investment flows between the two countries.

The agreement is expected to improve the confidence of the investors resulting in an increase in FDI

and Overseas Director Investment (ODI) opportunities and this will have a positive impact on

employment generation.

The signing and ratification of a BIT between the two countries will work as a strategic initiative as

Belarus is the member of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU).

India has already initiated the BIT text with the Kyrgyz Republic and is in talks with the Russian

Federation for a new BIT, based on the Model BIT text released in December 2015

3.5 China Wants India To Go Slow On Asia-Africa Corridor

Asia Africa Growth Corridor

The Asia Africa Growth Corridor (AAGC) is sponsored by India and Japan – two countries that have so

far opted not to join the B&R initiative.

The main objective of the corridor is to enhance growth and connectivity between Asia and Africa.

The AAGC is an attempt to create a ―free and open Indo-Pacific region‖ by rediscovering ancient sea-

routes and creating new sea corridors that will link the African continent with India and countries in

South-Asia and South-East Asia.

The AAGC proposes to build robust institutional, industrial and transport infrastructure in growth poles

among countries in Asia and Africa.

Why in news?

China has initiated a move to persuade India to go slow on the Asia Africa Growth Corridor, which

New Delhi has formulated along with Japan.




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What is China doing?

Beijing is now trying to persuade India and South Africa to merge the project with the BRICS platform

and keep its rival, Japan, out of it. Once merged into BRICS, India‘s influence on Africa through the

project will also get diluted.

China is also pushing the New Development Bank, the Shanghai based financial institution, which has

been created by BRICS countries to expand its lending to different African countries even though they

may not be members of the organization.

Why is China worried?

China sees the move as a source of major competition that will reduce its economic and political

influence over the African continent.

It is seen by many as an alternative Silk Road to tap the African market.

3.6 CSIR ranked 9th public research institution of the world

The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), India‘s largest autonomous public research

and development organisation, was ranked 9th best government organisation in the world.

As per the Scimago Institutions ranking World Report 2017, the CSIR has been ranked ninth

amongst a total of 1207 government institutions.

Scimago Institutions Ranking (SIR) is a science evaluation resource developed by Scimago Labs based

on data from Scopus — one of the world‘s largest database of peer-reviewed research literature, to

assess Worldwide Institutions.

The ranking is based on a composite indicator that combines research performance, innovation outputs

and societal impact measured by their web visibility, so as to reflect scientific, economic and social

characteristics of institutions.

Highlights of the rankings

CSIR has been ranked ninth amongst a total of 1,207 government institutions.

The ranking (Government Institutions) was topped by the Chinese Academy of Sciences, followed by

Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique and Helmholtz Gemeinschaft, respectively.

In overall global ranking, CSIR stands at 75th position amongst 5250 institutions world-wide. It is the

only Indian organisation which has found place amongst the Top 100 Global Institutions.

With this ranking, CSIR comes in the company of globally renowned organisations namely Chinese

Academy of Sciences; Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, France; Helmholtz Gemeinschaft

and Max Planck Gesellschaft in Germany; Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas, Spain;

Russian Academy of Sciences; Japan Science and Technology Agency; Consiglio Nazionale delle

Ricerche, Italy and Leibniz Gemeinschaft, Germany.

CSIR




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Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), established in 1942, is an autonomous body and

the largest research and development (R&D) organisation in India.

It runs 37 laboratories and 39 field stations or extension centres spread across the nation.

Although it is mainly funded by the Ministry of Science and Technology, it operates as an autonomous

body registered under the Registration of Societies Act of 1860.

The research and development activities of CSIR includes aerospace engineering, Structural engineering,

ocean sciences, Life sciences, metallurgy, chemicals, mining, food, petroleum, leather, and environment.

It provides significant technological intervention in many areas with regard to societal efforts which

include environment, health, drinking water, food, housing, energy, leather, farm and non-farm sectors.

3.7 Govt to strengthen ‗Korea Plus‘ cell to strengthen FDI from S.Korea

The government is planning to facilitate greater investments from South Korea and would strengthen

the ‗Korea Plus‖ cell in this regard.

‗Korea Plus‘

Korea Plus is a special initiative to promote and facilitate Korean Investments in India.

Korea Plus comprises a representative each from the South Korean Ministry of Industry, Trade and

Energy and Korea Trade Investment and Promotion Agency (KOTRA). Besides, it includes three

officials from Invest India.

The mandate of Korea Plus covers the entire investment spectrum including supporting Korean

enterprises entering the Indian market for the first time, looking into issues faced by Korean companies

doing business in India and policy advocacy to the Indian government on their behalf.

3.8 India and China need to demarcate LAC

The Dokalam standoff and the subsequent clash between Indian and Chinese troops in Ladakh has

made it necessary for takeaways and ironing out of issues by the militaries on both sides, being the

primary stakeholders in such matters.

What‘s the issue?

The LAC, starting from northwest of the Karakoram pass and ending at Arunachal Pradesh, has not

been demarcated and is virtually passed on by word of mouth. This has led to differing perceptions

regarding the alignment, with China making territorial claims in at least eight areas.

These are those areas where regular incursions and face-offs take place. They include Asaphila, Longju,

Namka Chu, Sumdorong Chu, and Yangste in Arunachal Pradesh, Barahoti in Uttarakhand, and Aksai

China and Demchok in Ladakh.

Even areas along the banks of the Pangong Lake in Ladakh, where a clash between Indian and Chinese

troops took place on August 15, are under dispute. The LAC passes through the lake, but India and

China do not agree on its exact location. The mountains sloping on the banks of the lake form finger-

like structures.




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What needs to be done?

The Line of Actual Control (LAC) has to be properly demarcated and simultaneously confidence

building measures (CBMs) have to be conducted, military experts said.

More points of contact, including regular meetings and setting up of a hotline between the two

militaries, have to be created to prevent future transgressions, incursions and face-offs.

Line of Actual Control (LAC)

The Line of Actual Control (LAC) is a demarcation line that separates Indian-held lands from Chinese-

controlled territory.

The demarcation existed as the informal cease-fire line between India and China after the 1962 conflict

until 1993, when its existence was officially accepted as the ‗Line of Actual Control‘ in a bilateral

agreement.

The term ―LAC‖ gained legal recognition in Sino-Indian agreements signed in 1993 and 1996.

The 1996 agreement states, ―No activities of either side shall overstep the line of actual control.‖

Sino-Indian border

The entire Sino-Indian border (including the western LAC, the small undisputed section in the centre,

and the MacMahon Line in the east) is 4,056 km long.




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The Sino-Indian border traverses five Indian states: Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand, Himachal

Pradesh, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh.

3.9 India refuses to sign Bali Declaration over Rohingya issue

India refused to sign Bali Declaration adopted at the World Parliamentary Forum on Sustainable

Development in Indonesia.

The Bali Declaration referred to the violence against Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar‘s Rakhine state.

What is Bali Declaration?

The Bali Declaration called on all parties to contribute to restoring stability and security in the region.

The Declaration urged everyone to ―exercise maximum self-restraint from using violent means, respect

the human rights of all people in Rakhine state regardless of their faith and ethnicity, as well as facilitate

and guarantee safe access for humanitarian assistance‖.

Why India refused to sign the Declaration?

India has maintained that the Bali Declaration was not in line with the agreed principles of sustainable

development. India also maintained that it continues to support achievement of Sustainable

Development Goals (SDGs), the Forum‘s mandate was to discuss global issues and the overarching

principles relating to SDGs.

India argued that specifying a particular country is unjustified as this Forum is focused on SDGs and

inclusive development for all countries based on cooperative and collaborative approach to achieve the

2030 Agenda for the world.

India has reiterated its stance that the purpose of convening the Parliamentary Forum is to arrive at

mutual consensus for implementation of SDGs which requires inclusive and broad-based development

processes. The proposed reference to the violence in Rakhine state in the Declaration was considered as

not consensus-based and inappropriate.

Rohingyas

The Rohingya people are a stateless Indo-Aryan people from Rakhine State, Myanmar.

There were an estimated 1 million Rohingya living in Myanmar. As of September 2017, nearly half of

them have fled to other countries.

Described by the United Nations in 2013 as one of the most persecuted minorities in the world, the

Rohingya population is denied citizenship under the 1982 Burmese citizenship law.

The Rohingyas have faced multiple military crackdowns in two to three decades.

3.10 India to attend 2nd Indian Ocean Conference (IOC) 2017






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India Foundation, a Delhi-based think tank, will host the Indian Ocean Conference 2017 (IOC) in

collaboration with Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), Singapore, and National Institute

of Fundamental Studies (NIFS), Colombo–both research and study centres.

The theme of the conference is peace, progress and prosperity.

It will see participation from around 35 countries and have speakers from 25 countries.

The first IOR conference was held in Singapore last year.

3.11 India, Switzerland sign two MoUs on Railways

India and Switzerland signed two Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) in the field of Railways.

Signed MoUs

The first MoU is between Ministry of Railways and Federal Department of the Environment, Transport

and Communications of the Swiss Confederation for technical cooperation in Rail Sector.

The second MoU is between Konkan Railway Corporation Limited (KRCL) and Swiss Federal Institute

of Technology (ETH) Zurich.

Swiss ‘tilting trains‘

Under the signed MoUs, India will collaborate with Switzerland for developing trains which will tilt on

approaching a bend, just like a motorbike on a winding road.

Such trains are now operational in 11 countries — Italy, Portugal, Slovenia, Finland, Russia, the Czech

Republic, the UK, Switzerland, China, Germany and Romania.

How the tilting trains work?

The tilting trains work as a train rounds a curve at speed it cause objects to slide about.

While it makes seated passengers feel squashed by the armrest, standing passengers tend to lose their

balance. The design of the tilting trains counteract this.

During a curve to the left, the train tilts to the left and vice versa.

3.12 India-Japan sign open sky agreement, fares may come down

India and Japan have agreed to an open sky arrangement under which the airlines of both countries can

operate an unlimited number of flights.

The agreement was signed after talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Japan PM Shino Abe.

The agreement was signed in accordance with the National Civil Aviation Policy (NACP), 2016.

The agreement will not only encourage connectivity and passenger travel between the two countries, but

will also result in reduction in airfares on these routes.

India and the Open sky agreement

The NACP permits the government to enter into an ‗open sky‘ air services agreement on a reciprocal

basis with SAARC nations as well as countries with territory located entirely beyond a 5,000 kilometre

radius from New Delhi.




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Last year, India signed an open sky agreement with

Greece, Jamaica, Guyana, Czech Republic, Finland,

Spain and Sri Lanka.

India also signed a bilateral open sky agreement with the

US in 2005.

In 2003, India had signed an open sky agreement with

the 10-member Association of South East Asian

Nations (ASEAN).

3.13 INDO-USA Joint Exercise Yudh Abhyas – 2017

The 13th edition Yudh Abhyas 2017, a joint military

training exercise between India and United States was

recently held at Joint Base Lewis McChord, Washington,

USA.

Yudh Abhyas 2017

In this edition of exercise, armies of both countries

honed tactical skills in counter-insurgency and counter-terrorist operations (CICT ops) under UN

charter.

During two-week exercise, soldiers from both countries will hone their tactical skills in counter terror

and counter insurgency operations under a joint brigade headquarter.

Both sides jointly trained, planned and executed series of well-developed tactical drills for neutralization

of likely threats that may be encountered in UN peace keeping operations.

Moreover, experts from both sides also held detailed discussions to share their experience and expertise

on varied operational topics.

3.14 Operation Insaniyat

The Ministry of External Affairs has started Operation Insaniyat to provided assistance to Bangladesh in

response to humanitarian crisis being faced by it due to large influx of Rohingya refugees from

Myanmar.

Who are Rohingya?

Rohingya are stateless ethnic minority (mostly Muslim) from Rakhine province of Buddhist-majority

Myanmar, who are forced leave their country due to communal violence and repeated military

operations.

Operation Insaniyat

Under this operation, India will provide relief material consisting of items including rice, sugar, salt,

pulses, cooking oil, biscuits and mosquito nets to the affected people.




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The relief material will be delivered in multiple consignments. The first tranche will be brought to

Chittagong by an Indian Air Force (IAF) plane.

According to UN estimates, over 379,000 Rohingya Muslims have fled Myanmar‘s Rakhine state into

Bangladesh since August 2017 when a fresh wave of violence had erupted Myanmar‘s Rakhine province.

The violence had started after Rohingya militants belonging to Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (also

known as Harakat al-Yaqeen or Faith Movement) had attacked police posts in Myanmar‘s northern

Rakhine state.

Following this attack, Myanmar‘s military had launched violent crackdown on insurgents from Muslim

Rohingya population which led to mass exodus of Rohingya Muslims into neighboring Bangladesh.

3.15 U.S. ends amnesty scheme for young immigrants

US President Donald Trump discontinued an Obama-era immigration reform measure that protected

from deportation people who had entered the U.S. illegally as children.

The programme was known as Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA).

DACA

DACA is an American immigration policy founded by the Obama administration in June 2012.

DACA allows certain illegal immigrants who entered the country as minors to receive a renewable two-

year period of deferred action from deportation and eligibility for a work permit.

Those applying are vetted for any criminal history or threat to national security and must be students or

have completed school or military service.

If they pass vetting, action to deport them is deferred for two years, with a chance to renew, and they

become eligible for basics like a driving license, college enrollment or a work permit.

The programme gives beneficiaries renewable two-year work permits and Social Security numbers and

more opportunity for higher education.

Who are the ‗Dreamers‘?

Those protected under DACA are known as ―Dreamers‖ and nearly 800,000 have been granted

approval.

Implications of the move

With the announcement of the ending of the DACA program, those who took advantage of the DACA

program will be arrested and eventually be deported.

Those who are just in the process of filing their DACA applications for the first time, will no longer be

able to do so. This will affect those who just became eligible to apply for DACA and those who took

time or postponed the filing of their DACA applications despite the fact that they were eligible.

Should India worry?




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Since 2012, the DACA has helped 8,00,000 young adults to pursue education and career opportunities in

America. About 1% of the

beneficiaries (8,000 persons) of

have been of Indian origin.

The decision to not save the DACA

programme will affect many Indians

in America.

The undocumented population of

Indians is quickly growing in the

United States, according to

government estimates.

Undocumented Indian youth who have DACA status are now in a position where they don‘t know if

they can keep their jobs or if they have to live in fear of immigration officials coming to their door.

Although the program was formally rescinded, but implementation was delayed by six months to give

Congress time to come up with a solution for the population that was previously eligible for DACA.




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4. INTERNATIONAL

4.1 27 September: World Tourism Day

World Tourism Day 2017 was observed across the world on 27 September 2017.

The theme of the World Tourism Day 2017 is: ‗sustainable tourism – a tool for development‘.

In India, to mark this day, President Ram Nath Kovind gave away National Tourism Awards and also

launched Incredible India 2.0 Campaign in New Delhi.

The first World Tourism Day was celebrated in 1980 after decision made by the United Nations World

Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) General Assembly in 1979.

This date was chosen as on that day in 1970, the Statutes of the UNWTO were adopted. The adoption

of these Statutes is considered a milestone in global tourism.

4.2 28th September: World Maritime Day

The World Maritime Day (WMD) is observed every year on September 28 to highlight importance of

shipping safety, maritime security and marine environment and to acknowledge maritime industry.

The 2017 theme of the day is ‗Connecting Ships, Ports and People‘.

World Maritime Day is an official United Nations day.

Every year, it provides an opportunity to focus attention on the importance of shipping and other

maritime activities and to emphasize a particular aspect of IMO‘s work.

This day also serves as a reminder to all and sundry that a vibrant and sustainable blue economy is a

boon to all mankind.

International Maritime Organization (IMO)

The International Maritime Organization (IMO), known as the Inter-Governmental Maritime

Consultative Organization (IMCO) until 1982, is a specialised agency of the United Nations responsible

for regulating shipping.

The IMO was established in Geneva in 1948 and came into force ten years later, meeting for the first

time in 1959.

Headquartered in London, United Kingdom, the IMO has 171 Member States and three Associate

Members.

The IMO‘s primary purpose is to develop and maintain a comprehensive regulatory framework for

shipping and its remit today includes safety, environmental concerns, legal matters, technical co-

operation, maritime security and the efficiency of shipping.

IMO is governed by an assembly of members and is financially administered by a council of members

elected from the assembly.




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The IMO‘s structure comprises the Assembly, the Council, the Maritime Safety Committee, the Marine

Environment Protection Committee, the Legal Committee, the Technical Cooperation Committee, and

the secretariat, headed by a Secretary-General.

Member organizations of the UN organizational family may observe the proceedings of the IMO.

Observer status is granted to qualified non-governmental organizations.

4.3 5 banks of BRICS nations sign pact for credit lines

Buxa Tiger Reserve in West Bengal has been identified for the tiger augmentation programme by the

National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA).

Five banks of the BRICS Bank Cooperation Mechanism have agreed to establish credit lines in the

national currencies and cooperate on credit ratings.

Five banks include - Brazilian Development Bank (BNDES), Vnesheconombank, Export-Import

Bank of India, China Development Bank and Development Bank of South Africa (DBSA).

These banks have signed an agreement to establish credit lines in the national currencies, as well as a

memorandum of cooperation on credit ratings.

Significance of this agreement

The agreement on credit ratings allows the ICM members to share information about internal credit

ratings assigned to clients, as well as rating assessment and assignment methodologies.

The use of local currencies will help promote mutually beneficial economic cooperation, mitigate

currency risks, increase trade, and facilitate companies in accessing the BRICS markets.

BRICS Interbank Co-operation Mechanism

In order to develop and strengthen economic ties and investment cooperation between BRICS

countries, in 2010 state financial institutions for development and export support of the BRICS nations

entered into a Memorandum on cooperation, thus creating the BRICS interbank cooperation mechanism.

One of the main purposes of cooperation is to set up a scheme designed to provide financing and

banking services for future investment projects that could be beneficial for the economic development

of the BRICS countries.

On the basis of agreements that have been signed within the framework of the BRICS interbank

cooperation mechanism, the member banks have taken steps towards developing multilateral financial

cooperation within the BRICS countries and created basic mechanisms for settling payments and

financing investment projects in local currencies.

4.4 50 nations ink UN nuclear ban treaty opposed by big powers

50 countries recently signed a treaty to ban nuclear weapons, a pact that the world‘s nuclear powers

spurned but supporters hailed as a historic agreement nonetheless.

In July 2017, over 120 countries in the United Nations voted to adopt the first-ever global treaty- ‗The

Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons‘ to ban nuclear weapons.




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The Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, the first multilateral legally-binding instrument for

nuclear disarmament to have been negotiated in 20 years, was adopted by a vote of 122 in favour to one

against (Netherlands) and one abstention (Singapore).

India and other nuclear-armed nations – the United States, Russia, Britain, China, France, Pakistan,

North Korea and Israel had not participated in the negotiations.

Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons

Led by Austria, Brazil, Mexico, South Africa and New Zealand, 141 countries joined in drafting the

treaty that they hope will increase pressure on nuclear states to take disarmament more seriously.

The treaty prohibits a full range of nuclear-weapon related activities, such as undertaking to develop,

test, produce, manufacture, acquire, possess or stockpile nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive

devices, as well as the use or threat of use of these weapons.

Opposition

The nuclear powers view the treaty as unrealistic and argue that it will not have any impact on reducing

the global stockpile of 15000 atomic weapons.

According to the nuclear powers, their nuclear arsenals serve as a deterrent against nuclear attacks and

they remain committed to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). The NPT seeks to prevent the

spread of nuclear weapons and puts the onus on nuclear states to reduce their stockpiles.

But the non-nuclear states are increasingly worried about the slow pace of disarmament and are

concerned that weapons of mass destruction may fall into the wrong hands.

Supporters of the treaty

Supporters of the treaty argue that new treaty will close a ―legal gap‖ that exists regarding nuclear

weapons, which are not expressly outlawed by the NPT even though their use would be contrary to the

rules of international law applicable in armed conflict.

They argue that the CPNW initiative reinforces the NPT and the requirement in Article VI for nuclear

disarmament and that it can reduce the salience nuclear weapons and help prompt more urgent action to

reduce nuclear risk and promote disarmament.

4.5 8th September: International Literacy Day

The 51st International Literacy Day was celebrated across the world on 8 September 2017 with the

theme ‗Literacy in a Digital World‘.

On this day, in 1965, the World Congress of Ministers of Education met in Tehran, capital of Iran,

for the first time to discuss the programme of education at the international level.

The day was given its status by UNESCO in its 14th session in November 1966. Ever since then,

the day is celebrated annually on 8 September by most of the member countries.

The main objective behind the day‘s observance was to mobilize public opinion in favour of struggle

against illiteracy.




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The day is a forum to disseminate information on literacy and raise public awareness and the

significance of literacy for individual and national development.

In India

The eradication of illiteracy has been one of the major national concerns of the government of India.

Hence, the day is used as a medium to raise public awareness to eradicate illiteracy and create an

environment in favour of adult education programmes.

Literacy rate in India

As per Educational Statistics for 2015-16, the literacy rate in India increased to 69.3% in 2011. In

comparison to 2001, when the literacy rate was 61.0%, the improvement is decent.

A dramatic improvement is seen in the literacy rate of female population which improved from 47.8% in

2001 to 59.3% in 2011. Among males, the literacy rate has improved from 73.4% in 2001 to 78.8% in

2011.

Though the literacy rate has been on an upward trajectory in the past decade, the overall literacy rate in

India is still lower than the global rate. Compared to the global youth literacy rate of 91%, India lags far

behind with 69.3%.

4.6 Saudi Arabia women hail end of driving ban

Saudi Arabia has reversed its long-standing and widely criticized ban against women driving.

A ministerial body will be set up to give advice within 30 days.

The royal order will be implemented by 24 June 2018.

The Gulf kingdom is the only country in the world that bans women from driving – and women are still

subject to strict dress codes and gender segregation.

Until now, only men were allowed licences and women who drove in public risked being arrested and

fined.

Rights groups in the kingdom have campaigned for years to allow women to drive, and some women

have been imprisoned for defying the rule.

Female activists organised collective protests in 1990, 2011 and 2013, and posted online videos of them

driving.

In recent years, some members of the Saudi royal family have expressed support for ending the ban.

Last year, the government launched the Vision 2030 plan to modernise the economy – which was seen

as a sign the country was moving towards reform.


With more than half the country aged under 25, the latest move is seen as catering to the aspirations of

younger people.

The country further aims to loosen social restrictions, which has so far not translated into more political

or civil rights and also seeks to ease criticism over recent arrests.




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Lifestyle limits remain for Saudi women

Saudi law enforces a strict form of Sunni Islam known as Wahhabism and is known for its gender

segregation rules.

Women have to adhere to strict dress codes, must not associate with unrelated men, and if they want to

travel, work or access healthcare they must be accompanied by – or receive written permission from – a

male guardian.

4.7 Chennai-Vladivostok sea route to make it near East

Aiming to put in place a key maritime route connecting India with Northeast Asia and Western Pacific

region Delhi is contemplating to put in place a major connectivity initiative -direct shipping link

between Chennai and Vladivostok amid China‘s ambitious Maritime Silk Route (MSR) connecting

Asia with Africa.

This proposed maritime route which could be transformed into a corridor could juxtapose with Indo-

Japan Pacific to Indian Ocean Corridor amid Beijing‘s OBOR of which MSR is a part – virtually

connecting entire SE Asia through road, shipping and rail links.

This shipping link would enable to transfer cargo between Chennai and Vladivostok in 24 days in

comparison to over 40 days currently taken to transport goods from India to Far East Russia via

Europe, according to experts on the subject.




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Note

India was the first country to establish a resident Consulate in Vladivostok in 1992.

Current engagement of India with the region is limited to isolated pockets such as the Irkut Corporation

in Irkutsk where the Mig and Sukhoi aircraft are built and over USD 6 billion worth of investments by

ONGC Videsh Limited in the Sakhalin 1 project.

The region has a wealth of natural resources such as land, timber, mineral and other resources like tin,

gold, diamonds and oil and natural gas.

The Russian government has announced several initiatives to attract investments in the region, including

an agricultural SEZ, the Vladivostok Free Port Project and also invites participation in the timber

industry , mining of the huge mineral resources (coal & diamonds) and precious metal deposits (gold,

platinum, tin and tungsten).

Opportunities for collaboration for Indian companies include in such sectors as agriculture, mining, port

development and infrastructure, diamond processing, agro-processing.

4.8 Fiji, Niger, Tuvalu join International Solar Alliance

Fiji, Niger and Tuvalu have deposited instrument of ratification of the Framework Agreement of the

International Solar Alliance (ISA) in the recently held 5th meeting of International Steering Committee

(ISC) of the ISA.

Till date 40 countries have signed and 11 countries have ratified the Framework Agreement of the ISA.

With ratifications by 15 countries, the ISA will become a treaty based inter-governmental international

organization.

International Solar Alliance

ISA was launched, on the sidelines of COP-21, at the UN Climate Change Conference in Paris in

November, 2015 by Modi and French President Francois Hollande.

The alliance, headquartered in India, aims to bring together countries situated between the Tropics of

Cancer and Capricorn which receive abundant sunshine for around 300 days a year.

ISA aims to invite solar rich 121 countries located fully or partly between the tropics of Cancer and

Capricorn to join the alliance.

International Steering Committee was establishment under the mandate of the Paris Declaration of ISA

to provide the guidance and direction to establish the ISA.

It will function from the Gurgaon, Haryana based National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE).

India has offered a contribution of Rs 175 crore for creating ISA corpus fund and for meeting the cost

of ISA secretariat for initial five years.

Alliance seeks to share common platform to reduce the cost of finance and technology that is needed to

deploy solar power widely.




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Alliance would pursue cooperation in training, building institutions, regulatory issues, common

standards, and investment including joint ventures.

4.9 Former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon elected as Chair of the IOC Ethics Commission

Former United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon was elected as Chair of Ethics

Commission of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for a four-year term.

Ban was the eighth Secretary-General of the United Nations from January 2007 to December 2016.

He has had a close relationship with the IOC as in 2009, IOC was granted Permanent Observer Status at

the UN. He has also been the Olympic torch bearer.

Ban‘s first action as the Secretary General was to introduce a code of ethics to the organisation, which

applies to all employees.

He constituted an Ethics Committee to devise a unified set of standards and policies for the entire UN

system.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is the supreme authority of the worldwide Olympic

movement.

It is an international, non-profit, non-governmental organization based in Lausanne, Switzerland.

Its mission is to develop, promote and protect the Olympic Movement in their respective countries.

The NOCs are the only organisations that can select and designate the city which may apply to organise

Olympic Games in their respective countries. In addition, they alone can send athletes to the Games.

4.10 Hasina floats five-point peace plan

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has floated a five-point peace proposal at United Nations to

find a permanent solution to Rohingya crisis.

She called for immediate steps to end ethnic cleansing of Rohingya minority as it has deepened crisis

along Bangladesh‘s border with Myanmar where over 430,000 refugees fleeing violence in Rakhine State

since August 2017.

Five-point proposal

1. Myanmar must stop violence and practice of ethnic cleansing in Rakhine State unconditionally,

immediately and forever.

2. UN Secretary General should immediately send fact-finding mission to Myanmar.

3. All civilians, irrespective of religion and ethnicity, must be protected in Myanmar. For this, safe zones

can be created inside Myanmar under UN supervision.

4. Sustainable return of all forcibly displaced Rohingyas in Bangladesh to their homes in Myanmar

5. Recommendations of Kofi Annan Commission Report must be implemented immediately,

unconditionally and entirely.

What‘s the issue?




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According to UN estimates, over 450000 Rohingya Muslims have fled Myanmar‘s Rakhine state into

Bangladesh since August 2017 when a fresh wave of violence had erupted Myanmar‘s Rakhine province.

The violence had started after Rohingya militants belonging to Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (also

known as Harakat al-Yaqeen or Faith Movement) had attacked police posts in Myanmar‘s northern

Rakhine state.

Following this attack, Myanmar‘s military had launched violent crackdown on insurgents from Muslim

Rohingya population which led to mass exodus of Rohingya Muslims into neighboring Bangladesh.

4.11 Undersea line from Iran to port cheap gas

A 1,300-km undersea pipeline from Iran, avoiding Pakistani waters, has been proposed to port cheap

gas.

It is said that this pipeline can bring natural gas from the Persian Gulf to India at rates less than the price

of LNG available in the spot market.

The subsea pipeline is being seen as an alternative to the on-land, Iran-Pakistan-India pipeline.

India has not been participating in talks on the 1,036-km Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline since 2007

citing security and commercial concerns. But, it has never officially pulled out of the $7.6 billion project.

Proposed pipeline

As per the proposal, the pipeline can first travel to Oman, and then onwards to Porbandar in the state of

Gujarat.

The pipeline is planned to carry 31.5 million standard cubic meters gas per day.

It will be built in two years from the date of necessary approvals and a gas sale and purchase agreement

(GSPA) being signed.




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Benefits of the proposed pipeline

Presently, liquefied natural gas, or LNG, imported through ships costs about $7.50 per million British

thermal unit. However, natural gas imported through the proposed $4-billion line would cost $5-5.50

per million British thermal unit at the Indian coast, cheaper than the rate at which some of the domestic

fields supply gas. Therefore, the cost of landed gas through an undersea pipeline will be at least $2

cheaper than importing LNG, saving about $1 billion annually.

Iran-Pakistan-India (IPI) gas pipeline

IPI pipeline was envisaged to transport natural gas from South Pars gas field of Iran to Pakistan and

India with a carrying capacity of 60 million standard cubic meters per day, to be equally split between

India and Pakistan.

The total length of 2700 km project would run 1100 km in Iran and 1000 km to Pakistan and in case of

agreement with India it will continue 600 km in Indian Territory.

Because of Iran is the most geographically convenient supplier of gas to both countries; Iran is offering

to cover 60% of the construction costs of the pipeline.

As per past estimates, investments required for this pipeline were in excess of $7 billion.

This project is expected to greatly benefit India and Pakistan, which do not have sufficient natural gas to

meet their rapidly increasing domestic demand for energy.

4.12 India at 103 rank on Global Human Capital Index

India ranked low 103rd out of 130 countries surveyed on World Economic Forum‘s (WEF) Global

Human Capital Index (GHCI) 2017.

In the previous edition, India ranked 105th.




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The GHCI measures countries‘ ability to nurture, develop and deploy talent for economic growth

against four key areas of human capital development;

1. Capacity (determined by past investment in formal education),

2. Deployment (accumulation of skills through work),

3. Development (reskilling and continued upskilling of existing workers) and

4. know-how (specialised skills-use at work).

Highlights of the index

Global scenario

The overall list was topped by Norway, followed by Finland and Switzerland in the second and third

place respectively.

Other countries in the top 10 include, the United States (4th), Denmark (5th), Germany (6th), New

Zealand (7th), Sweden (8th), Slovenia (9th) and Austria (10th).

India‘s performance

India is ranked lower than its BRICS peers. Russia (16th), China (34th), Brazil (77th) and South Africa

(87th).

India was ranked lower than Sri Lanka (70) and Nepal (98). But it ranked higher than neighbouring

B

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g

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a

d

e

s

h

(

1

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and Pakistan (125).

In terms of development of skills needed for the future India ranks 65th. However, India ranks lower

because of number of factors. It ranks lowest (last) in world when it comes to employment gender gap.




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It also ranks low 110th in educational attainment (primary education attainment among 25 -54 year olds)

and low deployment of its human capital, meaning the skills available are not getting put to good use.

India ranks 118 for labour force participation among the key 35-54 year old demographic, means that

too many Indians are engaged in informal or subsistent employment.

4.13 India reluctant to join Hague Convention

Hague Convention

1. Deals with international child custody cases.

2. Passed in 1980, the Hague Convention on International Child Abduction, which came into force in

1983, rules that in any child custody case, the court of the country where the child is a ―habitual

resident‖ will adjudicate who will get custody.

3. A total of ninety four countries, mostly developed nations in the Americas, Europe and Australia, are

signatories to the Hague Convention

India-U.S. Consular dialogue

Between officials from the Ministries of External Affairs, Women and Child Development and Home

and their counterparts in Washington.

The U.S. might push India to join the ―Hague Convention‖ in this dialogue session.

Legal provisions: The Hague Convention is circumventing the Indian system, and India can‘t abdicate its

responsibility to Indian parents, mostly mothers, and their young children.

Separated parents: American officials say the problem arises when one parent is in the U.S., while the

other brings the child to India (their home country) to avoid an adverse decision in the U.S. court.

‗Women worst hit‘: the worst affected in the cases covered by the convention are women, who form

68% of the parents that take or ―abduct‖ their children to their home countries, and must be protected.

What is Inter-country parental child abduction?

Inter-country parental child abduction is a situation that is attained when one parent takes a child or

children to a foreign country to prevent the other parent from seeking custody of the child.

Inter-country parental child abduction cases in India

India‘s case-load (regarding IPCA) is second largest in the United States which is followed by Mexico.

At least 90 children from 80 Indian-American families were affected by separating parents and the legal

problems involved.

As more and more Indians are studying and working in the U.S, such cases are growing in number and it

is necessary to get a better mechanism to deal with this.

4.14 India Signs Deal with JICA to Upgrade Alang-Sosiya Shipyards

The project will be executed by Gujarat Maritime Board (GMB) and is likely to be completed by 2022.

The total cost of project is $111 million out of which $76 million will be provided by JICA as soft loan.




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Out of remaining amount, $25 million will be borne by Gujarat Government as taxes and fees and

balance $10 million will be shared by Ministry of Shipping.

Benefits of the project

This project will help Alang-Sosia ship-recycling yards to comply with international safety &

environmental regulations. This will attract more business at recycling facilities at Alang, thereby further

consolidate India‘s share in global ship-recycling industry.

It will also help in safeguarding marine and coastal environment. The use of advanced decontamination

technology will rule out possibility of fire accidents in oil and chemical tankers, thereby ensuring workers

safety.

The project is expected to increase in direct employment from 50,000 to 92,000 people and in-direct

employment from 1.5 lakhs to 3 lakh people.

About Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)

The JICA is governmental agency that coordinates official development assistance (ODA) for

government of Japan.

Its mandate is assisting economic and social growth in developing countries, and promotion of

international cooperation.

4.15 India, China petition WTO against trade-distorting farm subsidies

India and China jointly submitted a proposal to the World Trade Organization (WTO) calling for the

elimination – by developed countries – of the most trade-distorting form of farm subsidies known

as Aggregate Measurement of Support (AMS), or ‗Amber Box‘ support.

What is AMS or ‗Amber Box‘ support?

The WTO divides subsidies into amber, blue and green box subsidies.

Amber box are trade-distorting subsidies, blue box are subsidies with restrictions designed to reduce

distortion and green box subsidies are non-trade distorting subsidies.

Direct cash transfers, coupons and subsidies that do not impact production are not considered trade-

distorting subsidies and categorised as green box.

What‘s the issue?

India and China have raised objections over developed countries, including the US, the EU and Canada,

that have been consistently providing trade-distorting subsidies to their farmers at levels much higher

than the ceiling applicable to developing countries.

The subsidies by the developed countries amount to about USD 160 billion. On the other hand,

countries like India provide a subsistence amount of about USD 260 per farmer annually.

Most of the developing countries, including India and China, do not have AMS entitlements.

Besides, developed members of the WTO have access to huge amount of AMS beyond their de minimis

— the minimal amount of domestic support that are allowed even though they distort trade up to 5% of




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the value of production for developed countries, 10% for developing. In contrast, most developing

members have access only to de minimis resulting in a major asymmetry in the rules on agricultural

trade.

Why this proposal is significant?

It is an important proposal by India and China in view of the ongoing negotiations for the ministerial

conference of the WTO to be held in Buenos Aires in December.

India and China believe that elimination of this support should be the starting point of reforms rather

than seeking reduction of subsidies by developing countries.

4.16 India-Sri Lanka joint maritime naval exercise – SLINEX 2017

Indian Navy and Sri Lankan Navy began the 2017 Sri Lanka-India Exercise (SLINEX) at

Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh.

SLINEX 17 aims at reinforcing strong neighbourly ties between both countries underscored by

extensive maritime interaction and improved understanding.

It focuses on fleet work, seamanship, communication, replenishment at sea, Visit Board Search and

Seize (VBSS) operations as well as helicopter operations.

The exercise will commence with a Harbour Phase, during which, the participants will engage in

professional, cultural and social interactions.

The Harbour Phase will be followed by the Sea Phase, which will include complex operations including

anti-piracy exercises, gun firings, cross-deck helicopter operations and anti-surface exercises.

Sri Lanka-India Exercise (SLINEX)

SLINEX series of bilateral maritime exercises was initiated in 2005 and since then four successful

engagements have been conducted.

SLINEX aims to promote mutual understanding and provide exposure to both the Navies to each

others‘ operating procedures, communication procedures and best practices.

This allows the two navies to develop greater confidence to operate together during complex maritime

missions.

4.17 Merkel wins fourth term

German Chancellor Angela Merkel won a fourth term in office on 24 September 2017 but Europe's

most powerful leader will have to govern with a far less stable coalition in a fractured parliament after

her conservatives haemorrhaged support to a surging far right.

Two years after Merkel left German borders open to more than 1 million migrants, the anti-immigration

Alternative for Germany (AfD) stunned the establishment by becoming the first far-right party to enter

parliament in more than half a century. The AfD won 13.0 per cent of the vote - more than expected

and one of many shocks on drama that saw Merkel's conservatives get their worst result since 1949, and

her main Social Democrat (SPD) rivals their worst since 1933.




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Describing the far right's success as a test for Germans, Merkel insisted she had a mandate to govern - a

formidable challenge as she has little choice but to cobble together a three-way coalition with a pro-

business group and the Greens.

The euro slipped around 0.4 per cent in early Asian trading as it became clear the results would make

forming a coalition tricky for Merkel.

Coalition building could take months as Merkel's only straightforward path to a majority in parliament

would be a three-way tie-up with the liberal Free Democrats (FDP) and the Greens - an arrangement

untested at national level.

The Social Democrats, who have served with Merkel's conservatives as junior partners in a ―grand

coalition‖ for the past four years, won just 20.6 per cent of the vote, as nearly half of voters repudiated

the two parties that have dominated Germany since World War Two.

4.18 Rohingya children to get UNHCR cards in Bengal

The West Bengal government will distribute identity cards issued by the United Nations High

Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to Rohigya children lodged in the juvenile justice homes of

the State.

The move comes at a time when there are reports that the Union government is planning to deport

Rohingyas refugees.

The UNHCR has issued identity cards to the Rohingyas in India so as to shield them from harassment

and arbitrary arrests.

The UNHCR says some 16,500 Rohingya from Myanmar are registered with it in India.

UNHCR cards

The UNHCR issues ID cards to registered refugees and documents to asylum-seekers which help to

prevent arbitrary arrests, detention and deportation.

The card includes a number of enhanced security features including 3D holograms, bar codes and a large

SQR code.

The card is supported by enhanced biometric data collection at the UNHCR office, including retina, 10

fingers and face scan.

Significance of these cards

The government issues long-term visas to refugees which ease their access to public services and

employment in the private sector.

Because of some recent changes to the documentation processes, some refugees have reportedly been

facing challenges in accessing public services and opening bank accounts.

It is important for refugees to have access to employment and basic services. Therefore, refugee cards

help in facilitating their access to these services.

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)




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The Office of the UNHCR, also known as the UN Refugee Agency, is a United Nations programme

mandated to protect and support refugees at the request of a government or the UN itself and assists in

their voluntary repatriation, local integration or resettlement to a third country.

Its headquarters are in Geneva, Switzerland, and it is a member of the United Nations

Development Group.

As UNHCR is a program governed by the UN General Assembly, and the UN Economic and

Social Council, it cooperates with many other programs and agencies under the United Nations in

order to effectively protect the rights of refugees.

UNHCR was established on 14 December 1950 and succeeded the earlier United Nations Relief and

Rehabilitation Administration.

The agency is mandated to lead and co-ordinate international action to protect refugees and resolve

refugee problems worldwide.

Its primary purpose is to safeguard the rights and well-being of refugees.

It strives to ensure that everyone can exercise the right to seek asylum and find safe refuge in another

state, with the option to return home voluntarily, integrate locally or to resettle in a third country.

UNHCR maintains a database of refugee information, ProGres, which was created during the

Kosovo War in the 1990s. The database today contains data on over 11 million refugees, or about 11%

of all displaced persons globally.

The UNHCR has won two Nobel Peace Prizes, once in 1954 and again in 1981.

Moreover, the UNHCR has been chosen for the prestigious Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace,

Disarmament and Development 2015.

4.19 Uninhabited Lakshadweep island Parali I vanishes, 4 others shrinking fast: study

The 51st International Literacy Day was celebrated across the world on 8 September 2017 with the

theme ‗Literacy in a Digital World‘.

According to a study, Parali I island, one of biodiversity-rich uninhabited islands part of Lakshadweep

has disappeared due to coastal erosion and another four such islands in Lakshadweep sea are shrinking

fast.

The researcher had conducted studies on assessment of biodiversity confining to five uninhabited

islands– Parali I, II and III, Bangaram, Thinnakara in Lakshadweep, an archipelago of 36 islands in

Lakshadweep sea.

The island called Parali I, a part of Bangaram chain of islands, was about 0.032 km in size in 1968.

Highlights of the study




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An overall assessment of the changes in the aerial extent of islands using the Remote Sensing and

Geospatial Information System

revealed the incidence of coastal

erosion in the five islands.

The magnitude of net erosion was

higher in Parali I island (100 per cent),

which resulted in its inundation.

The net erosion has been reported to

be high in Parali II (80 per cent) as

well, which is one among the four

swiftly shrinking islands.

This is followed by Thinnakara (14.38

per cent), Parali III (11.42 per cent)

and Bangaram (9.968 per cent).

Concerns

According to the study, the complete

erosion of Parali I highlights the gravity of issues associated with coastal erosion within the island chain.

It calls for urgent measures to be implemented on each islet of the atoll in Lakshadweep sea to check

further erosion.

Further, due to increasing global temperature because of climate change, islands and coastal areas are

facing erosion and inundation due to rising sea levels.

India‘s coasts and islands, are densely populated, are highly vulnerable. There is urgent need to start

preparing for building defenses to protect coastlines and islands as sea levels are predicted to rise

further.

How can the problem be addressed?

The study‘s results call for the implementation of urgent measures on each island of the chain to check

further erosion.

Bio-protection strategy using mangroves can be employed to check if it helps better the situation.

Convention physical protection measures can also be applied to save the islands from erosion.

4.20 Uttarakhand to bring special heritage law

The aim of the plan is to preserve buildings and sites of historic, aesthetic, cultural or environmental

value which are not protected by the central law of the Archaeological Survey of India or any other

existing government policies.




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The Uttarakhand Heritage Act seeks to conserve landmarks such as the Almora Jail, where Pt Jawaharlal

Nehru was imprisoned, the colonial-era Raj Bhawan in Nainital, historic precincts and trees, groves and

natural fields of environmental significance.

The statute would also cover natural features of environmental significance and sites of scenic beauty

and provide for conservation and protection of areas which are environmentally sensitive.

The far-reaching legislation will also cover streetscapes and artefacts, besides protecting the sacred

groves, mountains, traditional bridle paths, wetlands and wooded areas.

The heritage authority would have the State Chief Secretary as its chairman and other key officials, along

with experts such as an architect, a structural engineer, a historian and an environmentalist, as members.

Around 71 monuments in Uttarakhand are protected by the State government under the Ancient

Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act.

Another 40 archaeological sites are covered by the Central government, through the ASI, under the

same.

4.21 VASTRA 2017

The 6th edition of VASTRA i.e. ―VASTRA – An International Textile and Apparel Fair

2017‖ (VASTRA – 2017) was recently inaugurated at Jaipur.

Rajasthan State Industrial Development and Investment Corporation Ltd. (RIICO) is the organiser and

Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) is the co-organiser of the fair.

VASTRA fair

VASTRA, an all-encompassing trade fair and conference on Textiles and Apparel, presents a

fusion of the finest and the latest in textile products – from fibre to fashion, services and technology.

Crafted to create business opportunities, it aims at revitalizing existing business ties and forging of new

business relations.

It is the ideal platform to enter JVs, strategic alliances and partnerships worldwide, launch new products,

as well as, harness new locations for setting up businesses in India. It is also a place for disseminating

technology and interacting with R&D Labs and experts for solution in technology and latest trends.

VASTRA, since its inception in 2012 has created a space for itself in the calendar of international

exhibitions on textiles and apparel.

India‘s textiles sector

India‘s textiles sector is one of the oldest industries in Indian economy dating back several centuries.

Even today, it is one of the largest contributors to India‘s exports with approximately 11% of total

exports (exports during FY 2015-16 stood at US$ 40 billion).

It contributes approximately 5% to India‘s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and 14% to overall Index

of Industrial Production (IIP).

It is also labour intensive and is the second largest employer after agriculture.




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Government has allowed 100% FDI in the Indian textiles sector under the automatic route.

4.22 World Development Report 2018

The World Bank has warned of a learning crisis in global education, particularly in low and middle-

income countries like India, underlining that schooling without learning is not just a wasted

development opportunity, but also a great injustice to children worldwide.

The Bank in a latest report noted that millions of young students in these countries face the prospect of

lost opportunity and lower wages in later life because their primary and secondary schools are failing to

educate them to succeed in life.

According to the ‗World Development Report 2018: ‘Learning to Realise Education‘s Promise‘, released,

India ranks second after Malawi in a list of 12 countries wherein a grade two student could not read a

single word of a short text.

India also tops the list of seven countries in which a grade two student could not perform two-digit

subtraction.

In rural India, just under three-quarters of students in grade 3 could not solve a two-digit subtraction

such as 46—17, and by grade 5 half could still not do so.

The report argued that without learning, education will fail to deliver on its promise to eliminate extreme

poverty and create shared opportunity and prosperity for all.

In rural India in 2016, only half of grade 5 students could fluently read text at the level of the grade 2

curriculum, which included sentences (in the local language) such as ‗It was the month of rains‘ and

‗There were black clouds in the sky‘.

According to the report, in Andhra Pradesh in 2010, low-performing students in grade 5 were no more

likely to answer a grade 1 question correctly than those in grade 2.

Further a computer-assisted learning programme in Gujarat, improved learning when it added to

teaching and learning time, especially for the poorest-performing students, it said.

The report recommends concrete policy steps to help developing countries resolve this dire learning

crisis in the areas of stronger learning assessments, using evidence of what works and what doesn‘t to

guide education decision-making; and mobilising a strong social movement to push for education

changes that champion ‗learning for all‘.




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5. POLITICAL ISSUES, HUMAN RIGHTS AND

GOVERNANCE

5.1 Cabinet approves introduction of the Payment of Gratuity (Amendment) Bill, 2017 in the

Parliament

The Union Cabinet has given approved introduction of the Payment of Gratuity (Amendment) Bill,

2017 in the Parliament.

The Bill seeks to amend Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972.

The amendment seeks to revise the ceiling for employees in private sectors too, considering

inflation and wage increase.

The Amendment will increase maximum limit of gratuity of employees, in Public Sector Undertakings

(PSUs)/Autonomous Organizations under Government and in private sector who are not covered

under Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 1972, at par with Central Government employees.

The Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972

The Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972 is an important social security legislation to wage earning population

in industries, factories and establishments.

It was enacted to provide social security to workmen after retirement, whether retirement is result of

rules of superannuation, or physical disablement or impairment of vital body part.

It applies to establishments employing 10 or more persons.

The present upper ceiling on gratuity amount under Act was Rs. 10 Lakh. The provisions for Union

Government employees under CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972 with regard to gratuity are also similar. Before

implementation of 7th Central Pay Commission, ceiling under CCS (Pension) Rules was Rs. 10 Lakh.

However, with implementation of 7th Central Pay Commission from January 2-016, the gratuity ceiling

was increased to Rs. 20 Lakhs.

5.2 Cabinet approves pact to collaborate in modernization of Afghan police

The Union Cabinet has given its approval to the signing of the (i) Interbank Local Currency Credit

Line Agreement and (ii) Cooperation Memorandum Relating to Credit Ratings by Exim Bank

with participating member banks under BRICS Interbank Cooperation Mechanism.

The Union Cabinet has given its approval for signing an MoU between India and Afghanistan on

Technical Cooperation on Police Training and Development.

The MoU will help in capacity building of Afghanistan National Police and improving the security

apparatus in the region.

It has been approved for a period of 5 years from the date of signing the MoU and shall be extended for

a further period of 5 years on the condition that are not further changes and or revision.

India and Afghanistan have friendly relations.




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The police personnel of Afghanistan National Police come regularly for training purposes in different

training institutes of India.

India and Afghanistan have already signed an ―Agreement on strategic partnership‖ between the two

countries in October, 2011.

Afghanistan delegates expressed their desire for assistance from India in the field of Police training,

police development, law enforcement, strengthening the rule of law in Afghanistan and building

sustainable long-term cooperation.

India‘s support to Afghanistan

India has played a major role in the reconstruction of Afghanistan since the fall of the Taliban regime

and has invested over $2 billion in various reconstruction and infrastructure projects.

The construction of the major Salma Dam, the new Afghan parliament building, Zaranj-Delaram

highway, and some other projects are among the key investments India has done so far in the country.

In the security and defense, India has provided four attack helicopters along with transport choppers

besides providing scholarships to the Afghan army cadets.

5.3 Cabinet approves Revamped Khelo India Programme

The Union Cabinet has approved the revamped Khelo India programme that aims at mainstreaming

sport as a tool for individual development, community development, economic development and

national development.

The revamped programme for period 2017-18 to 2019-20 would impact the entire sports ecosystem,

including infrastructure, community sports, talent identification, coaching for excellence, competition

structure and sports economy.

Salient features of the Programme

An unprecedented Pan Indian Sports Scholarship scheme, which would cover 1,000 most talented

young athletes each year across select sports disciplines.

Each athlete selected under the scheme shall receive an annual scholarship worth Rs. 5.00 lakh for 8

consecutive years.

This is the first time ever that a long-term athlete development pathway would be made available to

gifted and talented youngsters to excel in competitive sports and will create a pool of highly competitive

athletes who can compete to win at the world stage.

The Programme aims to promote 20 universities across the country as hubs of sporting excellence,

which would enable talented sports persons to pursue the dual pathway of education and competitive

sports.

The Programme also aims at creating an active population with healthy life-style.




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The Programme would cover about 200 million children in the age group of 10-18 under a massive

national physical fitness drive, which will not only measure the physical fitness of all children in the age

group, but also support their fitness related activities.

Significance

The Khelo India programme strives to promote ―Sports for All‖ as well as ―Sports for Excellence‖.

This is for first time a long-term athlete development pathway will be made available to gifted and

talented youngsters to excel in competitive sports.

It will create a pool of highly competitive athletes who can compete to win at world stage.

It aims to engage youth living in disturbed and deprived areas, in sporting activities, to mainstream them

in nation-building process by weaning them away from unproductive and disruptive activities.

It will also promote gender equity and social inclusiveness.

It also includes use of latest user-friendly technology in all aspects of sports promotion such as, use of

mobile apps for dissemination of sports training, interactive website for indigenous sports, National

Sports Talent Search (NSTS) portal for talent identification, GIS based information system for locating

and using sports infrastructure etc.

5.4 Cabinet approves umbrella scheme of Modernisation of Police Forces

The Union Cabinet has given its approval for implementation of umbrella scheme of ―Modernisation of

Police Forces (MPF)‖ for years 2017-18 to 2019-20.

The financial outlay for the scheme over the three year‘s period is Rs.25,060 crore, out of which the

Central Government share will be Rs.18,636 crore and the States‘ share will be Rs.6,424 crore.

It is biggest ever internal security scheme in country.

Salient Features of the scheme

Special provision

Special provision has been made under the Scheme for internal security, law and order, women security,

availability of modern weapons, mobility of police forces, logistics support, hiring of helicopters,

upgradation of police wireless, National Satellite Network, CCTNS project, E-prison project etc.

J&K, North Eastern and LWE States

Under the umbrella scheme, central budget outlay of Rs.10,132 crore has been earmarked for internal

security related expenditure for Jammu & Kashmir, North Eastern States and left wing extremism

affected States.

Scheme of Special Central Assistance (SCA) for 35 worst LWE affected districts has been introduced

with an outlay of Rs.3,000 crore to tackle the issue of underdevelopment in these district.

An outlay of Rs.100 crore has been earmarked in the North Eastern States for police infrastructure

upgradation, training institutes, investigation facilities etc.

Infrastructure upgradation




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Under the scheme, new initiatives will be introduced to provide assistance to States for upgradation of

police infrastructure, forensic science laboratories, institutions and the equipment available with them to

plug critical gaps in the criminal justice system.

Integration of Police Stations

Police Stations will be integrated to set up a national data base of crime and criminals‘ records.

It will be linked with other pillars of criminal justice system such as ‗prisons, forensic science

laboratories and prosecution offices.

Forensic science laboratories

The umbrella scheme also provides for setting up of a State-of Art forensic science laboratory in

Amravati, Andhra Pradesh and upgradation of Sardar Patel Global Centre for Security, Counter

Terrorism and Anti Insurgency in Jaipur and Gujarat Forensic Science University in Gandhi Nagar.

Significance of the scheme

Implementation of this scheme will help to bolster Government‘s ability to address challenges faced in

different theatres such as areas affected by LWE, Jammu and Kashmir and North East effectively.

It will also aid to undertake development interventions which will catalyze in improving quality of life in

these areas and help combat these challenges effectively at same time.

It is expected that the scheme will go a long way to boost capability and efficiency of Central and State

Police Forces by modernizing them.

5.6 Karnataka Cabinet clears anti-superstition bill

The Karnataka Cabinet on Wednesday cleared the much-delayed and debated Karnataka Prevention and

Eradication of Inhuman Evil Practices and Black Magic Bill, 2017, popularly known as the anti-

superstition Bill.

The Bill, if cleared by the State legislature, is expected to put an end to various inhuman practices such

as black magic, witchcraft, or any act in the name of religion that causes harm to humans and animals.

However, acts such as Kesh Lochan (plucking of hair), vaastu and astrology have not been barred.

What is banned?

Performing any black magic, inhumane act and evil practices in search of treasure or bounty, tantric acts

which include physical and sexual assault.

Practices such as parading people naked, ostracising a person in the name of a ritual and encouraging

inhumane acts during said rituals also come under the purview of the bill.

Rituals of exorcism, assaulting people under the pretext of exorcism, misinformation and creating a

panic-like situation under the pretext of ghosts and black magic will also be banned.

Other practices such as making claims of having healing power, propagating practices that involve self-

mutilation and coercing people to perform fire-walking will also be banned.

What is not banned?




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The form of the worship such as Pradakshina, Yatra, Parikrama performed at religious places

Harikata, Keerthana, Pravachana, Bhajana, teaching of ancient and traditional learning and arts, practice,

propagation and circulation

Miracles of the deceased saints propagation, publicity and circulation of the same and the propagation,

publicity and distribution of literature about miracles of the religious preachers which do not cause

physical injury

Performance of prayers, upasana and religious rituals at home, temple, darghas, gurdwara, pagoda,

church, and other religious places which do not cause physical injury

All religious celebrations, festivals, prayers, procession and other act relating other rituals

Piercing of ears and nose of children in accordance with rituals and performance of religious ritual such

as Kesh Lochan by the Jains

Advice in regard to vaastu shasthra, and advice by jyothishya and other astrologers.

5.7 Private member‘s bill proposes MPs also declare assets after term ends

The Representation of The People Act (Amendment) Bill, 2017, will be presented in the Winter Session

of Parliament this year.

The bill seeks parliamentarians to declare their assets at the end of their tenure.

This bill aims to ensure accountability and transparency.

What the new bill proposes?

The bill proposes that Members of Parliament declare their assets within 90 days after their tenure ends.

This provision is to be inserted as sub section 75B(1) in the ‗Representation of People Act, 1951‘.

Significance

The proposed amendment in the parent act will help in maintaining transparency and accountability of

people‘s representatives at the apex level.

It will also help in creating a positive atmosphere of corruption-free status of MPs.

Present scenario

At present, elected candidate of the two Houses of Parliament have to declare their assets and liabilities

within ninety days from the date on which they take their seat. However, there are no such provisions

for declaration of assets and liabilities after the expiry of the term.

The bill comes in the wake of Supreme Court observations earlier this month on the issue, after it was

irked over the non-disclosure of action on jumps in politicians‘ assets.

The Supreme Court took strong exception to the Centre‘s attitude of not disclosing information on

action taken by it against politicians, some of whose assets had seen a massive jump of up to 500%

between two elections, and had directed the government to place the necessary information in this

regard before the court.

Private member‘s bill




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Members of Parliament other than ministers are called private members and bills presented by them are

known as Private member‘s bills.

5.8 Refugees go to SC against Article 35A

Some refugees from West Pakistan, who had migrated to India during Partition, have moved the

Supreme Court challenging Article 35A of the Constitution relating to special rights and privileges of

permanent residents of Jammu and Kashmir.

Issue

Nearly 1.25 lakh WPRs, who migrated from the then West Pakistan after partition of the country in

1947 to settle in Kathua, Samba and Jammu districts of the state, are seeking citizenship rights,

employment rights and right to vote and contest the state assembly polls for the past 70 years.

According to official data 5,764 families comprising 47,915 persons had migrated from West Pakistan in

1947 and settled in the three districts of the state. Today their population increased to nearly 1.25 lakh.

These refugees are not considered permanent residents of the state, cannot vote in assembly polls and

cannot do state government jobs even though they are living in the state for generations. However, they

can vote in parliamentary elections.

Article 35A

Article 35A of the Indian Constitution is an article that empowers the Jammu and Kashmir state‘s

legislature to define ―permanent residents‖ of the state and provide special rights and privileges to those

permanent residents.

It was added by a 1954 presidential order issued under Article 370, the constitutional provision that

mediates the relationship

between the Union of India and

Kashmir.

Article 35A also empowers the

State‘s legislature to frame any

law without attracting a

challenge on grounds of

violating the Right to Equality

of people from other States or

any other right under the

Constitution.

Concerns

Attempts to undo Article 35A of the Indian Constitution would strike a fatal blow to the nationalists in

the state.




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There is an ongoing case in the Supreme Court challenging the validity of the Article, which prevents

non-J&K state subjects from settling and buying property in the state.

However, Kashmiris are apprehensive that such a move would open the sluice gates for a demographic

transformation of the Valley.

The J&K government is also concerned at the reluctance of the Union government to file a counter

affidavit in the Supreme Court. Against the backdrop of the escalating protests in Kashmir, this issue

could potentially be explosive.

5.9 SC to hear Rohingya plea for help

The Supreme Court agreed to hear a plea against deportation of illegal Rohingya Muslim immigrants to

Myanmar on several grounds, including violation of international human rights conventions.

The plea was filed by two Rohingya immigrants against the government‘s proposed move to deport their

40,000-strong refugee community back to their native Myanmar, where discrimination and possibly

summary executions await them.

Petitioners‘ arguments

Petitioners who are registered refugees under the United Nations High Commission of Refugees

(UNHCR), claimed they had taken refuge in India after escaping from Myanmar due to widespread

discrimination, violence and bloodshed against the community there.

Proposed deportation is contrary to the constitutional protections of Article 14 (Right to Equality),

Article 21 (Right to Life and Personal Liberty) and Article 51(c) of the Constitution of India, which

provides equal rights and liberty to every person.




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This act would also be in contradiction with the principle of ‗Non-Refoulement‘, which has been widely

recognised as a principle of Customary International Law.

It has also sought a direction that Rohingyas be provided ―basic amenities to ensure that they can live in

human conditions as required by international law‖.

It also said that India has ratified and is a signatory to various conventions that recognise the Principle

of ―Non- Refoulement‘, which prohibits deportation of refugees to a country where they may face threat

to their lives.

Though India has not ratified the UNCHR Convention on Refugees, India has ratified the Universal

Declaration of Human Rights, International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and International

Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.

Further, India is also a signatory to the Protection of All Persons Against Enforced Disappearances,

Convention against Torture and Other Cruel and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment,‖

the plea said, adding that all these international treaties and conventions lay down the Principle of Non-

Refoulement.

India has traditionally been hospitable host of refugees and displaced people, both from South Asia and

across the world.

What is the Principle of ―Non-

Refoulement‖?

The principle of non-refoulement — or not

sending back refugees to a place where they

face danger — is considered part of

customary international law and is binding

on all states whether they have signed the

Refugee Convention or not.

Rohingya

Few years ago, religious and ethnic tensions

between the Rohingya Muslims and the

Rakhine Buddhists (who make up the

majority of the population in Mayanmar)

escalated into widespread, deadly rioting.

Hundreds of thousands were forced to flee.

Since then, ongoing violent attacks have

forced even more people to leave their

homes.




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The Myanmar Government says that Rohingya people are not Burmese citizens – but the Rohingya have

been living in Myanmar for generations. Today, they are a people with no home or citizenship.

Rohingya people are being widely abused and exploited. They are one of the most persecuted minorities

in the world.

Rays of hope for Rohingya

Last week, Indian government had raised ―serious concern‖ over reports of renewed violence and

attacks in Myanmar and extended its ―strong‖ support to the Myanmarese government at this

―challenging moment‖.

Moreover, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) had issued notice to the Centre over its

plan to deport the Rohingya immigrants, who are residing in various parts of India.

5.9 Sports Ministry approves empowered steering committee for Olympic preparation

Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has approved constitution of a 13-member Empowered Steering

Committee (ESC) which will shape and influence India‘s preparation for multi- disciplinary events,

including 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.

The Empowered Steering Committee will be led by an Honorary Chairperson, who will be appointed by

the Government.

The Steering Committee will have the mandate to work till December 31, 2020 with clearly defined

terms and references.

Note

Earlier, the Sports Ministry had constituted Task Force in September 2016 head by Abhinav Bindra for

preparation of comprehensive action plan, including short-term and medium to long-term measures for

effective participation of Indian sportspersons in next three Olympic Games to be held in 2020 (Tokyo),

2024 (Paris) and 2028 (Los Angeles).

The 8-member Task Force had submitted its interim report to Government in May 2017 with focus on

preparations in the short-term for 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.

The decision to form the Empowered Steering Committee (ESC) has been taken on the basis of

recommendations made by the Olympic Task Force in its interim report.

Terms and references of the ESC

The committee will review the core probable list of each High Priority and Priority disciplines for

Commonwealth Games, Asian Games and Olympic Games and make recommendations.

It can make recommendations with respect to additions or deletions.

The Committee will also have power to recommend specific plans or packages for TOPS (Target

Olympic Podium Scheme) beneficiaries, picked by the TOPS Committee.

ECS can recommend names of national and international training institutions for the empanelment for

providing training, coaching and other support to TOPS athletes, including negotiated packages.




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It can also make specific recommendations for strengthening sport sciences within SAI as well as

outsourcing sports science support in the short to medium term for providing sports science support to

national campers.

It can also have all SAI Regional Centres duly audited for holding national coaching camps and closely

interact with National Observers appointed by the government for obtaining their recommendations on

the various issues.

The ECS will also assist the government in formulating Qualification Requirements (QRs), job

description and conducting selection process with the involvement of NSF concerned for inducting

professionals, including High Performance Managers, in selected sports disciplines.

It will also provide advisory support for setting up of Centre of Excellence for Para Sports at

Gandhinagar, Gujarat.

5.10 States will have to compete for central projects

The Centre has decided to adopt the so-called challenge method for awarding all projects to states so

as to bring in speed, efficiency and transparency, besides putting an end to allocation of big projects on

political consideration.

Challenge method

Under this method, prospective states will be rated on more than half-dozen parameters prescribed in

the guidelines issued and the project will go to the state with the highest score on a scale of zero to 100.

The challenge method for selecting the state as well as the site for the projects, which can be both

brownfield and greenfield projects, will now be applicable across sectors such as aviation, roads,

railways, health, education, IT, power and textiles.

It will also be used for awarding all national events such as national games and youth festivals to states.

Significance of this method

The so-called challenge method is expected to spur competition among states and union territories both

in terms of offering the best sites and committing resources in terms of land, utilities, infrastructure

support and financial contribution, which in turn would encourage optimum utilisation of scarce

resources and help in timely completion of projects.

Awarding projects based on the challenge method will ensure due

diligence is being done by all departments and states. This will also

mean that gestation period for all these projects will come down

significantly and there will be no major delays and this will give

enough push to efficiency.

Why we need this method?




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The government is of the view that in many instances projects along with locations used to be

announced in the Budget or as a development package while the formulation of the scheme, land

selection and acquisition got done after the announcement. Such projects often face risk and results in

delay in implementation along with cost and time overruns leading to suboptimal utilisation of scarce

resources.

Hence there is a need to evolve an objective criterion for selection of sites for various projects.

5.11 Supreme Court for open air jails, better treatment for prisoners

While hearing a 2013 PIL on prevailing inhuman conditions prevailing in 1,382 prisons across the

country, the Supreme Court of India has passed a slew of directions on prison reforms.

Important directions made by the court

All high courts have to register a suo motu petition to identify kin of prisoners who admittedly died an

unnatural death after 2012 and award suitable compensation to them.

All state governments should appoint counsellors and support persons for counselling prisoners,

particularly first-time offenders.

States should also study the availability of medical assistance to prisoners and take remedial steps

wherever necessary.

The Ministry of Woman and Child Development has been asked to discuss with the official concerned

of the state governments ―and formulate procedures for tabulating the number of children (if any) who

suffer an unnatural death in child care institutions where they are kept in custody either because they are

in conflict with law or because they need care and protection‖.

The Centre has to ensure circulation of its model prison manual, a monograph prepared by the National

Human Rights Commission on suicides in prisons, and the Nelson Mandela Rules and guidelines on

investigating deaths in custody issued by the International Committee of the Red Cross within one

month to prison incharges of every states.

The states should conduct training and sensitisation programmes for senior police officers of all

prisons on their functions, duties and responsibilities and the rights and duties of prisoners.

The government may consider extending the time or frequency of meetings by the family of a prisoner

and explore the possibility of using phones and video conferencing for communication, also with their

counsel.

Need for prison reforms

NHRC figures show that prisoners cut off from family and friends had a 50% more chance of

committing suicide than those outside. The average suicide rate among the general public for this period

is 11 (per 100,000) whereas the average suicide rate in prison is 16.9 (per 100,000). In other words, the

average suicide rate in prisons is over 50% more than in normal conditions.




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Indian prisons face three long-standing structural constraints: overcrowding, thanks to a high percentage

of undertrials in the prison population, understaffing and underfunding. The inevitable outcome is sub-

human living conditions, poor hygiene, and violent clashes between the inmates and jail authorities.

Besides, while 33% of the total requirement of prison officials still lies vacant, almost 36% of vacancy

for supervising officers is still unfulfilled. In the absence of adequate prison staff, overcrowding of

prisons leads to rampant violence and other criminal activities inside the jails.

Way ahead

Indian jails have often been dubbed as a university for grooming criminals due to pathetic and inhumane

conditions.

In the absence of a robust Whistleblower Protection Act and structural changes to address the issues of

overcrowding and understaffing, India‘s prisons will continue to be heaven for politically connected

criminals and hell for socio-economically disadvantaged undertrials, some regular media uproars

notwithstanding.

Fundamental rights of prisoners cannot be placed in the back-burner and the Centre and the states need

to be more pro-active in sensitising staff about the need to treat prisoners as humanely as possible.

Note

As per the seventh schedule of the constitution, the management of prisons falls exclusively under the

domain of the state government.

In every state, the prison administrative machinery works under the chief of prisons who is a senior

ranking IPS officer.

5.12 VVPAT to be used in Gujarat polls

Gujarat will become the second state after Goa to use the new VVPAT system for the Assembly

elections in the entire state making it the first big state to use Electronic Voting Machine (EVMs)

equipped with Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail

(VVPAT).

The VVPATs will cover all 50,128 polling booths

during 2017 Gujarat Assembly elections. About

70,182 VVPAT machines will be used during

elections.

In 2013, conduct of Election Rules, 1961 was

amended to facilitate the introduction of VVPAT

units. For the first time, VVPAT with EVMs was

used for the Noksen Assembly seat in Tuensang

district of Nagaland.




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In the case of Subramanian Swamy vs Election Commission of India (ECI), the Supreme Court held

that VVPAT is ―indispensable for free and fair elections‖ and directed the ECI to equip EVMs with

VVPAT systems.

The apex court had directed the EC to introduce EVMs in a phased manner for the next General

Elections in 2014, saying it would ensure free and fair polls.

What is VVPAT?

The VVPAT system is a new initiative of the Election Commission to ensure free and fair elections.

In the VVPAT system, when a voter presses the button for a candidate of his choice in the electronic

voting machines (EVM), a paper ballot containing the serial number, name of the candidate and poll

symbol will be printed for the voter.

It is intended as an independent verification system for EVM designed to allow voters to verify that

their votes are casted correctly, detect possible election fraud or malfunction and provide a means to

audit the stored electronic results.

Why VVPAT?

VVPAT is independent verification printer machine attached to EVMs. It allows voters to verify if their

vote has gone to the intended candidate. Thus, ensure free and fair elections.

SC also directed the Centre to provide financial assistance for introducing VVPAT system.




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6. SOCIAL ISSUES AND DEVELOPMENT

6.1 ‗PENCIL‘ Portal On Child Labour Elimination

The Ministry for Social Justice and Empowerment has launched Divyang Sarathi - The accessible and

comprehensive mobile application for easy dissemination of information to ‗Divyangjans‘.

The Union Ministry of Labour and Employment launched Platform for Effective Enforcement for No

Child Labour (PENCIL) Portal at National Conference on Child Labour.

What is it?

The PENCIL portal is an electronic platform that aims at involving Centre, State, and District,

Governments, civil society and general public in achieving the target of child labour free society.

PENCIL portal has five components — Child Tracking System, Complaint Corner, State Government,

National Child Labour Project and Convergence.

Each district will nominate District Nodal Officers (DNOs) who will receive the complaints.

Within 48 hours of receiving complaints, DNOs will check genuineness of complaint and take rescue

measures in coordination with police, if complaint is genuine.

So far, 7 states have appointed DNOs.

National Child Labour Project (NCLP)

NCLP is central sector scheme launched in in 1988 for rehabilitation of child labour.

Under it, special schools/rehabilitation centres for rehabilitation of child labourers are opened so that

they can be mainstreamed into formal schooling system.

These centres also provide non-formal education, vocational training, supplementary nutrition and

stipend to children withdrawn from employment.

Revised NCPL

NCLP has been revised expanded and aligned to the new legislative provisions.

The legislative changes have been accompanied by creation of additional institutional mechanisms at the

district, state and national level for identification and rescue, along with revamping the rehabilitation

scheme and a centralized database for case to case monitoring and accountability.

6.2 Bharat ke Kaushalzaade‘

On the eve of Antyodaya Diwas 2017, Rural Skills Division, Ministry of Rural Development has

organized an event ‗Bharat ke Kaushalzaade‘.

The event aims to celebrate and honour beneficiaries from both of MoRD‘s flagship skill development

programmes i.e.

1. Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY) and

2. Rural Self Employment Training Institutes (RSETI).

The event also witnessed the mobilization platform launch, branded ‗Kaushal Panjee‘ (Skill Register).




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‗Kaushal Panjee‘

Kaushal Panjee aims to be citizen centric end-to-end solution to aid mobilization of candidates for

RSETIs and DDU-GKY.

It facilitates mobilization of candidates through Self Help Group members, Gram Panchayat

Functionaries, Block Officials, CSCs and directly by the candidate.

RSETIs and DDU-GKY Partners can access the Kaushal Panjee to connect with the mobilized rural

youth.

Kaushal Panjee is connected to the Social Economic Caste Census (SECC 2011) which will help the

States plan and target their mobilizations based on the socio-economic profile of households in their

State.

DDU GKY

The Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) announced the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen

Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY) Antyodaya Diwas, on 25th September 2014.

DDU-GKY is a part of the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM), tasked with the dual objectives

of adding diversity to the incomes of rural poor families and cater to the career aspirations of rural

youth.

DDU-GKY is uniquely focused on rural youth between the ages of 15 and 35 years from poor families.

As a part of the Skill India campaign, it plays an instrumental role in supporting the social and economic

programs of the government like the Make In India, Digital India, Smart Cities and Start-Up India,

Stand-Up India campaigns.

Rural Self Employment Training Institutes (RSETIs)

RSETIs are non- profit institutions established with the support of State Government and Central

Governments.

They are dedicated institutions designed as to ensure necessary skill training and skill up gradation of the

rural BPL youth to mitigate the unemployment problem.

One RSETI is established in every district in the country.

Concerned bank is the lead bank in the district takes responsibility for creating and managing

it.

Government of India will provide one – time grant assistance, upto a maximum of Rs. 1 crore for

meeting the expenditure on construction of building and other infrastructure.

After successful completion of the training, they will be provided with credit linkage assistance by the

banks to start their own entrepreneurial ventures.

At least 70% of the trainees should be from the rural BPL category certified by the DRDA.

Recognition of RSETI trainees




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Certificates issued by an RSETI will be recognised by all banks for purposes of extending credit to the

trainees.

It means that RSETI trained rural youths will be free to access any scheduled bank for loan/credit.

Credit Linkage

Credit needs of trainees will be appraised by RSETIs and the sense will be conveyed to the bank

branches.

The trainees could avail bank loans under SGSY or any other government sponsored programmes.

6.3 CARA launches monthly ―Jan Sampark‖ Program to facilitate adoption

The Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA) of the Ministry of Women & Child Development

has started a monthly ―Jan Sampark‖ program to enable the public to have interaction with its officials

and staff for seeking information related to Adoption as well as flagging their concerns.

The first of its kind programme under it was held recently in New Delhi.

Nearly 150 Prospective Adoptive Parents (PAPs), adoptive parents and representatives of agencies

participated in session.

The Jan Sampark program will now be held regularly every month apart from the quarterly Facebook

live chat by CEO CARA.

During the event, details pertaining to Immediate Placement and Special Needs Adoption Module of

Child Adoption Resource Information & Guidance System (CARINGS) will be shared with all the

stakeholders.

The will serve as platform for counselling and motivating PAPs to go for adopting older children.

Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA)

CARA is statutory body of Ministry of Women & Child Development established under Juvenile Justice

Act, 2015.

It is a nodal body for adoption of Indian children.

It is mandated to monitor and regulate in-country and inter-country adoptions.

CARA primarily deals with adoption of orphan, abandoned and surrendered children through its

associated /recognised adoption agencies.

It deals with inter-country adoptions according to Hague Convention on Inter-country Adoption, 1993

ratified by India in 2003.

6.4 Diksha Portal

The Union Ministry of Human Resource and Development (HRD) has launched Diksha Portal

―diksha.gov.in‖ – National Digital Infrastructure for Teachers.

Through this portal, all teachers across the nation will be equipped with advanced digital technology.

DIKSHA Portal




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DIKSHA Portal is an initiative of HRD ministry for providing a digital platform to teacher to make

their lifestyle more digital.

Diksha portal launched with a tagline ―National Digital Infrastructures for Our Teacher Our

Heroes‖.

Diksha portal will enable, accelerate and amplify solutions in realm of teacher education.

It will aid teachers to learn and train themselves for which assessment resources will be available.

It will help teachers to create training content, profile, in-class resources, assessment aids, news and

announcement and connect with teacher community.

The portal will record complete work and accomplishment of teachers in educational institutes from

start to end point till their retirement.

It will cover entire life cycle of teacher– from time they were enrolled as student teachers in Teacher

Education Institutes (TEIs) to after they retire as teachers.

Significance of the Portal

The portal will help teachers boost their teaching skills and create their own separate profile with their

skills and knowledge.

It will help in improving quality of education wit use of latest technologies in education sector.

Not only the government, private institutes and NGO‘s are also allowed to participate in the Diksha

initiative.

6.5 Disability pension for defence forces to be on par with civilians

The Union government has accepted the recommendations of National Anomaly Committee (NAC)

that parity with civilians for the grant of disability element to the defence forces under the 6th Central

Pay Commission (CPC) should be maintained.

With this, the Government has decided to continue with an earlier system of disbursing disability

pension and not to go ahead with a new regime recommended by the 7th CPC.

Why this move?

The move was undertaken after an increased request from the armed forces to revert back to the

percentage-based regime for disability pension instead of the slab-based system conceived under the 7th

CPC.

The armed forces personnel had felt that the new slab-based system would result in a reduction in the

amount of disability pension for existing as well as future retirees compared to percentage-based

disability pension.

The force personnel were also upset as civilian pensioners were to be paid pension according to the

earlier percentage system.

The Ministry of Defence had referred the matter to the NAC in order to decide methodology for

calculation of disability element of the disability pension under the 7th CPC.




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Complaint and Litigation Reduction Scheme (CLRS)

The Ex-Servicemen Health Contributory Scheme (ECHS) has launched Complaint and Litigation

Reduction Scheme (CLRS) for grievance redressal of veterans and their dependents.

The scheme will assist the Defence Ministry to increase focus on the formulation of caring policy and

implementation initiatives preserving time and resources of veterans who have served the nation in a

selfless manner.

6.6 Divyang Sarathi mobile app for disabled launched

The Ministry for Social Justice and Empowerment has launched Divyang Sarathi - The accessible and

comprehensive mobile application for easy dissemination of information to ‗Divyangjans‘.

The mobile app aims to

Empower Divyangjans by providing them easier and convenient access to information pertaining to

schemes, scholarships, statutes, institutional support systems, jobs and other crucial information.

Key Features of the ‗Divyang Sarathi‘

The Divyang Sarathi app is integral part of ICT component of Accessible India Campaign (Sugamya

Bharat Abhiyan) launched in December 2015.

It also compliant with principles of UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities for

Universal Access and provisions of Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 which mandates that all

information to be made available in accessible form.

The app has inbuilt unique feature of audio notes (text-to-voice conversion software) which converts

written information into audio file as well as the adjustable font size which can be altered as per user‘s

requirement.

It has been developed bilingually i.e. information is available in Hindi as well as English.

6.7 Gorakhpur, Koraput and Thane to launch Zero Hunger Programme

On occasion of World Food Day (October 16),

three districts – Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh,

Koraput in Odisha and Thane in Maharashtra – will

initiate India‘s ambitious ‗Zero Hunger‘ programme

through interventions in farm sector.

These three would act as a model of an integrated

approach to deal with hunger and malnutrition by

adopting suitable agricultural\horticultural practices.

Many more districts will eventually be covered under

this dedicated farm-based programme in sync with




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India‘s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to

end hunger by 2030.

‗Zero Hunger‘ programme

The Programme will be initiated by Indian Council

of Agricultural Research (ICAR) in association with

Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), MS

Swaminathan Research Foundation and

Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council

(BIRAC).

The concerned state governments will also be

involved in the programme which consists of

organisations of farming system for nutrition, setting

up genetic gardens for biofortified plants/crops and

initiation of a ‗Zero Hunger‘ training.

The programme will ensure suitable methods of measuring the impact of intervention. There will be

intensive training programme in order to identify the nutritional maladies in each district and the

appropriate agricultural/horticultural and animal husbandry remedies.

This programme will be launched in addition to what the government has planned to deal with the issue

of malnutrition through various other initiatives under its goal to make India malnutrition free by 2022.

What is SDG Goal 2?

The second of the seventeen proposed SDGs is ―End hunger, achieve food security and improved

nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture‖.

What is a genetic garden?

A genetic garden for biofortified plants contains germplasm of naturally biofortified crops through plant

breeding.

It has plants and crops that help supplement micro-nutrient deficiencies, including iron, zinc, vitamin A

and iodine among others.

6.8 Govt data shows India‘s infant mortality rate has declined 8%

According to recently released Sample Registration Survey (SRS), India has registered a significant

decline of 8% in Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) in 2016.

Infant mortality rate (IMR)

IMR is the number of deaths per 1,000 live births of children under one year of age.

Highlights of SRS

IMR in India has declined by three points from 37 per 1000 live births in 2015 to 34 per 1000 live births

in 2016.




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India has also recorded major drop in birth cohort, which has for first time came down to below 25

million. India has registered 90000 fewer infant deaths in 2016 as compared to 2015. The total number

of estimated infant deaths have come down from 9.3 Lakhs in 2015 to 8.4 lakhs in 2016.

The gender gap in India for child survival is also reducing steadily. The gender difference between

female and male IMR has reduced to below 10%, giving major boost to Beti Bachao Beti Padhao

scheme.

Among Empowered Action Group (EAG) states and Assam, all states except Uttarakhand have

reported decline in IMR compared to 2015. The decline is reported as 4 points in Bihar, 3 points in

Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand and Assam respectively and two points decline in Odisha,

Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan.

Significance

The results signify that strategic approach of Health Ministry has started yielding dividends and also

efforts of focusing on low performing States is paying off.

These remarkable achievements in short span of time are result of countrywide efforts to increase health

service coverage through various initiatives of Government.

6.9 Implementation Guidelines of Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana

The Ministry of Women & Child Development has released the Guidelines of Pradhan Mantri Matru

Vandana Yojana.

Guidelines inter-alia provide Aadhaar linkage, Direct Benefit Transfer, antenatal check-up and

registration of child birth & first cycle of immunisation of the child.

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi had announced the pan-India implementation of this scheme

w.e.f. 01st January 2017.

Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY)

Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY) is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme.

It is a maternity benefit program run by the government of India.

PMMVY is implemented by the Ministry of Women & Child Development in collaboration with

State Governments.

It is a conditional cash transfer scheme for pregnant and lactating women of 19 years of age or above

for first two live births.

It provides a partial wage compensation to women for wage-loss during childbirth and childcare and to

provide conditions for safe delivery and good nutrition and feeding practices.

Under the scheme, the cost sharing ratio between the Centre and the States & UTs with Legislature is

60:40, for North-Eastern States & three Himalayan States, it is 90:10 and 100% Central assistance for

Union Territories without Legislature.

It was previously known as Indira Gandhi Matritva Sahyog Yojana (IGMSY).




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In 2013, the scheme was brought under the National Food Security Act, 2013 to implement the

provision of cash maternity benefit of ₹6,000 stated in the Act.

6.10 NITI Aayog launches the National Nutrition Strategy

NITI Aayog launched the National Nutrition Strategy aimed at Kuposhan Mukt Bharat.

Under the strategy, the problem of malnutrition will be eradicated in a phased manner.

The strategy intends at bringing nutrition to the center-stage of the National Development Agenda.

National Nutrition Strategy

The national nutrition strategy calls for convergence between four proximate determinants of

nutrition– uptake of health services, food, drinking water & sanitation and income & livelihoods.

It envisages Kuposhan Mukt Bharat – linked to Swachh Bharat and Swasth Bharat.

The strategy lays down a roadmap for effective action, among both implementers and practitioners, in

achieving our nutrition objectives.

It enables states to make strategic choices, through decentralized planning and local innovation, with

accountability for nutrition outcomes.

It also gives prominence to demand and community mobilisation as key determinant to address India‘s

nutritional needs to bring behavioural change efforts to generate demand for nutrition services.

Need for the strategy

In India, 20% of children under five years of age suffer from wasting due to acute under-nutrition.

It pays an income penalty of 9 to 10% due to workforce that was stunted during their childhood.

The NFHS-4 results shows decline in overall levels of under nutrition in both women and children.

Currently, there is lack of real time measurement of nutritional determinants, which reduces capacity for

targeted action among most vulnerable mothers and children.

6.11 NITI Aayog‘s SATH Program launched in Assam

National Institution for Transforming India (NITI) Aayog‘s SATH (Sustainable Action for

Transforming Human capital) Program was launched in in Guwahati, Assam.

The SATH program aims to provide structured support to Assam in identifying key health priorities and

implement the solutions towards transforming the health and improving the well-being of people of

state.

NITI Aayog selected the three states through a three stage challenge-process – expression of interest,

presentations by the states and assessment of commitment to health sector reforms.

Finally, three states: Assam, Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka were chosen based on objective assessment

criteria affecting the potential for impact and likelihood of success.

A consortium of reputed technical consultants are closely working with NITI Aayog and the states to

conceptualize the initiatives and provide support in the implementation process.




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SATH initiative

Furthering the agenda for cooperative federalism, NITI Aayog has launched SATH, a program

providing ‗Sustainable Action for Transforming Human capital‘ with the State Governments.

1. The vision of the program is to initiate transformation in the education and health sectors.

2. SATH aims to identify and build three future ‗role model‘ states for health systems.

The program will be implemented by NITI Aayog along with McKinsey & Company and IPE Global

consortium, who were selected through a competitive bidding process.

Under it, NITI will work in close collaboration with state machinery to design a robust roadmap of

intervention, develop governance structure, set up monitoring and tracking mechanisms and provide

support on a range of institutional measures to achieve the end objectives.

The SATH program embodies the philosophy of co-operative federalism.

6.12 PM launches Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana ―Saubhagya‖



Ministry of Power has launched a new scheme called Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana –

―Saubhagya‖ – to ensure electrification of all willing households in the country in rural as well as urban

areas.

Scheme

Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana aims to provide last mile electricity connectivity to all rural

and urban households.

Under the scheme, government will provide free electricity to all households identified under Socio-

Economic and Caste Census (SECC) data 2011.

Electricity connections will be given to APL families for Rs 500, which will be payable in 10 equal

monthly instalments. The BPL cardholders will get free electricity connections.

The total outlay of scheme is Rs. 16, 320 crore while Gross Budgetary Support (GBS) is Rs. 12,320

crore. The Central Government will provide largely funds for the Scheme to all States/UTs.

The States and Union Territories are required to complete works of household electrification by 31st of

December 2018.

The Rural Electrification Corporation Limited (REC) will be nodal agency for operationalisation of

scheme throughout country.

Gram Panchayat/Public institutions in rural areas will be authorised to collect application forms along

with complete documentation, distribute bills and collect revenue in consultation with Panchayat Raj

Institutions (PRIs) and Urban Local Bodies (ULBs).

Expected outcome of Scheme

Better health services




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Improvement education services

Increased economic activities and jobs

Improved quality of life especially for women

Enhanced connectivity through radio, television, mobiles, etc.

Environmental upgradation by substitution of Kerosene for lighting purposes

6.13 Tribes India products to be sold on Amazon



The aim of initiative is to promote tribal handicrafts like handloom products, cane and bamboo

products, tribal jewellery, Dhokra craft, tribal weaves and embroidery, tribal paintings etc.

TRIFED already has tied-up with Snapdeal.

As a part of MoU, exquisite authentic tribal art and craft items crafted and sculpted by tribal artisans

from all over the country will be showcased on Amazon‘s online portal for sale.

TRIFED

Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India Limited (TRIFED) is an apex

organisation at National Level and functioning under the administrative control of Ministry of

Tribal Affairs.

TRIFED is serving the interests of Tribals, who are engaged in collection of NTFP and making of

Tribal Art & Handicraft Products for their livelihood so as to ensure better remunerative price for their

products as well as for the socio-economic betterment through Self Help Groups, Empanelled NGOs,

State level Tribal Development Corporations, Forest Development Corporations for undertaking

marketing development of the tribal products.

TRIFED is playing and lead role in protecting, promoting and multiplication of Honey Bees by

Scientific, Non-destructive collection practices, thereby increasing the livelihood of tribal people living in

various forest areas of the country, contributing to the growth of Honey Bees population and reducing

the mortality rate of Honey Bees drastically.

6.14 Welfare and Rehabilitation Board (WARB) Mobile App

The Union Ministry of Home Affairs has launched the Welfare and Rehabilitation Board (WARB)

Mobile App for CAPF personnel.

The mobile App contains various useful features to facilitate retired CAPFs and Assam Rifles personnel

to get their genuine grievances redressed, seek skill development training through National Skill

Development Corporation under Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana, re-employment and other

relevant and important information.

This mobile App shall also help retired personnel to have better co-ordination with WARB and its field

formation at states/UTs and district level.




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7. ENVIRONMENT

7.1 ‗BIMSTEC Disaster Management Exercise- 2017‘

The First ‗BIMSTEC Disaster Management Exercise- 2017‘ (BIMSTEC DMEx-2017) will be conducted

in India from October 10-13, 2017.

It will be conducted by National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) as the lead agency in the National

Capital Region (NCR).

Purpose of the exercise

The purpose of the exercise is to provide platform for sharing Best Practices on all aspects of Disaster

Risk Reduction (DRR), strengthening regional response and coordination for Disaster Management

among BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation)

member countries.

Delegates from all seven nations of BIMSTEC grouping, including India, Bangladesh, Bhutan,

Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand are participating in BIMSTEC DMEx-2017.

The main focus of exercise is to test region‘s preparedness and resilience towards effective activation of

inter-Governmental interaction and agreements for immediate deployment of regional resources for

disaster response.

BIMSTEC DMEx-2017 will help create synergy and synchronise efforts to institutionalise regional

cooperation among member countries.

It will help strengthen effective utilisation of Search & Rescue Teams for Disaster Relief & Emergency

Response, including Emergency Rapid Assessment Teams and Management of mass casualties,

especially in situations involving breakdown of communication and infrastructure.

The BIMSTEC is a sub-regional grouping comprising of seven countries of South Asia and South East

Asia.

It is home to around 1.5 billion people, constituting around 22% of the global population with a

combined GDP of $2.7 trillion economy.

Majority of the BIMSTEC countries are situated in South Asian Region (SAR) prone to natural disasters

such as floods, cyclones, earthquakes, avalanches and drought.

7.2 ―Wood is Good‖ Campaign

The Union Ministry of Environment and Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has launched ―Wood

is Good‖ Campaign under Partnership for Land Use Science (Forest-Plus).

It was launched on sidelines of two-day conference on ―Sustainable landscapes and forest ecosystems:

Theory to Practice‖ in New Delhi.




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The purpose of campaign is to promote wood as climate-friendly resource and substitute to materials

like steel and plastic as it is carbon neutral unlike others materials which leave carbon footprint in their

production.

Forests are integral part of Indian culture and tradition. Government is committed to increase forest

cover from 24% to 33% of geographical area and creating an additional carbon sink of 2.5 to 3 billion

tons of CO2 equivalent in forests, as reflected in Internationally Nationally Determined Contributions

(INDCs).

Forest-Plus

The Partnership for Land Use Science (Forest-Plus) is a joint programme by the United States Agency

for International Development (USAID) and Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change

(MoEF&CC) to strengthen capacity for REDD (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest

Degradation) implementation in India.

The programme will bring together experts from both India and the United States to develop tools,

technologies and methods of forest management in order to meet the technical challenges of managing

forests for the health of the ecosystem, carbon stocks, biodiversity and livelihood.

7.3 13th Formation Day of the National Disaster Management Authority

The 13th Formation Day of National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) was celebrated in New

Delhi on 28 September 2017.

The theme of this year‘s Formation Day is School Safety.

NDMA released the National Disaster Management Guidelines on School Safety Policy in February,

2016 with an aim to strengthen the risk resilience of schools across the country.

National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA)

The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), headed by the Prime Minister of India, is

the apex body for Disaster Management in India under aegis of Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).

Setting up of NDMA and the creation of an enabling environment for institutional mechanisms at the

State and District levels is mandated by the Disaster Management Act, 2005.

It is also apex body to lay down policies, plans and guidelines for Disaster Management to ensure timely

and effective response to disasters.

Its primary purpose is to coordinate response to natural or man-made disasters and for capacity-building

in disaster resiliency and crisis response.

Functions of NDMA

Lay down policies on disaster management;

Approve the National Plan;

Approve plans prepared by the Ministries or Departments of the Government of India in accordance

with the National Plan;




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Lay down guidelines to be followed by the State Authorities in drawing up the State Plan;

Lay down guidelines to be followed by the different Ministries or Departments of the Government of

India for the Purpose of integrating the measures for prevention of disaster or the mitigation of its

effects in their development plans and projects;

Coordinate the enforcement and implementation of the policy and plans for disaster management;

Recommend provision of funds for the purpose of mitigation;

Provide such support to other countries affected by major disasters as may be determined by the Central

Government;

Take such other measures for the prevention of disaster, or the mitigation, or preparedness and capacity

building for dealing with threatening disaster situations or disasters as it may consider necessary;

Lay down broad policies and guidelines for the functioning of the National Institute of Disaster

Management.

7.4 16 September: International Day for Preservation of Ozone Layer

The International Day for Preservation of Ozone Layer (or World Ozone Day) is observed every year

on September 16 for the preservation of the Ozone Layer.

This year, the theme for the Day is ‗Caring for all life under the sun‘.

The day was designated by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on December 19, 1994.

Its observance commemorates the date in 1987 on which the Montreal Protocol was signed on

substances that deplete the ozone layer.

It also is intended to spread awareness of the depletion of the Ozone Layer and search for solutions to

preserve it.

7.5 A ‗Boat Lab‘ to study Brahmaputra

The Centre plans to safeguard the fast-eroding Majuli island — Asia‘s largest riverine island — using

research carried out on floating ‗B4‘ – the ‗Brahmaputra Biodiversity and Biology Boat‘ along the

Brahmaputra river.

Work on ‗B4‘ boat labs will commence by December.

‗B4‘ will initially cover the region from Pasighat, Dibrigargh, Neemati, Tejpur and Guwahati in the state

of Assam

The Department of Biotechnology has set aside Rs. 50 crore as an initial investment on the project.




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The large barge (or boat) which will be set up on the river will be a ―well-equipped laboratory‖ with cold

storage facilities for

holding samples,

along with multiple

satellite boats or

rafts that will

venture into

shallower and

narrower parts of

the river to lift

samples.

The large boat with

the permanent lab will be spread over two floors and will go up and down the river. One floor will be

dedicated to scientists, while the other floor will be accessible to residents of the area to learn about the

eco-system.

The idea is to study the changes caused by dams, climate change, human interventions and the

eventual effects it has on the river eco-system.

The project will ―constantly monitor‖ the impact of various environmental and anthropological factors

that affect the river and conduct research to mitigate the effects.

The interdisciplinary focus, the work plan for which is developed with IIT Guwahati as the nodal

agency, will also aim at a thorough study of freshwater resources of North East India.

The integrated approach is aimed to combine data, science and judgement that can impact policy.

Note:

Majuli, the first island district of the country, was once 1200 square kilometres but due to excessive

erosion has since shrunk to under 500 square kilometres. It is also known for being the seat of Assam‘s

Vaishnava monasteries.

Despite supporting considerable biodiversity, the Brahmaputra has not been studied as extensively as the

Amazon.

7.6 A new species of non-venomous aquatic snake discovered in Western Ghats

A new species of non-venomous aquatic snake – Aquatic Rhabdops, which was misidentified since

1863, has finally been described and identified as a new species from the northern Western Ghats.

Aquatic Rhabdops

Aquatic Rhabdops snakes belong to genus Rhabdops which are endemic to India.

It is named after its aquatic nature since adults of these species are mostly associated with freshwater

forest streams and juveniles are seen in water-logged areas, mostly on rocky plateaus.




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They are three-foot-long nocturnal snake and mostly prey underwater like other water snakes.

Adult Aquatic Rhabdops have off-white bellies and black spots on their olive brown skin, juveniles are

olive green, with yellow undersides. This colour difference in life stages may be due to different local

habitats.

Aquatic Rhabdops is found only in the laterite plateaus of the northern Western Ghats in Goa, southern

Maharashtra and northern Karnataka which are mostly areas facing high human pressure.

Aquatic Rhabdops Vs. Olive Forest Snake

Earlier the new species, Rhabdops aquaticus, was considered as variant of Olive Forest Snake, first

described in 1863.

But new study has confirmed that Aquatic Rhabdops has different colours and patterns and also vary in

other features of size, shape and structure, and also genetic make-up.

The Aquatic Rhabdops snake are found in the North western ghats including Maharashtra, Goa and

nothern parts of North Karnataka while the olive forest snake is restricted to Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

7.7 All states gain if rivers linked through waterways: Expert

A lot of water has gone under the bridge since the idea of interlinking of rivers was first mooted during

the tenure of first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.

The project which has undergone several transformations since then is yet to take shape on ground, with

states perennially bickering over their share of water.

Recently, few experts have come out with an alternative method of linking rivers which can be adopted

with far better results and zero disputes over the share of water.

Proposed method

The new method envisages a way in which the two rivers can be linked through a waterway built on an

even plane enabling two-way flow between the rivers. It is also known as Smart Waterways.

Benefits of this method

Linking through waterways will grant several benefits over the traditional interlinking of rivers.

It will enable the government to irrigate almost double the size of fields as compared to traditional

interlinking.

Unlike the traditional interlinking of rivers which involves pumping of water using a lot of electricity,

this technology uses only the ―excess flood water that goes to seas un-utilised‖ without any pumping.

The new and unique proposal only harnesses the excess flood water that goes to sea unutilised, that too

just 25% of flood water and 7% of water still goes to sea.

Bi-directional flow of water, zero pumping, enabling of 15,000 km of navigation, reduction of land

acquisition from eight per cent to two per cent, and 40 per cent flood control against four per cent

possible under the traditional method are a few other advantages.




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7.8 Cabinet approves survey of Un-appraised Areas of Sedimentary Basins of India

Sedimentary basin is a low area in the Earth‘s crust, of tectonic origin, in which sediments accumulate. It

can range from as small as hundreds of meters to large parts of ocean basins.

Sedimentary basin in India

India has total 26 sedimentary basins covering area of 3.14 Million Sq Km (MSK) spread over onland,

shallow water and deep water. 48% of total sedimentary basin area (about 1.502 MSK) does not have

adequate geo-scientific data.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved survey project to acquire 48,243

Line Kilometer (LKM) 2D seismic data for appraisal of Indian sedimentary basins where limited data is

available.

The project will be implemented by Oil India Limited (OIL) and Oil and Natural Gas

Corporation (ONGC).

Under it, survey work will be carried out in 24 States. OIL

will conduct survey in North-Eastern States, while ONGC

will cover remaining area.

The entire project is likely to be completed

by 2019-20.

After appraisal of these sedimentary

basins, blocks will be offered for further

exploration and production activities based

on prospectivity of area.

It will help in increasing the investments in

domestic production of oil and gas and

generate direct and indirect employment.


The appraisal of all unappraised areas is

considered an important task to launch

future Exploration and Production (E&P) activities.




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Data acquisition will provide initial insight into basins and help in planning future E&P activities.

It will be useful in deciding focus areas of exploration activities in country and on basis of this primary

data, E&P companies will be able take up further exploration activities in acreages allocated to them.

7.9 CGWB enters into MoA with IIS for development of ground water flow models

The Central Ground Water Board (CGWB), under the Ministry of Water Resources entered into

Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru for development

of ground water flow models and preparation of aquifer management plans in 11 parched districts in

Karnataka.

This mathematical model is being developed as part of aquifer mapping and management programme.

Significance

The model will help for better understanding of existing groundwater scenarios, predicting response of

groundwater system to various stress conditions expected to arise in future and developing effective

management plans incorporating different demand and supply side interventions.

Central Ground Water Board (CGWB)

CGWB is multidisciplinary scientific organization under Ministry of Water Resources, River

Development & Ganga Rejuvenation.

Its mandate is to develop and disseminate technologies and monitor and implement national policies for

scientific and sustainable development and management of India‘s ground water resources.

It is vested with responsibilities to carry out scientific studies, monitoring of ground water regime,

exploration aided by drilling, management and regulation of country‘s ground water resources.

It also undertakes exploration, assessment, conservation, augmentation, protection of groundwater

system from pollution.

7.10 CPCB issues guidelines to manage odour at urban solid waste landfills

The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has come out with detailed guidelines for proper

monitoring and management of odour at urban municipal solid waste (MSW) landfills.

The guidelines suggest a series of preventive and remedial measures to tackle the issue.

As per official estimates, at present around 62 million tonnes of solid waste is generated every year and it

is expected to reach 165 million tonnes in 2030.

Of the 62 million, only 43 million tonnes is collected and only 12 millions tonnes is treated.

The Solid waste Management Rules 2016, identified odour as a public nuisance.

Odour and health effects

―Odour regulation‖ is still in nascent stage in India. Odorous compounds may have a direct effect on

human health. It generally leads to vomiting, headaches, nausea, stress, anxiety, frustration, restriction in

outdoor activities, children unable to sleep, and discomfort for elderly people and others.

Guidelines




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CPCB suggested a green belt around landfill sites and advocated for selection of ―appropriate plant

species for vegetation cover‖ to assist in reducing odours.

MSW Landfill system be designed for tapping LFG (landfill gases) efficiently to mitigate fugitive

odorous emissions

The guidelines also batted for initiating legislative norms for creating baseline data on odour

Need for gradual shift for installation of Continuous Odour Measurement Systems (sensor based) for

getting real-time data.

It also outlined challenges to odour monitoring like lack of source-based database on odour levels, low

awareness on odour (public nuisance) and lack of legislative obligations

It stated that the selection and number of landfill sites for a city should be based on factors like

requirement of land for the disposal site by considering the present population and projected growth

over the next 20 years at least.

Other factors include whether the selected site is free from the influence of other odorous sources and

the topography of the site (slope, proximity to water sources like river and natural springs).

Selection of landfill site should be integrated with the urban development planning so that even

expansions of city in next two or three decades are not encompassing the selected MSW site

Guidelines have been prepared keeping in view the various mandatory and statutory provisions and the

climatic conditions that accelerate biodegradation of organic wastes.

7.11 Environment ministry notifies new wetland rules

In a major decision, Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has notified new

Wetland (Conservation and Management) Rules 2017 to prohibit range of activities in wetlands.

The new rules will replace earlier rules notified in 2010.

Wetlands

Wetlands can be defined as transitional land between terrestrial and aquatic eco-systems where water

table is usually at or near surface or it may be land covered by shallow water.

It supports rich biodiversity and provides wide range of ecosystem services such as water storage, water

purification, flood mitigation, erosion control, aquifer recharge etc.

Wetlands in India

There are 115 wetlands officially identified by Central Government and of those 26 are identified as

wetlands of international importance under Ramsar Convention (an international intergovernmental

treaty for conservation of wetlands to which India is party).

Threats to wetlands:

Wetlands are threatened by reclamation and degradation due to activities like drainage and landfill,

pollution, hydrological alteration, over-exploitation resulting in loss of biodiversity and disruption in

ecosystem services provided by them.




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Highlights of new rules

It stipulates setting up of SWA in each State/UTs headed by State‘s environment minister and include

range of government officials. State government will also nominate one expert each in fields of wetland

ecology, hydrology, fisheries, landscape planning and socioeconomics.

These authorities will develop comprehensive list of activities to be regulated and permitted within

notified wetlands and their zone of influence.

They will also recommend additional prohibited activities for specific wetlands, define strategies wise use

of wetlands and its conservation and undertake measures to enhance awareness within stakeholders and

local communities on values and functions of wetlands. In this case, wise use has been defined as

principle of sustainable uses that is compatible with conservation.




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The State authorities will also need to prepare a list of all wetlands of the State or union territory within

three months, a list of wetlands to be notified within six months, a comprehensive digital inventory of all

wetlands within one year which will be updated every ten years.

The rules prohibit activities like conversion of wetland for non-wetland uses including encroachment of

any kind, setting up of any industry and expansion of existing industries, manufacture or handling or

storage or disposal of hazardous substances and construction and demolition waste, solid waste

dumping, discharge of untreated wastes and effluents from industries, cities, towns, villages and other

human settlements.

What are the concerns raised by the environmental experts about the new rules?

Environmental experts, however, are not happy. They pointed out that

Provisions like ―central government may consider proposals from the state government or union

territory administration for omitting any of the (prohibited) activities on the recommendation of the

authority‖ in the new rules can be misused.

The new Wetland Rules have laudable objectives. However, it falls short in details.

Another major objection is about the process of appeal against the decisions of wetland authorities.

According to the 2010 rules, anyone aggrieved with the CWRA‘s decisions could have filed an appeal

with the National Green Tribunal, but the new 2017 rules are silent on the appeal process.

The other big gap is the subjective definition of ―wise use‖ which is to be determined by the state

wetland authority. While the subject head talks about restrictions and the activities listed are to be

prohibited, the provision gives ample space for undoing everything that ought to be prohibited.

At the outset, the identification process by the State Wetland Authority does not distinguish between

existing wetlands and especially those past wetlands which have been encroached and can be proved

through legal documents.

It also does not take into account the Jagpal Singh judgment of Justice Katju for restoration of

encroached wetlands

throughout the country.

7.12 In a first, govt to run

safety checks on 5,000

big dams

For the first time, the

Centre is planning to

conduct a ‗break

analysis‘ of 5,247 large

dams across the country,




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and put in place an emergency action plan, especially for the 196 that are over 100 years old.

Of these 196 dams, 72 are in the southern states and Maharashtra.

What is Break analysis?

Break analysis is the examination of dams to identify potential failures that may result in an uncontrolled

release of water. It involves the characterisation of threats to public safety that a dam poses.

Need of immediate repair

There are two safety issues: the risk of breach and floods, and the decreasing ability to hold as much

water as the original capacity (which means less live storage and per capita availability of water). These

concerns make maintenance more critical for dams, though not all are in a dilapidated condition or in

need of immediate repair.

In October 1987, the Centre had constituted the National Committee on Dam Safety (NCDS), which

was tasked with overseeing dam safety and suggesting improvements. The committee, headed by the

Central Water Commission chairman, met 37 times and has been instrumental in the maintenance of

dams.

A project called DRIP (Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Programme) is under way. DRIP, which

was started in April 2012 and has been working with five state governments (Karnataka, Tamil Nadu,

Kerala, Madhya Pradesh and Odisha) and two agencies (Damodar Valley Corporation in Jharkhand and

Uttarakhand Jal Vidyut Nigam Ltd), was conceived with an estimated budget of Rs 2,100 crore.

The government has already drafted a ‗dam safety bill‘, currently being reworked by the NITI Aayog.

7.13 Mouse deer released in Amrabad Reserve for the first time

In a novel and unique initiative attempted anywhere in the country, the Telangana State Forest

Department has re-introduced the endangered ‗mouse deer‘ into the forests of Nallamalla in Amrabad

Tiger Reserve.

The release of these mouse deer into the protected enclosure of 2.4 hectares is aimed at improving the

biodiversity.

The Amrabad Tiger Reserve was chosen because these animals were earlier wandering in this area.

The deer will gradually be weaned-off externally supplied food. Afterwards if they get a clearing by the

field biologists, they will be released from their enclosure into the wild.

Since 2010, Nehru Zoological Park in collaboration with Laboratory for Conservation of Endangered

Species (LaCONES) of Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), and Central Zoo Authority,

Delhi were carrying out a breeding programme for conservation of mouse-deer.

They have successfully raised total population of mouse deer to 172, which includes 76 females

Mouse deer

Mouse deer (also known as Spotted Chevrotain) is one of the endangered species. It looks like weird

mash-up of a deer, mouse and pig.




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It is not considered true deer, but shares suborder with deer (Ruminantia).

It has its own family called Tragulidae. It is because of their small size they are smallest ungulates (large

mammals) in the world.

It is found in deciduous and evergreen forests throughout India.

Also called ―Jarini Pandi‖ in Telugu, their number has been decreasing at an alarming rate in recent years

because of destruction of habitat and poaching.

7.14 New species of edible fish found in Pampa river

A group of researchers discovered a new species of edible freshwater fish, named as Labeo

filiferus while exploring the waters of the Pampa River in Pathanamthitta in Kerala.

As per the researchers, the newly found fish could possibly be farmed on a commercial scale.

The new species belongs to the Labeo genus.

The name filiferus was taken from Latin and refers to the very long dorsal fin of the species.

Labeo filiferus had been registered by the International Commission of Zoological

Nomenclatureand the holotype deposited at the museum of the Zoological Survey of India at Shillong.

The fishes in the Labeo genus are widely distributed in the inland waterbodies of India, Pakistan,

Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Burma, Malaysia, tropical Africa and Syria.

As many as 31 species of Labeo are reported to be present in India, with L.rohita, commonly known

as Rohu, extensively used in aquaculture.




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The only other Labeo species reported from Kerala is L.dussumieri.

Pampa river

The Pamba River (also called Pampa river) is the third longest river in the South Indian state of

Kerala after Periyar and Bharathappuzha.

It is the longest river in the erstwhile princely state of Travancore.

Sabarimala temple dedicated to Lord Ayyappa is located on the banks of the river Pamba.

The river is also known as ‗Dakshina Bhageerathi‘ and ‗River Baris‘.

The river originates at Pulachimalai hill in the Peerumedu plateau in the Western

Ghats and meets into the Vembanad Lake before finally joins the Arabian Sea.

A noted Anjana temple is situated near this bank.

Kuttanad, an important rice cultivating area in Kerala receives its irrigation water from the Pamba river.

The Pamba basin is bounded on the east by the Western Ghats.

The river shares its northern boundary with the Manimala River basin, while it shares the southern

boundary with the Achankovil River basin.

Concerns

Due to drought and a lack of conservation and protection by the government, the Pampa River has

shrunk to a stream and is totally dry in many places.

Nearby wells have also dried up. Water for farming, such as paddy fields, is scarce.

Steps taken

The Kerala High Court has initiated steps to control the pollution of the river from the practice of some

visitors to Sabarimala who throw their clothes into it.

As part of the Punyam Poonkavanam project, pilgrims have been exhorted to avoid the usage of soap

and oil while bathing in River Pamba.

7.15 NGT paves way for Chardham highway project

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has paved the way for the NH-34 stretch of the PMO‘s ambitious

Chardham highway widening project, also known as Chardham Mahamarg Vikas Pariyojna.

NGT disposed of a plea that alleged that the project was violating provisions of Bhagirathi eco-sensitive

zone.

In an undertaking, the Uttarakhand state government and the Border Roads Organisation assured the

green court that the project would be carried out with due compliance of laws in force.

Issue

A plea was filed before the NGT. It had raised an alarm about mountain blasting and felling of

thousands of trees in the Bhagirathi river valley for widening of National Highway-34.




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One of the related petitions in the matter also pertained specifically to a nine-km stretch in Bhairon

Ghati on the Uttarkashi to Gangotri route. It had said that debris were being dumped into the river

valley during the road widening.

In fact, during a hearing on May 4, the state government had admitted that BRO dumped muck on the

fragile hill slopes.

Chardham Mahamarg Vikas Pariyojna

In December 2016, PM Narendra Modi has laid the foundation stone for the Chardham highway

development project in Uttarakhand‘s Dehradun.

The project is an ambitious initiative to improve connectivity to the four main Himalayan pilgrimage

centres in Uttarakhand, called Char Dham.

The project‘s main objective is to develop around 900 km of national highways.

These highways will be built in Uttarakhand at an approximate cost of Rs 12,000 crore.

The project will make travel to the Char Dham (Gangotri, Yamunotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath) safer

and more convenient.

The project involves widening the existing, geometrically deficient highway that connects the four

abodes.

Apart from widening, the road transport and highways ministry plans to improve the stretches to two-

lane carriageway with paved shoulders, protect landslide hazard zones, construct bypasses, long bridges,

tunnels and elevated corridors to ensure safety for the users.




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It will have proper slope stabilisation to ensure protection against landslides.

The project is expected to be completed by 2018.

Significance of the project

The project will benefit people visiting holy shrines in Uttarakhand.

It will generate additional employment for the local population and will change the economy of the State

as it will give strong boost to connectivity and tourism.

The roads leading to Gangotri and Badrinath are also equally important from a strategic point of view as

these roads are used for supply and deployment to the defence establishments along the Indo-China

border areas in Uttarakhand.

7.16 Prakriti Khoj

On the occasion of Teachers‘ Day (5th September), the Union Environment Ministry launched an

environment awareness initiative.

Under the initiative, an online environmental quiz competition named Prakriti Khoj will be conducted at

the national level.

The Prakriti Khoj will be an ideal medium to reach out to young minds through a fun-filled interactive

learning mode to trigger their sensitivity towards environment protection and conservation.

This quiz will provide a unique platform for students to measure their awareness level regarding

environmental issues.

As per the ministry, the objective of the quiz is to generate interest among school children about the

science related to environment.

7.17 Snow leopards no longer endangered for first time in 45 years

The conservation status of snow leopard has been improved from ―endangered‖ to ―vulnerable‖.

The decision was announced by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) – the

global standard for assessing extinction risk.

The status change followed a three-year assessment process by five international experts.

Concerns

However, experts have warned that the new classification did not mean the elusive creatures were safe.

The animals still face serious challenges, including poaching and loss of prey in their high Himalayan

habitat.

Difference between Endangered and Vulnerable

To be considered ‗endangered,‘ there must be fewer than 2,500 mature snow leopards and they must be

experiencing a high rate of decline.

Being classed as ―vulnerable‖ means a species has under 10,000 breeding animals left, with a population

decline of at least 10% over three generations.

Snow leopards




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Snow leopards live in the mountainous regions of central and southern Asia.

In India, their geographical range encompasses a large part of the western Himalayas including the states

of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh in the

eastern Himalayas.

Snow leopards inhabit alpine and subalpine zones at elevations from 3,000 to 4,500 m or higher in the

Himalayas.

Snow leopards prefer steep, rugged terrains with rocky outcrops and ravines. This type of habitat

provides good cover and clear view to help them sneak up on their prey.

Their spotted coats change with the seasons – from a thick, white fur to keep them warm and

camouflaged in winter, to a fine yellow-grey coat in summer.

Previously, the snow leopard is listed as Endangered on the IUCN-World Conservation Union‘s Red

List of the Threatened Species. Now, it is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List of Threatened

Species. It was first placed on

the endangered list in 1972.

In addition, the snow leopard, like

all big cats, is listed on Appendix

I of the Convention on

International Trade of

Endangered Species (CITES), which makes trading of animal body parts (i.e., fur, bones and meat)

illegal in signatory countries.

The snow leopard is the National Heritage Animal of Afghanistan and Pakistan.

7.18 Social media campaign to promote Geographical Indications

The Cell for IPR Promotions & Management (CIPAM) under Department of Industrial Policy and

Promotion (DIPP) has launched social media campaign to promote Indian Geographical Indications

(GIs).

It has been launched under CIPAM‘s ongoing campaign #LetsTalkIP to make more people aware

about importance of Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs).

The promotion of GIs is in line with Government‘s ambitious ‗Make in India‘ campaign.

Geographical Indication

Geographical Indication (GI) is sign or insignia used on products that have specific geographical origin

and possess qualities or reputation that are due to that origin.

Such name, sign or insignia conveys assurance of quality and distinctiveness which is essentially

attributable to its origin in that defined geographical locality.

The status to products marks its authenticity and ensures that only registered authorised users are

allowed to use popular product name.




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Darjeeling Tea, Blue Pottery of Jaipur, Mahabaleshwar Strawberry, Banarasi Sarees and Tirupati Laddus

are some of examples for products having GIs.

Significance of GIs to India

GIs products are of utmost importance as they are integral part of India‘s rich culture and collective

intellectual heritage.

GI tag has accorded protection to number of hand-made and manufactured products, especially in

informal sector.

Certain GI products benefits rural economy in remote areas, by supplementing incomes of artisans,

farmers, weavers and craftsmens who possess unique skills and knowledge of traditional practices and

methods, passed down from generation to generation, which need to be protected and promoted.

CIPAM

Cell for IPR Promotion and Management (CIPAM) has been created as a professional body under the

aegis of DIPP to take forward the implementation of the National IPR Policy that was approved by the

Government in May 2016, with the slogan – ―Creative India; Innovative India‖.

CIPAM is working towards creating public awareness about IPRs in the country, promoting the filing of

IPRs through facilitation, providing inventors with a platform to commercialize their IP assets and

coordinating the implementation of the National IPR Policy in collaboration with Government

Ministries/Departments and other stakeholders.

7.19 ZSI produces first compendium of animal diversity in the Sundarban islands

Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) published a first ever exhaustive compendium of animal species in the

Indian Sundarban and the threats it faces.

The compendium is titled Fauna of Sundarban Biosphere Reserve.

The compendium is the first consolidated and updated information of the faunal diversity of the

Sundarbans.

Sundarbans in India

Indian segment of Sundarbans is part of UNESCO World Heritage site.

It forms part of Ganga-Brahmaputra delta across 9,630 sq. km, distributed among 104 islands.

It has largest tidal halophytic mangrove forest in the world.

Highlights of the compendium

The compendium catalogues entire faunal diversity of Sundarban Biosphere Reserve covering 9,630 sq.

km spread over 19 blocks in North 24 Parganas and South 24 Parganas districts of West Bengal.

According to it, fragile Sundarbans ecosystem region hosts 2,626 animal species that come under

zoological kingdom of Animalia, and 140 under more primitive Protista. It also includes diverse 25

phyla.




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Famous Bengal tigers adapted to aquatic conditions have been documented. 50 mammalian species are

also documented including the Asian small-clawed Otter, Gangetic Dolphin, Grey and Marsh

Mongoose. Wild Rhesus Monkey, only primate found in Sunderbans is also documented.

The mammal numbers are declining in Sunderbans due to pressure on habitat from people and natural

threats that have shrunk mangrove swamp habitat.

Two Rhinos, Swamp deer, Barking deer and Hog deer and Asiatic Wild Water Buffalo no more are not

found in Sundarbans.

There are 356 species of birds, including raptors (birds of prey).

Other birds found here are Osprey, Brahminy Kite, White-Bellied Sea Eagle, Rose-ringed parakeets,

flycatchers and warblers. Kingfishers are found abound and Sundarbans has nine of them.

The mangrove ecosystem covers about 350 species of fish. Cartilaginous fish make up 10.3%. The

IUCN conservation status shows 6.3% fish are near-threatened and 4.85% are threatened.

Also, there are 173 molluscs. Moreover, Crustaceans — crabs, shrimp and prawns — constitute 334

species. Besides, ten species of frogs and toads are found.

There are 11 turtles, including the famous Olive Ridley, Hawskbill sea turtles and most threatened

freshwater River Terrapin.

The region has 753 insect species. Of these, 210 are butterflies and moths. Crocodile, 13 lizards

including three species of Monitor Lizards and five Geckos are also found.

The rivers, creeks channels and islands together harbour about 30 snake species including monocled

cobra, Russell‘s viper, common and banded kraits.

Zoological Survey of India (ZSI)

Established on 1 July 1916, the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) is

a premier Indian organisation in zoological research and studies.

The activities of the ZSI are coordinated by the Conservation and

Survey Division under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and

Climate Change.

It promotes the survey, exploration, research and documentation

leading to the advancement in our knowledge on various aspects of

animal taxonomy of the Indian subcontinent.




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Of the nearly 100, 000 species of animals known to occur in India, it is the ZSI that brought the

knowledge to the scientific community about many of them as the new and endemic species of animals

found in this country.

ZSI has been declared as the designated repository for the National Zoological Collection as per Section

39 of the National Biodiversity Act, 2002.

Similar to Red Data Book published by International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural

Resources (IUCN), ZSI also publishes Red Data Book on Indian Animals. It was first published in 1983.

To meet the challenges of biodiversity conservation, sustainable utilization and dissemination of

knowledge on faunal diversity to all stakeholders, the Survey is equipped with modern tools and

techniques such as scanning electron microscopes, digital stereo zoom microscopes, GIS tools, data

basing tools and the DNA bar coding technology.

7.20 Swachhta Hi Seva campaign

The Union Government has launched Swachhta Hi Seva‘ (cleanliness is service), a nation-wide

fortnight-long sanitation campaign to highlight the government‘s flagship cleanliness initiative Swachh

Bharat Mission.

It was launched by President Ram Nath Kovind from Ishworiganj village in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh.

It will run from September 15 to October 2, 2017.

Swachhta Hi Seva campaign




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The campaign is being coordinated by Union Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation, convening

Ministry for the Swachh Bharat Mission.

Its objective is to mobilise people and reinforce jan aandolan (mass movement) for sanitation to

contribute to Mahatma Gandhi‘s dream of a Clean India.

It will see large scale mobilisation of people from all walks of life to undertake shramdaan (voluntary

work) for cleanliness and construction of toilets and to make their environments open defecation free.

There will be targeted cleaning of public and tourist places.

The Ministry has made elaborate plans along with State Governments to involve people from various

walks of life and make this an unprecedented people‘s campaign.

The main agenda of the campaign will be to reach out to the poor and marginalised and provide them

with sustainable sanitation services.

Sanitation

Sanitation is linked to various sectors. From health to giving security and dignity to women, sanitation

also affects a country economically.

According to UNICEF (United Nations Children‘s Fund) good sanitation can save Rs50,000 per year

per family.

7.21 Tigers to make a comeback in Buxa reserve

Buxa Tiger Reserve in West Bengal has been identified for the tiger augmentation programme by the

National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA).

Tiger augmentation programme

As part of a plan for augmentation of tiger population in the reserve, tigers would be relocated to Buxa

Tiger Reserve (BTR) in north Bengal from neighbouring Assam.

The reserve is located very close to Assam‘s Manas Tiger Reserve, and some experts believe that animals

from Manas often come to Buxa using Bhutan as a corridor.

The forest department had taken up tiger augmentation plan in Buxa-Jaldapara for which detailed

project report was prepared in consultation with Wildlife Institute of India and Global Tiger Forum.

Challenges

Human habitation

The initial plan is to introduce six tigers at Buxa, but this poses a challenge to forest officials as there is

human habitation in the area.

The tiger reserve has an area of about 757.9 sq km, of which 390 sq km lies in the core area and 367 sq

km in the buffer zone. There are about 38 villages in Buxa and 49 villages in the fringe area.

Tea gardens

A number of tea gardens are located on the periphery of the reserve. The people residing in the villages

mainly work at the tea plantations.




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In an attempt to mitigate the human versus animal conflict, the Forest Department has started

awareness programmes in the villages before introducing the tigers.

Presence of broad gauge rail

Besides the population pressure, another major challenge at Buxa is the broad gauge rail line passing

through the reserve, connecting Siliguri and Alipurduar. Over the past few years, a number of elephants

and other animals have died, having been run over by trains.

Buxa Tiger Reserve

The Buxa Tiger Reserve is a 760-square-kilometre tiger reserve located inside the Buxa National

Park in West Bengal.

The Buxa Tiger Reserve is situated in the Buxa Hills of the southern hilly area of Bhutan.

Northern boundary of Buxa Tiger Reserve runs along the international border with Bhutan.

The Sinchula hill range lies all along the northern side of BTR and the eastern boundary touches that

of the Assam state.

It is the eastern most extension of extreme bio-diverse

North-East India and represents highly endemic Indo-

Malayan region.

The fragile ―Terai Eco-System‖ constitutes a part of this

reserve.

The Phipsu Wildlife Sanctuary of Bhutan is contiguous to

the north of BTR.

Manas National Park lies on east of BTR. BTR, thus,

serves as international corridor for Asian elephant migration

between India and Bhutan.

7.22 Uttarakhand ropes in HNB Garhwal University students to clean Ganga

Uttarakhand-based Hemawati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University has signed a MoU with Namami

Gange Project for Ganga Conservation.

Under Namami Gange project, the University will initiate activities like holding events, seminars and

conferences to make strong pitch for public outreach and community participation.

Namami Gange Programme

‗Namami Gange‘ Programme, is a flagship programme of Government of India with a renewed impetus

to decrease river pollution and conserve the revered river ‗Ganga‘.

The Union government approved ―Namami Gange‖ Program in May 2015.

In this connection, the Indian Government solicited support from various countries to rejuvenate the

Ganga.




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The program would be implemented by the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG), and its state

counterpart organizations i.e., State Program Management Groups (SPMGs).

According to the program, rejuvenation implies restoring the ―wholesomeness‖ of the river and that

includes three things: Aviral dhara (continuous flow), nirmal dhara (unpolluted flow) and ecological and

geological integrity.

Among other things, the programme will focus on pollution abatement interventions namely

Interception, diversion & treatment of wastewater flowing through the open drains through bio-

remediation / appropriate in-situ treatment / use of innovative technologies.

Under this programme, the focus of the Government is to involve people living on the banks of the

river to attain sustainable results.

The programme also focuses on involving the States and grassroots level institutions such as Urban

Local Bodies and Panchayati Raj Institutions in implementation.

7.23 VNL, BSNL launch disaster management service in India

Domestic telecom equipment provider Vihaan Networks Limited (VNL) signed a Memorandum of

Understanding (MoU) with Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) to launch ―Relief 123‖ service to

provide disaster management in India.

The model can also be scaled for SAARC countries, wherein BSNL would have roaming agreements

with local mobile service operators.

―Relief 123‖ service

The ―Relief 123‖ service is an integrated disaster response solution for first responders and public safety

agencies.

The solution is designed and manufactured by VNL and the backhaul connectivity will be provided by

BSNL.

The ―Relief 123‖ is based on ―ResQMobil‖, an integrated portable communication solution which packs

in the required hardware into a portable transportable trailer-on-wheels.

Significance

Given that our country is prone to natural disasters, the availability and quick deployment of

comprehensive communications solutions will help disaster management agencies mount faster and

more reliable search and rescue operations.

The comprehensive communication solution will bring BSNL and disaster management agencies —

National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and National Disaster Relief Force (NDRF) on one

platform for better coordination.

The service will restore connectivity at disaster sites, help locate the affected people and integrate

information across platforms for quick relief.




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Both companies have partnered in the past for the roll out of voice and data connectivity in the worst Left-

wing extremism-affected areas of the country.




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8. SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

8.1 4th gravitational wave detected by LIGO, Virgo observatory

A 4th gravitational wave has been detected — this time with help from Italy-based equipment — after

two black holes collided, sending ripples through the fabric of space and time.

It was for first time, these waves were simultaneously detected by US-based Laser Interferometer

Gravitational-wave Observatory (LIGO) and Italy-based Virgo detectors.

The first two detection were made in September and December 2015 in quick succession and for third

time it was detected in January 2017.

Gravitational Waves

Gravitational waves are ‗ripples‘ or disturbances in the fabric of space-time.

They are produced when whole black holes collide and stars explode. These waves are sound track of

cosmos.

They transport energy as gravitational radiation and pass through matter without interacting with it.

Gravitational waves were first predicted in 1916 by Albert Einstein on the basis of his Theory of

General Relativity which are now confirmed and detected by the Laser Interferometer

Gravitational Observatory (LIGO) — specialised laboratories in Louisiana and Washington in the

US.

Discovery of gravitational waves would represent a scientific landmark, opening the door to an entirely

new way to observe the cosmos and unlock secrets about the early universe and mysterious objects like

black holes and neutron stars.

Gravitational waves could also help physicists understand the fundamental laws of the universe.

Gravitational waves are important in telling about the early universe.

Virgo detector

VIRGO is a 3-km long interferometer built in the framework of a French-Italian collaboration.

Today, this collaboration involves 19 laboratories with more than 250 scientists in France, Italy and also

in the Netherlands, Poland and Hungary as well.

The Virgo detector — an underground L-shaped instrument that tracks gravitational waves using the

physics of laser light and space — recently underwent an upgrade, and while still less sensitive than its

U.S. counterparts, it was able to confirm the same signal.

Known as interferometers, these high-tech underground stations do not rely on light in the sky like a

telescope does, but instead sense vibrations in space and can pick up the ―chirp‖ created by a

gravitational wave.

Other interferometers similar to Virgo have the same goal of detecting gravitational waves, including the

two LIGO interferometers in the United States (at the Hanford Site and in Livingston, Louisiana).




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Since 2007, Virgo and LIGO have agreed to share and jointly analyze the data recorded by their detectors and to jointly publish their results. 8.2 Andhra Pradesh to get India‘s first Hyperloop

The Andhra Pradesh Government on 6 September 2017 joined hands with a US-based company to

introduce the futuristic Hyperloop transportation system in the state capital region, Amravati.

The Hyperloop is expected to give rise to development of various state-of-the-art technology parks and

software clusters in Amaravati, helping to fortify the city‘s image as a world class leader in science and

technology.

The project will be taken up in the public-private-partnership mode with the funding coming primarily

from private investors.

Hyperloop is proposed to be introduced between the city centres of Vijayawada and Amaravati. It will

supposedly cover the distance of over 35km only in five minutes.

Amaravati is a state-of-the-art city being developed in Andhra Pradesh as its de facto capital. In order to

boost its image and emerge as the frontier city in future technology, Amaravati is looking forward to

collaborating with Hyperloop Transportation Technologies. Hyperloop is a cutting-edge technological

disruption in the transportation industry.

Hyperloop transportation system

It is a transportation system where a pod-like vehicle is propelled through a near-vacuum tube

connecting cities at speeds matching that of an aircraft.

The hyperloop system is being designed to transport passengers and freight.

The Hyperloop is a concept proposed by billionaire inventor Elon Musk, CEO the aerospace firm

SpaceX.

US-based Hyperloop Transport Technology (HTT) claimed it costs $40 million per kilometre to build a

hyperloop system while building a high-speed train line would cost almost twice.

How it operates?

In hyperloop transportation, custom-designed capsules or pods are expected to zip smoothly through

continuous steel tubes which are held at partial vacuum.

The pod which sandwiches the passenger compartment between an air compressor upfront and a

battery compartment in the rear is supported by air caster skis at the bottom.

The skis float on a thin layer of air provided under high pressure, eliminating rolling resistance and

allowing for movement of the pods at high speeds. These capsules are expected to be driverless with

estimated speeds of 1,000 km/h.

Linear induction motors that are placed along the tube control the speed of the pod. Electronically-

assisted acceleration and braking determines the speed of the capsule.

Why is it important?




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Developments in traditional high speed railway technology have not made much progress in recent

years.

From steam to diesel to electric, locomotives have come up against the physical constraints of weight

and drag.

Frictional losses too come into play when a vehicle relies on wheels. As speeds accelerate, mechanical

wear and tear leads to high maintenance costs.

Maglev (magnetic levitation), which was expected to provide a solution has not gained traction. High-

power consumption, accidents and technical challenges have hampered its progress.

In Hyperloop, during the pod‘s journey, an inlet fan and compressor push high pressure air from the

nose to tail. This action and the partial vacuum which eliminates most of the drag, boosts the speed.

Low power consumption and reliance on existing infrastructure after re-engineering, are big positives.

Challenges

It requires heavy investments and therefore effective public and private sector coordination is

prerequisite for implementing it.

It consumes high-power compared to railways.

Technical challenges and accidents may hamper its progress.

8.3 Breakthrough Listen detects 15 radio bursts from a distant galaxy

Breakthrough Listen project has detected 15 fast radio bursts (FRBs) coming from a dwarf galaxy about

3 million light years away from earth.

The new detection was made with help of Green Bank Telescope (GBT) in West Virginia.

It was emitted from FRB 121102, a mysterious source associated with galaxy in the distant universe.

This detection brings the total of known FRBs from this strange object to more than 150.

The first known radio burst from FRB 121102 was detected on November 2, 2012 (hence the object‘s

name). Two more bursts were detected in May 2015 and eight more in June 2015.

It is being speculated, among other things, that this detected FRB is an energy source used by extra-

terrestrial (ET) civilisations to power spacecraft.

Fast radio bursts (FRB)

FRB is brief, bright pulse of radio emission from distant galaxies.

It was first detected in 2007 with help of Parkes Telescope in Australia.

It is a high-energy astrophysical phenomenon of unknown origin manifested as transient radio pulse

lasting only a few milliseconds.

Breakthrough Listen Project (BLP)

BLP is US$100-million global astronomical initiative launched in 2015 by Internet investor Yuri Milner

and cosmologist Stephen Hawking.

It has teams from around the world to find signs of intelligent life in universe.




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The 10-year programme aims to survey 1,000,000 closest stars to Earth by scanning entire galactic plane

of Milky Way.

It will listen for messages from the 100 closest galaxies at 10 billion different frequencies originated

beyond our galaxy.

8.4 C N R Rao chosen for 2017 Von Hippel Award

Eminent scientist and Bharat Ratna Professor C.N.R Rao, has become the first Asian to be chosen for

the prestigious Von Hippel Award for his immense contribution in materials research.

Rao is chosen for the prestigious award for his immense contribution in materials research.

The award citation noted Rao‘s immense work on novel functional materials, including nanomaterials

(having particles of nanoscale dimensions), graphene (the strongest and thinnest material) and 2D

materials, superconductivity, and colossal magnetoresistance (change in electrical resistance of a material

in a magnetic field).

The award is the US-based Materials Research Society‘s (MRS) highest honour.

8.5 Asteroid-bound NASA spacecraft Osiris-Rex swings by Earth

NASA‘s asteroid-chasing spacecraft Osiris-Rex swung by Earth on its way to a space rock.

Launched a year ago, Osiris-Rex passed within 17,237 kilometres of the home planet above Antarctica.

It used Earth‘s gravity as a slingshot to put it on a path toward the asteroid Bennu.

OSIRIS-REx Mission

The Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, Security, Regolith Explorer (OSIRIS REx)

is a planned NASA asteroid study and sample return mission.




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Aim of the mission

The mission is to study asteroid 101955 Bennu, a carbonaceous asteroid (formerly designated 1999

RQ36) and in 2023 to return to Earth a sample for detailed analysis.

Significance of the mission

Material returned is expected to enable scientists to learn more about the time before the formation and

evolution of the Solar System, initial stages of planet formation, and the source of organic compounds

which led to the formation of life.

8.6 CARB-X (Combating Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria Biopharmaceutical Accelerator)

Bugworks Research, a Bengaluru firm has become India‘s first to receive the international

CARB-X grant to develop antibiotics to treat hospital-acquired infections.

CARB-X is a public-private international partnership set up in 2016 to focus on innovations to improve

diagnosis and treatment of drug-resistant infections.

It had grown out of US President Barack Obama‘s 2015 Combating Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria

(CARB) initiative.

It is funded by London-based biomedical research charity Wellcome Trust and US Health Department‘s

Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA).

The purpose of CARB X is to provide a new, collaborative approach to speed R&D and delivery of new

antibiotics, vaccines, diagnostics, and other innovative products to address urgent global problem of

drug-resistant bacterial infections.

It will provide grants up to $455 million over a five-year period to firms across globe for antibiotics

R&D.

All of its funding so far is focused on projects to address most resistant ―Gram-negative‖ bacteria.

What are Gram-negative bacteria?

Bacteria are classified as Gram-positive and Gram-negative, based on a structural difference in their cell

walls.

Gram-negative bacteria are responsible for 20-25% of bacterial infections and are multi drug resistant i.e.

have ability to defend themselves against drugs that try to kill them.

Antibiotic resistance

Antibiotic resistance has become global crisis that threatens management of infections, both in

community and in hospital practice.

The major reasons are indiscriminate use of antibiotics, including against viral infections, prolonged use

in patients admitted to hospitals and their abuse in animal husbandry as growth promoters.

In hospital critical care units, more than 50% organisms are now resistant even to these drugs.




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8.7 CERT-In issues alert on ‗Locky Ransomware‘

The Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) has issued an alert about spread of a new

malicious software ‗Locky‘ that can lock computers and demand ransom for unlocking them.

The CERT-In advised the users to exercise caution while opening emails.

The CERT-In also advised the organizations to deploy anti spam solutions and update spam block lists.

Locky Ransomware

First surfaced in 2016, Locky ransomware is being circulated through massive spam campaign in which

spam emails with common subject lines target computers by locking them and demanding ransom for

restoring access to users.

It encrypts files on victims‘ PCs and adds a locky file extension. The attackers then demand ransom in

Bitcoin payment to unlock the files. It is demanding ransom of half bitcoin, which at present rate is

equivalent to over Rs 1.5 lakh.

So far, it has extorted more than $7.8 million in payments, according to a recent study. However, its

impact on Indian systems is not clear so far.


While the impact of this ransomware on Indian systems is not clear so far, this could be the third major

ransomware attack this year after Wannacry and Petya that crippled thousands of computers, including

those of multinational corporations.

In fact, according to an Assocham PWC study, India was the third worst affected country in a list of

over 100 countries hit by Wannacry in May.

CERT-In

CERT-In is nodal government agency that deals with cyber security threats like hacking and phishing in

India.

It is nodal department under the aegis of Union Ministry of Communications and

Information Technology.

According to the provisions of the Information Technology Amendment Act 2008, CERT-In is

responsible for overseeing administration of the Act.

Objectives of the CERT-In

Its objectives are to:

Protect Indian cyberspace and software infrastructure against destructive and hacking activities.

Strengthen security-related defence of the Indian Internet domain. Issue guidelines, vulnerability notes,

advisories, and whitepapers regarding to information security practices, prevention, procedures,

response and reporting of cyber security incidents.




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8.8 Considering to extend FAME-India scheme

The Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises is considering the extension of FAME- India

scheme to promote electric and hybrid vehicles by another six months.

The scheme‘s phase-I was introduced from April 1, 2015, to March 31, 2017. The phase was

subsequently extended by six months till September end. Now it has been extended by another six

months up to March 31, 2018.

FAME India scheme

With an aim to promote eco-friendly vehicles, the government had launched the FAME India scheme in

2015 offering incentives on electric and hybrid vehicles of up to Rs 29,000 for bikes and Rs 1.38 lakh for

cars.

FAME India – Faster Adoption and

Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric

vehicles in India – is a part of the

National Electric Mobility Mission

Plan.

The scheme envisages Rs 795 crore

support in the first two fiscals starting

with the current year.

It is being administered by the Heavy

Industries Ministry.

National Electric Mobility Mission

Plan (NEMMP) 2020

NEMMP aims to achieve national fuel

security by promoting hybrid and electric vehicles in country.

It has set ambitious target of 6-7 million sales of hybrid and electric vehicles year on year from 2020

onwards.

8.9 CSIR‘s artificial leaf creates fuel from sunlight, water

Scientists from Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)-National Chemical Laboratory have

developed an artificial leaf that absorbs sunlight to generate hydrogen fuel from water.

The ultra-thin wireless device mimics plant leaves to produce energy using water and sunlight.

Device

The device consists of semiconductors stacked in a manner to simulate the natural leaf system.

To improve the light-absorbing efficiency of the artificial leaf, researchers used gold nanoparticles,

titanium dioxide and quantum dots.

The device of an area of 23 square centimetres could produce 6 litres of hydrogen fuel per hour.




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When exposed to sunlight for 25 hours, the device retained its efficiency.

The cell does not need any external voltage and performs better than existing solar cells.

How this artificial leaf works?

When visible light strikes the semiconductors, electrons move in one direction, producing electric

current.

The current almost instantaneously splits water into hydrogen – which researchers believe is one of the

cleanest forms of fuel as its main byproduct is water.

Significance of this discovery

The artificial leaf may provide clean energy for powering eco-friendly cars in the future.

At present, hydrogen is produced from fossil fuels by steam reforming and in this process emits a large

amount of carbon di-oxide (CO2) – a green house gas that promotes global warming. In view of

pressing energy and environmental issues, it was important to produce hydrogen from natural resources

such as sunlight and water.

The preparation method reported is simple and practicable and hence there is a very good possibility of

scaling it up.

Note

Hydrogen generation from renewable resources will be the ultimate solution to our energy and

environment problems.

Hydrogen burning gives energy and water as a side product, underscoring its importance and relevance

to the present day world.

Though India basked in sunlight, not enough had been done to translate it into energy. This line of

research is very relevant to our country. India is blessed with plenty of sunlight through the year that is

not exploited significantly to produce energy or hydrogen.

8.10 DRDO successfully test fires ‗Fire and Forget‘ Nag missile

In a boost to Indian Armed Forces, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)

recently successfully tested Nag, the 3rd generation Anti Tank Guided Missile (ATGM).

Significance

With these two successful trials and earlier test conducted in June 2017, complete functionality of Nag

ATGM along with launcher system NAMICA has been established. It marks successful completion of

development trials of Nag Missile.

Nag

Nag is a third-generation, fire-and-forget, anti-tank guided missile.

It is developed by India‘s state-owned Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) to

support both mechanised infantry and airborne forces of the Indian Army.




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The missile incorporates an advanced passive homing guidance system and possesses high single-shot

kill probability.

It is designed to destroy modern main battle tanks and other heavily armoured targets.

Nag can be launched from land and air-based platforms.

The land version is currently available for integration on the Nag missile carrier (NAMICA), which is

derived from a BMP-2 tracked infantry combat vehicle.

The Nag missile was indigenously developed under the Indian Ministry of Defence‘s integrated guided

missile development programme (IGMDP), which also involved the development of four other missiles

that are Agni, Akash, Trishul and Prithvi.

8.11 Google Tez

Google launched its mobile payment service, called Tez, in India.

The payment service allows users to transfer money via their bank accounts as well as Unified Payments

Interface (UPI) ID, QR code and phone number.

The new Google Tez app can be used to pay for movie tickets, utility bills, and make other transactions

online.

It supports several local languages including Hindi, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Marathi, Tamil and

Telugu and will work with 55 banks.

8.12 India gets first state-of-the-art homoeopathy research lab

Union Ministry of AYUSH inaugurated India‘s first State of art virology laboratory at Dr. Anjali

Chatterjee Regional Research Institute for Homoeopathy in Kolkata, West Bengal.

The laboratory has been established to develop new drugs and technologies in homoeopathy to combat

emerging challenges of viral diseases.

The laboratory is the only one in India for conducting basic and fundamental research in Homoeopathy

for viral diseases like influenza, Japanese encephalitis, dengue, chikungunya and swine flu.

New drugs and technologies would be developed at the laboratory to combat emerging challenges of

viral diseases.

8.13 India joins quantum computing race

The Department of Science and Technology (DST) is planning to fund project to develop quantum

computers in order to tap into the next big advance in computing technology.

In India, Physics departments at Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, and Harish Chandra Research

Institute, Allahabad, so far have only forayed into theoretical aspects of quantum computing.

Experts from across country are expected to gather in Allahabad for a workshop to develop such

computer.

What is Quantum computing?




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Quantum computer is computer design which uses principles of quantum physics to increase

computational power beyond attainable limits of traditional computer.

How Quantum computer works?

It employs complex principles of quantum mechanics to store information in ‗qubits‘ (quantum bit)

instead of the typical binary ‗bits‘ of 1 and 0.

Qubit is two-state quantum-mechanical system, such as the polarization of a single photon (either

vertical polarization or horizontal polarization). Qubit allows for far greater flexibility than the binary

system.

It works faster because of way such circuits are designed and can do intensive number-crunching tasks

much more efficiently than the fastest comparable computers.

Challenges ahead

Commercial production of quantum computers that would process information faster than today‘s

supercomputers is still some time away.

According to an expert, the industry first has to solve hardware issues in quantum technology.

8.14 India‘s Mars Orbiter Mission completes 3 years in orbit

ISRO‘s globally acclaimed Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM) also known as Mangalyaan completed three

years in Martian orbit.

In September 2014, India (ISRO) created space history by becoming first nation in world to

successfully launch interplanetary mission spacecraft into Mars orbit in maiden attempt.

ISRO also become first Asian and fourth space agency in world to reach Mars orbit after the

Roscosmos of Russia, NASA and European Space

Agency.

For its enormous success in Mangalyaan mission, ISRO

was conferred 2014 Indira Gandhi Peace Prize for

Peace, Disarmament and Development.

The programme team of mission was conferred with

prestigious 2015 Space Pioneer Award in Science

and Engineering category by National Space

Society (NSS).

Mars Orbiter Mission

(MOM)

Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM), the maiden

interplanetary mission of ISRO, launched on

November 5, 2013 by PSLV-C25 got inserted into




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Martian orbit on September 24, 2014 in its first attempt.

MOM completes 1000 Earth days in its orbit, today (June 19, 2017) well beyond its designed mission life

of six months.

The spacecraft was indigenously designed, built and launched by ISRO in record period of less than two

years in Rs.450 crore ($73 million US) budget, making it cheapest inter-planetary mission till date to

reach Mars.

The spacecraft has five instruments mounted on it for collecting scientific data of Mar‘s morphology,

atmospheric processes, surface temperature, surface geology and atmospheric escape process.

These five instruments are Lyman-Alpha Photometer (LAP), Methane Sensor for Mars (MSM), Mars

Exospheric Neutral Composition Analyser (MENCA), Thermal Infrared Imaging Spectrometer (TIS)

and Mars Colour Camera (MCC).

8.15 Indian Nobel Laureate's theory confirmed: Regulus star spinning fast at crazy 320 kmps,

emits polarised light

Scientists for first time have observed Optical polarisation phenomenon (polarised light emitted by

rapidly rotating stars) after it was predicted by Indian astrophysicist and Nobel laureate

Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar 70 years ago.

Optical polarisation phenomenon

Optical polarisation phenomenon is a measure of the orientation of the oscillations of a light beam to its

direction of travel.

The phenomenon was observed

using High Precision Polarimetric

Instrument (HIPPI), world‘s most

sensitive astronomical polarimeter

to detect polarised light from

Regulus, one of brightest stars in

night sky about 79 light years

away.

The equipment provided

unprecedented insights into the

star, which is in the constellation

Leo, allowing the scientists to determine its rate of spinning and the orientation in space of the star‘s

spin axis.

Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar in 1946 had first predicted that some stars could be emitting polarised

light from their edges.




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In 1968, other researchers built on Chandrasekhar‘s work to predict that the distorted, or squashed,

shape of a rapidly rotating star would lead to the emission of polarised light, but its detection has eluded

astronomers until now.

8.16 Indigenous artillery gun – ‗ATAGS‘ sets new record in range

An indigenous artillery gun, Gun System (ATAGS), has set a new world record in range by hitting

targets at a distance of 48 km.

It is being jointly developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the

private sector.

ATAGS registered the longest ever distance of 48.074 kms, surpassing the maximum ranges of 35-40

kms fired by any artillery gun system in this category.

ATAGS

Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS) is fully indigenous towed artillery gun system

project.

The project was started by DRDO to replace older guns in service with a modern 155mm artillery gun.

The armament system comprises of barrel, breech mechanism, muzzle brake and recoil mechanism to

fire 155 mm calibre.

Capable of night operations in direct fire mode.

It has a longer range, accuracy and precision and provides greater fire power.

The system is configured with all electric drive to ensure maintenance free and reliable operation over a

longer period of time.

The system has a firing range of 40 km.

Has high mobility, quick deployability, auxiliary power mode, advanced communication system,

automatic command and control system.

Armament Research & Development Establishment (ARDE), Pune, a nodal laboratory of DRDO is

behind the design & development of ATAGS, along with other DRDO laboratories.

DRDO aims to develop the artillery gun system with participation of private industry to meet the

requirement of the Indian Army. The idea is to establish indigenous critical defence manufacturing

technologies.

8.17 ISRO‘s IRNSS 1H satellite launch fails

The Indian Space Research Organisation received a setback, when the launch of the much-anticipated

IRNSS-1H failed.

Why it failed?

The mission was unsuccessful as the heat shields did not separate and therefore the satellite could not

launch.




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For the first time, the private sector has been actively involved in assembling and testing of a satellite

unlike earlier where its role was limited to supplying components.

IRNSS 1H

The IRNSS-1H was a back-up navigation satellite, being sent to space to back up and replace the

functions of India‘s first navigation satellite IRNSS-1A (launched in July 2013) as its three rubidium

atomic clocks on board had stopped functioning.

IRNSS-1H was India‘s first satellite actively built by consortium of private firms led by Bengaluru-based

Alpha Design Technologies.

The consortium had completed 25% development work of IRNSS-1H, under the guidance of ISRO

scientists.

Implications of this failure

The IRNSS-1H launch was crucial, as atomic clocks help maintain Indian Standard Time, which is set by

the National Physical Laboratory. Atomic clocks are known to have an error of one second in a million




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years. The failure of this launch suggests that the NPL will have to continue to rely on GPS for the

maintenance of its available atomic clocks.

Atomic clock

It is an extremely accurate type of clock regulated by the vibrations of an atomic or molecular system.

Its principle of operation is not based on nuclear physics, but rather on atomic physics.

It uses the microwave signal that electrons in atoms emit when they change energy levels.

The accuracy of an atomic clock depends on two factors, temperature of the sample atoms and

frequency and intrinsic width of the electronic transition (higher frequencies and narrow lines increase

the precision).

NavIC

NavIC (Navigation with Indian Constellation), also known as the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite

System (IRNSS), is similar to the GPS (Global Positioning System) of US, Glonass of Russia and Galileo

of Europe as well as China‘s Beidou.

Starting in July 2013, ISRO had launched all the seven navigation satellites of the IRNSS by April 2016.

Each satellite has a life span of 10 years.

IRNSS is said to be the ―Indian GPS‖ that will give accurate real-time positioning and timing services

over India and the region around it extending to 1,500km. Thus, NAVIC‘s reach is regional.

Applications of IRNSS include terrestrial, aerial and marine Navigation, disaster management, vehicle

tracking and fleet management, integration with mobile phones, precise timing, mapping and geodetic

data capture, terrestrial navigation aid for hikers and travellers, and visual and voice navigation for

drivers.

8.18 NASA‘s Cassini completes last flyby of Saturn‘s moon Titan

NASA‘s Cassini has completed a final, distant flyby of Saturn‘s giant moon Titan.

Cassini‘s final journey. Editable versions of this graphic are available via PA Graphics or your account

manager

This distant encounter is referred to informally as ―the goodbye kiss‖ by mission engineers, because it

provides a gravitational nudge that sends the spacecraft toward its dramatic ending in Saturn‘s upper

atmosphere.

With this, the spacecraft‘s mission is all set to when it enters the planet‘s atmosphere and disintegrates.

In its final hours, Cassini will relay as much data as it can back to Earth before it dies. NASA hopes the

data collected from the final descent will allow scientists to understand more about the planet‘s

atmosphere and interior.

Launched in 1997, the Cassini mission — a cooperation between NASA, the European Space Agency

and the Italian Space Agency — has sent back thousands of stunning images and made numerous

discoveries about the ringed planet and its moons.




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The probe has been crucial to findings that Saturn‘s moons are among the most hospitable places in the

Solar System for potentially supporting life.

Recently, Nasa also announced that Cassini had detected chemical reactions happening below the icy

surface of Enceladus, suggesting life is possible there. The mission also found that the moon Titan

contains many earth-like features such as wind, rain and seas.

Cassini Mission

Cassini–Huygens is an unmanned spacecraft sent to the planet Saturn. Cassini is the fourth space probe

to visit Saturn and the first to enter orbit.

Its design includes a Saturn orbiter and a lander for the moon Titan.

The lander, called Huygens, landed on Titan in 2005.

The spacecraft was launched on October 15, 1997.

This was the first landing ever accomplished in the outer Solar System.

Objectives of Cassini Mission

Determine the three-dimensional structure and dynamic behavior of the rings of Saturn.

Determine the composition of the satellite surfaces and the geological history of each object.

Determine the nature and origin of the dark material on Iapetus‘s leading hemisphere.

Measure the three-dimensional structure and dynamic behavior of the magnetosphere.

Study the dynamic behavior of Saturn‘s atmosphere at cloud level.




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Study the time variability of Titan‘s clouds and hazes.

Characterize Titan‘s surface on a regional scale. 8.19 Pluto mountains named after Tenzing Norgay, Edmund Hillary

Two mountain ranges on Pluto have been named after Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillary

respectively by the International Astronomical Union (IAU).

With this, IAU, for the first time, has officially approved the naming of 14 features on the icy dwarf

planet.

These are the first geological features on the planet to be named following the close flyby by the New

Horizons spacecraft in July 2015.

Tenzing Montes and Hillary Montes




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Tenzing Montes and Hillary Montes are mountain ranges honouring Tenzing Norgay (1914-1986) and

Sir Edmund Hillary (1919-2008), the Indian/Nepali Sherpa and New Zealand

mountaineer who were the first to reach the summit of Mount Everest and return safely.

NASA‘s New Horizons team proposed the names to the IAU following the first reconnaissance of

Pluto and its moons by the New Horizons spacecraft.

The names pay homage to the underworld mythology, pioneering space missions, historic pioneers who

crossed new horizons in exploration, and scientists and engineers associated with Pluto and the Kuiper

Belt.

This is the first set of official names of surface features on Pluto to be approved by the Working

Group for Planetary System Nomenclature of the International Astronomical Union

(IAU), the internationally recognised authority for naming celestial bodies and their

surface features.

International Astronomical Union (IAU)

The International Astronomical Union (IAU) was founded in 1919.

Its mission is to promote and safeguard the science of astronomy in all its aspects through international

cooperation.

Its individual members — structured into Divisions, Commissions, and Working Groups — are

professional astronomers from all over the world, at the Ph.D. level and beyond, who are active in

professional research and education in astronomy.

The key activity of the IAU is the organization of scientific meetings. Every year the IAU sponsors nine

international IAU Symposia.

The IAU is a member of the International Council for Science (ICSU), an international

organization devoted to international cooperation in the advancement of science.

8.20 Scientists create world‘s first ‗molecular robot‘

Scientists from University of Manchester have created world‘s first ‗molecular robot‘ — millionth of a

millimetre in size.

Such molecular robots can be used for medical purposes, advanced manufacturing processes and even

building molecular factories and assembly lines.

The molecular robot is millionth of millimetre in size. It is made up of just 150 carbon, hydrogen,

oxygen and nitrogen atoms which are basic building blocks required to form molecules.

It can be programmed to move and build molecular cargo using a tiny robotic arm.

The molecular robot operates by carrying out chemical reactions in special solutions which can then be

controlled and programmed by scientists to perform the basic tasks. It responds to series of simple

commands that are programmed with chemical inputs.




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Each individual robot is capable of manipulating single molecule. In terms of size context, billion of

these molecular robots piled on top of each other will be only same size as a single grain of salt.

Significance of the molecular robot:

The molecular robot is so small, that it massively reduces demand for materials, dramatically reduce power

requirements and can accelerate and improve drug discovery and rapidly increase the miniaturisation of

other products.

8.21 Scientists make fuel from oxygen in air

Scientists have found a way to produce methanol — an important chemical often used as fuel in vehicles

— using oxygen in the air, an advance that may lead to cleaner, greener industrial processes worldwide.

The new technique uses freely available air, inexpensive chemicals and an energy efficient methanol

production process.

In the new method, Methanol was produced using nanoparticles of gold to initiate a chemical reaction

between methane, oxygen and hydrogen peroxide. It can be done in one stage and at temperatures no

higher than 50C (122F).

Significance of this discovery

It could become an alternative to petrol. It is also believed the new system of creating methanol could be

used to create chemicals and plastics.

The discovery promises to be not only cheaper, but much more environmentally friendly, as it both

reduces energy consumption and conserves dwindling stocks of natural gas.

It also opens up the prospect for the first time of easily converting natural gas into methanol at the site

where it is extracted, so that it can be piped as a liquid in normal atmospheric conditions. At the

moment methane has to be condensed into liquid natural gas and shipped in pressurised containers.

Methanol is currently produced by in expensive and energy-intensive processes known as steam

reforming and methanol syntheses.

In these processes, methanol is produced by breaking down natural gas at high temperatures into

hydrogen gas (H2) and carbon monoxide (CO) before reassembling them.

8.22 Scientists map lunar water with data from Chandrayaan-1

Scientists, using data from an instrument which flew aboard India‘s Chandrayaan-1 spacecraft, have

created the first map of water trapped in the uppermost layer of the moon‘s soil.

The study builds on the initial discovery in 2009 of water and a related molecule — hydroxyl, which

consists of one atom each of hydrogen and oxygen — in the lunar soil.




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Scientists used a new

calibration of data

taken from NASA‘s

Moon Mineralogy

Mapper, which flew

aboard Chandrayaan-

1 spacecraft in 2008,

to quantify how

much water is

present on a global

scale.

Highlights of the

study

The study found that:

The signature of water is present nearly everywhere on the lunar surface, not limited to the polar regions

as previously reported.

The amount of water increases toward the poles and does not show significant difference among distinct

compositional terrains.

The water concentration reaches a maximum average of around 500 to 750 parts per million in the

higher latitudes. That is less than what is found in the sands of Earth‘s driest deserts.

The way water is distributed across the moon gives clues about its source. The distribution is largely

uniform rather than splotchy, with concentrations gradually decreasing toward the equator.

That pattern is consistent with implantation via solar wind — the constant bombardment of protons

from the sun.

Although the bulk of the water mapped in this study could be attributed to solar wind, there were

exceptions. For example, the researchers found higher-than-average concentrations of water in lunar

volcanic deposits near the moon‘s equator, where background water in the soil is scarce. Rather than

coming from solar wind, the water in those localised deposits likely comes from deep within the moon‘s

mantle and erupted to the surface in lunar magma.

The concentration of water changes over the course of the lunar day at latitudes lower than 60 degrees,

going from wetter in the early morning and evening to nearly bone dry around lunar noon. The

fluctuation can be as much as 200 parts per million.

Chandrayaan-1

Chandrayaan-1, India‘s first mission to Moon, was launched successfully on October 22, 2008 from

SDSC SHAR, Sriharikota.




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The spacecraft was orbiting around the Moon at a height of 100 km from the lunar surface for chemical,

mineralogical and photo-geologic mapping of the Moon.

The Chandrayaan-1 mission performed high-resolution remote sensing of the moon in visible, near

infrared (NIR), low energy X-rays and high-energy X-ray regions.

One of the objectives was to prepare a three-dimensional atlas (with high spatial and altitude resolution)

of both near and far side of the moon.

It aimed at conducting chemical and mineralogical mapping of the entire lunar surface for distribution of

mineral and chemical elements such as Magnesium, Aluminium, Silicon, Calcium, Iron and Titanium as

well as high atomic number elements such as Radon, Uranium and Thorium with high spatial resolution.

The spacecraft carried 11 scientific instruments built in India, USA, UK, Germany, Sweden and

Bulgaria.

8.23 Successful Development Trials of Astra Missile

The Indian Air Force (IAF) successfully conducted developmental trials of indigenously

developed Astra beyond visual range air-to-air missile (BVRAAM) over the Bay of Bengal, off the

coast of Chandipur in Odisha.

They were final development flight trials of the missile, paving way for its early induction into IAF.

Astra Missile

Astra is air to air beyond visual range air-to-air indigenously developed by DRDO.

It is one of the smallest weapon system developed by DRDO, having length of 3.8-metre and

weighing 154kg.

It is single stage solid fuelled missile and has payload capacity of 15 kg conventional explosives.

It possesses high Single Shot Kill Probability (SSKP) making it highly reliable.

It is all-weather missile with active radar terminal guidance, excellent electronic counter-counter measure

(ECCM) features, smokeless propulsion and process improved effectiveness in multi-target scenario.

It has advance on-board electronic counter-measures that jam radar signals from enemy radar, making

tracking of the missile difficult.

It is fitted with terminal active radar-seeker and an updated mid-course internal guidance system that

helps missile to locate and track targets.

It can be launched from different altitudes and is capable of engaging targets at varying range and

altitudes at both short-range targets (up to 20 km) in tail-chase mode and long-range targets (up to 80

km) in head-on mode.

It is radar homing supersonic missile having maximum speed of Mach 4 (four times speed of sound).

The missile can be integrated with all fighter aircraft of IAF including Sukhoi-30 MKI, Mirage-2000,

MiG-29, Jaguar and the Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA).




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8.24 Sun and sea water powers vegetable farms in Jordan

A new project named ―Sahara Forest Project‖ has been launched in Jordan.

It aims to turn Jordan‘s sand dunes into farming land to produce food using sun and sea water.

In the first stage, the project aims to produce up to 130 tonnes of organic vegetables per year from an

area the size of four football pitches. It also produces fresh water.

It will use solar panels to provide power and include outdoor planting space, two saltwater-cooled

greenhouses, a water desalination unit and salt ponds for salt production.

The project, whose funders include Norway and the European Union, is to be expanded from three

hectares to around 200 hectares of desert.

According to recent United Nations estimations, deserts are expanding 30 times faster than at any time

in history.

In Africa, where the worst effects of climate changes are already visible, millions are on the move in

search of arable land.

With the world‘s population expected to top 9 billion in 2050, land for food growth is growing scarce.

The Sahara Forest Project demonstrates that innovative application of technology has the potential to

revolutionize our land systems in a way that benefits the climate, people, and businesses.

8.25 World‘s first quantum trunk line

China launched the world‘s first 2,000-km-long ‗hack proof‘ quantum communication line

between Beijing and its commercial capital Shanghai that cannot be wiretapped.

Quantum communications have ultra-high security. It is impossible to wiretap, intercept or crack the

information transmitted through them.

The line is the world‘s first trunk line of secure quantum telecommunications. The Jing-Hu (Beijing-

Shanghai) Trunk Line connects Beijing, Jinan, Hefei and Shanghai.

The quantum satellite was expected to provide a fool-proof hack-free communication which makes

foreign powers to monitor or intercept China‘s communication systems.

The line is connected with the world‘s first quantum satellite, which was launched by China in August

last year, through a station in Beijing.

The satellite is nicknamed ‗Micius‘ after a Chinese philosopher and scientist who conducted optical

experiments.

Bai Chunli, president of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), talked with staff in Hefei, Jinan,

Shanghai and Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, through the line.

He also had a video call with Austrian quantum physicist Anton Zeilinger through the satellite.




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8.26 World‘s biggest and powerful X-ray laser gun unveilded

The biggest X-ray laser gun on earth named, European X-ray Free Electron Laser (XFEL), will

begin operating in September 2017.

European XFEL

The European x-ray free electron laser (European XFEL) is an X-ray research laser facility.

It is housed in underground tunnels inside a 3.4km-long facility at the DESY accelerator centre in

Germany.

Eleven countries are involved in the European XFEL.

It produces X-rays through the acceleration of electrons, the so-called synchrotron radiation.

There are currently only five X-ray lasers in the world. The European XFEL is the largest and most

powerful of the group.

The machine works by creating synchrotron radiation in X-ray range, emitting electrons that are

accelerated to close to the speed of light. Then, a powerful linear accelerator helps create the laser light,

which is a billion times brighter than conventional synchrotron light sources.

Significance

According to researchers, XFEL will create the fastest and most powerful laser pulses on the planet.

This will help many biological, chemical, and physical experiments. For example, it could aid the study

of biomolecules, leading to better, more effective disease treatments.

It also could create more research into chemical processes and their catalysts, shedding light on new

ways to help protect the environment.

The X-rays can be used to make pictures and films of the nanocosmos at atomic resolution – such as of

biomolecules, from which better understandings of the basis of illnesses or the development of new

therapies could be developed.

It will also provide us with the most detailed images of the molecular structure of new materials and

drugs and novel live recordings of biochemical reactions.

The facility will enable research into chemical processes and catalytic techniques, with the goal of

improving their efficiency or making them more environmentally friendly; materials research; or the

investigation of conditions similar to the interior of planets.

8.27 TRAPPIST-1 planets likely to have water

An international team of astronomers have discovered that the Earth-sized planets orbiting the ultracool

TRAPPIST-1 dwarf star 40 light-years away may have substantial amounts of water and could be

habitable.

Astronomers used the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope to estimate whether there might be water

on the seven planets orbiting in the nearby TRAPPIST-1 planetary.




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The results suggest that the outer planets of the system might still harbour substantial amounts of water.

This includes three planets within habitable zone (Goldilocks zone) of star, lending further weight to the

possibility that they may indeed be habitable and support alien life.

Astronomers had examined amount of ultraviolet radiation (UV) received by individual planets of

system to detect presence of water.

UV radiation is important factor in atmospheric evolution of planets as it can break water vapour in

atmospheres of planets into hydrogen and oxygen in process called photodissociation.

Scientists used the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (STIS) on the Hubble telescope to study the

amount of ultraviolet radiation received by the individual planets of the system.

TRAPPIST-1

The seven Earth-sized planets (named TRAPPIST-1b, c, d, e, f, g and h) orbiting ultracool dwarf star

TRAPPIST-1 were discovered by astronomers in February 2017.

The TRAPPIST-1 planetary system is 40 light-years away from Earth.

Its dwarf star Trappist-1 is at least 500 million years old and is marginally larger than Jupiter.

It has temperature of 2550K and shines with a feeble light about 2,000 times fainter than Earth‘s sun.

8.28 Ultra-thin craft may wrap and destroy space junk

Scientists at US-based Aerospace Corporation are developing an ultra-thin spacecraft, ‗Brane Craft‘

that can remove space debris – which potentially threaten satellites or astronauts – by enveloping junk in

the Earth‘s orbit and dragging it through the atmosphere, causing it to burn up.

The project received funding from the NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts programme, which

focuses on space research that are in early stages.

Key features of the spacecraft

The Brane Craft is a flexible and less than half the thickness of a human hair.

The spacecraft is designed to be resilient. Its microprocessor and digital electronics are fabricated in a

way to ensure that if one component gets damaged, the others will continue to work.

Brane Crafts will be powered by ultra-thin solar cells as well as a little bit of propellant.

After each Brane envelops a piece of space junk, it will navigate back to towards Earth, causing the junk

to burn up in the atmosphere.

Menace of space debris

According to NASA, there are over 50,000 pieces of debris (space junk) traveling at speeds up to 17,500

mph around the Earth, the movements of which are being constantly monitored and tracked.

The rising population of space debris increases the potential danger to all space vehicles, but especially

to the International Space Station (ISS), space shuttles, satellites and other spacecraft.

In December 2016, Japan sent H-II Transfer Vehicle Kounotori 6 (HTV6) into space to deliver supplies

to the ISS. The same cargo ship was also supposed to complete another mission during its return




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journey – clean up space debris. However, the experimental Japanese probe failed in its mission to clear

space junk from the Earth‘s orbit.

In 2013, Russian satellite, Blits, was damaged after colliding with debris created when China shot down

an old weather satellite in 2007.

Kessler Syndrome/ Collisional Cascade/ Ablation Cascade

The Kessler syndrome is a cascade event whereby a collision of space junk with satellites or spacecraft

causes more space junk resulting in more collisions. The end result would be large scale destruction of

satellites and spacecraft across an orbital zone. The resulting loss of satellites posses widespread risks to

safety and the world economy as satellite services such as navigational systems are embedded in a large

number of information technologies.

The Kessler syndrome would result in an orbital range that is dangerous to spacecraft. Hypothetically, all

satellites in the entire range could be destroyed. It would likely take decades to clean up the orbital zone

and replace lost satellite networks.

SPACE DEBRIS

Space debris is defined as all non-functional, human-made objects, including fragments and elements

thereof, in Earth orbit or re-entering into Earth‘s atmosphere. Man-made space debris dominates over

the natural meteoroid environment, except around millimetre sizes.

Routine ground-based radar and optical measurements performed by the space surveillance systems of

the United States and Russia allow the tracking and cataloguing of objects larger than 5–10 cm in low

orbit, and larger than 0.3–1.0 m at geostationary orbit altitudes (36 000 km above the equator).

Each of these catalogued objects has a known orbit and many can be traced back to a launch event − to

a unique owner. Ground-based search radars can detect smaller objects, down to a centimetre or less in

size. Such objects, however, can generally not be correlated with specific launch events, nor can their

orbits be determined with sufficient accuracy to be predictable in future.

The presence of smaller space debris, typically less than 1 mm in size, can be deduced from impact

craters on returned space hardware, or from onboard impact detectors. The detection of objects larger

than 1 mm is difficult using this technique owing to the limited data collection time span in combination

with the reduced impact probability for larger objects.

+ve Effect of Earth‘s Atmosphere on Space Debris

Earth‘s atmosphere causes air drag that extracts orbital energy and leads to a reduction in the orbital

altitude and final reentry of a space object. Upper layers of the atmosphere are supported by lower

layers, which are compressed under the weight of the air column above them. The air density increases,

and hence the increase in air drag with decreasing altitude is progressive.

Changes in air density at a given orbital altitude are mainly driven by the Sun, which varies its activity in

an 11-year cycle. Thus, every 11 years, lower parts of the atmosphere are heated and expand towards

higher altitudes, where the air density increases, causing higher air drag on objects in space. As a

consequence, space debris is periodically cleaned from the lower orbital regions (but these are

subsequently refilled by objects descending from higher orbits).




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After sufficient exposure to air drag

the orbit decays, and the object

enters Earth‘s denser atmosphere,

where the air drag converts orbital

energy into heat. This heating

process is normally sufficient to

destroy an object. Approximately

20–40% of the mass of larger-size

spacecraft or rocket bodies, or parts

made of particularly high-melting

steel or titanium alloys, may survive

the reentry.

Risks

One must distinguish between

debris-related risks in orbit and risks

due to reentries.

In-orbit risks are due to collisions

with operational spacecraft, or with

decommissioned spacecraft or

rocket bodies. Impacts by debris

larger than 10 cm are assumed to

cause catastrophic break-ups, which

cause the triggering of a collisional

cascading process − the Kessler

syndrome. Collisions with debris

larger than 1 cm would disable an

operational spacecraft, and may

cause the explosion of a

decommissioned spacecraft or

rocket body. Impacts by millimetre-

size debris may cause local damage

or disable a subsystem of an

operational spacecraft.

Large space-debris objects (e.g. spacecraft, rocket bodies or fragments thereof) that reenter into the

atmosphere in an uncontrolled way can reach the ground and create risk to the population on ground.

The related risk for an individual is, however, several orders of magnitude smaller than commonly

accepted risks, such as driving a car, that we all accept in day-to-day life.

8.29 Wheat pathogen Ug99

A team of scientists tracking the spread of plant diseases at Cambridge may have good and bad news for

India. The good news: a deadly fungus that was seen to cause widespread devastation in wheat fields in

many parts of the world, particularly in East Africa, is unlikely to come in through a route which many

feared that the pathogen would take. The bad news, however, is that it may find alternative tracks to

enter the country, which is among the largest wheat producers globally.




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Ug99 is a deadly race of fungus puccinia graminis tritici (Pgt) — did not cross over to India

despite it being present in Iran since 2006.

Ug99 — named so because it was first detected in Uganda in 1999 — scared wheat breeders across

the world as the particular race could attack Sr31, a stem rust resistance gene used in modern wheat

breeding programmes.

The fungus causes stem rust that can severely hit yields as seen in the past in many countries in East

Africa, West Asia and parts of Europe.

A team of plant epidemiologists from Cambridge University led by Christopher Gilligan used high

performance computing, field surveys and high resolution meteorological data to simulate the routes

that Ug99 and other deadly races of Pgt can take to land in wheat farms in other geographical areas.

Suresh Bhardwaj, a principal scientist at Indian Institute Wheat and Barley Research, did not subscribe

the view. India

has one of the

best surveillance

programmes in

the world for

wheat rust, said

Bhardwaj whose

lab located at

Shimla has been

helping to

develop wheat

varieties which

are resistant to

rust diseases

caused by

different fungi.

Ninety five per

cent of wheat

crops grown in

central India,

particularly in

Madhya Pradesh

and parts of

Karnataka is

resistant to this

fungus.

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