Contact : 8830115524

Contact : 8830115524

Indian Polity ..

Muslim Women Rights Day ● 1st August has been recorded as “Muslim Women Rights Day” in the country’s history to

mark first anniversary of the passage of Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on

Marriage) Act, 2019.

● The law made triple talaq a criminal offence.

● Tiple talaq divorce is banned by many Islamic countries, including Pakistan, Bangladesh

and Indonesia.

Provisions of the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage)

Act, 2019 ● The Act makes all declaration of talaq, including in written or electronic form, to be void

(i.e. not enforceable in law) and illegal.

● It also makes a declaration of talaq a cognizable offence attracting up to three years

imprisonment with a fine.

● A cognizable offence is one for which a police officer may arrest an accused person

without warrant.

● The Magistrate may grant bail to the accused. The bail may be granted only after

hearing the woman (against whom talaq has been pronounced), and if the Magistrate is

satisfied that there are reasonable grounds for granting bail.

● The offence may be compounded (i.e. the parties may arrive at a compromise) by the

Magistrate upon the request of the woman (against whom talaq has been declared).

● A Muslim woman against whom talaq has been declared, is entitled to seek subsistence

allowance from her husband for herself and for her dependent children.

● The country has seen a decline of 82% in the triple talaq case since the implementation

of the act.

One Nation One Card Scheme integrates four more States/UT’s ● eligible beneficiaries would be able to avail entitled food grains under the National Food

Security Act (NFSA) from any Fair Price Shop(FPSs) in the country using the same

ration card.

● In Bi-Lingual format bi-lingual format having Hindi or English apart from the local

language. 10 digit std ration card number

● The eligible beneficiaries will be able to buy subsidized foodgrains, rice at ₹3 per kg,

wheat at ₹2 per kg, and coarse grains at Re 1 per kg, from anywhere in the country.

● 100 percent of national portability of these cards has been assured by March 31,

2021.

● biometric authentication on electronic Point of Sale (ePoS) devices installed at the

FPS’s.

● The Integrated Management of Public Distribution System (IM-PDS) portal provides

the technological platform for the inter-state portability of ration cards.

1947 Tripartite Agreement on Gurkha soldiers

Contact : 8830115524

● Recently, the Nepal’s Foreign Minister has said that the 1947 Tripartite Agreement

between India, Nepal and the United Kingdom (that deals with the military service of

Gurkha soldiers from Nepal) has become redundant

The Tripartite Agreement:

● In 1947, when India became independent, it was decided to split Gurkha regiments

between the British and Indian armies.

● East India Company first recruited Gurkhas after suffering heavy casualties during the

Anglo-Nepalese War also known as the Gurkha War. The war ended with the signing of

the Treaty of Sugauli in 1816.

● It ensured that Gurkhas in British and Indian service would enjoy broadly the same

conditions of service as that of British and Indian citizens.

● The services include all perks, remuneration, facilities and pension schemes etc.

● Gorkha recruitment was the first window that was opened to Nepali youth to go abroad.

What is a whip? ● Congress chief whip in the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly has moved the Supreme

Court against a State High Court direction to the Speaker to maintain status quo in the

disqualification proceedings initiated against ousted MLAs under the anti-defection law.

● A whip is an official of a political party who acts as the party’s ‘enforcer’ inside the

legislative assembly or house of parliament.

● Parties appoint a senior member from among their House contingents to issue whips —

this member is called a Chief Whip, and he/she is assisted by additional Whips.

● India inherited the concept of the whip from the British parliamentary system.

Role of whips:

● They try to ensure that their fellow political party legislators attend voting sessions and

vote according to their party’s official policy.

What happens if a whip is disobeyed?

● A legislator may face disqualification proceedings if she/he disobeys the whip of the

party unless the number of lawmakers defying the whip is 2/3rds of the party’s strength

in the house. Disqualification is decided by the Speaker of the house.

Limitations of whip:

● There are some cases such as Presidential elections where whips cannot direct a

Member of Parliament (MP) or Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) to vote in a

particular fashion.

J&K Public Safety Act 1978

● Definition: It is a kind of preventive detention law, under which a person is taken into

custody to prevent him or her from acting in any manner that is prejudicial to the security

of the state or the maintenance of public order.

● Period of Detention: Up to 2 years.

● Enforcement: Detention order is passed either by Divisional Commissioner or the

District Magistrate.

● Challenging the Detention: The only way the administrative preventive detention order

can be challenged is through a habeas corpus petition filed by relatives of the detained

person.

Contact : 8830115524

● The High Court and the Supreme Court have jurisdiction to hear such petitions and pass

a final order seeking quashing of the PSA.

● However, if the order is quashed, there is no bar on the government passing another

detention order under the PSA and detaining the person again.

● There can be no prosecution or any legal proceeding against the official who has passed

the order.

Preventive Detention and Constitutional Provisions

● Preventive detention involves the detainment (confinement) of a person in order to keep

them from committing future crimes and/or from escaping future prosecution.

● Punitive detention is punishment for illegal acts done.

● Article 22(1) of the Constitution states that no person who is arrested shall be denied

the right to consult, and to be defended by, a legal practitioner of his choice.

● However, under Preventive Detention Laws like the PSA, the detained person does not

have the right to move a bail application before a criminal court, and cannot engage any

lawyer to represent him or her before the detaining authority.

● When a person is arrested he/she has to be produced before a magistrate within the

next 24 hours. However, in the case of 'preventive detention', a person can be detained

for three months.

● Article 22(2) states that every person arrested and detained shall be produced before

the nearest magistrate within a period of 24 hours (excluding the time necessary for the

journey from the place of arrest to the court) and no such person shall be detained

beyond this period without the authority of a magistrate.

● Article 22(3)(b) allows for preventive detention and restriction on personal liberty for

reasons of state security and public order.

● Article 22(4) states that no law providing for preventive detention shall authorise the

detention of a person for a longer period than three months unless:

● an Advisory Board reports sufficient cause for extended detention.

● Such a person is detained in accordance with the provisions of any law made by the

Parliament.

Habeas Corpus

● It is a Latin term which literally means ‘to have the body of’. Under this the court issues

an order to a person who has detained another person, to produce the body of the latter

before it. The court then examines the cause and legality of detention.

● This writ is a bulwark of individual liberty against arbitrary detention.

● The writ of habeas corpus can be issued against both public authorities as well as

private individuals.

● The writ, on the other hand, is not issued where the:

○ detention is lawful, the proceeding is for contempt of a legislature or a court,

detention is by a competent court, and detention is outside the jurisdiction of the

court.

Contact : 8830115524

Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF)

● Established in January 1948 after PM Jawaharlal Nehru appealed to assist displaced

persons from Pakistan.

● established entirely with public contributions and did not get any budgetary support.

● PMNRF accepts voluntary contributions from Individuals, Organizations, Trusts,

Companies and Institutions etc.

● All contributions towards PMNRF are exempt from Income Tax under section 80(G).

● The resources of the PMNRF are utilized to render immediate relief to families of those

killed in natural calamities like floods, cyclones and earthquakes, etc.

● Assists partially to defray the expenses for medical treatment like heart surgery, kidney

transplantation, cancer treatment of needy people and acid attack etc.

SHAGUN PORTAL

● Dedicated web portal ‘ShaGun’ for the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan at New Delhi today.

● ‘ShaGun’ aims to capture and showcase innovations and progress in Elementary

Education sector of India by continuous monitoring of the flagship scheme - Sarva

Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA).

Samagra Shiksha an integrated scheme for school education’.

● under the Ministry of Human Resource Development.

● integrated scheme for school education extending from pre-school to class XII to ensure

inclusive and equitable quality education at all levels of school education.

● It subsumes the three Schemes of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), Rashtriya Madhyamik

Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) and Teacher Education (TE).

● The Scheme is being implemented as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme.

● The fund sharing pattern for the scheme between Centre and States is at present in the

ratio of 90:10 for the North-Eastern States and the Himalayan States and 60:40 for all

other States and Union Territories with Legislature.

● It is 100% centrally sponsored for Union Territories without Legislature.

● Scheme of Vocationalisation of School Education is being implemented under this

scheme

The Code on Social Security, 2019

● Objectives:

● To amalgamate a clutch of existing laws and proposes several new initiatives including

universal social security for unorganized sector workers and, insurance and health

benefits for gig workers.

● To Corporatize of existing organizations like EPFO and ESIC headed by people other

than the labour minister.

● Key features of the code:

● The Code will merge eight exiting labour laws includingEmployees’ Compensation Act,

1923; Employees‘ State Insurance Act, 1948, Employees‘ Provident Funds and

Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952; Maternity Benefit Act, 1961.

Contact : 8830115524

● The bill seeks to establish a social security fund and tap the corporate social

responsibility fund to offer unorganized sector workers medical, pension, death and

disability benefits via the employee’s state insurance corporation.

● Exemption: It will empower the central government to exempt select establishments from

all or any of the provisions of the code and makes Aadhaar mandatory for availing

benefits under various social security schemes.

● It proposes to offer gratuity to fixed term employees after one year of service on a pro-

rata basis as against the current practice of five years.

1 year completed Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Bill, 2019

● Article 239A empowers the union territory with the legislature to enact laws

● 3rd union territory alongside National Capital Territory of Delhi and Puducherry to have a

legislature.

Notification of Rules for J&K ● The Centre on 5th August 2019 scrapped provisions of Article 370 through the

Constitution (Application to Jammu and Kashmir) Order, 2019.

● A separate Bill - the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Bill 2019 - was introduced to

bifurcate the State into two separate union territories of Jammu and Kashmir (with

legislature), and Ladakh (without legislature).

● The rules provide details of work allocation, distribution of the business among the

departments, their powers, executive powers of LG etc. in J&K.

● As per the rules, there will be 39 departments in the J&K such as school education,

agriculture, higher education, horticulture, election, general administration, home,

mining, power, Public Works Department, tribal affairs and transport.

● Police, Public order, All India Services and Anti-corruption will fall under the executive

functions of the LG.

● This implies that the Chief Minister or the Council of Ministers will have no say in their

functioning.

● Proposals or matters which affect or are likely to affect the peace and tranquility of the

UT or the interest of any minority community, the Scheduled Castes, the Scheduled

Tribes and the Backward Classes shall essentially be submitted to the LG through the

Chief Secretary, under intimation to the Chief Minister, before issuing any orders.

● Any matter, which is likely to bring the government of the Union Territory into a

controversy with the Centre or a State government, shall, as soon as possible, be

brought to the notice of the LG and the Chief Minister through the Chief Secretary.

● All important communications received from the Centre shall, as soon as possible, be

submitted to the Chief Secretary, the Minister in charge, the Chief Minister and the LG

for information.

● In case of difference of opinion between the LG and a Minister when no agreement

could be reached even after a month, the decision of the LG shall be deemed to have

been accepted by the Council of Ministers.

Higher Education Financing Agency (HEFA)

Contact : 8830115524

● HEFA incorporated on 31st May 2017, is a joint venture of Ministry of HRD, GOI and

Canara Bank with an agreed equity participation in the ratio of 90.91% and 09.09%

respectively.

● HEFA is registered under the Companies Act 2013 as a Union Govt company and as

Non–deposit taking NBFC with RBI.

● VISION: To enable India’s premier educational institutions to excel and reach the top in

global rankings by financing building world class infrastructure including R&D Infra.

Functions:

1. It will mobilize resources from the market by way of equity from individuals /

corporates and by issue of bonds to finance the requirement.

2. It provides financial assistance for creation of educational infrastructure and

R&D in India’s premier educational Institutions.

3. Encourages scientific and technological developments by supporting R&D

facilities for conducting high-quality research.

4. Channelises CSR contributions from companies and donations for various

schemes in uplifting higher education.

Revitalising Infrastructure and Systems in Education (RISE) by 2022

● launched by GOI in the FY 2018-19 budget.

● aims to lend low-cost funds to government higher educational institutions, financed via

restructured Higher Education Financing Agency (HEFA)

● HEFA’s scope under RISE has been greatly expanded from initial objective of financing

infrastructural needs of select Higher Educational Institutions in India to the extent of Rs.

20,000 crores.

● It is proposed to accelerate the investment in institutions to Rs.1,00,000 crores over the

next 4 years as under

University Grants Commission ● Formed on 28th December, 1953 and a statutory body by an Act of Parliament in 1956

● Objrctive: for the coordination, determination and maintenance of standards of

teaching, examination and research in university education.

● The head office in New Delhi.

● The 42nd amendment Act, 1976 shifted Education from State list to Concurrent List

All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) ● the statutory body and the national-level council for technical education in the country.

● set up in November 1945 as a national-level apex advisory body.

● Purpose: was to conduct a survey on the facilities available for technical education and

to promote development in the country in a coordinated and integrated manner.

Ancient Universities of India University at Takshashila or Taxila :

● Built around 5th century BC, located in modern-day Pakistan

● Both Buddhist and Hindu theologies were taught in the institution

● Noted personalities include Chanakya, Charaka, Panini, Jivaka, Prasenajit, etc.

●

Contact : 8830115524

Nalanda University

• Established in modern day Bihar, in 5th Century CE, ● during the reign of Kumaragupta

● visited by Chinese pilgrim Hiuen Tsang and also by scholar l-Tsing

● Famous scholars include Nagarjuna (Madhyamika Shunyavad), Aryabhatta

Vikramshila University

● founded by King Dharampala of Pala dynasty (Bhagalpur district of Bihar)

● Primarily a Buddhist learning center,

● affiliated with Vajrayana sect and Tantric teachings

Vallabhi University

● established by Maitrak King, Bhattarka in Saurashtra, Gujarat

● This existed between 600A.D and 1200A.D and was an important place to learn

the Hinayana Buddhism

Three capitals for Andhra Pradesh

1. Amaravati– legislative capital.

2. Visakhapatnam– executive capital.

3. Kurnool– judicial capital.

Which other Indian states have multiple capitals?

1. Maharashtra has two capitals– Mumbai and Nagpur (which holds the winter session of

the state assembly).

2. Himachal Pradesh has capitals at Shimla and Dharamshala (winter).

Parivar Pehchan Patra (PPP): ● Launched by Haryana government.

● Significance :PPP will enable the citizens to get the benefits of various central and state

government schemes at their door-step in a fair and transparent manner.

● PPP will provide a unique identity to complete family and it would have name of the head

of the family on top.

103rd Constitutional Amendment Act: ● It introduced an economic reservation (10% quota) in jobs and admissions in education

institutes for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) by amending Articles 15 and 16.

● It inserted Article 15 (6) and Article 16 (6).

● It was enacted to promote the welfare of the poor not covered by the 50% reservation

policy for SCs, STs and Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBC).

● It enables both Centre and the states to provide reservation to the EWS of society.

Amnesty International India Report: ● Amnesty International in its report has urged the National Human Rights Commission

(NHRC) and the National Commission for Women (NCW) to set up offices in J&K to

facilitate easy access to the complaint filing process for the local people.

Contact : 8830115524

● About: It is an international Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) founded in London

on 28th May 1961.

● works with intergovernmental human rights bodies to expand and enforce human rights

protections in international law.

● In 1977, it was awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace.

Sahakar Cooptube NCDC Channel: ● Launched by Union Minister of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare

● Aim: to facilitate involvement of the youth in the cooperative movement.

● Cooperatives lend strength to farmers to minimize risks in agriculture and allied sectors

and act as a shield against exploitation.

● Give a boost to Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan under which the government has

announced a series of transformative measures and sector specific financial packages

to help agriculture.

● The initiatives are steps towards One Nation One Market with the objective for India to

become a food factory of the world.

Guidance Videos: ● These have been produced by the NCDC on ‘Formation and Registration of A

Cooperative’ for eighteen different states in Hindi and regional languages.

● These would help strengthen and deepen the major initiatives of the government to

promote and form 10,000 Farmer-Producer Organisations (FPOs).

● One such initiative is the formation of FPOs under the “One-Product One-District”

approach.

National Cooperative Development Corporation

● Formation: NCDC was established by an Act of Parliament in 1963 as a statutory

Corporation under the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare.

● Office: NCDC functions through its Head Office at New Delhi and multiple Regional

Offices.

● Functioning:

○ The objectives of NCDC are planning and promoting programmes for agricultural

produce, foodstuffs, industrial goods, livestock and certain other notified

commodities and services on cooperative principles.

○ The NCDC has the unique distinction of being the sole statutory organisation

functioning as an apex financial and developmental institution exclusively

devoted to the cooperative sector.

Recent Initiatives:

○ Mission Sahakar 22, which aims to double farmers’ income by 2022.

○ Scheme on Internship Programme (SIP) named Sahakar Mitra.

Provisions of Indian Constitution related to Cooperatives:

Contact : 8830115524

● The Constitution (97th Amendment) Act, 2011 added a new Part IXB right after Part IXA

(Municipals) regarding the cooperatives working in India.

● The word “cooperatives” was added after “unions and associations” in Article 19(1)(c)

under Part III of the Constitution. This enables all the citizens to form cooperatives by

giving it the status of fundamental right of citizens.

● A new Article 43B was added in the Directive Principles of State Policy (Part IV)

regarding the “promotion of cooperative societies”.

Bru Resettlement Issue

● Recently, three organisations representing the Bru community have rejected the sites

proposed for their resettlement by the Joint Movement Committee (JMC).

● Joint Movement Committee (JMC) is an umbrella group of non-Bru community in

Tripura. The JMC comprises the Bengali, Mizo, Buddhist Barua and some other

communities.

● Bru or Reang is a community indigenous to Northeast India, living mostly in Tripura,

Mizoram and Assam. In Tripura, they are recognised as a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal

Group.

● In Mizoram, they have been targeted by groups that do not consider them indigenous to

the state. In 1997, following ethnic clashes, nearly 37,000 Brus fled Mamit, Kolasib and

Lunglei districts of Mizoram and were accommodated in relief camps in Tripura.

MyGov (mygov.in) ● the Government of India’s citizen engagement and crowdsourcing platform.

● Launched in 2014.

● It aims to promote active citizen participation in governance and policymaking.

● Since its launch on 26th July 2014, MyGov has adopted multiple engagement

methodologies like discussions, tasks, innovation challenges, polls, surveys, blogs etc.

Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG):

Former Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor GC Murmu was recently appointed as the

new Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG).

About CAG:

● The Constitution of India provides for an independent office of the Comptroller and

Auditor General of India (CAG) in chapter V under Part V.

● The CAG is mentioned in the Constitution of India under Article 148 – 151.

● He is the head of the Indian Audit and Accounts Department.

● He is the guardian of the public purse and controls the entire financial system of the

country at both the levels- the centre and state.

● His duty is to uphold the Constitution of India and the laws of Parliament in the field of

financial administration.

Appointment and Term to Constitutionals Posts:

● The CAG is appointed by the President of India

● He holds office for a period of six years or upto the age of 65 years, whichever is earlier.

Duties:

● CAG audits the accounts related to all expenditure from the Consolidated Fund of India,

Consolidated Fund of each state and UT having a legislative assembly.

Contact : 8830115524

● CAG audits all expenditure from the Contingency Fund of India and the Public Account

of India as well as the Contingency Fund and Public Account of each state.

● CAG audits all trading, manufacturing, profit and loss accounts, balance sheets and

other subsidiary accounts kept by any department of the Central Government and the

state governments.

● CAG audits the receipts and expenditure of all bodies and authorities substantially

financed from the Central or State revenues; government companies; other corporations

and bodies, when so required by related laws.

● He ascertains and certifies the net proceeds of any tax or duty and his certificate is final

on the matter.

Reports:

● He submits to the President and Governor, who shall, in turn, place them before both the

houses of Parliament and the state legislature respectively.

● submits 3 audit reports to the President: audit report on appropriation accounts, audit

report on finance accounts and audit report on public undertakings.

● CAG and PAC:

● He acts as a guide, friend and philosopher of the Public Accounts Committee of the

Parliament.

A Lok Adalat ● one of the alternative dispute redressal mechanisms,

● presided over by a sitting or retired judicial officer

● Members - a lawyer and a social worker.

● forum where disputes/cases pending in the court of law or at pre-litigation stage are

settled/ compromised amicably.both parties in dispute should agree for settlement.

● formed to fulfil the promise given by the preamble of the Indian Constitution– securing

Justice – social, economic and political of every citizen of India.

● Under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 Lok Adalats have been given statutory

status.

● The decision made by the Lok Adalats is considered to be a verdict of a civil court and is

ultimate and binding on all parties.

● There is no provision for an appeal against the verdict made by Lok Adalat.

● But, they are free to initiate litigation by approaching the court of appropriate jurisdiction

by filing a case by following the required procedure, in exercise of their right to litigate.

● There is no court fee payable

Nature of Cases to be Referred to Lok Adalat:

● Any case pending before any court.

● Any dispute which has not been brought before any court and is likely to be filed before

the court.

● An offence not compoundable under the law shall not be settled in Lok Adalat.

India Cycles 4 Change Challenge:

● It is an initiative of the Smart Cities Mission, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs

Contact : 8830115524

● to inspire and support Indian cities to quickly implement cycling-friendly initiatives in

response to COVID-19.

● Who can apply?

● Cities with a population of more than 5 lakh., Capital cities of states/UTs. , Cities under

the Smart Cities Mission.

SC Verdict on Hindu Women’s Inheritance Rights

● the Supreme Court (SC) has expanded the Hindu women’s right to be the coparcener

(joint legal heir) and inherit ancestral property on terms equal to male heirs.

● The judgment pertains to the Hindu Succession (Amendment) Act, 2005.

What is coparcener ?

● As per the Hindu Succession Act, 1956, any individual born in a Hindu Undivided Family

(HUF) becomes a coparcener by birth.

● Both sons and daughters are coparceners in the family and share equal rights and

liabilities over the property

● A daughter remains coparcener even after marriage and her children become

coparceners in her share after her death.

● A coparcener is not the same as a member of the HUF.

● All coparceners are members but all members may not be coparceners.

● A wife or husband of the coparcener is a member but not a coparcener in that family.

● Also, only coparceners can ask for the partition of the property.

Hindu Succession Act, 1956: ● The Mitakshara school of Hindu law codified as the Hindu Succession Act, 1956

governed succession and inheritance of property but only recognised males as legal

heirs.

● It applied to everyone who is not a Muslim, Christian, Parsi or Jew by religion. Buddhists,

Sikhs, Jains and followers of Arya Samaj, Brahmo Samaj, are also considered Hindus

for this law.

● In a Hindu Undivided Family, several legal heirs through generations can exist jointly.

Traditionally, only male descendants of a common ancestor along with their mothers,

wives and unmarried daughters are considered a joint Hindu family. The legal heirs hold

the family property jointly.

Hindu Succession (Amendment) Act, 2005: ● The 1956 Act was amended in September 2005 and women were recognised as

coparceners or joint legal heirs for property partitions arising from 2005.

● Section 6 of the Act was amended to make a daughter of a coparcener also a

coparcener by birth “in her own right in the same manner as the son”.

● It also gave the daughter the same rights and liabilities “in the coparcenary property as

she would have had if she had been a son”.

● The law applies to ancestral property and to intestate succession in personal property,

where succession happens as per law and not through a will.

Clause 6 of the Assam Accord:

Contact : 8830115524

● Assam Accord was a Memorandum of Settlement (MoS) signed between

representatives of the Government of India and the leaders of the Assam Movement in

New Delhi on 15 August 1985.

● The signing of the Accord led to the conclusion of a six-year agitation that was launched

by the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) in 1979, demanding the identification and

deportation of illegal immigrants from Assam.

● Clause 6 of the Assam Accord, say that appropriate “constitutional, legislative and

administrative safeguards should be provided to protect, preserve and promote the

cultural, social, linguistic identity and heritage of the people of Assam.”

● This Clause was inserted to safeguard the socio-political rights and culture of the

“indigenous people of Assam”.

Election Commission of India ● an autonomous constitutional authority responsible for administering Union and State

election processes in India.

● The body administers elections to the Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, State Legislative

Assemblies in India, and the offices of the President and Vice President in the country

(Article 324).

● It is not concerned with the elections to panchayats and municipalities in the

states. For this, the Constitution of India provides for a separate State Election

Commission.

● The Election Commission shall consist of the chief election commissioner and such

number of other election commissioners, if any, as the President may from time to time

fix.

● Presently, it consists of the Chief Election Commissioner and two Election

Commissioners.

Appointment & Tenure of Commissioners:

● The President appoints Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioners.

● Tenure: six years, or up to the age of 65 years, whichever is earlier.

● All Election Commissioners have equal say in the decision making of the Commission.

Removal:

● They can resign anytime or can also be removed before the expiry of their term.

● The Chief Election Commissioner can be removed from his office in the same manner

and on same grounds as a judge of the Supreme Court.

● In other words, he can be removed by the President on the basis of a resolution passed

to that effect by both the Houses of Parliament with special majority, either on the

ground of proved misbehaviour or incapacity.

● Thus, he does not hold his office till the pleasure of the President, though he is

appointed by him.

● Any other election commissioner or a regional commissioner cannot be removed from

office except on the recommendation of the chief election commissioner.

Demand for 6th Schedule Status: Arunachal Pradesh ● Currently Arunachal Pradesh is under the Fifth Schedule that “does not provide special

rights for the indigenous communities” unlike the Sixth Schedule.

6th Schedule:

Contact : 8830115524

● Based on the reports of the Bordoloi Committee The 6th Schedule formed which

provides for the administration of tribal areas in Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and

Mizoram to safeguard the rights of the tribal population in these states.

● This special provision is provided under Article 244(2) and Article 275(1) of the

Constitution.

Article 371 A:

● The Acts of Parliament relating to the following matters would not apply to Nagaland

unless decided by the State Legislative Assembly:

○ Religious or social practices of the Nagas.

○ Naga customary law and procedure.

○ Administration of civil and criminal justice involving decisions according to Naga

customary law.

○ Ownership and transfer of land and its resources.

i-Hub

● This is vibrant incubation setup established under student startup innovation policy by

the Gujarat Government Education Department

● focused on developing the startups as the catalyzers for economic growth in the state,

thereby providing a conducive ecosystem(Finance) for the promotion of their growth.

Prime Minister’s Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund

(PM-CARES Fund)

● to deal with any kind of emergency or distress situation like posed by the COVID-19

pandemic.

● a charitable trust registered under the Registration Act, 1908. Prime Minister as its

Chairman. Other Members include Defence Minister, Home Minister and Finance

Minister.

● The Fund enables micro-donations as a result of which a large number of people will be

able to contribute with the smallest of denominations.

● Donations to PMCARES have been made tax-exempt,

● No Audit of PM-CARES Funds by CAG: SC, Also also refused to order transfer of funds

from the PM CARES Fund to the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF).

● contributions by companies towards the PM-CARES Fund will count towards mandatory

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) expenditure.

● Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR): Under the Companies Act, 2013, companies

with a minimum net worth of Rs 500 crore or turnover of Rs 1,000 crore, or net profit of

Rs 5 crore are required to spend at least 2% of their average profit for the previous three

years on CSR activities every year.

Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF) ● Instituted in 1948 by then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru,

● to assist displaced persons from Pakistan.

● The fund is currently used primarily to tackle natural calamities like floods, cyclones and

earthquakes.

● The fund is also used to help with medical treatment like kidney transplantation, cancer

treatment and acid attack.

Contact : 8830115524

● The fund consists entirely of public contributions and does not get any budgetary

support.

● It accepts voluntary contributions from Individuals, Organizations, Trusts, Companies

and Institutions etc.

● fund is recognized as a Trust under the Income Tax Act

● 100% deduction from taxable income under section 80(G)

Section 2(h) of the RTI Act, 2005

● Under section 2(h) of the RTI Act "Public authority" means any authority or body or

institution of self government established or constituted—

○ by or under the Constitution;

○ by any other law made by Parliament/State Legislature.

○ by notification issued or order made by the appropriate Government, and

includes any— body owned, controlled or substantially financed;

○ non-Government organisation substantially financed, directly or indirectly by

funds provided by the appropriate Government.

○ office of the Chief Justice of India (CJI)

Section 8 of the RTI Act, 2005 ● This provides for exemption from disclosure of information such as-

1. Which would affect the sovereignty and integrity of India, the security, strategic, scientific

or economic interests of the State;

2. Which has been expressly forbidden to be published by any court of law or tribunal;

3. Which would cause a breach of privilege of Parliament or the State Legislature;

4. Information including commercial confidence, trade secrets or intellectual property;

5. Information received in confidence from foreign government;

6. Information which would endanger the life or physical safety of any person; etc.

National Cadet Corps (NCC) ● It is the youth wing of the armed forces.

● Headquarters of NCC is located in New Delhi.

● It is a tri-service organization that comprises of army, navy and air force.

● Under NCC, the youths of the country are provided basic military training in parades and

small arms.

● Motto: Unity and Discipline

Article 143: Advisory Jurisdiction

● Authorises the President to seek the opinion of the Supreme Court in the two categories

of matters:

● 1. On any question of law or fact of public importance which has arisen or which is likely

to arise. The SC may tender or may refuse to tender its opinion to the President.

● 2. On any dispute arising out of any pre-constitution treaty, agreement, covenant,

engagement, sanador other similar instruments. Here, the SC must tender its opinion to

the President.

● In both the cases, the opinion expressed by the Supreme Court is only advisory and not

a judicial pronouncement. Hence, it is not binding on the President.

Contact : 8830115524

Union Cabinet approved National Recruitment Agency

● National Recruitment Agency will be a Society registered under the Societies

Registration Act,1860.

● It will be headed by a Chairman of the rank of the Secretary to the Government of India.

● It will have representatives of the Ministry of Railways, Ministry of Finance/Department of

Financial Services, the SSC, RRB & IBPS.

● The agency is to conduct Common Eligibility Test(CET) for Public Sector Banks and

Government Jobs.

● (CET) is to be conducted for non-gazetted posts in public sector banks and central

government

● This test aims to replace multiple examinations conducted by different recruiting

agencies for selection to government jobs advertised each year, with a single online test.

● The Common Eligibility Test will be held twice a year.

● There will be different CETs for graduate level, 12th Pass level and 10th pass level to

facilitate recruitment to vacancies at various levels.

● The CET will be conducted in 12 major Indian languages.

● Madhya Pradesh has become the first state in the country to offer jobs on the basis

newly approved CET

Review petition ● the Constitution itself gives, under Article 137, the Supreme Court the power to review

any of its judgments or orders.

● a review can be accepted “only where a glaring omission or patent mistake or like grave

error has crept in earlier by judicial fallibility”.

● A review is by no means an appeal in disguise.

● any person aggrieved by a ruling can seek a review. This implies that it is not necessary

that only parties to a case can seek a review of the judgment.

● A Review Petition has to be filed within 30 days of the date of judgment or order.

Curative Petition

● The concept was first evolved by the Supreme Court of India in Rupa Ashok Hurra vs.

Ashok Hurra and another case (2002)

● on the question whether an aggrieved person is entitled to any relief against the final

judgement/order of the Supreme Court, even after the dismissal of a review petition.

● The court used the Latin maxim “actus curiae neminem gravabit”,which means that an

act of the court shall prejudice no one.

● It’s objectives are twofolds- avoid miscarriage of justice and to prevent abuse of process.

● A curative petition may be filed after a review plea against the final conviction is

dismissed

Contempt of Court Act of 1971

● Contempt of court is of two types:

Contact : 8830115524

● Civil contempt: It is the wilful disobedience to any judgment, decree, direction, order,

writ or other process of a court or wilful breach of an undertaking given to a court.

● Criminal contempt: It is the publication of any matter or the doing of any other act

which scandalises or lowers the authority of any court, or interferes with the due course

of any judicial proceeding, or obstructs the administration of justice in any other manner.

● Punishment: The Contempt of Court Act of 1971 punishes the guilty with imprisonment

that may extend to six months or fine of ₹ 2,000 or both.

● Amendment: It was amended in 2006 to include “truth and good faith” as a defence.

● It was added that the court may impose punishments only if the act of the other person

substantially interferes, or tends to interfere with the due course of justice

Constitutional Provisions:

● Article 129 and 215: empowers the Supreme Court (SC) and High Court respectively to

punish people for their respective contempt.

● Article 142: empowers the SC to punish for its contempt. However, what is contempt of

court per se has not been defined by the Indian Constitution.

Statutory Provisions:

● The Contempt of Court Act, 1971 elaborately deals with the concept of contempt of

court.The Act divides contempt into civil and criminal contempt.

International Commission of Jurists ● Since 1952, the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) has performed a unique and

prominent role as a Non Governmental Organization (NGO) defending human rights and

the rule of law worldwide.

● a standing group of 60 eminent jurists—including senior judges, attorneys and

academics.

● Functions: To develop national and international human rights standards through the

law.

● It is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland.

Suo Moto Cognizance

● A Suo Moto cognizance is a Latin term which means an action taken by a government

agency, court or other central authority on their own apprehension.

● A court takes a Suo Moto Cognizance of a legal matter when it receives information

about the violation of rights or breach of duty through media or a third party’s notification.

● Suo Moto’s power of SC under Article 131

● the Supreme Court with original jurisdiction over any dispute arising between the states

or between the centre and state. The article gives the Supreme Court the power to take

up such cases straight instead of going through a lower court or reviewing a lower

court's judgement

Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) ● The Union was established in 1889. Headquarters : Geneva, Switzerland.

● The national parliaments of 178 countries are its members.

● It has a permanent observer status in United Nations.

Contact : 8830115524

● The IPU promotes institutional values, democratic governance. It also promotes working

with parliamentarians to respond to the needs and aspirations of the people.

● The IPU generates Global Parliamentary Report, It is jointly produced by IPU and

United Nations Development Programme.

● The first report was published in 2012.

SC on Secrecy of ballot ● Secrecy of ballot is the cornerstone of free and fair elections. The choice of a voter

should be free and the secret ballot system in a democracy ensures it.

● It is the policy of law to protect the right of voters to secrecy of the ballot

● Section 94 of the Representation of People Act upholds the privilege of the voter to

maintain confidentiality about her choice of vote.

National Council for Transgender Persons ● By Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has constituted under the Transgender

Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019.

● Aim: To mainstream the transgender community’s concerns, focusing on livelihood

issues as well as to raise awareness about the trans community, so that transpersons

are accepted within families and in the larger society.

● To ensure that transgender welfare boards are set up in all States and essential needs

of the transgender community, like housing, food, healthcare and education are met.

● Composition:

● Chairperson Union Minister of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.

● Representatives from five states or Union Territories (one each from the north, south,

east, west and northeast regions), on a rotational basis.

● Five members of the trangender community (one each from the north, south, east, west

and northeast regions).

● The tenure of the community members shall be three years.

● Representatives from 10 central departments.

● The council will have joint secretary-level members from the Ministries of Health, Home,

Minority Affairs, Education, Rural Development, Labour and Law.

● In addition, there will be a member from the Department of Pensions (Ministry of

Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions), NITI Aayog, National Human Rights

Commission and National Commission for Women.

Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019 ● Definition: It defines transgender as the person who does not match gender assigned at

birth.

● A transgender may make an application to the District Magistrate a certificate of identity

indicating gender as “Transgender”

● It prohibits discrimination against the transgender persons.

● This includes education, access to goods, employment, health care, right to movement,

to hold public offices, right to reside and access to government or public establishment.

● To provide right of health facilities to transgender persons including sex reassignment

surgeries and HIV surveillance centres.

Contact : 8830115524

Indian Association of Parliamentariants on Population and

Development (IAPPD): ● It is a national level Non-Governmental organization established in the year 1978.

● Formed to moderating the pace of population growth for a smoother course of

development so as to ensure an overall improvement in the quality of life of the people

and maintain a proper balance between population and development.

● Composition: It has a Board of Trustees comprising the Chairman, Executive Secretary,

Treasurer and Members

● Standing Committee: It has a standing committee consisting of 37 Members of

parliament (MPs), Ex. MPs and Legislators belonging to different political parties of

India.

Indian Red Cross Society (IRCS) ● Established in 1920 under the Indian Red Cross Society Act and incorporated under

Parliament Act XV of 1920.

● It is a voluntary humanitarian organization having a network of over 1100 branches

throughout the country,

● providing relief in times of disasters/emergencies and promotes health & care of the

vulnerable people and communities.

● It is a leading member of the largest independent humanitarian organization in the world,

the International Red Cross & Red Crescent Movement.

● Honourable President of India is the President and Hon’ble Union Health Minister is the

Chairman of the Society.

● The Chairman and 6 members are nominated by the President. The remaining 12 are

elected by the state and union territory branches through an electoral college.

Armed Forces Tribunal ● It is a military tribunal in India.

● It was established in 2009 under the Armed Forces Tribunal Act, 2007.

● The act was passed on the basis of recommendation of 169th Law Commission Report

and various Supreme Court directives.

● Powers and functions:To adjudicate Disputes and complaints with respect to

commission, appointments, enrolments and conditions of service in respect of persons

subject to the Army Act, 1950, The Navy Act, 1957 and the Air Force Act, 1950.

● Composition: Each Bench comprises of a Judicial Member and an Administrative

Member.

● Judicial Members are retired High Court Judges.

● Administrative Members are retired Members of the Armed Forces who have held the

rank of Major General/ equivalent or above for a period of three years or more or Judge

Advocate General (JAG), who have held the appointment for at least one year.

● Paramilitary forces including the Assam Rifles and Coast Guard are outside the

tribunal’s purview.

● AFT is considered to be a criminal court with respect to Indian Penal Code, and Code of

Criminal Procedure.

● Appeals against the decision of the AFT can be taken only in Supreme Court. High

Courts are not allowed to entertain such appeals.

Contact : 8830115524

Sub-Classification of Reserved Classes

● A five-judge Bench of the Supreme Court held that States can sub-classify the list of

Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), and Socially and Educationally

Backward Classes (SEBCs) to provide preferential treatment to the “weakest out of the

weak”.

National Commission for SC & ST ● The National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) was established by amending

Article 338 and inserting a new Article 338A in the Constitution through the Constitution

(89th Amendment) Act, 2003.

● By this amendment, the erstwhile National Commission for Scheduled Castes and

Scheduled Tribes was replaced by two separate Commissions namely- the National

Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC), and the National Commission for Scheduled

Tribes (NCST) from February, 2004.

● It consists of a chairperson, a vice-chairperson and three other members. They are

appointed by the President by warrant under his hand and seal.

Constitutional and Legal Provisions Related to Minorities

● The term "Minority" is not defined in the Indian Constitution. However, the Constitution

recognises religious and linguistic minorities.

● Article 29: It provides that any section of the citizens residing in any part of India having

a distinct language, script or culture of its own, shall have the right to conserve the

same.

○ It grants protection to both religious minorities as well as linguistic minorities.

○ as use of the word ‘section of citizens’ in the Article includes minorities as well as

the majority.

● Article 30: All minorities shall have the right to establish and administer educational

institutions of their choice.

○ The protection under Article 30 is confined only to minorities (religious or

linguistic) and does not extend to any section of citizens (as under Article 29).

● Article 350-B: Originally, the Constitution of India did not make any provision with

respect to the Special Officer for Linguistic Minorities. However, the 7th Constitutional

Amendment Act, 1956 inserted Article 350-B in the Constitution.

○ It provides for a Special Officer for Linguistic Minorities appointed by the

President of India.

● It would be the duty of the Special Officer to investigate all matters relating to the

safeguards provided for linguistic minorities under the Constitution.

National Commission for Minority Education Institution (NCMEI) Act,

2004:

● It gives the minority status to the educational institutions on the basis of six religious

communities notified by the government under the NCMEI Act, 2004--

● Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Zoroastrians (Parsis) and Jains.

Distribution of Legislative Subjects

Contact : 8830115524

● Article 246 adopts a threefold distribution of legislative power between the Union and

the states.

● Three lists of the Seventh Schedule of the constitution:

● List-I- the Union List

● List-II- the State List

● List-III- the Concurrent List

● Union List: Parliament has exclusive powers to make laws with respect to any of the

matters enumerated in the Union List.

● It includes the matters of national importance and the matters which require uniformity of

legislation nationwide.

● This list includes 98 subjects like defence, banking, foreign affairs, currency, atomic

energy, insurance, communication, inter-state trade and commerce, census, audit and

so on.

● State List: The state legislature has exclusive powers (not during emergency) to make

laws with respect to any of the matters enumerated in the State List.

● It includes the matters of regional and local importance and the matters which permit

diversity of interest.

● This list includes 59 subjects like public order, police, public health and sanitation,

agriculture, prisons, local government, fisheries, markets, theaters, gambling and so on.

● Concurrent List: Both, the Parliament and state legislature can make laws with respect

to any of the matters enumerated in the Concurrent List.

● It includes the matters on which uniformity of legislation throughout the country is

desirable but not essential.

● This list has at present 52 subjects like criminal law and procedure, civil procedure,

marriage and divorce, population control and family planning, electricity, labour

welfare,economic and social planning, drugs, newspapers, books and printing press,

and others.

● Residuary subjects i.e. the matters which are not enumerated in any of the three lists,

is vested in the Parliament.

● Parliament has power to make laws with respect to any part of the territory of India not

included in a state even though that matter is one which is enumerated in the State List.

● This provision is related to the Union Territories or the Acquired Territories (if any).

Constitutional and Legal Provisions Against Discrimination of Dalits

● Social Safeguards:

○ Article 17 of the constitution abolishes the practice of “untouchability” and

punishes the enforcement of any disability arising out of the practice.

○ Article 21 guarantees the right to life and liberty. The Supreme Court has

interpreted this right to include the right to be free from degrading and inhuman

treatment, the right to integrity and dignity of the person, and the right to speedy

justice.

Contact : 8830115524

■ When read with Article 39A on equal justice and free legal aid, Article 21

also encompasses the right to legal aid for those faced with imprisonment

and those too poor to afford counsel.

○ Article 23 prohibits traffic in human beings and other similar forms of forced

labor.

○ Article 24 provides that no child under the age of fourteen shall work in any

factory or mine or engage in any hazardous employment.

● Economic Safeguards:

○ Article 15(4) empowers the state to make any special provisions for the

advancement of any socially and educationally backward classes of citizens, or

for scheduled castes and scheduled tribes.

○ Through Article 16(4), the state is empowered to make “any provision for the

reservation of appointments or posts in favour of any backward class of citizens

which, in the opinion of the State, is not adequately represented in the services

under the State”.

● Political Safeguards:

○ Article 330 provides reservations for seats for scheduled castes and scheduled

tribes in the Lok Sabha (the House of the People), while Article 332 provides for

reservations in the state legislative assemblies.

○ Article 338 establishes the National Commission for Scheduled Castes.

● Related Directive Principles of State Policy:

○ Article 43 calls on the state to secure to all workers, agricultural, industrial or

otherwise, a living wage and conditions of work ensuring a decent standard of

life.

○ Article 45 charges that the state shall endeavor to provide free and compulsory

education for all children until they reach the age of six.

○ Article 46 states that the State shall promote with special care the educational

and economic interests of the weaker sections of the people, and in particular, of

the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes, and shall protect them from

social injustice and forms of exploitation

● The SC and the ST (Prevention of Atrocities) amendment Act, 2018.

A Single Voters’ List ● The Prime Minister’s Office held a meeting with representatives of the Election

Commission and the Law Ministry to discuss the possibility of having a common

electoral roll for elections to the panchayat, municipality, state assembly and the Lok

Sabha.

● Election Commission (EC) of India:

○ It was set up in 1950,

○ conducting polls to: the offices of the President and Vice-President of India, to

Parliament, the state assemblies and the legislative councils.

● State Election Commissions (SECs):

○ Supervise municipal and panchayat elections.

Contact : 8830115524

○ They are free to prepare their own electoral rolls for local body elections, and this

exercise does not have to be coordinated with the EC.

National Register of Citizens (NRC) ● The final list of Assam’s updated National Register of Citizens (NRC)

● The NRC is the list of Indian citizens and was prepared in 1951, following the census of

1951.

● The process of NRC update was taken up in Assam as per a Supreme Court order in

2013.

● In order to wean out cases of illegal migration from Bangladesh and other adjoining

areas, NRC updation was carried out under The Citizenship Act, 1955, and according to

rules framed in the Assam Accord.

National Population Register (NPR)

● It is a Register of usual residents of the country.

● It is being prepared at the local (Village/sub-Town), sub-District, District, State and

National level under provisions of the Citizenship Act 1955 and the Citizenship

(Registration of Citizens and issue of National Identity Cards) Rules, 2003.

● It is mandatory for every usual resident of India to register in the NPR.

● Objectives: To create a comprehensive identity database of every usual resident in the

country.

● A usual resident is defined for the purposes of NPR as a person who has resided in a

local area for the past 6 months or more or a person who intends to reside in that area

for the next 6 months or more.

Delimitation Commission ● Delimitation Commission is appointed by the President of India in consultation with the

Election Commission of India.

● The members of Delimitation Commission are a Retired Supreme Court Judge, Chief

Election Commissioner and the respective State Election Commission.

● Article 82 states that the Parliament shall enact Delimitation Act after every census.

● The Article 170 states that the States shall be divided into territorial constituencies

according to the Delimitation Act after every census.

● The Delimitation Act was enacted in 1952. So far, four delimitation commissions have

been set up in 1952, 1963, 1973 and 2002.

● There was no delimitation after 1981 and 1991 census.

● In 2008, the delimitation was conducted based in 2001 census. However, the

parliamentary and seats were decided based on 1971 census.

Delimitation ● the act of fixing limits to the boundaries of territorial constituencies.

● It is essential to provide fair division of geographical areas to prevent advantage of one -

political party over the other.

● Also, delimitation will provide equal representation to equal segments of people.

● it is essential to identify reserved seats for Scheduled Tribes and Scheduled Castes.

Contact : 8830115524

Economy ..

“Chunauti”- Next Generation Start-up Challenge Contest: ● Launched by Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology

● To further boost startups and software products with special focus on Tier-II towns of

India.

● Identify around 300 startups working in identified areas and provide them seed fund of

upto Rs. 25 Lakh and other facilities.

● areas identified potential under the scheme are

● ○ Edu Tech, ○ Agri Tech ○ Fintech solutions for masses, ○ Supply Chain and Logistic

management, ○ Infrastructure,○ Medical Healthcare as well as jobs and skilling.

GST Council Meet ● meeting was held to discuss the issue of compensating states on account of revenue

loss due to implementation of GST and fall in cess collections.

● GST Council: Constitutional body (Article 279A) for making recommendations to the

Union and State Government on issues related to Goods and Services Tax.

● It chaired by the Union Finance Minister and other members are the Union State Minister

of Revenue or Finance and Ministers in-charge of Finance or Taxation of all the States.

● It is considered as a federal body where both the centre and the states get due

representation.

Export Preparedness Index, 2020 released by NITI Aayog ● NITI Aayog in partnership with the Institute of Competitiveness released the report

● Aim: To identify challenges and opportunities, enhance the effectiveness of government

policies and encourage a facilitative regulatory framework for export.

● Features: The EPI is a data-driven effort to identify the core areas crucial for export

promotion at the sub-national level (states and union territories).

● Benefit: The Index would be a helpful guide for the state governments to benchmark

regional performance with respect to export promotion and thus deliver key policy

insights on how to improve and enhance the exports.

● Four pillars in framing the index.

● 1. Policy 2. Export Ecosystem 3. Business Ecosystem 4. Export Performance

● 11 sub-pillars : export promotion policy; institutional framework; business environment;

infrastructure; transport connectivity; access to finance; export infrastructure; trade

support; R&D infrastructure; export diversification; and growth orientation.

● Gujarat has topped the index followed by Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu

Contact : 8830115524

Economic Measures Suggested by McKinsey ● the McKinsey Global Institute (MGI) has released a report titled 'India's turning point: An

economic agenda to spur growth and jobs'.

Assessment of Economic Impact of Covid-19: DSGE Model ● The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is using Dynamic Stochastic General Equilibrium

(DSGE) model to provide a tentative and proximate assessment of the likely impact of

Covid-19 and the subsequent lockdown on the Indian economy

● DSGE modelling is a method in macroeconomics that attempts to explain economic

phenomena, such as economic growth and business cycles, and the effects of economic

policy, through econometric models based on applied general equilibrium theory and

economic principles.

● Econometrics is the application of statistical methods to economic data in order to give

empirical content to economic relationships.

● General Equilibrium Theory is a macroeconomic theory that explains how supply and

demand in an economy with many markets interact dynamically and eventually

culminate in an equilibrium of prices.

Multi-State Phishing Scam

● Phishing: It is a cybercrime in which a target or targets are contacted by email,

telephone, or text message.

● This is done by someone posing as a legitimate institution to lure individuals into

providing sensitive data such as personally identifiable information, banking and credit

card details, and passwords.

● e-SIM: It is the Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) embedded in the phone.

● It can not be removed as opposed to physical SIM cards, which can be removed.

● The e-SIMs enable users to change service providers through a simple process.

● Multiple networks and numbers can be stored on a single e-SIM too, so one can have

more than one number.

Bhavishya ● an online Pension Sanction and Payment Tracking System implemented by the Ministry

of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions.

Contact : 8830115524

Public Financial Management System(PFMS) ● a web-based online software application developed and implemented by the Office of

Controller General of Accounts (CGA), Ministry of Finance.

● as a Central Sector Scheme

● The primary objective of PFMS is to facilitate a sound Public Financial Management

System for the Government of India (GoI) by establishing an efficient fund flow system

as well as a payment cum accounting network.

Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development

Authority (APEDA): ● Established under the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development

Authority Act 1985.

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

● APEDA, under the Ministry of Commerce and Industries,

● promotes export of agricultural and processed food products from India.

● mandated with the responsibility of export promotion and development of the scheduled

products Fruits, Vegetables and their Products, Meat and Meat Products etc.

● APEDA has been entrusted with the responsibility to monitor import of sugar.

Honey Mission: ● Launched by Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) in 2017.

● It is aimed at creating employment for the Adivasis, farmers, unemployed youth, and

women by roping them in beekeeping while also increasing India’s honey production.

ICICI to use satellites for farm credit: ● introduction of usage of satellite data-imagery from earth observation satellites—to

assess credit worthiness of its customers belonging to the farm sector.

● ICICI will be the first bank in India to do so.

● It will use the data to measure an array of parameters related to the land, irrigation and

crop patterns and in combination with demographic and financial parameters to make

faster lending decisions for farmers

PM-KISAN scheme ● 100% Central Sector scheme

● It focuses on farmers with cultivable land up to 2 hectares. In other words, it targets

vulnerable landholding farmer families.

● scheme provides Rs 6000 to farmers in three instalments annually.

● implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture

Sin goods and sin tax: ● Sin goods are goods which consider harmful to society.

● Example of sin goods: Alcohol and Tobacco, Candies, Drugs, Soft drinks, Fast foods,

Coffee, Sugar, Gambling and Pornography.

Contact : 8830115524

● sin tax: It is tax placed on goods that adversely affect health, most notably tobacco and

alcohol.

● Three principal arguments are used to justify this type of taxation:

○ It can reduce consumption through increased prices.

○ Compensate society for things like increased health system costs.

○ Increase resources for the health sector.

Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana (PMMY) ● launched in 2015 for providing loans up to 10 lakh to the non-corporate, non-farm

small/micro enterprises.

● The Scheme will be implemented through the Small Industries Development Bank of

● India (SIDBI)

● objective is to refinance collateral-free loans given by the lenders to small borrowers.

● activities allied to agriculture such as Dairy, Poultry, Bee Keeping etc, are also covered.

● These loans are classified as MUDRA loans under PMMY.

● These loans are given by Commercial Banks, RRBs, Small Finance Banks,

Cooperative Banks, MFIs and NBFCs.

● THree Products

○ Shishu: covering loans up to Rs.50,000

○ Kishore: covering loans above Rs.50,000 and up to Rs.5,00,000

○ Tarun: covering loans above Rs.5,00,000 and up to Rs.10,00,000

● Mudra’s unique features include a Mudra Card which permits access to Working Capital

through ATMs and Card Machines.

Electoral Bonds ● A financial instrument for making donations to political parties.

● The bonds are issued in multiples of Rs. 1,000, Rs. 10,000, Rs. 1 lakh, Rs. 10 lakh and

Rs. 1 crore without any maximum limit.

● State Bank of India is authorised to issue and encash these bonds, which are valid for

fifteen days from the date of issuance.

● These bonds are redeemable in the designated account of a registered political part

● The bonds are available for purchase by any person (who is a citizen of India or

incorporated or established in India) for a period of ten days each in the months of

January, April, July and October as may be specified by the Central Government.

Harit Path Mobile App ● National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has developed a mobile App,

● ‘Harit Path' to facilitate creation of Green Highways across the country.

● Aim: The App will help to monitor location, growth, species details, maintenance

activities, targets and achievements for each and every plant.

● Monitoring: In order to track the growth and health of the plants, photographs along with

data of the plants captured using Harit Path App shall be uploaded every 3 months on

NHAI’s Artificial Intelligence powered Big Data Analytics platform – Data Lake.

Contact : 8830115524

● Accountability: Highway contractors shall be accountable for proper upkeep and

maintenance of the plantation and liable to replace the missing/dead plants.

Harit Bharat Sankalp:

● NHAI has completed 25 years of its service, to commemorate this it has undertaken

‘Harit Bharat Sankalp’ a nation-wide plantation drive.

● Under this initiative, NHAI planted over 25 lakh plants in 25 days along the stretches of

the National Highways between 21st July to 15th August 2020.

Increased Investments through P-notes Participatory Notes

● P-notes are Offshore Derivative Instruments (ODIs) issued by registered Foreign

Portfolio Investors (FPIs)

● to overseas investors who wish to be a part of the Indian stock markets without

registering themselves directly.

● P-notes have Indian stocks as their underlying assets.

Ramesh Chand task force by Niti Aayog ● to link sugarcane prices to sugar rates.

● Areas under sugarcane cultivation should be shifted to less water-intensive crops by

providing incentives to farmers.

● The panel suggested that the incentive to farmers from moving to less water-intensive

crops should be around Rs 6,000 per hectare.

● Revenue Sharing Formula (RSF) must be introduced to help farmers in receiving fair

prices for their sugarcane produce.

● A price stabilisation fund must also be introduced.

● The minimum support price (MSP) of sugarcane must be reviewed in six months.

● The panel also recommended levying a cess of Rs 50 per quintal on sugar for a period

of 3 years

National Strategy for Financial Education( NSFE ) ● The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has released NSFE: 2020-2025 document for creating

a financially aware and empowered India.

● It is the second NSFE , the first one being released in 2013.

● Prepared by the National Centre for Financial Education (NCFE)

● It aims to strengthen the ecosystem for various modes of digital financial services in all

Tier-II to Tier VI centers to create the necessary infrastructure to move towards a less-

cash society by March 2022.

● ‘5 C’ approach

○ Content : Financial Literacy content for various sections of population.

○ Capacity : Develop the capacity and ‘Code of Conduct’ for financial education

providers.

○ Community : Evolve community led approaches for disseminating financial

literacy in a sustainable manner.

Contact : 8830115524

○ Communication : Use technology, media and innovative ways of communication

for dissemination of financial education messages.

○ Collaboration : Streamline efforts of other stakeholders for financial literacy.

● NCFE is a Section 8 (Not for Profit) Company under the Companies Act, 2013 promoted

by RBI, SEBI, IRDAI and PFRDA.

● It emphasizes a multi-stakeholder-led approach for empowering various sections of the

population to develop adequate knowledge, skills, attitudes and behaviour which are

needed to manage their money better and to plan for the future i.e. ensuring their

financial well-being.

Leasing Out 3 Airports ● Jaipur, Guwahati and Thiruvananthapuram airports of Airports Authority of India (AAI)

will be leased out through Public Private Partnership (PPP) to Adani Enterprises Ltd.

● The lease is for a period of fifty years.

Public-private partnerships(PPP) ● involve collaboration between a government agency and a private-sector company that

can be used to finance, build, and operate projects,

Models of Public Private Partnership (PPP)

● Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT)

● Build-Own-Operate (BOO)

● Build-Operate-Lease-Transfer (BOLT),

● Design-Build-Operate-Transfer (DBFOT),

● Lease-Develop-Operate (LDO),

● Operate-Maintain-Transfer (OMT), etc.

Pan-India entity for retail payments ● RBI releases framework for pan-India entity for retail payments

● To create an alternative umbrella organisation for retail payments to prevent the

monopoly of NPCI

New umbrella entity(NUE)

● It shall be a company incorporated under the Companies Act, 2013

● may be a ‘for-profit’ or Non-profit company as decided by it.

● Paid up capital: The entity will have minimum paid-up capital of Rs 500 crore with no

single promoter group holding over 40% investment in the capital.

Functions

● It can set up, manage and operate new payments systems in the retail space comprising

ATMs, white label PoS, Aadhaar-based payments and remittance services.

● It will manage clearing and settlement systems for participating banks and non-banks

and also monitor developments in the retail payment system both in India and abroad.

● It will frame necessary rules and the related processes to ensure that the system is safe

and sound and that payments are exchanged efficiently.

●

National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI)

Contact : 8830115524

● 2008, HQ: Mumbai

● It is an umbrella organisation for operating retail payments and settlement systems in

India.

● It is an initiative RBI and Indian Banks Association (IBA) under the provisions of the

Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007

● It has been incorporated as a Not for Profit Company under the provisions of Section 25

of Companies Act 1956 (now Section 8 of Companies Act 2013).

Positive Pay mechanism ● By Reserve Bank of India(RBI)

● to make cheque payments safer and reduce instances of frauds.

● It is a fraud detection tool adopted by banks to protect customers against forged, altered

or counterfeit cheques.

● It cross verifies all details of the cheque issued before funds are encashed by the

beneficiary.

Special Economic Zones

● The SEZs are created to promote investment, generate employment opportunities and

also administer the economic areas in a better way.

● The policy aimed to attract huge foreign investment in the country.

● There are more than 230 SEZs that are operational in India.

● SEZ policy was reviewed in 2018 by a committee under the chairmanship of Baba

Kalyani.

Scheme for Integrated Textile Parks ● launched in 2005.

● Objectives: To provide the industry with world-class state of the art infrastructure

facilities for setting up their textile units. To attract foreign investors to the domestic

textile sector.

● Key features:

● Under the SITP, infrastructure facilities for setting up of textile units are developed in a

Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) model.

● The Government of India grants upto 40% of the project cost.

● The government's support is limited to Rs. 40 crores for each textile park.

● Each Integrated Textile Park (ITP) under the scheme would normally have 50 units.

Major Government Initiatives

● Comprehensive Scheme for Development of Knitting and Knitwear Sector: to boost

production in the knitting and knitwear cluster at Ludhiana, Kolkata and Tirupur.The

scheme is launched under Power-Tex India.

● North East Region Textile Promotion Scheme (NERTPS) for promoting textiles

industry in the NER by providing infrastructure, capacity building and marketing support

to all segments of textile industry.

● A skill development scheme titled SAMARTH (Scheme for Capacity Building in

Textile Sector) covers the entire value chain of the textile sector, excluding Spinning

and Weaving in the organized sector, on pan India basis.

● Power-Tex India

● Silk Samagra Scheme

Contact : 8830115524

● Amended Technology Upgradation Fund Scheme (ATUFS)

● National Handloom Day

● Jute ICARE

● National Technical Textile Mission

Industrial Corridors in India

● In December 2019, five industrial corridors were announced by Government of India.

They are as follows

● Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor: This corridor covers the states of Madhya Pradesh,

Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Haryana. The project is funded by

GoI, investments from Japanese firms, Japanese loans.

● Chennai-Bengaluru Industrial Corridor: It covers the states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka

and Andhra Pradesh. It is funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency.

● Bengaluru-Mumbai Economic Corridor: This corridor is to be developed with the

support of Britain. It covers the states of Karnataka and Maharashtra

● Amritsar-Kolkata Industrial Corridor: It covers the states of Uttarakhand, Punjab,

Haryana, UP, West Bengal, Jharkhand and Bihar.

● East Coast Economic Corridor: This corridor has its critical role in Act East Policy of

India. In 2016, Asian Development Bank approved loan grant of 631 million USD for

infrastructural development of the corridor.

Shaurya KGC (Kisan Gold Credit) Card

● launched by HDFC Bank,

● This is the first-of-its-kind scheme meant for the army personnel in the country and is

based on the Kisan Credit Card guidelines of the government.

salient features :

● This credit card comes with a life cover of Rs 10 lakhs.

● It will provide finance for the agricultural requirements.

● The loan facility can be availed by visiting HDFC Bank branch or through the e-Kisan

Dhan app of the bank.

● The card is tri-coloured implying the Army, the Navy and the Air Forces of the country.

Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT)

● The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs recently released ranking of states under

AMRUT scheme. Odisha first: scored 85.67%.

● Planned to transform urban living conditions through infrastructure upgradation.

● Main areas: water supply, sewerage, urban transport, parks as to improve the quality of

life for all, especially the poor and the disadvantaged.

● AMRUT is aimed at transforming 500 cities and towns into efficient urban living spaces

over a period of five years.Mission period (June 25, 2015- March 31, 2020)

● Centrally sponsored scheme with 80% budgetary support from the Centre.

Five hundred cities criteria:

Contact : 8830115524

● All the cities and towns with over 1 lakh with notified Municipalities as per Census 2011,

including Cantonment Boards

● All capital cities/towns of states / UTs, not covered in above

● All cities/towns classified as Heritage Cities by MoHUA under HRIDAY Scheme

● 13 cities and towns on the stem of the main rivers with a population above 75000 and

less than 1 lakh

HRIDAY Scheme ● HRIDAY is National Heritage City Development and Augmentation Yojana

● launched under Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.

● aim of bringing together urban planning, economic growth and heritage conservation in

an inclusive manner to preserve the heritage character of each Heritage City.

Anti-Dumping Duty

● Dumping refers to the international trade practice when manufacturers export a

product to another country at a price below the domestic market price.

● Anti-dumping duty is a protectionist duty levied on such imports that are believed to have

price below their domestic price. This is mainly done in order to uphold the practice of

fair trade.

PURA Initiative

● PURA was mooted by the former President Dr. Abdul Kalam in January 2003 as a way

of empowering and accelerating rural development.

● The Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) implemented the PURA scheme

PURA 2.0 ● as a central sector scheme was launched in 2012 focussing on the development of

potential growth centres such as census towns.

● Objective: Provision of livelihood opportunities and urban amenities in rural areas to

bridge the rural – urban divide.

● Mission: Holistic and accelerated development of compact areas around a potential

growth centre in a Gram Panchayat (or a group of Gram Panchayats) through Public

Private Partnership (PPP) framework for providing livelihood opportunities and urban

amenities to improve the quality of life in rural areas.

● Amenities and economic activities provided under PURA include Water and Sewerage,

Construction and maintenance of Village streets, Drainage, Solid Waste Management,

Skill Development, village street lighting, telecom, electricity generation, village linked

tourism, etc.

Countervailing Duty (CVD) ● It is additional duty levied by the importing country on specific goods.

● It is generally equal to the excise duty paid by manufacturers when the same product is

produced in the home country.

● It is mainly levied in order to neutralize the effect of subsidies in the exporting country on

the price and domestic market of the importing country.

● In other words, it is levied in order to protect the domestic manufacturers.

Contact : 8830115524

Safeguard Duty ● It is another duty levied in order to protect the domestic industry.

● However, it is done so after an enquiry and when the government is satisfied that the

concerned good when imported in large quantities or at cheap price will affect the

domestic industry.

Transparent Taxation - Honoring The Honest platform

● aimed at bringing transparency in income tax systems and empowering taxpayers.

● Main features of the platform are faceless assessment, faceless appeal and taxpayer

charter.

● Faceless Assessment: It aims to eliminate human interface between the taxpayer and

the income tax department.

● There will be no need for the taxpayer to visit the income tax office or the officer.

● The selection of a taxpayer is possible through systems using analytics and Artificial

Intelligence.

● Faceless Appeal: Under the system, appeals will be randomly allotted to any officer in

the country. The identity of the officer deciding the appeal will remain unknown.

● Taxpayer Charter: This outlines the rights and responsibilities of both tax officers and

taxpayers.

Student Entrepreneurship Programme 2.0: AIM

● Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog, in collaboration with Dell Technologies has

launched Student Entrepreneurship Programme 2.0 (SEP 2.0) for young innovators of

Atal Tinkering Labs (ATLs).

● Objective: It will allow student innovators to work closely with Dell volunteers. They will

receive mentor support; prototyping and testing support; end-user feedback; intellectual

property registration and patenting of ideas, processes, and products; manufacturing

support; as well as the launch support of the product in the market.

ATLs:Atal Tinkering Labs (ATLs)

● Vision: AIM is establishing ATLs in schools across India with a vision to cultivate one

million children in India as neoteric (modern) innovators.

● Aimed at disrupting the Indian education system, creating a paradigm shift where

children as young as 12 years of age are being introduced to the world of technology

innovation.

● Objectives: To foster curiosity, creativity and imagination in young minds; and inculcate

skills such as design mindset, computational thinking, adaptive learning, physical

computing etc.

● Eligibility: Schools (minimum Grade VI - X) managed by Government, local body or

private trusts/society.

Atal Innovation Mission Artificial Intelligence Step Up Module

● Launched by The NITI Aayog, Atal Innovation Mission along with the collaboration of

NASSCOM

● The module is to drive AI education and innovation to next levels in schools all over

India.

Contact : 8830115524

● The AI step up module provides “Learn it yourself” modules for those who wish to

expand their knowledge base after learning the basics of Artificial Intelligence.

Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) (2016) ● AIM is NITI Aayog’s flagship initiative to promote a culture of innovation and

entrepreneurship in India

● AIM established to create and promote an ecosystem of innovation and

entrepreneurship in a holistic manner through various initiatives at school, university and

industry levels

● Two core functions:

○ Innovation promotion: to provide a platform where innovative ideas are

generated.

○ Entrepreneurship promotion: Wherein innovators would be supported and

mentored to become successful entrepreneurs at Incubation Centres

● Major Initiatives:

● Atal Tinkering Labs: These are creating problem solving mindset across schools in

India.

● Atal Incubation Centers: Fostering world class startups and adding a new dimension to

the incubator model.

● Atal New India Challenges: Fostering product innovations and aligning them to the

needs of various sectors/ministries.

● Mentor India Campaign: A national mentor network in collaboration with the public

sector, corporates and institutions, to support all the initiatives of the mission.

● Atal Community Innovation Center: To stimulate community centric innovation and

ideas in the unserved/underserved regions of the country including Tier 2 and Tier 3

cities.

● Atal Research and Innovation for Small Enterprises (ARISE): To stimulate

innovation and research in the MSME industry.

AIM iCREST

● Atal Innovation Mission(AIM) has launched ‘AIM-iCREST’ in partnership with Bill &

Melinda Gates Foundation and Wadhwani Foundation.

● AIM’s iCREST stands for Incubator Capabilities enhancement program for a Robust

Ecosystem focused on creating high performing Startups.

● Purpose : It has been designed to enable the incubation ecosystem and to support the

growth of AIM’s established incubators across India.

● Significance: This is a first of its kind initiative for advancing innovation at scale in India

to encourage and enable holistic progress in the incubator ecosystem across the

country,

● Business incubators: These are institutions that support entrepreneurs in developing

their businesses especially in initial stages.

What are Equity Mutual Fund, Debt Mutual Fund, Hybrid Fund and SIP?

● Equity mutual funds invest in the shares of different companies. The fund manager

diversifies his portfolio among various sectors of various companies.

Contact : 8830115524

● Debt Mutual Fund is known as that type of fund which invests in the bonds and other

fixed-income securities in order to generate returns. As this is safer, the inflow in this type

of funds increased manifold during the month of July.

● Hybrid Fund is defined as a fund that invests in more than one asset classes. Typically

these funds invest in a mix of stocks and bonds.

● Systematic Investment Plan (SIP) is defined as that kind of scheme that puts in a fixed

sum of money into the mutual funds on a monthly basis.

INDIA GLOBAL WEEK 2020: ● It is an annual flagship event organised by India Inc., a London based media house to

re-energise and ignite optimism at global level.

● Theme: Be The Revival: India and a Better New World.

● Objective: Explore business, strategic and cultural opportunities, understand the

challenges and make informed decisions as the world looks ahead to a better, brighter

future beyond Covid-19.

‘Aatmanirbhar Skilled Employee Employer Mapping’ (ASEEM) ● launched portal by: The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE)

● to help skilled people find sustainable livelihood opportunities.

● The Artificial Intelligence-based ASEEM will provide employers a platform to assess the

availability of skilled workforce and formulate their hiring plans.

Amazon Initiatives to Support Local Entrepreneurs Amazon Karigar Store:

● In 2019, on the eve of the National Handloom Day (7th August), Amazon announced the

launch of the Karigar store which showcases over 55,000 products, including more than

270 arts and crafts from 20 states.

● It will give prominence to India’s handicrafts heritage by enabling weavers and artisans

to showcase ‘Made in India’ products to customers.

Saheli Programme:

● In November 2017, Amazon launched this programme

● aim to empower and enable Indian women entrepreneurs to sell their products across

the country.

● key motive: Promotion of entrepreneurship amongst women

● It was rolled out in partnership with non-government social service entities like Self-

Employed Women Enterprise (SEWA) and Impulse Social Enterprise.

Amazon Launchpad:

● It is a marketplace within a marketplace as it works on two levels to create value for both

Amazon shoppers and up-and-coming brands.

● New companies get the time and guidance they need to fine-tune their business and

generate greater visibility for their products while shoppers enjoy early access to

innovative products from the latest startups.

Contact : 8830115524

National Handloom Day

● 6th National Handloom Day on 7th August 2020

● The first NHD was celebrated in Chennai in 2015.

● 7th August, was chosen as the Swadeshi Movement was launched on the same date in

the year 1905,at the Calcutta Town Hall, in Bengal.

● The textile ministry scrapped the All India Handicrafts Board on 3 August, and the All

India Handloom Board on 27th July & All India Powerloom Board, With the vision of

‘Minimum Government and Maximum Governance’

Objectives:

● To generate awareness about the handloom industry amongst the public

● To protect India’s handloom heritage and to enable the handloom weavers and workers

with greater opportunities.

● To ensure sustainable development of the handloom sector thereby empowering

handloom workers financially and instilling pride in their exquisite craftsmanship.

● The textiles and handloom sector in India is the second-largest source of employment to

people, after agriculture

● over 70% of handloom weavers and allied workers are women.

● Under Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan, Handloom Export Promotion Council (HEPC) is

organising a Virtual Fair, connecting more than 150 participants from different regions of

the country

Handloom Mark Scheme (HLM)

● launched in 2006

● objective to brand Indian handloom products and secure a premium position for them in

domestic as well as international markets.

Handloom Export Promotion Council

● It is a nodal agency constituted under the Ministry of Textiles, Government of India.

● It was incorporated as a not-for-profit company under section 25 of the Companies Act,

1956.

● Aim: To promote the exports of all handloom products like fabrics, home furnishings,

carpets, floor coverings, etc.

Tea & Khadi Diplomacy

● The Northeast Expo 2019 through ‘Tea and Khadi’ diplomacy helped in improving the

trade ties with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Bay of Bengal

Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) nations.

“My Handloom” portal It is a portal for individual weavers and other organizations for applying

for various benefits under the various handloom schemes.

Vocal4Handmade: It is a social media campaign launched to promote handloom products

Contact : 8830115524

Monetary Policy Report: RBI

● Report is published by the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of RBI.

● The MPC is a statutory and institutionalized framework under the RBI Act, 1934, for

maintaining price stability, while keeping in mind the objective of growth.

● The MPC determines the policy interest rate (repo rate) required to achieve the inflation

target (4%).

● The Governor of RBI is ex-officio Chairman of the MPC.

Link between Growth, Inflation and Interest rates

● In a fast-growing economy, incomes go up quickly and more and more people have the

money to buy the existing bunch of goods.

● As more and more money chases the existing set of goods, prices of such goods rise. In

other words, inflation (which is nothing but the rate of increase in prices) increases.

● To contain inflation, a country’s central bank typically increases the interest rates in the

economy. By doing so, it incentivises people to spend less and save more because

saving becomes more profitable as interest rates go up.

● However, when growth contracts, people’s incomes hit. As a result, less and less money

is chasing the same quantity of goods. This results in either the inflation rate

decelerating or it actually contracts (also called deflation).

● In such situations, a central bank decreases interest rates so as to incentivise spending

and by that route boost economic activity in the economy.

● In the current Monetary Policy, RBI has not raised the interest rates even when retail

inflation is high because RBI is facing an odd situation at present: GDP is contracting

even as inflation is rising.

● This is happening because the pandemic has reduced demand, on the one hand, and

disrupted supply on the other. As a result falling growth and rising inflation are

happening at the same time.

Priority Sector Lending

● The Reserve Bank of India has assigned priority sector lending (PSL) status to India’s

startup sector.

● Fresh Categories: Bank finance to start-ups up to Rs. 50 crore, loans to farmers for

installation of solar power plants for solarisation of grid connected agriculture pumps and

loans for setting up Compressed BioGas plants

● The RBI mandates banks to lend a certain portion of their funds to specified sectors,

like agriculture, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), export credit,

education, housing, social infrastructure, renewable energy among others.

● All scheduled commercial banks and foreign banks (with a sizable presence in India) are

mandated to set aside 40% of their Adjusted Net Bank Credit (ANDC) for lending to

these sectors.

Contact : 8830115524

● The idea behind this : is to ensure that adequate institutional credit reaches some of

the vulnerable sectors of the economy, which otherwise may not be attractive for banks

from the profitability point of view.

Startup Promotion Schemes of the Government of India

● Stand up India Scheme: It is meant to provide loans to one SC/ST and one woman

entrepreneur per branch of a bank. The loan amount can vary from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 100

lakhs.

● Start-up India Scheme: designed to provide ease of doing business to the startup

companies in the country and these companies should not have a turnover exceeding

Rs 25 crores in any of the preceding financial years.

● State–up Fest: The government organizes this in order to enable all the stakeholders of

the startup ecosystem to come together. An international level fest is also organized

under this scheme.

● Credit Guarantee Fund for Start–Ups: This will help the start-ups get loans from the

banks as such loans will have a guarantee from the central government.

Credit Guarantee for NBFC-MFIs

● National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) has introduced Partial

Credit Guarantee Programme for Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC) - Micro

Finance Institutions (MFIs).

● NABARD has signed agreements with Vivriti Capital and Ujjivan Small Finance Bank to

roll out the initiative.

● Vivriti Capital is a non-banking financial corporation.

● The programme aims to ensure unhindered flow of credit in rural areas hit by the Covid-

19 pandemic.

● NABARD will provide partial guarantee on pooled loans extended to small and mid-sized

MFIs

Non-Banking Financial Company-Micro Finance Institution

● The NBFC-MFI is a non-deposit taking financial company.

● Conditions to qualify as NBFC-MFI:

○ Minimum Net Owned Funds (NOF) of Rs. 5 crore.

○ At least 85% of its Net Assets in the nature of Qualifying Assets.

○ The Qualifying Assets are those assets which have a substantial period of time to

be ready for its intended use or sale.

● The difference between an NBFC-MFI and other NBFC is that while other NBFCs can

operate at a very high level but MFIs cater to only the smaller level of social strata, with

need of smaller amounts as loans.

Offline Retail Payments Scheme:

● RBI has unveiled a scheme of offline retail payments using cards and mobile devices to

foster financial inclusion.

Contact : 8830115524

● There has been a considerable growth in digital payments using mobile phones, cards

and wallets.

● However lack of Internet connectivity or slow Internet, especially in remote areas, is a

major impediment in the adoption of digital payments.

Acceptance Development Fund

● RBI has proposed to set up an 'Acceptance Development Fund' to develop debit and

credit card acceptance infrastructure in the country.

● The fund will be used to ensure the growth of card acceptance infrastructure such as

swipe machines, particularly in Tier III and Tier IV cities.

● The government's contribution to the ADF would come from NABARD's Financial

Inclusion Fund (FIF) and RBI's contribution from the Depositors' Education and

Awareness (DEA) Fund.

Increased Fiscal Deficit ● The government describes fiscal deficit of India as “the excess of total disbursements

from the Consolidated Fund of India, excluding repayment of the debt, over total receipts

into the Fund (excluding the debt receipts) during a financial year”.

● In simple words, it is a shortfall in a government's income compared with its spending.

● The government that has a fiscal deficit is spending beyond its means.

● In either case, the income figure includes only taxes and other revenues and excludes

money borrowed to make up the shortfall.

● Formula:

● Fiscal Deficit = Total expenditure of the government (capital and revenue expenditure)

– Total income of the government (Revenue receipts + recovery of loans + other

receipts).

● Expenditure component: The government in its Budget allocates funds for several

works, including payments of salaries, pensions, etc. (revenue expenditure) and creation

of assets such as infrastructure, development, etc. (capital expenditure).

● Income component: The income component is made of two variables, revenue

generated from taxes levied by the Centre and the income generated from non-tax

variables.

● The taxable income consists of the amount generated from corporation tax, income tax,

Customs duties, excise duties, GST, among others.

● the non-taxable income comes from external grants, interest receipts, dividends and

profits, receipts from Union Territories, among others.

● It is different from revenue deficit which is only related to revenue expenditure and

revenue receipts of the government.

● The government meets the fiscal deficit by borrowing money. In a way, the total

borrowing requirements of the government in a financial year is equal to the fiscal deficit

in that year.

● A high fiscal deficit can also be good for the economy if the money spent goes into the

creation of productive assets like highways, roads, ports and airports that boost

economic growth and result in job creation.

Contact : 8830115524

● The Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Act, 2003 provides that the Centre

should take appropriate measures to limit the fiscal deficit upto 3% of the GDP by 31st

March, 2021.

● The NK Singh committee (set up in 2016) recommended that the government should

target a fiscal deficit of 3% of the GDP in years up to March 31, 2020 cut it to 2.8% in

2020-21 and to 2.5% by 2023.

Contraction in Core Sector Industries

● The eight core sector industries are coal, crude oil, natural gas, refinery products,

fertilisers, steel, cement and electricity.

● These eight industries account for 40.27% in the Index of Industrial Production (IIP).

Index of Industrial Production ● The Index of Industrial Production (IIP) is an index that shows the growth rates in

different industry groups of the economy in a fixed period of time.

● It is compiled and published monthly by the National Statistical Office (NSO), Ministry

of Statistics and Programme Implementation.

● IIP is a composite indicator that measures the growth rate of industry groups classified

under

● Broad sectors, namely, Mining, Manufacturing, and Electricity.

● Use-based sectors, namely Basic Goods, Capital Goods, and Intermediate Goods.

● The eight core sector industries represent about 40% of the weight of items that are

included in the IIP.

● The eight core industries in decreasing order of their weightage:

● Refinery Products> Electricity> Steel> Coal> Crude Oil> Natural Gas> Cement>

Fertilizers.

● Base Year for IIP calculation is 2011-2012.

● Significance of IIP :

● IIP is the measure on the physical volume of production.

● It is used by government agencies including the Ministry of Finance, the Reserve Bank

of India, etc, for policy-making purposes.

● IIP remains extremely relevant for the calculation of the quarterly and advance Gross

Domestic Product (GDP) estimates.

Production linked incentive (PLI) scheme ● It proposes a financial incentive to boost domestic manufacturing and attract large

investments in the electronics value chain.

● According to the scheme, companies that make mobile phones which sell for Rs 15,000

or more will get an incentive of up to 6 per cent on incremental sales of all such mobile

phones made in India.

● implemented through a Nodal Agency which shall act as a Project Management Agency

(PMA)

● All electronic manufacturing companies which are either Indian or have a registered unit

in India will be eligible to apply for the scheme.

Contact : 8830115524

Purchasing Managers' Index

● PMI is an index of the prevailing direction of economic trends in the manufacturing and

service sectors.

● It consists of a diffusion index that summarizes whether market conditions, as viewed by

purchasing managers, are expanding, staying the same, or contracting.

● The purpose of the PMI is to provide information about current and future business

conditions to company decision makers, analysts, and investors.

● It is different from the Index of Industrial Production (IIP), which also gauges the level of

activity in the economy.

● IIP covers the broader industrial sector compared to PMI.

● However, PMI is more dynamic compared to a standard industrial production index.

● The PMI is a number from 0 to 100.

○ PMI above 50 represents an expansion when compared to the previous month;

○ PMI under 50 represents a contraction, and

○ A reading at 50 indicates no change.

○ If PMI of the previous month is higher than the PMI of the current month (as is

the case mentioned above), it represents that the economy is contracting.

● The PMI is usually released at the start of every month. It is, therefore, considered a

good leading indicator of economic activity.

Expansion of Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme

● Expanded to cover loans given to larger firms as well as to self-employed people and

professionals who have taken loans for business purposes.

● objective was to support small businesses struggling to meet their operational

liabilities due to the imposition of a nationwide lockdown.

● Guaranteed Emergency Credit Line (GECL) is a loan for which 100% guarantee is

provided by the National Credit Guarantee Trustee Company (NCGTC) to Member

Lending Institutions (MLIs) - banks, financial institutions and Non-Banking Financial

Companies (NBFCs).

National Credit Guarantee Trustee Company Ltd ● NCGTC is a private limited company incorporated under the Companies Act, 1956 in

2014,

● Established by the Department of Financial Services, Ministry of Finance, as a wholly

owned company of the Government of India, to act as a common trustee company for

multiple credit guarantee funds.

● Credit guarantee programmes are designed to share the lending risk of the lenders and

in turn, facilitate access to finance for the prospective borrowers.

Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) ● Under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

● responsibilities of the erstwhile DIPP relating to general industrial policy, administration

of the Industries, industrial management, productivity in industry, and matters related to

e-commerce.

Contact : 8830115524

four new categories of responsibilities:

○ the promotion of internal trade (including retail trade),

○ the welfare of traders and their employees,

○ matters relating to facilitating Ease of Doing Business,

○ matters relating to start-ups.

Business confidence index:

● India’s leading economic think tank, National Council for Applied Economic Research

(NCAER) conducts a quarterly survey and releases Business confidence index (N-BCI).

● It tracks the business sentiments of around 600 Indian companies to compute the

composite index.

FDI Confidence Index

● It is an analysis of the effect of political, economic and regulatory changes on the inflow

of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into a given country in the years to come,

● as well as the preferences of CEOs, CFOs, and other top executives of Global 1000

companies.

● index published annually by AT Kearney, a global consultancy firm.

● It is constructed using primary data from a proprietary survey administered to senior

executives of the world’s leading corporations. The companies taking part in the survey have

$ 500 million or more annual revenue.

● India is ranked 15th in the FDI Confidence Index 2019, compared to 11th in 2018.

● The United States has topped the index for the 6th time, in a row.

Consumer Confidence survey

● It is conducted conducted every two months by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in

major cities of India over 5,000 respondents.

● Survey that measures how optimistic or pessimistic consumers are regarding their

expected financial situation.

● The survey measures consumer perception (current and future) on five economic

variables – economic situation, employment, the price level, income and spending.

● The Consumer Confidence Index measures the change in consumer perception on the

financial situation in the last year and the future expectations.

Agriculture Infrastructure Fund

● launched as part of ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ (self-reliant India) to make farmers self-reliant

● The objective is to provide a medium-to-long-term debt financing facility for

investment in viable projects for post-harvest management infra and community farming

assets through interest subvention and financial support.

● also work towards attracting the private sector towards the agriculture industry

● Rs 1 lakh crore will be provided by banks and financial institutions as loans to primary

Agri credit societies, farmer groups, farmer producer organizations, agri-entrepreneurs,

startups and agri-tech players.

● All the loans to the beneficiaries up to Rs 2 crore will be disbursed with an interest

subsidy of 3%.

Contact : 8830115524

KVIC: First Silk Training cum Production Centre in Arunachal Pradesh

● The KVIC will provide machinery such as handlooms, warping drums and silk reeling

machines.

● The centre is to provide training to 25 local artisans and will boost weaving activities in

the region.

● The state produces all four varieties of silk namely Mulbery, Oak Tasar, Eri and Muga.

● Oak Tasar is practiced in higher altitudes. Eri and Muga at foothills areas and Mulbery is

reared in middle altitude.

Silk Production in India ● second largest producer in world.

● Of the four varieties of silks, Mulberry accounts to 74.51%, Eri accounts to 16.5%, Tasar

to 8.5% and Muga accounts to 0.55%.

● India exports silk mainly to USA and European countries.

Silk Samagra scheme

● implemented by the Central Silk Board of India.

● Between 2017 and 2020,

The four main components

● Seed organizations

● Coordination and Market Development

● Research Development, Transfer of Technology and Training and

● IT initiatives Quality Certification Systems, Technology Upgradation and Export Brand

Promotion.

Central Silk Board ● a statutory body that was established in 1948. Under Ministry of Textiles.

● The headquarters in Bangalore.

● Functions:

● To promote and develop silk industry

● To assist and encourage scientific, economic and technological research

● To advise central government on matters relating to developing of silk industry

● To prepare reports relating to silk industry as required by the central government from

time to time.

Defence minister to launch ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat Saptah’(From 10

August)

● to emphasize the importance of domestic defence production in the country

● Negative Imports List for Defence-will only procure all of these 101 items from domestic

manufacturers.

Atmanirbhar Bharat ● The main significance of this mission is to cut down on the import dependence of the

country by focusing on the substitution of such goods with domestic products.

Implementation in two phases:

Contact : 8830115524

● In Phase I, it will take into account sectors such as medical textiles, electronics, plastics,

toys where local manufacturing, as well as export, can be promoted.

● In Phase II, the program will focus on products like gems and jewellery, pharma and

steel, etc.

● five pillars of mission – Economy, Infrastructure, System, Vibrant Demography and

Demand.

K. V. KAMATH COMMITTEE ● Objective: The Committee is tasked to recommend parameters for one-time restructuring

of corporate loans.

● The Committee will formulate sector-specific resolution plans for all accounts with total

loan exposure of Rs.1,500 crore and above.

● Eligibility: Only those borrowers will be eligible for restructuring whose accounts were

classified as standard and not in default for more than 30 days with any lending

institution as on 1st March, 2020.

Fiscal council ● Fiscal councils are independent public institutions aimed at strengthening commitments

to sustainable public finances through various functions, including public assessments of

fiscal plans and performance, and the evaluation or provision of macroeconomic and

budgetary forecasts.

● The functions of the council include ex ante evaluation of the fiscal implications of the

budget proposals which includes evaluation of how real the forecasts are and their

consistency with the fiscal rules and estimating the cost of various proposals made in the

budget.

Prime Minister's Employment Generation Program

● It’s a credit linked subsidy programme launched in 2008

● for generation of employment opportunities through establishment of micro enterprises in

rural as well as urban areas.

● a central sector scheme being administered by the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium

Enterprises (MoMSME).

● Implementing Agency : Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC)

● Features: It allows entrepreneurs to set up factories or units.

● Eligibility:

○ Any individual, above 18 years of age.

○ Only new projects/units are considered for sanction of loans.

○ Self-help groups that have not availed benefits under any other public scheme,

societies, production co-operative societies, and charitable trusts.

● Maximum Cost of Project/Unit Admissible:

○ Manufacturing Sector: Rs. 25 lakh

○ Service Sector: Rs.10 lakh

● Government Subsidy:

○ Rural Areas: 25% for general category and 35% for special category, which

includes SC/ST/OBC/Minorities, NER, Hill and Border Areas.

○ Urban Areas: 15% for general category and 25% for special category.

Contact : 8830115524

Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyaan ● aimed to boost livelihood opportunities in rural India amid the ongoing Covid-19 crisis.

● The scheme will be a coordinated effort by 12 different ministries

● The first priority of the scheme is to meet the immediate requirement of workers who

have gone back to their districts by providing them with livelihood opportunities.

● The focus is also on rural citizens.

● It is a focused campaign of 125 days across 116 districts in six states to work in mission

mode.

● Public works worth 50,000 crore rupees to be carried out under the scheme.

● It includes focused implementation of 25 different types of work to provide employment

and to create durable infrastructure.

● The villages will join this programme through the common service centres and Krishi

Vigyan Kendras.

The Atal Bimit Vyakti Kalyan Yojana

● Implemented by Employee State Insurance Corporation.

● The scheme was approved under the Employees State Insurance Act, 1948.

● The scheme aims to support the people who have lost their jobs due to changing

employment pattern due to an international crisis or a domestic crisis.

● The scheme was introduced in 2018. The scheme provides 25% of average per day

earning in the previous four contribution periods.

● The scheme pays cash directly to bank account of insured persons in case of

unemployment.

● Under the scheme, the workers can draw 47% of total contributions towards ESIC after

being unemployed for at least three months.

Rozgar Yojana ● The Prime Minister Rozgar Yojana is implemented since 1993.

● It is designed to create and provide sustainable self-employment to more than 1 million

unemployed youth in the country.

● This was introduced in the 8th plan of the country. In 2016-17, it was updated as

Pradhan Mantri Rozgar Potsahan Yojana.

Pradhan Mantri Rozgar Potsahan Yojana ● The scheme was announced in 2016-17 budget.

● Implemented by the Ministry of Labour and Employment.

● The employers are incentivized to increase the employee base through payment of EPF

contribution of 22% of Employment Provident fund.

● Thus, the scheme benefits both the employer and the employee.

Pradhan Mantri Berojgari Bhatta Yojana ● The scheme was introduced in April 2020.

● The Union Government was working to implement Universal Basic Income scheme.

Contact : 8830115524

● Under the scheme, the unemployed youth in the country are is to be provided with

financial assistance of Rs 2000 to Rs 3500 on monthly basis.

State-Owned Technology Parks in India (STPI) ● The STPI was set up as an autonomous body in 1991

● under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.

● The main objective of STPI is to promote software exports in the country.

● The services rendered by STPI are data communication services, statutory services,

training and value-added services.

● The STPI play as crucial role in software exports with a special focus on SMEs and start

up units.

● The schemes focus largely on software industry and start up growth without locational

constraints.

Centres of Excellence ● The Centre of Excellence is a place that provides research, leadership, support and

training.

● In January 2020, Centre of Excellence in Block Chain Technology was launched in

Bengaluru. It was set up by National Informatics Centre.

● These centres are important to keep India at the pace of global technological

advancements.

Ujwal DISCOM Assurance Yojana ( UDAY ) ● Launched in November 2015.

● Discoms are the Distribution Companies that are responsible to buy electricity from

generation companies and selling to consumers.

● Objectives of the UDAY

○ It aims to bring down the technical and commercial losses from 22% to 15%.

○ to improve operating efficiency through compulsory smart metering and

upgradation of transformers

○ It is basically a debt restructuring programme

Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana- Gramin (PMAY-G) ● Under Ministry of Rural Development.

● The erstwhile rural housing scheme Indira Awaas yojana (IAY) has been restructured

into Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana –Gramin (PMAY-G) from 01.04.2016.

● PMAY-G aims at providing a pucca house, with basic amenities, to all houseless

householder and those households living in kutcha and dilapidated house, by 2022.

● Target: Construction of 2.95 crore houses with all basic amenities by the year 2022.

● Cost sharing: shared between Central and State Governments in the ratio 60:40 in plain

areas and 90: 10 for North Eastern and Himalayan States.

● The scheme envisages training of Rural Masons with the objective of improving

workmanship and quality of construction of houses while at the same time, increasing

availability of skilled masons and enhancing employability of such masons.

● Selection of beneficiaries: Based on housing deprivation parameters of Socio-Economic

and Caste Census (SECC), 2011, subject to 13 point exclusion criteria, followed by

Gram Sabha verification.

Contact : 8830115524

India Ideas Summit ● the theme ‘Building a Better Future’.

● Organized by the US India Business Council (USIBC).

● It is a platform to convene scholars, practitioners, diplomats and think tanks for high-

level dialogue on key issues related to India.

● 2020 marks the 45th anniversary of USIBC.

● USIBC was formed in 1975 as a business advocacy organization to enlighten and

encourage the private sectors of both India and the United States to enhance investment

flows.

Contingency Fund (CF) ● This is a specific provision meant for meeting unexpected and unforeseen

contingencies.

● This includes depreciation in the value of securities, risks arising out of

monetary/exchange rate policy operations, systemic risks and any risk arising on

account of the special responsibilities enjoined upon the Reserve Bank.

● This amount is retained within the RBI.

RBI’s risk provision accounts: ● The central bank’s main risk provision accounts are Contingency Fund, Currency and

Gold Revaluation Account (CGRA), Investment Revaluation Account Foreign Securities

(IRA-FS) and Investment Revaluation Account-Rupee Securities (IRA-RS).

Currency and Gold Revaluation Account ( CGRA )

● CGRA is maintained by the Reserve Bank to take care of currency risk, interest rate risk

and movement in gold prices.

● Unrealised gains or losses on valuation of foreign currency assets (FCA) and gold are

not taken to the income account but instead accounted for in the CGRA.

● CGRA provides a buffer against exchange rate/ gold price fluctuations.

● It can come under pressure if there is an appreciation of the rupee vis-à-vis major

currencies or a fall in the price of gold.

IRA-FS and IRA-RS accounts

● The unrealised gains or losses on revaluation in foreign dated securities are recorded in

the Investment Revaluation Account Foreign Securities (IRA-FS).

● Similarly, the unrealised gains or losses on revaluation is accounted for in Investment

Revaluation Account-Rupee Securities (IRA-RS)

UDAN

● UDAN is Ude Desh Ka Aam Naagrik.

● Launched under Ministry of Civil Aviation in 2016.

● The main objective of the scheme is to develop regional aviation market.

● jointly funded by the central government and state governments.

● It intends to create affordable economically viable and portable flights in regional routes.

UDAN 1.0

Contact : 8830115524

● During UDAN 1.0, five airline companies were awarded 128 routes to 70 airports.

● This included 36 newly made operational airports.

UDAN 2.0

● The Ministry of Civil Aviation in 2018 announced 73 underserved and unserved airports.

For the first time, during the phase, helipads were launched.

● The Under served airports are those that do not have more than one flight a day and

unserved airports are those where there are no operations.

UDAN 3.0

● During this phase, tourism routes were included. It also included seaplanes that

connected Water Aerodromes.

● Also, the north-east routes were brought under UDAN.

UDAN 4.0 ● Launched in December 2019 focusing on North Eastern Regions, Islands and Hilly

states.

● The operation of seaplanes and helicopters were also incorporated under the scheme.

International UDAN

● It is an extension of the Domestic UDAN.

● It aims to connect smaller cities directly to key foreign destinations.

● The Open Skies policies are to be exercised under the scheme.

● Open sky policy is where India and other Asian countries allow direct and unlimited

flights to and from 18 Indian destinations.

National GIS enabled Land Bank System

● Launched by Union Minister of Commerce and Industry

● The platform is to provide database of industrial clusters all over India.

● It will serve as one-stop solution to free and easy accessibility of industrial information.

● The system aims to help investors to get real-time information about the availability of

industrial land and resources.

● information available on the system will include drainage, forest; raw material heat maps

(horticulture, agricultural, mineral layers); multilayer of connectivity.

● The platform is to be supported by National Centre of Geo-Informatics, Invest India,

National E-Governance Division, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology,

Bhaskaracharya Institute for Space Application and Geo-Informatics.

●

Pradhan Mantri Jan-Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) ● PMJDY National Mission for Financial Inclusion, completed its six years

● Financial inclusion defined as the process of ensuring access to financial services and

timely and adequate credit where needed by vulnerable groups such as weaker sections

and low-income groups at an affordable cost.

Contact : 8830115524

● to ensure access to financial services, namely, Banking/Savings & Deposit Accounts,

Remittance, Credit, Insurance, Pension in an affordable manner.

● Objectives:

○ Ensure access of financial products & services at an affordable cost.

○ Use of technology to lower cost & widen reach.

● Banking the unbanked - Opening of basic savings bank deposit (BSBD) account with

minimal paperwork, relaxed KYC, e-KYC, account opening in camp mode, zero balance

& zero charges

● Securing the unsecured - Issuance of Indigenous Debit cards for cash withdrawals &

payments at merchant locations, with free accident insurance coverage of Rs. 2 lakh

● Funding the unfunded - Other financial products like micro-insurance, overdraft for

consumption, micro-pension & micro-credit

Environment ..

One in every Three Child are Poisoned by Lead: UNICEF Report ● WHO has joined with the United Nations Environment Programme to form the Global

Alliance to Eliminate Lead Paint.

● Factors contributing to lead poisoning:

● Informal and substandard recycling of lead-acid batteries.

● smelting the recovered lead in crude, open-air furnaces that emit toxic fumes poisoning

the surrounding community.

● How lead affects children?

● Lead is a potent neurotoxin that causes irreparable harm to children’s brains.

● damages their brain before they have had the opportunity to fully develop, causing them

lifelong neurological, cognitive and physical impairment.

● to mental health and behavioural problems and an increase in crime and violence.

● Older children suffer severe consequences, including increased risk of kidney damage

and cardiovascular diseases in later life.

● Lead is still widely used for:

● car batteries, pigments, ammunition, cable sheathing, weights for lifting, weight belts for

diving, lead crystal glass, radiation protection and in some solders. It is often used to

store corrosive liquids.

Some Heavy metal and disease because of that Arsenic : Black foot

Mercury: Minamata

Cadmium: Itai-Itai

Nitrate: Blue Baby syndrome (Methaemoglobinemia)

United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)

● Objective: to aiding national efforts to improve the health, nutrition, education, and

general welfare of children. Headquarters: New York City.

● created in 1946 as International Children’s Emergency Fund (ICEF) by UN relief

Rehabilitation Administration to help children affected by World War II.

● UNICEF became a permanent part of the United Nations in 1953

● UNICEF is guided by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, 1989

Contact : 8830115524

● In 1982, UNICEF commenced a new children's health program that focused on

monitoring growth, oral rehydration therapy, advocating breastfeeding and immunization.

Investment to Reduce Plastic Waste in India

● A Singapore-based-NGO namely ‘Alliance to End Plastic Waste’ plans to invest between

USD 70 million to 100 million in India over the next five years to reduce plastic waste.

Alliance to End Plastic Waste ● Founded in 2019 as a nonprofit organisation

● to help solve this serious and complex issue – 8 million tons of plastic waste entering the

ocean every year.

● Purpose: It works with government, environmental and economic development NGOs

and communities around the world to address the challenge to end plastic waste in the

environment.

● Focus Areas : The alliance focuses on solutions in four strategic areas: infrastructure,

innovation, education & engagement and the clean up.

● Nearly fifty companies across the plastics value chain have joined the Alliance

● Alliance to End Plastic Waste’ is working on the Project Aviral which aims to reduce

plastic waste in the Ganga river.

● Waste Wise Cities (WWC): The collaboration supports the WWC Challenge to clean up

and establish sustainable waste management in 20 cities around the world by 2022.

● It is also implementing the Zero Plastic Waste Cities initiative in India and Vietnam

which aims to tackle the plastic issue by improving and supplementing municipal waste

management, repurposing collected waste and preventing it from flowing into the ocean.

● The two initial cities involved in this project are Puducherry in India and Tan An in the

Mekong Delta region of Vietnam.

A smog tower ● Smog tower installation project in Delhi: SC asks Centre to start work soon

● A smog tower is a structure designed to work as a large-scale air purifier.

● The project is collaboration between the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)

Bombay, IIT-Delhi and the University of Minnesota.

● How it works : This structure fitted with multiple layers of filters which trap fine dust

particles suspended in the air as it passes through them. Air is drawn through fans

installed at the top of the tower, passed through filters, and then released near the

ground.

● The first such tower was erected in 2015, in Rotterdam, Netherlands (it can filter 30,000

cubic metres of air per hour around it.

● Experts have said that the towers would create “clean air zones” in the city.

● A tower would reduce 50% of the particulate matter load — fine dust particles

suspended in the air — in an area of 1 kilometre in the direction of the wind, as well as

200 metres each along the sides of the tower and against the direction of the wind.

National Clean Air Programme

● Launched by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change

(MoEFCC) MoEFCC in January 2019.

Contact : 8830115524

● It is the first-ever effort in the country to frame a national framework for air quality

management with a time-bound reduction target.

● It seeks to cut the concentration of

○ coarse (particulate matter of diameter 10 micrometer or less, or PM10) and

○ fine particles (particulate matter of diameter 2.5 micrometer or less, or

PM2.5) by at least 20% in the next five years,

○ with 2017 as the base year for comparison.

● The plan includes 102 non-attainment cities, across 23 states and Union territories,

which were identified by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) on the basis of their

ambient air quality data between 2011 and 2015.

● Non-attainment cities: These are those that have fallen short of the National Ambient

Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for over five years.

National Green Tribunal ● It is a specialised body set up under the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010

● for effective and expeditious disposal of cases relating to environmental protection and

conservation of forests and other natural resources.

● It draws inspiration from Article 21, which assures the citizens of India the right to a

healthy environment.

● Original Jurisdiction: It is related to matters of “substantial question relating to the

environment” and “damage to the environment due to specific activity”.

● It follows principles of Natural Justice.

● NGT is mandated to make disposal of applications or appeals finally within 6 months

of filing the same.

● five places of sittings, New Delhi (Principal place) and Bhopal, Pune, Kolkata and

Chennai

Yellow fever

● It is an acute viral haemorrhagic disease transmitted by infected mosquitoes. The yellow

in the name refers to the jaundice that affects some patients.

● Symptoms: Fever, headache, jaundice, muscle pain, nausea, vomiting and fatigue.

● A small proportion of patients who contract the virus develop severe symptoms and

approximately half of those die within 7 to 10 days.

● Endemic : The virus is endemic in tropical areas of Africa and Central and South

America.

● Eliminate yellow fever epidemics(EYE) 2017-2026 : It has been developed by a coalition

of partners (Gavi, UNICEF and WHO) that aims at ending yellow fever epidemics by

2026.

● Other fever : African Swine fever , Congo fever , Lassa fever

Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (SFTS)

● emerged in China first.

● SFTS virus which belongs to the Bunyavirus family and is transmitted to humans

through tick bites.

Contact : 8830115524

● A tick called Asian Longhorned Tick (Haemaphysalis longicornis) is believed to be the

primary vector (carrier) of the virus.

● Transmitted to humans from animals like goats, cattle, deer and sheep

● Despite being infected by the virus, animals generally do not show any symptoms

associated with SFTSV.

Symptoms:

● Fever, fatigue, chill, headache, nausea, myalgia (muscle pain), diarrhoea, vomiting,

abdominal pain, gingival haemorrhage, conjunctival congestion, etc.

● Early warning signs include severe fever, thrombocytopenia (low platelet count) and

leukocytopenia (low white blood cell count).

● There is no vaccine to treat the disease yet. However, the antiviral drug Ribavirin is

known to be effective in treating the illness.

● Concerns Due to current case fatality rate of between 16 and 30%, the virus has been

listed among the top 10 priority diseases Blueprint by the World Health

Organisation(WHO).

African Swine Fever (ASF) ● African swine fever (ASF) has spread to Meghalaya;

● ASF is a highly contagious and fatal animal disease that infects domestic and wild pigs,

typically resulting in an acute form of hemorrhagic fever.

● It was first detected in Africa in the 1920s.

● The mortality is close to 100 per cent, and since the fever has no cure, the only way to

stop it spreading is by culling the animals.

● ASF is not a threat to human beings since it only spreads from animals to other animals.

West Nile Virus

● a RNA virus , It was carried by birds and was spread to humans by mosquitoes.

● The virus belongs to the Flaviviridae family. The Flaviviridae family also contains Zika

virus, yellow fever virus and Dengue virus.

● Neuroinvasive disease.

Glanders ● It is an infectious disease that is caused by the bacterium Burkholderia mallei.

Galapagos Islands ● Islands are in the Pacific Ocean. It is administratively a province of Ecuador.

● Formed at the meeting point of three tectonic plates—the Nazca, Cocos, and Pacific

● In 1978, Declared as UNESCO World Heritage Site

● endemic species such as land iguana, giant tortoise

UNESCO World Heritage Site ● A world Heritage site is listed by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural

Organization (UNESCO) which is based in Paris, France.

● India has 38 world heritage sites that include 30 Cultural properties, 7 Natural properties

and 1 mixed site.

Contact : 8830115524

Humboldt Current ● Also called the Peru Current, is a cold, low-salinity ocean current that flows north

along the western coast of South America.

● highly productive ecosystem. It accounts for roughly 18-20% of the total worldwide

marine fish catch.

Aarhus Convention, 1998 ● The UNECE Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-

making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters, usually known as the Aarhus

Convention,

● Signed on 25 June 1998 in the Danish city of Aarhus.

● Stipulates that environmental rights and human rights are linked.

● It states that the present generation owes an obligation to future generations.

● It links government accountability and environmental protection.

Ecological Trap ● Ecological trap theory describes the reasons why organisms may actually prefer sink

patches over source patches.

● The concept stems from the idea that organisms that are actively selecting habitat must

rely on environmental cues to help them identify high-quality habitat.

● If either the habitat quality or the cue changes so that one does not reliably indicate the

other, organisms may be lured into poor-quality habitat.

● It thought to occur when the attractiveness of a habitat increases disproportionately in

relation to its value for survival and reproduction.

● The result is preference of falsely attractive habitat and a general avoidance of high-

quality but less-attractive habitats.

National Transit Pass System (NTPS)

● Online transit pass generation system for timber, bamboo and other forest produce.

● Launched by the Union Environment Ministry.

● The pilot project will be functional in Madhya Pradesh and Telangana for now.

● A transit pass issued will be valid across India. This will enhance seamless movement

of forest produce.

Gaia hypothesis

● put forth by James Lovelock is an ecological theory proposing that living creatures and

the physical world are in a complex interacting system that maintains equilibrium.

BHUNGROO

● Bhungroo is a water harvesting system aimed to enhance water-use efficiency.

● The model is to store rainwater underground, which can be recovered by pumping, and

recharging the ground water system.

Contact : 8830115524

Leopard:

1. Scientific Name- Panthera pardus.

2. Listed in Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

3. Included in Appendix I of CITES.

4. Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.

5. Nine subspecies of the leopard have been recognized, and they are distributed

across Africa and Asia.

India’s first Snow Leopard Conservation Centre:

● developed by the Uttarakhand Forest Department along with the United Nations

Development Program (UNDP)

● the areas where snow leopards have been should be identified by the forest department

by the cooperation of local people and military forces

● The Forest Department is going to develop six city forests to expand the green area in

the urban regions of the state.

● The main aim of this project is to increase the green cover in urban areas and also to

connect people to greenery and clean environment.

TRAFFIC

● NGO working globally on the trade of wild animals and plants

● Founded in 1976 as a strategic alliance of the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and

the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

● Location : Cambridge, UK

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

● the UN’s global development network, an organization advocating for change and

connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a

better life

● established in 1965 by the General Assembly of the United Nations.

● four main focus areas:

○ Poverty Reduction and Achievement of the MDGs

○ Democratic Governance

○ Crisis Prevention and Recovery

○ Environment and Energy for Sustainable Development

● Headquartered in New York City, the UNDP is funded entirely by voluntary contributions

from member nations.

● UNDP publishes an annual Human Development Report (since 1990) to measure and

analyse developmental progress.

Contact : 8830115524

Rakhis tied to trees in Aravalis:

Background:

● The degradation of the Aravalis threatens Gurugram and National Capital Region’s

water security.

Aravali Range:

● They are aligned in north-east to south-west direction. They run between Delhi and

Palanpur in Gujarat.

● The highest peak is Guru Shikhar at 1,722 metres (5,650 ft).

● one of the oldest fold mountains of the world and the oldest in India.

● According to some geographers, one Branch of the Aravalis extends to the

Lakshadweep Archipelago through the Gulf of Khambhat and the other into Andhra

Pradesh and Karnataka.

● At the south-west extremity the range rises to over 1,000 m. Here Mt. Abu (1,158 m), a

small hilly block, is separated from the main range by the valley of the Banas.

● Pipli Ghat, Dewair and Desuri passes allow movement by roads and railways.

● Three major rivers and their tributaries flow from the Aravalli, namely Banas and Sahibi

rivers which are tributaries of Yamuna, as well as Luni River which flows into the Rann of

Kutch

Dhole

● About: Dhole (Cuon alpinus) is a wild carnivorous animal belonging to the canine family,

found in Central, South, East Asia, and Southeast Asia.

They are also known as Asian wild dogs.

● Ecological role: Dholes play an important role as apex predators in forest ecosystems.

● Conservation Status: ‘endangered’ category.

● The species is protected under Schedule 2 of the Wildlife Protection Act 1972 and under

Appendix 2 of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild

Fauna and Flora (CITES).

● In India, the first conservation breeding centre for dhole was built at the Indira Gandhi

Zoological Park (IGZP) in 2014.

Thenzawl Golf Resort in Mizoram: ● implemented under Integrated Development of New Eco-Tourism under the

Swadesh Darshan Scheme of the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India.

● Designed by Graham Cooke and Associates, one of top-ranked Canada based Golf

Course architectural firm.

● Golf tourism has a strong potential in India because the climatic condition is more

favourable here as compared to most countries.

Pokkali Rice: Kerala ● Farmers in West Bengal are experimenting it

Contact : 8830115524

● known for its saltwater resistance and flourishes in the rice paddies of coastal

Alappuzha, Ernakulam and Thrissur districts of Kerala.

● medicinal properties and its higher value of antioxidants and low carbohydrate content

makes it preferable to those on a low sugar diet.

● rice has brought it the Geographical Indication (GI) tag

● Other GI Tag Registered Varieties from Kerala: Kaipad, Wayanad Jeerakasala,

Wayanad Gandhakasala, Palakkadan Matta and Navara.

Kuttanad below-sea level farming system

● It is unique as it practices rice cultivation below sea level.

● ecognised by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) as a

Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System (GIAHS).

Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System (GIAHS)

● started by the FAO to safeguard and support the world's agricultural heritage systems.

● GIAHS are outstanding landscapes of aesthetic beauty that combine agricultural

biodiversity, resilient ecosystems and a valuable cultural heritage.

● Three recognised GIAHS sites in India:

○ Pampore Saffron Heritage of Kashmir.

○ Koraput Traditional Agriculture of Odisha.

○ Kuttanad Below Sea Level Farming System of Kerala.

India Meteorological Department ● IMD was established in 1875.

● It is an agency of the Ministry of Earth Sciences of the Government of India.

● It is the principal agency responsible for meteorological observations, weather

forecasting and seismology

Long Period Average (LPA):

● It is the average rainfall recorded during the months from June to September, calculated

during the 50-year period, and is kept as a benchmark while forecasting the quantitative

rainfall for the monsoon season every year.

● IMD maintains an independent LPA for every homogeneous region of the country, which

ranges from 71.6 cm to 143.83 cm.

IMD maintains five rainfall distribution categories on an all-India scale.

1. Normal or Near Normal: When per cent departure of actual rainfall is +/-10% of LPA, that

is, between 96-104% of LPA.

2. Below Normal: When departure of actual rainfall is less than 10% of LPA, that is 90-96%

of LPA.

3. Above Normal: When actual rainfall is 104-110% of LPA.

4. Deficient: When departure of actual rainfall is less than 90% of LPA.

5. Excess: When departure of actual rainfall is more than 110% of LPA.

Basic Concepts:

Isobars: A line representing places of equal atmospheric pressure.

Isobaths: A line representing places of equal depth underwater.

Isobathytherm: A line representing depths of water with equal temperature.

Contact : 8830115524

Isocheim: A line representing places of equal mean winter temperature.

Isodose: A line representing places of equal intensity of radiation.

Isohaline: A line representing places of equal salinity in the ocean.

Isohel: A line representing places receiving equal amounts of sunshine.

Isohume: A line representing places of equal humidity.

Isoneph: A line representing places of equal degree of cloudiness.

Isoplat: A line representing points of equal acidity, as in acid precipitation.

Isotherm: A line representing points of equal temperature.

Isohyet: A line representing places having same mean annual rainfall.

Composition : It consists of a Chairperson, a Vice-Chairperson and 3 other Members who are

appointed by the President by warrant under his hand and seal.

At least one member should be a woman.

The Chairperson, the Vice-Chairperson and the other Members hold office for a term of 3 years.

The members are not eligible for appointment for more than two terms.

The Chairperson has been given the rank of Union Cabinet Ministers, the Vice Chairperson has

the rank of a Minister of State and other Members have the rank of a Secretary to the

Government of India

AGROMETEOROLOGY IN INDIA ● The Centre for Science and Environment has released a report titled,Agrometeorological

services in India- An assessment’.

● Agrometeorology is the study and use of weather and climate information to improve the

productivity of the agricultural sector.

● The three sub-sectors which work together to provide such services include

○ Weather forecasting;

○ Generation of agromet advisories (identifying how weather forecasts affect

farming);

○ Dissemination of advisories (two-way communication with users).

●

The Atal Bhujal Yojana (ABHY)

● central sector scheme worth Rs.6,000 crore for sustainable management of

groundwater with community participation.

● It envisages people's participation through the formation of ‘Water User Associations’,

water budgeting, preparation & implementation of Gram-panchayat-wise water security

plans, etc.

● implemented by the Ministry of Jal Shakti (earlier known as Ministry of Water

Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation).

● funded by the Government of India and the World Bank on 50:50 basis.

● The identified over-exploited and water-stressed areas for the implementation of the

scheme are Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan,

and Uttar Pradesh.

● India was at the bottom of the water quality index, at 120 among 122 countries.

Groundwater Dark Zones

● Areas where groundwater consumption is overexploited.

Contact : 8830115524

● Here the rate of annual consumption is more than the annual rate of recharge of

groundwater.

● The government keeps a record of such dark zones in the states and the country.

● almost 80% of the domestic water supplies [both rural and urban] rely on groundwater.

● According to another report by the World Bank, India is held responsible for about 25%

of the groundwater abstraction due to its increasing number of dark zones.

FLASH DROUGHTS

● In contrast with conventional drought, which is mainly driven by lack of precipitation,

flash drought usually includes abnormally high temperatures, winds, and/or incoming

radiation that leads to abnormally high evapotranspiration (ET) rates.

● Flash droughts occur more often than perceived and can cause major agricultural losses

if they are not predicted and detected in a timely manner.

Pyrolysis

● Definition: Plastic from used personal protective equipment (PPE) can be transformed

into renewable liquid fuels using chemical a process called pyrolysis

● a thermochemical treatment, which can be applied to any organic (carbon-based)

product.

● About treatment: material is exposed to high temperature, and in the absence of

oxygen goes through chemical and physical separation into different molecules.

● applications : convert biomass into syngas and biochar, waste plastics back into usable

oil, or waste into safely disposable substances.

● Waste to energy technology

Green bonds scenario in India

● India’s First Green Bond was issued by Yes Bank Ltd in 2015.

● In 2016, India became second country (after China) to provide national level guidelines

for Green bonds, issued by SEBI.

● According to the 2019-20 Economic Survey, India has the second largest green bond

market among emerging economies after China. India has issued $10.2 billion of green

bonds in the first half of 2019.

● World’s first Green Bond launched by World Bank (2007)

● BRICS Bank (New Development Bank) issued Yuan denominated green bonds (2016)

● Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA) launched India’s first Masala

Green Bond at London Stock Exchange (2018)

Tsunami Ready Programme: UNESCO-IOC

● It is a community performance-based programme initiated by the Intergovernmental

Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO

● to promote tsunami preparedness through active collaboration of public, community

leaders, and national and local emergency management agencies.

● The main objective of this programme is to improve coastal community's preparedness

for tsunami emergencies, to minimize the loss of life and property and to ensure a

structural and systematic approach in building community preparedness

Contact : 8830115524

● Recently, UNESCO-IOC has approved the recognition of two communities of

Odisha viz., Venkatraipur and Noliasahi as Tsunami Ready Communities

● India has become the first country in the Indian Ocean Region to achieve the honor from

the UNESCO-IOC.

● INCOIS (an autonomous body under the Ministry of Earth sciences) is also

providing tsunami advisories to Indian Ocean region (25 countries) as a Tsunami

Service Provider as the responsibility assigned by UNESCO-IOC.

● The Indian Tsunami Early Warning Centre (ITEWC), INCOIS is the nodal agency to

provide tsunami advisories to India. It is coordinating with the Disaster Management

Officials (DMOs) for implementation of Tsunami Ready programme in India

The Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC):

● IOC-UNESCO was established in 1960 as a body with functional autonomy within

UNESCO

● only competent organization for marine science within the UN system.

● The purpose : to promote international cooperation and to coordinate programmes in

research, services and capacity-building, in order to learn more about the nature and

resources of the ocean and coastal areas and to apply that knowledge for the

improvement of management, sustainable development, the protection of the marine

environment, and the decision-making processes of its Member States.

● The IOC is recognized through the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea

(UNCLOS) as the competent international organization in the fields of Marine Scientific

Research and Transfer of Marine Technology.

Tsunamis

● These are a series of waves usually generated by movement of the sea floor. These

movements are caused by different types of geophysical phenomena such as

earthquakes, landslides and volcanic eruptions.

● The word tsunami is a Japanese word, tsu, means, "harbor", and nami means, "wave".

● The tsunami waves behave very differently in deep water than in shallow water as their

speed is related to the water depth.

Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana

● Ministry of Agriculture funding start-ups under the innovation and agripreneurship

component of Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana in 2020-21.

● These start-ups are in various categories such as agro-processing, artificial intelligence,

digital agriculture, farm mechanisation, waste to wealth, dairy, fisheries etc.

About :

● RKVY scheme was initiated in 2007 as an umbrella scheme for ensuring holistic

development of agriculture and allied sectors.

● The scheme incentivizes States to increase public investment in Agriculture & allied

sectors.

● Centrally Sponsored Scheme in the ratio of 60: 40,except in the case of northeastern

and hilly states where the sharing pattern is 90:10.

Components of this scheme:

● Agripreneurship Orientation – 2 months duration with a monthly stipend of Rs.

10,000/- per month. Mentorship is provided on financial, technical, IP issues etc.

Contact : 8830115524

● Seed Stage Funding of R-ABI Incubatees – Funding upto Rs. 25 lakhs (85% grant &

15% contribution from the incubatee).

● Idea/Pre-Seed Stage Funding of Agripreneurs – Funding up to Rs. 5 lakhs (90% grant

and 10% contribution from the incubatee).

● The main objective of Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana is to develop farming as a main

source of economic activity.

● Some of the objectives also include:

○ Risk mitigation, strengthening the efforts of the farmers along with promoting

agri-business entrepreneurship through the creation of agri-infrastructure.

○ Providing all the states with autonomy and flexibility in making plans as per their

local needs.

○ Helping farmers in increasing their income by encouraging productivity and

promoting value chain addition linked production models.

○ To reduce the risk of farmers by focusing on increasing the income generation

through mushroom cultivation, integrated farming, floriculture, etc.

○ Empowering the youth through various skill development, innovation and agri-

business models

Kisan Rail:

● a special Parcel Train from Devlali (Maharashtra) to Danapur (Bihar).(a weekly

service)

● It is in pursuance of announcement made by Finance Minister in Union Budget 2020-21.

● It is expected that the train will provide seamless supply chain of Perishable produce,

like vegetables, fruits to the market in a short period of time.

● train with frozen containers is expected to build a seamless national cold supply chain

for perishables, inclusive of fish, meat and milk.

Pangolin:

● Pangolin is only scaly mammal on the planet.

● According to CITES, it is also the most illegally traded vertebrate within its class

(Mammalia).

● Of the eight species of pangolin worldwide, two are found in India. They are Chinese

pangolin, mostly found in northeast India and Indian pangolin.

Status:

● Chinese pangolin -“critically endangered”.

● Indian pangolin “endangered”.

● It is also a Schedule I category protected animal, under the Wildlife Protection Act

(1972).

Eravikulam National Park

● It is located in the High Ranges (Kannan Devan Hills) of the Southern Western Ghats in

the Devikulam Taluk of Idukki District, Kerala.

● hosts South India's highest peak, Anamudi (2695 m), in its southern area.

● It was declared as Eravikulam-Rajamala Wildlife Sanctuary in 1975 and was elevated to

the status of a National Park in 1978.

● The park represents the largest and least disturbed stretch of unique Montane Shola-

Grassland vegetation in the Western Ghats.

Contact : 8830115524

● Flora: Neelakurinji flowers that bloom once every 12 years

● Fauna: The park holds the largest viable population of the endangered Nilgiri Tahr

locrius)

Nilgiri Tahr

● Nilgiri Tahr is also known as Nilgiri Ibex.

● IUCN Status: Endangered.

● listed under Schedule 1 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 which provides absolute

protection and offences under these are prescribed the highest penalties

● The Adult males of Nilgiri Tahr species develop a light grey area or “saddle” on their

backs and are hence called “Saddlebacks”

● State animal of Tamil Nadu.

● It is found in open montane grassland habitat of rain forests ecoregion.

● It is endemic to the Nilgiri Hills and the southern portion of the Western Ghats in Tamil

Nadu & Kerala

Mukurthi National Park

● Park was created to protect its keystone species, the Nilgiri Tahr.

● Previously known as Nilgiri Tahr National Park.

● It is part of Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve along with Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary,

Bandipur National Park, Nagarhole National Park, Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary and

Silent Valley.

The Envistats India 2020 report. ● The report was prepared by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation &

released by The National Statistical Office.

● report says that the number of heat wave days in 2019 increased over 80%.

Papum Reserve Forest

● in Arunachal Pradesh.

● surrounded by Itanagar Wildlife Sanctuary to the east and Pakke Wildlife Sanctuary to

the west.

● It is a part of the Indo-Burma Biodiversity hotspot in India.

● It forms part of the Eastern Himalayas Endemic Bird Area.

Biodiversity Hostpots

● A biodiversity hotspot is an area with unusual concentration of species(high species

richness), many of which are endemic(high degree of endemism.).

● It is marked by serious threat to its biodiversity by humans.

● According to Conservation International, a region must fulfill the following two criteria to

qualify as a hotspot:

○ The region should have at least 1500 species of vascular plants i.e., it should

have a high degree of endemism.

○ It must contain 30% (or less) of its original habitat, i.e. it must be threatened.

● Accordingly, 34 biodiversity hotspots have been so far identified. Collectively, the

Biodiversity hotspots support 60% of world’s plant and animal species with a high share

of endemics and cover around 2.5% of Earth’s land surface.

4- Biodiversity Hostpots in India

Contact : 8830115524

- Himalaya

- Indo-Burma

- Sundalands (Nicobar islands)

- Western Ghats.

Hope Spots

● Hope Spots are special places that are scientifically identified as critical to the health of

the ocean

● Dr.Sylvia Earle introduced the concept of Hope Spot because very less number ie only

6% of ocean is protected while comparing with the land which is 12% protected.

● Hope spot are the areas that need new protection but they can also be existing Marine

Protected Areas where more action is needed.

● the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and Mission Blue released 50

hope spot yet.

● Hope Spot Sites from India :

1.Lakshadeep

2.Andaman Nicobar Islands

Mission Blue

● Mission Blue is a global coalition to create public awareness ,to access,and support for a

world wide network of Marine Protected Areas ie Hope Spots .

● The Aim of mission blue to create Hope Spots to increase the protection of ocean

ecology.

● Mission Blue organisation is led by oceanographer Dr.Sylvia Earle.

Hope Spot Network

● a joint initiative of Mission Blue and International Union Of Conservation of Nature

(IUCN)

BIODIVERSITY COOL SPOTS

● There are ‘cool-spots’ (the world’s last refuges where high numbers of threatened

species still persist).

● Cool-spots could be the result of protection or because of intact habitat that has not

been cleared yet.

● India still has crucial refuges that need protecting. Identifying such areas could aid

conservation and development planning for countries.

● Roads and croplands are extensive in India and conversion of habitat for such activities

could be a main threat.

SURAKHSYA: National Portal of “Project Elephant” launched

● Aims to collect real time information and manage conflicts on real time basis.

● The portal will help to set data collection protocols, data visualization tools and data

transmission pipelines.

Contact : 8830115524

Project Elephant ● Launched in 1992 by the Ministry of Environment and Forest.

● Aims to

1. provide financial and technical support to wild life management.

2. to make sure long-term survival of elephant populations in the natural habitats.

3. to supports research in management of elephants and providing veterinary care

4. conservation among local people.

● August 12: World Elephant Day

● The African Elephants are listed as Vulnerable and Asian Elephants as Endangered in

IUCN

● there are around 32 elephant Reserves in India.

● The very first elephant reserve or elephant sanctuary was the Singhbhum Elephant

Reserve of Jharkhand.

● Karnataka has highest number of elephant in india

Some Key Facts about Elephant:

● world's largest land mammal

● Elephants need up to 150kg of food per day

● very intelligent animals….Elephants never forget

● Elephant families are led by females

● elephants are pregnant for 18 to 22 months

Elephant Corridors ● The Elephant Corridor is a narrow stretch of land that connects habitats with elephant

population. There are 88 identified elephant corridors in India.

Biofuel Day( 10 August ) ● Theme for 2020: “Biofuels towards Atmanirbhar Bharat”.

● Objective: To create awareness about the importance of non-fossil fuels as an

alternative to conventional fossil fuels and to highlight the various efforts made by the

Government in the Biofuel sector.

● Celebrated by: Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas since 2015.

Biofuel:

● Any hydrocarbon fuel that is produced from an organic matter (living or once living

material) in a short period of time (days, weeks, or even months) is considered a biofuel.

Classification of Biofuels:

● First generation biofuels: It refers to the fuels that have been derived from sources like

starch, sugar, animal fats and vegetable oil.

● Second generation biofuels:These are produced from non-food crops, such as cellulosic

biofuels and waste biomass (stalks of wheat and corn, and wood). Examples include

advanced biofuels like biohydrogen, biomethanol.

● Third generation biofuels : These are produced from specially engineered energy crops

such as algae.

● Fourth-Generation Biofuels: It uses genetically modified (GM) algae to enhance biofuel

production.

Contact : 8830115524

Pradhan Mantri JI-VAN Yojana, 2019:

● objective of the scheme is to create an ecosystem for setting up commercial projects

and to boost Research and Development in 2G Ethanol sector

● to provide financial support to Integrated Bio-Ethanol Projects using lignocellulosic

biomass & other renewable feedstock.

GOBAR (Galvanizing Organic Bio-Agro Resources) DHAN scheme, 2018:

● It focuses on managing and converting cattle dung and solid waste in farms to useful

compost,biogas and bio-CNG, thus keeping villages clean and increasing the income of

rural households.

● launched under Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin).

Repurpose Used Cooking Oil (RUCO):

● It was launched by Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)

● aims for an ecosystem that will enable the collection and conversion of used cooking oil

to biodiesel.

Sustainable Alternative towards Affordable Transportation (SATAT) scheme

● Launched in 2018 , By ➔ the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas

● Objective to promote Compressed Biogas as an alternative, green transport fuel by

establishing 5000 Compressed Biogas(CBG) plants across the country by 2023.

Contact : 8830115524

National Fish Farmers Day 2020: ● Observed on 10th July every year in honour of scientists Dr. K. H. Alikunhi and Dr. H.L.

Chaudhury.

● These two scientists had successfully demonstrated the technology of induced breeding

(Hypophysation) in Indian Major Carps.

● In India, the major carps, Catla (Catla catla), Rohu (Labeo rohita) and Mrigal(Cirrhinus

mrigala) are the mainstay of freshwater aquaculture.

Chhattisgarh to launch “Indira Van Mitan Yojana” ● It is an initiative to support forest dwellers from scheduled areas of Chhattisgarh and

achieve self-reliance.

● Under the scheme, a group of 10 to 15 youngsters are to be formed in 10,000 villages of

19 lakh families in Chhattisgarh.

● The villages are to be selected from tribal areas the state.

● The groups will manage forest based economic activities.

● Also, the team will manage procurement, marketing and processing of forest produce.

● The scheme is to encourage plantation of fruit bearing trees and medicinal plants.

Contact : 8830115524

Geothermal Springs ● Water on the earth’s surface percolates into porous rocks and is subjected to intense

heat. When this water matter comes in contact with hot magma in the lower part of the

crust, they are converted into steam. As more and more water get converted into steam,

the pressure increases. The increased pressure forces the steam through vents beneath

the earth’s surface. The steam gets converted into hot spring water as it reaches the

surface due to decrease in pressure.

Project Cheetah ● The Indian Armed Forces have decided to revive “Project Cheetah” amidst tensions with

China.

● Under the project, around 90 Heron drones of the services are to be upgraded with

laser-guided bombs, air launched anti-tank guided missiles and air to ground anti-tank

guided missiles.

BEEG (Bio - compost Enriched Eco-friendly Globule)

● By IIT Kanpur: which will help farmers in plantation with safety in Corona times.

● These are seed balls consisting of indigenous variety of seeds, compost and clay. There

is no need for digging pits for planting saplings.

● These seed balls are to be thrown at aimed places and they will germinate when come

into contact with water.

● Significance: BEEG is enriched with the right ingredients and seeds to germinate early

and are the best way to utilise monsoon and plant as many trees as possible without

risking lives by social gathering during Covid 19.

Seed Bomb

● A seed bomb is a little ball generally made up of a combination of compost, clay and

seeds

● The compost offers nutrients for the seeds to germinate and grow strong during their

infancy

● the clay binds the seed bomb, making it hard enough not to break when it hits the

ground.

● It is used in re-vegetation and reforestation of the fragile ecosystems.

● The plantation technique wherein seed balls are sprayed using aerial devices, including

planes, helicopters or drones, is known as Aerial seeding.

Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization(SMAM)

● launched in April 2014

● to have inclusive growth of farm mechanization to boost productivity.

● aims to promote the usage of farm mechanization and increase the ratio of farm power

to cultivable unit area up to 2 kW/ha.

● provided subsidy for procurement of machinery.

FARMS-app

● Union Agriculture ministry has developed a Multi lingual Mobile App, 'CHC (Custom

Hiring Centers) - Farm Machinery'

● which connects farmers with Custom Hiring Service Centers situated in their locality.

Contact : 8830115524

● It encourages small and marginal farmers to take machines on rental basis for

agriculture practices without them having to purchase such high priced machines.

Butterflies Species of Matheran

● Scientists from the Bombay Natural History Society found 140 rare species of butterflies,

including 77 new ones in Matheran after a long gap of 125 years.

● Biostatistical techniques were used by the team.

● The team used a barcode system to denote seasons and the activities of the butterflies.

Matheran (forest on the forehead)

● an eco-sensitive region, declared by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate

Change.

● It is one of the smallest hill stations of India and is part of the Mumbai Metropolitan

region along the Western Ghats.

Depsang Plains: ● The Depsang Plains & Pangong Tso are the two major areas of concern in the ongoing

standoff along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh.

● Depsang is one of the few places on the LAC where tank manoeuvres are possible.

Mullaperiyar Dam

● It is located on the confluence of the Mullayar and the Periyar rivers in Kerala, and is

operated and maintained by Tamil Nadu.

● The dam is in the state of Kerala but it was given on lease to the Tamil Nadu on 29th

October, 1886 for 999 years.

● Tamil Nadu was permitted to generate power from the dam, through an agreement in

1970.

Papum Reserve Forest ● In Arunachal Pradesh , surrounded by Itanagar Wildlife Sanctuary to the east and Pakke

Wildlife Sanctuary to the west.

● It is covered by Subtropical Dry Evergreen and Semi-evergreen Forests, while the higher

areas are under Subtropical Broadleaf Hill Forest cover.

● It is a part of the Indo-Burma Biodiversity hotspot in India

● Papum Reserve Forest forms part of the Eastern Himalayas Endemic Bird Area.

● An Endemic Bird Area is an area of land identified by BirdLife International as being

important for habitat-based bird conservation because it contains the habitats of

restricted-range bird species.

● BirdLife International is a global partnership of non-governmental organizations that

strives to conserve birds and their habitats.

● Papum RF is a nesting habitat of three species of hornbills: the great hornbill (Buceros

bicornis), wreathed hornbill (Aceros undulatus) and the Oriental pied hornbill

(Anthracoceros albirostris),

● the Rufous-necked hornbill (Aceros nipalensis) species are found in Pakke reserve

Great hornbill

Contact : 8830115524

● found in tropical and subtropical Africa and Asia.

● India is home to nine species of hornbills. The northeastern region has the highest

diversity

● State bird of Arunachal Pradesh and Kerala.

● Status: vulnerable.

● It is protected at the highest level under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.

● Significance:

● cultural symbols of some ethnic communities in the northeast, specifically the

Nyishi of Arunachal Pradesh.

● ‘forest engineers’ or ‘farmers of forest’ for playing a key role in dispersing seeds of

tropical trees and indicate the prosperity and balance of the forest they build nests in.

● The Hornbill festival celebrated in Nagaland

Krishi Megh: ● the data recovery centre of ICAR virtually launched by Union Minister of Agriculture &

Farmers’ Welfare

● set up under the National Agricultural Higher Education Project (NAHEP).

● centre has been set up at National Academy of Agricultural Research Management

(NAARM), Hyderabad.

● Significance and benefits: Built to mitigate the risk, enhance the quality, availability

and accessibility of e-governance, research, extension and education in the field of

agriculture in India.

● Krishi Megh is equipped with the latest artificial intelligence and deep learning software

for building and deploying of deep learning-based applications through image analysis,

disease identification in livestock, etc.

● It enables the farmers, researchers, students and policymakers to be more equipped

with the updated and latest information regarding agriculture and research.

Indian Council of Agricultural Research( ICAR ) ● established on 16 July 1929 as a registered society under the Societies

Registration Act, 1860. headquartered at New Delhi.

● It is an autonomous organisation under the Department of Agricultural Research and

Education (DARE), Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.

● Union Minister of Agriculture serves as its president.

National Agricultural Higher Education Project (NAHEP)

● The project is funded by both the government of India and the World Bank.

● Objective: to provide more relevant and high-quality education to the agricultural

university students that is in tune with the New Education Policy – 2020.

One Sun, One World, One Grid (OSOWOG) initiative

● OSOWOG initiative was proposed by : The Union Ministry of New and Renewable

Energy (MNRE) India

Contact : 8830115524

● aims at building a global ecosystem of interconnected renewable energy resources that

can be easily shared

● Objective: To build global consensus about sharing solar resources among more than

140 countries of West Asia and South-East Asia.

● Vision is ‘The Sun Never Sets’ and is a constant at some geographical location,

globally, at any given point of time

● It has been taken up under the technical assistance program of the World Bank.

International cooperation to protect tiger:

Global Tiger forum ● is the only intergovernmental international body

● It is focused on saving the remaining five subspecies of tigers distributed over 13 tiger

range countries of the world.

● Global Tiger Day:29 July

● created in 2010 at the Saint Petersburg Tiger Summit.

Global Tiger Initiative (GTI) ● Program of the World Bank, using its presence and convening ability, brought global

partners together to strengthen the tiger agenda.

● the initiative has institutionalised itself as a separate entity in the form of the Global Tiger

Initiative Council (GTIC),

● its two arms –the Global Tiger Forum and the Global Snow Leopard Ecosystem

Protection Program.

National Tiger conservation authority (NTCA) ● a statutory body under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and climate change.

● established in 2005 following the recommendations of the Tiger task force.

● It was constituted under enabling provisions of the wildlife (protection) act 1972, as

amended in 2006.

● It is responsible for implementation of the Project Tiger to protect endangered tigers.

● All India Tiger Estimation done quadrennially(Every four year)

● NTCA has launched the M-STrIPES (Monitoring System for Tigers – Intensive

Protection and Ecological Status), a mobile monitoring system for forest guards.

●

Project Tiger: ● Launched in Jim Corbett National Park of Uttarakhand in 1973, with 9 tiger reserves

● Currently 50 tiger reserves in the country

● Centrally Sponsored Scheme of the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate

Change

● Madhya Pradesh has the highest number of tigers at 526, closely followed by Karnataka

(524) and Uttarakhand (442).

● Corbett Tiger Reserve (Uttrakhand) had the largest population of tigers at about 231 in

2018

● Nagpur is also known as the ‘Tiger Capital’ of India

Contact : 8830115524

Project Lion ● For conservation of Asiatic Lions. It will focus on habitat development by engaging modern

technologies.

● It will involve local communities living closer to lion landscapes.The Project will also

provide livelihood opportunities to these people.

● Project Lion is to focus on health management of lions and provide world standard care

to the lions.

● Project Lion will enhance finances and duration that are already being allocated by GoI.

Asiatic Lion ● Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972: Schedule 1

● CITES Appendix I

● IUCN Red List: Endangered

● Asiatic lions were once distributed to the state of West Bengal in east and Rewa in Madhya

Pradesh, in central India.Dolphin

● At present Gir National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary is the only abode of the Asiatic lion.

Project Dolphin ● Launched to conserve and protect the Dolphins in the rivers and oceans in the country.

● The project will conserve dolphins in aquatic habitat using modern technology especially

in anti-poaching activities.

● The project is to involve fishermen and other set of population that are dependent on rivers

and oceans for their livelihood.

● The Project is to primarily focus on Gangetic Dolphins.

The Gangetic Dolphins ● declared as National Aquatic Animal in 2010

● Endangered under IUCN Red List of Endangered Species. It has been listed under CITES

Appendix-1.

● The Vikramshila Gangetic Dolphin Sanctuary Bihar is the only sanctuary for the Gangetic

Dolphins in the country.

● These are generally blind and catch their prey in a unique manner. They emit an ultrasonic

sound which reaches the prey.

● These are also called susu.

● Location: Ganga-Brahmaputra-Meghna and Karnaphuli-Sangu river systems and in the

Ganga’s tributaries.

Organic farming in India: ● Organic farming: is an agricultural process that uses biological fertilizers and pest control

acquired from animal or plant waste.

● It is a unique production management system which promotes and enhances agro-

ecosystem health, including biodiversity, biological cycles and soil biological activity.

● India ranks first in number of organic farmers and ninth in terms of area under organic

farming.

● Sikkim became the first State in the world to become fully organic

● North East India , the tribal and island territories has traditionally been organic

● The major organic exports from India have been flax seeds, sesame, soybean, tea,

medicinal plants, rice and pulses.

Government Initiatives to Promote Organic Farming

Contact : 8830115524

Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana

● The scheme covers an area of about 7 lakh hectares. It brought about 16 Farmer

Producer Organizations cultivating 80,000 hectares of land.

● The aim is to produce pesticide residue free produce and contribute towards improving

health of the consumer.

● The scheme is a major project under National Mission of sustainable Agriculture. Also, it

is an elaborate component of Soil Health Management.

● Cluster approach : Over 50 and more farmers will form clusters with 50-acres of land

and take up organic farming.

Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North East Region

(MOVCD)

● a Central Sector Scheme, a sub-mission under National Mission for Sustainable

Agriculture (NMSA)

● It was launched by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare in 2015

● implementation in the states of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya,

Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura.

● The scheme aims to develop certified organic production in a value chain mode to link

growers with consumers and to support the development of the entire value chain.

Agri-export Policy 2018

● Focus on clusters and Marketing and promotion of “Produce of India” have positively

impacted the organic farming in India

One District - One Product (ODOP)

● The programme aims to encourage more visibility and sale of indigenous and

specialized products/crafts of Uttar Pradesh, generating employment at the district level.

● The presence of aggregators is imperative to bring about economies of scale for the

small and marginal farmers.

PM Formalization of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PM FME)

● The Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) launched the PM FME scheme as a

part of ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan’.

● It aims to bring in new technology, apart from affordable credit to help small

entrepreneurs penetrate new markets.

Zero Budget Natural Farming

● Zero budget natural farming is a method of chemical-free agriculture drawing from

traditional Indian practices.

Mekedatu project

● Mekedatu is a location along Cauvery in Kanakapura Taluk of Ramanagara District of

Karnataka.

● Karnataka wants a reservoir across Cauvery at Mekedatu, to meet Bengaluru’s water

problem.

● Tamil Nadu objected saying Karnataka had not sought prior permission for the project.

Contact : 8830115524

● Its argument was that the project would affect the flow of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu.

Cauvery River

● River rises on Brahmagiri Hill of the Western Ghats in south-western Karnataka state.

● The river basin : Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala, Puducherry.

● Key tributaries: Hemavati, Lakshmantirtha, Kabani (Kabbani), Amaravati, Noyil, and

Bhavani rivers.

● Falls : Hogenakal Falls. Dams: Mettur Dam

Fly Ash Or Coal Ash

● Fly ash is a coal combustion product.

● Composition: consists primarily of oxides of silicon, aluminum iron and calcium.

Magnesium, potassium, sodium, titanium, sulfur arsenic, lead and mercury. are also

present to a lesser degre.

● Uses: Ultra High Volume Fly ash Concrete, in low to moderate strength concrete. In

cement, in bricks replacing normal clay bricks. road base, metal recovery, and mineral

filler among others.

● Construction projects and the red clay bricks located within 300 km of a thermal power

plant to use fly ash products.

● Harmful Effects: Fly ash particles are toxic air pollutants. They can trigger heart

disease, cancer, respiratory diseases and stroke.leaching of heavy metals in ground

water, pollutes the soil, and affects the root development system of trees.

Mauritius Oil Spill:India deputes 10-member specialist team under

Mission SAGAR

● Mission SAGAR is Security Growth for All in the Region. It was launched in 2015 to

deepen economic and security cooperation with maritime neighbours.

● The relevance of the mission is seen in conjunction with other policies of India as follows

● Project Sagarmala: Project Sagarmala aims to develop string of ports around Indian

Coast. The initiative focuses on supporting port-led development, port infrastructure

enhancement.

● Project Mausam: It is a cultural and economic project that aims to connect countries in

the Indian Ocean.

● India-a net security provider

● Focus on Blue Economy

Cleanup of Oil Spill: ● Containment Booms: Floating barriers, called booms are used to restrict the spread of

oil and to allow for its recovery, removal, or dispersal.

● Skimmers: They are devices used for physically separating spilled oil from the water’s

surface.

● Sorbents: Various sorbents (e.g., straw, volcanic ash, and shavings of polyester-derived

plastic) that absorb the oil from the water are used.

● Dispersing agents: These are chemicals that contain surfactants, or compounds that

act to break liquid substances such as oil into small droplets. They accelerate its natural

dispersion into the sea.

Contact : 8830115524

● Biological agents: Nutrients, enzymes, or microorganisms such as Alcanivorax bacteria

or Methylocella silvestris that increase the rate at which natural biodegradation of oil

occurs are added.

● Experts say that despite best efforts, generally less than 10% of oil spilled in incidents

like these is successfully cleaned up.

Wetland ecosystem ● Wetland is lands transitional between terrestrial and aquatic eco-systems where the

water table is usually at or near the surface or the land is covered by shallow water.

● India has 37 Ramsar Sites which are the Wetlands of International importance

● Ramsar Convention or Convention on Wetlands: came into force in 1975 and is one

of the oldest Inter-governmental accord for preserving the ecological character of

wetlands.

● 10 New wetlands of India

○ Maharashtra: Nandur (state’s first) Nashik District.

○ Punjab: Keshopur-Miani, Beas Conservation Reserve and Nangal.

○ Uttar Pradesh: Nawabganj, Parvati Agra, Saman, Samaspur, Sandi and Sarsai

Nawar.

● Adavantage of Wetlands provide a wide range of important resources and ecosystem

services such as food, water, fibre, groundwater recharge, water purification, flood

moderation, erosion control and climate regulation.

● Montreux Record is a register of wetland sites on the List of Wetlands of International

Importance where changes in ecological character have occurred, are occurring, or are

likely to occur as a result of technological developments, pollution or other human

interference.

● 2 Wetlands of India that are in Montreux Record: Keoladeo National Park (Rajasthan)

and Loktak Lake (Manipur).

● Chilka lake (Odisha) was placed in the record but was later removed from it.

Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017:

• Nodal authority: State is the nodal authority for all wetland-specific authorities in a

state/UT for the enforcement of the rules.

• Prohibited activities:

• Setting up any industry and expansion of existing industries,

• Dumping solid waste or discharge of untreated wastes and effluents from industries and

any human settlements, and

• Encroachment or conversion for non-wetlands uses.

Kalinga cricket Frog ● It was thought to be endemic to the hill ranges of the Eastern Ghats, central Western

Ghats, with the evidence of considerable ‘morphological phenotypic plasticity (MPP)

● indicators of a healthy ecosystem

● MPP is the ability of an organism to show drastic morphological (physical features)

variations in response to natural environmental variations or stimuli.

● The term “phenotype” refers to the observable physical properties of an organism, which

include the organism’s appearance, development, and behaviour.

Contact : 8830115524

CAMPA Funds to be used for Plantation drives and afforestation

alone ● CAMPA is Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority.

● Compensatory afforestation : means that every time forest land is diverted for non-

forest purposes such as mining or industry, the user agency pays for planting forests

over an equal area of non-forest land, or when such land is not available, twice the area

of degraded forest land.

● The CAF Act 2016 was enacted to manage the funds collected for compensatory

afforestation which managed by CAMPA.

● 90% of the fund money is to be given to the states while 10% is to be retained by the

Centre.

No Go’ areas in coal mining

● ‘No Go’ areas are those having either more than 10 per cent weighted forest cover (WFC)

or more than 30 per cent gross forest cover (GFC).

● In 2009, the environment and coal ministries imposed a ban on mining in the ‘No-Go’

zones on environmental grounds.

About Cheetah: ● World’s fastest land mammal.

● Status: Vulnerable

● declared extinct in India in 1952.

● The Asiatic cheetah is “critically endangered” believed to survive only in Iran.

● Mysuru zoo has received three Cheetahs from Ann Van Dyke Cheetah Centre, South

Africa. Hyderabad zoo has a pair of Cheetah

Seagrass ● These are flowering marine plants that have adapted to survive in marine conditions.

● Found on all continents except Antarctica.

Benefits

● “lungs of the sea” because one square meter of seagrass can generate 10 liters of

oxygen every day through photosynthesis.

● trap sediments to absorb nutrients and give us clear waters.

● They are a source of food, shelter and nursery areas for many organisms

● important carbon sinks capable of trapping carbon from the atmosphere

● Threats a) Climate change b) Global warming c) Erosion and Sediment discharge d)

Overfishing e) Pollution among others.

Seaweed

● Marine macroalgae, or seaweed, are plant-like organisms that generally live attached to

rock or other hard substrata in coastal areas.

● Seaweeds may also include Red, Green and Brown algae

● Seaweed can be as small as the one-celled phytoplankton or as large as giant kelp.

● Even though seaweeds are not categorised as plants, it also requires light

(Photosynthesis), water and nutrition for the growth and sustenance

Contact : 8830115524

● Positive impacts of seaweed: Carbon removal, Reduced agricultural emissions,

Protecting shorelines from erosion, Reducing the effects of ocean acidification

● Seaweed aquaculture also provides sustainable, healthy seafood for local communities.

Mangrove Ecosystem restoration ● Mangroves are diverse group of salt-tolerant plant community of tropical and subtropical

intertidal regions of the world, occurring mainly between latitude 24° N and 38° S.

● They are referred to as ‘tidal forests’ and belong to the category of ‘tropical

wetland rainforest ecosystem’.

● In India, three types of mangrove formation can be seen.

○ Deltaic mangroves occur mainly along the east coast,

○ Backwater-estuarine type along the west coast and

○ Insular type in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

● West Bengal has 42.45% of India’s mangrove cover, followed by Gujarat 23.66% and

A&N Islands 12.39%.

● Sunderbans Mangroves of West Bengal is largest mangrove forest in the world

● India has lost 40% of its mangrove area in the last century, mainly due to agriculture,

aquaculture, tourism, urban development and overexploitation.

● The Forest Survey of India, 2019, report reveals that the mangrove cover increase in

Gujarat, Maharashtra and Odisha.

Nairobi Convention ● It is a partnership between governments, civil society and the private sector, working

towards a prosperous Western Indian Ocean Region with healthy rivers, coasts and

oceans.

● It entered into force in 1996 and is part of UNEP’s Regional Seas Programme.

● India is not a party to the convention.

Hilsa Fish ● IUCN status : Least Concerned

● It is a very popular and sought-after food fish in the Indian Subcontinent.

● Though it’s a saltwater fish, it migrates to sweet waters.

● It is the national fish of Bangladesh

● state symbol in the Indian states of West Bengal and Tripura.

Plastic Marine Pollution

● Microbeads, a type of microplastic, are very tiny pieces of manufactured polyethylene

plastic that are added as exfoliants in health and beauty products, such as cleansers

and toothpastes. These tiny particles easily pass through water filtration systems and

end up in the ocean and lakes.

Microplastics (particles smaller than 5 mm) ● Primary Sources

○ Directly released in the environment as small particles

Contact : 8830115524

○ Main sources: laundering of synthetic clothes, abrasion of tyres through driving,

intentionally added microplastics in personal care products for example

microbeads in facial scrubs.

● Secondary Sources: Originate from degradation of larger plastic objects such as plastic

bags, bottles or fishing nets.

● Effects

○ Microplastics found in the sea can be ingested by marine animals.

○ Carcinogenic

● Nanoplastics (particles smaller than 100 nm).

Existing international instruments to address plastic pollution

● The 1972 Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping Wastes and

Other Matter (or the London Convention).

● The 1996 Protocol to the London Convention (the London Protocol).

● The 1978 Protocol to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from

Ships (MARPOL).

Kudremukh National Park, Karnataka. ● a Reserved Forest in the year of 1916, and was declared as a National Park in the year

of 1987.

● Three important rivers i.e. the Tunga, the Bhadra and the Nethravathi are said to have

their origin in the park.

● Highly dense forests

● Wild life: tiger, leopard, wild dog, Malabar giant squirrel, common langur, sloth bear,

gaur, sambar, spotted deer, barking deer and the sloth bear.

● Ranges : The Park is divided into four ranges i.e. Kudremukh, Kerekatte,Kalasa and

Shimoga.

● The Kadambi Waterfalls lies in the Kudremukh National Park.

Common Evening Brown ● It is a common species of butterfly known as 'Melanitis Leda’.

● Distribution: It is found in Africa, South Asia and South-east Asia extending to parts of

Australia.

● It is only active at dusk and dawn and prefers to dwell on the thicket floor

● It feeds on rotting fruits and tree sap.

Indian Bison (Gaur) ● Location: Native to South and Southeast Asia

● In India, they are found in Nagarhole, Bandipur, Masinagudi National Parks and BR Hills.

● Conservation Status: Vulnerable

● Included in the Schedule I of the Wild Life Protection Act, 1972.

Dragonfly Festival ● first-ever State Dragonfly Festival, also known as Thumbimahotsavam 2020

● organized in Kerala jointly by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)-India State unit

and Society for Odonate Studies (SOS).

Contact : 8830115524

● Its part of National Dragonfly Festival being organised by the WWF India, Bombay

Natural History Society & Indian Dragonfly Society,

● It aims at building awareness about the importance of dragonflies and damselflies and

the need to conserve them.

● Dragonfly act as important bio-indicators of the ecological health of an area.

● They feed on mosquitoes and other insects that are vectors to life-threatening diseases

like Malaria and Dengue.

Bioindicators ● Bioindicators are living organisms such as plants, plankton, animals, and microbes,

which are used to assess the health of the natural ecosystem in the environment.

● Examples of Bioindicators:

○ Lichens are powerful Bioindicators of air quality.

○ Frogs are basically influenced by changes that take place in their freshwater and

terrestrial habitats.

○ Algae blooms are often used to indicate large increases of nitrates and

phosphates in lakes and rivers.

Society for Odonate Studies (SOS)

● SOS is a non-political, non-profit organization

● formed to impart knowledge to the public on the insect order of Odonata (which

comprises dragonflies and damselflies) and to conduct scientific studies,

● objective of conservation of the species and their habitats.

Intercropping ● It is the cultivation of two or more crops simultaneously on the same field.

● The main goal is to produce a greater yield on a given piece of land by making use of

resources of ecological processes that would otherwise not be utilised by a single crop.

Different approaches to intercropping such as:

● Mixed intercropping – two or more crops are planted in a mix without a distinct row

arrangement.

● Row intercropping – two or more crops are planted in distinct rows.

● Relay intercropping – two or more crops are grown at the same time as part of the life

cycle of each i.e. a second crop is sown after the first crop has been well established but

before it reaches its harvesting stage.

● Strip intercropping – growing two or more crops at the same time in separate strips wide

enough apart for independent cultivation.

Advantages of intercropping:

● More efficient use of light, water and other nutrient resources compared to single crops.

● It allows for effective management of cover crops because crop mixtures have lower

pest densities.

● Potential increased crop yields per unit area.

● Improved soil fertility by leguminous intercrops e.g. nitrogen fixing.

Contact : 8830115524

● Reduced soil erosion.

● Lowered soil surface evaporation.

Some Cons:

● not always suited to a mechanised farming system.

● Time consuming: It requires more attention and thus increased intensive, expert

management.

● There is reduced efficiency in planting, weeding and harvesting

Golden Langurs ● Found in Small regions of western Assam and in the neighbouring foothills of the black

mountains of Bhutan.

● Habitat: semi evergreen and mixed deciduous forests.

● Protection status:

○ Schedule I species in the Wildlife Protection Act (1972).

○ CITES Appendix I.

○ Endangered in IUCN Red List.

Jal Jeevan Mission ● The Jal Shakti Ministry is the nodal ministry for the implementation of the mission.

● to provide water supply to every household by 2024.

● The Mission is based on various water conservation efforts like point recharge, desilting

of minor irrigation tanks, use of greywater for agriculture and source sustainability.

● The Mission is based on a community approach to water and includes extensive

Information, Education and Communication as a key component of the mission.

● The Mission will converge with other Central and State Government Schemes to achieve

its objectives of sustainable water supply management across the country.

Mahseer sighted in Sileru river

● a large fresh water fish found in the Himalayan rivers that are running in cooler regions.

● IUCN Status : Endangered

● This includes Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Bhutan, Nepal.

● It is a project launched by the SHOAL, an international organization that is working to

conserve fresh water species.

Hump Backed Mahseer

● IUCN Status: Critically Endangered.

● They are found only in River Cauvery in India and no where in the world.

Sileru River

● It is a tributary of Sabari river.

● It originates in Andhra Pradesh and merges with Sabri in Andhra Pradesh.

● After collecting waters from Sileru, the Sabari river merges with Godavari river in Andhra

Pradesh.

Kashmir Saffron ( GI Tag ) ● It is known for its quality and aroma all over the world.

Contact : 8830115524

● Kashmir was ranked second after Iran is the largest producer of saffron in the world

● It is the only saffron in the world that is grown at an altitude of 1,600 metres to 1,800

metres

● The stigmas of the Kashmir Saffron are longer. They have a natural deep red colour.

● Their aroma is higher and they have a bitter flavour.

● They are processed without the use of chemicals

● There are three types of saffron namely Lachha Saffron, Guchhi Saffron, Mongra

Saffron.

Hurricane Laura ● Made landfall in southwestern Louisiana in US

● Hurricanes are large, swirling storms. They produce winds of 119 kilometers per hour

(74 mph) or higher.

● They form over warm ocean waters.

● Parts of a Hurricane

● Eye: The eye is the “hole” at the center of the storm. Winds are light in this area. Skies

are partly cloudy, and sometimes even clear.

● Eye wall: The eye wall is a ring of thunderstorms. These storms swirl around the eye.

The wall is where winds are strongest and rain is heaviest.

● Rain bands: Bands of clouds and rain go far out from a hurricane’s eye wall. These

bands stretch for hundreds of miles. They contain thunderstorms and sometimes

tornadoes.

● The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale: Hurricanes are categorized on the Saffir-

Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale, which rates them on a scale of 1 to 5 based on wind

speed.

● Hurricanes are given many names in different regions of the world:

● Typhoons: tropical cyclones are known as Typhoons in the China Sea and Pacific

Ocean.

● Hurricanes: In the West Indian islands in the Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean.

● Tornados: In the Guinea lands of West Africa and southern USA.

● Willy-willies: In north-western Australia and

● Tropical Cyclones: In the Indian Ocean Region.

Biochar ● Ghana, an African nation proved biochar application could help promote cowpea growth

and crop yield in the country as well as fight climate change impact on soil.

● Biochar is charcoal used as a soil amendment for both carbon sequestration and soil

health benefits.

● Biochar technically defied as the solid material obtained from the thermochemical

conversion of biomass in an oxygen-limited environment.

● Like most charcoal, biochar is made from biomass via pyrolysis (decomposition brought

about by high temperatures).

● Biochar may increase the following

○ Soil fertility of acidic soils (low pH soils),

○ Agricultural productivity,

○ Protection against some foliar and soil-borne diseases.

○ Soil’s water-holding capacity,

Contact : 8830115524

○ Nutrient supply and retention.

Barn Owls (Tyto alba): ● landbird species

● Barn Owl exhibits dark eyes, and a distinct heart-shaped facial disc.

● IUCN status- Least Concern.

● The Barn Owls mostly hunt small mammals especially rodents (hence it’s called as

farmer’s friend).

Mansar Lake Rejuvenation Project ● It is a comprehensive plan for development and upgradation of Mansar Lake and

surrounding areas.

● Aim : To holistically develop the sacred Lake of Manser as the second biggest tourist

destination in Jammu region and also to preserve the lake, its ecology and heritage.

Mansar Lake ● It is situated 62 km from Jammu.

● It is a lake fringed by forest-covered hills.

● Surinsar-Mansar Lakes were designated as Ramsar Convention in November 2005.

RORO service of South Western Railway ● First ever RORO service of South Western Railway from Nelamangla (near Bengaluru)

to Bale (near Solapur) has been started.

● Roll On Roll Off (RORO) is a concept of carrying road vehicles loaded with various

commodities, on open flat railway wagons.

● RO-RO train services were first introduced in Indian Railways on Konkan Railways in

1999, and are running successfully since then.

● Faster movement of goods and essentials, reducing Time taken by trucks to reach

destinations due to traffic congestion in between cities.

Odisha’s Kandhamal Haladi: ● It has a GI tag. It is a pure organic product.

● Tribals grow the tuber without applying fertiliser or pesticide.

Landslide Susceptibility mapping of Himalayas

● It is a map that identifies areas that are subject to landslides. It also says what creates

the landslides in that particular area.

● The scientists from the Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology operating under the

Department of Science and Technology carried out a study

● a study covering 84 square kilometres in the Lesser Himalayas.

● According to the study, 15% of the region is highly susceptible to landslides.

● There are three major ranges in the Himalayas. They are the Himadri, Himachal and the

Shiwalik. The Himachal is called the lesser Himalayas. Himadri is the Greater Himalayas

and the Shiwalik is the outer Himalayas.

●

Science & Technology ..

V. RAMAGOPAL RAO COMMITTEE

Contact : 8830115524

● a focus on indigenous development of futuristic technologies, a five-member expert

committee has been constituted to review the charter of duties for all laboratories of the

Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

● to study and review the charter of duties of all the labs of the DRDO, to redefine the

charter of duties of the labs on the current and futuristic defence and battlefield scenario,

and to minimise the overlap of technologies amongst the labs.

● The committee has to submit its report within 45 days.

Polio

● Africa Regional Certification Commission, an independent body has declared Africa free

from wild polio.

● It is a highly infectious disease caused by a virus. It invades the nervous system and can

cause total paralysis in a matter of hours.

● Transmission: The virus is transmitted by person-to-person spread mainly through the

faecal-oral route or by a common vehicle (for example contaminated water or food) and

multiplies in the intestine.

● Symptoms : Fatigue, headache, vomiting, stiffness of the neck and pain in the limbs.

● People at Risk: Polio mainly affects children under 5 years of age.

● Prevention : There is no cure for polio, it can only be prevented. Polio vaccine, given

multiple times, can protect a child for life.

● Africa has also been declared free of the last remaining strain of wild poliovirus.

● The disease is now only found in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Global Polio Eradication Initiative(GPEI) ● It is a public-private partnership led by national governments

● with five partners – WHO, Rotary International, US Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention (CDC), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Bill & Melinda Gates

Foundation and Gavi, the vaccine alliance.

● Its goal is to eradicate polio worldwide.

Aarogya Setu ● Launched in April 2020.

● Developed by the National Informatics Centre under the Ministry of Electronics &

Information Technology.

● The motto ‘Main Surakshit, Hum Surakshit, Bharat Surakshit’.

● It aids the efforts of frontline health workers and the Government in Covid-19 mitigation

and management efforts

● features like: e-pass integration, QR Code scanning, Sharing of Health status with

family/known persons, etc.

● Aarogya Setu has emerged as the most downloaded contact tracing App in the world,

with more than 15 crore users.

API - ‘Application Programming Interface’. ● An API is an interface that can be used to program software that interacts with an

existing application.

Contact : 8830115524

● In practice, an API is “a set of functions and procedures” that allow one to access and

build upon the data and functionality of an existing application.

Open Source API ● An open source API, also called public API, is an application programming interface

made publicly available to software developers.

● Open APIs are published on the internet and shared freely, allowing the owner of a

network-accessible service to give universal access to consumers.

● These are to support businesses with limited capital to invest in digital applications.

Most successful apps of GoI

UMANG

● UMANG is Unified Mobile Application for New-Age Governance

● It was launched by Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology in 2017.

● The user can avail multiple Government services under the app. This includes Aadhaar,

Digilocker, Employees Provident Fund, e-Land records, pension, ePathshala, crop

insurance, etc.

● Recently, the Indian Meteorological Department added weather services to the

application. This includes rainfall information, weather, cyclone warnings, etc.

BHIM

● BHIM is Bharat Interface for Money

● It was developed by National Payment Corporation of India

● It helps in cashless money transactions in India

● The user can check bank balance, send and receive money using the application.

Digi Locker

● It offers cloud storage of important documents such as driving license, study certificates

and other government service documents

● mPassport Seva

● It was developed by Consular, Passport and Visa division of Government of India

● Using the application, the users can track the status of their passport

● The users can find nearest Passport Deva Kendra

● It provides real time police verification status

Digital India

● Indian Digital economy is expected to cross 1 million USD by 2022. The following are the

progress and impacts of Digital India programme in the country

● Around 12,000 rural post offices were linked electronically

● Increased electronic transactions

● Around 2,74,246 km of optical fiber network connected 1.15 lakh Gram Panchayats.

Working of plasma therapy

Contact : 8830115524

● Plasma is the left out blood fluid after the blood components such as WBC, RBC and

platelets are removed.

● It holds antibodies. The antibodies are produced by the immune system of human body.

Plasma holds around 55% of blood in human body.

● Therefore, by injecting plasma into a COVID-19 patient, the doctor increases amount of

antibodies in his body. This increases the power of the immune system to fight against

the disease. Eventually, the patient recovers from COVID-19 completely.

● Also used for Ebola , H1N1, SARS

Telescopes in India - Indian Astronomical Observatory, Hanle

- It is the world second highest observatory located in Ladakh

- It is operated by Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Bengaluru

- Kodaikanal Solar Observatory, Kodaikanal, Tamil NAdu

- Udaipur Solar Observatory, Udaipur : It is located on an island in Fateh Sagar Lake The

observatory was built in lines of the solar observatory at Big Bear Lake, Southern

California.

- Vainu Bappu Observatory, Kavalur

- AERIES Observatory, Nainital

- MACE

- The world highest and India’s largest telescope gamma ray telescope MACE is in

Ladakh.

- MACE is Major Atmospheric Cherenkov Experiment Telescope.

- It is placed at an altitude of 4,300 metres above the sea level.

- It is the world second largest ground based gamma-ray telescope.

India’s ASTROSAT makes rare Discovery

● Scientists from the Inter University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA)

● detected extreme UV light from galaxy AUDFs01 that 9.3 billion light years away from

the Earth.

● The galaxy is located in the Hubble Extreme Deep field,

● The team comprises scientists from India, Switzerland, France, USA, Japan and

Netherlands.

● ASTROSAT is the first multi-wavelength space telescope of India.

● It is an IRS class satellite. IRS is Indian Remote Sensing Satellite.

● It was launched on September 28, 2015. With its success,

● ISRO is planning to launch ASTROSAT-2 as its successor.

● The five major instruments on board covers soft X-ray, hard X-ray, far UV, near UV, and

visible light.

Development of Synthetic Flavonoids ● scientists from Agharkar Research Institute (ARI), Pune have found the first synthetic

route for producing flavonoids molecules related to the treatment of tuberculosis and

chikungunya.

● Flavonoids are part of the polyphenol class of phytonutrients (plant chemicals)

● found in almost all fruits and vegetables.

Contact : 8830115524

● Along with carotenoids (organic pigments), they are responsible for the vivid colours in

fruits and vegetables.

● These are powerful antioxidants with anti-inflammatory and immune system benefits as

well.

● A diet rich in flavonoids can protect from diseases related to heart, liver, kidney, brain

and other infectious diseases.

National Cadet Corps ● The NCC was formed in 1948 (on the recommendation of H. N. Kunzru Committee-

1946), and has its roots to British era uniformed youth entities like University Corps or

University Officer Training Corps.

● Currently it has a strength of around 14 lakh cadets from Army, Navy and Air Force

wings.

● The NCC falls under the purview of the Ministry of Defence and is headed by a Director

General of three-star military rank.

● It enrolls cadets at high school and college level and also awards certificates on

completion of various phases.

● The NCC cadets receive basic military training at various levels and also have academic

curriculum basics related to Armed forces and their functioning.

● Various training camps, adventure activities and military training camps are an important

aspect of NCC training.

● Significance: NCC cadets have played an important role over the years in relief efforts

during various emergency situations.

Shekatkar Committee ● The Ministry of Defence under the chairmanship of Lt. Gen (Retd) DB Shekatkar had

constituted a committee

● to recommend measures to enhance combat capability and rebalance defence

expenditure of the armed forces which submitted its report in December 2016.

● Few Recommendations:

○ Closure of Military Farms and Army Postal Establishments in peace locations.

○ Enhancement in standards for recruitment of clerical staff and drivers in the

Army.

○ Improving the efficiency of the National Cadet Corps.

○ Recommended a roll-on defence budget to have enough capital expenditure

available for modernisation as against the present practice of surrendering

unspent capital budget at the end of each financial year.

Science and Technology Indicators (STI) ● a periodic compendium of the state of scientific research in India.

● Prepared by National Science and Technology Management Information System

(NSTMIS), a division of Department of Science and Technology (DST).

● It is based on data provided by a range of scientific establishments across the country.

● Key Findings: India’s private sector research companies appear to employ a larger

proportion of women in core research and development activities as compared to

government-funded major scientific agencies.

Contact : 8830115524

● The large drop in the number of women between the doctoral and professional stages

may be due to: Social pressure on women to have a family and sacrifice professional

Career & Patriarchal attitudes in hiring practices.

Black Box on Aircraft ● A black box, technically known as an Electronic Flight Data Recorder,

● an orange-coloured heavily protected recording device placed in a flight.

● Two Parts:

● the Flight Data Recorder (FDR): records things like airspeed, altitude, vertical

acceleration and fuel flow.

● Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR): records the conversations in the cockpit.

● Older black boxes used magnetic tape, now black boxes use solid-state memory boards

The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) ● a UN specialized agency, established in 1944

● to manage the administration and governance of the Convention on International Civil

Aviation (Chicago Convention).

The Chicago Convention ● was signed on 7th December, 1944 in Chicago (USA) by 52 signatory states including

India.

● It coordinates international air travel, establishes rules of airspace, aircraft registration

and safety, security, and sustainability, and details the rights of the signatories in relation

to air travel.

The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) ● an attached office of the Ministry of Civil Aviation (India).

● It is the regulatory authority for civil aviation security in India.

The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) ● a division of the Ministry of Civil Aviation which investigates aircraft accidents and

incidents in India.

● Recently, the Lok Sabha passed the Aircraft (Amendment) Bill, 2020 which seeks to

amend the Aircraft Act, 1934.

TIFAC

TIFAC is an autonomous organisation and think-tank of the Department of Science and

Technology and it commissioned the report in March 2020 when the Covid-19 pandemic had

started accelerating in India.

Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients

● These are significant ingredients in the manufacturing of drugs and are also called bulk

drugs.

● The Hubei province of China is the hub of the API manufacturing industry.

Pharmaceutical Intermediates ● These are chemical compounds which form the building blocks of the APIs

● Produced as a by-product during the production of API.

Contact : 8830115524

Ninja UAVs

● Indian Railways started deploying “Ninja UAVs” (unmanned aerial vehicles) for

establishing a drone-based surveillance system.

● NINJA UAVs are capable of real- time tracking, video streaming and may be operated

on Automatic Fail-Safe mode

● They are lightweight and economical micro contraptions built for mapping and

surveillance.

● They can be used to launch surveillance on criminal and anti-social activities like

gambling, throwing of garbage, hawking etc in Railway premises.

● It can be used at disaster sites for helping in rescue, recovery and restoration and

coordination

South Atlantic Anomaly ● The South Atlantic Anomaly signifies weakening of the Earth’s magnetic field between

Africa and South America.

● The magnetic shield has an important role to play in keeping unwanted radiation away as

well as helping determine the location of magnetic poles.

● affect the mapping and navigation systems in smartphones.

● Swarm is European Space Agency's first constellation of satellites for Earth observation.

Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Center ● an independent nodal agency under the Department of Space which will permit and

oversee the activities of private companies.

● This is part of reforms aimed at giving a boost to the private sector participating in

space-related activities or using India’s space resources.

● Encourage, promote and handhold the private sector for their participation in the Space

Sector.

● Draw up an integrated launch manifest considering the requirements for ISRO, New

Space India Limited (NSIL) and private companies based on priorities and readiness

level.

● Work out a suitable mechanism to offer sharing of technology, expertise and facilities on

free of cost wherever feasible or at reasonable cost basis to promote private companies.

2 commercial arm of the Indian Space Research Organisation Antrix Corporation Limited (ACL):

● a Marketing arm of ISRO

● for promotion and commercial exploitation of space products, technical consultancy

services and transfer of technologies developed by ISRO.

● Antrix will handle ISRO’s commercial deals for satellites and launch vehicles with foreign

customers.

New Space India Limited (NSIL):

Contact : 8830115524

● to use research and development carried out by ISRO over the years for commercial

purposes through Indian industry partners.

● It will deal with capacity building of local industry for space manufacturing.

Small Satellite Launch Vehicle

● The SSLV is the smallest vehicle weighing only 110-tonne.

● It would take only 72 hours to integrate, unlike the 70 days taken for launch vehicles like

Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) or Geosynchronous Satellite Launch

vehicle(GSLV).

● Cost-effective: Its cost would be around Rs. 30 crores.

● It will be an on-demand vehicle.

● SSLV is perfectly suited for launching multiple microsatellites at a time and supports

multiple orbital drop-offs.

● The SSLV can carry satellites weighing up to 500 kg to Low Earth Orbit while the PSLV

can launch satellites weighing in the range of 1,000 kg.

● A low Earth orbit (LEO) is an orbit around Earth with an altitude above the Earth's

surface of 2,000 kilometres (1,200 mi), and an orbital period between about 84 and 127

minutes.

● ISRO’s SSLV was originally scheduled to have its first development flight on July 2019

but got delayed to end of 2019.

DRDO developed Anti-Drone System ● The anti-drone system can detect micro drones up to 3 kilo metres.

● It uses LASER to bring down target up to 1-2.5 kilo metres.

● It can detect and identify drone threats.

Digital Sky Platform ● The platform is a drone traffic management system that facilitates registration and

licensing of drones.

● It operates giving instant clearance to operators for every flight. The entire process shall

be done online.

● The Drone Regulation 1.0 has partitioned the sky into red zone, green zone and yellow

zone.

● Flying is not permitted in red zones.

● Controlled use of air space is permitted in yellow zones

● Automatic permission is availed to fly drones in green zones.

Anti-Drug Working Group BRICS

● The group reaffirmed their commitments towards the Anti-Drug Conventions.

● The meeting focused on misuse of technologies for drug trafficking( Darknet ).

Anti-Drug Action Plan 2020-21 ● launched by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.

Contact : 8830115524

● International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking (June 26)

● The plan includes identification of drug dependent population, awareness generation

programme, focus on treatment facilities

● action plan includes: De-addiction facilities in Districts , drop-in centres for addicts.Drug-

free India campaign, Integrated Rehabilitation Centre for Addicts (IRCAs),

Golden Triangle ● It represents the region coinciding with the rural mountains of Myanmar, Laos, and

Thailand.

● It is Southeast Asia’s main opium-producing region and one of the oldest narcotics

supply routes to Europe and North America.

Golden Crescent ● This region of South Asia is a principal global site for opium production and distribution.

● It comprises Afghanistan, Iran, and Pakistan.

Millennium Alliance:

● It is an innovation-driven and impact-focused initiative

● Objective : Leveraging collaborative resources to identify test and scale Indian

innovations that address global development solutions.

● Significance ➔ The program has played an important role in providing funding,

capacity building and business development support to Indian social enterprises.

● A consortium of partners (Public-Private Partnership) including the Department of

Science and Technology, Govt. of India, United States Agency for International

Development (USAID), Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry

(FICCI), UK Government’s Department for International Development (DFID), Facebook

and Marico Innovation Foundation.

Arrow 2 ● It is an advanced missile defence system developed jointly by the U.S and Israel

● for defence against both short and mid-range rockets fired from Gaza and Lebanon as

well as Iran’s long-range missiles.

● Iron Dome: It is a mobile all-weather air defence system developed by Israel to intercept

and destroy short-range rockets and artillery shells fired from short distances.

Phosphine

● It is a flammable gas that on Earth occurs from the breakdown of organic matter.

● Phosphine is a phosphorus atom with three hydrogen atoms attached (PH3) – is highly toxic to people.

● Scientists have detected the presence of phosphine in the atmosphere of Venus. ● On Earth, this gas is associated with living organisms.

● It can only be made by life—whether human or microbe.

● Phosphine is made naturally by some species of anaerobic bacteria

Contact : 8830115524

● Used as a chemical weapon during World War I, phosphine is still manufactured as an

agricultural fumigant, is used in the semiconductor industry, and is a nasty byproduct of

meth labs.

Mega labs ● These labs will use Next Generation Sequencing machines (NGS) which are normally

used for sequencing human genomes to sequence 1,500 to 3,000 viral genomes at a go

to detect the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

● Benefits : These genome sequencing machines can substantially detect the possible

presence of the virus even in several instances.

● Genome sequencing: It means determining the order of the four chemical building

blocks called “bases” that make up the DNA molecule.

● Next Generation Sequencing(NGS): It allows parallel Genome sequencing resulting in

the generation of giga bases of data in a short amount of time. This has reduced the cost

per genome significantly, making genomic data more accessible to individual

researchers.

DNA Technology (Use and Application) Regulation Bill, 2018

● The Bill allows the use of the technology to establish the identity of persons in matters of

crime, parentage dispute, emigration or immigration and transplantation of human

organs.

● It provides for establishment of national and regional DNA data banks and each

databank will maintain crime scene index, suspects’ or undertrials’ index and offenders’

index separately.

Genome India Project (GIP) ● the Ministry of Science and Technology :an ambitious gene-mapping project

● aims to sample and sequence 10,000 genomes in the first phase from across India, to

arrive at a representative Indian genome.

Gene Mapping & DNA profiling ● DNA profiling uses small stretches of DNA to identify an individual while gene mapping

involves sequencing the whole genome.

● The biological material used to determine a DNA profile include blood, semen, saliva,

urine, faeces, hair, teeth, bone, tissue and cells.

● Gene Mapping is done for scientific and medical uses while DNA profiling is done

primarily for forensic and criminal investigation.

Controlling Dengue Using Bacteria

● World Mosquito Program have used mosquitoes infected with Wolbachia bacteria to

successfully control dengue in Yogyakarta city of Indonesia.

● World Mosquito Program is an Australia-based not-for-profit initiative that exists to

protect the global community from mosquito-borne diseases.

Contact : 8830115524

● The Aedes aegypti mosquito, that spreads Dengue and other diseases such as

chikungunya, Zika and yellow fever cannot do so when they are artificially infected with a

bacterium, Wolbachia.

● Wolbachia are natural bacteria present in up to 60% of insect species, including some

mosquitoes.

● Wolbachia is safe for humans, animals and the environment.

Dengue

● Dengue is a mosquito-borne tropical disease caused by the dengue virus (Genus

Flavivirus),

● transmitted by several species of mosquito within the genus Aedes, principally Aedes

aegypti.

● Symptoms include fever, headache, muscle and joint pains, and a characteristic skin

rash.

● There are four strains from Type I-IV, of which Type-II and IV are considered more

severe.

LiDAR ● LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) is a remote sensing method that uses light in the

form of a pulsed laser to measure ranges & variable distances.

● These light pulses—combined with other data recorded by the airborne system—

generate precise, three-dimensional information about the shape of the Earth and its

surface characteristics.

● A LiDAR instrument principally consists of a laser, a scanner, and a specialized GPS

receiver.

● Airplanes and helicopters are the most commonly used platforms for acquiring LiDAR

data over broad areas.

● Applications:

○ LiDAR is used for agriculture, hydrology and water management systems

○ and geology-related applications.

○ It is also used in archaeology.

OPV Sarthak ● Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) for the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) was launched and

named as Indian Coast Guard Ship ‘Sarthak’.

● OPV Sarthak is the 4th in the series of the indigenous project for 05 OPVs.

● OPVs are long-range surface ships capable of coastal and offshore patrolling, policing

maritime zones, control and surveillance, anti-smuggling and anti-piracy operations with

limited wartime roles.

● OPV Sarthak has been designed & built indigenously by M/s Goa Shipyard Limited

(GSL)

Contact : 8830115524

Naval Innovation and Indigenisation Organisation (NIIO) ● Objective: To foster innovation and indigenisation for self-reliance in defence in keeping

with the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat.

● It will put in place dedicated structures for the end-users to interact with academia and

industry.

● Structure: The NIIO is a three-tiered organisation.

● Naval Technology Acceleration Council (N-TAC) will bring together the twin aspects of

innovation and indigenisation and provide apex level directives.

● Working group under the N-TAC will implement the projects.

● Technology Development Acceleration Cell (TDAC) has been created for induction of

emerging disruptive technology in an accelerated time frame.

SRIJAN Portal

● This portal provides information regarding the defence equipment and items

which are being imported currently or to be imported by the Defence PSUs in the

country.

● The government will take proper measures regarding making these products

indigenized.

India’s first upper-stage rocket engine test-fired by Skyroot Aerospace

● the first private company in India to demonstrate the capability to build a homegrown

rocket engine.

● The engine is 3-D printed and named as Raman, after the Nobel Laureate CV Raman.

● It has fewer moving parts and weighs less than half of conventional rocket engines with

similar capacity.

● The engine is capable of multiple restarts, enabling the launch vehicle to insert various

satellites into multiple orbits in a single mission.

Plasmodium Vivax Malaria

● Plasmodium vivax is a protozoal parasite and a human pathogen.

● This parasite is the most frequent and widely distributed cause of recurring malaria.

● The parasite can remain in the liver in a dormant stage and relapse later.

● P. vivax is carried by the female Anopheles mosquito; the males do not bite

Sputnik V:

● 1st coronavirus vaccine launched by Russia.

● The vaccine is based on the DNA of a SARS-CoV-2 type adenovirus, a common cold

virus.

● The vaccine uses the weakened virus to deliver small parts of a pathogen and stimulate

an immune response.

Adenovirus Vector Vaccine : ● In this vaccine, adenovirus is used as a tool to deliver genes or vaccine antigens to the

target host tissue.

Contact : 8830115524

● Adenovirus: Adenoviruses (ADVs) are DNA viruses which induce many illnesses in

humans like cold, respiratory infection etc.

● their DNA is double stranded which makes them genetically more stable and the

chances of them changing after injection are lower.

● Rabies vaccine is an adenovirus vaccine.

● However, there are drawbacks of adenovirus vector vaccines like pre-existing immunity

in humans, inflammatory responses etc.

The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO)

● under Directorate General of Health Services ,Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, is the

National Regulatory Authority (NRA) of India.

● CDSCO is responsible for approval of Drugs, Conduct of Clinical Trials, laying down the

standards for Drugs, control over the quality of imported Drugs in the country and

coordination of the activities of State Drug Control Organizations by providing expert

advice.

Development of a vaccine

● The general stages of the development cycle of a vaccine are:

○ Exploratory stage

○ Pre-clinical stage

○ Clinical development

○ Regulatory review and approval

○ Manufacturing and

○ Quality control.

● The Clinical development is a three-phase process:

○ Clinical trials in humans are classified into three phases: phase I, phase II and

phase III

○ The phase I clinical studies carry out initial testing of a vaccine in small numbers

(e.g. 20) of healthy adults, to test the properties of a vaccine, its tolerability, and,

if appropriate, clinical laboratory and pharmacological parameters. Phase I

studies are primarily concerned with safety.

○ Phase II studies involve larger numbers of subjects and are intended to provide

preliminary information about a vaccine’s ability to produce its desired effect

(usually immunogenicity) in the target population and its general safety.

○ Extensive phase III trials are required to fully assess the protective efficacy and

safety of a vaccine. The phase III clinical trial is the pivotal study on which the

decision on whether to grant the licence is based and sufficient data have to be

obtained to demonstrate that a new product is safe and effective for the purpose

intended.

○ Many vaccines undergo Phase IV formal ongoing studies after the vaccine is

approved and licensed.

Vaccine Nationalism

● Vaccine nationalism occurs when a country manages to secure doses of vaccine for its

own citizens or residents before they are made available in other countries. This is done

through pre-purchase agreements between a government and a vaccine manufacturer.

Contact : 8830115524

Electric Vehicles (EVs)

● An electric vehicle, uses one or more electric motors or traction motors for propulsion.

● An electric vehicle may be powered through self-contained battery, solar panels or an

electric generator to convert fuel to electricity.

● Government has set a target of electric vehicles making up 30 % of new sales of cars

and two-wheelers by 2030 from less than 1% today.

● The GST reduction for electric vehicles from 12% to 5%.

● The Union power ministry categorized charging of batteries as a service, which will help

charging stations operate without licences.

Types of EV’s

Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs)

● only powered by electricity and do not have a petrol engine, fuel tank or exhaust pipe.

● also known as ‘plug-in’ EVs as they use an external electrical charging outlet to charge

the battery.

● Also charged in part by regenerative braking, which generates electricity from some of

the energy normally lost when braking.

Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs)

● HEVs are powered by both petrol and electricity.

● HEVs cannot be recharged from the power grid or external electrical charging outlet.

Their electric energy comes entirely from regenerative braking and most of their driving

is spent using gasoline.

Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles

● EV is powered by both petrol and electricity.

● PHEVs can recharge the battery through both regenerative braking and ‘plugging-in’ to

an external electrical charging outlet.

Fuel-cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV)

● A FCEV creates electricity from hydrogen and oxygen, instead of storing and releasing

energy like a battery.

● Because of these vehicles’ efficiency and water-only emissions, some experts consider

these cars to be the best electric vehicles, even though they are still in development

phases and provide many challenges.

National Electric Mobility Mission Plan (NEMMP) ● launched in 2013 .

● aims to achieve national fuel security by promoting hybrid and electric vehicles in the

country.

● to promote clean, connected, shared, sustainable and holistic mobility initiatives.

● There is an ambitious target to achieve 6-7 million sales of hybrid and electric vehicles

year on year from 2020 onwards.

Contact : 8830115524

Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (Hybrid &) Electric Vehicles

(FAME India)

● Monitoring Authority: the Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises.

● The main objective of the scheme is to encourage a faster adoption of electric and

hybrid vehicles by offering upfront incentives on purchase of electric vehicles and also

by establishing necessary charging infrastructure for EVs.

● focus areas : technology development, demand creation, pilot projects and charging

infrastructure.

● Phase I: started in 2015 and was completed on 31st March, 2019

● Phase II: started from April, 2019, will be completed by 31st March, 2022

Objectives:

● Encourage Faster adoption of Electric and hybrid vehicle by way of offering upfront

Incentive on purchase of Electric vehicles.

● Establish a necessary charging Infrastructure for electric vehicles.

● The scheme will help in addressing the issue of environmental pollution and fuel

security.

Volcanoes on Venus

● Venus is still geologically active.

● The study identified 37 active volcanoes, in the form of ring-like structures known as

coronae, on the surface of Venus.

● The coronae form when plumes of hot material deep inside the planet rise through the

mantle layer and crust.

● Europe's EnVision that is scheduled to launch in 2032 aims at determining the level

and nature of the geological activity and the sequence of events that generated the

surface features of Venus.

Venus

● Second closest planet to the sun and the sixth-largest planet in the solar system

● known as earth's twin.

● Hottest planet extreme temperatures (450 deg C) and acidic clouds make it an unlikely

place for life.

● Along with Uranus it spins backwards with respect to other planets i.e. Its sun rises in

the west and sets in the east.

● Along with Mercury it has no moons and no rings.

COVID19BWM APP’ ● Application launched by the Central Pollution Control Board(CPCB) to track biomedical

waste.

● Feature: It allows a generator of waste (urban local body in the case of home and

hospital); the picker of the waste (transport of the ULB) and the waste treatment operator

to feed in data so that COVID-19 biomedical waste can be tracked and monitored.

Contact : 8830115524

Barakah: Arab World’s first ever nuclear reactor starts its operation ● at Abu Dhabi on the Gulf coast.

● Barakah developed in a joint venture with the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation

(ENEC) and Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO)

● Barakah means “blessing” in Arabic.

● process of nuclear fission

● The energy in the reactor plant will be generated by 1,400-megawatt pressurised water

reactors, designed in South Korea, called APR-1400.

Nuclear Reactor ● A nuclear reactor is the most important part of a nuclear power plant. It is where the

nuclear chain reactions occur that produce energy by fission. The heat thus produced

can be used to produce electricity.

The main components of a nuclear reactor are listed below:

● The Core: It contains all the fuel and generates the heat required for energy production.

● The Coolant: It passes through the core, absorbing the heat and transferring into

turbines.

● The Turbine: Transfers energy into the mechanical form.

● The Cooling Tower: It eliminates the excess heat that is not converted or transferred.

● Neutron Moderator: Moderators are used for reducing the speed of fast neutrons

released from the fission reaction and making them capable of sustaining a nuclear

chain reaction.

● Usually, water, solid graphite, and heavy water are used as a moderator in nuclear

reactors.

● Commonly-used moderators include regular (light) water (in 74.8% of the world’s

reactors), solid graphite (20% of reactors), heavy water (5% of reactors).

● The Containment: The enveloping structure that separates the nuclear reactor from the

surrounding environment.

● Neutron Poison: A neutron poison (also called a neutron absorber or a nuclear poison) is

a substance with a large neutron absorption cross-section.

Types of Reactor A. Pressurized Heavy Water Reactor

● Use unenriched natural uranium as its fuel. It uses heavy water (Deuterium oxide D2O)

as its coolant and moderator.

● While heavy water is significantly more expensive than ordinary light water, it yields

greatly enhanced neutron economy, allowing the reactor to operate without fuel

enrichment facilities.

B. Light Water Reactor

● a type of thermal- neutron reactor that utilizes normal water as opposed to heavy water.

● It is fuelled by Low Enriched Uranium.

● It uses water as both a coolant method and a neutron moderator.

● It produces heat by controlled nuclear fission.

C. Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor

Contact : 8830115524

● Generates more fissile material than it consumes.

● These are designed to extend the nuclear fuel supply for electric power generation.

● Breeder reactors achieve this because their neutron economy is high enough to create

more fissile fuel than they use, by irradiation of a fertile material, such as Uranium-238 or

Thorium-232 that is loaded into the reactor along with fissile fuel.

● PFBR is a 500 MWe fast breeder nuclear reactor presently being constructed at the

Madras Atomic Power Station in Kalpakkam (Tamil Nadu).

● It is fuelled by Mixed Oxide (MOX) Fuel.

Nuclear Power Plants in India Rawatbhata (Rajasthan)

Tarapur (Maharashtra)

Kudankulam (Tamil Nadu)

Kakrapar (Gujarat)

Kalpakkam (Tamil Nadu)

Narora (Uttar Pradesh)

Kaiga (Karnataka)

China Launches BeiDou Global Navigation Satellite System

● Features: A hybrid constellation consisting of around 30 satellites in three kinds of orbits:

Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO), Inclined Geo-Synchronous Orbit (IGSO) and Medium

Earth Orbit (MEO).

● Provides navigation signals of multiple frequencies, and is able to improve service

accuracy by using combined multi-frequency signals.

● Offers accurate positioning, navigation and timing, as well as short messaging

communication, international search and rescue, satellite-based augmentation, ground

augmentation and precise point positioning, etc.

● fourth global satellite navigation system after the USA GPS, Russia’s GLONASS

and European Union’s Galileo.

● Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) is a general term describing any satellite

constellation that provides Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) services on a

global basis.

IRNSS ― NavIC (India) ● The Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS)

● Launched and operated by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO),

● IRNSS covers India and nearby regions extending up to 1,500 km.

● The constellation consists of 7 active satellites, out of which three are located in

Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO) and four in Inclined Geo-Synchronous Orbit (IGSO).

Satellite Orbits

● An orbit is a regular, repeating path that an object in space takes around another one.

An object moving around a planet in an orbit is called a satellite. According to the height

of satellites from the earth, the orbits can be classified as

● High Earth orbit (mostly weather and communication satellites) ( more 35780 km)

● Medium Earth orbit (most navigation satellites) ( 2000 – 35780 km )

Contact : 8830115524

● Low Earth orbit (Scientific satellites like NASA’s Earth observing Fleet).(180 – 2000

km)

● Geo-Synchronous orbit : A geosynchronous orbit is any orbit which has a period equal

to the earth's rotational period.

● Geostationary Orbit: A Geostationary Orbit is a time of Geosynchronous orbit in the

same plane as that of the equator.

Undersea Optic Fibre Link connecting Lakshadweep Islands with the

mainland: ● Second project in the country. The first of its kind was established between Chennai and

Port Blair.

● help to boost communication between India and Lakshadweep.

● The Department of Telecommunications is to implement the project.

● The cable will boost internet speed up to 400 Giga Bytes per second.

● Also, it will boost 4G mobile services and digital services such as e-governance, tele-

education, tourism, tele-health in the islands.

Bharat Air Fibre: Wireless Internet ● To provide BSNL fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) wireless connectivity up to a range of 20 km

from the BSNL points of presence.

● Inaugurated at Akola in Maharashtra

● connectivity speed is 100 Mbps

● vast network of Optical Fibre

Optical Fibre Or Fibre Optics

● Refers to the medium and the technology associated with the transmission of

information as light pulses along a glass or plastic strand or fiber.

● Fiber optics is used long-distance and high-performance data networking.

● Uses the application of total internal reflection of light.

● The glass fiber core and the cladding each have a different refractive index that bends

incoming light at a certain angle. When light signals are sent through the fiber optic

cable, they reflect off the core and cladding in a series of zig-zag bounces, adhering to a

process called total internal reflection.

Types of Optical Fibers

● The types of optical fibers depend on the refractive index, materials used, and mode of

propagation of light.

The classification based on the refractive index is as follows:

● Step Index Fibers: It consists of a core surrounded by the cladding, which has a single

uniform index of refraction.

● Graded Index Fibers: The refractive index of the optical fiber decreases as the radial

distance from the fiber axis increases.

The classification based on the materials used is as follows:

● Plastic Optical Fibers: The polymethylmethacrylate is used as a core material for the

transmission of the light.

● Glass Fibers: It consists of extremely fine glass fibers.

Contact : 8830115524

The classification based on the mode of propagation of light is as follows:

● Single-Mode Fibers: These fibers are used for long-distance transmission of signals.

● Multimode Fibers: These fibers are used for short-distance transmission of signals.

● The mode of propagation and refractive index of the core is used to form four

combination types of optic fibers as follows:

● Step index-single mode fibers

● Graded index-Single mode fibers

● Step index-Multimode fibers

● Graded index-Multimode fibers

Aspirin to Prevent Cataract ● scientists from the Institute of Nano Science & Technology (INST) have developed

nanorods from the Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug (NSAID) Aspirin to prevent

cataracts

● Aspirin is a popular medication used to reduce pain, fever, or inflammation

● Cataract

● Major form of blindness that occurs when the structure of crystallin proteins that make up

the lens in human eyes deteriorates.

● causes damaged or disorganised proteins to aggregate and forms a milky blue or brown

layer, which ultimately affects lens transparency.

● The lens protein crystallin aggregates to form opaque structures in the eye lens, which

impairs vision and causes cataract.

Smart India Hackathon 2020

● The hackathon is a nationwide initiative to provide students with a platform to solve

some of the pressing problems people face in daily lives, and thus inculcate a culture of

product innovation and a mindset of problem-solving.

● The first edition of Smart India Hackathon was held in 2017.

● This hackathon is being organised jointly by the Ministry of Human Resources

Development, All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), Persistent Systems

and i4c.

Drug Discovery Hackathon 2020

● The objective is to identify drug candidates against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) by in-silico

drug discovery.

● joint initiative of the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD), All India Council

for Technical Education (AICTE) and the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research

(CSIR) and supported by partners like Centre for Development of Advanced Computing

(CDAC), MyGov and private players.

In-Silico Drug Discovery ● In-Silico is an expression used to mean “performed on computer or via computer

simulation.”

● In-Silico drug discovery process is thus the identification of the drug target molecule by

employing bioinformatics tools.

Contact : 8830115524

● Drug target molecules generally include DNA, RNA and proteins such as receptors,

enzymes etc.

● Identification of drug target molecules help in knowing their pharmacological relevance

to the disease under investigation.

● Bioinformatics is the application of computational technology (such as Artificial

Intelligence/Machine Learning) to handle the rapidly growing repository of information

related to molecular biology.

5G HACKATHON

● to identify and promote applications relevant to India in the 5G realm,

● he Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has launched ‘5G Hackathon’in

association with the number of government, academia& industry stakeholders.

● Aim : It is aimed at shortlisting India focussed cutting edge ideas that can be converted

into workable 5G products and solutions

All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE)

● It was set up in November 1945 as a national-level apex advisory body.

● in 1987 that it was given a statutory status under an Act of the Parliament.

● Its purpose was to conduct a survey on the facilities available for technical education

and to promote development in the country in a coordinated and integrated manner.

● According to the National Policy of Education (1986), AICTE is vested with:

○ Statutory authority for planning, formulation, and maintenance of norms &

standards,

○ Quality assurance through accreditation,

○ Funding in priority areas, monitoring, and evaluation,

○ Maintaining parity of certification & awards,

○ The management of technical education in the country.

Information Technology Agreement

● It is a plurilateral agreement enforced by the WTO and concluded by 29 participants in

the Ministerial Declaration on Trade in Information Technology Products at Singapore in

1996.

● It entered into force on 1st July 1997.It seeks to accelerate and deepen the reduction of

trade barriers for the critically important ICT industry.

● Currently, the number of participants has grown to 82, representing about 97% of world

trade in IT products.

● India is a signatory.

Project Praana ● The Scientists and Students in Indian Institute of Science have developed a prototype of

an indigenous ventilator under project Praana

● The Project Pranna is a voluntary effort to help the nation at the time of crisis.

Contact : 8830115524

Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) Initiative

● an initiative for modernization of the Defence Industry.

● launched in April 2018.

● iDEX aims to promote innovation and technology development in Defence and

Aerospace by engaging Industries (which includes MSMEs, start-ups, individual

innovators, R&D institutes & academia).

● iDEX will provide the engaging industries with funding and other support to carry out

Research & Development.

● iDEX will be funded and managed by Defence Innovation Organization (DIO), and will

function as the executive arm of DIO.

SpaceX Crew Dragon:

● It is a reusable spacecraft developed and manufactured by American aerospace

manufacturer SpaceX.

● SpaceX is a private company founded in 2002 by Elon Musk.

● headquarters in Hawthorne, California (USA).

● It is the fifth class of the USA spacecraft to take human beings into orbit, after the

Mercury, Gemini, Apollo and Space Shuttle programs.

● The rocket Falcon 9 was launched from NASA's Kennedy Space Center on 31st May

2020 and carried the spaceship into the orbit.

● The whole mission was carried out under the Demo-2 Mission of NASA and SpaceX.

Grand Challenges India Programm

● It is a partnership framework for the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) in India, its

Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) and the Bill and Melinda

Gates Foundation.

● Aim: To launch joint initiatives aimed at catalyzing innovative health and development

research within India.

National Biopharma Mission

● It is an industry-academia collaborative mission for accelerating biopharmaceutical

development in the country.

● It was launched in 2017 at a total cost of Rs. 1500 crore and is 50% co-funded by World

Bank loan.

● It is being implemented by the BIRAC.

● Under this Mission, the Government has launched Innovate in India (i3) programme to

create an enabling ecosystem to promote entrepreneurship and indigenous

manufacturing in the biopharma sector.

● Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) is a Public Sector

Enterprise, set up by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT).

Contact : 8830115524

● BIRAC an Interface Agency to strengthen and empower the emerging Biotech enterprise

to undertake strategic research and innovation, addressing nationally relevant product

development needs.

Institute of Nano Science and Technology (INST) ● is an autonomous research institution of Department of Science and Technology (India),

under the Society Registration Act, 1960

● under the umbrella of national mission on Nano Science and Technology (NANO

MISSION) which aims to promote growth and outreach of nanoscience and technology

for the benefit of country

● INST has been set up to undertake research and generate products/devices and

technology in the area of Nanoscience and Technology.

Nano Mission

● The Government of India launched the Nano Mission in 2007 as an "umbrella capacity-

building programme".

● It is being implemented by the Department of Science and Technology (DST) under the

Ministry of Science and Technology.

● The objectives:

○ Basic research promotion

○ Infrastructure development

○ Nano applications and technology development

○ Human Resource development

○ International collaborations

Minuteman 3

● The US has tested an unarmed Minuteman 3

● Three-stage, solid-fueled, intercontinental-range ballistic missile.

● has a maximum range of 13,000 km

intercontinental ballistic missiles

● It is a guided ballistic missile with a minimum range of 5500 kilometres

● they are mainly used for the delivery of nuclear weapons. also biological and chemical

weapons

● Agni V & Agni VI are India’s ICBM

Blockchain Technology in Voting

● Remote voting may take place in person somewhere other than an assigned polling

station or at another time, or votes may be sent by post or cast by an appointed proxy.

● Electronic voting has been used in varying forms since the 1970s with fundamental

benefits over paper based systems such as increased efficiency and reduced errors.

● Growing concern over election security, voter registration integrity, poll accessibility, and

voter turnout has led governments to consider blockchain-based voting platforms as a

means to increase faith and participation in essential democratic processes.

Contact : 8830115524

Blockchain Technology: ● Blockchain is a system in which the database of recordings (a ‘chain’) appears on

multiple computers at the same time even as it is updated with any new digital

information (‘a block’).

● It offers a singular combination of permanent and tamper-evident record keeping, real-

time transaction transparency and auditability.

● The initial and primary use of blockchain technology was for monitoring cryptocurrency

(e.g. bitcoin) transactions. However, other usage and applications have emerged in the

last few years.

Blockchain Uses:

● Libra: it is a blockchain based cryptocurrency to be launched in 2020 by Facebook's

subsidiary company 'Calibra', using programming language 'Move.

● NIC sets up 'Centre of Excellence in Blockchain Technology' in Bengaluru

● Telangana to set up countrys first Blockchain District in Hyderabad

● BOND-i : The World Bank launched blockchain operated new debt instrument.First bond

to be created, allocated, managed using distributer ledger technology.

● Initial Coin Offerings (ICO) are a type of crowdfunding or crowd investing tool

conducted entirely on the blockchain.

● Coffee E-market: Coffee Board of India has launched blockchain based coffee e-

marketplace integrate the farmers with markets in a transparent manner.

●

Sunspots ● Sunspots (some as large as 50,000 km in diameter) are areas that appear dark on the

surface of the Sun (photosphere).

● They appear dark because they are cooler( 6,500 deg F) than other parts of the Sun’s

surface.

● cool because they form at areas where magnetic fields are particularly strong. These

magnetic fields are so strong that they keep some of the heat within the Sun from

reaching the surface.

● They typically consist of a dark region called the ‘umbra’, which is surrounded by a

lighter region called the ‘penumbra’.

● In every solar cycle, the number of Sunspots increases and decreases.

● The current solar cycle, which began in 2008, is in its ‘solar minimum’ phase, when the

number of Sunspots and solar flares is at a routine low.

Solar Flares: ● The magnetic field lines near sunspots often tangle, cross, and reorganize. This can

cause a sudden explosion of energy called a solar flare.

● The solar flare explosion’s energy can be equivalent atomic bombs dropped on

Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945.

● Solar flares release a lot of radiation into space.

● Solar flares, when powerful enough, can disrupt satellite and radio transmission on the

Earth, and more severe ones can cause ‘geomagnetic storms’ that can damage

Contact : 8830115524

transformers in power grids.

● A geomagnetic storm is a major disturbance of Earth’s magnetosphere that occurs

when there is a very efficient exchange of energy from the solar wind into the space

surrounding Earth.

● Magnetosphere is a region around the Earth dominated by the Earth’s magnetic field.

● It protects the Earth from solar and cosmic radiation as well as erosion of the

atmosphere by the solar wind - the constant flow of charged particles streaming off the

Sun.

Solar Cycle ● The Sun is a huge ball of electrically-charged hot gas. This charged gas moves,

generating a powerful magnetic field. The Sun's magnetic field goes through a cycle,

called the solar cycle.

● Every 11 years or so, the Sun's magnetic field completely flips. This means that the

Sun's north and south poles switch places.

● The solar cycle affects activity on the surface of the Sun

Coronal Mass Ejection(CME)

● These are huge bubbles of radiation and particles from the Sun. They explode into

space at very high speed when the Sun’s magnetic field lines suddenly reorganize.

Perseids Meteor Shower

● This is an annual celestial event and is considered the best meteor shower, as many

bright meteors and fireballs shoot through the sky making it easy for people to watch it

from Earth.

● Meteor: It is a space rock or meteoroid that enters Earth's atmosphere.

● Meteoroids are objects in space that range in size from dust grains to small asteroids.

● When meteoroids enter Earth’s atmosphere (or that of another planet, like Mars) at high

speed and burn up, the fireballs or “shooting stars” are called meteors.

● Meteorite:When a meteoroid survives its journey through the atmosphere and hits the

ground, it’s called a meteorite.

● Meteor Shower:When Earth encounters many meteoroids at once, it is called a meteor

shower.

● Comets, like Earth and the other planets, also orbit the sun. Unlike the nearly circular

orbits of the planets, the orbits of comets are usually quite lop-sided.

● Meteor showers are named for the constellation where the meteors appear

to be coming from.

● The Perseids occur as the Earth runs into pieces of cosmic debris left behind by the

comet Swift-Tuttle.

Dwarf Planet Ceres

● the largest object in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.

● only dwarf planet located in the inner solar system (includes planets Mercury, Venus,

Earth and Mars).

Contact : 8830115524

● diameter : 950 km, takes 1,682 Earth days, or 4.6 Earth years, to make one trip around

the sun.

● It completes one rotation around its axis every 9 hours.

● no moon or rings.

● The scientists have given Ceres the status of an ocean world as it has a big reservoir of

salty water underneath its frigid surface.

Dwarf Planets

● A dwarf planet is a celestial body that - orbits the sun, has enough mass to assume a

nearly round shape, has not cleared the neighborhood around its orbit and is not a

moon.

● The first five recognised dwarf planets are Ceres, Pluto, Eris, Makemake and Haumea.

International Astronomical Union

● Founded in 1919, headquartered in Paris, France.

● Mission is to promote and safeguard the science of astronomy in all its aspects,

including research, communication, education and development, through international

cooperation.

● It is the global authority for naming planetary features in the solar system.

Star Formation in Dwarf Galaxies

● astronomers from the Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES)

have found out the reasons behind intense star formation in some dwarf galaxies.

● Dwarf galaxies are the most abundant type of galaxy in the universe but are difficult to

detect due to their low luminosity, low mass and small size.

● Scientists used the 1.3-meter Devasthal Fast Optical Telescope (DFOT) near Nainital

(Uttarakhand) and the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT) in Maharashtra.

Star Formation in Galaxies

● Stars are born within the clouds of dust and gas scattered throughout most galaxies.

● Turbulence deep within these clouds gives rise to knots with sufficient mass that the gas

and dust can begin to collapse under its own gravitational attraction.

● As the cloud collapses, the material at the center begins to heat up. Known as a

protostar, it is this hot core that one day becomes a star.

● Not all of this material ends up as part of a star — the remaining dust can become

planets, asteroids, or comets or may remain as dust.

● Stars are fueled by the nuclear fusion of hydrogen to form helium deep in their interiors.

● The outflow of energy from the central regions of the star provides the pressure

necessary to keep the star from collapsing under its own weight, and the energy by

which it shines.

NASA Planet Hunter TESS finds 66 new Exoplanets ● TESS is Transitioning Exoplanet Survey Satellite.

● TESS is a space telescope designed to search Exoplanets. It searches for Exoplanets

covering 400 times larger area as covered by Kepler Mission.

● TESS was launched by Falcon Rocket in 2018.

● The main objective of TESS Mission is to survey the brightest stars near the earth. It

uses an array of wide-field cameras that covers 85% of the sky.

● The earlier mission KEPLER focused on planets around distant stars. TESS focuses on

planets around nearby stars

Contact : 8830115524

GOLD and ICON Mission ● Details : To explore the earth's ionosphere. Agency : NASA

● focus on the temperature and makeup of Earth’s highest atmospheric layers.

● inspect the ultraviolet radiation that the upper atmosphere releases

India’s Exoplanet Search Mission PARAS ● PARAS is PRL Advanced Radial-velocity Abu-sky Search.

● It is ground-based exoplanet search device. It is located at Mt Abu.

● PARAS has achieved RV accuracy of 1.3 m/sec.

● PARAS works on bright sun like quiet stars.

● It uses Thorium-Argon lamp for calibration. It is capable of detecting planets around M-

type stars having low luminosities.

● M-Type Stars

Omega Centauri ● It is a global cluster in the constellation of Centaurus.

● It was discovered by Edmond Halley in 1677.

● Situated at a distance of 15800 light-years from the earth,

● it is the largest globular cluster in the Milky Way. This contains around 10 million stars.

● first time the scientists have observed the presence of Helium in the Omega Centauri

cluster and this may lead to some serious observations in the future regarding this.

Einstein Ring

● It is created when the light from a galaxy or star passes by a massive object en route to

the Earth.

● Due to the gravitational lensing, the light is diverted, giving the impression that it comes

from different places.

● If the source, lens and the observer are all aligned, the light appears as a ring only.

Asteroids ● Asteroids are also known as minor planets.

● They are rocky remnants left over from the early formation of our solar system about 4.6

billion years ago.

● Most asteroids are irregularly shaped, though a few are nearly spherical.

● Many asteroids are known to have a small companion moon (some have two moons).

● There are also binary (double) asteroids, in which two rocky bodies of roughly equal size

orbit each other, as well as triple asteroid systems.

Near-Earth Object (NEO) ● NASA defines NEOs as comets and asteroids nudged by the gravitational attraction of

nearby planets into orbits that allow them to enter the Earth’s neighbourhood.

● composed mostly of water ice with embedded dust particles.

● Trojans, which are asteroids that share an orbit with a larger planet.

● Near-Earth Asteroids (NEA), which have orbits that pass close by the Earth. Those that

cross the Earth’s orbit are called Earth-crossers.

Potentially hazardous asteroids (PHAs)

Contact : 8830115524

● defined based on parameters that measure the asteroid’s potential to make threatening

close approaches to the Earth

● Specifically, all asteroids with a minimum orbit intersection distance (MOID) of 0.05 au or

less are considered PHAs.

Lagrange Points ● Its positions in space where the gravitational forces of a two body system like the Sun

and the Earth produce enhanced regions of attraction and repulsion.

● These can be used by spacecraft to reduce fuel consumption needed to remain in

position.

Digital Quality of Life ( DQL) Index 2020: SurfShark

● SurfShark, an online privacy solutions provider.

● Five fundamental pillars that define the digital quality of life namely

1. Internet affordability, 2. internet quality, 3. Electronic infrastructure, 4.

electronic security and 5. electronic government

● India stands at the overall rank of 57 out of the 85 countries.

Swadeshi Microprocessor Challenge ● Announced by Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY)

● Challenge seeks to invite innovators, startups and students to use microprocessors,

developed by IIT Madras and C-DAC, to generate various technology products.

● IIT Madras and C-DAC have developed two microprocessors named SHAKTI (32 bit) and

VEGA (64 bit) respectively using Open Source Architecture under the aegis of

Microprocessor Development Programme of MeitY.

● India’s First indigenous microprocessor “AJIT” developed by Indian Institute of

Technology Bombay (IIT Bombay)

● A microprocessor is an Integrated Circuit (IC) that contains a few millions of transistors

(semiconductor-based electronic devices) fused on a semiconductor chip.Used in almost

every electronics device

Centre for Development of Advanced Computing

● an Autonomous Scientific Society , premier Research & Development organization of the

Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) for carrying out R&D in IT,

Electronics and associated areas.

● The National Centre for Software Technology, ER&DCI and CEDTI were merged into C-

DAC in 2003.

National Supercomputing Mission ● announced in 2015, with an aim to connect national academic and R&D institutions with

a grid of more than 70 high-performance computing facilities at an estimated cost of

₹4,500 crores over the period of seven years

● It supports the government's vision of 'Digital India' and 'Make in India' initiatives.

● implemented by the Department of Science and Technology (Ministry of Science and

Technology) and Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), through the

Contact : 8830115524

Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), Pune and Indian Institute of

Science (IISc), Bengaluru.

● India's first supercomputer PARAM Shivay was indigenously built (in 1991)by the

Centre for Development of Advanced Computing.It was installed in IIT (BHU)

● Similar systems Param Shakti and Param Brahma were installed at IIT-Kharagpur and

IISER, Pune.

● Currently The fastest supercomputer in India Pratyush, a Cray XC40 system - an

array of computers that can deliver a peak power of 6.8 petaflops, installed at the Indian

Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune

Open Source Architecture

● Open-source architecture is a concept that combines the advances in design and

technologies with the practices and ideas from open-source projects to help reframe an

architectural design as a collective and collaborative endeavor.

● Some of its features are as follow:

○ The solutions provided are not restrictive. Future modifications or add-ons to the

architecture are possible for the best interest of the end user.

○ It helps in the integration of the widest range of technologies and components.

Microprocessor Development Program

● approved in August 2017

● Implemented by C-DAC, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras and IIT Bombay

● Under the program, not only industry-grade microprocessors have been designed from

the scratch but also the ‘compute ecosystem’ around them has been evolved as a step

towards meeting India's future requirements.

Invisible Shield against Electromagnetic Interference

● scientists from the Centre for Nano and Soft Matter Sciences (CeNS), Bengaluru, have

designed a metal mesh structure to construct an invisible shield

● CeNS is an autonomous institute under the Department of Science & Technology,

Electromagnetic Interference

● EMI is an electromagnetic emission that causes a disturbance in another piece of electrical

equipment.

● Any device that has an electronic circuit can be susceptible to EMI.

● The scientists have developed a copper metal mesh on polyethylene terephthalate (PET)

sheet, instead of continuous film, which exhibits a visible transmittance of about 85%.

Atal Rankings of Institutions on Innovation Achievements (ARIIA) 2020

● an initiative of Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) (Now, it is the Ministry

of Education), Govt. of India

● to systematically rank all major higher educational institutions and universities in India.

● Major Indicators for ranking are:

1. Programs and Activities on IPR, Innovation, Start-up and Entrepreneurship

2. Pre Incubation & Incubation Infrastructure & Facilities to Support I&E

Contact : 8830115524

3. Annual Budget Spent on Promoting and Supporting I&E Activities

4. Courses on Innovation, IPR and Entrepreneurship Development

5. Intellectual Property(IP), Technology Transfer and Commercialization

6. Successful Innovation and Start-ups & Funding Innovation & start-ups.

Super Apps in India ● A super app is an omnichannel digital platform, i.e.- a platform developed by a company

offering various services and products under one umbrella.

● For example, China’s WeChat, which started out as a messaging app, expanded into

payments, cabs, shopping, food ordering, cab services to become a super app.

● A physical world analogy of a super app would be a mall, which allows retail space to

various brands and shops across businesses and verticals.

Tianwen-1 ● China launched its first Mars mission.

● The spacecraft consists of an orbiter, a lander and a rover.

● Launched on a Long March 5 rocket from Xichang, China.

● UAE having launched HOPE mission

● NASA to launch its own rover ‘Perseverance’.

Gaofen-9 05 Satellite ● Launched by China

● It is a new optical remote- sensing satellite carried by Long March-2D carrier rocket.

● It was launched from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center along with another satellite

named Tiantuo-5.

Magnetic Hyperthermia-Mediated Cancer Therapy (MHCT) ● It is a non-invasive cancer treatment.

● Technique : It involves the delivery and localisation of magnetic materials within the

targeted tumour site followed by subsequent application of an alternating magnetic

field(AMF) thereby generating heat at the tumour site.

● Applications: It can efficiently act against deep-seated inaccessible solid tumours like

glioblastoma and is highly thermo-sensitive towards normal cells with minimal toxicity

against healthy counterparts.

● Institute of Nano Science & Technology ( INST ) is an autonomous institute of

Department of Science and Technology (DST).

INS Viraat ● INS Viraat holds the Guinness World Record for being the longest serving warship of the

world.

● Viraat, a Centaur class aircraft served in the British Navy as HMS Hermes for 25 years

● It was commissioned into the Indian Navy in May 1987 after refurbishment.

Contact : 8830115524

● Viraat played a major role in Operation Jupiter in 1989 during the Sri Lankan

Peacekeeping operation. Op Parakram in 2001-2002, post the terrorist attack on

Parliament.

● The indigenous Advance Light Helicopters ‘Dhruv’ and the Russian twin rotor Kamov-31

have also operated from the ship.

● India is currently doing with only the 44,500-tonne INS Vikramaditya, the refurbished

Admiral Gorshkov inducted from Russia in November 2013.

Association of Renewable Energy Agencies of States (AREAS)

● Registered under Society Registration Act, 1860 on 27th August 2014.

● State Nodal Agencies (SNAs) for Renewable Energy (RE) interact and learn from each

other’s experiences and also share their best practices and knowledge regarding

technologies and schemes/programmes.

● Members: The Union Minister for New & Renewable Energy (NRE) is the Patron of the

Association and Secretary, MNRE is the ex-officio President of the Association. All SNAs

are members of the Association.

● Sector Specific Initiatives:

Solar Energy: ● International Solar Alliance

● One Sun, One World, One Grid (OSOWOG)

● National Solar Mission (a part of National Action Plan on Climate Change)

● Pradham Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyaan (PM KUSUM)

● Atal Jyoti Yojana

● Suryamitra Skill Development Programme

● Solar Park Scheme and Grid Connected Solar Rooftop Scheme

● Rewa Solar Power Plant

Wind Energy: ● National Wind Resource Assessment programme

● National Wind-Solar Hybrid Policy 2018

● National Institute of Wind Energy, Tamil Nadu

● Waste to Energy:

● Programme on Energy from Urban, Industrial, Agricultural Wastes/Residues and

Municipal Solid Waste

Bio Energy: ● Biomass power & cogeneration programme

● Biogas Power Generation (Off-grid) and Thermal energy application Programme

(BPGTP)

International Relation .

Travel Bubble: ● Creating a travel bubble involves reconnecting countries or states which have shown a

good level of success in containing the Covid-19 pandemic domestically.

Contact : 8830115524

● Such a bubble would allow the members of the group to restart trade ties with each other

and open travel and tourism.

●

Contraction of Eurozone Economy

● The Eurozone consists of 19 members of European Union (EU), which uses the Euro as

their official currency.

● 8 EU members (Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Hungary, Poland,

Romania, and Sweden) do not use the euro.

Euro Corona bonds

● Corona bonds would be a collective debt amongst EU member states

● Aim of providing financial relief to Eurozone countries battered by the coronavirus.

The Frugal Four consists of EU: 1. Germany

2. The Netherlands.

3. Finland

4. Austria

United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE): ● Set up in 1947 by ECOSOC.

● It is one of five regional commissions of the United Nations.

● UNECE’s major aim is to promote pan-European economic integration.

● It includes 56 member States in Europe, North America and Asia.

Quadrilateral Dialogue: China, Nepal, Pakistan and Afghanistan

● China proposed a four-point plan to contain the Covid-19 pandemic, boost economic

recovery and resumption of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) infrastructure projects.

● The four-point plan included:

○ To share consensus in fighting the pandemic as good neighbours.

○ To learn from China and Pakistan’s joint prevention and control model of the

pandemic.

○ To look at opening up green channels as soon as possible by the four countries.

○ China's expertise to the three countries in fighting Covid-19. It also included the

vaccines that are being developed, to be shared with the three countries.

● Green channel is the route followed in passing through customs in an airport, etc by

passengers claiming to have no dutiable goods to declare

Black Lives Matter Protest

● It is a global movement advocating for non-violent civil disobedience in protest

against incidents of police brutality and all racially motivated violence against African-

American people.

● mission is to eradicate white supremacy and build local power to intervene in

violence inflicted on Black communities by the state and vigilantes.

● The movement was founded in 2013 in response to the acquittal of Trayvon Martin’s

(African-American) murderer in the USA.

Contact : 8830115524

India-Pakistan Issues

Sir Creek

● It is a 96 km long strip of water disputed between India and Pakistan in the Rann of

Kutch marshlands.

● The dispute lies in the interpretation of the maritime boundary line between Kutch and

Sindh.

● Pakistan claims the line to follow the eastern shore of the estuary while India claims a

centerline (differing interpretations of paragraphs 9 and 10 of the Bombay Government

Resolution of 1914 signed between the then Government of Sindh and Rao Maharaj of

Kutch).

● India insists the Sir Creek should be divided between the two countries according to

thalweg principle. Under international law, a thalweg is the middle of the primary

navigable channel of a waterway that defines the boundary line between states.

● The International Boundary in the Sir Creek area and International Maritime Boundary

line (IMBL) between India and Pakistan have not been demarcated.

Siachen Glacier

● The Siachen Glacier is part of Ladakh which has now been converted into a Union

Territory. It is the Second-Longest glacier in the World's Non-Polar areas.

● It is located in the Eastern Karakoram range in the Himalayas, just northeast of Point

NJ9842 where the Line of Control between India and Pakistan ends.

● It lies immediately south of the great drainage divide that separates the Eurasian Plate

from the Indian subcontinent in the extensively glaciated portion of the Karakoram

sometimes called the "Third Pole".

● It is the world's highest battlefield.

FATA

● The Federally Administered Tribal Areas was a semi-autonomous tribal region in

northwestern Pakistan that existed from 1947. In 2018 it was merged with the

neighboring province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

75th Anniversary of Hiroshima Bombing

● On 6th August 1945, a US bomber dropped the uranium fission bomb, codenamed Little

Boy, on Hiroshima, a city in Japan.

● On 9th August 1945, it dropped another bomb codenamed Fat Man, on Nagasaki.

● killed around 80,000 people in Hiroshima and around 40,000 people in Nagasaki.

● Thousands more died in the following years due to the exposure to radiation from the

blast and also from the black rain that fell in the aftermath of the explosions.

● Long-term effects of the attack included birth defects, malnutrition, cancer and other

illnesses

● This bombing marked the end of World War II, with Japan surrendering to the Allies on

14th August 1945.

● the two major alliances during World War-II : The Allies led by Great Britain, the

United States, and the Soviet Union. The other alliance, Axis was led by Germany,

Italy, and Japan.

Tsar Bomb

● world’s most powerful hydrogen bomb by Russia

Contact : 8830115524

● A Hydrogen Bomb derives its energy by nuclear fusion reactions.

● An atom bomb derives its energy from nuclear fusion reaction.

● Hydrogen bombs have so far not been used in any war.

● It is believed to be 3,333 times more destructive than that of the Hiroshima Nagasaki

Atom bombs Little Boy and Fat Man.

● The countries that have conducted hydrogen bomb tests are Britain, US, Russia, France

and China , North Korea

Tokamak ● The tokamak is an experimental magnetic fusion device designed to harness the energy

of fusion.

● Inside a tokamak, the energy produced through the fusion is absorbed as heat in

the walls of the vessel, which will be used by a fusion power plant to produce steam and

then electricity by way of turbines and generators.

● The device uses magnetic fields

Loya Jirga: Grand Assembly of Afghanistan

● to decide on freeing about 400 Taliban fighters convicted for serious crimes including

murder and abductions.

● About Lya Jirga: It is a mass national gathering that brings together representatives

from the various ethnic, religious, and tribal communities in Afghanistan.

● It is a highly respected centuries-old consultative body that has been convened at

times of national crisis or to settle national issues.

● According to the Afghan Constitution, a Loya Jirga is considered the highest expression

of the Afghan people. It is not an official decision-making body and its decisions are not

legally binding.

● However, the Loya Jirga's decision is seen as final, with the president and parliament

expected to respect the ruling.

Universal Ratification to Child Labour Convention

● International Labour Organization (ILO)’s convention on Worst Forms of Child Labour

also known as Convention No. 182 received universal ratification after the Kingdom of

Tonga ratified the same.

● The convention was adopted by ILO member states meeting in Geneva in 1999.

● Aims to protect children from the worst forms of child labour, which include slavery,

prostitution, trafficking, deployment of children in armed conflict and other conditions that

compromise their overall well-being.

● The UN General Assembly has declared 2021 as the year for the elimination of child

labour.

● India has not ratified the two core/fundamental conventions, namely Freedom of

Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention, 1948 (No. 87) and Right

to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention, 1949 (No. 98).

●

Convention no. 182:Worst forms of Child Labour Convention

● Adopted in the 1999 annual international labour conference,

Contact : 8830115524

● requires countries to take ratifying countries to take immediate, effective and time-bound

measures to eliminate the worst forms of child labour as a matter of urgency.

● Prohibits the sexual exploitation of children, trafficking, deployment in armed conflict and

other conditions that compromise their overall well-being.

● The Convention 182 complements the ILO’s efforts under the 1973 Minimum Age

Convention(No. 138) to prevent the employment of children below a lower age threshold.

International Labour Organization (ILO) ● dealing with labour issues, particularly international labour standards, social protection,

and work opportunities for all.

● ILO was created in 1919, as part of the Treaty of Versailles that ended World War I,

● It became specialized agency of the United Nations in 1946.

● In 1969, ILO received the Nobel Peace Prize for improving fraternity and peace among

nations, pursuing decent work and justice for workers, and providing technical

assistance to other developing nations.

● India is a founder member of the International Labour Organization.

● The Headquarter of ILO is in Geneva, Switzerland.

LABOUR BUREAU

● Labour Bureau, an attached office under Ministry of Labour and Employment,

● Set up on 1st October 1946.

● The Labour Bureau is an Apex National Level organization in the field of labour statistics

● Functions such as Labour Intelligence, Research, monitoring /evaluation & training

● Two main wings stationed in Shimla and Chandigarh.

● The logo also represents the three goals that the Labour Bureau strives to achieve in

producing quality data i.e. Accuracy, Validity and Reliability.

● CPI for Industrial Workers (IW), CPI for Agricultural Labourer (AL) , CPI for Rural

Labourer (RL). are compiled by the Labour Bureau

● CPI (Rural/Urban/Combined) compiled by the Central Statistical Organisation (CSO)

India Announces Package to Maldives

● a five-pronged package including air, sea, intra-island and telecommunications to help it

deal with the economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

● Importance of Maldives:

● Maldives proximity to the west coast of India.

● Lakshadweep group is separated from Maldives by Eight Degree Channel.

● It is situated at the hub of commercial sea-lanes running through Indian Ocean. More

than 97% of India’s international trade by volume and 75% by value passes through the

region.

Greater Male Connectivity Project ● It is a 6.7 kilometre bridge project connecting Male with Gulhifalhu Port and Thilafushi

industrial zone that will help revitalise and transform Maldivian economy.

● India will provide a $400 million Line of Credit and $100 million grant for the project.

Contact : 8830115524

● Cargo Ferry Service: A regular cargo ferry service between India and Maldives will be

started to boost trade and commerce.

● Air Travel Bubble : India is starting an air connectivity “bubble” for travel with Maldives to

sustain and promote the people-to-people ties between the two countries.

● Submarine Cable: It is a communication cable laid on the sea bed between land-based

stations to carry telecommunication signals across stretches of ocean and sea. India will

lay down a submarine cable for telecom connectivity in Maldives.

Line of Credit (LOC)

● The Line of Credit is not a grant but a ‘soft loan’ provided on concessional interest rates

to developing countries, which has to be repaid by the borrowing government.

● The LOCs also helps to promote exports of Indian goods and services, as 75% of the

value of the contract must be sourced from India.

Djibouti Code of Conduct(DCOC) Or Jeddah Amendment (

Established in 2009) ● India has joined DCOC/JA as Observer.

● established under the International Maritime Organization (IMO)

● It is a grouping on maritime matters aimed at repression of piracy and armed robbery

against ships in the Western Indian Ocean Region, the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea.

● It comprises 18 member states adjoining the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, the East Coast of

Africa and Island countries in the Indian Ocean Region.

● Observer States India, Japan, Norway, the UK and the US

World Solar Technology Summit for the first ● The International Solar Alliance(ISA) will hold this summit

● The summit aims to bring the world scientists and engineers together to address the

challenges to make energy affordable.

● The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) working with ISA ● The summit witnessed the announcement of agreements between ISA and following

institutions ○ International Institute of Refrigeration, ○ Global Green Growth Institute ○ National Thermal Power Corporation.

● A tripartite agreement between India’s Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, the World Bank and the International Solar Alliance is also set to be inked.

● ISA’s technology journal, Solar Compass 360 was also be launched during the summit.

The International Solar Alliance(ISA)

● an alliance of 121 countries that works to tap benefits of solar power and promote clean

energy applications.

● It was initiated by India.

● launched by the Prime Minister of India and the President of France on 30th November

2015 in Paris, France on the side-lines of the Conference of the Parties (COP-21),

● The countries between Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn are the main members

of the alliance.

● The other countries can enjoy the benefits from the alliance, however, cannot vote.

● The ISA works on the following objectives

Contact : 8830115524

○ Health of the planet

○ Equity of access to energy across the planet

19th Amendment of Constitution of Srilanka ● It was passed in 2015 during the former President Maithripala Sirisena-Prime Minister

Ranil Wickremesinghe’s term (2015-19).

● It sought not only to clip the President’s executive powers, but also to strengthen

independence of key pillars such as the judiciary, public service and elections.

● It brought back the two-term limit on Presidency.

● It was hailed by many, including members of civil society, as a progressive legislation in

contemporary Sri Lankan history, even as its critics found it falling short in some

respects.

● However, the Rajapaksa camp viewed its clauses as primarily intended to prevent its

leaders’ return to power

Boundary Working Group: India-Nepal ● The BWG is a joint agency constituted by the governments of India and Nepal in 2014 to

carry out works in the fields of construction, restoration and repair of boundary pillars

including clearance of ‘no-man’s land’ and other technical tasks.

● The BWG’s inputs are critical as they are given to the governments on the basis of field-

level survey.

Currency Swap Arrangement (CSA) ● An arrangement between two friendly countries to involve in trading in their own local

currencies.

● As per the arrangements, both countries pay for import and export trade at the pre-

determined rates of exchange, without bringing in third country currency like the US

Dollar.

UK’s ‘Eat Out to Help Out’ scheme ● EOHO Scheme is an economic recovery measure by the UK government to support

hospitality businesses as they reopen after the COVID-19 lockdown in the country.

● Under the EOHO Scheme, the government would subsidise meals (food and non-

alcoholic drinks only) at restaurants by 50 per cent, from Monday to Wednesday every

week, all through August.

● The discount is capped at GBP 10 per head and does not apply to take-away or event

catering.

● There is no minimum spend and no limit on the number of times customers can avail the

offer, since the whole point of the scheme is to encourage a return to dining in

restaurants.

Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) – Transport Initiative for

Asia (TIA) ● Launched by NITI Aayog

● It is a joint programme, supported by the International Climate Initiative (IKI) of the

German Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU).

● It aims to promote a comprehensive approach to decarbonize transport in India,

Vietnam, and China.

Contact : 8830115524

● Focus : Strengthening GreenHouse Gas (GHG) and transport modelling capacities.

● It is implemented by a consortium of seven other organisations.

● On behalf of the Government of India, NITI Aayog will be the implementing partner.

Amnesty International ● Amnesty International (AI) India has demanded an independent investigation into all

allegations of human rights violations by the police during the north-east Delhi riots.

● Amnesty International (AI) is an international Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO)

founded in London (UK) in 1961.

● It seeks to publicise violations by governments and other entities of rights recognized in

the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948), especially freedom of speech and of

conscience and the right against torture.

● In 1977, it was awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace.

● AI India is a part of the global human rights movement spearheaded by Amnesty

International. It has its registered office in Bangalore (Karnataka).

UN World Tourism Organisation

● It is the United Nations agency responsible for the promotion of responsible, sustainable

and universally accessible tourism.

● Established in : 1974.

● Headquarters: Madrid, Spain.

● Purpose : It promotes tourism as a driver of economic growth, inclusive development

and environmental sustainability and offers leadership and support to the sector in

advancing knowledge and tourism policies worldwide.

● It encourages the implementation of the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism, to maximize

tourism’s socio-economic contribution while minimizing its possible negative impacts. ◎

It releases the World Tourism Barometer annually

AGRIOTA: E-Market Platform ● UAE Government launched AGRIOTA, a new technology driven agricultural commodity

trading platform

● that will bridge the rural farmers from India and the gulf Food Industry

International Institutions-Reports.

India First Policy of Sri Lanka ● Sri Lanka announces that though its is open to major economic deals with other

countries, India will be first when it comes to its strategic security

● Joint military exercise called the “MITRA SHAKTI”.

● Conduct a joint Naval Exercise called “SLINEX”.

● India is currently providing defence training to Sri Lankan forces

● A tri-lateral maritime security cooperation agreement was signed between India,

Maldives and Sri Lanka to improve surveillance, reduce maritime pollution and anti-

piracy operations.

Global Food Security Index (GFSI) ● which examines the state of food systems across 113 countries.

Contact : 8830115524

● Developed by The Economist Intelligence Unit, and supported by Corteva Agriscience,

● this year’s report of the data highlights the potential threat of the environmental crisis on

food security and how proper investment and advances in food innovation can help to

mitigate this risk.

● India ranked 72nd out of 113 in 2019

● Singapore was ranked the first followed by Ireland, United States, Switzerland and

Finland

Global Food Policy Report, 2019 ● The report was launched by the International Food Policy Research Institute.

● The key findings

● The rural population account to 45.3% of the world.

● At least 70% of the world population remains extremely poor

● Rural revitalization is essential to end malnutrition and hunger

● Change in consumption patterns is the need of the hour

India-Vietnam Meeting ● meeting of India-Vietnam Joint Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific and

Technological Cooperation

Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative( IPOI ) ● IPOI was launched by the Prime Minister of India at the East Asia Summit in November

2019.

● It focuses on seven central pillars conceived around Maritime Security, Maritime

Ecology, Maritime Resources, Capacity Building and Resource Sharing, Disaster Risk

Reduction and Management, Science, Technology and Academic Cooperation, and

Trade Connectivity and Maritime Transport.

BRICS 5G Innovation Base ● China has proposed the creation of a BRICS innovation base in China to take forward

5G and Artificial Intelligence (AI) cooperation

UK- 5G club:

● In May, British government approached the US with the prospect of creating a 5G club of

10 democracies.

● It includes G7 countries –UK, US, Italy, Germany, France, Japan and Canada – plus

Australia, South Korea and India.

● It will aim to create alternative suppliers of 5G equipment and other technologies to

avoid relying on China.

About 5G

● 5G is based on OFDM (Orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing),

● a method of modulating a digital signal across several different channels to reduce

interference.

Contact : 8830115524

● 5G uses 5G NR air interface alongside OFDM principles.

● 5G also uses wider bandwidth technologies such as sub-6 GHz and mmWave.

Eurasian Group on Combating Money Laundering and Financing of

Terrorism (EAG) ● six founding countries:Belarus, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan.

● The EAG is a regional body comprising nine countries: India, Russia, China,

Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Belarus.

● Established in 2004, it is an associate member of the FATF

● Function:

● Assisting member-states in implementing the 40 FATF anti-money laundering

Recommendations and the 9 Special FATF Recommendations on combating terrorist

financing (FATF 40+9 Recommendations).

● Developing and conducting joint activities aimed at combating money laundering and

terrorist financing.

●

Financial Action Task Force

● an inter-governmental body established in 1989 during the G7 Summit in Paris.

● The objectives of the FATF are to set standards and promote effective implementation of

legal, regulatory and operational measures for combating money laundering, terrorist

financing and other related threats to the integrity of the international financial system.

● Its Secretariat is located at the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and

Development (OECD) headquarters in Paris.

● Member Countries: it consists of thirty-seven member jurisdictions.

● India is one of the members.

● FATF has two lists:

○ Grey List: Countries that are considered safe haven for supporting terror funding

and money laundering are put in the FATF grey list.

○ Black List: Countries known as Non-Cooperative Countries or Territories

(NCCTs) are put in the blacklist. These countries support terror funding and

money laundering activities.

● The FATF Plenary is the decision making body of the FATF. It meets three times per

year.

India-Uzbekistan hold first National Coordination Committee meeting ● they discussed their bilateral interests such as trade and investment and Line of Credit

projects

● Pharmaceuticals , medical tourism Joint Centre of Information Technology, investments

in amusement parks, automobile components and hospitality industry.

● In July 2019, an IT park was established in Tashkent, Uzbekistan with Indian assistance.

● Dustlik: India-Uzbekistan joint military exercise

Contact : 8830115524

● Uzbekistan is important for India for its uranium supplies.

India and Israel signed a new cultural agreement

● to strengthen people-to-people exchanges.

● a three year programme on cultural cooperation from 2020-23.

● The areas of cooperation under the agreement are exchange of culture and art experts;

organizing literature fests and book fairs as well as promoting the translation of famous

works in each other’s languages; enhancing cooperation in the protection of cultural

heritage and archaeology

● The agreement also includes encourage direct contacts between national libraries and

book publishers; student exchanges through scholarships.

● Co-operation in co-production in the field of cinema and audio-visual

● major emphasis to bring the youth of both the countries together through participation in

festivals, sharing experiences, knowledge, etc.

India attends AINTT (ASEAN-India Network of Think Tanks) ● AINTT was established to provide policy inputs to India and Association of Southeast

Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries on future directions of their cooperation.

ASEAN: ● ASEAN is Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

● Established to promote social and political stability in the post-colonial states of Asia-

Pacific regions.

● The motto of ASEAN is One Vision, One Identity, One Community. August 8 is

observed as ASEAN Day.

● The member nations Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei,

Laos, Vietnam, Myanmar and Cambodia.

Supply Chain Resilience Initiative ● Launched by India, Japan and Australia

● The initiative aims to reduce the dependency in China.

● The main aim of the initiative is to attract foreign direct investment in the Indo-Pacific

region.to turn the region to an economic powerhouse.to build partner relationship

between the countries in the region.

● Significance: The initiative is a direct response to companies that are concerned about

Chinese political behaviour and disruption to the supply chain.

● Supply chain resilience is an approach that helps a country to ensure that it has

diversified its supply risk across a clutch of supplying nations instead of being dependent

on just one or a few.

Initiatives Launched on G20 EMM ● G20 Environment Ministers Meeting (EMM) was held under the Presidency of the

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia recently.

Initiatives Launched

Contact : 8830115524

● to reduce Land Degradation

● at creating a global research and development programme to advance research in all

facets of coral reef conservation, restoration and adaptation.

● Documents on managing emissions and climate change adaptations.

● What is Land Degradation?

● It is the reduction or loss of biological or economic productivity of the land resulting from

land uses or from a process or combination of processes, including human activities and

climatic variations.

G20 ● It is an informal group of 19 countries and the European Union (EU), with

representatives of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.

● Founded in 1999.

● It operates as a forum and not as an organization.it does not have any permanent

secretariat or management and administrative structure.

● Members of G20 includes Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France,

Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi

Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, the UK, the USA, and the EU.

World Bank’s Human Capital Index 2020 ( HCI ) ● India has been ranked at the 116th position out of 174 countries.(Last Year 115 in 157 )

● India’s score increased to 0.49 in 2020 from 0.44 in 2018.

● HCI claims to seek to measure the amount of human capital that a child born today can

expect to attain by age 18.

● The HCI has three components:

○ Survival: as measured by under-5 mortality rates

○ Expected years of Quality-Adjusted School: which combines information on

the quantity and quality of education

○ Health environment: Using two proxies of (a) adult survival rates and (b) the

rate of stunting for children under age 5.

● Other Reports Published by World Bank:

○ Global Economic Prospects

○ Ease of Doing Business

○ World Development Report

World Bank Group

● 189 member countries

● unique global partnership: five institutions working for sustainable solutions that reduce

poverty and build shared prosperity in developing countries.

● Bank Group’s twin goals of ending extreme poverty by 2030 and boosting shared

prosperity of the poorest 40% of the population in all countries.

● World Bank Group consists of five development institutions.

Contact : 8830115524

1. International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) provides loans,

credits, and grants.

2. International Development Association (IDA) provides low- or no-interest loans to

low-income countries.

3. The International Finance Corporation (IFC) provides investment, advice, and

asset management to companies and governments.

4. The Multilateral Guarantee Agency (MIGA) insures lenders and investors against

political risk such as war.

5. The International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID)

settles investment-disputes between investors and countries.

● the World Bank formed by the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development

(IBRD) and International Development Association (IDA)

● which provides financing, policy advice, and technical assistance to governments of

developing countries.

Human Development Index ( HDI )

● HDI is part of the Human Development Report that is published by the United Nations

Development Programme (UNDP).

● The HDI combining three dimensions:

○ A long and healthy life: Life expectancy at birth

○ Education index: Mean years of schooling and Expected years of schooling

○ A decent standard of living: GNI per capita

The other indices Human Development Report UNDP are: ● Inequality-adjusted Human Development Index (IHDI)

● Gender Development Index (GDI)

● Gender Inequality Index (GII)

● Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI).

Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement: USA (BECA)

● BECA will allow India to use the geospatial maps of the USA to get pinpoint military

accuracy of automated hardware systems and weapons such as cruise and ballistic

missiles.

● BECA is an important precursor to India acquiring armed unmanned aerial vehicles such

as the Predator-B from the USA. Predator-B uses spatial data for accurate strikes on

enemy targets.

● BECA is one of the four foundational military communication agreements between the

two countries. The other three being GSOMIA, LEMOA, CISMOA.

General Security Of Military Information Agreement ● GSOMIA allows militaries to share the intelligence gathered by them.

● Signed by India in 2002.

● An extension to the GSOMIA, the Industrial Security Annex (ISA), was signed at the 2+2

dialogue in 2019.

Contact : 8830115524

● ISA provides a framework for exchange and protection of classified military information

between the USA and Indian defence industries.

Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement

● LEMOA allows both countries to have access to each other’s designated military

facilities for refueling and replenishment.

● Signed by India in 2016.

Communications and Information Security Memorandum of

Agreement ● COMCASA (Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement) is the India specific

version of CISMOA.

● Valid for 10 years, COMCASA aims to provide a legal framework for the transfer of

highly sensitive communication security equipment from the USA to India that will

streamline and facilitate interoperability between their armed forces.

● Signed by India in 2018.

2+2 ministerial dialogue

● Foreign and Defence Ministerial Dialogue (2+2)

● India-USA

● India-Japan

● India - Australia

● India - South Korea

● India - Russia

Living Planet Report 2020 ● Published by World Wildlife Fund

● Key findings:

● Related to Biodiversity:

● There has been a reduction of 68% in the global wildlife population between 1970 and

2016.

● The highest biodiversity loss due to land use change: (1) Europe and Central Asia at

57.9 %; (2) North America at 52.5 %; (3) Latin America and Caribbean at 51.2 %; (4)

Africa at 45.9 %; (5) Asia at 43%.

● The sharpest declines have occurred throughout the world’s rivers and lakes, where

freshwater wildlife has plummeted by 84% since 1970 — about 4% per year.

● Related to Land and Oceans:

● 75% of the Earth’s ice-free land surface has already been significantly altered.

● Most of the oceans are polluted.

● More than 85% of the area of wetlands has been lost during 1970-2016.

● India’s scenario:

● India has 2.4% global land share, about 8% global biodiversity and around 16% global

population

Contact : 8830115524

● However, it has lost 12% of its wild mammals, 19% amphibians and 3% birds over the

last five decades.

● India’s ecological footprint per person is less than 1.6 global hectares (gha)/person

(smaller than that of many large countries). But, its high population size has made the

gross footprint significantly high.

Biodiversity ● As per the Convention on Biological Diversity (Article 2): Biological Diversity means the

variability among living organisms from all sources including, inter alia, terrestrial, marine

and other aquatic ecosystems and the ecological complexes of which they are part; this

includes diversity within species, between species and of ecosystems.

● Species diversity refers to the variety of different species (plants, animals, fungi and

microorganisms) such as palm trees, elephants or bacteria.

● Genetic diversity corresponds to the variety of genes contained in plants, animals, fungi

and microorganisms. It occurs within a species as well as between species.

● Ecosystem diversity refers to all the different habitats - or places - that exist, like tropical

or temperate forests, hot and cold deserts, wetlands, rivers, mountains, coral reefs, etc.

Convention on Biological Diversity ● The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), a legally binding treaty to conserve

biodiversity has been in force since 1993.

● 3 main objectives:

● The conservation of biological diversity.

● The sustainable use of the components of biological diversity.

● The fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic

resources.

● The targets of the Convention calls for global trends of terrestrial wildlife to stop declining

and start recovering by 2050 or earlier.

● India became a party to the Convention in 1994.

Major Indian Government Initiatives: ● Wildlife protection Act 1972.

● Water (prevention and control of pollution) Act 1974.

● Air (prevention and control of pollution) Act 1981.

● Environment Protection Act 1986.

● Biological Diversity Act 2002.

● Scheduled Tribes and other traditional forest dwellers (recognition of rights) Act 2006.

World Wildlife Fund for Nature

● Conservation organization and works in more than 100 countries.

● established in 1961 and headquartered at Gland, Switzerland.

● Mission is to conserve nature and reduce the most pressing threats to the diversity of

life on Earth.

● WWF collaborates at every level with people around the world to develop and deliver

innovative solutions that protect communities, wildlife, and the places in which they live.

Contact : 8830115524

Living Planet Index (LPI) ● It is a measure of the state of the world’s biological diversity based on population trends

of vertebrate species in terrestrial, freshwater and marine habitats.

● It is released by Institute of Zoology (Zoological Society of London)

BRICS ● BRICS group of world’s leading emerging economies,

● Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.

● In 2001, the British Economist Jim O’Neill coined the term BRIC to describe the four

emerging economies of Brazil, Russia, India, and China.

● The grouping was formalised during the first meeting of BRIC Foreign Ministers in 2006.

● South Africa was invited to join BRIC in December 2010, after which the group adopted

the acronym BRICS.

● The chairmanship of the forum is rotated annually among the members, in accordance

with the acronym B-R-I-C-S.

● During the Sixth BRICS Summit in Fortaleza (2014) the leaders signed the Agreement

establishing the New Development Bank (NDB). They also signed the BRICS

Contingent Reserve Arrangement.

Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) ● a multilateral development bank with a mission to improve social and economic

outcomes in Asia.

● It was established in December 2015.

● It is headquartered in Beijing (China) and began its operations in January 2016.

● It has 103 members including India.

● India is among the founding members of AIIB.

● China is the largest shareholder in AIIB with a 26.6% voting power, India with a 7.62%,

Russia with 6.06%, Germany and South Korea to considerable amounts.

● India remains the biggest borrower of China-led AIIB.

India-UN Development Partnership Fund

● India has contributed $15.46 million to the India-UN Development Partnership Fund

● About : to promote sustainable development projects across the developing world.

● Launched by India and the UN Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC)

● Purpose: utilized to carry out country-level projects that would be catalytic towards

achieving the 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda

● The Partnership fund would be managed by UNOSSC

H-1B Visas: ● The H-1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows USA companies to employ foreign

workers in speciality occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise.

● The technology companies depend on it to hire tens of thousands of employees each

year from countries like India and China to keep costs in check.

● Such jobs in developed countries pay minimum wages, which are not lucrative enough

for employable individuals of these countries.

Contact : 8830115524

‘D-10 Group

● -The United Kingdom is looking to shape another union of 10 5G nations, named as

'D10', to adjust against China and decrease its dependence on Beijing, particularly on

Chinese telecom monster Huawei.

● -This bunches the G7 countries with Australia and the Asian innovation pioneers South

Korea and India. It would include G7 countries – UK, US, Germany, Italy, France,

Canada and Japan – plus Australia,India and South Korea.

Aim of D-10:

● It is planned for directing ventures into existing telecommunication organizations within

the 10 member states.

● The group aims to make alternative providers of 5G equipment and different advances to

abstain from depending on China.

United Nations Human Rights Council

● About: The United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) is a United Nations body

whose mission is to promote and protect human rights around the world.

● Function:

○ Universal Periodic Review mechanism which serves to assess the human rights

situations in all United Nations Member States.

○ Advisory Committee which serves as the Council’s “think tank” providing it with

expertise and advice on thematic human rights issues.

○ Complaint Procedure which allows individuals and organizations to bring human

rights violations to the attention of the Council.

● Membership: The UNHRC has 47 members elected for staggered three-year terms on

a regional group basis from 5 groups.

○ To become a member, a country must receive the votes of at least 96 of the 191

states of the UN General Assembly (an absolute majority).

○ The members are elected by direct and secret ballot for a period of three years,

with a maximum of two consecutive terms.

○ The UNHRC holds regular sessions three times a year, in March, June, and

September.

● Recent: The US withdrew from UNHRC in 2018, accusing it of bias and hypocrisy.

● Venezuela in 2019 won a seat on the council for 2020-2022 despite criticism of its

human rights record. This was also highly opposed by the USA.

● The United States of America has urged United Nations members not to support Cuba’s

bid to join the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC).

Kavkaz 2020 or Caucasus-2020.

● It is the Russian strategic command-post exercise.

● The tri-service exercise is part of a four-year exercise cycle of the Russian army.

Previous editions of the exercise were held in 2012 and 2016.

● India will take part in the Russian Kavkaz 2020 strategic command-post exercise next

month.

● The invitees for the exercise also include China and Pakistan apart from other member-

states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).

Contact : 8830115524

Gulf Cooperation Council ● political and economic alliance of countries in the Arabian Peninsula.

● established in 1981 to foster socioeconomic, security, and cultural cooperation.

● Members: Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates

(UAE). All these member the Persian Gulf Region.

UN Security Council ● established by the UN Charter in 1945.

● one of the six principal organs of the United Nations.

The other 5 organs—the General Assembly, the Trusteeship Council, the Economic and

Social Council, the International Court of Justice, and the Secretariat.

● Objective: is to work to maintain international peace and security.

● 15 members: the five permanent members and 10 non-permanent members elected for

two-year terms.

● The five permanent members are the United States, the Russian Federation, France,

China and the United Kingdom.

India & UNSC ● India has already held a non-permanent seat on the UNSC for 7 terms.

● India has been in the UNSC for 14 years.

● India recently won the unanimous support of all countries in the 55-member Asia-Pacific

Group at the UN

The Indus Water Treaty: ● It is a Water-Distribution Treaty, signed in Karachi on 1960, between India (Pm

Jawaharlal Nehru) and Pakistan (President Ayub Khan), brokered by the World Bank .

● India has control over rivers– Beas, Ravi and Sutlej. for exclusive use.

● Pakistan – Indus, Chenab and Jhelum. except for specified domestic, non-consumptive

and agricultural use permitted to India as provided in the Treaty.

● Water commissioners of Pakistan and India are required to meet twice a year

● Both the sides share details of the water flow and the quantum of water being used

under the treaty.

the Ratle run-of-the-river (RoR) ● hydroelectricity project on the Chenab in the Kishtwar district of Jammu and

Kashmir.

● ROR plants may have no water storage at all or a limited amount of storage, in which

case the storage reservoir is referred to as pondage.

● A plant without pondage is subject to seasonal river flows, thus the plant will operate as

an intermittent energy source.

● Conventional hydro uses reservoirs, which regulate water for flood control, dispatchable

electrical power, and the provision of fresh water for agriculture.

India has constructed following dams:

○ Bhakra Dam on Satluj,

○ Pong and Pandoh Dam on Beas and

○ Thein (Ranjit Sagar) on Ravi.

○ Beas- Sutlej Link,

○ Madhopur- Beas Link,

Contact : 8830115524

○ Indira Gandhi Nahar Project etc

Remote Learning Reachability report ● United Nations Children’s Fund(UNICEF) has released a report

● Purpose : The report outlines the limitations to remote learning and exposes deep

inequalities in access.

● At least a third of the world’s schoolchildren which works to around 463 million could not

access remote learning since schools have been shut down because of Covid-19.

● In India, at least 1.5 million schools are closed because of the pandemic, which is

affecting 286 million students from pre-primary to secondary levels of which 49% are

girls

Reimagine Campaign ● It is a global campaign launched by UNICEF

● to prevent the COVID-19 pandemic from becoming a lasting crisis for children especially

the most vulnerable children such as those affected by poverty, exclusion or family

violence.

ASEAN India Business Council (AIBC) ● set up in March 2003 as a forum to bring key private sector players from India and the

ASEAN countries on a single platform for business networking and sharing of ideas.

● emphasized on 3Cs namely Cooperation, Collaboration and Commitment

● report of the AIBC

● It has recommended that the ASEAN India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA) be

reviewed for mutual benefit.

● The review will make the Agreement modern with contemporary trade facilitative

practices, and streamline customs and regulatory procedures.

● The AITIGA is a free trade agreement between the ten ASEAN members and India. It

was signed in 2010.

● According to the agreement, the partners have set a time line to eliminate duties on as

much goods as possible.

●

Act East Policy ● India is focusing on Act East Policy to reach the ASEAN countries.

● unveiled at the 12th ASEAN-India Summit in 2014.

● India shifted from Look East Policy to Act East Policy in order add security cooperation

along with trade and other economic cooperation.

● major areas

● Counter Terrorism: To share capacity building, best practices and information

● Cyber Security and Maritime Cooperation

India actively participates in the following ASEAN led events

● India-ASEAN Maritime Cooperation

● ASEAN Region Forum

● ASEAN PMC+1 with India

Contact : 8830115524

● East Asia Summit

● ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting Plus (ADMM-Plus)

● ASEAN-India Joint Cooperation Committee

● ASEAN-India Senior Officials.

ASEAN + 3

● which includes the ten-member ASEAN, China, Japan and South Korea

● The ASEAN+3 proposal is intended to put pressure on India to give China concessions

similar to those given by other countries at the RCEP negotiations.

● Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) is a proposed free trade

agreement among 16 nations (ten-member ASEAN and Australia, China, India, Japan,

South Korea and New Zealand).

Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief ( HADR ) agreement ● Signed between India-Singapore

● Annual naval combat exercise called the SIMBEX

Social Issue ..

Samarth Programme

● Samarth is an initiative started by Flipkart in 2019 collaborated with five NGOs

● to help local artisans use the online e-commerce platform to sell their products.

● The programme helps around six lakh artisans (weavers, craftsmen etc.) earn their

bread and butter by selling their hand made art & craftwork across the country to a

customer base of nearly 200 million.

Operation Breathing Space: India-Israel ● India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Israel’s defence

ministry research and development team are working together

● to develop four different kinds of rapid testing kit for Covid-19 which can give the

result within 30 seconds.

● The tests include an audio test, a breath test, thermal testing, and a polyamino test

which.

● In the audio test, a patient’s voice would be recorded and evaluated through artificial

intelligence and machine learning.

● In the breath test the patient will blow into a tube that will detect the virus using terra-

hertz (high frequency) waves.

● Thermal testing will enable identification of the virus in a saliva sample.

● Polyamino acids test seeks to isolate proteins related to Covid-19.

SKOCH Gold Award ● Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) has received SKOCH Gold Award for its “Empowerment

of Tribals through IT enabled Scholarship Schemes” project.

● About SKOCH Awards:

Contact : 8830115524

● Instituted in 2003, it is the highest civilian honour in the country conferred by an

independent organisation.

● It recognises people, projects and institutions that go the extra mile to make India a

better nation.

● It is given in the areas of digital, financial and social inclusion; governance; inclusive

growth; excellence in technology and applications; change management; corporate

leadership; corporate governance; citizen service delivery; capacity building;

empowerment and other such softer issues.

● It is given to both institutions/organisations and individuals.

Inclusion of the Disabled in National Food Security Act 2013 ● The disabled persons should get their entitled quota of food grains under NFSA &

Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) as per provisions of the Act.

● Those not already covered should be issued fresh ration cards as per the eligibility

criteria.

● The disable person should also be covered by States/UTs under the priority households

as per the criteria of identification evolved by them.

National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013

● Notified on: 10th September, 2013

● Objective: To provide for food and nutritional security in the human life cycle approach,

by ensuring access to adequate quantities of quality food at affordable prices to people

to live a life with dignity.

● Coverage: 75% of the rural population and upto 50% of the urban population for

receiving subsidized foodgrains under Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS).

● Eligibility:

● Priority Households to be covered under TPDS, according to guidelines by the State

government.

● Households covered under existing Antyodaya Anna Yojana.

● Provisions:

● 5 Kgs of foodgrains per person per month at Rs. 3/2/1 per Kg for rice/wheat/coarse

grains.

● The existing AAY household will continue to receive 35 Kgs of foodgrains per household

per month.

● Meal and maternity benefit of not less than Rs. 6,000 to pregnant women and lactating

mothers during pregnancy and six months after the child birth,

● Meals to children upto 14 years of age.

● Food security allowance to beneficiaries in case of non-supply of entitled foodgrains or

meals.

● Setting up of grievance redressal mechanisms at the district and state level.

Antyodaya Anna Yojana

● It was launched in December, 2000.

Contact : 8830115524

● It involved identification of one crore poorest of the poor families from amongst the

number of Below Poverty Line families covered under TPDS within the States and

providing them food grains at a highly subsidized rate.

● Some target groups identified under AAY are:

● Landless agricultural labourers, marginal farmers, rural artisans/craftsmen and persons

earning their livelihood on a daily basis in the informal sector.

● Households headed by widows/terminally ill persons/disabled persons/senior citizens.

● Widows or terminally ill persons or disabled persons or senior citizens.

● All primitive tribal households.

World Day Against Trafficking in Persons ● The day was observed for the first time in 2013 by the United Nations General

Assembly.

● Aim : To raise awareness about the condition of victims of human trafficking and to

promote and protect their rights.

● Theme : It focuses on first responders to human trafficking.

● Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative(CHRI) and Walk Free (an international anti-

slavery organisation) has released a report titled “Eradicating Modern Slavery”.

● Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative(CHRI) : It is an independent, non-profit, non-

partisan, international non-governmental organisation working in the area of human

rights. It is headquartered in New Delhi.

● Blue Heart Campaign: It is an international anti-trafficking program started by the

United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime(UNODC)

Women Entrepreneurship and Empowerment, WEE initiative ● that helps women from the college-going youth to the middle-aged housewives

● to take up the path of entrepreneurship to make it a viable, fulfilling career option.

● at IIT Delhi, supported and sponsored by the Department of Science and Technology.

● This award comprises a cash grant of totalling Rs 25 lakhs and this year;

● This has been bestowed on 11 women entrepreneurs from various parts of the country

and from diverse fields.

India’s first International Women Trade Centre to be set up in Kerala ● The Centre has been established under the Green Park initiative of Kerala

● The Centre will accelerate women entrepreneurship.

● It will provide a safe place away from home to start a business, expand and get their

products marketed globally.

● The Women Trade Centre will enable women entrepreneurs to participate in

international trade, enhance competitiveness, and enjoy greater economic benefits.

Green Park Initiative ● It was established in 2013 by the State Government of Kerala.

● It focuses on gender equality and empowerment in the state.

● It is a platform for research, policy analysis, capacity development, social and economic

initiative.

Contact : 8830115524

Minimum age of marriage for women ● the Centre will decide on the recommendations of a committee set up to reconsider the

minimum age of marriage for women.

● The Union Ministry for Women and Child Development set up a committee in June,

headed by Jaya Jaitley, to examine matters pertaining to age of motherhood,

imperatives of lowering Maternal Mortality Ratio and the improvement of nutritional

levels among women.

● Currently, the law prescribes that the minimum age of marriage is 21 and 18 years for

men and women, respectively.

● The minimum age of marriage is distinct from the age of majority, which is gender-

neutral.

● An individual attains the age of majority at 18 as per the Indian Majority Act, 1875.

● For Hindus, Section 5(iii) of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955sets 18 years as the minimum

age for the bride and 21 years as the minimum age for the groom. Child marriages are

not illegal but can be declared void at the request of the minor in the marriage.

● In Islam, the marriage of a minor who has attained puberty is considered valid under

personal law.

● The Special Marriage Act, 1954 and the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006 also

prescribe 18 and 21 years as the minimum age of consent for marriage for women and

men respectively.

Constitutional Provisions for Women Representation in PRIs:

● The 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992 mandates 33.3% reservation for women

in PRIs across the country.

○ The 73rd Amendment envisages the Gram Sabha as the foundation of the

Panchayat Raj System to perform functions and powers entrusted to it by the

State Legislatures.

○ This has been increased to 50% reservation in several states like Andhra

Pradesh, Chattisgarh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Bihar etc.

○ Out of the 30.41 lakh elected representatives of PRIs, 13.74 lakh (45.2%) are

women.

● Article 15 (3) to the Constitution of India empowers the State to make special provisions

for women.

● Article 243D provides that one-third of the total number of seats and offices of the

Chairpersons in PRIs at each level shall be reserved for women to be allotted by rotation

to different constituencies in a Panchayat.

● Such reservations of seats and offices of the chairpersons for women are also within the

reservations for SCs and STs in all three tiers of PRIs.

● In order to bring about 50% reservation for women in Panchayats in all States, the 110th

Constitution Amendment Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha in 2009, but it was not

passed despite being tabled several times.

Efforts by Government to Promote Women in PRIs:

Contact : 8830115524

The Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR) has been making continuous efforts by launching and

implementing various schemes for capacity building of women representatives in PRIs, like

Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA)

● RGSA was launched in 2018

● for developing and strengthening the capacities of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) for

rural local governance

● to become more responsive towards local development needs, preparing the

participatory plans that leverage technology, efficient and optimum utilization of available

resources for realizing sustainable solutions to local problems linked to Sustainable

Development Goals (SDGs).

● It included rewards for ensuring women participation in PRIs

Gram Panchayat Development Plan (GPDP) ● Some of the key aspects of GPDP guidelines that are relevant to Women Empowerment

include proactive participation of women in budgeting, planning, implementation and

monitoring of GPDP

● convening Mahila Sabhas prior to the general Gram Sabhas and their inclusion in Gram

Sabhas and GPDP.

Panchayat Mahila Evam Yuva Shakti Abhiyan (PMEYSA) ● It was implemented from the year 2007-08 till 2012-13

● objective of empowerment of Elected Women & Youth Representatives of Panchayats.

● Recently, the Ministry of Panchayati Raj has directed all the States and Union Territories

to organise Special Gram Sabhas and Mahila Sabhas (Women’s Assemblies) in all

Gram Panchayats

Swachh Bharat Revolution book launched ● This book is regarding the journey of the Swachh Bharat Mission through 35 essays by a

range of stakeholders and contributors to this program of the government, thereby

sharing their perspective on the social revolution.

● edited by Shri Parameswaran Iyer, Secretary of Department of Drinking Water and

Sanitation

Rashtriya Swachhta Kendra ● an interactive experience centre on the Swachh Bharat Mission in the country.

● introduce future generations to the successful implementation of the world’s largest

behaviour change pattern, Swachh Bharat Mission.

● A balanced mix of a digital and outdoor installation at these centres will impart

information, awareness and education of cleanliness and related aspects.

● There will be two separate halls in the RSKs – Hall 1 and Hall 2.

● In Hall 1, the visitors will experience a unique 360-degree audio-visual show and it will

narrate the Swachhta story of the country.

Contact : 8830115524

● In Hall 2, there will be interactive LED panels, hologram boxes, interactive games and

much more to tell the success story of this program.

Swachh Bharat Mission ● a country-wide sanitation campaign launched on 2nd October, 2014.

● implemented by the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation.

● Objectives: Elimination of open defecation, eradication of Manual Scavenging, modern

and scientific municipal solid waste management and bring behavioral change regarding

healthy sanitation practices.

● two components – SBM Rural and SBM Urban.

● The rural component is based on achieving a clean and ODF India

● SBM Urban is also based on waste management techniques.

● Recently the second phase started from 2020-21 to 2024-25.

Swachh Bharat Mission Academy ● a phone-based academy having IVR based free mobile online learning course.

● Features The training course contains a 60 minutes module spanning various topics

under ODF-S and Solid Waste Management.

● Significance: It will significantly boost the capacity building efforts in training of

Swachhagrahis as well as PRIs members, community-based organizations, NGOs, SHGs

and others who are associated with phase 2 of SBM(G).

● Course has four chapters, each with four audio lessons and a multiple-choice quiz at the

end of the chapter. At present the course is available only in Hindi.

Swachh Survekshan 2020 ● The survey was held by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.(MoHUA)

● fifth edition of the annual cleanliness urban survey

● It is meant to monitor the performance of Swachh Bharat Abhiyan

● Quality Council of India (QCI) is in charge of evaluating the performance of the

participating cities.

● For the fourth consecutive time, Indore, Madhya Pradesh bagged the cleanest city in the

country. It was followed by Surat of Gujarat and Navi Mumbai of Maharashtra.

● Varanasi bagged the best “Ganga Town” in the survey.

● Mysuru won the award of cleanest city in India.

● Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban (SBM-U) was launched in 2014, with the objective of

making urban India 100% Open Defecation Free (ODF) along with 100% scientific solid

waste management.

Swachh Survekshan 2021

● The 2021 survey will focus on parameters pertaining to wastewater treatment, reuse

along with faecal sludge. legacy of waste management, remediation of landfills among

others.

● Prerak Daaur Samman:It is a new category of awards which will be announced as part

of Swachh Survekshan 2021

● The award has a total of five additional sub- categories -Divya (Platinum), Anupam

(Gold), Ujjwal (Silver), Udit (Bronze), Aarohi (Aspiring) – with top three cities being

recognized in each.

Contact : 8830115524

A FUTURE FOR THE WORLD'S CHILDREN REPORT ● This is a report constructed by Lancet, WHO and UNICEF. The report focuses on every

aspect of child health through the lens of climate change, ecological degradation and

exploitative marketing practices.

World Health Organization (WHO) ● the United Nations’ specialized agency for Health was founded in 1948.

● Its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.

● There are 194 Member States, 150 country offices, six regional offices.

● Objective “is the attainment by all people of the highest possible level of health”.

● Functions:

● By playing a role as the directing and coordinating authority on international health work.

● Maintaining and establishing collaboration with the UN and any other appropriate bodies.

● Assisting governments, upon request, in strengthening their health services.

● Giving appropriate technical assistance and in case of emergencies, required aid upon

● the request or acceptance of governments.

●

Electronic Vaccine Intelligence Network (eVIN)

● About: It is an indigenously developed technology system that digitizes vaccine stocks

and monitors the temperature of the cold chain through a smartphone application.

● Objective: It is aimed at strengthening immunization supply chain systems across the

country.

○ eVIN aims to support the Government of India’s Universal Immunization

Programme by providing real-time information on vaccine stocks and flows, and

storage temperatures across all cold chain points in these states.

● Implemented under the National Health Mission (NHM) by the Ministry of Health and

Family Welfare in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme

(UNDP).

● The integrated solution combines:

○ Technology : Online real-time information on vaccine stocks and storage

temperature to facilitate evidence-based decision-making.

○ Governance: Systemizing record keeping, upgrading logistics and encouraging

good practices to ensure efficient vaccine logistics management.

○ Human Resources: To empower the state cold chain network by building the

capacities of handlers and managers at each stage of vaccine supply.

Universal Immunization Programme

● launched in 1985, to prevent mortality and morbidity in children and pregnant women

against 12 vaccine-preventable diseases.

● Under UIP free of cost vaccination is provided against twelve vaccine-preventable

diseases i.e. Tuberculosis, Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus, Polio, Hepatitis B, Pneumonia

Contact : 8830115524

, Meningitis due to Haemophilus Influenzae type b (Hib), Measles, Rubella, Japanese

Encephalitis (JE) and Rotavirus diarrhoea.

● The programme is one of the largest health programmes in the world. Despite being

operational for many years, UIP has been able to fully immunize only 65% of children

under 1 year of age.

Mission Indradhanush

● Health mission scheme launched by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare

● Objective of Mission Indradhanush is to achieve full immunization coverage by 2020 for

all those children under the age of two years and pregnant women who are either

unvaccinated/partially vaccinated against ‘7’ vaccine preventable diseases

● diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus, polio, tuberculosis, measles, and hepatitis B. In

addition to these, vaccines for Japanese Encephalitis and Haemophilus influenzae type

B are also being provided in selected states.

● In 2016, four new additions have been made viz. Rubella, Japanese Encephalitis,

Injectable Polio Vaccine Bivalent and Rotavirus. It was decided that 201 districts will be

covered in the first phase and 297 districts will be targeted for the second phase in 2015.

Intensified Mission Indradhanush (IMI)

● Launched in October 2017,

● to cover all left outs and drop outs in select districts and urban areas with low routine

immunization coverage in a specific time-frame (December 2018).

● Intensified Mission Indradhanush(IMI) 2.0 Launched On 2nd December 2019, as a

national vaccination drive to prevent eight diseases-whooping cough, tetanus,

tuberculosis, measles, hepatitis B, poliomyelitis, meningitis, and Diptheria.

● IMI 2.0 will aim to achieve the target of full immunization coverage in 272 districts in 27

states of the country. The scheme will be carried out from December 2019 to March

2020.

Vitamin D ● Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin which is naturally present in very few foods like fatty

fish, and fish liver oils, beef liver, cheese, and egg yolks.

● It is also produced endogenously when ultraviolet rays from sunlight strike the skin and

trigger vitamin D synthesis.

○ The sunlight triggers a chemical reaction to a cholesterol-based molecule, and

converts it into calcidiol in the liver and into calcitriol in the kidney.

○ These molecules technically called 25-OHD are physiologically active.

Effects of Deficiency:

● Rickets in children and osteomalacia (softening of bones) in adults.

● Bones can become thin, brittle, or misshapen (Effects of deficiency).

Contact : 8830115524

Government Initiatives for Nutrition India

Mid-day meal scheme ● MDM Scheme comes under the Ministry of HRD

● launched in the year 1995 as a centrally sponsored scheme.

● The scheme provides that every child within the age group of six to fourteen years

studying in classes I to VIII who enrolls and attends the school, shall be provided hot

cooked meal having nutritional standards of 450 calories and 12 gm of protein for

primary (I- V class) and 700 calories and 20 gm protein for upper primary (VI-VIII class),

free of charge every day except on school holidays

● The scheme covers all government and government aided schools and also Madarsa

and Maqtabs supported under the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan.

● has helped in combating nutrition deficiencies in poor school-going children.

● Students up to Class VIII are guaranteed one nutritional cooked meal at least 200 days

in a year.

● MDM rules 2015, provide that:

● The place of serving meals to the children shall be school only.

●

● If the Mid-Day Meal is not provided in school on any school day due to non-availability of

food grains or any other reason, the State Government shall pay food security allowance

by 15th of the succeeding month.

Contact : 8830115524

Integrated Child Development Services

● an Indian government welfare programme which provides food, preschool education,

and primary healthcare to children under 6 years of age and their mothers(Pregnant &

Lactating Women (P&LW),).

● ICDS Scheme offers a package of six services, viz.

○ Supplementary Nutrition

○ Pre-school non-formal education

○ Nutrition & health education

○ Immunization

○ Health check-up and

○ Referral services

● All components of ICDS except Supplementary Nutrition Programme (SNP) are financed

through a 60:40 ratio (central : state). The Supplementary Nutrition Programme (SNP)

component was funded through a 50:50 ratio. The North East states have a 90:10 ratio.

● Tenth FYP also linked ICDS to Anganwadi centres established mainly in rural areas and

staffed with frontline workers.

● ICDS provides 500 kilocalories (with 12-15 grams of protein) every day to every child

below 6 years of age.

● For adolescent girls it is up to 500 kilo calories with up to 25 grams of protein every day.

● Biofortification i.e improvement of the nutritional quality of food crops through

agronomic practices, conventional plant breeding, or modern biotechnology is being

promoted by the government for various crops like carrots (Madhuban Gajar), wheat

(MACS 4028) etc. in order to ensure nutritional security.

Rashtriya Poshan Maah ● Under Poshan Abhiyaan, the month of September is observed as Poshan Maah i.e.

Nutrition month every year, since 2018

● It includes a month-long activities focussed on antenatal care, optimal breastfeeding,

anaemia, growth monitoring, girls education, diet, right age of marriage, hygiene and

sanitation and eating healthy (food fortification).

Poshan Abhiyan ( National Nutrition Mission ) ● to improve nutritional outcomes for children, pregnant women and lactating mothers.

● Poshan implies ‘Prime Minister’s Overarching Scheme for Holistic Nutrition’.

● Launch: It was launched by PM on International Women’s Day on 8th March, 2018 from

Jhunjhunu in Rajasthan.

● Implemented By: Ministry of Women and Child Development

● Targets:

● To reduce stunting, underweight, and low birth weight, each by 2% per year; and

anaemia among young children, adolescents and women each by 3% per year until

2022.

● The minimum target to reduce stunting is 2% every year, but the mission will strive to

bring it down from 38.4% in 2016 to 25% by 2022.

Basic Terms related to Malnutrition:

● Stunting- low height for age,

Contact : 8830115524

● Wasting- low weight compared to height,

● Underweight- low weight for age,

● Malnutrition includes both under and over nutrition and

● Anaemia-Lack of Healthy Red blood cells.

Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Ann Yojana

● Central government has started the PMGKAY scheme to provide foodgrains to the BPL

and needy families in the country

● Under this additional 5 kg grains for free, in addition to the 5 kg of subsidized foodgrain

already provided through the Public Distribution System. also 1 kg of pulse for free.

● announced for a three month period from April to June

● extended till November 30, 2020, as part of its second phase, which commenced on July

01, 2020.

National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR): ● Set up in March 2007 under the Commission for Protection of Child Rights Act, 2005.

● It works under Ministry of Women & Child Development.

● The Commission’s Mandate is to ensure that all Laws, Policies, Programmes, and

Administrative Mechanisms are in consonance with the Child Rights perspective as

enshrined in the Constitution of India and also the UN Convention on the Rights of the

Child.

Composition:

● chairperson and six members of which at least two should be women.

● All of them are appointed by Central Government for three years.

● The maximum age to serve in commission is 65 years for Chairman and 60 years for

members.

Khadi Agarbatti Atma Nirbhar Mission

● Union Minister for MSME has approved a program proposed by Khadi and Village

Industries Commission(KVIC) under the Gramodyog Vikas Yojana

● Aim: in order to generate employment as well as to make the country self-reliant with

regard to the agarbatti production.

● Mode : The scheme has been designed based on the Public Private Partnership (PPP)

mode.

● administered by the Khadi and Village Industries Commission,

● provide the automatic machines for the production of agarbatti and also powder mixing

machines to the artisans through the successful private manufacturers.

● Subsidy: KVIC will provide a 25% subsidy on the cost of the machines and will recover

the remaining 75% of the cost from the artisans in installments every month.

● Benefits:

● Revival of Agarbatti manufacturing in the villages and small towns.

● Generation of sustainable employment and increase in wages for the traditional Artisans.

● Mitigation of the gap between the indigenous ‘production and demand’.

● Reduction in import of ‘Agarbatti’ in the country.

Contact : 8830115524

The Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC)

● Statutory body of the GOI .

● It was formed in 1957 under the Act of Parliament, ‘Khadi and Village Industries

Commission Act of 1956’.

● headquartered in Mumbai.

● It works as an umbrella organization under MSME to plan, promote, facilitate, organize

and assist in the process of establishment as well as the development of khadi and

village industries in the rural areas of India.

● It also performs cooperative action with other agencies that are engaged with rural

development.

Initiative Under Ministry of MSME & KVIC

● a first Silk Processing Plant at Surendranagar in Gujarat. The plant would help to

reduce the cost of production of silk yarn and increase the sale and availability of raw

material for Gujarati Patola Sarees locally.This saree received a Geographical

Indication (GI) tag in 2013.

● Launched ‘Terracotta Grinder’ at Varanasi.It will grind the wasted and broken pottery

items for re-using in pottery-making.It will reduce the cost of production, and will also

help to solve the problem of shortage of clays for pottery making.

● Project REPLAN (REducing PLAstic in Nature): It aims to make carry bags by mixing

processed and treated plastic waste with cotton fibre rags in the ratio 20:80.

● Kumbhar Sashaktikaran Program : For empowerment of potters community in the

remotest of locations in the country.provides the following support to potters.

○ Training for advanced pottery products

○ Latest, new technology pottery equipments like the electric Chaak

○ Market linkages and visibility through KVIC exhibitions

● Solar Charkha Mission: To ensure inclusive growth by generation of employment,

especially for women and youth, and sustainable development through solar charkha

clusters in rural areas.One cluster would involve a maximum subsidy of Rs. 9.60 crore

provided in form of Capital subsidy for individual and Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV),

interest subvention for working capital and capacity building.

Gramodyog Vikas Yojana

● Gramodyog Vikas Yojana is one of the two components of Khadi Gramodyog Vikas

Yojana another component is Khadi Vikas Yojana.

● aims to promote and develop the village industries through common facilities,

technological modernization, training etc.

● Components of Gramodyog Vikas Yojana:

● Research & Development and Product Innovation

● Activities of existing dedicated verticals of Village Industries: This includes Agro

Based & Food Processing Industry, Mineral Based Industry, Handmade Paper, Leather

& Plastic Industry among others.

● Capacity Building: Under the Human Resource Development and Skill Training

components, exclusive capacity building of staff as well as the artisans.

Contact : 8830115524

● Marketing & Publicity: The village institutions will be provided market support by way of

preparation of product catalogue, Industry directory, market research, new marketing

techniques, buyer seller meet, arranging exhibitions etc.

Hamara Ghar, Hamara Vidyalaya Programme: ● It is a home-based learning programme launched by the Department of School

Education, MP.

● It aimed to reach 22 lakh students after shutting down of schools due to Covid-19

pandemic.

● The idea behind the programme is to ensure that students study regularly at home and

also learn life skills from their elders.

● Under it, the modular programme airs on Doordarshan Madhya Pradesh on fixed time

slots. It has three parts to it which are recap, delivery of a new concept and practice of

the concept.

Fluorosis

● is a crippling disease resulting from deposition of fluorides in the hard and soft tissues of

body due to excess intake of fluoride through drinking water/food products/industrial

pollutants over a long period.

● It results in dental fluorosis, skeletal fluorosis, and non-skeletal fluorosis.

● According to WHO, the fluoride concentration in drinking water should not exceed

1.5mg/l.

● Scientists from the Institute of Nano Science and Technology (INST) have developed an

equipment-free fluoride ion detection and quantification in drinking water with the naked-

eye.

Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (BDPA)

● 2020 marks the 25th anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women and

adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (1995), (Beijing + 25).

● Beijing Declaration : It is a resolution adopted by the UN at the end of the Fourth World

Conference on Women in 1995.

● Beijing Declaration is an agenda for women’s empowerment and considered the key

global policy document on gender equality.

● Adopted by 189 member states, it is key to advancing gender equality in 12 areas.

● the National Commission for Women (NCW) and UN Women organized a National

Consultation on the Review of Beijing+25

● Objective: To assess progress and challenges to the implementation of the Beijing

Declaration and Platform for Action in India over the past 5 years.

Recent government schemes to achieve gender equality:

● Beti Bachao Beti Padhao

● Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana

● Scheme for Adolescent Girls

● National Nutrition Mission (NNM)

● Pradhan Mantri Mahila Shakti Kendra

Schizophrenia

● It is the descriptive term for a group of psychotic disorders in which personal, social and

occupational functioning deteriorate as a result of disturbed thought processes, strange

perceptions, unusual emotional states, and motor abnormalities.

Contact : 8830115524

● Onset: It typically begins in late adolescence or early adulthood.

● Symptoms:

○ Positive Symptoms: These are pathological excesses or bizarre additions to a

person’s behaviour like delusions, disorganised thinking and speech, heightened

perception and hallucinations and inappropriate affects.

○ Negative Symptoms: These are pathological deficits and include poverty of

speech, blunted and flat affect (Showing less or no emotions), loss of volition

(inability to start or complete a course of action) and social withdrawal.

○ Psychomotor Symptoms: Less spontaneous moves or making odd grimaces

(extremely distorted and particular facial expression) and gestures.

Vidyarthi Vigyan Manthan

● Launched by the Union Health and Family Welfare Minister

● Objective This initiative is a national programme for popularizing science among school

students of Class 6th to 11th.

● Designed to identify the bright minds with a scientific aptitude among the student

community.

● This platform identifies the talent in the field of science and to promote the scientific

acumen among the students.

● Students are made to participate through comprehensive writing, objective type

questions and answers, role play, practical examination and by showing presentation

and getting involved in a group discussion with peers.

Anganwadi

● Anganwadi is a centrally sponsored scheme implemented by the States / UTs which

serves as a rural child and maternal care centre in India.

● started in 1975 as part of the Integrated Child Development Services program

● to combat child hunger and malnutrition.

● Anganwadi centres provide a package of six services: supplementary nutrition, pre-

school non-formal education, immunisation, health check-up, nutrition and health

education, and referral services.

Right to Food

● as a part of Right to Life and Personal Liberty (Article 21) by the National Human

Rights Commission.

● The Directive Principles of the State Policy in Article 39a, requires the State to direct its

policies towards securing that all its citizens have the right to an adequate means of

livelihood.

● The National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013, gives the right to food but it is not

universal.

● It legally entitles up to 75% of the rural population and 50% of the urban population to

receive subsidized food grains under the Targeted Public Distribution System.

● In People's Union for Civil Liberties v. Union of India & Others case (2001), the Supreme

Court explicitly established a constitutional human right to food and determined a basic

nutritional floor for India's impoverished millions.

The Food System Vision Prize:

Contact : 8830115524

● launched by the USA-based ‘The Rockefeller Foundation’, in partnership with the

other two organisations - SecondMuse and OpenIDEO- in 2019.

● It is an invitation for organizations across the globe to develop a Vision of the

regenerative and nourishing food system that they aspire to create by the year 2050.

● Naandi Foundation (a Hyderabad based non-profit organisation), as one of the top 10

‘Visionaries’ in the world for the Food System Vision 2050 Prize.

● Food System Vision is a story about the future that addresses the following six

interconnected themes: Environment, Diets, Economics, Culture, Technology and Policy.

Naandi Foundation (Arakunomics):

● The organisation was recognised for the application of Arakunomics model in regions

of Araku (Andhra Pradesh), Wardha (Maharashtra) and New Delhi

● Leading to the Food Vision 2050 that follows an “ABCDEFGH” framework centring on:

Agriculture, Biology, Compost, Decentralised decision-making, Entrepreneurs, Families,

Global Markets, and ‘Headstands (implying innovation)’.

● Arakunomics is a new integrated economic model that ensures profits for farmers,

quality for consumers through regenerative agriculture.

● It is based on work with tribal farmers in Araku for nearly 20 years.

Regenerative Agriculture

● describes farming and grazing practices that, among other benefits, reverse climate

change by rebuilding soil organic matter and restoring degraded soil biodiversity –

resulting in both carbon drawdown and improving the water cycle.

● The key to regenerative agriculture is that it not only “does no harm” to the land but

actually improves it, using technologies that regenerate and revitalize the soil and the

environment.

World Tribal Day (9 August) ● day recognizes the first meeting of the United Nations Working Group on Indigenous

Populations in Geneva in 1982.

● Theme 2020: “Covid-19 and the indigenous peoples’ resilience”

Tribal in India:

● tribals make up 8.6% of India's population.

● 700 tribal groups in India, out of 75 are Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs)

● The Gond comprise the largest

● The largest number of tribal communities (62) are found in Odisha.

● No Tribe identified in Haryana, Punjab, Chandigarh, Delhi, and Puducherry.

Constitutional Provisions:

● Article 342(1)- The President may with respect to any State or Union Territory, and

where it is a State, after consultation with the Governor, by a public notification, specify

the tribes or tribal communities or part of or groups within tribes or tribal communities as

Scheduled Tribe in relation to that State or Union Territory.

● Article 15- Prohibition of discrimination on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex or place

of birth only.

● Article 16- Equality of opportunity in matters of public employment

● Article 46- Promotion of educational and economic interests of scheduled castes,

Scheduled tribes and other weaker sections,

Contact : 8830115524

● Article 335- Claims of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes to services and posts.

● As per Article 338-A of the Constitution of India, the National Commission for Scheduled

Tribes has been set-up.

● 5th and 6th Schedule- Administration and control of Scheduled and Tribal Areas.

Legal Provisions:

● Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955 against Untouchability.

● Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 to

prevent the commission of offences of atrocities against the members of the Scheduled

Castes and the Scheduled Tribes.

● Provisions of the Panchayats (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 to provide

for the extension of the provisions of Part IX of the Constitution relating to the

Panchayats to the Scheduled Areas.

● Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights)

Act, 2006 to recognize and vest the forest rights and occupation in forest land in forest

dwelling scheduled tribes and other traditional forest dwellers.

Committees Related to Tribal Communities:

● Xaxa Committee (2013)

● Bhuria Commission (2002-2004)

● Lokur Committee (1965)

National Commission for Scheduled Tribes ● NCST was set up with effect from 19th February, 2004 by amending Article 338 and by

inserting a new article 338A in the Constitution through the 89th Constitution

Amendment Act, 2003. Hence, it is a constitutional body.

● Composition : It consists of a Chairperson, a Vice-Chairperson and 3 other Members

who are appointed by the President by warrant under his hand and seal.

○ At least one member should be a woman.

○ The Chairperson, the Vice-Chairperson and the other Members hold office for a

term of 3 years.

○ The members are not eligible for appointment for more than two terms.

● The Chairperson has been given the rank of Union Cabinet Ministers, the Vice

Chairperson has the rank of a Minister of State and other Members have the rank of a

Secretary to the Government of India

GOAL (GOING ONLINE AS LEADERS) PROGRAMME

● It is joint initiative of Facebook India with Ministry of Tribal affairs to provide mentorship

to tribal youth through digital mode.

● Programme intends to upskill and empower 5,000 tribal youths in current phase to

harness full potential of digital platforms to learn new ways of doing business, explore

and connect with domestic and international markets.

SWASTHYA Portal

● Launched by Ministry of Tribal Affairs Tribal

● aims to provide health and nutrition related information of the tribal.

Contact : 8830115524

● so act as an integrated source of information about research studies, innovative

practices, case studies and best practices that were collected from different parts of the

country.

ALEKH E-Newsletter ● Launched by Ministry of Tribal Affairs Tribal

● Released on quarterly basis.

● to showcase the works of different stakeholders involved in improving health and

nutrition of tribal.

● This will help to learn from each other’s successes and also from failures.

Empowering Tribal, Transforming India:

● online performance Dashboard launched by M/o Tribal Affairs.

● Developed by Centre of Excellence of Data Analytics (CEDA), organization under

National Informatics Centre (NIC).

● Performance Dashboard is an interactive and dynamic online platform that showcases

updated & real-time details of 11 schemes / initiatives of the Ministry for achieving

Sustainable Developmental Goals.

Educational Schemes for Tribals Eklavya Model School:

● Residential School based on Navodaya Model to be opened in each tribal block by 2022.

Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship Scheme (RGNF):

● RGNF was introduced in the year 2005-2006 with the objective to encourage the

students belonging to the ST community to pursue higher education.

Vocational Training Center in Tribal Areas:

● The aim of this scheme is to develop the skill of ST students depending on their

qualification and present market trends.

National Overseas Scholarship Scheme:

● The National Overseas Scholarship Scheme provides financial assistance to 20 students

selected for pursuing higher studies abroad for PhD and postdoctoral studies.

Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India(TRIFED)

● Formation: in 1987 as the national nodal agency under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs.

● Registered under the then Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act, 1984.

● It started its operations in 1988

● Head office in New Delhi.

● Objectives: Socio-economic development of tribal people, promotion of economic

welfare, empowerment of tribal people with knowledge, tools and information and their

capacity building.

● Functions: It mainly undertakes two functions which are Minor Forest Produce (MFP)

Development and Retail Marketing and Development.

Contact : 8830115524

Recent initiatives by TRIFED:

● Launched Van Dhan Samajik Doori Jagrookta Abhiyaan, which is aimed at educating

Tribals engaged in gathering NTFPs in forest areas, on covid-19 response, key

preventive behaviour like social distancing, home quarantine, hygiene tips.

● Initiated steps to provide the Van Dhan Self Help Groups (SHGs) with protective

masks and hygiene products (Soaps, Disinfectants, etc.) that are necessary for carrying

out their operations in a safe manner.

● Focus on revamping the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for MFP to enhance tribal

livelihood in these testing times and to ensure that they get the benefit of an equitable

market price for their produce.

● TRIFOOD Scheme

○ a joint initiative of Ministry of Food Processing Industry, Ministry of Tribal Affairs

and TRIFED.

○ Aims to enhance the income of tribals through better utilization of and value

addition to the MFPs collected by the tribal forest gatherers.

○ two Minor Forest Produce (MFP) processing units will be set up in the following

locations.

1. Raigad Unit, Maharashtra

2. Jagdalpur multi-commodity processing centre, Chhattisgarh

● Tech for Tribals, an initiative of TRIFED supported by Ministry of MSME, aims at

capacity building and imparting entrepreneurship skills to tribal forest produce gatherers

enrolled under the Pradhan Mantri Van Dhan Yojana(PMVDY).

Minor Forest Produce(MFP)

● The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers Act, 2006 defines minor

forest produce as all non-timber forest produce of plant origin.

● MFP Includes bamboo, brushwood, stumps, canes, cocoon, honey, waxes, Lac, tendu

leaves, medicinal plants, roots among others.

Namath Basai

● It is Kerala government’s unique programme of teaching tribal children in their mother

tongue.

● Implemented by the Samagra Siksha Kerala (SSK).

● The SSK has distributed some 50 laptops exclusively for Namath Basai.

● Pre-recorded classes are offered through a YouTube channel.

● It has succeeded in retaining hundreds of tribal children in their online classes by making

them feel at home with the language of instruction.

Tribes from Kerala:

● Kurumba Tribe: Popularly known as Mala Pulayans, Hill Pulayans and Pamba Pulayans.

● Irula or Irular Tribe

● Mudugars or Muduka

Odisha’s Bonda Tribe

Contact : 8830115524

● one of the 13 Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs)

● a group of Austroasiatic tribes, they are believed to be part of the first wave of migration

out of Africa about 60,000 years ago. They are the first forest settlers in India.

● Matriarchal society: The women prefer to marry men who are younger by at least 5-10

years, so that the men can earn for them when they grow old

● Odisha is home to 62 tribal communities — the largest diverse groups of tribal

population in India.

● Thirteen of them are PVTGs— Bonda, Birhor, Chuktia Bhunjia, Didayi, Dungaria

Kandha, Hill Kharia, Juang, Kutia Kondh, Lanjia Saora, Lodha, Mankirdia, Paudi Bhuyan

and Saora.

Van Dhan Yojana:

● Van Dhan Yojana was launched in 2018, in Chhattisgarh. A Van Dhan Vikas Kendra

was set up under the program.

● The Van Dhan Vikas Kendra will cater to ten Self Help Groups of thirty tribal gatherers

each.

● The selection of the tribal beneficiaries and formation of the SHGs has been undertaken

by TRIFED.

● The Van Dhan Vikas Kendras will boost the economic development of tribals involved in

the collection of Minor Forest Produce (MFP) and provide a sustainable MFP-based

livelihood in MFP-rich districts.

Andaman and Nicobar Islands to be Maritime and Startup Hub (Blue

economy.) ● A transhipment hub has been proposed in the Andaman and Nicobar islands.

● A transshipment is when cargo or a container is moved from one vessel to another while

in transit to its final destination.

● It will be built in South Bay, Great Nicobar Island, to provide Indian shippers an

alternative to the Colombo (Sri Lanka), Singapore and Port Klang (Malaysia)

transshipment ports.

● tribes of Island:

● PVTG : Great Andamanese, Onge, Jarawa, Sentinelese, and Shompen.

● Shompen is the only PVTG in the region with Mongoloid features. The other PVTGs

have negroid features. Some of them interact with ‘Great Nicobarese’ - a Scheduled

Tribe.

Great Andamanese tribe:

● It is a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG).

● They are one of five PVTGs that reside in Andamans archipelago.

● They speak Jeru dialect among themselves and their number stands at 51.

Submarine Communications Cable ● It is a cable laid on the seabed between land-based stations to transmit

telecommunication signals across stretches of ocean and sea.

● more reliable, cost efficient and of large capacity.

A submarine cable project

Contact : 8830115524

● 2300 Km of submarine optical fibres cable (OFC) have been laid down

● connect chennai and port blair and seven other islands- Swaraj Deep (Havelock), Long

island etc.

● funded by the Centre through the Universal Service Obligation Fund under the Ministry

of Communications.

● It was executed by BSNL and Telecommunications Consultants India Limited (TCIL) was

the technical consultant.

● It will improve internet connectivity in the Andaman and Nicobar islands enabling its

citizens to use net banking, e-commerce, online education and telemedicine facilities.

Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF)

● USOF ensures that there is universal non-discriminatory access to quality ICT services

at economically efficient prices to people in rural and remote areas.

● under the Department of Telecommunications in 2002.

● It is a non-lapsable fund

● All credits to this fund require parliamentary approval and it has statutory support under

Indian Telegraph (Amendment) Act, 2003.

Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs)

● The Dhebar Commission created Primitive Tribal Groups (PTGs) as a separate category

● Total of 75 PVTGs,

● The highest number are found in Odisha (13), followed by Andhra Pradesh (12)

● Ministry of Tribal Affairs implements the Scheme of “Development of Particularly

Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs)

● PVTGs have some basic characteristics - they are mostly homogenous, with a small

population, relatively physically isolated, absence of written language, relatively simple

technology and a slower rate of change etc.

The criteria PVTGs

● A pre-agriculture level of technology.

● stagnant or declining population.

● Extremely low literacy.

● A subsistence level of economy

Telemedicine Service Platform: eSanjeevani & eSanjeevaniOPD

● Telemedicine: As per the World Health Organisation (WHO), telemedicine is the delivery

of health care services, where distance is a critical factor, by all health care

professionals using Information Technology (IT)

eSanjeevani:

● the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare

● It is a doctor to doctor telemedicine system,

● implemented under the Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centre (AB-HWCs)

programme.

eSanjeevaniOPD:

● It was launched amid the Covid-19 pandemic to enable patient-to-doctor tele-

consultations.

Contact : 8830115524

● Offered at no cost, this e-health service has made it convenient for the people to avail of

the health services without having to travel.

● It enables two-way interaction and even generates a prescription slip.

Ayushman Bharat Programme ● Launched in 2018 to address health issues at all levels – primary, secondary, and

tertiary.

● scheme is implemented by the National Health Authority

● the flagship health insurance scheme in order to provide cashless health cover of up to

Rs 5 lakh

● Two components:

1. Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY), earlier known as the National

Health Protection Scheme (NHPS): will cover the financial protection for availing

healthcare services at the secondary and tertiary levels

2. Health and Wellness Centres (HWCs): aimed at improving access to cheap and

quality healthcare services at the primary level.

Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana

● It offers a sum insured of Rs. 5 lakh per family for secondary care (which doesn’t involve

a super-specialist) as well as tertiary care (which involves a super-specialist)

● targets the beneficiaries as identified by the latest Socio-Economic Caste Census

(SECC) data.

● Once identified by the database, the beneficiary is considered insured and can walk into

any empanelled hospital.

● The insurance cost is shared by the centre and the state mostly in the ratio of 60:40.

● The National Health Authority (NHA) has been constituted as an autonomous entity

under the Society Registration Act, 1860 for effective implementation of PMJAY in

alliance with state governments.

● The State Health Agency (SHA) is the apex body of the State Government responsible

for the implementation of PMJAY in a State.

National Digital Health Mission (NDHM)

● The NDHM is a complete digital health ecosystem. The digital platform will be launched

with four key features — health ID, personal health records, Digi Doctor and health

facility registry

● Implemented by the National Health Authority (NHA) under the Ministry of Health and

Family Welfare.

● The National Health Authority (NHA), is also the implementing agency for Ayushman

Bharat.

PRATHEEKSHA: First Marine Ambulance launched by Kerala

Government ● Specializes in providing first aid and also rescue operations.

● The ambulance is capable of providing critical care to up to five people simultaneously.

● The ambulances run on Scania engines and can run at maximum speed of 14 knots

● The ambulances to be deployed are as follows

Contact : 8830115524

○ Pratheeksha in Thiruvananthapuram

○ Pratyasha in Ernakulam

○ Karunya in Kozhikode

PM Street Vendor’s AtmaNirbhar Nidhi (PM SVANidhi) Scheme ● launched in June 2020.The Union Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry

● a special micro-credit facility plan to provide affordable loan of up to ₹10,000 which is

repayable in monthly instalments within one year.

● Objective:to help the street vendors so that they can resume their livelihoods due to

COVID-19 lock down.

● The Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) is the technical partner to

implement the scheme.

● The scheme is to manage credit guarantee to lend institutions through Credit Guarantee

Fund Trust for Micro and Small Enterprises.

● The scheme is applicable to vendors, Thelewalas, Hawkers, Theliphadwalas who supply

goods and services. The street vendors in the surrounding urban, peri-urban and rural

areas are also included in the scheme.

National Digital Health Mission (On 15th Aug 2020 ) ● Mission aims to improve the efficiency, effectiveness and transparency of health care in

India.

● implemented by the National Health Authority (NHA) under the Ministry of Health and

Family Welfare.

● It is to operate under Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana or Ayushman Bharat.

● four key features : health ID, personal health records, Digi Doctor and health facility

registry.

● every Indian is to get a Health ID card. The ID card will contain all relevant information

about the person’s past medical condition, treatment and diagnosis.

● The Mission allows patients to access health services remotely. It also features Tele-

consultation and E-Pharmacies.

The National Health Policy 2017

● envisaged creation of a digital health technology eco-system

● aiming at developing an integrated health information system that serves the needs of all

stakeholders and improves efficiency, transparency and citizens’ experience with linkage

across public and private healthcare.

UK launches 3 million pounds Innovation Challenge Fund in India

● Launched to support Indian scientists in industries and academia to tackle COVID-19

and climate change.

● The initiative will help to build on UK-India Tech partnership launched in 2018 by the

Indian and British Prime Ministers.

● The funds invite innovators to connect to the Artificial Intelligence Clusters in Karnataka

and future mobility cluster in Maharashtra.

Project Nirmanshree ● On August 13, 2020, launched by The European Union

Contact : 8830115524

● For women empowerment , The project aims to skill women in housing sector. It is to be

implemented in four districts of Odisha and Maharashtra.

Institute of Teaching and Research in Ayurveda Bill, 2020 ● The bill aims to merge three institutes into one integrated centre which will be called the

Institute of Teaching and Research in Ayurveda which will be based in Jamnagar,

Gujarat.

● It will be the first Ayurveda institution to be given the status of institution of national

importance.

● Objective of Institute: develop patterns of teaching in medical education in Ayurveda and

pharmacy & bring together educational facilities for training of personnel in all branches

of Ayurveda among others.

Dhanwantri Rath: Ayurveda Health Services ● A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between the All India Institute

of Ayurveda (AIIA) and Delhi Police for extending the Ayurveda Preventive and Promotive

health services in the residential colonies of Delhi Police.

● Health services are to be provided through a mobile unit named ‘Dhanwantari Rath’ and

Police Wellness Centres

● AYURAKSHA a joint venture of AIIA and Delhi Police aimed for maintaining the health of

frontline Covid warriors like Delhi police personnel through Ayurveda immunity boosting

measures was launched.

● The Dhanwantari Rath launched is a continuation of the “Ayuraksha”.

● Dhanwantari Rath – a mobile unit of Ayurveda health care services would consist of a

team of Doctors who would be visiting Delhi Police colonies regularly.in Dhanwantari Rath,

the services are being extended to their families as well.

● The Ministry of AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and

Homeopathy) was formed in 2014 to ensure the optimal development and propagation of

AYUSH systems of health care.

World Urdu Conference 2020 ● Organised by the National Council for Promotion of Urdu Language (NCPUL) from 27th-

28th August 2020.

● The objective of the conference is to encourage Urdu writers for literary and creative

services by the Urdu Council.

● Urdu had developed and flourished in Delhi during the period of ‘Delhi Sultanate’ from

12th to 16th century and then during the period of ‘Mughal Empire’ in Delhi from 16th

century to 19th century when several court poets used this language in their great poetry

and writings.

● Its first major folk poet Amir Khusrau (1253-1325), composed dohas (couplets) and

riddles in the newly-formed speech, then called Hindavi.

● The divide between Urdu and Hindi occurred under the colonial impact.

● Hindi and Urdu got split along religious lines with Hindi in Nagari script becoming

identified with Hindus, and Urdu in Persian script identified with Muslims.

● Urdu is a major language of South Asia.

● It is spoken in countries including India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Nepal.

Contact : 8830115524

National Council for Promotion of Urdu Language

● NCPUL has become the biggest Urdu networking hub in the world.

● NCPUL is an autonomous body under the Ministry of Education.

● It was set up in 1996 in order to promote, develop and propagate Urdu language.

● NCPUL has also been assigned the responsibility of promotion of Arabic and Persian.

Scheduled Language: ● Urdu is one of the languages mentioned in the 8th Schedule to the Constitution.

● The Constitutional provisions relating to the 8th Schedule are articles 344(1) and 351.

● Presently, 8th Schedule consists of the 22 languages namely (1) Assamese, (2) Bengali,

(3) Gujarati, (4) Hindi, (5) Kannada, (6) Kashmiri, (7) Konkani, (8) Malayalam, (9)

Manipuri, (10) Marathi, (11) Nepali, (12) Oriya, (13) Punjabi, (14) Sanskrit, (15) Sindhi,

(16) Tamil, (17) Telugu, (18) Urdu (19) Bodo, (20) Santhali, (21) Maithili and (22) Dogri.

● Urdu is official Language of Different States: It is one of the official languages in states

like Kashmir, Telangana, UP, Bihar, New Delhi and West Bengal.

National Council for Promotion of Urdu Language( NCPUL )

● NCPUL has become the biggest Urdu networking hub in the world.

● The National Council for Promotion of Urdu Language started functioning as an

autonomous body in 1996.

● It comes under the Ministry of Education.

● It is the National Nodal Agency for Promotion of Urdu.

● NCPUL has also been assigned the responsibility of promotion of Arabic and Persian.

● Major Objectives:

● To take action for making available in Urdu language, the knowledge of scientific and

technological development as well as knowledge of ideas evolved in the modern context.

● To advise the Government on issues connected with Urdu language as may be referred

to it.

UN Principles for People with Disabilities ● The United Nations (UN) has released its first-ever guidelines on access to social justice

for People with Disabilities (PwD)

● to make it easier for them to access justice systems around the world.

● Definition of Person with Disability: Persons with disabilities as those “who have long-

term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairments which in interaction with

various barriers may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal

basis with others”.

● India ratified UN Convention on the Rights of PwD, which was adopted in 2006, the

Convention in October 2007.

Accessible India Campaign - Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan

● seeks to make at least 50 per cent of all government buildings in the national capital and

all state capitals “fully accessible” for the disabled by July 2018.

Contact : 8830115524

● Aims to enable persons with disabilities to gain universal access, equal opportunity for

development, independent living and participation in all aspects of life in an inclusive

society.

● The campaign targets three separate verticals : the built-up environment, transportation

eco-system and information & communication eco-system.

PM Young Achievers Scholarship Award Scheme for Vibrant India

(PM-YASASVI) ● Central government is contemplating setting up a single national scholarship scheme for

meritorious students which will absorb all the existing scholarship schemes.

● Beneficiary: Students in the Other Backward Class (OBC), SC, Denotified, Nomadic

and semi-Nomadic Tribe (DNT) and Economically Backward Caste (EBC) categories will

be able to avail the national scholarship.

● Implementing Agency: The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has been

tasked to implement the Scheme by conducting a merit test.

● Benefits

○ It will increase the reach of information about the govt scholarships.

○ Boost the importance of maintaining a basic curriculum and teaching standards

across the country.

○ Help improve the quality and implementation of scholarships.

National Cancer Registry Programme Report 2020 ● released by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the National Centre for

Disease Informatics and Research (NCDIR), Bengaluru.

● cancer cases in India are likely to increase to 15.6 lakhs by 2025, a 12% increase from

the current estimated cases.

Cancer

● Cancer is a generic term for a large group of diseases characterized by the growth of

abnormal cells beyond their usual boundaries that can then invade adjoining parts of the

body and/or spread to other organs.

● Other common terms used for cancer are malignant tumors and neoplasms.

● Cancer is one of the leading causes of death globally.

● World Cancer Day : 4th February.

● 2020 theme: ‘I Am and I Will’

Initiatives to Promote Women in Science

● Vigyan Jyoti Scheme:

○ Vigyan Jyoti Scheme is launched by the Department of Science & Technology

(DST).

○ It is intended to create a level-playing field for the meritorious girls in high school

to pursue Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) in their

higher education.

○ It also offers exposure for girl students from the rural background to help to plan

their journey from school to a job of their choice in the field of science.

● GATI Scheme:

Contact : 8830115524

○ The Gender Advancement for Transforming Institutions (GATI) will develop a

comprehensive Charter and a framework for assessing Gender Equality in STEM

● KIRAN Scheme

○ Knowledge Involvement in Research Advancement through Nurturing (KIRAN)

Scheme is started by the Department of Science and Technology (DST) aimed to

bring gender parity in the Science & Technology sector by inducting more women

talent in the research & development domain.

● Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) Scheme

○ BBBP is the joint initiative of the Ministry of Women and Child Development,

Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and Ministry of Human Resource

Development to ensure survival, protection, and empowerment of the girl child.

● National Science Day (NSD) was celebrated on 28th February 2020 with the theme

‘Women In Science’.

○ Dr Niti Kumar, a senior scientist from the CSIR- Central Drug Research Institute

(CDRI), Lucknow received SERB Women Excellence Award-2020 on this

occasion.

KIRAN: Mental Rehabilitation Health line ● Launched by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment

● helpline number “1800-599-0019”

● Help in providing psychological support, psychological crisis management, early

screening, mental wellbeing, first-aid, and will also help to prevent deviant behaviour.

● The initiative targets people experiencing depression, anxiety, traumatic stress disorder,

panic attack, post-traumatic stress disorder, suicidal thoughts, substance abuse and

mental health emergency.

● Coordinated by the

○ National Institute for the Empowerment of Persons with Multiple Disabilities

(NIEPMD, Chennai)

○ National Institute of Mental Health Rehabilitation (NIMHR, Sehore).

History - Art & Culture .

Channapatna Toys

● Channapatna toys are a particular form of wooden toys (and dolls) that are

manufactured in the town of Channapatna in the Ramanagara district of Karnataka state.

● This traditional craft is protected as a geographical indication(GI).

● Channapatna is known as Gombegala Ooru (toy-town) of Karnataka.

Warli Painting: ● The Warlis or Varlis are an indigenous tribe or Adivasis

Contact : 8830115524

● Location: Mountainous as well as coastal areas of Maharashtra-Gujarat border and

surrounding areas.

● They speak an unwritten Varli language which belong to the southern zone of the Indo-

Aryan languages.

● Maharashtra is known for its Warli folk paintings.

● They bear a resemblance to those created in the Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka.

● Scenes portraying hunting, fishing and farming, festivals and dances, trees and animals

are used to surround the central theme of the painting.

● Women are mainly engaged in the creation of these paintings.

● Unique features: A very basic graphic vocabulary like a circle, a triangle and a square

are used in these rudimentary wall paintings which are monosyllabic in nature.

● A mixture of rice paste, gum and water is used as paint by the warlis. A bamboo stick is

used as the brush.

● Popular artists : Jivya Soma Mashe, has played a great role in making the Warli

paintings more popular.

Lingaraj Temple

● built in 11th century AD, dedicated to Lord Shiva

● It is believed to have been built by the Somvanshi King Yayati I.

● It is built in red stone and is a classic example of Kalinga style of architecture.

● The temple the Deula style is divided into four sections―Garbh Griha (sanctum

sanctorum), Yajna Shala (the hall for prayers), Bhoga Mandap (the hall of offering) and

the Natya Shala (hall of dance).

● Lingaraj is referred to as ‘Swayambhu” – self-originated Shivling.

● The temple has images of Vishnu, possibly because of the rising prominence of

Jagannath sect emanating from the Ganga rulers who built the Jagannath Temple in

Puri in the 12th century.

Ekamra Kshetra: ● Bhubaneswar is called the Ekamra Kshetra.

● Ekamra Kshetra can be loosely translated to mean an 'area (kshetra) adorned with

mango trees (ekamra).

● As noted in Ekamra Purana, a 3th-century Sanskrit treatise, the presiding state deity of

Lingaraj was originally under a mango tree, hence the name Ekamra Kshetra

Other Important Monuments in Odisha

Konark Sun Temple (UNESCO World Heritage Site)

Jagannath Temple

Tara Tarini Temple

Udaygiri and Khandagiri Caves

Parkash Purab

Contact : 8830115524

● The first Prakash Purab Utsav marked the installation of Guru Granth Sahib in

Harmandir Sahib, also known as the Golden temple, in 1604.

● Granth Sahib is the sacred scripture of Sikhism (religion). It is a collection of nearly

6,000 hymns of the Sikh Gurus (religious leaders) and various early and medieval saints

of different religions and castes.

● It is the central object of worship in all gurdwaras and is accorded the reverence paid to

a living Guru.

● The first version of the book was compiled by the 5th Sikh Guru Arjan at Amritsar in

1604 CE.

Terracotta ● Terracotta is a type of ceramic pottery, made by baking terracotta clay.

● terracotta means baked earth

● It is often used for making pipes, bricks, and sculptures.

● Recently, a Terracotta Grinder was launched at Varanasi by the Khadi and Village

Industries Commission (KVIC).

● The Gorakhpur (Uttar Pradesh) terracotta has been given the Geographical Indication

(GI) tag.

● Terracotta Figurines were also made during the Indus Valley Civilization. They were

either used as toys or objects of worship and represented birds, dogs, sheep, cattle and

monkeys.

● The famous terracotta figure of the Mother Goddess was discovered in Mohen-

jodaro which shows the Mother Goddess as the symbol of fertility and prosperity.

Navroz: Parsi New Year (16th August ) ● It is celebrated to mark the beginning of the Iranian (Persian) calendar.

● Navroj is inscribed in the list of UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity of

India

● New Year Festivities at Different Regions of India

Gudi Padwa – Marathi New Year

Baisakhi – Punjabi New Year

Puthandu – Tamil New Year

Bohag Bihu – Assamese New Year

Pohela Boishakh – Bengali New Year

Bestu Varas – Gujarati New Year

Vishu – Malayalam New Year

Hijri – Islamic New Year

Losoong – Sikkimese New Year 7 New ASI Circles:

● Culture Ministry announced 7 new circles of the Archaeological Survey of India.

● Trichy, Raiganj, Rajkot, Jabalpur, Jhansi and Meerut have been announced as new

circles and Hampi Mini Circle has been converted into a full fledged circle.

Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) ● ASI, under the Ministry of Culture, is the premier organization for the archaeological

research and protection of the cultural heritage of the nation.

Contact : 8830115524

● It was founded in 1861 by Alexander Cunningham- the first Director-General of ASI.

Alexander Cunningham is also known as the “Father of Indian Archaeology”.

● Its activities include carrying out surveys of antiquarian remains, exploration and

excavation of archaeological sites, conservation and maintenance of protected

monuments etc.

Pulikkali Folk Art of Kerala

● Pulikkali (Puli means Leopard/Tiger and Kali means Play in Malayalam) is a recreational

street folk art performed on the fourth day of Onam celebrations.

● The main theme of this folk art is tiger hunting with participants playing the role of tiger

and hunter.

● Performers paint their bodies like tigers and hunters and dance on streets to the beats of

traditional percussion instruments such as thakil, udukku and chenda.

● It was introduced by Maharaja Rama Varma Sakthan Thampuran, the then Maharaja of

Cochin.

● during Onam is Aranmula Boat Race, the oldest river boat festival in Kerala.It takes

place at Aranmula in Pampa river

Some Other Art Forms of Kerala: - Ottam Thullal

- Talamaddale

- Kalaripayattu

- Kathakali

- Mohiniyattam

- Mudiyettu

Onam

● the festival is celebrated to welcome King Mahabali, whose spirit is said to visit Kerala at

the time of Onam.

● It is also celebrated as the festival of paddy harvest.

● Onam is celebrated at the beginning of the month of Chingam, the first month of the

solar Malayalam calendar (Kollavarsham).

● During the festival, people get dressed in their traditional attire, prepare the Onam

Sadhya and take part in a variety of group activities

● the Pookolam (rangoli made with fresh flowers),

● Vallam Kali (boat race), Pulikali (tiger dance), Kai Kottu Kali (Onam dance),

Kummattikali (mask dance)

Pampa river ( Pamba river): ● Pampa is the third longest river in Kerala after Periyar and Bharathappuzha.

● Sabarimala temple dedicated to Lord Ayyappa is located on the banks of the river.

● The river is also known as ‘Dakshina Bhageerathi’ and ‘River Baris’.

Contact : 8830115524

Gondi Language ● This is spoken by nearly 12 million Gond Adivasis and it is not standardized.

● there is no written literature in the language and the dialects have passed down orally

over the centuries.

● There are no local teachers of the language

● Gond Tribe a Scheduled Tribe.

● Gonds are one of the largest tribal groups in the world.

● They are mostly live in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh,

Gujarat, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Odisha.

Hagia Sophia: UNESO world heritage site. Turkey

● It was first constructed as a cathedral in the Christian Byzantine Empire but was

converted into a mosque after the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople in 1453.

● In 1934, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of the Republic of Turkey, converted the

mosque into a museum in an attempt to make the country more secular.

● the government of Turkey has decided to convert Istanbul’s iconic Hagia Sophia

Museum into a mosque.

Chora Museum

● built initially as a church in 534 AD, during the early Byzantine period.

● In the 11th century, its internal walls, pillars and domes were covered with mosaics and

frescoes showing scenes from biblical stories.

● After the conquest of Constantinople (capital city of the Roman Empire) by the Ottomans

(1453), the church was seized and turned into a mosque in 1511.

● In 1945, it was converted into a museum.

● Recently, the Turkish President reconverted the Chora museum into a mosque.

Quit India Movement(August Kranti.)

● On 8th Aug 2020, India completed 78 years

● About: On 8th August 1942, Mahatma Gandhi , to end the British rule and launched

Movement at the session of the All-India Congress Committee in Mumbai.

● immediate cause for the movement was the collapse of Cripps Mission.

● Do or Die: in his speech delivered at the Gowalia Tank Maidan,

● ‘Quit India’ was coined by Yusuf Meherally,

● Modi a new slogan karenge aur karake rahenge in place of Gandhi’s slogan of karo ya

maro (Do or Die).

Cripps Mission. ● Japanese aggression in South-East Asia, keenness of British Government to secure the

full participation of India in the war, mounting pressure from China and the United

States, as well as from the Labour Party in Britain, led British Prime Minister Winston

Churchill to send Cripps Mission to India in March 1942.

● Under Stafford Cripps, the mission was sent to resolve the Indian question of a new

constitution and self-government.

Abanindranath Tagore

Contact : 8830115524

● The National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA), New Delhi has organised a virtual tour titled

“The Great Maestro - Abanindranath Tagore” to commemorate the 150th birth

anniversary of Abanindranath Tagore on 7th August 2020.

● He first created the ‘Indian Society of Oriental Art’ and later went on to establish Bengal

school of art.

● leading artist of Bengal School of Painting

● His idea of modernizing Mughal and Rajput paintings eventually gave rise to modern

Indian painting

● Most of his works revolved around Hindu philosophy.

● his later works, Abanindranath started integrating Chinese and Japanese calligraphic

traditions into his style.

● Popular Paintings: Bharat Mata, My Mother, Journey’s End, The Passing of Shah Jahan

(1900), Fairyland illustration (1913),

National Gallery of Modern Art ( NGMA )

● Established in 1954, at the Jaipur House, New Delhi.

● It is run and administered as a subordinate office to the Ministry of Culture, Government

of India.

● Objectives

○ is to acquire and preserve works of modern art from the 1850s onward.

○ to promote the development of contemporary Indian art in particular

○ to create an understanding and sensitivity among the Indian Public towards the

visual and plastic arts in general

● The NGMA has two branches one at Mumbai and the other at Bengaluru.

● Online NAIMISH 2020 program, four workshops will be organized entitled Painting

workshop, Sculpture workshop, Printmaking and Indrajaal - The Magic of Art from 8th

June 2020 to 3rd July 2020. By NGMA. an initiative to provide a chance to its

participants to create and learn from practicing artists without compromising their health.

Bengal School of Painting:

● It is also called the Renaissance School or the Revivalist School, as it represented the

first modern movement of Indian art.

● It rediscovered the glories of Indian art and consciously tried to produce what it

considered a truly Indian art inspired by the creations of the past.

● Its leading artist was Abanindranath Tagore and its theoretician was E.B. Havell, the

principal of the Calcutta School of Art.

● They broke away from the convention of oil painting and the realistic style, and turned for

inspiration to medieval Indian traditions of miniature painting and the ancient art of mural

painting in the Ajanta caves.

● They were also influenced by the art (wash technique) of Japanese artists who visited

India at that time to develop an Asian Art movement.

Mahatma Ayyankali ● Ayyankali (1863-1914), born in Kerala, was a leader of the lower castes and Dalits. With

his efforts, Dalits got the freedom to walk on public roads, and Dalit children were

allowed to join schools.

Contact : 8830115524

● He formed Sadhu Jana Paripalana Sangham (SJPS) to work for low castes.

● Mahatma Gandhi called Ayyankali as ‘Pulaya king’. Indira Gandhi described him as

‘India’s greatest son’.

● His contributions to Dalit developments:

● Ayyankali in 1893 rode an ox-cart challenging the ‘ban’ on untouchables from accessing

public roads by caste-Hindus.

● He also led a rally to assert the rights of ‘untouchables’ at Balaramapuram. The walk

Ayyankali took came to be known as ‘walk for freedom’ and the consequent riots as

‘Chaliyar riots’.

● Inspired by Sree Narayana Guru, a social reformer from Ezhava caste, Ayyankali started

Sadhu Jana Paripalana Sangham (association for the protection of the poor) which later

raised funds to start their own schools.

Sanskrit Diwas was celebrated on August 3 ● also known as ‘Vishvasamkritadinam’

● Samskrita Bharati : It is a non-profit organization that is working on the revival of Sanskrit

language.

Bal Gangadhar Tilak’s 100th death anniversary

● the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) conducted the webinar

● He was a freedom fighters and the strongest proponent of ‘purna swaraj’ or ‘total self-

rule’

● father of the Indian unrest” by British colonial rulers.

● Jawaharlal Nehru called him the ‘father of Indian revolution’.

● Mahatma Gandhi described Tilak as ‘the maker of modern India’.

● His slogan ‘Swaraj is my birth right and I shall have it’

Indian Council for Cultural Relations

● The Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), is an autonomous organisation of the

Government of India, involved in India's external cultural relations (cultural diplomacy),

through cultural exchange with other countries and their peoples.

● founded in 1950 by Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, independent India’s first Education

Minister.

● Responsibility of facilitating the celebration of the International Day of Yoga (21st June)

by Indian Missions/Posts abroad since 2015.

Time Capsules

● Time Capsule is a container of any size or shape, which accommodates documents,

photos and artefacts typical of the current era and is buried underground, for future

generations to unearth.

● The time capsules mostly have a scheduled time for reopening, and are supposed to be

buried again after opening, with people of the future adding their own contributions to the

time capsule.

● The International Time Capsule Society (ITCS), based in the USA and formed in 1990, is

now defunct but continues estimating the number of time capsules in the world.

Contact : 8830115524

Significance:

● Time Capsules are intended as a method of communication with future people.

● They are also supposed to help future archaeologists, anthropologists, or historians in

knowing about the past human civilisation.

Swadesh Darshan Scheme

● Central Sector Scheme.

● launched in 2014-15 for integrated development of theme-based tourist circuits in the

country.

● Under the scheme, the Ministry of Tourism provides Central Financial Assistance (CFA)

to State Governments/Union Territory Administrations for infrastructure development of

circuits.

● This scheme is envisioned to synergise with other schemes like Swachh Bharat

Abhiyan, Skill India, Make in India, etc. with the idea of positioning the tourism sector as

a major engine for job creation, driving force for economic growth, building synergy with

various sectors to enable tourism to realise its potential.

First General Council Meeting of the Khelo India Scheme:

● Khelo India: national programme which aims to develop grassroots level talent by

providing them with a national level platform.

● based on Gujarat’s model of “Khel Mahakumbh” in which schools and colleges from

across the country participate in 27 different disciplines.

● formed after the merger of Rajiv Gandhi Khel Abhiyan (RGKA), Urban Sports Infrastructure

Scheme (USIS) and National Sports Talent Search Scheme (NSTSS).

● offers sports scholarship also

Nagara Architecture of Ayodhya’s Ram Mandir

● found in northern India.

● In the Nagara style, the temple is generally constructed on an upraised platform called

jagati.

● Mandapasare present in front of the Garbhagriha. These are adorned with the

Shikhara, the tallest one being above the Garbhagriha.

● Nagara style doesn’t usually have elaborate boundary walls or gateways.

● Generally, there is no water tank in the temple premises and the pradakshina patha is

covered.

● The garbhagriha is always located directly under the tallest tower.

● The basic form of a Hindu temple contains the following architectural elements:

○ Garbhagriha– the small room where the principle deity/deities of the temple

Reside

○ Mandapa– the portico or hall at the entrance of the temple generally designed to

house a large number of people

○ Shikhara– the mountain like spire which can have different shapes from

pyramidal to curvilinear

○ Vahana– the mount or vehicle of the main deity placed generally in line of sight

from Garbhagriha

Contact : 8830115524

● Nagara school is further subdivided into different schools based on region like Odisha,

Khajuraho, Solanki etc.

Nuakhai Juhar ● Nuakhai Juhar is an agricultural festival, also called Nuakhai Parab or Nuakahi Bhetghat.

● It is celebrated to welcome the new crop of the season.

● ‘nua’ means new and ‘khai’ means eat.

● This is the festival of Western Odisha, southern Chhattisgarh and adjoining areas of

Simdega (Jharkhand).

● Its coastal counterpart is Nabanna, observed in Coastal Odisha.

● It is observed on panchami tithi (the fifth day) of the lunar fortnight of the month of

Bhadrapada (August–September), the day after the Ganesh Chaturthi festival.

● Lagan is the fixed time of the day to celebrate the festival.

● Festive Activities: Farmers offer the first produce from their lands to Goddess

Samaleswari, the famous ‘Mother Goddess’ of Sambalpur district of Odisha.

● Sambalpuri dance forms like Rasarkeli and Dalkhai can be witnessed.

Behrupiya: Folk Artiste ● The behrupiya festival is a traditional Indian style of street theatre and takes place every

year

● locations- Delhi, Ahmedabad, Udaipur, Jaipur, Kumbh, Muzaffarnagar and others.

● National Behrupiya Festival was organised by the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the

Arts (IGNCA) from 5th-8th October 2018.

● IGNCA is an autonomous institution under the Ministry of Culture.

● Arthashastra makes a mention of religious processions in the Mauryan times where

artistes dressed as gods and were taken out in tableaux all around the kingdom.

● Rajasthan’s Behrupiyas had served Maharaja Sawai Madho Singh of the erstwhile

Jaipur kingdom. They are also said to have helped freedom fighters during the struggle

for Independence.

Different Forms of Traditional Theatres:

● Bhand Pather: Kashmir

● Nautanki: Uttar Pradesh

● Bhavai: Gujarat

● Jatra: Bengal

● Maach: Madhya Pradesh

● Bhaona: Assam

● Dashavatar: Konkan and Goa Regions

● Tamaasha: Maharashtra

● Krishnattam, Koodiyaattam and Mudiyettu: Kerala

● Yakshagana: Karnataka

● Therukoothu: Tamil Nadu

Places in News .

Mahatma Gandhi Setu

Contact : 8830115524

● It is a bridge over the river Ganges in Bihar, India, connecting Patna in the south to

Hajipur in the north.

● Its length is 5,750 metres and it is the third-longest river bridge in India.

● It was inaugurated in May 1982 in a ceremony in Hajipur by the then prime minister,

Indira Gandhi.

Places in News- Beirut: ● It is the capital and largest city of Lebanon

● Lebanon is a country in Western Asia, bordered by Syria , Israel Cyprus lies west across

the Mediterranean Sea.

● Beirut is an important regional seaport

● A huge explosion caused by 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate recently devastated the

port area of the capital.

Ammonium Nitrate

● Ammonium Nitrate (NH4NO3) is a nitrogen-rich white, crystalline chemical which is

soluble in water.

Uses:

● agricultural fertilisers.

● for the production of anaesthetic gases and cold packs.

● main ingredient in the manufacture of commercial explosives used in mining and

construction.

● main component of the explosive composition known as ANFO- ammonium nitrate fuel

oil.

Tabletop Airports

● The Tabletop Airport is an airport that is built on top of hilly surfaces or plateau.

● The runways in these airports have one or both ends overlooking a drop.

● The tabletop airports in India : Shimla and Kullu (Himachal Pradesh), Lengpui

(Mizoram), Pakyong (Sikkim), Kozhikode and Kannur (Kerala) and Mangaluru

(Karnataka).

Contact : 8830115524

Mount Sinabung Volcano of Indonesia erupts ● Located on the Pacific Ring of Fire in the North Sumatra Island of Indonesia.

Ring of Fire ● The Pacific Ring of Fire is a major area in the Pacific Ocean where volcanic eruptions

and earthquakes occur.

● Around 90% of world earthquake occur in the region. The ring of fire is a direct result of

plate tectonics.

Volcanos in India ● The only active volcano in India is located in Barren Island, Andaman Islands.

● Types of Volcanoes

1. Active volcano

- had at least one eruption during the past 10000 years.

2. Erupting volcano

- should be erupting all the time, a

3. Dormant volcano

not erupting but might erupt again in future.

Israel-UAE Peace Deal ● The Abraham Accord is between Israel, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain is

mediated by the USA. It is the first Arab-Israeli peace deal in 26 years.

● The UAE has become the first Gulf Arab state to do so and only the third Arab nation to

have active diplomatic ties with Israel.

● Abraham Accord: Israel-UAE-Bahrain Peace Deal in 2020

● Camp David Accords: Israel-Egypt a peace treaty in 1978 .

● Oslo Accords: agreements between Israel and the Palestinians signed in the 1990s.

Contact : 8830115524

West Bank

● a landlocked territory in West Asia. It also contains a significant section of the western

dead sea.

● It was captured by Jordan after the Arab-Israeli War (1948) but Israel snatched it back

during the Six-Day War of 1967 and has occupied it ever since.

● At present, there are around 130 formal Israeli settlements along with 26 lakh

Palestinians at West Bank.

Nioghalvfjerdsfjorden glacier

● It is located in Northeast Greenland.

● It is Arctic’s largest ice shelf

● A massive chunk of ice has broken off from this ice shelf because of warmer

temperatures in Greenland.

Addu Atoll ● These eco tourism zones are part of grant projects being implemented under the High-

Impact Community Development project (HICDP) scheme which involves a total grant

assistance of 5 million US dollars to the Maldives.

● Addu Atoll also known as Seenu Atoll, is the southernmost atoll of the Maldive.

Mediterranean Sea ● The Mediterranean is a vast sea positioned between Europe to the north, Africa to the

south, and Asia to the east.

● Mediterranean Sea connects

○ to the Atlantic Ocean by the Strait of Gibraltar in the west.

○ to the Sea of Marmaraand the Black Sea, by the Straits of the Dardanelles and the

Bosporus respectively, in the east

○ artificial Suez Canalin the southeast connects the Mediterranean Sea to the Red

Sea.

Atal Tunnel ● The tunnel is being built under Rohtang Pass in the Pir Panjal range on the Leh-Manali

highway.

● the world's longest tunnel above an altitude of 3,000 metres.The length 8.8 km

● It will reduce the distance between Manali and Leh by 46 kilometres and saves transport

costs.

● It will provide all weather connectivity to remote border areas of Himachal Pradesh and

Ladakh which otherwise remained cut off from the rest of the country for about six

months during winters.

● The route is important as it feeds military supplied to the military sub sector that are

located in Siachen Glacier and Aksai Chin.

Rohtang Pass

● The pass connects Kullu valley and the Lahaul and Spiti Valleys of Himachal Pradesh.

● The pass lies on the watershed between Chenab and Beas rivers.

Other Mountain Passes in Himachal Pradesh

● Bara Lacha La

Contact : 8830115524

● Debsa Pass

● Rohtang Pass

● Shipki La

World Tallest Pier Bridge in Manipur

● The Indian Railways is constructing

● The bridge is 141 metres high and 703 metres in Length . It has surpassed the record of

139 metres tall Mala-Rijeka bridge in Montenegro, Europe.

● The piers that will hold the bridge are to be constructed with hydraulic augers. The “Slip

Form Technique” has been used to construct the bridge.

Sutlej Yamuna Link (SYL) Canal(214-kilometer long ) ● To enable Haryana to use its share of the waters of the Sutlej and its tributary Beas, a

canal linking the Sutlej with the Yamuna, cutting across the state, was planned.

● A tripartite agreement was also negotiated between Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan in

this regard.

Death Valley ● registered a temperature of 54.4 degrees Celsius or 129.9 degrees Fahrenheit which

could be the hottest temperature ever recorded on Earth.

● It is a desert valley in Eastern California, US in the northern Mojave Desert bordering the

Great Basin Desert.

● It is one of the hottest places on Earth along with deserts in the Middle East and the

Sahara.

Bhadbhut Project ● It is located across the river Narmada, 5 km from Bhadbhut village and 25 km from the

mouth of the river, where it flows into the Gulf of Khambhat.

● The project is part of the larger Kalpasar Project,which entails the construction of a 30-km

dam across the Gulf of Khambhat between Bharuch and Bhavnagar districts.

Gas Field in Black Sea

● Turkey has found its biggest ever (a 320 billion cubic metre) natural gas field discovery

in Black Sea.

● Currently Turkey is also having strained relations with its neighbour Greece over

exploration of natural resources in Mediterranean sea.

Eastern Mediterranean Gas Forum

● seven Mediterranean countries -- Cyprus, Greece, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Palestine and

Egypt

● Aim: to create a regional gas market, cut infrastructure costs and offer competitive

prices

● ensuring supply and demand, optimising resources development, offering competitive

prices and improving trade relations

Mali ● Mali is a landlocked country in West Africa.

● It borders Niger to the east, Ivory Coast to the south, Senegal to the west.

● Most of it lies in the southern Sahara Desert.

Hamas:

Contact : 8830115524

● Hamas is a Palestinian Islamist political organization and militant group

● waged war on Israel since the group’s 1987 founding, most notably through suicide

bombings and rocket attacks.

● It seeks to replace Israel with a Palestinian state. It also governs Gaza independently of

the Palestinian Authority.

Teesta River ● It is a tributary of the Brahmaputra (known as Jamuna in Bangladesh), flowing through

India and Bangladesh.

● Origin: In the Himalayas near Chunthang, Sikkim and flows to the south through West

Bengal before entering Bangladesh.

● Latest Development: In March 2020, the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) opened a

360 feet long bailey suspension bridge over Teesta river in Munshithang, Sikkim.

Wildfires in California ● California has two distinct fire seasons:

● First or western fire season: From June through September, Due to warmer and drier

weather.Fires are more inland and in higher-elevation forests.

● Second Fire Season: From October through April. Due to Santa Ana Winds. Burn closer

to urban areas. Three times faster than first season fires

Santa Ana Winds

● The winds' name derives its name from the Santa Ana canyon in Orange County,

California.

● Santa Anas are dry, warm (often hot) winds that blow westward through Southern

California toward the coast.

● They're usually seasonal, and typically occur between October and March and peak in

December.

● They originate when high pressure systems form over the high-elevation deserts of the

Great Basin between the Sierra Nevadas and the Rocky Mountains.

● As they flow downwards and cross desserts, they become very dry, warm, and gain

speed. The lack of humidity in Santa Ana winds dries out vegetation, making it better

fuel for a fire.

● The wind also fan the flames and helps spread them.

India’s longest ropeway on Brahmaputra in Guwahati, Assam ● The ropeway is to cut short the travel time by almost an hour. It is 2 km long and the

distance is covered in 7 minutes.

● One-way ride is to cost Rs 60.

● The ropeway journey is to provide view of Neelachal hills (where Kamakhya temple is

located).

Brahmaputra River

● Origin : Its source is the Chemayungdung Glacier, which covers the slopes of the

Himalayas southeast of Lake Mapam in southwestern Tibet.

● It passes through the Tibet Autonomous Region of China, Arunachal Pradesh & Assam,

and Bangladesh.

● In Arunachal Pradesh, it is known as Dihang (or Siang) River.

● Tributaries

Contact : 8830115524

○ Left-bank tributaries are ➔ Dibang, Lohit River, Dhansiri River and Kolong

River.

○ Right-bank tributaries are ➔ Kameng River, Manas River, Beki River, Raidak

River, Jaldhaka River, Teesta River and Subansiri River.

Conflict in Libya

● The internal conflict in Libya that has been running since 2011 has shown signs of de-

escalation as the rival authorities in the country have called for a ceasefire.

● Rival Forces: The Self-proclaimed Libyan National Army (LNA) led by Khalifa Haftar has

been battling forces aligned with the Tripoli-based, internationally recognised

Government of National Accord (GNA).

Edakkal Caves

● located on the Ambukuthi Hills (a part of the Western Ghats) on the Mysore Plateau, in

Wayanad district of Kerala.

● It is located 1,200m above the sea level.

● It has engravings from the late Neolithic period, the only evidence for the existence of

true Neolithic Culture in Kerala

Shetrunji and Bhadar Dams of Gujarat ● Shetrunji is located in Bhavnagar district and has a designed gross storage capacity of

308.68 million cubic metre (mcm), the largest in Saurashtra region.

● Bhadar is located in Rajkot district and has a gross storage capacity of 188.14 mcm, the

second largest in the Saurashtra region.

● Shetrunji River: It originates from the Amreli district. It is an east flowing river and

outfalls into the Gulf of Khambhat.

● Tributaries: Safara, Shel, Khari, Talaji, Stali, Thebu, Gagadia, Rajwal and Kharo.

● Bhadar River: It originates from Jasdan taluka of Rajkot.

● Tributaries: Gondali, Chapparwadi, Phopal, Utawali, Moj, Venu, Vasavadi, Surwa and

Galolia.

Doklam and Naku La: ● China has been developing two air defence positions that will cover the 2017 Doklam

stand-off area and also Naku La in Sikkim.

● Naku La sector is a pass at a height of more than 5,000 metres above Mean Sea Level

(MSL) in the state of Sikkim. It is located ahead of Muguthang or Cho Lhamu (source of

River Teesta).

● Doklam (or Zhonglan or Donglong): It is an area with a plateau and a valley which lies

on the Bhutan-China border, near India. It is located between Tibet’s Chumbi valley to

the North, Bhutan’s Ha valley to the East and India’s Sikkim state to the West.

Kavaratti ● It is the capital of the Union Territory of Lakshadweep.

● The Kavaratti island is at a distance of 404 km from Kochi, Kerala and is located

between Agatti Island on the west and Androth Island on the east.

● Kavaratti selected to develop as smart city under Smart Cities Mission.

Sudan

Contact : 8830115524

● The U.S. and Sudan near pact to compensate american terrorism victims.

● Location: Sudan is located in northeastern Africa, bordered by Libya, Chad, Central

African Republic, Ethiopia and bordering the Red Sea.

● The Nile River flows through Sudan.

Nile River ● the longest river in the world, called the father of African rivers

● rises south of the Equator and flows northward through northeastern Africa to drain into

the Mediterranean Sea.

● It has a length of about 4,132 miles (6,650 kilometres)

● three principal streams: the Blue Nile , the Atbara and the White Nile