International Labour Organization

Context: India dispute ILO’s salary repeat.

ILO:

It is an agency of United Nations to deal with labour issues.

They mainly focus of International labour standards. Social protection and

work opportunities for all.

It was formed in1919 after WW-II for social justice as a part of treaty of

Versailles as an agency of League of Nations.

Functions of ILO:

To promote equal rights at work.

Decent employment opportunities will be encouraged.

Provide social protection and social justice.

Handling work related issues and strengthening dialogue.

Eliminate child labour, slavery, forced lablour and trafficking.

To set labour standards.

Develop policies and programs for welfare of labour.

Composition.

Out of 193 UN member countries, 185 are in ILO India joined as a 183

country.

It consists of permanent Secretariat at and personal staff.

Headquarters- Genera of Switzerland.

Its governing structure is tripartite which represents government

employers and workers.

This enables an open debate among government and social partners.

Composition of Governing body

28 government representation.

14 workers representation

14 employer’s representatives.

Paryatan Parv

Context: Paryatan Parv of the ministry of tourism begins today across the

country.

The Paryatan Parv will culminate in a 3 day event in New Delhi from 23rd

to 25th

October 2017.

Importance of Paryatan Parv:

Paryatan Parv programme will show case the cultural diversity of the

country with cultural performances, crofts bazaar, food court showcasing

folk and classical dance.

Representation from all regions and states of the country will show case

music, handicrafts and handlooms.

The programme is organized with the objective of drawing focus on the

benefits of tourism.

It also showcasing the cultural diversity of the country and reinforcing the

principle of Tourism for All .

Parytan Parv will have three main components:

1) Dekho Apna Desh

2) Tourism for All

3) Tourism and Governance

Dekho Apna Desh

It aims to encourage Indians to visit their own country.

This includes video, photograph and blog competitions of sites visited

during the event.

Stories of India through travelers eyes on social media tourism related quiz,

essay, debate and painting competitions for students.

Tourism for All

Tourism sites across all states in the country.

The activities at these sites include illumination in and around the sites,

cultural programmes of dance, storytelling,

Sensitization programmes for stake holders around the sites, tourism,

exhibition, cuisine and handicrafts.

These will be people’s events with large scale public participation.

Tourism and Governance

Interactive sessions and workshops with stake holders on various themes.

1) Skill development in tourism sector.

2) Innovation in tourism

3) For inducting Ex. Service men as service providers for taxi operation.

4) Developing rural tourism in locations near established destination.

5) Community sensitization workshops on home stay and B&B

opportunities.

12Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharata Abhiyan (PMGDSHA)

Context: 6 Crore rural Indians to get digital literacy under PMGDI.

PMGDISHA ?

Vision of Digital India is making one person in every family digitally

literates.

Objective:

So PMGDISHA is the scheme to make 6 crore persons in rural area across

states/UTs, digitally literate, reaching to around 40% of rural households by

2019. Under supervision of ministry of electronics and IT.

Salient features:

1) Impart digital literacy to6 crore citizens in rural India.

2) Provide access to information, knowledge, education, and healthcare and

livelihood generation.

3) Enable financial inclusion through use of digital payments.

4) Train to avail various government schemes and citizen centric services.

5) Empower women and marginalized communities through digital inclusion.

Scheme aim:

To bridge the digital divide, specifically targeting the rural population

including marginalized section of society like SC, ST, Minorities, BPL, women

and differently abled persons.

Appreciation of Digital Literacy:

To make a person digitally literate, so that he/she can operate digital

devices (tablets, smart phones etc.) send and receive emails and browse

internet for information and undertake digital payment etc.

Age – 14 to 60 years.

ICRIER Survey:

According to Indian council for Research on International economic

relations survey, if mobile penetration increases by 10% then GDP rise by

1.2% , broad band connection by 10% GDP rise 2 and if all government

services provided through mobile phones GDP rise by 3.2%

Concerns/Challenges:

1) Present India’s infrastructure is not up to the stay at which we receive

benefits from info and communication technology.

2) According to world economic forum’s annual network reediness index

in2013 India ranks 68th

but in 2016India slipped to 91st

.

3) We need to bring optical fibre connecting to each gram panchayat and

increase 4G coverage in all villages.

4) Major problem in digital transaction is security and privacy so people need

to be trained on how to protect their financial information.

5) Authentication solely based on biometrics as in Aadhar enabled payment

system (AEPS) in insecure.

Solutions:

1) India needs at least 1.5 million cyber security professionals each year to

make digital transactions secure.

2) There has to be international standards like ISO for payment initiations,

security and asset transactions etc.

3) ISO has series from 27001 to 27004 for keeping information secure by

organization which may banks neglected.

4) Banks need to educate their customers regarding fraudulent emails and

messages.

5) Regulator for digital transaction has to be setup.

6) Government scheme DISHA provide 100% reimbursement if we train SC/ST,

BPL , Anganwadi and Asha workers and 75% for OBC and general.

Way forward:

Private sector institution and financial institutions need to take part in

digital literacy and educate customers this has to extend to every individual

who has bank account. People avoid these practices because it is ease of

use v ease of security.

The more secure the transaction the more difficult it becomes to carry it

out.

States in Indian Diplomacy

Context: The outcome of Sharjah ruler’s Kerala visit shows why more needs to

be done to involve states in foreign policy.

Background:

The principle of cooperative federalism promoted by Prime Minister of

India which aims to facilitate and deepen the external linkages of the

states/UTs engaged in the recent past.

Measures taken to improve external links.

1) Humanitarian operations made by India like operation Rahat (Yemen) and

operation Maitri (Nepal)

2) This division acted as a bridge by way of facilitates evacuation of Indians

from those countries and sending them to their respective states in a safe

and sewer manner.

3) Facilitation of visits of foreign dignitaries to India Ex. Facilitating the visit of

governor of one of Japan provinces to the states of Gujarat and Rajasthan.

4) Sister city and sister province agreement Ex. Chennai-Chongqing.

Apart from three listed above following activities were carried out by the state’s

division.

1) State and provincial leader’s forum which will deepen sub-national

cooperation between India and associated countries.

2) Outreach programmes like facilitating visits of delegations from Indian

states to other countries for specific matter.

3) Facilitating foreign visits of dignitaries from state governments.

Way forward:

Think tanks should be established in states to facilitate policy options and

to provide input to the states and the center.

A major change in mindset is necessary to accomplish it.

The states must also develop expertise on foreign affairs to be able to take

responsible decisions in their interaction with foreign lands.

China’s OBOR (One Belt One Road)

Bangladesh defended China’s OBOR project by stating that economic

benefits to the people are more important than the sovereignty issues.

What is One Belt One Road (OBOR)

It is about building massive infrastructure mostly around transport and

energy: road, bridges, ports, railways, gas pipelines and power plants for

improving connectivity an cooperation among Asian countries, Africa, China

and Europe.

Significance of the mane One Belt One Road

One Belt : It refers to the Silk Road Economic Belt. It envisions three

routes connecting China to Europe,

a) Persian Gulf (Via Central Asia)

b) The Mediterranean (Through West Asia)

c) The Indian Ocean (Via South Asia)

One Road : It refers to the 21st

Century maritime Silk Road. It is planned

to create connections among regional water ways.

International Support to OBOR:

Till now around 60 nations have joined the OBOR initiative by officially

participating in the recent OBOR summit, Belt and Road Forum.

Prominent countries to participate are USA, North Korea, UK, Germany and

France.

Why India Opposing OBOR?

China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) which is a part of OBOR is passing

through Indian Territory i.e. Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. It clearly affects

India sovereignty and China has not tried to attenuate Indian’s concerns.

Impact of India not participating in OBOR

All the India’s neighborhoods except Bhutan have joined OBOR about which

they are positive.

India’s non-participation may reduce its appeal in the region as Big Brother.

It is not wise to watch China altering the land space around it c

consolidating links with the neighborhoods and populating them with its

personal equipment, technology and standards.

Significance of OBOR to China:

China hailed it as Project of the Century and plans to set an example of

globalization, filling the void left by the US under Trump’s America First

Policy.

China plan to revive the ancient trade route that once connected most of

Asia to Europe and Africa Known as Silk Route, for increased movement of

goods from China.

To grow into a world power and challenge the current geo political realities.

To invest the surplus dollars that China has accumulated over the years as

Idle money is equal to no money .

Chinese money flow to Pakistan will increase the Chinese economic and

strategic influence on India’s hostile neighbor with which it has fought

four wars.

OBOR Projects:

As part of OBOR, six major economic corridors are planned to be

developed. They are,

a) The New Eurasian Land Bridge.

b) China-Mongolia-Russia.

c) China-Central Asia-Western Asia.

d) Indo-China peninsula.

e) China-Pakistan,

f) Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar.

What can be done for India to participate in OBOR

India and China need to ensure that their difference of political questions

do not prevent both sides from advancing economic cooperation.

India should consider the future of its Pakistan policy as the possibility of

India benefiting from regional connectivity by land would ensure a measure

of normalized ties with Islamabad.

Context: India among the worst effected by Climate change – IMF

study.

What is in the News?

Region that will be most affected by the global warming are,

1) According to the study of IMF, countries in the tropics will be worst

affected as a result of global warming.

Why: Because tropics are more exposure to the Sun.

Effect on India:

1) India is one of the worst affected, other countries in the region such as

Bangladesh, Pakistan, Srilanka, Indonesia, Malaysia will be similarly

affected.

2) Climate change has already caused more than 59000 suicides in India over

the last 30 years.

3) Climate change cause crop fail which leads to increase in suicides.

Effect on Developed Nations:

According to IMF, impact of most developed nations, located in

temperature zone is negligible.

Temperature Zone:

North Temperature Zone: Between Artic circle and Tropic of Cancer.

South Temperature Zone: Between Antarctic Circle Tropic of Capricorn.

According to IMF, some Northern countries such as Russia, Norway, and

Canada are improving.

Impact of Climate Change: India

1) Agriculture:

Crops are affected/impacted by rainfall change of pattern.

High rainfall leads to greater loss of soil due to erosion.

Rise in sea level may lead to loss of form land due to floods and increasing

salinity of ground water in coastal areas.

Major impact of climate change will be on areas which are rain fed or un-

irrigated crops.

2) Poverty:

Climate change also include un expected drought, the poorer are most

affected by severe drought that lead to food shortage and higher food

prices.

Climate change will further reduce access to drinking water and negatively

affect the health of poor people in many countries in Africa, Asia and Latin

America.

Government initiatives:

1) Subsidies for micro-irrigation.

2) Drought prone areas programme and Desert Development Program.

3) National watershed development project for rain fed areas.

4) Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bhima Yojana, its main objective is to give financial

support to the farmers if any of the failure of the notified crops.

5) National Action Plan on Climate change.

Way forward:

Measuring Poverty through different dimensions would help policy makers

figure out which aspects of poverty expose the poor.

Agriculture can be the key to solve eradication of poverty and maintain

stable climate corridor.

Less emission of Greenhouse gases, which leads to global warming, which is

the main reason for climate change.

Awareness in urban and rural areas about the impact of climate change.

Context: India needs a new IAS i.e. an increasingly specialized,

complex and changing world demands a more effective bureaucracy.

1) India is at junction of two trends that are fundamentally challenging the

world:

a) Rise of Asia, with the growing importance of Asian consumer.

b) Digitization.

Asian consumers rise between 2010 and 2020 will in dollar terms add a new

US to global consumption.

Digitization (Connectivity, unlimited storage, computing power, growth in

data, artificial intelligence, robotics, block chain etc.) is changing not by low

people live and interacts but how business and governments are.

Negatives of IAS:

a) How should our bureaucracy evolve to navigate the challenge this creates is

it time to question set up IAS in India?

Till 1991, IAS would have perhaps been most attractive service in India. The

entrance exam was among the most competitive and those who are bright.

Experience obtained in 1st

10 years in IAS is similar to all officers when

posted to district and in today specialized world, Missouri Academy need to

train to perform well in secretariat.

But officers after few years in state secretariat race among them to get jobs

at center.

There is a pecking order here with posting in finance, home, defense, being

preferred to minority affairs. Further more jobs in states were not as

attractive as posting in Delhi.

It is widely recognized that the prestige of service has fallen since 19191

reforms-reduced controls, power. Reform also saw emergence of

alternative professions in private sector whose pay is higher.

Equation between politicians and bureaucrats also changed in favor of the

politician.

The nature of jobs in state and center have may deportments (education,

health, finance, public works department etc.) planners, environmental

experts, economists, architects, management

Degree holders but if they hired are likely to be asked to do jobs outside

their specializations.

Generalists today perform all these disparate roles.

1) Would we not do better if we moved away from the colonial

paradigm?

2) Is it right to staff specialized ministers at center and states without the

requests skill?

Positives of IAS:

1) But IAS officer job has equal responsibilities as it has powers which depend

on pay scale. But IAS is not a job, it’s a service.

2) So when officials placed in different positions, assume the role,

responsibility and authority of that position.

3) IAS officer is responsible for framing and implementing policy under the

consultation of Minister.

4) As IAS officer is the person who has the capability, authority and

opportunity to help the life of the poor and needy man.

Way forward:

To address complex and changing world we need to think about correct

bureaucratic structure away from colonial paradigm through setting a

high powered committee to address challenges we face and facilitate

the changes we need.

India-EU

Context: 14th

India-EU summit to be held in this month(October,2017)

India – EU Relations:

India-EU relations are from 1960.

India is among the 1st

countries to establish diplomatic relation with

European Economic Community.

Till 1994, there was only relationship between trade and economic

cooperation. In 1994 a cooperation agreement signed beyond it.

Political Relations:

1st

India-EU summit took place in 2000

In latest summit, two sides reviewed bilateral relations as well as

exchanged views on regional and global issues.

Negotiations on the bilateral trade and investment agreement and

cooperation in security.

India and EU also interact regularly at the foreign minister level.

Economic and Commercial Relations:

EU (28 Countries) is India’s largest regional trading where as India is EUs 9th

largest trading partner.

India and EU are in the process of negotiating a bilateral broad based trade

and investment agreement (BTIA).

BTIA for easy commercial relationship.

EU is one of the largest sources of Foreign Direct Investment for India.

India-EU joint commission dealing with economic and commercial issues

meets annually.

India-EU relations are top in Marine products, pharmaceuticals and

biotechnology, agriculture related, textile and clothing etc.

Cooperation in the field of science and technology.

India and EU has setup energy panel in 2005 to enhance cooperation in the

energy sector and energy security.

At present a joint working group on environmental dealing with prevention

of pollution, waste minimization, sustainable forest management,

environmental education etc.

Bilateral Agreements:

Over the years, India and EU have signed a number of bilateral agreement

and MOUs.

Some of the important bilateral agreements are,

1) Science and technology agreement in 2001, again it is renewed in 2007.

2) MOU on cooperation in Employment and social affairs in 2006.

3) Joint declaration in the field of education and training 2008.

4) Cooperation in Energy.

5) Agreement in the field of nuclear fusion energy research 2009.

Rastriya Gokul Mission

Context: Embryo transfer technology (EFT), a promising revolution in Bovine

Breeding>

Embryo transfer technology is a tool to optimize the genetic improvement

in cattle.

Mass embryo transfer programme in Indigenous (local) breeds under the

scheme, national mission on Bovine (an animal of cattle group includes

buffaloes, bison).

Programme is implemented with objective of conservation and

development o indigenous breeds under Rashtriya Gokul Mission.

Rashtriya Gokul Mission (RGM)

1) It aims to conserve and develop indigenous breeds in a focused and

scientific manner. Ex. Professional farm management and superior

nutrition.

2) Mission is focused project under national programme for Bovine breeding

and dairy development during 12th

five year plan.

RGM importance and need for conservation for Local Breeds:

During 2012-13 about 45 million cattle were in milk and contributed around

59 million tons of milk.

Not only contributing milk production, but draught animals for agricultural

operation and transport in rural areas.

They also provide cow dung (organic manner) cow urine (medical value)

indigenous cattle are categorized zebn suited for draught power because

of the pressure of lump.

Indigenous cattle well known for quality of heat tolerance and with stand

extreme climatic conditions.

Due to global warming negatively impact milk production and reproductive

efficiency highest in cross breed cattle followed by buffaloes, indigenous

breeds are least affected by climate change due to they are most handy

and robust.

Objectives of RGM

1) Under take breed improvement programme for indigenous cattle breeds so

as to improve genetic makeup and increase the stock.

2) Enhance milk production and productivity of indigenous Bovines.

3) Upgrade non-descript cattle (consume more food, yield low quantity milk)

using elite indigenous cattle like Gir, Sahiwal, Rathi, Red sindhi.

4) Distribute diseases free high genetic merit bulls of indigenous breeds for

natural service.

Implementation:

1) State implementing agency (SIA) – Livestock boards stake Gav Seva Ayogs-

Mandated to sponsor proposals to the SIA AND monitor implementation.

2) Participating Agencies- All indigenous cattle development agencies Ex.

ICAR, Universities, NGOs and Gaushahas with best germ plasm.

Components:

Village level cattle centers i.e. Gokul Gram, establish Gopalan Sangh

(Breeder’s society).

Distribute disease free high genetic merit bulbs.

Award Gopala Ratna to farmers for best indigenous breeds.

Gokul Gram:

These are indigenous cattle centers, will act as centers for development of

indigenous breeds and establish

a) Native breeding tracts and

b) Near metropolitan cities for housing urban cattle.

High genetic breeding stock (Embryo transfer tech|) to farmers in breeding

tracts.

Self-sustaining and will generate economic resources from sale of milk,

organic manner, vermi-composting, urine distillates, and production of

electricity from bio-gas for in house consumption and sale of animal

products.

Also function as state of the art in situ training center for farmers; breeders

Mera Hou-Choungba Festival

Context: Manipur celebrates Mera Hou-Chongba festival, re-affirming close

bond and ties between hills and valley people at Konung.

Mera Hou-Chongba festival is mainly celebrated to strengthen the unity

between hill and valley people.

This festival is celebrated in Manipur and was celebrated at Manipur Royal

Palace (Sana Konung) Impal.

All the hill tribes are gathered under the Manipuri government.

A great number of different tribes assemble with their curious dress and

weapons, differing from each other in features and languages.

The hill men indulge in fests of strength as carrying heavy weights and also

indulge in war dances and sham fights.

This festival is mainly functioned as exchange of gifts between the King and

village chiefs and performance of cultural show and sports.

The festival is ended with a grand feast; food consists of curry of dried fish,

cows, buffaloes, dogs etc.

Mera Hou-Choungba is an important festival in Manipur. It is mainly

celebrated to maintain and strengthen the harmonious relationship among

the people of Manipur.

A Learning Crisis in the Developing World

Context: The failure of Children to achieve minimum proficiency levels despite

attending school is and economic and ethical crisis.

We have known that unacceptably large number of Indian children are

attending school but not learning enough.

Now research shows that this is not just an Indian problem New estimates

from the UNESCO institute of Statistics (UIS).

Estimates shows that about 617 million children are not achieving

minimum proficiency levels in reading and mathematics around the world.

It threating several low and middle income countries across the world.

Region specific data:

In Sub-Sahara Africa, according to UIS data about 88% of children are not

able to properly do simple math by the time they finish middle school.

South and Central Asia comes a close second with 81% of children in the

region not learning the basic minimum.

Level of Crisis in India:

In rural India, the latest edition of the Annual state of Education

Report(ASER) shows that only 47.8% of class V student scan read a class-II

level text.

And only 43% of class-III student s can do class-V level arithmetic.

This learning crisis comes at a time when enrolment levels have increased

across the board.

India has achieved near-universal enrolment and, globally the gap between

children attending school in developed and developing countries is closing.

So, access to education has improved but the quality of education hasn’t.

Comparison between Countries:

The World Bank describes the above issue as not just a learning crisis but a

moral crisis. It leads to inequalities between and within nations.

International assessments of literacy and numeracy have consistently

shown that students from low income countries perform worse than those

from high income countries.

For example:

Indonesia has significantly improved its performance in the program for

international student assessment (PISA) over the last 10-15 years.

But still, according to the World Bank report, with this rate Indonesia will

still take another five decades to reach the developed World’s average

score for mathematics and another seven decades for reading.

It is tempting to blame this on lack of resources but post war South Korea

or of Vietnam learning outcomes.

Why do some countries succeed while other fail?

Essentially, because the latter aren’t able to effectively integrate their key

elements.

The World Bank lists four such elements-students, teachers, school

administration and school infrastructure.

If anyone malfunctions the entire system is threatened totally students are

effected.

1) Students:

If children come to school sick or hungry or if parents aren’t able to care for

them not just after birth but also in the womb, then their learning levels

will be adversely affected.

2) Teachers:

The importance of teacher’s skills and capabilities should require no

elaboration.

Yet they receive little attention.

Most developing countries struggle to attract the best and the brightest to

their schools even when pay is competitive.

Teachers once hired, are given almost no training or professional

development support, leaving them ill-equipped in the class room.

3) School Administration:

A 2015 study by Stanford University’s Nicholas Bloom and others on

management practices across 1800 high schools in eight countries including

India.

This study showed that better management produced better educational

outcomes and schools with greater autonomy did especially well.

4) School Infrastructure

The relationship between learning levels and learning aids and tools such as

laptops and laboratories is often overemphasized.

Several studies have shown that similar investments can produce vastly

different outcomes depending on how the investment is utilized.

For example one assessment of Brazil’s one laptop per child scheme

showed that more than 40% of teachers rarely used the devices in class

rooms.

Way forward:

A disproportionate flows on such inputs and inadequate attention towards

outcomes is one of the most important reason why India’s right to

education legislation has performed below potential.

For there to be a shift in policy and practice one has to start with accessing

outcomes.

This is World Bank’s top recommendation for making education system

more effective.

Accessing, measuring and benchmark performance is the first.

Namdhapa National Park

Namdapha National Park is the largest protected area in the Eastern

Himalaya Biodiversity. It is located in Arunachal Pradesh in North East

India.

It is the third largest national park in India in terms of area.

It is located in the Eastern Himalayan Sub-region.

It is the richest areas in biodiversity in India.

Flora and Fauna

Flora and fauna lie in the international border between India and Myanmar

(Burma) within changing district in the state of Arunachal Pradesh in the

North East India.

Namdapha National Park is located at a few Km away from Miao amidst

misty blue hills along the turbulent Noa-Dihing river lies in the sprawling

tropical rain forest.

Flora:

There are about more than 150 timber species.

The Pinees Merkusi and Abies delavoui are not found anywhere else in

India.

The Orchids, the blue Vanala endangered are the rarest one is found here.

The most famous medicinal plant Mishmi Teeta (Copti Teeta) which is used

by the local tribal for all kinds of diseases.

Fauna:

There are total 1285 species in Nampadha National Park.

Faunal Group Number of Species

Earth worms 10

Leeches 5

Insects 430

Butterflies and Moths 140

Fishes 76

Amphibious 25

Reptiles 50

Birds 453

Mammals 96

4 Big cat species occur in the park are snow leopard, clouded leopard, and

Indian leopard and Bengal tiger.

Large herbivores like Indian elephant, wild boar, and Musk deer hog deer,

Sām har et .

Non-human primates like slump tailed macaque, slow Loris, capped languor

etc.

Endangered species of birds include green cocoa, purple cocoa, blue earned

Kingfisher, Himalayan wood owl etc.

Other birds group like laughing thrushes, parrot bills, fulvettes, shrike

babblers and scimitar babblers.

Mid-winter water fowl species is white-bellied heron.

Snow leopard Photographed in Arunachal Pradesh, camera traps have

captured images of the Big cat in community owned reserve.

Pradhana Mantri Yojana

Context: Union minority affairs minister addresses the common people, traders,

industries representate and people from social sector during Pradhana Mantri

Mudra Yojana promotion camp.

What is Mudra?

Mudra means micro units development and refinance agency.

It comes as a vision from PM by the slogan Fund the Unfunded and was

started after the success of PM Jan Dhan Yojana.

Objective:

To help people engaged in small business in facilitating micro credit up to

10 lakhs.

Importance of Mudar Yojana;

a) MUDRA Yojana covers small business section which employs a large

number of people (120million) who generally come from less privileged

sections of society.

b) PM Mudra Yojana could change the trend by bringing small business

owners into the ambit of mainstream bank credit, who until now remained

outside.

c) PM Mudra Yojana fulfills the dream of many young budding entrepreneurs

as adequate core and organized management of credit facility is available.

d) It takes care of repayment concerns and brings both financial institutions

and needy small business owner on one single platform.

Stages of Mudra Yojana

1) Shishu: (Up to 50 thousand)

This caters to entrepreneurs who are primitive stage or require lesser

funds.

2) Kishore (Up to 5 lakhs)

Section of entrepreneurs who have already started their business and want

additional funds.

3) Tarun (UP to 10 lakhs)

Any entrepreneur meeting the eligibility conditions can apply for a loan up

to 10 lakhs.

Mudra loan card:

This card acts as a credit card with a pre-approved loan amount and also

acts as a debit card allowing ATM with drawls.

Kathak, Qawwali and Opera on same stage

Context: Over 150 artists have performed from across Britain and India for an

event pegged as the highlight of the 2017 UK year of culture.

1) Kathak (meaning To tell a Story )

It is one of the ten major forms of Indian classical dances.

It evolved during Bhakti movement.

It is found in three district forms (Gharanas)

a) Jaipur b) Banaras c) Lucknow

How it is Performed

It emphasizes rhythmic foot movements, adored with small bells and the

movement harmonized to the music.

The legs and torso are generally straight and the story is told through a

developed vocabulary based on the gestures of arms and upper body

movement facial expressions, stage movements, bends and turns.

The eyes work as a medium of communication of the story the dancer is

trying to communicate.

2) Qawwali:

Generally performed at Sufi Shrines or dargahs throughout South Asia.

How it is performed:

The performers (eight to nine men including a lead singer) sit crops legged

on the ground in two rows the lead singer, side singer and harmonium

players in the front row, and the chorus and percussionists in the back row.

Qawwali is an exclusively made business.

It is popular in Punjab and Sindh regions of Pakistan, many parts of India

including North India, East India, Central India, Delhi, Hyderabad and many

Parts of Bangladesh.

3) Opera:

It is an art form in which singers and musician perform a dramatic work

combining text and music score, usually in a theatrical setting.

Opera is a key part of western classical music tradition.

In this singers do two types of singing.

a) Recitative-Speech-inflected style.

b) Arias-Melodic style.

The performance is generally given in an Opera house accompanied by an

Orchestra or smaller musical ensemble.

Context: IIT team develops system to monitor drought in South Asia.

Precipitation and temperature data provided at finer resolution than

before.

Real-time monitoring of drought will help policy makers in water

management.

IIT Gandhinagar researchers are offering a data base of precipitation,

temperature and drought indicators from 1980 to April 2017.

This data is covering the entire South Asian region.

Not only drought these data sets can also be used for monitoring heat and

cold waves in South Asia.

Earlier this monitoring is done by Indian metrology department where only

monsoon and rainfall are considered. But in latest development

temperature is also a factor.

Researchers used CHIRPS global rainfall data for their data set preparation.

This CHIRPS global rainfall data is available for every 5km resolution.

The errors and differences are corrected by IIT researchers.

This 5km resolution was evaluated against a standard rainfall database

called Aphrodite and also satellite based information.

This data set and information was tested in June to September,2015 to

access severity and extent of drought which was successful.

Dibang Biosphere Reserve

Context: Snow leopard photographed in the reserve.

It is situated in Arunachal Pradesh.

Mouling Natonal Park and Dibang wild life Sanctuary are located in this

Biosphere reserve.

It is also known as Dibang or Dehang.

It covers high mountains of Eastern Himalayas and Mishmi hills.

Mishmi hills:

It is located on the North East tip of the country in Arunachal Pradesh.

It is claimed by both India and China.

It lies on Mc Mohan line.

The reserve is rich in wild life. Rare mammals such as Mishmi Takin (type of

goat), Red Panda, and Asiatic Black bear etc.

IUCN – Endangered Species in this reserve are.

1) Mishmi Takin (a type of goat)

2) Red Panda

Both are endangered according to IUCN.